140 THE HEAVER RIVER WATERS. 



The Chief Guide now came to the front, "Gentlemen, 

 it's rabbits! They're thicker in these woods than loads after 

 a shower. They always skip and scoot around camp after 

 dark, looking for something to eat. I felt one nibbling at 

 the toe of 1113' boot, but scar't him off and went !<> sleep 

 sixain. There!" going to the pile of luggage at the foot 

 of a tree nearby "the pesky rascals have been gnawing 

 my pack-strap-: They'll gnaw greasy leather every time. 

 I sha'n't go to sleep again to-night, I'll build up a rousing 

 fire and watch the little scamps or \ve sha'n't have a whole 

 thing left by morning." And the faithful fellow did as he 

 said, while the vision of snakes f.-ided out entirely: and we 

 slept again and dreamed of armies and ho-t> of light-fooled 

 but predatory rabbits surrounding our camp and waiting 

 to see the Chief Guide nod before proceeding to -jimu the 

 flesh off from our bones. 



Morning brought a solution of the mystery of the Man 

 ager's absence, and the doubt upon which we had in a pri- 

 mitive w r ay gone to bed, in the person of the Manager'- 

 guide. Indeed, he was more an\iou> than we. \\"e were 

 the " lost." He knew where he was all the while, but was 

 unable to say whether we were as fortunate as to out own 

 situation. The Chief Guide and he were discoursing as \\f 

 awoke. It turned out that the Manager and his man had 

 missed South Branch entirely, and gone five miles further 

 up-stream, to "Little Rapids." where there was a sorrv 

 prospect for the night; but fortunately two gentlemen \\ -en- 

 there encamped for the night, and to their bed and board 

 such as they had to offer the wanderers were invited. All 



