le,
sir, do you?" said Malachi.

"I did not perceive that he had it with him," said Captain Sinclair,
"but I certainly ought to have known John better."

John having finished his supper, they all lay down to rest, one keeping
watch that they might not be surprised.

At daylight they made their breakfast, and then went down again to the
borders of the lake, where the trail had been lost. After a long
examination, Malachi called the Strawberry, and pointing to the edge of
the water, asked her to look there. The Strawberry did so, and at last
decided that there was the mark of the bottom of a canoe which had been
grounded.

"Yes, I thought so," said Malachi. "They have had their canoe all ready,
and have crossed the water; now, we must walk quite round the lake to
discover the trail again, and that will give them half a day's start of
us."

They immediately set off coasting the shore of the lake, until they
arrived at the other side, carefully examining the ground as they went.
This took them till noon, by which time they had arrived at that part of
the lake which was opposite to the large rock behind which they had
kindled their fire the night before; but no traces were to be perceived.

"They have not crossed over in a straight line," said Captain Sinclair,
"that is evident; we must now try more to the northward."

This they did; and at last discovered that the canoe had crossed over to
the north point of the lake, having coasted along the eastern shore the
whole way. The spot of landing was very evident, and for some distance
they could trace where the canoe had been hauled up. It was now late in
the afternoon, and it became a question whether they should follow the
trail, or discover the place of concealment of the canoe, as it might be
advantageous to know where it was when they returned. It was decided
that they should first discover the canoe, and this was not done till
after a search of two hours, when they found it concealed in the bushes,
about one mile from the lake. They then followed the trail about two
miles; the twigs had been bent and broken, as before, which was a great
help to them, but the night was now closing in. Having arrived at a
clear knoll, they took up their quarters under the trees, and retired to
rest. At daybreak they again started; and, after two hours' walk, had to
track across a small prairie, which gave them some trouble, but they
succeeded in finding the trail on their arrival at