70 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



Lunch-time had arrived, and on the margin of the 

 brook we enjoyed our meal ; several of the trout, which my 

 companion had captured with the most primitive line 

 attached to a rod cut from the nearest tree, forming no 

 inconsiderable portion of the meal. 



After a smoke and half-hour's dawdle, we started on our 

 return, following an entirely different route, equally dis- 

 advantageous for rapid progression. During our home- 

 ward tramp I learned that martens could only he taken 

 on the highest ridges, and that the bait used was either a 

 red squirrel, the beautiful little cedar bird, or the heart or 

 liver of the swamp hare. I was not a little surprised at 

 the number of times my companion halted to inquire if my 

 gun was all right, more especially as so far we had seen no- 

 indications of large game, excepting some decked stumps 

 and logs, moved where Bruin had been grubbing, or 

 scratched trees where his race from time immemorial had 

 been in the habit of stretching themselves. 



As the sun set, we once more regained the path, well 

 fatigued with our rough and protracted tramp, myself not a 

 little disgusted that I had seen nothing sufficiently worthy 

 of being considered fit game for the heavy missiles which 

 both my barrels contained. In fact, I could not help 

 openly grumbling that I should have been inveigled into 

 such a useless journey, which elicited the response from my 

 associate that I might thank my stars we had got back 

 safe. With this answer for tho time I had to be satisfied, 

 but that evening the mystery came out. and the selfish 

 motives that had dictated my companionship being sought. 

 T will endeavour to state the story as told by the trapper. 



