The Young Fur-Traders

CHAPTER I Plunges the reader into the middle of an arctic winter; conveys him into the heart of the wildernesses of North America; and introduces him to some of the principal personages of our tale

CHAPTER II The old fur-trader endeavours to “fix” his son’s “flint,” and finds the thing more difficult to do than he expected

CHAPTER III The counting-room

CHAPTER IV. A wolf-hunt in the prairies; Charley astonishes his father, and breaks in the “noo’oss” effectually

CHAPTER V Peter Mactavish becomes an amateur doctor; Charley promulgates his views of things in general to Kate; and Kate waxes sagacious

CHAPTER VI Spring and the voyageurs

CHAPTER VII The store

CHAPTER VIII Farewell to Kate; departure of the brigade; Charley becomes a voyageur

CHAPTER IX The voyage; the encampment; a surprise

CHAPTER X Varieties, vexations, and vicissitudes

CHAPTER XI Charley and Harry begin their sporting career without much success; Whisky-John catching

CHAPTER XII The storm

CHAPTER XIII The canoe; ascending the rapids; the portage; deer-shooting and life in the woods

CHAPTER XIV The Indian camp; the new outpost; Charley sent on a mission to the Indians

CHAPTER XV The feast; Charley makes his first speech in public; meets with an old friend; an evening in the grass

CHAPTER XVI The return; narrow escape; a murderous attempt, which fails; and a discovery

CHAPTER XVII The scene changes; Bachelors’ Hall; a practical joke and its consequences; a snow-shoe walk at night in the forest

CHAPTER XVIII The walk continued; frozen toes; an encampment in the snow

CHAPTER XIX Shows how the accountant and Harry set their traps, and what came of it

CHAPTER XX The accountant’s story

CHAPTER XXI Ptarmigan-hunting; Hamilton’s shooting powers severely tested; a snow-storm

CHAPTER XXII The winter packet; Harry hears from old friends, and wishes that he was with them

CHAPTER XXIII Changes; Harry and Hamilton find that variety is indeed, charming; the latter astonishes the former considerably

CHAPTER XXIV Hopes and fears; an unexpected meeting; philosophical talk between the hunter and the parson

CHAPTER XXV Good news and romantic scenery; bear-hunting and its results

CHAPTER XXVI An unexpected meeting, and an unexpected deer-hunt; arrival at the outpost; disagreement with the natives; an enemy discovered, and a murder

CHAPTER XXVII The chase; the fight; retribution; low spirits and good news

CHAPTER XXVIII Old friends and scenes; coming events cast their shadows before

CHAPTER XXIX The first day at home; a gallop in the prairie, and its consequences

CHAPTER XXX Love; old Mr. Kennedy puts his foot in it

CHAPTER XXXI The course of true love, curiously enough, runs smooth for once; and the curtain falls

PREFACE.

In writing this book my desire has been to draw an exact copy of the picture which is indelibly stamped on my own memory. I have carefully avoided exaggeration in everything of importance. All the chief, and most of the minor incidents are facts. In regard to unimportant matters, I have taken the liberty of a novelist—not to colour too highly, or to invent improbabilities, but—to transpose time, place, and circumstance at pleasure; while, at the same time, I have endeavoured to convey to the reader’s mind a truthful impression of the general effect—to use a painter’s language—of the life and country of the Fur Trader.

EDINBURGH, 1856.

CHAPTER I.