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 200 THE FUR COUNTRY. duties of a soldier. Oh, if Mrs Joliffe would but present him with such a son ! but, alas ! the blessing of children, for which he and his wife prayed every day, was as yet denied to them. Meanwhile the soldiers had plenty to do. Mac-Nab and his men — Petersen, Belcher, Garry, Pond, and Hope — worked zealously at the construction of a boat, a difficult task, likely. to occupy them for several months. But as their vessel would be of no use until next year after the thaw, they neglected none of their duties at the factory on its account. Hob- son let things go on as if the future of the factory were not com- promised, and persevered in keeping. the men in ignorance. This serious question was often discussed by the officer and his *' statf," and Mrs Barnett and Madge differed from their chief on the sub- ject. They thought it would .be better to tell the whole truth ; the men were brave and energetic, not likely to yield to despair, and the shock would not be great if they heard of it now, instead of only when their situation was so hopeless that it could not be con- > ealed. But in spite of the justice of these remarks, Hobson would not yield, and he was supported by Sergeant Long. Perhaps, after all, they were right ; they were both men of long experience, and knew the temper of their men. And so the work of provisioning and strengthening the fort pro- ceeded. The palisaded enceinte was repaired with new stakes, and niade higher in many places, so that it really formed a very strong forti- fication. Mac-Nab also put into execution, with his chief's approval, a plan he had long had at heart. At the corners abutting on the lake he built two little pointed sentry-boxes, which completed the defences ; and Corporal Joliffe anticipated with delight the time when he should be sent to relieve guard : he felt that they gave a military look to the buildings, and made them really imposing. The palisade was now completely finished, and Mac-Nab, remem- bering the sufferings of the lastr winter, built a new wood shed close up against the house itself, with a door of communication inside, so that there would be no need to go outside at all. By this contriv- ance the fuel would always be ready to hand. On the left side of the house, opposite the shed, Mac-Nab constructed a large sleeping- room for the soldiers, so that the camp-bed could be removed from the common room. This room was also to be used for meals, games, and work. The three married couples had private rooms wjvlled off, so that the large house was relieved of them as well as