124 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
parched. Moreover, all the stories I had ever read of the 
sanguinary propensities of these scourges of the distant set- 
tlements, from “Little Red Riding Hood” to “ Robinson 
Crusoe,” recurred vividly to my recollection. 
However, quiet came with the sun, and, after a few in- 
effectual efforts, we succeeded in attracting the attention 
of a worthy redskin, who, for a trifling remuneration, land- 
ed us in the precincts of his island domicile. Our business 
was soon made known, and a hunting-party was organized 
in an inexpressibly short time. The inner man was still to 
be satisfied, and, on making our wants known, we were 
borne off willing captives to the grandest and most capa- 
cious log-cabin, no less a worthy than a chief assuming the 
responsibility of providing us with breakfast. I can not 
help here mentioning a little episode which, although it had 
not the appetizing effect of Worcestershire sauce, chutney, 
a squeeze of lemon, or other familiar auxiliaries, still had 
its influence on our then pleading stomachs. Sun-fish was 
destined for the standing dish, and as the good old squaw 
had a very small frying-pan and a large stock of the above 
finny treasures to operate upon, it behooved her to make 
several cookings; and, to prevent the results of her first 
efforts getting cold while the second lot were undergoing 
culinary operations, the aged matron, with a talent that de- 
noted great skill in adapting herself immediately to circum- 
stances, snatched a very battered and greasy straw hat off 
the head of one of the filthiest youngsters, and made it do 
duty for dish-cover. Of course, any squeamishness would 
have been a base return for the anxiety displayed that we 
should not eat our morning repast cold. An hour after- 
ward we were all en route, three buoyant, graceful birch- 
barks transferring the party, which was now augmented to 
ten, and three half-fed hounds, to the opposite beach. 
Well, all that forenoon to midday we tramped, tramped, 
