The Drama of the Forests | Page 3

for a couple of weeks. Will you?"
I laughed.
He frowned. But on realizing that my mirth was caused only by
surprise, he smiled again and let flow a vivid description of a place he
called Spearhead. It was the home of the northern fur trade. It was the
centre of a great timber region. It was the heart of a vast fertile belt that
was rapidly becoming the greatest of all farming districts. It was built
on the fountain head of gigantic water power. It virtually stood over the
very vault that contained the richest veins of mineral to be found in the
whole Dominion--at least that's what he said--and he also assured me
that the Government had realized it, too, for was it not going to hew a
provincial highway clean through the forest to Spearhead? Was it not
going to build a fleet of steamers to ply upon the lakes and rivers in that
section? And was it not going to build a line of railroad to the town
itself in order to connect it with the new transcontinental and thus put it
in communication with the great commercial centres of the East and the

West? In fact, he also impressed upon me that Spearhead was a town
created for young men who were not averse to becoming wealthy in
whatever line of business they might choose. It seemed that great riches
were already there and had but to be lifted. Would I go?
But when I explained that although I was single, and quite free, I was
not a business man, he became crestfallen, but presently revived
enough to exclaim:
"Well, what the dickens are you?"
"An artist," I replied.
"Oh, I see! Well . . . we need an artist very badly. You'll have the field
all to yourself in Spearhead. Besides, your pictures of the fur trade and
of pioneer life would eventually become historical and bring you no
end of wealth. You had better come. Better decide right away, or some
other artist chap will get ahead of you."
But when I further explained that I was going to spend the winter in the
wilderness, that I had already written to the Hudson's Bay Factor at
Fort Consolation and that he was expecting me, Spear gloated:
"Bully boy!" and slapping me on the shoulder, he chuckled: "Why, my
town is just across the lake from Fort Consolation. A mere five-mile
paddle, old chap, and remember, I extend to you the freedom of
Spearhead in the name of its future mayor. And, man alive, I'm leaving
for there to-morrow morning in a big four-fathom birch bark, with four
Indian canoe-men. Be my guest. It won't cost you a farthing, and we'll
make the trip together."
I gladly accepted. The next morning we started. Free Trader Spear was
a character, and I afterward learned that he was an Oxford University
man, who, having been "ploughed," left for Canada, entered the service
of the Hudson's Bay Company, and had finally been moved to Fort
Consolation where he served seven years, learned the fur-trade business,
and resigned to become a "free trader" as all fur traders are called who
carry on business in opposition to "The Great Company." We were

eight days upon the trip, but, strange to say, during each day's travel
toward Spearhead, his conversation in reference to that thriving town
made it appear to grow smaller and smaller, until at last it actually
dwindled down to such a point, that, about sunset on the day we were
to arrive, he turned to me and casually remarked:
"Presently you'll see Fort Consolation and the Indian village beyond.
Spearhead is just across the lake, and by the bye, my boy, I forgot to
tell you that Spearhead is just my log shack. But it's a nice little place,
and you'll like it when you pay us a visit, for I want you to meet my
wife."
Then our canoe passed a jutting point of land and in a moment the
scene was changed--we were no longer on a river, but were now upon a
lake, and the wilderness seemed suddenly left behind.
AT FORT CONSOLATION
On the outer end of a distant point a cluster of poplars shaded a small,
clapboarded log house. There, in charge of Fort Consolation, lived the
Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. Beyond a little lawn enclosed by
a picket fence stood the large storehouse. The lower floor of this was
used as a trading room; the upper story served for a fur loft. Behind
were seen a number of shanties, then another large building in which
dog-sleds and great birch-bark canoes were stored. Farther away was a
long open shed, under which those big canoes were built, then a few
small huts