6 IN A FRONTIER SETTLEMENT 



" Ya, stranger, it's the bushman's way. They 

 live not by what they say, but by what they do. 

 Words ain't much use to them ; my trade's 

 different." 



" Yes, Neal, you've a persuasive tongue, and 

 you make by it. But is there any chance of 

 this new-comer accepting hire for a summer on 

 the canoe trail ? " 



" I don't know. It's hard to hire those men 

 for love or money if the work ' don't ' appeal to 

 them. Going far, Stranger ? " 



" Yes. I leave on the long trail north to 

 Brochet ' as soon as ice moves in Crooked Lake. 

 Stiff going, they tell me ; few in those parts 

 have been right through. Bad rapids on the 

 Churchill ; blind ' takes ' 2 on all the lakes." 



" Aye, I've heard tell o' it, Stranger, dreary 



tales too. But Joe's your man, if he will go. 



He's reckoned a good hand here." 



We parted then — each to bunk for the night. 

 • • • • • 



Next morning, I entered into conversation 

 with Joe Ryan as we were standing together at 

 the entrance to the Boarding House idly enjoy- 

 ing the glorious fresh spring air. 



" Do you feel it, man ? " I exclaimed, turning 

 to the new-comer with enthusiasm. " This 

 Earth's awakening ! this full, rich flood, which, 

 at the bidding of the mellow wind, trembles in 

 every timbre of the forest. The sleep of the 

 snows is over. Is it not so ? " 



1 Far North Hudson Bay Fort on north end of Reindeer Lake. 



2 Blind " takes " — the heads of rivers where the lake waters 

 find outlet, often concealed behind forested points, or some' 

 where in a score or two of bays. 



