XI. I give the savage Indians a great Scare, and then gather up my scattered Family at the end of a queer Christmas Day. 97 XII. One of my Letters to my Mother, in which I tell of many Things and especially of a Mystery which greatly puzzles and alarms me. 105 XIII. Some Talk at Breakfast, and various other Family Affairs: with Notes on the Weather, and a sight of Something to the Northwest. 115 XIV. I have an exciting Hunt and get some Game, which I bring Home with a vast deal of Labor, only to lose Part of it in a startling Manner: together with a Dream and an Awakening. 128 XV. The mysterious Fire, and Something further about my wretched State of Terror: with an Account of my great System of Tunnels and famous Fire Stronghold. 141 XVI. Telling of how Pike and his Gang come and of what Kaiser and I do to get ready for them: together with the Way we meet them. 153 XVII. The Fight, and not much else: except a little Happening at the End which startles me greatly. 162 XVIII. After the Fight: also a true Account of the great Blizzard: with how I go to sleep in the Stronghold and am awakened before Morning. 171 XIX. I find out who my Visitor is: with Something about him, but with more about the Chinook which came out of the Northwest: together with what I do with the Powder, and how I again wake up suddenly. 185 XX. What the Outlaws do on their second Visit: with the awful Hours I pass through, and how I find myself at the End. 203 XXI. After the Explosion: some cheerful Talk with the Thieves, and a strange but welcome Message out of the Storm. 210 XXII. The last Chapter, but a good Deal in it: a free Lodging for the Night, with a little Speech by Mr. Clerkinwell: then, how Kaiser and I take a long Journey, and how we never go that Way again. 220 ILLUSTRATIONS KAISER AND I FIGHTING THE TIMBER-WOLVES _Frontispiece_ READING THE OUTLAWS' LETTER, DECEMBER SIXTEENTH 30 MY FAMILY AND I AT A MEAL, TRACK'S END 56 MAP OF TRACK'S END 64 THE BOIS CACHE INDIANS LOOTING THE TOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY 91