122 



THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



The wagon, accompanied by Wellington, came up soon- 

 after our return, but George Ross could be heard plunging 

 through the brush a few rods from the road. He, too, had, 

 like myself, strayed off on a wood road, but had heard the 

 photographer's shouts, and these guided his return. The 

 fence surrounding the clearing was opened so as to allow 

 our wagon to enter ; we were bound to reach the river to- 

 night. The horse and wagon passed cautiously over the 

 cleared fields, while Wellington held his post on the right 

 of the wagon, and George had taken a position on the left. 



Our canoes and other luggage had reached the objec- 

 tive-point and were quickly taken from the wagon. The 

 boy driver had quietly unharnessed his horse and turned 

 him loose to graze in the field. The chief cultivated 

 articles now remaining ungathered in this clearing were 

 the turnips. I asked the boy how he was to get back to 

 Burk's Falls to-night. He replied, "I shan't try to get 

 back there to-night. Ise going to stay with you all." The 

 reply to the brave boy was, " That is right. We will give 

 you something to eat, and you can make a bed on the 

 ground where we all sleep." 



A large pile of logs was found which had been heaped 

 up for burning when the ground was cleared ; but the fire 

 had failed to consume them, consequently it was only ne- 

 cessary to rearrange them and apply the match. This was 

 done ; a grand illumination followed, the field was lighted 

 around us, the silvery surface of the idver was nozo visible ; a 

 good supper was quickly made ready, a rubber poncho zvas 

 spread on the ground and served as a table ; ive ate, drank, 

 and were happy. When the meal was finished we spread 



