"Won't you come in and warm yourself a while?" she asked, civilly. "I can make you a hot cup of tea in a minute." "Thank you! Thank you ever so much," answered Madge. "I--I think we'd better hurry on." Stefan had found the letter and handed it to Mrs. Carew. "Wait a moment, Stefan, won't you?" asked the woman. "There might possibly be some message you could take for me." The man lit his pipe while the woman went indoors. A moment later she came out, excitedly. "Oh! Stefan," she cried. "I'm so glad you came. My man's away with the dogs, gone after a load of moose-meat, and won't be back till to-morrow. And my daughter Mary's very sick at Missanaibie and wants me to come right over. Could you take me over to the depot in time for the afternoon train west? Are you going back to-day?" Stefan pulled out a big silver watch and studied it. "Yes, ma'am," he answered. "I'm yoost goin' over to Hugo's wid dis leddy. If I go real smart I can get back in time, but I got to hurry a bit. So long! I come right soon back. Leave a vord for Tom und be ready de moment I come. I make it, sure!" With this assurance he started off again, while the woman was still crying out her thanks. There was a long bit of good going now, which they covered at a good pace. Madge was thinking how helpful all these people were, how naturally they gave, how readily they asked for the help that was always welcome, as far as she could see. Yes, it was all so very different. "Won't the dogs be dreadfully tired," she asked, "if you go back so soon?" "No, leddy," he asserted. "Twenty-four miles ain't much of a trip. Dey make tvice dat if need come. And me too, sure t'ing!" As she looked at him she knew that he spoke the simple truth. Even the people of this country seemed to be built differently. All of them looked sturdy, self-reliant, strong to endure, and, more than anything, ready to share everything either with stranger or with friend. In spite of the weariness she felt after her long journey and of the ache in her bones that was coming from the unusual manner of her travelling, she felt that this was a blessed country, a haven of rest that held promise of wonderful peace. All at once they came in sight of a river, snow-shackled like all the others, except for black patches where the under-running flood so hurried in rapid places that the surface could not freeze. From such air-holes, as they are called, steam arose that was like the smoke of fires. "What is that river?" she called. "Dat's de Roaring Rifer, leddy," Stefan informed her. "Ve's only a little vays to go now. Maybe five minute."