"I am Jean Sterling, daughter of Colonel Sterling. I was carried away
from home, but was rescued by these Indians, who are now taking me back
to my father."

"Ay, we heard of you, did we not, James?" the man enquired, turning to
his companion.

"Ay, we heard of you, Miss, on our way here, as William says," the
other replied, "But so great have been our own cares and sorrows since
then that we have forgotten about you."

"Do you live here?" Jean asked, wondering who these men could be.

"No, no, not living, but dying here, we and our wives and children. We
are Loyalists, Miss, who arrived with the Fall Fleet. We came up the
river in open boats, mistook this river one night for the main channel,
and were frozen in here before morning. Our sufferings have been
great. We are starving to death. Though," he added after a slight
pause, "there are not so many to provide for now."

"What! have some died?" Jean asked.

"Seven, Miss, mostly little ones. They are all under the snow, and the
rest of us will soon be with them."

"Come, come, you must not give up yet," the girl encouraged. "Sam and
Kitty will help you, I am sure. Where do you live?"

"Just over there," and the man motioned to the right. "It's a poor