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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/22496-8.txt b/22496-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..770552b --- /dev/null +++ b/22496-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12333 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Settlers in Canada, by Frederick Marryat + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Settlers in Canada + + +Author: Frederick Marryat + + + +Release Date: September 3, 2007 [eBook #22496] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, storm, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 22496-h.htm or 22496-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496/22496-h/22496-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496/22496-h.zip) + + + + + +SETTLERS IN CANADA + +by + +CAPTAIN MARRYAT + +Author of "Children of the New Forest," "Peter Simple," +"Little Savage," "Newton Foster," "Privateersman," +"Monsieur Violet," etc., etc. + +With Illustrations + + + + + + + +George Routledge and Sons +London: Broadway, Ludgate Hill +New York: 9 Lafayette Place + + + +[Illustration: BEE-HUNTING.] + + + + +THE SETTLERS. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in +Canada. This province had been surrendered to us by the French, who +first colonized it, more than thirty years previous to the year I have +mentioned. It must, however, be recollected, that to emigrate and settle +in Canada was, at that time, a very different affair to what it is now. +The difficulty of transport, and the dangers incurred, were much +greater, for there were no steamboats to stem the currents and the +rapids of the rivers; the Indians were still residing in Upper and many +portions of Lower Canada, and the country was infested with wild animals +of every description--some useful, but many dangerous: moreover, the +Europeans were fewer in number, and the major portion of them were +French, who were not pleased at the country having been conquered by the +English. It is true that a great many English settlers had arrived, and +had settled upon different farms; but as the French settlers had already +possession of all the best land in Lower Canada, these new settlers were +obliged to go into or toward Upper Canada, where, although the land was +better, the distance from Quebec and Montreal, and other populous parts, +was much greater, and they were left almost wholly to their own +resources, and almost without protection. I mention all this, because +things are so very different at present: and now I shall state the cause +which induced this family to leave their home, and run the risk and +dangers which they did. + +Mr. Campbell was of a good parentage, but, being the son of one of the +younger branches of the family, his father was not rich, and Mr. +Campbell was, of course, brought up to a profession. Mr. Campbell chose +that of a surgeon; and after having walked the hospitals (as it is +termed), he set up in business and in a few years was considered as a +very able man in his profession. His practice increased very fast; and +before he was thirty years of age he married. + +Mr. Campbell had an only sister, who resided with him, for their father +and mother were both dead. But about five years after his own marriage, +a young gentleman paid his addresses to her; and although not rich, as +his character was unexceptionable, and his prospects good, he was +accepted. Miss Campbell changed her name to Percival, and left her +brother's house to follow her husband. + +Time passed quickly; and, at the end of ten years, Mr. Campbell found +himself with a flourishing business, and at the same time with a family +to support, his wife having presented him with four boys, of whom the +youngest was but a few months old. + +But, although prosperous in his own affairs, one heavy misfortune fell +upon Mr. Campbell, which was the loss of his sister, Mrs. Percival, to +whom he was most sincerely attached. Her loss was attended with +circumstances which rendered it more painful, as, previous to her +decease, the house of business in which Mr. Percival was a partner +failed; and the incessant toil and anxiety which Mr. Percival underwent +brought on a violent fever, which ended in his death. In this state of +distress, left a widow with one child of two years old--a little +girl--and with the expectation of being shortly again confined, Mrs. +Percival was brought to her brother's house, who, with his wife, did all +he could to soften down her grief; but she had suffered so much by the +loss of her husband, that when the period arrived, her strength was +gone, and she died in giving birth to a second daughter. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, of course, took charge of these two little orphan girls, and +brought them up with their own children. + +Such was the state of affairs about ten or eleven years after Mr. +Campbell's marriage, when a circumstance occurred as unexpected as it +was welcome. + +Mr. Campbell had returned from his round of professional visits; dinner +was over, and he was sitting at the table with his wife and elder +children (for it was the Christmas holidays, and they were all at home), +and the bell had just rung for the nurse to bring down the two little +girls and the youngest boy, when the postman rapped at the door, and the +parlor-maid brought in a letter with a large black seal. Mr. Campbell +opened it, and read as follows:-- + + Sir--We have great pleasure in making known to you, that upon the + demise of Mr. Sholto Campbell, of Wexton Hall, Cumberland, which + took place on the 19th ultimo, the entailed estates, in default of + more direct issue, have fallen to you, as nearest of kin; the + presumptive heir having perished at sea, or in the East Indies, and + not having been heard of for twenty-five years. We beg to be the + first to congratulate you upon your accession to real property + amounting to £14,000 per annum. No will has been found, and it has + been ascertained that none was ever made by the late Mr. Sholto + Campbell. We have, therefore, put seals upon the personal property, + and shall wait your pleasure. We can only add, that if in want of + professional advice, and not being already engaged, you may command + the services of + Your most obedient, + HARVEY, PAXTON, THORPE, & Co. + +"What can be the matter, my dear?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, who had +perceived most unusual agitation in her husband's countenance. + +Mr. Campbell made no reply, but handed the letter to his wife. + +Mrs. Campbell read it, and laid it down on the table. + +"Well, my dear!" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, joyfully, and starting up from +his chair. + +"It is a sudden shock, indeed," observed Mrs. Campbell, thoughtfully and +slowly. "I have often felt that we could bear up against any adversity. +I trust in God, that we may be as well able to support prosperity, by +far the hardest task, my dear Campbell, of the two." + +"You are right, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, sitting down again; "we +are, and have long been, happy." + +"This sudden wealth can not add to our happiness, my dear husband; I +feel it will rather add to our cares; but it may enable us to add to the +happiness of others; and with such feelings, let us receive it with +thankfulness." + +"Very true, Emily; but still we must do our duty in that station of life +to which it has pleased God to call us. Hitherto I have by my profession +been of some benefit to my fellow-creatures; and if in my change of +condition I no more leave my warm bed to relieve their sufferings, at +all events, I shall have the means of employing others so to do. We must +consider ourselves but as the stewards of Him who has bestowed this +great wealth upon us, and employ it as may be acceptable to His +service." + +"There my husband spoke as I felt he would," said Mrs. Campbell, rising +up, and embracing him. "Those who feel as you do can never be too rich." + +I must not dwell too long upon this portion of my narrative. I shall +therefore observe that Mr. Campbell took possession of Wexton Hall, and +lived in a style corresponding to his increased fortune; but, at the +same time, he never let pass an opportunity of doing good, and in this +task he was ably assisted by his wife. They had not resided there three +or four years before they were considered as a blessing to all around +them--encouraging industry, assisting the unfortunate, relieving the +indigent, building almshouses and schools, and doing all in their power +to promote the welfare and add to the happiness of those within many +miles of the Hall. At the time that Mr. Campbell took possession, the +estate had been neglected, and required large sums to be laid out upon +it, which would much increase its value. + +Thus all the large income of Mr. Campbell was usefully and +advantageously employed. The change in Mr. Campbell's fortune had also +much changed the prospects of his children. Henry, the eldest, who had +been intended for his father's profession, was first sent to a private +tutor, and afterward to college. Alfred, the second boy, had chosen the +navy for his profession, and had embarked on board a fine frigate. The +other two boys, one named Percival, who was more than two years old at +the time that they took possession of the property, and the other, John, +who had been born only a few months, remained at home, receiving tuition +from a young curate, who lived near the Hall; while a governess had been +procured for Mary and Emma Percival, who were growing up very handsome +and intelligent girls. + +Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr. Campbell had been +about ten years in possession of the Wexton estate, when one day he was +called upon by Mr. Harvey, the head of the firm which had announced to +him his succession to the property. + +Mr. Harvey came to inform him that a claimant had appeared, and given +notice of his intent to file a bill in Chancery to recover the estate, +being, as he asserted, the son of the person who had been considered as +the presumptive heir, and who had perished so many years back. Mr. +Harvey observed, that although he thought it his duty to make the +circumstance known to Mr. Campbell, he considered it as a matter of no +consequence, and in all probability would turn out to be a fraud got up +by some petty attorney, with a view to a compromise. He requested Mr. +Campbell not to allow the circumstance to give him any annoyance, +stating that if more was heard of it, Mr. Campbell should be immediately +informed. Satisfied with the opinion of Mr. Harvey, Mr. Campbell +dismissed the circumstance from his mind, and did not even mention it to +his wife. + +But three months had not passed away before Mr. Campbell received a +letter from his solicitor, in which he informed him that the claim to +the estate was carrying on with great vigor, and he was sorry to add, +wore (to use his own term) a very ugly appearance; and that the opposite +parties would, at all events, put Mr. Campbell to a very considerable +expense. The solicitor requested Mr. Campbell's instructions, again +asserting, that although it was artfully got up, he considered that it +was a fraudulent attempt. Mr. Campbell returned an answer, in which he +authorized his solicitor to take every needful precaution, and to incur +all necessary expense. On reflection, Mr. Campbell, although much +annoyed, determined not to make Mrs. Campbell acquainted with what was +going on; it could only distress her, he thought, and he therefore +resolved for the present to leave her in ignorance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +After a delay of some months, Mr. Harvey called upon Mr. Campbell, and +stated to him that the claim of the opposite party, so far from being +fraudulent as he had supposed, was so clear, that he feared the worst +results. + +It appeared that the heir to the estates, who had remained between Mr. +Campbell's title, had married in India, and had subsequently, as it had +been supposed, died; but there was full and satisfactory proof that the +marriage was valid, and that the party who claimed was his son. It was +true, Mr. Harvey observed, that Mr. Campbell might delay for some time +the restoration of the property, but that eventually it must be +surrendered. + +As soon as Mr. Campbell received this letter, he went to his wife and +acquainted her with all that had been going on for some months, and with +the reasons which induced him to say nothing to her until the receipt of +Mr. Harvey's letter, which he now put into her hands, requesting her +opinion on the subject. Mrs. Campbell, after having read the letter, +replied-- + +"It appears, my dear husband, that we have been called to take +possession of a property, and to hold for many years that which belongs +to another. We are now called upon to give it up to the rightful owner. +You ask my opinion; surely there is no occasion to do that. We must of +course now, that we know the claim is just, do as we would be done by." + +"That is, my dearest, we must surrender it at once, without any more +litigation. It certainly has been my feeling ever since I have read Mr. +Harvey's letter. Yet it is hard to be beggars." + +"It _is_ hard, my dear husband, if we may use that term; but, at the +same time, it is the will of Heaven. We received the property supposing +it to have been our own; we have, I hope, not misused it during the time +it has been intrusted to us; and, since it pleases Heaven that we should +be deprived of it, let us, at all events, have the satisfaction of +acting conscientiously and justly, and trust to Him for our future +support." + +"I will write immediately," replied Mr. Campbell, "to acquaint Mr. +Harvey, that although I litigated the point as long as the claim was +considered doubtful, now that he informs me that the other party is the +legal heir, I beg that all proceedings may be stopped, as I am willing +to give immediate possession." + +"Do so, my dear," replied his wife, embracing him. "We may be poor, but +I trust we shall still be happy." + +Mr. Campbell sat down and wrote the letter of instructions to his +solicitor, sealed it, and sent a groom with it to the post. + +As soon as the servant had closed the door of the room, Mr. Campbell +covered his face with his hands. + +"It is, indeed, a severe trial," said Mrs. Campbell, taking the hand of +her husband; "but you have done your duty." + +"I care not for myself; I am thinking of my children." + +"They must work," replied Mrs. Campbell. "Employment is happiness." + +"Yes, the boys may get on; but those poor girls! what a change will it +be for them!" + +"I trust they have not been so badly brought up, Campbell, but that they +will submit with cheerfulness, and be a source of comfort to us both. +Besides, we may not be absolutely beggars." + +"That depends upon the other party. He may claim all arrears of rent; +and if so, we are more than beggars. However, God's will be done. Shall +we receive good, and shall we not receive evil?" + +"There's hope, my husband," replied Mrs. Campbell, in a cheering tone; +"let us hope for the best." + +"How little do we know what is for our good, short-sighted mortals as we +are!" observed Mr. Campbell. "Had not this estate come to us, I should, +by following up my profession as surgeon, in all probability, have +realized a good provision for my children: now, this seeming good turn +of fortune leaves me poor. I am too old now to resume my profession, +and, if I did, have no chance of obtaining the practice which I left. +You see that which appeared to us and every one else the most fortunate +occurrence in my life, has eventually proved the contrary." + +"As far as our limited view of things can enable us to judge, I grant +it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but who knows what might have happened if +we had remained in possession? All is hidden from our view. _He_ acts as +he thinks best for us; and it is for us to submit without repining. +Come, dearest, let us walk out; the air is fresh, and will cool your +heated brow." + +Two days after this conversation, a letter was received from Mr. Harvey, +informing them that he had made known Mr. Campbell's determination to +resign the property without further litigation; that the reply of the +other party was highly honorable, stating that it was not his intention +to make any claim for the back rents, and requesting that Mr. Campbell +and family would consider Wexton Hall at their disposal for three +months, to enable them to make arrangements, and dispose of their +furniture, etc. + +The contents of this letter were a great relief to the mind of Mr. +Campbell, as he was now able to ascertain what his future means might +be, and was grateful for the handsome behavior of the new proprietor in +not making any claim for back rents, which would have reduced him at +once to penury. He wrote immediately to Mr. Harvey requesting him to +send in his account of legal expenses, that it might be liquidated as +soon as possible. In three days it arrived, and a letter with it, in +which Mr. Harvey acquainted him, that it was in consequence of his +having so handsomely surrendered the property as soon as the claim was +substantiated, together with the knowledge how much the estate had been +improved during the ten years in which it had been in his possession, +which induced the new proprietor to behave in so liberal a manner. This +was very gratifying to Mr. Campbell, but the legal expenses proved +enormous, amounting to many thousand pounds. + +Mr. Campbell read the sum total, and threw the heap of papers down on +the table in despair. + +"We are still ruined, my dear," said he mournfully. + +"Let us hope _not_," replied Mrs. Campbell. "At all events, we now know +the worst of it, and we must look it boldly in the face." + +"I have not so much money as will pay this bill by nearly a thousand +pounds, my dearest wife." + +"It may be so," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but still there is the +furniture, the horses, and carriages; surely, they are worth much more." + +"But we have other bills to pay; you forget them." + +"No, I do not; I have been collecting them all, and they do not amount +to more than 300_l._ as near as I can judge; but we have no time to +lose, dearest, and we must show courage." + +"What then do you advise, Emily?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"We must incur no more expense; our present establishment must be +dismissed at once. Send for all the servants to-morrow morning, and +explain what has occurred. This evening I will make it known to the two +girls and Miss Paterson, who must of course be discharged, as we can no +longer afford a governess. We must retain only the cook, housemaid, and +footman, and a groom to look after the horses until they are sold. Send +a letter to Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, to give notice of an early sale +of the furniture. You must write to Henry; of course, he can no longer +remain at college. We have plenty of time to consider what shall be our +future plans, which must depend much upon what may prove to be our +future means." + +This judicious advice was approved of by Mr. Campbell. Miss Paterson was +greatly distressed when the news was communicated to her by Mrs. +Campbell. Mary and Emma Percival felt deeply for their kind +benefactors, but thought nothing of themselves. As Mrs. Campbell had +truly observed, they had been too well brought up. As soon as they were +informed of what had happened, they both ran to Mr. Campbell's room, and +hung upon his neck, declaring they would do all they could to make him +happy, and work for him, if necessary, from morning till night. + +The next day the whole household were summoned into the dining-room, and +made acquainted by Mr. Campbell with what had taken place, and the +necessity of their immediate removal. Their wages had been calculated, +and were paid them before they quitted the room, which they all did with +many expressions of regret. Miss Paterson requested leave to remain with +them as a friend for a few days longer, and as she was deservedly a +favorite, her request was acceded to. + +"Thank heaven, that is over!" said Mr. Campbell, after all the household +had been dismissed. "It is quite a relief to my mind." + +"Here's a letter from Alfred, uncle," said Emma Percival, entering the +room. "He has just arrived at Portsmouth, and says the ship is ordered +to be paid off immediately, and his captain is appointed to a fifty-gun +ship, and intends to take him with him. He says he will be here in a few +days, and"---- + +"And what, dearest?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"He says his time will be short, but he hopes you won't object to his +bringing two of his messmates down with him." + +"Poor fellow! I am sorry that he will be disappointed," replied Mr. +Campbell. "You must write to him, Emma, and tell him what has happened." + +"I must write to him, uncle?" + +"Yes, dear Emma, do you write to him," replied Mrs. Campbell; "your +uncle and I have much to attend to." + +"I will, since you wish me," said Emma, the tears starting in her eyes, +as she quitted the room. + +"Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, wishes to see you, sir," said the footman, +as he came in. + +"Request that he will walk in," replied Mr. Campbell. + +Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, came in, and presented a letter to Mr. +Campbell, who requested him to take a chair while he read it. It was +from Mr. Douglas Campbell, the new proprietor of the estate, requesting +Mr. Bates would ascertain if Mr. Campbell was willing that the +furniture, etc., should be disposed of by valuation, and if so, +requesting Mr. Bates to put a liberal value on it, and draw upon him for +the amount. + +"This is very considerate of Mr. Douglas Campbell," observed Mrs. +Campbell; "of course, my dear, you can have no objection?" + +"None whatever; return my best thanks to Mr. Douglas Campbell for his +kindness; and, Mr. Bates, if you can possibly value by to-morrow or next +day, I should esteem it a favor." + +"It shall be done, sir," replied Mr. Bates, who then rose and took his +leave. + +As soon as the valuation was finished, Mr. Campbell was enabled to make +an estimate of what remained to them out of the property, and found that +the whole sum amounted to between seventeen and eighteen hundred pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +It may appear strange that, after having been in possession of the +estate for ten years, and considering that he had younger children to +provide for, Mr. Campbell had not laid up a larger sum; but this can be +fully explained. As I before said, the estate was in very bad order when +Mr. Campbell came into possession, and he devoted a large portion of the +income to improving it; and, secondly, he had expended a considerable +sum in building almshouses and schools, works which he would not delay, +as he considered them as religious obligations. The consequence was, +that it was not until a year before the claim was made to the estate, +that he had commenced laying by for his younger children; and as the +estate was then worth £2,000 per annum more than it was at the time +that he came into possession of it, he had resolved to put by £5,000 per +annum, and had done so for twelve months. The enormous legal expenses +had, however, swallowed up this sum, and more, as we have already +stated; and thus he was left a poorer man by some hundreds than he was +when the property fell to him. The day after the valuation, the eldest +son, Henry, made his appearance; he seemed much dejected, more so than +his parents, and those who knew him, would have supposed. It was, +however, ascribed to his feeling for his father and mother, rather than +for himself. + +Many were the consultations held by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell as to their +future plans; but nothing at all feasible, or likely to prove +advantageous, suggested itself to them. With only sixteen or seventeen +hundred pounds, they scarcely knew where to go, or how to act. Return to +his profession Mr. Campbell knew that he could not, with any chance of +supporting his family. His eldest son, Henry, might obtain a situation, +but he was really fit for nothing but the bar or holy orders; and how +were they to support him till he could support himself? Alfred, who was +now a master's mate, could, it is true, support himself, but it would be +with difficulty, and there was little chance of his promotion. Then +there were the two other boys, and the two girls growing up fast; in +short, a family of eight people. To put so small a sum in the funds +would be useless, as they could not live upon the interest which it +would give, and how to employ it they knew not. They canvassed the +matter over and over, but without success, and each night they laid +their heads upon the pillow more and more disheartened. They were all +ready to leave the Hall, but knew not where to direct their steps when +they left it; and thus they continued wavering for a week, until they +were embraced by their son Alfred, who had made all speed to join them, +as soon as the ship had been paid off. After the first joy of meeting +between those who had been separated so long was over, Mr. Campbell +said, "I'm sorry, Alfred, that I could not give your messmates any +fishing." + +"And so am I, and so were they, for your sakes, my dear father and +mother; but what is, is--and what can't be helped, can't--so we must +make the best of it; but where's Henry and my cousins?" + +"They are walking in the park, Alfred; you had better join them; they +are most anxious to see you." + +"I will, mother; let us get over these huggings and kissings, and then +we shall be more rational: so good-by for half an hour," said Alfred, +kissing his mother again, and then hastening out of the room. + +"His spirits are not subdued, at all events," observed Mrs. Campbell. "I +thank God for it." + +Alfred soon fell in with his brother and his cousins, Mary and Emma, and +after the huggings and kissings, as he termed them, were over, he made +inquiries into the real state of his father's affairs. After a short +conversation, Henry, who was very much depressed in his spirits, said, +"Mary and Emma, perhaps you will now go in; I wish to have some +conversation with Alfred." + +"You are terribly out of heart, Harry," observed Alfred, after his +cousins had left them. "Are things so very bad?" + +"They are bad enough, Alfred; but what makes me so low-spirited is, that +I fear my folly has made them worse." + +"How so?" replied Alfred. + +"The fact is, that my father has but £1,700 left in the world, a sum +small enough; but what annoys me is this. When I was at college, little +imagining such a reverse of fortune, I anticipated my allowance, because +I knew that I could pay at Christmas, and I ran in debt about £200; My +father always cautioned me not to exceed my allowance, and thinks that I +have not done so. Now, I can not bear the idea of leaving college in +debt, and, at the same time, it will be a heavy blow to my poor father, +if he has to part with £200, out of his trifling remainder, to pay my +debt. This is what has made me so unhappy. I can not bear to tell him, +because I feel convinced that he is so honorable, he will pay it +immediately. I am mad with myself, and really do not know what to do. I +do nothing but reproach myself all day, and I can not sleep at night. I +have been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly enter into my +present feelings. I waited till you came home, because I thought you had +better tell my father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with shame +and vexation." + +"Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, "as for outrunning the constable, as +we term it at sea, it's a very common thing, and, all things considered, +no great harm done, when you suppose that you have the means, and intend +to pay; so don't lay that to heart. That you would give your right hand +not to have done so, as things have turned out, I really believe; but, +however, there is no occasion to fret any more about it. I have received +three years' pay, and the prize-money for the last eighteen months, and +there is still some more due, for a French privateer. Altogether it +amounts to £250, which I had intended to have made over to my father, +now that he is on a lee-shore; but it will come to the same thing, +whether I give it to you to pay your debts, or give it to him, as he +will pay them, if you do not; so here it is, take what you want, and +hand me over what's left. My father don't know that I have any money, +and now he won't know it; at the same time he won't know that you owe +any; so that squares the account, and he will be as well off as ever." + +"Thank you, my dear Alfred; you don't know what a relief this will be to +my mind. Now I can look my father in his face." + +"I hope you will; we are not troubled with such delicate feelings on +board ship, Harry. I should have told him the truth long before this. I +couldn't bear to keep any thing on my conscience. If this misfortune had +happened last cruise, I should have been just in your position; for I +had a tailor's bill to pay as long as a frigate's pennant, and not +enough in my pocket to buy a mouse's breakfast. Now, let's go in again, +and be as merry as possible, and cheer them up a little." + +Alfred's high spirits did certainly do much to cheer them all up; and +after tea, Mr. Campbell, who had previously consulted his wife, as soon +as the servant had quitted the room, entered on a full explanation of +the means which were left to them; and stated, that he wished in his +difficulty to put the question before the whole family, and ascertain +whether any project might come into their heads upon which they might +decide and act. Henry, who had recovered his spirits since the +assistance he had received from Alfred, was desired to speak first. He +replied: + +"My dear father and mother, if you can not between you hit upon any +plan, I am afraid it is not likely that I can assist you. All I have to +say is, that whatever may be decided upon, I shall most cheerfully do my +duty toward you and my brothers and sisters. My education has not been +one likely to be very useful to a poor man, but I am ready to work with +my hands as well as with my head, to the best of my abilities." + +"That I am sure of, my dear boy," replied his father. "Now, Alfred, we +must look to you as our last hope, for your two cousins are not likely +to give us much advice." + +"Well, father, I have been thinking a good deal about it, and I have a +proposal to make which may at first startle you, but it appears to me +that it is our only, and our best, resource. The few hundred pounds +which you have left are of no use in this country, except to keep you +from starving for a year or two; but in another country they may be made +to be worth as many thousands. In this country, a large family becomes a +heavy charge and expense; in another country, the more children you +have, the richer man you are. If, therefore, you would consent to +transport your family and your present means into another country, +instead of being a poor, you might be a rich man." + +"What country is that, Alfred?" + +"Why, father, the purser of our ship had a brother, who, soon after the +French were beaten out of the Canadas, went out there to try his +fortune. He had only three hundred pounds in the world: he has been +there now about four years, and I read a letter from him which the +purser received when the frigate arrived at Portsmouth, in which he +states that he is doing well, and getting rich fast; that he has a farm +of five hundred acres, of which two hundred are cleared; and that if he +only had some children large enough to help him, he would soon be worth +ten times the money, as he would purchase more land immediately. Land is +to be bought there at a dollar an acre, and you may pick and choose. +With your money, you might buy a large property; with your children, you +might improve it fast; and in a few years, you would at all events be +comfortable, if not flourishing, in your circumstances. Your children +would work for you, and you would have the satisfaction of knowing that +you left them independent and happy." + +"I acknowledge, my dear boy, that you have struck upon a plan which has +much to recommend it. Still there are drawbacks." + +"Drawbacks!" replied Alfred, "yes, to be sure, there are; if estates +were to be picked up for merely going out for them, there would not be +many left for you to choose; but, my dear father, I know no drawbacks +which can not be surmounted. Let us see what these drawbacks are. First, +hard labor; occasional privation; a log hut, till we can get a better; +severe winter; isolation from the world; occasional danger, even from +wild beasts and savages. I grant these are but sorry exchanges for such +a splendid mansion as this--fine furniture, excellent cooking, polished +society, and the interest one feels for what is going on in our own +country, which is daily communicated to us. Now, as to hard labor, I and +Henry will take as much of that off your hands as we can: if the winter +is severe, there is no want of firewood; if the cabin is rude, at least +we will make it comfortable; if we are shut out from the world, we shall +have society enough among ourselves; if we are in danger, we will have +firearms and stout hearts to defend ourselves; and, really, I do not see +but we may be very happy, very comfortable, and, at all events, very +independent." + +"Alfred, you talk as if you were going with us," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"And do you think that I am not, my dear mother? Do you imagine that I +would remain here when you were there, and my presence would be useful? +No--no--I love the service, it is true, but I know my duty, which is, +to assist my father and mother: in fact, I prefer it; a midshipman's +ideas of independence are very great; and I had rather range the wilds +of America free and independent, than remain in the service, and have to +touch my hat to every junior lieutenant, perhaps for twenty years to +come. If you go, I go, that is certain. Why, I should be miserable if +you went without me; I should dream every night that an Indian had run +away with Mary, or that a bear had eaten up my little Emma." + +"Well, I'll take my chance of the Indian," replied Mary Percival. + +"And I of the bear," said Emma. "Perhaps he'll only hug me as tight as +Alfred did when he came home." + +"Thank you, miss, for the comparison," replied Alfred, laughing. + +"I certainly consider that your proposal, Alfred, merits due +reflection," observed Mrs. Campbell. "Your father and I will consult, +and perhaps by to-morrow morning we may have come to a decision. Now we +had better all go to bed." + +"I shall dream of the Indian, I am sure," said Mary. + +"And I shall dream of the bear," added Emma, looking archly at Alfred. + +"And I shall dream of a very pretty girl--that I saw at Portsmouth," +said Alfred. + +"I don't believe you," replied Emma. + +Shortly afterward Mr. Campbell rang the bell for the servants; family +prayers were read, and all retired in good spirits. + +The next morning they all met at an early hour; and after Mr. Campbell +had, as was his invariable rule, read a portion of the Bible, and a +prayer of thankfulness, they sat down to breakfast. After breakfast was +over, Mr. Campbell said-- + +"My dear children, last night, after you had left us, your mother and I +had a long consultation, and we have decided that we have no alternative +left us but to follow the advice which Alfred has given: if, then, you +are all of the same opinion as we are, we have resolved that we will try +our fortunes in the Canadas." + +"I am certainly of that opinion," replied Henry. + +"And you, my girls?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"We will follow you to the end of the world, uncle," replied Mary, "and +try if we can by any means in our power repay your kindness to two poor +orphans." + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell embraced their nieces, for they were much affected +by Mary's reply. + +After a pause, Mrs. Campbell said-- + +"And now that we have come to a decision, we must commence our +arrangements immediately. How shall we dispose of ourselves? Come, +Alfred and Henry, what do you propose doing?" + +"I must return immediately to Oxford, to settle my affairs, and dispose +of my books and other property." + +"Shall you have sufficient money, my dear boy, to pay every thing?" said +Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, my dear father," replied Henry, coloring up a little. + +"And I," said Alfred, "presume that I can be of no use here; therefore I +propose that I should start for Liverpool this afternoon by the coach, +for it is from Liverpool that we had better embark. I shall first write +to our purser for what information he can procure, and obtain all I can +at Liverpool from other people. As soon as I have any thing to +communicate, I will write." + +"Write as soon as you arrive, Alfred, whether you have any thing to +communicate or not; at all events, we shall know of your safe arrival." + +"I will, my dear mother." + +"Have you money, Alfred?" + +"Yes, quite sufficient, father. I don't travel with four horses." + +"Well, then, we will remain here to pack up, Alfred; and you must look +out for some moderate lodging for us to go into as soon as we arrive at +Liverpool. At what time do the ships sail for Quebec?" + +"Just about this time, father. This is March, and they will now sail +every week almost. The sooner we are off the better, that we may be +comfortably housed in before the winter." + +A few hours after this conversation, Henry and Alfred left the Hall +upon their several destinations. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +had plenty of employment for three or four days in packing up. It was +soon spread through the neighborhood that they were going to emigrate to +Canada; and the tenants who had held their farms under Mr. Campbell, all +came forward and proffered their wagons and horses to transport the +effects to Liverpool, without his being put to any expense. + +In the meantime a letter had been received from Alfred, who had not been +idle. He had made acquaintance with some merchants who traded to Canada, +and by them had been introduced to two or three persons who had settled +there a few years before, and who were able to give him every +information. They informed him what was most advisable to take out; how +they were to proceed upon their landing; and, what was of more +importance, the merchants gave him letters of introduction to English +merchants at Quebec, who would afford them every assistance in the +selecting and purchasing of land, and in their transport up the country. +Alfred had also examined a fine timber-ship, which was to sail in three +weeks; and had bargained for the price of their passage, in case they +could get ready in time to go by her. He wrote all these particulars to +his father, waiting for his reply to act upon his wishes. + +Henry returned from Oxford, having settled his accounts, and with the +produce of the sale of his classics and other books in his pocket. He +was full of spirits, and of the greatest assistance to his father and +mother. + +Alfred had shown so much judgment in all he had undertaken, that his +father wrote to him stating that they would be ready for the ship which +he named, and that he might engage the cabins, and also at once procure +the various articles which they were advised to take out with them, and +draw upon him for the amount, if the people would not wait for the +money. In a fortnight they were all ready; the wagons had left with +their effects some days before. Mr. Campbell wrote a letter to Mr. +Douglas Campbell, thanking him for his kindness and consideration to +them, and informing him that they would leave Wexton Hall on the +following day. He only begged, as a favor, that the schoolmaster and +schoolmistress of the village school should be continued on, as it was +of great importance that the instruction of the poor should not be +neglected; and added, that perceiving by the newspapers that Mr. Douglas +Campbell had lately married, Mrs. Campbell and he wished him and his +wife every happiness, etc., etc. + +Having dispatched this letter, there was nothing more to be done, +previous to their departure from the Hall, except to pay and dismiss the +few servants who were with them; for Mrs. Campbell had resolved upon +taking none out with her. That afternoon they walked round the +plantation and park for the last time. Mrs. Campbell and the girls went +round the rooms of the Hall to ascertain that every thing was left tidy, +neat, and clean. The poor girls sighed as they passed by the harp and +piano in the drawing-room, for they were old friends. + +"Never mind, Mary," said Emma; "we have our guitars, and may have music +in the woods of Canada without harp or piano." + +The following morning, the coach, of which they had secured the whole of +the inside, drove up to the Hall door, and they all got in, the tenants +and poor people standing round them, all with their hats in their hands +out of respect, and wishing them every success as they drove away +through the avenue to the park gates. The Hall and the park itself had +been long out of sight before a word was exchanged. They checked their +tears, but their hearts were too full for them to venture to speak. + +The day afterward they arrived at Liverpool, where Alfred had provided +lodgings. Every thing had been sent on board, and the ship had hauled +out in the stream. As they had nothing to detain them on the shore, and +the captain wished to take advantage of the first fair wind, they all +embarked four days after their arrival at Liverpool; and I shall now +leave them on board of the London Merchant, which was the name of the +vessel, making all their little arrangements previous to their sailing, +under the superintendence of Alfred, while I give some little more +insight into the characters, ages, and dispositions of the family. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Mr. Campbell was a person of many amiable qualities. He was a religious, +good man, very fond of his wife, to whose opinions he yielded in +preference to his own, and very partial to his children, to whom he was +inclined to be over indulgent. He was not a person of much energy of +character, but he was sensible and well-informed. His goodness of heart +rendered him liable to be imposed upon, for he never suspected any +deceit, notwithstanding that he was continually deceived. His character +was therefore that of a simple, good, honest man. + +Mrs. Campbell was well matched with him as a wife, as she had all that +energy and decision of character which was sometimes wanting in her +husband. Still there was nothing masculine in her manners and +appearance; on the contrary, she was delicate in her form, and very soft +in her manners. She had great firmness and self-possession, and had +brought up all her children admirably. Obedience to their parents was +the principle instilled into them after their duty to God; for she knew +too well that a disobedient child can never prosper. If ever there was a +woman fitted to meet the difficulty and danger which threatened them, it +was Mrs. Campbell, for she had courage and presence of mind, joined to +activity and cleverness. + +Henry, the eldest son, was now nearly twenty years of age. He possessed +much of the character of his father, was without vice, but rather +inclined to inaction than otherwise. Much was to be ascribed to his +education and college life, and more to his natural disposition. + +Alfred, the sailor, was, on the contrary, full of energy and active in +every thing, patient and laborious, if required, and never taking any +thing in hand without finishing it, if possible. He was rough, but not +rude, both in his speech and his manners, very kind-hearted, at the same +time very confident in himself and afraid of nothing. + +Mary Percival was a very amiable, reflective girl, quiet without being +sad, not often indulging in conversation, except when alone with her +sister Emma. She was devotedly attached to her uncle and aunt, and was +capable of more than she had any idea of herself, for she was of a +modest disposition, and thought humbly of herself. Her disposition was +sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance. She was now seventeen years +old, and very much admired. + +Her sister Emma, who was but fifteen, was of a very different +disposition, naturally gay, and inclined to find amusement in every +thing--cheerful as the lark, and singing from morning to night. Her +disposition, owing to Mrs. Campbell's care and attention, was equally +amiable as her sister's, and her high spirits seldom betrayed her into +indiscretion. She was the life of the family when Alfred was away: he +only was her equal in high spirits. + +Percival, the third boy, was now twelve years old; he was a quiet, +clever lad, very obedient and very attentive to what was told him, very +fond of obtaining information, being naturally very inquisitive. + +John, the fourth boy, was ten years old--a sturdy, John Bull sort of a +boy, not very fond of learning, but a well-disposed boy in most things. +He preferred any thing to his book; at the same time, he was obedient, +and tried to keep up his attention as well as he could, which was all +that could be expected from a boy of his age. He was very slow in every +thing, very quiet, and seldom spoke unless first spoken to. He was not +silly, although many people would have thought him so, but he certainly +was a very strange boy, and it was difficult to say what he would turn +out. + +I have now described the family as they appeared at the time that they +embarked on board of the London Merchant; and have only to add, that on +the third day after their embarkation, they made sail with a fair wind, +and ran down the Irish Channel. + +The London Merchant sailed for Cork, where the North American convoy +were to assemble. At the time we speak of, the war had recommenced +between this country and the French, who were suffering all the horrors +of the Revolution. On their arrival at Cork, our party recovered a +little from the sea-sickness to which all are subject on their first +embarkation. They found themselves at anchor with more than a hundred +merchant vessels, among which were to be perceived the lofty masts and +spars of a large fifty-gun ship, and two small frigates, which were +appointed to convoy them to their destination. + +The rest of the party, still suffering, soon went down below again, but +Alfred remained on deck leaning against the bulwarks of the vessel, his +eyes and his thoughts intently fixed upon the streaming pennants of the +men-of-war, and a tear rolled down his cheek, as he was reminded that he +no longer could follow up his favorite profession. The sacrifice he had +made to his family was indeed great. He had talked lightly of it before +them, not wishing them to believe it was so. He had not told his father +that he had passed his examination for lieutenant before he had been +paid off at Portsmouth; and that his captain, who was very partial to +him, had promised that he should soon be advanced in the service. He had +not told them that all his wishes, all his daily hopes, the most anxious +desire of his existence, which was to become a post-captain, and in +command of a fine frigate, were blighted by this sacrifice he had made +for them and their comfort. He had concealed all this, and assumed a +mirth which he did not feel; but now that he was alone, and the pennant +was once more presented to his view, his regrets could not be +controlled. He sighed deeply, and turning away with his arms folded, +said to himself--"I have done my duty. It is hard, after having served +so long, and now just arrived at the time in which I have reason to +expect my reward--to rise in the service--distinguish myself by my zeal, +and obtain a reputation, which, if it pleased God, I would have +done--very hard, to have to leave it now, and to be hid in the woods, +with an ax in my hand; but how could I leave my father, my mother, and +my brothers and sisters, to encounter so much difficulty and privation +by themselves, when I have a strong arm to help them! No! no!--I have +done my duty to those who ever did their duty to me, and I trust that my +own conscience will prove my reward, and check that repining which we +are too apt to feel when it pleases Heaven to blight what appears to be +our fairest prospects ... I say, my good fellow," said Alfred, after a +while, to a man in a boat, "what is the name of that fifty-gun ship?" + +"I don't know which ship has fifty guns, or which has a hundred," +replied the Irishman; "but if you mean the biggest of the three, she is +called the Portsmouth." + +"The Portsmouth! the very ship Captain Lumley was appointed to," cried +Alfred. "I must go on board." + +Alfred ran down to the cabin, and requested the captain of the +transport, whose name was Wilson, to allow him the small boat to go on +board the man-of-war. His request was granted, and Alfred was soon up +the side of the Portsmouth. There were some of his old messmates on the +quarter-deck, who welcomed him heartily, for he was a great favorite. +Shortly afterward, he sent down a message by the steward, requesting +that Captain Lumley would see him, and was immediately afterward ordered +to go into the cabin. + +"Well, Mr. Campbell," said Captain Lumley, "so you have joined us at +last; better late than never. You're but just in time. I thought you +would soon get over that foolish whim of yours, which you mentioned in +your letter to me, of leaving the service, just after you had passed, +and had such good chance of promotion. What could have put it in your +head?" + +"Nothing, sir," replied Alfred, "but my duty to my parents. It is a most +painful step for me to take, but I leave you to judge whether I can do +otherwise." + +Alfred then detailed to Captain Lumley all that had occurred, the +resolution which his father and mother had taken, and their being then +on board the timber-ship, and about to proceed to their new destination. + +Captain Lumley heard Alfred's story without interruption, and then, +after a pause, said, "I think you are right, my boy, and it does you +honor. Where you are going to, I have no doubt but your courage and your +protection will be most important. Yet it is a pity you should be lost +to the service." + +"I feel most sincerely, sir, I assure you, but----" + +"But you sacrifice yourself; I know that. I admire the resolution of +your father and mother. Few could have the courage to have taken such a +step--few women, especially, I shall call upon them, and pay my +respects. In half an hour I shall be ready, and you shall accompany me, +and introduce me. In the meantime you can go and see your old +messmates." + +Alfred left the cabin, much flattered by the kindness of Captain Lumley, +and went down to his former messmates, with whom he remained until the +boatswain piped away the crew of the captain's barge. He then went on +deck, and as soon as the captain came up, he went into the boat. The +captain followed, and they were soon on board of the London Merchant. +Alfred introduced Captain Lumley to his father and mother; and in the +course of half an hour, being mutually pleased with each other, an +intimacy was formed, when Captain Lumley observed, "I presume that, much +as you may require your son's assistance on your arrival at Canada, you +can dispense with his presence on board of this vessel. My reason for +making this observation is that no chance should ever be thrown away. +One of my lieutenants wishes to leave the ship on family concerns. He +has applied to me, and I have considered it my duty to refuse him, now +that we are on the point of sailing, and I am unable to procure another. +But for your son's sake, I will now permit him to go, and will, if you +will allow him to come on board of the Portsmouth, give Alfred an acting +lieutenant's order. Should any thing occur on the passage out, and it is +not at all impossible, it will insure his promotion; even if nothing +occurs, I will have his acting order confirmed. At Quebec, he shall, of +course, leave the ship, and go with you. I don't pretend to detain him +from his duty; but you will observe, that if he does obtain his rank, he +will also obtain his half-pay, which, if he remains in Canada with you, +will be a great assistance; and if things should turn out so well, that +you can, after a year or two, do without him, and allow him to return to +the service, he will then have already gained the most important step, +and will, I have no doubt, soon rise to the command of a ship. I will +give you till to-morrow to decide. Alfred can come on board in the +morning, and let me know." + +"I think I may say, Captain Lumley," replied Mrs. Campbell, "that my +husband could have but one reason in hesitating a moment, and that is, +to ascertain whether I should like to part with my son during our +passage out. I should, indeed, be a very weak woman, if I did not make +such a trifling sacrifice for his benefit, and, at the time, feel most +grateful to you for your kind intentions toward him. I rather think that +Mr. Campbell will not find it necessary to have till to-morrow morning +to consider the proposal; but I leave him to answer for himself." + +"I can assure you, Captain Lumley, that Mrs. Campbell has only expressed +my own feelings, and, as far as we are concerned, your offer is most +gratefully accepted." + +"Then, Alfred," replied Captain Lumley, "has only to make his appearance +on board of the Portsmouth to-morrow morning, and he will find his +acting order ready for him. We sail, I believe, the day after, if the +weather is at all favorable; so, if I have not another opportunity to +pay my respects to you, you must allow me to say farewell now. I shall +keep my eye upon your vessel during the passage; at all events, Alfred +will, I'm very sure." + +Captain Lumley shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, bowed to the rest +of the cabin party, and quitted the ship. As he went over the side, he +observed to Alfred, "I perceive you have some attractions in your party. +It is quite melancholy to think that those pretty cousins of yours +should be buried in the woods of Canada. To-morrow, at nine o'clock, +then, I shall expect you.--Adieu!" + +Although the idea of Alfred leaving them during the passage out was not +pleasant, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were most happy at the chance which had +offered itself for their son's advantage, and seemed in good spirits +when he took leave of them on the following morning. + +"Captain Wilson, you sail so well, that I hope you will keep close to us +all the passage out," observed Alfred, as he was taking leave. + +"Except you happen to come to action with an enemy, and then I shall +haul off to a respectful distance, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Wilson +laughing. + +"That, of course. Cannon-balls were never invented for ladies, although +they have no objection to balls,--have they Emma? Well, good-by once +more. You can often see me with the spy-glass if you feel inclined. +Recollect that." + +Alfred shoved off in the boat, and was soon on board of the Portsmouth. +The following day they sailed with a fair wind and moderate weather; the +convoy now increased to 120 vessels. + +We must leave Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and family on board the London +Merchant, and follow Alfred in the Portsmouth, during the passage to +Quebec. + +For several days the weather was moderate, although the wind was not +always fair, and the convoy was kept together, and in good order. The +London Merchant was never far away from the Portsmouth, and Alfred +employed a large portion of his time, when he was not keeping his watch, +in keeping his spy-glass upon the vessel, and watching the motions of +his cousins and the rest of the family. On board of the London Merchant +they were similarly occupied, and very often a handkerchief was waved by +way of salute and recognition. At last they arrived off the banks of +Newfoundland, and were shrouded in a heavy fog, the men-of-war +constantly firing guns, to inform the merchant-ships in what direction +they were to steer, and the merchant-vessels of the convoy ringing their +bells, to warn each other, that they might not be run foul of. + +The fog lasted two days, and was still continuing when the party on +board the London Merchant, just as they were sitting down to dinner in +the cabin, heard a noise and bustle on deck. Captain Wilson ran hastily +up and found that his vessel had been boarded by a French boat's crew, +who had beaten down the men and taken possession. As there was no help, +all he could do was to go down to the cabin, and inform his passengers +that they were prisoners. The shock of this intelligence was very great, +as may be supposed, but still there was no useless lamentation or +weeping. One thing is certain, that this news quite spoiled their +appetite for their dinner, which, however, was soon dispatched by the +French officer and his men, after the boat had left, and the vessel's +head had been put in an opposite direction. + +Captain Wilson, who had returned on deck, came down in about a quarter +of an hour, and informed the party, who were silently brooding over this +sudden change in their prospects, that the wind was very light, and that +he thought the fog was clearing off a little, and that if it did so +before it was dark, he was in great hopes that they should be +recaptured. This intelligence appeared to revive the hopes of Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell, and they were still more encouraged when they heard the +sounds of guns at no very great distance. In a few minutes afterward the +cannonading became very furious, and the Frenchmen who were on board +began to show strong signs of uneasiness. + +The fact was, that a French squadron, of one sixty-gun ship and two +corvettes, had been on the look-out for the convoy, and had come in +among them during the fog. They had captured and taken possession of +several vessels before they were discovered, but the sixty-gun ship at +last ran very near to the Portsmouth, and Alfred, who had the watch, and +was on a sharp look-out, soon perceived through the looming fog, that +she was not one of the convoy. He ran down to acquaint the captain, and +the men were immediately ordered to their quarters, without beating the +drum, or making any noise that might let the enemy know they were so +near. The yards were then braced in, to check the way of the Portsmouth, +so that the strange vessel might come up with her. Silence was kept fore +and aft, not a whisper was to be heard; and as the Frenchmen neared +them, they perceived a boat putting off from her to board another vessel +close to them, and also heard the orders given to the men in the French +language. This was sufficient for Captain Lumley: he put the helm down, +and poured a raking broadside into the enemy, who was by no means +prepared for such a sudden salute, although her guns were cast loose, +ready for action, in case of accident. The answer to the broadside was a +cry of "_Vive la Republique!_" and, in a few seconds, both ships were +hotly engaged--the Portsmouth having the advantage of lying upon the bow +of her antagonist. + +As is often the case, the heavy cannonading brought on a dead calm, and +the two ships remained in their respective positions, except that the +Portsmouth's was more favorable, having drawn ahead of the French +vessel, so that her broadside was poured into her opponent, without her +being able to return the fire from more than four or five of her guns. +The fog became more opaque than ever; the two ships had neared each +other considerably, or it would have been impossible to distinguish. All +that they could see from the deck of the Portsmouth was the jib-boom and +cap of the bowsprit of the Frenchman, the rest of her bowsprit, and her +whole hull, were lost in the impenetrable gloom; but that was sufficient +for the men to direct their guns, and the fire from the Portsmouth was +most rapid, although the extent of its execution was unknown. After half +an hour of incessant broadsides, the two vessels had approached each +other so close, that the jib-boom of the Frenchman was pointed between +the fore and main rigging of the Portsmouth. Captain Lumley immediately +gave orders to lash the Frenchman's bowsprit to his mainmast, and this +was accomplished by the first lieutenant, Alfred, and the seamen, +without any serious loss, for the fog was still so thick, that the +Frenchman on their forecastle could not perceive what was doing at their +bowsprit's cap. + +"She is ours now," said Captain Lumley to the first lieutenant. + +"Yes, sir,--fast enough. I think, if the fog were to clear away, they +would haul down their colors." + +"Not till the last, depend upon it," replied Captain Lumley. "Fire away +there, on the main-deck, give them no time to take breath. Mr. Campbell, +tell the second lieutenant to let the foremost lower deck guns be +pointed more aft. I say, not till the last," repeated Captain Lumley to +the first lieutenant; "these republicans will take a good deal of +beating, even upon the water." + +"It's clearing up, sir, to the northward a little," said the master. + +"I see--yes, it is," replied Captain Lumley. "Well, the sooner the +better: we shall see what has become of all the shot we have been +throwing away." + +A white silvery line appeared on the horizon, to the northward; +gradually it increased, and as it rose up, became broader, till at last +the curtain was lifted up, and a few feet were to be seen above the +clear blue water. As it continued to approach, the light became more +vivid, the space below increased, and the water was ruffled with the +coming wind, till at last the fog rolled off as if it had been gradually +furled, and sweeping away in a heavy bank to leeward, exposed the state +and position of the whole convoy, and the contending vessels. The +English seamen on board of the Portsmouth cheered the return of +daylight, as it might truly be termed. Captain Lumley found that they +had been contending in the very center of the convoy, which was still +lying around them, with the exception of about fifteen vessels, which +were a few miles apart, with their heads in an opposite direction. These +were evidently those which had been captured. The two frigates, which +had been stationed in the rear of the convoy, were still two or three +miles distant, but making all sail to come up and assist the Portsmouth. +Many of the convoy, which had been in the direction of the fire, +appeared to have suffered in their masts and sails; but whether any +injury had been received in their hulls it was not possible to say. The +French line-of-battle ship had suffered dreadfully from the fire of the +Portsmouth. Her mainmast and mizzen-mast were over the side, her forward +ports were many of them almost beat into one, and every thing on board +appeared to be in the greatest confusion. + +"She can't stand this long," observed Captain Lumley. "Fire away, my +lads." + +"The Circe and Vixen are coming down to us, sir," observed the first +lieutenant; "we do not want them, and they will only be an excuse for +the Frenchman to surrender to a superior force. If they recaptured the +vessels taken, they would be of some service." + +"Very true. Mr. Campbell, make their signal to pursue captured +vessels." + +Alfred ran aft to obey the orders. The flags had just flown out at the +mast-head, when he received a bullet through his arm: for the French, +unable to use the major portion of their guns, had, when the fog cleared +up, poured in incessant volleys of musketry upon the decks of the +Portsmouth. Alfred desired the quarter-master to untie his neck +handkerchief for him, and bind up his arm. Having so done, he continued +to do his duty. A bold attempt was now made by the French to clear their +vessel by cutting the fastening of her bowsprit, but the marines of the +Portsmouth were prepared for them, and after about twenty gallant +fellows had dropped down on the booms and gangways of the Portsmouth, +the attempt was given up, and four minutes afterward the French colors +were hauled down. She was boarded from her bowsprit by the first +lieutenant and a party of seamen. The lashings were cast off, and the +vessels cleared of each other, and then the English seamen gave three +cheers in honor of the victory. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The French sixty-gun ship proved to be the Leonidas; she had been sent +out with two large frigates on purpose to intercept the convoy, but she +had parted with her consorts in a gale of wind. Her loss of men was very +great; that on board of the Portsmouth was trifling. In a couple of +hours the Portsmouth and her prize in tow were ready to proceed with the +convoy, but they still remained hove to, to wait for the frigates which +were in chase of the captured vessels. All of these were speedily come +up with except the London Merchant, which sailed so remarkably well. At +last, to the great joy of Alfred (who as soon as the bullet had been +extracted and his arm dressed, had held his telescope fixed upon the +chase), she hove to, and was taken possession of. Before night, the +convoy were again collected together, and were steering for their +destination. The next morning was clear, and the breeze moderate. Mrs. +Campbell, who, as well as all the rest, was very anxious about Alfred, +requested Captain Wilson to run down to the Portsmouth, that they might +ascertain if he was safe. Captain Wilson did as she requested, and +writing in chalk "all well" in large letters upon the log-board, held it +over the side as he passed close to the Portsmouth. Alfred was not on +deck--fever had compelled him to remain in his hammock--but Captain +Lumley made the same reply on the log-board of the Portsmouth, and Mr. +and Mrs. Campbell were satisfied. + +"How I should like to see him," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, madam," observed Captain Wilson, "but they have too much to do on +board of the Portsmouth just now; they have to repair damages and to +look after the wounded; they have a great quantity of prisoners on +board, as you may see, for a great many are now on the booms; they have +no time for compliments." + +"That is very true," replied Mr. Campbell, "we must wait till we arrive +at Quebec." + +"But we did not see Alfred," said Emma. + +"No, miss, because he was busy enough below, and I dare say no one told +him. They have said that all's well, and that is sufficient; and now we +must haul off again, for with such a heavy ship in tow, Captain Lumley +will not thank me if I am always coming so close to him." + +"I am satisfied, Captain Wilson; pray do nothing that might displease +Captain Lumley. We shall soon see Alfred, I dare say, with the +spy-glass." + +"I see him now," said Mary Percival, "he has his telescope, and he is +waving his hat to me." + +"Thank God," replied Mrs. Campbell; "now I am satisfied." + +The Portsmouth cast off the French line-of-battle ship, as soon as they +had jury-masts up and could make sail on them, and the convoy proceeded +to the mouth of the St. Lawrence. + +"Captain Wilson," said Percival, whose eyes were fixed on the water, +"what animals are those, tumbling about and blowing,--those great white +things?" + +"They are what are called the white whale, Percival," replied Captain +Wilson; "they are not often seen, except about here." + +"Then what is the color of the other whales?" + +"The northern whales are black--they are called the black whales; but +the southern, or spermaceti whales, are not so dark in color." + +Captain Wilson then, at Percival's request, gave him an account of how +the whales were caught, for he had been several voyages himself in the +northern whale fishery. + +Percival was never tired of asking questions, and Captain Wilson was +very kind to him, and always answered him. John, generally speaking, +stood by when Captain Wilson was talking, looking very solemn and very +attentive, but not saying a word. + +"Well John," said Emma to him after the conversation had been ended, +"what was Captain Wilson telling you about?" + +"Whales," replied John, walking past her. + +"Well, but is that all you can tell me, John?" + +"Yes," replied John, walking away. + +"At all events, Miss Emma, he keeps all his knowledge to himself," +observed Captain Wilson, laughing. + +"Yes; I shall know nothing about the whale-fishery, unless you will +condescend to tell me yourself, that is evident," replied Emma, taking +the offered arm of Captain Wilson, who, at her request, immediately +resumed the subject. + +In three weeks from the day of the action they had anchored off the town +of Quebec. + +As soon as they had anchored, Alfred obtained leave to go on board of +the London Merchant, and then, for the first time, his family knew that +he had been wounded. His arm was still in a sling, but was healing fast. + +I shall pass over the numerous inquiries on his part, relative to their +capture and recapture, and on theirs, as to the action with the French +ship. + +While they were in conversation, Captain Lumley was reported to be +coming on board in his boat. They went on the deck of the vessel to +receive him. + +"Well, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley after the first salutations +were over, "you must congratulate me on my having captured a vessel +somewhat larger than my own; and I must congratulate you on the conduct +and certain promotion of your son Alfred. He has richly deserved it." + +"I am very thankful, Captain Lumley, and do most heartily congratulate +you," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I only regret that my boy has been +wounded." + +"The very thing that you should, on the contrary, be thankful for, Mrs. +Campbell," replied Captain Lumley. "It is the most fortunate wound in +the world, as it not only adds to his claims, but enables me to let him +join you and go to Canada with you, without it being supposed that he +has quitted the service." + +"How so, Captain Lumley?" + +"I can discharge him to sick-quarters here at Quebec. If they think any +thing about it at all at home, it will be that his wound is much more +severe than it really is; and he can remain on half-pay as long as he +pleases. There are plenty ready to be employed. But I can not wait any +longer. I am going on shore to call upon the Governor, and I thought I +would just see you on my way. You may assure yourselves that if I can be +of any use to you, I will not fail to exert any little influence I may +have." + +Captain Lumley then took a cordial leave of the whole party, telling +Alfred that he might consider himself as discharged from the ship, and +might rejoin his family. + +"Heaven sends us friends when we most need them and least expect them," +said Mrs. Campbell, as she watched the boat pulling away. "Who would +have imagined, when we anchored at Cork, that such good fortune should +have awaited us; and that, at the very time Alfred had given up his +profession for our sake, his promotion in the service was awaiting him?" + +Shortly afterward Mrs. Campbell and Henry went on shore with Captain +Wilson to look out for lodgings, and present the letters of introduction +which he had received for some Quebec merchants. As they were looking +for lodgings in company with a Mr. Farquhar, who had kindly volunteered +to assist them, they met Captain Lumley on his return from the +Governor. + +"I am glad to have met you, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley; "I +found on paying my respects to the Governor, that there is what they +call the Admiralty House here, which is kept furnished by Government for +the senior officers of his Majesty's ships. It is at my disposal; and as +the Governor has requested me to take up my abode at Government House, I +beg you will consider it at your service. You will find better +accommodation there than in lodgings, and it will save you considerable +expense." + +"We need look no further, Mrs. Campbell," said Mr. Farquhar. + +Mrs. Campbell expressed her acknowledgments to Captain Lumley, and +returned on board with this pleasing intelligence. + +"Oh, Alfred, how much we are indebted to you, my dear boy," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"To me, mother?--to Captain Lumley, I should rather think." + +"Yes, to Captain Lumley, I grant; but still it has been your good +conduct when under his command which has made him attached to you; and +it is to that we owe his acquaintance, and all the kindness we have +received from him." + +The next day the family disembarked and took possession of the Admiralty +House. Mr. Farquhar procured them a female servant, who, with a man and +his wife left in charge of the house, supplied all the attendance they +required. Mrs. Campbell settled with Captain Wilson, who very generously +refused to take any money for Alfred's passage, as he had not remained +on board of the London Merchant: promising, however, to accept their +invitation to come to them whenever he could find leisure, he took leave +of them for the present, and they were left alone in their new +residence. + +In a few days the Campbells found themselves comfortably settled in the +Admiralty House, but they had no intention of remaining there longer +than was necessary; as, notwithstanding the accommodation, their +residence at Quebec was attended with expense, and Mr. Campbell was +aware that he had no money to throw away. + +On the fourth day after their landing Captain Lumley called to take +leave; but the day previous he had introduced them to the Governor, who +returned Mr. Campbell's call, and appeared to be much interested in +their welfare, owing of course to the representations of Captain Lumley. +It was not, therefore, surprising that they should part with regret from +one who had proved himself such a kind friend; and many were the +expressions of gratitude which were made by the whole party. Captain +Lumley shook hands with them all; and, assuring Alfred that he would not +lose sight of his interests, wished them every success, and left the +house. An hour afterward the Portsmouth was under weigh, and running out +with a fine breeze. + +On the following day the Governor requested Mr. Campbell would call upon +him; and when they met, he pointed out to him that he would have great +difficulties, and, he was fearful, great hardships, to encounter in +following up his plan of settling in Upper Canada. He did not dissuade +him from so doing, as he had nothing more promising to offer which might +induce him to change his mind, but he thought it right to forewarn him +of trials, that he might be well prepared. + +"I feel, of course, a strong interest in any English family so well +brought up, and accustomed, as I find yours has been, to luxury, being +placed in such a situation; and the interest which my old friend, +Captain Lumley, takes in you, is quite sufficient to induce me to offer +you every assistance in my power: that you may depend upon, Mr. +Campbell. The Surveyor-General is coming here immediately, I must first +introduce you to him, as it is from him that the land must be obtained, +and of course he can advise you well on the point of locality; but you +must recollect that it is not much more than thirty years since these +provinces have been surrendered to Great Britain, and that not only the +French population, but the Indians, are very hostile to the English, for +the Indians were, and still are, firm allies to the French, and detest +us. I have been reflecting upon the affair, and I hope to be of some +service to you: if I am not, it will not, I assure you, be from any want +of will; under every advantage which may be procured for you, at all +events, you will require stout hearts and able hands. Your son Alfred +will be of great service, but we must try and procure you some other +assistance that can be trusted." + +A long conversation then took place between the Governor and Mr. +Campbell, during which the latter received much valuable information: it +was interrupted, however, by the arrival of the Surveyor-General, and +the topic was resumed. + +"The land that I would propose to Mr. Campbell," observed the +Surveyor-General, after a time, "if there is no objection to part with +it, is a portion of what has been laid aside as Government reserve on +this part of the Lake Ontario; there are lands to be obtained nearer to +Montreal, but all the land of good quality has been purchased. This +land, you will observe, Mr. Campbell, is peculiarly good, having some +few acres of what we call prairie, or natural meadow. It has also the +advantage of running with a large frontage on the beach, and there is a +small river on one side of it; besides, it is not a great distance, +perhaps four or five miles, from Fort Frontignac, and it might be easy +to obtain assistance if required." + +The Surveyor-General pointed to a part of the map, near to Presqu' Ile +de Quinte, as he made this observation to the Governor. + +"I agree with you," replied the Governor, "and I observe that there is +already a settler on the other side of the stream." + +"Yes, sir," replied the Surveyor; "that allotment was granted before it +was decided that the rest should be a Government reserve; and if proof +were required of the goodness of the land, it would be found in the +person who took it. It was taken four years ago by the old hunter, +Malachi Bone; he has been over every part of it, of course, and knows +what it is. You recollect the man, don't you, sir? He was a guide to the +English army before the surrender of Quebec; General Wolfe had a high +opinion of him, and his services were so good that he was allowed that +tract of 150 acres." + +"I now remember him," replied the Governor, "but as I have not seen him +for so many years, he had escaped my recollection." + +"It will be a great advantage to you, Mr. Campbell, having this man as a +neighbor." + +"Now," continued the Governor, addressing the Surveyor-General, "do you +know of any person who would be willing to serve Mr. Campbell, and who +can be depended upon; of course one who understands the country, and who +would be really useful?" + +"Yes, Governor, I do know a very good man, and you know him also; but +you know the worst part of him, for he is generally in trouble when you +see him." + +"Who is that?" + +"Martin Super, the trapper." + +"Why, that is the young fellow who breeds such disturbances, and who, if +I recollect right, is now in prison for a riot." + +"The very same, sir; but Martin Super, although a troublesome fellow at +Quebec, is worth his weight in gold when he is out of the town. You may +think it strange, Mr. Campbell, that I should recommend a man who +appears to be so unruly a character; but the fact is that the trappers, +who go in pursuit of the game for their skins, after having been out for +months, undergoing every privation that can be imagined, return home +with their packages of skins, which they dispose of to the merchants of +this town; and as soon as they have their money, they never cease their +revelry of every description until their earnings are all gone, and then +they set off again on their wild and venturous pursuit. Now Martin +Super, like all the rest, must have his fun when he comes back, and +being a very wild fellow, he is often in scrapes when he has drunk too +much, so that he is occasionally put into prison for being riotous; but +I know him well, he has been with me surveying for months, and when he +is on service, a more steady, active, and brave man I do not know." + +"I believe you are right in recommending him," observed the Governor, +"he will not be sorry to get out of the gaol, and I have no doubt but +that he will conduct himself well if he once agrees to take your +service, Mr. Campbell, for one or two years. As for the Canadians, they +are very harmless, but at the same time very useful. There are +exceptions, no doubt; but their general character is any thing but that +of activity and courage. As I said before, you will require stout +hearts, and Martin Super is one, that is certain. Perhaps you can +arrange this for Mr. Campbell?" + +The Surveyor-General promised to do so; shortly after which, Mr. +Campbell, with many thanks, took his leave of the Governor. + +Mr. Campbell, who had gained every possible information relative to what +would be most necessary for him to take with him, was actively employed +for a fortnight in making his purchases. During this time much attention +was shown to them both by the English and French residents at Quebec. +Alfred, whose wound was now nearly healed, was as active as usual, and +Henry was of great assistance to his father in taking inventories and +making out lists, etc. Nor were Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +unemployed; they had purchased the coarse manufactures of the country, +and were very busy making dresses for themselves and for the children. +Mr. Campbell had been one morning at Mr. Farquhar's, the merchant's, to +make inquiries about a conveyance up to his new purchase (for he had +concluded his arrangements with the Surveyor-General), when the Governor +sent a message by one of his aides-de-camp, to say that it was his +intention in the course of ten days to send a detachment of soldiers up +to Fort Frontignac--news having been received that the garrison was +weakened by a fever which had broken out; and that if Mr. Campbell would +like to avail himself of the opportunity, he and his family, and all his +luggage, should go under the escort of the officer and troops. The offer +was of course joyfully accepted, and on Mr. Campbell's calling upon the +Governor to return his thanks, the latter told him that there would be +plenty of room in the _bateaux_ and canoes for them and all their +luggage, and that he need not give himself further trouble, or incur any +further expense. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The next day the Surveyor-General called, bringing with him Martin +Super, the trapper. + +"Mr. Campbell," said the Surveyor, "this is my friend Martin Super; I +have spoken to him, and he has consented to take service for one year, +and he will remain, if he is satisfied. If he serves you as well as he +has served me when I have traveled through the country, I have no doubt +but you will find him a valuable assistant." + +Martin Super was rather tall, very straight-limbed, showing both +activity and strength. His head was smaller than usually is the case, +which gave him the appearance of great lightness and agility. His +countenance was very pleasing, being expressive of continual good humor, +which was indeed but corresponding to his real character. He was dressed +in a sort of hunting-coat of deer-skin, blue cloth leggings, a cap of +raccoon's skin, with a broad belt round his waist, in which he wore his +knife. + +"Now, Martin Super, I will read the terms of the agreement between you +and Mr. Campbell, that you may see if all is as you wish." + +The Surveyor-General read the agreement, and Martin nodded his head in +acquiescence. + +"Mr. Campbell, if you are satisfied, you may now sign it; Martin shall +do the same." + +Mr. Campbell signed his name, and handed the pen to Martin Super, who +then for the first time spoke. + +"Surveyor, I don't know how my name is spelt; and if I did, I couldn't +write it, so I must do it Indian fashion, and put my totem to it?" + +"What is your name among the Indians, Martin?" + +"The Painter," replied Martin, who then made under Mr. Campbell's name, +a figure like [Illustration of a panther] saying, "There, that's my name +as near as I can draw it." + +"Very good," replied the Surveyor-General; "here is the document all +right, Mr. Campbell. Ladies, I fear I must run away, for I have an +engagement. I will leave Martin Super, Mr. Campbell, as you would +probably like a little conversation together." + +The Surveyor-General then took his leave, and Martin Super remained. +Mrs. Campbell was the first who spoke: "Super," said she, "I hope we +shall be very good friends, but now tell me what you mean by +your--totem, I think you called it?" + +"Why, ma'am, a totem is an Indian's mark, and you know I am almost an +Indian myself. All the Indian chiefs have their totems. One is called +the Great Otter; another the Serpent, and so on, and so they sign a +figure like the animal they are named from. Then, ma'am, you see, we +trappers, who almost live with them, have names given to us also and +they have called me the Painter." + +"Why did they name you the Painter?" + +"Because I killed two of them in one day." + +"Killed two painters!" cried the girls. + +"Yes, miss; killed them both with my rifle." + +"But why did you kill the men?" said Emma; "was it in battle?" + +"Kill the men, miss; I said nothing about men; I said I killed two +painters," replied Martin, laughing, and showing a row of teeth as white +as ivory. + +"What is a painter, then, Super?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"Why, it's an animal, and a very awkward creature, I can tell you, +sometimes." + +"The drawing is something like a panther, mamma," exclaimed Mary. + +"Well, miss, it may be a panther, but we only know them by the other +name." + +Mr. Farquhar then came in, and the question was referred to him; he +laughed and told them that painters were a species of panther, not +spotted but tawny-colored, and at times very dangerous. + +"Do you know the part of the country where we are going to?" said Henry +to Super. + +"Yes, I have trapped thereabouts for months, but the beavers are scarce +now." + +"Are there any other animals there?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "small game, as we term it." + +"What sort are they?" + +"Why, there's painters, and bears, and catamounts." + +"Mercy on us! do you call that small game? why, what must the large be, +then?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Buffaloes, missus, is what we call big game." + +"But the animals you speak of are not good eating, Super," said Mrs. +Campbell; "is there no game that we can eat?" + +"Oh, yes, plenty of deer and wild turkey, and bear's good eating, I +reckon." + +"Ah! that sounds better." + +After an hour's conversation, Martin Super was dismissed; the whole of +the family (except Alfred, who was not at home) very much pleased with +what they had seen of him. + +A few days after this, Martin Super, who had now entered upon service, +and was very busy with Alfred, with whom he had already become a +favorite, was sent for by Mr. Campbell, who read over to him the +inventory of the articles which they had, and inquired of him if there +was any thing else which might be necessary or advisable to take with +them. + +"You said something about guns," replied Martin, "what sort of guns did +you mean?" + +"We have three fowling-pieces and three muskets, besides pistols." + +"Fowling-pieces,--they are bird-guns, I believe,--no use at all; muskets +are soldiers' tools,--no use; pistols are pops, and nothing better. You +have no rifles; you can't go into the woods without rifles. I have got +mine, but you must have some." + +"Well, I believe you are right, Martin; it never occurred to me. How +many ought we to have?" + +"Well, that's according--how many be you in family?" + +"We are five males and three females." + +"Well, then, sir, say ten rifles; that will be quite sufficient. Two +spare ones in case of accident," replied Martin. + +"Why, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell, "you do not mean that the children +and these young ladies and I are to fire off rifles?" + +"I do mean to say, ma'am, that before I was as old as that little boy," +pointing to John, "I could hit a mark well; and a woman ought at least +to know how to prime and load a rifle, even if she does not fire it +herself. It is a deadly weapon, ma'am, and the greatest leveler in +creation, for the trigger pulled by a child will settle the business of +the stoutest man. I don't mean to say that we may be called to use them +in that way, but it's always better to have them, and to let other +people know that you have them, and all ready loaded too, if required." + +"Well, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "I agree with you, it is better to be +well prepared. We will have the ten rifles, if we can afford to purchase +them. What will they cost?" + +"About sixteen dollars will purchase the best, sir; but I think I had +better choose them for you, and try them before you purchase." + +"Do so, then, Super; Alfred will go with you as soon as he comes back, +and you and he can settle the matter." + +"Why, Super," observed Mrs. Campbell, "you have quite frightened us +women at the idea of so many firearms being required." + +"If Pontiac was alive, missus, they would all be required, but he's gone +now; still there are many outlying Indians, as we call them, who are no +better than they should be; and I always like to see rifles ready +loaded. Why, ma'am, suppose now that all the men were out in the woods, +and a bear should pay you a visit during your absence, would it not be +just as well for to have a loaded rifle ready for him; and would not you +or the young misses willingly prefer to pull the trigger at him than to +be hugged in his fashion?" + +"Martin Super, you have quite convinced me: I shall not only learn to +load a rifle but to fire one also." + +"And I'll teach the boys the use of them, ma'am, and they will then add +to your defense." + +"You shall do so, Martin," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I am convinced that +you are quite right." + +When Super had quitted the room, which he did soon afterward, Mr. +Campbell observed--"I hope, my dear, that you and the girls are not +terrified by the remarks of Martin. It is necessary to be well armed +when isolated as we shall be, and so far from any assistance; but it +does not follow, because we ought to be prepared against danger, that +such danger should occur." + +"I can answer for myself, my dear Campbell," replied his wife; "I am +prepared, if necessary, to meet danger, and do what a weak woman can do; +and I feel what Martin says is but too true, that with a rifle in hand, +a woman or a child is on a par with the strongest man." + +"And I, my dear uncle," said Mary Percival, "shall, I trust, with the +blessing of God, know how to do my duty, however peculiar the +circumstances may be to a female." + +"And I, my dear uncle," followed up Emma, laughing, "infinitely prefer +firing off a rifle to being hugged by a bear or an Indian, because of +two evils one should always choose the least." + +"Well, then, I see Martin has done no harm, but, on the contrary, he has +done good. It is always best to be prepared for the worst, and to trust +to Providence for aid in peril." + +At last all the purchases were completed, and every thing was packed up +and ready for embarkation. Another message from the Governor was +received, stating that in three days the troops would be embarked, and +also informing Mr. Campbell that if he had not purchased any cows or +horses, the officer at Fort Frontignac had more cattle than were +requisite, and could supply him; which, perhaps, would be preferable to +carrying them up so far. Mr. Campbell had spoken about, but not finally +settled for, the cows, and therefore was glad to accept the Governor's +offer. This message was accompanied with a note of invitation to Mr. +Campbell, the ladies, and Henry and Alfred, to take a farewell dinner at +Government House the day before their departure. The invitation was +accepted, and Mr. Campbell was introduced to the officer commanding the +detachment which was about to proceed to Fort Frontignac, and received +from him every assurance of his doing all he could to make them +comfortable. The kindness of the Governor did not end here: he desired +the officer to take two large tents for the use of Mr. Campbell, to be +returned to the fort when the house had been built, and they were +completely settled. He even proposed that Mrs. Campbell and the Misses +Percival should remain at Government House until Mr. Campbell had made +every preparation to receive them; but this Mrs. Campbell would not +consent to, and, with many thanks, she declined the offer. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Although it was now the middle of May, it was but a few days before +their departure that there was the least sign of verdure, or the trees +had burst into leaf; but in the course of the three days before they +quitted Quebec, so rapid was the vegetation, that it appeared as if +summer had come upon them all at once. The heat was also very great, +although, when they had landed, the weather was piercing cold; but in +Canada, as well as in Northern America, the transitions from heat to +cold, and from cold to heat, are very rapid. + +My readers will be surprised to hear that when the winter sets in at +Quebec, all the animals required for the winter's consumption are at +once killed. If the troops are numerous, perhaps three or four hundred +bullocks are slaughtered and hung up. Every family kill their cattle, +their sheep, pigs, turkeys, fowls, etc., and all are put up in the +garrets, where the carcasses immediately freeze hard, and remain quite +good and sweet during the six or seven months of severe winter which +occur in that climate. When any portion of meat is to be cooked, it is +gradually thawed in lukewarm water, and after that is put to the fire. +If put at once to the fire in its frozen state it spoils. There is +another strange circumstance which occurs in these cold latitudes; a +small fish, called the snow-fish, is caught during the winter by making +holes in the thick ice, and these fish coming to the holes in thousands +to breathe, are thrown out with hand-nets upon the ice, where they +become in a few minutes frozen quite hard, so that, if you wish it, you +may break them in half like a rotten stick. The cattle are fed upon +these fish during the winter months. But it has been proved, which is +very strange, that if, after they have been frozen for twenty-four hours +or more, you put these fish into water and gradually thaw them as you do +the meat, they will recover and swim about again as well as ever. To +proceed however, with our history,-- + +Mr. Campbell found that, after all his expenses, he had still three +hundred pounds left, and this money he left in the Quebec Bank, to use +as he might find necessary. His expenditure had been very great. First, +there was the removal of so large a family, and the passage out; then he +had procured at Liverpool a large quantity of cutlery and tools, +furniture, etc., all of which articles were cheaper there than at +Quebec. At Quebec he had also much to purchase: all the most expensive +portion of his house; such as windows ready glazed, stoves, boarding for +floors, cupboards, and partitions; salt provisions, crockery of every +description, two small wagons ready to be put together, several casks of +nails, and a variety of things which it would be too tedious to mention. +Procuring these, with the expenses of living, had taken away all his +money, except the three hundred pounds I have mentioned. + +It was on the 13th of May that the embarkation took place, and it was +not until the afternoon that all was prepared, and Mrs. Campbell and her +nieces were conducted down to the _bateaux_, which lay at the wharf, +with the troops all ready on board of them. The Governor and his +aides-de-camp, besides many other influential people of Quebec, escorted +them down, and as soon as they had paid their adieus, the word was +given, the soldiers in the _bateaux_ gave three cheers and away they +went from the wharf into the stream. For a short time there was waving +of handkerchiefs and other tokens of good-will on the part of those who +were on the wharf; but that was soon left behind them, and the family +found themselves separated from their acquaintances and silently +listening to the measured sound of the oars, as they dropped into the +water. + +And it is not to be wondered at that they were silent, for all were +occupied with their own thoughts. They called to mind the beautiful +park at Wexton, which they had quitted, after having resided there so +long and so happily; the hall, with all its splendor and all its +comfort, rose up in their remembrance; each room with its furniture, +each window with its view, was recalled to their memories; they had +crossed the Atlantic, and were now about to leave civilization and +comfort behind them--to isolate themselves in the Canadian woods--to +trust to their own resources, their own society, and their own +exertions. It was, indeed, the commencement of a new life, and for which +they felt themselves little adapted, after the luxuries they had enjoyed +in their former condition; but if their thoughts and reminiscences made +them grave and silent, they did not make them despairing or repining; +they trusted to that Power who alone could protect--who gives and who +takes away, and doeth with us as He judges best; and if hope was not +buoyant in all of them, still there was confidence, resolution, and +resignation. Gradually they were roused from their reveries by the +beauty of the scenery and the novelty of what met their sight; the +songs, also, of the Canadian boatmen were musical and cheering, and by +degrees, they had all recovered their usual good spirits. + +Alfred was the first to shake off his melancholy feelings and to attempt +to remove them from others; nor was he unsuccessful. The officer who +commanded the detachment of troops, and who was in the same _bateau_ +with the family, had respected their silence upon their departure from +the wharf--perhaps he felt much as they did. His name was Sinclair, and +his rank that of senior captain in the regiment--a handsome, florid +young man, tall and well made, very gentleman-like, and very gentle in +his manners. + +"How very beautiful the foliage is on that point, mother," said Alfred, +first breaking the silence, "what a contrast between the leaves of the +sycamore, so transparent and yellow, with the sun behind them, and the +new shoots of the spruce fir." + +"It is, indeed, very lovely," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and the branches +of the trees, feathering down as they do to the surface of the water--" + +"Like good Samaritans," said Emma, "extending their arms, that any +unfortunate drowning person who was swept away by the stream might save +himself by their assistance." + +"I had no idea that trees had so much charity or reflection, Emma," +rejoined Alfred. + +"I can not answer for their charity, but, by the side of this clear +water, you must allow them reflection, cousin," replied Emma. + +"I presume you will add vanity to their attributes?" answered Alfred; +"for they certainly appear to be hanging over the stream that they may +look and admire themselves in the glassy mirror." + +"Pretty well that for a midshipman; I was not aware that they used such +choice language in a cockpit," retorted the young lady. + +"Perhaps not, cousin," answered Alfred; "but when sailors are in the +company of ladies, they become refined, from the association." + +"Well, I must admit, Alfred, that you are a great deal more polished +after you have been a month on shore." + +"Thank you, cousin Emma, even for that slight admission," replied +Alfred, laughing. + +"But what is that?" said Mary Percival, "at the point, it is a +village--one, two, three houses--just opening upon us?" + +"That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is coming down the river," replied +Captain Sinclair. "You will see when we are nearer to it, that perhaps +it covers two acres of water, and there are three tiers of timber on it. +These rafts are worth many thousand pounds. They are first framed with +logs, fastened by wooden tree-nails, and the timber placed within the +frame. There are, perhaps, from forty to a hundred people on this raft +to guide it down the stream, and the houses you see are built on it for +the accommodation of these people. I have seen as many as fifteen houses +upon a raft, which will sometimes contain the cargoes of thirty or forty +large ships." + +"It is very wonderful how they guide and direct it down the stream," +said Mr. Campbell. + +"It is very dexterous; and it seems strange that such an enormous mass +can be so guided, but it is done, as you will perceive; there are three +or four rudders made of long sweeps, and, as you may observe, several +sweeps on each side." + +All the party were now standing up in the sternsheets of the _bateau_ to +look at the people on the raft, who amounted to about fifty or sixty +men--now running over the top to one side, and dragging at the sweeps, +which required the joint power of seven or eight men to each of +them--now passing again over to the opposite sweeps, as directed by the +steersmen. The _bateau_ kept well in to the shore, out of the way, and +the raft passed them very quickly. As soon as it was clear of the point, +as their course to Quebec was now straight, and there was a slight +breeze down the river, the people on board of the raft hoisted ten or +fifteen sails upon different masts, to assist them in their descent; and +this again excited the admiration of the party. + +The conversation now became general, until the _bateaux_ were made fast +to the shores of the river, while the men took their dinners, which had +been prepared for them before they left Quebec. After a repose of two +hours, they again started, and at nightfall arrived at St. Anne's, where +they found every thing ready for their reception. Although their beds +were composed of the leaves of the maize or Indian corn, they were so +tired that they found them very comfortable, and at daylight arose quite +refreshed, and anxious to continue their route. Martin Super, who, with +the two youngest boys, had been placed in a separate boat, had been very +attentive to the comforts of the ladies after their embarkation; and it +appeared that he had quite won the hearts of the two boys by his amusing +anecdotes during the day. + +Soon after their embarkation, the name of Pontiac being again mentioned +by Captain Sinclair, Mrs. Campbell observed-- + +"Our man Super mentioned that name before. I confess that I do not know +any thing of Canadian affairs; I know only that Pontiac was an Indian +chief. Can you, Captain Sinclair, give us any information relative to a +person who appears so well known in the province?" + +"I shall be happy, Mrs. Campbell, as far as I am able, to satisfy you. +On one point, I can certainly speak with confidence, as my uncle was one +of the detachment in the fort of Detroit at the time that it was so +nearly surprised, and he has often told the history of the affair in my +presence. Pontiac was chief of all the Lake tribes of Indians. I will +not repeat the names of the different tribes, but his own particular +tribe was that of the Ottawas. He ruled at the time that the Canadas +were surrendered to us by the French. At first, although very proud and +haughty, and claiming the sovereignty of the country, he was very civil +to the English, or at least appeared so to be; for the French had given +us so bad a reputation with all the northern tribes, that they had +hitherto shown nothing but the most determined hostility, and appeared +to hate our very name. They are now inclined to be quiet, and it is to +be hoped their fear of us, after the severe conflicts between us, will +induce them to remain so. You are, perhaps, aware that the French had +built many forts at the most commanding spots in the interior and on the +lakes, all of which, when they gave up the country, were garrisoned by +our troops, to keep the Indians under control. + +"All these forts are isolated, and communication between them is rare. +It was in 1763 that Pontiac first showed his hostility against us, and +his determination, if possible, to drive us from the lakes. He was as +cunning as he was brave; and, as an Indian, showed more generalship than +might be expected--that is, according to their system of war, which is +always based upon stratagem. His plan of operation was, to surprise all +our forts at the same time, if he possibly could; and so excellent were +his arrangements, that it was only fifteen days after the plan was first +laid that he succeeded in gaining possession of all but three; that is, +he surprised ten out of thirteen forts. Of course, the attacks were made +by other chiefs, under his directions, as Pontiac could not be at all +the simultaneous assaults." + +"Did he murder the garrisons, Capt. Sinclair?" said Alfred. + +"The major portion of them: some were spared, and afterward were +ransomed at high prices. I ought to have mentioned as a singular +instance of the advance of this chief in comparison with other Indians, +that at this time he issued bills of credit on slips of bark, signed +with his totem, the otter; and that these bills, unlike many of more +civilized society, were all taken up and paid." + +"That is very remarkable in a savage," observed Mrs. Campbell; "but how +did this Pontiac contrive to surprise all the forts?" + +"Almost the whole of them were taken by a singular stratagem. The +Indians are very partial to, and exceedingly dexterous at, a game called +the 'Baggatiway:' it is played with a ball and a long-handled sort of +racket. They divide into two parties, and the object of each party is to +drive the ball to their own goal. It is something like hurley in England +or golf in Scotland. Many hundreds are sometimes engaged on both sides; +and the Europeans are so fond of seeing the activity and dexterity shown +by the Indians at this game, that it was very common to request them to +play it, when they happened to be near the forts. Upon this, Pontiac +arranged his plan, which was that his Indians should commence the game +of ball under the forts, and after playing a short time, strike the ball +into the fort: of course, some of them would go in for it; and having +done this two or three times, and recommenced the play to avoid +suspicion, they were to strike it over again, and follow it up by a rush +after it through the gates: and then, when they were all in, they would +draw their concealed weapons, and overpower the unsuspicious garrison." + +"It was certainly a very ingenious stratagem," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"And it succeeded, as I have observed, except on three forts. The one +which Pontiac directed the attack upon himself, and which was that which +he was most anxious to obtain, was Detroit, in which, as I have before +observed, my uncle was garrisoned; but there he failed, and by a +singular circumstance." + +"Pray tell us how, Captain Sinclair," said Emma; "you don't know how +much you have interested me." + +"And me, too, Captain Sinclair," continued Mary. + +"I am very happy that I have been able to wear away any portion of your +tedious journey, Miss Percival, so I shall proceed with my history. + +"The fort of Detroit was garrisoned by about three hundred men, when +Pontiac arrived there with a large force of Indians, and encamped under +the walls, but he had his warriors so mixed up with the women and +children, and brought so many articles for trade, that no suspicion was +created. The garrison had not heard of the capture of the other forts +which had already taken place. At the same time the unusual number of +the Indians was pointed out to Major Gladwin, who commanded the fort, +but he had no suspicions. Pontiac sent word to the major, that he wished +to 'have a talk' with him, in order to cement more fully the friendship +between the Indians and the English; and to this Major Gladwin +consented, appointing the next day to receive Pontiac and his chiefs in +the fort. + +"Now it so happened, that Major Gladwin had employed an Indian woman to +make him a pair of moccasins out of a very curious marked elk-skin. The +Indian woman brought him the moccasins with the remainder of the skin. +The Major was so pleased with them that he ordered her to make him a +second pair of moccasins out of the skin, and then told her that she +might keep the remainder for herself. The woman having received the +order, quitted the Major, but instead of leaving the fort, remained +loitering about till she was observed, and they inquired why she did not +go. She replied, that she wanted to return the rest of the skin, as he +set so great a value on it; and as this appeared strange conduct, she +was questioned, and then she said, that if she took away the skin then, +she never would be able to return it. + +"Major Gladwin sent for the woman, upon hearing of the expressions which +she had used, and it was evident that she wanted to communicate +something, but was afraid; but on being pressed hard and encouraged, and +assured of protection, she then informed Major Gladwin, that Pontiac and +his chiefs were to come into the fort to-morrow, under the plea of +holding a talk; but that they had cut the barrels of their rifles short, +to conceal them under their blankets, and that it was their intention, +at a signal given by Pontiac, to murder Major Gladwin and all his +officers who were at the council; while the other warriors, who would +also come into the fort with concealed arms, under pretense of trading, +would attack the garrison outside. + +"Having obtained this information, Major Gladwin did all he could to put +the fort into a state of defense, and took every necessary precaution. +He made known to the officers and men what the intentions of the Indians +were, and instructed the officers how to act at the council, and the +garrison how to meet the pretended traders outside. + +"About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his thirty-six chiefs, with a train of +warriors, came into the fort to their pretended council, and were +received with great politeness. Pontiac made his speech, and when he +came forward to present the wampum belt, the receipt of which by the +Major was, as the Indian woman had informed them, to be the signal for +the chiefs and warriors to commence the assault, the Major and his +officers drew their swords half out of their scabbards, and the troops, +with their muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, appeared outside and in +the council-room, all ready to present. Pontiac, brave as he really was, +turned pale: he perceived that he was discovered, and consequently, to +avoid any open detection, he finished his speech with many professions +of regard for the English. Major Gladwin then rose to reply to him, and +immediately informed him that he was aware of his plot and his murderous +intentions. Pontiac denied it; but Major Gladwin stepped to the chief, +and drawing aside his blanket, exposed his rifle cut short, which left +Pontiac and his chiefs without a word to say in reply. Major Gladwin +then desired Pontiac to quit the fort immediately, as otherwise he +should not be able to restrain the indignation of the soldiers, who +would immolate him and all his followers who were outside of the fort. +Pontiac and his chiefs did not wait for a second intimation, but made +all the haste they could to get outside of the gates." + +"Was it prudent in Major Gladwin to allow Pontiac and his chiefs to +leave, after they had come into the fort with an intent to murder him +and his men?" said Henry Campbell. "Would not the Major have been +justified in detaining them?" + +"I certainly think he would have been, and so did my uncle, but Major +Gladwin thought otherwise. He said that he had promised safe conduct and +protection to and from the fort before he was aware of the conspiracy; +and, having made a promise, his honor would not allow him to depart from +it." + +"At all events, the Major, if he erred, erred on the right side," +observed Alfred. "I think myself that he was too scrupulous, and that I +in his place should have detained some of them, if not Pontiac himself, +as a hostage for the good behavior of the rest of the tribes." + +"The result proved that if Major Gladwin had done so he would have done +wisely; for the next day Pontiac, not at all disarmed by Major Gladwin's +clemency, made a most furious attack upon the fort. Every stratagem was +resorted to, but the attack failed. Pontiac then invested it, cut off +all their supplies, and the garrison was reduced to great distress. But +I must break off now, for here we are at Trois Rivières, where we shall +remain for the night, I hope you will not find your accommodations very +uncomfortable, Mrs. Campbell: I fear as we advance you will have to put +up with worse." + +"And we are fully prepared for it, Captain Sinclair," replied Mr. +Campbell; "but my wife and my nieces have too much good sense to expect +London hotels in the wilds of Canada." + +The _bateaux_ were now on shore, and the party landed to pass the night +at the small stockaded village of Trois Rivières. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Captain Sinclair having stated that they would have a longer journey on +the following day, and that it would be advisable to start as soon as +possible, they rose at daylight, and in half an hour had breakfasted and +were again in the boats. Soon after they had pushed into the stream and +hoisted the sails, for the wind was fair, Mr. Campbell inquired how far +they had to go on that day? + +"About fifty miles if we possibly can," replied Captain Sinclair. "We +have made seventy-two miles in the first two days; but from here to +Montreal, it is about ninety, and we are anxious to get the best part +over to-day, so that we may land on a cleared spot which we know of, and +that I feel quite sure in; for, I regret to say you must trust to your +tents and your own bedding for the night, as there is no habitation +large enough to receive us on the river's side, any where near where we +wish to arrive." + +"Never mind, Captain Sinclair, we shall sleep very well, I dare say," +replied Mrs. Campbell; "but where do all the rest of the party +sleep?--there is only one tent." + +"Oh! never mind the rest of the party; we are used to it, and your +gentlemen won't mind it; some will sleep in the _bateaux_, some at the +fire, some will watch and not sleep at all." + +After some further conversation, Mary Percival observed to Captain +Sinclair: "You had not, I believe, Captain Sinclair, quite finished your +account of Pontiac where you left off yesterday, at the time when he was +blocking the fort at Detroit. Will you oblige us by stating what +afterward took place?" + +"With great pleasure, Miss Percival. There was great difficulty in +relieving the fort, as all communication had been cut off; at last the +Governor sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Dalyell, who contrived to throw +himself in the fort with about two hundred and fifty men. He shortly +afterward sallied out to attack the intrenchments of the Indians, but +Pontiac having received intelligence of his intention, laid an ambuscade +for him, beat back the troops with great loss, and poor Dalyell fell in +the combat, that took place near a bridge which still goes by the name +of Bloody Bridge. Pontiac cut off the head of Captain Dalyell, and set +it upon a post." + +"So much for Major Gladwin's extreme sense of honor," exclaimed Alfred; +"had he detained Pontiac as a prisoner, nothing of this would have +happened." + +"I agree with you, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Sinclair, "it was +letting loose a wolf; but Major Gladwin thought he was doing what was +right, and therefore can not be well blamed. After this defeat, the +investment was more strict than ever, and the garrison suffered +dreadfully. Several vessels which were sent out to supply the garrison +fell into the hands of Pontiac, who treated the men very cruelly. What +with the loss of men and constant watching, as well as the want of +provisions, the garrison was reduced to the greatest privations. At last +a schooner came off with supplies, which Pontiac, as usual, attacked +with his warriors in their canoes. The schooner was obliged to stand out +again, but the Indians followed, and by their incessant fire killed or +wounded almost every man on board her, and at length boarded and took +possession. As they were climbing up the shrouds and over the gunnel of +the vessel, the captain of the vessel, who was a most determined man, +and resolved not to fall into the hands of the Indians, called out to +the gunner to set fire to the magazine, and blow them all up together. +This order was heard by one of Pontiac's chiefs acquainted with English; +he cried out to one of the other Indians, and sprang away from the +vessel; the other Indians followed him, and hurried away in their +canoes, or by swimming as fast as they could from the vessel. The +captain took advantage of the wind and arrived safe at the fort; and +thus was the garrison relieved and those in the fort saved from +destruction by the courage of this one man." + +"You say that Pontiac is now dead, at least Martin Super told us so. How +did he die, Captain Sinclair?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"He was killed by an Indian, but it is difficult to say why. For many +years he had made friends with us and he had received a liberal pension +from the Government; but it appears that his hatred against the English +had again broken out, and in a council held by the Indians, he proposed +assailing us anew. After he had spoken, an Indian buried his knife in +his heart, but whether to gratify a private animosity or to avoid a +further warfare with those who had always thinned their tribes, it is +difficult to ascertain. One thing is certain, that most of the Indian +animosity against the English is buried with him." + +"Thank you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary Percival, "for taking so much +trouble. I think Pontiac's history is a very interesting one." + +"There was much to admire and much to deplore in his character, and we +must not judge the Indian too harshly. He was formed for command, and +possessed great courage and skill in all his arrangements, independent +of his having the tact to keep all the Lake tribes of Indians +combined,--no very easy task. That he should have endeavored to drive us +away from those lands of which he considered himself (and very correctly +too) as the sovereign, is not to be wondered at, especially as our +encroachments daily increased. The great fault of his character, in our +eyes, was his treachery; but we must remember that the whole art of +Indian warfare is based upon stratagem." + +"But his attacking the fort after he had been so generously dismissed +when his intentions were known, was surely very base," remarked Mrs. +Campbell. + +"What we consider a generous dismissal, he probably mistook for folly +and weakness. The Indians have no idea of generosity in warfare. Had +Pontiac been shot, he would have died bravely, and he had no idea that, +because Major Gladwin did not think proper to take his life, he was +therefore bound to let us remain in possession of his lands. But +whatever treachery the Indians consider allowable and proper in warfare, +it is not a portion of the Indian character; for at any other time his +hospitality and good faith are not to be doubted, if he pledges himself +for your safety. It is a pity that they are not Christians. Surely it +would make a great improvement in a character which, even in its +unenlightened state, has in it much to be admired. + +"When the form of worship and creed is simple, it is difficult to make +converts, and the Indian is a clear reasoner. I once had a conversation +with one of the chiefs on the subject. After we had conversed for some +time, he said, 'You believe in one God--so do we; you call him by one +name--we call him another; we don't speak the same language, that is the +reason. You say, suppose you do good, you go to the land of Good +Spirits--we say so too. Then Indians and Yangees (that is English) both +try to gain the same object, only try in not the same way. Now I think +it much better that, as we all go along together, that every man paddle +his own canoe. That is my thought.'" + +"It is, as you say, Captain Sinclair, difficult to argue with men who +look so straight forward and are so practical in their ideas. +Nevertheless," said Mrs. Campbell, "a false creed must often lead to +false conduct; and whatever is estimable in the Indian character would +be strengthened and improved by the infusion of Christian principles and +Christian hopes,--so that I must still consider it very desirable that +the Indians should become Christians,--and I trust that by judicious and +discreet measures such a result may gradually be brought about." + +It was two hours before sunset when they arrived at the spot at which +they intended passing the night; they landed, and some of the soldiers +were employed in setting up the tent on a dry hillock, while others +collected logs of wood for the fire. Martin Super brought on shore the +bedding, and, assisted by Alfred and Henry, placed it in the tent. +Captain Sinclair's canteen provided sufficient articles to enable them +to make tea, and in less than half an hour the kettle was on the fire. +As soon as they had partaken of these refreshments and the contents of a +basket of provisions procured at Trois Rivières, the ladies retired for +the night. Captain Sinclair stationed sentinels at different posts as a +security from any intruders, and then the remainder of the troops with +the other males composing the party lay down with their feet toward a +large fire, composed of two or three trunks of trees, which blazed for +many yards in height. In a short time all was quiet, and all were in +repose except the sentinels, the sergeant and corporal, and Captain +Sinclair, who relieved each other. + +The night passed without any disturbance, and the next morning they +re-embarked and pursued their course. Before sunset they arrived at the +town of Montreal, where it was arranged that they should wait a day. Mr. +Campbell had a few purchases to make here, which he completed. It had +been his intention also, to procure two of the small Canadian horses, +but by the advice of Captain Sinclair he abandoned the idea. Captain +Sinclair pointed out to him, that having no forage or means of +subsistence for the animals, they would be a great expense to him during +the first year without being of much use; and further, that in all +probability, when the garrison was relieved at Fort Frontignac on the +following year, the officers would be too glad to part with their horses +at a lower price than what they could be purchased for at Montreal. +Having a letter of introduction to the Governor, they received every +attention. The society was almost wholly French; and many of the +inhabitants called out of politeness, or to gratify their curiosity. The +French ladies shrugged up their shoulders, and exclaimed, "Est-il +possible?" when they heard that the Campbells were about to proceed to +such a distant spot and settle upon it. The French gentlemen told the +Miss Campbells that it was a great sacrifice to bury so much beauty in +the wilderness; but what they said had little effect upon any of the +party. Captain Sinclair offered to remain another day if Mr. Campbell +wished it; but, on the contrary, he was anxious to arrive as soon as +possible at his destination; and the following morning they again +embarked, having now about three hundred and sixty miles to ascend +against the current and the occasional rapids. It would take too much +space if I were to narrate all that took place during their difficult +ascent; how they were sometimes obliged to land and carry the cargoes of +the boats; how one or two _bateaux_ were upset and some of their stores +lost; and how their privations increased on each following day of their +journey. I have too much to relate to enter into this portion of the +narrative, although there might be much interest in the detail; it will +be sufficient to say that, after sixteen days of some peril and much +fatigue, and of considerable suffering from the clouds of musquitoes +which assailed them during the night, they were landed safely at Fort +Frontignac, and treated with every attention by the commandant, who had +received letters from the Governor of Quebec, desiring him to do all +that he possibly could to serve them. The commandant, Colonel Forster, +had shown Mr. Campbell and his party the rooms which had been provided +for them, and now, for the first time after many days, they found +themselves all together and alone. + +After a short conversation, in which they canvassed and commented upon +the kindness which they had received, and the difficulties which they +had, in consequence, surmounted, during their long and tedious journey +to Quebec, Mr. Campbell observed: "My dear wife and children, we have +thus far proceeded without serious casualty: it has pleased the Almighty +to conduct us safely over a boisterous sea, to keep our spirits up by +providing us with unexpected friends and support, and we now have +arrived within a few miles of our destination. But let us not suppose +that our perils and difficulties are terminated; on the contrary, +without wishing to dishearten you, I feel that they are about to +commence. We have much privation, much fatigue, and, perhaps, much +danger to encounter, before we can expect to be in comfort or in +security; but we must put our trust in that gracious Providence which +has hitherto so mercifully preserved us, and at the same time not relax +in our own energy and industry, which must ever accompany our faith in +the Divine aid. It is long since we have had an opportunity of being +gathered together and alone. Let us seize this opportunity of pouring +out our thanks to God for his mercies already vouchsafed, and praying +for a continuance of his protection. Even in the wilderness, let us walk +with Him, trust in Him, and ever keep Him in our thoughts. We must bear +in mind that this entire life is but a pilgrimage; that if, during its +course, we should meet with affliction or distress, it is His +appointment, and designed undoubtedly for our good. It is our wisdom, as +well as duty to submit patiently to whatever may befall us, never losing +our courage or becoming disheartened by suffering, but trusting to the +mercy and power of Him who can and will, at His own good time, deliver +us from evil." Mr. Campbell kneeled down, surrounded by his family, and, +in a fervent and feeling address poured forth his thanksgiving for past +mercies and humble solicitation for further assistance. So powerful and +so eloquent were his words, that the tears coursed down the cheeks of +his wife and nieces; and when he had finished, all their hearts were so +full, that they retired to their beds without further exchange of words +than receiving his blessing, and wishing each other good-night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The party were so refreshed by once more sleeping upon good beds, that +they were up and dressed very early, and shortly after seven o'clock +were all collected upon the rampart of the fort, surveying the +landscape, which was indeed very picturesque and beautiful. Before them, +to their left, the lake was spread, an inland sea, lost in the horizon, +now quite calm, and near to the shores studded with small islands +covered with verdant foliage, and appearing as if they floated upon the +transparent water. To the westward, and in front of them, were the +clearings belonging to the fort, backed with the distant woods: a herd +of cattle were grazing on a portion of the cleared land; the other was +divided off by a snake fence, as it is termed, and was under +cultivation. Here and there a log-building was raised as a shelter for +the animals during the winter, and at half a mile's distance was a small +fort, surrounded with high palisades, intended as a place of retreat and +security for those who might be in charge of the cattle, in case of +danger or surprise. Close to the fort, a rapid stream, now from the +freshets overflowing its banks, poured down its waters into the lake, +running its course through a variety of shrubs and larches and +occasional elms which lined its banks. The sun shone bright--the +woodpeckers flew from tree to tree, or clung to the rails of the +fences--the belted kingfisher darted up and down over the running +stream--and the chirping and wild notes of various birds were heard on +every side of them. + +"This is very beautiful, is it not?" said Mrs. Campbell; "surely it can +not be so great a hardship to live in a spot like this?" + +"Not if it were always so, perhaps, madam," said Colonel Forster, who +had joined the party as Mrs. Campbell made the observation. "But Canada +in the month of June is very different from Canada in the month of +January. That we find our life monotonous in this fort, separated as we +are from the rest of the world, I admit, and the winters are so long and +severe as to tire our patience; but soldiers must do their duty, whether +burning under the tropics or freezing in the wilds of Canada. It can not +be a very agreeable life, when even the report of danger near to us +becomes a pleasurable feeling from the excitement it causes for the +moment. + +"I have been talking, Mr. Campbell, with Captain Sinclair, and find you +have much to do before the short summer is over, to be ready to meet the +coming winter; more than you can well do with your limited means. I am +happy that my instructions from the Governor will permit me to be of +service to you. I propose that the ladies shall remain here, while you, +with such assistance as I can give you, proceed to your allotment and +prepare for their reception." + +"A thousand thanks for your kind offer, Colonel--but no, no, we will all +go together," interrupted Mrs. Campbell; "we can be useful, and we will +remain in the tents till the house is built. Do not say a word more, +Colonel Forster, that is decided; although I again return you many +thanks for your kind offer." + +"If such is the case, I have only to observe that I shall send a fatigue +party of twelve men, which I can well spare for a few weeks, to assist +you in your labors," replied Colonel Forster. "Their remuneration will +not put you to a very great expense. Captain Sinclair has volunteered +to take charge of it." + +"Many thanks, sir," replied Mr. Campbell; "and as you observe that we +have no time to lose, with your permission we will start to-morrow +morning." + +"I certainly shall not dissuade you," replied the commandant, "although +I did hope that I should have had the pleasure of your company for a +little longer. You are aware that I have the Governor's directions to +supply you with cattle from our own stock, at a fair price. I hardly +need say that you may select as you please." + +"And I," said Captain Sinclair, who had been in conversation with Mary +Percival, and who now addressed Mr. Campbell, "have been making another +collection for you among my brother-officers, which you were not +provided with, and will find very useful, I may say absolutely +necessary." + +"What may that be, Captain Sinclair?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"A variety of dogs of every description. I have a pack of five; and, +although not quite so handsome as your pet dogs in England, you will +find them well acquainted with the country, and do their duty well. I +have a pointer, a bull-dog, two terriers, and a fox-hound--all of them +of good courage, and ready to attack catamount, wolf, lynx, or even a +bear, if required." + +"It is, indeed, a very valuable present," replied Mr. Campbell, "and you +have our sincere thanks." + +"The cows you had better select before you go, unless you prefer that I +should do it for you," observed Colonel Forster. "They shall be driven +over in a day or two, as I presume the ladies will wish to have milk. By +the by, Mr. Campbell, I must let you into a secret. The wild onions +which grow so plentiful in this country, and which the cattle are very +fond of, give a very unpleasant taste to the milk. You may remove it by +heating the milk as soon as it has been drawn from the cows." + +"Many thanks, Colonel, for your information," replied Mr. Campbell, "for +I certainly have no great partiality to the flavor of onions in milk." + +A summons to breakfast broke up the conversation. During the day, Henry +and Alfred, assisted by Captain Sinclair and Martin Super, were very +busy in loading the two _bateaux_ with the stores, tents, and various +trunks of linen and other necessaries which they had brought with them. +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with the girls, were equally busy in selecting +and putting on one side articles for immediate use on their arrival at +the allotment. As they were very tired, they went to bed early, that +they might be ready for the next day's re-embarkation; and after +breakfast, having taken leave of the kind commandant and the other +officers, they went down to the shore of the lake, and embarked with +Captain Sinclair in the commandant's boat, which had been prepared for +them. Martin Super, Alfred and Henry, with the five dogs, went on board +of the two _bateaux_, which were manned by the corporal and twelve +soldiers, lent by the commandant to Mr. Campbell. The weather was +beautifully fine, and they set off in high spirits. The distance by +water was not more three miles, although by land it was nearly five, and +in half an hour they entered the cove adjoining to which the allotment +lay. + +"There is the spot, Mrs. Campbell, which is to be your future +residence," said Captain Sinclair, pointing with his hand; "you observe +where that brook runs down into the lake, that is your eastern boundary; +the land on the other side is the property of the old hunter we have +spoken of. You see his little log-hut, not much bigger than an Indian +lodge, and the patch of Indian corn now sprung out of the ground which +is inclosed by the fence. This portion appears not to be of any use to +him, as he has no cattle of any kind, unless indeed they have gone into +the bush; but I think some of our men said that he lived entirely by the +chase, and that he has an Indian wife." + +"Well," said Emma Percival, laughing, "female society is what we never +calculated upon. What is the man's name?" + +"Malachi Bone," replied Captain Sinclair. "I presume you expect Mrs. +Bone to call first?" + +"She ought to do so, if she knows the _usage_ of society," replied Emma; +"but if she does not, I think I shall waive ceremony and go and see +her. I have great curiosity to make acquaintance with an Indian squaw." + +"You may be surprised to hear me say so, Miss Emma, but I assure you, +without having ever seen her, that you will find her perfectly well +bred. All the Indian women are--their characters are a compound of +simplicity and reserve.--Keep the boat's head more to the right, Selby, +we will land close to that little knoll." + +The commandant's boat had pulled much faster, and was a long way ahead +of the _bateaux_. In a few minutes afterward they had all disembarked +and were standing on the knoll, surveying their new property. A portion +of about thirty acres, running along the shore of the lake, was what is +termed natural prairie, or meadow of short fine grass; the land +immediately behind the meadow was covered with brushwood for about three +hundred yards, and then rose a dark and impervious front of high timber +which completely confined the landscape. The allotment belonging to the +old hunter, on the opposite side of the brook, contained about the same +portion of natural meadow, and was in other respects but a continuation +of the portion belonging to Mr. Campbell. + +"Well," said Martin Super, as soon as he had come up to the party on the +knoll, for the _bateaux_ had now arrived, "I reckon, Mr. Campbell, that +you are in luck to have this piece of grass. It would have taken no few +blows of the ax to have cleared it away out of such a wood as that +behind us. Why, it is as good as a fortune to a new settler." + +"I think it is, Martin," said Mr. Campbell. + +"Well, sir, now to work as soon as you please, for a day is a day, and +must not be lost. I'll go to the wood with five or six of the men who +can handle an ax, and begin to cut down, leaving you and the captain +there to decide where the house is to be; the other soldiers will be +putting up the tents all ready for to-night, for you must not expect a +house over your heads till next full moon." + +In a quarter of an hour all were in motion. Henry and Alfred took their +axes, and followed Martin Super and half of the soldiers, the others +were busy landing the stores and pitching the tents, while Captain +Sinclair and Mr. Campbell were surveying the ground, that they might +choose a spot for the erection of the house. Mrs. Campbell remained +sitting on the knoll, watching the debarkation of the packages; and +Percival, by her directions, brought her those articles which were for +immediate use. Mary and Emma Percival, accompanied by John, as they had +no task allotted to them, walked up the side of the stream toward the +wood. + +"I wish I had my box," said John, who had been watching the running +water. + +"Why do you want your box, John?" said Mary. + +"For my hooks in my box," replied John. + +"Why, do you see any fish in this small stream?" said Emma. + +"Yes," replied John, walking on before them. + +Mary and Emma followed him, now and then stopping to pick a flower +unknown to them: when they overtook John, he was standing immovable, +pointing to a figure on the other side of the stream, as fixed and +motionless as himself. + +The girls started back as they beheld a tall, gaunt man, dressed in deer +hides, who stood leaning upon a long gun with his eyes fixed upon them. +His face was browned and weather-beaten--indeed so dark that it was +difficult to say if he were of the Indian race or not. + +"It must be a hunter, Emma," said Mary Percival; "he is not dressed like +the Indians we saw at Quebec." + +"It must be," replied Emma; "won't he speak?" + +"We will wait and see," replied Mary. They did wait for a minute or +more, but the man neither spoke nor shifted his position. + +"I will speak to him, Mary," said Emma at last. "My good man, you are +Malachi Bone, are you not?" + +"That's my name," replied the hunter in a deep voice; "and who on earth +are you, and what are you doing here? Is it a frolic from the fort, or +what is it, that causes all this disturbance?" + +"Disturbance!--why we don't make a great deal of noise; no, it's no +frolic; we are come to settle here, and shall be your neighbors." + +[Illustration: MALACHI.] + +"To settle here!--why, what on earth do you mean, young woman? Settle +here!--not you, surely." + +"Yes, indeed, we are. Don't you know Martin Super, the trapper? He is +with us, and now at work in the woods getting ready for raising the +house, as you call it.--Do you know, Mary," said Emma in a low tone to +her sister, "I'm almost afraid of that man, although I do speak so +boldly." + +"Martin Super--yes, I know him," replied the hunter, who without any +more ceremony threw his gun into the hollow of his arm, turned round, +and walked away in the direction of his own hut. + +"Well, Mary," observed Emma, after a pause of a few seconds, during +which they watched the receding form of the hunter, "the old gentleman +is not over-polite. Suppose we go back and narrate our first adventure?" + +"Let us walk up to where Alfred and Martin Super are at work, and tell +them," replied Mary. + +They soon gained the spot where the men were felling the trees, and made +known to Alfred and Martin what had taken place. + +"He is angered, miss," observed Martin; "I guessed as much; well, if he +don't like it he must squat elsewhere." + +"How do you mean squat elsewhere?" + +"I mean, miss, that if he don't like company so near him he must shift +and build his wigwam further off." + +"But, why should he not like company? I should have imagined that it +would be agreeable rather than otherwise," replied Mary Percival. + +"You may think so, miss; but Malachi Bone thinks otherwise; and it's +natural; a man who has lived all his life in the woods, all alone, his +eye never resting, his ear ever watching; catching at every sound, even +to the breaking of a twig or the falling of a leaf; sleeping with his +finger on his trigger and one eye half open, gets used to no company but +his own, and can't abide it. I recollect the time that I could not. Why, +miss, when a man hasn't spoken a word perhaps for months, talking is a +fatigue, and, when he hasn't heard a word spoken for months, listening +is as bad. It's all custom, miss, and Malachi, as I guessed, don't like +it, and so he's _rily_ and angered. I will go see him after the work is +over." + +"But he has a wife, Martin, has he not?" + +"Yes; but she's an Indian wife, Master Alfred, and Indian wives don't +speak unless they're spoken to." + +"What a recommendation," said Alfred, laughing; "I really think I shall +look after an Indian wife, Emma." + +"I think you had better," replied Emma. "You'd be certain of a quiet +house,--when _you_ were out of it,--and when at home, you would have all +the talk to yourself, which is just what you like. Come, Mary, let us +leave him to dream of his squaw." + +The men selected by the commandant of the fort were well used to handle +the ax; before dusk, many trees had been felled, and were ready for +sawing into lengths. The tents had all been pitched: those for the +Campbells on the knoll we have spoken of; Captain Sinclair's and that +for the soldiers about a hundred yards distant; the fires were lighted, +and as the dinner had been cold, a hot supper was prepared by Martin and +Mrs. Campbell, assisted by the girls and the younger boys. After supper +they all retired to an early bed; Captain Sinclair having put a man as +sentry, and the dogs having been tied at different places, that they +might give the alarm if there was any danger; which, however, was not +anticipated, as the Indians had for some time been very quiet in the +neighborhood of Fort Frontignac. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The next morning, when they assembled at breakfast, after Mr. Campbell +had read the prayers, Mary Percival said, "Did you hear that strange and +loud noise last night? I was very much startled with it; but, as nobody +said a word, I held my tongue." + +"Nobody said a word, because every body was fast asleep, I presume," +said Alfred; "I heard nothing." + +"It was like the sound of cart-wheels at a distance, with whistling and +hissing," continued Mary. + +"I think I can explain it to you, as I was up during the night, Miss +Percival," said Captain Sinclair. "It is a noise you must expect every +night during the summer season; but one to which you will soon be +accustomed." + +"Why, what was it?" + +"Frogs,--nothing more; except, indeed, the hissing, which, I believe, is +made by the lizards. They will serenade you every night. I only hope you +will not be disturbed by any thing more dangerous." + +"Is it possible that such small creatures can make such a din?" + +"Yes; when thousands join in the concert; I may say millions." + +"Well, I thank you for the explanation, Captain Sinclair, as it has been +some relief to my mind." + +After breakfast, Martin (we shall for the future leave out his surname) +informed Mr. Campbell that he had seen Malachi Bone, the hunter, who had +expressed great dissatisfaction at their arrival, and his determination +to quit the place if they remained. + +"Surely, he hardly expects us to quit the place to please him?" + +"No," replied Martin; "but if he were cankered in disposition, which I +will say Malachi is not, he might make it very unpleasant for you to +remain, by bringing the Indians about you." + +"Surely, he would not do that?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, I don't think he would," replied Martin; "because, you see, it's +just as easy for him to go further off." + +"But why should we drive him away from his property any more than we +leave our own?" observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"He says he won't be crowded, ma'am; he can't bear to be crowded." + +"Why, there's a river between us." + +"So there is, ma'am, but still that's his feeling. I said to him, that +if he would go, I dared say Mr. Campbell would buy his allotment of +him, and he seems to be quite willing to part with it." + +"It would be a great addition to your property, Mr. Campbell," observed +Captain Sinclair. "In the first place, you would have the whole of the +prairie and the right of the river on both sides, apparently of no +consequence now, but as the country fills up, most valuable." + +"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "as I presume we shall remain here, or, at +all events, those who survive me will, till the country fills up, I +shall be most happy to make any arrangement with Bone for the purchase +of his property." + +"I'll have some more talk with him, sir,'" replied Martin. + +The second day was passed as was the first, in making preparations for +erecting the house, which, now that they had obtained such unexpected +help, was, by the advice of Captain Sinclair, considerably enlarged +beyond the size originally intended. As Mr. Campbell paid the soldiers +employed a certain sum per day for their labor, he had less scruple in +employing them longer. Two of them were good carpenters, and a sawpit +had been dug, that they might prepare the doors and the frames for the +window-sashes which Mr. Campbell had taken the precaution to bring with +him. On the third day, a boat arrived from the fort bringing the men's +rations and a present of two fine bucks from the commandant. Captain +Sinclair went in the boat to procure some articles which he required, +and returned in the evening. The weather continued fine, and in the +course of a week, a great deal of timber was cut and squared. During +this time, Martin had several meetings with the old hunter, and it was +agreed that he should sell his property to Mr. Campbell. Money he +appeared to care little about--indeed it was useless to him; gunpowder, +lead, flints, blankets, and tobacco, were the principal articles +requested in the barter; the amount, however, was not precisely settled. +An intimacy had been struck up between the old hunter and John; in what +manner it was difficult to imagine, as they both were very sparing of +their words; but this was certain, that John had contrived to get +across the stream somehow or another, and was now seldom at home to his +meals. Martin reported that he was in the lodge of the old hunter, and +that he could come to no harm; so Mrs. Campbell was satisfied. + +"But what does he do there, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell, as they were +clearing away the table after supper. + +"Just nothing but look at the squaw, or at Malachi cleaning his gun, or +any thing else he may see. He never speaks, that I know of, and that's +why he suits old Malachi." + +"He brought home a whole basket of trout this afternoon," observed Mary; +"so he is not quite idle." + +"No, miss; he's fishing at daylight, and gives one-half to you and the +other to old Bone. He'll make a crack hunter one of these days, as old +Malachi says. He can draw the bead on the old man's rifle in good style +already, I can tell you." + +"How do you mean, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"I mean that he can fire pretty true, ma'am, although it's a heavy gun +for him to lift; a smaller one would do better for him." + +"But is he not too young to be trusted with a gun, uncle?" said Mary. + +"No, miss," interrupted Martin, "you can't be too young here; the sooner +a boy is useful the better; and the boy with a gun is almost as good as +a man; for the gun kills equally as well if pointed true. Master +Percival must have his gun as soon as I am at leisure to teach him." + +"I wish you were at leisure now, Martin," cried Percival. + +"You forget, aunt, that you promised to learn to load and fire a rifle +yourself," said Mary. + +"No. I do not; and I intend to keep my word, as soon as there is time; +but John is so very young." + +"Well, Mary, I suppose we must enlist too?" said Emma. + +"Yes; we'll be the female rifle brigade," replied Mary, laughing. + +"I really quite like the idea," continued Emma; "I will put up with no +impertinence, recollect, Alfred; excite my displeasure, and I shall take +down my rifle." + +"I suspect you will do more execution with your eyes, Emma," replied +Alfred, laughing. + +"Not upon a catamount, as Martin calls it. Pray what is a catamount?" + +"A painter, miss." + +"Oh, now I know; a catamount is a painter, a painter is a leopard or a +panther.--As I live, uncle, here comes the old hunter, with John +trotting at his heels. I thought he would come at last. The visit is to +me, I'm sure, for when we first met he was dumb with astonishment." + +"He well might be," observed Captain Sinclair; "he has not often met +with such objects as you and your sister in the woods." + +"No," replied Emma; "an English squaw must be rather a rarity." + +As she said this, old Malachi Bone came up, and seated himself, without +speaking, placing his rifle between his knees. + +"Your servant, sir," said Mr. Campbell; "I hope you are well." + +"What on earth makes you come here?" said Bone, looking round him. "You +are not fit for the wilderness! Winter will arrive soon; and then you go +back, I reckon." + +"No, we shall not," replied Alfred, "for we have nowhere to go back to; +besides, the people are too crowded where we came from, so we came here +for more room." + +"I reckon you'll crowd _me_," replied the hunter, "so I'll go further." + +"Well, Malachi, the gentleman will pay you for your clearing." + +"I told you so," said Martin. + +"Yes, you did; but I'd rather not have seen him or his goods." + +"By goods, I suppose you mean us about you?" said Emma. + +"No, girl, I didn't mean you. I meant gunpowder and the like." + +"I think, Emma, you are comprehended in the last word," said Alfred. + +"That is more than you are, then, for he did not mention lead," retorted +Emma. + +"Martin Super, you know I did specify lead on the paper," said Malachi +Bone. + +"You did, and you shall have it," said Mr. Campbell. "Say what your +terms are now, and I will close with you." + +"Well, I'll leave that to Martin and you, stranger. I clear out +to-morrow." + +"To-morrow; and where do you go to?" + +Malachi Bone pointed to the westward. + +"You'll not hear my rifle," said the old hunter, after a pause; "but I'm +thinking you'll never stay here. You don't know what an Ingen's life is; +it ain't fit for the like of you. No, there's not one of you, 'cept this +boy," continued Malachi, putting his hand on John's head, "that's fit +for the woods. Let him come to me. I'll make a hunter of him; won't I, +Martin?" + +"That you will, if they'll spare him to you." + +"We can not spare him altogether," replied Mr. Campbell, "but he shall +visit you, if you wish it." + +"Well, that's a promise; and I won't go so far as I thought I would. He +has a good eye; I'll come for him." + +The old man then rose up, and walked away, John following him, without +exchanging a word with any of the party. + +"My dear Campbell," said his wife, "what do you intend to do about John? +You do not intend that the hunter should take him with him?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell; "but I see no reason why he +should not be with him occasionally." + +"It will be a very good thing for him to be so," said Martin. "If I may +advise, let the boy come and go. The old man has taken a fancy to him, +and will teach him his woodcraft. It's as well to make a friend of +Malachi Bone." + +"Why, what good can he do us?" inquired Henry. + +"A friend in need is a friend indeed, sir; and a friend in the +wilderness is not to be thrown away. Old Malachi is going further out, +and if danger occurs, we shall know it from him, for the sake of the +boy, and have his help too, if we need it." + +"There is much good sense in Martin Super's remarks, Mr. Campbell," +observed Captain Sinclair. "You will then have Malachi Bone as an +advanced guard, and the fort to fall back upon, if necessary to +retreat." + +"And, perhaps, the most useful education which he can receive to prepare +him for his future life will be from the old hunter." + +"The only one which he will take to kindly, at all events," observed +Henry. + +"Let him go, sir; let him go," said Martin. + +"I will give no positive answer, Martin," replied Mr. Campbell. "At all +events, I will permit him to visit the old man; there can be no +objection to that;--but it is bedtime." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +We must pass over six weeks, during which the labor was continued +without intermission, and the house was raised, of logs, squared and +well fitted; the windows and doors were also put in, and the roof well +covered in with large squares of birch-bark, firmly fixed on the +rafters. The house consisted of one large room, as a dining-room, and +the kitchen, with a floor of well-beaten clay, a smaller room, as a +sitting-room, and three bedrooms, all of which were floored; one of the +largest of them fitted all round with bed-places against the walls, in +the same way as on board of packets; this room was for the four boys, +and had two spare bed-places in it. The others, which were for the two +girls and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, were much smaller. But before the house +was half built, a large outhouse adjoining to it had been raised to hold +the stores which Mr. Campbell had brought with him, with a rough granary +made above the store-room. The interior of the house was not yet fitted +up, although the furniture had been put in, and the family slept in it, +rough as it was, in preference to the tents, as they were very much +annoyed with musquitoes. The stores were now safe from the weather, and +they had a roof over their heads, which was the grand object that was to +be obtained. The carpenters were still very busy fitting up the interior +of the house, and the other men were splitting rails for a snake-fence +and also selecting small timber for raising a high palisade round the +premises. Martin had not been idle. The site of the house was just where +the brushwood joined to the prairie, and Martin had been clearing it +away and stacking it, and also collecting wood for winter fuel. It had +been decided that the four cows, which had been driven round from the +fort, should be housed during the winter in the small building on the +other side of the stream, which had belonged to Malachi Bone, as it was +surrounded with a high snake-fence, and sufficiently large to hold them +and even more. The commandant had very kindly selected the most quiet +cows to milk, and Mary and Emma Percival had already entered upon their +duties: the milk had been put into the store-house until a dairy could +be built up. A very neat bridge had been thrown across the stream, and +every morning the two girls, generally attended by Henry, Alfred, or +Captain Sinclair, crossed over, and soon became expert in their new +vocation as dairy-maids. Altogether, things began to wear a promising +appearance. Henry and Mr. Campbell had dug up as fast as Martin and +Alfred cleared away the brushwood, and the garden had already been +cropped with such few articles as could be put in at the season. The +commandant had some pigs ready for the settlers as soon as they were +ready to receive them, and had more than once come up in the boats to +ascertain their progress and to offer any advice that he might consider +useful. + +We must not, however, forget Malachi Bone. The day after Bone had come +to Mr. Campbell, Emma perceived him going away into the woods, with his +rifle, followed by her cousin John, and being very curious to see his +Indian wife, she persuaded Alfred and Captain Sinclair to accompany her +and Mary to the other side of the stream. The great point was to know +where to cross it, but as John had found out the means of so doing, it +was to be presumed that there was a passage, and they set off to look +for it. They found that, about half a mile up the stream, which there +ran through the wood, a large tree had been blown down and laid across +it, and with the assistance of the young men, Mary and Emma passed it +without much difficulty; they then turned back by the side of the stream +until they approached the lodge of old Malachi. As they walked toward +it, they could not perceive any one stirring; but at last a dog of the +Indian breed began to bark; still nobody came out, and they arrived at +the door of the lodge where the dog stood; when, sitting on the floor, +they perceived the Indian girl whom they were in search of. She was very +busy sewing a pair of moccasins out of deer leather. She appeared +startled when she first saw Alfred; but when she perceived that the +young ladies were with him, her confidence returned. She slightly bowed +her head, and continued her work. + +"How very young she is," said Emma; "why she can not be more than +eighteen years old." + +"I doubt if she is so much," replied Captain Sinclair. + +"She has a very modest, unaffected look, has she not, Alfred?" said +Mary. + +"Yes; I think there is something very prepossessing in her countenance." + +"She is too young a wife for the old hunter, at all events," observed +Alfred. + +"That is not unusual among the Indians," said Captain Sinclair; "a very +old chief will often have three or four young wives; they are to be +considered more in the light of his servants than any thing else." + +"But she must think us very rude to talk and stare at her in this +manner; I suppose she can not speak English." + +"I will speak to her in her own language, if she is a Chippeway or of +any of the tribes about here, for they all have the same dialect," said +Captain Sinclair. + +Captain Sinclair addressed her in the Indian language, and the Indian +girl replied in a very soft voice. + +"She says her husband is gone to bring home venison." + +"Tell her we are coming to live here, and will give her any thing she +wants." + +[Illustration: MALACHI AND HIS WIFE.] + +Captain Sinclair again addressed her, and received her answer. + +"She says that you are beautiful flowers, but not the wild flowers of +the country, and that the cold winter will kill you." + +"Tell her she will find us alive next summer," said Emma; "and, Captain +Sinclair, give her this brooch of mine, and tell her to wear it for my +sake." + +Captain Sinclair gave the message and the ornament to the Indian girl, +who replied, as she looked up and smiled at Emma, + +"That she would never forget the beautiful lily who was so kind to the +little strawberry-plant." + +"Really her language is poetical and beautiful," observed Mary; "I have +nothing to give her--Oh! yes, I have; here is my ivory needle-case, with +some needles in it. Tell her it will be of use to her when she sews her +moccasins. Open it and show her what is inside." + +"She says that she will be able to work faster and better, and wishes to +look at your foot, that she may be grateful; so put your foot out, Miss +Percival." + +Mary did so; the Indian girl examined it, and smiled and nodded her +head. + +"Oh, Captain Sinclair, tell her that the little boy who is gone with her +husband is our cousin." + +Captain Sinclair reported her answer, which was, "He will be a great +hunter and bring home plenty of game by and by." + +"Well, now, tell her that we shall always be happy to see her, and that +we are going home again; and ask her name, and tell her our own." + +As Captain Sinclair interpreted, the Indian girl pronounced after him +the names of Mary and Emma very distinctly. "She has your names, you +perceive; her own, translated into English, is the strawberry-plant." + +They then nodded farewell to the young Indian, and returned home. On the +second evening after their visit, as they were at supper, the +conversation turned upon the hunter and his young Indian wife, when +John, who had, as usual, been silent, suddenly broke out with "Goes away +to-morrow!" + +"They go away to-morrow, John; where do they go to?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Woods," replied John. + +John was correct in his statement. Early the next morning, Malachi Bone, +with his rifle on his shoulder and an ax in his hand, was seen crossing +the prairie belonging to Mr. Campbell, followed by his wife, who was +bent double under her burden, which was composed of all the property +which the old hunter possessed, tied up in blankets. He had left word +the night before with Martin that he would come back in a few days, as +soon as he had squatted, to settle the bargain for his allotment of land +made over to Mr. Campbell. This was just before they had sat down to +breakfast, and then they observed that John was missing. + +"He was here just before prayers," said Mrs. Campbell. "He must have +slipped away after the old hunter." + +"No doubt of that, ma'am," said Martin. "He will go with him and find +out where he puts up his wigwam, and after that he will come back to +you; so there is no use sending after him; indeed, we don't know which +way to send." + +Martin was right. Two days afterward, John made his appearance again, +and remained very quietly at home during the whole week, catching fish +in the stream or practicing with a bow and some arrows, which he had +obtained from Malachi Bone; but the boy appeared to be more taciturn and +more fond of being alone than even he was before; still he was obedient +and kind toward his mother and cousins, and was fond of Percival's +company when he went to take trout from the stream. + +It was of course after the departure of the old hunter, that his log hut +was taken possession of and the cows put into the meadow in front of it. + +As the work became more advanced, Martin went out every day, accompanied +either by Alfred or Henry, in pursuit of game. Mr. Campbell had procured +an ample supply of ammunition, as well as the rifles, at Quebec. These +had been unpacked, and the young men were becoming daily more expert. Up +to the present, the supply of game from the fort, and occasional fresh +beef, had not rendered it necessary for Mr. Campbell to have much +recourse to his barrels of salt-pork, but still it was necessary that a +supply should be procured as often as possible, that they might husband +their stores. Martin was a certain shot if within distance, and they +seldom returned without a deer slung between them. The garden had been +cleared away and the pig-sties were finished, but there was still the +most arduous portion of the work to commence, which was the felling of +the trees to clear the land for the growing of corn. In this they could +expect no assistance from the garrison; indeed, from the indulgence of +the commandant, they had already obtained more than they could have +expected. It was in the last days of August, and the men lent from the +garrison were about to be recalled; the houses were completed, the +palisade had been raised round the house and store-house, and the men +were now required at the fort. Captain Sinclair received several hints +from the commandant that he must use all convenient dispatch, and limit +his absence to a few days more, which he trusted would be sufficient. +Captain Sinclair, who would willingly have remained in society which he +so much valued, and who had now become almost one of the family, found +that he could make no more excuses. He reported that he would be ready +to return on the 1st of September, and on the morning of that day the +_bateaux_ arrived to take back the soldiers, and bring the pigs and +fowls which had been promised. Mr. Campbell settled his account with +Captain Sinclair, by a draft upon his banker at Quebec, for the pay of +the soldiers, the cows, and the pigs. The Captain then took leave of his +friends with mutual regret, and many kind adieus, and, accompanied by +the whole of the family to the beach, embarked with all his men and +pulled away for the fort. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The Campbells remained for some time on the shore of the lake watching +the receding _bateaux_ until they turned round the point and were hidden +from their sight, and then they walked back to the house. But few words +were exchanged as they returned, for they felt a sensation of loneliness +from having parted with so many of their own countrymen; not that they +were, with the exception of Captain Sinclair, companions, but that, +accustomed to the sight of the soldiers at their labor, the spot now +appeared depopulated by their departure. Martin, too, and John, were +both absent; the latter had been two days away, and Martin, who had not +yet found time to ascertain where old Malachi Bone had fixed his new +abode, had gone out in search of it, and to mention to him Mr. +Campbell's wishes as to John's visits to him, which were becoming more +frequent and more lengthened than Mr. Campbell wished them to be. + +When they entered the house, they all sat down, and Mr. Campbell then +first spoke. + +"Well, my dearest wife, here we are at last, left to ourselves and to +our own resources. I am not at all doubtful of our doing well, if we +exert ourselves, as it is our duty to do. I grant that we may have +hardship to combat, difficulties to overcome, occasional disappointments +and losses to bear up against; but let us recollect how greatly we have, +through Providence, been already assisted and encouraged, how much help +we have received, and how much kindness we have experienced. Surely we +ought to feel most grateful to Heaven for blessings already vouchsafed +to us, and ought to have a firm and lively faith in _Him_, who has +hitherto so kindly watched over us. Let us not then repine or feel +dispirited, but with grateful hearts do our duty cheerfully in that +state of life to which it has pleased _Him_ to call us." + +"I agree with you, my dear husband," replied Mrs. Campbell; "nay, I can +say with sincerity, that I am not sorry we are now left to our own +exertions, and that we have an opportunity of proving that we _can_ do +without the assistance of others. Up to the present, our trial has been +nothing; indeed, I can not fancy to myself what our trials are to be. +Come they may, but from what quarter I can not form an idea: should they +come, however, I trust we shall show our gratitude for the past +blessings, and our faith derived from past deliverances, by a devout +submission to whatever the Almighty may please to try or chasten us +with." + +"Right, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell; "we will hope for the best; we +are as much under his protection here in the wilderness, as we were at +Wexton Park; we were just as liable to all the ills which flesh is heir +to when we were living in opulence and luxury as we are now in this +log-house; but we are, I thank God, not so liable in our present +position to forget Him, who so bountifully provides for us and in His +wisdom ordereth all our ways. Most truly has the poet said-- + + "'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'" + +"Well," observed Emma, after a pause, as if to give a more lively turn +to the conversation. "I wonder what _my_ trials are to be! Depend upon +it, the cow will kick down the pail, or the butter won't come!" + +"Or you'll get chapped fingers in the winter-time, and chilblains on +your feet," continued Mary. + +"That will be bad; but Captain Sinclair says that if we don't take care +we shall be frost-bitten and lose the tips of our noses." + +"That would be hard upon you, Emma, for you've none to spare," said +Alfred. + +"Well, you have, Alfred, so yours ought to go first." + +"We must look after one another's noses, they say, as we can not tell if +our own is in danger; and if we see a white spot upon another's nose, we +must take a bit of snow and rub it well; a little delicate attention +peculiar to this climate." + +"I can not say that I do not know what my trials are to be," said +Alfred--"that is, trials certain; nor can Henry either. When I look at +the enormous trunks of these trees, which we have to cut down with our +axes, I feel positive that it will be a hard trial before we master +them. Don't you think so, Harry?" + +"I have made up my mind to have at least two new skins upon my hands +before the winter comes on," replied Henry; "but felling timber was not +a part of my university education--" + +"No," replied Alfred; "Oxford don't teach that; now, my university +education--" + +"Your university education!" cried Emma. + +"Yes, mine; I have sailed all over the universe, and that I call a +university education; but here come Martin and John. Why, John has got a +gun on his shoulder! He must have taken it with him when he last +disappeared." + +"I suppose that by this time he knows how to use it, Alfred," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Martin, who had entered; "he knows well how to use +and how to take care of it and take care of himself. I let him bring it +home on purpose to watch him. He has fired and loaded twice as we came +back, and has killed this woodchuck," continued Martin, throwing the +dead animal on the floor. "Old Malachi has taught him well, and he has +not forgotten his lessons." + +"What animal is that, Martin,--is it good to eat?" said Henry. + +"Not very good, sir; it's an animal that burrows in the ground, and is +very hurtful in a garden or to the young maize, and we always shoot them +when we meet with them." + +"It's a pity that it's not good to eat." + +"Oh! you may eat it, sir; I don't say it's not fit to eat; but there are +other things much better." + +"That's quite sufficient for me, Martin," said Emma, "I shall not taste +him; at all events, not this time, whatever I may have to do by and by." + +"I spoke to old Bone, sir, and he says it's all right; that he won't +keep him more than a day without first sending him to you to ask leave." + +"That's all I require, Martin." + +"They have been out these two days, and had only just come home when I +arrived there. The game was still in the wood." + +"I shot a deer," said John. + +"You shot a deer, John!" said Alfred; "why what a useful fellow you will +be by and by." + +"Yes, sir; old Malachi told me that the boy had shot a deer, and that he +would bring it here to-morrow himself." + +"I am glad of that, for I wish to speak with him," said Mr. Campbell; +"but, John, how came you to take the rifle with you without leave?" + +John made no answer. + +"Answer me, John." + +"Can't shoot without a gun," replied John. + +"No, you can not; but the rifle is not yours." + +"Give it to me, and I'll shoot every thing for dinner," replied John. + +"I think you had better do so, father," said Henry in a low voice; "the +temptation will be too strong." + +"You are right, Henry," replied Mr. Campbell, aside. "Now, John, I will +give you the rifle, if you will promise me to ask leave when you want to +go, and always come back at the time you have promised." + +"I'll always tell when I go, if mamma will always let me go, and I'll +always come back when I promise, if--" + +"If what?" + +"If I've killed," replied John. + +"He means, sir, that if he is on the track when his leave is out, that +he must follow it; but as soon as he has either lost his game, or killed +it, he will then come home. That's the feeling of a true hunter, sir, +and you must not balk it." + +"Very true; well then, John, recollect that you promise." + +"Martin," said Percival, "when are you to teach me to fire the rifle?" + +"Oh, very soon now, sir; but the soldiers are gone, and as soon as you +can hit the mark, you shall go out with Mr. Alfred or me." + +"And when are we to learn, Mary?" said Emma. + +"I will teach you, cousins," said Alfred, "and give a lesson to my +honored mother." + +"Well, we'll all learn," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"What's to be done to-morrow, Martin?" said Alfred. + +"Why, sir, there are boards enough to make a fishing-punt, and if you +and Mr. Henry will help me, I think we shall have one made in two or +three days. The lake is full of fish, and it's a pity not to have some +while the weather is so fine." + +"I've plenty of lines in the store-room," said Mr. Campbell. + +"Master Percival would soon learn to fish by himself," said Martin, "and +then he'll bring as much as Master John." + +"Fish!" said John with disdain. + +"Yes, fish, Master John," replied Martin; "a good hunter is always a +good fisherman, and don't despise them, for they often give him a meal +when he would otherwise go to sleep with an empty stomach." + +"Well, I'll catch fish with pleasure," cried Percival, "only I must +sometimes go out hunting." + +"Yes, my dear boy, and we must sometimes go to bed; and I think it is +high time now, as we must all be up to-morrow at daylight." + +The next morning, Mary and Emma set off to milk the cows--not, as usual, +attended by some of the young men, for Henry and Alfred were busy, and +Captain Sinclair was gone. As they crossed the bridge, Mary observed to +her sister, + +"No more gentlemen to attend us lady milk-maids, Emma." + +"No," replied Emma; "our avocation is losing all its charms, and a +pleasure now almost settles down to a duty." + +"Alfred and Henry are with Martin about the fishing-boat," observed +Mary. + +"Yes," replied Emma; "but I fancy, Mary, you were thinking more of +Captain Sinclair than of your cousins." + +"That is very true, Emma; I was thinking of him," replied Mary, gravely. +"You don't know how I feel his absence." + +"I can imagine it, though, my dearest Mary. Shall we soon see him +again?" + +"I do not know; but I think not for three or four weeks, for certain. +All that can be spared from the fort are gone haymaking, and if he is +one of the officers sent with the men, of course he will be absent, and +if he is left in the fort, he will be obliged to remain there; so there +is no chance of seeing him until the haymaking is over." + +"Where is it that they go to make hay, Mary?" + +"You know they have only a sufficiency of pasture round the fort for the +cattle during the summer, so they go along by the borders of the lake +and islands, where they know there are patches of clear land, cut the +grass down, make the hay, and collect it all in the _bateaux_, and carry +it to the fort to be stacked for the winter. This prairie was their best +help, but now they have lost it." + +"But Colonel Forster has promised papa sufficient hay for the cows for +this winter; indeed, we could not have fed them unless he had done so. +Depend upon it, Captain Sinclair will bring the hay round, and then we +shall see him again, Mary; but we must walk after our own cows now. No +one to drive them for us. If Alfred had any manners he might have come." + +"And why not Henry, Emma?" said Mary, with a smile. + +"Oh! I don't know; Alfred came into my thoughts first." + +"I believe that really was the case," replied Mary. "Now I'm even with +you; so go along and milk your cows." + +"It's all very well, miss," replied Emma, laughing; "but wait till I +have learned to fire my rifle, and then you'll be more cautious of what +you say." + +On their return home, they found the old hunter with a fine buck lying +before him. Mr. Campbell was out with the boys and Martin, who wished +his opinion as to the size of the punt. + +"How do you do, Mr. Bone?" said Mary. "Did John shoot that deer?" + +"Yes; and shot it as well as an old hunter, and the creatur' can hardly +lift the gun to his shoulder. Which of you is named Mary?" + +"I am," said Mary. + +"Then I've something for you," said old Malachi, pulling from out of his +vest a small parcel, wrapped up in thin bark, and handing it to her; +"it's a present from the Strawberry." + +Mary opened the bark, and found inside of it a pair of moccasins, very +prettily worked in stained porcupines' quills. + +"Oh! how beautiful, and how kind of her! Tell her that I thank her, and +love her very much. Will you?" + +"Yes; I'll tell her. Where's the boy?" + +"Who, John? I think he's gone up the stream to take some trout; he'll be +back to breakfast, and that's just ready. Come, Emma, we must go in with +the milk." + +Mr. Campbell and those who were with him soon returned. + +Malachi Bone then stated that he had brought the buck killed by John; +and that, if it suited, he would carry back with him a keg of gunpowder +and some lead; that he wished Mr. Campbell to calculate what he +considered due to him for the property, and let him take it out in +goods, as he required them. + +"Why don't you name your own price, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"How can I name a price? It was given to me and cost nothing. I leave it +all to you and Martin Super, as I said before." + +"You show great confidence in me, I must say. Well Bone, I will not +cheat you; but I am afraid you will be a long while before you are paid, +if you only take it out in goods from my store-house." + +"All the better, master; they will last till I die, and then what's left +will do for the boy here," replied the old hunter, putting his hand upon +John's head. + +"Bone," said Mr. Campbell, "I have no objection to the boy going with +you occasionally; but I cannot permit him to be away always. I want him +to come home the day after he has been to see you." + +"Well, that's not reasonable, master. We go out after the game; who +knows where we may find it, how long we may look for it, and how far it +may lead us? Must we give up the chase when close upon it, because +time's up? That'll never do. I want to make the boy a hunter, and he +must learn to sleep out and do every thing else as concerns a hunter to +do. You must let him be with me longer, and, if you please, when he +comes back keep him longer; but if you wish him to be a man, the more he +stays with me the better. He shall know all the Indian craft, I promise +you, and the winter after this he shall take beavers and bring you the +skins." + +"I think, sir," observed Martin, "it's all in reason what the old man +says." + +"And so do I," said Alfred; "after all, it's only sending John to +school. Let him go, father, and have him home for the holidays." + +"I'll always come to you, when I can," said John. + +"I am more satisfied at John's saying that than you might imagine," said +Mrs. Campbell; "John is an honest boy, and does not say what he does not +mean." + +"Well, my dear, if you have no objection, I'm sure I will not raise any +more." + +"I think I shall gain more by John's affection than by compulsion, my +dear husband. He says he will always come when he can, and I believe +him; I have, therefore, no objection to let him stay with Malachi Bone, +at all events for a week or so at a time." + +"But his education, my dear." + +"He is certain to learn nothing now that this fever for the woods, if I +may so call it, is upon him. He will, perhaps, be more teachable a year +or two hence. You must be aware that we have no common disposition to +deal with in that child; and however my maternal feelings may oppose my +judgment, it is still strong enough to make me feel that my decision is +for his benefit. We must not here put the value upon a _finished_ +education which we used to do. Let us give him every advantage which the +peculiarity of his position will allow us to do; but we are now in the +woods, to a certain degree returned to a state of nature, and the first +and most important knowledge, is to learn to gain our livelihoods." + +"Well, my dear, I think you are correct in your views on the subject, +and therefore, John, you may go to school with Malachi Bone; come to see +us when you can, and I expect you to turn out the Nimrod of the west." + +Old Malachi stared at the conclusion of this speech; Alfred observed his +surprise, and burst into a fit of laughter. He then said, "The English +of all that is, Malachi, that my brother John has my father's leave to +go with you, and you're to make a man of him." + +"He who made him must make a man of him," replied Bone: "I can only make +him a good hunter, and that I will, if he and I are spared. Now, master, +if Martin will give me the powder and lead, I'll be off again. Is the +boy to go?" + +"Yes, if you desire it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "come, John, and wish me +good-by and remember your promise." + +John bade farewell to the whole party with all due decorum, and then +trotted off after his schoolmaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +In the course of a week or two, things found their places, and the +family began to feel more comfortable; there was also a degree of +regularity and order established, which could not be effected during the +time that the soldiers were employed. Mrs. Campbell and Percival took +upon them all the work inside and round the house during the morning; +the latter attending to the pigs and fowls, bringing water from the +stream, etc. Mary and Emma milked the cows, and then assisted their +mother during the day in washing, etc. Mr. Campbell instructed Percival, +worked in the garden, and assisted as much as he could, where he might +be found most useful; but he was too advanced in years to be capable of +much hard work. Alfred, Henry and Martin Super were employed during the +whole day, clearing the ground and felling the timber; but every other +day, one or the other went out with Martin into the woods to procure +food, bringing home with them deer, wild turkeys, or other game, which +with an occasional piece of salt-pork, and the fish caught, were +sufficient for the family consumption. Percival was now permitted to +accompany the hunting-parties, and became somewhat expert with his +rifle. He required only a little more practice to be a good shot. + +They rose at half-past five,--were all assembled to prayers at half-past +seven, previous to going to breakfast. They dined at one, and had a +combined tea and supper at seven o'clock. At nine o'clock they went to +bed. Before two months had passed away, every thing went on like +clock-work. One day passed away so like another, that the time flew +imperceptibly, and they wondered that the Sundays came round so quick. +They had now time to unpack every thing, and the books which Mrs. +Campbell had selected and brought with her had been arranged on shelves +in the parlor; but they had not as yet much time to read, and were +generally too tired before the day was over not to long for their beds. +Indeed, the only interval of leisure during the whole day was between +supper and bedtime, when they would all assemble in the kitchen and talk +over the little matters which had occurred either during the chase or at +home. But they were now in the middle of October, the winter was fast +approaching, and they looked forward to it with some degree of anxiety. + +John had kept his word very sacredly. He was occasionally absent for +three or four days, but if so, he invariably came to the house and +remained a day or two at home. Alfred and Martin had long finished the +fishing-punt, and as it was light and easily handled, Henry and Percival +went out in it together, and when he was at home, John with Percival +would pull half a mile out into the lake, and soon return with a supply +of large fish. Mrs. Campbell, therefore, had salted down sufficient to +fill a barrel for the winter's use. + +One day they were agreeably surprised by Captain Sinclair making his +appearance. He had walked from the fort, to communicate to them that the +hay had been gathered in, and would be sent round in a day or two, and +also to inform Mr. Campbell that the commandant could spare them a young +bullock, if he would wish to have it for winter provision. This offer +was gladly accepted, and, having partaken of their dinner, Captain +Sinclair was obliged to return to the fort, he being that night on duty. +Previous, however, to his return, he had some conversation with Martin +Super, unobserved by the rest of the party. Afterward he invited Alfred +to walk back to the fort with him and return on the following morning. +Alfred agreed to do so; and two hours before it was dark they set off, +and as soon as they were on the opposite side of the brook they were +joined by Martin Super. + +"My reasons for asking you to come back with me were twofold," said +Captain Sinclair to Alfred. "In the first place, I wish you to know the +road to the fort, in case it should be necessary to make any +communication during the winter; secondly, I wished to have some +conversation with you and Martin relative to information we have +received about the Indians. I can tell you privately what I was +unwilling to say before your mother and cousins, as it would put them in +a state of restlessness and anxiety, which could avail nothing and only +annoy them. The fact is, we have for some time had information that the +Indians have held several councils. It does not appear, however, that +they have as yet decided upon any thing, although it is certain that +they have gathered together in large numbers not very far from the fort. +No doubt but they have French emissaries inciting them to attack us. +From what we can learn, however, they have not agreed among themselves, +and, therefore, in all probability, nothing will be attempted until next +year, for the autumn is their season for sending out their war-parties. +At the same time, there is no security, for there is a great difference +between a junction of all the tribes against us and a common Indian +war-party. We must, therefore, be on the alert, for we have a +treacherous foe to deal with. And now, for your portion of interest in +this affair. If they attack the fort, which they may do, notwithstanding +our treaties with them, you of course would not be safe where you are; +but, unfortunately, you may not be safe even if we are not molested; for +when the Indians collect (even though the main body decide upon +nothing), there are always bands of five to ten Indians, who, having +left their homes, will not return if they can help it without some +booty; these are not regular warriors, or if warriors, not much esteemed +by the tribe; in fact, they are the worst classes of Indians, who are +mere robbers and banditti. You must, therefore, be on the look-out for +the visits of these people. It is fortunate for you that old Bone has +shifted his abode so many miles to the westward, and that you are on +such good terms with him, as it is not very likely that any party of +Indians can approach you without his meeting with them or their track +during his excursions." + +"That's true, Captain," observed Martin, "and I will go myself and put +him on his guard." + +"But, will they not attack him before they attack us?" said Alfred. + +"Why should they?" replied Sinclair. "He is as much an Indian almost as +they are, and is well known to most of them. Besides, what would they +gain by attacking him? These straggling parties, which you have to fear, +are in quest of booty, and will not expect to find any thing in his +wigwam except a few furs. No; they will not venture near his rifle, +which they fear, when there is nothing to be obtained by so doing. I +mention this to you, Alfred, that you may be prepared and keep a sharp +look-out. It is very possible that nothing of the kind may occur, and +that the winter may pass away without any danger, and I mention it to +you and Martin, as I consider that the probabilities are not sufficient +to warrant your alarming the other members of the family, especially the +female portion of it. How far you may consider it advisable to +communicate what has now passed to your father and Henry, it is for you +to decide. As I said before, I do not imagine you have much to fear from +a general attack; it is too late in the year, and we know that the +councils broke up without coming to any decision. You have only to fear +the attempts of small parties of marauders, and I think you are quite +strong enough, both in numbers and in the defenses of your habitation, +to resist them successfully, if you are not suddenly surprised. That is +all that you have to fear; and now that you are warned, half the danger +is over." + +"Well, Captain, I'll leave you now," said Martin, "I shall go over to +old Malachi's to-night; for it occurs to me that any attack is more +likely to be made between the fall of the leaf and the fall of the snow +than afterward; so the sooner I put Malachi on his guard the better. +Good-evening, sir." + +Captain Sinclair and Alfred continued on their way to the fort. They had +contracted a strong friendship, and were unreserved in their +communication with each other. + +"You have no idea, Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "how the peculiar +position of your family occupies my thoughts. It really appears almost +like madness on the part of your father to bring out your mother and +cousins to such a place, and expose them to such privations and dangers. +I can hardly sleep at night when I reflect upon what might happen." + +"I believe," replied Alfred, "that if my father had known exactly what +his present position would have been, he would have decided upon not +leaving England; but you must remember that he came out with much +encouragement, and the idea that he would only have to surmount the +hardships of a settler in clearing his land. He fancied, at least I'm +sure _we_ all did, that we should be surrounded by other farmers, and +have no particular danger to incur. When at Quebec, he found that all +the good land near to civilization was bought up or possessed by the +French Canadians; he was advised to come further westward by those who +ought to have been aware of what he would have to encounter by so doing, +but who probably considered that the danger we now apprehend no longer +existed; and he has followed that advice which I have no doubt was +conscientiously given. I think myself, even now, that the advice was +good, although we are accompanied by females who have been brought up in +so different a sphere, and for whose welfare such anxiety is shown; for +observe now, Sinclair, suppose, without having made our acquaintance, +you had heard that some settlers, men and women, had located themselves +where we have done; should you have considered it so very rash an +undertaking, presuming that they were merely farmers and farmers' +wives?" + +"I certainly should have troubled myself very little about them, and +perhaps not thought upon the subject." + +"But supposing the subject had been brought up at the fort, and you had +heard the parties had a stockaded house and four or five good rifles to +depend upon, with the fort to fall back upon if necessary?" + +"I admit that I should most probably have said that they were in a +position to protect themselves." + +"Most assuredly, and therefore we are equally so; your feelings of +interest in us magnify the danger, and I therefore trust that in future +you will not allow our position to interfere with your night's rest." + +"I wish I could bring myself to that feeling of security, Alfred. If I +were only with you, to assist in protecting them, I should sleep sound +enough." + +"Then you would not be of much use as a watch," replied Alfred, +laughing. "Never fear, Sinclair, we shall do well enough," continued he, +"and if we require assistance, we will apply for you and a party of +soldiers." + +"There would be much difficulty about that, Alfred," replied Captain +Sinclair; "if there were sufficient danger to make that demand upon the +commandant, the same danger would require that he should not weaken his +force in the fort; no, you would have to retreat to the fort, and leave +your farm to the mercy of the Indians." + +"It certainly would be the wisest plan of the two," replied Alfred; "at +all events, we could send the women. But the Indians have not come yet, +and we must hope that they will not." + +The conversation was then changed, and in half an hour more they arrived +at the fort. + +Alfred was welcomed at the fort by Colonel Forster, with whom he was a +great favorite. The Colonel could not refrain from expressing his +opinion, that Mr. Campbell and his family were in a position of some +danger, and lamenting that the female portion of the family, who had +been brought up with such very different prospects, should be so +situated. He even ventured to hint that if Mrs. Campbell and the two +Misses Percival would pass the winter in the fort he would make +arrangements to accommodate them. But Alfred at once replied, that he +was convinced no inducement would persuade his mother or cousins to +leave his father; they had shared his prosperity, and they would cling +to him in adversity; that they all were aware of what they would have to +risk before they came out, and his father preferred a life of honorable +independence attended with danger, to seeking the assistance of others. + +"But still I can not perceive any reason for the ladies remaining to +encounter the danger." + +"The more we are, the stronger we are to repel danger," replied Alfred. + +"But women surely will only be an incumbrance!" + +"I think differently," replied Alfred. "Young and delicate as my cousins +are, they will not shrink any more than my mother when their services +are required. They now can all of them use a rifle, if required, and to +defend a house, a determined woman is almost as effective as a man. +Depend upon it, if it comes to the necessity, they will do so. You see, +therefore, Colonel, that by taking away our ladies, you will weaken our +force," continued Alfred, laughing. + +"Well, my dear fellow, I will press it no more. Only recollect that I +shall always be ready to send you any assistance when required." + +"I have been thinking, Colonel Forster, that, as we have no horses at +present, if you have any rockets, they might be useful in such a case. +At the distance we are from you a rocket would be seen immediately if +fired at night, and I promise you, that it shall not be fired without +great necessity." + +"I am glad that you have mentioned it, Alfred; you shall have a dozen to +take with you. You go back with the boats that carry the hay to-morrow +morning, do you not." + +"Yes; I shall take that opportunity, to save wearing out my shoes, as we +have no cobbler near to us. I presume it will be the last trip made by +the boats this season?" + +"Yes," replied the Colonel, "the frost will soon set in now. In another +fortnight we shall probably be visited with a heavy fall of snow, and +the ground will then be covered till spring. But I suppose we shall see +or hear from you occasionally?" + +"Yes; as soon as I can push along in my snow-shoes, I will pay you a +visit," replied Alfred, "but I have that art to learn yet." + +The following morning the sky was clear and the day brilliant. The sun +shone upon the dark, scarlet-tinged foliage of the oaks, and through the +transparent yellow leaves of the maple. A slight frost had appeared for +two or three mornings about a month back, and now they were enjoying +what was termed the Indian summer, which is a return of fair and rather +warm weather for a short time previous to the winter setting in. + +The soldiers were busy carrying the hay down to the _bateaux_, and, +before noon, Alfred bade farewell to Colonel Forster and the other +officers of the fort, and, accompanied by Captain Sinclair, went down to +embark. All was ready, and Alfred stepped into the boat; Captain +Sinclair being on duty and not able to accompany him back. + +"I shall not fail to give directions to the sentries about the rockets, +Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "and so tell your mother and cousins; +and mind to show them how to fire them off from out of the barrel of a +musket. Good-by; God bless you, my dear fellow." + +"Good-by," replied Alfred, as the boats pulled from the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +After Alfred's return from the fort, a few days passed away without any +incident: Martin had paid a visit to Malachi Bone, who had promised that +he would be on the look-out and would give immediate information and +assistance in case of any hostile measures on the part of the Indians. +He told Martin, that in a few days he would discover what had taken +place and what might be looked forward to. When Martin returned with his +communication, Alfred was satisfied, and did not acquaint any body +except his brother Henry with the information which he had received from +Captain Sinclair. + +The monotony of their life was, however, broken in upon by the arrival +of a corporal from the fort, who was the bearer of the first dispatches +which they had received since their arrival at the settlement. Letters, +yes letters, not only from Quebec but from England, were announced. The +whole house was in confusion, all crowding round Mr. Campbell while he +unsealed the large packet. First a bundle of English newspapers from the +Governor of Quebec--these were laid aside; a letter from Mr. Campbell's +agent at Quebec--this was on business and could wait his leisure; then +the letters from England--two long, well-filled double letters from Miss +Paterson to Mary and Emma; another from Mr. Campbell's agent in England, +and a large one on foolscap with "On His Majesty's Service," directed to +Mr. Alfred Campbell. Each party seized upon their letters, and hastened +on one side with them. Mrs. Campbell being the only one who had no +correspondent, anxiously watched the countenance of Alfred, who, after a +hasty glance, cried out, "I am confirmed to my rank, my dear mother; I +am a lieutenant in his Majesty's service--huzza! Here's a letter +inclosed from Captain Lumley; I know his handwriting." Alfred received +the congratulations of the whole party, handed the official letter to +his mother, and then commenced the perusal of the one from Captain +Lumley. After a short silence, during which they were all occupied with +their correspondence, Mr. Campbell said, "I also have good news to +communicate to you; Mr. H. writes to me to say, that Mr. Douglas +Campbell, on finding the green-houses and hot-houses so well stocked, +considered that he was bound to pay for the plants; that they have been +valued at seven hundred pounds, and that he has paid that money into my +agent's hands. This is extremely liberal of Mr. Douglas Campbell, and I +certainly did not expect, as I found plants there on my taking +possession, that I was entitled to any remuneration for what I left. +However, I am too poor to refuse his offer from any feelings of +delicacy, and shall therefore write and thank him for his generous +behavior." Alfred had read the letter from Captain Lumley, which made +him very thoughtful. The fact was, his promotion and the observations in +Captain Lumley's letter had brought back all his former regret at having +quitted the service, and he was very melancholy in consequence; but as +his cousins read their letters aloud, he gradually recovered his +spirits. + +At last, all the letters were read, and then the newspapers were +distributed. No more work was done that day, and in the evening they all +sat round the kitchen fire and talked over the intelligence they had +received until long after their usual time of retiring to bed. + +"I have been thinking, my dear Emily," said Mr. Campbell, the next +morning before they quitted their sleeping-room, "what a very seasonable +supply of money this will be. My funds, as you have seen by the account +of my Quebec agent, were nearly exhausted, and we have many things yet +to procure. We shall require horses next year, and we must increase our +stock in every way; indeed, if we could have another man or two, it +would be very advantageous, as the sooner we clear the ground, the +sooner we shall be independent." + +"I agree with you, Campbell; besides, we shall now have Alfred's +half-pay, poor fellow, which will help us very much; I have been +thinking more of him than any thing else this night; I watched him when +he read Captain Lumley's letter, and I well understood the cause of his +seriousness for some time afterward; I almost feel inclined to let him +return to his profession; it would be painful parting with him, but the +sacrifice on his part is very great." + +"Still it's his duty," replied Mr. Campbell, "and, moreover, absolutely +necessary at present, that he should remain with us. When we are more +settled and more independent of his assistance we will talk over the +subject." + +In the meantime, Mary and Emma had gone out as usual to milk the cows. +It was a beautiful clear day, but there was a bracing air which cheered +the spirits, and the sunshine was pleasantly warm in situations +sheltered from the winds; one of the few fine days just before the +rushing in of winter. They had milked their cows, and had just turned +them out again, when they both sat down with their pails before them on +a log, which was in front of Malachi's lodge, now used as a cow-house. + +"Do you know, Mary," said Emma, after a pause, "I'm almost sorry that I +have received a letter from Miss Paterson." + +"Indeed, dear Emma!" + +"Yes, indeed it has unsettled me. I did nothing but dream all last +night. Every thing was recalled to my mind--all that I most wished to +forget. I fancied myself again engaged in all the pursuits of our +much-loved home; I was playing the harp, you were accompanying me on the +piano as usual; we walked out in the shrubberies; we took an airing in +the carriage; all the servants were before me; we went to the villages +and to the almshouses; we were in the garden picking dahlias and roses; +I was just going up to dress for a very large dinner-party, and had rung +the bell for Simpson, when I woke up, and found myself in a log-hut, +with my eyes fixed upon the rafters and bark covering of the roof, +thousands of miles from Wexton Hall, and half an hour longer in bed than +a dairy-maid should be." + +"I will confess, my dear Emma, that I passed much such a night; old +associations will rise up again when so forcibly brought to our +remembrance as they have been by Miss Paterson's letters, but I strove +all I could to banish them from my mind, and not indulge in useless +repining." + +"Repine, I do not, Mary, at least, I hope not, but one can not well help +regretting; I can not help remembering, as Macduff says, that 'such +things were.'" + +"He might well say so, Emma; for what had he lost? his wife and all his +children, ruthlessly murdered; but what have we lost in comparison? +nothing--a few luxuries. Have we not health and spirits? Have we not our +kind uncle and aunt, who have fostered us--our cousins so attached to +us? Had it not been for the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who have +brought us up as their own children, should we, poor orphans, have ever +been partakers of those luxuries which you now regret? Ought we not +rather to thank Heaven that circumstances have enabled us to show some +gratitude for benefits heaped upon us? How much greater are these +privations to my uncle and aunt now that they are so much more advanced +in years, and have been so much longer accustomed to competence and +ease; and shall we repine or even regret, unless it is on their account? +Surely, my dear Emma, not on our own." + +"I feel the truth of all you say, Mary," replied Emma; "nay, all that +you have now said passed in my own mind, and I have argued to myself in +almost the same words, but I fear that I am not quite so much of a +philosopher as you are; and, acknowledging that what you say is correct, +I still have the same feeling--that is, I wish that I had not received +the letter from Miss Paterson." + +"In that wish there can be no harm, for it is only wishing that you may +not be tempted to repine." + +"Exactly, my dear Mary; I am a daughter of Eve," replied Emma, laughing, +and rising from her seat; "I will put away Miss Paterson's letter, and I +dare say in a day or two I shall have forgotten all about it. Dear +Alfred, how glad I am that he is promoted; I shall call him Lieutenant +Campbell till he is sick of it. Come, Mary, or we shall be keeping my +uncle waiting; come, Juno." + +Emma's calling Juno to follow her, reminds me that I have not yet +introduced the dogs to my little readers, and as they will have to play +their parts in our history, I may as well do so at once. Captain +Sinclair, it may be remembered, had procured five dogs for Mr. Campbell +from the officers of the fort,--two terriers, which were named Trim and +Snob; Trim was a small dog and kept in the house, but Snob was a very +powerful bull-terrier, and very savage; a fox-hound bitch, the one which +Emma had just called Juno; Bully, a very fine young bull-dog, and +Sancho, an old pointer. At night, these dogs were tied up: Juno in the +store-house; Bully and Snob at the door of the house within the +palisade; Trim in doors, and old Sancho at the lodge of Malachi Bone, +where the cows were put in at night. Mr. Campbell found it rather +expensive at first feeding these dogs, but as soon as Martin and his +companions brought home game, there was always plenty for them all. They +were all very sharp and high-couraged dogs, for they had been born in +the fort and had been brought up to hunting every kind of game +indiscriminately; and I need hardly add that they were excellent +watch-dogs, and considered by Mr. Campbell as a great protection. For +the next two days, the family remained rather unsettled; there was so +much news in the newspapers; so many recollections brought up by their +perusal; so much to talk about and discuss, that very little work was +done. The weather, however, was now becoming much colder, and, for the +last two days the sun had not shone. The sky was of one uniform, murky, +solemn gray; and every thing announced that the winter was close at +hand. Martin, who had been hunting, when he came home bid them prepare +for an immediate change in the weather, and his prediction was speedily +verified. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +It was on the Saturday evening, when they had all assembled round the +fire, for it was more cold than it had hitherto been, that the moaning +of the wind among the trees of the forest announced a gale of wind from +the northward. + +"We shall have it soon," observed Martin, "winter mostly comes in with a +gale." + +"Yes; and this appears as if it would be a strong gale," replied Alfred. +"Hark! how the boughs of the trees are sawing and cracking against each +other." + +"I reckon we may get our snow-shoes out of the store-house, John," said +Martin, "and then we shall see how you can get over the ground with them +when you go hunting. You have not shot a moose yet." + +"Is the moose the same as the elk, Martin?" said Henry. + +"I do not think it is, sir; yet I've heard both names given to the +animal." + +"Have you ever shot any?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am; many a one. They're queer animals; they don't run like the +other deer, but they trot as fast as the others run, so it comes to the +same thing. They are very shy, and difficult to get near, except in the +heavy snow, and then their weight will not allow them to get over it, as +the lighter deer can; they sink up to their shoulders, and flounder +about till they are overtaken. You see, Master Percival, the moose can't +put on snow-shoes like we can, and gives us the advantage over the +animal." + +"Are they dangerous animals, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival. + +"Every large animal is more or less dangerous when it turns to bay, +miss. A moose's horns sometimes weigh fifty pounds, and it is a strong +animal to boot; but it can't do anything when the snow is deep. You'll +find it good eating, at all events, when we bring one in." + +"I'll bring one," said John, who was cleaning his rifle. + +"I dare say you will as soon as you can manage your snow-shoes," replied +Martin. "The wind is getting up higher. I guess you'll not find your way +back to Malachi's lodge, Master John, as you thought to do to-morrow +morning." + +"It is certainly a dreadful night," observed Mrs. Campbell; "and I feel +the cold very sensibly." + +"Yes, ma'am; but as soon as the snow is down, you'll be warmer." + +"It is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "so put away your +work: and, Henry, give me down the Bible." + +During that night the gale increased to almost a hurricane; the trees of +the forest clashed and crackled, groaned and sawed their long arms +against each other, creating an unusual and almost appalling noise; the +wind howled round the palisades and fluttered the strips of bark on the +roof, and as they all lay in bed, they could not sleep from the noise +outside, and the increased feeling of cold. It was also the first trial +of this new house in severe weather, and some of the wakeful party were +anxiously watching the result. Toward the morning the storm abated, and +every thing was again quiet. In consequence of the restless night which +they had passed they were not so early as usual. Emma and Mary, when +they came out of their room, found Martin and Alfred up and very busy +with shovels; and, to their astonishment, they perceived that the snow +was at least three feet deep on the ground, and in some places had been +drifted up higher than their heads. + +"Why, Alfred!" cried Emma; "how shall we be able to go after the cows +this morning? This is, indeed, winter come on with little warning." + +"It still snows," observed Mary; "not much, indeed, but the sky is very +black." + +"Yes, miss; we shall have some more of it yet," observed Martin. "Mr. +Campbell and Henry have gone to the store-house for more shovels, for we +must work hard, and clear a footpath, and then get the snow up against +the palisades." + +"What a sudden change," said Emma; "I wish the sky would clear, and then +I should not care." + +"It will to-morrow, Miss Emma, I dare say; but the snow must come down +first." + +Martin and Alfred had only time to clear a path to the store-house. Mr. +Campbell and Henry returned with more shovels, and as soon as breakfast +was over, they commenced work. As for Mary and Emma going to milk the +cows, that was impossible. Martin undertook that task until they had +cleared a pathway to the hunter's lodge, in which the animals were shut +up every night. + +By the advice of Martin, the snow next the palisades was piled up +against the palings like a wall, as high as they could reach or throw +it, by which means they got rid of the snow about the house, and at the +same time formed a barrier against the freezing winds which they had to +expect. All worked hard; Percival and John were of great use, and even +Mrs. Campbell and the girls assisted collecting the remainder of the +snow, and clearing it off the window-sills and other parts. By noon the +snow left off falling, the sky cleared up, and the sun shone bright, +although it gave out but little warmth. + +After dinner they renewed their labors, and commenced clearing away a +path to the lodge, where the cows were locked in, and before nightfall +they had accomplished their task as far as the bridge over the stream, +which was about half-way. It had been a day of great fatigue, and they +were glad to retire to rest. Mrs. Campbell and the girls had put an +additional supply of blankets and skins upon the beds, for the cold was +now intense, and the thermometer stood far below the freezing point. + +The following morning they resumed their task; the sky was still +unclouded, and the sun shone out clear and bright. By dinner-time the +path to the cow house had been completed; and the men then employed +themselves in carrying as much fire-wood as they could, before it was +dark, within the palisades. + +"Well," observed Alfred, "now things may go on as usual within doors; +and what have we to do out, Martin?" + +"You must first get on your snow-shoes, and learn to walk in them," +observed Martin; "or otherwise you'll be a prisoner as well as the +ladies. You see, John, you're not at Malachi's lodge." + +"Go to-morrow," replied John. + +"No; not to-morrow, for I must go with you," said Martin; "I can not +trust you for finding your way; and I can not go to-morrow nor the next +day either. We must kill our beef to-morrow; there's no fear but it will +keep all the winter now, and we shall save our hay." + +"My larder is but poorly furnished," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Never mind, ma'am, we'll soon have something in it, which will save our +beef. In another week you shall have it well stocked." + +"John," said Mr. Campbell, "recollect you must not go away without +Martin." + +"I won't," replied John. + +All the game in the larder having been consumed, they sat down to salt +pork and some of the fish which had been cured. The latter was +pronounced to be excellent. + +"What is the name of this fish, Martin?" + +"It is called the white-fish," replied Martin, "and I have heard gentry +from the old country say that they have none better, if any so good." + +"It is certainly most excellent," replied Mr. Campbell, "and we will not +forget to have a good provision for next winter, if it please God to +spare our lives." + +"Where were you born, Martin?" said Henry, as they were sitting round +the kitchen fire, as usual in the evening. + +"Why, Mr. Henry, I was born at Quebec. My father was a corporal in the +army under General Wolfe, and was wounded in the great battle fought +between him and the Frenchman Montcalm." + +"In which both generals were killed, but the victory was to us." + +"So I've heard, sir," replied Martin. "My mother was an English woman, +and I was born about four years after the surrender of Quebec. My mother +died soon afterward, but my father was alive about five years ago, I +believe. I can't exactly say, as I was for three or four years in the +employ of the Fur Company, and when I returned, I found that he was +dead." + +"And you have been a hunter all your life?" + +"Not all my life, and not exactly a hunter. I call myself a trapper, but +I still am both. I first was out with the Indians when I was about +fourteen, for you see my father wanted to make me a drummer, and I could +not stand that; so I said to him, 'Father, I won't be a drummer.' +'Well,' says he, 'Martin, you must help yourself, for all my interest +lies in the army.' 'So I will,' says I; 'father, I'm off for the woods.' +'Well,' says he, 'just as you like, Martin.' So one fine day I wished +him good-by, and did not see him again for more than two years." + +"Well, and what took place then?" + +"Why, I brought home three or four packages of good skins, and sold them +well. Father was so pleased, that he talked of turning trapper himself, +but, as I told the old man, a man with a lame leg--for he had been +wounded in the leg and halted--would not make his livelihood by hunting +in the woods of Canada." + +"Was your father still in the army?" + +"No, ma'am, he was not in the army; but he was employed in the +storekeeper's department; they gave him the berth on account of his +wound." + +"Well, go on, Martin." + +"I haven't much more to say, ma'am, I brought home my furs, sold them, +and father helped me to spend the money as long as he was alive, and +very welcome he was to his share. I felt rather queer when I came back +from the Fur Company and found that the old man was dead, for I had +looked forward with pleasure to the old man's welcome, and his enjoying +his frolic with me as usual." + +"I'm afraid those frolics were not very wise, Martin." + +"No, sir, they were very foolish, I believe; but I fear it will always +be the case with us trappers. We are like sailors, we do not know what +to do with money when we get it; so we throw it away, and the sooner the +better, for it is our enemy while we have it. I assure you, sir, that I +used to feel quite happy when all my money was gone, and I was setting +off to the woods again. It's a hard life, but a life that unfits you +for any other; a life which you become very fond of. I don't mind being +here with you by way of a change; indeed, as long as there is hunting, +it is almost as good as if I were in the woods, but else I think I shall +die a trapper." + +"But, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "how much more wise would it be to put +your money by, and after a time purchase a farm and settle down a steady +man with property, perhaps married and the father of a family." + +"Perhaps it might be; but if I do not like it so well as trapping, I +don't see why I should do so; it would be changing my life to please +others and not myself." + +"That's very true, Martin," said Alfred, laughing. + +"Perhaps Martin may change his mind before he is an old man," replied +Mrs. Campbell. "Dear me! what noise was that?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, +as a melancholy howl was heard without. + +"Only a rascally wolf, ma'am," said Martin; "we must expect the animals +to be about us now that the snow has fallen, and the winter has set in." + +"A wolf! are they not dangerous, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival. + +"That depends, miss, how hungry they may be; but they are not very fond +of attacking a human being; if we had any sheep outside, I fancy that +they would stand a bad chance." + +The howl was repeated, when one or two of the dogs which had been +admitted into the house and were stretched before the fire, roused up +and growled. + +"They hear him, ma'am, and if we were to let them out, would soon be at +him. No, no, John, sit still and put down your rifle; we can't afford to +hurt wolves; their skins won't fetch a half-dollar, and their flesh is +not fit for a clog, let alone a Christian. Let the vermin howl till he +is tired; he'll be off to the woods again before daylight." + +"There is certainly something very melancholy and dreadful to me in that +howl," said Emma; "it frightens me." + +"What, Emma, afraid?" said Alfred, going to her; "why yes, really she +trembles; why, my dear Emma, do you recollect how frightened you and +Mary were at the noise of the frogs when you first came here; you got +used to it very soon, and so you will to the howl of a wolf." + +"There is some difference, Alfred," replied Emma, shuddering as the howl +was repeated. "I don't know how it is," said she, rallying her spirits, +"but I believe it was reading Little Red Riding Hood when I was a child, +which has given me such a horror of a wolf; I shall get over it very +soon, I have no doubt." + +"I must say, that it does not create the most agreeable sensation in my +mind," observed Mrs. Campbell, "but I was aware of what we were to +encounter when we came here, and if it is only to be annoyed with the +cry of a wild beast, we may consider that we get off very cheaply." + +"I should feel much more at ease, if all the rifles were loaded," said +Mary Percival, in her usual quiet way. + +[Illustration: LADY-MILKMAIDS.] + +"And I too," said Emma. + +"Well, then, if that will at all relieve your minds, it is easily done," +said Mr. Campbell; "let us all load our rifles, and put them back in +their rests." + +"Mine's loaded," said John. + +"And the rest soon shall be," said Alfred, "even the three appropriated +for your use, mother and cousins. Now don't you feel some satisfaction +in knowing you can load and fire them yourselves? the practice you had +during the fine weather has not been thrown away, has it, dear Emma?" + +"No, it has not, and I am very glad that I did learn it; I am a coward +in apprehension, Alfred, but, perhaps, if I was put to the test, I +should behave better." + +"That I really believe," replied Alfred; "a gale of wind at sea sounds +very awful when down below jerking about in your hammock, but when on +deck, you don't care a fig about it. Now the rifles are all loaded, and +we may go to bed and sleep sound." They did retire to rest, but all +parties did not sleep very sound; the howling of one wolf was answered +by another; Emma and Mary embraced each other, and shuddered as they +heard the sounds, and it was long before they forgot their alarm and +were asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The next morning was bright and clear, and when Emma and Mary went out, +attended by Alfred, to go and milk the cows, although the cold was +intense, every thing looked so brilliant and sparkling in the sunshine +that they regained their spirits. The lake was still unfrozen, and its +waters, which were of an azure blue, contrasted with the whole of the +country covered with snow, and the spruce firs with their branches +loaded presented an alternate layer of pure white and of the darkest +green. Birds there were none to be seen or heard. All was quiet, so +quiet that as they stepped along the path which had been cleared away to +the cow-house, they almost started at the sound of their own voices, +which the atmosphere rendered more peculiarly sonorous and ringing. +Alfred had his rifle on his shoulder, and walked in front of his +cousins. + +"I have come to prove that all your fears are groundless, my dear Emma, +and that you need not have any alarm about a skulking, cowardly wolf," +said Alfred. + +"Well, that may be," replied Emma, "but still we are very glad of your +company." + +They arrived at the cow-house without any adventure, let loose Sancho, +who had been tied up, as it was decided that the dog should remain at +home with the others, and proceded to milk the cows. Having finished +that task and supplied them with fodder, Mary Percival observed, as they +were retracing their steps, + +"I must say that it would not only be more convenient but more agreeable +if the cows were kept nearer to the house." + +"It would be certainly," replied Alfred. "It is a pity that there is not +a cow-shed within the palisades; but we have no means of making one at +present. Next year, when my father has purchased his horses and his +sheep, which he talks of doing, we are to build a regular yard and sheds +for all the animals close to the house, and palisaded round as the house +now is, with a passage from one palisade to the other. Then it will be +very convenient; but 'Rome was not built in a day,' as the proverb says; +and we must, therefore, wait another winter." + +"And be devoured by the wolves in the mean time," replied Emma, +laughing. + +"Why, you are getting over your fright already, Emma." + +"Yes; I feel pretty bold, now I think there is nothing to be afraid of." + +The remainder of the week was passed away in practicing upon the +snow-shoes by the males of the party, the women scarcely ever venturing +out of doors, as the cold was very severe. Mary and Emma were +accompanied by Alfred for the first three or four days; and after that, +notwithstanding that the howling of the wolves was heard every night, +they took courage when they found that the animals never made their +appearance by daylight, and went as before to milk the cows by +themselves. On the Saturday, they were in the hopes of seeing old +Malachi Bone, but he did not make his appearance, and John, who could +now get on very well in his snow-shoes, became very impatient. Alfred +and Martin were also very anxious to see the old man, that they might +ascertain if he had made any discoveries relative to the Indians. +Sunday, as usual, was a day of rest from labor; the services were read +by Mr. Campbell, and the evening passed in serious conversation. Mr. +Campbell, although usually in good spirits, was certainly not so on that +evening: whether it was that the severity of the winter which had set in +and the known long duration of it which they had to encounter had an +effect upon his spirits, he was melancholy as well as serious. He more +than once referred to the former residence when in England, which was a +very unusual thing for him to do, and by degrees the conversation was +turned in that direction, and, although no one said so, they all felt +what a change there was in their present position from that which they +had been forced to leave. Mrs. Campbell, who perceived that a gloom was +gathering over the whole party, made several remarks tending to +reconcile them to their present lot, and, after a time Mr. Campbell +observed-- + +"Perhaps, my dear children, it may be a divine mercy which has sent you +here to this wilderness; true it is that we are removed from +civilization, and shut up here by a severe winter, deprived of the +enjoyments and pleasures which are to be found in the society which we +were compelled to leave; but let us also bear in mind that we are +removed from the many temptations which might have there assailed us." + +"But still, papa, you would be very glad if circumstances would permit +us to return to England; would you not?" said Percival. + +"Yes, my child, I should, and even if I had remained here so long as to +have become attached to the place and to the isolation which at first is +felt so irksome, I would still return to England and to society, if I +had the means. As Christians, we are not to fly from the world and its +temptations, but to buckle on our armor, and putting our trust in Him +who will protect us, fight the good fight; that is, doing our duty in +that state of life to which it shall please God to call us." + +"But if ever we were to return to England, there would be no chance of +our living as we did before we left it, would there, papa?" + +"I see none, my dear boy; but we never know what is in store for us. +Should any of us ever return, I presume it would be to live in a more +humble way; and for my part, I should prefer that it were so, for +although I trust I did not greatly misuse that wealth which I so long +supposed to be mine, I should not be sorry to have much less, and +therefore less responsibility." + +"Indeed, my dear Campbell, imperfect as we all are, I do not believe +that many could have made a better use of it than you did." + +"I thought so at the time, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell, "but since it +has been lost to me, I have often thought that I might have done more +good with it. But the fact is, my dear children, there is nothing so +dangerous to our eternal welfare as great wealth; it tends to harden the +heart by affording the means of constant self-indulgence:--under such +circumstances, man is apt to become selfish, easily satisfied with his +own works, and too proud to see his errors. Did you observe in the +Litany, which I read at this morning's service, how very appropriately +is inserted the prayer, for deliverance under the perils of wealth?-- + +"'In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our _wealth_, in the +hour of death, and in the day of judgment, good Lord deliver us.' + +"Examine this, my dear children: in all time of our tribulation,--that +is in poverty and distress, and perhaps famishing from want (and in few +positions are people so incited to crime), _then_ in all time of our +wealth, evidently and distinctly placing wealth as more dangerous to the +soul's welfare than the extremest poverty and its accompanying +temptations; and observe, only exceeded by the most critical of all +dangerous positions, when all has been done and nothing can be +undone,--the hour of death, followed by the day of judgment." + +Mr. Campbell ceased speaking, and there was a pause for a minute or two +in the conversation, when Mary Percival said, "What, then, my dear +uncle, do you consider as the most enviable position in life?" + +"I consider a moderate independence as the most enviable; not occupied +in trade, as the spirit of barter is too apt to make us bend to that +which is actually fraud. I should say, a country gentleman living on his +own property and among his own tenants, employing the poor around him, +holds a position in which he has the least temptation to do wrong, and +the most opportunities of doing good." + +"I agree with you, my dear Campbell," said his wife; "and yet how few +are satisfied even with that lot." + +"Because the craving after wealth is so strong, that every one would +have more than he hath, and few men will be content. The desire of +aggrandizement overcomes and masters us; and yet what can be more absurd +than to witness the care and anxiety of those to gain riches, who have +already more perhaps than is necessary for their wants,--thus 'heaping +up riches, not knowing who may gather them,' and endangering the soul to +obtain that which they must leave behind them when they die. Others +amass wealth, not actuated by the avarice of hoarding it up, but by the +appetite for expending it; who collect unjustly that they may lavish +profusely; these are equally foolish, and how important is that lesson +given in the Scriptures." Mr. Campbell opened the Bible which lay before +him and read-- + + "And he spake a parable unto them. The ground of a certain rich + man brought forth plentifully. + + "And he said, What shall I do? because I have no room where to + bestow my fruits. + + "And he said: This will I do; I will pull down my barns and build + greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. + + "And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up + for many years, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry. + + "But God said unto him: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be + required of thee." + +After a short silence, Mrs. Campbell observed, "I have often reflected +since I have been here upon what might have been our position had we +decided upon remaining in England. We might at this moment have been in +the greatest distress, even wanting a meal; and I have, therefore, often +thanked God that He left us the means of coming here and providing for +ourselves as we have done, and as I have no doubt shall, with His +blessing, continue to do. How much better off are we at this moment than +many thousands of our countrymen who remain in England! How many are +starving! How many are driven into crime from want! while we have a good +roof over our heads, sufficient clothing and more than sufficient food. +We have, therefore, great reason to thank God for the mercies He has +vouchsafed to us; He has heard our prayer, 'Give us this day our daily +bread.'" "Yes," continued Mr. Campbell, "'Give us this day our daily +bread,' is all that we are taught to ask for; and it comprehends all; +and yet how heartlessly is this pronounced by many of those who do +repeat their daily prayers. So is the blessing asked at meals, which is +by too many considered as a mere matter of form. They forget, that He +who gives can also take away; and in their presumption, suppose their +own ability and exertion to have been the sole means of procuring +themselves a daily supply of food; thanking themselves rather than the +Giver of all good. How many thousands are there who have been supplied +with more than they require from their cradle down to their grave, +without any grateful feeling toward Heaven; considering the butcher and +baker as their providers, and the debt canceled as soon as the bills are +paid. How different must be the feeling of the poor cottager, who is +uncertain whether his labor may procure him and his family a meal for +the morrow, who often suffers privation and hunger, and, what is more +painful, witnesses the sufferings of those he loves. How earnest must be +his prayer when he cries, 'Give us this day our daily bread.'" + +This conversation had a very strong effect upon the party, and when they +retired to rest, which they did shortly after, they laid their heads +upon their pillows not only with resignation, but with thankfulness for +the mercies which had been vouchsafed to them, and felt that in the +wilderness they were under the eye of a watchful and gracious +Providence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +On the Monday morning Alfred and Martin went to the cow-house, and +slaughtered the bullock which they had obtained from the commandant of +the fort. When it was skinned it was cut up, and carried to the +storehouse, where it was hung up for their winter consumption. + +As the party were sitting down to dinner, they were greeted by Captain +Sinclair and a young lieutenant of the garrison. It hardly need be said +that the whole family were delighted to see them. They had come overland +on their snow-shoes, and brought some partridges, or grouse, as they are +sometimes called, which they had shot on their way. Captain Sinclair had +obtained leave from the commandant to come over and see how the +Campbells were getting on. He had no news of any importance, as they had +had no recent communications with Quebec or Montreal; all was well at +the fort, and Colonel Forster had sent his compliments, and begged, if +he could be useful, that they would let him know. Captain Sinclair and +his friend sat down to dinner, and talked more than they ate, asking +questions about every thing. + +"By the by, Mr. Campbell, where have you built your pig-sties?" + +"Inside the palisade, next to the fowl-house." + +"That is well," replied Captain Sinclair, "for otherwise you may be +troubled by the wolves, who are very partial to pork or mutton." + +"We _have_ been troubled with them," replied Emma; "at least with their +howlings at night, which make me tremble as I lie awake in bed." + +"Never mind their howling, Miss Emma; we have plenty of them round the +fort, I can assure you; unless attacked, they will not attack you, at +least, I never knew an instance, although I must confess that I have +heard of them." + +"You will, of course, sleep here to-night?" + +"Yes: we will, if you have a bear or buffalo skin to spare," replied +Captain Sinclair. + +"We will manage it, I have no doubt," said Mr. Campbell. + +"And if you could manage, Captain Sinclair," said Emma, somewhat archly, +"as you say that they are not dangerous animals, to bring us a few skins +to-night, it would make the matter easy." + +"Emma, how can you talk such nonsense?" cried Mary Percival. "Why should +you ask a guest to undertake such a service? Why have you not proposed +it to Alfred or Henry, or even Martin?" + +"We will both try, if you please," replied Alfred. + +"I must put my veto on any such attempts, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell. +"We have sufficient danger to meet without running into it voluntarily, +and we have no occasion for wolves' skins just now. I shall, however, +venture to ask your assistance to-morrow morning. We wish to haul up the +fishing-punt before the ice sets in on the lake, and we are not +sufficiently strong-handed." + +During the day Captain Sinclair took Alfred aside to know if the old +hunter had obtained any information relative to the Indians. Alfred +replied that they expected him every day, but as yet had not received +any communication from him. Captain Sinclair stated that they were +equally ignorant at the fort as to what had been finally arranged, and +that Colonel Forster was in hopes that the hunter would by this time +have obtained some intelligence. + +"I should not be surprised if Malachi Bone were to come here to-morrow +morning," replied Alfred. "He has been away a long while, and, I am +sure, is as anxious to have John with him as John is impatient to go." + +"Well, I hope he will; I shall be glad to have something to tell the +Colonel, as I made the request upon that ground. I believe, however, +that he was very willing that I should find an excuse for coming here, +as he is more anxious about your family than I could have supposed. How +well your cousin Mary is looking." + +"Yes; and so is Emma, I think. She has grown half a head since she left +England. By the by, you have to congratulate me on my obtaining my rank +as lieutenant." + +"I do indeed, my dear fellow," replied Captain Sinclair. "They will be +pleased to hear it at the fort. When will you come over?" + +"As soon as I can manage to trot a little faster on these snow-shoes. +If, however, the old hunter does not come to-morrow, I will go to the +fort as soon as he brings us any news." + +The accession to their party made them all very lively, and the evening +passed away very agreeably. At night, Captain Sinclair and Mr. Gwynne +were ushered into the large bedroom, where all the younger male portion +of the family slept, and which, as we before stated, had two spare +bed-places. + +The next morning, Captain Sinclair would have accompanied the Miss +Percivals on their milking expedition, but as his services were required +to haul up the fishing punt, he was obliged to go down, with all the +rest of the men, to assist; Percival and John were the only ones left at +home with Mrs. Campbell. John, after a time, having, as usual, rubbed +down his rifle, threw it on his shoulder, and, calling the dogs which +lay about, sallied forth for a walk, followed by the whole pack except +old Sancho, who invariably accompanied the girls to the cow-house. + +Mary and Emma tripped over the new-beaten snow-path to the cow-house, +merry and cheerful, with their pails in their hands, Emma laughing at +Captain Sinclair's disappointment at not being permitted to accompany +them. They had just arrived at the cow-house, when old Sancho barked +furiously, and sprang to the side of the building behind them, and in a +moment afterward rolled down the snowheap which he had sprung over, +holding on and held fast by a large black wolf. The struggle was not +very long, and during the time that it lasted the girls were so +panic-struck, that they remained like statues within two yards of the +animals. Gradually the old dog was overpowered by the repeated snapping +bites of the wolf, yet he fought nobly to the last, when he dropped +under the feet of the wolf, his tongue hanging out, and bleeding +profusely and lifeless. As soon as his adversary was overpowered, the +enraged animal, with his feet upon the body of the dog, bristling his +hair and showing his powerful teeth, was evidently about to attack the +young women. Emma threw her arm around Mary's waist, advancing her body +so as to save her sister. Mary attempted the same, and then they +remained waiting in horror for the expected spring of the animal, when +of a sudden the other dogs came rushing forward, cheered on by John, and +flew upon the animal. Their united strength soon tore him down to the +ground, and John coming up, as the wolf defended himself against his new +assailants, put the muzzle of his rifle to the animal's head, and shot +it dead. + +The two sisters had held up during the whole of this alarming struggle; +but as soon as they perceived the wolf was dead and that they were safe, +Mary could stand no longer, and sank down on her knees, supporting her +sister, who had become insensible. + +If John showed gallantry in shooting the wolf, he certainly showed very +little toward his cousins. He looked at Mary, nodded his head toward the +wolf's body, and saying "He's dead," shouldered his rifle, turned round +and walked back to the house. + +On his return he found that the party had just come back from hauling up +the punt, and were waiting the return of the Miss Percivals to go to +breakfast. + +"Was that you who fired just now, John?" said Martin. + +"Yes," replied John. + +"What did you fire at?" said Alfred. + +"A wolf," replied John. + +"A wolf! where?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"At the cow-lodge," replied John. + +"The cow-lodge!" said his father. + +"Yes; killed Sancho!" + +"Killed Sancho! why, Sancho was with your cousins!" + +"Yes," replied John. + +"Then, where did you leave them?" + +"With the wolf," replied John, wiping his rifle very coolly. + +"Merciful Heaven!" cried Mr. Campbell, as Mrs. Campbell turned pale; and +Alfred, Captain Sinclair, Martin, and Henry, seizing their rifles, +darted out from the house, and ran with all speed in the direction of +the cow-house. + +"My poor girls!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Wolf's dead, father," said John. + +"Dead! Why didn't you say so, you naughty boy!" cried Mrs. Campbell. + +"I wasn't asked," replied John. + +In the meantime the other party had gained the cow-house; and, to their +horror, beheld the wolf and dog dead, and the two young women lying on +the snow, close to the two animals; for Mary had fainted away shortly +after John had walked off. They rushed toward the bodies of the two +girls, and soon discovered that they were not hurt. In a short time they +were recovered, and were supported by the young men to the house. + +As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Campbell took them into their room, that +they might rally their spirits, and in a quarter of an hour returned to +the party outside, who eagerly inquired how they were. + +"They are much more composed," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and Emma has +begun to laugh again; but her laugh is rather hysterical and forced; +they will come out at dinner-time. It appears they are indebted to John +for their preservation, for they say the wolf was about to spring upon +them when he came to their assistance. We ought to be very grateful to +Heaven for their preservation. I had no idea, after what Martin said +about the wolves, that they were so dangerous." + +"Why, ma'am, it is I that am most to blame, and that's the fact," +replied Martin. "When we killed the bullock I threw the offal on the +heap of snow close to the cow-lodge, meaning that the wolves and other +animals might eat it at night, but it seems this animal was hungry, and +had not left his meal when the dog attacked him, and that made the beast +so _rily_ and savage." + +"Yes; it was the fault of Martin and me," replied Alfred. "Thank Heaven +it's no worse!" + +"So far from it being a subject of regret, I consider it one of +thankfulness," replied Mr. Campbell. "This might have happened when +there was no one to assist, and our dear girls might have been torn to +pieces. Now that we know the danger, we may guard against it for the +future." + +"Yes, sir," replied Martin; "in future some of us will drive the cows +home, to be milked every morning and evening; inside the palisade there +will be no danger. Master John, you have done well. You see, ma'am," +continued Martin, "what I said has come true. A rifle in the hands of a +child is as deadly a weapon as in the hands of a strong man." + +"Yes; if courage and presence of mind attend its use," replied Mr. +Campbell. "John, I am very much pleased with your conduct." + +"Mother called me naughty," replied John, rather sulkily. + +"Yes, John, I called you naughty, for not telling us the wolf was dead, +and leaving us to suppose your cousins were in danger; not for killing +the wolf. Now I kiss you, and thank you for your bravery and good +conduct." + +"I shall tell all the officers at the fort what a gallant little fellow +you are, John," said Captain Sinclair; "there are very few of them who +have shot a wolf, and what is more, John, I have a beautiful dog, which +one of the officers gave me the other day in exchange for a pony, and I +will bring it over, and make it a present to you for your own dog. He +will hunt any thing, and he is very powerful--quite able to master a +wolf, if you meet with one. He is half mastiff and half Scotch +deerhound, and he stands as high as this," continued Captain Sinclair, +holding his hand about as high as John's shoulder. + +"I'll go to the fort with you," said John, "and bring him back." + +"So you shall, John, and I'll go with you," said Martin, "if master +pleases." + +"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "I think he may; what with Martin, his own +rifle, and the dog, John will, I trust be safe enough." + +"Certainly, I have no objection," said Mrs. Campbell, "and many thanks +to you, Captain Sinclair." + +"What's the dog's name?" said John. + +"Oscar," replied Captain Sinclair. "If you let him walk out with your +cousins, they need not fear a wolf. He will never be mastered by one, as +poor Sancho was." + +"I'll lend him sometimes," replied John. + +"Always; when you don't want him yourself, John." + +"Yes, always," replied John, who was going out of the door. + +"Where are you going, dear," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Going to skin the wolf," replied John, walking away. + +"Well, he'll be a regular keen hunter," observed Martin, "I dare say old +Bone has taught him to flay an animal. However, I'll go and help him, +for it's a real good skin." So saying, Martin followed John. + +"Martin ought to have known better than to leave the offal where he +did," observed Captain Sinclair. + +"We must not be too hard, Captain Sinclair," said Alfred. "Martin has a +contempt for wolves, and that wolf would not have stood his ground had +it been a man instead of two young women who were in face of him. Wolves +are very cunning, and I know will attack a woman or child when they will +fly from a man. Besides, it is very unusual for a wolf to remain till +daylight, even when there is offal to tempt him. It was the offal, the +animal's extreme hunger, and the attack of the dog--a combination of +circumstances--which produced the event. I do not see that Martin can be +blamed, as one can not foresee every thing." + +"Perhaps not," replied Captain Sinclair, "and 'all's well that ends +well.'" + +"Are there any other animals to fear?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"The bear is now safe for the winter in the hollow of some tree or under +some root, where he has made a den. It will not come out till the +spring. The catamount or panther is a much more dangerous animal than +the wolf; but it is scarce. I do think, however, that the young ladies +should not venture out, unless with some rifles in company, for fear of +another mischance. We have plenty of lynxes here; but I doubt if they +would attack even a child, although they fight when assailed, and bite +and claw severely." + +The Misses Percival now made their appearance. Emma was very merry, but +Mary rather grave. Captain Sinclair, having shaken hands with them both, +said-- + +"Why, Emma, you appear to have recovered sooner than your sister!" + +"Yes," replied Emma; "but I was much more frightened than she was, and +she supported me, or I should have fallen at the wolf's feet. I yielded +to my fears; Mary held up against hers; so, as her exertions were much +greater than mine, she has not recovered from them so soon. The fact is, +Mary is brave when there is danger, and I am only brave when there is +none." + +"I was quite as much frightened as you, my dear Emma," said Mary +Percival; "but we must now help our aunt, and get dinner ready on the +table." + +"I can not say that I have a wolfish appetite this morning," replied +Emma, laughing; "but Alfred will eat for me and himself too." + +In a few minutes dinner was on the table, and they all sat down without +waiting for Martin and John, who were still busy skinning the wolf. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +"Here come Martin and John at last," said Mr. Campbell, after they had +been about a quarter of an hour at table. + +But he was mistaken; instead of Martin and John, Malachi Bone made his +appearance, and, to their surprise, accompanied by his young squaw, the +Strawberry Plant. + +Every one rose to welcome them, and the Misses Percival went to their +little female acquaintance, and would have made her sit down with them, +but she refused and took her seat on the floor near the fire. + +"She ain't used to chairs and stools, miss; let her be where she is," +said old Bone, "she'll be more comfortable, and that's what you want +her to be, I'm sure. I brought her with me, because I could not carry +all the venison myself, and also to show her the way in and out of the +house, and how it is fastened, in case of sending a message by night." + +"Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. Campbell, with surprise, +"why, what possible occasion could there be for that?" + +Captain Sinclair and Alfred, who perceived that the old hunter had said +too much, were quite at a loss what to say. They did not like to +frighten Mrs. Campbell and the girls about the Indians, especially as +they had just been so much alarmed with the accident of the morning. At +last Alfred replied, "The fact is, my dear mother, that 'forewarned is +being forearmed,' as the saying is; and I told Martin to request Malachi +Bone, if he should hear of any Indians being about or near us, to let us +know immediately." + +"Yes, ma'am, that is the whole story," continued Malachi. "It's the best +plan, when you're in the woods, always to have your rifle loaded." + +Mrs. Campbell and the girls were evidently not a little fluttered at +this fresh intimation of danger. Captain Sinclair perceived it, and +said, "We have always spies on the look-out at the fort, that we may +know where the Indians are and what they are about. Last month, we know +that they held a council, but that it broke up without their coming to +any determination, and that no hostile feeling was expressed so far as +we could ascertain. But we never trust the Indians, and they, knowing +that we watch them, have been very careful not to commit any outrages; +they have not done so for a long while, nor do I think they will venture +again. At the same time, we like to know where they are, and I requested +Alfred to speak to Malachi Bone, to send us immediately word if he heard +or saw any thing of them: not, however, that I intended that the ladies +should be wakened up in the middle of the night," continued Captain +Sinclair, laughing; "that was not at all necessary." + +Malachi Bone would have responded, but Alfred pinched his arm; the old +man understood what was meant, and held his tongue; at last he said-- + +"Well, well, there's no harm done, it's just as well that the Strawberry +should know her way about the location, if it's only to know where the +dogs are, in case she comes of a message." + +"No, no," replied Mr. Campbell, "I'm glad that she is come, and hope she +will come very often. Now, Malachi, sit down and eat something." + +"Well, but about the Indians, Captain Sinclair,--" said Mrs. Campbell; +"that you have not told us all I am certain, and the conviction that +such is the case, will make me and the girls very uneasy; so pray do +treat us as we ought to be treated; we share the danger, and we ought to +know what the danger is." + +"I do not think that there is any danger, Mrs. Campbell," replied +Captain Sinclair, "unless Malachi has further information to give us. I +do, however, perfectly agree with you, that you ought to know all that +we know, and am quite ready to enter upon the subject, trifling as it +is." + +"So I presume it must be, my dear," observed Mr. Campbell, "for I have +as yet known nothing about the matter. So pray, Captain Sinclair, +instruct us all." + +Captain Sinclair then stated what he had before mentioned to Alfred, and +having so done, and pointed out that there was no occasion for alarm, he +requested Malachi Bone would say if he had any further information. + +"The Injuns did meet as you say, and they could not agree, so they broke +up, and are now all out upon their hunting and trapping for furs. But +there's one thing I don't exactly feel comfortable about, which is that +the 'Angry Snake,' as he is called, who was at the 'talk,' and was +mighty venomous against the English, has squatted for the winter +somewhere hereabout." + +"The Angry Snake," said Captain Sinclair. "Is that the chief who served +with the French, and wears a medal?" + +"The very same, sir. He's not a chief though; he was a very good warrior +in his day, and the French were very partial to him, as he served them +well; but he is no chief, although he was considered as a sort of one +from the consequence he obtained with the French. He is an old man now, +and a very bitter one. Many's the Englishman that he has tied to the +stake, and tortured during the war; He hates us, and is always stirring +up the Injuns to make war with us; but his day is gone by, and they do +not heed him at the council now." + +"Then, why are you uncomfortable about him?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Because he has taken up his quarters for the winter hunting not far +from us, with six or seven of the young warriors, who look up to him, +and he is mischievous. If the Injun nation won't make war, he will do +something on his own account, if he possibly can. He's not badly named, +I can tell you." + +"Will he attack you?" + +"Me! no, no; he knows better. He knows my rifle well; he has the mark on +his body; not but that he would if he dared, but I am Injun myself, and +know Injun craft. Then you see, these people have strange ideas. During +the whole war they never could even hit me with their rifles, and they +think I am not to be hurt--that's their superstition--and my rifle, they +think, never misses (they're almost right there, for it does not once in +a hundred times), so what with this and that, they fear me as a +supernatural, as we call it. But that's not the case with you all here; +and if the Snake could creep within these palisades, he might be +mischievous." + +"But the tribes know very well that any attack of this kind would be +considered as a declaration of hostilities," said Captain Sinclair, "and +that we should retaliate." + +"Yes; but you see the Snake don't belong to these tribes about us; his +nation is much further off,--too far to go for redress; and the tribes +here, although they allow him to join the 'talk' as an old warrior who +had served against the English and from respect to his age, do not +acknowledge him or his doings. They would disavow them immediately and +with truth, but they can not prevent his doing mischief." + +"What, then, is the redress in case of his doing any mischief?" said +Henry. + +"Why, upon him and his band, whenever you can find them. You may +destroy them all, and the Injuns here won't say a word, or make any +complaint. That's all that can be done; and that's what I will do; I +mean to tell him so, when I meet him. He fears me, and so do his men; +they think me medicine." + +"Medicine! What is that?" said Henry. + +"It means that he has a charmed life," replied Captain Sinclair. "The +Indians are very superstitious." + +"Yes, they be; well, perhaps, I'll prove medicine; and I'll give them a +pill or two out of my rifle," said Malachi, with a grim smile. +"Howsomever, I'll soon learn more about them, and will let you know when +I do. Just keep your palisade gates fast at night and the dogs inside of +them, and at any time I'll give you warning. If I am on their trail the +Strawberry shall come, and that's why I brought her here. If you hear +three knocks outside the palisade at any hour of the night, why, it will +be her, so let her in." + +"Well," said Mrs. Campbell, "I'm very glad that you have told me all +this; now I know what we have to expect, I shall be more courageous and +much more on my guard." + +"I think we have done wisely in letting you know all we knew ourselves," +said Captain Sinclair. "I must soon take my leave, as I must be at the +fort before sunset. Martin and John are to come with me, and bring back +the dog." + +"Ain't the boy going with me?" said Malachi. + +"Yes; to-morrow morning he may go, but after his return from the fort it +will be too late." + +"Well, then, I may as well stay here," replied Malachi. "Where is he?" + +"He is gone to skin a wolf, which he shot this morning," replied Alfred. +"He will soon be here." + +Mrs. Campbell shortly related to Malachi the adventure of the wolf. The +old hunter listened in silence, and then gave a nod of approbation. + +"I reckon he'll bring home more skins than that this winter," said he. + +The party then rose just as Martin and John made their appearance. +Captain Sinclair conversed with the Misses Percival, while the old +hunter spoke to the Strawberry Plant in her own dialect; the others +either went out or were busy in clearing the table, till Captain +Sinclair took his departure with John and Martin, each armed with a +rifle. + +"Well, this has been an exciting day," observed Mr. Campbell, a little +before they retired to bed. "We have much to thank God for, and great +reason to pray for His continued protection and assistance. God bless +you all, my children; good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +The next morning, a little after daybreak, Martin and John made their +appearance, leading the magnificent dog which Captain Sinclair had given +to John. Like most large dogs, Oscar appeared to be very good-tempered, +and treated the snarling and angry looks of the other dogs with perfect +contempt. + +"It is, indeed, a noble animal," said Mr. Campbell, patting its head. + +"It's a fine creature," observed Malachi, "a wolf would stand no chance +against him, and even a bear would have more on its hands than it could +well manage I expect; but, come here, boy," said the old hunter to John, +leading the dog outside of the door. + +"You'd better leave the dog, John," said Malachi, "the crittur will be +of use here, but of no good to us." + +John made no reply, and the hunter continued-- + +"I say it will be of use here, for the girls might meet with another +wolf, or the house might be attacked; but good hunters don't want dogs. +Is it to watch for us, and give us notice of danger? Why that's our +duty, and we must trust to ourselves, and not to an animal. Is it to +hunt for us? Why no dog can take a deer so well as we can with our +rifles; a dog may discover us when we wish to be hidden; a dog's track +will mark us out when we would wish our track to be doubted. The animal +will be of no utility ever to us, John, and may do us harm, 'specially +now the snow's on the ground. In the summer-time, you can take him and +teach him how to behave as a hunter's dog should behave; but we had +better leave him now, and start at once." + +John nodded his head in assent, and then went in-doors. + +"Good-by," said John, going up to his mother and cousins; "I shall not +take the dog." + +"Won't take the dog! well, that's very kind of you, John," said Mary, +"for we were longing to have him to protect us." + +John shouldered his rifle, made a sign to Strawberry Plant, who rose, +and looking kindly at Mrs. Campbell and the girls, without speaking, +followed John out of the hut. Malachi certainly was not very polite, for +he walked off, in company with John and the squaw, without taking the +trouble to say "Good-by." It must, however, be observed that he was in +conversation with Martin, who accompanied them on the way. + +The winter had now become very severe. The thermometer was twenty +degrees below the freezing point, and the cold was so intense, that +every precaution was taken against it. More than once Percival, whose +business it was to bring in the firewood, was frost bitten, but as Mrs. +Campbell was very watchful, the remedy of cold snow was always +successfully applied. The howling of the wolves continued every night, +but they were now used to it, and the only effect was, when one came +more than usually close to the house, to make Oscar raise his head, +growl, listen awhile, and then lie down to sleep again. Oscar became +very fond of the girls, and was their invariable companion whenever they +left the house. Alfred, Martin and Henry went out almost daily on +hunting excursions; indeed, as there were no crops in the barn, they had +little else to do. Mr. Campbell remained at home with his wife and +nieces; occasionally, but not very often, Percival accompanied the +hunters; of Malachi and John, they saw but little; John returned about +every ten days, but although he adhered to his promise, his anxiety to +go back to Malachi was so very apparent, and he was so restless, that +Mrs. Campbell rather wished him to be away, than remain at home so much +against his will. + +Thus passed away the time till the year closed in; confined as they were +by the severity of the weather, and having little or nothing to do, the +winter appeared longer and more tedious than it would have done had they +been settled longer, and had the crops to occupy their attention; for it +is in the winter that the Canadian farmer gets through all his thrashing +and other work connected with the farm, preparatory for the coming +spring. This being their first winter, they had, of course, no crops +gathered in, and were, therefore, in want of employment. Mrs. Campbell +and her nieces worked and read, and employed themselves in every way +that they could, but constantly shut up within doors, they could not +help feeling the monotony and _ennui_ of their situation. The young men +found occupation and amusement in the chase; they brought a variety of +animals and skins, and the evenings were generally devoted to a +narration of what occurred in the day during their hunting excursions, +but even these histories of the chase were at last heard with +indifference. It was the same theme only with variations, over and over +again, and there was no longer much excitement in listening. + +"I wonder when John will come back again," observed Emma to her sister, +as they were sitting at work. + +"Why he only left two days ago, so we must not expect him for some +time." + +"I know that; I wonder if Oscar would kill a wolf; I should like to take +him out and try." + +"I thought you had had enough of wolves already, Emma," replied Mary. + +"Yes, well; that old Malachi will never bring us any more news about the +Indians," continued Emma, yawning. + +"Why, I do not think that any news about them is likely to be pleasant +news, Emma, and therefore, why should you wish it?" + +"Why, my dear Mary, because I want _some_ news; I want something to +excite me, I feel so dull. It's nothing but stitch, stitch, all day, +and I am tired of always doing the same thing. What a horrid thing a +Canadian winter Is, and not one-half over yet." + +"It is very dull and monotonous, my dear Emma, I admit, and if we had +more variety of employment, we should find it more agreeable, but we +ought to feel grateful that we have a good house over our heads, and +more security than we anticipated." + +"Almost too much security, Mary; I begin to feel that I could welcome an +Indian even in his war-paint, just by way of a little change." + +"I think you would soon repent of your wish, if it were gratified." + +"Very likely, but I can not help wishing it now. When will they come +home? What o'clock is it? I wonder what they'll bring: the old story I +suppose, a buck; I'm sick of venison." + +"Indeed, Emma, you are wrong to feel such discontent and weariness." + +"Perhaps I am, but I have not walked a hundred yards for nearly one +hundred days, and that will give one the blues, as they call them, and I +do nothing but yawn, yawn, yawn, for want of air and exercise. Uncle +won't let us move out on account of that horrid wolf. I wonder how +Captain Sinclair is getting on at the fort, and whether he is as dull as +we are." + +To do Emma justice, it was seldom that she indulged herself in such +lamentations, but the tedium was more than her high flow of spirits +could well bear. Mrs. Campbell made a point of arranging the household, +which gave her occupation, and Mary from natural disposition did not +feel the confinement as much as Emma did; whenever, therefore, she did +show symptoms of restlessness or was tempted to utter a complaint, they +reasoned with and soothed, but never reproached her. + +The day after this conversation, Emma, to amuse herself, took a rifle +and went out with Percival. She fired several shots at a mark, and by +degrees acquired some dexterity; gradually she became fond of the +exercise, and not a day passed that she and Percival did not practice +for an hour or two, until at last Emma could fire with great precision. +Practice and a knowledge of the perfect use of your weapon gives +confidence, and this Emma did at last acquire. She challenged Alfred and +Henry to fire at the bull's eye with her, and whether by their gallantry +or her superior dexterity, she was declared victor. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell smiled when Emma came in and narrated her success, and felt +glad that she had found something which afforded her amusement. + +It happened that one evening the hunters were very late; it was a clear +moonlight night, but at eight o'clock they had not made their +appearance; Percival had opened the door to go out for some firewood +which had been piled within the palisades, and as it was later than the +usual hour for locking the palisade gates, Mr. Campbell had directed him +so to do. Emma, attracted by the beauty of the night, was at the door of +the house, when the howl of a wolf was heard close to them; the dogs +accustomed to it merely sprang on their feet, but did not leave the +kitchen fire; Emma went out, and looked through the palisades to see if +she could perceive the animal, and little Trim, the terrier, followed +her. Now Trim was so small, that he could creep between the palisades, +and as soon as he was close to them, perceiving the wolf, the courageous +little animal squeezed through them and flew toward it, barking as loud +as he could. Emma immediately ran in, took down her rifle and went out +again, as she knew that poor Trim would soon be devoured. The +supposition was correct: the wolf, instead of retreating, closed with +the little dog and seized it. Emma, who could now plainly perceive the +animal, which was about forty yards from her, took aim and fired, just +as poor Trim gave a loud yelp. Her aim was good, and the wolf and dog +lay side by side. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and Mary, hearing the report of +the rifle, ran out, and found Percival and Emma at the palisades behind +the house. + +"I have killed him, aunt," said Emma, "but I fear he has killed poor +little Trim; do let us go out and see." + +"No, no, my dear Emma, that must not be; your cousins will be home soon, +and then we shall know how the case stands; but the risk is too great." + +"Here they come," said Percival, "as fast as they can run." + +The hunters were soon at the palisade door and admitted; they had no +game with them. Emma jeered them for coming back empty handed. + +"No, no, my little cousin," replied Alfred, "we heard the report of a +rifle, and we threw down our game, that we might sooner come to your +assistance if you required it. What was the matter?" + +"Only that I have killed a wolf, and am not allowed to bring in my +trophy," replied Emma. "Come, Alfred, I may go with you and Martin." + +They went to the spot, and found the wolf was dead, and poor Trim dead +also by his side. They took in the body of the little dog, and left the +wolf till the morning, when Martin said he would skin it for Miss Emma. + +"And I'll make a footstool of it," said Emma; "that shall be my revenge +for the fright I had from the other wolf. Come, Oscar, good dog; you and +I will go wolf-hunting. Dear me, who would have thought that I should +have ever killed a wolf--poor little Trim!" + +Martin said it would be useless to return for the venison, as the wolves +had no doubt eaten it already; so they locked the palisade gate, and +went into the house. + +Emma's adventure was the topic of the evening, and Emma herself was much +pleased at having accomplished such a feat. + +"Well," said Martin, "I never knew but one woman who faced a wolf except +Miss Emma." + +"And who was that, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +[Illustration: FACING A WOLF.] + +"It was a wife of one of our farmers, ma'am; she was at the outhouse +doing something, when she perceived a wolf enter the cottage-door, where +there was nobody except the baby in the cradle. She ran back and found +the wolf just lifting the infant out of the cradle by its clothes. The +animal looked at her with his eyes flashing; but having its mouth full, +it did not choose to drop the baby, and spring at her; all it wanted was +to get clear off with its prey. The woman had presence of mind enough to +take down her husband's rifle and point it to the wolf, but she was so +fearful of hurting the child, that she did not put the muzzle to its +head, but to its shoulder. She fired just as the wolf was making off, +and the animal fell, and could not get on its feet again, and it then +dropped the child out of its mouth to attack the mother. The woman +caught the child up, but the wolf gave her a severe bite on the arm, and +broke the bone near the wrist. A wolf has a wonderful strong jaw, ma'am. +However, the baby was saved, and neighbors came and dispatched the +animal." + +"What a fearful position for a mother to be in!" exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell. + +"Where did that happen?" + +"On the White Mountains, ma'am," replied Martin. "Malachi Bone told me +the story; he was born there." + +"Then he is an American." + +"Well, ma'am, he is an American because he was born in this country, but +it was English when he was born, so he calls himself an Englishman." + +"I understand," replied Mrs. Campbell, "he was born before the colonies +obtained their independence." + +"Yes, ma'am, long before; there's no saying how old he is. When I was +quite a child, I recollect he was then reckoned an old man; indeed, the +name the Indians gave to him proves it. He then was called the 'Gray +Badger.'" + +"But is he so very old, do you really think, Martin?" + +"I think he has seen more than sixty snows, ma'am; but not many more; +the fact is, his hair was gray before he was twenty years old; he told +me so himself, and that's one reason why the Indians are so fearful of +him. They have it from their fathers that the Gray Badger was a great +hunter, as Malachi was more than forty years ago; so they imagine as his +hair was gray then, he must have been a very old man at that time back, +and so to them he appears to live forever, and they consider him as +charmed, and to use their phrase, 'great _medicine_.' I've heard some +Indians declare that Malachi had seen one hundred and fifty winters, and +they really believe it. I never contradicted them, as you may imagine." + +"Does he live comfortably?" + +"Yes, ma'am, he does; his squaw knows what he wants, and does what she +is bid. She is very fond of the old man, and looks upon him, as he +really is to her, as a father. His lodge is always full of meat, and he +has plenty of skins. He don't drink spirits, and if he has tobacco for +smoking and powder and ball, what else can he want?" + +"Happy are they whose wants are so few," observed Mr. Campbell. "A man +in whatever position in life, if he is content, is certain to be happy. +How true are the words of the poet:-- + + 'Man wants but little here below, + Nor wants that little long!' + +Malachi Bone is a happier man than hundreds in England who live in +luxury. Let us profit, my dear children, by his example, and learn to be +content with what Heaven has bestowed upon us. But it is time to retire. +The wind has risen, and we shall have a blustering night. Henry, fetch +me the book." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Alfred and Martin brought in the wolf which Emma had killed, but it was +frozen so hard that they could not skin it. Poor little Trim was also +carried in, but the ground was too hard frozen for them to bury the +body, so they put it into the snow until the spring, when a thaw would +take place. As for the wolf, they said nothing about it, but they +remained up when the rest of the family retired, and after the wolf had +been some time before the fire, they were able to take off the skin. + +On the following morning, when the hunters went out, they were +particularly desired to shoot a wild turkey if they could, as the next +day was Christmas-day. + +"Let us take Oscar with us," said Alfred; "he is very swift, and may run +them down; we never can get up with them in our snow-shoes." + +"I wonder whether they will get a turkey," said Emma, after the hunting +party had left. + +"I think it will be difficult," said Mrs. Campbell; "but they will try +all they can." + +"I hope they will; for Christmas-day without a turkey will be very +un-English." + +"We are not in England, my dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell; "and wild +turkeys are not to be ordered from the poulterer's." + +"I know that we are not in England, my dear uncle, and I feel it too. +How was the day before every Christmas-day spent at Wexton Hall! What +piles of warm blankets, what a quantity of duffil cloaks, flannels, and +worsted stockings were we all so busy and so happy in preparing and +sorting to give away on the following morning, that all within miles of +us should be warmly clothed on that day. And, then, the housekeeper's +room with all the joints of meat, and flour and plums and suet, in +proportion to the number of each family, all laid out and ticketed ready +for distribution. And then the party invited to the servants' hall, and +the great dinner, and the new clothing for the school-girls, and the +church so gay, with their new dresses in the aisles, and the holly and +the mistletoe. I know we are not in England, my dear uncle, and that you +have lost one of your greatest pleasures--that of doing good, and making +all happy around you." + +"Well, my dear Emma, if I have lost the pleasure of doing good, it is +the will of Heaven that it should be so, and we ought to be thankful +that, if not dispensing charity, at all events, we are not the objects +of charity to others; that we are independent, and earning an honest +livelihood. People may be very happy, and feel the most devout gratitude +on the anniversary of so great a mercy, without having a turkey for +dinner." + +"I was not in earnest about the turkey, my dear uncle. It was the +association of ideas connected by long habit, which made me think of our +Christmas times at Wexton Hall; but, indeed, my dear uncle, if there was +regret, it was not for myself so much as for you," replied Emma, with +tears in her eyes. + +"Perhaps I spoke rather too severely, my dearest Emma," said Mr. +Campbell; "but I did not like to hear such a solemn day spoken of as if +it were commemorated merely by the eating of certain food." + +"It was foolish of me," replied Emma? "and it was said thoughtlessly." + +Emma went up to Mr. Campbell and kissed him, and Mr. Campbell said, +"Well, I hope there will be a turkey, since you wish for one." + +The hunters did not return till late, and when they appeared in sight, +Percival, who had descried them, came in and said that they were very +well loaded, and were bringing in their game slung upon a pole. + +Mary and Emma went out of the door to meet their cousins. That there was +a heavy load carried on a pole between Martin and Alfred was certain, +but they could not distinguish what it consisted of. As the party +arrived at the palisade gates, however, they discovered that it was not +game, but a human being, who was carried on a sort of litter made of +boughs. + +"What is it, Alfred?" said Mary. + +"Wait till I recover my breath," said Alfred, as he reached the door, +"or ask Henry, for I'm quite knocked up." + +Henry then went with his cousins into the house, and explained to them +that as they were in pursuit of the wild turkeys, Oscar had stopped +suddenly and commenced baying; that they went up to the dog, and, in a +bush, they found a poor Indian woman nearly frozen to death, and with a +dislocation of the ankle, so severe that her leg was terribly swelled, +and she could not move. Martin had spoken to her in the Indian tongue, +and she was so exhausted with cold and hunger that she could just tell +him that she belonged to a small party of Indians who had been some days +out hunting, and a long way from where they had built their winter +lodges; that she had fallen with the weight which she had carried, and +that her leg was so bad, she could not go on with them; that they had +taken her burden, and left her to follow them when she could. + +"Yes," continued Alfred; "left the poor creature without food, to perish +in the snow. One day more, and it would have been all over with her. It +is wonderful how she can have lived through the two last nights as she +has. But Martin says the Indians always do leave a woman to perish in +this way or recover as she can, if she happens to meet with an +accident." + +"At all events, let us bring her in at once," said Mr. Campbell. "I will +first see if my surgical assistance can be of use, and after that we +will do what we can for her. How far from this did you find her?" + +"About eight miles," replied Henry; "and Alfred has carried her almost +the whole way; Martin and I have relieved each other, except once, when +I took Alfred's place." + +"And so you perceive, Emma, instead of a wild turkey I have brought an +Indian squaw," said Alfred. + +"I love you better for your kindness, Alfred," replied Emma, "than if +you had brought me a wagon-load of turkeys." + +In the meantime, Martin and Henry brought in the poor Indian, and laid +her down on the floor at some distance from the fire, for though she was +nearly dead with the cold, too sudden an exposure to heat would have +been almost equally fatal. Mr. Campbell examined her ankle, and with a +little assistance reduced the dislocation. He then bound up her leg and +bathed it with warm vinegar, as a first application. Mrs. Campbell and +the two girls chafed the poor creature's limbs till the circulation was +a little restored, and then they gave her something warm to drink. It +was proposed by Mrs. Campbell that they should make up a bed for her on +the floor of the kitchen. This was done in a corner near the fire-place, +and in about an hour their patient fell into a sound sleep. + +"It is lucky for her that she did not fall into that sleep before we +found her," said Martin; "she would never have awoke again." + +"Most certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell. "Have you any idea what +tribe she is of, Martin?" + +"Yes, sir; she is one of the Chippeways; there are many divisions of +them, but I will find out when she awakes again to which she belongs; +she was too much exhausted when we found her, to say much." + +"It appears very inhuman leaving her to perish in that way," observed +Mrs. Campbell. + +"Well, ma'am, so it does; but necessity has no law. The Indians could +not, if they would, have carried her, perhaps one hundred miles. It +would have probably been the occasion of more deaths, for the cold is +too great now for sleeping out at nights for any time, although they do +contrive with the help of a large fire to stay out sometimes." + +"Self-preservation is the first law of nature, certainly," observed Mr. +Campbell; "but, if I recollect right the savage does not value the life +of a woman very highly." + +"That's a fact, sir," replied Martin; "not much more, I reckon, than you +would a beast of burden." + +"It is always the case among savage nations," observed Mr. Campbell; +"the first mark of civilization is the treatment of the other sex, and +in proportion as civilization increases, so are the women protected and +well used. But your supper is ready, my children, and I think after your +fatigue and fasting you must require it." + +"I am almost too tired to eat," observed Alfred, "I shall infinitely +more enjoy a good sleep under my bear skin. At the same time I'll try +what I can do," continued he, laughing, and taking his seat at table. + +Notwithstanding Alfred's observation, he contrived to make a very hearty +supper, and Emma laughed at his appetite after his professing that he +had so little inclination to eat. + +"I said I was too tired to eat, Emma, and so I felt at the time; but as +I became more refreshed my appetite returned," replied Alfred, laughing, +"and notwithstanding your jeering me, I mean to eat some more." + +"How long has John been away?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Now nearly a fortnight," observed Mrs. Campbell; "he promised to come +here Christmas-day. I suppose we shall see him to-morrow morning." + +"Yes, ma'am; and old Bone will come with him, I dare say. He said as +much to me when he was going away the last time. He observed that the +boy could not bring the venison, and perhaps _he_ would if he had any, +for he knows that people like plenty of meat on Christmas day." + +"I wonder whether old Malachi is any way religious," observed Mary. "Do +you think he is, Martin?" + +"Yes, ma'am; I think he feels it, but does not show it. I know from +myself what are, probably, his feelings on the subject. When I have been +away for weeks and sometimes for months, without seeing or speaking to +any one, all alone in the woods, I feel more religious than I do when at +Quebec on my return, although I do go to church. Now old Malachi has, I +think, a solemn reverence for the Divine Being, and strict notions of +duty, so far as he understands it,--but as he never goes to any town or +mixes with any company, so the rites of religion, as I may call them, +and the observances of the holy feast, are lost to him, except as a sort +of dream of former days, before he took to his hunter's life. Indeed, he +seldom knows what day or even what month it is. He knows the seasons as +they come and go, and that's all. One day is the same as another, and he +can not tell which is Sunday, for he is not able to keep a reckoning. +Now, ma'am, when you desired Master John to be at home on the Friday +fortnight because it was Christmas-day, I perceived old Malachi in deep +thought: he was recalling to mind what Christmas-day was; if you had not +mentioned it, the day would have passed away like any other; but you +reminded him, and then it was that he said he would come if he could. +I'm sure that now he knows it is Christmas-day, he intends to keep it as +such." + +"There is much truth in what Martin says," observed Mr. Campbell; "we +require the seventh day in the week and other stated seasons of devotion +to be regularly set apart, in order to keep us in mind of our duties and +preserve the life of religion. In the woods, remote from communion with +other Christians, these things are easily forgotten, and when once we +have lost our calculation, it is not to be recovered. But come, Alfred +and Henry and Martin must be very tired, and we had better all go to +bed. I will sit up a little while to give some drink to my patient, if +she wishes it. Good-night, my children." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Christmas-day was indeed a change, as Emma had observed, from their +former Christmas; but although the frost was more than usually severe, +and the snow filled the air with its white flakes, and the north-east +wind howled through the leafless trees as they rasped their long arms +against each other, and the lake was one sheet of thick ice with a +covering of snow which the wind had in different places blown up into +hillocks, still they had a good roof over their heads, and a warm, +blazing fire on the hearth: and they had no domestic miseries, the worst +miseries of all to contend against, for they were a united family, +loving and beloved; showing mutual acts of kindness and mutual acts of +forbearance; proving how much better was "a dish of herbs where love is, +than the stalled ox with hatred therewith." Moreover they were all +piously disposed; they were sensible that they owed a large debt of +gratitude to Heaven for all its daily mercies in providing them with +food and raiment, for warding off from them sickness and sorrow, and +giving them humble and contented hearts; and on this day, they felt how +little were all worldly considerations, compared with the hopes which +were held out to them through the great sacrifice which the goodness and +mercy of God had made for them and all the world. It was, therefore, +with cheerful yet subdued looks that they greeted each other when they +met previous to the morning prayers. + +Mr. Campbell had already visited his patient and readjusted the bandage: +her ankle was better, but still very much swelled; the poor creature +made no complaints, she looked grateful for what was done and for the +kindness shown to her. They were all arrayed in their best Sunday +dresses, and as soon as prayers were over had just wished each other the +congratulations so general, so appropriate, and yet too often so +thoughtlessly given upon the anniversary, when Malachi Bone, his little +squaw the Strawberry, and John, entered the door of the hut, laden with +the sports of the forest, which they laid down in the corner of the +kitchen, and then saluted the party. + +"Here we are all together on Christmas-day," said Emma, who had taken +the hand of the Strawberry. + +The Indian girl smiled, and nodded her head. + +"And, John, you have brought us three wild turkeys; you are a good boy, +John," continued Emma. + +"If we only had Captain Sinclair here now," said Martin to Emma and Mary +Percival, who was by Emma's side, shaking hands with the Strawberry. + +Mary colored up a little, and Emma replied, "Yes, Martin, we do want +him, for I always feel as if he belonged to the family." + +"Well, it's not his fault that he's not here," replied Martin; "it's now +more than six weeks since he has left, and if the Colonel would allow +him, I'm sure that Captain Sinclair----" + +"Would be here on this day," said Captain Sinclair, who with Mr. Gwynne, +his former companion, had entered the door of the house without being +observed; for the rest of the party were in conversation with Malachi +Bone and John. + +"Oh, how glad I am to see you," cried Emma; "we only wanted you to make +our Christmas party complete; and I'm very glad to see you too, Mr. +Gwynne," continued Emma, as she held out a hand to each. + +"We had some difficulty in persuading the Colonel to let us come," +observed Captain Sinclair to Mary; "but as we have heard nothing further +about the Indians, he consented." + +"You have nothing more to fear from the Indians this winter, Captain, +and you may tell the Colonel so from me," said Malachi. "I happened to +be on their hunting ground yesterday, and they have broken up and gone +westward, that is, Angry Snake and his party have; I followed their +track over the snow for a few miles just to make sure; they have taken +every thing with them, but somehow or other, I could not find out that +the squaw was with them,--and they had one in their party. They carried +their own packs of fur, that I'll swear to, and they had been thrown +down several times; which would not have been the case, if they had not +been carried by men; for you see, the Injun is very impatient under a +load, which a squaw will carry the whole day without complaining. Now +that party is gone, there is no other about here within fifty miles, +I'll be bound for." + +"I'm very glad to hear you say so," replied Captain Sinclair. + +"Then, perhaps, this poor woman whom you succored, Alfred, is the squaw +belonging to the party," observed Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell then +related to Malachi Bone what had occurred on the day before; how the +hunting party had brought home the woman, whom he pointed to in the +corner where she had remained unnoticed by the visitors. + +Malachi and the Strawberry went up to her; the Strawberry spoke to her +in the Indian tongue in a low voice, and the woman replied in the same, +while Malachi stood over them and listened. + +"It's just as you thought, sir; she belongs to the Angry Snake, and she +says that he has gone with his party to the westward, as the beaver were +very scarce down here; I could have told him that. She confirms my +statement, that all the Indians are gone, but are to meet at the same +place in the spring, to hold a council." + +"Is she of the same tribe as the Strawberry?" inquired Henry. + +"That's as may be," replied Malachi; "I hardly know which tribe the +Strawberry belongs to." + +"But they speak the same language." + +"Yes; but the Strawberry learned the tongue from me," replied Malachi. + +"From you!" said Mrs. Campbell; "how was that?" + +"Why, ma'am, it's about thirteen or fourteen years back, that I happened +to come in upon a skirmish which took place on one of the small lakes +between one of the tribes here and a war party of Hurons who were out. +They were surprised by the Hurons, and every soul, as far as I could +learn, was either scalped or carried away prisoner. The Hurons had gone +about an hour or two, when I came up to the place where they fought, and +I sat down looking at the dead bodies, and thinking to myself what +creatures men were to deface God's image in that way, when I saw under a +bush two little sharp eyes looking at me; at first, I thought it was +some beast, a lynx, mayhap, as they now call them, and I pointed my +rifle toward it; but before I pulled the trigger, I thought that perhaps +I might be mistaken, so I walked up to the bush, and there I discovered +that it was an Indian child, which had escaped the massacre by hiding +itself in the bush. I pulled it out; it was a girl about two years old, +who could speak but a few words. I took her home to my lodge, and have +had her with me ever since, so I don't exactly know what tribe she +belongs to, as they all speak the same tongue. I called her the +'Strawberry,' because I found her under a bush close to the ground, and +among strawberry plants which were growing there." + +"And then you married her," said Percival. + +"Married her! no, boy, I never married her; what has an old man of near +seventy to do with marrying? They call her my squaw, because they +suppose she is my wife, and she does the duty of a wife to me; but if +they were to call her my daughter, they would be nearer the mark, for I +have been a father to her." + +"Well, Malachi, to tell you the truth, I did think that she was too +young to be your wife," said Emma. + +"Well, miss, you were not far wrong," replied the old man. "I do wish I +could find out her tribe, but I never have been able, and indeed, from +what I can learn, the party who were surprised came a long way from +this, although speaking the same language; and I don't think there is +any chance now, for even if I were to try to discover it, there have +been so many surprises and so much slaughter within these last twenty +years, that it's scarcely possible the search would be attended with +success." + +"But why do you wish to find out her tribe?" said Mary. + +"Because I'm an old man, miss, and must soon expect to be gathered to my +fathers, and then this poor little girl will be quite alone, unless I +can marry her to some one before I die: and if I do marry her, why then +she will leave _me_ alone; but that can't be helped, I'm an old man, and +what does it matter?" + +"It matters a great deal, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I wish you would +live with us; you would then be taken care of if you required it, and +not die alone in the wilderness." + +"And the Strawberry shall never want friends or a home, while we can +offer her one, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell; "let what will happen to +you, she will be welcome to live here and die here, if she will remain." + +Malachi made no reply; he was in deep thought, resting his chin upon his +hands, which held his rifle before him. Mrs. Campbell and the girls were +obliged to leave to prepare the dinner. John had sat down with the +Strawberry and the Indian woman, and was listening to them, for he now +understood the Chippeway tongue. Alfred, Sinclair, and the other +gentlemen of the party, were in conversation near the fire, when they +were requested by Mrs. Campbell to retreat to the sitting-room, that the +culinary operations might not be interfered with. Malachi Bone still +continued sitting where he was, in deep thought. Martin, who remained, +said to the Miss Percivals in a low voice-- + +"Well, I really did think that the old man had married the girl, and I +thought it was a pity," continued he, looking toward the Strawberry, +"for she is very young and very handsome for a squaw." + +"I think," replied Mary Percival, "she would be considered handsome +everywhere, Martin, squaw or not; her features are very pretty, and then +she has a melancholy smile, which is perfectly beautiful; but now, +Martin, pluck these turkeys, or we shall not have them ready in time." + +As soon as the dinner was at the fire, and could be left to the care of +Martin, Mrs. Campbell and the Misses Percival went into the +sitting-room. Mr. Campbell then read the morning service of the day, +Henry officiating as clerk in the responses. Old Malachi had joined the +party, and was profoundly attentive. As soon as the service was over, he +said-- + +"All this puts me in mind of days long past, days which appear to me as +a dream, when I was a lad and had a father and a mother, and brothers +and sisters around me; but many summers and many winters have passed +over my head since then." + +"You were born in Maine, Malachi, were you not?" + +"Yes, ma'am, half way up the White Mountains. He was a stern old man, my +father; but he was a righteous man. I remember how holy Sunday was kept +in our family; how my mother cleaned us all, and put on our best +clothes, and how we went to the chapel or church, I forget which they +called it; but no matter, we went to pray." + +"Was your father of the Established Church, Malachi?" + +"I can't tell, ma'am; indeed, I hardly know what it means; but he was a +good Christian and a good man, that I do know." + +"You are right, Malachi; when the population is crowded, you find people +divided into sects, and, what is still worse, despising, if not hating +each other, because the outward forms of worship are a little different. +Here in our isolated position, we feel how trifling are many of the +distinctions which divide religious communities, and that we could +gladly give the right hand of fellowship to any denomination of +Christians who hold the main truths of the Gospel. Are not all such +agreed in things essential, animated with the same hopes, acknowledging +the same rule of faith, and all comprehended in the same divine mercy +which was shown us on this day? What do all sincere Christians believe +but that God is holy, great, good, and merciful, that his Son died for +us all, and that through his merits and intercession if we conform to +his precepts--whether members of the Church of England, or any other +communion--we shall be saved and obtain the blessedness of heaven? We +may prefer, and reasonably prefer, our own mode of worship, believing it +to be most edifying; but we have no right to quarrel with those who +conscientiously differ from us about outward forms and ceremonies which +do not involve the spirit of Christianity." + +After a pause, Mary Percival said, "Malachi, tell us more about your +father and your family." + +"I have little to tell, miss; only that I now think that those were +pleasant days which then I thought irksome. My father had a large farm +and would have had us all remain with him. In the winter we felled +timber, and I took quite a passion for a hunter's life; but my father +would not allow me to go from home, so I staid till he died, and then I +went away on my rambles. I left when I was not twenty years old, and I +have never seen my family since. I have been a hunter and a trapper, a +guide and a soldier, and an interpreter; but for the last twenty-five +years I have been away from towns and cities, and have lived altogether +in the woods. The more man lives by himself, the more he likes it, and +yet now and then circumstances bring up the days of his youth, and make +him hesitate whether it be best or not to live alone." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell. + +"I little thought that I should ever have said it," replied the old man, +"when I first saw that girl by the side of the stream (looking at +Emma),--then my heart yearned toward the boy; and now this meeting to +praise God and to keep Christmas-day--all has helped." + +"But do you not pray when you are alone?" said Mary. + +"Yes, in a manner, miss; but it's not like your prayers; the lips don't +move, although the heart feels. When I lie under a tree watching for the +animals, and I take up a leaf and examine it, I observe how curious and +wonderful it is,--I then think that God made it, and that man could not. +When I see the young grass springing up, and _how_, I know not, except +that it does so every year, I think of God and his mercy to the wild +animals in giving them food; and then the sun reminds me of God; and the +moon, and the stars, as I watch, make me think of Him; but I feel very +often that there is something wanting, and that I do not worship exactly +as I ought to do. I never have known which is Sunday, although I well +recollect how holy it was kept at my father's house; and I never should +have known that this was Christmas-day, had it not been that I had met +with you. All days are alike to a man who is alone and in the +wilderness, and that should not be--I feel that it should not." + +"So true is it," observed Mr. Campbell, "that stated times and seasons +are necessary for the due observance of our religious duties; and I am +glad to hear Malachi say this, as I trust it will occasion his being +with us more than he has been." + +"Come to us every Sunday, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"I think I will, ma'am, if I can--indeed, why I say _if I can_, I know +not; it was wrong to say so." + +"I wish you to come not only on your own account, but for John's sake; +suppose you agree to come every Sunday morning, and leave us every +Monday. You will then have the whole week for your hunting." + +"Please God, I will," replied Malachi. + +"And bring the Strawberry with you," said Mary. + +"I will, miss; it can not but do her good." + +Dinner was now announced, and they all sat down, a happy party. Mr. +Campbell on this occasion produced two or three bottles of his small +store of wine, which he kept rather in case of illness than for any +other reason, for they had all been so long without wine or spirits, +that they cared little about it. Their dinner consisted of white fish +(salted), roast venison, boiled salt beef, roast turkey, and a +plum-pudding, and they were all very merry, although they were in the +woods of Canada, and not at Wexton Hall. + +"My children," said Mr. Campbell, after dinner. "I now drink all your +healths, and wish you as much happiness as the world affords, and at the +same time accept my most hearty thanks and my dearest love. You have all +been good, obedient, and cheerful, and have lightened many a heavy load. +If when it pleased Providence to send us into this wilderness, it had +been part of my lot to contend with willful and disobedient children; if +there had been murmuring and repining at our trials; discontent and +quarreling among yourselves, how much more painful would have been our +situation. On the contrary, by your good humor and attention, your +willing submission to privations, and your affectionate conduct toward +me, my wife, and each other, you have not allowed us to feel the change +of position to which we have been reduced. I say again, my dear children +all, you have my thanks, and may the Almighty bless and preserve you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +When we left off our narrative, our Canadian settlers were enjoying +themselves on Christmas day. On the following morning, Malachi Bone, the +Strawberry, and John, set off for their abode to the westward, and +Captain Sinclair and his companion went back to the fort. The Indian +woman was better, and the family resumed their usual occupations. We +must now briefly narrate a few events which occurred during the +remainder of the long winter. Malachi and John made their appearance, +accompanied by the Strawberry, almost every Sunday, and the old hunter +appeared gradually to become more reconciled to the society of others, +and sometimes would remain for a day or two over the Sunday. The Indian +woman, in the course of three weeks, was quite recovered, and signified, +through the Strawberry, her wish to leave, and join her tribe. To this, +of course, no objection was raised; and having received a supply of +provisions, she took her leave at the latter end of the month of +January. + +February,--March followed, and the winter still continued, but the sun +became more powerful, and the weather was not so severe. It was not till +the middle of April that the lake was clear of ice and the thaw +commenced, and then it was so rapid, that the little stream became quite +an impetuous torrent, and a large portion of the prairie land was under +water. A few days, however, sufficed to change the scene; the snow, +which had covered the ground for so many months, had all disappeared; +the birds, which had been mute or had migrated during the winter, now +made their appearance, and chirped and twittered round the house; the +pleasant green of the prairie was once more presented to their view, +and nature began to smile again. Other ten days passed, and the trees +had thrown out their leaves, and after one or two storms, the weather +became warm and the sky serene. + +Great was the delight of the whole party at this change; and now the +cows were put out to their pasture, and Emma and Mary went milking as +before, no longer afraid of meeting with the wolves. The boat was +launched, and Percival and John went out to procure fish. Alfred, Henry, +and Martin were very busy picking up the cleared ground, to sow the +first crop. Mr. Campbell worked all day in the garden; the poultry were +noisy and bustling, and soon furnished an abundant supply of eggs; and +as now the hunting season was over for a time, Malachi and the +Strawberry were continually coming to visit them. + +"Oh! how delightful this is," exclaimed Emma, as she stopped at the +bridge and looked on the wide blue lake; "is it not, Mary, after having +been cooped up for so many weary months?" + +"It is, indeed, Emma; I do not wonder at your flow of spirits; I feel +quite another person myself. Well, if the winter is long and dreary, at +all events, it doubly enhances the value of the spring." + +"I think it very odd that Captain Sinclair has not come to see us; don't +you, Mary?" + +"I certainly did expect him before this," replied Mary; "I presume, +however, his duty will not permit him to come." + +"Surely he could get leave, now that the weather is fine; there was some +reason for his not coming during the winter. I hope he is not ill." + +"I hope so too, most sincerely, Emma," replied Mary; "but come, sister, +we must not loiter; hear how the calves are bleating for us to let them +have their breakfast; we shall have more of them very soon; yes, and +plenty of milk, and then we shall have plenty of churning; but I like +work when the weather is fine." + +After breakfast, Emma expressed her surprise to Alfred at Captain +Sinclair's not having made his appearance, and her fear that he was not +well. Alfred, at her request, promised to walk to the fort in the +afternoon, and ascertain how matters were. + +John, who had not forgotten the advice of Malachi, brought in a basket +of fine trout from the stream almost every day, and the supply of fish +and eggs proved very acceptable, for the beef had all been consumed, and +the family would otherwise have been reduced to salt-pork. + +Alfred, as he had promised Emma, set off for the fort, accompanied by +Martin. He returned the next morning, full of news. Captain Sinclair +was, as Emma had imagined, unable to come, having had a severe fall, by +which he had injured his knee, and was laid up for a time; he was, +however, in very good spirits, and the medical officer had promised that +he should be well again in a fortnight; he sent his kind regards to all +the family. The commandant also sent his compliments to Mr. Campbell, +and desired to acquaint him that, in a week or ten days, it was his +intention to send a boat to Montreal, and if Mr. Campbell had any +purchases to make, or wished to send any one by the opportunity, he +might do so, and the boat would bring back the articles he required. +They had no further communication with Quebec, but expected a runner to +come every day with the letters from England and newspapers; and +further, that he hoped soon to be able to pay his respects in person. + +Such was the information brought by Alfred; Emma made many inquiries +relative to Captain Sinclair as Mary stood by, and Alfred laughed at her +extreme inquisitiveness. The proposition of the commandant relative to +the trip to Montreal was then discussed. Old Malachi had several +packages of furs to dispose of. Martin had five, Alfred three, and Henry +two; for, although we made no mention of it, on their hunting +excursions, whoever killed the animal, was entitled to the skin. The +packages of Malachi were, however, of some value, as he had many beaver +and other skins, while those of Martin and the others consisted chiefly +of deer-skins. The question was, whom to send down with them. Malachi +was not inclined to go, Martin could not well be spared, and, moreover, +would very probably get into some scrape if he went to Montreal; whereas +Henry and Alfred did not know any thing about the value of skins; +otherwise, Mr. Campbell, who wished to purchase flour and pork, besides +several other articles, would have preferred sending one of them. But +the difficulty was soon removed by old Malachi, who observed, that he +had made a valuation of his skins, and that the others could be valued +also before they were packed up; and that if not sold for what they +ought to fetch, or nearly so, they had better be brought back. Mr. +Campbell was satisfied with this arrangement, and Henry was appointed to +undertake the journey. Mr. Campbell made out his inventory of articles; +Mrs. Campbell added her list, and all was ready as soon as they received +notice that the boat was to leave. Martin did not appear at all annoyed +at not being selected for the expedition; since Malachi Bone had +informed them that the Strawberry was not his wife, as they had +supposed, Martin was continually by her side. She began to speak a few +words of English, and had become a great favorite with every body. + +Mr. Campbell, as soon as he perceived that Malachi no longer avoided +them, thought it but his duty to offer him his land back again, but +Malachi would not consent to accept it. He said he did not want the +land, although perhaps, he might raise his lodge a little nearer to them +than it was; at present, things had better remain as they were; after +which Mr. Campbell did not renew the subject. Malachi soon acted upon +his remark, that perhaps he might raise his lodge a little nearer, for, +a few days afterward, he made his appearance with the Strawberry and +John, all three loaded with his household utensils, and in a very short +time he had erected another wigwam within sight of the house at the +western end of Mr. Campbell's prairie. This gave great satisfaction to +Mrs. Campbell, because John was now always near them; indeed, he no +longer slept in the lodge, but at the house, in the room with his +brothers. The major part of the day he passed at the lodge, or in +company with the old hunter; but, by this new arrangement, they +gradually became, as it were, one family; not a day passed that the +Strawberry did not come to their house and make herself useful, +assisting in every thing that she could, and rapidly learning what she +did not know. + +One or two evenings after the message from the fort, Mrs. Campbell asked +Malachi some questions relative to the habits of the beaver, as she had +heard much of the sagacity of that animal. + +"Well, ma'am," said Malachi, "it's a most reasonable animal, certainly, +and I will say, I never was tired with watching them; I've even forgot, +in the summer-time, what I came out for, from having fallen in with them +at work." + +"And so have I," said Martin. "I once was lying down under a bush by the +side of a stream, and I saw a whole council of them meet together, and +they talked after their own fashion so earnestly, and I really think +they have a language as good as our own. It's always the old ones who +talk, and the young ones who listen." + +"That's true," replied Malachi. "I once myself saw them hold a council, +and then they all separated to go to work, for they were about to dam up +a stream and build their lodges." + +"And what did they do, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Why, ma'am, they did all the same as Christians would have done. The +Injuns say that beavers have souls as well as themselves, and certainly, +if sense gave souls, the Injuns would be in the right. The first thing +that they did was to appoint their sentinels to give notice of danger; +for the moment any one comes near them, these sentinels give the signal +and away they all dive, and disappear till the danger is over." + +"There are many beasts as well as birds that do the same," observed Mr. +Campbell; "indeed, most of those which are gregarious and live in +flocks." + +"That's true, sir," replied Martin. + +"Well, ma'am, the beavers choose a place fit for their work. What they +require is a stream running through a flat or bottom, which stream of +water they may dam up so as to form a large pond of a sufficient depth +by the water flowing over and covering the flat or bottom several feet; +and when they have found the spot they require, they begin their work." + +"Perhaps," observed Mr. Campbell, "this choice requires more sagacity +than the rest of their labor, for the beavers must have some engineering +talent to make the selection. They must be able to calculate as exactly +as if they took their levels, to secure the size and depth of water in +the pond which is necessary. It is the most wonderful, perhaps, of all +the instincts, or reasoning powers rather, allotted to them." + +"It is, sir; and I've often thought so," replied Malachi; "and then to +see how they carry all their tools about them; a carpenter's basket +could not be better provided. Their strong teeth serve as axes to cut +down the trees; then their tails serve as trowels for their mason's +work; their fore-feet they use just as we do our hands, and their tails +are also employed as little carts or wheelbarrows." + +"Pray go on, Malachi," said Mary; "I am quite interested already." + +"Well, miss, I have known these little creatures as they are, raise +banks four or five hundred paces in length, and a matter of twenty feet +high in some parts, besides being seven or eight feet thick; and all in +one season,--perhaps five or six months' work." + +"But how many of them do you reckon are at the work?" said Henry. + +"Perhaps a hundred; not more, I should say." + +"Well; but how do they raise these banks, Malachi?" said Emma. + +"There, miss, they show what sense they have. I've often watched them +when they have been sawing through the large trees with the front teeth; +they could not carry the tree, that's sartin, if the whole of them were +to set to work, so they always pick out the trees by the banks of the +stream, and they examine how the trees incline, to see if they will fall +into the stream; if not, they will not cut them down; and when they are +cutting them down, and they are nearly ready for falling, if the wind +should change and be against the fall, they will leave that tree till +the wind will assist them. As soon as the trees are down, they saw off +the branches and arms, and float the log down to where the dam is to be +made; they lay them across, and as they lay them one upon the other, of +course the water rises and enables them to float down and place the +upper ones. But before that, as soon as the lower logs are in their +places, the animals go and fetch long grass and clay, which they load +upon their flat tails, and drag to the dam, filling up the holes between +the timber till it is as strong as a wall, and the water is completely +stopped." + +"Yes," said Martin; "I have heard them at night working away so hard and +flapping and spattering with their tails, that I could imagine there +were fifty men at work instead of a hundred of these small animals, but +they work by day and by night, and never seem tired, till the dam is +sound and their work is complete." + +"But the raising of the dam is only preparatory, is it not, to their +building their own houses?" observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Nothing more, ma'am; and I think the rest of the work is quite as +wonderful." + +"But it is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "and we must, +therefore, leave the remainder of Malachi's story till another evening." + +"I am sure that there is not one of the party who is more anxious to +hear it than I am," replied Mrs. Campbell, rising, "but as you say, it +is past ten o'clock, and Malachi and the Strawberry have to go home, so +good-night." + +"Oh, dear! what a pity!" cried Percival, "I shall dream of beavers all +night, I'm sure I shall." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +For two or three days, Mr. Campbell was very busy making out an +inventory of the articles which he required. His funds at Quebec were +rather low, but the communication which his agent had made to him of Mr. +D. Campbell's intention of paying for the green-house and hot-house +plants, made him feel very easy on that score; and he now determined to +procure a small flock of sheep, and one or two of the Canadian ponies +or galloways, as they would soon be required for the farm, as well as +two carts or light wagons used in the country. In the meantime, Alfred, +Martin, and Henry were very busy putting the seed in between the stumps +of the felled timber, merely hoeing up the earth and raking it in, which +was all that was required. The quantity of land cleared was about twelve +acres, half of which was sowed with oats, and the other with wheat; the +piece cleared on the other side of the stream by Malachi Bone, and +railed in, was sown with maize, or Indian corn. As soon as the seed was +in, they all set to putting up a high fence round the cleared land, +which was done with split rails made from the white cedar, which grew in +a swamp about half a mile distant, and which, it may be remembered, had +in a great measure been provided by the soldiers who had been lent to +assist them on their arrival. The piece of prairie land, on the side of +the stream next to the house, was put apart for an early crop of hay, +and as soon as they could, they intended to turn the cows into the bush, +that is, to feed in the forest, that they might obtain hay from the +other side, which had belonged to Malachi; but the prairie required to +be fenced in, and this was the job that they took in hand as soon as the +seeds were sown. + +"I hope, when the Colonel comes over," observed Martin to Alfred, "that +we shall persuade him to let us have some soldiers this summer, for we +shall want them both for the fencing and getting the hay-crop in. Our +summers are not very long, and there is plenty to do." + +"I think my father intends to make the request," replied Alfred. + +"Ah, sir; he will now see the value of this bit of prairie land to a new +settler; instead of having to go in search of hay, as they must do at +the fort now, we have plenty for hay, and plenty for feed. So we are to +have some sheep, I find?" + +"Yes, and I suppose we must build a winter-yard for them." + +"To be sure we must, for the wolves are very partial to mutton; I think, +on the whole, that they like pigs better. I wish we could get the fence +up round the prairie, but that we never can do this year without we +have help from the fort." + +"But will it be safe to turn the cows into the bush?" + +"Oh yes, sir; they will not be hurt by any thing in the summer time; +sometimes we have trouble to find them again, but not when they have +calves; they are certain to come home every evening to their young +ones." + +"We shall have quite a herd of cattle; eight calves and eight cows." + +"We must only bring up the cow calves, unless your father intends to +have oxen for the yoke. We shall require them about the time they are +fit to break in, that is, in two or three years." + +"Yes, we shall be great farmers by and by," replied Alfred with a sigh; +for at the moment he was thinking of Captain Lumley and his nautical +profession. + +In the evening of the day on which this conversation took place, Malachi +Bone was requested to resume his observations upon the beavers. + +"Well, ma'am, as I said the other night, as soon as they have dammed up +the river and made the lake, they then build their houses; and how they +manage to work under water and fix the posts in the ground is a puzzle +to me, but they do fix six posts in the ground, and very firmly, and +then they build their house, which is very curious; it is in the form of +a large oven, and made of clay and fat earth, mixed up with branches and +herbs of all sorts; they have three sets of rooms, one above the other, +so that if the water rises from a freshet or sudden thaw, they may be +able to move higher and keep themselves dry. Each beaver has his own +little room, and the entrance is made under the water, so that they dive +down to go into it, and nothing can harm them." + +"How very curious! and what do they live upon? Malachi?" + +"The bark of what we call asp-wood, ma'am, which is a kind of sallow; +they lay up great quantities of it in the autumn as a provision for +winter, when they are frozen up for some months." + +"Well, but how do you take them, Malachi?" + +"There are many ways, ma'am; sometimes the Indians break down the dam, +and let off the water, and then they kill them all except a dozen of the +females and half a dozen males; after which they stop up the dam again, +that the animals may breed and increase; sometimes, when the beaver lake +is frozen hard, they break into the beaver house from the top; when they +do that, the beavers all dive and escape, but as they must come up to +breathe at the holes in the ice, they place nets and take them in that +way, but they always leave a sufficient number to keep up the stock; +they also take them in traps baited with the asp-wood; but that is more +difficult. + +"But there is another sort of beaver, ma'am, called the land-beaver, +which is more easily taken," observed Martin; "they make holes in the +earth like rabbits. The Indians say that these beavers are those who are +lazy and idle, and have been driven out by the others for not working." + +"Now, tell us what you do when you go out to hunt the beaver in the +winter, Malachi?" + +"We never hunt the beaver only, ma'am; we go out to hunt every thing; we +go to the beaver lakes, and then we set our traps for beaver, otter, +martin, minks, cats, foxes, and every other animal, some traps large and +some small. We build our hut, and set our traps all about us, and +examine them every day; we cut what flesh is good, and we employ +ourselves skinning the animals which we take." + +"Is the beaver flesh good?" + +"Yes, ma'am, very tolerable eating; perhaps the best we find at that +time." + +"But what a miserable life that must be," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Well, ma'am, you may think so, but we hunters think otherwise," replied +Malachi; "we are used to it, and to being left alone to our own +thoughts." + +"That's true," observed Martin; "I'd rather pass the winter hunting +beavers, than pass it at Quebec, miserable as you may imagine the life +to be." + +"There must be a charm in the life, that is certain," observed Mr. +Campbell; "for how many are engaged in it who go out year after year, +and never think of laying up any of their earnings." + +"Very true, sir," replied Martin; "what they make from their skins is +spent as soon as they get to Quebec, as I know well, and then they set +off again." + +"Why they are like sailors," observed Alfred, "who, after a long cruise, +spend all their wages and prize-money in a few days, and then go to sea +again for more." + +"Exactly," replied Malachi; "and what's the use of money if you keep it? +A trapper can always take up as much powder and ball as he wants upon +credit, and pay with a portion of his skins on his return. What does he +want with the rest? It's of no use to him, and so of course he spends +it." + +"But would it not be better to put it by until he had sufficient to buy +a farm, and live comfortably?" + +"But does he live comfortably, ma'am?" said Malachi; "has he not more +work to do, more things to look after, and more to care for with a farm, +than when he has nothing?" + +"It's very true philosophy, after all," observed Mr. Campbell; "happy is +the man who is content to be poor. If a man prefers to live entirely +upon flesh, as the hunters do, there is no reason why he should work +hard and till the ground to procure bread; when the wants are few, the +cares are few also; but still, even the savage must feel the necessity +of exertion when he has a wife and family." + +"Yes, sir, to be sure he does, and he works hard in his own way to +procure their food; but trappers seldom have wives; they would be no use +to them in the woods, and they have no one to provide for but +themselves." + +"It appears to me like a savage life, but a very independent one," said +Mrs. Campbell, "and I presume it is the independence which gives it such +charms." + +"That's it, depend upon it, ma'am," replied Martin. + +"But what do you do all the summer time, Malachi?" + +"Why, ma'am, we take to our rifles then; there are the deer, and the +lynx, and the wild cats, and squirrels, and the bear, and many other +animals to look after; and sometimes we go bee-hunting, for the honey." + +"Pray tell us how you take the honey, Malachi." + +"Why, ma'am, the bees always live in the hollow of the old trees, and +it's very difficult in a forest to find them out, for the hole which +they enter by is very small and very high up sometimes; however, when we +get a lead, we generally manage it." + +"Tell us what you mean, Malachi." + +"We catch the bees as they settle upon the flowers to obtain honey, and +then we let them go again. The bee, as soon as it is allowed to escape, +flies straight toward its hive; we watch it till we can no longer see +it, and walk in that direction and catch another, and so we go on till +we see them settle upon a tree, and then we know that the hive and honey +must be in that tree, so we cut it down." + +"How very clever," said Percival. + +"It requires a sharp eye though," said Martin, "to watch the bee far; +some of the trappers catch the bees and give them sugar mixed with +whisky. This makes them tipsy, and they can not fly so fast, and then +they discover the hive much sooner, as they can run almost as fast as +the bee flies." + +"That's capital," cried Percival; "but tell me, Martin, how do you kill +the bears?" + +"Why, Master Percival, with our rifles, to be sure; the easiest way to +kill them is when they are in their holes in the hollow trees." + +"How do you get them out?" + +"Why, we knock the tree with our axes, and they come out to see what's +the matter, and as soon as they put their heads out, we shoot them." + +"Are you in earnest, Martin?" + +"Yes, ma'am; quite in earnest," replied Martin. + +"It's all true, ma'am," said the hunter; "the bears about here are not +very savage. We had much worse down in Maine. I've seen the Indians in a +canoe on a river watching the bears as they swam across, and kill in the +water six or seven in one day." + +"Still a bear is an awkward sort of animal when it's angry," replied +Martin; "and, as we may have them down here in the autumn, it's as well +not to let them be thought too lightly of." + +"Indeed, there's no fear of that," said Emma; "as for Malachi, he +thinks nothing dangerous; but I have no wish to see a bear. You say we +may expect them, Martin. Why so?" + +"Because, miss, they are very fond of maize, and we have a field of it +sown, which may tempt them." + +"Well, if they do come, I must trust to my rifle," replied Emma, +laughing; "at all events, I do not fear them so much as I did when I +first came here." + +"Don't fire, miss, without you're sure of killing," said Malachi. "The +creatures are very dangerous when wounded." + +"Don't be afraid; I'll only fire in self-defense, Malachi; that is, when +I have no other chance left. I had rather trust to my heels than my +rifle. Were you ever hugged by a bear?" + +"Well, I wasn't ever hugged; but once I was much closer to one than ever +I wish to be again." + +"Oh! when was that? Do, pray, tell us," said Emma. + +"It was when I was young, that one day I sounded a tree in the forest +with my ax, and I was certain that a bear was in it: but the animal did +not show itself, so I climbed up the tree to examine the hole at the +top, and see if the bear was at home; as, if so, I was determined to +have him out. Well, miss, I was on the top of the hollow trunk, and was +just putting my head down into the hole, when, all of a sudden, the edge +of the tree which I kneeled upon gave way, like so much tinder, and down +I went into the hollow; luckily for me I did not go down head foremost, +or there I should have remained till this time, for the hole in the +middle of the tree, as I found, was too narrow for me to have turned in, +and there I must have stuck. As it was, I went down with the dust and +crumbles smothering me almost, till I came right on the top of the bear, +who lay at the bottom, and I fell with such force, that I doubled his +head down so that he could not lay hold of me with his teeth, which +would not have been pleasant; indeed, the bear was quite as much, if not +more astonished than myself, and there he lay beneath me, very quiet, +till I could recover a little. Then I thought of getting out, as you may +suppose, fast enough, and the hollow of the tree, providentially, was +not so wide but that I could work up again with my back to one side and +my knees to the other. By this means I gradually got up again to the +hole that I fell in at, and perched myself across the timber to fetch my +breath. I had not been there more than a quarter of a minute, and I +intended to have remained much longer, when I perceived, all of a +sudden, the bear's head within a foot of me; he had climbed up after me, +and I saw that he was very angry, so in a moment I threw myself off my +perch, and down I went to the ground at the foot of the tree, a matter +of near twenty feet, even faster than I went down inside of it. I was +severely shaken with the fall, but no bones were broken; in fact, I was +more frightened than hurt; I lay quite still for a little while, when +the growl of the bear put me in mind of him; I jumped on my legs, and +found that he was coming down the tree after me, and was within six feet +of the ground. There was no time to lose; I caught up my rifle, and had +just time to put it to his ear and settle him, as he was placing his +fore-foot on the ground." + +"What a narrow escape!" + +"Well, perhaps it was, but there's no saying, miss, which beats till the +fight is over." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +A notice arrived that the departure of the boat to Montreal would take +place on the next morning. When the boat came up, it brought Captain +Sinclair, to the great delight of the whole party, who had felt very +anxious about one with whom they had so long been intimate and who had +shown them so much kindness. His knee was almost well, and as soon as +the first interrogations were over, he made known to them that he had +obtained six weeks' leave of absence, and was about to proceed to +Quebec. + +"To Quebec!" cried Emma, "and why are you going to Quebec?" + +"To confess the truth, Emma," said Captain Sinclair, "my journey to +Quebec is but the preparatory step to my return to England for perhaps +two or three months." + +"To England! Oh! how I wish--;" but here Emma stopped; she was going to +say how much she wished that she was going also, but her uncle and aunt +were present, and, recollecting that it might pain them and induce them +to think that she was discontented, she added, "that you would bring me +out all the new fashions." + +"All the new fashions, my dear Emma?" said Henry. "Why, do you wish to +be fashionably dressed in the woods of Canada?" + +"Why not?" exclaimed Emma, who felt that she must appear to be very +foolish, but could not get out of her scrape. "I can look at myself in +the glass at all events." + +"I will try to bring you out something which will give you pleasure," +replied Captain Sinclair, "but as for the fashions, I know you are only +joking, by your trusting a person so incompetent as I am to select +them." + +"Well, I do not think you would execute my commission very well, so I +will not trouble you," replied Emma; "and now let us know why you are +going to England." + +"My dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell, "you ought not to put such questions; +Captain Sinclair has his own reasons, I have no doubt." + +"It is very true that I have my own reasons," replied Captain Sinclair, +"and, as I have no secrets, I will with pleasure gratify Emma's +curiosity. I do not know whether you are aware that I was an orphan at a +very early age, and have been under the charge of a guardian. When my +father died, he left directions in his will that I was not to take +possession of my property till I was twenty-five years of age. I was +twenty-five years old last year, and my guardian has written requesting +me to come home, that he may be relieved of his responsibility, by +making over to me the trust which has been confided to him." + +"Will it detain you long?" inquired Mr. Campbell. + +"It must not. It is very difficult to obtain leave of absence from your +regiment in time of war. It is only through interest that I do so now. +On my arrival at Quebec, the Governor will put me on his staff, and +then he will give me leave. I shall not stay longer than is necessary, +as I am anxious to be with my regiment again. You may, therefore, be +certain that, if I am spared, I shall be with you again before the +winter, if not much sooner. So now if you have really any commissions +for me to execute, I can only say I shall be most happy to comply with +your wishes to the best of my ability." + +"Well," observed Emma, "we really were not aware that Captain Sinclair +was a man of fortune. You think now you will come back," continued she, +gravely, "but if once you get to England, you will remain, and forget +all about Canada." + +"My fortune is not very large," replied Captain Sinclair; "in England, +hardly sufficient to induce a young lady of fashion to look upon me, +although enough, perhaps, for a sensible woman to be happy upon. My +fortune, therefore, will not detain me in England, and, as I said +before, my greatest wish is to rejoin my regiment." + +"Whether you come back or remain," observed Mr. Campbell, "you will +always have our best wishes, Captain Sinclair. We are not ungrateful for +your kindness to us." + +"Nor shall I forget the many happy hours I have passed in your society," +replied Captain Sinclair; "but we shall be melancholy if we talk too +long upon the subject. The boat can not remain more than two hours, and +Henry must be ready by that time. The commandant is anxious that it +should start for Montreal this very evening." + +"Then, indeed, we have no time to lose," observed Mr. Campbell; "Henry, +get your trunk ready, and Martin will take it down into the boat before +we sit down to dinner. It will be a long while before we have you to +dine with us again," continued Mr. Campbell to Captain Sinclair; "but I +wish you your health and much happiness till you return. Come, girls, +look after the dinner. Mary! where's Mary?" + +"She went into the room a few minutes ago," said Emma, "but I'm here, +and can do all that is required without her or my aunt either. Come, +Percival, lay the cloth; Alfred, come and help me, this is almost too +heavy for me. Oh, here comes my aunt: now you may go away, Alfred; we +can get on better without you." + +"There's gratitude," said Alfred, laughing. + +As Henry had been in daily expectation of the summons, he was not long +in his preparations, and in a few minutes made his appearance, +accompanied by Mary Percival. They then sat down to dinner, not very +cheerful, for Captain Sinclair's unexpected departure had thrown a gloom +over them all; however, they rallied a little toward the close of the +meal, and Mr. Campbell produced one of his bottles of wine to drink +success and happiness to the travelers. It was then time to start. +Captain Sinclair and Henry shook hands with Mr. Campbell and the Miss +Percivals, and accompanied by the gentlemen of the party, walked down to +the beach. + +"I can't bear parting with any one that I have been so intimate with," +said Emma, after they were left alone. "I declare I could sit down and +have a hearty cry at Captain Sinclair's departure." + +Mary sighed, but made no answer. + +"I am not surprised to hear you say so, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "In +England, when we were surrounded with friends, parting was always +painful; but here where we have so few, I might almost say only Captain +Sinclair, it is of course most painful. However, it's only for a time, I +hope." + +"It must be very dull to be on duty at the fort," said Mary; "I should +not be surprised at Captain Sinclair's not returning." + +"I should be most exceedingly surprised," replied Emma; "I am sure that +he will come back, if he is not unavoidably prevented." + +"Since he has expressed so much desire to rejoin his regiment, I should +be surprised as well as you, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "He is not a +volatile young man; but, come, we must clear away the dinner-table." + +Mr. Campbell, Alfred, Percival, and Martin soon returned, for Captain +Sinclair was obliged to push off immediately, that he might return in +time to the fort, in obedience to his orders. Malachi and John had gone +out on a hunting expedition, and the Strawberry was at her own lodge. +The party that sat in the kitchen in the evening was, therefore, much +reduced, and the taking farewell of Captain Sinclair did not dispose +them to be very lively. A few words were exchanged now and then, but the +conversation drooped. Emma spoke of Captain Sinclair's expectations and +projects. + +"We never know what may come in this world of change, my dear Emma," +said Mr. Campbell. "All Captain Sinclair's plans may be overthrown by +circumstances over which he has no control. How seldom do we meet with +results equal to our expectations. When I was practicing in my +profession, I little expected that I should be summoned to take +possession of Wexton Hall; when once in possession, as little did I +expect that I should be obliged to quit it, and to come to these +desolate wilds. We are in the hands of God, who does with us as He +thinks fit. I have been reading this morning, and I made the observation +not only how often individuals, but even nations, are out in their +expectations. I do not know a more convincing proof of this than the +narration of events, which from their recent occurrence, can hardly yet +be considered as history, has offered to me. Perhaps there never was so +short a period in which causes have produced effects so rapidly, and in +which, in every case, the effects have been directly opposite to what +short-sighted mortals had anticipated. It was in 1756, scarcely forty +years ago, that the French, being in possession of the provinces, +attempted to wrest from us those portions of America which we occupied. +What was the result? After a war which, for cruelty and atrocity, is +perhaps unequaled in history, both parties employing savages, by whom +the French and English were alternately tortured and burned to death, +France, in attempting to obtain all, lost all, and was compelled, in +1760, to surrender its own provinces to Great Britain. Here is one +instance in which affairs turned out contrary to the expectations of +France. + +"Now again: At no period was England more prosperous or more respected +by foreign nations than at the close of the war. Her prosperity made her +arrogant and unjust. She wronged her colonies. She thought that they +dared not resist her imperious will. She imagined that now that the +French were driven from the Canadas, America was all her own, whereas it +was because the French _were_ driven from the Canadas that the colonies +ventured to resist. As long as the French held this country, the English +colonists had an enemy on their frontiers, and consequently looked up to +England for support and protection. They required aid and assistance, +and as long as they did require it, they were not likely to make any +remonstrance at being taxed to pay a portion of the expense which was +incurred. Had the French possessed an army under Montcalm ready to +advance at the time that the Stamp Act, or the duty upon tea, salt, +etc., was imposed, I question very much if the colonists would have made +any remonstrance. But no longer requiring an army for their own +particular defense, these same duties induced them to rise in rebellion +against what they considered injustice, and eventually to assert their +independence. Here, again, we find that affairs turned out quite +contrary to the expectations of England. + +"Observe again. The American colonists gained their independence, which +in all probability they would not have done had they not been assisted +by the numerous army and fleet of France, who, irritated at the loss of +the Canadas, wished to humiliate England by the loss of her own American +possessions. But little did the French king and his noblesse imagine, +that in upholding the principles of the Americans, and allowing the +French armies and navies (I may say the people of France _en masse_) to +be imbued with the same principles of equality, that they were sowing +the seeds of a revolution in their own country which was to bring the +king, as well as the major part of the nobility, to the scaffold. + +"There, again, the events did not turn out according to expectation, and +you will observe in every attempt made by either party, the result was, +that the blow fell upon their own heads, and not upon that of the party +which it was intended to crush." + +"I remember," said Alfred, after Mr. Campbell had finished speaking, +"having somewhere read a story of an Eastern king who purchased a +proverb of a dervise, which he ordered to be engraven on all the gold +and silver utensils in the palace. The proverb was, 'Never undertake any +thing until you have well considered the end.' It so happened, that +there was a conspiracy against the king, and it was arranged that his +surgeon should bleed him with a poisoned lancet. The surgeon agreed--the +king's arm was bound up, and one of the silver basins was held to +receive the blood. The surgeon read the inscription, and was so struck +with the force of it, that he threw down the lancet, confessed the plot, +and thus was the life of the king preserved." + +"A very apt story, Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"The question now is," continued Alfred, "as two of the parties, France +and England, have proved so short-sighted, whether the Americans, having +thrown off their allegiance, have not been equally so in their choice of +a democratical government?" + +"How far a modern democracy may succeed, I am not prepared to say," +replied Mr. Campbell; "but this I do know, that in ancient times, their +duration was generally very short, and continually changing to oligarchy +and tyranny. One thing is certain, that there is no form of government +under which the people become so rapidly vicious, or where those who +benefit them are treated with such ingratitude." + +"How do you account for that, sir?" said Alfred. + +"There are two principal causes. One is, that where all men are declared +to be equal (which man never will permit his fellow to be if he can +prevent it), the only source of distinction is wealth, and thus the +desire of wealth becomes the ruling passion of the whole body, and there +is no passion so demoralizing. The other is, that where the people, or, +more properly speaking, the mob govern, they must be conciliated by +flattery and servility on the part of those who would become their +idols. Now flattery is lying, and a habit equally demoralizing to the +party who gives and to the party who receives it. Depend upon it, there +is no government so contemptible or so unpleasant for an honest man to +live under as a democracy." + +"It is my opinion, sir, and I believe a very general one," said Alfred. + +"How far the Americans may disprove such an opinion," continued Mr. +Campbell, "remains to be seen; but this is certain, they have commenced +their new form of government with an act of such gross injustice, as to +warrant the assumption that all their boasted virtues are pretense. I +refer to their not liberating their slaves. They have given the lie to +their own assertions in their Declaration of Independence, in which they +have declared all men equal and born free, and we can not expect the +Divine blessing upon those who, when they emancipated themselves, were +so unjust as to hold their fellow-creatures in bondage. The time will +come, I have no doubt, although perhaps not any of us here present may +see the day, when the retribution will fall upon their heads, or rather +upon the heads of their offspring; for the sins of the fathers are +visited upon the children, even to the third and fourth generation. But +it is time for us to think of retiring--good-night, and God bless you +all." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +In two days Malachi and John returned, bringing with them the skins of +three bears which they had killed--but at this period of the year the +animals were so thin and so poor, that their flesh was not worth +bringing home. Indeed, it was hardly worth while going out to hunt just +then, so they both remained much at home, either fishing in the lake, or +taking trout in the stream. Alfred and Martin were still occupied with +the farm; the seed had come up, and they were splitting rails for the +prairie fence. About a fortnight after Captain Sinclair's departure, +Colonel Forster came in a boat from the fort, to pay them a visit. + +"I assure you, Mr. Campbell," said he, "I was very anxious about you +last winter, and I am rejoiced that you got over it with so little +difficulty. At one time we had apprehensions of the Indians, but these +have passed over for the present. They meet again this summer, but the +Quebec government are on the alert, and I have no doubt but that a +little conciliation will put an end to all animosity. We expect a large +supply of blankets and other articles to be sent up this spring, as +presents to the tribes, which we hope will procure their good-will; and +we have taken up several French emissaries, who were working mischief." + +"But still we shall be liable to the assaults of straggling parties," +said Mr. Campbell. + +"That is true," replied the Colonel, "but against them you have your own +means of defense. You would, in so isolated a position, be equally +liable to a burglary in England--only with the difference that in +England you would have the laws to appeal to, whereas here you must take +the law into your own hands." + +"It certainly is not pleasant to be in a continual state of anxiety," +observed Mr. Campbell, "but we knew what we had to expect before we came +here, and we must make the best of it. So you have lost Captain +Sinclair, Colonel; he is a great loss to us." + +"Yes, he is to go to England for a short time," replied the Colonel, +"but we shall soon have him back again. He must be very fond of his +profession to remain in it with his means." + +"He told us that he was about to take possession of a small property." + +"A property of nearly £2,000 per annum," replied the Colonel. "He may +consider it a small property, but I should think it otherwise if it had +fallen to my lot." + +"Indeed I had no idea, from what he said, that it was so large," said +Mrs. Campbell. "Well, I have a high opinion of him, and have no doubt +but that he will make a good use of it." + +"At all events, he can afford the luxury of a wife," said the Colonel, +laughing, "which we soldiers seldom can." + +The Colonel then entered into conversation with Mr. Campbell, relative +to his farm, and after many questions, he observed: + +"I have been thinking, Mr. Campbell, that it will be very advantageous +to the government as well as to you, when your farm is cleared and +stocked, if, with the water-power you possess here, you were to erect a +flour-mill and a saw-mill. You observe that the government has to supply +the fort with flour and provisions of all kinds at a very heavy expense +of carriage, and the cattle we have at the fort will cost us more than +they are worth, now that we have lost your prairie farm, so conveniently +situated for us. On the other hand, your produce will be almost useless +to you, at the distance you are from any mart; as you will not find any +sale for it. Now, if you were to erect a mill, and grind your own wheat, +which you may do in another year, if you have funds sufficient; and as +you may have plenty of stock, you will be able to supply the fort with +flour, beef, pork, and mutton, at a good profit to yourself, and at +one-half the price which government pays at present. I have written to +the Governor on the subject, stating that we have not the means of +keeping our stock, and pointing out to him what I now point out to you. +I expect an answer in a few days, and should he authorize me, I may make +arrangements with you even now, which will be satisfactory, I have no +doubt." + +Mr. Campbell returned the Colonel many thanks for his kindness, and of +course expressed himself willing to be guided by his advice. He stated +that he had funds not only sufficient to erect a mill, but also, if he +were permitted, to pay for the labor of any party of men which the +commandant would spare during the summer season. + +"That is the very point which I wished to ascertain; but I felt some +delicacy about making the inquiry. Now I consider that there will be no +difficulty in our arrangements." + +The Colonel remained for some time looking over the farm and conversing +with Mr. Campbell, and then took his leave. + +In the meantime, Alfred and his cousins went out to walk; the weather +was now beautifully clear, and in the afternoon the heat was not too +oppressive. As they sauntered by the side of the stream, Mary said, +"Well, Alfred, what do you think of the Colonel's proposition?" + +"Yes," observed Emma, "you are a party deeply concerned in it." + +"How so, dear coz?" + +"Why, don't you perceive that if the mill is erected, you will be the +proper person to have charge of it? What a change of professions, from a +sailor to a miller. I think I see you in your coat, all white with +flour, coming in to dinner." + +"My dear Emma, you don't intend it, I am sure, but you do not know that +you are inflicting pain upon me. When the Colonel made the proposition, +I felt the importance of it, as it would be a source of great profit to +my father; but at the same time, I don't know how it is, I have always +indulged the idea that we may not stay here forever, and this plan +appeared so like decidedly settling down to a residence for life, that +it made me low-spirited. I know that it is foolish, and that we have no +chance of ever removing--but still I can not, even with this almost +certainty before my eyes, keep my mind from thinking upon one day +returning to my profession, and the idea of becoming a miller for life +is what I can not as yet contemplate with any degree of composure." + +"Well, Alfred, I only did it to tease you a little--not to hurt your +feelings, believe me," replied Emma. "You shall not be a miller if you +don't like it. Henry will do better, perhaps, than you; but as for our +quitting this place, I have no idea of it's being ever possible. I have +made up my mind to live and die in the Canadian woods, considering it my +wayward fate that all 'my sweetness should be wasted on the desert +air.'" + +"Repining is useless, if not sinful," observed Mary Percival. "We have +much to be thankful for; at least we are independent, and if we are ever +to repay the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who must feel their change +of condition so much more than we do, it must be by cheerfulness and +content. I have been thinking as well as you, Alfred, and I'll tell you +what was in my thoughts. I looked forward to a few years, by which time, +as the country fills up so fast, it is very probable that we shall have +other settlers here as neighbors, in every direction. This will give us +security. I also fancied that my uncle's farm and property became of +value and importance, and that he himself became a leading man in the +district; not only at his ease, but, for a settler, even wealthy; and +then I fancied that, surrounded by others, in perfect security, and in +easy and independent circumstances, my uncle would not forget the +sacrifice which my cousin Alfred so nobly made, and would insist upon +his returning to that profession to which he is so much attached, and in +which I have no doubt but that he will distinguish himself." + +"Well said, my sweet prophet," said Alfred, kissing his cousin, "you +have more sense than both of us." + +"Answer for yourself, Alfred, if you please," said Emma, tossing her +head as if affronted. "I shall not forget that remark of yours, I can +assure you. Now, I prophesy quite the contrary; Alfred will never go to +sea again. He will be taken with the charms of some Scotch settler's +daughter, some Janet or Moggy, and settle down into a Canadian farmer, +mounted on a long-legged black pony." + +"And I too," replied Alfred, "prophesy, that at the same time that I +marry and settle as you have described Miss Emma Percival will yield up +her charms to some long-legged, black, nondescript sort of a fellow, who +will set up a whisky-shop and instal his wife as bar-maid to attend upon +and conciliate his customers." + +"Emma, I think you have the worst of this peeping into futurity," said +Mary, laughing. + +"Yes, if Alfred were not a false prophet, of which there are always many +going about," replied Emma; "however, I hope your prophecy may be the +true one, Mary, and then we shall get rid of him." + +"I flatter myself that you would be very sorry if I went away; you would +have no one to tease, at all events," replied Alfred, "and that would be +a sad loss to yourself." + +"Well, there's some sense in that remark," said Emma; "but the cows are +waiting to be milked, and so, Mr. Alfred, if you are on your good +behavior, you had better go and bring us the pails." + +"I really pity Alfred," said Mary, as soon as he was out of hearing; +"his sacrifice has been very great, and, much as he must feel it, how +well he bears up against it." + +"He is a dear, noble fellow," replied Emma; "and I do love him very +much, although I can not help teasing him." + +"But on some points you should be cautious, my dear sister; you don't +know what pain you give." + +"Yes I do, and am always sorry when I have done it, but it is not until +afterward that I recollect it, and then I am very angry with myself. +Don't scold me, dear Mary, I will try to be wiser; I wonder whether what +you say will come to pass, and we shall have neighbors; I wish we had, +if it were only on account of those Indians." + +"I think it very probable," replied Mary; "but time will show." + +Alfred then returned with the pails, and the conversation took another +turn. + +A few days afterward, a corporal arrived from the fort, bringing letters +and newspapers; the first that they had received since the breaking up +of the winter. The whole family were in commotion as the intelligence +was proclaimed; Mary and Emma left the fowls which they were feeding; +Percival threw down the pail with which he was attending the pigs; +Alfred ran in from where he and Martin were busy splitting rails; all +crowded round Mr. Campbell as he opened the packet in which all the +letters and papers had been enveloped at the foot. The letters were few; +three from Miss Paterson, and two other friends in England, giving them +the English news; one to Alfred from Captain Lumley, inquiring after the +family, and telling him that he had mentioned his position to his +friends at the Board, and that there could be no call for his services +for the present; one from Mr. Campbell's English agent, informing him +that he had remitted the money paid by Mr. Douglas Campbell for the +plants, etc., to his agent at Quebec; and another from his Quebec agent, +advising the receipt of the money and inclosing a balance-sheet. The +letters were first read over, and then the newspapers were distributed, +and all of them were soon very busy and silent during the perusal. + +After a while, Emma read out. "Dear uncle, only hear this, how sorry I +am." + +"What is it, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"'Mrs. Douglas Campbell, of Wexton Hall, of a son, which survived but a +few hours after birth.'" + +"I am very sorry too, my dear Emma," replied Mr. Campbell; "Mr. Douglas +Campbell's kindness to us must make us feel for any misfortune which may +happen to him, and to rejoice in any blessing which may be bestowed upon +him." + +"It must have been a serious disappointment," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +one which, if it pleases God, may be replaced; and we may hope that +their expectations, though blighted for the present, may be realized on +some future occasion." + +"Here is a letter from Colonel Forster, which I overlooked," said Mr. +Campbell; "it was between the envelope. He says that he has received an +answer from the Governor, who fully agrees with him in his views on the +subject we were conversing about, and has allowed him to take any steps +which he may think advisable. The Colonel says that he will call upon me +again in a few days, and that if in the meantime, I will let him know +how many soldiers I wish to employ, he will make arrangements to meet my +views as far as lies in his power. We have to thank Heaven for sending +us friends, at all events," continued Mr. Campbell; "but at present, we +will put his letter aside, and return to our English news." + +"Dear England!" exclaimed Emma. + +"Yes, dear England, my good girl; we are English, and can love our +country as much now as we did when we lived in it. We are still English, +and in an English colony; it has pleased Heaven to remove us away from +our native land, but our hearts and feelings are still the same, and so +will all English hearts be found to be in every settlement made by our +country all over the wide world. We all glory in being English, and have +reason to be proud of our country. May the feeling never be lost, but +have an elevating influence upon our general conduct!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +It was very nearly five weeks before Henry returned from his expedition +to Montreal. During this time, the Colonel had repeated his visit and +made arrangements with Mr. Campbell. A party of twenty soldiers had been +sent to work at felling timber and splitting rails, for whose services +Mr. Campbell paid as before. The winter house and palisade fence for the +sheep were put in hand, and great progress was made in a short time, now +that so many people were employed. They had also examined the stream for +some distance, to ascertain which would be the most eligible site for +the water-mill, and had selected one nearly half a mile from the shore +of the lake, and where there was a considerable fall, and the stream ran +with great rapidity. It was not, however, expected that the mill would +be erected until the following year, as it was necessary to have a +millwright and all the machinery from either Montreal or Quebec. It was +intended that the estimate of the expense should be given in, the +contract made, and the order given during the autumn, so that it might +be all ready for the spring of the next year. It was on a Monday morning +that Henry arrived from the fort, where he had staid the Sunday, having +reached it late on Saturday night. The _bateaux_, with the stock and +stores, he had left at the fort; they were to come round during the day, +but Henry's impatience to see the family would not allow him to wait. He +was, as may be supposed, joyfully received, and, as soon as the first +recognitions were over, he proceeded to acquaint his father with what he +had done. He had obtained from a Canadian farmer forty ewes of very fair +stock, although not any thing equal to the English; but the agent had +worked hard for him, and procured him twenty English sheep and two rams +of the best kind, to improve the breed. For the latter he had to pay +rather dear, but they were worth any money to Mr. Campbell, who was +quite delighted with the acquisition. In selecting the sheep, of course +Henry was obliged to depend on the agent and the parties he employed, +as he was no judge himself; but he had, upon his own judgment, purchased +two Canadian horses, for Henry had been long enough at Oxford to know +the points of a horse, and as they turned out, he had made a very good +bargain. He had also bought a sow and pigs of an improved breed, and all +the other commissions had been properly executed; the packages of skins +also realized the price which had been put on them. As it may be +supposed, he was full of news, talking about Montreal, the parties he +had been invited to and the people with whom he had become acquainted. +He had not forgotten to purchase some of the latest English publications +for his cousins, besides a few articles of millinery, which he thought +not too gay for their present position. He was still talking, and +probably would have gone on talking for hours longer, so many were the +questions which he had to reply to, when Martin came in and announced +the arrival of the _bateaux_ with the stores and cattle, upon which they +all went down to the beach to see them disembarked and brought up by the +soldiers, who were at work. The stores were carried up to the door of +the storehouse, and the sheep and horses were turned into the prairie +with the cows. A week's rations for the soldiers were also brought up +from the fort, and the men were very busy in the distribution, and +carrying them to the little temporary huts of boughs which they had +raised for their accommodation, during the time they worked for Mr. +Campbell. Before the evening set in every thing was arranged, and Henry +was again surrounded by the family and replying to their remaining +interrogatories. He told them that the Governor of Montreal had sent +them an invitation to pass the winter at Government-House, and promised +the young ladies that no wolf should venture to come near to them, and +that the aids-de-camp had requested the honor of their hands at the +first ball, which should be given after their arrival, at which they all +laughed heartily. In short, it appeared that nothing could equal the +kindness and hospitality which had been shown to him, and that there was +no doubt, if they chose to go there, that it would be equally extended +to the other members of the family. + +There was a pause in the conversation, when Malachi addressed Mr. +Campbell. + +"Martin wishes me to speak to you, sir," said Malachi. + +"Martin," said Mr. Campbell, looking round for him, and perceiving that +he was not in the room; "why, yes, I perceive he is gone out. What can +it be that he can not say for himself?" + +"That's just what I said to him," replied Malachi; "but he thought it +were better to come through me; the fact is, sir, that he has taken a +liking to the Strawberry, and wishes to make her his wife." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes, sir; I don't think that he would have said any thing about it as +yet, but you see, there are so many soldiers here, and two or three of +them are of Martin's mind, and that makes him feel uncomfortable till +the thing is settled; and as he can't well marry while in your service +without your leave, he has asked me to speak about it." + +"Well, but the Strawberry is your property, not mine. Malachi." + +"Yes, sir, according to Indian fashion, I am her father; but I've no +objection, and shan't demand any presents for her." + +"Presents for her! why we in general give presents or money with a +wife," said Emma. + +"Yes, I know you do, but English wives ain't Indian wives; an English +wife requires people to work for her and costs money to keep, but an +Indian wife works for herself and her husband, so she is of value and is +generally bought of the father; I reckon in the end that it's cheaper to +pay for an Indian wife than to receive money with an English one; but +that's as may be." + +"That's not a very polite speech of yours, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Perhaps it ain't, ma'am, but it's near the mark, nevertheless. Now I am +willing that Martin should have the Strawberry, because I know that he +is a smart hunter, and will keep her well; and somehow or another, I +feel that if he made her his wife, I should be more comfortable; I shall +live with them here close by, and Martin will serve you, and when he +has a wife he will not feel inclined to change service and go into the +woods." + +"I think it is an excellent proposal, Malachi, and am much pleased with +it, as we now shall have you all together," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, so you will, and then I'll be always with the boy to look +after him, and you'll always know where we are, and not be frightened." + +"Very true, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I consider it a very good +arrangement. We must build you a better lodge than the one that you are +in." + +"No, sir, not a better one, for if you have all you want, you can't want +more; it's big enough, but perhaps not quite near enough. I'm thinking +that when the sheep-fold is finished, it might be as well to raise our +lodge inside of the palisades, and then we shall be a sort of guard to +the creatures." + +"A very excellent idea, Malachi; well then, as far as I am concerned, +Martin has my full consent to marry as soon as he pleases." + +"And mine, if it is at all necessary," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"But who is to marry them?" said Emma; "they have no chaplain at the +fort; he went away last year." + +"Why, miss, they don't want no chaplain; she is an Indian girl, and he +will marry her Indian-fashion." + +"But what fashion is that, Malachi?" said Mary. + +"Why, miss, he'll come to the lodge, and fetch her away to his own +house." + +Alfred burst out into laughter. "That's making short work of it," said +he. + +"Yes, rather too short for my approval," said Mrs. Campbell. "Malachi, +it's very true that the Strawberry is an Indian girl, but we are not +Indians, and Martin is not an Indian, neither are you who stand as her +father; indeed, I can not consent to give my sanction to such a +marriage." + +"Well, ma'am, as you please, but it appears to me to be all right. If +you go into a country and wish to marry a girl of that country, you +marry her according to the rules of that country. Now, Martin seeks an +Indian squaw, and why not therefore marry her after Indian fashion?" + +"You may be right, Malachi, in your argument," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +still you must make allowances for our prejudices. We never should think +that she was a married woman, if no further ceremony was to take place +than what you propose." + +"Well, ma'am, just as you please; but still, suppose you marry them +after your fashion, the girl won't understand a word that is said, so +what good will it do?" + +"None to her at present, Malachi; but recollect, if she is not a +Christian at present, she may be hereafter; I have often thought upon +that subject, and although I feel it useless to speak to her just now, +yet as soon as she understands English well enough to know what I say to +her, I hope to persuade her to become one. Now, if she should become a +Christian, as I hope in God she will, she then will perceive that she +has not been properly married, and will be anxious to have the ceremony +properly performed over again; so why not do it now?" + +"Well, ma'am, if it pleases you, I have no objection; I'm sure Martin +will have none." + +"It will please me very much, Malachi," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"And although there is no chaplain at the fort," observed Mr. Campbell, +"yet the Colonel can marry in his absence; a marriage by a commanding +officer is quite legal." + +"Yes," replied Alfred, "and so is one by a Captain of a man-of-war." + +"So be it then," replied Malachi, "the sooner the better, for the +soldiers are very troublesome, and I can not keep them out of my lodge." + +Martin, who had remained outside the door and overheard all that passed, +now came in; the subject was again canvassed, and Martin returned his +thanks for the permission given to him. + +"Well," said Emma, "I little thought we should have a wedding in the +family so soon; this is quite an event. Martin, I wish you joy--you will +have a very pretty and a very good wife." + +"I think so too, miss," replied Martin. + +"Where is she?" said Mary. + +"She is in the garden, miss," said Malachi, "getting out of the way of +the soldiers; now that the work is done, they torment her not a little, +and she is glad to escape from them; I'd tell them to go away, but they +don't mind me; they know I must not use my rifle." + +"I should hope not," replied Mrs. Campbell, "it would be hard to shoot a +good man merely because he wished to marry your daughter." + +"Why, yes, ma'am, it would," replied Malachi, "so the sooner she is +given to Martin the sooner we shall have peace." + +As the boat was continually going backward and forward between the fort +and the farm, Mr. Campbell wrote to the Colonel, stating what they +wished him to do, and the Colonel appointed that day week, on which he +would come and perform the ceremony. It was a little fête at the farm. +Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals dressed themselves more than +usually smart, so did all the males of the establishment; a better +dinner than usual was prepared, as the Colonel and some of the officers +were to dine and spend the day with them. Martin was very gayly attired, +and in high spirits. The Strawberry had on a new robe of young deer +skin, and had a flower or two in her long black hair; she looked as she +was, very pretty and very modest, but not at all embarrassed. The +marriage ceremony was explained to her by Malachi, and she cheerfully +consented. Before noon the marriage took place, and an hour or two +afterward they sat down to a well-furnished table, and the whole party +were very merry, particularly as the Colonel, who was most unusually +gay, insisted upon the Strawberry sitting at the table, which she had +never done before. She acquitted herself, however, without +embarrassment, and smiled when they laughed, although she could +understand but little of what they said. Mr. Campbell opened two of his +bottles of wine to celebrate the day, and they had a very happy party; +the only people who were discontented were three or four of the soldiers +outside, who had wanted to marry the Strawberry themselves; but the +knowledge that the Colonel was there, effectually put a stop to any +thing like annoyance or disturbance on their part. At sunset, the +Colonel and officers departed for the fort, the family remained in the +house till past ten o'clock, by which time all the soldiers had gone to +bed. Mr. Campbell then read prayers, and offered up an additional one +for the happiness of the newly-married couple, after which they all +saluted the Strawberry and wished her good-night; she was then led to +the lodge by Martin, accompanied by Alfred, Henry, Malachi, Percival, +and John, who all went home with them as a guard from any interruption +on the part of the disappointed suitors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +"How cheerful and gay every thing looks now," observed Emma to Mary, a +few mornings after the celebration of the marriage. "One could hardly +credit that in a few months all this animated landscape will be nothing +but one dreary white mass of snow and ice, with no sounds meeting the +ear but the howling of the storm and the howling of the wolves." + +"Two very agreeable additions certainly," replied Mary, "but what you +observe was actually occurring to my own mind at the very moment." + +The scene was indeed cheerful and lively. The prairie on one side of the +stream waved its high grass to the summer breeze; on the other, the +cows, horses and sheep were grazing in every direction. The lake in the +distance was calm and unruffled; the birds were singing and chirping +merrily in the woods; near the house the bright green of the herbage was +studded with the soldiers, dressed in white, employed in various ways; +the corn waved its yellow ears between the dark stumps of the trees in +the cleared land, and the smoke from the chimney of the house mounted +straight up in a column to the sky; the grunting of the pigs and the +cackling of the fowls, and the occasional bleating of the calves, +responded to by the lowing of the cows, gave life and animation to the +picture. At a short distance from the shore the punt was floating on the +still waters. John and Malachi were very busy fishing; the dogs were +lying down by the palisades, all except Oscar, who, as usual, attended +upon his young mistresses; and under the shade of a large tree, at a +little distance from the house, were Mr. Campbell and Percival, the +former reading while the other was conning over his lesson. + +"This looks but little like a wilderness now, Mary, does it?" said Emma. + +"No, my dear sister. It is very different from what it was when we first +came; but still I should like to have some neighbors." + +"So should I; any society is better than none at all." + +"There I do not agree with you; at the same time, I think we could find +pleasure in having about us even those who are not cultivated, provided +they were respectable and good." + +"That's what I would have said, Mary; but we must go in, and practice +the new air for the guitar which Henry brought us from Montreal. We +promised him that we would. Here comes Alfred to spend his idleness upon +us." + +"His idleness, Emma; surely, you don't mean that; he's seldom if ever +unemployed." + +"Some people are very busy about nothing," replied Emma. + +"Yes; and some people say what they do not mean, sister," replied Mary. + +"Well, Alfred, here is Emma pronouncing you to be an idle body." + +"I am not likely to be that, at all events," replied Alfred, taking off +his hat and fanning himself. "My father proposes to give me enough to +do. What do you think he said to me this morning before breakfast?" + +"I suppose he said that you might as well go to sea again as remain +here," replied Emma, laughing. + +"No, indeed; I wish he had; but he has proposed that your prophecy +should be fulfilled, my malicious little cousin. He has proposed my +turning miller." + +Emma clapped her hands and laughed. + +"How do you mean?" said Mary. + +"Why, he pointed out to me that the mill would cost about two hundred +and fifty pounds, and that he thought as my half-pay was unemployed, +that it would be advisable that I should expend it in erecting the mill, +offering me the sum necessary for the purpose. He would advance the +money, and I might repay him as I received my pay. That, he said, would +be a provision for me, and eventually an independence." + +"I told you that you would be a miller," replied Emma, laughing. "Poor +Alfred!" + +"Well, what did you reply, Alfred?" said Mary. + +"I said yes, I believe, because I did not like to say no." + +"You did perfectly right, Alfred," replied Mary. "There can be no harm +in your having the property, and had you refused it, it would have given +pain to your father. If your money is laid out on the mill, my uncle +will have more to expend upon the farm; but still it does not follow +that you are to become a miller all your life." + +"I should hope not," replied Alfred; "as soon as Emma meets with that +long black gentleman we were talking of, I'll make it over to her as a +marriage portion." + +"Thank you, cousin," replied Emma, "I may put you in mind of your +promise; but now Mary and I must go in and astonish the soldiers with +our music; so good-by, Mr. Campbell, the miller." + +The soldiers had now been at work for more than two months, a large +portion of the wood had been felled and cleared away. With what had been +cleared by Alfred and Martin and Henry the year before, they had now +more than forty acres of corn land. The rails for the snake-fence had +also been split, and the fence was almost complete round the whole of +the prairie and cleared land, when it was time for the grass to be cut +down and the hay made and gathered up. This had scarcely been finished +when the corn was ready for the sickle and gathered; in a barn had been +raised close to the sheep-fold as well as the lodge for Malachi, Martin, +and his wife. For six weeks all was bustle and hard work, but the +weather was fine, and every thing was got in safe. The services of the +soldiers were now no longer required, and Mr. Campbell having settled +his accounts, they returned to the fort. + +"Who would think," said Henry to Alfred, as he cast his eyes over the +buildings, the stacks of corn and hay, and the prairie stocked with +cattle, "that we had only been here so short a time?" + +"Many hands make light work," replied Alfred; "we have done with the +help from the fort what it would have taken us six years to do with our +own resources. My father's money has been well laid out, and will bring +in good return." + +"You have heard of the proposal of Colonel Forster, about the cattle at +the fort?" + +"No; what is it?" + +"He wrote to my father yesterday, saying, as he had only the means of +feeding the cows necessary for the officers of the garrison, that he +would sell all the oxen at present at the fort at a very moderate +price." + +"But even if we have fodder enough for them during the winter what are +we to do with them?" + +"Sell them again to the fort for the supply of the troops," replied +Henry, "and thereby gain good profit. The commandant says that it will +be cheaper to government in the end than being compelled to feed them." + +"That it will, I have no doubt, now that they have nothing to give them; +they trusted chiefly to our prairie for hay; and if they had not had +such a quantity in store, they could not have fed them last winter." + +"My father will consent, I know; indeed he would be very foolish not to +do so, for most of them will be killed when the winter sets in, and will +only cost us the grazing." + +"We are fortunate in finding such friends as we have done," replied +Alfred. "All this assistance would not have been given to perhaps any +other settlers." + +"No, certainly not; but you see, Alfred, we are indebted to your +influence with Captain Lumley for all these advantages, at least my +father and mother say so, and I agree with them. Captain Lumley's +influence with the Governor has created all this interest about us." + +"I think we must allow that the peculiar position of the family has done +much toward it. It is not often that they meet with settlers of refined +habits and cultivated minds, and there naturally must be a feeling +toward a family of such a description in all generous minds." + +"Very true, Alfred," replied Henry; "but there is our mother waiting for +us to go in to dinner." + +"Yes; and the Strawberry by her side. What a nice little creature she +is!" + +"Yes; and how quickly she is becoming useful. She has almost given up +her Indian customs and is settling down quietly into English habits. +Martin appears very fond of her." + +"And so he ought to be," replied Henry; "a wife with a smile always upon +her lips is a treasure. Come, let us go in." + +Another fortnight passed away when an incident occurred which created +some uneasiness. Mr. Campbell was busy with Martin and Alfred clearing +out the store-room and arranging the stores. Many of the cases and +packages had been opened to be examined and aired, and they were busily +employed, when, turning round, Mr. Campbell, to his great surprise, +beheld an Indian by his side, who was earnestly contemplating the +various packages of blankets, etc., and cases of powder, shot, and other +articles, which were opened around him. + +"Why, who is this?" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, starting. + +Martin and Alfred, who had their backs to him at the time of Mr. +Campbell's exclamation, turned round and beheld the Indian. He was an +elderly man, very tall and muscular, dressed in leggins and deer-skin +coat, a war eagle's feather, fixed by a fillet, on his head, and a +profusion of copper and brass medals and trinkets round his neck. His +face was not painted, with the exception of two black circles round his +eyes. His head was shaved, and one long scalp-lock hung behind him. He +had a tomahawk and a knife in his belt and a rifle upon his arm. Martin +advanced to the Indian and looked earnestly at him. + +"I know his tribe," said Martin; "but not his name; but he is a chief +and a warrior." + +Martin then spoke to him in the Indian tongue. The Indian merely gave an +"ugh" in reply. + +"He does not choose to give his name," observed Martin; "and, therefore, +he is here for no good. Mr. Alfred, just fetch Malachi; he will know him +I dare say." + +Alfred went to the house for Malachi; in the meantime the Indian +remained motionless, with his eyes fixed upon different articles exposed +to view. + +"It's strange," observed Martin, "how he could have come here; but to be +sure neither Malachi nor I have been out lately." + +Just as he had finished his remark, Alfred returned with Malachi. +Malachi looked at the Indian and spoke to him. + +The Indian now replied in the Indian language. + +"I knew him, sir," said Malachi, "the moment I saw his back. He's after +no good, and it's a thousand pities that he has come just now and seen +all this," continued Malachi; "it's a strong temptation." + +"Why, who is he?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"The Angry Snake, sir," replied Malachi. "I had no idea that he would be +in these parts before the meeting of the Indian council, which takes +place in another month, and then I meant to have been on the look-out +for him." + +"But what have we to fear from him?" + +"Well; that's to be proved; but this I can say, that he has his eyes +upon what appears to him of more value than all the gold in the +universe; and he's any thing but honest." + +"But we have nothing to fear from one man," observed Alfred. + +"His party ain't far off, sir," said Malachi. "He has some followers, +although not many, and those who follow him are as bad as himself. We +must be on the watch." + +Malachi now addressed the Indian for some time; the only reply was an +"ugh." + +"I have told him that all the powder and ball that he sees are for our +rifles, which are more than are possessed by his whole tribe. Not that +it does much good, but at all events it's just as well to let him know +that we shall be well prepared. The crittur's quite amazed at so much +ammunition; that's a fact. It's a pity he ever saw it." + +"Shall we give him some?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"No, no, sir; he would only make use of it to try to get the rest; +however, I believe that he is the only one of his party who has a rifle. +The best thing is to close the doors and then he will go." + +They did as Malachi requested, and the Indian, after waiting a short +time, turned round on his heel, and walked away. + +"He is a regular devil, that Angry Snake," observed Malachi, as he +watched him departing; "but never mind, I'll be a match for him. I wish +he'd never seen all that ammunition, nevertheless." + +"At all events, we had better not say a word in the house about his +making his appearance," said Mr. Campbell. "It will only alarm the +women, and do no good." + +"That's true, sir. I'll only tell the Strawberry," said Martin; "she's +an Indian, and it will put her on the look-out." + +"That will be as well, but caution her not to mention it to Mrs. +Campbell or the girls, Martin." + +"Never fear, sir," replied Malachi; "I'll watch his motions +nevertheless; to-morrow I'll be in the woods and on his trail. I'm glad +that he saw me here, for he fears me; I know that." + +It so happened that the Indian was not seen by Mrs. Campbell or any of +them in the house, either upon his arrival or departure; and when Mr. +Campbell and the others returned to the house, they found that no one +there had any idea of such a visit having been paid. The secret was +kept, but it occasioned a great deal of anxiety for some days. At last +the alarm of Mr. Campbell gradually subsided. Malachi had gone out with +John, and had discovered that all the Indians had come down near to +them, to meet in council, and that there were many other parties of them +in the woods. But although the visit of the Angry Snake might have been +partly accidental, still Malachi was convinced that there was every +prospect of his paying them another visit, if he could obtain a +sufficient number to join him, so that he might obtain by force the +articles he had seen and so much coveted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +Mr. Campbell acceded to the offer made by the commandant of the fort, +and purchased of him, at a moderate price, eighteen oxen, which were all +that remained of the stock at the fort, except the cows. He also took +six weaning calves to bring up. The cattle were now turned into the bush +to feed, that they might obtain some after-grass from that portion of +the prairie on which they had been feeding. The summer passed quickly +away, for they all had plenty of employment. They fished every day in +the lake, and salted what they did not eat, for winter provision. Martin +now was a great part of his time in the woods, looking after the cattle, +and Malachi occasionally accompanied him, but was oftener out hunting +with John, and always returned with game. They brought in a good many +bear-skins, and sometimes the flesh, which, although approved of by +Malachi and Martin, was not much admired by the rest. As soon as the +after-grass had been gathered in, there was not so much to do. Henry and +Mr. Campbell, with Percival, were quite sufficient to look after the +stock, and as the leaves began to change, the cattle were driven in from +the woods, and pastured on the prairie. Every thing went on in order; +one day was the counterpart of another. Alfred and Henry threshed out +the corn, in the shed, or rather open barn, which had been put up by the +soldiers in the sheep-fold, and piled up the straw for winter-fodder for +the cattle. The oats and wheat were taken into the store-house. Martin's +wife could now understand English, and spoke it a little. She was very +useful, assisting Mrs. Campbell and her nieces in the house, and +attending the stock. They had brought up a large number of chickens, and +had disposed of a great many to the Colonel and officers of the fort. +Their pigs also had multiplied exceedingly, and many had been put up to +fatten, ready to be killed and salted down. The time for that +occupation was now come, and they were very busy curing their meat; they +had also put up a small shed for smoking their bacon and hams. Already +they were surrounded with comfort and plenty, and felt grateful to +Heaven that they had been so favored. + +The autumn had now advanced, and their routine of daily duty was seldom +interrupted; now and then a visit was paid them from the fort by one or +other of the officers or the commandant. The Indians had held their +council, but the English agent was present, and the supply of blankets +and other articles sent to the chiefs for distribution had the effect of +removing all animosity. It is true that the Angry Snake and one or two +more made very violent speeches, but they were overruled. The calumet of +peace had been presented and smoked, and all danger appeared to be over +from that quarter. Malachi had gone to the council, and was well +received. He had been permitted to speak also as an English agent, and +his words were not without effect. Thus every thing wore the appearance +of peace and prosperity, when an event occurred which we shall now +relate. + +What is termed the Indian summer had commenced, during which there is a +kind of haze in the atmosphere. One morning, a little before dawn, Mary +and Emma, who happened to be up first, went out to milk the cows, when +they observed that the haze was much thicker than usual. They had been +expecting the equinoctial gales, which were very late this year, and +Mary observed that she foresaw they were coming on, as the sky wore +every appearance of wind; yet still there was but a light air, and +hardly perceptible at the time. In a moment after they had gone out, and +were taking up their pails, Strawberry came to them from her own lodge, +and they pointed to the gloom and haze in the air. She turned round, as +if to catch the wind, and snuffed for a little while; at last she said, +"Great fire in the woods." Alfred and the others soon joined them, and +having been rallied by Emma at their being so late, they also observed +the unusual appearance of the sky. Martin corroborated the assertion of +the Strawberry, that there was fire in the woods. Malachi and John had +not returned that night from a hunting expedition, but shortly after +daylight they made their appearance; they had seen the fire in the +distance, and said that it was to northward and eastward, and extended +many miles; that they had been induced to leave the chase and come home +in consequence. During the remainder of the day, there was little or no +wind, but the gloom and smell of fire increased rapidly. At night the +breeze sprang up and soon increased to a gale from the north-east, the +direction in which the fire had been seen. Malachi and Martin were up +several times in the night, for they knew that if the wind continued in +that quarter, without any rain, there would be danger; still the fire +was at a great distance, but in the morning the wind blew almost a +hurricane, and before twelve o'clock on the next day, the smoke was +borne down upon them, and carried away in masses over the lake. + +"Do you think there is any danger, Martin, from this fire?" said Alfred. + +"Why, sir, that depends upon circumstances; if the wind were to blow +from the quarter which it now does, as hard as it does, for another +twenty-four hours, we should have the fire right down upon us." + +"But still we have so much clear land between the forest and us, that I +should think the house would be safe." + +"I don't know that, sir. You have never seen the woods afire for miles +as I have; if you had, you would know what it was. We have two chances: +one is, that we may have torrents of rain come down with the gale, and +the other is, that the wind may shift a point or two, which would be the +best chance for us of the two." + +But the wind did not shift, and the rain did not descend, and before the +evening set in, the fire was within two miles of them, and distant +roaring rent the air; the heat and smoke became more oppressive, and the +party were under great alarm. + +As the sun set, the wind became even more violent, and now the flames +were distinctly to be seen, and the whole air was filled with myriads of +sparks. The fire bore down upon them with resistless fury, and soon the +atmosphere was so oppressive, that they could scarcely breathe; the +cattle galloped down to the lake, their tails in the air, and lowing +with fear. There they remained, knee-deep in the water, and huddled +together. + +"Well, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell, "this is very awful. What shall we +do?" + +"Trust in God, sir; we can do nothing else," replied Malachi. + +The flames were now but a short distance from the edge of the forest; +they threw themselves up into the air in high columns; then, borne down +by the wind, burst through the boughs of the forest, scorching here and +there on the way the trunks of the large trees; while such a torrent of +sparks and ignited cinders was poured down upon the prairie, that, added +to the suffocating masses of smoke, it was impossible to remain there +any longer. + +"You must all go down to the punt, and get on board," said Malachi. +"There's not a moment for delay; you will be smothered if you remain +here. Mr. Alfred, do you and Martin pull out as far into the lake as is +necessary for you to be clear of the smoke and able to breathe. Quick, +there is no time to be lost, for the gale is rising faster than before." + +There was, indeed, no time to be lost. Mr. Campbell took his wife by the +arm; Henry led the girls, for the smoke was so thick that they could not +see the way. Percival and Strawberry followed. Alfred and Martin had +already gone down to get the boat ready. In a few minutes they were in +the boat, and pushed off from the shore. The boat was crowded, but, +being flat-bottom, she bore the load well. They pulled out about half a +mile into the lake, before they found themselves in a less oppressive +atmosphere. Not a word was spoken until Martin and Alfred had stopped +rowing. + +"And old Malachi and John, where are they?" said Mrs. Campbell, who, now +that they were clear of the smoke, discovered that these were not in the +boat. + +"Oh, never fear them, ma'am," replied Martin, "Malachi staid behind to +see if he could be of use. He knows how to take care of himself, and of +John too." + +"This is an awful visitation," said Mrs. Campbell, after a pause. "Look, +the whole wood is now on fire, close down to the clearing. The house +must be burned, and we shall save nothing." + +"It is the will of God, my dear wife; and if we are to be deprived of +what little wealth we have, we must not murmur, but submit with +resignation. Let us thank Heaven that our lives are preserved." + +Another pause ensued; at last the silence was broken by Emma. + +"There is the cow-house on fire--I see the flames bursting from the +roof." + +Mrs. Campbell, whose hand was on that of her husband, squeezed it in +silence. It was the commencement of the destruction of their whole +property--all their labors and efforts had been thrown away. The winter +was coming on, and they would be houseless--what would become of them! + +All this passed in her mind, but she did not speak. + +At this moment the flames of the fire rose up straight to the sky. +Martin perceived it, and jumped up on his feet. + +"There is a lull in the wind," said Alfred. + +"Yes," replied Martin, and continued holding up his hand, "I felt a drop +of rain. Yes, it's coming; another quarter of an hour and we may be +safe." + +Martin was correct in his observation; the wind had lulled for a moment, +and he had felt the drops of rain. This pause continued for about three +or four minutes, during which the cow-house burned furiously, but the +ashes and sparks were no longer hurled down on the prairie; then +suddenly the wind shifted to the south-east, with such torrents of rain +as almost to blind them. So violent was the gust, that even the punt +careened to it; but Alfred pulled its head round smartly, and put it +before the wind. The gale was now equally strong from the quarter to +which it had changed; the lake became agitated and covered with white +foam, and before the punt reached the shore again, which it did in a few +minutes, the water washed over its two sides, and they were in danger of +swamping. Alfred directed them all to sit still, and raising the blades +of the oars up into the air, the punt was dashed furiously through the +waves, till it grounded on the beach. + +Martin and Alfred jumped out into the water and hauled the punt further +before they disembarked; the rain still poured down in torrents, and +they were wet to the skin; as they landed, they were met by Malachi and +John. + +"It's all over, and all is safe!" exclaimed Malachi, "it was touch and +go, that's sartin; but all's safe, except the cow-house, and that's +easily put to rights again. You all had better go home as fast as you +can, and get to bed." + +"Is all quite safe, do you think, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, sir, no fear now; the fire hasn't passed the stream, and even if +it had, this rain would put it out, for we only have the beginning of +it; but it was a near thing, that's sartin." + +The party walked back to the house, and as soon as they had entered, Mr. +Campbell kneeled down and thanked Heaven for their miraculous +preservation. All joined heartily in the prayer, and, after they had +waited up a few minutes, by which time they were satisfied that the +flames were fast extinguishing and they had nothing more to fear, they +took off their wet clothes, and retired to bed. + +The next morning they rose early, for all were anxious to ascertain the +mischief which had been occasioned by the fire. The cow-house, on the +opposite side of the stream, was the only part of the premises which had +severely suffered; the walls were standing, but the roof was burned. On +the side of the stream where the house stood, the rails and many +portions of the buildings were actually charred, and, had it not been +for the providential change of the wind and the falling of the rain, +must in a few minutes have been destroyed. The prairie was covered with +cinders, and the grass was burned and withered. The forest on the other +side of the stream, to a great extent, was burned down; some of the +largest trees still remained, throwing out their blackened arms, now +leafless and branchless, to the sky, but they were never to throw forth +a branch or leaf again. It was a melancholy and desolate picture, and +rendered still more so by the heavy rain which still continued to pour +down without intermission. + +As they were surveying the scene, Malachi and Martin came to them. + +"The stock are all right, sir," said Martin; "I counted them, and there +is not one missing. There's no harm done except to the cow-house; on the +contrary, the fire has proved a good friend to us." + +"How so, Martin?" asked Mr. Campbell. + +"Because it has cleared many acres, of ground, and saved us much labor. +All on the other side of the stream is now cleared away, and next spring +we will have corn between the stumps; and in autumn, after we have +gathered in the harvest, we will cut down and burn the trees which are +now standing. It has done a deal of good to the prairie also, we shall +have fine herbage there next spring." + +"We have to thank Heaven for its mercy," said Mr. Campbell; "at one time +yesterday evening, I thought we were about to be rendered destitute +indeed, but it has pleased God that it should be otherwise." + +"Yes, sir," observed Malachi; "what threatened your ruin has turned out +to your advantage. Next year you will see every thing green and fresh as +before; and, as Martin says, you have to thank the fire for clearing +away more land for you than a whole regiment of soldiers could have done +in two or three years." + +"But we must work hard and get in the corn next spring, for otherwise +the brushwood will grow up so fast, as to become a forest again in a few +years." + +"I never thought of inquiring," said Mary, "how it was that the forest +could have taken fire." + +"Why, miss," replied Malachi, "in the autumn, when every thing is as dry +as tinder, nothing is more easy. The Indians light their fire, and do +not take the trouble to put it out, and that is generally the cause of +it; but then it requires wind to help it." + +The danger that they had escaped made a serious impression on the whole +party, and the following day, being Sunday, Mr. Campbell did not forget +to offer up a prayer of thankfulness for their preservation. + +The roof of the cow-house was soon repaired by Alfred and Martin, and +the Indian summer passed away without any further adventure. + +The day after the fire, a dispatch arrived from the fort to ascertain +their welfare, and the Colonel and officers were greatly rejoiced to +learn that comparatively so little damage had been done, for they +expected to find that the family had been burned out, and had made +arrangements at the fort to receive them. + +Gradually the weather became cold and the fires were lighted, and a +month after the evil we have described, the winter again set in. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Once more was the ground covered with snow to the depth of three feet. +The cattle were littered down inside the inclosure of palisades round +the cow-house; the sheep were driven into the inclosed sheep-fold, and +the horses were put into a portion of the barn in the sheep-fold which +had been parted off for them. All was made secure, and every preparation +was made for the long winter. Although there had been a fall of snow, +the severe frost had not yet come on. It did, however, in about a +fortnight afterward, and then, according to the wishes of the Colonel, +six oxen were killed for the use of the fort, and taken there by the +horses on a sledge; this was the last task that they had to fulfill, and +then Alfred bade adieu to the officers of the fort, as they did not +expect to meet again till the winter was over. Having experienced one +winter, they were more fully prepared for the second; and as Malachi, +the Strawberry and John were now regular inmates of the house, for they +did not keep a separate table, there was a greater feeling of security, +and the monotony and dreariness were not so great as in the preceding +winter: moreover, every thing was now in its place, and they had more +to attend to,--two circumstances which greatly contributed to relieve +the _ennui_ arising from continual confinement. The hunting parties went +out as usual; only Henry, and occasionally Alfred, remained at home to +attend to the stock, and to perform other offices which the increase of +their establishment required. The new books brought by Henry from +Montreal, and which by common consent had been laid aside for the +winter's evenings, were now a great source of amusement, as Mr. Campbell +read aloud a portion of them every evening. Time passed away quickly, as +it always does when there is a regular routine of duties and employment, +and Christmas came before they were aware of its approach. + +It was a great comfort to Mrs. Campbell that she now always had John at +home, except when he was out hunting, and on that score she had long +dismissed all anxiety, as she had full confidence in Malachi; but +latterly Malachi and John seldom went out alone; indeed, the old man +appeared to like being in company, and his misanthropy had wholly +disappeared. He now invariably spent his evenings with the family +assembled round the kitchen fire, and had become much more fond of +hearing his own voice. John did not so much admire these evening +parties. He cared nothing for new books, or indeed any books. He would +amuse himself making moccasins, or working porcupine quills with the +Strawberry at one corner of the fire, and the others might talk or read, +it was all the same, John never said a word or appeared to pay the least +attention to what was said. His father occasionally tried to make him +learn something, but it was useless. He would remain for hours with his +book before him, but his mind was elsewhere. Mr. Campbell, therefore, +gave up the attempt for the present, indulging the hope that when John +was older, he would be more aware of the advantages of education, and +would become more attentive. At present, it was only inflicting pain on +the boy without any advantage being gained. But John did not always sit +by the kitchen fire. The wolves were much more numerous than in the +preceding winter, having been attracted by the sheep which were within +the palisade, and every night the howling was incessant. The howl of a +wolf was sufficient to make John seize his rifle and leave the house, +and he would remain in the snow for hours till one came sufficiently +near for him to fire, and he had already killed several when a +circumstance occurred which was the cause of great uneasiness. + +John was out one evening as usual, crouched down within the palisades, +and watching for the wolves. It was a bright starry night, but there was +no moon, when he perceived one of the animals crawling along almost on +its belly, close to the door of the palisade which surrounded the house. +This surprised him, as generally speaking, the animals prowled round the +palisade which encircled the sheep-fold, or else close to the pig-sties +which were at the opposite side from the entrance door. John leveled his +rifle and fired, when to his astonishment, the wolf appeared to spring +up in the air on his hind legs, then fall down and roll away. The key of +the palisade door was always kept within, and John determined to go in +and fetch it, that he might ascertain whether he had killed the animal +or not. When he entered, Malachi said, "Did you kill, my boy?" + +"Don't know," replied John; "come for the key to see." + +"I don't like the gate being opened at night, John," said Mr. Campbell; +"why don't you leave it, as you usually do, till to-morrow morning; that +will be time enough?" + +"I don't know if it was a wolf," replied John. + +"What, then, boy, tell me?" said Malachi. + +"Well, I think it was an Indian," replied John; who then explained what +had passed. + +"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied Malachi; "at all events the gate +must not be opened to-night, for if it was an Indian you fired at, there +is more than one of them; we'll keep all fast, John, and see what it was +to-morrow." + +Mrs. Campbell and the girls were much alarmed at this event, and it was +with difficulty that they were persuaded to retire to rest. + +"We will keep watch to-night at all events," said Malachi, as soon as +Mrs. Campbell and her nieces had left the room. "The boy is right, I +have no doubt. It is the Angry Snake and his party who are prowling +about, but if the boy has hit the Indian, which I have no doubt of, they +will make off; however, it will be just as well to be on our guard, +nevertheless. Martin can watch here and I will watch in the fold." + +We have before observed that the lodge of Malachi, Martin, and his wife, +was built within the palisade of the sheep-fold, and that there was a +passage from the palisade round the house to that which surrounded the +sheep-fold, which passage had also a palisade on each side of it. + +"I will watch here," said Alfred; "let Martin go home with you and his +wife." + +"I will watch with you," said John. + +"Well, perhaps that will be better," said Malachi; "two rifles are +better than one, and if any assistance is required, there will be one to +send for it." + +"But what do you think they would do, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell; "they +can not climb the palisades." + +"Not well, sir, nor do I think they would attempt it unless they had a +large force, which I am sure they have not; no, sir, they would rather +endeavor to set fire to the house if they could, but that's not so easy; +one thing is certain, that the Snake will try all he can to get +possession of what he saw in your storehouse." + +"That I do not doubt," said Alfred; "but he will not find it so easy a +matter." + +"They've been reconnoitering, sir, that's the truth of it, and if John +has helped one of them to a bit of lead, it will do good; for it will +prove that we are on the alert, and make them careful how they come near +the house again." + +After a few minutes' more conversation, Mr. Campbell, Henry, and +Percival retired, leaving the others to watch. Alfred walked home with +Malachi and his party to see if all was right at the sheep-fold, and +then returned. + +The night passed without any further disturbance except the howling of +the wolves, to which they were accustomed. + +The next morning, at daybreak, Malachi and Martin came to the house, +and, with John and Alfred, they opened the palisade gate, and went out +to survey the spot where John had fired. + +"Yes, sir," said Malachi; "it was an Indian, no doubt of it; here are +the dents made in the snow by his knees as he crawled along, and John +has hit him, for here is the blood. Let's follow the trail. See, sir, he +has been hard hit; there is more blood this way as we go on. Ha!" +continued Malachi, as he passed by a mound of snow, "here's the +wolf-skin he was covered up with; then he is dead or thereabouts, and +they have carried him off, for he never would have parted with his skin, +if he had had his senses about him." + +"Yes," observed Martin, "his wound was mortal, that's certain." + +They pursued the track till they arrived at the forest, and then, +satisfied by the marks on the snow that the wounded man had been carried +away, they returned to the house, when they found the rest of the family +dressed and in the kitchen. Alfred showed them the skin of the wolf, and +informed them of what they had discovered. + +"I am grieved that blood has been shed," observed Mrs. Campbell; "I wish +it had not happened. I have heard that the Indians never forgive on such +occasions." + +"Why, ma'am, they are very revengeful, that's certain, but still they +won't like to risk too much. This has been a lesson to them. I only wish +it had been the Angry Snake himself who was settled, as then we should +have no more trouble or anxiety about them." + +"Perhaps it may be," said Alfred. + +"No, sir, that's not likely; it's one of his young men; I know the +Indian customs well." + +It was some time before the alarm occasioned by this event subsided in +the mind of Mrs. Campbell and her nieces; Mr. Campbell also thought much +about it, and betrayed occasional anxiety. The parties went out hunting +as before, but those at home now felt anxious till their return from the +chase. Time, however, and not hearing any thing more of the Indians, +gradually revived their courage, and before the winter was half over +they thought little about it. Indeed, it had been ascertained by Malachi +from another band of Indians which he fell in with near a small lake +where they were trapping beaver, that the Angry Snake was not in that +part of the country, but had gone with his band to the westward at the +commencement of the new year. This satisfied them that the enemy had +left immediately after the attempt which he had made to reconnoiter the +premises. + +The hunting parties, therefore, as we said, continued as before; indeed, +they were necessary for the supply of so many mouths. Percival, who had +grown very much since his residence in Canada, was very anxious to be +permitted to join them, which he never had been during the former +winter. This was very natural. He saw his younger brother go out almost +daily, and seldom return without having been successful; indeed, John +was, next to Malachi, the best shot of the party. It was, therefore, +very annoying to Percival that he should always be detained at home +doing all the drudgery of the house, such as feeding the pigs, cleaning +knives, and other menial work, while his younger brother was doing the +duty of a man. To Percival's repeated entreaties, objections were +constantly raised by his mother: they could not spare him, he was not +accustomed to walk in snow-shoes. Mr Campbell observed that Percival +became dissatisfied and unhappy, and Alfred took his part and pleaded +for him. Alfred observed very truly, that the Strawberry could +occasionally do Percival's work, and that if it could be avoided, he +should not be cooped up at home in the way that he was; and, Mr. +Campbell agreeing with Alfred, Mrs. Campbell very reluctantly gave her +consent to his occasionally going out. + +"Why, aunt, have you such an objection to Percival going out with the +hunters?" said Mary. "It must be very trying to him to be always +detained at home." + +"I feel the truth of what you say, my dear Mary," said Mrs. Campbell, +"and I assure you it is not out of selfishness, or because we shall have +more work to do, that I wish him to remain with us; but I have an +instinctive dread that some accident will happen to him, which I can +not overcome, and there is no arguing with a mother's fears and a +mother's love." + +"You were quite as uneasy, my dear aunt, when John first went out; you +were continually in alarm about him, but now you are perfectly at ease," +replied Emma. + +"Very true," said Mrs. Campbell; "it is, perhaps, a weakness on my part +which I ought to get over; but we are all liable to such feelings. I +trust in God there is no real cause for apprehension, and that my +reluctance is a mere weakness and folly. But I see the poor boy has long +pined at being kept at home; for nothing is more irksome to a +high-couraged and spirited boy as he is. I have, therefore, given my +consent, because I think it is my duty; still the feeling remains, so +let us say no more about it, my dear girls, for the subject is painful +to me." + +"My dear aunt, did you not say that you would talk to Strawberry on the +subject of religion, and try if you could not persuade her to become a +Christian? She is very serious at prayers, I observe; and appears, now +that she understands English, to be very attentive to what is said." + +"Yes, my dear Emma, it is my intention so to do very soon, but I do not +like to be in too great a hurry. A mere conforming to the usages of our +religion would be of little avail, and I fear that too many of our good +missionaries, in their anxiety to make converts, do not sufficiently +consider this point. Religion must proceed from conviction, and be +seated in the heart; the heart, indeed, must be changed, not mere +outward forms attended to." + +"What is the religion of the Indians, my dear aunt?" said Mary. + +"One which makes conversion the more difficult. It is in many respects +so near what is right, that Indians do not easily perceive the necessity +of change. They believe in one God, the fountain of all good; they +believe in a future state and in future rewards and punishments. You +perceive they have the same foundation as we have, although they know +not Christ, and, having very incomplete notions of duty, have a very +insufficient sense of their manifold transgressions and offenses in +God's sight, and consequently have no idea of the necessity of a +mediator. Now it is, perhaps, easier to convince those who are entirely +wrong, such as worship idols and false gods, than those who approach so +nearly to the truth. But I have had many hours of reflection upon the +proper course to pursue, and I do intend to have some conversation with +her on the subject in a very short time. I have delayed because I +consider it absolutely necessary that she should be perfectly aware of +what I say, before I try to alter her belief. Now the Indian language, +although quite sufficient for Indian wants, is poor, and has not the +same copiousness as ours, because they do not require the words to +explain what we term abstract ideas. It is, therefore, impossible to +explain the mysteries of our holy religion to one who does not well +understand our language. I think, however, that the Strawberry now +begins to comprehend sufficiently for me to make the first attempt. I +say first attempt, because I have no idea of making a convert in a week, +or a month, or even in six months. All I can do is to exert my best +abilities, and then trust to God, who, in His own good time, will +enlighten her mind to receive His truth." + +The next day the hunting party went out, and Percival, to his great +delight, was permitted to accompany it. As they had a long way to go, +for they had selected the hunting ground, they set off early in the +morning, before daylight, Mr. Campbell having particularly requested +that they would not return home late. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +The party had proceeded many miles before they arrived at the spot where +Malachi thought that they would fall in with some venison, which was the +principal game that they sought. It was not till near ten o'clock in the +morning that they stood on the ground which had been selected for the +sport. It was an open part of the forest, and the snow lay in large +drifts, but here and there on the hill-sides the grass was nearly bare, +and the deer were able, by scraping with their feet, to obtain some +food. They were all pretty well close together when they arrived. +Percival and Henry were about a quarter of a mile behind, for Percival +was not used to the snow-shoes, and did not get on so well as the +others. Malachi and the rest with him halted, that Henry and Percival +might come up with them, and then, after they had recovered their breath +a little, he said, + +"Now, you see there's a fine lot of deer here, Master Percival, but as +you know nothing about woodcraft, and may put us all out, observe what I +say to you. The animals are not only cute of hearing and seeing, but +they are more cute of smell, and they can scent a man a mile off if the +wind blows down to them; so you see it would be useless to attempt to +get near to them if we do not get to the lee side of them without noise +and without being seen. Now, the wind has been from the eastward, and as +we are to the southward, we must get round by the woods to the westward, +before we go upon the open ground, and then, Master Percival, you must +do as we do, and keep behind, to watch our motions. If we come to a +swell in the land, you must not run up, or even walk up, as you might +show yourself; the deer might be on the other side, within twenty yards +of you; but you must hide yourself, as you will see that we shall do, +and when we have found them, I will put you in a place where you shall +have your shot as well as we. Do you understand, Master Percival?" + +"Yes, I do, and I shall stop behind, and do as you tell me." + +"Well then, now, we will go back into the thick of the forest till we go +to the leeward, and then we shall see whether you will make a hunter or +not." + +The whole party did as Malachi directed, and for more than an hour they +walked through the wood, among the thickest of the trees, that they +might not be seen by the animals. At last they arrived at the spot which +Malachi desired, and then they changed their course eastward toward the +more open ground, where they expected to find the deer. + +As they entered upon the open ground, they moved forward crouched to the +ground, Malachi and Martin in the advance. When in the hollows, they +all collected together, but on ascending a swell of the land, it was +either Malachi or Martin who first crept up, and, looking over the +summit, gave notice to the others to come forward. This was continually +repeated for three or four miles, when Martin having raised his head +just above a swell, made a signal to those who were below that the deer +were in sight. After a moment or two reconnoitering, he went down and +informed them that there were twelve or thirteen head of deer scraping +up the snow about one hundred yards ahead of them upon another swell of +the land; but that they appeared to be alarmed and anxious, as if they +had an idea of danger being near. + +Malachi then again crawled up to make his observations, and returned. + +"It is sartin," said he, "that they are flurried about something; they +appear just as if they had been hunted, and yet that is not likely. We +must wait and let them settle a little, and find out whether any other +parties have been hunting them." + +They waited about ten minutes, till the animals appeared more settled, +and then, by altering their position behind the swell, gained about +twenty-five yards of distance. Malachi told each party which animal to +aim at, and they fired nearly simultaneously. Three of the beasts fell, +two others were wounded, the rest of the herd bounded off like the wind. +They all rose from behind the swell, and ran forward to their prey. +Alfred had fired at a fine buck which stood apart from the rest, and +somewhat further off; it was evident that the animal was badly wounded, +and Alfred had marked the thicket into which it had floundered; but the +other deer which was wounded was evidently slightly hurt, and there was +little chance of obtaining it, as it bounded away after the rest of the +herd. They all ran up to where the animals lay dead, and as soon as they +had reloaded their rifles, Alfred and Martin went on the track of the +one that was badly wounded. They had forced their way through the +thicket for some fifty yards, guided by the track of the animal, when +they started back at the loud growl of some beast. Alfred, who was in +advance, perceived that a puma (catamount, or painter, as it is usually +termed) had taken possession of the deer, and was lying over the +carcass. He leveled his rifle and fired; the beast, although badly +wounded, immediately sprang at him and seized him by the shoulder. +Alfred was sinking under the animal's weight and from the pain he was +suffering, when Martin came to his rescue, and put his rifle ball +through the head of the beast, which fell dead. + +"Are you much hurt, sir?" said Martin. + +"No, not much," replied Alfred; "at least I think not, but my shoulder +is badly torn, and I bleed freely." + +Malachi and the others now came up, and perceived what had taken place. +Alfred had sunk down and was sitting on the ground by the side of the +dead animals. + +"A painter!" exclaimed Malachi; "well, I didn't think we should see one +so far west. Are you hurt, Mr. Alfred?" + +"Yes, a little," replied Alfred, faintly. + +Malachi and Martin, without saying another word, stripped off Alfred's +hunting-coat, and then discovered that he had received a very bad wound +in the shoulder from the teeth of the beast, and that his side was also +torn by the animal's claws. + +"John, run for some water," said Malachi; "you are certain to find some +in the hollow." + +John and Percival both hastened in search of water, while Malachi and +Martin and Henry tore Alfred's shirt into strips and bound up the +wounds, so as to stop in a great measure the flow of blood. As soon as +this was done and he had drunk the water brought to him in John's hat, +Alfred felt revived. + +"I will sit down for a little longer," said he, "and then we will get +home as fast as we can. Martin, look after the game, and when you are +ready I will get up. What a tremendous heavy brute that was; I could not +have stood against him for a minute longer, and I had no hunting-knife." + +"It's a terrible beast, sir," replied Malachi. "I don't know that I ever +saw one larger; they are more than a match for one man, sir, and never +should be attempted single-handed, for they are so hard to kill." + +"Where did my ball hit him?" said Alfred. + +"Here, sir, under the shoulder, and well placed too. It must have gone +quite close to his heart; but unless you hit them through the brain or +through the heart, they are certain to make their dying spring. That's +an ugly wound on your shoulder, and will put a stop to your hunting for +five or six weeks, I expect. However, it's well that it's no worse." + +"I feel quite strong now," replied Alfred. + +"Another ten minutes, sir; let John and me whip off his skin, for we +must have it to show, if we have all the venison spoiled. Mr. Henry, +tell Martin only to take the prime pieces, and not to mind the hides, +for we shall not be able to carry much. And tell him to be quick, Mr. +Henry, for it will not do for Mr. Alfred to remain till his arm gets +stiff. We have many miles to get home again." + +In the course of ten minutes Malachi and John had skinned the puma, and +Martin made his appearance with the haunches of two of the deer, which, +he said, was as much as they well could carry, and they all set off on +their return home. + +Alfred had not proceeded far when he found himself in great pain, the +walking upon snow-shoes requiring so much motion as to open the wounds +and make them bleed again; but Malachi gave him his assistance, and +having procured him some more water they continued their route. + +After a time the wounds became more stiff, and Alfred appeared to be +more oppressed by the pain. They proceeded, however, as fast as they +could, and at nightfall they were not far from home. But Alfred moved +with great difficulty; he had become very faint, so much so, that Martin +requested John would put down the venison and hasten before them to the +house to request Mr. Campbell to send some brandy or other cordial to +support Alfred, who was scarcely able to move on from weakness and loss +of blood. As they were not more than a mile from the house, John was +soon there, and hastening in at the door, he gave his message in +presence of Mrs. Campbell and his cousins, who were in a state of great +distress at the intelligence. Mr. Campbell went to his room for the +spirits, and as soon as he brought it out Emma seized her bonnet, and +said that she would accompany John. + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had no time to raise any objection, if they were +inclined, for Emma was out of the door in a moment, with John at her +heels. But Emma quite forgot that she had no snow shoes, and before she +had gone half the distance she found herself as much fatigued as if she +had walked miles; and she sank deeper and deeper in the snow every step +that she advanced. At last they arrived, and found the party: Alfred was +lying insensible on the snow, and the others making a litter of branches +that they might carry him to the house. + +A little brandy poured down his throat brought Alfred to his senses; and +as he opened his eyes, he perceived Emma hanging over him. + +"Dear Emma, how kind of you," said he, attempting to rise. + +"Do not move, Alfred; they will soon have the litter ready, and then you +will be carried to the house. It is not far off." + +"I am strong again now, Emma," replied Alfred. "But you must not remain +here in the cold. See, the snow is falling again." + +"I must remain now till they are ready to carry you, Alfred, for I dare +not go back by myself." + +By this time the litter was prepared, and Alfred placed on it. Malachi, +Henry, Martin and John took it up. + +"Where is Percival?" said Emma. + +"He's behind a little way," replied John. "The snow-shoes hurt him, and +he could not walk so fast. He will be here in a minute." + +They carried Alfred to the house, where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Mary +were waiting at the door in great anxiety; poor Emma was quite knocked +up by the time that they arrived, and went into her own room. + +Alfred was laid on his bed, and his father then examined his wounds, +which he considered very dangerous, from the great laceration of the +flesh. Mr. Campbell dressed them, and then they left Alfred to the +repose which he so much required. The state of Alfred so occupied their +minds and their attention, that nothing and nobody else was thought of +for the first hour. Emma, too, had been taken very ill soon after she +came in, and required the attention of Mrs. Campbell and Mary. It was +not until they were about to sit down to supper that Mr. Campbell said, +"Why, where's Percival?" + +"Percival! Is he not here?" was the question anxiously uttered by all +the party who had been hunting. + +"Percival not here!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, starting up. "Where--where +is my child?" + +"He was just behind us," said John; "he sat down to alter his +snow-shoes; the ties hurt him." + +Malachi and Martin ran out of doors in consternation; they knew the +danger, for the snow was now falling in such heavy flakes that it was +impossible to see or direct their steps two yards in any direction. + +"The boy will be lost for sartin," said Malachi to Martin; "if he has +remained behind till this fall of snow, he never will find his way, but +wander about till he perishes." + +"Yes," said Martin, "he has but a poor chance, that is the truth; I +would have given my right arm this had not happened." + +"Misfortune never comes single," replied Malachi; "what can we do? Madam +Campbell will be beside herself, for she loves that boy beyond all +measure." + +"It's useless our going out," observed Martin; "we should never find +him, and only lose ourselves; but still we had better go back, and say +that we will try. At all events we can go to the edge of the forest, and +halloo every minute or so; if the boy is still on his legs, it will +guide him to us." + +"Yes," replied Malachi, "and we may light a pine torch; it might be of +some use. Well, then, let's go in, and tell them that we are going in +search of the boy; as long as madam knows that we are seeking him she +will not lose hope, and hope will keep up her spirits for the time, till +she is better prepared for her loss." + +There was much good sense and knowledge of the human heart in the +observation of Malachi, who, although he was aware that all search would +be useless, could not resolve to destroy at once all hope in the mind of +the afflicted and anxious mother. + +They went in, and found Mrs. Campbell weeping bitterly, supported by her +husband and Mary. They stated that they were going to search for the +boy, and bring him home if they could, and, taking three or four pine +torches, one of which they lighted, they set off for the edge of the +forest, where they remained for two hours with the light, shouting at +intervals; but the snow fell so fast, and the cold was so intense, for +the wind blew fresh from the northward, that they could remain no +longer. They did not, however, return to the house, but went to their +own lodge to recover themselves, and remained there till daylight. They +then went out again; the snow-storm had ceased, and the morning was +clear and bright; they went back into the forest (on the road by which +they had come home) for three or four miles, but the snow had now fallen +and covered all the tracks which they had made the day before, and was +in many places several feet deep. They proceeded to where Percival was +last seen by John, who had described the spot very exactly; they looked +every where about, made circuits round and round, in hopes of perceiving +the muzzle of his rifle peeping out above the snow, but there was +nothing to be discovered, and after a search of four or five hours, they +returned to the house. They found Mr. Campbell and Henry in the kitchen, +for Mrs. Campbell was in such a state of anxiety and distress, that she +was in her room attended by Mary. Mr. Campbell perceived by their +countenances that they brought no satisfactory tidings. Malachi shook +his head mournfully, and sat down. + +"Do you think that my poor boy is lost, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"He is, I fear, sir; he must have sat down to rest himself, and has been +overpowered and fallen asleep. He has been buried in the snow, and he +will not wake till the day of resurrection." + +Mr. Campbell covered his face with his hands, and after a time +exclaimed, "His poor mother!" + +After a few minutes, he rose and went into Mrs. Campbell's room. + +"What of my child,--my dear, dear Percival?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away," replied Mr. Campbell; +"your child is happy." + +Mrs. Campbell wept bitterly; and having thus given vent to the feelings +of nature, she became gradually more calm and resigned; her habitually +devout spirit sought and found relief in the God of all comfort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Thus in one short day was the family of Mr. Campbell changed from a +house of joy to one of mourning. And true was the remark of Malachi, +that misfortunes seldom come single, for now they had another cause of +anxiety. Emma, by her imprudent exposure to the intense chill of the +night air and the wetting of her feet, was first taken with a violent +cold, which was followed by a fever, which became more alarming every +day. Thus, in addition to the loss of one of their children, Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell were threatened with being deprived of two more; for their +nieces were regarded as such, and Alfred was in a very precarious state. +The wounds had assumed such an angry appearance, that Mr. Campbell was +fearful of mortification. This accumulated distress had, however, one +good effect upon them. The danger of losing Emma and Alfred so occupied +their minds and their attention, that they had not time to bewail the +loss of Percival; and even Mrs. Campbell, in her prayers, was enabled to +resign herself to the Almighty's will in taking away her child, if it +would but please Him to spare the two others who were afflicted. Long +and tedious were the hours, the days, and the weeks that passed away +before either of them could be considered in a state of convalescence; +but when her prayers were heard, and, as the winter closed, their +recovery was no longer doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to them +all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma resume her duties, and Alfred, +supported on cushions, able to be moved into the sitting-room, had a +very exhilarating effect upon their spirits. True, there was no longer +the mirth and merriment that once reigned, but there was a subdued +gratitude to Heaven, which, if it did not make them at once cheerful, at +least prevented any thing like repining or complaint. Grateful for the +mercies vouchsafed to them, in having Alfred and Emma spared to them, +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Percival, with +the reflection that, at so early an age, before he had lived to be +corrupted by the world, to die was gain,--and that their dear boy had +become, through Divine grace, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Heaven. By +degrees the family became cheerful and happy; the merry laugh of Emma +once more enlivened them, Alfred again recovered his former health and +spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could bear the mention of the name of +Percival, and join in the praises of the amiable child. + +The spring now came on, the snow gradually disappeared, the ice was +carried down the rapids, and once more left the blue lake clear; the +cattle were turned out to feed off the grass the year before left on the +prairie, and all the men were busy in preparing to put in the seed. As +soon as the snow was gone, Malachi, Martin and Alfred, without saying a +word to Mrs. Campbell, had gone into the forest, and made search for the +body of poor Percival, but without success, and it was considered that +he had wandered and died on some spot which they could not discover, or +that the wolves had dug his remains out of the snow, and devoured them. +Not a trace of him could any where be discovered; and the search was, +after a few days, discontinued. The return of the spring had another +good effect upon the spirits of the party; for, with the spring came on +such a variety of work to be done, that they had not a moment to spare. +They had now so many acres for corn, that they had scarcely time to get +through all the preparatory work, and fortunate it was that Alfred was +so much recovered that he could join in the labor. Malachi, John, and +even Mr. Campbell, assisted, and at last the task was completed. Then +they had a communication with the fort, and letters from Quebec, +Montreal, and England: there were none of any importance from England, +but one from Montreal informed Mr. Campbell, that, agreeably to +contract, the engineer would arrive in the course of the month, with the +_bateaux_ containing the machinery, and that the water-mill would be +erected as soon as possible. There was also a letter from England, which +gave them great pleasure; it was from Captain Sinclair to Alfred, +informing him that he had arranged all his business with his guardian, +and that he should rejoin his regiment and be at the fort early in the +spring, as he should sail in the first vessel which left England. He +stated how delighted he should be at his return, and told him to say to +Emma that he had not found an English wife, as she had prophesied, but +was coming back as heart-whole as he went. Very soon afterward they had +a visit from Colonel Forster and some of the officers of the garrison. +The Colonel offered Mr. Campbell a party of soldiers to assist in +raising the mill, and the offer was thankfully accepted. + +"We were very much alarmed about you last autumn, when the woods were on +fire, Mr. Campbell," said the Colonel; "but I perceive that it has been +of great advantage to you. You have now a large quantity of cleared land +sown with seed, and if you had possessed sufficient means, might have +had much more put in, as I perceive all the land to the north-west is +cleared by the fire." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allotment, as you know, extends +along the beach, and we have sown the seed as far from the beach as the +property extends." + +"Then I should recommend you to write to Quebec, and apply for another +grant on each side of the stream; indeed, at the back of and equal to +what you now have." + +"But if I do, I have not the means of working the land." + +"No, not with your present force, I grant; but there are many emigrants +who would be glad of work, and who would settle here upon favorable +conditions." + +"The expense would be very great," said Mr. Campbell. + +"It would; but the return would indemnify you. The troops at the fort +would take all the flour off your hands, if you had ever so much." + +"I am not inclined at present to speculate much further," replied Mr. +Campbell, "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I +am successful, I will then decide." + +"Of course, you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent +at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you +might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land +to cultivate, and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion +of corn in return, as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all +gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having +neighbors about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal, +and arrange all that." + +"I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied +Mr. Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a +few hundred at the bank to dispose of, if necessary." + +About three weeks after this conversation, the _bateaux_ arrived with +the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the +settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the +soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant, +intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada, +and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the +mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as +the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was +constantly with the engineer, superintending the labor of the men, and +contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on +such a footing with the whole family, as to be considered almost as one +of them, for he was very amusing, very well bred, and had evidently +received every advantage of education. Mr. Campbell found that Mr. +Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular +relative to the emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly +traveling about the country, and was in such constant communication with +them. + +"You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr. Campbell; "the +land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as +well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property +will be worth a large sum of money." + +"I want very much to get some more emigrants to settle here," observed +Mr. Campbell. "It would add to our security and comfort; and I have not +sufficient hands to cultivate the land which has been cleared by the +fire of last autumn. If not cultivated in a short time, it will be all +forest again." + +"At present it is all raspberries, and very good ones too, are they not, +Mr. Emmerson?" said Emma. + +"Yes, miss, most excellent," replied he; "but you are aware that, +whenever you cut down trees here, and do not hoe the ground to sow it, +raspberry bushes grow up immediately." + +"Indeed, I was not aware of it." + +"Such is the case, nevertheless. After the raspberries, the seedling +hardwood trees spring up, and, as Mr. Campbell says, they soon grow into +a forest again." + +"I do not think that you would have much trouble in getting emigrants to +come here, Mr. Campbell, but the difficulty will be in persuading them +to remain. Their object in coming out to this country is to obtain land +of their own, and become independent. Many of them have not the means to +go on, and, as a temporary resource, are compelled to act as laborers; +but the moment that they get sufficient to purchase for themselves, they +will leave you." + +"That is very natural; but I have been thinking of obtaining a larger +grant than I have now, and I wish very much that I could make an +arrangement with some emigrants. The Colonel says that I might do so by +supplying them with seed, and taking corn in return as rent." + +"That would not be a permanent arrangement," replied Mr. Emmerson. "How +much land, do you propose applying for?" + +"Six hundred acres." + +"Well, sir, I think it would meet the views of both parties if you were +to offer terms like the following--that is, divide the land into lots of +one hundred acres each, and allow them to cultivate for you the fifty +acres that adjoin your own land, with the right of purchasing the other +fifty as their own property, as soon as they can. You will then obtain +three hundred acres of the most valuable land, in addition to your +present farm, and have fixed neighbors around you, even after they are +enabled to purchase the other fifty." + +"I think that a very good arrangement, Mr. Emmerson, and I would gladly +consent to it." + +"Well, sir, I shall have plenty of opportunities this summer of making +the proposal to the emigrants, and if I find any parties who seem likely +to prove advantageous as neighbors, I will let you know." + +"And with such expectations I will apply for the additional grant," said +Mr. Campbell, "for to have neighbors in this solitude, I would almost +make them a present of the land." + +"I suspect that in a few years you will have neighbors enough, without +resorting to such an expedient," replied Mr. Emmerson, "but according to +your present proposal, they may be better selected, and you may make +terms which will prevent any nuisances." + +The works at the mill proceeded rapidly, and before the hay-harvest the +mill was complete. Alfred was very careful, and paid every attention to +what was going on, and so did Martin, that they might understand the +machinery. This was very simple. Mr. Emmerson tried the mill, and found +it to answer well. He explained every thing to Alfred, and put the mill +to work, that he might be fully master of it. As it was a fortnight +after the mill was at work before Mr. Emmerson could obtain a passage +back to Montreal, Alfred and Martin worked both mills during that time, +and felt satisfied that they required no further instruction. The +soldiers, at the request of Mr. Campbell, were allowed to remain till +the hay-harvest, and as soon as the hay was gathered in, they were paid +and returned to the fort. Captain Sinclair, who, from his letter, had +been expected to arrive much sooner, came just as the soldiers had left +the farm. It need hardly be said that he was received most warmly. He +had a great deal to tell them, and had brought out a great many +presents; those for poor little Percival he kept back, of course. Emma +and Mary were delighted to have him again as a companion, and to resume +their walks with him; a fortnight thus passed away very quickly, when +his leave of absence expired, and he was obliged to return to the fort. +Previous, however, to his going away, he requested a private interview +with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, in which he stated his exact position and +his means, and requested their sanction to his paying his addresses to +Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who had already perceived the attentions he +had shown to her, did not hesitate to express their satisfaction at his +request, and their best wishes for his success; and having so done, they +left him to forward his own suit, which Captain Sinclair did not fail to +do that very evening, Mary Percival was too amiable and right-minded a +girl not at once to refuse or accept Captain Sinclair. As she had long +been attached to him she did not deny that such was the case, and +Captain Sinclair was overjoyed at his success. + +"I have spoken frankly to you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary; "I have not +denied that you have an interest in my affections; but I must now +request you to let me know what are your future views." + +"To do just what you wish me to do." + +"I have no right to advise, and no wish to persuade. I have my own path +of duty pointed out to me, and from that I can not swerve." + +"And what is that?" + +"It is that, under present circumstances, I must not think of leaving my +uncle and aunt. I have been bred up and educated by them; I have as an +orphan shared their prosperity; I have a deep debt of gratitude to pay, +and I can not consent to return to England to enjoy all the advantages +which your means will afford, while they remain in their present +isolated position. Hereafter circumstances may alter my opinion, but +such it is at present." + +"But if I am willing to remain with you here to share your fortunes, +will not that satisfy you?" + +"No, certainly not; for that would be allowing you to do injustice to +yourself. I presume you do not mean to quit your profession?" + +"I had no such intention; but still, if I have to choose between you and +the service, I shall not hesitate." + +"I trust you will not hesitate, but determine to adhere steadily to your +profession for the present, Captain Sinclair. It will not do for you to +give up your prospects and chance of advancement for even such a woman +as me," continued Mary, smiling; "nor must you think of becoming a +backwoodsman for a pale-faced girl." + +"Then what am I to do if, as you say, you will not leave your uncle and +aunt?" + +"Wait, Captain Sinclair; be satisfied that you have my affections, and +wait patiently till circumstances may occur which will enable me to +reward your affection without being guilty of ingratitude toward those +to whom I owe so much. On such terms I accept you willingly; but you +must do your duty to yourself, while I must discharge _my_ duty toward +my uncle and aunt." + +"I believe you are right, Mary," replied Captain Sinclair; "only I do +not see any definite hope of our being united. Can you give me any +prospect to cheer me?" + +"We are both very young, Captain Sinclair," observed Mary; "in a year or +two, my uncle and aunt may be less lonely and more comfortable than at +present. In a year or two the war may end, and you may honorably retire +upon half-pay; in fact, so many chances are there which are hidden from +us and come upon us so unexpectedly, that it is impossible to say what +may take place. And if, after waiting patiently for some time, none of +these chances do turn up, you have yet another in your favor." + +"And what is that, Mary?" + +"That, perhaps, I may be tired of waiting myself," replied Mary, with a +smile. + +"Upon that chance, then, I will live in hope," replied Captain Sinclair; +"if you will only reward me when you consider that my faithful service +demands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for Rachel." + +"Do so, and you shall not be deceived at the end of your services, as he +was," replied Mary; "but now let us return to the house." + +Captain Sinclair departed the day afterward, quite satisfied with Mary's +resolution. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +As Henry had predicted, during the autumn the whole family were fully +employed. The stock had increased very much, they had a large number of +young calves and heifers, and the sheep had lambed down very favorably. +Many of the stock were now turned into the bush, to save the feed on the +prairies. The sheep with their lambs, the cows which were in milk, and +the young calves only were retained. This gave them more leisure to +attend to the corn harvest, which was now ready, and it required all +their united exertions from daylight to sunset to get it in, for they +had a very large quantity of ground to clear. It was, however, got in +very successfully, and all stacked in good order. Then came the +thrashing of the wheat, which gave them ample employment; and as soon as +it could be thrashed out, it was taken to the mill in a wagon, and +ground down, for Mr. Campbell had engaged to supply a certain quantity +of flour to the fort before the winter set in. They occasionally +received a visit from Captain Sinclair and the Colonel, and some other +officers, for now they had gradually become intimate with many of them. +Captain Sinclair had confided to the Colonel his engagement to Mary +Percival, and in consequence the Colonel allowed him to visit at the +farm as often as he could, consistently with his duty. The other +officers who came to see them, perceiving how much Captain Sinclair +engrossed the company of Mary Percival, were very assiduous in their +attentions to Emma, who laughed with and at them, and generally +contrived to give them something to do for her during their visit, as +well as to render their attentions serviceable to the household. On +condition that Emma accompanied them, they were content to go into the +punt and fish for hours; and indeed, all the lake-fish which were caught +this year were taken by the officers. There were several very pleasant +young men among them and they were always well received, as they added +very much to the society at the farm. + +Before the winter set in the flour was all ready, and sent to the fort, +as were the cattle which the Colonel requested, and it was very evident +that the Colonel was right when he said that the arrangement would be +advantageous to both parties. Mr. Campbell, instead of drawing money to +pay, this year for the first time received a bill on the government to a +considerable amount for the flour and cattle furnished to the troops; +and Mrs. Campbell's account for fowls, pork, etc., furnished to the +garrison, was by no means to be despised. Thus, by the kindness of +others, his own exertions, and a judicious employment of his small +capital, Mr. Campbell promised to be in a few years a wealthy and +independent man. As soon as the harvest was in, Malachi and John, who +were of no use in thrashing out the corn, renewed their hunting +expeditions, and seldom returned without venison. The Indians had not +been seen by Malachi during his excursions, nor any trace of their +having been in the neighborhood; all alarm, therefore, on that account +was now over, and the family prepared to meet the coming winter with all +the additional precautions which the foregoing had advised them of. But +during the Indian summer they received letters from England, detailing, +as usual, the news relative to friends with whom they had been intimate; +also one from Quebec, informing Mr. Campbell that his application for +the extra grant of land was consented to; and another from Montreal, +from Mr. Emmerson, stating that he had offered terms to two families of +settlers who bore very good characters, and if they were accepted by Mr. +Campbell, the parties would join them at the commencement of the ensuing +spring. + +This was highly gratifying to Mr. Campbell, and as the terms were, with +a slight variation, such as he had proposed, he immediately wrote to Mr. +Emmerson, agreeing to terms, and requesting that the bargain might be +concluded. At the same time that the Colonel forwarded the above +letters, he wrote to Mr. Campbell to say that the interior of the fort +required a large quantity of plank for repairs, that he was authorized +to take them from Mr. Campbell, at a certain price, if he could afford +to supply them on these terms, and have them ready by the following +spring. This was another act of kindness on the part of the Colonel, as +it would now give employment to the saw-mill for the winter, and it was +during the winter, and at the time that the snow was on the ground, that +they could easily drag the timber after it was felled to the saw-mill. +Mr. Campbell wrote an answer, thanking the Colonel for his offer, which +he accepted, and promised to have the planks ready by the time the lake +was again open. + +At last the winter set in, with its usual fall of snow. Captain Sinclair +took his leave for a long time, much to the sorrow of all the family, +who were warmly attached to him. It was arranged that the only parties +who were to go on the hunting excursions should be Malachi and John, as +Henry had ample employment in the barns; and Martin and Alfred, in +felling timber, and dragging up the stems to the saw-mill, would, with +attending to the mill as well, have their whole time taken up. Such were +the arrangements out of doors, and now that they had lost the services +of poor Percival, and the duties to attend to in doors were so much +increased, Mrs. Campbell and the girls were obliged to call in the +assistance of Mr. Campbell whenever he could be spared from the garden, +which was his usual occupation. Thus glided on the third winter in quiet +and security; but in full employment, and with so much to do and attend +to, that it passed very rapidly. + +It was in the month of February, when the snow was very heavy on the +ground, that one day Malachi went up to the mill to Alfred, whom he +found alone attending the saws, which were in full activity; for Martin +was squaring out the timber ready to be sawed at about one hundred +yards' distance. + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN LETTER.] + +"I am glad to find you alone, sir," said Malachi, "for I have something +of importance to tell you of, and I do not like at present that any +body else should know any thing about it." + +"What is it, Malachi?" inquired Alfred. + +"Why, sir, when I was out hunting yesterday, I went round to a spot +where I had left a couple of deer-hides last week, that I might bring +them home, and I found a letter stuck to them with a couple of thorns." + +"A letter, Malachi!" + +"Yes, sir, an Indian letter. Here it is." Malachi then produced a piece +of birch bark, of which the underneath drawing is a fac-simile. + +[Illustration] + +"Well," said Alfred, "it may be a letter, but I confess it is all Greek +to me. I certainly do not see why you wish to keep it a secret. Tell +me." + +"Well, sir, I could not read one of your letters half so well as I can +this; and it contains news of the greatest importance. It's the Indian +way of writing, and I know also whom it comes from. A good action is +never lost, they say, and I am glad to find that there is some +gratitude in an Indian." + +"You make me very impatient, Malachi, to know what it means; tell me +from whom do you think the letter comes?" + +"Why, sir, do you see this mark here?" said Malachi, pointing to one of +the lowest down on the piece of bark. + +"Yes; it is a foot, is it not?" + +"Exactly, sir; now, do you know whom it comes from?" + +"I can't say I do." + +"Do you remember two winters back our picking up the Indian woman, and +carrying her to the house, and your father curing her sprained ankle?" + +"Certainly; is it from her?" + +"Yes, sir; and you recollect she said that she belonged to the band +which followed the Angry Snake." + +"I remember it very well; but now, Malachi, read me the letter at once, +for I am very impatient to know what she can have to say." + +"I will, Mr. Alfred; now, sir, there is the sun more than half up, which +with them points out it is the setting and not the rising sun; the +setting sun therefore means to the westward." + +"Very good, that is plain, I think." + +"There are twelve wigwams, that is, twelve days' journey for a warrior, +which the Indians reckon at about fifteen miles a day. How much does +fifteen times twelve make, sir?" + +"One hundred and eighty, Malachi." + +"Well, sir, then that is to say that it is one hundred and eighty miles +off, or thereabouts. Now, the first figure is a chief, for it has an +eagle's feather on the head of it, and the snake before it is his +_totem_, 'the Angry Snake,' and the other six are the number of the +band; and you observe, that the chief and the first figure of the six +have a gun in their hands, which is to inform us that they have only two +rifles among them." + +"Very true; but what is that little figure following the chief with his +arms behind him?" + +"There is the whole mystery of the letter, sir, without which it were +worth nothing. You perceive that little figure has a pair of snow-shoes +over it." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Well, that little figure is your brother Percival, whom we supposed to +be dead." + +"Merciful heavens! is it possible?" exclaimed Alfred; "then he is +alive?" + +"There is no doubt of it, sir," replied Malachi; "and now I will put the +whole letter together. Your brother Percival has been carried off by the +Angry Snake and his band, and has been taken to some place one hundred +and eighty miles to the westward, and this information comes from the +Indian woman who belongs to the band, and whose life was preserved by +your kindness. I don't think, Mr. Alfred, that any white person could +have written a letter more plain and more to the purpose." + +"I agree with you, Malachi; but the news has so overpowered me, I am so +agitated with joy and anxiety of mind, that I hardly know what to say. +Percival alive! we'll have him, if we have to go one thousand miles and +beat two thousand Indians. Oh, how happy it will make my mother! But +what are we to do, Malachi? tell me, I beseech you." + +"We must do nothing, sir," replied Malachi. + +"Nothing, Malachi!" replied Alfred with surprise. + +"No, sir; nothing at present, at all events. We have the information +that the boy is alive, at least it is presumed so; but of course the +Indians do not know that we have received such information; if they did, +the woman would be killed immediately. Now, sir, the first question we +must ask ourselves is, why they have carried off the boy; for it would +be no use carrying off a little boy in that manner without some object." + +"It is the very question that _I_ was going to put to you, Malachi." + +"Then, sir, I'll answer it to the best of my knowledge and belief. It is +this: the Angry Snake came to the settlement, and saw our stores of +powder and shot, and every thing else. He would have attacked us last +winter if he had found an opportunity and a chance of success. One of +his band was killed, which taught him that we were on the watch, and he +failed in that attempt: he managed, however, to pick up the boy when he +was lagging behind us, at the time you were wounded by the painter, and +carried him off, and he intends to drive a bargain for his being +restored to us. That is my conviction." + +"I have no doubt but that you are right, Malachi," said Alfred, after a +pause. "Well, we must make a virtue of necessity, and give him what he +asks." + +"Not so, sir; if we did, it would encourage him to steal again." + +"What must we do then?" + +"Punish him, if we can; at all events, we must wait at present, and do +nothing. Depend upon it we shall have some communication made to us +through him that the boy is in their possession, and will be restored +upon certain conditions--probably this spring. It will then be time to +consider what is to be done." + +"I believe you are right, Malachi." + +"I hope to circumvent him yet, sir," replied Malachi; "but we shall +see." + +"Well; but, Malachi, are we to let this be known to any body, or keep it +a secret?" + +"Well, sir, I've thought of that; we must only let Martin and Strawberry +into the secret; and I would tell them, because they are almost Indians, +as it were; they may have some one coming to them, and there's no fear +of their telling. Martin knows better, and as for the Strawberry, she is +as safe as if she didn't know it." + +"I believe you are right; and still what delight it would give my father +and mother!" + +"Yes, sir, and all the family too, I have no doubt, for the first hour +or two after you had told them; but what pain it would give them for +months afterward. 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' as my father +used to read out of the Bible, and that's the truth, sir. Only consider +how your father, and particularly your mother, would fret and pine +during the whole time, and what a state of anxiety they would be in; +they would not eat or sleep. No, no, sir; it would be a cruelty to tell +them, and it must not be. Nothing can be done till the spring, at all +events, and we must wait till the messenger comes to us." + +"You are right, Malachi; then do as you say, make the communication to +Martin and his wife,--and I will keep the secret as faithfully as they +will." + +"It's a great point our knowing whereabouts the boy is," observed +Malachi; "for if it is necessary to make a party to go for him, we know +what direction to go in. And it is also a great point to know the +strength of the enemy, as now we shall know what force we must take with +us in case it is necessary to recover the lad by force or stratagem. All +this we gained from the letter, and shall not learn from any messenger +sent to us by the Angry Snake, whose head I hope to bruise before I've +done with him." + +"If I meet him, one of us shall fall," observed Alfred. + +"No doubt, sir, no doubt," replied Malachi, "but if we can retake the +boy by other means, so much the better. A man, bad or good, has but one +life and God gave it to him. It is not for his fellow-creatures to take +it away unless from necessity. I hope to have the boy without shedding +of blood." + +"I am willing to have him back upon any terms, Malachi; and, as you say, +if we can do it without shedding of blood, all the better; but have him +I will, if I have to kill a hundred Indians." + +"That's right, sir; that's right; only let it be the last resort; +recollect the Indian seeks the powder and ball, not the life of the boy; +and recollect if we had not been so careless as to tempt him with the +sight of what he values so much, he never would have annoyed us thus." + +"That is true; well then, Malachi, it shall be as you propose in every +thing." + +The conversation was here finished; Alfred and all those who were +possessed of the secret never allowed the slightest hint to drop of +their knowledge. The winter passed away without interruption of any +kind. Before the snow had disappeared the seed was all prepared ready +for sowing; the planks had been sawed out, and all the wheat not +required for seed had been ground down and put into flour-barrels, ready +for any further demand from the fort. And thus terminated the third +winter in Canada. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +It was now April, and for some days Malachi and John had been very busy, +assisted by the Strawberry; for the time had come for tapping the +maple-trees, to make the maple-sugar, and Mrs. Campbell had expressed a +wish that she could be so supplied with an article of such general +consumption, and which they could not obtain but by the _bateaux_ which +went to Montreal. In the evening, when Malachi and John were, as usual, +employed in cutting small trays out of the soft wood of the balsam-fir, +and of which they had already prepared a large quantity, Mrs. Campbell +asked Malachi how the sugar was procured. + +"Very easily, ma'am: we tap the trees." + +"Yes, so you said before; but how do you do it? Explain the whole affair +to me." + +"Why, ma'am, we pick out the maple trees which are about a foot wide at +the bottom of the trunk, as they yield most sugar. We then bore a hole +in the trunk of the tree, about two feet above the ground, and into that +hole we put a hollow reed, just the same as you would put a spigot in a +cask. The liquor runs out into one of these trays that we have been +digging out." + +"Well, and then what do you do?" + +"We collect all the liquor every morning till we have enough to fill the +coppers, and then we boil it down." + +"What coppers will you use, then?" + +"There are two large coppers in the store-room, not yet put up, which +will answer our purpose very well, ma'am. They hold about a hogshead +each. We shall take them into the woods with us, and pour the liquor +into them, and boil them down as soon as they are ready. You must come +and see us on the boiling-day, and we can have a frolic in the woods." + +"With all my heart," replied Mrs. Campbell. "How much liquor do you get +from one tree?" + +"A matter of two or three gallons," replied Malachi; "sometimes more and +sometimes less. After we have tapped the trees and set our trays, we +shall have nothing more to do for a fortnight. The Strawberry can attend +to them all, and will let us know when she is ready." + +"Do you tap the trees every year?" + +"Yes, ma'am, and a good tree will bear it for fifteen or twenty years; +but it kills them at last." + +"So I should suppose, for you take away so much of the sap of the tree." + +"Exactly, ma'am; but there's no want of sugar-maples in these woods." + +"You promised us some honey, Malachi," said Emma, "but we have not seen +it yet. Can you get us some?" + +"We had no time to get it last autumn, miss, but we will try this autumn +what we can do. When John and I are out in the woods, we shall very +probably find a honey-tree, without going very far. I did intend to have +looked out for some, if you had not mentioned it." + +"I know one," said Martin, "I marked it a fortnight ago, but I quite +forgot all about it. Since the mill has been in hand, I have had little +time for any thing else. The fact is, we have all plenty to do just +now." + +"That we certainly have," replied Henry, laughing; "I wish I could see +the end of my work in the barn; I doubt if I shall be able to get out +with my rifle this winter." + +"No, sir, you must leave the woods to John and me," replied Malachi. +"Never mind, you shan't want for venison. Do you require the sledge +to-morrow, Mr. Alfred?" + +Malachi referred to a small sledge which they had made in the winter, +and which was now very useful, as they could, with one horse, transport +things from place to place. It was used by Alfred for bringing down to +the storehouse the sacks of flour as fast as they were ground in the +mill. + +"I can do without it for a day. What do you want it for?" + +"To bring all the honey home," said Emma laughing. + +"No, miss, to take the coppers out into the woods," replied Malachi, +"that they may be ready for the liquor. As soon as we have tapped the +trees, we will look for the honey." + +"Did you send your skins down to Montreal by the _bateaux_?" inquired +Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, father," replied Alfred; "Mr. Emmerson took charge of them, and +promised to deliver them to the agent; but we have not so many this year +as we had last. John has the largest package of all of us." + +"Yes, he beats me this year," said Malachi; "he always contrives to get +the first shot. I knew that I should make a hunter of the boy. He might +go out by himself now, and do just as well as I do." + +The next morning Malachi went out into the woods, taking with him the +coppers and all the trays on the sledge: during that day he was busy +boring the trees and fitting the reed-pipes to the holes. Strawberry and +John accompanied him, and by sunset their work was complete. + +The next morning when they went out, only Malachi and John took their +axes with them, for John could use his very well for so young a lad. +They first went to the tree which Martin had discovered; he had given a +description where to find it. They cut it down, but did not attempt to +take the honey till the night, when they lighted a fire, and drove away +the bees by throwing leaves upon it, and making a great smoke; they then +opened the tree, and gained about two pails full of honey, which they +brought in just as the family were about to go to bed. When they went +out the next morning, they found a bear very busy at the remains of the +comb, but the animal made off before they could get a shot at him. + +Every morning the Strawberry collected all the sap which had run out of +the trees, and poured it into the coppers which had been fixed up by +Malachi, ready for a fire to be lighted under them. They continued their +search, and found three more hives of bees, which they marked and +allowed to remain till later in the season, when they could take them +at their leisure. In a fortnight, they had collected sufficient liquor +from the trees to fill both the coppers to the brim, besides several +pails. The fires were therefore lighted under the coppers, and due +notice given to Mrs. Campbell and the girls, that the next day they must +go out into the woods and see the operation; as the liquor would, toward +the afternoon, be turned into coolers, which were some of the large +washing-tubs then in use, and which had been thoroughly cleansed for the +purpose. + +As this was to be a holiday in the woods, they prepared a cold dinner in +a large basket, and gave it in charge of Henry. Mr. Campbell joined the +party, and they all set off to the spot, which was about two miles +distant. On their arrival, they examined the trees and the trays into +which the juice first ran, the boilers in which the liquor was now +simmering over the fire, and asked questions of Malachi, so that they +might, if necessary, be able to make the sugar themselves, after which +the first cooler was filled with the boiling liquor, that they might see +how the sugar crystallized as the liquor became cold. They then sat down +under a large tree and dined. The tree was at some distance from the +boilers, as there was no shade in the open spot where Malachi had placed +them, and the afternoon was passed very agreeably in listening to +Malachi's and Martin's stories of their adventures in the woods. While +they were still at dinner, Oscar and the other dogs which had +accompanied them had strayed to about a hundred yards distant, and were +soon very busy scraping and barking at a large hole. + +"What are the dogs after?" said Alfred. + +"Just what the Strawberry wants, and told me to get for her," replied +Malachi; "we'll dig him out to-morrow." + +"What is it, Strawberry?" said Mary. + +The Strawberry pointed to her moccasins, and then put her finger on the +porcupine-quills with which they were embroidered. + +"I don't know the English name," said she, softly. + +"A porcupine you mean," said Mary, "the animal those quills come from." + +"Yes," replied the Strawberry. + +"Is there a porcupine there, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, that is certain; the dogs know that well enough, or they +would not make such a noise. If you like, we will go for the shovels and +dig him out." + +"Do, pray; I should like to see him caught," said Emma, "it shall be our +evening's amusement." + +Martin got up and went for the shovels; during his absence, the dinner +was cleared away, and the articles replaced in the basket; they then all +adjourned to where the dogs were still barking and scratching. + +It was more than an hour before they could dig out the animal, and when +at last it burst away from the hole, they could not help laughing as +they witnessed the way in which one or two of the dogs were pricked with +the quills of the animal, who needed no other defense; the dogs ran +back, pawed their noses, and then went on again. Oscar was too knowing +to attack it in that way; he attempted to turn it over, so that he might +get at its stomach, when he would soon have killed it, but Martin +dispatched the poor beast with a blow on the nose, and the dogs then +rushed in upon it. They amused themselves selecting all the best of the +quills for the Strawberry, and then they went back again to the coolers, +to see the sugar which had been made. + +As they neared the spot, Emma cried out, "There is a bear at the cooler; +look at him." + +Malachi and John had their rifles ready immediately. Mrs. Campbell and +Mary were much alarmed, as the animal was not one hundred yards from +them. + +"Do not be afraid, ma'am," said Malachi; "the animal is only after the +sugar. He likes sugar just as well as honey." + +"I don't doubt but he's the same beast that you saw at the honeycomb the +other day," said Martin. "Let us stay where we are, and watch him. We +may lose a few pounds of sugar, but I expect he will make you laugh." + +"I really see nothing laughable in such a terrific brute," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"You are quite safe, ma'am," said Martin, "Malachi and Mr. John have +both their rifles." + +"Well, then, I will trust to them," said Mrs. Campbell, "but I should +prefer being at home, nevertheless. What a great brute it is." + +"Yes, ma'am; it is a very large animal, that's certain; but they are not +very fat at this time of the year. See how he's smelling at the liquor, +now he's licking the top of it with his tongue. He won't be satisfied +with that, now that he has once tasted it. I told you so." + +The eyes of the whole party, some frightened and some not, were now +fixed upon the bear, who, approving of what he had tasted as a sample, +now proceeded to help himself more liberally. + +He therefore placed his paw down into the contents of the cooler, but +although the surface of the liquor was cool, the lower part was still +scalding hot, and he had not put his paw in for a moment, when he +withdrew it with a loud roar, rearing up and sitting upon his hind legs, +and throwing his burned paw in the air. + +"I said so," observed Malachi, chuckling; "he has found it hotter than +he expected." + +John, Alfred, and Martin burst out laughing at the sight; and even Mrs. +Campbell and the two girls could not help being amused. + +"He'll try it again," said Martin. + +"Yes, that he will," replied Malachi. "John, be all ready with your +rifle, for the brute has seen us." + +"Why, he won't come this way, will he?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, that he most likely will when he is angry; but you need not +fear." + +"But I'm afraid, Malachi," said Mary. + +"Then perhaps you had better go about fifty yards back with Mr. +Campbell, where you will see the whole without danger. There he goes to +it again; I knew he would." + +Martin, who had got all the dogs collected together and fast by a piece +of deer's hide, as soon as they had discovered the bear, went back with +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the girls. + +"You need have no fear, ma'am," said Martin; "the rifles won't miss +their mark, and if they did, I have the dogs to let loose upon him; and +I think Oscar, with the help of the others, would master him. +Down--silence, Oscar--down, dogs, down. Look at the Strawberry, ma'am, +she's not afraid, she's laughing like a silver bell." + +During this interval, the bear again applied to the cooler, and burned +himself as before, and this time being more angry, he now gave another +roar, and, as if considering that the joke had been played upon him by +the party who were looking on, he made directly for them at a quick run. + +"Now, John," said Malachi, "get your bead well on him, right between his +eyes." + +John kneeled down in front of Malachi, who had his rifle all ready; much +to the horror of Mrs. Campbell, John permitted the bear to come within +twenty yards of him. He then fired, and the animal fell dead without a +struggle. + +"A good shot, and well put in," said Malachi, going up to the bear. "Let +the dogs loose, Martin, that they may worry the carcass; it will do them +good." + +Martin did so; the dogs were permitted to pull and tear at the dead +animal for a few minutes, and then taken off; in the mean time, Mr. +Campbell and the ladies had come up to where the animal lay. + +"Well, ma'am, isn't John a cool shot?" said Malachi, "Could the oldest +hunter have done better?" + +"My dear John, you quite frightened me," said Mrs. Campbell; "why did +you allow the beast to come so near to you?" + +"Because I wanted to kill him dead, and not wound him," replied John. + +"To be sure," replied Malachi; "to wound a bear is worse than leaving +him alone." + +"Well, Malachi, you certainly have made a hunter of John," said Mr. +Campbell. "I could not have supposed such courage and presence of mind +in one so young." + +John was very much praised, as he deserved to be, by the whole party; +and then Malachi said, "The skin belongs to John, that of course." + +"Is the bear good eating now?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Not very, ma'am," replied Malachi, "for he has consumed all his fat +during the winter; but we will cut off the legs for hams, and when they +are salted and smoked with the other meat, you will acknowledge that a +bear's ham is, at all events, a dish that any one may say is good. Come, +John, where's your knife? Martin, give us a hand here, while Mr. +Campbell and the ladies go home." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +It was in the first week of June that Malachi, when he was out in the +woods, perceived an Indian, who came toward him. He was a youth of about +twenty or twenty-one years old, tall and slightly made; he carried his +bow and arrows and his tomahawk, but had no gun. Malachi was at that +time sitting down on the trunk of a fallen tree; he was not more than +two miles from the house, and had gone out with his rifle without any +particular intent, unless it was that, as he expected he should soon +receive some communication from the Indians, he wished to give them an +opportunity of speaking to him alone. The Indian came up to where +Malachi was, and took a seat by him, without saying a word. + +"Is my son from the West?" said Malachi, in the Indian tongue, after a +silence of one or two minutes. + +"The Young Otter is from the West," replied the Indian. "The old men +have told him of the Gray Badger, who has lived the life of a snake, and +who has hunted with the fathers of those who are now old. Does my father +live with the white man?" + +"He lives with the white man," replied Malachi; "he has no Indian blood +in his veins." + +"Has the white man many in his lodge?" said the Indian. + +"Yes; many young men and many rifles," replied Malachi. + +The Indian did not continue this conversation, and there was a silence +of some minutes. Malachi was convinced that the young Indian had been +sent to intimate that Percival was alive and in captivity, and he +resolved to wait patiently till he brought up the subject. + +"Does not the cold kill the white man?" said the Indian, at last. + +"No; the white man can bear the winter's ice as well as an Indian. He +hunts as well, and brings home venison." + +"Are all who came here with him now in the white man's lodge?" + +"No, not all; one white child slept in the snow, and is in the land of +spirits," replied Malachi. + +Here there was a pause in the conversation for some minutes; at last the +young Indian said-- + +"A little bird sang in my ear, and it said, The white man's child is not +dead; it wandered about in the woods and was lost, and the Indian found +him, and took him to his wigwam in the far west." + +"Did not the little bird lie to the Young Otter?" replied Malachi. + +"No; the little bird sang what was true," replied the Indian. "The white +boy is alive and in the lodge of the Indian." + +"There are many white men in the country who have children," replied +Malachi; "and children are often lost. The little bird may have sung of +the child of some other white man." + +"The white boy had a rifle in his hand and snow-shoes on his feet." + +"So have all they who go out to hunt in the winter's snow," replied +Malachi. + +"But the white boy was found near to the white man's lodge." + +"Then why was not the boy taken back to the white man by the Indians who +found him?" + +"They were going to their own wigwams and could not turn aside; besides, +they feared to come near to the white man's lodge after the sun was +down; as my father says he has many young men and many rifles." + +"But the white man does not raise his rifle against the Indian, whether +he comes by day or by night," replied Malachi. "At night he kills the +prowling wolf when he comes near to the lodge." + +The Indian again stopped and was silent. He knew by the words of Malachi +that the wolf's skin, with which the Indian had been covered when he was +crawling to the palisades and had been shot by John, had been +discovered. Malachi after a while renewed the conversation. + +"Is the Young Otter of a near tribe?" + +"The lodges of our tribe are twelve days' journey to the westward," +replied the Indian. + +"The chief of the Young Otter's band is a great warrior?" + +"He is," replied the Indian. + +"Yes," replied Malachi, "The 'Angry Snake' is a great warrior. Did he +send the Young Otter to me to tell me that the white boy was alive and +in his wigwam?" + +The Indian again paused. He perceived that Malachi knew where he came +from, and from whom. At last he said-- + +"It is many moons since the Angry Snake has taken care of the white boy, +and has fed him with venison; many moons that he has hunted for him to +give him food; and the white boy loves the Angry Snake as a father, and +the Angry Snake loves the boy as his son. He will adopt him, and the +white boy will be the chief of the tribe. He will forget the white men, +and become red as an Indian." + +"The boy is forgotten by the white man, who has long numbered him with +the dead," replied Malachi. + +"The white man has no memory," replied the Indian, "to forget so soon; +but it is not so. He would make many presents to him who would bring +back the boy." + +"And what presents could he make?" replied Malachi; "the white man is +poor, and hunts with his young men as the Indian does. What has the +white man to give that the Indian covets? He has no whisky." + +"The white man has powder, and lead, and rifles," replied the Indian; +"more than he can use, locked up in his storehouse." + +"And will the Angry Snake bring back the white boy if the white man +gives him powder, and lead, and rifles?" inquired Malachi. + +"He will make a long journey, and bring the white boy with him," replied +the Indian; "but first let the white man say what presents he will +give." + +"He shall be spoken to," replied Malachi, "and his answer shall be +brought, but the Young Otter must not go to the white man's lodge. A +red-skin is not safe from the rifles of the young men. When the moon is +at the full I will meet the Young Otter after the sun is down, at the +eastern side of the long prairie. Is it good?" + +"Good," replied the Indian, who rose, turned on his heel, and walked +away into the forest. + +When Malachi returned to the house, he took an opportunity of +communicating to Alfred what had taken place. After some conversation, +they agreed that they would make Captain Sinclair, who had that morning +arrived from the fort, their confidant as to what had occurred, and +decide with him upon what steps should be taken. Captain Sinclair was +very much surprised, and equally delighted, when he heard that Percival +was still alive, and warmly entered into the subject. + +"The great question is, whether it would not be better to accede to the +terms of this scoundrel of an Indian chief," observed Captain Sinclair. +"What are a few pounds of powder and a rifle or two compared with the +happiness which will be produced by the return of Percival to his +parents, who have so long lamented him as dead?" + +"It's not that, sir," replied Malachi. "I know that Mr. Campbell would +give his whole store-room to regain his boy, but we must consider what +will be the consequence if he does so. One thing is certain, that the +Angry Snake will not be satisfied with a trifling present; he will ask +many rifles, perhaps more than we have at the farm, and powder and shot +in proportion; for he has mixed much with white people, especially when +the French were here, and he knows how little we value such things, and +how much we love our children. But, sir, in the first place, you supply +him and his band with arms to use against us at any other time, and +really make them formidable; and in the next place, you encourage him to +make some other attempt to obtain similar presents--for he will not be +idle. Recollect, sir, that we have in all probability killed one of +their band, when he came to reconnoiter the house in the skin of a wolf, +and that will never be forgotten, but revenged as soon as it can be. +Now, sir, if we give him arms and ammunition, we shall put the means of +revenge in his hands, and I should not be surprised to find us one day +attacked by him and his band, and it may be, overpowered by means of +these rifles which you propose to give him." + +"There is much truth and much good sense in what you say, +Malachi--indeed, I think it almost at once decides the point, and that +we must not consent to his terms; but then what must we do to recover +the boy?" + +"That is the question which puzzles me," replied Alfred, "for I +perfectly agree with Malachi, that we must not give him arms and +ammunition, and I doubt if he would accept of any thing else." + +"No, sir, that he will not, depend upon it," replied Malachi. "I think +there is but one way that will give us a chance." + +"What, then, is your idea, Malachi?" + +"The Angry Snake with his band were tracking us, and had we not been too +strong, would have attacked and murdered us all, that is clear. Not +daring to do that, he has stolen Percival, and detains him, to return +him at his own price. Now, sir, the Young Otter has come to us, and +offers to come again. We have given him no pledge of safe conduct, and, +therefore, when he comes again, we must have an ambush ready for him, +and make him prisoner; but then you see, sir, we must have the +assistance of the Colonel, for he must be confined at the fort; we could +not well keep him at the farm. In the first place, it would be +impossible then to withhold the secret from Mr. and Mrs. Campbell; and, +in the next, we should have to be on the look-out for an attack every +night for his rescue; but if the Colonel was to know the whole +circumstances, and would assist us, we might capture the Indian lad and +hold him as a hostage for Master Percival, till we could make some terms +with the Angry Snake." + +"I like your idea very much, Malachi," replied Captain Sinclair, "and +if, Alfred, you agree with me, I will acquaint the Colonel with the +whole of what has passed when I return to-night, and see if he will +consent to our taking such a step. When are you to meet the Indian, +Malachi?" + +"In three days, that is on Saturday; it will be the full of the moon, +and then I meet him at night, at the end of the prairie nearest to the +fort, so that there will be no difficulty in doing all we propose +without Mr. and Mrs. Campbell being aware of any thing that has taken +place." + +"I think we can not do better than you have proposed," said Alfred. + +"Be it so, then," said Captain Sinclair. "I will be here again +to-morrow--no, not to-morrow, but the day after will be better, and then +I will give you the reply of the Colonel, and make such arrangements as +may be necessary." + +"That's all right, sir," replied Malachi; "and now all we have to do is +to keep our own secret; so, perhaps, Captain Sinclair, you had better go +back to the young ladies, for Miss Mary may imagine that it must be +something of very great importance which can have detained you so long +from her presence;" and Malachi smiled as he finished his remark. + +"There's good sense in that observation, Malachi," said Alfred, +laughing. "Come, Sinclair." + +Captain Sinclair quitted in the evening, and went back to the fort. He +returned at the time appointed, and informed them that the Colonel fully +approved of their plan of holding the young Indian as a hostage, and +that he would secure him in the fort as soon as he was brought in. + +"Now, do we want any assistance from the fort? Surely not to capture an +Indian lad; at least, so I said to the Colonel," continued Captain +Sinclair. + +"No, sir, we want no assistance, as you say. I am his match, myself, if +that were all; but it is not strength which is required. He is as little +and supple as an eel, and as difficult to hold, that I am certain of. If +we were to use our rifles, there would be no difficulty, but to hold him +would give some trouble to two of us, and if once he breaks loose, he +will be too fleet for any of us." + +"Well, then, Malachi, how shall we proceed?" + +"Why, sir, I must meet him, and you and Mr. Alfred and Martin must be +hid at a distance, and gradually steal near to us. Martin shall have his +deer thongs all ready, and when you pounce upon him, he must bind him at +once. Martin is used to them and knows how to manage it." + +"Well, if you think that we three can not manage him, let us have +Martin." + +"It isn't strength, sir," replied Malachi, "but he will slip through +your fingers, if not well tied in half a minute. Now, we will just walk +down to where I intend to meet him, and survey the place, and then I'll +show you where you must be, for we must not be seen together in that +direction to-morrow, for he may be lurking about, and have some +suspicion." + +They then walked to the end of the prairie nearest to the fort, which +was about a mile from the house, and Malachi having selected his ground, +and pointed out to them where to conceal themselves, they returned to +the house, Alfred having made arrangements when and where he and Martin +would meet Captain Sinclair on the day appointed. + +The next day passed, and Malachi, as the sun sank behind the lake, +walked out to the end of the prairie. He had not been there ten minutes +when the young Indian stood before him. He was armed, as before, with +his tomahawk and bows and arrows, but Malachi had come out expressly +without his rifle. + +Malachi, as soon as he perceived the Indian, sat down, as is the usual +custom among them when they hold a talk, and the Young Otter followed +his example. + +"Has my father talked to the white man?" said the Indian after a short +silence. + +"The white man grieves for the loss of his boy, and his squaw weeps," +replied Malachi. "The Angry Snake must bring the boy to the lodge of the +white man, and receive presents." + +"Will the white man be generous?" continued the Indian. + +"He has powder, and lead, and rifles, and tobacco; will such presents +please the Angry Snake?" + +"The Angry Snake had a dream," replied the Indian, "and he told me his +dream. He dreamed that the white boy was put into his mother's arms, who +wept for joy, and the white man opened his store, and gave to the Angry +Snake ten rifles, and two kegs of powder, and as much lead as four men +could carry away." + +"'Twas a good dream," replied Malachi, "and it will come true when the +white boy comes back to his mother." + +"The Angry Snake had another dream. He dreamed that the white man +received his child, and pushed the Angry Snake out from the door of his +lodge." + +"That was bad," replied Malachi. "Look at me, my son; say, did you ever +hear that the Gray Badger said a lie?" and Malachi laid hold of the +Indian's arm as he spoke. + +This was the signal agreed upon between Malachi and the party concealed, +who rushed forward and seized the Indian. The Young Otter sprang up in +spite of their endeavors to keep him, and would certainly have escaped, +for he had got his tomahawk clear, and was about to wield it around his +head, had not Martin already passed one of the deer thongs round his +ankle, by which the Indian was thrown again to the ground. His arms were +then secured behind his back with other deer-skin thongs, and another +passed round his ankle and given to Alfred. + +"You were right, Malachi," said Captain Sinclair, "how he contrived to +twist himself out of our grasp I can not imagine; but he certainly would +have been off, probably have broken our heads before he went." + +"I know the nature of these Indians, sir," replied Malachi; "they're +never safe, even when tied, if the thong does not cut into the bone; but +you have him now, sir, fast enough, and the sooner you get to the fort +the better. You have your rifles, in the bush?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "you'll find them behind the large oak tree." + +"I'll fetch them; not that I think there's much danger of a rescue." + +"We have not far to take him," said Captain Sinclair, "for, as I wished +you and Alfred not to be so long away as to induce questions to be +asked, I have a file of men and a corporal about half a mile off, +concealed in the bush. But Malachi, it is as well to let the Indian know +that he is only detained as a hostage, and will be restored as soon as +the boy is sent back." + +Malachi addressed the Indian in his own tongue, and told him what +Captain Sinclair requested. + +"Tell him that there are several Indian women about the fort, who will +take any message he may send to the Angry Snake." + +The Young Otter made no reply to any thing said by Malachi, but looked +around him very impatiently. + +"Be off as fast as you can," said Malachi, "for depend upon it the Angry +Snake was to meet him after his talk with me; I see it by his wandering +eye, and his looking round for assistance. I will go with you, and +return with Alfred and Martin, for I have no rifle." + +"You can take mine, Malachi, as soon as we come up to the soldiers." + +This was done in a few minutes. Captain Sinclair then took charge of the +Indian, and set off with his party for the fort. Malachi, Alfred, and +Martin returned to the house, and before they entered the prairie, +Martin detected the tall form of an Indian at a short distance, in the +shade of the trees. + +"Yes, I was sure of it," said Malachi. "It was well that I did not go +back without you. After all, in the woods, a man's no man without his +rifle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +Martin was right when he stated that he perceived the form of the Angry +Snake under the shade of the trees. The chief was then watching what +occurred, and had been witness to the capture of his emissary, and, +following those who had the Young Otter in charge, saw him conveyed to +the fort. In the meantime, Malachi, Martin, and Alfred went home, +without any suspicion being raised among the other branches of the +family of what had occurred. This gave them great satisfaction. + +"Well, Malachi," said Alfred the next morning, as they were all busily +employed getting the seed into the new cleared land; "what do you +imagine will be the steps now taken by the Angry Snake?" + +"It's hard to say, sir," replied Malachi; "for he well deserves the name +of a snake, if, as the Scripture says, it's the subtlest thing on earth: +he will try all he can, you may be sure; and if it were not that he is +afraid of us, he would attack us immediately; but that I have no idea +that he will venture upon." + +"No, for your letter says, that he has only two rifles in his band, +which are not enough to give him any chance of success." + +"Very true, sir. I hear that the _bateaux_ are coming from the fort for +the plank and flour." + +"Yes, to-morrow, if there is not so much wind as there is to-day; it +blows very fresh. Where is John?" + +"I left him with the Strawberry, sir; they were busy with the sugar." + +"By the by, how much have you got, Malachi?" + +"About three or four hundred pounds, sir, as near as I can reckon; quite +as much as madam will require." + +"Yes, I should think so; now we shall have preserves of all sorts and +the fruit for nothing; the wild raspberries are nearly ripe, and so are +the cherries; my cousins want John to help to gather them." + +"Well, sir, I dare say he will do so, although I believe that he would +rather do any thing else. He said he was going to fish this morning." + +"The water is too rough, and he will not be able to manage the punt by +himself." + +"Then that's the very reason why he'll go out," replied Malachi; "he +don't like easy jobs like picking raspberries. Is it true, Mr. Alfred, +that we are to have some more settlers come here?" + +"Yes, I believe so; my father is very anxious to have them; he thinks it +will be a great security, and he has offered very advantageous terms; +you won't much like that, Malachi?" + +"Well, sir, I dare say you may think so, but it is not the case; if any +one had told me, two years ago, that I could have remained here, I would +have said it was impossible, but we are all creatures of habit. I had +been so used to my own company for so long a time, that when I first saw +you I couldn't bear the sight of you; no, not even that of your pretty +cousins, Miss Mary and Emma, although, Heaven knows, they might tame a +savage; but now, sir, I feel quite changed; I have first borne with +company, because I fancied the boy, and then I felt no dislike to it, +and now I like it. I believe that in my old age I am coming back to my +feelings as a boy, and I think very often of my father's farm, and the +little village that was close to it; and then I often fancy that I +should like to see a village rise up here, and a church stand up there +upon the mount; I think I should like to live on till I saw a church +built and God worshiped as He ought to be." + +"This is indeed a change, Malachi; well, I hope you will see a church on +the mount, and live many years afterward to be present at the weddings +and christenings." + +"As it pleases God, sir. There's one thing, Mr. Alfred, that has given +me great content, and more than any thing, perhaps, reconciled me to my +new way of living; and that is, that the Strawberry, by the blessing of +God and the labor of your mother and cousins, has become a good +Christian; you don't know how pleased I am at that." + +"She's an excellent little creature, Malachi; every one is fond of her, +and I believe Martin is very strongly attached to her." + +"Yes, sir, she's a good wife, for she never uses her tongue, and obeys +her husband in all things. I think Martin has now become quite steady, +and you might send him to Montreal, or any where else, without fear of +his getting into the prison for making a disturbance.--I see that a bear +has been over into the maize-field last night." + +"What! did he climb the snake-fence?" + +"Yes, sir, they climb any thing; but I have got his tracks, and this +night I think that I shall get hold of him, for I shall lay a trap for +him." + +Malachi and Alfred continued to work for two or three hours, when they +were summoned by Emma to go in to dinner. "I can not find John," said +Emma, as they walked home; "Strawberry says that he left her some time +back, and went to fish; have you seen him pass by the river's side?" + +"No," replied Alfred; "but, Malachi, you said that he was going to fish +in the punt, did you not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you see the punt on the beach, Emma?" + +"No, I do not," replied Emma; "but it may be behind the point." + +"Nor can I; I hope he has not been carried away by the wind, for it +blows very hard; I'll run down, and see if he is there." + +Alfred ran down to the beach; the punt was gone from the shore, and +after looking for some time to leeward, which was to the eastward, in +the direction of the rapids, Alfred thought that he perceived something +like a boat at a distance of three or four miles; but the water of the +lake was much ruffled by the strong wind, and it was not easy to +distinguish. + +Alfred hastened back, and said to Emma, "I really am afraid that John is +adrift. I think I see the boat, but am not sure. Emma, go in quietly and +bring out my telescope, which is over my bed-place. Do not let them see +you, or they will be asking questions, and your aunt may be alarmed." + +Emma went to the house, and soon returned with the telescope. Alfred and +Malachi then went down to the beach, and the former distinctly made out +that what he had seen was the punt adrift, with John in it. + +"Now, what is to be done?" said Alfred. "I must take a horse, and ride +off to the fort, for if they do not see him before he passes, he may not +be picked up." + +"If he once gets into the rapids, sir," said Malachi, "he will be in +great danger; for he may be borne down upon one of the rocks, and upset +in a minute." + +"Yes; but he is some way from them yet," replied Alfred. + +"Very true, sir; but with this strong wind right down to them, and +helping the current, he will soon be there. There is no time to be +lost." + +"No; but I'll go in to dinner, and as soon as I have taken a mouthful, +just to avoid creating any alarm, I will slip out, and ride to the fort +as fast as I can." + +"Just so; you will be there in good time, for he is now three miles +above the fort; indeed, he can not well pass it without their seeing +him." + +"Yes, he can, now that the water is so rough," replied Alfred; +"recollect that they are soldiers in the fort, and not sailors, who are +accustomed to look on the water. A piece of drift timber and a punt is +much the same to their eyes. Come, let us in to dinner." + +"Yes, sir; I'll follow you," replied Malachi; "but, before I come in +I'll catch the horse and saddle him for you. You can tell Miss Emma to +hold her tongue about it." + +Alfred rejoined Emma, whom he cautioned, and then they went in to their +dinner. + +"Where's John?" said Mr. Campbell; "he promised me some lake fish for +dinner, and has never brought them in; so you will not have such good +fare as I expected." + +"And where's Malachi?" said Alfred. + +"I dare say he and John are out together somewhere," observed Henry, +who, with Martin, had come in before Alfred. + +"Well, he will lose his dinner," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"That's what I can not afford to do, mother," said Alfred; "I am very +hungry, and I have not more than five minutes to spare, for the seed +must be put in to-night." + +"I thought Malachi was with you, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell. + +"So he was, father," replied Alfred; "but he left me. Now, mother, +please to give me my dinner." + +Alfred ate fast, and then rose from the table, and went away from the +house. The horse was all ready, and he mounted and rode off for the +fort, telling Malachi that his father and mother thought John was with +him; and that, therefore, he had better not go in to dinner, but keep +out of the way. + +"Yes, sir, that will be best, and then they can ask no questions. Be +quick, sir, for I am not at all easy about the boy." + +Their plans, however, to conceal the danger of John did not succeed; for +Mrs. Campbell, after the loss of poor little Percival, had become more +than ever solicitous about John, and, a minute or two after Alfred had +left the house, she rose from the table, and went to the door, to see if +she could perceive Malachi and John coming in. As it happened, Alfred +had just set off in a gallop, and she saw him, as well as Malachi +standing by himself and watching Alfred's departure. The very +circumstance of Alfred's mysterious departure alarmed her. He had never +said that he was going to the fort, and that John was not with Malachi +was certain. She went into the cottage, and, sinking back in her chair, +exclaimed--"Some accident has happened to John!" + +"Why should you say so, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"I'm sure of it," replied Mrs. Campbell, bursting into tears. "Alfred is +riding away to the fort. Malachi is standing by himself outside. What +can it be?" + +Mr. Campbell and all the others ran out immediately, except Mary +Percival, who went to Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Campbell beckoned to Emma, and +from her obtained the real state of the case. + +"It will be better to tell her at once," said Mr. Campbell, who then +went to his wife, telling her that John was adrift, and that Alfred had +ridden to the fort to pick him up in one of the _bateaux_, but there +was no danger to be apprehended. + +"Why should they conceal it, if there was no danger, Campbell?" replied +his wife. "Yes; there must be danger now the water is so rough. My +child, am I to lose you as well as my poor Percival!" continued Mrs. +Campbell, again sobbing. + +Every attempt was made to console her and assuage her fears, but with +indifferent success, and the afternoon of this day was passed in great +concern by all, and in an extreme state of nervous anxiety on the part +of Mrs. Campbell. Toward the evening, Alfred was seen returning on +horseback at full speed. The whole of the family were out watching his +arrival, with beating hearts; poor Mrs. Campbell in almost a fainting +state. Alfred perceived them long before he had crossed the prairie, and +waved his hat in token of good tidings. + +"All's well, depend upon it, my dear," said Mr. Campbell. "Alfred would +not wave his hat if there was any disaster." + +"I must have it from his own mouth," said Mrs. Campbell, almost +breathless. + +"Safe?" cried out Martin to Alfred, as he approached. + +"Safe, quite safe!" cried Alfred, in return. + +"Thank Heaven!" cried Mrs. Campbell, in a low voice, clasping her hands +in gratitude. + +Alfred leaped off his saddle, and hastened to communicate the news. +John, trusting too much to his own powers, had gone out in the punt, and +soon found out that he could not manage it in so strong a wind. He +attempted to get back to the beach, but was unsuccessful, and had, as we +have said, been carried away by the wind and current down toward the +rapids; but it so happened, that before Alfred had arrived at the fort, +Captain Sinclair had observed the punt adrift, and, by the aid of a +telescope, ascertained that John was in it, exerting himself very +vigorously, but to no purpose. Captain Sinclair, having reported to the +commandant and obtained permission, had launched one of the _bateaux_, +manned by the soldiers, and had brought John and the punt on shore, +about four miles below the fort, and not until they had arrived in the +strong current of the rapids, which in another hour would have, in all +probability, proved fatal. Alfred, from the fort, had seen Captain +Sinclair gain the shore, with John and the punt in tow, and, as soon as +he was satisfied of his brother's safety, had ridden back as fast as he +could, to communicate it. This intelligence gave them all great delight, +and now that they knew that John was safe, they waited his return with +patience. Captain Sinclair arrived, with John behind him, on horseback, +about two hours afterward, and was gladly welcomed. + +"Indeed, Captain Sinclair, we are under great obligations to you. Had +you not been so active, the boy might have been lost," said Mrs. +Campbell. "Accept my best thanks." + +"And mine," said Mary, extending her hand to him. + +"John, you have frightened me very much," said Mrs. Campbell; "how could +you be so imprudent as to go on the lake in such a high wind? See, what +a narrow escape you have had." + +"I should have been at Montreal to-morrow morning," said John, laughing. + +"No, never; you would have been upset in the rapids long before you +could get to Montreal." + +"Well, mother, I can swim," replied John. + +"You naughty boy, nothing will make you afraid." + +"Well, ma'am, it's a good fault, that of having confidence in yourself, +so don't check it too much," replied Malachi. "It saves many a man who +would otherwise be lost." + +"That's very true, Malachi," observed Alfred; "so, now that he is safe +back, we won't scold John any more. He will know better than to go out +in such rough weather again." + +"To be sure I shall," said John; "I don't _want_ to go down the rapids." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +Captain Sinclair remained with them that night. Before daylight, the +family were alarmed by the report of a gun, and it was immediately +supposed that some attack had been made on the lodge occupied by +Malachi, Martin, and his wife. Captain Sinclair, Alfred, and John sprang +out of bed, and were clothed in a minute. As soon as they had armed +themselves, they opened the door cautiously, and, looking well round, +went through the passage to the sheep-fold where the lodge was built. +Every thing, however, appeared to be quiet, and Alfred knocked at the +door. Malachi answered to the inquiry, "What is the matter?" + +"We heard the report of a gun close to the house just now, and we +thought something might have happened." + +"Oh!" cried Malachi, laughing, "is that all? Then you may all go to bed +again. It's my trap for the bear--nothing more. I forgot to tell you +last night." + +"Well, as we are up, we may as well go and see," said Alfred; "the day +is breaking." + +"Well, sir, I am ready," said Malachi, coming out with his deer-skin +jacket in one hand and his rifle in the other. + +They walked to the maize-field on the other side of the river, and found +that the trap had been successful, for a large bear lay dead at the foot +of the snake-fence. + +"Yes, sir, I've got him," said Malachi. + +"But what was the trap?" said Henry. + +"You see, sir, I tracked the brute over the rails by his broad +foot-mark, and as I knew he would come the same way, I fixed the rifle +with a wire to the trigger, so that, as he climbed up, he must touch the +wire with his fore-paws, and the muzzle, pointed a little downward, +would then about reach his heart when the gun went off. You see, sir, it +has happened just as I wished it, and there's another good skin for +Montreal." + +"It is a she-bear," said Martin, who had joined them, "and she has cubs; +they can't be far off." + +"That's true," replied Malachi; "so now you had better all go back +again. Martin and I will hide, and I'll answer for it, in an hour, we +will bring the cubs home with us." + +The rest of the party returned to the house. The Strawberry had already +made known to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell the cause of the report. About an +hour before breakfast, Malachi and Martin came in, each with a cub of a +few weeks old. The little animals had come in the track of the mother in +search of her, and were pawing the dead body, as if trying to awaken +her, when Malachi and Martin secured them. + +"What a charming pet," said Emma; "I will rear it for myself." + +"And I'll have the other," said John. + +No objection was raised to this, except that Mr. Campbell observed, that +if they became troublesome as they grew up, they must be parted with, +which was agreed to. Emma and John took possession of their pets, and +fed them with milk, and in a few days they became very tame; one being +chained up near the house, and the other at Malachi's lodge. They soon +grew very playful and very amusing little animals, and the dogs became +used to them, and never attempted to hurt them; indeed, very often Oscar +and the bear would be seen rolling about together, the best friends in +the world. But in a few months they became too large for pets, and too +troublesome, so one was dispatched by a _bateau_ going to Montreal, as a +present to Mr. Emmerson, and the other was taken to the fort by Captain +Sinclair, and became a great favorite of the soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Captain Sinclair was now very constantly at the house, for in the summer +time the commandant allowed much more liberty to the officers. Although +the detention of the Young Otter and the cause of his being detained, +had been made known to the Angry Snake, weeks passed away, and yet there +appeared no intention on the part of the chief to redeem his young +warrior by producing Percival. Every day an overture on his part was +expected, but none came, and those who were in the secret were in a +continual state of suspense and anxiety. One thing had been ascertained, +which was, that the Indian fired at by John had been killed, and this +occasioned much fear on the part of Malachi and Martin, that the Angry +Snake would revenge the death upon young Percival. This knowledge of the +Indian feeling, however, they kept to themselves. + +Toward the close of the summer they had an arrival of letters and +newspapers, both from England and Montreal. There was nothing peculiarly +interesting in the intelligence from England, although the newspapers +were, as usual, read with great avidity. One paragraph met the eye of +Henry, which he immediately communicated, observing at the time that +they always obtained news of Mr. Douglas Campbell on every fresh +arrival. The paragraph was as follows:--"The Oxley hounds had a splendid +run on Friday last;" after describing the country they passed through, +the paragraph ended with, "We regret to say that Mr. Douglas Campbell, +of Wexton Hall, received a heavy fall from his horse, in clearing a wide +brook. He is, however, we understand, doing well." The letters from +Montreal, were, however, important. They communicated the immediate +departure from that city of four families of emigrants, who had accepted +the terms offered by Mr. Emmerson, and were coming to settle upon Mr. +Campbell's property. They also stated that the purchase of the other six +hundred acres of contiguous land had been completed, and sent government +receipts for the purchase-money. + +The news contained in this letter induced Mr. Campbell to send a message +to the commandant of the fort, by Captain Sinclair, acquainting him with +the expected arrival of the emigrant families, and requesting to know +whether he would allow a party of soldiers to assist in raising the +cottages necessary for their reception, and begging the loan of two or +three tents to accommodate them upon their arrival, until their cottages +should be built. The reply of the commandant was favorable, and now all +was bustle and activity, that, if possible, the buildings might be in +forwardness previous to harvest time, when they would all have ample +occupation. Indeed, as the hay harvest was just coming on, without +assistance from the fort they never could have got through the work +previous to the winter setting in, and it would have been very +inconvenient to have had to receive any of the emigrants into their own +house. + +The sites of the four cottages, or log huts, were soon selected; they +were each of them nearly half a mile from Mr. Campbell's house, and +while some of the party, assisted by a portion of the soldiers, were +getting in the hay, the others, with another portion, were cutting down +the trees, and building up the cottages. In a fortnight after they had +commenced, the emigrants arrived, and were housed in the tents prepared +for them; and as their labor was now added to that of the others, in a +short time every thing was well in advance. The agreement made by Mr. +Campbell was, that the emigrants should each receive fifty acres of +land, after they had cleared for him a similar quantity; but there were +many other conditions, relative to food and supply of stock to the +emigrant families, which are not worth the while to dwell upon. It is +sufficient to say that Mr. Campbell, with his former purchases, retained +about 600 acres, which he considered quite sufficient for his farm, +which was all in a ring fence, and with the advantage of bordering on +the lake. The fire had cleared a great deal of the new land, so that it +required little trouble for his own people to get it into a fit state +for the first crop. + +While the emigrants and soldiers were hard at work, the Colonel paid a +visit to Mr. Campbell to settle his account with him, and handed over a +bill upon government for the planks, flour, etc., supplied to the fort. + +"I assure you, Mr. Campbell, I have great pleasure," said the Colonel, +"in giving you every assistance, and I render it the more readily as I +am authorized by the Governor so to do. Your arrival and settling here +has proved very advantageous; for your supplying the fort has saved the +government a great deal of money, at the same time that it has been +profitable to you, and enabled you to get rid of your crops without +sending them down so far as Montreal; which would have been as serious +an expense to you, as getting the provisions from Montreal has proved to +us. You may keep the fatigue party of soldiers upon the same terms as +before, as long as they may prove useful to you, provided they return +to the fort by the coming of winter." + +"Then I will, if you please, retain them for getting in the harvest; we +have so much to do that I shall be most happy to pay for their +assistance." + +I have said that there were four families of emigrants, and now I will +let my readers know a little more about them. + +The first family was a man and his wife of the name of Harvey; they had +two sons of fourteen and fifteen, and a daughter of eighteen years of +age. This man had been a small farmer, and by his industry was gaining +an honest livelihood, and putting by some money, when his eldest son, +who was at the time about twenty years old, fell into bad company, and +was always to be seen at the alehouses or at the fairs, losing his time +and losing his money. The father, whose ancestors had resided for many +generations on the same spot, and had always been, as long as they could +trace back, small farmers like himself, and who was proud of only one +thing, which was that his family had been noted for honesty and upright +dealing, did all he could to reclaim him, but in vain. At last the son +was guilty of a burglary, tried, convicted, and transported for life. +The disgrace had such an effect upon the father, that he never held up +his head afterward; he was ashamed to be seen in the parish, and at last +he resolved to emigrate to a new country where what had happened would +not be known. + +He accordingly sold off every thing, and came to Canada; but by the time +that he had arrived in the country, and paid all his expenses, he had +little money left, and when he heard from Mr. Emmerson the terms offered +by Mr. Campbell, he gladly accepted them. The wife, his two sons and his +daughter, who came with him, were as industrious and as respectable as +himself. + +The second family, of the name of Graves, consisted of a man and his +wife, and only one son, a young man grown up; but the wife's two sisters +were with them. He had come from Buckinghamshire, and had been +accustomed to a dairy farm. + +The third family was a very numerous one, with a man and his wife, of +the name of Jackson; these had been farmers and market-gardeners near +London; and had brought out some money with them: but, as I have +mentioned, they had a very large family, most of them too young to be +very useful for a few years. They had seven children: a girl of +eighteen, two boys of twelve and thirteen, then three little girls, and +a boy an infant. Jackson had money enough to purchase a farm, but being +a very prudent man, and reflecting that he might not succeed at first, +and that his large family would run away with all his means, he decided +upon accepting the terms proposed by Mr. Campbell. + +The fourth and last of the emigrant families was a young couple of the +name of Meredith. The husband was the son of a farmer in Shropshire, who +had died, and divided his property between his three sons: two of them +remained upon the farm and paid the youngest brother his proportion in +money, who, being of a speculative turn, resolved to come to Canada, and +try his fortune. He married just before he came out, and was not as yet +encumbered with any family; he was a fine young man, well educated, and +his wife a very clever, pretty young woman. + +Thus there was an addition of twenty-one souls to the population of Mr. +Campbell's settlement, which with their own ten made a total of +thirty-one people, out of whom they reckoned that thirteen were capable +of bearing arms, and defending them from any attack of the Indians. + +Before harvest time, the cottages were all built, and the emigrants were +busy felling round their new habitations, to lay up fire-wood for the +winter, and clearing away a spot for a garden, and for planting potatoes +in the following spring. The harvest being ripe again, gave them all +full employment; the corn was got in with great expedition by the united +labor of the soldiers and emigrants, when the former, having completed +their work, returned to the fort, and the Campbells, with the addition +to their colony, were now left alone. Visiting the emigrants in their +own cottages, and making acquaintance with the children, was now a great +source of amusement to the Miss Percivals. Various plans were started +relative to establishing a Sunday-school and many other useful +arrangements; one, however, took place immediately, which was, that +divine service was performed by Mr. Campbell in his own house, and was +attended by all the emigrants every Sunday. Mr. Campbell had every +reason to be pleased with their conduct up to the present time; they all +appeared willing, never murmured or complained at any task allotted to +them, and were satisfied with Mr. Campbell's arrangements relative to +supplies. Parties were now again formed for the chase; Meredith and +young Graves proved to be good woodsmen and capital shots with the +rifle, so that now they had enough to send out a party on alternate +days, while one or two of the others fished all the day and salted down +as fast as they caught, that there might be a full supply for the +winter. + +But although Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals, as well as +the major part of the family, were fully satisfied and happy in their +future prospects, there were four who were in a state of great anxiety +and suspense. These were Alfred, Malachi, Martin, and the Strawberry, +who, being acquainted with the existence of young Percival, found their +secret a source of great annoyance, now that, notwithstanding the +capture and detention of the Young Otter, no advance appeared to be made +for his exchange, nor any signs of any overture on the part of the Angry +Snake. Captain Sinclair, who was usually at the farm twice during the +week, was also much fretted at finding that every time Malachi and +Alfred had no more information to give him than he had to impart to +them. They hardly knew how to act; to let a second winter pass away +without attempting to recover the boy, appeared to them to be delaying +too long, and yet to communicate intelligence which might only end in +bitter disappointment, seemed unadvisable; for the Indian chief, out of +revenge, might have killed the boy, and then the grief of the father and +mother would be more intense than before. It would be opening a wound to +no purpose. This question was frequently canvassed by Alfred and Captain +Sinclair, but an end was put to all their debates on the subject by an +unexpected occurrence. Mary Percival had one morning gone down to a +place called the Cedar Swamp, about half a mile from the house to the +westward, near to the shore of the lake, to pick cranberries for +preserving. One of the little emigrant girls, Martha Jackson, was with +her; when one basket was full, Mary sent it home by the little girl, +with directions to come back immediately. The girl did so, but on her +return to the Cedar Swamp, Mary Percival was not to be seen. The basket +which she had retained with her was lying with all the cranberries upset +out of it on a hill by the side of the swamp. The little girl remained +for a quarter of an hour, calling out Miss Percival's name, but not +receiving any answer, she became frightened, imagining that some wild +beast had attacked her; and she ran back as fast as she could to the +house, acquainting Mr. and Mrs. Campbell with what had happened. Martin +and Alfred were at the mill; Malachi, fortunately, was at his own lodge, +and Strawberry ran for him, told him what the girl had reported, and +having done so, she looked at Malachi, and said "Angry Snake." + +"Yes, Strawberry, that is the case, I have no doubt," replied Malachi; +"but not a word at present; I knew he would be at something, but I did +not think that he dared do that either; however, we shall see. Go back +to the house, and tell master and misses that I have gone down to the +Cedar Swamp, and will return as soon as possible, and do you follow me +as fast as you can, for your eyes are younger than mine, and I shall +want the use of them: tell them not to send any body else, it will do +harm instead of good, for they will trample the ground, and we may lose +the track." + +Malachi caught up his rifle, examined the priming, and set off in the +direction of the swamp, while the Strawberry returned to the house to +give his message to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. Leaving Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, who were in a great state of alarm, and had sent the little +girl, Martha Jackson, to summon Alfred and Martin (for John and Henry +were out in the woods after the cattle), the Strawberry went down to the +Cedar Swamp to join Malachi, whom she found standing still, leaning on +his rifle, near the basket which had contained the cranberries. + +"Now, Strawberry, we must find out how many of them there were, and +which way they have gone," said Malachi, in the Indian tongue. + +"Here," said Strawberry, pointing to a mark on the short grass, which +never could have attracted the observation of one unused to an Indian +life. + +"I see, child; I see that and two more, but we can not tell much as yet; +let us follow up the trail till we come to some spot where we may read +the print better. That's her foot," continued Malachi, after they had +proceeded two or three yards. "The sole of a shoe cuts the grass sharper +than a moccasin. We have no easy task just now, and if the others come, +they may prevent us from finding the track altogether." + +"Here, again," said Strawberry, stooping close to the short, dry grass. + +"Yes; you're right, child," replied Malachi. "Let us once follow it to +the bottom of this hill, and then we shall do better." + +By the closest inspection and minutest search, Malachi and the +Strawberry continued to follow the almost imperceptible track till they +arrived at the bottom of the hill, about a hundred yards from where they +started. It had become more difficult, as the print of Mary's foot, +which was more easily perceptible than the others, had served them for a +few yards; after which it was no more to be distinguished, and it was +evident that she had been lifted up from the ground. This satisfied them +that she had been carried off. When they arrived at the bottom of the +hill, they could clearly distinguish the print marks of moccasins, and +by measuring very exactly the breadth and length of the impressions, +made out that they were of two different people. These they continued to +follow till they arrived at the forest, about a quarter of a mile from +the swamp, where they heard the hallooing of Alfred and Martin, to which +Malachi answered, and they soon joined him. + +"What is it, Malachi?" + +"She has been carried off, sir, I've no doubt," replied Malachi, "by +the Snake. The rascal is determined to have the vantage of us. We have +one prisoner, and he has made two." + +Malachi then explained why he was certain that she had been carried +away, and Martin agreed with him immediately. Alfred then said--"Well, +but now, before we act, let us consult what is best to be done." + +"Well, sir," replied Malachi, "the best to do now, at this moment, is +for the Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we can not +obtain more information, and when we have got all we can, we must form a +party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we +will not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a +better eye than any Indian I ever knew, be it man or woman." + +"Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are +following up the trail?" + +"Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a +start; for we must be off in three hours, if possible." + +"Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if +he does not," said Alfred. + +"Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd +rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be." + +"Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the +whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that +Percival is alive." + +"Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's quite +sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being carried +off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is about +the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by +somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter, +and why we took him." + +"Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred; "then I'll leave Martin +here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any +soldiers?" + +"Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a +couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the +Indian; and the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the +chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain Sinclair +and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make eight. +That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr. Henry must +stay, and so must Mr. John, because he will not be home before we are +away. I'm sorry for that, as I should have liked him to be with me." + +"It can't be helped," replied Alfred. "Well then, Martin and I will go +back at once; in two hours I will return with Captain Sinclair, if I +possibly can." + +"As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get every thing ready for +the journey, for we must not fire our rifles, if we can help it." + +Alfred hastened away, and was soon followed by Martin, to whom Malachi +had given some directions. Malachi and the Strawberry then continued to +follow the trail, which they traced through the thickest of the wood for +more than an hour, when they came upon a spot where a fire had been +lighted, and the ground trodden down, evidently showing that the parties +had been living there some time. + +"Here was the nest of the whole gang," resumed Malachi, as he looked +round. + +The Strawberry, who had been examining the ground, said-- + +"Here is her foot again." + +"Yes, yes; it's clear enough that two of them have carried her off and +brought her here to where the others were waiting for them, and from +here the whole party have made their start. Now we have the new trail to +find, and that they have taken every care to prevent us, I do not +doubt." + +The Strawberry now pointed to a mark near where the fire had been +lighted, and said, "The moccasin of a squaw." + +"Right, then she is with them, so much the better," replied Malachi, +"for, as she sent me that letter, she may serve us still, if she +chooses." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +Previous to his starting for the fort, Alfred had a hasty communication +with his father and mother, in which he informed them simply that it was +evident that Mary had been carried off, and that it was the opinion of +Malachi and Martin, that the Angry Snake was the party to be suspected. + +"But what cause could he have?" said Emma, weeping. + +"Merely to get powder and shot as a reward for bringing her back again," +replied Alfred; "so there is not any thing to fear as to her being +ill-treated; but if he has any other reason for what he has done, it is +well known that an Indian always respects a female. But here comes my +horse." + +"But what are you going to do, Alfred?" said Mrs. Campbell, who was in a +state of great agitation. + +"Ride to the fort for assistance, bring Captain Sinclair, and go in +pursuit as fast as we can, mother. Martin will get all ready by my +return, Malachi is following up the trail with Strawberry. But there is +no time to be lost; I shall soon be back." + +Alfred then sprang upon his horse, which Martin had brought to the door, +and galloped away to the fort. + +As it may be supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Emma were in great +distress; this did not, however, prevent them from listening to Martin, +and supplying him with all that he requested, which was salt pork and +other food for their journey, powder and shot for their rifles, etc. +Having specified all that was wanted, Martin then went off to summon +young Graves and Meredith; they were soon found, and when they heard the +intelligence, were ready in a minute for departure. Their rifles and an +extra pair of moccasins each was all that they required for the journey, +and in a few minutes they accompanied Martin to the house. After they +had been occupied for a little time in dividing the various articles +into different packages, that each might carry his proportion, Mr. +Campbell said-- + +"Martin, supposing that you and Malachi are correct in your supposition, +where do you think that they will take my poor niece?" + +"Right away to their own wigwams, sir," replied Martin. + +"Have you any idea how far that may be?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, I have heard that the Angry Snake's quarters are about +twelve days' journey from this." + +"Twelve days' journey! how far is a journey?" + +"As far as a stout man can walk in a day, ma'am." + +"And will my niece have to walk all the way?" + +"Why, yes, ma'am; I don't see how it can be otherwise; I don't know of +the Indians having any horses, although they may have." + +"But she can not walk as far as a man," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, ma'am, and so I suppose they will be twenty days going instead of +twelve." + +"Will they ill-treat or ill-use her, Martin?" said Emma. + +"No, ma'am, I shouldn't think they would, although they will make her +walk, and will tie her at night when they stop." + +"Poor Mary: what will she suffer?" exclaimed Emma; "and if you do come +up with them, Martin, will they give her up to you?" + +"We shan't ask their leave, miss," replied Martin; "we shall take her." + +"But not without bloodshed, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, ma'am, certainly not without bloodshed, for either the Indians must +destroy us or we them; if we conquer, not an Indian will be left alive; +and if they master us, it will be about the same thing, I suppose." + +"Heaven protect us, but this is dreadful; I was prepared for +difficulties and annoyances when I came out here," exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell; "but not for such trials as these." + +"Never fear but we'll bring her back, ma'am," said Martin; "Malachi is a +better Indian than them all, and he'll circumvent them." + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean, ma'am, that we will, if possible, fall upon them unawares, and +then we'll have the advantage, for half of them will be killed before +they know that they are attacked; we'll fight them Indian fashion, +ma'am." + +Mrs. Campbell continued her interrogations till Alfred was seen at the +end of the prairie returning at full speed, accompanied by Captain +Sinclair and two other men, also on horseback. + +"Here they come," said Martin; "and they have lost no time, that's +certain." + +"Poor Captain Sinclair? what must be his feelings! I pity him," said +Mrs. Campbell. + +"He must take it coolly, nevertheless," observed Martin; "or he may do +more harm than good." + +Alfred and Captain Sinclair now dismounted: they had brought with them +two of the soldiers who were well used to the woods, and excellent shots +with the rifle. A hurried conversation of a few minutes took place, but +time was too precious, and Alfred, embracing his father and mother, who, +as they shook hands with Captain Sinclair, expressed in a melancholy way +their hopes for their success, the party of seven which had been +collected set off to rejoin Malachi and the Strawberry. + +Malachi and Strawberry had not been idle; the latter had run back to +their lodge and procured a bow and arrows, and since that they had +tracked the footmarks through the forest for more than a mile, when they +had come to a small rivulet which ran through the forest. Here the trail +was lost, at least it was not to be perceived any where on the opposite +side of the rivulet, and it was to be presumed that, to conceal their +trail, the Indians had walked in the water, either up or down, for a +certain distance before they put their feet on the other side; but as it +was near the time that they might expect the arrival of Alfred and the +others, Malachi had returned to the spot where Alfred and Martin had +left them, leaving the Strawberry to walk down and up the side of the +rivulet to recover the trail. As soon as the party joined him, they and +Malachi set off to where the trail had been lost, and the latter had +left the Strawberry. + +There they waited some time, as the Strawberry was not in sight, and +they took this opportunity of distributing the provisions and ammunition +among them. Captain Sinclair, although his feelings may well be +imagined, was very active in arrangements, and showed that, if his heart +was smitten, his head was clear. The order of the march was settled by +Malachi and him, and as soon as all was arranged, they waited +impatiently for the return of the Indian girl; she came at last, and +informed them that she had recovered the trail about three miles up the +course of the stream, and they all started immediately. As was agreed, +they kept perfect silence, and followed the newly-discovered trail for +about a mile, when, on their arrival at a clear spot in the woods, where +the grass was very short and dry, they were again at fault. They went +over to the other side of this heath, to see if they could again fall in +with it, but after half-an-hour's search, could not discover it, when +they were summoned by a low whistle from the Strawberry, who had +returned to the spot where the trail had been lost. + +"They have turned back again," said the Strawberry, pointing to the +former footmarks; "see, the track of the moccasins is both ways." + +"That's true," said Malachi, after a close examination; "now then, +Strawberry, to find out where they have left the old trail again. I told +you, sir," continued Malachi to Alfred, "that the Strawberry would be +useful; she has the eye of a falcon." + +It was not till another half-hour had elapsed that the spot where they +had left the trail, which, to deceive those who might pursue them, the +Indians had returned upon, was discovered, and then they started again, +and proceeded with caution, led by the Strawberry, until she stopped and +spoke to Malachi in the Indian tongue, pointing at a small twig broken +upon one of the bushes. + +"That's true, let us see if it happens again." + +In a few moments the Strawberry pointed out another. + +"Then all's right," said Malachi, "I said that she could help us again +if she chose, and so she has. The Indian woman who wrote the letter," +continued Malachi, turning to Captain Sinclair and Alfred, "is our +friend still. See, sir, she has, wherever she has dared to do it without +being seen by the Indians, broken down a small twig as a guide to us. +Now, if she has continued to do this, we shall not have much trouble." + +They continued their course through the woods until the sun went down, +and they could see no longer, having made a journey of about nine miles +from the settlement. They then lay down for the night under a large +tree; the weather was very warm, and they did not light a fire, as they +had some cooked provisions. + +The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, they made a hasty meal, +and resumed their task. The trail was now pretty clear, and was +occasionally verified by the breaking of a twig, as before. This day +they made sixteen miles' journey, and at the close of it they arrived at +the borders of a lake about ten miles long, and from one-and-a-half to +two wide; the trail went right on to the shore of the lake, and then +disappeared. + +"Here they must have taken to the water," said Alfred; "but what means +have they had to cross?" + +"That we must discover, somehow or another, sir," replied Malachi, "or +else we shall not find the trail again; perhaps, however, we shall see +to-morrow morning; it is too dark now to attempt to find out, and we may +do more harm than good by tracking down the bank. We must bring to for +the night. There is a high rock there on the beach further up, we had +better go there, as we can light a fire behind the rock without being +discovered by it, supposing the Indians are on the opposite shore; and +to-night we must cook all our provisions if we possibly can, for, depend +upon it, we have traveled faster to-day than they can have done with the +young lady, and if we can once get well on the trail again, we shall +soon be up with them." + +"God grant that we may!" exclaimed Captain Sinclair; "the idea of what +poor Mary must suffer, almost drives me mad." + +"Yes, sir, she will be terribly foot-sore, I have no doubt," replied +Malachi, "but the Indians will not treat her ill, depend upon it." + +Captain Sinclair sighed, but made no reply. + +As soon as they arrived at the mass of rock which Malachi had pointed +out, they all commenced collecting fire-wood, and the Strawberry in a +few minutes had a sufficient fire for their purpose. They had not any +cooking utensils with them, but the pork was cut in slices, and stuck +upon the ends of small sticks round the fire, until it was sufficiently +cooked, and then it was packed up again in parcels, with the exception +of what was retained for their supper. They had finished their meal, and +were sitting round the embers of the fire, conversing, and calculating +the probabilities as to their overtaking the Indians, when Martin sprang +up, with his rifle ready to bring to his shoulder. + +"What is it?" said Alfred in a low tone, as Martin held up his finger as +a sign for silence. + +"There's somebody coming this way--he is behind that large tree," said +Martin; "I see his head now, but it is too dark to make out who it may +be." + +As Martin said this, a low and singular sort of whistle between the +teeth was heard, upon which the Strawberry gently put down Martin's +rifle with her hand, saying, + +"It is John." + +"John! impossible," said Alfred. + +"It is," replied Strawberry. "I know well that whistle. I go to fetch +him. I have no fear." + +Strawberry stepped out from the group, and went up to the tree, calling +John softly by name, and in a few seconds afterward returned, leading +John by the hand, who, without saying a word, quietly seated himself +down by the fire. + +"Well, John, how did you come here?" exclaimed Alfred. + +"Followed trail," replied John. + +"But how--when did you leave home?" + +"Yesterday," replied John, "when I came back." + +"But do your father and mother know that you come?" said Captain +Sinclair. + +"I met old Graves, and told him," replied John. "Have you any meat?" + +"The boy has had nothing since he left, I'll answer for it," said +Martin, as the Strawberry handed some of the pork to John, "have you, +John?" + +"No," replied John, with his mouth full. + +"Let him eat," said Malachi, "it's long for a lad to be two days without +food, for I'll answer he left as soon as he heard we were gone, and did +not wait for yesterday's supper. Indeed he must have done so, for he +must have followed the trail some time yesterday to be up with us +to-night, so let him eat in quiet." + +"What surprises me, Malachi, is how he could have found his way to us." + +"Well, sir, I do confess that I'm as much surprised almost as I am +pleased," replied Malachi. "It is really a great feat for a lad to +accomplish all by himself, and I am proud of him for having done it; but +from the first I saw what a capital woodsman he would make, and he has +not disappointed me." + +"There are not many who would have been able to do it, that's certain," +said Martin; "I wonder as much as you do, Mr. Alfred, how he could have +done it--but he has the gift." + +"But suppose he had not come up with us, how would he have lived in +these woods? It's a mercy that he has fallen in with us," said Captain +Sinclair. + +John slapped the barrel of his rifle, which was lying by him, and which +Captain Sinclair had not perceived. + +"You don't think that John would come into the woods without his rifle, +sir, do you?" said Malachi. + +"I did not perceive that he had it with him," said Captain Sinclair, +"but I certainly ought to have known John better." + +John having finished his supper, they all lay down to rest, one keeping +watch that they might not be surprised. + +At daylight they made their breakfast, and then went down again to the +borders of the lake, where the trail had been lost. After a long +examination, Malachi called the Strawberry, and pointing to the edge of +the water, asked her to look there. The Strawberry did so, and at last +decided that there was the mark of the bottom of a canoe which had been +grounded. + +"Yes, I thought so," said Malachi. "They have had their canoe all ready, +and have crossed the water; now, we must walk quite round the lake to +discover the trail again, and that will give them half a day's start of +us." + +They immediately set off coasting the shore of the lake, until they +arrived at the other side, carefully examining the ground as they went. +This took them till noon, by which time they had arrived at that part of +the lake which was opposite to the large rock behind which they had +kindled their fire the night before; but no traces were to be perceived. + +"They have not crossed over in a straight line," said Captain Sinclair, +"that is evident; we must now try more to the northward." + +This they did; and at last discovered that the canoe had crossed over to +the north point of the lake, having coasted along the eastern shore the +whole way. The spot of landing was very evident, and for some distance +they could trace where the canoe had been hauled up. It was now late in +the afternoon, and it became a question whether they should follow the +trail, or discover the place of concealment of the canoe, as it might be +advantageous to know where it was when they returned. It was decided +that they should first discover the canoe, and this was not done till +after a search of two hours, when they found it concealed in the bushes, +about one mile from the lake. They then followed the trail about two +miles; the twigs had been bent and broken, as before, which was a great +help to them, but the night was now closing in. Having arrived at a +clear knoll, they took up their quarters under the trees, and retired to +rest. At daybreak they again started; and, after two hours' walk, had to +track across a small prairie, which gave them some trouble, but they +succeeded in finding the trail on their arrival at the wood on the +opposite side, and then they made a very rapid progress, for the twigs +were now more frequently broken and bent than before. During this day, +with the bow and arrows brought by the Strawberry, Martin had procured +them two wild turkeys, which were very acceptable, as their provisions +would not last more than seven or eight days longer, and it was +impossible to say how far they would have to travel. It was not far from +dark when the quick ears of the Strawberry were attracted by a noise +like that of a person breathing heavily. She at last pointed with her +finger to a bush; they advanced cautiously, and on the other side of it +they found an Indian woman lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. They +raised her up, and discovered that it was the Indian whom they had cured +of the sprained ankle, and who, they presumed, had been then discovered +breaking the twigs that they might follow the trail, for, on examination +they found that she had received a heavy blow on the head with a +tomahawk; but, fortunately, it had glanced sidewise, and not entered +into the brain. She was not sensible, however, at the time that they +discovered her, for she had lost a great deal of blood. They stopped the +effusion of blood with bandages torn from their linen, and poured some +water down her throat; it was now dark, and it was not possible to +proceed any further that night. The Strawberry went into the woods and +collected some herbs, with which she dressed the wound, and having made +the poor Indian as comfortable as they could, they again lay down to +rest; but not until Malachi had said to Alfred-- + +"There is no doubt, sir, but that the Indians have discovered this woman +was marking the trail for us, and that they have tomahawked her for so +doing, and have left her for dead. I think myself that the wound, +although it is a very ugly one, is not dangerous, and so says the +Strawberry. However, to-morrow will decide the point; if she is not +sensible then, it will be of no use waiting, but we must go on as fast +as we can." + +When they awoke the next morning they found the Strawberry sitting by +the Indian woman, who was now quite sensible and collected, although +very weak and exhausted. Malachi and Martin went to her, and had a long +conversation with her at intervals. Malachi had been right in his +supposition; the Angry Snake had discovered her in the act of bending a +twig, and had struck her down with his tomahawk. They gained from her +the following information. The Angry Snake, irritated at the detention +of the Young Otter, and resolved to have another hostage in lieu of him, +had carried off Mary Percival. He had six Indians with him, which were +the whole of his grown-up warriors. They were now but one day's journey +ahead of them, as Miss Percival was very sore on her feet, and they +could not get her along, but that in every other respect she had been +well treated. That the Indians were not going to their lodges in a +direct course, but by a circuitous route, which would make a difference +of at least six or seven days; and that they did this that they might +not be seen by some other tribes who were located in their direct route, +and who might give information. She said that it was she who had written +the Indian letter which Malachi had received the autumn before, and that +she had done it because she had been so kindly treated by Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, when she had been found in the forest with her ankle sprained. +That Percival was at the Indian lodges, quite well when they left, and +that if the Angry Snake did not receive a large quantity of powder and +shot and a great many rifles in exchange for him, it was his intention +to adopt the boy, as he was very partial to him. On being asked if the +boy was happy, she replied that he was not at first, but now he was +almost an Indian; that he was seldom permitted to leave the lodges, and +never unless accompanied by the Angry Snake. In answer to their +questions as to the direction and distance to the lodges, she said that +they were about seven days' journey by the straight road; but that the +party with Miss Percival would not arrive there in less than fifteen +days, if so soon, as she was every day less able to travel. Having +obtained all this information, a council was held, and Malachi spoke +first, having been requested so to do. + +"My opinion is this," said Malachi, "that we can do no better than +remain here at present, and wait till the woman is sufficiently +recovered to travel, and show us the direct road to the lodges. In two +or three days she will probably be well enough to go with us, and then +we will take the direct road, and be there before them. The knowledge +of the place and the paths will enable us to lay an ambush for them, and +to rescue the young lady without much danger to ourselves. They will +have no idea of falling in with us, for they of course imagine the woman +is dead; a tomahawk seldom fails." + +After a long parley, the advice of Malachi was considered the most +judicious, and a further conversation with the Indian woman confirmed +them in their resolution. As they had no fear of the Indians discovering +that they were on their trail, Martin and Alfred went out in pursuit of +game for provisions, while the others raised up a large hut with +branches of trees, for the accommodation of the whole party. In the +evening Martin and Alfred returned, carrying a fine buck between them. +The fire was lighted, and very soon all were busy cooking and eating. +The Indian woman also begged for something to eat, and her recovery was +now no longer considered doubtful. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to have to wait in this +manner, but there was no help for it. He was satisfied that it was the +most prudent course, and therefore raised no objection. Alfred too was +uneasy at the delay, as he was aware how anxious his father and mother +would be during the whole time of their absence. They were glad, +however, to find that the Indian woman recovered rapidly, and on the +fifth day of their taking up their abode in the forest, she said that +she was able to travel if they walked slow. It was therefore agreed that +on the sixth day they should start again, and they did so, having saved +their salt provisions, that they might not be compelled to stop, or use +their rifles to procure food. The evening before, they roasted as much +venison as they thought they could consume while it was good, and at +daylight again proceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by the +Indian woman, in a direct course for the lodges of the Indian band under +the Angry Snake. + +As they had now only to proceed as fast as they could without tiring +the poor Indian woman, whose head was bound up, and who was still weak +from loss of blood, they made a tolerable day's journey, and halted as +before. Thus they continued their route till the sixth day, when as they +drew up for the night, the Indian stated that they were only three or +four miles from the Indians' lodges, which they sought. Thereupon a +council was held as to how they should proceed, and at last it was +agreed upon that they should be guided by the Indian woman to a spot +where they might be concealed, as near as possible to the lodges, and +that when the party had arrived there, that the woman and Malachi should +go and reconnoiter, to ascertain whether the chief and his band with +Mary Percival had returned or not. The night was passed very +impatiently, and without sleep by most of them, so anxious were they for +the morrow. Long before break of day they again started, advancing with +great caution, and were led by the Indian till they were within one +hundred and fifty yards of the lodges, in a thick cluster of young +spruce, which completely secured them from discovery. Shortly afterward +Malachi and the Indian woman, creeping on all fours, disappeared in the +surrounding brush wood, that they might, if possible, gain more +intelligence from listening. In the meantime, the party had their eyes +on the lodges, waiting to see who should come out as soon as the sun +rose, for it was hardly clear daybreak when they arrived at their place +of concealment. + +They had remained there about half an hour, when they perceived an +Indian lad come out of one of the lodges. He was dressed in leggins and +Indian shirt of deer skin, and carried in his hand his bow and arrows. +An eagle's feather was stuck in his hair above the left ear, which +marked him as the son of a chief. + +"That's my brother Percival," said John in a low tone. + +"Percival!" replied Alfred, "is it possible?" + +"Yes," whispered the Strawberry, "it is Percival, but don't speak so +loud." + +"Well, they have turned him into a regular Indian," said Alfred; "we +shall have to make a pale face of him again." + +Percival, for he it was, looked round for some time, and at last +perceiving a crow flying over his head, he drew his bow, and the arrow +brought the bird down at his feet. + +"A capital shot," said Captain Sinclair, "the boy has learned something +at all events. You could not do that, John." + +"No," replied John, "but they don't trust him with a rifle." + +They waited some little time longer, when an Indian woman, and then an +old man, came out, and in about a quarter of an hour afterward, three +more women and an Indian about twenty years old. + +"I think we have the whole force now," said Martin. + +"Yes, I think so too," replied Captain Sinclair. "I wish Malachi would +come back, for I do not think he will find out more than we know +ourselves." + +In about half an hour afterward, Malachi and the Indian woman returned; +they had crept in the brushwood to within fifty yards of the lodges, but +were afraid to go nearer, as the woman said that perhaps the dogs might +give the alarm; for two of them were left at home. The woman stated her +conviction that the party had not come back, and now a council was again +held as to their proceedings. The Indian force was nothing--an old man, +one lad of twenty, and four women. These might be easily captured and +secured, but the question was whether it would be desirable so to do, as +in case one should by any means escape, information of their arrival +might be conveyed to the absent party, and induce them not to come home +with Mary Percival. This question was debated in a low tone between +Malachi, Captain Sinclair, and Alfred. At last John interrupted them by +saying, "They are going out to hunt, the old and the young Indian and +Percival--they have all their bows and arrows." + +"The boy is right," said Malachi. "Well, I consider this to decide the +question. We can now capture the men without the women knowing any thing +about it. They will not expect them home till the evening, and even if +they do not come, they will not be surprised or alarmed; so now we had +better let them go some way, and then follow them. If we secure them, +we can then decide what to do about the women." + +This was agreed upon, and Malachi explained their intentions to the +Indian woman, who approved of them, but said, "The Old Raven (referring +to the old Indian) is very cunning; you must be careful." + +The party remained in their place of concealment for another quarter of +an hour, till the two Indians and Percival had quitted the open space +before the lodges, and had entered the woods. They then followed in a +parallel direction, Malachi and John going ahead: Martin and Alfred +following so as to keep them in sight, and the remainder of the party at +about the same distance behind Martin and Alfred. They continued in this +manner their course through the woods for more than an hour, when a herd +of deer darted past Malachi and John. They immediately stopped, and +crouched, to hide themselves. Martin and Alfred perceiving this, +followed their example, and the rest of the party behind, at the motion +of the Strawberry, did the same. Hardly had they done so, when one of +the herd, which had been pierced by an arrow, followed in the direction +of the rest, and after a few bounds fell to the earth. A minute or two +afterward the hunters made their appearance, and stood by the expiring +beast, where they remained for a minute or two talking, and then took +out their knives to flay and cut it up. While they were thus employed, +Malachi and John on one side, Alfred and Martin from another direction, +and the rest of the party from a third, were creeping slowly up toward +them; but to surround them completely it was necessary the main party +should divide, and send one or two more to the eastward. Captain +Sinclair dispatched Graves and one of the soldiers, desiring them to +creep very softly till they arrived at a spot he pointed out, and then +to wait for the signal to be given. + +As the parties gradually approached nearer and nearer to the Indians and +Percival, the Old Raven appeared to be uneasy; he looked round and round +him and once or twice laid his ear on the ground; whenever he did this, +they all stopped, and almost held their breaths. + +"The Indian woman says that the Old Raven is suspicious; he is sure +that some one is in the woods near him, and she thinks that she had +better go to him," said the Strawberry to Captain Sinclair. + +"Let her go," said Captain Sinclair. + +The Indian rose, and walked up in the direction of the Indians, who +immediately turned to her as she approached. She spoke to them, and +appeared to be telling them how it was that she returned. At all events, +she occupied the attention of the Old Raven till the parties were close +to them, when Malachi arose, and immediately all the others did the +same, and rushed upon them. After a short and useless struggle, they +were secured, but not before the younger Indian had wounded one of the +soldiers, by stabbing him with his knife. The thongs were already fast +round the arms and legs of the Indians, when Percival, who had not been +tied, again attempted to escape, and by the direction of Malachi, he was +bound, as well as the other two. + +As soon as the prisoners were secured, Martin and Graves and the +soldiers employed themselves cutting up the venison and preparing it for +dinner, while the Strawberry and the Indian woman were collecting wood +for a fire. In the meanwhile Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and John were +seated by the prisoners, and directing their attention to Percival, whom +they had been compelled to bind, that he might not make his escape; for +his sojourn of nearly two years in the woods with the Indians, without +seeing the face of a white man, had (as has been invariably proved to be +the fact in every instance where the parties were very young) wholly +obliterated, for the time, his recollections of his former life--so +rapid is our falling off to the savage state. To the questions of Alfred +he returned no reply, and appeared not to understand him. + +"Let me try him, sir," said Malachi, "I will speak to him in the Indian +tongue, he has perhaps forgotten his own. It's wonderful how soon we +return to a state of nature when we are once in the woods." + +Malachi then spoke to Percival in the Indian language; Percival listened +for some time, and at last replied in the same tongue. + +"What does he say, Malachi?" said Alfred. + +"He says he will sing his own death song; that he is the son of a +warrior, and he will die like a brave." + +"Why, the boy is metamorphosed," said Captain Sinclair; "is it possible +that so short a time could have produced this?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Malachi; "in young people a very short time will +change them thus, but it won't last long. If he were to meet again with +his mother at the settlement, he would by degrees forget his Indian life +and become reconciled; a woman has more effect than a man. Let the +Strawberry speak to him. You see, sir, he is bound, and considers +himself a captive, and let him loose we must not, until we have done our +work; after that, there will be no fear, and when he has been with us a +short time, he will come all right again." + +Malachi called the Strawberry, and told her to speak to Percival about +his home and his mother, and every thing connected with the farm. + +The Strawberry sat down by Percival, and in her soft tones talked to him +in her own tongue of his father and mother, of his cousins, and how he +had been taken by the Indians when he was hunting; how his mother had +wept for him, and all had lamented his loss; running on in a low musical +key from one thing to another connected and associated with his former +life in the settlement, and it was evident that at last he now listened +with attention. The Strawberry continued to talk to him thus, for more +than an hour, when Alfred again addressed him and said, "Percival, don't +you know me?" + +"Yes," replied Percival in English, "I do; you are my brother Alfred." + +"All's right now, sir," said Malachi; "only he must be kept fast; but +the lad's coming to his senses again. The Strawberry will talk to him +again by and by." + +They then sat down to their meal; the two Indians were removed to a +distance under the guard of one of the soldiers, but Percival remained +with them. John sat by Percival, and cutting off a tempting bit of +venison, held it to his mouth, saying to him, "Percival, when we go home +again, your hands shall be untied, and you shall have a rifle of your +own instead of a bow and arrows; come, eat this." + +This was a long speech for John, but it produced its effect, for +Percival opened his mouth for the venison, and being fed by John, made a +very good dinner. As soon as their meal was over, they consulted as to +what steps should next be taken. The question discussed was whether they +should now capture the women who were left in the lodges, or remain +quiet till the Angry Snake and his party arrived? + +Malachi's opinion was as follows:-- + +"I think we had at all events better wait till to-morrow, sir; you see, +the women will not be at all surprised at the hunting party not +returning for even a day or two, as they know that they will not return +without game, and may not find it immediately; their absence, therefore, +will create no suspicion of our being here. I think we should return to +our former place of concealment, and watch their motions. There is no +saying when the party with Miss Percival may return, they may have +arrived while we have been away, or they may come to-morrow. It will be +better, therefore, not to encumber ourselves with more prisoners unless +it is necessary." + +This opinion was at last assented to, and they set off, on their return +to the Indian lodges. They arrived about an hour before dusk at their +hiding-place, having taken the precaution to gag the two Indians for +fear of their giving a whoop as notice of their capture. Percival was +very quiet, and had begun to talk a little with John. + +Scarcely had they been five minutes again concealed among the spruce fir +trees, when they heard a distant whoop from the woods on the other side +of the lodges. + +"They are now coming on," said Martin; "that is their signal." + +One of the Indian women from the lodges returned the whoop. + +"Yes, sir, they are coming," said Malachi. "Pray, Captain Sinclair, be +quiet and sit down; you will ruin all our plans." + +"Down, Sinclair, I beg," said Alfred. + +Captain Sinclair, who was very much excited, nevertheless did as he was +requested. + +"Oh, Alfred!" said he; "she's so near." + +"Yes, my good fellow, but if you wish her nearer, you must be prudent." + +"True, very true," replied Captain Sinclair. + +In about half an hour more, the Angry Snake and his party were seen to +emerge from the woods, and it was perceived that four of the Indians +carried a litter made of branches between them. + +"She could walk no further, sir," said Malachi to Captain Sinclair; "so +they are carrying her; I told you that they would not hurt her." + +"Let me once see her get out of the litter, and I shall be satisfied," +replied Captain Sinclair. + +The Indians soon were over the clearing, and stopped at one of the +lodges; Mary Percival was lifted out, and was seen to walk with +difficulty into the wigwam, followed by two of the Indian women. + +A short parley took place between the Angry Snake and the other two +women, and the chief and rest of the party then went into another lodge. + +"All's right so far, sir," observed Malachi; "they have left her to the +charge of the two women in a lodge by herself, and so there will be no +fear for her when we make the attack, which I think we must do very +shortly, for if it is quite dark, some of them may escape, and may +trouble us afterward." + +"Let us do it immediately," said Captain Sinclair. + +"No, not immediately, sir; we have yet an hour and a half daylight. We +will wait one hour, for I think that as they have nothing to eat, and +are pretty well tired from carrying Miss Percival, they will, in all +probability, go to sleep, as Indians always do. An hour hence will be +the best time for us to fall upon them." + +"You are right, Malachi," replied Alfred. "Sinclair, you must curb your +impatience." + +"I must, I believe," replied Captain Sinclair; "but it will be a tedious +hour for me. Let us pass it away in making our arrangements; we have but +six to deal with." + +"And only two rifles," replied Alfred; "so we are pretty sure of +success." + +"We must watch first," said Martin, "to see if they all continue in the +same lodge, for if they divide, we must arrange accordingly. Who will +remain with the prisoners?" + +"I won't," said John, in a positive manner. + +"You must, John, if it be decided that you do," said Alfred. + +"Better not, sir," replied Malachi; "for as soon as the boy hears the +crack of the rifles, he will leave his prisoners, and join us; that I'm +sure of. No, sir, the Strawberry can be left with the prisoners. I'll +give her my hunting-knife; that will be sufficient." + +They remained for about half an hour more watching the lodges, but every +thing appeared quiet, and not a single person came out. Having examined +the priming of the rifles, every man was directed to take up a certain +position, so as to surround the buildings and support each other. John +was appointed to the office of looking after his cousin Mary, and +preventing the women from escaping with her from the lodge in which she +was confined; and John took his office willingly, as he considered it +one of importance, although it had been given him more with a view that +he might not be exposed to danger. Leaving the prisoners to the charge +of the Strawberry, who, with her knife drawn, stood over them, ready to +act upon the slightest attempt of escape on their part, the whole party +now crept softly toward the lodges, by the same path as had been taken +by Malachi and the Indian woman. As soon as they had all arrived, they +waited for a few minutes, while Malachi reconnoitered, and when they +perceived that he did so, they all rose up and hastened to their +allotted stations round the lodge into which the Angry Snake and his +followers had entered. The Indians appeared to be asleep, for every +thing remained quiet. + +"Let us first lead Miss Percival away to a place of safety," whispered +Captain Sinclair. + +"Do you do it, then," said Alfred; "there are plenty of us without you." + +Captain Sinclair hastened to the lodge in which Miss Percival had been +placed, and opened the door. Mary Percival, as soon as she beheld +Captain Sinclair, uttered a loud scream of delight, and, rising from +the skins on which she had been laid, fell upon his neck. Captain +Sinclair caught her in his arms, and was bearing her out of the lodge, +when an Indian woman caught him by the coat; but John, who had entered, +putting the muzzle of his rifle into their faces, they let go and +retreated, and Captain Sinclair bore away Mary in his arms into the +brushwood, where the Strawberry was standing over the Indian prisoners. +The scream of Mary Percival had roused the Indians, who, after their +exhaustion and privations, were in a sound sleep; but still no movement +was to be heard in the lodge, and a debate, between Malachi and Alfred, +whether they should enter the lodge or not, was put an end to by a rifle +being fired from the lodge, and the fall of one of the soldiers, who was +next to Alfred. Another shot followed, and Martin received a bullet in +his shoulder, and then out bounded the Angry Snake, followed by his +band, the chief whirling his tomahawk, and springing upon Malachi, while +the others attacked Alfred and Martin, who were nearest to the door of +the lodge. The rifle of Malachi met the breast of the Angry Snake as he +advanced, and the contents were discharged through his body. The other +Indians fought desperately, but the whole of the attacking party closing +in, they were overpowered. Only two of them, however, were taken alive, +and these were seriously wounded. They were tied and laid on the ground. + +"He was a bad man, sir," said Malachi, who was standing over the body of +the Indian chief; "but he will do no more mischief." + +"Are you much hurt, Martin?" inquired Alfred. + +"No, sir, not much; the ball has passed right through and touched no +bone; so I am in luck. I'll go to the Strawberry, and get her to bind it +up." + +"He is quite dead, sir," said Graves, who was kneeling by the side of +the soldier who had been shot by the first rifle. + +"Poor fellow!" exclaimed Alfred. "Well, I'm not sorry that they +commenced the attack upon us; for I do not know whether I could have +used my rifle unless they had done so." + +"They never expected quarter, sir," said Malachi. + +"I suppose not. Now, what are we to do with the women? They can do no +harm." + +"Not much, sir; but, at all events, we must put it out of their power. +We must take possession of all the weapons we can find in the lodges. We +have their two rifles; but we must collect all the bows and arrows, +tomahawks, and knives, and either destroy or keep possession of them. +John, will you look to that? Take Graves with you." + +"Yes," replied John, who with Graves, immediately commenced his search +of the lodges. + +The two women, who had been in the lodge with Mary Percival, had +remained where they were, as John's rifle had kept them from leaving the +lodge; but the other two had escaped into the woods during the affray. +This was of little consequence; indeed, the others were told that they +might go away, if they would; and as soon as they heard this from +Malachi, they followed the example of their companions. John and Graves +brought out all the arms they could find, and Malachi and Alfred then +went to the bushes to which Mary Percival and Sinclair had previously +retired. Alfred embraced his cousin, who was still too greatly agitated +to say much, being almost overpowered by the sudden transition in all +her thoughts and feelings:--and, in the variety of her emotions, perhaps +the most bewildering was that occasioned by the re-appearance of +Percival,--like a restoration from the dead. Alfred was in consultation +with Malachi, when he perceived the flames bursting out of the lodges. +Martin, as soon as his wound was dressed, had returned and set fire to +them. + +"It's all right, sir," said Malachi; "it will leave the proof of our +victory, and be a caution to other Indians." + +"But what will become of the women?" + +"They will join some other band, sir, and tell the story. It is better +that they should." + +"And our prisoners, what shall we do with them?" + +"Release them; by and by, sir, we shall have nothing to fear from them; +but we will first take them two or three days' march into the woods, in +case they have alliance with any other band whom they might call to +their assistance." + +"And the wounded Indians?" + +"Must be left to Providence, sir. We can not take them. We will leave +them provisions and water. The women will come back and find them; if +they are alive, they will look after them; if dead, bury them. But here +comes John, with some bears' skins which he has saved for Miss Mary; +that was thoughtful of the boy. As soon as the flames are down, we will +take up our quarters in the clearing, and set a watch for the night; and +to-morrow, with the help of God, we will commence our journey back. We +shall bring joy to your father and mother, and the sooner we do it the +better; for they must be any thing but comfortable at our long absence." + +"Yes," said Mary Percival; "what a state of suspense they must be in! +Truly, as the Bible saith, 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +Not one of the party slept much on this night. There was much to do, and +much to be looked after. Captain Sinclair, as it may be supposed, was +fully occupied with Mary Percival, of whom more anon. As soon as they +had taken up their position in the clearing, and made arrangements for +the accommodation of Mary, they relieved the Strawberry from her charge +of the prisoners, whom they brought to the clearing, and made to sit +down close to them. Percival, who had not yet been freed from his bonds, +was now untied, and suffered to walk about, one of the men keeping close +to him, and watching him carefully. The first object which caught his +eye, was the body of the Angry Snake. Percival looked on it for some +time, and then sat down by the side of it. There he remained for more +than two hours, without speaking, when a hole having been dug out by one +of the party, the body was put in and covered up. Percival remained a +few minutes by the side of the grave, and then turned to the two +wounded Indians. He brought them water, and spoke to them in the Indian +tongue; but while he was still with them, Mary sent for him to speak +with him, for as yet she had scarcely seen him. The sight of Mary +appeared to have a powerful effect upon the boy; he listened to her as +she soothed and caressed him, and appearing to be overcome with a +variety of sensations, he lay down, moaned, and at last fell fast +asleep. + +The soldier who had been shot by the Angry Snake was buried before they +buried the chief. Martin's wound had been dressed by his wife, the +Strawberry, who was very skillful in Indian surgery. She had previously +applied cataplasms made from the bruised leaves which she and the Indian +woman had sought for, to the feet of Mary Percival, which were in a +state of great inflammation, and Mary had found herself already much +relieved by the application. Before the day dawned, the two Indians who +had been wounded, were dead, and were immediately buried by the side of +the chief. + +Alfred and Malachi had resolved to set off the next morning, on their +return home, if they found it possible to convey Mary Percival; but +their party was now reduced, as one of the soldiers had been killed, and +Martin was incapable of service. The Indian woman would also be fully +loaded with the extra rifles, the two which they had captured from the +Indians, the one belonging to the soldier, and Martin's, who could not +carry any thing in his present state. + +They were now only six effective men, as John could not be of much use +in carrying, and, moreover, was appointed to watch Percival. Then they +had the two prisoners to take charge of, so that they were somewhat +embarrassed. Malachi, however, proposed that they should make a litter +of boughs, welded together very tight, and suspended on a pole so as to +be carried between two men. Mary Percival was not a very great weight, +and, by relieving each other continually, they would be able to get some +miles every day, till Mary was well enough to walk with them. Alfred +assented to this, and, as soon as it was daylight, went into the woods +with Malachi, to assist him in cutting the boughs. On their return, they +found that all the rest of the party were up, and that Mary felt little +or no pain. They made their breakfast on their salt provisions, which +were now nearly expended, and as soon as their meal was over, they put +Mary upon the litter and set off, taking the Indian prisoners with them, +as they thought it not yet advisable to give them their liberty. The +first day they made but a few miles, as they were obliged to stop, that +they might procure some food. The party were left under a large tree, +which was a good land-mark, under the charge of Captain Sinclair, while +Malachi and Alfred went in search of game. At nightfall they returned +with a deer which they had killed, when the Strawberry informed them +that the Indian woman had told her, that about two miles to the +southward there was a river which ran into the lake, and that there were +two canoes belonging to the band, hauled up in the bushes on the beach; +that the river was broad and swift, and would soon take them to the +lake, by the shores of which they could paddle the canoe to the +settlement. This appeared worthy of consideration, as it would in the +end, perhaps, save time, and at all events allow Mary Percival to +recover. They decided that they would go to the river, and take the +canoes, as the Indian woman said that they were large enough to hold +them all. + +The next morning, guided by the Indian woman, they set off in the +direction of the river, and arrived at it in the afternoon. They found +the canoes, which were large, and in good order, and having carried them +down to the beach, they resolved to put off their embarkation till the +following day, as they were again in want of provisions for their +subsistence. Alfred, Malachi and John went out this time, for Percival +had shown himself so quiet and contented, and had gradually become so +fond of being near Mary Percival, that he appeared to have awakened from +his Indian dream, and renewed all his former associations. They did not, +therefore, think it necessary to watch him any more--indeed, he never +would leave Mary's side, and began now to ask many questions, which +proved that he had recalled to mind much of what had been forgotten +during his long sojourn with the Indians. The hunters returned, having +been very successful, and loaded with meat enough to last for four or +five days. At daylight the next morning, they led the prisoners about +half a mile into the woods, and, pointing to the north as to the +direction they were to go, cast loose the deer-thongs which confined +them, and set them at liberty. Having done this, they embarked in the +canoes, and were soon gliding rapidly down the stream. + +The river upon which they embarked, at that time little known to the +Europeans, is now called the river Thames, and the town built upon it is +named London. It falls into the upper part of Lake Ontario, and is a +fine rapid stream. For three days they paddled their canoes, +disembarking at night to sleep and cook their provisions, and on the +fourth they were compelled to stop, that they might procure more food. +They were successful, and on the next day they entered the lake, about +two hundred miles to the west of the settlement. Mary Percival was now +quite recovered, and found her journey or voyage delightful; the country +was in full beauty; the trees waved their boughs down to the river side, +and they did not fall in with any Indians, or perceive any lodges on the +bank. Sometimes they started the deer which had come down to drink in +the stream, and on one occasion, as they rounded a point, they fell in +with a herd which were in the water swimming across, and in this +position they destroyed as many as they required for their food till +they hoped to arrive at the settlement. + +Percival was now quite reconciled to his removal from an Indian life, +and appeared most anxious to rejoin his father and mother, of whom he +talked incessantly; for he had again recovered his English, which, +strange to say, although he perfectly understood it when spoken to, he +had almost forgotten to pronounce, and at first spoke with difficulty. +The weather was remarkably fine, and the waters of the lake were so +smooth, that they made rapid progress, although they invariably +disembarked at night. The only annoyance they had was from the +musquitoes, which rose in clouds as soon as they landed, and were not +to be dispersed until they had lighted a very large fire, accompanied +with thick smoke; but this was a trifle compared with their joy at the +happy deliverance of the prisoners, and success of their expedition. +Most grateful, indeed, were they to God for his mercies, and none more +so than Mary Percival and Captain Sinclair, who never left her side till +it was time to retire to rest. + +On the sixth day, in the forenoon, they were delighted to perceive Fort +Frontignac in the distance, and although the house at the settlement was +hid from their sight by the point covered with wood which intervened, +they knew that they were not above four or five miles distant. In less +than another hour, they were abreast of the prairie, and landed at the +spot where their own punt was moored. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had not +perceived the canoes, for, although anxiously looking out every day for +the return of the party, their eyes and attention were directed on land, +not having any idea of their return by water. + +"My dear Alfred," said Mary, "I do not think it will be prudent to let +my aunt see Percival at once; we must prepare her a little for his +appearance. She has so long considered him as dead, that the shock may +be too great." + +"You say true, my dear Mary. Then we will go forward with Captain +Sinclair and Malachi, and John. Let Percival be put in the middle of the +remainder of the party, who must follow afterward, and then be taken up +to Malachi's lodge. He can remain there with the Strawberry until we +come and fetch him." + +Having made these arrangements, to which Percival was with difficulty +made to agree, they walked up as proposed, to the house. Outside of the +palisade, they perceived Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with their backs toward +them, looking toward the forest, in the direction which the party had +taken when they left. But when they were half-way from the beach, Henry +came out with Oscar from the cottage, and the dog, immediately +perceiving them, bounded to them, barking with delight. Henry cried out, +"Father--mother, here they are,--here they come." Mr. and Mrs. Campbell +of course turned round, and beheld the party advancing; they flew to +meet them, and as they caught Mary in their arms, all explanation for a +time was unnecessary--she was recovered, and that was sufficient for the +time. + +"Come, mother, let us go into the house, that you may compose yourself a +little," said Alfred,--that she might not perceive Percival among the +party that followed at a distance. "Let me support you. Take my arm." + +Mrs. Campbell, who trembled very much, did so, and thus turned away from +the group among whom Percival was walking. Emma was looking at them +attentively, and was about to exclaim, when Captain Sinclair put his +finger to his lips. + +As soon as they arrived at the house, and had gone in, Alfred, in a few +words, gave them an account of what had passed--how successful they had +been in their attempt, and how little they had to fear from the Indians +in future. + +"How grateful I am!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. "God be praised for all +his mercies! I was fearful that I should have lost you, my dear Mary, as +well as my poor boy. He is lost forever--but God's will be done." + +"It is very strange, mother," said Alfred, "but we heard, on our +journey, that the Indians had found a white boy in the woods." + +"Alas! not mine." + +"I have reason to believe that it was Percival, my dear mother, and have +hopes that he is yet alive." + +"My dear Alfred, do not say so unless you have good cause; you little +know the yearnings of a mother's heart; the very suggestion of such a +hope has thrown me into a state of agitation and nervousness of which +you can form no conception. I have been reconciled to the Divine will; +let me not return to a state of anxiety and repining." + +"Do you think, my dear mother, that I would raise such hopes if I had +not good reason to suppose that they would be realized? No, my dear +mother, I am not so cruel." + +"Then you know that Percival is alive?" said Mrs. Campbell, seizing +Alfred by the arm. + +"Calm yourself, my dear mother, I do know--I am certain that he is +alive, and that it was he who was found by the Indians; and I have great +hopes that we may recover him." + +"God grant it! God grant it in his great mercy!" said Mrs. Campbell, "my +heart is almost breaking with joy: may God sustain me! Oh, where is +he--my dear Alfred--where is he?" continued Mrs. Campbell, Alfred made +no reply, but a flood of tears came to her relief. + +"I will explain it to you when you are more composed, my dear mother. +Emma, you have not said one word to me." + +"I have been too much overjoyed to speak, Alfred," replied Emma, +extending her hand to him, "but no one welcomes your return more +sincerely than I do, and no one is more grateful to you for having +brought Mary back." + +"Now, Alfred, I am calm," said Mrs. Campbell, "so let me hear at once +all you know." + +"I see you are calm, my dear mother, and I therefore now tell you that +Percival is not far off." + +"Alfred! he is here; I am sure he is." + +"He is with Malachi and the Strawberry; in a minute I will bring him." + +Alfred left the house: the intelligence was almost too overpowering for +Mrs. Campbell. Mary and Emma hastened to her, and supported her. In +another minute Alfred returned with Percival, and the mother embraced +and wept over her long lost child,--and then gave him to his father's +arms. + +"How this has happened, and by what merciful interference he has been +preserved and restored to us," said Mr. Campbell, when their first +emotions were over, "we have yet to learn; but one thing we do know, and +are sure of, that it is by the goodness of God alone. Let us return our +thanks while our hearts are yet warm with gratitude and love, and may +our thanksgiving be graciously received." + +Mr. Campbell kneeled down, and his example was followed by all the rest +of the party assembled. In a fervent tone he returned thanks for the +recent mercies vouchsafed to his family, which, he expressed a hope, +would never be forgotten, but would prove a powerful inducement to them +all, to lead a more devout life of faith in Him who had so graciously +supported them in the hour of peril and affliction,--who had so +wonderfully restored to them their lost treasures, and turned all their +gloom into sunshine,--filling their hearts with joy and gladness. + +"And now, my dear Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell, whose arms still +encircled the neck of Percival, "do pray tell us what has taken place, +and how you recovered Mary and this dear boy." + +Alfred then entered into his detail, first stating the knowledge which +Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and himself had of Percival being still in +existence from the letter written by the Indian woman,--the seizure and +confinement of the Young Otter in consequence, which was retaliated by +the abduction of Mary. When he had finished, Mr. Campbell said-- + +"And poor Martin, where is he, that I may thank him?" + +"He is at his own lodge, with the Strawberry, who is dressing his wound; +for we have not been able to do so for two or three days, and it has +become very painful." + +"We owe him a large debt of gratitude," said Mr. Campbell; "he has +suffered much on our account. And your poor man, Captain Sinclair, who +fell!" + +"Yes," replied Sinclair, "he was one of our best men--but it was the +will of Heaven. He lost his life in the recovery of my dear Mary, and I +shall not forget his wife and child, you may depend upon it." + +"Now, Mary, let us have your narrative of what passed when you were in +company of the Indians, before your rescue." + +"I was, as you know, gathering the cranberries in the Cedar Swamp, when +I was suddenly seized, and something was thrust against my mouth, so +that I had no time or power to cry out. My head was then wrapped up in +some folds of blanket, by which I was almost suffocated, and I was then +lifted up and borne away by two or three men. For a time I kept my +senses, but at last the suffocation was so great, that my head swam, and +I believe I fainted, for I do not recollect being put down; yet after a +time I found myself lying under a tree, and surrounded by five or six +Indians, who were squatted round me. I was not a little terrified, as +you may imagine. They neither moved nor spoke for some time; I +endeavored to rise, but a hand on my shoulder kept me down, and I did +not attempt a useless resistance. Soon afterward, an Indian woman +brought me some water, and I immediately recognized her as the one whom +we had succored when we found her in the woods. This gave me courage and +hope, though her countenance was immovable, and I could not perceive, +even by her eyes, that she attempted any recognition; but reflection +convinced me that, if she intended to help me, she was right in so +doing. After I had raised myself, and drunk some water, the Indians had +a talk in a low voice, I observed that they paid deference to one, and +from the description which my father and Alfred had given of the Angry +Snake, I felt sure that it was he. We remained about half an hour on +this spot, when they rose, and made signs to me that I was to come with +them. Of course I could do no otherwise, and we walked till night came +on, when I was, as you may imagine, not a little tired. They then left +me with the Indian woman, retiring a few yards from me. The woman made +signs that I was to sleep, and although I thought that was impossible, I +was so much fatigued that, after putting up my prayers to the Almighty, +I had not lain down many minutes before I was fast asleep. + +"Before daylight, I was awakened by their voices, and the woman brought +me a handful of parched Indian corn; not quite so good a breakfast as I +had been accustomed to; but I was hungry, and I contrived to eat it. As +soon as the day broke we set off again, and toward evening arrived at a +lake. A canoe was brought out from some bushes; we all got into it, and +paddled up along the banks for two or three hours, when we disembarked +and renewed our journey. My feet were now becoming very sore and +painful, for they were blistered all over, and I could scarcely get +along; they compelled me, however, to proceed, not using any great +force, but still dragging me and pushing me, to make me keep up with +them. I soon perceived that I was a prisoner only, and not likely to be +ill treated if I complied with their wishes. Toward evening I could +hardly put one foot before the other, for they had obliged me to walk in +the water of a stream for two or three miles, and my shoes were quite +worn out in consequence. At night they again stopped, and the Indian +woman prepared some herbs, and applied them to my feet. This gave me +great relief, but still she continued to take no notice of any signs I +made to her. The next morning I found I had received so much benefit +from the application of the herbs, that for the first half of the day I +walked on pretty well, and was a little in advance, when, hearing the +chief speak in an angry tone behind me, I turned round, and, to my +horror, saw him raise his tomahawk, and strike down the poor Indian +woman. I could not refrain from hastening to her; but I had just time to +perceive that her skull was cloven, and that she was, as I imagined, +dead, when I was dragged away and forced to continue my journey. You may +imagine how my blood curdled at this scene, and how great were now my +apprehensions for myself. Why I had been carried away I knew not, for I +was as ignorant as you were of Percival being alive, and of the Young +Otter having been detained at the fort. My idea was, when the chief +struck down the Indian woman, that it was to get rid of her, and that I +was to replace her. This idea was almost madness, but still I had hope, +and I prayed as I walked along to that God who sees the most secret act, +and hears the most silent prayer of the heart, and I felt an assurance +while praying that I should be rescued. I knew that my absence would be +immediately discovered, and that there were those who would risk their +lives to rescue me, if I was still in existence; and I therefore used +all my efforts to walk on as fast as I could, and not irritate the +Indians. But that night I had no one to dress my feet, which were +bleeding and very much swelled, and I was very wretched when I lay down +alone. I could not drive from my thoughts the poor Indian woman +weltering in her blood, and murdered for no crime or fault--nothing that +I could discover. The next morning, as usual, my food was some parched +Indian corn, and of that I received only a handful for my sustenance +during the twenty-four hours; however, hunger I never felt, I had too +much pain. I was able to drag myself on till about noon, when I felt +that I could not proceed further. I stopped and sat down; the chief +ordered me to get up again by signs; I pointed to my feet, which were +now swelled above the ankles, but he insisted, and raised his tomahawk +to frighten me into compliance. I was so worn out, that I could have +almost received the blow with thankfulness, but I remembered you, my +dear uncle and aunt and others, and resolved for your sakes to make one +more effort. I did so; I ran and walked for an hour more in perfect +agony; at last nature could support the pain no longer, and I fell +insensible." + +"My poor Mary!" exclaimed Emma. + +"I thought of you often and often, my dear sister," replied Mary, +kissing her. + +"I believe it was a long while before I came to my senses," continued +Mary, "for when I did, I found that the Indians were very busy weaving +branches into a sort of litter. As soon as they had finished, they put +me upon it, and I was carried by two of them swinging on a pole which +they put on their shoulders. I need hardly say, that the journey was now +more agreeable than it was before, although my feet were in a dreadful +state, and gave me much pain. That night we stopped by a rivulet, and I +kept my feet in the water for two or three hours, which brought down the +inflammation and swelling very much, and I contrived after that to gain +some sleep. They carried me one more day, when they considered that they +had done enough, and I was again ordered to walk; I did so for two days, +and was then in the same condition as before. A litter was therefore +again constructed, and I was carried till I arrived at the lodges of the +Angry Snake and his band. What passed from that time you have heard from +Alfred." + +When Mary Percival had finished her narrative, they all sat down to +supper, and it hardly need be said that Mr. Campbell did not fail, +before they retired to rest, again to pour forth his thanksgivings to +the Almighty for the preservation of those who were so dear. The next +morning, they all rose in health and spirits. Martin came early to the +house with the Strawberry; his wound was much better, and he received +the thanks and condolence of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. + +When they were at breakfast, Mr. Campbell said, "John, in our joy at +seeing your brother and cousin again, I quite forgot to scold you for +running away as you did." + +"Then don't do it now, sir," said Malachi, "for he was very useful, I +can assure you." + +"No, I won't scold him now," replied Mr. Campbell; "but he must not act +so another time. If he had confided to me his anxious wish to join you, +I should probably have given my permission." + +"I must now take my leave, and return to the fort," said Captain +Sinclair; "I do, however, trust I shall see you all again in a few days, +but I must report the results of the expedition, and the death of poor +Watkins. May I borrow one of your horses, Mr. Campbell?" + +"Certainly," replied Mr. Campbell; "you know the _bateau_ is expected +every day from Montreal; perhaps you will bring us our letters when it +arrives." + +Captain Sinclair took his leave, as it may be imagined, very +reluctantly, and in a day or two the family again settled down to their +usual occupations. The emigrants had, during the absence of the +expedition, gathered in a great portion of the corn, and now all hands +were employed in finishing the harvest. + +"How happy we are now, Mary," said Emma to her sister, as they were +walking by the stream watching John, who was catching trout. + +"Yes, my dear Emma, we have had a lesson which will, I trust, prevent +any future repining, if we have felt any, at our present position. The +misery we have been rescued from has shown us how much we have to be +thankful for. We have nothing more to fear from the Indians, and I feel +as if I could now pass the remainder of my life here in peace and +thankfulness." + +"Not without Captain Sinclair?" + +"Not always without him; the time will, I trust, come when I may reward +him for his patience and his regard for me; but it has not yet come; and +it's for my uncle and aunt to decide when it shall. Where's Percival?" + +"He is gone into the woods with Malachi, and with a rifle on his +shoulder, of which he is not a little proud. John is not at all jealous. +He says that Percival ought to know how to fire a rifle, and throw away +that foolish bow and arrow. Do you not think that his residence among +the Indians has made a great change in Percival?" + +"A very great one; he is more manly and more taciturn; he appears to +think more and talk less. But Henry is beckoning to us. Dinner is ready, +and we must not keep hungry people waiting." + +"No," replied Emma; "for in that case I should keep myself waiting." + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +Captain Sinclair on his return to Fort Frontignac reported to the +Colonel the successful result of the expedition, and was warmly +congratulated upon it, as the Colonel had been made acquainted with the +engagement between him and Mary Percival. The Young Otter, who had +remained in confinement during Captain Sinclair's absence, was now set +at liberty; and the Colonel, who was aware that Captain Sinclair must be +very anxious to remain at the settlement for a short time after what had +occurred, very kindly offered him leave for a few days, which it may be +supposed Captain Sinclair did not fail to avail himself of. The Colonel +at the same time sent a message to Mr. Campbell, stating that as soon as +the _bateaux_ should arrive from Montreal, he would bring any letters or +newspapers that might arrive for them, and take that opportunity of +offering in person his congratulations. + +Captain Sinclair did not, however, return for two or three days, as he +had many letters to write in answer to those which had arrived during +his absence. On his return to the settlement, he found them all well +and happy; Mary quite recovered from her fatigue, and every thing going +on in the same quiet order and method as if the expedition had never +taken place, and had never been necessary. Indeed, nothing appeared now +wanting to the happiness of the whole party, and their affairs were +prospering. The emigrants who had joined Mr. Campbell were industrious +and intelligent, very civil, and very useful. They paid the greatest +respect to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who were certainly very liberal and +kind to them, assisting them in every way in their power. Although the +farm had been so much increased, the labor was light, from the quantity +of hands they could command; the stock had increased very fast; old +Graves had taken charge of the mill during the absence of Alfred and +Martin, and had expressed his wish to continue in that employment, which +Alfred gladly gave up. In short, peace and plenty reigned in the +settlement, and Alfred's words when he recommended his father to go to +Canada, had every prospect of becoming true--that his father would be +independent, if not rich, and leave his children the same. In three days +Captain Sinclair arrived; he was received with great warmth by all the +party, and after dinner was over, Mr. Campbell addressed the family as +follows:-- + +"My dear children, your mother and I have had some conversation on one +or two points, and we have come to the decision that having so much to +thank God for, in his kindness and mercies shown toward us, it would be +selfish on our parts if we did not consult the happiness of others. We +are now independent, and with every prospect of being more so every day; +we are no longer isolated, but surrounded by those who are attached to +us and will protect us should there be any occasion. In short, we are +living in comfort and security, and we trust to Providence that we shall +continue so to do. You, my dear Alfred, generously abandoned your +profession to which you were so partial, to come and protect us in the +wilderness, and we knew too well the value of your services not to +accept them, although we were fully aware of the sacrifice which you +made; but we are no longer in the wilderness, and no longer require your +strong arm and bold heart. We have therefore decided that it is our +duty no longer to keep you from the profession to which you belong, but, +on the contrary, to recommend you now to rejoin and follow up your +career, which we trust in God may prove as prosperous as we are +convinced it will be honorable. Take our best thanks, my dear boy, for +your kindness to us, and now consider yourself at liberty to return to +England, and rejoin the service as soon as you please. + +"And now I must address you, my dear Mary; you and your sister +accompanied us here, and since you have been with us, have cheered us +during our stay by your attentions and unwearied cheerfulness under all +the privations which we at first had to encounter. You have engaged the +affections of an honorable and deserving man, but at the same time have +never shown the least disposition to leave us; indeed, we know what your +determination has been, but your aunt and I consider it our present duty +to say, that much as we shall regret to part with one so dear, you must +no longer sacrifice yourself for us, but make him happy who so well +deserves you. That you will remain here is of course out of the +question; your husband's connections and fortune require that he should +return to England, and not bury himself in the woods of Canada. You have +therefore our full permission, and I may say, it will be most pleasing +to us, if you no longer delay your union with Captain Sinclair and +follow your husband; whenever and wherever you go, you will have our +blessing and our prayers, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have +been to us as a dutiful daughter, and that we love you as dearly as it +is possible for parents to do. Take her, Captain Sinclair, from my +hands, and take with her our blessings and best wishes for your +happiness, which I do not doubt will be as great as we can expect in +this checkered world; for a dutiful daughter will always become a good +wife." + +Mary, who was sitting between Mrs. Campbell and Captain Sinclair, fell +upon her aunt's neck and wept; Mr. Campbell extended his hand to Captain +Sinclair, who expressed in return his warmest thanks and gratitude. +Alfred, who had said nothing more, went up to his mother and kissed +her. + +"I wish you to go, Alfred," said his mother; "I wish you to rejoin a +service to which you are a credit. Do not believe otherwise, or that I +shall grieve too much at your departure." + +"Go, my son," said Mr. Campbell, shaking him by the hand, "and let me +see you a post-captain before I die." + +Mrs. Campbell now took Mary Percival into the next room, that she might +compose herself, and Captain Sinclair ventured to follow. Every one +appeared happy at this announcement of Mr. Campbell except Emma, who +looked unusually serious. Alfred, perceiving it, said to her, "Emma, you +are very grave at the idea of losing Mary, and I do not wonder at it, +but you will have one consolation,--you will lose me too, and I shall no +longer plague you as you continually complain that I do." + +"I never thought of that," replied Emma, half angry; "well, you _are_ a +great plague, and the sooner you go--" + +Emma did not, however, finish her speech, but left the room, to join her +sister. + +Now that Mr. Campbell had announced his wishes, the subject of Mary's +marriage and Alfred's return to the service was, for a few days, the +continual subject of discussion. It was decided that Mary should be +married in a month, by the chaplain of the fort, who had returned, and +that Captain Sinclair, with his wife and Alfred, should leave the +settlement at the end of September, so as to arrive at Quebec in good +time for sailing before the winter should set in. It was now the last +week in August, so that there was not much time to pass away previous to +their departure. Captain Sinclair returned to the fort, to make the +Colonel acquainted with what had passed, and to take the necessary steps +for leave of absence, and his return to England. This, from his interest +with the Governor, he was sure to obtain, and when in England, it would +be time sufficient to decide whether he should leave that service or +exchange into some regiment at home. As every prospect of war or +disturbance in Canada was now over, he could take either step without +any censure being laid upon him. + +A week afterward, the _bateaux_ arrived from Montreal, and the Colonel +and Captain Sinclair made their appearance at the settlement, bringing +with them the letters and papers from England. + +Having received the congratulations of the Colonel, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, with his permission, opened their letters, for all the family +were present, and all, as usual, anxious to hear the news. The first +letter Mr. Campbell opened, to the surprise of all, produced an +immediate change in his countenance. He read it a second time, and +laying it down on his knee, appeared to remain in a state of complete +abstraction. + +"No bad news, I hope, Campbell?" said his wife anxiously, as all the +rest looked upon him with astonishment. + +"No, my dear Emily, no bad news, but most unexpected news; such as it +has been my fortune in life to receive once before this time. You +remember, although years have since passed, the letter that was brought +to us in our little parlor--" + +"Which put you in possession of Wexton Hall, Campbell." + +"Yes, I did refer to that; but I will not keep you all in longer +suspense. This is but a counterpart of the former letter." + +Mr. Campbell then read as follows:-- + "May 7, 18-- + + "Dear Sir,--It is with great pleasure that we have again to + communicate to you that you may return, as soon as you please, and + take possession of the Wexton Hall property. + + "You may remember that many months back Mr. Douglas Campbell + received a fall from his horse when hunting. No serious + consequences were anticipated, but it appears that his spine was + injured, and after some months' close confinement, he expired on + the 9th of April. As Mr. Douglas Campbell has left no issue, and + you are the next in tail, you have now undisputed possession of the + property which you so honorably surrendered some years since. + + "I have taken upon myself to act as your agent since Mr. Campbell's + decease. Mrs. D. Campbell has a handsome settlement upon the + property, which will of course fall in upon her demise. Waiting + your commands, + "I am, dear sir, + "Yours truly, + "J. HARVEY." + +"Mr. Campbell, I congratulate you with all my heart," said the Colonel, +rising up, and taking his hand. "You have proved yourself deserving of +such good fortune; Mrs. Campbell, I need hardly add that my +congratulations extend to you." + +Surprise at first rendered Mrs. Campbell mute; at last she said-- + +"We are in the hands of Him, and do but execute His will. For your sake, +my dear Campbell, for the children's sake, perhaps, I ought to +rejoice--we hardly know. That I am happy here, now that my children have +been restored to me, I confess. I doubt whether that happiness will be +increased by the return to Wexton Hall; at all events, I shall leave +this place with regret. We have had too many revolutions of fortune, +Campbell, since we have been united, not to have learned by experience +that a peaceful, quiet, and contented home is more necessary to our +happiness than riches." + +"I feel as you do, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, "but we are growing +old, and have been taught wisdom practically, by the events of a +checkered life. Our children, I perceive, think otherwise--nor do I +wonder at it." + +"I shan't go," said John; "I shall only be sent to school; no master +shall flog me--I'm a man." + +"Nor me," cried Percival. + +The Colonel and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, as well as the elder portion of +the party, could not help smiling at the exclamation of the two boys. +They had both played the part of men, and it was but too evident how +unfitted they would be for future scholastic discipline. + +"You shall neither of you go to school," replied Mr. Campbell, "but +still you must render yourselves fit for your stations in life, by +improving your minds, and attending those who will instruct you." + +It is hard to say whether much real joy was felt by any of the party at +the prospect of returning to England. It is true that Mary Percival was +delighted at the idea of not being so far from her aunt and uncle, and +that Emma was better pleased to be in England, for reasons which she +kept to herself. But it was not the coming into the large property which +occasioned pleasure to any of them. However, if there was not much +pleasure derived from this re-accession to property, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell knew their duty too well to hesitate, and every preparation was +commenced for their return along with Alfred and Captain Sinclair. John, +however, still continued obstinate in declaring that he would not go, +and Percival was very much of John's opinion, although he did not speak +so plainly. + +When Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were alone, the former said to his wife,-- + +"I do not know what to do about John. He appears so resolute in his +determination not to go with us, that I fear he will run away into the +woods at the time of our departure. He is now continually with Malachi +and Martin, and appears to have severed himself from the family." + +"It is hard to decide, Campbell; I have more than once thought it would +be better to leave him here. He is our youngest son. Henry will of +course inherit the estate, and we shall have to provide for the others +out of our savings. Now this property, by the time that John is of age, +will be of no inconsiderable value, and by no means a bad fortune for a +younger son. He appears so wedded to the woods and a life of nature, +that I fear it would only be the cause of continual regret and +discontent if we did take him to England; and if so, what comfort or +advantage should we gain by his returning? I hardly know what to +advise." + +"I have serious thoughts of leaving him here under the charge of Martin +and Malachi," replied Mr. Campbell. "He would be happy; by and by he +would be rich. What could he obtain more in England? But it must be for +you to decide, my dear Emily. I know a mother's feelings, and respect +them." + +"I can not decide at once, my dear husband. I will first talk with John, +and consult with Alfred and Henry." + +The result of Mrs. Campbell's communicating with her sons, was a +decision that John should remain in Canada, under the charge of Martin +and Malachi, who were to superintend the farm, and watch over him. +Martin was to take charge of the farm. Malachi was to be John's +companion in the woods, and old Graves, who had their mill under his +care, engaged to correspond with Mr. Campbell, and let them know how +things went on. When this was settled, John walked at least two inches +higher, and promised to write to his mother himself. The Colonel, when +he heard the arrangement, pledged himself that as long as he was in +command of the fort, he would keep a watchful eye, not only over John, +but the whole of the settlement, and communicate occasionally with Mr. +Campbell. + +A month after the receipt of the letter, the whole family, with the +exception of John, embarked in two _bateaux_, and arrived at Montreal, +where they remained a day or two, and then proceeded on to Quebec. + +At Quebec, their agent had already taken all the cabins of one of the +finest ships for their passage, and after a run of six weeks, they once +more found themselves at Liverpool, from which town they posted to +Wexton Hall, Mrs. Douglas Campbell having retired to a property of her +own in Scotland. + +We have now finished our tale, and have only to inform our little +readers what were the after-lives of the Campbell family. + +Henry did not return to college, but remained with his father and mother +at the Hall, employing himself in superintending for his father the +property to which he afterward succeeded. + +Alfred was appointed to a ship commanded by Captain Lumley. He soon rose +in the service, was highly distinguished as a gallant, clever officer, +and four years after his return to England was married to his cousin +Emma--at which the reader will not be surprised. + +Mary Percival was married to Captain Sinclair, who sold out, and retired +upon half-pay, to live upon his estate in Scotland. + +Percival went to college, and turned out a very clever lawyer. + +John remained in Canada until he was twenty years old, when he came home +to see his father and mother. He had grown to six feet four inches high, +and was stout in proportion. He was a very amusing fellow, and could +talk fast enough, but his chief conversation was upon hunting and +sporting. The farm had been well conducted; the emigrants had adhered to +the agreements and were now cultivating for themselves. Martin had three +papooses (as the Indians call the children) by the Strawberry. Malachi +had grown too old to go out often into the woods, and he sat by the fire +in the winter, and basked in the sun at the door of the house during the +summer. Oscar was dead, but they had some fine puppies of his breed. Mr. +Campbell gave John a deed, on his return, conveying to him the Canadian +property, and shortly afterward John picked up a little Canadian wife at +Quebec, who made him perfectly happy. + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived to a good old age, respected as long as they +lived, and lamented when they died. They had known prosperity and +adversity, and in each state of life had acquitted themselves with +exemplary propriety, not having been elated by the one, or depressed by +the other. They knew that this world was a world of trial, and but a +preparation for another; they therefore did their duty in that state of +life to which it pleased God to call them--proving in all their actions, +that they remembered their duty to their God, and their duty to their +neighbor; living and dying (as I hope all my young readers will) sincere +and good Christians. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA*** + + +******* This file should be named 22496-8.txt or 22496-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Settlers in Canada</p> +<p>Author: Frederick Marryat</p> +<p>Release Date: September 3, 2007 [eBook #22496]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, storm,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> + +<div class="tn"> +<h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>The Table of Contents was added by the Transcriber.</p> + +<p>The page numbers in the image captions do not refer to pages in this +e-book. They have been left as in the original.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>SETTLERS IN CANADA<br /></h1> + +<p class="title"><small>BY</small> +<br /> +CAPTAIN MARRYAT<br /><br /> + +<small>AUTHOR OF "CHILDREN OF THE NEW FOREST," "PETER SIMPLE," +"LITTLE<br /> +SAVAGE," "NEWTON FOSTER," "PRIVATEERSMAN," "MONSIEUR<br /> +VIOLET," ETC., ETC.</small><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="title"><span class="italic">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</span><br /><br /></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="title">GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS +<br /> +<small><span class="smcap">London: Broadway, Ludgate Hill +<br /> +New York: 9 Lafayette Place</span></small></p> + + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<table summary="" class="TOC"> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL.</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 371px;"> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.png" width="371" height="600" alt="Bee-hunting." title="Bee-hunting." /> +<span class="caption">BEE-HUNTING. P. 304.</span> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>THE SETTLERS.<br /><br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p>It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in +Canada. This province had been surrendered to us by the French, who +first colonized it, more than thirty years previous to the year I have +mentioned. It must, however, be recollected, that to emigrate and settle +in Canada was, at that time, a very different affair to what it is now. +The difficulty of transport, and the dangers incurred, were much +greater, for there were no steamboats to stem the currents and the +rapids of the rivers; the Indians were still residing in Upper and many +portions of Lower Canada, and the country was infested with wild animals +of every description—some useful, but many dangerous: moreover, the +Europeans were fewer in number, and the major portion of them were +French, who were not pleased at the country having been conquered by the +English. It is true that a great many English settlers had arrived, and +had settled upon different farms; but as the French settlers had already +possession of all the best land in Lower Canada, these new settlers were +obliged to go into or toward Upper Canada, where, although the land was +better, the distance from Quebec and Montreal, and other populous parts, +was much greater, and they were left almost wholly to their own +resources, and almost without protection. I mention all this, because +things are so very different at present: and now I shall state the cause +which induced this family to leave their home, and run the risk and +dangers which they did.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>Mr. Campbell was of a good parentage, but, being the son of one of the +younger branches of the family, his father was not rich, and Mr. +Campbell was, of course, brought up to a profession. Mr. Campbell chose +that of a surgeon; and after having walked the hospitals (as it is +termed), he set up in business and in a few years was considered as a +very able man in his profession. His practice increased very fast; and +before he was thirty years of age he married.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell had an only sister, who resided with him, for their father +and mother were both dead. But about five years after his own marriage, +a young gentleman paid his addresses to her; and although not rich, as +his character was unexceptionable, and his prospects good, he was +accepted. Miss Campbell changed her name to Percival, and left her +brother's house to follow her husband.</p> + +<p>Time passed quickly; and, at the end of ten years, Mr. Campbell found +himself with a flourishing business, and at the same time with a family +to support, his wife having presented him with four boys, of whom the +youngest was but a few months old.</p> + +<p>But, although prosperous in his own affairs, one heavy misfortune fell +upon Mr. Campbell, which was the loss of his sister, Mrs. Percival, to +whom he was most sincerely attached. Her loss was attended with +circumstances which rendered it more painful, as, previous to her +decease, the house of business in which Mr. Percival was a partner +failed; and the incessant toil and anxiety which Mr. Percival underwent +brought on a violent fever, which ended in his death. In this state of +distress, left a widow with one child of two years old—a little +girl—and with the expectation of being shortly again confined, Mrs. +Percival was brought to her brother's house, who, with his wife, did all +he could to soften down her grief; but she had suffered so much by the +loss of her husband, that when the period arrived, her strength was +gone, and she died in giving birth to a second daughter. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, of course, took charge of these two little orphan girls, and +brought them up with their own children.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>Such was the state of affairs about ten or eleven years after Mr. +Campbell's marriage, when a circumstance occurred as unexpected as it +was welcome.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell had returned from his round of professional visits; dinner +was over, and he was sitting at the table with his wife and elder +children (for it was the Christmas holidays, and they were all at home), +and the bell had just rung for the nurse to bring down the two little +girls and the youngest boy, when the postman rapped at the door, and the +parlor-maid brought in a letter with a large black seal. Mr. Campbell +opened it, and read as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sir—We have great pleasure in making known to you, that upon the +demise of Mr. Sholto Campbell, of Wexton Hall, Cumberland, which +took place on the 19th ultimo, the entailed estates, in default of +more direct issue, have fallen to you, as nearest of kin; the +presumptive heir having perished at sea, or in the East Indies, and +not having been heard of for twenty-five years. We beg to be the +first to congratulate you upon your accession to real property +amounting to £14,000 per annum. No will has been found, and it has +been ascertained that none was ever made by the late Mr. Sholto +Campbell. We have, therefore, put seals upon the personal property, +and shall wait your pleasure. We can only add, that if in want of +professional advice, and not being already engaged, you may command +the services of</p> + +<p> +Your most obedient,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Harvey, Paxton, Thorpe,</span> & Co.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"What can be the matter, my dear?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, who had +perceived most unusual agitation in her husband's countenance.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell made no reply, but handed the letter to his wife.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell read it, and laid it down on the table.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear!" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, joyfully, and starting up from +his chair.</p> + +<p>"It is a sudden shock, indeed," observed Mrs. Campbell, thoughtfully and +slowly. "I have often felt that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> could bear up against any adversity. +I trust in God, that we may be as well able to support prosperity, by +far the hardest task, my dear Campbell, of the two."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, sitting down again; "we +are, and have long been, happy."</p> + +<p>"This sudden wealth can not add to our happiness, my dear husband; I +feel it will rather add to our cares; but it may enable us to add to the +happiness of others; and with such feelings, let us receive it with +thankfulness."</p> + +<p>"Very true, Emily; but still we must do our duty in that station of life +to which it has pleased God to call us. Hitherto I have by my profession +been of some benefit to my fellow-creatures; and if in my change of +condition I no more leave my warm bed to relieve their sufferings, at +all events, I shall have the means of employing others so to do. We must +consider ourselves but as the stewards of Him who has bestowed this +great wealth upon us, and employ it as may be acceptable to His +service."</p> + +<p>"There my husband spoke as I felt he would," said Mrs. Campbell, rising +up, and embracing him. "Those who feel as you do can never be too rich."</p> + +<p>I must not dwell too long upon this portion of my narrative. I shall +therefore observe that Mr. Campbell took possession of Wexton Hall, and +lived in a style corresponding to his increased fortune; but, at the +same time, he never let pass an opportunity of doing good, and in this +task he was ably assisted by his wife. They had not resided there three +or four years before they were considered as a blessing to all around +them—encouraging industry, assisting the unfortunate, relieving the +indigent, building almshouses and schools, and doing all in their power +to promote the welfare and add to the happiness of those within many +miles of the Hall. At the time that Mr. Campbell took possession, the +estate had been neglected, and required large sums to be laid out upon +it, which would much increase its value.</p> + +<p>Thus all the large income of Mr. Campbell was usefully and +advantageously employed. The change in Mr. Campbell's fortune had also +much changed the prospects of his children. Henry, the eldest, who had +been intended for his father's profession, was first sent to a private<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +tutor, and afterward to college. Alfred, the second boy, had chosen the +navy for his profession, and had embarked on board a fine frigate. The +other two boys, one named Percival, who was more than two years old at +the time that they took possession of the property, and the other, John, +who had been born only a few months, remained at home, receiving tuition +from a young curate, who lived near the Hall; while a governess had been +procured for Mary and Emma Percival, who were growing up very handsome +and intelligent girls.</p> + +<p>Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr. Campbell had been +about ten years in possession of the Wexton estate, when one day he was +called upon by Mr. Harvey, the head of the firm which had announced to +him his succession to the property.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harvey came to inform him that a claimant had appeared, and given +notice of his intent to file a bill in Chancery to recover the estate, +being, as he asserted, the son of the person who had been considered as +the presumptive heir, and who had perished so many years back. Mr. +Harvey observed, that although he thought it his duty to make the +circumstance known to Mr. Campbell, he considered it as a matter of no +consequence, and in all probability would turn out to be a fraud got up +by some petty attorney, with a view to a compromise. He requested Mr. +Campbell not to allow the circumstance to give him any annoyance, +stating that if more was heard of it, Mr. Campbell should be immediately +informed. Satisfied with the opinion of Mr. Harvey, Mr. Campbell +dismissed the circumstance from his mind, and did not even mention it to +his wife.</p> + +<p>But three months had not passed away before Mr. Campbell received a +letter from his solicitor, in which he informed him that the claim to +the estate was carrying on with great vigor, and he was sorry to add, +wore (to use his own term) a very ugly appearance; and that the opposite +parties would, at all events, put Mr. Campbell to a very considerable +expense. The solicitor requested Mr. Campbell's instructions, again +asserting, that although it was artfully got up, he considered that it +was a fraudulent attempt. Mr. Campbell returned an answer, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> which he +authorized his solicitor to take every needful precaution, and to incur +all necessary expense. On reflection, Mr. Campbell, although much +annoyed, determined not to make Mrs. Campbell acquainted with what was +going on; it could only distress her, he thought, and he therefore +resolved for the present to leave her in ignorance.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>After a delay of some months, Mr. Harvey called upon Mr. Campbell, and +stated to him that the claim of the opposite party, so far from being +fraudulent as he had supposed, was so clear, that he feared the worst +results.</p> + +<p>It appeared that the heir to the estates, who had remained between Mr. +Campbell's title, had married in India, and had subsequently, as it had +been supposed, died; but there was full and satisfactory proof that the +marriage was valid, and that the party who claimed was his son. It was +true, Mr. Harvey observed, that Mr. Campbell might delay for some time +the restoration of the property, but that eventually it must be +surrendered.</p> + +<p>As soon as Mr. Campbell received this letter, he went to his wife and +acquainted her with all that had been going on for some months, and with +the reasons which induced him to say nothing to her until the receipt of +Mr. Harvey's letter, which he now put into her hands, requesting her +opinion on the subject. Mrs. Campbell, after having read the letter, +replied—</p> + +<p>"It appears, my dear husband, that we have been called to take +possession of a property, and to hold for many years that which belongs +to another. We are now called upon to give it up to the rightful owner. +You ask my opinion; surely there is no occasion to do that. We must of +course now, that we know the claim is just, do as we would be done by."</p> + +<p>"That is, my dearest, we must surrender it at once,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> without any more +litigation. It certainly has been my feeling ever since I have read Mr. +Harvey's letter. Yet it is hard to be beggars."</p> + +<p>"It <em>is</em> hard, my dear husband, if we may use that term; but, at the +same time, it is the will of Heaven. We received the property supposing +it to have been our own; we have, I hope, not misused it during the time +it has been intrusted to us; and, since it pleases Heaven that we should +be deprived of it, let us, at all events, have the satisfaction of +acting conscientiously and justly, and trust to Him for our future +support."</p> + +<p>"I will write immediately," replied Mr. Campbell, "to acquaint Mr. +Harvey, that although I litigated the point as long as the claim was +considered doubtful, now that he informs me that the other party is the +legal heir, I beg that all proceedings may be stopped, as I am willing +to give immediate possession."</p> + +<p>"Do so, my dear," replied his wife, embracing him. "We may be poor, but +I trust we shall still be happy."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell sat down and wrote the letter of instructions to his +solicitor, sealed it, and sent a groom with it to the post.</p> + +<p>As soon as the servant had closed the door of the room, Mr. Campbell +covered his face with his hands.</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, a severe trial," said Mrs. Campbell, taking the hand of +her husband; "but you have done your duty."</p> + +<p>"I care not for myself; I am thinking of my children."</p> + +<p>"They must work," replied Mrs. Campbell. "Employment is happiness."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the boys may get on; but those poor girls! what a change will it +be for them!"</p> + +<p>"I trust they have not been so badly brought up, Campbell, but that they +will submit with cheerfulness, and be a source of comfort to us both. +Besides, we may not be absolutely beggars."</p> + +<p>"That depends upon the other party. He may claim all arrears of rent; +and if so, we are more than beggars. However, God's will be done. Shall +we receive good, and shall we not receive evil?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>"There's hope, my husband," replied Mrs. Campbell, in a cheering tone; +"let us hope for the best."</p> + +<p>"How little do we know what is for our good, short-sighted mortals as we +are!" observed Mr. Campbell. "Had not this estate come to us, I should, +by following up my profession as surgeon, in all probability, have +realized a good provision for my children: now, this seeming good turn +of fortune leaves me poor. I am too old now to resume my profession, +and, if I did, have no chance of obtaining the practice which I left. +You see that which appeared to us and every one else the most fortunate +occurrence in my life, has eventually proved the contrary."</p> + +<p>"As far as our limited view of things can enable us to judge, I grant +it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but who knows what might have happened if +we had remained in possession? All is hidden from our view. <em>He</em> acts as +he thinks best for us; and it is for us to submit without repining. +Come, dearest, let us walk out; the air is fresh, and will cool your +heated brow."</p> + +<p>Two days after this conversation, a letter was received from Mr. Harvey, +informing them that he had made known Mr. Campbell's determination to +resign the property without further litigation; that the reply of the +other party was highly honorable, stating that it was not his intention +to make any claim for the back rents, and requesting that Mr. Campbell +and family would consider Wexton Hall at their disposal for three +months, to enable them to make arrangements, and dispose of their +furniture, etc.</p> + +<p>The contents of this letter were a great relief to the mind of Mr. +Campbell, as he was now able to ascertain what his future means might +be, and was grateful for the handsome behavior of the new proprietor in +not making any claim for back rents, which would have reduced him at +once to penury. He wrote immediately to Mr. Harvey requesting him to +send in his account of legal expenses, that it might be liquidated as +soon as possible. In three days it arrived, and a letter with it, in +which Mr. Harvey acquainted him, that it was in consequence of his +having so handsomely surrendered the property as soon as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> claim was +substantiated, together with the knowledge how much the estate had been +improved during the ten years in which it had been in his possession, +which induced the new proprietor to behave in so liberal a manner. This +was very gratifying to Mr. Campbell, but the legal expenses proved +enormous, amounting to many thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell read the sum total, and threw the heap of papers down on +the table in despair.</p> + +<p>"We are still ruined, my dear," said he mournfully.</p> + +<p>"Let us hope <em>not</em>," replied Mrs. Campbell. "At all events, we now know +the worst of it, and we must look it boldly in the face."</p> + +<p>"I have not so much money as will pay this bill by nearly a thousand +pounds, my dearest wife."</p> + +<p>"It may be so," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but still there is the +furniture, the horses, and carriages; surely, they are worth much more."</p> + +<p>"But we have other bills to pay; you forget them."</p> + +<p>"No, I do not; I have been collecting them all, and they do not amount +to more than 300<span class="italic">l.</span> as near as I can judge; but we have no time to +lose, dearest, and we must show courage."</p> + +<p>"What then do you advise, Emily?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"We must incur no more expense; our present establishment must be +dismissed at once. Send for all the servants to-morrow morning, and +explain what has occurred. This evening I will make it known to the two +girls and Miss Paterson, who must of course be discharged, as we can no +longer afford a governess. We must retain only the cook, housemaid, and +footman, and a groom to look after the horses until they are sold. Send +a letter to Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, to give notice of an early sale +of the furniture. You must write to Henry; of course, he can no longer +remain at college. We have plenty of time to consider what shall be our +future plans, which must depend much upon what may prove to be our +future means."</p> + +<p>This judicious advice was approved of by Mr. Campbell. Miss Paterson was +greatly distressed when the news was communicated to her by Mrs. +Campbell. Mary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> and Emma Percival felt deeply for their kind +benefactors, but thought nothing of themselves. As Mrs. Campbell had +truly observed, they had been too well brought up. As soon as they were +informed of what had happened, they both ran to Mr. Campbell's room, and +hung upon his neck, declaring they would do all they could to make him +happy, and work for him, if necessary, from morning till night.</p> + +<p>The next day the whole household were summoned into the dining-room, and +made acquainted by Mr. Campbell with what had taken place, and the +necessity of their immediate removal. Their wages had been calculated, +and were paid them before they quitted the room, which they all did with +many expressions of regret. Miss Paterson requested leave to remain with +them as a friend for a few days longer, and as she was deservedly a +favorite, her request was acceded to.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven, that is over!" said Mr. Campbell, after all the household +had been dismissed. "It is quite a relief to my mind."</p> + +<p>"Here's a letter from Alfred, uncle," said Emma Percival, entering the +room. "He has just arrived at Portsmouth, and says the ship is ordered +to be paid off immediately, and his captain is appointed to a fifty-gun +ship, and intends to take him with him. He says he will be here in a few +days, and"——</p> + +<p>"And what, dearest?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"He says his time will be short, but he hopes you won't object to his +bringing two of his messmates down with him."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow! I am sorry that he will be disappointed," replied Mr. +Campbell. "You must write to him, Emma, and tell him what has happened."</p> + +<p>"I must write to him, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear Emma, do you write to him," replied Mrs. Campbell; "your +uncle and I have much to attend to."</p> + +<p>"I will, since you wish me," said Emma, the tears starting in her eyes, +as she quitted the room.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, wishes to see you, sir," said the footman, +as he came in.</p> + +<p>"Request that he will walk in," replied Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, came in, and presented a letter to Mr. +Campbell, who requested him to take a chair while he read it. It was +from Mr. Douglas Campbell, the new proprietor of the estate, requesting +Mr. Bates would ascertain if Mr. Campbell was willing that the +furniture, etc., should be disposed of by valuation, and if so, +requesting Mr. Bates to put a liberal value on it, and draw upon him for +the amount.</p> + +<p>"This is very considerate of Mr. Douglas Campbell," observed Mrs. +Campbell; "of course, my dear, you can have no objection?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever; return my best thanks to Mr. Douglas Campbell for his +kindness; and, Mr. Bates, if you can possibly value by to-morrow or next +day, I should esteem it a favor."</p> + +<p>"It shall be done, sir," replied Mr. Bates, who then rose and took his +leave.</p> + +<p>As soon as the valuation was finished, Mr. Campbell was enabled to make +an estimate of what remained to them out of the property, and found that +the whole sum amounted to between seventeen and eighteen hundred pounds.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>It may appear strange that, after having been in possession of the +estate for ten years, and considering that he had younger children to +provide for, Mr. Campbell had not laid up a larger sum; but this can be +fully explained. As I before said, the estate was in very bad order when +Mr. Campbell came into possession, and he devoted a large portion of the +income to improving it; and, secondly, he had expended a considerable +sum in building almshouses and schools, works which he would not delay, +as he considered them as religious obligations. The consequence was, +that it was not until a year before the claim was made to the estate, +that he had commenced laying by for his younger children; and as the +estate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> was then worth £2,000 per annum more than it was at the time +that he came into possession of it, he had resolved to put by £5,000 per +annum, and had done so for twelve months. The enormous legal expenses +had, however, swallowed up this sum, and more, as we have already +stated; and thus he was left a poorer man by some hundreds than he was +when the property fell to him. The day after the valuation, the eldest +son, Henry, made his appearance; he seemed much dejected, more so than +his parents, and those who knew him, would have supposed. It was, +however, ascribed to his feeling for his father and mother, rather than +for himself.</p> + +<p>Many were the consultations held by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell as to their +future plans; but nothing at all feasible, or likely to prove +advantageous, suggested itself to them. With only sixteen or seventeen +hundred pounds, they scarcely knew where to go, or how to act. Return to +his profession Mr. Campbell knew that he could not, with any chance of +supporting his family. His eldest son, Henry, might obtain a situation, +but he was really fit for nothing but the bar or holy orders; and how +were they to support him till he could support himself? Alfred, who was +now a master's mate, could, it is true, support himself, but it would be +with difficulty, and there was little chance of his promotion. Then +there were the two other boys, and the two girls growing up fast; in +short, a family of eight people. To put so small a sum in the funds +would be useless, as they could not live upon the interest which it +would give, and how to employ it they knew not. They canvassed the +matter over and over, but without success, and each night they laid +their heads upon the pillow more and more disheartened. They were all +ready to leave the Hall, but knew not where to direct their steps when +they left it; and thus they continued wavering for a week, until they +were embraced by their son Alfred, who had made all speed to join them, +as soon as the ship had been paid off. After the first joy of meeting +between those who had been separated so long was over, Mr. Campbell +said, "I'm sorry, Alfred, that I could not give your messmates any +fishing."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>"And so am I, and so were they, for your sakes, my dear father and +mother; but what is, is—and what can't be helped, can't—so we must +make the best of it; but where's Henry and my cousins?"</p> + +<p>"They are walking in the park, Alfred; you had better join them; they +are most anxious to see you."</p> + +<p>"I will, mother; let us get over these huggings and kissings, and then +we shall be more rational: so good-by for half an hour," said Alfred, +kissing his mother again, and then hastening out of the room.</p> + +<p>"His spirits are not subdued, at all events," observed Mrs. Campbell. "I +thank God for it."</p> + +<p>Alfred soon fell in with his brother and his cousins, Mary and Emma, and +after the huggings and kissings, as he termed them, were over, he made +inquiries into the real state of his father's affairs. After a short +conversation, Henry, who was very much depressed in his spirits, said, +"Mary and Emma, perhaps you will now go in; I wish to have some +conversation with Alfred."</p> + +<p>"You are terribly out of heart, Harry," observed Alfred, after his +cousins had left them. "Are things so very bad?"</p> + +<p>"They are bad enough, Alfred; but what makes me so low-spirited is, that +I fear my folly has made them worse."</p> + +<p>"How so?" replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, that my father has but £1,700 left in the world, a sum +small enough; but what annoys me is this. When I was at college, little +imagining such a reverse of fortune, I anticipated my allowance, because +I knew that I could pay at Christmas, and I ran in debt about £200; My +father always cautioned me not to exceed my allowance, and thinks that I +have not done so. Now, I can not bear the idea of leaving college in +debt, and, at the same time, it will be a heavy blow to my poor father, +if he has to part with £200, out of his trifling remainder, to pay my +debt. This is what has made me so unhappy. I can not bear to tell him, +because I feel convinced that he is so honorable, he will pay it +immediately. I am mad with myself, and really do not know what to do. I +do nothing but reproach myself all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> day, and I can not sleep at night. I +have been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly enter into my +present feelings. I waited till you came home, because I thought you had +better tell my father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with shame +and vexation."</p> + +<p>"Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, "as for outrunning the constable, as +we term it at sea, it's a very common thing, and, all things considered, +no great harm done, when you suppose that you have the means, and intend +to pay; so don't lay that to heart. That you would give your right hand +not to have done so, as things have turned out, I really believe; but, +however, there is no occasion to fret any more about it. I have received +three years' pay, and the prize-money for the last eighteen months, and +there is still some more due, for a French privateer. Altogether it +amounts to £250, which I had intended to have made over to my father, +now that he is on a lee-shore; but it will come to the same thing, +whether I give it to you to pay your debts, or give it to him, as he +will pay them, if you do not; so here it is, take what you want, and +hand me over what's left. My father don't know that I have any money, +and now he won't know it; at the same time he won't know that you owe +any; so that squares the account, and he will be as well off as ever."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my dear Alfred; you don't know what a relief this will be to +my mind. Now I can look my father in his face."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will; we are not troubled with such delicate feelings on +board ship, Harry. I should have told him the truth long before this. I +couldn't bear to keep any thing on my conscience. If this misfortune had +happened last cruise, I should have been just in your position; for I +had a tailor's bill to pay as long as a frigate's pennant, and not +enough in my pocket to buy a mouse's breakfast. Now, let's go in again, +and be as merry as possible, and cheer them up a little."</p> + +<p>Alfred's high spirits did certainly do much to cheer them all up; and +after tea, Mr. Campbell, who had previously consulted his wife, as soon +as the servant had quitted the room, entered on a full explanation of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> means which were left to them; and stated, that he wished in his +difficulty to put the question before the whole family, and ascertain +whether any project might come into their heads upon which they might +decide and act. Henry, who had recovered his spirits since the +assistance he had received from Alfred, was desired to speak first. He +replied:</p> + +<p>"My dear father and mother, if you can not between you hit upon any +plan, I am afraid it is not likely that I can assist you. All I have to +say is, that whatever may be decided upon, I shall most cheerfully do my +duty toward you and my brothers and sisters. My education has not been +one likely to be very useful to a poor man, but I am ready to work with +my hands as well as with my head, to the best of my abilities."</p> + +<p>"That I am sure of, my dear boy," replied his father. "Now, Alfred, we +must look to you as our last hope, for your two cousins are not likely +to give us much advice."</p> + +<p>"Well, father, I have been thinking a good deal about it, and I have a +proposal to make which may at first startle you, but it appears to me +that it is our only, and our best, resource. The few hundred pounds +which you have left are of no use in this country, except to keep you +from starving for a year or two; but in another country they may be made +to be worth as many thousands. In this country, a large family becomes a +heavy charge and expense; in another country, the more children you +have, the richer man you are. If, therefore, you would consent to +transport your family and your present means into another country, +instead of being a poor, you might be a rich man."</p> + +<p>"What country is that, Alfred?"</p> + +<p>"Why, father, the purser of our ship had a brother, who, soon after the +French were beaten out of the Canadas, went out there to try his +fortune. He had only three hundred pounds in the world: he has been +there now about four years, and I read a letter from him which the +purser received when the frigate arrived at Portsmouth, in which he +states that he is doing well, and getting rich fast; that he has a farm +of five hundred acres,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> of which two hundred are cleared; and that if he +only had some children large enough to help him, he would soon be worth +ten times the money, as he would purchase more land immediately. Land is +to be bought there at a dollar an acre, and you may pick and choose. +With your money, you might buy a large property; with your children, you +might improve it fast; and in a few years, you would at all events be +comfortable, if not flourishing, in your circumstances. Your children +would work for you, and you would have the satisfaction of knowing that +you left them independent and happy."</p> + +<p>"I acknowledge, my dear boy, that you have struck upon a plan which has +much to recommend it. Still there are drawbacks."</p> + +<p>"Drawbacks!" replied Alfred, "yes, to be sure, there are; if estates +were to be picked up for merely going out for them, there would not be +many left for you to choose; but, my dear father, I know no drawbacks +which can not be surmounted. Let us see what these drawbacks are. First, +hard labor; occasional privation; a log hut, till we can get a better; +severe winter; isolation from the world; occasional danger, even from +wild beasts and savages. I grant these are but sorry exchanges for such +a splendid mansion as this—fine furniture, excellent cooking, polished +society, and the interest one feels for what is going on in our own +country, which is daily communicated to us. Now, as to hard labor, I and +Henry will take as much of that off your hands as we can: if the winter +is severe, there is no want of firewood; if the cabin is rude, at least +we will make it comfortable; if we are shut out from the world, we shall +have society enough among ourselves; if we are in danger, we will have +firearms and stout hearts to defend ourselves; and, really, I do not see +but we may be very happy, very comfortable, and, at all events, very +independent."</p> + +<p>"Alfred, you talk as if you were going with us," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"And do you think that I am not, my dear mother? Do you imagine that I +would remain here when you were there, and my presence would be useful? +No—no—I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> love the service, it is true, but I know my duty, which is, +to assist my father and mother: in fact, I prefer it; a midshipman's +ideas of independence are very great; and I had rather range the wilds +of America free and independent, than remain in the service, and have to +touch my hat to every junior lieutenant, perhaps for twenty years to +come. If you go, I go, that is certain. Why, I should be miserable if +you went without me; I should dream every night that an Indian had run +away with Mary, or that a bear had eaten up my little Emma."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll take my chance of the Indian," replied Mary Percival.</p> + +<p>"And I of the bear," said Emma. "Perhaps he'll only hug me as tight as +Alfred did when he came home."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, miss, for the comparison," replied Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I certainly consider that your proposal, Alfred, merits due +reflection," observed Mrs. Campbell. "Your father and I will consult, +and perhaps by to-morrow morning we may have come to a decision. Now we +had better all go to bed."</p> + +<p>"I shall dream of the Indian, I am sure," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"And I shall dream of the bear," added Emma, looking archly at Alfred.</p> + +<p>"And I shall dream of a very pretty girl—that I saw at Portsmouth," +said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you," replied Emma.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterward Mr. Campbell rang the bell for the servants; family +prayers were read, and all retired in good spirits.</p> + +<p>The next morning they all met at an early hour; and after Mr. Campbell +had, as was his invariable rule, read a portion of the Bible, and a +prayer of thankfulness, they sat down to breakfast. After breakfast was +over, Mr. Campbell said—</p> + +<p>"My dear children, last night, after you had left us, your mother and I +had a long consultation, and we have decided that we have no alternative +left us but to follow the advice which Alfred has given: if, then, you +are all of the same opinion as we are, we have resolved that we will try +our fortunes in the Canadas."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>"I am certainly of that opinion," replied Henry.</p> + +<p>"And you, my girls?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"We will follow you to the end of the world, uncle," replied Mary, "and +try if we can by any means in our power repay your kindness to two poor +orphans."</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Campbell embraced their nieces, for they were much affected +by Mary's reply.</p> + +<p>After a pause, Mrs. Campbell said—</p> + +<p>"And now that we have come to a decision, we must commence our +arrangements immediately. How shall we dispose of ourselves? Come, +Alfred and Henry, what do you propose doing?"</p> + +<p>"I must return immediately to Oxford, to settle my affairs, and dispose +of my books and other property."</p> + +<p>"Shall you have sufficient money, my dear boy, to pay every thing?" said +Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear father," replied Henry, coloring up a little.</p> + +<p>"And I," said Alfred, "presume that I can be of no use here; therefore I +propose that I should start for Liverpool this afternoon by the coach, +for it is from Liverpool that we had better embark. I shall first write +to our purser for what information he can procure, and obtain all I can +at Liverpool from other people. As soon as I have any thing to +communicate, I will write."</p> + +<p>"Write as soon as you arrive, Alfred, whether you have any thing to +communicate or not; at all events, we shall know of your safe arrival."</p> + +<p>"I will, my dear mother."</p> + +<p>"Have you money, Alfred?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, quite sufficient, father. I don't travel with four horses."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, we will remain here to pack up, Alfred; and you must look +out for some moderate lodging for us to go into as soon as we arrive at +Liverpool. At what time do the ships sail for Quebec?"</p> + +<p>"Just about this time, father. This is March, and they will now sail +every week almost. The sooner we are off the better, that we may be +comfortably housed in before the winter."</p> + +<p>A few hours after this conversation, Henry and Alfred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> left the Hall +upon their several destinations. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +had plenty of employment for three or four days in packing up. It was +soon spread through the neighborhood that they were going to emigrate to +Canada; and the tenants who had held their farms under Mr. Campbell, all +came forward and proffered their wagons and horses to transport the +effects to Liverpool, without his being put to any expense.</p> + +<p>In the meantime a letter had been received from Alfred, who had not been +idle. He had made acquaintance with some merchants who traded to Canada, +and by them had been introduced to two or three persons who had settled +there a few years before, and who were able to give him every +information. They informed him what was most advisable to take out; how +they were to proceed upon their landing; and, what was of more +importance, the merchants gave him letters of introduction to English +merchants at Quebec, who would afford them every assistance in the +selecting and purchasing of land, and in their transport up the country. +Alfred had also examined a fine timber-ship, which was to sail in three +weeks; and had bargained for the price of their passage, in case they +could get ready in time to go by her. He wrote all these particulars to +his father, waiting for his reply to act upon his wishes.</p> + +<p>Henry returned from Oxford, having settled his accounts, and with the +produce of the sale of his classics and other books in his pocket. He +was full of spirits, and of the greatest assistance to his father and +mother.</p> + +<p>Alfred had shown so much judgment in all he had undertaken, that his +father wrote to him stating that they would be ready for the ship which +he named, and that he might engage the cabins, and also at once procure +the various articles which they were advised to take out with them, and +draw upon him for the amount, if the people would not wait for the +money. In a fortnight they were all ready; the wagons had left with +their effects some days before. Mr. Campbell wrote a letter to Mr. +Douglas Campbell, thanking him for his kindness and consideration to +them, and informing him that they would leave Wexton Hall on the +following day. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> only begged, as a favor, that the schoolmaster and +schoolmistress of the village school should be continued on, as it was +of great importance that the instruction of the poor should not be +neglected; and added, that perceiving by the newspapers that Mr. Douglas +Campbell had lately married, Mrs. Campbell and he wished him and his +wife every happiness, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Having dispatched this letter, there was nothing more to be done, +previous to their departure from the Hall, except to pay and dismiss the +few servants who were with them; for Mrs. Campbell had resolved upon +taking none out with her. That afternoon they walked round the +plantation and park for the last time. Mrs. Campbell and the girls went +round the rooms of the Hall to ascertain that every thing was left tidy, +neat, and clean. The poor girls sighed as they passed by the harp and +piano in the drawing-room, for they were old friends.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Mary," said Emma; "we have our guitars, and may have music +in the woods of Canada without harp or piano."</p> + +<p>The following morning, the coach, of which they had secured the whole of +the inside, drove up to the Hall door, and they all got in, the tenants +and poor people standing round them, all with their hats in their hands +out of respect, and wishing them every success as they drove away +through the avenue to the park gates. The Hall and the park itself had +been long out of sight before a word was exchanged. They checked their +tears, but their hearts were too full for them to venture to speak.</p> + +<p>The day afterward they arrived at Liverpool, where Alfred had provided +lodgings. Every thing had been sent on board, and the ship had hauled +out in the stream. As they had nothing to detain them on the shore, and +the captain wished to take advantage of the first fair wind, they all +embarked four days after their arrival at Liverpool; and I shall now +leave them on board of the London Merchant, which was the name of the +vessel, making all their little arrangements previous to their sailing, +under the superintendence of Alfred, while I give some little more +insight into the characters, ages, and dispositions of the family.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Campbell was a person of many amiable qualities. He was a religious, +good man, very fond of his wife, to whose opinions he yielded in +preference to his own, and very partial to his children, to whom he was +inclined to be over indulgent. He was not a person of much energy of +character, but he was sensible and well-informed. His goodness of heart +rendered him liable to be imposed upon, for he never suspected any +deceit, notwithstanding that he was continually deceived. His character +was therefore that of a simple, good, honest man.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell was well matched with him as a wife, as she had all that +energy and decision of character which was sometimes wanting in her +husband. Still there was nothing masculine in her manners and +appearance; on the contrary, she was delicate in her form, and very soft +in her manners. She had great firmness and self-possession, and had +brought up all her children admirably. Obedience to their parents was +the principle instilled into them after their duty to God; for she knew +too well that a disobedient child can never prosper. If ever there was a +woman fitted to meet the difficulty and danger which threatened them, it +was Mrs. Campbell, for she had courage and presence of mind, joined to +activity and cleverness.</p> + +<p>Henry, the eldest son, was now nearly twenty years of age. He possessed +much of the character of his father, was without vice, but rather +inclined to inaction than otherwise. Much was to be ascribed to his +education and college life, and more to his natural disposition.</p> + +<p>Alfred, the sailor, was, on the contrary, full of energy and active in +every thing, patient and laborious, if required, and never taking any +thing in hand without finishing it, if possible. He was rough, but not +rude, both in his speech and his manners, very kind-hearted, at the same +time very confident in himself and afraid of nothing.</p> + +<p>Mary Percival was a very amiable, reflective girl, quiet without being +sad, not often indulging in conversation, except when alone with her +sister Emma. She was devotedly attached to her uncle and aunt, and was +capable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> of more than she had any idea of herself, for she was of a +modest disposition, and thought humbly of herself. Her disposition was +sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance. She was now seventeen years +old, and very much admired.</p> + +<p>Her sister Emma, who was but fifteen, was of a very different +disposition, naturally gay, and inclined to find amusement in every +thing—cheerful as the lark, and singing from morning to night. Her +disposition, owing to Mrs. Campbell's care and attention, was equally +amiable as her sister's, and her high spirits seldom betrayed her into +indiscretion. She was the life of the family when Alfred was away: he +only was her equal in high spirits.</p> + +<p>Percival, the third boy, was now twelve years old; he was a quiet, +clever lad, very obedient and very attentive to what was told him, very +fond of obtaining information, being naturally very inquisitive.</p> + +<p>John, the fourth boy, was ten years old—a sturdy, John Bull sort of a +boy, not very fond of learning, but a well-disposed boy in most things. +He preferred any thing to his book; at the same time, he was obedient, +and tried to keep up his attention as well as he could, which was all +that could be expected from a boy of his age. He was very slow in every +thing, very quiet, and seldom spoke unless first spoken to. He was not +silly, although many people would have thought him so, but he certainly +was a very strange boy, and it was difficult to say what he would turn +out.</p> + +<p>I have now described the family as they appeared at the time that they +embarked on board of the London Merchant; and have only to add, that on +the third day after their embarkation, they made sail with a fair wind, +and ran down the Irish Channel.</p> + +<p>The London Merchant sailed for Cork, where the North American convoy +were to assemble. At the time we speak of, the war had recommenced +between this country and the French, who were suffering all the horrors +of the Revolution. On their arrival at Cork, our party recovered a +little from the sea-sickness to which all are subject on their first +embarkation. They found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> themselves at anchor with more than a hundred +merchant vessels, among which were to be perceived the lofty masts and +spars of a large fifty-gun ship, and two small frigates, which were +appointed to convoy them to their destination.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party, still suffering, soon went down below again, but +Alfred remained on deck leaning against the bulwarks of the vessel, his +eyes and his thoughts intently fixed upon the streaming pennants of the +men-of-war, and a tear rolled down his cheek, as he was reminded that he +no longer could follow up his favorite profession. The sacrifice he had +made to his family was indeed great. He had talked lightly of it before +them, not wishing them to believe it was so. He had not told his father +that he had passed his examination for lieutenant before he had been +paid off at Portsmouth; and that his captain, who was very partial to +him, had promised that he should soon be advanced in the service. He had +not told them that all his wishes, all his daily hopes, the most anxious +desire of his existence, which was to become a post-captain, and in +command of a fine frigate, were blighted by this sacrifice he had made +for them and their comfort. He had concealed all this, and assumed a +mirth which he did not feel; but now that he was alone, and the pennant +was once more presented to his view, his regrets could not be +controlled. He sighed deeply, and turning away with his arms folded, +said to himself—"I have done my duty. It is hard, after having served +so long, and now just arrived at the time in which I have reason to +expect my reward—to rise in the service—distinguish myself by my zeal, +and obtain a reputation, which, if it pleased God, I would have +done—very hard, to have to leave it now, and to be hid in the woods, +with an ax in my hand; but how could I leave my father, my mother, and +my brothers and sisters, to encounter so much difficulty and privation +by themselves, when I have a strong arm to help them! No! no!—I have +done my duty to those who ever did their duty to me, and I trust that my +own conscience will prove my reward, and check that repining which we +are too apt to feel when it pleases Heaven to blight what appears to be +our fairest prospects<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> ... I say, my good fellow," said Alfred, after a +while, to a man in a boat, "what is the name of that fifty-gun ship?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know which ship has fifty guns, or which has a hundred," +replied the Irishman; "but if you mean the biggest of the three, she is +called the Portsmouth."</p> + +<p>"The Portsmouth! the very ship Captain Lumley was appointed to," cried +Alfred. "I must go on board."</p> + +<p>Alfred ran down to the cabin, and requested the captain of the +transport, whose name was Wilson, to allow him the small boat to go on +board the man-of-war. His request was granted, and Alfred was soon up +the side of the Portsmouth. There were some of his old messmates on the +quarter-deck, who welcomed him heartily, for he was a great favorite. +Shortly afterward, he sent down a message by the steward, requesting +that Captain Lumley would see him, and was immediately afterward ordered +to go into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Campbell," said Captain Lumley, "so you have joined us at +last; better late than never. You're but just in time. I thought you +would soon get over that foolish whim of yours, which you mentioned in +your letter to me, of leaving the service, just after you had passed, +and had such good chance of promotion. What could have put it in your +head?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," replied Alfred, "but my duty to my parents. It is a most +painful step for me to take, but I leave you to judge whether I can do +otherwise."</p> + +<p>Alfred then detailed to Captain Lumley all that had occurred, the +resolution which his father and mother had taken, and their being then +on board the timber-ship, and about to proceed to their new destination.</p> + +<p>Captain Lumley heard Alfred's story without interruption, and then, +after a pause, said, "I think you are right, my boy, and it does you +honor. Where you are going to, I have no doubt but your courage and your +protection will be most important. Yet it is a pity you should be lost +to the service."</p> + +<p>"I feel most sincerely, sir, I assure you, but——"</p> + +<p>"But you sacrifice yourself; I know that. I admire the resolution of +your father and mother. Few could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> have the courage to have taken such a +step—few women, especially, I shall call upon them, and pay my +respects. In half an hour I shall be ready, and you shall accompany me, +and introduce me. In the meantime you can go and see your old +messmates."</p> + +<p>Alfred left the cabin, much flattered by the kindness of Captain Lumley, +and went down to his former messmates, with whom he remained until the +boatswain piped away the crew of the captain's barge. He then went on +deck, and as soon as the captain came up, he went into the boat. The +captain followed, and they were soon on board of the London Merchant. +Alfred introduced Captain Lumley to his father and mother; and in the +course of half an hour, being mutually pleased with each other, an +intimacy was formed, when Captain Lumley observed, "I presume that, much +as you may require your son's assistance on your arrival at Canada, you +can dispense with his presence on board of this vessel. My reason for +making this observation is that no chance should ever be thrown away. +One of my lieutenants wishes to leave the ship on family concerns. He +has applied to me, and I have considered it my duty to refuse him, now +that we are on the point of sailing, and I am unable to procure another. +But for your son's sake, I will now permit him to go, and will, if you +will allow him to come on board of the Portsmouth, give Alfred an acting +lieutenant's order. Should any thing occur on the passage out, and it is +not at all impossible, it will insure his promotion; even if nothing +occurs, I will have his acting order confirmed. At Quebec, he shall, of +course, leave the ship, and go with you. I don't pretend to detain him +from his duty; but you will observe, that if he does obtain his rank, he +will also obtain his half-pay, which, if he remains in Canada with you, +will be a great assistance; and if things should turn out so well, that +you can, after a year or two, do without him, and allow him to return to +the service, he will then have already gained the most important step, +and will, I have no doubt, soon rise to the command of a ship. I will +give you till to-morrow to decide. Alfred can come on board in the +morning, and let me know."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>"I think I may say, Captain Lumley," replied Mrs. Campbell, "that my +husband could have but one reason in hesitating a moment, and that is, +to ascertain whether I should like to part with my son during our +passage out. I should, indeed, be a very weak woman, if I did not make +such a trifling sacrifice for his benefit, and, at the time, feel most +grateful to you for your kind intentions toward him. I rather think that +Mr. Campbell will not find it necessary to have till to-morrow morning +to consider the proposal; but I leave him to answer for himself."</p> + +<p>"I can assure you, Captain Lumley, that Mrs. Campbell has only expressed +my own feelings, and, as far as we are concerned, your offer is most +gratefully accepted."</p> + +<p>"Then, Alfred," replied Captain Lumley, "has only to make his appearance +on board of the Portsmouth to-morrow morning, and he will find his +acting order ready for him. We sail, I believe, the day after, if the +weather is at all favorable; so, if I have not another opportunity to +pay my respects to you, you must allow me to say farewell now. I shall +keep my eye upon your vessel during the passage; at all events, Alfred +will, I'm very sure."</p> + +<p>Captain Lumley shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, bowed to the rest +of the cabin party, and quitted the ship. As he went over the side, he +observed to Alfred, "I perceive you have some attractions in your party. +It is quite melancholy to think that those pretty cousins of yours +should be buried in the woods of Canada. To-morrow, at nine o'clock, +then, I shall expect you.—Adieu!"</p> + +<p>Although the idea of Alfred leaving them during the passage out was not +pleasant, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were most happy at the chance which had +offered itself for their son's advantage, and seemed in good spirits +when he took leave of them on the following morning.</p> + +<p>"Captain Wilson, you sail so well, that I hope you will keep close to us +all the passage out," observed Alfred, as he was taking leave.</p> + +<p>"Except you happen to come to action with an enemy, and then I shall +haul off to a respectful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> distance, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Wilson +laughing.</p> + +<p>"That, of course. Cannon-balls were never invented for ladies, although +they have no objection to balls,—have they Emma? Well, good-by once +more. You can often see me with the spy-glass if you feel inclined. +Recollect that."</p> + +<p>Alfred shoved off in the boat, and was soon on board of the Portsmouth. +The following day they sailed with a fair wind and moderate weather; the +convoy now increased to 120 vessels.</p> + +<p>We must leave Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and family on board the London +Merchant, and follow Alfred in the Portsmouth, during the passage to +Quebec.</p> + +<p>For several days the weather was moderate, although the wind was not +always fair, and the convoy was kept together, and in good order. The +London Merchant was never far away from the Portsmouth, and Alfred +employed a large portion of his time, when he was not keeping his watch, +in keeping his spy-glass upon the vessel, and watching the motions of +his cousins and the rest of the family. On board of the London Merchant +they were similarly occupied, and very often a handkerchief was waved by +way of salute and recognition. At last they arrived off the banks of +Newfoundland, and were shrouded in a heavy fog, the men-of-war +constantly firing guns, to inform the merchant-ships in what direction +they were to steer, and the merchant-vessels of the convoy ringing their +bells, to warn each other, that they might not be run foul of.</p> + +<p>The fog lasted two days, and was still continuing when the party on +board the London Merchant, just as they were sitting down to dinner in +the cabin, heard a noise and bustle on deck. Captain Wilson ran hastily +up and found that his vessel had been boarded by a French boat's crew, +who had beaten down the men and taken possession. As there was no help, +all he could do was to go down to the cabin, and inform his passengers +that they were prisoners. The shock of this intelligence was very great, +as may be supposed, but still there was no useless lamentation or +weeping. One thing is certain,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> that this news quite spoiled their +appetite for their dinner, which, however, was soon dispatched by the +French officer and his men, after the boat had left, and the vessel's +head had been put in an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>Captain Wilson, who had returned on deck, came down in about a quarter +of an hour, and informed the party, who were silently brooding over this +sudden change in their prospects, that the wind was very light, and that +he thought the fog was clearing off a little, and that if it did so +before it was dark, he was in great hopes that they should be +recaptured. This intelligence appeared to revive the hopes of Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell, and they were still more encouraged when they heard the +sounds of guns at no very great distance. In a few minutes afterward the +cannonading became very furious, and the Frenchmen who were on board +began to show strong signs of uneasiness.</p> + +<p>The fact was, that a French squadron, of one sixty-gun ship and two +corvettes, had been on the look-out for the convoy, and had come in +among them during the fog. They had captured and taken possession of +several vessels before they were discovered, but the sixty-gun ship at +last ran very near to the Portsmouth, and Alfred, who had the watch, and +was on a sharp look-out, soon perceived through the looming fog, that +she was not one of the convoy. He ran down to acquaint the captain, and +the men were immediately ordered to their quarters, without beating the +drum, or making any noise that might let the enemy know they were so +near. The yards were then braced in, to check the way of the Portsmouth, +so that the strange vessel might come up with her. Silence was kept fore +and aft, not a whisper was to be heard; and as the Frenchmen neared +them, they perceived a boat putting off from her to board another vessel +close to them, and also heard the orders given to the men in the French +language. This was sufficient for Captain Lumley: he put the helm down, +and poured a raking broadside into the enemy, who was by no means +prepared for such a sudden salute, although her guns were cast loose, +ready for action, in case of accident. The answer to the broadside was a +cry of "<span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Vive la Republique!</span>" and, in a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> seconds, both ships were +hotly engaged—the Portsmouth having the advantage of lying upon the bow +of her antagonist.</p> + +<p>As is often the case, the heavy cannonading brought on a dead calm, and +the two ships remained in their respective positions, except that the +Portsmouth's was more favorable, having drawn ahead of the French +vessel, so that her broadside was poured into her opponent, without her +being able to return the fire from more than four or five of her guns. +The fog became more opaque than ever; the two ships had neared each +other considerably, or it would have been impossible to distinguish. All +that they could see from the deck of the Portsmouth was the jib-boom and +cap of the bowsprit of the Frenchman, the rest of her bowsprit, and her +whole hull, were lost in the impenetrable gloom; but that was sufficient +for the men to direct their guns, and the fire from the Portsmouth was +most rapid, although the extent of its execution was unknown. After half +an hour of incessant broadsides, the two vessels had approached each +other so close, that the jib-boom of the Frenchman was pointed between +the fore and main rigging of the Portsmouth. Captain Lumley immediately +gave orders to lash the Frenchman's bowsprit to his mainmast, and this +was accomplished by the first lieutenant, Alfred, and the seamen, +without any serious loss, for the fog was still so thick, that the +Frenchman on their forecastle could not perceive what was doing at their +bowsprit's cap.</p> + +<p>"She is ours now," said Captain Lumley to the first lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir,—fast enough. I think, if the fog were to clear away, they +would haul down their colors."</p> + +<p>"Not till the last, depend upon it," replied Captain Lumley. "Fire away +there, on the main-deck, give them no time to take breath. Mr. Campbell, +tell the second lieutenant to let the foremost lower deck guns be +pointed more aft. I say, not till the last," repeated Captain Lumley to +the first lieutenant; "these republicans will take a good deal of +beating, even upon the water."</p> + +<p>"It's clearing up, sir, to the northward a little," said the master.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>"I see—yes, it is," replied Captain Lumley. "Well, the sooner the +better: we shall see what has become of all the shot we have been +throwing away."</p> + +<p>A white silvery line appeared on the horizon, to the northward; +gradually it increased, and as it rose up, became broader, till at last +the curtain was lifted up, and a few feet were to be seen above the +clear blue water. As it continued to approach, the light became more +vivid, the space below increased, and the water was ruffled with the +coming wind, till at last the fog rolled off as if it had been gradually +furled, and sweeping away in a heavy bank to leeward, exposed the state +and position of the whole convoy, and the contending vessels. The +English seamen on board of the Portsmouth cheered the return of +daylight, as it might truly be termed. Captain Lumley found that they +had been contending in the very center of the convoy, which was still +lying around them, with the exception of about fifteen vessels, which +were a few miles apart, with their heads in an opposite direction. These +were evidently those which had been captured. The two frigates, which +had been stationed in the rear of the convoy, were still two or three +miles distant, but making all sail to come up and assist the Portsmouth. +Many of the convoy, which had been in the direction of the fire, +appeared to have suffered in their masts and sails; but whether any +injury had been received in their hulls it was not possible to say. The +French line-of-battle ship had suffered dreadfully from the fire of the +Portsmouth. Her mainmast and mizzen-mast were over the side, her forward +ports were many of them almost beat into one, and every thing on board +appeared to be in the greatest confusion.</p> + +<p>"She can't stand this long," observed Captain Lumley. "Fire away, my +lads."</p> + +<p>"The Circe and Vixen are coming down to us, sir," observed the first +lieutenant; "we do not want them, and they will only be an excuse for +the Frenchman to surrender to a superior force. If they recaptured the +vessels taken, they would be of some service."</p> + +<p>"Very true. Mr. Campbell, make their signal to pursue captured +vessels."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>Alfred ran aft to obey the orders. The flags had just flown out at the +mast-head, when he received a bullet through his arm: for the French, +unable to use the major portion of their guns, had, when the fog cleared +up, poured in incessant volleys of musketry upon the decks of the +Portsmouth. Alfred desired the quarter-master to untie his neck +handkerchief for him, and bind up his arm. Having so done, he continued +to do his duty. A bold attempt was now made by the French to clear their +vessel by cutting the fastening of her bowsprit, but the marines of the +Portsmouth were prepared for them, and after about twenty gallant +fellows had dropped down on the booms and gangways of the Portsmouth, +the attempt was given up, and four minutes afterward the French colors +were hauled down. She was boarded from her bowsprit by the first +lieutenant and a party of seamen. The lashings were cast off, and the +vessels cleared of each other, and then the English seamen gave three +cheers in honor of the victory.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>The French sixty-gun ship proved to be the Leonidas; she had been sent +out with two large frigates on purpose to intercept the convoy, but she +had parted with her consorts in a gale of wind. Her loss of men was very +great; that on board of the Portsmouth was trifling. In a couple of +hours the Portsmouth and her prize in tow were ready to proceed with the +convoy, but they still remained hove to, to wait for the frigates which +were in chase of the captured vessels. All of these were speedily come +up with except the London Merchant, which sailed so remarkably well. At +last, to the great joy of Alfred (who as soon as the bullet had been +extracted and his arm dressed, had held his telescope fixed upon the +chase), she hove to, and was taken possession of. Before night, the +convoy were again collected together, and were steering for their +destination. The next morning was clear, and the breeze moderate. Mrs. +Campbell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> who, as well as all the rest, was very anxious about Alfred, +requested Captain Wilson to run down to the Portsmouth, that they might +ascertain if he was safe. Captain Wilson did as she requested, and +writing in chalk "all well" in large letters upon the log-board, held it +over the side as he passed close to the Portsmouth. Alfred was not on +deck—fever had compelled him to remain in his hammock—but Captain +Lumley made the same reply on the log-board of the Portsmouth, and Mr. +and Mrs. Campbell were satisfied.</p> + +<p>"How I should like to see him," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, madam," observed Captain Wilson, "but they have too much to do on +board of the Portsmouth just now; they have to repair damages and to +look after the wounded; they have a great quantity of prisoners on +board, as you may see, for a great many are now on the booms; they have +no time for compliments."</p> + +<p>"That is very true," replied Mr. Campbell, "we must wait till we arrive +at Quebec."</p> + +<p>"But we did not see Alfred," said Emma.</p> + +<p>"No, miss, because he was busy enough below, and I dare say no one told +him. They have said that all's well, and that is sufficient; and now we +must haul off again, for with such a heavy ship in tow, Captain Lumley +will not thank me if I am always coming so close to him."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied, Captain Wilson; pray do nothing that might displease +Captain Lumley. We shall soon see Alfred, I dare say, with the +spy-glass."</p> + +<p>"I see him now," said Mary Percival, "he has his telescope, and he is +waving his hat to me."</p> + +<p>"Thank God," replied Mrs. Campbell; "now I am satisfied."</p> + +<p>The Portsmouth cast off the French line-of-battle ship, as soon as they +had jury-masts up and could make sail on them, and the convoy proceeded +to the mouth of the St. Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"Captain Wilson," said Percival, whose eyes were fixed on the water, +"what animals are those, tumbling about and blowing,—those great white +things?"</p> + +<p>"They are what are called the white whale, Percival,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> replied Captain +Wilson; "they are not often seen, except about here."</p> + +<p>"Then what is the color of the other whales?"</p> + +<p>"The northern whales are black—they are called the black whales; but +the southern, or spermaceti whales, are not so dark in color."</p> + +<p>Captain Wilson then, at Percival's request, gave him an account of how +the whales were caught, for he had been several voyages himself in the +northern whale fishery.</p> + +<p>Percival was never tired of asking questions, and Captain Wilson was +very kind to him, and always answered him. John, generally speaking, +stood by when Captain Wilson was talking, looking very solemn and very +attentive, but not saying a word.</p> + +<p>"Well John," said Emma to him after the conversation had been ended, +"what was Captain Wilson telling you about?"</p> + +<p>"Whales," replied John, walking past her.</p> + +<p>"Well, but is that all you can tell me, John?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied John, walking away.</p> + +<p>"At all events, Miss Emma, he keeps all his knowledge to himself," +observed Captain Wilson, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I shall know nothing about the whale-fishery, unless you will +condescend to tell me yourself, that is evident," replied Emma, taking +the offered arm of Captain Wilson, who, at her request, immediately +resumed the subject.</p> + +<p>In three weeks from the day of the action they had anchored off the town +of Quebec.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had anchored, Alfred obtained leave to go on board of +the London Merchant, and then, for the first time, his family knew that +he had been wounded. His arm was still in a sling, but was healing fast.</p> + +<p>I shall pass over the numerous inquiries on his part, relative to their +capture and recapture, and on theirs, as to the action with the French +ship.</p> + +<p>While they were in conversation, Captain Lumley was reported to be +coming on board in his boat. They went on the deck of the vessel to +receive him.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley after the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> first salutations +were over, "you must congratulate me on my having captured a vessel +somewhat larger than my own; and I must congratulate you on the conduct +and certain promotion of your son Alfred. He has richly deserved it."</p> + +<p>"I am very thankful, Captain Lumley, and do most heartily congratulate +you," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I only regret that my boy has been +wounded."</p> + +<p>"The very thing that you should, on the contrary, be thankful for, Mrs. +Campbell," replied Captain Lumley. "It is the most fortunate wound in +the world, as it not only adds to his claims, but enables me to let him +join you and go to Canada with you, without it being supposed that he +has quitted the service."</p> + +<p>"How so, Captain Lumley?"</p> + +<p>"I can discharge him to sick-quarters here at Quebec. If they think any +thing about it at all at home, it will be that his wound is much more +severe than it really is; and he can remain on half-pay as long as he +pleases. There are plenty ready to be employed. But I can not wait any +longer. I am going on shore to call upon the Governor, and I thought I +would just see you on my way. You may assure yourselves that if I can be +of any use to you, I will not fail to exert any little influence I may +have."</p> + +<p>Captain Lumley then took a cordial leave of the whole party, telling +Alfred that he might consider himself as discharged from the ship, and +might rejoin his family.</p> + +<p>"Heaven sends us friends when we most need them and least expect them," +said Mrs. Campbell, as she watched the boat pulling away. "Who would +have imagined, when we anchored at Cork, that such good fortune should +have awaited us; and that, at the very time Alfred had given up his +profession for our sake, his promotion in the service was awaiting him?"</p> + +<p>Shortly afterward Mrs. Campbell and Henry went on shore with Captain +Wilson to look out for lodgings, and present the letters of introduction +which he had received for some Quebec merchants. As they were looking +for lodgings in company with a Mr. Farquhar, who had kindly volunteered +to assist them, they met Captain Lumley on his return from the +Governor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>"I am glad to have met you, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley; "I +found on paying my respects to the Governor, that there is what they +call the Admiralty House here, which is kept furnished by Government for +the senior officers of his Majesty's ships. It is at my disposal; and as +the Governor has requested me to take up my abode at Government House, I +beg you will consider it at your service. You will find better +accommodation there than in lodgings, and it will save you considerable +expense."</p> + +<p>"We need look no further, Mrs. Campbell," said Mr. Farquhar.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell expressed her acknowledgments to Captain Lumley, and +returned on board with this pleasing intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alfred, how much we are indebted to you, my dear boy," said Mrs. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"To me, mother?—to Captain Lumley, I should rather think."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to Captain Lumley, I grant; but still it has been your good +conduct when under his command which has made him attached to you; and +it is to that we owe his acquaintance, and all the kindness we have +received from him."</p> + +<p>The next day the family disembarked and took possession of the Admiralty +House. Mr. Farquhar procured them a female servant, who, with a man and +his wife left in charge of the house, supplied all the attendance they +required. Mrs. Campbell settled with Captain Wilson, who very generously +refused to take any money for Alfred's passage, as he had not remained +on board of the London Merchant: promising, however, to accept their +invitation to come to them whenever he could find leisure, he took leave +of them for the present, and they were left alone in their new +residence.</p> + +<p>In a few days the Campbells found themselves comfortably settled in the +Admiralty House, but they had no intention of remaining there longer +than was necessary; as, notwithstanding the accommodation, their +residence at Quebec was attended with expense, and Mr. Campbell was +aware that he had no money to throw away.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>On the fourth day after their landing Captain Lumley called to take +leave; but the day previous he had introduced them to the Governor, who +returned Mr. Campbell's call, and appeared to be much interested in +their welfare, owing of course to the representations of Captain Lumley. +It was not, therefore, surprising that they should part with regret from +one who had proved himself such a kind friend; and many were the +expressions of gratitude which were made by the whole party. Captain +Lumley shook hands with them all; and, assuring Alfred that he would not +lose sight of his interests, wished them every success, and left the +house. An hour afterward the Portsmouth was under weigh, and running out +with a fine breeze.</p> + +<p>On the following day the Governor requested Mr. Campbell would call upon +him; and when they met, he pointed out to him that he would have great +difficulties, and, he was fearful, great hardships, to encounter in +following up his plan of settling in Upper Canada. He did not dissuade +him from so doing, as he had nothing more promising to offer which might +induce him to change his mind, but he thought it right to forewarn him +of trials, that he might be well prepared.</p> + +<p>"I feel, of course, a strong interest in any English family so well +brought up, and accustomed, as I find yours has been, to luxury, being +placed in such a situation; and the interest which my old friend, +Captain Lumley, takes in you, is quite sufficient to induce me to offer +you every assistance in my power: that you may depend upon, Mr. +Campbell. The Surveyor-General is coming here immediately, I must first +introduce you to him, as it is from him that the land must be obtained, +and of course he can advise you well on the point of locality; but you +must recollect that it is not much more than thirty years since these +provinces have been surrendered to Great Britain, and that not only the +French population, but the Indians, are very hostile to the English, for +the Indians were, and still are, firm allies to the French, and detest +us. I have been reflecting upon the affair, and I hope to be of some +service to you: if I am not, it will not, I assure you, be from any want +of will; under every advantage which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> may be procured for you, at all +events, you will require stout hearts and able hands. Your son Alfred +will be of great service, but we must try and procure you some other +assistance that can be trusted."</p> + +<p>A long conversation then took place between the Governor and Mr. +Campbell, during which the latter received much valuable information: it +was interrupted, however, by the arrival of the Surveyor-General, and +the topic was resumed.</p> + +<p>"The land that I would propose to Mr. Campbell," observed the +Surveyor-General, after a time, "if there is no objection to part with +it, is a portion of what has been laid aside as Government reserve on +this part of the Lake Ontario; there are lands to be obtained nearer to +Montreal, but all the land of good quality has been purchased. This +land, you will observe, Mr. Campbell, is peculiarly good, having some +few acres of what we call prairie, or natural meadow. It has also the +advantage of running with a large frontage on the beach, and there is a +small river on one side of it; besides, it is not a great distance, +perhaps four or five miles, from Fort Frontignac, and it might be easy +to obtain assistance if required."</p> + +<p>The Surveyor-General pointed to a part of the map, near to Presqu' Ile +de Quinte, as he made this observation to the Governor.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," replied the Governor, "and I observe that there is +already a settler on the other side of the stream."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the Surveyor; "that allotment was granted before it +was decided that the rest should be a Government reserve; and if proof +were required of the goodness of the land, it would be found in the +person who took it. It was taken four years ago by the old hunter, +Malachi Bone; he has been over every part of it, of course, and knows +what it is. You recollect the man, don't you, sir? He was a guide to the +English army before the surrender of Quebec; General Wolfe had a high +opinion of him, and his services were so good that he was allowed that +tract of 150 acres."</p> + +<p>"I now remember him," replied the Governor, "but as I have not seen him +for so many years, he had escaped my recollection."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>"It will be a great advantage to you, Mr. Campbell, having this man as a +neighbor."</p> + +<p>"Now," continued the Governor, addressing the Surveyor-General, "do you +know of any person who would be willing to serve Mr. Campbell, and who +can be depended upon; of course one who understands the country, and who +would be really useful?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Governor, I do know a very good man, and you know him also; but +you know the worst part of him, for he is generally in trouble when you +see him."</p> + +<p>"Who is that?"</p> + +<p>"Martin Super, the trapper."</p> + +<p>"Why, that is the young fellow who breeds such disturbances, and who, if +I recollect right, is now in prison for a riot."</p> + +<p>"The very same, sir; but Martin Super, although a troublesome fellow at +Quebec, is worth his weight in gold when he is out of the town. You may +think it strange, Mr. Campbell, that I should recommend a man who +appears to be so unruly a character; but the fact is that the trappers, +who go in pursuit of the game for their skins, after having been out for +months, undergoing every privation that can be imagined, return home +with their packages of skins, which they dispose of to the merchants of +this town; and as soon as they have their money, they never cease their +revelry of every description until their earnings are all gone, and then +they set off again on their wild and venturous pursuit. Now Martin +Super, like all the rest, must have his fun when he comes back, and +being a very wild fellow, he is often in scrapes when he has drunk too +much, so that he is occasionally put into prison for being riotous; but +I know him well, he has been with me surveying for months, and when he +is on service, a more steady, active, and brave man I do not know."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right in recommending him," observed the Governor, +"he will not be sorry to get out of the gaol, and I have no doubt but +that he will conduct himself well if he once agrees to take your +service, Mr. Campbell, for one or two years. As for the Canadians, they +are very harmless, but at the same time very useful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> There are +exceptions, no doubt; but their general character is any thing but that +of activity and courage. As I said before, you will require stout +hearts, and Martin Super is one, that is certain. Perhaps you can +arrange this for Mr. Campbell?"</p> + +<p>The Surveyor-General promised to do so; shortly after which, Mr. +Campbell, with many thanks, took his leave of the Governor.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell, who had gained every possible information relative to what +would be most necessary for him to take with him, was actively employed +for a fortnight in making his purchases. During this time much attention +was shown to them both by the English and French residents at Quebec. +Alfred, whose wound was now nearly healed, was as active as usual, and +Henry was of great assistance to his father in taking inventories and +making out lists, etc. Nor were Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +unemployed; they had purchased the coarse manufactures of the country, +and were very busy making dresses for themselves and for the children. +Mr. Campbell had been one morning at Mr. Farquhar's, the merchant's, to +make inquiries about a conveyance up to his new purchase (for he had +concluded his arrangements with the Surveyor-General), when the Governor +sent a message by one of his aides-de-camp, to say that it was his +intention in the course of ten days to send a detachment of soldiers up +to Fort Frontignac—news having been received that the garrison was +weakened by a fever which had broken out; and that if Mr. Campbell would +like to avail himself of the opportunity, he and his family, and all his +luggage, should go under the escort of the officer and troops. The offer +was of course joyfully accepted, and on Mr. Campbell's calling upon the +Governor to return his thanks, the latter told him that there would be +plenty of room in the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> and canoes for them and all their +luggage, and that he need not give himself further trouble, or incur any +further expense.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>The next day the Surveyor-General called, bringing with him Martin +Super, the trapper.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Campbell," said the Surveyor, "this is my friend Martin Super; I +have spoken to him, and he has consented to take service for one year, +and he will remain, if he is satisfied. If he serves you as well as he +has served me when I have traveled through the country, I have no doubt +but you will find him a valuable assistant."</p> + +<p>Martin Super was rather tall, very straight-limbed, showing both +activity and strength. His head was smaller than usually is the case, +which gave him the appearance of great lightness and agility. His +countenance was very pleasing, being expressive of continual good humor, +which was indeed but corresponding to his real character. He was dressed +in a sort of hunting-coat of deer-skin, blue cloth leggings, a cap of +raccoon's skin, with a broad belt round his waist, in which he wore his +knife.</p> + +<p>"Now, Martin Super, I will read the terms of the agreement between you +and Mr. Campbell, that you may see if all is as you wish."</p> + +<p>The Surveyor-General read the agreement, and Martin nodded his head in +acquiescence.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Campbell, if you are satisfied, you may now sign it; Martin shall +do the same."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell signed his name, and handed the pen to Martin Super, who +then for the first time spoke.</p> + +<p>"Surveyor, I don't know how my name is spelt; and if I did, I couldn't +write it, so I must do it Indian fashion, and put my totem to it?"</p> + +<p>"What is your name among the Indians, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"The Painter," replied Martin, who then made under Mr. Campbell's name, +a figure <span class="keep_together">like <img src="images/illus-040.png" width="321" height="105" alt="a panther" title="" style="vertical-align:top"/> +saying,</span> "There, that's my name as near as I +can draw it."</p> + +<p>"Very good," replied the Surveyor-General; "here is the document all +right, Mr. Campbell. Ladies, I fear I must run away, for I have an +engagement. I will leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> Martin Super, Mr. Campbell, as you would +probably like a little conversation together."</p> + +<p>The Surveyor-General then took his leave, and Martin Super remained. +Mrs. Campbell was the first who spoke: "Super," said she, "I hope we +shall be very good friends, but now tell me what you mean by +your—totem, I think you called it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, a totem is an Indian's mark, and you know I am almost an +Indian myself. All the Indian chiefs have their totems. One is called +the Great Otter; another the Serpent, and so on, and so they sign a +figure like the animal they are named from. Then, ma'am, you see, we +trappers, who almost live with them, have names given to us also and +they have called me the Painter."</p> + +<p>"Why did they name you the Painter?"</p> + +<p>"Because I killed two of them in one day."</p> + +<p>"Killed two painters!" cried the girls.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss; killed them both with my rifle."</p> + +<p>"But why did you kill the men?" said Emma; "was it in battle?"</p> + +<p>"Kill the men, miss; I said nothing about men; I said I killed two +painters," replied Martin, laughing, and showing a row of teeth as white +as ivory.</p> + +<p>"What is a painter, then, Super?" inquired Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's an animal, and a very awkward creature, I can tell you, +sometimes."</p> + +<p>"The drawing is something like a panther, mamma," exclaimed Mary.</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, it may be a panther, but we only know them by the other +name."</p> + +<p>Mr. Farquhar then came in, and the question was referred to him; he +laughed and told them that painters were a species of panther, not +spotted but tawny-colored, and at times very dangerous.</p> + +<p>"Do you know the part of the country where we are going to?" said Henry +to Super.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have trapped thereabouts for months, but the beavers are scarce +now."</p> + +<p>"Are there any other animals there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Martin, "small game, as we term it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>"What sort are they?"</p> + +<p>"Why, there's painters, and bears, and catamounts."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! do you call that small game? why, what must the large be, +then?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Buffaloes, missus, is what we call big game."</p> + +<p>"But the animals you speak of are not good eating, Super," said Mrs. +Campbell; "is there no game that we can eat?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, plenty of deer and wild turkey, and bear's good eating, I +reckon."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that sounds better."</p> + +<p>After an hour's conversation, Martin Super was dismissed; the whole of +the family (except Alfred, who was not at home) very much pleased with +what they had seen of him.</p> + +<p>A few days after this, Martin Super, who had now entered upon service, +and was very busy with Alfred, with whom he had already become a +favorite, was sent for by Mr. Campbell, who read over to him the +inventory of the articles which they had, and inquired of him if there +was any thing else which might be necessary or advisable to take with +them.</p> + +<p>"You said something about guns," replied Martin, "what sort of guns did +you mean?"</p> + +<p>"We have three fowling-pieces and three muskets, besides pistols."</p> + +<p>"Fowling-pieces,—they are bird-guns, I believe,—no use at all; muskets +are soldiers' tools,—no use; pistols are pops, and nothing better. You +have no rifles; you can't go into the woods without rifles. I have got +mine, but you must have some."</p> + +<p>"Well, I believe you are right, Martin; it never occurred to me. How +many ought we to have?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that's according—how many be you in family?"</p> + +<p>"We are five males and three females."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, sir, say ten rifles; that will be quite sufficient. Two +spare ones in case of accident," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"Why, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell, "you do not mean that the children +and these young ladies and I are to fire off rifles?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"I do mean to say, ma'am, that before I was as old as that little boy," +pointing to John, "I could hit a mark well; and a woman ought at least +to know how to prime and load a rifle, even if she does not fire it +herself. It is a deadly weapon, ma'am, and the greatest leveler in +creation, for the trigger pulled by a child will settle the business of +the stoutest man. I don't mean to say that we may be called to use them +in that way, but it's always better to have them, and to let other +people know that you have them, and all ready loaded too, if required."</p> + +<p>"Well, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "I agree with you, it is better to be +well prepared. We will have the ten rifles, if we can afford to purchase +them. What will they cost?"</p> + +<p>"About sixteen dollars will purchase the best, sir; but I think I had +better choose them for you, and try them before you purchase."</p> + +<p>"Do so, then, Super; Alfred will go with you as soon as he comes back, +and you and he can settle the matter."</p> + +<p>"Why, Super," observed Mrs. Campbell, "you have quite frightened us +women at the idea of so many firearms being required."</p> + +<p>"If Pontiac was alive, missus, they would all be required, but he's gone +now; still there are many outlying Indians, as we call them, who are no +better than they should be; and I always like to see rifles ready +loaded. Why, ma'am, suppose now that all the men were out in the woods, +and a bear should pay you a visit during your absence, would it not be +just as well for to have a loaded rifle ready for him; and would not you +or the young misses willingly prefer to pull the trigger at him than to +be hugged in his fashion?"</p> + +<p>"Martin Super, you have quite convinced me: I shall not only learn to +load a rifle but to fire one also."</p> + +<p>"And I'll teach the boys the use of them, ma'am, and they will then add +to your defense."</p> + +<p>"You shall do so, Martin," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I am convinced that +you are quite right."</p> + +<p>When Super had quitted the room, which he did soon afterward, Mr. +Campbell observed—"I hope, my dear, that you and the girls are not +terrified by the remarks of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> Martin. It is necessary to be well armed +when isolated as we shall be, and so far from any assistance; but it +does not follow, because we ought to be prepared against danger, that +such danger should occur."</p> + +<p>"I can answer for myself, my dear Campbell," replied his wife; "I am +prepared, if necessary, to meet danger, and do what a weak woman can do; +and I feel what Martin says is but too true, that with a rifle in hand, +a woman or a child is on a par with the strongest man."</p> + +<p>"And I, my dear uncle," said Mary Percival, "shall, I trust, with the +blessing of God, know how to do my duty, however peculiar the +circumstances may be to a female."</p> + +<p>"And I, my dear uncle," followed up Emma, laughing, "infinitely prefer +firing off a rifle to being hugged by a bear or an Indian, because of +two evils one should always choose the least."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I see Martin has done no harm, but, on the contrary, he has +done good. It is always best to be prepared for the worst, and to trust +to Providence for aid in peril."</p> + +<p>At last all the purchases were completed, and every thing was packed up +and ready for embarkation. Another message from the Governor was +received, stating that in three days the troops would be embarked, and +also informing Mr. Campbell that if he had not purchased any cows or +horses, the officer at Fort Frontignac had more cattle than were +requisite, and could supply him; which, perhaps, would be preferable to +carrying them up so far. Mr. Campbell had spoken about, but not finally +settled for, the cows, and therefore was glad to accept the Governor's +offer. This message was accompanied with a note of invitation to Mr. +Campbell, the ladies, and Henry and Alfred, to take a farewell dinner at +Government House the day before their departure. The invitation was +accepted, and Mr. Campbell was introduced to the officer commanding the +detachment which was about to proceed to Fort Frontignac, and received +from him every assurance of his doing all he could to make them +comfortable. The kindness of the Governor did not end here: he desired +the officer to take two large tents for the use of Mr. Campbell, to be +returned to the fort when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> the house had been built, and they were +completely settled. He even proposed that Mrs. Campbell and the Misses +Percival should remain at Government House until Mr. Campbell had made +every preparation to receive them; but this Mrs. Campbell would not +consent to, and, with many thanks, she declined the offer.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>Although it was now the middle of May, it was but a few days before +their departure that there was the least sign of verdure, or the trees +had burst into leaf; but in the course of the three days before they +quitted Quebec, so rapid was the vegetation, that it appeared as if +summer had come upon them all at once. The heat was also very great, +although, when they had landed, the weather was piercing cold; but in +Canada, as well as in Northern America, the transitions from heat to +cold, and from cold to heat, are very rapid.</p> + +<p>My readers will be surprised to hear that when the winter sets in at +Quebec, all the animals required for the winter's consumption are at +once killed. If the troops are numerous, perhaps three or four hundred +bullocks are slaughtered and hung up. Every family kill their cattle, +their sheep, pigs, turkeys, fowls, etc., and all are put up in the +garrets, where the carcasses immediately freeze hard, and remain quite +good and sweet during the six or seven months of severe winter which +occur in that climate. When any portion of meat is to be cooked, it is +gradually thawed in lukewarm water, and after that is put to the fire. +If put at once to the fire in its frozen state it spoils. There is +another strange circumstance which occurs in these cold latitudes; a +small fish, called the snow-fish, is caught during the winter by making +holes in the thick ice, and these fish coming to the holes in thousands +to breathe, are thrown out with hand-nets upon the ice, where they +become in a few minutes frozen quite hard, so that, if you wish it, you +may break them in half like a rotten stick. The cattle are fed upon +these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> fish during the winter months. But it has been proved, which is +very strange, that if, after they have been frozen for twenty-four hours +or more, you put these fish into water and gradually thaw them as you do +the meat, they will recover and swim about again as well as ever. To +proceed however, with our history,—</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell found that, after all his expenses, he had still three +hundred pounds left, and this money he left in the Quebec Bank, to use +as he might find necessary. His expenditure had been very great. First, +there was the removal of so large a family, and the passage out; then he +had procured at Liverpool a large quantity of cutlery and tools, +furniture, etc., all of which articles were cheaper there than at +Quebec. At Quebec he had also much to purchase: all the most expensive +portion of his house; such as windows ready glazed, stoves, boarding for +floors, cupboards, and partitions; salt provisions, crockery of every +description, two small wagons ready to be put together, several casks of +nails, and a variety of things which it would be too tedious to mention. +Procuring these, with the expenses of living, had taken away all his +money, except the three hundred pounds I have mentioned.</p> + +<p>It was on the 13th of May that the embarkation took place, and it was +not until the afternoon that all was prepared, and Mrs. Campbell and her +nieces were conducted down to the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, which lay at the wharf, +with the troops all ready on board of them. The Governor and his +aides-de-camp, besides many other influential people of Quebec, escorted +them down, and as soon as they had paid their adieus, the word was +given, the soldiers in the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> gave three cheers and away they +went from the wharf into the stream. For a short time there was waving +of handkerchiefs and other tokens of good-will on the part of those who +were on the wharf; but that was soon left behind them, and the family +found themselves separated from their acquaintances and silently +listening to the measured sound of the oars, as they dropped into the +water.</p> + +<p>And it is not to be wondered at that they were silent, for all were +occupied with their own thoughts. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> called to mind the beautiful +park at Wexton, which they had quitted, after having resided there so +long and so happily; the hall, with all its splendor and all its +comfort, rose up in their remembrance; each room with its furniture, +each window with its view, was recalled to their memories; they had +crossed the Atlantic, and were now about to leave civilization and +comfort behind them—to isolate themselves in the Canadian woods—to +trust to their own resources, their own society, and their own +exertions. It was, indeed, the commencement of a new life, and for which +they felt themselves little adapted, after the luxuries they had enjoyed +in their former condition; but if their thoughts and reminiscences made +them grave and silent, they did not make them despairing or repining; +they trusted to that Power who alone could protect—who gives and who +takes away, and doeth with us as He judges best; and if hope was not +buoyant in all of them, still there was confidence, resolution, and +resignation. Gradually they were roused from their reveries by the +beauty of the scenery and the novelty of what met their sight; the +songs, also, of the Canadian boatmen were musical and cheering, and by +degrees, they had all recovered their usual good spirits.</p> + +<p>Alfred was the first to shake off his melancholy feelings and to attempt +to remove them from others; nor was he unsuccessful. The officer who +commanded the detachment of troops, and who was in the same <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateau</span> +with the family, had respected their silence upon their departure from +the wharf—perhaps he felt much as they did. His name was Sinclair, and +his rank that of senior captain in the regiment—a handsome, florid +young man, tall and well made, very gentleman-like, and very gentle in +his manners.</p> + +<p>"How very beautiful the foliage is on that point, mother," said Alfred, +first breaking the silence, "what a contrast between the leaves of the +sycamore, so transparent and yellow, with the sun behind them, and the +new shoots of the spruce fir."</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, very lovely," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and the branches +of the trees, feathering down as they do to the surface of the water—"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>"Like good Samaritans," said Emma, "extending their arms, that any +unfortunate drowning person who was swept away by the stream might save +himself by their assistance."</p> + +<p>"I had no idea that trees had so much charity or reflection, Emma," +rejoined Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I can not answer for their charity, but, by the side of this clear +water, you must allow them reflection, cousin," replied Emma.</p> + +<p>"I presume you will add vanity to their attributes?" answered Alfred; +"for they certainly appear to be hanging over the stream that they may +look and admire themselves in the glassy mirror."</p> + +<p>"Pretty well that for a midshipman; I was not aware that they used such +choice language in a cockpit," retorted the young lady.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, cousin," answered Alfred; "but when sailors are in the +company of ladies, they become refined, from the association."</p> + +<p>"Well, I must admit, Alfred, that you are a great deal more polished +after you have been a month on shore."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, cousin Emma, even for that slight admission," replied +Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>"But what is that?" said Mary Percival, "at the point, it is a +village—one, two, three houses—just opening upon us?"</p> + +<p>"That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is coming down the river," replied +Captain Sinclair. "You will see when we are nearer to it, that perhaps +it covers two acres of water, and there are three tiers of timber on it. +These rafts are worth many thousand pounds. They are first framed with +logs, fastened by wooden tree-nails, and the timber placed within the +frame. There are, perhaps, from forty to a hundred people on this raft +to guide it down the stream, and the houses you see are built on it for +the accommodation of these people. I have seen as many as fifteen houses +upon a raft, which will sometimes contain the cargoes of thirty or forty +large ships."</p> + +<p>"It is very wonderful how they guide and direct it down the stream," +said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"It is very dexterous; and it seems strange that such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> an enormous mass +can be so guided, but it is done, as you will perceive; there are three +or four rudders made of long sweeps, and, as you may observe, several +sweeps on each side."</p> + +<p>All the party were now standing up in the sternsheets of the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateau</span> to +look at the people on the raft, who amounted to about fifty or sixty +men—now running over the top to one side, and dragging at the sweeps, +which required the joint power of seven or eight men to each of +them—now passing again over to the opposite sweeps, as directed by the +steersmen. The <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateau</span> kept well in to the shore, out of the way, and +the raft passed them very quickly. As soon as it was clear of the point, +as their course to Quebec was now straight, and there was a slight +breeze down the river, the people on board of the raft hoisted ten or +fifteen sails upon different masts, to assist them in their descent; and +this again excited the admiration of the party.</p> + +<p>The conversation now became general, until the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> were made fast +to the shores of the river, while the men took their dinners, which had +been prepared for them before they left Quebec. After a repose of two +hours, they again started, and at nightfall arrived at St. Anne's, where +they found every thing ready for their reception. Although their beds +were composed of the leaves of the maize or Indian corn, they were so +tired that they found them very comfortable, and at daylight arose quite +refreshed, and anxious to continue their route. Martin Super, who, with +the two youngest boys, had been placed in a separate boat, had been very +attentive to the comforts of the ladies after their embarkation; and it +appeared that he had quite won the hearts of the two boys by his amusing +anecdotes during the day.</p> + +<p>Soon after their embarkation, the name of Pontiac being again mentioned +by Captain Sinclair, Mrs. Campbell observed—</p> + +<p>"Our man Super mentioned that name before. I confess that I do not know +any thing of Canadian affairs; I know only that Pontiac was an Indian +chief. Can you, Captain Sinclair, give us any information relative to a +person who appears so well known in the province?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>"I shall be happy, Mrs. Campbell, as far as I am able, to satisfy you. +On one point, I can certainly speak with confidence, as my uncle was one +of the detachment in the fort of Detroit at the time that it was so +nearly surprised, and he has often told the history of the affair in my +presence. Pontiac was chief of all the Lake tribes of Indians. I will +not repeat the names of the different tribes, but his own particular +tribe was that of the Ottawas. He ruled at the time that the Canadas +were surrendered to us by the French. At first, although very proud and +haughty, and claiming the sovereignty of the country, he was very civil +to the English, or at least appeared so to be; for the French had given +us so bad a reputation with all the northern tribes, that they had +hitherto shown nothing but the most determined hostility, and appeared +to hate our very name. They are now inclined to be quiet, and it is to +be hoped their fear of us, after the severe conflicts between us, will +induce them to remain so. You are, perhaps, aware that the French had +built many forts at the most commanding spots in the interior and on the +lakes, all of which, when they gave up the country, were garrisoned by +our troops, to keep the Indians under control.</p> + +<p>"All these forts are isolated, and communication between them is rare. +It was in 1763 that Pontiac first showed his hostility against us, and +his determination, if possible, to drive us from the lakes. He was as +cunning as he was brave; and, as an Indian, showed more generalship than +might be expected—that is, according to their system of war, which is +always based upon stratagem. His plan of operation was, to surprise all +our forts at the same time, if he possibly could; and so excellent were +his arrangements, that it was only fifteen days after the plan was first +laid that he succeeded in gaining possession of all but three; that is, +he surprised ten out of thirteen forts. Of course, the attacks were made +by other chiefs, under his directions, as Pontiac could not be at all +the simultaneous assaults."</p> + +<p>"Did he murder the garrisons, Capt. Sinclair?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The major portion of them: some were spared, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> afterward were +ransomed at high prices. I ought to have mentioned as a singular +instance of the advance of this chief in comparison with other Indians, +that at this time he issued bills of credit on slips of bark, signed +with his totem, the otter; and that these bills, unlike many of more +civilized society, were all taken up and paid."</p> + +<p>"That is very remarkable in a savage," observed Mrs. Campbell; "but how +did this Pontiac contrive to surprise all the forts?"</p> + +<p>"Almost the whole of them were taken by a singular stratagem. The +Indians are very partial to, and exceedingly dexterous at, a game called +the 'Baggatiway:' it is played with a ball and a long-handled sort of +racket. They divide into two parties, and the object of each party is to +drive the ball to their own goal. It is something like hurley in England +or golf in Scotland. Many hundreds are sometimes engaged on both sides; +and the Europeans are so fond of seeing the activity and dexterity shown +by the Indians at this game, that it was very common to request them to +play it, when they happened to be near the forts. Upon this, Pontiac +arranged his plan, which was that his Indians should commence the game +of ball under the forts, and after playing a short time, strike the ball +into the fort: of course, some of them would go in for it; and having +done this two or three times, and recommenced the play to avoid +suspicion, they were to strike it over again, and follow it up by a rush +after it through the gates: and then, when they were all in, they would +draw their concealed weapons, and overpower the unsuspicious garrison."</p> + +<p>"It was certainly a very ingenious stratagem," observed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"And it succeeded, as I have observed, except on three forts. The one +which Pontiac directed the attack upon himself, and which was that which +he was most anxious to obtain, was Detroit, in which, as I have before +observed, my uncle was garrisoned; but there he failed, and by a +singular circumstance."</p> + +<p>"Pray tell us how, Captain Sinclair," said Emma; "you don't know how +much you have interested me."</p> + +<p>"And me, too, Captain Sinclair," continued Mary.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>"I am very happy that I have been able to wear away any portion of your +tedious journey, Miss Percival, so I shall proceed with my history.</p> + +<p>"The fort of Detroit was garrisoned by about three hundred men, when +Pontiac arrived there with a large force of Indians, and encamped under +the walls, but he had his warriors so mixed up with the women and +children, and brought so many articles for trade, that no suspicion was +created. The garrison had not heard of the capture of the other forts +which had already taken place. At the same time the unusual number of +the Indians was pointed out to Major Gladwin, who commanded the fort, +but he had no suspicions. Pontiac sent word to the major, that he wished +to 'have a talk' with him, in order to cement more fully the friendship +between the Indians and the English; and to this Major Gladwin +consented, appointing the next day to receive Pontiac and his chiefs in +the fort.</p> + +<p>"Now it so happened, that Major Gladwin had employed an Indian woman to +make him a pair of moccasins out of a very curious marked elk-skin. The +Indian woman brought him the moccasins with the remainder of the skin. +The Major was so pleased with them that he ordered her to make him a +second pair of moccasins out of the skin, and then told her that she +might keep the remainder for herself. The woman having received the +order, quitted the Major, but instead of leaving the fort, remained +loitering about till she was observed, and they inquired why she did not +go. She replied, that she wanted to return the rest of the skin, as he +set so great a value on it; and as this appeared strange conduct, she +was questioned, and then she said, that if she took away the skin then, +she never would be able to return it.</p> + +<p>"Major Gladwin sent for the woman, upon hearing of the expressions which +she had used, and it was evident that she wanted to communicate +something, but was afraid; but on being pressed hard and encouraged, and +assured of protection, she then informed Major Gladwin, that Pontiac and +his chiefs were to come into the fort to-morrow, under the plea of +holding a talk; but that they had cut the barrels of their rifles short, +to conceal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> them under their blankets, and that it was their intention, +at a signal given by Pontiac, to murder Major Gladwin and all his +officers who were at the council; while the other warriors, who would +also come into the fort with concealed arms, under pretense of trading, +would attack the garrison outside.</p> + +<p>"Having obtained this information, Major Gladwin did all he could to put +the fort into a state of defense, and took every necessary precaution. +He made known to the officers and men what the intentions of the Indians +were, and instructed the officers how to act at the council, and the +garrison how to meet the pretended traders outside.</p> + +<p>"About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his thirty-six chiefs, with a train of +warriors, came into the fort to their pretended council, and were +received with great politeness. Pontiac made his speech, and when he +came forward to present the wampum belt, the receipt of which by the +Major was, as the Indian woman had informed them, to be the signal for +the chiefs and warriors to commence the assault, the Major and his +officers drew their swords half out of their scabbards, and the troops, +with their muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, appeared outside and in +the council-room, all ready to present. Pontiac, brave as he really was, +turned pale: he perceived that he was discovered, and consequently, to +avoid any open detection, he finished his speech with many professions +of regard for the English. Major Gladwin then rose to reply to him, and +immediately informed him that he was aware of his plot and his murderous +intentions. Pontiac denied it; but Major Gladwin stepped to the chief, +and drawing aside his blanket, exposed his rifle cut short, which left +Pontiac and his chiefs without a word to say in reply. Major Gladwin +then desired Pontiac to quit the fort immediately, as otherwise he +should not be able to restrain the indignation of the soldiers, who +would immolate him and all his followers who were outside of the fort. +Pontiac and his chiefs did not wait for a second intimation, but made +all the haste they could to get outside of the gates."</p> + +<p>"Was it prudent in Major Gladwin to allow Pontiac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> and his chiefs to +leave, after they had come into the fort with an intent to murder him +and his men?" said Henry Campbell. "Would not the Major have been +justified in detaining them?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly think he would have been, and so did my uncle, but Major +Gladwin thought otherwise. He said that he had promised safe conduct and +protection to and from the fort before he was aware of the conspiracy; +and, having made a promise, his honor would not allow him to depart from +it."</p> + +<p>"At all events, the Major, if he erred, erred on the right side," +observed Alfred. "I think myself that he was too scrupulous, and that I +in his place should have detained some of them, if not Pontiac himself, +as a hostage for the good behavior of the rest of the tribes."</p> + +<p>"The result proved that if Major Gladwin had done so he would have done +wisely; for the next day Pontiac, not at all disarmed by Major Gladwin's +clemency, made a most furious attack upon the fort. Every stratagem was +resorted to, but the attack failed. Pontiac then invested it, cut off +all their supplies, and the garrison was reduced to great distress. But +I must break off now, for here we are at Trois Rivières, where we shall +remain for the night, I hope you will not find your accommodations very +uncomfortable, Mrs. Campbell: I fear as we advance you will have to put +up with worse."</p> + +<p>"And we are fully prepared for it, Captain Sinclair," replied Mr. +Campbell; "but my wife and my nieces have too much good sense to expect +London hotels in the wilds of Canada."</p> + +<p>The <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> were now on shore, and the party landed to pass the night +at the small stockaded village of Trois Rivières.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>Captain Sinclair having stated that they would have a longer journey on +the following day, and that it would be advisable to start as soon as +possible, they rose at daylight, and in half an hour had breakfasted and +were again in the boats. Soon after they had pushed into the stream and +hoisted the sails, for the wind was fair, Mr. Campbell inquired how far +they had to go on that day?</p> + +<p>"About fifty miles if we possibly can," replied Captain Sinclair. "We +have made seventy-two miles in the first two days; but from here to +Montreal, it is about ninety, and we are anxious to get the best part +over to-day, so that we may land on a cleared spot which we know of, and +that I feel quite sure in; for, I regret to say you must trust to your +tents and your own bedding for the night, as there is no habitation +large enough to receive us on the river's side, any where near where we +wish to arrive."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Captain Sinclair, we shall sleep very well, I dare say," +replied Mrs. Campbell; "but where do all the rest of the party +sleep?—there is only one tent."</p> + +<p>"Oh! never mind the rest of the party; we are used to it, and your +gentlemen won't mind it; some will sleep in the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, some at the +fire, some will watch and not sleep at all."</p> + +<p>After some further conversation, Mary Percival observed to Captain +Sinclair: "You had not, I believe, Captain Sinclair, quite finished your +account of Pontiac where you left off yesterday, at the time when he was +blocking the fort at Detroit. Will you oblige us by stating what +afterward took place?"</p> + +<p>"With great pleasure, Miss Percival. There was great difficulty in +relieving the fort, as all communication had been cut off; at last the +Governor sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Dalyell, who contrived to throw +himself in the fort with about two hundred and fifty men. He shortly +afterward sallied out to attack the intrenchments of the Indians, but +Pontiac having received intelligence of his intention, laid an ambuscade +for him, beat back the troops<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> with great loss, and poor Dalyell fell in +the combat, that took place near a bridge which still goes by the name +of Bloody Bridge. Pontiac cut off the head of Captain Dalyell, and set +it upon a post."</p> + +<p>"So much for Major Gladwin's extreme sense of honor," exclaimed Alfred; +"had he detained Pontiac as a prisoner, nothing of this would have +happened."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Sinclair, "it was +letting loose a wolf; but Major Gladwin thought he was doing what was +right, and therefore can not be well blamed. After this defeat, the +investment was more strict than ever, and the garrison suffered +dreadfully. Several vessels which were sent out to supply the garrison +fell into the hands of Pontiac, who treated the men very cruelly. What +with the loss of men and constant watching, as well as the want of +provisions, the garrison was reduced to the greatest privations. At last +a schooner came off with supplies, which Pontiac, as usual, attacked +with his warriors in their canoes. The schooner was obliged to stand out +again, but the Indians followed, and by their incessant fire killed or +wounded almost every man on board her, and at length boarded and took +possession. As they were climbing up the shrouds and over the gunnel of +the vessel, the captain of the vessel, who was a most determined man, +and resolved not to fall into the hands of the Indians, called out to +the gunner to set fire to the magazine, and blow them all up together. +This order was heard by one of Pontiac's chiefs acquainted with English; +he cried out to one of the other Indians, and sprang away from the +vessel; the other Indians followed him, and hurried away in their +canoes, or by swimming as fast as they could from the vessel. The +captain took advantage of the wind and arrived safe at the fort; and +thus was the garrison relieved and those in the fort saved from +destruction by the courage of this one man."</p> + +<p>"You say that Pontiac is now dead, at least Martin Super told us so. How +did he die, Captain Sinclair?" inquired Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"He was killed by an Indian, but it is difficult to say why. For many +years he had made friends with us and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> he had received a liberal pension +from the Government; but it appears that his hatred against the English +had again broken out, and in a council held by the Indians, he proposed +assailing us anew. After he had spoken, an Indian buried his knife in +his heart, but whether to gratify a private animosity or to avoid a +further warfare with those who had always thinned their tribes, it is +difficult to ascertain. One thing is certain, that most of the Indian +animosity against the English is buried with him."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary Percival, "for taking so much +trouble. I think Pontiac's history is a very interesting one."</p> + +<p>"There was much to admire and much to deplore in his character, and we +must not judge the Indian too harshly. He was formed for command, and +possessed great courage and skill in all his arrangements, independent +of his having the tact to keep all the Lake tribes of Indians +combined,—no very easy task. That he should have endeavored to drive us +away from those lands of which he considered himself (and very correctly +too) as the sovereign, is not to be wondered at, especially as our +encroachments daily increased. The great fault of his character, in our +eyes, was his treachery; but we must remember that the whole art of +Indian warfare is based upon stratagem."</p> + +<p>"But his attacking the fort after he had been so generously dismissed +when his intentions were known, was surely very base," remarked Mrs. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"What we consider a generous dismissal, he probably mistook for folly +and weakness. The Indians have no idea of generosity in warfare. Had +Pontiac been shot, he would have died bravely, and he had no idea that, +because Major Gladwin did not think proper to take his life, he was +therefore bound to let us remain in possession of his lands. But +whatever treachery the Indians consider allowable and proper in warfare, +it is not a portion of the Indian character; for at any other time his +hospitality and good faith are not to be doubted, if he pledges himself +for your safety. It is a pity that they are not Christians. Surely it +would make a great improvement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> in a character which, even in its +unenlightened state, has in it much to be admired.</p> + +<p>"When the form of worship and creed is simple, it is difficult to make +converts, and the Indian is a clear reasoner. I once had a conversation +with one of the chiefs on the subject. After we had conversed for some +time, he said, 'You believe in one God—so do we; you call him by one +name—we call him another; we don't speak the same language, that is the +reason. You say, suppose you do good, you go to the land of Good +Spirits—we say so too. Then Indians and Yangees (that is English) both +try to gain the same object, only try in not the same way. Now I think +it much better that, as we all go along together, that every man paddle +his own canoe. That is my thought.'"</p> + +<p>"It is, as you say, Captain Sinclair, difficult to argue with men who +look so straight forward and are so practical in their ideas. +Nevertheless," said Mrs. Campbell, "a false creed must often lead to +false conduct; and whatever is estimable in the Indian character would +be strengthened and improved by the infusion of Christian principles and +Christian hopes,—so that I must still consider it very desirable that +the Indians should become Christians,—and I trust that by judicious and +discreet measures such a result may gradually be brought about."</p> + +<p>It was two hours before sunset when they arrived at the spot at which +they intended passing the night; they landed, and some of the soldiers +were employed in setting up the tent on a dry hillock, while others +collected logs of wood for the fire. Martin Super brought on shore the +bedding, and, assisted by Alfred and Henry, placed it in the tent. +Captain Sinclair's canteen provided sufficient articles to enable them +to make tea, and in less than half an hour the kettle was on the fire. +As soon as they had partaken of these refreshments and the contents of a +basket of provisions procured at Trois Rivières, the ladies retired for +the night. Captain Sinclair stationed sentinels at different posts as a +security from any intruders, and then the remainder of the troops with +the other males composing the party lay down with their feet toward a +large fire, composed of two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> trunks of trees, which blazed for +many yards in height. In a short time all was quiet, and all were in +repose except the sentinels, the sergeant and corporal, and Captain +Sinclair, who relieved each other.</p> + +<p>The night passed without any disturbance, and the next morning they +re-embarked and pursued their course. Before sunset they arrived at the +town of Montreal, where it was arranged that they should wait a day. Mr. +Campbell had a few purchases to make here, which he completed. It had +been his intention also, to procure two of the small Canadian horses, +but by the advice of Captain Sinclair he abandoned the idea. Captain +Sinclair pointed out to him, that having no forage or means of +subsistence for the animals, they would be a great expense to him during +the first year without being of much use; and further, that in all +probability, when the garrison was relieved at Fort Frontignac on the +following year, the officers would be too glad to part with their horses +at a lower price than what they could be purchased for at Montreal. +Having a letter of introduction to the Governor, they received every +attention. The society was almost wholly French; and many of the +inhabitants called out of politeness, or to gratify their curiosity. The +French ladies shrugged up their shoulders, and exclaimed, "Est-il +possible?" when they heard that the Campbells were about to proceed to +such a distant spot and settle upon it. The French gentlemen told the +Miss Campbells that it was a great sacrifice to bury so much beauty in +the wilderness; but what they said had little effect upon any of the +party. Captain Sinclair offered to remain another day if Mr. Campbell +wished it; but, on the contrary, he was anxious to arrive as soon as +possible at his destination; and the following morning they again +embarked, having now about three hundred and sixty miles to ascend +against the current and the occasional rapids. It would take too much +space if I were to narrate all that took place during their difficult +ascent; how they were sometimes obliged to land and carry the cargoes of +the boats; how one or two <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> were upset and some of their stores +lost; and how their privations increased on each following day of their +journey.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> I have too much to relate to enter into this portion of the +narrative, although there might be much interest in the detail; it will +be sufficient to say that, after sixteen days of some peril and much +fatigue, and of considerable suffering from the clouds of musquitoes +which assailed them during the night, they were landed safely at Fort +Frontignac, and treated with every attention by the commandant, who had +received letters from the Governor of Quebec, desiring him to do all +that he possibly could to serve them. The commandant, Colonel Forster, +had shown Mr. Campbell and his party the rooms which had been provided +for them, and now, for the first time after many days, they found +themselves all together and alone.</p> + +<p>After a short conversation, in which they canvassed and commented upon +the kindness which they had received, and the difficulties which they +had, in consequence, surmounted, during their long and tedious journey +to Quebec, Mr. Campbell observed: "My dear wife and children, we have +thus far proceeded without serious casualty: it has pleased the Almighty +to conduct us safely over a boisterous sea, to keep our spirits up by +providing us with unexpected friends and support, and we now have +arrived within a few miles of our destination. But let us not suppose +that our perils and difficulties are terminated; on the contrary, +without wishing to dishearten you, I feel that they are about to +commence. We have much privation, much fatigue, and, perhaps, much +danger to encounter, before we can expect to be in comfort or in +security; but we must put our trust in that gracious Providence which +has hitherto so mercifully preserved us, and at the same time not relax +in our own energy and industry, which must ever accompany our faith in +the Divine aid. It is long since we have had an opportunity of being +gathered together and alone. Let us seize this opportunity of pouring +out our thanks to God for his mercies already vouchsafed, and praying +for a continuance of his protection. Even in the wilderness, let us walk +with Him, trust in Him, and ever keep Him in our thoughts. We must bear +in mind that this entire life is but a pilgrimage; that if, during its +course, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> should meet with affliction or distress, it is His +appointment, and designed undoubtedly for our good. It is our wisdom, as +well as duty to submit patiently to whatever may befall us, never losing +our courage or becoming disheartened by suffering, but trusting to the +mercy and power of Him who can and will, at His own good time, deliver +us from evil." Mr. Campbell kneeled down, surrounded by his family, and, +in a fervent and feeling address poured forth his thanksgiving for past +mercies and humble solicitation for further assistance. So powerful and +so eloquent were his words, that the tears coursed down the cheeks of +his wife and nieces; and when he had finished, all their hearts were so +full, that they retired to their beds without further exchange of words +than receiving his blessing, and wishing each other good-night.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>The party were so refreshed by once more sleeping upon good beds, that +they were up and dressed very early, and shortly after seven o'clock +were all collected upon the rampart of the fort, surveying the +landscape, which was indeed very picturesque and beautiful. Before them, +to their left, the lake was spread, an inland sea, lost in the horizon, +now quite calm, and near to the shores studded with small islands +covered with verdant foliage, and appearing as if they floated upon the +transparent water. To the westward, and in front of them, were the +clearings belonging to the fort, backed with the distant woods: a herd +of cattle were grazing on a portion of the cleared land; the other was +divided off by a snake fence, as it is termed, and was under +cultivation. Here and there a log-building was raised as a shelter for +the animals during the winter, and at half a mile's distance was a small +fort, surrounded with high palisades, intended as a place of retreat and +security for those who might be in charge of the cattle, in case of +danger or surprise. Close to the fort, a rapid stream, now from the +freshets overflowing its banks, poured down its waters into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> lake, +running its course through a variety of shrubs and larches and +occasional elms which lined its banks. The sun shone bright—the +woodpeckers flew from tree to tree, or clung to the rails of the +fences—the belted kingfisher darted up and down over the running +stream—and the chirping and wild notes of various birds were heard on +every side of them.</p> + +<p>"This is very beautiful, is it not?" said Mrs. Campbell; "surely it can +not be so great a hardship to live in a spot like this?"</p> + +<p>"Not if it were always so, perhaps, madam," said Colonel Forster, who +had joined the party as Mrs. Campbell made the observation. "But Canada +in the month of June is very different from Canada in the month of +January. That we find our life monotonous in this fort, separated as we +are from the rest of the world, I admit, and the winters are so long and +severe as to tire our patience; but soldiers must do their duty, whether +burning under the tropics or freezing in the wilds of Canada. It can not +be a very agreeable life, when even the report of danger near to us +becomes a pleasurable feeling from the excitement it causes for the +moment.</p> + +<p>"I have been talking, Mr. Campbell, with Captain Sinclair, and find you +have much to do before the short summer is over, to be ready to meet the +coming winter; more than you can well do with your limited means. I am +happy that my instructions from the Governor will permit me to be of +service to you. I propose that the ladies shall remain here, while you, +with such assistance as I can give you, proceed to your allotment and +prepare for their reception."</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks for your kind offer, Colonel—but no, no, we will all +go together," interrupted Mrs. Campbell; "we can be useful, and we will +remain in the tents till the house is built. Do not say a word more, +Colonel Forster, that is decided; although I again return you many +thanks for your kind offer."</p> + +<p>"If such is the case, I have only to observe that I shall send a fatigue +party of twelve men, which I can well spare for a few weeks, to assist +you in your labors," replied Colonel Forster. "Their remuneration will +not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> put you to a very great expense. Captain Sinclair has volunteered +to take charge of it."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, sir," replied Mr. Campbell; "and as you observe that we +have no time to lose, with your permission we will start to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall not dissuade you," replied the commandant, "although +I did hope that I should have had the pleasure of your company for a +little longer. You are aware that I have the Governor's directions to +supply you with cattle from our own stock, at a fair price. I hardly +need say that you may select as you please."</p> + +<p>"And I," said Captain Sinclair, who had been in conversation with Mary +Percival, and who now addressed Mr. Campbell, "have been making another +collection for you among my brother-officers, which you were not +provided with, and will find very useful, I may say absolutely +necessary."</p> + +<p>"What may that be, Captain Sinclair?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"A variety of dogs of every description. I have a pack of five; and, +although not quite so handsome as your pet dogs in England, you will +find them well acquainted with the country, and do their duty well. I +have a pointer, a bull-dog, two terriers, and a fox-hound—all of them +of good courage, and ready to attack catamount, wolf, lynx, or even a +bear, if required."</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, a very valuable present," replied Mr. Campbell, "and you +have our sincere thanks."</p> + +<p>"The cows you had better select before you go, unless you prefer that I +should do it for you," observed Colonel Forster. "They shall be driven +over in a day or two, as I presume the ladies will wish to have milk. By +the by, Mr. Campbell, I must let you into a secret. The wild onions +which grow so plentiful in this country, and which the cattle are very +fond of, give a very unpleasant taste to the milk. You may remove it by +heating the milk as soon as it has been drawn from the cows."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, Colonel, for your information," replied Mr. Campbell, "for +I certainly have no great partiality to the flavor of onions in milk."</p> + +<p>A summons to breakfast broke up the conversation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> During the day, Henry +and Alfred, assisted by Captain Sinclair and Martin Super, were very +busy in loading the two <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> with the stores, tents, and various +trunks of linen and other necessaries which they had brought with them. +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with the girls, were equally busy in selecting +and putting on one side articles for immediate use on their arrival at +the allotment. As they were very tired, they went to bed early, that +they might be ready for the next day's re-embarkation; and after +breakfast, having taken leave of the kind commandant and the other +officers, they went down to the shore of the lake, and embarked with +Captain Sinclair in the commandant's boat, which had been prepared for +them. Martin Super, Alfred and Henry, with the five dogs, went on board +of the two <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, which were manned by the corporal and twelve +soldiers, lent by the commandant to Mr. Campbell. The weather was +beautifully fine, and they set off in high spirits. The distance by +water was not more three miles, although by land it was nearly five, and +in half an hour they entered the cove adjoining to which the allotment +lay.</p> + +<p>"There is the spot, Mrs. Campbell, which is to be your future +residence," said Captain Sinclair, pointing with his hand; "you observe +where that brook runs down into the lake, that is your eastern boundary; +the land on the other side is the property of the old hunter we have +spoken of. You see his little log-hut, not much bigger than an Indian +lodge, and the patch of Indian corn now sprung out of the ground which +is inclosed by the fence. This portion appears not to be of any use to +him, as he has no cattle of any kind, unless indeed they have gone into +the bush; but I think some of our men said that he lived entirely by the +chase, and that he has an Indian wife."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Emma Percival, laughing, "female society is what we never +calculated upon. What is the man's name?"</p> + +<p>"Malachi Bone," replied Captain Sinclair. "I presume you expect Mrs. +Bone to call first?"</p> + +<p>"She ought to do so, if she knows the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">usage</span> of society," replied Emma; +"but if she does not, I think I shall waive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> ceremony and go and see +her. I have great curiosity to make acquaintance with an Indian squaw."</p> + +<p>"You may be surprised to hear me say so, Miss Emma, but I assure you, +without having ever seen her, that you will find her perfectly well +bred. All the Indian women are—their characters are a compound of +simplicity and reserve.—Keep the boat's head more to the right, Selby, +we will land close to that little knoll."</p> + +<p>The commandant's boat had pulled much faster, and was a long way ahead +of the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>. In a few minutes afterward they had all disembarked +and were standing on the knoll, surveying their new property. A portion +of about thirty acres, running along the shore of the lake, was what is +termed natural prairie, or meadow of short fine grass; the land +immediately behind the meadow was covered with brushwood for about three +hundred yards, and then rose a dark and impervious front of high timber +which completely confined the landscape. The allotment belonging to the +old hunter, on the opposite side of the brook, contained about the same +portion of natural meadow, and was in other respects but a continuation +of the portion belonging to Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Martin Super, as soon as he had come up to the party on the +knoll, for the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> had now arrived, "I reckon, Mr. Campbell, that +you are in luck to have this piece of grass. It would have taken no few +blows of the ax to have cleared it away out of such a wood as that +behind us. Why, it is as good as a fortune to a new settler."</p> + +<p>"I think it is, Martin," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, now to work as soon as you please, for a day is a day, and +must not be lost. I'll go to the wood with five or six of the men who +can handle an ax, and begin to cut down, leaving you and the captain +there to decide where the house is to be; the other soldiers will be +putting up the tents all ready for to-night, for you must not expect a +house over your heads till next full moon."</p> + +<p>In a quarter of an hour all were in motion. Henry and Alfred took their +axes, and followed Martin Super and half of the soldiers, the others +were busy landing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> stores and pitching the tents, while Captain +Sinclair and Mr. Campbell were surveying the ground, that they might +choose a spot for the erection of the house. Mrs. Campbell remained +sitting on the knoll, watching the debarkation of the packages; and +Percival, by her directions, brought her those articles which were for +immediate use. Mary and Emma Percival, accompanied by John, as they had +no task allotted to them, walked up the side of the stream toward the +wood.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had my box," said John, who had been watching the running +water.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want your box, John?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"For my hooks in my box," replied John.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you see any fish in this small stream?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied John, walking on before them.</p> + +<p>Mary and Emma followed him, now and then stopping to pick a flower +unknown to them: when they overtook John, he was standing immovable, +pointing to a figure on the other side of the stream, as fixed and +motionless as himself.</p> + +<p>The girls started back as they beheld a tall, gaunt man, dressed in deer +hides, who stood leaning upon a long gun with his eyes fixed upon them. +His face was browned and weather-beaten—indeed so dark that it was +difficult to say if he were of the Indian race or not.</p> + +<p>"It must be a hunter, Emma," said Mary Percival; "he is not dressed like +the Indians we saw at Quebec."</p> + +<p>"It must be," replied Emma; "won't he speak?"</p> + +<p>"We will wait and see," replied Mary. They did wait for a minute or +more, but the man neither spoke nor shifted his position.</p> + +<p>"I will speak to him, Mary," said Emma at last. "My good man, you are +Malachi Bone, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"That's my name," replied the hunter in a deep voice; "and who on earth +are you, and what are you doing here? Is it a frolic from the fort, or +what is it, that causes all this disturbance?"</p> + +<p>"Disturbance!—why we don't make a great deal of noise; no, it's no +frolic; we are come to settle here, and shall be your neighbors."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 415px;"> +<img src="images/illus-066.png" width="415" height="600" alt="Malachi." title="Malachi. P. 88." /> +<span class="caption">MALACHI. P. 88.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>"To settle here!—why, what on earth do you mean, young woman? Settle +here!—not you, surely."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, we are. Don't you know Martin Super, the trapper? He is +with us, and now at work in the woods getting ready for raising the +house, as you call it.—Do you know, Mary," said Emma in a low tone to +her sister, "I'm almost afraid of that man, although I do speak so +boldly."</p> + +<p>"Martin Super—yes, I know him," replied the hunter, who without any +more ceremony threw his gun into the hollow of his arm, turned round, +and walked away in the direction of his own hut.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mary," observed Emma, after a pause of a few seconds, during +which they watched the receding form of the hunter, "the old gentleman +is not over-polite. Suppose we go back and narrate our first adventure?"</p> + +<p>"Let us walk up to where Alfred and Martin Super are at work, and tell +them," replied Mary.</p> + +<p>They soon gained the spot where the men were felling the trees, and made +known to Alfred and Martin what had taken place.</p> + +<p>"He is angered, miss," observed Martin; "I guessed as much; well, if he +don't like it he must squat elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean squat elsewhere?"</p> + +<p>"I mean, miss, that if he don't like company so near him he must shift +and build his wigwam further off."</p> + +<p>"But, why should he not like company? I should have imagined that it +would be agreeable rather than otherwise," replied Mary Percival.</p> + +<p>"You may think so, miss; but Malachi Bone thinks otherwise; and it's +natural; a man who has lived all his life in the woods, all alone, his +eye never resting, his ear ever watching; catching at every sound, even +to the breaking of a twig or the falling of a leaf; sleeping with his +finger on his trigger and one eye half open, gets used to no company but +his own, and can't abide it. I recollect the time that I could not. Why, +miss, when a man hasn't spoken a word perhaps for months, talking is a +fatigue, and, when he hasn't heard a word spoken for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> months, listening +is as bad. It's all custom, miss, and Malachi, as I guessed, don't like +it, and so he's <span class="italic">rily</span> and angered. I will go see him after the work is +over."</p> + +<p>"But he has a wife, Martin, has he not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but she's an Indian wife, Master Alfred, and Indian wives don't +speak unless they're spoken to."</p> + +<p>"What a recommendation," said Alfred, laughing; "I really think I shall +look after an Indian wife, Emma."</p> + +<p>"I think you had better," replied Emma. "You'd be certain of a quiet +house,—when <em>you</em> were out of it,—and when at home, you would have all +the talk to yourself, which is just what you like. Come, Mary, let us +leave him to dream of his squaw."</p> + +<p>The men selected by the commandant of the fort were well used to handle +the ax; before dusk, many trees had been felled, and were ready for +sawing into lengths. The tents had all been pitched: those for the +Campbells on the knoll we have spoken of; Captain Sinclair's and that +for the soldiers about a hundred yards distant; the fires were lighted, +and as the dinner had been cold, a hot supper was prepared by Martin and +Mrs. Campbell, assisted by the girls and the younger boys. After supper +they all retired to an early bed; Captain Sinclair having put a man as +sentry, and the dogs having been tied at different places, that they +might give the alarm if there was any danger; which, however, was not +anticipated, as the Indians had for some time been very quiet in the +neighborhood of Fort Frontignac.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning, when they assembled at breakfast, after Mr. Campbell +had read the prayers, Mary Percival said, "Did you hear that strange and +loud noise last night? I was very much startled with it; but, as nobody +said a word, I held my tongue."</p> + +<p>"Nobody said a word, because every body was fast asleep, I presume," +said Alfred; "I heard nothing."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>"It was like the sound of cart-wheels at a distance, with whistling and +hissing," continued Mary.</p> + +<p>"I think I can explain it to you, as I was up during the night, Miss +Percival," said Captain Sinclair. "It is a noise you must expect every +night during the summer season; but one to which you will soon be +accustomed."</p> + +<p>"Why, what was it?"</p> + +<p>"Frogs,—nothing more; except, indeed, the hissing, which, I believe, is +made by the lizards. They will serenade you every night. I only hope you +will not be disturbed by any thing more dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that such small creatures can make such a din?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; when thousands join in the concert; I may say millions."</p> + +<p>"Well, I thank you for the explanation, Captain Sinclair, as it has been +some relief to my mind."</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Martin (we shall for the future leave out his surname) +informed Mr. Campbell that he had seen Malachi Bone, the hunter, who had +expressed great dissatisfaction at their arrival, and his determination +to quit the place if they remained.</p> + +<p>"Surely, he hardly expects us to quit the place to please him?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Martin; "but if he were cankered in disposition, which I +will say Malachi is not, he might make it very unpleasant for you to +remain, by bringing the Indians about you."</p> + +<p>"Surely, he would not do that?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think he would," replied Martin; "because, you see, it's +just as easy for him to go further off."</p> + +<p>"But why should we drive him away from his property any more than we +leave our own?" observed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"He says he won't be crowded, ma'am; he can't bear to be crowded."</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a river between us."</p> + +<p>"So there is, ma'am, but still that's his feeling. I said to him, that +if he would go, I dared say Mr. Campbell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> would buy his allotment of +him, and he seems to be quite willing to part with it."</p> + +<p>"It would be a great addition to your property, Mr. Campbell," observed +Captain Sinclair. "In the first place, you would have the whole of the +prairie and the right of the river on both sides, apparently of no +consequence now, but as the country fills up, most valuable."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "as I presume we shall remain here, or, at +all events, those who survive me will, till the country fills up, I +shall be most happy to make any arrangement with Bone for the purchase +of his property."</p> + +<p>"I'll have some more talk with him, sir,'" replied Martin.</p> + +<p>The second day was passed as was the first, in making preparations for +erecting the house, which, now that they had obtained such unexpected +help, was, by the advice of Captain Sinclair, considerably enlarged +beyond the size originally intended. As Mr. Campbell paid the soldiers +employed a certain sum per day for their labor, he had less scruple in +employing them longer. Two of them were good carpenters, and a sawpit +had been dug, that they might prepare the doors and the frames for the +window-sashes which Mr. Campbell had taken the precaution to bring with +him. On the third day, a boat arrived from the fort bringing the men's +rations and a present of two fine bucks from the commandant. Captain +Sinclair went in the boat to procure some articles which he required, +and returned in the evening. The weather continued fine, and in the +course of a week, a great deal of timber was cut and squared. During +this time, Martin had several meetings with the old hunter, and it was +agreed that he should sell his property to Mr. Campbell. Money he +appeared to care little about—indeed it was useless to him; gunpowder, +lead, flints, blankets, and tobacco, were the principal articles +requested in the barter; the amount, however, was not precisely settled. +An intimacy had been struck up between the old hunter and John; in what +manner it was difficult to imagine, as they both were very sparing of +their words; but this was certain, that John had contrived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> to get +across the stream somehow or another, and was now seldom at home to his +meals. Martin reported that he was in the lodge of the old hunter, and +that he could come to no harm; so Mrs. Campbell was satisfied.</p> + +<p>"But what does he do there, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell, as they were +clearing away the table after supper.</p> + +<p>"Just nothing but look at the squaw, or at Malachi cleaning his gun, or +any thing else he may see. He never speaks, that I know of, and that's +why he suits old Malachi."</p> + +<p>"He brought home a whole basket of trout this afternoon," observed Mary; +"so he is not quite idle."</p> + +<p>"No, miss; he's fishing at daylight, and gives one-half to you and the +other to old Bone. He'll make a crack hunter one of these days, as old +Malachi says. He can draw the bead on the old man's rifle in good style +already, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"I mean that he can fire pretty true, ma'am, although it's a heavy gun +for him to lift; a smaller one would do better for him."</p> + +<p>"But is he not too young to be trusted with a gun, uncle?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"No, miss," interrupted Martin, "you can't be too young here; the sooner +a boy is useful the better; and the boy with a gun is almost as good as +a man; for the gun kills equally as well if pointed true. Master +Percival must have his gun as soon as I am at leisure to teach him."</p> + +<p>"I wish you were at leisure now, Martin," cried Percival.</p> + +<p>"You forget, aunt, that you promised to learn to load and fire a rifle +yourself," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"No. I do not; and I intend to keep my word, as soon as there is time; +but John is so very young."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mary, I suppose we must enlist too?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we'll be the female rifle brigade," replied Mary, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I really quite like the idea," continued Emma; "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> will put up with no +impertinence, recollect, Alfred; excite my displeasure, and I shall take +down my rifle."</p> + +<p>"I suspect you will do more execution with your eyes, Emma," replied +Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Not upon a catamount, as Martin calls it. Pray what is a catamount?"</p> + +<p>"A painter, miss."</p> + +<p>"Oh, now I know; a catamount is a painter, a painter is a leopard or a +panther.—As I live, uncle, here comes the old hunter, with John +trotting at his heels. I thought he would come at last. The visit is to +me, I'm sure, for when we first met he was dumb with astonishment."</p> + +<p>"He well might be," observed Captain Sinclair; "he has not often met +with such objects as you and your sister in the woods."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Emma; "an English squaw must be rather a rarity."</p> + +<p>As she said this, old Malachi Bone came up, and seated himself, without +speaking, placing his rifle between his knees.</p> + +<p>"Your servant, sir," said Mr. Campbell; "I hope you are well."</p> + +<p>"What on earth makes you come here?" said Bone, looking round him. "You +are not fit for the wilderness! Winter will arrive soon; and then you go +back, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"No, we shall not," replied Alfred, "for we have nowhere to go back to; +besides, the people are too crowded where we came from, so we came here +for more room."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you'll crowd <em>me</em>," replied the hunter, "so I'll go further."</p> + +<p>"Well, Malachi, the gentleman will pay you for your clearing."</p> + +<p>"I told you so," said Martin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did; but I'd rather not have seen him or his goods."</p> + +<p>"By goods, I suppose you mean us about you?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"No, girl, I didn't mean you. I meant gunpowder and the like."</p> + +<p>"I think, Emma, you are comprehended in the last word," said Alfred.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>"That is more than you are, then, for he did not mention lead," retorted +Emma.</p> + +<p>"Martin Super, you know I did specify lead on the paper," said Malachi +Bone.</p> + +<p>"You did, and you shall have it," said Mr. Campbell. "Say what your +terms are now, and I will close with you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll leave that to Martin and you, stranger. I clear out +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow; and where do you go to?"</p> + +<p>Malachi Bone pointed to the westward.</p> + +<p>"You'll not hear my rifle," said the old hunter, after a pause; "but I'm +thinking you'll never stay here. You don't know what an Ingen's life is; +it ain't fit for the like of you. No, there's not one of you, 'cept this +boy," continued Malachi, putting his hand on John's head, "that's fit +for the woods. Let him come to me. I'll make a hunter of him; won't I, +Martin?"</p> + +<p>"That you will, if they'll spare him to you."</p> + +<p>"We can not spare him altogether," replied Mr. Campbell, "but he shall +visit you, if you wish it."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a promise; and I won't go so far as I thought I would. He +has a good eye; I'll come for him."</p> + +<p>The old man then rose up, and walked away, John following him, without +exchanging a word with any of the party.</p> + +<p>"My dear Campbell," said his wife, "what do you intend to do about John? +You do not intend that the hunter should take him with him?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell; "but I see no reason why he +should not be with him occasionally."</p> + +<p>"It will be a very good thing for him to be so," said Martin. "If I may +advise, let the boy come and go. The old man has taken a fancy to him, +and will teach him his woodcraft. It's as well to make a friend of +Malachi Bone."</p> + +<p>"Why, what good can he do us?" inquired Henry.</p> + +<p>"A friend in need is a friend indeed, sir; and a friend in the +wilderness is not to be thrown away. Old Malachi is going further out, +and if danger occurs, we shall know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> it from him, for the sake of the +boy, and have his help too, if we need it."</p> + +<p>"There is much good sense in Martin Super's remarks, Mr. Campbell," +observed Captain Sinclair. "You will then have Malachi Bone as an +advanced guard, and the fort to fall back upon, if necessary to +retreat."</p> + +<p>"And, perhaps, the most useful education which he can receive to prepare +him for his future life will be from the old hunter."</p> + +<p>"The only one which he will take to kindly, at all events," observed +Henry.</p> + +<p>"Let him go, sir; let him go," said Martin.</p> + +<p>"I will give no positive answer, Martin," replied Mr. Campbell. "At all +events, I will permit him to visit the old man; there can be no +objection to that;—but it is bedtime."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>We must pass over six weeks, during which the labor was continued +without intermission, and the house was raised, of logs, squared and +well fitted; the windows and doors were also put in, and the roof well +covered in with large squares of birch-bark, firmly fixed on the +rafters. The house consisted of one large room, as a dining-room, and +the kitchen, with a floor of well-beaten clay, a smaller room, as a +sitting-room, and three bedrooms, all of which were floored; one of the +largest of them fitted all round with bed-places against the walls, in +the same way as on board of packets; this room was for the four boys, +and had two spare bed-places in it. The others, which were for the two +girls and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, were much smaller. But before the house +was half built, a large outhouse adjoining to it had been raised to hold +the stores which Mr. Campbell had brought with him, with a rough granary +made above the store-room. The interior of the house was not yet fitted +up, although the furniture had been put in, and the family slept in it, +rough as it was, in preference to the tents, as they were very much +annoyed with musquitoes. The stores were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> now safe from the weather, and +they had a roof over their heads, which was the grand object that was to +be obtained. The carpenters were still very busy fitting up the interior +of the house, and the other men were splitting rails for a snake-fence +and also selecting small timber for raising a high palisade round the +premises. Martin had not been idle. The site of the house was just where +the brushwood joined to the prairie, and Martin had been clearing it +away and stacking it, and also collecting wood for winter fuel. It had +been decided that the four cows, which had been driven round from the +fort, should be housed during the winter in the small building on the +other side of the stream, which had belonged to Malachi Bone, as it was +surrounded with a high snake-fence, and sufficiently large to hold them +and even more. The commandant had very kindly selected the most quiet +cows to milk, and Mary and Emma Percival had already entered upon their +duties: the milk had been put into the store-house until a dairy could +be built up. A very neat bridge had been thrown across the stream, and +every morning the two girls, generally attended by Henry, Alfred, or +Captain Sinclair, crossed over, and soon became expert in their new +vocation as dairy-maids. Altogether, things began to wear a promising +appearance. Henry and Mr. Campbell had dug up as fast as Martin and +Alfred cleared away the brushwood, and the garden had already been +cropped with such few articles as could be put in at the season. The +commandant had some pigs ready for the settlers as soon as they were +ready to receive them, and had more than once come up in the boats to +ascertain their progress and to offer any advice that he might consider +useful.</p> + +<p>We must not, however, forget Malachi Bone. The day after Bone had come +to Mr. Campbell, Emma perceived him going away into the woods, with his +rifle, followed by her cousin John, and being very curious to see his +Indian wife, she persuaded Alfred and Captain Sinclair to accompany her +and Mary to the other side of the stream. The great point was to know +where to cross it, but as John had found out the means of so doing, it +was to be presumed that there was a passage, and they set off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> to look +for it. They found that, about half a mile up the stream, which there +ran through the wood, a large tree had been blown down and laid across +it, and with the assistance of the young men, Mary and Emma passed it +without much difficulty; they then turned back by the side of the stream +until they approached the lodge of old Malachi. As they walked toward +it, they could not perceive any one stirring; but at last a dog of the +Indian breed began to bark; still nobody came out, and they arrived at +the door of the lodge where the dog stood; when, sitting on the floor, +they perceived the Indian girl whom they were in search of. She was very +busy sewing a pair of moccasins out of deer leather. She appeared +startled when she first saw Alfred; but when she perceived that the +young ladies were with him, her confidence returned. She slightly bowed +her head, and continued her work.</p> + +<p>"How very young she is," said Emma; "why she can not be more than +eighteen years old."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if she is so much," replied Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"She has a very modest, unaffected look, has she not, Alfred?" said +Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I think there is something very prepossessing in her countenance."</p> + +<p>"She is too young a wife for the old hunter, at all events," observed +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That is not unusual among the Indians," said Captain Sinclair; "a very +old chief will often have three or four young wives; they are to be +considered more in the light of his servants than any thing else."</p> + +<p>"But she must think us very rude to talk and stare at her in this +manner; I suppose she can not speak English."</p> + +<p>"I will speak to her in her own language, if she is a Chippeway or of +any of the tribes about here, for they all have the same dialect," said +Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair addressed her in the Indian language, and the Indian +girl replied in a very soft voice.</p> + +<p>"She says her husband is gone to bring home venison."</p> + +<p>"Tell her we are coming to live here, and will give her any thing she +wants."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 366px;"> +<img src="images/illus-076.png" width="366" height="600" alt="Malachi and his wife." title="Malachi and his wife." /> +<span class="caption">MALACHI AND HIS WIFE. P. 104.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>Captain Sinclair again addressed her, and received her answer.</p> + +<p>"She says that you are beautiful flowers, but not the wild flowers of +the country, and that the cold winter will kill you."</p> + +<p>"Tell her she will find us alive next summer," said Emma; "and, Captain +Sinclair, give her this brooch of mine, and tell her to wear it for my +sake."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair gave the message and the ornament to the Indian girl, +who replied, as she looked up and smiled at Emma,</p> + +<p>"That she would never forget the beautiful lily who was so kind to the +little strawberry-plant."</p> + +<p>"Really her language is poetical and beautiful," observed Mary; "I have +nothing to give her—Oh! yes, I have; here is my ivory needle-case, with +some needles in it. Tell her it will be of use to her when she sews her +moccasins. Open it and show her what is inside."</p> + +<p>"She says that she will be able to work faster and better, and wishes to +look at your foot, that she may be grateful; so put your foot out, Miss +Percival."</p> + +<p>Mary did so; the Indian girl examined it, and smiled and nodded her +head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Captain Sinclair, tell her that the little boy who is gone with her +husband is our cousin."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair reported her answer, which was, "He will be a great +hunter and bring home plenty of game by and by."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, tell her that we shall always be happy to see her, and that +we are going home again; and ask her name, and tell her our own."</p> + +<p>As Captain Sinclair interpreted, the Indian girl pronounced after him +the names of Mary and Emma very distinctly. "She has your names, you +perceive; her own, translated into English, is the strawberry-plant."</p> + +<p>They then nodded farewell to the young Indian, and returned home. On the +second evening after their visit, as they were at supper, the +conversation turned upon the hunter and his young Indian wife, when +John, who had, as usual, been silent, suddenly broke out with "Goes away +to-morrow!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>"They go away to-morrow, John; where do they go to?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Woods," replied John.</p> + +<p>John was correct in his statement. Early the next morning, Malachi Bone, +with his rifle on his shoulder and an ax in his hand, was seen crossing +the prairie belonging to Mr. Campbell, followed by his wife, who was +bent double under her burden, which was composed of all the property +which the old hunter possessed, tied up in blankets. He had left word +the night before with Martin that he would come back in a few days, as +soon as he had squatted, to settle the bargain for his allotment of land +made over to Mr. Campbell. This was just before they had sat down to +breakfast, and then they observed that John was missing.</p> + +<p>"He was here just before prayers," said Mrs. Campbell. "He must have +slipped away after the old hunter."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of that, ma'am," said Martin. "He will go with him and find +out where he puts up his wigwam, and after that he will come back to +you; so there is no use sending after him; indeed, we don't know which +way to send."</p> + +<p>Martin was right. Two days afterward, John made his appearance again, +and remained very quietly at home during the whole week, catching fish +in the stream or practicing with a bow and some arrows, which he had +obtained from Malachi Bone; but the boy appeared to be more taciturn and +more fond of being alone than even he was before; still he was obedient +and kind toward his mother and cousins, and was fond of Percival's +company when he went to take trout from the stream.</p> + +<p>It was of course after the departure of the old hunter, that his log hut +was taken possession of and the cows put into the meadow in front of it.</p> + +<p>As the work became more advanced, Martin went out every day, accompanied +either by Alfred or Henry, in pursuit of game. Mr. Campbell had procured +an ample supply of ammunition, as well as the rifles, at Quebec. These +had been unpacked, and the young men were becoming daily more expert. Up +to the present, the supply of game from the fort, and occasional fresh +beef, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> not rendered it necessary for Mr. Campbell to have much +recourse to his barrels of salt-pork, but still it was necessary that a +supply should be procured as often as possible, that they might husband +their stores. Martin was a certain shot if within distance, and they +seldom returned without a deer slung between them. The garden had been +cleared away and the pig-sties were finished, but there was still the +most arduous portion of the work to commence, which was the felling of +the trees to clear the land for the growing of corn. In this they could +expect no assistance from the garrison; indeed, from the indulgence of +the commandant, they had already obtained more than they could have +expected. It was in the last days of August, and the men lent from the +garrison were about to be recalled; the houses were completed, the +palisade had been raised round the house and store-house, and the men +were now required at the fort. Captain Sinclair received several hints +from the commandant that he must use all convenient dispatch, and limit +his absence to a few days more, which he trusted would be sufficient. +Captain Sinclair, who would willingly have remained in society which he +so much valued, and who had now become almost one of the family, found +that he could make no more excuses. He reported that he would be ready +to return on the 1st of September, and on the morning of that day the +<span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> arrived to take back the soldiers, and bring the pigs and +fowls which had been promised. Mr. Campbell settled his account with +Captain Sinclair, by a draft upon his banker at Quebec, for the pay of +the soldiers, the cows, and the pigs. The Captain then took leave of his +friends with mutual regret, and many kind adieus, and, accompanied by +the whole of the family to the beach, embarked with all his men and +pulled away for the fort.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>The Campbells remained for some time on the shore of the lake watching +the receding <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> until they turned round the point and were hidden +from their sight, and then they walked back to the house. But few words +were exchanged as they returned, for they felt a sensation of loneliness +from having parted with so many of their own countrymen; not that they +were, with the exception of Captain Sinclair, companions, but that, +accustomed to the sight of the soldiers at their labor, the spot now +appeared depopulated by their departure. Martin, too, and John, were +both absent; the latter had been two days away, and Martin, who had not +yet found time to ascertain where old Malachi Bone had fixed his new +abode, had gone out in search of it, and to mention to him Mr. +Campbell's wishes as to John's visits to him, which were becoming more +frequent and more lengthened than Mr. Campbell wished them to be.</p> + +<p>When they entered the house, they all sat down, and Mr. Campbell then +first spoke.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dearest wife, here we are at last, left to ourselves and to +our own resources. I am not at all doubtful of our doing well, if we +exert ourselves, as it is our duty to do. I grant that we may have +hardship to combat, difficulties to overcome, occasional disappointments +and losses to bear up against; but let us recollect how greatly we have, +through Providence, been already assisted and encouraged, how much help +we have received, and how much kindness we have experienced. Surely we +ought to feel most grateful to Heaven for blessings already vouchsafed +to us, and ought to have a firm and lively faith in <em>Him</em>, who has +hitherto so kindly watched over us. Let us not then repine or feel +dispirited, but with grateful hearts do our duty cheerfully in that +state of life to which it has pleased <em>Him</em> to call us."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, my dear husband," replied Mrs. Campbell; "nay, I can +say with sincerity, that I am not sorry we are now left to our own +exertions, and that we have an opportunity of proving that we <em>can</em> do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +without the assistance of others. Up to the present, our trial has been +nothing; indeed, I can not fancy to myself what our trials are to be. +Come they may, but from what quarter I can not form an idea: should they +come, however, I trust we shall show our gratitude for the past +blessings, and our faith derived from past deliverances, by a devout +submission to whatever the Almighty may please to try or chasten us +with."</p> + +<p>"Right, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell; "we will hope for the best; we +are as much under his protection here in the wilderness, as we were at +Wexton Park; we were just as liable to all the ills which flesh is heir +to when we were living in opulence and luxury as we are now in this +log-house; but we are, I thank God, not so liable in our present +position to forget Him, who so bountifully provides for us and in His +wisdom ordereth all our ways. Most truly has the poet said—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Well," observed Emma, after a pause, as if to give a more lively turn +to the conversation. "I wonder what <em>my</em> trials are to be! Depend upon +it, the cow will kick down the pail, or the butter won't come!"</p> + +<p>"Or you'll get chapped fingers in the winter-time, and chilblains on +your feet," continued Mary.</p> + +<p>"That will be bad; but Captain Sinclair says that if we don't take care +we shall be frost-bitten and lose the tips of our noses."</p> + +<p>"That would be hard upon you, Emma, for you've none to spare," said +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have, Alfred, so yours ought to go first."</p> + +<p>"We must look after one another's noses, they say, as we can not tell if +our own is in danger; and if we see a white spot upon another's nose, we +must take a bit of snow and rub it well; a little delicate attention +peculiar to this climate."</p> + +<p>"I can not say that I do not know what my trials are to be," said +Alfred—"that is, trials certain; nor can Henry either. When I look at +the enormous trunks of these trees, which we have to cut down with our +axes, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> feel positive that it will be a hard trial before we master +them. Don't you think so, Harry?"</p> + +<p>"I have made up my mind to have at least two new skins upon my hands +before the winter comes on," replied Henry; "but felling timber was not +a part of my university education—"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alfred; "Oxford don't teach that; now, my university +education—"</p> + +<p>"Your university education!" cried Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes, mine; I have sailed all over the universe, and that I call a +university education; but here come Martin and John. Why, John has got a +gun on his shoulder! He must have taken it with him when he last +disappeared."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that by this time he knows how to use it, Alfred," said Mrs. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," replied Martin, who had entered; "he knows well how to use +and how to take care of it and take care of himself. I let him bring it +home on purpose to watch him. He has fired and loaded twice as we came +back, and has killed this woodchuck," continued Martin, throwing the +dead animal on the floor. "Old Malachi has taught him well, and he has +not forgotten his lessons."</p> + +<p>"What animal is that, Martin,—is it good to eat?" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"Not very good, sir; it's an animal that burrows in the ground, and is +very hurtful in a garden or to the young maize, and we always shoot them +when we meet with them."</p> + +<p>"It's a pity that it's not good to eat."</p> + +<p>"Oh! you may eat it, sir; I don't say it's not fit to eat; but there are +other things much better."</p> + +<p>"That's quite sufficient for me, Martin," said Emma, "I shall not taste +him; at all events, not this time, whatever I may have to do by and by."</p> + +<p>"I spoke to old Bone, sir, and he says it's all right; that he won't +keep him more than a day without first sending him to you to ask leave."</p> + +<p>"That's all I require, Martin."</p> + +<p>"They have been out these two days, and had only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> just come home when I +arrived there. The game was still in the wood."</p> + +<p>"I shot a deer," said John.</p> + +<p>"You shot a deer, John!" said Alfred; "why what a useful fellow you will +be by and by."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; old Malachi told me that the boy had shot a deer, and that he +would bring it here to-morrow himself."</p> + +<p>"I am glad of that, for I wish to speak with him," said Mr. Campbell; +"but, John, how came you to take the rifle with you without leave?"</p> + +<p>John made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Answer me, John."</p> + +<p>"Can't shoot without a gun," replied John.</p> + +<p>"No, you can not; but the rifle is not yours."</p> + +<p>"Give it to me, and I'll shoot every thing for dinner," replied John.</p> + +<p>"I think you had better do so, father," said Henry in a low voice; "the +temptation will be too strong."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Henry," replied Mr. Campbell, aside. "Now, John, I will +give you the rifle, if you will promise me to ask leave when you want to +go, and always come back at the time you have promised."</p> + +<p>"I'll always tell when I go, if mamma will always let me go, and I'll +always come back when I promise, if—"</p> + +<p>"If what?"</p> + +<p>"If I've killed," replied John.</p> + +<p>"He means, sir, that if he is on the track when his leave is out, that +he must follow it; but as soon as he has either lost his game, or killed +it, he will then come home. That's the feeling of a true hunter, sir, +and you must not balk it."</p> + +<p>"Very true; well then, John, recollect that you promise."</p> + +<p>"Martin," said Percival, "when are you to teach me to fire the rifle?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very soon now, sir; but the soldiers are gone, and as soon as you +can hit the mark, you shall go out with Mr. Alfred or me."</p> + +<p>"And when are we to learn, Mary?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"I will teach you, cousins," said Alfred, "and give a lesson to my +honored mother."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>"Well, we'll all learn," replied Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done to-morrow, Martin?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, there are boards enough to make a fishing-punt, and if you +and Mr. Henry will help me, I think we shall have one made in two or +three days. The lake is full of fish, and it's a pity not to have some +while the weather is so fine."</p> + +<p>"I've plenty of lines in the store-room," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Master Percival would soon learn to fish by himself," said Martin, "and +then he'll bring as much as Master John."</p> + +<p>"Fish!" said John with disdain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, fish, Master John," replied Martin; "a good hunter is always a +good fisherman, and don't despise them, for they often give him a meal +when he would otherwise go to sleep with an empty stomach."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll catch fish with pleasure," cried Percival, "only I must +sometimes go out hunting."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear boy, and we must sometimes go to bed; and I think it is +high time now, as we must all be up to-morrow at daylight."</p> + +<p>The next morning, Mary and Emma set off to milk the cows—not, as usual, +attended by some of the young men, for Henry and Alfred were busy, and +Captain Sinclair was gone. As they crossed the bridge, Mary observed to +her sister,</p> + +<p>"No more gentlemen to attend us lady milk-maids, Emma."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Emma; "our avocation is losing all its charms, and a +pleasure now almost settles down to a duty."</p> + +<p>"Alfred and Henry are with Martin about the fishing-boat," observed +Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Emma; "but I fancy, Mary, you were thinking more of +Captain Sinclair than of your cousins."</p> + +<p>"That is very true, Emma; I was thinking of him," replied Mary, gravely. +"You don't know how I feel his absence."</p> + +<p>"I can imagine it, though, my dearest Mary. Shall we soon see him +again?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>"I do not know; but I think not for three or four weeks, for certain. +All that can be spared from the fort are gone haymaking, and if he is +one of the officers sent with the men, of course he will be absent, and +if he is left in the fort, he will be obliged to remain there; so there +is no chance of seeing him until the haymaking is over."</p> + +<p>"Where is it that they go to make hay, Mary?"</p> + +<p>"You know they have only a sufficiency of pasture round the fort for the +cattle during the summer, so they go along by the borders of the lake +and islands, where they know there are patches of clear land, cut the +grass down, make the hay, and collect it all in the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, and carry +it to the fort to be stacked for the winter. This prairie was their best +help, but now they have lost it."</p> + +<p>"But Colonel Forster has promised papa sufficient hay for the cows for +this winter; indeed, we could not have fed them unless he had done so. +Depend upon it, Captain Sinclair will bring the hay round, and then we +shall see him again, Mary; but we must walk after our own cows now. No +one to drive them for us. If Alfred had any manners he might have come."</p> + +<p>"And why not Henry, Emma?" said Mary, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't know; Alfred came into my thoughts first."</p> + +<p>"I believe that really was the case," replied Mary. "Now I'm even with +you; so go along and milk your cows."</p> + +<p>"It's all very well, miss," replied Emma, laughing; "but wait till I +have learned to fire my rifle, and then you'll be more cautious of what +you say."</p> + +<p>On their return home, they found the old hunter with a fine buck lying +before him. Mr. Campbell was out with the boys and Martin, who wished +his opinion as to the size of the punt.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mr. Bone?" said Mary. "Did John shoot that deer?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and shot it as well as an old hunter, and the creatur' can hardly +lift the gun to his shoulder. Which of you is named Mary?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>"I am," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Then I've something for you," said old Malachi, pulling from out of his +vest a small parcel, wrapped up in thin bark, and handing it to her; +"it's a present from the Strawberry."</p> + +<p>Mary opened the bark, and found inside of it a pair of moccasins, very +prettily worked in stained porcupines' quills.</p> + +<p>"Oh! how beautiful, and how kind of her! Tell her that I thank her, and +love her very much. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I'll tell her. Where's the boy?"</p> + +<p>"Who, John? I think he's gone up the stream to take some trout; he'll be +back to breakfast, and that's just ready. Come, Emma, we must go in with +the milk."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell and those who were with him soon returned.</p> + +<p>Malachi Bone then stated that he had brought the buck killed by John; +and that, if it suited, he would carry back with him a keg of gunpowder +and some lead; that he wished Mr. Campbell to calculate what he +considered due to him for the property, and let him take it out in +goods, as he required them.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you name your own price, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"How can I name a price? It was given to me and cost nothing. I leave it +all to you and Martin Super, as I said before."</p> + +<p>"You show great confidence in me, I must say. Well Bone, I will not +cheat you; but I am afraid you will be a long while before you are paid, +if you only take it out in goods from my store-house."</p> + +<p>"All the better, master; they will last till I die, and then what's left +will do for the boy here," replied the old hunter, putting his hand upon +John's head.</p> + +<p>"Bone," said Mr. Campbell, "I have no objection to the boy going with +you occasionally; but I cannot permit him to be away always. I want him +to come home the day after he has been to see you."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's not reasonable, master. We go out after the game; who +knows where we may find it, how long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> we may look for it, and how far it +may lead us? Must we give up the chase when close upon it, because +time's up? That'll never do. I want to make the boy a hunter, and he +must learn to sleep out and do every thing else as concerns a hunter to +do. You must let him be with me longer, and, if you please, when he +comes back keep him longer; but if you wish him to be a man, the more he +stays with me the better. He shall know all the Indian craft, I promise +you, and the winter after this he shall take beavers and bring you the +skins."</p> + +<p>"I think, sir," observed Martin, "it's all in reason what the old man +says."</p> + +<p>"And so do I," said Alfred; "after all, it's only sending John to +school. Let him go, father, and have him home for the holidays."</p> + +<p>"I'll always come to you, when I can," said John.</p> + +<p>"I am more satisfied at John's saying that than you might imagine," said +Mrs. Campbell; "John is an honest boy, and does not say what he does not +mean."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, if you have no objection, I'm sure I will not raise any +more."</p> + +<p>"I think I shall gain more by John's affection than by compulsion, my +dear husband. He says he will always come when he can, and I believe +him; I have, therefore, no objection to let him stay with Malachi Bone, +at all events for a week or so at a time."</p> + +<p>"But his education, my dear."</p> + +<p>"He is certain to learn nothing now that this fever for the woods, if I +may so call it, is upon him. He will, perhaps, be more teachable a year +or two hence. You must be aware that we have no common disposition to +deal with in that child; and however my maternal feelings may oppose my +judgment, it is still strong enough to make me feel that my decision is +for his benefit. We must not here put the value upon a <em>finished</em> +education which we used to do. Let us give him every advantage which the +peculiarity of his position will allow us to do; but we are now in the +woods, to a certain degree returned to a state of nature, and the first +and most important knowledge, is to learn to gain our livelihoods."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, I think you are correct in your views<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> on the subject, +and therefore, John, you may go to school with Malachi Bone; come to see +us when you can, and I expect you to turn out the Nimrod of the west."</p> + +<p>Old Malachi stared at the conclusion of this speech; Alfred observed his +surprise, and burst into a fit of laughter. He then said, "The English +of all that is, Malachi, that my brother John has my father's leave to +go with you, and you're to make a man of him."</p> + +<p>"He who made him must make a man of him," replied Bone: "I can only make +him a good hunter, and that I will, if he and I are spared. Now, master, +if Martin will give me the powder and lead, I'll be off again. Is the +boy to go?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you desire it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "come, John, and wish me +good-by and remember your promise."</p> + +<p>John bade farewell to the whole party with all due decorum, and then +trotted off after his schoolmaster.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>In the course of a week or two, things found their places, and the +family began to feel more comfortable; there was also a degree of +regularity and order established, which could not be effected during the +time that the soldiers were employed. Mrs. Campbell and Percival took +upon them all the work inside and round the house during the morning; +the latter attending to the pigs and fowls, bringing water from the +stream, etc. Mary and Emma milked the cows, and then assisted their +mother during the day in washing, etc. Mr. Campbell instructed Percival, +worked in the garden, and assisted as much as he could, where he might +be found most useful; but he was too advanced in years to be capable of +much hard work. Alfred, Henry and Martin Super were employed during the +whole day, clearing the ground and felling the timber; but every other +day, one or the other went out with Martin into the woods to procure +food, bringing home with them deer, wild turkeys, or other game, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +with an occasional piece of salt-pork, and the fish caught, were +sufficient for the family consumption. Percival was now permitted to +accompany the hunting-parties, and became somewhat expert with his +rifle. He required only a little more practice to be a good shot.</p> + +<p>They rose at half-past five,—were all assembled to prayers at half-past +seven, previous to going to breakfast. They dined at one, and had a +combined tea and supper at seven o'clock. At nine o'clock they went to +bed. Before two months had passed away, every thing went on like +clock-work. One day passed away so like another, that the time flew +imperceptibly, and they wondered that the Sundays came round so quick. +They had now time to unpack every thing, and the books which Mrs. +Campbell had selected and brought with her had been arranged on shelves +in the parlor; but they had not as yet much time to read, and were +generally too tired before the day was over not to long for their beds. +Indeed, the only interval of leisure during the whole day was between +supper and bedtime, when they would all assemble in the kitchen and talk +over the little matters which had occurred either during the chase or at +home. But they were now in the middle of October, the winter was fast +approaching, and they looked forward to it with some degree of anxiety.</p> + +<p>John had kept his word very sacredly. He was occasionally absent for +three or four days, but if so, he invariably came to the house and +remained a day or two at home. Alfred and Martin had long finished the +fishing-punt, and as it was light and easily handled, Henry and Percival +went out in it together, and when he was at home, John with Percival +would pull half a mile out into the lake, and soon return with a supply +of large fish. Mrs. Campbell, therefore, had salted down sufficient to +fill a barrel for the winter's use.</p> + +<p>One day they were agreeably surprised by Captain Sinclair making his +appearance. He had walked from the fort, to communicate to them that the +hay had been gathered in, and would be sent round in a day or two, and +also to inform Mr. Campbell that the commandant could spare them a young +bullock, if he would wish to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> have it for winter provision. This offer +was gladly accepted, and, having partaken of their dinner, Captain +Sinclair was obliged to return to the fort, he being that night on duty. +Previous, however, to his return, he had some conversation with Martin +Super, unobserved by the rest of the party. Afterward he invited Alfred +to walk back to the fort with him and return on the following morning. +Alfred agreed to do so; and two hours before it was dark they set off, +and as soon as they were on the opposite side of the brook they were +joined by Martin Super.</p> + +<p>"My reasons for asking you to come back with me were twofold," said +Captain Sinclair to Alfred. "In the first place, I wish you to know the +road to the fort, in case it should be necessary to make any +communication during the winter; secondly, I wished to have some +conversation with you and Martin relative to information we have +received about the Indians. I can tell you privately what I was +unwilling to say before your mother and cousins, as it would put them in +a state of restlessness and anxiety, which could avail nothing and only +annoy them. The fact is, we have for some time had information that the +Indians have held several councils. It does not appear, however, that +they have as yet decided upon any thing, although it is certain that +they have gathered together in large numbers not very far from the fort. +No doubt but they have French emissaries inciting them to attack us. +From what we can learn, however, they have not agreed among themselves, +and, therefore, in all probability, nothing will be attempted until next +year, for the autumn is their season for sending out their war-parties. +At the same time, there is no security, for there is a great difference +between a junction of all the tribes against us and a common Indian +war-party. We must, therefore, be on the alert, for we have a +treacherous foe to deal with. And now, for your portion of interest in +this affair. If they attack the fort, which they may do, notwithstanding +our treaties with them, you of course would not be safe where you are; +but, unfortunately, you may not be safe even if we are not molested; for +when the Indians collect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> (even though the main body decide upon +nothing), there are always bands of five to ten Indians, who, having +left their homes, will not return if they can help it without some +booty; these are not regular warriors, or if warriors, not much esteemed +by the tribe; in fact, they are the worst classes of Indians, who are +mere robbers and banditti. You must, therefore, be on the look-out for +the visits of these people. It is fortunate for you that old Bone has +shifted his abode so many miles to the westward, and that you are on +such good terms with him, as it is not very likely that any party of +Indians can approach you without his meeting with them or their track +during his excursions."</p> + +<p>"That's true, Captain," observed Martin, "and I will go myself and put +him on his guard."</p> + +<p>"But, will they not attack him before they attack us?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Why should they?" replied Sinclair. "He is as much an Indian almost as +they are, and is well known to most of them. Besides, what would they +gain by attacking him? These straggling parties, which you have to fear, +are in quest of booty, and will not expect to find any thing in his +wigwam except a few furs. No; they will not venture near his rifle, +which they fear, when there is nothing to be obtained by so doing. I +mention this to you, Alfred, that you may be prepared and keep a sharp +look-out. It is very possible that nothing of the kind may occur, and +that the winter may pass away without any danger, and I mention it to +you and Martin, as I consider that the probabilities are not sufficient +to warrant your alarming the other members of the family, especially the +female portion of it. How far you may consider it advisable to +communicate what has now passed to your father and Henry, it is for you +to decide. As I said before, I do not imagine you have much to fear from +a general attack; it is too late in the year, and we know that the +councils broke up without coming to any decision. You have only to fear +the attempts of small parties of marauders, and I think you are quite +strong enough, both in numbers and in the defenses of your habitation, +to resist them successfully, if you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> not suddenly surprised. That is +all that you have to fear; and now that you are warned, half the danger +is over."</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain, I'll leave you now," said Martin, "I shall go over to +old Malachi's to-night; for it occurs to me that any attack is more +likely to be made between the fall of the leaf and the fall of the snow +than afterward; so the sooner I put Malachi on his guard the better. +Good-evening, sir."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair and Alfred continued on their way to the fort. They had +contracted a strong friendship, and were unreserved in their +communication with each other.</p> + +<p>"You have no idea, Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "how the peculiar +position of your family occupies my thoughts. It really appears almost +like madness on the part of your father to bring out your mother and +cousins to such a place, and expose them to such privations and dangers. +I can hardly sleep at night when I reflect upon what might happen."</p> + +<p>"I believe," replied Alfred, "that if my father had known exactly what +his present position would have been, he would have decided upon not +leaving England; but you must remember that he came out with much +encouragement, and the idea that he would only have to surmount the +hardships of a settler in clearing his land. He fancied, at least I'm +sure <em>we</em> all did, that we should be surrounded by other farmers, and +have no particular danger to incur. When at Quebec, he found that all +the good land near to civilization was bought up or possessed by the +French Canadians; he was advised to come further westward by those who +ought to have been aware of what he would have to encounter by so doing, +but who probably considered that the danger we now apprehend no longer +existed; and he has followed that advice which I have no doubt was +conscientiously given. I think myself, even now, that the advice was +good, although we are accompanied by females who have been brought up in +so different a sphere, and for whose welfare such anxiety is shown; for +observe now, Sinclair, suppose, without having made our acquaintance, +you had heard that some settlers, men and women, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> located themselves +where we have done; should you have considered it so very rash an +undertaking, presuming that they were merely farmers and farmers' +wives?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly should have troubled myself very little about them, and +perhaps not thought upon the subject."</p> + +<p>"But supposing the subject had been brought up at the fort, and you had +heard the parties had a stockaded house and four or five good rifles to +depend upon, with the fort to fall back upon if necessary?"</p> + +<p>"I admit that I should most probably have said that they were in a +position to protect themselves."</p> + +<p>"Most assuredly, and therefore we are equally so; your feelings of +interest in us magnify the danger, and I therefore trust that in future +you will not allow our position to interfere with your night's rest."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could bring myself to that feeling of security, Alfred. If I +were only with you, to assist in protecting them, I should sleep sound +enough."</p> + +<p>"Then you would not be of much use as a watch," replied Alfred, +laughing. "Never fear, Sinclair, we shall do well enough," continued he, +"and if we require assistance, we will apply for you and a party of +soldiers."</p> + +<p>"There would be much difficulty about that, Alfred," replied Captain +Sinclair; "if there were sufficient danger to make that demand upon the +commandant, the same danger would require that he should not weaken his +force in the fort; no, you would have to retreat to the fort, and leave +your farm to the mercy of the Indians."</p> + +<p>"It certainly would be the wisest plan of the two," replied Alfred; "at +all events, we could send the women. But the Indians have not come yet, +and we must hope that they will not."</p> + +<p>The conversation was then changed, and in half an hour more they arrived +at the fort.</p> + +<p>Alfred was welcomed at the fort by Colonel Forster, with whom he was a +great favorite. The Colonel could not refrain from expressing his +opinion, that Mr. Campbell and his family were in a position of some +danger, and lamenting that the female portion of the family, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> had +been brought up with such very different prospects, should be so +situated. He even ventured to hint that if Mrs. Campbell and the two +Misses Percival would pass the winter in the fort he would make +arrangements to accommodate them. But Alfred at once replied, that he +was convinced no inducement would persuade his mother or cousins to +leave his father; they had shared his prosperity, and they would cling +to him in adversity; that they all were aware of what they would have to +risk before they came out, and his father preferred a life of honorable +independence attended with danger, to seeking the assistance of others.</p> + +<p>"But still I can not perceive any reason for the ladies remaining to +encounter the danger."</p> + +<p>"The more we are, the stronger we are to repel danger," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"But women surely will only be an incumbrance!"</p> + +<p>"I think differently," replied Alfred. "Young and delicate as my cousins +are, they will not shrink any more than my mother when their services +are required. They now can all of them use a rifle, if required, and to +defend a house, a determined woman is almost as effective as a man. +Depend upon it, if it comes to the necessity, they will do so. You see, +therefore, Colonel, that by taking away our ladies, you will weaken our +force," continued Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear fellow, I will press it no more. Only recollect that I +shall always be ready to send you any assistance when required."</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking, Colonel Forster, that, as we have no horses at +present, if you have any rockets, they might be useful in such a case. +At the distance we are from you a rocket would be seen immediately if +fired at night, and I promise you, that it shall not be fired without +great necessity."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you have mentioned it, Alfred; you shall have a dozen to +take with you. You go back with the boats that carry the hay to-morrow +morning, do you not."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I shall take that opportunity, to save wearing out my shoes, as we +have no cobbler near to us. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> presume it will be the last trip made by +the boats this season?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the Colonel, "the frost will soon set in now. In another +fortnight we shall probably be visited with a heavy fall of snow, and +the ground will then be covered till spring. But I suppose we shall see +or hear from you occasionally?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; as soon as I can push along in my snow-shoes, I will pay you a +visit," replied Alfred, "but I have that art to learn yet."</p> + +<p>The following morning the sky was clear and the day brilliant. The sun +shone upon the dark, scarlet-tinged foliage of the oaks, and through the +transparent yellow leaves of the maple. A slight frost had appeared for +two or three mornings about a month back, and now they were enjoying +what was termed the Indian summer, which is a return of fair and rather +warm weather for a short time previous to the winter setting in.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were busy carrying the hay down to the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, and, +before noon, Alfred bade farewell to Colonel Forster and the other +officers of the fort, and, accompanied by Captain Sinclair, went down to +embark. All was ready, and Alfred stepped into the boat; Captain +Sinclair being on duty and not able to accompany him back.</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail to give directions to the sentries about the rockets, +Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "and so tell your mother and cousins; +and mind to show them how to fire them off from out of the barrel of a +musket. Good-by; God bless you, my dear fellow."</p> + +<p>"Good-by," replied Alfred, as the boats pulled from the shore.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>After Alfred's return from the fort, a few days passed away without any +incident: Martin had paid a visit to Malachi Bone, who had promised that +he would be on the look-out and would give immediate information and +assistance in case of any hostile measures on the part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> the Indians. +He told Martin, that in a few days he would discover what had taken +place and what might be looked forward to. When Martin returned with his +communication, Alfred was satisfied, and did not acquaint any body +except his brother Henry with the information which he had received from +Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>The monotony of their life was, however, broken in upon by the arrival +of a corporal from the fort, who was the bearer of the first dispatches +which they had received since their arrival at the settlement. Letters, +yes letters, not only from Quebec but from England, were announced. The +whole house was in confusion, all crowding round Mr. Campbell while he +unsealed the large packet. First a bundle of English newspapers from the +Governor of Quebec—these were laid aside; a letter from Mr. Campbell's +agent at Quebec—this was on business and could wait his leisure; then +the letters from England—two long, well-filled double letters from Miss +Paterson to Mary and Emma; another from Mr. Campbell's agent in England, +and a large one on foolscap with "On His Majesty's Service," directed to +Mr. Alfred Campbell. Each party seized upon their letters, and hastened +on one side with them. Mrs. Campbell being the only one who had no +correspondent, anxiously watched the countenance of Alfred, who, after a +hasty glance, cried out, "I am confirmed to my rank, my dear mother; I +am a lieutenant in his Majesty's service—huzza! Here's a letter +inclosed from Captain Lumley; I know his handwriting." Alfred received +the congratulations of the whole party, handed the official letter to +his mother, and then commenced the perusal of the one from Captain +Lumley. After a short silence, during which they were all occupied with +their correspondence, Mr. Campbell said, "I also have good news to +communicate to you; Mr. H. writes to me to say, that Mr. Douglas +Campbell, on finding the green-houses and hot-houses so well stocked, +considered that he was bound to pay for the plants; that they have been +valued at seven hundred pounds, and that he has paid that money into my +agent's hands. This is extremely liberal of Mr. Douglas Campbell, and I +certainly did not expect, as I found plants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> there on my taking +possession, that I was entitled to any remuneration for what I left. +However, I am too poor to refuse his offer from any feelings of +delicacy, and shall therefore write and thank him for his generous +behavior." Alfred had read the letter from Captain Lumley, which made +him very thoughtful. The fact was, his promotion and the observations in +Captain Lumley's letter had brought back all his former regret at having +quitted the service, and he was very melancholy in consequence; but as +his cousins read their letters aloud, he gradually recovered his +spirits.</p> + +<p>At last, all the letters were read, and then the newspapers were +distributed. No more work was done that day, and in the evening they all +sat round the kitchen fire and talked over the intelligence they had +received until long after their usual time of retiring to bed.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking, my dear Emily," said Mr. Campbell, the next +morning before they quitted their sleeping-room, "what a very seasonable +supply of money this will be. My funds, as you have seen by the account +of my Quebec agent, were nearly exhausted, and we have many things yet +to procure. We shall require horses next year, and we must increase our +stock in every way; indeed, if we could have another man or two, it +would be very advantageous, as the sooner we clear the ground, the +sooner we shall be independent."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Campbell; besides, we shall now have Alfred's +half-pay, poor fellow, which will help us very much; I have been +thinking more of him than any thing else this night; I watched him when +he read Captain Lumley's letter, and I well understood the cause of his +seriousness for some time afterward; I almost feel inclined to let him +return to his profession; it would be painful parting with him, but the +sacrifice on his part is very great."</p> + +<p>"Still it's his duty," replied Mr. Campbell, "and, moreover, absolutely +necessary at present, that he should remain with us. When we are more +settled and more independent of his assistance we will talk over the +subject."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Mary and Emma had gone out as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> usual to milk the cows. +It was a beautiful clear day, but there was a bracing air which cheered +the spirits, and the sunshine was pleasantly warm in situations +sheltered from the winds; one of the few fine days just before the +rushing in of winter. They had milked their cows, and had just turned +them out again, when they both sat down with their pails before them on +a log, which was in front of Malachi's lodge, now used as a cow-house.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Mary," said Emma, after a pause, "I'm almost sorry that I +have received a letter from Miss Paterson."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, dear Emma!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed it has unsettled me. I did nothing but dream all last +night. Every thing was recalled to my mind—all that I most wished to +forget. I fancied myself again engaged in all the pursuits of our +much-loved home; I was playing the harp, you were accompanying me on the +piano as usual; we walked out in the shrubberies; we took an airing in +the carriage; all the servants were before me; we went to the villages +and to the almshouses; we were in the garden picking dahlias and roses; +I was just going up to dress for a very large dinner-party, and had rung +the bell for Simpson, when I woke up, and found myself in a log-hut, +with my eyes fixed upon the rafters and bark covering of the roof, +thousands of miles from Wexton Hall, and half an hour longer in bed than +a dairy-maid should be."</p> + +<p>"I will confess, my dear Emma, that I passed much such a night; old +associations will rise up again when so forcibly brought to our +remembrance as they have been by Miss Paterson's letters, but I strove +all I could to banish them from my mind, and not indulge in useless +repining."</p> + +<p>"Repine, I do not, Mary, at least, I hope not, but one can not well help +regretting; I can not help remembering, as Macduff says, that 'such +things were.'"</p> + +<p>"He might well say so, Emma; for what had he lost? his wife and all his +children, ruthlessly murdered; but what have we lost in comparison? +nothing—a few luxuries. Have we not health and spirits? Have we not our +kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> uncle and aunt, who have fostered us—our cousins so attached to +us? Had it not been for the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who have +brought us up as their own children, should we, poor orphans, have ever +been partakers of those luxuries which you now regret? Ought we not +rather to thank Heaven that circumstances have enabled us to show some +gratitude for benefits heaped upon us? How much greater are these +privations to my uncle and aunt now that they are so much more advanced +in years, and have been so much longer accustomed to competence and +ease; and shall we repine or even regret, unless it is on their account? +Surely, my dear Emma, not on our own."</p> + +<p>"I feel the truth of all you say, Mary," replied Emma; "nay, all that +you have now said passed in my own mind, and I have argued to myself in +almost the same words, but I fear that I am not quite so much of a +philosopher as you are; and, acknowledging that what you say is correct, +I still have the same feeling—that is, I wish that I had not received +the letter from Miss Paterson."</p> + +<p>"In that wish there can be no harm, for it is only wishing that you may +not be tempted to repine."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, my dear Mary; I am a daughter of Eve," replied Emma, laughing, +and rising from her seat; "I will put away Miss Paterson's letter, and I +dare say in a day or two I shall have forgotten all about it. Dear +Alfred, how glad I am that he is promoted; I shall call him Lieutenant +Campbell till he is sick of it. Come, Mary, or we shall be keeping my +uncle waiting; come, Juno."</p> + +<p>Emma's calling Juno to follow her, reminds me that I have not yet +introduced the dogs to my little readers, and as they will have to play +their parts in our history, I may as well do so at once. Captain +Sinclair, it may be remembered, had procured five dogs for Mr. Campbell +from the officers of the fort,—two terriers, which were named Trim and +Snob; Trim was a small dog and kept in the house, but Snob was a very +powerful bull-terrier, and very savage; a fox-hound bitch, the one which +Emma had just called Juno; Bully, a very fine young bull-dog, and +Sancho, an old pointer. At night, these dogs were tied up: Juno in the +store-house; Bully and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Snob at the door of the house within the +palisade; Trim in doors, and old Sancho at the lodge of Malachi Bone, +where the cows were put in at night. Mr. Campbell found it rather +expensive at first feeding these dogs, but as soon as Martin and his +companions brought home game, there was always plenty for them all. They +were all very sharp and high-couraged dogs, for they had been born in +the fort and had been brought up to hunting every kind of game +indiscriminately; and I need hardly add that they were excellent +watch-dogs, and considered by Mr. Campbell as a great protection. For +the next two days, the family remained rather unsettled; there was so +much news in the newspapers; so many recollections brought up by their +perusal; so much to talk about and discuss, that very little work was +done. The weather, however, was now becoming much colder, and, for the +last two days the sun had not shone. The sky was of one uniform, murky, +solemn gray; and every thing announced that the winter was close at +hand. Martin, who had been hunting, when he came home bid them prepare +for an immediate change in the weather, and his prediction was speedily +verified.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>It was on the Saturday evening, when they had all assembled round the +fire, for it was more cold than it had hitherto been, that the moaning +of the wind among the trees of the forest announced a gale of wind from +the northward.</p> + +<p>"We shall have it soon," observed Martin, "winter mostly comes in with a +gale."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and this appears as if it would be a strong gale," replied Alfred. +"Hark! how the boughs of the trees are sawing and cracking against each +other."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we may get our snow-shoes out of the store-house, John," said +Martin, "and then we shall see how you can get over the ground with them +when you go hunting. You have not shot a moose yet."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"Is the moose the same as the elk, Martin?" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"I do not think it is, sir; yet I've heard both names given to the +animal."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever shot any?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; many a one. They're queer animals; they don't run like the +other deer, but they trot as fast as the others run, so it comes to the +same thing. They are very shy, and difficult to get near, except in the +heavy snow, and then their weight will not allow them to get over it, as +the lighter deer can; they sink up to their shoulders, and flounder +about till they are overtaken. You see, Master Percival, the moose can't +put on snow-shoes like we can, and gives us the advantage over the +animal."</p> + +<p>"Are they dangerous animals, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival.</p> + +<p>"Every large animal is more or less dangerous when it turns to bay, +miss. A moose's horns sometimes weigh fifty pounds, and it is a strong +animal to boot; but it can't do anything when the snow is deep. You'll +find it good eating, at all events, when we bring one in."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring one," said John, who was cleaning his rifle.</p> + +<p>"I dare say you will as soon as you can manage your snow-shoes," replied +Martin. "The wind is getting up higher. I guess you'll not find your way +back to Malachi's lodge, Master John, as you thought to do to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly a dreadful night," observed Mrs. Campbell; "and I feel +the cold very sensibly."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; but as soon as the snow is down, you'll be warmer."</p> + +<p>"It is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "so put away your +work: and, Henry, give me down the Bible."</p> + +<p>During that night the gale increased to almost a hurricane; the trees of +the forest clashed and crackled, groaned and sawed their long arms +against each other, creating an unusual and almost appalling noise; the +wind howled round the palisades and fluttered the strips of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> bark on the +roof, and as they all lay in bed, they could not sleep from the noise +outside, and the increased feeling of cold. It was also the first trial +of this new house in severe weather, and some of the wakeful party were +anxiously watching the result. Toward the morning the storm abated, and +every thing was again quiet. In consequence of the restless night which +they had passed they were not so early as usual. Emma and Mary, when +they came out of their room, found Martin and Alfred up and very busy +with shovels; and, to their astonishment, they perceived that the snow +was at least three feet deep on the ground, and in some places had been +drifted up higher than their heads.</p> + +<p>"Why, Alfred!" cried Emma; "how shall we be able to go after the cows +this morning? This is, indeed, winter come on with little warning."</p> + +<p>"It still snows," observed Mary; "not much, indeed, but the sky is very +black."</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss; we shall have some more of it yet," observed Martin. "Mr. +Campbell and Henry have gone to the store-house for more shovels, for we +must work hard, and clear a footpath, and then get the snow up against +the palisades."</p> + +<p>"What a sudden change," said Emma; "I wish the sky would clear, and then +I should not care."</p> + +<p>"It will to-morrow, Miss Emma, I dare say; but the snow must come down +first."</p> + +<p>Martin and Alfred had only time to clear a path to the store-house. Mr. +Campbell and Henry returned with more shovels, and as soon as breakfast +was over, they commenced work. As for Mary and Emma going to milk the +cows, that was impossible. Martin undertook that task until they had +cleared a pathway to the hunter's lodge, in which the animals were shut +up every night.</p> + +<p>By the advice of Martin, the snow next the palisades was piled up +against the palings like a wall, as high as they could reach or throw +it, by which means they got rid of the snow about the house, and at the +same time formed a barrier against the freezing winds which they had to +expect. All worked hard; Percival and John were of great use, and even +Mrs. Campbell and the girls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> assisted collecting the remainder of the +snow, and clearing it off the window-sills and other parts. By noon the +snow left off falling, the sky cleared up, and the sun shone bright, +although it gave out but little warmth.</p> + +<p>After dinner they renewed their labors, and commenced clearing away a +path to the lodge, where the cows were locked in, and before nightfall +they had accomplished their task as far as the bridge over the stream, +which was about half-way. It had been a day of great fatigue, and they +were glad to retire to rest. Mrs. Campbell and the girls had put an +additional supply of blankets and skins upon the beds, for the cold was +now intense, and the thermometer stood far below the freezing point.</p> + +<p>The following morning they resumed their task; the sky was still +unclouded, and the sun shone out clear and bright. By dinner-time the +path to the cow house had been completed; and the men then employed +themselves in carrying as much fire-wood as they could, before it was +dark, within the palisades.</p> + +<p>"Well," observed Alfred, "now things may go on as usual within doors; +and what have we to do out, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"You must first get on your snow-shoes, and learn to walk in them," +observed Martin; "or otherwise you'll be a prisoner as well as the +ladies. You see, John, you're not at Malachi's lodge."</p> + +<p>"Go to-morrow," replied John.</p> + +<p>"No; not to-morrow, for I must go with you," said Martin; "I can not +trust you for finding your way; and I can not go to-morrow nor the next +day either. We must kill our beef to-morrow; there's no fear but it will +keep all the winter now, and we shall save our hay."</p> + +<p>"My larder is but poorly furnished," observed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, ma'am, we'll soon have something in it, which will save our +beef. In another week you shall have it well stocked."</p> + +<p>"John," said Mr. Campbell, "recollect you must not go away without +Martin."</p> + +<p>"I won't," replied John.</p> + +<p>All the game in the larder having been consumed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> they sat down to salt +pork and some of the fish which had been cured. The latter was +pronounced to be excellent.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of this fish, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"It is called the white-fish," replied Martin, "and I have heard gentry +from the old country say that they have none better, if any so good."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly most excellent," replied Mr. Campbell, "and we will not +forget to have a good provision for next winter, if it please God to +spare our lives."</p> + +<p>"Where were you born, Martin?" said Henry, as they were sitting round +the kitchen fire, as usual in the evening.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Henry, I was born at Quebec. My father was a corporal in the +army under General Wolfe, and was wounded in the great battle fought +between him and the Frenchman Montcalm."</p> + +<p>"In which both generals were killed, but the victory was to us."</p> + +<p>"So I've heard, sir," replied Martin. "My mother was an English woman, +and I was born about four years after the surrender of Quebec. My mother +died soon afterward, but my father was alive about five years ago, I +believe. I can't exactly say, as I was for three or four years in the +employ of the Fur Company, and when I returned, I found that he was +dead."</p> + +<p>"And you have been a hunter all your life?"</p> + +<p>"Not all my life, and not exactly a hunter. I call myself a trapper, but +I still am both. I first was out with the Indians when I was about +fourteen, for you see my father wanted to make me a drummer, and I could +not stand that; so I said to him, 'Father, I won't be a drummer.' +'Well,' says he, 'Martin, you must help yourself, for all my interest +lies in the army.' 'So I will,' says I; 'father, I'm off for the woods.' +'Well,' says he, 'just as you like, Martin.' So one fine day I wished +him good-by, and did not see him again for more than two years."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what took place then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I brought home three or four packages of good skins, and sold them +well. Father was so pleased, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> he talked of turning trapper himself, +but, as I told the old man, a man with a lame leg—for he had been +wounded in the leg and halted—would not make his livelihood by hunting +in the woods of Canada."</p> + +<p>"Was your father still in the army?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, he was not in the army; but he was employed in the +storekeeper's department; they gave him the berth on account of his +wound."</p> + +<p>"Well, go on, Martin."</p> + +<p>"I haven't much more to say, ma'am, I brought home my furs, sold them, +and father helped me to spend the money as long as he was alive, and +very welcome he was to his share. I felt rather queer when I came back +from the Fur Company and found that the old man was dead, for I had +looked forward with pleasure to the old man's welcome, and his enjoying +his frolic with me as usual."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid those frolics were not very wise, Martin."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, they were very foolish, I believe; but I fear it will always +be the case with us trappers. We are like sailors, we do not know what +to do with money when we get it; so we throw it away, and the sooner the +better, for it is our enemy while we have it. I assure you, sir, that I +used to feel quite happy when all my money was gone, and I was setting +off to the woods again. It's a hard life, but a life that unfits you +for any other; a life which you become very fond of. I don't mind being +here with you by way of a change; indeed, as long as there is hunting, +it is almost as good as if I were in the woods, but else I think I shall +die a trapper."</p> + +<p>"But, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "how much more wise would it be to put +your money by, and after a time purchase a farm and settle down a steady +man with property, perhaps married and the father of a family."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it might be; but if I do not like it so well as trapping, I +don't see why I should do so; it would be changing my life to please +others and not myself."</p> + +<p>"That's very true, Martin," said Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Martin may change his mind before he is an old man," replied +Mrs. Campbell. "Dear me! what noise was that?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, +as a melancholy howl was heard without.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>"Only a rascally wolf, ma'am," said Martin; "we must expect the animals +to be about us now that the snow has fallen, and the winter has set in."</p> + +<p>"A wolf! are they not dangerous, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival.</p> + +<p>"That depends, miss, how hungry they may be; but they are not very fond +of attacking a human being; if we had any sheep outside, I fancy that +they would stand a bad chance."</p> + +<p>The howl was repeated, when one or two of the dogs which had been +admitted into the house and were stretched before the fire, roused up +and growled.</p> + +<p>"They hear him, ma'am, and if we were to let them out, would soon be at +him. No, no, John, sit still and put down your rifle; we can't afford to +hurt wolves; their skins won't fetch a half-dollar, and their flesh is +not fit for a clog, let alone a Christian. Let the vermin howl till he +is tired; he'll be off to the woods again before daylight."</p> + +<p>"There is certainly something very melancholy and dreadful to me in that +howl," said Emma; "it frightens me."</p> + +<p>"What, Emma, afraid?" said Alfred, going to her; "why yes, really she +trembles; why, my dear Emma, do you recollect how frightened you and +Mary were at the noise of the frogs when you first came here; you got +used to it very soon, and so you will to the howl of a wolf."</p> + +<p>"There is some difference, Alfred," replied Emma, shuddering as the howl +was repeated. "I don't know how it is," said she, rallying her spirits, +"but I believe it was reading Little Red Riding Hood when I was a child, +which has given me such a horror of a wolf; I shall get over it very +soon, I have no doubt."</p> + +<p>"I must say, that it does not create the most agreeable sensation in my +mind," observed Mrs. Campbell, "but I was aware of what we were to +encounter when we came here, and if it is only to be annoyed with the +cry of a wild beast, we may consider that we get off very cheaply."</p> + +<p>"I should feel much more at ease, if all the rifles were loaded," said +Mary Percival, in her usual quiet way.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/illus-106.png" width="360" height="600" alt="Lady-milkmaids." title="Lady-milkmaids." /> +<span class="caption">LADY-MILKMAIDS. P. 142.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>"And I too," said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, if that will at all relieve your minds, it is easily done," +said Mr. Campbell; "let us all load our rifles, and put them back in +their rests."</p> + +<p>"Mine's loaded," said John.</p> + +<p>"And the rest soon shall be," said Alfred, "even the three appropriated +for your use, mother and cousins. Now don't you feel some satisfaction +in knowing you can load and fire them yourselves? the practice you had +during the fine weather has not been thrown away, has it, dear Emma?"</p> + +<p>"No, it has not, and I am very glad that I did learn it; I am a coward +in apprehension, Alfred, but, perhaps, if I was put to the test, I +should behave better."</p> + +<p>"That I really believe," replied Alfred; "a gale of wind at sea sounds +very awful when down below jerking about in your hammock, but when on +deck, you don't care a fig about it. Now the rifles are all loaded, and +we may go to bed and sleep sound." They did retire to rest, but all +parties did not sleep very sound; the howling of one wolf was answered +by another; Emma and Mary embraced each other, and shuddered as they +heard the sounds, and it was long before they forgot their alarm and +were asleep.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning was bright and clear, and when Emma and Mary went out, +attended by Alfred, to go and milk the cows, although the cold was +intense, every thing looked so brilliant and sparkling in the sunshine +that they regained their spirits. The lake was still unfrozen, and its +waters, which were of an azure blue, contrasted with the whole of the +country covered with snow, and the spruce firs with their branches +loaded presented an alternate layer of pure white and of the darkest +green. Birds there were none to be seen or heard. All was quiet, so +quiet that as they stepped along the path which had been cleared away to +the cow-house, they almost started at the sound of their own voices, +which the atmosphere<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> rendered more peculiarly sonorous and ringing. +Alfred had his rifle on his shoulder, and walked in front of his +cousins.</p> + +<p>"I have come to prove that all your fears are groundless, my dear Emma, +and that you need not have any alarm about a skulking, cowardly wolf," +said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Well, that may be," replied Emma, "but still we are very glad of your +company."</p> + +<p>They arrived at the cow-house without any adventure, let loose Sancho, +who had been tied up, as it was decided that the dog should remain at +home with the others, and proceded to milk the cows. Having finished +that task and supplied them with fodder, Mary Percival observed, as they +were retracing their steps,</p> + +<p>"I must say that it would not only be more convenient but more agreeable +if the cows were kept nearer to the house."</p> + +<p>"It would be certainly," replied Alfred. "It is a pity that there is not +a cow-shed within the palisades; but we have no means of making one at +present. Next year, when my father has purchased his horses and his +sheep, which he talks of doing, we are to build a regular yard and sheds +for all the animals close to the house, and palisaded round as the house +now is, with a passage from one palisade to the other. Then it will be +very convenient; but 'Rome was not built in a day,' as the proverb says; +and we must, therefore, wait another winter."</p> + +<p>"And be devoured by the wolves in the mean time," replied Emma, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are getting over your fright already, Emma."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I feel pretty bold, now I think there is nothing to be afraid of."</p> + +<p>The remainder of the week was passed away in practicing upon the +snow-shoes by the males of the party, the women scarcely ever venturing +out of doors, as the cold was very severe. Mary and Emma were +accompanied by Alfred for the first three or four days; and after that, +notwithstanding that the howling of the wolves was heard every night, +they took courage when they found that the animals never made their +appearance by daylight, and went as before to milk the cows by +themselves. On the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> Saturday, they were in the hopes of seeing old +Malachi Bone, but he did not make his appearance, and John, who could +now get on very well in his snow-shoes, became very impatient. Alfred +and Martin were also very anxious to see the old man, that they might +ascertain if he had made any discoveries relative to the Indians. +Sunday, as usual, was a day of rest from labor; the services were read +by Mr. Campbell, and the evening passed in serious conversation. Mr. +Campbell, although usually in good spirits, was certainly not so on that +evening: whether it was that the severity of the winter which had set in +and the known long duration of it which they had to encounter had an +effect upon his spirits, he was melancholy as well as serious. He more +than once referred to the former residence when in England, which was a +very unusual thing for him to do, and by degrees the conversation was +turned in that direction, and, although no one said so, they all felt +what a change there was in their present position from that which they +had been forced to leave. Mrs. Campbell, who perceived that a gloom was +gathering over the whole party, made several remarks tending to +reconcile them to their present lot, and, after a time Mr. Campbell +observed—</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, my dear children, it may be a divine mercy which has sent you +here to this wilderness; true it is that we are removed from +civilization, and shut up here by a severe winter, deprived of the +enjoyments and pleasures which are to be found in the society which we +were compelled to leave; but let us also bear in mind that we are +removed from the many temptations which might have there assailed us."</p> + +<p>"But still, papa, you would be very glad if circumstances would permit +us to return to England; would you not?" said Percival.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my child, I should, and even if I had remained here so long as to +have become attached to the place and to the isolation which at first is +felt so irksome, I would still return to England and to society, if I +had the means. As Christians, we are not to fly from the world and its +temptations, but to buckle on our armor, and putting our trust in Him +who will protect us, fight the good fight;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> that is, doing our duty in +that state of life to which it shall please God to call us."</p> + +<p>"But if ever we were to return to England, there would be no chance of +our living as we did before we left it, would there, papa?"</p> + +<p>"I see none, my dear boy; but we never know what is in store for us. +Should any of us ever return, I presume it would be to live in a more +humble way; and for my part, I should prefer that it were so, for +although I trust I did not greatly misuse that wealth which I so long +supposed to be mine, I should not be sorry to have much less, and +therefore less responsibility."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, my dear Campbell, imperfect as we all are, I do not believe +that many could have made a better use of it than you did."</p> + +<p>"I thought so at the time, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell, "but since it +has been lost to me, I have often thought that I might have done more +good with it. But the fact is, my dear children, there is nothing so +dangerous to our eternal welfare as great wealth; it tends to harden the +heart by affording the means of constant self-indulgence:—under such +circumstances, man is apt to become selfish, easily satisfied with his +own works, and too proud to see his errors. Did you observe in the +Litany, which I read at this morning's service, how very appropriately +is inserted the prayer, for deliverance under the perils of wealth?—</p> + +<p>"'In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our <em>wealth</em>, in the +hour of death, and in the day of judgment, good Lord deliver us.'</p> + +<p>"Examine this, my dear children: in all time of our tribulation,—that +is in poverty and distress, and perhaps famishing from want (and in few +positions are people so incited to crime), <em>then</em> in all time of our +wealth, evidently and distinctly placing wealth as more dangerous to the +soul's welfare than the extremest poverty and its accompanying +temptations; and observe, only exceeded by the most critical of all +dangerous positions, when all has been done and nothing can be +undone,—the hour of death, followed by the day of judgment."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell ceased speaking, and there was a pause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> for a minute or two +in the conversation, when Mary Percival said, "What, then, my dear +uncle, do you consider as the most enviable position in life?"</p> + +<p>"I consider a moderate independence as the most enviable; not occupied +in trade, as the spirit of barter is too apt to make us bend to that +which is actually fraud. I should say, a country gentleman living on his +own property and among his own tenants, employing the poor around him, +holds a position in which he has the least temptation to do wrong, and +the most opportunities of doing good."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, my dear Campbell," said his wife; "and yet how few +are satisfied even with that lot."</p> + +<p>"Because the craving after wealth is so strong, that every one would +have more than he hath, and few men will be content. The desire of +aggrandizement overcomes and masters us; and yet what can be more absurd +than to witness the care and anxiety of those to gain riches, who have +already more perhaps than is necessary for their wants,—thus 'heaping +up riches, not knowing who may gather them,' and endangering the soul to +obtain that which they must leave behind them when they die. Others +amass wealth, not actuated by the avarice of hoarding it up, but by the +appetite for expending it; who collect unjustly that they may lavish +profusely; these are equally foolish, and how important is that lesson +given in the Scriptures." Mr. Campbell opened the Bible which lay before +him and read—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"And he spake a parable unto them. The ground of a certain rich +man brought forth plentifully.</p> + +<p>"And he said, What shall I do? because I have no room where to +bestow my fruits.</p> + +<p>"And he said: This will I do; I will pull down my barns and build +greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.</p> + +<p>"And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up +for many years, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry.</p> + +<p>"But God said unto him: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be +required of thee."</p></div> + +<p>After a short silence, Mrs. Campbell observed, "I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> often reflected +since I have been here upon what might have been our position had we +decided upon remaining in England. We might at this moment have been in +the greatest distress, even wanting a meal; and I have, therefore, often +thanked God that He left us the means of coming here and providing for +ourselves as we have done, and as I have no doubt shall, with His +blessing, continue to do. How much better off are we at this moment than +many thousands of our countrymen who remain in England! How many are +starving! How many are driven into crime from want! while we have a good +roof over our heads, sufficient clothing and more than sufficient food. +We have, therefore, great reason to thank God for the mercies He has +vouchsafed to us; He has heard our prayer, 'Give us this day our daily +bread.'" "Yes," continued Mr. Campbell, "'Give us this day our daily +bread,' is all that we are taught to ask for; and it comprehends all; +and yet how heartlessly is this pronounced by many of those who do +repeat their daily prayers. So is the blessing asked at meals, which is +by too many considered as a mere matter of form. They forget, that He +who gives can also take away; and in their presumption, suppose their +own ability and exertion to have been the sole means of procuring +themselves a daily supply of food; thanking themselves rather than the +Giver of all good. How many thousands are there who have been supplied +with more than they require from their cradle down to their grave, +without any grateful feeling toward Heaven; considering the butcher and +baker as their providers, and the debt canceled as soon as the bills are +paid. How different must be the feeling of the poor cottager, who is +uncertain whether his labor may procure him and his family a meal for +the morrow, who often suffers privation and hunger, and, what is more +painful, witnesses the sufferings of those he loves. How earnest must be +his prayer when he cries, 'Give us this day our daily bread.'"</p> + +<p>This conversation had a very strong effect upon the party, and when they +retired to rest, which they did shortly after, they laid their heads +upon their pillows not only with resignation, but with thankfulness for +the mercies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> which had been vouchsafed to them, and felt that in the +wilderness they were under the eye of a watchful and gracious +Providence.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>On the Monday morning Alfred and Martin went to the cow-house, and +slaughtered the bullock which they had obtained from the commandant of +the fort. When it was skinned it was cut up, and carried to the +storehouse, where it was hung up for their winter consumption.</p> + +<p>As the party were sitting down to dinner, they were greeted by Captain +Sinclair and a young lieutenant of the garrison. It hardly need be said +that the whole family were delighted to see them. They had come overland +on their snow-shoes, and brought some partridges, or grouse, as they are +sometimes called, which they had shot on their way. Captain Sinclair had +obtained leave from the commandant to come over and see how the +Campbells were getting on. He had no news of any importance, as they had +had no recent communications with Quebec or Montreal; all was well at +the fort, and Colonel Forster had sent his compliments, and begged, if +he could be useful, that they would let him know. Captain Sinclair and +his friend sat down to dinner, and talked more than they ate, asking +questions about every thing.</p> + +<p>"By the by, Mr. Campbell, where have you built your pig-sties?"</p> + +<p>"Inside the palisade, next to the fowl-house."</p> + +<p>"That is well," replied Captain Sinclair, "for otherwise you may be +troubled by the wolves, who are very partial to pork or mutton."</p> + +<p>"We <em>have</em> been troubled with them," replied Emma; "at least with their +howlings at night, which make me tremble as I lie awake in bed."</p> + +<p>"Never mind their howling, Miss Emma; we have plenty of them round the +fort, I can assure you; unless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> attacked, they will not attack you, at +least, I never knew an instance, although I must confess that I have +heard of them."</p> + +<p>"You will, of course, sleep here to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes: we will, if you have a bear or buffalo skin to spare," replied +Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"We will manage it, I have no doubt," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"And if you could manage, Captain Sinclair," said Emma, somewhat archly, +"as you say that they are not dangerous animals, to bring us a few skins +to-night, it would make the matter easy."</p> + +<p>"Emma, how can you talk such nonsense?" cried Mary Percival. "Why should +you ask a guest to undertake such a service? Why have you not proposed +it to Alfred or Henry, or even Martin?"</p> + +<p>"We will both try, if you please," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I must put my veto on any such attempts, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell. +"We have sufficient danger to meet without running into it voluntarily, +and we have no occasion for wolves' skins just now. I shall, however, +venture to ask your assistance to-morrow morning. We wish to haul up the +fishing-punt before the ice sets in on the lake, and we are not +sufficiently strong-handed."</p> + +<p>During the day Captain Sinclair took Alfred aside to know if the old +hunter had obtained any information relative to the Indians. Alfred +replied that they expected him every day, but as yet had not received +any communication from him. Captain Sinclair stated that they were +equally ignorant at the fort as to what had been finally arranged, and +that Colonel Forster was in hopes that the hunter would by this time +have obtained some intelligence.</p> + +<p>"I should not be surprised if Malachi Bone were to come here to-morrow +morning," replied Alfred. "He has been away a long while, and, I am +sure, is as anxious to have John with him as John is impatient to go."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope he will; I shall be glad to have something to tell the +Colonel, as I made the request upon that ground. I believe, however, +that he was very willing that I should find an excuse for coming here, +as he is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> more anxious about your family than I could have supposed. How +well your cousin Mary is looking."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and so is Emma, I think. She has grown half a head since she left +England. By the by, you have to congratulate me on my obtaining my rank +as lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"I do indeed, my dear fellow," replied Captain Sinclair. "They will be +pleased to hear it at the fort. When will you come over?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as I can manage to trot a little faster on these snow-shoes. +If, however, the old hunter does not come to-morrow, I will go to the +fort as soon as he brings us any news."</p> + +<p>The accession to their party made them all very lively, and the evening +passed away very agreeably. At night, Captain Sinclair and Mr. Gwynne +were ushered into the large bedroom, where all the younger male portion +of the family slept, and which, as we before stated, had two spare +bed-places.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Captain Sinclair would have accompanied the Miss +Percivals on their milking expedition, but as his services were required +to haul up the fishing punt, he was obliged to go down, with all the +rest of the men, to assist; Percival and John were the only ones left at +home with Mrs. Campbell. John, after a time, having, as usual, rubbed +down his rifle, threw it on his shoulder, and, calling the dogs which +lay about, sallied forth for a walk, followed by the whole pack except +old Sancho, who invariably accompanied the girls to the cow-house.</p> + +<p>Mary and Emma tripped over the new-beaten snow-path to the cow-house, +merry and cheerful, with their pails in their hands, Emma laughing at +Captain Sinclair's disappointment at not being permitted to accompany +them. They had just arrived at the cow-house, when old Sancho barked +furiously, and sprang to the side of the building behind them, and in a +moment afterward rolled down the snowheap which he had sprung over, +holding on and held fast by a large black wolf. The struggle was not +very long, and during the time that it lasted the girls were so +panic-struck, that they remained like statues within two yards of the +animals. Gradually the old dog was overpowered by the repeated snapping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +bites of the wolf, yet he fought nobly to the last, when he dropped +under the feet of the wolf, his tongue hanging out, and bleeding +profusely and lifeless. As soon as his adversary was overpowered, the +enraged animal, with his feet upon the body of the dog, bristling his +hair and showing his powerful teeth, was evidently about to attack the +young women. Emma threw her arm around Mary's waist, advancing her body +so as to save her sister. Mary attempted the same, and then they +remained waiting in horror for the expected spring of the animal, when +of a sudden the other dogs came rushing forward, cheered on by John, and +flew upon the animal. Their united strength soon tore him down to the +ground, and John coming up, as the wolf defended himself against his new +assailants, put the muzzle of his rifle to the animal's head, and shot +it dead.</p> + +<p>The two sisters had held up during the whole of this alarming struggle; +but as soon as they perceived the wolf was dead and that they were safe, +Mary could stand no longer, and sank down on her knees, supporting her +sister, who had become insensible.</p> + +<p>If John showed gallantry in shooting the wolf, he certainly showed very +little toward his cousins. He looked at Mary, nodded his head toward the +wolf's body, and saying "He's dead," shouldered his rifle, turned round +and walked back to the house.</p> + +<p>On his return he found that the party had just come back from hauling up +the punt, and were waiting the return of the Miss Percivals to go to +breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Was that you who fired just now, John?" said Martin.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied John.</p> + +<p>"What did you fire at?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"A wolf," replied John.</p> + +<p>"A wolf! where?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"At the cow-lodge," replied John.</p> + +<p>"The cow-lodge!" said his father.</p> + +<p>"Yes; killed Sancho!"</p> + +<p>"Killed Sancho! why, Sancho was with your cousins!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied John.</p> + +<p>"Then, where did you leave them?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>"With the wolf," replied John, wiping his rifle very coolly.</p> + +<p>"Merciful Heaven!" cried Mr. Campbell, as Mrs. Campbell turned pale; and +Alfred, Captain Sinclair, Martin, and Henry, seizing their rifles, +darted out from the house, and ran with all speed in the direction of +the cow-house.</p> + +<p>"My poor girls!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Wolf's dead, father," said John.</p> + +<p>"Dead! Why didn't you say so, you naughty boy!" cried Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't asked," replied John.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the other party had gained the cow-house; and, to their +horror, beheld the wolf and dog dead, and the two young women lying on +the snow, close to the two animals; for Mary had fainted away shortly +after John had walked off. They rushed toward the bodies of the two +girls, and soon discovered that they were not hurt. In a short time they +were recovered, and were supported by the young men to the house.</p> + +<p>As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Campbell took them into their room, that +they might rally their spirits, and in a quarter of an hour returned to +the party outside, who eagerly inquired how they were.</p> + +<p>"They are much more composed," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and Emma has +begun to laugh again; but her laugh is rather hysterical and forced; +they will come out at dinner-time. It appears they are indebted to John +for their preservation, for they say the wolf was about to spring upon +them when he came to their assistance. We ought to be very grateful to +Heaven for their preservation. I had no idea, after what Martin said +about the wolves, that they were so dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, it is I that am most to blame, and that's the fact," +replied Martin. "When we killed the bullock I threw the offal on the +heap of snow close to the cow-lodge, meaning that the wolves and other +animals might eat it at night, but it seems this animal was hungry, and +had not left his meal when the dog attacked him, and that made the beast +so <span class="italic">rily</span> and savage."</p> + +<p>"Yes; it was the fault of Martin and me," replied Alfred. "Thank Heaven +it's no worse!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>"So far from it being a subject of regret, I consider it one of +thankfulness," replied Mr. Campbell. "This might have happened when +there was no one to assist, and our dear girls might have been torn to +pieces. Now that we know the danger, we may guard against it for the +future."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Martin; "in future some of us will drive the cows +home, to be milked every morning and evening; inside the palisade there +will be no danger. Master John, you have done well. You see, ma'am," +continued Martin, "what I said has come true. A rifle in the hands of a +child is as deadly a weapon as in the hands of a strong man."</p> + +<p>"Yes; if courage and presence of mind attend its use," replied Mr. +Campbell. "John, I am very much pleased with your conduct."</p> + +<p>"Mother called me naughty," replied John, rather sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, John, I called you naughty, for not telling us the wolf was dead, +and leaving us to suppose your cousins were in danger; not for killing +the wolf. Now I kiss you, and thank you for your bravery and good +conduct."</p> + +<p>"I shall tell all the officers at the fort what a gallant little fellow +you are, John," said Captain Sinclair; "there are very few of them who +have shot a wolf, and what is more, John, I have a beautiful dog, which +one of the officers gave me the other day in exchange for a pony, and I +will bring it over, and make it a present to you for your own dog. He +will hunt any thing, and he is very powerful—quite able to master a +wolf, if you meet with one. He is half mastiff and half Scotch +deerhound, and he stands as high as this," continued Captain Sinclair, +holding his hand about as high as John's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I'll go to the fort with you," said John, "and bring him back."</p> + +<p>"So you shall, John, and I'll go with you," said Martin, "if master +pleases."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "I think he may; what with Martin, his own +rifle, and the dog, John will, I trust be safe enough."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>"Certainly, I have no objection," said Mrs. Campbell, "and many thanks +to you, Captain Sinclair."</p> + +<p>"What's the dog's name?" said John.</p> + +<p>"Oscar," replied Captain Sinclair. "If you let him walk out with your +cousins, they need not fear a wolf. He will never be mastered by one, as +poor Sancho was."</p> + +<p>"I'll lend him sometimes," replied John.</p> + +<p>"Always; when you don't want him yourself, John."</p> + +<p>"Yes, always," replied John, who was going out of the door.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, dear," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Going to skin the wolf," replied John, walking away.</p> + +<p>"Well, he'll be a regular keen hunter," observed Martin, "I dare say old +Bone has taught him to flay an animal. However, I'll go and help him, +for it's a real good skin." So saying, Martin followed John.</p> + +<p>"Martin ought to have known better than to leave the offal where he +did," observed Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"We must not be too hard, Captain Sinclair," said Alfred. "Martin has a +contempt for wolves, and that wolf would not have stood his ground had +it been a man instead of two young women who were in face of him. Wolves +are very cunning, and I know will attack a woman or child when they will +fly from a man. Besides, it is very unusual for a wolf to remain till +daylight, even when there is offal to tempt him. It was the offal, the +animal's extreme hunger, and the attack of the dog—a combination of +circumstances—which produced the event. I do not see that Martin can be +blamed, as one can not foresee every thing."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," replied Captain Sinclair, "and 'all's well that ends +well.'"</p> + +<p>"Are there any other animals to fear?" inquired Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"The bear is now safe for the winter in the hollow of some tree or under +some root, where he has made a den. It will not come out till the +spring. The catamount or panther is a much more dangerous animal than +the wolf; but it is scarce. I do think, however, that the young ladies +should not venture out, unless with some rifles in company, for fear of +another mischance. We have plenty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> of lynxes here; but I doubt if they +would attack even a child, although they fight when assailed, and bite +and claw severely."</p> + +<p>The Misses Percival now made their appearance. Emma was very merry, but +Mary rather grave. Captain Sinclair, having shaken hands with them both, +said—</p> + +<p>"Why, Emma, you appear to have recovered sooner than your sister!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Emma; "but I was much more frightened than she was, and +she supported me, or I should have fallen at the wolf's feet. I yielded +to my fears; Mary held up against hers; so, as her exertions were much +greater than mine, she has not recovered from them so soon. The fact is, +Mary is brave when there is danger, and I am only brave when there is +none."</p> + +<p>"I was quite as much frightened as you, my dear Emma," said Mary +Percival; "but we must now help our aunt, and get dinner ready on the +table."</p> + +<p>"I can not say that I have a wolfish appetite this morning," replied +Emma, laughing; "but Alfred will eat for me and himself too."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes dinner was on the table, and they all sat down without +waiting for Martin and John, who were still busy skinning the wolf.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>"Here come Martin and John at last," said Mr. Campbell, after they had +been about a quarter of an hour at table.</p> + +<p>But he was mistaken; instead of Martin and John, Malachi Bone made his +appearance, and, to their surprise, accompanied by his young squaw, the +Strawberry Plant.</p> + +<p>Every one rose to welcome them, and the Misses Percival went to their +little female acquaintance, and would have made her sit down with them, +but she refused and took her seat on the floor near the fire.</p> + +<p>"She ain't used to chairs and stools, miss; let her be where she is," +said old Bone, "she'll be more comfortable,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> and that's what you want +her to be, I'm sure. I brought her with me, because I could not carry +all the venison myself, and also to show her the way in and out of the +house, and how it is fastened, in case of sending a message by night."</p> + +<p>"Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. Campbell, with surprise, +"why, what possible occasion could there be for that?"</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair and Alfred, who perceived that the old hunter had said +too much, were quite at a loss what to say. They did not like to +frighten Mrs. Campbell and the girls about the Indians, especially as +they had just been so much alarmed with the accident of the morning. At +last Alfred replied, "The fact is, my dear mother, that 'forewarned is +being forearmed,' as the saying is; and I told Martin to request Malachi +Bone, if he should hear of any Indians being about or near us, to let us +know immediately."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, that is the whole story," continued Malachi. "It's the best +plan, when you're in the woods, always to have your rifle loaded."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell and the girls were evidently not a little fluttered at +this fresh intimation of danger. Captain Sinclair perceived it, and +said, "We have always spies on the look-out at the fort, that we may +know where the Indians are and what they are about. Last month, we know +that they held a council, but that it broke up without their coming to +any determination, and that no hostile feeling was expressed so far as +we could ascertain. But we never trust the Indians, and they, knowing +that we watch them, have been very careful not to commit any outrages; +they have not done so for a long while, nor do I think they will venture +again. At the same time, we like to know where they are, and I requested +Alfred to speak to Malachi Bone, to send us immediately word if he heard +or saw any thing of them: not, however, that I intended that the ladies +should be wakened up in the middle of the night," continued Captain +Sinclair, laughing; "that was not at all necessary."</p> + +<p>Malachi Bone would have responded, but Alfred pinched his arm; the old +man understood what was meant, and held his tongue; at last he said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Well, well, there's no harm done, it's just as well that the Strawberry +should know her way about the location, if it's only to know where the +dogs are, in case she comes of a message."</p> + +<p>"No, no," replied Mr. Campbell, "I'm glad that she is come, and hope she +will come very often. Now, Malachi, sit down and eat something."</p> + +<p>"Well, but about the Indians, Captain Sinclair,—" said Mrs. Campbell; +"that you have not told us all I am certain, and the conviction that +such is the case, will make me and the girls very uneasy; so pray do +treat us as we ought to be treated; we share the danger, and we ought to +know what the danger is."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that there is any danger, Mrs. Campbell," replied +Captain Sinclair, "unless Malachi has further information to give us. I +do, however, perfectly agree with you, that you ought to know all that +we know, and am quite ready to enter upon the subject, trifling as it +is."</p> + +<p>"So I presume it must be, my dear," observed Mr. Campbell, "for I have +as yet known nothing about the matter. So pray, Captain Sinclair, +instruct us all."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair then stated what he had before mentioned to Alfred, and +having so done, and pointed out that there was no occasion for alarm, he +requested Malachi Bone would say if he had any further information.</p> + +<p>"The Injuns did meet as you say, and they could not agree, so they broke +up, and are now all out upon their hunting and trapping for furs. But +there's one thing I don't exactly feel comfortable about, which is that +the 'Angry Snake,' as he is called, who was at the 'talk,' and was +mighty venomous against the English, has squatted for the winter +somewhere hereabout."</p> + +<p>"The Angry Snake," said Captain Sinclair. "Is that the chief who served +with the French, and wears a medal?"</p> + +<p>"The very same, sir. He's not a chief though; he was a very good warrior +in his day, and the French were very partial to him, as he served them +well; but he is no chief, although he was considered as a sort of one +from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> the consequence he obtained with the French. He is an old man now, +and a very bitter one. Many's the Englishman that he has tied to the +stake, and tortured during the war; He hates us, and is always stirring +up the Injuns to make war with us; but his day is gone by, and they do +not heed him at the council now."</p> + +<p>"Then, why are you uncomfortable about him?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Because he has taken up his quarters for the winter hunting not far +from us, with six or seven of the young warriors, who look up to him, +and he is mischievous. If the Injun nation won't make war, he will do +something on his own account, if he possibly can. He's not badly named, +I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"Will he attack you?"</p> + +<p>"Me! no, no; he knows better. He knows my rifle well; he has the mark on +his body; not but that he would if he dared, but I am Injun myself, and +know Injun craft. Then you see, these people have strange ideas. During +the whole war they never could even hit me with their rifles, and they +think I am not to be hurt—that's their superstition—and my rifle, they +think, never misses (they're almost right there, for it does not once in +a hundred times), so what with this and that, they fear me as a +supernatural, as we call it. But that's not the case with you all here; +and if the Snake could creep within these palisades, he might be +mischievous."</p> + +<p>"But the tribes know very well that any attack of this kind would be +considered as a declaration of hostilities," said Captain Sinclair, "and +that we should retaliate."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but you see the Snake don't belong to these tribes about us; his +nation is much further off,—too far to go for redress; and the tribes +here, although they allow him to join the 'talk' as an old warrior who +had served against the English and from respect to his age, do not +acknowledge him or his doings. They would disavow them immediately and +with truth, but they can not prevent his doing mischief."</p> + +<p>"What, then, is the redress in case of his doing any mischief?" said +Henry.</p> + +<p>"Why, upon him and his band, whenever you can find<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> them. You may +destroy them all, and the Injuns here won't say a word, or make any +complaint. That's all that can be done; and that's what I will do; I +mean to tell him so, when I meet him. He fears me, and so do his men; +they think me medicine."</p> + +<p>"Medicine! What is that?" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"It means that he has a charmed life," replied Captain Sinclair. "The +Indians are very superstitious."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they be; well, perhaps, I'll prove medicine; and I'll give them a +pill or two out of my rifle," said Malachi, with a grim smile. +"Howsomever, I'll soon learn more about them, and will let you know when +I do. Just keep your palisade gates fast at night and the dogs inside of +them, and at any time I'll give you warning. If I am on their trail the +Strawberry shall come, and that's why I brought her here. If you hear +three knocks outside the palisade at any hour of the night, why, it will +be her, so let her in."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Campbell, "I'm very glad that you have told me all +this; now I know what we have to expect, I shall be more courageous and +much more on my guard."</p> + +<p>"I think we have done wisely in letting you know all we knew ourselves," +said Captain Sinclair. "I must soon take my leave, as I must be at the +fort before sunset. Martin and John are to come with me, and bring back +the dog."</p> + +<p>"Ain't the boy going with me?" said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"Yes; to-morrow morning he may go, but after his return from the fort it +will be too late."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I may as well stay here," replied Malachi. "Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He is gone to skin a wolf, which he shot this morning," replied Alfred. +"He will soon be here."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell shortly related to Malachi the adventure of the wolf. The +old hunter listened in silence, and then gave a nod of approbation.</p> + +<p>"I reckon he'll bring home more skins than that this winter," said he.</p> + +<p>The party then rose just as Martin and John made their appearance. +Captain Sinclair conversed with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> Misses Percival, while the old +hunter spoke to the Strawberry Plant in her own dialect; the others +either went out or were busy in clearing the table, till Captain +Sinclair took his departure with John and Martin, each armed with a +rifle.</p> + +<p>"Well, this has been an exciting day," observed Mr. Campbell, a little +before they retired to bed. "We have much to thank God for, and great +reason to pray for His continued protection and assistance. God bless +you all, my children; good-night."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning, a little after daybreak, Martin and John made their +appearance, leading the magnificent dog which Captain Sinclair had given +to John. Like most large dogs, Oscar appeared to be very good-tempered, +and treated the snarling and angry looks of the other dogs with perfect +contempt.</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, a noble animal," said Mr. Campbell, patting its head.</p> + +<p>"It's a fine creature," observed Malachi, "a wolf would stand no chance +against him, and even a bear would have more on its hands than it could +well manage I expect; but, come here, boy," said the old hunter to John, +leading the dog outside of the door.</p> + +<p>"You'd better leave the dog, John," said Malachi, "the crittur will be +of use here, but of no good to us."</p> + +<p>John made no reply, and the hunter continued—</p> + +<p>"I say it will be of use here, for the girls might meet with another +wolf, or the house might be attacked; but good hunters don't want dogs. +Is it to watch for us, and give us notice of danger? Why that's our +duty, and we must trust to ourselves, and not to an animal. Is it to +hunt for us? Why no dog can take a deer so well as we can with our +rifles; a dog may discover us when we wish to be hidden; a dog's track +will mark us out when we would wish our track to be doubted. The animal +will be of no utility ever to us, John, and may do us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> harm, 'specially +now the snow's on the ground. In the summer-time, you can take him and +teach him how to behave as a hunter's dog should behave; but we had +better leave him now, and start at once."</p> + +<p>John nodded his head in assent, and then went in-doors.</p> + +<p>"Good-by," said John, going up to his mother and cousins; "I shall not +take the dog."</p> + +<p>"Won't take the dog! well, that's very kind of you, John," said Mary, +"for we were longing to have him to protect us."</p> + +<p>John shouldered his rifle, made a sign to Strawberry Plant, who rose, +and looking kindly at Mrs. Campbell and the girls, without speaking, +followed John out of the hut. Malachi certainly was not very polite, for +he walked off, in company with John and the squaw, without taking the +trouble to say "Good-by." It must, however, be observed that he was in +conversation with Martin, who accompanied them on the way.</p> + +<p>The winter had now become very severe. The thermometer was twenty +degrees below the freezing point, and the cold was so intense, that +every precaution was taken against it. More than once Percival, whose +business it was to bring in the firewood, was frost bitten, but as Mrs. +Campbell was very watchful, the remedy of cold snow was always +successfully applied. The howling of the wolves continued every night, +but they were now used to it, and the only effect was, when one came +more than usually close to the house, to make Oscar raise his head, +growl, listen awhile, and then lie down to sleep again. Oscar became +very fond of the girls, and was their invariable companion whenever they +left the house. Alfred, Martin and Henry went out almost daily on +hunting excursions; indeed, as there were no crops in the barn, they had +little else to do. Mr. Campbell remained at home with his wife and +nieces; occasionally, but not very often, Percival accompanied the +hunters; of Malachi and John, they saw but little; John returned about +every ten days, but although he adhered to his promise, his anxiety to +go back to Malachi was so very apparent, and he was so restless, that +Mrs. Campbell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> rather wished him to be away, than remain at home so much +against his will.</p> + +<p>Thus passed away the time till the year closed in; confined as they were +by the severity of the weather, and having little or nothing to do, the +winter appeared longer and more tedious than it would have done had they +been settled longer, and had the crops to occupy their attention; for it +is in the winter that the Canadian farmer gets through all his thrashing +and other work connected with the farm, preparatory for the coming +spring. This being their first winter, they had, of course, no crops +gathered in, and were, therefore, in want of employment. Mrs. Campbell +and her nieces worked and read, and employed themselves in every way +that they could, but constantly shut up within doors, they could not +help feeling the monotony and <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ennui</span> of their situation. The young men +found occupation and amusement in the chase; they brought a variety of +animals and skins, and the evenings were generally devoted to a +narration of what occurred in the day during their hunting excursions, +but even these histories of the chase were at last heard with +indifference. It was the same theme only with variations, over and over +again, and there was no longer much excitement in listening.</p> + +<p>"I wonder when John will come back again," observed Emma to her sister, +as they were sitting at work.</p> + +<p>"Why he only left two days ago, so we must not expect him for some +time."</p> + +<p>"I know that; I wonder if Oscar would kill a wolf; I should like to take +him out and try."</p> + +<p>"I thought you had had enough of wolves already, Emma," replied Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes, well; that old Malachi will never bring us any more news about the +Indians," continued Emma, yawning.</p> + +<p>"Why, I do not think that any news about them is likely to be pleasant +news, Emma, and therefore, why should you wish it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, my dear Mary, because I want <em>some</em> news; I want something to +excite me, I feel so dull. It's nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> but stitch, stitch, all day, +and I am tired of always doing the same thing. What a horrid thing a +Canadian winter Is, and not one-half over yet."</p> + +<p>"It is very dull and monotonous, my dear Emma, I admit, and if we had +more variety of employment, we should find it more agreeable, but we +ought to feel grateful that we have a good house over our heads, and +more security than we anticipated."</p> + +<p>"Almost too much security, Mary; I begin to feel that I could welcome an +Indian even in his war-paint, just by way of a little change."</p> + +<p>"I think you would soon repent of your wish, if it were gratified."</p> + +<p>"Very likely, but I can not help wishing it now. When will they come +home? What o'clock is it? I wonder what they'll bring: the old story I +suppose, a buck; I'm sick of venison."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Emma, you are wrong to feel such discontent and weariness."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am, but I have not walked a hundred yards for nearly one +hundred days, and that will give one the blues, as they call them, and I +do nothing but yawn, yawn, yawn, for want of air and exercise. Uncle +won't let us move out on account of that horrid wolf. I wonder how +Captain Sinclair is getting on at the fort, and whether he is as dull as +we are."</p> + +<p>To do Emma justice, it was seldom that she indulged herself in such +lamentations, but the tedium was more than her high flow of spirits +could well bear. Mrs. Campbell made a point of arranging the household, +which gave her occupation, and Mary from natural disposition did not +feel the confinement as much as Emma did; whenever, therefore, she did +show symptoms of restlessness or was tempted to utter a complaint, they +reasoned with and soothed, but never reproached her.</p> + +<p>The day after this conversation, Emma, to amuse herself, took a rifle +and went out with Percival. She fired several shots at a mark, and by +degrees acquired some dexterity; gradually she became fond of the +exercise, and not a day passed that she and Percival did not practice +for an hour or two, until at last Emma could fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> with great precision. +Practice and a knowledge of the perfect use of your weapon gives +confidence, and this Emma did at last acquire. She challenged Alfred and +Henry to fire at the bull's eye with her, and whether by their gallantry +or her superior dexterity, she was declared victor. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell smiled when Emma came in and narrated her success, and felt +glad that she had found something which afforded her amusement.</p> + +<p>It happened that one evening the hunters were very late; it was a clear +moonlight night, but at eight o'clock they had not made their +appearance; Percival had opened the door to go out for some firewood +which had been piled within the palisades, and as it was later than the +usual hour for locking the palisade gates, Mr. Campbell had directed him +so to do. Emma, attracted by the beauty of the night, was at the door of +the house, when the howl of a wolf was heard close to them; the dogs +accustomed to it merely sprang on their feet, but did not leave the +kitchen fire; Emma went out, and looked through the palisades to see if +she could perceive the animal, and little Trim, the terrier, followed +her. Now Trim was so small, that he could creep between the palisades, +and as soon as he was close to them, perceiving the wolf, the courageous +little animal squeezed through them and flew toward it, barking as loud +as he could. Emma immediately ran in, took down her rifle and went out +again, as she knew that poor Trim would soon be devoured. The +supposition was correct: the wolf, instead of retreating, closed with +the little dog and seized it. Emma, who could now plainly perceive the +animal, which was about forty yards from her, took aim and fired, just +as poor Trim gave a loud yelp. Her aim was good, and the wolf and dog +lay side by side. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and Mary, hearing the report of +the rifle, ran out, and found Percival and Emma at the palisades behind +the house.</p> + +<p>"I have killed him, aunt," said Emma, "but I fear he has killed poor +little Trim; do let us go out and see."</p> + +<p>"No, no, my dear Emma, that must not be; your cousins will be home soon, +and then we shall know how the case stands; but the risk is too great."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>"Here they come," said Percival, "as fast as they can run."</p> + +<p>The hunters were soon at the palisade door and admitted; they had no +game with them. Emma jeered them for coming back empty handed.</p> + +<p>"No, no, my little cousin," replied Alfred, "we heard the report of a +rifle, and we threw down our game, that we might sooner come to your +assistance if you required it. What was the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Only that I have killed a wolf, and am not allowed to bring in my +trophy," replied Emma. "Come, Alfred, I may go with you and Martin."</p> + +<p>They went to the spot, and found the wolf was dead, and poor Trim dead +also by his side. They took in the body of the little dog, and left the +wolf till the morning, when Martin said he would skin it for Miss Emma.</p> + +<p>"And I'll make a footstool of it," said Emma; "that shall be my revenge +for the fright I had from the other wolf. Come, Oscar, good dog; you and +I will go wolf-hunting. Dear me, who would have thought that I should +have ever killed a wolf—poor little Trim!"</p> + +<p>Martin said it would be useless to return for the venison, as the wolves +had no doubt eaten it already; so they locked the palisade gate, and +went into the house.</p> + +<p>Emma's adventure was the topic of the evening, and Emma herself was much +pleased at having accomplished such a feat.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Martin, "I never knew but one woman who faced a wolf except +Miss Emma."</p> + +<p>"And who was that, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 369px;"> +<img src="images/illus-130.png" width="369" height="600" alt="Facing a wolf." title="Facing a wolf." /> +<span class="caption">FACING A WOLF. P. 175.</span> +</div> + +<p>"It was a wife of one of our farmers, ma'am; she was at the outhouse +doing something, when she perceived a wolf enter the cottage-door, where +there was nobody except the baby in the cradle. She ran back and found +the wolf just lifting the infant out of the cradle by its clothes. The +animal looked at her with his eyes flashing; but having its mouth full, +it did not choose to drop the baby, and spring at her; all it wanted was +to get clear off with its prey. The woman had presence of mind enough to +take down her husband's rifle and point it to the wolf, but she was so +fearful of hurting the child, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> she did not put the muzzle to its +head, but to its shoulder. She fired just as the wolf was making off, +and the animal fell, and could not get on its feet again, and it then +dropped the child out of its mouth to attack the mother. The woman +caught the child up, but the wolf gave her a severe bite on the arm, and +broke the bone near the wrist. A wolf has a wonderful strong jaw, ma'am. +However, the baby was saved, and neighbors came and dispatched the +animal."</p> + +<p>"What a fearful position for a mother to be in!" exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Where did that happen?"</p> + +<p>"On the White Mountains, ma'am," replied Martin. "Malachi Bone told me +the story; he was born there."</p> + +<p>"Then he is an American."</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, he is an American because he was born in this country, but +it was English when he was born, so he calls himself an Englishman."</p> + +<p>"I understand," replied Mrs. Campbell, "he was born before the colonies +obtained their independence."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, long before; there's no saying how old he is. When I was +quite a child, I recollect he was then reckoned an old man; indeed, the +name the Indians gave to him proves it. He then was called the 'Gray +Badger.'"</p> + +<p>"But is he so very old, do you really think, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"I think he has seen more than sixty snows, ma'am; but not many more; +the fact is, his hair was gray before he was twenty years old; he told +me so himself, and that's one reason why the Indians are so fearful of +him. They have it from their fathers that the Gray Badger was a great +hunter, as Malachi was more than forty years ago; so they imagine as his +hair was gray then, he must have been a very old man at that time back, +and so to them he appears to live forever, and they consider him as +charmed, and to use their phrase, 'great <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">medicine</span>.' I've heard some +Indians declare that Malachi had seen one hundred and fifty winters, and +they really believe it. I never contradicted them, as you may imagine."</p> + +<p>"Does he live comfortably?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, he does; his squaw knows what he wants,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> and does what she +is bid. She is very fond of the old man, and looks upon him, as he +really is to her, as a father. His lodge is always full of meat, and he +has plenty of skins. He don't drink spirits, and if he has tobacco for +smoking and powder and ball, what else can he want?"</p> + +<p>"Happy are they whose wants are so few," observed Mr. Campbell. "A man +in whatever position in life, if he is content, is certain to be happy. +How true are the words of the poet:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Man wants but little here below,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor wants that little long!'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Malachi Bone is a happier man than hundreds in England who live in +luxury. Let us profit, my dear children, by his example, and learn to be +content with what Heaven has bestowed upon us. But it is time to retire. +The wind has risen, and we shall have a blustering night. Henry, fetch +me the book."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred and Martin brought in the wolf which Emma had killed, but it was +frozen so hard that they could not skin it. Poor little Trim was also +carried in, but the ground was too hard frozen for them to bury the +body, so they put it into the snow until the spring, when a thaw would +take place. As for the wolf, they said nothing about it, but they +remained up when the rest of the family retired, and after the wolf had +been some time before the fire, they were able to take off the skin.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, when the hunters went out, they were +particularly desired to shoot a wild turkey if they could, as the next +day was Christmas-day.</p> + +<p>"Let us take Oscar with us," said Alfred; "he is very swift, and may run +them down; we never can get up with them in our snow-shoes."</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether they will get a turkey," said Emma, after the hunting +party had left.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>"I think it will be difficult," said Mrs. Campbell; "but they will try +all they can."</p> + +<p>"I hope they will; for Christmas-day without a turkey will be very +un-English."</p> + +<p>"We are not in England, my dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell; "and wild +turkeys are not to be ordered from the poulterer's."</p> + +<p>"I know that we are not in England, my dear uncle, and I feel it too. +How was the day before every Christmas-day spent at Wexton Hall! What +piles of warm blankets, what a quantity of duffil cloaks, flannels, and +worsted stockings were we all so busy and so happy in preparing and +sorting to give away on the following morning, that all within miles of +us should be warmly clothed on that day. And, then, the housekeeper's +room with all the joints of meat, and flour and plums and suet, in +proportion to the number of each family, all laid out and ticketed ready +for distribution. And then the party invited to the servants' hall, and +the great dinner, and the new clothing for the school-girls, and the +church so gay, with their new dresses in the aisles, and the holly and +the mistletoe. I know we are not in England, my dear uncle, and that you +have lost one of your greatest pleasures—that of doing good, and making +all happy around you."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear Emma, if I have lost the pleasure of doing good, it is +the will of Heaven that it should be so, and we ought to be thankful +that, if not dispensing charity, at all events, we are not the objects +of charity to others; that we are independent, and earning an honest +livelihood. People may be very happy, and feel the most devout gratitude +on the anniversary of so great a mercy, without having a turkey for +dinner."</p> + +<p>"I was not in earnest about the turkey, my dear uncle. It was the +association of ideas connected by long habit, which made me think of our +Christmas times at Wexton Hall; but, indeed, my dear uncle, if there was +regret, it was not for myself so much as for you," replied Emma, with +tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I spoke rather too severely, my dearest Emma," said Mr. +Campbell; "but I did not like to hear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> such a solemn day spoken of as if +it were commemorated merely by the eating of certain food."</p> + +<p>"It was foolish of me," replied Emma? "and it was said thoughtlessly."</p> + +<p>Emma went up to Mr. Campbell and kissed him, and Mr. Campbell said, +"Well, I hope there will be a turkey, since you wish for one."</p> + +<p>The hunters did not return till late, and when they appeared in sight, +Percival, who had descried them, came in and said that they were very +well loaded, and were bringing in their game slung upon a pole.</p> + +<p>Mary and Emma went out of the door to meet their cousins. That there was +a heavy load carried on a pole between Martin and Alfred was certain, +but they could not distinguish what it consisted of. As the party +arrived at the palisade gates, however, they discovered that it was not +game, but a human being, who was carried on a sort of litter made of +boughs.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Alfred?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I recover my breath," said Alfred, as he reached the door, +"or ask Henry, for I'm quite knocked up."</p> + +<p>Henry then went with his cousins into the house, and explained to them +that as they were in pursuit of the wild turkeys, Oscar had stopped +suddenly and commenced baying; that they went up to the dog, and, in a +bush, they found a poor Indian woman nearly frozen to death, and with a +dislocation of the ankle, so severe that her leg was terribly swelled, +and she could not move. Martin had spoken to her in the Indian tongue, +and she was so exhausted with cold and hunger that she could just tell +him that she belonged to a small party of Indians who had been some days +out hunting, and a long way from where they had built their winter +lodges; that she had fallen with the weight which she had carried, and +that her leg was so bad, she could not go on with them; that they had +taken her burden, and left her to follow them when she could.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued Alfred; "left the poor creature without food, to perish +in the snow. One day more, and it would have been all over with her. It +is wonderful how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> she can have lived through the two last nights as she +has. But Martin says the Indians always do leave a woman to perish in +this way or recover as she can, if she happens to meet with an +accident."</p> + +<p>"At all events, let us bring her in at once," said Mr. Campbell. "I will +first see if my surgical assistance can be of use, and after that we +will do what we can for her. How far from this did you find her?"</p> + +<p>"About eight miles," replied Henry; "and Alfred has carried her almost +the whole way; Martin and I have relieved each other, except once, when +I took Alfred's place."</p> + +<p>"And so you perceive, Emma, instead of a wild turkey I have brought an +Indian squaw," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I love you better for your kindness, Alfred," replied Emma, "than if +you had brought me a wagon-load of turkeys."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Martin and Henry brought in the poor Indian, and laid +her down on the floor at some distance from the fire, for though she was +nearly dead with the cold, too sudden an exposure to heat would have +been almost equally fatal. Mr. Campbell examined her ankle, and with a +little assistance reduced the dislocation. He then bound up her leg and +bathed it with warm vinegar, as a first application. Mrs. Campbell and +the two girls chafed the poor creature's limbs till the circulation was +a little restored, and then they gave her something warm to drink. It +was proposed by Mrs. Campbell that they should make up a bed for her on +the floor of the kitchen. This was done in a corner near the fire-place, +and in about an hour their patient fell into a sound sleep.</p> + +<p>"It is lucky for her that she did not fall into that sleep before we +found her," said Martin; "she would never have awoke again."</p> + +<p>"Most certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell. "Have you any idea what +tribe she is of, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; she is one of the Chippeways; there are many divisions of +them, but I will find out when she awakes again to which she belongs; +she was too much exhausted when we found her, to say much."</p> + +<p>"It appears very inhuman leaving her to perish in that way," observed +Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>"Well, ma'am, so it does; but necessity has no law. The Indians could +not, if they would, have carried her, perhaps one hundred miles. It +would have probably been the occasion of more deaths, for the cold is +too great now for sleeping out at nights for any time, although they do +contrive with the help of a large fire to stay out sometimes."</p> + +<p>"Self-preservation is the first law of nature, certainly," observed Mr. +Campbell; "but, if I recollect right the savage does not value the life +of a woman very highly."</p> + +<p>"That's a fact, sir," replied Martin; "not much more, I reckon, than you +would a beast of burden."</p> + +<p>"It is always the case among savage nations," observed Mr. Campbell; +"the first mark of civilization is the treatment of the other sex, and +in proportion as civilization increases, so are the women protected and +well used. But your supper is ready, my children, and I think after your +fatigue and fasting you must require it."</p> + +<p>"I am almost too tired to eat," observed Alfred, "I shall infinitely +more enjoy a good sleep under my bear skin. At the same time I'll try +what I can do," continued he, laughing, and taking his seat at table.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding Alfred's observation, he contrived to make a very hearty +supper, and Emma laughed at his appetite after his professing that he +had so little inclination to eat.</p> + +<p>"I said I was too tired to eat, Emma, and so I felt at the time; but as +I became more refreshed my appetite returned," replied Alfred, laughing, +"and notwithstanding your jeering me, I mean to eat some more."</p> + +<p>"How long has John been away?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Now nearly a fortnight," observed Mrs. Campbell; "he promised to come +here Christmas-day. I suppose we shall see him to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; and old Bone will come with him, I dare say. He said as +much to me when he was going away the last time. He observed that the +boy could not bring the venison, and perhaps <em>he</em> would if he had any, +for he knows that people like plenty of meat on Christmas day."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>"I wonder whether old Malachi is any way religious," observed Mary. "Do +you think he is, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; I think he feels it, but does not show it. I know from +myself what are, probably, his feelings on the subject. When I have been +away for weeks and sometimes for months, without seeing or speaking to +any one, all alone in the woods, I feel more religious than I do when at +Quebec on my return, although I do go to church. Now old Malachi has, I +think, a solemn reverence for the Divine Being, and strict notions of +duty, so far as he understands it,—but as he never goes to any town or +mixes with any company, so the rites of religion, as I may call them, +and the observances of the holy feast, are lost to him, except as a sort +of dream of former days, before he took to his hunter's life. Indeed, he +seldom knows what day or even what month it is. He knows the seasons as +they come and go, and that's all. One day is the same as another, and he +can not tell which is Sunday, for he is not able to keep a reckoning. +Now, ma'am, when you desired Master John to be at home on the Friday +fortnight because it was Christmas-day, I perceived old Malachi in deep +thought: he was recalling to mind what Christmas-day was; if you had not +mentioned it, the day would have passed away like any other; but you +reminded him, and then it was that he said he would come if he could. +I'm sure that now he knows it is Christmas-day, he intends to keep it as +such."</p> + +<p>"There is much truth in what Martin says," observed Mr. Campbell; "we +require the seventh day in the week and other stated seasons of devotion +to be regularly set apart, in order to keep us in mind of our duties and +preserve the life of religion. In the woods, remote from communion with +other Christians, these things are easily forgotten, and when once we +have lost our calculation, it is not to be recovered. But come, Alfred +and Henry and Martin must be very tired, and we had better all go to +bed. I will sit up a little while to give some drink to my patient, if +she wishes it. Good-night, my children."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>Christmas-day was indeed a change, as Emma had observed, from their +former Christmas; but although the frost was more than usually severe, +and the snow filled the air with its white flakes, and the north-east +wind howled through the leafless trees as they rasped their long arms +against each other, and the lake was one sheet of thick ice with a +covering of snow which the wind had in different places blown up into +hillocks, still they had a good roof over their heads, and a warm, +blazing fire on the hearth: and they had no domestic miseries, the worst +miseries of all to contend against, for they were a united family, +loving and beloved; showing mutual acts of kindness and mutual acts of +forbearance; proving how much better was "a dish of herbs where love is, +than the stalled ox with hatred therewith." Moreover they were all +piously disposed; they were sensible that they owed a large debt of +gratitude to Heaven for all its daily mercies in providing them with +food and raiment, for warding off from them sickness and sorrow, and +giving them humble and contented hearts; and on this day, they felt how +little were all worldly considerations, compared with the hopes which +were held out to them through the great sacrifice which the goodness and +mercy of God had made for them and all the world. It was, therefore, +with cheerful yet subdued looks that they greeted each other when they +met previous to the morning prayers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell had already visited his patient and readjusted the bandage: +her ankle was better, but still very much swelled; the poor creature +made no complaints, she looked grateful for what was done and for the +kindness shown to her. They were all arrayed in their best Sunday +dresses, and as soon as prayers were over had just wished each other the +congratulations so general, so appropriate, and yet too often so +thoughtlessly given upon the anniversary, when Malachi Bone, his little +squaw the Strawberry, and John, entered the door of the hut, laden with +the sports of the forest, which they laid down in the corner of the +kitchen, and then saluted the party.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>"Here we are all together on Christmas-day," said Emma, who had taken +the hand of the Strawberry.</p> + +<p>The Indian girl smiled, and nodded her head.</p> + +<p>"And, John, you have brought us three wild turkeys; you are a good boy, +John," continued Emma.</p> + +<p>"If we only had Captain Sinclair here now," said Martin to Emma and Mary +Percival, who was by Emma's side, shaking hands with the Strawberry.</p> + +<p>Mary colored up a little, and Emma replied, "Yes, Martin, we do want +him, for I always feel as if he belonged to the family."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's not his fault that he's not here," replied Martin; "it's now +more than six weeks since he has left, and if the Colonel would allow +him, I'm sure that Captain Sinclair——"</p> + +<p>"Would be here on this day," said Captain Sinclair, who with Mr. Gwynne, +his former companion, had entered the door of the house without being +observed; for the rest of the party were in conversation with Malachi +Bone and John.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how glad I am to see you," cried Emma; "we only wanted you to make +our Christmas party complete; and I'm very glad to see you too, Mr. +Gwynne," continued Emma, as she held out a hand to each.</p> + +<p>"We had some difficulty in persuading the Colonel to let us come," +observed Captain Sinclair to Mary; "but as we have heard nothing further +about the Indians, he consented."</p> + +<p>"You have nothing more to fear from the Indians this winter, Captain, +and you may tell the Colonel so from me," said Malachi. "I happened to +be on their hunting ground yesterday, and they have broken up and gone +westward, that is, Angry Snake and his party have; I followed their +track over the snow for a few miles just to make sure; they have taken +every thing with them, but somehow or other, I could not find out that +the squaw was with them,—and they had one in their party. They carried +their own packs of fur, that I'll swear to, and they had been thrown +down several times; which would not have been the case, if they had not +been carried by men; for you see, the Injun is very impatient under a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +load, which a squaw will carry the whole day without complaining. Now +that party is gone, there is no other about here within fifty miles, +I'll be bound for."</p> + +<p>"I'm very glad to hear you say so," replied Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Then, perhaps, this poor woman whom you succored, Alfred, is the squaw +belonging to the party," observed Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell then +related to Malachi Bone what had occurred on the day before; how the +hunting party had brought home the woman, whom he pointed to in the +corner where she had remained unnoticed by the visitors.</p> + +<p>Malachi and the Strawberry went up to her; the Strawberry spoke to her +in the Indian tongue in a low voice, and the woman replied in the same, +while Malachi stood over them and listened.</p> + +<p>"It's just as you thought, sir; she belongs to the Angry Snake, and she +says that he has gone with his party to the westward, as the beaver were +very scarce down here; I could have told him that. She confirms my +statement, that all the Indians are gone, but are to meet at the same +place in the spring, to hold a council."</p> + +<p>"Is she of the same tribe as the Strawberry?" inquired Henry.</p> + +<p>"That's as may be," replied Malachi; "I hardly know which tribe the +Strawberry belongs to."</p> + +<p>"But they speak the same language."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but the Strawberry learned the tongue from me," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>"From you!" said Mrs. Campbell; "how was that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, it's about thirteen or fourteen years back, that I happened +to come in upon a skirmish which took place on one of the small lakes +between one of the tribes here and a war party of Hurons who were out. +They were surprised by the Hurons, and every soul, as far as I could +learn, was either scalped or carried away prisoner. The Hurons had gone +about an hour or two, when I came up to the place where they fought, and +I sat down looking at the dead bodies, and thinking to myself what +creatures men were to deface God's image in that way, when I saw under a +bush two little sharp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> eyes looking at me; at first, I thought it was +some beast, a lynx, mayhap, as they now call them, and I pointed my +rifle toward it; but before I pulled the trigger, I thought that perhaps +I might be mistaken, so I walked up to the bush, and there I discovered +that it was an Indian child, which had escaped the massacre by hiding +itself in the bush. I pulled it out; it was a girl about two years old, +who could speak but a few words. I took her home to my lodge, and have +had her with me ever since, so I don't exactly know what tribe she +belongs to, as they all speak the same tongue. I called her the +'Strawberry,' because I found her under a bush close to the ground, and +among strawberry plants which were growing there."</p> + +<p>"And then you married her," said Percival.</p> + +<p>"Married her! no, boy, I never married her; what has an old man of near +seventy to do with marrying? They call her my squaw, because they +suppose she is my wife, and she does the duty of a wife to me; but if +they were to call her my daughter, they would be nearer the mark, for I +have been a father to her."</p> + +<p>"Well, Malachi, to tell you the truth, I did think that she was too +young to be your wife," said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, you were not far wrong," replied the old man. "I do wish I +could find out her tribe, but I never have been able, and indeed, from +what I can learn, the party who were surprised came a long way from +this, although speaking the same language; and I don't think there is +any chance now, for even if I were to try to discover it, there have +been so many surprises and so much slaughter within these last twenty +years, that it's scarcely possible the search would be attended with +success."</p> + +<p>"But why do you wish to find out her tribe?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Because I'm an old man, miss, and must soon expect to be gathered to my +fathers, and then this poor little girl will be quite alone, unless I +can marry her to some one before I die: and if I do marry her, why then +she will leave <em>me</em> alone; but that can't be helped, I'm an old man, and +what does it matter?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>"It matters a great deal, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I wish you would +live with us; you would then be taken care of if you required it, and +not die alone in the wilderness."</p> + +<p>"And the Strawberry shall never want friends or a home, while we can +offer her one, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell; "let what will happen to +you, she will be welcome to live here and die here, if she will remain."</p> + +<p>Malachi made no reply; he was in deep thought, resting his chin upon his +hands, which held his rifle before him. Mrs. Campbell and the girls were +obliged to leave to prepare the dinner. John had sat down with the +Strawberry and the Indian woman, and was listening to them, for he now +understood the Chippeway tongue. Alfred, Sinclair, and the other +gentlemen of the party, were in conversation near the fire, when they +were requested by Mrs. Campbell to retreat to the sitting-room, that the +culinary operations might not be interfered with. Malachi Bone still +continued sitting where he was, in deep thought. Martin, who remained, +said to the Miss Percivals in a low voice—</p> + +<p>"Well, I really did think that the old man had married the girl, and I +thought it was a pity," continued he, looking toward the Strawberry, +"for she is very young and very handsome for a squaw."</p> + +<p>"I think," replied Mary Percival, "she would be considered handsome +everywhere, Martin, squaw or not; her features are very pretty, and then +she has a melancholy smile, which is perfectly beautiful; but now, +Martin, pluck these turkeys, or we shall not have them ready in time."</p> + +<p>As soon as the dinner was at the fire, and could be left to the care of +Martin, Mrs. Campbell and the Misses Percival went into the +sitting-room. Mr. Campbell then read the morning service of the day, +Henry officiating as clerk in the responses. Old Malachi had joined the +party, and was profoundly attentive. As soon as the service was over, he +said—</p> + +<p>"All this puts me in mind of days long past, days which appear to me as +a dream, when I was a lad and had a father and a mother, and brothers +and sisters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> around me; but many summers and many winters have passed +over my head since then."</p> + +<p>"You were born in Maine, Malachi, were you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, half way up the White Mountains. He was a stern old man, my +father; but he was a righteous man. I remember how holy Sunday was kept +in our family; how my mother cleaned us all, and put on our best +clothes, and how we went to the chapel or church, I forget which they +called it; but no matter, we went to pray."</p> + +<p>"Was your father of the Established Church, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell, ma'am; indeed, I hardly know what it means; but he was a +good Christian and a good man, that I do know."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Malachi; when the population is crowded, you find people +divided into sects, and, what is still worse, despising, if not hating +each other, because the outward forms of worship are a little different. +Here in our isolated position, we feel how trifling are many of the +distinctions which divide religious communities, and that we could +gladly give the right hand of fellowship to any denomination of +Christians who hold the main truths of the Gospel. Are not all such +agreed in things essential, animated with the same hopes, acknowledging +the same rule of faith, and all comprehended in the same divine mercy +which was shown us on this day? What do all sincere Christians believe +but that God is holy, great, good, and merciful, that his Son died for +us all, and that through his merits and intercession if we conform to +his precepts—whether members of the Church of England, or any other +communion—we shall be saved and obtain the blessedness of heaven? We +may prefer, and reasonably prefer, our own mode of worship, believing it +to be most edifying; but we have no right to quarrel with those who +conscientiously differ from us about outward forms and ceremonies which +do not involve the spirit of Christianity."</p> + +<p>After a pause, Mary Percival said, "Malachi, tell us more about your +father and your family."</p> + +<p>"I have little to tell, miss; only that I now think that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> those were +pleasant days which then I thought irksome. My father had a large farm +and would have had us all remain with him. In the winter we felled +timber, and I took quite a passion for a hunter's life; but my father +would not allow me to go from home, so I staid till he died, and then I +went away on my rambles. I left when I was not twenty years old, and I +have never seen my family since. I have been a hunter and a trapper, a +guide and a soldier, and an interpreter; but for the last twenty-five +years I have been away from towns and cities, and have lived altogether +in the woods. The more man lives by himself, the more he likes it, and +yet now and then circumstances bring up the days of his youth, and make +him hesitate whether it be best or not to live alone."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear you say that, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"I little thought that I should ever have said it," replied the old man, +"when I first saw that girl by the side of the stream (looking at +Emma),—then my heart yearned toward the boy; and now this meeting to +praise God and to keep Christmas-day—all has helped."</p> + +<p>"But do you not pray when you are alone?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes, in a manner, miss; but it's not like your prayers; the lips don't +move, although the heart feels. When I lie under a tree watching for the +animals, and I take up a leaf and examine it, I observe how curious and +wonderful it is,—I then think that God made it, and that man could not. +When I see the young grass springing up, and <em>how</em>, I know not, except +that it does so every year, I think of God and his mercy to the wild +animals in giving them food; and then the sun reminds me of God; and the +moon, and the stars, as I watch, make me think of Him; but I feel very +often that there is something wanting, and that I do not worship exactly +as I ought to do. I never have known which is Sunday, although I well +recollect how holy it was kept at my father's house; and I never should +have known that this was Christmas-day, had it not been that I had met +with you. All days are alike to a man who is alone and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> in the +wilderness, and that should not be—I feel that it should not."</p> + +<p>"So true is it," observed Mr. Campbell, "that stated times and seasons +are necessary for the due observance of our religious duties; and I am +glad to hear Malachi say this, as I trust it will occasion his being +with us more than he has been."</p> + +<p>"Come to us every Sunday, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"I think I will, ma'am, if I can—indeed, why I say <em>if I can</em>, I know +not; it was wrong to say so."</p> + +<p>"I wish you to come not only on your own account, but for John's sake; +suppose you agree to come every Sunday morning, and leave us every +Monday. You will then have the whole week for your hunting."</p> + +<p>"Please God, I will," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>"And bring the Strawberry with you," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"I will, miss; it can not but do her good."</p> + +<p>Dinner was now announced, and they all sat down, a happy party. Mr. +Campbell on this occasion produced two or three bottles of his small +store of wine, which he kept rather in case of illness than for any +other reason, for they had all been so long without wine or spirits, +that they cared little about it. Their dinner consisted of white fish +(salted), roast venison, boiled salt beef, roast turkey, and a +plum-pudding, and they were all very merry, although they were in the +woods of Canada, and not at Wexton Hall.</p> + +<p>"My children," said Mr. Campbell, after dinner. "I now drink all your +healths, and wish you as much happiness as the world affords, and at the +same time accept my most hearty thanks and my dearest love. You have all +been good, obedient, and cheerful, and have lightened many a heavy load. +If when it pleased Providence to send us into this wilderness, it had +been part of my lot to contend with willful and disobedient children; if +there had been murmuring and repining at our trials; discontent and +quarreling among yourselves, how much more painful would have been our +situation. On the contrary, by your good humor and attention, your +willing submission to privations, and your affectionate conduct toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +me, my wife, and each other, you have not allowed us to feel the change +of position to which we have been reduced. I say again, my dear children +all, you have my thanks, and may the Almighty bless and preserve you!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>When we left off our narrative, our Canadian settlers were enjoying +themselves on Christmas day. On the following morning, Malachi Bone, the +Strawberry, and John, set off for their abode to the westward, and +Captain Sinclair and his companion went back to the fort. The Indian +woman was better, and the family resumed their usual occupations. We +must now briefly narrate a few events which occurred during the +remainder of the long winter. Malachi and John made their appearance, +accompanied by the Strawberry, almost every Sunday, and the old hunter +appeared gradually to become more reconciled to the society of others, +and sometimes would remain for a day or two over the Sunday. The Indian +woman, in the course of three weeks, was quite recovered, and signified, +through the Strawberry, her wish to leave, and join her tribe. To this, +of course, no objection was raised; and having received a supply of +provisions, she took her leave at the latter end of the month of +January.</p> + +<p>February,—March followed, and the winter still continued, but the sun +became more powerful, and the weather was not so severe. It was not till +the middle of April that the lake was clear of ice and the thaw +commenced, and then it was so rapid, that the little stream became quite +an impetuous torrent, and a large portion of the prairie land was under +water. A few days, however, sufficed to change the scene; the snow, +which had covered the ground for so many months, had all disappeared; +the birds, which had been mute or had migrated during the winter, now +made their appearance, and chirped and twittered round the house; the +pleasant green of the prairie was once more presented to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> view, +and nature began to smile again. Other ten days passed, and the trees +had thrown out their leaves, and after one or two storms, the weather +became warm and the sky serene.</p> + +<p>Great was the delight of the whole party at this change; and now the +cows were put out to their pasture, and Emma and Mary went milking as +before, no longer afraid of meeting with the wolves. The boat was +launched, and Percival and John went out to procure fish. Alfred, Henry, +and Martin were very busy picking up the cleared ground, to sow the +first crop. Mr. Campbell worked all day in the garden; the poultry were +noisy and bustling, and soon furnished an abundant supply of eggs; and +as now the hunting season was over for a time, Malachi and the +Strawberry were continually coming to visit them.</p> + +<p>"Oh! how delightful this is," exclaimed Emma, as she stopped at the +bridge and looked on the wide blue lake; "is it not, Mary, after having +been cooped up for so many weary months?"</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, Emma; I do not wonder at your flow of spirits; I feel +quite another person myself. Well, if the winter is long and dreary, at +all events, it doubly enhances the value of the spring."</p> + +<p>"I think it very odd that Captain Sinclair has not come to see us; don't +you, Mary?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly did expect him before this," replied Mary; "I presume, +however, his duty will not permit him to come."</p> + +<p>"Surely he could get leave, now that the weather is fine; there was some +reason for his not coming during the winter. I hope he is not ill."</p> + +<p>"I hope so too, most sincerely, Emma," replied Mary; "but come, sister, +we must not loiter; hear how the calves are bleating for us to let them +have their breakfast; we shall have more of them very soon; yes, and +plenty of milk, and then we shall have plenty of churning; but I like +work when the weather is fine."</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Emma expressed her surprise to Alfred at Captain +Sinclair's not having made his appearance, and her fear that he was not +well. Alfred, at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> request, promised to walk to the fort in the +afternoon, and ascertain how matters were.</p> + +<p>John, who had not forgotten the advice of Malachi, brought in a basket +of fine trout from the stream almost every day, and the supply of fish +and eggs proved very acceptable, for the beef had all been consumed, and +the family would otherwise have been reduced to salt-pork.</p> + +<p>Alfred, as he had promised Emma, set off for the fort, accompanied by +Martin. He returned the next morning, full of news. Captain Sinclair +was, as Emma had imagined, unable to come, having had a severe fall, by +which he had injured his knee, and was laid up for a time; he was, +however, in very good spirits, and the medical officer had promised that +he should be well again in a fortnight; he sent his kind regards to all +the family. The commandant also sent his compliments to Mr. Campbell, +and desired to acquaint him that, in a week or ten days, it was his +intention to send a boat to Montreal, and if Mr. Campbell had any +purchases to make, or wished to send any one by the opportunity, he +might do so, and the boat would bring back the articles he required. +They had no further communication with Quebec, but expected a runner to +come every day with the letters from England and newspapers; and +further, that he hoped soon to be able to pay his respects in person.</p> + +<p>Such was the information brought by Alfred; Emma made many inquiries +relative to Captain Sinclair as Mary stood by, and Alfred laughed at her +extreme inquisitiveness. The proposition of the commandant relative to +the trip to Montreal was then discussed. Old Malachi had several +packages of furs to dispose of. Martin had five, Alfred three, and Henry +two; for, although we made no mention of it, on their hunting +excursions, whoever killed the animal, was entitled to the skin. The +packages of Malachi were, however, of some value, as he had many beaver +and other skins, while those of Martin and the others consisted chiefly +of deer-skins. The question was, whom to send down with them. Malachi +was not inclined to go, Martin could not well be spared, and, moreover, +would very probably get into some scrape if he went to Montreal; whereas +Henry and Alfred did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> know any thing about the value of skins; +otherwise, Mr. Campbell, who wished to purchase flour and pork, besides +several other articles, would have preferred sending one of them. But +the difficulty was soon removed by old Malachi, who observed, that he +had made a valuation of his skins, and that the others could be valued +also before they were packed up; and that if not sold for what they +ought to fetch, or nearly so, they had better be brought back. Mr. +Campbell was satisfied with this arrangement, and Henry was appointed to +undertake the journey. Mr. Campbell made out his inventory of articles; +Mrs. Campbell added her list, and all was ready as soon as they received +notice that the boat was to leave. Martin did not appear at all annoyed +at not being selected for the expedition; since Malachi Bone had +informed them that the Strawberry was not his wife, as they had +supposed, Martin was continually by her side. She began to speak a few +words of English, and had become a great favorite with every body.</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell, as soon as he perceived that Malachi no longer avoided +them, thought it but his duty to offer him his land back again, but +Malachi would not consent to accept it. He said he did not want the +land, although perhaps, he might raise his lodge a little nearer to them +than it was; at present, things had better remain as they were; after +which Mr. Campbell did not renew the subject. Malachi soon acted upon +his remark, that perhaps he might raise his lodge a little nearer, for, +a few days afterward, he made his appearance with the Strawberry and +John, all three loaded with his household utensils, and in a very short +time he had erected another wigwam within sight of the house at the +western end of Mr. Campbell's prairie. This gave great satisfaction to +Mrs. Campbell, because John was now always near them; indeed, he no +longer slept in the lodge, but at the house, in the room with his +brothers. The major part of the day he passed at the lodge, or in +company with the old hunter; but, by this new arrangement, they +gradually became, as it were, one family; not a day passed that the +Strawberry did not come to their house and make herself useful, +assisting in every thing that she could, and rapidly learning what she +did not know.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>One or two evenings after the message from the fort, Mrs. Campbell asked +Malachi some questions relative to the habits of the beaver, as she had +heard much of the sagacity of that animal.</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am," said Malachi, "it's a most reasonable animal, certainly, +and I will say, I never was tired with watching them; I've even forgot, +in the summer-time, what I came out for, from having fallen in with them +at work."</p> + +<p>"And so have I," said Martin. "I once was lying down under a bush by the +side of a stream, and I saw a whole council of them meet together, and +they talked after their own fashion so earnestly, and I really think +they have a language as good as our own. It's always the old ones who +talk, and the young ones who listen."</p> + +<p>"That's true," replied Malachi. "I once myself saw them hold a council, +and then they all separated to go to work, for they were about to dam up +a stream and build their lodges."</p> + +<p>"And what did they do, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, they did all the same as Christians would have done. The +Injuns say that beavers have souls as well as themselves, and certainly, +if sense gave souls, the Injuns would be in the right. The first thing +that they did was to appoint their sentinels to give notice of danger; +for the moment any one comes near them, these sentinels give the signal +and away they all dive, and disappear till the danger is over."</p> + +<p>"There are many beasts as well as birds that do the same," observed Mr. +Campbell; "indeed, most of those which are gregarious and live in +flocks."</p> + +<p>"That's true, sir," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, the beavers choose a place fit for their work. What they +require is a stream running through a flat or bottom, which stream of +water they may dam up so as to form a large pond of a sufficient depth +by the water flowing over and covering the flat or bottom several feet; +and when they have found the spot they require, they begin their work."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," observed Mr. Campbell, "this choice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> requires more sagacity +than the rest of their labor, for the beavers must have some engineering +talent to make the selection. They must be able to calculate as exactly +as if they took their levels, to secure the size and depth of water in +the pond which is necessary. It is the most wonderful, perhaps, of all +the instincts, or reasoning powers rather, allotted to them."</p> + +<p>"It is, sir; and I've often thought so," replied Malachi; "and then to +see how they carry all their tools about them; a carpenter's basket +could not be better provided. Their strong teeth serve as axes to cut +down the trees; then their tails serve as trowels for their mason's +work; their fore-feet they use just as we do our hands, and their tails +are also employed as little carts or wheelbarrows."</p> + +<p>"Pray go on, Malachi," said Mary; "I am quite interested already."</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, I have known these little creatures as they are, raise +banks four or five hundred paces in length, and a matter of twenty feet +high in some parts, besides being seven or eight feet thick; and all in +one season,—perhaps five or six months' work."</p> + +<p>"But how many of them do you reckon are at the work?" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps a hundred; not more, I should say."</p> + +<p>"Well; but how do they raise these banks, Malachi?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"There, miss, they show what sense they have. I've often watched them +when they have been sawing through the large trees with the front teeth; +they could not carry the tree, that's sartin, if the whole of them were +to set to work, so they always pick out the trees by the banks of the +stream, and they examine how the trees incline, to see if they will fall +into the stream; if not, they will not cut them down; and when they are +cutting them down, and they are nearly ready for falling, if the wind +should change and be against the fall, they will leave that tree till +the wind will assist them. As soon as the trees are down, they saw off +the branches and arms, and float the log down to where the dam is to be +made; they lay them across, and as they lay them one upon the other, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +course the water rises and enables them to float down and place the +upper ones. But before that, as soon as the lower logs are in their +places, the animals go and fetch long grass and clay, which they load +upon their flat tails, and drag to the dam, filling up the holes between +the timber till it is as strong as a wall, and the water is completely +stopped."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Martin; "I have heard them at night working away so hard and +flapping and spattering with their tails, that I could imagine there +were fifty men at work instead of a hundred of these small animals, but +they work by day and by night, and never seem tired, till the dam is +sound and their work is complete."</p> + +<p>"But the raising of the dam is only preparatory, is it not, to their +building their own houses?" observed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more, ma'am; and I think the rest of the work is quite as +wonderful."</p> + +<p>"But it is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "and we must, +therefore, leave the remainder of Malachi's story till another evening."</p> + +<p>"I am sure that there is not one of the party who is more anxious to +hear it than I am," replied Mrs. Campbell, rising, "but as you say, it +is past ten o'clock, and Malachi and the Strawberry have to go home, so +good-night."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! what a pity!" cried Percival, "I shall dream of beavers all +night, I'm sure I shall."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>For two or three days, Mr. Campbell was very busy making out an +inventory of the articles which he required. His funds at Quebec were +rather low, but the communication which his agent had made to him of Mr. +D. Campbell's intention of paying for the green-house and hot-house +plants, made him feel very easy on that score; and he now determined to +procure a small flock of sheep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> and one or two of the Canadian ponies +or galloways, as they would soon be required for the farm, as well as +two carts or light wagons used in the country. In the meantime, Alfred, +Martin, and Henry were very busy putting the seed in between the stumps +of the felled timber, merely hoeing up the earth and raking it in, which +was all that was required. The quantity of land cleared was about twelve +acres, half of which was sowed with oats, and the other with wheat; the +piece cleared on the other side of the stream by Malachi Bone, and +railed in, was sown with maize, or Indian corn. As soon as the seed was +in, they all set to putting up a high fence round the cleared land, +which was done with split rails made from the white cedar, which grew in +a swamp about half a mile distant, and which, it may be remembered, had +in a great measure been provided by the soldiers who had been lent to +assist them on their arrival. The piece of prairie land, on the side of +the stream next to the house, was put apart for an early crop of hay, +and as soon as they could, they intended to turn the cows into the bush, +that is, to feed in the forest, that they might obtain hay from the +other side, which had belonged to Malachi; but the prairie required to +be fenced in, and this was the job that they took in hand as soon as the +seeds were sown.</p> + +<p>"I hope, when the Colonel comes over," observed Martin to Alfred, "that +we shall persuade him to let us have some soldiers this summer, for we +shall want them both for the fencing and getting the hay-crop in. Our +summers are not very long, and there is plenty to do."</p> + +<p>"I think my father intends to make the request," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Ah, sir; he will now see the value of this bit of prairie land to a new +settler; instead of having to go in search of hay, as they must do at +the fort now, we have plenty for hay, and plenty for feed. So we are to +have some sheep, I find?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I suppose we must build a winter-yard for them."</p> + +<p>"To be sure we must, for the wolves are very partial to mutton; I think, +on the whole, that they like pigs better. I wish we could get the fence +up round the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> prairie, but that we never can do this year without we +have help from the fort."</p> + +<p>"But will it be safe to turn the cows into the bush?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir; they will not be hurt by any thing in the summer time; +sometimes we have trouble to find them again, but not when they have +calves; they are certain to come home every evening to their young +ones."</p> + +<p>"We shall have quite a herd of cattle; eight calves and eight cows."</p> + +<p>"We must only bring up the cow calves, unless your father intends to +have oxen for the yoke. We shall require them about the time they are +fit to break in, that is, in two or three years."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we shall be great farmers by and by," replied Alfred with a sigh; +for at the moment he was thinking of Captain Lumley and his nautical +profession.</p> + +<p>In the evening of the day on which this conversation took place, Malachi +Bone was requested to resume his observations upon the beavers.</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, as I said the other night, as soon as they have dammed up +the river and made the lake, they then build their houses; and how they +manage to work under water and fix the posts in the ground is a puzzle +to me, but they do fix six posts in the ground, and very firmly, and +then they build their house, which is very curious; it is in the form of +a large oven, and made of clay and fat earth, mixed up with branches and +herbs of all sorts; they have three sets of rooms, one above the other, +so that if the water rises from a freshet or sudden thaw, they may be +able to move higher and keep themselves dry. Each beaver has his own +little room, and the entrance is made under the water, so that they dive +down to go into it, and nothing can harm them."</p> + +<p>"How very curious! and what do they live upon? Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"The bark of what we call asp-wood, ma'am, which is a kind of sallow; +they lay up great quantities of it in the autumn as a provision for +winter, when they are frozen up for some months."</p> + +<p>"Well, but how do you take them, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"There are many ways, ma'am; sometimes the Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> break down the dam, +and let off the water, and then they kill them all except a dozen of the +females and half a dozen males; after which they stop up the dam again, +that the animals may breed and increase; sometimes, when the beaver lake +is frozen hard, they break into the beaver house from the top; when they +do that, the beavers all dive and escape, but as they must come up to +breathe at the holes in the ice, they place nets and take them in that +way, but they always leave a sufficient number to keep up the stock; +they also take them in traps baited with the asp-wood; but that is more +difficult.</p> + +<p>"But there is another sort of beaver, ma'am, called the land-beaver, +which is more easily taken," observed Martin; "they make holes in the +earth like rabbits. The Indians say that these beavers are those who are +lazy and idle, and have been driven out by the others for not working."</p> + +<p>"Now, tell us what you do when you go out to hunt the beaver in the +winter, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"We never hunt the beaver only, ma'am; we go out to hunt every thing; we +go to the beaver lakes, and then we set our traps for beaver, otter, +martin, minks, cats, foxes, and every other animal, some traps large and +some small. We build our hut, and set our traps all about us, and +examine them every day; we cut what flesh is good, and we employ +ourselves skinning the animals which we take."</p> + +<p>"Is the beaver flesh good?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, very tolerable eating; perhaps the best we find at that +time."</p> + +<p>"But what a miserable life that must be," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, you may think so, but we hunters think otherwise," replied +Malachi; "we are used to it, and to being left alone to our own +thoughts."</p> + +<p>"That's true," observed Martin; "I'd rather pass the winter hunting +beavers, than pass it at Quebec, miserable as you may imagine the life +to be."</p> + +<p>"There must be a charm in the life, that is certain," observed Mr. +Campbell; "for how many are engaged in it who go out year after year, +and never think of laying up any of their earnings."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>"Very true, sir," replied Martin; "what they make from their skins is +spent as soon as they get to Quebec, as I know well, and then they set +off again."</p> + +<p>"Why they are like sailors," observed Alfred, "who, after a long cruise, +spend all their wages and prize-money in a few days, and then go to sea +again for more."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," replied Malachi; "and what's the use of money if you keep it? +A trapper can always take up as much powder and ball as he wants upon +credit, and pay with a portion of his skins on his return. What does he +want with the rest? It's of no use to him, and so of course he spends +it."</p> + +<p>"But would it not be better to put it by until he had sufficient to buy +a farm, and live comfortably?"</p> + +<p>"But does he live comfortably, ma'am?" said Malachi; "has he not more +work to do, more things to look after, and more to care for with a farm, +than when he has nothing?"</p> + +<p>"It's very true philosophy, after all," observed Mr. Campbell; "happy is +the man who is content to be poor. If a man prefers to live entirely +upon flesh, as the hunters do, there is no reason why he should work +hard and till the ground to procure bread; when the wants are few, the +cares are few also; but still, even the savage must feel the necessity +of exertion when he has a wife and family."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, to be sure he does, and he works hard in his own way to +procure their food; but trappers seldom have wives; they would be no use +to them in the woods, and they have no one to provide for but +themselves."</p> + +<p>"It appears to me like a savage life, but a very independent one," said +Mrs. Campbell, "and I presume it is the independence which gives it such +charms."</p> + +<p>"That's it, depend upon it, ma'am," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"But what do you do all the summer time, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, we take to our rifles then; there are the deer, and the +lynx, and the wild cats, and squirrels, and the bear, and many other +animals to look after; and sometimes we go bee-hunting, for the honey."</p> + +<p>"Pray tell us how you take the honey, Malachi."</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, the bees always live in the hollow of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> old trees, and +it's very difficult in a forest to find them out, for the hole which +they enter by is very small and very high up sometimes; however, when we +get a lead, we generally manage it."</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you mean, Malachi."</p> + +<p>"We catch the bees as they settle upon the flowers to obtain honey, and +then we let them go again. The bee, as soon as it is allowed to escape, +flies straight toward its hive; we watch it till we can no longer see +it, and walk in that direction and catch another, and so we go on till +we see them settle upon a tree, and then we know that the hive and honey +must be in that tree, so we cut it down."</p> + +<p>"How very clever," said Percival.</p> + +<p>"It requires a sharp eye though," said Martin, "to watch the bee far; +some of the trappers catch the bees and give them sugar mixed with +whisky. This makes them tipsy, and they can not fly so fast, and then +they discover the hive much sooner, as they can run almost as fast as +the bee flies."</p> + +<p>"That's capital," cried Percival; "but tell me, Martin, how do you kill +the bears?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Master Percival, with our rifles, to be sure; the easiest way to +kill them is when they are in their holes in the hollow trees."</p> + +<p>"How do you get them out?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we knock the tree with our axes, and they come out to see what's +the matter, and as soon as they put their heads out, we shoot them."</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest, Martin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; quite in earnest," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"It's all true, ma'am," said the hunter; "the bears about here are not +very savage. We had much worse down in Maine. I've seen the Indians in a +canoe on a river watching the bears as they swam across, and kill in the +water six or seven in one day."</p> + +<p>"Still a bear is an awkward sort of animal when it's angry," replied +Martin; "and, as we may have them down here in the autumn, it's as well +not to let them be thought too lightly of."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, there's no fear of that," said Emma; "as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> for Malachi, he +thinks nothing dangerous; but I have no wish to see a bear. You say we +may expect them, Martin. Why so?"</p> + +<p>"Because, miss, they are very fond of maize, and we have a field of it +sown, which may tempt them."</p> + +<p>"Well, if they do come, I must trust to my rifle," replied Emma, +laughing; "at all events, I do not fear them so much as I did when I +first came here."</p> + +<p>"Don't fire, miss, without you're sure of killing," said Malachi. "The +creatures are very dangerous when wounded."</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid; I'll only fire in self-defense, Malachi; that is, when +I have no other chance left. I had rather trust to my heels than my +rifle. Were you ever hugged by a bear?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I wasn't ever hugged; but once I was much closer to one than ever +I wish to be again."</p> + +<p>"Oh! when was that? Do, pray, tell us," said Emma.</p> + +<p>"It was when I was young, that one day I sounded a tree in the forest +with my ax, and I was certain that a bear was in it: but the animal did +not show itself, so I climbed up the tree to examine the hole at the +top, and see if the bear was at home; as, if so, I was determined to +have him out. Well, miss, I was on the top of the hollow trunk, and was +just putting my head down into the hole, when, all of a sudden, the edge +of the tree which I kneeled upon gave way, like so much tinder, and down +I went into the hollow; luckily for me I did not go down head foremost, +or there I should have remained till this time, for the hole in the +middle of the tree, as I found, was too narrow for me to have turned in, +and there I must have stuck. As it was, I went down with the dust and +crumbles smothering me almost, till I came right on the top of the bear, +who lay at the bottom, and I fell with such force, that I doubled his +head down so that he could not lay hold of me with his teeth, which +would not have been pleasant; indeed, the bear was quite as much, if not +more astonished than myself, and there he lay beneath me, very quiet, +till I could recover a little. Then I thought of getting out, as you may +suppose, fast enough, and the hollow of the tree, providentially, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +not so wide but that I could work up again with my back to one side and +my knees to the other. By this means I gradually got up again to the +hole that I fell in at, and perched myself across the timber to fetch my +breath. I had not been there more than a quarter of a minute, and I +intended to have remained much longer, when I perceived, all of a +sudden, the bear's head within a foot of me; he had climbed up after me, +and I saw that he was very angry, so in a moment I threw myself off my +perch, and down I went to the ground at the foot of the tree, a matter +of near twenty feet, even faster than I went down inside of it. I was +severely shaken with the fall, but no bones were broken; in fact, I was +more frightened than hurt; I lay quite still for a little while, when +the growl of the bear put me in mind of him; I jumped on my legs, and +found that he was coming down the tree after me, and was within six feet +of the ground. There was no time to lose; I caught up my rifle, and had +just time to put it to his ear and settle him, as he was placing his +fore-foot on the ground."</p> + +<p>"What a narrow escape!"</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps it was, but there's no saying, miss, which beats till the +fight is over."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + + +<p>A notice arrived that the departure of the boat to Montreal would take +place on the next morning. When the boat came up, it brought Captain +Sinclair, to the great delight of the whole party, who had felt very +anxious about one with whom they had so long been intimate and who had +shown them so much kindness. His knee was almost well, and as soon as +the first interrogations were over, he made known to them that he had +obtained six weeks' leave of absence, and was about to proceed to +Quebec.</p> + +<p>"To Quebec!" cried Emma, "and why are you going to Quebec?"</p> + +<p>"To confess the truth, Emma," said Captain Sinclair,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> "my journey to +Quebec is but the preparatory step to my return to England for perhaps +two or three months."</p> + +<p>"To England! Oh! how I wish—;" but here Emma stopped; she was going to +say how much she wished that she was going also, but her uncle and aunt +were present, and, recollecting that it might pain them and induce them +to think that she was discontented, she added, "that you would bring me +out all the new fashions."</p> + +<p>"All the new fashions, my dear Emma?" said Henry. "Why, do you wish to +be fashionably dressed in the woods of Canada?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" exclaimed Emma, who felt that she must appear to be very +foolish, but could not get out of her scrape. "I can look at myself in +the glass at all events."</p> + +<p>"I will try to bring you out something which will give you pleasure," +replied Captain Sinclair, "but as for the fashions, I know you are only +joking, by your trusting a person so incompetent as I am to select +them."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do not think you would execute my commission very well, so I +will not trouble you," replied Emma; "and now let us know why you are +going to England."</p> + +<p>"My dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell, "you ought not to put such questions; +Captain Sinclair has his own reasons, I have no doubt."</p> + +<p>"It is very true that I have my own reasons," replied Captain Sinclair, +"and, as I have no secrets, I will with pleasure gratify Emma's +curiosity. I do not know whether you are aware that I was an orphan at a +very early age, and have been under the charge of a guardian. When my +father died, he left directions in his will that I was not to take +possession of my property till I was twenty-five years of age. I was +twenty-five years old last year, and my guardian has written requesting +me to come home, that he may be relieved of his responsibility, by +making over to me the trust which has been confided to him."</p> + +<p>"Will it detain you long?" inquired Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"It must not. It is very difficult to obtain leave of absence from your +regiment in time of war. It is only through interest that I do so now. +On my arrival at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Quebec, the Governor will put me on his staff, and +then he will give me leave. I shall not stay longer than is necessary, +as I am anxious to be with my regiment again. You may, therefore, be +certain that, if I am spared, I shall be with you again before the +winter, if not much sooner. So now if you have really any commissions +for me to execute, I can only say I shall be most happy to comply with +your wishes to the best of my ability."</p> + +<p>"Well," observed Emma, "we really were not aware that Captain Sinclair +was a man of fortune. You think now you will come back," continued she, +gravely, "but if once you get to England, you will remain, and forget +all about Canada."</p> + +<p>"My fortune is not very large," replied Captain Sinclair; "in England, +hardly sufficient to induce a young lady of fashion to look upon me, +although enough, perhaps, for a sensible woman to be happy upon. My +fortune, therefore, will not detain me in England, and, as I said +before, my greatest wish is to rejoin my regiment."</p> + +<p>"Whether you come back or remain," observed Mr. Campbell, "you will +always have our best wishes, Captain Sinclair. We are not ungrateful for +your kindness to us."</p> + +<p>"Nor shall I forget the many happy hours I have passed in your society," +replied Captain Sinclair; "but we shall be melancholy if we talk too +long upon the subject. The boat can not remain more than two hours, and +Henry must be ready by that time. The commandant is anxious that it +should start for Montreal this very evening."</p> + +<p>"Then, indeed, we have no time to lose," observed Mr. Campbell; "Henry, +get your trunk ready, and Martin will take it down into the boat before +we sit down to dinner. It will be a long while before we have you to +dine with us again," continued Mr. Campbell to Captain Sinclair; "but I +wish you your health and much happiness till you return. Come, girls, +look after the dinner. Mary! where's Mary?"</p> + +<p>"She went into the room a few minutes ago," said Emma, "but I'm here, +and can do all that is required without her or my aunt either. Come, +Percival, lay the cloth; Alfred, come and help me, this is almost too +heavy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> for me. Oh, here comes my aunt: now you may go away, Alfred; we +can get on better without you."</p> + +<p>"There's gratitude," said Alfred, laughing.</p> + +<p>As Henry had been in daily expectation of the summons, he was not long +in his preparations, and in a few minutes made his appearance, +accompanied by Mary Percival. They then sat down to dinner, not very +cheerful, for Captain Sinclair's unexpected departure had thrown a gloom +over them all; however, they rallied a little toward the close of the +meal, and Mr. Campbell produced one of his bottles of wine to drink +success and happiness to the travelers. It was then time to start. +Captain Sinclair and Henry shook hands with Mr. Campbell and the Miss +Percivals, and accompanied by the gentlemen of the party, walked down to +the beach.</p> + +<p>"I can't bear parting with any one that I have been so intimate with," +said Emma, after they were left alone. "I declare I could sit down and +have a hearty cry at Captain Sinclair's departure."</p> + +<p>Mary sighed, but made no answer.</p> + +<p>"I am not surprised to hear you say so, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "In +England, when we were surrounded with friends, parting was always +painful; but here where we have so few, I might almost say only Captain +Sinclair, it is of course most painful. However, it's only for a time, I +hope."</p> + +<p>"It must be very dull to be on duty at the fort," said Mary; "I should +not be surprised at Captain Sinclair's not returning."</p> + +<p>"I should be most exceedingly surprised," replied Emma; "I am sure that +he will come back, if he is not unavoidably prevented."</p> + +<p>"Since he has expressed so much desire to rejoin his regiment, I should +be surprised as well as you, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "He is not a +volatile young man; but, come, we must clear away the dinner-table."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell, Alfred, Percival, and Martin soon returned, for Captain +Sinclair was obliged to push off immediately, that he might return in +time to the fort, in obedience to his orders. Malachi and John had gone +out on a hunting expedition, and the Strawberry was at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> her own lodge. +The party that sat in the kitchen in the evening was, therefore, much +reduced, and the taking farewell of Captain Sinclair did not dispose +them to be very lively. A few words were exchanged now and then, but the +conversation drooped. Emma spoke of Captain Sinclair's expectations and +projects.</p> + +<p>"We never know what may come in this world of change, my dear Emma," +said Mr. Campbell. "All Captain Sinclair's plans may be overthrown by +circumstances over which he has no control. How seldom do we meet with +results equal to our expectations. When I was practicing in my +profession, I little expected that I should be summoned to take +possession of Wexton Hall; when once in possession, as little did I +expect that I should be obliged to quit it, and to come to these +desolate wilds. We are in the hands of God, who does with us as He +thinks fit. I have been reading this morning, and I made the observation +not only how often individuals, but even nations, are out in their +expectations. I do not know a more convincing proof of this than the +narration of events, which from their recent occurrence, can hardly yet +be considered as history, has offered to me. Perhaps there never was so +short a period in which causes have produced effects so rapidly, and in +which, in every case, the effects have been directly opposite to what +short-sighted mortals had anticipated. It was in 1756, scarcely forty +years ago, that the French, being in possession of the provinces, +attempted to wrest from us those portions of America which we occupied. +What was the result? After a war which, for cruelty and atrocity, is +perhaps unequaled in history, both parties employing savages, by whom +the French and English were alternately tortured and burned to death, +France, in attempting to obtain all, lost all, and was compelled, in +1760, to surrender its own provinces to Great Britain. Here is one +instance in which affairs turned out contrary to the expectations of +France.</p> + +<p>"Now again: At no period was England more prosperous or more respected +by foreign nations than at the close of the war. Her prosperity made her +arrogant and unjust. She wronged her colonies. She thought that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +dared not resist her imperious will. She imagined that now that the +French were driven from the Canadas, America was all her own, whereas it +was because the French <em>were</em> driven from the Canadas that the colonies +ventured to resist. As long as the French held this country, the English +colonists had an enemy on their frontiers, and consequently looked up to +England for support and protection. They required aid and assistance, +and as long as they did require it, they were not likely to make any +remonstrance at being taxed to pay a portion of the expense which was +incurred. Had the French possessed an army under Montcalm ready to +advance at the time that the Stamp Act, or the duty upon tea, salt, +etc., was imposed, I question very much if the colonists would have made +any remonstrance. But no longer requiring an army for their own +particular defense, these same duties induced them to rise in rebellion +against what they considered injustice, and eventually to assert their +independence. Here, again, we find that affairs turned out quite +contrary to the expectations of England.</p> + +<p>"Observe again. The American colonists gained their independence, which +in all probability they would not have done had they not been assisted +by the numerous army and fleet of France, who, irritated at the loss of +the Canadas, wished to humiliate England by the loss of her own American +possessions. But little did the French king and his noblesse imagine, +that in upholding the principles of the Americans, and allowing the +French armies and navies (I may say the people of France <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en masse</span>) to +be imbued with the same principles of equality, that they were sowing +the seeds of a revolution in their own country which was to bring the +king, as well as the major part of the nobility, to the scaffold.</p> + +<p>"There, again, the events did not turn out according to expectation, and +you will observe in every attempt made by either party, the result was, +that the blow fell upon their own heads, and not upon that of the party +which it was intended to crush."</p> + +<p>"I remember," said Alfred, after Mr. Campbell had finished speaking, +"having somewhere read a story of an Eastern king who purchased a +proverb of a dervise,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> which he ordered to be engraven on all the gold +and silver utensils in the palace. The proverb was, 'Never undertake any +thing until you have well considered the end.' It so happened, that +there was a conspiracy against the king, and it was arranged that his +surgeon should bleed him with a poisoned lancet. The surgeon agreed—the +king's arm was bound up, and one of the silver basins was held to +receive the blood. The surgeon read the inscription, and was so struck +with the force of it, that he threw down the lancet, confessed the plot, +and thus was the life of the king preserved."</p> + +<p>"A very apt story, Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"The question now is," continued Alfred, "as two of the parties, France +and England, have proved so short-sighted, whether the Americans, having +thrown off their allegiance, have not been equally so in their choice of +a democratical government?"</p> + +<p>"How far a modern democracy may succeed, I am not prepared to say," +replied Mr. Campbell; "but this I do know, that in ancient times, their +duration was generally very short, and continually changing to oligarchy +and tyranny. One thing is certain, that there is no form of government +under which the people become so rapidly vicious, or where those who +benefit them are treated with such ingratitude."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for that, sir?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"There are two principal causes. One is, that where all men are declared +to be equal (which man never will permit his fellow to be if he can +prevent it), the only source of distinction is wealth, and thus the +desire of wealth becomes the ruling passion of the whole body, and there +is no passion so demoralizing. The other is, that where the people, or, +more properly speaking, the mob govern, they must be conciliated by +flattery and servility on the part of those who would become their +idols. Now flattery is lying, and a habit equally demoralizing to the +party who gives and to the party who receives it. Depend upon it, there +is no government so contemptible or so unpleasant for an honest man to +live under as a democracy."</p> + +<p>"It is my opinion, sir, and I believe a very general one," said Alfred.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>"How far the Americans may disprove such an opinion," continued Mr. +Campbell, "remains to be seen; but this is certain, they have commenced +their new form of government with an act of such gross injustice, as to +warrant the assumption that all their boasted virtues are pretense. I +refer to their not liberating their slaves. They have given the lie to +their own assertions in their Declaration of Independence, in which they +have declared all men equal and born free, and we can not expect the +Divine blessing upon those who, when they emancipated themselves, were +so unjust as to hold their fellow-creatures in bondage. The time will +come, I have no doubt, although perhaps not any of us here present may +see the day, when the retribution will fall upon their heads, or rather +upon the heads of their offspring; for the sins of the fathers are +visited upon the children, even to the third and fourth generation. But +it is time for us to think of retiring—good-night, and God bless you +all."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + + +<p>In two days Malachi and John returned, bringing with them the skins of +three bears which they had killed—but at this period of the year the +animals were so thin and so poor, that their flesh was not worth +bringing home. Indeed, it was hardly worth while going out to hunt just +then, so they both remained much at home, either fishing in the lake, or +taking trout in the stream. Alfred and Martin were still occupied with +the farm; the seed had come up, and they were splitting rails for the +prairie fence. About a fortnight after Captain Sinclair's departure, +Colonel Forster came in a boat from the fort, to pay them a visit.</p> + +<p>"I assure you, Mr. Campbell," said he, "I was very anxious about you +last winter, and I am rejoiced that you got over it with so little +difficulty. At one time we had apprehensions of the Indians, but these +have passed over for the present. They meet again this summer, but the +Quebec government are on the alert, and I have no doubt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> but that a +little conciliation will put an end to all animosity. We expect a large +supply of blankets and other articles to be sent up this spring, as +presents to the tribes, which we hope will procure their good-will; and +we have taken up several French emissaries, who were working mischief."</p> + +<p>"But still we shall be liable to the assaults of straggling parties," +said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"That is true," replied the Colonel, "but against them you have your own +means of defense. You would, in so isolated a position, be equally +liable to a burglary in England—only with the difference that in +England you would have the laws to appeal to, whereas here you must take +the law into your own hands."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is not pleasant to be in a continual state of anxiety," +observed Mr. Campbell, "but we knew what we had to expect before we came +here, and we must make the best of it. So you have lost Captain +Sinclair, Colonel; he is a great loss to us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is to go to England for a short time," replied the Colonel, +"but we shall soon have him back again. He must be very fond of his +profession to remain in it with his means."</p> + +<p>"He told us that he was about to take possession of a small property."</p> + +<p>"A property of nearly £2,000 per annum," replied the Colonel. "He may +consider it a small property, but I should think it otherwise if it had +fallen to my lot."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I had no idea, from what he said, that it was so large," said +Mrs. Campbell. "Well, I have a high opinion of him, and have no doubt +but that he will make a good use of it."</p> + +<p>"At all events, he can afford the luxury of a wife," said the Colonel, +laughing, "which we soldiers seldom can."</p> + +<p>The Colonel then entered into conversation with Mr. Campbell, relative +to his farm, and after many questions, he observed:</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking, Mr. Campbell, that it will be very advantageous +to the government as well as to you, when your farm is cleared and +stocked, if, with the water-power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> you possess here, you were to erect a +flour-mill and a saw-mill. You observe that the government has to supply +the fort with flour and provisions of all kinds at a very heavy expense +of carriage, and the cattle we have at the fort will cost us more than +they are worth, now that we have lost your prairie farm, so conveniently +situated for us. On the other hand, your produce will be almost useless +to you, at the distance you are from any mart; as you will not find any +sale for it. Now, if you were to erect a mill, and grind your own wheat, +which you may do in another year, if you have funds sufficient; and as +you may have plenty of stock, you will be able to supply the fort with +flour, beef, pork, and mutton, at a good profit to yourself, and at +one-half the price which government pays at present. I have written to +the Governor on the subject, stating that we have not the means of +keeping our stock, and pointing out to him what I now point out to you. +I expect an answer in a few days, and should he authorize me, I may make +arrangements with you even now, which will be satisfactory, I have no +doubt."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell returned the Colonel many thanks for his kindness, and of +course expressed himself willing to be guided by his advice. He stated +that he had funds not only sufficient to erect a mill, but also, if he +were permitted, to pay for the labor of any party of men which the +commandant would spare during the summer season.</p> + +<p>"That is the very point which I wished to ascertain; but I felt some +delicacy about making the inquiry. Now I consider that there will be no +difficulty in our arrangements."</p> + +<p>The Colonel remained for some time looking over the farm and conversing +with Mr. Campbell, and then took his leave.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Alfred and his cousins went out to walk; the weather +was now beautifully clear, and in the afternoon the heat was not too +oppressive. As they sauntered by the side of the stream, Mary said, +"Well, Alfred, what do you think of the Colonel's proposition?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," observed Emma, "you are a party deeply concerned in it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>"How so, dear coz?"</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you perceive that if the mill is erected, you will be the +proper person to have charge of it? What a change of professions, from a +sailor to a miller. I think I see you in your coat, all white with +flour, coming in to dinner."</p> + +<p>"My dear Emma, you don't intend it, I am sure, but you do not know that +you are inflicting pain upon me. When the Colonel made the proposition, +I felt the importance of it, as it would be a source of great profit to +my father; but at the same time, I don't know how it is, I have always +indulged the idea that we may not stay here forever, and this plan +appeared so like decidedly settling down to a residence for life, that +it made me low-spirited. I know that it is foolish, and that we have no +chance of ever removing—but still I can not, even with this almost +certainty before my eyes, keep my mind from thinking upon one day +returning to my profession, and the idea of becoming a miller for life +is what I can not as yet contemplate with any degree of composure."</p> + +<p>"Well, Alfred, I only did it to tease you a little—not to hurt your +feelings, believe me," replied Emma. "You shall not be a miller if you +don't like it. Henry will do better, perhaps, than you; but as for our +quitting this place, I have no idea of it's being ever possible. I have +made up my mind to live and die in the Canadian woods, considering it my +wayward fate that all 'my sweetness should be wasted on the desert +air.'"</p> + +<p>"Repining is useless, if not sinful," observed Mary Percival. "We have +much to be thankful for; at least we are independent, and if we are ever +to repay the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who must feel their change +of condition so much more than we do, it must be by cheerfulness and +content. I have been thinking as well as you, Alfred, and I'll tell you +what was in my thoughts. I looked forward to a few years, by which time, +as the country fills up so fast, it is very probable that we shall have +other settlers here as neighbors, in every direction. This will give us +security. I also fancied that my uncle's farm and property became of +value and importance, and that he himself became a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> leading man in the +district; not only at his ease, but, for a settler, even wealthy; and +then I fancied that, surrounded by others, in perfect security, and in +easy and independent circumstances, my uncle would not forget the +sacrifice which my cousin Alfred so nobly made, and would insist upon +his returning to that profession to which he is so much attached, and in +which I have no doubt but that he will distinguish himself."</p> + +<p>"Well said, my sweet prophet," said Alfred, kissing his cousin, "you +have more sense than both of us."</p> + +<p>"Answer for yourself, Alfred, if you please," said Emma, tossing her +head as if affronted. "I shall not forget that remark of yours, I can +assure you. Now, I prophesy quite the contrary; Alfred will never go to +sea again. He will be taken with the charms of some Scotch settler's +daughter, some Janet or Moggy, and settle down into a Canadian farmer, +mounted on a long-legged black pony."</p> + +<p>"And I too," replied Alfred, "prophesy, that at the same time that I +marry and settle as you have described Miss Emma Percival will yield up +her charms to some long-legged, black, nondescript sort of a fellow, who +will set up a whisky-shop and instal his wife as bar-maid to attend upon +and conciliate his customers."</p> + +<p>"Emma, I think you have the worst of this peeping into futurity," said +Mary, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if Alfred were not a false prophet, of which there are always many +going about," replied Emma; "however, I hope your prophecy may be the +true one, Mary, and then we shall get rid of him."</p> + +<p>"I flatter myself that you would be very sorry if I went away; you would +have no one to tease, at all events," replied Alfred, "and that would be +a sad loss to yourself."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's some sense in that remark," said Emma; "but the cows are +waiting to be milked, and so, Mr. Alfred, if you are on your good +behavior, you had better go and bring us the pails."</p> + +<p>"I really pity Alfred," said Mary, as soon as he was out of hearing; +"his sacrifice has been very great, and, much as he must feel it, how +well he bears up against it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>"He is a dear, noble fellow," replied Emma; "and I do love him very +much, although I can not help teasing him."</p> + +<p>"But on some points you should be cautious, my dear sister; you don't +know what pain you give."</p> + +<p>"Yes I do, and am always sorry when I have done it, but it is not until +afterward that I recollect it, and then I am very angry with myself. +Don't scold me, dear Mary, I will try to be wiser; I wonder whether what +you say will come to pass, and we shall have neighbors; I wish we had, +if it were only on account of those Indians."</p> + +<p>"I think it very probable," replied Mary; "but time will show."</p> + +<p>Alfred then returned with the pails, and the conversation took another +turn.</p> + +<p>A few days afterward, a corporal arrived from the fort, bringing letters +and newspapers; the first that they had received since the breaking up +of the winter. The whole family were in commotion as the intelligence +was proclaimed; Mary and Emma left the fowls which they were feeding; +Percival threw down the pail with which he was attending the pigs; +Alfred ran in from where he and Martin were busy splitting rails; all +crowded round Mr. Campbell as he opened the packet in which all the +letters and papers had been enveloped at the foot. The letters were few; +three from Miss Paterson, and two other friends in England, giving them +the English news; one to Alfred from Captain Lumley, inquiring after the +family, and telling him that he had mentioned his position to his +friends at the Board, and that there could be no call for his services +for the present; one from Mr. Campbell's English agent, informing him +that he had remitted the money paid by Mr. Douglas Campbell for the +plants, etc., to his agent at Quebec; and another from his Quebec agent, +advising the receipt of the money and inclosing a balance-sheet. The +letters were first read over, and then the newspapers were distributed, +and all of them were soon very busy and silent during the perusal.</p> + +<p>After a while, Emma read out. "Dear uncle, only hear this, how sorry I +am."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>"What is it, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"'Mrs. Douglas Campbell, of Wexton Hall, of a son, which survived but a +few hours after birth.'"</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry too, my dear Emma," replied Mr. Campbell; "Mr. Douglas +Campbell's kindness to us must make us feel for any misfortune which may +happen to him, and to rejoice in any blessing which may be bestowed upon +him."</p> + +<p>"It must have been a serious disappointment," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +one which, if it pleases God, may be replaced; and we may hope that +their expectations, though blighted for the present, may be realized on +some future occasion."</p> + +<p>"Here is a letter from Colonel Forster, which I overlooked," said Mr. +Campbell; "it was between the envelope. He says that he has received an +answer from the Governor, who fully agrees with him in his views on the +subject we were conversing about, and has allowed him to take any steps +which he may think advisable. The Colonel says that he will call upon me +again in a few days, and that if in the meantime, I will let him know +how many soldiers I wish to employ, he will make arrangements to meet my +views as far as lies in his power. We have to thank Heaven for sending +us friends, at all events," continued Mr. Campbell; "but at present, we +will put his letter aside, and return to our English news."</p> + +<p>"Dear England!" exclaimed Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear England, my good girl; we are English, and can love our +country as much now as we did when we lived in it. We are still English, +and in an English colony; it has pleased Heaven to remove us away from +our native land, but our hearts and feelings are still the same, and so +will all English hearts be found to be in every settlement made by our +country all over the wide world. We all glory in being English, and have +reason to be proud of our country. May the feeling never be lost, but +have an elevating influence upon our general conduct!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + + +<p>It was very nearly five weeks before Henry returned from his expedition +to Montreal. During this time, the Colonel had repeated his visit and +made arrangements with Mr. Campbell. A party of twenty soldiers had been +sent to work at felling timber and splitting rails, for whose services +Mr. Campbell paid as before. The winter house and palisade fence for the +sheep were put in hand, and great progress was made in a short time, now +that so many people were employed. They had also examined the stream for +some distance, to ascertain which would be the most eligible site for +the water-mill, and had selected one nearly half a mile from the shore +of the lake, and where there was a considerable fall, and the stream ran +with great rapidity. It was not, however, expected that the mill would +be erected until the following year, as it was necessary to have a +millwright and all the machinery from either Montreal or Quebec. It was +intended that the estimate of the expense should be given in, the +contract made, and the order given during the autumn, so that it might +be all ready for the spring of the next year. It was on a Monday morning +that Henry arrived from the fort, where he had staid the Sunday, having +reached it late on Saturday night. The <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, with the stock and +stores, he had left at the fort; they were to come round during the day, +but Henry's impatience to see the family would not allow him to wait. He +was, as may be supposed, joyfully received, and, as soon as the first +recognitions were over, he proceeded to acquaint his father with what he +had done. He had obtained from a Canadian farmer forty ewes of very fair +stock, although not any thing equal to the English; but the agent had +worked hard for him, and procured him twenty English sheep and two rams +of the best kind, to improve the breed. For the latter he had to pay +rather dear, but they were worth any money to Mr. Campbell, who was +quite delighted with the acquisition. In selecting the sheep, of course +Henry was obliged to depend on the agent and the parties he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> employed, +as he was no judge himself; but he had, upon his own judgment, purchased +two Canadian horses, for Henry had been long enough at Oxford to know +the points of a horse, and as they turned out, he had made a very good +bargain. He had also bought a sow and pigs of an improved breed, and all +the other commissions had been properly executed; the packages of skins +also realized the price which had been put on them. As it may be +supposed, he was full of news, talking about Montreal, the parties he +had been invited to and the people with whom he had become acquainted. +He had not forgotten to purchase some of the latest English publications +for his cousins, besides a few articles of millinery, which he thought +not too gay for their present position. He was still talking, and +probably would have gone on talking for hours longer, so many were the +questions which he had to reply to, when Martin came in and announced +the arrival of the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> with the stores and cattle, upon which they +all went down to the beach to see them disembarked and brought up by the +soldiers, who were at work. The stores were carried up to the door of +the storehouse, and the sheep and horses were turned into the prairie +with the cows. A week's rations for the soldiers were also brought up +from the fort, and the men were very busy in the distribution, and +carrying them to the little temporary huts of boughs which they had +raised for their accommodation, during the time they worked for Mr. +Campbell. Before the evening set in every thing was arranged, and Henry +was again surrounded by the family and replying to their remaining +interrogatories. He told them that the Governor of Montreal had sent +them an invitation to pass the winter at Government-House, and promised +the young ladies that no wolf should venture to come near to them, and +that the aids-de-camp had requested the honor of their hands at the +first ball, which should be given after their arrival, at which they all +laughed heartily. In short, it appeared that nothing could equal the +kindness and hospitality which had been shown to him, and that there was +no doubt, if they chose to go there, that it would be equally extended +to the other members of the family.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>There was a pause in the conversation, when Malachi addressed Mr. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Martin wishes me to speak to you, sir," said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"Martin," said Mr. Campbell, looking round for him, and perceiving that +he was not in the room; "why, yes, I perceive he is gone out. What can +it be that he can not say for himself?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I said to him," replied Malachi; "but he thought it +were better to come through me; the fact is, sir, that he has taken a +liking to the Strawberry, and wishes to make her his wife."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I don't think that he would have said any thing about it as +yet, but you see, there are so many soldiers here, and two or three of +them are of Martin's mind, and that makes him feel uncomfortable till +the thing is settled; and as he can't well marry while in your service +without your leave, he has asked me to speak about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, but the Strawberry is your property, not mine. Malachi."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, according to Indian fashion, I am her father; but I've no +objection, and shan't demand any presents for her."</p> + +<p>"Presents for her! why we in general give presents or money with a +wife," said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you do, but English wives ain't Indian wives; an English +wife requires people to work for her and costs money to keep, but an +Indian wife works for herself and her husband, so she is of value and is +generally bought of the father; I reckon in the end that it's cheaper to +pay for an Indian wife than to receive money with an English one; but +that's as may be."</p> + +<p>"That's not a very polite speech of yours, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it ain't, ma'am, but it's near the mark, nevertheless. Now I am +willing that Martin should have the Strawberry, because I know that he +is a smart hunter, and will keep her well; and somehow or another, I +feel that if he made her his wife, I should be more comfortable; I shall +live with them here close by, and Martin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> will serve you, and when he +has a wife he will not feel inclined to change service and go into the +woods."</p> + +<p>"I think it is an excellent proposal, Malachi, and am much pleased with +it, as we now shall have you all together," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, so you will, and then I'll be always with the boy to look +after him, and you'll always know where we are, and not be frightened."</p> + +<p>"Very true, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I consider it a very good +arrangement. We must build you a better lodge than the one that you are +in."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, not a better one, for if you have all you want, you can't want +more; it's big enough, but perhaps not quite near enough. I'm thinking +that when the sheep-fold is finished, it might be as well to raise our +lodge inside of the palisades, and then we shall be a sort of guard to +the creatures."</p> + +<p>"A very excellent idea, Malachi; well then, as far as I am concerned, +Martin has my full consent to marry as soon as he pleases."</p> + +<p>"And mine, if it is at all necessary," observed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"But who is to marry them?" said Emma; "they have no chaplain at the +fort; he went away last year."</p> + +<p>"Why, miss, they don't want no chaplain; she is an Indian girl, and he +will marry her Indian-fashion."</p> + +<p>"But what fashion is that, Malachi?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Why, miss, he'll come to the lodge, and fetch her away to his own +house."</p> + +<p>Alfred burst out into laughter. "That's making short work of it," said +he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, rather too short for my approval," said Mrs. Campbell. "Malachi, +it's very true that the Strawberry is an Indian girl, but we are not +Indians, and Martin is not an Indian, neither are you who stand as her +father; indeed, I can not consent to give my sanction to such a +marriage."</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, as you please, but it appears to me to be all right. If +you go into a country and wish to marry a girl of that country, you +marry her according to the rules of that country. Now, Martin seeks an +Indian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> squaw, and why not therefore marry her after Indian fashion?"</p> + +<p>"You may be right, Malachi, in your argument," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +still you must make allowances for our prejudices. We never should think +that she was a married woman, if no further ceremony was to take place +than what you propose."</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, just as you please; but still, suppose you marry them +after your fashion, the girl won't understand a word that is said, so +what good will it do?"</p> + +<p>"None to her at present, Malachi; but recollect, if she is not a +Christian at present, she may be hereafter; I have often thought upon +that subject, and although I feel it useless to speak to her just now, +yet as soon as she understands English well enough to know what I say to +her, I hope to persuade her to become one. Now, if she should become a +Christian, as I hope in God she will, she then will perceive that she +has not been properly married, and will be anxious to have the ceremony +properly performed over again; so why not do it now?"</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, if it pleases you, I have no objection; I'm sure Martin +will have none."</p> + +<p>"It will please me very much, Malachi," replied Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"And although there is no chaplain at the fort," observed Mr. Campbell, +"yet the Colonel can marry in his absence; a marriage by a commanding +officer is quite legal."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Alfred, "and so is one by a Captain of a man-of-war."</p> + +<p>"So be it then," replied Malachi, "the sooner the better, for the +soldiers are very troublesome, and I can not keep them out of my lodge."</p> + +<p>Martin, who had remained outside the door and overheard all that passed, +now came in; the subject was again canvassed, and Martin returned his +thanks for the permission given to him.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Emma, "I little thought we should have a wedding in the +family so soon; this is quite an event. Martin, I wish you joy—you will +have a very pretty and a very good wife."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>"I think so too, miss," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"She is in the garden, miss," said Malachi, "getting out of the way of +the soldiers; now that the work is done, they torment her not a little, +and she is glad to escape from them; I'd tell them to go away, but they +don't mind me; they know I must not use my rifle."</p> + +<p>"I should hope not," replied Mrs. Campbell, "it would be hard to shoot a +good man merely because he wished to marry your daughter."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, ma'am, it would," replied Malachi, "so the sooner she is +given to Martin the sooner we shall have peace."</p> + +<p>As the boat was continually going backward and forward between the fort +and the farm, Mr. Campbell wrote to the Colonel, stating what they +wished him to do, and the Colonel appointed that day week, on which he +would come and perform the ceremony. It was a little fête at the farm. +Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals dressed themselves more than +usually smart, so did all the males of the establishment; a better +dinner than usual was prepared, as the Colonel and some of the officers +were to dine and spend the day with them. Martin was very gayly attired, +and in high spirits. The Strawberry had on a new robe of young deer +skin, and had a flower or two in her long black hair; she looked as she +was, very pretty and very modest, but not at all embarrassed. The +marriage ceremony was explained to her by Malachi, and she cheerfully +consented. Before noon the marriage took place, and an hour or two +afterward they sat down to a well-furnished table, and the whole party +were very merry, particularly as the Colonel, who was most unusually +gay, insisted upon the Strawberry sitting at the table, which she had +never done before. She acquitted herself, however, without +embarrassment, and smiled when they laughed, although she could +understand but little of what they said. Mr. Campbell opened two of his +bottles of wine to celebrate the day, and they had a very happy party; +the only people who were discontented were three or four of the soldiers +outside, who had wanted to marry the Strawberry themselves; but the +knowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> that the Colonel was there, effectually put a stop to any +thing like annoyance or disturbance on their part. At sunset, the +Colonel and officers departed for the fort, the family remained in the +house till past ten o'clock, by which time all the soldiers had gone to +bed. Mr. Campbell then read prayers, and offered up an additional one +for the happiness of the newly-married couple, after which they all +saluted the Strawberry and wished her good-night; she was then led to +the lodge by Martin, accompanied by Alfred, Henry, Malachi, Percival, +and John, who all went home with them as a guard from any interruption +on the part of the disappointed suitors.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + + +<p>"How cheerful and gay every thing looks now," observed Emma to Mary, a +few mornings after the celebration of the marriage. "One could hardly +credit that in a few months all this animated landscape will be nothing +but one dreary white mass of snow and ice, with no sounds meeting the +ear but the howling of the storm and the howling of the wolves."</p> + +<p>"Two very agreeable additions certainly," replied Mary, "but what you +observe was actually occurring to my own mind at the very moment."</p> + +<p>The scene was indeed cheerful and lively. The prairie on one side of the +stream waved its high grass to the summer breeze; on the other, the +cows, horses and sheep were grazing in every direction. The lake in the +distance was calm and unruffled; the birds were singing and chirping +merrily in the woods; near the house the bright green of the herbage was +studded with the soldiers, dressed in white, employed in various ways; +the corn waved its yellow ears between the dark stumps of the trees in +the cleared land, and the smoke from the chimney of the house mounted +straight up in a column to the sky; the grunting of the pigs and the +cackling of the fowls, and the occasional bleating of the calves, +responded to by the lowing of the cows, gave life and animation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> to the +picture. At a short distance from the shore the punt was floating on the +still waters. John and Malachi were very busy fishing; the dogs were +lying down by the palisades, all except Oscar, who, as usual, attended +upon his young mistresses; and under the shade of a large tree, at a +little distance from the house, were Mr. Campbell and Percival, the +former reading while the other was conning over his lesson.</p> + +<p>"This looks but little like a wilderness now, Mary, does it?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear sister. It is very different from what it was when we first +came; but still I should like to have some neighbors."</p> + +<p>"So should I; any society is better than none at all."</p> + +<p>"There I do not agree with you; at the same time, I think we could find +pleasure in having about us even those who are not cultivated, provided +they were respectable and good."</p> + +<p>"That's what I would have said, Mary; but we must go in, and practice +the new air for the guitar which Henry brought us from Montreal. We +promised him that we would. Here comes Alfred to spend his idleness upon +us."</p> + +<p>"His idleness, Emma; surely, you don't mean that; he's seldom if ever +unemployed."</p> + +<p>"Some people are very busy about nothing," replied Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and some people say what they do not mean, sister," replied Mary.</p> + +<p>"Well, Alfred, here is Emma pronouncing you to be an idle body."</p> + +<p>"I am not likely to be that, at all events," replied Alfred, taking off +his hat and fanning himself. "My father proposes to give me enough to +do. What do you think he said to me this morning before breakfast?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose he said that you might as well go to sea again as remain +here," replied Emma, laughing.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; I wish he had; but he has proposed that your prophecy +should be fulfilled, my malicious little cousin. He has proposed my +turning miller."</p> + +<p>Emma clapped her hands and laughed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>"How do you mean?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Why, he pointed out to me that the mill would cost about two hundred +and fifty pounds, and that he thought as my half-pay was unemployed, +that it would be advisable that I should expend it in erecting the mill, +offering me the sum necessary for the purpose. He would advance the +money, and I might repay him as I received my pay. That, he said, would +be a provision for me, and eventually an independence."</p> + +<p>"I told you that you would be a miller," replied Emma, laughing. "Poor +Alfred!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what did you reply, Alfred?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"I said yes, I believe, because I did not like to say no."</p> + +<p>"You did perfectly right, Alfred," replied Mary. "There can be no harm +in your having the property, and had you refused it, it would have given +pain to your father. If your money is laid out on the mill, my uncle +will have more to expend upon the farm; but still it does not follow +that you are to become a miller all your life."</p> + +<p>"I should hope not," replied Alfred; "as soon as Emma meets with that +long black gentleman we were talking of, I'll make it over to her as a +marriage portion."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, cousin," replied Emma, "I may put you in mind of your +promise; but now Mary and I must go in and astonish the soldiers with +our music; so good-by, Mr. Campbell, the miller."</p> + +<p>The soldiers had now been at work for more than two months, a large +portion of the wood had been felled and cleared away. With what had been +cleared by Alfred and Martin and Henry the year before, they had now +more than forty acres of corn land. The rails for the snake-fence had +also been split, and the fence was almost complete round the whole of +the prairie and cleared land, when it was time for the grass to be cut +down and the hay made and gathered up. This had scarcely been finished +when the corn was ready for the sickle and gathered; in a barn had been +raised close to the sheep-fold as well as the lodge for Malachi, Martin, +and his wife. For six weeks all was bustle and hard work, but the +weather was fine, and every thing was got in safe. The services<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> of the +soldiers were now no longer required, and Mr. Campbell having settled +his accounts, they returned to the fort.</p> + +<p>"Who would think," said Henry to Alfred, as he cast his eyes over the +buildings, the stacks of corn and hay, and the prairie stocked with +cattle, "that we had only been here so short a time?"</p> + +<p>"Many hands make light work," replied Alfred; "we have done with the +help from the fort what it would have taken us six years to do with our +own resources. My father's money has been well laid out, and will bring +in good return."</p> + +<p>"You have heard of the proposal of Colonel Forster, about the cattle at +the fort?"</p> + +<p>"No; what is it?"</p> + +<p>"He wrote to my father yesterday, saying, as he had only the means of +feeding the cows necessary for the officers of the garrison, that he +would sell all the oxen at present at the fort at a very moderate +price."</p> + +<p>"But even if we have fodder enough for them during the winter what are +we to do with them?"</p> + +<p>"Sell them again to the fort for the supply of the troops," replied +Henry, "and thereby gain good profit. The commandant says that it will +be cheaper to government in the end than being compelled to feed them."</p> + +<p>"That it will, I have no doubt, now that they have nothing to give them; +they trusted chiefly to our prairie for hay; and if they had not had +such a quantity in store, they could not have fed them last winter."</p> + +<p>"My father will consent, I know; indeed he would be very foolish not to +do so, for most of them will be killed when the winter sets in, and will +only cost us the grazing."</p> + +<p>"We are fortunate in finding such friends as we have done," replied +Alfred. "All this assistance would not have been given to perhaps any +other settlers."</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not; but you see, Alfred, we are indebted to your +influence with Captain Lumley for all these advantages, at least my +father and mother say so, and I agree with them. Captain Lumley's +influence with the Governor has created all this interest about us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>"I think we must allow that the peculiar position of the family has done +much toward it. It is not often that they meet with settlers of refined +habits and cultivated minds, and there naturally must be a feeling +toward a family of such a description in all generous minds."</p> + +<p>"Very true, Alfred," replied Henry; "but there is our mother waiting for +us to go in to dinner."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and the Strawberry by her side. What a nice little creature she +is!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and how quickly she is becoming useful. She has almost given up +her Indian customs and is settling down quietly into English habits. +Martin appears very fond of her."</p> + +<p>"And so he ought to be," replied Henry; "a wife with a smile always upon +her lips is a treasure. Come, let us go in."</p> + +<p>Another fortnight passed away when an incident occurred which created +some uneasiness. Mr. Campbell was busy with Martin and Alfred clearing +out the store-room and arranging the stores. Many of the cases and +packages had been opened to be examined and aired, and they were busily +employed, when, turning round, Mr. Campbell, to his great surprise, +beheld an Indian by his side, who was earnestly contemplating the +various packages of blankets, etc., and cases of powder, shot, and other +articles, which were opened around him.</p> + +<p>"Why, who is this?" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, starting.</p> + +<p>Martin and Alfred, who had their backs to him at the time of Mr. +Campbell's exclamation, turned round and beheld the Indian. He was an +elderly man, very tall and muscular, dressed in leggins and deer-skin +coat, a war eagle's feather, fixed by a fillet, on his head, and a +profusion of copper and brass medals and trinkets round his neck. His +face was not painted, with the exception of two black circles round his +eyes. His head was shaved, and one long scalp-lock hung behind him. He +had a tomahawk and a knife in his belt and a rifle upon his arm. Martin +advanced to the Indian and looked earnestly at him.</p> + +<p>"I know his tribe," said Martin; "but not his name; but he is a chief +and a warrior."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>Martin then spoke to him in the Indian tongue. The Indian merely gave an +"ugh" in reply.</p> + +<p>"He does not choose to give his name," observed Martin; "and, therefore, +he is here for no good. Mr. Alfred, just fetch Malachi; he will know him +I dare say."</p> + +<p>Alfred went to the house for Malachi; in the meantime the Indian +remained motionless, with his eyes fixed upon different articles exposed +to view.</p> + +<p>"It's strange," observed Martin, "how he could have come here; but to be +sure neither Malachi nor I have been out lately."</p> + +<p>Just as he had finished his remark, Alfred returned with Malachi. +Malachi looked at the Indian and spoke to him.</p> + +<p>The Indian now replied in the Indian language.</p> + +<p>"I knew him, sir," said Malachi, "the moment I saw his back. He's after +no good, and it's a thousand pities that he has come just now and seen +all this," continued Malachi; "it's a strong temptation."</p> + +<p>"Why, who is he?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"The Angry Snake, sir," replied Malachi. "I had no idea that he would be +in these parts before the meeting of the Indian council, which takes +place in another month, and then I meant to have been on the look-out +for him."</p> + +<p>"But what have we to fear from him?"</p> + +<p>"Well; that's to be proved; but this I can say, that he has his eyes +upon what appears to him of more value than all the gold in the +universe; and he's any thing but honest."</p> + +<p>"But we have nothing to fear from one man," observed Alfred.</p> + +<p>"His party ain't far off, sir," said Malachi. "He has some followers, +although not many, and those who follow him are as bad as himself. We +must be on the watch."</p> + +<p>Malachi now addressed the Indian for some time; the only reply was an +"ugh."</p> + +<p>"I have told him that all the powder and ball that he sees are for our +rifles, which are more than are possessed by his whole tribe. Not that +it does much good, but at all events it's just as well to let him know +that we shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> be well prepared. The crittur's quite amazed at so much +ammunition; that's a fact. It's a pity he ever saw it."</p> + +<p>"Shall we give him some?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"No, no, sir; he would only make use of it to try to get the rest; +however, I believe that he is the only one of his party who has a rifle. +The best thing is to close the doors and then he will go."</p> + +<p>They did as Malachi requested, and the Indian, after waiting a short +time, turned round on his heel, and walked away.</p> + +<p>"He is a regular devil, that Angry Snake," observed Malachi, as he +watched him departing; "but never mind, I'll be a match for him. I wish +he'd never seen all that ammunition, nevertheless."</p> + +<p>"At all events, we had better not say a word in the house about his +making his appearance," said Mr. Campbell. "It will only alarm the +women, and do no good."</p> + +<p>"That's true, sir. I'll only tell the Strawberry," said Martin; "she's +an Indian, and it will put her on the look-out."</p> + +<p>"That will be as well, but caution her not to mention it to Mrs. +Campbell or the girls, Martin."</p> + +<p>"Never fear, sir," replied Malachi; "I'll watch his motions +nevertheless; to-morrow I'll be in the woods and on his trail. I'm glad +that he saw me here, for he fears me; I know that."</p> + +<p>It so happened that the Indian was not seen by Mrs. Campbell or any of +them in the house, either upon his arrival or departure; and when Mr. +Campbell and the others returned to the house, they found that no one +there had any idea of such a visit having been paid. The secret was +kept, but it occasioned a great deal of anxiety for some days. At last +the alarm of Mr. Campbell gradually subsided. Malachi had gone out with +John, and had discovered that all the Indians had come down near to +them, to meet in council, and that there were many other parties of them +in the woods. But although the visit of the Angry Snake might have been +partly accidental, still Malachi was convinced that there was every +prospect of his paying them another visit, if he could obtain a +sufficient number to join him, so that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> might obtain by force the +articles he had seen and so much coveted.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Campbell acceded to the offer made by the commandant of the fort, +and purchased of him, at a moderate price, eighteen oxen, which were all +that remained of the stock at the fort, except the cows. He also took +six weaning calves to bring up. The cattle were now turned into the bush +to feed, that they might obtain some after-grass from that portion of +the prairie on which they had been feeding. The summer passed quickly +away, for they all had plenty of employment. They fished every day in +the lake, and salted what they did not eat, for winter provision. Martin +now was a great part of his time in the woods, looking after the cattle, +and Malachi occasionally accompanied him, but was oftener out hunting +with John, and always returned with game. They brought in a good many +bear-skins, and sometimes the flesh, which, although approved of by +Malachi and Martin, was not much admired by the rest. As soon as the +after-grass had been gathered in, there was not so much to do. Henry and +Mr. Campbell, with Percival, were quite sufficient to look after the +stock, and as the leaves began to change, the cattle were driven in from +the woods, and pastured on the prairie. Every thing went on in order; +one day was the counterpart of another. Alfred and Henry threshed out +the corn, in the shed, or rather open barn, which had been put up by the +soldiers in the sheep-fold, and piled up the straw for winter-fodder for +the cattle. The oats and wheat were taken into the store-house. Martin's +wife could now understand English, and spoke it a little. She was very +useful, assisting Mrs. Campbell and her nieces in the house, and +attending the stock. They had brought up a large number of chickens, and +had disposed of a great many to the Colonel and officers of the fort. +Their pigs also had multiplied exceedingly, and many had been put up to +fatten, ready to be killed and salted down. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> time for that +occupation was now come, and they were very busy curing their meat; they +had also put up a small shed for smoking their bacon and hams. Already +they were surrounded with comfort and plenty, and felt grateful to +Heaven that they had been so favored.</p> + +<p>The autumn had now advanced, and their routine of daily duty was seldom +interrupted; now and then a visit was paid them from the fort by one or +other of the officers or the commandant. The Indians had held their +council, but the English agent was present, and the supply of blankets +and other articles sent to the chiefs for distribution had the effect of +removing all animosity. It is true that the Angry Snake and one or two +more made very violent speeches, but they were overruled. The calumet of +peace had been presented and smoked, and all danger appeared to be over +from that quarter. Malachi had gone to the council, and was well +received. He had been permitted to speak also as an English agent, and +his words were not without effect. Thus every thing wore the appearance +of peace and prosperity, when an event occurred which we shall now +relate.</p> + +<p>What is termed the Indian summer had commenced, during which there is a +kind of haze in the atmosphere. One morning, a little before dawn, Mary +and Emma, who happened to be up first, went out to milk the cows, when +they observed that the haze was much thicker than usual. They had been +expecting the equinoctial gales, which were very late this year, and +Mary observed that she foresaw they were coming on, as the sky wore +every appearance of wind; yet still there was but a light air, and +hardly perceptible at the time. In a moment after they had gone out, and +were taking up their pails, Strawberry came to them from her own lodge, +and they pointed to the gloom and haze in the air. She turned round, as +if to catch the wind, and snuffed for a little while; at last she said, +"Great fire in the woods." Alfred and the others soon joined them, and +having been rallied by Emma at their being so late, they also observed +the unusual appearance of the sky. Martin corroborated the assertion of +the Strawberry, that there was fire in the woods. Malachi and John had +not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> returned that night from a hunting expedition, but shortly after +daylight they made their appearance; they had seen the fire in the +distance, and said that it was to northward and eastward, and extended +many miles; that they had been induced to leave the chase and come home +in consequence. During the remainder of the day, there was little or no +wind, but the gloom and smell of fire increased rapidly. At night the +breeze sprang up and soon increased to a gale from the north-east, the +direction in which the fire had been seen. Malachi and Martin were up +several times in the night, for they knew that if the wind continued in +that quarter, without any rain, there would be danger; still the fire +was at a great distance, but in the morning the wind blew almost a +hurricane, and before twelve o'clock on the next day, the smoke was +borne down upon them, and carried away in masses over the lake.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any danger, Martin, from this fire?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, that depends upon circumstances; if the wind were to blow +from the quarter which it now does, as hard as it does, for another +twenty-four hours, we should have the fire right down upon us."</p> + +<p>"But still we have so much clear land between the forest and us, that I +should think the house would be safe."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that, sir. You have never seen the woods afire for miles +as I have; if you had, you would know what it was. We have two chances: +one is, that we may have torrents of rain come down with the gale, and +the other is, that the wind may shift a point or two, which would be the +best chance for us of the two."</p> + +<p>But the wind did not shift, and the rain did not descend, and before the +evening set in, the fire was within two miles of them, and distant +roaring rent the air; the heat and smoke became more oppressive, and the +party were under great alarm.</p> + +<p>As the sun set, the wind became even more violent, and now the flames +were distinctly to be seen, and the whole air was filled with myriads of +sparks. The fire bore down upon them with resistless fury, and soon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +atmosphere was so oppressive, that they could scarcely breathe; the +cattle galloped down to the lake, their tails in the air, and lowing +with fear. There they remained, knee-deep in the water, and huddled +together.</p> + +<p>"Well, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell, "this is very awful. What shall we +do?"</p> + +<p>"Trust in God, sir; we can do nothing else," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>The flames were now but a short distance from the edge of the forest; +they threw themselves up into the air in high columns; then, borne down +by the wind, burst through the boughs of the forest, scorching here and +there on the way the trunks of the large trees; while such a torrent of +sparks and ignited cinders was poured down upon the prairie, that, added +to the suffocating masses of smoke, it was impossible to remain there +any longer.</p> + +<p>"You must all go down to the punt, and get on board," said Malachi. +"There's not a moment for delay; you will be smothered if you remain +here. Mr. Alfred, do you and Martin pull out as far into the lake as is +necessary for you to be clear of the smoke and able to breathe. Quick, +there is no time to be lost, for the gale is rising faster than before."</p> + +<p>There was, indeed, no time to be lost. Mr. Campbell took his wife by the +arm; Henry led the girls, for the smoke was so thick that they could not +see the way. Percival and Strawberry followed. Alfred and Martin had +already gone down to get the boat ready. In a few minutes they were in +the boat, and pushed off from the shore. The boat was crowded, but, +being flat-bottom, she bore the load well. They pulled out about half a +mile into the lake, before they found themselves in a less oppressive +atmosphere. Not a word was spoken until Martin and Alfred had stopped +rowing.</p> + +<p>"And old Malachi and John, where are they?" said Mrs. Campbell, who, now +that they were clear of the smoke, discovered that these were not in the +boat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, never fear them, ma'am," replied Martin, "Malachi staid behind to +see if he could be of use. He knows how to take care of himself, and of +John too."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>"This is an awful visitation," said Mrs. Campbell, after a pause. "Look, +the whole wood is now on fire, close down to the clearing. The house +must be burned, and we shall save nothing."</p> + +<p>"It is the will of God, my dear wife; and if we are to be deprived of +what little wealth we have, we must not murmur, but submit with +resignation. Let us thank Heaven that our lives are preserved."</p> + +<p>Another pause ensued; at last the silence was broken by Emma.</p> + +<p>"There is the cow-house on fire—I see the flames bursting from the +roof."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell, whose hand was on that of her husband, squeezed it in +silence. It was the commencement of the destruction of their whole +property—all their labors and efforts had been thrown away. The winter +was coming on, and they would be houseless—what would become of them!</p> + +<p>All this passed in her mind, but she did not speak.</p> + +<p>At this moment the flames of the fire rose up straight to the sky. +Martin perceived it, and jumped up on his feet.</p> + +<p>"There is a lull in the wind," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Martin, and continued holding up his hand, "I felt a drop +of rain. Yes, it's coming; another quarter of an hour and we may be +safe."</p> + +<p>Martin was correct in his observation; the wind had lulled for a moment, +and he had felt the drops of rain. This pause continued for about three +or four minutes, during which the cow-house burned furiously, but the +ashes and sparks were no longer hurled down on the prairie; then +suddenly the wind shifted to the south-east, with such torrents of rain +as almost to blind them. So violent was the gust, that even the punt +careened to it; but Alfred pulled its head round smartly, and put it +before the wind. The gale was now equally strong from the quarter to +which it had changed; the lake became agitated and covered with white +foam, and before the punt reached the shore again, which it did in a few +minutes, the water washed over its two sides, and they were in danger of +swamping. Alfred directed them all to sit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> still, and raising the blades +of the oars up into the air, the punt was dashed furiously through the +waves, till it grounded on the beach.</p> + +<p>Martin and Alfred jumped out into the water and hauled the punt further +before they disembarked; the rain still poured down in torrents, and +they were wet to the skin; as they landed, they were met by Malachi and +John.</p> + +<p>"It's all over, and all is safe!" exclaimed Malachi, "it was touch and +go, that's sartin; but all's safe, except the cow-house, and that's +easily put to rights again. You all had better go home as fast as you +can, and get to bed."</p> + +<p>"Is all quite safe, do you think, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, no fear now; the fire hasn't passed the stream, and even if +it had, this rain would put it out, for we only have the beginning of +it; but it was a near thing, that's sartin."</p> + +<p>The party walked back to the house, and as soon as they had entered, Mr. +Campbell kneeled down and thanked Heaven for their miraculous +preservation. All joined heartily in the prayer, and, after they had +waited up a few minutes, by which time they were satisfied that the +flames were fast extinguishing and they had nothing more to fear, they +took off their wet clothes, and retired to bed.</p> + +<p>The next morning they rose early, for all were anxious to ascertain the +mischief which had been occasioned by the fire. The cow-house, on the +opposite side of the stream, was the only part of the premises which had +severely suffered; the walls were standing, but the roof was burned. On +the side of the stream where the house stood, the rails and many +portions of the buildings were actually charred, and, had it not been +for the providential change of the wind and the falling of the rain, +must in a few minutes have been destroyed. The prairie was covered with +cinders, and the grass was burned and withered. The forest on the other +side of the stream, to a great extent, was burned down; some of the +largest trees still remained, throwing out their blackened arms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> now +leafless and branchless, to the sky, but they were never to throw forth +a branch or leaf again. It was a melancholy and desolate picture, and +rendered still more so by the heavy rain which still continued to pour +down without intermission.</p> + +<p>As they were surveying the scene, Malachi and Martin came to them.</p> + +<p>"The stock are all right, sir," said Martin; "I counted them, and there +is not one missing. There's no harm done except to the cow-house; on the +contrary, the fire has proved a good friend to us."</p> + +<p>"How so, Martin?" asked Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Because it has cleared many acres, of ground, and saved us much labor. +All on the other side of the stream is now cleared away, and next spring +we will have corn between the stumps; and in autumn, after we have +gathered in the harvest, we will cut down and burn the trees which are +now standing. It has done a deal of good to the prairie also, we shall +have fine herbage there next spring."</p> + +<p>"We have to thank Heaven for its mercy," said Mr. Campbell; "at one time +yesterday evening, I thought we were about to be rendered destitute +indeed, but it has pleased God that it should be otherwise."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," observed Malachi; "what threatened your ruin has turned out +to your advantage. Next year you will see every thing green and fresh as +before; and, as Martin says, you have to thank the fire for clearing +away more land for you than a whole regiment of soldiers could have done +in two or three years."</p> + +<p>"But we must work hard and get in the corn next spring, for otherwise +the brushwood will grow up so fast, as to become a forest again in a few +years."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of inquiring," said Mary, "how it was that the forest +could have taken fire."</p> + +<p>"Why, miss," replied Malachi, "in the autumn, when every thing is as dry +as tinder, nothing is more easy. The Indians light their fire, and do +not take the trouble to put it out, and that is generally the cause of +it; but then it requires wind to help it."</p> + +<p>The danger that they had escaped made a serious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> impression on the whole +party, and the following day, being Sunday, Mr. Campbell did not forget +to offer up a prayer of thankfulness for their preservation.</p> + +<p>The roof of the cow-house was soon repaired by Alfred and Martin, and +the Indian summer passed away without any further adventure.</p> + +<p>The day after the fire, a dispatch arrived from the fort to ascertain +their welfare, and the Colonel and officers were greatly rejoiced to +learn that comparatively so little damage had been done, for they +expected to find that the family had been burned out, and had made +arrangements at the fort to receive them.</p> + +<p>Gradually the weather became cold and the fires were lighted, and a +month after the evil we have described, the winter again set in.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + + +<p>Once more was the ground covered with snow to the depth of three feet. +The cattle were littered down inside the inclosure of palisades round +the cow-house; the sheep were driven into the inclosed sheep-fold, and +the horses were put into a portion of the barn in the sheep-fold which +had been parted off for them. All was made secure, and every preparation +was made for the long winter. Although there had been a fall of snow, +the severe frost had not yet come on. It did, however, in about a +fortnight afterward, and then, according to the wishes of the Colonel, +six oxen were killed for the use of the fort, and taken there by the +horses on a sledge; this was the last task that they had to fulfill, and +then Alfred bade adieu to the officers of the fort, as they did not +expect to meet again till the winter was over. Having experienced one +winter, they were more fully prepared for the second; and as Malachi, +the Strawberry and John were now regular inmates of the house, for they +did not keep a separate table, there was a greater feeling of security, +and the monotony and dreariness were not so great as in the preceding +winter: moreover, every thing was now in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> its place, and they had more +to attend to,—two circumstances which greatly contributed to relieve +the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ennui</span> arising from continual confinement. The hunting parties went +out as usual; only Henry, and occasionally Alfred, remained at home to +attend to the stock, and to perform other offices which the increase of +their establishment required. The new books brought by Henry from +Montreal, and which by common consent had been laid aside for the +winter's evenings, were now a great source of amusement, as Mr. Campbell +read aloud a portion of them every evening. Time passed away quickly, as +it always does when there is a regular routine of duties and employment, +and Christmas came before they were aware of its approach.</p> + +<p>It was a great comfort to Mrs. Campbell that she now always had John at +home, except when he was out hunting, and on that score she had long +dismissed all anxiety, as she had full confidence in Malachi; but +latterly Malachi and John seldom went out alone; indeed, the old man +appeared to like being in company, and his misanthropy had wholly +disappeared. He now invariably spent his evenings with the family +assembled round the kitchen fire, and had become much more fond of +hearing his own voice. John did not so much admire these evening +parties. He cared nothing for new books, or indeed any books. He would +amuse himself making moccasins, or working porcupine quills with the +Strawberry at one corner of the fire, and the others might talk or read, +it was all the same, John never said a word or appeared to pay the least +attention to what was said. His father occasionally tried to make him +learn something, but it was useless. He would remain for hours with his +book before him, but his mind was elsewhere. Mr. Campbell, therefore, +gave up the attempt for the present, indulging the hope that when John +was older, he would be more aware of the advantages of education, and +would become more attentive. At present, it was only inflicting pain on +the boy without any advantage being gained. But John did not always sit +by the kitchen fire. The wolves were much more numerous than in the +preceding winter, having been attracted by the sheep which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> within +the palisade, and every night the howling was incessant. The howl of a +wolf was sufficient to make John seize his rifle and leave the house, +and he would remain in the snow for hours till one came sufficiently +near for him to fire, and he had already killed several when a +circumstance occurred which was the cause of great uneasiness.</p> + +<p>John was out one evening as usual, crouched down within the palisades, +and watching for the wolves. It was a bright starry night, but there was +no moon, when he perceived one of the animals crawling along almost on +its belly, close to the door of the palisade which surrounded the house. +This surprised him, as generally speaking, the animals prowled round the +palisade which encircled the sheep-fold, or else close to the pig-sties +which were at the opposite side from the entrance door. John leveled his +rifle and fired, when to his astonishment, the wolf appeared to spring +up in the air on his hind legs, then fall down and roll away. The key of +the palisade door was always kept within, and John determined to go in +and fetch it, that he might ascertain whether he had killed the animal +or not. When he entered, Malachi said, "Did you kill, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know," replied John; "come for the key to see."</p> + +<p>"I don't like the gate being opened at night, John," said Mr. Campbell; +"why don't you leave it, as you usually do, till to-morrow morning; that +will be time enough?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know if it was a wolf," replied John.</p> + +<p>"What, then, boy, tell me?" said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"Well, I think it was an Indian," replied John; who then explained what +had passed.</p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied Malachi; "at all events the gate +must not be opened to-night, for if it was an Indian you fired at, there +is more than one of them; we'll keep all fast, John, and see what it was +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell and the girls were much alarmed at this event, and it was +with difficulty that they were persuaded to retire to rest.</p> + +<p>"We will keep watch to-night at all events," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> Malachi, as soon as +Mrs. Campbell and her nieces had left the room. "The boy is right, I +have no doubt. It is the Angry Snake and his party who are prowling +about, but if the boy has hit the Indian, which I have no doubt of, they +will make off; however, it will be just as well to be on our guard, +nevertheless. Martin can watch here and I will watch in the fold."</p> + +<p>We have before observed that the lodge of Malachi, Martin, and his wife, +was built within the palisade of the sheep-fold, and that there was a +passage from the palisade round the house to that which surrounded the +sheep-fold, which passage had also a palisade on each side of it.</p> + +<p>"I will watch here," said Alfred; "let Martin go home with you and his +wife."</p> + +<p>"I will watch with you," said John.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps that will be better," said Malachi; "two rifles are +better than one, and if any assistance is required, there will be one to +send for it."</p> + +<p>"But what do you think they would do, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell; "they +can not climb the palisades."</p> + +<p>"Not well, sir, nor do I think they would attempt it unless they had a +large force, which I am sure they have not; no, sir, they would rather +endeavor to set fire to the house if they could, but that's not so easy; +one thing is certain, that the Snake will try all he can to get +possession of what he saw in your storehouse."</p> + +<p>"That I do not doubt," said Alfred; "but he will not find it so easy a +matter."</p> + +<p>"They've been reconnoitering, sir, that's the truth of it, and if John +has helped one of them to a bit of lead, it will do good; for it will +prove that we are on the alert, and make them careful how they come near +the house again."</p> + +<p>After a few minutes' more conversation, Mr. Campbell, Henry, and +Percival retired, leaving the others to watch. Alfred walked home with +Malachi and his party to see if all was right at the sheep-fold, and +then returned.</p> + +<p>The night passed without any further disturbance except the howling of +the wolves, to which they were accustomed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>The next morning, at daybreak, Malachi and Martin came to the house, +and, with John and Alfred, they opened the palisade gate, and went out +to survey the spot where John had fired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Malachi; "it was an Indian, no doubt of it; here are +the dents made in the snow by his knees as he crawled along, and John +has hit him, for here is the blood. Let's follow the trail. See, sir, he +has been hard hit; there is more blood this way as we go on. Ha!" +continued Malachi, as he passed by a mound of snow, "here's the +wolf-skin he was covered up with; then he is dead or thereabouts, and +they have carried him off, for he never would have parted with his skin, +if he had had his senses about him."</p> + +<p>"Yes," observed Martin, "his wound was mortal, that's certain."</p> + +<p>They pursued the track till they arrived at the forest, and then, +satisfied by the marks on the snow that the wounded man had been carried +away, they returned to the house, when they found the rest of the family +dressed and in the kitchen. Alfred showed them the skin of the wolf, and +informed them of what they had discovered.</p> + +<p>"I am grieved that blood has been shed," observed Mrs. Campbell; "I wish +it had not happened. I have heard that the Indians never forgive on such +occasions."</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, they are very revengeful, that's certain, but still they +won't like to risk too much. This has been a lesson to them. I only wish +it had been the Angry Snake himself who was settled, as then we should +have no more trouble or anxiety about them."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it may be," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, that's not likely; it's one of his young men; I know the +Indian customs well."</p> + +<p>It was some time before the alarm occasioned by this event subsided in +the mind of Mrs. Campbell and her nieces; Mr. Campbell also thought much +about it, and betrayed occasional anxiety. The parties went out hunting +as before, but those at home now felt anxious till their return from the +chase. Time, however, and not hearing any thing more of the Indians, +gradually revived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> their courage, and before the winter was half over +they thought little about it. Indeed, it had been ascertained by Malachi +from another band of Indians which he fell in with near a small lake +where they were trapping beaver, that the Angry Snake was not in that +part of the country, but had gone with his band to the westward at the +commencement of the new year. This satisfied them that the enemy had +left immediately after the attempt which he had made to reconnoiter the +premises.</p> + +<p>The hunting parties, therefore, as we said, continued as before; indeed, +they were necessary for the supply of so many mouths. Percival, who had +grown very much since his residence in Canada, was very anxious to be +permitted to join them, which he never had been during the former +winter. This was very natural. He saw his younger brother go out almost +daily, and seldom return without having been successful; indeed, John +was, next to Malachi, the best shot of the party. It was, therefore, +very annoying to Percival that he should always be detained at home +doing all the drudgery of the house, such as feeding the pigs, cleaning +knives, and other menial work, while his younger brother was doing the +duty of a man. To Percival's repeated entreaties, objections were +constantly raised by his mother: they could not spare him, he was not +accustomed to walk in snow-shoes. Mr Campbell observed that Percival +became dissatisfied and unhappy, and Alfred took his part and pleaded +for him. Alfred observed very truly, that the Strawberry could +occasionally do Percival's work, and that if it could be avoided, he +should not be cooped up at home in the way that he was; and, Mr. +Campbell agreeing with Alfred, Mrs. Campbell very reluctantly gave her +consent to his occasionally going out.</p> + +<p>"Why, aunt, have you such an objection to Percival going out with the +hunters?" said Mary. "It must be very trying to him to be always +detained at home."</p> + +<p>"I feel the truth of what you say, my dear Mary," said Mrs. Campbell, +"and I assure you it is not out of selfishness, or because we shall have +more work to do, that I wish him to remain with us; but I have an +instinctive dread that some accident will happen to him, which I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> can +not overcome, and there is no arguing with a mother's fears and a +mother's love."</p> + +<p>"You were quite as uneasy, my dear aunt, when John first went out; you +were continually in alarm about him, but now you are perfectly at ease," +replied Emma.</p> + +<p>"Very true," said Mrs. Campbell; "it is, perhaps, a weakness on my part +which I ought to get over; but we are all liable to such feelings. I +trust in God there is no real cause for apprehension, and that my +reluctance is a mere weakness and folly. But I see the poor boy has long +pined at being kept at home; for nothing is more irksome to a +high-couraged and spirited boy as he is. I have, therefore, given my +consent, because I think it is my duty; still the feeling remains, so +let us say no more about it, my dear girls, for the subject is painful +to me."</p> + +<p>"My dear aunt, did you not say that you would talk to Strawberry on the +subject of religion, and try if you could not persuade her to become a +Christian? She is very serious at prayers, I observe; and appears, now +that she understands English, to be very attentive to what is said."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear Emma, it is my intention so to do very soon, but I do not +like to be in too great a hurry. A mere conforming to the usages of our +religion would be of little avail, and I fear that too many of our good +missionaries, in their anxiety to make converts, do not sufficiently +consider this point. Religion must proceed from conviction, and be +seated in the heart; the heart, indeed, must be changed, not mere +outward forms attended to."</p> + +<p>"What is the religion of the Indians, my dear aunt?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"One which makes conversion the more difficult. It is in many respects +so near what is right, that Indians do not easily perceive the necessity +of change. They believe in one God, the fountain of all good; they +believe in a future state and in future rewards and punishments. You +perceive they have the same foundation as we have, although they know +not Christ, and, having very incomplete notions of duty, have a very +insufficient sense of their manifold transgressions and offenses in +God's sight, and consequently have no idea of the necessity of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +mediator. Now it is, perhaps, easier to convince those who are entirely +wrong, such as worship idols and false gods, than those who approach so +nearly to the truth. But I have had many hours of reflection upon the +proper course to pursue, and I do intend to have some conversation with +her on the subject in a very short time. I have delayed because I +consider it absolutely necessary that she should be perfectly aware of +what I say, before I try to alter her belief. Now the Indian language, +although quite sufficient for Indian wants, is poor, and has not the +same copiousness as ours, because they do not require the words to +explain what we term abstract ideas. It is, therefore, impossible to +explain the mysteries of our holy religion to one who does not well +understand our language. I think, however, that the Strawberry now +begins to comprehend sufficiently for me to make the first attempt. I +say first attempt, because I have no idea of making a convert in a week, +or a month, or even in six months. All I can do is to exert my best +abilities, and then trust to God, who, in His own good time, will +enlighten her mind to receive His truth."</p> + +<p>The next day the hunting party went out, and Percival, to his great +delight, was permitted to accompany it. As they had a long way to go, +for they had selected the hunting ground, they set off early in the +morning, before daylight, Mr. Campbell having particularly requested +that they would not return home late.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + + +<p>The party had proceeded many miles before they arrived at the spot where +Malachi thought that they would fall in with some venison, which was the +principal game that they sought. It was not till near ten o'clock in the +morning that they stood on the ground which had been selected for the +sport. It was an open part of the forest, and the snow lay in large +drifts, but here and there on the hill-sides the grass was nearly bare, +and the deer were able, by scraping with their feet, to obtain some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +food. They were all pretty well close together when they arrived. +Percival and Henry were about a quarter of a mile behind, for Percival +was not used to the snow-shoes, and did not get on so well as the +others. Malachi and the rest with him halted, that Henry and Percival +might come up with them, and then, after they had recovered their breath +a little, he said,</p> + +<p>"Now, you see there's a fine lot of deer here, Master Percival, but as +you know nothing about woodcraft, and may put us all out, observe what I +say to you. The animals are not only cute of hearing and seeing, but +they are more cute of smell, and they can scent a man a mile off if the +wind blows down to them; so you see it would be useless to attempt to +get near to them if we do not get to the lee side of them without noise +and without being seen. Now, the wind has been from the eastward, and as +we are to the southward, we must get round by the woods to the westward, +before we go upon the open ground, and then, Master Percival, you must +do as we do, and keep behind, to watch our motions. If we come to a +swell in the land, you must not run up, or even walk up, as you might +show yourself; the deer might be on the other side, within twenty yards +of you; but you must hide yourself, as you will see that we shall do, +and when we have found them, I will put you in a place where you shall +have your shot as well as we. Do you understand, Master Percival?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do, and I shall stop behind, and do as you tell me."</p> + +<p>"Well then, now, we will go back into the thick of the forest till we go +to the leeward, and then we shall see whether you will make a hunter or +not."</p> + +<p>The whole party did as Malachi directed, and for more than an hour they +walked through the wood, among the thickest of the trees, that they +might not be seen by the animals. At last they arrived at the spot which +Malachi desired, and then they changed their course eastward toward the +more open ground, where they expected to find the deer.</p> + +<p>As they entered upon the open ground, they moved forward crouched to the +ground, Malachi and Martin in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> the advance. When in the hollows, they +all collected together, but on ascending a swell of the land, it was +either Malachi or Martin who first crept up, and, looking over the +summit, gave notice to the others to come forward. This was continually +repeated for three or four miles, when Martin having raised his head +just above a swell, made a signal to those who were below that the deer +were in sight. After a moment or two reconnoitering, he went down and +informed them that there were twelve or thirteen head of deer scraping +up the snow about one hundred yards ahead of them upon another swell of +the land; but that they appeared to be alarmed and anxious, as if they +had an idea of danger being near.</p> + +<p>Malachi then again crawled up to make his observations, and returned.</p> + +<p>"It is sartin," said he, "that they are flurried about something; they +appear just as if they had been hunted, and yet that is not likely. We +must wait and let them settle a little, and find out whether any other +parties have been hunting them."</p> + +<p>They waited about ten minutes, till the animals appeared more settled, +and then, by altering their position behind the swell, gained about +twenty-five yards of distance. Malachi told each party which animal to +aim at, and they fired nearly simultaneously. Three of the beasts fell, +two others were wounded, the rest of the herd bounded off like the wind. +They all rose from behind the swell, and ran forward to their prey. +Alfred had fired at a fine buck which stood apart from the rest, and +somewhat further off; it was evident that the animal was badly wounded, +and Alfred had marked the thicket into which it had floundered; but the +other deer which was wounded was evidently slightly hurt, and there was +little chance of obtaining it, as it bounded away after the rest of the +herd. They all ran up to where the animals lay dead, and as soon as they +had reloaded their rifles, Alfred and Martin went on the track of the +one that was badly wounded. They had forced their way through the +thicket for some fifty yards, guided by the track of the animal, when +they started back at the loud growl of some beast. Alfred, who was in +advance, perceived that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> puma (catamount, or painter, as it is usually +termed) had taken possession of the deer, and was lying over the +carcass. He leveled his rifle and fired; the beast, although badly +wounded, immediately sprang at him and seized him by the shoulder. +Alfred was sinking under the animal's weight and from the pain he was +suffering, when Martin came to his rescue, and put his rifle ball +through the head of the beast, which fell dead.</p> + +<p>"Are you much hurt, sir?" said Martin.</p> + +<p>"No, not much," replied Alfred; "at least I think not, but my shoulder +is badly torn, and I bleed freely."</p> + +<p>Malachi and the others now came up, and perceived what had taken place. +Alfred had sunk down and was sitting on the ground by the side of the +dead animals.</p> + +<p>"A painter!" exclaimed Malachi; "well, I didn't think we should see one +so far west. Are you hurt, Mr. Alfred?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a little," replied Alfred, faintly.</p> + +<p>Malachi and Martin, without saying another word, stripped off Alfred's +hunting-coat, and then discovered that he had received a very bad wound +in the shoulder from the teeth of the beast, and that his side was also +torn by the animal's claws.</p> + +<p>"John, run for some water," said Malachi; "you are certain to find some +in the hollow."</p> + +<p>John and Percival both hastened in search of water, while Malachi and +Martin and Henry tore Alfred's shirt into strips and bound up the +wounds, so as to stop in a great measure the flow of blood. As soon as +this was done and he had drunk the water brought to him in John's hat, +Alfred felt revived.</p> + +<p>"I will sit down for a little longer," said he, "and then we will get +home as fast as we can. Martin, look after the game, and when you are +ready I will get up. What a tremendous heavy brute that was; I could not +have stood against him for a minute longer, and I had no hunting-knife."</p> + +<p>"It's a terrible beast, sir," replied Malachi. "I don't know that I ever +saw one larger; they are more than a match for one man, sir, and never +should be attempted single-handed, for they are so hard to kill."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>"Where did my ball hit him?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Here, sir, under the shoulder, and well placed too. It must have gone +quite close to his heart; but unless you hit them through the brain or +through the heart, they are certain to make their dying spring. That's +an ugly wound on your shoulder, and will put a stop to your hunting for +five or six weeks, I expect. However, it's well that it's no worse."</p> + +<p>"I feel quite strong now," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Another ten minutes, sir; let John and me whip off his skin, for we +must have it to show, if we have all the venison spoiled. Mr. Henry, +tell Martin only to take the prime pieces, and not to mind the hides, +for we shall not be able to carry much. And tell him to be quick, Mr. +Henry, for it will not do for Mr. Alfred to remain till his arm gets +stiff. We have many miles to get home again."</p> + +<p>In the course of ten minutes Malachi and John had skinned the puma, and +Martin made his appearance with the haunches of two of the deer, which, +he said, was as much as they well could carry, and they all set off on +their return home.</p> + +<p>Alfred had not proceeded far when he found himself in great pain, the +walking upon snow-shoes requiring so much motion as to open the wounds +and make them bleed again; but Malachi gave him his assistance, and +having procured him some more water they continued their route.</p> + +<p>After a time the wounds became more stiff, and Alfred appeared to be +more oppressed by the pain. They proceeded, however, as fast as they +could, and at nightfall they were not far from home. But Alfred moved +with great difficulty; he had become very faint, so much so, that Martin +requested John would put down the venison and hasten before them to the +house to request Mr. Campbell to send some brandy or other cordial to +support Alfred, who was scarcely able to move on from weakness and loss +of blood. As they were not more than a mile from the house, John was +soon there, and hastening in at the door, he gave his message in +presence of Mrs. Campbell and his cousins, who were in a state of great +distress at the intelligence. Mr. Campbell went to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> his room for the +spirits, and as soon as he brought it out Emma seized her bonnet, and +said that she would accompany John.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had no time to raise any objection, if they were +inclined, for Emma was out of the door in a moment, with John at her +heels. But Emma quite forgot that she had no snow shoes, and before she +had gone half the distance she found herself as much fatigued as if she +had walked miles; and she sank deeper and deeper in the snow every step +that she advanced. At last they arrived, and found the party: Alfred was +lying insensible on the snow, and the others making a litter of branches +that they might carry him to the house.</p> + +<p>A little brandy poured down his throat brought Alfred to his senses; and +as he opened his eyes, he perceived Emma hanging over him.</p> + +<p>"Dear Emma, how kind of you," said he, attempting to rise.</p> + +<p>"Do not move, Alfred; they will soon have the litter ready, and then you +will be carried to the house. It is not far off."</p> + +<p>"I am strong again now, Emma," replied Alfred. "But you must not remain +here in the cold. See, the snow is falling again."</p> + +<p>"I must remain now till they are ready to carry you, Alfred, for I dare +not go back by myself."</p> + +<p>By this time the litter was prepared, and Alfred placed on it. Malachi, +Henry, Martin and John took it up.</p> + +<p>"Where is Percival?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"He's behind a little way," replied John. "The snow-shoes hurt him, and +he could not walk so fast. He will be here in a minute."</p> + +<p>They carried Alfred to the house, where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Mary +were waiting at the door in great anxiety; poor Emma was quite knocked +up by the time that they arrived, and went into her own room.</p> + +<p>Alfred was laid on his bed, and his father then examined his wounds, +which he considered very dangerous, from the great laceration of the +flesh. Mr. Campbell dressed them, and then they left Alfred to the +repose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> which he so much required. The state of Alfred so occupied their +minds and their attention, that nothing and nobody else was thought of +for the first hour. Emma, too, had been taken very ill soon after she +came in, and required the attention of Mrs. Campbell and Mary. It was +not until they were about to sit down to supper that Mr. Campbell said, +"Why, where's Percival?"</p> + +<p>"Percival! Is he not here?" was the question anxiously uttered by all +the party who had been hunting.</p> + +<p>"Percival not here!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, starting up. "Where—where +is my child?"</p> + +<p>"He was just behind us," said John; "he sat down to alter his +snow-shoes; the ties hurt him."</p> + +<p>Malachi and Martin ran out of doors in consternation; they knew the +danger, for the snow was now falling in such heavy flakes that it was +impossible to see or direct their steps two yards in any direction.</p> + +<p>"The boy will be lost for sartin," said Malachi to Martin; "if he has +remained behind till this fall of snow, he never will find his way, but +wander about till he perishes."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Martin, "he has but a poor chance, that is the truth; I +would have given my right arm this had not happened."</p> + +<p>"Misfortune never comes single," replied Malachi; "what can we do? Madam +Campbell will be beside herself, for she loves that boy beyond all +measure."</p> + +<p>"It's useless our going out," observed Martin; "we should never find +him, and only lose ourselves; but still we had better go back, and say +that we will try. At all events we can go to the edge of the forest, and +halloo every minute or so; if the boy is still on his legs, it will +guide him to us."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Malachi, "and we may light a pine torch; it might be of +some use. Well, then, let's go in, and tell them that we are going in +search of the boy; as long as madam knows that we are seeking him she +will not lose hope, and hope will keep up her spirits for the time, till +she is better prepared for her loss."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>There was much good sense and knowledge of the human heart in the +observation of Malachi, who, although he was aware that all search would +be useless, could not resolve to destroy at once all hope in the mind of +the afflicted and anxious mother.</p> + +<p>They went in, and found Mrs. Campbell weeping bitterly, supported by her +husband and Mary. They stated that they were going to search for the +boy, and bring him home if they could, and, taking three or four pine +torches, one of which they lighted, they set off for the edge of the +forest, where they remained for two hours with the light, shouting at +intervals; but the snow fell so fast, and the cold was so intense, for +the wind blew fresh from the northward, that they could remain no +longer. They did not, however, return to the house, but went to their +own lodge to recover themselves, and remained there till daylight. They +then went out again; the snow-storm had ceased, and the morning was +clear and bright; they went back into the forest (on the road by which +they had come home) for three or four miles, but the snow had now fallen +and covered all the tracks which they had made the day before, and was +in many places several feet deep. They proceeded to where Percival was +last seen by John, who had described the spot very exactly; they looked +every where about, made circuits round and round, in hopes of perceiving +the muzzle of his rifle peeping out above the snow, but there was +nothing to be discovered, and after a search of four or five hours, they +returned to the house. They found Mr. Campbell and Henry in the kitchen, +for Mrs. Campbell was in such a state of anxiety and distress, that she +was in her room attended by Mary. Mr. Campbell perceived by their +countenances that they brought no satisfactory tidings. Malachi shook +his head mournfully, and sat down.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that my poor boy is lost, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"He is, I fear, sir; he must have sat down to rest himself, and has been +overpowered and fallen asleep. He has been buried in the snow, and he +will not wake till the day of resurrection."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>Mr. Campbell covered his face with his hands, and after a time +exclaimed, "His poor mother!"</p> + +<p>After a few minutes, he rose and went into Mrs. Campbell's room.</p> + +<p>"What of my child,—my dear, dear Percival?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away," replied Mr. Campbell; +"your child is happy."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell wept bitterly; and having thus given vent to the feelings +of nature, she became gradually more calm and resigned; her habitually +devout spirit sought and found relief in the God of all comfort.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + + +<p>Thus in one short day was the family of Mr. Campbell changed from a +house of joy to one of mourning. And true was the remark of Malachi, +that misfortunes seldom come single, for now they had another cause of +anxiety. Emma, by her imprudent exposure to the intense chill of the +night air and the wetting of her feet, was first taken with a violent +cold, which was followed by a fever, which became more alarming every +day. Thus, in addition to the loss of one of their children, Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell were threatened with being deprived of two more; for their +nieces were regarded as such, and Alfred was in a very precarious state. +The wounds had assumed such an angry appearance, that Mr. Campbell was +fearful of mortification. This accumulated distress had, however, one +good effect upon them. The danger of losing Emma and Alfred so occupied +their minds and their attention, that they had not time to bewail the +loss of Percival; and even Mrs. Campbell, in her prayers, was enabled to +resign herself to the Almighty's will in taking away her child, if it +would but please Him to spare the two others who were afflicted. Long +and tedious were the hours, the days, and the weeks that passed away +before either of them could be considered in a state of convalescence; +but when her prayers were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> heard, and, as the winter closed, their +recovery was no longer doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to them +all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma resume her duties, and Alfred, +supported on cushions, able to be moved into the sitting-room, had a +very exhilarating effect upon their spirits. True, there was no longer +the mirth and merriment that once reigned, but there was a subdued +gratitude to Heaven, which, if it did not make them at once cheerful, at +least prevented any thing like repining or complaint. Grateful for the +mercies vouchsafed to them, in having Alfred and Emma spared to them, +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Percival, with +the reflection that, at so early an age, before he had lived to be +corrupted by the world, to die was gain,—and that their dear boy had +become, through Divine grace, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Heaven. By +degrees the family became cheerful and happy; the merry laugh of Emma +once more enlivened them, Alfred again recovered his former health and +spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could bear the mention of the name of +Percival, and join in the praises of the amiable child.</p> + +<p>The spring now came on, the snow gradually disappeared, the ice was +carried down the rapids, and once more left the blue lake clear; the +cattle were turned out to feed off the grass the year before left on the +prairie, and all the men were busy in preparing to put in the seed. As +soon as the snow was gone, Malachi, Martin and Alfred, without saying a +word to Mrs. Campbell, had gone into the forest, and made search for the +body of poor Percival, but without success, and it was considered that +he had wandered and died on some spot which they could not discover, or +that the wolves had dug his remains out of the snow, and devoured them. +Not a trace of him could any where be discovered; and the search was, +after a few days, discontinued. The return of the spring had another +good effect upon the spirits of the party; for, with the spring came on +such a variety of work to be done, that they had not a moment to spare. +They had now so many acres for corn, that they had scarcely time to get +through all the preparatory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> work, and fortunate it was that Alfred was +so much recovered that he could join in the labor. Malachi, John, and +even Mr. Campbell, assisted, and at last the task was completed. Then +they had a communication with the fort, and letters from Quebec, +Montreal, and England: there were none of any importance from England, +but one from Montreal informed Mr. Campbell, that, agreeably to +contract, the engineer would arrive in the course of the month, with the +<span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> containing the machinery, and that the water-mill would be +erected as soon as possible. There was also a letter from England, which +gave them great pleasure; it was from Captain Sinclair to Alfred, +informing him that he had arranged all his business with his guardian, +and that he should rejoin his regiment and be at the fort early in the +spring, as he should sail in the first vessel which left England. He +stated how delighted he should be at his return, and told him to say to +Emma that he had not found an English wife, as she had prophesied, but +was coming back as heart-whole as he went. Very soon afterward they had +a visit from Colonel Forster and some of the officers of the garrison. +The Colonel offered Mr. Campbell a party of soldiers to assist in +raising the mill, and the offer was thankfully accepted.</p> + +<p>"We were very much alarmed about you last autumn, when the woods were on +fire, Mr. Campbell," said the Colonel; "but I perceive that it has been +of great advantage to you. You have now a large quantity of cleared land +sown with seed, and if you had possessed sufficient means, might have +had much more put in, as I perceive all the land to the north-west is +cleared by the fire."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allotment, as you know, extends +along the beach, and we have sown the seed as far from the beach as the +property extends."</p> + +<p>"Then I should recommend you to write to Quebec, and apply for another +grant on each side of the stream; indeed, at the back of and equal to +what you now have."</p> + +<p>"But if I do, I have not the means of working the land."</p> + +<p>"No, not with your present force, I grant; but there are many emigrants +who would be glad of work, and who would settle here upon favorable +conditions."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>"The expense would be very great," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"It would; but the return would indemnify you. The troops at the fort +would take all the flour off your hands, if you had ever so much."</p> + +<p>"I am not inclined at present to speculate much further," replied Mr. +Campbell, "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I +am successful, I will then decide."</p> + +<p>"Of course, you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent +at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you +might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land +to cultivate, and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion +of corn in return, as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all +gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having +neighbors about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal, +and arrange all that."</p> + +<p>"I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied +Mr. Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a +few hundred at the bank to dispose of, if necessary."</p> + +<p>About three weeks after this conversation, the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> arrived with +the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the +settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the +soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant, +intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada, +and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the +mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as +the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was +constantly with the engineer, superintending the labor of the men, and +contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on +such a footing with the whole family, as to be considered almost as one +of them, for he was very amusing, very well bred, and had evidently +received every advantage of education. Mr. Campbell found that Mr. +Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular +relative to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly +traveling about the country, and was in such constant communication with +them.</p> + +<p>"You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr. Campbell; "the +land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as +well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property +will be worth a large sum of money."</p> + +<p>"I want very much to get some more emigrants to settle here," observed +Mr. Campbell. "It would add to our security and comfort; and I have not +sufficient hands to cultivate the land which has been cleared by the +fire of last autumn. If not cultivated in a short time, it will be all +forest again."</p> + +<p>"At present it is all raspberries, and very good ones too, are they not, +Mr. Emmerson?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss, most excellent," replied he; "but you are aware that, +whenever you cut down trees here, and do not hoe the ground to sow it, +raspberry bushes grow up immediately."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I was not aware of it."</p> + +<p>"Such is the case, nevertheless. After the raspberries, the seedling +hardwood trees spring up, and, as Mr. Campbell says, they soon grow into +a forest again."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that you would have much trouble in getting emigrants to +come here, Mr. Campbell, but the difficulty will be in persuading them +to remain. Their object in coming out to this country is to obtain land +of their own, and become independent. Many of them have not the means to +go on, and, as a temporary resource, are compelled to act as laborers; +but the moment that they get sufficient to purchase for themselves, they +will leave you."</p> + +<p>"That is very natural; but I have been thinking of obtaining a larger +grant than I have now, and I wish very much that I could make an +arrangement with some emigrants. The Colonel says that I might do so by +supplying them with seed, and taking corn in return as rent."</p> + +<p>"That would not be a permanent arrangement," replied Mr. Emmerson. "How +much land, do you propose applying for?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>"Six hundred acres."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I think it would meet the views of both parties if you were +to offer terms like the following—that is, divide the land into lots of +one hundred acres each, and allow them to cultivate for you the fifty +acres that adjoin your own land, with the right of purchasing the other +fifty as their own property, as soon as they can. You will then obtain +three hundred acres of the most valuable land, in addition to your +present farm, and have fixed neighbors around you, even after they are +enabled to purchase the other fifty."</p> + +<p>"I think that a very good arrangement, Mr. Emmerson, and I would gladly +consent to it."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I shall have plenty of opportunities this summer of making +the proposal to the emigrants, and if I find any parties who seem likely +to prove advantageous as neighbors, I will let you know."</p> + +<p>"And with such expectations I will apply for the additional grant," said +Mr. Campbell, "for to have neighbors in this solitude, I would almost +make them a present of the land."</p> + +<p>"I suspect that in a few years you will have neighbors enough, without +resorting to such an expedient," replied Mr. Emmerson, "but according to +your present proposal, they may be better selected, and you may make +terms which will prevent any nuisances."</p> + +<p>The works at the mill proceeded rapidly, and before the hay-harvest the +mill was complete. Alfred was very careful, and paid every attention to +what was going on, and so did Martin, that they might understand the +machinery. This was very simple. Mr. Emmerson tried the mill, and found +it to answer well. He explained every thing to Alfred, and put the mill +to work, that he might be fully master of it. As it was a fortnight +after the mill was at work before Mr. Emmerson could obtain a passage +back to Montreal, Alfred and Martin worked both mills during that time, +and felt satisfied that they required no further instruction. The +soldiers, at the request of Mr. Campbell, were allowed to remain till +the hay-harvest, and as soon as the hay was gathered in, they were paid +and returned to the fort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> Captain Sinclair, who, from his letter, had +been expected to arrive much sooner, came just as the soldiers had left +the farm. It need hardly be said that he was received most warmly. He +had a great deal to tell them, and had brought out a great many +presents; those for poor little Percival he kept back, of course. Emma +and Mary were delighted to have him again as a companion, and to resume +their walks with him; a fortnight thus passed away very quickly, when +his leave of absence expired, and he was obliged to return to the fort. +Previous, however, to his going away, he requested a private interview +with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, in which he stated his exact position and +his means, and requested their sanction to his paying his addresses to +Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who had already perceived the attentions he +had shown to her, did not hesitate to express their satisfaction at his +request, and their best wishes for his success; and having so done, they +left him to forward his own suit, which Captain Sinclair did not fail to +do that very evening, Mary Percival was too amiable and right-minded a +girl not at once to refuse or accept Captain Sinclair. As she had long +been attached to him she did not deny that such was the case, and +Captain Sinclair was overjoyed at his success.</p> + +<p>"I have spoken frankly to you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary; "I have not +denied that you have an interest in my affections; but I must now +request you to let me know what are your future views."</p> + +<p>"To do just what you wish me to do."</p> + +<p>"I have no right to advise, and no wish to persuade. I have my own path +of duty pointed out to me, and from that I can not swerve."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?"</p> + +<p>"It is that, under present circumstances, I must not think of leaving my +uncle and aunt. I have been bred up and educated by them; I have as an +orphan shared their prosperity; I have a deep debt of gratitude to pay, +and I can not consent to return to England to enjoy all the advantages +which your means will afford, while they remain in their present +isolated position. Hereafter circumstances may alter my opinion, but +such it is at present."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>"But if I am willing to remain with you here to share your fortunes, +will not that satisfy you?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not; for that would be allowing you to do injustice to +yourself. I presume you do not mean to quit your profession?"</p> + +<p>"I had no such intention; but still, if I have to choose between you and +the service, I shall not hesitate."</p> + +<p>"I trust you will not hesitate, but determine to adhere steadily to your +profession for the present, Captain Sinclair. It will not do for you to +give up your prospects and chance of advancement for even such a woman +as me," continued Mary, smiling; "nor must you think of becoming a +backwoodsman for a pale-faced girl."</p> + +<p>"Then what am I to do if, as you say, you will not leave your uncle and +aunt?"</p> + +<p>"Wait, Captain Sinclair; be satisfied that you have my affections, and +wait patiently till circumstances may occur which will enable me to +reward your affection without being guilty of ingratitude toward those +to whom I owe so much. On such terms I accept you willingly; but you +must do your duty to yourself, while I must discharge <em>my</em> duty toward +my uncle and aunt."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right, Mary," replied Captain Sinclair; "only I do +not see any definite hope of our being united. Can you give me any +prospect to cheer me?"</p> + +<p>"We are both very young, Captain Sinclair," observed Mary; "in a year or +two, my uncle and aunt may be less lonely and more comfortable than at +present. In a year or two the war may end, and you may honorably retire +upon half-pay; in fact, so many chances are there which are hidden from +us and come upon us so unexpectedly, that it is impossible to say what +may take place. And if, after waiting patiently for some time, none of +these chances do turn up, you have yet another in your favor."</p> + +<p>"And what is that, Mary?"</p> + +<p>"That, perhaps, I may be tired of waiting myself," replied Mary, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>"Upon that chance, then, I will live in hope," replied Captain Sinclair; +"if you will only reward me when you consider that my faithful service +demands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for Rachel."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>"Do so, and you shall not be deceived at the end of your services, as he +was," replied Mary; "but now let us return to the house."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair departed the day afterward, quite satisfied with Mary's +resolution.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + + +<p>As Henry had predicted, during the autumn the whole family were fully +employed. The stock had increased very much, they had a large number of +young calves and heifers, and the sheep had lambed down very favorably. +Many of the stock were now turned into the bush, to save the feed on the +prairies. The sheep with their lambs, the cows which were in milk, and +the young calves only were retained. This gave them more leisure to +attend to the corn harvest, which was now ready, and it required all +their united exertions from daylight to sunset to get it in, for they +had a very large quantity of ground to clear. It was, however, got in +very successfully, and all stacked in good order. Then came the +thrashing of the wheat, which gave them ample employment; and as soon as +it could be thrashed out, it was taken to the mill in a wagon, and +ground down, for Mr. Campbell had engaged to supply a certain quantity +of flour to the fort before the winter set in. They occasionally +received a visit from Captain Sinclair and the Colonel, and some other +officers, for now they had gradually become intimate with many of them. +Captain Sinclair had confided to the Colonel his engagement to Mary +Percival, and in consequence the Colonel allowed him to visit at the +farm as often as he could, consistently with his duty. The other +officers who came to see them, perceiving how much Captain Sinclair +engrossed the company of Mary Percival, were very assiduous in their +attentions to Emma, who laughed with and at them, and generally +contrived to give them something to do for her during their visit, as +well as to render their attentions serviceable to the household. On +condition that Emma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> accompanied them, they were content to go into the +punt and fish for hours; and indeed, all the lake-fish which were caught +this year were taken by the officers. There were several very pleasant +young men among them and they were always well received, as they added +very much to the society at the farm.</p> + +<p>Before the winter set in the flour was all ready, and sent to the fort, +as were the cattle which the Colonel requested, and it was very evident +that the Colonel was right when he said that the arrangement would be +advantageous to both parties. Mr. Campbell, instead of drawing money to +pay, this year for the first time received a bill on the government to a +considerable amount for the flour and cattle furnished to the troops; +and Mrs. Campbell's account for fowls, pork, etc., furnished to the +garrison, was by no means to be despised. Thus, by the kindness of +others, his own exertions, and a judicious employment of his small +capital, Mr. Campbell promised to be in a few years a wealthy and +independent man. As soon as the harvest was in, Malachi and John, who +were of no use in thrashing out the corn, renewed their hunting +expeditions, and seldom returned without venison. The Indians had not +been seen by Malachi during his excursions, nor any trace of their +having been in the neighborhood; all alarm, therefore, on that account +was now over, and the family prepared to meet the coming winter with all +the additional precautions which the foregoing had advised them of. But +during the Indian summer they received letters from England, detailing, +as usual, the news relative to friends with whom they had been intimate; +also one from Quebec, informing Mr. Campbell that his application for +the extra grant of land was consented to; and another from Montreal, +from Mr. Emmerson, stating that he had offered terms to two families of +settlers who bore very good characters, and if they were accepted by Mr. +Campbell, the parties would join them at the commencement of the ensuing +spring.</p> + +<p>This was highly gratifying to Mr. Campbell, and as the terms were, with +a slight variation, such as he had proposed, he immediately wrote to Mr. +Emmerson, agreeing to terms, and requesting that the bargain might be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +concluded. At the same time that the Colonel forwarded the above +letters, he wrote to Mr. Campbell to say that the interior of the fort +required a large quantity of plank for repairs, that he was authorized +to take them from Mr. Campbell, at a certain price, if he could afford +to supply them on these terms, and have them ready by the following +spring. This was another act of kindness on the part of the Colonel, as +it would now give employment to the saw-mill for the winter, and it was +during the winter, and at the time that the snow was on the ground, that +they could easily drag the timber after it was felled to the saw-mill. +Mr. Campbell wrote an answer, thanking the Colonel for his offer, which +he accepted, and promised to have the planks ready by the time the lake +was again open.</p> + +<p>At last the winter set in, with its usual fall of snow. Captain Sinclair +took his leave for a long time, much to the sorrow of all the family, +who were warmly attached to him. It was arranged that the only parties +who were to go on the hunting excursions should be Malachi and John, as +Henry had ample employment in the barns; and Martin and Alfred, in +felling timber, and dragging up the stems to the saw-mill, would, with +attending to the mill as well, have their whole time taken up. Such were +the arrangements out of doors, and now that they had lost the services +of poor Percival, and the duties to attend to in doors were so much +increased, Mrs. Campbell and the girls were obliged to call in the +assistance of Mr. Campbell whenever he could be spared from the garden, +which was his usual occupation. Thus glided on the third winter in quiet +and security; but in full employment, and with so much to do and attend +to, that it passed very rapidly.</p> + +<p>It was in the month of February, when the snow was very heavy on the +ground, that one day Malachi went up to the mill to Alfred, whom he +found alone attending the saws, which were in full activity; for Martin +was squaring out the timber ready to be sawed at about one hundred +yards' distance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 370px;"> +<img src="images/illus-218.png" width="370" height="600" alt="The Indian letter." title="The Indian letter." /> +<span class="caption">THE INDIAN LETTER. P. 295.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I am glad to find you alone, sir," said Malachi, "for I have something +of importance to tell you of, and I do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> not like at present that any +body else should know any thing about it."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Malachi?" inquired Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, when I was out hunting yesterday, I went round to a spot +where I had left a couple of deer-hides last week, that I might bring +them home, and I found a letter stuck to them with a couple of thorns."</p> + +<p>"A letter, Malachi!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, an Indian letter. Here it is." Malachi then produced a piece +of birch bark, of which the underneath drawing is a fac-simile.</p> + +<div class="figcenter2" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-219.png" width="400" height="380" alt="The letter" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well," said Alfred, "it may be a letter, but I confess it is all Greek +to me. I certainly do not see why you wish to keep it a secret. Tell +me."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I could not read one of your letters half so well as I can +this; and it contains news of the greatest importance. It's the Indian +way of writing, and I know also whom it comes from. A good action is +never lost,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> they say, and I am glad to find that there is some +gratitude in an Indian."</p> + +<p>"You make me very impatient, Malachi, to know what it means; tell me +from whom do you think the letter comes?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, do you see this mark here?" said Malachi, pointing to one of +the lowest down on the piece of bark.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it is a foot, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly, sir; now, do you know whom it comes from?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say I do."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember two winters back our picking up the Indian woman, and +carrying her to the house, and your father curing her sprained ankle?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; is it from her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and you recollect she said that she belonged to the band +which followed the Angry Snake."</p> + +<p>"I remember it very well; but now, Malachi, read me the letter at once, +for I am very impatient to know what she can have to say."</p> + +<p>"I will, Mr. Alfred; now, sir, there is the sun more than half up, which +with them points out it is the setting and not the rising sun; the +setting sun therefore means to the westward."</p> + +<p>"Very good, that is plain, I think."</p> + +<p>"There are twelve wigwams, that is, twelve days' journey for a warrior, +which the Indians reckon at about fifteen miles a day. How much does +fifteen times twelve make, sir?"</p> + +<p>"One hundred and eighty, Malachi."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, then that is to say that it is one hundred and eighty miles +off, or thereabouts. Now, the first figure is a chief, for it has an +eagle's feather on the head of it, and the snake before it is his +<span class="italic">totem</span>, 'the Angry Snake,' and the other six are the number of the +band; and you observe, that the chief and the first figure of the six +have a gun in their hands, which is to inform us that they have only two +rifles among them."</p> + +<p>"Very true; but what is that little figure following the chief with his +arms behind him?"</p> + +<p>"There is the whole mystery of the letter, sir, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> which it were +worth nothing. You perceive that little figure has a pair of snow-shoes +over it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do."</p> + +<p>"Well, that little figure is your brother Percival, whom we supposed to +be dead."</p> + +<p>"Merciful heavens! is it possible?" exclaimed Alfred; "then he is +alive?"</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt of it, sir," replied Malachi; "and now I will put the +whole letter together. Your brother Percival has been carried off by the +Angry Snake and his band, and has been taken to some place one hundred +and eighty miles to the westward, and this information comes from the +Indian woman who belongs to the band, and whose life was preserved by +your kindness. I don't think, Mr. Alfred, that any white person could +have written a letter more plain and more to the purpose."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Malachi; but the news has so overpowered me, I am so +agitated with joy and anxiety of mind, that I hardly know what to say. +Percival alive! we'll have him, if we have to go one thousand miles and +beat two thousand Indians. Oh, how happy it will make my mother! But +what are we to do, Malachi? tell me, I beseech you."</p> + +<p>"We must do nothing, sir," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Malachi!" replied Alfred with surprise.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; nothing at present, at all events. We have the information +that the boy is alive, at least it is presumed so; but of course the +Indians do not know that we have received such information; if they did, +the woman would be killed immediately. Now, sir, the first question we +must ask ourselves is, why they have carried off the boy; for it would +be no use carrying off a little boy in that manner without some object."</p> + +<p>"It is the very question that <em>I</em> was going to put to you, Malachi."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, I'll answer it to the best of my knowledge and belief. It is +this: the Angry Snake came to the settlement, and saw our stores of +powder and shot, and every thing else. He would have attacked us last +winter if he had found an opportunity and a chance of success. One of +his band was killed, which taught him that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> we were on the watch, and he +failed in that attempt: he managed, however, to pick up the boy when he +was lagging behind us, at the time you were wounded by the painter, and +carried him off, and he intends to drive a bargain for his being +restored to us. That is my conviction."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt but that you are right, Malachi," said Alfred, after a +pause. "Well, we must make a virtue of necessity, and give him what he +asks."</p> + +<p>"Not so, sir; if we did, it would encourage him to steal again."</p> + +<p>"What must we do then?"</p> + +<p>"Punish him, if we can; at all events, we must wait at present, and do +nothing. Depend upon it we shall have some communication made to us +through him that the boy is in their possession, and will be restored +upon certain conditions—probably this spring. It will then be time to +consider what is to be done."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right, Malachi."</p> + +<p>"I hope to circumvent him yet, sir," replied Malachi; "but we shall +see."</p> + +<p>"Well; but, Malachi, are we to let this be known to any body, or keep it +a secret?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I've thought of that; we must only let Martin and Strawberry +into the secret; and I would tell them, because they are almost Indians, +as it were; they may have some one coming to them, and there's no fear +of their telling. Martin knows better, and as for the Strawberry, she is +as safe as if she didn't know it."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right; and still what delight it would give my father +and mother!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and all the family too, I have no doubt, for the first hour +or two after you had told them; but what pain it would give them for +months afterward. 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' as my father +used to read out of the Bible, and that's the truth, sir. Only consider +how your father, and particularly your mother, would fret and pine +during the whole time, and what a state of anxiety they would be in; +they would not eat or sleep. No, no, sir; it would be a cruelty to tell +them, and it must not be. Nothing can be done till the spring,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> at all +events, and we must wait till the messenger comes to us."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Malachi; then do as you say, make the communication to +Martin and his wife,—and I will keep the secret as faithfully as they +will."</p> + +<p>"It's a great point our knowing whereabouts the boy is," observed +Malachi; "for if it is necessary to make a party to go for him, we know +what direction to go in. And it is also a great point to know the +strength of the enemy, as now we shall know what force we must take with +us in case it is necessary to recover the lad by force or stratagem. All +this we gained from the letter, and shall not learn from any messenger +sent to us by the Angry Snake, whose head I hope to bruise before I've +done with him."</p> + +<p>"If I meet him, one of us shall fall," observed Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No doubt, sir, no doubt," replied Malachi, "but if we can retake the +boy by other means, so much the better. A man, bad or good, has but one +life and God gave it to him. It is not for his fellow-creatures to take +it away unless from necessity. I hope to have the boy without shedding +of blood."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to have him back upon any terms, Malachi; and, as you say, +if we can do it without shedding of blood, all the better; but have him +I will, if I have to kill a hundred Indians."</p> + +<p>"That's right, sir; that's right; only let it be the last resort; +recollect the Indian seeks the powder and ball, not the life of the boy; +and recollect if we had not been so careless as to tempt him with the +sight of what he values so much, he never would have annoyed us thus."</p> + +<p>"That is true; well then, Malachi, it shall be as you propose in every +thing."</p> + +<p>The conversation was here finished; Alfred and all those who were +possessed of the secret never allowed the slightest hint to drop of +their knowledge. The winter passed away without interruption of any +kind. Before the snow had disappeared the seed was all prepared ready +for sowing; the planks had been sawed out, and all the wheat not +required for seed had been ground down and put into flour-barrels, ready +for any further demand from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> the fort. And thus terminated the third +winter in Canada.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was now April, and for some days Malachi and John had been very busy, +assisted by the Strawberry; for the time had come for tapping the +maple-trees, to make the maple-sugar, and Mrs. Campbell had expressed a +wish that she could be so supplied with an article of such general +consumption, and which they could not obtain but by the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> which +went to Montreal. In the evening, when Malachi and John were, as usual, +employed in cutting small trays out of the soft wood of the balsam-fir, +and of which they had already prepared a large quantity, Mrs. Campbell +asked Malachi how the sugar was procured.</p> + +<p>"Very easily, ma'am: we tap the trees."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so you said before; but how do you do it? Explain the whole affair +to me."</p> + +<p>"Why, ma'am, we pick out the maple trees which are about a foot wide at +the bottom of the trunk, as they yield most sugar. We then bore a hole +in the trunk of the tree, about two feet above the ground, and into that +hole we put a hollow reed, just the same as you would put a spigot in a +cask. The liquor runs out into one of these trays that we have been +digging out."</p> + +<p>"Well, and then what do you do?"</p> + +<p>"We collect all the liquor every morning till we have enough to fill the +coppers, and then we boil it down."</p> + +<p>"What coppers will you use, then?"</p> + +<p>"There are two large coppers in the store-room, not yet put up, which +will answer our purpose very well, ma'am. They hold about a hogshead +each. We shall take them into the woods with us, and pour the liquor +into them, and boil them down as soon as they are ready. You must come +and see us on the boiling-day, and we can have a frolic in the woods."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>"With all my heart," replied Mrs. Campbell. "How much liquor do you get +from one tree?"</p> + +<p>"A matter of two or three gallons," replied Malachi; "sometimes more and +sometimes less. After we have tapped the trees and set our trays, we +shall have nothing more to do for a fortnight. The Strawberry can attend +to them all, and will let us know when she is ready."</p> + +<p>"Do you tap the trees every year?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, and a good tree will bear it for fifteen or twenty years; +but it kills them at last."</p> + +<p>"So I should suppose, for you take away so much of the sap of the tree."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, ma'am; but there's no want of sugar-maples in these woods."</p> + +<p>"You promised us some honey, Malachi," said Emma, "but we have not seen +it yet. Can you get us some?"</p> + +<p>"We had no time to get it last autumn, miss, but we will try this autumn +what we can do. When John and I are out in the woods, we shall very +probably find a honey-tree, without going very far. I did intend to have +looked out for some, if you had not mentioned it."</p> + +<p>"I know one," said Martin, "I marked it a fortnight ago, but I quite +forgot all about it. Since the mill has been in hand, I have had little +time for any thing else. The fact is, we have all plenty to do just +now."</p> + +<p>"That we certainly have," replied Henry, laughing; "I wish I could see +the end of my work in the barn; I doubt if I shall be able to get out +with my rifle this winter."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, you must leave the woods to John and me," replied Malachi. +"Never mind, you shan't want for venison. Do you require the sledge +to-morrow, Mr. Alfred?"</p> + +<p>Malachi referred to a small sledge which they had made in the winter, +and which was now very useful, as they could, with one horse, transport +things from place to place. It was used by Alfred for bringing down to +the storehouse the sacks of flour as fast as they were ground in the +mill.</p> + +<p>"I can do without it for a day. What do you want it for?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>"To bring all the honey home," said Emma laughing.</p> + +<p>"No, miss, to take the coppers out into the woods," replied Malachi, +"that they may be ready for the liquor. As soon as we have tapped the +trees, we will look for the honey."</p> + +<p>"Did you send your skins down to Montreal by the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>?" inquired +Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, father," replied Alfred; "Mr. Emmerson took charge of them, and +promised to deliver them to the agent; but we have not so many this year +as we had last. John has the largest package of all of us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he beats me this year," said Malachi; "he always contrives to get +the first shot. I knew that I should make a hunter of the boy. He might +go out by himself now, and do just as well as I do."</p> + +<p>The next morning Malachi went out into the woods, taking with him the +coppers and all the trays on the sledge: during that day he was busy +boring the trees and fitting the reed-pipes to the holes. Strawberry and +John accompanied him, and by sunset their work was complete.</p> + +<p>The next morning when they went out, only Malachi and John took their +axes with them, for John could use his very well for so young a lad. +They first went to the tree which Martin had discovered; he had given a +description where to find it. They cut it down, but did not attempt to +take the honey till the night, when they lighted a fire, and drove away +the bees by throwing leaves upon it, and making a great smoke; they then +opened the tree, and gained about two pails full of honey, which they +brought in just as the family were about to go to bed. When they went +out the next morning, they found a bear very busy at the remains of the +comb, but the animal made off before they could get a shot at him.</p> + +<p>Every morning the Strawberry collected all the sap which had run out of +the trees, and poured it into the coppers which had been fixed up by +Malachi, ready for a fire to be lighted under them. They continued their +search, and found three more hives of bees, which they marked and +allowed to remain till later in the season, when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> could take them +at their leisure. In a fortnight, they had collected sufficient liquor +from the trees to fill both the coppers to the brim, besides several +pails. The fires were therefore lighted under the coppers, and due +notice given to Mrs. Campbell and the girls, that the next day they must +go out into the woods and see the operation; as the liquor would, toward +the afternoon, be turned into coolers, which were some of the large +washing-tubs then in use, and which had been thoroughly cleansed for the +purpose.</p> + +<p>As this was to be a holiday in the woods, they prepared a cold dinner in +a large basket, and gave it in charge of Henry. Mr. Campbell joined the +party, and they all set off to the spot, which was about two miles +distant. On their arrival, they examined the trees and the trays into +which the juice first ran, the boilers in which the liquor was now +simmering over the fire, and asked questions of Malachi, so that they +might, if necessary, be able to make the sugar themselves, after which +the first cooler was filled with the boiling liquor, that they might see +how the sugar crystallized as the liquor became cold. They then sat down +under a large tree and dined. The tree was at some distance from the +boilers, as there was no shade in the open spot where Malachi had placed +them, and the afternoon was passed very agreeably in listening to +Malachi's and Martin's stories of their adventures in the woods. While +they were still at dinner, Oscar and the other dogs which had +accompanied them had strayed to about a hundred yards distant, and were +soon very busy scraping and barking at a large hole.</p> + +<p>"What are the dogs after?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Just what the Strawberry wants, and told me to get for her," replied +Malachi; "we'll dig him out to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Strawberry?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>The Strawberry pointed to her moccasins, and then put her finger on the +porcupine-quills with which they were embroidered.</p> + +<p>"I don't know the English name," said she, softly.</p> + +<p>"A porcupine you mean," said Mary, "the animal those quills come from."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>"Yes," replied the Strawberry.</p> + +<p>"Is there a porcupine there, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, that is certain; the dogs know that well enough, or they +would not make such a noise. If you like, we will go for the shovels and +dig him out."</p> + +<p>"Do, pray; I should like to see him caught," said Emma, "it shall be our +evening's amusement."</p> + +<p>Martin got up and went for the shovels; during his absence, the dinner +was cleared away, and the articles replaced in the basket; they then all +adjourned to where the dogs were still barking and scratching.</p> + +<p>It was more than an hour before they could dig out the animal, and when +at last it burst away from the hole, they could not help laughing as +they witnessed the way in which one or two of the dogs were pricked with +the quills of the animal, who needed no other defense; the dogs ran +back, pawed their noses, and then went on again. Oscar was too knowing +to attack it in that way; he attempted to turn it over, so that he might +get at its stomach, when he would soon have killed it, but Martin +dispatched the poor beast with a blow on the nose, and the dogs then +rushed in upon it. They amused themselves selecting all the best of the +quills for the Strawberry, and then they went back again to the coolers, +to see the sugar which had been made.</p> + +<p>As they neared the spot, Emma cried out, "There is a bear at the cooler; +look at him."</p> + +<p>Malachi and John had their rifles ready immediately. Mrs. Campbell and +Mary were much alarmed, as the animal was not one hundred yards from +them.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid, ma'am," said Malachi; "the animal is only after the +sugar. He likes sugar just as well as honey."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt but he's the same beast that you saw at the honeycomb the +other day," said Martin. "Let us stay where we are, and watch him. We +may lose a few pounds of sugar, but I expect he will make you laugh."</p> + +<p>"I really see nothing laughable in such a terrific brute," said Mrs. +Campbell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>"You are quite safe, ma'am," said Martin, "Malachi and Mr. John have +both their rifles."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I will trust to them," said Mrs. Campbell, "but I should +prefer being at home, nevertheless. What a great brute it is."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; it is a very large animal, that's certain; but they are not +very fat at this time of the year. See how he's smelling at the liquor, +now he's licking the top of it with his tongue. He won't be satisfied +with that, now that he has once tasted it. I told you so."</p> + +<p>The eyes of the whole party, some frightened and some not, were now +fixed upon the bear, who, approving of what he had tasted as a sample, +now proceeded to help himself more liberally.</p> + +<p>He therefore placed his paw down into the contents of the cooler, but +although the surface of the liquor was cool, the lower part was still +scalding hot, and he had not put his paw in for a moment, when he +withdrew it with a loud roar, rearing up and sitting upon his hind legs, +and throwing his burned paw in the air.</p> + +<p>"I said so," observed Malachi, chuckling; "he has found it hotter than +he expected."</p> + +<p>John, Alfred, and Martin burst out laughing at the sight; and even Mrs. +Campbell and the two girls could not help being amused.</p> + +<p>"He'll try it again," said Martin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that he will," replied Malachi. "John, be all ready with your +rifle, for the brute has seen us."</p> + +<p>"Why, he won't come this way, will he?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, that he most likely will when he is angry; but you need not +fear."</p> + +<p>"But I'm afraid, Malachi," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps you had better go about fifty yards back with Mr. +Campbell, where you will see the whole without danger. There he goes to +it again; I knew he would."</p> + +<p>Martin, who had got all the dogs collected together and fast by a piece +of deer's hide, as soon as they had discovered the bear, went back with +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the girls.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>"You need have no fear, ma'am," said Martin; "the rifles won't miss +their mark, and if they did, I have the dogs to let loose upon him; and +I think Oscar, with the help of the others, would master him. +Down—silence, Oscar—down, dogs, down. Look at the Strawberry, ma'am, +she's not afraid, she's laughing like a silver bell."</p> + +<p>During this interval, the bear again applied to the cooler, and burned +himself as before, and this time being more angry, he now gave another +roar, and, as if considering that the joke had been played upon him by +the party who were looking on, he made directly for them at a quick run.</p> + +<p>"Now, John," said Malachi, "get your bead well on him, right between his +eyes."</p> + +<p>John kneeled down in front of Malachi, who had his rifle all ready; much +to the horror of Mrs. Campbell, John permitted the bear to come within +twenty yards of him. He then fired, and the animal fell dead without a +struggle.</p> + +<p>"A good shot, and well put in," said Malachi, going up to the bear. "Let +the dogs loose, Martin, that they may worry the carcass; it will do them +good."</p> + +<p>Martin did so; the dogs were permitted to pull and tear at the dead +animal for a few minutes, and then taken off; in the mean time, Mr. +Campbell and the ladies had come up to where the animal lay.</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, isn't John a cool shot?" said Malachi, "Could the oldest +hunter have done better?"</p> + +<p>"My dear John, you quite frightened me," said Mrs. Campbell; "why did +you allow the beast to come so near to you?"</p> + +<p>"Because I wanted to kill him dead, and not wound him," replied John.</p> + +<p>"To be sure," replied Malachi; "to wound a bear is worse than leaving +him alone."</p> + +<p>"Well, Malachi, you certainly have made a hunter of John," said Mr. +Campbell. "I could not have supposed such courage and presence of mind +in one so young."</p> + +<p>John was very much praised, as he deserved to be, by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> the whole party; +and then Malachi said, "The skin belongs to John, that of course."</p> + +<p>"Is the bear good eating now?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Not very, ma'am," replied Malachi, "for he has consumed all his fat +during the winter; but we will cut off the legs for hams, and when they +are salted and smoked with the other meat, you will acknowledge that a +bear's ham is, at all events, a dish that any one may say is good. Come, +John, where's your knife? Martin, give us a hand here, while Mr. +Campbell and the ladies go home."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + + +<p>It was in the first week of June that Malachi, when he was out in the +woods, perceived an Indian, who came toward him. He was a youth of about +twenty or twenty-one years old, tall and slightly made; he carried his +bow and arrows and his tomahawk, but had no gun. Malachi was at that +time sitting down on the trunk of a fallen tree; he was not more than +two miles from the house, and had gone out with his rifle without any +particular intent, unless it was that, as he expected he should soon +receive some communication from the Indians, he wished to give them an +opportunity of speaking to him alone. The Indian came up to where +Malachi was, and took a seat by him, without saying a word.</p> + +<p>"Is my son from the West?" said Malachi, in the Indian tongue, after a +silence of one or two minutes.</p> + +<p>"The Young Otter is from the West," replied the Indian. "The old men +have told him of the Gray Badger, who has lived the life of a snake, and +who has hunted with the fathers of those who are now old. Does my father +live with the white man?"</p> + +<p>"He lives with the white man," replied Malachi; "he has no Indian blood +in his veins."</p> + +<p>"Has the white man many in his lodge?" said the Indian.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>"Yes; many young men and many rifles," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>The Indian did not continue this conversation, and there was a silence +of some minutes. Malachi was convinced that the young Indian had been +sent to intimate that Percival was alive and in captivity, and he +resolved to wait patiently till he brought up the subject.</p> + +<p>"Does not the cold kill the white man?" said the Indian, at last.</p> + +<p>"No; the white man can bear the winter's ice as well as an Indian. He +hunts as well, and brings home venison."</p> + +<p>"Are all who came here with him now in the white man's lodge?"</p> + +<p>"No, not all; one white child slept in the snow, and is in the land of +spirits," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>Here there was a pause in the conversation for some minutes; at last the +young Indian said—</p> + +<p>"A little bird sang in my ear, and it said, The white man's child is not +dead; it wandered about in the woods and was lost, and the Indian found +him, and took him to his wigwam in the far west."</p> + +<p>"Did not the little bird lie to the Young Otter?" replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>"No; the little bird sang what was true," replied the Indian. "The white +boy is alive and in the lodge of the Indian."</p> + +<p>"There are many white men in the country who have children," replied +Malachi; "and children are often lost. The little bird may have sung of +the child of some other white man."</p> + +<p>"The white boy had a rifle in his hand and snow-shoes on his feet."</p> + +<p>"So have all they who go out to hunt in the winter's snow," replied +Malachi.</p> + +<p>"But the white boy was found near to the white man's lodge."</p> + +<p>"Then why was not the boy taken back to the white man by the Indians who +found him?"</p> + +<p>"They were going to their own wigwams and could not turn aside; besides, +they feared to come near to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> white man's lodge after the sun was +down; as my father says he has many young men and many rifles."</p> + +<p>"But the white man does not raise his rifle against the Indian, whether +he comes by day or by night," replied Malachi. "At night he kills the +prowling wolf when he comes near to the lodge."</p> + +<p>The Indian again stopped and was silent. He knew by the words of Malachi +that the wolf's skin, with which the Indian had been covered when he was +crawling to the palisades and had been shot by John, had been +discovered. Malachi after a while renewed the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Is the Young Otter of a near tribe?"</p> + +<p>"The lodges of our tribe are twelve days' journey to the westward," +replied the Indian.</p> + +<p>"The chief of the Young Otter's band is a great warrior?"</p> + +<p>"He is," replied the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Malachi, "The 'Angry Snake' is a great warrior. Did he +send the Young Otter to me to tell me that the white boy was alive and +in his wigwam?"</p> + +<p>The Indian again paused. He perceived that Malachi knew where he came +from, and from whom. At last he said—</p> + +<p>"It is many moons since the Angry Snake has taken care of the white boy, +and has fed him with venison; many moons that he has hunted for him to +give him food; and the white boy loves the Angry Snake as a father, and +the Angry Snake loves the boy as his son. He will adopt him, and the +white boy will be the chief of the tribe. He will forget the white men, +and become red as an Indian."</p> + +<p>"The boy is forgotten by the white man, who has long numbered him with +the dead," replied Malachi.</p> + +<p>"The white man has no memory," replied the Indian, "to forget so soon; +but it is not so. He would make many presents to him who would bring +back the boy."</p> + +<p>"And what presents could he make?" replied Malachi; "the white man is +poor, and hunts with his young men as the Indian does. What has the +white man to give that the Indian covets? He has no whisky."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>"The white man has powder, and lead, and rifles," replied the Indian; +"more than he can use, locked up in his storehouse."</p> + +<p>"And will the Angry Snake bring back the white boy if the white man +gives him powder, and lead, and rifles?" inquired Malachi.</p> + +<p>"He will make a long journey, and bring the white boy with him," replied +the Indian; "but first let the white man say what presents he will +give."</p> + +<p>"He shall be spoken to," replied Malachi, "and his answer shall be +brought, but the Young Otter must not go to the white man's lodge. A +red-skin is not safe from the rifles of the young men. When the moon is +at the full I will meet the Young Otter after the sun is down, at the +eastern side of the long prairie. Is it good?"</p> + +<p>"Good," replied the Indian, who rose, turned on his heel, and walked +away into the forest.</p> + +<p>When Malachi returned to the house, he took an opportunity of +communicating to Alfred what had taken place. After some conversation, +they agreed that they would make Captain Sinclair, who had that morning +arrived from the fort, their confidant as to what had occurred, and +decide with him upon what steps should be taken. Captain Sinclair was +very much surprised, and equally delighted, when he heard that Percival +was still alive, and warmly entered into the subject.</p> + +<p>"The great question is, whether it would not be better to accede to the +terms of this scoundrel of an Indian chief," observed Captain Sinclair. +"What are a few pounds of powder and a rifle or two compared with the +happiness which will be produced by the return of Percival to his +parents, who have so long lamented him as dead?"</p> + +<p>"It's not that, sir," replied Malachi. "I know that Mr. Campbell would +give his whole store-room to regain his boy, but we must consider what +will be the consequence if he does so. One thing is certain, that the +Angry Snake will not be satisfied with a trifling present; he will ask +many rifles, perhaps more than we have at the farm, and powder and shot +in proportion; for he has mixed much with white people, especially when +the French were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> here, and he knows how little we value such things, and +how much we love our children. But, sir, in the first place, you supply +him and his band with arms to use against us at any other time, and +really make them formidable; and in the next place, you encourage him to +make some other attempt to obtain similar presents—for he will not be +idle. Recollect, sir, that we have in all probability killed one of +their band, when he came to reconnoiter the house in the skin of a wolf, +and that will never be forgotten, but revenged as soon as it can be. +Now, sir, if we give him arms and ammunition, we shall put the means of +revenge in his hands, and I should not be surprised to find us one day +attacked by him and his band, and it may be, overpowered by means of +these rifles which you propose to give him."</p> + +<p>"There is much truth and much good sense in what you say, +Malachi—indeed, I think it almost at once decides the point, and that +we must not consent to his terms; but then what must we do to recover +the boy?"</p> + +<p>"That is the question which puzzles me," replied Alfred, "for I +perfectly agree with Malachi, that we must not give him arms and +ammunition, and I doubt if he would accept of any thing else."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, that he will not, depend upon it," replied Malachi. "I think +there is but one way that will give us a chance."</p> + +<p>"What, then, is your idea, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"The Angry Snake with his band were tracking us, and had we not been too +strong, would have attacked and murdered us all, that is clear. Not +daring to do that, he has stolen Percival, and detains him, to return +him at his own price. Now, sir, the Young Otter has come to us, and +offers to come again. We have given him no pledge of safe conduct, and, +therefore, when he comes again, we must have an ambush ready for him, +and make him prisoner; but then you see, sir, we must have the +assistance of the Colonel, for he must be confined at the fort; we could +not well keep him at the farm. In the first place, it would be +impossible then to withhold the secret from Mr. and Mrs. Campbell; and, +in the next, we should have to be on the look-out for an attack every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +night for his rescue; but if the Colonel was to know the whole +circumstances, and would assist us, we might capture the Indian lad and +hold him as a hostage for Master Percival, till we could make some terms +with the Angry Snake."</p> + +<p>"I like your idea very much, Malachi," replied Captain Sinclair, "and +if, Alfred, you agree with me, I will acquaint the Colonel with the +whole of what has passed when I return to-night, and see if he will +consent to our taking such a step. When are you to meet the Indian, +Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"In three days, that is on Saturday; it will be the full of the moon, +and then I meet him at night, at the end of the prairie nearest to the +fort, so that there will be no difficulty in doing all we propose +without Mr. and Mrs. Campbell being aware of any thing that has taken +place."</p> + +<p>"I think we can not do better than you have proposed," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Be it so, then," said Captain Sinclair. "I will be here again +to-morrow—no, not to-morrow, but the day after will be better, and then +I will give you the reply of the Colonel, and make such arrangements as +may be necessary."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, sir," replied Malachi; "and now all we have to do is +to keep our own secret; so, perhaps, Captain Sinclair, you had better go +back to the young ladies, for Miss Mary may imagine that it must be +something of very great importance which can have detained you so long +from her presence;" and Malachi smiled as he finished his remark.</p> + +<p>"There's good sense in that observation, Malachi," said Alfred, +laughing. "Come, Sinclair."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair quitted in the evening, and went back to the fort. He +returned at the time appointed, and informed them that the Colonel fully +approved of their plan of holding the young Indian as a hostage, and +that he would secure him in the fort as soon as he was brought in.</p> + +<p>"Now, do we want any assistance from the fort? Surely not to capture an +Indian lad; at least, so I said to the Colonel," continued Captain +Sinclair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>"No, sir, we want no assistance, as you say. I am his match, myself, if +that were all; but it is not strength which is required. He is as little +and supple as an eel, and as difficult to hold, that I am certain of. If +we were to use our rifles, there would be no difficulty, but to hold him +would give some trouble to two of us, and if once he breaks loose, he +will be too fleet for any of us."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, Malachi, how shall we proceed?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, I must meet him, and you and Mr. Alfred and Martin must be +hid at a distance, and gradually steal near to us. Martin shall have his +deer thongs all ready, and when you pounce upon him, he must bind him at +once. Martin is used to them and knows how to manage it."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you think that we three can not manage him, let us have +Martin."</p> + +<p>"It isn't strength, sir," replied Malachi, "but he will slip through +your fingers, if not well tied in half a minute. Now, we will just walk +down to where I intend to meet him, and survey the place, and then I'll +show you where you must be, for we must not be seen together in that +direction to-morrow, for he may be lurking about, and have some +suspicion."</p> + +<p>They then walked to the end of the prairie nearest to the fort, which +was about a mile from the house, and Malachi having selected his ground, +and pointed out to them where to conceal themselves, they returned to +the house, Alfred having made arrangements when and where he and Martin +would meet Captain Sinclair on the day appointed.</p> + +<p>The next day passed, and Malachi, as the sun sank behind the lake, +walked out to the end of the prairie. He had not been there ten minutes +when the young Indian stood before him. He was armed, as before, with +his tomahawk and bows and arrows, but Malachi had come out expressly +without his rifle.</p> + +<p>Malachi, as soon as he perceived the Indian, sat down, as is the usual +custom among them when they hold a talk, and the Young Otter followed +his example.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>"Has my father talked to the white man?" said the Indian after a short +silence.</p> + +<p>"The white man grieves for the loss of his boy, and his squaw weeps," +replied Malachi. "The Angry Snake must bring the boy to the lodge of the +white man, and receive presents."</p> + +<p>"Will the white man be generous?" continued the Indian.</p> + +<p>"He has powder, and lead, and rifles, and tobacco; will such presents +please the Angry Snake?"</p> + +<p>"The Angry Snake had a dream," replied the Indian, "and he told me his +dream. He dreamed that the white boy was put into his mother's arms, who +wept for joy, and the white man opened his store, and gave to the Angry +Snake ten rifles, and two kegs of powder, and as much lead as four men +could carry away."</p> + +<p>"'Twas a good dream," replied Malachi, "and it will come true when the +white boy comes back to his mother."</p> + +<p>"The Angry Snake had another dream. He dreamed that the white man +received his child, and pushed the Angry Snake out from the door of his +lodge."</p> + +<p>"That was bad," replied Malachi. "Look at me, my son; say, did you ever +hear that the Gray Badger said a lie?" and Malachi laid hold of the +Indian's arm as he spoke.</p> + +<p>This was the signal agreed upon between Malachi and the party concealed, +who rushed forward and seized the Indian. The Young Otter sprang up in +spite of their endeavors to keep him, and would certainly have escaped, +for he had got his tomahawk clear, and was about to wield it around his +head, had not Martin already passed one of the deer thongs round his +ankle, by which the Indian was thrown again to the ground. His arms were +then secured behind his back with other deer-skin thongs, and another +passed round his ankle and given to Alfred.</p> + +<p>"You were right, Malachi," said Captain Sinclair, "how he contrived to +twist himself out of our grasp I can not imagine; but he certainly would +have been off, probably have broken our heads before he went."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>"I know the nature of these Indians, sir," replied Malachi; "they're +never safe, even when tied, if the thong does not cut into the bone; but +you have him now, sir, fast enough, and the sooner you get to the fort +the better. You have your rifles, in the bush?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Martin, "you'll find them behind the large oak tree."</p> + +<p>"I'll fetch them; not that I think there's much danger of a rescue."</p> + +<p>"We have not far to take him," said Captain Sinclair, "for, as I wished +you and Alfred not to be so long away as to induce questions to be +asked, I have a file of men and a corporal about half a mile off, +concealed in the bush. But Malachi, it is as well to let the Indian know +that he is only detained as a hostage, and will be restored as soon as +the boy is sent back."</p> + +<p>Malachi addressed the Indian in his own tongue, and told him what +Captain Sinclair requested.</p> + +<p>"Tell him that there are several Indian women about the fort, who will +take any message he may send to the Angry Snake."</p> + +<p>The Young Otter made no reply to any thing said by Malachi, but looked +around him very impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Be off as fast as you can," said Malachi, "for depend upon it the Angry +Snake was to meet him after his talk with me; I see it by his wandering +eye, and his looking round for assistance. I will go with you, and +return with Alfred and Martin, for I have no rifle."</p> + +<p>"You can take mine, Malachi, as soon as we come up to the soldiers."</p> + +<p>This was done in a few minutes. Captain Sinclair then took charge of the +Indian, and set off with his party for the fort. Malachi, Alfred, and +Martin returned to the house, and before they entered the prairie, +Martin detected the tall form of an Indian at a short distance, in the +shade of the trees.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was sure of it," said Malachi. "It was well that I did not go +back without you. After all, in the woods, a man's no man without his +rifle."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + + +<p>Martin was right when he stated that he perceived the form of the Angry +Snake under the shade of the trees. The chief was then watching what +occurred, and had been witness to the capture of his emissary, and, +following those who had the Young Otter in charge, saw him conveyed to +the fort. In the meantime, Malachi, Martin, and Alfred went home, +without any suspicion being raised among the other branches of the +family of what had occurred. This gave them great satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Well, Malachi," said Alfred the next morning, as they were all busily +employed getting the seed into the new cleared land; "what do you +imagine will be the steps now taken by the Angry Snake?"</p> + +<p>"It's hard to say, sir," replied Malachi; "for he well deserves the name +of a snake, if, as the Scripture says, it's the subtlest thing on earth: +he will try all he can, you may be sure; and if it were not that he is +afraid of us, he would attack us immediately; but that I have no idea +that he will venture upon."</p> + +<p>"No, for your letter says, that he has only two rifles in his band, +which are not enough to give him any chance of success."</p> + +<p>"Very true, sir. I hear that the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> are coming from the fort for +the plank and flour."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-morrow, if there is not so much wind as there is to-day; it +blows very fresh. Where is John?"</p> + +<p>"I left him with the Strawberry, sir; they were busy with the sugar."</p> + +<p>"By the by, how much have you got, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"About three or four hundred pounds, sir, as near as I can reckon; quite +as much as madam will require."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I should think so; now we shall have preserves of all sorts and +the fruit for nothing; the wild raspberries are nearly ripe, and so are +the cherries; my cousins want John to help to gather them."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I dare say he will do so, although I believe that he would +rather do any thing else. He said he was going to fish this morning."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>"The water is too rough, and he will not be able to manage the punt by +himself."</p> + +<p>"Then that's the very reason why he'll go out," replied Malachi; "he +don't like easy jobs like picking raspberries. Is it true, Mr. Alfred, +that we are to have some more settlers come here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe so; my father is very anxious to have them; he thinks it +will be a great security, and he has offered very advantageous terms; +you won't much like that, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I dare say you may think so, but it is not the case; if any +one had told me, two years ago, that I could have remained here, I would +have said it was impossible, but we are all creatures of habit. I had +been so used to my own company for so long a time, that when I first saw +you I couldn't bear the sight of you; no, not even that of your pretty +cousins, Miss Mary and Emma, although, Heaven knows, they might tame a +savage; but now, sir, I feel quite changed; I have first borne with +company, because I fancied the boy, and then I felt no dislike to it, +and now I like it. I believe that in my old age I am coming back to my +feelings as a boy, and I think very often of my father's farm, and the +little village that was close to it; and then I often fancy that I +should like to see a village rise up here, and a church stand up there +upon the mount; I think I should like to live on till I saw a church +built and God worshiped as He ought to be."</p> + +<p>"This is indeed a change, Malachi; well, I hope you will see a church on +the mount, and live many years afterward to be present at the weddings +and christenings."</p> + +<p>"As it pleases God, sir. There's one thing, Mr. Alfred, that has given +me great content, and more than any thing, perhaps, reconciled me to my +new way of living; and that is, that the Strawberry, by the blessing of +God and the labor of your mother and cousins, has become a good +Christian; you don't know how pleased I am at that."</p> + +<p>"She's an excellent little creature, Malachi; every one is fond of her, +and I believe Martin is very strongly attached to her."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>"Yes, sir, she's a good wife, for she never uses her tongue, and obeys +her husband in all things. I think Martin has now become quite steady, +and you might send him to Montreal, or any where else, without fear of +his getting into the prison for making a disturbance.—I see that a bear +has been over into the maize-field last night."</p> + +<p>"What! did he climb the snake-fence?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, they climb any thing; but I have got his tracks, and this +night I think that I shall get hold of him, for I shall lay a trap for +him."</p> + +<p>Malachi and Alfred continued to work for two or three hours, when they +were summoned by Emma to go in to dinner. "I can not find John," said +Emma, as they walked home; "Strawberry says that he left her some time +back, and went to fish; have you seen him pass by the river's side?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alfred; "but, Malachi, you said that he was going to fish +in the punt, did you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you see the punt on the beach, Emma?"</p> + +<p>"No, I do not," replied Emma; "but it may be behind the point."</p> + +<p>"Nor can I; I hope he has not been carried away by the wind, for it +blows very hard; I'll run down, and see if he is there."</p> + +<p>Alfred ran down to the beach; the punt was gone from the shore, and +after looking for some time to leeward, which was to the eastward, in +the direction of the rapids, Alfred thought that he perceived something +like a boat at a distance of three or four miles; but the water of the +lake was much ruffled by the strong wind, and it was not easy to +distinguish.</p> + +<p>Alfred hastened back, and said to Emma, "I really am afraid that John is +adrift. I think I see the boat, but am not sure. Emma, go in quietly and +bring out my telescope, which is over my bed-place. Do not let them see +you, or they will be asking questions, and your aunt may be alarmed."</p> + +<p>Emma went to the house, and soon returned with the telescope. Alfred and +Malachi then went down to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> beach, and the former distinctly made out +that what he had seen was the punt adrift, with John in it.</p> + +<p>"Now, what is to be done?" said Alfred. "I must take a horse, and ride +off to the fort, for if they do not see him before he passes, he may not +be picked up."</p> + +<p>"If he once gets into the rapids, sir," said Malachi, "he will be in +great danger; for he may be borne down upon one of the rocks, and upset +in a minute."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but he is some way from them yet," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Very true, sir; but with this strong wind right down to them, and +helping the current, he will soon be there. There is no time to be +lost."</p> + +<p>"No; but I'll go in to dinner, and as soon as I have taken a mouthful, +just to avoid creating any alarm, I will slip out, and ride to the fort +as fast as I can."</p> + +<p>"Just so; you will be there in good time, for he is now three miles +above the fort; indeed, he can not well pass it without their seeing +him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he can, now that the water is so rough," replied Alfred; +"recollect that they are soldiers in the fort, and not sailors, who are +accustomed to look on the water. A piece of drift timber and a punt is +much the same to their eyes. Come, let us in to dinner."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I'll follow you," replied Malachi; "but, before I come in +I'll catch the horse and saddle him for you. You can tell Miss Emma to +hold her tongue about it."</p> + +<p>Alfred rejoined Emma, whom he cautioned, and then they went in to their +dinner.</p> + +<p>"Where's John?" said Mr. Campbell; "he promised me some lake fish for +dinner, and has never brought them in; so you will not have such good +fare as I expected."</p> + +<p>"And where's Malachi?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I dare say he and John are out together somewhere," observed Henry, +who, with Martin, had come in before Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Well, he will lose his dinner," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"That's what I can not afford to do, mother," said Alfred; "I am very +hungry, and I have not more than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> five minutes to spare, for the seed +must be put in to-night."</p> + +<p>"I thought Malachi was with you, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"So he was, father," replied Alfred; "but he left me. Now, mother, +please to give me my dinner."</p> + +<p>Alfred ate fast, and then rose from the table, and went away from the +house. The horse was all ready, and he mounted and rode off for the +fort, telling Malachi that his father and mother thought John was with +him; and that, therefore, he had better not go in to dinner, but keep +out of the way.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that will be best, and then they can ask no questions. Be +quick, sir, for I am not at all easy about the boy."</p> + +<p>Their plans, however, to conceal the danger of John did not succeed; for +Mrs. Campbell, after the loss of poor little Percival, had become more +than ever solicitous about John, and, a minute or two after Alfred had +left the house, she rose from the table, and went to the door, to see if +she could perceive Malachi and John coming in. As it happened, Alfred +had just set off in a gallop, and she saw him, as well as Malachi +standing by himself and watching Alfred's departure. The very +circumstance of Alfred's mysterious departure alarmed her. He had never +said that he was going to the fort, and that John was not with Malachi +was certain. She went into the cottage, and, sinking back in her chair, +exclaimed—"Some accident has happened to John!"</p> + +<p>"Why should you say so, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it," replied Mrs. Campbell, bursting into tears. "Alfred is +riding away to the fort. Malachi is standing by himself outside. What +can it be?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell and all the others ran out immediately, except Mary +Percival, who went to Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Campbell beckoned to Emma, and +from her obtained the real state of the case.</p> + +<p>"It will be better to tell her at once," said Mr. Campbell, who then +went to his wife, telling her that John was adrift, and that Alfred had +ridden to the fort to pick him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> up in one of the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, but there +was no danger to be apprehended.</p> + +<p>"Why should they conceal it, if there was no danger, Campbell?" replied +his wife. "Yes; there must be danger now the water is so rough. My +child, am I to lose you as well as my poor Percival!" continued Mrs. +Campbell, again sobbing.</p> + +<p>Every attempt was made to console her and assuage her fears, but with +indifferent success, and the afternoon of this day was passed in great +concern by all, and in an extreme state of nervous anxiety on the part +of Mrs. Campbell. Toward the evening, Alfred was seen returning on +horseback at full speed. The whole of the family were out watching his +arrival, with beating hearts; poor Mrs. Campbell in almost a fainting +state. Alfred perceived them long before he had crossed the prairie, and +waved his hat in token of good tidings.</p> + +<p>"All's well, depend upon it, my dear," said Mr. Campbell. "Alfred would +not wave his hat if there was any disaster."</p> + +<p>"I must have it from his own mouth," said Mrs. Campbell, almost +breathless.</p> + +<p>"Safe?" cried out Martin to Alfred, as he approached.</p> + +<p>"Safe, quite safe!" cried Alfred, in return.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" cried Mrs. Campbell, in a low voice, clasping her hands +in gratitude.</p> + +<p>Alfred leaped off his saddle, and hastened to communicate the news. +John, trusting too much to his own powers, had gone out in the punt, and +soon found out that he could not manage it in so strong a wind. He +attempted to get back to the beach, but was unsuccessful, and had, as we +have said, been carried away by the wind and current down toward the +rapids; but it so happened, that before Alfred had arrived at the fort, +Captain Sinclair had observed the punt adrift, and, by the aid of a +telescope, ascertained that John was in it, exerting himself very +vigorously, but to no purpose. Captain Sinclair, having reported to the +commandant and obtained permission, had launched one of the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, +manned by the soldiers, and had brought John and the punt on shore, +about four miles below the fort, and not until they had arrived in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> the +strong current of the rapids, which in another hour would have, in all +probability, proved fatal. Alfred, from the fort, had seen Captain +Sinclair gain the shore, with John and the punt in tow, and, as soon as +he was satisfied of his brother's safety, had ridden back as fast as he +could, to communicate it. This intelligence gave them all great delight, +and now that they knew that John was safe, they waited his return with +patience. Captain Sinclair arrived, with John behind him, on horseback, +about two hours afterward, and was gladly welcomed.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Captain Sinclair, we are under great obligations to you. Had +you not been so active, the boy might have been lost," said Mrs. +Campbell. "Accept my best thanks."</p> + +<p>"And mine," said Mary, extending her hand to him.</p> + +<p>"John, you have frightened me very much," said Mrs. Campbell; "how could +you be so imprudent as to go on the lake in such a high wind? See, what +a narrow escape you have had."</p> + +<p>"I should have been at Montreal to-morrow morning," said John, laughing.</p> + +<p>"No, never; you would have been upset in the rapids long before you +could get to Montreal."</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, I can swim," replied John.</p> + +<p>"You naughty boy, nothing will make you afraid."</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am, it's a good fault, that of having confidence in yourself, +so don't check it too much," replied Malachi. "It saves many a man who +would otherwise be lost."</p> + +<p>"That's very true, Malachi," observed Alfred; "so, now that he is safe +back, we won't scold John any more. He will know better than to go out +in such rough weather again."</p> + +<p>"To be sure I shall," said John; "I don't <em>want</em> to go down the rapids."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," replied Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair remained with them that night. Before daylight, the +family were alarmed by the report of a gun, and it was immediately +supposed that some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> attack had been made on the lodge occupied by +Malachi, Martin, and his wife. Captain Sinclair, Alfred, and John sprang +out of bed, and were clothed in a minute. As soon as they had armed +themselves, they opened the door cautiously, and, looking well round, +went through the passage to the sheep-fold where the lodge was built. +Every thing, however, appeared to be quiet, and Alfred knocked at the +door. Malachi answered to the inquiry, "What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"We heard the report of a gun close to the house just now, and we +thought something might have happened."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Malachi, laughing, "is that all? Then you may all go to bed +again. It's my trap for the bear—nothing more. I forgot to tell you +last night."</p> + +<p>"Well, as we are up, we may as well go and see," said Alfred; "the day +is breaking."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I am ready," said Malachi, coming out with his deer-skin +jacket in one hand and his rifle in the other.</p> + +<p>They walked to the maize-field on the other side of the river, and found +that the trap had been successful, for a large bear lay dead at the foot +of the snake-fence.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I've got him," said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"But what was the trap?" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"You see, sir, I tracked the brute over the rails by his broad +foot-mark, and as I knew he would come the same way, I fixed the rifle +with a wire to the trigger, so that, as he climbed up, he must touch the +wire with his fore-paws, and the muzzle, pointed a little downward, +would then about reach his heart when the gun went off. You see, sir, it +has happened just as I wished it, and there's another good skin for +Montreal."</p> + +<p>"It is a she-bear," said Martin, who had joined them, "and she has cubs; +they can't be far off."</p> + +<p>"That's true," replied Malachi; "so now you had better all go back +again. Martin and I will hide, and I'll answer for it, in an hour, we +will bring the cubs home with us."</p> + +<p>The rest of the party returned to the house. The Strawberry had already +made known to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell the cause of the report. About an +hour before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> breakfast, Malachi and Martin came in, each with a cub of a +few weeks old. The little animals had come in the track of the mother in +search of her, and were pawing the dead body, as if trying to awaken +her, when Malachi and Martin secured them.</p> + +<p>"What a charming pet," said Emma; "I will rear it for myself."</p> + +<p>"And I'll have the other," said John.</p> + +<p>No objection was raised to this, except that Mr. Campbell observed, that +if they became troublesome as they grew up, they must be parted with, +which was agreed to. Emma and John took possession of their pets, and +fed them with milk, and in a few days they became very tame; one being +chained up near the house, and the other at Malachi's lodge. They soon +grew very playful and very amusing little animals, and the dogs became +used to them, and never attempted to hurt them; indeed, very often Oscar +and the bear would be seen rolling about together, the best friends in +the world. But in a few months they became too large for pets, and too +troublesome, so one was dispatched by a <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateau</span> going to Montreal, as a +present to Mr. Emmerson, and the other was taken to the fort by Captain +Sinclair, and became a great favorite of the soldiers.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + + +<p>Captain Sinclair was now very constantly at the house, for in the summer +time the commandant allowed much more liberty to the officers. Although +the detention of the Young Otter and the cause of his being detained, +had been made known to the Angry Snake, weeks passed away, and yet there +appeared no intention on the part of the chief to redeem his young +warrior by producing Percival. Every day an overture on his part was +expected, but none came, and those who were in the secret were in a +continual state of suspense and anxiety. One thing had been ascertained, +which was, that the Indian fired at by John had been killed, and this +occasioned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> much fear on the part of Malachi and Martin, that the Angry +Snake would revenge the death upon young Percival. This knowledge of the +Indian feeling, however, they kept to themselves.</p> + +<p>Toward the close of the summer they had an arrival of letters and +newspapers, both from England and Montreal. There was nothing peculiarly +interesting in the intelligence from England, although the newspapers +were, as usual, read with great avidity. One paragraph met the eye of +Henry, which he immediately communicated, observing at the time that +they always obtained news of Mr. Douglas Campbell on every fresh +arrival. The paragraph was as follows:—"The Oxley hounds had a splendid +run on Friday last;" after describing the country they passed through, +the paragraph ended with, "We regret to say that Mr. Douglas Campbell, +of Wexton Hall, received a heavy fall from his horse, in clearing a wide +brook. He is, however, we understand, doing well." The letters from +Montreal, were, however, important. They communicated the immediate +departure from that city of four families of emigrants, who had accepted +the terms offered by Mr. Emmerson, and were coming to settle upon Mr. +Campbell's property. They also stated that the purchase of the other six +hundred acres of contiguous land had been completed, and sent government +receipts for the purchase-money.</p> + +<p>The news contained in this letter induced Mr. Campbell to send a message +to the commandant of the fort, by Captain Sinclair, acquainting him with +the expected arrival of the emigrant families, and requesting to know +whether he would allow a party of soldiers to assist in raising the +cottages necessary for their reception, and begging the loan of two or +three tents to accommodate them upon their arrival, until their cottages +should be built. The reply of the commandant was favorable, and now all +was bustle and activity, that, if possible, the buildings might be in +forwardness previous to harvest time, when they would all have ample +occupation. Indeed, as the hay harvest was just coming on, without +assistance from the fort they never could have got through the work +previous to the winter setting in, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> it would have been very +inconvenient to have had to receive any of the emigrants into their own +house.</p> + +<p>The sites of the four cottages, or log huts, were soon selected; they +were each of them nearly half a mile from Mr. Campbell's house, and +while some of the party, assisted by a portion of the soldiers, were +getting in the hay, the others, with another portion, were cutting down +the trees, and building up the cottages. In a fortnight after they had +commenced, the emigrants arrived, and were housed in the tents prepared +for them; and as their labor was now added to that of the others, in a +short time every thing was well in advance. The agreement made by Mr. +Campbell was, that the emigrants should each receive fifty acres of +land, after they had cleared for him a similar quantity; but there were +many other conditions, relative to food and supply of stock to the +emigrant families, which are not worth the while to dwell upon. It is +sufficient to say that Mr. Campbell, with his former purchases, retained +about 600 acres, which he considered quite sufficient for his farm, +which was all in a ring fence, and with the advantage of bordering on +the lake. The fire had cleared a great deal of the new land, so that it +required little trouble for his own people to get it into a fit state +for the first crop.</p> + +<p>While the emigrants and soldiers were hard at work, the Colonel paid a +visit to Mr. Campbell to settle his account with him, and handed over a +bill upon government for the planks, flour, etc., supplied to the fort.</p> + +<p>"I assure you, Mr. Campbell, I have great pleasure," said the Colonel, +"in giving you every assistance, and I render it the more readily as I +am authorized by the Governor so to do. Your arrival and settling here +has proved very advantageous; for your supplying the fort has saved the +government a great deal of money, at the same time that it has been +profitable to you, and enabled you to get rid of your crops without +sending them down so far as Montreal; which would have been as serious +an expense to you, as getting the provisions from Montreal has proved to +us. You may keep the fatigue party of soldiers upon the same terms as +before, as long as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> they may prove useful to you, provided they return +to the fort by the coming of winter."</p> + +<p>"Then I will, if you please, retain them for getting in the harvest; we +have so much to do that I shall be most happy to pay for their +assistance."</p> + +<p>I have said that there were four families of emigrants, and now I will +let my readers know a little more about them.</p> + +<p>The first family was a man and his wife of the name of Harvey; they had +two sons of fourteen and fifteen, and a daughter of eighteen years of +age. This man had been a small farmer, and by his industry was gaining +an honest livelihood, and putting by some money, when his eldest son, +who was at the time about twenty years old, fell into bad company, and +was always to be seen at the alehouses or at the fairs, losing his time +and losing his money. The father, whose ancestors had resided for many +generations on the same spot, and had always been, as long as they could +trace back, small farmers like himself, and who was proud of only one +thing, which was that his family had been noted for honesty and upright +dealing, did all he could to reclaim him, but in vain. At last the son +was guilty of a burglary, tried, convicted, and transported for life. +The disgrace had such an effect upon the father, that he never held up +his head afterward; he was ashamed to be seen in the parish, and at last +he resolved to emigrate to a new country where what had happened would +not be known.</p> + +<p>He accordingly sold off every thing, and came to Canada; but by the time +that he had arrived in the country, and paid all his expenses, he had +little money left, and when he heard from Mr. Emmerson the terms offered +by Mr. Campbell, he gladly accepted them. The wife, his two sons and his +daughter, who came with him, were as industrious and as respectable as +himself.</p> + +<p>The second family, of the name of Graves, consisted of a man and his +wife, and only one son, a young man grown up; but the wife's two sisters +were with them. He had come from Buckinghamshire, and had been +accustomed to a dairy farm.</p> + +<p>The third family was a very numerous one, with a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> and his wife, of +the name of Jackson; these had been farmers and market-gardeners near +London; and had brought out some money with them: but, as I have +mentioned, they had a very large family, most of them too young to be +very useful for a few years. They had seven children: a girl of +eighteen, two boys of twelve and thirteen, then three little girls, and +a boy an infant. Jackson had money enough to purchase a farm, but being +a very prudent man, and reflecting that he might not succeed at first, +and that his large family would run away with all his means, he decided +upon accepting the terms proposed by Mr. Campbell.</p> + +<p>The fourth and last of the emigrant families was a young couple of the +name of Meredith. The husband was the son of a farmer in Shropshire, who +had died, and divided his property between his three sons: two of them +remained upon the farm and paid the youngest brother his proportion in +money, who, being of a speculative turn, resolved to come to Canada, and +try his fortune. He married just before he came out, and was not as yet +encumbered with any family; he was a fine young man, well educated, and +his wife a very clever, pretty young woman.</p> + +<p>Thus there was an addition of twenty-one souls to the population of Mr. +Campbell's settlement, which with their own ten made a total of +thirty-one people, out of whom they reckoned that thirteen were capable +of bearing arms, and defending them from any attack of the Indians.</p> + +<p>Before harvest time, the cottages were all built, and the emigrants were +busy felling round their new habitations, to lay up fire-wood for the +winter, and clearing away a spot for a garden, and for planting potatoes +in the following spring. The harvest being ripe again, gave them all +full employment; the corn was got in with great expedition by the united +labor of the soldiers and emigrants, when the former, having completed +their work, returned to the fort, and the Campbells, with the addition +to their colony, were now left alone. Visiting the emigrants in their +own cottages, and making acquaintance with the children, was now a great +source of amusement to the Miss Percivals. Various plans were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> started +relative to establishing a Sunday-school and many other useful +arrangements; one, however, took place immediately, which was, that +divine service was performed by Mr. Campbell in his own house, and was +attended by all the emigrants every Sunday. Mr. Campbell had every +reason to be pleased with their conduct up to the present time; they all +appeared willing, never murmured or complained at any task allotted to +them, and were satisfied with Mr. Campbell's arrangements relative to +supplies. Parties were now again formed for the chase; Meredith and +young Graves proved to be good woodsmen and capital shots with the +rifle, so that now they had enough to send out a party on alternate +days, while one or two of the others fished all the day and salted down +as fast as they caught, that there might be a full supply for the +winter.</p> + +<p>But although Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals, as well as +the major part of the family, were fully satisfied and happy in their +future prospects, there were four who were in a state of great anxiety +and suspense. These were Alfred, Malachi, Martin, and the Strawberry, +who, being acquainted with the existence of young Percival, found their +secret a source of great annoyance, now that, notwithstanding the +capture and detention of the Young Otter, no advance appeared to be made +for his exchange, nor any signs of any overture on the part of the Angry +Snake. Captain Sinclair, who was usually at the farm twice during the +week, was also much fretted at finding that every time Malachi and +Alfred had no more information to give him than he had to impart to +them. They hardly knew how to act; to let a second winter pass away +without attempting to recover the boy, appeared to them to be delaying +too long, and yet to communicate intelligence which might only end in +bitter disappointment, seemed unadvisable; for the Indian chief, out of +revenge, might have killed the boy, and then the grief of the father and +mother would be more intense than before. It would be opening a wound to +no purpose. This question was frequently canvassed by Alfred and Captain +Sinclair, but an end was put to all their debates on the subject by an +unexpected occurrence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> Mary Percival had one morning gone down to a +place called the Cedar Swamp, about half a mile from the house to the +westward, near to the shore of the lake, to pick cranberries for +preserving. One of the little emigrant girls, Martha Jackson, was with +her; when one basket was full, Mary sent it home by the little girl, +with directions to come back immediately. The girl did so, but on her +return to the Cedar Swamp, Mary Percival was not to be seen. The basket +which she had retained with her was lying with all the cranberries upset +out of it on a hill by the side of the swamp. The little girl remained +for a quarter of an hour, calling out Miss Percival's name, but not +receiving any answer, she became frightened, imagining that some wild +beast had attacked her; and she ran back as fast as she could to the +house, acquainting Mr. and Mrs. Campbell with what had happened. Martin +and Alfred were at the mill; Malachi, fortunately, was at his own lodge, +and Strawberry ran for him, told him what the girl had reported, and +having done so, she looked at Malachi, and said "Angry Snake."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Strawberry, that is the case, I have no doubt," replied Malachi; +"but not a word at present; I knew he would be at something, but I did +not think that he dared do that either; however, we shall see. Go back +to the house, and tell master and misses that I have gone down to the +Cedar Swamp, and will return as soon as possible, and do you follow me +as fast as you can, for your eyes are younger than mine, and I shall +want the use of them: tell them not to send any body else, it will do +harm instead of good, for they will trample the ground, and we may lose +the track."</p> + +<p>Malachi caught up his rifle, examined the priming, and set off in the +direction of the swamp, while the Strawberry returned to the house to +give his message to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. Leaving Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, who were in a great state of alarm, and had sent the little +girl, Martha Jackson, to summon Alfred and Martin (for John and Henry +were out in the woods after the cattle), the Strawberry went down to the +Cedar Swamp to join Malachi, whom she found standing still, leaning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> on +his rifle, near the basket which had contained the cranberries.</p> + +<p>"Now, Strawberry, we must find out how many of them there were, and +which way they have gone," said Malachi, in the Indian tongue.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Strawberry, pointing to a mark on the short grass, which +never could have attracted the observation of one unused to an Indian +life.</p> + +<p>"I see, child; I see that and two more, but we can not tell much as yet; +let us follow up the trail till we come to some spot where we may read +the print better. That's her foot," continued Malachi, after they had +proceeded two or three yards. "The sole of a shoe cuts the grass sharper +than a moccasin. We have no easy task just now, and if the others come, +they may prevent us from finding the track altogether."</p> + +<p>"Here, again," said Strawberry, stooping close to the short, dry grass.</p> + +<p>"Yes; you're right, child," replied Malachi. "Let us once follow it to +the bottom of this hill, and then we shall do better."</p> + +<p>By the closest inspection and minutest search, Malachi and the +Strawberry continued to follow the almost imperceptible track till they +arrived at the bottom of the hill, about a hundred yards from where they +started. It had become more difficult, as the print of Mary's foot, +which was more easily perceptible than the others, had served them for a +few yards; after which it was no more to be distinguished, and it was +evident that she had been lifted up from the ground. This satisfied them +that she had been carried off. When they arrived at the bottom of the +hill, they could clearly distinguish the print marks of moccasins, and +by measuring very exactly the breadth and length of the impressions, +made out that they were of two different people. These they continued to +follow till they arrived at the forest, about a quarter of a mile from +the swamp, where they heard the hallooing of Alfred and Martin, to which +Malachi answered, and they soon joined him.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Malachi?"</p> + +<p>"She has been carried off, sir, I've no doubt," replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> Malachi, "by +the Snake. The rascal is determined to have the vantage of us. We have +one prisoner, and he has made two."</p> + +<p>Malachi then explained why he was certain that she had been carried +away, and Martin agreed with him immediately. Alfred then said—"Well, +but now, before we act, let us consult what is best to be done."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," replied Malachi, "the best to do now, at this moment, is +for the Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we can not +obtain more information, and when we have got all we can, we must form a +party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we +will not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a +better eye than any Indian I ever knew, be it man or woman."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are +following up the trail?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a +start; for we must be off in three hours, if possible."</p> + +<p>"Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if +he does not," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd +rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the +whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that +Percival is alive."</p> + +<p>"Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's quite +sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being carried +off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is about +the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by +somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter, +and why we took him."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred; "then I'll leave Martin +here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any +soldiers?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a +couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the +Indian; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the +chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain Sinclair +and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make eight. +That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr. Henry must +stay, and so must Mr. John, because he will not be home before we are +away. I'm sorry for that, as I should have liked him to be with me."</p> + +<p>"It can't be helped," replied Alfred. "Well then, Martin and I will go +back at once; in two hours I will return with Captain Sinclair, if I +possibly can."</p> + +<p>"As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get every thing ready for +the journey, for we must not fire our rifles, if we can help it."</p> + +<p>Alfred hastened away, and was soon followed by Martin, to whom Malachi +had given some directions. Malachi and the Strawberry then continued to +follow the trail, which they traced through the thickest of the wood for +more than an hour, when they came upon a spot where a fire had been +lighted, and the ground trodden down, evidently showing that the parties +had been living there some time.</p> + +<p>"Here was the nest of the whole gang," resumed Malachi, as he looked +round.</p> + +<p>The Strawberry, who had been examining the ground, said—</p> + +<p>"Here is her foot again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; it's clear enough that two of them have carried her off and +brought her here to where the others were waiting for them, and from +here the whole party have made their start. Now we have the new trail to +find, and that they have taken every care to prevent us, I do not +doubt."</p> + +<p>The Strawberry now pointed to a mark near where the fire had been +lighted, and said, "The moccasin of a squaw."</p> + +<p>"Right, then she is with them, so much the better," replied Malachi, +"for, as she sent me that letter, she may serve us still, if she +chooses."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + + +<p>Previous to his starting for the fort, Alfred had a hasty communication +with his father and mother, in which he informed them simply that it was +evident that Mary had been carried off, and that it was the opinion of +Malachi and Martin, that the Angry Snake was the party to be suspected.</p> + +<p>"But what cause could he have?" said Emma, weeping.</p> + +<p>"Merely to get powder and shot as a reward for bringing her back again," +replied Alfred; "so there is not any thing to fear as to her being +ill-treated; but if he has any other reason for what he has done, it is +well known that an Indian always respects a female. But here comes my +horse."</p> + +<p>"But what are you going to do, Alfred?" said Mrs. Campbell, who was in a +state of great agitation.</p> + +<p>"Ride to the fort for assistance, bring Captain Sinclair, and go in +pursuit as fast as we can, mother. Martin will get all ready by my +return, Malachi is following up the trail with Strawberry. But there is +no time to be lost; I shall soon be back."</p> + +<p>Alfred then sprang upon his horse, which Martin had brought to the door, +and galloped away to the fort.</p> + +<p>As it may be supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Emma were in great +distress; this did not, however, prevent them from listening to Martin, +and supplying him with all that he requested, which was salt pork and +other food for their journey, powder and shot for their rifles, etc. +Having specified all that was wanted, Martin then went off to summon +young Graves and Meredith; they were soon found, and when they heard the +intelligence, were ready in a minute for departure. Their rifles and an +extra pair of moccasins each was all that they required for the journey, +and in a few minutes they accompanied Martin to the house. After they +had been occupied for a little time in dividing the various articles +into different packages, that each might carry his proportion, Mr. +Campbell said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Martin, supposing that you and Malachi are correct in your supposition, +where do you think that they will take my poor niece?"</p> + +<p>"Right away to their own wigwams, sir," replied Martin.</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea how far that may be?" said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, I have heard that the Angry Snake's quarters are about +twelve days' journey from this."</p> + +<p>"Twelve days' journey! how far is a journey?"</p> + +<p>"As far as a stout man can walk in a day, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"And will my niece have to walk all the way?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, ma'am; I don't see how it can be otherwise; I don't know of +the Indians having any horses, although they may have."</p> + +<p>"But she can not walk as far as a man," replied Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, and so I suppose they will be twenty days going instead of +twelve."</p> + +<p>"Will they ill-treat or ill-use her, Martin?" said Emma.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, I shouldn't think they would, although they will make her +walk, and will tie her at night when they stop."</p> + +<p>"Poor Mary: what will she suffer?" exclaimed Emma; "and if you do come +up with them, Martin, will they give her up to you?"</p> + +<p>"We shan't ask their leave, miss," replied Martin; "we shall take her."</p> + +<p>"But not without bloodshed, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, certainly not without bloodshed, for either the Indians must +destroy us or we them; if we conquer, not an Indian will be left alive; +and if they master us, it will be about the same thing, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Heaven protect us, but this is dreadful; I was prepared for +difficulties and annoyances when I came out here," exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell; "but not for such trials as these."</p> + +<p>"Never fear but we'll bring her back, ma'am," said Martin; "Malachi is a +better Indian than them all, and he'll circumvent them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean, ma'am, that we will, if possible, fall upon them unawares, and +then we'll have the advantage, for half of them will be killed before +they know that they are attacked; we'll fight them Indian fashion, +ma'am."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell continued her interrogations till Alfred was seen at the +end of the prairie returning at full speed, accompanied by Captain +Sinclair and two other men, also on horseback.</p> + +<p>"Here they come," said Martin; "and they have lost no time, that's +certain."</p> + +<p>"Poor Captain Sinclair? what must be his feelings! I pity him," said +Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>"He must take it coolly, nevertheless," observed Martin; "or he may do +more harm than good."</p> + +<p>Alfred and Captain Sinclair now dismounted: they had brought with them +two of the soldiers who were well used to the woods, and excellent shots +with the rifle. A hurried conversation of a few minutes took place, but +time was too precious, and Alfred, embracing his father and mother, who, +as they shook hands with Captain Sinclair, expressed in a melancholy way +their hopes for their success, the party of seven which had been +collected set off to rejoin Malachi and the Strawberry.</p> + +<p>Malachi and Strawberry had not been idle; the latter had run back to +their lodge and procured a bow and arrows, and since that they had +tracked the footmarks through the forest for more than a mile, when they +had come to a small rivulet which ran through the forest. Here the trail +was lost, at least it was not to be perceived any where on the opposite +side of the rivulet, and it was to be presumed that, to conceal their +trail, the Indians had walked in the water, either up or down, for a +certain distance before they put their feet on the other side; but as it +was near the time that they might expect the arrival of Alfred and the +others, Malachi had returned to the spot where Alfred and Martin had +left them, leaving the Strawberry to walk down and up the side of the +rivulet to recover the trail. As soon as the party joined him, they and +Malachi set off to where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> trail had been lost, and the latter had +left the Strawberry.</p> + +<p>There they waited some time, as the Strawberry was not in sight, and +they took this opportunity of distributing the provisions and ammunition +among them. Captain Sinclair, although his feelings may well be +imagined, was very active in arrangements, and showed that, if his heart +was smitten, his head was clear. The order of the march was settled by +Malachi and him, and as soon as all was arranged, they waited +impatiently for the return of the Indian girl; she came at last, and +informed them that she had recovered the trail about three miles up the +course of the stream, and they all started immediately. As was agreed, +they kept perfect silence, and followed the newly-discovered trail for +about a mile, when, on their arrival at a clear spot in the woods, where +the grass was very short and dry, they were again at fault. They went +over to the other side of this heath, to see if they could again fall in +with it, but after half-an-hour's search, could not discover it, when +they were summoned by a low whistle from the Strawberry, who had +returned to the spot where the trail had been lost.</p> + +<p>"They have turned back again," said the Strawberry, pointing to the +former footmarks; "see, the track of the moccasins is both ways."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said Malachi, after a close examination; "now then, +Strawberry, to find out where they have left the old trail again. I told +you, sir," continued Malachi to Alfred, "that the Strawberry would be +useful; she has the eye of a falcon."</p> + +<p>It was not till another half-hour had elapsed that the spot where they +had left the trail, which, to deceive those who might pursue them, the +Indians had returned upon, was discovered, and then they started again, +and proceeded with caution, led by the Strawberry, until she stopped and +spoke to Malachi in the Indian tongue, pointing at a small twig broken +upon one of the bushes.</p> + +<p>"That's true, let us see if it happens again."</p> + +<p>In a few moments the Strawberry pointed out another.</p> + +<p>"Then all's right," said Malachi, "I said that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> could help us again +if she chose, and so she has. The Indian woman who wrote the letter," +continued Malachi, turning to Captain Sinclair and Alfred, "is our +friend still. See, sir, she has, wherever she has dared to do it without +being seen by the Indians, broken down a small twig as a guide to us. +Now, if she has continued to do this, we shall not have much trouble."</p> + +<p>They continued their course through the woods until the sun went down, +and they could see no longer, having made a journey of about nine miles +from the settlement. They then lay down for the night under a large +tree; the weather was very warm, and they did not light a fire, as they +had some cooked provisions.</p> + +<p>The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, they made a hasty meal, +and resumed their task. The trail was now pretty clear, and was +occasionally verified by the breaking of a twig, as before. This day +they made sixteen miles' journey, and at the close of it they arrived at +the borders of a lake about ten miles long, and from one-and-a-half to +two wide; the trail went right on to the shore of the lake, and then +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Here they must have taken to the water," said Alfred; "but what means +have they had to cross?"</p> + +<p>"That we must discover, somehow or another, sir," replied Malachi, "or +else we shall not find the trail again; perhaps, however, we shall see +to-morrow morning; it is too dark now to attempt to find out, and we may +do more harm than good by tracking down the bank. We must bring to for +the night. There is a high rock there on the beach further up, we had +better go there, as we can light a fire behind the rock without being +discovered by it, supposing the Indians are on the opposite shore; and +to-night we must cook all our provisions if we possibly can, for, depend +upon it, we have traveled faster to-day than they can have done with the +young lady, and if we can once get well on the trail again, we shall +soon be up with them."</p> + +<p>"God grant that we may!" exclaimed Captain Sinclair; "the idea of what +poor Mary must suffer, almost drives me mad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, she will be terribly foot-sore, I have no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> doubt," replied +Malachi, "but the Indians will not treat her ill, depend upon it."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair sighed, but made no reply.</p> + +<p>As soon as they arrived at the mass of rock which Malachi had pointed +out, they all commenced collecting fire-wood, and the Strawberry in a +few minutes had a sufficient fire for their purpose. They had not any +cooking utensils with them, but the pork was cut in slices, and stuck +upon the ends of small sticks round the fire, until it was sufficiently +cooked, and then it was packed up again in parcels, with the exception +of what was retained for their supper. They had finished their meal, and +were sitting round the embers of the fire, conversing, and calculating +the probabilities as to their overtaking the Indians, when Martin sprang +up, with his rifle ready to bring to his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" said Alfred in a low tone, as Martin held up his finger as +a sign for silence.</p> + +<p>"There's somebody coming this way—he is behind that large tree," said +Martin; "I see his head now, but it is too dark to make out who it may +be."</p> + +<p>As Martin said this, a low and singular sort of whistle between the +teeth was heard, upon which the Strawberry gently put down Martin's +rifle with her hand, saying,</p> + +<p>"It is John."</p> + +<p>"John! impossible," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"It is," replied Strawberry. "I know well that whistle. I go to fetch +him. I have no fear."</p> + +<p>Strawberry stepped out from the group, and went up to the tree, calling +John softly by name, and in a few seconds afterward returned, leading +John by the hand, who, without saying a word, quietly seated himself +down by the fire.</p> + +<p>"Well, John, how did you come here?" exclaimed Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Followed trail," replied John.</p> + +<p>"But how—when did you leave home?"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday," replied John, "when I came back."</p> + +<p>"But do your father and mother know that you come?" said Captain +Sinclair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>"I met old Graves, and told him," replied John. "Have you any meat?"</p> + +<p>"The boy has had nothing since he left, I'll answer for it," said +Martin, as the Strawberry handed some of the pork to John, "have you, +John?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied John, with his mouth full.</p> + +<p>"Let him eat," said Malachi, "it's long for a lad to be two days without +food, for I'll answer he left as soon as he heard we were gone, and did +not wait for yesterday's supper. Indeed he must have done so, for he +must have followed the trail some time yesterday to be up with us +to-night, so let him eat in quiet."</p> + +<p>"What surprises me, Malachi, is how he could have found his way to us."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I do confess that I'm as much surprised almost as I am +pleased," replied Malachi. "It is really a great feat for a lad to +accomplish all by himself, and I am proud of him for having done it; but +from the first I saw what a capital woodsman he would make, and he has +not disappointed me."</p> + +<p>"There are not many who would have been able to do it, that's certain," +said Martin; "I wonder as much as you do, Mr. Alfred, how he could have +done it—but he has the gift."</p> + +<p>"But suppose he had not come up with us, how would he have lived in +these woods? It's a mercy that he has fallen in with us," said Captain +Sinclair.</p> + +<p>John slapped the barrel of his rifle, which was lying by him, and which +Captain Sinclair had not perceived.</p> + +<p>"You don't think that John would come into the woods without his rifle, +sir, do you?" said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"I did not perceive that he had it with him," said Captain Sinclair, +"but I certainly ought to have known John better."</p> + +<p>John having finished his supper, they all lay down to rest, one keeping +watch that they might not be surprised.</p> + +<p>At daylight they made their breakfast, and then went down again to the +borders of the lake, where the trail had been lost. After a long +examination, Malachi called the Strawberry, and pointing to the edge of +the water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> asked her to look there. The Strawberry did so, and at last +decided that there was the mark of the bottom of a canoe which had been +grounded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I thought so," said Malachi. "They have had their canoe all ready, +and have crossed the water; now, we must walk quite round the lake to +discover the trail again, and that will give them half a day's start of +us."</p> + +<p>They immediately set off coasting the shore of the lake, until they +arrived at the other side, carefully examining the ground as they went. +This took them till noon, by which time they had arrived at that part of +the lake which was opposite to the large rock behind which they had +kindled their fire the night before; but no traces were to be perceived.</p> + +<p>"They have not crossed over in a straight line," said Captain Sinclair, +"that is evident; we must now try more to the northward."</p> + +<p>This they did; and at last discovered that the canoe had crossed over to +the north point of the lake, having coasted along the eastern shore the +whole way. The spot of landing was very evident, and for some distance +they could trace where the canoe had been hauled up. It was now late in +the afternoon, and it became a question whether they should follow the +trail, or discover the place of concealment of the canoe, as it might be +advantageous to know where it was when they returned. It was decided +that they should first discover the canoe, and this was not done till +after a search of two hours, when they found it concealed in the bushes, +about one mile from the lake. They then followed the trail about two +miles; the twigs had been bent and broken, as before, which was a great +help to them, but the night was now closing in. Having arrived at a +clear knoll, they took up their quarters under the trees, and retired to +rest. At daybreak they again started; and, after two hours' walk, had to +track across a small prairie, which gave them some trouble, but they +succeeded in finding the trail on their arrival at the wood on the +opposite side, and then they made a very rapid progress, for the twigs +were now more frequently broken and bent than before. During this day, +with the bow and arrows brought by the Strawberry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> Martin had procured +them two wild turkeys, which were very acceptable, as their provisions +would not last more than seven or eight days longer, and it was +impossible to say how far they would have to travel. It was not far from +dark when the quick ears of the Strawberry were attracted by a noise +like that of a person breathing heavily. She at last pointed with her +finger to a bush; they advanced cautiously, and on the other side of it +they found an Indian woman lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. They +raised her up, and discovered that it was the Indian whom they had cured +of the sprained ankle, and who, they presumed, had been then discovered +breaking the twigs that they might follow the trail, for, on examination +they found that she had received a heavy blow on the head with a +tomahawk; but, fortunately, it had glanced sidewise, and not entered +into the brain. She was not sensible, however, at the time that they +discovered her, for she had lost a great deal of blood. They stopped the +effusion of blood with bandages torn from their linen, and poured some +water down her throat; it was now dark, and it was not possible to +proceed any further that night. The Strawberry went into the woods and +collected some herbs, with which she dressed the wound, and having made +the poor Indian as comfortable as they could, they again lay down to +rest; but not until Malachi had said to Alfred—</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt, sir, but that the Indians have discovered this woman +was marking the trail for us, and that they have tomahawked her for so +doing, and have left her for dead. I think myself that the wound, +although it is a very ugly one, is not dangerous, and so says the +Strawberry. However, to-morrow will decide the point; if she is not +sensible then, it will be of no use waiting, but we must go on as fast +as we can."</p> + +<p>When they awoke the next morning they found the Strawberry sitting by +the Indian woman, who was now quite sensible and collected, although +very weak and exhausted. Malachi and Martin went to her, and had a long +conversation with her at intervals. Malachi had been right in his +supposition; the Angry Snake had discovered her in the act of bending a +twig, and had struck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> her down with his tomahawk. They gained from her +the following information. The Angry Snake, irritated at the detention +of the Young Otter, and resolved to have another hostage in lieu of him, +had carried off Mary Percival. He had six Indians with him, which were +the whole of his grown-up warriors. They were now but one day's journey +ahead of them, as Miss Percival was very sore on her feet, and they +could not get her along, but that in every other respect she had been +well treated. That the Indians were not going to their lodges in a +direct course, but by a circuitous route, which would make a difference +of at least six or seven days; and that they did this that they might +not be seen by some other tribes who were located in their direct route, +and who might give information. She said that it was she who had written +the Indian letter which Malachi had received the autumn before, and that +she had done it because she had been so kindly treated by Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, when she had been found in the forest with her ankle sprained. +That Percival was at the Indian lodges, quite well when they left, and +that if the Angry Snake did not receive a large quantity of powder and +shot and a great many rifles in exchange for him, it was his intention +to adopt the boy, as he was very partial to him. On being asked if the +boy was happy, she replied that he was not at first, but now he was +almost an Indian; that he was seldom permitted to leave the lodges, and +never unless accompanied by the Angry Snake. In answer to their +questions as to the direction and distance to the lodges, she said that +they were about seven days' journey by the straight road; but that the +party with Miss Percival would not arrive there in less than fifteen +days, if so soon, as she was every day less able to travel. Having +obtained all this information, a council was held, and Malachi spoke +first, having been requested so to do.</p> + +<p>"My opinion is this," said Malachi, "that we can do no better than +remain here at present, and wait till the woman is sufficiently +recovered to travel, and show us the direct road to the lodges. In two +or three days she will probably be well enough to go with us, and then +we will take the direct road, and be there before them. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> knowledge +of the place and the paths will enable us to lay an ambush for them, and +to rescue the young lady without much danger to ourselves. They will +have no idea of falling in with us, for they of course imagine the woman +is dead; a tomahawk seldom fails."</p> + +<p>After a long parley, the advice of Malachi was considered the most +judicious, and a further conversation with the Indian woman confirmed +them in their resolution. As they had no fear of the Indians discovering +that they were on their trail, Martin and Alfred went out in pursuit of +game for provisions, while the others raised up a large hut with +branches of trees, for the accommodation of the whole party. In the +evening Martin and Alfred returned, carrying a fine buck between them. +The fire was lighted, and very soon all were busy cooking and eating. +The Indian woman also begged for something to eat, and her recovery was +now no longer considered doubtful.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to have to wait in this +manner, but there was no help for it. He was satisfied that it was the +most prudent course, and therefore raised no objection. Alfred too was +uneasy at the delay, as he was aware how anxious his father and mother +would be during the whole time of their absence. They were glad, +however, to find that the Indian woman recovered rapidly, and on the +fifth day of their taking up their abode in the forest, she said that +she was able to travel if they walked slow. It was therefore agreed that +on the sixth day they should start again, and they did so, having saved +their salt provisions, that they might not be compelled to stop, or use +their rifles to procure food. The evening before, they roasted as much +venison as they thought they could consume while it was good, and at +daylight again proceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by the +Indian woman, in a direct course for the lodges of the Indian band under +the Angry Snake.</p> + +<p>As they had now only to proceed as fast as they could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> without tiring +the poor Indian woman, whose head was bound up, and who was still weak +from loss of blood, they made a tolerable day's journey, and halted as +before. Thus they continued their route till the sixth day, when as they +drew up for the night, the Indian stated that they were only three or +four miles from the Indians' lodges, which they sought. Thereupon a +council was held as to how they should proceed, and at last it was +agreed upon that they should be guided by the Indian woman to a spot +where they might be concealed, as near as possible to the lodges, and +that when the party had arrived there, that the woman and Malachi should +go and reconnoiter, to ascertain whether the chief and his band with +Mary Percival had returned or not. The night was passed very +impatiently, and without sleep by most of them, so anxious were they for +the morrow. Long before break of day they again started, advancing with +great caution, and were led by the Indian till they were within one +hundred and fifty yards of the lodges, in a thick cluster of young +spruce, which completely secured them from discovery. Shortly afterward +Malachi and the Indian woman, creeping on all fours, disappeared in the +surrounding brush wood, that they might, if possible, gain more +intelligence from listening. In the meantime, the party had their eyes +on the lodges, waiting to see who should come out as soon as the sun +rose, for it was hardly clear daybreak when they arrived at their place +of concealment.</p> + +<p>They had remained there about half an hour, when they perceived an +Indian lad come out of one of the lodges. He was dressed in leggins and +Indian shirt of deer skin, and carried in his hand his bow and arrows. +An eagle's feather was stuck in his hair above the left ear, which +marked him as the son of a chief.</p> + +<p>"That's my brother Percival," said John in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Percival!" replied Alfred, "is it possible?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," whispered the Strawberry, "it is Percival, but don't speak so +loud."</p> + +<p>"Well, they have turned him into a regular Indian," said Alfred; "we +shall have to make a pale face of him again."</p> + +<p>Percival, for he it was, looked round for some time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> and at last +perceiving a crow flying over his head, he drew his bow, and the arrow +brought the bird down at his feet.</p> + +<p>"A capital shot," said Captain Sinclair, "the boy has learned something +at all events. You could not do that, John."</p> + +<p>"No," replied John, "but they don't trust him with a rifle."</p> + +<p>They waited some little time longer, when an Indian woman, and then an +old man, came out, and in about a quarter of an hour afterward, three +more women and an Indian about twenty years old.</p> + +<p>"I think we have the whole force now," said Martin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so too," replied Captain Sinclair. "I wish Malachi would +come back, for I do not think he will find out more than we know +ourselves."</p> + +<p>In about half an hour afterward, Malachi and the Indian woman returned; +they had crept in the brushwood to within fifty yards of the lodges, but +were afraid to go nearer, as the woman said that perhaps the dogs might +give the alarm; for two of them were left at home. The woman stated her +conviction that the party had not come back, and now a council was again +held as to their proceedings. The Indian force was nothing—an old man, +one lad of twenty, and four women. These might be easily captured and +secured, but the question was whether it would be desirable so to do, as +in case one should by any means escape, information of their arrival +might be conveyed to the absent party, and induce them not to come home +with Mary Percival. This question was debated in a low tone between +Malachi, Captain Sinclair, and Alfred. At last John interrupted them by +saying, "They are going out to hunt, the old and the young Indian and +Percival—they have all their bows and arrows."</p> + +<p>"The boy is right," said Malachi. "Well, I consider this to decide the +question. We can now capture the men without the women knowing any thing +about it. They will not expect them home till the evening, and even if +they do not come, they will not be surprised or alarmed; so now we had +better let them go some way,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> and then follow them. If we secure them, +we can then decide what to do about the women."</p> + +<p>This was agreed upon, and Malachi explained their intentions to the +Indian woman, who approved of them, but said, "The Old Raven (referring +to the old Indian) is very cunning; you must be careful."</p> + +<p>The party remained in their place of concealment for another quarter of +an hour, till the two Indians and Percival had quitted the open space +before the lodges, and had entered the woods. They then followed in a +parallel direction, Malachi and John going ahead: Martin and Alfred +following so as to keep them in sight, and the remainder of the party at +about the same distance behind Martin and Alfred. They continued in this +manner their course through the woods for more than an hour, when a herd +of deer darted past Malachi and John. They immediately stopped, and +crouched, to hide themselves. Martin and Alfred perceiving this, +followed their example, and the rest of the party behind, at the motion +of the Strawberry, did the same. Hardly had they done so, when one of +the herd, which had been pierced by an arrow, followed in the direction +of the rest, and after a few bounds fell to the earth. A minute or two +afterward the hunters made their appearance, and stood by the expiring +beast, where they remained for a minute or two talking, and then took +out their knives to flay and cut it up. While they were thus employed, +Malachi and John on one side, Alfred and Martin from another direction, +and the rest of the party from a third, were creeping slowly up toward +them; but to surround them completely it was necessary the main party +should divide, and send one or two more to the eastward. Captain +Sinclair dispatched Graves and one of the soldiers, desiring them to +creep very softly till they arrived at a spot he pointed out, and then +to wait for the signal to be given.</p> + +<p>As the parties gradually approached nearer and nearer to the Indians and +Percival, the Old Raven appeared to be uneasy; he looked round and round +him and once or twice laid his ear on the ground; whenever he did this, +they all stopped, and almost held their breaths.</p> + +<p>"The Indian woman says that the Old Raven is suspicious;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> he is sure +that some one is in the woods near him, and she thinks that she had +better go to him," said the Strawberry to Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Let her go," said Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>The Indian rose, and walked up in the direction of the Indians, who +immediately turned to her as she approached. She spoke to them, and +appeared to be telling them how it was that she returned. At all events, +she occupied the attention of the Old Raven till the parties were close +to them, when Malachi arose, and immediately all the others did the +same, and rushed upon them. After a short and useless struggle, they +were secured, but not before the younger Indian had wounded one of the +soldiers, by stabbing him with his knife. The thongs were already fast +round the arms and legs of the Indians, when Percival, who had not been +tied, again attempted to escape, and by the direction of Malachi, he was +bound, as well as the other two.</p> + +<p>As soon as the prisoners were secured, Martin and Graves and the +soldiers employed themselves cutting up the venison and preparing it for +dinner, while the Strawberry and the Indian woman were collecting wood +for a fire. In the meanwhile Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and John were +seated by the prisoners, and directing their attention to Percival, whom +they had been compelled to bind, that he might not make his escape; for +his sojourn of nearly two years in the woods with the Indians, without +seeing the face of a white man, had (as has been invariably proved to be +the fact in every instance where the parties were very young) wholly +obliterated, for the time, his recollections of his former life—so +rapid is our falling off to the savage state. To the questions of Alfred +he returned no reply, and appeared not to understand him.</p> + +<p>"Let me try him, sir," said Malachi, "I will speak to him in the Indian +tongue, he has perhaps forgotten his own. It's wonderful how soon we +return to a state of nature when we are once in the woods."</p> + +<p>Malachi then spoke to Percival in the Indian language; Percival listened +for some time, and at last replied in the same tongue.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>"What does he say, Malachi?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"He says he will sing his own death song; that he is the son of a +warrior, and he will die like a brave."</p> + +<p>"Why, the boy is metamorphosed," said Captain Sinclair; "is it possible +that so short a time could have produced this?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Malachi; "in young people a very short time will +change them thus, but it won't last long. If he were to meet again with +his mother at the settlement, he would by degrees forget his Indian life +and become reconciled; a woman has more effect than a man. Let the +Strawberry speak to him. You see, sir, he is bound, and considers +himself a captive, and let him loose we must not, until we have done our +work; after that, there will be no fear, and when he has been with us a +short time, he will come all right again."</p> + +<p>Malachi called the Strawberry, and told her to speak to Percival about +his home and his mother, and every thing connected with the farm.</p> + +<p>The Strawberry sat down by Percival, and in her soft tones talked to him +in her own tongue of his father and mother, of his cousins, and how he +had been taken by the Indians when he was hunting; how his mother had +wept for him, and all had lamented his loss; running on in a low musical +key from one thing to another connected and associated with his former +life in the settlement, and it was evident that at last he now listened +with attention. The Strawberry continued to talk to him thus, for more +than an hour, when Alfred again addressed him and said, "Percival, don't +you know me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Percival in English, "I do; you are my brother Alfred."</p> + +<p>"All's right now, sir," said Malachi; "only he must be kept fast; but +the lad's coming to his senses again. The Strawberry will talk to him +again by and by."</p> + +<p>They then sat down to their meal; the two Indians were removed to a +distance under the guard of one of the soldiers, but Percival remained +with them. John sat by Percival, and cutting off a tempting bit of +venison, held it to his mouth, saying to him, "Percival, when we go home +again, your hands shall be untied, and you shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> have a rifle of your +own instead of a bow and arrows; come, eat this."</p> + +<p>This was a long speech for John, but it produced its effect, for +Percival opened his mouth for the venison, and being fed by John, made a +very good dinner. As soon as their meal was over, they consulted as to +what steps should next be taken. The question discussed was whether they +should now capture the women who were left in the lodges, or remain +quiet till the Angry Snake and his party arrived?</p> + +<p>Malachi's opinion was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"I think we had at all events better wait till to-morrow, sir; you see, +the women will not be at all surprised at the hunting party not +returning for even a day or two, as they know that they will not return +without game, and may not find it immediately; their absence, therefore, +will create no suspicion of our being here. I think we should return to +our former place of concealment, and watch their motions. There is no +saying when the party with Miss Percival may return, they may have +arrived while we have been away, or they may come to-morrow. It will be +better, therefore, not to encumber ourselves with more prisoners unless +it is necessary."</p> + +<p>This opinion was at last assented to, and they set off, on their return +to the Indian lodges. They arrived about an hour before dusk at their +hiding-place, having taken the precaution to gag the two Indians for +fear of their giving a whoop as notice of their capture. Percival was +very quiet, and had begun to talk a little with John.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they been five minutes again concealed among the spruce fir +trees, when they heard a distant whoop from the woods on the other side +of the lodges.</p> + +<p>"They are now coming on," said Martin; "that is their signal."</p> + +<p>One of the Indian women from the lodges returned the whoop.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, they are coming," said Malachi. "Pray, Captain Sinclair, be +quiet and sit down; you will ruin all our plans."</p> + +<p>"Down, Sinclair, I beg," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair, who was very much excited, nevertheless did as he was +requested.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>"Oh, Alfred!" said he; "she's so near."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my good fellow, but if you wish her nearer, you must be prudent."</p> + +<p>"True, very true," replied Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour more, the Angry Snake and his party were seen to +emerge from the woods, and it was perceived that four of the Indians +carried a litter made of branches between them.</p> + +<p>"She could walk no further, sir," said Malachi to Captain Sinclair; "so +they are carrying her; I told you that they would not hurt her."</p> + +<p>"Let me once see her get out of the litter, and I shall be satisfied," +replied Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>The Indians soon were over the clearing, and stopped at one of the +lodges; Mary Percival was lifted out, and was seen to walk with +difficulty into the wigwam, followed by two of the Indian women.</p> + +<p>A short parley took place between the Angry Snake and the other two +women, and the chief and rest of the party then went into another lodge.</p> + +<p>"All's right so far, sir," observed Malachi; "they have left her to the +charge of the two women in a lodge by herself, and so there will be no +fear for her when we make the attack, which I think we must do very +shortly, for if it is quite dark, some of them may escape, and may +trouble us afterward."</p> + +<p>"Let us do it immediately," said Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"No, not immediately, sir; we have yet an hour and a half daylight. We +will wait one hour, for I think that as they have nothing to eat, and +are pretty well tired from carrying Miss Percival, they will, in all +probability, go to sleep, as Indians always do. An hour hence will be +the best time for us to fall upon them."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Malachi," replied Alfred. "Sinclair, you must curb your +impatience."</p> + +<p>"I must, I believe," replied Captain Sinclair; "but it will be a tedious +hour for me. Let us pass it away in making our arrangements; we have but +six to deal with."</p> + +<p>"And only two rifles," replied Alfred; "so we are pretty sure of +success."</p> + +<p>"We must watch first," said Martin, "to see if they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> all continue in the +same lodge, for if they divide, we must arrange accordingly. Who will +remain with the prisoners?"</p> + +<p>"I won't," said John, in a positive manner.</p> + +<p>"You must, John, if it be decided that you do," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Better not, sir," replied Malachi; "for as soon as the boy hears the +crack of the rifles, he will leave his prisoners, and join us; that I'm +sure of. No, sir, the Strawberry can be left with the prisoners. I'll +give her my hunting-knife; that will be sufficient."</p> + +<p>They remained for about half an hour more watching the lodges, but every +thing appeared quiet, and not a single person came out. Having examined +the priming of the rifles, every man was directed to take up a certain +position, so as to surround the buildings and support each other. John +was appointed to the office of looking after his cousin Mary, and +preventing the women from escaping with her from the lodge in which she +was confined; and John took his office willingly, as he considered it +one of importance, although it had been given him more with a view that +he might not be exposed to danger. Leaving the prisoners to the charge +of the Strawberry, who, with her knife drawn, stood over them, ready to +act upon the slightest attempt of escape on their part, the whole party +now crept softly toward the lodges, by the same path as had been taken +by Malachi and the Indian woman. As soon as they had all arrived, they +waited for a few minutes, while Malachi reconnoitered, and when they +perceived that he did so, they all rose up and hastened to their +allotted stations round the lodge into which the Angry Snake and his +followers had entered. The Indians appeared to be asleep, for every +thing remained quiet.</p> + +<p>"Let us first lead Miss Percival away to a place of safety," whispered +Captain Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Do you do it, then," said Alfred; "there are plenty of us without you."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair hastened to the lodge in which Miss Percival had been +placed, and opened the door. Mary Percival, as soon as she beheld +Captain Sinclair, uttered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> a loud scream of delight, and, rising from +the skins on which she had been laid, fell upon his neck. Captain +Sinclair caught her in his arms, and was bearing her out of the lodge, +when an Indian woman caught him by the coat; but John, who had entered, +putting the muzzle of his rifle into their faces, they let go and +retreated, and Captain Sinclair bore away Mary in his arms into the +brushwood, where the Strawberry was standing over the Indian prisoners. +The scream of Mary Percival had roused the Indians, who, after their +exhaustion and privations, were in a sound sleep; but still no movement +was to be heard in the lodge, and a debate, between Malachi and Alfred, +whether they should enter the lodge or not, was put an end to by a rifle +being fired from the lodge, and the fall of one of the soldiers, who was +next to Alfred. Another shot followed, and Martin received a bullet in +his shoulder, and then out bounded the Angry Snake, followed by his +band, the chief whirling his tomahawk, and springing upon Malachi, while +the others attacked Alfred and Martin, who were nearest to the door of +the lodge. The rifle of Malachi met the breast of the Angry Snake as he +advanced, and the contents were discharged through his body. The other +Indians fought desperately, but the whole of the attacking party closing +in, they were overpowered. Only two of them, however, were taken alive, +and these were seriously wounded. They were tied and laid on the ground.</p> + +<p>"He was a bad man, sir," said Malachi, who was standing over the body of +the Indian chief; "but he will do no more mischief."</p> + +<p>"Are you much hurt, Martin?" inquired Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, not much; the ball has passed right through and touched no +bone; so I am in luck. I'll go to the Strawberry, and get her to bind it +up."</p> + +<p>"He is quite dead, sir," said Graves, who was kneeling by the side of +the soldier who had been shot by the first rifle.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" exclaimed Alfred. "Well, I'm not sorry that they +commenced the attack upon us; for I do not know whether I could have +used my rifle unless they had done so."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>"They never expected quarter, sir," said Malachi.</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. Now, what are we to do with the women? They can do no +harm."</p> + +<p>"Not much, sir; but, at all events, we must put it out of their power. +We must take possession of all the weapons we can find in the lodges. We +have their two rifles; but we must collect all the bows and arrows, +tomahawks, and knives, and either destroy or keep possession of them. +John, will you look to that? Take Graves with you."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied John, who with Graves, immediately commenced his search +of the lodges.</p> + +<p>The two women, who had been in the lodge with Mary Percival, had +remained where they were, as John's rifle had kept them from leaving the +lodge; but the other two had escaped into the woods during the affray. +This was of little consequence; indeed, the others were told that they +might go away, if they would; and as soon as they heard this from +Malachi, they followed the example of their companions. John and Graves +brought out all the arms they could find, and Malachi and Alfred then +went to the bushes to which Mary Percival and Sinclair had previously +retired. Alfred embraced his cousin, who was still too greatly agitated +to say much, being almost overpowered by the sudden transition in all +her thoughts and feelings:—and, in the variety of her emotions, perhaps +the most bewildering was that occasioned by the re-appearance of +Percival,—like a restoration from the dead. Alfred was in consultation +with Malachi, when he perceived the flames bursting out of the lodges. +Martin, as soon as his wound was dressed, had returned and set fire to +them.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, sir," said Malachi; "it will leave the proof of our +victory, and be a caution to other Indians."</p> + +<p>"But what will become of the women?"</p> + +<p>"They will join some other band, sir, and tell the story. It is better +that they should."</p> + +<p>"And our prisoners, what shall we do with them?"</p> + +<p>"Release them; by and by, sir, we shall have nothing to fear from them; +but we will first take them two or three days' march into the woods, in +case they have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> alliance with any other band whom they might call to +their assistance."</p> + +<p>"And the wounded Indians?"</p> + +<p>"Must be left to Providence, sir. We can not take them. We will leave +them provisions and water. The women will come back and find them; if +they are alive, they will look after them; if dead, bury them. But here +comes John, with some bears' skins which he has saved for Miss Mary; +that was thoughtful of the boy. As soon as the flames are down, we will +take up our quarters in the clearing, and set a watch for the night; and +to-morrow, with the help of God, we will commence our journey back. We +shall bring joy to your father and mother, and the sooner we do it the +better; for they must be any thing but comfortable at our long absence."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mary Percival; "what a state of suspense they must be in! +Truly, as the Bible saith, 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.'"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + + +<p>Not one of the party slept much on this night. There was much to do, and +much to be looked after. Captain Sinclair, as it may be supposed, was +fully occupied with Mary Percival, of whom more anon. As soon as they +had taken up their position in the clearing, and made arrangements for +the accommodation of Mary, they relieved the Strawberry from her charge +of the prisoners, whom they brought to the clearing, and made to sit +down close to them. Percival, who had not yet been freed from his bonds, +was now untied, and suffered to walk about, one of the men keeping close +to him, and watching him carefully. The first object which caught his +eye, was the body of the Angry Snake. Percival looked on it for some +time, and then sat down by the side of it. There he remained for more +than two hours, without speaking, when a hole having been dug out by one +of the party, the body was put in and covered up. Percival remained a +few minutes by the side of the grave, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> then turned to the two +wounded Indians. He brought them water, and spoke to them in the Indian +tongue; but while he was still with them, Mary sent for him to speak +with him, for as yet she had scarcely seen him. The sight of Mary +appeared to have a powerful effect upon the boy; he listened to her as +she soothed and caressed him, and appearing to be overcome with a +variety of sensations, he lay down, moaned, and at last fell fast +asleep.</p> + +<p>The soldier who had been shot by the Angry Snake was buried before they +buried the chief. Martin's wound had been dressed by his wife, the +Strawberry, who was very skillful in Indian surgery. She had previously +applied cataplasms made from the bruised leaves which she and the Indian +woman had sought for, to the feet of Mary Percival, which were in a +state of great inflammation, and Mary had found herself already much +relieved by the application. Before the day dawned, the two Indians who +had been wounded, were dead, and were immediately buried by the side of +the chief.</p> + +<p>Alfred and Malachi had resolved to set off the next morning, on their +return home, if they found it possible to convey Mary Percival; but +their party was now reduced, as one of the soldiers had been killed, and +Martin was incapable of service. The Indian woman would also be fully +loaded with the extra rifles, the two which they had captured from the +Indians, the one belonging to the soldier, and Martin's, who could not +carry any thing in his present state.</p> + +<p>They were now only six effective men, as John could not be of much use +in carrying, and, moreover, was appointed to watch Percival. Then they +had the two prisoners to take charge of, so that they were somewhat +embarrassed. Malachi, however, proposed that they should make a litter +of boughs, welded together very tight, and suspended on a pole so as to +be carried between two men. Mary Percival was not a very great weight, +and, by relieving each other continually, they would be able to get some +miles every day, till Mary was well enough to walk with them. Alfred +assented to this, and, as soon as it was daylight, went into the woods<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +with Malachi, to assist him in cutting the boughs. On their return, they +found that all the rest of the party were up, and that Mary felt little +or no pain. They made their breakfast on their salt provisions, which +were now nearly expended, and as soon as their meal was over, they put +Mary upon the litter and set off, taking the Indian prisoners with them, +as they thought it not yet advisable to give them their liberty. The +first day they made but a few miles, as they were obliged to stop, that +they might procure some food. The party were left under a large tree, +which was a good land-mark, under the charge of Captain Sinclair, while +Malachi and Alfred went in search of game. At nightfall they returned +with a deer which they had killed, when the Strawberry informed them +that the Indian woman had told her, that about two miles to the +southward there was a river which ran into the lake, and that there were +two canoes belonging to the band, hauled up in the bushes on the beach; +that the river was broad and swift, and would soon take them to the +lake, by the shores of which they could paddle the canoe to the +settlement. This appeared worthy of consideration, as it would in the +end, perhaps, save time, and at all events allow Mary Percival to +recover. They decided that they would go to the river, and take the +canoes, as the Indian woman said that they were large enough to hold +them all.</p> + +<p>The next morning, guided by the Indian woman, they set off in the +direction of the river, and arrived at it in the afternoon. They found +the canoes, which were large, and in good order, and having carried them +down to the beach, they resolved to put off their embarkation till the +following day, as they were again in want of provisions for their +subsistence. Alfred, Malachi and John went out this time, for Percival +had shown himself so quiet and contented, and had gradually become so +fond of being near Mary Percival, that he appeared to have awakened from +his Indian dream, and renewed all his former associations. They did not, +therefore, think it necessary to watch him any more—indeed, he never +would leave Mary's side, and began now to ask many questions, which +proved that he had recalled to mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> much of what had been forgotten +during his long sojourn with the Indians. The hunters returned, having +been very successful, and loaded with meat enough to last for four or +five days. At daylight the next morning, they led the prisoners about +half a mile into the woods, and, pointing to the north as to the +direction they were to go, cast loose the deer-thongs which confined +them, and set them at liberty. Having done this, they embarked in the +canoes, and were soon gliding rapidly down the stream.</p> + +<p>The river upon which they embarked, at that time little known to the +Europeans, is now called the river Thames, and the town built upon it is +named London. It falls into the upper part of Lake Ontario, and is a +fine rapid stream. For three days they paddled their canoes, +disembarking at night to sleep and cook their provisions, and on the +fourth they were compelled to stop, that they might procure more food. +They were successful, and on the next day they entered the lake, about +two hundred miles to the west of the settlement. Mary Percival was now +quite recovered, and found her journey or voyage delightful; the country +was in full beauty; the trees waved their boughs down to the river side, +and they did not fall in with any Indians, or perceive any lodges on the +bank. Sometimes they started the deer which had come down to drink in +the stream, and on one occasion, as they rounded a point, they fell in +with a herd which were in the water swimming across, and in this +position they destroyed as many as they required for their food till +they hoped to arrive at the settlement.</p> + +<p>Percival was now quite reconciled to his removal from an Indian life, +and appeared most anxious to rejoin his father and mother, of whom he +talked incessantly; for he had again recovered his English, which, +strange to say, although he perfectly understood it when spoken to, he +had almost forgotten to pronounce, and at first spoke with difficulty. +The weather was remarkably fine, and the waters of the lake were so +smooth, that they made rapid progress, although they invariably +disembarked at night. The only annoyance they had was from the +musquitoes, which rose in clouds as soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> they landed, and were not +to be dispersed until they had lighted a very large fire, accompanied +with thick smoke; but this was a trifle compared with their joy at the +happy deliverance of the prisoners, and success of their expedition. +Most grateful, indeed, were they to God for his mercies, and none more +so than Mary Percival and Captain Sinclair, who never left her side till +it was time to retire to rest.</p> + +<p>On the sixth day, in the forenoon, they were delighted to perceive Fort +Frontignac in the distance, and although the house at the settlement was +hid from their sight by the point covered with wood which intervened, +they knew that they were not above four or five miles distant. In less +than another hour, they were abreast of the prairie, and landed at the +spot where their own punt was moored. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had not +perceived the canoes, for, although anxiously looking out every day for +the return of the party, their eyes and attention were directed on land, +not having any idea of their return by water.</p> + +<p>"My dear Alfred," said Mary, "I do not think it will be prudent to let +my aunt see Percival at once; we must prepare her a little for his +appearance. She has so long considered him as dead, that the shock may +be too great."</p> + +<p>"You say true, my dear Mary. Then we will go forward with Captain +Sinclair and Malachi, and John. Let Percival be put in the middle of the +remainder of the party, who must follow afterward, and then be taken up +to Malachi's lodge. He can remain there with the Strawberry until we +come and fetch him."</p> + +<p>Having made these arrangements, to which Percival was with difficulty +made to agree, they walked up as proposed, to the house. Outside of the +palisade, they perceived Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with their backs toward +them, looking toward the forest, in the direction which the party had +taken when they left. But when they were half-way from the beach, Henry +came out with Oscar from the cottage, and the dog, immediately +perceiving them, bounded to them, barking with delight. Henry cried out, +"Father—mother, here they are,—here they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> come." Mr. and Mrs. Campbell +of course turned round, and beheld the party advancing; they flew to +meet them, and as they caught Mary in their arms, all explanation for a +time was unnecessary—she was recovered, and that was sufficient for the +time.</p> + +<p>"Come, mother, let us go into the house, that you may compose yourself a +little," said Alfred,—that she might not perceive Percival among the +party that followed at a distance. "Let me support you. Take my arm."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell, who trembled very much, did so, and thus turned away from +the group among whom Percival was walking. Emma was looking at them +attentively, and was about to exclaim, when Captain Sinclair put his +finger to his lips.</p> + +<p>As soon as they arrived at the house, and had gone in, Alfred, in a few +words, gave them an account of what had passed—how successful they had +been in their attempt, and how little they had to fear from the Indians +in future.</p> + +<p>"How grateful I am!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. "God be praised for all +his mercies! I was fearful that I should have lost you, my dear Mary, as +well as my poor boy. He is lost forever—but God's will be done."</p> + +<p>"It is very strange, mother," said Alfred, "but we heard, on our +journey, that the Indians had found a white boy in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Alas! not mine."</p> + +<p>"I have reason to believe that it was Percival, my dear mother, and have +hopes that he is yet alive."</p> + +<p>"My dear Alfred, do not say so unless you have good cause; you little +know the yearnings of a mother's heart; the very suggestion of such a +hope has thrown me into a state of agitation and nervousness of which +you can form no conception. I have been reconciled to the Divine will; +let me not return to a state of anxiety and repining."</p> + +<p>"Do you think, my dear mother, that I would raise such hopes if I had +not good reason to suppose that they would be realized? No, my dear +mother, I am not so cruel."</p> + +<p>"Then you know that Percival is alive?" said Mrs. Campbell, seizing +Alfred by the arm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>"Calm yourself, my dear mother, I do know—I am certain that he is +alive, and that it was he who was found by the Indians; and I have great +hopes that we may recover him."</p> + +<p>"God grant it! God grant it in his great mercy!" said Mrs. Campbell, "my +heart is almost breaking with joy: may God sustain me! Oh, where is +he—my dear Alfred—where is he?" continued Mrs. Campbell, Alfred made +no reply, but a flood of tears came to her relief.</p> + +<p>"I will explain it to you when you are more composed, my dear mother. +Emma, you have not said one word to me."</p> + +<p>"I have been too much overjoyed to speak, Alfred," replied Emma, +extending her hand to him, "but no one welcomes your return more +sincerely than I do, and no one is more grateful to you for having +brought Mary back."</p> + +<p>"Now, Alfred, I am calm," said Mrs. Campbell, "so let me hear at once +all you know."</p> + +<p>"I see you are calm, my dear mother, and I therefore now tell you that +Percival is not far off."</p> + +<p>"Alfred! he is here; I am sure he is."</p> + +<p>"He is with Malachi and the Strawberry; in a minute I will bring him."</p> + +<p>Alfred left the house: the intelligence was almost too overpowering for +Mrs. Campbell. Mary and Emma hastened to her, and supported her. In +another minute Alfred returned with Percival, and the mother embraced +and wept over her long lost child,—and then gave him to his father's +arms.</p> + +<p>"How this has happened, and by what merciful interference he has been +preserved and restored to us," said Mr. Campbell, when their first +emotions were over, "we have yet to learn; but one thing we do know, and +are sure of, that it is by the goodness of God alone. Let us return our +thanks while our hearts are yet warm with gratitude and love, and may +our thanksgiving be graciously received."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell kneeled down, and his example was followed by all the rest +of the party assembled. In a fervent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> tone he returned thanks for the +recent mercies vouchsafed to his family, which, he expressed a hope, +would never be forgotten, but would prove a powerful inducement to them +all, to lead a more devout life of faith in Him who had so graciously +supported them in the hour of peril and affliction,—who had so +wonderfully restored to them their lost treasures, and turned all their +gloom into sunshine,—filling their hearts with joy and gladness.</p> + +<p>"And now, my dear Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell, whose arms still +encircled the neck of Percival, "do pray tell us what has taken place, +and how you recovered Mary and this dear boy."</p> + +<p>Alfred then entered into his detail, first stating the knowledge which +Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and himself had of Percival being still in +existence from the letter written by the Indian woman,—the seizure and +confinement of the Young Otter in consequence, which was retaliated by +the abduction of Mary. When he had finished, Mr. Campbell said—</p> + +<p>"And poor Martin, where is he, that I may thank him?"</p> + +<p>"He is at his own lodge, with the Strawberry, who is dressing his wound; +for we have not been able to do so for two or three days, and it has +become very painful."</p> + +<p>"We owe him a large debt of gratitude," said Mr. Campbell; "he has +suffered much on our account. And your poor man, Captain Sinclair, who +fell!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Sinclair, "he was one of our best men—but it was the +will of Heaven. He lost his life in the recovery of my dear Mary, and I +shall not forget his wife and child, you may depend upon it."</p> + +<p>"Now, Mary, let us have your narrative of what passed when you were in +company of the Indians, before your rescue."</p> + +<p>"I was, as you know, gathering the cranberries in the Cedar Swamp, when +I was suddenly seized, and something was thrust against my mouth, so +that I had no time or power to cry out. My head was then wrapped up in +some folds of blanket, by which I was almost suffocated, and I was then +lifted up and borne away by two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> men. For a time I kept my +senses, but at last the suffocation was so great, that my head swam, and +I believe I fainted, for I do not recollect being put down; yet after a +time I found myself lying under a tree, and surrounded by five or six +Indians, who were squatted round me. I was not a little terrified, as +you may imagine. They neither moved nor spoke for some time; I +endeavored to rise, but a hand on my shoulder kept me down, and I did +not attempt a useless resistance. Soon afterward, an Indian woman +brought me some water, and I immediately recognized her as the one whom +we had succored when we found her in the woods. This gave me courage and +hope, though her countenance was immovable, and I could not perceive, +even by her eyes, that she attempted any recognition; but reflection +convinced me that, if she intended to help me, she was right in so +doing. After I had raised myself, and drunk some water, the Indians had +a talk in a low voice, I observed that they paid deference to one, and +from the description which my father and Alfred had given of the Angry +Snake, I felt sure that it was he. We remained about half an hour on +this spot, when they rose, and made signs to me that I was to come with +them. Of course I could do no otherwise, and we walked till night came +on, when I was, as you may imagine, not a little tired. They then left +me with the Indian woman, retiring a few yards from me. The woman made +signs that I was to sleep, and although I thought that was impossible, I +was so much fatigued that, after putting up my prayers to the Almighty, +I had not lain down many minutes before I was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>"Before daylight, I was awakened by their voices, and the woman brought +me a handful of parched Indian corn; not quite so good a breakfast as I +had been accustomed to; but I was hungry, and I contrived to eat it. As +soon as the day broke we set off again, and toward evening arrived at a +lake. A canoe was brought out from some bushes; we all got into it, and +paddled up along the banks for two or three hours, when we disembarked +and renewed our journey. My feet were now becoming very sore and +painful, for they were blistered all over, and I could scarcely get +along; they compelled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> me, however, to proceed, not using any great +force, but still dragging me and pushing me, to make me keep up with +them. I soon perceived that I was a prisoner only, and not likely to be +ill treated if I complied with their wishes. Toward evening I could +hardly put one foot before the other, for they had obliged me to walk in +the water of a stream for two or three miles, and my shoes were quite +worn out in consequence. At night they again stopped, and the Indian +woman prepared some herbs, and applied them to my feet. This gave me +great relief, but still she continued to take no notice of any signs I +made to her. The next morning I found I had received so much benefit +from the application of the herbs, that for the first half of the day I +walked on pretty well, and was a little in advance, when, hearing the +chief speak in an angry tone behind me, I turned round, and, to my +horror, saw him raise his tomahawk, and strike down the poor Indian +woman. I could not refrain from hastening to her; but I had just time to +perceive that her skull was cloven, and that she was, as I imagined, +dead, when I was dragged away and forced to continue my journey. You may +imagine how my blood curdled at this scene, and how great were now my +apprehensions for myself. Why I had been carried away I knew not, for I +was as ignorant as you were of Percival being alive, and of the Young +Otter having been detained at the fort. My idea was, when the chief +struck down the Indian woman, that it was to get rid of her, and that I +was to replace her. This idea was almost madness, but still I had hope, +and I prayed as I walked along to that God who sees the most secret act, +and hears the most silent prayer of the heart, and I felt an assurance +while praying that I should be rescued. I knew that my absence would be +immediately discovered, and that there were those who would risk their +lives to rescue me, if I was still in existence; and I therefore used +all my efforts to walk on as fast as I could, and not irritate the +Indians. But that night I had no one to dress my feet, which were +bleeding and very much swelled, and I was very wretched when I lay down +alone. I could not drive from my thoughts the poor Indian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> woman +weltering in her blood, and murdered for no crime or fault—nothing that +I could discover. The next morning, as usual, my food was some parched +Indian corn, and of that I received only a handful for my sustenance +during the twenty-four hours; however, hunger I never felt, I had too +much pain. I was able to drag myself on till about noon, when I felt +that I could not proceed further. I stopped and sat down; the chief +ordered me to get up again by signs; I pointed to my feet, which were +now swelled above the ankles, but he insisted, and raised his tomahawk +to frighten me into compliance. I was so worn out, that I could have +almost received the blow with thankfulness, but I remembered you, my +dear uncle and aunt and others, and resolved for your sakes to make one +more effort. I did so; I ran and walked for an hour more in perfect +agony; at last nature could support the pain no longer, and I fell +insensible."</p> + +<p>"My poor Mary!" exclaimed Emma.</p> + +<p>"I thought of you often and often, my dear sister," replied Mary, +kissing her.</p> + +<p>"I believe it was a long while before I came to my senses," continued +Mary, "for when I did, I found that the Indians were very busy weaving +branches into a sort of litter. As soon as they had finished, they put +me upon it, and I was carried by two of them swinging on a pole which +they put on their shoulders. I need hardly say, that the journey was now +more agreeable than it was before, although my feet were in a dreadful +state, and gave me much pain. That night we stopped by a rivulet, and I +kept my feet in the water for two or three hours, which brought down the +inflammation and swelling very much, and I contrived after that to gain +some sleep. They carried me one more day, when they considered that they +had done enough, and I was again ordered to walk; I did so for two days, +and was then in the same condition as before. A litter was therefore +again constructed, and I was carried till I arrived at the lodges of the +Angry Snake and his band. What passed from that time you have heard from +Alfred."</p> + +<p>When Mary Percival had finished her narrative, they all sat down to +supper, and it hardly need be said that Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> Campbell did not fail, +before they retired to rest, again to pour forth his thanksgivings to +the Almighty for the preservation of those who were so dear. The next +morning, they all rose in health and spirits. Martin came early to the +house with the Strawberry; his wound was much better, and he received +the thanks and condolence of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell.</p> + +<p>When they were at breakfast, Mr. Campbell said, "John, in our joy at +seeing your brother and cousin again, I quite forgot to scold you for +running away as you did."</p> + +<p>"Then don't do it now, sir," said Malachi, "for he was very useful, I +can assure you."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't scold him now," replied Mr. Campbell; "but he must not act +so another time. If he had confided to me his anxious wish to join you, +I should probably have given my permission."</p> + +<p>"I must now take my leave, and return to the fort," said Captain +Sinclair; "I do, however, trust I shall see you all again in a few days, +but I must report the results of the expedition, and the death of poor +Watkins. May I borrow one of your horses, Mr. Campbell?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied Mr. Campbell; "you know the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateau</span> is expected +every day from Montreal; perhaps you will bring us our letters when it +arrives."</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair took his leave, as it may be imagined, very +reluctantly, and in a day or two the family again settled down to their +usual occupations. The emigrants had, during the absence of the +expedition, gathered in a great portion of the corn, and now all hands +were employed in finishing the harvest.</p> + +<p>"How happy we are now, Mary," said Emma to her sister, as they were +walking by the stream watching John, who was catching trout.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear Emma, we have had a lesson which will, I trust, prevent +any future repining, if we have felt any, at our present position. The +misery we have been rescued from has shown us how much we have to be +thankful for. We have nothing more to fear from the Indians, and I feel +as if I could now pass the remainder of my life here in peace and +thankfulness."</p> + +<p>"Not without Captain Sinclair?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>"Not always without him; the time will, I trust, come when I may reward +him for his patience and his regard for me; but it has not yet come; and +it's for my uncle and aunt to decide when it shall. Where's Percival?"</p> + +<p>"He is gone into the woods with Malachi, and with a rifle on his +shoulder, of which he is not a little proud. John is not at all jealous. +He says that Percival ought to know how to fire a rifle, and throw away +that foolish bow and arrow. Do you not think that his residence among +the Indians has made a great change in Percival?"</p> + +<p>"A very great one; he is more manly and more taciturn; he appears to +think more and talk less. But Henry is beckoning to us. Dinner is ready, +and we must not keep hungry people waiting."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Emma; "for in that case I should keep myself waiting."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + + +<p>Captain Sinclair on his return to Fort Frontignac reported to the +Colonel the successful result of the expedition, and was warmly +congratulated upon it, as the Colonel had been made acquainted with the +engagement between him and Mary Percival. The Young Otter, who had +remained in confinement during Captain Sinclair's absence, was now set +at liberty; and the Colonel, who was aware that Captain Sinclair must be +very anxious to remain at the settlement for a short time after what had +occurred, very kindly offered him leave for a few days, which it may be +supposed Captain Sinclair did not fail to avail himself of. The Colonel +at the same time sent a message to Mr. Campbell, stating that as soon as +the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> should arrive from Montreal, he would bring any letters or +newspapers that might arrive for them, and take that opportunity of +offering in person his congratulations.</p> + +<p>Captain Sinclair did not, however, return for two or three days, as he +had many letters to write in answer to those which had arrived during +his absence. On his return to the settlement, he found them all well +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> happy; Mary quite recovered from her fatigue, and every thing going +on in the same quiet order and method as if the expedition had never +taken place, and had never been necessary. Indeed, nothing appeared now +wanting to the happiness of the whole party, and their affairs were +prospering. The emigrants who had joined Mr. Campbell were industrious +and intelligent, very civil, and very useful. They paid the greatest +respect to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who were certainly very liberal and +kind to them, assisting them in every way in their power. Although the +farm had been so much increased, the labor was light, from the quantity +of hands they could command; the stock had increased very fast; old +Graves had taken charge of the mill during the absence of Alfred and +Martin, and had expressed his wish to continue in that employment, which +Alfred gladly gave up. In short, peace and plenty reigned in the +settlement, and Alfred's words when he recommended his father to go to +Canada, had every prospect of becoming true—that his father would be +independent, if not rich, and leave his children the same. In three days +Captain Sinclair arrived; he was received with great warmth by all the +party, and after dinner was over, Mr. Campbell addressed the family as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"My dear children, your mother and I have had some conversation on one +or two points, and we have come to the decision that having so much to +thank God for, in his kindness and mercies shown toward us, it would be +selfish on our parts if we did not consult the happiness of others. We +are now independent, and with every prospect of being more so every day; +we are no longer isolated, but surrounded by those who are attached to +us and will protect us should there be any occasion. In short, we are +living in comfort and security, and we trust to Providence that we shall +continue so to do. You, my dear Alfred, generously abandoned your +profession to which you were so partial, to come and protect us in the +wilderness, and we knew too well the value of your services not to +accept them, although we were fully aware of the sacrifice which you +made; but we are no longer in the wilderness, and no longer require your +strong arm and bold heart. We have therefore decided that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> it is our +duty no longer to keep you from the profession to which you belong, but, +on the contrary, to recommend you now to rejoin and follow up your +career, which we trust in God may prove as prosperous as we are +convinced it will be honorable. Take our best thanks, my dear boy, for +your kindness to us, and now consider yourself at liberty to return to +England, and rejoin the service as soon as you please.</p> + +<p>"And now I must address you, my dear Mary; you and your sister +accompanied us here, and since you have been with us, have cheered us +during our stay by your attentions and unwearied cheerfulness under all +the privations which we at first had to encounter. You have engaged the +affections of an honorable and deserving man, but at the same time have +never shown the least disposition to leave us; indeed, we know what your +determination has been, but your aunt and I consider it our present duty +to say, that much as we shall regret to part with one so dear, you must +no longer sacrifice yourself for us, but make him happy who so well +deserves you. That you will remain here is of course out of the +question; your husband's connections and fortune require that he should +return to England, and not bury himself in the woods of Canada. You have +therefore our full permission, and I may say, it will be most pleasing +to us, if you no longer delay your union with Captain Sinclair and +follow your husband; whenever and wherever you go, you will have our +blessing and our prayers, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have +been to us as a dutiful daughter, and that we love you as dearly as it +is possible for parents to do. Take her, Captain Sinclair, from my +hands, and take with her our blessings and best wishes for your +happiness, which I do not doubt will be as great as we can expect in +this checkered world; for a dutiful daughter will always become a good +wife."</p> + +<p>Mary, who was sitting between Mrs. Campbell and Captain Sinclair, fell +upon her aunt's neck and wept; Mr. Campbell extended his hand to Captain +Sinclair, who expressed in return his warmest thanks and gratitude. +Alfred, who had said nothing more, went up to his mother and kissed +her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>"I wish you to go, Alfred," said his mother; "I wish you to rejoin a +service to which you are a credit. Do not believe otherwise, or that I +shall grieve too much at your departure."</p> + +<p>"Go, my son," said Mr. Campbell, shaking him by the hand, "and let me +see you a post-captain before I die."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell now took Mary Percival into the next room, that she might +compose herself, and Captain Sinclair ventured to follow. Every one +appeared happy at this announcement of Mr. Campbell except Emma, who +looked unusually serious. Alfred, perceiving it, said to her, "Emma, you +are very grave at the idea of losing Mary, and I do not wonder at it, +but you will have one consolation,—you will lose me too, and I shall no +longer plague you as you continually complain that I do."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," replied Emma, half angry; "well, you <em>are</em> a +great plague, and the sooner you go—"</p> + +<p>Emma did not, however, finish her speech, but left the room, to join her +sister.</p> + +<p>Now that Mr. Campbell had announced his wishes, the subject of Mary's +marriage and Alfred's return to the service was, for a few days, the +continual subject of discussion. It was decided that Mary should be +married in a month, by the chaplain of the fort, who had returned, and +that Captain Sinclair, with his wife and Alfred, should leave the +settlement at the end of September, so as to arrive at Quebec in good +time for sailing before the winter should set in. It was now the last +week in August, so that there was not much time to pass away previous to +their departure. Captain Sinclair returned to the fort, to make the +Colonel acquainted with what had passed, and to take the necessary steps +for leave of absence, and his return to England. This, from his interest +with the Governor, he was sure to obtain, and when in England, it would +be time sufficient to decide whether he should leave that service or +exchange into some regiment at home. As every prospect of war or +disturbance in Canada was now over, he could take either step without +any censure being laid upon him.</p> + +<p>A week afterward, the <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span> arrived from Montreal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> and the Colonel +and Captain Sinclair made their appearance at the settlement, bringing +with them the letters and papers from England.</p> + +<p>Having received the congratulations of the Colonel, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, with his permission, opened their letters, for all the family +were present, and all, as usual, anxious to hear the news. The first +letter Mr. Campbell opened, to the surprise of all, produced an +immediate change in his countenance. He read it a second time, and +laying it down on his knee, appeared to remain in a state of complete +abstraction.</p> + +<p>"No bad news, I hope, Campbell?" said his wife anxiously, as all the +rest looked upon him with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear Emily, no bad news, but most unexpected news; such as it +has been my fortune in life to receive once before this time. You +remember, although years have since passed, the letter that was brought +to us in our little parlor—"</p> + +<p>"Which put you in possession of Wexton Hall, Campbell."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did refer to that; but I will not keep you all in longer +suspense. This is but a counterpart of the former letter."</p> + +<p>Mr. Campbell then read as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"May 7, 18— +</p> + +<p>"Dear Sir,—It is with great pleasure that we have again to +communicate to you that you may return, as soon as you please, and +take possession of the Wexton Hall property.</p> + +<p>"You may remember that many months back Mr. Douglas Campbell +received a fall from his horse when hunting. No serious +consequences were anticipated, but it appears that his spine was +injured, and after some months' close confinement, he expired on +the 9th of April. As Mr. Douglas Campbell has left no issue, and +you are the next in tail, you have now undisputed possession of the +property which you so honorably surrendered some years since.</p> + +<p>"I have taken upon myself to act as your agent since Mr. Campbell's +decease. Mrs. D. Campbell has a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> handsome settlement upon the +property, which will of course fall in upon her demise. Waiting +your commands,</p> + +<p class="center"> +"I am, dear sir,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Yours truly,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 8em;">"J. Harvey</span>."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"Mr. Campbell, I congratulate you with all my heart," said the Colonel, +rising up, and taking his hand. "You have proved yourself deserving of +such good fortune; Mrs. Campbell, I need hardly add that my +congratulations extend to you."</p> + +<p>Surprise at first rendered Mrs. Campbell mute; at last she said—</p> + +<p>"We are in the hands of Him, and do but execute His will. For your sake, +my dear Campbell, for the children's sake, perhaps, I ought to +rejoice—we hardly know. That I am happy here, now that my children have +been restored to me, I confess. I doubt whether that happiness will be +increased by the return to Wexton Hall; at all events, I shall leave +this place with regret. We have had too many revolutions of fortune, +Campbell, since we have been united, not to have learned by experience +that a peaceful, quiet, and contented home is more necessary to our +happiness than riches."</p> + +<p>"I feel as you do, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, "but we are growing +old, and have been taught wisdom practically, by the events of a +checkered life. Our children, I perceive, think otherwise—nor do I +wonder at it."</p> + +<p>"I shan't go," said John; "I shall only be sent to school; no master +shall flog me—I'm a man."</p> + +<p>"Nor me," cried Percival.</p> + +<p>The Colonel and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, as well as the elder portion of +the party, could not help smiling at the exclamation of the two boys. +They had both played the part of men, and it was but too evident how +unfitted they would be for future scholastic discipline.</p> + +<p>"You shall neither of you go to school," replied Mr. Campbell, "but +still you must render yourselves fit for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> your stations in life, by +improving your minds, and attending those who will instruct you."</p> + +<p>It is hard to say whether much real joy was felt by any of the party at +the prospect of returning to England. It is true that Mary Percival was +delighted at the idea of not being so far from her aunt and uncle, and +that Emma was better pleased to be in England, for reasons which she +kept to herself. But it was not the coming into the large property which +occasioned pleasure to any of them. However, if there was not much +pleasure derived from this re-accession to property, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell knew their duty too well to hesitate, and every preparation was +commenced for their return along with Alfred and Captain Sinclair. John, +however, still continued obstinate in declaring that he would not go, +and Percival was very much of John's opinion, although he did not speak +so plainly.</p> + +<p>When Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were alone, the former said to his wife,—</p> + +<p>"I do not know what to do about John. He appears so resolute in his +determination not to go with us, that I fear he will run away into the +woods at the time of our departure. He is now continually with Malachi +and Martin, and appears to have severed himself from the family."</p> + +<p>"It is hard to decide, Campbell; I have more than once thought it would +be better to leave him here. He is our youngest son. Henry will of +course inherit the estate, and we shall have to provide for the others +out of our savings. Now this property, by the time that John is of age, +will be of no inconsiderable value, and by no means a bad fortune for a +younger son. He appears so wedded to the woods and a life of nature, +that I fear it would only be the cause of continual regret and +discontent if we did take him to England; and if so, what comfort or +advantage should we gain by his returning? I hardly know what to +advise."</p> + +<p>"I have serious thoughts of leaving him here under the charge of Martin +and Malachi," replied Mr. Campbell. "He would be happy; by and by he +would be rich. What could he obtain more in England? But it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> must be for +you to decide, my dear Emily. I know a mother's feelings, and respect +them."</p> + +<p>"I can not decide at once, my dear husband. I will first talk with John, +and consult with Alfred and Henry."</p> + +<p>The result of Mrs. Campbell's communicating with her sons, was a +decision that John should remain in Canada, under the charge of Martin +and Malachi, who were to superintend the farm, and watch over him. +Martin was to take charge of the farm. Malachi was to be John's +companion in the woods, and old Graves, who had their mill under his +care, engaged to correspond with Mr. Campbell, and let them know how +things went on. When this was settled, John walked at least two inches +higher, and promised to write to his mother himself. The Colonel, when +he heard the arrangement, pledged himself that as long as he was in +command of the fort, he would keep a watchful eye, not only over John, +but the whole of the settlement, and communicate occasionally with Mr. +Campbell.</p> + +<p>A month after the receipt of the letter, the whole family, with the +exception of John, embarked in two <span class="italic" lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bateaux</span>, and arrived at Montreal, +where they remained a day or two, and then proceeded on to Quebec.</p> + +<p>At Quebec, their agent had already taken all the cabins of one of the +finest ships for their passage, and after a run of six weeks, they once +more found themselves at Liverpool, from which town they posted to +Wexton Hall, Mrs. Douglas Campbell having retired to a property of her +own in Scotland.</p> + +<p>We have now finished our tale, and have only to inform our little +readers what were the after-lives of the Campbell family.</p> + +<p>Henry did not return to college, but remained with his father and mother +at the Hall, employing himself in superintending for his father the +property to which he afterward succeeded.</p> + +<p>Alfred was appointed to a ship commanded by Captain Lumley. He soon rose +in the service, was highly distinguished as a gallant, clever officer, +and four years after his return to England was married to his cousin +Emma—at which the reader will not be surprised.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>Mary Percival was married to Captain Sinclair, who sold out, and retired +upon half-pay, to live upon his estate in Scotland.</p> + +<p>Percival went to college, and turned out a very clever lawyer.</p> + +<p>John remained in Canada until he was twenty years old, when he came home +to see his father and mother. He had grown to six feet four inches high, +and was stout in proportion. He was a very amusing fellow, and could +talk fast enough, but his chief conversation was upon hunting and +sporting. The farm had been well conducted; the emigrants had adhered to +the agreements and were now cultivating for themselves. Martin had three +papooses (as the Indians call the children) by the Strawberry. Malachi +had grown too old to go out often into the woods, and he sat by the fire +in the winter, and basked in the sun at the door of the house during the +summer. Oscar was dead, but they had some fine puppies of his breed. Mr. +Campbell gave John a deed, on his return, conveying to him the Canadian +property, and shortly afterward John picked up a little Canadian wife at +Quebec, who made him perfectly happy.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived to a good old age, respected as long as they +lived, and lamented when they died. They had known prosperity and +adversity, and in each state of life had acquitted themselves with +exemplary propriety, not having been elated by the one, or depressed by +the other. They knew that this world was a world of trial, and but a +preparation for another; they therefore did their duty in that state of +life to which it pleased God to call them—proving in all their actions, +that they remembered their duty to their God, and their duty to their +neighbor; living and dying (as I hope all my young readers will) sincere +and good Christians.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 22496-h.txt or 22496-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/4/9/22496</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Settlers in Canada + + +Author: Frederick Marryat + + + +Release Date: September 3, 2007 [eBook #22496] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, storm, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 22496-h.htm or 22496-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496/22496-h/22496-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496/22496-h.zip) + + + + + +SETTLERS IN CANADA + +by + +CAPTAIN MARRYAT + +Author of "Children of the New Forest," "Peter Simple," +"Little Savage," "Newton Foster," "Privateersman," +"Monsieur Violet," etc., etc. + +With Illustrations + + + + + + + +George Routledge and Sons +London: Broadway, Ludgate Hill +New York: 9 Lafayette Place + + + +[Illustration: BEE-HUNTING.] + + + + +THE SETTLERS. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in +Canada. This province had been surrendered to us by the French, who +first colonized it, more than thirty years previous to the year I have +mentioned. It must, however, be recollected, that to emigrate and settle +in Canada was, at that time, a very different affair to what it is now. +The difficulty of transport, and the dangers incurred, were much +greater, for there were no steamboats to stem the currents and the +rapids of the rivers; the Indians were still residing in Upper and many +portions of Lower Canada, and the country was infested with wild animals +of every description--some useful, but many dangerous: moreover, the +Europeans were fewer in number, and the major portion of them were +French, who were not pleased at the country having been conquered by the +English. It is true that a great many English settlers had arrived, and +had settled upon different farms; but as the French settlers had already +possession of all the best land in Lower Canada, these new settlers were +obliged to go into or toward Upper Canada, where, although the land was +better, the distance from Quebec and Montreal, and other populous parts, +was much greater, and they were left almost wholly to their own +resources, and almost without protection. I mention all this, because +things are so very different at present: and now I shall state the cause +which induced this family to leave their home, and run the risk and +dangers which they did. + +Mr. Campbell was of a good parentage, but, being the son of one of the +younger branches of the family, his father was not rich, and Mr. +Campbell was, of course, brought up to a profession. Mr. Campbell chose +that of a surgeon; and after having walked the hospitals (as it is +termed), he set up in business and in a few years was considered as a +very able man in his profession. His practice increased very fast; and +before he was thirty years of age he married. + +Mr. Campbell had an only sister, who resided with him, for their father +and mother were both dead. But about five years after his own marriage, +a young gentleman paid his addresses to her; and although not rich, as +his character was unexceptionable, and his prospects good, he was +accepted. Miss Campbell changed her name to Percival, and left her +brother's house to follow her husband. + +Time passed quickly; and, at the end of ten years, Mr. Campbell found +himself with a flourishing business, and at the same time with a family +to support, his wife having presented him with four boys, of whom the +youngest was but a few months old. + +But, although prosperous in his own affairs, one heavy misfortune fell +upon Mr. Campbell, which was the loss of his sister, Mrs. Percival, to +whom he was most sincerely attached. Her loss was attended with +circumstances which rendered it more painful, as, previous to her +decease, the house of business in which Mr. Percival was a partner +failed; and the incessant toil and anxiety which Mr. Percival underwent +brought on a violent fever, which ended in his death. In this state of +distress, left a widow with one child of two years old--a little +girl--and with the expectation of being shortly again confined, Mrs. +Percival was brought to her brother's house, who, with his wife, did all +he could to soften down her grief; but she had suffered so much by the +loss of her husband, that when the period arrived, her strength was +gone, and she died in giving birth to a second daughter. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, of course, took charge of these two little orphan girls, and +brought them up with their own children. + +Such was the state of affairs about ten or eleven years after Mr. +Campbell's marriage, when a circumstance occurred as unexpected as it +was welcome. + +Mr. Campbell had returned from his round of professional visits; dinner +was over, and he was sitting at the table with his wife and elder +children (for it was the Christmas holidays, and they were all at home), +and the bell had just rung for the nurse to bring down the two little +girls and the youngest boy, when the postman rapped at the door, and the +parlor-maid brought in a letter with a large black seal. Mr. Campbell +opened it, and read as follows:-- + + Sir--We have great pleasure in making known to you, that upon the + demise of Mr. Sholto Campbell, of Wexton Hall, Cumberland, which + took place on the 19th ultimo, the entailed estates, in default of + more direct issue, have fallen to you, as nearest of kin; the + presumptive heir having perished at sea, or in the East Indies, and + not having been heard of for twenty-five years. We beg to be the + first to congratulate you upon your accession to real property + amounting to L14,000 per annum. No will has been found, and it has + been ascertained that none was ever made by the late Mr. Sholto + Campbell. We have, therefore, put seals upon the personal property, + and shall wait your pleasure. We can only add, that if in want of + professional advice, and not being already engaged, you may command + the services of + Your most obedient, + HARVEY, PAXTON, THORPE, & Co. + +"What can be the matter, my dear?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, who had +perceived most unusual agitation in her husband's countenance. + +Mr. Campbell made no reply, but handed the letter to his wife. + +Mrs. Campbell read it, and laid it down on the table. + +"Well, my dear!" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, joyfully, and starting up from +his chair. + +"It is a sudden shock, indeed," observed Mrs. Campbell, thoughtfully and +slowly. "I have often felt that we could bear up against any adversity. +I trust in God, that we may be as well able to support prosperity, by +far the hardest task, my dear Campbell, of the two." + +"You are right, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, sitting down again; "we +are, and have long been, happy." + +"This sudden wealth can not add to our happiness, my dear husband; I +feel it will rather add to our cares; but it may enable us to add to the +happiness of others; and with such feelings, let us receive it with +thankfulness." + +"Very true, Emily; but still we must do our duty in that station of life +to which it has pleased God to call us. Hitherto I have by my profession +been of some benefit to my fellow-creatures; and if in my change of +condition I no more leave my warm bed to relieve their sufferings, at +all events, I shall have the means of employing others so to do. We must +consider ourselves but as the stewards of Him who has bestowed this +great wealth upon us, and employ it as may be acceptable to His +service." + +"There my husband spoke as I felt he would," said Mrs. Campbell, rising +up, and embracing him. "Those who feel as you do can never be too rich." + +I must not dwell too long upon this portion of my narrative. I shall +therefore observe that Mr. Campbell took possession of Wexton Hall, and +lived in a style corresponding to his increased fortune; but, at the +same time, he never let pass an opportunity of doing good, and in this +task he was ably assisted by his wife. They had not resided there three +or four years before they were considered as a blessing to all around +them--encouraging industry, assisting the unfortunate, relieving the +indigent, building almshouses and schools, and doing all in their power +to promote the welfare and add to the happiness of those within many +miles of the Hall. At the time that Mr. Campbell took possession, the +estate had been neglected, and required large sums to be laid out upon +it, which would much increase its value. + +Thus all the large income of Mr. Campbell was usefully and +advantageously employed. The change in Mr. Campbell's fortune had also +much changed the prospects of his children. Henry, the eldest, who had +been intended for his father's profession, was first sent to a private +tutor, and afterward to college. Alfred, the second boy, had chosen the +navy for his profession, and had embarked on board a fine frigate. The +other two boys, one named Percival, who was more than two years old at +the time that they took possession of the property, and the other, John, +who had been born only a few months, remained at home, receiving tuition +from a young curate, who lived near the Hall; while a governess had been +procured for Mary and Emma Percival, who were growing up very handsome +and intelligent girls. + +Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr. Campbell had been +about ten years in possession of the Wexton estate, when one day he was +called upon by Mr. Harvey, the head of the firm which had announced to +him his succession to the property. + +Mr. Harvey came to inform him that a claimant had appeared, and given +notice of his intent to file a bill in Chancery to recover the estate, +being, as he asserted, the son of the person who had been considered as +the presumptive heir, and who had perished so many years back. Mr. +Harvey observed, that although he thought it his duty to make the +circumstance known to Mr. Campbell, he considered it as a matter of no +consequence, and in all probability would turn out to be a fraud got up +by some petty attorney, with a view to a compromise. He requested Mr. +Campbell not to allow the circumstance to give him any annoyance, +stating that if more was heard of it, Mr. Campbell should be immediately +informed. Satisfied with the opinion of Mr. Harvey, Mr. Campbell +dismissed the circumstance from his mind, and did not even mention it to +his wife. + +But three months had not passed away before Mr. Campbell received a +letter from his solicitor, in which he informed him that the claim to +the estate was carrying on with great vigor, and he was sorry to add, +wore (to use his own term) a very ugly appearance; and that the opposite +parties would, at all events, put Mr. Campbell to a very considerable +expense. The solicitor requested Mr. Campbell's instructions, again +asserting, that although it was artfully got up, he considered that it +was a fraudulent attempt. Mr. Campbell returned an answer, in which he +authorized his solicitor to take every needful precaution, and to incur +all necessary expense. On reflection, Mr. Campbell, although much +annoyed, determined not to make Mrs. Campbell acquainted with what was +going on; it could only distress her, he thought, and he therefore +resolved for the present to leave her in ignorance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +After a delay of some months, Mr. Harvey called upon Mr. Campbell, and +stated to him that the claim of the opposite party, so far from being +fraudulent as he had supposed, was so clear, that he feared the worst +results. + +It appeared that the heir to the estates, who had remained between Mr. +Campbell's title, had married in India, and had subsequently, as it had +been supposed, died; but there was full and satisfactory proof that the +marriage was valid, and that the party who claimed was his son. It was +true, Mr. Harvey observed, that Mr. Campbell might delay for some time +the restoration of the property, but that eventually it must be +surrendered. + +As soon as Mr. Campbell received this letter, he went to his wife and +acquainted her with all that had been going on for some months, and with +the reasons which induced him to say nothing to her until the receipt of +Mr. Harvey's letter, which he now put into her hands, requesting her +opinion on the subject. Mrs. Campbell, after having read the letter, +replied-- + +"It appears, my dear husband, that we have been called to take +possession of a property, and to hold for many years that which belongs +to another. We are now called upon to give it up to the rightful owner. +You ask my opinion; surely there is no occasion to do that. We must of +course now, that we know the claim is just, do as we would be done by." + +"That is, my dearest, we must surrender it at once, without any more +litigation. It certainly has been my feeling ever since I have read Mr. +Harvey's letter. Yet it is hard to be beggars." + +"It _is_ hard, my dear husband, if we may use that term; but, at the +same time, it is the will of Heaven. We received the property supposing +it to have been our own; we have, I hope, not misused it during the time +it has been intrusted to us; and, since it pleases Heaven that we should +be deprived of it, let us, at all events, have the satisfaction of +acting conscientiously and justly, and trust to Him for our future +support." + +"I will write immediately," replied Mr. Campbell, "to acquaint Mr. +Harvey, that although I litigated the point as long as the claim was +considered doubtful, now that he informs me that the other party is the +legal heir, I beg that all proceedings may be stopped, as I am willing +to give immediate possession." + +"Do so, my dear," replied his wife, embracing him. "We may be poor, but +I trust we shall still be happy." + +Mr. Campbell sat down and wrote the letter of instructions to his +solicitor, sealed it, and sent a groom with it to the post. + +As soon as the servant had closed the door of the room, Mr. Campbell +covered his face with his hands. + +"It is, indeed, a severe trial," said Mrs. Campbell, taking the hand of +her husband; "but you have done your duty." + +"I care not for myself; I am thinking of my children." + +"They must work," replied Mrs. Campbell. "Employment is happiness." + +"Yes, the boys may get on; but those poor girls! what a change will it +be for them!" + +"I trust they have not been so badly brought up, Campbell, but that they +will submit with cheerfulness, and be a source of comfort to us both. +Besides, we may not be absolutely beggars." + +"That depends upon the other party. He may claim all arrears of rent; +and if so, we are more than beggars. However, God's will be done. Shall +we receive good, and shall we not receive evil?" + +"There's hope, my husband," replied Mrs. Campbell, in a cheering tone; +"let us hope for the best." + +"How little do we know what is for our good, short-sighted mortals as we +are!" observed Mr. Campbell. "Had not this estate come to us, I should, +by following up my profession as surgeon, in all probability, have +realized a good provision for my children: now, this seeming good turn +of fortune leaves me poor. I am too old now to resume my profession, +and, if I did, have no chance of obtaining the practice which I left. +You see that which appeared to us and every one else the most fortunate +occurrence in my life, has eventually proved the contrary." + +"As far as our limited view of things can enable us to judge, I grant +it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but who knows what might have happened if +we had remained in possession? All is hidden from our view. _He_ acts as +he thinks best for us; and it is for us to submit without repining. +Come, dearest, let us walk out; the air is fresh, and will cool your +heated brow." + +Two days after this conversation, a letter was received from Mr. Harvey, +informing them that he had made known Mr. Campbell's determination to +resign the property without further litigation; that the reply of the +other party was highly honorable, stating that it was not his intention +to make any claim for the back rents, and requesting that Mr. Campbell +and family would consider Wexton Hall at their disposal for three +months, to enable them to make arrangements, and dispose of their +furniture, etc. + +The contents of this letter were a great relief to the mind of Mr. +Campbell, as he was now able to ascertain what his future means might +be, and was grateful for the handsome behavior of the new proprietor in +not making any claim for back rents, which would have reduced him at +once to penury. He wrote immediately to Mr. Harvey requesting him to +send in his account of legal expenses, that it might be liquidated as +soon as possible. In three days it arrived, and a letter with it, in +which Mr. Harvey acquainted him, that it was in consequence of his +having so handsomely surrendered the property as soon as the claim was +substantiated, together with the knowledge how much the estate had been +improved during the ten years in which it had been in his possession, +which induced the new proprietor to behave in so liberal a manner. This +was very gratifying to Mr. Campbell, but the legal expenses proved +enormous, amounting to many thousand pounds. + +Mr. Campbell read the sum total, and threw the heap of papers down on +the table in despair. + +"We are still ruined, my dear," said he mournfully. + +"Let us hope _not_," replied Mrs. Campbell. "At all events, we now know +the worst of it, and we must look it boldly in the face." + +"I have not so much money as will pay this bill by nearly a thousand +pounds, my dearest wife." + +"It may be so," replied Mrs. Campbell; "but still there is the +furniture, the horses, and carriages; surely, they are worth much more." + +"But we have other bills to pay; you forget them." + +"No, I do not; I have been collecting them all, and they do not amount +to more than 300_l._ as near as I can judge; but we have no time to +lose, dearest, and we must show courage." + +"What then do you advise, Emily?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"We must incur no more expense; our present establishment must be +dismissed at once. Send for all the servants to-morrow morning, and +explain what has occurred. This evening I will make it known to the two +girls and Miss Paterson, who must of course be discharged, as we can no +longer afford a governess. We must retain only the cook, housemaid, and +footman, and a groom to look after the horses until they are sold. Send +a letter to Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, to give notice of an early sale +of the furniture. You must write to Henry; of course, he can no longer +remain at college. We have plenty of time to consider what shall be our +future plans, which must depend much upon what may prove to be our +future means." + +This judicious advice was approved of by Mr. Campbell. Miss Paterson was +greatly distressed when the news was communicated to her by Mrs. +Campbell. Mary and Emma Percival felt deeply for their kind +benefactors, but thought nothing of themselves. As Mrs. Campbell had +truly observed, they had been too well brought up. As soon as they were +informed of what had happened, they both ran to Mr. Campbell's room, and +hung upon his neck, declaring they would do all they could to make him +happy, and work for him, if necessary, from morning till night. + +The next day the whole household were summoned into the dining-room, and +made acquainted by Mr. Campbell with what had taken place, and the +necessity of their immediate removal. Their wages had been calculated, +and were paid them before they quitted the room, which they all did with +many expressions of regret. Miss Paterson requested leave to remain with +them as a friend for a few days longer, and as she was deservedly a +favorite, her request was acceded to. + +"Thank heaven, that is over!" said Mr. Campbell, after all the household +had been dismissed. "It is quite a relief to my mind." + +"Here's a letter from Alfred, uncle," said Emma Percival, entering the +room. "He has just arrived at Portsmouth, and says the ship is ordered +to be paid off immediately, and his captain is appointed to a fifty-gun +ship, and intends to take him with him. He says he will be here in a few +days, and"---- + +"And what, dearest?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"He says his time will be short, but he hopes you won't object to his +bringing two of his messmates down with him." + +"Poor fellow! I am sorry that he will be disappointed," replied Mr. +Campbell. "You must write to him, Emma, and tell him what has happened." + +"I must write to him, uncle?" + +"Yes, dear Emma, do you write to him," replied Mrs. Campbell; "your +uncle and I have much to attend to." + +"I will, since you wish me," said Emma, the tears starting in her eyes, +as she quitted the room. + +"Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, wishes to see you, sir," said the footman, +as he came in. + +"Request that he will walk in," replied Mr. Campbell. + +Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, came in, and presented a letter to Mr. +Campbell, who requested him to take a chair while he read it. It was +from Mr. Douglas Campbell, the new proprietor of the estate, requesting +Mr. Bates would ascertain if Mr. Campbell was willing that the +furniture, etc., should be disposed of by valuation, and if so, +requesting Mr. Bates to put a liberal value on it, and draw upon him for +the amount. + +"This is very considerate of Mr. Douglas Campbell," observed Mrs. +Campbell; "of course, my dear, you can have no objection?" + +"None whatever; return my best thanks to Mr. Douglas Campbell for his +kindness; and, Mr. Bates, if you can possibly value by to-morrow or next +day, I should esteem it a favor." + +"It shall be done, sir," replied Mr. Bates, who then rose and took his +leave. + +As soon as the valuation was finished, Mr. Campbell was enabled to make +an estimate of what remained to them out of the property, and found that +the whole sum amounted to between seventeen and eighteen hundred pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +It may appear strange that, after having been in possession of the +estate for ten years, and considering that he had younger children to +provide for, Mr. Campbell had not laid up a larger sum; but this can be +fully explained. As I before said, the estate was in very bad order when +Mr. Campbell came into possession, and he devoted a large portion of the +income to improving it; and, secondly, he had expended a considerable +sum in building almshouses and schools, works which he would not delay, +as he considered them as religious obligations. The consequence was, +that it was not until a year before the claim was made to the estate, +that he had commenced laying by for his younger children; and as the +estate was then worth L2,000 per annum more than it was at the time +that he came into possession of it, he had resolved to put by L5,000 per +annum, and had done so for twelve months. The enormous legal expenses +had, however, swallowed up this sum, and more, as we have already +stated; and thus he was left a poorer man by some hundreds than he was +when the property fell to him. The day after the valuation, the eldest +son, Henry, made his appearance; he seemed much dejected, more so than +his parents, and those who knew him, would have supposed. It was, +however, ascribed to his feeling for his father and mother, rather than +for himself. + +Many were the consultations held by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell as to their +future plans; but nothing at all feasible, or likely to prove +advantageous, suggested itself to them. With only sixteen or seventeen +hundred pounds, they scarcely knew where to go, or how to act. Return to +his profession Mr. Campbell knew that he could not, with any chance of +supporting his family. His eldest son, Henry, might obtain a situation, +but he was really fit for nothing but the bar or holy orders; and how +were they to support him till he could support himself? Alfred, who was +now a master's mate, could, it is true, support himself, but it would be +with difficulty, and there was little chance of his promotion. Then +there were the two other boys, and the two girls growing up fast; in +short, a family of eight people. To put so small a sum in the funds +would be useless, as they could not live upon the interest which it +would give, and how to employ it they knew not. They canvassed the +matter over and over, but without success, and each night they laid +their heads upon the pillow more and more disheartened. They were all +ready to leave the Hall, but knew not where to direct their steps when +they left it; and thus they continued wavering for a week, until they +were embraced by their son Alfred, who had made all speed to join them, +as soon as the ship had been paid off. After the first joy of meeting +between those who had been separated so long was over, Mr. Campbell +said, "I'm sorry, Alfred, that I could not give your messmates any +fishing." + +"And so am I, and so were they, for your sakes, my dear father and +mother; but what is, is--and what can't be helped, can't--so we must +make the best of it; but where's Henry and my cousins?" + +"They are walking in the park, Alfred; you had better join them; they +are most anxious to see you." + +"I will, mother; let us get over these huggings and kissings, and then +we shall be more rational: so good-by for half an hour," said Alfred, +kissing his mother again, and then hastening out of the room. + +"His spirits are not subdued, at all events," observed Mrs. Campbell. "I +thank God for it." + +Alfred soon fell in with his brother and his cousins, Mary and Emma, and +after the huggings and kissings, as he termed them, were over, he made +inquiries into the real state of his father's affairs. After a short +conversation, Henry, who was very much depressed in his spirits, said, +"Mary and Emma, perhaps you will now go in; I wish to have some +conversation with Alfred." + +"You are terribly out of heart, Harry," observed Alfred, after his +cousins had left them. "Are things so very bad?" + +"They are bad enough, Alfred; but what makes me so low-spirited is, that +I fear my folly has made them worse." + +"How so?" replied Alfred. + +"The fact is, that my father has but L1,700 left in the world, a sum +small enough; but what annoys me is this. When I was at college, little +imagining such a reverse of fortune, I anticipated my allowance, because +I knew that I could pay at Christmas, and I ran in debt about L200; My +father always cautioned me not to exceed my allowance, and thinks that I +have not done so. Now, I can not bear the idea of leaving college in +debt, and, at the same time, it will be a heavy blow to my poor father, +if he has to part with L200, out of his trifling remainder, to pay my +debt. This is what has made me so unhappy. I can not bear to tell him, +because I feel convinced that he is so honorable, he will pay it +immediately. I am mad with myself, and really do not know what to do. I +do nothing but reproach myself all day, and I can not sleep at night. I +have been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly enter into my +present feelings. I waited till you came home, because I thought you had +better tell my father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with shame +and vexation." + +"Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, "as for outrunning the constable, as +we term it at sea, it's a very common thing, and, all things considered, +no great harm done, when you suppose that you have the means, and intend +to pay; so don't lay that to heart. That you would give your right hand +not to have done so, as things have turned out, I really believe; but, +however, there is no occasion to fret any more about it. I have received +three years' pay, and the prize-money for the last eighteen months, and +there is still some more due, for a French privateer. Altogether it +amounts to L250, which I had intended to have made over to my father, +now that he is on a lee-shore; but it will come to the same thing, +whether I give it to you to pay your debts, or give it to him, as he +will pay them, if you do not; so here it is, take what you want, and +hand me over what's left. My father don't know that I have any money, +and now he won't know it; at the same time he won't know that you owe +any; so that squares the account, and he will be as well off as ever." + +"Thank you, my dear Alfred; you don't know what a relief this will be to +my mind. Now I can look my father in his face." + +"I hope you will; we are not troubled with such delicate feelings on +board ship, Harry. I should have told him the truth long before this. I +couldn't bear to keep any thing on my conscience. If this misfortune had +happened last cruise, I should have been just in your position; for I +had a tailor's bill to pay as long as a frigate's pennant, and not +enough in my pocket to buy a mouse's breakfast. Now, let's go in again, +and be as merry as possible, and cheer them up a little." + +Alfred's high spirits did certainly do much to cheer them all up; and +after tea, Mr. Campbell, who had previously consulted his wife, as soon +as the servant had quitted the room, entered on a full explanation of +the means which were left to them; and stated, that he wished in his +difficulty to put the question before the whole family, and ascertain +whether any project might come into their heads upon which they might +decide and act. Henry, who had recovered his spirits since the +assistance he had received from Alfred, was desired to speak first. He +replied: + +"My dear father and mother, if you can not between you hit upon any +plan, I am afraid it is not likely that I can assist you. All I have to +say is, that whatever may be decided upon, I shall most cheerfully do my +duty toward you and my brothers and sisters. My education has not been +one likely to be very useful to a poor man, but I am ready to work with +my hands as well as with my head, to the best of my abilities." + +"That I am sure of, my dear boy," replied his father. "Now, Alfred, we +must look to you as our last hope, for your two cousins are not likely +to give us much advice." + +"Well, father, I have been thinking a good deal about it, and I have a +proposal to make which may at first startle you, but it appears to me +that it is our only, and our best, resource. The few hundred pounds +which you have left are of no use in this country, except to keep you +from starving for a year or two; but in another country they may be made +to be worth as many thousands. In this country, a large family becomes a +heavy charge and expense; in another country, the more children you +have, the richer man you are. If, therefore, you would consent to +transport your family and your present means into another country, +instead of being a poor, you might be a rich man." + +"What country is that, Alfred?" + +"Why, father, the purser of our ship had a brother, who, soon after the +French were beaten out of the Canadas, went out there to try his +fortune. He had only three hundred pounds in the world: he has been +there now about four years, and I read a letter from him which the +purser received when the frigate arrived at Portsmouth, in which he +states that he is doing well, and getting rich fast; that he has a farm +of five hundred acres, of which two hundred are cleared; and that if he +only had some children large enough to help him, he would soon be worth +ten times the money, as he would purchase more land immediately. Land is +to be bought there at a dollar an acre, and you may pick and choose. +With your money, you might buy a large property; with your children, you +might improve it fast; and in a few years, you would at all events be +comfortable, if not flourishing, in your circumstances. Your children +would work for you, and you would have the satisfaction of knowing that +you left them independent and happy." + +"I acknowledge, my dear boy, that you have struck upon a plan which has +much to recommend it. Still there are drawbacks." + +"Drawbacks!" replied Alfred, "yes, to be sure, there are; if estates +were to be picked up for merely going out for them, there would not be +many left for you to choose; but, my dear father, I know no drawbacks +which can not be surmounted. Let us see what these drawbacks are. First, +hard labor; occasional privation; a log hut, till we can get a better; +severe winter; isolation from the world; occasional danger, even from +wild beasts and savages. I grant these are but sorry exchanges for such +a splendid mansion as this--fine furniture, excellent cooking, polished +society, and the interest one feels for what is going on in our own +country, which is daily communicated to us. Now, as to hard labor, I and +Henry will take as much of that off your hands as we can: if the winter +is severe, there is no want of firewood; if the cabin is rude, at least +we will make it comfortable; if we are shut out from the world, we shall +have society enough among ourselves; if we are in danger, we will have +firearms and stout hearts to defend ourselves; and, really, I do not see +but we may be very happy, very comfortable, and, at all events, very +independent." + +"Alfred, you talk as if you were going with us," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"And do you think that I am not, my dear mother? Do you imagine that I +would remain here when you were there, and my presence would be useful? +No--no--I love the service, it is true, but I know my duty, which is, +to assist my father and mother: in fact, I prefer it; a midshipman's +ideas of independence are very great; and I had rather range the wilds +of America free and independent, than remain in the service, and have to +touch my hat to every junior lieutenant, perhaps for twenty years to +come. If you go, I go, that is certain. Why, I should be miserable if +you went without me; I should dream every night that an Indian had run +away with Mary, or that a bear had eaten up my little Emma." + +"Well, I'll take my chance of the Indian," replied Mary Percival. + +"And I of the bear," said Emma. "Perhaps he'll only hug me as tight as +Alfred did when he came home." + +"Thank you, miss, for the comparison," replied Alfred, laughing. + +"I certainly consider that your proposal, Alfred, merits due +reflection," observed Mrs. Campbell. "Your father and I will consult, +and perhaps by to-morrow morning we may have come to a decision. Now we +had better all go to bed." + +"I shall dream of the Indian, I am sure," said Mary. + +"And I shall dream of the bear," added Emma, looking archly at Alfred. + +"And I shall dream of a very pretty girl--that I saw at Portsmouth," +said Alfred. + +"I don't believe you," replied Emma. + +Shortly afterward Mr. Campbell rang the bell for the servants; family +prayers were read, and all retired in good spirits. + +The next morning they all met at an early hour; and after Mr. Campbell +had, as was his invariable rule, read a portion of the Bible, and a +prayer of thankfulness, they sat down to breakfast. After breakfast was +over, Mr. Campbell said-- + +"My dear children, last night, after you had left us, your mother and I +had a long consultation, and we have decided that we have no alternative +left us but to follow the advice which Alfred has given: if, then, you +are all of the same opinion as we are, we have resolved that we will try +our fortunes in the Canadas." + +"I am certainly of that opinion," replied Henry. + +"And you, my girls?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"We will follow you to the end of the world, uncle," replied Mary, "and +try if we can by any means in our power repay your kindness to two poor +orphans." + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell embraced their nieces, for they were much affected +by Mary's reply. + +After a pause, Mrs. Campbell said-- + +"And now that we have come to a decision, we must commence our +arrangements immediately. How shall we dispose of ourselves? Come, +Alfred and Henry, what do you propose doing?" + +"I must return immediately to Oxford, to settle my affairs, and dispose +of my books and other property." + +"Shall you have sufficient money, my dear boy, to pay every thing?" said +Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, my dear father," replied Henry, coloring up a little. + +"And I," said Alfred, "presume that I can be of no use here; therefore I +propose that I should start for Liverpool this afternoon by the coach, +for it is from Liverpool that we had better embark. I shall first write +to our purser for what information he can procure, and obtain all I can +at Liverpool from other people. As soon as I have any thing to +communicate, I will write." + +"Write as soon as you arrive, Alfred, whether you have any thing to +communicate or not; at all events, we shall know of your safe arrival." + +"I will, my dear mother." + +"Have you money, Alfred?" + +"Yes, quite sufficient, father. I don't travel with four horses." + +"Well, then, we will remain here to pack up, Alfred; and you must look +out for some moderate lodging for us to go into as soon as we arrive at +Liverpool. At what time do the ships sail for Quebec?" + +"Just about this time, father. This is March, and they will now sail +every week almost. The sooner we are off the better, that we may be +comfortably housed in before the winter." + +A few hours after this conversation, Henry and Alfred left the Hall +upon their several destinations. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +had plenty of employment for three or four days in packing up. It was +soon spread through the neighborhood that they were going to emigrate to +Canada; and the tenants who had held their farms under Mr. Campbell, all +came forward and proffered their wagons and horses to transport the +effects to Liverpool, without his being put to any expense. + +In the meantime a letter had been received from Alfred, who had not been +idle. He had made acquaintance with some merchants who traded to Canada, +and by them had been introduced to two or three persons who had settled +there a few years before, and who were able to give him every +information. They informed him what was most advisable to take out; how +they were to proceed upon their landing; and, what was of more +importance, the merchants gave him letters of introduction to English +merchants at Quebec, who would afford them every assistance in the +selecting and purchasing of land, and in their transport up the country. +Alfred had also examined a fine timber-ship, which was to sail in three +weeks; and had bargained for the price of their passage, in case they +could get ready in time to go by her. He wrote all these particulars to +his father, waiting for his reply to act upon his wishes. + +Henry returned from Oxford, having settled his accounts, and with the +produce of the sale of his classics and other books in his pocket. He +was full of spirits, and of the greatest assistance to his father and +mother. + +Alfred had shown so much judgment in all he had undertaken, that his +father wrote to him stating that they would be ready for the ship which +he named, and that he might engage the cabins, and also at once procure +the various articles which they were advised to take out with them, and +draw upon him for the amount, if the people would not wait for the +money. In a fortnight they were all ready; the wagons had left with +their effects some days before. Mr. Campbell wrote a letter to Mr. +Douglas Campbell, thanking him for his kindness and consideration to +them, and informing him that they would leave Wexton Hall on the +following day. He only begged, as a favor, that the schoolmaster and +schoolmistress of the village school should be continued on, as it was +of great importance that the instruction of the poor should not be +neglected; and added, that perceiving by the newspapers that Mr. Douglas +Campbell had lately married, Mrs. Campbell and he wished him and his +wife every happiness, etc., etc. + +Having dispatched this letter, there was nothing more to be done, +previous to their departure from the Hall, except to pay and dismiss the +few servants who were with them; for Mrs. Campbell had resolved upon +taking none out with her. That afternoon they walked round the +plantation and park for the last time. Mrs. Campbell and the girls went +round the rooms of the Hall to ascertain that every thing was left tidy, +neat, and clean. The poor girls sighed as they passed by the harp and +piano in the drawing-room, for they were old friends. + +"Never mind, Mary," said Emma; "we have our guitars, and may have music +in the woods of Canada without harp or piano." + +The following morning, the coach, of which they had secured the whole of +the inside, drove up to the Hall door, and they all got in, the tenants +and poor people standing round them, all with their hats in their hands +out of respect, and wishing them every success as they drove away +through the avenue to the park gates. The Hall and the park itself had +been long out of sight before a word was exchanged. They checked their +tears, but their hearts were too full for them to venture to speak. + +The day afterward they arrived at Liverpool, where Alfred had provided +lodgings. Every thing had been sent on board, and the ship had hauled +out in the stream. As they had nothing to detain them on the shore, and +the captain wished to take advantage of the first fair wind, they all +embarked four days after their arrival at Liverpool; and I shall now +leave them on board of the London Merchant, which was the name of the +vessel, making all their little arrangements previous to their sailing, +under the superintendence of Alfred, while I give some little more +insight into the characters, ages, and dispositions of the family. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Mr. Campbell was a person of many amiable qualities. He was a religious, +good man, very fond of his wife, to whose opinions he yielded in +preference to his own, and very partial to his children, to whom he was +inclined to be over indulgent. He was not a person of much energy of +character, but he was sensible and well-informed. His goodness of heart +rendered him liable to be imposed upon, for he never suspected any +deceit, notwithstanding that he was continually deceived. His character +was therefore that of a simple, good, honest man. + +Mrs. Campbell was well matched with him as a wife, as she had all that +energy and decision of character which was sometimes wanting in her +husband. Still there was nothing masculine in her manners and +appearance; on the contrary, she was delicate in her form, and very soft +in her manners. She had great firmness and self-possession, and had +brought up all her children admirably. Obedience to their parents was +the principle instilled into them after their duty to God; for she knew +too well that a disobedient child can never prosper. If ever there was a +woman fitted to meet the difficulty and danger which threatened them, it +was Mrs. Campbell, for she had courage and presence of mind, joined to +activity and cleverness. + +Henry, the eldest son, was now nearly twenty years of age. He possessed +much of the character of his father, was without vice, but rather +inclined to inaction than otherwise. Much was to be ascribed to his +education and college life, and more to his natural disposition. + +Alfred, the sailor, was, on the contrary, full of energy and active in +every thing, patient and laborious, if required, and never taking any +thing in hand without finishing it, if possible. He was rough, but not +rude, both in his speech and his manners, very kind-hearted, at the same +time very confident in himself and afraid of nothing. + +Mary Percival was a very amiable, reflective girl, quiet without being +sad, not often indulging in conversation, except when alone with her +sister Emma. She was devotedly attached to her uncle and aunt, and was +capable of more than she had any idea of herself, for she was of a +modest disposition, and thought humbly of herself. Her disposition was +sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance. She was now seventeen years +old, and very much admired. + +Her sister Emma, who was but fifteen, was of a very different +disposition, naturally gay, and inclined to find amusement in every +thing--cheerful as the lark, and singing from morning to night. Her +disposition, owing to Mrs. Campbell's care and attention, was equally +amiable as her sister's, and her high spirits seldom betrayed her into +indiscretion. She was the life of the family when Alfred was away: he +only was her equal in high spirits. + +Percival, the third boy, was now twelve years old; he was a quiet, +clever lad, very obedient and very attentive to what was told him, very +fond of obtaining information, being naturally very inquisitive. + +John, the fourth boy, was ten years old--a sturdy, John Bull sort of a +boy, not very fond of learning, but a well-disposed boy in most things. +He preferred any thing to his book; at the same time, he was obedient, +and tried to keep up his attention as well as he could, which was all +that could be expected from a boy of his age. He was very slow in every +thing, very quiet, and seldom spoke unless first spoken to. He was not +silly, although many people would have thought him so, but he certainly +was a very strange boy, and it was difficult to say what he would turn +out. + +I have now described the family as they appeared at the time that they +embarked on board of the London Merchant; and have only to add, that on +the third day after their embarkation, they made sail with a fair wind, +and ran down the Irish Channel. + +The London Merchant sailed for Cork, where the North American convoy +were to assemble. At the time we speak of, the war had recommenced +between this country and the French, who were suffering all the horrors +of the Revolution. On their arrival at Cork, our party recovered a +little from the sea-sickness to which all are subject on their first +embarkation. They found themselves at anchor with more than a hundred +merchant vessels, among which were to be perceived the lofty masts and +spars of a large fifty-gun ship, and two small frigates, which were +appointed to convoy them to their destination. + +The rest of the party, still suffering, soon went down below again, but +Alfred remained on deck leaning against the bulwarks of the vessel, his +eyes and his thoughts intently fixed upon the streaming pennants of the +men-of-war, and a tear rolled down his cheek, as he was reminded that he +no longer could follow up his favorite profession. The sacrifice he had +made to his family was indeed great. He had talked lightly of it before +them, not wishing them to believe it was so. He had not told his father +that he had passed his examination for lieutenant before he had been +paid off at Portsmouth; and that his captain, who was very partial to +him, had promised that he should soon be advanced in the service. He had +not told them that all his wishes, all his daily hopes, the most anxious +desire of his existence, which was to become a post-captain, and in +command of a fine frigate, were blighted by this sacrifice he had made +for them and their comfort. He had concealed all this, and assumed a +mirth which he did not feel; but now that he was alone, and the pennant +was once more presented to his view, his regrets could not be +controlled. He sighed deeply, and turning away with his arms folded, +said to himself--"I have done my duty. It is hard, after having served +so long, and now just arrived at the time in which I have reason to +expect my reward--to rise in the service--distinguish myself by my zeal, +and obtain a reputation, which, if it pleased God, I would have +done--very hard, to have to leave it now, and to be hid in the woods, +with an ax in my hand; but how could I leave my father, my mother, and +my brothers and sisters, to encounter so much difficulty and privation +by themselves, when I have a strong arm to help them! No! no!--I have +done my duty to those who ever did their duty to me, and I trust that my +own conscience will prove my reward, and check that repining which we +are too apt to feel when it pleases Heaven to blight what appears to be +our fairest prospects ... I say, my good fellow," said Alfred, after a +while, to a man in a boat, "what is the name of that fifty-gun ship?" + +"I don't know which ship has fifty guns, or which has a hundred," +replied the Irishman; "but if you mean the biggest of the three, she is +called the Portsmouth." + +"The Portsmouth! the very ship Captain Lumley was appointed to," cried +Alfred. "I must go on board." + +Alfred ran down to the cabin, and requested the captain of the +transport, whose name was Wilson, to allow him the small boat to go on +board the man-of-war. His request was granted, and Alfred was soon up +the side of the Portsmouth. There were some of his old messmates on the +quarter-deck, who welcomed him heartily, for he was a great favorite. +Shortly afterward, he sent down a message by the steward, requesting +that Captain Lumley would see him, and was immediately afterward ordered +to go into the cabin. + +"Well, Mr. Campbell," said Captain Lumley, "so you have joined us at +last; better late than never. You're but just in time. I thought you +would soon get over that foolish whim of yours, which you mentioned in +your letter to me, of leaving the service, just after you had passed, +and had such good chance of promotion. What could have put it in your +head?" + +"Nothing, sir," replied Alfred, "but my duty to my parents. It is a most +painful step for me to take, but I leave you to judge whether I can do +otherwise." + +Alfred then detailed to Captain Lumley all that had occurred, the +resolution which his father and mother had taken, and their being then +on board the timber-ship, and about to proceed to their new destination. + +Captain Lumley heard Alfred's story without interruption, and then, +after a pause, said, "I think you are right, my boy, and it does you +honor. Where you are going to, I have no doubt but your courage and your +protection will be most important. Yet it is a pity you should be lost +to the service." + +"I feel most sincerely, sir, I assure you, but----" + +"But you sacrifice yourself; I know that. I admire the resolution of +your father and mother. Few could have the courage to have taken such a +step--few women, especially, I shall call upon them, and pay my +respects. In half an hour I shall be ready, and you shall accompany me, +and introduce me. In the meantime you can go and see your old +messmates." + +Alfred left the cabin, much flattered by the kindness of Captain Lumley, +and went down to his former messmates, with whom he remained until the +boatswain piped away the crew of the captain's barge. He then went on +deck, and as soon as the captain came up, he went into the boat. The +captain followed, and they were soon on board of the London Merchant. +Alfred introduced Captain Lumley to his father and mother; and in the +course of half an hour, being mutually pleased with each other, an +intimacy was formed, when Captain Lumley observed, "I presume that, much +as you may require your son's assistance on your arrival at Canada, you +can dispense with his presence on board of this vessel. My reason for +making this observation is that no chance should ever be thrown away. +One of my lieutenants wishes to leave the ship on family concerns. He +has applied to me, and I have considered it my duty to refuse him, now +that we are on the point of sailing, and I am unable to procure another. +But for your son's sake, I will now permit him to go, and will, if you +will allow him to come on board of the Portsmouth, give Alfred an acting +lieutenant's order. Should any thing occur on the passage out, and it is +not at all impossible, it will insure his promotion; even if nothing +occurs, I will have his acting order confirmed. At Quebec, he shall, of +course, leave the ship, and go with you. I don't pretend to detain him +from his duty; but you will observe, that if he does obtain his rank, he +will also obtain his half-pay, which, if he remains in Canada with you, +will be a great assistance; and if things should turn out so well, that +you can, after a year or two, do without him, and allow him to return to +the service, he will then have already gained the most important step, +and will, I have no doubt, soon rise to the command of a ship. I will +give you till to-morrow to decide. Alfred can come on board in the +morning, and let me know." + +"I think I may say, Captain Lumley," replied Mrs. Campbell, "that my +husband could have but one reason in hesitating a moment, and that is, +to ascertain whether I should like to part with my son during our +passage out. I should, indeed, be a very weak woman, if I did not make +such a trifling sacrifice for his benefit, and, at the time, feel most +grateful to you for your kind intentions toward him. I rather think that +Mr. Campbell will not find it necessary to have till to-morrow morning +to consider the proposal; but I leave him to answer for himself." + +"I can assure you, Captain Lumley, that Mrs. Campbell has only expressed +my own feelings, and, as far as we are concerned, your offer is most +gratefully accepted." + +"Then, Alfred," replied Captain Lumley, "has only to make his appearance +on board of the Portsmouth to-morrow morning, and he will find his +acting order ready for him. We sail, I believe, the day after, if the +weather is at all favorable; so, if I have not another opportunity to +pay my respects to you, you must allow me to say farewell now. I shall +keep my eye upon your vessel during the passage; at all events, Alfred +will, I'm very sure." + +Captain Lumley shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, bowed to the rest +of the cabin party, and quitted the ship. As he went over the side, he +observed to Alfred, "I perceive you have some attractions in your party. +It is quite melancholy to think that those pretty cousins of yours +should be buried in the woods of Canada. To-morrow, at nine o'clock, +then, I shall expect you.--Adieu!" + +Although the idea of Alfred leaving them during the passage out was not +pleasant, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were most happy at the chance which had +offered itself for their son's advantage, and seemed in good spirits +when he took leave of them on the following morning. + +"Captain Wilson, you sail so well, that I hope you will keep close to us +all the passage out," observed Alfred, as he was taking leave. + +"Except you happen to come to action with an enemy, and then I shall +haul off to a respectful distance, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Wilson +laughing. + +"That, of course. Cannon-balls were never invented for ladies, although +they have no objection to balls,--have they Emma? Well, good-by once +more. You can often see me with the spy-glass if you feel inclined. +Recollect that." + +Alfred shoved off in the boat, and was soon on board of the Portsmouth. +The following day they sailed with a fair wind and moderate weather; the +convoy now increased to 120 vessels. + +We must leave Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and family on board the London +Merchant, and follow Alfred in the Portsmouth, during the passage to +Quebec. + +For several days the weather was moderate, although the wind was not +always fair, and the convoy was kept together, and in good order. The +London Merchant was never far away from the Portsmouth, and Alfred +employed a large portion of his time, when he was not keeping his watch, +in keeping his spy-glass upon the vessel, and watching the motions of +his cousins and the rest of the family. On board of the London Merchant +they were similarly occupied, and very often a handkerchief was waved by +way of salute and recognition. At last they arrived off the banks of +Newfoundland, and were shrouded in a heavy fog, the men-of-war +constantly firing guns, to inform the merchant-ships in what direction +they were to steer, and the merchant-vessels of the convoy ringing their +bells, to warn each other, that they might not be run foul of. + +The fog lasted two days, and was still continuing when the party on +board the London Merchant, just as they were sitting down to dinner in +the cabin, heard a noise and bustle on deck. Captain Wilson ran hastily +up and found that his vessel had been boarded by a French boat's crew, +who had beaten down the men and taken possession. As there was no help, +all he could do was to go down to the cabin, and inform his passengers +that they were prisoners. The shock of this intelligence was very great, +as may be supposed, but still there was no useless lamentation or +weeping. One thing is certain, that this news quite spoiled their +appetite for their dinner, which, however, was soon dispatched by the +French officer and his men, after the boat had left, and the vessel's +head had been put in an opposite direction. + +Captain Wilson, who had returned on deck, came down in about a quarter +of an hour, and informed the party, who were silently brooding over this +sudden change in their prospects, that the wind was very light, and that +he thought the fog was clearing off a little, and that if it did so +before it was dark, he was in great hopes that they should be +recaptured. This intelligence appeared to revive the hopes of Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell, and they were still more encouraged when they heard the +sounds of guns at no very great distance. In a few minutes afterward the +cannonading became very furious, and the Frenchmen who were on board +began to show strong signs of uneasiness. + +The fact was, that a French squadron, of one sixty-gun ship and two +corvettes, had been on the look-out for the convoy, and had come in +among them during the fog. They had captured and taken possession of +several vessels before they were discovered, but the sixty-gun ship at +last ran very near to the Portsmouth, and Alfred, who had the watch, and +was on a sharp look-out, soon perceived through the looming fog, that +she was not one of the convoy. He ran down to acquaint the captain, and +the men were immediately ordered to their quarters, without beating the +drum, or making any noise that might let the enemy know they were so +near. The yards were then braced in, to check the way of the Portsmouth, +so that the strange vessel might come up with her. Silence was kept fore +and aft, not a whisper was to be heard; and as the Frenchmen neared +them, they perceived a boat putting off from her to board another vessel +close to them, and also heard the orders given to the men in the French +language. This was sufficient for Captain Lumley: he put the helm down, +and poured a raking broadside into the enemy, who was by no means +prepared for such a sudden salute, although her guns were cast loose, +ready for action, in case of accident. The answer to the broadside was a +cry of "_Vive la Republique!_" and, in a few seconds, both ships were +hotly engaged--the Portsmouth having the advantage of lying upon the bow +of her antagonist. + +As is often the case, the heavy cannonading brought on a dead calm, and +the two ships remained in their respective positions, except that the +Portsmouth's was more favorable, having drawn ahead of the French +vessel, so that her broadside was poured into her opponent, without her +being able to return the fire from more than four or five of her guns. +The fog became more opaque than ever; the two ships had neared each +other considerably, or it would have been impossible to distinguish. All +that they could see from the deck of the Portsmouth was the jib-boom and +cap of the bowsprit of the Frenchman, the rest of her bowsprit, and her +whole hull, were lost in the impenetrable gloom; but that was sufficient +for the men to direct their guns, and the fire from the Portsmouth was +most rapid, although the extent of its execution was unknown. After half +an hour of incessant broadsides, the two vessels had approached each +other so close, that the jib-boom of the Frenchman was pointed between +the fore and main rigging of the Portsmouth. Captain Lumley immediately +gave orders to lash the Frenchman's bowsprit to his mainmast, and this +was accomplished by the first lieutenant, Alfred, and the seamen, +without any serious loss, for the fog was still so thick, that the +Frenchman on their forecastle could not perceive what was doing at their +bowsprit's cap. + +"She is ours now," said Captain Lumley to the first lieutenant. + +"Yes, sir,--fast enough. I think, if the fog were to clear away, they +would haul down their colors." + +"Not till the last, depend upon it," replied Captain Lumley. "Fire away +there, on the main-deck, give them no time to take breath. Mr. Campbell, +tell the second lieutenant to let the foremost lower deck guns be +pointed more aft. I say, not till the last," repeated Captain Lumley to +the first lieutenant; "these republicans will take a good deal of +beating, even upon the water." + +"It's clearing up, sir, to the northward a little," said the master. + +"I see--yes, it is," replied Captain Lumley. "Well, the sooner the +better: we shall see what has become of all the shot we have been +throwing away." + +A white silvery line appeared on the horizon, to the northward; +gradually it increased, and as it rose up, became broader, till at last +the curtain was lifted up, and a few feet were to be seen above the +clear blue water. As it continued to approach, the light became more +vivid, the space below increased, and the water was ruffled with the +coming wind, till at last the fog rolled off as if it had been gradually +furled, and sweeping away in a heavy bank to leeward, exposed the state +and position of the whole convoy, and the contending vessels. The +English seamen on board of the Portsmouth cheered the return of +daylight, as it might truly be termed. Captain Lumley found that they +had been contending in the very center of the convoy, which was still +lying around them, with the exception of about fifteen vessels, which +were a few miles apart, with their heads in an opposite direction. These +were evidently those which had been captured. The two frigates, which +had been stationed in the rear of the convoy, were still two or three +miles distant, but making all sail to come up and assist the Portsmouth. +Many of the convoy, which had been in the direction of the fire, +appeared to have suffered in their masts and sails; but whether any +injury had been received in their hulls it was not possible to say. The +French line-of-battle ship had suffered dreadfully from the fire of the +Portsmouth. Her mainmast and mizzen-mast were over the side, her forward +ports were many of them almost beat into one, and every thing on board +appeared to be in the greatest confusion. + +"She can't stand this long," observed Captain Lumley. "Fire away, my +lads." + +"The Circe and Vixen are coming down to us, sir," observed the first +lieutenant; "we do not want them, and they will only be an excuse for +the Frenchman to surrender to a superior force. If they recaptured the +vessels taken, they would be of some service." + +"Very true. Mr. Campbell, make their signal to pursue captured +vessels." + +Alfred ran aft to obey the orders. The flags had just flown out at the +mast-head, when he received a bullet through his arm: for the French, +unable to use the major portion of their guns, had, when the fog cleared +up, poured in incessant volleys of musketry upon the decks of the +Portsmouth. Alfred desired the quarter-master to untie his neck +handkerchief for him, and bind up his arm. Having so done, he continued +to do his duty. A bold attempt was now made by the French to clear their +vessel by cutting the fastening of her bowsprit, but the marines of the +Portsmouth were prepared for them, and after about twenty gallant +fellows had dropped down on the booms and gangways of the Portsmouth, +the attempt was given up, and four minutes afterward the French colors +were hauled down. She was boarded from her bowsprit by the first +lieutenant and a party of seamen. The lashings were cast off, and the +vessels cleared of each other, and then the English seamen gave three +cheers in honor of the victory. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The French sixty-gun ship proved to be the Leonidas; she had been sent +out with two large frigates on purpose to intercept the convoy, but she +had parted with her consorts in a gale of wind. Her loss of men was very +great; that on board of the Portsmouth was trifling. In a couple of +hours the Portsmouth and her prize in tow were ready to proceed with the +convoy, but they still remained hove to, to wait for the frigates which +were in chase of the captured vessels. All of these were speedily come +up with except the London Merchant, which sailed so remarkably well. At +last, to the great joy of Alfred (who as soon as the bullet had been +extracted and his arm dressed, had held his telescope fixed upon the +chase), she hove to, and was taken possession of. Before night, the +convoy were again collected together, and were steering for their +destination. The next morning was clear, and the breeze moderate. Mrs. +Campbell, who, as well as all the rest, was very anxious about Alfred, +requested Captain Wilson to run down to the Portsmouth, that they might +ascertain if he was safe. Captain Wilson did as she requested, and +writing in chalk "all well" in large letters upon the log-board, held it +over the side as he passed close to the Portsmouth. Alfred was not on +deck--fever had compelled him to remain in his hammock--but Captain +Lumley made the same reply on the log-board of the Portsmouth, and Mr. +and Mrs. Campbell were satisfied. + +"How I should like to see him," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, madam," observed Captain Wilson, "but they have too much to do on +board of the Portsmouth just now; they have to repair damages and to +look after the wounded; they have a great quantity of prisoners on +board, as you may see, for a great many are now on the booms; they have +no time for compliments." + +"That is very true," replied Mr. Campbell, "we must wait till we arrive +at Quebec." + +"But we did not see Alfred," said Emma. + +"No, miss, because he was busy enough below, and I dare say no one told +him. They have said that all's well, and that is sufficient; and now we +must haul off again, for with such a heavy ship in tow, Captain Lumley +will not thank me if I am always coming so close to him." + +"I am satisfied, Captain Wilson; pray do nothing that might displease +Captain Lumley. We shall soon see Alfred, I dare say, with the +spy-glass." + +"I see him now," said Mary Percival, "he has his telescope, and he is +waving his hat to me." + +"Thank God," replied Mrs. Campbell; "now I am satisfied." + +The Portsmouth cast off the French line-of-battle ship, as soon as they +had jury-masts up and could make sail on them, and the convoy proceeded +to the mouth of the St. Lawrence. + +"Captain Wilson," said Percival, whose eyes were fixed on the water, +"what animals are those, tumbling about and blowing,--those great white +things?" + +"They are what are called the white whale, Percival," replied Captain +Wilson; "they are not often seen, except about here." + +"Then what is the color of the other whales?" + +"The northern whales are black--they are called the black whales; but +the southern, or spermaceti whales, are not so dark in color." + +Captain Wilson then, at Percival's request, gave him an account of how +the whales were caught, for he had been several voyages himself in the +northern whale fishery. + +Percival was never tired of asking questions, and Captain Wilson was +very kind to him, and always answered him. John, generally speaking, +stood by when Captain Wilson was talking, looking very solemn and very +attentive, but not saying a word. + +"Well John," said Emma to him after the conversation had been ended, +"what was Captain Wilson telling you about?" + +"Whales," replied John, walking past her. + +"Well, but is that all you can tell me, John?" + +"Yes," replied John, walking away. + +"At all events, Miss Emma, he keeps all his knowledge to himself," +observed Captain Wilson, laughing. + +"Yes; I shall know nothing about the whale-fishery, unless you will +condescend to tell me yourself, that is evident," replied Emma, taking +the offered arm of Captain Wilson, who, at her request, immediately +resumed the subject. + +In three weeks from the day of the action they had anchored off the town +of Quebec. + +As soon as they had anchored, Alfred obtained leave to go on board of +the London Merchant, and then, for the first time, his family knew that +he had been wounded. His arm was still in a sling, but was healing fast. + +I shall pass over the numerous inquiries on his part, relative to their +capture and recapture, and on theirs, as to the action with the French +ship. + +While they were in conversation, Captain Lumley was reported to be +coming on board in his boat. They went on the deck of the vessel to +receive him. + +"Well, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley after the first salutations +were over, "you must congratulate me on my having captured a vessel +somewhat larger than my own; and I must congratulate you on the conduct +and certain promotion of your son Alfred. He has richly deserved it." + +"I am very thankful, Captain Lumley, and do most heartily congratulate +you," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I only regret that my boy has been +wounded." + +"The very thing that you should, on the contrary, be thankful for, Mrs. +Campbell," replied Captain Lumley. "It is the most fortunate wound in +the world, as it not only adds to his claims, but enables me to let him +join you and go to Canada with you, without it being supposed that he +has quitted the service." + +"How so, Captain Lumley?" + +"I can discharge him to sick-quarters here at Quebec. If they think any +thing about it at all at home, it will be that his wound is much more +severe than it really is; and he can remain on half-pay as long as he +pleases. There are plenty ready to be employed. But I can not wait any +longer. I am going on shore to call upon the Governor, and I thought I +would just see you on my way. You may assure yourselves that if I can be +of any use to you, I will not fail to exert any little influence I may +have." + +Captain Lumley then took a cordial leave of the whole party, telling +Alfred that he might consider himself as discharged from the ship, and +might rejoin his family. + +"Heaven sends us friends when we most need them and least expect them," +said Mrs. Campbell, as she watched the boat pulling away. "Who would +have imagined, when we anchored at Cork, that such good fortune should +have awaited us; and that, at the very time Alfred had given up his +profession for our sake, his promotion in the service was awaiting him?" + +Shortly afterward Mrs. Campbell and Henry went on shore with Captain +Wilson to look out for lodgings, and present the letters of introduction +which he had received for some Quebec merchants. As they were looking +for lodgings in company with a Mr. Farquhar, who had kindly volunteered +to assist them, they met Captain Lumley on his return from the +Governor. + +"I am glad to have met you, Mrs. Campbell," said Captain Lumley; "I +found on paying my respects to the Governor, that there is what they +call the Admiralty House here, which is kept furnished by Government for +the senior officers of his Majesty's ships. It is at my disposal; and as +the Governor has requested me to take up my abode at Government House, I +beg you will consider it at your service. You will find better +accommodation there than in lodgings, and it will save you considerable +expense." + +"We need look no further, Mrs. Campbell," said Mr. Farquhar. + +Mrs. Campbell expressed her acknowledgments to Captain Lumley, and +returned on board with this pleasing intelligence. + +"Oh, Alfred, how much we are indebted to you, my dear boy," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"To me, mother?--to Captain Lumley, I should rather think." + +"Yes, to Captain Lumley, I grant; but still it has been your good +conduct when under his command which has made him attached to you; and +it is to that we owe his acquaintance, and all the kindness we have +received from him." + +The next day the family disembarked and took possession of the Admiralty +House. Mr. Farquhar procured them a female servant, who, with a man and +his wife left in charge of the house, supplied all the attendance they +required. Mrs. Campbell settled with Captain Wilson, who very generously +refused to take any money for Alfred's passage, as he had not remained +on board of the London Merchant: promising, however, to accept their +invitation to come to them whenever he could find leisure, he took leave +of them for the present, and they were left alone in their new +residence. + +In a few days the Campbells found themselves comfortably settled in the +Admiralty House, but they had no intention of remaining there longer +than was necessary; as, notwithstanding the accommodation, their +residence at Quebec was attended with expense, and Mr. Campbell was +aware that he had no money to throw away. + +On the fourth day after their landing Captain Lumley called to take +leave; but the day previous he had introduced them to the Governor, who +returned Mr. Campbell's call, and appeared to be much interested in +their welfare, owing of course to the representations of Captain Lumley. +It was not, therefore, surprising that they should part with regret from +one who had proved himself such a kind friend; and many were the +expressions of gratitude which were made by the whole party. Captain +Lumley shook hands with them all; and, assuring Alfred that he would not +lose sight of his interests, wished them every success, and left the +house. An hour afterward the Portsmouth was under weigh, and running out +with a fine breeze. + +On the following day the Governor requested Mr. Campbell would call upon +him; and when they met, he pointed out to him that he would have great +difficulties, and, he was fearful, great hardships, to encounter in +following up his plan of settling in Upper Canada. He did not dissuade +him from so doing, as he had nothing more promising to offer which might +induce him to change his mind, but he thought it right to forewarn him +of trials, that he might be well prepared. + +"I feel, of course, a strong interest in any English family so well +brought up, and accustomed, as I find yours has been, to luxury, being +placed in such a situation; and the interest which my old friend, +Captain Lumley, takes in you, is quite sufficient to induce me to offer +you every assistance in my power: that you may depend upon, Mr. +Campbell. The Surveyor-General is coming here immediately, I must first +introduce you to him, as it is from him that the land must be obtained, +and of course he can advise you well on the point of locality; but you +must recollect that it is not much more than thirty years since these +provinces have been surrendered to Great Britain, and that not only the +French population, but the Indians, are very hostile to the English, for +the Indians were, and still are, firm allies to the French, and detest +us. I have been reflecting upon the affair, and I hope to be of some +service to you: if I am not, it will not, I assure you, be from any want +of will; under every advantage which may be procured for you, at all +events, you will require stout hearts and able hands. Your son Alfred +will be of great service, but we must try and procure you some other +assistance that can be trusted." + +A long conversation then took place between the Governor and Mr. +Campbell, during which the latter received much valuable information: it +was interrupted, however, by the arrival of the Surveyor-General, and +the topic was resumed. + +"The land that I would propose to Mr. Campbell," observed the +Surveyor-General, after a time, "if there is no objection to part with +it, is a portion of what has been laid aside as Government reserve on +this part of the Lake Ontario; there are lands to be obtained nearer to +Montreal, but all the land of good quality has been purchased. This +land, you will observe, Mr. Campbell, is peculiarly good, having some +few acres of what we call prairie, or natural meadow. It has also the +advantage of running with a large frontage on the beach, and there is a +small river on one side of it; besides, it is not a great distance, +perhaps four or five miles, from Fort Frontignac, and it might be easy +to obtain assistance if required." + +The Surveyor-General pointed to a part of the map, near to Presqu' Ile +de Quinte, as he made this observation to the Governor. + +"I agree with you," replied the Governor, "and I observe that there is +already a settler on the other side of the stream." + +"Yes, sir," replied the Surveyor; "that allotment was granted before it +was decided that the rest should be a Government reserve; and if proof +were required of the goodness of the land, it would be found in the +person who took it. It was taken four years ago by the old hunter, +Malachi Bone; he has been over every part of it, of course, and knows +what it is. You recollect the man, don't you, sir? He was a guide to the +English army before the surrender of Quebec; General Wolfe had a high +opinion of him, and his services were so good that he was allowed that +tract of 150 acres." + +"I now remember him," replied the Governor, "but as I have not seen him +for so many years, he had escaped my recollection." + +"It will be a great advantage to you, Mr. Campbell, having this man as a +neighbor." + +"Now," continued the Governor, addressing the Surveyor-General, "do you +know of any person who would be willing to serve Mr. Campbell, and who +can be depended upon; of course one who understands the country, and who +would be really useful?" + +"Yes, Governor, I do know a very good man, and you know him also; but +you know the worst part of him, for he is generally in trouble when you +see him." + +"Who is that?" + +"Martin Super, the trapper." + +"Why, that is the young fellow who breeds such disturbances, and who, if +I recollect right, is now in prison for a riot." + +"The very same, sir; but Martin Super, although a troublesome fellow at +Quebec, is worth his weight in gold when he is out of the town. You may +think it strange, Mr. Campbell, that I should recommend a man who +appears to be so unruly a character; but the fact is that the trappers, +who go in pursuit of the game for their skins, after having been out for +months, undergoing every privation that can be imagined, return home +with their packages of skins, which they dispose of to the merchants of +this town; and as soon as they have their money, they never cease their +revelry of every description until their earnings are all gone, and then +they set off again on their wild and venturous pursuit. Now Martin +Super, like all the rest, must have his fun when he comes back, and +being a very wild fellow, he is often in scrapes when he has drunk too +much, so that he is occasionally put into prison for being riotous; but +I know him well, he has been with me surveying for months, and when he +is on service, a more steady, active, and brave man I do not know." + +"I believe you are right in recommending him," observed the Governor, +"he will not be sorry to get out of the gaol, and I have no doubt but +that he will conduct himself well if he once agrees to take your +service, Mr. Campbell, for one or two years. As for the Canadians, they +are very harmless, but at the same time very useful. There are +exceptions, no doubt; but their general character is any thing but that +of activity and courage. As I said before, you will require stout +hearts, and Martin Super is one, that is certain. Perhaps you can +arrange this for Mr. Campbell?" + +The Surveyor-General promised to do so; shortly after which, Mr. +Campbell, with many thanks, took his leave of the Governor. + +Mr. Campbell, who had gained every possible information relative to what +would be most necessary for him to take with him, was actively employed +for a fortnight in making his purchases. During this time much attention +was shown to them both by the English and French residents at Quebec. +Alfred, whose wound was now nearly healed, was as active as usual, and +Henry was of great assistance to his father in taking inventories and +making out lists, etc. Nor were Mrs. Campbell and the two girls +unemployed; they had purchased the coarse manufactures of the country, +and were very busy making dresses for themselves and for the children. +Mr. Campbell had been one morning at Mr. Farquhar's, the merchant's, to +make inquiries about a conveyance up to his new purchase (for he had +concluded his arrangements with the Surveyor-General), when the Governor +sent a message by one of his aides-de-camp, to say that it was his +intention in the course of ten days to send a detachment of soldiers up +to Fort Frontignac--news having been received that the garrison was +weakened by a fever which had broken out; and that if Mr. Campbell would +like to avail himself of the opportunity, he and his family, and all his +luggage, should go under the escort of the officer and troops. The offer +was of course joyfully accepted, and on Mr. Campbell's calling upon the +Governor to return his thanks, the latter told him that there would be +plenty of room in the _bateaux_ and canoes for them and all their +luggage, and that he need not give himself further trouble, or incur any +further expense. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The next day the Surveyor-General called, bringing with him Martin +Super, the trapper. + +"Mr. Campbell," said the Surveyor, "this is my friend Martin Super; I +have spoken to him, and he has consented to take service for one year, +and he will remain, if he is satisfied. If he serves you as well as he +has served me when I have traveled through the country, I have no doubt +but you will find him a valuable assistant." + +Martin Super was rather tall, very straight-limbed, showing both +activity and strength. His head was smaller than usually is the case, +which gave him the appearance of great lightness and agility. His +countenance was very pleasing, being expressive of continual good humor, +which was indeed but corresponding to his real character. He was dressed +in a sort of hunting-coat of deer-skin, blue cloth leggings, a cap of +raccoon's skin, with a broad belt round his waist, in which he wore his +knife. + +"Now, Martin Super, I will read the terms of the agreement between you +and Mr. Campbell, that you may see if all is as you wish." + +The Surveyor-General read the agreement, and Martin nodded his head in +acquiescence. + +"Mr. Campbell, if you are satisfied, you may now sign it; Martin shall +do the same." + +Mr. Campbell signed his name, and handed the pen to Martin Super, who +then for the first time spoke. + +"Surveyor, I don't know how my name is spelt; and if I did, I couldn't +write it, so I must do it Indian fashion, and put my totem to it?" + +"What is your name among the Indians, Martin?" + +"The Painter," replied Martin, who then made under Mr. Campbell's name, +a figure like [Illustration of a panther] saying, "There, that's my name +as near as I can draw it." + +"Very good," replied the Surveyor-General; "here is the document all +right, Mr. Campbell. Ladies, I fear I must run away, for I have an +engagement. I will leave Martin Super, Mr. Campbell, as you would +probably like a little conversation together." + +The Surveyor-General then took his leave, and Martin Super remained. +Mrs. Campbell was the first who spoke: "Super," said she, "I hope we +shall be very good friends, but now tell me what you mean by +your--totem, I think you called it?" + +"Why, ma'am, a totem is an Indian's mark, and you know I am almost an +Indian myself. All the Indian chiefs have their totems. One is called +the Great Otter; another the Serpent, and so on, and so they sign a +figure like the animal they are named from. Then, ma'am, you see, we +trappers, who almost live with them, have names given to us also and +they have called me the Painter." + +"Why did they name you the Painter?" + +"Because I killed two of them in one day." + +"Killed two painters!" cried the girls. + +"Yes, miss; killed them both with my rifle." + +"But why did you kill the men?" said Emma; "was it in battle?" + +"Kill the men, miss; I said nothing about men; I said I killed two +painters," replied Martin, laughing, and showing a row of teeth as white +as ivory. + +"What is a painter, then, Super?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"Why, it's an animal, and a very awkward creature, I can tell you, +sometimes." + +"The drawing is something like a panther, mamma," exclaimed Mary. + +"Well, miss, it may be a panther, but we only know them by the other +name." + +Mr. Farquhar then came in, and the question was referred to him; he +laughed and told them that painters were a species of panther, not +spotted but tawny-colored, and at times very dangerous. + +"Do you know the part of the country where we are going to?" said Henry +to Super. + +"Yes, I have trapped thereabouts for months, but the beavers are scarce +now." + +"Are there any other animals there?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "small game, as we term it." + +"What sort are they?" + +"Why, there's painters, and bears, and catamounts." + +"Mercy on us! do you call that small game? why, what must the large be, +then?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Buffaloes, missus, is what we call big game." + +"But the animals you speak of are not good eating, Super," said Mrs. +Campbell; "is there no game that we can eat?" + +"Oh, yes, plenty of deer and wild turkey, and bear's good eating, I +reckon." + +"Ah! that sounds better." + +After an hour's conversation, Martin Super was dismissed; the whole of +the family (except Alfred, who was not at home) very much pleased with +what they had seen of him. + +A few days after this, Martin Super, who had now entered upon service, +and was very busy with Alfred, with whom he had already become a +favorite, was sent for by Mr. Campbell, who read over to him the +inventory of the articles which they had, and inquired of him if there +was any thing else which might be necessary or advisable to take with +them. + +"You said something about guns," replied Martin, "what sort of guns did +you mean?" + +"We have three fowling-pieces and three muskets, besides pistols." + +"Fowling-pieces,--they are bird-guns, I believe,--no use at all; muskets +are soldiers' tools,--no use; pistols are pops, and nothing better. You +have no rifles; you can't go into the woods without rifles. I have got +mine, but you must have some." + +"Well, I believe you are right, Martin; it never occurred to me. How +many ought we to have?" + +"Well, that's according--how many be you in family?" + +"We are five males and three females." + +"Well, then, sir, say ten rifles; that will be quite sufficient. Two +spare ones in case of accident," replied Martin. + +"Why, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell, "you do not mean that the children +and these young ladies and I are to fire off rifles?" + +"I do mean to say, ma'am, that before I was as old as that little boy," +pointing to John, "I could hit a mark well; and a woman ought at least +to know how to prime and load a rifle, even if she does not fire it +herself. It is a deadly weapon, ma'am, and the greatest leveler in +creation, for the trigger pulled by a child will settle the business of +the stoutest man. I don't mean to say that we may be called to use them +in that way, but it's always better to have them, and to let other +people know that you have them, and all ready loaded too, if required." + +"Well, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "I agree with you, it is better to be +well prepared. We will have the ten rifles, if we can afford to purchase +them. What will they cost?" + +"About sixteen dollars will purchase the best, sir; but I think I had +better choose them for you, and try them before you purchase." + +"Do so, then, Super; Alfred will go with you as soon as he comes back, +and you and he can settle the matter." + +"Why, Super," observed Mrs. Campbell, "you have quite frightened us +women at the idea of so many firearms being required." + +"If Pontiac was alive, missus, they would all be required, but he's gone +now; still there are many outlying Indians, as we call them, who are no +better than they should be; and I always like to see rifles ready +loaded. Why, ma'am, suppose now that all the men were out in the woods, +and a bear should pay you a visit during your absence, would it not be +just as well for to have a loaded rifle ready for him; and would not you +or the young misses willingly prefer to pull the trigger at him than to +be hugged in his fashion?" + +"Martin Super, you have quite convinced me: I shall not only learn to +load a rifle but to fire one also." + +"And I'll teach the boys the use of them, ma'am, and they will then add +to your defense." + +"You shall do so, Martin," replied Mrs. Campbell; "I am convinced that +you are quite right." + +When Super had quitted the room, which he did soon afterward, Mr. +Campbell observed--"I hope, my dear, that you and the girls are not +terrified by the remarks of Martin. It is necessary to be well armed +when isolated as we shall be, and so far from any assistance; but it +does not follow, because we ought to be prepared against danger, that +such danger should occur." + +"I can answer for myself, my dear Campbell," replied his wife; "I am +prepared, if necessary, to meet danger, and do what a weak woman can do; +and I feel what Martin says is but too true, that with a rifle in hand, +a woman or a child is on a par with the strongest man." + +"And I, my dear uncle," said Mary Percival, "shall, I trust, with the +blessing of God, know how to do my duty, however peculiar the +circumstances may be to a female." + +"And I, my dear uncle," followed up Emma, laughing, "infinitely prefer +firing off a rifle to being hugged by a bear or an Indian, because of +two evils one should always choose the least." + +"Well, then, I see Martin has done no harm, but, on the contrary, he has +done good. It is always best to be prepared for the worst, and to trust +to Providence for aid in peril." + +At last all the purchases were completed, and every thing was packed up +and ready for embarkation. Another message from the Governor was +received, stating that in three days the troops would be embarked, and +also informing Mr. Campbell that if he had not purchased any cows or +horses, the officer at Fort Frontignac had more cattle than were +requisite, and could supply him; which, perhaps, would be preferable to +carrying them up so far. Mr. Campbell had spoken about, but not finally +settled for, the cows, and therefore was glad to accept the Governor's +offer. This message was accompanied with a note of invitation to Mr. +Campbell, the ladies, and Henry and Alfred, to take a farewell dinner at +Government House the day before their departure. The invitation was +accepted, and Mr. Campbell was introduced to the officer commanding the +detachment which was about to proceed to Fort Frontignac, and received +from him every assurance of his doing all he could to make them +comfortable. The kindness of the Governor did not end here: he desired +the officer to take two large tents for the use of Mr. Campbell, to be +returned to the fort when the house had been built, and they were +completely settled. He even proposed that Mrs. Campbell and the Misses +Percival should remain at Government House until Mr. Campbell had made +every preparation to receive them; but this Mrs. Campbell would not +consent to, and, with many thanks, she declined the offer. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Although it was now the middle of May, it was but a few days before +their departure that there was the least sign of verdure, or the trees +had burst into leaf; but in the course of the three days before they +quitted Quebec, so rapid was the vegetation, that it appeared as if +summer had come upon them all at once. The heat was also very great, +although, when they had landed, the weather was piercing cold; but in +Canada, as well as in Northern America, the transitions from heat to +cold, and from cold to heat, are very rapid. + +My readers will be surprised to hear that when the winter sets in at +Quebec, all the animals required for the winter's consumption are at +once killed. If the troops are numerous, perhaps three or four hundred +bullocks are slaughtered and hung up. Every family kill their cattle, +their sheep, pigs, turkeys, fowls, etc., and all are put up in the +garrets, where the carcasses immediately freeze hard, and remain quite +good and sweet during the six or seven months of severe winter which +occur in that climate. When any portion of meat is to be cooked, it is +gradually thawed in lukewarm water, and after that is put to the fire. +If put at once to the fire in its frozen state it spoils. There is +another strange circumstance which occurs in these cold latitudes; a +small fish, called the snow-fish, is caught during the winter by making +holes in the thick ice, and these fish coming to the holes in thousands +to breathe, are thrown out with hand-nets upon the ice, where they +become in a few minutes frozen quite hard, so that, if you wish it, you +may break them in half like a rotten stick. The cattle are fed upon +these fish during the winter months. But it has been proved, which is +very strange, that if, after they have been frozen for twenty-four hours +or more, you put these fish into water and gradually thaw them as you do +the meat, they will recover and swim about again as well as ever. To +proceed however, with our history,-- + +Mr. Campbell found that, after all his expenses, he had still three +hundred pounds left, and this money he left in the Quebec Bank, to use +as he might find necessary. His expenditure had been very great. First, +there was the removal of so large a family, and the passage out; then he +had procured at Liverpool a large quantity of cutlery and tools, +furniture, etc., all of which articles were cheaper there than at +Quebec. At Quebec he had also much to purchase: all the most expensive +portion of his house; such as windows ready glazed, stoves, boarding for +floors, cupboards, and partitions; salt provisions, crockery of every +description, two small wagons ready to be put together, several casks of +nails, and a variety of things which it would be too tedious to mention. +Procuring these, with the expenses of living, had taken away all his +money, except the three hundred pounds I have mentioned. + +It was on the 13th of May that the embarkation took place, and it was +not until the afternoon that all was prepared, and Mrs. Campbell and her +nieces were conducted down to the _bateaux_, which lay at the wharf, +with the troops all ready on board of them. The Governor and his +aides-de-camp, besides many other influential people of Quebec, escorted +them down, and as soon as they had paid their adieus, the word was +given, the soldiers in the _bateaux_ gave three cheers and away they +went from the wharf into the stream. For a short time there was waving +of handkerchiefs and other tokens of good-will on the part of those who +were on the wharf; but that was soon left behind them, and the family +found themselves separated from their acquaintances and silently +listening to the measured sound of the oars, as they dropped into the +water. + +And it is not to be wondered at that they were silent, for all were +occupied with their own thoughts. They called to mind the beautiful +park at Wexton, which they had quitted, after having resided there so +long and so happily; the hall, with all its splendor and all its +comfort, rose up in their remembrance; each room with its furniture, +each window with its view, was recalled to their memories; they had +crossed the Atlantic, and were now about to leave civilization and +comfort behind them--to isolate themselves in the Canadian woods--to +trust to their own resources, their own society, and their own +exertions. It was, indeed, the commencement of a new life, and for which +they felt themselves little adapted, after the luxuries they had enjoyed +in their former condition; but if their thoughts and reminiscences made +them grave and silent, they did not make them despairing or repining; +they trusted to that Power who alone could protect--who gives and who +takes away, and doeth with us as He judges best; and if hope was not +buoyant in all of them, still there was confidence, resolution, and +resignation. Gradually they were roused from their reveries by the +beauty of the scenery and the novelty of what met their sight; the +songs, also, of the Canadian boatmen were musical and cheering, and by +degrees, they had all recovered their usual good spirits. + +Alfred was the first to shake off his melancholy feelings and to attempt +to remove them from others; nor was he unsuccessful. The officer who +commanded the detachment of troops, and who was in the same _bateau_ +with the family, had respected their silence upon their departure from +the wharf--perhaps he felt much as they did. His name was Sinclair, and +his rank that of senior captain in the regiment--a handsome, florid +young man, tall and well made, very gentleman-like, and very gentle in +his manners. + +"How very beautiful the foliage is on that point, mother," said Alfred, +first breaking the silence, "what a contrast between the leaves of the +sycamore, so transparent and yellow, with the sun behind them, and the +new shoots of the spruce fir." + +"It is, indeed, very lovely," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and the branches +of the trees, feathering down as they do to the surface of the water--" + +"Like good Samaritans," said Emma, "extending their arms, that any +unfortunate drowning person who was swept away by the stream might save +himself by their assistance." + +"I had no idea that trees had so much charity or reflection, Emma," +rejoined Alfred. + +"I can not answer for their charity, but, by the side of this clear +water, you must allow them reflection, cousin," replied Emma. + +"I presume you will add vanity to their attributes?" answered Alfred; +"for they certainly appear to be hanging over the stream that they may +look and admire themselves in the glassy mirror." + +"Pretty well that for a midshipman; I was not aware that they used such +choice language in a cockpit," retorted the young lady. + +"Perhaps not, cousin," answered Alfred; "but when sailors are in the +company of ladies, they become refined, from the association." + +"Well, I must admit, Alfred, that you are a great deal more polished +after you have been a month on shore." + +"Thank you, cousin Emma, even for that slight admission," replied +Alfred, laughing. + +"But what is that?" said Mary Percival, "at the point, it is a +village--one, two, three houses--just opening upon us?" + +"That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is coming down the river," replied +Captain Sinclair. "You will see when we are nearer to it, that perhaps +it covers two acres of water, and there are three tiers of timber on it. +These rafts are worth many thousand pounds. They are first framed with +logs, fastened by wooden tree-nails, and the timber placed within the +frame. There are, perhaps, from forty to a hundred people on this raft +to guide it down the stream, and the houses you see are built on it for +the accommodation of these people. I have seen as many as fifteen houses +upon a raft, which will sometimes contain the cargoes of thirty or forty +large ships." + +"It is very wonderful how they guide and direct it down the stream," +said Mr. Campbell. + +"It is very dexterous; and it seems strange that such an enormous mass +can be so guided, but it is done, as you will perceive; there are three +or four rudders made of long sweeps, and, as you may observe, several +sweeps on each side." + +All the party were now standing up in the sternsheets of the _bateau_ to +look at the people on the raft, who amounted to about fifty or sixty +men--now running over the top to one side, and dragging at the sweeps, +which required the joint power of seven or eight men to each of +them--now passing again over to the opposite sweeps, as directed by the +steersmen. The _bateau_ kept well in to the shore, out of the way, and +the raft passed them very quickly. As soon as it was clear of the point, +as their course to Quebec was now straight, and there was a slight +breeze down the river, the people on board of the raft hoisted ten or +fifteen sails upon different masts, to assist them in their descent; and +this again excited the admiration of the party. + +The conversation now became general, until the _bateaux_ were made fast +to the shores of the river, while the men took their dinners, which had +been prepared for them before they left Quebec. After a repose of two +hours, they again started, and at nightfall arrived at St. Anne's, where +they found every thing ready for their reception. Although their beds +were composed of the leaves of the maize or Indian corn, they were so +tired that they found them very comfortable, and at daylight arose quite +refreshed, and anxious to continue their route. Martin Super, who, with +the two youngest boys, had been placed in a separate boat, had been very +attentive to the comforts of the ladies after their embarkation; and it +appeared that he had quite won the hearts of the two boys by his amusing +anecdotes during the day. + +Soon after their embarkation, the name of Pontiac being again mentioned +by Captain Sinclair, Mrs. Campbell observed-- + +"Our man Super mentioned that name before. I confess that I do not know +any thing of Canadian affairs; I know only that Pontiac was an Indian +chief. Can you, Captain Sinclair, give us any information relative to a +person who appears so well known in the province?" + +"I shall be happy, Mrs. Campbell, as far as I am able, to satisfy you. +On one point, I can certainly speak with confidence, as my uncle was one +of the detachment in the fort of Detroit at the time that it was so +nearly surprised, and he has often told the history of the affair in my +presence. Pontiac was chief of all the Lake tribes of Indians. I will +not repeat the names of the different tribes, but his own particular +tribe was that of the Ottawas. He ruled at the time that the Canadas +were surrendered to us by the French. At first, although very proud and +haughty, and claiming the sovereignty of the country, he was very civil +to the English, or at least appeared so to be; for the French had given +us so bad a reputation with all the northern tribes, that they had +hitherto shown nothing but the most determined hostility, and appeared +to hate our very name. They are now inclined to be quiet, and it is to +be hoped their fear of us, after the severe conflicts between us, will +induce them to remain so. You are, perhaps, aware that the French had +built many forts at the most commanding spots in the interior and on the +lakes, all of which, when they gave up the country, were garrisoned by +our troops, to keep the Indians under control. + +"All these forts are isolated, and communication between them is rare. +It was in 1763 that Pontiac first showed his hostility against us, and +his determination, if possible, to drive us from the lakes. He was as +cunning as he was brave; and, as an Indian, showed more generalship than +might be expected--that is, according to their system of war, which is +always based upon stratagem. His plan of operation was, to surprise all +our forts at the same time, if he possibly could; and so excellent were +his arrangements, that it was only fifteen days after the plan was first +laid that he succeeded in gaining possession of all but three; that is, +he surprised ten out of thirteen forts. Of course, the attacks were made +by other chiefs, under his directions, as Pontiac could not be at all +the simultaneous assaults." + +"Did he murder the garrisons, Capt. Sinclair?" said Alfred. + +"The major portion of them: some were spared, and afterward were +ransomed at high prices. I ought to have mentioned as a singular +instance of the advance of this chief in comparison with other Indians, +that at this time he issued bills of credit on slips of bark, signed +with his totem, the otter; and that these bills, unlike many of more +civilized society, were all taken up and paid." + +"That is very remarkable in a savage," observed Mrs. Campbell; "but how +did this Pontiac contrive to surprise all the forts?" + +"Almost the whole of them were taken by a singular stratagem. The +Indians are very partial to, and exceedingly dexterous at, a game called +the 'Baggatiway:' it is played with a ball and a long-handled sort of +racket. They divide into two parties, and the object of each party is to +drive the ball to their own goal. It is something like hurley in England +or golf in Scotland. Many hundreds are sometimes engaged on both sides; +and the Europeans are so fond of seeing the activity and dexterity shown +by the Indians at this game, that it was very common to request them to +play it, when they happened to be near the forts. Upon this, Pontiac +arranged his plan, which was that his Indians should commence the game +of ball under the forts, and after playing a short time, strike the ball +into the fort: of course, some of them would go in for it; and having +done this two or three times, and recommenced the play to avoid +suspicion, they were to strike it over again, and follow it up by a rush +after it through the gates: and then, when they were all in, they would +draw their concealed weapons, and overpower the unsuspicious garrison." + +"It was certainly a very ingenious stratagem," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"And it succeeded, as I have observed, except on three forts. The one +which Pontiac directed the attack upon himself, and which was that which +he was most anxious to obtain, was Detroit, in which, as I have before +observed, my uncle was garrisoned; but there he failed, and by a +singular circumstance." + +"Pray tell us how, Captain Sinclair," said Emma; "you don't know how +much you have interested me." + +"And me, too, Captain Sinclair," continued Mary. + +"I am very happy that I have been able to wear away any portion of your +tedious journey, Miss Percival, so I shall proceed with my history. + +"The fort of Detroit was garrisoned by about three hundred men, when +Pontiac arrived there with a large force of Indians, and encamped under +the walls, but he had his warriors so mixed up with the women and +children, and brought so many articles for trade, that no suspicion was +created. The garrison had not heard of the capture of the other forts +which had already taken place. At the same time the unusual number of +the Indians was pointed out to Major Gladwin, who commanded the fort, +but he had no suspicions. Pontiac sent word to the major, that he wished +to 'have a talk' with him, in order to cement more fully the friendship +between the Indians and the English; and to this Major Gladwin +consented, appointing the next day to receive Pontiac and his chiefs in +the fort. + +"Now it so happened, that Major Gladwin had employed an Indian woman to +make him a pair of moccasins out of a very curious marked elk-skin. The +Indian woman brought him the moccasins with the remainder of the skin. +The Major was so pleased with them that he ordered her to make him a +second pair of moccasins out of the skin, and then told her that she +might keep the remainder for herself. The woman having received the +order, quitted the Major, but instead of leaving the fort, remained +loitering about till she was observed, and they inquired why she did not +go. She replied, that she wanted to return the rest of the skin, as he +set so great a value on it; and as this appeared strange conduct, she +was questioned, and then she said, that if she took away the skin then, +she never would be able to return it. + +"Major Gladwin sent for the woman, upon hearing of the expressions which +she had used, and it was evident that she wanted to communicate +something, but was afraid; but on being pressed hard and encouraged, and +assured of protection, she then informed Major Gladwin, that Pontiac and +his chiefs were to come into the fort to-morrow, under the plea of +holding a talk; but that they had cut the barrels of their rifles short, +to conceal them under their blankets, and that it was their intention, +at a signal given by Pontiac, to murder Major Gladwin and all his +officers who were at the council; while the other warriors, who would +also come into the fort with concealed arms, under pretense of trading, +would attack the garrison outside. + +"Having obtained this information, Major Gladwin did all he could to put +the fort into a state of defense, and took every necessary precaution. +He made known to the officers and men what the intentions of the Indians +were, and instructed the officers how to act at the council, and the +garrison how to meet the pretended traders outside. + +"About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his thirty-six chiefs, with a train of +warriors, came into the fort to their pretended council, and were +received with great politeness. Pontiac made his speech, and when he +came forward to present the wampum belt, the receipt of which by the +Major was, as the Indian woman had informed them, to be the signal for +the chiefs and warriors to commence the assault, the Major and his +officers drew their swords half out of their scabbards, and the troops, +with their muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, appeared outside and in +the council-room, all ready to present. Pontiac, brave as he really was, +turned pale: he perceived that he was discovered, and consequently, to +avoid any open detection, he finished his speech with many professions +of regard for the English. Major Gladwin then rose to reply to him, and +immediately informed him that he was aware of his plot and his murderous +intentions. Pontiac denied it; but Major Gladwin stepped to the chief, +and drawing aside his blanket, exposed his rifle cut short, which left +Pontiac and his chiefs without a word to say in reply. Major Gladwin +then desired Pontiac to quit the fort immediately, as otherwise he +should not be able to restrain the indignation of the soldiers, who +would immolate him and all his followers who were outside of the fort. +Pontiac and his chiefs did not wait for a second intimation, but made +all the haste they could to get outside of the gates." + +"Was it prudent in Major Gladwin to allow Pontiac and his chiefs to +leave, after they had come into the fort with an intent to murder him +and his men?" said Henry Campbell. "Would not the Major have been +justified in detaining them?" + +"I certainly think he would have been, and so did my uncle, but Major +Gladwin thought otherwise. He said that he had promised safe conduct and +protection to and from the fort before he was aware of the conspiracy; +and, having made a promise, his honor would not allow him to depart from +it." + +"At all events, the Major, if he erred, erred on the right side," +observed Alfred. "I think myself that he was too scrupulous, and that I +in his place should have detained some of them, if not Pontiac himself, +as a hostage for the good behavior of the rest of the tribes." + +"The result proved that if Major Gladwin had done so he would have done +wisely; for the next day Pontiac, not at all disarmed by Major Gladwin's +clemency, made a most furious attack upon the fort. Every stratagem was +resorted to, but the attack failed. Pontiac then invested it, cut off +all their supplies, and the garrison was reduced to great distress. But +I must break off now, for here we are at Trois Rivieres, where we shall +remain for the night, I hope you will not find your accommodations very +uncomfortable, Mrs. Campbell: I fear as we advance you will have to put +up with worse." + +"And we are fully prepared for it, Captain Sinclair," replied Mr. +Campbell; "but my wife and my nieces have too much good sense to expect +London hotels in the wilds of Canada." + +The _bateaux_ were now on shore, and the party landed to pass the night +at the small stockaded village of Trois Rivieres. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Captain Sinclair having stated that they would have a longer journey on +the following day, and that it would be advisable to start as soon as +possible, they rose at daylight, and in half an hour had breakfasted and +were again in the boats. Soon after they had pushed into the stream and +hoisted the sails, for the wind was fair, Mr. Campbell inquired how far +they had to go on that day? + +"About fifty miles if we possibly can," replied Captain Sinclair. "We +have made seventy-two miles in the first two days; but from here to +Montreal, it is about ninety, and we are anxious to get the best part +over to-day, so that we may land on a cleared spot which we know of, and +that I feel quite sure in; for, I regret to say you must trust to your +tents and your own bedding for the night, as there is no habitation +large enough to receive us on the river's side, any where near where we +wish to arrive." + +"Never mind, Captain Sinclair, we shall sleep very well, I dare say," +replied Mrs. Campbell; "but where do all the rest of the party +sleep?--there is only one tent." + +"Oh! never mind the rest of the party; we are used to it, and your +gentlemen won't mind it; some will sleep in the _bateaux_, some at the +fire, some will watch and not sleep at all." + +After some further conversation, Mary Percival observed to Captain +Sinclair: "You had not, I believe, Captain Sinclair, quite finished your +account of Pontiac where you left off yesterday, at the time when he was +blocking the fort at Detroit. Will you oblige us by stating what +afterward took place?" + +"With great pleasure, Miss Percival. There was great difficulty in +relieving the fort, as all communication had been cut off; at last the +Governor sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Dalyell, who contrived to throw +himself in the fort with about two hundred and fifty men. He shortly +afterward sallied out to attack the intrenchments of the Indians, but +Pontiac having received intelligence of his intention, laid an ambuscade +for him, beat back the troops with great loss, and poor Dalyell fell in +the combat, that took place near a bridge which still goes by the name +of Bloody Bridge. Pontiac cut off the head of Captain Dalyell, and set +it upon a post." + +"So much for Major Gladwin's extreme sense of honor," exclaimed Alfred; +"had he detained Pontiac as a prisoner, nothing of this would have +happened." + +"I agree with you, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Sinclair, "it was +letting loose a wolf; but Major Gladwin thought he was doing what was +right, and therefore can not be well blamed. After this defeat, the +investment was more strict than ever, and the garrison suffered +dreadfully. Several vessels which were sent out to supply the garrison +fell into the hands of Pontiac, who treated the men very cruelly. What +with the loss of men and constant watching, as well as the want of +provisions, the garrison was reduced to the greatest privations. At last +a schooner came off with supplies, which Pontiac, as usual, attacked +with his warriors in their canoes. The schooner was obliged to stand out +again, but the Indians followed, and by their incessant fire killed or +wounded almost every man on board her, and at length boarded and took +possession. As they were climbing up the shrouds and over the gunnel of +the vessel, the captain of the vessel, who was a most determined man, +and resolved not to fall into the hands of the Indians, called out to +the gunner to set fire to the magazine, and blow them all up together. +This order was heard by one of Pontiac's chiefs acquainted with English; +he cried out to one of the other Indians, and sprang away from the +vessel; the other Indians followed him, and hurried away in their +canoes, or by swimming as fast as they could from the vessel. The +captain took advantage of the wind and arrived safe at the fort; and +thus was the garrison relieved and those in the fort saved from +destruction by the courage of this one man." + +"You say that Pontiac is now dead, at least Martin Super told us so. How +did he die, Captain Sinclair?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"He was killed by an Indian, but it is difficult to say why. For many +years he had made friends with us and he had received a liberal pension +from the Government; but it appears that his hatred against the English +had again broken out, and in a council held by the Indians, he proposed +assailing us anew. After he had spoken, an Indian buried his knife in +his heart, but whether to gratify a private animosity or to avoid a +further warfare with those who had always thinned their tribes, it is +difficult to ascertain. One thing is certain, that most of the Indian +animosity against the English is buried with him." + +"Thank you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary Percival, "for taking so much +trouble. I think Pontiac's history is a very interesting one." + +"There was much to admire and much to deplore in his character, and we +must not judge the Indian too harshly. He was formed for command, and +possessed great courage and skill in all his arrangements, independent +of his having the tact to keep all the Lake tribes of Indians +combined,--no very easy task. That he should have endeavored to drive us +away from those lands of which he considered himself (and very correctly +too) as the sovereign, is not to be wondered at, especially as our +encroachments daily increased. The great fault of his character, in our +eyes, was his treachery; but we must remember that the whole art of +Indian warfare is based upon stratagem." + +"But his attacking the fort after he had been so generously dismissed +when his intentions were known, was surely very base," remarked Mrs. +Campbell. + +"What we consider a generous dismissal, he probably mistook for folly +and weakness. The Indians have no idea of generosity in warfare. Had +Pontiac been shot, he would have died bravely, and he had no idea that, +because Major Gladwin did not think proper to take his life, he was +therefore bound to let us remain in possession of his lands. But +whatever treachery the Indians consider allowable and proper in warfare, +it is not a portion of the Indian character; for at any other time his +hospitality and good faith are not to be doubted, if he pledges himself +for your safety. It is a pity that they are not Christians. Surely it +would make a great improvement in a character which, even in its +unenlightened state, has in it much to be admired. + +"When the form of worship and creed is simple, it is difficult to make +converts, and the Indian is a clear reasoner. I once had a conversation +with one of the chiefs on the subject. After we had conversed for some +time, he said, 'You believe in one God--so do we; you call him by one +name--we call him another; we don't speak the same language, that is the +reason. You say, suppose you do good, you go to the land of Good +Spirits--we say so too. Then Indians and Yangees (that is English) both +try to gain the same object, only try in not the same way. Now I think +it much better that, as we all go along together, that every man paddle +his own canoe. That is my thought.'" + +"It is, as you say, Captain Sinclair, difficult to argue with men who +look so straight forward and are so practical in their ideas. +Nevertheless," said Mrs. Campbell, "a false creed must often lead to +false conduct; and whatever is estimable in the Indian character would +be strengthened and improved by the infusion of Christian principles and +Christian hopes,--so that I must still consider it very desirable that +the Indians should become Christians,--and I trust that by judicious and +discreet measures such a result may gradually be brought about." + +It was two hours before sunset when they arrived at the spot at which +they intended passing the night; they landed, and some of the soldiers +were employed in setting up the tent on a dry hillock, while others +collected logs of wood for the fire. Martin Super brought on shore the +bedding, and, assisted by Alfred and Henry, placed it in the tent. +Captain Sinclair's canteen provided sufficient articles to enable them +to make tea, and in less than half an hour the kettle was on the fire. +As soon as they had partaken of these refreshments and the contents of a +basket of provisions procured at Trois Rivieres, the ladies retired for +the night. Captain Sinclair stationed sentinels at different posts as a +security from any intruders, and then the remainder of the troops with +the other males composing the party lay down with their feet toward a +large fire, composed of two or three trunks of trees, which blazed for +many yards in height. In a short time all was quiet, and all were in +repose except the sentinels, the sergeant and corporal, and Captain +Sinclair, who relieved each other. + +The night passed without any disturbance, and the next morning they +re-embarked and pursued their course. Before sunset they arrived at the +town of Montreal, where it was arranged that they should wait a day. Mr. +Campbell had a few purchases to make here, which he completed. It had +been his intention also, to procure two of the small Canadian horses, +but by the advice of Captain Sinclair he abandoned the idea. Captain +Sinclair pointed out to him, that having no forage or means of +subsistence for the animals, they would be a great expense to him during +the first year without being of much use; and further, that in all +probability, when the garrison was relieved at Fort Frontignac on the +following year, the officers would be too glad to part with their horses +at a lower price than what they could be purchased for at Montreal. +Having a letter of introduction to the Governor, they received every +attention. The society was almost wholly French; and many of the +inhabitants called out of politeness, or to gratify their curiosity. The +French ladies shrugged up their shoulders, and exclaimed, "Est-il +possible?" when they heard that the Campbells were about to proceed to +such a distant spot and settle upon it. The French gentlemen told the +Miss Campbells that it was a great sacrifice to bury so much beauty in +the wilderness; but what they said had little effect upon any of the +party. Captain Sinclair offered to remain another day if Mr. Campbell +wished it; but, on the contrary, he was anxious to arrive as soon as +possible at his destination; and the following morning they again +embarked, having now about three hundred and sixty miles to ascend +against the current and the occasional rapids. It would take too much +space if I were to narrate all that took place during their difficult +ascent; how they were sometimes obliged to land and carry the cargoes of +the boats; how one or two _bateaux_ were upset and some of their stores +lost; and how their privations increased on each following day of their +journey. I have too much to relate to enter into this portion of the +narrative, although there might be much interest in the detail; it will +be sufficient to say that, after sixteen days of some peril and much +fatigue, and of considerable suffering from the clouds of musquitoes +which assailed them during the night, they were landed safely at Fort +Frontignac, and treated with every attention by the commandant, who had +received letters from the Governor of Quebec, desiring him to do all +that he possibly could to serve them. The commandant, Colonel Forster, +had shown Mr. Campbell and his party the rooms which had been provided +for them, and now, for the first time after many days, they found +themselves all together and alone. + +After a short conversation, in which they canvassed and commented upon +the kindness which they had received, and the difficulties which they +had, in consequence, surmounted, during their long and tedious journey +to Quebec, Mr. Campbell observed: "My dear wife and children, we have +thus far proceeded without serious casualty: it has pleased the Almighty +to conduct us safely over a boisterous sea, to keep our spirits up by +providing us with unexpected friends and support, and we now have +arrived within a few miles of our destination. But let us not suppose +that our perils and difficulties are terminated; on the contrary, +without wishing to dishearten you, I feel that they are about to +commence. We have much privation, much fatigue, and, perhaps, much +danger to encounter, before we can expect to be in comfort or in +security; but we must put our trust in that gracious Providence which +has hitherto so mercifully preserved us, and at the same time not relax +in our own energy and industry, which must ever accompany our faith in +the Divine aid. It is long since we have had an opportunity of being +gathered together and alone. Let us seize this opportunity of pouring +out our thanks to God for his mercies already vouchsafed, and praying +for a continuance of his protection. Even in the wilderness, let us walk +with Him, trust in Him, and ever keep Him in our thoughts. We must bear +in mind that this entire life is but a pilgrimage; that if, during its +course, we should meet with affliction or distress, it is His +appointment, and designed undoubtedly for our good. It is our wisdom, as +well as duty to submit patiently to whatever may befall us, never losing +our courage or becoming disheartened by suffering, but trusting to the +mercy and power of Him who can and will, at His own good time, deliver +us from evil." Mr. Campbell kneeled down, surrounded by his family, and, +in a fervent and feeling address poured forth his thanksgiving for past +mercies and humble solicitation for further assistance. So powerful and +so eloquent were his words, that the tears coursed down the cheeks of +his wife and nieces; and when he had finished, all their hearts were so +full, that they retired to their beds without further exchange of words +than receiving his blessing, and wishing each other good-night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The party were so refreshed by once more sleeping upon good beds, that +they were up and dressed very early, and shortly after seven o'clock +were all collected upon the rampart of the fort, surveying the +landscape, which was indeed very picturesque and beautiful. Before them, +to their left, the lake was spread, an inland sea, lost in the horizon, +now quite calm, and near to the shores studded with small islands +covered with verdant foliage, and appearing as if they floated upon the +transparent water. To the westward, and in front of them, were the +clearings belonging to the fort, backed with the distant woods: a herd +of cattle were grazing on a portion of the cleared land; the other was +divided off by a snake fence, as it is termed, and was under +cultivation. Here and there a log-building was raised as a shelter for +the animals during the winter, and at half a mile's distance was a small +fort, surrounded with high palisades, intended as a place of retreat and +security for those who might be in charge of the cattle, in case of +danger or surprise. Close to the fort, a rapid stream, now from the +freshets overflowing its banks, poured down its waters into the lake, +running its course through a variety of shrubs and larches and +occasional elms which lined its banks. The sun shone bright--the +woodpeckers flew from tree to tree, or clung to the rails of the +fences--the belted kingfisher darted up and down over the running +stream--and the chirping and wild notes of various birds were heard on +every side of them. + +"This is very beautiful, is it not?" said Mrs. Campbell; "surely it can +not be so great a hardship to live in a spot like this?" + +"Not if it were always so, perhaps, madam," said Colonel Forster, who +had joined the party as Mrs. Campbell made the observation. "But Canada +in the month of June is very different from Canada in the month of +January. That we find our life monotonous in this fort, separated as we +are from the rest of the world, I admit, and the winters are so long and +severe as to tire our patience; but soldiers must do their duty, whether +burning under the tropics or freezing in the wilds of Canada. It can not +be a very agreeable life, when even the report of danger near to us +becomes a pleasurable feeling from the excitement it causes for the +moment. + +"I have been talking, Mr. Campbell, with Captain Sinclair, and find you +have much to do before the short summer is over, to be ready to meet the +coming winter; more than you can well do with your limited means. I am +happy that my instructions from the Governor will permit me to be of +service to you. I propose that the ladies shall remain here, while you, +with such assistance as I can give you, proceed to your allotment and +prepare for their reception." + +"A thousand thanks for your kind offer, Colonel--but no, no, we will all +go together," interrupted Mrs. Campbell; "we can be useful, and we will +remain in the tents till the house is built. Do not say a word more, +Colonel Forster, that is decided; although I again return you many +thanks for your kind offer." + +"If such is the case, I have only to observe that I shall send a fatigue +party of twelve men, which I can well spare for a few weeks, to assist +you in your labors," replied Colonel Forster. "Their remuneration will +not put you to a very great expense. Captain Sinclair has volunteered +to take charge of it." + +"Many thanks, sir," replied Mr. Campbell; "and as you observe that we +have no time to lose, with your permission we will start to-morrow +morning." + +"I certainly shall not dissuade you," replied the commandant, "although +I did hope that I should have had the pleasure of your company for a +little longer. You are aware that I have the Governor's directions to +supply you with cattle from our own stock, at a fair price. I hardly +need say that you may select as you please." + +"And I," said Captain Sinclair, who had been in conversation with Mary +Percival, and who now addressed Mr. Campbell, "have been making another +collection for you among my brother-officers, which you were not +provided with, and will find very useful, I may say absolutely +necessary." + +"What may that be, Captain Sinclair?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"A variety of dogs of every description. I have a pack of five; and, +although not quite so handsome as your pet dogs in England, you will +find them well acquainted with the country, and do their duty well. I +have a pointer, a bull-dog, two terriers, and a fox-hound--all of them +of good courage, and ready to attack catamount, wolf, lynx, or even a +bear, if required." + +"It is, indeed, a very valuable present," replied Mr. Campbell, "and you +have our sincere thanks." + +"The cows you had better select before you go, unless you prefer that I +should do it for you," observed Colonel Forster. "They shall be driven +over in a day or two, as I presume the ladies will wish to have milk. By +the by, Mr. Campbell, I must let you into a secret. The wild onions +which grow so plentiful in this country, and which the cattle are very +fond of, give a very unpleasant taste to the milk. You may remove it by +heating the milk as soon as it has been drawn from the cows." + +"Many thanks, Colonel, for your information," replied Mr. Campbell, "for +I certainly have no great partiality to the flavor of onions in milk." + +A summons to breakfast broke up the conversation. During the day, Henry +and Alfred, assisted by Captain Sinclair and Martin Super, were very +busy in loading the two _bateaux_ with the stores, tents, and various +trunks of linen and other necessaries which they had brought with them. +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with the girls, were equally busy in selecting +and putting on one side articles for immediate use on their arrival at +the allotment. As they were very tired, they went to bed early, that +they might be ready for the next day's re-embarkation; and after +breakfast, having taken leave of the kind commandant and the other +officers, they went down to the shore of the lake, and embarked with +Captain Sinclair in the commandant's boat, which had been prepared for +them. Martin Super, Alfred and Henry, with the five dogs, went on board +of the two _bateaux_, which were manned by the corporal and twelve +soldiers, lent by the commandant to Mr. Campbell. The weather was +beautifully fine, and they set off in high spirits. The distance by +water was not more three miles, although by land it was nearly five, and +in half an hour they entered the cove adjoining to which the allotment +lay. + +"There is the spot, Mrs. Campbell, which is to be your future +residence," said Captain Sinclair, pointing with his hand; "you observe +where that brook runs down into the lake, that is your eastern boundary; +the land on the other side is the property of the old hunter we have +spoken of. You see his little log-hut, not much bigger than an Indian +lodge, and the patch of Indian corn now sprung out of the ground which +is inclosed by the fence. This portion appears not to be of any use to +him, as he has no cattle of any kind, unless indeed they have gone into +the bush; but I think some of our men said that he lived entirely by the +chase, and that he has an Indian wife." + +"Well," said Emma Percival, laughing, "female society is what we never +calculated upon. What is the man's name?" + +"Malachi Bone," replied Captain Sinclair. "I presume you expect Mrs. +Bone to call first?" + +"She ought to do so, if she knows the _usage_ of society," replied Emma; +"but if she does not, I think I shall waive ceremony and go and see +her. I have great curiosity to make acquaintance with an Indian squaw." + +"You may be surprised to hear me say so, Miss Emma, but I assure you, +without having ever seen her, that you will find her perfectly well +bred. All the Indian women are--their characters are a compound of +simplicity and reserve.--Keep the boat's head more to the right, Selby, +we will land close to that little knoll." + +The commandant's boat had pulled much faster, and was a long way ahead +of the _bateaux_. In a few minutes afterward they had all disembarked +and were standing on the knoll, surveying their new property. A portion +of about thirty acres, running along the shore of the lake, was what is +termed natural prairie, or meadow of short fine grass; the land +immediately behind the meadow was covered with brushwood for about three +hundred yards, and then rose a dark and impervious front of high timber +which completely confined the landscape. The allotment belonging to the +old hunter, on the opposite side of the brook, contained about the same +portion of natural meadow, and was in other respects but a continuation +of the portion belonging to Mr. Campbell. + +"Well," said Martin Super, as soon as he had come up to the party on the +knoll, for the _bateaux_ had now arrived, "I reckon, Mr. Campbell, that +you are in luck to have this piece of grass. It would have taken no few +blows of the ax to have cleared it away out of such a wood as that +behind us. Why, it is as good as a fortune to a new settler." + +"I think it is, Martin," said Mr. Campbell. + +"Well, sir, now to work as soon as you please, for a day is a day, and +must not be lost. I'll go to the wood with five or six of the men who +can handle an ax, and begin to cut down, leaving you and the captain +there to decide where the house is to be; the other soldiers will be +putting up the tents all ready for to-night, for you must not expect a +house over your heads till next full moon." + +In a quarter of an hour all were in motion. Henry and Alfred took their +axes, and followed Martin Super and half of the soldiers, the others +were busy landing the stores and pitching the tents, while Captain +Sinclair and Mr. Campbell were surveying the ground, that they might +choose a spot for the erection of the house. Mrs. Campbell remained +sitting on the knoll, watching the debarkation of the packages; and +Percival, by her directions, brought her those articles which were for +immediate use. Mary and Emma Percival, accompanied by John, as they had +no task allotted to them, walked up the side of the stream toward the +wood. + +"I wish I had my box," said John, who had been watching the running +water. + +"Why do you want your box, John?" said Mary. + +"For my hooks in my box," replied John. + +"Why, do you see any fish in this small stream?" said Emma. + +"Yes," replied John, walking on before them. + +Mary and Emma followed him, now and then stopping to pick a flower +unknown to them: when they overtook John, he was standing immovable, +pointing to a figure on the other side of the stream, as fixed and +motionless as himself. + +The girls started back as they beheld a tall, gaunt man, dressed in deer +hides, who stood leaning upon a long gun with his eyes fixed upon them. +His face was browned and weather-beaten--indeed so dark that it was +difficult to say if he were of the Indian race or not. + +"It must be a hunter, Emma," said Mary Percival; "he is not dressed like +the Indians we saw at Quebec." + +"It must be," replied Emma; "won't he speak?" + +"We will wait and see," replied Mary. They did wait for a minute or +more, but the man neither spoke nor shifted his position. + +"I will speak to him, Mary," said Emma at last. "My good man, you are +Malachi Bone, are you not?" + +"That's my name," replied the hunter in a deep voice; "and who on earth +are you, and what are you doing here? Is it a frolic from the fort, or +what is it, that causes all this disturbance?" + +"Disturbance!--why we don't make a great deal of noise; no, it's no +frolic; we are come to settle here, and shall be your neighbors." + +[Illustration: MALACHI.] + +"To settle here!--why, what on earth do you mean, young woman? Settle +here!--not you, surely." + +"Yes, indeed, we are. Don't you know Martin Super, the trapper? He is +with us, and now at work in the woods getting ready for raising the +house, as you call it.--Do you know, Mary," said Emma in a low tone to +her sister, "I'm almost afraid of that man, although I do speak so +boldly." + +"Martin Super--yes, I know him," replied the hunter, who without any +more ceremony threw his gun into the hollow of his arm, turned round, +and walked away in the direction of his own hut. + +"Well, Mary," observed Emma, after a pause of a few seconds, during +which they watched the receding form of the hunter, "the old gentleman +is not over-polite. Suppose we go back and narrate our first adventure?" + +"Let us walk up to where Alfred and Martin Super are at work, and tell +them," replied Mary. + +They soon gained the spot where the men were felling the trees, and made +known to Alfred and Martin what had taken place. + +"He is angered, miss," observed Martin; "I guessed as much; well, if he +don't like it he must squat elsewhere." + +"How do you mean squat elsewhere?" + +"I mean, miss, that if he don't like company so near him he must shift +and build his wigwam further off." + +"But, why should he not like company? I should have imagined that it +would be agreeable rather than otherwise," replied Mary Percival. + +"You may think so, miss; but Malachi Bone thinks otherwise; and it's +natural; a man who has lived all his life in the woods, all alone, his +eye never resting, his ear ever watching; catching at every sound, even +to the breaking of a twig or the falling of a leaf; sleeping with his +finger on his trigger and one eye half open, gets used to no company but +his own, and can't abide it. I recollect the time that I could not. Why, +miss, when a man hasn't spoken a word perhaps for months, talking is a +fatigue, and, when he hasn't heard a word spoken for months, listening +is as bad. It's all custom, miss, and Malachi, as I guessed, don't like +it, and so he's _rily_ and angered. I will go see him after the work is +over." + +"But he has a wife, Martin, has he not?" + +"Yes; but she's an Indian wife, Master Alfred, and Indian wives don't +speak unless they're spoken to." + +"What a recommendation," said Alfred, laughing; "I really think I shall +look after an Indian wife, Emma." + +"I think you had better," replied Emma. "You'd be certain of a quiet +house,--when _you_ were out of it,--and when at home, you would have all +the talk to yourself, which is just what you like. Come, Mary, let us +leave him to dream of his squaw." + +The men selected by the commandant of the fort were well used to handle +the ax; before dusk, many trees had been felled, and were ready for +sawing into lengths. The tents had all been pitched: those for the +Campbells on the knoll we have spoken of; Captain Sinclair's and that +for the soldiers about a hundred yards distant; the fires were lighted, +and as the dinner had been cold, a hot supper was prepared by Martin and +Mrs. Campbell, assisted by the girls and the younger boys. After supper +they all retired to an early bed; Captain Sinclair having put a man as +sentry, and the dogs having been tied at different places, that they +might give the alarm if there was any danger; which, however, was not +anticipated, as the Indians had for some time been very quiet in the +neighborhood of Fort Frontignac. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The next morning, when they assembled at breakfast, after Mr. Campbell +had read the prayers, Mary Percival said, "Did you hear that strange and +loud noise last night? I was very much startled with it; but, as nobody +said a word, I held my tongue." + +"Nobody said a word, because every body was fast asleep, I presume," +said Alfred; "I heard nothing." + +"It was like the sound of cart-wheels at a distance, with whistling and +hissing," continued Mary. + +"I think I can explain it to you, as I was up during the night, Miss +Percival," said Captain Sinclair. "It is a noise you must expect every +night during the summer season; but one to which you will soon be +accustomed." + +"Why, what was it?" + +"Frogs,--nothing more; except, indeed, the hissing, which, I believe, is +made by the lizards. They will serenade you every night. I only hope you +will not be disturbed by any thing more dangerous." + +"Is it possible that such small creatures can make such a din?" + +"Yes; when thousands join in the concert; I may say millions." + +"Well, I thank you for the explanation, Captain Sinclair, as it has been +some relief to my mind." + +After breakfast, Martin (we shall for the future leave out his surname) +informed Mr. Campbell that he had seen Malachi Bone, the hunter, who had +expressed great dissatisfaction at their arrival, and his determination +to quit the place if they remained. + +"Surely, he hardly expects us to quit the place to please him?" + +"No," replied Martin; "but if he were cankered in disposition, which I +will say Malachi is not, he might make it very unpleasant for you to +remain, by bringing the Indians about you." + +"Surely, he would not do that?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, I don't think he would," replied Martin; "because, you see, it's +just as easy for him to go further off." + +"But why should we drive him away from his property any more than we +leave our own?" observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"He says he won't be crowded, ma'am; he can't bear to be crowded." + +"Why, there's a river between us." + +"So there is, ma'am, but still that's his feeling. I said to him, that +if he would go, I dared say Mr. Campbell would buy his allotment of +him, and he seems to be quite willing to part with it." + +"It would be a great addition to your property, Mr. Campbell," observed +Captain Sinclair. "In the first place, you would have the whole of the +prairie and the right of the river on both sides, apparently of no +consequence now, but as the country fills up, most valuable." + +"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "as I presume we shall remain here, or, at +all events, those who survive me will, till the country fills up, I +shall be most happy to make any arrangement with Bone for the purchase +of his property." + +"I'll have some more talk with him, sir,'" replied Martin. + +The second day was passed as was the first, in making preparations for +erecting the house, which, now that they had obtained such unexpected +help, was, by the advice of Captain Sinclair, considerably enlarged +beyond the size originally intended. As Mr. Campbell paid the soldiers +employed a certain sum per day for their labor, he had less scruple in +employing them longer. Two of them were good carpenters, and a sawpit +had been dug, that they might prepare the doors and the frames for the +window-sashes which Mr. Campbell had taken the precaution to bring with +him. On the third day, a boat arrived from the fort bringing the men's +rations and a present of two fine bucks from the commandant. Captain +Sinclair went in the boat to procure some articles which he required, +and returned in the evening. The weather continued fine, and in the +course of a week, a great deal of timber was cut and squared. During +this time, Martin had several meetings with the old hunter, and it was +agreed that he should sell his property to Mr. Campbell. Money he +appeared to care little about--indeed it was useless to him; gunpowder, +lead, flints, blankets, and tobacco, were the principal articles +requested in the barter; the amount, however, was not precisely settled. +An intimacy had been struck up between the old hunter and John; in what +manner it was difficult to imagine, as they both were very sparing of +their words; but this was certain, that John had contrived to get +across the stream somehow or another, and was now seldom at home to his +meals. Martin reported that he was in the lodge of the old hunter, and +that he could come to no harm; so Mrs. Campbell was satisfied. + +"But what does he do there, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell, as they were +clearing away the table after supper. + +"Just nothing but look at the squaw, or at Malachi cleaning his gun, or +any thing else he may see. He never speaks, that I know of, and that's +why he suits old Malachi." + +"He brought home a whole basket of trout this afternoon," observed Mary; +"so he is not quite idle." + +"No, miss; he's fishing at daylight, and gives one-half to you and the +other to old Bone. He'll make a crack hunter one of these days, as old +Malachi says. He can draw the bead on the old man's rifle in good style +already, I can tell you." + +"How do you mean, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"I mean that he can fire pretty true, ma'am, although it's a heavy gun +for him to lift; a smaller one would do better for him." + +"But is he not too young to be trusted with a gun, uncle?" said Mary. + +"No, miss," interrupted Martin, "you can't be too young here; the sooner +a boy is useful the better; and the boy with a gun is almost as good as +a man; for the gun kills equally as well if pointed true. Master +Percival must have his gun as soon as I am at leisure to teach him." + +"I wish you were at leisure now, Martin," cried Percival. + +"You forget, aunt, that you promised to learn to load and fire a rifle +yourself," said Mary. + +"No. I do not; and I intend to keep my word, as soon as there is time; +but John is so very young." + +"Well, Mary, I suppose we must enlist too?" said Emma. + +"Yes; we'll be the female rifle brigade," replied Mary, laughing. + +"I really quite like the idea," continued Emma; "I will put up with no +impertinence, recollect, Alfred; excite my displeasure, and I shall take +down my rifle." + +"I suspect you will do more execution with your eyes, Emma," replied +Alfred, laughing. + +"Not upon a catamount, as Martin calls it. Pray what is a catamount?" + +"A painter, miss." + +"Oh, now I know; a catamount is a painter, a painter is a leopard or a +panther.--As I live, uncle, here comes the old hunter, with John +trotting at his heels. I thought he would come at last. The visit is to +me, I'm sure, for when we first met he was dumb with astonishment." + +"He well might be," observed Captain Sinclair; "he has not often met +with such objects as you and your sister in the woods." + +"No," replied Emma; "an English squaw must be rather a rarity." + +As she said this, old Malachi Bone came up, and seated himself, without +speaking, placing his rifle between his knees. + +"Your servant, sir," said Mr. Campbell; "I hope you are well." + +"What on earth makes you come here?" said Bone, looking round him. "You +are not fit for the wilderness! Winter will arrive soon; and then you go +back, I reckon." + +"No, we shall not," replied Alfred, "for we have nowhere to go back to; +besides, the people are too crowded where we came from, so we came here +for more room." + +"I reckon you'll crowd _me_," replied the hunter, "so I'll go further." + +"Well, Malachi, the gentleman will pay you for your clearing." + +"I told you so," said Martin. + +"Yes, you did; but I'd rather not have seen him or his goods." + +"By goods, I suppose you mean us about you?" said Emma. + +"No, girl, I didn't mean you. I meant gunpowder and the like." + +"I think, Emma, you are comprehended in the last word," said Alfred. + +"That is more than you are, then, for he did not mention lead," retorted +Emma. + +"Martin Super, you know I did specify lead on the paper," said Malachi +Bone. + +"You did, and you shall have it," said Mr. Campbell. "Say what your +terms are now, and I will close with you." + +"Well, I'll leave that to Martin and you, stranger. I clear out +to-morrow." + +"To-morrow; and where do you go to?" + +Malachi Bone pointed to the westward. + +"You'll not hear my rifle," said the old hunter, after a pause; "but I'm +thinking you'll never stay here. You don't know what an Ingen's life is; +it ain't fit for the like of you. No, there's not one of you, 'cept this +boy," continued Malachi, putting his hand on John's head, "that's fit +for the woods. Let him come to me. I'll make a hunter of him; won't I, +Martin?" + +"That you will, if they'll spare him to you." + +"We can not spare him altogether," replied Mr. Campbell, "but he shall +visit you, if you wish it." + +"Well, that's a promise; and I won't go so far as I thought I would. He +has a good eye; I'll come for him." + +The old man then rose up, and walked away, John following him, without +exchanging a word with any of the party. + +"My dear Campbell," said his wife, "what do you intend to do about John? +You do not intend that the hunter should take him with him?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell; "but I see no reason why he +should not be with him occasionally." + +"It will be a very good thing for him to be so," said Martin. "If I may +advise, let the boy come and go. The old man has taken a fancy to him, +and will teach him his woodcraft. It's as well to make a friend of +Malachi Bone." + +"Why, what good can he do us?" inquired Henry. + +"A friend in need is a friend indeed, sir; and a friend in the +wilderness is not to be thrown away. Old Malachi is going further out, +and if danger occurs, we shall know it from him, for the sake of the +boy, and have his help too, if we need it." + +"There is much good sense in Martin Super's remarks, Mr. Campbell," +observed Captain Sinclair. "You will then have Malachi Bone as an +advanced guard, and the fort to fall back upon, if necessary to +retreat." + +"And, perhaps, the most useful education which he can receive to prepare +him for his future life will be from the old hunter." + +"The only one which he will take to kindly, at all events," observed +Henry. + +"Let him go, sir; let him go," said Martin. + +"I will give no positive answer, Martin," replied Mr. Campbell. "At all +events, I will permit him to visit the old man; there can be no +objection to that;--but it is bedtime." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +We must pass over six weeks, during which the labor was continued +without intermission, and the house was raised, of logs, squared and +well fitted; the windows and doors were also put in, and the roof well +covered in with large squares of birch-bark, firmly fixed on the +rafters. The house consisted of one large room, as a dining-room, and +the kitchen, with a floor of well-beaten clay, a smaller room, as a +sitting-room, and three bedrooms, all of which were floored; one of the +largest of them fitted all round with bed-places against the walls, in +the same way as on board of packets; this room was for the four boys, +and had two spare bed-places in it. The others, which were for the two +girls and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, were much smaller. But before the house +was half built, a large outhouse adjoining to it had been raised to hold +the stores which Mr. Campbell had brought with him, with a rough granary +made above the store-room. The interior of the house was not yet fitted +up, although the furniture had been put in, and the family slept in it, +rough as it was, in preference to the tents, as they were very much +annoyed with musquitoes. The stores were now safe from the weather, and +they had a roof over their heads, which was the grand object that was to +be obtained. The carpenters were still very busy fitting up the interior +of the house, and the other men were splitting rails for a snake-fence +and also selecting small timber for raising a high palisade round the +premises. Martin had not been idle. The site of the house was just where +the brushwood joined to the prairie, and Martin had been clearing it +away and stacking it, and also collecting wood for winter fuel. It had +been decided that the four cows, which had been driven round from the +fort, should be housed during the winter in the small building on the +other side of the stream, which had belonged to Malachi Bone, as it was +surrounded with a high snake-fence, and sufficiently large to hold them +and even more. The commandant had very kindly selected the most quiet +cows to milk, and Mary and Emma Percival had already entered upon their +duties: the milk had been put into the store-house until a dairy could +be built up. A very neat bridge had been thrown across the stream, and +every morning the two girls, generally attended by Henry, Alfred, or +Captain Sinclair, crossed over, and soon became expert in their new +vocation as dairy-maids. Altogether, things began to wear a promising +appearance. Henry and Mr. Campbell had dug up as fast as Martin and +Alfred cleared away the brushwood, and the garden had already been +cropped with such few articles as could be put in at the season. The +commandant had some pigs ready for the settlers as soon as they were +ready to receive them, and had more than once come up in the boats to +ascertain their progress and to offer any advice that he might consider +useful. + +We must not, however, forget Malachi Bone. The day after Bone had come +to Mr. Campbell, Emma perceived him going away into the woods, with his +rifle, followed by her cousin John, and being very curious to see his +Indian wife, she persuaded Alfred and Captain Sinclair to accompany her +and Mary to the other side of the stream. The great point was to know +where to cross it, but as John had found out the means of so doing, it +was to be presumed that there was a passage, and they set off to look +for it. They found that, about half a mile up the stream, which there +ran through the wood, a large tree had been blown down and laid across +it, and with the assistance of the young men, Mary and Emma passed it +without much difficulty; they then turned back by the side of the stream +until they approached the lodge of old Malachi. As they walked toward +it, they could not perceive any one stirring; but at last a dog of the +Indian breed began to bark; still nobody came out, and they arrived at +the door of the lodge where the dog stood; when, sitting on the floor, +they perceived the Indian girl whom they were in search of. She was very +busy sewing a pair of moccasins out of deer leather. She appeared +startled when she first saw Alfred; but when she perceived that the +young ladies were with him, her confidence returned. She slightly bowed +her head, and continued her work. + +"How very young she is," said Emma; "why she can not be more than +eighteen years old." + +"I doubt if she is so much," replied Captain Sinclair. + +"She has a very modest, unaffected look, has she not, Alfred?" said +Mary. + +"Yes; I think there is something very prepossessing in her countenance." + +"She is too young a wife for the old hunter, at all events," observed +Alfred. + +"That is not unusual among the Indians," said Captain Sinclair; "a very +old chief will often have three or four young wives; they are to be +considered more in the light of his servants than any thing else." + +"But she must think us very rude to talk and stare at her in this +manner; I suppose she can not speak English." + +"I will speak to her in her own language, if she is a Chippeway or of +any of the tribes about here, for they all have the same dialect," said +Captain Sinclair. + +Captain Sinclair addressed her in the Indian language, and the Indian +girl replied in a very soft voice. + +"She says her husband is gone to bring home venison." + +"Tell her we are coming to live here, and will give her any thing she +wants." + +[Illustration: MALACHI AND HIS WIFE.] + +Captain Sinclair again addressed her, and received her answer. + +"She says that you are beautiful flowers, but not the wild flowers of +the country, and that the cold winter will kill you." + +"Tell her she will find us alive next summer," said Emma; "and, Captain +Sinclair, give her this brooch of mine, and tell her to wear it for my +sake." + +Captain Sinclair gave the message and the ornament to the Indian girl, +who replied, as she looked up and smiled at Emma, + +"That she would never forget the beautiful lily who was so kind to the +little strawberry-plant." + +"Really her language is poetical and beautiful," observed Mary; "I have +nothing to give her--Oh! yes, I have; here is my ivory needle-case, with +some needles in it. Tell her it will be of use to her when she sews her +moccasins. Open it and show her what is inside." + +"She says that she will be able to work faster and better, and wishes to +look at your foot, that she may be grateful; so put your foot out, Miss +Percival." + +Mary did so; the Indian girl examined it, and smiled and nodded her +head. + +"Oh, Captain Sinclair, tell her that the little boy who is gone with her +husband is our cousin." + +Captain Sinclair reported her answer, which was, "He will be a great +hunter and bring home plenty of game by and by." + +"Well, now, tell her that we shall always be happy to see her, and that +we are going home again; and ask her name, and tell her our own." + +As Captain Sinclair interpreted, the Indian girl pronounced after him +the names of Mary and Emma very distinctly. "She has your names, you +perceive; her own, translated into English, is the strawberry-plant." + +They then nodded farewell to the young Indian, and returned home. On the +second evening after their visit, as they were at supper, the +conversation turned upon the hunter and his young Indian wife, when +John, who had, as usual, been silent, suddenly broke out with "Goes away +to-morrow!" + +"They go away to-morrow, John; where do they go to?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Woods," replied John. + +John was correct in his statement. Early the next morning, Malachi Bone, +with his rifle on his shoulder and an ax in his hand, was seen crossing +the prairie belonging to Mr. Campbell, followed by his wife, who was +bent double under her burden, which was composed of all the property +which the old hunter possessed, tied up in blankets. He had left word +the night before with Martin that he would come back in a few days, as +soon as he had squatted, to settle the bargain for his allotment of land +made over to Mr. Campbell. This was just before they had sat down to +breakfast, and then they observed that John was missing. + +"He was here just before prayers," said Mrs. Campbell. "He must have +slipped away after the old hunter." + +"No doubt of that, ma'am," said Martin. "He will go with him and find +out where he puts up his wigwam, and after that he will come back to +you; so there is no use sending after him; indeed, we don't know which +way to send." + +Martin was right. Two days afterward, John made his appearance again, +and remained very quietly at home during the whole week, catching fish +in the stream or practicing with a bow and some arrows, which he had +obtained from Malachi Bone; but the boy appeared to be more taciturn and +more fond of being alone than even he was before; still he was obedient +and kind toward his mother and cousins, and was fond of Percival's +company when he went to take trout from the stream. + +It was of course after the departure of the old hunter, that his log hut +was taken possession of and the cows put into the meadow in front of it. + +As the work became more advanced, Martin went out every day, accompanied +either by Alfred or Henry, in pursuit of game. Mr. Campbell had procured +an ample supply of ammunition, as well as the rifles, at Quebec. These +had been unpacked, and the young men were becoming daily more expert. Up +to the present, the supply of game from the fort, and occasional fresh +beef, had not rendered it necessary for Mr. Campbell to have much +recourse to his barrels of salt-pork, but still it was necessary that a +supply should be procured as often as possible, that they might husband +their stores. Martin was a certain shot if within distance, and they +seldom returned without a deer slung between them. The garden had been +cleared away and the pig-sties were finished, but there was still the +most arduous portion of the work to commence, which was the felling of +the trees to clear the land for the growing of corn. In this they could +expect no assistance from the garrison; indeed, from the indulgence of +the commandant, they had already obtained more than they could have +expected. It was in the last days of August, and the men lent from the +garrison were about to be recalled; the houses were completed, the +palisade had been raised round the house and store-house, and the men +were now required at the fort. Captain Sinclair received several hints +from the commandant that he must use all convenient dispatch, and limit +his absence to a few days more, which he trusted would be sufficient. +Captain Sinclair, who would willingly have remained in society which he +so much valued, and who had now become almost one of the family, found +that he could make no more excuses. He reported that he would be ready +to return on the 1st of September, and on the morning of that day the +_bateaux_ arrived to take back the soldiers, and bring the pigs and +fowls which had been promised. Mr. Campbell settled his account with +Captain Sinclair, by a draft upon his banker at Quebec, for the pay of +the soldiers, the cows, and the pigs. The Captain then took leave of his +friends with mutual regret, and many kind adieus, and, accompanied by +the whole of the family to the beach, embarked with all his men and +pulled away for the fort. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The Campbells remained for some time on the shore of the lake watching +the receding _bateaux_ until they turned round the point and were hidden +from their sight, and then they walked back to the house. But few words +were exchanged as they returned, for they felt a sensation of loneliness +from having parted with so many of their own countrymen; not that they +were, with the exception of Captain Sinclair, companions, but that, +accustomed to the sight of the soldiers at their labor, the spot now +appeared depopulated by their departure. Martin, too, and John, were +both absent; the latter had been two days away, and Martin, who had not +yet found time to ascertain where old Malachi Bone had fixed his new +abode, had gone out in search of it, and to mention to him Mr. +Campbell's wishes as to John's visits to him, which were becoming more +frequent and more lengthened than Mr. Campbell wished them to be. + +When they entered the house, they all sat down, and Mr. Campbell then +first spoke. + +"Well, my dearest wife, here we are at last, left to ourselves and to +our own resources. I am not at all doubtful of our doing well, if we +exert ourselves, as it is our duty to do. I grant that we may have +hardship to combat, difficulties to overcome, occasional disappointments +and losses to bear up against; but let us recollect how greatly we have, +through Providence, been already assisted and encouraged, how much help +we have received, and how much kindness we have experienced. Surely we +ought to feel most grateful to Heaven for blessings already vouchsafed +to us, and ought to have a firm and lively faith in _Him_, who has +hitherto so kindly watched over us. Let us not then repine or feel +dispirited, but with grateful hearts do our duty cheerfully in that +state of life to which it has pleased _Him_ to call us." + +"I agree with you, my dear husband," replied Mrs. Campbell; "nay, I can +say with sincerity, that I am not sorry we are now left to our own +exertions, and that we have an opportunity of proving that we _can_ do +without the assistance of others. Up to the present, our trial has been +nothing; indeed, I can not fancy to myself what our trials are to be. +Come they may, but from what quarter I can not form an idea: should they +come, however, I trust we shall show our gratitude for the past +blessings, and our faith derived from past deliverances, by a devout +submission to whatever the Almighty may please to try or chasten us +with." + +"Right, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell; "we will hope for the best; we +are as much under his protection here in the wilderness, as we were at +Wexton Park; we were just as liable to all the ills which flesh is heir +to when we were living in opulence and luxury as we are now in this +log-house; but we are, I thank God, not so liable in our present +position to forget Him, who so bountifully provides for us and in His +wisdom ordereth all our ways. Most truly has the poet said-- + + "'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'" + +"Well," observed Emma, after a pause, as if to give a more lively turn +to the conversation. "I wonder what _my_ trials are to be! Depend upon +it, the cow will kick down the pail, or the butter won't come!" + +"Or you'll get chapped fingers in the winter-time, and chilblains on +your feet," continued Mary. + +"That will be bad; but Captain Sinclair says that if we don't take care +we shall be frost-bitten and lose the tips of our noses." + +"That would be hard upon you, Emma, for you've none to spare," said +Alfred. + +"Well, you have, Alfred, so yours ought to go first." + +"We must look after one another's noses, they say, as we can not tell if +our own is in danger; and if we see a white spot upon another's nose, we +must take a bit of snow and rub it well; a little delicate attention +peculiar to this climate." + +"I can not say that I do not know what my trials are to be," said +Alfred--"that is, trials certain; nor can Henry either. When I look at +the enormous trunks of these trees, which we have to cut down with our +axes, I feel positive that it will be a hard trial before we master +them. Don't you think so, Harry?" + +"I have made up my mind to have at least two new skins upon my hands +before the winter comes on," replied Henry; "but felling timber was not +a part of my university education--" + +"No," replied Alfred; "Oxford don't teach that; now, my university +education--" + +"Your university education!" cried Emma. + +"Yes, mine; I have sailed all over the universe, and that I call a +university education; but here come Martin and John. Why, John has got a +gun on his shoulder! He must have taken it with him when he last +disappeared." + +"I suppose that by this time he knows how to use it, Alfred," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Martin, who had entered; "he knows well how to use +and how to take care of it and take care of himself. I let him bring it +home on purpose to watch him. He has fired and loaded twice as we came +back, and has killed this woodchuck," continued Martin, throwing the +dead animal on the floor. "Old Malachi has taught him well, and he has +not forgotten his lessons." + +"What animal is that, Martin,--is it good to eat?" said Henry. + +"Not very good, sir; it's an animal that burrows in the ground, and is +very hurtful in a garden or to the young maize, and we always shoot them +when we meet with them." + +"It's a pity that it's not good to eat." + +"Oh! you may eat it, sir; I don't say it's not fit to eat; but there are +other things much better." + +"That's quite sufficient for me, Martin," said Emma, "I shall not taste +him; at all events, not this time, whatever I may have to do by and by." + +"I spoke to old Bone, sir, and he says it's all right; that he won't +keep him more than a day without first sending him to you to ask leave." + +"That's all I require, Martin." + +"They have been out these two days, and had only just come home when I +arrived there. The game was still in the wood." + +"I shot a deer," said John. + +"You shot a deer, John!" said Alfred; "why what a useful fellow you will +be by and by." + +"Yes, sir; old Malachi told me that the boy had shot a deer, and that he +would bring it here to-morrow himself." + +"I am glad of that, for I wish to speak with him," said Mr. Campbell; +"but, John, how came you to take the rifle with you without leave?" + +John made no answer. + +"Answer me, John." + +"Can't shoot without a gun," replied John. + +"No, you can not; but the rifle is not yours." + +"Give it to me, and I'll shoot every thing for dinner," replied John. + +"I think you had better do so, father," said Henry in a low voice; "the +temptation will be too strong." + +"You are right, Henry," replied Mr. Campbell, aside. "Now, John, I will +give you the rifle, if you will promise me to ask leave when you want to +go, and always come back at the time you have promised." + +"I'll always tell when I go, if mamma will always let me go, and I'll +always come back when I promise, if--" + +"If what?" + +"If I've killed," replied John. + +"He means, sir, that if he is on the track when his leave is out, that +he must follow it; but as soon as he has either lost his game, or killed +it, he will then come home. That's the feeling of a true hunter, sir, +and you must not balk it." + +"Very true; well then, John, recollect that you promise." + +"Martin," said Percival, "when are you to teach me to fire the rifle?" + +"Oh, very soon now, sir; but the soldiers are gone, and as soon as you +can hit the mark, you shall go out with Mr. Alfred or me." + +"And when are we to learn, Mary?" said Emma. + +"I will teach you, cousins," said Alfred, "and give a lesson to my +honored mother." + +"Well, we'll all learn," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"What's to be done to-morrow, Martin?" said Alfred. + +"Why, sir, there are boards enough to make a fishing-punt, and if you +and Mr. Henry will help me, I think we shall have one made in two or +three days. The lake is full of fish, and it's a pity not to have some +while the weather is so fine." + +"I've plenty of lines in the store-room," said Mr. Campbell. + +"Master Percival would soon learn to fish by himself," said Martin, "and +then he'll bring as much as Master John." + +"Fish!" said John with disdain. + +"Yes, fish, Master John," replied Martin; "a good hunter is always a +good fisherman, and don't despise them, for they often give him a meal +when he would otherwise go to sleep with an empty stomach." + +"Well, I'll catch fish with pleasure," cried Percival, "only I must +sometimes go out hunting." + +"Yes, my dear boy, and we must sometimes go to bed; and I think it is +high time now, as we must all be up to-morrow at daylight." + +The next morning, Mary and Emma set off to milk the cows--not, as usual, +attended by some of the young men, for Henry and Alfred were busy, and +Captain Sinclair was gone. As they crossed the bridge, Mary observed to +her sister, + +"No more gentlemen to attend us lady milk-maids, Emma." + +"No," replied Emma; "our avocation is losing all its charms, and a +pleasure now almost settles down to a duty." + +"Alfred and Henry are with Martin about the fishing-boat," observed +Mary. + +"Yes," replied Emma; "but I fancy, Mary, you were thinking more of +Captain Sinclair than of your cousins." + +"That is very true, Emma; I was thinking of him," replied Mary, gravely. +"You don't know how I feel his absence." + +"I can imagine it, though, my dearest Mary. Shall we soon see him +again?" + +"I do not know; but I think not for three or four weeks, for certain. +All that can be spared from the fort are gone haymaking, and if he is +one of the officers sent with the men, of course he will be absent, and +if he is left in the fort, he will be obliged to remain there; so there +is no chance of seeing him until the haymaking is over." + +"Where is it that they go to make hay, Mary?" + +"You know they have only a sufficiency of pasture round the fort for the +cattle during the summer, so they go along by the borders of the lake +and islands, where they know there are patches of clear land, cut the +grass down, make the hay, and collect it all in the _bateaux_, and carry +it to the fort to be stacked for the winter. This prairie was their best +help, but now they have lost it." + +"But Colonel Forster has promised papa sufficient hay for the cows for +this winter; indeed, we could not have fed them unless he had done so. +Depend upon it, Captain Sinclair will bring the hay round, and then we +shall see him again, Mary; but we must walk after our own cows now. No +one to drive them for us. If Alfred had any manners he might have come." + +"And why not Henry, Emma?" said Mary, with a smile. + +"Oh! I don't know; Alfred came into my thoughts first." + +"I believe that really was the case," replied Mary. "Now I'm even with +you; so go along and milk your cows." + +"It's all very well, miss," replied Emma, laughing; "but wait till I +have learned to fire my rifle, and then you'll be more cautious of what +you say." + +On their return home, they found the old hunter with a fine buck lying +before him. Mr. Campbell was out with the boys and Martin, who wished +his opinion as to the size of the punt. + +"How do you do, Mr. Bone?" said Mary. "Did John shoot that deer?" + +"Yes; and shot it as well as an old hunter, and the creatur' can hardly +lift the gun to his shoulder. Which of you is named Mary?" + +"I am," said Mary. + +"Then I've something for you," said old Malachi, pulling from out of his +vest a small parcel, wrapped up in thin bark, and handing it to her; +"it's a present from the Strawberry." + +Mary opened the bark, and found inside of it a pair of moccasins, very +prettily worked in stained porcupines' quills. + +"Oh! how beautiful, and how kind of her! Tell her that I thank her, and +love her very much. Will you?" + +"Yes; I'll tell her. Where's the boy?" + +"Who, John? I think he's gone up the stream to take some trout; he'll be +back to breakfast, and that's just ready. Come, Emma, we must go in with +the milk." + +Mr. Campbell and those who were with him soon returned. + +Malachi Bone then stated that he had brought the buck killed by John; +and that, if it suited, he would carry back with him a keg of gunpowder +and some lead; that he wished Mr. Campbell to calculate what he +considered due to him for the property, and let him take it out in +goods, as he required them. + +"Why don't you name your own price, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"How can I name a price? It was given to me and cost nothing. I leave it +all to you and Martin Super, as I said before." + +"You show great confidence in me, I must say. Well Bone, I will not +cheat you; but I am afraid you will be a long while before you are paid, +if you only take it out in goods from my store-house." + +"All the better, master; they will last till I die, and then what's left +will do for the boy here," replied the old hunter, putting his hand upon +John's head. + +"Bone," said Mr. Campbell, "I have no objection to the boy going with +you occasionally; but I cannot permit him to be away always. I want him +to come home the day after he has been to see you." + +"Well, that's not reasonable, master. We go out after the game; who +knows where we may find it, how long we may look for it, and how far it +may lead us? Must we give up the chase when close upon it, because +time's up? That'll never do. I want to make the boy a hunter, and he +must learn to sleep out and do every thing else as concerns a hunter to +do. You must let him be with me longer, and, if you please, when he +comes back keep him longer; but if you wish him to be a man, the more he +stays with me the better. He shall know all the Indian craft, I promise +you, and the winter after this he shall take beavers and bring you the +skins." + +"I think, sir," observed Martin, "it's all in reason what the old man +says." + +"And so do I," said Alfred; "after all, it's only sending John to +school. Let him go, father, and have him home for the holidays." + +"I'll always come to you, when I can," said John. + +"I am more satisfied at John's saying that than you might imagine," said +Mrs. Campbell; "John is an honest boy, and does not say what he does not +mean." + +"Well, my dear, if you have no objection, I'm sure I will not raise any +more." + +"I think I shall gain more by John's affection than by compulsion, my +dear husband. He says he will always come when he can, and I believe +him; I have, therefore, no objection to let him stay with Malachi Bone, +at all events for a week or so at a time." + +"But his education, my dear." + +"He is certain to learn nothing now that this fever for the woods, if I +may so call it, is upon him. He will, perhaps, be more teachable a year +or two hence. You must be aware that we have no common disposition to +deal with in that child; and however my maternal feelings may oppose my +judgment, it is still strong enough to make me feel that my decision is +for his benefit. We must not here put the value upon a _finished_ +education which we used to do. Let us give him every advantage which the +peculiarity of his position will allow us to do; but we are now in the +woods, to a certain degree returned to a state of nature, and the first +and most important knowledge, is to learn to gain our livelihoods." + +"Well, my dear, I think you are correct in your views on the subject, +and therefore, John, you may go to school with Malachi Bone; come to see +us when you can, and I expect you to turn out the Nimrod of the west." + +Old Malachi stared at the conclusion of this speech; Alfred observed his +surprise, and burst into a fit of laughter. He then said, "The English +of all that is, Malachi, that my brother John has my father's leave to +go with you, and you're to make a man of him." + +"He who made him must make a man of him," replied Bone: "I can only make +him a good hunter, and that I will, if he and I are spared. Now, master, +if Martin will give me the powder and lead, I'll be off again. Is the +boy to go?" + +"Yes, if you desire it," replied Mrs. Campbell; "come, John, and wish me +good-by and remember your promise." + +John bade farewell to the whole party with all due decorum, and then +trotted off after his schoolmaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +In the course of a week or two, things found their places, and the +family began to feel more comfortable; there was also a degree of +regularity and order established, which could not be effected during the +time that the soldiers were employed. Mrs. Campbell and Percival took +upon them all the work inside and round the house during the morning; +the latter attending to the pigs and fowls, bringing water from the +stream, etc. Mary and Emma milked the cows, and then assisted their +mother during the day in washing, etc. Mr. Campbell instructed Percival, +worked in the garden, and assisted as much as he could, where he might +be found most useful; but he was too advanced in years to be capable of +much hard work. Alfred, Henry and Martin Super were employed during the +whole day, clearing the ground and felling the timber; but every other +day, one or the other went out with Martin into the woods to procure +food, bringing home with them deer, wild turkeys, or other game, which +with an occasional piece of salt-pork, and the fish caught, were +sufficient for the family consumption. Percival was now permitted to +accompany the hunting-parties, and became somewhat expert with his +rifle. He required only a little more practice to be a good shot. + +They rose at half-past five,--were all assembled to prayers at half-past +seven, previous to going to breakfast. They dined at one, and had a +combined tea and supper at seven o'clock. At nine o'clock they went to +bed. Before two months had passed away, every thing went on like +clock-work. One day passed away so like another, that the time flew +imperceptibly, and they wondered that the Sundays came round so quick. +They had now time to unpack every thing, and the books which Mrs. +Campbell had selected and brought with her had been arranged on shelves +in the parlor; but they had not as yet much time to read, and were +generally too tired before the day was over not to long for their beds. +Indeed, the only interval of leisure during the whole day was between +supper and bedtime, when they would all assemble in the kitchen and talk +over the little matters which had occurred either during the chase or at +home. But they were now in the middle of October, the winter was fast +approaching, and they looked forward to it with some degree of anxiety. + +John had kept his word very sacredly. He was occasionally absent for +three or four days, but if so, he invariably came to the house and +remained a day or two at home. Alfred and Martin had long finished the +fishing-punt, and as it was light and easily handled, Henry and Percival +went out in it together, and when he was at home, John with Percival +would pull half a mile out into the lake, and soon return with a supply +of large fish. Mrs. Campbell, therefore, had salted down sufficient to +fill a barrel for the winter's use. + +One day they were agreeably surprised by Captain Sinclair making his +appearance. He had walked from the fort, to communicate to them that the +hay had been gathered in, and would be sent round in a day or two, and +also to inform Mr. Campbell that the commandant could spare them a young +bullock, if he would wish to have it for winter provision. This offer +was gladly accepted, and, having partaken of their dinner, Captain +Sinclair was obliged to return to the fort, he being that night on duty. +Previous, however, to his return, he had some conversation with Martin +Super, unobserved by the rest of the party. Afterward he invited Alfred +to walk back to the fort with him and return on the following morning. +Alfred agreed to do so; and two hours before it was dark they set off, +and as soon as they were on the opposite side of the brook they were +joined by Martin Super. + +"My reasons for asking you to come back with me were twofold," said +Captain Sinclair to Alfred. "In the first place, I wish you to know the +road to the fort, in case it should be necessary to make any +communication during the winter; secondly, I wished to have some +conversation with you and Martin relative to information we have +received about the Indians. I can tell you privately what I was +unwilling to say before your mother and cousins, as it would put them in +a state of restlessness and anxiety, which could avail nothing and only +annoy them. The fact is, we have for some time had information that the +Indians have held several councils. It does not appear, however, that +they have as yet decided upon any thing, although it is certain that +they have gathered together in large numbers not very far from the fort. +No doubt but they have French emissaries inciting them to attack us. +From what we can learn, however, they have not agreed among themselves, +and, therefore, in all probability, nothing will be attempted until next +year, for the autumn is their season for sending out their war-parties. +At the same time, there is no security, for there is a great difference +between a junction of all the tribes against us and a common Indian +war-party. We must, therefore, be on the alert, for we have a +treacherous foe to deal with. And now, for your portion of interest in +this affair. If they attack the fort, which they may do, notwithstanding +our treaties with them, you of course would not be safe where you are; +but, unfortunately, you may not be safe even if we are not molested; for +when the Indians collect (even though the main body decide upon +nothing), there are always bands of five to ten Indians, who, having +left their homes, will not return if they can help it without some +booty; these are not regular warriors, or if warriors, not much esteemed +by the tribe; in fact, they are the worst classes of Indians, who are +mere robbers and banditti. You must, therefore, be on the look-out for +the visits of these people. It is fortunate for you that old Bone has +shifted his abode so many miles to the westward, and that you are on +such good terms with him, as it is not very likely that any party of +Indians can approach you without his meeting with them or their track +during his excursions." + +"That's true, Captain," observed Martin, "and I will go myself and put +him on his guard." + +"But, will they not attack him before they attack us?" said Alfred. + +"Why should they?" replied Sinclair. "He is as much an Indian almost as +they are, and is well known to most of them. Besides, what would they +gain by attacking him? These straggling parties, which you have to fear, +are in quest of booty, and will not expect to find any thing in his +wigwam except a few furs. No; they will not venture near his rifle, +which they fear, when there is nothing to be obtained by so doing. I +mention this to you, Alfred, that you may be prepared and keep a sharp +look-out. It is very possible that nothing of the kind may occur, and +that the winter may pass away without any danger, and I mention it to +you and Martin, as I consider that the probabilities are not sufficient +to warrant your alarming the other members of the family, especially the +female portion of it. How far you may consider it advisable to +communicate what has now passed to your father and Henry, it is for you +to decide. As I said before, I do not imagine you have much to fear from +a general attack; it is too late in the year, and we know that the +councils broke up without coming to any decision. You have only to fear +the attempts of small parties of marauders, and I think you are quite +strong enough, both in numbers and in the defenses of your habitation, +to resist them successfully, if you are not suddenly surprised. That is +all that you have to fear; and now that you are warned, half the danger +is over." + +"Well, Captain, I'll leave you now," said Martin, "I shall go over to +old Malachi's to-night; for it occurs to me that any attack is more +likely to be made between the fall of the leaf and the fall of the snow +than afterward; so the sooner I put Malachi on his guard the better. +Good-evening, sir." + +Captain Sinclair and Alfred continued on their way to the fort. They had +contracted a strong friendship, and were unreserved in their +communication with each other. + +"You have no idea, Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "how the peculiar +position of your family occupies my thoughts. It really appears almost +like madness on the part of your father to bring out your mother and +cousins to such a place, and expose them to such privations and dangers. +I can hardly sleep at night when I reflect upon what might happen." + +"I believe," replied Alfred, "that if my father had known exactly what +his present position would have been, he would have decided upon not +leaving England; but you must remember that he came out with much +encouragement, and the idea that he would only have to surmount the +hardships of a settler in clearing his land. He fancied, at least I'm +sure _we_ all did, that we should be surrounded by other farmers, and +have no particular danger to incur. When at Quebec, he found that all +the good land near to civilization was bought up or possessed by the +French Canadians; he was advised to come further westward by those who +ought to have been aware of what he would have to encounter by so doing, +but who probably considered that the danger we now apprehend no longer +existed; and he has followed that advice which I have no doubt was +conscientiously given. I think myself, even now, that the advice was +good, although we are accompanied by females who have been brought up in +so different a sphere, and for whose welfare such anxiety is shown; for +observe now, Sinclair, suppose, without having made our acquaintance, +you had heard that some settlers, men and women, had located themselves +where we have done; should you have considered it so very rash an +undertaking, presuming that they were merely farmers and farmers' +wives?" + +"I certainly should have troubled myself very little about them, and +perhaps not thought upon the subject." + +"But supposing the subject had been brought up at the fort, and you had +heard the parties had a stockaded house and four or five good rifles to +depend upon, with the fort to fall back upon if necessary?" + +"I admit that I should most probably have said that they were in a +position to protect themselves." + +"Most assuredly, and therefore we are equally so; your feelings of +interest in us magnify the danger, and I therefore trust that in future +you will not allow our position to interfere with your night's rest." + +"I wish I could bring myself to that feeling of security, Alfred. If I +were only with you, to assist in protecting them, I should sleep sound +enough." + +"Then you would not be of much use as a watch," replied Alfred, +laughing. "Never fear, Sinclair, we shall do well enough," continued he, +"and if we require assistance, we will apply for you and a party of +soldiers." + +"There would be much difficulty about that, Alfred," replied Captain +Sinclair; "if there were sufficient danger to make that demand upon the +commandant, the same danger would require that he should not weaken his +force in the fort; no, you would have to retreat to the fort, and leave +your farm to the mercy of the Indians." + +"It certainly would be the wisest plan of the two," replied Alfred; "at +all events, we could send the women. But the Indians have not come yet, +and we must hope that they will not." + +The conversation was then changed, and in half an hour more they arrived +at the fort. + +Alfred was welcomed at the fort by Colonel Forster, with whom he was a +great favorite. The Colonel could not refrain from expressing his +opinion, that Mr. Campbell and his family were in a position of some +danger, and lamenting that the female portion of the family, who had +been brought up with such very different prospects, should be so +situated. He even ventured to hint that if Mrs. Campbell and the two +Misses Percival would pass the winter in the fort he would make +arrangements to accommodate them. But Alfred at once replied, that he +was convinced no inducement would persuade his mother or cousins to +leave his father; they had shared his prosperity, and they would cling +to him in adversity; that they all were aware of what they would have to +risk before they came out, and his father preferred a life of honorable +independence attended with danger, to seeking the assistance of others. + +"But still I can not perceive any reason for the ladies remaining to +encounter the danger." + +"The more we are, the stronger we are to repel danger," replied Alfred. + +"But women surely will only be an incumbrance!" + +"I think differently," replied Alfred. "Young and delicate as my cousins +are, they will not shrink any more than my mother when their services +are required. They now can all of them use a rifle, if required, and to +defend a house, a determined woman is almost as effective as a man. +Depend upon it, if it comes to the necessity, they will do so. You see, +therefore, Colonel, that by taking away our ladies, you will weaken our +force," continued Alfred, laughing. + +"Well, my dear fellow, I will press it no more. Only recollect that I +shall always be ready to send you any assistance when required." + +"I have been thinking, Colonel Forster, that, as we have no horses at +present, if you have any rockets, they might be useful in such a case. +At the distance we are from you a rocket would be seen immediately if +fired at night, and I promise you, that it shall not be fired without +great necessity." + +"I am glad that you have mentioned it, Alfred; you shall have a dozen to +take with you. You go back with the boats that carry the hay to-morrow +morning, do you not." + +"Yes; I shall take that opportunity, to save wearing out my shoes, as we +have no cobbler near to us. I presume it will be the last trip made by +the boats this season?" + +"Yes," replied the Colonel, "the frost will soon set in now. In another +fortnight we shall probably be visited with a heavy fall of snow, and +the ground will then be covered till spring. But I suppose we shall see +or hear from you occasionally?" + +"Yes; as soon as I can push along in my snow-shoes, I will pay you a +visit," replied Alfred, "but I have that art to learn yet." + +The following morning the sky was clear and the day brilliant. The sun +shone upon the dark, scarlet-tinged foliage of the oaks, and through the +transparent yellow leaves of the maple. A slight frost had appeared for +two or three mornings about a month back, and now they were enjoying +what was termed the Indian summer, which is a return of fair and rather +warm weather for a short time previous to the winter setting in. + +The soldiers were busy carrying the hay down to the _bateaux_, and, +before noon, Alfred bade farewell to Colonel Forster and the other +officers of the fort, and, accompanied by Captain Sinclair, went down to +embark. All was ready, and Alfred stepped into the boat; Captain +Sinclair being on duty and not able to accompany him back. + +"I shall not fail to give directions to the sentries about the rockets, +Alfred," said Captain Sinclair, "and so tell your mother and cousins; +and mind to show them how to fire them off from out of the barrel of a +musket. Good-by; God bless you, my dear fellow." + +"Good-by," replied Alfred, as the boats pulled from the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +After Alfred's return from the fort, a few days passed away without any +incident: Martin had paid a visit to Malachi Bone, who had promised that +he would be on the look-out and would give immediate information and +assistance in case of any hostile measures on the part of the Indians. +He told Martin, that in a few days he would discover what had taken +place and what might be looked forward to. When Martin returned with his +communication, Alfred was satisfied, and did not acquaint any body +except his brother Henry with the information which he had received from +Captain Sinclair. + +The monotony of their life was, however, broken in upon by the arrival +of a corporal from the fort, who was the bearer of the first dispatches +which they had received since their arrival at the settlement. Letters, +yes letters, not only from Quebec but from England, were announced. The +whole house was in confusion, all crowding round Mr. Campbell while he +unsealed the large packet. First a bundle of English newspapers from the +Governor of Quebec--these were laid aside; a letter from Mr. Campbell's +agent at Quebec--this was on business and could wait his leisure; then +the letters from England--two long, well-filled double letters from Miss +Paterson to Mary and Emma; another from Mr. Campbell's agent in England, +and a large one on foolscap with "On His Majesty's Service," directed to +Mr. Alfred Campbell. Each party seized upon their letters, and hastened +on one side with them. Mrs. Campbell being the only one who had no +correspondent, anxiously watched the countenance of Alfred, who, after a +hasty glance, cried out, "I am confirmed to my rank, my dear mother; I +am a lieutenant in his Majesty's service--huzza! Here's a letter +inclosed from Captain Lumley; I know his handwriting." Alfred received +the congratulations of the whole party, handed the official letter to +his mother, and then commenced the perusal of the one from Captain +Lumley. After a short silence, during which they were all occupied with +their correspondence, Mr. Campbell said, "I also have good news to +communicate to you; Mr. H. writes to me to say, that Mr. Douglas +Campbell, on finding the green-houses and hot-houses so well stocked, +considered that he was bound to pay for the plants; that they have been +valued at seven hundred pounds, and that he has paid that money into my +agent's hands. This is extremely liberal of Mr. Douglas Campbell, and I +certainly did not expect, as I found plants there on my taking +possession, that I was entitled to any remuneration for what I left. +However, I am too poor to refuse his offer from any feelings of +delicacy, and shall therefore write and thank him for his generous +behavior." Alfred had read the letter from Captain Lumley, which made +him very thoughtful. The fact was, his promotion and the observations in +Captain Lumley's letter had brought back all his former regret at having +quitted the service, and he was very melancholy in consequence; but as +his cousins read their letters aloud, he gradually recovered his +spirits. + +At last, all the letters were read, and then the newspapers were +distributed. No more work was done that day, and in the evening they all +sat round the kitchen fire and talked over the intelligence they had +received until long after their usual time of retiring to bed. + +"I have been thinking, my dear Emily," said Mr. Campbell, the next +morning before they quitted their sleeping-room, "what a very seasonable +supply of money this will be. My funds, as you have seen by the account +of my Quebec agent, were nearly exhausted, and we have many things yet +to procure. We shall require horses next year, and we must increase our +stock in every way; indeed, if we could have another man or two, it +would be very advantageous, as the sooner we clear the ground, the +sooner we shall be independent." + +"I agree with you, Campbell; besides, we shall now have Alfred's +half-pay, poor fellow, which will help us very much; I have been +thinking more of him than any thing else this night; I watched him when +he read Captain Lumley's letter, and I well understood the cause of his +seriousness for some time afterward; I almost feel inclined to let him +return to his profession; it would be painful parting with him, but the +sacrifice on his part is very great." + +"Still it's his duty," replied Mr. Campbell, "and, moreover, absolutely +necessary at present, that he should remain with us. When we are more +settled and more independent of his assistance we will talk over the +subject." + +In the meantime, Mary and Emma had gone out as usual to milk the cows. +It was a beautiful clear day, but there was a bracing air which cheered +the spirits, and the sunshine was pleasantly warm in situations +sheltered from the winds; one of the few fine days just before the +rushing in of winter. They had milked their cows, and had just turned +them out again, when they both sat down with their pails before them on +a log, which was in front of Malachi's lodge, now used as a cow-house. + +"Do you know, Mary," said Emma, after a pause, "I'm almost sorry that I +have received a letter from Miss Paterson." + +"Indeed, dear Emma!" + +"Yes, indeed it has unsettled me. I did nothing but dream all last +night. Every thing was recalled to my mind--all that I most wished to +forget. I fancied myself again engaged in all the pursuits of our +much-loved home; I was playing the harp, you were accompanying me on the +piano as usual; we walked out in the shrubberies; we took an airing in +the carriage; all the servants were before me; we went to the villages +and to the almshouses; we were in the garden picking dahlias and roses; +I was just going up to dress for a very large dinner-party, and had rung +the bell for Simpson, when I woke up, and found myself in a log-hut, +with my eyes fixed upon the rafters and bark covering of the roof, +thousands of miles from Wexton Hall, and half an hour longer in bed than +a dairy-maid should be." + +"I will confess, my dear Emma, that I passed much such a night; old +associations will rise up again when so forcibly brought to our +remembrance as they have been by Miss Paterson's letters, but I strove +all I could to banish them from my mind, and not indulge in useless +repining." + +"Repine, I do not, Mary, at least, I hope not, but one can not well help +regretting; I can not help remembering, as Macduff says, that 'such +things were.'" + +"He might well say so, Emma; for what had he lost? his wife and all his +children, ruthlessly murdered; but what have we lost in comparison? +nothing--a few luxuries. Have we not health and spirits? Have we not our +kind uncle and aunt, who have fostered us--our cousins so attached to +us? Had it not been for the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who have +brought us up as their own children, should we, poor orphans, have ever +been partakers of those luxuries which you now regret? Ought we not +rather to thank Heaven that circumstances have enabled us to show some +gratitude for benefits heaped upon us? How much greater are these +privations to my uncle and aunt now that they are so much more advanced +in years, and have been so much longer accustomed to competence and +ease; and shall we repine or even regret, unless it is on their account? +Surely, my dear Emma, not on our own." + +"I feel the truth of all you say, Mary," replied Emma; "nay, all that +you have now said passed in my own mind, and I have argued to myself in +almost the same words, but I fear that I am not quite so much of a +philosopher as you are; and, acknowledging that what you say is correct, +I still have the same feeling--that is, I wish that I had not received +the letter from Miss Paterson." + +"In that wish there can be no harm, for it is only wishing that you may +not be tempted to repine." + +"Exactly, my dear Mary; I am a daughter of Eve," replied Emma, laughing, +and rising from her seat; "I will put away Miss Paterson's letter, and I +dare say in a day or two I shall have forgotten all about it. Dear +Alfred, how glad I am that he is promoted; I shall call him Lieutenant +Campbell till he is sick of it. Come, Mary, or we shall be keeping my +uncle waiting; come, Juno." + +Emma's calling Juno to follow her, reminds me that I have not yet +introduced the dogs to my little readers, and as they will have to play +their parts in our history, I may as well do so at once. Captain +Sinclair, it may be remembered, had procured five dogs for Mr. Campbell +from the officers of the fort,--two terriers, which were named Trim and +Snob; Trim was a small dog and kept in the house, but Snob was a very +powerful bull-terrier, and very savage; a fox-hound bitch, the one which +Emma had just called Juno; Bully, a very fine young bull-dog, and +Sancho, an old pointer. At night, these dogs were tied up: Juno in the +store-house; Bully and Snob at the door of the house within the +palisade; Trim in doors, and old Sancho at the lodge of Malachi Bone, +where the cows were put in at night. Mr. Campbell found it rather +expensive at first feeding these dogs, but as soon as Martin and his +companions brought home game, there was always plenty for them all. They +were all very sharp and high-couraged dogs, for they had been born in +the fort and had been brought up to hunting every kind of game +indiscriminately; and I need hardly add that they were excellent +watch-dogs, and considered by Mr. Campbell as a great protection. For +the next two days, the family remained rather unsettled; there was so +much news in the newspapers; so many recollections brought up by their +perusal; so much to talk about and discuss, that very little work was +done. The weather, however, was now becoming much colder, and, for the +last two days the sun had not shone. The sky was of one uniform, murky, +solemn gray; and every thing announced that the winter was close at +hand. Martin, who had been hunting, when he came home bid them prepare +for an immediate change in the weather, and his prediction was speedily +verified. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +It was on the Saturday evening, when they had all assembled round the +fire, for it was more cold than it had hitherto been, that the moaning +of the wind among the trees of the forest announced a gale of wind from +the northward. + +"We shall have it soon," observed Martin, "winter mostly comes in with a +gale." + +"Yes; and this appears as if it would be a strong gale," replied Alfred. +"Hark! how the boughs of the trees are sawing and cracking against each +other." + +"I reckon we may get our snow-shoes out of the store-house, John," said +Martin, "and then we shall see how you can get over the ground with them +when you go hunting. You have not shot a moose yet." + +"Is the moose the same as the elk, Martin?" said Henry. + +"I do not think it is, sir; yet I've heard both names given to the +animal." + +"Have you ever shot any?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am; many a one. They're queer animals; they don't run like the +other deer, but they trot as fast as the others run, so it comes to the +same thing. They are very shy, and difficult to get near, except in the +heavy snow, and then their weight will not allow them to get over it, as +the lighter deer can; they sink up to their shoulders, and flounder +about till they are overtaken. You see, Master Percival, the moose can't +put on snow-shoes like we can, and gives us the advantage over the +animal." + +"Are they dangerous animals, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival. + +"Every large animal is more or less dangerous when it turns to bay, +miss. A moose's horns sometimes weigh fifty pounds, and it is a strong +animal to boot; but it can't do anything when the snow is deep. You'll +find it good eating, at all events, when we bring one in." + +"I'll bring one," said John, who was cleaning his rifle. + +"I dare say you will as soon as you can manage your snow-shoes," replied +Martin. "The wind is getting up higher. I guess you'll not find your way +back to Malachi's lodge, Master John, as you thought to do to-morrow +morning." + +"It is certainly a dreadful night," observed Mrs. Campbell; "and I feel +the cold very sensibly." + +"Yes, ma'am; but as soon as the snow is down, you'll be warmer." + +"It is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "so put away your +work: and, Henry, give me down the Bible." + +During that night the gale increased to almost a hurricane; the trees of +the forest clashed and crackled, groaned and sawed their long arms +against each other, creating an unusual and almost appalling noise; the +wind howled round the palisades and fluttered the strips of bark on the +roof, and as they all lay in bed, they could not sleep from the noise +outside, and the increased feeling of cold. It was also the first trial +of this new house in severe weather, and some of the wakeful party were +anxiously watching the result. Toward the morning the storm abated, and +every thing was again quiet. In consequence of the restless night which +they had passed they were not so early as usual. Emma and Mary, when +they came out of their room, found Martin and Alfred up and very busy +with shovels; and, to their astonishment, they perceived that the snow +was at least three feet deep on the ground, and in some places had been +drifted up higher than their heads. + +"Why, Alfred!" cried Emma; "how shall we be able to go after the cows +this morning? This is, indeed, winter come on with little warning." + +"It still snows," observed Mary; "not much, indeed, but the sky is very +black." + +"Yes, miss; we shall have some more of it yet," observed Martin. "Mr. +Campbell and Henry have gone to the store-house for more shovels, for we +must work hard, and clear a footpath, and then get the snow up against +the palisades." + +"What a sudden change," said Emma; "I wish the sky would clear, and then +I should not care." + +"It will to-morrow, Miss Emma, I dare say; but the snow must come down +first." + +Martin and Alfred had only time to clear a path to the store-house. Mr. +Campbell and Henry returned with more shovels, and as soon as breakfast +was over, they commenced work. As for Mary and Emma going to milk the +cows, that was impossible. Martin undertook that task until they had +cleared a pathway to the hunter's lodge, in which the animals were shut +up every night. + +By the advice of Martin, the snow next the palisades was piled up +against the palings like a wall, as high as they could reach or throw +it, by which means they got rid of the snow about the house, and at the +same time formed a barrier against the freezing winds which they had to +expect. All worked hard; Percival and John were of great use, and even +Mrs. Campbell and the girls assisted collecting the remainder of the +snow, and clearing it off the window-sills and other parts. By noon the +snow left off falling, the sky cleared up, and the sun shone bright, +although it gave out but little warmth. + +After dinner they renewed their labors, and commenced clearing away a +path to the lodge, where the cows were locked in, and before nightfall +they had accomplished their task as far as the bridge over the stream, +which was about half-way. It had been a day of great fatigue, and they +were glad to retire to rest. Mrs. Campbell and the girls had put an +additional supply of blankets and skins upon the beds, for the cold was +now intense, and the thermometer stood far below the freezing point. + +The following morning they resumed their task; the sky was still +unclouded, and the sun shone out clear and bright. By dinner-time the +path to the cow house had been completed; and the men then employed +themselves in carrying as much fire-wood as they could, before it was +dark, within the palisades. + +"Well," observed Alfred, "now things may go on as usual within doors; +and what have we to do out, Martin?" + +"You must first get on your snow-shoes, and learn to walk in them," +observed Martin; "or otherwise you'll be a prisoner as well as the +ladies. You see, John, you're not at Malachi's lodge." + +"Go to-morrow," replied John. + +"No; not to-morrow, for I must go with you," said Martin; "I can not +trust you for finding your way; and I can not go to-morrow nor the next +day either. We must kill our beef to-morrow; there's no fear but it will +keep all the winter now, and we shall save our hay." + +"My larder is but poorly furnished," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Never mind, ma'am, we'll soon have something in it, which will save our +beef. In another week you shall have it well stocked." + +"John," said Mr. Campbell, "recollect you must not go away without +Martin." + +"I won't," replied John. + +All the game in the larder having been consumed, they sat down to salt +pork and some of the fish which had been cured. The latter was +pronounced to be excellent. + +"What is the name of this fish, Martin?" + +"It is called the white-fish," replied Martin, "and I have heard gentry +from the old country say that they have none better, if any so good." + +"It is certainly most excellent," replied Mr. Campbell, "and we will not +forget to have a good provision for next winter, if it please God to +spare our lives." + +"Where were you born, Martin?" said Henry, as they were sitting round +the kitchen fire, as usual in the evening. + +"Why, Mr. Henry, I was born at Quebec. My father was a corporal in the +army under General Wolfe, and was wounded in the great battle fought +between him and the Frenchman Montcalm." + +"In which both generals were killed, but the victory was to us." + +"So I've heard, sir," replied Martin. "My mother was an English woman, +and I was born about four years after the surrender of Quebec. My mother +died soon afterward, but my father was alive about five years ago, I +believe. I can't exactly say, as I was for three or four years in the +employ of the Fur Company, and when I returned, I found that he was +dead." + +"And you have been a hunter all your life?" + +"Not all my life, and not exactly a hunter. I call myself a trapper, but +I still am both. I first was out with the Indians when I was about +fourteen, for you see my father wanted to make me a drummer, and I could +not stand that; so I said to him, 'Father, I won't be a drummer.' +'Well,' says he, 'Martin, you must help yourself, for all my interest +lies in the army.' 'So I will,' says I; 'father, I'm off for the woods.' +'Well,' says he, 'just as you like, Martin.' So one fine day I wished +him good-by, and did not see him again for more than two years." + +"Well, and what took place then?" + +"Why, I brought home three or four packages of good skins, and sold them +well. Father was so pleased, that he talked of turning trapper himself, +but, as I told the old man, a man with a lame leg--for he had been +wounded in the leg and halted--would not make his livelihood by hunting +in the woods of Canada." + +"Was your father still in the army?" + +"No, ma'am, he was not in the army; but he was employed in the +storekeeper's department; they gave him the berth on account of his +wound." + +"Well, go on, Martin." + +"I haven't much more to say, ma'am, I brought home my furs, sold them, +and father helped me to spend the money as long as he was alive, and +very welcome he was to his share. I felt rather queer when I came back +from the Fur Company and found that the old man was dead, for I had +looked forward with pleasure to the old man's welcome, and his enjoying +his frolic with me as usual." + +"I'm afraid those frolics were not very wise, Martin." + +"No, sir, they were very foolish, I believe; but I fear it will always +be the case with us trappers. We are like sailors, we do not know what +to do with money when we get it; so we throw it away, and the sooner the +better, for it is our enemy while we have it. I assure you, sir, that I +used to feel quite happy when all my money was gone, and I was setting +off to the woods again. It's a hard life, but a life that unfits you +for any other; a life which you become very fond of. I don't mind being +here with you by way of a change; indeed, as long as there is hunting, +it is almost as good as if I were in the woods, but else I think I shall +die a trapper." + +"But, Martin," said Mr. Campbell, "how much more wise would it be to put +your money by, and after a time purchase a farm and settle down a steady +man with property, perhaps married and the father of a family." + +"Perhaps it might be; but if I do not like it so well as trapping, I +don't see why I should do so; it would be changing my life to please +others and not myself." + +"That's very true, Martin," said Alfred, laughing. + +"Perhaps Martin may change his mind before he is an old man," replied +Mrs. Campbell. "Dear me! what noise was that?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, +as a melancholy howl was heard without. + +"Only a rascally wolf, ma'am," said Martin; "we must expect the animals +to be about us now that the snow has fallen, and the winter has set in." + +"A wolf! are they not dangerous, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival. + +"That depends, miss, how hungry they may be; but they are not very fond +of attacking a human being; if we had any sheep outside, I fancy that +they would stand a bad chance." + +The howl was repeated, when one or two of the dogs which had been +admitted into the house and were stretched before the fire, roused up +and growled. + +"They hear him, ma'am, and if we were to let them out, would soon be at +him. No, no, John, sit still and put down your rifle; we can't afford to +hurt wolves; their skins won't fetch a half-dollar, and their flesh is +not fit for a clog, let alone a Christian. Let the vermin howl till he +is tired; he'll be off to the woods again before daylight." + +"There is certainly something very melancholy and dreadful to me in that +howl," said Emma; "it frightens me." + +"What, Emma, afraid?" said Alfred, going to her; "why yes, really she +trembles; why, my dear Emma, do you recollect how frightened you and +Mary were at the noise of the frogs when you first came here; you got +used to it very soon, and so you will to the howl of a wolf." + +"There is some difference, Alfred," replied Emma, shuddering as the howl +was repeated. "I don't know how it is," said she, rallying her spirits, +"but I believe it was reading Little Red Riding Hood when I was a child, +which has given me such a horror of a wolf; I shall get over it very +soon, I have no doubt." + +"I must say, that it does not create the most agreeable sensation in my +mind," observed Mrs. Campbell, "but I was aware of what we were to +encounter when we came here, and if it is only to be annoyed with the +cry of a wild beast, we may consider that we get off very cheaply." + +"I should feel much more at ease, if all the rifles were loaded," said +Mary Percival, in her usual quiet way. + +[Illustration: LADY-MILKMAIDS.] + +"And I too," said Emma. + +"Well, then, if that will at all relieve your minds, it is easily done," +said Mr. Campbell; "let us all load our rifles, and put them back in +their rests." + +"Mine's loaded," said John. + +"And the rest soon shall be," said Alfred, "even the three appropriated +for your use, mother and cousins. Now don't you feel some satisfaction +in knowing you can load and fire them yourselves? the practice you had +during the fine weather has not been thrown away, has it, dear Emma?" + +"No, it has not, and I am very glad that I did learn it; I am a coward +in apprehension, Alfred, but, perhaps, if I was put to the test, I +should behave better." + +"That I really believe," replied Alfred; "a gale of wind at sea sounds +very awful when down below jerking about in your hammock, but when on +deck, you don't care a fig about it. Now the rifles are all loaded, and +we may go to bed and sleep sound." They did retire to rest, but all +parties did not sleep very sound; the howling of one wolf was answered +by another; Emma and Mary embraced each other, and shuddered as they +heard the sounds, and it was long before they forgot their alarm and +were asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The next morning was bright and clear, and when Emma and Mary went out, +attended by Alfred, to go and milk the cows, although the cold was +intense, every thing looked so brilliant and sparkling in the sunshine +that they regained their spirits. The lake was still unfrozen, and its +waters, which were of an azure blue, contrasted with the whole of the +country covered with snow, and the spruce firs with their branches +loaded presented an alternate layer of pure white and of the darkest +green. Birds there were none to be seen or heard. All was quiet, so +quiet that as they stepped along the path which had been cleared away to +the cow-house, they almost started at the sound of their own voices, +which the atmosphere rendered more peculiarly sonorous and ringing. +Alfred had his rifle on his shoulder, and walked in front of his +cousins. + +"I have come to prove that all your fears are groundless, my dear Emma, +and that you need not have any alarm about a skulking, cowardly wolf," +said Alfred. + +"Well, that may be," replied Emma, "but still we are very glad of your +company." + +They arrived at the cow-house without any adventure, let loose Sancho, +who had been tied up, as it was decided that the dog should remain at +home with the others, and proceded to milk the cows. Having finished +that task and supplied them with fodder, Mary Percival observed, as they +were retracing their steps, + +"I must say that it would not only be more convenient but more agreeable +if the cows were kept nearer to the house." + +"It would be certainly," replied Alfred. "It is a pity that there is not +a cow-shed within the palisades; but we have no means of making one at +present. Next year, when my father has purchased his horses and his +sheep, which he talks of doing, we are to build a regular yard and sheds +for all the animals close to the house, and palisaded round as the house +now is, with a passage from one palisade to the other. Then it will be +very convenient; but 'Rome was not built in a day,' as the proverb says; +and we must, therefore, wait another winter." + +"And be devoured by the wolves in the mean time," replied Emma, +laughing. + +"Why, you are getting over your fright already, Emma." + +"Yes; I feel pretty bold, now I think there is nothing to be afraid of." + +The remainder of the week was passed away in practicing upon the +snow-shoes by the males of the party, the women scarcely ever venturing +out of doors, as the cold was very severe. Mary and Emma were +accompanied by Alfred for the first three or four days; and after that, +notwithstanding that the howling of the wolves was heard every night, +they took courage when they found that the animals never made their +appearance by daylight, and went as before to milk the cows by +themselves. On the Saturday, they were in the hopes of seeing old +Malachi Bone, but he did not make his appearance, and John, who could +now get on very well in his snow-shoes, became very impatient. Alfred +and Martin were also very anxious to see the old man, that they might +ascertain if he had made any discoveries relative to the Indians. +Sunday, as usual, was a day of rest from labor; the services were read +by Mr. Campbell, and the evening passed in serious conversation. Mr. +Campbell, although usually in good spirits, was certainly not so on that +evening: whether it was that the severity of the winter which had set in +and the known long duration of it which they had to encounter had an +effect upon his spirits, he was melancholy as well as serious. He more +than once referred to the former residence when in England, which was a +very unusual thing for him to do, and by degrees the conversation was +turned in that direction, and, although no one said so, they all felt +what a change there was in their present position from that which they +had been forced to leave. Mrs. Campbell, who perceived that a gloom was +gathering over the whole party, made several remarks tending to +reconcile them to their present lot, and, after a time Mr. Campbell +observed-- + +"Perhaps, my dear children, it may be a divine mercy which has sent you +here to this wilderness; true it is that we are removed from +civilization, and shut up here by a severe winter, deprived of the +enjoyments and pleasures which are to be found in the society which we +were compelled to leave; but let us also bear in mind that we are +removed from the many temptations which might have there assailed us." + +"But still, papa, you would be very glad if circumstances would permit +us to return to England; would you not?" said Percival. + +"Yes, my child, I should, and even if I had remained here so long as to +have become attached to the place and to the isolation which at first is +felt so irksome, I would still return to England and to society, if I +had the means. As Christians, we are not to fly from the world and its +temptations, but to buckle on our armor, and putting our trust in Him +who will protect us, fight the good fight; that is, doing our duty in +that state of life to which it shall please God to call us." + +"But if ever we were to return to England, there would be no chance of +our living as we did before we left it, would there, papa?" + +"I see none, my dear boy; but we never know what is in store for us. +Should any of us ever return, I presume it would be to live in a more +humble way; and for my part, I should prefer that it were so, for +although I trust I did not greatly misuse that wealth which I so long +supposed to be mine, I should not be sorry to have much less, and +therefore less responsibility." + +"Indeed, my dear Campbell, imperfect as we all are, I do not believe +that many could have made a better use of it than you did." + +"I thought so at the time, my dear," replied Mr. Campbell, "but since it +has been lost to me, I have often thought that I might have done more +good with it. But the fact is, my dear children, there is nothing so +dangerous to our eternal welfare as great wealth; it tends to harden the +heart by affording the means of constant self-indulgence:--under such +circumstances, man is apt to become selfish, easily satisfied with his +own works, and too proud to see his errors. Did you observe in the +Litany, which I read at this morning's service, how very appropriately +is inserted the prayer, for deliverance under the perils of wealth?-- + +"'In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our _wealth_, in the +hour of death, and in the day of judgment, good Lord deliver us.' + +"Examine this, my dear children: in all time of our tribulation,--that +is in poverty and distress, and perhaps famishing from want (and in few +positions are people so incited to crime), _then_ in all time of our +wealth, evidently and distinctly placing wealth as more dangerous to the +soul's welfare than the extremest poverty and its accompanying +temptations; and observe, only exceeded by the most critical of all +dangerous positions, when all has been done and nothing can be +undone,--the hour of death, followed by the day of judgment." + +Mr. Campbell ceased speaking, and there was a pause for a minute or two +in the conversation, when Mary Percival said, "What, then, my dear +uncle, do you consider as the most enviable position in life?" + +"I consider a moderate independence as the most enviable; not occupied +in trade, as the spirit of barter is too apt to make us bend to that +which is actually fraud. I should say, a country gentleman living on his +own property and among his own tenants, employing the poor around him, +holds a position in which he has the least temptation to do wrong, and +the most opportunities of doing good." + +"I agree with you, my dear Campbell," said his wife; "and yet how few +are satisfied even with that lot." + +"Because the craving after wealth is so strong, that every one would +have more than he hath, and few men will be content. The desire of +aggrandizement overcomes and masters us; and yet what can be more absurd +than to witness the care and anxiety of those to gain riches, who have +already more perhaps than is necessary for their wants,--thus 'heaping +up riches, not knowing who may gather them,' and endangering the soul to +obtain that which they must leave behind them when they die. Others +amass wealth, not actuated by the avarice of hoarding it up, but by the +appetite for expending it; who collect unjustly that they may lavish +profusely; these are equally foolish, and how important is that lesson +given in the Scriptures." Mr. Campbell opened the Bible which lay before +him and read-- + + "And he spake a parable unto them. The ground of a certain rich + man brought forth plentifully. + + "And he said, What shall I do? because I have no room where to + bestow my fruits. + + "And he said: This will I do; I will pull down my barns and build + greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. + + "And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up + for many years, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry. + + "But God said unto him: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be + required of thee." + +After a short silence, Mrs. Campbell observed, "I have often reflected +since I have been here upon what might have been our position had we +decided upon remaining in England. We might at this moment have been in +the greatest distress, even wanting a meal; and I have, therefore, often +thanked God that He left us the means of coming here and providing for +ourselves as we have done, and as I have no doubt shall, with His +blessing, continue to do. How much better off are we at this moment than +many thousands of our countrymen who remain in England! How many are +starving! How many are driven into crime from want! while we have a good +roof over our heads, sufficient clothing and more than sufficient food. +We have, therefore, great reason to thank God for the mercies He has +vouchsafed to us; He has heard our prayer, 'Give us this day our daily +bread.'" "Yes," continued Mr. Campbell, "'Give us this day our daily +bread,' is all that we are taught to ask for; and it comprehends all; +and yet how heartlessly is this pronounced by many of those who do +repeat their daily prayers. So is the blessing asked at meals, which is +by too many considered as a mere matter of form. They forget, that He +who gives can also take away; and in their presumption, suppose their +own ability and exertion to have been the sole means of procuring +themselves a daily supply of food; thanking themselves rather than the +Giver of all good. How many thousands are there who have been supplied +with more than they require from their cradle down to their grave, +without any grateful feeling toward Heaven; considering the butcher and +baker as their providers, and the debt canceled as soon as the bills are +paid. How different must be the feeling of the poor cottager, who is +uncertain whether his labor may procure him and his family a meal for +the morrow, who often suffers privation and hunger, and, what is more +painful, witnesses the sufferings of those he loves. How earnest must be +his prayer when he cries, 'Give us this day our daily bread.'" + +This conversation had a very strong effect upon the party, and when they +retired to rest, which they did shortly after, they laid their heads +upon their pillows not only with resignation, but with thankfulness for +the mercies which had been vouchsafed to them, and felt that in the +wilderness they were under the eye of a watchful and gracious +Providence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +On the Monday morning Alfred and Martin went to the cow-house, and +slaughtered the bullock which they had obtained from the commandant of +the fort. When it was skinned it was cut up, and carried to the +storehouse, where it was hung up for their winter consumption. + +As the party were sitting down to dinner, they were greeted by Captain +Sinclair and a young lieutenant of the garrison. It hardly need be said +that the whole family were delighted to see them. They had come overland +on their snow-shoes, and brought some partridges, or grouse, as they are +sometimes called, which they had shot on their way. Captain Sinclair had +obtained leave from the commandant to come over and see how the +Campbells were getting on. He had no news of any importance, as they had +had no recent communications with Quebec or Montreal; all was well at +the fort, and Colonel Forster had sent his compliments, and begged, if +he could be useful, that they would let him know. Captain Sinclair and +his friend sat down to dinner, and talked more than they ate, asking +questions about every thing. + +"By the by, Mr. Campbell, where have you built your pig-sties?" + +"Inside the palisade, next to the fowl-house." + +"That is well," replied Captain Sinclair, "for otherwise you may be +troubled by the wolves, who are very partial to pork or mutton." + +"We _have_ been troubled with them," replied Emma; "at least with their +howlings at night, which make me tremble as I lie awake in bed." + +"Never mind their howling, Miss Emma; we have plenty of them round the +fort, I can assure you; unless attacked, they will not attack you, at +least, I never knew an instance, although I must confess that I have +heard of them." + +"You will, of course, sleep here to-night?" + +"Yes: we will, if you have a bear or buffalo skin to spare," replied +Captain Sinclair. + +"We will manage it, I have no doubt," said Mr. Campbell. + +"And if you could manage, Captain Sinclair," said Emma, somewhat archly, +"as you say that they are not dangerous animals, to bring us a few skins +to-night, it would make the matter easy." + +"Emma, how can you talk such nonsense?" cried Mary Percival. "Why should +you ask a guest to undertake such a service? Why have you not proposed +it to Alfred or Henry, or even Martin?" + +"We will both try, if you please," replied Alfred. + +"I must put my veto on any such attempts, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell. +"We have sufficient danger to meet without running into it voluntarily, +and we have no occasion for wolves' skins just now. I shall, however, +venture to ask your assistance to-morrow morning. We wish to haul up the +fishing-punt before the ice sets in on the lake, and we are not +sufficiently strong-handed." + +During the day Captain Sinclair took Alfred aside to know if the old +hunter had obtained any information relative to the Indians. Alfred +replied that they expected him every day, but as yet had not received +any communication from him. Captain Sinclair stated that they were +equally ignorant at the fort as to what had been finally arranged, and +that Colonel Forster was in hopes that the hunter would by this time +have obtained some intelligence. + +"I should not be surprised if Malachi Bone were to come here to-morrow +morning," replied Alfred. "He has been away a long while, and, I am +sure, is as anxious to have John with him as John is impatient to go." + +"Well, I hope he will; I shall be glad to have something to tell the +Colonel, as I made the request upon that ground. I believe, however, +that he was very willing that I should find an excuse for coming here, +as he is more anxious about your family than I could have supposed. How +well your cousin Mary is looking." + +"Yes; and so is Emma, I think. She has grown half a head since she left +England. By the by, you have to congratulate me on my obtaining my rank +as lieutenant." + +"I do indeed, my dear fellow," replied Captain Sinclair. "They will be +pleased to hear it at the fort. When will you come over?" + +"As soon as I can manage to trot a little faster on these snow-shoes. +If, however, the old hunter does not come to-morrow, I will go to the +fort as soon as he brings us any news." + +The accession to their party made them all very lively, and the evening +passed away very agreeably. At night, Captain Sinclair and Mr. Gwynne +were ushered into the large bedroom, where all the younger male portion +of the family slept, and which, as we before stated, had two spare +bed-places. + +The next morning, Captain Sinclair would have accompanied the Miss +Percivals on their milking expedition, but as his services were required +to haul up the fishing punt, he was obliged to go down, with all the +rest of the men, to assist; Percival and John were the only ones left at +home with Mrs. Campbell. John, after a time, having, as usual, rubbed +down his rifle, threw it on his shoulder, and, calling the dogs which +lay about, sallied forth for a walk, followed by the whole pack except +old Sancho, who invariably accompanied the girls to the cow-house. + +Mary and Emma tripped over the new-beaten snow-path to the cow-house, +merry and cheerful, with their pails in their hands, Emma laughing at +Captain Sinclair's disappointment at not being permitted to accompany +them. They had just arrived at the cow-house, when old Sancho barked +furiously, and sprang to the side of the building behind them, and in a +moment afterward rolled down the snowheap which he had sprung over, +holding on and held fast by a large black wolf. The struggle was not +very long, and during the time that it lasted the girls were so +panic-struck, that they remained like statues within two yards of the +animals. Gradually the old dog was overpowered by the repeated snapping +bites of the wolf, yet he fought nobly to the last, when he dropped +under the feet of the wolf, his tongue hanging out, and bleeding +profusely and lifeless. As soon as his adversary was overpowered, the +enraged animal, with his feet upon the body of the dog, bristling his +hair and showing his powerful teeth, was evidently about to attack the +young women. Emma threw her arm around Mary's waist, advancing her body +so as to save her sister. Mary attempted the same, and then they +remained waiting in horror for the expected spring of the animal, when +of a sudden the other dogs came rushing forward, cheered on by John, and +flew upon the animal. Their united strength soon tore him down to the +ground, and John coming up, as the wolf defended himself against his new +assailants, put the muzzle of his rifle to the animal's head, and shot +it dead. + +The two sisters had held up during the whole of this alarming struggle; +but as soon as they perceived the wolf was dead and that they were safe, +Mary could stand no longer, and sank down on her knees, supporting her +sister, who had become insensible. + +If John showed gallantry in shooting the wolf, he certainly showed very +little toward his cousins. He looked at Mary, nodded his head toward the +wolf's body, and saying "He's dead," shouldered his rifle, turned round +and walked back to the house. + +On his return he found that the party had just come back from hauling up +the punt, and were waiting the return of the Miss Percivals to go to +breakfast. + +"Was that you who fired just now, John?" said Martin. + +"Yes," replied John. + +"What did you fire at?" said Alfred. + +"A wolf," replied John. + +"A wolf! where?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"At the cow-lodge," replied John. + +"The cow-lodge!" said his father. + +"Yes; killed Sancho!" + +"Killed Sancho! why, Sancho was with your cousins!" + +"Yes," replied John. + +"Then, where did you leave them?" + +"With the wolf," replied John, wiping his rifle very coolly. + +"Merciful Heaven!" cried Mr. Campbell, as Mrs. Campbell turned pale; and +Alfred, Captain Sinclair, Martin, and Henry, seizing their rifles, +darted out from the house, and ran with all speed in the direction of +the cow-house. + +"My poor girls!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Wolf's dead, father," said John. + +"Dead! Why didn't you say so, you naughty boy!" cried Mrs. Campbell. + +"I wasn't asked," replied John. + +In the meantime the other party had gained the cow-house; and, to their +horror, beheld the wolf and dog dead, and the two young women lying on +the snow, close to the two animals; for Mary had fainted away shortly +after John had walked off. They rushed toward the bodies of the two +girls, and soon discovered that they were not hurt. In a short time they +were recovered, and were supported by the young men to the house. + +As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Campbell took them into their room, that +they might rally their spirits, and in a quarter of an hour returned to +the party outside, who eagerly inquired how they were. + +"They are much more composed," replied Mrs. Campbell; "and Emma has +begun to laugh again; but her laugh is rather hysterical and forced; +they will come out at dinner-time. It appears they are indebted to John +for their preservation, for they say the wolf was about to spring upon +them when he came to their assistance. We ought to be very grateful to +Heaven for their preservation. I had no idea, after what Martin said +about the wolves, that they were so dangerous." + +"Why, ma'am, it is I that am most to blame, and that's the fact," +replied Martin. "When we killed the bullock I threw the offal on the +heap of snow close to the cow-lodge, meaning that the wolves and other +animals might eat it at night, but it seems this animal was hungry, and +had not left his meal when the dog attacked him, and that made the beast +so _rily_ and savage." + +"Yes; it was the fault of Martin and me," replied Alfred. "Thank Heaven +it's no worse!" + +"So far from it being a subject of regret, I consider it one of +thankfulness," replied Mr. Campbell. "This might have happened when +there was no one to assist, and our dear girls might have been torn to +pieces. Now that we know the danger, we may guard against it for the +future." + +"Yes, sir," replied Martin; "in future some of us will drive the cows +home, to be milked every morning and evening; inside the palisade there +will be no danger. Master John, you have done well. You see, ma'am," +continued Martin, "what I said has come true. A rifle in the hands of a +child is as deadly a weapon as in the hands of a strong man." + +"Yes; if courage and presence of mind attend its use," replied Mr. +Campbell. "John, I am very much pleased with your conduct." + +"Mother called me naughty," replied John, rather sulkily. + +"Yes, John, I called you naughty, for not telling us the wolf was dead, +and leaving us to suppose your cousins were in danger; not for killing +the wolf. Now I kiss you, and thank you for your bravery and good +conduct." + +"I shall tell all the officers at the fort what a gallant little fellow +you are, John," said Captain Sinclair; "there are very few of them who +have shot a wolf, and what is more, John, I have a beautiful dog, which +one of the officers gave me the other day in exchange for a pony, and I +will bring it over, and make it a present to you for your own dog. He +will hunt any thing, and he is very powerful--quite able to master a +wolf, if you meet with one. He is half mastiff and half Scotch +deerhound, and he stands as high as this," continued Captain Sinclair, +holding his hand about as high as John's shoulder. + +"I'll go to the fort with you," said John, "and bring him back." + +"So you shall, John, and I'll go with you," said Martin, "if master +pleases." + +"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "I think he may; what with Martin, his own +rifle, and the dog, John will, I trust be safe enough." + +"Certainly, I have no objection," said Mrs. Campbell, "and many thanks +to you, Captain Sinclair." + +"What's the dog's name?" said John. + +"Oscar," replied Captain Sinclair. "If you let him walk out with your +cousins, they need not fear a wolf. He will never be mastered by one, as +poor Sancho was." + +"I'll lend him sometimes," replied John. + +"Always; when you don't want him yourself, John." + +"Yes, always," replied John, who was going out of the door. + +"Where are you going, dear," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Going to skin the wolf," replied John, walking away. + +"Well, he'll be a regular keen hunter," observed Martin, "I dare say old +Bone has taught him to flay an animal. However, I'll go and help him, +for it's a real good skin." So saying, Martin followed John. + +"Martin ought to have known better than to leave the offal where he +did," observed Captain Sinclair. + +"We must not be too hard, Captain Sinclair," said Alfred. "Martin has a +contempt for wolves, and that wolf would not have stood his ground had +it been a man instead of two young women who were in face of him. Wolves +are very cunning, and I know will attack a woman or child when they will +fly from a man. Besides, it is very unusual for a wolf to remain till +daylight, even when there is offal to tempt him. It was the offal, the +animal's extreme hunger, and the attack of the dog--a combination of +circumstances--which produced the event. I do not see that Martin can be +blamed, as one can not foresee every thing." + +"Perhaps not," replied Captain Sinclair, "and 'all's well that ends +well.'" + +"Are there any other animals to fear?" inquired Mrs. Campbell. + +"The bear is now safe for the winter in the hollow of some tree or under +some root, where he has made a den. It will not come out till the +spring. The catamount or panther is a much more dangerous animal than +the wolf; but it is scarce. I do think, however, that the young ladies +should not venture out, unless with some rifles in company, for fear of +another mischance. We have plenty of lynxes here; but I doubt if they +would attack even a child, although they fight when assailed, and bite +and claw severely." + +The Misses Percival now made their appearance. Emma was very merry, but +Mary rather grave. Captain Sinclair, having shaken hands with them both, +said-- + +"Why, Emma, you appear to have recovered sooner than your sister!" + +"Yes," replied Emma; "but I was much more frightened than she was, and +she supported me, or I should have fallen at the wolf's feet. I yielded +to my fears; Mary held up against hers; so, as her exertions were much +greater than mine, she has not recovered from them so soon. The fact is, +Mary is brave when there is danger, and I am only brave when there is +none." + +"I was quite as much frightened as you, my dear Emma," said Mary +Percival; "but we must now help our aunt, and get dinner ready on the +table." + +"I can not say that I have a wolfish appetite this morning," replied +Emma, laughing; "but Alfred will eat for me and himself too." + +In a few minutes dinner was on the table, and they all sat down without +waiting for Martin and John, who were still busy skinning the wolf. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +"Here come Martin and John at last," said Mr. Campbell, after they had +been about a quarter of an hour at table. + +But he was mistaken; instead of Martin and John, Malachi Bone made his +appearance, and, to their surprise, accompanied by his young squaw, the +Strawberry Plant. + +Every one rose to welcome them, and the Misses Percival went to their +little female acquaintance, and would have made her sit down with them, +but she refused and took her seat on the floor near the fire. + +"She ain't used to chairs and stools, miss; let her be where she is," +said old Bone, "she'll be more comfortable, and that's what you want +her to be, I'm sure. I brought her with me, because I could not carry +all the venison myself, and also to show her the way in and out of the +house, and how it is fastened, in case of sending a message by night." + +"Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. Campbell, with surprise, +"why, what possible occasion could there be for that?" + +Captain Sinclair and Alfred, who perceived that the old hunter had said +too much, were quite at a loss what to say. They did not like to +frighten Mrs. Campbell and the girls about the Indians, especially as +they had just been so much alarmed with the accident of the morning. At +last Alfred replied, "The fact is, my dear mother, that 'forewarned is +being forearmed,' as the saying is; and I told Martin to request Malachi +Bone, if he should hear of any Indians being about or near us, to let us +know immediately." + +"Yes, ma'am, that is the whole story," continued Malachi. "It's the best +plan, when you're in the woods, always to have your rifle loaded." + +Mrs. Campbell and the girls were evidently not a little fluttered at +this fresh intimation of danger. Captain Sinclair perceived it, and +said, "We have always spies on the look-out at the fort, that we may +know where the Indians are and what they are about. Last month, we know +that they held a council, but that it broke up without their coming to +any determination, and that no hostile feeling was expressed so far as +we could ascertain. But we never trust the Indians, and they, knowing +that we watch them, have been very careful not to commit any outrages; +they have not done so for a long while, nor do I think they will venture +again. At the same time, we like to know where they are, and I requested +Alfred to speak to Malachi Bone, to send us immediately word if he heard +or saw any thing of them: not, however, that I intended that the ladies +should be wakened up in the middle of the night," continued Captain +Sinclair, laughing; "that was not at all necessary." + +Malachi Bone would have responded, but Alfred pinched his arm; the old +man understood what was meant, and held his tongue; at last he said-- + +"Well, well, there's no harm done, it's just as well that the Strawberry +should know her way about the location, if it's only to know where the +dogs are, in case she comes of a message." + +"No, no," replied Mr. Campbell, "I'm glad that she is come, and hope she +will come very often. Now, Malachi, sit down and eat something." + +"Well, but about the Indians, Captain Sinclair,--" said Mrs. Campbell; +"that you have not told us all I am certain, and the conviction that +such is the case, will make me and the girls very uneasy; so pray do +treat us as we ought to be treated; we share the danger, and we ought to +know what the danger is." + +"I do not think that there is any danger, Mrs. Campbell," replied +Captain Sinclair, "unless Malachi has further information to give us. I +do, however, perfectly agree with you, that you ought to know all that +we know, and am quite ready to enter upon the subject, trifling as it +is." + +"So I presume it must be, my dear," observed Mr. Campbell, "for I have +as yet known nothing about the matter. So pray, Captain Sinclair, +instruct us all." + +Captain Sinclair then stated what he had before mentioned to Alfred, and +having so done, and pointed out that there was no occasion for alarm, he +requested Malachi Bone would say if he had any further information. + +"The Injuns did meet as you say, and they could not agree, so they broke +up, and are now all out upon their hunting and trapping for furs. But +there's one thing I don't exactly feel comfortable about, which is that +the 'Angry Snake,' as he is called, who was at the 'talk,' and was +mighty venomous against the English, has squatted for the winter +somewhere hereabout." + +"The Angry Snake," said Captain Sinclair. "Is that the chief who served +with the French, and wears a medal?" + +"The very same, sir. He's not a chief though; he was a very good warrior +in his day, and the French were very partial to him, as he served them +well; but he is no chief, although he was considered as a sort of one +from the consequence he obtained with the French. He is an old man now, +and a very bitter one. Many's the Englishman that he has tied to the +stake, and tortured during the war; He hates us, and is always stirring +up the Injuns to make war with us; but his day is gone by, and they do +not heed him at the council now." + +"Then, why are you uncomfortable about him?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Because he has taken up his quarters for the winter hunting not far +from us, with six or seven of the young warriors, who look up to him, +and he is mischievous. If the Injun nation won't make war, he will do +something on his own account, if he possibly can. He's not badly named, +I can tell you." + +"Will he attack you?" + +"Me! no, no; he knows better. He knows my rifle well; he has the mark on +his body; not but that he would if he dared, but I am Injun myself, and +know Injun craft. Then you see, these people have strange ideas. During +the whole war they never could even hit me with their rifles, and they +think I am not to be hurt--that's their superstition--and my rifle, they +think, never misses (they're almost right there, for it does not once in +a hundred times), so what with this and that, they fear me as a +supernatural, as we call it. But that's not the case with you all here; +and if the Snake could creep within these palisades, he might be +mischievous." + +"But the tribes know very well that any attack of this kind would be +considered as a declaration of hostilities," said Captain Sinclair, "and +that we should retaliate." + +"Yes; but you see the Snake don't belong to these tribes about us; his +nation is much further off,--too far to go for redress; and the tribes +here, although they allow him to join the 'talk' as an old warrior who +had served against the English and from respect to his age, do not +acknowledge him or his doings. They would disavow them immediately and +with truth, but they can not prevent his doing mischief." + +"What, then, is the redress in case of his doing any mischief?" said +Henry. + +"Why, upon him and his band, whenever you can find them. You may +destroy them all, and the Injuns here won't say a word, or make any +complaint. That's all that can be done; and that's what I will do; I +mean to tell him so, when I meet him. He fears me, and so do his men; +they think me medicine." + +"Medicine! What is that?" said Henry. + +"It means that he has a charmed life," replied Captain Sinclair. "The +Indians are very superstitious." + +"Yes, they be; well, perhaps, I'll prove medicine; and I'll give them a +pill or two out of my rifle," said Malachi, with a grim smile. +"Howsomever, I'll soon learn more about them, and will let you know when +I do. Just keep your palisade gates fast at night and the dogs inside of +them, and at any time I'll give you warning. If I am on their trail the +Strawberry shall come, and that's why I brought her here. If you hear +three knocks outside the palisade at any hour of the night, why, it will +be her, so let her in." + +"Well," said Mrs. Campbell, "I'm very glad that you have told me all +this; now I know what we have to expect, I shall be more courageous and +much more on my guard." + +"I think we have done wisely in letting you know all we knew ourselves," +said Captain Sinclair. "I must soon take my leave, as I must be at the +fort before sunset. Martin and John are to come with me, and bring back +the dog." + +"Ain't the boy going with me?" said Malachi. + +"Yes; to-morrow morning he may go, but after his return from the fort it +will be too late." + +"Well, then, I may as well stay here," replied Malachi. "Where is he?" + +"He is gone to skin a wolf, which he shot this morning," replied Alfred. +"He will soon be here." + +Mrs. Campbell shortly related to Malachi the adventure of the wolf. The +old hunter listened in silence, and then gave a nod of approbation. + +"I reckon he'll bring home more skins than that this winter," said he. + +The party then rose just as Martin and John made their appearance. +Captain Sinclair conversed with the Misses Percival, while the old +hunter spoke to the Strawberry Plant in her own dialect; the others +either went out or were busy in clearing the table, till Captain +Sinclair took his departure with John and Martin, each armed with a +rifle. + +"Well, this has been an exciting day," observed Mr. Campbell, a little +before they retired to bed. "We have much to thank God for, and great +reason to pray for His continued protection and assistance. God bless +you all, my children; good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +The next morning, a little after daybreak, Martin and John made their +appearance, leading the magnificent dog which Captain Sinclair had given +to John. Like most large dogs, Oscar appeared to be very good-tempered, +and treated the snarling and angry looks of the other dogs with perfect +contempt. + +"It is, indeed, a noble animal," said Mr. Campbell, patting its head. + +"It's a fine creature," observed Malachi, "a wolf would stand no chance +against him, and even a bear would have more on its hands than it could +well manage I expect; but, come here, boy," said the old hunter to John, +leading the dog outside of the door. + +"You'd better leave the dog, John," said Malachi, "the crittur will be +of use here, but of no good to us." + +John made no reply, and the hunter continued-- + +"I say it will be of use here, for the girls might meet with another +wolf, or the house might be attacked; but good hunters don't want dogs. +Is it to watch for us, and give us notice of danger? Why that's our +duty, and we must trust to ourselves, and not to an animal. Is it to +hunt for us? Why no dog can take a deer so well as we can with our +rifles; a dog may discover us when we wish to be hidden; a dog's track +will mark us out when we would wish our track to be doubted. The animal +will be of no utility ever to us, John, and may do us harm, 'specially +now the snow's on the ground. In the summer-time, you can take him and +teach him how to behave as a hunter's dog should behave; but we had +better leave him now, and start at once." + +John nodded his head in assent, and then went in-doors. + +"Good-by," said John, going up to his mother and cousins; "I shall not +take the dog." + +"Won't take the dog! well, that's very kind of you, John," said Mary, +"for we were longing to have him to protect us." + +John shouldered his rifle, made a sign to Strawberry Plant, who rose, +and looking kindly at Mrs. Campbell and the girls, without speaking, +followed John out of the hut. Malachi certainly was not very polite, for +he walked off, in company with John and the squaw, without taking the +trouble to say "Good-by." It must, however, be observed that he was in +conversation with Martin, who accompanied them on the way. + +The winter had now become very severe. The thermometer was twenty +degrees below the freezing point, and the cold was so intense, that +every precaution was taken against it. More than once Percival, whose +business it was to bring in the firewood, was frost bitten, but as Mrs. +Campbell was very watchful, the remedy of cold snow was always +successfully applied. The howling of the wolves continued every night, +but they were now used to it, and the only effect was, when one came +more than usually close to the house, to make Oscar raise his head, +growl, listen awhile, and then lie down to sleep again. Oscar became +very fond of the girls, and was their invariable companion whenever they +left the house. Alfred, Martin and Henry went out almost daily on +hunting excursions; indeed, as there were no crops in the barn, they had +little else to do. Mr. Campbell remained at home with his wife and +nieces; occasionally, but not very often, Percival accompanied the +hunters; of Malachi and John, they saw but little; John returned about +every ten days, but although he adhered to his promise, his anxiety to +go back to Malachi was so very apparent, and he was so restless, that +Mrs. Campbell rather wished him to be away, than remain at home so much +against his will. + +Thus passed away the time till the year closed in; confined as they were +by the severity of the weather, and having little or nothing to do, the +winter appeared longer and more tedious than it would have done had they +been settled longer, and had the crops to occupy their attention; for it +is in the winter that the Canadian farmer gets through all his thrashing +and other work connected with the farm, preparatory for the coming +spring. This being their first winter, they had, of course, no crops +gathered in, and were, therefore, in want of employment. Mrs. Campbell +and her nieces worked and read, and employed themselves in every way +that they could, but constantly shut up within doors, they could not +help feeling the monotony and _ennui_ of their situation. The young men +found occupation and amusement in the chase; they brought a variety of +animals and skins, and the evenings were generally devoted to a +narration of what occurred in the day during their hunting excursions, +but even these histories of the chase were at last heard with +indifference. It was the same theme only with variations, over and over +again, and there was no longer much excitement in listening. + +"I wonder when John will come back again," observed Emma to her sister, +as they were sitting at work. + +"Why he only left two days ago, so we must not expect him for some +time." + +"I know that; I wonder if Oscar would kill a wolf; I should like to take +him out and try." + +"I thought you had had enough of wolves already, Emma," replied Mary. + +"Yes, well; that old Malachi will never bring us any more news about the +Indians," continued Emma, yawning. + +"Why, I do not think that any news about them is likely to be pleasant +news, Emma, and therefore, why should you wish it?" + +"Why, my dear Mary, because I want _some_ news; I want something to +excite me, I feel so dull. It's nothing but stitch, stitch, all day, +and I am tired of always doing the same thing. What a horrid thing a +Canadian winter Is, and not one-half over yet." + +"It is very dull and monotonous, my dear Emma, I admit, and if we had +more variety of employment, we should find it more agreeable, but we +ought to feel grateful that we have a good house over our heads, and +more security than we anticipated." + +"Almost too much security, Mary; I begin to feel that I could welcome an +Indian even in his war-paint, just by way of a little change." + +"I think you would soon repent of your wish, if it were gratified." + +"Very likely, but I can not help wishing it now. When will they come +home? What o'clock is it? I wonder what they'll bring: the old story I +suppose, a buck; I'm sick of venison." + +"Indeed, Emma, you are wrong to feel such discontent and weariness." + +"Perhaps I am, but I have not walked a hundred yards for nearly one +hundred days, and that will give one the blues, as they call them, and I +do nothing but yawn, yawn, yawn, for want of air and exercise. Uncle +won't let us move out on account of that horrid wolf. I wonder how +Captain Sinclair is getting on at the fort, and whether he is as dull as +we are." + +To do Emma justice, it was seldom that she indulged herself in such +lamentations, but the tedium was more than her high flow of spirits +could well bear. Mrs. Campbell made a point of arranging the household, +which gave her occupation, and Mary from natural disposition did not +feel the confinement as much as Emma did; whenever, therefore, she did +show symptoms of restlessness or was tempted to utter a complaint, they +reasoned with and soothed, but never reproached her. + +The day after this conversation, Emma, to amuse herself, took a rifle +and went out with Percival. She fired several shots at a mark, and by +degrees acquired some dexterity; gradually she became fond of the +exercise, and not a day passed that she and Percival did not practice +for an hour or two, until at last Emma could fire with great precision. +Practice and a knowledge of the perfect use of your weapon gives +confidence, and this Emma did at last acquire. She challenged Alfred and +Henry to fire at the bull's eye with her, and whether by their gallantry +or her superior dexterity, she was declared victor. Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell smiled when Emma came in and narrated her success, and felt +glad that she had found something which afforded her amusement. + +It happened that one evening the hunters were very late; it was a clear +moonlight night, but at eight o'clock they had not made their +appearance; Percival had opened the door to go out for some firewood +which had been piled within the palisades, and as it was later than the +usual hour for locking the palisade gates, Mr. Campbell had directed him +so to do. Emma, attracted by the beauty of the night, was at the door of +the house, when the howl of a wolf was heard close to them; the dogs +accustomed to it merely sprang on their feet, but did not leave the +kitchen fire; Emma went out, and looked through the palisades to see if +she could perceive the animal, and little Trim, the terrier, followed +her. Now Trim was so small, that he could creep between the palisades, +and as soon as he was close to them, perceiving the wolf, the courageous +little animal squeezed through them and flew toward it, barking as loud +as he could. Emma immediately ran in, took down her rifle and went out +again, as she knew that poor Trim would soon be devoured. The +supposition was correct: the wolf, instead of retreating, closed with +the little dog and seized it. Emma, who could now plainly perceive the +animal, which was about forty yards from her, took aim and fired, just +as poor Trim gave a loud yelp. Her aim was good, and the wolf and dog +lay side by side. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and Mary, hearing the report of +the rifle, ran out, and found Percival and Emma at the palisades behind +the house. + +"I have killed him, aunt," said Emma, "but I fear he has killed poor +little Trim; do let us go out and see." + +"No, no, my dear Emma, that must not be; your cousins will be home soon, +and then we shall know how the case stands; but the risk is too great." + +"Here they come," said Percival, "as fast as they can run." + +The hunters were soon at the palisade door and admitted; they had no +game with them. Emma jeered them for coming back empty handed. + +"No, no, my little cousin," replied Alfred, "we heard the report of a +rifle, and we threw down our game, that we might sooner come to your +assistance if you required it. What was the matter?" + +"Only that I have killed a wolf, and am not allowed to bring in my +trophy," replied Emma. "Come, Alfred, I may go with you and Martin." + +They went to the spot, and found the wolf was dead, and poor Trim dead +also by his side. They took in the body of the little dog, and left the +wolf till the morning, when Martin said he would skin it for Miss Emma. + +"And I'll make a footstool of it," said Emma; "that shall be my revenge +for the fright I had from the other wolf. Come, Oscar, good dog; you and +I will go wolf-hunting. Dear me, who would have thought that I should +have ever killed a wolf--poor little Trim!" + +Martin said it would be useless to return for the venison, as the wolves +had no doubt eaten it already; so they locked the palisade gate, and +went into the house. + +Emma's adventure was the topic of the evening, and Emma herself was much +pleased at having accomplished such a feat. + +"Well," said Martin, "I never knew but one woman who faced a wolf except +Miss Emma." + +"And who was that, Martin?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +[Illustration: FACING A WOLF.] + +"It was a wife of one of our farmers, ma'am; she was at the outhouse +doing something, when she perceived a wolf enter the cottage-door, where +there was nobody except the baby in the cradle. She ran back and found +the wolf just lifting the infant out of the cradle by its clothes. The +animal looked at her with his eyes flashing; but having its mouth full, +it did not choose to drop the baby, and spring at her; all it wanted was +to get clear off with its prey. The woman had presence of mind enough to +take down her husband's rifle and point it to the wolf, but she was so +fearful of hurting the child, that she did not put the muzzle to its +head, but to its shoulder. She fired just as the wolf was making off, +and the animal fell, and could not get on its feet again, and it then +dropped the child out of its mouth to attack the mother. The woman +caught the child up, but the wolf gave her a severe bite on the arm, and +broke the bone near the wrist. A wolf has a wonderful strong jaw, ma'am. +However, the baby was saved, and neighbors came and dispatched the +animal." + +"What a fearful position for a mother to be in!" exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell. + +"Where did that happen?" + +"On the White Mountains, ma'am," replied Martin. "Malachi Bone told me +the story; he was born there." + +"Then he is an American." + +"Well, ma'am, he is an American because he was born in this country, but +it was English when he was born, so he calls himself an Englishman." + +"I understand," replied Mrs. Campbell, "he was born before the colonies +obtained their independence." + +"Yes, ma'am, long before; there's no saying how old he is. When I was +quite a child, I recollect he was then reckoned an old man; indeed, the +name the Indians gave to him proves it. He then was called the 'Gray +Badger.'" + +"But is he so very old, do you really think, Martin?" + +"I think he has seen more than sixty snows, ma'am; but not many more; +the fact is, his hair was gray before he was twenty years old; he told +me so himself, and that's one reason why the Indians are so fearful of +him. They have it from their fathers that the Gray Badger was a great +hunter, as Malachi was more than forty years ago; so they imagine as his +hair was gray then, he must have been a very old man at that time back, +and so to them he appears to live forever, and they consider him as +charmed, and to use their phrase, 'great _medicine_.' I've heard some +Indians declare that Malachi had seen one hundred and fifty winters, and +they really believe it. I never contradicted them, as you may imagine." + +"Does he live comfortably?" + +"Yes, ma'am, he does; his squaw knows what he wants, and does what she +is bid. She is very fond of the old man, and looks upon him, as he +really is to her, as a father. His lodge is always full of meat, and he +has plenty of skins. He don't drink spirits, and if he has tobacco for +smoking and powder and ball, what else can he want?" + +"Happy are they whose wants are so few," observed Mr. Campbell. "A man +in whatever position in life, if he is content, is certain to be happy. +How true are the words of the poet:-- + + 'Man wants but little here below, + Nor wants that little long!' + +Malachi Bone is a happier man than hundreds in England who live in +luxury. Let us profit, my dear children, by his example, and learn to be +content with what Heaven has bestowed upon us. But it is time to retire. +The wind has risen, and we shall have a blustering night. Henry, fetch +me the book." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Alfred and Martin brought in the wolf which Emma had killed, but it was +frozen so hard that they could not skin it. Poor little Trim was also +carried in, but the ground was too hard frozen for them to bury the +body, so they put it into the snow until the spring, when a thaw would +take place. As for the wolf, they said nothing about it, but they +remained up when the rest of the family retired, and after the wolf had +been some time before the fire, they were able to take off the skin. + +On the following morning, when the hunters went out, they were +particularly desired to shoot a wild turkey if they could, as the next +day was Christmas-day. + +"Let us take Oscar with us," said Alfred; "he is very swift, and may run +them down; we never can get up with them in our snow-shoes." + +"I wonder whether they will get a turkey," said Emma, after the hunting +party had left. + +"I think it will be difficult," said Mrs. Campbell; "but they will try +all they can." + +"I hope they will; for Christmas-day without a turkey will be very +un-English." + +"We are not in England, my dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell; "and wild +turkeys are not to be ordered from the poulterer's." + +"I know that we are not in England, my dear uncle, and I feel it too. +How was the day before every Christmas-day spent at Wexton Hall! What +piles of warm blankets, what a quantity of duffil cloaks, flannels, and +worsted stockings were we all so busy and so happy in preparing and +sorting to give away on the following morning, that all within miles of +us should be warmly clothed on that day. And, then, the housekeeper's +room with all the joints of meat, and flour and plums and suet, in +proportion to the number of each family, all laid out and ticketed ready +for distribution. And then the party invited to the servants' hall, and +the great dinner, and the new clothing for the school-girls, and the +church so gay, with their new dresses in the aisles, and the holly and +the mistletoe. I know we are not in England, my dear uncle, and that you +have lost one of your greatest pleasures--that of doing good, and making +all happy around you." + +"Well, my dear Emma, if I have lost the pleasure of doing good, it is +the will of Heaven that it should be so, and we ought to be thankful +that, if not dispensing charity, at all events, we are not the objects +of charity to others; that we are independent, and earning an honest +livelihood. People may be very happy, and feel the most devout gratitude +on the anniversary of so great a mercy, without having a turkey for +dinner." + +"I was not in earnest about the turkey, my dear uncle. It was the +association of ideas connected by long habit, which made me think of our +Christmas times at Wexton Hall; but, indeed, my dear uncle, if there was +regret, it was not for myself so much as for you," replied Emma, with +tears in her eyes. + +"Perhaps I spoke rather too severely, my dearest Emma," said Mr. +Campbell; "but I did not like to hear such a solemn day spoken of as if +it were commemorated merely by the eating of certain food." + +"It was foolish of me," replied Emma? "and it was said thoughtlessly." + +Emma went up to Mr. Campbell and kissed him, and Mr. Campbell said, +"Well, I hope there will be a turkey, since you wish for one." + +The hunters did not return till late, and when they appeared in sight, +Percival, who had descried them, came in and said that they were very +well loaded, and were bringing in their game slung upon a pole. + +Mary and Emma went out of the door to meet their cousins. That there was +a heavy load carried on a pole between Martin and Alfred was certain, +but they could not distinguish what it consisted of. As the party +arrived at the palisade gates, however, they discovered that it was not +game, but a human being, who was carried on a sort of litter made of +boughs. + +"What is it, Alfred?" said Mary. + +"Wait till I recover my breath," said Alfred, as he reached the door, +"or ask Henry, for I'm quite knocked up." + +Henry then went with his cousins into the house, and explained to them +that as they were in pursuit of the wild turkeys, Oscar had stopped +suddenly and commenced baying; that they went up to the dog, and, in a +bush, they found a poor Indian woman nearly frozen to death, and with a +dislocation of the ankle, so severe that her leg was terribly swelled, +and she could not move. Martin had spoken to her in the Indian tongue, +and she was so exhausted with cold and hunger that she could just tell +him that she belonged to a small party of Indians who had been some days +out hunting, and a long way from where they had built their winter +lodges; that she had fallen with the weight which she had carried, and +that her leg was so bad, she could not go on with them; that they had +taken her burden, and left her to follow them when she could. + +"Yes," continued Alfred; "left the poor creature without food, to perish +in the snow. One day more, and it would have been all over with her. It +is wonderful how she can have lived through the two last nights as she +has. But Martin says the Indians always do leave a woman to perish in +this way or recover as she can, if she happens to meet with an +accident." + +"At all events, let us bring her in at once," said Mr. Campbell. "I will +first see if my surgical assistance can be of use, and after that we +will do what we can for her. How far from this did you find her?" + +"About eight miles," replied Henry; "and Alfred has carried her almost +the whole way; Martin and I have relieved each other, except once, when +I took Alfred's place." + +"And so you perceive, Emma, instead of a wild turkey I have brought an +Indian squaw," said Alfred. + +"I love you better for your kindness, Alfred," replied Emma, "than if +you had brought me a wagon-load of turkeys." + +In the meantime, Martin and Henry brought in the poor Indian, and laid +her down on the floor at some distance from the fire, for though she was +nearly dead with the cold, too sudden an exposure to heat would have +been almost equally fatal. Mr. Campbell examined her ankle, and with a +little assistance reduced the dislocation. He then bound up her leg and +bathed it with warm vinegar, as a first application. Mrs. Campbell and +the two girls chafed the poor creature's limbs till the circulation was +a little restored, and then they gave her something warm to drink. It +was proposed by Mrs. Campbell that they should make up a bed for her on +the floor of the kitchen. This was done in a corner near the fire-place, +and in about an hour their patient fell into a sound sleep. + +"It is lucky for her that she did not fall into that sleep before we +found her," said Martin; "she would never have awoke again." + +"Most certainly not," replied Mr. Campbell. "Have you any idea what +tribe she is of, Martin?" + +"Yes, sir; she is one of the Chippeways; there are many divisions of +them, but I will find out when she awakes again to which she belongs; +she was too much exhausted when we found her, to say much." + +"It appears very inhuman leaving her to perish in that way," observed +Mrs. Campbell. + +"Well, ma'am, so it does; but necessity has no law. The Indians could +not, if they would, have carried her, perhaps one hundred miles. It +would have probably been the occasion of more deaths, for the cold is +too great now for sleeping out at nights for any time, although they do +contrive with the help of a large fire to stay out sometimes." + +"Self-preservation is the first law of nature, certainly," observed Mr. +Campbell; "but, if I recollect right the savage does not value the life +of a woman very highly." + +"That's a fact, sir," replied Martin; "not much more, I reckon, than you +would a beast of burden." + +"It is always the case among savage nations," observed Mr. Campbell; +"the first mark of civilization is the treatment of the other sex, and +in proportion as civilization increases, so are the women protected and +well used. But your supper is ready, my children, and I think after your +fatigue and fasting you must require it." + +"I am almost too tired to eat," observed Alfred, "I shall infinitely +more enjoy a good sleep under my bear skin. At the same time I'll try +what I can do," continued he, laughing, and taking his seat at table. + +Notwithstanding Alfred's observation, he contrived to make a very hearty +supper, and Emma laughed at his appetite after his professing that he +had so little inclination to eat. + +"I said I was too tired to eat, Emma, and so I felt at the time; but as +I became more refreshed my appetite returned," replied Alfred, laughing, +"and notwithstanding your jeering me, I mean to eat some more." + +"How long has John been away?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Now nearly a fortnight," observed Mrs. Campbell; "he promised to come +here Christmas-day. I suppose we shall see him to-morrow morning." + +"Yes, ma'am; and old Bone will come with him, I dare say. He said as +much to me when he was going away the last time. He observed that the +boy could not bring the venison, and perhaps _he_ would if he had any, +for he knows that people like plenty of meat on Christmas day." + +"I wonder whether old Malachi is any way religious," observed Mary. "Do +you think he is, Martin?" + +"Yes, ma'am; I think he feels it, but does not show it. I know from +myself what are, probably, his feelings on the subject. When I have been +away for weeks and sometimes for months, without seeing or speaking to +any one, all alone in the woods, I feel more religious than I do when at +Quebec on my return, although I do go to church. Now old Malachi has, I +think, a solemn reverence for the Divine Being, and strict notions of +duty, so far as he understands it,--but as he never goes to any town or +mixes with any company, so the rites of religion, as I may call them, +and the observances of the holy feast, are lost to him, except as a sort +of dream of former days, before he took to his hunter's life. Indeed, he +seldom knows what day or even what month it is. He knows the seasons as +they come and go, and that's all. One day is the same as another, and he +can not tell which is Sunday, for he is not able to keep a reckoning. +Now, ma'am, when you desired Master John to be at home on the Friday +fortnight because it was Christmas-day, I perceived old Malachi in deep +thought: he was recalling to mind what Christmas-day was; if you had not +mentioned it, the day would have passed away like any other; but you +reminded him, and then it was that he said he would come if he could. +I'm sure that now he knows it is Christmas-day, he intends to keep it as +such." + +"There is much truth in what Martin says," observed Mr. Campbell; "we +require the seventh day in the week and other stated seasons of devotion +to be regularly set apart, in order to keep us in mind of our duties and +preserve the life of religion. In the woods, remote from communion with +other Christians, these things are easily forgotten, and when once we +have lost our calculation, it is not to be recovered. But come, Alfred +and Henry and Martin must be very tired, and we had better all go to +bed. I will sit up a little while to give some drink to my patient, if +she wishes it. Good-night, my children." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Christmas-day was indeed a change, as Emma had observed, from their +former Christmas; but although the frost was more than usually severe, +and the snow filled the air with its white flakes, and the north-east +wind howled through the leafless trees as they rasped their long arms +against each other, and the lake was one sheet of thick ice with a +covering of snow which the wind had in different places blown up into +hillocks, still they had a good roof over their heads, and a warm, +blazing fire on the hearth: and they had no domestic miseries, the worst +miseries of all to contend against, for they were a united family, +loving and beloved; showing mutual acts of kindness and mutual acts of +forbearance; proving how much better was "a dish of herbs where love is, +than the stalled ox with hatred therewith." Moreover they were all +piously disposed; they were sensible that they owed a large debt of +gratitude to Heaven for all its daily mercies in providing them with +food and raiment, for warding off from them sickness and sorrow, and +giving them humble and contented hearts; and on this day, they felt how +little were all worldly considerations, compared with the hopes which +were held out to them through the great sacrifice which the goodness and +mercy of God had made for them and all the world. It was, therefore, +with cheerful yet subdued looks that they greeted each other when they +met previous to the morning prayers. + +Mr. Campbell had already visited his patient and readjusted the bandage: +her ankle was better, but still very much swelled; the poor creature +made no complaints, she looked grateful for what was done and for the +kindness shown to her. They were all arrayed in their best Sunday +dresses, and as soon as prayers were over had just wished each other the +congratulations so general, so appropriate, and yet too often so +thoughtlessly given upon the anniversary, when Malachi Bone, his little +squaw the Strawberry, and John, entered the door of the hut, laden with +the sports of the forest, which they laid down in the corner of the +kitchen, and then saluted the party. + +"Here we are all together on Christmas-day," said Emma, who had taken +the hand of the Strawberry. + +The Indian girl smiled, and nodded her head. + +"And, John, you have brought us three wild turkeys; you are a good boy, +John," continued Emma. + +"If we only had Captain Sinclair here now," said Martin to Emma and Mary +Percival, who was by Emma's side, shaking hands with the Strawberry. + +Mary colored up a little, and Emma replied, "Yes, Martin, we do want +him, for I always feel as if he belonged to the family." + +"Well, it's not his fault that he's not here," replied Martin; "it's now +more than six weeks since he has left, and if the Colonel would allow +him, I'm sure that Captain Sinclair----" + +"Would be here on this day," said Captain Sinclair, who with Mr. Gwynne, +his former companion, had entered the door of the house without being +observed; for the rest of the party were in conversation with Malachi +Bone and John. + +"Oh, how glad I am to see you," cried Emma; "we only wanted you to make +our Christmas party complete; and I'm very glad to see you too, Mr. +Gwynne," continued Emma, as she held out a hand to each. + +"We had some difficulty in persuading the Colonel to let us come," +observed Captain Sinclair to Mary; "but as we have heard nothing further +about the Indians, he consented." + +"You have nothing more to fear from the Indians this winter, Captain, +and you may tell the Colonel so from me," said Malachi. "I happened to +be on their hunting ground yesterday, and they have broken up and gone +westward, that is, Angry Snake and his party have; I followed their +track over the snow for a few miles just to make sure; they have taken +every thing with them, but somehow or other, I could not find out that +the squaw was with them,--and they had one in their party. They carried +their own packs of fur, that I'll swear to, and they had been thrown +down several times; which would not have been the case, if they had not +been carried by men; for you see, the Injun is very impatient under a +load, which a squaw will carry the whole day without complaining. Now +that party is gone, there is no other about here within fifty miles, +I'll be bound for." + +"I'm very glad to hear you say so," replied Captain Sinclair. + +"Then, perhaps, this poor woman whom you succored, Alfred, is the squaw +belonging to the party," observed Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell then +related to Malachi Bone what had occurred on the day before; how the +hunting party had brought home the woman, whom he pointed to in the +corner where she had remained unnoticed by the visitors. + +Malachi and the Strawberry went up to her; the Strawberry spoke to her +in the Indian tongue in a low voice, and the woman replied in the same, +while Malachi stood over them and listened. + +"It's just as you thought, sir; she belongs to the Angry Snake, and she +says that he has gone with his party to the westward, as the beaver were +very scarce down here; I could have told him that. She confirms my +statement, that all the Indians are gone, but are to meet at the same +place in the spring, to hold a council." + +"Is she of the same tribe as the Strawberry?" inquired Henry. + +"That's as may be," replied Malachi; "I hardly know which tribe the +Strawberry belongs to." + +"But they speak the same language." + +"Yes; but the Strawberry learned the tongue from me," replied Malachi. + +"From you!" said Mrs. Campbell; "how was that?" + +"Why, ma'am, it's about thirteen or fourteen years back, that I happened +to come in upon a skirmish which took place on one of the small lakes +between one of the tribes here and a war party of Hurons who were out. +They were surprised by the Hurons, and every soul, as far as I could +learn, was either scalped or carried away prisoner. The Hurons had gone +about an hour or two, when I came up to the place where they fought, and +I sat down looking at the dead bodies, and thinking to myself what +creatures men were to deface God's image in that way, when I saw under a +bush two little sharp eyes looking at me; at first, I thought it was +some beast, a lynx, mayhap, as they now call them, and I pointed my +rifle toward it; but before I pulled the trigger, I thought that perhaps +I might be mistaken, so I walked up to the bush, and there I discovered +that it was an Indian child, which had escaped the massacre by hiding +itself in the bush. I pulled it out; it was a girl about two years old, +who could speak but a few words. I took her home to my lodge, and have +had her with me ever since, so I don't exactly know what tribe she +belongs to, as they all speak the same tongue. I called her the +'Strawberry,' because I found her under a bush close to the ground, and +among strawberry plants which were growing there." + +"And then you married her," said Percival. + +"Married her! no, boy, I never married her; what has an old man of near +seventy to do with marrying? They call her my squaw, because they +suppose she is my wife, and she does the duty of a wife to me; but if +they were to call her my daughter, they would be nearer the mark, for I +have been a father to her." + +"Well, Malachi, to tell you the truth, I did think that she was too +young to be your wife," said Emma. + +"Well, miss, you were not far wrong," replied the old man. "I do wish I +could find out her tribe, but I never have been able, and indeed, from +what I can learn, the party who were surprised came a long way from +this, although speaking the same language; and I don't think there is +any chance now, for even if I were to try to discover it, there have +been so many surprises and so much slaughter within these last twenty +years, that it's scarcely possible the search would be attended with +success." + +"But why do you wish to find out her tribe?" said Mary. + +"Because I'm an old man, miss, and must soon expect to be gathered to my +fathers, and then this poor little girl will be quite alone, unless I +can marry her to some one before I die: and if I do marry her, why then +she will leave _me_ alone; but that can't be helped, I'm an old man, and +what does it matter?" + +"It matters a great deal, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I wish you would +live with us; you would then be taken care of if you required it, and +not die alone in the wilderness." + +"And the Strawberry shall never want friends or a home, while we can +offer her one, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell; "let what will happen to +you, she will be welcome to live here and die here, if she will remain." + +Malachi made no reply; he was in deep thought, resting his chin upon his +hands, which held his rifle before him. Mrs. Campbell and the girls were +obliged to leave to prepare the dinner. John had sat down with the +Strawberry and the Indian woman, and was listening to them, for he now +understood the Chippeway tongue. Alfred, Sinclair, and the other +gentlemen of the party, were in conversation near the fire, when they +were requested by Mrs. Campbell to retreat to the sitting-room, that the +culinary operations might not be interfered with. Malachi Bone still +continued sitting where he was, in deep thought. Martin, who remained, +said to the Miss Percivals in a low voice-- + +"Well, I really did think that the old man had married the girl, and I +thought it was a pity," continued he, looking toward the Strawberry, +"for she is very young and very handsome for a squaw." + +"I think," replied Mary Percival, "she would be considered handsome +everywhere, Martin, squaw or not; her features are very pretty, and then +she has a melancholy smile, which is perfectly beautiful; but now, +Martin, pluck these turkeys, or we shall not have them ready in time." + +As soon as the dinner was at the fire, and could be left to the care of +Martin, Mrs. Campbell and the Misses Percival went into the +sitting-room. Mr. Campbell then read the morning service of the day, +Henry officiating as clerk in the responses. Old Malachi had joined the +party, and was profoundly attentive. As soon as the service was over, he +said-- + +"All this puts me in mind of days long past, days which appear to me as +a dream, when I was a lad and had a father and a mother, and brothers +and sisters around me; but many summers and many winters have passed +over my head since then." + +"You were born in Maine, Malachi, were you not?" + +"Yes, ma'am, half way up the White Mountains. He was a stern old man, my +father; but he was a righteous man. I remember how holy Sunday was kept +in our family; how my mother cleaned us all, and put on our best +clothes, and how we went to the chapel or church, I forget which they +called it; but no matter, we went to pray." + +"Was your father of the Established Church, Malachi?" + +"I can't tell, ma'am; indeed, I hardly know what it means; but he was a +good Christian and a good man, that I do know." + +"You are right, Malachi; when the population is crowded, you find people +divided into sects, and, what is still worse, despising, if not hating +each other, because the outward forms of worship are a little different. +Here in our isolated position, we feel how trifling are many of the +distinctions which divide religious communities, and that we could +gladly give the right hand of fellowship to any denomination of +Christians who hold the main truths of the Gospel. Are not all such +agreed in things essential, animated with the same hopes, acknowledging +the same rule of faith, and all comprehended in the same divine mercy +which was shown us on this day? What do all sincere Christians believe +but that God is holy, great, good, and merciful, that his Son died for +us all, and that through his merits and intercession if we conform to +his precepts--whether members of the Church of England, or any other +communion--we shall be saved and obtain the blessedness of heaven? We +may prefer, and reasonably prefer, our own mode of worship, believing it +to be most edifying; but we have no right to quarrel with those who +conscientiously differ from us about outward forms and ceremonies which +do not involve the spirit of Christianity." + +After a pause, Mary Percival said, "Malachi, tell us more about your +father and your family." + +"I have little to tell, miss; only that I now think that those were +pleasant days which then I thought irksome. My father had a large farm +and would have had us all remain with him. In the winter we felled +timber, and I took quite a passion for a hunter's life; but my father +would not allow me to go from home, so I staid till he died, and then I +went away on my rambles. I left when I was not twenty years old, and I +have never seen my family since. I have been a hunter and a trapper, a +guide and a soldier, and an interpreter; but for the last twenty-five +years I have been away from towns and cities, and have lived altogether +in the woods. The more man lives by himself, the more he likes it, and +yet now and then circumstances bring up the days of his youth, and make +him hesitate whether it be best or not to live alone." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell. + +"I little thought that I should ever have said it," replied the old man, +"when I first saw that girl by the side of the stream (looking at +Emma),--then my heart yearned toward the boy; and now this meeting to +praise God and to keep Christmas-day--all has helped." + +"But do you not pray when you are alone?" said Mary. + +"Yes, in a manner, miss; but it's not like your prayers; the lips don't +move, although the heart feels. When I lie under a tree watching for the +animals, and I take up a leaf and examine it, I observe how curious and +wonderful it is,--I then think that God made it, and that man could not. +When I see the young grass springing up, and _how_, I know not, except +that it does so every year, I think of God and his mercy to the wild +animals in giving them food; and then the sun reminds me of God; and the +moon, and the stars, as I watch, make me think of Him; but I feel very +often that there is something wanting, and that I do not worship exactly +as I ought to do. I never have known which is Sunday, although I well +recollect how holy it was kept at my father's house; and I never should +have known that this was Christmas-day, had it not been that I had met +with you. All days are alike to a man who is alone and in the +wilderness, and that should not be--I feel that it should not." + +"So true is it," observed Mr. Campbell, "that stated times and seasons +are necessary for the due observance of our religious duties; and I am +glad to hear Malachi say this, as I trust it will occasion his being +with us more than he has been." + +"Come to us every Sunday, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"I think I will, ma'am, if I can--indeed, why I say _if I can_, I know +not; it was wrong to say so." + +"I wish you to come not only on your own account, but for John's sake; +suppose you agree to come every Sunday morning, and leave us every +Monday. You will then have the whole week for your hunting." + +"Please God, I will," replied Malachi. + +"And bring the Strawberry with you," said Mary. + +"I will, miss; it can not but do her good." + +Dinner was now announced, and they all sat down, a happy party. Mr. +Campbell on this occasion produced two or three bottles of his small +store of wine, which he kept rather in case of illness than for any +other reason, for they had all been so long without wine or spirits, +that they cared little about it. Their dinner consisted of white fish +(salted), roast venison, boiled salt beef, roast turkey, and a +plum-pudding, and they were all very merry, although they were in the +woods of Canada, and not at Wexton Hall. + +"My children," said Mr. Campbell, after dinner. "I now drink all your +healths, and wish you as much happiness as the world affords, and at the +same time accept my most hearty thanks and my dearest love. You have all +been good, obedient, and cheerful, and have lightened many a heavy load. +If when it pleased Providence to send us into this wilderness, it had +been part of my lot to contend with willful and disobedient children; if +there had been murmuring and repining at our trials; discontent and +quarreling among yourselves, how much more painful would have been our +situation. On the contrary, by your good humor and attention, your +willing submission to privations, and your affectionate conduct toward +me, my wife, and each other, you have not allowed us to feel the change +of position to which we have been reduced. I say again, my dear children +all, you have my thanks, and may the Almighty bless and preserve you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +When we left off our narrative, our Canadian settlers were enjoying +themselves on Christmas day. On the following morning, Malachi Bone, the +Strawberry, and John, set off for their abode to the westward, and +Captain Sinclair and his companion went back to the fort. The Indian +woman was better, and the family resumed their usual occupations. We +must now briefly narrate a few events which occurred during the +remainder of the long winter. Malachi and John made their appearance, +accompanied by the Strawberry, almost every Sunday, and the old hunter +appeared gradually to become more reconciled to the society of others, +and sometimes would remain for a day or two over the Sunday. The Indian +woman, in the course of three weeks, was quite recovered, and signified, +through the Strawberry, her wish to leave, and join her tribe. To this, +of course, no objection was raised; and having received a supply of +provisions, she took her leave at the latter end of the month of +January. + +February,--March followed, and the winter still continued, but the sun +became more powerful, and the weather was not so severe. It was not till +the middle of April that the lake was clear of ice and the thaw +commenced, and then it was so rapid, that the little stream became quite +an impetuous torrent, and a large portion of the prairie land was under +water. A few days, however, sufficed to change the scene; the snow, +which had covered the ground for so many months, had all disappeared; +the birds, which had been mute or had migrated during the winter, now +made their appearance, and chirped and twittered round the house; the +pleasant green of the prairie was once more presented to their view, +and nature began to smile again. Other ten days passed, and the trees +had thrown out their leaves, and after one or two storms, the weather +became warm and the sky serene. + +Great was the delight of the whole party at this change; and now the +cows were put out to their pasture, and Emma and Mary went milking as +before, no longer afraid of meeting with the wolves. The boat was +launched, and Percival and John went out to procure fish. Alfred, Henry, +and Martin were very busy picking up the cleared ground, to sow the +first crop. Mr. Campbell worked all day in the garden; the poultry were +noisy and bustling, and soon furnished an abundant supply of eggs; and +as now the hunting season was over for a time, Malachi and the +Strawberry were continually coming to visit them. + +"Oh! how delightful this is," exclaimed Emma, as she stopped at the +bridge and looked on the wide blue lake; "is it not, Mary, after having +been cooped up for so many weary months?" + +"It is, indeed, Emma; I do not wonder at your flow of spirits; I feel +quite another person myself. Well, if the winter is long and dreary, at +all events, it doubly enhances the value of the spring." + +"I think it very odd that Captain Sinclair has not come to see us; don't +you, Mary?" + +"I certainly did expect him before this," replied Mary; "I presume, +however, his duty will not permit him to come." + +"Surely he could get leave, now that the weather is fine; there was some +reason for his not coming during the winter. I hope he is not ill." + +"I hope so too, most sincerely, Emma," replied Mary; "but come, sister, +we must not loiter; hear how the calves are bleating for us to let them +have their breakfast; we shall have more of them very soon; yes, and +plenty of milk, and then we shall have plenty of churning; but I like +work when the weather is fine." + +After breakfast, Emma expressed her surprise to Alfred at Captain +Sinclair's not having made his appearance, and her fear that he was not +well. Alfred, at her request, promised to walk to the fort in the +afternoon, and ascertain how matters were. + +John, who had not forgotten the advice of Malachi, brought in a basket +of fine trout from the stream almost every day, and the supply of fish +and eggs proved very acceptable, for the beef had all been consumed, and +the family would otherwise have been reduced to salt-pork. + +Alfred, as he had promised Emma, set off for the fort, accompanied by +Martin. He returned the next morning, full of news. Captain Sinclair +was, as Emma had imagined, unable to come, having had a severe fall, by +which he had injured his knee, and was laid up for a time; he was, +however, in very good spirits, and the medical officer had promised that +he should be well again in a fortnight; he sent his kind regards to all +the family. The commandant also sent his compliments to Mr. Campbell, +and desired to acquaint him that, in a week or ten days, it was his +intention to send a boat to Montreal, and if Mr. Campbell had any +purchases to make, or wished to send any one by the opportunity, he +might do so, and the boat would bring back the articles he required. +They had no further communication with Quebec, but expected a runner to +come every day with the letters from England and newspapers; and +further, that he hoped soon to be able to pay his respects in person. + +Such was the information brought by Alfred; Emma made many inquiries +relative to Captain Sinclair as Mary stood by, and Alfred laughed at her +extreme inquisitiveness. The proposition of the commandant relative to +the trip to Montreal was then discussed. Old Malachi had several +packages of furs to dispose of. Martin had five, Alfred three, and Henry +two; for, although we made no mention of it, on their hunting +excursions, whoever killed the animal, was entitled to the skin. The +packages of Malachi were, however, of some value, as he had many beaver +and other skins, while those of Martin and the others consisted chiefly +of deer-skins. The question was, whom to send down with them. Malachi +was not inclined to go, Martin could not well be spared, and, moreover, +would very probably get into some scrape if he went to Montreal; whereas +Henry and Alfred did not know any thing about the value of skins; +otherwise, Mr. Campbell, who wished to purchase flour and pork, besides +several other articles, would have preferred sending one of them. But +the difficulty was soon removed by old Malachi, who observed, that he +had made a valuation of his skins, and that the others could be valued +also before they were packed up; and that if not sold for what they +ought to fetch, or nearly so, they had better be brought back. Mr. +Campbell was satisfied with this arrangement, and Henry was appointed to +undertake the journey. Mr. Campbell made out his inventory of articles; +Mrs. Campbell added her list, and all was ready as soon as they received +notice that the boat was to leave. Martin did not appear at all annoyed +at not being selected for the expedition; since Malachi Bone had +informed them that the Strawberry was not his wife, as they had +supposed, Martin was continually by her side. She began to speak a few +words of English, and had become a great favorite with every body. + +Mr. Campbell, as soon as he perceived that Malachi no longer avoided +them, thought it but his duty to offer him his land back again, but +Malachi would not consent to accept it. He said he did not want the +land, although perhaps, he might raise his lodge a little nearer to them +than it was; at present, things had better remain as they were; after +which Mr. Campbell did not renew the subject. Malachi soon acted upon +his remark, that perhaps he might raise his lodge a little nearer, for, +a few days afterward, he made his appearance with the Strawberry and +John, all three loaded with his household utensils, and in a very short +time he had erected another wigwam within sight of the house at the +western end of Mr. Campbell's prairie. This gave great satisfaction to +Mrs. Campbell, because John was now always near them; indeed, he no +longer slept in the lodge, but at the house, in the room with his +brothers. The major part of the day he passed at the lodge, or in +company with the old hunter; but, by this new arrangement, they +gradually became, as it were, one family; not a day passed that the +Strawberry did not come to their house and make herself useful, +assisting in every thing that she could, and rapidly learning what she +did not know. + +One or two evenings after the message from the fort, Mrs. Campbell asked +Malachi some questions relative to the habits of the beaver, as she had +heard much of the sagacity of that animal. + +"Well, ma'am," said Malachi, "it's a most reasonable animal, certainly, +and I will say, I never was tired with watching them; I've even forgot, +in the summer-time, what I came out for, from having fallen in with them +at work." + +"And so have I," said Martin. "I once was lying down under a bush by the +side of a stream, and I saw a whole council of them meet together, and +they talked after their own fashion so earnestly, and I really think +they have a language as good as our own. It's always the old ones who +talk, and the young ones who listen." + +"That's true," replied Malachi. "I once myself saw them hold a council, +and then they all separated to go to work, for they were about to dam up +a stream and build their lodges." + +"And what did they do, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Why, ma'am, they did all the same as Christians would have done. The +Injuns say that beavers have souls as well as themselves, and certainly, +if sense gave souls, the Injuns would be in the right. The first thing +that they did was to appoint their sentinels to give notice of danger; +for the moment any one comes near them, these sentinels give the signal +and away they all dive, and disappear till the danger is over." + +"There are many beasts as well as birds that do the same," observed Mr. +Campbell; "indeed, most of those which are gregarious and live in +flocks." + +"That's true, sir," replied Martin. + +"Well, ma'am, the beavers choose a place fit for their work. What they +require is a stream running through a flat or bottom, which stream of +water they may dam up so as to form a large pond of a sufficient depth +by the water flowing over and covering the flat or bottom several feet; +and when they have found the spot they require, they begin their work." + +"Perhaps," observed Mr. Campbell, "this choice requires more sagacity +than the rest of their labor, for the beavers must have some engineering +talent to make the selection. They must be able to calculate as exactly +as if they took their levels, to secure the size and depth of water in +the pond which is necessary. It is the most wonderful, perhaps, of all +the instincts, or reasoning powers rather, allotted to them." + +"It is, sir; and I've often thought so," replied Malachi; "and then to +see how they carry all their tools about them; a carpenter's basket +could not be better provided. Their strong teeth serve as axes to cut +down the trees; then their tails serve as trowels for their mason's +work; their fore-feet they use just as we do our hands, and their tails +are also employed as little carts or wheelbarrows." + +"Pray go on, Malachi," said Mary; "I am quite interested already." + +"Well, miss, I have known these little creatures as they are, raise +banks four or five hundred paces in length, and a matter of twenty feet +high in some parts, besides being seven or eight feet thick; and all in +one season,--perhaps five or six months' work." + +"But how many of them do you reckon are at the work?" said Henry. + +"Perhaps a hundred; not more, I should say." + +"Well; but how do they raise these banks, Malachi?" said Emma. + +"There, miss, they show what sense they have. I've often watched them +when they have been sawing through the large trees with the front teeth; +they could not carry the tree, that's sartin, if the whole of them were +to set to work, so they always pick out the trees by the banks of the +stream, and they examine how the trees incline, to see if they will fall +into the stream; if not, they will not cut them down; and when they are +cutting them down, and they are nearly ready for falling, if the wind +should change and be against the fall, they will leave that tree till +the wind will assist them. As soon as the trees are down, they saw off +the branches and arms, and float the log down to where the dam is to be +made; they lay them across, and as they lay them one upon the other, of +course the water rises and enables them to float down and place the +upper ones. But before that, as soon as the lower logs are in their +places, the animals go and fetch long grass and clay, which they load +upon their flat tails, and drag to the dam, filling up the holes between +the timber till it is as strong as a wall, and the water is completely +stopped." + +"Yes," said Martin; "I have heard them at night working away so hard and +flapping and spattering with their tails, that I could imagine there +were fifty men at work instead of a hundred of these small animals, but +they work by day and by night, and never seem tired, till the dam is +sound and their work is complete." + +"But the raising of the dam is only preparatory, is it not, to their +building their own houses?" observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Nothing more, ma'am; and I think the rest of the work is quite as +wonderful." + +"But it is time to go to bed," observed Mr. Campbell, "and we must, +therefore, leave the remainder of Malachi's story till another evening." + +"I am sure that there is not one of the party who is more anxious to +hear it than I am," replied Mrs. Campbell, rising, "but as you say, it +is past ten o'clock, and Malachi and the Strawberry have to go home, so +good-night." + +"Oh, dear! what a pity!" cried Percival, "I shall dream of beavers all +night, I'm sure I shall." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +For two or three days, Mr. Campbell was very busy making out an +inventory of the articles which he required. His funds at Quebec were +rather low, but the communication which his agent had made to him of Mr. +D. Campbell's intention of paying for the green-house and hot-house +plants, made him feel very easy on that score; and he now determined to +procure a small flock of sheep, and one or two of the Canadian ponies +or galloways, as they would soon be required for the farm, as well as +two carts or light wagons used in the country. In the meantime, Alfred, +Martin, and Henry were very busy putting the seed in between the stumps +of the felled timber, merely hoeing up the earth and raking it in, which +was all that was required. The quantity of land cleared was about twelve +acres, half of which was sowed with oats, and the other with wheat; the +piece cleared on the other side of the stream by Malachi Bone, and +railed in, was sown with maize, or Indian corn. As soon as the seed was +in, they all set to putting up a high fence round the cleared land, +which was done with split rails made from the white cedar, which grew in +a swamp about half a mile distant, and which, it may be remembered, had +in a great measure been provided by the soldiers who had been lent to +assist them on their arrival. The piece of prairie land, on the side of +the stream next to the house, was put apart for an early crop of hay, +and as soon as they could, they intended to turn the cows into the bush, +that is, to feed in the forest, that they might obtain hay from the +other side, which had belonged to Malachi; but the prairie required to +be fenced in, and this was the job that they took in hand as soon as the +seeds were sown. + +"I hope, when the Colonel comes over," observed Martin to Alfred, "that +we shall persuade him to let us have some soldiers this summer, for we +shall want them both for the fencing and getting the hay-crop in. Our +summers are not very long, and there is plenty to do." + +"I think my father intends to make the request," replied Alfred. + +"Ah, sir; he will now see the value of this bit of prairie land to a new +settler; instead of having to go in search of hay, as they must do at +the fort now, we have plenty for hay, and plenty for feed. So we are to +have some sheep, I find?" + +"Yes, and I suppose we must build a winter-yard for them." + +"To be sure we must, for the wolves are very partial to mutton; I think, +on the whole, that they like pigs better. I wish we could get the fence +up round the prairie, but that we never can do this year without we +have help from the fort." + +"But will it be safe to turn the cows into the bush?" + +"Oh yes, sir; they will not be hurt by any thing in the summer time; +sometimes we have trouble to find them again, but not when they have +calves; they are certain to come home every evening to their young +ones." + +"We shall have quite a herd of cattle; eight calves and eight cows." + +"We must only bring up the cow calves, unless your father intends to +have oxen for the yoke. We shall require them about the time they are +fit to break in, that is, in two or three years." + +"Yes, we shall be great farmers by and by," replied Alfred with a sigh; +for at the moment he was thinking of Captain Lumley and his nautical +profession. + +In the evening of the day on which this conversation took place, Malachi +Bone was requested to resume his observations upon the beavers. + +"Well, ma'am, as I said the other night, as soon as they have dammed up +the river and made the lake, they then build their houses; and how they +manage to work under water and fix the posts in the ground is a puzzle +to me, but they do fix six posts in the ground, and very firmly, and +then they build their house, which is very curious; it is in the form of +a large oven, and made of clay and fat earth, mixed up with branches and +herbs of all sorts; they have three sets of rooms, one above the other, +so that if the water rises from a freshet or sudden thaw, they may be +able to move higher and keep themselves dry. Each beaver has his own +little room, and the entrance is made under the water, so that they dive +down to go into it, and nothing can harm them." + +"How very curious! and what do they live upon? Malachi?" + +"The bark of what we call asp-wood, ma'am, which is a kind of sallow; +they lay up great quantities of it in the autumn as a provision for +winter, when they are frozen up for some months." + +"Well, but how do you take them, Malachi?" + +"There are many ways, ma'am; sometimes the Indians break down the dam, +and let off the water, and then they kill them all except a dozen of the +females and half a dozen males; after which they stop up the dam again, +that the animals may breed and increase; sometimes, when the beaver lake +is frozen hard, they break into the beaver house from the top; when they +do that, the beavers all dive and escape, but as they must come up to +breathe at the holes in the ice, they place nets and take them in that +way, but they always leave a sufficient number to keep up the stock; +they also take them in traps baited with the asp-wood; but that is more +difficult. + +"But there is another sort of beaver, ma'am, called the land-beaver, +which is more easily taken," observed Martin; "they make holes in the +earth like rabbits. The Indians say that these beavers are those who are +lazy and idle, and have been driven out by the others for not working." + +"Now, tell us what you do when you go out to hunt the beaver in the +winter, Malachi?" + +"We never hunt the beaver only, ma'am; we go out to hunt every thing; we +go to the beaver lakes, and then we set our traps for beaver, otter, +martin, minks, cats, foxes, and every other animal, some traps large and +some small. We build our hut, and set our traps all about us, and +examine them every day; we cut what flesh is good, and we employ +ourselves skinning the animals which we take." + +"Is the beaver flesh good?" + +"Yes, ma'am, very tolerable eating; perhaps the best we find at that +time." + +"But what a miserable life that must be," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Well, ma'am, you may think so, but we hunters think otherwise," replied +Malachi; "we are used to it, and to being left alone to our own +thoughts." + +"That's true," observed Martin; "I'd rather pass the winter hunting +beavers, than pass it at Quebec, miserable as you may imagine the life +to be." + +"There must be a charm in the life, that is certain," observed Mr. +Campbell; "for how many are engaged in it who go out year after year, +and never think of laying up any of their earnings." + +"Very true, sir," replied Martin; "what they make from their skins is +spent as soon as they get to Quebec, as I know well, and then they set +off again." + +"Why they are like sailors," observed Alfred, "who, after a long cruise, +spend all their wages and prize-money in a few days, and then go to sea +again for more." + +"Exactly," replied Malachi; "and what's the use of money if you keep it? +A trapper can always take up as much powder and ball as he wants upon +credit, and pay with a portion of his skins on his return. What does he +want with the rest? It's of no use to him, and so of course he spends +it." + +"But would it not be better to put it by until he had sufficient to buy +a farm, and live comfortably?" + +"But does he live comfortably, ma'am?" said Malachi; "has he not more +work to do, more things to look after, and more to care for with a farm, +than when he has nothing?" + +"It's very true philosophy, after all," observed Mr. Campbell; "happy is +the man who is content to be poor. If a man prefers to live entirely +upon flesh, as the hunters do, there is no reason why he should work +hard and till the ground to procure bread; when the wants are few, the +cares are few also; but still, even the savage must feel the necessity +of exertion when he has a wife and family." + +"Yes, sir, to be sure he does, and he works hard in his own way to +procure their food; but trappers seldom have wives; they would be no use +to them in the woods, and they have no one to provide for but +themselves." + +"It appears to me like a savage life, but a very independent one," said +Mrs. Campbell, "and I presume it is the independence which gives it such +charms." + +"That's it, depend upon it, ma'am," replied Martin. + +"But what do you do all the summer time, Malachi?" + +"Why, ma'am, we take to our rifles then; there are the deer, and the +lynx, and the wild cats, and squirrels, and the bear, and many other +animals to look after; and sometimes we go bee-hunting, for the honey." + +"Pray tell us how you take the honey, Malachi." + +"Why, ma'am, the bees always live in the hollow of the old trees, and +it's very difficult in a forest to find them out, for the hole which +they enter by is very small and very high up sometimes; however, when we +get a lead, we generally manage it." + +"Tell us what you mean, Malachi." + +"We catch the bees as they settle upon the flowers to obtain honey, and +then we let them go again. The bee, as soon as it is allowed to escape, +flies straight toward its hive; we watch it till we can no longer see +it, and walk in that direction and catch another, and so we go on till +we see them settle upon a tree, and then we know that the hive and honey +must be in that tree, so we cut it down." + +"How very clever," said Percival. + +"It requires a sharp eye though," said Martin, "to watch the bee far; +some of the trappers catch the bees and give them sugar mixed with +whisky. This makes them tipsy, and they can not fly so fast, and then +they discover the hive much sooner, as they can run almost as fast as +the bee flies." + +"That's capital," cried Percival; "but tell me, Martin, how do you kill +the bears?" + +"Why, Master Percival, with our rifles, to be sure; the easiest way to +kill them is when they are in their holes in the hollow trees." + +"How do you get them out?" + +"Why, we knock the tree with our axes, and they come out to see what's +the matter, and as soon as they put their heads out, we shoot them." + +"Are you in earnest, Martin?" + +"Yes, ma'am; quite in earnest," replied Martin. + +"It's all true, ma'am," said the hunter; "the bears about here are not +very savage. We had much worse down in Maine. I've seen the Indians in a +canoe on a river watching the bears as they swam across, and kill in the +water six or seven in one day." + +"Still a bear is an awkward sort of animal when it's angry," replied +Martin; "and, as we may have them down here in the autumn, it's as well +not to let them be thought too lightly of." + +"Indeed, there's no fear of that," said Emma; "as for Malachi, he +thinks nothing dangerous; but I have no wish to see a bear. You say we +may expect them, Martin. Why so?" + +"Because, miss, they are very fond of maize, and we have a field of it +sown, which may tempt them." + +"Well, if they do come, I must trust to my rifle," replied Emma, +laughing; "at all events, I do not fear them so much as I did when I +first came here." + +"Don't fire, miss, without you're sure of killing," said Malachi. "The +creatures are very dangerous when wounded." + +"Don't be afraid; I'll only fire in self-defense, Malachi; that is, when +I have no other chance left. I had rather trust to my heels than my +rifle. Were you ever hugged by a bear?" + +"Well, I wasn't ever hugged; but once I was much closer to one than ever +I wish to be again." + +"Oh! when was that? Do, pray, tell us," said Emma. + +"It was when I was young, that one day I sounded a tree in the forest +with my ax, and I was certain that a bear was in it: but the animal did +not show itself, so I climbed up the tree to examine the hole at the +top, and see if the bear was at home; as, if so, I was determined to +have him out. Well, miss, I was on the top of the hollow trunk, and was +just putting my head down into the hole, when, all of a sudden, the edge +of the tree which I kneeled upon gave way, like so much tinder, and down +I went into the hollow; luckily for me I did not go down head foremost, +or there I should have remained till this time, for the hole in the +middle of the tree, as I found, was too narrow for me to have turned in, +and there I must have stuck. As it was, I went down with the dust and +crumbles smothering me almost, till I came right on the top of the bear, +who lay at the bottom, and I fell with such force, that I doubled his +head down so that he could not lay hold of me with his teeth, which +would not have been pleasant; indeed, the bear was quite as much, if not +more astonished than myself, and there he lay beneath me, very quiet, +till I could recover a little. Then I thought of getting out, as you may +suppose, fast enough, and the hollow of the tree, providentially, was +not so wide but that I could work up again with my back to one side and +my knees to the other. By this means I gradually got up again to the +hole that I fell in at, and perched myself across the timber to fetch my +breath. I had not been there more than a quarter of a minute, and I +intended to have remained much longer, when I perceived, all of a +sudden, the bear's head within a foot of me; he had climbed up after me, +and I saw that he was very angry, so in a moment I threw myself off my +perch, and down I went to the ground at the foot of the tree, a matter +of near twenty feet, even faster than I went down inside of it. I was +severely shaken with the fall, but no bones were broken; in fact, I was +more frightened than hurt; I lay quite still for a little while, when +the growl of the bear put me in mind of him; I jumped on my legs, and +found that he was coming down the tree after me, and was within six feet +of the ground. There was no time to lose; I caught up my rifle, and had +just time to put it to his ear and settle him, as he was placing his +fore-foot on the ground." + +"What a narrow escape!" + +"Well, perhaps it was, but there's no saying, miss, which beats till the +fight is over." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +A notice arrived that the departure of the boat to Montreal would take +place on the next morning. When the boat came up, it brought Captain +Sinclair, to the great delight of the whole party, who had felt very +anxious about one with whom they had so long been intimate and who had +shown them so much kindness. His knee was almost well, and as soon as +the first interrogations were over, he made known to them that he had +obtained six weeks' leave of absence, and was about to proceed to +Quebec. + +"To Quebec!" cried Emma, "and why are you going to Quebec?" + +"To confess the truth, Emma," said Captain Sinclair, "my journey to +Quebec is but the preparatory step to my return to England for perhaps +two or three months." + +"To England! Oh! how I wish--;" but here Emma stopped; she was going to +say how much she wished that she was going also, but her uncle and aunt +were present, and, recollecting that it might pain them and induce them +to think that she was discontented, she added, "that you would bring me +out all the new fashions." + +"All the new fashions, my dear Emma?" said Henry. "Why, do you wish to +be fashionably dressed in the woods of Canada?" + +"Why not?" exclaimed Emma, who felt that she must appear to be very +foolish, but could not get out of her scrape. "I can look at myself in +the glass at all events." + +"I will try to bring you out something which will give you pleasure," +replied Captain Sinclair, "but as for the fashions, I know you are only +joking, by your trusting a person so incompetent as I am to select +them." + +"Well, I do not think you would execute my commission very well, so I +will not trouble you," replied Emma; "and now let us know why you are +going to England." + +"My dear Emma," said Mr. Campbell, "you ought not to put such questions; +Captain Sinclair has his own reasons, I have no doubt." + +"It is very true that I have my own reasons," replied Captain Sinclair, +"and, as I have no secrets, I will with pleasure gratify Emma's +curiosity. I do not know whether you are aware that I was an orphan at a +very early age, and have been under the charge of a guardian. When my +father died, he left directions in his will that I was not to take +possession of my property till I was twenty-five years of age. I was +twenty-five years old last year, and my guardian has written requesting +me to come home, that he may be relieved of his responsibility, by +making over to me the trust which has been confided to him." + +"Will it detain you long?" inquired Mr. Campbell. + +"It must not. It is very difficult to obtain leave of absence from your +regiment in time of war. It is only through interest that I do so now. +On my arrival at Quebec, the Governor will put me on his staff, and +then he will give me leave. I shall not stay longer than is necessary, +as I am anxious to be with my regiment again. You may, therefore, be +certain that, if I am spared, I shall be with you again before the +winter, if not much sooner. So now if you have really any commissions +for me to execute, I can only say I shall be most happy to comply with +your wishes to the best of my ability." + +"Well," observed Emma, "we really were not aware that Captain Sinclair +was a man of fortune. You think now you will come back," continued she, +gravely, "but if once you get to England, you will remain, and forget +all about Canada." + +"My fortune is not very large," replied Captain Sinclair; "in England, +hardly sufficient to induce a young lady of fashion to look upon me, +although enough, perhaps, for a sensible woman to be happy upon. My +fortune, therefore, will not detain me in England, and, as I said +before, my greatest wish is to rejoin my regiment." + +"Whether you come back or remain," observed Mr. Campbell, "you will +always have our best wishes, Captain Sinclair. We are not ungrateful for +your kindness to us." + +"Nor shall I forget the many happy hours I have passed in your society," +replied Captain Sinclair; "but we shall be melancholy if we talk too +long upon the subject. The boat can not remain more than two hours, and +Henry must be ready by that time. The commandant is anxious that it +should start for Montreal this very evening." + +"Then, indeed, we have no time to lose," observed Mr. Campbell; "Henry, +get your trunk ready, and Martin will take it down into the boat before +we sit down to dinner. It will be a long while before we have you to +dine with us again," continued Mr. Campbell to Captain Sinclair; "but I +wish you your health and much happiness till you return. Come, girls, +look after the dinner. Mary! where's Mary?" + +"She went into the room a few minutes ago," said Emma, "but I'm here, +and can do all that is required without her or my aunt either. Come, +Percival, lay the cloth; Alfred, come and help me, this is almost too +heavy for me. Oh, here comes my aunt: now you may go away, Alfred; we +can get on better without you." + +"There's gratitude," said Alfred, laughing. + +As Henry had been in daily expectation of the summons, he was not long +in his preparations, and in a few minutes made his appearance, +accompanied by Mary Percival. They then sat down to dinner, not very +cheerful, for Captain Sinclair's unexpected departure had thrown a gloom +over them all; however, they rallied a little toward the close of the +meal, and Mr. Campbell produced one of his bottles of wine to drink +success and happiness to the travelers. It was then time to start. +Captain Sinclair and Henry shook hands with Mr. Campbell and the Miss +Percivals, and accompanied by the gentlemen of the party, walked down to +the beach. + +"I can't bear parting with any one that I have been so intimate with," +said Emma, after they were left alone. "I declare I could sit down and +have a hearty cry at Captain Sinclair's departure." + +Mary sighed, but made no answer. + +"I am not surprised to hear you say so, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "In +England, when we were surrounded with friends, parting was always +painful; but here where we have so few, I might almost say only Captain +Sinclair, it is of course most painful. However, it's only for a time, I +hope." + +"It must be very dull to be on duty at the fort," said Mary; "I should +not be surprised at Captain Sinclair's not returning." + +"I should be most exceedingly surprised," replied Emma; "I am sure that +he will come back, if he is not unavoidably prevented." + +"Since he has expressed so much desire to rejoin his regiment, I should +be surprised as well as you, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "He is not a +volatile young man; but, come, we must clear away the dinner-table." + +Mr. Campbell, Alfred, Percival, and Martin soon returned, for Captain +Sinclair was obliged to push off immediately, that he might return in +time to the fort, in obedience to his orders. Malachi and John had gone +out on a hunting expedition, and the Strawberry was at her own lodge. +The party that sat in the kitchen in the evening was, therefore, much +reduced, and the taking farewell of Captain Sinclair did not dispose +them to be very lively. A few words were exchanged now and then, but the +conversation drooped. Emma spoke of Captain Sinclair's expectations and +projects. + +"We never know what may come in this world of change, my dear Emma," +said Mr. Campbell. "All Captain Sinclair's plans may be overthrown by +circumstances over which he has no control. How seldom do we meet with +results equal to our expectations. When I was practicing in my +profession, I little expected that I should be summoned to take +possession of Wexton Hall; when once in possession, as little did I +expect that I should be obliged to quit it, and to come to these +desolate wilds. We are in the hands of God, who does with us as He +thinks fit. I have been reading this morning, and I made the observation +not only how often individuals, but even nations, are out in their +expectations. I do not know a more convincing proof of this than the +narration of events, which from their recent occurrence, can hardly yet +be considered as history, has offered to me. Perhaps there never was so +short a period in which causes have produced effects so rapidly, and in +which, in every case, the effects have been directly opposite to what +short-sighted mortals had anticipated. It was in 1756, scarcely forty +years ago, that the French, being in possession of the provinces, +attempted to wrest from us those portions of America which we occupied. +What was the result? After a war which, for cruelty and atrocity, is +perhaps unequaled in history, both parties employing savages, by whom +the French and English were alternately tortured and burned to death, +France, in attempting to obtain all, lost all, and was compelled, in +1760, to surrender its own provinces to Great Britain. Here is one +instance in which affairs turned out contrary to the expectations of +France. + +"Now again: At no period was England more prosperous or more respected +by foreign nations than at the close of the war. Her prosperity made her +arrogant and unjust. She wronged her colonies. She thought that they +dared not resist her imperious will. She imagined that now that the +French were driven from the Canadas, America was all her own, whereas it +was because the French _were_ driven from the Canadas that the colonies +ventured to resist. As long as the French held this country, the English +colonists had an enemy on their frontiers, and consequently looked up to +England for support and protection. They required aid and assistance, +and as long as they did require it, they were not likely to make any +remonstrance at being taxed to pay a portion of the expense which was +incurred. Had the French possessed an army under Montcalm ready to +advance at the time that the Stamp Act, or the duty upon tea, salt, +etc., was imposed, I question very much if the colonists would have made +any remonstrance. But no longer requiring an army for their own +particular defense, these same duties induced them to rise in rebellion +against what they considered injustice, and eventually to assert their +independence. Here, again, we find that affairs turned out quite +contrary to the expectations of England. + +"Observe again. The American colonists gained their independence, which +in all probability they would not have done had they not been assisted +by the numerous army and fleet of France, who, irritated at the loss of +the Canadas, wished to humiliate England by the loss of her own American +possessions. But little did the French king and his noblesse imagine, +that in upholding the principles of the Americans, and allowing the +French armies and navies (I may say the people of France _en masse_) to +be imbued with the same principles of equality, that they were sowing +the seeds of a revolution in their own country which was to bring the +king, as well as the major part of the nobility, to the scaffold. + +"There, again, the events did not turn out according to expectation, and +you will observe in every attempt made by either party, the result was, +that the blow fell upon their own heads, and not upon that of the party +which it was intended to crush." + +"I remember," said Alfred, after Mr. Campbell had finished speaking, +"having somewhere read a story of an Eastern king who purchased a +proverb of a dervise, which he ordered to be engraven on all the gold +and silver utensils in the palace. The proverb was, 'Never undertake any +thing until you have well considered the end.' It so happened, that +there was a conspiracy against the king, and it was arranged that his +surgeon should bleed him with a poisoned lancet. The surgeon agreed--the +king's arm was bound up, and one of the silver basins was held to +receive the blood. The surgeon read the inscription, and was so struck +with the force of it, that he threw down the lancet, confessed the plot, +and thus was the life of the king preserved." + +"A very apt story, Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"The question now is," continued Alfred, "as two of the parties, France +and England, have proved so short-sighted, whether the Americans, having +thrown off their allegiance, have not been equally so in their choice of +a democratical government?" + +"How far a modern democracy may succeed, I am not prepared to say," +replied Mr. Campbell; "but this I do know, that in ancient times, their +duration was generally very short, and continually changing to oligarchy +and tyranny. One thing is certain, that there is no form of government +under which the people become so rapidly vicious, or where those who +benefit them are treated with such ingratitude." + +"How do you account for that, sir?" said Alfred. + +"There are two principal causes. One is, that where all men are declared +to be equal (which man never will permit his fellow to be if he can +prevent it), the only source of distinction is wealth, and thus the +desire of wealth becomes the ruling passion of the whole body, and there +is no passion so demoralizing. The other is, that where the people, or, +more properly speaking, the mob govern, they must be conciliated by +flattery and servility on the part of those who would become their +idols. Now flattery is lying, and a habit equally demoralizing to the +party who gives and to the party who receives it. Depend upon it, there +is no government so contemptible or so unpleasant for an honest man to +live under as a democracy." + +"It is my opinion, sir, and I believe a very general one," said Alfred. + +"How far the Americans may disprove such an opinion," continued Mr. +Campbell, "remains to be seen; but this is certain, they have commenced +their new form of government with an act of such gross injustice, as to +warrant the assumption that all their boasted virtues are pretense. I +refer to their not liberating their slaves. They have given the lie to +their own assertions in their Declaration of Independence, in which they +have declared all men equal and born free, and we can not expect the +Divine blessing upon those who, when they emancipated themselves, were +so unjust as to hold their fellow-creatures in bondage. The time will +come, I have no doubt, although perhaps not any of us here present may +see the day, when the retribution will fall upon their heads, or rather +upon the heads of their offspring; for the sins of the fathers are +visited upon the children, even to the third and fourth generation. But +it is time for us to think of retiring--good-night, and God bless you +all." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +In two days Malachi and John returned, bringing with them the skins of +three bears which they had killed--but at this period of the year the +animals were so thin and so poor, that their flesh was not worth +bringing home. Indeed, it was hardly worth while going out to hunt just +then, so they both remained much at home, either fishing in the lake, or +taking trout in the stream. Alfred and Martin were still occupied with +the farm; the seed had come up, and they were splitting rails for the +prairie fence. About a fortnight after Captain Sinclair's departure, +Colonel Forster came in a boat from the fort, to pay them a visit. + +"I assure you, Mr. Campbell," said he, "I was very anxious about you +last winter, and I am rejoiced that you got over it with so little +difficulty. At one time we had apprehensions of the Indians, but these +have passed over for the present. They meet again this summer, but the +Quebec government are on the alert, and I have no doubt but that a +little conciliation will put an end to all animosity. We expect a large +supply of blankets and other articles to be sent up this spring, as +presents to the tribes, which we hope will procure their good-will; and +we have taken up several French emissaries, who were working mischief." + +"But still we shall be liable to the assaults of straggling parties," +said Mr. Campbell. + +"That is true," replied the Colonel, "but against them you have your own +means of defense. You would, in so isolated a position, be equally +liable to a burglary in England--only with the difference that in +England you would have the laws to appeal to, whereas here you must take +the law into your own hands." + +"It certainly is not pleasant to be in a continual state of anxiety," +observed Mr. Campbell, "but we knew what we had to expect before we came +here, and we must make the best of it. So you have lost Captain +Sinclair, Colonel; he is a great loss to us." + +"Yes, he is to go to England for a short time," replied the Colonel, +"but we shall soon have him back again. He must be very fond of his +profession to remain in it with his means." + +"He told us that he was about to take possession of a small property." + +"A property of nearly L2,000 per annum," replied the Colonel. "He may +consider it a small property, but I should think it otherwise if it had +fallen to my lot." + +"Indeed I had no idea, from what he said, that it was so large," said +Mrs. Campbell. "Well, I have a high opinion of him, and have no doubt +but that he will make a good use of it." + +"At all events, he can afford the luxury of a wife," said the Colonel, +laughing, "which we soldiers seldom can." + +The Colonel then entered into conversation with Mr. Campbell, relative +to his farm, and after many questions, he observed: + +"I have been thinking, Mr. Campbell, that it will be very advantageous +to the government as well as to you, when your farm is cleared and +stocked, if, with the water-power you possess here, you were to erect a +flour-mill and a saw-mill. You observe that the government has to supply +the fort with flour and provisions of all kinds at a very heavy expense +of carriage, and the cattle we have at the fort will cost us more than +they are worth, now that we have lost your prairie farm, so conveniently +situated for us. On the other hand, your produce will be almost useless +to you, at the distance you are from any mart; as you will not find any +sale for it. Now, if you were to erect a mill, and grind your own wheat, +which you may do in another year, if you have funds sufficient; and as +you may have plenty of stock, you will be able to supply the fort with +flour, beef, pork, and mutton, at a good profit to yourself, and at +one-half the price which government pays at present. I have written to +the Governor on the subject, stating that we have not the means of +keeping our stock, and pointing out to him what I now point out to you. +I expect an answer in a few days, and should he authorize me, I may make +arrangements with you even now, which will be satisfactory, I have no +doubt." + +Mr. Campbell returned the Colonel many thanks for his kindness, and of +course expressed himself willing to be guided by his advice. He stated +that he had funds not only sufficient to erect a mill, but also, if he +were permitted, to pay for the labor of any party of men which the +commandant would spare during the summer season. + +"That is the very point which I wished to ascertain; but I felt some +delicacy about making the inquiry. Now I consider that there will be no +difficulty in our arrangements." + +The Colonel remained for some time looking over the farm and conversing +with Mr. Campbell, and then took his leave. + +In the meantime, Alfred and his cousins went out to walk; the weather +was now beautifully clear, and in the afternoon the heat was not too +oppressive. As they sauntered by the side of the stream, Mary said, +"Well, Alfred, what do you think of the Colonel's proposition?" + +"Yes," observed Emma, "you are a party deeply concerned in it." + +"How so, dear coz?" + +"Why, don't you perceive that if the mill is erected, you will be the +proper person to have charge of it? What a change of professions, from a +sailor to a miller. I think I see you in your coat, all white with +flour, coming in to dinner." + +"My dear Emma, you don't intend it, I am sure, but you do not know that +you are inflicting pain upon me. When the Colonel made the proposition, +I felt the importance of it, as it would be a source of great profit to +my father; but at the same time, I don't know how it is, I have always +indulged the idea that we may not stay here forever, and this plan +appeared so like decidedly settling down to a residence for life, that +it made me low-spirited. I know that it is foolish, and that we have no +chance of ever removing--but still I can not, even with this almost +certainty before my eyes, keep my mind from thinking upon one day +returning to my profession, and the idea of becoming a miller for life +is what I can not as yet contemplate with any degree of composure." + +"Well, Alfred, I only did it to tease you a little--not to hurt your +feelings, believe me," replied Emma. "You shall not be a miller if you +don't like it. Henry will do better, perhaps, than you; but as for our +quitting this place, I have no idea of it's being ever possible. I have +made up my mind to live and die in the Canadian woods, considering it my +wayward fate that all 'my sweetness should be wasted on the desert +air.'" + +"Repining is useless, if not sinful," observed Mary Percival. "We have +much to be thankful for; at least we are independent, and if we are ever +to repay the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who must feel their change +of condition so much more than we do, it must be by cheerfulness and +content. I have been thinking as well as you, Alfred, and I'll tell you +what was in my thoughts. I looked forward to a few years, by which time, +as the country fills up so fast, it is very probable that we shall have +other settlers here as neighbors, in every direction. This will give us +security. I also fancied that my uncle's farm and property became of +value and importance, and that he himself became a leading man in the +district; not only at his ease, but, for a settler, even wealthy; and +then I fancied that, surrounded by others, in perfect security, and in +easy and independent circumstances, my uncle would not forget the +sacrifice which my cousin Alfred so nobly made, and would insist upon +his returning to that profession to which he is so much attached, and in +which I have no doubt but that he will distinguish himself." + +"Well said, my sweet prophet," said Alfred, kissing his cousin, "you +have more sense than both of us." + +"Answer for yourself, Alfred, if you please," said Emma, tossing her +head as if affronted. "I shall not forget that remark of yours, I can +assure you. Now, I prophesy quite the contrary; Alfred will never go to +sea again. He will be taken with the charms of some Scotch settler's +daughter, some Janet or Moggy, and settle down into a Canadian farmer, +mounted on a long-legged black pony." + +"And I too," replied Alfred, "prophesy, that at the same time that I +marry and settle as you have described Miss Emma Percival will yield up +her charms to some long-legged, black, nondescript sort of a fellow, who +will set up a whisky-shop and instal his wife as bar-maid to attend upon +and conciliate his customers." + +"Emma, I think you have the worst of this peeping into futurity," said +Mary, laughing. + +"Yes, if Alfred were not a false prophet, of which there are always many +going about," replied Emma; "however, I hope your prophecy may be the +true one, Mary, and then we shall get rid of him." + +"I flatter myself that you would be very sorry if I went away; you would +have no one to tease, at all events," replied Alfred, "and that would be +a sad loss to yourself." + +"Well, there's some sense in that remark," said Emma; "but the cows are +waiting to be milked, and so, Mr. Alfred, if you are on your good +behavior, you had better go and bring us the pails." + +"I really pity Alfred," said Mary, as soon as he was out of hearing; +"his sacrifice has been very great, and, much as he must feel it, how +well he bears up against it." + +"He is a dear, noble fellow," replied Emma; "and I do love him very +much, although I can not help teasing him." + +"But on some points you should be cautious, my dear sister; you don't +know what pain you give." + +"Yes I do, and am always sorry when I have done it, but it is not until +afterward that I recollect it, and then I am very angry with myself. +Don't scold me, dear Mary, I will try to be wiser; I wonder whether what +you say will come to pass, and we shall have neighbors; I wish we had, +if it were only on account of those Indians." + +"I think it very probable," replied Mary; "but time will show." + +Alfred then returned with the pails, and the conversation took another +turn. + +A few days afterward, a corporal arrived from the fort, bringing letters +and newspapers; the first that they had received since the breaking up +of the winter. The whole family were in commotion as the intelligence +was proclaimed; Mary and Emma left the fowls which they were feeding; +Percival threw down the pail with which he was attending the pigs; +Alfred ran in from where he and Martin were busy splitting rails; all +crowded round Mr. Campbell as he opened the packet in which all the +letters and papers had been enveloped at the foot. The letters were few; +three from Miss Paterson, and two other friends in England, giving them +the English news; one to Alfred from Captain Lumley, inquiring after the +family, and telling him that he had mentioned his position to his +friends at the Board, and that there could be no call for his services +for the present; one from Mr. Campbell's English agent, informing him +that he had remitted the money paid by Mr. Douglas Campbell for the +plants, etc., to his agent at Quebec; and another from his Quebec agent, +advising the receipt of the money and inclosing a balance-sheet. The +letters were first read over, and then the newspapers were distributed, +and all of them were soon very busy and silent during the perusal. + +After a while, Emma read out. "Dear uncle, only hear this, how sorry I +am." + +"What is it, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"'Mrs. Douglas Campbell, of Wexton Hall, of a son, which survived but a +few hours after birth.'" + +"I am very sorry too, my dear Emma," replied Mr. Campbell; "Mr. Douglas +Campbell's kindness to us must make us feel for any misfortune which may +happen to him, and to rejoice in any blessing which may be bestowed upon +him." + +"It must have been a serious disappointment," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +one which, if it pleases God, may be replaced; and we may hope that +their expectations, though blighted for the present, may be realized on +some future occasion." + +"Here is a letter from Colonel Forster, which I overlooked," said Mr. +Campbell; "it was between the envelope. He says that he has received an +answer from the Governor, who fully agrees with him in his views on the +subject we were conversing about, and has allowed him to take any steps +which he may think advisable. The Colonel says that he will call upon me +again in a few days, and that if in the meantime, I will let him know +how many soldiers I wish to employ, he will make arrangements to meet my +views as far as lies in his power. We have to thank Heaven for sending +us friends, at all events," continued Mr. Campbell; "but at present, we +will put his letter aside, and return to our English news." + +"Dear England!" exclaimed Emma. + +"Yes, dear England, my good girl; we are English, and can love our +country as much now as we did when we lived in it. We are still English, +and in an English colony; it has pleased Heaven to remove us away from +our native land, but our hearts and feelings are still the same, and so +will all English hearts be found to be in every settlement made by our +country all over the wide world. We all glory in being English, and have +reason to be proud of our country. May the feeling never be lost, but +have an elevating influence upon our general conduct!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +It was very nearly five weeks before Henry returned from his expedition +to Montreal. During this time, the Colonel had repeated his visit and +made arrangements with Mr. Campbell. A party of twenty soldiers had been +sent to work at felling timber and splitting rails, for whose services +Mr. Campbell paid as before. The winter house and palisade fence for the +sheep were put in hand, and great progress was made in a short time, now +that so many people were employed. They had also examined the stream for +some distance, to ascertain which would be the most eligible site for +the water-mill, and had selected one nearly half a mile from the shore +of the lake, and where there was a considerable fall, and the stream ran +with great rapidity. It was not, however, expected that the mill would +be erected until the following year, as it was necessary to have a +millwright and all the machinery from either Montreal or Quebec. It was +intended that the estimate of the expense should be given in, the +contract made, and the order given during the autumn, so that it might +be all ready for the spring of the next year. It was on a Monday morning +that Henry arrived from the fort, where he had staid the Sunday, having +reached it late on Saturday night. The _bateaux_, with the stock and +stores, he had left at the fort; they were to come round during the day, +but Henry's impatience to see the family would not allow him to wait. He +was, as may be supposed, joyfully received, and, as soon as the first +recognitions were over, he proceeded to acquaint his father with what he +had done. He had obtained from a Canadian farmer forty ewes of very fair +stock, although not any thing equal to the English; but the agent had +worked hard for him, and procured him twenty English sheep and two rams +of the best kind, to improve the breed. For the latter he had to pay +rather dear, but they were worth any money to Mr. Campbell, who was +quite delighted with the acquisition. In selecting the sheep, of course +Henry was obliged to depend on the agent and the parties he employed, +as he was no judge himself; but he had, upon his own judgment, purchased +two Canadian horses, for Henry had been long enough at Oxford to know +the points of a horse, and as they turned out, he had made a very good +bargain. He had also bought a sow and pigs of an improved breed, and all +the other commissions had been properly executed; the packages of skins +also realized the price which had been put on them. As it may be +supposed, he was full of news, talking about Montreal, the parties he +had been invited to and the people with whom he had become acquainted. +He had not forgotten to purchase some of the latest English publications +for his cousins, besides a few articles of millinery, which he thought +not too gay for their present position. He was still talking, and +probably would have gone on talking for hours longer, so many were the +questions which he had to reply to, when Martin came in and announced +the arrival of the _bateaux_ with the stores and cattle, upon which they +all went down to the beach to see them disembarked and brought up by the +soldiers, who were at work. The stores were carried up to the door of +the storehouse, and the sheep and horses were turned into the prairie +with the cows. A week's rations for the soldiers were also brought up +from the fort, and the men were very busy in the distribution, and +carrying them to the little temporary huts of boughs which they had +raised for their accommodation, during the time they worked for Mr. +Campbell. Before the evening set in every thing was arranged, and Henry +was again surrounded by the family and replying to their remaining +interrogatories. He told them that the Governor of Montreal had sent +them an invitation to pass the winter at Government-House, and promised +the young ladies that no wolf should venture to come near to them, and +that the aids-de-camp had requested the honor of their hands at the +first ball, which should be given after their arrival, at which they all +laughed heartily. In short, it appeared that nothing could equal the +kindness and hospitality which had been shown to him, and that there was +no doubt, if they chose to go there, that it would be equally extended +to the other members of the family. + +There was a pause in the conversation, when Malachi addressed Mr. +Campbell. + +"Martin wishes me to speak to you, sir," said Malachi. + +"Martin," said Mr. Campbell, looking round for him, and perceiving that +he was not in the room; "why, yes, I perceive he is gone out. What can +it be that he can not say for himself?" + +"That's just what I said to him," replied Malachi; "but he thought it +were better to come through me; the fact is, sir, that he has taken a +liking to the Strawberry, and wishes to make her his wife." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes, sir; I don't think that he would have said any thing about it as +yet, but you see, there are so many soldiers here, and two or three of +them are of Martin's mind, and that makes him feel uncomfortable till +the thing is settled; and as he can't well marry while in your service +without your leave, he has asked me to speak about it." + +"Well, but the Strawberry is your property, not mine. Malachi." + +"Yes, sir, according to Indian fashion, I am her father; but I've no +objection, and shan't demand any presents for her." + +"Presents for her! why we in general give presents or money with a +wife," said Emma. + +"Yes, I know you do, but English wives ain't Indian wives; an English +wife requires people to work for her and costs money to keep, but an +Indian wife works for herself and her husband, so she is of value and is +generally bought of the father; I reckon in the end that it's cheaper to +pay for an Indian wife than to receive money with an English one; but +that's as may be." + +"That's not a very polite speech of yours, Malachi," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Perhaps it ain't, ma'am, but it's near the mark, nevertheless. Now I am +willing that Martin should have the Strawberry, because I know that he +is a smart hunter, and will keep her well; and somehow or another, I +feel that if he made her his wife, I should be more comfortable; I shall +live with them here close by, and Martin will serve you, and when he +has a wife he will not feel inclined to change service and go into the +woods." + +"I think it is an excellent proposal, Malachi, and am much pleased with +it, as we now shall have you all together," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, so you will, and then I'll be always with the boy to look +after him, and you'll always know where we are, and not be frightened." + +"Very true, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell; "I consider it a very good +arrangement. We must build you a better lodge than the one that you are +in." + +"No, sir, not a better one, for if you have all you want, you can't want +more; it's big enough, but perhaps not quite near enough. I'm thinking +that when the sheep-fold is finished, it might be as well to raise our +lodge inside of the palisades, and then we shall be a sort of guard to +the creatures." + +"A very excellent idea, Malachi; well then, as far as I am concerned, +Martin has my full consent to marry as soon as he pleases." + +"And mine, if it is at all necessary," observed Mrs. Campbell. + +"But who is to marry them?" said Emma; "they have no chaplain at the +fort; he went away last year." + +"Why, miss, they don't want no chaplain; she is an Indian girl, and he +will marry her Indian-fashion." + +"But what fashion is that, Malachi?" said Mary. + +"Why, miss, he'll come to the lodge, and fetch her away to his own +house." + +Alfred burst out into laughter. "That's making short work of it," said +he. + +"Yes, rather too short for my approval," said Mrs. Campbell. "Malachi, +it's very true that the Strawberry is an Indian girl, but we are not +Indians, and Martin is not an Indian, neither are you who stand as her +father; indeed, I can not consent to give my sanction to such a +marriage." + +"Well, ma'am, as you please, but it appears to me to be all right. If +you go into a country and wish to marry a girl of that country, you +marry her according to the rules of that country. Now, Martin seeks an +Indian squaw, and why not therefore marry her after Indian fashion?" + +"You may be right, Malachi, in your argument," said Mrs. Campbell; "but +still you must make allowances for our prejudices. We never should think +that she was a married woman, if no further ceremony was to take place +than what you propose." + +"Well, ma'am, just as you please; but still, suppose you marry them +after your fashion, the girl won't understand a word that is said, so +what good will it do?" + +"None to her at present, Malachi; but recollect, if she is not a +Christian at present, she may be hereafter; I have often thought upon +that subject, and although I feel it useless to speak to her just now, +yet as soon as she understands English well enough to know what I say to +her, I hope to persuade her to become one. Now, if she should become a +Christian, as I hope in God she will, she then will perceive that she +has not been properly married, and will be anxious to have the ceremony +properly performed over again; so why not do it now?" + +"Well, ma'am, if it pleases you, I have no objection; I'm sure Martin +will have none." + +"It will please me very much, Malachi," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"And although there is no chaplain at the fort," observed Mr. Campbell, +"yet the Colonel can marry in his absence; a marriage by a commanding +officer is quite legal." + +"Yes," replied Alfred, "and so is one by a Captain of a man-of-war." + +"So be it then," replied Malachi, "the sooner the better, for the +soldiers are very troublesome, and I can not keep them out of my lodge." + +Martin, who had remained outside the door and overheard all that passed, +now came in; the subject was again canvassed, and Martin returned his +thanks for the permission given to him. + +"Well," said Emma, "I little thought we should have a wedding in the +family so soon; this is quite an event. Martin, I wish you joy--you will +have a very pretty and a very good wife." + +"I think so too, miss," replied Martin. + +"Where is she?" said Mary. + +"She is in the garden, miss," said Malachi, "getting out of the way of +the soldiers; now that the work is done, they torment her not a little, +and she is glad to escape from them; I'd tell them to go away, but they +don't mind me; they know I must not use my rifle." + +"I should hope not," replied Mrs. Campbell, "it would be hard to shoot a +good man merely because he wished to marry your daughter." + +"Why, yes, ma'am, it would," replied Malachi, "so the sooner she is +given to Martin the sooner we shall have peace." + +As the boat was continually going backward and forward between the fort +and the farm, Mr. Campbell wrote to the Colonel, stating what they +wished him to do, and the Colonel appointed that day week, on which he +would come and perform the ceremony. It was a little fete at the farm. +Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals dressed themselves more than +usually smart, so did all the males of the establishment; a better +dinner than usual was prepared, as the Colonel and some of the officers +were to dine and spend the day with them. Martin was very gayly attired, +and in high spirits. The Strawberry had on a new robe of young deer +skin, and had a flower or two in her long black hair; she looked as she +was, very pretty and very modest, but not at all embarrassed. The +marriage ceremony was explained to her by Malachi, and she cheerfully +consented. Before noon the marriage took place, and an hour or two +afterward they sat down to a well-furnished table, and the whole party +were very merry, particularly as the Colonel, who was most unusually +gay, insisted upon the Strawberry sitting at the table, which she had +never done before. She acquitted herself, however, without +embarrassment, and smiled when they laughed, although she could +understand but little of what they said. Mr. Campbell opened two of his +bottles of wine to celebrate the day, and they had a very happy party; +the only people who were discontented were three or four of the soldiers +outside, who had wanted to marry the Strawberry themselves; but the +knowledge that the Colonel was there, effectually put a stop to any +thing like annoyance or disturbance on their part. At sunset, the +Colonel and officers departed for the fort, the family remained in the +house till past ten o'clock, by which time all the soldiers had gone to +bed. Mr. Campbell then read prayers, and offered up an additional one +for the happiness of the newly-married couple, after which they all +saluted the Strawberry and wished her good-night; she was then led to +the lodge by Martin, accompanied by Alfred, Henry, Malachi, Percival, +and John, who all went home with them as a guard from any interruption +on the part of the disappointed suitors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +"How cheerful and gay every thing looks now," observed Emma to Mary, a +few mornings after the celebration of the marriage. "One could hardly +credit that in a few months all this animated landscape will be nothing +but one dreary white mass of snow and ice, with no sounds meeting the +ear but the howling of the storm and the howling of the wolves." + +"Two very agreeable additions certainly," replied Mary, "but what you +observe was actually occurring to my own mind at the very moment." + +The scene was indeed cheerful and lively. The prairie on one side of the +stream waved its high grass to the summer breeze; on the other, the +cows, horses and sheep were grazing in every direction. The lake in the +distance was calm and unruffled; the birds were singing and chirping +merrily in the woods; near the house the bright green of the herbage was +studded with the soldiers, dressed in white, employed in various ways; +the corn waved its yellow ears between the dark stumps of the trees in +the cleared land, and the smoke from the chimney of the house mounted +straight up in a column to the sky; the grunting of the pigs and the +cackling of the fowls, and the occasional bleating of the calves, +responded to by the lowing of the cows, gave life and animation to the +picture. At a short distance from the shore the punt was floating on the +still waters. John and Malachi were very busy fishing; the dogs were +lying down by the palisades, all except Oscar, who, as usual, attended +upon his young mistresses; and under the shade of a large tree, at a +little distance from the house, were Mr. Campbell and Percival, the +former reading while the other was conning over his lesson. + +"This looks but little like a wilderness now, Mary, does it?" said Emma. + +"No, my dear sister. It is very different from what it was when we first +came; but still I should like to have some neighbors." + +"So should I; any society is better than none at all." + +"There I do not agree with you; at the same time, I think we could find +pleasure in having about us even those who are not cultivated, provided +they were respectable and good." + +"That's what I would have said, Mary; but we must go in, and practice +the new air for the guitar which Henry brought us from Montreal. We +promised him that we would. Here comes Alfred to spend his idleness upon +us." + +"His idleness, Emma; surely, you don't mean that; he's seldom if ever +unemployed." + +"Some people are very busy about nothing," replied Emma. + +"Yes; and some people say what they do not mean, sister," replied Mary. + +"Well, Alfred, here is Emma pronouncing you to be an idle body." + +"I am not likely to be that, at all events," replied Alfred, taking off +his hat and fanning himself. "My father proposes to give me enough to +do. What do you think he said to me this morning before breakfast?" + +"I suppose he said that you might as well go to sea again as remain +here," replied Emma, laughing. + +"No, indeed; I wish he had; but he has proposed that your prophecy +should be fulfilled, my malicious little cousin. He has proposed my +turning miller." + +Emma clapped her hands and laughed. + +"How do you mean?" said Mary. + +"Why, he pointed out to me that the mill would cost about two hundred +and fifty pounds, and that he thought as my half-pay was unemployed, +that it would be advisable that I should expend it in erecting the mill, +offering me the sum necessary for the purpose. He would advance the +money, and I might repay him as I received my pay. That, he said, would +be a provision for me, and eventually an independence." + +"I told you that you would be a miller," replied Emma, laughing. "Poor +Alfred!" + +"Well, what did you reply, Alfred?" said Mary. + +"I said yes, I believe, because I did not like to say no." + +"You did perfectly right, Alfred," replied Mary. "There can be no harm +in your having the property, and had you refused it, it would have given +pain to your father. If your money is laid out on the mill, my uncle +will have more to expend upon the farm; but still it does not follow +that you are to become a miller all your life." + +"I should hope not," replied Alfred; "as soon as Emma meets with that +long black gentleman we were talking of, I'll make it over to her as a +marriage portion." + +"Thank you, cousin," replied Emma, "I may put you in mind of your +promise; but now Mary and I must go in and astonish the soldiers with +our music; so good-by, Mr. Campbell, the miller." + +The soldiers had now been at work for more than two months, a large +portion of the wood had been felled and cleared away. With what had been +cleared by Alfred and Martin and Henry the year before, they had now +more than forty acres of corn land. The rails for the snake-fence had +also been split, and the fence was almost complete round the whole of +the prairie and cleared land, when it was time for the grass to be cut +down and the hay made and gathered up. This had scarcely been finished +when the corn was ready for the sickle and gathered; in a barn had been +raised close to the sheep-fold as well as the lodge for Malachi, Martin, +and his wife. For six weeks all was bustle and hard work, but the +weather was fine, and every thing was got in safe. The services of the +soldiers were now no longer required, and Mr. Campbell having settled +his accounts, they returned to the fort. + +"Who would think," said Henry to Alfred, as he cast his eyes over the +buildings, the stacks of corn and hay, and the prairie stocked with +cattle, "that we had only been here so short a time?" + +"Many hands make light work," replied Alfred; "we have done with the +help from the fort what it would have taken us six years to do with our +own resources. My father's money has been well laid out, and will bring +in good return." + +"You have heard of the proposal of Colonel Forster, about the cattle at +the fort?" + +"No; what is it?" + +"He wrote to my father yesterday, saying, as he had only the means of +feeding the cows necessary for the officers of the garrison, that he +would sell all the oxen at present at the fort at a very moderate +price." + +"But even if we have fodder enough for them during the winter what are +we to do with them?" + +"Sell them again to the fort for the supply of the troops," replied +Henry, "and thereby gain good profit. The commandant says that it will +be cheaper to government in the end than being compelled to feed them." + +"That it will, I have no doubt, now that they have nothing to give them; +they trusted chiefly to our prairie for hay; and if they had not had +such a quantity in store, they could not have fed them last winter." + +"My father will consent, I know; indeed he would be very foolish not to +do so, for most of them will be killed when the winter sets in, and will +only cost us the grazing." + +"We are fortunate in finding such friends as we have done," replied +Alfred. "All this assistance would not have been given to perhaps any +other settlers." + +"No, certainly not; but you see, Alfred, we are indebted to your +influence with Captain Lumley for all these advantages, at least my +father and mother say so, and I agree with them. Captain Lumley's +influence with the Governor has created all this interest about us." + +"I think we must allow that the peculiar position of the family has done +much toward it. It is not often that they meet with settlers of refined +habits and cultivated minds, and there naturally must be a feeling +toward a family of such a description in all generous minds." + +"Very true, Alfred," replied Henry; "but there is our mother waiting for +us to go in to dinner." + +"Yes; and the Strawberry by her side. What a nice little creature she +is!" + +"Yes; and how quickly she is becoming useful. She has almost given up +her Indian customs and is settling down quietly into English habits. +Martin appears very fond of her." + +"And so he ought to be," replied Henry; "a wife with a smile always upon +her lips is a treasure. Come, let us go in." + +Another fortnight passed away when an incident occurred which created +some uneasiness. Mr. Campbell was busy with Martin and Alfred clearing +out the store-room and arranging the stores. Many of the cases and +packages had been opened to be examined and aired, and they were busily +employed, when, turning round, Mr. Campbell, to his great surprise, +beheld an Indian by his side, who was earnestly contemplating the +various packages of blankets, etc., and cases of powder, shot, and other +articles, which were opened around him. + +"Why, who is this?" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, starting. + +Martin and Alfred, who had their backs to him at the time of Mr. +Campbell's exclamation, turned round and beheld the Indian. He was an +elderly man, very tall and muscular, dressed in leggins and deer-skin +coat, a war eagle's feather, fixed by a fillet, on his head, and a +profusion of copper and brass medals and trinkets round his neck. His +face was not painted, with the exception of two black circles round his +eyes. His head was shaved, and one long scalp-lock hung behind him. He +had a tomahawk and a knife in his belt and a rifle upon his arm. Martin +advanced to the Indian and looked earnestly at him. + +"I know his tribe," said Martin; "but not his name; but he is a chief +and a warrior." + +Martin then spoke to him in the Indian tongue. The Indian merely gave an +"ugh" in reply. + +"He does not choose to give his name," observed Martin; "and, therefore, +he is here for no good. Mr. Alfred, just fetch Malachi; he will know him +I dare say." + +Alfred went to the house for Malachi; in the meantime the Indian +remained motionless, with his eyes fixed upon different articles exposed +to view. + +"It's strange," observed Martin, "how he could have come here; but to be +sure neither Malachi nor I have been out lately." + +Just as he had finished his remark, Alfred returned with Malachi. +Malachi looked at the Indian and spoke to him. + +The Indian now replied in the Indian language. + +"I knew him, sir," said Malachi, "the moment I saw his back. He's after +no good, and it's a thousand pities that he has come just now and seen +all this," continued Malachi; "it's a strong temptation." + +"Why, who is he?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"The Angry Snake, sir," replied Malachi. "I had no idea that he would be +in these parts before the meeting of the Indian council, which takes +place in another month, and then I meant to have been on the look-out +for him." + +"But what have we to fear from him?" + +"Well; that's to be proved; but this I can say, that he has his eyes +upon what appears to him of more value than all the gold in the +universe; and he's any thing but honest." + +"But we have nothing to fear from one man," observed Alfred. + +"His party ain't far off, sir," said Malachi. "He has some followers, +although not many, and those who follow him are as bad as himself. We +must be on the watch." + +Malachi now addressed the Indian for some time; the only reply was an +"ugh." + +"I have told him that all the powder and ball that he sees are for our +rifles, which are more than are possessed by his whole tribe. Not that +it does much good, but at all events it's just as well to let him know +that we shall be well prepared. The crittur's quite amazed at so much +ammunition; that's a fact. It's a pity he ever saw it." + +"Shall we give him some?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"No, no, sir; he would only make use of it to try to get the rest; +however, I believe that he is the only one of his party who has a rifle. +The best thing is to close the doors and then he will go." + +They did as Malachi requested, and the Indian, after waiting a short +time, turned round on his heel, and walked away. + +"He is a regular devil, that Angry Snake," observed Malachi, as he +watched him departing; "but never mind, I'll be a match for him. I wish +he'd never seen all that ammunition, nevertheless." + +"At all events, we had better not say a word in the house about his +making his appearance," said Mr. Campbell. "It will only alarm the +women, and do no good." + +"That's true, sir. I'll only tell the Strawberry," said Martin; "she's +an Indian, and it will put her on the look-out." + +"That will be as well, but caution her not to mention it to Mrs. +Campbell or the girls, Martin." + +"Never fear, sir," replied Malachi; "I'll watch his motions +nevertheless; to-morrow I'll be in the woods and on his trail. I'm glad +that he saw me here, for he fears me; I know that." + +It so happened that the Indian was not seen by Mrs. Campbell or any of +them in the house, either upon his arrival or departure; and when Mr. +Campbell and the others returned to the house, they found that no one +there had any idea of such a visit having been paid. The secret was +kept, but it occasioned a great deal of anxiety for some days. At last +the alarm of Mr. Campbell gradually subsided. Malachi had gone out with +John, and had discovered that all the Indians had come down near to +them, to meet in council, and that there were many other parties of them +in the woods. But although the visit of the Angry Snake might have been +partly accidental, still Malachi was convinced that there was every +prospect of his paying them another visit, if he could obtain a +sufficient number to join him, so that he might obtain by force the +articles he had seen and so much coveted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +Mr. Campbell acceded to the offer made by the commandant of the fort, +and purchased of him, at a moderate price, eighteen oxen, which were all +that remained of the stock at the fort, except the cows. He also took +six weaning calves to bring up. The cattle were now turned into the bush +to feed, that they might obtain some after-grass from that portion of +the prairie on which they had been feeding. The summer passed quickly +away, for they all had plenty of employment. They fished every day in +the lake, and salted what they did not eat, for winter provision. Martin +now was a great part of his time in the woods, looking after the cattle, +and Malachi occasionally accompanied him, but was oftener out hunting +with John, and always returned with game. They brought in a good many +bear-skins, and sometimes the flesh, which, although approved of by +Malachi and Martin, was not much admired by the rest. As soon as the +after-grass had been gathered in, there was not so much to do. Henry and +Mr. Campbell, with Percival, were quite sufficient to look after the +stock, and as the leaves began to change, the cattle were driven in from +the woods, and pastured on the prairie. Every thing went on in order; +one day was the counterpart of another. Alfred and Henry threshed out +the corn, in the shed, or rather open barn, which had been put up by the +soldiers in the sheep-fold, and piled up the straw for winter-fodder for +the cattle. The oats and wheat were taken into the store-house. Martin's +wife could now understand English, and spoke it a little. She was very +useful, assisting Mrs. Campbell and her nieces in the house, and +attending the stock. They had brought up a large number of chickens, and +had disposed of a great many to the Colonel and officers of the fort. +Their pigs also had multiplied exceedingly, and many had been put up to +fatten, ready to be killed and salted down. The time for that +occupation was now come, and they were very busy curing their meat; they +had also put up a small shed for smoking their bacon and hams. Already +they were surrounded with comfort and plenty, and felt grateful to +Heaven that they had been so favored. + +The autumn had now advanced, and their routine of daily duty was seldom +interrupted; now and then a visit was paid them from the fort by one or +other of the officers or the commandant. The Indians had held their +council, but the English agent was present, and the supply of blankets +and other articles sent to the chiefs for distribution had the effect of +removing all animosity. It is true that the Angry Snake and one or two +more made very violent speeches, but they were overruled. The calumet of +peace had been presented and smoked, and all danger appeared to be over +from that quarter. Malachi had gone to the council, and was well +received. He had been permitted to speak also as an English agent, and +his words were not without effect. Thus every thing wore the appearance +of peace and prosperity, when an event occurred which we shall now +relate. + +What is termed the Indian summer had commenced, during which there is a +kind of haze in the atmosphere. One morning, a little before dawn, Mary +and Emma, who happened to be up first, went out to milk the cows, when +they observed that the haze was much thicker than usual. They had been +expecting the equinoctial gales, which were very late this year, and +Mary observed that she foresaw they were coming on, as the sky wore +every appearance of wind; yet still there was but a light air, and +hardly perceptible at the time. In a moment after they had gone out, and +were taking up their pails, Strawberry came to them from her own lodge, +and they pointed to the gloom and haze in the air. She turned round, as +if to catch the wind, and snuffed for a little while; at last she said, +"Great fire in the woods." Alfred and the others soon joined them, and +having been rallied by Emma at their being so late, they also observed +the unusual appearance of the sky. Martin corroborated the assertion of +the Strawberry, that there was fire in the woods. Malachi and John had +not returned that night from a hunting expedition, but shortly after +daylight they made their appearance; they had seen the fire in the +distance, and said that it was to northward and eastward, and extended +many miles; that they had been induced to leave the chase and come home +in consequence. During the remainder of the day, there was little or no +wind, but the gloom and smell of fire increased rapidly. At night the +breeze sprang up and soon increased to a gale from the north-east, the +direction in which the fire had been seen. Malachi and Martin were up +several times in the night, for they knew that if the wind continued in +that quarter, without any rain, there would be danger; still the fire +was at a great distance, but in the morning the wind blew almost a +hurricane, and before twelve o'clock on the next day, the smoke was +borne down upon them, and carried away in masses over the lake. + +"Do you think there is any danger, Martin, from this fire?" said Alfred. + +"Why, sir, that depends upon circumstances; if the wind were to blow +from the quarter which it now does, as hard as it does, for another +twenty-four hours, we should have the fire right down upon us." + +"But still we have so much clear land between the forest and us, that I +should think the house would be safe." + +"I don't know that, sir. You have never seen the woods afire for miles +as I have; if you had, you would know what it was. We have two chances: +one is, that we may have torrents of rain come down with the gale, and +the other is, that the wind may shift a point or two, which would be the +best chance for us of the two." + +But the wind did not shift, and the rain did not descend, and before the +evening set in, the fire was within two miles of them, and distant +roaring rent the air; the heat and smoke became more oppressive, and the +party were under great alarm. + +As the sun set, the wind became even more violent, and now the flames +were distinctly to be seen, and the whole air was filled with myriads of +sparks. The fire bore down upon them with resistless fury, and soon the +atmosphere was so oppressive, that they could scarcely breathe; the +cattle galloped down to the lake, their tails in the air, and lowing +with fear. There they remained, knee-deep in the water, and huddled +together. + +"Well, Malachi," said Mr. Campbell, "this is very awful. What shall we +do?" + +"Trust in God, sir; we can do nothing else," replied Malachi. + +The flames were now but a short distance from the edge of the forest; +they threw themselves up into the air in high columns; then, borne down +by the wind, burst through the boughs of the forest, scorching here and +there on the way the trunks of the large trees; while such a torrent of +sparks and ignited cinders was poured down upon the prairie, that, added +to the suffocating masses of smoke, it was impossible to remain there +any longer. + +"You must all go down to the punt, and get on board," said Malachi. +"There's not a moment for delay; you will be smothered if you remain +here. Mr. Alfred, do you and Martin pull out as far into the lake as is +necessary for you to be clear of the smoke and able to breathe. Quick, +there is no time to be lost, for the gale is rising faster than before." + +There was, indeed, no time to be lost. Mr. Campbell took his wife by the +arm; Henry led the girls, for the smoke was so thick that they could not +see the way. Percival and Strawberry followed. Alfred and Martin had +already gone down to get the boat ready. In a few minutes they were in +the boat, and pushed off from the shore. The boat was crowded, but, +being flat-bottom, she bore the load well. They pulled out about half a +mile into the lake, before they found themselves in a less oppressive +atmosphere. Not a word was spoken until Martin and Alfred had stopped +rowing. + +"And old Malachi and John, where are they?" said Mrs. Campbell, who, now +that they were clear of the smoke, discovered that these were not in the +boat. + +"Oh, never fear them, ma'am," replied Martin, "Malachi staid behind to +see if he could be of use. He knows how to take care of himself, and of +John too." + +"This is an awful visitation," said Mrs. Campbell, after a pause. "Look, +the whole wood is now on fire, close down to the clearing. The house +must be burned, and we shall save nothing." + +"It is the will of God, my dear wife; and if we are to be deprived of +what little wealth we have, we must not murmur, but submit with +resignation. Let us thank Heaven that our lives are preserved." + +Another pause ensued; at last the silence was broken by Emma. + +"There is the cow-house on fire--I see the flames bursting from the +roof." + +Mrs. Campbell, whose hand was on that of her husband, squeezed it in +silence. It was the commencement of the destruction of their whole +property--all their labors and efforts had been thrown away. The winter +was coming on, and they would be houseless--what would become of them! + +All this passed in her mind, but she did not speak. + +At this moment the flames of the fire rose up straight to the sky. +Martin perceived it, and jumped up on his feet. + +"There is a lull in the wind," said Alfred. + +"Yes," replied Martin, and continued holding up his hand, "I felt a drop +of rain. Yes, it's coming; another quarter of an hour and we may be +safe." + +Martin was correct in his observation; the wind had lulled for a moment, +and he had felt the drops of rain. This pause continued for about three +or four minutes, during which the cow-house burned furiously, but the +ashes and sparks were no longer hurled down on the prairie; then +suddenly the wind shifted to the south-east, with such torrents of rain +as almost to blind them. So violent was the gust, that even the punt +careened to it; but Alfred pulled its head round smartly, and put it +before the wind. The gale was now equally strong from the quarter to +which it had changed; the lake became agitated and covered with white +foam, and before the punt reached the shore again, which it did in a few +minutes, the water washed over its two sides, and they were in danger of +swamping. Alfred directed them all to sit still, and raising the blades +of the oars up into the air, the punt was dashed furiously through the +waves, till it grounded on the beach. + +Martin and Alfred jumped out into the water and hauled the punt further +before they disembarked; the rain still poured down in torrents, and +they were wet to the skin; as they landed, they were met by Malachi and +John. + +"It's all over, and all is safe!" exclaimed Malachi, "it was touch and +go, that's sartin; but all's safe, except the cow-house, and that's +easily put to rights again. You all had better go home as fast as you +can, and get to bed." + +"Is all quite safe, do you think, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, sir, no fear now; the fire hasn't passed the stream, and even if +it had, this rain would put it out, for we only have the beginning of +it; but it was a near thing, that's sartin." + +The party walked back to the house, and as soon as they had entered, Mr. +Campbell kneeled down and thanked Heaven for their miraculous +preservation. All joined heartily in the prayer, and, after they had +waited up a few minutes, by which time they were satisfied that the +flames were fast extinguishing and they had nothing more to fear, they +took off their wet clothes, and retired to bed. + +The next morning they rose early, for all were anxious to ascertain the +mischief which had been occasioned by the fire. The cow-house, on the +opposite side of the stream, was the only part of the premises which had +severely suffered; the walls were standing, but the roof was burned. On +the side of the stream where the house stood, the rails and many +portions of the buildings were actually charred, and, had it not been +for the providential change of the wind and the falling of the rain, +must in a few minutes have been destroyed. The prairie was covered with +cinders, and the grass was burned and withered. The forest on the other +side of the stream, to a great extent, was burned down; some of the +largest trees still remained, throwing out their blackened arms, now +leafless and branchless, to the sky, but they were never to throw forth +a branch or leaf again. It was a melancholy and desolate picture, and +rendered still more so by the heavy rain which still continued to pour +down without intermission. + +As they were surveying the scene, Malachi and Martin came to them. + +"The stock are all right, sir," said Martin; "I counted them, and there +is not one missing. There's no harm done except to the cow-house; on the +contrary, the fire has proved a good friend to us." + +"How so, Martin?" asked Mr. Campbell. + +"Because it has cleared many acres, of ground, and saved us much labor. +All on the other side of the stream is now cleared away, and next spring +we will have corn between the stumps; and in autumn, after we have +gathered in the harvest, we will cut down and burn the trees which are +now standing. It has done a deal of good to the prairie also, we shall +have fine herbage there next spring." + +"We have to thank Heaven for its mercy," said Mr. Campbell; "at one time +yesterday evening, I thought we were about to be rendered destitute +indeed, but it has pleased God that it should be otherwise." + +"Yes, sir," observed Malachi; "what threatened your ruin has turned out +to your advantage. Next year you will see every thing green and fresh as +before; and, as Martin says, you have to thank the fire for clearing +away more land for you than a whole regiment of soldiers could have done +in two or three years." + +"But we must work hard and get in the corn next spring, for otherwise +the brushwood will grow up so fast, as to become a forest again in a few +years." + +"I never thought of inquiring," said Mary, "how it was that the forest +could have taken fire." + +"Why, miss," replied Malachi, "in the autumn, when every thing is as dry +as tinder, nothing is more easy. The Indians light their fire, and do +not take the trouble to put it out, and that is generally the cause of +it; but then it requires wind to help it." + +The danger that they had escaped made a serious impression on the whole +party, and the following day, being Sunday, Mr. Campbell did not forget +to offer up a prayer of thankfulness for their preservation. + +The roof of the cow-house was soon repaired by Alfred and Martin, and +the Indian summer passed away without any further adventure. + +The day after the fire, a dispatch arrived from the fort to ascertain +their welfare, and the Colonel and officers were greatly rejoiced to +learn that comparatively so little damage had been done, for they +expected to find that the family had been burned out, and had made +arrangements at the fort to receive them. + +Gradually the weather became cold and the fires were lighted, and a +month after the evil we have described, the winter again set in. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Once more was the ground covered with snow to the depth of three feet. +The cattle were littered down inside the inclosure of palisades round +the cow-house; the sheep were driven into the inclosed sheep-fold, and +the horses were put into a portion of the barn in the sheep-fold which +had been parted off for them. All was made secure, and every preparation +was made for the long winter. Although there had been a fall of snow, +the severe frost had not yet come on. It did, however, in about a +fortnight afterward, and then, according to the wishes of the Colonel, +six oxen were killed for the use of the fort, and taken there by the +horses on a sledge; this was the last task that they had to fulfill, and +then Alfred bade adieu to the officers of the fort, as they did not +expect to meet again till the winter was over. Having experienced one +winter, they were more fully prepared for the second; and as Malachi, +the Strawberry and John were now regular inmates of the house, for they +did not keep a separate table, there was a greater feeling of security, +and the monotony and dreariness were not so great as in the preceding +winter: moreover, every thing was now in its place, and they had more +to attend to,--two circumstances which greatly contributed to relieve +the _ennui_ arising from continual confinement. The hunting parties went +out as usual; only Henry, and occasionally Alfred, remained at home to +attend to the stock, and to perform other offices which the increase of +their establishment required. The new books brought by Henry from +Montreal, and which by common consent had been laid aside for the +winter's evenings, were now a great source of amusement, as Mr. Campbell +read aloud a portion of them every evening. Time passed away quickly, as +it always does when there is a regular routine of duties and employment, +and Christmas came before they were aware of its approach. + +It was a great comfort to Mrs. Campbell that she now always had John at +home, except when he was out hunting, and on that score she had long +dismissed all anxiety, as she had full confidence in Malachi; but +latterly Malachi and John seldom went out alone; indeed, the old man +appeared to like being in company, and his misanthropy had wholly +disappeared. He now invariably spent his evenings with the family +assembled round the kitchen fire, and had become much more fond of +hearing his own voice. John did not so much admire these evening +parties. He cared nothing for new books, or indeed any books. He would +amuse himself making moccasins, or working porcupine quills with the +Strawberry at one corner of the fire, and the others might talk or read, +it was all the same, John never said a word or appeared to pay the least +attention to what was said. His father occasionally tried to make him +learn something, but it was useless. He would remain for hours with his +book before him, but his mind was elsewhere. Mr. Campbell, therefore, +gave up the attempt for the present, indulging the hope that when John +was older, he would be more aware of the advantages of education, and +would become more attentive. At present, it was only inflicting pain on +the boy without any advantage being gained. But John did not always sit +by the kitchen fire. The wolves were much more numerous than in the +preceding winter, having been attracted by the sheep which were within +the palisade, and every night the howling was incessant. The howl of a +wolf was sufficient to make John seize his rifle and leave the house, +and he would remain in the snow for hours till one came sufficiently +near for him to fire, and he had already killed several when a +circumstance occurred which was the cause of great uneasiness. + +John was out one evening as usual, crouched down within the palisades, +and watching for the wolves. It was a bright starry night, but there was +no moon, when he perceived one of the animals crawling along almost on +its belly, close to the door of the palisade which surrounded the house. +This surprised him, as generally speaking, the animals prowled round the +palisade which encircled the sheep-fold, or else close to the pig-sties +which were at the opposite side from the entrance door. John leveled his +rifle and fired, when to his astonishment, the wolf appeared to spring +up in the air on his hind legs, then fall down and roll away. The key of +the palisade door was always kept within, and John determined to go in +and fetch it, that he might ascertain whether he had killed the animal +or not. When he entered, Malachi said, "Did you kill, my boy?" + +"Don't know," replied John; "come for the key to see." + +"I don't like the gate being opened at night, John," said Mr. Campbell; +"why don't you leave it, as you usually do, till to-morrow morning; that +will be time enough?" + +"I don't know if it was a wolf," replied John. + +"What, then, boy, tell me?" said Malachi. + +"Well, I think it was an Indian," replied John; who then explained what +had passed. + +"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied Malachi; "at all events the gate +must not be opened to-night, for if it was an Indian you fired at, there +is more than one of them; we'll keep all fast, John, and see what it was +to-morrow." + +Mrs. Campbell and the girls were much alarmed at this event, and it was +with difficulty that they were persuaded to retire to rest. + +"We will keep watch to-night at all events," said Malachi, as soon as +Mrs. Campbell and her nieces had left the room. "The boy is right, I +have no doubt. It is the Angry Snake and his party who are prowling +about, but if the boy has hit the Indian, which I have no doubt of, they +will make off; however, it will be just as well to be on our guard, +nevertheless. Martin can watch here and I will watch in the fold." + +We have before observed that the lodge of Malachi, Martin, and his wife, +was built within the palisade of the sheep-fold, and that there was a +passage from the palisade round the house to that which surrounded the +sheep-fold, which passage had also a palisade on each side of it. + +"I will watch here," said Alfred; "let Martin go home with you and his +wife." + +"I will watch with you," said John. + +"Well, perhaps that will be better," said Malachi; "two rifles are +better than one, and if any assistance is required, there will be one to +send for it." + +"But what do you think they would do, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell; "they +can not climb the palisades." + +"Not well, sir, nor do I think they would attempt it unless they had a +large force, which I am sure they have not; no, sir, they would rather +endeavor to set fire to the house if they could, but that's not so easy; +one thing is certain, that the Snake will try all he can to get +possession of what he saw in your storehouse." + +"That I do not doubt," said Alfred; "but he will not find it so easy a +matter." + +"They've been reconnoitering, sir, that's the truth of it, and if John +has helped one of them to a bit of lead, it will do good; for it will +prove that we are on the alert, and make them careful how they come near +the house again." + +After a few minutes' more conversation, Mr. Campbell, Henry, and +Percival retired, leaving the others to watch. Alfred walked home with +Malachi and his party to see if all was right at the sheep-fold, and +then returned. + +The night passed without any further disturbance except the howling of +the wolves, to which they were accustomed. + +The next morning, at daybreak, Malachi and Martin came to the house, +and, with John and Alfred, they opened the palisade gate, and went out +to survey the spot where John had fired. + +"Yes, sir," said Malachi; "it was an Indian, no doubt of it; here are +the dents made in the snow by his knees as he crawled along, and John +has hit him, for here is the blood. Let's follow the trail. See, sir, he +has been hard hit; there is more blood this way as we go on. Ha!" +continued Malachi, as he passed by a mound of snow, "here's the +wolf-skin he was covered up with; then he is dead or thereabouts, and +they have carried him off, for he never would have parted with his skin, +if he had had his senses about him." + +"Yes," observed Martin, "his wound was mortal, that's certain." + +They pursued the track till they arrived at the forest, and then, +satisfied by the marks on the snow that the wounded man had been carried +away, they returned to the house, when they found the rest of the family +dressed and in the kitchen. Alfred showed them the skin of the wolf, and +informed them of what they had discovered. + +"I am grieved that blood has been shed," observed Mrs. Campbell; "I wish +it had not happened. I have heard that the Indians never forgive on such +occasions." + +"Why, ma'am, they are very revengeful, that's certain, but still they +won't like to risk too much. This has been a lesson to them. I only wish +it had been the Angry Snake himself who was settled, as then we should +have no more trouble or anxiety about them." + +"Perhaps it may be," said Alfred. + +"No, sir, that's not likely; it's one of his young men; I know the +Indian customs well." + +It was some time before the alarm occasioned by this event subsided in +the mind of Mrs. Campbell and her nieces; Mr. Campbell also thought much +about it, and betrayed occasional anxiety. The parties went out hunting +as before, but those at home now felt anxious till their return from the +chase. Time, however, and not hearing any thing more of the Indians, +gradually revived their courage, and before the winter was half over +they thought little about it. Indeed, it had been ascertained by Malachi +from another band of Indians which he fell in with near a small lake +where they were trapping beaver, that the Angry Snake was not in that +part of the country, but had gone with his band to the westward at the +commencement of the new year. This satisfied them that the enemy had +left immediately after the attempt which he had made to reconnoiter the +premises. + +The hunting parties, therefore, as we said, continued as before; indeed, +they were necessary for the supply of so many mouths. Percival, who had +grown very much since his residence in Canada, was very anxious to be +permitted to join them, which he never had been during the former +winter. This was very natural. He saw his younger brother go out almost +daily, and seldom return without having been successful; indeed, John +was, next to Malachi, the best shot of the party. It was, therefore, +very annoying to Percival that he should always be detained at home +doing all the drudgery of the house, such as feeding the pigs, cleaning +knives, and other menial work, while his younger brother was doing the +duty of a man. To Percival's repeated entreaties, objections were +constantly raised by his mother: they could not spare him, he was not +accustomed to walk in snow-shoes. Mr Campbell observed that Percival +became dissatisfied and unhappy, and Alfred took his part and pleaded +for him. Alfred observed very truly, that the Strawberry could +occasionally do Percival's work, and that if it could be avoided, he +should not be cooped up at home in the way that he was; and, Mr. +Campbell agreeing with Alfred, Mrs. Campbell very reluctantly gave her +consent to his occasionally going out. + +"Why, aunt, have you such an objection to Percival going out with the +hunters?" said Mary. "It must be very trying to him to be always +detained at home." + +"I feel the truth of what you say, my dear Mary," said Mrs. Campbell, +"and I assure you it is not out of selfishness, or because we shall have +more work to do, that I wish him to remain with us; but I have an +instinctive dread that some accident will happen to him, which I can +not overcome, and there is no arguing with a mother's fears and a +mother's love." + +"You were quite as uneasy, my dear aunt, when John first went out; you +were continually in alarm about him, but now you are perfectly at ease," +replied Emma. + +"Very true," said Mrs. Campbell; "it is, perhaps, a weakness on my part +which I ought to get over; but we are all liable to such feelings. I +trust in God there is no real cause for apprehension, and that my +reluctance is a mere weakness and folly. But I see the poor boy has long +pined at being kept at home; for nothing is more irksome to a +high-couraged and spirited boy as he is. I have, therefore, given my +consent, because I think it is my duty; still the feeling remains, so +let us say no more about it, my dear girls, for the subject is painful +to me." + +"My dear aunt, did you not say that you would talk to Strawberry on the +subject of religion, and try if you could not persuade her to become a +Christian? She is very serious at prayers, I observe; and appears, now +that she understands English, to be very attentive to what is said." + +"Yes, my dear Emma, it is my intention so to do very soon, but I do not +like to be in too great a hurry. A mere conforming to the usages of our +religion would be of little avail, and I fear that too many of our good +missionaries, in their anxiety to make converts, do not sufficiently +consider this point. Religion must proceed from conviction, and be +seated in the heart; the heart, indeed, must be changed, not mere +outward forms attended to." + +"What is the religion of the Indians, my dear aunt?" said Mary. + +"One which makes conversion the more difficult. It is in many respects +so near what is right, that Indians do not easily perceive the necessity +of change. They believe in one God, the fountain of all good; they +believe in a future state and in future rewards and punishments. You +perceive they have the same foundation as we have, although they know +not Christ, and, having very incomplete notions of duty, have a very +insufficient sense of their manifold transgressions and offenses in +God's sight, and consequently have no idea of the necessity of a +mediator. Now it is, perhaps, easier to convince those who are entirely +wrong, such as worship idols and false gods, than those who approach so +nearly to the truth. But I have had many hours of reflection upon the +proper course to pursue, and I do intend to have some conversation with +her on the subject in a very short time. I have delayed because I +consider it absolutely necessary that she should be perfectly aware of +what I say, before I try to alter her belief. Now the Indian language, +although quite sufficient for Indian wants, is poor, and has not the +same copiousness as ours, because they do not require the words to +explain what we term abstract ideas. It is, therefore, impossible to +explain the mysteries of our holy religion to one who does not well +understand our language. I think, however, that the Strawberry now +begins to comprehend sufficiently for me to make the first attempt. I +say first attempt, because I have no idea of making a convert in a week, +or a month, or even in six months. All I can do is to exert my best +abilities, and then trust to God, who, in His own good time, will +enlighten her mind to receive His truth." + +The next day the hunting party went out, and Percival, to his great +delight, was permitted to accompany it. As they had a long way to go, +for they had selected the hunting ground, they set off early in the +morning, before daylight, Mr. Campbell having particularly requested +that they would not return home late. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +The party had proceeded many miles before they arrived at the spot where +Malachi thought that they would fall in with some venison, which was the +principal game that they sought. It was not till near ten o'clock in the +morning that they stood on the ground which had been selected for the +sport. It was an open part of the forest, and the snow lay in large +drifts, but here and there on the hill-sides the grass was nearly bare, +and the deer were able, by scraping with their feet, to obtain some +food. They were all pretty well close together when they arrived. +Percival and Henry were about a quarter of a mile behind, for Percival +was not used to the snow-shoes, and did not get on so well as the +others. Malachi and the rest with him halted, that Henry and Percival +might come up with them, and then, after they had recovered their breath +a little, he said, + +"Now, you see there's a fine lot of deer here, Master Percival, but as +you know nothing about woodcraft, and may put us all out, observe what I +say to you. The animals are not only cute of hearing and seeing, but +they are more cute of smell, and they can scent a man a mile off if the +wind blows down to them; so you see it would be useless to attempt to +get near to them if we do not get to the lee side of them without noise +and without being seen. Now, the wind has been from the eastward, and as +we are to the southward, we must get round by the woods to the westward, +before we go upon the open ground, and then, Master Percival, you must +do as we do, and keep behind, to watch our motions. If we come to a +swell in the land, you must not run up, or even walk up, as you might +show yourself; the deer might be on the other side, within twenty yards +of you; but you must hide yourself, as you will see that we shall do, +and when we have found them, I will put you in a place where you shall +have your shot as well as we. Do you understand, Master Percival?" + +"Yes, I do, and I shall stop behind, and do as you tell me." + +"Well then, now, we will go back into the thick of the forest till we go +to the leeward, and then we shall see whether you will make a hunter or +not." + +The whole party did as Malachi directed, and for more than an hour they +walked through the wood, among the thickest of the trees, that they +might not be seen by the animals. At last they arrived at the spot which +Malachi desired, and then they changed their course eastward toward the +more open ground, where they expected to find the deer. + +As they entered upon the open ground, they moved forward crouched to the +ground, Malachi and Martin in the advance. When in the hollows, they +all collected together, but on ascending a swell of the land, it was +either Malachi or Martin who first crept up, and, looking over the +summit, gave notice to the others to come forward. This was continually +repeated for three or four miles, when Martin having raised his head +just above a swell, made a signal to those who were below that the deer +were in sight. After a moment or two reconnoitering, he went down and +informed them that there were twelve or thirteen head of deer scraping +up the snow about one hundred yards ahead of them upon another swell of +the land; but that they appeared to be alarmed and anxious, as if they +had an idea of danger being near. + +Malachi then again crawled up to make his observations, and returned. + +"It is sartin," said he, "that they are flurried about something; they +appear just as if they had been hunted, and yet that is not likely. We +must wait and let them settle a little, and find out whether any other +parties have been hunting them." + +They waited about ten minutes, till the animals appeared more settled, +and then, by altering their position behind the swell, gained about +twenty-five yards of distance. Malachi told each party which animal to +aim at, and they fired nearly simultaneously. Three of the beasts fell, +two others were wounded, the rest of the herd bounded off like the wind. +They all rose from behind the swell, and ran forward to their prey. +Alfred had fired at a fine buck which stood apart from the rest, and +somewhat further off; it was evident that the animal was badly wounded, +and Alfred had marked the thicket into which it had floundered; but the +other deer which was wounded was evidently slightly hurt, and there was +little chance of obtaining it, as it bounded away after the rest of the +herd. They all ran up to where the animals lay dead, and as soon as they +had reloaded their rifles, Alfred and Martin went on the track of the +one that was badly wounded. They had forced their way through the +thicket for some fifty yards, guided by the track of the animal, when +they started back at the loud growl of some beast. Alfred, who was in +advance, perceived that a puma (catamount, or painter, as it is usually +termed) had taken possession of the deer, and was lying over the +carcass. He leveled his rifle and fired; the beast, although badly +wounded, immediately sprang at him and seized him by the shoulder. +Alfred was sinking under the animal's weight and from the pain he was +suffering, when Martin came to his rescue, and put his rifle ball +through the head of the beast, which fell dead. + +"Are you much hurt, sir?" said Martin. + +"No, not much," replied Alfred; "at least I think not, but my shoulder +is badly torn, and I bleed freely." + +Malachi and the others now came up, and perceived what had taken place. +Alfred had sunk down and was sitting on the ground by the side of the +dead animals. + +"A painter!" exclaimed Malachi; "well, I didn't think we should see one +so far west. Are you hurt, Mr. Alfred?" + +"Yes, a little," replied Alfred, faintly. + +Malachi and Martin, without saying another word, stripped off Alfred's +hunting-coat, and then discovered that he had received a very bad wound +in the shoulder from the teeth of the beast, and that his side was also +torn by the animal's claws. + +"John, run for some water," said Malachi; "you are certain to find some +in the hollow." + +John and Percival both hastened in search of water, while Malachi and +Martin and Henry tore Alfred's shirt into strips and bound up the +wounds, so as to stop in a great measure the flow of blood. As soon as +this was done and he had drunk the water brought to him in John's hat, +Alfred felt revived. + +"I will sit down for a little longer," said he, "and then we will get +home as fast as we can. Martin, look after the game, and when you are +ready I will get up. What a tremendous heavy brute that was; I could not +have stood against him for a minute longer, and I had no hunting-knife." + +"It's a terrible beast, sir," replied Malachi. "I don't know that I ever +saw one larger; they are more than a match for one man, sir, and never +should be attempted single-handed, for they are so hard to kill." + +"Where did my ball hit him?" said Alfred. + +"Here, sir, under the shoulder, and well placed too. It must have gone +quite close to his heart; but unless you hit them through the brain or +through the heart, they are certain to make their dying spring. That's +an ugly wound on your shoulder, and will put a stop to your hunting for +five or six weeks, I expect. However, it's well that it's no worse." + +"I feel quite strong now," replied Alfred. + +"Another ten minutes, sir; let John and me whip off his skin, for we +must have it to show, if we have all the venison spoiled. Mr. Henry, +tell Martin only to take the prime pieces, and not to mind the hides, +for we shall not be able to carry much. And tell him to be quick, Mr. +Henry, for it will not do for Mr. Alfred to remain till his arm gets +stiff. We have many miles to get home again." + +In the course of ten minutes Malachi and John had skinned the puma, and +Martin made his appearance with the haunches of two of the deer, which, +he said, was as much as they well could carry, and they all set off on +their return home. + +Alfred had not proceeded far when he found himself in great pain, the +walking upon snow-shoes requiring so much motion as to open the wounds +and make them bleed again; but Malachi gave him his assistance, and +having procured him some more water they continued their route. + +After a time the wounds became more stiff, and Alfred appeared to be +more oppressed by the pain. They proceeded, however, as fast as they +could, and at nightfall they were not far from home. But Alfred moved +with great difficulty; he had become very faint, so much so, that Martin +requested John would put down the venison and hasten before them to the +house to request Mr. Campbell to send some brandy or other cordial to +support Alfred, who was scarcely able to move on from weakness and loss +of blood. As they were not more than a mile from the house, John was +soon there, and hastening in at the door, he gave his message in +presence of Mrs. Campbell and his cousins, who were in a state of great +distress at the intelligence. Mr. Campbell went to his room for the +spirits, and as soon as he brought it out Emma seized her bonnet, and +said that she would accompany John. + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had no time to raise any objection, if they were +inclined, for Emma was out of the door in a moment, with John at her +heels. But Emma quite forgot that she had no snow shoes, and before she +had gone half the distance she found herself as much fatigued as if she +had walked miles; and she sank deeper and deeper in the snow every step +that she advanced. At last they arrived, and found the party: Alfred was +lying insensible on the snow, and the others making a litter of branches +that they might carry him to the house. + +A little brandy poured down his throat brought Alfred to his senses; and +as he opened his eyes, he perceived Emma hanging over him. + +"Dear Emma, how kind of you," said he, attempting to rise. + +"Do not move, Alfred; they will soon have the litter ready, and then you +will be carried to the house. It is not far off." + +"I am strong again now, Emma," replied Alfred. "But you must not remain +here in the cold. See, the snow is falling again." + +"I must remain now till they are ready to carry you, Alfred, for I dare +not go back by myself." + +By this time the litter was prepared, and Alfred placed on it. Malachi, +Henry, Martin and John took it up. + +"Where is Percival?" said Emma. + +"He's behind a little way," replied John. "The snow-shoes hurt him, and +he could not walk so fast. He will be here in a minute." + +They carried Alfred to the house, where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Mary +were waiting at the door in great anxiety; poor Emma was quite knocked +up by the time that they arrived, and went into her own room. + +Alfred was laid on his bed, and his father then examined his wounds, +which he considered very dangerous, from the great laceration of the +flesh. Mr. Campbell dressed them, and then they left Alfred to the +repose which he so much required. The state of Alfred so occupied their +minds and their attention, that nothing and nobody else was thought of +for the first hour. Emma, too, had been taken very ill soon after she +came in, and required the attention of Mrs. Campbell and Mary. It was +not until they were about to sit down to supper that Mr. Campbell said, +"Why, where's Percival?" + +"Percival! Is he not here?" was the question anxiously uttered by all +the party who had been hunting. + +"Percival not here!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell, starting up. "Where--where +is my child?" + +"He was just behind us," said John; "he sat down to alter his +snow-shoes; the ties hurt him." + +Malachi and Martin ran out of doors in consternation; they knew the +danger, for the snow was now falling in such heavy flakes that it was +impossible to see or direct their steps two yards in any direction. + +"The boy will be lost for sartin," said Malachi to Martin; "if he has +remained behind till this fall of snow, he never will find his way, but +wander about till he perishes." + +"Yes," said Martin, "he has but a poor chance, that is the truth; I +would have given my right arm this had not happened." + +"Misfortune never comes single," replied Malachi; "what can we do? Madam +Campbell will be beside herself, for she loves that boy beyond all +measure." + +"It's useless our going out," observed Martin; "we should never find +him, and only lose ourselves; but still we had better go back, and say +that we will try. At all events we can go to the edge of the forest, and +halloo every minute or so; if the boy is still on his legs, it will +guide him to us." + +"Yes," replied Malachi, "and we may light a pine torch; it might be of +some use. Well, then, let's go in, and tell them that we are going in +search of the boy; as long as madam knows that we are seeking him she +will not lose hope, and hope will keep up her spirits for the time, till +she is better prepared for her loss." + +There was much good sense and knowledge of the human heart in the +observation of Malachi, who, although he was aware that all search would +be useless, could not resolve to destroy at once all hope in the mind of +the afflicted and anxious mother. + +They went in, and found Mrs. Campbell weeping bitterly, supported by her +husband and Mary. They stated that they were going to search for the +boy, and bring him home if they could, and, taking three or four pine +torches, one of which they lighted, they set off for the edge of the +forest, where they remained for two hours with the light, shouting at +intervals; but the snow fell so fast, and the cold was so intense, for +the wind blew fresh from the northward, that they could remain no +longer. They did not, however, return to the house, but went to their +own lodge to recover themselves, and remained there till daylight. They +then went out again; the snow-storm had ceased, and the morning was +clear and bright; they went back into the forest (on the road by which +they had come home) for three or four miles, but the snow had now fallen +and covered all the tracks which they had made the day before, and was +in many places several feet deep. They proceeded to where Percival was +last seen by John, who had described the spot very exactly; they looked +every where about, made circuits round and round, in hopes of perceiving +the muzzle of his rifle peeping out above the snow, but there was +nothing to be discovered, and after a search of four or five hours, they +returned to the house. They found Mr. Campbell and Henry in the kitchen, +for Mrs. Campbell was in such a state of anxiety and distress, that she +was in her room attended by Mary. Mr. Campbell perceived by their +countenances that they brought no satisfactory tidings. Malachi shook +his head mournfully, and sat down. + +"Do you think that my poor boy is lost, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"He is, I fear, sir; he must have sat down to rest himself, and has been +overpowered and fallen asleep. He has been buried in the snow, and he +will not wake till the day of resurrection." + +Mr. Campbell covered his face with his hands, and after a time +exclaimed, "His poor mother!" + +After a few minutes, he rose and went into Mrs. Campbell's room. + +"What of my child,--my dear, dear Percival?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away," replied Mr. Campbell; +"your child is happy." + +Mrs. Campbell wept bitterly; and having thus given vent to the feelings +of nature, she became gradually more calm and resigned; her habitually +devout spirit sought and found relief in the God of all comfort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Thus in one short day was the family of Mr. Campbell changed from a +house of joy to one of mourning. And true was the remark of Malachi, +that misfortunes seldom come single, for now they had another cause of +anxiety. Emma, by her imprudent exposure to the intense chill of the +night air and the wetting of her feet, was first taken with a violent +cold, which was followed by a fever, which became more alarming every +day. Thus, in addition to the loss of one of their children, Mr. and +Mrs. Campbell were threatened with being deprived of two more; for their +nieces were regarded as such, and Alfred was in a very precarious state. +The wounds had assumed such an angry appearance, that Mr. Campbell was +fearful of mortification. This accumulated distress had, however, one +good effect upon them. The danger of losing Emma and Alfred so occupied +their minds and their attention, that they had not time to bewail the +loss of Percival; and even Mrs. Campbell, in her prayers, was enabled to +resign herself to the Almighty's will in taking away her child, if it +would but please Him to spare the two others who were afflicted. Long +and tedious were the hours, the days, and the weeks that passed away +before either of them could be considered in a state of convalescence; +but when her prayers were heard, and, as the winter closed, their +recovery was no longer doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to them +all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma resume her duties, and Alfred, +supported on cushions, able to be moved into the sitting-room, had a +very exhilarating effect upon their spirits. True, there was no longer +the mirth and merriment that once reigned, but there was a subdued +gratitude to Heaven, which, if it did not make them at once cheerful, at +least prevented any thing like repining or complaint. Grateful for the +mercies vouchsafed to them, in having Alfred and Emma spared to them, +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Percival, with +the reflection that, at so early an age, before he had lived to be +corrupted by the world, to die was gain,--and that their dear boy had +become, through Divine grace, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Heaven. By +degrees the family became cheerful and happy; the merry laugh of Emma +once more enlivened them, Alfred again recovered his former health and +spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could bear the mention of the name of +Percival, and join in the praises of the amiable child. + +The spring now came on, the snow gradually disappeared, the ice was +carried down the rapids, and once more left the blue lake clear; the +cattle were turned out to feed off the grass the year before left on the +prairie, and all the men were busy in preparing to put in the seed. As +soon as the snow was gone, Malachi, Martin and Alfred, without saying a +word to Mrs. Campbell, had gone into the forest, and made search for the +body of poor Percival, but without success, and it was considered that +he had wandered and died on some spot which they could not discover, or +that the wolves had dug his remains out of the snow, and devoured them. +Not a trace of him could any where be discovered; and the search was, +after a few days, discontinued. The return of the spring had another +good effect upon the spirits of the party; for, with the spring came on +such a variety of work to be done, that they had not a moment to spare. +They had now so many acres for corn, that they had scarcely time to get +through all the preparatory work, and fortunate it was that Alfred was +so much recovered that he could join in the labor. Malachi, John, and +even Mr. Campbell, assisted, and at last the task was completed. Then +they had a communication with the fort, and letters from Quebec, +Montreal, and England: there were none of any importance from England, +but one from Montreal informed Mr. Campbell, that, agreeably to +contract, the engineer would arrive in the course of the month, with the +_bateaux_ containing the machinery, and that the water-mill would be +erected as soon as possible. There was also a letter from England, which +gave them great pleasure; it was from Captain Sinclair to Alfred, +informing him that he had arranged all his business with his guardian, +and that he should rejoin his regiment and be at the fort early in the +spring, as he should sail in the first vessel which left England. He +stated how delighted he should be at his return, and told him to say to +Emma that he had not found an English wife, as she had prophesied, but +was coming back as heart-whole as he went. Very soon afterward they had +a visit from Colonel Forster and some of the officers of the garrison. +The Colonel offered Mr. Campbell a party of soldiers to assist in +raising the mill, and the offer was thankfully accepted. + +"We were very much alarmed about you last autumn, when the woods were on +fire, Mr. Campbell," said the Colonel; "but I perceive that it has been +of great advantage to you. You have now a large quantity of cleared land +sown with seed, and if you had possessed sufficient means, might have +had much more put in, as I perceive all the land to the north-west is +cleared by the fire." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allotment, as you know, extends +along the beach, and we have sown the seed as far from the beach as the +property extends." + +"Then I should recommend you to write to Quebec, and apply for another +grant on each side of the stream; indeed, at the back of and equal to +what you now have." + +"But if I do, I have not the means of working the land." + +"No, not with your present force, I grant; but there are many emigrants +who would be glad of work, and who would settle here upon favorable +conditions." + +"The expense would be very great," said Mr. Campbell. + +"It would; but the return would indemnify you. The troops at the fort +would take all the flour off your hands, if you had ever so much." + +"I am not inclined at present to speculate much further," replied Mr. +Campbell, "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I +am successful, I will then decide." + +"Of course, you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent +at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you +might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land +to cultivate, and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion +of corn in return, as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all +gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having +neighbors about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal, +and arrange all that." + +"I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied +Mr. Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a +few hundred at the bank to dispose of, if necessary." + +About three weeks after this conversation, the _bateaux_ arrived with +the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the +settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the +soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant, +intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada, +and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the +mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as +the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was +constantly with the engineer, superintending the labor of the men, and +contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on +such a footing with the whole family, as to be considered almost as one +of them, for he was very amusing, very well bred, and had evidently +received every advantage of education. Mr. Campbell found that Mr. +Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular +relative to the emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly +traveling about the country, and was in such constant communication with +them. + +"You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr. Campbell; "the +land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as +well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property +will be worth a large sum of money." + +"I want very much to get some more emigrants to settle here," observed +Mr. Campbell. "It would add to our security and comfort; and I have not +sufficient hands to cultivate the land which has been cleared by the +fire of last autumn. If not cultivated in a short time, it will be all +forest again." + +"At present it is all raspberries, and very good ones too, are they not, +Mr. Emmerson?" said Emma. + +"Yes, miss, most excellent," replied he; "but you are aware that, +whenever you cut down trees here, and do not hoe the ground to sow it, +raspberry bushes grow up immediately." + +"Indeed, I was not aware of it." + +"Such is the case, nevertheless. After the raspberries, the seedling +hardwood trees spring up, and, as Mr. Campbell says, they soon grow into +a forest again." + +"I do not think that you would have much trouble in getting emigrants to +come here, Mr. Campbell, but the difficulty will be in persuading them +to remain. Their object in coming out to this country is to obtain land +of their own, and become independent. Many of them have not the means to +go on, and, as a temporary resource, are compelled to act as laborers; +but the moment that they get sufficient to purchase for themselves, they +will leave you." + +"That is very natural; but I have been thinking of obtaining a larger +grant than I have now, and I wish very much that I could make an +arrangement with some emigrants. The Colonel says that I might do so by +supplying them with seed, and taking corn in return as rent." + +"That would not be a permanent arrangement," replied Mr. Emmerson. "How +much land, do you propose applying for?" + +"Six hundred acres." + +"Well, sir, I think it would meet the views of both parties if you were +to offer terms like the following--that is, divide the land into lots of +one hundred acres each, and allow them to cultivate for you the fifty +acres that adjoin your own land, with the right of purchasing the other +fifty as their own property, as soon as they can. You will then obtain +three hundred acres of the most valuable land, in addition to your +present farm, and have fixed neighbors around you, even after they are +enabled to purchase the other fifty." + +"I think that a very good arrangement, Mr. Emmerson, and I would gladly +consent to it." + +"Well, sir, I shall have plenty of opportunities this summer of making +the proposal to the emigrants, and if I find any parties who seem likely +to prove advantageous as neighbors, I will let you know." + +"And with such expectations I will apply for the additional grant," said +Mr. Campbell, "for to have neighbors in this solitude, I would almost +make them a present of the land." + +"I suspect that in a few years you will have neighbors enough, without +resorting to such an expedient," replied Mr. Emmerson, "but according to +your present proposal, they may be better selected, and you may make +terms which will prevent any nuisances." + +The works at the mill proceeded rapidly, and before the hay-harvest the +mill was complete. Alfred was very careful, and paid every attention to +what was going on, and so did Martin, that they might understand the +machinery. This was very simple. Mr. Emmerson tried the mill, and found +it to answer well. He explained every thing to Alfred, and put the mill +to work, that he might be fully master of it. As it was a fortnight +after the mill was at work before Mr. Emmerson could obtain a passage +back to Montreal, Alfred and Martin worked both mills during that time, +and felt satisfied that they required no further instruction. The +soldiers, at the request of Mr. Campbell, were allowed to remain till +the hay-harvest, and as soon as the hay was gathered in, they were paid +and returned to the fort. Captain Sinclair, who, from his letter, had +been expected to arrive much sooner, came just as the soldiers had left +the farm. It need hardly be said that he was received most warmly. He +had a great deal to tell them, and had brought out a great many +presents; those for poor little Percival he kept back, of course. Emma +and Mary were delighted to have him again as a companion, and to resume +their walks with him; a fortnight thus passed away very quickly, when +his leave of absence expired, and he was obliged to return to the fort. +Previous, however, to his going away, he requested a private interview +with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, in which he stated his exact position and +his means, and requested their sanction to his paying his addresses to +Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who had already perceived the attentions he +had shown to her, did not hesitate to express their satisfaction at his +request, and their best wishes for his success; and having so done, they +left him to forward his own suit, which Captain Sinclair did not fail to +do that very evening, Mary Percival was too amiable and right-minded a +girl not at once to refuse or accept Captain Sinclair. As she had long +been attached to him she did not deny that such was the case, and +Captain Sinclair was overjoyed at his success. + +"I have spoken frankly to you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary; "I have not +denied that you have an interest in my affections; but I must now +request you to let me know what are your future views." + +"To do just what you wish me to do." + +"I have no right to advise, and no wish to persuade. I have my own path +of duty pointed out to me, and from that I can not swerve." + +"And what is that?" + +"It is that, under present circumstances, I must not think of leaving my +uncle and aunt. I have been bred up and educated by them; I have as an +orphan shared their prosperity; I have a deep debt of gratitude to pay, +and I can not consent to return to England to enjoy all the advantages +which your means will afford, while they remain in their present +isolated position. Hereafter circumstances may alter my opinion, but +such it is at present." + +"But if I am willing to remain with you here to share your fortunes, +will not that satisfy you?" + +"No, certainly not; for that would be allowing you to do injustice to +yourself. I presume you do not mean to quit your profession?" + +"I had no such intention; but still, if I have to choose between you and +the service, I shall not hesitate." + +"I trust you will not hesitate, but determine to adhere steadily to your +profession for the present, Captain Sinclair. It will not do for you to +give up your prospects and chance of advancement for even such a woman +as me," continued Mary, smiling; "nor must you think of becoming a +backwoodsman for a pale-faced girl." + +"Then what am I to do if, as you say, you will not leave your uncle and +aunt?" + +"Wait, Captain Sinclair; be satisfied that you have my affections, and +wait patiently till circumstances may occur which will enable me to +reward your affection without being guilty of ingratitude toward those +to whom I owe so much. On such terms I accept you willingly; but you +must do your duty to yourself, while I must discharge _my_ duty toward +my uncle and aunt." + +"I believe you are right, Mary," replied Captain Sinclair; "only I do +not see any definite hope of our being united. Can you give me any +prospect to cheer me?" + +"We are both very young, Captain Sinclair," observed Mary; "in a year or +two, my uncle and aunt may be less lonely and more comfortable than at +present. In a year or two the war may end, and you may honorably retire +upon half-pay; in fact, so many chances are there which are hidden from +us and come upon us so unexpectedly, that it is impossible to say what +may take place. And if, after waiting patiently for some time, none of +these chances do turn up, you have yet another in your favor." + +"And what is that, Mary?" + +"That, perhaps, I may be tired of waiting myself," replied Mary, with a +smile. + +"Upon that chance, then, I will live in hope," replied Captain Sinclair; +"if you will only reward me when you consider that my faithful service +demands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for Rachel." + +"Do so, and you shall not be deceived at the end of your services, as he +was," replied Mary; "but now let us return to the house." + +Captain Sinclair departed the day afterward, quite satisfied with Mary's +resolution. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +As Henry had predicted, during the autumn the whole family were fully +employed. The stock had increased very much, they had a large number of +young calves and heifers, and the sheep had lambed down very favorably. +Many of the stock were now turned into the bush, to save the feed on the +prairies. The sheep with their lambs, the cows which were in milk, and +the young calves only were retained. This gave them more leisure to +attend to the corn harvest, which was now ready, and it required all +their united exertions from daylight to sunset to get it in, for they +had a very large quantity of ground to clear. It was, however, got in +very successfully, and all stacked in good order. Then came the +thrashing of the wheat, which gave them ample employment; and as soon as +it could be thrashed out, it was taken to the mill in a wagon, and +ground down, for Mr. Campbell had engaged to supply a certain quantity +of flour to the fort before the winter set in. They occasionally +received a visit from Captain Sinclair and the Colonel, and some other +officers, for now they had gradually become intimate with many of them. +Captain Sinclair had confided to the Colonel his engagement to Mary +Percival, and in consequence the Colonel allowed him to visit at the +farm as often as he could, consistently with his duty. The other +officers who came to see them, perceiving how much Captain Sinclair +engrossed the company of Mary Percival, were very assiduous in their +attentions to Emma, who laughed with and at them, and generally +contrived to give them something to do for her during their visit, as +well as to render their attentions serviceable to the household. On +condition that Emma accompanied them, they were content to go into the +punt and fish for hours; and indeed, all the lake-fish which were caught +this year were taken by the officers. There were several very pleasant +young men among them and they were always well received, as they added +very much to the society at the farm. + +Before the winter set in the flour was all ready, and sent to the fort, +as were the cattle which the Colonel requested, and it was very evident +that the Colonel was right when he said that the arrangement would be +advantageous to both parties. Mr. Campbell, instead of drawing money to +pay, this year for the first time received a bill on the government to a +considerable amount for the flour and cattle furnished to the troops; +and Mrs. Campbell's account for fowls, pork, etc., furnished to the +garrison, was by no means to be despised. Thus, by the kindness of +others, his own exertions, and a judicious employment of his small +capital, Mr. Campbell promised to be in a few years a wealthy and +independent man. As soon as the harvest was in, Malachi and John, who +were of no use in thrashing out the corn, renewed their hunting +expeditions, and seldom returned without venison. The Indians had not +been seen by Malachi during his excursions, nor any trace of their +having been in the neighborhood; all alarm, therefore, on that account +was now over, and the family prepared to meet the coming winter with all +the additional precautions which the foregoing had advised them of. But +during the Indian summer they received letters from England, detailing, +as usual, the news relative to friends with whom they had been intimate; +also one from Quebec, informing Mr. Campbell that his application for +the extra grant of land was consented to; and another from Montreal, +from Mr. Emmerson, stating that he had offered terms to two families of +settlers who bore very good characters, and if they were accepted by Mr. +Campbell, the parties would join them at the commencement of the ensuing +spring. + +This was highly gratifying to Mr. Campbell, and as the terms were, with +a slight variation, such as he had proposed, he immediately wrote to Mr. +Emmerson, agreeing to terms, and requesting that the bargain might be +concluded. At the same time that the Colonel forwarded the above +letters, he wrote to Mr. Campbell to say that the interior of the fort +required a large quantity of plank for repairs, that he was authorized +to take them from Mr. Campbell, at a certain price, if he could afford +to supply them on these terms, and have them ready by the following +spring. This was another act of kindness on the part of the Colonel, as +it would now give employment to the saw-mill for the winter, and it was +during the winter, and at the time that the snow was on the ground, that +they could easily drag the timber after it was felled to the saw-mill. +Mr. Campbell wrote an answer, thanking the Colonel for his offer, which +he accepted, and promised to have the planks ready by the time the lake +was again open. + +At last the winter set in, with its usual fall of snow. Captain Sinclair +took his leave for a long time, much to the sorrow of all the family, +who were warmly attached to him. It was arranged that the only parties +who were to go on the hunting excursions should be Malachi and John, as +Henry had ample employment in the barns; and Martin and Alfred, in +felling timber, and dragging up the stems to the saw-mill, would, with +attending to the mill as well, have their whole time taken up. Such were +the arrangements out of doors, and now that they had lost the services +of poor Percival, and the duties to attend to in doors were so much +increased, Mrs. Campbell and the girls were obliged to call in the +assistance of Mr. Campbell whenever he could be spared from the garden, +which was his usual occupation. Thus glided on the third winter in quiet +and security; but in full employment, and with so much to do and attend +to, that it passed very rapidly. + +It was in the month of February, when the snow was very heavy on the +ground, that one day Malachi went up to the mill to Alfred, whom he +found alone attending the saws, which were in full activity; for Martin +was squaring out the timber ready to be sawed at about one hundred +yards' distance. + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN LETTER.] + +"I am glad to find you alone, sir," said Malachi, "for I have something +of importance to tell you of, and I do not like at present that any +body else should know any thing about it." + +"What is it, Malachi?" inquired Alfred. + +"Why, sir, when I was out hunting yesterday, I went round to a spot +where I had left a couple of deer-hides last week, that I might bring +them home, and I found a letter stuck to them with a couple of thorns." + +"A letter, Malachi!" + +"Yes, sir, an Indian letter. Here it is." Malachi then produced a piece +of birch bark, of which the underneath drawing is a fac-simile. + +[Illustration] + +"Well," said Alfred, "it may be a letter, but I confess it is all Greek +to me. I certainly do not see why you wish to keep it a secret. Tell +me." + +"Well, sir, I could not read one of your letters half so well as I can +this; and it contains news of the greatest importance. It's the Indian +way of writing, and I know also whom it comes from. A good action is +never lost, they say, and I am glad to find that there is some +gratitude in an Indian." + +"You make me very impatient, Malachi, to know what it means; tell me +from whom do you think the letter comes?" + +"Why, sir, do you see this mark here?" said Malachi, pointing to one of +the lowest down on the piece of bark. + +"Yes; it is a foot, is it not?" + +"Exactly, sir; now, do you know whom it comes from?" + +"I can't say I do." + +"Do you remember two winters back our picking up the Indian woman, and +carrying her to the house, and your father curing her sprained ankle?" + +"Certainly; is it from her?" + +"Yes, sir; and you recollect she said that she belonged to the band +which followed the Angry Snake." + +"I remember it very well; but now, Malachi, read me the letter at once, +for I am very impatient to know what she can have to say." + +"I will, Mr. Alfred; now, sir, there is the sun more than half up, which +with them points out it is the setting and not the rising sun; the +setting sun therefore means to the westward." + +"Very good, that is plain, I think." + +"There are twelve wigwams, that is, twelve days' journey for a warrior, +which the Indians reckon at about fifteen miles a day. How much does +fifteen times twelve make, sir?" + +"One hundred and eighty, Malachi." + +"Well, sir, then that is to say that it is one hundred and eighty miles +off, or thereabouts. Now, the first figure is a chief, for it has an +eagle's feather on the head of it, and the snake before it is his +_totem_, 'the Angry Snake,' and the other six are the number of the +band; and you observe, that the chief and the first figure of the six +have a gun in their hands, which is to inform us that they have only two +rifles among them." + +"Very true; but what is that little figure following the chief with his +arms behind him?" + +"There is the whole mystery of the letter, sir, without which it were +worth nothing. You perceive that little figure has a pair of snow-shoes +over it." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Well, that little figure is your brother Percival, whom we supposed to +be dead." + +"Merciful heavens! is it possible?" exclaimed Alfred; "then he is +alive?" + +"There is no doubt of it, sir," replied Malachi; "and now I will put the +whole letter together. Your brother Percival has been carried off by the +Angry Snake and his band, and has been taken to some place one hundred +and eighty miles to the westward, and this information comes from the +Indian woman who belongs to the band, and whose life was preserved by +your kindness. I don't think, Mr. Alfred, that any white person could +have written a letter more plain and more to the purpose." + +"I agree with you, Malachi; but the news has so overpowered me, I am so +agitated with joy and anxiety of mind, that I hardly know what to say. +Percival alive! we'll have him, if we have to go one thousand miles and +beat two thousand Indians. Oh, how happy it will make my mother! But +what are we to do, Malachi? tell me, I beseech you." + +"We must do nothing, sir," replied Malachi. + +"Nothing, Malachi!" replied Alfred with surprise. + +"No, sir; nothing at present, at all events. We have the information +that the boy is alive, at least it is presumed so; but of course the +Indians do not know that we have received such information; if they did, +the woman would be killed immediately. Now, sir, the first question we +must ask ourselves is, why they have carried off the boy; for it would +be no use carrying off a little boy in that manner without some object." + +"It is the very question that _I_ was going to put to you, Malachi." + +"Then, sir, I'll answer it to the best of my knowledge and belief. It is +this: the Angry Snake came to the settlement, and saw our stores of +powder and shot, and every thing else. He would have attacked us last +winter if he had found an opportunity and a chance of success. One of +his band was killed, which taught him that we were on the watch, and he +failed in that attempt: he managed, however, to pick up the boy when he +was lagging behind us, at the time you were wounded by the painter, and +carried him off, and he intends to drive a bargain for his being +restored to us. That is my conviction." + +"I have no doubt but that you are right, Malachi," said Alfred, after a +pause. "Well, we must make a virtue of necessity, and give him what he +asks." + +"Not so, sir; if we did, it would encourage him to steal again." + +"What must we do then?" + +"Punish him, if we can; at all events, we must wait at present, and do +nothing. Depend upon it we shall have some communication made to us +through him that the boy is in their possession, and will be restored +upon certain conditions--probably this spring. It will then be time to +consider what is to be done." + +"I believe you are right, Malachi." + +"I hope to circumvent him yet, sir," replied Malachi; "but we shall +see." + +"Well; but, Malachi, are we to let this be known to any body, or keep it +a secret?" + +"Well, sir, I've thought of that; we must only let Martin and Strawberry +into the secret; and I would tell them, because they are almost Indians, +as it were; they may have some one coming to them, and there's no fear +of their telling. Martin knows better, and as for the Strawberry, she is +as safe as if she didn't know it." + +"I believe you are right; and still what delight it would give my father +and mother!" + +"Yes, sir, and all the family too, I have no doubt, for the first hour +or two after you had told them; but what pain it would give them for +months afterward. 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' as my father +used to read out of the Bible, and that's the truth, sir. Only consider +how your father, and particularly your mother, would fret and pine +during the whole time, and what a state of anxiety they would be in; +they would not eat or sleep. No, no, sir; it would be a cruelty to tell +them, and it must not be. Nothing can be done till the spring, at all +events, and we must wait till the messenger comes to us." + +"You are right, Malachi; then do as you say, make the communication to +Martin and his wife,--and I will keep the secret as faithfully as they +will." + +"It's a great point our knowing whereabouts the boy is," observed +Malachi; "for if it is necessary to make a party to go for him, we know +what direction to go in. And it is also a great point to know the +strength of the enemy, as now we shall know what force we must take with +us in case it is necessary to recover the lad by force or stratagem. All +this we gained from the letter, and shall not learn from any messenger +sent to us by the Angry Snake, whose head I hope to bruise before I've +done with him." + +"If I meet him, one of us shall fall," observed Alfred. + +"No doubt, sir, no doubt," replied Malachi, "but if we can retake the +boy by other means, so much the better. A man, bad or good, has but one +life and God gave it to him. It is not for his fellow-creatures to take +it away unless from necessity. I hope to have the boy without shedding +of blood." + +"I am willing to have him back upon any terms, Malachi; and, as you say, +if we can do it without shedding of blood, all the better; but have him +I will, if I have to kill a hundred Indians." + +"That's right, sir; that's right; only let it be the last resort; +recollect the Indian seeks the powder and ball, not the life of the boy; +and recollect if we had not been so careless as to tempt him with the +sight of what he values so much, he never would have annoyed us thus." + +"That is true; well then, Malachi, it shall be as you propose in every +thing." + +The conversation was here finished; Alfred and all those who were +possessed of the secret never allowed the slightest hint to drop of +their knowledge. The winter passed away without interruption of any +kind. Before the snow had disappeared the seed was all prepared ready +for sowing; the planks had been sawed out, and all the wheat not +required for seed had been ground down and put into flour-barrels, ready +for any further demand from the fort. And thus terminated the third +winter in Canada. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +It was now April, and for some days Malachi and John had been very busy, +assisted by the Strawberry; for the time had come for tapping the +maple-trees, to make the maple-sugar, and Mrs. Campbell had expressed a +wish that she could be so supplied with an article of such general +consumption, and which they could not obtain but by the _bateaux_ which +went to Montreal. In the evening, when Malachi and John were, as usual, +employed in cutting small trays out of the soft wood of the balsam-fir, +and of which they had already prepared a large quantity, Mrs. Campbell +asked Malachi how the sugar was procured. + +"Very easily, ma'am: we tap the trees." + +"Yes, so you said before; but how do you do it? Explain the whole affair +to me." + +"Why, ma'am, we pick out the maple trees which are about a foot wide at +the bottom of the trunk, as they yield most sugar. We then bore a hole +in the trunk of the tree, about two feet above the ground, and into that +hole we put a hollow reed, just the same as you would put a spigot in a +cask. The liquor runs out into one of these trays that we have been +digging out." + +"Well, and then what do you do?" + +"We collect all the liquor every morning till we have enough to fill the +coppers, and then we boil it down." + +"What coppers will you use, then?" + +"There are two large coppers in the store-room, not yet put up, which +will answer our purpose very well, ma'am. They hold about a hogshead +each. We shall take them into the woods with us, and pour the liquor +into them, and boil them down as soon as they are ready. You must come +and see us on the boiling-day, and we can have a frolic in the woods." + +"With all my heart," replied Mrs. Campbell. "How much liquor do you get +from one tree?" + +"A matter of two or three gallons," replied Malachi; "sometimes more and +sometimes less. After we have tapped the trees and set our trays, we +shall have nothing more to do for a fortnight. The Strawberry can attend +to them all, and will let us know when she is ready." + +"Do you tap the trees every year?" + +"Yes, ma'am, and a good tree will bear it for fifteen or twenty years; +but it kills them at last." + +"So I should suppose, for you take away so much of the sap of the tree." + +"Exactly, ma'am; but there's no want of sugar-maples in these woods." + +"You promised us some honey, Malachi," said Emma, "but we have not seen +it yet. Can you get us some?" + +"We had no time to get it last autumn, miss, but we will try this autumn +what we can do. When John and I are out in the woods, we shall very +probably find a honey-tree, without going very far. I did intend to have +looked out for some, if you had not mentioned it." + +"I know one," said Martin, "I marked it a fortnight ago, but I quite +forgot all about it. Since the mill has been in hand, I have had little +time for any thing else. The fact is, we have all plenty to do just +now." + +"That we certainly have," replied Henry, laughing; "I wish I could see +the end of my work in the barn; I doubt if I shall be able to get out +with my rifle this winter." + +"No, sir, you must leave the woods to John and me," replied Malachi. +"Never mind, you shan't want for venison. Do you require the sledge +to-morrow, Mr. Alfred?" + +Malachi referred to a small sledge which they had made in the winter, +and which was now very useful, as they could, with one horse, transport +things from place to place. It was used by Alfred for bringing down to +the storehouse the sacks of flour as fast as they were ground in the +mill. + +"I can do without it for a day. What do you want it for?" + +"To bring all the honey home," said Emma laughing. + +"No, miss, to take the coppers out into the woods," replied Malachi, +"that they may be ready for the liquor. As soon as we have tapped the +trees, we will look for the honey." + +"Did you send your skins down to Montreal by the _bateaux_?" inquired +Mr. Campbell. + +"Yes, father," replied Alfred; "Mr. Emmerson took charge of them, and +promised to deliver them to the agent; but we have not so many this year +as we had last. John has the largest package of all of us." + +"Yes, he beats me this year," said Malachi; "he always contrives to get +the first shot. I knew that I should make a hunter of the boy. He might +go out by himself now, and do just as well as I do." + +The next morning Malachi went out into the woods, taking with him the +coppers and all the trays on the sledge: during that day he was busy +boring the trees and fitting the reed-pipes to the holes. Strawberry and +John accompanied him, and by sunset their work was complete. + +The next morning when they went out, only Malachi and John took their +axes with them, for John could use his very well for so young a lad. +They first went to the tree which Martin had discovered; he had given a +description where to find it. They cut it down, but did not attempt to +take the honey till the night, when they lighted a fire, and drove away +the bees by throwing leaves upon it, and making a great smoke; they then +opened the tree, and gained about two pails full of honey, which they +brought in just as the family were about to go to bed. When they went +out the next morning, they found a bear very busy at the remains of the +comb, but the animal made off before they could get a shot at him. + +Every morning the Strawberry collected all the sap which had run out of +the trees, and poured it into the coppers which had been fixed up by +Malachi, ready for a fire to be lighted under them. They continued their +search, and found three more hives of bees, which they marked and +allowed to remain till later in the season, when they could take them +at their leisure. In a fortnight, they had collected sufficient liquor +from the trees to fill both the coppers to the brim, besides several +pails. The fires were therefore lighted under the coppers, and due +notice given to Mrs. Campbell and the girls, that the next day they must +go out into the woods and see the operation; as the liquor would, toward +the afternoon, be turned into coolers, which were some of the large +washing-tubs then in use, and which had been thoroughly cleansed for the +purpose. + +As this was to be a holiday in the woods, they prepared a cold dinner in +a large basket, and gave it in charge of Henry. Mr. Campbell joined the +party, and they all set off to the spot, which was about two miles +distant. On their arrival, they examined the trees and the trays into +which the juice first ran, the boilers in which the liquor was now +simmering over the fire, and asked questions of Malachi, so that they +might, if necessary, be able to make the sugar themselves, after which +the first cooler was filled with the boiling liquor, that they might see +how the sugar crystallized as the liquor became cold. They then sat down +under a large tree and dined. The tree was at some distance from the +boilers, as there was no shade in the open spot where Malachi had placed +them, and the afternoon was passed very agreeably in listening to +Malachi's and Martin's stories of their adventures in the woods. While +they were still at dinner, Oscar and the other dogs which had +accompanied them had strayed to about a hundred yards distant, and were +soon very busy scraping and barking at a large hole. + +"What are the dogs after?" said Alfred. + +"Just what the Strawberry wants, and told me to get for her," replied +Malachi; "we'll dig him out to-morrow." + +"What is it, Strawberry?" said Mary. + +The Strawberry pointed to her moccasins, and then put her finger on the +porcupine-quills with which they were embroidered. + +"I don't know the English name," said she, softly. + +"A porcupine you mean," said Mary, "the animal those quills come from." + +"Yes," replied the Strawberry. + +"Is there a porcupine there, Malachi?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, that is certain; the dogs know that well enough, or they +would not make such a noise. If you like, we will go for the shovels and +dig him out." + +"Do, pray; I should like to see him caught," said Emma, "it shall be our +evening's amusement." + +Martin got up and went for the shovels; during his absence, the dinner +was cleared away, and the articles replaced in the basket; they then all +adjourned to where the dogs were still barking and scratching. + +It was more than an hour before they could dig out the animal, and when +at last it burst away from the hole, they could not help laughing as +they witnessed the way in which one or two of the dogs were pricked with +the quills of the animal, who needed no other defense; the dogs ran +back, pawed their noses, and then went on again. Oscar was too knowing +to attack it in that way; he attempted to turn it over, so that he might +get at its stomach, when he would soon have killed it, but Martin +dispatched the poor beast with a blow on the nose, and the dogs then +rushed in upon it. They amused themselves selecting all the best of the +quills for the Strawberry, and then they went back again to the coolers, +to see the sugar which had been made. + +As they neared the spot, Emma cried out, "There is a bear at the cooler; +look at him." + +Malachi and John had their rifles ready immediately. Mrs. Campbell and +Mary were much alarmed, as the animal was not one hundred yards from +them. + +"Do not be afraid, ma'am," said Malachi; "the animal is only after the +sugar. He likes sugar just as well as honey." + +"I don't doubt but he's the same beast that you saw at the honeycomb the +other day," said Martin. "Let us stay where we are, and watch him. We +may lose a few pounds of sugar, but I expect he will make you laugh." + +"I really see nothing laughable in such a terrific brute," said Mrs. +Campbell. + +"You are quite safe, ma'am," said Martin, "Malachi and Mr. John have +both their rifles." + +"Well, then, I will trust to them," said Mrs. Campbell, "but I should +prefer being at home, nevertheless. What a great brute it is." + +"Yes, ma'am; it is a very large animal, that's certain; but they are not +very fat at this time of the year. See how he's smelling at the liquor, +now he's licking the top of it with his tongue. He won't be satisfied +with that, now that he has once tasted it. I told you so." + +The eyes of the whole party, some frightened and some not, were now +fixed upon the bear, who, approving of what he had tasted as a sample, +now proceeded to help himself more liberally. + +He therefore placed his paw down into the contents of the cooler, but +although the surface of the liquor was cool, the lower part was still +scalding hot, and he had not put his paw in for a moment, when he +withdrew it with a loud roar, rearing up and sitting upon his hind legs, +and throwing his burned paw in the air. + +"I said so," observed Malachi, chuckling; "he has found it hotter than +he expected." + +John, Alfred, and Martin burst out laughing at the sight; and even Mrs. +Campbell and the two girls could not help being amused. + +"He'll try it again," said Martin. + +"Yes, that he will," replied Malachi. "John, be all ready with your +rifle, for the brute has seen us." + +"Why, he won't come this way, will he?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, that he most likely will when he is angry; but you need not +fear." + +"But I'm afraid, Malachi," said Mary. + +"Then perhaps you had better go about fifty yards back with Mr. +Campbell, where you will see the whole without danger. There he goes to +it again; I knew he would." + +Martin, who had got all the dogs collected together and fast by a piece +of deer's hide, as soon as they had discovered the bear, went back with +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the girls. + +"You need have no fear, ma'am," said Martin; "the rifles won't miss +their mark, and if they did, I have the dogs to let loose upon him; and +I think Oscar, with the help of the others, would master him. +Down--silence, Oscar--down, dogs, down. Look at the Strawberry, ma'am, +she's not afraid, she's laughing like a silver bell." + +During this interval, the bear again applied to the cooler, and burned +himself as before, and this time being more angry, he now gave another +roar, and, as if considering that the joke had been played upon him by +the party who were looking on, he made directly for them at a quick run. + +"Now, John," said Malachi, "get your bead well on him, right between his +eyes." + +John kneeled down in front of Malachi, who had his rifle all ready; much +to the horror of Mrs. Campbell, John permitted the bear to come within +twenty yards of him. He then fired, and the animal fell dead without a +struggle. + +"A good shot, and well put in," said Malachi, going up to the bear. "Let +the dogs loose, Martin, that they may worry the carcass; it will do them +good." + +Martin did so; the dogs were permitted to pull and tear at the dead +animal for a few minutes, and then taken off; in the mean time, Mr. +Campbell and the ladies had come up to where the animal lay. + +"Well, ma'am, isn't John a cool shot?" said Malachi, "Could the oldest +hunter have done better?" + +"My dear John, you quite frightened me," said Mrs. Campbell; "why did +you allow the beast to come so near to you?" + +"Because I wanted to kill him dead, and not wound him," replied John. + +"To be sure," replied Malachi; "to wound a bear is worse than leaving +him alone." + +"Well, Malachi, you certainly have made a hunter of John," said Mr. +Campbell. "I could not have supposed such courage and presence of mind +in one so young." + +John was very much praised, as he deserved to be, by the whole party; +and then Malachi said, "The skin belongs to John, that of course." + +"Is the bear good eating now?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Not very, ma'am," replied Malachi, "for he has consumed all his fat +during the winter; but we will cut off the legs for hams, and when they +are salted and smoked with the other meat, you will acknowledge that a +bear's ham is, at all events, a dish that any one may say is good. Come, +John, where's your knife? Martin, give us a hand here, while Mr. +Campbell and the ladies go home." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +It was in the first week of June that Malachi, when he was out in the +woods, perceived an Indian, who came toward him. He was a youth of about +twenty or twenty-one years old, tall and slightly made; he carried his +bow and arrows and his tomahawk, but had no gun. Malachi was at that +time sitting down on the trunk of a fallen tree; he was not more than +two miles from the house, and had gone out with his rifle without any +particular intent, unless it was that, as he expected he should soon +receive some communication from the Indians, he wished to give them an +opportunity of speaking to him alone. The Indian came up to where +Malachi was, and took a seat by him, without saying a word. + +"Is my son from the West?" said Malachi, in the Indian tongue, after a +silence of one or two minutes. + +"The Young Otter is from the West," replied the Indian. "The old men +have told him of the Gray Badger, who has lived the life of a snake, and +who has hunted with the fathers of those who are now old. Does my father +live with the white man?" + +"He lives with the white man," replied Malachi; "he has no Indian blood +in his veins." + +"Has the white man many in his lodge?" said the Indian. + +"Yes; many young men and many rifles," replied Malachi. + +The Indian did not continue this conversation, and there was a silence +of some minutes. Malachi was convinced that the young Indian had been +sent to intimate that Percival was alive and in captivity, and he +resolved to wait patiently till he brought up the subject. + +"Does not the cold kill the white man?" said the Indian, at last. + +"No; the white man can bear the winter's ice as well as an Indian. He +hunts as well, and brings home venison." + +"Are all who came here with him now in the white man's lodge?" + +"No, not all; one white child slept in the snow, and is in the land of +spirits," replied Malachi. + +Here there was a pause in the conversation for some minutes; at last the +young Indian said-- + +"A little bird sang in my ear, and it said, The white man's child is not +dead; it wandered about in the woods and was lost, and the Indian found +him, and took him to his wigwam in the far west." + +"Did not the little bird lie to the Young Otter?" replied Malachi. + +"No; the little bird sang what was true," replied the Indian. "The white +boy is alive and in the lodge of the Indian." + +"There are many white men in the country who have children," replied +Malachi; "and children are often lost. The little bird may have sung of +the child of some other white man." + +"The white boy had a rifle in his hand and snow-shoes on his feet." + +"So have all they who go out to hunt in the winter's snow," replied +Malachi. + +"But the white boy was found near to the white man's lodge." + +"Then why was not the boy taken back to the white man by the Indians who +found him?" + +"They were going to their own wigwams and could not turn aside; besides, +they feared to come near to the white man's lodge after the sun was +down; as my father says he has many young men and many rifles." + +"But the white man does not raise his rifle against the Indian, whether +he comes by day or by night," replied Malachi. "At night he kills the +prowling wolf when he comes near to the lodge." + +The Indian again stopped and was silent. He knew by the words of Malachi +that the wolf's skin, with which the Indian had been covered when he was +crawling to the palisades and had been shot by John, had been +discovered. Malachi after a while renewed the conversation. + +"Is the Young Otter of a near tribe?" + +"The lodges of our tribe are twelve days' journey to the westward," +replied the Indian. + +"The chief of the Young Otter's band is a great warrior?" + +"He is," replied the Indian. + +"Yes," replied Malachi, "The 'Angry Snake' is a great warrior. Did he +send the Young Otter to me to tell me that the white boy was alive and +in his wigwam?" + +The Indian again paused. He perceived that Malachi knew where he came +from, and from whom. At last he said-- + +"It is many moons since the Angry Snake has taken care of the white boy, +and has fed him with venison; many moons that he has hunted for him to +give him food; and the white boy loves the Angry Snake as a father, and +the Angry Snake loves the boy as his son. He will adopt him, and the +white boy will be the chief of the tribe. He will forget the white men, +and become red as an Indian." + +"The boy is forgotten by the white man, who has long numbered him with +the dead," replied Malachi. + +"The white man has no memory," replied the Indian, "to forget so soon; +but it is not so. He would make many presents to him who would bring +back the boy." + +"And what presents could he make?" replied Malachi; "the white man is +poor, and hunts with his young men as the Indian does. What has the +white man to give that the Indian covets? He has no whisky." + +"The white man has powder, and lead, and rifles," replied the Indian; +"more than he can use, locked up in his storehouse." + +"And will the Angry Snake bring back the white boy if the white man +gives him powder, and lead, and rifles?" inquired Malachi. + +"He will make a long journey, and bring the white boy with him," replied +the Indian; "but first let the white man say what presents he will +give." + +"He shall be spoken to," replied Malachi, "and his answer shall be +brought, but the Young Otter must not go to the white man's lodge. A +red-skin is not safe from the rifles of the young men. When the moon is +at the full I will meet the Young Otter after the sun is down, at the +eastern side of the long prairie. Is it good?" + +"Good," replied the Indian, who rose, turned on his heel, and walked +away into the forest. + +When Malachi returned to the house, he took an opportunity of +communicating to Alfred what had taken place. After some conversation, +they agreed that they would make Captain Sinclair, who had that morning +arrived from the fort, their confidant as to what had occurred, and +decide with him upon what steps should be taken. Captain Sinclair was +very much surprised, and equally delighted, when he heard that Percival +was still alive, and warmly entered into the subject. + +"The great question is, whether it would not be better to accede to the +terms of this scoundrel of an Indian chief," observed Captain Sinclair. +"What are a few pounds of powder and a rifle or two compared with the +happiness which will be produced by the return of Percival to his +parents, who have so long lamented him as dead?" + +"It's not that, sir," replied Malachi. "I know that Mr. Campbell would +give his whole store-room to regain his boy, but we must consider what +will be the consequence if he does so. One thing is certain, that the +Angry Snake will not be satisfied with a trifling present; he will ask +many rifles, perhaps more than we have at the farm, and powder and shot +in proportion; for he has mixed much with white people, especially when +the French were here, and he knows how little we value such things, and +how much we love our children. But, sir, in the first place, you supply +him and his band with arms to use against us at any other time, and +really make them formidable; and in the next place, you encourage him to +make some other attempt to obtain similar presents--for he will not be +idle. Recollect, sir, that we have in all probability killed one of +their band, when he came to reconnoiter the house in the skin of a wolf, +and that will never be forgotten, but revenged as soon as it can be. +Now, sir, if we give him arms and ammunition, we shall put the means of +revenge in his hands, and I should not be surprised to find us one day +attacked by him and his band, and it may be, overpowered by means of +these rifles which you propose to give him." + +"There is much truth and much good sense in what you say, +Malachi--indeed, I think it almost at once decides the point, and that +we must not consent to his terms; but then what must we do to recover +the boy?" + +"That is the question which puzzles me," replied Alfred, "for I +perfectly agree with Malachi, that we must not give him arms and +ammunition, and I doubt if he would accept of any thing else." + +"No, sir, that he will not, depend upon it," replied Malachi. "I think +there is but one way that will give us a chance." + +"What, then, is your idea, Malachi?" + +"The Angry Snake with his band were tracking us, and had we not been too +strong, would have attacked and murdered us all, that is clear. Not +daring to do that, he has stolen Percival, and detains him, to return +him at his own price. Now, sir, the Young Otter has come to us, and +offers to come again. We have given him no pledge of safe conduct, and, +therefore, when he comes again, we must have an ambush ready for him, +and make him prisoner; but then you see, sir, we must have the +assistance of the Colonel, for he must be confined at the fort; we could +not well keep him at the farm. In the first place, it would be +impossible then to withhold the secret from Mr. and Mrs. Campbell; and, +in the next, we should have to be on the look-out for an attack every +night for his rescue; but if the Colonel was to know the whole +circumstances, and would assist us, we might capture the Indian lad and +hold him as a hostage for Master Percival, till we could make some terms +with the Angry Snake." + +"I like your idea very much, Malachi," replied Captain Sinclair, "and +if, Alfred, you agree with me, I will acquaint the Colonel with the +whole of what has passed when I return to-night, and see if he will +consent to our taking such a step. When are you to meet the Indian, +Malachi?" + +"In three days, that is on Saturday; it will be the full of the moon, +and then I meet him at night, at the end of the prairie nearest to the +fort, so that there will be no difficulty in doing all we propose +without Mr. and Mrs. Campbell being aware of any thing that has taken +place." + +"I think we can not do better than you have proposed," said Alfred. + +"Be it so, then," said Captain Sinclair. "I will be here again +to-morrow--no, not to-morrow, but the day after will be better, and then +I will give you the reply of the Colonel, and make such arrangements as +may be necessary." + +"That's all right, sir," replied Malachi; "and now all we have to do is +to keep our own secret; so, perhaps, Captain Sinclair, you had better go +back to the young ladies, for Miss Mary may imagine that it must be +something of very great importance which can have detained you so long +from her presence;" and Malachi smiled as he finished his remark. + +"There's good sense in that observation, Malachi," said Alfred, +laughing. "Come, Sinclair." + +Captain Sinclair quitted in the evening, and went back to the fort. He +returned at the time appointed, and informed them that the Colonel fully +approved of their plan of holding the young Indian as a hostage, and +that he would secure him in the fort as soon as he was brought in. + +"Now, do we want any assistance from the fort? Surely not to capture an +Indian lad; at least, so I said to the Colonel," continued Captain +Sinclair. + +"No, sir, we want no assistance, as you say. I am his match, myself, if +that were all; but it is not strength which is required. He is as little +and supple as an eel, and as difficult to hold, that I am certain of. If +we were to use our rifles, there would be no difficulty, but to hold him +would give some trouble to two of us, and if once he breaks loose, he +will be too fleet for any of us." + +"Well, then, Malachi, how shall we proceed?" + +"Why, sir, I must meet him, and you and Mr. Alfred and Martin must be +hid at a distance, and gradually steal near to us. Martin shall have his +deer thongs all ready, and when you pounce upon him, he must bind him at +once. Martin is used to them and knows how to manage it." + +"Well, if you think that we three can not manage him, let us have +Martin." + +"It isn't strength, sir," replied Malachi, "but he will slip through +your fingers, if not well tied in half a minute. Now, we will just walk +down to where I intend to meet him, and survey the place, and then I'll +show you where you must be, for we must not be seen together in that +direction to-morrow, for he may be lurking about, and have some +suspicion." + +They then walked to the end of the prairie nearest to the fort, which +was about a mile from the house, and Malachi having selected his ground, +and pointed out to them where to conceal themselves, they returned to +the house, Alfred having made arrangements when and where he and Martin +would meet Captain Sinclair on the day appointed. + +The next day passed, and Malachi, as the sun sank behind the lake, +walked out to the end of the prairie. He had not been there ten minutes +when the young Indian stood before him. He was armed, as before, with +his tomahawk and bows and arrows, but Malachi had come out expressly +without his rifle. + +Malachi, as soon as he perceived the Indian, sat down, as is the usual +custom among them when they hold a talk, and the Young Otter followed +his example. + +"Has my father talked to the white man?" said the Indian after a short +silence. + +"The white man grieves for the loss of his boy, and his squaw weeps," +replied Malachi. "The Angry Snake must bring the boy to the lodge of the +white man, and receive presents." + +"Will the white man be generous?" continued the Indian. + +"He has powder, and lead, and rifles, and tobacco; will such presents +please the Angry Snake?" + +"The Angry Snake had a dream," replied the Indian, "and he told me his +dream. He dreamed that the white boy was put into his mother's arms, who +wept for joy, and the white man opened his store, and gave to the Angry +Snake ten rifles, and two kegs of powder, and as much lead as four men +could carry away." + +"'Twas a good dream," replied Malachi, "and it will come true when the +white boy comes back to his mother." + +"The Angry Snake had another dream. He dreamed that the white man +received his child, and pushed the Angry Snake out from the door of his +lodge." + +"That was bad," replied Malachi. "Look at me, my son; say, did you ever +hear that the Gray Badger said a lie?" and Malachi laid hold of the +Indian's arm as he spoke. + +This was the signal agreed upon between Malachi and the party concealed, +who rushed forward and seized the Indian. The Young Otter sprang up in +spite of their endeavors to keep him, and would certainly have escaped, +for he had got his tomahawk clear, and was about to wield it around his +head, had not Martin already passed one of the deer thongs round his +ankle, by which the Indian was thrown again to the ground. His arms were +then secured behind his back with other deer-skin thongs, and another +passed round his ankle and given to Alfred. + +"You were right, Malachi," said Captain Sinclair, "how he contrived to +twist himself out of our grasp I can not imagine; but he certainly would +have been off, probably have broken our heads before he went." + +"I know the nature of these Indians, sir," replied Malachi; "they're +never safe, even when tied, if the thong does not cut into the bone; but +you have him now, sir, fast enough, and the sooner you get to the fort +the better. You have your rifles, in the bush?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "you'll find them behind the large oak tree." + +"I'll fetch them; not that I think there's much danger of a rescue." + +"We have not far to take him," said Captain Sinclair, "for, as I wished +you and Alfred not to be so long away as to induce questions to be +asked, I have a file of men and a corporal about half a mile off, +concealed in the bush. But Malachi, it is as well to let the Indian know +that he is only detained as a hostage, and will be restored as soon as +the boy is sent back." + +Malachi addressed the Indian in his own tongue, and told him what +Captain Sinclair requested. + +"Tell him that there are several Indian women about the fort, who will +take any message he may send to the Angry Snake." + +The Young Otter made no reply to any thing said by Malachi, but looked +around him very impatiently. + +"Be off as fast as you can," said Malachi, "for depend upon it the Angry +Snake was to meet him after his talk with me; I see it by his wandering +eye, and his looking round for assistance. I will go with you, and +return with Alfred and Martin, for I have no rifle." + +"You can take mine, Malachi, as soon as we come up to the soldiers." + +This was done in a few minutes. Captain Sinclair then took charge of the +Indian, and set off with his party for the fort. Malachi, Alfred, and +Martin returned to the house, and before they entered the prairie, +Martin detected the tall form of an Indian at a short distance, in the +shade of the trees. + +"Yes, I was sure of it," said Malachi. "It was well that I did not go +back without you. After all, in the woods, a man's no man without his +rifle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +Martin was right when he stated that he perceived the form of the Angry +Snake under the shade of the trees. The chief was then watching what +occurred, and had been witness to the capture of his emissary, and, +following those who had the Young Otter in charge, saw him conveyed to +the fort. In the meantime, Malachi, Martin, and Alfred went home, +without any suspicion being raised among the other branches of the +family of what had occurred. This gave them great satisfaction. + +"Well, Malachi," said Alfred the next morning, as they were all busily +employed getting the seed into the new cleared land; "what do you +imagine will be the steps now taken by the Angry Snake?" + +"It's hard to say, sir," replied Malachi; "for he well deserves the name +of a snake, if, as the Scripture says, it's the subtlest thing on earth: +he will try all he can, you may be sure; and if it were not that he is +afraid of us, he would attack us immediately; but that I have no idea +that he will venture upon." + +"No, for your letter says, that he has only two rifles in his band, +which are not enough to give him any chance of success." + +"Very true, sir. I hear that the _bateaux_ are coming from the fort for +the plank and flour." + +"Yes, to-morrow, if there is not so much wind as there is to-day; it +blows very fresh. Where is John?" + +"I left him with the Strawberry, sir; they were busy with the sugar." + +"By the by, how much have you got, Malachi?" + +"About three or four hundred pounds, sir, as near as I can reckon; quite +as much as madam will require." + +"Yes, I should think so; now we shall have preserves of all sorts and +the fruit for nothing; the wild raspberries are nearly ripe, and so are +the cherries; my cousins want John to help to gather them." + +"Well, sir, I dare say he will do so, although I believe that he would +rather do any thing else. He said he was going to fish this morning." + +"The water is too rough, and he will not be able to manage the punt by +himself." + +"Then that's the very reason why he'll go out," replied Malachi; "he +don't like easy jobs like picking raspberries. Is it true, Mr. Alfred, +that we are to have some more settlers come here?" + +"Yes, I believe so; my father is very anxious to have them; he thinks it +will be a great security, and he has offered very advantageous terms; +you won't much like that, Malachi?" + +"Well, sir, I dare say you may think so, but it is not the case; if any +one had told me, two years ago, that I could have remained here, I would +have said it was impossible, but we are all creatures of habit. I had +been so used to my own company for so long a time, that when I first saw +you I couldn't bear the sight of you; no, not even that of your pretty +cousins, Miss Mary and Emma, although, Heaven knows, they might tame a +savage; but now, sir, I feel quite changed; I have first borne with +company, because I fancied the boy, and then I felt no dislike to it, +and now I like it. I believe that in my old age I am coming back to my +feelings as a boy, and I think very often of my father's farm, and the +little village that was close to it; and then I often fancy that I +should like to see a village rise up here, and a church stand up there +upon the mount; I think I should like to live on till I saw a church +built and God worshiped as He ought to be." + +"This is indeed a change, Malachi; well, I hope you will see a church on +the mount, and live many years afterward to be present at the weddings +and christenings." + +"As it pleases God, sir. There's one thing, Mr. Alfred, that has given +me great content, and more than any thing, perhaps, reconciled me to my +new way of living; and that is, that the Strawberry, by the blessing of +God and the labor of your mother and cousins, has become a good +Christian; you don't know how pleased I am at that." + +"She's an excellent little creature, Malachi; every one is fond of her, +and I believe Martin is very strongly attached to her." + +"Yes, sir, she's a good wife, for she never uses her tongue, and obeys +her husband in all things. I think Martin has now become quite steady, +and you might send him to Montreal, or any where else, without fear of +his getting into the prison for making a disturbance.--I see that a bear +has been over into the maize-field last night." + +"What! did he climb the snake-fence?" + +"Yes, sir, they climb any thing; but I have got his tracks, and this +night I think that I shall get hold of him, for I shall lay a trap for +him." + +Malachi and Alfred continued to work for two or three hours, when they +were summoned by Emma to go in to dinner. "I can not find John," said +Emma, as they walked home; "Strawberry says that he left her some time +back, and went to fish; have you seen him pass by the river's side?" + +"No," replied Alfred; "but, Malachi, you said that he was going to fish +in the punt, did you not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you see the punt on the beach, Emma?" + +"No, I do not," replied Emma; "but it may be behind the point." + +"Nor can I; I hope he has not been carried away by the wind, for it +blows very hard; I'll run down, and see if he is there." + +Alfred ran down to the beach; the punt was gone from the shore, and +after looking for some time to leeward, which was to the eastward, in +the direction of the rapids, Alfred thought that he perceived something +like a boat at a distance of three or four miles; but the water of the +lake was much ruffled by the strong wind, and it was not easy to +distinguish. + +Alfred hastened back, and said to Emma, "I really am afraid that John is +adrift. I think I see the boat, but am not sure. Emma, go in quietly and +bring out my telescope, which is over my bed-place. Do not let them see +you, or they will be asking questions, and your aunt may be alarmed." + +Emma went to the house, and soon returned with the telescope. Alfred and +Malachi then went down to the beach, and the former distinctly made out +that what he had seen was the punt adrift, with John in it. + +"Now, what is to be done?" said Alfred. "I must take a horse, and ride +off to the fort, for if they do not see him before he passes, he may not +be picked up." + +"If he once gets into the rapids, sir," said Malachi, "he will be in +great danger; for he may be borne down upon one of the rocks, and upset +in a minute." + +"Yes; but he is some way from them yet," replied Alfred. + +"Very true, sir; but with this strong wind right down to them, and +helping the current, he will soon be there. There is no time to be +lost." + +"No; but I'll go in to dinner, and as soon as I have taken a mouthful, +just to avoid creating any alarm, I will slip out, and ride to the fort +as fast as I can." + +"Just so; you will be there in good time, for he is now three miles +above the fort; indeed, he can not well pass it without their seeing +him." + +"Yes, he can, now that the water is so rough," replied Alfred; +"recollect that they are soldiers in the fort, and not sailors, who are +accustomed to look on the water. A piece of drift timber and a punt is +much the same to their eyes. Come, let us in to dinner." + +"Yes, sir; I'll follow you," replied Malachi; "but, before I come in +I'll catch the horse and saddle him for you. You can tell Miss Emma to +hold her tongue about it." + +Alfred rejoined Emma, whom he cautioned, and then they went in to their +dinner. + +"Where's John?" said Mr. Campbell; "he promised me some lake fish for +dinner, and has never brought them in; so you will not have such good +fare as I expected." + +"And where's Malachi?" said Alfred. + +"I dare say he and John are out together somewhere," observed Henry, +who, with Martin, had come in before Alfred. + +"Well, he will lose his dinner," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"That's what I can not afford to do, mother," said Alfred; "I am very +hungry, and I have not more than five minutes to spare, for the seed +must be put in to-night." + +"I thought Malachi was with you, Alfred," said Mr. Campbell. + +"So he was, father," replied Alfred; "but he left me. Now, mother, +please to give me my dinner." + +Alfred ate fast, and then rose from the table, and went away from the +house. The horse was all ready, and he mounted and rode off for the +fort, telling Malachi that his father and mother thought John was with +him; and that, therefore, he had better not go in to dinner, but keep +out of the way. + +"Yes, sir, that will be best, and then they can ask no questions. Be +quick, sir, for I am not at all easy about the boy." + +Their plans, however, to conceal the danger of John did not succeed; for +Mrs. Campbell, after the loss of poor little Percival, had become more +than ever solicitous about John, and, a minute or two after Alfred had +left the house, she rose from the table, and went to the door, to see if +she could perceive Malachi and John coming in. As it happened, Alfred +had just set off in a gallop, and she saw him, as well as Malachi +standing by himself and watching Alfred's departure. The very +circumstance of Alfred's mysterious departure alarmed her. He had never +said that he was going to the fort, and that John was not with Malachi +was certain. She went into the cottage, and, sinking back in her chair, +exclaimed--"Some accident has happened to John!" + +"Why should you say so, my dear?" said Mr. Campbell. + +"I'm sure of it," replied Mrs. Campbell, bursting into tears. "Alfred is +riding away to the fort. Malachi is standing by himself outside. What +can it be?" + +Mr. Campbell and all the others ran out immediately, except Mary +Percival, who went to Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Campbell beckoned to Emma, and +from her obtained the real state of the case. + +"It will be better to tell her at once," said Mr. Campbell, who then +went to his wife, telling her that John was adrift, and that Alfred had +ridden to the fort to pick him up in one of the _bateaux_, but there +was no danger to be apprehended. + +"Why should they conceal it, if there was no danger, Campbell?" replied +his wife. "Yes; there must be danger now the water is so rough. My +child, am I to lose you as well as my poor Percival!" continued Mrs. +Campbell, again sobbing. + +Every attempt was made to console her and assuage her fears, but with +indifferent success, and the afternoon of this day was passed in great +concern by all, and in an extreme state of nervous anxiety on the part +of Mrs. Campbell. Toward the evening, Alfred was seen returning on +horseback at full speed. The whole of the family were out watching his +arrival, with beating hearts; poor Mrs. Campbell in almost a fainting +state. Alfred perceived them long before he had crossed the prairie, and +waved his hat in token of good tidings. + +"All's well, depend upon it, my dear," said Mr. Campbell. "Alfred would +not wave his hat if there was any disaster." + +"I must have it from his own mouth," said Mrs. Campbell, almost +breathless. + +"Safe?" cried out Martin to Alfred, as he approached. + +"Safe, quite safe!" cried Alfred, in return. + +"Thank Heaven!" cried Mrs. Campbell, in a low voice, clasping her hands +in gratitude. + +Alfred leaped off his saddle, and hastened to communicate the news. +John, trusting too much to his own powers, had gone out in the punt, and +soon found out that he could not manage it in so strong a wind. He +attempted to get back to the beach, but was unsuccessful, and had, as we +have said, been carried away by the wind and current down toward the +rapids; but it so happened, that before Alfred had arrived at the fort, +Captain Sinclair had observed the punt adrift, and, by the aid of a +telescope, ascertained that John was in it, exerting himself very +vigorously, but to no purpose. Captain Sinclair, having reported to the +commandant and obtained permission, had launched one of the _bateaux_, +manned by the soldiers, and had brought John and the punt on shore, +about four miles below the fort, and not until they had arrived in the +strong current of the rapids, which in another hour would have, in all +probability, proved fatal. Alfred, from the fort, had seen Captain +Sinclair gain the shore, with John and the punt in tow, and, as soon as +he was satisfied of his brother's safety, had ridden back as fast as he +could, to communicate it. This intelligence gave them all great delight, +and now that they knew that John was safe, they waited his return with +patience. Captain Sinclair arrived, with John behind him, on horseback, +about two hours afterward, and was gladly welcomed. + +"Indeed, Captain Sinclair, we are under great obligations to you. Had +you not been so active, the boy might have been lost," said Mrs. +Campbell. "Accept my best thanks." + +"And mine," said Mary, extending her hand to him. + +"John, you have frightened me very much," said Mrs. Campbell; "how could +you be so imprudent as to go on the lake in such a high wind? See, what +a narrow escape you have had." + +"I should have been at Montreal to-morrow morning," said John, laughing. + +"No, never; you would have been upset in the rapids long before you +could get to Montreal." + +"Well, mother, I can swim," replied John. + +"You naughty boy, nothing will make you afraid." + +"Well, ma'am, it's a good fault, that of having confidence in yourself, +so don't check it too much," replied Malachi. "It saves many a man who +would otherwise be lost." + +"That's very true, Malachi," observed Alfred; "so, now that he is safe +back, we won't scold John any more. He will know better than to go out +in such rough weather again." + +"To be sure I shall," said John; "I don't _want_ to go down the rapids." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +Captain Sinclair remained with them that night. Before daylight, the +family were alarmed by the report of a gun, and it was immediately +supposed that some attack had been made on the lodge occupied by +Malachi, Martin, and his wife. Captain Sinclair, Alfred, and John sprang +out of bed, and were clothed in a minute. As soon as they had armed +themselves, they opened the door cautiously, and, looking well round, +went through the passage to the sheep-fold where the lodge was built. +Every thing, however, appeared to be quiet, and Alfred knocked at the +door. Malachi answered to the inquiry, "What is the matter?" + +"We heard the report of a gun close to the house just now, and we +thought something might have happened." + +"Oh!" cried Malachi, laughing, "is that all? Then you may all go to bed +again. It's my trap for the bear--nothing more. I forgot to tell you +last night." + +"Well, as we are up, we may as well go and see," said Alfred; "the day +is breaking." + +"Well, sir, I am ready," said Malachi, coming out with his deer-skin +jacket in one hand and his rifle in the other. + +They walked to the maize-field on the other side of the river, and found +that the trap had been successful, for a large bear lay dead at the foot +of the snake-fence. + +"Yes, sir, I've got him," said Malachi. + +"But what was the trap?" said Henry. + +"You see, sir, I tracked the brute over the rails by his broad +foot-mark, and as I knew he would come the same way, I fixed the rifle +with a wire to the trigger, so that, as he climbed up, he must touch the +wire with his fore-paws, and the muzzle, pointed a little downward, +would then about reach his heart when the gun went off. You see, sir, it +has happened just as I wished it, and there's another good skin for +Montreal." + +"It is a she-bear," said Martin, who had joined them, "and she has cubs; +they can't be far off." + +"That's true," replied Malachi; "so now you had better all go back +again. Martin and I will hide, and I'll answer for it, in an hour, we +will bring the cubs home with us." + +The rest of the party returned to the house. The Strawberry had already +made known to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell the cause of the report. About an +hour before breakfast, Malachi and Martin came in, each with a cub of a +few weeks old. The little animals had come in the track of the mother in +search of her, and were pawing the dead body, as if trying to awaken +her, when Malachi and Martin secured them. + +"What a charming pet," said Emma; "I will rear it for myself." + +"And I'll have the other," said John. + +No objection was raised to this, except that Mr. Campbell observed, that +if they became troublesome as they grew up, they must be parted with, +which was agreed to. Emma and John took possession of their pets, and +fed them with milk, and in a few days they became very tame; one being +chained up near the house, and the other at Malachi's lodge. They soon +grew very playful and very amusing little animals, and the dogs became +used to them, and never attempted to hurt them; indeed, very often Oscar +and the bear would be seen rolling about together, the best friends in +the world. But in a few months they became too large for pets, and too +troublesome, so one was dispatched by a _bateau_ going to Montreal, as a +present to Mr. Emmerson, and the other was taken to the fort by Captain +Sinclair, and became a great favorite of the soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Captain Sinclair was now very constantly at the house, for in the summer +time the commandant allowed much more liberty to the officers. Although +the detention of the Young Otter and the cause of his being detained, +had been made known to the Angry Snake, weeks passed away, and yet there +appeared no intention on the part of the chief to redeem his young +warrior by producing Percival. Every day an overture on his part was +expected, but none came, and those who were in the secret were in a +continual state of suspense and anxiety. One thing had been ascertained, +which was, that the Indian fired at by John had been killed, and this +occasioned much fear on the part of Malachi and Martin, that the Angry +Snake would revenge the death upon young Percival. This knowledge of the +Indian feeling, however, they kept to themselves. + +Toward the close of the summer they had an arrival of letters and +newspapers, both from England and Montreal. There was nothing peculiarly +interesting in the intelligence from England, although the newspapers +were, as usual, read with great avidity. One paragraph met the eye of +Henry, which he immediately communicated, observing at the time that +they always obtained news of Mr. Douglas Campbell on every fresh +arrival. The paragraph was as follows:--"The Oxley hounds had a splendid +run on Friday last;" after describing the country they passed through, +the paragraph ended with, "We regret to say that Mr. Douglas Campbell, +of Wexton Hall, received a heavy fall from his horse, in clearing a wide +brook. He is, however, we understand, doing well." The letters from +Montreal, were, however, important. They communicated the immediate +departure from that city of four families of emigrants, who had accepted +the terms offered by Mr. Emmerson, and were coming to settle upon Mr. +Campbell's property. They also stated that the purchase of the other six +hundred acres of contiguous land had been completed, and sent government +receipts for the purchase-money. + +The news contained in this letter induced Mr. Campbell to send a message +to the commandant of the fort, by Captain Sinclair, acquainting him with +the expected arrival of the emigrant families, and requesting to know +whether he would allow a party of soldiers to assist in raising the +cottages necessary for their reception, and begging the loan of two or +three tents to accommodate them upon their arrival, until their cottages +should be built. The reply of the commandant was favorable, and now all +was bustle and activity, that, if possible, the buildings might be in +forwardness previous to harvest time, when they would all have ample +occupation. Indeed, as the hay harvest was just coming on, without +assistance from the fort they never could have got through the work +previous to the winter setting in, and it would have been very +inconvenient to have had to receive any of the emigrants into their own +house. + +The sites of the four cottages, or log huts, were soon selected; they +were each of them nearly half a mile from Mr. Campbell's house, and +while some of the party, assisted by a portion of the soldiers, were +getting in the hay, the others, with another portion, were cutting down +the trees, and building up the cottages. In a fortnight after they had +commenced, the emigrants arrived, and were housed in the tents prepared +for them; and as their labor was now added to that of the others, in a +short time every thing was well in advance. The agreement made by Mr. +Campbell was, that the emigrants should each receive fifty acres of +land, after they had cleared for him a similar quantity; but there were +many other conditions, relative to food and supply of stock to the +emigrant families, which are not worth the while to dwell upon. It is +sufficient to say that Mr. Campbell, with his former purchases, retained +about 600 acres, which he considered quite sufficient for his farm, +which was all in a ring fence, and with the advantage of bordering on +the lake. The fire had cleared a great deal of the new land, so that it +required little trouble for his own people to get it into a fit state +for the first crop. + +While the emigrants and soldiers were hard at work, the Colonel paid a +visit to Mr. Campbell to settle his account with him, and handed over a +bill upon government for the planks, flour, etc., supplied to the fort. + +"I assure you, Mr. Campbell, I have great pleasure," said the Colonel, +"in giving you every assistance, and I render it the more readily as I +am authorized by the Governor so to do. Your arrival and settling here +has proved very advantageous; for your supplying the fort has saved the +government a great deal of money, at the same time that it has been +profitable to you, and enabled you to get rid of your crops without +sending them down so far as Montreal; which would have been as serious +an expense to you, as getting the provisions from Montreal has proved to +us. You may keep the fatigue party of soldiers upon the same terms as +before, as long as they may prove useful to you, provided they return +to the fort by the coming of winter." + +"Then I will, if you please, retain them for getting in the harvest; we +have so much to do that I shall be most happy to pay for their +assistance." + +I have said that there were four families of emigrants, and now I will +let my readers know a little more about them. + +The first family was a man and his wife of the name of Harvey; they had +two sons of fourteen and fifteen, and a daughter of eighteen years of +age. This man had been a small farmer, and by his industry was gaining +an honest livelihood, and putting by some money, when his eldest son, +who was at the time about twenty years old, fell into bad company, and +was always to be seen at the alehouses or at the fairs, losing his time +and losing his money. The father, whose ancestors had resided for many +generations on the same spot, and had always been, as long as they could +trace back, small farmers like himself, and who was proud of only one +thing, which was that his family had been noted for honesty and upright +dealing, did all he could to reclaim him, but in vain. At last the son +was guilty of a burglary, tried, convicted, and transported for life. +The disgrace had such an effect upon the father, that he never held up +his head afterward; he was ashamed to be seen in the parish, and at last +he resolved to emigrate to a new country where what had happened would +not be known. + +He accordingly sold off every thing, and came to Canada; but by the time +that he had arrived in the country, and paid all his expenses, he had +little money left, and when he heard from Mr. Emmerson the terms offered +by Mr. Campbell, he gladly accepted them. The wife, his two sons and his +daughter, who came with him, were as industrious and as respectable as +himself. + +The second family, of the name of Graves, consisted of a man and his +wife, and only one son, a young man grown up; but the wife's two sisters +were with them. He had come from Buckinghamshire, and had been +accustomed to a dairy farm. + +The third family was a very numerous one, with a man and his wife, of +the name of Jackson; these had been farmers and market-gardeners near +London; and had brought out some money with them: but, as I have +mentioned, they had a very large family, most of them too young to be +very useful for a few years. They had seven children: a girl of +eighteen, two boys of twelve and thirteen, then three little girls, and +a boy an infant. Jackson had money enough to purchase a farm, but being +a very prudent man, and reflecting that he might not succeed at first, +and that his large family would run away with all his means, he decided +upon accepting the terms proposed by Mr. Campbell. + +The fourth and last of the emigrant families was a young couple of the +name of Meredith. The husband was the son of a farmer in Shropshire, who +had died, and divided his property between his three sons: two of them +remained upon the farm and paid the youngest brother his proportion in +money, who, being of a speculative turn, resolved to come to Canada, and +try his fortune. He married just before he came out, and was not as yet +encumbered with any family; he was a fine young man, well educated, and +his wife a very clever, pretty young woman. + +Thus there was an addition of twenty-one souls to the population of Mr. +Campbell's settlement, which with their own ten made a total of +thirty-one people, out of whom they reckoned that thirteen were capable +of bearing arms, and defending them from any attack of the Indians. + +Before harvest time, the cottages were all built, and the emigrants were +busy felling round their new habitations, to lay up fire-wood for the +winter, and clearing away a spot for a garden, and for planting potatoes +in the following spring. The harvest being ripe again, gave them all +full employment; the corn was got in with great expedition by the united +labor of the soldiers and emigrants, when the former, having completed +their work, returned to the fort, and the Campbells, with the addition +to their colony, were now left alone. Visiting the emigrants in their +own cottages, and making acquaintance with the children, was now a great +source of amusement to the Miss Percivals. Various plans were started +relative to establishing a Sunday-school and many other useful +arrangements; one, however, took place immediately, which was, that +divine service was performed by Mr. Campbell in his own house, and was +attended by all the emigrants every Sunday. Mr. Campbell had every +reason to be pleased with their conduct up to the present time; they all +appeared willing, never murmured or complained at any task allotted to +them, and were satisfied with Mr. Campbell's arrangements relative to +supplies. Parties were now again formed for the chase; Meredith and +young Graves proved to be good woodsmen and capital shots with the +rifle, so that now they had enough to send out a party on alternate +days, while one or two of the others fished all the day and salted down +as fast as they caught, that there might be a full supply for the +winter. + +But although Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and the Miss Percivals, as well as +the major part of the family, were fully satisfied and happy in their +future prospects, there were four who were in a state of great anxiety +and suspense. These were Alfred, Malachi, Martin, and the Strawberry, +who, being acquainted with the existence of young Percival, found their +secret a source of great annoyance, now that, notwithstanding the +capture and detention of the Young Otter, no advance appeared to be made +for his exchange, nor any signs of any overture on the part of the Angry +Snake. Captain Sinclair, who was usually at the farm twice during the +week, was also much fretted at finding that every time Malachi and +Alfred had no more information to give him than he had to impart to +them. They hardly knew how to act; to let a second winter pass away +without attempting to recover the boy, appeared to them to be delaying +too long, and yet to communicate intelligence which might only end in +bitter disappointment, seemed unadvisable; for the Indian chief, out of +revenge, might have killed the boy, and then the grief of the father and +mother would be more intense than before. It would be opening a wound to +no purpose. This question was frequently canvassed by Alfred and Captain +Sinclair, but an end was put to all their debates on the subject by an +unexpected occurrence. Mary Percival had one morning gone down to a +place called the Cedar Swamp, about half a mile from the house to the +westward, near to the shore of the lake, to pick cranberries for +preserving. One of the little emigrant girls, Martha Jackson, was with +her; when one basket was full, Mary sent it home by the little girl, +with directions to come back immediately. The girl did so, but on her +return to the Cedar Swamp, Mary Percival was not to be seen. The basket +which she had retained with her was lying with all the cranberries upset +out of it on a hill by the side of the swamp. The little girl remained +for a quarter of an hour, calling out Miss Percival's name, but not +receiving any answer, she became frightened, imagining that some wild +beast had attacked her; and she ran back as fast as she could to the +house, acquainting Mr. and Mrs. Campbell with what had happened. Martin +and Alfred were at the mill; Malachi, fortunately, was at his own lodge, +and Strawberry ran for him, told him what the girl had reported, and +having done so, she looked at Malachi, and said "Angry Snake." + +"Yes, Strawberry, that is the case, I have no doubt," replied Malachi; +"but not a word at present; I knew he would be at something, but I did +not think that he dared do that either; however, we shall see. Go back +to the house, and tell master and misses that I have gone down to the +Cedar Swamp, and will return as soon as possible, and do you follow me +as fast as you can, for your eyes are younger than mine, and I shall +want the use of them: tell them not to send any body else, it will do +harm instead of good, for they will trample the ground, and we may lose +the track." + +Malachi caught up his rifle, examined the priming, and set off in the +direction of the swamp, while the Strawberry returned to the house to +give his message to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. Leaving Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, who were in a great state of alarm, and had sent the little +girl, Martha Jackson, to summon Alfred and Martin (for John and Henry +were out in the woods after the cattle), the Strawberry went down to the +Cedar Swamp to join Malachi, whom she found standing still, leaning on +his rifle, near the basket which had contained the cranberries. + +"Now, Strawberry, we must find out how many of them there were, and +which way they have gone," said Malachi, in the Indian tongue. + +"Here," said Strawberry, pointing to a mark on the short grass, which +never could have attracted the observation of one unused to an Indian +life. + +"I see, child; I see that and two more, but we can not tell much as yet; +let us follow up the trail till we come to some spot where we may read +the print better. That's her foot," continued Malachi, after they had +proceeded two or three yards. "The sole of a shoe cuts the grass sharper +than a moccasin. We have no easy task just now, and if the others come, +they may prevent us from finding the track altogether." + +"Here, again," said Strawberry, stooping close to the short, dry grass. + +"Yes; you're right, child," replied Malachi. "Let us once follow it to +the bottom of this hill, and then we shall do better." + +By the closest inspection and minutest search, Malachi and the +Strawberry continued to follow the almost imperceptible track till they +arrived at the bottom of the hill, about a hundred yards from where they +started. It had become more difficult, as the print of Mary's foot, +which was more easily perceptible than the others, had served them for a +few yards; after which it was no more to be distinguished, and it was +evident that she had been lifted up from the ground. This satisfied them +that she had been carried off. When they arrived at the bottom of the +hill, they could clearly distinguish the print marks of moccasins, and +by measuring very exactly the breadth and length of the impressions, +made out that they were of two different people. These they continued to +follow till they arrived at the forest, about a quarter of a mile from +the swamp, where they heard the hallooing of Alfred and Martin, to which +Malachi answered, and they soon joined him. + +"What is it, Malachi?" + +"She has been carried off, sir, I've no doubt," replied Malachi, "by +the Snake. The rascal is determined to have the vantage of us. We have +one prisoner, and he has made two." + +Malachi then explained why he was certain that she had been carried +away, and Martin agreed with him immediately. Alfred then said--"Well, +but now, before we act, let us consult what is best to be done." + +"Well, sir," replied Malachi, "the best to do now, at this moment, is +for the Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we can not +obtain more information, and when we have got all we can, we must form a +party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we +will not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a +better eye than any Indian I ever knew, be it man or woman." + +"Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are +following up the trail?" + +"Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a +start; for we must be off in three hours, if possible." + +"Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if +he does not," said Alfred. + +"Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd +rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be." + +"Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the +whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that +Percival is alive." + +"Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's quite +sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being carried +off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is about +the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by +somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter, +and why we took him." + +"Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred; "then I'll leave Martin +here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any +soldiers?" + +"Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a +couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the +Indian; and the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the +chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain Sinclair +and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make eight. +That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr. Henry must +stay, and so must Mr. John, because he will not be home before we are +away. I'm sorry for that, as I should have liked him to be with me." + +"It can't be helped," replied Alfred. "Well then, Martin and I will go +back at once; in two hours I will return with Captain Sinclair, if I +possibly can." + +"As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get every thing ready for +the journey, for we must not fire our rifles, if we can help it." + +Alfred hastened away, and was soon followed by Martin, to whom Malachi +had given some directions. Malachi and the Strawberry then continued to +follow the trail, which they traced through the thickest of the wood for +more than an hour, when they came upon a spot where a fire had been +lighted, and the ground trodden down, evidently showing that the parties +had been living there some time. + +"Here was the nest of the whole gang," resumed Malachi, as he looked +round. + +The Strawberry, who had been examining the ground, said-- + +"Here is her foot again." + +"Yes, yes; it's clear enough that two of them have carried her off and +brought her here to where the others were waiting for them, and from +here the whole party have made their start. Now we have the new trail to +find, and that they have taken every care to prevent us, I do not +doubt." + +The Strawberry now pointed to a mark near where the fire had been +lighted, and said, "The moccasin of a squaw." + +"Right, then she is with them, so much the better," replied Malachi, +"for, as she sent me that letter, she may serve us still, if she +chooses." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +Previous to his starting for the fort, Alfred had a hasty communication +with his father and mother, in which he informed them simply that it was +evident that Mary had been carried off, and that it was the opinion of +Malachi and Martin, that the Angry Snake was the party to be suspected. + +"But what cause could he have?" said Emma, weeping. + +"Merely to get powder and shot as a reward for bringing her back again," +replied Alfred; "so there is not any thing to fear as to her being +ill-treated; but if he has any other reason for what he has done, it is +well known that an Indian always respects a female. But here comes my +horse." + +"But what are you going to do, Alfred?" said Mrs. Campbell, who was in a +state of great agitation. + +"Ride to the fort for assistance, bring Captain Sinclair, and go in +pursuit as fast as we can, mother. Martin will get all ready by my +return, Malachi is following up the trail with Strawberry. But there is +no time to be lost; I shall soon be back." + +Alfred then sprang upon his horse, which Martin had brought to the door, +and galloped away to the fort. + +As it may be supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and Emma were in great +distress; this did not, however, prevent them from listening to Martin, +and supplying him with all that he requested, which was salt pork and +other food for their journey, powder and shot for their rifles, etc. +Having specified all that was wanted, Martin then went off to summon +young Graves and Meredith; they were soon found, and when they heard the +intelligence, were ready in a minute for departure. Their rifles and an +extra pair of moccasins each was all that they required for the journey, +and in a few minutes they accompanied Martin to the house. After they +had been occupied for a little time in dividing the various articles +into different packages, that each might carry his proportion, Mr. +Campbell said-- + +"Martin, supposing that you and Malachi are correct in your supposition, +where do you think that they will take my poor niece?" + +"Right away to their own wigwams, sir," replied Martin. + +"Have you any idea how far that may be?" said Mrs. Campbell. + +"Yes, ma'am, I have heard that the Angry Snake's quarters are about +twelve days' journey from this." + +"Twelve days' journey! how far is a journey?" + +"As far as a stout man can walk in a day, ma'am." + +"And will my niece have to walk all the way?" + +"Why, yes, ma'am; I don't see how it can be otherwise; I don't know of +the Indians having any horses, although they may have." + +"But she can not walk as far as a man," replied Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, ma'am, and so I suppose they will be twenty days going instead of +twelve." + +"Will they ill-treat or ill-use her, Martin?" said Emma. + +"No, ma'am, I shouldn't think they would, although they will make her +walk, and will tie her at night when they stop." + +"Poor Mary: what will she suffer?" exclaimed Emma; "and if you do come +up with them, Martin, will they give her up to you?" + +"We shan't ask their leave, miss," replied Martin; "we shall take her." + +"But not without bloodshed, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell. + +"No, ma'am, certainly not without bloodshed, for either the Indians must +destroy us or we them; if we conquer, not an Indian will be left alive; +and if they master us, it will be about the same thing, I suppose." + +"Heaven protect us, but this is dreadful; I was prepared for +difficulties and annoyances when I came out here," exclaimed Mrs. +Campbell; "but not for such trials as these." + +"Never fear but we'll bring her back, ma'am," said Martin; "Malachi is a +better Indian than them all, and he'll circumvent them." + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean, ma'am, that we will, if possible, fall upon them unawares, and +then we'll have the advantage, for half of them will be killed before +they know that they are attacked; we'll fight them Indian fashion, +ma'am." + +Mrs. Campbell continued her interrogations till Alfred was seen at the +end of the prairie returning at full speed, accompanied by Captain +Sinclair and two other men, also on horseback. + +"Here they come," said Martin; "and they have lost no time, that's +certain." + +"Poor Captain Sinclair? what must be his feelings! I pity him," said +Mrs. Campbell. + +"He must take it coolly, nevertheless," observed Martin; "or he may do +more harm than good." + +Alfred and Captain Sinclair now dismounted: they had brought with them +two of the soldiers who were well used to the woods, and excellent shots +with the rifle. A hurried conversation of a few minutes took place, but +time was too precious, and Alfred, embracing his father and mother, who, +as they shook hands with Captain Sinclair, expressed in a melancholy way +their hopes for their success, the party of seven which had been +collected set off to rejoin Malachi and the Strawberry. + +Malachi and Strawberry had not been idle; the latter had run back to +their lodge and procured a bow and arrows, and since that they had +tracked the footmarks through the forest for more than a mile, when they +had come to a small rivulet which ran through the forest. Here the trail +was lost, at least it was not to be perceived any where on the opposite +side of the rivulet, and it was to be presumed that, to conceal their +trail, the Indians had walked in the water, either up or down, for a +certain distance before they put their feet on the other side; but as it +was near the time that they might expect the arrival of Alfred and the +others, Malachi had returned to the spot where Alfred and Martin had +left them, leaving the Strawberry to walk down and up the side of the +rivulet to recover the trail. As soon as the party joined him, they and +Malachi set off to where the trail had been lost, and the latter had +left the Strawberry. + +There they waited some time, as the Strawberry was not in sight, and +they took this opportunity of distributing the provisions and ammunition +among them. Captain Sinclair, although his feelings may well be +imagined, was very active in arrangements, and showed that, if his heart +was smitten, his head was clear. The order of the march was settled by +Malachi and him, and as soon as all was arranged, they waited +impatiently for the return of the Indian girl; she came at last, and +informed them that she had recovered the trail about three miles up the +course of the stream, and they all started immediately. As was agreed, +they kept perfect silence, and followed the newly-discovered trail for +about a mile, when, on their arrival at a clear spot in the woods, where +the grass was very short and dry, they were again at fault. They went +over to the other side of this heath, to see if they could again fall in +with it, but after half-an-hour's search, could not discover it, when +they were summoned by a low whistle from the Strawberry, who had +returned to the spot where the trail had been lost. + +"They have turned back again," said the Strawberry, pointing to the +former footmarks; "see, the track of the moccasins is both ways." + +"That's true," said Malachi, after a close examination; "now then, +Strawberry, to find out where they have left the old trail again. I told +you, sir," continued Malachi to Alfred, "that the Strawberry would be +useful; she has the eye of a falcon." + +It was not till another half-hour had elapsed that the spot where they +had left the trail, which, to deceive those who might pursue them, the +Indians had returned upon, was discovered, and then they started again, +and proceeded with caution, led by the Strawberry, until she stopped and +spoke to Malachi in the Indian tongue, pointing at a small twig broken +upon one of the bushes. + +"That's true, let us see if it happens again." + +In a few moments the Strawberry pointed out another. + +"Then all's right," said Malachi, "I said that she could help us again +if she chose, and so she has. The Indian woman who wrote the letter," +continued Malachi, turning to Captain Sinclair and Alfred, "is our +friend still. See, sir, she has, wherever she has dared to do it without +being seen by the Indians, broken down a small twig as a guide to us. +Now, if she has continued to do this, we shall not have much trouble." + +They continued their course through the woods until the sun went down, +and they could see no longer, having made a journey of about nine miles +from the settlement. They then lay down for the night under a large +tree; the weather was very warm, and they did not light a fire, as they +had some cooked provisions. + +The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, they made a hasty meal, +and resumed their task. The trail was now pretty clear, and was +occasionally verified by the breaking of a twig, as before. This day +they made sixteen miles' journey, and at the close of it they arrived at +the borders of a lake about ten miles long, and from one-and-a-half to +two wide; the trail went right on to the shore of the lake, and then +disappeared. + +"Here they must have taken to the water," said Alfred; "but what means +have they had to cross?" + +"That we must discover, somehow or another, sir," replied Malachi, "or +else we shall not find the trail again; perhaps, however, we shall see +to-morrow morning; it is too dark now to attempt to find out, and we may +do more harm than good by tracking down the bank. We must bring to for +the night. There is a high rock there on the beach further up, we had +better go there, as we can light a fire behind the rock without being +discovered by it, supposing the Indians are on the opposite shore; and +to-night we must cook all our provisions if we possibly can, for, depend +upon it, we have traveled faster to-day than they can have done with the +young lady, and if we can once get well on the trail again, we shall +soon be up with them." + +"God grant that we may!" exclaimed Captain Sinclair; "the idea of what +poor Mary must suffer, almost drives me mad." + +"Yes, sir, she will be terribly foot-sore, I have no doubt," replied +Malachi, "but the Indians will not treat her ill, depend upon it." + +Captain Sinclair sighed, but made no reply. + +As soon as they arrived at the mass of rock which Malachi had pointed +out, they all commenced collecting fire-wood, and the Strawberry in a +few minutes had a sufficient fire for their purpose. They had not any +cooking utensils with them, but the pork was cut in slices, and stuck +upon the ends of small sticks round the fire, until it was sufficiently +cooked, and then it was packed up again in parcels, with the exception +of what was retained for their supper. They had finished their meal, and +were sitting round the embers of the fire, conversing, and calculating +the probabilities as to their overtaking the Indians, when Martin sprang +up, with his rifle ready to bring to his shoulder. + +"What is it?" said Alfred in a low tone, as Martin held up his finger as +a sign for silence. + +"There's somebody coming this way--he is behind that large tree," said +Martin; "I see his head now, but it is too dark to make out who it may +be." + +As Martin said this, a low and singular sort of whistle between the +teeth was heard, upon which the Strawberry gently put down Martin's +rifle with her hand, saying, + +"It is John." + +"John! impossible," said Alfred. + +"It is," replied Strawberry. "I know well that whistle. I go to fetch +him. I have no fear." + +Strawberry stepped out from the group, and went up to the tree, calling +John softly by name, and in a few seconds afterward returned, leading +John by the hand, who, without saying a word, quietly seated himself +down by the fire. + +"Well, John, how did you come here?" exclaimed Alfred. + +"Followed trail," replied John. + +"But how--when did you leave home?" + +"Yesterday," replied John, "when I came back." + +"But do your father and mother know that you come?" said Captain +Sinclair. + +"I met old Graves, and told him," replied John. "Have you any meat?" + +"The boy has had nothing since he left, I'll answer for it," said +Martin, as the Strawberry handed some of the pork to John, "have you, +John?" + +"No," replied John, with his mouth full. + +"Let him eat," said Malachi, "it's long for a lad to be two days without +food, for I'll answer he left as soon as he heard we were gone, and did +not wait for yesterday's supper. Indeed he must have done so, for he +must have followed the trail some time yesterday to be up with us +to-night, so let him eat in quiet." + +"What surprises me, Malachi, is how he could have found his way to us." + +"Well, sir, I do confess that I'm as much surprised almost as I am +pleased," replied Malachi. "It is really a great feat for a lad to +accomplish all by himself, and I am proud of him for having done it; but +from the first I saw what a capital woodsman he would make, and he has +not disappointed me." + +"There are not many who would have been able to do it, that's certain," +said Martin; "I wonder as much as you do, Mr. Alfred, how he could have +done it--but he has the gift." + +"But suppose he had not come up with us, how would he have lived in +these woods? It's a mercy that he has fallen in with us," said Captain +Sinclair. + +John slapped the barrel of his rifle, which was lying by him, and which +Captain Sinclair had not perceived. + +"You don't think that John would come into the woods without his rifle, +sir, do you?" said Malachi. + +"I did not perceive that he had it with him," said Captain Sinclair, +"but I certainly ought to have known John better." + +John having finished his supper, they all lay down to rest, one keeping +watch that they might not be surprised. + +At daylight they made their breakfast, and then went down again to the +borders of the lake, where the trail had been lost. After a long +examination, Malachi called the Strawberry, and pointing to the edge of +the water, asked her to look there. The Strawberry did so, and at last +decided that there was the mark of the bottom of a canoe which had been +grounded. + +"Yes, I thought so," said Malachi. "They have had their canoe all ready, +and have crossed the water; now, we must walk quite round the lake to +discover the trail again, and that will give them half a day's start of +us." + +They immediately set off coasting the shore of the lake, until they +arrived at the other side, carefully examining the ground as they went. +This took them till noon, by which time they had arrived at that part of +the lake which was opposite to the large rock behind which they had +kindled their fire the night before; but no traces were to be perceived. + +"They have not crossed over in a straight line," said Captain Sinclair, +"that is evident; we must now try more to the northward." + +This they did; and at last discovered that the canoe had crossed over to +the north point of the lake, having coasted along the eastern shore the +whole way. The spot of landing was very evident, and for some distance +they could trace where the canoe had been hauled up. It was now late in +the afternoon, and it became a question whether they should follow the +trail, or discover the place of concealment of the canoe, as it might be +advantageous to know where it was when they returned. It was decided +that they should first discover the canoe, and this was not done till +after a search of two hours, when they found it concealed in the bushes, +about one mile from the lake. They then followed the trail about two +miles; the twigs had been bent and broken, as before, which was a great +help to them, but the night was now closing in. Having arrived at a +clear knoll, they took up their quarters under the trees, and retired to +rest. At daybreak they again started; and, after two hours' walk, had to +track across a small prairie, which gave them some trouble, but they +succeeded in finding the trail on their arrival at the wood on the +opposite side, and then they made a very rapid progress, for the twigs +were now more frequently broken and bent than before. During this day, +with the bow and arrows brought by the Strawberry, Martin had procured +them two wild turkeys, which were very acceptable, as their provisions +would not last more than seven or eight days longer, and it was +impossible to say how far they would have to travel. It was not far from +dark when the quick ears of the Strawberry were attracted by a noise +like that of a person breathing heavily. She at last pointed with her +finger to a bush; they advanced cautiously, and on the other side of it +they found an Indian woman lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. They +raised her up, and discovered that it was the Indian whom they had cured +of the sprained ankle, and who, they presumed, had been then discovered +breaking the twigs that they might follow the trail, for, on examination +they found that she had received a heavy blow on the head with a +tomahawk; but, fortunately, it had glanced sidewise, and not entered +into the brain. She was not sensible, however, at the time that they +discovered her, for she had lost a great deal of blood. They stopped the +effusion of blood with bandages torn from their linen, and poured some +water down her throat; it was now dark, and it was not possible to +proceed any further that night. The Strawberry went into the woods and +collected some herbs, with which she dressed the wound, and having made +the poor Indian as comfortable as they could, they again lay down to +rest; but not until Malachi had said to Alfred-- + +"There is no doubt, sir, but that the Indians have discovered this woman +was marking the trail for us, and that they have tomahawked her for so +doing, and have left her for dead. I think myself that the wound, +although it is a very ugly one, is not dangerous, and so says the +Strawberry. However, to-morrow will decide the point; if she is not +sensible then, it will be of no use waiting, but we must go on as fast +as we can." + +When they awoke the next morning they found the Strawberry sitting by +the Indian woman, who was now quite sensible and collected, although +very weak and exhausted. Malachi and Martin went to her, and had a long +conversation with her at intervals. Malachi had been right in his +supposition; the Angry Snake had discovered her in the act of bending a +twig, and had struck her down with his tomahawk. They gained from her +the following information. The Angry Snake, irritated at the detention +of the Young Otter, and resolved to have another hostage in lieu of him, +had carried off Mary Percival. He had six Indians with him, which were +the whole of his grown-up warriors. They were now but one day's journey +ahead of them, as Miss Percival was very sore on her feet, and they +could not get her along, but that in every other respect she had been +well treated. That the Indians were not going to their lodges in a +direct course, but by a circuitous route, which would make a difference +of at least six or seven days; and that they did this that they might +not be seen by some other tribes who were located in their direct route, +and who might give information. She said that it was she who had written +the Indian letter which Malachi had received the autumn before, and that +she had done it because she had been so kindly treated by Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, when she had been found in the forest with her ankle sprained. +That Percival was at the Indian lodges, quite well when they left, and +that if the Angry Snake did not receive a large quantity of powder and +shot and a great many rifles in exchange for him, it was his intention +to adopt the boy, as he was very partial to him. On being asked if the +boy was happy, she replied that he was not at first, but now he was +almost an Indian; that he was seldom permitted to leave the lodges, and +never unless accompanied by the Angry Snake. In answer to their +questions as to the direction and distance to the lodges, she said that +they were about seven days' journey by the straight road; but that the +party with Miss Percival would not arrive there in less than fifteen +days, if so soon, as she was every day less able to travel. Having +obtained all this information, a council was held, and Malachi spoke +first, having been requested so to do. + +"My opinion is this," said Malachi, "that we can do no better than +remain here at present, and wait till the woman is sufficiently +recovered to travel, and show us the direct road to the lodges. In two +or three days she will probably be well enough to go with us, and then +we will take the direct road, and be there before them. The knowledge +of the place and the paths will enable us to lay an ambush for them, and +to rescue the young lady without much danger to ourselves. They will +have no idea of falling in with us, for they of course imagine the woman +is dead; a tomahawk seldom fails." + +After a long parley, the advice of Malachi was considered the most +judicious, and a further conversation with the Indian woman confirmed +them in their resolution. As they had no fear of the Indians discovering +that they were on their trail, Martin and Alfred went out in pursuit of +game for provisions, while the others raised up a large hut with +branches of trees, for the accommodation of the whole party. In the +evening Martin and Alfred returned, carrying a fine buck between them. +The fire was lighted, and very soon all were busy cooking and eating. +The Indian woman also begged for something to eat, and her recovery was +now no longer considered doubtful. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to have to wait in this +manner, but there was no help for it. He was satisfied that it was the +most prudent course, and therefore raised no objection. Alfred too was +uneasy at the delay, as he was aware how anxious his father and mother +would be during the whole time of their absence. They were glad, +however, to find that the Indian woman recovered rapidly, and on the +fifth day of their taking up their abode in the forest, she said that +she was able to travel if they walked slow. It was therefore agreed that +on the sixth day they should start again, and they did so, having saved +their salt provisions, that they might not be compelled to stop, or use +their rifles to procure food. The evening before, they roasted as much +venison as they thought they could consume while it was good, and at +daylight again proceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by the +Indian woman, in a direct course for the lodges of the Indian band under +the Angry Snake. + +As they had now only to proceed as fast as they could without tiring +the poor Indian woman, whose head was bound up, and who was still weak +from loss of blood, they made a tolerable day's journey, and halted as +before. Thus they continued their route till the sixth day, when as they +drew up for the night, the Indian stated that they were only three or +four miles from the Indians' lodges, which they sought. Thereupon a +council was held as to how they should proceed, and at last it was +agreed upon that they should be guided by the Indian woman to a spot +where they might be concealed, as near as possible to the lodges, and +that when the party had arrived there, that the woman and Malachi should +go and reconnoiter, to ascertain whether the chief and his band with +Mary Percival had returned or not. The night was passed very +impatiently, and without sleep by most of them, so anxious were they for +the morrow. Long before break of day they again started, advancing with +great caution, and were led by the Indian till they were within one +hundred and fifty yards of the lodges, in a thick cluster of young +spruce, which completely secured them from discovery. Shortly afterward +Malachi and the Indian woman, creeping on all fours, disappeared in the +surrounding brush wood, that they might, if possible, gain more +intelligence from listening. In the meantime, the party had their eyes +on the lodges, waiting to see who should come out as soon as the sun +rose, for it was hardly clear daybreak when they arrived at their place +of concealment. + +They had remained there about half an hour, when they perceived an +Indian lad come out of one of the lodges. He was dressed in leggins and +Indian shirt of deer skin, and carried in his hand his bow and arrows. +An eagle's feather was stuck in his hair above the left ear, which +marked him as the son of a chief. + +"That's my brother Percival," said John in a low tone. + +"Percival!" replied Alfred, "is it possible?" + +"Yes," whispered the Strawberry, "it is Percival, but don't speak so +loud." + +"Well, they have turned him into a regular Indian," said Alfred; "we +shall have to make a pale face of him again." + +Percival, for he it was, looked round for some time, and at last +perceiving a crow flying over his head, he drew his bow, and the arrow +brought the bird down at his feet. + +"A capital shot," said Captain Sinclair, "the boy has learned something +at all events. You could not do that, John." + +"No," replied John, "but they don't trust him with a rifle." + +They waited some little time longer, when an Indian woman, and then an +old man, came out, and in about a quarter of an hour afterward, three +more women and an Indian about twenty years old. + +"I think we have the whole force now," said Martin. + +"Yes, I think so too," replied Captain Sinclair. "I wish Malachi would +come back, for I do not think he will find out more than we know +ourselves." + +In about half an hour afterward, Malachi and the Indian woman returned; +they had crept in the brushwood to within fifty yards of the lodges, but +were afraid to go nearer, as the woman said that perhaps the dogs might +give the alarm; for two of them were left at home. The woman stated her +conviction that the party had not come back, and now a council was again +held as to their proceedings. The Indian force was nothing--an old man, +one lad of twenty, and four women. These might be easily captured and +secured, but the question was whether it would be desirable so to do, as +in case one should by any means escape, information of their arrival +might be conveyed to the absent party, and induce them not to come home +with Mary Percival. This question was debated in a low tone between +Malachi, Captain Sinclair, and Alfred. At last John interrupted them by +saying, "They are going out to hunt, the old and the young Indian and +Percival--they have all their bows and arrows." + +"The boy is right," said Malachi. "Well, I consider this to decide the +question. We can now capture the men without the women knowing any thing +about it. They will not expect them home till the evening, and even if +they do not come, they will not be surprised or alarmed; so now we had +better let them go some way, and then follow them. If we secure them, +we can then decide what to do about the women." + +This was agreed upon, and Malachi explained their intentions to the +Indian woman, who approved of them, but said, "The Old Raven (referring +to the old Indian) is very cunning; you must be careful." + +The party remained in their place of concealment for another quarter of +an hour, till the two Indians and Percival had quitted the open space +before the lodges, and had entered the woods. They then followed in a +parallel direction, Malachi and John going ahead: Martin and Alfred +following so as to keep them in sight, and the remainder of the party at +about the same distance behind Martin and Alfred. They continued in this +manner their course through the woods for more than an hour, when a herd +of deer darted past Malachi and John. They immediately stopped, and +crouched, to hide themselves. Martin and Alfred perceiving this, +followed their example, and the rest of the party behind, at the motion +of the Strawberry, did the same. Hardly had they done so, when one of +the herd, which had been pierced by an arrow, followed in the direction +of the rest, and after a few bounds fell to the earth. A minute or two +afterward the hunters made their appearance, and stood by the expiring +beast, where they remained for a minute or two talking, and then took +out their knives to flay and cut it up. While they were thus employed, +Malachi and John on one side, Alfred and Martin from another direction, +and the rest of the party from a third, were creeping slowly up toward +them; but to surround them completely it was necessary the main party +should divide, and send one or two more to the eastward. Captain +Sinclair dispatched Graves and one of the soldiers, desiring them to +creep very softly till they arrived at a spot he pointed out, and then +to wait for the signal to be given. + +As the parties gradually approached nearer and nearer to the Indians and +Percival, the Old Raven appeared to be uneasy; he looked round and round +him and once or twice laid his ear on the ground; whenever he did this, +they all stopped, and almost held their breaths. + +"The Indian woman says that the Old Raven is suspicious; he is sure +that some one is in the woods near him, and she thinks that she had +better go to him," said the Strawberry to Captain Sinclair. + +"Let her go," said Captain Sinclair. + +The Indian rose, and walked up in the direction of the Indians, who +immediately turned to her as she approached. She spoke to them, and +appeared to be telling them how it was that she returned. At all events, +she occupied the attention of the Old Raven till the parties were close +to them, when Malachi arose, and immediately all the others did the +same, and rushed upon them. After a short and useless struggle, they +were secured, but not before the younger Indian had wounded one of the +soldiers, by stabbing him with his knife. The thongs were already fast +round the arms and legs of the Indians, when Percival, who had not been +tied, again attempted to escape, and by the direction of Malachi, he was +bound, as well as the other two. + +As soon as the prisoners were secured, Martin and Graves and the +soldiers employed themselves cutting up the venison and preparing it for +dinner, while the Strawberry and the Indian woman were collecting wood +for a fire. In the meanwhile Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and John were +seated by the prisoners, and directing their attention to Percival, whom +they had been compelled to bind, that he might not make his escape; for +his sojourn of nearly two years in the woods with the Indians, without +seeing the face of a white man, had (as has been invariably proved to be +the fact in every instance where the parties were very young) wholly +obliterated, for the time, his recollections of his former life--so +rapid is our falling off to the savage state. To the questions of Alfred +he returned no reply, and appeared not to understand him. + +"Let me try him, sir," said Malachi, "I will speak to him in the Indian +tongue, he has perhaps forgotten his own. It's wonderful how soon we +return to a state of nature when we are once in the woods." + +Malachi then spoke to Percival in the Indian language; Percival listened +for some time, and at last replied in the same tongue. + +"What does he say, Malachi?" said Alfred. + +"He says he will sing his own death song; that he is the son of a +warrior, and he will die like a brave." + +"Why, the boy is metamorphosed," said Captain Sinclair; "is it possible +that so short a time could have produced this?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Malachi; "in young people a very short time will +change them thus, but it won't last long. If he were to meet again with +his mother at the settlement, he would by degrees forget his Indian life +and become reconciled; a woman has more effect than a man. Let the +Strawberry speak to him. You see, sir, he is bound, and considers +himself a captive, and let him loose we must not, until we have done our +work; after that, there will be no fear, and when he has been with us a +short time, he will come all right again." + +Malachi called the Strawberry, and told her to speak to Percival about +his home and his mother, and every thing connected with the farm. + +The Strawberry sat down by Percival, and in her soft tones talked to him +in her own tongue of his father and mother, of his cousins, and how he +had been taken by the Indians when he was hunting; how his mother had +wept for him, and all had lamented his loss; running on in a low musical +key from one thing to another connected and associated with his former +life in the settlement, and it was evident that at last he now listened +with attention. The Strawberry continued to talk to him thus, for more +than an hour, when Alfred again addressed him and said, "Percival, don't +you know me?" + +"Yes," replied Percival in English, "I do; you are my brother Alfred." + +"All's right now, sir," said Malachi; "only he must be kept fast; but +the lad's coming to his senses again. The Strawberry will talk to him +again by and by." + +They then sat down to their meal; the two Indians were removed to a +distance under the guard of one of the soldiers, but Percival remained +with them. John sat by Percival, and cutting off a tempting bit of +venison, held it to his mouth, saying to him, "Percival, when we go home +again, your hands shall be untied, and you shall have a rifle of your +own instead of a bow and arrows; come, eat this." + +This was a long speech for John, but it produced its effect, for +Percival opened his mouth for the venison, and being fed by John, made a +very good dinner. As soon as their meal was over, they consulted as to +what steps should next be taken. The question discussed was whether they +should now capture the women who were left in the lodges, or remain +quiet till the Angry Snake and his party arrived? + +Malachi's opinion was as follows:-- + +"I think we had at all events better wait till to-morrow, sir; you see, +the women will not be at all surprised at the hunting party not +returning for even a day or two, as they know that they will not return +without game, and may not find it immediately; their absence, therefore, +will create no suspicion of our being here. I think we should return to +our former place of concealment, and watch their motions. There is no +saying when the party with Miss Percival may return, they may have +arrived while we have been away, or they may come to-morrow. It will be +better, therefore, not to encumber ourselves with more prisoners unless +it is necessary." + +This opinion was at last assented to, and they set off, on their return +to the Indian lodges. They arrived about an hour before dusk at their +hiding-place, having taken the precaution to gag the two Indians for +fear of their giving a whoop as notice of their capture. Percival was +very quiet, and had begun to talk a little with John. + +Scarcely had they been five minutes again concealed among the spruce fir +trees, when they heard a distant whoop from the woods on the other side +of the lodges. + +"They are now coming on," said Martin; "that is their signal." + +One of the Indian women from the lodges returned the whoop. + +"Yes, sir, they are coming," said Malachi. "Pray, Captain Sinclair, be +quiet and sit down; you will ruin all our plans." + +"Down, Sinclair, I beg," said Alfred. + +Captain Sinclair, who was very much excited, nevertheless did as he was +requested. + +"Oh, Alfred!" said he; "she's so near." + +"Yes, my good fellow, but if you wish her nearer, you must be prudent." + +"True, very true," replied Captain Sinclair. + +In about half an hour more, the Angry Snake and his party were seen to +emerge from the woods, and it was perceived that four of the Indians +carried a litter made of branches between them. + +"She could walk no further, sir," said Malachi to Captain Sinclair; "so +they are carrying her; I told you that they would not hurt her." + +"Let me once see her get out of the litter, and I shall be satisfied," +replied Captain Sinclair. + +The Indians soon were over the clearing, and stopped at one of the +lodges; Mary Percival was lifted out, and was seen to walk with +difficulty into the wigwam, followed by two of the Indian women. + +A short parley took place between the Angry Snake and the other two +women, and the chief and rest of the party then went into another lodge. + +"All's right so far, sir," observed Malachi; "they have left her to the +charge of the two women in a lodge by herself, and so there will be no +fear for her when we make the attack, which I think we must do very +shortly, for if it is quite dark, some of them may escape, and may +trouble us afterward." + +"Let us do it immediately," said Captain Sinclair. + +"No, not immediately, sir; we have yet an hour and a half daylight. We +will wait one hour, for I think that as they have nothing to eat, and +are pretty well tired from carrying Miss Percival, they will, in all +probability, go to sleep, as Indians always do. An hour hence will be +the best time for us to fall upon them." + +"You are right, Malachi," replied Alfred. "Sinclair, you must curb your +impatience." + +"I must, I believe," replied Captain Sinclair; "but it will be a tedious +hour for me. Let us pass it away in making our arrangements; we have but +six to deal with." + +"And only two rifles," replied Alfred; "so we are pretty sure of +success." + +"We must watch first," said Martin, "to see if they all continue in the +same lodge, for if they divide, we must arrange accordingly. Who will +remain with the prisoners?" + +"I won't," said John, in a positive manner. + +"You must, John, if it be decided that you do," said Alfred. + +"Better not, sir," replied Malachi; "for as soon as the boy hears the +crack of the rifles, he will leave his prisoners, and join us; that I'm +sure of. No, sir, the Strawberry can be left with the prisoners. I'll +give her my hunting-knife; that will be sufficient." + +They remained for about half an hour more watching the lodges, but every +thing appeared quiet, and not a single person came out. Having examined +the priming of the rifles, every man was directed to take up a certain +position, so as to surround the buildings and support each other. John +was appointed to the office of looking after his cousin Mary, and +preventing the women from escaping with her from the lodge in which she +was confined; and John took his office willingly, as he considered it +one of importance, although it had been given him more with a view that +he might not be exposed to danger. Leaving the prisoners to the charge +of the Strawberry, who, with her knife drawn, stood over them, ready to +act upon the slightest attempt of escape on their part, the whole party +now crept softly toward the lodges, by the same path as had been taken +by Malachi and the Indian woman. As soon as they had all arrived, they +waited for a few minutes, while Malachi reconnoitered, and when they +perceived that he did so, they all rose up and hastened to their +allotted stations round the lodge into which the Angry Snake and his +followers had entered. The Indians appeared to be asleep, for every +thing remained quiet. + +"Let us first lead Miss Percival away to a place of safety," whispered +Captain Sinclair. + +"Do you do it, then," said Alfred; "there are plenty of us without you." + +Captain Sinclair hastened to the lodge in which Miss Percival had been +placed, and opened the door. Mary Percival, as soon as she beheld +Captain Sinclair, uttered a loud scream of delight, and, rising from +the skins on which she had been laid, fell upon his neck. Captain +Sinclair caught her in his arms, and was bearing her out of the lodge, +when an Indian woman caught him by the coat; but John, who had entered, +putting the muzzle of his rifle into their faces, they let go and +retreated, and Captain Sinclair bore away Mary in his arms into the +brushwood, where the Strawberry was standing over the Indian prisoners. +The scream of Mary Percival had roused the Indians, who, after their +exhaustion and privations, were in a sound sleep; but still no movement +was to be heard in the lodge, and a debate, between Malachi and Alfred, +whether they should enter the lodge or not, was put an end to by a rifle +being fired from the lodge, and the fall of one of the soldiers, who was +next to Alfred. Another shot followed, and Martin received a bullet in +his shoulder, and then out bounded the Angry Snake, followed by his +band, the chief whirling his tomahawk, and springing upon Malachi, while +the others attacked Alfred and Martin, who were nearest to the door of +the lodge. The rifle of Malachi met the breast of the Angry Snake as he +advanced, and the contents were discharged through his body. The other +Indians fought desperately, but the whole of the attacking party closing +in, they were overpowered. Only two of them, however, were taken alive, +and these were seriously wounded. They were tied and laid on the ground. + +"He was a bad man, sir," said Malachi, who was standing over the body of +the Indian chief; "but he will do no more mischief." + +"Are you much hurt, Martin?" inquired Alfred. + +"No, sir, not much; the ball has passed right through and touched no +bone; so I am in luck. I'll go to the Strawberry, and get her to bind it +up." + +"He is quite dead, sir," said Graves, who was kneeling by the side of +the soldier who had been shot by the first rifle. + +"Poor fellow!" exclaimed Alfred. "Well, I'm not sorry that they +commenced the attack upon us; for I do not know whether I could have +used my rifle unless they had done so." + +"They never expected quarter, sir," said Malachi. + +"I suppose not. Now, what are we to do with the women? They can do no +harm." + +"Not much, sir; but, at all events, we must put it out of their power. +We must take possession of all the weapons we can find in the lodges. We +have their two rifles; but we must collect all the bows and arrows, +tomahawks, and knives, and either destroy or keep possession of them. +John, will you look to that? Take Graves with you." + +"Yes," replied John, who with Graves, immediately commenced his search +of the lodges. + +The two women, who had been in the lodge with Mary Percival, had +remained where they were, as John's rifle had kept them from leaving the +lodge; but the other two had escaped into the woods during the affray. +This was of little consequence; indeed, the others were told that they +might go away, if they would; and as soon as they heard this from +Malachi, they followed the example of their companions. John and Graves +brought out all the arms they could find, and Malachi and Alfred then +went to the bushes to which Mary Percival and Sinclair had previously +retired. Alfred embraced his cousin, who was still too greatly agitated +to say much, being almost overpowered by the sudden transition in all +her thoughts and feelings:--and, in the variety of her emotions, perhaps +the most bewildering was that occasioned by the re-appearance of +Percival,--like a restoration from the dead. Alfred was in consultation +with Malachi, when he perceived the flames bursting out of the lodges. +Martin, as soon as his wound was dressed, had returned and set fire to +them. + +"It's all right, sir," said Malachi; "it will leave the proof of our +victory, and be a caution to other Indians." + +"But what will become of the women?" + +"They will join some other band, sir, and tell the story. It is better +that they should." + +"And our prisoners, what shall we do with them?" + +"Release them; by and by, sir, we shall have nothing to fear from them; +but we will first take them two or three days' march into the woods, in +case they have alliance with any other band whom they might call to +their assistance." + +"And the wounded Indians?" + +"Must be left to Providence, sir. We can not take them. We will leave +them provisions and water. The women will come back and find them; if +they are alive, they will look after them; if dead, bury them. But here +comes John, with some bears' skins which he has saved for Miss Mary; +that was thoughtful of the boy. As soon as the flames are down, we will +take up our quarters in the clearing, and set a watch for the night; and +to-morrow, with the help of God, we will commence our journey back. We +shall bring joy to your father and mother, and the sooner we do it the +better; for they must be any thing but comfortable at our long absence." + +"Yes," said Mary Percival; "what a state of suspense they must be in! +Truly, as the Bible saith, 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +Not one of the party slept much on this night. There was much to do, and +much to be looked after. Captain Sinclair, as it may be supposed, was +fully occupied with Mary Percival, of whom more anon. As soon as they +had taken up their position in the clearing, and made arrangements for +the accommodation of Mary, they relieved the Strawberry from her charge +of the prisoners, whom they brought to the clearing, and made to sit +down close to them. Percival, who had not yet been freed from his bonds, +was now untied, and suffered to walk about, one of the men keeping close +to him, and watching him carefully. The first object which caught his +eye, was the body of the Angry Snake. Percival looked on it for some +time, and then sat down by the side of it. There he remained for more +than two hours, without speaking, when a hole having been dug out by one +of the party, the body was put in and covered up. Percival remained a +few minutes by the side of the grave, and then turned to the two +wounded Indians. He brought them water, and spoke to them in the Indian +tongue; but while he was still with them, Mary sent for him to speak +with him, for as yet she had scarcely seen him. The sight of Mary +appeared to have a powerful effect upon the boy; he listened to her as +she soothed and caressed him, and appearing to be overcome with a +variety of sensations, he lay down, moaned, and at last fell fast +asleep. + +The soldier who had been shot by the Angry Snake was buried before they +buried the chief. Martin's wound had been dressed by his wife, the +Strawberry, who was very skillful in Indian surgery. She had previously +applied cataplasms made from the bruised leaves which she and the Indian +woman had sought for, to the feet of Mary Percival, which were in a +state of great inflammation, and Mary had found herself already much +relieved by the application. Before the day dawned, the two Indians who +had been wounded, were dead, and were immediately buried by the side of +the chief. + +Alfred and Malachi had resolved to set off the next morning, on their +return home, if they found it possible to convey Mary Percival; but +their party was now reduced, as one of the soldiers had been killed, and +Martin was incapable of service. The Indian woman would also be fully +loaded with the extra rifles, the two which they had captured from the +Indians, the one belonging to the soldier, and Martin's, who could not +carry any thing in his present state. + +They were now only six effective men, as John could not be of much use +in carrying, and, moreover, was appointed to watch Percival. Then they +had the two prisoners to take charge of, so that they were somewhat +embarrassed. Malachi, however, proposed that they should make a litter +of boughs, welded together very tight, and suspended on a pole so as to +be carried between two men. Mary Percival was not a very great weight, +and, by relieving each other continually, they would be able to get some +miles every day, till Mary was well enough to walk with them. Alfred +assented to this, and, as soon as it was daylight, went into the woods +with Malachi, to assist him in cutting the boughs. On their return, they +found that all the rest of the party were up, and that Mary felt little +or no pain. They made their breakfast on their salt provisions, which +were now nearly expended, and as soon as their meal was over, they put +Mary upon the litter and set off, taking the Indian prisoners with them, +as they thought it not yet advisable to give them their liberty. The +first day they made but a few miles, as they were obliged to stop, that +they might procure some food. The party were left under a large tree, +which was a good land-mark, under the charge of Captain Sinclair, while +Malachi and Alfred went in search of game. At nightfall they returned +with a deer which they had killed, when the Strawberry informed them +that the Indian woman had told her, that about two miles to the +southward there was a river which ran into the lake, and that there were +two canoes belonging to the band, hauled up in the bushes on the beach; +that the river was broad and swift, and would soon take them to the +lake, by the shores of which they could paddle the canoe to the +settlement. This appeared worthy of consideration, as it would in the +end, perhaps, save time, and at all events allow Mary Percival to +recover. They decided that they would go to the river, and take the +canoes, as the Indian woman said that they were large enough to hold +them all. + +The next morning, guided by the Indian woman, they set off in the +direction of the river, and arrived at it in the afternoon. They found +the canoes, which were large, and in good order, and having carried them +down to the beach, they resolved to put off their embarkation till the +following day, as they were again in want of provisions for their +subsistence. Alfred, Malachi and John went out this time, for Percival +had shown himself so quiet and contented, and had gradually become so +fond of being near Mary Percival, that he appeared to have awakened from +his Indian dream, and renewed all his former associations. They did not, +therefore, think it necessary to watch him any more--indeed, he never +would leave Mary's side, and began now to ask many questions, which +proved that he had recalled to mind much of what had been forgotten +during his long sojourn with the Indians. The hunters returned, having +been very successful, and loaded with meat enough to last for four or +five days. At daylight the next morning, they led the prisoners about +half a mile into the woods, and, pointing to the north as to the +direction they were to go, cast loose the deer-thongs which confined +them, and set them at liberty. Having done this, they embarked in the +canoes, and were soon gliding rapidly down the stream. + +The river upon which they embarked, at that time little known to the +Europeans, is now called the river Thames, and the town built upon it is +named London. It falls into the upper part of Lake Ontario, and is a +fine rapid stream. For three days they paddled their canoes, +disembarking at night to sleep and cook their provisions, and on the +fourth they were compelled to stop, that they might procure more food. +They were successful, and on the next day they entered the lake, about +two hundred miles to the west of the settlement. Mary Percival was now +quite recovered, and found her journey or voyage delightful; the country +was in full beauty; the trees waved their boughs down to the river side, +and they did not fall in with any Indians, or perceive any lodges on the +bank. Sometimes they started the deer which had come down to drink in +the stream, and on one occasion, as they rounded a point, they fell in +with a herd which were in the water swimming across, and in this +position they destroyed as many as they required for their food till +they hoped to arrive at the settlement. + +Percival was now quite reconciled to his removal from an Indian life, +and appeared most anxious to rejoin his father and mother, of whom he +talked incessantly; for he had again recovered his English, which, +strange to say, although he perfectly understood it when spoken to, he +had almost forgotten to pronounce, and at first spoke with difficulty. +The weather was remarkably fine, and the waters of the lake were so +smooth, that they made rapid progress, although they invariably +disembarked at night. The only annoyance they had was from the +musquitoes, which rose in clouds as soon as they landed, and were not +to be dispersed until they had lighted a very large fire, accompanied +with thick smoke; but this was a trifle compared with their joy at the +happy deliverance of the prisoners, and success of their expedition. +Most grateful, indeed, were they to God for his mercies, and none more +so than Mary Percival and Captain Sinclair, who never left her side till +it was time to retire to rest. + +On the sixth day, in the forenoon, they were delighted to perceive Fort +Frontignac in the distance, and although the house at the settlement was +hid from their sight by the point covered with wood which intervened, +they knew that they were not above four or five miles distant. In less +than another hour, they were abreast of the prairie, and landed at the +spot where their own punt was moored. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had not +perceived the canoes, for, although anxiously looking out every day for +the return of the party, their eyes and attention were directed on land, +not having any idea of their return by water. + +"My dear Alfred," said Mary, "I do not think it will be prudent to let +my aunt see Percival at once; we must prepare her a little for his +appearance. She has so long considered him as dead, that the shock may +be too great." + +"You say true, my dear Mary. Then we will go forward with Captain +Sinclair and Malachi, and John. Let Percival be put in the middle of the +remainder of the party, who must follow afterward, and then be taken up +to Malachi's lodge. He can remain there with the Strawberry until we +come and fetch him." + +Having made these arrangements, to which Percival was with difficulty +made to agree, they walked up as proposed, to the house. Outside of the +palisade, they perceived Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, with their backs toward +them, looking toward the forest, in the direction which the party had +taken when they left. But when they were half-way from the beach, Henry +came out with Oscar from the cottage, and the dog, immediately +perceiving them, bounded to them, barking with delight. Henry cried out, +"Father--mother, here they are,--here they come." Mr. and Mrs. Campbell +of course turned round, and beheld the party advancing; they flew to +meet them, and as they caught Mary in their arms, all explanation for a +time was unnecessary--she was recovered, and that was sufficient for the +time. + +"Come, mother, let us go into the house, that you may compose yourself a +little," said Alfred,--that she might not perceive Percival among the +party that followed at a distance. "Let me support you. Take my arm." + +Mrs. Campbell, who trembled very much, did so, and thus turned away from +the group among whom Percival was walking. Emma was looking at them +attentively, and was about to exclaim, when Captain Sinclair put his +finger to his lips. + +As soon as they arrived at the house, and had gone in, Alfred, in a few +words, gave them an account of what had passed--how successful they had +been in their attempt, and how little they had to fear from the Indians +in future. + +"How grateful I am!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell. "God be praised for all +his mercies! I was fearful that I should have lost you, my dear Mary, as +well as my poor boy. He is lost forever--but God's will be done." + +"It is very strange, mother," said Alfred, "but we heard, on our +journey, that the Indians had found a white boy in the woods." + +"Alas! not mine." + +"I have reason to believe that it was Percival, my dear mother, and have +hopes that he is yet alive." + +"My dear Alfred, do not say so unless you have good cause; you little +know the yearnings of a mother's heart; the very suggestion of such a +hope has thrown me into a state of agitation and nervousness of which +you can form no conception. I have been reconciled to the Divine will; +let me not return to a state of anxiety and repining." + +"Do you think, my dear mother, that I would raise such hopes if I had +not good reason to suppose that they would be realized? No, my dear +mother, I am not so cruel." + +"Then you know that Percival is alive?" said Mrs. Campbell, seizing +Alfred by the arm. + +"Calm yourself, my dear mother, I do know--I am certain that he is +alive, and that it was he who was found by the Indians; and I have great +hopes that we may recover him." + +"God grant it! God grant it in his great mercy!" said Mrs. Campbell, "my +heart is almost breaking with joy: may God sustain me! Oh, where is +he--my dear Alfred--where is he?" continued Mrs. Campbell, Alfred made +no reply, but a flood of tears came to her relief. + +"I will explain it to you when you are more composed, my dear mother. +Emma, you have not said one word to me." + +"I have been too much overjoyed to speak, Alfred," replied Emma, +extending her hand to him, "but no one welcomes your return more +sincerely than I do, and no one is more grateful to you for having +brought Mary back." + +"Now, Alfred, I am calm," said Mrs. Campbell, "so let me hear at once +all you know." + +"I see you are calm, my dear mother, and I therefore now tell you that +Percival is not far off." + +"Alfred! he is here; I am sure he is." + +"He is with Malachi and the Strawberry; in a minute I will bring him." + +Alfred left the house: the intelligence was almost too overpowering for +Mrs. Campbell. Mary and Emma hastened to her, and supported her. In +another minute Alfred returned with Percival, and the mother embraced +and wept over her long lost child,--and then gave him to his father's +arms. + +"How this has happened, and by what merciful interference he has been +preserved and restored to us," said Mr. Campbell, when their first +emotions were over, "we have yet to learn; but one thing we do know, and +are sure of, that it is by the goodness of God alone. Let us return our +thanks while our hearts are yet warm with gratitude and love, and may +our thanksgiving be graciously received." + +Mr. Campbell kneeled down, and his example was followed by all the rest +of the party assembled. In a fervent tone he returned thanks for the +recent mercies vouchsafed to his family, which, he expressed a hope, +would never be forgotten, but would prove a powerful inducement to them +all, to lead a more devout life of faith in Him who had so graciously +supported them in the hour of peril and affliction,--who had so +wonderfully restored to them their lost treasures, and turned all their +gloom into sunshine,--filling their hearts with joy and gladness. + +"And now, my dear Alfred," said Mrs. Campbell, whose arms still +encircled the neck of Percival, "do pray tell us what has taken place, +and how you recovered Mary and this dear boy." + +Alfred then entered into his detail, first stating the knowledge which +Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and himself had of Percival being still in +existence from the letter written by the Indian woman,--the seizure and +confinement of the Young Otter in consequence, which was retaliated by +the abduction of Mary. When he had finished, Mr. Campbell said-- + +"And poor Martin, where is he, that I may thank him?" + +"He is at his own lodge, with the Strawberry, who is dressing his wound; +for we have not been able to do so for two or three days, and it has +become very painful." + +"We owe him a large debt of gratitude," said Mr. Campbell; "he has +suffered much on our account. And your poor man, Captain Sinclair, who +fell!" + +"Yes," replied Sinclair, "he was one of our best men--but it was the +will of Heaven. He lost his life in the recovery of my dear Mary, and I +shall not forget his wife and child, you may depend upon it." + +"Now, Mary, let us have your narrative of what passed when you were in +company of the Indians, before your rescue." + +"I was, as you know, gathering the cranberries in the Cedar Swamp, when +I was suddenly seized, and something was thrust against my mouth, so +that I had no time or power to cry out. My head was then wrapped up in +some folds of blanket, by which I was almost suffocated, and I was then +lifted up and borne away by two or three men. For a time I kept my +senses, but at last the suffocation was so great, that my head swam, and +I believe I fainted, for I do not recollect being put down; yet after a +time I found myself lying under a tree, and surrounded by five or six +Indians, who were squatted round me. I was not a little terrified, as +you may imagine. They neither moved nor spoke for some time; I +endeavored to rise, but a hand on my shoulder kept me down, and I did +not attempt a useless resistance. Soon afterward, an Indian woman +brought me some water, and I immediately recognized her as the one whom +we had succored when we found her in the woods. This gave me courage and +hope, though her countenance was immovable, and I could not perceive, +even by her eyes, that she attempted any recognition; but reflection +convinced me that, if she intended to help me, she was right in so +doing. After I had raised myself, and drunk some water, the Indians had +a talk in a low voice, I observed that they paid deference to one, and +from the description which my father and Alfred had given of the Angry +Snake, I felt sure that it was he. We remained about half an hour on +this spot, when they rose, and made signs to me that I was to come with +them. Of course I could do no otherwise, and we walked till night came +on, when I was, as you may imagine, not a little tired. They then left +me with the Indian woman, retiring a few yards from me. The woman made +signs that I was to sleep, and although I thought that was impossible, I +was so much fatigued that, after putting up my prayers to the Almighty, +I had not lain down many minutes before I was fast asleep. + +"Before daylight, I was awakened by their voices, and the woman brought +me a handful of parched Indian corn; not quite so good a breakfast as I +had been accustomed to; but I was hungry, and I contrived to eat it. As +soon as the day broke we set off again, and toward evening arrived at a +lake. A canoe was brought out from some bushes; we all got into it, and +paddled up along the banks for two or three hours, when we disembarked +and renewed our journey. My feet were now becoming very sore and +painful, for they were blistered all over, and I could scarcely get +along; they compelled me, however, to proceed, not using any great +force, but still dragging me and pushing me, to make me keep up with +them. I soon perceived that I was a prisoner only, and not likely to be +ill treated if I complied with their wishes. Toward evening I could +hardly put one foot before the other, for they had obliged me to walk in +the water of a stream for two or three miles, and my shoes were quite +worn out in consequence. At night they again stopped, and the Indian +woman prepared some herbs, and applied them to my feet. This gave me +great relief, but still she continued to take no notice of any signs I +made to her. The next morning I found I had received so much benefit +from the application of the herbs, that for the first half of the day I +walked on pretty well, and was a little in advance, when, hearing the +chief speak in an angry tone behind me, I turned round, and, to my +horror, saw him raise his tomahawk, and strike down the poor Indian +woman. I could not refrain from hastening to her; but I had just time to +perceive that her skull was cloven, and that she was, as I imagined, +dead, when I was dragged away and forced to continue my journey. You may +imagine how my blood curdled at this scene, and how great were now my +apprehensions for myself. Why I had been carried away I knew not, for I +was as ignorant as you were of Percival being alive, and of the Young +Otter having been detained at the fort. My idea was, when the chief +struck down the Indian woman, that it was to get rid of her, and that I +was to replace her. This idea was almost madness, but still I had hope, +and I prayed as I walked along to that God who sees the most secret act, +and hears the most silent prayer of the heart, and I felt an assurance +while praying that I should be rescued. I knew that my absence would be +immediately discovered, and that there were those who would risk their +lives to rescue me, if I was still in existence; and I therefore used +all my efforts to walk on as fast as I could, and not irritate the +Indians. But that night I had no one to dress my feet, which were +bleeding and very much swelled, and I was very wretched when I lay down +alone. I could not drive from my thoughts the poor Indian woman +weltering in her blood, and murdered for no crime or fault--nothing that +I could discover. The next morning, as usual, my food was some parched +Indian corn, and of that I received only a handful for my sustenance +during the twenty-four hours; however, hunger I never felt, I had too +much pain. I was able to drag myself on till about noon, when I felt +that I could not proceed further. I stopped and sat down; the chief +ordered me to get up again by signs; I pointed to my feet, which were +now swelled above the ankles, but he insisted, and raised his tomahawk +to frighten me into compliance. I was so worn out, that I could have +almost received the blow with thankfulness, but I remembered you, my +dear uncle and aunt and others, and resolved for your sakes to make one +more effort. I did so; I ran and walked for an hour more in perfect +agony; at last nature could support the pain no longer, and I fell +insensible." + +"My poor Mary!" exclaimed Emma. + +"I thought of you often and often, my dear sister," replied Mary, +kissing her. + +"I believe it was a long while before I came to my senses," continued +Mary, "for when I did, I found that the Indians were very busy weaving +branches into a sort of litter. As soon as they had finished, they put +me upon it, and I was carried by two of them swinging on a pole which +they put on their shoulders. I need hardly say, that the journey was now +more agreeable than it was before, although my feet were in a dreadful +state, and gave me much pain. That night we stopped by a rivulet, and I +kept my feet in the water for two or three hours, which brought down the +inflammation and swelling very much, and I contrived after that to gain +some sleep. They carried me one more day, when they considered that they +had done enough, and I was again ordered to walk; I did so for two days, +and was then in the same condition as before. A litter was therefore +again constructed, and I was carried till I arrived at the lodges of the +Angry Snake and his band. What passed from that time you have heard from +Alfred." + +When Mary Percival had finished her narrative, they all sat down to +supper, and it hardly need be said that Mr. Campbell did not fail, +before they retired to rest, again to pour forth his thanksgivings to +the Almighty for the preservation of those who were so dear. The next +morning, they all rose in health and spirits. Martin came early to the +house with the Strawberry; his wound was much better, and he received +the thanks and condolence of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. + +When they were at breakfast, Mr. Campbell said, "John, in our joy at +seeing your brother and cousin again, I quite forgot to scold you for +running away as you did." + +"Then don't do it now, sir," said Malachi, "for he was very useful, I +can assure you." + +"No, I won't scold him now," replied Mr. Campbell; "but he must not act +so another time. If he had confided to me his anxious wish to join you, +I should probably have given my permission." + +"I must now take my leave, and return to the fort," said Captain +Sinclair; "I do, however, trust I shall see you all again in a few days, +but I must report the results of the expedition, and the death of poor +Watkins. May I borrow one of your horses, Mr. Campbell?" + +"Certainly," replied Mr. Campbell; "you know the _bateau_ is expected +every day from Montreal; perhaps you will bring us our letters when it +arrives." + +Captain Sinclair took his leave, as it may be imagined, very +reluctantly, and in a day or two the family again settled down to their +usual occupations. The emigrants had, during the absence of the +expedition, gathered in a great portion of the corn, and now all hands +were employed in finishing the harvest. + +"How happy we are now, Mary," said Emma to her sister, as they were +walking by the stream watching John, who was catching trout. + +"Yes, my dear Emma, we have had a lesson which will, I trust, prevent +any future repining, if we have felt any, at our present position. The +misery we have been rescued from has shown us how much we have to be +thankful for. We have nothing more to fear from the Indians, and I feel +as if I could now pass the remainder of my life here in peace and +thankfulness." + +"Not without Captain Sinclair?" + +"Not always without him; the time will, I trust, come when I may reward +him for his patience and his regard for me; but it has not yet come; and +it's for my uncle and aunt to decide when it shall. Where's Percival?" + +"He is gone into the woods with Malachi, and with a rifle on his +shoulder, of which he is not a little proud. John is not at all jealous. +He says that Percival ought to know how to fire a rifle, and throw away +that foolish bow and arrow. Do you not think that his residence among +the Indians has made a great change in Percival?" + +"A very great one; he is more manly and more taciturn; he appears to +think more and talk less. But Henry is beckoning to us. Dinner is ready, +and we must not keep hungry people waiting." + +"No," replied Emma; "for in that case I should keep myself waiting." + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +Captain Sinclair on his return to Fort Frontignac reported to the +Colonel the successful result of the expedition, and was warmly +congratulated upon it, as the Colonel had been made acquainted with the +engagement between him and Mary Percival. The Young Otter, who had +remained in confinement during Captain Sinclair's absence, was now set +at liberty; and the Colonel, who was aware that Captain Sinclair must be +very anxious to remain at the settlement for a short time after what had +occurred, very kindly offered him leave for a few days, which it may be +supposed Captain Sinclair did not fail to avail himself of. The Colonel +at the same time sent a message to Mr. Campbell, stating that as soon as +the _bateaux_ should arrive from Montreal, he would bring any letters or +newspapers that might arrive for them, and take that opportunity of +offering in person his congratulations. + +Captain Sinclair did not, however, return for two or three days, as he +had many letters to write in answer to those which had arrived during +his absence. On his return to the settlement, he found them all well +and happy; Mary quite recovered from her fatigue, and every thing going +on in the same quiet order and method as if the expedition had never +taken place, and had never been necessary. Indeed, nothing appeared now +wanting to the happiness of the whole party, and their affairs were +prospering. The emigrants who had joined Mr. Campbell were industrious +and intelligent, very civil, and very useful. They paid the greatest +respect to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who were certainly very liberal and +kind to them, assisting them in every way in their power. Although the +farm had been so much increased, the labor was light, from the quantity +of hands they could command; the stock had increased very fast; old +Graves had taken charge of the mill during the absence of Alfred and +Martin, and had expressed his wish to continue in that employment, which +Alfred gladly gave up. In short, peace and plenty reigned in the +settlement, and Alfred's words when he recommended his father to go to +Canada, had every prospect of becoming true--that his father would be +independent, if not rich, and leave his children the same. In three days +Captain Sinclair arrived; he was received with great warmth by all the +party, and after dinner was over, Mr. Campbell addressed the family as +follows:-- + +"My dear children, your mother and I have had some conversation on one +or two points, and we have come to the decision that having so much to +thank God for, in his kindness and mercies shown toward us, it would be +selfish on our parts if we did not consult the happiness of others. We +are now independent, and with every prospect of being more so every day; +we are no longer isolated, but surrounded by those who are attached to +us and will protect us should there be any occasion. In short, we are +living in comfort and security, and we trust to Providence that we shall +continue so to do. You, my dear Alfred, generously abandoned your +profession to which you were so partial, to come and protect us in the +wilderness, and we knew too well the value of your services not to +accept them, although we were fully aware of the sacrifice which you +made; but we are no longer in the wilderness, and no longer require your +strong arm and bold heart. We have therefore decided that it is our +duty no longer to keep you from the profession to which you belong, but, +on the contrary, to recommend you now to rejoin and follow up your +career, which we trust in God may prove as prosperous as we are +convinced it will be honorable. Take our best thanks, my dear boy, for +your kindness to us, and now consider yourself at liberty to return to +England, and rejoin the service as soon as you please. + +"And now I must address you, my dear Mary; you and your sister +accompanied us here, and since you have been with us, have cheered us +during our stay by your attentions and unwearied cheerfulness under all +the privations which we at first had to encounter. You have engaged the +affections of an honorable and deserving man, but at the same time have +never shown the least disposition to leave us; indeed, we know what your +determination has been, but your aunt and I consider it our present duty +to say, that much as we shall regret to part with one so dear, you must +no longer sacrifice yourself for us, but make him happy who so well +deserves you. That you will remain here is of course out of the +question; your husband's connections and fortune require that he should +return to England, and not bury himself in the woods of Canada. You have +therefore our full permission, and I may say, it will be most pleasing +to us, if you no longer delay your union with Captain Sinclair and +follow your husband; whenever and wherever you go, you will have our +blessing and our prayers, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have +been to us as a dutiful daughter, and that we love you as dearly as it +is possible for parents to do. Take her, Captain Sinclair, from my +hands, and take with her our blessings and best wishes for your +happiness, which I do not doubt will be as great as we can expect in +this checkered world; for a dutiful daughter will always become a good +wife." + +Mary, who was sitting between Mrs. Campbell and Captain Sinclair, fell +upon her aunt's neck and wept; Mr. Campbell extended his hand to Captain +Sinclair, who expressed in return his warmest thanks and gratitude. +Alfred, who had said nothing more, went up to his mother and kissed +her. + +"I wish you to go, Alfred," said his mother; "I wish you to rejoin a +service to which you are a credit. Do not believe otherwise, or that I +shall grieve too much at your departure." + +"Go, my son," said Mr. Campbell, shaking him by the hand, "and let me +see you a post-captain before I die." + +Mrs. Campbell now took Mary Percival into the next room, that she might +compose herself, and Captain Sinclair ventured to follow. Every one +appeared happy at this announcement of Mr. Campbell except Emma, who +looked unusually serious. Alfred, perceiving it, said to her, "Emma, you +are very grave at the idea of losing Mary, and I do not wonder at it, +but you will have one consolation,--you will lose me too, and I shall no +longer plague you as you continually complain that I do." + +"I never thought of that," replied Emma, half angry; "well, you _are_ a +great plague, and the sooner you go--" + +Emma did not, however, finish her speech, but left the room, to join her +sister. + +Now that Mr. Campbell had announced his wishes, the subject of Mary's +marriage and Alfred's return to the service was, for a few days, the +continual subject of discussion. It was decided that Mary should be +married in a month, by the chaplain of the fort, who had returned, and +that Captain Sinclair, with his wife and Alfred, should leave the +settlement at the end of September, so as to arrive at Quebec in good +time for sailing before the winter should set in. It was now the last +week in August, so that there was not much time to pass away previous to +their departure. Captain Sinclair returned to the fort, to make the +Colonel acquainted with what had passed, and to take the necessary steps +for leave of absence, and his return to England. This, from his interest +with the Governor, he was sure to obtain, and when in England, it would +be time sufficient to decide whether he should leave that service or +exchange into some regiment at home. As every prospect of war or +disturbance in Canada was now over, he could take either step without +any censure being laid upon him. + +A week afterward, the _bateaux_ arrived from Montreal, and the Colonel +and Captain Sinclair made their appearance at the settlement, bringing +with them the letters and papers from England. + +Having received the congratulations of the Colonel, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell, with his permission, opened their letters, for all the family +were present, and all, as usual, anxious to hear the news. The first +letter Mr. Campbell opened, to the surprise of all, produced an +immediate change in his countenance. He read it a second time, and +laying it down on his knee, appeared to remain in a state of complete +abstraction. + +"No bad news, I hope, Campbell?" said his wife anxiously, as all the +rest looked upon him with astonishment. + +"No, my dear Emily, no bad news, but most unexpected news; such as it +has been my fortune in life to receive once before this time. You +remember, although years have since passed, the letter that was brought +to us in our little parlor--" + +"Which put you in possession of Wexton Hall, Campbell." + +"Yes, I did refer to that; but I will not keep you all in longer +suspense. This is but a counterpart of the former letter." + +Mr. Campbell then read as follows:-- + "May 7, 18-- + + "Dear Sir,--It is with great pleasure that we have again to + communicate to you that you may return, as soon as you please, and + take possession of the Wexton Hall property. + + "You may remember that many months back Mr. Douglas Campbell + received a fall from his horse when hunting. No serious + consequences were anticipated, but it appears that his spine was + injured, and after some months' close confinement, he expired on + the 9th of April. As Mr. Douglas Campbell has left no issue, and + you are the next in tail, you have now undisputed possession of the + property which you so honorably surrendered some years since. + + "I have taken upon myself to act as your agent since Mr. Campbell's + decease. Mrs. D. Campbell has a handsome settlement upon the + property, which will of course fall in upon her demise. Waiting + your commands, + "I am, dear sir, + "Yours truly, + "J. HARVEY." + +"Mr. Campbell, I congratulate you with all my heart," said the Colonel, +rising up, and taking his hand. "You have proved yourself deserving of +such good fortune; Mrs. Campbell, I need hardly add that my +congratulations extend to you." + +Surprise at first rendered Mrs. Campbell mute; at last she said-- + +"We are in the hands of Him, and do but execute His will. For your sake, +my dear Campbell, for the children's sake, perhaps, I ought to +rejoice--we hardly know. That I am happy here, now that my children have +been restored to me, I confess. I doubt whether that happiness will be +increased by the return to Wexton Hall; at all events, I shall leave +this place with regret. We have had too many revolutions of fortune, +Campbell, since we have been united, not to have learned by experience +that a peaceful, quiet, and contented home is more necessary to our +happiness than riches." + +"I feel as you do, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, "but we are growing +old, and have been taught wisdom practically, by the events of a +checkered life. Our children, I perceive, think otherwise--nor do I +wonder at it." + +"I shan't go," said John; "I shall only be sent to school; no master +shall flog me--I'm a man." + +"Nor me," cried Percival. + +The Colonel and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, as well as the elder portion of +the party, could not help smiling at the exclamation of the two boys. +They had both played the part of men, and it was but too evident how +unfitted they would be for future scholastic discipline. + +"You shall neither of you go to school," replied Mr. Campbell, "but +still you must render yourselves fit for your stations in life, by +improving your minds, and attending those who will instruct you." + +It is hard to say whether much real joy was felt by any of the party at +the prospect of returning to England. It is true that Mary Percival was +delighted at the idea of not being so far from her aunt and uncle, and +that Emma was better pleased to be in England, for reasons which she +kept to herself. But it was not the coming into the large property which +occasioned pleasure to any of them. However, if there was not much +pleasure derived from this re-accession to property, Mr. and Mrs. +Campbell knew their duty too well to hesitate, and every preparation was +commenced for their return along with Alfred and Captain Sinclair. John, +however, still continued obstinate in declaring that he would not go, +and Percival was very much of John's opinion, although he did not speak +so plainly. + +When Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were alone, the former said to his wife,-- + +"I do not know what to do about John. He appears so resolute in his +determination not to go with us, that I fear he will run away into the +woods at the time of our departure. He is now continually with Malachi +and Martin, and appears to have severed himself from the family." + +"It is hard to decide, Campbell; I have more than once thought it would +be better to leave him here. He is our youngest son. Henry will of +course inherit the estate, and we shall have to provide for the others +out of our savings. Now this property, by the time that John is of age, +will be of no inconsiderable value, and by no means a bad fortune for a +younger son. He appears so wedded to the woods and a life of nature, +that I fear it would only be the cause of continual regret and +discontent if we did take him to England; and if so, what comfort or +advantage should we gain by his returning? I hardly know what to +advise." + +"I have serious thoughts of leaving him here under the charge of Martin +and Malachi," replied Mr. Campbell. "He would be happy; by and by he +would be rich. What could he obtain more in England? But it must be for +you to decide, my dear Emily. I know a mother's feelings, and respect +them." + +"I can not decide at once, my dear husband. I will first talk with John, +and consult with Alfred and Henry." + +The result of Mrs. Campbell's communicating with her sons, was a +decision that John should remain in Canada, under the charge of Martin +and Malachi, who were to superintend the farm, and watch over him. +Martin was to take charge of the farm. Malachi was to be John's +companion in the woods, and old Graves, who had their mill under his +care, engaged to correspond with Mr. Campbell, and let them know how +things went on. When this was settled, John walked at least two inches +higher, and promised to write to his mother himself. The Colonel, when +he heard the arrangement, pledged himself that as long as he was in +command of the fort, he would keep a watchful eye, not only over John, +but the whole of the settlement, and communicate occasionally with Mr. +Campbell. + +A month after the receipt of the letter, the whole family, with the +exception of John, embarked in two _bateaux_, and arrived at Montreal, +where they remained a day or two, and then proceeded on to Quebec. + +At Quebec, their agent had already taken all the cabins of one of the +finest ships for their passage, and after a run of six weeks, they once +more found themselves at Liverpool, from which town they posted to +Wexton Hall, Mrs. Douglas Campbell having retired to a property of her +own in Scotland. + +We have now finished our tale, and have only to inform our little +readers what were the after-lives of the Campbell family. + +Henry did not return to college, but remained with his father and mother +at the Hall, employing himself in superintending for his father the +property to which he afterward succeeded. + +Alfred was appointed to a ship commanded by Captain Lumley. He soon rose +in the service, was highly distinguished as a gallant, clever officer, +and four years after his return to England was married to his cousin +Emma--at which the reader will not be surprised. + +Mary Percival was married to Captain Sinclair, who sold out, and retired +upon half-pay, to live upon his estate in Scotland. + +Percival went to college, and turned out a very clever lawyer. + +John remained in Canada until he was twenty years old, when he came home +to see his father and mother. He had grown to six feet four inches high, +and was stout in proportion. He was a very amusing fellow, and could +talk fast enough, but his chief conversation was upon hunting and +sporting. The farm had been well conducted; the emigrants had adhered to +the agreements and were now cultivating for themselves. Martin had three +papooses (as the Indians call the children) by the Strawberry. Malachi +had grown too old to go out often into the woods, and he sat by the fire +in the winter, and basked in the sun at the door of the house during the +summer. Oscar was dead, but they had some fine puppies of his breed. Mr. +Campbell gave John a deed, on his return, conveying to him the Canadian +property, and shortly afterward John picked up a little Canadian wife at +Quebec, who made him perfectly happy. + +Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived to a good old age, respected as long as they +lived, and lamented when they died. They had known prosperity and +adversity, and in each state of life had acquitted themselves with +exemplary propriety, not having been elated by the one, or depressed by +the other. They knew that this world was a world of trial, and but a +preparation for another; they therefore did their duty in that state of +life to which it pleased God to call them--proving in all their actions, +that they remembered their duty to their God, and their duty to their +neighbor; living and dying (as I hope all my young readers will) sincere +and good Christians. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SETTLERS IN CANADA*** + + +******* This file should be named 22496.txt or 22496.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22496 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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