through the frosted window panes, and Tom Arnold rose and
opened the door. He gave a shout that drew most of us after him, and we
were amazed to see the change that had taken place in so short a time.
Of the howling storm there was not a trace, save the fresh snowdrifts.
It was still blowing a little, but no snow was falling, and through the
clear air the clouds gave signs of breaking.

"Hurray! We can start now!" cried Tom.

"Yes, if the calm lasts," added Captain Rudstone.

"What do you think of it?" I asked of Carteret, who was considered an
authority on the weather.

The old voyageur sniffed the air for a moment.

"It's hard to tell in this case, sir," he replied. "The clouds may break
and clear away for good; and then ag'in, the storm may come on as bad as
ever, within the hour. But it's worth risking the chance."

Some held Carteret's opinion, and others were in favor of waiting till
morning. But in the end the latter were won over, and we decided to
start at once. For a little while there was bustle and commotion as the
men repacked the sledges, donned their furred coats and snowshoes, and
looked to the priming of their muskets.

In less than ten minutes we were ready, and with a last lingering look
at the room which had sheltered us so well, we left the house. I saw
Captain Rudstone glance keenly at the spot where the cryptogram was
hidden, and he muttered something under his breath as he turned away. We
passed across the inclosure, out at the ruined gates, and struck off in
the direction of Fort Charter. We were soon in a heavy forest, where it
was necessary to march two or three abreast. Tom Arnold, Captain
Rudstone and another led the way. I was in the next file of three, with
a couple of Fort Charter men for company. Flora was a little distance in
the rear, strapped to our half-empty sledge, which Baptiste and Carteret
were drawing. From time to time I glanced back for a sight of her pretty
face looking out from a dainty headdress of fur.

The storm did not recommence, though the clouds, instead of breaking,
hung low and heavy over us. We marched as rapidly as possible through
the wilderness, gliding over the drifts and dislodging miniature
avalanches of snow from the drooping limbs of the trees.

At about three o'clock in the afternoon, when we had covered some six or
seven miles, we were filing along a deep and narrow valley, over the bed
of a frozen stream. The snow covered the undergrowth and ro