oiselessly through the forest,
keeping a course parallel with the river. In the deepening gloom of
evening, he appeared more like a spectre than a human being--so quick
and agile were his motions as he flitted past the tree stems, yet so
noiseless the tread of his moccasined feet. The bushes were thick and
in places tangled, compelling him to stoop and twist and diverge right
and left as he sped along, but, being unencumbered with weapons or
weight of any kind, he advanced so rapidly that in the short space of
time we have mentioned he stood opposite to that part of the bank where
the attack had been made, and below which he had been swept for a great
distance in the canoe by the rapid stream.

Here he spent some time in reconnoitring the opposite bank, but without
gathering much information from his observations. No symptom of the
presence of human beings could be discovered. No column of smoke rising
above the trees to tell of the watch-fire of white man or red. The
trapper listened intently, then he bethought him, for the first time, of
giving the signal which, at setting out on their journey, they had
agreed to use in all circumstances of danger. It was the low howl of a
wolf followed immediately by the hoot of an owl. The reply to it was to
be the hoot of the owl without the cry of the wolf when danger should be
imminent and extreme caution necessary, or the howl of the wolf alone if
danger should have passed away.

To the first utterance of the signal no reply was made. After waiting a
few seconds, Bounce gave it forth again. Immediately after, the low
howl of a wolf was heard on the opposite bank, and a figure appeared at
the edge of the river. Darkness prevented the trapper ascertaining who
it was, but a repetition of the cry convinced him that it could be none
other than Black Gibault.

With a grunt of satisfaction, Bounce at once proceeded to make
preparations for crossing the river. Cutting a large piece of bark from
a neighbouring tree, he hastily formed it into a species of dish or flat
boat; then, stripping off all his garments, he tied them up in a tight
bundle, and placed them in this miniature canoe; after which he plunged
boldly into the stream and made for the opposite shore, pushing his
little ark before him. In five minutes he had crossed, and entered into
a hasty conversation with Gibault in low, eager tones, while pulling on
his clothes.

"First of all, lad," said Bounce, laying hi