e brain. You are
still weak and ill, but you will soon recover," he added in a more
gentle voice. "And when I come for you, promise me that you will be
ready to go forth once more to be my companion in the free wilds."

"Yes, father, yes; I promise, whenever you come and summon me away, I
will go with you."

"Farewell, then, boy," said the old trapper, taking his son's hand. "We
will look forward to the time when we may enjoy our free roving life
together again."

On the entrance of Mrs Ramsay and Jeanie, who came with some nourishing
food for Laurence, the old trapper silently left the room. When, a
short time afterwards, Mrs Ramsay inquired for him, she found that he
had quitted the fort, leaving behind him his bales of peltries, with the
exception of the white wolf-skin.

"He has taken it to trade with the Indians," observed the factor. "He
knows that they value it more than we do."

"I am so sorry that your father has gone away, Laurence," said Jeanie,
as she sat by the bedside of the young invalid, trying to console him
for the grief he showed when he heard of the old trapper's departure.
"But remember you are among friends, and we will do all we can to make
you happy. Still, it is a great thing to know that your father loves
you. I should be miserable if I could suppose that my father and mother
did not love me. But do you know, Laurence, I have often thought how
much more wretched I should feel if I did not know that our Heavenly
Father loves me also even more than they do. Mamma has often told me
that His love is so great that we cannot understand it. It always makes
me feel so happy when I think of it, and that He is always watching over
us, and that His eye is ever upon us."

"Do you speak of the Great Spirit, little girl?" said Laurence, raising
himself on his elbow, and gazing inquiringly at her. "I have heard that
He is the Friend of brave warriors and those who obey Him, and that He
is more powerful than any human being; but still I cannot fancy that He
cares for young boys and girls, and women and slaves, or cowards who are
afraid to fight."

"Oh, yes, yes; He cares for everybody," exclaimed Jeanie. "He loves all
the creatures He has made, to whom He has given souls which will live
for ever and ever. He wants them all to live with Him in the glorious
heaven He has prepared for all who accept the gracious offer of mercy
which He makes to us. You know that we are by nature rebels and