forts in the west. On either side of him rode two young
clerks. One of them was Dan Maloney, a light-hearted Irishman, with
whom the jolly Doctor amused himself by exchanging jokes, capping
verses, and singing duets which set all the laws of harmony at defiance.

The other was Allan Keith, who, from similarity of taste and mental
qualities, had won the regard of Reginald Loraine; indeed, except in
point of wealth, the two young men greatly resembled each other.

Some way behind the gentlemen came a long team of Red River wooden
carts, escorted by several persons on horseback, under charge of Jacques
Leblanc, a French half-breed, who, from his reputed knowledge of the
country in all directions, had been selected to act as guide to the
whole party.

The carts, which had only two wheels, were built entirely of wood, and
each was dragged by a single horse. Some carried the travellers' tents,
cooking utensils, a tool-chest, and additional axletrees, their arms and
ammunition, together with their clothes, spare blankets, and
waterproofs. The other carts were laden with stores of all sorts for
the forts to the westward.

Accompanying the carts was a drove of loose horses--the animals now
rearing and kicking and biting at each other--now moving along steadily,
under the management of a single driver, Francois Chabot, also a French
half-breed. He had seldom to use his long whip to keep them in order;
and even the most restless showed no inclination to leave their
companions. They were intended to supply the travellers with a change
of steeds once or twice in the day; for in making long journeys, when
day after day forty or fifty miles have to be got over between sunrise
and sunset, one horse seldom possesses sufficient strength and endurance
to carry his rider the whole distance.

When a horse shows signs of fatigue, his saddle is removed to the back
of another, and he contentedly runs on with the herd. The horses were
mostly small, and many of them sorry-looking steeds; but they had,
notwithstanding, carried their riders without showing signs of fatigue,
or growing thinner. Their only food was the grass they could pick up
while the party were encamped at night, or during their noon-day halt,
neither beans nor corn being given them.

Reginald Loraine and the Doctor had provided themselves with English
saddles; the rest of the party bestrode those of native manufacture,
which were merely large pads of dressed leathe