Part 1 (1/2)

Winter Adventures of Three Boys

by Egerton R Young

CHAPTER ONE

SAGASTA-WEEKEE--A HAPPY HOME IN THE GREAT LONE LAND--THREE BOYS THERE WELCOMED--THE SUDDEN COMING OF WINTER--VARIOUS SPORTS DISCUSSED--HURRAH FOR THE DOGS--USEFUL ANIMALS--DOG-WHIPS--KINESASIS, THE DOG-KEEPER

While a wintry stor outside, in the athered around the breakfast table in a cozy home in a far North Land

To those who have not read of the previous doings of these young lads ould say that our heroes were three noble boys from across the sea

They had come out the previous summer from Great Britain by the Hudson Bay Cohtful and exciting adventures in the wild North Land They were the guests of Mr Ross, a retired official in the Hudson Bay Co term of active service in the fur trade had ended, had preferred re to any other land

During the many years he had traded with the Indians he had ever been on the most friendly terms with them He had observed so many noble traits and characteristics in thereater portion of each year surrounded by them Then the quiet charreater fascination for thehest civilisation

Mrs Ross was a native Indian woman, but, like hly educated won lands at the best of schools had not spoiled her She was beloved and honoured by all who knew her, and she was indeed a benediction and a blessing a the poor of her own people

The musical and expressive Indian naht, winsoirls in the household, while the wee brother was called by the old Scottish name of Roderick

Cordially had Mrs Ross, with her husband, welcomed the three boys, who at their special request had couests, or rather, more correctly, to be loved members of their own household, for at least twelve asta-weekee, the house full of sunshi+ne, was the beautiful Indian naiven to the cozy, comfortable house which Mr Ross had built for hihtful ho essential to the enjoyment and comfort of all its inmates

We need not here repeat all that has been previously mentioned about the three heroes of our story Suffice it to say that Frank, the eldest, was the son of an English banker; Alec was a genuine Scottish lad, while Sam was a jolly Irish boy They had a splendid trip across the ocean, and hadjourney up the rivers and across the portages between York Factory, on the Hudson Bay, where they had landed, and Norway House, where they had been welcomed by Mr Ross

The su trips and adventures Their last excursion, which had so recently ended, had been one of great pleasure and intense excitement It had been made in canoes to a distant part of the country where reindeer and other large gahted to have there reuide and canoenificant actions of the wild beasts, as well as the frightened cries and incessant flights of the wild geese and ducks to the South Land

Spurred on by the signs of co toil and but little rest, and had fortunately asta-weekee the day before the wintry gale broke upon them

Great indeed was the aht by this sudden inco in more southern latitudes, where the transition from one season to another is so slow and almost imperceptible, can hardly realise the suddenness hich the Frost King can set up his throne and begin his despotic reign There are no long pre No noisy heralds for weeks warn of his approach The birds and beasts seem to have some ly But man knoweth not of his approach; he heareth not his stealthy steps

Yesterday may have been balmy and reposeful, with only a few breezes from the summer South Land To-day the wild north windscold is the icy, biting air

Yesterday the wavesin the sunshi+ne on the beautiful lakes To-day, after a night of stor, and is binding down in strongest fetters the highest billows

Mr and Mrs Ross were enuine excitement of the lads as they realised the wondrous transforht by this first wintry storm, and the possibilities it opened up to them for other kinds of sport, than those in which, for soer and excited as they were, they had as yet no definite plan of action for their winter amusement So sudden had been the transition, there had been no time to think However, with boyish candour and joyous anticipation, they were all ready with their suggestions

”Skates!” shouted Alec, as he caught a glilittered in the distance as a ray of sunshi+ne shot out through the parting clouds and for a ans!” cried Sam, as he saw a steep hillside one mass of beautiful snow

”Let us h he had never seen one, yet he had eagerly read ht of the frozen lake ild to set about the ht enjoy the exhilarating sport he had so long anticipated

”Capital suggestions are all of these,” said Mr Ross ”Still, as the ice is not yet twenty-four hours old, and therefore not very safe for skating, and the snow has not yet fallen in sufficient quantity upon the hills to , and the carpenter will require soood months of winter in which to enjoy these and other sports, et ready to-day to start, as soon as the ice will be safe, for the island fisheries and bring hos! yes, hurrah for the dogs!” cried all the boys in unison

So everything was for the er anticipation to becos, about which they had heard so s were away to a distant island, where they were cared for by Kinesasis, a careful old Indian, ith a few nets easily caught all the fish they required for food This island was quite out of the route of travel, and so our young friends had seen but little of Mr Ross's dogs, about whichstories had been told thereatly delighted