ome.

The preparations necessary were soon made. A number of large and small
rogans were made ready, and, in addition, the men took the precaution to
carry with them their guns and ammunition.

Minnehaha and Wenonah were very happy and proud of the honour of taking
charge of their little brother Roddy, as they loved to call him. As the
children were anxious to do their share of picking berries they were
each supplied with a little birch-bark vessel, and with great delight
did they gather quite a number of the bright red berries that were so
abundant.

As they had left the camp early in the morning they were able to do a
capital forenoon's work. At midday they all assembled at a designated
place, and much enjoyed the dinner that the servants had prepared for
them. Then again they separated, and men, women, and children were once
more very busily employed in gathering in the fruit, while pleasant chat
and merry laugh would be heard from various parts.

To add a little zest and excitement to the pleasant work the whole
company had been divided into two parties, and between them there was a
lively contest as to which should succeed in gathering the greater
quantity of berries.

Little Roderick and Wenonah were placed on one side as being equal in
their picking abilities to their older sister, Minnehaha. Very proud
were the little folks as they filled their dishes and came and emptied
them into the large vessels. Thus the contest raged, and, as the two
parties were about equal in picking abilities, the excitement rose very
high, and all exerted themselves to the utmost that their side might be
victorious.

It had been previously arranged that the contest was to cease at
sundown, so as to give them plenty of time to return to the camp in the
beautiful gloaming.

Some able-bodied Indian men were employed to carry the large birch
rogans to the selected spots, where the berries were to be measured and
the victors announced. Some time was spent in this work amid the
excitement of all, as the contest was very close.

"Where is Roderick?" said Mrs Ross.

"O, he is with Wenonah," said Minnehaha.

"And where is Wenonah?" was the question now.

No one seemed to know. And so the cry of the sweet musical name rang
out on the air:

"Wenonah! Wenonah!"

But to that call, and also to that for the little brother Roderick,
there was no response.

At once there was excitement and alarm.

"Who saw them last, and w