some are likely to be at rest,"
he observed.

It was getting late, and unless we could kill something soon we should
have to go supperless to bed.

"Hillo! I see something," cried Robin, and rushing forward he held up
one of the despised swans.

The sight at all events gave pleasure to Bouncer, who began barking and
leaping round it.

"You shall have some directly, old fellow," cried Robin.

As we saw a suitable spot for encamping a little distance from the bank,
we agreed to stop for the night. The wind blowing somewhat colder than
usual, a wigwam, or at all events a lean-to, was considered advisable.
Martin and I set to work to collect the necessary materials, while Alick
and Robin lighted the fire and spitted the swan for cooking.

CHAPTER NINE.

WOOD-PIGEONS AND SQUIRREL FOR SUPPER--BEAR'S MEAT--CANOE-BUILDING--
GRASSHOPPERS--SHE FLOATS EVEN--ROW, BROTHERS, ROW!--THE THUNDERSTORM--
OUR NARROW ESCAPE--OUR HUT--DEER--THE BUCK IS DEAD--VENISON IN PLENTY--
IMPROVIDENCE OF THE INDIANS--BREAKERS AHEAD.

I cannot describe our adventures from day to day as I have been lately
doing.

While eating our somewhat unsavoury swan, we discussed how we should
next proceed. We knew but little of the bank of the river on which we
found ourselves, but at all events we should have a long journey on foot
before us, and we did not fancy the tramp through the woods.

"But if we do not go on foot how are we ever to get to Fort Ross?"
exclaimed Robin. "We can scarcely expect to find another canoe."

"Why, of course we must build one," said Martin. "I have never made one
entirely myself, but I have seen them built frequently, and have helped
sometimes, and I am very sure that we all together could manage to
construct one which will carry us safely down the river."

There were no dissentient voices. Martin warned us that it would take
some time. We should have to shape out all the ribs, and search for
birch trees of sufficient girth to afford large sheets of bark. The
chief object for consideration was, that it would take us almost as long
to build a canoe as to travel to Fort Ross, but then we should be saved
the fatigue and dangers of the journey, and we should be more likely to
fall in with any of the people whom our friends at the fort might have
dispatched to look for us, in the hopes that we had escaped from the
massacre at Fort Black. Another great reason for proceeding by water
was the state of our shoes: ge