strated Master Kingswell and Clotworthy, and camp was made on the mainland. For three weeks the sufferers were unable to lift their heads. They lost flesh until they were little more than skin and

ith broth made from the meat. But it was close upon the end of

The boat was too small for the voyage. Their provisions were running low. The northern summer was already far spent. So Kingswell headed the Pelican southward. After a week of fair winds, they were caught in a squall, and the starboard bow of their stout little craft was shattered while they were in the act of winning to a sheltered anchorage. Everything was salvaged; but it took them three days to patch the boat back to a sea

nd opened Wigwam Harbour to the eager gaze of her company. The harbour was empty! They had not sighted a vesse

Old Tom Bent gazed reflectively about him, and scratched a hoary whisker with a mahogany finger. He had grumbled at t

ls has sailed without us-an' we are l

t young Peter Harding, being neither as old nor as wise as Bent, nor as cool-headed as Clotworthy, had something to say on the subject. He ripped out an oath. Then-"By G

ung seaman with mute indignation in t

The likes o' ye don't sail shipmates with men, but with the duff an' the soup an' the prize-money." His voice shrilled a little. "Ay, if i

rthy, with a knowing and well-c

nding position on a thwart, sat down very softly,

nity, or even to Conception. Ships often lie in those bays till the snow flies. At the worst we can sail the old Pelican right 'round to St. J

y the round, level circles on the sward to show where they had stood. What had become of Montaw and his friends could only be surmised. Ouenwa's opinion that the enemies of Soft Hand were responsible f

n door. But every lonely heart of them knew it for the voice of the black powder. They drifted back a little and lay at anchor all night, just off the mouth of the river. With the dark came the cruel frost. But they crawled beneath their freight of furs and slept. They were astir with the first gray lights, and before sunrise were pulling cautiously up the middle of the channel. Wh

les-and hard pulling it was-when Ouenwa's sharp eyes

claimed. "Maybe get somethi

as if neither prospec

ietly. "Put your weight into the stroke

open, and along its edge were beached three skiffs. About twenty yards back stood a little settlement of log cabins enclosed by palisades. From the chimneys of the cabins plumes of comfortable smoke

eyes," he murmured. "Ay, sir, dash my old figger-head, if th

d Clotworthy, joyously. "An' real chimleys,

e river. Kingswell hailed them, standing in the bluff bows of the little Pelican. He stated the nationality, the names, and degrees of himse

f cordiality and good faith. They were strapping fellows, with weather-tanned faces, broad forehea

e dropped anchor off the mouth of this river," he added, turning to his companions. They agreed silently. Their eyes and attention were fully absorbed by Master Kingswell's imposing, though sadl

giant beside him and smote him affectionately on the shoulder. "This here be my boy John-John Trigget," he said, "an' that gentleman be Captain Pierre d'Antons." He bowed

of them. Each gentleman laid his left hand lightly on the hilt of his sword. Each bowed, laced hat in hand, until his long hair fell forward about his face. D'Antons' locks were raven-black, and straig

mediately strode forward and walked on Master Kingswell's other hand, as if determined to assert his rights as a leader of the mixed

John Trigget of Ouenwa, as they cro

and protector. My grandsire was Soft Hand, the head chief of this country. His en

ttered ejaculations of pity and interest

as huntin', two days to the north, when the trouble began. I come home without stoppin' to make any objections, an' the skipper kep' our gates shut for a whole week. They re

und these here soundin's, an' ye can take my word fo

evil can cook his stew plenty quick enough.

ck at the talkers. His blac