ose who were older, in the use of the bow, the
snow-shoes, the spear, the axe, and the gun. But all this, and what
they did and said in the Indian camp during that winter, and what was
said and done to them, we do not mean to write about, having matter of
deeper interest to tell.

Winter passed away, and spring came. But little do those who dwell in
England know of the enchantment of returning spring in the frozen
wilderness of North America. The long, long winter, seems as though it
would _never_ pass away. The intense frost seals up all the sweet
odours of the woods for so many months, that the nostrils become
powerfully sensitive, and, as it were, yearn for something to smell.
The skin gets so used to frost, that a balmy breeze is thought of as a
thing of the past, or well-nigh forgotten.

Spring in those regions comes suddenly. It came on our wanderers with a
gush. One night the temperature rose high above the freezing point;
next day all the sights and sounds of Nature's great awakening were in
full play. The air fanned their cheeks like a summer breeze; the
strange unwonted sound of tinkling and dropping water was heard; scents,
as of green things, were met and inhaled greedily. As the thirsty
Bedouin drinks from the well in the oasis, so did Roy and Nelly drink in
the delicious influences of melting nature. And they thought of those
words which say, that the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom as the
rose. The rejoicing had commenced, the blossoming would soon follow.

But warlike and wicked men were even then preparing to desecrate the
beautiful land. A war-party of enemies had come down upon the tribe,
with whom they dwelt. Scouts had brought in the news. All was
commotion and excitement in the camp. Goods and chattels were being
packed up. The women and children were to be sent off with these, under
an escort, to a place of greater security, while the Braves armed for
the fight.

In the middle of all the confusion, Roy took Nelly aside, and, with a
look of mystery, said--

"Nell, dear, I'm goin' to run away. Stay, now, don't stare so like an
owl, but hold your sweet tongue until I have explained what I mean to
do. You and I have picked up a good deal of useful knowledge of one
sort or another since we came here, and I'm inclined to think we are
quite fit to take to the woods and work our way back to Fort
Enterprise."

"But isn't it an _awful_ long way?" said Nelly.

"It is, but we ha