The Young Fur Traders   By: Robert Michael Ballantyne (1825-1894)

UNIFORM WITH THIS BOOK.

THE CORAL ISLAND. MARTIN RATTLER. UNCAVA.

[Illustration: Pierre was standing over the great kettle. " The Young Fur Traders ]" Frontispiece

SNOWFLAKES AND SUNBEAMS; OR, THE YOUNG FUR TRADERS

A Tale of the Far North.

BY ROBERT MICHAEL BALLANTYNE

PEEFACE.

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 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

CHAPTER I.