penter was much greater than that of his cousin.
He not only possessed more judgment and was more handy, but he had a
certain taste and neatness in finishing his work, however rough his
materials and rude his tools. He inherited some of that skill in
mechanism for which the French have always been remarked. With his knife
and a nail he would carve a plum-stone into a miniature basket, with
handle across it, all delicately wrought with flowers and checker-work.
The shell of a butter-nut would be transformed into a boat, with
thwarts, and seats, and rudder; with sails of bass-wood or birch-bark.
Combs he could cut out of wood or bone, so that Catharine could dress
her hair, or confine it in braids or bands at will. This was a source of
great comfort to her; and Louis was always pleased when he could in any
way contribute to his cousin's happiness. These little arts Louis
had been taught by his father. Indeed, the entire distance that their
little, settlement was from any town or village had necessarily forced
their families depend on their own ingenuity and invention to
supply many of their wants. Once or twice a year they saw a trading
fur-merchant, as I before observed; and those were glorious days for
Hector and Louis, who were always on the alert to render the strangers
any service in their power, as by that means they sometimes received
little gifts from them, and gleaned up valuable information as to their
craft as hunters and trappers. And then there were wonderful tales of
marvellous feats and hair-breadth escapes to listen to, as they sat
with eager looks and open ears round the blazing log-fire in the old
log-house. Now they would in their turns have tales to tell of strange
adventures, and all that had befallen them since the first day of their
wanderings on the Rice Lake Plains.

The long winter passed away unmarked by any very stirring event. The
Indians had revisited the hunting-grounds; but they confined themselves
chiefly to the eastern side of the plains, the lake, and the islands,
and did not come near their little dwelling to molest them. The latter
end of the month of March presented fine sugar-making weather; and as
they had the use of the big iron pot, they resolved to make maple sugar
and some molasses. Long Island was decided upon as the most eligible
place: it had the advantage over Maple Island of having a shanty ready
built for a shelter during the time they might see fit to remain, and a
good b