38 RECREATION. 
days we remained there, we saw them sev- 
eral times, but Father's tactics neyer failed 
to cause them to retreat whenever he con- 
cluded they were approaching too near. 
Each day he became more convinced of their 
cowardice and, in turn, became bolder, until 
finally the sight or sound of the approach- 
ing canoe would cause him to bellow fero- 
ciously and prepare to charge should they 
have the temerity to draw near. 
As I continued to gain in strength and 
ability, so did I begin to feel more indepen- 
dent, to chafe at the restraint put upon me 
while with my parents, and to long to ven- 
ture away by myself. In my foolish vanity 
I believed that 1 was perfectly able to take 
care of myself. These feelings became more 
prominent day by day, until finally an op- 
portunity came to steal away from the fam- 
ily undetected, of which I quickly availed 
myself. The locality in which we were when 
I made my break for independence was one 
little visited by men and through which 
many moose range during the summer. 
There were game trails running in all direc- 
tions, which to a stranger in the country 
were of great value in getting around by the 
easiest and most secluded ways. For a 
few days everything went well. Browse 
of various kinds was plentiful, and the 
country was well watered with numerous 
sparkling little brooks. However, the flies 
came to me by day in swarms, and I kept 
looking for a place where I could plunge 
in and rid myself of them. . 
The general direction of my travels had 
been toward the South, and one day I came 
out on a bog, barren except for a stunted 
growth of low bushes. On the far side of 
the bog was a large body of water, and 
toward it I at once made my. way. It 
proved an extensive pond, although at the 
shore nearest me the water was very shal- 
low. By wading out, however, I felt as- 
sured I could get the depth I desired, and 
as the pond seemed deserted of all life dan- 
gerous to my kind I qnickly resolved that 
here would I take the plunge for which I 
had been longing. On entering the water 
I was surprised at the instability of the 
bottom underneath. This was different 
from any mud in which I had before waded 
and, although it let my legs *down deep, 
notwithstanding my feet were expanded to 
their full width, yet it seemed to cling, and 
it was with great difficulty that I could 
make headway. I managed to get out until 
the mud and water were well up toward my 
body, when I waited to gain wind and 
strength for another advance. I had been 
slowly settling lower into the thick ooze 
while standing still, and on attempting to 
continue out I was horrified to discover that 
I could lift neither foot free from the tena- 
cious mud. How I struggled and strove to 
liberate my feet from the fettering bottom, 
what lunges and plunges I made, and what 
despair settled on me when, out of breath 
and thoroughly exhausted, I was forced 
to admit that it was impossible for me un- 
aided to get in deep enough to swim or 
to regain the solid shore behind. What 
a fool I had been to leave the protection 
and care of my fond parents, and how 
miserably should I perish did not they or 
someone come to my assistance. I gave a 
plaintive call, but no answering sound came 
to my anxious ears over the forsaken bog. 
Again and again I called with like result; 
again and again I struggled frantically for 
freedom, but my strength was going fast 
and each effort was more futile than the 
preceding. 
The sun was getting low toward the 
Western horizon when I was filled with 
consternation to observe a boat approaching. 
In it were men and they drew near swiftly, 
as if they had noticed my plight and were 
determined to take advantage of it. From 
babyhood I had been continually taught to 
avoid man. He, alone, kills for the mere 
lust of killing. With no young at home in 
want of food, with his own larder well 
supplied, and with no necessity for hunting, 
he often goes forth seeking that which he 
may slay. It was said there were excep- 
tions among them; that some had instincts 
and feelings as elevated as those common 
among ourselves, but that the indictment 
was true against so many that the only safe 
course was to shun all, it being impossible 
to determine until too late in whom the 
murderous traits were predominant. 
With these teachings recurring to me 
you can imagine with what feelings I saw 
the men in the boat come up to me. 
Whew! How they did smell of smoke 
and what a shiver of fear the odor caused 
me! They, however, made no move to do 
me any immediate harm, but after examin- 
ing me carefully from all sides, took their 
departure. My relief at seeing them go was 
but short_lived, as they returned soon after- 
ward, and with them came many more in 
other boats. They had brought ropes which 
they tied, some around my neck, others 
about my body. At a signal the cords were 
tightened and I was pulled toward deeper 
water. My tongue lolled from, my mouth, 
and my head was on the point of being sep- 
arated from my neck, when the mud gave 
way from my leg and I surged forward. I 
endeavored to regain my feet, but the boats 
kept advancing and I was pulled along, 
ignominously struggling, until deep water 
was reached. Then I was permitted to 
swim, but the restraining ropes allowed of 
no course except to follow the boats. I 
struck out for shore repeatedly, but imme- 
diately the neck ropes tightened,- under 
went my head, and to save myself from 
drowning I was forced to turn toward my 
“ a a " 
EE EE EE ae 
