The Forest

THE FOREST BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE AUTHOR OF THE BLAZED TRAIL, SILENT PLACES, ETC. ILLUSTRATED T THOMAS FOGARTT NEW YOEK HUUST COMPANY PUBLISHERS McCElEB, PBttUDPS OX Ufled October, ijoj DOE GOtWTJttf IITB J3IS aBE3 COT, CSWMOBT, 1903, M T Otmoox TO BILLY CONTENTS I. THE CALLING ... i II. THE SCIENCE OF GOING LIGHT 9 III. THE JUMPING-OFF PLACE . a .21 IV. ON MAKING CAMP . . . 33 V. ON LYING AWAKE AT NIGHT . . 5 1 VI, THE LUNGE 59 VII. ON OPEN-WATER CANOE TRAVELING . . 73 VJII, THE STRANDED STRANGERS . . . .85 IX. ON FLIES ....... 103 X. CLOCHE n XL THE HABITANTS . . . . . 13 XII. THE RIVER ...... i g XIII. THE HILLS 167 XIV. ON WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS . . 183 XV. ON WOODS INDIANS . . . .201 XVL ON WOODS INDIANS continued . . .223 XVII. THE CATCHING OF A CERTAIN FISH, . .241 XVIIL MAN WHO WALKS BY MOONLIGHT .,255 XIX. APOLOGIA .. 267 THE CALLING THE FOREST i THE CALLING c The Red Gods make their medicine again. SOME time In Februsjy, when the snow and sleet have shuftJut from the wearied mind even the memory of spring, the man of the woods gen erally receives his first Inspiration, He may catch it from some companions chance remark, a glance at the map, a vague recollection of a dim-past con versation, or it may flash on him from the mere pronouncement of a name. The first faint thrill of idiscovery leaves him cool, but gradually, with the increasing enthusiasm of cogitation, the Idea gains body, until finally It has grown to plan fit for dis cussion. Of these many quickening potencies of inspira tion, the mere name of a place seems to strike deep est at the heart of romance. Color, mystery, the vastnesses of unexplored space are there, symbolized compactly for the aliment ofImagination. It lures 3 the fancy as a fly lures the trout Mattagarni, Peace River, Kananaw, the House of the Touchwood Hills, Ruperts House, the Land of Little Sticks, Flying Post, Conjurors House how the syllables roll from the tongue, what pictures rise in instant response to their sugge stioii The journey of a thousand miles seems not too great a price to pay for the sight of a place called the Hills of Silence, for acquaintance with the people who dwell there, perhaps for a glimpse of the saga-spirit that so named its environ ment On the other hand, one would feel but little desire to visit Muggins Corners, even though at their crossing one were assured of the deepest flavor of the Far North. The first response to the red gods summons is almost invariably the production of a fly-book and the complete rearrangement of all its contents-The next is a resumption of practice with the little pistol, The third, and last, is pencil and paper, and lists of grub and duffel, and estimates of routes and expenses, and correspondence with men who spell queerly, bear down heavily with blunt pencils, and agree to be at Black Beaver Portage on a certain date. Now, though the February snow and sleet still shut him in, the spring has drawn very near. He can feel the warmth of her breath rustling through his reviving memories. There are said to be sixty-eight roads to heaven, of which but one is the true way although 4