For some minutes the natives stood gazing and then the realization that the Island was afire broke upon them. Something akin to panic set in. Canoes were loaded. Food, blankets and tents were thrown haphazardly into them, and they were swiftly paddled to the opposite bank of the river by the fear-stricken natives. Imagine the scene: The river dotted with canoes, with their multicoloured loads; the roar of the ever-increasing fire, as it was fanned by a slight breeze, and the strange stillness that pervaded the Post, which can be sensed only in a deserted place. The servants returned as soon as their families were safely "entrenched" on the other side of the river, and each with his axe hurried to the scene of the outbreak. In company with Mr. Gaudet, our Post Manager, I went to see the progress made by the fire. Often we were compelled to change our route through the bush on account of the terrific heat and the choking, blinding smoke. In many places great patches of undergrowth were blazing quite a distance from the body of the fire, sparks having been blown ahead by the wind. The roar of the fire was deafening as it caught fresh trees, shooting great lurid tongues of flame up their entire thirty feet. Darker and darker grew the air; the heat became fiercer; the fire advanced as if to satisfy its terrible hunger by enveloping the entire Island in its scorching clutch; and as we walked back to the deserted Post thoughts of having to abandon it ran through our minds. However the wind dropped, and the little band of fire fighters worked hard to accomplish their task. Had the wind risen, the whole island would have been devastated. All that night, and the succeeding five days and nights, gangs of natives (who had by this time got over their fright) and servants watched the fire until it was successfully stamped out. [Illustration: _Assembly of Indians who received H.B.C. Long Service Medals at Fort Alexander_] [Illustration: _Robust sons of Post manager W. A. Murray, at Fort Alexander, Manitoba_] WINNIPEG RESOLVED _Jan. 1, 1921_ that New Year's resolutions are not going out of fashion, as witnessed by the following answers to the query, "What is One of your New Year's Resolutions." _J. H. Pearen_--To remain young that I may laugh with my children. To be considerate at all times of the aged and infirm or those in need of encouragement. _W. Ogden_--To think more, talk less and to go through each day fully realizing that the opportunities which come to me lie in the present and not in the future. _Thos. F. Reith_, Card-writer--That I try to emulate the well-known Beaver and turn out heaps of B_right_ E_ffective_ A_rtistic_ V_igorous_ E_nterprising and_ R_eadable_ show cards, tickets and signs during 1921, in which case I expect to "BE-A-VER-"Y busy Card-writer.