BUSINESS AND ROMANCE 313 



But, as good luck would have it, I went down upon the gun. 

 As I rose to my feet, I slipped a cap on the nipple just as the 

 bear comes chargin' around the fire facing us. I ups an' lets 

 him have it full in the mouth. The shot nearly stunned him. 

 While he was clawin' the pain in his face I had time to re-load, 

 an' lets him have it behind the ear, an' he drops dead without 

 a whimper. 



"Then — would you believe it? — the Archdeacon goes up to 

 the shaggy carcass, puts his foot on the bear's head, an' stands 

 there lookin' for all the world like British Columbia discoverin' 

 America, an' says: 



" 'There, now, Billy Brass, I hope you have learned a lesson. 

 Next time you will know where to place your trust.' 



"Well, sir, the way he was lettin' on that he had saved the 

 whole outfit made me mad. So I ups an' says : 



" 'Yes, sir, an' if I hadn't put me trust in me gun, there would 

 have been another Archdeacon in heaven.'" 



THE TRUTH ABOUT WOODSMEN 



It was now growing late. For a while the smiling Indians, 

 half-breeds, and white men smoked in silence; then one after 

 another, each knocked the ashes from his pipe, arose, stretched 

 himself, and sauntered off to his bed, whether in a tent, under a 

 canoe, or in the open. Walking down to the water's edge I 

 watched the moonlight for a while, then passsd quietly from one 

 smouldering fire to another. Some of the men were still talking 

 together in low tones so as not to disturb those who were 

 already seeking slumber, while others were arranging their 

 bedding; and still others were devoutly kneeling in prayer to 

 The Master of Life. 



Thus during the four seasons of the year I had lived with and 

 observed the men of the northern wilderness; and not only had 

 I learned to like and respect them, but to admire their gene- 



