stop, would it have any effect? You certainly couldn't
wish a better chance to show what you can do."

Raoul was sorely puzzled to reply. He suspected that his uncle was
only seeking to make fun of him, and yet it did not seem right to
respond in the same spirit, thus making a jest of what was so sacred.

Looking very confused, he kept silence, until La Tour exclaimed
impatiently:

"Have you lost your tongue? Why don't you answer me?"

"Because I don't know what to say," murmured Raoul. "Aunt Constance
told me that we must not expect every prayer to be answered right away,
and maybe even if she were to pray for the storm to stop it would not
do it."

At this point La Tour's better nature asserted itself. He began to
feel ashamed at thus teasing the boy, and to be impressed by his
evident sincerity, so patting him affectionately upon the shoulder, he
said:

"Don't mind my foolish words, Raoul. I didn't mean to hurt your
feelings, or to weaken your faith. Keep on doing what you feel to be
right, even if you are made fun of by those who ought to know better."

Raoul was deeply touched by these words, and thenceforward admired his
uncle more than ever.

Ere he closed his eyes that night he did pray fervently for the storm
to abate, and then curled up in his blankets to sleep as soundly as if
in his own snug bed in Fort St. Louis.

He was awakened next morning by his uncle giving orders to the men in
so cheery a tone that it was evident there had been a great change in
his spirits; and, in making his way out of the half-buried tent, Raoul
at once understood the reason, for the storm was all over, and the sun
shone dazzlingly upon a world of spotless white.

"Good!" cried Raoul joyously. "Now we needn't stay here any longer. I
am so glad," and he felt like dancing a little by way of expressing his
feelings.

In his delight at the return of fine weather he might have forgotten to
be thankful for the answer to his prayer, had not Monsieur La Tour
reminded him by calling out:

"Good-morning, Raoul. You see the snow has ceased, and perhaps it was
your prayers that caused it to stop."

Raoul laughed, and shook his head in disclaimer of such being the case.

"And now, uncle, we can be off again, can't we?" he responded. "I hope
we won't have any more such storms."

In their journey across country they presently came to the region where
huge moose, the grandest of all antlered animals, were to be found