CHAPTER IV. 



THE FORKS OF THE ATHABASCA SWANS BEARS WILDFOWL VARIETIES OF 

 DUCKS RAQOED FOREST ON THE CLEARWATER FOREST ON THE ATHABASCA 

 IMPENETRABLE COVER MOOSE PIERRE'S STALK PURSUIT OF THE 

 WOUNDED MOOSE TABLES TURNED " TREED" TREE OVERTURNED SAVED 

 BY OLD JAKE. 



IN a day or two the party approached the junction of 

 the Clearwater with the Athabasca. This spot is called 

 the Forks. Birds of many species peopled the woods 

 along the banks; and the Athabasca itself was thronged 

 with flocks of ducks and swans of several kinds. This 

 river may be considered as forming the head-waters of 

 the Mackenzie, which it joins after leaving the Great 

 Slave Lake, into which it flows, under the name of 

 the Slave River. 



Many islands, covered with forest, studded the ample 

 bosom of the stream ; and amidst these the hunters had 

 many opportunities of trying their rifles at the trum- 

 peter swans, which they surprised within range by 

 suddenly rounding the wooded promontories which 

 afforded cover for approach. 



Bears, too, were sometimes seen, especially early in 

 the morning, when the party observed them wandering 



