The Trapper's Son, by W. H. G. Kingston. 

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A very short book, set in North America some time in the nineteenthcentury, at a time when Indian tribes were still hunting over theland--Crees, Dacotahs, Peigans. An old trapper and his son arepreparing for the winter, when their horses are found dead, killedeither by wolves or by Indians. So they have to cache most of the skinsthey were planning to take to a nearby fort, and set off on theirjourney there. 

Michael Moggs, the trapper, had fathered the boy, Laurence, with anIndian woman, who had brought Laurence up to the point where Michaelcomes to collect him. The boy had never been taught the principles ofChristianity, and his father never knew them either. So most of thebook deals with the conversion of the boy and his father to truereligion, by people they meet at the fort. 

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THE TRAPPER'S SON, BY W. H. G. KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

THE TRAPPER'S CAMP--BEAVERS CAUGHT--THE HORSES KILLED BY WOLVES--TRAPSTO CATCH THE WOLVES. 

In the far western wilds of North America, over which the untutoredred-skinned savage roams at liberty, engaged throughout life in war orthe chase, by the side of a broad stream which made its way towards adistant lake, an old man and a boy reclined at length beneath a wigwam, roughly formed of sheets of birch-bark placed against several polesstuck in the ground in a circular form, and fastened together at thetop. The sun was just rising above a wood, composed of maple, birch, poplar, and willow, fringing the opposite bank of the river; while rockyhills of no great elevation formed the sides of the valley, throughwhich the stream made its way. Snow rested on the surrounding heights, and the ground was crisp with frost. The foliage which still clung tothe deciduous trees exhibited the most gorgeous colours, the brightestred, pink, yellow, and purple tints contrasting with the sombre hues ofthe pines covering the lower slopes of the hills. 

"It's time to look to the traps, Laurence, " said the old man, arousinghis young companion, who was still asleep by the side of the smoulderingembers of their fire. 

The boy sat up, and passed his hand across his eyes. There was a wearyexpression in his intelligent and not unpleasing countenance. 

"Yes, father, I am ready, " he answered. "But I did not think the nightwas over; it seems but just now I lay down to sleep. "

"You have had some hard work lately, and are tired; but the season willsoon be over, and we will bend our steps to Fort Elton, where you canremain till the winter cold has passed away. If I myself were to spendbut a few days shut up within the narrow limits of such a place, Ishould soon tire of idleness, and wish to be off again among the forestsand streams, where I have passed so many years. "

"Oh, do not leave me among strangers, father, " exclaimed the boy, starting to his feet. "I am rested now, and am ready. "

They set out, proceeding along the side of the stream, stopping everynow and then to search beneath the overhanging bushes, or in the hollowsof the bank, where their traps had been concealed. From the first theold trapper drew forth an animal about three feet in length, of a deepchestnut colour, with fine smooth glossy hair, and a broad flat tailnearly a foot long, covered with scales. Its hind feet were webbed, itssmall fore-paws armed with claws, and it had large, hard, sharp teeth inits somewhat blunted head. Hanging up the beaver, for such it was, to atree, they continued the examination of their snares. 

"Who would have thought creatures so easily caught could make such awork as this?" observed the old man, as they were passing over a narrowcauseway which formed a dam across a smaller stream falling into themain river, and had created a back water or shallow lake of some size. The dam was composed of innumerable small branches and trunks of trees, laid horizontally across the stream, mixed with mud and stones. Severalwillows and small poplars were sprouting up out of it. 

"What! have the beavers made this?" asked Laurence. 

"Ay, every bit of it, boy; each stem and branch has been cut down by thecreatures, with their paws and teeth. No human builders could haveformed the work more skilfully. And observe how they thus have made apond, ever full of water, above the level of the doorways to theirhouses, when the main stream is lowered by the heats of summer. See, too, how cleverly they build their houses, with dome roofs so hard andstrong that even the cunning wolverine cannot manage to break throughthem, while they place the doorway so deep down that the ice in wintercan never block it up inside. How warm and cozy, too, they are withoutthe aid of fires or blankets. "

"How comes it, then, that they have not the sense to keep out of ourtraps, father?" inquired Laurence. 

"If you had ever been to the big cities, away to the east, you would notask that question, boy, " answered the old trapper. "You would therehave seen thousands of men who seem wonderfully clever, and yet who getcaught over and over again by cunning rogues who know their weak points;just as we bait our traps with bark-stone, [see Note] for which thefoolish beaver has such a fancy, so the knaves bait their snares withpromises of boundless wealth, to be gained without labour or trouble. To my mind, nothing is to be gained without working for it, and prettyhard work too, if the thing is worth having. "

This conversation passed between the old man and his son as theyproceeded along the bank of the pond where some of their traps had beenset. Some had failed to catch their prey, but after the search wasended, they returned to their camp with a dozen skins as the result oftheir labour. One of the animals which had been skinned having beenpreserved for their morning meal, it was soon roasting, supported on twoforked sticks, before the freshly made-up fire. This, with some maizeflour, and a draught of water from the stream, formed their repast. 

"Now, Laurence, go and bring in the horses, while I prepare the skinsand do up our bales, and we will away towards the fort, " said the oldman. 

Laurence set off in search of their horses, which had been left feedingduring the night in a meadow at some distance from the camp. Thewell-trained steeds, long accustomed to carry them and their traps andfurs, were not likely to have strayed away from the ground. Laurencewent on, expecting every moment to find them, but after proceeding someway, they were nowhere visible. Near at hand was a rocky height whichoverlooked the meadow. He climbed to the top; still he could not seethe horses. Becoming somewhat anxious at their disappearance, he madehis way across the meadow, hoping to find that they had discovered aricher pasturage farther on. As he looked round, he saw, to his dismay, two horses lying motionless on the ground. He hurried towards them. They were dead, and fearfully torn and mangled. 

"The wolves have done this, the savage brutes. We will be revenged onthem, " he exclaimed as he surveyed the dead steeds. "Father and I musthave slept very soundly during the night not to have been awoke by theirhowling. It will be a sore grief to the old man, and I would that hehad found it out himself, rather than I should have to tell him. However, it must be done. " Saying this, he set off on his return to thecamp. 

"The brutes shall pay dearly for it, " exclaimed the old trapper, whenLaurence brought him the intelligence of what had happened. "WhetherInjuns or wolves wrong him, Michael Moggs is not the man to let them gounpunished;" and his eyes lighted up with a fierce expression which madethe young boy instinctively shrink back from him. "We have three strongtraps which will catch the biggest wolf on the prairies; and if theyfail, I'll lie in wait till I can shoot the savage brutes down with myrifle. We shall have to tramp it on foot, boy, with the furs on ourbacks. That's bad for you, but we can leave the traps hidden away _encache_; and as the snow will soon cover the ground, the cunning Injunsare not likely to find them. It's not the first adventure of the sort Ihave met with; and though I am sorry for your sake, and for the loss ofour poor horses, I am not going to be cast down. "

Some time was spent in scraping the skins, and in repacking the mostvaluable of those already obtained in a compass which would enable theold man and his son to carry them. Not wishing to leave such valuableproperty in the hut, which might be visited during their absence by somewandering Indian, they then strapped the bales on to their backs, theold man carrying his rifle and the steel traps, and set out towards themeadow where their horses had been killed. 

Having planted the traps round the carcases of the slaughtered animals, and concealed them carefully, so that they could not be seen by thesavage wolves, they returned to their hut. 

"The brutes will pay another visit to the poor horses, unless they fallin with other prey in the meantime, and that they are not likely to findabout here, " observed Moggs, as he sat down and struck a light torekindle the fire. Laurence had collected a supply of dried branches, of which there was an abundance in the surrounding woods. 

"We must keep the fire burning during the night, or the savage creaturesmay chance to pay us a visit; and if they find us napping, they maytreat us as they have our horses, " continued the old man. "To-morrowmorning, we shall have our revenge, and I shall be vexed indeed if we donot find two or three of the brutes in the traps. "

The day was spent, as many before had been passed when they were nottravelling or setting their snares, in scraping furs, greasing theirtraps, and cleaning the old man's highly-prized rifle. 

Their conversation related wholly to the occupation in which they wereengaged; of other matters young Laurence knew nothing. He was a truechild of the desert. His early days had been spent in the wigwam of anIndian squaw, who had taught him the legends and faith of her people. Beyond that period his recollections were very faint. He had remainedwith her until Michael Moggs, who called himself his father, came forhim and took him away. He had almost forgotten his native tongue; butfrom that time, by constantly associating with the old trapper, he soonagain learned to speak it. Of the Christian faith he knew nothing, forMoggs and himself were utterly ignorant of its truths; while they hadimbibed many of the superstitions of the savage Indians, the only humanbeings with whom they had for long years associated. Laurence believedfirmly in the Great Spirit who governs the destinies of the Red men ofthe desert--in the happy hunting-grounds, the future abode of bravewarriors who die fighting on the battle-field--in the existence ofdemons, who wander through the forests in search of victims--and in theoccult powers of wizards and medicine men. He had been taught that theonly objects in life worthy of the occupation of men were war and thechase--that he should look with contempt on those who, he had heard, spent their time in the peaceful business of agriculture and commerce;that revenge and hatred of foes were the noblest sentiments to becultivated in the human breast; and that no act was more worthy than tokill a foe, or a feeling more delightful than to witness his sufferingunder torture. Yet the heart of young Laurence was not hardened, noraltogether debased. Occasionally yearnings for a different life to thathe led rose in his bosom. Whence they came he could not tell. Still hecould not help thinking that there might be a brighter and better stateof existence in those far-off lands away beyond where he saw theglorious sun rise each morning, to run its course through the sky, andto sink again behind the snow-capped range of the Rocky Mountains, tothe base of which he and his father had occasionally wandered. Wheneverhe had ventured even to hint the tenor of his thoughts to the oldtrapper, the scornful rebuke he had received kept him for many a dayafterwards silent. 

As evening approached, the old man made a wide circuit round the camp toascertain that no lurking foes lay hid in the neighbourhood. Havingsatisfied himself on that score, a large supply of fuel was piled up onthe fire, when, after a frugal supper, he and the boy lay down to rest. Although Laurence slept soundly, Michael awoke constantly to put morewood on the fire, and not unfrequently to take a survey around thewigwam, knowing well that their lives might depend on his vigilance. 

No sooner did the first faint streaks of dawn appear in the sky than hearoused the boy. A hurried meal was eaten, and then they strapped ontheir packs and several bundles of furs, which, with their traps, Moggsintended to conceal till he could return for them. The remainingarticles, and a few of the least valuable of their furs, were thenthrown on the fire, and the wigwam being pulled down on the top of it, the whole mass of combustible material soon burst up into a flame, leaving in a short time no other trace of their abode on the spot than apile of blackened cinders. 

They then made their way by a wide circuit into a neighbouring wood, beyond which a rocky hill afforded, in the old trapper's opinion, asecure place for concealing their goods. The old man stepped cautiouslyalong, avoiding even brushing against any of the branches on eitherside, Laurence following in his footsteps. 

A small cave or hollow, which he had before observed, was soon found. In this the articles were deposited, and the mouth was closed up withstones brought from the hill-side, they again being concealed by a pileof broken branches and leaves, which, to the eye of a passer-by, mightappear to have been blown there by the wind. 

"It is the best place we can find, " exclaimed Moggs. "But if a strangeInjun was to come this way before the snow covers the ground, our trapswould soon be carried off. Most of the Crees, however, know that theyare mine, and would think it wiser to leave them alone. We will hopefor the best; and now, Laurence, let us go and see what the wolves havebeen about. " Saying this, he and the boy commenced their retreat fromthe wood in the same cautious way by which they had approached it. 

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Note. The bark-stone of which the old trapper spoke is the Castoreum, asubstance secreted in two glandular sacs near the root of the beaver'stail, which gives out an extremely powerful odour, and so strangelyattracts beavers that the animals, when they scent it at a distance, will sniff about and squeal with eagerness as they make their waytowards it. The trapper, therefore, carries a supply in a bottle, andwhen he arrives at a spot frequented by the animals, he sets his traps, baiting them with some of the substance. This is done with a small twigof wood, the end of which he chews, and, dipping it in the Castoreum, places it just above water, close to the trap, which is beneath thesurface, and in such a position that the beaver must pass over it to getat the bait. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF A WHITE WOLF--LAURENCE'S DREAM--JOURNEY TO THEFORT OVER THE SNOW--FRIENDLY RECEPTION AT THE FORT--LAURENCE FALLS SICK. 

The old trapper and his son crept cautiously among the rocks and shrubstowards the spot where the traps had been set around their slaughteredsteeds. Moggs cocked his rifle as his keen eye fell on a large whitewolf, which, caught by the leg in one of the traps, was making desperateefforts to free itself, and appeared every instant on the point ofsucceeding. As they drew near, the ferocious animal, with its mouthwide open, its teeth broken in its attempts to gnaw the iron trap, andits head covered with blood, sprang forward to reach them, but the trapheld it fast. 

"Keep behind me, Laurence, " said Michael. "If the creature gets loose, it will need a steady aim to bring it to the ground. " Not for a momentdid the wolf turn round to fly, but again and again it sprang forward asfar as the chain would allow it. 

Although old Michael knew nothing of the humanity which would avoidallowing any of God's creatures to suffer unnecessary pain, he waspreparing to put an end to its agonies, when the creature, by a franticeffort, freeing itself, sprang towards him. Laurence uttered a cry ofterror; for he expected the next moment to see its savage jaws fixed inhis father's throat; but the old man, standing calm and unmoved, fired, and the animal fell dead at his feet. 

"Did ye think, Laurence, that I could not manage a single wolf, " hesaid, half turning round with a reproachful look towards the boy, whohad not yet recovered from his alarm. "This is a prize worth having, though. It has not often been my luck to kill a white wolf, and we maybarter this skin with the Crees for six of the best mustangs they havegot. While I skin the varmint, see what the other traps have beenabout. " Laurence went forward to examine them. 

"Here is a foot in one of them, " he exclaimed. "The creature must havegnawed it off, and got away. The other trap has been pulled up. I cansee the tracks it has left, as the animal dragged it away. "

"We will be after it, then, " cried Moggs. "If it is another white wolfwe shall be well repaid indeed for the loss of our steeds, though wehave to carry our packs till we can reach the fort. Come, Laurence, help me to finish off this work. "

The skin was added to the already heavy load which old Moggs carried, and the traps hid in a spot which, with his experienced eye, he couldwithout difficulty find. 

"Now Laurence, " he exclaimed, "we will be after the runaway. "

The keen sight of the old man easily distinguished the marks left on theground by the heavy trap as the animal trailed it behind him. Thecreature, after going some way along the valley, had taken to the higherground, where its traces were still more easily distinguished upon thecrust of the snow which lay there. The white wolf had got some distanceahead, when at length, to the delight of old Moggs, he discovered itwith the trap at its heels. It seemed to know that its pursuers wereclose behind. Off it scampered at a rapid trot, now over the rugged andbroken surface of rocks, now descending into ravines, now going north, now south, making numerous zigzag courses in its efforts to escape anddeceive the hunters. Still old Moggs pursued, regardless of fatigue, though Laurence had great difficulty in keeping up with him, and oftenfelt as if he must drop. His father encouraged him to continue thechase, promising soon to overtake the creature. At length, however, Laurence could go no further, and sank down on a hill, over which theyhad just climbed, and were about to descend to a valley below them. 

"Rest there till I come back, then, boy, " exclaimed the hardy oldtrapper, a slight tone of contempt mixed with his expression of pity. "The wolf I must have, even though he leads me a score of miles further. Here, take the tinder-box and axe, and make a fire; by the time I comeback we shall need some food, after our chase. "

Having given Laurence the articles he mentioned, with a handful ofpemmican from his wallet, he hastened down the hill, in the directionthe wolf had taken along the valley. 

Young Laurence was too much accustomed to those wilds to feel any alarmat being left alone; and as soon as he had somewhat rested, he set towork to cut a supply of dried branches from the surrounding shrubs, withwhich he quickly formed a blazing fire. The pemmican, or poundedbuffalo meat, further restored his strength, and he began to think thathe would follow in the direction his father had taken, to save him fromhaving to ascend the hill. When he began to move, however, he felt soweary that he again sank down by the side of the fire, where in a shorttime he fell asleep. Wild dreams troubled his slumbers, andlong-forgotten scenes came back to his mind. He was playing in a gardenamong flowers in front of a neat and pretty dwelling, with the waters ofa tranquil lake shining far below. He heard the gentle voice of one hetrusted, whose fair sweet face ever smiled on him as he gambolled nearher. The voice was hastily calling him, when suddenly he was lifted upand carried away far from her shrieks and cries. The rattle of musketryechoed in his ears, then he was borne down a rapid stream, the watershissing and foaming around. Now numberless Indians, in war-paint andfeathers, danced frantically before his eyes, and huge fires blazed up, and again shrieks echoed in his ears. Then a monstrous animal, withglaring eyeballs, burst into their midst, putting the Indians to flight, and scattering their fires far and wide, yelling and roaring savagely. He started up, when what was his horror to see the fierce white wolf hisfather had been pursuing rushing towards him with the chain and trapstill trailing at his heels. Spell-bound, he felt unable to rise. Inanother moment the enraged wolf would be upon him, when a rifle shotrang through the air, and the wolf dropped dead close to where he lay. 

"Art safe, Laurence, art unhurt, boy?" exclaimed the old trapper, whocame, breathless, hurrying up the side of the hill. "The brute doubledcunningly on me, and thinking, from the way he was leading, that hewould pass near where I left you, I took a short cut, in hopes of beingbefore him. I was nearly too late, and twice before I had fired, shouting to you to be on your guard. It's not often my rifle has failedto kill even at that distance. "

Laurence relieved his father's anxiety by showing him that he wasunhurt; and greatly to the old trapper's satisfaction, on examining thewolf, three bullet holes were found in the skin, showing that hisfavourite rifle had not missed, although the first shots had failed tokill. 

The prized skin having been secured, as it was too heavy to carry, inaddition to their previous loads, it was hidden, as the traps had been, in a hollow in the rocks. 

"Little chance of its escaping from Indians or wolverines, though I amloath to abandon it, " observed the old man, as he placed the last of alarge pile of stones in front of the cave. "But the snow will be down, may be this very night, and then it will be safe. "

They now proceeded down the valley, and continued on till they reachedthe edge of a small wood, where they encamped for the night. Forseveral days they journeyed on towards the south and east, not meeting, as they passed over those desert wilds, a single human being. 

"Once, when I first knew this region, many thousand warriors, with theirsquaws and children, were masters here, " observed old Moggs. "But theyare all gone; the white man's gunpowder, and his still more deadlyfire-water, have carried off the greater number. Famine visited themwhen they themselves had slaughtered most of the creatures which gavethem food, without having learned other means for obtaining support. Before that time, neither white nor red trappers had to go more than afew days' journey from the forts to obtain as many skins as theyneeded. "

"I wish those times would come back again, " said the boy. "For my legsfeel as if they would soon refuse to carry me further. "

"Cheer up, lad, we will camp soon, and in a few days more we shall be atthe fort, when you shall have the rest I promised you. "

"But you will not quit me then, father, will you?" asked Laurence. 

"Well, well, I must buy fresh horses to bring in the skins and traps, and to prepare for the next season, " answered Michael. "I have no wishto leave you, lad; so don't let that trouble you just now. "

The first fall of snow for that winter had now come down, and thicklycovered the ground. For several days it compelled the trapper and hisson to keep within the shelter of their wigwam. Once more they set out. After travelling severe days, young Laurence, though he had partiallyrecovered, again felt ready to give way. Still he trudged with his loadby his father's side. The cold had greatly increased; but though he hadhitherto been indifferent to it, he felt that he would rather lie downand die than proceed further. The old man took his arm, and did hisutmost to encourage him. 

They at length reached a wood of birch and firs. "Oh, father, let uscamp here, for I can move on no longer, " cried Laurence, in a piteoustone. 

"Cheer up, cheer up, boy, " said the old trapper, repeating theexpression he had frequently of late uttered. "A few steps farther, andwe shall see the fort. "

The poor lad struggled on. The sun was sinking low in the sky, when, just as they doubled the wood, its beams fell on the stockaded sides ofa fort, situated on slightly elevated ground out of the prairie. 

"There's our resting place at last, " exclaimed the old man, pointingwith his hand towards the fort. "Keep up your courage, and we shallreach it before dark. The peltries we bring will ensure us a welcome;and though I trust not to the white men who live in cities, the chieffactor there calls me his friend, and has a heart which I doubt not willfeel compassion for your youth. He will treat you kindly for my sake, though most of the traders such as he care little for the old trapperwho has spent his whole life in toiling for them. "

Michael continuing to support the tottering steps of his son, they atlast reached the gates of the fort, which were opened to give themadmittance, their approach having been observed from the look-out towerson the walls. The stockade surrounded an area of considerable size, within which were the residences of the factor and clerks, several largestorehouses, and huts for the accommodation of the garrison and hunters, and casual visitors. Altogether, to Michael's eyes, it appeared a placeof great importance. A number of voyageurs and half-breeds, in theirpicturesque costumes, were strolling about; multitudes of children wereplaying at the doors of the huts; and women were seen going to and fromthe stores, or occupied in their daily avocations. Laurence feltsomewhat awe-struck on finding himself among so many strangers, and keptclose to his father. At their entrance they had been saluted by a packof savage-looking sleigh-dogs, which came out barking at the new-comers, but were quickly driven back to their quarters by their masters. 

"Don't mind them, Laurence, " said Michael. "As soon as they find thatwe are treated as friends, they will cease their yelping, and comehumbly to our feet to seek our favour. "

Michael inquired for Mr Ramsay, the chief factor. 

"There he comes from his house, " answered the man to whom he hadaddressed himself. 

"What! old friend! I am right glad to see you again, " exclaimed MrRamsay, advancing, and with frank cordiality shaking the old trapper bythe hand. "I was afraid, from your long absence, that you would neverfind your way back to the fort. And who is this lad? He seems veryyoung for the life of a trapper. "

Michael then introduced Laurence, and narrated how they had lost theirhorses and been compelled to tramp the whole distance on foot, nothaving met any Indians from whom they could purchase fresh steeds, orobtain assistance in carrying their bales. 

"He looks worn out and ill, " said the kind-hearted factor. "Come in tomy house, and we will have him seen to. A comfortable bed and a quietnight's rest will, I hope, restore him; and you, friend, will, Isuspect, be glad to get that heavy pack off your shoulders. "

"The boy has not been much accustomed to beds or houses, and the changemay, as you say, do him good, " observed Michael. "But my old sinews aretoo tough to feel the weight of this pack, heavy as it is, I'll allow. However, for the boy's sake, I'll accept your hospitality; and, ifyou'll look after him till he is recovered, the best peltries I haveshall be at your service without any other payment. "

"Nay, nay, friend; I come frae the Hielands, and have not so farforgotten the customs of the old country as to receive payment forentertaining a guest, and as such your son is welcome. However, comein, and get rid of your packs; and to-morrow, when you have rested, wewill examine their contents and calculate their value. "

Poor Laurence tottered on, but scarcely had he reached the entrance ofthe house than he sank to the ground. His pack was quickly taken off, and kindly hands lifted him to a room, where he was undressed and put tobed--a luxury he had not, as his father had said, for many yearsenjoyed. Restoratives were applied; but kind Mrs Ramsay and those ofher household who watched him, as they observed his pale cheeks andslowly-drawn breath, feared that nature was too far exhausted by thefatigue he had undergone to recover. The old man's alarm and grief, when he heard of the dangerous state of his son, was excessive. KindMrs Ramsay did her best to console him, and her young daughter, afair-haired, blue-eyed little girl, Jeanie, climbed up on his knee, andstroked his rough hair, as he hung down his head, utterly overcome. 

"We will pray to our merciful Father in heaven to take care of the youngboy, and to make him strong and well again, " she whispered. "You knowthat God hears our prayers; and oh, how good and kind He is, to let usspeak to Him, and to do what we ask Him in the name of His dear SonJesus Christ. "

The old man gazed earnestly at the child for a few seconds, and, a lookof anguish passing over his countenance, he shook his head; and thenturning away from her, he put her gently down, as if he was afraid ofbeing thus again addressed, and answered, "Thank you, thank you, littledamsel; I hope my boy will get well. It will go pretty nigh to finishme if he does not, " he murmured to himself. "I ought to have known thathis strength was not equal to the task I put upon it. If he dies, menwill say, and justly, that I am his murderer. "

The old man partook but sparingly of the abundant repast spread beforehim, and declining the luxury of a bed, rolled himself up in a blanket, and took his post in the hall, near the door of the room where Laurencehad been placed, that he might hear from those who were attending on hisboy how it went with him. At every footstep which passed he started upand made the same inquiry, and then with a groan lay down again, hisdesire to keep on the watch in vain struggling with his fatigue. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

ANXIETY OF THE TRAPPER ABOUT HIS SON--JEANIE TELLS LAURENCE ABOUT THEBIBLE AND GOD'S LOVE TO MAN--LAURENCE OUT OF DANGER--THE TRAPPER LEAVESLAURENCE WITH HIS FRIENDS--JEANIE TRIES TO TEACH LAURENCE TO READ--HISTORY OF MRS. RAMSAY. 

The following morning, the old trapper was sitting on the floor, wherehe had passed the night, with his head bent down on his knees, when MrsRamsay came out of his son's room. 

"Is he better? Will he live?" he asked in a low, husky voice, gazing upanxiously at her countenance. 

"The issues of life and death are in God's hands, " she answered. "Youryoung son is very ill; but our merciful Father in heaven can restore himif He thinks fit; we can but watch over him, and minister to his wantsas may seem best to us. Lift up your heart in prayer to that GreatBeing through Him who died for us, sinning children as we are that wemight be reconciled to our loving Parent, and He will assuredly hearyour petition, and grant it if He thinks fit. "

The old man groaned as she ceased speaking, and again dropping his headon his breast made no reply to her, though he muttered to himself, "Shetells me to pray. The Great Spirit would strike me dead in his angerwere I to dare to speak to Him. " The kind lady, seeing he did notspeak, passed on. 

Old Michael could with difficulty be persuaded to eat anything, or toquit his post during the day. Little Jeanie was at length sent to himwith some food, to try if he would receive it at her hands. 

"Here, " she said, placing her hand on his arm. "You must take some ofthis, or you will become weak and ill. God, you know, gives us food tosupport our bodies, just as He sends His holy spirit to strengthen oursouls. It is very wrong not to eat when we require food, and so it iswhen we refuse to receive the aid of the Holy Spirit, which we so muchneed every moment of our lives. "

"Who told you that, little damsel?" asked the old man, looking up in thechild's sweet face. 

"Mamma, of course, " she answered. "And Mr Martin, the missionary, whocame here some time ago, says she is right, and told me never to forgetwhat she says to me. I try not to do so; but when I am playing about, and sometimes when I feel inclined to be naughty, I am apt not toremember as I ought; and then I ask God to help me and to forgive me, through Jesus Christ, and all those things come back again to mymemory. "

"You naughty!" said the old man, gazing still more intently at the youngfair countenance. "I don't think you ever could be naughty. "

"Oh yes, yes, I am, though, " answered the child. "I feel sometimesvexed and put out, and so do all sorts of naughty things; besides, youknow that God says, `there is none that doeth good, no, not one;' andeven if I did not think I was naughty, I know that I must be in Hissight, for He is so pure and holy that even to Him the heavens, sobright to us, are not pure. "

The old man apparently did not understand what the child was saying tohim, but the sound of her soft voice soothed his troubled heart. Shelittle knew how dark and hard that heart had become. 

"What is it you want, little damsel?" he asked, in a tone as if he hadbeen lost in thought while she was speaking. 

"I came to bring you this food, " she said. "I shall be so glad to seeyou eat some. "

The old man, without further remonstrance, almost mechanically, itseemed, consumed the food she offered him. 

For several days Laurence hung between life and death, but the constantand watchful care of his new friends was blessed with success; and oncemore he opened his eyes, and was able to understand and reply to whatwas said to him. As soon as he was considered out of danger, oldMichael regained his usual manner. Though he expressed his gratitude tohis hosts in his rough, blunt way, he uttered no expression which showedthat he believed that aught of thanks were due to the Giver of all goodfor his son's recovery. With his ordinary firm tread he stalked intothe room where Laurence lay. 

"I am glad to see thee coming round, boy, " he said. "Food and quiet isall that is now required to fit thee for work again. Dost not long tobe once more wandering through the forest, or trapping by the side ofthe broad stream? I am already weary, as I knew I should, of this dulllife, and must away to look after our traps and such of our peltries asmay have escaped the claws of the cunning wolverines. "

"Stay for me but a few days, and I shall be ready to go with you, father, " said the boy, trying to raise himself up. 

"Nay, nay, boy; but you're not yet strong enough for travelling. Thesnow lies thickly on the ground, and the winter's wind whistles keenlythrough the forest and across the plain. Stay a while with your goodfriends here, and I'll come back for thee, and then we will hie away tolead the free life we have enjoyed so long. " Old Michael spoke in amore subdued tone than usual. 

"You speak truth, father, when you say our friends are kind; if it werenot for you I should not wish to leave them. Sometimes, when MrsRamsay and her little daughter have been tending me, my thoughts havebeen carried back to the days when I was a young child, or else to somepleasant dreams which have visited me in my sleep. "

"Speak not again of those times, Laurence, " exclaimed the old trapper inan angry tone. "They are mere foolish fancies of the brain. You arestill weak and ill, but you will soon recover, " he added in a moregentle voice. "And when I come for you, promise me that you will beready to go forth once more to be my companion in the free wilds. "

"Yes, father, yes; I promise, whenever you come and summon me away, Iwill go with you. "

"Farewell, then, boy, " said the old trapper, taking his son's hand. "Wewill look forward to the time when we may enjoy our free roving lifetogether again. "

On the entrance of Mrs Ramsay and Jeanie, who came with some nourishingfood for Laurence, the old trapper silently left the room. When, ashort time afterwards, Mrs Ramsay inquired for him, she found that hehad quitted the fort, leaving behind him his bales of peltries, with theexception of the white wolf-skin. 

"He has taken it to trade with the Indians, " observed the factor. "Heknows that they value it more than we do. "

"I am so sorry that your father has gone away, Laurence, " said Jeanie, as she sat by the bedside of the young invalid, trying to console himfor the grief he showed when he heard of the old trapper's departure. "But remember you are among friends, and we will do all we can to makeyou happy. Still, it is a great thing to know that your father lovesyou. I should be miserable if I could suppose that my father and motherdid not love me. But do you know, Laurence, I have often thought howmuch more wretched I should feel if I did not know that our HeavenlyFather loves me also even more than they do. Mamma has often told methat His love is so great that we cannot understand it. It always makesme feel so happy when I think of it, and that He is always watching overus, and that His eye is ever upon us. "

"Do you speak of the Great Spirit, little girl?" said Laurence, raisinghimself on his elbow, and gazing inquiringly at her. "I have heard thatHe is the Friend of brave warriors and those who obey Him, and that Heis more powerful than any human being; but still I cannot fancy that Hecares for young boys and girls, and women and slaves, or cowards who areafraid to fight. "

"Oh, yes, yes; He cares for everybody, " exclaimed Jeanie. "He loves allthe creatures He has made, to whom He has given souls which will livefor ever and ever. He wants them all to live with Him in the gloriousheaven He has prepared for all who accept the gracious offer of mercywhich He makes to us. You know that we are by nature rebels anddisobedient children; and consequently Satan, the great rebel chief, haspower to do evil, and to tempt us to sin, and to rebel against God, ashe tempted our first parents; but God sent His Son Jesus Christ into theworld, to suffer the punishment which, for our disobedience and sin, weought to suffer, and to tell us that, if we trust Him and believe thatHe has so suffered for our sins, and thus taken them away, and will loveand obey Him, and follow the laws which He established, we shall bereceived back again into favour, and when our souls quit this world, that they will go and dwell with Him in that glorious and happy landwhere He will reign for ever and ever. "

Laurence continued his fixed gaze at the young girl as she spoke. 

"These are very wonderful words you speak. They are so wonderful that Icannot understand them, " said Laurence very slowly. 

"What I speak of is indeed very wonderful, for even the angels in heavenwonder at it; but if you seek the aid of the Holy Spirit, He will makeit clear to your mind, for He it is who alone can teach us what Christis, and what He has done for us. My mamma often told me about thesethings, and I did not understand them; but when I prayed that the HolySpirit would help me to know the love of Jesus, and all He has done forme, then what appeared so dark and mysterious became as clear as thenoonday; and, oh, I am sure that there is no joy so great as that ofknowing that Jesus Christ loves us. "

"I don't think I shall ever understand that, " said the boy, sinking backon his couch. "My father has never told me anything about those thingsand I am sure He is very, very wise, for the Indians say so; and everyone owns that he is the best white trapper between the Rocky Mountainsand the Red River. When he comes back, I'll talk to him, and learn whathe thinks of the matter. "

"Oh, but God tells us that He has `hid these things from the wise andprudent, and revealed them unto babes, '" observed Jeanie. "Your fatheris all you say, I am sure; but does he read the Bible, the book whichGod has given to us, to tell us about Jesus, and to let us know Hiswill?"

"I never heard of such a book, " answered the boy. "But then I knownothing about books; I could not understand its meaning if I had one. "

"What! cannot you read?" asked the little girl, in a tone ofastonishment. 

"No, of course not, " answered Laurence. "The only books I have seen arethose in the hands of the white traders, when they have been takingnotes of the peltries they have bought from us or our Indian friends. Then I have observed that they make marks with the end of a stick intheir books, and that is all I know about the matter. "

"Oh, then, I must show you some books, and you must learn to read. Itis a sad thing not to be able to read the Bible. "

"I have no wish to learn, though you are very kind to offer to teachme, " answered the boy, in a somewhat weary tone. "When I am wellenough, I should like to be following my father, or chasing the buffalowith the brave hunters of the prairie. Still, I should be sorry to goaway from you and those who have been so kind to me. "

"But it will be a long time before you are able to sit on horseback, orto endure the wild camp-life of a hunter, and until that time comes youmust let me teach you. "

"My head would ache if I were to try to learn anything so strange asreading, " said Laurence, closing his eyes. "Even now I cannot bear tothink. But you are very kind, very kind, " he added, as if he felt thelittle girl would consider him ungrateful for refusing her offer. 

Mrs Ramsay, who had just then come in unperceived, had heard the lastpart of the conversation, and understanding better than her daughter didthe boy's still weak state, saw that it was not the time to press thepoint, and that it would be better just then to allow Laurence to fallasleep, as she judged from his heavy eyes he was inclined to do. She, therefore, smoothing his pillow, and bestowing a smile on him, ledJeanie from the room. 

Mrs Ramsay had gone through many trials. She had been brought up amongall the refinements of civilised society in Scotland, and had been earlybrought by her pious parents to know and love the Lord Jesus. She hadmarried Mr Ramsay, then employed in the service of the Hudson's BayCompany, dining a short visit he paid to his native land; but she hadbeen little aware of the dangers and hardships she would be called on toendure in the wild region to which he was to take her. He had been soaccustomed to them from his earliest days that, when describing the lifehe had led, he unconsciously made light of what might otherwisenaturally have appalled her. For his sake she forbore from complainingof the perils and privations to which she had been exposed; and she hadever, by trusting to the aid and protection of God, borne up under themall. Two of her children had been taken from her, and Jeanie alone hadbeen left. Famine, and the small-pox and measles, which has proved sofatal to the inhabitants of those northern wilds, had on severaloccasions visited the fort, which had also been exposed to the attacksof treacherous and hostile natives; while for years together she had notenjoyed the society of any of her own sex of like cultivated mind andtaste. Yet she did not repine; she devoted herself to her husband andchild, and to imparting instruction to the native women and children whoinhabited the fort. She went further, and endeavoured to spread theblessings of religion and civilisation among the surrounding Indianpopulation. By her influence her husband had been induced to take aninterest in the welfare of the Indians, and no longer merely to valuethem according to the supply of peltries they could bring to trade withat the fort. He endeavoured also to instruct them in the art ofagriculture, and already a number of cultivated fields were to be seenin the neighbourhood. He had introduced herds of cattle, which theIndians had been taught to tend and value, and numerous horses fed onthe surrounding pastures. His great object now was to obtain a residentmissionary, who might instruct the still heathen natives in the truthsof Christianity; for when he had learned to value the importance of hisown soul, he of necessity felt deeply interested in the salvation of thesouls of his surrounding fellow-creatures. He had been warned that, should the natives become Christians and civilised, they would no longerprove useful as hunters and trappers, and that he was acting inopposition to trade. 

"When that occurs it will be time enough, if you think fit, to complain, my friends, " he answered. "At present I see innumerable immortal soulsperishing in their darkness; and am I to be debarred, for fear of futureconsequences, in offering to them the blessings of the gospel?"

Most of those to whom he spoke were unable to comprehend him, but hepersevered; and as the native trappers, certain of being fairly dealtwith, resorted in greater numbers than before to the fort, and theamount of peltries he collected not falling off, no objection was takenat headquarters to his proceedings. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

DANGERS IN THE FORT--THE WINTER SETS IN--SCARCITY OF FOOD--MR. RAMSAY'SACCOUNT OF HIS FIRST MEETING WITH THE OLD TRAPPER--HIS JOURNEY ACROSSTHE PRAIRIES--ATTACKED BY DACOTAHS--DEATH OF HIS COMPANIONS--RESCUED BYTHE OLD TRAPPER--PRAIRIE ON FIRE--RIDE FOR LIFE. 

The remote forts, as the trading posts of that region are called, wereexposed at that period to numerous vicissitudes. When the buffalo, inlarge herds, came northward from the wide prairies in the south, andfish could be caught in the neighbouring lakes and rivers, provisionswere abundant. But at other times, as all articles of food had to bebrought many hundred miles in canoes, along the streams which intersectthe country, or overland by carts or sleighs, notwithstanding all theforethought and precaution of the officers in charge, they wereoccasionally hard pressed for means of supporting life. 

At the period we are describing, the frost had set in earlier thanusual, and the neighbouring streams and lakes had been frozen overbefore a supply of fish could be caught for the winter store. Grasshoppers, or locusts, as they should be more properly called, comingin vast hordes from the south, had settled on the fields, and destroyedthe crops of maize and barley; while the buffalo had not migrated so farto the northward as in other years. The hunters who had gone forth inchase of the moose, elk, bears, and other animals, had been lesssuccessful than usual. 

Mr Ramsay, as the winter drew on, dreaded that famine would visit thefort. He had sent for supplies to headquarters, which he was dailyexpecting to arrive by a train of dog-sleighs, and had again despatchedhis hunters in all directions, in the hopes that they might bring in asufficient number of wild animals of the chase to provision the garrisontill their arrival. 

Laurence slowly recovered his strength. Mrs Ramsay took care that he, at all events, should be well supplied with nourishing food. 

"For his father's sake, I wish you to do all you can for the poor lad, "said Mr Ramsay to his wife. "I owe him a debt of gratitude I can neverrepay, though he appears unwilling to be my creditor, by speaking of thematter as an every-day occurrence. I was travelling some years back, with a small party of half-breed hunters and Crees from the Red River toChesterfield House, when, a fearful storm coming on, we were compelledto encamp in the open prairie. A short time before we had passed asmall stream, on the banks of which grew a few birch and willows. Thecountry was in a disturbed state, and we had heard that several warparties of Dacotahs were out, with the intention of attacking the Crees, their hereditary enemies. Thinking it possible we might be attacked, should our trail have been discovered, we arranged our carts in acircle, to enable us to resist a sudden onslaught of the foe. We were, however, without water or fuel. To obtain a supply of both thesenecessaries, we sent back several of our men to the stream I mentioned, hoping that they would return to the camp before dark. 

"The shades of evening were already coming on when we caught sight, inthe far distance, of a large party of horsemen scouring over theprairie. We had little doubt that they were Dacotahs, but we hoped thatour small encampment, at the distance we were from them, might escapedetection. The keen eyes of the red-skin warriors, however, ere longfound us out, and we saw them galloping towards us, flourishing theirspears and uttering their savage war-cries. Except the plumes in theirhair and girdles round their waists, they were destitute of clothing, though their bodies and faces were covered thickly with paint, makingthem look more like demons than human beings. Had our whole party beentogether, we might have been able, with our rifles, to drive them back;but divided as we were, had we fired, although we might have shot someof those in advance, the remainder would have dashed forward and spearedus before we could have had time to reload. 

"The warriors, on getting near the camp, and discovering thepreparations we had made for their reception, those in advance waitedtill the remainder of their party came up. Just then they caught sightof our friends returning across the open plain bringing the wood andwater. With wild and fearful shouts the savages dashed forward to cutthem off. They had no means of defending themselves, and terror seizingthem, they took to flight, hoping to escape to the river and lieconcealed under its banks. The horsemen, however, overtook them beforethey could reach it, and in a short time we saw the Dacotahs returningwith the scalps of their victims at the end of their spears. Likesavage beasts who have once tasted blood, their rage and fury increased, and they seemed resolved, at all risks, to destroy us, as they had ourcompanions, and to obtain the rich booty they expected to find in ourcamp. On they came, shrieking and howling more fearfully than before. I called on my few remaining men to fight bravely in defence of ourlives, reminding them that should they yield they would be cruellytortured, and ultimately put to death. 

"Although at first driven back by our fire, again and again they rushedforward, surrounding our camp, and breaking through our imperfectfences. Most of my little garrison were speared, and I had received twowounds; but I scarcely felt them, and still retained my strength andenergy. The rest of the survivors, although much more hurt, andbleeding at every pore, fought bravely; for all of us knew that we couldexpect no mercy from our savage foes. 

"Night was coming on, and we had little hopes of ever seeing another sunrise. 

"Among the stores we were conveying were several casks of gunpowder. Asa last resource, I seized one of them which I managed to reach, andplacing it before me, shouted out to our enemies that if they approachednearer, I would fire my rifle into it, and blow them and the whole campinto the air. They were well acquainted with its power, and held it, asI knew, in great dread. My example was followed by the rest of my partywho had yet strength to move. The Dacotahs retired to a short distance, and held a consultation, after which they galloped round and round us, shrieking and shouting, when one of them advanced somewhat nearer, and, in a derisive tone, told us that we were welcome to remain where wewere, for escape was impossible, as they intended to keep near us, andthat in a short time we should be starved to death, when they would haveour scalps, and take possession of our goods. We knew too well thatthey spoke the truth; but we replied that we were determined not toyield, and that if they approached, we would carry our threat intoexecution. 

"Darkness had now come on, but we distinguished them still hoveringaround us in the distance. That was the most dreadful night I everpassed. The groans and cries of the wounded, as they lay on the groundaround me, continued without intermission. I could do but little torelieve them; for we had no water to quench our burning thirst, and hadI placed them in the carts they might have been speared, should theenemy have made a sudden attack, as they were very likely to do, hopingto catch us unprepared. 

"When morning dawned, the Dacotahs again dashed forward, yelling asbefore, and approached sufficiently near to survey our condition. Allday long they continued the same system, hoping apparently to wear usout, which, indeed, there appeared every probability of their doing. 

"Several of my unfortunate companions had sunk from loss of blood andthirst, and my sufferings had become so great that I envied them theirfate, when, as I cast my eyes around to watch the movements of our foes, I saw them gathering together in a body, while in the far distanceappeared a single horseman, who, galloping at full speed, was comingtowards the camp. He stopped short as he approached the Dacotahs, as ifto ascertain who they were; he then rode boldly forward towards them. Isaw that he was a white man, and knew by his gestures that he washaranguing the savages. Several of their chiefs appeared to be replyingto him. He then waved his hand, and galloped up to the camp. 

"`I know all about it, ' he exclaimed in English, and his words soundedpleasantly in my ears. `I made them promise to give me one of mycountrymen instead of a debt they owe me, and I wish that I could savemore of your lives. What!' he exclaimed, on seeing me rise to movetowards him, `are you the only one left alive?'

"I had no need to reply, but pointed to the bodies of my companions onthe ground; for by that time nearly all were dead, while those who stillremained alive were too weak to move, and it was evident that in a shorttime they also would be numbered with the dead. It grieved me much toleave them in their sad condition; but yet by remaining I could do themno good. The stranger lifted me up on his horse with as much ease as ifI had been a child, and bore me off in the direction from whence he hadcome. 

"`We have no time to lose, for I don't trust the red-skins, friendsthough they are of mine, ' he said. `They may in a few minutes changetheir minds. '

"We had gone but a short distance when I saw my preserver turn his headto look behind him. There was an expression of anxiety in hiscountenance. 

"`What is the matter?' I asked. 

"`The red-skins have set the prairie on fire, ' he answered. `I don'tthink they did it on purpose, for they will chance to suffer more thanwe do; but we must push onwards, or the flames will anon be close at ourheels. '

"I raised my head as he spoke, and saw dense wreaths of smoke rising upto the southward, below which I could distinguish a broad red line, extending for a mile or more from east to west. 

"The hunter, holding me in his firm grasp, put spurs to his horse, and, slackening his rein, galloped at full speed over the ground. The motioncaused my wounds to bleed afresh, but it was no time to stop to bindthem up. I felt very weak, and the dreadful thought came across methat, should I faint, my new friend would suppose me dead, and naturallyleave me to my fate. Might he not even do so, at all events, should thefire come rapidly after us, for the sake of preserving his own life? Heseemed to divine my thoughts. 

"`I will not desert you, lad, ' he said. `Cheer up; we have but a fewleagues to go to reach a river, on the further side of which we shall besafe. My good steed has been well accustomed to carry a heavy weight, and he makes nothing of what he has now on his back. '

"While he was speaking, a loud dull roar like thunder was heard, and adense column of smoke rose upward from the spot where we had beenencamped. 

"`Ah! ah! the red-skins have lost the booty they were so eager tosecure, ' he exclaimed with a peculiar laugh. 

"The fire had reached the camp, and the casks of powder had ignited andblown the carts and the rest of their contents into the air. 

"`We shall be safe from them, at all events, ' observed the stranger;`for they will not pull rein for many a long league from this, if theyshould escape the effects of their own carelessness. '

"The raging fire had now extended from east to west as far as the eyecould reach, and came on even faster than we could move. Still thedauntless hunter showed no signs of fear or intention of abandoning me, that he might insure his own safety. The love of life was strong withinme, but I felt that it was almost unjust to allow him to risk his forthe sake of saving mine. Away we went, scouring the prairie, the hunterurging on his steed with slackened rein and spur, and by word of mouth. Already I could hear the ominous crackling and hissing of the flames asthey made their way over the long dry grass, and caught the bushes whichhere and there were scattered over the plain. Every now and then thehunter looked behind him. Nearer and nearer came the long line of fireand smoke; the sky overhead was darkened; the air was hot and stifling. Still he cheered on his steed. Fast as we went, the fire came faster. 

"On and on we galloped, the dense smoke surrounding us. I gasped forbreath; already it seemed that the flames were close at the horse'sheels. The animal appeared to know his danger as well as his rider, andsprang frantically forward. I saw no more. I only felt that the horsehad made a desperate plunge, and soon afterwards there was the sound ofwater in my ears, and instead of the violent movements of the gallopinghorse I felt myself borne smoothly forward. Then I was lifted in thestrong arms of the hunter and placed on the ground. I opened my eyes, and found myself seated on a narrow strand, on the opposite side of ariver, with a high bank rising above my head. Across the stream thefire raged furiously, devouring the trees which fringed its shores;while close above our heads hung a black canopy of smoke, though a coolcurrent of air, which blew up the stream, enabled me to breathe freely. The hunter, holding the bridle of his horse, was seated by my side. 

"`We have done it, friend, ' he said. `I knew we should. It's not thefirst time I have had to ride for my life; but I never had a hardergallop, that I'll allow. The Dacotahs will have had a narrow escape ifthey managed to get clear. Let me look to your hurts. You are hungry, it may be. '

"`Water, water, ' were the only words I could utter. He produced aleathern cup from his ample pouch, and, filling it with water, pouredthe contents down my throat. I felt as if I could have drunk the streamdry, but he would give me no more. 

"`Wait a bit; you shall soon have another draught, ' he said. `And nowlet me see to your hurts. ' He brought more water, and having bathed mywounds, bound them skilfully up with a handkerchief which I fortunatelyhad in my pocket. After I had taken another draught of water, I quicklybegan to revive under his careful treatment. When he thought that I hadsufficiently recovered to be removed, he bore me up a bank, and then ledhis horse round another way up to where I lay. He carried me on till wereached a wood near a stream. Here, finding from my weak state that Iwas unable to travel further, he built a hut and tended me with thegreatest care till I had recovered sufficiently to sit on horseback. Heoften, I found, deprived himself of food that I might be amply supplied. As soon as I was able to bear the journey he placed me on the horse, and walking by my side, we set out for the fort. We had many wearyleagues to go, and frequently we fell in with traces of the savage andtreacherous Sioux or Dacotahs, evidently out on expeditions against theCrees. Occasionally, to avoid our foes, we had to remain in concealmentfor several days together, and at other times it was necessary to haltwhile my companion went in search of game, and to obtain provisions. Ultimately, after many adventures, when he often exposed his own life topreserve mine, we reached the fort in safety. 

"Such was the commencement of my acquaintance with Michael Moggs, theold trapper. We have met occasionally since, but he has always refusedto receive any recompense for the service he rendered me, declaring thathe was deserving of none, as he would have done the same for any otherwhite man who might have needed his assistance. I have vainlyendeavoured to induce him to remain in the fort, or to take service withthe company; but he invariably replies that he prefers the life of afree trapper, and that he will not bind himself to serve any master. "

"I wish we could induce him to stop with us, both for his own sake, andfor that of his young son, " observed Mrs Ramsay. "He is an intelligentyouth, with a mind capable of cultivation. It is sad to see him soutterly ignorant of religious truth; and I fear that his strength willgive way if he continues the hard life he has shared with his eccentricfather. I cannot but think that the old man is greatly to blame forbringing him up as he has done. "

"We must hope for the best, " said Mr Ramsay. 

"We have no right to hope unless we pray and strive, dear husband, " saidMrs Ramsay. "God will hear our prayers, both for father and son. After the account you have just given me, I feel that we are doublybound to pray for them. How greatly ought we to value that gloriousprivilege of prayer, which allows us sinful creatures, trusting to theall-cleansing blood of Jesus, to go boldly to the throne of grace, knowing that our petitions will be heard and granted by the all-pure, all-seeing, and all-just God, who does not look upon us as we are inourselves, but as clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Let us praythis night that the dark mind of our poor friend may be enlightened, andthat the Holy Spirit may bring home the truths of the gospel to that ofhis young son. "

"You are right; you are right, wife, " said Mr Ramsay, taking her hand. "I have hitherto thought only how I could benefit his temporalcondition. It did not occur to me how much more important it was toseek the good of his soul. "

Little did the old hunter think, as he was wandering across the snowywaste, that the hearts of friends were lifted up for him in prayer tothat God from whom he had so long obstinately turned away; yet though wemust be assured that God overhears the prayers of those who come to Himin His Son's name, He takes His own good time and way to answer thepetitions he receives; and we must be prepared to wait patiently for theresult, and not expect always to see it brought about in the manner wein our ignorance may have desired. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

STOCK OF PROVISIONS AT THE FORT STILL FURTHER DECREASED--REPORTS OFSIOUX BEING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD--PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE--CHILDREN'SAMUSEMENT OF "COASTING"--SIOUX SEEN IN THE DISTANCE--THE HUNTERS CAUGHTBY THEM--CAMP-FIRES OF INDIANS SEEN IN THE DISTANCE--FRESH BANDS JOINTHEM. 

The trials to which the inhabitants of the fort were exposed werebecoming greater every day. The store of potatoes and other vegetablesin the root-house, where they were secured from the frost, deep downbelow the surface, was rapidly lessening. 

Mr Ramsay had lately inspected the meat pit, in which the carcases ofthe buffaloes and other animals shot during the previous fall werepreserved, and found it nearly empty. Meat is preserved in that regionin a peculiar manner. A deep pit is dug, and while the frost is stillin the air, and the snow covers the ground, all the animals killed areplaced in it. The bottom is lined with a coating of snow beaten hard, and then a layer of meat is placed on it. On the top of this more snowis beaten, when an additional layer of meat is placed in the pit, and soon till the whole is full. It is then covered over with snow, and athickly-thatched roof is erected over it. The meat-cellar, indeed, resembles an English ice-house. The meat thus remains in a fitcondition to be eaten throughout the year. Fish is preserved in thesame way. During the winter, however, the fish, when caught, becomefrozen, and can be kept in an open shed. 

This year, as we have said, in consequence of the early frost, but asmall supply of fish had been caught. 

Mr Ramsay was looking out anxiously for the arrival of the expectedsupplies, but no news of their coming had yet readied him. The huntershad returned unsuccessful from the chase, and had again gone out withthe intention of proceeding to a greater distance than before. Newscame also which caused the small remaining garrison some anxiety. Itwas reported that, contrary to their usual custom, for they seldomtravel during winter, a large body of Sioux had been seen movingnorthward on a warlike expedition. Although their destination wasunknown, it was feared, as they had long threatened to attack the fort, should they discover how small was its present garrison, and how greatlypressed for food, they might put their evil intentions into execution. Mr Ramsay accordingly made every preparation for defence in his power, and few as were the numbers with him, he hoped to repulse the foe. Hisfears were rather on account of the hunters scattered at a distance fromeach other, and who, should they fall into the hands of the Sioux, mightbe cut off in detail. To call them back was now impossible, as, shouldhe send out to search for them, he would have had still further tolessen the number of defenders. Constant watch was kept day and night, and he determined, at all events, not to be taken by surprise. 

Meantime Laurence had greatly recovered his strength, and, clad in awarm fur dress, was able to move about, both inside and for a shortdistance outside the fort. 

The chief amusement of the younger portion of the inhabitants was"coasting, " or sliding down the steep side of the hill on which the fortstood seated on small boards placed on runners, called "toboggins. "Descending from the height, the impetus they gained carried them for aconsiderable distance over the level plain, till they were finallybrought up by a heap of snow at the end of a long path they had thusformed. The toboggin was then drawn up to the top of the hill, when theyoung coaster again went sliding down, followed in succession by hiscompanions, shouting and cheering with delight, especially when any ofthe toboggins went off the line, and their companions were half-buriedin the heap of snow below. 

This amusement Laurence infinitely preferred to learning to read thebooks which Jeanie brought him, although she offered to be hisinstructress. He would sit, however, very patiently during the longwinter evenings while she read to him. He told her frankly that theonly books which interested him were those of adventures and hairbreadthescapes in various parts of the world. He listened attentively, however, when she read the Bible, but seemed far more interested in thenarratives it contained than in any other portion. Its Divine truthshad as yet, it seemed, made no impression on his mind. 

"Now, Jeanie, I have been a good boy, and listened with my ears open toall you have been reading about, and I think it is but fair that you inreturn should come and coast with me to-morrow, " he said one day, aftershe had read to him for some time. "I have had a beautiful new tobogginmade for you, and I am sure it will run faster and straighter than anyin the fort. "

"I shall be very glad to come, if mamma will let me, though you are sovery bad a scholar that you do not deserve to have your way, " sheanswered. 

"If I promise to learn better in future, will you ask leave to come?"urged Laurence. "I should like to be able to read about the wonderfulthings you tell me of in your books. "

"If you promise, I'll ask mamma to let me do as you wish, " answeredJeanie. "But, remember, God hears every word you say, and knowseverything you think, and the promise made to me is really made to God, and it will grieve Him if you break it. "

"Oh, but I mean to keep my promise, though I cannot fancy that the GreatSpirit cares for what a young boy like me may think or say, " answeredLawrence. 

"Oh, yes, yes, He cares for young and old alike, " exclaimed Jeanie. "Hetells us that the very hairs of our head are numbered, and He knowsevery sparrow that falls to the ground. That is to make us understandthat He is interested in all we think about, and in even the verysmallest thing we do. It always makes me very happy when I reflect thatGod cares for me, and loves me even more than my father and mother cando, though they love me a great deal, because He is so much morepowerful than they are, and He can help me and keep me out of temptationwhen I am inclined to be naughty, which they, with all their love andinterest in me, cannot do. "

"I wish that I could think as you do, Jeanie, " said Laurence. "I musttry to do so, though; then you will ask your mamma's leave to come andcoast on the new sleigh?"

"Yes, I will ask her, " said Jeanie. "And you must show that you are inearnest, by trying to say your alphabet this evening. You missed out agreat many of the letters yesterday, and I felt ashamed of you. "

Laurence had hitherto made but very slow progress in his studies. Hishead and eyes ached, he said, whenever he looked at a book, though hereally was anxious to learn for the sake of pleasing Jeanie. 

Mrs Ramsay did not object to allow Jeanie to try the new sleigh, andthe next morning, accompanied by several other girls, she set out inhigh glee with Mrs Ramsay, who went to look on at the sport. Laurencecarried the sleigh on his shoulders, a number of other boys beingsimilarly provided. 

Proceeding round outside the fort, they soon reached the steep part ofthe hill. In another minute, a merry laughing party were gliding downthe side, one after the other, with headlong speed, the impetus sendingthem several hundred yards over the smooth hard surface of the snowbeyond. Laurence, who sat in front, guiding Jeanie's sleigh, wasdelighted to find that it went further than any of the others. Up thehill again they soon came, the boys carrying the sleighs, and the girlsscrambling up by their sides. 

Laurence and Jeanie had coasted down the side of the hill, followed bytheir companions, and had been carried some distance from the fort, whenthey heard a shout from the watch-tower nearest them. It was repeatedagain and again in more urgent tones, calling them back to the fort. 

"What can it mean?" asked Jeanie. "We must go, at all events; and, see, there's mamma on the top of the hill beckoning to us. "

Laurence proposed to make another trip, saying he was sure there was nonecessity to be in a hurry. 

"If we are called, we ought to go, we must go, " said Jeanie. "It wouldbe very wrong to delay a minute. "

Thus urged, Laurence took up the sleigh, and the whole party reached thetop of the hill, where they found Mrs Ramsay, who told them to hurryback with her to the fort. On reaching the gate, they were informedthat a large party of Indians had been seen in the far distance, andwere still hovering just within sight of the fort. At first it washoped that they were the hunters returning; but from their numbers andthe way they were moving it was suspected that they must be a band ofSioux said to be out on a war-path, and that it was very probable theywould attack the fort. The gates were accordingly shut, a drawbridgeover a deep cutting in front of them was drawn up, arms and ammunitionwere placed on the platform inside the stockade, ready for use, andevery other preparation made for the reception of the foe. Mr Ramsayurged his little garrison to fight bravely in defence of their wives andchildren, and the property committed to their charge. For some time theIndians had not approached nearer than when they were first seen, andhopes were entertained that they would not venture on an attack. MrRamsay had always endeavoured to avoid hostilities with the natives, andhad on several occasions succeeded in gaining over and securing thefriendship of those who came with the intention of attacking the fort. Under ordinary circumstances he would have felt confident, even shouldhe be unable by diplomacy to pacify the Indians, of easily keeping themat bay, as the fort was sufficiently strong to resist any ordinaryattack. Having, however, now but a very small garrison, and being hardpressed for provisions, he felt more anxious than usual as to the resultshould the fort be attacked; for of the savage character of the Sioux hehad already had too much experience not to know the fearful crueltiesthey would practise should they gain the victory. He examined everypart of the fort, and showed his men those points most likely to beassailed, and which it was necessary to guard with the greatestvigilance. It might, however, have damped their spirits had he toldthem of the scanty supply of provisions which remained. Still he hopedto hold out till the enemy were driven away, when the expected reliefmight arrive, or the hunters return with a supply of game. 

Mrs Ramsay was fully aware of the state of things. She had before beenexposed to similar dangers. "We must not faint, dear husband, " shesaid, "but continue to put our trust in God. He will relieve us if hethinks fit. At all events, let us have faith in His protecting love, and know that He does all for the best. "

Several hours passed by, and still the strange Indians did not approach. 

"There's a man coming towards the fort, " shouted the look-out from thetower. "He drags himself but slowly over the snow, and appears to bewounded. He is one of our own people, " added the sentinel, in a shorttime, "and seems to be signing to us to send him assistance. "

Mr Ramsay, on hearing this, despatched two of the garrison to bring inthe wounded hunter. They lifted him along, looking every now and thenbehind, as if they expected to be followed. At length they arrived atthe gate, but the poor fellow Jaques Venot, was so exhausted from lossof blood that he could not at first speak. On reviving, after hiswounds had been bound up, and a cordial given him, he had a sad tale totell. He and three other hunters were returning to the fort with theflesh of a moose and bear which they had shot, when they were set uponby a band of Sioux. His three companions were shot down, he himselfbeing wounded and taken prisoner by them. Instead of killing him, theyled him to their camp, as he supposed, that they might employ him tonegotiate with the garrison, and gain their object without the danger ofattacking the fort. They knew from experience that in such an exploitmany of them would lose their lives. 

"I found that I was right in my conjectures, " continued Jaques. "I wasat once carried before the Sioux leader, who was holding a council ofwar with several other chiefs, and being placed in their midst, I wasasked whether I preferred torture and death to life and liberty. Ireplied that if they chose to torture me they should see that I couldsurfer like a man, and that the hunters of the prairies always carriedtheir lives in their hands; but as I had no wish to die, I should beglad to hear on what terms they offered me freedom. "

"`You choose wisely, ' said the chief. `Tell us, then, what number ofmen defend the fort. Are they well armed? Have they a good supply ofammunition? Are there many women and children? And have they anabundance of provisions?'"

"I smiled as the chief spoke. `You ask many questions, ' I said, `butthey are not difficult to answer. The fort is strong, and there are menenough within to defend it against twice the number of warriors I seearound me, whose bones will whiten the prairie if they make the attempt. There are great guns which can send their shot nearly as far as thiscamp, and each man has as many rifles as he can fire, while the womenand boys load them. As to provisions, the whites are not like theimprovident red-skins, who gorge themselves with food one day and starvefor many afterwards. I have spoken. What is it you would have me do?'"

"The chiefs, on hearing my reply, consulted together. `Listen, ' saidtheir leader at length. `You will go back to the fort and persuade thewhite-skins within that we are their friends. We want shelter and foodwhile the snow covers the ground; and if they give us that, we will goforth and fish and hunt for them, and bring them more peltries than theyhave ever before received in one season. '

"`But if I fail to persuade them, I asked, wishing to learn the designsof the Sioux, what am I then to do?'

"`You will try to win some of the people with such promises as you wellknow how to make. Tell them they will be received among us as friends, and that we will give them all that their hearts desire. Then wait tillour warriors collect around the fort, and seek an opportunity at nightto open the gates and admit us. You and those who will thus assist uswill gain our friendship, and all you ask shall be given you. '

"`The great Sioux chief speaks wise words, ' I answered. `Let me gofree, and I'll do your bidding. I have long served the white-skins, andit is time that I should seek new friends. ' On hearing my reply thechief seemed satisfied. 

"`You shall go, then, ' he said; `but remember, should you fail to carryout our wishes, you will learn that the Sioux know how to punish thosewho play them false. ' On this the chief, bidding me hasten to the fort, ordered some of his braves to conduct me through the camp and let me gofree. 

"The Sioux are very numerous, " continued the hunter, "and there are notonly warriors, but women and children among them. They have latelyreceived a severe defeat from the Americans, and have been driven fromtheir hunting-grounds, and have vowed vengeance against all white-skinsand their friends. They are expecting the arrival of another largeband, and I fear that they will fall in with the trails of the otherhunters and cut them off. Even should our friends escape them, theywill find it difficult to return to the fort. "

Laurence, who was present, listened eagerly to what Jaques said, andmade several inquiries about the appearance of the Sioux chief andothers of his followers. He said nothing, however, but for some timeafterwards appeared lost in thought. 

Night came on. The garrison was kept constantly on the alert. In thefar distance the camp-fires of the Indians could be seen blazing up neara wood, under shelter of which they had pitched their skin tents, andwhere, the snow being of less depth than on the open plain, their horsescould more easily get at the grass below it. They on that account hadprobably chosen the spot, instead of camping nearer the fort. 

No one during the night was seen to approach, although any object mighteasily have been distinguished moving across the surrounding white fieldof snow. It was remarked, however, that the fires had increased innumber since they had at first been lighted in the evening, and it wasconsequently surmised that a fresh body of Sioux had arrived. 

Frequently during the day Mr Ramsay anxiously looked out from thewatch-tower towards the east, in the hopes of seeing the expected trainwith provisions. He feared, however, that it might be perceived by theSioux before it could reach the fort. To prevent this, he sent out acouple of scouts to intercept the train, and lead it by a circuitousroute to the north, where it could not be seen from the camp of theSioux. 

The day went slowly by, and another night came on. Again the distantcamp-fires were seen blazing up, showing that the savages had notabandoned their designs. What prevented them from at once attacking thefort it was difficult to say, unless they were better informed withregard to its scanty supply of provisions than Jaques had supposed. 

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Note. In the markets in Canada, not only fish, but animals of allsorts, frozen hard, are brought for sale, and it is curious to see deerand hares and pigs standing in rows, like stuffed animals in a museum, on the market people's stalls; while fish are placed upright on theirtails in the baskets, and look as if they were endeavouring to leap outof them. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

THE INDIANS BLOCKADE THE FORT--LAURENCE RECOGNISES THE SIOUX AS OLDFRIENDS--OBTAINS LEAVE TO GO OUT AND MEET THEM--INDUCES THE SIOUX CHIEFTO RETIRE--OBTAINS PRESENTS FOR THE INDIANS--ACCOMPANIES THEM--LAURENCEFINDS HIS OLD NURSE--LAURENCE BIDS FAREWELL TO HIS FRIENDS AT THE FORT. 

Several days had passed by; the provision sleighs had not arrived; noneof the hunters had returned to the fort; and already the garrison werefeeling the pangs of hunger. Mr Ramsay had placed the people on thesmallest possible allowance of food, and yet, on examining the remainingstore, he found to his grief that it could not last many days longer. There were horses and cattle feeding in a sheltered valley some milesaway, and had it not been for the besieging bands of Sioux, they mighteasily have been brought in; and unwilling as he would have been to killthem, they would have afforded an ample supply of food. The fort, however, was narrowly watched, and had any people been sent out to bringin the cattle, they would have been pursued and cut off, or had theysucceeded, in getting away, they and the cattle would have been to astill greater certainty captured on their return. Mr Ramsay, therefore, unwilling to risk the lives of any of his people, resolvednot to make the attempt till they were reduced to the last extremity. He feared, from the conduct of the Sioux, that they must have becomeacquainted with the condition of the fort, probably from one of thehunters, who, under torture, might have confessed the state of the case. 

The early part of the morning had passed quietly away, when a movementwas observed in the camp of the Sioux. The white sheet of snow whichintervened was soon clotted over with their dark forms as they advancedtowards the fort in a long line, extending from east to west, theextreme ends moving at a more rapid rate than the rest, as if theypurposed to surround it. On they came, increasing their speed as theydrew near, shrieking, and shouting, and frantically brandishing theirweapons. Their cries and gestures were terrific in the extreme. Theyseemed to be working themselves up into a fury, as if preparing toattack the fort, and to destroy the hapless defenders. Mr Ramsay againurged those under his command to die at their posts rather than yield, or to trust to any terms the savages might offer. Mrs Ramsay and herdaughter, though pale from hunger, showed no signs of alarm. Theirusual morning avocations having been performed, they sat together withthe Bible before them, and then kneeling down, with calm confidenceoffered up their prayers for protection to that merciful God whom theywell knew heard all their petitions. 

Laurence, now perfectly recovered, was on the platform, where most ofthe garrison were stationed. He there stood, with several guns by hisside, prepared to fire on the advancing savages. Mr Ramsay had givenorders that not a shot should be discharged till the last moment. Although the men had hitherto shown no lack of courage, when they sawthe overwhelming numbers of the expected assailants some of them criedout that it would be impossible to defend the fort against theirassaults. Mr Ramsay rebuked them severely, and charged them not againto express such an idea. Their courage, was, however, put to a greattest; for the savages, rushing on, fired their rifles, sending showersof bullets rattling against the stockades. Happily, none of thedefenders were struck. Still, not a shot was discharged in return, andthe savages, surprised at this, instead of continuing to rush on, halted. 

They had now got so near that even their faces as well as theirhead-dress, by which the different tribes are distinguished, couldclearly be discerned. Mr Ramsay, though unwilling to shed blood, wasabout to give the order to fire should they again advance, when Laurenceexclaimed, "I know them. They are my friends. I am a child of theirtribe. They love me; and if I go forth to them, they will listen towhat I say. " His whole manner seemed changed. As he spoke, his eyebrightened. He looked a different being to the careless boy he hadhitherto seemed. 

"How can you influence them, Laurence?" asked Mr Ramsay. "They are notlikely to abandon their designs for anything you can say. "

"Oh, yes, yes, I am sure they will, " answered Laurence. "Let me goforth at once. I'll tell them that you are my father's friend, that youpreserved my life, and that, if they love me as they say, they must nothurt you or any of your people. "

"But I am afraid that they will shoot you before they know who you are, "said Mr Ramsay. 

"Oh, I'll run the risk, " exclaimed Laurence. "Let me go forth at once, before it is too late. I will tell them how unwilling you were toinjure any of them, and that you are good and kind, and wish to be thered man's friend. "

Mr Ramsay, thinking that Laurence might be the means of preserving thefort, no longer opposed his proposal. Laurence, however, agreed to takea white flag in his hand, with the meaning of which most of the tribesaccustomed to trade at the forts were well acquainted. 

Slipping out at a small postern gate, he let himself down into thetrench unseen by the Sioux, and climbing up the opposite bank, the nextinstant was bounding down the slope of the hill, waving his flag. In afew minutes he had reached the chief who had led the assailants. Heuttered a few words, and the next moment the savage warrior stoodgrasping his hands and gazing in his countenance. 

"My second father, though your child has long been away from you, he hasnot forgotten you, " he exclaimed; "but he would ere this have been inthe world of spirits had not the good white chief, commander of yonderfort, saved his life; and you cannot, knowing this, desire to injure hiskind friends. No, my father; you and my brothers promised to be thefriend of your son's friends. I knew you even afar off, and my heartyearned towards you, and I felt sure that you would listen to myprayers. You know not the power and generosity of my white friends. Even at this moment their far-reaching guns are pointed towards you, andhad they desired to take your life, they would have fired and laid youand many of my brothers low. "

Laurence continued for some minutes in the same strain. The chiefseemed troubled. He was unwilling to lose the booty he expected to findin the fort, at the same time that he remembered his promise to hisadopted son, and was struck also by what he had said about his whitefriends. 

Laurence thus went on eloquently to plead his cause; at the same time, he took care not to acknowledge how unable the garrison were to hold outmuch longer. 

"You have conquered, my son, " exclaimed the chief. "I will speak toyour brothers; your friends should be our friends. Had blood been shed, our people would have been unwilling to listen to my counsels; but nowall will be well. Show the flag you carry, that no one may fire at usas we retire. We will return to our camp, and you will there see manywho will welcome you joyfully again among them. "

Laurence, rejoiced at the success of his mission, stood waving his flag, while the Sioux retired from around the fort. He then quickly followed, and overtook the chief. Inquiries were made for his father, who hadbeen received into the tribe and long resided among them. Laurencereplied that he hoped he would soon return, and that he was sure hewould be well pleased to hear that they had refrained from injuring hiswhite friends. 

On reaching the camp, Laurence was received with warm greetings from hisred-skinned brothers and sisters, for he was looked on as a brother byall the tribe. He soon found his way to a lodge in which was seated anold woman with shrivelled features, her long white locks hanging downover her skeleton-like shoulders. No sooner did she see him than, uttering a wild shriek of delight, she seized him in her withered arms, and pressed him to her heart. 

"My child!" she exclaimed; "and you at length have come back to visitthe mother who has been yearning for long years to see you; and you havenot forgotten her?"

"No, indeed, " answered Laurence; "from the day my white father took meaway I have ever thought of you, and recollected the happy times Ipassed under your care. "

"You have come, then, once more to be a brother of our people!"exclaimed his old nurse. "You will not go away again; but you will stayand live in our lodges, and grow up and become a brave hunter of thebuffalo and moose, and gladden the eyes of one who loves you better thanany white mother. "

"I have white friends who love me, and have treated me kindly; I shouldbe loath not to see them again. And there is my white father, who maycome for me, and I am bound to follow him, " answered Laurence. 

"Your white friends and your white father cannot care for you as we do. Your heart cannot be so hardened towards those who brought you up as towish again to quit them. "

Much more his old nurse said in the same strain. Laurence thought ofall the kindness he had received from Mrs Ramsay. He was veryunwilling also to part from little Jeanie; but old feelings revivedwithin him, the new principles which he had of late heard in the forthad taken no strong hold of him, and he became once more the wild Indianboy of former years. 

The chief sent for him, and used further powerful arguments to inducehim to remain. Laurence at length promised to continue with his oldfriends, unless his father should claim him; but he begged first to beallowed to go back to the fort to bid farewell to his white friends. 

The wily Sioux had had no intention of losing altogether the share ofthe prized articles which he supposed the fort to contain. Heconsented, therefore, to allow Laurence to return, on condition that hewould obtain from the white chief, as he called Mr Ramsay, a certainnumber of guns, ammunition, blankets, knives, and numerous other thingswhich he named. 

"If he sends them, we will be his friends; but if not, we shall knowthat he looks upon us as enemies, and we will take by force what we nowonly ask as a gift. "

Laurence, accompanied by a small band of Sioux, set out as the bearer ofthis message to the fort. The Indians remained outside while he madehis way to the gates. He was welcomed warmly by Mr Ramsay. He wasthankful to find that the train with the provisions had arrived, andthat several of the hunters had also made their way round by the northinto the fort, with two bears and several deer and other animals. 

Mr Ramsay, notwithstanding this, wishing to establish, if possible, friendly relations with the Sioux, agreed to send the articles the chiefdemanded as a gift, though he still thought it prudent not to puthimself or any of his people in their power. 

"You and your red-skinned friends who have come with you shall, therefore, convey them to the chief, and you will then return and remainwith us. I wish to show you how much I value the service you haverendered us; for had the Sioux assailed the fort--as not only had theprovisions, but our ammunition run short--they very probably would haveentered and put every one within to death. "

Laurence hung down his head. "I should like to remain, sir, " he said, "but I have promised to return, and live with the Sioux, unless myfather comes for me. I am at home with them, and know all their ways, and shall become some day, so they say, a great chief among them. "

"Their ways, I fear, are bad ways, " said Mr Ramsay. "And though Icannot tell you to break your promise, you will, I am sure, some daygrieve bitterly that you made it. However, go in and see Mrs Ramsayand Jeanie. You would not wish to go without bidding them farewell. "

"I dare not face them; they might make my heart melt, " answeredLaurence, doubting his own resolution; but Mr Ramsay led him to thehouse. 

Jeanie burst into tears when she heard of his intentions. "Oh, Laurence, and can you, after you have heard about Jesus, have been toldof His love, and how He wishes you to be ready to go and live with Himfor ever and ever, in glory and happiness, again go back to dwell amongheathen savages, who do all sorts of things contrary to His will, merelyfor the sake of enjoying what you call liberty for a few short years, and thus risk the loss of your soul?" said Mrs Ramsay, taking himkindly by the hand. 

"The Sioux, in their dark ignorance, may wish you well, so far as thisworld is concerned, though the life they would induce you to lead isfull of danger and hardships; but here you have friends, who desire notonly to benefit your mind and body, but to show you how you may obtainblessings which no earthly power can take away, and which will endurethroughout eternity. Think of that, Laurence. Would you barter yoursoul for the sake of a few years of wild excitement, and what yousuppose to be enjoyment, and die as a poor ignorant savage, forgettingGod and His mercy and loving-kindness, as shown to us in giving His Sonto die for our sins, that we may be received again as favoured children, to live with Him in unspeakable happiness for ever and ever?"

"But if I become a warrior, and die bravely fighting, I shall go to thehappy hunting-grounds with my Indian friends, " answered Laurence. 

It was too evident that all which had been said to the poor lad hadfallen upon barren ground. Laurence was still a heathen. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

THE LIFE OF LAURENCE AMONG THE INDIANS--SHOOTING THE BUFFALO--THEHUNTERS' CAMP AND FEAST--LAURENCE IN THE WOOD--THE SIOUX HUNTERS SHOT BYCREES--LAURENCE LIES CONCEALED--HIS FIRST PRAYER--PASSES A FEARFULNIGHT--HIS ENCAMPMENT ATTACKED BY WOLVES--JOURNEY OVER THE SNOW--FALLSINTO A SNOW-DRIFT. 

Laurence was once more with his Indian friends. They were delightedwith the presents they had received, and he found himself treated withrespect and attention by all the tribe. A horse and arms were providedfor him; he was clothed in a dress of skins, ornamented with feathersand beads, and was looked upon as the son of their chief. Still hecould not forget the kindness he had received at the fort, and he veryoften regretted that he had been persuaded by the Sioux to abandon hiswhite friends. Mr Ramsay would, he knew, inform his father where hehad gone, should he return to the fort. He sometimes hoped that the oldtrapper would come and claim him, although the life he was compelled tolead with him was even harder and more full of danger than his presentexistence with the Sioux. 

The tribe had moved to a considerable distance from the fort, where theyagain took up their winter quarters. Hence they sent out parties ofhunters to capture buffalo, which, in small herds, pasture, even whilethe snow lies on the ground, by digging beneath it to reach the drygrass. Laurence, whose mind was ill at ease, endeavoured to banishthought by joining on every opportunity these expeditions. They were, he knew, full of danger. Sometimes the powerful buffalo would turn ontheir assailants, and broken limbs and wounds, and not unfrequentlydeath, was the consequence. Snow storms might come on, and before theshelter of a wood could be gained horses and men might be overwhelmed. They were also on the borders of the country of the Crees, the deadlyenemies of the Sioux, who would without fail put to death any who mightfall into their hands. In the summer, when large herds of buffaloesappear, the hunters, on swift horses, and armed with rifle, or bows andsharp arrows, gallop fearlessly in among them, shooting them down, againmanaging dexterously to extricate themselves from amid the concourse ofanimals. Sometimes also a large enclosure is formed with a narrowentrance, and having a road lined with trees leading to it, broad at theouter end, and gradually decreasing in width towards the mouth of thepound. The hunters, forming a wide semicircle in the distance, drivethe animals towards it, while people with flags stationed on either sideof the road prevent the buffalo breaking through, which are thus inducedto rush on till they become entrapped in the pound, where they are shotdown with bullets or arrows. In the winter, however, buffaloes can onlybe approached by stalking, the hunter creeping cautiously on till hegets within range of his victim. Sometimes also a cruel stratagem isemployed. 

Laurence had gone out with three hunters on horseback. They hadproceeded a considerable distance without meeting any animals; still, eager to obtain some meat, of which the camp was greatly in want, theypushed onwards. At length they descried, in the far distance to thenorth, several buffalo feeding near the banks of a broad stream. Asthey approached, they discovered that they were cows, and had two youngbuffaloes among them. The wary animals had espied them, and were makingslowly off. Each of the hunters carried on his saddle the skin of ananimal with the hair on. Laurence had that of a young buffalo calf, asalso had one of the others, while the remaining two were provided withskins of wolves. Securing their horses to some trees near the banks ofthe river, the hunters covered their backs with the skins. Trailingtheir rifles along the ground, Laurence and his companion with the calfskin cautiously crept towards the buffalo, while the men in wolves'clothing followed at a distance. As they advanced, the animals stoppedto watch them, uncertain what they were. Thus they were enabled to maketheir way towards the generally cautious monsters of the prairie. Theseeming wolves now crept on at faster speed, when the buffaloes, believing that some of their young were in danger of destruction fromthe savage foes they were accustomed to dread, dashed forward to rescuethem. The wolves now hastened on, and made as if they were about tospring on the calves. As the buffaloes rushed up, the hunters sprang totheir feet, and firing at the heads of the confiding and faithfulanimals, brought three of them to the ground. The rest, astonished atfinding themselves face to face with human foes, turning round, bellowing with rage, galloped away. The unfortunate animals werequickly despatched with the hunters' knives. The bodies were thendragged by the horses to the wood which bordered the stream. As much ofthe meat as the horses could carry was then packed, ready to betransported to the camp the following morning, while the remainder washung up on the higher branches of the neighbouring trees. The huntersnext lighted a fire, putting up a screen of birch bark to keep off thewind, while they sat down to regale themselves on the humps and otherprize portions of the animals. Here, while their horses were left topick up their food from beneath the snow, the hardy hunters purposed, without seek any other shelter, to pass the night. 

The sky had been for some time overcast, and snow began to fall heavily;but their fire blazed up brightly, and as they sat close round it, enjoying its warmth, they cared little for the thick flakes which passedby them. Steak after steak of the buffalo meat disappeared, as they sateating and boasting of their deeds of war and the chase, and fullygiving themselves up to savage enjoyment. 

Laurence listened to their tales, wondering whether he should everperform similar brave deeds. Unaccustomed for so long to the ways ofhis wild companions, he had soon satisfied his hunger, and in spite ofthe fire, feeling the cold severely, he had gone a short distance intothe wood to bring some large pieces of birch-bark with which he couldform an additional shelter for himself, by putting up a small wigwam. Having found the pieces of bark, he was on the point of returning whenthe sharp report of several rifles rang through the air, and lookingtowards the fire, he saw two of his companions stretched on the ground, while the other was in vain struggling to rise. A fierce yell followed, and directly afterwards the light of the fire fell on a party of Creewarriors, who came springing out of the darkness towards the spot. Hestopped to see no more, but, urged by the instinct of self-preservation, he made his way through the wood till he reached a thick mass of bushes, into the midst of which he threw himself, in the hopes that he mightescape the search of the savages. He lay there, expecting every instantto be discovered, and put to death. He could hear the shouts of thevictors as they hastily partook of the feast prepared by those they hadslaughtered, and having caught their horses, loaded them with thebuffalo meat. He judged by the sounds of their voices that his enemieswere moving from the spot; and as they got further and further away, hebegan to entertain the hope of escape. Still fearing that they mightcome back, he dared not move. He felt very cold and wretched, yet thehorror of the scene he had witnessed kept him from going to sleep. PoorLaurence, as he lay there almost frozen to death, not for the first timeperhaps repented of his folly in having quitted the protection of hiskind friends in the fort. The recollection, too, of the many thingsMrs Ramsay and Jeanie had said to him came back to his mind. 

"I wonder if I was to pray to the great God they told me of, He wouldtake care of me, and lead me back to them, " he thought. "They told meHe hears prayers, and would listen to those which so careless andfoolish a boy as I have been may make to Him; but then they said I mustpray through Jesus Christ; that He is good and merciful, and loves me, and died for me too. I am sure they spoke the truth, for they would notdeceive me; and so I'll pray through Jesus Christ, and ask God toprotect me; for I am sure I shall never get back to the camp of theSioux by myself without my horse, and that, of course, the Crees havecarried off. "

Poor Laurence did pray with all his heart, ignorant half-heathen that hewas in many respects. 

He soon fell asleep, and the snow came down and nearly covered up thebushes among which he lay. He awoke at length, finding a thick canopyover him, which, had he not been well clothed in furs, would probablyhave formed his shroud. He easily made his way out. 

The spot where the fire had been was covered with snow. He coulddistinguish the bodies of his companions beneath it, but he dared notdisturb them. Some of the buffalo meat which the Crees had notdiscovered still hung on the trees; he loaded himself with as much as hecould carry, and then hastened away from the fatal spot. At first hethought of attempting to reach the camp of the Sioux, but it was a longdistance off, and all the tracks had disappeared. So had those of theCrees. Should they be on the watch for their enemies, he would veryprobably fall into their hands. Then, again, the desire to be once morewith his friends at the fort came strong upon him; but how could he hopeto reach it across miles and miles of snow? It was somewhere away tothe north-east, that was all he knew; and although the son was gainingpower when the sky was bright, the wind often blew bitterly cold atnight. Yet to stay where he was would be certain death, and so thehardy boy, making up his mind to try and reach the fort, and trusting tohis strength and courage, began his hazardous journey. 

He had lived among the Indians long enough to learn something of theircunning; and as he went along he stripped off from his dress all theornaments and other signs which might show that they had beenmanufactured by the Sioux, and hid them away in a hole beneath the snow. He had a tinder-box and powder-horn in his pouch, so that he was ableto light a fire. As night approached, he made his way towards a wood, near the bank of a stream, where he could procure fuel. Here he builthimself a hut with birch-bark, banking it up thickly with snow. He hadnot forgotten the fate of his companions on the previous night; but hehoped that the Crees were by this time far away, and he knew that, without a fire, he should run the risk of being destroyed by wolvesprowling about. He therefore made it inside the hut, where it was alsowell sheltered from the wind, and he hoped that the light would not beseen at a distance; his chief fear was that, should he sleep too long itmight go out. Closing the entrance of his hut with a sheet of bark, hemade up his fire, and sat down to sup on a piece of meat which he cookedbefore it. There was but little space in his hut to allow him to go tosleep without the risk of burning his clothes, though he had drawnhimself as far away from it as he could, and leaned back against thewall of the hut. Fatigue at length, however, overcame his desire tokeep on the alert. 

He was awoke by hearing a wild howling around him: he knew the soundfull well; it was that of a pack of wolves. His fire had almost goneout; he hurriedly scraped the embers together, and drew in from thefront of the hut some fuel which he had kept in store. The voices ofthe wolves came nearer and nearer. He had just time to light a bundleof sticks when he heard the savage animals close to his hut. He boldlywent out and waved his torch around, shouting and shrieking with all hismight. The wolves, alarmed at the sudden glare of the light and thesound of a human voice, took to flight. He once more closed theentrance of his hut and sat down. It did not occur to him that it washis duty to return thanks to God for his deliverance. He fancied thatit was his cleverness and boldness that had saved him. He had beenready to ask that unknown Great Spirit to preserve him. How many dailyreceive blessings from the Giver of all good, and yet ungratefullyforget to acknowledge them and refuse to do His will!

Fear of the wolves prevented Laurence from sleeping soundly, and hestarted up constantly, expecting to hear their savage howlings. 

Daylight came at last, and he once more pushed forward over the snow. He had cooked a piece of buffalo meat, which he ate beneath the shelterof a bank, when he saw the sun high in the sky. It restored hisstrength for a time; but as night again approached he felt far moreweary than on the previous day. He built a hut as before, and lighted afire, and scarcely had he eaten his supper before he dropped off tosleep. He awoke, feeling very cold, though somewhat refreshed; andgreat was his surprise to find the sun already high in the sky. He hadbeen preserved from danger during the hours of darkness; but, alas! hedid not kneel down to pray, but thought only that it was very fortunatethe wolves had not come near him, and he hoped to have the same goodluck, so he called it, the next night. 

"I daresay I shall be able to reach the fort, notwithstanding my fears, in a few days, " he said to himself. "I must try to avoid the Crees, though; but I fancy that I am clever enough to do that. "

He trudged bravely on, hour after hour. The sky was clear, and the sunenabled him to direct his course with tolerable accuracy. Still hisfeet, inured though he was to fatigue, felt very weary, and he longed toarrive at the end of his journey. Sometimes he regretted that he hadnot tried to make his way to the Sioux camp; he might have reached itsooner. No wood was in sight, where he might build his hut and light afire as usual for the night. He gnawed, as he walked on, a piece of thehard frozen meat, a small portion of which now only remained. Still hewas afraid to stop. 

A level plain, covered with snow, lay before him; he looked around invain for some sheltering hill or wood. The sun was sinking low on hisleft. He must try, before darkness set in, to make his way across thatwide plain. He did his utmost to exert his remaining strength. Darkness at last came on. He fancied he could distinguish a wood and arange of hills in the distance. He would make a desperate effort toreach it. Suddenly he found himself sinking in the snow. He struggledto get out, but sank lower and lower. He had fallen into a gully orwater-course, now filled up by drift-snow. At length, finding hisefforts vain, he gave himself up for lost, every moment expecting thatthe snow wreath would overwhelm him. As he lay there, he could see thestars come out and shine brightly over his head, and thus he knew thatthere was an opening above him; but he was afraid to move lest he mightbring the snow down upon his head. Sheltered from the wind, he felttolerably warm, and at last, in spite of his perilous position, he fellfast asleep. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

LAURENCE IN THE SNOW--DISCOVERED BY CREES--RESCUED--CONVEYED TO THECHIEF'S TENT--KINDNESS OF THE OLD CHIEF--ESCORTED TO THE FORT--FEARS ASTO HIS RECEPTION--KINDLY WELCOMED BY MR. RAMSAY--LAURENCE AGAIN FALLSSICK--MRS. RAMSAY EXPLAINS THE GOSPEL TO HIM--LAURENCE BEGINS TOUNDERSTAND IT. 

Daylight came again. Laurence, on opening his eyes, found himselfsurrounded by a high wall of snow. He was hungry, but he had consumedevery particle of food. His strength was almost gone. He somewhatassuaged his thirst by eating a little snow, though that gave him butmomentary relief. Again he made an attempt to get out, hoping bybeating down the snow to form steps in the side of the wall up which hemight climb, but the snow came sliding down in vast masses upon him, andby the time he had struggled out of it he felt so weak that he wasunable to make any further effort. With a cry of despair he fell backon the heap which had been formed by the snow slipping down, and out ofwhich he had just made his way. For some minutes he was unconscious. Then the barking of dogs once more aroused him. The sound of humanvoices struck his ear. He listened with breathless anxiety to hear thelanguage they spoke. They drew near. "I am lost if they find me, " hesaid to himself. "They are Crees. " Directly afterwards, several dogspoked their noses over the edge of the pit and barked to attract theattention of their masters. He waited, expecting in a few minutes to beput to death. Then, casting his eyes upwards, he saw the faces of twosavages looking down upon him. He knew them at once to be Crees. Hetried to speak--not to ask their pity, for that he believed would beuseless, but, after the Indian fashion, to dare them to do their worst. His tongue, however, refused its office. Presently he saw thembeginning to scrape away the snow; and as they commenced at the top, they were soon able to form some rough steps in the side of the pit, down which one of them descended. Laurence closed his eyes, expectingto have the scalp cut from his head. Instead of that the Cree liftedhim in his arms, and, with the assistance of his companion, soon broughthim to the surface. Making a wide circuit, to avoid the gully, togetherthey bore him across the plain. They were directing their coursetowards some lodges which were erected close to a wood, and under theshelter of a high hill. On reviving, Laurence found himself in a largeroomy hut, by the side of a fire, near which sat a tall Indian somewhatadvanced in years. A squaw was chafing his feet, while another, bendingover the fire, was cooking a mess of broth. She soon came round to him, and poured some of the warm mixture down his throat, which greatlyrevived him. He tried to sit up, but again fell back on the pile ofskins on which his head had been resting. 

"Do not try to move, young pale face, " said the chief. "Your strengthhas gone for a while, but the Great Spirit will soon restore it. Youshall then tell me whence you come, and how you happened to be where mysons found you. We are friends of the pale faces, and would gladly aidyou to the best of our power. "

These words greatly revived Laurence's spirits. The chief, however, insisted on not letting him speak until he had taken some rest. Thekind squaw had put on his feet some warm dry socks, and then beganchafing his hands, and in a short time he again fell asleep. 

When Laurence awoke there was no one in the tent. This gave him time toconsider what he should say. He would speak truly, and tell the Creechief that he wished to make his way to the fort, and would be gratefulto him if he would assist him in reaching it. He soon found, however, when he attempted to rise, that he was utterly unable to do so. Thechief smiled when he heard his account. 

"You speak but partly the truth, " he said. "Still, you are a pale face, and I regard the pale faces with affection. When you are restored tostrength I'll conduct you thither; for it is some way off, and unaided, without horses, or weapons to defend yourself or obtain food, you wouldnot have been able to find your way there. I know with whom you havebeen, though you have pulled off the ornaments. That dress wasmanufactured by the Sioux. However, though you were foolish to consortwith such people, you are wisely making your escape from them. So speakno more about it. "

Laurence felt ashamed of himself at having been so easily detected. Heat once acknowledged that the chief was right in his conjectures. 

For several days he was kept in the tent of the friendly chief, andtreated by his squaws as if he had been a son. When he had sufficientlyrecovered to sit on horseback, the chief, covering him with a thickcloak of furs, set out with a party of his people towards the fort. Even although they formed a strong party, as it was possible that bandsof Sioux might attack them, scouts were sent out in all directions tofeel their way as they advanced. 

In what a wretched state is man who knows not God, and loves not theSaviour! Instead of peace, goodwill, and friendly intercourse existingin that savage land, every man's hand is against his neighbour, and ineach stranger he expects to find a foe. 

The party, however, reached the neighbourhood of the fort withoutmeeting any enemies. Laurence had left his friends, proud of hisrecovered strength, and fancying that he was about to enjoy the libertyof a savage life. He was now returning sick and weak, and a feeling ofshame and doubt of the reception he might meet with stole over him. Hekept behind the chief and his party, and hung down his head as they drewnear the gates. They were recognised from the fort, and several of thegarrison came out to give them a friendly greeting. 

The old chief related how his sons had found and rescued the white-skinboy, and Laurence was brought forward just as Mr Ramsay, followed byhis wife and daughter, appeared from their house. Jeanie recognised himin a moment, and running forward, took his hand, exclaiming, "Oh, Laurence, is it you? I am so glad you have come back. We all thoughtharm would befall you among those savage Sioux. You look pale and ill. Oh papa! mamma! it is Laurence, " she added, looking towards her parents, who were advancing. 

Laurence was silent. It was so long since he had spoken English that hecould not for some seconds find words to express himself. Mr Ramsaywarmly shook him by the hand, and his wife welcomed him with the samecordiality, while not a syllable of reproach did they utter. 

"He does indeed look ill, " said Mrs Ramsay. "Come to the house, mypoor boy, " she said. "Your old room shall be prepared for you, and youcan tell us all that has happened by-and-by. "

Laurence burst into tears. The reception he met with was so differentfrom what he had expected that it overcame him. He had borne up duringthe journey, but his strength now gave way; and he required almost thesame attention and care that he had before received. 

"I was indeed wicked and foolish in choosing to go and live with my oldsavage friends, instead of remaining with you, good Christian people, who are so kind to me, " he said at length to Mrs Ramsay, as she sat byhis bedside. "Can you forgive me?"

"Yes, indeed we can; and we are very thankful that you have been broughtback to us, " she answered. "God himself shows that we ought to receivethose who have done wrong when they repent and desire to return to theright way. He himself in His mercy is always thus ready to receiverepentant sinners who desire to be reconciled to Him. I'll read to youthe parable of the prodigal son, and you will then understand how Godthe Father, as He in His goodness allows us to call Him, receives allHis children who come back to Him, acknowledging their sins andtransgressions. He not only does this, but He has pointed out a way bywhich the sinner can be reconciled to Him, and have all his sinscompletely blotted out, or put out of remembrance and done away with. That way is by simple faith in the atoning blood of Jesus; in otherwords, God desires us to believe that Jesus, His own well-beloved Son, pure and holy and sinless, became man, and was punished by death on thecross instead of us; and thus His justice, which can by no meansoverlook or forgive sin, is perfectly satisfied with that punishment, and He considers the debt we owe Him fully paid. Can you understandthis, Laurence?"

"I will try to do so, " answered the boy. "But I do not understand ityet. "

"Then you must pray for the aid of God's Holy Spirit to enable you tounderstand it; for He alone has the power of doing that. All that oneperson can do for others is simply to explain the truth to them, and toread God's Word to them, or urge them to read it if they can. You, Laurence, must learn to read it without delay. "

"Oh, yes, I will try now, " he said, "if you and Jeanie will teach me. Iwas very idle before. "

"That we will gladly, " answered Mrs Ramsay. "But, recollect, you mustnot only try to read, but you must ask God's Holy Spirit to enable youto understand it also. It is not sufficient to know that Christ died onthe cross to reconcile sinners to God; but you must believe that He diedfor you, and to reconcile you to God; for without that, whatever you maydo or profess, you are still in your sins, an outcast from God, anddeserving, as you will assuredly receive, punishment for your sins. "

"Tell me, Mrs Ramsay, how am I to believe that Christ died for me? Ifeel that I am wicked, and very unlike what you, and Mr Ramsay, andJeanie are, who are Christians; but I cannot think that the Son of Godshould have suffered death for a poor miserable boy like me. "

"It's very simple. God does not give us a very difficult task, "answered Mrs Ramsay. "All He requires of us is to take Him at Hisword: `God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, thatwhosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife. ' You understand, Laurence, that God does not say, only people whohave have been generally well behaved, and are supposed to be good, but_whosoever_, which includes every human being, however bad and abandonedthey may have been. The prodigal son had been very ungrateful and verywicked, but his father received him as soon as he came back. Thatparable was told by Christ himself, to show that His Father in heavengladly receives all sinners returning to Him. When God says, `He soloved the world, ' He means the people in the world, and we know that theworld lies in wickedness. Oh, trust God, for He is loving and merciful, and without doubt or fear accept His offers of reconciliation. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

ARRIVAL OF MR. MARTIN, THE MISSIONARY--HE PREACHES THE GOSPEL TO THEINDIANS--LAURENCE LISTENS WITH ATTENTION--LEARNS MORE OF THE TRUTH, ANDEXPRESSES HIS WISH TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO OTHERS--THE SPRING RETURNS. 

A keen, strong wind was blowing, driving the heavy snow which fell insmall sharp flakes over the ground, when, one evening shortly after thearrival of Laurence, a dog sleigh was seen approaching the fort. Thesleigh, which was simply a narrow board turned up in front, a slightiron frame forming the sides and back, and lined with buffalo skins, wasdrawn by six dogs, harnessed two and two, while the driver ran behind, with a long whip guiding the animals. On it came, in spite of the snowstorm, at rapid speed, for the sagacious dogs knew that they had nearlyreached the end of their journey. The traveller, who had faced thedangers of a long journey over the trackless wintry waste, was welcomedby Mr Ramsay, who conducted him to the house. Some time elapsed, however, before he could venture near a fire, after the bitter cold towhich he had been exposed. 

"We have been long looking for you, Mr Martin, " said Mrs Ramsay, asshe came out to greet him; "and thank Heaven that you have arrived insafety. "

"We should thank the God of heaven and earth for all the blessings wereceive, " answered Mr Martin, who was the missionary Mrs Ramsay hadbeen so anxious should come to form a station near the fort. "I shallbe amply repaid if I am permitted to win souls to Christ in thisneighbourhood. "

"It will be a hard task, for they are deeply sunk in heathen ignorance, "observed Mr Ramsay. 

"An impossible task, if man alone were to engage in it, " said MrMartin. "Man, however, is but the humble instrument; God the HolySpirit is the active agent, and with Him nothing is impossible. Let uslabour on, confident in that glorious fact; and whatever may appear inthe way, we may be sure that the victory will be won, not by us, but byHim, who is all-powerful. "

Such was the faith in which the new missionary commenced his laboursamong the savage Crees of the woods and plains who frequented theneighbourhood of the fort. The glad tidings of salvation by faith inthe blood of the Lamb, shed for sinful man, sounded strange in theirears. Strange, too, it seemed to them, when they were told of His greatlove, which made Him willingly yield himself up as an all-atoningsacrifice of His abounding goodwill; and stranger still seemed His law, that man should not only love his neighbours himself, but should lovehis enemies; should do good to those who despitefully use and abuse him, and should willingly forgive all who offend him, as he hopes to beforgiven by God for his offences. 

Among his most earnest hearers on the first day he preached the gospelto the Indians assembled in the fort was young Laurence. He hadsufficiently recovered to leave the house, though he was now alwaysunwilling to be absent from it longer than he could help. All the timehe was within doors he was endeavouring to learn to read that wonderfulBook, which God in His mercy has given to man, that he may know His willand understand His dealings with mankind. 

Laurence, however, as yet had made little progress in reading, but hecould listen to Jeanie and her mother read to him without ever growingweary. 

Still as yet his mind did not comprehend many of the more glorioustruths, and he held to the idea that he himself had some great work todo, to merit the love of God and the glory of Heaven. 

He asked Mr Martin how he was to set about the work. "I want to bevery good, " he said, "and to do something with which God will be highlypleased, and then I am sure I shall go to heaven when I die. "

"My dear young friend, " answered Mr Martin, "had you read the Bible, you would have found that `there are none that do good, no, not one;'and that `God came not to call the righteous, but sinners torepentance. ' God will certainly be well pleased with you, not from anygood works which you can do, but simply if you banish all thoughts ofyour own merits, and put faith in His well-beloved Son; then He willassuredly fulfil His promise to make you heir with Him of eternal life, and receive you into that glorious heaven he has prepared for all thosewho love Him. "

"But I am afraid, sir, that I can never have faith enough or love enoughto satisfy God. "

"You certainly, my young friend, can never have too much faith or toomuch love, " said Mr Martin. "But God does not say that He will measureour faith or our love, or our sorrow for sin, but He simply tells us totake him at His word, to show our love by our obedience; and then JesusChrist tells us what He would have all those who love Him to do, namely, to follow His example--to make known His Gospel among those who do notknow it. Have you read the account of the thief on the cross?"

"I have heard it, " said Laurence. "Jeanie read it to me yesterday. "

"Did it not occur to you that, when Christ told that dying thief that heshould be with Him in paradise, it was not on account of his burningfaith, still less because he had performed any works, or because ofobedience, but simply because he believed that He who hung like himselfon the cross was the Messiah who should come into the world to die forsinful men. But though He saves all who come to Him, simply if theywill but trust Him, He desires these to remain in the world, as Hedesired His disciples, to make His Gospel known among their companions, to tell them what great things the Lord has done for their souls; whileto some He gives the command to go forth with the glad tidingsthroughout all lands; and thus He has put it into my heart, and enabledme to come here to win souls for Him. "

Day after day Laurence listened to these and other glorious truths whichMr Martin unfolded to him from God's Word, and when the missionary wasotherwise engaged, Jeanie or Mrs Ramsay read to him, or assisted him inlearning to read. He felt himself becoming, as he was indeed, a newcreature; his old habits of thought were passing away. He wonderedsometimes how he could have thought as he had done. 

"Ah, then I was in darkness, " he said to himself. "I knew nothing ofthe love of God I knew not how sinful I was, and how He hates sin, though He loves the sinner. I knew not that God is so pure and holythat even the heavens are not clean in His sight; and I had no idea howsinful sin is, how contrary in every way to God. I had little thoughtthat God, my loving Father, would hear the prayers of so wicked, waywarda child as I was, and as I am indeed still, if left to myself in my ownnakedness; but I know now that He does not look at me as I am in myself, but as I am clothed with Christ's righteousness. Trusting in Him, I amno longer naked, but dressed in His pure and spotless robe, at which Godwill alone look when I offer up my prayers; and that, for the sake ofHis son, He listens to all who are thus clothed. Oh how thankful Iought to be that God has made known these joyous things to me!"

When, some days afterwards, Laurence expressed the same thoughts to MrMartin, the missionary replied, "Now these things are yours, can you beso selfish as not to desire to make them known to others?"

"Oh, indeed, I do wish to make them known, " exclaimed Laurence. "Ishould like to tell every one I meet of them, and to go forth and findpeople to whom to tell them. "

"Before you do that, you must prepare yourself, you must be armed forthe battle you will have to fight; for a severe battle it is, and youwill find Satan, the great enemy to the truth, ever ready to oppose you. The thought of this, however, will stimulate you to make the necessarypreparations, by study and prayer; and I trust, Laurence, that some dayGod will employ you as His missionary among the savage Indians of thislong-benighted land. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

LAURENCE LEARNS WHAT IT IS TO BE A CHRISTIAN--GETS LEAVE TO SET OUT INSEARCH OF HIS FATHER--STARTS ON AN EXPEDITION WITH PETER, A CHRISTIANCREE--DISCOVERS TWO OF MICHAEL'S TRAPS--A PARTY OF BLACKFEET--BLACKFEETWOUND OLD MICHAEL--BLACKFEET CAPTURED--LAURENCE GOES TO HIS FATHER'SASSISTANCE--PETER PREACHES TO THE BLACKFEET, AND INVITES THEM TO THEFORT--THE BLACKFEET SET AT LIBERTY--HEARING LAURENCE EXPLAIN THE GOSPELTO HIM--LAURENCE CONVEYS THE OLD TRAPPER TO THE FORT--NARRATES TO MR. MARTIN HIS FORMER LIFE--MR. MARTIN TELLS HIM THAT THE QUEEN HAS PARDONEDHIM--THE OLD TRAPPER AT LENGTH BELIEVES THE TRUTH--RETURNS WITH LAURENCETO CANADA--LAURENCE RESTORED TO HIS PARENTS--REVISITS THE FORT AS AMISSIONARY. 

Spring was now advancing. Laurence was anxiously looking out for thereturn of his father. He would, at all events, have longed to see him;but his desire to do so was greatly increased by his wish to impart tohim a knowledge of the glorious truths he himself possessed. Havinglearned the priceless value of his own soul, he could now appreciatethat of others. 

Laurence's faith was simple, and he enjoyed a clear view of the gospeltruth. 

From every Indian who came to the fort he made inquiries for the oldtrapper, who was known to many of them. At length several broughttidings of his death. Laurence refused to believe them; and when MrRamsay came to cross-question his visitors, he found that they had onlyheard the report from others. Laurence, therefore, begged that he mightbe allowed to go out and search for the old man. 

"I know all his haunts so well, " he said, "that I am sure I shall findhim better than any one else; he may be sick in some distant place, andunable to come as he promised. "

So earnestly did he plead that Mr Ramsay, hoping that his old friendmight still be alive, could no longer refuse to let him go. 

A Cree who had become a Christian, and was named Peter, offered toaccompany him; and Laurence thankfully accepted his assistance. 

The only provision they took with them was a good supply of pemmican;but they had an abundance of ammunition, knowing that they might dependfor their support on the animals they might shoot. 

"You will come back, Laurence, when you have found your father?" saidJeanie, as, with tears in her eyes, she wished him good-bye. 

"If God spares me, and I have the means to do so, I will come back, whether I find him or not; I promise you that, " answered Laurence. "That object alone would have induced me to quit the fort. I have nolonger any wish to roam or lead the wild life of a trapper; and when Ireturn, my great desire will be to go on with the study of that blessedBook which you first taught me to read and love. "

"I taught you to read it, but God's Holy Spirit could alone have taughtyou to love it, " answered Jeanie. 

Laurence and Peter, followed by the prayers of many in the fort, set outon their expedition. The appearance of the country was now completelychanged from the stern aspect it had worn but a few weeks before. Treesand shrubs were clothed with a livery of green of varied hues, the grasswas springing up in rich luxuriance, and flowers exhibited theirgem-like tints in the valleys and woods; full streams flowed with rapidcurrents, sparkling along; numberless birds flew through the air, swarmed on the lakes, or perched on the boughs of the forest-trees. 

Laurence led the way towards the spot where he and his father hadconcealed their traps before they set out to visit the fort, believingthat old Michael would to a certainty have visited them, and hoping tofind some traces beyond showing the direction he had afterwards taken. Peter agreed with him that this was the best course to pursue. Thejourney would take them many days. Although so long a time had elapsed, from habit Laurence recollected the various landmarks, and was able todirect his course with great accuracy. 

They arrived at length at the spot where the white wolf-skin had beenconcealed. It was gone; and from the tracks near it, which an Indianalone would have observed, Peter was of opinion that Michael must haveremoved it. On they went, therefore, over hill and dale, camping atnight by the side of a fire, the warm weather enabling them to dispensewith any shelter, towards the next spot where the wolf traps had beenconcealed. These also had been taken, and Peter found the tree to whichthe old man had tied his horse while he fastened them on their backs. They soon reached the wood within which Laurence had assisted to hidethe beaver traps. They also had been removed. 

"Now I know that my father intended to begin trapping as soon as thespring commenced, " observed Laurence. "See, he took his way onwardthrough the wood towards the north, instead of returning by the road hecame. "

Laurence and Peter's keen eyes easily distinguished the twigs which thehorses had broken as the old trapper led them through the wood. Probably he intended to spend the remainder of the winter in a wigwam byhimself, as he often had done, or else in the lodges of some friendlyCrees. 

Laurence and Peter now went confidently on, expecting before long tomeet with further traces of the old trapper. The borders of all theneighbouring lakes and streams were visited, but no signs of his havingtrapped there were discovered. Many leagues were passed over, till atlast an Indian village was reached. It consisted not of neat cottages, but of birch-bark wigwams of a sugar-loaf form, on the banks of astream, a few patches of Indian corn and some small tobacco plantationsbeing the only signs of cultivation around; fish sported in the river;and the wild animals of the forest afforded the inhabitants the chiefmeans of subsistence. They welcomed the travellers. Peter was of theirtribe. They gave them tidings of old Michael. He had been seen to passjust before the snow had begun to melt in the warmer valleys. 

Peter did not fail to tell his red-skinned brothers of the wonderfultidings the white-face missionary at the fort had brought. 

"The great God of the white-faces loves us as much as He does them, " heexclaimed. "He wishes us to go and dwell with Him in a far better landthan the happy hunting-grounds we have hitherto heard of. He says thatwe are wicked, and deserve punishment; but He has allowed another, Hisown well-beloved Son, to be punished instead of us; and all He wants usto do is to believe that His dutiful and well-beloved Son was sopunished, and to follow the example which He set while He was on earth. "

"These are wise things you tell us, " cried several of the Crees; "buthow do you know that it is so?"

"Because it is all written in a book which He has given to us. He sendsHis Holy Spirit to all who seek for His aid to understand that book. "

Laurence assured the Crees that he had thought us they then did a shorttime ago, but that now he knew that all Peter said was true. Soearnestly did Peter plead the cause of the gospel, that many of theCrees promised to visit the fort, to hear from the missionary himselffurther on the subject. 

Several of the inhabitants offered to accompany Laurence and his friendsto assist them in their search, and to spread the strange tidings theyhad heard among others of their tribe whom they might fall in with. 

For several days they journeyed on, lakes and streams being visited asbefore. At last they found a broken trap. Laurence, on examining it, decided that it belonged to his father. Still he must have gone furtherto the west. Laurence began to fear that he might have wandered into apart of the country frequented by Blackfeet and Peigans, among the mostsavage tribes of the Sioux. 

"He is friendly with many of the Sioux, among whom, indeed, I wasbrought up, " observed Laurence, "and fears none of them. Still, I knowhow treacherous many of them are; and he may, I fear, have fallen intotheir power. This will account for his not returning to the fort. "

"He may, however, have escaped them, and be still trapping about here, as it is a rich country for the beaver, " observed Peter. "We may thenhope ere long to find him. "

The party now advanced more cautiously than before. They had certainproof that old Michael was in the neighbourhood; for Laurencediscovered, by the side of a beaver pond, another of his father's traps. Why it was deserted he could not tell. Peter was of opinion that hehad hurried away from the spot, probably on account of the appearance ofenemies, and had been unable to return. This increased Laurence'sanxiety. They now advanced according to Indian custom, concealingthemselves behind every bush and rock, and climbing each height or talltree whence they could obtain a view of the surrounding country. 

It was towards evening, and they were looking out for a sheltered placefor their camp. Peter had gone to the summit of a hill and gazed aroundfor the purpose mentioned, when he came hurrying down. 

"There are Blackfeet at the further end of the valley, " he said, "and bytheir movements they are evidently watching for some one. If it is yourfather, we have no time to lose. We outnumber them, and may hope easilyto come off victorious. "

"Oh, let us not delay a moment, or we may be too late to save him, "exclaimed Laurence; and they and their allies pushed on as before in thedirection where Peter had seen the Blackfeet. By carefully keepingamong the thick underwood and trees they hoped to take their enemies bysurprise. 

"Remember, my friends, " said Laurence, "that though we conquer them, weare to endeavour to spare their lives, and by no means to injure them. "

With stealthy steps Laurence and his friends advanced towards theBlackfeet, of whom they now discovered there were but five, while hisparty numbered eight. They were so eager in tracking whatever they werein pursuit of that, notwithstanding their usual wariness, they did notdiscover the approach of Laurence and the Crees. Presently theBlackfeet were seen to draw their bows, and several arrows winged theirflight through the air. At the same time Laurence caught sight of thefigure of a man, who sprang up from where he had been seated near a fireto seek shelter behind a rock, firing his rifle as he did so. Laurencerecognised his father, and to his horror saw that two arrows had piercedhis body. The moment he fired, one of the Blackfeet fell to the ground. The old man stood as if uninjured, calmly reloading his weapon; whilethe Indians, with their bows ready drawn to shoot should he reappear, sprang towards the thick trunks of some neighbouring trees to escape hisfire. They were thus separated from each other, and brought nearer towhere Laurence and his party lay concealed. Peter now made a sign tohis companions, and in a few bounds they were up to the Blackfeet, who, thus taken unawares, were pinioned and brought to the ground before theycould turn round and shoot their arrows or draw their hatchets fromtheir belts. 

Laurence, leaving his companions to guard their prisoners, who, expecting instant death, had assumed that stoic indifference of whichIndians boast, hastened to the assistance of his father. He shouted ashe ran, "Father, father, I am coming to you. "

The old man, who had sunk on one knee, with rifle ready prepared tofight to the last, fortunately recognised his voice. "What have becomeof the Blackfeet, boy?" were his first words. "I saw the Crees springfrom under cover to attack them. Have they killed the treacherousvermin?"

"No, father, " answered Laurence. "Our friends made them prisoners. Wewill spare their lives, and pray God to soften their hearts. "

"What is that you say?" asked Michael. "The Crees will surely killthem, and take their scalps, unless they wish to carry them to theirlodges, that their wives and children may torture them as they deserve. But I feel faint, Laurence; their arrows have made some ugly wounds inmy flesh; help me to get them out. "

Laurence saw with grief that his father was indeed badly hurt; and as hesupported him, he shouted to Peter to come to his assistance. Peter, having helped to secure their prisoners, soon appeared. The oldtrapper, notwithstanding his hardihood, had fainted from pain and lossof blood. Peter's first care was to extricate the arrows, which, thoughthey had inflicted severe injuries, had mercifully not reached any vitalpart. He and Laurence then, having bound up his wounds, carried him tohis little wigwam, which stood close by. Within it were a large supplyof skins, several traps, and articles for camp use, to obtain whichprobably the treacherous Blackfeet had attacked old Michael. In themeadow hard by his horses were also found. Laurence sat by his side, supporting his head, and moistening his parched lips. He soonsufficiently recovered to speak. 

"I was about to return, Laurence, " he said, "but I wished to bring agood amount of skins to pay for your charges, should you wish to remainlonger at the fort, and learn the ways of the white man; or if not, tofit you out, that you might come back and trap with me. We might havehad some pleasant days again together, boy; but had you and our friendsnot appeared the moment you did, the Blackfeet would have put an end toall my plans. "

"Father, " said Laurence, "I never wished to desert you; but it wouldhave been a sore trial to me to leave the fort; and if God in His mercyspares your life, I pray that you may return there with me, and that wemay employ our time in a better way than in trapping beaver. "

"No, no! God cannot have mercy on such a one as I am, " groaned Michael;"and it's hard to say whether I shall ever get back to the fort. "

"Oh, but God is a God of love and mercy, " cried Laurence. "He delightsin showing mercy and forgiveness. You must hear what Mr Martin, themissionary, will tell you about Him; then I am sure you will wish tostop and hear more, and to serve and love Him. "

Peter now came back with the old trapper's horses to the camp, near towhich his friends had dragged their prisoners. He had had muchdifficulty in persuading the Crees not to put to death the Blackfeet. He had still a harder task to perform. 

"Friends, " he said, "according to Indian custom you might kill them; butI have learned a new law, which is just and true--given me by anall-powerful, kind, and merciful Master, who commands His servants toforgive their enemies, and to do good to those who injure them. Ourprisoners were doing a wicked thing, and have been severely punished, for one of their number lies dead. I would that he were alive again, that he might hear what I have to say. I must pray you, therefore, tolet these men go. We will take their arms, that they may do us nofurther injury; but we will give them food, that they may return totheir friends, to tell them about the love of our great Father; that Hedesires all His children to serve Him, and to be at peace with eachother. "

Peter then, in a simple way, suited to the comprehension of his hearers, unfolded to them the gospel plan of salvation. The Blackfeet listenedwith astonished ears, and could scarcely believe the fact that they wereallowed to go free and uninjured. Peter then invited them to the fort, and promised to receive them as friends, and to tell them more of thewonderful things of which he had spoken. The coals of fire which heheaped on their heads appeared really to have softened their hearts. Having, with the assistance of the Crees, buried their companion, byPeter's desire their arms were unbound, and they were set at liberty. Uttering expressions of gratitude such as rarely fall from an Indian'slips, they took their departure, promising ere long to pay him a visitat the fort. 

A night's rest sufficiently restored old Michael to enable him tocommence his journey on one of the horses to the fort, while the othercarried his peltries and traps. Laurence walked all the way at the headof his steed, endeavouring by his conversation to keep up the spirits ofhis father, and never failing, at every opportunity, to introduce thesubject nearest his heart. The old man listened to what he said; but heseldom made any answer. He offered, however, no opposition to hisremarks. Frequently Laurence feared that he would sink from the effectsof his wounds; but his life was mercifully preserved, and at length thefort was reached. 

There was sincere rejoicing as Laurence was seen leading his father'shorse up to the gate. The old trapper was carried into Mr Ramsay'shouse, and there received that watchful care he so greatly needed. Hegradually recovered his strength. One of his first visitors was MrMartin. His object, as may be supposed, was not to talk of temporalaffairs, but to unfold to him, as he perceived that his mind was capableof comprehending it, God's merciful plan of salvation. 

The old man's heart, unlike that of his young son, appeared so hardenedand seared, from having long rejected Divine truth, that some peoplemight have given up the attempt in despair; but Mr Martin had too muchknowledge of the human heart, and too firm a faith of the all-powerfulinfluence of God the Holy Spirit, to relax his efforts. From no idlecuriosity, he endeavoured to draw from Michael some account of his earlylife. He was, he found, an Englishman, and that he had been for sometime married and settled in Canada, when he had joined the rebellionwhich broke out many years ago against the authority of the BritishGovernment. Having acted as a leader in some of the more desperateenterprises in which a few of the misguided inhabitants engaged at thattime, a price was set on his head. He escaped, however, to the wilds ofthe Far West, where, both from inclination and necessity, he had takento the pursuit of a trapper. He quickly learned the language both ofthe Crees and Sioux, and other tribes among whom he wandered. He gainedtheir confidence and friendship;--he believed, indeed, that he couldlead them to any purpose he might entertain, and all sorts of wild planspassed through his mind. One enterprise he was, unfortunately, able tocarry out. One of his daughters had married a gentleman of someproperty who had been a firm adherent of the Government, and Moggs had, in consequence, conceived a bitter hatred against him, which time in noway had lessened. Several years passed by, when he heard that hisdaughter had a son, then about four years of age; and he formed thebarbarous idea of carrying off the child. He had little difficulty inobtaining the assistance of a band of Indians; and, disguising himselfas one of them, he led an attack on the place, and succeeded too well inhis nefarious project. As the country was in a disturbed state at thetime, the attack was supposed to have been instigated by Americansympathisers, and the real culprit was not suspected. Making good hisretreat, he did not stop till he had got many hundred miles away fromthe borders of Canada; and believing that he might still be traced, heplaced the child under charge of an old squaw belonging to a tribe ofSioux, with whom he had formed a friendship. Strangely inconsistent asit would seem, an affection for the boy grew up in his hard heart; andin time, oppressed with the solitary life he had doomed himself to lead, he determined to make him his companion in his trapping expeditions. 

"Has no remorse ever visited you?" asked Mr Martin, when the old manhad finished his narrative. 

"Yes, sometimes my thoughts have been terrible, " groaned Michael. 

"Then pray God that it may be a repentance to salvation not to berepented of. With regard, however, to your temporal affairs, my friend, I can assure you that, through the clemency of the Queen of England, allthe rebels in Canada at the time you speak of have been forgiven. "

"Ah, sir, " exclaimed Michael Moggs, "the Queen may have forgiven some, but she cannot have forgiven me. You must, I am sure, be mistaken. "

"But, my friend, if I can show you her proclamation, in which shedeclares that she overlooks and pardons all those rebellious subjectswho rose against her authority, and allows those who have fled thecountry to return under her rule, would you then believe me?"

"I suppose I could not help it, " said Michael. "Let me see the paper. "

Mr Martin went to his room, and returned with the document he spoke of. 

"I have preserved it, " he said, "for I am pleased with the graciousterras in which it is couched. "

Old Michael read the paper with intense interest. 

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "I can no longer doubt the fact. Had I not keptaway from those who knew of this, I might long ago have been enjoyingthe comforts and pleasures of the home I abandoned, and have againbecome a member of civilised society. "

"Then, my friend, if an earthly sovereign can be so merciful andgracious, do you suppose that the King of Heaven, who has so wonderfullymanifested his love to man, is less merciful and gracious in forgivingthose who sin against Him?" said Mr Martin, feeling the importance ofnot allowing so practical an illustration of the great truth to passunemployed. "Here is God's proclamation to sinful, rebellious man, " headded, lifting his Bible before the eyes of the old trapper. "Hedeclares in this--not once, but over and over again--that He forgives, freely and fully all who come to Him; that their sins and iniquities areblotted out and remembered no more; that `though your sins be asscarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red likecrimson, they shall be as wool;' that His pardon is a free gift, withoutmoney and without price! You have seen the Queen's proclamation, andyou believe it, and you know that you may return to your home withperfect safety, provided you take back your grandson, and restore him tohis long-bereaved parents. That they will forgive and welcome you Iknow; for they belong to Christ's flock, and I am well acquainted withthem. Now, my friend, let me entreat you to believe God's proclamation, to trust to the gracious plan He has designed, whereby you can obtainfree pardon, perfect reconciliation, and life eternal. "

"But can He ever pardon such a wretch as I am? Oh! tell me, sir, whatshall I do to be saved?"

"I'll answer, as Paul answered the jailor at Philippi, who was, we havereason to believe, a cruel and bad man, or he was very unlike others inhis occupation in those days: `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, andthou shalt be saved. ' Paul, who certainly knew what God requires, didnot tell him to go and do anything, he was simply to believe with aliving faith. That, my friend, is all you have to do; and, be assured, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will be yours; andhowever you may bewail the effects of your sins, still you will knowthat they are all put out of God's remembrance; for He sees you not asyou are, but clothed with the righteousness of Christ, with the whitespotless robes of the Lamb. "

Many days passed by, and at length the old trapper could say withconfidence, as he clasped the hand of the missionary, "I rejoice in theblood of my risen Saviour. "

Young Laurence had long before been able to say the same. 

They together soon afterwards set out for Canada. Mr Martin had notwrongly estimated the character of his Christian friends. While theyrejoiced at the return of their long-lost son, they truly heaped coalsof fire on the head of the old man by their kindness and attention. Afew years afterwards he died, in perfect peace, in their midst. Laurence's thoughts had ever been fixed on the far-off fort and itsbeloved inmates. He made rapid progress in his studies, and with theentire concurrence of his parents, at an early age he returned to act asa Catechist under Mr Martin. He was soon placed in a more importantposition, when Jeanie Ramsay became the devoted sharer of his labours inmaking known the unspeakable goodness of Christ to the red men of thewoods and prairies.