THE PUR COUNTRY. costly and picturesque. From the beams hung magnificent furs admirably arranged, the equal of which could not be seen in the more favoured regions of Regent Street or the Perspective-Newski. It seemed as if the whole fauna of the ice-bound North were here represented by their finest skins. The eye wandered from the furs of wolves, grey bears, polar bears, otters, wolverenes, beavers, musk rats, water pole-cats, ermines, and silver foxes ; and above this display was an inscription in brilliantly-coloured and artistically- shaped cardboard — the motto of the world-famous Hudson's Bay Company — "PROPELLE CUTX7M."
- Really, Corporal Joliffe, you have surpassed yourself ! " said
Captain Craventy to his subordinate. " I think I have, I think I have 1" replied the Corporal; "but honour to whom honour is due, Mrs JolifFe deserves part of your commendation ; she assisted me in everything." " A wonderful woman, Corporal." " Her equal is not to be found, Captain." An immense brick and earthenware stove occupied the centre of the room, with a huge iron pipe passing from it through the ceiling, and conducting the dense black smoke into the outer air. This stove contained a roaring fire constantly fed with fresh shovelfuls of coal by the stoker, an old soldier specially appointed to the ser- vice. Now and then a gust of wind drove back a volume of smoke into the room, dimming the brightness of the lamps, and adding fresh blackness to the beams of the ceiling, whilst tongues of flame shot forth from the stove. But the guests of Fort Reliance thought little of this slight inconvenience ; the stove warmed them, and they could not pay too dearly for its cheering heat, so terribly cold was it outside in the cutting north wind. The storm could be heard raging without, the snow fell fast, be- coming rapidly solid and coating the already frosted window panes with fresh ice. The whistling wind made its way through the cranks and chinks of the doors and windows, and occasionally the rattling noise drowned every other sound. Presently an awful silence ensued. Nature seemed to be taking breath ; but suddenly the squall recommenced with terrific fury. The house was shaken to its foundations, the planks cracked, the beams groaned. A stranger less accustomed than the habitues of the fort to the war of the elements, would have asked if the end of the world were come.
