THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



I 

 ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE 



HER FATHER THE FREE TRADER 



IT WAS September 9, 189-. From sunrise to sunset 

 through mist, sunshine, shower, and shadow we travelled, and 

 the nearer we drew to our first destination, the wilder the 

 country became, the more water-fowl we saw, and the more the 

 river banks were marked with traces of big game. Here signs 

 told us that three caribou had crossed the stream, there muddy 

 water was still trickling into the hoofprint of a moose, and 

 yonder a bear had been fishing. Finally, the day of our arrival 

 dawned, and as I paddled, I spent much of the time dreaming of 

 the adventure before me. As our beautiful birchen craft still 

 sped on her way, the handsome bow parted the shimmering 

 waters, and a passing breeze sent little running waves gurgling 

 along her sides, while the splendour of the autumn sun was 

 reflected on a far-reaching row of dazzling ripples that danced 

 upon the water, making our voyageurs lower their eyes and the 

 trader doze again. There was no other sign of life except an 

 eagle soaring in and out among the fleecy clouds slowly 

 passing overhead. All around was a panorama of enchanting 

 forest. 



My travelling companion was a "Free Trader," whose 

 name was Spear a tall, stoop-shouldered man with heavy eye- 

 brows and shaggy, drooping moustache. The way we met was 

 amusing. It happened in a certain frontier town. His first 



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