le away from them. He
would not go, however, without first urging Burnett, the other clerks,
and the Doctor to try and save themselves.

He had turned his horse for the purpose, when the rain came down thick
and furious, with even greater suddenness than the wind had arisen.
They saw that it almost immediately produced an effect on the fire. It
was a struggle between the two elements. At first it seemed doubtful,
however, which would prove victorious; but water, they trusted, had
gained the day; for, mingled with the rain came hail, not only ordinary
hail, but mixed with lumps half an inch to an inch across.

"Och! I'd as soon have a whack from an honest shillaly as be pelted by
thim threacherous lumps," cried Dan Maloney.

The travellers in vain raised their hands to protect their heads from
the hail. The long line of horses and carts was broken. Some of the
poor creatures clung to the road, struggling desperately. Others were
driven on to the prairie, and turning their backs to the storm, stood
still or moved sideways, with cowering heads, their manes and tails
floating wildly, like those of Highland shelties.

Hector declared that he could hear the hissing of the rain as it fell on
the hitherto victorious fire, effectually, however, quenching it. A few
minutes after the storm had broken, the whole ground to the left was a
blackened expanse. The danger was passed, and they hastened on to the
foot of the knoll, where a lakelet, fringed by aspens and poplars,
afforded them good camping ground. With astonishing speed the
arrangements for the night were made; every man exerted himself. The
horses were unharnessed, the erratic ones hobbled, the tents pitched,
and the travellers assembled round the blazing fires which were quickly
lighted to dry their saturated clothing.

Almost before these arrangements were made, the storm passed away. The
setting sun burst forth again until not a blot was left in the sky, save
fragments of mist to the south and south-east. It was too late to think
of moving on again, and Leblanc was glad of the opportunity of halting
to repair some of the carts with the ever serviceable "Shaganappi," a
large supply of which was carried for the purpose, as also to mend the
harness and other gear which had been broken by the restive movements of
the horses during the storm.

In the mean time, while Francois, another Canadian, who acted as cook,
was preparing the evening meal, Loraine and