ver he had been;
he lived to take Loo to the western settlements, and squat down beside
The MacFearsome's new farm, as a species of hunting farmer; he lived to
become a respected member of the Reverend William Tucker's church in the
wilderness, where he filled two pews with little Dales, which, as an
Irish comrade remarked, was a dale more than he deserved; and last, but
not least, he lived to urge, argue, badger, bamboozle, worry, and haul
Jacob Strang up to that "p'int" at which he had so often stuck before,
but over which he finally fell, and managed to secure that "dear Liz"
who was destined to become the sunshine of his after-life.

In regard to this matter, Jacob was wont to say to his friend at times,
when he was particularly confidential, that "the catchin' of Liz was the
best bit of trappin' he had done since he took to huntin' in the Rocky
Mountains, and that if it hadn't bin for his chum Reuben Dale, he never
would have bin able to come up to the p'int, much less git over it,
though he had lived to the age of Methuselah and hunted for a wife all
the time."

"A good story," said Dick Thorogood, as Fred folded up the manuscript;
"but to return to matter of greater importance than this hunter's
wedding, curious though it be: what about emigrating?"

"I'll go, for one!" exclaimed the blacksmith bringing his huge fist down
with a heavy thud on the table.

"John, John, it's not the anvil you've got before you," said old Moll.

"No, nor yet is my fist the fore-hammer," rejoined the smith, with
sparkling eyes. "Nevertheless, I repeat that I'll go--always supposing
that you and Molly have no objections."

It was one of the dearest wishes of the old woman's heart to be near her
crippled and favourite son, but she would not commit herself at once.

"What says Molly?" she asked, turning to her daughter.

Molly cast a sidelong glance at Fred, who gave the slightest possible
nod, and then said, in her gentle voice, "The sooner we begin to pack
the better!"

"Bravo, lass!" cried the young sailor, slapping his thigh; "well said,
and we'll all go together. What say you, boys?"

"Agreed--agreed!" was the hearty reply.

And this was no idle talk. That night at worship, the father of the
family spread Jim's letter, as he said, before the Lord, and asked for
guidance. The end of the whole matter was that, a few months later, the
Thorogood family emigrated to the backwoods of America, and began that
career of usef