Page:Enterprise and Adventure.djvu/262

234 Opportunity was not long wanting. Soon after this occurrence, one of their parties met a Hudson's Bay train on its way to trade with the Indians, of whom they also were in search: they exchanged compliments with each other; and as the day was very cold, proposed lighting a fire and taking a dram together. Soon five or six goodly trees yielded to their vigorous blows, and fell crashing to the ground; and in a few minutes one of the party lighting a sulphur match with his flint and steel, set fire to a huge pile of logs, which crackled and burned furiously, sending up clouds of sparks into the wintry sky, and casting a warm tinge upon the snow and the surrounding trees. The canteen was quickly produced, and they told their stories and adventures, while the liquor mounted to their brains. The North-Westers, however, after a little time, spilled their grog on the snow, unperceived by the others, so that they kept tolerably sober, while their rivals became very much elevated; and at last they began boasting of their superior powers of drinking, and, as a proof, each of them swallowed a large bumper. The Hudson's Bay party, who were nearly drunk by this time, of course followed their example, and almost instantly fell into a heavy sleep on the snow. In ten minutes more, they were tied firmly upon the sledges, and the dogs being turned homewards, away they went strait for the Hudson's Bay fort, where they soon after arrived, the men still sound asleep; while the North-Westers started for the Indian camp, and, this time at least, had the furs all to themselves.