if we were as far east as St.
John."

"No steamboat for ours until we get to Peace River Landing," said Rob.

"That's right," John assented. "We've come through this far, and we
can finish the way we started--that is, if the other fellows catch up
with us all right, and we get another boat. How long since we left
them? I've sort of lost track of the time."

"Fifth day," said Rob. "It's about time they were coming."

His prediction was fulfilled that evening, when, as they were
preparing the camp-fire for their supper, they heard a loud shout from
the trail back of them.

"Who's that, Alex?" demanded John.

But even as he asked he had his answer. Such excited gesticulations,
such cries of welcome, could come from no one but Moise.

XXII

EAST OF THE ROCKIES

The two boys ran rapidly to meet Moise, and overwhelmed him with
questions asked all at once.

"How's everything?" demanded Rob, "and where's Jesse?"

"Oh, those boy, she'll been all right," said Moise. "She'll be on camp
seex, h'eight mile below here, up above, maybe so. My cousins Billy
and At-tick, come through with us--they'll portage half-way to-day.

"But, _mes amis_," broke out Moise; "there's your boat! How you'll got
her through? S'pose you take wings an' fly over those rock, _hein_?
_Mon Dieu!_"

"We couldn't wait any longer, Moise," said Rob, "and we thought we had
better be busy than idle. It was hard work, but Alex carried her over,
and we didn't have much left to pack except our rifles and ourselves."

"Then you'll not need any mans for help on the portage? All right.
We'll get some boat below."

"How far is it back to your camp, Moise?" demanded John.

"Maybe five, seex mile, maybe more--I'll not keep track of heem."

"Can we go back there to-night with you? I'd like to see Jess. May we
go, Alex?"

"If you like," answered the old hunter, quietly. "I'll stay here and
sleep, and if you care to, you can sleep there. I don't doubt you will
be glad to see your friend again, and he'll be glad to see you."

Tired as the boys had been, they were now so excited that they forgot
their fatigue, and trotted along close to Moise as he now turned and
struck a steady pace back on the portage trail. It was quite dark when
at last they came out on a high bank above a level, at which a
camp-fire was glowing. John and Rob put their hands to their mouths
and gave a loud "Halloo!" They saw the smaller of the three figures at
the fire jump