134 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



quite remote from each other, for several winters ; but no one, 

 that I am aware of, is satisfied that he has yet been seen, unless, 

 indeed, by two or three lads while on the shore of the Grand 

 Lake, who were fishing out of holes cut in the ice near the shore. 

 About half a mile from them a long point made out into the lake, 

 running parallel with the shore, which formed the boundary of 

 a deep cove. The ice had become quite weak ; still, it bore them 

 with safety. While busily engaged with their fishing-tackle, 

 their attention was suddenly arrested by a loud, splashing noise, 

 as though some one was struggling in the water ; and, on look- 

 ing for the cause, they saw a large animal endeavoring to make 

 the main land, crossing directly from the point toward them. He 

 continued to break in every few rods, when he would spring out 

 again with the agility of a cat. After getting out, he would stand 

 and look round, then venture forward, and break through as be- 

 fore. The description they gave of his appearance was that he 

 looked just like an immense cat ; appeared to be about four feet 

 high, and five or six feet long, thick set about the head and 

 shoulders, resembling somewhat in this particular the bull-dog. 

 His general color was quite like that of a mouse, or, to use the 

 boys' own words, " bluish," with light breast and belly. His 

 tail was very long, reaching down quite to the ice, and curled up 

 at the end ; this he moved about just as a cat moves its tail. 

 Waiting but a moment to gain this general view, they made for 

 home with all possible dispatch, about one mile distant. Several 

 men, with guns and axes, immediately started for the lake, but 

 nothing further was seen of him. The manner in which the ice 

 was broken fully confirmed the statement made by the boys re- 

 specting the size of this unknown creature. 



There is an animal in the deep recesses of our forests, evi- 

 dently belonging to the feline race, which, on account of its fe- 

 rocity, is significantly called "Indian Devil" — in the Indian 

 language, " the Lunk Soos;" a terror to the Indians, and the only 



