, and would become an evidence of
superior courtesy if Ravenshaw should go insolently on. If, on the
other hand, he should take it well, a friendly reference to the roads or
the weather would convert the sneer into a mere nasal tone.

"Ah, thanks, thanks," cried Mr Ravenshaw heartily, as he drove past;
"bad news that about the plain-hunters. I suppose you've heard it."

"Ay, it iss pad news--ferry pad news inteed, Mister Ruvnshaw. It will
pe goin' to the fort ye are?"

"Yes; the poor people will need all the help we can give them."

"They wull that; oo ay."

Discourse being difficult in the circumstances, they drove the remainder
of the way in silence, but each knew that the breach between them was
healed, and felt relieved. Angus did not, however, imagine that he was
any nearer to his desires regarding the knoll. Full well did he
understand and appreciate the unalterable nature of Sam Ravenshaw's
resolutions, but he was pleased again to be at peace, for, to say truth,
he was not fond of war, though ready to fight on the smallest
provocation.

Baptiste Warder was right in expecting that the Company would lend their
powerful aid to the rescue.

The moment the Governor heard of the disaster, he took immediate and
active steps for sending relief to the plains. Clothing and provisions
were packed up as fast as possible, and party after party was sent out
with these. But in the nature of things the relief was slow. We have
said that some of the hunters and their families had followed the
Indians and buffalo to a distance of between 150 and 200 miles. The
snow was now so deep that the only means of transport was by
dog-sledges. Dogs, being light and short-limbed, can travel where
horses cannot, but even dogs require a track, and the only way of making
one on the trackless prairie, or in the forest, is by means of a man on
snow-shoes, who walks ahead of the dogs and thus "beats the track." The
men employed, however, were splendid and persevering walkers, and their
hearts were in the work.

Both Samuel Ravenshaw and Angus Macdonald gave liberally to the cause;
and each obtaining a team of dogs, accompanied one of the relief parties
in a dog-cariole. If the reader were to harness four dogs to a
slipper-bath, he would have a fair idea of a dog-cariole and team.
Louis Lambert beat the track for old Ravenshaw. He was a recognised
suitor at Willow Creek by that time. The old gentleman was well
accustomed to t