e's gone, he's gone!" he murmured.

We could say nothing to reassure our young friend. An open space being
found, Pat spread out the skins, and without a moment's loss of time
began to collect wood for a fire. As soon as Robin and I had unloaded
the canoe and lifted her up the bank, we assisted him, while Alick,
regardless of himself, was getting off Martin's wet garments. Having
done so, he called and desired me to rub his feet and hands, while we
wrapped him up in the skins.

Our friend was still breathing, which gave us some encouragement, and we
continued our exertions without ceasing. As soon as the fire was
lighted we placed him as close to it as was prudent, while Pat and Robin
cut some stakes and collected some bark to form a lean-to, that we might
still further shelter him. He at length opened his eyes and recognised
us, but was still unable to speak. We continued rubbing him, our hopes
of his complete restoration being raised.

Pat, also by Alick's directions, got water and put some venison on to
boil, that we might have broth to pour down his throat as soon as he was
able to swallow it. The improvement we looked for was, however, so
gradual that I proposed--as it was impossible for us to continue our
voyage till the next day--that it would be advisable to build a wigwam,
which would afford better shelter than the lean-to during the night.

"I agree with you," answered Alick, "and the sooner you set about it the
better."

"So we will," I said; "but I wish that you would get off your wet
clothes, or, strong as you are, you may suffer from remaining in them so
long."

Alick laughed at this notion. "This fire will soon dry me," he
answered, "and I'll stay by it and attend to Martin while you three
collect the materials and build the wigwam."

I in vain expostulated with my brother. Even though my clothes were
dry, except my moccasins and the lower part of my trousers, I felt the
wind very chilly. At last I was obliged to set off with Pat and Robin.

We settled to put up a good large wigwam, which might hold us all; and
we could then have a fire in the centre. This for Martin's sake would
be very important. We accordingly cut down the largest saplings we
could find, and we were fortunate in discovering numerous large sheets
of bark, some in a sufficiently good condition to have formed a canoe,
had we been compelled to build one.

A very short time only is necessary to erect a birch-bark wigwa