ampment was formed almost exactly in a
similar manner to that in which they had slept on the night of their
exploits at North River. They talked less, however, than on that
occasion, and slept more soundly. Before retiring to rest, and while
Harry was extended, half asleep and half awake, on his green blanket,
enjoying the delightful repose that follows a hard day's march and a
good supper, Hamilton drew near to the Indian, who sat sullenly smoking
a little apart from the young men. Sitting down beside him, he
administered a long rebuke in a low, grave tone of voice. Like rebukes
generally, it had the effect of making the visage of the Indian still
more sullen. But the young man did not appear to notice this; he still
continued to talk. As he went on, the look grew less and less sullen,
until it faded entirely away, and was succeeded by the grave, quiet,
respectful expression peculiar to the face of the North American Indian.

Day succeeded day, night followed night, and still found them plodding
laboriously through the weary waste of snow, or encamping under the
trees of the forest. The two friends went through all the varied stages
of experience which are included in what is called "becoming used to the
work," which is sometimes a modified meaning of the expression "used
up." They started with a degree of vigour that one would have thought
no amount of hard work could possibly abate. They became aware of the
melancholy fact that fatigue unstrings the youngest and toughest sinews.
They pressed on, however, from stern necessity, and found, to their
delight, that young muscles recover their elasticity even in the midst
of severe exertion. They still pressed on, and discovered, to their
dismay, that this recovery was only temporary, and that the second state
of exhaustion was infinitely worse than the first. Still they pressed
on, and raised blisters on their feet and toes that caused them to limp
woefully; then they learned that blisters break and take a long time to
heal, and are much worse to walk upon during the healing process than
they are at the commencement--at which time they innocently fancied that
nothing could be more dreadful. Still they pressed on day after day,
and found to their satisfaction that such things can be endured and
overcome; that feet and toes can become hard like leather, that muscles
can grow tough as india-rubber, and that spirits and energy can attain
to a pitch of endurance whic