THE CANADA GROUSE. 119 
olden times, when the whites were scarce in the country, 
would have cost the pilferer his life, for they think that 
a person who touches the dead or steals anything belonging 
to them ought to be killed, to appease their manes, or that 
the tribe will suffer from some great calamity. We were 
very sorry for what we had done, but as we could not 
undo it, we concluded to make the best of our position, 
and go without the guide until we could get another. 
Our first act was to inquire who would act as cook, but 
as nobody seemed willing to volunteer for that situation, 
it was voted that whoever missed the first shot during 
the day should be unanimously elected chief of the 
kitchen. When we moved out of camp every one was 
fully determined not to be elected if he could help it, 
but as the “best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft 
a glee,” we found it the same, for the gentleman who had 
the most objection to that situation-—he who loved the 
tent pole so much that he would not move away from it 
while we were erecting our quarters—fired at a grouse 
that rose almost at his feet, and missed it in the cleanest 
manner. 
This feat was greeted with a hearty cheer, and the per- 
former was promptly ordered back to prepare dinner, dire 
threats being hurled at him in case he proved derelict in 
his duties. He looked very much crest-fallen at his ill 
fortune, but he obeyed the fiat for all that, and solemnly 
returned to camp to apostrophize salt pork, and rue the 
moment he so far forgot himself as to fire at that grouse. 
When he left us, we walked slowly in an extended line, and 
carefully scanned every shrub and tree in search of game. 
I saw a large black bear at one time, but having nothing 
larger than No. 5 shot in my case, I allowed it to escape 
without a salute, as it did not seem to want to know me, 
or else it had such urgent business in another direction 
that it could not stop to make my acqnaintance. 
A wolf also passed close by and halted to gaze on me, 
