he
was entering.

The atmosphere, so lately clogged with mist, had suddenly become
transparent. To the southward, beyond a broad stretch of gently
heaving waters, rose a range of snow-capped mountains, extending far
to the westward. Reaching up from the nearby northern shore of the
bay, and stretching away over gently rolling hills lay the boundless
evergreen forest.

Somewhere in the distance a wild goose honked. White-winged gulls
soared gracefully overhead. Now and again a seal rose to gaze for an
inquisitive moment at the passing boat, and once a flock of ducks
settled upon the waters. The air was redolent with the pungent odour
of spruce and balsam fir--the perfume of the forest--and Shad,
lounging contentedly at the bow of the boat, drank in great wholesome
lungfuls of it.

All this was commonplace to the trappers, and quite unmindful of it Ed
Matheson launched upon tales of stirring wilderness adventures in
which his imagination was unrestrained, save by an occasional
expostulation from Dick.

The wild region through which they were passing gave proper setting
for Ed's stories, and Shad, a receptive listener, wished that he, too,
might battle with nature as these men did. How tame and uneventful his
own life seemed. Already the subtle lure of the wilderness was
asserting itself.

Three days after leaving Fort Pelican, Shad and the two trappers
sailed their dory into Porcupine Cove. It was mid-afternoon, and Shad,
impatient to reach Wolf Bight and begin his explorations in company
with Ungava Bob, prepared for immediate departure, after a bountiful
dinner of boiled grouse, bread, and tea in Dick Blake's cabin.

"Better 'bide wi' me th' evenin'," invited Dick, "an' take an early
start in th' mornin'. Th' wind's veered t' th' nor'-nor'west, an'
she's like t' kick up some chop th' evenin', an' 'tis a full
half-day's cruise t' Wolf Bight, whatever."

"I can make it all right," insisted Shad. "Bob may not be able to give
me much time, and I want to take advantage of all he can give me."

"Well, if you must be goin', I'd not hinder you; but," continued Dick,
"keep clost t' shore, until you reaches that p'int yonder, an' then
make th' crossin' for th' south shore, keepin' that blue mountain peak
just off your starboard bow, an' you can't be missin' Wolf Bight. If
th' wind freshens, camp on th' p'int, an' wait for calm t' make th'
crossin' t' th' s'uth'ard shore."

"Thank you, I'll follow your advice," said