STORY OF A YOUNG HUNTER. 213 



creatures. As he had expected, they ran upon 

 the lake, using every exertion to escape ; but 

 their hoofs, though remarkably broad, were 

 unequal to their support, and at each plunge 

 they sank to their haunches in the snow, and 

 became an easy prey to the hunter ; who, borne 

 up by his long snow shoes, got close to and killed 

 them all except one. This he beat in the most 

 wanton and merciless manner, and then drove it, 

 stupefied and spent with fatigue, to his lodge, 

 where, amidst the laughter of himself and his 

 kindred, its miseries were at last ended. 'Now,' 

 said he, * I shall know if there be any truth 

 in your sayings ; and, whether there be or not, 

 I am a Chipewyan, and shall return to my 

 lands, which are far away, and better than 

 your swampy and barren country.' Did we 

 speak the truth ? the deer know it, and will not 

 come." — He ceased speaking, and a deep gut- 

 tural " whew, whew ! " shewed the interest with 

 which the recital had been heard. 



Another day a middle-aged woman, with a 

 girl about six years old, came to us in great con- 

 sternation, seeking protection against a hunter, 

 over whose gun she had unluckily stept during 

 the night. On discovering what she had done, 

 which, in the opinion of an Indian, would 

 destroy the qualities of the gun and prevent its 

 killing, she was so alarmed for the consequences 



p 3 



