54 Field and Forest Rambles. 



sions of a moose, then the broader and less hollow prints of 

 the reindeer ; the fox's sharply denned dimples, the lynx's 

 broad pads, and shallow track of the sable or mink, whilst 

 from beneath every bush close around the bivouac, are seen 

 innumerable sojournings of the smaller weasels that come 

 forth at night to feed on the refuse of our humble fare, or the 

 little short-tailed wood mouse, attracted by the light and heat, 

 and not yet taught to fear man, is seen running about the 

 humble hearth. I think, moreover, of the Indian, seated on 

 the opposite side of the log fire, pipe in mouth, mending a 

 torn moccasin, as he narrated some hunting or trapping adven- 

 ture, or what was always most akin to his fancy, a discourse 

 on the supernatural. Indeed, their belief in ghosts and goblins, 

 fairies, water sprites, and monster animals, if in any way inferior 

 to that of their forefathers, must indeed be small. 



It used to be my favourite occupation during visits to Indian 

 villages, or in excursions to the wilderness, to provoke discus- 

 sions on all sorts of traditional stories, or elicit personal narra- 

 tives in regard to their habits and customs, and, I will say, a 

 more impracticable race does not exist. It was of no use 

 talking to the squaw on any subject save the price of moc- 

 casins or snow shoes, for, indeed, little she cared to tell her 

 social life, whilst the man was seldom induced to talk unless 

 when separated from the others. But by the blazing log 

 fire in the depths of the forest, during the winter night, when 

 he and the European attempt to wile away the long hours, 

 there comes over him at times a disposition to be commu- 

 nicative, and nothing will delight him more than narrating 

 his experiences of the supernatural, of which he has generally 

 a few sensational instances handy, and is generally prepared 

 to listen to any fresh example, more especially if at all 

 connected with forest life. My friend Mr. Edward Jack, 

 the most experienced wilderness traveller in the province, 

 informed me that he nearly terrified an old Indian out of his 

 wits by assuring him that "a monster spirit had appeared close 



