at I remembered
father havin' told me he had read it in a book before he left the
settlements. I _wish_ we had some books. Pity that we've got no
books."

"So it is," assented Nell, with a touch of sadness in her tone.

Both Roy and his sister were good readers, having been taught by their
mother out of the Bible--the only book that Robin Gore had brought with
him from the settlements. Robin could read, but he did not care much
for reading--neither did Walter nor Larry O'Dowd. Indeed the latter
could not read at all. Mrs Gore had wanted to take a few books with
her into the wilderness, but her husband said he thought the Bible was
enough for her; so the library at Fort Enterprise was select and small!
One good resulted from this--the Bible was read, by all who could read,
a great deal more than would have been the case had there been other
books at hand. But the young people longed earnestly for books
containing fairy tales, such as was told to them by their mother; and
wild adventures, such as Walter could relate or invent by the hour.

It might have been observed that Roy carried on his shoulder a
remarkable object--something like a clumsy basket made of reeds, and
about twice the size of a man's head. This had been made by Nelly the
night before. The use to which it was to be put was soon shown by Roy.
Having reached the spot where the experiment was to be tried, and having
observed that there were many ducks, large and small, floating about
among the reeds, he got Nelly to hold the basket, if we may so call it,
as high as she could raise it. There was a hole in the bottom of it.
Through this Roy thrust his head, so that the machine rested on his
shoulders, his head being inside and completely concealed.

"Now, Nelly, what think you of my helmet?"

"Oh! it is splendid!" cried the girl, laughing in a subdued voice.
"It's so awfully absurd looking, but can you see? for I don't see a bit
of your face."

"See? ay, as well as need be. There's lots of small holes which I can
peep through in all directions. But come, I'll try it. Keep close,
Nell, and don't laugh too loud, for ducks ain't used to laughing, d'ye
see, and may be frightened by it."

So saying Roy crept on his hands and knees to the edge of the lake,
being concealed by bushes, until he got into the water. Here a few
steps took him into the reeds which clustered so thickly at that spot,
and grew so tall that he was soon hidden from sight alt