NEWFOUNDLAND IN THE 'SEVENTIES 225 



journey, for we had left ourselves only just time 

 enough to catch the tug steamer which was to 

 call for us in the bay, even by travelling almost 

 night and day ; but as I was loath to quit the 

 country without one more try, Joe and I cHmbed 

 up to the barren before daylight, leaving the 

 others to pack up, carry the baggage and meat 

 down to the lake, and get everything ready for a 

 start in the afternoon. Joe got the best of me 

 that day to the extent of twenty-five dollars, the 

 villain. We had walked for hours without seeing 

 a thing, when he remarked in a casual manner, 

 " You have not seen no bears, have you, since 

 you came in the island ? " " No, Joe," I replied, 

 " not even a sign. I should have thought bears 

 would have been plenty enough ; there is lots of 

 feed for them, goodness knows, for the whole 

 barren is covered vdth blueberries ; but they 

 seem to be very scarce." " Yes," answered Joe, 

 " bear's awful scarce in Newfoundland, but I 

 think I know a place where we might find one, 

 only I ain't got much time ; want to get back to 

 my beaver trapping, you know. What you give 

 me if I show you a bear ? " " Oh, well," I said, 

 " I don't know ; there is no chance of that now ; 

 but I would give a five-pound note for a shot at ' 



