east from Pembina and travelled all day without
interruption, except for the necessary mid-day meal.

The country now appeared to change somewhat. The deep woods had given
place to rolling prairie, broken at the sky-line by low poplar bluffs.
By nightfall they had reached the frozen marshy borders of the Roseau
River. East from its waters there stretched hundreds of miles of
spruce forest, home of the moose, caribou, and the great timber wolf.
A rough camp was quickly made, and in the morning the hunters pursued
their way again through the deep evergreens. In a short time more they
would have reached the hunting-ground, when an accident occurred, that
almost caused them to turn back empty-handed.

Narcisse, on his snow-shoes, in stepping over a half-burned log, fell
forward, wrenching his knee so badly that on rising he could scarcely
walk. All thought of the hunt had now to be given up, but as they were
sadly retracing their steps, they espied the smoke of a tepee at the
end of a small clearing.

A few minutes later, and to their joy they were in the broad tepee of
their former friend, Wikonaie, who was himself, at that moment,
preparing to start on a hunt.

Failing Narcisse, nothing would have suited Hector better than to have
Wikonaie accompany them. Narcisse was left in Wikonaie's tepee in
charge of the young Indians, and the horses were also left at the camp,
as well as Narcisse's two dogs, who answered ill to orders from any one
except their master. Then the party eagerly set-out.

The hours were passing without any sign of game, when Wikonaie gave a
cry of joy. 'See!' he cried, 'you know what that means? Eh, I will
show you a great moose soon.'

Their eyes followed the direction of his finger, and there, plainly
printed in the snow, which was softer here, was the great footprint
which, from its size, could be no other than that of the quarry they
sought. They exchanged exclamations of surprise and delight, and then
Wikonaie, bidding them tighten their belts, for there would be no
dinner that day, gave out his plan of campaign.

The moose was ahead of him, perhaps only a mile or two; they must push
forward with utmost speed and at the same time utmost caution. For
this purpose, Wikonaie would lead the way, Baptiste follow, and Hector
bring up the rear, keeping Dour and Dandy at heel until their services
should be required.

Thus, in Indian file, they went on for quite another mile, when
Wikonai