ad since gone out on the
expeditions to search for Pat and me.

Sandy would not believe that I was lost, but had again set out only two
days before. From the direction he had taken, I was in great hopes that
he would fall in with poor Pat and bring him back safe. How Bouncer had
come to find me, or to whom the canoe belonged, no one could tell. When
the previous expeditions had set out, Bouncer had been chained up, as he
had a peculiar antipathy for Indians; and it was feared that, should any
be met, he would fly at them, and do mischief, or get killed himself.
He had observed the several parties setting out, and had sagaciously
surmised that they were going in search of me, without being able to
understand why he should not have been allowed to accompany them.

Soon after Sandy had last started from the fort he had managed to make
his escape, and had either followed Sandy's trail or had taken an
independent course by himself. Which he had done it would be impossible
to ascertain, nor did it matter. I, at all events, felt deeply indebted
to him, and we became more attached friends than ever. On the canoe
being examined, Alick and the other people in the fort were decidedly of
the opinion that it was built by Indians, and must have come down from
the upper part of the stream, which rose a considerable way to the
southward; they also believed from its appearance that it had not long
been hauled up on the bank. It had very evidently belonged to a Plain
Cree, as those people are hunters of buffalo, and when living in the
neighbourhood of streams or lakes, construct these parchment canoes for
the purpose of fishing. This they are compelled to do, as there are but
few birch trees of any size in the part of the country they inhabit.
Except in shape, it was very similar to the coracles still in use, as I
have read, on the Wye and other rivers in England.

The canoe was carried into the fort; Alick intending, should the owner
appear at any time, to return it, and to pay him for its use.

I now inquired how Martin and his sister Letty came to be at the fort.
They had, I found, arrived a few days after we left it for Fort Ross.

"My father and mother," said Martin, when Rose and Letty were out of the
room, "wished us to come, as I am sorry to say that the Indians in our
neighbourhood have lately been showing a bad disposition; and though the
converts who live round us are faithful, and would defend us with their
lives,