DOWN THE ATHABASCA 



hospitalities, and in accordance with his ideas of propriety, 

 refreshments were given him. He accepted them as those of 

 his race usually receive all favors, as no more than his right, 

 and without a smile or the least visible expression of pleasure, 

 seated himself by the fire to enjoy them. 



On the following morning the great walls of ice, which 

 we had been passing for miles, began to disappear as the 

 channel of the river became wider. At about 9.30 we reached 

 a place known as the Rapid of the Jolly Fool. It is said to 

 have received its name from the fact that at one time an awk- 

 ward canoeman lost his life by allowing his canoe to be 

 smashed upon the most conspicuous rock in the rapid. We 

 wasted no time examining it, as it was reported to be an 

 easy one, but, keeping near the left bank, headed our little 

 crafts into the rushing waters. We had descended only a 

 short distance, and were turning a bend in the stream, when, 

 a little ahead of us, my brother noticed moving objects on 

 the shore. One of the men said they were wolves, while 

 others maintained they were bears, but my brother, getting 

 his rifle in readiness, terminated the discussion by demanding 

 silence. As we swept swiftly dovra. with the current, the 

 objects were seen to be a moose deer and her calf. Having 

 no fresh meat on hand, these new-found acquaintances were 

 hailed as " well met." ISTot until our canoes had approached 

 within about one hundred and fifty yards did the old moose, 

 standing in the shallow water near the river bank, appear to 

 notice us. Then, apparently apprehending danger, but with- 

 out alarm, she turned toward the shore, and, followed by her 

 calf, walked up the bank towards the woods. As she did so 

 my brother made a fine shot from, his canoe, wounding her 

 in the hind-quarters. I then fired, but struck the clay bank 

 above the animal's head, and in attempting to reload, the 

 shell stuck in my rifie, making it impossible for me to fire 

 again. Just as the moose was disappearing into the woods 



23 



