WHITE MAN AND RED 131 



Then Major Jarvis and Corporal Selig boarded the 

 smaller canoe. We shook hands warmly, and I at 

 least had a lump in my throat; they were such good 

 fellows in camp, and to part this way when we espe- 

 cially felt bound to stick together, going each of us 

 on a journey of privation and peril, seemed especially 

 hard; and we were so hungry. But we were living 

 our lives. They rounded the bend, we waved good- 

 bye, and I have never seen them since. 



Hitherto I was a guest; now I was in sole command, 

 and called a council of war. Billy was stanch and 

 ready to go anywhere at any cost. So was Preble. 

 Bezkya was sulky and rebellious. Physically, I had 

 been at the point of a total breakdown when I left 

 home; the outdoor life had been slowly restoring me, 

 but the last few days had weakened me sadly and I 

 was not fit for a long expedition on foot. But of one 

 thing I was sure, we must halt till we got food. A 

 high wind was blowing and promised some respite to 

 the Moose from the little enemy that sings except 

 when he stings, so I invited Bezkya to gird up his 

 loins and make another try for Moose. 



Nothing loath, he set off with Billy. I marked them 

 well as they went, one lithe, sinewy, active, animal- 

 eyed; the other solid and sturdy, following doggedly, 

 keeping up by sheer blundering strength. I could not 

 but admire them, each in his kind. 



Two hours later I heard two shots, and toward 

 evening the boys came back slowly, tired but happy, 

 burdened with the meat, for Bezkya was a moose- 

 hunter. 



