THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 119 



He did not pause in his work as I drove 

 past, nor heed my friendly shout of c Halloo, 

 Joe ! ' This did not offend me, as I had heard 

 of his eccentric habits. I drove directly to the 

 shed, unhitched, watered, and fed my ponies, and 

 then strolled leisurely into the hut. There were 

 no chairs, but plenty of old boxes piled in a 

 corner. I selected one of these, and drawing it 

 near to the fire warmed myself. No one had 

 welcomed me, but (in those days) in Muskoka 

 a traveller did not stand on ceremony. Soon 

 I heard the tramp of heavy moccasins on the 

 crisp snow, notifying me of Joe's coming home. 

 He entered, staggering under a huge armful 

 of wood logs. With a mere warning of ' by 

 leave ' and * legs,' he threw the whole load upon 

 the floor in such close proximity to my feet that 

 had I not quickly and deftly raised them, I 

 should probably have limped for many a day. 

 There was no apology ; everything was taken 

 as a matter of course, if one man was busy and 

 another idle the idle man should keep his eyes 

 open, and await his opportunity to do his share 

 when the time came. Muskoka settlers dislike 

 watchers, and trappers hate them. Though 

 Joe had made no remarks, he soon became very 



