Winter Adventures of Three Boys | Page 7

in the morning. Fortunately the additional hours of
bitter cold had so strengthened it that no serious difficulty was
anticipated in crossing over, even if the loads were much heavier.
But another event occurred, quite unexpected, indeed, and which, while
it did much to impede their progress, created a good deal of excitement
and interest. The first intimation of its coming was the sudden cry of
wild geese not very far away. Their "Honk! honk!" was very distinct,
and not only excited the boys, but also the dogs. The loose dogs, in
spite of all the calls of the Indians, at once dashed off in the direction
from which the loud calls were coming, while the sleigh dogs were
almost unmanageable. Prompt and quick were the men to act. The
excited dog-trains were bunched and tied together and left in charge of
a couple of Indians, while Mr Ross and the boys and a couple of
Indians went forward to investigate.
To the right, a couple of hundred yards away, was a rocky island, on

one side of which was a reedy marsh. From among the reeds and rushes
the loud calls of the geese were coming. Into these plunged the dogs,
while the men and boys climbed up on the rocks where they could
overlook the whole spot, which was only of a few acres in extent. The
experienced eyes of the Indians took in the whole situation at a glance.
The young geese had not been strong enough to fly away to the sunny
South Land when the call to go had come, and so the old geese had left
them behind to perish. And so now here they were, over twenty of them.
A novel goose hunt was organised, and, while the boys looked on, the
Indians, with the dogs' help, soon secured quite a number. Some of
them were easily killed, as they were securely frozen to the icy reeds.
Others rushed about in a vain attempt to escape, but they were so
chilled by the cold that they were easily captured. The sleds were piled
up with this additional load of geese, and the journey was resumed.
Later on in the evening the boys heard from Kinesasis more about those
young geese and why they were there. They also learned some truths
from nature that abode with them for many a day.
Without much difficulty the dangerous places in Playgreen Lake were
passed, and the return run down Jack River was begun. The loose
young dogs were pretty well wearied by the long trip and required
some coaxing, and even the occasional crack of the whip was necessary
to urge them to keep up. It is amazing what a latent amount of strength
and speed there is in a tired dog. Here was a striking example of it.
While the trains were jogging along, and the young dogs with tongues
out and tails down were wearily following after and looking as though
they were deeply bemoaning their lot, suddenly a splendid cross-fox
sprang out from the dense forest on one side of the river and
deliberately dashed across before the dogs on the frozen ice toward the
other shore. All evidence of weariness at once disappeared. With a hue
and cry that would have done credit to a first-class pack of hounds they
were all off, sleigh dogs as well as loose ones.
The ice was so slippery that it required quite an effort on the part of the
drivers of the carioles to control their dogs and get them in line. If the
truth must be told, the boys richly enjoyed the short burst of speed and

the exciting chase, which ended almost as soon as it began, for Reynard
was too much for the young dogs and soon reached the shelter of the
wooded shore.
The beautiful evening stars were shining in the western sky ere the
welcome lights in the windows of Sagasta-weekee were seen. A hearty
welcome was given to the returning party by Mrs Ross and the children.
All were anxious to hear about the first day's winter outing, and each
boy had to give his own version of the day's excitements and pleasures.
The commodious kennels were soon taken possession of by the tired
dogs. Indian servants had abundance of fish ready for them, and a
watchful oversight was kept upon them that the stronger ones should
not rob the weaker or younger ones, a trick, we are sorry to say, of
which some dogs are guilty.
After the hearty supper and prayers were over in the dining room, and
the younger children had retired to rest, Mr and Mrs Ross and the boys
went out into the capacious kitchen to hear old Kinesasis give his
version of the goose hunt.