Canadian Crusoes by Catherine Parr Traill

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Indiana first prepared a frame of some tough wood, it might be the inner
bark of the oak or elm or hiccory; this was pointed at either end, and wide
in the middle--not very much unlike the form of some broad, flat fish; over
this she wove an open network of narrow thongs of deer-hide, wetted to make
it more pliable, and securely fastened to the frame: when dry, it became
quite tight, and resembled a sort of coarse bamboo-work such as you see on
cane-bottomed chairs and sofas.

"And now, Indiana, tell us what sort of fish you are going to catch in your
ingenious little net," said Louis, who had watched her proceedings with
great interest. The girl shook her head, and laughed till she showed all
her white teeth, but quietly proceeded to commence a second frame like the
first.

Louis put it on his head. No: it could not be meant to be worn there, that
was plain. He turned it round and round. It must be intended for some kind
of bird-trap: yes, that must be it; and he cast an inquiring glance at
Indiana. She blushed, shook her head, and gave another of her silent
laughs.

"Some game like battledore and shuttlecock,"--and snatching up a light
bass-wood chip, he began tossing the chip up and catching it on the netted
frame. The little squaw was highly amused, but rapidly went on with her
work. Louis was now almost angry at the perverse little savage persevering
in keeping him in suspense. She would not tell him till the other was done:
then there were to be a pair of these curious articles: and he was forced
at last to sit quietly down to watch the proceeding of the work. It was
night before the two were completed, and furnished with straps and loops.
When the last stroke was put to them, the Indian girl knelt down at
Hector's feet, and binding them on, pointed to them with a joyous laugh,
and said, "Snow-shoe--for walk on snow--good!"

The boys had heard of snow-shoes, but had never seen them, and now seemed
to understand little of the benefit to be derived from the use of them. The
young Mohawk quickly transferred the snow-shoes to her own feet, and soon
proved to them that the broad surface prevented those who wore them from
sinking into the deep snow. After many trials Hector began to acknowledge
the advantage of walking with the snow-shoes, especially on the frozen snow
on the ice-covered lake. Indiana was well pleased with the approbation that
her manufactures met with, and very soon manufactured for "Nee-chee," as
they all now called Louis, a similar present As to Catharine, she declared
the snow-shoes made her ancles ache, and that she preferred the mocassins
that her cousin Louis made for her. During the long bright days of February
they made several excursions on the lake, and likewise explored some of the
high hills to the eastward. On this ridge there were few large trees; but
it was thickly clothed with scrub oaks, slender poplars, and here and there
fine pines, and picturesque free-growing oaks of considerable size and
great age--patriarchs, they might be termed, among the forest growth.
[Footnote: One of these hoary monarchs of the Oak-lulls still stands at the
head of the lawn at Oaklands, formerly the property of Mr, W. Falkner, now
the residence of the Authoress.] Over this romantic range of hill and
dale, free as the air they breathed, roamed many a gallant herd of deer,
unmolested unless during certain seasons when the Indians came to hunt over
these hills. Surprised at the different growth of the oaks on this side the
plains, Hector could not help expressing his astonishment to Indiana, who
told him that it was caused by the custom that her people had had from time
immemorial of setting fire to the bushes in the early part of spring. This
practice, she said, promoted the growth of the deer-grass, made good cover
for the deer themselves, and effectually prevented the increase of the
large timbers. This circumstance gives a singular aspect to this high ridge
of hills when contrasted with the more wooded portions to the westward.
From the lake these eastern hills look verdant, and as if covered with
tall green fern. In the month of October a rich rosy tint is cast upon the
leaves of the scrub oaks by the autumnal frosts, and they present a glowing
unvaried crimson of the most glorious hue, only variegated in spots by a
dark feathery evergreen, or a patch of light waving poplars turned by the
same wizard's wand to golden yellow.

There were many lovely spots,--lofty rounded hills, and deep shady dells,
with extended tableland, and fine lake views; but on the whole our young
folks preferred the oak openings and the beautiful wooded glens of the
western side, where they had fixed their home.

There was one amusement that they used greatly to enjoy during the cold
bright days and moonlight nights of midwinter. This was gliding down the
frozen snow on the steep side of the dell near the spring, seated on small
hand-sleighs, which carried them down with great velocity. Wrapped in their
warm furs, with caps fastened closely over their ears, what cared they for
the cold? Warm and glowing from head to foot, with cheeks brightened by the
delightful exercise, they would remain for hours enjoying the amusement
of the snow-slide; the bright frost gemming the ground with myriads of
diamonds, sparkling in their hair, or whitening it till it rivalled the
snow beneath their feet. Then, when tired out with the exercise, they
returned to the shanty, stirred up a blazing fire, till the smoked rafters
glowed in the red light; spread their simple fare of stewed rice sweetened
with honey, or maybe a savoury soup of hare or other game; and then, when
warmed and fed, they kneeled together, side by side, and offered up a
prayer of gratitude to their Maker, and besought his care over them during
the dark and silent hours of night.

Had these young people been idle in their habits and desponding in their
tempers, they must have perished with cold and hunger, instead of enjoying
many necessaries and even some little luxuries in their lonely forest home.
Fortunately they had been brought up in the early practice of every sort of
usefulness, to endure every privation with cheerful fortitude; not, indeed,
quietly to sit down and wait for better times, but vigorously to create
those better times by every possible exertion that could be brought into
action to assist and ameliorate their condition.

To be up and doing, is the maxim of a Canadian; and it is this that nerves
his arm to do and bear. The Canadian settler, following in the steps of the
old Americans, learns to supply all his wants by the exercise of his own
energy. He brings up his family to rely upon their own resources, instead
of depending upon his neighbours.

The children of the modern emigrant, though enjoying a higher degree of
civilization and intelligence, arising from a liberal education, might not
have fared so well under similar circumstances as did our Canadian Crusoes,
because, unused to battle with the hardships incidental to a life of
such privation as they had known, they could not have brought so much
experience, or courage, or ingenuity to their aid. It requires courage to
yield to circumstances, as well as to overcome them.

Many little useful additions to the interior of their dwelling were made by
Hector and Louis during the long winter. They made a smoother and better
table than the first rough one that they put together. They also made
a rough partition of split cedars, to form a distinct and separate
sleeping-room for the two girls; but as this division greatly circumscribed
their sitting and cooking apartment, they resolved, as soon as the spring
came, to cut and draw in logs for putting up a better and larger room to be
used as a summer parlour. Indiana and Louis made a complete set of wooden
trenchers out of butter-nut, a fine hard wood of excellent grain, and less
liable to warp or crack than many others.

Louis's skill as a carpenter was much greater than that of his cousin. He
not only possessed more judgment and was more handy, but he had a certain
taste and neatness in finishing his work, however rough his materials and
rude his tools. He inherited some of that skill in mechanism for which the
French have always been remarked. With his knife and a nail he would carve
a plum-stone into a miniature basket, with handle across it, all delicately
wrought with flowers and checker-work. The shell of a butter-nut would be
transformed into a boat, with thwarts, and seats, and rudder; with sails of
bass-wood or birch-bark. Combs he could cut out of wood or bone, so that
Catharine could dress her hair, or confine it in braids or bands at will.
This was a source of great comfort to her; and Louis was always pleased
when he could in any way contribute to his cousin's happiness. These little
arts Louis had been taught by his father. Indeed, the entire distance that
their little, settlement was from any town or village had necessarily
forced their families depend on their own ingenuity and invention to supply
many of their wants. Once or twice a year they saw a trading fur-merchant,
as I before observed; and those were glorious days for Hector and Louis,
who were always on the alert to render the strangers any service in their
power, as by that means they sometimes received little gifts from them, and
gleaned up valuable information as to their craft as hunters and trappers.
And then there were wonderful tales of marvellous feats and hair-breadth
escapes to listen to, as they sat with eager looks and open ears round the
blazing log-fire in the old log-house. Now they would in their turns have
tales to tell of strange adventures, and all that had befallen them since
the first day of their wanderings on the Rice Lake Plains.

The long winter passed away unmarked by any very stirring event. The
Indians had revisited the hunting-grounds; but they confined themselves
chiefly to the eastern side of the plains, the lake, and the islands, and
did not come near their little dwelling to molest them. The latter end of
the month of March presented fine sugar-making weather; and as they had
the use of the big iron pot, they resolved to make maple sugar and some
molasses. Long Island was decided upon as the most eligible place: it
had the advantage over Maple Island of having a shanty ready built for
a shelter during the time they might see fit to remain, and a good
boiling-place, which would be a comfort to the girls, as they need not be
exposed to the weather during the process of sugaring. The two boys soon
cut down some small pines and bass-woods, which they hewed out into
sugar-troughs; Indiana manufactured some rough pails of birch-bark; and the
first favourable day for the work they loaded up a hand-sleigh with their
vessels, and marched forth over the ice to the island, and tapped the trees
they thought could yield sap for their purpose. And many pleasant days they
passed during the sugar-making season. They did not leave the sugar-bush
for good till the commencement of April, when the sun and wind beginning to
unlock the springs that fed the lake, and to act upon its surface, taught
them that it would not long be prudent to remain on the island. The loud
booming sounds that were now frequently heard of the pent-up air beneath
striving to break forth from its icy prison, were warnings not to be
neglected. Openings began to appear, especially at the entrance of the
river, and between the islands, and opposite to some of the larger creeks;
blue streams that attracted the water-fowl, ducks, and wild geese, that
came, guided by that instinct that never errs, from their abiding-places
in far-off lands; and Indiana knew the signs of the wild birds coming and
going with a certainty that seemed almost marvellous to her simple-minded
companions.

How delightful were the first indications of the coming spring! How
joyously our young Crusoes heard the first tapping of the redheaded
woodpecker, the low, sweet, warbling note of the early song-sparrow, and
twittering chirp of the snow-bird, or that neat quakerly-looking bird, that
comes to cheer us with the news of sunny days and green buds, the low,
tender, whispering note of the chiccadee, flitting among the pines or in
the thick branches of the shore-side trees! The chattering note of the
little striped chitmunk, as it pursued its fellows over the fallen trees,
and the hollow sound of the male partridge heavily striking his wings
against his sides to attract the notice of the female birds--were among the
early spring melodies, for such they seemed to our forest dwellers, and for
such they listened with eager ears, for they told them--

"That winter, cold winter, was past,
And that spring, lovely spring, was approaching at last."

They watched for the first song of the robin, [Footnote: _Turdus
miyratorius_, or American robin.] and the full melody of the red thrush
[Footnote: _Turdus melodus,_ or wood-thrush.]; the rushing sound of the
passenger-pigeon, as flocks of these birds darted above their heads,
sometimes pausing to rest on the dry limb of some withered oak, or darting
down to feed upon the scarlet berries of the spicy winter-green, the acorns
that still lay upon the now uncovered ground, or the berries of hawthorn
and dogwood that still hung on the bare bushes. The pines were now putting
on their rich, mossy, green spring dresses; the skies were deep blue;
nature, weary of her long state of inaction, seemed waking into life and
light.

On the Plains the snow soon disappears, for the sun and air has access to
the earth much easier than in the close, dense forest; and Hector and Louis
were soon able to move about with axe in hand, to cut the logs for the
addition to the house which they proposed making. They also set to work as
soon as the frost was out of the ground, to prepare their little field
for the Indian corn. This kept them quite busy. Catharine attended to the
house, and Indiana went out fishing and hunting, bringing in plenty of
small game and fish every day. After they had piled and burned up the loose
boughs and trunks that encumbered the space which they had marked out, they
proceeded to enclose it with a "brush fence", which was done by felling the
trees that stood in the line of the field, and letting them fall so as to
form the bottom log of the fence, which they then made of sufficient height
by piling up arms of trees and brush-wood. Perhaps in this matter they were
too particular, as there was no fear of "breachy cattle," or any cattle,
intruding on the crop; but Hector maintained that deer and bears were as
much to be guarded against as oxen and cows.

The little enclosure was made secure from any such depredators, and was as
clean as hands could make it, and the two cousins were sitting on a log,
contentedly surveying their work, and talking of the time when the grain
was to be put in. It was about the beginning of the second week in May,
as near as they could guess from the bursting of the forest buds and the
blooming of such of the flowers as they were acquainted with. Hector's eyes
had followed the flight of a large eagle that now, turning from the lake,
soared away majestically towards the east or Oak-hills. But soon his
eye was attracted to another object. The loftiest part of the ridge was
enveloped in smoke. At first he thought it must be some mist-wreath
hovering over its brow; but soon the dense rolling clouds rapidly spread
on each side, and he felt certain that it was from fire, and nothing but
fire,[Footnote: Appendix I.] that those dark volumes arose.

"Louis, look yonder! the hills to the east are on fire."

"On fire, Hector? you are dreaming!"

"Nay, but look there!"

The hills were now shrouded in one dense, rolling, cloud; it moved on with
fearful rapidity down the shrubby side of the hill, supplied by the dry,
withered foliage and deer-grass, which was like stubble to the flames.

"It is two miles off, or more," said Louis; "and the creek will stop its
progress long before it comes near us--and the swamp there, beyond Bare
Hill."

"The cedars are as dry as tinder; and as to the creek, it is so narrow, a
burning tree falling across would convey the fire to this side; besides,
when the wind rises, as it always does when the bush is on fire, you know
how far the burning leaves will fly. Do you remember when the forest was on
fire last spring, how long it continued to burn, and how fiercely it raged!
It was lighted by the ashes of your father's pipe, when he was out in the
new fallow; the leaves were dry, and kindled; and before night the woods
were burning for miles." "It was a grand spectacle, those pine-hills, when
the fire got in among them," said Louis.. "See, see how fast the fires
kindle; that must be some fallen pine that they have got hold of; now, look
at the lighting up of that hill--is it not grand?"

"If the wind would but change, and blow in the opposite direction!" said
Hector, anxiously.

"The wind, mon ami, seems to have little influence; for as long as the fire
finds fuel from the dry bushes and grass, it drives on, even against the
wind."

As they spoke the wind freshened, and they could plainly see a long line of
wicked, bright flames, in advance of the dense mass of vapour which hung
in its rear. On it came, that rolling sea of flame, with inconceivable
rapidity, gathering strength as it advanced. The demon of destruction
spread its red wings to the blast, rushing on with fiery speed; and soon
hill and valley were wrapped in one sheet of flame.

"It must have been the work of the Indians," said Louis. "We had better
make a retreat to the island, in case of the fire crossing the valley. We
must not neglect the canoe; if the fire sweeps round by the swamp, it may
come upon us unawares, and then the loss of the canoe would prevent escape
by the lake. But here are the girls; let us consult them.

"It is the Indian burning," said Indiana; "that is the reason there are so
few big trees on that hill; they burn it to make the grass better for the
deer."

Hector had often pointed out to Louis the appearance of fire having
scorched the bark of the trees, where they were at work, but it seemed to
have been many years back; and when they were digging for the site of the
root-house [Footnote: Root-houses are built over deep excavations below the
reach of the frost, or the roots stored would be spoiled.] below the bank,
which they had just finished, they had met with charred wood, at the depth
of six feet below the soil, which must have lain there till the earth had
accumulated over it; a period of many years must necessarily have passed
since the wood had been burned, as it was so much decomposed as to crumble
beneath the wooden shovel which they were digging with.

All day they watched the progress of that, fiery sea whose waves were
flame--red, rolling flame. Onward it came, with resistless speed,
overpowering every obstacle, widening its sphere of action, till it formed
a perfect semicircle about them. As the night drew on, the splendour of the
scene became more apparent, and the path of the fire better defined; but
there was no fear of the conflagration spreading as it had done in the
daytime. The wind had sunk, and the copious dews of evening effectually put
a stop to the progress of the fire. The children could now gaze in security
upon the magnificent spectacle before them, without the excitement produced
by its rapid spread during the daytime. They lay down to sleep in perfect
security that night, but with the consciousness that, as the breeze sprung
up in the morning, they must be on the alert to secure their little
dwelling and its contents from the devastation that threatened it. They
knew that they had no power to stop its onward course, as they possessed
no implement better than a rough wood shovel, which would be found very
ineffectual in opening a trench or turning the ground up, so as to cut off
the communication with the dry grass, leaves, and branches, which are the
fuel for supplying the fires on the Plains. The little clearing on one side
the house they thought would be its safeguard, but the fire was advancing
on three sides of them.

"Let us hold a council, as the Indians do, to consider what is to be done."

"I propose," said Louis, "retreating, bag and baggage, to the nearest point
of Long Island." "My French cousin has well spoken," said Hector, mimicking
the Indian mode of speaking; "but listen to the words of the wise. I
propose to take all our household stores that are of the most value, to the
island, and lodge the rest safely in our new root-house, first removing
from its neighbourhood all such light, loose matter as is likely to take
fire; the earthen roof will save it from destruction; as to the shanty, it
must take its chance to stand or fall."

"The fence of the little clearing will be burned, no doubt. Well, never
mind, better that than our precious selves; and the corn, fortunately, is
not yet sown," said Louis.

Hector's advice met with general applause, and the girls soon set to work
to secure the property they meant to leave.

It was a fortunate thing that the root-house had been finished, as it
formed a secure storehouse for their goods, and would also be made
available as a hiding-place from the Indians, in time of need. The boys
carefully scraped away all the combustible matter from its vicinity, and
also from the house; but the rapid increase of the fire now warned them to
hurry down to join Catharine and the young Mohawk, who had gone off to the
lake shore, with such things as they required to take with them.

CHAPTER XI.

"I know a lake where the cool waves break,
And softly fall on the silver sand,
And no stranger intrudes on that solitude,
And no voices but ours disturb the strand."
IRISH SONG

The breeze had sprung up, and had already brought the fire down as far as
the creek. The swamp had long been on fire, and now the flames were leaping
among the decayed timbers, roaring and crackling among the pines, and
rushing to the tops of the cedars, springing from heap to heap of the
fallen branches, and filling the air with dense volumes of black and
suffocating smoke. So quickly did the flames advance that Hector and Louis
had only time to push off the canoe before the heights along the shore were
wrapped in smoke and fire. Many a giant oak and noble pine fell crashing to
the earth, sending up showers of red sparks, as its burning trunk shivered
in its fall. Glad to escape from the suffocating vapour, the boys quickly
paddled out to the island, enjoying the cool, fresh air of the lake.
Reposing on the grass beneath the trees, they passed the day, sheltered
from the noonday sun, and watched the progress of the fires upon the shore.
At night the girls slept securely under the canoe, which they raised on one
side by means of forked sticks stuck in the ground.

It was a grand sight to see the burning plains at night, reflected on the
water. A thousand naming torches flickered upon its still surface, to which
the glare of a gas-lighted city would have been dim and dull by contrast.

Louis and Hector would speculate on the probable chances of the shanty
escaping from the fire, and of the fence remaining untouched. Of the safety
of the root-house they entertained no fear, as the grass was already
springing green on the earthen roof; and below they had taken every
precaution to secure its safely, by scraping up the earth near it.
[Footnote: Many a crop of grain and comfortable homestead has been saved
by turning a furrow round the field; and great conflagrations have been
effectually stopped by men beating the fire out with spades, and hoeing
up the fresh earth so as to cut off all communication with the dry roots,
grass, and leaves that feed its onward progress. Water, even could it be
got, which is often impossible, is not near so effectual in stopping
the progress of fire; even women and little children can assist in such
emergencies.]

Catharine lamented for the lovely spring-flowers that would be destroyed
by the fire. "We shall have neither huckleberries nor strawberries this
summer," she said, mournfully; "and the pretty roses and bushes will be
scorched, and the ground black and dreary."

"The fire passes so rapidly over that it does not destroy many of the
forest trees, only the dead ones are destroyed; and that, you know, leaves
more space for the living ones to grow and thrive in," said Hector. "I have
seen, the year after a fire has run in the bush, a new and fresh set of
plants spring up, and even some that looked withered recover; the earth is
renewed and manured by the ashes; and it is not so great a misfortune as it
at first appears."

"But how black and dismal the burnt pine-woods look for years!" said Louis;
"I do not think there is a more melancholy sight in life than one of those
burnt pine-woods. There it stands, year after year, the black, branchless
trees pointing up to the blue sky, as if crying for vengeance against those
that kindled the fires."

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