of
the other sex, and judging from their knowledge of the habits of the
animal they decided that, if not alarmed, he would be within hearing
distance about ten o'clock that evening.

The question then was, "How are we to spend the day?" This was speedily
answered when the Indians reported that there were any number of
sturgeon seen jumping in the shallows among the rocks not far out from
the shore. The method of securing them was by spearing them from the
canoes. A good deal of calculation was required in managing the canoes
so that they would not be upset in the excitement of the sport, and then
a great deal of strength had to be exerted to hold on to the spears when
once the great big sturgeon, from four to six feet long, was transfixed.

There were some amusing upsets, and the boys in turn came back to the
camp drenched, but happy with the varied adventures of the day. Nearly
a score of fine sturgeon rewarded them for their efforts. These the
Indians cut into flakes and dried, while the valuable oil was distilled
and put away in most ingeniously constructed vessels made out of the
skin of the sturgeon themselves.

But in spite of the fun and success of the sturgeon fishing the boys
were simply wild in anticipation of the events of the coming night. The
very uncertainty and weirdness of it had a fascination for them that
made it impossible for them to shut their eyes and have a short sleep in
the early hours of the evening, as Mr Ross suggested. The very idea of
sleeping seemed an utter impossibility. So they kept awake, and were
alert and watchful on the movements of the Indians, who made their final
preparations to take advantage of the natural instincts of these great
animals to meet each other.

These preparations were not very many. From the birch trees that grew
near they stripped off long rolls of new bark. These they carefully
made into a horn-shaped instrument, the end of which was much wider than
the other. Then they put on their darkest garments, as the appearance
of any thing white would alarm the wary game and frighten them away.

The evening was exceedingly favourable. But little wind was blowing,
and that was from the land toward the lake; thus the scent would not be
carried toward the moose, if they appeared.

The next question was, who were to go and where had they better be
stationed? So it was decided that as Mr Ross had caught the contagion
of the hour, he and Alec should take a