fur cap, while
Arrowhead sported a cloth head-piece that covered his neck and
shoulders, and was ornamented with a pair of horns.

All day the two men plodded steadily over the country. Sometimes they
were toiling through deep snow in wooded places, sinking six or eight
inches in spite of their snow-shoes. At other times they were passing
swiftly over the surface of the open plains, where the snow was beaten
so hard by exposure to the sun and wind that the shoes only just broke
the crust and left their outlines behind.

Then they reached a bend of the river, where they had again to plod
heavily through the woods on its banks, until they came out upon its
frozen surface. Here the snow was so hard, that they took off their
snow-shoes and ran briskly along without them for a long space.

Thus they travelled all day, without one halt, and made such good use of
their time, that they arrived at the log-hut of old Laroche early in the
evening.

"Well met, son-in-law, _that_ _is_ _to_ _be_," cried the stout old man
heartily, as the two hunters made their appearance before the low
door-way of his hut, which was surrounded by trees and almost buried in
snow. "If you had been half an hour later, I would have met you in the
woods."

"How so, father-in-law, _that_ _is_ _to_ _be_," said Jasper, "were ye
goin' out to your traps so late as this?"

"Nay, man, but I was startin' for the fort. It's a long way, as you
know, and my old limbs are not just so supple as yours. I thought I
would travel to-night, and sleep in the woods, so as to be there in good
time to-morrow. But come in, come in, and rest you. I warrant me
you'll not feel inclined for more walkin' to-night."

"Now my name is not Jasper Derry if I enter your hut this night," said
the hunter stoutly. "If I could not turn round and walk straight back
to the fort this night, I would not be worthy of your daughter, old man.
So come along with you. What say you, Arrowhead; shall we go straight
back?"

"Good," answered the Indian.

"Well, well," cried Laroche, laughing, "lead the way, and I will follow
in your footsteps. It becomes young men to beat the track, and old ones
to take it easy."

The three men turned their faces towards Fort Erie, and were soon far
away from the log-hut. They walked steadily and silently along, without
once halting, until the night became so dark that it was difficult to
avoid stumps and bushes. Then they prepared to encamp in t