The Big Devil [lan BEFORE THE DAYS of game regula- tions, back in the 1880's, there were no fences or signs “No Trespassing” to ruin the hunter’s day, yet he did not have it all his own way. Often he was stopped by his No. 1 nightmare, the taboo of the Indian guide. In those days of back-packing and no trails, the Indian guide held the whip hand every time. The ageless taboo, a centuries-old super- stition, had to be observed for fear of evil results. Their idea of the animal world was s9 closely interwoven with their world of human beings, that they were constantly seeing strange supernatural beings, lurk- ing across the path, when presto !—it was their taboo! Garage HAROLD SMITH, Proprietor Agents for HOME OIL PRODUCTS WOOD — ICE — COAL | | Terrace Transfer, Taxi «& | Terrace British Columbia SILVER TIP CAFE | JAMES WONG, Proprietor | A Good Place to Eat Good Food — Quick Service ¥ Terrace, British Columbia “When I planned to hunt elk in the interior of Vancouver Island, | was only running into real trouble. We never did succeed in getting into the elk country, around Atluck Lake’, recalled the well- known oldtimer, who told this true ex- perience. The starting point for his trip was Alert Bay. Crossing over from Vancouver in the tugboat Etta |Vhite, they dropped work to enjoy themselves the rest of the day, for the scenery in the narrow pas- sages, between the Island and the main- land, became so interesting. Sheer cliffs 2000 or 3000 feet in height, dropped off into the ocean. Here and there, the snout of a small glacier stuck through a gap in the walls. At the mouth of the Nimpkish River, they found an Indian encampment, busily engaged in catching their year’s supply of dog salmon. A lot of fishermen were com- ing in with their early morning catch, all Indians in their dugouts. Two guides were carefully chosen for their strength and experience in carrying heavy supplies through the bush. They set out in two canoes, up the Nimpkish River, the highway in an un- touched region, where there were no trails —seven miles of hard paddling against the boiling current, brought them to their landing spot. Its banks were very steep and tangled, with underbrush of vine maples and devils’ club, making the going very rough. They proceeded to unload their supplies, in the cold rain of late November, that Our Specialty AGENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL MOTOR TRUCKS WILLARD BATTERIES -RAYBESTOS PRODUCTS PHILCO RADIOS TERRACE » » “LITTLE, HAUGLAND & KERR LTD. LUMBER MANUFACTURERS Poles, Piling, Ties, Boomsticks, Shingles Western Hemlock, Red Cedar, Cottonwood, Sitka Spruce British Columbia had been with them all day. On shore, they made their camp in a group of trees on the shores of Nimpkish Lake, sleeping on cut boughs with only their blankets over them—taking care to protect the grub from the bears. The wind was bringing winter on its wings; it was almost there, it seemed. ToucH GOING Sure enough, on that November night, a heavy snow storm came up. Their tem- pers were not improved, when the blankets having collected at least as much as a tub full of icy water, collapsed and dumped it down the back of their necks. Nor did the 50-Ib. packs grow lighter in the six inches of wet snow. Yet the gambling spirit of the western pioneers held high their hopes, as they climbed through heavy underbrush, over and under such huge logs as are only found in the forests of B. C. The unspoilt, unknown beauty of Nimp- kish Lake, was their highway that day. For 30 miles, they paddled along its clear jade waters, in its silence. In the evening they came to a sheltered spot at the end J. H. SMITH LTD. GENERAL MERCHANTS Groceries — Dry Goods BOOTS AND SHOES FLOUR AND FEED HARDWARE BRITISH COLUMBIA TERRACE ADVERTISE IN “THE SHOULDER STRAP”, THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA POLICE. TERRACE MRS. FLOSSIE LAMBLY, Proprietress LUNCHES, SANDWICHES, PIES AND CAKES ER SNACK BAR ri 2 ee es OUR SPECIALTY British Columbia THE SHOULDER STRAP