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20 



DEARS AND BEAVERS, 



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zv hip-poor-wills and kati-dids^ the first a bird and the 

 latter an insect. If encamped near water you will 

 also frequcntlv hear the ueep full voice of the bull- 

 frog, and it Co . make a row when it has a mind to, 

 but it is a pleasant row after all, for it is a full and 

 sonorous bass, but with a tinge of bluster. This last 

 may be imagination, arrived at from knowing what a 

 contemptible cowardly thing the voice emanates from. 

 It is more than possible that such is the case, for 

 appearances go very lar with the human family. 



By sun-up next morning the kettle was singing, 

 and the frying pan sputtering over the camp hre, 

 and breakfast was about to be commenced, when an 

 Indian of the Chippewa tribe, from the neighbouring 

 village of Rama, joined me. He was an old 

 acquaintance, and when sober one of the best of 

 good fellows, but when drunk — which I fear was 

 very often — a most thorough bore. 



Poor Joe had evidently just terminated a debauch, 

 for he was very dirty, poorly clad, and without his 

 gun. On calling his attention to these facts, with- 

 out hesitation he informed me that he had pawned 

 his rifle for rum, and new was going a round of 

 traps, with the hope that he would secure some pelts 

 to redeem his invaluable weapon. With him he 

 had no arms, if I except his tomahawk and a power- 

 ful pole of rock elm, serving alike as walking-stick 

 and weapon of defence. 



Having satisfied our hunger, I dis'^losed to the 

 Indian my plans, when it was resolved iiat he would 

 join me at the bluff in the course of an hour. 



After Joe had disappeared into the forest, I em- 

 barked, and between fishing and make-belief employ- 

 ments, passed the intermediate time. On landing at 

 the bluff, however, there was no sign of Joe. Impa- 

 tiently I waited for an hour, but as the expected man 

 did not put in an appearance, I started for my trap. 

 Whew ! there had been a row at the bower house and 



