need not be alarmed," said Effie, somewhat slily. "From what papa
says, he can only remain a few hours. He has to hurry back to his
station, and declines remaining even one night."

What might have been Loraine's wish need not be said, but Mr Harvey
promised, should his life be spared, to return shortly to perform the
ceremony which was to make Sybil his.

Captain Mackintosh, after reflecting, agreed to send five of his men,
under the orders of Le Brun, to protect Mr Harvey's station, for he
guessed that, without the prospect of booty, notwithstanding their
threats, the Blackfeet would not venture to attack it, even though
opposed by so small a number; for, if successful, they would gain but
little, and would be certain to lose several men.

Le Brun, a brave fellow, laughed at the notion.

Just as Mr Harvey was about to set out, old Sass and Greensnake
appeared mounted at the gate.

"I'll go with you, friend," he said, addressing the clergyman. "Though
I've not had much to do with parsons in my day, I want to have a talk
with you, and maybe if those villains, the Blackfeet, try to give you
any trouble, I may be of as much use as those six men you are taking
with muskets and pistols."

Before finally starting, the old man bade adieu to Captain Mackintosh
and his family, as also to Loraine.

He gazed in Sybil's face as he took her hand. "I have not prayed for
many a day, but if God will hear the prayers of such an outcast as I am,
I will ask Him to bless you and make you happy with the noble young
Englishman to whom you have given your heart. It is my belief that he
will prove true and faithful."

He spoke in a similar strain to Loraine; and turning, with an evident
effort, to where Greensnake was holding his horse, mounted, and joined
Mr Harvey, who had already left the fort.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Life in a fort in the Far West is not as monotonous as may be supposed.
There is a variety of work to be done. The hunters are employed in
procuring buffalo, deer, and other game for provisions during the many
winter months. The meat has to be preserved in summer by being
converted into pemmican, and in winter by being placed in deep pits,
with floors of ice between each intervening layer of meat, and then
covered up with snow. When the fort is in the neighbourhood of a lake
or river, fish have to be caught and preserved. This is done by salting
them in summer, and freezing them as soon as the cold becomes i