ENCAMPED FOR THE NIGHT. 



to the open prairie ; larger, darker, and more ferocious 

 than the buffalo of the plains; keener of eye and of 

 scent, it is asserted by the Indians of these solitudes 

 that, although differing as we have noted, the two 

 varieties are but the descendants of a common stock. 



Towards noon the waves upon the lake had subsided 

 sufficiently to induce the hunters to continue their 

 journey. The sail which old Jake's ingenuity had im- 

 provised from a moose skin was spread before a favour- 

 ing breeze, and under its influence the raft glided along 

 the picturesque shores at the rate of some five miles an 

 hour. During their sail the party had an opportunity 

 of observing the great numbers of waterfowl which 

 frequented the shallow water near the shore. Swans 

 of different varieties, geese, and ducks croaked, flapped, 

 and flew on all sides ; and in a few shots sufficient were 

 secured to last them for some days. Several bears were 

 also seen; but these, unfortunately, had observed the 

 uncommon apparition of the raft and its occupants, and 

 had discreetly retired behind the shelter of the woods, 

 where the trappers did not feel disposed to follow them. 

 The remainder of the day was passed in this manner, 

 and at sundown, as was their habit, the hunters landed 

 and made their camp for the night. Just at this spot 

 a stream of some width joined the lake, and at a little 

 distance up its course they observed several of the 

 dome-shaped lodges of the beaver. The animals them- 

 selves were invisible ; but the widening circles in the 

 water betrayed the fact that they had betaken them- 



