PLEASURES Of A HUNTER >S LIFE. 201 



in his game-bag as a welcome addition to their 

 larder. 



The neighbourhood having been much disturbed by 

 this occurrence, the party determined to proceed to the 

 Athabasca without further delay ; and after an hour's 

 walking through the sombre shades and moonlit open- 

 ings of the woods, they at length emerged on the river 

 bank at a spot not one hundred yards from their 

 camp. 



This they found exactly as they had left it, no human 

 being, apparently, having passed that way during their 

 absence. A fire was soon crackling and naming, send- 

 ing around its cheerful glow ; and upon the great embers 

 beaver meat sputtered and the large kettle hissed and 

 bubbled, while the three hunters bustled about the 

 blaze, busily engaged in the pleasant task of preparing 

 supper. 



"Who says a hunter's life is not a pleasant one?" 

 said Pierre as he lounged on a pile of soft pine branch- 

 lets, within comfortable reach of both the meat and the 

 kettle. " For my part, I feel happy only in the woods." 



" Right ye are there," said Jake. " I feels allus as 

 ef a load wur put down on my gizzard when I gets 

 into the settlements. Civilyzation don't pan worth a 

 cent wi' this niggur, you bet. Thur plan o' livin' in 

 houses 'ud kill a hoss ; an' as fur thur victuals, I don't 

 know arey a beast a-livin' as cud hold up agin 'em. I 

 wur laid out flat fur a week an' in a house at that, 

 arter chawin' some fixins I once got at a party. I 



