proached to call the attention of our friends.

Fortunately the lookout on one of the towers saw us, and several of the
men came hurrying out with firearms in their hands.

Seeing the wolves they advanced shouting. The animals were, however, so
directly behind us that not till we were up to them could they venture
to fire. They then let fly a volley which killed several, and the rest,
frightened by the shouts more than by the reports of the guns and the
death of their companions, turned tail and scampered off. Once in
safety, both of us sank down on the snow, and had to be carried into the
fort. Even after our snow-shoes were taken off we suffered intense
pain, and it was not for some days that either of us was able to walk.

The experience we had had made us both resolved to practise with
snow-shoes before we again attempted to make so long an excursion as we
had just performed. The winter wore on. That season occupies, as most
of my readers must be aware, a large portion of the year in that region.
For months together--that is to say, from the middle of October till
late in May--during the whole period, the ground is covered with snow;
the rivers are frozen over; the trees are leafless; every drop of water
exposed to the air congeals. The atmosphere is very clear, the air pure
and exhilarating, the sun shines brightly from the unclouded sky, and
when no wind is blowing existence out of doors is far from unpleasant.

Parties from the fort were constantly out hunting, and buffalo
frequently came up close to the very walls. We have often shot them
from the towers.

Robin was rapidly picking up his recollection of English, and could now
speak quite fluently. He was also, from being well fed and clothed,
gradually improving in appearance and strength. His manners and his
tone of voice were also good.

I had little doubt from the first that he was of gentle birth. He was
not very communicative about his early life, some of his recollections,
indeed, being painful. I picked up his history, however, by bits and
scraps.

He was born in the old country, and had come over when very young with
his father and mother, Captain and Mrs Grey. He spoke of a sister
Ella, somewhat older than himself; and a little brother Oliver, to whom
he appeared to be greatly attached. His parents had removed from either
Boston or New York to one of the western cities, where they lived, I
suspect, with somewhat straitened means.