God bless you. Farewell."

Mr Rogan shook them heartily by the hand, turned short round, and
walked slowly up to his house, with an expression of sadness on his mild
face; while Harry and Hamilton, having once more waved farewell to their
friends, marched up the river, side by side, in silence. They followed
the track left by the dog-sledge, which guided them with unerring
certainty, although their Indian leader and his team were out of sight
in advance.

A week previous to this time an Indian arrived from the interior,
bearing a letter from headquarters, which directed that Messrs.
Somerville and Hamilton should be forthwith dispatched on snow-shoes to
Norway House. As this establishment is about three hundred miles from
the sea-coast, the order involved a journey of nearly two weeks'
duration through a country that was utterly destitute of inhabitants.
On receiving a command from Mr Rogan to prepare for an early start.
Harry retired precipitately to his own room, and there, after cutting
unheard-of capers, and giving vent to sudden incomprehensible shouts,
all indicative of the highest state of delight, he condescended to tell
his companions of his good fortune, and set about preparations without
delay. Hamilton, on the contrary, gave his usual quiet smile on being
informed of his destination, and returning somewhat pensively to
Bachelors' Hall, proceeded leisurely to make the necessary arrangements
for departure. As the time drew on, however, a perpetual flush on his
countenance, and an unusual brilliancy about his eye, showed that he was
not quite insensible to the pleasures of a change, and relished the idea
more than he got credit for. The Indian who had brought the letter was
ordered to hold himself in readiness to retrace his steps and conduct
the young men through the woods to Norway House, where they were to
await further orders. A few days later the three travellers, as already
related, set out on their journey.

After walking a mile up the river, they passed a point of land which
shut out the fort from view. Here they paused to take a last look, and
then pressed forward in silence, the thoughts of each being busy with
mingled recollections of their late home and anticipations of the
future. After an hour's sharp walking they came in sight of the guide,
and slackened their pace.

"Well, Hamilton," said Harry, throwing off his reverie with a deep sigh,
"are you glad to leave York Fort, or sorry?"