They found the wounded man lying in the front room upon a rudely extemporized couch of bear-skins, he having sternly declined the effeminacy of his wife's bedroom.

In the possibility of a fatal termination to his wound, and in obedience to a grim frontier tradition, he had also refused to have his boots removed in order that he might "die with them on," as became his ancestral custom.

Johnny was therefore speedily made comfortable in the McKinstry bed, while Dr.Duchesne gave his whole attention to his more serious patient.

The master glanced hurriedly around for Mrs.McKinstry.She was not only absent from the room, but there seemed to be no suggestion of her presence in the house.
To his greater surprise the hurried inquiry that rose to his lips was checked by a significant warning from the attendant.

He sat down beside the now sleeping boy, and awaited the doctor's return with his mind wandering between the condition of the little sufferer and the singular revelation that had momentarily escaped his childish lips.