at year in Red River of the North, and none of the
wonted perfumes of the season regaled the noses of our voyagers as they
returned home.

"There they are at last!" exclaimed Victor, with sparkling eyes, "the
elms on the knoll. D'ye see them, Tony? I do believe I see the
smoking-box. But for the bushes we might see the chimneys of Willow
Creek."

Tony's excitement was great, but the effect of his late training was
seen in the suppression of all feeling, save that which escaped through
the eyes. Paint and charcoal concealed the flush on his cheeks
effectually.

"Tonyquat sees," he replied.

Victor received this with a loud laugh, but Tony, although annoyed, did
not lose his dignity, which the red man in the stern of the canoe
observed with a look of pride and satisfaction.

Michel Rollin, in the other canoe, close alongside, was observed to hold
up his hand.

"Hush!" he said, turning his head as if to listen. "I do hear
someting--someting not meloderous."

"Is it melliferous, then?" asked Vic, with a smile.

But Rollin made no reply. He was far from jesting, poor fellow, at that
moment. The thought of his old mother and grandfather, and fears as to
their fate, weighed heavily on his heart, and took all the fun out of
him.

"It sounds like pigs," said Ian.

"Oui. Dey be killin' porkers," said Rollin, with a nod, as he dipped
his paddle again and pushed on.

As they drew near, the excitement of the voyagers increased, so did
their surprise at the prolonged and furious shrieking. Gradually the
vigour of their strokes was strengthened, until they advanced at racing
speed. Finally, they swept round the corner of the old house at Willow
Creek, and burst upon the gaze of its inhabitants, while Peegwish and
the pig were at the height of their struggles.

Mrs Ravenshaw chanced to be the first to observe them.

"Ian Macdonald!" she shouted, for his form in the bow of the leading
canoe was the most conspicuous.

"Victor!" cried the sisters, with a scream that quite eclipsed the pig.

They rushed to another window, under which the canoes were pulled up.

"Oh! Victor, Victor," cried Mrs Ravenshaw, with a deadly faintness at
her heart; "you haven't found--"

"Mother!" cried Tony, casting off his Indian reserve and starting up
with a hysterical shout, "Mother!"

"Tony!" exclaimed everybody in the same breath, for they all knew his
voice, though they did not believe their eyes.

It was only four feet