d, aided by the light of the fire, he
cut two long saplings and several smaller pieces, with which he returned
to the hut.

Before they lay down to sleep, he and Martin put together a litter well
suited for carrying Alick. I was thankful the next morning to find my
brother so much better, and as soon as we had had some breakfast, having
stretched one of the skins over the litter, we placed him on it,
covering him up carefully with the others.

Not till we were about to start did we think of the danger to which our
camp would be exposed by being left without any protection.

"Shure, Bouncer will look afther that," said Pat. "Here, Bouncer, see
that not a wolf, or a grizzly, or an Indian, or any other brute comes to
our camp till we are back again to carry off the things."

The dog clearly understood him, and set himself down at the entrance of
our wigwam. We then, taking up Alick, commenced our journey to the log
hut.

Considerable as was the cold, the excursion we had to make kept us warm,
and Alick, being well covered up, did not suffer from it. We felt much
anxiety as we approached our destination with regard to the sick
stranger, and I was prepared as we got up to the door to hear the worst.

I was greatly relieved when the Indian, appearing at the door, told us
that the gentleman was no worse. Sitting up in his bunk, he welcomed us
with a languid smile, and begged that we would place Alick by his side
near the fire.

We had brought the iron pot at Martin's request, that he might make some
soup for the two invalids.

"We want you to assist in bringing our provisions from the camp," I
observed.

"Oh! then let me attend to the soup," exclaimed Robin. "I don't want to
shirk my duty."

As Martin was now perfectly recovered, he agreed to Robin's proposal.

"The lad will be able to attend to all our wants," remarked the sick
man, who seemed pleased that Robin should remain. He then turned to the
Ojibbeway, and desired him to accompany us, observing that Rabushway,
the other Indian, had gone out hunting in the morning, and would
probably not return till late. Misticook, the Indian we found at the
hut, expressed his readiness to accompany us, and he, Martin, Pat, and I
set off at once for our camp.

In broad daylight the journey appeared much shorter than it had done the
previous evening. As we got up to the camp, I examined it with no
little anxiety, fearing that during our absence a prowling bear or