The Kejimkujik Monster 



of his experience with the big trout, I smoked and did 

 not urge him. 



'* Wigumi," he muttered, as to himself. Then, 

 " Adookse: 



" It was this way, Camp-builder. I was young man 

 trapping on Kejimkujik River and Big Lake. Big and 

 strong, then." (At this time Ma-tee-o was seventy years 

 old, small and wizened.) " Plenty moose meat, new 

 squaw, two . . . three . . . papoose, wigwam on tenting- 

 ground at Trout Rock. New ice come quick. Had 

 many steel traps set 'long the river. Had to chop 'em 

 out. Found mush-rat in trap . . . big eddy . . . 

 Arthur's Ledges, I tole you 'bout. Ice just strong 

 enough bear me up and clear like house glass. Mush- 

 rat was drowned, but big fish under water smelling 'im 

 maybe tryin' bite 'im. Made smash at fish with axe, 

 through ice. Missed him. By time get back to wickiup 

 with hides and traps, tired, but still think 'bout big fish. 

 After dark take bark torch and fish-spear in kwedun, and 

 pole up-river in swift water, and land on thin ice on pool 

 where big trout live. The hole made to chop out trap 

 had thin skin ice over it. So make li'l hole, tie piece 

 moose meat on fish-line with sinker, put it down thru 

 ice. Then, stick torch right 'long side on bank. It 

 make big blaze. Wait with fish-spear to stick 'im. Wait 

 maybe long time. By'm-by he come nosing 'long, easy, 

 careful, like fox. He meskek fish. When he close to 

 moose meat, near 'nough wiskoodaga ! Hard, so !" 

 He indicated his spearing motion by a sharp downward 

 thrust of the arm. 



Ma-tee-o paused. We waited breathlessly. His pipe 

 had gone out, so he borrowed another match and lit it. 

 The old Indian's dramatic sense was acute. He had been 

 engrossed in his tale. His sombre old eyes glowed. As 

 he sat there puffing his pipe, he was evidently picturing 



231 



