rthwith for Fort Ross.

He appeared to be very unwilling to let us go.

"I don't wish to detain you on my own account, though I shall be sorry
to lose your society," he said, "but Robin will be very solitary without
your companionship; and should death overtake me, I dread to think of
the situation the poor boy will be left in with these two Indians
alone."

We endeavoured to raise the captain's spirits by promising to send him
aid, and pointing out to him that our plan was the best for all parties.
We at length succeeded, and as he consented to our proposal, we made
immediate preparations for our departure. We first set to work to
manufacture fresh knapsacks, with one of which each of us was provided,
as also fur coats and caps, that we might be enabled the better to
withstand the cold, to which we must inevitably be exposed.

Our snow-shoes were strengthened for the long tramp we had in prospect.
Fortunately we found a sleigh in the hut, the wood of which was in good
condition. It was simply a thin board, twelve feet long, twelve inches
broad, and turned up at one end, from the top of which end to the hinder
part, two thin poles were fixed on either side for the purpose of
fastening the thongs by which the baggage carried on it was to be
secured.

We also manufactured some harness from buffalo thongs for Bouncer, who
was destined to drag it. Pat undertook to drag the sledge which
Misticook had made to bring the provisions from our camp. The captain
insisted that we should take the tent, as it was but small, and would
greatly contribute to our comfort; and he also gave us a further supply
of powder and shot, of which we had run short.

The morning we had arranged to start arrived. It was snowing, but not
sufficiently heavy to delay us. We had tried Bouncer twice before, and
he seemed fully to understand the duty required of him. Pat, who was
less accustomed to snow-shoes than the rest of us, practised himself
frequently, that he might perform the journey without any inconvenience.
Robin had been too stoically brought up among the Indians to exhibit
the sorrow he felt at seeing us depart, but he was satisfied that it was
his duty to remain with his father. After shaking us all by the hand,
he resumed his seat by the side of the captain, apparently being
unwilling actually to witness our start.

The two Indians came out of the hut to give us their final advice as to
how, under various circumstances, we sh