Part 10 (1/2)

Sometimes I must own that ere upset, and rolled down to the bottoh ere never much the worse for the catastrophe, for of course ere all rapped up in warer entered into this amusement with as much zest as any of us He quickly recovered his spirits, and, under the tuition of Letty and Rose, soon found English words in which to express hih he had been called Kishkanko by the Indians

”It is a very ugly name, and we don't intend to call you by it,” said Letty

”Pray don't; I would rather be called Robin, as I used to be when I was a little boy by my father, and mother, and sister”

”Then you had a father, and mother, and sister,” said Rose

”Oh yes! and I love theo back to theht I should have died when the cruel Indians would not let me,” answered Robin

”We want very much to hear hoas that the Indians took you away from your family,” said Rose; ”you must tell Letty and me all about it”

Robin passed his hand across his brow, as if trying to collect his thoughts It was very evident that the circuin, when it was announced that several dog-sleighs were approaching the fort fro from Fort Ross

We all hurried out to meet them, and in a short ti the party, which consisted of two clerks and several hunters He was on his road, he said, to Mr Crisp's hter Letty, and Rose, if her parents would allow her to accompany him; and he was very happy to find that they were already with us He had heard ruhbourhood of the station, and was unwilling to allow his daughter to reer there He intended, indeed, to try to persuade Mr and Mrs Crisp to quit the place, at all events till the return of spring, when, even if they went there again, they ht at any time make their escape down the river, should they be threatened with danger

Martin, however, assured Mr Meredith that his parents would not on any account be induced to quit their station; and that, though they were not blind to the danger, they were resolved to ahatever eventsthis, Mr Meredith, as anxious as soon as possible to return to Fort Ross, detero farther, but said that he would spend two days with us to recruit his o back to his own fort

We were very sorry to part with Rose and Letty, though it was, of course, but right that they should be under the care of Mr Meredith I was afraid that I should also lose Martin; but he had been so happy with us that he begged hard to be allowed to remain on, and Mr Meredith consented to let hiive him some work to do, while at Fort Ross there were already as many clerks as could find employment

We were afraid also, that Robin would be taken away; but Alick, having discovered that his great as to be sent to the eastward, where he affir, it was determined to allow hiht be co from across the Rocky Mountains were more likely to visit us than they were Fort Ross, which was out of the road It was settled that, should no one appear, Robin should be sent by water when the navigation was again opened in spring

Robin hiladly have accompanied Rose and Letty; but when he understood the object of our keeping hie been settled, our friends prepared to set out There were three sleighs drawn by dogs Mr Meredith took charge of his daughter Letty, and Rose was driven by Mr Macmillan, the eldest of the two clerks, of whoh carried a s ladies, as they would have to encahts on the journey The rest of the hs, hich they could very easily keep up They were all well ar about at that season of the year, it was still possible that, should they have heard of Mr Meredith's journey, they ht make an attempt to cut him off; at all events, it ise to be on the safe side

We were very sorry indeed to part with them, but we kept up our spirits; and as they issued early one ate of the fort, we all sallied forth, cheering theht at the tiain meet

Martin and I accompanied them for soone far enough,” said Mr Meredith ”It is not wise toa journey at the commencement of winter, before your ankles are well accusto the racquettes, and may knock up before you reach the fort”

We were coood-bye We stood watching thehs appeared like so many black ants in the far distance, while we could not even distinguish the men who ran by their sides

”Coet back as soon as we can There's no chance of losing the trail so long as we have daylight”

It is extraordinary at what speed a person wearing snow-shoes can run over the hard snow A snow-shoe consists of an elongated oblong framework of wood, with cross-pieces; the interior filled up with a strong network, on which the foot rests, with a hole for the play of the heel This is secured to the feet and ankles by leathern thongs It necessitates keeping the feet soled with each other

A person not accustomed to their use is very apt to topple down and find soain Martin and I, however, had had plenty of practice during the two previous winters, though we had not gone very far on our return before we felt our ankles pain us considerably We stopped to rest, but could not venture to re to be constantly in exercise, we had not put on our warreatly restored us, and we had ood half the distance back to the fort when Martin, who happened to look round to the southward, exclaimed that he saw some dark objects in the snow

”Whether they are wolves or Indians crouching down to try and get on us unawares is more than I can tell,” he observed; ”but whichever they are, we had better push forward, and endeavour to keep ahead of the we looked to the priht be prepared to defend ourselves

”For my part, I would rather they should follow us than attack our friends,” I observed ”Perhaps they are some of the tribe Mr Meredith heard of, and did not coood service by leading theranted that they are Indians,” said Martin; ”I am not quite so certain of the fact I rather believe that they are a small pack of wolves; and if they were not so far off, we should hear thehbourhood to join in the chase