wildly, and finally upset.

Their last "shoosk" that evening was undertaken just as the sun's latest
rays were shooting between the hills on the opposite side of Silver
Lake, and casting a crimson glow on the hut and the surrounding scenery.
Roy had fixed a snow-shoe on the outer ridge of the snow-drift, to mark
the distance of their last leap from its crest, and had given the sledge
an extra push on the way down to increase its impetus. This extra push
disconcerted him in steering; he reached the hollow in a side-long
fashion, shot up the slope of the drift waveringly, and left its crest
with a swing that not only turned the sledge right round, but also
upside down. Of course they were both thrown off, and all three fell
into the snow in a condition of dire confusion. Fortunately, no damage
was done beyond the shock and the fright, but this accident was
sufficient to calm their spirits, and incline them to go home to supper.

"Well, it's great fun, no doubt, but we must turn our minds to more
earnest work, for our journey lies before us," said Roy, with the
gravity of an Iroquois warrior, as he sat beside the fire that night
discussing a bear-steak with his sister. "We have more than enough of
fish and meat, you see; a day or two will do to turn our deer and bear
into dried meat; the snow-shoes are mended, the sledge is in good order,
as to-night's work has proved, and all that we've got to do is to start
fresh with true bearin's and--hey! for home!"

"I wish I was there," said Nelly, laying down a marrow-bone with a sigh.

"Wishin' ain't enough, Nell."

"I know that, an' I'm ready to work," said Nelly, resuming the bone with
a resolute air. "When shall we set out?"

"When we are ready, lass. We shall begin to dry the meat to-morrow, an'
as soon as it's fixed--off we'll start. I only hope the cold weather
will last, for if it came warm it would go hard with your little feet,
Nell. But let's turn in now. Hard work requires a good sleep, an' it
may be that we've harder work than we think before us."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE JOURNEY HOME RESUMED AND INTERRUPTED.

Three days more and our young friends bade farewell to Silver Lake.

Short though their stay had been, it had proved very pleasant, for it
was full of energetic labour and active preparation, besides a great
deal of amusement, so that quite a home feeling had been aroused in
their minds, and their regret at leaving was considerable.

But a