they are but few in number compared with the heathen Indians.
The latter have, during the summer, suffered greatly from smallpox, and
their cunning medicine-men have persuaded them it is owing to the
circumstance that some of their people have deserted their ancient
customs, and that the complaint has been introduced by the pale-faces.
They are not very clear about the matter, but regard my father with an
evil eye, instead of treating him as before with respect, even when they
declined listening to him. He is not alarmed about himself, but he
thought it prudent to send Rose and Letty to a safer place, and directed
me to take charge of them. Though very unwilling to leave him and my
mother, I was, of course, obliged to obey his commands. We came down
the river in a small canoe. It was so severely battered on the voyage
that, though we escaped actual shipwreck, your brother Alick considered
it would be highly imprudent to continue the voyage in it to Fort Ross.
We therefore dispatched a messenger to Mr Meredith, requesting him to
send us up an escort; but we greatly fear, as we have received no
answer, that the man must have perished in the snowstorm which overtook
you."

Alick had the same fears about the messenger Jacques Allon, the only man
who could be spared from the fort.

Jacques wished himself to go, declaring that he could make his way
without difficulty, even though a whole tribe of hostile Indians were on
the watch for him. Whether he had been cut off by Indians or had
perished in the snow remained doubtful.

Though very sorry to lose poor Jacques, we were thankful that our
friends were safe with us, and we promised to take very good care of
them till Mr Meredith should hear of their being at Fort Black, and
should come, as he probably would, to fetch them away. Alick and I
would, at all events, in the meantime enjoy their society.

Martin was a great friend of ours, and the young ladies added a
brightness to the routine of our ordinary life at the fort; not that we
were ever idle or found the time hang heavily on our hands. Each season
had its various occupations. We were either out hunting buffalo, or
deer, or smaller animals, or were fishing in some of the neighbouring
lakes for white-fish, or were preparing them or pemmican for our winter
stores or for travelling; or packing the skins we had obtained, or
trading with the Indians.

The buffaloes which we killed when ice could be obtained, eithe