ible and many other fine books.

Usually the children spent a week on their trip but at times when they
had drifted far away from the Colony, they stayed away for two and even
three weeks. Their foster-parents, however, never worried about them,
for they knew that Fred was a brave leader, and that Agnes would not
lose her way even in the densest forest.

By this time all three could handle such weapons as were used at that
time, and though the guns were heavy and clumsy, none of them missed the
object at which they aimed. So by the grace of God they always returned
safe, and then they had many interesting stories to tell.

One evening as they had just related their tale of adventure, Mr.
Bradley said, "I must secure some trustworthy person who can attend to
my business when I am away. So far, I have not cared to entrust my
store to any one here, but I must find some one, for I, too, must
venture out to establish more trading posts. The furs are not coming in
as fast as they should; there are too many traders elsewhere."

Just then some one rapped at the door, and when Fred opened he saw a
huge man standing in front of him.

"Good evening," said the stranger somewhat timidly; "does Mr. Bradley
dwell here? I was directed to this house."

No sooner had Mr. Bradley heard the man's voice, when he jumped from the
chair and hastened to the door.

"Do my ears deceive me?" he cried. "Can it be you, John Rawlins?"

"Well, I declare," the man answered; "really, it _is_ you, John
Bradley!"

The two men shook hands warmly, and then the stranger was invited in.

"Where do you come from?" asked Mrs. Bradley after she had welcomed the
man to the home. "You are an unexpected visitor, forsooth!"

"From the good ship 'Hope,' which is in the harbor," the man explained.
"I could not wait till tomorrow, and so I prevailed upon the captain set
me ashore. I just had to see my old mate this evening."

"So the good ship 'Hope' arrived?" Mr. Brad asked. "That is fine, for
the colonists are eagerly waiting for supplies; and I know there is a
shipment for me."

"Yes, so the captain tells me," the stranger said and he at once began
to relate why he had come America.

This he did upon the urgent request of Mr. Bradley who was much
surprised at so unexpected a visit.

"Well, it was this way," the stranger began, after he had lighted his
pipe and taken a few draughts of the tea which Mrs. Bradley set before
him. "In England