ow, so as to make it really a very desirable situation. And a most
fortunate one it was to the wanderers, the trapper often declaring,
that if he ever reached home again, he would conduct the whole family
to the spot, as it would not only make a desirable farm, but afford
rare facilities for hunting and trapping, which desideratum was of the
utmost importance to both Howe and Mr. Duncan.

It is really surprising to one reared in the lap of luxury, how little
is actually necessary to support the human body healthfully. Take these
wanderers, for instance, utterly debarred from procuring the simplest
products of civilization, entirely thrown on such resources as savages
are called to practice to sustain life and health, yet they have not
only surmounted great obstacles, but are undaunted by those that lay
before them, and have actually made themselves comfortable. Simple as
their abode and fare were, nay, even extremely rude, yet they
experienced a satisfaction and enjoyment when they retraced their
wanderings since they were carried away captives, and the feeling of
thankfulness for their wonderful escape from the savage cannibals,
begat one of contentment in their present lot. It is true, they were
fortunate in having found and occupied the building in ruins, as it
afforded them a more secure shelter than they could have built, with
the small complement of tools they possessed, yet it is a safe venture
to conclude, that had they not discovered them, they would have made
themselves an abode that would have shielded them from wet and cold.

There were four rooms in the temple, two only of which had been
cleared. They had often been in the others, but as they had no use for
them, they were left unmolested. The goat and the kid were stabled
nightly in the hall, but as she had become so tame as to return at
nightfall, she was allowed to roam at pleasure through the day.
Following her instinct, she sought her food among the crags and defiles
of the mountains, thus relieving them from the trouble of providing for
her. When the snow first began to cover the ground in early winter, it
caused them much anxiety as to how she was to be provided for until
spring. Her milk was of too much importance to think of killing her, or
turning her loose to run wild again, and she was at first tethered so
as to prevent her wandering away. This was relinquished after a while,
when they saw she returned of her own accord.

The colt caused them