i68 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



Indians did not come across him and chased him 

 right back into the fort, and a mighty near thing 

 it was too, I tell you. Well, good-evening. I 

 guess we won't go any further this way, Jim, 

 since they haven't seen any sign of those steers." 

 And so with mutual good-nights we parted, they 

 to pick a nice place to camp for the night, and we 

 to pursue our way to the fort. 



It was long after dark when we got in, and, after 



saying good-night to Lieut. , who went off to 



look up his friends, at length hitched up our tired 



hoises at Dr. 's door, and after knocking for 



admittance in vain walked in and sat down in the 

 parlour to await the arrival of our host. After 

 a few anxious minutes — for we were getting very 

 hungry, not to say thirsty and tired, and had been 

 consoling ourselves during the last few wearisome 

 hours of darkness with anticipations of an hospi- 

 table welcome — a step resounded in the wooden 

 passage, the door opened, and a gentleman entered 

 the room, and, after scrutinising us with a somewhat 

 astonished gaze, said, " Well, men, what do you 



want ? " " We were looking for Dr. ," I 



timidly answered. " Perhaps you could tell us — " 

 " That's all right," he interrupted ; " I am 

 Dr. . What's the matter ? what do you 



