266 CULLEN "8PKEAD8 HIMSELF." 



X 



one of the little animals that had been roused from its bed by 

 the dogs, and we called their special attention to the fact by 

 leading them to the spot, and bidding them to " hunt him 

 up." They understood our meaning, and started on the trail, 

 with a loud and cheerful cry. For half an hour, they coursed 

 him round and round the island, making the lake vocal with 

 their merry music. We might haye shot the game they 

 were pursuing fifty times, but we had no design against its 

 life. The little fellow did not seem to be greatly alarmed, 

 for we noted him often, when by doubling he had tempo- 

 rarily thrown off the dogs, squat himself down, and throw his 

 long ears back in the direction of the sound that had been 

 pursuing him ; and when the dogs straightened upon his trail, 

 and approached where he sat, he would bound nimbly away 

 among the thick bushes to double on them again. 



We called off the dogs and passed on to float along 

 under the shadow of the forest trees and the hills, and take 

 an occasional trout by way of experiment among the broken 

 rocks along the shore. We had dispatched Cullen to the 

 shanty to prepare dinner for us by six o'clock, at which 

 hour we were to be at home. Cullen had promised, to use his 

 own expression, " to spread himself" in the preparation of 

 this meal, and he kept his promise. On our return, we found 

 a sirloin of moose roasted to a turn, a stake of bear-meat 

 broiled on the coals, a stew of jerked venison, and as pleas- 

 ant a dish of fried trout and pork as an epicure could desire. 

 Our appetites were keen, and we did ample justice to his 

 cookery. This was one of the most delightful evenings 



