tween them and their distant homes. A month or so before this they
had parted with their dogs. Kinesasis had taken them all out to the
distant island, where in idleness they could spend the few brilliant
summer months, ere another winter would call them back to their work
again. The boys had found it hard to part with the faithful animals.
Alec especially, who had, in his Scottish nature, formed a great
attachment to his gallant four that had found a warm place in his heart
by the way they had secured for him his victory in that memorable race,
was almost disconsolate. Two or three times had he secured a couple of
Indians and a good canoe, and had gone over to the island for a romp
with them.

The friends from the mission arrived in the afternoon, and were
cordially welcomed. They had accepted Mrs Ross's invitation in the
spirit in which it had been so genuinely given. In such a land there is
but little of the artificial and conventional. Friendship is true and
genuine, and loving words have but one meaning. Frank and Alec greeted
Rachel and Winnie in Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou fashion. They did not know
whether to be pleased or sorry when they saw tears in the bright eyes of
these young ladies, when the news was told them of the speedy departure
of the three young gentlemen to their distant homes across the sea.
Alec said he was rather proud of seeing the tears in Winnie's eyes, as
it made him more than ever think that she did really think something of
him, and he would try by hard and steady effort in the coming years to
prove himself worthy of her love. Frank, more open and impulsive, when
he saw the tears in the eyes of his beloved Rachel, could not restrain
his own, and was visibly affected. Sam, who had been an interested
spectator of the arrival and the various greetings, must of course make
a few remarks.

"Look at Alec there," said he. "The self-opinionated young Scotchman!
He thinks so much of himself that he is pleased to see a sweet young
lady shedding some tears for him."

This was rather severe on the part of Sam, but he could not bear to see
anyone in tears, and so he was a little extra-critical just now. His
keen eyes had also narrowly watched Frank, and as he saw the tears in
his eyes and noticed his visible emotion, even fun-loving Sam was
touched, and he impulsively exclaimed:

"Frank, my darling, I love you for your great big heart. But my
feelings are all mixed, for why should a young gen