ss, from which she not only braided enough of the matting, so
commonly used among the northern tribes, to enclose her own corner of
the hut, but to cover all the interior walls as well. The floor was
warmly spread with skins, from which their couches were also formed.

Besides always adding to the comforts of their home, they found plenty
of indoor work in the way of cutting out buckskin and fur garments
which were sewed with deer sinew, the making of snowshoes and wooden
bowls, and the braiding of mats. For recreation Donald told tales of
the great world beyond the sea, Ah-mo related incidents of her life in
Montreal, and Atoka recalled many a weird Indian legend. They also
played simple games. Atoka was taught to read and write from copies
set by Donald, while all three improved their knowledge of English,
French, and several Indian dialects. For outside work there were traps
to be visited, snow to be cleared from the path leading to the river,
the water hole through the ice to be chopped out every day, water to be
fetched, wood to be cut for the roaring fireplace, fish to be caught
through the ice in the pond, and an occasional hunt to be taken after
fresh meat.

In all this busy life Ah-mo, who had fully recovered her strength and
beauty, was ever the leading spirit. At the same time she was so
modest and intelligent, so cheerful and uncomplaining, that Donald
regarded her with ever-increasing respect and admiration.

"If Edith were only with us," he would sigh, "I think I should be
content to dwell here for the rest of my life," whereat Ah-mo would
laugh and bid him be cautious how he made such rash statements. Never
a day passed but what they talked of Edith and planned their search for
her. Donald, too, often spoke of his dear friend Christie, who, he
declared, was the one white man of his acquaintance with whom he would
be willing to share this pleasant forest life.

At length the winter came to an end. The south winds began to blow,
the snow to melt, the ice to break up, the wild geese to fly northward
in V-shaped companies, and the sap to run in the trees. While the snow
was still on the ground, they gathered sap from the rock maples and
boiled it into a plentiful supply of sugar. After that came the
building of a canoe and the fashioning of its paddles.

It was with high hopes, but at the same time with genuine regret, that,
late in May, they bade farewell to their winter home, launched a canoe