."

Gradually the dinner reached that interesting point which is usually
styled "ready to dish." Whereupon Robin again asked where the children
were. Still no one could tell, so he said he would go out and hail
them. Loudly and long did the hunter call, but no one answered; then he
made a rapid search in and about the Fort, but they were not to be
found. Moreover, a snow-storm had begun to set in, and the drift
rendered it difficult to distinguish tracks in the snow.

At last the day's labours were brought to a close. Dinner was served,
and smoked invitingly on the table. The party only awaited the return
of Robin with the children. In a few minutes Robin entered hastily.

"Molly," said he, in a tone of anxiety, "the foolish things have gone
into the woods, I think. Come, lads, we must hunt them down. It's
snowin' hard, so we've no time to lose."

Walter and Larry at once put on their capotes, fur-caps, and snow-shoes,
and sallied forth, leaving Mrs Gore seated alone, and in a state of
deep anxiety, by the side of her untasted New Year's Day dinner.

CHAPTER FOUR.

LOST IN THE SNOW.

When Roy and Nelly set out for a ramble, they had at first no intention
of going beyond their usual haunts in the woods around the Fort; but Roy
had been inspirited by his successful march that day with his father and
Walter, and felt inclined to show Nelly some new scenes to which they
had not, up to that time, dared to penetrate together.

The snow-storm, already referred to, had commenced gradually. When the
children set forth on their ramble only a few flakes were falling, but
they had not been away half an hour when snow fell so thickly that they
could not see distinctly more than a few yards ahead of them. There was
no wind, however, so they continued to advance, rather pleased than
otherwise with the state of things.

"Oh, I _do_ like to see falling snow," cried Nelly, with a burst of
animation.

"So do I," said Roy, looking back at his sister with a bright smile,
"and I like it best when it comes down thick and heavy, in big flakes,
on a _very_ calm day, don't you?"

"Yes, oh it's so nice," responded Nelly sympathetically.

They paused for minutes to shake some of the snow from their garments,
and beat their hands together, for their fingers were cold, and to laugh
boisterously, for their hearts were merry. Then they resumed their
march, Roy beating the track manfully and Nelly following in his
footste