rst time during many months towards the East.
With the same two men, and eight horses, I passed quickly through
the snow-covered country. One day later I looked my last look at the
far-stretching range of the Rocky Mountains from the lonely ridges of
the Medicine Hills. Henceforth there would be no mountains. That immense
region through which I had traveled--from Quebec to these Three Medicine
Hills--has not a single mountain ridge in its long 3000 miles; woods,
streams, and mighty rivers, ocean-lakes, rocks, hills, and prairies,
but no mountains, no rough cloud-seeking summit on which to rest the
eye that loves the bold outlined of peak and precipice.

"Ah! doctor, dear," Said an old Highland woman, dying in the Red River
Settlement long years after she had left her Highland home--"Ah! doctor,
dear, if I could but see a wee bit of hill I thinking I might get well
again."

Camped that night near a beaver lodge on the Pas-co-pe, the conversation
turned upon the mountains we had just left.

"Are they the greatest mountains in the world?" asked Paul Foyale.

"No, there are others nearly as big again."

"Is the Company there, too?" again inquired the faithful Paul.

I was obliged to admit that the Company did not exist in the country of
these very big mountains, and I rather fear that the admission somewhat
detracted from the altitude of the Himalayas in the estimation of my
hearers.

About an hour before daybreak on the 16th of December a Very remarkable
light was visible for some time in the zenith, A central orb, or heart of
red and crimson light, became suddenly visible a little to the north of
the zenith; around this most luminous centre was a great ring, or circle
of bright light, and from this outer band there flashed innumerable rays
far-into the surrounding darkness. As I looked at it, my thoughts
traveled far away to the proud city by the Seine. Was she holding herself
bravely against the German hordes? In olden times these weird lights of
the sky were supposed only to flash forth when "kings or heroes" fell.
Did the sky mirror the earth, even as the ocean mirrors the sky? While I
looked at the gorgeous spectacle blazing above me, the great heart of
France was red with the blood of her sons, and from the circles of the
German league there flashed the glare of cannon round the doomed but
defiant city.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

I start from Edmonton with Dogs--Dog-travelling--The Cabri Sack--A Cold
Day-