overing my strength, and Rose and Letty by their kind
attentions greatly contributed to raise my spirits. They had not been
told of the danger Mr Crisp apprehended, and Rose only supposed that
she was going to Fort Ross for the sake of being a companion to Letty.
They were therefore perfectly happy, and laughed and joked as their
natural tempers inclined them to do.

We were, of course, rather anxious about Sandy and poor Pat. The latter
I scarcely expected to see again, for ill as he was when he went away
from me, I feared that if not at once found he would have been starved
to death.

I have not yet described our fort. It consisted of strong palisades,
surrounding nearly half an acre of ground, with wooden towers at the
four corners, projecting so as to enfilade each of the sides. The whole
was surrounded by a trench, which would make it difficult for an enemy
to approach the walls, if they were well defended with musketry. The
interior was occupied by dwelling-houses and stores, and huts and
wigwams for the accommodation of the hunters and canoe-men who might be
detained during the winter.

Though small, our fort was thus of considerable strength, and we had no
fear, should it be attacked, of being able to defeat any number of
Indians who might come against it.

Evening was approaching when the lookout, who was always stationed at
the top of the highest tower which faced the open country, gave notice
that he saw several persons on horseback approaching.

We hurried up the tower with our spy-glasses, and before long, greatly
to our satisfaction, we distinguished Sandy at the head of the party.

"Hurrah!" I exclaimed, "and there's Pat. I'm sure it must be him, and
Pierre is riding alongside him, and supporting him on his horse."

"I see a boy too," exclaimed Martin. "He looks to me very like an
Indian, and yet I fancy he's got a white face. Who can he be?"

As the party drew nearer, we were satisfied that we were right in our
conjectures. We all hurried out to meet them.

Sandy, as soon as he saw me, jumped off his horse, and nearly shook my
hand off in his delight at finding I was safe.

"I thought it was all right," he exclaimed, "as I'll tell you by-and-by.
We found your last resting-place, and traced you to the canoe; and as I
discovered that Bouncer had made his way to you, I felt sure that you
had gone down the stream, though I was not so sure how you would have
shot the rapids."

"How do y