Part 24 (2/2)
Soon the other search boats returned, and the anxieties of all were thus speedily relieved After the recital of the story of their narrow escape an i service was held, and every heart was full of gratitude for their deliverance
Winter Adventures of Three Boys--by Egerton R Young
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
HOMEWARD BOUND--FAREWELL TO SAGASTA-WEEKEE--OLD NORWAY HOUSE--SAM'S CLEVER SURMISINGS--A GLAD SURPRISE FOR FRANK AND ALEC--SAM'S WELL- DESERVED DUCKING--A GLORIOUS EVENING--THE EARLY CALL--JUST ONE MORE SWEET ”GOOD-BYE”--”ALL ABOARD”--ON GREAT LAKE WINNIPEG--SAM'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT AT A BEAR--RED RIVER--FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE PRAIRIES--FORT GARRY-- THE BELLS OF ST BONIFACE--THE LONG TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS--THE EXCITING BUFFALO HUNT--SAINT PAUL'S--STILL ON BY LAKES AND RIVERS--MONTREAL--ON BOARD shi+P--THE OCEAN VOYAGE--LIVERPOOL--HOME AT LAST
The start was o that afternoon as far as to the old Norway House fort, where the ins its career Here for scores of years it has been the custoht andtrip of the whole length of Lake Winnipeg to the ht of the boys, soade, and so they had Big Touide, Martin Papanekis as their cook, and Soquatuht sturdy oars all day at these heavy oars is very laborious, and so there is great delight when the wind is favourable and a reat square sail hauled up into the favouring breeze
Then the voyage is a joyous holiday What is ainst which they can neither sail nor use the oars with good effect
Early in the forenoon on the day of starting the young gentleood friends of theladies, Rachel and Winnie It is almost needless to add that both Frank and Alec declared themselves as the most devoted of lovers, and vowed that in a few years they would return and claim them as their brides We must leave tiun under such happy and roentleasta-weekee at the same time as did Mr Hurlburt and his family, and so were not there to see thehly and well had the packing been done that not much ti was on board The kindly farewells to all were said, and they were off Sa back to Pasche, as he stood on a rock with a sorrowful face:
”Don't set any arcon, I have had enough of that work,” he shouted, a of handkerchiefs and shouts of ”Bon voyage” and ”Good-bye,”
Sagasta-weekee was left behind There were tears in the eyes of the lads who had spent within its corown much, not only physically, but there had been developood in the oncouidance of such a couple as Mr and Mr Ross in such a for lives was of incalculable value
Happy are the boys who have such guardians; happier still if their own parents are of this splendid class
As the wind sprang up from the north the mast, which had been securely tied to the outside of the boat, was quickly placed in position, and the sail was soon doing its work Mr Ross and the lads had coed for the Toreat oar as a rudder Wild ducks and a few geese flew by, but there was now no ti On they sped, and it was easy to observe froe that passed between Mr Ross and Big To more than the sail in the Sae of Indian, was the first to suspect as before them, and so he blurted out:
”Faith, I believe Oo-che- to be repeated”
”What do you mean?” asked Frank
”Mean, is it, you ask? Why, I mean that I fancy soht”
”Do stop talking riddles, Sam,” said Alec, ”and tell us what your palaver is all about”
”Well,” replied the incorrigible tease, ”I fancy that, if you young gentleed yourselves to eternal loyalty, or, in other words, plighted your troths either to others, as the book says, you will both have a chance to tell the fair daoes down”
”Sam!” they both shouted, ”what do you mean?”
This explosion on their part caused Mr Ross to turn fro To he uttered Saet it into the thick heads of these two boys that there is an agreeable conspiracy on foot for their mutual consolation and edification, but for the life of an”
”Chist!” (”Look!”) cried Big Towa Tootten, and so even Mr Ross, as vastly amused that Sam had been so observant, did not make any reply to the lad's remarks