38* 



CHAPTER III. 



EXCELLENT FISHING VICINITY OF FRIENDS OR FOES AN AMBUSCADE 



THE SQUAW AND HER PAPOOSE A WIDOW'S ATTENTIONS 



CHANGE OF CAMP ABUNDANCE OF GAME INDIAN DOGS PROCESS 



OF TANNING CANVAS-BACK DUCKS THEIR HABITAT, AND METHODS 



OF CAPTURING THEM. 



IN this spot I determined to halt for four days, for 

 with such shelter, water, and vegetation, game must 

 be abundant. Descending after breakfast to the 

 stream that coursed lengthways through the valley, 

 I found indisputable evidences of the presence of 

 beavers, as well as numerous deer and buffalo tracks. 

 My rough but ready fish-line was always carried 

 in a corner of my bullet-bag. Hoping to find the 

 water as prolific in game as the land promised to 

 be, I cut a wand for a rod, and with some thread 

 ravelled from a few scraps of rag I retained for gun- 

 washing, lashed a diminutive piece of the tail of my 

 scarlet shirt upon the hook's shank. Taking my 

 stand where there was a rush of water, produced by a 

 choke caused by the jamming of logs and vegetable 

 matter, I made a cast. In a moment I had hooked 

 a splendid fellow. For a few minutes I gave him 

 the butt, to gain time to find a landing-place. This 

 I succeeded in doing, and pulled my prey ashore, in 



