however, ignores the impossible! The two young
men resolved on the attempt. They were pretty well aware of the extent
of their physical powers. They would put them fairly to the test for
once--even though for the last time! They prepared for the old man and
his daughter a shelter in the heart of a clump of willows, near to which
spot they had found a group of the hapless hunters already dead and
frozen.

Here, as far from the frozen group as possible, they made an encampment
by digging down through the snow till the ground was reached. As much
dried wood as could be found was collected, and a fire made. The young
men left their blankets behind, and, of the small quantity of provisions
that remained, they took just sufficient to sustain life. Then, with
cheery words of encouragement, they said good-bye, and set out on their
journey to the Settlement for help.

The object at which they aimed was almost gained at the point when we
introduce them to the reader.

"Taniel!" said Fergus, coming to a sudden halt.

"Well?" exclaimed the other.

"It iss sleepy that I am. Maybe if I wass to lie down--"

He ceased to speak. Davidson looked anxiously into his face, and saw
that he had already begun to give way to irresistible drowsiness.
Without a moment's hesitation he seized the Highlander by the throat,
and shook him as if he had been a mere baby.

"Iss it for fightin' ye are?" said Fergus, whose good-nature was not
proof against such rough and unexpected treatment.

"Yes, my boy, that's just what I am for, and I think you'll get the
worst of it too."

"What iss that you say? Ay, ay! You will hev to bend your back then,
Taniel, for it iss not every wan that can give Fergus McKay the worst of
it!"

Davidson made no reply, but gave his comrade a shake so violent that it
put to flight the last vestige of his good-humour and induced him to
struggle so fiercely that in a few minutes the drowsiness was also, and
effectually, driven away.

"You'll do now," said Davidson, relaxing his grip and panting somewhat.

"Ay, Taniel, I will be doin' now. An' you're a frund in need whatever,"
returned the restored Highlander with a smile of appreciation.

About an hour later the travellers again stopped. This time it was
Davidson who called a halt.

"Fergus," he said, "we have been successful so far, thank God. But we
must part here. Half-an-hour will take me to my father's house, and I
want you to go down to the h