50 A GLAD RE-UNION. 



Towards morning, fatigued with watching, the hunter 

 took his rifle and left the camp with the intention of 

 reaching the river and rejoining his companions. He 

 walked quietly down the glade, and just as he was enter- 

 ing the woods at the farther end he glanced back, and 

 perceived that the wolves, emboldened by his departure, 

 had emerged from their retreat, and were already lop- 

 ing and snarling round the carcasses. 



Not caring to shoot another, he pushed forward as 

 well as the darkness and the difficulties of the path 

 would permit. In an hour he struck the river and 

 followed its course, hoping soon to come within view 

 of the camp-fire of his comrades. 



He had not proceeded far when his quick ear de- 

 tected the approach of a canoe by the dipping of the 

 paddies, while he could also hear the occupants con- 

 versing in low tones. Presently the boat shot into 

 view, and he was delighted to find the paddlers were 

 old Jake and Gaultier, who had become uneasy at his 

 prolonged absence, and were now in search of him. 

 Pierre stepped into the canoe, and while Jake and 

 Gaultier paddled back to their camp, he gave them an 

 account of his adventures since he had left them. He 

 was afraid to ask if Miss Frazer and her father were at 

 the camp ; but on his arrival there he was much disap- 

 pointed to find that they had continued their journey 

 to the fort, having been met by a bateau manned by 

 French half-breeds, which had been despatched to meet 

 them. 



