contained his "little all." He was gesticulating passionately to his
comrades.

"What's wrong now?" said Jack to Francois, as the latter came towards
him.

"Rollo he go 'way," said Francois. "There be an Indian come in hims
canoe, and Rollo make up his mind to go off vid him."

"Oh! has he?" said Jack, springing up and walking rapidly towards the
hut.

Now it must be told here that, a few days before the events we are
describing, Jack had given Rollo a new suit of clothes from the
Company's store, with a view to gain his regard by kindness, and attach
him to the service, if possible. Rollo was clad in this suit at the
time, and he evidently meant to carry it off.

Jack crushed back his anger as he came up, and said in a calm,
deliberate voice, "What _now_, Rollo?"

"I'm going off," said the man fiercely. "I've had enough of _you_."

There was something supernaturally calm and bland in Jack's manner, as
he smiled and said--

"Indeed! I'm _very_ glad to hear it. Do you go soon?"

"Ay, at once."

"Good. You had better change your dress before going."

"Eh?" exclaimed the man.

"Your clothes belong to the company; _put them off_!" said Jack.
"Strip, you blackguard!" he shouted, suddenly bringing his stick within
three inches of Rollo's nose, "Strip, or I'll break every bone in your
carcase."

The man hesitated, but a nervous motion in Jack's arm caused him to take
off his coat somewhat promptly.

"I'll go into the house," said Rollo, humbly.

"No!" said Jack, sternly, "Strip where you are. Quick!"

Rollo continued to divest himself of his garments, until there was
nothing left to remove.

"Here, Francois," said Jack, "take these things away. Now, sir, you may
go."

Rollo took up his bundle and went into the hut, thoroughly crestfallen,
to re-clothe himself in his old garments, while Jack strolled into the
woods to meditate on his strange fortunes.

That was the end of Rollo. He embarked in a canoe with an Indian and
went off--no one knew whither. So, the wicked and useless among men
wander about this world to annoy their fellows for a time--to pass away
and be forgotten. Perhaps some of them, through God's mercy, return to
their right minds. We cannot tell.

According to instructions, Jack made over the charge of his
establishment that day to the clerk who had been sent down to take
charge, and next morning set out for Fort Kamenistaquoia, in the boat
with the shipwrecked seamen.