The Frontier Fort; Stirring Times in the North-West Territory of BritishAmerica, by W H G Kingston. 

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Another well-written yarn by Kingston, with a background of Indianterritory in the Red River area of North America. Plenty of action, ambushes, shootings, fast rides on horseback, and other incidentsapparently typical of the life of those days and in such a place. 

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THE FRONTIER FORT; STIRRING TIMES IN THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY OF BRITISHAMERICA, BY W H G KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

A party of travellers were wending their way across a wide-spreadingprairie in the north-west territory of America. As far as the eye couldreach, the ground was covered with waving tufts of dark-green grass, interspersed with flowers of varied hue, among which could bedistinguished the yellow marigold and lilac bergamot, with bluebells, harebells, and asters, innumerable; while here and there rose-bushes, covered with gorgeous bloom, appeared above the particoloured carpetspread over the country. On the north side the prairie was bounded bysoftly rounded knolls, between which tiny lakelets were visible, shiningin the bright rays of the glowing sun. To the northward a silverystream could be seen meandering, bordered by willows, aspens, osiers, and other trees of considerable height, breaking the line of thehorizon. 

"I am delighted with your country, Burnett; I had no idea such lovelyscenery and so much rich soil existed on this side of the RockyMountains, " said one of the travellers, addressing another, who rodealongside him. 

"I hope, before many years are over, to see this fair region coveredwith populous towns and villages, and flourishing farms. "

"That time is far distant, I suspect, " answered Mr Burnett, a headclerk of the Hudson's Bay Company, in charge of the party; "and I canonly say that I hope so, for when it comes, our vocation will bewell-nigh gone, as the Company will have to shut up shop--"

"And retire on well-won fortunes, " laughingly added the first speaker, Reginald Loraine. He was a young Englishman of good fortune and family, who had lately come out to make a tour in Canada; but having heardconflicting reports of the north-west territory, he had been induced tocontinue his journey westward, intending to proceed as far as the footof the Rocky Mountains, and to return, before the termination of thesummer, from Fort Edmonton, down the Saskatchewan, and through LakeWinnipeg to the Red River. 

His intelligence, high spirits, and good humour made him an agreeablecompanion. He was never put out by any mishaps or inconveniences. Hispersonal appearance was also much in his favour; while he was a goodrider, and possessed of activity and endurance, equal, if not superior, to any of the rest of the party, long accustomed though they were to themode of life they were leading. 

From the sentiments he uttered, and the expression of his handsomecountenance, it might have been surmised that he possessed many otherqualities of a higher character. Young Hector Mackintosh, who had comewith him from Toronto, declared, indeed, that he never wished to have astauncher fellow at his back in a skirmish with Redskins, or in a fightwith a grizzly, and that he was as high-minded and generous as he wasbrave. 

Hector, who was now curvetting over the prairie on a tough littlemustang, had been at school at Toronto, whence he was returning torejoin his father, Captain Mackintosh, now a chief officer, or factor, in charge of Fort Duncan, a Company's post to the south-west, situatedon the borders of the Blackfeet territory. It was a somewhat dangerousposition, which only a man of courage and resolution would willinglyhave occupied. 

Following at some little distance those who have been mentioned, camethree other horsemen, whose shouts of laughter, interspersedoccasionally with snatches of songs, could be heard far across theprairie. The centre of the three was a short, portly gentleman, with asomewhat rubicund countenance--Doctor McCrab, just appointed surgeon toone of the forts in the west. On either side of him rode two youngclerks. One of them was Dan Maloney, a light-hearted Irishman, withwhom the jolly Doctor amused himself by exchanging jokes, cappingverses, and singing duets which set all the laws of harmony at defiance. 

The other was Allan Keith, who, from similarity of taste and mentalqualities, had won the regard of Reginald Loraine; indeed, except inpoint of wealth, the two young men greatly resembled each other. 

Some way behind the gentlemen came a long team of Red River woodencarts, escorted by several persons on horseback, under charge of JacquesLeblanc, a French half-breed, who, from his reputed knowledge of thecountry in all directions, had been selected to act as guide to thewhole party. 

The carts, which had only two wheels, were built entirely of wood, andeach was dragged by a single horse. Some carried the travellers' tents, cooking utensils, a tool-chest, and additional axletrees, their arms andammunition, together with their clothes, spare blankets, andwaterproofs. The other carts were laden with stores of all sorts forthe forts to the westward. 

Accompanying the carts was a drove of loose horses--the animals nowrearing and kicking and biting at each other--now moving along steadily, under the management of a single driver, Francois Chabot, also a Frenchhalf-breed. He had seldom to use his long whip to keep them in order;and even the most restless showed no inclination to leave theircompanions. They were intended to supply the travellers with a changeof steeds once or twice in the day; for in making long journeys, whenday after day forty or fifty miles have to be got over between sunriseand sunset, one horse seldom possesses sufficient strength and enduranceto carry his rider the whole distance. 

When a horse shows signs of fatigue, his saddle is removed to the backof another, and he contentedly runs on with the herd. The horses weremostly small, and many of them sorry-looking steeds; but they had, notwithstanding, carried their riders without showing signs of fatigue, or growing thinner. Their only food was the grass they could pick upwhile the party were encamped at night, or during their noon-day halt, neither beans nor corn being given them. 

Reginald Loraine and the Doctor had provided themselves with Englishsaddles; the rest of the party bestrode those of native manufacture, which were merely large pads of dressed leather, stuffed with hair orgrass, and having a broad and fringed crupper. Several of them weretrimmed and handsomely adorned with quills, the talent of themanufacturer being especially exerted in ornamenting the saddle-cloths. The stirrups were formed of curved pieces of wood, hanging by leatherthongs to the primitive saddle. The bridles might more properly becalled halters. They consisted of a thong of raw hide, thirty feet inlength, called an _atscacha_. One end was tied round the animal's lowerjaw, and the other, after being brought over the neck to the rider'shand, was allowed to drag on the ground some fifteen feet behind. Itrequires care, particularly by those in the rear, not to tread on thethongs trailing behind. By so doing, the mouth of the horse receives ajerk which seldom fails to make it rear and curvet from side to side. 

The object of this long thong is to enable the rider, when he dismounts, to hold his horse while he fires at a foe; or, should he be thrown bythe animal stumbling in a rabbit-burrow, to prevent it running off. Thelong thong serves also as a halter, ever ready to tie it up, or to catchit when at liberty. Even the gentlemen who used English bridles foundit convenient to have these halters secured to their horses' heads. 

Day after day the travellers had been making their way along the FertileBelt, the name given to a broad tract of country extending between theRed River and the base of the Rocky Mountains, bordered on the north byforests, lakes, and rivers, and on the south by that sandy and desertregion which extends along the whole frontier of the United States. 

The party rode steadily on, every man carrying his rifle at his back;for although the natives were generally friendly, it was considered wiseto be prepared, lest so rich a booty as the carts would afford mighttempt them. At night, too, a constant watch was kept on the horses, asthe Crees roaming over that part of the country are notorioushorse-stealers, and would have considered it a creditable feat to havecarried off as many of the travellers' steeds as they could catch. 

They had proceeded some distance, when, shading his eyes with his hand, Mr Burnett looked out eagerly ahead. 

"What is it you see?" asked Loraine, imitating his example. 

"A party of horsemen, whom I at first thought might be Blackfeet on thewar-path, but I am satisfied they are Red River men, on a buffalo hunt, "answered Burnett. "We shall soon know. See, Leblanc has gone forwardto ascertain who they are. "

The guide in a short time returned, saying that the strangers were RedRiver hunters; that they had just sighted buffalo, and would be glad ifany of the gentlemen of the party would join them. 

Loraine and Hector were delighted to accept the invitation, and AllanKeith and Maloney were anxious to try their skill as hunters. Whilethey galloped on to join the half-breeds, Burnett and his men movedtowards the spot which had been fixed on for camping at night. 

The buffalo hunt need not be described, except to say that the youngEnglishmen won the admiration of their new friends by their courage anddexterity, each having brought a couple of the shaggy monsters to theground. 

The travellers spent the evening with their new friends, the hunters, who, as soon as the buffalo they had last killed had been turned intopemmican, intended to return to the Red River. Next morning theycontinued their journey westward, pushing on at greater speed thanusual, to make up for lost time, Burnett being very anxious to reach thefort by the day he was expected. 

The country was generally lovely, being well wooded, with numerouslakelets, now rising into softly rounded knolls, and occasionallyopening out into a wide, fair landscape. The soil was of rich loam, andthe vegetation luxuriant, sprinkled with flowers of many tints. 

They had been moving on for a couple of hours or more, when Loraine, looking to the southward, observed a remarkable appearance in thehorizon, which wore an unearthly ashen hue. Pointing it out to Burnett, he asked--

"Can that be produced by a prairie fire?"

"No; but if I mistake not, we shall have, before long, a flight oflocusts passing over our heads. That peculiar look of the sky isproduced by the light reflected from their transparent wings. "

As he spoke, the whole sky appeared to be changing from blue to silverywhite, then to ashy grey and lead colour; while, opposite to the sun, the prevailing hue was a silver white--perceptibly flashing, the airseeming as if rilled with flakes of snow. 

"The insects are flying from five hundred to a thousand feet above ourheads; and I hope we may get clear of them before we camp, or they willplay mischief with everything made of leather, which is left exposed, "observed Burnett. 

He was, however, disappointed; for, in a short time, the locustsdescended--the whole air became filled with them, until they reached theground, where they clung to the blades of grass in countless multitudes. 

During the remainder of the day the creatures continued coming on; andwhen the party at length stopped at night, they had to clear away theground to form their camp. 

The voracity of the insects was proved by the way they attacked anddestroyed several articles of clothing, which had carelessly been lefton the grass. The travellers found, indeed, that the only way toprotect their property was to pile it up in the carts out of reach. DanMaloney appeared with a melancholy countenance, exhibiting a leather bagand a pair of woollen trousers, which he had thrown down outside thetent, eaten through and through in all directions. At night theinsects, fortunately, did not move. Early in the morning they werefound busily feeding; but as soon as the sun had evaporated the dew, they began taking short flights, and then cloud after cloud rose, andpursued their way to the northward. 

Burnett assured his companions that he had never seen so large a flightbefore; and, as far as he could ascertain, many years had passed withoutthe country receiving a similar visitation. 

Scarcely had the locusts disappeared, than what looked like a thick, black fog-bank was seen rising from the direction whence they had come. It approached nearer and nearer. Leblanc, riding forward, pointed itout to Burnett. 

"The prairie is on fire, " he remarked. 

"I know it is; I saw it from the first. But I don't think it will comenear us. "

"I am not quite so sure of that. It comes on fast, and the grass hereis very long, " said the guide. 

"Then we'll make our way to yonder knoll, where it is shorter, " saidBurnett, who was not to be put out by Indians, locusts, or prairiefires. 

The word was given to drag the carts towards the spot Burnett hadindicated. 

"A fire on the prairie is a serious matter, is it not?" observedLoraine, in a tone of inquiry. 

"I do not much fear it, notwithstanding, " answered Burnett. "We shallhave a storm before long, I suspect, and that will fight the flames. "

"I should have thought that a storm would be more likely to fan theminto greater fury, " remarked Loraine, who considered that Burnett wasnot sufficiently alive to the dangers they might have to encounter fromthe fire. 

"Not if it rains as I expect it will, " observed Burnett. "Look at thatcloud ahead. It contains a torrent sufficient to extinguish thefiercest flames. "

Loraine had hitherto been admiring the beautiful appearance of the sky. To the south it was of that bright blue such as is seldom seen in theBritish Isles. To the west it was bordered with vast, billowy clouds ofthe softest, snowy white. Beneath the black cloud, which was everyinstant extending, were grey masses whirling on at a terrific rate;while, suddenly, to the north and east the expanse of heaven assumed adun-coloured hue, vivid with lightning, where rain appeared to bedescending in torrents. The whole atmosphere was charged withelectricity. The lightning rushed towards the earth, in straight andzig-zag currents, the thunder varying from the sharp rattle of musketryto the roar of artillery. Still no rain had fallen from overhead, whilescarcely a breath of air was blowing. 

Meantime, however, the fire came rushing on across the prairie, theflames, as they caught the tall grass, growing brighter and brighter, every now and then rising and expanding, as they seized on shrubs andtrees in their onward course. 

Burnett at last seemed to think that matters were growing serious, andmade a signal to the drivers of the carts to push forward. There was nonecessity, as they were doing their utmost to urge on their steeds byuttering strange oaths and by the liberal use of their whips. 

"We must try and get to the other side of the knoll, and camp; for we asyet have only seen the beginning of the storm, " remarked Burnett. 

Scarcely had he said this, than, with the suddenness of a tornado, thewind came rushing down upon them; at first, without a drop of rain, butso fiercely that the horses were forced from the track. Again and againit seemed hopeless to drive against it. The lightning flashed morevividly than before; the thunder roared; while the fire advanced acrossthe prairie like a fiery host bent on their destruction. 

"I say, I don't see why we should lose our lives, even though Burnettthinks it is his duty to stick by the carts, " said Hector, riding up toLoraine. "We can gallop ahead, in spite of the wind; it will be betterthan being turned into Guy Fawkeses. "

Loraine was much inclined to follow his young friend's advice; indeed, he suspected the rest of the party would soon leave the carts to theirfates, and try to save themselves by flight from the fiery sea, whichwas tossing and heaving not a quarter of a mile away from them. Hewould not go, however, without first urging Burnett, the other clerks, and the Doctor to try and save themselves. 

He had turned his horse for the purpose, when the rain came down thickand furious, with even greater suddenness than the wind had arisen. They saw that it almost immediately produced an effect on the fire. Itwas a struggle between the two elements. At first it seemed doubtful, however, which would prove victorious; but water, they trusted, hadgained the day; for, mingled with the rain came hail, not only ordinaryhail, but mixed with lumps half an inch to an inch across. 

"Och! I'd as soon have a whack from an honest shillaly as be pelted bythim threacherous lumps, " cried Dan Maloney. 

The travellers in vain raised their hands to protect their heads fromthe hail. The long line of horses and carts was broken. Some of thepoor creatures clung to the road, struggling desperately. Others weredriven on to the prairie, and turning their backs to the storm, stoodstill or moved sideways, with cowering heads, their manes and tailsfloating wildly, like those of Highland shelties. 

Hector declared that he could hear the hissing of the rain as it fell onthe hitherto victorious fire, effectually, however, quenching it. A fewminutes after the storm had broken, the whole ground to the left was ablackened expanse. The danger was passed, and they hastened on to thefoot of the knoll, where a lakelet, fringed by aspens and poplars, afforded them good camping ground. With astonishing speed thearrangements for the night were made; every man exerted himself. Thehorses were unharnessed, the erratic ones hobbled, the tents pitched, and the travellers assembled round the blazing fires which were quicklylighted to dry their saturated clothing. 

Almost before these arrangements were made, the storm passed away. Thesetting sun burst forth again until not a blot was left in the sky, savefragments of mist to the south and south-east. It was too late to thinkof moving on again, and Leblanc was glad of the opportunity of haltingto repair some of the carts with the ever serviceable "Shaganappi, " alarge supply of which was carried for the purpose, as also to mend theharness and other gear which had been broken by the restive movements ofthe horses during the storm. 

In the mean time, while Francois, another Canadian, who acted as cook, was preparing the evening meal, Loraine and Hector took their guns toshoot some ducks which were seen on the other side of the lakelet. Having knocked over several birds, before returning they took arefreshing plunge in the water, which was sufficiently deep for thepurpose. 

The twilight had faded away into darkness before the whole party wereseated round the camp-fires, discussing their suppers with suchappetites as few fail to obtain while travelling in that region. Supperwas over; and "early to bed, and early to rise" being a standing order, those of the party who enjoyed the luxury of tents retired within, whilethe rest lay down, wrapped in their blankets, beneath the cartsarranged, as usual, in a circle to serve as a defence against anyattacks of hostile Indians. Although Burnett did not expect anyannoyance of the sort, he considered it his duty to take the precautionswhich no traveller at that period omitted to make. Two or three menwere also stationed as sentries to keep watch, especially on the horses. 

Loraine had seen Hector, who shared his tent, fall fast asleep; but notbeing inclined to close his own eyes, he stepped out of his tent to takea look at the stars which shone from the heavens, undimmed by a singlecloud. Happening to turn his eyes towards the summit of the knoll, hewas somewhat surprised to see what he felt sure was a human figure, theoutline being distinctly marked against the sky. The man was evidentlytaking a survey of the camp. Loraine, thinking it possible that hemight be a scout sent out by a party of Blackfeet, made his way to thenearest sentry to tell him to be on the watch, and to ask his opinion onthe subject. By the time he had reached the sentry, however, the figurehad disappeared. The sentry thought he might have been mistaken; butwhen Loraine made him understand what he had seen, he went round to theother men on watch, and urged them to be on the alert and to keep thehorses well together. Loraine was just going back to his tent, when heheard a shout. It was answered by the sentry on the south side of thecamp; and a conversation in a language he could not understand tookplace. On going up to them, he could dimly distinguish an Indian ofsomewhat diminutive size and of deformed figure. 

"What does he want?" inquired Loraine. 

"He says, as far as I can make out, that his chief, who will be heredirectly, sent him to find out who we are; for he thought at first, whenhe saw our camp-fire, that we might be Crees, or a party of Blackfeet, for such he knows are at present out on the war-path, " answered thesentry. 

"Tell him that we shall be glad to see his chief, whoever he is, if hecomes as a friend, " said Loraine. "Until I know his business, I willnot arouse Mr Burnett, who requires a good rest; and I dare say it willkeep until to-morrow morning. "

The sentry spoke to the hump-backed Indian, who quickly disappeared inthe gloom; and Loraine walked up and down, waiting for his return. 

"You must not be thrown off your guard, Pierre, lest some trick shouldbe intended, " he remarked, recollecting the numberless tales of Indiantreachery he had heard. 

"I know the coquins (rogues) too well for that, " answered Pierre. 

In a short time, Loraine saw through the gloom two persons on horseback, with a couple of led horses, approaching. They rode fearlessly up tothe camp. The first, from the white hair hanging down under his furcap, and his snowy beard, and wrinkled, weather-beaten features, thoughhe sat upright and firmly in his saddle, was apparently an old man. Hiscostume, consisting of a leathern coat and leggings, fringed in theusual fashion, and the rifle slung at his back, showed that he was oneof the free white hunters, or trappers, who have been wont for many ayear to roam amid the prairies and forests in the north-west in searchof peltries. The other person, leading the two pack horses, Lorainerecognised as the hump-backed Indian who had just before come to thecamp. 

"I am glad to have fallen in with you, friends, " said the old man, dismounting. "You keep early hours and a careful watch. I expected tohave seen you carousing, and quaffing the accursed fire-water, as somany of you travellers from the Far East are wont to do. To say thetruth, when I first caught sight of your camp-fires, I was uncertainwhether they were those of Crees or Blackfeet; and as I had no fancy tofall in with the one or the other, I sent on my lad Greensnake to learnthe state of the case. "

"Then he was the person I saw at the top of the hillock out there, "observed Loraine. 

"Not he; he would not have exposed himself in that fashion, " said theold man. 

"Then my eyes must have deceived me, after all, " said Loraine. "I'msure Mr Burnett, the leader of our party, will welcome you to the camp;but he is asleep at present, and I should be sorry to disturb himunnecessarily. I will, however, call up one of the men to get readysome supper for you and your attendant. "

"I shall be glad of some food, for I have not fired a shot for the lastthree days, and my stock of provisions has run short, " replied the oldman. 

He now called up Greensnake, took off the saddles from the led horses, and unloaded the baggage animals, placing the packs inside the circle ofcarts. 

Meantime, Loraine found out where Francois was sleeping, and, arousinghim, told him to get some food ready for their unexpected guests. 

Francois at first eyed the strangers askance. Satisfied, however, atlength, that he was a white man, and perhaps a person of more importancethan his costume might betoken, he set diligently to work to boil thekettle and fry some buffalo meat; the old hunter, who had taken a seaton a pile of wood near the fire, looking complacently on. 

Loraine having assisted Francois in preparing the supper, prompted bygood feeling, and perhaps slightly by curiosity, took a seat by the sideof the stranger, that he might attend to his wants. Immediatelyafterwards, the lad who has been introduced as Greensnake glidednoiselessly up in a fashion appropriate to his name, and squatted downclose to his master, waiting patiently until Loraine handed him a shareof the food. Having no cause to conceal the object of their journey, Loraine explained that he and his companions were bound for FortEdmonton, and were pushing on as fast as they could travel, without therisk of knocking up their horses. 

"I wish that you were directing your course rather to Fort Duncan, for Isuspect that Captain Mackintosh and his small garrison are greatly inwant of assistance. From some information brought me by Greensnake, Isuspect that the Blackfeet have formed a plot to take it. Hearing thatthe Captain holds the Indians cheaply, and is not likely to be warned bywhat I might tell him, I am on my way to Fort Edmonton to advise that heshould be put on his guard, and that assistance may be sent him withoutdelay. "

Loraine was struck by the old man's mode of expressing himself--sodifferent to the slang language used in general by the rough trappersand traders of the Far West. 

"This is important information, indeed!" he said, feeling anxious aboutthe safety of his young friend's family, and especially of that youngfriend's two sisters; for although he had never seen them, Hector hadshown him their portraits, one of which, called Sybil, possessed a faceof rare loveliness. Effie, the younger, was very attractive; but Hectordeclared that there never was, or never could be, anybody like Sybil. Hector had told him that the portrait, not being his own, he could notgive it to him, but that he was welcome to look at it as often as heliked--a privilege of which, it must be confessed, Reginald frequentlytook advantage; and he had resolved, if possible, to pay a visit to theresidence of the fair original. Even had this not been the case, hischivalry would have made him eager to set off to the assistance ofHector's relatives. He felt that the matter was of so much importancethat he should be justified in calling up Mr Burnett to discuss whatmeasures should be taken. He, of course, knew that Hector would be asanxious to go as he was; he, therefore, let him sleep on. Burnett, whodid not appear very well satisfied at being aroused from his slumbers, came and sat down to hear the old man's account. He questioned himnarrowly, apparently not altogether crediting his statements. 

"You may think what you will, Mr Burnett; but people are not apt ingeneral to doubt the word of Isaac Sass, " said the old man at length, inan offended tone. 

"Are you Isaac Sass?" exclaimed Burnett. "I have often heard of you. Then, I say, I don't doubt your word. But why are you so sure that thefort will be attacked?"

"For a strong reason, which, as I don't wish to keep you longer fromyour rest, I will give in the morning. "

"A word for yourself, friend Sass, I ken?" observed Burnett. 

"No, no; I can do without sleep, " answered Isaac Sass; "but before I liedown, I wish to know--yes or no--whether you will direct your coursetowards Fort Duncan, instead of going on to Edmonton. "

"I wish that I could do as you suggest, " answered Burnett. "If CaptainMackintosh wants help, I should like to give it him; but I must carryout my instructions, at all costs. It would not do to run the risk ofgetting our train plundered, as both stores and ammunition are muchwanted at Edmonton. "

"But will you allow one of your factors to be exposed to the danger ourfriend here has spoken of?" exclaimed Loraine. "I should be unwillingunder any other circumstances to part company; but I feel bound, whetheror not I can get anybody to go with me, to set off with my friend, youngMackintosh, to warn his family, and give them such assistance as wecan. "

"You, of course, are at liberty to go, Mr Loraine; and, as youngMackintosh was committed to your care, to take him with you, " answeredBurnett, somewhat stiffly. "But duty is duty. I must obey my orders, and those are, to conduct this train to Edmonton with as little delay aspossible. I have no discretionary power to go out of the way, under anyexcuse whatever. "

"But, surely, you would not object to one of the clerks, and some few ofthe men who could be spared, accompanying me!" exclaimed Loraine. "Evena small addition to the number would be of consequence in the defence ofthe fort, should it be attacked; and that it will be so, our friend hereseems to think there is every probability. "

"I have explained how I am situated in the matter, Mr Loraine, " saidMr Burnett, in the same tone as before; "and I think it right to say, that, without a guide and a body of men well-armed, you and youngMackintosh will be unable to accomplish the journey. You will eitherlose yourselves and be starved, or be attacked and cut off by theBlackfeet. The Crees are not to be trusted either; for though they arecivil enough to us, knowing that we have the power to punish them, yetthey would steal our horses if they could; and, looking upon you asstrangers, they would not only take your horses, but your scalps intothe bargain. "

"I shall not be afraid of meeting either them or the Blackfeet, "answered Loraine. "What do you say, friend?" he added, turning to IsaacSass. "Can I, or can I not, get to Fort Duncan, and warn the garrisonof the danger which threatens them?"

The old hunter looked up at the countenance of the young Englishman, without speaking for a few seconds. He then said, "If pluck and couragewould enable a man to do it, you would; but I cannot say how much youknow about the country and the ways of the Redskins. It would not be aneasy matter for any man, as there are several war parties out--of that Ihave certain knowledge; and I had no small difficulty in keeping clearof them. I wish that I could go with you, but I cannot get along asfast as I used to do, and my beasts are pretty well knocked up. Butthis is what I'll do: I'll send my lad Greensnake with you; whatever Itell him to do, he'll do, and prove as true as steel. People call himan idiot; but he's no more an idiot than I am, if a person knows how toget the sense out of him, and that's what I do. "

Greensnake, on hearing his name mentioned, glanced up with a pleasedlook, and nodded at his master, as a dog often does when spoken about. 

"I gladly accept your offer, and will give him any reward you thinkright for his services, " said Loraine. "I should like to set offto-night. "

"That would be impossible, as the lad and your horses want rest, "answered the old trapper. "To-morrow morning he shall be at yourservice, and perhaps by that time Mr Burnett will have thought thematter over, and will send two or three of his men to accompany you. Iwill take the duties of those who go, and he knows I am worthsomething. "

"Well, well, I'll think it over, and to-morrow morning let you know mydecision, " said Burnett. "Now, Mr Loraine, I'd advise you to lie downand get some rest, or you won't be fit for the work you propose toundertake. "

Loraine, hoping that Burnett would consent to spare him a few men, followed his advice, and turned into his camp bed, while the old hunter, wrapping himself in his buffalo robe, lay down with his feet to thefire, as did Greensnake in a horse-cloth, which he took from the baggagehe had deposited inside the camp. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

Burnett was duly impressed with a sense of his responsibilities. Hereally wished to send assistance to Fort Duncan, but felt the importanceof conveying his charge safely to Fort Edmonton, and he was too prudentto run any risk, by weakening his escort. He, therefore, determined tocommence the journey at an earlier hour than usual, and to push forwardas fast as possible. He recollected the half-breeds from whom they hadparted only three days before, and whom they had left encamped. If theycould be overtaken, some of them might be induced to go to Fort Duncanby the prospect of a brush with their sworn enemies, the Blackfeet. "Perhaps this young Englishman will agree to go back and obtain theirassistance, and he will render far greater service to the captain thanif he were to go alone, " thought Burnett. "I will propose the plan tohim to-morrow morning, and allow Allan Keith to accompany him. The twoseem to pull well together; and as soon as we get to Edmonton we willsend off as many men as can be spared. "

Satisfied with his plan, Burnett pulled his blanket round him, and wasjust dropping off to sleep, when he heard the distant neigh of a horse. 

"That was not one of our animals!" he exclaimed, starting to his feet. As he did so, he saw the old man and his Indian boy sitting up. 

"What sound was that, Sass?" he asked. 

"Blackfeet are not far off, I guess, " was the answer. 

Loraine, who had been unable to sleep, hearing what was said, came outof his tent. 

"Is there a chance of the camp being attacked?" he asked. 

"They'll not attack the camp, but they'll steal our horses if they can, "answered Burnett. 

"Depend on that; if we don't keep a look-out they'll have half of themaway before morning, " observed Sass; and turning to Loraine, he added, "You said just now that you caught sight of a figure on the top of thehill, and as that was not Greensnake or me, I have a notion that it wasone of the Blackfeet. "

"Why didn't you tell me of that before?" inquired Burnett. 

"Because I thought I was mistaken, and that it was not of sufficientconsequence to arouse you, " answered Loraine. 

"It may be of the greatest importance; even now the rascals may haveenticed off some of our horses, " exclaimed Burnett, taking his gun, andgoing up to where the men lay asleep. 

A light touch on the shoulder, and a whisper in the ear, were sufficientto arouse them. He having also called up the Doctor and the two clerks, hurried on to where the men were on watch outside. They also had heardthe sounds, and were on the alert. They were certain that as yet allthe horses were safe. They were joined by most of the other men; two orthree only, by Burnett's orders, having remained behind to extinguishthe fires. 

Just at this juncture several horses, feeding on the rich pasture not ahundred yards off, came galloping up, and would have passed the camp hadnot the men rushed out and stopped them. This proved without doubt thatenemies were in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, several men, well-armed, went out and brought up the remainder of the horses, whichthey at once tethered either to the carts or to stakes firmly fixed inthe ground; then each with his gun loaded with buck-shot, crawled outthrough the long grass, so that they could not be seen, even by thesharp eyes of the Blackfeet, and arranged themselves in a circle at thedistance of about eighty yards from the camp. The night was dark, andperfect silence was maintained, so that even the most watchful enemycould not have discovered what the travellers were about. 

Burnett having thus made all necessary arrangements for the security ofthe camp, directed Allan Keith and Maloney each to take his turn inwatching, and again lay down, his example being followed by the rest ofthe party who were not required on duty. The most sharp-eyed Redskinswould have found it difficult to discover what the travellers wereabout. Allan Keith was the only person who remained on foot. Havingvisited the horses, and ascertained that the men in charge of them wereawake, he went on, intending to make the circuit of the camp, to assurehimself that the men were on the alert. Thinking it unnecessary tocrawl along the ground, from supposing that in the darkness he could notbe seen at any distance, he walked upright, and had just got close tothe outer circle where he expected to find one of the men on watch, whenan arrow whistled close to his head. The scout, who must have beenclose in front of him, immediately began to crawl along, like a snakethrough the grass, in the direction whence the arrow had come. 

Allan was as courageous as most persons; but it would have been folly tohave exposed himself to the risk of another shot. He, therefore, wiselycrouched down in the spot which had been occupied by the man who hadgone forward in pursuit of the intruder. He listened with open ears, but not a sound could he hear, nor could his eyes pierce the darknessbeyond a few yards from where he lay. He waited and waited, until hebegan to fear that the scout must have been caught by the savages, andkilled before he had had time to cry out. That the other scouts were onthe watch, he had no doubt, and would take care that no Indiansapproached without being discovered. He had remained in his recumbentposition for some time, when he at length heard a rustling in the grass, and the scout rejoined him. 

"The coquin has escaped us, monsieur, " whispered the Canadian. "I wishthat I had shot him, but by firing I should have discovered ourposition, and we should have had a score of arrows or bullets flyingabout our ears. "

After the warning he had received, Allan, imitating the example of thescout, crawled along the ground to the different posts, and finding allthe men on the alert, returned in the same fashion to the camp. 

Night went by, and no other alarm was raised. At early dawn Burnett, having aroused the whole camp, gave them the information Isaac Sass hadbrought. 

There was no lack of volunteers, among whom was Allan Keith, eager toaccompany Loraine to Fort Duncan. He was somewhat less disappointedthan would otherwise have been the case at being refused permission togo, when Burnett explained his plan of sending him in search of thehalf-breed hunters, to collect among them as many recruits as he couldobtain to increase the garrison at Fort Duncan. 

"I, at all events, will go with you!" exclaimed Hector, turning toLoraine. "We have a compass, and as I know the direction in which thefort lies, I shall not be afraid of missing my way. "

"You forget the Redskins, and that you must be on your guard at night, or you'll have your horses stolen, " observed old Sass. "You will alsohave to look out for game to support yourselves. However, if you takeGreensnake with you, he'll help you to kill game, and will give duenotice if enemies are near you. "

"Yes, although I should have been glad to have had more companions, I amready to set out at once, " said Loraine. 

"I am sorry I cannot spare any of my men, " observed Burnett. "Two orthree, indeed, would make but little difference, and the smaller yourparty the better for safety's sake. However, you must let your horsesbreakfast, for they got but little feeding last night, thanks to theBlackfeet. "

While these and other arrangements were being made, the scouts came in. It was evident, they reported, from the tracks round the camp, that theyhad been surrounded by a large band, who would probably have stolen alltheir horses had they not been on their guard. The scouts, they added, had followed to a considerable distance the tracks which led away to thewestward, and it was their opinion that the Indians would keep ahead, and not make another attempt to steal the horses till they fancied thatthe party were off their guard. It was so far satisfactory to havediscovered the direction the Indians had taken, as Loraine might thusproceed southward and Allan Keith make his way eastward on the trail ofthe buffalo hunters, without the risk of encountering them. 

"I will spare no exertion to get as soon as possible to the fort with asmany men as I can induce to accompany me, " said Allan, as he warmlyshook hands with Loraine. "I heartily wish that I could have gone withyou; but I must obey the orders of my chief. I am well acquainted withthe family of Captain Mackintosh; pray give them my respects, and sayhow deeply I regret not being able to proceed at once to the fort. "

Allan looked somewhat conscious as he said this. Loraine promised todeliver his messages; and the horses having now had time to feed, thethree parties separated. Allan, accompanied by Pierre, rode off to theeastward; Mr Burnett and the train continued their journey to the west;while Loraine and his two companions took a southerly course. 

"Good-bye, good-bye, my young friends, " cried Dr McCrab, after riding ashort distance with Loraine and Hector. "Whatever you do; don't let theRedskins take your scalps, my boys. Keep your powder dry, and yourlarder well stored, and you'll get through. I heartily wish that Icould go with you; but I ride too heavy a weight, and should certainlydelay you if we had to run for it with a pack of howling savages at ourtails: the chances are, I should come off second best, " said thegood-natured medico, when, shaking hands, he turned his horse's head andgalloped off to overtake the train brought up by Isaac Sass and his packanimals. The country being level, the train could be seen for a longdistance, creeping on like a huge snake through the grass. 

As Loraine looked round, a uniform and well-defined horizon met his eye. So destitute was the country in general of all landmarks, that he wasthankful to have a good compass to guide his course, in addition to theassistance of the young hump-backed Indian, who depended on his instinctalone. Loraine and Hector had each a spare horse, which carried theirchanges of clothes, a store of powder and shot, and such provisions andcooking utensils as they were likely to require. 

The young Indian frequently raised himself in his stirrups, andsometimes even stood upon the back of his horse, to take a look round, but dropped quickly down again into his saddle, satisfied that no foeswere in the neighbourhood. 

"It was fortunate that the Blackfeet came about the camp last night, andthen took themselves off to the westward, as we are the less likely tohave them on our trail, " observed Hector, who was highly delighted to beable to go home at once, instead of having to make a long circuit, as hehad expected, through Edmonton. Though he had heard the report of oldSass, he had not realised the danger in which his family might beplaced. 

He rattled on as was his wont, never failing to find subjects ofconversation. "I did not suppose that there would be much risk, or Ishould not have proposed your coming with me, " observed Loraine. "Iwas, besides, unwilling to make my appearance at the fort without you, lest Captain Mackintosh should look upon me as an impostor. "

"I am very sure my father would not do that, or my mother or sistereither, or Sybil. They'll make a good deal of you, I can tell you; forit is not often they see a gentleman at the fort, except Allan Keith, who comes whenever he can. He is, I suspect, a great admirer of mysister; and I am not surprised, for she is a dear, good girl, and worthyof the best fellow in the country. "

"Which sister?" very naturally asked Loraine. "You showed me theportraits of two. "

"I have only one. Sybil is not really my sister, though I called herso, and she is like a sister to us all. My father and mother adoptedher before Effie or any of us were born; and as they were as fond of heras they could have been had she been their own child, she has lived onwith us ever since. She's as pretty as she looks in her portrait, andas good and bright as she is pretty, and we boys love her as much as wedo Effie. "

This account naturally increased Loraine's desire to see the original ofthe beautiful picture; but a sense of delicacy prevented him furtherquestioning his young companion about her, being well assured that hewould before long tell him all he knew. Hector, indeed, talked away forthe whole party, for Greensnake never uttered a word except fromabsolute necessity, and then it was in Cree. Hector, however, remembered enough to make out the meaning, having known the languagebefore he went to school, and he translated what was said to Loraine. They had got to some distance from the camp, when Hector, turning round, observed two animals following. 

"Holloa! What are these?" he exclaimed. "Can they be wolves?"

"If they are, " said Loraine, "and they come near enough, we must shootthem, or they may interfere with our horses at night, especially as theyare likely to pick up companions on the way. "

"Very well; then we will stop at once, and do you fire at one of thebrutes, and I will try to kill the other, " said Hector. "What do yousay, Greensnake?" he asked in Cree. 

The hump-backed Indian grunted out an unintelligible reply, and pointedahead. 

"He doesn't think it worth while to stop, " remarked Hector. 

"Nor do I, " said Loraine; and they accordingly pushed on at the pacethey had before been going. 

After a while, Hector, looking back, exclaimed, "Why, they are notwolves at all, but a couple of dogs--Old Buster, who belongs to theDoctor, and Dan Maloney's Muskey! They took a great fancy to me, for Iused to play with them; but I had no idea of enticing them away fromtheir masters. "

"They must have found out that we are not with the train, and bolting, followed up our trail, " remarked Loraine. "We cannot drive them backnow. "

The dogs were quickly up to the riders, and seemed highly delighted tofind Hector, jumping up on either side of him. 

The prairie which Loraine and his companions were traversing was almosttreeless; but not many years before it had been covered with a pineforest, destroyed by one of the ruthless prairie fires which so oftensweep over the north-west territory. Here and there, however, by thesides of streams, or pools, numerous aspens--the fastest growing treesin that region--had again sprung up, their stems being of considerablethickness, while their light foliage gave a cheerful aspect to theotherwise dreary scenery. When the ground allowed it, they occasionallyput their horses into a gallop--a pace well suited to their tempers. Atthe same time, they knew that they must not run the risk of knocking uptheir animals, or they would fail in their object of making a quickjourney. 

They had gone on for some time, when Hector's tough little horsesuddenly came down, and threw him over its head. 

"Don't care for me, " he cried; "but I'm afraid my horse has broken itsleg. "

The animal had put its foot into a badger-hole. After making someviolent struggles, however, it recovered itself, and Hector, gettinghold of its bridle, remounted. 

"We must keep a better look-out for the badger-holes. It wouldn't bepleasant to have to continue our journey on foot, " he said, laughing. 

Having stopped by the side of a pool to take a mid-day meal, give theirhorses water, and allow them to crop as much grass as they could duringthe time, the travellers pushed on until nightfall, when they encampedunder shelter of a grove of aspens, close to a stream, which flowed intothe South Saskatchewan. By Greensnake's advice, only a small fire waslighted, which was to be put out when they had cooked their supper. 

As soon as he had finished his meal, the Indian, taking his blanket, went and lay down close to where the horses which had been hobbled werefeeding; while Loraine and Hector rolled themselves in their buffalorobes, leaving the two dogs to keep watch by their sides. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

Fort Duncan, to which it is time the reader should be introduced, laybathed in the ruddy glow of the setting sun, whose rays tinged thebranches of the groves of aspen, birch, poplar, and spruce, which couldbe seen at some distance away, both to the east and west. It stood onthe top of some high ground, rising abruptly from the margin of a streamflowing by on the north side. 

The fort consisted of a square palisade, thirty feet or so in height, with rough wooden towers at each angle, connected by a narrow platform, which ran round inside the walls, a few feet below their summit. Theonly entrance was by a gate, flanked by two additional towers. Thiscould be secured by strong bars, but was destitute of ditch, draw-bridge, or portcullis. The interior of the quadrangle was occupiedby the residence of the chief factor and clerks, a hall used as anaudience room, and a store-house, besides the dwellings of the huntersand their wives and children, and other persons forming the garrison. The land immediately round the fort had been cleared of trees; but therewas a forest on one side, and scattered groups of timber on the other, affording abundance of wood for building purposes and fuel. 

There was much beauty in the surrounding scenery, especially when theroses were in full bloom, and other flowers of varied hue enamelled theprairie. In a room of the fort, furnished with far more elegance thanis generally seen in the north-west territory, sat two young ladies. Though both attractive, they differed greatly from each other. Theyoungest, of small figure, was fair, with light hair and blue, laughingeyes, her rosy mouth constantly wreathed in smiles. The elder wassomewhat taller, of a richer colour, with dark brown hair, and was evenmore attractive in appearance than her companion. They were busilyemployed with their needles, talking in the mean time on someinteresting subject, when their conversation was interrupted by theentrance of a fine lad, who, although a couple of years older, mighthave been known by his strong resemblance to be the brother of HectorMackintosh. 

"Come along, Sybil--come along, Effie--if you want to see a war-chief, thoroughly got up in his finest toggery, " exclaimed Norman. "He isMysticoose, or the Roaring Bull, not a very romantic name--a greatleader among the Blackfeet. He has come to sell several packages ofpeltries and a whole lot of buffalo robes. He'll probably take hisdeparture before long; so if you want to inspect him, you must come atonce. "

"Do you, Sybil, wish to see this savage chief?" asked Effie. 

"By all means, " answered Sybil. "I should like to make a sketch of himwhile he is bartering his peltries. " And she took up a sketchbook andpencil from the table. 

"Let me bring your paint-box, " said Effie, "for you will make a muchmore interesting drawing if you colour it. "

"I will try, if Norman will get a mug of water and hold it for me. Wemust not let the chief discover what we are about, or the poor savagemay fancy we are bewitching him, " said Sybil, laughing. 

On going out of the house, they proceeded to the spot in front of thestore where the trading business was transacted. Captain Mackintosh, afine-looking man of middle age, and two of his clerks, stood on oneside, a quantity of goods piled up near them; while on the other wasseen an Indian chief, standing near several bales of peltries, andattended by a band of nearly twenty followers. His appearance waspicturesque in the extreme. His head was adorned with a circlet of tallplumes. His dress consisted of a coat of dressed deer-skin, tastefullyornamented with beads and quill-work, as were his leggings, with longtassels, while a white wolf-skin cloak hung over one shoulder, andnecklaces, composed of the teeth of bears and other animals, hung abouthis neck. He had been keenly bargaining with his host; but no soonerdid the young ladies appear than he glanced towards them, his eyeswandering from one to the other, until they settled on Sybil with a lookof evident admiration. She, however having begun her sketch, continueddrawing, regarding the Indian much as if he had been a lay figuredressed up to copy. 

Captain Mackintosh had at length to recall his attention to the matterthey were engaged on. The assistants on each side continued to weighthe peltries, and hand over the articles given in exchange; but theyoung chief seemed to have lost all the interest he had previouslyshown, and instead of haggling as before over the price, made noobjection to any of the goods offered him, which his attendants packedup as they received them, and carried out of the fort. 

The trading being over, instead of following his people, the young chiefadvanced to Captain Mackintosh, and addressed him in a long speech, themeaning of which neither Sybil nor Effie could understand. Had theydone so, they would have been very much surprised to find thatMysticoose was offering to make Sybil his wife, and to give in exchangefor her, peltries and robes sufficient to fill the store-house of thefort. Captain Mackintosh answered, with due caution, that it was notthe custom of English ladies to marry unless they could give theirhearts to the persons who desired to possess them, nor that of fathersto receive payment; but that he would tell his daughter of the honourthe chief intended her, although he would hold out no prospect that shewould consent to quit her home, and become the bride of one whose peoplediffered so much in their habits and customs, as well as in theirreligion, from his. 

On this, Mysticoose declared that he would be ready to learn thereligion of the pale-faces and adopt their customs, and entreated thathe might be allowed the opportunity of declaring his sentiments to themaiden. 

Captain Mackintosh, though very much annoyed, kept his countenance aswell as his temper, and endeavoured to persuade the chief that he couldfind a far more suitable wife among his own people, with whose beauty hewould be satisfied, and who would labour for him like her sisters ingeneral. All he could say, however, did not appear to have any effectin turning the young chief from his purpose; but, on the contrary, hegrew more and more eager, as if determined to succeed. 

All the time Sybil, unconscious that she was the subject ofconversation, went on with her sketch; and as she drew rapidly, shesucceeded in producing a very exact portrait of the savage warrior. 

Norman, who had been attending to his duties in the store, now returned, and looking over Sybil's shoulder exclaimed--

"Capital! It's Mysticoose himself. " Snatching it from her hand, heheld it up to the chief, saying, "What do you think of that, my friend?It's wonderfully like you, isn't it?"

Mysticoose started as he saw it, without making any reply; and rapidlyadvancing towards the young lady, endeavoured to take her hand. Sheinstinctively drew back, and stepped behind Effie. 

On meeting with this rebuff, the chief stopped short, and addressedSybil, expressing in glowing language his admiration of her charms. Though she could not understand his words, she could not fail to suspecttheir meaning. Norman, however, who was sufficiently acquainted withthe language of the Blackfeet to make out the meaning of the speech--though the expressions were too elaborate for him to follow--notpossessing the discretion of his father, burst out laughing. 

"What's all that you're saying?" he exclaimed. "Just face-about, andmarch out of this fort in double-quick time, or we may be obliged tosend you off in a way you may not be pleased with. "

Scarcely had Norman uttered these words, than the chief, placing hishand on the hilt of his scalping-knife, cast a glance full of anger atthe speaker, but had so far command of himself as not to draw it. 

Captain Mackintosh now saw that it was time to interfere, and, speakingin Indian, rebuked Norman for uncourteously treating their guest: andthen, placing his hand in a friendly way on the shoulder of the chief, told him that he would consider the matter, advising him to retire, asit would be soon time for closing the gates of the fort, and expressinghis regret that he could not, under the circumstances, afford him thehospitality he would have desired. 

The chief appeared to be pacified, his countenance assuming its usualcalm expression; and after he had cast another look of admiration atSybil, he walked with a dignified step towards the gate. 

Captain Mackintosh, who accompanied him, shook hands in a cordial way, and expressed a hope that nothing which had been said would cause afeeling of irritation to remain on his mind, and that he would continueto trade at the fort on the same friendly terms as hitherto. The chiefmade no reply, but stalked on towards his tents, which were pitched atsome little distance from the fort. As soon as he had reached them, thegate was shut, and the usual guard placed to watch the proceedings ofthe Indians outside. The young ladies, who had agreed to take a ridewith Norman, were somewhat disappointed on finding that CaptainMackintosh considered it would be imprudent for them to go outside thefort while Sybil's admirer remained in the neighbourhood. 

"He is really a handsome fellow, " said Norman, laughing, as he looked onthe portrait. "You've done him justice too. Perhaps some day you maychange your mind; though I cannot say that I should approve of hiscarrying you off to become Queen of the Roaring Bulls. "

"Don't talk such nonsense, Norman, " said Sybil. "I am vexed with myselffor having gone out to take his portrait. I had no idea that the savagewould even have looked at me. I have a great mind to tear up thepicture. "

"Pray don't do that, " said Effie; "it is too well drawn to be destroyed, and I want to show it to mamma, who will, I am sure, admire it. "

Mrs Mackintosh, who had been somewhat unwell, had not left her chamber;but in the evening she came into the sitting-room, when the portrait wasshown her; and Norman related in his own way what had happened. 

"I am sorry for it, " she remarked. "I do not trust the Indians, and Iam afraid that this savage chief may cause us some annoyance. I wishthat you had not vexed him, Norman. You must in future be morecautious, and pray do not, on any account, go to a distance from thefort for some time to come. Sybil and Effie must give up their ridesfor the present, unless they go out with a strong party. "

"My father doesn't think the fellow will trouble us, as we parted ongood terms with him, " answered Norman. "The chances are that he takeshimself off to-morrow, and will speedily forget all about Sybil. "

When Captain Mackintosh afterwards came in, though he tried to makelight of the matter, his wife fancied that he looked much more anxiousthan usual. 

Still Norman insisted that Mysticoose and his people would take theirdeparture the next morning, and that they should then no longer betroubled by them. 

Strict watch was kept at night, and all remained quiet in the Indiancamp. Next morning the tents were still there, and no sign wasperceived that the occupants had any intention of moving. 

The day went by; but though the tents remained, the young chief did notmake his appearance. 

Norman was considerably put out. "I have no notion that the girlsshould be kept prisoners on account of an impudent Redskin, " heexclaimed. "I will go out to the tents, and advise the chief and hisparty, now that they have transacted their business, to take themselvesoff. "

"No, no, Norman, stay quiet, my lad, " answered his father; "they'll notgo faster for being ordered off; and it is just possible that the youngchief may take it into his head to do you some harm. It will be a poorsatisfaction to punish him afterwards. "

"I am not afraid of him, or of any other savage like him, " said Norman. 

"Well, well, stay within the fort until I give you leave to go out, "said his father. "Young blood quickly gets up, and a quarrel may ensue, which it is better to avoid. "

Norman promised to obey; and, to vent his feelings by himself, went upto the platform, which was dignified by being called the ramparts, thathe might take a look cut, and ascertain if there were any signs ofmoving in the camp of the Blackfeet. He watched in vain, though he madeout in the far distance two figures on the prairie going in asouth-westerly direction. The sun was nearly setting when he returnedto the house. He found his mother and Sybil engaged in their usualwork. 

"It is too provoking to have that fellow stopping out there, as if hewere laying siege to the fort. My father won't allow me to go out, butI must get some one to inquire the chief's intentions. It is absurd inhim to suppose that Sybil would ever be induced to marry him. He canhave no object in remaining, as his admiration cannot be very deep, forhe has only seen her once for a few minutes. "

"I am not quite certain about that, " remarked Sybil; "I think that hehas seen me more than once. Don't you remember, when we were outriding, meeting with an Indian, whom you said was one of the Blackfeet, and who made Effie and me a long speech, though as we did not understanda word he said, we could not reply, but you talked to him, and laughedin his face. I thought that I recognised his features, though he wasdressed and painted in so different a way that I may have beenmistaken. "

"I remember perfectly, but it never struck me that he was Mysticoose, though I cannot positively say that he was not, " answered Norman. "Idon't exactly remember what he said, but I fancy that he was praisingthe pale-faces generally, and expressing his desire to be their friend. "

"Well, we cannot account for the wayward fancies of the Red men, "observed Mrs Mackintosh; "but your father is anxious to retain theirfriendship, and would be unwilling to do anything to offend them. Youmust have patience; and I dare say in a day or two we shall be rid ofour visitors. "

"I am very sorry to have been the cause of the annoyance; and had Idreamed of the result, I would have kept out of the way of the chief, "said Sybil, half laughing. 

"Well, if the Blackfeet don't go to-morrow, something must be done tomake them move off, " exclaimed Hector. 

Captain Mackintosh, though he did not say so, was really as much annoyedas his son. 

No buffalo were to be seen in the neighbourhood, and it was evident, therefore, that the Indians did not remain for the sake of hunting. Among the men in the fort was an experienced _voyageur_ and trapper, LeBrun by name, well versed in all Indian ways. 

The captain having consulted him, he volunteered to go out at night, andtry to ascertain what the Indians were about. 

"We must never trust those Redskins, " he observed; "they don't remainhere without an object. "

His offer was accepted. Soon after dark he lowered himself down at therear of the fort, and crept round, making a wide circuit, so that, should any of the Blackfeet be on the watch, he might escapeobservation. Captain Mackintosh directed a man to wait with a rope, tohelp him in again on the same side. 

A careful look-out was kept during his absence round the fort. Sometime having passed, and Le Brun not making his appearance, CaptainMackintosh began to fear that he had been discovered by the Indians, andcaptured. They would scarcely, however, he thought, venture to put himto death. Two hours or more went by; still he did not return. TheCaptain, therefore, began to consider whether it would be expedient tosend out another man to try and ascertain what had happened. He wasturning over in his mind who he should employ in this somewhat dangerousservice, when Norman came up to him. 

"Let me go, " he said; "I am sure that I can get up to the camp withoutbeing discovered, and I will be exceedingly cautious. It is not, indeed, likely that the Indians will be on the watch; for, should theyhave caught Le Brun, they will not suppose that we shall send anotherperson to look for him. I will only get near enough to hear what theyare saying, and creep away again as noiselessly as a lynx. "

"No, no, Norman; I am convinced of your courage and discretion, but Icannot allow you to risk your life for such an object, " said his father. 

"But I run no risk of losing my life, " answered Norman; "they would notventure to kill me. "

"They would not if they knew who you were; but finding a spy in theirneighbourhood, they might shoot you down without inquiry, " observedCaptain Mackintosh. 

"I don't want to be shot, " said Norman; "depend upon it, I'll take goodcare to avoid that. "

At length, Captain Mackintosh, reflecting that he could not send any oneelse on an expedition to the dangers of which he was unwilling to exposehis own son, gave permission, charging Norman to approach the camp withthe greatest possible caution, and only to do so provided he could hearthe voices of the Indians, and had reason to believe that they weresitting in council. 

Norman, well pleased at the confidence placed in him, hurried off toprepare for his expedition, by putting on a dark suit, which wouldassist in concealing him from view. Taking his gun, and sticking abrace of pistols in his belt, he descended, as Le Brun had done; but, toreach the camp, he took a route on the side opposite that which thescout had chosen. At first he walked upright, that he might the betterascertain the course to take. There were lights in each of the towersof the fort, which assisted him. No other objects were visible, even atthe distance of a hundred yards. As he got nearer the tents, he hopedto be able to make them out against the sky. After he had gone somedistance, he stooped down and began to creep along in the Indianfashion, trailing his gun. Every now and then he stopped to listen forsounds. He was, he calculated, approaching the camp, when he fancied heheard a rustling near him. It approached. He lay perfectly quiet. Itmight be a snake or some animal. His eyes were of but littleassistance. "Should it be an Indian, I must try to take the fellowprisoner; but it may be a hard matter to do that, unless he is unarmed, and then I must hold a pistol to his head, and threaten to shoot him ifhe cries out. "

He had scarcely thought this, when he saw the head of a man lifted up asif going to gaze around. Strong and active, with good nerves, he wasabout to spring on the person, and seize him by the throat, when theother must have made him out, and he heard a voice whisper--

"C'est moi, Le Brun!"

Norman, greatly relieved, made himself known. 

"Venez avec moi, vite!" and the Canadian led the way, crawling along theground towards the lights glimmering from the fort. It was not untilthey had been hauled up, and were safe inside, that Le Brun spoke. Hehad, he told Captain Mackintosh, got close up to the camp, where heheard the sounds of many voices, and the tramp of feet, as if a largenumber of persons were collected, although only one fire burned in themidst of the tents. He was afraid of approaching nearer, lest he shouldbe discovered. He waited in the expectation that the leaders wouldgather round the fire, as is their wont, to discuss their plans. He wasrewarded for his patience, although they were too far off to enable himto see them distinctly. He, however, counted at least six warriors, whotook their places at the fire, and one after the other got up andaddressed their companions. A few words only reached him; but he heardenough to be convinced that they were discussing a plan to takepossession of the fort, but its details he was unable to make out. Hehad gone round the camp, and while returning on the side opposite tothat from which he had set off, had fallen in with Norman. 

"We must take care to be doubly vigilant, then, " said CaptainMackintosh. 

He at once cautioned the men to be on the watch; but before the ladieshe made light of the matter, not wishing to cause them unnecessaryanxiety. He felt pretty certain, indeed, that the Blackfeet would notopenly attempt to take the fort, even though their numbers had, as LeBrun supposed, been much increased. 

Night passed away without the slightest alarm. The next day mattersremained to all appearance as on the preceding one. The tents werethere, and a few Indians only--some on horseback, others on foot--wereseen moving about in the neighbourhood, but none came near the fort. LeBrun suggested that if they had any treacherous design in view, theywere probably waiting until the hunters, who made excursions to bring ingame two or three times a week, had been seen to leave the fort, andthat they would then, when fewer people were within, try and carry outtheir plan, whatever that might be. He suggested that a party shouldleave the fort after mid-day with several pack horses, as if theyintended to make a long excursion. That they should go away to thesouth-east, and, as soon as they were out of sight, cross the river andcome back again after dark, on the north side. If the Indians reallyintended treachery, they would certainly take the opportunity ofattempting to carry it out. 

Captain Mackintosh approved of the plan, and Norman thought it anexcellent one. "I should so like to disappoint those rascals, and catchthem in their own trap, " he said. 

The horses (or the guard, as the stud belonging to a fort is called)were kept in a meadow on the opposite side of the river, where they weretolerably safe from any attempts which the marauding bands on the southmight make to carry them off. Some time passed before those requiredcould be brought across. As soon as they arrived, Le Brun, with eightwell-armed men, with as many spare horses, set off on their pretendedhunting expedition. They took care to pass sufficiently near the Indiancamp to be easily seen. 

"Le Brun was right in his suspicions!" exclaimed Norman from theramparts, addressing his father, who was walking below. "Here comesMysticoose with a dozen followers, dressed in their gayest attire, for Ican see their ornaments glistening in the rays of the sun. Perhaps hehas come to ask for Sybil's answer to his offer; if so, we can give hima very short one. "

"We will say nothing to offend him, " answered Captain Mackintosh, whohad joined his son; "but it will be prudent, knowing what we do, not toadmit these gentlemen inside the gate. I will go out and meet them, andyou and the other men cover me with your rifles. Let the Indians have aglimpse of your arms, and I am sure that they will attempt no violence. "The arrangements were quickly made. As soon as the chief and his partydrew near, Captain Mackintosh went out of the fort, directing the men atthe gate to close it should the Indians show any intention of making arush to get in. 

Advancing a short distance, he called to Mysticoose to dismount, andexplain the object of his visit. The chief looked up at the ramparts, and, seeing the gleaming rifle-barrels, did as he was directed. Givingthe bridle of his horse to one of his followers, he then advanced, and, putting out his hand in a cordial manner, said--

"Why does my white brother look upon me as an enemy? I have tradedfairly, and wish to trade again. I have now brought some more peltries, not to trade, but to present to him as an earnest of my goodwill. Lethim, then, admit me and my followers within the gates, that I may offermy present as presents should be offered, and have the happiness ofgazing once more on the fair lily of the prairie, after whom my heartpants, as does the weary stag for the refreshing stream. " Mysticooseuttered much more in the same strain before he stopped. 

Captain Mackintosh replied that he was always glad to see his friend, but as it was late in the day he regretted that he could not admit thechief and his followers, but that the next morning, if they wished tocome, he should be happy to receive them; and although he would notrefuse the present they had brought, he must insist on returning one ofequal value in goods, as he could not promise that the fair lily, as hedescribed his daughter, would be willing to show herself, and begged thechief to understand clearly that she had sufficiently considered thematter, and could not become his bride. 

Whatever were the Indian's feelings, he concealed them, and made anequally courteous reply, intimating that, notwithstanding what his whitebrother had said, he should come as proposed with a larger present, anda greater number of followers to convey it. He then, shaking hands asbefore, returned to his horse, and remounting, rode off with hiscompanions. 

"I hope, after all, that the Indian intends no treachery, " observedCaptain Mackintosh, as he re-entered the fort; and the gates were closedfor the night. "Still we must be on our guard. "

"I should think so, sir, " said Norman; "and we shall soon hear what LeBrun has to say on the subject. "

About a couple of hours after dark, Le Brun and his party arrived, and, having left their horses on the other side of the stream, noiselesslyentered the fort. 

At an early hour the next day the young chief, with nearly twentyfollowers, was seen approaching. Captain Mackintosh at once placed hismen in positions commanding the entrance, so that, should the Indiansshow any treacherous intentions, the gate might forthwith be shut. Hisgreat object was to prevent bloodshed; at the same time, while showingthat he was not unprepared for treachery, he did not wish to offend hisguest. 

As a precautionary measure, he resolved not to admit more than halftheir number, and he placed men ready to close the gates directly theparty had entered. Mysticoose rode up with the air of a gallant in daysof yore, and throwing the rein to one of his attendants, he, with thelarger number of his followers, dismounted and advanced towards CaptainMackintosh, who stood ready to receive him. 

"I can only allow ten to enter, " said the captain; "the rest must remainoutside with the horses. "

The chief, appearing not to think this unreasonable, directed the restof his followers to keep back. His countenance fell, however, when, having entered the gate, he looked round and saw the hunters whom hesupposed to be at a distance, standing on either side with arms in theirhands. He hesitated and stopped short. 

"Does my white brother think I come intending treachery?" he asked. "Hehas been deceived by some one. My object is to present these peltriesto him, hoping that he will give me, not the goods he spoke of, but thefair lily, his daughter, and I will promise to bring him ten times theamount before another summer has begun. "

Captain Mackintosh replied that he had already said all that he couldsay on that subject. 

But the chief was not satisfied with his refusal, and began another longspeech, which, as Norman remarked, "Though it might have a head, thereseemed but little chance of seeing its tail. " He advised his father totry and cut it short. 

Meantime, Le Brun, having slipped away, unseen by the Indians, had goneup on the ramparts, crept round to a part whence he could observe theirtents. He had not been long there when he saw a large body of menissuing forth, and rapidly approaching the fort. Hurrying down, he gavethe information to Captain Mackintosh. 

"There is no time to lose, monsieur, " he said. "If we don't turn thesefellows out, they'll try to obtain possession of the fort, as I suspectthey all along intended to do. "

On hearing this, Captain Mackintosh ordered his men, who had been drawnup on either side, to close round their visitors, and some, who had beenconcealed, to show themselves. 

The chief, on seeing this, stopped short in his speech, knowing that histreacherous design, it such he had intended, must have been discovered. 

"What does this mean?" he asked, in a tone which showed that hisself-confident air was more assumed than real. 

"It means, my friend, that you must quit the fort if you do not wish tobe shut up within it, and come another day to finish your address, "answered Captain Mackintosh. "I wish to be your friend, but I must beobeyed. "

The appearance of the garrison showed the chief that the captain was inearnest; and though he and his followers looked as if they were about tomake a rush, thinking better of it, they beat a hasty retreat, when thegate was closed behind them. This was not done too soon, for they hadgot but a short distance off when a number of warriors from the camp, uttering loud shouts, galloped up, evidently expecting to indulge in theplunder of the fort. The young chief, no longer able to constrain therage he felt at his disappointment, turning round, made gesturessignificant of his intended vengeance; then, putting spurs to his horse, he galloped off beyond range of any rifle-shot which he might well haveexpected would be sent after him. He was seen at a distance haranguinghis people; but if he was urging them at once to attack the fort, theydid not appear willing to risk their lives in an attempt which waslikely to prove a failure. 

The following day, having struck camp, they moved away to the southward, and Le Brun, who followed them to a considerable distance, reported thatthey appeared to have no intention of stopping in the neighbourhood, butwere probably returning to the lodges of their tribe. 

Greatly relieved by this information, the inmates of Fort Duncan pursuedtheir usual avocations without any apprehension of further annoyancefrom Mysticoose and his people. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

We must now return to the two travellers and their strange guide. Although Loraine had slept but little the previous night, he could notclose his eyes. He enjoyed the excitement of the life he was leading, but he did not hide from himself its dangers, and he felt theresponsibility of having induced young Hector to accompany him. He wasalso anxious to arrive at the fort, for he had become much interested inits inmates. Although it was supposed that the Blackfeet had gone tothe westward, he thought it possible that some of them might haveremained behind, and followed up the trail of his party. He had, however, great confidence in the watchfulness of Greensnake, and hehoped also that the dogs would give due notice should any enemiesapproach. 

"If we pass over this night in safety, I think that we shall get throughthe rest of our journey without difficulty, " he said to himself. "Wehave accomplished well-nigh fifty miles to-day, and, as our horses willhave a good feed to-night, we may ride another fifty to-morrow, and bykeeping that up, we shall, as far as I can calculate, reach Fort Duncanin four or five days. "

He was about to drop off to sleep, when he was again aroused by acontinuous howl in the distance. After listening for some time, he wasconvinced that it was produced by wolves. He fancied from the soundthat there must have been hundreds of them. It grew nearer and nearer. The animals were coming that way. They might attack him and Hector, or, at all events, the horses, and either kill them or put them to flight. 

He looked at the fire. By their guide's advice he had allowed it toburn low, so that no flames casting their light around should betray theposition of the camp to prowling Indians. Still it was better, hethought, to run even that risk than to allow the savage brutes to getinto the camp. He, therefore, having thrown some more sticks on thefire, which quickly blazed up, awoke Hector, who naturally inquired whatwas the matter. 

"Do you not hear the howling of wolves?" asked Loraine. "Get your rifleready. "

"But Greensnake advised us not to fire, lest we should discover our campto the Indians, " said Hector; "and I don't fancy that at this time ofthe year wolves would be daring enough to attack us. "

"They may, however, attack the horses, " answered Loraine. "I will goand warn him, so that he may collect them. "

"He is on the alert, depend upon that, " said Hector; "and well knowswhat to do. "

"It is wise to be on the safe side, " answered Loraine, getting up. "Stay by our saddles and provisions, and I will try to find him. " Heset off towards where he supposed the horses were feeding. 

As soon as he had got beyond the range of the light thrown from thefire, the darkness became so great that he could with difficulty avoidrunning against the trunks of the trees. He stretched out his gunbefore him to try and feel the way. Two or three times he saved himselfby this precaution. At last he thought that he must have reached thespot where Greensnake ought to be found; but though he called out tohim, no answer came. He shouted louder and louder, still there was noreply, nor could he distinguish the forms of any of the horses againstthe sky. He could hear, however, the sound of the yelping and barkingof the wolves, apparently much nearer than before. Still he went on, forgetting that he ran the risk of losing sight of the fire. At length, turning round to look for it, intending to go back to the camp, what washis dismay on being unable to discover the slightest glimmering of lightin any direction! He had proceeded further than he had supposed, andregretted his folly, for he was well aware how easily he might losehimself. The sky overhead was obscured, so that the stars afforded himno guide. He thought that he had turned completely round, but of thishe could not be quite certain, and he feared that by going on he mightonly get further and further from the fire. He shouted out--

"Hector, Hector, don't move; but only shout in return, that I may knowwhere to find you. "

Instead of Hector's voice, the barking and yelping of the wolves alonereached his ear. Probably his shouts had been drowned by the fearfuldin they had been making. They served, however, partly to guide him;but they seemed so near that he expected every moment to be assailed bythem; and in the darkness it would be a difficult matter to defendhimself. Still, being a man of courage and determination, he resolvedto face the danger; and keeping as direct a course as the impediments inhis way would allow, he directed his steps towards the spot whence itappeared to him the sounds proceeded. He, of course, could move butslowly. He had gone, as he supposed, far enough to reach the camp, or, at all events, to be in sight of the fire, when he heard a shot, whichcame, it seemed to him, from a point rather more to the left than thattowards which he was making his way. He had no doubt that it had beenfired by Hector, and he immediately turned, hoping soon to catch sightof the fire. He was unwilling to discharge his own gun, not knowing atwhat moment he might require it to defend himself from the wolves. He, therefore, only shouted as before. He listened, and fancied that abovethe yelping chorus he could distinguish Hector's voice. Presently, tohis infinite relief, he caught sight of the gleam of the fire, moredistant, however, than he had supposed it could possibly be. He madetowards it as fast as he could venture to move; notwithstanding hiscaution, he first ran against a tree, and soon afterwards stumbled at afallen log. 

He could now clearly distinguish the spot where the fire was burning, bythe lurid light which it cast on the neighbouring trees; and, with moreconfidence than before, he was hurrying on, when he saw to his right anumber of glowing eyeballs, and the yelping of the wolves sounded closerthan ever. 

Waiting until a pair of the glowing balls were only a few feet off, hefired. They disappeared. A fearful yell from the whole pack followed. He could see a number of dark forms surrounding him. There was no timeto reload, so, clubbing his rifle, he swept it round and round on everyside. He felt it striking every now and then on the heads of thecreatures which were thus providentially kept at bay. The fire becamemore distinct; but the wolves continued to leap and snarl and yelp assavagely as at first; and, notwithstanding the blows he was dealingabout, one of the brutes seized him by the coat, and another, still moredaring, flew at his throat, and though it failed to bite him, caught himby the collar, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he savedhimself from being dragged down. He was afraid that Hector, hearing thesound of the wolves, and not seeing him, might fire; he, therefore, shouted at the top of his voice, to show his whereabouts. Presently, hesaw his young friend holding a couple of flaming brands in his hands, come rushing towards him, accompanied by the two dogs, who, springingforward with furious barks, attacked his savage assailants. Theassistance came only just in time, for the wolves had nearly succeededin pulling him to the ground. The dogs at once sprang upon the brutehanging to his collar, which let go its hold to defend itself, when ablow on its head from Loraine's rifle prevented it from offering furtherresistance. The dogs then flew at the other wolf, which also let go;while Hector, dashing the burning brands in the faces of the rest of thepack, put them to flight, enabling him and Loraine to get back almostbreathless to the camp. The brave dogs were following the wolves, andwould probably soon have been torn to pieces had they not promptly beencalled back. 

"What can have become of Greensnake?" exclaimed Hector, as soon as theyhad time and breath to speak. "I hope that he has not played us false, and gone off with the horses. "

"I have no fear of that, " answered Loraine. "The old hunter would nothave sent him with us unless he had perfect confidence in his honesty. Perhaps he heard the wolves coming long before we did, and took them tosome place of security. "

"He was more likely to have driven them into the camp, where we couldhave assisted in protecting them, " observed Hector. "I am afraid thathe has been surprised by a band of Blackfeet, or Sircees, who arenotorious horse-stealers, and that they have carried off him as well asthe animals. If so, we shall be left in a pretty plight. "

"We have our guns and dogs, and a fair stock of ammunition, to obtainfood, and our compass to guide us; and if we find that we have lost ourhorses, we must push forward on foot, " answered Loraine. "But I amgrievously annoyed at the prospect of being unable to reach the fort assoon as we expected; however, we must try to make our way on foot, andalthough we may be longer about it than we had hoped, we may stillarrive in time to be of service. It is useless, however, talking overthe matter at present. The best thing you can do is to lie down, andget some sleep while I keep watch. "

"No, no, " said Hector. "I have had my share already; but pray do youlie down, and I will watch. "

At length Loraine consented to do this, expecting to be able to arousehimself in a short time; while Hector, taking his rifle in hand, beganto walk up and down, anxiously looking out for Greensnake. The wolves, however, still snarling and yelping a short distance off, would, it atlength occurred to him, prevent the guide from making his appearancetill the morning. Having now time for thought, he recollected thewarning Greensnake had given; and he reflected that possibly at anymoment, should a party of Blackfeet have been in the neighbourhood, andheard the reports of their rifles, guided by the light of their fire, they might come suddenly upon them. He kept, therefore, a vigilantwatch with his ears rather than his eyes, listening for any sound whichmight indicate their approach, and trusting also to the dogs, which wereon the alert, and accompanied him whenever he moved a few feet from thecamp. When he returned they went back again, and lay down near thefire, with their noses on their paws, and ears erect, showing that theywere wide awake. 

At length Loraine awoke, and insisted on Hector's lying down, who, before he did so, mentioned the ideas which had occurred to him. 

"Never mind now what you think, but go to sleep, " said Loraine. "I'llkeep a bright look-out; depend upon that. "

Soon after this the wolves, attracted possibly by a passing stag or someother game, greatly to his relief, scampered off, their cries becomingless and less distinct as they got to a distance. 

The night seemed interminably long, but the morning came at length. Loraine aroused Hector, and having made up the fire, intending to comeback for breakfast, he charged the dogs to watch over the baggage, andthen set out in search of Greensnake and the horses. Loraineendeavoured to trace the course he had taken during the night, but thetrail was so indistinct that he could not be certain in what directionhe had gone. As he and Hector advanced, they looked round for thehorses, but they were not near the spot to which Greensnake had takenthem on the previous evening, nor were they anywhere to be seen. Theycame, however, upon what Hector believed were their tracks; but as theywere scattered about over a wide space of ground, he could not bepositive as to what course they had taken. Loraine still argued thatthe guide would return, and that it would be prudent to go back to campand wait for his appearance. This they accordingly did, shooting ontheir way a couple of ducks, which served them for breakfast, theremains being given to the dogs. After some time Loraine went to thetop of the highest point near at hand--a small knoll or hillock--that hemight take a look-out for the missing horses, but he soon came backwithout having seen them. 

"I think we should wait a little longer, " he observed. "The youngIndian may have thought it prudent to go to a considerable distance onaccount of the wolves. He may have slept until the morning, or may havestopped to catch and cook some food. "

"I will have another look round, " said Hector. "A few ducks won't comeamiss, if I can kill them on the way, either to us or our dogs, beforewe finally make a start;" and, calling the two dogs, he set off, theywillingly accompanying him. 

While Hector was away from the camp Loraine thoughtfully employedhimself in examining their baggage, and in selecting such articles offood and clothing as they could carry on their backs, and in doing themup in two packs, making the heaviest for himself. He was thus engagedwhen he heard a couple of shots, but concluding that Hector had fired atsome ducks, as he proposed, went on with his occupation. As he lookedat their saddle-bags and valises, he regretted having to leave them, butwithout horses he saw no possibility of carrying them. Noon wasapproaching, Hector had not returned, and he became seriously anxious;so, taking his gun, he set out to look for him. "If he returns while Iam away, he will, I hope, guess why I have gone, and will remain quietlyhere for my return, " he said to himself. As he walked along he searchedon every side, but Hector was nowhere to be seen. The dreadful thoughtoccurred that his young friend might have met with some accident, orthat, should Indians have carried off Greensnake, they might haveentrapped him also. His own position was trying in the extreme; butbeing a man of courage, he nerved himself up to encounter whatever mighthappen. As he was casting his eyes around, he caught sight of a small, dark object on the ground. He hastened on. It was a powder-flask. It, however, was certainly not Hector's. He had no doubt that it belongedto Greensnake. A short distance beyond he came on a ramrod. The groundwas covered with a rich grass, and there were signs of horses having fedon it, so that no doubt remained on his mind that it was here Greensnakehad been during the night, and on further examination he discoveredtraces of the animals' feet moving to the eastward, but he was unable toascertain whether Hector had passed that way. Had he done so, he wouldprobably have followed up the trail of the horses. Loraine, therefore, hurried on in the same direction. He marked as carefully as he couldthe course he was taking, examining his compass to guide himself. Several times he thought that it would be better to retrace his steps, lest Hector should have returned during his absence to the camp. He wasat length on the point of doing so when he saw before him a wood. Atthe same instant, he fancied that he heard the bark of a dog. Hehurried forward, feeling sure that it was that either of Muskey orBuster, and he hoped that, if so, Hector was not far off, and hadescaped being captured by Indians. In a short time he again heard thedogs bark, and as he approached the wood a voice, which he knew wasHector's, shouted out--

"Take care, there's a big she-grizzly, with a couple of cubs, in thatthicket. I wounded her, and she's very savage. "

"Where are you?" asked Loraine. 

"Here, up a tree, " cried Hector. "Whenever I attempt to descend, sherushes out, and I have dropped my gun, so that I have no chance ofkilling her. "

"Come down then, and find your gun, and I will stand by to shoot thebear if she appears. "

"She got hold of my gun and broke it to pieces, so that you must notdepend upon my help, " cried Hector. "You'll do better to get up here, and kill her when she shows herself. "

"I'll take post behind the tree, and when she sees you descending, perhaps she will come out from the cover, " answered Loraine. The dogsmeantime were barking furiously outside the thicket. 

No sooner did Hector begin to descend than the bear, which hadapparently had her eyes fixed on him, came waddling out from her placeof concealment, growling savagely. The two dogs wisely scampered offout of her reach, and Hector sprang up again. Loraine then stepped outfrom behind the trunk, when the bear rose on her hind quarters, growlingand showing her fangs. The opportunity was as favourable as he coulddesire. He took a steady aim, and over she rolled. At this, Hectorgave a shout of satisfaction, while the dogs came back, though afraid toapproach, as she was still struggling violently. Loraine then reloaded, and advancing, sent another shot crashing through her brain. The twocubs had come out, and looked as if inclined to give battle, but thedogs kept them at bay, giving time to Loraine to load again, when hefired and killed one of them, and the next was settled in the same way. 

Hector, who had come down from his perch, expressed his regret at havingcaused his friend so much anxiety. He had been following up the trackof the horses, when he caught sight of the bear, which he unwisely firedat and wounded. She at first had gone off with her cubs, but just as hehad reached the wood, she had turned and rushed at him. He had againfired, but having no time to reload, in attempting to escape up the treehad dropped his gun, when the bear, seizing it, had gnawed and twistedit in such a manner as to render it perfectly useless. Had not the dogsheld her in check, he acknowledged that he should have been caught. 

"Had we our horses, we might supply ourselves with bears' fleshsufficient to last for the whole of our journey; as it is, we can onlytake as much as we can conveniently carry, " observed Loraine. Theyspeedily, if not very scientifically, cut off a portion of the meat, which they did up with strips of the cubs' hides into two packages, thedogs meantime enjoying a magnificent feast off the remains. They thenretired to the camp, still as much in the dark as ever as to what hadbecome of Greensnake and the horses. 

"I don't know what I shall do without my gun, " said Hector, as theywalked along. "If we meet with enemies, I shall be unable to help youto fight; nor can I kill any game. "

Loraine did his best to comfort him. "We must keep out of the way ofenemies, and my gun will enable me to obtain as much food as we shallrequire, while you can assist me with your advice, as you know moreabout the country than I do, " he observed. 

When Loraine pointed to the articles they must abandon, Hector suggestedthat they should be placed _en cache_ by hanging them up to the bough ofa tree, deep in the wood, so as to be concealed from passers-by. 

They might thus some day have an opportunity of sending for them. 

"There, you see how at once you can help me, " remarked Loraine. "I havebeen sadly puzzled to know what to do with them. "

Having taken a substantial meal of bears' flesh, they carefully put outtheir fire, and obliterated as far as they could the traces of theirencampment. They then strapped on their packs, and Hector supplyinghimself with a pointed stick, in the place of his damaged rifle, theyset off, followed by the dogs, in the direction, as they supposed, ofFort Duncan. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

For many a mile the weary travellers tramped on. In vain they lookedout for Greensnake, and had too much reason to fear that he had beenentrapped by the Blackfeet, and probably murdered. The country, thoughoften fertile and beautiful, was in some places sandy and barren, andutterly destitute of water. The whole day, their flasks having beenemptied, they had not a drop to quench their burning thirst, and whenthey did at length reach a pool, the liquid in it was so bitter andstagnant that they dared scarcely to taste a drop, even after strainingit through a handkerchief. The food they had brought with them was alsorunning short, and they had been unable to shoot any game to supply itsplace. Two or three buffalo had been seen in the distance, but had madeoff before they could get within shot; and several deer had passed, butbeing to leeward, scented them, and scampered away as they approached. 

"Though we cannot find large game, we must look out for small, " observedHector. "Perhaps we shall meet with some beavers, musk-rats, orbadgers; we must not be particular. "

"Not if we are starving, " answered Loraine; "but I should prefer a hareor duck, or a prairie-hen. "

At length a broad stream appeared before them. They hurried forward toquench their thirst, and then sat down to consider how it was to becrossed. They could both swim, but their packs and Loraine's gun, aswell as their clothes, had to be floated across. 

There are, fortunately, neither alligators nor voracious fish in therivers of those latitudes, and so Hector proposed that they should builda raft of rushes and dried branches on which to place their clothes, their packs, and the gun, and tow it over. 

It was soon formed, though Loraine feared it was a somewhat frailstructure, even for the duty it was intended to perform. 

The passage was accomplished with difficulty, and with the loss ofLoraine's gun, which slipped off into the deepest water. 

They lamented this serious loss, but Loraine having supplied himselfwith a pointed stick, they set off, endeavouring to keep up each other'sspirits as they marched on. They had still their compass to steer by, but their direct progress was on some days very slow, as they had toturn aside to avoid extensive marshes and lakelets. Their food atlength came to an end, and, in spite of all Hector's efforts, he wasunable to trap any animals. They several times saw beavers, which gotaway from them, and the ducks and other water-fowls only appeared to flyoff with derisive quacks at their impotent attempts to knock them down, so Hector declared. 

The dogs were growing thinner and thinner, and at length Buster, who haddropped behind, did not come up to them. In vain they called him, but, unwilling to lose time by returning, they went on, hoping that the dogwould overtake them at their camp. He did not appear, however. 

"Perhaps he took it into his head that we might eat him, " said Hector, looking at poor Muskey, who wagged his tail as he spoke, wondering if hewas to have anything for supper. 

"Should you mind eating Muskey?" asked Hector. 

"I should be very unwilling to kill the poor dog; but if we can find nofood to-morrow, it must be done, I fear, to save our lives, " answeredLoraine. 

Although they lighted a fire, they lay down that night supperless. Atdaybreak they set off, hoping to reach a lakelet in which Hector thoughtthat he might catch some white fish. They were becoming faint, and nowater was to be seen. At length they entered a wood, close to whichthey found an abundance of choke-berries, as well as gooseberries andcurrants, which served to appease the gnawings of hunger, although thepoor dog looked as if he wished that he could have something moresubstantial; and about mid-day, they each managed, almost at the samemoment, to knock over a small bird. 

So great was their hunger that they immediately halted, and, lighting afire, cooked and ate them. 

Darkness coming on, all hope of obtaining food that night was given up. Loraine offered to kill Muskey. 

"No, no; let him live to-night, and perhaps to-morrow morning he mayassist in catching something, " answered Hector. 

They lay down close to the fire, but neither could for some time sleep. Hector was very feverish, and Loraine himself began to feel ill. He sawthat his young companion was very unlikely to be able to proceed, and hedetermined to set off next morning in search of water. At last heclosed his eyes, and, to his surprise, when he awoke he found that thesun had arisen. Hector was still sleeping. The fire had gone out, andMuskey lay with his nose on his paws, watching his masters. 

"I must manage to get the dog to remain behind and guard him, " hethought; "I will try to find water by myself. "

Hector awoke just as he was about to set off, and tried to get up; buthis strength failed, and he sank down again on the ground. 

"Hold out for a few hours longer, and I trust I shall obtain relief foryou, " said Loraine. "Get Muskey to stay, and he will assist indefending you should any enemies appear. "

To prevent the dog from following him, Loraine fastened a strap roundits neck, and put the end into Hector's hand. The dog, making noresistance, lay down by his side. Loraine set off towards a knoll whichhe saw at a little distance, hoping from thence to be able to ascertainin what direction water was to be found. He walked as fast as hisstrength would allow. On reaching the knoll he looked anxiously roundon every side. Before long he saw what appeared to be the gleam ofwater, near a wood of willow and aspen, and tottered forward, everyinstant expecting to find the water, but it seemed to be further offthan he had supposed. At last he saw the grove of willows, and he wassure that the water would be found near it. The grove was reached, butno water could he see. "It must be close at hand, " he said aloud; "itwould be useless to attempt returning until I have found it. " By astrenuous effort he aroused himself, and pushed forward. His strengthwas failing: he felt as if he were in a dream. In vain he tried to movehis feet. At length he sank fainting to the ground, beneath the shadeof a tree. 

How long he had thus remained, he could not tell, when he heard a humanvoice. At first he thought it was Hector calling to him for help. Hetried to rise, but before he could regain his feet he sank back to hisformer position. 

"This is dreadful, " he thought. "I must help that poor lad. Hisfriends at the fort, if we do not reach it, will be surprised by savagesand cut off. Those two young girls--what a dreadful fate will betheirs! I must try and recover myself. " And once more he endeavouredto get up. Again he heard a voice; it was much nearer; and opening hiseyes, he saw a figure standing over him. It was that of Isaac Sass. 

"Right glad I am to find you!" exclaimed the old man, stooping down;"but you seem in a sad plight. What has become of your young companion?I trust no harm has befallen him. "

"Water, water!" answered Loraine, faintly. "Take water to him; he wantsit more than I do. "

"You want it bad enough, I guess, " said the trapper; and, unslinging hisflask, he poured some of the refreshing liquid down Loraine's throat. It quickly revived him. 

"Take him water, " he said; "he is out there. " And he pointed in thedirection where he had left Hector. 

The old man shouted; and, presently, who should appear but Greensnake, mounted on a horse, accompanied by three others, which he at oncesecured to some neighbouring trees. Isaac then handed a flask of waterto the young Indian, who, receiving some directions which Loraine couldnot understand, set off at full gallop towards the spot where Hector hadbeen left. 

"Will he find him?" asked Loraine, anxiously. 

"No fear of that, " said Sass. "When you have recovered we will follow. Here, take some food, if you can swallow it. "

Loraine was better able to eat than he expected. 

"I brought a couple of horses for you and your companion, besides yonderpack animal; for I guessed whereabouts I should find you, though Ithought you would have made better progress than you have done, and Idid not expect to come upon your trail for another day or two. "

Loraine having briefly explained what had happened, inquired how the oldtrapper had fallen in with Greensnake. 

"The lad was carried off by a party of Sircees, who stole your horses;but, believing him to be an idiot, they failed to keep a watch over him, and he easily managed to escape on one of the fleetest of their animals, and made his way towards Fort Edmonton. I, knowing the difficulties youwould be in without horses, at once set off to find you, though I littleexpected that you would have been reduced to this sad plight. And nowdo you think you could mount, and see how it fares with your friend?"

"I will try, at all events, " said Loraine, feeling very anxious aboutHector. 

With the aid of the old trapper he got into the saddle. When once therehe felt capable of going as fast as the horse could gallop. 

They set off, the trapper leading the other horse. As they neared thespot, Loraine's mind misgave him. Had Hector survived the hardships hehad endured? He himself felt how nearly he had succumbed, and he wishedthat he had begged the old trapper to go on at once, and left the Indianwith him. 

"Cheer up, cheer up, friend, " said Sass, surmising the thoughts passingthrough his mind. "Youth is tough, and hunger and thirst don't kill aman for a long time. "

At last the spot was reached. Loraine threw himself from his horse, andnearly fell to the ground in doing so, forgetting how weak he was. Greensnake was bending over Hector, supporting his head with one hand, while he was feeding him with the other; Musky, who was looking on, evidently having recognised the Indian as a friend. 

Loraine hurried forward. 

"All right, " exclaimed Sass; "speak to your friend, my boy. "

"Yes, yes, thanks to this Indian, " answered Hector, faintly. 

"I knew it would be so, " observed old Sass, addressing Loraine. "We'llcamp here, as neither of you are fit for travelling, and while youattend to the lad, Greensnake and I will light a fire and put up a hutfor you, and then I'll see about getting some game. "

These arrangements were soon made, and old Sass set off with his gun toshoot any creature he might come across fit for the pot. 

Hector had so far recovered as to be able to sit up, and to show that hewas likely to do justice to the fare the old trapper expected to providefor the party. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

The inhabitants of Fort Duncan were spending their time much as usual, and had almost ceased to trouble themselves about the threats ofMysticoose, who had, they believed, returned to his lodges, having seenthe hopelessness of inducing the English chief to give him his daughterin marriage. The hunters were out every day in search of buffalo, sometimes several days together, while the young ladies, accompanied bytheir father and brother, and two or three attendants, took their ridesas they had been accustomed to do, without fear of encountering enemies. 

They were about, one afternoon, to take a ride, when a small party ofmounted Indians--who, as they had several pack horses, were evidentlycoming to trade--were seen approaching the fort. 

"We must wait to receive these fellows, " said Captain Mackintosh, "and Iam afraid, my girls, there will be little chance for you afterwards toget your gallop. "

"Oh, papa, Norman can come with us, if you can spare him; it would be apity to lose this lovely day, " said Effie. 

Sybil said nothing, and Captain Mackintosh, perhaps against his betterjudgment, consented to let the girls go, supposing that the new comerswould be too fully engaged in trading to notice them. They accordinglymounted, and accompanied by Norman and two of the men who usually actedas their body guard, set out a short time before the Indians arrived atthe camp. 

No one in the fort observed that one of the savages turned round hishorse and galloped off in the direction from whence they had come. 

As there were not more than a dozen men, and as they, according tocustom, had deposited their arms outside the fort, they were admittedwithout hesitation. 

Captain Mackintosh, well acquainted with the various Indian nations, wasstruck by the appearance of their features, which were those of theBlackfeet, although they wore none of the distinctive ornaments of thattribe, and introduced themselves as Peagons, whose territory lies to thesouthward. Their chief, a plausibly mannered man, stated that they hadbeen induced to come to Fort Duncan by hearing that better value wasgiven for peltries there than was to be obtained from the Long Knives. They seemed, however, in no hurry to begin business, and begged thatfood might be provided for the party, as they had gone several dayswithout shooting a buffalo, hinting that some fire-water would be awelcome addition, though they did not appear surprised when CaptainMackintosh refused to supply the pernicious beverage. 

The visitors did ample justice to the feast placed before them, andwould apparently have continued eating as long as any meat remained, hadnot Captain Mackintosh suggested that darkness would come on before theyhad time to commence trading. 

At length, therefore, one of the packs was undone, and businessproceeded in the usual way. 

They were thus engaged, when a little hump-backed Indian, whom nobodyhad observed, crept in at the gate of the fort, and making his way up towhere Captain Mackintosh was superintending affairs, drew a piece ofpaper from a leathern pouch and put it into his hand. 

Captain Mackintosh having read it attentively, directing his head clerkto go on with the trading, beckoned to the hump-backed Indian toaccompany him out of ear-shot of the trading party, and havingquestioned him and received his answers, he summoned Le Brun. 

Though the Captain had betrayed no emotion in presence of the strangelooking little Indian, his chief hunter remarked his agitation. "Whathas happened, Monsieur Capitaine?" he asked. 

"This is a matter of life and death, and I know that I can trust you, LeBrun, " said Captain Mackintosh, not directly answering him. "Take thefleetest of our horses and ride after Monsieur Norman and the youngladies. Spare neither spur nor whip. Desire them to return immediatelyto the fort, as hard as they can gallop. Here, take this with you, " andhe wrote a few words on a slip of paper to be delivered to Norman. 

"Monsieur Capitaine can depend on me. I will make La Froule fly likethe whirlwind, " said Le Brun, and doubling up the paper, he hurried awayto obey the order he had received. 

"I would that I could go myself, " murmured Captain Mackintosh, "but myduty compels me to be here, and even for my dear children's sake, I mustnot desert my post when danger threatens. "

It was some time before Le Brun could catch the horse he had selected. 

Captain Mackintosh endeavoured to conceal his anxiety, especially fromhis visitors, whose keen eyes had been watching him narrowly though inno other way did they show that they suspected the little hump-backedIndian had come with any information relating to them. CaptainMackintosh, who had gone up to the platform, gave a sigh of relief, ashe at length saw Le Brun gallop off at full speed in the direction theriding party had taken. 

Having seen Le Brun off, Captain Mackintosh returned to superintend thetrading, which the Indians seemed inclined to prolong more than usual. They haggled over every article, and insisted on their peltries beingweighed more than once, on the pretence that there was some mistake, orthat the scales were out of order. They examined the goods offered tothem over and over again, handing them round to each other, andcriticising their quality. They then requested that tobacco might besupplied to them, as they were inclined to have a smoke beforeproceeding further. 

One of them then got up and spoke. The meaning of his speech wasdifficult to understand, though uttered with that flow of language ofwhich most Indians have the command. 

Captain Mackintosh bore all this with the necessary patience. He didnot wish to come to a rupture with his visitors, though from the warninghe had received, he strongly suspected that treachery was intended. 

As time went on, he became more and more anxious at not seeing the girlsand Hector return. 

At length he went to the platform, but not a glimpse of the riding partycould he discover. On his return he found the Indians still smokingtheir pipes. He inquired whether they intended to sell the remainder oftheir peltries, when one of them getting up stated that they wished tohold a council on the subject, and asked permission to sleep in thefort, that they might be prepared the next morning to continue theirtrading. 

Captain Mackintosh replied that he had made it a rule to allow nostrangers to sleep within the fort, that they might leave their peltriesif they chose, that they would be perfectly safe, and that they couldsleep in the hut built expressly for the purpose outside the gate. 

This answer appeared somewhat to disconcert the traders, and one of themrising, offered to go on again with the business after they had beensupplied with some more food, for which, as he expressed it, their soulsyearned. 

Captain Mackintosh answered that a feast should be prepared for them, but that as the gates were closed at a certain hour, they must not takeit amiss at being requested to leave the fort before that time. 

While their spokesman was making his address, the dark eyes of the otherIndians were wandering around in every direction. Perhaps they began tohave an idea that their intentions were suspected, when they perceivedthat all the men in the fort had pistols in their belts, and swords bytheir sides, and their rifles in their hands. 

While the traders were waiting for the promised feast, CaptainMackintosh again went to the platform. Just as he reached it, he saw asingle horseman galloping at headlong speed towards the fort, and in thedistance, as if pursuing him, he observed an extended line of mountedsavages. His heart misgave him on discovering that the fugitive was LeBrun, who, not even casting a glance over his shoulder, made straightfor the gate. 

Captain Mackintosh hurried down to meet him. "What has happened?" heinquired, with difficulty commanding his voice. "Where are the youngladies and my son?"

"Monsieur, I cannot tell, though I fear the worst, " answered Le Brun, throwing himself from his panting horse, which stood covered with foamat the gate. "I was on the track of the young ladies, and MonsieurNorman, when I saw far away a large troop of Indians. I endeavoured toavoid them, but was discovered, and they came thundering across theprairie in pursuit of me. I fled for my life, feeling sure that theywould take my scalp, should I be overtaken, and that is all I know. Iwould have died to save the young ladies, but it was beyond my power tohelp them. "

While he was speaking a shout was heard from one of the Indians, who hadremained with the horses outside the gate. In an instant the visitorssprang to their feet, and drawing their tomahawks from beneath theircloaks, uttering similar cries, rushed towards the white men standinground. An athletic savage was about to strike Captain Mackintosh, whena shot, fired by the hump-backed Indian, pierced his heart. Anothersavage shared the same fate. The remainder fought desperately, theiraim evidently being to keep the gate open until the arrival of theapproaching horsemen. 

The instant the alarm was given several of the garrison, who hadremained concealed, appeared from various quarters, and furiouslyattacking the treacherous Indians, shot several of them down, theremainder being allowed to make their escape through the gate, which wasimmediately closed and strongly barred behind them. 

So rapidly had everything been done that up to this time scarcely aminute had elapsed since Le Brun had entered the fort. 

Before it was perceived what he was about to do, the hump-backed Indianhad struck his knife into the breasts of those who had fallen, severalof whom were still struggling on the ground. 

We must now return to the riding party. They cantered gaily on, enjoying the pure fresh air, the exhilarating exercise, and the scenery, notwithstanding that its general features were well known to them. Tothe south and west extended the level prairies, covered in many placeswith rich grass, though in others sandy and barren, while to the eastrose a ridge of tree-covered hills, through which the river forced itsway, bordered by maples, willows, and elms. On the other side of theriver the hills swept round, rising almost abruptly from its margin, with here and there small fertile valleys dividing the heights. To thesouth-east was a lake of some size, also fringed by graceful trees, beyond which appeared another blue distant range, adding much to thepicturesque beauty of the landscape. On approaching the northern end ofthe lake, they saw a splendid flock of pelicans floating on its calmsurface, sailing round and round, but as they got nearer, the birdsspreading their wings, flew majestically off until they disappeared inthe distance. Magpies, grackles, cat birds, and many other of thewinged tribe, appeared in considerable numbers among the trees, ordisporting themselves on the lake or river. 

"It is so long since we have had a gallop, that I vote we take a goodlong one, " exclaimed Norman; and Sybil and Effie, whose spirits had alsorisen, expressed their readiness to do as he proposed. 

"Then let us take the circuit of the lake, " said Norman. "I have goneround it several times; and there is plenty of hard ground, though thereare some swampy places which it won't do to ride into. "

They had, however, not gone far, when Norman, whose horse was higherthan those of his sisters, observed in the distance to the south-west alarge body of mounted men, whom he knew from their numbers, and theprevailing colour of their ranks, must be Indians. 

He pointed them out to his companions, "They are probably bound eitherfor the fort, or are on a hunting expedition to the eastward, but Icannot yet make out in what direction they are going, " he observed. "However, I conclude that they are friends, and should they come nearus, I will go forward and meet them. It is always better to show thatone wishes to be on good terms with the Redskins, and have no fear ofthem. You girls, however, keep back. Since the lesson Sybil received, it is as well you should not let them see you pale-faces, if you canhelp it. "

The young ladies laughed, and Norman soon afterwards observing that thehorsemen were approaching, dashed forward to meet them as he proposed. 

He had got some little way when he saw that the strangers had put theirhorses to their topmost speed, and he remarked at their head a tallchief who was galloping on, urging his steed by whip and spur. 

"I don't like their looks, " he thought. "That fellow is very much likeMysticoose. It will be wiser for the girls to keep clear of them. "

Turning round, therefore, he rode back as hard as he could go, and as herejoined Sybil, and Effie, he advised them to give their horses the whipso that they might not risk an encounter with the strangers. On lookinground he saw that the latter were coming directly after them. 

"On, girls, on!" he cried out. "I wish that we had turned sooner; butour horses are in good wind and we can keep ahead of these fellows, evenshould they try to overtake us. "

Norman's horse was a powerful one: the young ladies being light weights, and accustomed to riding, giving the rein to their steeds they flew overthe ground. 

Their attendants, who did not like the appearance of the strangers, making good use of whip and spur, managed to keep up with them. 

"There's a ford right ahead, across the river; we will make for it, "shouted Norman. "We can then keep along the northern bank. It will bemuch safer than attempting to reach the fort by the direct track, whichwould bring us close to those fellows. "

Towards the ford, therefore, they directed their course. Trusting tothe fleetness of their steeds, they had reason to hope that they shouldkeep ahead of their pursuers; for the Indians' horses, though strong andpossessed of great endurance, were incapable, they knew, of going at anygreat speed. 

Norman, looking back, however, saw with vexation that the Indian chief, spurring on his animal, was fast distancing most of his followers, somewhat scattered, though not far off. There were several othersavages endeavouring to keep up with him. Again and again, Norman urgedSybil and his sister to give the rein to their steeds. 

"Never fear. Stick on; the animals won't come down, " he shouted. 

They both kept up their courage, though fully alive to their dangerousposition. Sybil, indeed, suspected that Mysticoose was at the head ofthe party, and that his object was to capture her. She nerved herselfup, however, for whatever might occur. 

Though Norman had assured them that there was no risk of their horsesfalling, she saw, as she approached the river, that the ground wasbecoming more uneven. Rocks and the stumps of trees, burnt in a recentfire, cropped up here and there, and fallen logs, some so close togetherthat the horses in leaping might stumble over others further off. 

Beyond, the ground appeared marshy, and though it might not be too softfor them to get over, they would be delayed until their pursuers hadovertaken them. 

Still, the girls holding their reins ready to lift their horses shouldthey stumble, continued urging them on with their whips, and Norman, ashe looked at them, wondered at their nerve and apparently calmdemeanour. 

He carried a brace of pistols in his belt, and the two men had theirbuffalo guns, short weapons, useful for a close encounter, and heresolved to fight to the last rather than let his sister and Sybil becaptured. He knew at the same time, how hopeless it would be to contendwith their numerous, well-armed enemies. 

The rough ground was crossed, the marshy spot was reached, and thehorses dashed on, floundering through it, their feet at times sinking sodeep that it appeared impossible to draw them out again, while evenNorman had to stick tight to keep his seat. He scarcely dared lookround, but he fancied that he could hear the clattering of horses hoofson the hard ground they had just before passed over. 

"Hold on!" he shouted, "we shall soon get through the marsh and thesavages will find it no easy matter to follow us!"

Though he said this, he knew there was the ford to be crossed, and thatcould only be done at a walking pace, so that before they could get tothe other side, the savages would already have reached the margin of thestream. Once more he turned round. 

The chief and half a dozen of his followers were already on the bordersof the marsh, some going on one side, some on the other, to find aharder part for crossing. 

Happily, however, just then, the young ladies' steeds reached firmerground, and sprang forward. They were now making directly for the ford, and Norman hoped once more, though almost against hope, that they mightget across in time to obtain another good start of their pursuers. 

The savages, however, knowing the nature of the ground better than theydid, had succeeded in passing it much more rapidly, and Norman saw thatin a few minutes they would be up to them. He had almost lost all hopeof escape when two horsemen, evidently white men, appeared on the browof the ridge on the opposite side. 

A glance must have shown them the state of affairs, and at the risk ofbreaking their necks, they came rattling down the steep descent, thehorses sometimes sliding almost on their haunches, sometimes leapingforward. 

"That is Hector!" cried Norman, recognising his brother; and then thethought occurred to him that he and his companion would share the fateto which it appeared likely they were doomed. Hector and his companion, who, as may be supposed, was Loraine, regardless of the danger intowhich they were running, dashed forward, and without stopping, plungedinto the ford to meet the fugitives, who had all by this time began thepassage. 

The appearance of only two white men did not deter the Redskins fromcontinuing the pursuit, and having, their guns in their hands, gotwithin thirty yards or so of the two attendants, they fired. Both shotstook effect. 

One poor fellow fell from his horse; the other, though wounded, clung onstill, endeavouring to escape. The Indians came pressing on. One ofthem, who had got abreast of his chief, attempted to grapple withHector, and Mysticoose himself was about to seize Sybil, when Loraine, dashing forward and levelling a pistol, shot him in the arm. The limbhung powerless at his side. But notwithstanding, taking the reins inhis teeth, the savage chief again attempted with his other hand to takehold of her, while, fearing that she would escape him, he shouted to hisfollowers, who, with fearful shrieks, were pressing on. Her horse, terrified by the sound, bounding forward, she escaped him. Enraged athis failure, he lifted his tomahawk to hurl it at her head, when Lorainewith the butt of a pistol struck down his arm; and at that instant ahorseman was seen on the top of the ridge. The stranger was old Sass. At a glance he took in the state of affairs. Instead of descending, however, he turned round and shouted loudly in Cree--

"Come on, come on! Here are your enemies, here are your enemies! We'vea fine band of them in our power. Quick, quick, or they will escapeus!"

Then, as if his followers were close behind, he began to descend almostas rapidly as had the younger men. The Blackfeet, evidently believingthat in another minute a large body of their foes would be upon them, turned their horses' heads, and without looking again at the top of theridge, began a rapid retreat, carrying Mysticoose along with them, theirflight hastened by the loud shout which, Hector and Norman setting theexample, was raised by the white men. 

Norman had not forgotten the poor fellow who had fallen in his defence, and succeeded in catching him as he came to the surface, and dragginghim to the shore. 

"We must get to the top of the hill and show ourselves, or the Blackfeetmay suspect the trick we played them, " said old Sass. "That done, we'llride as fast as our horses' legs can carry us to Fort Duncan. I'll helpyou with that poor fellow, " he added, addressing Norman. "Here, friend, mount your horse; many a man has ridden a score of miles with a worsewound. "

The half-breed, knowing that his life depended upon his following theadvice, succeeded in getting into his saddle, when the whole party, winding their way up the height, which was of no great elevation, showedthemselves on the summit, appearing as if they were the front rank of abody of horsemen about to descend to the river. Such was the idea, inall probability, that the Blackfeet entertained as they were seen in thedistance galloping off to the south-west. 

The party had to make a considerable circuit, and notwithstanding theirwish to hurry forward were compelled frequently to proceed at a footpace, although they pushed on whenever the ground would allow. 

On reaching the top of the hill overlooking the prairie on the southernside of the river, they caught sight of the Blackfeet band in thedistance, galloping, it appeared, towards the fort. Whether theythemselves were perceived, they could not tell; but Norman fancied thathe saw a band separate from the rest, and direct their course towardsthe river. It would have answered no purpose to stop and ascertainthis, though, should such be the case, it was more necessary than everto gain the fort without delay. 

Descending the hill, they pushed forward as before; but Norman cast manyan uneasy glance to the left, fearing that the savages might, havingswam their horses across the river, pounce suddenly out upon them. 

They had got about half-way, when the sound of distant firing reachedtheir ears. 

"Where can that come from?" asked Hector, who was riding with hisbrother. 

"From the fort, I am afraid, " answered Norman. "The Blackfeet must haveattacked it, hoping to get in while some of the garrison are away; butmy father will, I trust, have been prepared for them, though I am afraidthat some traders, who arrived just before we set off, must have comewith treacherous designs, and will try to help their friends outside. "

"I thought before this that a fine fellow who came with us--Allan Keith, one of your clerks--would have arrived with a party of half-breeds, whomhe expected to enlist, " said Hector. "We calculated that he would havebeen here, as we were greatly delayed on our journey, " and he brieflyrelated the adventures Loraine and he had met with. 

"Hurrah! Here's a level place. We can push on, " cried Norman; and theparty, putting their horses into a gallop, dashed forward. As they didso, rapid firing, echoing among the hills, was again and again heard, evidently coming from the direction of the fort. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

The glowing sun was touching the line where the blue sky and prairiemet, his rays casting a ruddy hue over the calm surface of the river, when the party, conducted by Norman, reached the northern bank oppositethe fort, they having been delayed by attending to the wounded man, whocould with difficulty be brought along. As they descended the slope tothe river they caught sight of a body of horsemen galloping away acrossthe prairie. Norman, as he watched them, was certain that they were thesavages who had pursued his party. 

"Thank Heaven, the Redskins have been defeated!" exclaimed Hector; "buthad it not been for the warning you sent my father, friend Sass, thecase might have been very different. "

Norman now hailed at the top of his voice for a boat. 

In a short time two men were seen launching one from a shed close to thewater. They quickly brought her across. As she would not carry thewhole of the party, the two young ladies, and, at their request, thewounded men, were first ferried over. 

Captain Mackintosh stood on the bank to receive them, and, as Sybil andEffie threw themselves into his arms, their feelings at length givingway, they burst into tears. 

"There is nothing more to fear; we have driven off the Blackfeet, andthey have received a lesson which they will not soon forget, I trust, "he said. 

He then inquired how they had been preserved. They were both eloquentin describing the way Hector and Loraine, with their old companion, hadrescued them; but there was no time to say much just then. While someof the garrison, who had come down for the purpose, carried the woundedmen into the fort, the rest of the party were ferried across the river. Captain Mackintosh gave a fatherly greeting to Hector, who thenintroduced Loraine. 

"I have to thank you, sir, for the brave way in which you saved thisyoung lady from the clutches of the savage chief. Had it not been foryour gallantry, she might have been carried off. As the fellow has, however escaped, we must still keep careful watch for her protection. "

Loraine expressed himself appropriately, saying how rejoiced he was tohave been of service, and that it made ample amends to him for hisdisappointment in not having arrived in time to warn Captain Mackintoshof the Indians' plot to surprise the fort. 

Old Sass, who had modestly kept out of the way, now came in for hisshare of thanks; and the whole garrison, when they heard of the cleverway in which he had frightened off the Blackfeet, were enthusiastic intheir expressions of admiration at his conduct. The hump-backed Indian, who, as may be supposed, was no other than Greensnake, was also mademuch of, all acknowledging that it was through the warning he hadbrought that they were put on their guard against the intended treacheryof their cunning enemies. 

The bodies of the Indians, and other signs of the strife, had beenremoved before the party had entered the fort. The young ladies at oncedisappeared into the house, under charge of Mrs Mackintosh, whosematernal feelings had been fearfully tried during their absence. Theydid not appear again until the evening, when Hector declared that theylooked as blooming as ever. 

Loraine soon won the regard of Captain Mackintosh and Norman. Everyhour the young Englishman remained in the society of the original of thebeautiful picture he so much admired, endeared her more and more to him;and it is not surprising that a girl who had seen so few gentlemen, except her brothers and some of the Hudson's Bay clerks, should havegiven him her heart in return. Loraine was not a man to trifle with agirl's affections, and sooner than he might otherwise have done, heexpressed his wishes to Captain Mackintosh. 

"I conclude Hector has told you that Sybil is not my daughter, thoughshe is as dear to me as if she were, " answered Captain Mackintosh. "Iam, in truth, utterly ignorant of her parentage. Soon after mymarriage, while quartered in Upper Canada, my wife and I made anexcursion through Lake Ontario and the Sault Sainte Marie to the shoresof Lake Superior. We intended proceeding across the lake to the thenwild region of the west. 

"While staying at a small cottage on the north side of the falls ofSainte Marie, the very day before we were to sail, a heavy gale came on. As we were unable to embark, not to disappoint my wife, I proposed tomake an excursion, partly on foot and partly on horseback, as far as wecould proceed along the north shore of the lake to Groscap, a conicalhill which we could see rising to a considerable elevation in thedistance. We found the path far more difficult than we had expected, and at length, our object unaccomplished, we turned our steps homeward. We had not got far when the rain began to come down in torrents, and wewere glad to take shelter in a log hut of the roughest description, built on some rising ground a short way from the shore of the lake. Itwas unoccupied, but as there was a hearth and chimney, we directed ourattendants to obtain some fuel and lighted a fire to dry our drenchedgarments. In vain we waited for the weather to clear. Darkness comingon, we found that we must spend the night in the hut, not a pleasantprospect, but it was preferable to making our way through the forestwith the rain pouring down on our heads. 

"The wind howled and whistled, the waves dashed furiously against theshore, the trees bent and writhed beneath the blast, and my fear wasthat some of those surrounding the hut might be uprooted and crush inthe roof. I went frequently to the door, in the hopes of discovering arent in the clouds which might enable me to hold out some prospect to mywife of the cessation of the storm. While looking up at the sky Ifancied that I heard the plaintive cry of a child. The next moment Ithought that it must be that of some wild animal, and was about tore-enter the hut when it was repeated. Telling my wife what I was aboutto do, I desired the two men to accompany me, and groped my way throughthe darkness in the direction whence the sound had come. Again I heardthe cry, and, guided by it, I almost stumbled over a woman lying on theground, with a child in her arms. The woman was speechless, but wasuttering low moans. I took the child in my arms and hurried back to thehut, while the men followed me, conveying the almost inanimate form ofthe woman. 

"`Heaven has sent us here to rescue the little creature, ' exclaimed mywife, as I put the infant in her arms. 

"She lost no time in taking off its wet clothes and wrapping it up in ashawl. 

"`It is a little girl, ' she said, `and I trust has received no injury. We must attend to the poor mother, ' she added, as the men brought in thebody of the woman and laid her before the blazing fire. `Why, shecannot be the mother of this child; she is an Indian, and the child isbeautifully fair, ' exclaimed my wife, as, giving me the baby, she kneltdown by the side of the woman to try and restore her to animation. Allher efforts, however, were in vain. Before many minutes had past shehad breathed her last. We took off some of the few ornaments she woreabout her dress, to assist us in identifying her, and the men thenplaced the body at the further end of the hut. 

"We had, as you may suppose, no sleep that night; my wife, indeed, wasfully occupied in nursing the baby. Providentially I had brought, instead of wine, a bottle of milk for my wife, very little of which shehad drank, and with this she was happily able to feed the child. 

"How the woman and child had come to be in the position in which we hadfound them, I could not tell; but our guides asserted that they musthave escaped from a wrecked canoe, and possibly others of the partymight have got safe on shore and would be able to tell us to whom thechild belonged. 

"When morning came the storm cleared off, and though my wife was anxiousto get back to our lodgings, I set off to explore the beach with one ofour guides. We went a considerable distance in both directions, but noone could we discover, nor a trace of a canoe or boat of any sort. Ifthe woman had escaped therefore, as we supposed, from a canoe, it musthave foundered or been knocked to pieces on the rocks, and the fragmentsand bodies of those on board have been driven far out again on the lake. 

"After our vain search, we commenced our journey, my wife carrying thelittle girl in her arms. On our way we called at the Hudson's BayCompany's post, situated above the falls, where the hospitablesuperintendent begged us to remain, and offered to take care of thechild until its friends could be discovered. My wife, however, refusedto part with her treasure-trove, as she called the little foundling, andso strongly expressed her wish to adopt her, that, having none of ourown, I consented, provided no relative appeared to claim her. On seeingthe ornaments which we had taken from the Indian woman, thesuperintendent pronounced them to be those worn by Crees, and thought bytheir means he might discover the child's relatives. 

"He at once sent to the hut to bury the poor woman, and we remained atour cottage until we could receive the information our friend promisedto obtain. He had not expected any canoe from the west, and could notaccount for the one which was supposed to be lost. 

"We waited on, but as the superintendent of the post could obtain noinformation in the neighbourhood, and told us that it might be manymonths before he could get any from the Far West, whence there could belittle doubt the canoe had come, we returned to Toronto with the child. She became our adopted daughter, and from that day to this, notwithstanding all our inquiries, we have been unable to learn herparentage. Though we soon afterwards had a child of our own, she everretained the same hold on our affections which she had at firstenjoyed. "

"I cannot but suppose that so lovely a creature must be of gentlebirth, " exclaimed Loraine; "but whether she is or not, with your leave, if she consents to be mine, I will marry her as soon as a clergyman canbe found to unite us. "

"Although we shall all be sorry to part from her, I will throw noobstacle in the way of what may tend to her happiness as well as yours, "answered Captain Mackintosh, shaking Loraine by the hand. 

As it may be supposed, the young lover felt pretty sure of the answerSybil would give him, nor was he mistaken. 

Norman and Hector looked somewhat grave. 

"And so you intend to carry off Sybil, " exclaimed the latter. "I almostwish that I hadn't brought you to the fort, old fellow. But one goodthing is that you cannot take her away until you are married, and youmay have to wait a long time for that. "

Effie felt the expected parting with Sybil more than any one else. Shewas also anxious, and as much out of spirits as it seemed possible forso happy a creature to be, for Hector had naturally told her that AllanKeith had gone to obtain reinforcements for the garrison of the fort, and had expressed his surprise that they had not long before thisarrived. 

On his first arrival a room had been assigned to Isaac Sass, and he hadbeen invited to the captain's table, when, notwithstanding his roughappearance, he showed that he was a man of good education, thoughignorant of the events which had of late taken place in the world. Hegenerally sat opposite to Sybil, and it was remarked that his eyes wereoften fixed intently on her, but that he withdrew them whenever he sawthat he was observed. He would follow her about the fort, or when shewent out to walk in its immediate neighbourhood, as if wishing to watchover her safety, and when he occasionally addressed her his voiceassumed a softness contrasting greatly with the somewhat harsh tone inwhich he ordinarily spoke. 

"If ever angels come on earth, that sweet sister of yours is one ofthem, " he remarked to Hector one day, while he stood watching Sybil at adistance. 

"I will tell her what you say, " answered Hector, laughing. "And I'llask her if she is really one. Perhaps she may be, for, do you know thatshe is not my sister?" and Hector told him the story of her discovery. 

Isaac Sass made no reply, but seemed to be pondering deeply on what hehad heard. 

He continued to watch Sybil with even greater interest than before, andmanaged to obtain from Captain Mackintosh a confirmation of the accountHector had given him. He said nothing, however, in reply; but hismanner showed that he was laying some restraint on himself, during theremainder of the time he remained at Fort Duncan. 

Although Captain Mackintosh paid him every attention, grateful to himfor the service he had rendered, the old man, however, appeared atlength to grow weary of inactivity, and began to speak of taking hisdeparture with Greensnake for the north. 

"It is seldom nowadays that I come near the country of the Blackfeet, "he said, addressing Captain Mackintosh. "It may be a long time beforeyou see me here again. It may be I shall never return; but I shalloften think of the time I spent with you and your English friends. "

Before, however, old Isaac took his departure two horsemen were seenapproaching the fort from the westward. Their steeds, as they came tothe gate, showed that they had ridden hard. One was a white man and theother an Indian. The first dismounted and entered the gate. 

"My name is Harvey, " he said, shaking hands with Captain Mackintosh, whoadvanced to meet him. "I am in charge of the missionary station atWhite Fish Lake, and have come to ask your assistance for my people, whom the Blackfeet have threatened to destroy. I have felt it my dutyto obtain, if possible, the means of protecting them. "

"I am well acquainted with your name, " answered Captain Mackintosh, whoknew Mr Harvey to be a devoted Christian man, one of those bravepioneers of Christianity who, in obedience to the commands of ourblessed Lord, have, with their lives in their hands, ventured into thewilds among the savage races of the Far West to win precious souls forHim. 

"I would gladly help you, " he answered, "but this fort has only latelybeen attacked, and I should not be justified in weakening the garrisonby sending away any of my people. I will, however, thankfully receiveyou and your family, and those of your flock whom you may wish to bringwith you, while the others move northward beyond the reach of theirenemies. Even were I to spare you half a dozen men, they would be oflittle use in repelling an attack of the daring Blackfeet. "

"I feel that you are right, and that I must remove my family, and leaveour house and garden to be destroyed, " answered Mr Harvey. "Pray donot misunderstand me, and suppose that I mistrust God's protecting care;but I know that He would have us take all reasonable measures for oursafety, and fly from earthly, as he directs us to escape from spiritual, foes. "

"We will discuss the matter after you have rested, and I have had timeto think it over, " answered Captain Mackintosh. "It is my private wishas well as my public duty to afford every assistance in my power tomissionaries labouring among the Indians, and you may depend on my doingall I justly can to afford you the aid you wish. However, I now adviseyou to lie down and rest while some food is preparing. "

Mr Harvey acknowledged that he was very tired, and gratefully acceptedthe offer, before paying his respects to the ladies of the family. 

Sybil looked somewhat confused when she heard that a clergyman hadarrived at the fort. 

"You need not be alarmed, " said Effie, somewhat slily. "From what papasays, he can only remain a few hours. He has to hurry back to hisstation, and declines remaining even one night. "

What might have been Loraine's wish need not be said, but Mr Harveypromised, should his life be spared, to return shortly to perform theceremony which was to make Sybil his. 

Captain Mackintosh, after reflecting, agreed to send five of his men, under the orders of Le Brun, to protect Mr Harvey's station, for heguessed that, without the prospect of booty, notwithstanding theirthreats, the Blackfeet would not venture to attack it, even thoughopposed by so small a number; for, if successful, they would gain butlittle, and would be certain to lose several men. 

Le Brun, a brave fellow, laughed at the notion. 

Just as Mr Harvey was about to set out, old Sass and Greensnakeappeared mounted at the gate. 

"I'll go with you, friend, " he said, addressing the clergyman. "ThoughI've not had much to do with parsons in my day, I want to have a talkwith you, and maybe if those villains, the Blackfeet, try to give youany trouble, I may be of as much use as those six men you are takingwith muskets and pistols. "

Before finally starting, the old man bade adieu to Captain Mackintoshand his family, as also to Loraine. 

He gazed in Sybil's face as he took her hand. "I have not prayed formany a day, but if God will hear the prayers of such an outcast as I am, I will ask Him to bless you and make you happy with the noble youngEnglishman to whom you have given your heart. It is my belief that hewill prove true and faithful. "

He spoke in a similar strain to Loraine; and turning, with an evidenteffort, to where Greensnake was holding his horse, mounted, and joinedMr Harvey, who had already left the fort. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

Life in a fort in the Far West is not as monotonous as may be supposed. There is a variety of work to be done. The hunters are employed inprocuring buffalo, deer, and other game for provisions during the manywinter months. The meat has to be preserved in summer by beingconverted into pemmican, and in winter by being placed in deep pits, with floors of ice between each intervening layer of meat, and thencovered up with snow. When the fort is in the neighbourhood of a lakeor river, fish have to be caught and preserved. This is done by saltingthem in summer, and freezing them as soon as the cold becomes intenseenough. Numerous horses have to be attended to, and dogs trained fordragging the sleighs when the snow covers the ground, the only mode thenpossible of travelling. Sleighs, carts, snow-shoes, and harness of allsorts, have to be manufactured, and moccasins and winter clothingprepared. In the neighbourhood of some forts gardens containingvegetables, and fields of maize, wheat, and oats have to be attended to. In others boats and canoes are built, while at all the gunsmith hasconstant work in repairing damaged fire-arms. 

Trappers are constantly coming and going, bringing peltries, buffalo, deer, and wolf-skins, as well as other produce of the chase. Some arehalf-breeds, others white men, but the greater number pure Indians. Some arrive with several bales, others only bring a few skins toexchange for powder and shot, and a new trap or two. Then the skinsobtained have to be sorted, repacked, and despatched either to Yorkfactory in the north, or to Fort Garry in the south; while stores andprovisions at certain periods arrive, and the men transporting them haveto be entertained until they are ready to return to head-quarters. 

Such was the existence which the inmates of Fort Duncan were leading. Under other circumstances Loraine might soon have grown tired of solimited a sphere of action, but every day he became more and moreattached--if that were possible--to Sybil; and although he had intendedto perform the journey across the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver's Island, he could not bring himself to leave her exposed to dangers such as thosefrom which she had lately been preserved. 

Sybil had no wish to let him go, for though short as was the time sincethey had first met, he had become all in all to her; and no wonder whenHector, who had opportunities of knowing him well, declared that he wasone of the finest, noblest, best fellows he had ever fell in with, right-minded, true and brave; and Sybil was convinced that this accountwas not exaggerated. 

Next to Loraine, Hector's chief friend was Allan Keith, whom heconsidered almost the equal of the first. He had become very anxious atthe non-appearance of Allan and the half-breed hunters he had hoped toenlist. Either he must have failed in inducing them to accompany him, or he had encountered some hostile Indians on the way, which was notvery likely, or had been compelled to make a wide circuit to avoid them. At last Hector asked his father's permission to take two or three menwith him, and to travel northward in the direction Keith would mostlikely come, in the hopes of falling in with him, and giving assistanceshould it be required. "He may have met with some such misadventure asLoraine and I did; or he may have expended his ammunition and bestarving, " he observed. 

Effie was very grateful to Hector when she heard of his proposal. 

"I won't ask you to accompany me, Loraine, " he said to his friend, "forI suspect that Sybil would greatly object to your going away; and as youare less accustomed to the style of life than our men, you would knockup sooner than they would. I wish that old Sass had been here with hisboy Greensnake; they would, by some means or other, have discovered him, wherever he is. "

Loraine made no reply. He certainly had no wish to go, and he agreedwith Hector that the hunters were more accustomed to the style of lifethey would have to lead than he was; still, in his anxiety to assistKeith, he was ready to sacrifice much, but if a sufficient number of menfrom the fort could be spared, his aid would not be required. 

To Hector's disappointment, however, Captain Mackintosh objected to histaking any men from the fort. 

"The best hunters are required to go out in search of game, and thegarrison is already weakened by those who have accompanied Mr Harvey, "he remarked. "Although I am as anxious as you are about Keith, yet dutycompels me to refuse your request, and I cannot let you go alone, oreven with one man. Had Le Brun been here I might have sent him, as heis worth two or three others; but unless Mr Harvey abandons his stationand takes refuge in the fort, it may be some time before he returns, andI hope before then we shall either see or hear of Keith. "

Still Hector did not abandon his plan. Norman was ready to go; andLoraine, when he found that no one else could be spared, withoutconsulting Sybil, volunteered to accompany him. 

Captain Mackintosh finding that his sons were so bent on the expedition, and that their guest was ready to sacrifice his own inclination, onfurther considering the matter, gave his consent, and agreed to send oneof the best hunters and guides with them, provided they promised not tobe absent more than ten days, and to leave behind them marks by whichtheir trail could be followed up. 

Effie thanked Loraine warmly; and even Sybil acknowledged that as he wasgoing from a generous motive, she could not venture to ask him to staybehind. 

The undertaking being determined on, the party rapidly made theirpreparations. Having crossed the river where the horses were waitingfor them, they set out. Besides those they rode, each person had aspare horse on which were carried a few light articles required forcamping. 

Sybil and Effie stood on the ramparts facing the river, and bade themadieu, as they wound their way up the hill on the opposite bank. 

Effie felt happier than she had been for some time; and it was now herpart to console Sybil for Loraine's absence, assuring her that the partywould not return without bringing tidings of Allan. 

Several of the hunters had been out for three days in search of buffalo. They were expected back that night; but as they did not make theirappearance, the gates were closed as usual, and sentries posted to keepwatch at night. 

Towards morning the man on duty in one of the towers, saw through thegloom a horseman coming at full speed towards the fort. 

"Vite, vite, open the gate; I am well-nigh done for, " he shouted. "Therest have been killed, and I have had a hard matter to escape from thesavages. "

The sentry gave the alarm, the gates were opened, and Jacques Robe, oneof the hunters, rode in. He almost fell from his horse into the arms oftwo of the men who had hastened out to meet him. An arrow was in hisside, and he was bleeding from other wounds. 

The gates being closed, Captain Mackintosh directed the wounded man tobe carried to his house, and as soon as he had sent the garrison to theramparts to be ready should the enemy appear, he hastened to attend tohim. 

The poor fellow's wounds though severe were not likely to prove mortal. The arrow was extracted by sawing off the head, the other hurts beingbound up, the bullets having happily not lodged in his body. CaptainMackintosh then left his patient to the care of his wife and went out tomake further arrangements for the defence. He now regretted havingallowed his sons and Loraine to go away, contrary to his betterjudgment. They could not, however, as yet have got to any distance; andas their assistance would be of the greatest value he resolved at onceto recall them. He hoped that they would be able to return in time toassist in the defence of the fort, as probably the Blackfeet, knowingthat notice would be given of their approach by the escape of JacquesRobe, would not venture to attack it, if such was their intention, untilthe following night. He therefore ordered Jules Buffet, an active andintelligent scout, to cross the river and hasten as fast as his horsewould carry him after the party. 

"They will not hesitate about returning when they hear what is likely tooccur, " he observed. 

Jules, stuffing some pemmican and bread into his pouch, without loss ofa moment set off. 

It was still too dark to observe his movements; but the man who had goneto assist him in catching and saddling his horse, reported that he hadstarted in safety, and that knowing the country, in spite of theobscurity, he would have no difficulty in carrying out his instructions. 

Captain Mackintosh laid strict injunctions on Sybil and his wife anddaughter, on no account to leave the shelter of the house, observing, "It will become still darker than it is at present before day breaks, and it is possible that during the time the savages may take theopportunity of sending a shower of arrows into the fort. With ourreduced numbers, I must not venture to send out scouts to ascertaintheir position; they may be still at a distance, or they may be creepingup towards the fort hoping to take us by surprise. "

The ladies exhibited the courage that might have been expected of themwhen they, without fear, came to live in that remote fort, situated, asthey well knew, in the neighbourhood of hostile tribes. 

Mrs Mackintosh got lint and bandages and cordials ready, in case any ofthe garrison should be wounded. 

Captain Mackintosh then went round the fort to encourage the scantygarrison, and to see that they were on the watch. He endeavoured topierce the gloom, but could distinguish no objects moving on theprairie. Still, he knew well the various tricks to which the Redskinswere likely to resort. They might be close by, creeping up on hands andknees among the grass, or along the bank of the river so as to attackthe fort at the real as well as in front. He prepared for bothcontingencies, posting careful men at every assailable point. 

The minutes went slowly by. He greatly missed his sons, and Loraine, who would have been of essential service in watching the more dangerouspoints. Le Brun, a most trustworthy man, was away, and two of his besthunters and scouts had been killed, while another lay wounded anduseless. Still he endeavoured to make up for the limited number of hismen by his own energy and watchfulness. 

As he hurried round and round, he praised those who were most on thealert, and warned the others of the dangers of negligence. He more thanonce went down to examine his watch, and ascertain how the time waspassing, for of course no lights were shown on the ramparts, and thenagain he hurried up to look over the prairie. 

At length a bright streak appeared across the eastern sky. The lightincreased, and it was with a sigh of heart-felt relief, when at last, being able to see across the prairie, he discovered that not a singleobject was moving over its broad expanse. 

"It is as I thought, then, " he said to himself; "the Blackfeet havedeemed it prudent not to show themselves until they can catch us off ourguard. We shall have, I trust, a day's rest, and by the evening my boysand their brave friends will have returned; and even should poor Keithhave met with disaster, Burnett may send us reinforcements fromEdmonton. I pray that the savages have not paid a visit to Harvey'sstation, or it may have gone hard with him. Now I may go down andconsole Mrs Mackintosh and the girls, and get some breakfast;" and thegallant Captain, having again charged the sentries to keep on the alert, returned to his house. 

The day wore on, and had it not been for Jacques Robe's positiveassertion that he had escaped from an unusually large body of Blackfeet, it might have been supposed that there was no cause for alarm. 

Not even a buffalo or deer appeared. That, however, was not unusual;indeed, the only cause to create suspicion was that no traders, eitherIndians or others, arrived at the fort. 

Noon had passed, and had Jules Buffet ridden as fast as he proposed, Loraine and his companions might soon return. Still they did notappear. 

Sybil and Effie frequently went to the southern platform to look out, but returned each time disappointed. 

Captain Mackintosh, who had gone to the top of the look-out tower, sweptwith his telescope the horizon to the south and west, towards which theglowing sun was once more sinking. 

As he looked, he fancied that he could detect objects moving above thetall grass, embrowned with the tints of autumn. If they were Indiansthey probably did not suppose that they could be discovered at so greata distance. They might, indeed, have been only a herd of deerscampering across the plain. Still, as he looked again and againthrough his glass, he fancied that he could distinguish the plumed headsand shoulders of Indian warriors. 

"They shall not catch us napping, at all events, " he said to himself;"and I trust to Heaven to enable us to make good use of the means at ourdisposal. "

He was unwilling to leave his post, while there was sufficient daylightto give him a chance of ascertaining whether the objects he saw weremounted Indians or not: he knew that at such a distance men on footcould not possibly be seen. He had much less to fear from men onhorseback than from the stealthy approach of savages on foot, who mightcreep up almost unperceived close to the walls. 

At length the increasing shadows of evening shrouded the view, and hemade another round to warn the sentries, as before, to be on the alert, telling them that they might expect to be attacked before morning. 

Just as he reached the river side of the platform, he heard a shout. Itwas Norman's voice, asking for a boat to be sent over. 

He immediately, therefore, ordered two of the men usually employed inthe service to pull across, and in a short time his sons and Loraineentered the fort. It need not be said that they were welcomed by thosewho had been so long looking for them. Jules Buffet had fulfilled hispromise by pushing forward at full speed, and had overtaken them just ashis horse fell utterly exhausted, while they were making their noon-dayhalt. They had galloped back on fresh horses, which at the end of theride seemed scarcely able to stand. 

"But we have managed it, " cried Hector, "and now I hope the Redskinswon't disappoint us. I wish, however, that we could have brought AllanKeith; but we met with no signs of him or his party, and he may be stilla hundred miles away or more. "

The addition of five persons in whom he could trust, made CaptainMackintosh hope more than ever that he should be able successfully toresist the expected attack of the Blackfeet. That they would come thatnight he felt almost certain, as also that the great object of theiryoung chief Mysticoose was to carry off Sybil. He had, however, probably induced his people to undertake the expedition by promisingthem the pillage of the fort. They had a few years before thissurprised Bow Fort, which afforded them a rich booty, and they mightnaturally expect to succeed in capturing Fort Duncan, which was notbetter provided with the means of defence. Never, however, before therecent attempt of Mysticoose to take it by treachery, had it beenattacked. 

The fresh arrivals, after taking some food, lay down to get the restthey so much required, Captain Mackintosh promising to call them shouldany signs of the approaching enemy be discovered. Each man on theramparts was provided with a lantern, kept shaded until required, tothrow a light on the ground round the fort, which, as was rightlyexpected, would tend greatly to disconcert the assailants, should theycreep up with the expectation of effecting a surprise. 

Hour after hour went by. 

"They intend, I suspect, as I thought they would yesterday morning, tomake their attack a short time before daylight, when they fancy we shallbe weary with watching, and off our guard, " observed Captain Mackintoshto Loraine, who had joined him on the platform. 

"Then we may expect them before long, " said Loraine, looking at hiswatch by the light of a lantern. 

Scarcely had he spoken, than an arrow flew between him and CaptainMackintosh. He had just time to shout to his people to get under cover, when a whole flight came whistling over their heads, followed by aterrific war whoop, the most fearful sound of which the human voice iscapable. 

The men in the garrison shouted in return, several of them wellaccustomed to the noise giving vent to derisive laughter. 

"The painted savages fancy that we are to be frightened by yells likeyon, " cried Sandy Macpherson, an old Scotchman, who had been since hisyouth in the service of the company. "They may shoot their arrows andshout as loud as they like, but it won't help them to get inside thefort, lads, I ken. Wait till we can see their heads, and then send ashower of bullets among them, but dinna fire till the captain gives theword, an' then blaze away as fast as ye can load. "

"Bravo, Sandy! That's just what we must do, " cried Hector, who waspassing at the moment, having been sent round by his father to see thatthe men were at their proper stations. 

A shout from Sandy, of "There they are!" and the word to fire, produceda blaze of light round the fort. 

The Blackfeet, many of whom had muskets, fired in return, and thencountless dark forms were seen dashing forward, some to attempt to scalethe walls, others to force open the gate. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

So resolutely carried on was the attack of the Indians, that CaptainMackintosh could not help fearing that it must succeed. Two of his menhad been killed, and both his sons were wounded, although they refusedto retire, and continued firing through the loop-holed walls. Thefiercest attack was made on the gate, which Mysticoose evidently hopedto break open, and to force his way in. Loraine undertook to defend itto the last. Captain Mackintosh, knowing that he would do so, was ableto turn his attention to other points. 

Notwithstanding the desperate manner in which they came on to theattack, the assailants were kept at bay; but so much powder had atlength been expended, that Captain Mackintosh found to his dismay thatthe stock was running short. 

"We must manage to hold out until daylight, and then, through Heaven'smercy, the savages may be induced to give up the attempt, " he observedto Sandy, who brought him the alarming information. 

"Ay, sir, that we will; and when the powder is done, we will take to ourpikes and bayonets. The Redskins will have no mind to face them. "

The savage chief seemed resolved, however, to succeed. Again and againhe and his followers rushed up to the gate, which they assailed withtheir axes, hewing at the stout wood in the expectation of cutting itthrough. Many fell in the attempt by the hot fire kept up on them fromeither side. 

At last they were driven back, and the garrison gave vent to a loudcheer, confident that the enemy were about to take to flight. 

For a short interval the fighting ceased; but the savages, urged byMysticoose, again came on, this time to make another effort to scale thepalisades. Some stood on the backs of their companions, trying to reachthe summit; others tugged away at the stout timbers, endeavouring topull them down; but they resisted all their efforts. 

The defenders of the fort rushed here and there, striking fierce blowswith their axes wherever an Indian showed himself, thrusting with theirpikes, and hurling back their assailants. Still, it was too likely thatnumbers would prevail. On either side the Indians were swarming up, andone man had often to contend with a dozen before others of the defenderscould come to his assistance. Several more of the garrison had beenwounded; but no one, while he had strength to wield a weapon, retiredfrom his post. At last the Indians, finding that so many of their partyhad fallen, and that, in spite of all their efforts, they were unable toclimb over the palisades, desisted from the attempt, and again retiredout of gunshot. Though they could not be seen, their voices were heardon three sides of the fort, showing that they had not altogetherabandoned the attempt. 

"I wonder what they will do next?" said Hector to his brother. "Do youthink they have had enough of it?"

"If that fellow Mysticoose has escaped, I'm afraid he'll urge them tocome on again, " answered Norman. "It still wants an hour to daylight, and they are up to some trick or other, you may depend upon that. Perhaps they are creeping round to try and get in at the rear of thefort by climbing up on that side, thinking that we should not guard itso carefully as the front. Come along, let us try and find out whatthey are about. "

They accordingly hurried up to the ramparts overlooking the river; butwhen they peered down through the gloom, they could see nothing moving. They urged the men on guard to keep a watchful look-out. 

"No fear about our doing that, " was the answer. "The Redskins have hadenough of climbing over for the present. They are more likely again totry and beat down the gate. "

Still the shouts and shrieks in the distance continued. 

Hector and Norman returned to their posts in front. They had scarcelygot there when Hector's sharp eyes perceived some dark objects movingalong the ground. He would have taken them, under other circumstances, for a herd of buffalo, so shapeless did they seem. 

He immediately warned the rest of the garrison. The objects came nearerand nearer. It was evident that they were men carrying loads on theirbacks, who, bounding on before a fire could be opened on them, got closeup to the gates at the foot of the palisades. The next instant a numberof Indians were observed making off at full speed. They were fired at;but so rapid were their movements, that most of them effected theirescape without being hit. 

Scarcely had the firing ceased, than small flames were seen rising outof the loads left close to the fort, which it was now discovered werefaggots, brought by the savages for the purpose of burning down thepalisades. 

Loraine, on seeing this, volunteered to head a party to drag away thefaggots before the flames should have time to blaze up; but just as hewas about to set out, and the gates were being opened, some moreIndians, protected by a band of horsemen, were seen approaching, ladenwith an additional supply of faggots, with which, using them as shields, they endeavoured to protect themselves from the fire of the garrison. But by this time many of the men, having only a round or two ofammunition remaining, were unwilling to expend it, and the savages asbefore escaped with slight loss. 

"The faggots may blaze up, my boys, " cried Captain Mackintosh; "but itwill take some time to burn down our palisades. " His heart, however, began to sink, as he thought that too probably the enemy would succeedin their design. 

Loraine, seeing the fearful danger to which the fort was exposed, againoffered to rush out at the head of a party of men, and endeavour to dragaway the burning branches. There was a risk, however, that while theywere so engaged, the enemy might make a rush for the gate. Already theflames were ascending. As they burned brightly, their glare wouldexpose him and his followers to view. Still, the position of affairsrequired that the risk, great as it was, should be run. Dense volumesof smoke were coming through the interstices of the palisades, and thecircle of flame which rose up round the fort showed that no time must belost. 

Captain Mackintosh sent those who had most ammunition to fire away atthe enemy, should they approach. The gates were opened, and Loraine, with his followers, issued forth armed with pikes, to drag away theburning mass. Those at the gate were soon hurled to a distance. Theythen began to labour away at those spots where the greatest danger wasthreatened to the palisades. 

So rapid were their movements that it was some time before their objectwas discovered by the Indians, who, however, at length perceived whatthey were about, and, uttering a war whoop, came rushing towards them. 

In vain the party from above endeavoured to keep the savages in check. Loraine ran a fearful risk of being cut off. 

Captain Mackintosh, seeing the danger to which he was exposed, shoutedto him to retire, while the men within stood ready to close the gatesthe moment he and his companions had entered. Although warned that theenemy were drawing near, he laboured on to the last, when, turninground, he saw, by the light of the flames, the savages, with tomahawksuplifted, scarcely a dozen paces from him. 

His first impulse was to stop and encounter Mysticoose; but by so doinghe would delay, he knew, the closing of the gate, and the savages mightsucceed in entering. 

A tomahawk whirled by his head. In another moment he would have a dozenenemies upon him. He sprang back after his companion, and the gate wasclosed against their assailants, who at once, to wreak their vengeance, began to throw back the blazing faggots against it. 

A few shots were fired at the enemy, and then not a single report washeard. Every grain of powder in the fort had been expended. 

The Blackfeet had in the mean time been collecting a fresh supply offaggots, and now, finding themselves unmolested, brought them up to thestockades. At length the stout gate, having caught fire, showed signsof giving way, while the forked flames appeared in all directionsbetween the palisades. In vain the bold hunters sprang here and therewith buckets of water--for the fort was well supplied--and dashed itagainst the burning timbers. It was too evident that ere long the wholefront of the fort would be one mass of fire. 

"Never fear, lads, " cried old Sandy Macpherson, as he saw to a certaintywhat would happen. "Even when the walls come down, the Redskins won'tbe in a hurry to make their way over them. We may still keep the`varmints' at bay for a good time longer, and then just take shelter inthe big house, and they'll no get into that in a hurry, while we makegood play with our pikes and bayonets. "

If Sandy did not forget that the savages, as soon as they got into theinner part of the fort, would set fire to the buildings, he thought itprudent not to say so. 

In the mean time, Loraine began to fear that notwithstanding the heroicefforts he and his companions were making, the helpless ones, whom theywere ready to sacrifice their lives to protect, would fall into thepower of the savages. Language, indeed, cannot describe his feelings. Rather would he have seen his beautiful Sybil dead than carried off bythe Indian. "Would it not be possible to get through the back of thefort, and to place the ladies in the boat, then either to carry themdown the river, or enable them to make their escape to the northward?"he asked of Captain Mackintosh. "Surely it would be safer thandefending them in the house. "

"I much fear that the savages, though we do not see them, are watchingthe banks, and that the attempt would be unsuccessful; yet, as a lastresource, we must try it, " answered Captain Mackintosh. "I will committhem to your charge. "

Loraine's feelings prompted him eagerly to accept the office, and yet, influenced by a high motive, he replied--

"I would propose that your sons should escort them. They are wellacquainted with the navigation of the river, and would be more likely tofind their way across the country than I should. "

"My boys and I must remain at our posts and defend the fort to thelast, " said Captain Mackintosh. "You must go, my friend. We have but ashort time to prepare. Old Sandy shall accompany you. The boat willhold no more. Go on, and let my wife and poor girls know what we havedecided, and I will make the required arrangements. "

"I will do as you desire, " answered Loraine. 

In building the fort, the timbers had been so placed that an openingcould easily be formed on such an emergency as now occurred. CaptainMackintosh, summoning Sandy, they together removed part of thewood-work. Sandy was about to step through the opening, when hehurriedly drew back, and replacing the timbers exclaimed--

"The Redskins have found us out. I saw half a score of them creepingalong the bank. Quick, quick, captain, and stop up the gap!"

All hope of enabling the ladies to escape as he proposed had to beabandoned, and Captain Mackintosh, with a sad heart, leaving Sandy towatch the spot, went back to tell them of the impossibility of carryingout their projected plan. 

Scarcely had he reached the building than the towers on either side ofthe gate, which were blazing furiously, and a large portion of thefront, fell down outwards with a loud crash. 

A fearful yell of exultation was uttered by the savages, but theencircling flames and the burning timbers still kept them at bay. In ashort time, however, the flames would burn out, and they might springover the smouldering logs. 

Disheartened by the desperate way in which their attacks had been met, and not aware that the garrison were destitute of ammunition, they keptat a distance, feeling confident that their prey could not escape them. 

As the flames decreased, Captain Mackintosh ordered the men to retreatinto the two chief buildings, urging them to hold out bravely to thelast. He feared, however, with too much reason, that although theymight prolong their resistance, their ultimate destruction wasinevitable. Every moment the flames in front were decreasing, althoughon either side they were creeping along the stockades, threateningeverything with speedy destruction. 

The savages, hovering round, had been waiting for the moment when theymight force their way over the burning ruins. It came at last. Againuttering their fearful war whoops, they came rushing on, confident ofsuccess, when a cheer was heard from the left, followed by a rattlingfire of musketry. The fierce warriors turned and fled. Their chiefhimself, who was distinguished by his tall figure and waving plume, wasseen to fall. Some of his followers endeavoured to lift him from theground, but fled with the rest, and in another minute a large body ofhorsemen galloped up, who were seen, as the glare of the burningstockades fell on them, to be mostly half-breed hunters, led by a whiteman. 

"Hurrah! Hurrah! It's Allan Keith, " cried Hector, who had been on thelook-out through one of the barricaded windows. 

In an instant the door was thrown open. The men of the garrison rushedto the burning walls, some with axes to cut them down, others withbuckets of water to extinguish the flames. 

While the half-breeds were pursuing the flying foe, another partyappeared on the right, and in a short time Dr McCrab and Dan Maloney, who had led them, were heartily greeting Captain Mackintosh and hiscompanions, and congratulating them on their narrow escape. 

"Faith, my boy, I'm mighty glad that we've come just in the nick oftime, and that we shouldn't have done, I'm after thinking, if it hadn'tbeen for falling in with old Isaac Sass, and his impish follower, MasterGreensnake, " exclaimed Maloney, as he shook Hector's hand. "He told usif we wanted to save you, to put our best feet foremost while he showedus the course to take. It's my belief, too, that he afterwards managedto fall in with Allan Keith and his party, or it's possible they mighthave arrived as we should have done, just in time to be too late. "

The men belonging to the fort had been successful in extinguishing theflames, though the whole front was either in ruins or presented afearfully shattered and blackened appearance. 

Dr McCrab, with coat off and sleeves tucked up, was busily employed inattending to the wounded men, while Loraine was assisting Sybil and MrsMackintosh in calming the fears of poor Effie, who, not seeing AllanKeith among those who had just arrived, had feared that some accidenthad happened to him. He soon, however, with his active horsemen, havingdriven the enemy to a distance, arrived unhurt, and his appearancequickly tranquillised her mind. 

"We must not, however, forget our friend Mr Harvey, " exclaimed CaptainMackintosh. "The Blackfeet may possibly direct their course towards hisstation and revenge themselves for their failure here by attempting itsdestruction. "

On hearing this remark, Allan Keith and Loraine offered to lead a partyof men to the assistance of the missionary, and about thirty of thehunters having volunteered to accompany them, fresh horses were broughtacross the river, and they immediately set out. 

Norman and Hector, notwithstanding their wounds, wished to go, but theDoctor refused to allow them, and insisted on their turning in andgetting the rest they greatly needed. Not an hour was lost incommencing the repairs of the fort, that it might be in a condition toresist any further attack which the Indians might venture to make on it. A few men were also sent to bury the Blackfeet, who had fallen eitherin the attack or flight. Among the bodies that of Mysticoose himselfwas found, his followers being unable to carry him away. He was buriedin the common grave at a distance from the fort. 

Of course a watch was kept at night, though it was not thought probablethat the Indians, even should they discover the absence of Loraine andKeith, would renew the attack. 

A week passed by. The sawyers and carpenters had worked soenergetically, that already the fort had assumed its former appearance, with some improvements to add to its strength. There was no time to belost, as winter was approaching, and most of the men who had arrivedunder Dan Maloney and Dr McCrab, had to return to Fort Edmonton. 

Sybil and Effie had at first kept up their spirits, but they weregrowing anxious at the non-appearance of Loraine and Keith. 

Evening was approaching, when a shout was raised by the sentry on thewestern watch-tower, that a large train was coming across the prairie, on which Norman and Hector, with several other inmates of the fort, hastened up the platform to take a look at it. 

"I am much mistaken, if they are not Loraine and Keith and their party, "exclaimed Hector. 

"They have carts with them, so there can be no doubt about their beingwhite men, " said Norman. 

Hector getting a telescope soon discovered that he was right in hisconjectures. As the train drew nearer, the gates were opened, and alarge party hurried out to meet the newcomers, who proved to be not onlythose who were expected, but Mr Harvey and his family, with severalIndians who had accompanied them. 

"He came, " he said, "to ask for protection for himself and his wife andchildren, as well as for the converts, until it could be ascertainedthat the Blackfeet had finally left the district. "

It need not be said that Loraine and Keith had warmly urged him to takethis step. 

Captain Mackintosh, giving him a hearty welcome, assured him of the usehe would be to the inmates of the fort. 

"In truth, my dear friend, " he observed, "I believe you can do more realgood among my half heathen people, than you could to any of the fewIndians who would visit you during the winter. "

Mr Harvey, besides his wife, had two daughters, nearly grown up, and ason, who, there could be no doubt, would prove a great addition to thesociety at the fort, the inmates of which had little chance of enjoyingmuch communication with the outer world for many months to come. 

Soon after his arrival, Mr Harvey inquired for Isaac Sass. "I halfexpected to have found him here, " he observed to Captain Mackintosh, "though he left without saying in what direction he was going. I amthankful to believe that his visit to me was of spiritual benefit tohim; for, opening his heart, he confessed that he had been a carelessliver, having endeavoured, though in vain, to put God out of histhoughts. I was the instrument of bringing his mind into a betterstate, and I trust that in a contrite spirit he sought forgiveness fromGod through the gracious means He has offered to sinners. Beforeleaving me, he put into my hands a packet to be delivered to you; andfrom what he said, I suspect that he is deeply interested in the younglady whom I believed to be your daughter, until he assured me that suchwas not the case. He had recognised her by her likeness to one whom hetruly loved, but who had been lost to him for ever, though, I conclude, you will learn his history from the contents of the packet which I nowgive you. "

Captain Mackintosh, on opening the packet, found it contained a longmanuscript written in a large but somewhat shaky hand. It would occupytoo much space were it to be copied. His life, like that of manyothers, had been an adventurous one. His true name was Hugh Lindsay, and his family was an old and good one. Having left home at an earlyage, he entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and had everyreason to expect to become one of its leading members, when his familyso strongly expressed their annoyance at hearing of his marriage with abeautiful half-Cree girl, that he ceased to hold any communication withthem. He had not long after this quarrelled with his employers, when heleft their service, and commenced the life of a free trader and trapper. For some time he had considerable success, and as his wife hadpresented him with a daughter, whom he devotedly loved, he was doublyanxious to gain the means of supporting and educating her in the rank ofa lady. Neither he nor her mother, however, could bear to part withher. 

At an early age she was seen and admired by Donald Grey, a young clerkin the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, who sought for and obtainedher hand. He, however, had managed, as his father-in-law had done, toquarrel with the chief officer of the fort where he was stationed, andhaving some means of his own, had taken up his residence at the RedRiver Settlement. 

After living there a year, and becoming the father of a little girl, hereceived intelligence from England that he had inherited a goodproperty. He had embarked with his young wife and child and a Creenurse, intending to proceed through the Lake of the Woods, across LakeSuperior to Canada. From that day, weeks, months, and years went by, and the old trapper, still supposing that they had arrived safely inEngland, waited in vain to receive intelligence of them. 

It is necessary here to remark that when the superintendent at thecompany's post on the Sault Saint Marie made inquiries of the chieffactors and other officers throughout the north-west territory, theyreplied that no person connected with them was missing, or had crossedLake Superior at the time he mentioned. From the American traders alsohe could obtain no information. Not until Isaac Sass, or more properly, Hugh Lindsay, heard Captain Mackintosh describe the way Sybil had beendiscovered, did he suspect the fate of his daughter and son-in-law. Hehad accounted for never having received a letter from them, by supposingthat on reaching the old country, and occupying a new sphere of life, they had forgotten him, or had not taken the trouble to write. Hiswife, dying soon after their daughter's marriage, he had taken to thewild life he had from that time forward led, believing that he himselfwas forgotten by his kindred, and endeavouring in a misanthropicalspirit to banish from his mind all thoughts of the past. 

On seeing Sybil, a chord had been struck in his heart, and on hearingher history, he was at once convinced, from her extraordinary likenessto his own child, that she was her daughter though fairer, and of a morerefined beauty, such as mental culture gives; but for her sake he wasunwilling to make himself known, believing that neither she nor Lorainewould be gratified at finding that she was the grand-daughter of a roughold trapper. He especially fancied that the gentlemanly youngEnglishman would object to him, and having himself a bad opinion ofhuman nature, he supposed that it might even cause him to give up Sybil. Still, after he had been brought to a better state of mind by MrHarvey, he could not resist the temptation of writing a sketch of hishistory, and by informing his grand-daughter of her birth and parentage, enable her, as he hoped, to gain the property which would have been herfather's. He added all the information he possessed for the discoveryof Ronald Grey's family, and whether or not he had ever arrived inEngland. 

While listening to this narrative which Captain Mackintosh read to him, Loraine exclaimed, "Grey was my mother's name, and I remember hearingthat a cousin of hers had gone out to the north-west territory, in theservice of the Hudson's Bay Company, and that although property had beenleft him he had not returned to claim it, and has never since been heardof. Ultimately it came to my mother, through whom it forms a portion ofthe fortune I possess, and I will willingly resign it to the rightfulheiress. "

"I don't suppose that she, with equal willingness, will deprive you ofit, " said Captain Mackintosh, laughing. 

Mr Harvey again expressed his regret that the old man had not remainedbehind with him, though he added, "I felt confident he has embraced thetruth as it is in Christ Jesus, and I fully expect to see him againbefore long. "

The wounded men having recovered under the care of Dr McCrab, he andDan Maloney returned, with a portion of their followers, to FortEdmonton, while the half-breeds set off eastward for their homes at theRed River. Allan Keith, much to his own satisfaction, having hadpermission to remain at Fort Duncan with the rest, to reinforce itsgarrison. 

It was fully expected that the old trapper would some day make hisappearance, but time went by, and no tidings could be gained of him. 

Before Mr Harvey returned in the spring to his mission station, heunited Sybil and Effie to the two gentlemen to whom they had given theirhearts. 

Loraine and his bride immediately set off for the Red River, intendingto proceed from thence to Canada, on their way to England, while AllanKeith took his to a fort, to the charge of which he had been appointed. 

Loraine, by means of the information Captain Mackintosh had given him, and such as he was able to obtain at the Red River, was able to provethat his wife was the daughter of Ronald Grey, but was saved a vastamount of legal expenses by her refusal to claim the property of whichhe was already in possession. 

Some time afterwards, Allan Keith and Effie came over to pay them avisit. They brought some deeply interesting information. Search hadfor a long time been fruitlessly made for the old hunter, until atlength, Norman and Hector Mackintosh, when on an exploring expedition, had discovered on a tree-covered hill, overlooking a calm lake, asolitary grave. Over it had been placed, in regular order, a pile ofhuge logs, cut by an Indian axe. Searching further, they found in a huthard by, a hump-backed Indian, life apparently ebbing fast away. 

He pointed above. "I am going, " he whispered, "to that heaven of whichmy friend and protector, he who lies yonder, has told me, through themerits of One who died for sinful men. I have fulfilled his last wish, which was to be buried, and but yesterday finished my task. It has beena long one, for the trees were hard to cut down, and now I go with joyto meet him, in the happy land from which there is no return. I amthankful that you have come to know where he is laid. "

In the hopes of resuscitating the poor lad, Norman and Hectorendeavoured to make him take some nourishment, but he was in tooexhausted a condition to swallow the food, and he breathed his last justas the setting sun cast a bright glow across the calm waters on the oldtrapper's grave.