aid that
Michel Rollin set off alone in a canoe in search of his mother the
moment he obtained sufficient information to enable him to act. At
first he paddled wildly over the watery plain, as if mere exertion of
muscle would accomplish his end, but soon he began to consider that
without giving definite direction to his energies he could not hope for
success. He therefore made straight for the mission station, where he
found Mr Cockran's family and people encamped on the stage, the
minister himself being away in his canoe visiting some of his scattered
flock, and offering them such comfort as only those can who truly trust
in Christ. Here he was advised to go to the Mountain, to which place it
was probable his mother and grandfather would have been conveyed if
picked up by any passing boat or canoe.

Deciding to do so, he paddled away at once with diminishing hopes and a
heavy heart, for the evidences of total destruction around him were
terribly real. He had not gone far when a canoe appeared on the
horizon. There was one figure in it. As it drew near the figure seemed
familiar. Nearer still, and he recognised it.

"Vinklemann!"

"Michel!"

The friends arrested their canoes by grasping hands.

"I seek for ma mere," said the half-breed.

"I for mine moder," returned the German.

A hurried consultation ensued. It was of no use going to the Mountain.
Winklemann had just come from it, having failed to find his mother. He
was still suffering from the effects of his recent accident, but he
could not wait. He would continue the search till he died. Rollin was
of the same mind, though neither he nor his friend appeared likely to
die soon. They resolved to continue the search together.

Both of them were thoroughly acquainted with the Red River plains in all
directions, but Rollin was more versed in the action of water. The
greater part of his boyhood had been spent in canoeing and hunting
expeditions with his father, from whom he inherited the French tongue
and manners which showed so much more powerfully than the Scotch element
in his composition. After his father's death he had consorted and
hunted much with Peegwish, who spoke Indian and French, but remarkably
little English. Peegwish was also a splendid canoe-man, so that Rollin
had come to study with great intelligence the flow and effect of
currents of water, whether deep or shallow, narrow or broad. Hence when
Winklemann related circumstantiall