I will never forget my first goose. I broke his wing, and he came down on the ice, and started to run out on the lake. I had a single-barrelled muzzle-loading gun, and I loaded it before starting after the big fellow. When he saw me coming he spurted, with legs and wing. He made good time, and I ran and doubled, and after a long chase came close enough to shoot him again, and stopped him.
The Hudson's Bay factor and clerks went a long distance and were away some weeks on the goose hunt.
CHAPTER XI.
Opening of Navigation—Sturgeon fishing—Rafting timber—Sawing lumber.
About the last of May the ice went off the lake, and navigation was open. We made up another bee to go to raft our timber down. Father sent William and I one day ahead of the party, in order that we might set nets for sturgeon, which we did; and when father and men came up next day, we had fourteen large sturgeon to begin with. While white-fish is the staple food in that north country, these sturgeon come in at seasons as an extra luxury; indeed, they are the beef and bacon of the northern Indian. Sturgeon oil is both lard and butter for these people, and blessed is the wife and mother who has many vessels full of it.
We made a big raft of our timber, and both wind and current favoring us, we soon had it hauled out and piled up on the beach near the church. The sawing of the timber was gone into by the Indians in turn, each doing his share. This we carefully piled, to season, and in the autumn the Hudson's Bay Company, as per offer and promise, sent their carpenters, and the enlargement went on. There was great rejoicing and a grand reopening when the work was finished.
CHAPTER XII.
Summer transport—Voyageurs—Norway House—The meeting place of many brigades—Missionary work intensified.