dren, was the last in. His heavy dogs, while the
strongest, were not so adapted for rapid travelling as the others.

"Well, we had the longest ride," said Roddy; "you folks went so fast you
did not have such a nice long time as we did."

This happy way of looking at it pleased everybody, and all voted Roddy
to be a philosopher.

The Indian servants had the dog-fish all ready, and so it was not long
ere the twelve dogs were enjoying their well-earned supper.

When they had all entered the house the boys, as usual, were anxious to
know of each other's success during the day. Not only had Frank, as we
have described, gone out to his traps, but Sam and Alec had also driven
some miles to the places where they, apart from each other, were also
trying their skill in trapping various kinds of fur-bearing animals.

Sam had gone out for several days past in company with a son of Memotas.
He was a bright young fellow, and he and Sam had suddenly become very
confidential. It was evident that they had some great scheme on between
them. What it was nobody seemed quite able to make out, and so their
curiosity was much excited, especially when Sam had been seen in close
converse with the cook, and had then, after a hasty visit to the cellar,
hurried away with young Memotas. To make matters worse, Sam had dropped
a couple of large onions ere he reached his sled. Then one of the maids
said she heard him asking the mistress if she had any oil of bergamot,
and if there was any castoreum left in the house. They did not get much
information from him that night, and, strange to say, he was the first
one after dinner that proposed bed. Before daylight a trusty servant
called him, as Sam had desired, and even then, early as it was when he
came down, young Memotas was there awaiting him.

Mrs Ross insisted that both Sam and young Memotas should have a good,
warm breakfast ere they started out. It is very dangerous indeed to
start off in the morning without a good, warm, generous meal. While the
two boys were eating their breakfast a trusty Indian called out Sam's
dogs, and now there they stood, longing to be off. They did not return
until the afternoon, and then they proudly brought in two prime wild
cats which they had captured. Sam that evening told how that he and
young Memotas had found the tracks of them some days before, and that
they had been busy ever since making a dead fall, and the last day or so
they had been decoyin