BULLETS AND THEIR BILLETS 



their course for game. A lodge had been 

 built, and the naked medicine man was 

 proceeding with his incantations, and 

 wrestling with the spirits he had in- 

 voked. Half in jest, half in earnest, 

 for Bastien is himself an Indian, he ap- 

 pealed to the conjurer to recover the 

 knife, the latter agreed to attempt it. 

 From time to time groans, and agonized 

 voices, reached the ears of those outside. 

 "O it is far it is far the way is rough 

 I am tired I am tired the moun- 

 tains are high." Then for a long time 

 there was silence. At length the con- 

 jurer crept forth exhausted, foaming at 

 the mouth, covered with sweat. 



"Look to-morrow in the third spruce 

 tree, on the right side of the trail, 

 there you will find your knife. ' ' It was 

 more curiosity than conviction that led 

 Bastien next morning to go a few yards 

 along the trail. In the third spruce tree 

 to the right his knife was sticking. 



195 



