a strong French accent and a pretty lisp.

Without the ceremony even of throwing back his collar Dan plunged his
head into the water, and, after steeping it for a few seconds, drew it
out refreshed.

His younger brother entered the room at that moment.

"Peter," he said, drying his head violently with a jack-towel, "have you
got the sledge ready, and the provisions packed, and the empty sledge
wi' the buffalo-robes?"

"Ay--all ready," answered the other, for he was a sprightly, willing
youth, who rejoiced in any unexpected demand on his superabundant
energies. "But I say, Dan, you are quite unfit to start off again
without rest."

He looked in his brother's face anxiously, for Dan had seated himself
once more to his food, but seemed unable to deal with it properly.
"Why, you've got the knife and fork in the wrong hands, Dan! You _must_
have an hour's rest before we start."

"Impossible," returned the other with a dazed look, as he seized a mug
of water and drank it off. "An hour's delay may mean death to Elspie
and old Duncan McKay."

"But let _me_ start off at once," returned Peter, eagerly. "I've a
pretty good guess, from your description, where you left them. Besides,
the gale is not so bad now. After an hour's sleep you will be able to
start fresh, maybe overtake me. Jess will be sure to waken you in--"

He stopped, for his brother's head had bent slowly forward while he was
speaking, and now rested on his arms on the table. The worn-out man was
sound asleep.

"Just leave him, Peter, and be off wi' the dogs," said Mrs Davidson.
"Okematan will keep you in the right track. I'll be sure to wake him in
time to catch you up."

"No, mother, not without his leave," said the youth, firmly. "Dan!
Dan! rouse up, old boy! Shall we start without you?"

"Yes, yes--I'm ready," said the poor fellow, starting up and swaying to
and fro like a drunken man; "but--I say, Peter, I'm done for. I depend
on you, lad, to keep me up to the scratch. Lay the dog-whip across my
shoulders if I try to lie down. Promise me that. D'ee hear!"

"Yes, I understand," returned the youth with intense earnestness. "Now
look here, Dan, you know me: will you trust me?"

"Of course I will," answered Dan with a languid smile.

"Well, then; come along, we'll rescue Elspie--you may depend on that.
Okematan and I will look after you and see that all goes right. Come."

He took his brother by the arm, and led him unresistingly a