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Updated: May 22, 2025
To stalk them so quietly as to be able to get within range and shoot the bears might terrify the children, or they might be wounded by the bullets. There was much talking and many suggestions. A remark from Mustagan gave Mrs Ross a hint, and so a woman's quick intuition solved the perplexing question.
As was quite natural, there was a good deal of good-natured rivalry among them, as to which canoe would come, the honour of killing the first loon. Mustagan, who had charge of one of these canoes, was an old hand at this work, and, as he was a keen hunter, had caught this spirit of rivalry that had arisen.
I'll be denying the whole thing to-morrow, although I saw the complete performance to-day." The next morning Frank was fully recovered from this queer blow, and just as eager as ever to take his place in his nest with Mustagan. The wind veered around to the south-east, and so all of the decoys had to be changed. The shooting was good all day, but not equal to the previous one.
"How in the world did you find out where this bear's den is which you are inviting us to see?" said Alec. "Perhaps," said Frank, "he marked it in the fall, like other Indians mark their beavers' houses." "No, indeed," said Mustagan. "I never thought of one being in that place until I found it by the steam." Here was a bigger mystery than ever. "Steam!" said Sam; "and where was the engine?"
The wild ducks and geese are easily left behind by the beautiful and graceful swans. When the swans were picked up the journey was resumed, and the friendly contest between Alec and Mustagan continued. Soon a large flock of ducks flew over them. It being Mustagan's turn he fired, and as his arrow returned it was in the heart of a splendid duck.
The bears, at first only seeing the boys, came rushing toward them, but when they reached their young ones they stopped for a time, and then came on to attack the boys. To the ledge of rocks Mustagan had carried the now happy children. They had nearly smothered "dear old Mustagan," as they loved to call him, with their kisses.
During the second night the wind, which had been blowing from the north-east, suddenly veered round to the south-west. This was noticed at once by the old, experienced men, Mustagan, Big Tom, Memotas, and Kinesasis, who had been invited by Mr Ross to join his party.
"Drop your guns," said Mustagan, "and fight with your axes and knives." And fight they had to, for the bears were now full of fight and each went for an opponent. Sam bravely tackled a fine two-year-old with his axe. He raised it and made a desperate blow to try and split the animal's skull open.
He struck one of them and mortally wounded it, but it had vitality enough left to keep itself up until it reached the nest where Frank and Mustagan were crouched down, watching another flock that was approaching from the other side.
Fact is," added the old Indian, who had never seen a person with his hair standing up like Sam's, "Indian thinks you will have to keep killing bears until your hair gets over its scare and lies down flat again." This bit of humour from Mustagan amused everybody, and Sam himself joined heartily in the laugh. Thus they chatted until the guns and axes arrived. Then the work was vigorously pursued.
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