LITTLE MISQUAPAMAYOO. 115 



trains of dogs to be obtained at Carlton. The pro- 

 vision they expected to bring was four sacks of flour 

 and thirty or forty pounds of tea ; and the journey of 

 600 miles and back would occupy at least two 

 months. The snow wag now so deep that a track 

 would require to be trodden out with snow-shoes to 

 enable the dogs to travel, and the undertaking was 

 certain to be very laborious. The route they intended 

 to take was by Touchwood Hills and Fort Pelly on 

 to the Manitobah Lake, and thence to Fort Grarry. 



Cheadle, now left with only the Indian boy, 

 went off into the woods to make another attempt to 

 circumvent his ancient enemy, the wolverine. With 

 pack slung on his back, gun on shoulder, and axe in 

 belt, little Misquapamayoo stalked along to lead the 

 way, with all the dignity and confidence of a practised 

 hunter. 'No track or sign escaped his observant eye, 

 and he made and set traps, arranged the camp, cut 

 wood, and cooked meals, with the readiness and skill 

 of an old trapper. The heavier work of wood- 

 chopping and the weightier pack fell, of course, to 

 Cheadle's share ; but Misquapamayoo was indefatigable 

 in performing everything in his power, and this was 

 by no means contemptible, for he could carry weights 

 and use an axe in a manner which would have sur- 

 prised an English boy of the same age. He assumed 

 an air of grave superiority over his companion in all 

 things relating to the hunter's or voyageur's craft 

 which was very amusing, although certainly justified 

 by the facts of the case. 



The two spent their time in the woods merrily 



I 2 



