CHAPTER XII
The Canadian Winter
"It aer jest blowin' an almighty gale, and there ain't nothing to dobut feed and make our snowshoes," said Hank, when early on thefollowing morning he and Joe looked out of the shack. "It aer a luckything fer us that we brought a tidy-sized piece of pork along with us,'cos this gale might last fer days. Not as I think it will, but itmight; and ef we hadn't had plenty of grub, gee! it would ha' been abad case."
Such a prospect met Joe's gaze when he stood to his full height and,having helped to throw the snow away from the entrance of the shack,peered over the white edge before him! The trees on either hand wereheavily laden with snow. Branches here and there had crashed to theground and lay in an unrecognizable heap, save for a twig here or astronger bough there thrusting a way upward into the light; for allaround everything was covered, smoothly clad in an all-pervadingvestment of white. Gorgeous blue shadows lurked here and there, thefaintness of the colouring adding to its beauty. Long icicles, besidewhich those to be seen in England were but babies, hung from branchesalready overweighted, one, a ponderous fellow, drooping to within a fewfeet of the shack; for the heat of the fire had melted the snow as itfell upon a branch above, and had produced this monster with the helpof the frost.
"You kin get in at breakfast," said Hank, looking about him with themanner of a man who saw nothing extraordinary about the transformationwhich had arrived since the day before. "The fire's been out this twohours, so you'd best start another."
Joe showed his want of experience at once, for he began to rake awaythe snow, so as to get down to the ashes of the fire he had built onthe evening of their arrival. But Hank stopped him with a merry guffaw.
"That ain't the way," he said. "You start buildin' yer fire right hereon top of the snow. It'll eat its way down. Yer see, ef you was tobegin right down in a hole, there wouldn't be any sorter draught, andhow's flames to get in at the damp wood ef you don't have draught tohelp 'em? But once they get movin', and things is hot, why, in coursethe fire burns its way slowly downward to the ground level, when thereain't sich draught required."
It was one of the sort of things Joe and many another new to thiscountry, and to such quaint surroundings, would never have thought of,though he was quick to see the reason in Hank's explanation. Hearranged his logs, therefore, on the top of the snow, and then removedthem once more.
"Wall?" asked Hank, who seemed always to have one eye for our hero,whatever he happened to be doing himself. "What are the game now?"
"Too much draught, that's all," grinned Joe, blowing on his fingers,for an icy wind whirled the flakes about him. "Too much of it, Hank.Blow the fire out or set our shack alight. Fine that'd be--eh?"
The little hunter grinned widely and nodded vigorously. "Good feryou," he shouted. "I've knowd chaps as would ha' taken a month o'Sundays ter spot that. There's some as is jest almighty windbags, andgo about talkin' so much that they can't think, let alone allow othersthat has a mind to. There's something in bein' silent at times, Joe.A man ain't a fool 'cos he stays quiet takin' in things as they happen."
He sniffed the air as Joe's pork steaks began to frizzle, and looked upfrom the work he was engaged on when the kettle began to send out amerry tune, heard in spite of the howling wind. Steam whistled fromthe spout, and was the signal for Hank to step across to the canteenand extract the tea leaves which were to form their staple beverageduring the trip.
"Tea aer comfortin'," he had said many a time, "and tea aer sustainin'.There ain't a one as I knows of that don't drink tea and feel betterfer it. In course there's a few as is ill and find it hurts 'em, but,gee! you get to thinkin' of all the old ladies who swears by a cup! Asfer hunters and prospectors and sich-like, tea don't hurt none of 'em.Summertime, when it's cold, it quenches thirst better nor anything I'vemet. And winter, when it's that cold you can't feel yer hands, why, atin dish of the stuff warms yer right down into yer boots and sets toesand fingers tingling. Pitch in the dose, lad. I'm that set thismornin', seems to me I could eat all you've cooked single-handed, and atidy slice more in addition."
It was all good-humoured fun, and Joe found that Hank was a splendidtravelling companion; for he had proved time and again now that he hada means to get over more than ordinary difficulties, and that whateverthe times, pleasant or foul, he was genial and bright, always lookingon the right side of misfortunes.
"Now, jest as soon as you've cleaned up these here things, we'll finishoff the shoes and try 'em," said Hank, when they had eaten their fill."I brought along these two sets of frames from home, they being theones I made this four year back. The strip to go across 'em war to behad back there in the settlement, and all we've got to do is to bind iton. Ever been across snow afore, lad?"
Joe had to acknowledge that he had not. As he melted snow in hiskettle and washed the few tin utensils they carried with the resultingwater, he watched the busy fingers of the hunter threading raw hidestrips through holes bored in the tough, bending wood which formed theframes of the snowshoes. Then he was shown how to lash them to hisfeet, while a little later he essayed to test them, and, clambering outof the hollow which they now occupied, joined Hank on the snow. ButJoe did not remain long there; a projecting bough brought his attemptto a sudden ending. One shoe caught badly, and before our hero knewprecisely what was happening or where he was going, he took a headerinto the soft snow, till Hank could merely see a pair of shoes wavingwildly above it.
"You jest try agin, and take care of snags comin' up from below," hecautioned our hero. "This here snowshoein' ain't really difficult. Afellow soon gets the knack or hang of it, and then he can go acrossfrozen and snowed-under country quicker'n he could walk ef the groundwas hard and he jest in boots. You stick to it, mate; nothing was everlarned but what caused trouble."
Joe did stick to it, in spite of the wind howling about him, and thoughhe took many a tumble, there was nothing in that soft, unfrozen snow todo him injury; and in course of time he became more handy.
"You ain't done badly fer one lesson," said Hank encouragingly. "Bestgive in for a time now and go inside the shack. It aer snowin' atrifle harder, and sense it's gettin' dark too, it seems to me as efthe wust war before us. We'll smoke and sleep; a long rest won't harmeither of us. 'Sides, there's heaps we could do. Now, see here, Joe.I don't rightly know much about England, nor more'n a little bit aboutEurope. Jest you get in at the job and tell me about it all. Whenyou're tired I'll yarn to you all about the other provinces in Canada,for I've been in most of 'em. It might turn out handy for you, for oneof these days you may be going west. They say out here that a settlerin Manitoba or Ontario stays jest so long as is wanted to make enoughdollars, then he streaks off west and takes to fruit farming, orsettles nigh to Vancouver. In course he goes so as to have more folksabout him, and also because the winter is a good deal less severe. Ferme, give me this sort of thing; I ain't afraid of winter."
Hank was a cheery individual to have to deal with and Joe found him, asone might have expected, a most attentive and intelligent listener. Itwas well, too, that they got on so easily together, for the gale lastedsome twenty-four hours longer, though snow ceased to fall long beforethe wind had subsided. This change was followed by a sudden rise intemperature and then by a fierce frost.
"Couldn't have been better fer us," declared Hank. "That 'ere thawmade the snow soft and sloppy on top. Now it's all ice, and it aerlikely we shall be able in parts to walk without snowshoes. In anycase, the shoes will hold us up over the deepest drifts, seein' thatthere's now a firm skin all over. Guess we'll move come mornin'."
Busy always, for he could not sit down, in spite of his own statementsto the contrary, and remain idle, Hank that evening, with the aid of atorch of the yellow birch bark, instructed Joe how to fashionmoccasins, the soft leather socks and boots combined, with which alltrappers and hunters are shod. Using some of the same hide which hehad employed for the snowshoes, he laid out a pattern in a few moments,and
then, with the small blade of a knife to bore the holes, and a thinlace of the same material, laced the sides of the sock together.
"In course, like that it ain't waterproof," he said, "and thoughtrappers ain't so very careful, yet ef you've to march miles inmoccasins, and has to sleep in 'em during the night, you might jest aswell have comfort and dry feet. We'll march along in these to-morrow.It'll be easier than using snowshoes, for the surface is nice and hard.Soon as we kill a beast or two we'll make ourselves an extra pair, soas to have a change."
A brilliant wintry sun flooded the landscape as the two emerged fromthe forest on the following morning, and Joe got some idea of Canada'sappearance once winter has set in. Everywhere a mantle of snow coveredthe ground, while trees, bushes, and rocks were clad in a thin coatingof ice following the thaw. As for the surface of the snow, it washarder than that so much in request for skiing in Switzerland. Thesharp thaw had liquefied the surface for a depth of perhaps half aninch, and this was now frozen hard.
"Likely as not there'll come another thaw," said Hank, "and in a jiffyalmost all this snow'll go, and the country be jest as it war before.But that won't last long. Now that November's set in, we soon getswinter fer good, and then it ain't till late March that there's a signof its ending. Sometimes it's later; sometimes earlier. But once thesnow's down, we gets bright days same as this often enough, and thoughthe thermometer may show thirty and forty degrees below zero, one don'tseem to feel it. Now, lad, put yer best foot forward; we ain't goin'to fetch up at Fennick's to-night. This here snow'll delay us; butter-morrer, somewheres about noon."
With their packs slung over their backs, and each one using a strongstick, the two went away on their journey, sometimes travelling over asmooth expanse which must have been the surface of some frozen lake, ofwhich there are many in that part of Canada, and at other timesplunging into forests. The backwoods, in fact, extended as far as theeye could reach, with open spaces here and there. Joe enjoyed thejourney amazingly. Think of the delights of such a new experience.Well clad, and in suitable clothing, he was as warm as a toast, whilethe unwonted exercise and the crispness of the frosty air made him stepout as he had never done before. Hank even was hard put to to keep upwith his young comrade.
"Blest ef you won't tire me one of these fine days," he cried, callingfor a halt. "It's them long legs of yourn; they takes you along overthe snow quicker'n mine. Do yer feel lonely, lad?"
Joe shook his head with marked emphasis. "Not a bit," he said, "thoughif I were by myself I might very well do so. But there's something newto look at all the while, and the sun is so jolly. Still, I canimagine a farm hand, stuck away in some place right away from thevillages or townships, eating his heart out if he had never been usedto the wilds."
"Jest so; and that's why it is that bad tales of Canadian winters getsout of the Dominion and reaches the ears of those thinkin' ofemigrating. It stands to reason that ef you take a young fellow that'slived in a thickly-populated town all his life and plank him away rightin the wilds, he aer likely to feel lonesome come the winter, speciallyef he ain't got move enough on him to find a job or so to occupy histime. He'll get thinking of the picture palaces and sichlike he mightbe able to see ef he was back in a town, and he gets grumbling. Evenmarried folks do. I've knowed a chap go half crazy long afore thewinter was ended--but then, there you are!"
He raised his eyes significantly, for Hank had experience of what everyold settler has seen amongst newcomers. The life in the Dominion isnew to them. The winter is cruelly hard, without a shadow of doubt;but grumbling does not help matters. Those who are ready to grumble attheir surroundings find the winter more than trying. Those who havetheir hearts in the new life, and the firm resolve to persevere and besuccessful, make the most and the best of what cannot be avoided, andin place of longing for old conditions, for the amusements of a town,settle down to find tasks to occupy their attention. As Hank had toldJoe before, and Peter also, there was always furniture to be made forthe shack. The winter months, when the shack was as warm as possible,was just the time when papering and whitewashing could be done. Therewere, in fact, a number of jobs to keep idle hands busy, to help passthe time, and to aid settlers to happiness. However, if the winterwere hard elsewhere, Joe found this, his first experience of it, mostexhilarating. He trudged along blithely, whistling often. It was acouple of hours after noon, when they had eaten and were on their wayonce more, that something occurred to interrupt the journey. They werethrusting their way noiselessly through a wooded glade, when Hankbrought his companion to a stop.
"There's been moose hereabouts," he told Joe, pointing to the snow."You could tell it blindfold, for though there ain't no footmarks,there's deep holes. Yer see, a moose is that heavy and his feet sosmall comparatively, that the hard crust of snow that's frozen ain'tstrong enough to hold him up. He goes through deep ef he's making anew track, while ef he and his mates has been along afore, there's adeep hard path that there ain't no mistakin'. There's been jest onealong here; it's likely they has a yard 'way up here."
"A yard?" asked Joe, ignorant of what that might be. "What's a yard?"
"Jest a place to which moose flock every winter almost. In course it'smore or less open ground what's known as a 'barren', and there isalways heaps of the class of trees and moss on which they feed. Theycongregates and treads the snow flat, and lives there till their foodis eaten; then off they goes to form another. Jest you slip alongeasy, lad; a bull moose ain't the sorter fellow one asks to come upaginst."
A mile or so farther on it was evident that the moose whose tracks theywere following, and who happened to have preceded them in their owndirection, joined a well-worn track which plunged at once into forest.It was then that Hank again came to a sudden halt.
"Did you hear that sort of cough?" he asked. "That's a bull moose fersure; 'praps we'll come in fer some shootin'. Anyway, reckon we'll getour guns unslung and ready in case."
Slipping cartridges into the breaches of their rifles, the twoproceeded cautiously, and before many minutes had passed heard asuccession of sounds which puzzled Joe immensely. Someone might havebeen thrashing the trunks of the trees with a heavy stake; at times thesounds were almost metallic, while now and again an angry cough came totheir ears.
"It aer a moose bull fer sure," whispered Hank. "Yer see, the wind'sfallen and there ain't a breath, else he'd have scented us long ago;what's more, there's been something happenin' to upset his temper.Bull moose aer the angriest, fiercest things as ever I clapped eyes on.One moment they'll run at the very shadow of a human, and next they'llcharge with their heads up and their spreading antlers ready for theenemy. Hark there, he's 'sounding'!"
When our hero had the latter term explained to him, he gathered that itmeant that the moose, scenting an enemy or a rival bull moose, perhaps,had halted and was thrashing some tree stump with his antlers, till asuccession of blows sounded through the forest, for all the world as iflumbermen were at work with their axes. Then followed a series oflower-toned noises.
"He aer fairly working hisself up fer a fight," whispered Hank,crouching behind a trunk. "That 'ere bull moose aer laying into thetrees with his fore hoofs, and lucky we are that it ain't us. Theirfore hoofs is just edged as sharp as any axe and would cut badly, whilea dig with the antlers would kill a man. You kin lay it as sartin thatthere's another bull moose around. Mayhap there's been a cow moosea-callin'. That's brought two of the others along, and now, ef I ain'taltogether mistaken, there's likely to be an almighty ruction, for itain't in reason fer one moose to give way to another; they're terriblefighters. Jest about this time o' the year they're in grand condition,and fights take place constantly. I ain't never seed one, but I'vecome up to moose as was in them as was nigh killed. Come alongquietly; we may have a peep at what's happenin'."
Creeping on through the wood, the strange sounds which they had heardwere for a time altogether absent. But it was not for long, for a dullcroaking cough suddenly reached them
from an opposite direction, andwas followed instantly by loud and furious "sounding" and by a hugeclatter that told of falling branches. Ten minutes later Hank put uphis hand and slank in behind a thick mass of underwood.
"Look away over there," he whispered hoarsely. "He aer hidin' jest inamongst the trees, and another challenge from his rival will bring himout. Ain't he layin' into the trunks and sichlike?"
The noise made by the furious beast became in fact even greater, whilethere was a commotion amongst the branches and withered leaves whichstill clung in places. A second later there came a croaking roar fromsome point to the right, the trees in that direction were thrustasunder, while a magnificent beast pushed its way into the clearing.Joe's eyes opened wide in amazement, for never had he beheld such asight. There, standing erect before him, was one of the wonders of theDominion; in fact, one of the deer tribe peculiar to Canada, which,unlike ordinary deer, noted for their timidity, was obviously thereverse. A coat of shimmering black clothed the beast, setting off aneck and shoulders which were decidedly massive; huge palmated antlersof enormous breadth crowned a head which was large, like other portionsof this animal, and extremely fierce in aspect. Grand upper limbssupported on slender lower ones, both streaked with orange lines, werefinished off by shapely hoofs, which, as Hank had said, could beextremely dangerous. The animal made a truly magnificent spectacle,and Joe could have continued gazing at him for a considerable time.However, there was more to come yet, for of a sudden the leaves away tothe right parted, and a second moose bull, bigger if anything than hewho had already appeared, came striding into the arena.
"It'll be a fight that'll be worth watchin'," whispered Hank, his faceset with excitement, his eyes blazing. "See 'em charge."
It took perhaps less than a minute for the two rivals to take stock ofone another. A glance at either showed that their courage was raisedto the highest and their tempers ferocious. Then they chargedfuriously, their heads down and their formidable antlers to the front.The shock of their meeting could have been heard a mile away, while Joecould easily hear their loud hissing breathing. Rising very cautiouslyso as to obtain a better view, he looked on spellbound while the twomassive beasts fought for the victory, sometimes with their antlerslocked, and then, separating for a little space, only to dash forwardonce more and come into contact with a crash which vibrated through theforest. It was at one of the moments when they withdrew from oneanother, as if to gather strength for another charge, that the bruteJoe and Hank had first come upon suddenly threw up his head and gazedin their direction, causing both of them to crouch lower; then therecame a bellowing roar and a commotion there could be nomisunderstanding.
"He's scented us and is charging," cried Hank, leaping to his feet."There ain't nothing for it but a tree. Quick, Joe; climb into one!"
So sudden had been the change, that our hero was altogether taken abackand, as it were, robbed of his energies. He could be quick enough atother times, but now, when there was urgent need for haste, his feetseemed too heavy, while as yet he had hardly taken in the danger of thesituation. It was when he saw Hank's active figure already shinning upa tree that Joe awakened to his own position. By then the moose waswithin some ten yards of him, its head down, coughing and bellowingangrily.
"Dodge him! Dodge him!" shouted Hank, now astride a branch and lookingas if he were about to leap down to aid his comrade. "Don't try toclimb, or he'll cut you to pieces with his hoofs. Dodge him, lad!"
Joe heeded the warning, and, darting to one side, took cover behind aslender oak which happened to be there. But if he thought it wouldprotect him he was much mistaken, for the moose charged madly, and,striking the tree with head and antlers, broke it off short at thebottom, sending the other portion and our hero flying together. Infact, the whole thing was a huge surprise, and might well have beenexpected to rob Joe of his wits altogether. But a sharp pang in hisshoulder as the trunk struck him heavily seemed to sharpen hisenergies, and, leaping to his feet, he raced at once to another treeand sheltered behind it. Then began a chase that was anything butamusing, for the moose bull struck repeatedly at him, making the treeshake, and sending the sound of his blows echoing and reverberatingthrough the forest. He rose on his hind legs and slashed fiercely withhis fore legs, ripping long strips of bark away. It looked, in fact,as if any one of his rushes might take Joe unawares, and that hisdodging behind the tree might come to a sudden ending. As for Hank, hewas entirely helpless, for it was this selfsame tree in which he hadtaken refuge, while his own and our hero's rifles lay behind the thickunderwood where they had been hiding. However, the little man was notthe one to give in without a struggle, more particularly when Joe'slife might depend upon his efforts, and presently a brilliant thoughtcame to his aid.
THE MOOSE CHARGED MADLY]
"Jest keep dodging him," he sang out encouragingly. "Ef he ain'treached you yet he ain't likely to. Jest keep well clear of his hoofsand out of sight of the brute as much as you can. He ain't as fresh ashe war, and that'll help us."
The cunning hunter rapidly unwound the long piece of raw hide that hehad cut for use on the snowshoes, and which, having more than herequired, he had carried with him since, in case of renewals beingwanted. Perhaps he had as much as eight feet, perhaps there was less;but, in any case, it was as tough and strong as any rope everconstructed. While Joe continued to dodge the angry moose, nowescaping his attacks with comparative ease--for he had regained hiscoolness--Hank made one end of his rope fast to the tree, looped theother, and then crawled out on the branch.
"Jest get him to come dodging round this way," he said hoarsely. "Ef Ihooks him, you make a run fer one of the guns, and then climb into thenearest tree. This rope won't hold him overlong, but it'll do to letyou get clear. Now, I'm ready."
Joe merely required to show himself plainly for the maddened moose tocome dodging after him. The huge antlers, as hard almost as steel,struck the tree a resounding clang, then the fore feet were used tillstrips of bark were flying. Slowly Joe edged round the trunk, luringthe animal after him, till a lucky move brought the moose directlyunder Hank.
"Git ready!" he shouted, at the same time dropping one foot and kickingthe antlers. Instantly the beast raised his head, and like lightningHank slipped his noose over one of the broad branches.
"Run!" he bellowed. "Don't ferget the gun, or we'll be both of usfixed for days together."
It may be imagined that Joe did run. He dashed across the open spaceto the spot where their rifles were lying, turning his head to see whatwas happening. If he had felt less confidence in the little hunter,there is small doubt that he would have neglected to pick up a weapon;for the fury of the moose on seeing his movement was terrible. Itlowered its head and dashed after him, till the strong hide ropebrought it up with a jerk that threatened to snap the noose. Thenbegan a mad struggle on the part of the moose for freedom. Rearing upon its hind legs, it struck out with its fore feet, almost reaching thebough on which Hank was seated. It backed and tugged, it fell to theground, trusting by those means to tear itself free; then it dashedthis way and that, arrested on each occasion with a mighty jerk thatactually shook the tree.
"Even a chain wouldn't stand much more of such tugging," shouted Hank,watching Joe anxiously out of the corner of his eye. "You be slippywith that gun, lad, or else we'll lose him. Ah, that's a relief! He'sinto a tree. Now, wonder what sort of shooting he'll make. Say, lad,"he called out loudly, "take him when he lifts his head, and put abullet into his shoulder jest about where the neck joins it. Steady,Joe; you're puffed. Pull yerself together."
If our hero had attempted a shot then, there is little doubt but thathe would have missed entirely, for what with the active movements ofthe moose and his own trembling fingers, a sure aim was more thandifficult. However, he did as he was ordered. Bracing his legs rounda branch, he brought the butt of his weapon firmly to his shoulder,then, choosing a moment when the animal lifted its head, he sent abullet crashing into it. A yel
l from Hank told him, even before thethin cloud of smoke had cleared away, that he had been successful.
"Good fer you! Killed him dead!" Joe heard, and, looking down, saw thehuge bulk of the animal stretched on the snow, thick steam stillissuing from the nostrils.
Let us be strictly truthful again with regard to our hero. Joe wasshaking in every limb as he dropped to the ground and stood over thefallen animal; for excitement had told upon his nerves, as yetunaccustomed to such strenuous moments.
"You don't need to be ashamed," said Hank, seeing that Joe lookeddowncast. "I've seen many an older chap all of a shiver withexcitement when the thing was over. The main thing aer that you keptyour head and held your sights straight when they was wanted. Thishere exhibition will have given you a good idea of the moose that roamsabout Canada, and next time you meet one don't wait too long for hischarge. I've known a man to be skewered on those antlers afore youcould shout, and killed jest as dead as possible. Reckon we'll skinthe brute and take his head. It'll be a fine gift for the Fennicks."
They spent the remainder of the day in skinning the moose and inremoving the skull and antlers. Indeed, they camped beside thecarcass, not troubling themselves about the other brute, which hadretreated at the very beginning of their adventure. That night, forthe first time in his young life, Joe cooked moose steaks over the fireand ate of meat of his own getting.
"Prime, ain't it?" grinned Hank, as he devoured a savoury morsel. "Butyou wait; there'll be more huntin' before we've done with this hereexpedition."