ARKIVAL OF THE BOAT. 



71 



this resemblance, that several times during the night I 

 woke with the impression that I was listening to chimes. 

 When the breeze subsided, and the waves played gently 

 on the beach, a low wailing sound would be heard from 

 our camping place, about 300 yards from the cliffs where 

 the noise was produced. At night it was peculiarly im- 

 pressive, and as we lay on the moss-covered rock, it was 

 very easy to comprehend the objection which uneducated 

 Indians, naturally of a fanciful and superstitious turn of 

 mind, should have to land or remain on this " fairy " 

 island. 



On the night of Monday, the 25th October, we built as 

 usual a large fire on the beach to serve as a beacon light 

 to Mr. Fleming, and at nine lay down to sleep. White- 

 way was telling me about the adventure of Sho-Shons, 

 (Long-ears), whose tent was within a few miles of us, and 

 who was tossed by a buffalo bull when hunting in the 

 prairies during the past summer, when at 10 p. M. three 

 shots were heard, apparently about three miles north of 

 the island. We sprang up and replied with three shots, 

 and proceeded at once to supply the beacon fire with dry 

 wood. Whiteway put his ear to the water's edge, and 

 after a short pause declared that he heard oars. After a 

 few minutes we fired three more shots, and waited the 

 result ; in half an hour's time the boat loomed through 

 the gloom, and before eleven o'clock Mr. Fleming and the 

 crew were on Manitobah Island. 



They had been detained by contrary winds, but were 

 successful in killing prairie hen *, duck and plover in 

 the upper part of the lake, near Crow Bay. At sunset 

 Mr. Fleming had touched a low point a few miles to the 

 north-east of our island, where Indians were encamped ; 



* The Prairie Hen or Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao cupido, is not often found 

 so far north as lat. 52° in the wooded country. 



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