The Forrest City times., 1894-02-23
"NUMBER SIXTEEN"
A Romance of Wild Life in the
 Canadian Northwest.

 several friends were cozily nestled around the fire. One of the company was a medical man who had spent twelve years or so in the Canadian Northwest territories. Outside the at mosphere was chilly, and the indica- tions favored colder weather.
 'Ify you could be transported from St. John to the prairies on such day as we had to-day" remarked the doctor, ''and were ignorant of the changes that a few hours bring in that climate, two surprises would greet you. To-day you observe dotted in countless num- bers over the vast stretches of prairie sluices or small ponds, whose placid waters would remind you of so many mirrors set in rustic frames.
 Tomorrow morning. as you again looked over the prairies. the whole face of the country would seem to be changed. Protruding from every sluice you would see cones made of grass, etc. These are the winter houses of the muskrat-reared. finished and occupied in a slngle night; as if these fragrant little creatures possessed the power of the Wizard Pancrates.
 ''That night the sluices would be sure to freeze, and the muskrats would live in peace until the spring, when the Indians make their rounds, plunge the spear down through the cones and thus capture numbers of the occupants. The rats are in prime order in the spring after their long rest The flesh is eaten and the skins are taken care of by the ,squaws.
 'I hese skins, as well as all others. are a kind of legal tender. and it's a common occurrence for the Indian to visit store, make his purchase, take a bundle of ratskins from under his arm, and count them out as five-cent pieces.
 The Indian department displays much energy to suppress smallpox, which often creates havoc among the natives of the plains. Doctors are sent out regularly to vaccinate the Indians. The doctor makes his rounds with the agent who pays the bounties- A large tent is pitched, and the tribe is re- ouested to appear The stipulation is that all must be vaccinated before re- ceiving the money.
 .'The Indians are distinguished by numbers as we'll as names, and, as they are paid so much per head. every mem- Der of family must be produced and pass through the agents tent. Be- fore being paid those requiring 1t are vaccinated.
 .One day." said the doctor, "I was vaccinating a tribe of Crees, when a woman approached with couple of children. She had rich, meiodious voice, with Scotch accent When she spoke I stopped for moment and told her to step into the next tent and would attend to her in a few moments. I saw she was not squaw, and thought she was the wife of Hudson's Bay company employe who wanted to get vaccinated at the expense of the gov ernment
 While I was speaking the clerk shouted out: No. l6. and the woman said in . low voice: I am No. l6' She barred her arm, and both she and the children were attended to. She passed on. received her bounty, and then out among the herd of Indians.
 "The face and voice of that woman haunted me the rest of the day while kept scratching the arms of braves squaws, and pappooses.
 At last the days work was over and Instruments laid aside. After supper set about to satisfy my curiosity as to the history of No. 16. A few inquiries enabled me to locate the shack where she put up, and thither l bent my way.
 .'The shack, may say. is small hut, built of clay or mud. A fire can be made in the shack. The place is SO constructed that the squaw stands the sticiss of wood on their ends so that