of his family was in the
habit of visiting what he loved to call the mother country. So full was
his life of varied and startling adventures, that he was often asked to
give addresses on some of the fascinating experiences, through which he
had passed.

Among the crowds who listened to him with intense interest, as he gave a
series of addresses in one of the great historic schools in the home
land, were the three boys who are to be the heroes of this book.
Although they were from different families and nationalities, yet they
were congenial spirits, and were equally filled with the love of sport
and spirit of exciting adventure.

For such boys Mr Ross's addresses about the Indians, the wild animals,
and the excitements of the hunt had the greatest fascination. With Mr
Ross they had become personally acquainted, and had induced him to visit
their different towns, where he lectured, and to be the guest at their
homes, where his delightful stories had charmed every member of their
households.

In some way or other they had persuaded their parents to consent to
their spending a year or so in the wilds of the northern part of the
great Dominion of Canada under the guidance of Mr Ross, who most
importunately pleaded for this arrangement on behalf of the boys. As it
was impossible for them to return with Mr Ross on account of their
studies, several months passed away ere it was possible for them to
begin their journey; so he had returned alone to his home, and had made
all preparations for entertaining them as members of his household for
an indefinite period.

Letters had been sent on in advance notifying Mr Ross of the probable
time of the arrival of the boys. But, as often happened in that wild
country, where there was no postal service, the letters never arrived,
and so the first intimation Mr Ross had of the coming of the boys was
their bursting in upon him. Abrupt as was their coming, of course they
were welcome. In all new lands there is an open-hearted hospitality
that is very delightful, and this was emphatically so in the vast lonely
region of the Hudson Bay Territory, where the white men in those days
were so few and so widely scattered apart from each other.

And now that they are snugly ensconced in the home of their good friend
Mr Ross and his hospitable family, ere we begin to describe their many
sports and adventures let us find out something about our heroes, and
have them describe some of the exc