ver by
any chance gave way to anger, or allowed malice to enter into his
practical jokes. Indeed, he often observed him restrain his natural
tendencies when they were at all likely to give pain, though Harry never
dreamed that such efforts were known to any one but himself. Besides
this, Harry was peculiarly _unselfish_, and when a man is possessed of
this inestimable disposition, he is not _quite_ but _very nearly_
perfect!

After another pause, during which the party had left the open river and
directed their course through the woods, where the depth of the snow
obliged them to tread in each other's footsteps, Harry resumed the
conversation.

"You have not yet told me, by-the-bye, what old Mr Rogan said to you
just before we started. Did he give you any hint as to where you might
be sent to after reaching Norway House?"

"No; he merely said he knew that clerks were wanted both for Mackenzie
River and the Saskatchewan districts, but he did not know which I was
destined for."

"Hum! exactly what he said to me, with the slight addition that he
strongly suspected that Mackenzie River would be my doom. Are you
aware, Hammy, my boy, that the Saskatchewan district is a sort of
terrestrial paradise, and Mackenzie River equivalent to Botany Bay?"

"I have heard as much during our conversations in Bachelors' Hall, but--
Stop a bit, Harry; these snow-shoe lines of mine have got loosened with
tearing through this deep snow and these shockingly thick bushes.
There--they are right now; go on. I was going to say that I don't--oh!"

This last exclamation was elicited from Hamilton by a sharp blow caused
by a branch which, catching on part of Harry's dress as he plodded on in
front, suddenly rebounded and struck him across the face. This is of
common occurrence in travelling through the woods, especially to those
who from inexperience walk too closely on the heels of their companions.

"What's wrong now, Hammy?" inquired his friend, looking over his
shoulder.

"Oh, nothing worth mentioning--rather a sharp blow from a branch, that's
all."

"Well, proceed; you've interrupted yourself twice in what you were going
to say. Perhaps it'll come out if you try it a third time."

"I was merely going to say that I don't much care where I am sent to, so
long as it is not to an outpost where I shall be all alone."

"All very well, my friend; but seeing that outposts are, in comparison
with principal forts, about a hundred to o