looking for a feeding place. The sight was too much
for the hunting instinct of the Indians, and so every axe, hoe, and
spade was instantly dropped, and away they rushed for their guns. The
missionary did not see one of them again for two weeks.

The wild geese are of various varieties. The first to arrive are the
great grey ones. They seem to come up from Central America, Mexico, and
Southern California, where they have spent the winter months. Then
follow the brants, wavey, or laughing geese, which are all smaller
varieties. When on their long migrations the geese all fly very high,
and generally in long lines or triangles. But when they reach the north
country, where they hope to spend the summer, they fly low over the
ground. They seem to be then on the lookout for feeding grounds and
suitable locations for nest building. If undisturbed, they speedily
break up in pairs. They arrive very hungry, and so spend some days in
heavy feeding on the peculiar many-jointed grass, called goose grass,
the Indian name of which is Niskeanuskwa.

At Sagasta-weekee the boys had heard so much about the goose hunt that
they were full of curiosity and excitement as the time of its expected
arrival drew near. White suits and white caps had already been made for
them, and the guns were all freshly cleaned and oiled. Camping outfits
were all ready, and the boys observed that in addition to the winter's
supplies there were added large heavy oilcloths, like tarpaulins. The
next morning, after Kinesasis had reported the words of the passing
Indians, there came in another hunter, and he had with him the first
goose of the season. He was delighted to be the first, as a handsome
reward is given to the one who is fortunate enough to kill and bring in
this kind of first fruits of the harvest of these great birds. The
sight of this goose was all that was necessary to have all arrangements
completed, and it was decided that on the next morning all who could go
should be off to the great goose hunt.

The point selected for the camp was on the border of one of these great
swampy plains, from which the greater part of the snow had been melted
by the warm south wind, leaving exposed, over hundreds of acres, vast
quantities of this jointed grass, on which the geese feed with such
avidity. The frost was still in the ground, and so there was no
difficulty on the part of the hunters in arranging their shooting nests
and decoys as they de