302 THE GEE AT NORTH-WEST 



had been taught them their fright would be so great that 

 they would not attempt to renew their depredations for 

 many months. 



The time had now come for me to leave my kind 

 friend and host. The winter was not far off, and I had 

 determined to pass it in a town previously to leaving the 

 northern parts of the States permanently. I came to this 

 resolution reluctantly, and in spite of a lingering desire 

 to keep near the British frontier. My heart's desire was 

 to settle in Canada, or failing that, in one of the northern 

 States ; but by this time I had become convinced that, in 

 spite of a strong constitution, I could never weather the 

 severe winters of the North. 



After some chilly winds, accompanied by storms of 

 rain and hail, the weather suddenly cleared up, and the 

 latter half of October in this year was remarkably fine, 

 bright, and clear, though with sharp frosts every night. 

 I had purchased an old horse at this time with a covered 

 cart (not the waggon in which I afterwards for many 

 years traversed the Mississippi States), and in this I 

 determined to proceed to Marquette, where I intended to 

 pass the winter. Long Jake wished me to go with him 

 by canoe to Chicago, where he had a market for his pelts, 

 and proposed that I should take the place of " Splits," 

 the benedick, as his chum and partner, so good an opinion 

 had he of my skill and energy as a trapper. But though 

 I had discovered that there was a market for " specimens " 

 in England, my opinion was that fur-hunting, even at this 

 time, had seen its palmy days go by for ever. Pelts then, 

 as now, fetched their price, but really good furs had to be 

 sought for so far distant in the wilds, and the time and 

 trouble of bringing them in was so great, that it was im- 

 possible for a trapper to earn more than the wages of a 

 mechanic ; and he was fortunate who could do that. So 

 I declined Jake's offer, and we parted with a hearty shake 

 of the hand and mutual regret, for we had been excellent 

 comrades. 



