not to mention the
dangers, of a canoe voyage."

"I don't know that, lass--I don't know that," said Mr Kennedy, giving
another contortion with his left cheek. "In fact, I shouldn't wonder if
they arrived this very day; and it's well to be on the look-out, so I'm
off to the banks of the river, Kate." Saying this, the old gentleman
threw on an old fur cap with the peak all awry, thrust his left hand
into his right glove, put on the other with the back to the front and
the thumb in the middle finger, and bustled out of the house, muttering
as he went, "Yes, it's well to be on the look-out for him."

Mr Kennedy, however, was disappointed: Charley did not arrive that day,
nor the next, nor the day after that. Nevertheless the old gentleman's
faith each day remained as firm as on the day previous that Charley
would arrive on _that_ day "for certain." About a week after this, Mr
Kennedy put on his hat and gloves as usual, and sauntered down to the
banks of the river, where his perseverance was rewarded by the sight of
a small canoe rapidly approaching the landing-place. From the costume
of the three men who propelled it, the cut of the canoe itself, the
precision and energy of its movements, and several other minute points
about it only apparent to the accustomed eye of a nor'-wester, he judged
at once that this was a new arrival, and not merely one of the canoes
belonging to the settlers, many of which might be seen passing up and
down the river. As they drew near he fixed his eyes eagerly upon them.

"Very odd," he exclaimed, while a shade of disappointment passed over
his brow: "it ought to be him, but it's not like him; too big--different
nose altogether. Don't know any of the three. Humph!--well, he's
_sure_ to come to-morrow, at all events." Having come to the conclusion
that it was not Charley's canoe, he wheeled sulkily round and sauntered
back towards his house, intending to solace himself with a pipe. At
that moment he heard a shout behind him, and ere he could well turn
round to see whence it came, a young man bounded up the bank and seized
him in his arms with a hug that threatened to dislocate his ribs. The
old gentleman's first impulse was to bestow on his antagonist (for he
verily believed him to be such) one of those vigorous touches with his
clinched fist which in days of yore used to bring some of his disputes
to a summary and effectual close; but his intention changed when the
youth spoke.

"