to make arrangements to support
themselves by fishing during the autumn in lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba.

In these great fresh-water seas there is an unlimited quantity of rich
and finely flavoured whitefish, or Titameg, besides other fish. But
Titameg are only to be caught in large quantities during autumn, and of
course much of the success of fishing depends on weather--one gale
sometimes visiting the fishermen with ruin--ruin all the more complete
that the nets which may be carried away have in many cases to be paid
for out of the produce of the season's fishing.

In addition to the buffalo-hunters, who were obliged to support
themselves by fishing, there was a large number of idle half-breeds, of
a much lower type than these plain hunters, who had to betake themselves
to the same pursuit. These were the "ne'er-do-weels" of the colony; men
who, like La Certe, with more or less--usually less--of his good-nature,
seemed to hold that all the industrious people in the world were created
to help or to support them and their families. Of course when the
industrious people were unsuccessful, these idlers were obliged to work
for their living, which, being unaccustomed to do anything energetic,
they found it hard and difficult to do, and generally regarded
themselves as the harshly used victims of a tyrannous fate.

There was one thing, however, at which these idlers were very expert and
diligent--they begged well, and with persistency. No wonder; for their
lives often depended on their persistent and successful begging. The
Company and the private storekeepers were always more or less willing to
risk their goods by advancing them on credit. Before the summer was
over, most of these people had got their supplies and were off to the
fishing grounds, regardless of the future, with large quantities of tea
and tobacco, and happy as kings are said to be--but never are, if
history be true!

Among these, of course, was La Certe. That typical idler had made the
most of his misfortunes. Everybody had heard what the Sioux had done to
him, and everybody had pitied him. Pity opens the heart, and that opens
the hand; and, when the poor man entered a store with the polite manner
of a French Canadian and the humble aspect of a ruined man, he scarcely
required to beg. One man lent him a tent. Another lent him a canoe.
From the Company's store at Fort Garry he received a fair outfit of
nearly all that he could require. Further