ds. It is a treat to have a visitor who can
talk about the old country. It's many years since I have seen it. And
you?"

"Oh, we were there seven or eight months ago," said Gunson, quietly; and
as we walked on, and our new friend plied him with questions about
London, the Government, and the changes that had taken place, always
carefully avoiding any allusions to the object of our visit to the
north-west land, it seemed to me that I was listening to quite a
different man to the rough prospector, and I fancied that the stranger
was noticing that Gunson was not the sort of man he seemed.

It was so pleasant to listen to the converse of these two gentlemanly,
well-informed speakers, that the distance seemed quite short back to
where Esau was lying down idly throwing stones in the river, while Quong
had the kettle boiling, and, as soon as he caught sight of us, came
running up to seize upon one of the packs of deer-meat, and trot off
with it.

"Useful sort of fellow, that," said the stranger, nodding at Quong as he
ran on before us. "Good cook, I suppose?"

"Excellent," replied Gunson. "You had better stop and have a bit of
dinner with us. He'll have a steak ready in a few minutes."

"With all my heart. Mike, you have some cake in your wallet."

"Yes, sir," said the man respectfully; and I saw Gunson's one eye turn
to him sharply.

"We can easily walk to the Fort in an hour afterwards," said the
stranger.

"And do you live near?" I said, eagerly.

"Yes, very near," he replied, smiling.

"It's very lucky we met you," I said, "for we had no idea how far we
were off. Here, hi! Esau!" I shouted, as soon as we were within
earshot, for he was coming towards us now in a slow, hesitating way.
"This is my companion who has come with me."

"Friend or brother?"

"Friend," I said; and I was going to say more, but I caught Gunson's
eye, and it seemed to suggest that I was talking too fast.

In less than half an hour we were partaking of the hot juicy steaks
which Quong brought round to us on the point of his knife, and washing
it down with hot tea, while the stranger and Gunson chatted away about
the sport to be had in that part of the country, filling my head with
eager hopes of partaking therein, as I heard of the different kinds of
game and deer, some of which were of huge size--elk and moose as high as
horses, which were shot in the winter.

It soon became evident that our new acquaintance was a keen spo