Part 9 (1/2)

Old Sa shoulders ache more than you suppose,” he observed

”Let me try,” answered Reuben; and I helped hie of its weight

”If my uncle can spare me, I will assist you,” I said; ”for I doubt very much whether you will be able to carry it all the way”

Reuben, however, had made up his mind to fulfil his proed off trying to look as if he did not feel the weight My uncle told o too, so we set off Kepenau and Saether Reuben, as I expected, dropped alongside Ashatea; and I followed The other Indians brought up the rear, carrying Kepenau's packs

Before long, I saw that Reuben alking with difficulty, and putting his hands behind his back to try and lift the pack off his shoulders I ranged up to him

”You had better let me carry that a little way for you,” I said ”Or suppose we sling it on our sticks! we shall then get along ht too much”

Still Reuben declared that he could carry it

Ashatea looked at hi the matter as well as I did ”You better let your friend do as he says,” she observed

At length Reuben, as getting very hot, and had stumbled more than once, said, ”Well, I do think it will be the best way I aer”

We soon had the pack slung to the sticks, and poor Reuben stepped along much more easily than before

We soon reached Uncle Stephen's house, when the old trapper turned round to Reuben ”You are a brave lad,” he said; ”I like your pluck In a few years, when you get h at a pack twice the weight of that”

Lily was delighted to see Ashatea, and we left theether while ent on to Mr Claxton's, where old Saed with Kepenau to sell his peltries, and the next day they were all disposed of at a price which greatly astonished and delighted our Indian friend He ement with Uncle Stephen to sell all the produce of the chase which he , and to purchase for hiht his sister Dora over to see Ashatea, and the three girls seeer to learn English as Lily and Dora were to instruct her; and she got on rapidly

Old Sa tra to confess, and a fit of illness was the consequence He ell cared for, however, by the Claxtons, who treated hirateful in his way; but it struckin his character

He spoke of his fights with the Indians, of the scalps he had taken, of his hairbreadth escapes; but he never uttered a hich showed that he had any religious feeling Indeed, he see whoe to me that an old man should be so hardened I was not aware, at the ti God they go further and further from him; and thus, of course, as they advance in years they think less and less of their souls, and, in fact, becoard to all spiritual matters

I had been accustomed to see Uncle Stephen read the Bible to his faht; while he never did any work, except such as necessity demanded, on the Sabbath Uncle Mark had been less exact in these respects, although even he was accustomed to read the Bible on the Sabbath, and to refrain from work; and occasionally ent over to Uncle Stephen's on that day and joined his family at worshi+p Most of the people of the settleh they ceased froh work, and made a sort of holiday of it There was no church or chapel of any description in the neighbourhood, and few paid any attention to what are called religious duties

The day after I went to stay with Uncle Stephen, so the house froed s encased in strong leather gaiters, and a broad-bris, too, were thrown across the hardy-looking un over his shoulder nor sword by his side; but he carried a thick staff of considerable length in his hand

”Canst tell ellis?” he asked as I advanced towards hi to hold his nag's head while he dismounted

He threw hi man

”I hope, then, that I shall not intrude, for I have come far, and should like to spend a few days with one who, if I aly informed, will receive me as a brother Christian,” he said

”Uncle Stephen will be glad to see you, sir,” I answered, feeling sure that I was only saying as the case

”Well, then, young o in and tell him that Martin Godfrey has come to claim his hospitality”

As ave hier, hom he had a short conversation, which I did not hear, as I was holding the pony at a little distance I only caught the words, uttered by my uncle, ”We will make ready a s as you remain in these parts”