ons; he ran into the house, shouldered a small
bag of pemmican, gave his gun and ammunition to Victor, told his
assistant to keep the school going till his return, and ran with his
friend down to the river, where his own birch canoe lay on the bank.

A few minutes sufficed to launch it. Both Ian and Victor were expert
canoe-men. Straining their powers to the utmost, they were soon far
down the Red River, in hot pursuit of the fugitive.

CHAPTER THREE.

THE PURSUIT BEGINS.

There is something delightfully exhilarating in a chase, whether it be
after man or beast. How the blood careers! How the nerves tingle! But
you know all about it, reader. We have said sufficient.

There was enough of righteous indignation in Victor's bosom to have
consumed Petawanaquat, and ground enough to justify the fiercest
resolves. Was not the kidnapper a redskin--a low, mean, contemptible
savage? Was not the kidnapped one his brother--his "own" brother? And
such a brother! One of a thousand, with mischief enough in him, if
rightly directed, to make half a dozen ordinary men! The nature of the
spirit which animated Victor was obvious on his compressed lips, his
frowning brows, his gleaming eyes. The strength of his muscles was
indicated by the foam that fled from his paddle.

Ian Macdonald was not less excited, but more under self-control than his
friend. There was a fixed look in his plain but pleasant face, and a
tremendous sweep in his long arms as he plied the paddle, that told of
unfathomed energy. The canoe being a mere egg-shell, leaped forward at
each quick stroke "like a thing of life."

There was no time to lose. They knew that, for the Indian had probably
got a good start of them, and, being a powerful man, animated by the
certainty of pursuit sooner or later, would not only put his strength
but his endurance to the test. If they were to overtake him it must be
by superhuman exertion. Lake Winnipeg was twenty miles off. They must
catch up the Indian before he reached it, as otherwise it would be
impossible to tell in which direction he had gone.

They did not pause to make inquiries of the settlers on the banks by the
way, but they hailed several canoes, whose occupants said they had seen
the Indian going quietly down stream some hours before--alone in his
canoe!

"Never mind, Vic, push on," said Ian; "of course he would make Tony lie
flat down."

The end of the settlement was passed, and they swept