he gasped; "and you love them?"

"Let us go along, then," said Harry. "We will have a look at them,
anyway."

"From the windward side, I hope," said the lieutenant, gently.

"I am going right on the raft," declared Kate, stoutly, "if we can only
find Ranald."

"Meaning who, exactly?" questioned De Lacy.

"A lumberman whom Maimie adores."

"How happy!" said De Lacy.

"Nonsense, Lieutenant De Lacy," said Maimie, impatiently and a little
haughtily; "he is a friend of my aunt's up in the county of Glengarry."

"No nonsense about it," said Harry, indignant that his sister should
seem indifferent to Ranald. "He is a great friend of us all; and you
will see--she will fly into his arms."

"Heaven forbid!" ejaculated the lieutenant, much shocked.

"Harry, how can you be so--?" said Maimie, much annoyed. "What will the
lieutenant think of me?"

"Ah, if I only might tell!" said the lieutenant, looking at her with
languishing eyes. But already Kate was downstairs and on her way to the
street.

As they neared the lower town, the narrow streets became more and more
crowded with men in the shantymen's picturesque dress, and they had some
difficulty in making their way through the jolly, jostling crowds. As
they were nearing the river, they saw coming along the narrow sidewalk
a burly French-Canadian, dressed in the gayest holiday garb of the
shantymen.--red shirt and sash, corduroys tucked into red top-boots, a
little round soft hat set upon the back of his black curls, a gorgeous
silk handkerchief around his neck, and a big gold watch-chain with
seals at his belt. He had a bold, handsome face, and swaggered along the
sidewalk, claiming it all with an assurance fortified by whisky enough
to make him utterly regardless of any but his own rights.

"Hello!" he shouted, as he swaggered along. "Make way, I'm de boss bully
on de reever Hottawa." It was his day of glory, and it evidently pleased
him much that the people stood aside to let him pass. Then he broke into
song:--

"En roulant ma boule roulant,
En roulant me boule."

"This, I suppose, is one of your beloved shantymen," said the
lieutenant, turning to Kate, who was walking with Harry behind.

"Isn't he lovely!" exclaimed Kate.

"Oh," cried Maimie, in terror, "let us get into a shop!"

"Quite unnecessary, I assure you," said the lieutenant, indifferently;
"I have not the least idea that he will molest you."

The lumberman by this time had s