d we very soon
had our hut over our heads, though, excepting the articles we had saved
in the canoe, we had no furniture remaining.

"Sigenok live here with you," observed our Indian friend.

"Of course; very glad," we answered, thinking he intended to take up his
abode in our hut.

We had arranged that morning to go to the Port [Fort Garry, belonging to
the Hudson's Bay Company.] to obtain flour and other articles. We were
not without money, for our father had put his desk in the canoe, and in
it we found a sum of money, considerable for our wants. On our return
from the Port, we found that Sigenok had erected close to our door an
Indian wigwam. It was very simple of construction. It consisted of
about a dozen long poles stuck in the ground in a circle, and fastened
together at the top so as to make the figure of a cone. Against these
poles were placed large slabs of birch bask. It comes off the tree in
layers, which, having a tendency to regain their circular form, cling
round the cone, and are further secured with bands of fibre. In the
centre is the fire, while the smoke escapes through an opening left in
the top; some mats on the ground, and some lines stretched across on
which clothes or other articles can be hung up, form the chief furniture
of these wigwams. To these may be added a bundle of hides or mats, and
an iron pot.

We had purchased some bedding at the Fort, and Sam and Malcolm soon
knocked up some rough furniture, which served our purpose. We should
often have been on short commons had not Sam and Sigenok been expert
fishermen, so that we were never without an ample supply of white-fish,
or gold-eyes, or sturgeon.

"This very well," observed Sigenok. "Fish very good, but in winter
buffalo better."

"Will you help us to go and hunt the buffalo, then?" we both exclaimed.

Sigenok nodded; it was what he had proposed to himself that we should
do. Although a wood Indian, he had connections among the prairie
Indians, and from living with them had become a good rider and expert
hunter. Sam did not like our going; he was afraid some accident might
happen to us, but he had not the heart to tell us so. He was to remain
at home to take care of the farm. Sigenok procured two other horses,
one for himself, and another to drag a light cart which we bought, made
entirely of wood. It was laden with our tent and provisions, and our
rifles and powder and shot. We felt in high spirits when we were