96 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



"Or near by?" 



" Ta." 



" No, no ; where catch him ?" 



"Ya." 



" Here or zere ; here or zere ?" very loud, as 

 though the savage were deaf. 



" Ya." 



" That will do ; and after this instructive conversa- 

 tion we had better seek our camp and supper." 



"Just as you say; he evidently does not fully 

 understand the last question, although I think we 

 might obtain some valuable information fi-om him. 

 We certainly w^ant to know where he took that fish, 

 which must weigh four pounds." 



"We certainly shall not find out, as baby talk 

 evidently is not Chippewa, although I wish it was, 

 and will need Frank's aid in our communications." 



The other Indians were still seated near our fire, 

 and received with apparent thankfulness the rem- 

 nants of our supper, of which we took care that the 

 little girl should have her share, after we had 

 finished. As the river was low and could not be 

 ascended with our barge, nor without much labor on 

 foot, it was necessary to hire canoes ; but unfortu- 

 nately we had nothing but United States money, 

 which was about as worthless as white paper. 

 Frank took ground that we should pay them in 

 stores of pork and biscuit ; but as he seemed utterly 

 regardless of our anxiety to make a positive bargain, 

 and but little mindful whether they were paid or 

 not, Don felt it necessary to approach the subject 



