and directed the whole, occasionally
applying his colossal shoulder to some lagging vehicle, until he saw
that the chief difficulty, that of gaining the level of their intended
route, was accomplished. Then he pointed out the required course,
cautioning his sons to proceed in such a manner that they should not
lose the advantage they had with so much labour obtained, and
beckoning to the brother of his wife, they returned together to the
empty camp.

Throughout the whole of this movement, which occupied an hour of time,
the trapper had stood apart,  on his rifle, with the aged hound
slumbering at his feet, a silent but attentive observer of all that
passed. Occasionally, a smile lighted his hard, muscular, but wasted
features, like a gleam of sunshine flitting across a ragged ruin, and
betrayed the momentary  he found in witnessing from time to
time the vast power the youths discovered. Then, as the train drew
slowly up the ascent, a cloud of thought and  threw all into the
shade again, leaving the expression of his countenance in its usual
 of quiet . As vehicle after vehicle left the place of
the encampment, he noted the change, with increasing attention; seldom
failing to cast an enquiring look at the little neglected tent, which,
with its proper wagon, still remained as