not
far-distant.

By that time the storm was raging with unwonted violence. Nevertheless
the Dobelle family smoked on in placid contentment. When the time for
repose arrived, Madame Dobelle and her eldest girl retired to a box-bed
in a corner of the hut which was screened off--not very effectually--by
a curtain of birch-bark. The two brothers lay down in another corner.
The three visitors disposed themselves in the third, and, as the fourth
was monopolised by the rain-rivulet, old Dobelle lay down on one side of
the fire in the centre of the room, while the four-year-old girl reposed
on the other.

During the night the accumulation of tobacco-smoke with fire-smoke
produced a suffocating effect, but no one was capable of suffocation
apparently, for they all smoked on--except Archie, who, as we have said,
had not acquired the habit. Even the four-year-old girl, like Baby La
Certe, had a pull now and then at its father's pipe, and, from sundry
white emanations from the crevices in the bark curtains, it was evident
that the ladies behind these were enjoying themselves in the same way
during the intervals of repose.

Next morning was fine, and the three sportsmen returned to the fishery
to find that the storm had made an almost clean sweep of the nets. It
had carried most of them away; torn others to pieces, and almost ruined
the whole colony of fishermen; the ruin being all the more complete that
most of the nets had been received on credit, and were to be paid for
chiefly by the results of the autumn fishery.

La Certe was one of the chief sufferers; nevertheless, to judge from his
looks, La Certe did not suffer much! He had brought a considerable
amount of provision with him, as we have said, and, finding that one of
his nets had been washed ashore, he proceeded very leisurely to mend it,
while he smoked and assisted Slowfoot to consume pemmican and tea.

About this time a mysterious message was sent to Dan Davidson from Red
River by an Indian, requiring his immediate return. The sender of the
message was Elspie McKay; the summons was therefore obeyed at once.

As nothing further could be done at the fishery that autumn, the other
members of the expedition, and most of the fishers, returned with Dan to
the colony.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE TRIAL FOR MURDER.

"Dan," said Elspie, as, seated in the summer-house after the arrival of
the sportsmen, these two held a meeting, "I have called you back to tell
yo