"I am glad you take that sensible view of the affair; and at the same time, whilst regretting that I cannot make up your loss, which it would perhaps not be wise for me to do, yet to convince you that, as a people, we are not indisposed to extend a helping hand to those who stand in need of it, I shall be quite willing to make you a present of ten pounds, trusting you will guard it with more care than that which has gone." "Your Excellency’s offer is far more than we had any right to anticipate, and overwhelms us with gratitude. It is a noble and generous act, for which we cannot find words adequately to express our feelings." "Good day," added the Consul, as they were leaving; "in the land you are going to I hope you will find what you are in search of." "And be assured, sir, you will have no reason to regret your confidence in us, for the very first moneys we succeed in making will be devoted to the return of what we prefer to regard as a loan." And it was with a feeling of proud satisfaction that, in less than six months, the elder Barton found himself in a position to remit the amount to his Excellency, in a letter which expressed the gratitude felt for the timely help so kindly and generously afforded. *CHAPTER IX* *RANGER’S RANCH.* "Thou, like a kind fellow, gave thyself away; and I thank thee." _Henry IV._, Part II. Act IV. sc. iii. Guide-books tell us that "the Dominion of Canada is the largest of the British possessions," and it is difficult to form a true conception of the vast area comprised within the limits of our North American Provinces. No country has such grand possibilities before it, and its progress of recent years has been remarkable. All Canadians are proud of their country, and believe in it. But we are not at present concerned so much about Canada in general, or as a whole, as we are with that section which lies some few hundred miles west of Winnipeg, in the district of Assiniboia. It was here, in the lovely valley of the Qu’Appelle River, that we left our weary traveller at Ranger’s Ranch, with a prospect of provisional entertainment, until something suitable could be decided upon for his future. Having, as he explained, no definite plan of action before him, he very readily fell in with a proposal Ranger made, in the course of a few days, to stay and assist on the farm, so as to ascertain to what extent he was adapted for agricultural pursuits, and whether it was a life he would be willing to settle down to. "What sort of climate have you here?" was one of the earliest questions asked by Fellows, the name he had expressed a wish to be known by. "Much the same as prevails in the neighbouring province of Manitoba," was Ranger’s reply. "The summer months usually bright, clear, and very warm, but nights cool." "How is it later on?" "The autumn months are the finest of the year." "No rain?"