Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: THE SURPRISE.] [Illustration: THE FRONTIER SERIES—Illustrated The YOUNG PIONEERS, BOSTON, LEE & SHEPARD.] _THE FRONTIER SERIES_ —————————— THE YOUNG PIONEERS OF THE NORTH-WEST. BY DR. C. H. PEARSON AUTHOR OF "THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE," ETC. _ILLUSTRATED._ BOSTON 1890 LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS 10 MILK STREET NEXT "THE OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE" NEW YORK CHAS. T. DILLINGHAM 718 AND 720 BROADWAY Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by LEE AND SHEPARD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. CONTENTS. ———— CHAPTER I. THE FAIRY OF THE FORT.—PLEASURE AND SORROW. II. A RIDERLESS PONY.—THE BUFFALO WALLOW. III. THE FLIGHT FROM THE WIGWAM.—INDIAN WATCH-DOGS. IV. THE TRAGEDY ON THE RIVER. V. THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.—AUNT ESTHER, THE IMMIGRANT. VI. THE IMMIGRANT WAGON. VII. BURR-OAK CIDER. VIII. TOM'S RIDE CONTINUED.—THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER.—SINGULAR ADVENTURE. IX. HOG'S BACK.—THE SOLITARY HORSEMAN. X. A NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE.—DANGER. XI. A PIONEER BOY'S OPINION OF THE EAST.—DISAPPOINTMENT. XII. THE DWARF'S DISCOVERY.—BRAIN OR BONE. XIII. A STRANGE VISITOR.—THE MAN IN THE CHIMNEY CORNER. XIV. SECOND IMPRESSIONS.—AUNT ESTHER AND THE PLOUGHMEN. XV. ONE SWALLOW DOES NOT MAKE A SUMMER.—TRIBULATIONS OF A FAT MAN. XVI. FRANKIE'S SECRET.—THE INVISIBLE PURSUER. XVII. GRUBBING.—HONEST MR. GREY. XVIII. JOHN TOWER'S TOWN.—A WEDDING TOUR. XIX. THE WRONG CABIN.—THE COUPLE UNDER THE UMBRELLA. XX. THE CIRCLE IN THE LODGE.-WAKAN'. XXI. AUNT ESTHER'S TROUBLE.—THE LAMP IN THE WINDOW. XXII. AN INDIAN LOVER.—THE MAGIC MOCCASONS. XXIII. FOREBODINGS.—SHINGLING THE CABIN. XXIV. THE SILENT BOATMEN. XXV. THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. XXVI. A BIRD-SONG IN THE NIGHT. XXVII. BLACK NANCY SHOUTS.—A DREAM.—THE TWO SAVAGES. XXVIII. THE MYSTERY OF THE MOCCASONS.—THE MAN WITH THE LANTERN. THE YOUNG PIONEERS. ——————— CHAPTER I. THE FAIRY OF THE FORT.—PLEASURE AND SORROW. "WHY don't he come?" And Alice McElroy's fingers glided impatiently over the keys of the piano-forte. She glanced again into the square below. There stood pony, saddled and bridled, pawing the paved court, restlessly awaiting the presence of his young mistress.