ave been thrown away, but he bought land which he did not like, and
sold it at a loss. Now he had bought a second lot. Anybody looking at
his and Michael's lot at the end of the fall would have been able to say
which of the two was most likely in the course of a few years to be the
most prosperous settler.

Still Michael Hale was to have his trials. Few men go through life
without them. A letter came from Susan to say that she was ill and
wished to come home. She begged that some one would come and meet her.
Michael could not leave, and he wanted one big boy to help him, so it
was settled that Rob and Tony should go. They had a long journey before
them. First the voyage along the lake and down the river, and then a
long tramp through the forest of three or four days. There was no road,
but the trees were blazed they knew, and they had no doubt about finding
the way. "Fanny sends her love to Susan, and is very glad she is coming
home," said Mrs Kemp, as Rob went to wish her good-bye. Fanny was Mrs
Kemp's eldest girl, and a very pretty, good girl she was. Her next
girl, Ann, was not quite right in her mind, though she could do what she
was bid. Their next girl was too young to be of much use. There were
several boys--Bill, and Tommy, and John, all able to do something to
help their father. Just as Rob Hale was shoving off, Tommy Kemp, who,
though not so old as Tony, was a great friend of his, came running down
to the lake, and begged that he might go with them. They were glad of a
companion and took him in. They made very good way along the lake, but
the weather began to grow bad before they reached the mouth of the
river. Dark clouds gathered, the wind rose, the thunders roared, and
the lightning flashed brightly.

"Let us get on shore, for we shall have the rain down thick upon us,"
cried Tony. "We shall keep dry if we get under a tree." As he spoke a
flash of lightning struck a tall tree near the shore. It was split in a
moment from top to bottom, and a huge branch torn off.

"It is well that we were not on shore," said Rob. "Where should we have
been now if we had got under that tree? God saved us, for it is the
very place I thought of going in for shelter. There is a sandy point
farther on, we'll go there."

The lads drew their canoe up on the point; then they turned her bottom
up and got under her. They had just done this when the clouds seemed to
break open and empty their contents down o