rpin and the rider to Ghent, (we
forget his name), only killed their horses. Dan and Francois nearly
killed themselves--not only with hard work and no rest, but with
profound anxiety, for the wedding hour was rapidly approaching and they
were still far from home!

While these events were transpiring in the wilderness, things were going
smoothly enough in the Colony.

"I will be thinkin'," said old Duncan McKay, one fine evening as he sat
in his invalid chair, beside Duncan junior, who was woefully reduced and
careworn, despite the attentions of the sympathetic Jessie Davidson, who
was seated near him on a rustic seat beside Elspie--

"I will be thinkin' that Tan an' La Certe are stoppin' longer away than
iss altogither seemly. Tan should have been here two or three days
before the weddin'."

"He will likely be time enough for his own weddin'--whatever," remarked
Duncan junior. "Don't you think so, Miss Jessie?"

"I think it likely," answered the girl with a smile.

"He is _sure_ to be in time," said Elspie, with emphasis.

"We niver can be sure of anything in this world, my tear," remarked old
Duncan, becoming oracular in tone. "How do you know he iss so sure?"

"Because Dan never breaks his word," returned Elspie, with an air of
decision that would have gratified Dan immensely had he been there to
see it.

"Fery true, my tear," rejoined the Highlander, "but there are many other
things that interfere with one's word besides the will. He might tie,
you know, or be trowned, or his gun might burst and render him helpless
for life, if it did not kill him altogither. It iss an uncertain world
at the best--whatever."

Archie Sinclair, who joined them--with his brother, Little Bill, by his
side, not on his back--was of the same opinion as Elspie, but Billie
shook his head, looked anxious, and said nothing--for he felt that his
friend was running things much too close.

At a later hour that same evening, the other members of the two
families--who dropped in to make inquiries--began to express anxiety,
and Okematan, who called just to see how things were getting on, shook
his head and looked owlish. Old Peg said nothing, but she evidently
thought much, to judge from the deepening wrinkles on her forehead.

As for Fred Jenkins, he was too much taken up with Elise Morel to think
much about anything, but even he at last grew anxious, and when the
wedding morning finally dawned, and no Dan made his appearance,