wn to the main river. We therefore got clear of
the underwood, and proceeded in the direction we had before been
following. Great was our disappointment to find, after going about a
mile, that it came to a termination, and that it was only one of the
many lakelets which are scattered over the face of the country. We saw
several deer, and birds innumerable flew among the trees or rose from
the bank of the lake, but none of them could we reach. We gazed at them
with longing eyes.

"Maybe the river is not far off, and it will be best to push on for it,"
observed Tim; "an' when we get there, we shall fall in with settlers,
or, at all events, be able to make our way either by land or in a canoe
till we can borrow a fresh supply of powder and shot."

I was not so sanguine as Tim on these points, for I knew that few if any
settlers were to be found so high up the river, and that days if not
weeks might pass before we could reach the habitations of civilised men.
We now entered another pine-barren, stretching away to the eastward,
which must be crossed before we could reach the river. Of its size I
had no notion; it might extend for miles. Not a particle of food had we
eaten during the day, and I was becoming so faint that I could scarcely
drag one leg after the other. We talked of making traps to catch birds,
but neither of us had much experience in the art of trap-making; and
unless well acquainted with the habits of the birds frequenting the
ground on which we might set our traps, we might starve long before one
was caught. We could only therefore trudge forward, looking out for any
living creature or any vegetable which might afford us food. Nothing
could we see; even the snakes seemed to avoid us. We would have eaten
frogs could we have found them, but not a pool in which any lived did we
come across.

Another night was approaching. We should have to lie down without food
or water; but to proceed during the darkness was impossible. Tim kept
up his spirits.

"Sure we'll be afther finding something or other to eat," he exclaimed.
"Sit down under this tree, Mr. Maurice dear; I'll not go far from you,
so don't be afraid of losing me."

I followed his advice, for I felt myself utterly incapable of going
further. Scarcely had he gone twenty yards, when I saw him hurl his axe
towards the root of a tree; then running forward with a shout of
satisfaction, he lifted up an animal, which I saw was a young racoon.
Hi