214 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



for trailing game; though all other Indians of the Strong Woods 

 use their dogs for hauling sleds. One advantage of the Ojibway 

 custom is that hunting dogs — when running loose — never have 

 to be fed. 



Amik, however, being a rather shiftless fellow, often spoilt 

 his boys as much as the average white father spoils his, for 

 he never thrashed them, though they frequently deserved it, 

 and having given in to them on many previous occasions, he 

 had now let them take the dogs. But speaking of parents' 

 treatment of children, even an old she-bear could give many a 

 civihzed father or mother pointers on how to bring up children, 

 for even among animals and birds one frequently finds a model 

 parent. 



According to the verdict of the old fur- traders, the best 

 trapper is the uncivilized Indian. Though, apparently, he 

 does not derive the same amount of sport from his work as the 

 white man does, he never shirks his work and always takes 

 great pains to prepare for and perfect the setting of his traps. 

 Though he is slow, he is, nevertheless, sure and deadly in his 

 work. Oo-koo-hoo assured me that the secret of successful 

 hunting was intelhgence, caution, and patience. 



During December and January, or according to the Indians, 

 Yeyekoopewe Pesim — "The Rime Moon," and Kakisapowa- 

 tukinum — "The Moon When Everything Is Brittle," there is 

 always a lull in the trapping, for the reason that then the 

 days are shorter and the weather colder, and on that account 

 and also on accoimt of the fact that the sun and winds of March 

 have not arrived to harden the deep soft snow, the forest 

 creatures prefer to remain more at home. 



APPROACHING MOOSE 



In approaching the Moose Hills we saw many moose tracks, 

 but they were old, the freshest having been made two days 



