irectly.

We learned from them though that we should find for days to come
shanties here and there.

"Where we can rest for the night?" I said to one of the men.

"Of course," he said, with a smile. "We see anybody so seldom, that
we're glad of a visitor who can speak of the old country."

"You've got a beautiful place here."

"Yes; tidy, tidy," he said; "only we don't feel quite sure about the
river."

"What do you mean?" asked Gunson.

"Why, you see, mate, it's a lively sort of a stream. Quiet enough in
winter, unless there's been a power of rain; but in the hot weather,
when the snow's melting, it gets so full, that like as not some day t'll
wash all this place away."

"But it's fifty feet down there to the water," I said, smiling.

"What's fifty feet to a river like that, boy? Why, after what I've seen
I shouldn't jump out of my skin if I saw it rise up a hundred."

"See many bears about?" said Esau, rather anxiously.

"Tidy few, my lad; tidy few; and pretty big uns sometimes," said the
man, with a twinkle of the eye. "But berries has been rather plentiful
these last two years, and they haven't eat us yet. I wouldn't interfere
with 'em, though, if you met any."

"Dangerous?" said Gunson, giving me a merry look.

"Well, it's just as it happens," said the man, watching Esau's mouth,
which had slowly opened; "if they takes a fancy to you, they opens their
arms, and just gives you a friendly hug; if they don't, they are a bit
given to scratching and clawing. Where may you be going, squire?" he
added, turning to me.

"Fort Elk," I said.

"Oh! Fort Elk, where they collects the skins. I know. Well, you won't
get there to-morrow, nor yet next week. Pleasant journey to you. Don't
want to buy a bit o' bacon, I suppose?"

But Gunson said he did, and the transfer was made for a handful of
tobacco, Quong grinning with delight at the sight of the red streaks of
lean amongst the pinky-white fat, and apparently pleased with the
prospect of carrying a few more pounds.

That night we slept at a shanty, and for the next two nights we had no
need to camp out; while, what was of great import to us, we found that
we need be under no apprehension about provisions, the people, who had
settled down where they found open patches of grazing land, being
willing enough to sell or barter away flour enough for our wants.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

A DIFFICULT PATH.

One day seemed so much like another that we