THE GIANT TAMBOOT. Ill 



cawing, gave their usual signal of an arrival. Groing 

 out on to the lake, we saw several sleighs advancing 

 across it, the bells on the harness jingling merrily in 

 the frosty air, as the clogs galloped along. Our 

 visitors proved to be Treemiss and a party from the 

 Fort, on a trading expedition amongst the Wood 

 Crees. 



Treemiss had met with various adventures since 

 we had last seen him, and in one instance was in some 

 danger of losing his life. Atahk-akoohp, the hunter, 

 came one evening, with several others, into his hut, all 

 half drunk, and importuned him to trade for furs. 

 Vexed by Treemiss's refusal to do so, he threw a 

 marten-skin violently into his face. Irritated by the 

 insult, Treemiss struck him with his fist. In an 

 instant all was uproar and confusion ; knives flashed 

 out, the candle was kicked over and extinguished, and 

 all were groping and stabbing at Treemiss in the dark. 

 Summarily upsetting an Indian who opposed his 

 passage, he made for his gun, which lay near the door, 

 seized it, and made good his escape outside, not, 

 however, before receiving several slight cuts and stabs 

 through his clothes. 



He waited, gun in hand, ready for his assailants, 

 listening with anxiety to a terrible commotion which 

 was going on inside. Atahk-akoohp, the aggressor, 

 a man of lofty stature and powerful build, he knew 

 to be savage in the extreme when aroused. But he 

 had a friend within. He had shown much kindness 

 to a half-breed named Tamboot, a man of still more 

 gigantic build and strength than Atahk-akoohp, and 



