ution of these three species. Upon the Pacific coast the
smallest kind and the hooper only are met with, and the small ones
outnumber the others in the ratio of five to one. In the interior parts
of the continent only the hoopers and trumpeters appear; and the
trumpeters are by far the most numerous, while upon the eastern coasts
of America the hoopers are the sort best known.

"The swans are eagerly hunted both by the Indians and white hunters.
Their skins, with the quills and down, form a source of profit to the
natives of the fur countries, who dispose of them to the Hudson's Bay
Company. In some years as many as ten thousand skins have been
exported, and sold at the rate of six or seven shillings each. Most of
the skins thus sold were those of the trumpeter swans, which are the
most numerous.

"Now," said Lucien, in conclusion, "you know as much about the swans as
I do; so I shall drop the subject, and recommend to all of you a piece
of roast swan, which is now just done to a turn, and which I doubt not
will be found less dry than my lecture."

CHAPTER FIVE.

A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT.

A few days brought our travellers to the settlement of Red River, where
they made but a very short stay; and, having procured a few articles
which they stood in need of, they resumed their journey, and floated on
towards Lake Winnipeg. The swans were seen in greater numbers than
ever. They were not less shy however, and Francois, as before, in vain
tried to get a shot at one. He was very desirous of bringing down one
of these noble birds, partly because the taste he had had of their flesh
had given him a liking for it; and partly because their shyness had
greatly tantalised him. One is always more eager to kill shy game, both
on account of the rarity of the thing, and the credit one gets for his
expertness. But the voyageurs had now got within less than twenty miles
of Lake Winnipeg, and Francois had not as yet shot a single swan. It
was not at all likely the eagles would help him to another. So there
would be no more roast swan for supper.

Norman, seeing how eager Francois was to shoot one of these birds,
resolved to aid him by his advice.

"Cousin Frank," said he, one evening as they floated along, "you wish
very much to get a shot at the swans?"

"I do," replied Francois,--"I do; and if you can tell me how to
accomplish that business, I'll make you a present of this knife." Here
Francois held up a very h