tent and lodge was taken down, bundles were packed, canoes were
lifted into the water, and in less than two hours from the
commencement of these operations, the whole work of packing and
dislodging was effected, and six good-sized canoes, with three or
four smaller ones, were bearing their freight of men, women, and
children, to the opposite bank of the river.

In describing the events of that morning but little mention has been
made of Michel's children; they were not, however, forgotten. As soon
as the first shock of the discovery was over, and the women had a
little expended their feelings and emotions in the tears and wail of
sorrow, they began to turn their attention to the motherless little
ones. And first they gave them food, which would be an Indian's
preliminary step under every emergency; then, they folded kind
motherly arms around them, and imprinted warm kisses on the terror-
stricken faces; and by all such fond endearments they strove to make
them forget their sorrow: for an Indian, passive and undemonstrative
as he may be under ordinary circumstances, is full of love and
tenderest offices of pity when real occasion calls them forth. It was
thus, then, that the children were taken and dispersed among the
various families in the rapid flight from their recent camping
grounds. The canoes had started, and were being paddled at full speed
across the river, when suddenly, to the dismay and amazement of every
one, the figure of Michel was seen standing by the river brink! Had a
spectre at that moment presented itself before them, they could
hardly have been more astonished; but the poor man's actions were at
all times strange and unaccountable; and that he should have released
himself in so short an interval from his bonds, was only consistent
with the whole character of the man who had always proved himself
equal to every emergency, and defied any attempt to thwart his