an' all ready. He understood us an' began to
haul away on the line, but we could see that he had bin badly hurt from
the way he stopped from time to time to git breath, and rested his head
on a big rock that rose at his side like a great capstan. Hows'ever, he
got the hawser ashore at last, an' made it fast round the big rock, an'
so by means of that, an' the blessin' o' Providence, we all got ashore.
P'r'aps," added Ned thoughtfully, "it might have bin as well if some of
us hadn't--hows'ever, we wasn't to know that at the time, you
understand, sir."

It must not be supposed that Ned said all this in the hearty tones that
were peculiar to his former self. The poor fellow could only utter it
sentence by sentence in a weak voice, which was strengthened
occasionally by a sip from "that same" beverage which had first awakened
his admiration. Meanwhile the object of his remarks had fallen asleep.

"Now, Mister Smart," said Bellew, taking the fur-trader aside, "from all
that I have heard and seen, it is clear to me that this wreck is the
vessel, in which the McLeods of Jenkins Creek had shipped their property
from England, and that this youth is Roderick, the youngest son of the
family. I've bin helping the McLeods of late with their noo saw-mill,
and I've heard the father talking sometimes with his sons about the
_Betsy_ of Plymouth and their brother Roderick."

At another time Bob Smart would not have been at all sorry to hear that
the interloping McLeods had lost all their property, but now he was
filled with pity, and asked Jonas Bellew with much anxiety what he
thought was best to be done.

"The best thing to do," said Bellew, "is to carry these men to the boat
and have them up to the Cliff Fort without delay."

"We'll set about it at once. You'll go with us, I suppose."

"No, I'll remain behind and take care of young McLeod. In his present
state it would likely cost him his life to move him."

"Then I'll leave some of my men with you."

"Not needful," replied the trapper, "you know I'm used to bein' alone
an' managin' things for myself. After you get them up you may send down
a couple of men with some provisions and their hatchets. For to-night I
can make the poor fellow all snug with the tarpaulin of your boat."

In accordance with these plans the shipwrecked men were sent up to the
Cliff Fort. Roderick McLeod was sheltered under a tarpaulin tent and
carefully tended by Bellew, and one of Smart's mo