106 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



But instead of thinking of wreaking his rage upon the 

 wolverine, the poor old Indian was so completely intimidated 

 by the wily brute, so discouraged and so despondent, that he 

 imagined that the whole transaction was the work of some evil 

 spirit. As a result, he not only gave up hunting the wolverine, 

 but he gave up hunting altogether, and he and his family would 

 have starved had not friends come to their rescue and rendered 

 them assistance until his grandsons were old enough to take 

 charge. 



PREPARING FOR WINTER 



After our return to the home-camp we experienced several 

 weeks of perfect Indian summer, and its passing was marked by 

 one of the most beautiful natural phenomena I have ever seen. 

 It happened when the deciduous trees were at their height of 

 autumnal glory, and when — as though to add still more to the 

 wonderful scene — three inches of clinging snow having fallen 

 during the night, glittered under the brilliant morning sun. 

 Truly it was a glory to behold — a perfect panorama of rioting 

 greens, yellows, browns, blues, reds, grays, crimsons, purples, in 

 fact, every colour which an artist's palette could carry; and 

 through it all was ever woven a mass of lace-like brilliant white 

 that dazzled the eyes of the beholder. Only once in fifty years 

 have I beheld a scene so enchanting. 



Next day, however, a strong wind blew wild-looking leaden 

 clouds over the forest, and Autumn, taking fright, threw aside 

 her gorgeous rustling mantle and fled away; while the loons on 

 the lake fairly shrieked with laughter. 



Meanwhile, the work in preparation for the coming of winter 

 had made good progress. Already the women and children 

 had laid out their own little trapping paths — principally for 

 ermine, rabbits, partridges, muskrats, and skunks, the game 

 found nearest camp; and many another thing had the women 

 attended to. Though they still possessed the sticking-plaster 



