rocks only," said Dan.

"Well, well, go into the house now, and change your clo'es. Dry
yourself, an' get somethin' to eat, for you are used up altogither."

Elspie took his hand, and led him away. Meanwhile La Certe, having
gathered himself up and staggered to the front, was seized upon and
questioned unmercifully. Then he also was taken into the house and fed;
after which both men were made to lie down and rest.

Having slept for six hours Dan awakened, and rose up to be married!
Fred Jenkins and Elise were--as the jovial tar expressed it--turned off
at the same time.

It was customary in Rupert's Land at that time, as it is customary in
many remote lands, no doubt, at the present day, to celebrate every
wedding with a feast and a dance. Feasts are very much alike in
substance, if not in detail, everywhere. We refrain from describing
that which took place in Ben Nevis Hall at that time, further than to
say that it was superb. The dancing was simple: it consisted chiefly of
the Highland Fling danced by the performer according to taste or
imagination.

But that it was eminently satisfactory to all concerned was clearly
evinced by the appearance of the whole party--the elegant ease with
which Fergus McKay did it; the tremendous energy with which Jacques
Bourassin tried it; the persistent vigour with which Andre Morel studied
it; the facility with which Elise acquired it--under Elspie's tuition;
the untiring perseverance with which Archie and Little Bill did
something like it--for the latter had quite recovered, and was fit to
hold his own, almost, with any one; the charming confusion of mind with
which Fred Jenkins intermingled the sailor's hornpipe with it; the
inimitable languor with which La Certe condescended to go through it;
the new-born energy with which Slowfoot footed it; the side-splitting
shrieks with which Old Peg regarded it; the uproarious guffaws with
which the delighted old Duncan hailed it; the sad smile with which that
weak and worn invalid Duncan junior beheld it; and, last, but not least,
the earnest mental power and conspicuous physical ability with which Dan
Davidson attempted something which Charity personified might have
supposed to bear a distant resemblance to it.

The music was worthy of the dancing, for the appointed performer had,
owing to some occult cause, failed to turn up, and a volunteer had taken
his place with another fiddle, which was homemade, and which he did not
quite