ould
not bind himself to do so. "Circumstances might change," he observed.
"He was well located where his camp was pitched, and it was trying work
to change quarters at that season of the year."

Ashatea accompanied us, with her people, down to the ice. "Do not
forget," she said, "my message to your sister Lily."

"You may trust me," I answered, making her a bow--for I felt that she
was a lady, although an Indian squaw; then off we set, hoping this time
to reach home before nightfall. Having completely recovered from our
fatigue, we got on famously. Mike did not forget to secure the
wolf-skin; and just as the sun sank behind the trees, we were saluted by
the sharp, joyous barking of Snap, Yelp, and Pop, and by the gruffer
tones of Quambo, who rushed out of the hut to welcome us home.

We had plenty of work to do after we returned home, but I managed to
make a run over to the settlement to pay a visit to my uncle and aunt
and Lily. I did not fail to give her Ashatea's message; and she was
much pleased to hear of her.

"I do hope they will come into our neighbourhood; I should be so glad to
see her again," said Lily. "Ashatea promised to take me out in her
canoe; for, you know, she is as expert as any of the men in paddling
one. She wished to show me how the Indians catch fish. And then she
said that when the rice was ripe we should go to the rice-lake to
collect it. I hope that Aunt Hannah won't object. It would be very
interesting; and there could be no possible danger, as all the Indians
in this part of the country are friendly. But, to tell you the truth,
Roger, I am quite jealous of you, as you are now able to go out into the
forest by yourself, and meet with all sorts of adventures; whilst I,
alas! am compelled to stay at home, with no other amusement than
occasionally a `sewing' or an `apple bee.'"

I, of course, sympathised with Lily, and said that I wished Aunt Hannah
would let her come out with me, and that I should take very great care
of her.

"I am afraid that she thinks we are now too old to run about together as
we used to do, when you were a boy and I was a girl," she answered.

"I wish, then, that we were young again!" I exclaimed; "although I
should not then be able to take as much care of you as I can now. I
would sooner die, Lily, than allow any harm to happen to you."

"That I am sure you would, Roger," she said; "and I should not be afraid
to trust myself with you anywhere."