of allowing him to take
the lives of others. Darkness was coming on, and we soon lost sight of
the band. Having closed our door with more than usual care, we placed
food before our guest, of which he eagerly partook, and then told us
that his name was Sigenok; that he with others of his tribe had been out
hunting, and had been surprised by a war party of Sioux, who had taken
the scalps of all the rest. He had wandered away unarmed from the camp
when he saw all his companions killed. To revenge them, which the
Indian thought was his first duty, was then impossible, so he took to
flight, hoping to retaliate on another occasion. His wary foes,
however, discovered his trail and followed. He had caught sight of them
when they were not aware of it, and redoubled his speed, making for the
settlements. He gave us to understand that he could not have continued
his flight many more hours, and that he was very grateful to us for
preserving his life. We had brought a dog from England, and we had
lately got another, both very sagacious animals, and so we stationed
them outside the hut at a little distance to give us due notice should
the Sioux return.

Sigenok, as soon as he had satisfied his hunger, proving his confidence
in us, laid himself down in a corner of the room and was immediately
fast asleep. He spent two days with, us to recover his strength, which
had been greatly tried, and then set off to carry to his tribe the sad
tidings of the loss of their friends. For an Indian, he was a
good-looking young man, and decked with his war paint and feathers he
had a picturesquely savage appearance.

III.

The winter came--we did not feel the cold so much as we expected--it
passed on and spring approached. We were looking forward to the
pleasures of summer and to a buffalo hunt which we had promised
ourselves, when, after finding the heat unusually great at night, on
rising in the morning, loud cracks in the ice were heard, and we
discovered that a thaw had commenced. We were surprised at the rapidity
with which the snow melted, and the low shrubs and the green grass
appeared, and long dormant Nature seemed to be waking up to life.

"How jolly," exclaimed Malcolm; "we shall soon be able to paddle about
in our canoe; we may as well have look at her to see that she is in
order."

We had a supply of gum with which to cover up the seams as the Indians
do, and our canoe was soon fit for launching.

"We must look to the