in the margin of the forest, not far from the shore of
the great lake.

This family, though claiming to be Christian and civilised, was little
better than vagrant and savage. They were to some extent as independent
as the brute creation around them--though of course they betrayed the
inherent weakness of mankind in being unable to exist happily without
tea, sugar, and tobacco. For the rest, their wants were few and easily
satisfied. Snares provided willow-grouse and rabbits; traps gave them
furs and the means of purchasing guns and powder. Their log-hut was
only an occasional residence. Wherever night overtook them they were at
home. They camped on the open plains, in the woods, among the rocks,
and on the margins of rivers and lakes. Healthy, happy, and heedless,
the Dobelle family cared for nothing apparently, but the comfort of the
passing hour; regarded the past as a convenient magazine from which to
draw subjects for gossip and amusement, and left the future to look
after itself.

There were in the hut, when the three visitors entered, old Dobelle, his
wife, a daughter of eighteen, another of four, and two sons of twenty
and twenty-two respectively.

"It looks like dirty weather," said Jenkins on entering; "will you let
us come to an anchor here for a bit?"

"Give us shelter?" explained Archie, who doubted old Dobelle's ability
to understand nautical language.

"You are welcome," said the half-breed, making way politely, and
pointing to places on the floor where the visitors were expected to
squat. For there was no furniture in that mansion; the fire was kindled
in the middle of its one room; the family sat around it on deer and
buffalo skins, and the smoke alike of pipe and fire found egress at the
crevices in the roof.

With kind hospitality Madame Dobelle poured some black tea into cups of
birch-bark, and, on plates of the same material, spread before them the
remains of a feast of roasted fish.

While eating this, various questions were put as to the success of the
fishery.

"Yes--we have been very successful," said old Dobelle. "No bad weather
to speak of, and plenty of fish. Our good fortune is great."

"But it won't last long," said the eldest son, who seemed to be the only
growler in the family.

"_N'importe_--we will enjoy it while it lasts," said the younger son.

"Yes, truly we will," remarked Madame Dobelle. Whereupon the daughter
of eighteen smiled, and the daughter of four gig