284 THE LABRADOR PEMNSULA. CHAP. xvn. 



just returned in that condition across the prairies, having 

 gambled and lost every article of clothing except their 

 waist-bands and breech-cloths, to the Ojibways of Lake 

 Plat. They did not even deign to borrow a blanket to 

 shelter them from the cold of the pitiless breeze blowing 

 in their teeth. ' They ran for it,' Stony said, ' and they 

 beat the frost, for when they got to the camp they were 

 too warm, but were getting rather cold now.' They 

 were supplied with fresh clothing, and cautioned not 

 to go from the camp again without leave. At sunset Ka- 

 jig-a-kanse, who was spokesman, begged leave to go with 

 Stony and try to win back their clothes, saying that he 

 was sure they would be successful this time- -in fact, he 

 knew it. 



The two scamps returned in the morning triumphantly 

 bringing back all their old clothes and some others they 

 had won. It appears that, before they departed, they had 

 concocted a plan to cheat their antagonists, which they 

 worked out successfully. Stony was a curious Indian 

 full of contradictions. Every month he would go into 

 the settlements at Eed Eiver and spend or gamble away 

 his earnings ; he was excessively fond of whiskey, and 

 nothing could keep him from it, if it could be obtained 

 anywhere in the neighbourhood by stratagem or money. 

 After a week's dissipation he would return sick and 

 humble, and ask to be employed again. He was very 

 well liked, and an excellent hunter, so that he was 

 generally forgiven. He exhibited his pride, like most 

 Indians, in a rather singular manner. It became necessary 

 that some of the men should haul some sledges laden 

 with provisions over the snow, because the do<?s were 



