THE CANADA PORCUPINE. 145 



party should fire at the centre of the opaque body, 

 while the others reserved their shots in case of need. 

 Gaultier claimed the first chance, and accordingly the 

 young hunter threw up his rifle and fired. The 

 branches immediately became much agitated, and 

 presently the dark mass slipped from its position and 

 fell at their feet. It was a Canada porcupine. 



" Jehoshaphat ! " cried Jake, " hyur's quills a-plenty ! 

 'Tain't waste neither, I guess; he'll make a fustrate 

 stew. Many's the time I've closed my teeth on 

 porcupine, an' thur not sich bad eatin'." 



The porcupine was therefore hung up in a tree to 

 await their return, and the hunters, keeping a sharp out- 

 look on all the neighbouring boughs, advanced deeper 

 into the woods. The ground gradually rose, and after 

 some half-hour's walk the party found themselves on 

 the crest of a ridge where the timber grew thinly. On 

 the descending slope a fire had at some former time 

 swept the woods, which had here consisted of pines, 

 the deciduous trees not extending beyond the top of 

 the ascent ; and through their bleached and skeleton- 

 like branches the sparkle of water was visible in the 

 valley below. Towards this the hunters directed their 

 course. 



Upon reaching the bottom of the hill, they perceived 

 that the waters which had attracted their attention 

 were those of a small lake, fed by a stream that flowed 

 down through the woods at the upper end. A number 

 of mounds, like low, untidy haycocks, protruded above 



