s kept the eyes of the bird on himself every time he
arose. This went on for some minutes, until at length, as Mustagan did
not fire, although brandishing his gun about, the loon seemed to lose
his caution, and remained up longer each time he came to the surface.

This was what the wily old Indian was expecting, and so, speaking to
Sam, he told him to be on the watch and soon he would have a successful
shot. Sam, however, had to wait for quite a time, so erratic were the
loon's movements, and in such unexpected places did he suddenly come up.
However, success generally comes to those who have patience long enough
to wait, and so it was in this case. The fortunate opportunity came at
last, for there right in front of the canoe not fifty yards away rose up
that beautiful bird, and the same instant from the unseen gun and lad,
behind that little barrier, rang out the report which followed the fatal
missiles that had done their work, for one of them had cut clean through
the neck of the loon, severing the vertebrae, and there he lay in the
water with the snowy-white breast uppermost.

A rousing cheer told of the successful shot, and at once when the bird
was secured the canoes were headed for the shore. There a dinner was
quickly prepared, and in glorious picnic style it was enjoyed by all.
The loon was skinned by one of the Indian men, and subsequently was
tanned in native fashion, and a beautiful fire-bag was made from it of
which in after years Sam was very proud.

Three Boys in the Wild North Land, by Egerton R. Young

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE OLD FORT CAMP--SAM'S RACE WITH THE BEAR--INDIAN COMMENTS.

As the day was now advancing, and they had already had so much sport,
they decided not to try and reach the Old Fort on Lake Winnipeg, where
the Nelson River begins, that evening. So they paddled their canoes to
the ashore and there formed a camp. While the older members of the
party remained at the fire, some of the younger and more eager ones took
their guns and went off to see what they could shoot.

Frank succeeded in bringing down a great pelican that, with some others,
had been gorging itself with gold-eyes, a beautiful kind of fish,
similar in appearance to large herring, but with eyes so bright and
golden that the appropriateness of the name is at once evident to all
the first time they see it. Frank carried to the camp his great bird,
but was disappointed when told that as an article of food it was ab