conceal the particulars of the conversation he had held with the officious hunter, but he related the facts of his pursuit and mishap, and of his futile attempt to make his way back to camp.  After this, the two seated themselves by the fire, and the missionary was soon asleep.  The adventures of the night, however, affected Teddy’s nerves too much for him even to doze, and he therefore maintained an unremitting watch until morning.

At an early hour, our friends were astir, and at once launched forth upon the river.  They noted a broadening of the stream and weakening of the current, and at intervals they came upon long stretches of prairie.  The canoe glided closely along, where they could look down into the clear depths of the water, and discover the pebbles glistening upon the bottom.  Under a point of land, where the stream made an eddy, they halted, and with their fishing-lines, soon secured a breakfast which the daintiest gourmand might have envied.  They were upon the point of landing so as to kindle a fire, when Mr. Richter spoke: 

“Do you notice that large island in the stream, Cora?  Would you not prefer that as a landing-place?”

“I think I should.”

“Teddy, we’ll take our morning meal there.”

The powerful arms of the Irishman sent the frail vessel swiftly over the water, and a moment later its prow touched the velvet shore of the island.  Under the skillful manipulations of the young wife, who insisted upon taking charge, their breakfast was quickly prepared, and, one might say, almost as quickly eaten.

They had now advanced so far to the northward that all felt an anxiety to reach their destination.  Accordingly no time was lost in the ascent of the stream.

The exhilarating influence of a clear spring morning in the forest, is impossible to resist.  The mirror-like sparkle of the water that sweeps beneath the light canoe, or glitters in the dew-drops upon the ashen blade; the golden blaze of sunshine streaming up in the heavens; the dewy woods, flecked here and there by the blossoms of some wild fruit or flower; the cool air beneath the gigantic arms all a-flutter with the warbling music of birds; all conjoin to inspire a feeling which carries us back to boyhood again—­to make us young once more.

As Richter sat in the canoe’s stern, and drank in the influence of the scene, his heart rose within him, and he could scarcely refrain from shouting.  His wife, also, seemed to partake of this buoyancy, for her eyes fairly sparkled as he glanced from side to side.  All at once Teddy ceased paddling and pointed to the left shore.  Following the direction of his finger, Richter saw, standing upon the bank in full view, the tall, spare figure of the strange hunter.  He seemed occupied in watching them, and was as motionless as the tree-trunks behind him—­so motionless, indeed, that it required a second scrutiny to prove that it really was not an inanimate object.  The intensity of his observation prevented him from observing that Teddy had raised his rifle from the canoe.  He caught the click of the lock, however, and spoke in a sharp tone: