[Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: "Here one of the bravest of our men was slain." (_Page 152._)] PATHFINDING ON PLAIN AND PRAIRIE: STIRRING SCENES OF LIFE IN THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. BY JOHN McDOUGALL, Author of "Forest, Lake and Prairie," "Saddle, Sled and Snowshoe," etc. _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. E. LAUGHLIN._ TORONTO: WILLIAM BRIGGS, WESLEY BUILDINGS. MONTREAL: C. W. COATES. HALIFAX: S. F. HUESTIS. 1898. Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by WILLIAM BRIGGS, at the Department of Agriculture. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. "Thin leather homes"--Drudgery of the Indian women--Occupations of the men--Hunting parties and scalping forays--Triumphs of endurance CHAPTER II. Camping in the snow--Our costume--Brilliant sunrise effects--Maple and her pups found at last--Striking example of "dog sense"--The Fort Garry packet CHAPTER III. We visit Edmonton--Nature's grand cathedral--Adventure with a buffalo bull--A trip to Pigeon Lake--Racing with dog-teams--An infidel blacksmith--Old Joseph proves an unerring guide--Caching our provisions CHAPTER IV. Epidemic breaks out among the Indians--Snow-blindness--I take to me a wife--Our modest dowry--My father officiates as a Stationing Committee--Fearful mortality among the Indians--Our journey to Pigeon Lake--The epidemic attacks our camp--A rude hospital--An exciting buffalo hunt--Chased by a maddened bull--Narrow escape CHAPTER V. Our caravan moves on--Difficulties of packing--Oliver's adventures with a buffalo--Novel method of "blazing" a path--Arrival at Pigeon Lake--House-building--Abundance of fish--Indians camp about the Mission--I form many enduring friendships--Indians taught fishing with nets CHAPTER VI. We are visited by a band of Crees--Our guests steal away with a bunch of horses--Stonies set out in hot pursuit--Little William's strategy--Horses recaptured--We begin farming operations--Arrival of Mr. Steinhauer--Home to Victoria again--A memorable Sabbath--My gun bursts--Narrow escape--My mother's cares and anxieties--Home-made furniture CHAPTER VII. I travel with Maskepetoon's camp--Effects of environment on the Indians--Nature's grandeur and beauty--Degradation through paganism--The noble Chief Maskepetoon--Indian councils--On the fringe of the buffalo herds--Indian boy lost--A false conjurer--The lad recovered CHAPTER VIII. The "Thirst Dance"--"Tobacco messages"--The head conjurer--"Dancing lodges"--The rendezvous--The "idol tree"--Meeting of the head conjurer and the chief of the warriors--An anxious moment--Building the "temple"--Self-torture, dancing and sacrifices--The festival concluded--Romantic situation for our camp CHAPTER IX.