aken.

Wicked people say that "woman is at the bottom of all mischief!" Did it
never occur to these same wicked individuals, that woman is just as much
at the bottom of all good? Whether for good or for evil, woman was at
the bottom of Jasper Perry's heart and affairs. The cause of his
journey was love; the aim and end of it was marriage! Did true love
ever run smooth? "No, never," says the proverb. We shall see.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE THREE FRIENDS.

When the hunter had stood for full five minutes gazing at the beautiful
scenery by which he was surrounded, it suddenly occurred to him that a
pipe would render him much more capable of enjoying it; so he sat down
on the trunk of a fallen tree, leaned his gun on it, pulled the fire-bag
from his belt, and began to fill his pipe, which was one of the kind
used by the savages of the country, with a stone head and a wooden stem.
It was soon lighted, and Jasper was thinking how much more clear and
beautiful a landscape looked through tobacco smoke, when a hand was laid
lightly on his shoulder. Looking quickly round, he beheld a tall
dark-faced Indian standing by his side.

Jasper betrayed neither alarm nor surprise; for the youth was his own
comrade, who had merely come to tell him that the canoe in which they
had been travelling together, and which had been slightly damaged, was
repaired and ready for service.

"Why, Arrowhead, you steal on me with the soft tread of a fox. My ears
are not dull, yet I did not hear your approach, lad."

A smile lighted up the countenance of the young Indian for a moment, as
he listened to a compliment which gratified him much; but the grave
expression which was natural to him instantly returned, as he said,
"Arrowhead has hunted in the Rocky Mountains where the men are
treacherous; he has learned to tread lightly there."

"No doubt, ye had need to be always on the look out where there are such
varmints; but hereaway, Arrowhead, there are no foes to fear, and
therefore no need to take yer friends by surprise. But ye're proud o'
your gifts, lad, an' I suppose it's natural to like to show them off.
Is the canoe ready?"

The Indian replied by a nod.

"That's well, lad, it will be sun-down in another hour, an' I would like
to camp on the point of pines to-night; so come along."

"Hist!" exclaimed the Indian, pointing to a flock of geese which came
into view at that moment.

"Ah! you come of a masterful race," said Jasper, shak