202 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



we had to face bein' frozen; for our clothes was all wore off, 

 an* winter was comin' on mighty fast. 



"At last, when me an' Old-pot-head's son had about given 

 up hope, an' was just pickin' out which would be the easiest 

 death, what should we see but somethin' bobbin' in an' out 

 among the bushes. Say, it was another bear! When it comes 

 a little closer, we makes out it was a little lady bear. No sooner 

 does our old stern-chaser spy her than he slides down to the 

 groun', an' risin' up on his hind legs, throws out his chest, an' 

 cocks his eye at her, for all the world like a man when he sees 

 a pretty girl comin' his way. But when her dainty little lady- 

 ship ketches sight of his bald-headed stomach, she just tosses 

 up her nose with disgust, an' wheels roun' an' makes for the 

 tall timbers with our affectionate friend limpin' the best he 

 can after her. 



"An' that's the last we sees o' the bear that tried to hold 

 up the Company's packet." 



After the laughter had died down, Chief Factor Thompson 

 yawned : 



"Well, gentlemen, it's getting on. I must be turning in 

 or my men will be late in getting under way in the morning." 



GOD AND THE WILD MEN 



Drowsiness had indeed overtaken the camp. But now I 

 must digress a moment to tell you something that the public 

 at least the public that has derived its knowledge of northern 

 wilderness life from fiction may find it hard to believe. And 

 this is what I want to say: that every one in that whole brigade 

 of wild men of the wilderness, from the lowest dog-driver right 

 up to the Chief Factor when each had fixed his bed in readi- 

 ness for the night knelt down, and with bowed head, said his 

 evening prayer to The Master of Life. Moreover, the fact that 

 two clergymen were present had nothing whatever to do with it, 



