So when we pushed through the dripping bushes to the tent we presented
only the few big trout, which did indeed create a sensation. Then
Richards brought forward his ouananiche, and it produced the desired
effect. After supper Pete and Easton must try their hand at the fish,
and they succeeded in catching five trout averaging, we estimated,
from two to three pounds each. Richards, however, still held the
record as to big fish, both trout and ouananiche, and the others vowed
they would take it from him if they had to fish nights to do it.

_En route_ up the river, in the afternoon, Pete had shot a muskrat,
and I asked him that night what he was going to do with it.

"I don't know," he answered. "Muskrat no good now."

"Well, never kill any animal while you are with me that you cannot
use, except beasts of prey."

This was one of the rules that I had laid down at the beginning: that
no member of the party should kill for the sake of killing any living
thing. I could not be angry with Pete, however, for he was always so
goodnatured. No matter how sharply I might reprove him, in five
minutes he would be doing something for my comfort, or singing some
Indian song as he went lightheartedly about his work. I understood
how hard it was for him to down the Indian instinct to kill, and that
the muskrat bad been shot thoughtlessly without considering for a
moment whether it were needed or not. The flesh of the muskrat at
this season of the year is very strong in flavor and unpalatable, and
besides, with the grouse that were occasionally killed, the fish that
we were catching, and the dried venison still on hand, we could not