THE CANADA GROUSE. 105 



an unearthly hour the next morning, and by dint of 

 shaking, howling, and asking me if I were dead, man- 

 aged to rouse me, and finally succeeded in getting 

 me into a large wagon, having room enough to hold six 

 persons, besides tents, dogs, guns, and ammunition. Our 

 kennel consisted of a single terrier, but what use he 

 could be was beyond my ken, as I understood we were to 

 slaughter everything in the form of game that we should 

 meet in our rambles. Not being in a mood to be inquisi- 

 tive, however, I made no inquiries, and devoted most of 

 my attention to watching the reddish-yellow dog and to 

 nodding at him occasionally with closed eyes. This 

 habit of mine became so chronic after awhile that the 

 companion who sat beside me said I was the politest man 

 he ever knew, as I had bowed most humbly to every man, 

 bird, beast, and tree we had met on the road. When the 

 sun became hot, however, I was roused into an active 

 condition, and after breakfasting at a wayside hotel, I 

 felt as lively as a cricket. 



Leaving the inn, we travelled until two P. M., and 

 then halted in the outskirts of a ramshackle hamlet to 

 make inquiries about the best shooting quarters in the 

 vicinity, and the probability of securing an Indian guide 

 who knew the country well, and could make himself 

 useful as a general utility man in camp. Having left one 

 of our party in charge of the team, we started for the 

 village, and on learning that it boasted a hotel, we 

 marched towards it, and plied the landlord with all sorts 

 of questions bearing on our mission. He answered them 

 readily, and gave us to understand that if we would wait 

 until evening he would procure us the best guide in the 

 country at a dollar a day and his '' grub." 



Having decided to postpone our journey on condition 

 that he had his man ready by seven o'clock, the team was 

 driven into town, and after the horses were put in a 

 stable, we cast about for something to do to kill time. 



