o you?"

"Not if you are quite sure you can do so correctly."

"I think I can, but the doubts which you and your sister so often throw
on my understanding make me almost doubt myself," retorted Lambert, with
a laughing glance at Elsie. "You must know, then, that there is a
constellation named the Great Bear. It bears about as much resemblance
to a bear as it does to a rattlesnake, but that's what astronomers have
called it. Part of it is much more in the shape of a plough, and one of
the stars in that plough is the pole-star. You can easily distinguish
it when once you know how, because two of the other stars are nearly in
line with it, and so are called `pointers.' When you stand looking at
the pole-star you are facing the north, and of course, when you know
where the north is, you can tell all the other points of the compass."

It must not be supposed that the rest of the party listened to this
astronomical lecture. The gallant Louis had sought to interest Elsie as
well as Cora, but Elsie was too much engrossed with the way-worn hunters
and their sad tale to think of anything else. When they had eaten
enough to check the fierce cravings of hunger they related more
particulars.

"And now," said Warder, sitting erect and stretching his long arms in
the air as if the more to enjoy the delightful sensation of returning
strength, "we have pushed on at the risk of our lives to save time.
This news must be carried at once to the Governor. The Company can help
us best in a fix like this."

"Of course, of course; I shall send word to him at once," said his host.

"All right, Baptiste," said Lambert, coming forward, "I expected you'd
want a messenger. Here I am. Black Dick's in the stable. He'll be in
the cariole in ten minutes. What shall I say to the Governor?"

"I'll go with you," answered Warder.

"So vill I," said Winklemann.

"You'll do nothing of the sort," retorted Ravenshaw. "You both need
rest. A sound sleep will fit you to do your work more actively in the
morning. I myself will go to the fort."

"Only _one_ can go, at least in my cariole," remarked Lambert, "for it
only holds two, and no one can drive Black Dick but myself."

Baptiste Warder was immoveable; it ended in his going off in the cariole
with Lambert to inform the governor of the colony, who was also chief of
the Hudson's Bay Company in Red River, and to rouse the settlement.
They had to pass the cottage of Angus Macdonald on the