THE WOLF. 465 



shot one of his assailants with his single-barreled, flint-lock 

 gun, he had drawn his tomahawk from his belt, and fought 

 desperately for his life. From the number of skulls and 

 other portions of the bodies of the Wolves found at the 

 scene of the tragedy, it was concluded that the Indian had 

 killed fourteen of the Wolves before he had been over- 

 powered — all of which had been devoured by their fellows 

 excepting the bones. Like his scriptural prototype, the 

 Algonquin Sampson did not fall unavenged. 



In connection with my subject, the following story may 

 prove interesting. It is an old tradition now. I shall give 

 it as told by a great-grandson of the hero of the tale, who 

 died, in this county, about ten years ago. Whether true 

 or not, it is a credited tradition amongst the Tete du Boule 

 Indians, who inhabit the region surrounding the upper and 

 head waters of the Gatineau, one of the largest tributaries 

 of the Ottawa River, the point of confluence of which with 

 the latter stream is within about one mile of the north- 

 eastern limits of the City of Ottawa. 



During the early settlement of Canada by the French, an 

 adventurous hunter named Baptiste Sabourin penetrated 

 this northern wilderness, and began tra^Dping and hunting 

 within the limits of the hunting-grounds of the Tete du 

 Boule Indians, about two hundred miles north of the 

 Ottawa River. His adventure was a daring one, but the 

 temi)tation was great, as, at that early day, the forests 

 were full of game. Moose, Caribou, Otters, Beavers, Bears, 

 and Black Foxes abounded in those i)rimeval solitudes, the 

 peltries of which could be advantageously disposed of 

 at Montreal and Quebec. 



Sabourin had been hunting but a short time when he 

 was discovered and surprised by a party of Indians, who 

 took him prisoner and brought hitn before Wanonga, the 

 chief of the Tete du Boules. A council was called, and 

 after the usual deliberations, the daring hunter was con- 

 demned to death; but, as in the case of Pocahontas and 

 Captain John Smith, the execution of the sentence was 



30 



