The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-10

orally find the bs IS are on the west, that
is, the shady and coolest. side of the lake.
''Of course in winter such things do not
help much. Some Of the Indians say that
the bulpout or catfish are good path
finders then. They say If you catch ten
of them through the ice and let them flop
about as they like that when they are
dead eight or nine of them will have their
heads toward the north. Or il you only
catch one fish let him swallow the hook
we'll and then hang him up by the fishing
line clear Of the ground so that he can
swing and when he is dead his belly will
face the north. But the Indian is not par
ticular about points. he usually travels
by the lay of the country or along water
courses. >.~..
1.-THE top of the white pine is not a bad
sign in most open places. Up here it COM
monty leans toward the south because the
prevailing winds are from the north. Low
er down toward the settlements the winds
are westerly and the pine tree looks to-
ward the east or southeast. If you ever
crossed any Of the upper lakes in the
teeth of wind you would not wonder to
find the moss on the trees along the shore
and on the side Of the trunk away from
the northerly or westerly winds, that Is,
on the south or east side only.
"But the only sure way to make your
way through an unknown bush is to know
ways keep your eye on something straight
in front. Keep two trees in line if you
can. and when you cross lake or open
plain, always take a rear sight at your
last sign post. and then standing straight
in your tracks pick out some tree top or
rock on the other side, and make right
for it. When you camp for meals or for
the night, always mark two trees a least
to make clear the line you are on.
IF you get lost anyway? Well, the
best thing to do is to sit right down and
take a meal If you have anything to eat.
If not, light fire and get a rest. If I
was guide to the party I would rather
have you stay where you are until found.
The old hand always goes down hill
when he has missed his way, because he
is pretty sure to find running water at the
foot Of the hill. Once he reaches a stream
he Is all right, for that will bring him to
some river at last, or will at any rate
| keep him going in the same direction.
1.-The new hand is fairly certain to get
ratified when he knows he is lost and to
| travel around in a circle, because I sup
pose his feet are not trained to be equally
! strong. He becomes nervous, and feels
| that he must keep going, and as he be-
comes tired and more worried, he notices
nothing and may pass along the same
way he went before without noticing it.
| Many a man has lost his life in these
old woods, just because he lost his nerve
! first. It's curious, too, how nervousness
| blinds men. .. ,~4
| "Once on the head waters Of the Lievre
| river, two men were seen padding fol
dear life, who pulled up quickly at sigh
| of another canoe.
"'How far is it to Moose Fort?' the.
called out.
"'Oh, 1 don't know, somewhere abou
$4,000 miles 1 guess, that way they were
told.
They were strong, well-informed Ork
ney men, engaged in trapping fur, ant
had got so mixed UP among the lakes a
the Height Of Land, that they had actual,
travelled on two whole days without find
ing out what any child could have toll
them, that they were running due soutl
instead Of due north. After a good no
meal a chat over the pipe, and night
sleep they were all right again, no longe
ratified, but prepared to take notice Of tn
signs which would take them home righ
enough, though they were 300 miles away
in the opposite direction, from their forme
one"