THE LITTLE CREE GIRL. 191 



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Tlie time passed monotonously, the life in a Hudson's 

 Bay fort being most uneventful and ''ennuyant." 

 We wandered from one window to anotlier, or 

 walked round the building, watching for the arrival 

 of Indians, or the sight of some object of specula- 

 tion or interest. At dusk the scores of sleigh dogs 

 set up their dismal howling, and disturbed us in the 

 same manner at daybreak, from slumbers we desired 

 to prolong as much as possible, in order to shorten the 

 wearisome day. In this habit of howling in chorus at 

 sunset and sunrise, the Indian dogs present another 

 point of likeness to wolves, which they so closely 

 resemble in outward form. One of the pack com- 

 mences with short barks, and the others gradually 

 join in, and all howl with might and main for about 

 five minutes. Then they cease as gradually as they 

 began, and all is quiet again. 



We found some amusement in visiting the tents 

 of the Indians and half-breeds who were encamped 

 near the Fort, and were much interested in a little 

 Cree girl, who was a patient of Cheadle's. She had 

 been out to the plains with her family, and on the con- 

 clusion of peace between the Crees and Blackfeet, 

 a party of the latter came on a visit to the Cree camp. 

 On taking leave, a Blackfoot playfully snapped his 

 gun at the child ; the piece proved to be loaded 

 with two bullets, which, entering the thigh of the 

 unfortunate girl, shattered it completely. When we 

 saw her she was wan and deathlike, but bore with 

 wonderful fortitude the pain of the probe and knife. 

 The parents were greatly disappointed with the 



