124 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



parched. Moreover, all the stories I had ever read of the 

 sanguinary propensities of these scourges of the distant set- 

 tlements, from "Little Red Riding Hood" to "Robinson 

 Crusoe," recurred vividly to my recollection. 



However, quiet came with the sun, and, after a few in- 

 effectual efforts, we succeeded in attracting the attention 

 of a worthy redskin, who, for a. trifling remuneration, land- 

 ed us in the precincts of his island domicile. Our business 

 was soon made known, and a hunting-party was organized 

 in an inexpressibly short time. The inner man was still to 

 be satisfied, and, on making our wants known, we were 

 borne off willing captives to the grandest and most capa- 

 cious log-cabin, no less a worthy than a chief assuming the 

 responsibility of providing us with breakfast. I can not 

 help here mentioning a little epfsode which, although it had 

 not the appetizing effect of Worcestershire sauce, chutney, 

 a squeeze of lemon, or other familiar auxiliaries, still had 

 its influence on our then pleading stomachs. Sun-fish was 

 destined for the standing dish, and as the good old squaw 

 had a very small frying-pan and a large stock of the above 

 finny treasures to operate upon, it behooved her to make 

 several cookings ; and, to prevent the results of her first 

 efforts getting cold while the second lot were undergoing 

 culinary operations, the aged matron, with a talent that de- 

 noted great skill in adapting herself immediately to circum- 

 stances, snatched a very battered and greasy straw hat off 

 the head of one of the filthiest youngsters, and made it do 

 duty for dish-cover. Of course, any squeamishness would 

 have been a base return for the anxiety displayed that we 

 should not eat our morning repast cold. An hour after- 

 ward we were all en route, three buoyant, graceful birch- 

 barks transferring the party, which was now augmented to 

 ten, and three half- fed hounds, to the opposite beach. 



Well, all that forenoon to midday we tramped, tramped, 



