esolved that each of the party should
keep watch for an hour, as, if the Indians had followed, there was a
possibility of their having gained on them during the delay at the
precipice.

Before the watch was set, however, and while all the party were enjoying
their pipes after supper, the Black Swan suddenly exclaimed, "Ho!" and
pointed with his finger to something which peeped out of the snow at
Larry's elbow, that volatile individual having uncovered it during some
of his eccentric movements.

"It's only an owld mocassin," said Larry, plucking the object from the
snow as he spoke; "some Injun lad has throw'd it away for useless."

"Hand it here," said Robin, re-lighting his pipe, which had gone out.

Larry tossed the mocassin to his leader, who eyed it carelessly for a
moment. Suddenly he started, and, turning the mocassin over, examined
it with close and earnest attention. Then he smiled, as if at his
passing anxiety, and dropped it on the ground.

"It reminded me," said he to Walter, "of my Nelly, for it has something
of the same shape that she was fond of, an' for a moment I was foolish
enough to think it might ha' belonged to the dear child, but--. Come,
Larry, have 'ee got any more tea there?"

"Is it tay ye want? faix, then, it's little more nor laves that's
remainin'," said Larry, draining the last drops into a pannikin; "well,
there's about half a mug-full, afther all; it's wonderful what can be
got out o' it sometimes by squaazin' the pot."

"Hand it over, that's enough," said Robin, "thank 'ee, lad--here's
luck."

He drained the pannikin as though it had been a glass of rum, and,
smacking his lips, proceeded leisurely to refill his pipe.

"Are ye sure it's _not_ one of Nelly's old mocassins?" asked Walter, as
he eyed the little shoe earnestly.

"Sure enough, nephy, I would know her mother's make among ten thousand,
an' although that one is oncommon like it in some respec's, it ain't one
o' _hers_."

"But Nelly might have made it herself," suggested Walter, "and that
would account for its bein' like her mother's in the make."

Robin shook his head. "Not likely," said he. "The child didn't use to
make mocassins. I'm not sure if she could do it at all; besides she was
last heard of miles and miles away from here in another direction. No,
no, Walter lad, we mustn't let foolish fancies bother us. However, the
sight o' this has fixed me to push on to-morrow as hard as I can lay my
legs to it,