Year: 1864

roar Of the flames as they swept the hOl-
low trunk Of the mighty tree plainly
heard. Landing Is silently as had been
their coming, all waited until further
plans should be carried Out before they
revealed themselves. At The motion of
the chief, a young brave neiselessly
lowered himself into the water, and swan
along the shore until he reached the canoe
of the feasting trapper. To rip the birch
covering into many pieces was the work
Of an instant, and it was the swift pass.
ing of the knife through the resinous
bark that startled lie Sueur. and which
be falsely attributed to The passing of a
rabbit.


The work Of The Indian accomplished,
he returned to his waiting companions,
and by signs told of his success. Then
they prepared to advance; the trapper
had also taken his station on the hilltop
and discovered them.


To float IN the icy waters of Lake Su-
perior, even the hottest summer day, is
speedy death. Well lie Sueur knew this;
but grasping the floating paddles, he still
swan rapidly towards the nearest island,
believing such death preferable to the
lingering one of torture. which be knew
would follow his capture. But high
beating heart and strong will, limbs cast
IN a mould of iron, sinews plant as whip
cord and nerves firm as marble, are not
proof against the power of cold. With
all his giant power he swan, and yet very
soon MS flesh became purple; his strong,
set jaws trembled convulsively, and his
teeth clashed together. The ice-king
allowed none to balhe unpunlshed in his
chosen pool, and seizing upon the ex-
remilies, was fast working his way thro'
the mysterious channels of life to, the
fountain-head-the heart-to paralyze
the food gates and check the flow for
ever.


There was death around him on all
sides, bot not his the heart to yield. To
do and to dare, to never give up, is a
characteristic of such men, who, scorning
the restraints of civilization. make for
themselves houses in the wilderness, and
first follow the ever westering star thai
win soon epiminaie Ia civilization, learn
ing and religion the forerunners they
Of new states--Ihe hardy pioneers of q
nations glory and nations wealth.


Slow, slower, and yet more slowly hi,
now half-paralyzed arms flung aside tht
dark waters, and his limbs los. their
swift, frog like fling. The chains of the
ice-demon forged in the Arctic fastness
es, wero flung around him, and the very
blood was cOngealing in the stiffenec
veins. A year hence and his form, ice.
petrified, may be thrown upon some sandy
beach 10 find an earthly grave; but until
then the waters shall sing. an unceasinc
requiem above it.


One effort more-the last giant efTorr
of nature to battle against the doom OF
he dark-winged angel of dealh-and
the struggles of the trapper are over
just as a canoe, laden with Indians, sweep.
ing from the island he was STRIVING Il
reach swooped down like an eagle upoI
him, for with the ceasing of his efforts
he had sunk like lead So the dark fends
that wait upon human misery, were sen
bowling back in anger al being robbed o
their prey. A motion of the paddle, anC
the blrchen wave-cradle turned as upon Z
pivot strong hand sent a long g.shafteC
spear down deep into the tide; a dripping
and apparently lifeless form was drawn
up, lifted into the canoe, and, as if run
ming a race, the paddles flashed, and tht
bark was driven ashore.


To be Continued