256 QUITE DETERMINED. 



" I don't say fur sure he has," replied the trapper ; 

 " but I won't be surprised ef we finds that a b'ar has 

 sniffed the meat, an' jest walked on board an' got 

 hitched in a noose in comin' ashore. I guess the crit- 

 tur'd get frightened out o' his senses, an' findin' he 

 cudn't pull the raft ashore, he mout a-swum up-stream 

 a bit." 



"I think that is in the last degree unlikely," said 

 Pierre ; " and for my part I won't take the trouble of 

 going back to the camp on such a slim chance." 



" I agree with you, cousin," said Gaultier ; " the thing 

 is hardly possible, and is certainly not worth a walk of 

 fifteen miles." 



" I'm a-gwine to walk back though," said Jake ; " an' 

 ef ye'll wait hyur, I'll bet a plug o' bacca agin a load o' 

 powder ye'll see this niggur floatin' back to camp afore 

 night." So saying, the old trapper shouldered Plum- 

 centre and disappeared in the direction of the camp of 

 the preceding night. 



The young men smiled at the obstinate adherence to 

 his own opinion evinced by their veteran companion, 

 and as it was now waning towards evening, they set 

 about making their customary preparations for encamp- 

 ing. We shall accompany Jake in his search. The 

 first thing done by the old hunter was to scrutinize 

 closely the ground in the immediate vicinity of the 

 tree to which the raft had been moored. The fading 

 light for it was now some time past sunset served 

 to show with sufficient distinctness several foot-marks 



