l, for his part, was quite eager to go. He loved adventure and
excitement, and was very weary of the routine of life at the fort. So
his response was no less hearty than prompt.

"Why, of course I want to go, uncle," he exclaimed, his face beaming
with pleasure, and then checking himself as he thought of his aunt, he
added in a more subdued tone, "If Aunt Constance is willing for me to
go."

In her heart Madame would have very much preferred to have Raoul remain
with her, but she was too unselfish to confess it, and smiled gaily
enough as she said:

"Oh, I think I can manage to get along without you for a while, Raoul,
although I shall of course miss you both greatly."

Winter was drawing near when the party set forth, and they must needs
be not only well-armed, but well supplied with blankets and furs to
resist the cold.

[Illustration: "THE PARTY SET FORTH."]

There were twelve of them in all, six whites, and as many red men,
stalwart fellows all of them, and thoroughly fitted to endure the
hardships of their undertaking.

Madame was left in charge of the fort, with trusty old Simon Imbert as
her lieutenant.

"My prayers will follow you every foot of the way, Charles," she said
as she gave her husband a parting embrace, "and I shall be a happy
woman when I see you safe back again."

La Tour's purpose was to go clear across the peninsula to the Bay of
Fundy, seeking out the Indian encampments, buying whatever furs they
had, and arranging for further supplies. He accordingly took with him
a stock of goods such as pleased the Indian fancy.

Sufficient snow had already fallen to enable toboggans to be used, and
with their baggage loaded upon these the party made good progress
through the forest.

Raoul was in high spirits. Neither the toilsome tramping all day, nor
the sleeping under the sky instead of in his own warm bed at night, nor
the rude though abundant fare counted anything in comparison with his
pride of filling a man's place, and, as far as was possible, doing a
man's work.

There was one thing that gave him some trouble at first, however, until
he solved the difficulty by being true to his best instincts.

His aunt had taught him to pray night and morning, and in the privacy
of his own snug chamber in the fort he never omitted doing so; but when
out in the forest in the company of men who took no thought for such
things, it was very different.

Although his conscience pricked him sharply