A GOOD RESOLUTION. 209 



by a bad headache, and even at supper did not 

 appear. 



In the twilight Pierre walked along the banks of the 

 Athabasca, which he felt that he at length, perhaps, 

 beheld for the last time. The evening air was calm ; 

 the water flowed silently past, reflecting here and there 

 the fading flush of sunset skies ; the woods sent forth 

 their resinous fragrance ; and across the peaceful bosom 

 of the river the wild-duck led her brood. Nature was 

 at rest; and as the young hunter walked, the holy 

 calm of wood and water seemed to breathe a quiet on 

 his soul, and to still the passions that disturbed it. 



Seating himself on a mossy trunk which had fallen 

 forward from the verge of the forest, Pierre cast his 

 eyes into the far-off skies, from which the flaming 

 colours of the sunset were fading into amber and pale 

 gold ; and as he gazed he became lost to the present. 

 Visions of the past crowded his mind ; and with them, 

 like the scent of distant meadows wafted on the breeze, 

 came the recollections of his childhood and of the teach- 

 ings of his mother. 



Gradually he realized how incompatible with these 

 was his present position ; and his moral consciousness 

 being once awakened, the young hunter immediately 

 resolved to be no longer the slave of passion. With 

 this determination he arose, and walked quickly towards 

 the fort. Just as he reached the open space which sur- 

 rounded the buildings, he saw a figure in the uncertain 

 light moving slowly towards him. It was M'Leod. Full 



