226 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



lak you doan want a see me. Wat for you go off dat 

 a-way?" 



He had come in on my branch of the stream, and if I 

 had got out of sight or hearing before he arrived there 

 would have been a long and useless tramp for me and 

 perhaps one for him to find me. Who knows but we 

 both might still be going the rounds in the wilds of Wis- 

 consin on each other's trails? I made him hot coffee, 

 while he unslung his pack and washed, and then it was 

 good to see the old man "heat." Slices of cold boiled 

 bear ham, hot broiled venison steak, tin cups of coffee, 

 and more bread than I dare tell, went in quantities, and 

 it seemed a long time before he pulled his stool to the fire 

 and said: "Gimme dat tobac'." 



It took three pipefuls before he felt like talking, and 

 then, seeing that I betrayed no curiosity, he said: "I got 

 dat ole dev'," and then paused. I knew him too well to 

 make any reply or ask a question. He had taken his 

 first liking to me because I had happened to betray no 

 curiosity, and I knew that if he was questioned he would 

 give short answers; but if let alone he would tell it all in 

 his own way, and be anxious to do it. His pack of skins 

 lay on the floor unopened. I sat and looked at the fire, 

 for I could not smoke as much as he, and when the spirit 

 again moved him he said: "I got hees skin dere in de 

 pack; w'en I hopen it you see heem. He make me hard 

 run all-a night after I break his laig f'um where I hide 

 by my trap, an' it was his front laig; so he go 'long good, 

 an* I'll run all de night w'en I can see heem or hees 

 track, an' I shoot-a heem t'ree time on a run an' I no hit 

 heem. W'en day come I see da track plain, an' I stop 

 for res' an heat my grub. Ole Carcajou he no lak-a day- 

 tarn for be hout, an' I t'ink me he fin' some hole for lay 

 hup in. So I go 'long slow for give heem tam to fin' 



