, and revels in every wrinkle of the face? And how much
more powerfully does such a word or look or tone strike home to the
heart if uttered by one whose lips are not much accustomed to the
formation of honeyed words or sweet sentences! Had Mr Kennedy, senior,
known more of this power, and put it more frequently to the proof, we
venture to affirm that Mr Kennedy, junior, would have _allowed_ his
"_flint to be fixed_" (as his father pithily expressed it) long ago.

Ere Charley could reply to the question, Mr Grant's voice, pitched in
an elevated key, interrupted them.

"Eh! what?" said that gentleman to Tom Whyte. "No horse for Charley!
How's that?"

"No, sir," said Tom.

"Where's the brown pony?" said Mr Grant, abruptly.

"Cut 'is fetlock, sir," said Tom slowly.

"And the new horse?"

"'Tain't 'alf broke yet, sir."

"Ah! that's bad.--It wouldn't do to take an unbroken charger, Charley;
for although you are a pretty good rider, you couldn't manage him, I
fear. Let me see."

"Please, sir," said the groom, touching his hat, "I've borrowed the
miller's pony for 'im, and 'e's sure to be 'ere in 'alf a hour at
farthest."

"Oh, that'll do," said Mr Grant; "you can soon overtake us. We shall
ride slowly out, straight into the prairie, and Harry will remain behind
to keep you company."

So saying, Mr Grant mounted his horse and rode out at the back gate,
followed by the whole cavalcade.

"Now this is too bad!" said Charley, looking with a very perplexed air
at his companion. "What's to be done?"

Harry evidently did not know what was to be done, and made no difficulty
of saying so in a very sympathising tone. Moreover, he begged Charley
very earnestly to take _his_ pony, but this the other would not hear of;
so they came to the conclusion that there was nothing for it but to wait
as patiently as possible for the arrival of the expected horse. In the
meantime Harry proposed a saunter in the field adjoining the fort.
Charley assented, and the two friends walked away, leading the gray pony
along with them.

To the right of Fort Garry was a small enclosure, at the extreme end of
which commences a growth of willows and underwood, which gradually
increases in size till it becomes a pretty thick belt of woodland,
skirting up the river for many miles. Here stood the stable belonging
to the establishment; and as the boys passed it, Charley suddenly
conceived a strong desire to see the renowned "noo 'oss," whic