"Here one of the bravest of our men was slain." (Page 152.)
PATHFINDING ON PLAIN
AND PRAIRIE:
STIRRING SCENES OF LIFE IN THE
CANADIAN NORTH-WEST.
BY
JOHN McDOUGALL,
Author of "Forest, Lake and Prairie," "Saddle, Sled and
Snowshoe," etc.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. E. LAUGHLIN.
TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRIGGS,
WESLEY BUILDINGS.
MONTREAL: C. W. COATES. HALIFAX: S. F. HUESTIS.
1898.
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year onethousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by WILLIAM BRIGGS, at theDepartment of Agriculture.
CONTENTS.
"Thin leather homes"—Drudgery of the Indianwomen—Occupations of the men—Hunting parties andscalping forays—Triumphs of endurance
Camping in the snow—Our costume—Brilliant sunriseeffects—Maple and her pups found at last—Strikingexample of "dog sense"—The Fort Garry packet
We visit Edmonton—Nature's grand cathedral—Adventurewith a buffalo bull—A trip to Pigeon Lake—Racingwith dog-teams—An infidel blacksmith—OldJoseph proves an unerring guide—Caching ourprovisions
Epidemic breaks out among the Indians—Snow-blindness—Itake to me a wife—Our modest dowry—Myfather officiates as a Stationing Committee—Fearfulmortality among the Indians—Our journey toPigeon Lake—The epidemic attacks our camp—Arude hospital—An exciting buffalo hunt—Chasedby a maddened bull—Narrow escape
Our caravan moves on—Difficulties of packing—Oliver'sadventures with a buffalo—Novel method of "blazing"a path—Arrival at Pigeon Lake—House-building—Abundanceof fish—Indians camp aboutthe Mission—I form many enduringfriendships—Indians taught fishing with nets
We are visited by a band of Crees—Our guests steal awaywith a bunch of horses—Stonies set out in hotpursuit—Little William's strategy—Horsesrecaptured—We begin farming operations—Arrival ofMr. Steinhauer—Home to Victoria again—A memorableSabbath—My gun bursts—Narrow escape—Mymother's cares and anxieties—Home-made furniture
I travel with Maskepetoon's camp—Effects of environmenton the Indians—Nature's grandeur andbeauty—Degradation through paganism—The noble ChiefMaskepetoon—Indian councils—On the fringe ofthe buffalo herds—Indian boy lost—A falseconjurer—The lad recovered