140 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



in the dreary watches of the long and stormy winter 

 nights. 



At first he only knew that one face haunted his 

 dreams by night, and the few moments by day when he 

 thought of anything, and this face smiled lovingly upon 

 him, and cheered him mightily. Name he had quite 

 forgotten, or recalled it vaguely, and, setting small store 

 by it, had thought of it no more. 



For many years after he had deserted his home, La 

 Bonte had cherished the idea of again returning to his 

 country. During this period he had never forgotten 

 his old flame, and many a choice fur he had carefully 

 laid by, intended as a present for Mary Brand ; and 

 many a gage d'amour of cunning shape and device, 

 worked in stained quills of porcupine and bright- 

 coloured beads the handiwork of nimble-fingered 

 squaws he had packed in his " possible" sack for the 

 same destination, hoping a time would come when he 

 might lay them at her feet. 



Year after year wore on, however, and still found 

 him, with traps and rifle, following his perilous avoca- 

 tion ; and each succeeding one saw him more and more 

 wedded to the wild mountain-life. He was conscious 

 how unfitted he had become again to enter the galling 

 harness of conventionality and civilisation. He thought, 

 too, how changed in manners and appearance he now 

 must be, and could not believe that he would again 

 find favour in the eyes of his quondam love, who, he 

 judged, had long since forgotten him ; and inexperi- 

 enced as he was in such matters, yet he knew enough 



