And now, as I presume you don't bivouac in the snow, will you kindly conduct us to your encampment, if it be not far hence ?" Although burning with impatience to fly to the rescue of his friends, Dick felt constrained to comply with so reasonable a request, so he led the way to his camping-place, where the band of fur-traders immediately began to pitch their tents, cut down wood, kindle fires, fill their kettles with water, cook their food, and, in fact, make themselves comfortable.

The wild spot which, an hour before, had been so still, and grand, and gloomy, was now, as if by magic, transformed into a bustling village, with bright fires blazing among the rocks and bushes, and merry voices of men, women, and children ringing in the air.

It seemed almost incredible, and no wonder Dick, in his bewilderment, had difficulty in believing it was not all a dream.
In days long gone by the fur-trade in that country was carried on in a very different way from the manner in which it is now conducted.

These wild regions, indeed, are still as lonesome and untenanted (save by wild beasts and wandering tribes of Indians) as they were then; but the Indians of the present day have become accustomed to the "Pale-face" trader, whose little wooden forts or trading-posts are dotted here and there, at wide intervals, all over the land.

But in the days of which we write it was not so.