danger to the fish was the sharp spear crashing
through the strong bony scales, through flesh and vertebrae, into the
spinal cord, just behind the head. So instantaneous was the death of
the great sturgeon under this fatal stroke that there was not even the
usual spasmodic spring. Like as a log might have lain there on the
water, so did the great fish. The only movement was, as is the case
with most large fish thus killed, he rolled over, and at once began to
float away on the current.

"Well done, Frank!" shouted the dripping boys, who had pluckily refused
to be taken ashore until Frank had made his attempt, in which he had so
well succeeded. The Indians were delighted and, in their way, quite
demonstrative, and for long after, at many a camp fire, the story of
that strong, true, successful spear thrust had to be described and acted
out.

Thoroughly satisfied with these first adventures at sturgeon fishing,
the party went ashore, and at a large camp fire Alec and Sam dried their
garments as well as possible. Changes, of course, they had not on such
an excursion. However, they suffered but little inconvenience, and no
bad results followed from their submersions.

They spent another day or two at the mouth of the great Saskatchewan
River, and in the canoes of some of the experienced Indians, who there
reside, they several times ran the rapids. This was wild and
exhilarating sport, and was vastly enjoyed by the boys. During the
return trip nothing of very great importance occurred. They shot a
number of wild ducks from the canoes as they paddled along, and in due
time reached Sagasta-weekee tired and bronzed, and full of the
adventures of their first outing from the home of their kind host.

CHAPTER SIX.

INDIAN IMPLEMENTS--CANOEING EXCURSION--GUNPOWDER VERSUS JACK FISH--LOON
SHOOTING--SAM'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT.

The Indians were originally very skillful in the manufacture of the few
essential articles that were absolutely necessary for their use. The
style and curves of their graceful canoes, although only made of the
bark of the birch tree and strengthened by supple bands of cedar or
balsam, and made watertight by the gum of the pine or other resinous
trees, have never been improved in any boat builder's yard in
civilisation. True, fancy canoes are being turned out for the pleasure
and enjoyment of canoeists in safe waters, but whenever the experiment
has been tried of using these canoes in the danger