r Ent

n of enormous strength, and, wallowing through it like a whale, grasped the boy firmly with his left hand, whil

oe, he drew down the side until Hector could seize it with his stiffening hands. '

him, and Mr. Macrae, grasping the canoe at the other

kin pretty thoroughly for his cowardly desertion of the boy. But before his hand fell, he checked himself, saying: 'Ye feckless loon!-ye

the quick turn of affairs, and set himself to the building of a big blaze, with such ski

r, and then hid themselves to await another flock. Their patience was rewarded by the securing of so

river to Hell Gate-a very difficult place to pass-and so on by way of Echenamis, and Sea

big boats ploughed through the turbid waters of the shallow lake, traversing it from north to south, and without any mishap, reached the end

or which they had ventured so much, and it was wit

. On its west side the country was one boundless level plain of rich, deep loam, whose fertility would presently amaze the newcomers, accustomed to the grudging, niggardly soil of their native lan

ur of an unclouded sky, and, removing his bonnet, he offered a brief yet fervent thanksgiving. 'Eh! but it's a fine land!' he continue

the women, with glad eyes, noted the soft beauty of the country, and said to

hey could roll and tumble without let or hindrance was a pure delight to them. Oh, what a r

e colonists all had to walk; and it was, consequently, at no hurried r

, with their families and possessions, reached the tract of land beside

ie been stirred by the strains of sacred song, and, as the solemn beautiful music of the Psalms rose heavenward, there hurried to the wondrous novelty a motley crowd of fur hunters, half-breeds, and Indi

least, Dandy did, for he frisked and barked with great vim, thereby attracting the attention of the suspicious, snarling curs that belonged to the residents, who had never seen so handsome a m

This did not belong to the Hudson's Bay Company, but to their bitter rivals, the North-West Fur Company,

a square, having one gate protected by short towers, and enclosing a clust

reatly longed to understand it. Dour and Dandy, feeling ill at ease now, kept very close to him. They did not altogether like the look of

im in a friendly fashion, saying: 'You want come in. All right, you come.' He wa

t his legs that the fellow shrank away lest they should bite him. 'Nice place, eh?' he asked, with a sly ingratiating smile. 'Plenty good

inded to beat a retreat, as he should have done. The half-breed certai

quantity and variety of the stock displayed. Here were guns, pistols, knives, hatchets, blankets, shirts, caps, mitts, tobacco, tea, sugar, smoked and salt

ny very rich-very strong-have many forts all about'-and with a sweep of his arms he indicated a wide stretch of territor

house. A single door was both the means of admittance and of lighting the place. Inside were ranged bales of furs, the pelts of marten, mink, otter, be

p money.' Hector was examining this, passing his hand over the soft, rich fur, when suddenly he was tripped and thrown upon the floor by hi

terror? He had been taken so completely by surprise, and felt so utterly helpless. Through the thick door, he could hear the angry barking of Dour and