Winter Adventures of Three Boys

Winter Adventures of Three Boys
By Egerton R. Young
CHAPTER ONE.
SAGASTA-WEEKEE--A HAPPY HOME IN THE GREAT LONE
LAND--THREE BOYS THERE WELCOMED--THE SUDDEN
COMING OF WINTER--VARIOUS SPORTS
DISCUSSED--HURRAH FOR THE DOGS--USEFUL
ANIMALS--DOG-WHIPS--KINESASIS, THE DOG-KEEPER.
While a wintry storm was raging outside, in the month of November,
three happy, excited boys were gathered around the breakfast table in a
cozy home in a far North Land.
To those who have not read of the previous doings of these young lads
we would say that our heroes were three noble boys from across the sea.
They had come out the previous summer from Great Britain by the
Hudson Bay Company's ship and had had several months of most
delightful and exciting adventures in the wild North Land. They were
the guests of Mr Ross, a retired official in the Hudson Bay Company,
who, when his long term of active service in the fur trade had ended,
had preferred remaining in the country rather than returning to any
other land. During the many years he had traded with the Indians he
had ever been on the most friendly terms with them. He had observed
so many noble traits and characteristics in them that he and his family
preferred spending the greater portion of each year surrounded by them.
Then the quiet charm of such a life had more attraction and a greater
fascination for them than the rush and worry and demands of our
so-called highest civilisation.
Mrs Ross was a native Indian woman, but, like many other wives of

Hudson Bay officials, was a highly educated woman. The years spent
in foreign lands at the best of schools had not spoiled her. She was
beloved and honoured by all who knew her, and she was indeed a
benediction and a blessing among the poor of her own people.
The musical and expressive Indian names of Minnehaha and Wenonah
had been given to the two bright, winsome little girls in the household,
while the wee brother was called by the old Scottish name of Roderick.
Cordially had Mrs Ross, with her husband, welcomed the three boys,
who at their special request had come out to be their guests, or rather,
more correctly, to be loved members of their own household, for at
least twelve months in that land. Sagasta-weekee, the house full of
sunshine, was the beautiful Indian name given to the cozy, comfortable
house which Mr Ross had built for himself and household. It was a
delightful home, well furnished with everything essential to the
enjoyment and comfort of all its inmates.
We need not here repeat all that has been previously mentioned about
the three heroes of our story. Suffice it to say that Frank, the eldest, was
the son of an English banker; Alec was a genuine Scottish lad, while
Sam was a jolly Irish boy. They had a splendid trip across the ocean,
and had met with varied adventures while on the long journey up the
rivers and across the portages between York Factory, on the Hudson
Bay, where they had landed, and Norway House, where they had been
welcomed by Mr Ross.
The summer and autumn months had been full of wonderful and
exciting trips and adventures. Their last excursion, which had so
recently ended, had been one of great pleasure and intense excitement.
It had been made in canoes to a distant part of the country where
reindeer and other large game abounded. The boys would have been
delighted to have there remained longer, but the experienced guide and
canoemen had been quick to notice the significant actions of the wild
beasts, as well as the frightened cries and incessant flights of the wild
geese and ducks to the South Land.
Spurred on by the signs of coming winter, they had pushed on toward

home with unremitting toil and but little rest, and had fortunately
managed to land the boys safely at Sagasta-weekee the day before the
wintry gale broke upon them.
Great indeed was the amazement of our three boys at the
transformation wrought by this sudden incoming of winter.
People living in more southern latitudes, where the transition from one
season to another is so slow and almost imperceptible, can hardly
realise the suddenness with which the Frost King can set up his throne
and begin his despotic reign. There are no long premonitions of his
coming. No noisy heralds for weeks warn of his approach. The birds
and beasts seem to have some mysterious intimations that he draweth
near, and act accordingly. But man knoweth not of his approach; he
heareth not his stealthy steps.
Yesterday may have been balmy and reposeful, with only a few breezes
from the summer South Land. To-day the wild north winds may howl
and shriek, while full of frost and