The Young Voyageurs: Boy Hunters in the North

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER NINETEEN.

  AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK.

  Two days after the adventure with the blaireau, the young voyageursarrived at Cumberland House--one of the most celebrated posts of theHudson's Bay Company. The chief factor, who resided there, was a friendof Norman's father, and of course the youths were received with thewarmest hospitality, and entertained during their stay in the bestmanner the place afforded. They did not make a long stay, however, asthey wished to complete their journey before the winter should set in,when canoe-travelling would become impossible. During winter, not onlythe lakes, but the most rapid rivers of these Northern regions, becomefrozen up, and remain so for many months. Nearly the whole surface ofthe earth is buried under deep snow, and travelling can only be donewith snow-shoes, or with sledges drawn by dogs. These are the modespractised by the Indians, the Esquimaux, and the few white traders andtrappers who have occasion in winter to pass from one point to anotherof that icy and desolate region.

  Travelling under such circumstances is not only difficult and laborious,but is extremely perilous. Food cannot always be obtained--suppliesfall short, or become exhausted--game is scarce, or cannot be found atall, as at that season many of the quadrupeds and most of the birds haveforsaken the country, and migrated to the South--and whole parties oftravellers--even Indians, who can eat anything living or dead, roast orraw--often perish from hunger.

  Our travellers were well acquainted with these facts; and being anxious,therefore, to get to the end of their journey before the winter shouldcome down upon them, made all haste to proceed. Of course they obtaineda new "outfit" at the Fort; but they took with them only such articlesas were absolutely necessary, as they had many portages to make beforethey could reach the waters of the Mackenzie River. As it required twoof the party to carry the canoe, with a few little things besides, allthe baggage was comprised in such loads as the others could manage; andof course that was not a great deal, for Francois was but a lad, andLucien was far from being in robust health. A light axe, a few cookingutensils, with a small stock of provisions, and of course their guns,formed the bulk of their loads.

  After leaving the Fort they kept for several days' journey up theSaskatchewan. They then took leave of that river, and ascended a smallstream that emptied into it from the north. Making their first portageover a "divide," they reached another small stream that ran in quite adifferent direction, emptying itself into one of the branches of theMississippi, or Churchill River. Following this in a north-westerlycourse, and making numerous other portages, they reached Lake La Crosse,and afterwards in succession, Lakes Clear, Buffalo, and Methy. A long"portage" from the last-mentioned lake brought them to the head of astream known as the "Clear Water;" and launching their canoe upon this,they floated down to its mouth, and entered the main stream of the Elk,or Athabasca, one of the most beautiful rivers of America. They werenow in reality upon the waters of the Mackenzie itself, for the Elk,after passing through the Athabasca Lake, takes from thence the name ofSlave River, and having traversed Great Slave Lake, becomes theMackenzie--under which name it continues on to the Arctic Ocean. Havinggot, therefore, upon the main head-water of the stream which theyintended to traverse, they floated along in their canoe with lighthearts and high hopes. It is true they had yet fifteen hundred miles totravel, but they believed that it was all down-hill work now; and asthey had still nearly two months of summer before them, they doubted notbeing able to accomplish the voyage in good time.

  On they floated down-stream, feasting their eyes as they went--for thescenery of the Elk valley is of a most picturesque and pleasingcharacter; and the broad bosom of the stream itself, studded with woodedislands, looked to our travellers more like a continuation of lakes thana running river. Now they glided along without using an oar, borneonward by the current; then they would take a spell at the paddles,while the beautiful Canadian boat-song could be heard as it came fromthe tiny craft, and the appropriate chorus "Row, brothers, row!" echoedfrom the adjacent shores. No part of their journey was more pleasantthan while descending the romantic Elk.

  They found plenty of fresh provisions, both in the stream itself and onits banks. They caught salmon in the water, and the silver-colouredhyodon, known among the voyageurs by the name of "Dore." They shot bothducks and geese, and roast-duck or goose had become an everyday dinnerwith them. Of the geese there were several species. There were"snow-geese," so called from their beautiful white plumage; and"laughing geese," that derive their name from the circumstance thattheir call resembles the laugh of a man. The Indians decoy these bystriking their open hand repeatedly over the mouth while uttering thesyllable "wah." They also saw the "Brent goose," a well-known species,and the "Canada goose," which is the _wild goose par excellence_.Another species resembling the latter, called the "barnacle goose," wasseen by our travellers. Besides these, Lucien informed them that therewere several other smaller kinds that inhabit the northern countries ofAmerica. These valuable birds are objects of great interest to thepeople of the fur countries for months in the year. Whole tribes ofIndians look to them as a means of support.

  With regard to ducks, there was one species which our travellers had notyet met with, and for which they were every day upon the look-out. Thiswas the far-famed "canvass-back," so justly celebrated among theepicures of America. None of them had ever eaten of it, as it is notknown in Louisiana, but only upon the Atlantic coast of the UnitedStates. Norman, however, had heard of its existence in the RockyMountains--where it is said to breed--as well as in other parts of thefur countries, and they were in hopes that they might fall in with itupon the waters of the Athabasca. Lucien was, of course, wellacquainted with its "biography," and could have recognised one at sight;and as they glided along he volunteered to give his companions someinformation, not only about this particular species, but about the wholegenus of these interesting birds.

  "The canvass-back," began he, "is perhaps the most celebrated andhighly-prized of all the ducks, on account of the exquisite flavour ofits flesh--which is thought by some epicures to be superior to that ofall other birds. It is not a large duck--rarely weighing over threepounds--and its plumage is far from equalling in beauty that of manyother species. It has a red or chestnut-coloured head, a shining blackbreast, while the greater part of its body is of a greyish colour; butupon close examination this grey is found to be produced by a whitishground minutely mottled with zig-zag black lines. I believe it is thismottling, combined with the colour, which somewhat resembles theappearance and texture of ship's canvass, that has given the bird itstrivial name; but there is some obscurity about the origin of this. Incolour, however, it so nearly resembles the `pochard,' or `red-head' ofEurope, and its near congener the red-head (_Anas ferina_) of America,that at a distance it is difficult to distinguish them from each other.The last-mentioned species is always found associated with thecanvass-backs, and are even sold for the latter in the markets of NewYork and Philadelphia. A naturalist, however, can easily distinguishthem by their bills and eyes. The canvass-back has red eyes, with agreenish black bill, nearly straight; while the eyes of the red-head areof an orange yellow, its bill bluish and concave along the upper ridge.

  "The canvass-back is known in natural history as _Anas valisneria_, andthis specific name is given to it because it feeds upon the roots of anaquatic plant, a species of `tape-grass,' or `eel-grass;' butbotanically called `_Valisneria_,' after the Italian botanist, AntonioValisneri. This grass grows in slow-flowing streams, and also on shoalsby the seaside--where the water, from the influx of rivers, is onlybrackish. The water where it grows is usually three to five feet indepth, and the plant itself rises above the surface to the height of twofeet or more, with grass-like leaves of a deep green colour. Its rootsare white and succulent, and bear some resemblance to celery--hence theplant is known among the duck-hunters as `wild celery.' It is uponthese roots the canvass-back almost exclusively feeds, and they give tothe flesh of these birds its peculiar and pleasan
t flavour. Whereverthe valisneria grows in quantity, as in the Chesapeake Bay and somerivers, like the Hudson, there the canvass-backs resort, and are rarelyseen elsewhere. They do not eat the leaves but only the white softroots, which they dive for and pluck up with great dexterity. Theleaves when stripped of the root are suffered to float off upon thesurface of the water; and where the ducks have been feeding, largequantities of them, under the name of `grass wrack,' are thrown by thewind and tide upon the adjacent shores.

  "Shooting the canvass-backs is a source of profit to hundreds of gunnerswho live around the Chesapeake Bay, as these birds command a high pricein the markets of the American cities. Disputes have arisen between thefowlers of different States around the Bay about the right of shootingupon it; and vessels full of armed men--ready to make war upon oneanother--have gone out on this account. But the government of theseStates succeeded in settling the matter peacefully, and to thesatisfaction of all parties."

  The canoe at this moment shot round a bend, and a long smooth expanse ofthe river appeared before the eyes of our voyageurs. They could seethat upon one side another stream ran in, with a very sluggish current;and around the mouth of this, and for a good stretch below it, thereappeared a green sedge-like water-grass, or rushes. Near the border ofthis sedge, and in a part of it that was thin, a flock of wild fowl wasdiving and feeding. They were small, and evidently ducks; but thedistance was yet too great for the boys to make out to what species theybelonged. A single large swan--a trumpeter--was upon the water, betweenthe shore and the ducks, and was gradually making towards the latter.Francois immediately loaded one of his barrels with swan, or rather"buck" shot, and Basil looked to his rifle. The ducks were not thoughtof--the trumpeter was to be the game. Lucien took out his telescope,and commenced observing the flock. They had not intended to use anyprecaution in approaching the birds, as they were not extremely anxiousabout getting a shot, and were permitting the canoe to glide gentlytowards them. An exclamation from Lucien, however, caused them tochange their tactics. He directed them suddenly to "hold water" andstop the canoe, at the same time telling them that the birds ahead werethe very sort about which they had been conversing--the "canvass-backs."He had no doubt of it, judging from their colour, size, and peculiarmovements.

  The announcement produced a new excitement. All four were desirous notonly of shooting, but of _eating_, a canvass-back; and arrangements wereset about to effect the former. It was known to all that thecanvass-backs are among the shyest of water-fowl, so much so that it isdifficult to approach them unless under cover. While feeding, it issaid, they keep sentinels on the look-out. Whether this be true or not,it is certain that they never all dive together, some always remainingabove water, and apparently watching while the others are under. A planto get near them was necessary, and one was suggested by Norman, whichwas to tie bushes around the sides of the canoe, so as to hide both thevessel and those in it. This plan was at once adopted--the canoe waspaddled up to the bank--thick bushes were cut, and tied along thegunwale; and then our voyageurs climbed in, and laying themselves as lowas possible, commenced paddling gently downward in the direction of theducks. The rifles were laid aside, as they could be of little servicewith such game. Francois' double-barrel was the arm upon whichdependence was now placed; and Francois himself leaned forward in thebow in order to be ready, while the others attended to the guidance ofthe vessel. The buck-shot had been drawn out, and a smaller kindsubstituted. The swan was no longer cared for or even thought of.

  In about a quarter of an hour's time, the canoe, gliding silently alongthe edge of the sedge--which was the wild celery (_Valisneriaspiralis_)--came near the place where the ducks were; and the boys,peeping through the leafy screen, could now see the birds plainly. Theysaw that they were not all canvass-backs, but that three distinct kindsof ducks were feeding together. One sort was the canvass-backsthemselves, and a second kind very much resembled them, except that theywere a size smaller. These were the "red-heads" or "pochards." Thethird species was different from either. They had also heads of areddish colour, but of a brighter red, and marked by a white band thatran from the root of the bill over the crown. This mark enabled Lucienat once to tell the species. They were widgeons (_Anas Americana_); butthe most singular thing that was now observed by our voyageurs was theterms upon which these three kinds of birds lived with each other. Itappeared that the widgeon obtained its food by a regular system ofrobbery and plunder perpetrated upon the community of the canvass-backs.The latter, as Lucien had said, feeds upon the roots of the valisneria;but for these it is obliged to dive to the depth of four or five feet,and also to spend some time at the bottom while plucking them up. Nowthe widgeon is as fond of the "celery" as the canvass-back, but theformer is not a diver--in fact, never goes under water except whenwashing itself or in play, and it has therefore no means of procuringthe desired roots. Mark, then, the plan that it takes to effect thisend. Seated as near as is safe to the canvass-back, it waits until thelatter makes his _somersault_ and goes down. It (the widgeon) thendarts forward so as to be sufficiently close, and, pausing again, scansthe surface with eager eye. It can tell where the other is at work, asthe blades of the plant at which it is tugging are seen to move abovethe water. These at length disappear, pulled down as the plant isdragged from its root, and almost at the same instant the canvass-backcomes up holding the root between his mandibles. But the widgeon isready for him. He has calculated the exact spot where the other willrise; and, before the latter can open his eyes or get them clear of thewater, the widgeon darts forward, snatches the luscious morsel from hisbill, and makes off with it. Conflicts sometimes ensue; but thewidgeon, knowing himself to be the lesser and weaker bird, never standsto give battle, but secures his prize through his superior agility. Onthe other hand, the canvass-back rarely attempts to follow him, as heknows that the other is swifter upon the water than he. He only looksafter his lost root with an air of chagrin, and then, reflecting thatthere is "plenty more where it came from," kicks up its heels, and oncemore plunges to the bottom.

  The red-head rarely interferes with either, as he is contented to feedupon the leaves and stalks, at all times floating in plenty upon thesurface.

  As the canoe glided near, those on board watched these curiousmanoeuvres of the birds with feelings of interest. They saw, moreover,that the "trumpeter" had arrived among them, and the ducks seemed totake no notice of him. Lucien was struck with something unusual in theappearance of the swan. Its plumage seemed ruffled and on end, and itglided along in a stiff and unnatural manner. It moved its neck neitherto one side nor the other, but held its head bent forward, until itsbill almost touched the water, in the attitude that these birds adoptwhen feeding upon something near the surface. Lucien said nothing tohis companions, as they were all silent, lest they might frighten theducks; but Basil and Norman had also remarked the strange look andconduct of the trumpeter. Francois' eyes were bent only upon the ducks,and he did not heed the other.

  As they came closer, first Lucien, and then Basil and Norman, sawsomething else that puzzled them. Whenever the swan approached any ofthe ducks, these were observed to disappear under the water. At first,the boys thought that they merely dived to get out of his way, but itwas not exactly in the same manner as the others were diving for theroots. Moreover, none of those that went down in the neighbourhood ofthe swan were seen to come up again!

  There was something very odd in all this, and the three boys, thinkingso at the same time, were about to communicate their thoughts to oneanother, when the double crack of Francois' gun drove the thing, for amoment, out of their heads; and they all looked over the bushes to seehow many canvass-backs had been killed. Several were seen dead orfluttering along the surface; but no one counted them, for a strange,and even terrible, object now presented itself to the astonished sensesof all. If the conduct of the swan had been odd before, it was nowdoubly so. Instead of flying off after the shot, as all expected itwould do, it was now
seen to dance and plunge about on the water,uttering loud screams, that resembled the human voice far more than anyother sounds! Then it rose as if pitched into the air, and fell on itsback some distance off; while in its place was seen a dark, round objectmoving through the water, as if making for the bank, and uttering, as itwent, the same hideous human-like screams!

  This dark object was no other than the poll of a human being; and theriver shallowing towards the bank, it rose higher and higher above thewater, until the boys could distinguish the glistening neck and nakedshoulders of a red and brawny Indian! All was now explained. TheIndian had been duck-hunting, and had used the stuffed skin of the swanas his disguise; and hence the puzzling motions of the bird. He had notnoticed the canoe--concealed as it was--until the loud crack ofFrancois' gun had startled him from his work. This, and the heads andwhite faces of the boys peeping over the bushes, had frightened him,even more than he had them. Perhaps they were the first white faces hehad ever seen. But, whether or not, sadly frightened he was; for, onreaching the bank, he did not stop, but ran off into the woods, howlingand yelling as if Old Nick had been after him: and no doubt he believedthat such was the case.

  The travellers picked up the swan-skin out of curiosity; and, inaddition to the ducks which Francois had killed, they found nearly ascore of these birds, which the Indian had dropped in his fright, andthat had afterwards risen to the surface. These were strung together,and all had their necks broken.

  After getting them aboard, the canoe was cleared of the bushes; and thepaddles being once more called into service, the little craft shotdown-stream like an arrow.