■ 

 
 
 /- £ CALIFORNIA 
 
 TAT 
 
 io.^ 
 
 Extract from •• In Act defining the Duties of State Librarian, and 
 prescribing Rules tor the government of the State Library," passed 
 
 April 9, 18-30. 
 
 $ 3. Books may be taken from the State Library by the Members 
 of the Legislature and its Officers during the .Sessions of the saint! ; 
 and at any time by the Governor, and the Officers of the Executive 
 Department of tins State, who are required to keep their offices at 
 the Seat of Government ; the Justices of Supreme Court, and At- 
 torney ( reneral ; provided, that no person shall be permitted to take 
 or retain from the Library more than two volumes of miscellaneous 
 works at any one time. 
 
 § 4. The Librarian shall cause to be kept a register of all books 
 issued and returned, at the time they shall be so issued or returned; 
 and none of the books, except the Laws, Journals and Reports of 
 this State, which may be taken from the Library by Members of 
 the Legislature, or its Officers, during the Session, shall be retained 
 more than two weeks ; and all the books taken by the Members of 
 the Legislature, or its Officers of every kind, shall be returned at 
 the close of the Si --ion. 
 
 ■'>. [f any person injure 01 fail to return any books taken from 
 the Library, within the time prescribed in the foregoing Section, 
 be shall forfeit and pay to the Librarian, for the benefit of the Li- 
 brary, three times the value thereof, or of the set to which it belongs; 
 and before the Controller shall issue his warrant in favor of any 
 Member or Officer of the Legislature, or of this State, for his per 
 
 diem allowance, or salary, be shall be satisfied that such Member or 
 
 Officer has returned all book- taken out of the Library by him, and 
 
 • -ettled all accounts for injuring such books or otherwise. 
 
 $ 0. All fines and forfeitures accruing under and by virtue ofthis 
 Act, shall lie recoverable by action of debt before any Justice of the 
 I'i ace or < oiirt having jurisdiction of the same, in the name of the 
 People of the Stale of California, for the use of the State Library, 
 and in all such trials, the entries of the Librarian, to be made as 
 hereinbefore described, shall be evidence of the delivery of the book 
 or books, and of the dates thereof; and it shall be his duty to carry 
 
 tor all 
 
 L ! ;' 

 
 THE 
 
 , 
 # 
 
 SETTLERS IN CANADA. 
 
 WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
 BT 
 
 CAPTAIN MARRYAT. 
 
 "£v. to 1 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 NEW- YORK : 
 D. AtTLETON & CO., 346 & 348 BROADWAY. 
 
 M.DCCO.LVI.
 
 n 
 
 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 colo- 
 onized 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 por- 
 tions of Lower Canada, and the country was infested 
 with wild animals of every description— some use- 
 ful, 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 tc 
 go into or toward Upper Canada, where, although 
 the land was better, the distance from Quebec and 
 
 a i ■-■ "• h
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 Montreal, and other populous parts, was much great- 
 er, 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 pres- 
 ent : and now I shall state the cause which induced 
 this family to leave their home, and run the risks 
 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 mar- 
 ried. 
 
 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 unexception- 
 able, 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 busi- 
 ness, 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' 
 wa? 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 under- 
 went, brought on a violent lever, which ended in his 
 death. In this state of distress, left a widow with one
 
 THE SETTLERS. 7 
 
 child oftwo years old, a liitle girl, and with theexpec 
 tation 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 daugh- 
 ter. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, of course, took charge 
 of these two little orphan girls, aud brought them 
 ap with their own children. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs about ten or eleven 
 years after Mr. Campbell's marriage, when a cir- 
 cumstance occurred as unexpected as it was wel- 
 come. 
 
 Mr. Campbell had returned from his round of pro- 
 fessional visits ; dinner was over, and he was sitting 
 at the table with his wife and elder children (for it 
 was the Christmas holydays, and they were all at 
 home), and the bell had just been 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 fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 " Sir : We have great pleasure in making known 
 to you, that upon the demise of Mr. Sholto Camp- 
 bell, of Wexton Hall, Cumberland, which took place 
 on ihe 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 con- 
 gratulate 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
 
 8 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 not being already engaged, you may command the ser. 
 rices of 
 
 " Your most obedient, 
 
 "Hakvey, 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 let- 
 ter to his wife. 
 
 Mrs. Campbell read it, and laid it down on the 
 table. 
 
 " Well, my dear !" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, joy- 
 fully, 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 pros- 
 perity, by Jar 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 happi- 
 ness, my dear husband, I feel it will rather add to 
 our cares ; but it may enable us to add to the happi- 
 ness 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 ")f condition 1 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 con- 
 sider 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. if 
 
 11 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. Camp- 
 bell 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 much 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 Per 
 cival, 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.
 
 10 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 consid- 
 ered as the presumptive heir, and who had perished 
 so many years back. Mr. Harvey observed, .hat al- 
 though he thought it his duty to make the circum- 
 stance 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 request- 
 ed 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 in- 
 formed. 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 ap- 
 pearance ; and that the opposite parties would, at all 
 events, put Mr. Campbell to very considerable ex- 
 pense. The solicitor requested Mr. Campbell's in- 
 structions, again asserting, that although it was art- 
 fully 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 pre- 
 caution, and to incur all necessary expense. On re- 
 flection, Mr. Campbell, although much annoyed, de- 
 termii ed not to make Mrs. Campbell acquainted 
 wilh what was going on ; it could only distress her, 
 he thought, and he therefore resolved for the present 
 to leave her in ignorance.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 11 
 
 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 sup- 
 posed, died ; but there was full and satisfactory- 
 proof that the marriage was valid, and that the par- 
 ty who claimed was his son. It was true, Mr. Har- 
 vey 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 that 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
 
 12 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 been my feeling ever since I have read Mr. Harvey's 
 letter. Yet it is hard to be beggars." 
 
 "It is hard, my clear 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 con- 
 scientiously and justly, and trust to him for oar future 
 support." 
 
 " I will write immediately," replied Mr. Camp- 
 bell, "to acquaint Mr. Harvey, that although I liti- 
 gated the point as long as the claim was considered 
 doubtful, now that he informs that the other party 
 is the legal heir, I beg that all proceedings may be 
 stopped, as I am willing to give immediate posses- 
 sion." 
 
 " 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 chil- 
 dren." 
 
 " 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 been not so badly brought up„ 
 Campbell, but that they will submit with cheerful- 
 ness, and be a source of comfort to us both. Besides, 
 we may not be absolutely beggars." 
 
 "That depends upon the other party. He may
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 13 
 
 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 V 
 
 " There's hope, my husband," replied Mrs. Camp- 
 bell, 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 lot 
 my children : now, this seeming good turn ot 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 ap- 
 peared 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 isfoi 
 us to submit without repining. Come, dearest, le' 
 us walk out ; the air is fresh, and will cool youi 
 
 heated brow." . 
 
 Two days after this conversation, a letter was re- 
 ceived from Mr. Harvey, informing them that he had 
 made known Mr. Campbell's determination to resign 
 the property without farther litigation ; that the 
 reply of the other party was highly honorable, stat- 
 in°- 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 dis- 
 posal for three months, to enable them to make 
 arrangements, and dispose of their furniture, &c. 
 
 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 pro- 
 prietor in not making any claim for back rents which 
 Vol. I.— 2
 
 14 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 Avas substantiated, together with 
 the knowledge how much the estate had been im- 
 proved 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 grat- 
 ifying to Mr. Campbell, but the legal expenses proved 
 enormous, amounting to many thousand pounds. 
 
 Mr. Campbell read the sum total, and threw the 
 huge heap of papers down on the table in despair. 
 
 "We are still ruined, my dear," said he, mourn- 
 fully. 
 
 " 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 the 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, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 15 
 
 a governess. We must retain only the cook, house- 
 maid, one 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 that 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 sum 
 moned 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 be- 
 fore they quitted the room, which they all did with 
 many expressions of regret. Miss Paterson request- 
 ed 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 Camp- 
 bell, after a:i tn2 household had been Gismissed. 
 " 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 very few days, and" —
 
 16 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "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 disap- 
 pointed," 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, request- 
 ing Mr. Bates would ascertain if Mr. Campbell was 
 willing that the furniture, &c, 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 Camp- 
 bell," 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, 
 1 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. Camp- 
 bell was enabled to make an estimate of what re- 
 mained to them out of the property, and found that 
 the whole sum amounted to between seventeen and 
 eighteen hundred pounds.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 17 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 It may appear strange that after having been in 
 possession of the estate for ten years, and consider- 
 ing 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 in- 
 to possession, and he devoted a large portion of the 
 income to improving it ; and, secondly, he had ex- 
 pended a considerable sum in building almshouses 
 and schools, works which he would not delay, as he 
 considered them as religious obligations. The con- 
 sequence was, that it was not until a year before the 
 claim was made to the estate, that he had com- 
 menced laying by for his younger children; and as 
 the estate was then worth d£2,000 per annum more 
 than it was at the time that he came into possession 
 of it, he had resolved to put by d£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 slated ; and 
 thus he was left a poorer man bv 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, sug- 
 gested itself to them. With only sixteen or seven-
 
 18 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 teen 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 with- 
 out 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 em- 
 braced 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," ob- 
 *erved Mrs. Campbell. "I thank God for it." 
 
 Alfred soon fell in with his brother and his cous*
 
 THE SETTLERS. ]& 
 
 ins, Mary and Emma, and after the huggings and 
 kissings, as he termed them, were over, he made in- 
 quiries into the real state of his father's affairs. 
 After a short conversation, Henry, who wae very 
 much depressed in his spirits, said, "Mary and Em- 
 ma, 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 ihem. " Are things 
 so very bad ?" 
 
 " They are bad enough, Alfred ; but what makes 
 me so low-spirited is, that 1 fear my folly has made 
 them worse." 
 
 " How so ?" replied Alfred. 
 
 "The fact is, that my father has but d£1700 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 allow- 
 ance, because I knew that I could pay at Christmas, 
 and I ran in debt about d£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 c£200, out of his trifling re- 
 mainder, 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. 1 have 
 been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly en- 
 ter into my present feelings. I waited till you came 
 home, because 1 thought you had belter tell my 
 father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with 
 shame and vexation." 
 
 "Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, " as for out- 
 running 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
 
 20 THE SETTLEKS. 
 
 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 more due, for a French 
 privateer. Altogether it amounts to c£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 Avhat 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 ofT 
 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 anything on my conscience. If this 
 misfortune had happened last cruize, 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 quilted the room, entered on a full 
 explanation of the means which were left to them ; 
 and staled, 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 21 
 
 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 be- 
 tween 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 con- 
 sent 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 nad 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 t.ie purser received when 
 the frigate arrived at Portsmouth, in which he states 
 that he is doing well, and getting rich fast ; that he
 
 22 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 has a farm of five hundred acres, of which two hun- 
 dred are cleared ; and thai if lie only had some chil- 
 dren large enough to help him, he would soon be 
 worth ten times the money, as he would purchase 
 more land immediately. Land is to 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 comforta- 
 ble, it' not flourishing, in your circumstances. Your 
 children would work for you, and you would have 
 the satisfaction of knowing that you left them inde- 
 pendent 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 la- 
 bor ; occasional privation ; a log-hut, till we can get 
 abetter; severe winter; isolation from the world; 
 occasional danger, even, from wild beasts and sava- 
 ges. 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 ; aud, 
 really, I do not see but we may be very happy, very 
 comfortable, and, at all events, very independent."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 23 
 
 "Alfred, you talk as if you were going with us," 
 said Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 " And do you think that I am not, my dear moth- 
 er ? 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 xWr. Campbell rang the bell for 
 the servants ; family prayers were read, and all re- 
 tired in good spirits. 
 
 The next morning they all met at an early hour ;
 
 24 THE bi,TTLERS. 
 
 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 Ave 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, un- 
 cle," replied Mary, " and try if we can by any means 
 in our power repay your kindness to two poor or- 
 phans." 
 
 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 prop- 
 erty." 
 
 " Shall you have sufficient money, my dear boy, 
 to pay everything ?" 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 anything to communi- 
 cate, I will write." 
 
 " Write as soon as you arrive, Alfred, whether you
 
 THE SETTLERS. 25 
 
 i 
 
 have anything to communicate or not ; at all events, 
 we shall know of your safe arrival." 
 
 "J 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 
 lodgings for us to go into as soon as we arrive at Liv- 
 erpool? 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 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. Camp- 
 bell, all came forward and proffered their wagons 
 and horses to transport his effects to Liverpool, with- 
 out his being put to any expense. 
 
 In the meantime a letter had been received from 
 Alfred, who had not been idle. He had made ac- 
 quaintance with some merchants who traded to Can- 
 ada, and by them had been introduced to two or 
 three persons who had settled there a few years be- 
 fore, and who were able to give him every informa- 
 tion. 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 Eng- 
 lish 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 
 Vol. 1.-3 ~
 
 26 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 to go by her. He wrote all these particulars to hi9 
 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 staling that 
 they would be ready for the ship which be 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 
 fur 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 Camp- 
 bell, thanking him for his kindness and consideration 
 to them, and informing him that they should 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 bad 
 lately married, Mrs. Campbell and he wished him 
 and his wife every happiness, &c, &c. 
 
 Having despatched 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 re- 
 solved upon taking none out with her. That after- 
 noon 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 27 
 
 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<ell 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 lor them to venture to speak. 
 
 The day afterward they arrived at Liverpool, 
 where Alfred had provided lodgings. Everything 
 had been sent on board, and the ship had hauled out 
 in the stream. As they had nothing to detain them 
 on shore, and the captain wished to take advantage 
 of the first fair wind, they all embarked four days af- 
 ter 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 ar- 
 rangements previous to their sailing, under the su- 
 perintendence of Alfred, while I give some little 
 more insight into the characters, ages, and disposi- 
 tions of the family.
 
 THE SETTLEKS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Mr. Campbell was a person of many amiable 
 qualities. He was a religious, good man, very fond 
 of his Avife, to whose opinions he yielded in prefer- 
 ence 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 very liable to be imposed 
 upon, for he never suspected any deceit, notwith- 
 standing he was continually deceived. His charac- 
 ter 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 char- 
 acter which was sometimes wanting in her husband. 
 Still there was nothing masculine in her manners or 
 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 dis- 
 obedient 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 29 
 
 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 everything, patient and labo- 
 rious, if required, and never taking anything 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 con- 
 versation, 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 ad- 
 mired. 
 
 Her sister Emma, who was but fifteen, was of a 
 very different disposition, naturally gay, and inclined 
 to find amusement in everything— cheerful as the 
 lark, and singing from morning to night. Her dis- 
 position, owing to Mrs. Campbell's care and atten- 
 tion, 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 obtain- 
 ing information, being naturally very inquisitive. 
 
 John, the fourth boy, was ten years old — a sturdy, 
 John Bull sort of boy, not very fond of learning, but 
 a well-disposed boy in most things. He preferred 
 anything 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 firs/ 
 
 3*
 
 50 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 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 British channel. 
 
 The London Merchant sailed for Cork, where the 
 Norlh American convoy were to assemble. At the 
 time «ve speak of, the war had recommenced be- 
 tween this country and the French, who were suf- 
 fering all the horrors of the Revolution. On their 
 arrival at Cork, our party recovered a little from the 
 sickness to which all are subject on their first em- 
 barkation. 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, wbich 
 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 sacri- 
 fice that he had made to his family was indeed great. 
 He had talked lightly of it before them, not wishing 
 them to believe that it was so. He had not told his 
 father that he had passed his examination for lieu- 
 tenant before he had been paid off at Portsmouth ; 
 and that his captain, who was very partial to him, 
 had promised that he should soon he 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 31 
 
 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 axe in my 
 hand ; but how could I leave my lather, 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 re- 
 ward, and check that repining which we are too apt to 
 feel when it pleases Heaven to blight, what appear 
 to be, our fairest prospects. ... I say, my good fel- 
 low," 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 grained, 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
 
 32 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 men- 
 tioned 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 duly to 
 my parents. It is a most painful step for me to take, 
 but I leave you to judge whether I can do other- 
 wise." 
 
 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 in- 
 terruption, 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 ad- 
 mire 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 mess- 
 mates." 
 
 Alfred left the cabin, much flattered by the kind- 
 ness of Captain Lumley, and went down to his for- 
 mer 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 cap-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 33 
 
 tain followed, and they were soon on board of the 
 London Merchant. Alfred introduced Captain Lum- 
 ley 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 re- 
 quire 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 consid- 
 ered 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 anything occur on the 
 passage out, and it is not at all impossible, it will 
 ensure 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 duly ; 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 would 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 sac- 
 ifice for his benefit, and, at the same time, feel most
 
 34 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 grateful to you for your kind intentions toward hiu\ 
 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 grate- 
 fully accepted." 
 
 "Then, Alfred," replied Captain Lumley, "has 
 only to make his appearance on board of the Ports- 
 mouth to-morrow morning, and he will find his act- 
 ing 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 expeet 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," ob- 
 served Alfred, as he was taking leave. 
 
 "Except you happen to come to action with aD 
 enemy, and then I shall haul off to a respectful dis- 
 tance, Mr. Alfred," replied Captain Wilson, laughing. 
 
 " That, of course. Cannon-balls were never in- 
 vented for ladies, although they have no objection to 
 balls — have they, Emma? Well, good-by ! once
 
 THE SETTLERS. ? 
 
 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 
 OH board t^p London Merchant, and follow Alfred in 
 the Portsmouth, during the passage to Quebec. 
 
 For several days the weather was moderate, aU 
 though 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 simi- 
 larly 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 con- 
 stantly 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 din- 
 ner, which, however, was soon despatched by th«
 
 36 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 sud- 
 den 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 sound 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 lookout 
 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 Ports- 
 mouth ; and Alfred, who had the watch, and was on 
 a sharp lookout, soon perceived through the looming 
 fog that she was not one of the convoy. He ran 
 down to acquaint the captain, and the men weie im- 
 mediately ordered to their quarters, without beat- 
 ing 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 Ports- 
 mouth, so that the strange vessel might come up 
 with her. Silence was kept fore and aft, not a whis- 
 per was to be heard ; and as the Frenchman, 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 ene- 
 my, who was by no means prepared for such a sud*
 
 THE SETTLERS. 37 
 
 den 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 Ports- 
 mouth's was the 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 Ports- 
 mouth 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 un- 
 known. 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 be- 
 tween 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 Frenchmen on their forecastle 
 could not perceive what was doing at their bow- 
 sprit'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 Cap- 
 tain Lumley. « Fire away there, on the main-deck; 
 Vol. I.
 
 33 
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 lieuten- 
 ant ; " these republicans will take a great 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 lee- 
 ward, exposed the state and position of the whole 
 convoy, and the contending vessels. The English 
 seamen on board of the Portsmouth cheered the re- 
 turn of daylight, as it might truly be termed. Cap- 
 tain Lumley found that they had been contending in 
 the very centre of the convoy, which were 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 evi 
 denily 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 Ports- 
 mouth. Many of the convoy, which had been in the 
 dir.*Mion 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 possihle to 
 say. The French line-of-battle ship had suffered 
 dreadfully from the fire of the Portsmouth. Her
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 39 
 
 main-mast and mizen-mast were over the side, her 
 forward ports were many of them almost beat into 
 one, and everything 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 French- 
 man to surrender to a superior force. If they re- 
 captured 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 mus- 
 ketry upon the decks of the Portsmouth. Alfred de- 
 sired the quartermaster to untie his neck-handker- 
 chief 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 cut- 
 ting the fastenings of the 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 at- 
 tempt 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.
 
 40 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The French sixty-gun ship proved to be the Le- 
 onidas ; she had been sent out with two large frig- 
 ates on purpose to intercept the convoy, but she had, 
 parted with her consorts in a gale of wind. Herloss 
 of men was very great ; that on board of the Ports- 
 mouth was trifling. In a couple of hours the Ports- 
 mouth 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 cap- 
 tured 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 moder- 
 ate. 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 re- 
 main 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. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " Yes, madam," observed Captain Wilson, " bul
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 41 
 
 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 com- 
 pliments." 
 
 " 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 A*e if I am al- 
 ways coming so close to him." 
 
 " I am satisfied, Captain Wilson ; pray do noth- 
 ing 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 hne-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, Per- 
 cival," 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 
 
 4*
 
 42 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 he -.ad been several voyages himself in ihe 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 con- 
 versation had been ended, "what was Captain Wil- 
 son 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 your- 
 self, that is evident," replied Emma, taking the of- 
 fered 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 con- 
 gratulate me on my having captured a vessel some- 
 what larger than my own ; and I must congratulate 
 you on the conduct and certain promotion of your 
 Eon Alfred. He has richly deserved it."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 43 
 
 "I am very thankful, Captain Lumley, and do 
 most heartily congratulate you," replied Mrs. Camp- 
 bell ; " I only regret that my boy has been wound- 
 ed."' 
 
 " 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 anything 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 
 Ion" as he pleases. There are plenty ready to be 
 employed. But I can not wait any longer. I am 
 foing on shore to call upon the governor, and I 
 thought I would just see you in 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." ,. • i c .1 
 
 Captain Lumlev then took a cordial leave oi the 
 whole partv, telling Alfred that he might consider 
 himself as discharged from the ship, and might re- 
 join 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 await- 
 ing him ?" . • 
 
 Shortly afterward Mrs. Campbell and Henry went 
 on shore with Captain Wilson to look; out for lodg- 
 ings, and present the letters of introduction which 
 he°bad received for some Quebec merchants. As 
 they were looking for lodgings in company with a
 
 44 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 Mr. Farquhar, who had kindly volunteered to assist 
 them, iliey 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 re- 
 spects 10 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 ex- 
 pense." 
 
 " 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 set- 
 tled with Captain Wilson, who very generously re- 
 fused to take any money for Alfred's passage, as he 
 had not remained on board the London Merchant; 
 promising, however, to accept their invitation to 
 come to them whenever he could find leisure, he 
 took have of them for the present, and they were 
 left alone in their new residence.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 45 
 
 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 re- 
 turned 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 re- 
 gret 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 hajids 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
 
 46 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 must first introduce you to him, as it is from him that 
 the land must be obtained, and of course he can ad- 
 vise 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 he 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 
 eervice, 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 inter- 
 rupted, however, by the arrival of the surveyor- 
 general, and the topic was resumed. 
 
 " The land that I would propose for Mr. Camp- 
 bell," 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 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 cali 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 dis- 
 tance, perhaps four or five miles, from Fort Frontig- 
 nac, and it might be easy to obtain assistance if 
 required." 
 
 The surveyor-general pointed to a part of the 
 map, near to Presqu' He de Quinte, as he made this 
 observation to the governor. 
 
 " I agree with you," replied the governor, "and
 
 THE SETTLERS. 47 
 
 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 ftuide to the English army before the surrender 
 of Quohec ; General Wolfe had a high opinion of 
 him, lu-'J his services were so good that he was al- 
 lowed that tract of 150 acres." 
 
 "I duw remember him," replied the governor; 
 "but asl have not seen him for so many years, he 
 had escaped my recollection." 
 
 li It will be a great advantage to you, Mr. Camp- 
 bell, 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 under- 
 stands 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 generallv 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 1 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 
 ihe game for their skins, after having been out for
 
 48 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 in prison for being riotous ; but 1 
 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 jail, 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 useless. There are exceptions, no doubt, 
 but their general character is anything but that ot 
 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 tolhem 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, fee. 
 Nor were Mrs. Campbell and the two girls unem- 
 ployed ; they had purchased the coarse manufactures
 
 THE SETTLERS. 49 
 
 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 mer- 
 chant's, to make inquiries about a conveyance up to 
 his new purchase (for he had concluded his arrange- 
 ments with the surveyor-general), Avhen the gover« 
 nor 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 Frontig- 
 ndc — news ha\ing been received that the garrison 
 was weakened by a fever which had broken out ; and 
 that if Mr. Campbell would like to avail himself ol 
 the opportunity, he and his family, and all his lug- 
 gage, should o;o under the escort of the officer and 
 troops. This 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 fu ner 
 expense. 
 Vol. I.— 5
 
 50 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 travelled 
 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 corre- 
 sponding to his real character. He Avas dressed in a 
 sort oi hunting-coat of deer-skin, blue cloth leggins, 
 a cap of rackoon's skin, with a broad belt round his 
 waist, in which he wore his knife. 
 
 " How, 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 Super 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 51 
 
 t 
 
 " What is your name among the Indians, Martin ?" 
 " The Painter," replied Martin, who then made, un- 
 der Mr. Campbell'sy— «-"-.....ii.r^v signature, 
 
 a figure like*— \/ — -S»,Kw ' sa y in °» 
 
 " There, that's my 1/1/ VVV^-name, as 
 
 near as I can draw " it." 
 
 " Very good, 1 ' 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, laugh- 
 ing, 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 crea- 
 ture, I can can tell you, sometimes." 
 
 " The drawing is something like a panther, mam- 
 ma," exclaimed Mary.
 
 52 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "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 cat- 
 a'mountains." 
 
 " 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 anything else which might be 
 necessary or advisable to take with them. 
 
 "You said something about guns " said Martin ; 
 " what sort of guns did you mean ?"
 
 THE SETTLERS. 53 
 
 " We have three fowling-pieces and th/ee mus- 
 kets, hesides pistols.' 1 
 
 "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. 1 
 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 1" 
 
 " 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," re- 
 plied Martin. 
 
 " Why, Martin," said Mrs. Campbell, "you do not 
 mean that the children and these young ladies and I 
 are to fire offrities?" 
 
 " 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 leveller 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 tiy 
 them before you purchase." 
 
 "Do so, then, Super ; Alfred will go with you as 
 Boon as he comes back, and you and he can settle 
 the matter." 
 
 ** Why, Super," observed Mrs. Campbell, " vou 
 
 5*
 
 A THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 
 uut-lying Indians, as we call them, who are no bet- 
 ter than they should be ; and I always like to see ri- 
 fles 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 our 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: 1 
 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 defence." 
 
 "You shall do so, Martin," replied Mrs. Camp- 
 bell ; "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 dan- 
 ger 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 the 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 oil" a rifle to being
 
 THE SETTLERS. i>6 
 
 hugged by a bear or an Indian, because of two evila 
 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 Provi- 
 dence for aid in peril." 
 
 At last all the purchases were completed, and 
 everything was packed up and ready for embarka- 
 tion. Another message from the governor was re- 
 ceived, 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 offi- 
 cer 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 detach- 
 ment which was about to proceed to Fort Frontig- 
 nac, 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 de- 
 sired the officer to take two large tents for the use 
 of Mr. Campbell, to be returned to the fort when the 
 bouse had been built, and they were completely set- 
 tled. 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.
 
 £>6 THE SETTLEl'.a. 
 
 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 hurst into 
 leaf: hut iu 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 all northern America, 
 the transitions from heat to cold, and from cold to 
 heat, are very rapid. 
 
 My young 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, &c, and all are put up in the gar- 
 rets, where the carcases 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 oat with hand-nets upon the ice, where they 
 become in a few minutes frozen quite hard, so that, 
 if )ou wish it, you may break them in half like a
 
 THE SETTLERS. 57 
 
 rotten stick. The cattle are fed upon these fish du- 
 ring 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. 
 Fir>t, there was the removal of so large a family, 
 and the passage out; then he had procured at Liv- 
 erpool a. large quantity of cutlery and tools, furni- 
 ture, &c, 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 ex- 
 penses of living, had taken away all his money, ex- 
 cept 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, be- 
 sides many other influential people of Quebec, es- 
 corted 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
 
 58 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 family found themselves separated from their ac- 
 quaintances and silently listening to the measured 
 sound of the oars, as they dropped into the water. 
 
 And it is not to he wondered at that they were si- 
 lent, 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 splen- 
 dor and all its comfort, rose up in their remem- 
 brance ; 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 iso- 
 late themselves in the Canadian woods — to trust tc 
 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 lit- 
 tle 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 docth with us as he judges 
 best; and if hope was not buoyant in all of them, 
 still there was confidence, resolution, and resigna- 
 tion. Gradually they Avere roused from their reve- 
 ries by the beauty of the scenery and the novelty of 
 what met their sight ; the songs, also, of the Cana- 
 dian boatmen were musical and cheering, and by 
 decrees they had all recovered their usual good 
 spirits. 
 
 Alfred was the first to shake off his melancholy 
 ieelings and to attempt to remove them from others ; 
 nor was lie unsuccessful. The officer who command- 
 id the detachment of troops, and who was in the 
 same L'lleau with the family, had respected their 
 silence upon their departure from the wharf — per- 
 haps he felt much as they did. His name was Sin- 
 clair, and his rank that of senior captain in the regi- 
 ment — a handsome, Uorid young man, tall and well
 
 THE SETTLERS. 59 
 
 made, \ery 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 syca- 
 more, so transparent and yellow, with the sun be- 
 hind them, and the new shoots of the spruce fir." 
 
 " It is, indeed, very lovely," replied Mrs. Camp- 
 bell ; "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." 
 
 " T had no idea that trees had so much charity or 
 'eflection, Emma," rejoined Alfred. 
 
 " I can not answer for their charity, but, by the 
 side of this clear water, you must allow them reflec- 
 tion, cousin," replied Emma. 
 
 "I presume you will add vanity to their attri- 
 butes ?" 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 be- 
 come 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, is it a village — one, two, three houses— just 
 opening upon us ?" 
 
 "That is a raft, Miss Percival, which is comincr 
 down the river," replied Capt. Sinclair. " Yru will 
 see, when we are nearer to it, that perhaps it covers
 
 60 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 wo acres of water, and there are three tiers of tim- 
 Der 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 some- 
 times 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 ob- 
 serve, several sweeps on each side." 
 
 All the party were now standing up in the stern* 
 sheets of the bateau to look at the people on the raft, 
 who amounted to about fifty or sixty men — now run- 
 ning 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 iheir course to Quebec 
 was now straight, and there was a slight breeze 
 down the river, the people on board of the raft hoist- 
 ed ten or fifteen sails upon different masts, to assist 
 thern 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 night- 
 fall arrived al St. Anne's, where they found every- 
 thing read) for their reception. Although their beds
 
 THE SETTLERS. 01 
 
 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 debarkation ; and 
 it appeared that he had quite won the hearts of the 
 two boys by his amusing anecdotes during th * day. 
 
 Soon after their embarkation, the name of Pontiac 
 being again mentioned by Capt. Sinclair, Mrs. Camp- 
 bell observed — 
 
 " Our man Super mentioned that name before. I 
 confess that I do not know anything of Canadian 
 affairs: I know only that Pontiac was an Indian 
 chief. Can you, Capt. Sinclair, give us any informa- 
 tion 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 re- 
 peat the names of the different tribes, but his own 
 particular tribe Avas 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 coun- 
 try, he was very civil to the English, or at least ap- 
 peared so to be ; for the French had given us so bad 
 a reputation with all the northern tribes, that they 
 had hilherto shown nothing but the most determined 
 hostility, and appeared to hate our very name. 
 They are now inclined to quiet, and it is to be hoped 
 their fear of us, after the several conflicts between 
 us, will induce them to remain so. You are, per- 
 haps, aware that the French had built many forts at 
 tfie most commanding spots in the interior and on 
 Vol. I.— 6
 
 62 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 the lakes, all of which, when they gave up the coun« 
 try, were garrisoned by our troops, to keep the In- 
 dians 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 deter- 
 mination, 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 arrange- 
 ments, 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 thir- 
 teen 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 V 
 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 the 
 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 Pontiac contrive to 
 surprise all the forts V 
 
 "Almost the whole of them were taken by a sin- 
 gular stratagem. The Indians are very partial to, 
 and exceedingly dexterous at, a game called the 
 'Bag^atiway :' it is played with a ball and a long- 
 handled sort of racket. They divide into two par- 
 ties, and the object of each party is to drive the ball 
 to their own goal. It is something like hurly in 
 England or golf in Scotland. Many hundreds are
 
 THE SETTLERS. t>3 
 
 sometimes engaged on both sides; and the Euro- 
 peans 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 hap- 
 pened to be near the forts. Upon this, Pontiac ar- 
 ranged 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 hav- 
 ing 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 at- 
 tack 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 Em- 
 ma , " you don't know how much you have interest- 
 ed 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 Per- 
 cival, 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 gar- 
 rison 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
 
 64 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 con- 
 sented, 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, 
 hut 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 re- 
 turn 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 hear- 
 ing of the expressions which she had used, and it 
 was evident that she wanted to communicate some- 
 thing, 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 
 t>f 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 oth- 
 er warriors, who would also come into the fort with 
 concealed arms under pretence of trading, would at- 
 tack the garrison outside. 
 
 " Having obtained this information, Major Glad- 
 win did all he could to put the fort into a state of 
 defence, and took every necessary precaution. He
 
 THE SETTLERS. 65 
 
 made known to the officers and men what the in- 
 tentions of the Indians were, and instructed the offi- 
 cers 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 In- 
 dian women 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 ihen 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 Pon- 
 tiac 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 out- 
 side 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 Pon- 
 tiac 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 
 aid my uncle, but Major Gladwin thought otherwise. 
 
 6*
 
 66 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 He said that he had promised safe conduct and pro- 
 tection to and from the fort before he was aware of 
 the conspiracy ; and, having made a promise, hia 
 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 myse'f 
 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 dis- 
 tress. 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 accommoda- 
 tions 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 Sin- 
 clair," 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 vil- 
 lage of Trois Roivires.
 
 THE SETTLEES. OT 
 
 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 break- 
 fasted 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 Mon- 
 treal, 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 vour own bedding for this night, as 
 there is no habitation large enough to receive us on 
 the river's side, anywhere near where we wish to 
 arrive." 
 
 " Never mind, Captain Sinclair, we shall sleep 
 very sound, 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
 
 68 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 when he was blockading the Fort of 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 communi- 
 cation 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 entrenchments 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 Ponti- 
 ac as a prisoner, nothing of this kind 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 at- 
 tacked 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 of 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 intG 
 the hands of the Indians, called out to the gunner tt
 
 THE SETTLERS. 69 
 
 set fire to the magazine, and blow them all up to- 
 gether. This order was heard by one of Pontiac's 
 chiefs acquainted with English ; he cried out to 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 Mar- 
 tin Super told us so. How did he die, Captain Sin- 
 clair?" 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 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 ani- 
 mosity against the English is buried with him." 
 
 " Thank you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary Per- 
 cival, " 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 pos- 
 sessed great courage and skill in all his arrange- 
 ments, 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 him- 
 self (and very correctly too) as the sovereign, is not 
 to be Avondered at, especially as our encroachments 
 daily increased. The great fault of his character, in 
 our eyes, was his treachery ; but we must remember
 
 70 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 "What we consider a generous dismissal, haprob- 
 ably 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's char- 
 acter ; for, at any other lime 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. 1 once had a conversation with one 
 of the chiefs on the subject. After he had conversed 
 some time, he said, ' You believe in one God — so do 
 we ; you call him 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 land of 
 Good Spirits — we say so too. Then Indians and 
 Yangees (that is, English) both try to gain same 
 object, only try in not the same way. Now I think 
 that it is much better that as we all go along to- 
 gether, that every man paddle his own canoe. That 
 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 In-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 71 
 
 dian character would be strengthened and improved 
 Dy the infusion of Christian principles and Christian 
 hopes — so that I must still consider it very desirable 
 '.hat the Indians should become Christians — and 1 
 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 to pass 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 provis- 
 ions procured at Trois Rivieres, the ladies retired for 
 the night. Captain Sinclair stationed sentinels at dif- 
 ferent 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 reimbarked and pursued their 
 course. Before sunset, they arrived at the town of 
 Montreal, where it had been arranged that they 
 should wait a day. Mr. Campbell had a few pur- 
 chases 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 Sin- 
 clair, 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
 
 72 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 satisfy their curiosity. The French 
 ladies shrugged up their shoulders and exclaimed, 
 " Est-il possible ?'■ when they heard that the Camp- 
 bells 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. Cap- 
 tain 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 destina- 
 tion ; and the following morning they again em- 
 barked, 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 as- 
 cent ; how they were sometimes obliged to land and 
 carry the cargoes of the boats ; how one or two bat- 
 eaux were upset and some of their stores lost ; and 
 how their privations increased on each following 
 day of the journey. I have too much to relate to 
 enter into this portion of the narrative, although 
 there might be much in the detail ; it will be suffi- 
 cient 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 Fronlig- 
 nac, and treated with every attention by the com- 
 mandant, who had received letters from the governor 
 of Quebec, desiring him to do all that he possibly 
 could to serve them. The commandant, Colonel 
 Foster, had showed Mr. Campbell and his party the 
 rooms which had been provided for them, and now, 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 73 
 
 for the first time after many days, they found them- 
 selves altogether 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, incon- 
 sequence, surmounted, during their long and tedious 
 journey from Quebec, Mr. Campbell observed : " My 
 dear wife and children, we have thus far proceeded 
 without serious casualty ; it has pleased the Al- 
 mighty to conduct us safely over a boisterous sea, to 
 keep our spirits up by providing us with unexpected 
 friends and support, and we have now arrived within 
 a few miles of our destination. But let us not sup- 
 pose that o.ur 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 mer- 
 cifully 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 and distress, it is his ap- 
 pointment, 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 V>y 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 knelt down, surrounded by his family, and 
 in a fervent and feeling address, poured forth his 
 
 Vol. I.— 7
 
 74 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 
 uther 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 col- 
 lected 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 clear- 
 ings 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 cultiva- 
 tion. 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 
 wi'.h 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 overflow- 
 ing 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 75 
 
 Delted kingfisher darted up and down over the run- 
 ning 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 
 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 out 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 agree- 
 able 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 lim- 
 ited means. lam 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, 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 remune- 
 ration will not put you to a very great expense. 
 Captain Sinclair has volunteered to take charge of it."
 
 76 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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 ihe 
 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 ad- 
 dressed Mr. Campbell, " have been making another 
 collection for you from my brother officers, which 
 you were not provided with, and will find very use- 
 ful, 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," ob- 
 served 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 
 plentifully 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," re*
 
 THE SETTLERS. 77 
 
 plied Mr. Campbell, "for I certainly have no great 
 partiality to the flavor of onions in milk.' 1 
 
 A summons to breakfast broke up the conversation. 
 During the day, Henry and Alfred, assisted by Cap- 
 tain 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. Camp- 
 bell, 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 command- 
 ant and the other officers, they went down to the 
 shore of the lake, and embarked with Captain Sin- 
 clair in the commandant's boat, which had been pre- 
 pared 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 sol- 
 diers, 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 
 than three miles, although by land it was nearly five, 
 and in halt an hour they entered the cove adjoining 
 to which the allotment iay. 
 
 "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 enclosed 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."
 
 78 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " Well," said Emma Percival, laughing, " female 
 society is what we never calculated upon. What is 
 the man's name ?" 
 
 " Malachi Bone," replied Captain Sinclair. " 1 
 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 com- 
 pound 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 Jong 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, Avas 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 al- 
 lotment belonging to the old hunter, on the opposite 
 side of the brook", contained about the same portion 
 of natural meadow, and was in other respecis but a 
 continuation of the portion belonging to Mr. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " 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 axe to have cleared 
 it away out of such a wood as that behind us. Why, 
 "t's as good as a fortune to a new settler."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 79 
 
 " I think it is, Martin," replied Mr. Campbell. 
 
 " Well, sir, now to Avork 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 han- 
 dle an axe, 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 Cap- 
 tain Sinclair and Mr. Campbell were surveying the 
 ground, that they might choose a spot for the erec- 
 tion of the house. Mrs. Campbell remained sitting 
 on the knoll, watching the debarkation of the pack- 
 ages ; and Percival, by her directions, brought to her 
 those articles which were for immediate use. Mary 
 and Emma Percival, accompanied by John, as they 
 had no task allotted for them, walked up by 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 two 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 up.in 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.
 
 80 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " It must be the hunter, Emma," said Mary Per* 
 cival ; " 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 ejood 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, its no frolic ; we are come to settle 
 here, and shall be your neighbors." 
 
 " To settle here ! — why, what on earth do you 
 mean, young woman ? Settle here ! — not you sure- 
 ly." 
 
 "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 rece- 
 ding furm 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, rniss," observed Martin ; " I guess-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 81 
 
 ed 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 fur- 
 iher 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 il'svery 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 trig- 
 ger 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 fa- 
 tigue, and, when he hasn't heard a word spoken for 
 months, listening is as had. 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 his 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 axe; before dusk, 
 many trees had been felled, and were ready for saw- 
 ing into lengths. The tents had all been pitched:
 
 82 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 pre- 
 pared 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 ihe 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 break, 
 fast, 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 everybody was 
 fast asleep, I presume," said Alfred ; " I heard noth- 
 ing." 
 
 " It was like the sound of cart-wheels at a dis- 
 tance, with whistling and hissing," continued Mary. 
 
 " 1 think 1 can explain it to you, as I was up du- 
 ring 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 his- 
 sing, which I believe is made by the lizards. They 
 will serenade you every night. I only hope you will 
 not be disturbed by anything more dangerous." 
 
 " Is it possible that such small creatures can make 
 Buch a din ?"
 
 THE SETTLERS. 83 
 
 "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 re- 
 mained. 
 
 " 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. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 "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 ?" ob- 
 served 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 s t ill that's his feeling. I 
 said to him, that if he would go, I dare say Mr. 
 Campbell would buy his allotment of him, and he 
 seems 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, ap- 
 parently of no consequence now, but as the country 
 fills up, most valuable." 
 
 " Well," replied Mr. Campbell, " as I presume we 
 Khali remain here, or, at all events, those who sur- 
 vive me will, till the country fills up, I shall be most
 
 84 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 em. 
 ploying them longer. Two of them were good car- 
 penters, and a sawpithad been dug, that they might 
 prepare the doors and the frames for the window- 
 sashes which Mr. Campbell had taken the pre- 
 caution to bring Avith 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 re- 
 turned 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. Camp- 
 bell : money he appeared to care little about — in- 
 deed, 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 man- 
 ner 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 85 
 
 Campbell, as they were clearing away the table 
 after supper. 
 
 " Just nothing but look at the squaw, or at Mala- 
 chi cleaning his gun, or anything 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. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " I mean that he can fire pretty true, ma'am, al- 
 though it's a heavy gun for him to lift ; a smaller 
 one would be 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 bet- 
 ter ; and the boy with a gun is almost as good as a 
 man — for the gun kills equally 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 Ave must enlist too," said 
 Emma. 
 
 "Yes ; we'll be the female rifle brigade," replied 
 Mary, laughing. 
 
 " I really quite like the idea," continued Fmma ; 
 " I will put up with no impertinence, reco^ect, Al- 
 fred ; excite my displeasure, and I shall ta^e down 
 my rifle." 
 
 Vol. I.— 8
 
 86 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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 V 
 
 "A painter, miss." 
 
 " Oli ! now I know : a catamount is a painter, and 
 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 wiih 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 
 De 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 : hesides, 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 gunpow- 
 der and the like."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 87 
 
 "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. Camp- 
 bell. " Say what your terms are now, and I will 
 close with you." 
 
 "Well, I'll leave that to Martin and you, stran- 
 ger. 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 
 an'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 oc- 
 casionally." 
 
 " 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
 
 88 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 will teach him his wood-craft. It's as well lo 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 oc- 
 curs, we shall know it from lum, for the sake of the 
 hoy, and have his help too, if we need it." 
 
 " There is much good sense in Martin Super's re- 
 marks, 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."
 
 THK SETTLERS. 89 
 
 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 clav, a smaller room, as 
 a sitting-room, and three bed-rooms, all of which 
 Avere 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 gra- 
 nary made above the store-room. The interior of 
 the house was not yet fitted up, although the furni- 
 ture 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 moschetoes. 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 pali- 
 sade 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 
 
 8*
 
 90 THK SETTLERS. 
 
 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 se- 
 lected the most quiet cows to milk, and Mary and 
 Emma Percival had already entered upon their du- 
 ties : the milk had been put into the storehouse, 
 until a dairy could be built up. A very neat bridge 
 had been thrown across the stream, and every morn- 
 ing the two girls, generally attended by Henry, Al- 
 fred, or Captain Sinclair, crossed over, and soon 
 became expert in their new vocation as dairy-maids. 
 Altogether, things began to wear a promising ap- 
 pearance. Henry and Mr. Campbell had dug up as 
 fast as Martin and Alfred cleared away the brush- 
 wood, and the garden had already been cropped 
 with such few articles as could be put in at the sea- 
 son. The commandmant 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. 
 Tiny 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 tiie 
 assistance of the young men, Mary and Emma passed 
 it without much difficulty; they then turned back
 
 THE SETTLERS. 01 
 
 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 no- 
 body 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 
 ol mocassins 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 Sin- 
 clair. 
 
 " She has a very modest, unaffected look, has she 
 not, Alfred ?" said Mary. 
 
 "Yes ; I think there is something very preposses- 
 sing 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 anything 
 else." 
 
 " But she must think us very rude to talk and stare 
 at her in tlr's manner ; I suppose she can not speak 
 English." 
 
 "I will sneak 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 Sin- 
 clair. 
 
 Captain Sinclair addressed her in the Indian lan- 
 guage, and the Indian girl replied in a very soft 
 vo-'ce. 
 
 "She says her husband is gone to bring home
 
 92 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " Tell her we are coming to live here, and will 
 give her anything she wants." 
 
 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 orna- 
 ment 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 shall 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 erame by-and-by." 
 
 "Well, now tell her that we shall always be hap- 
 py 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 Slrawberry- 
 plant." 
 
 They then nodded farewell to the young Indian,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 93 
 
 tnd 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 thev 
 jo to V 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 axe 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 thev observed 
 that John was missing. 
 
 " He was here just before prayers," said Mrs. 
 Campbell. " He must have slipped away afler the 
 old hunter." 
 
 " No doubt of that, ma'am," said Martin. " He will 
 go with him and find out where he puts up his wig- 
 wam, 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 practising 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 ever 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
 
 94 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 pro- 
 cured an ample supply of ammunition, as well as 
 the rifles, at Quebec. These had been unpacked, 
 and the young men were becoming daily more ex- 
 pert. 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 possi- 
 ble, that they might husband their stores. Martin 
 was a certain shot if within distance, and they sel- 
 dom 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 com- 
 pleted, the palisade had been raised round the house 
 and storehouse, and the men were now required at 
 the fort. Captain Sinclair received several hints 
 from the commandant that he must use all conveni- 
 ent despatch, and limit his absence to a few days 
 more, which he trusted would be sufficient. Cap- 
 tain 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 95 
 
 settled his account with Captain Sinclair, by a draft 
 upon his banker at Quebec, for the pay of the sol- 
 diers, 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 coun- 
 trymen ; 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. Mar- 
 tin, 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 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 hard- 
 ships to combat, difficulties to overcome, and occa- 
 sional disappointments and losses to bear up against ; 
 but let us recollect how greatly we have, through
 
 96 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 live- 
 ly 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 opportuniy of proving that we 
 can do without the assistance of others. Up to the 
 present, our trial has been nothing; indeed, I can 
 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 past blessings, and our faith 
 derived from past deliverances, by a devout submis- 
 sion 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 opu- 
 lence and luxury as we are now in this log-house ; 
 hut 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 won- 
 der what my trials are to be ! Depend upon it, the 
 cow will kick down the pail, or the butter won't
 
 THE SETTLERS. 97 
 
 "Or you'll get chapped fingers in the wintertime, 
 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 oucht to go 
 first." 
 
 "We must look after one another's noses, they 
 Bay, as we can not tell if our own is in danger ; and 
 if we see a white spot on 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 
 
 Vol. L— 9
 
 98 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 wood-chuck," 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'l say it's not fit 
 to eat ; but there are other things much better." 
 
 " That's quite sufficient for me Martin," said Em- 
 ma ; " 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-mor- 
 row himself." 
 
 " I'm 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 me, and I'll shoot everything for dinner," 
 replied John. 
 
 "I think you had better do so, firmer," said Hen- 
 ry, in a low voice ; " the temptation will be too 
 strong."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 99 
 
 "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 prom- 
 ised." 
 
 " I'll always tell when I go, if mamma will always 
 let me go, and I'll always come back when I prom- 
 ise, if—" v 
 
 "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'll 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 Ave shall have one made in two or three 
 days. The lake is full offish, and it's a pity not to 
 have some while the weather is so fine." 
 
 "I've plenty of lines in the storeroom," said Mr. 
 Campbell. 
 
 " Master Percival would soon learn to fish by him- 
 self," 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
 
 100 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 hunter is always a good fisherman, and don't de- 
 spise them, for they often give him a meal when he 
 would otherwise go to sleep with an empty stom- 
 ach." 
 
 " Well, I'll catch fish with pleasure," cried Per- 
 tival ; " only I must sometimes go out hunting." 
 
 " Yes, my dear boy, and we must sometimes go to 
 ^>ed; 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 oft" 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 offi- 
 cers sent with the men, of course he will be absent, 
 and if he is left in the fort, he will be obliged to re- 
 main there ; so there is no chance of seeing him un- 
 til the haymaking is over." 
 
 «■ Where is it that they go to make hay, Mary ?" 
 
 "You know they have only a sufficiency of pas- 
 ture round the fort for the cattle during the summer, 
 so they go along by the borders of the lake and isl-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 101 
 
 ands, where they know there are patches of cleat 
 land, cut the grass down, make the hay, and collect 
 it all in the bateaux, 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 ihem 
 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." } B 
 
 " 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, laugh- 
 ing ; "but wait till I have learnt 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. 
 
 9*
 
 102 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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'm afraid you 
 will be a long while before you are paid, if you only 
 take it out in goods from my storehouse." 
 
 " All the better, master ; they will last till I die, 
 and then what's left "will do for the boy here," re- 
 plied 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 can 
 not permit him to be always away. I want him to 
 come home on 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 lorifj we may look for it, and how far it may 
 lead oe '. 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 everything else as concerns a
 
 THE SETTLERS. 103 
 
 hunter to do. You must let him be with me longer 
 and, if you please, when he comes hack 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 ail in rea- 
 son, 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 holydays." 
 
 " 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 judg- 
 ment, 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 slate of nature, and the first and most 
 important knowledge, is to learn to "gain our liveli- 
 hoods."
 
 104 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 '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, mas- 
 ter, 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. J 03 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 In the course of a week or two, things found their 
 places, and the family began to feel more comforta- 
 ble ; tbere 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, &c. Mary and Emma milked the 
 cows, and then assisted their mother during the day 
 in washing, &c. 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 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 some- 
 what 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 break- 
 fast. 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, 
 everything went on like clock-work. One day 
 passed away so like another, that the time flew im«
 
 106 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 perceptibly, and they wondered that the Sundays 
 came round so quick. They had now time to unpack 
 everything, 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 bed-time, when they 
 would all assemble in the kitchen and talk over the 
 little matters which had occurred, either during the 
 chase or at home. Bat they were now in the middle 
 of October, the winter was fast approaching, and 
 they looked forward to it with some degree of anx- 
 iety. 
 
 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 fin- 
 ished 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 re- 
 turn to the fort, he being that night on duty. Pre- 
 vious, however, to his return, he had some conversa- 
 tion 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 107 
 
 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 
 communications during the winter ; secondly, I wish- 
 ed to have some conversation with you and Martin 
 relative to information we have received about the 
 Indians. I can tell you privately wharf I was unwil- 
 ling to say before your mother and cousins, as it 
 would put them in a state of restlessness and anxi- 
 ety, which could avail nothing and only annoy them. 
 I he 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 anything, although it is certain that they 
 have gathered together in large numbers not very 
 far irom the fort. No doubt but they have French 
 emissaries inciting them to attack us. From what 
 we can learn, however, they have not agreed amom* 
 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 treach- 
 erous foe to deal with. And now, for your por- 
 tion ol 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 In- 
 dians, who, having left their homes, will not return 
 if they can help it, without some booty; these are
 
 108 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 not regular warriors, or if warriors, not much es- 
 teemed by the tribe ; in i'act, they are the worst 
 classes of Indians, who are mere robbers and ban- 
 ditti. You must, therefore, be on the lookout 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 terme 
 with him, as it is not very likely that any party oi 
 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." 
 
 M 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 anything in his wigwam ex- 
 cept 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 to 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 mem- 
 bers of the family, especially the female portion of 
 it. How far you may consider it advisable to com- 
 municate 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 defences of your habita- 
 tion, to resist them successfully, if you are not sud-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 109 
 
 denly 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 friend- 
 ship, 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 mad- 
 ness on the part of your father to bring out your 
 mother and cousins to such a place, and expose them 
 j such privations and dangers. I can hardly sleep 
 at night Avhen 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 set- 
 tler 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 in- 
 cur. 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 we would have to encounter by so 
 doing, bm who probably considered that the danger 
 we now apprehend no longer existed ; and he has 
 followed that advice which I have no doubt was con- 
 scientiously 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 
 Vol. L— 10
 
 110 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 them- 
 selves where we have done ; should you have con- 
 sidered it so very rash an undertaking, presuming 
 that they were merely farmers and farmers' wives?" 
 
 "I certainly should have troubled myself very lit- 
 tle about them, and perhaps not thought upon the 
 subject." 
 
 " But supposing that the subject had been brought 
 up at the lurt, and you heard that 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 al- 
 low 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 re- 
 quire assistance, we will apply for you and a party 
 of soldiers." 
 
 " There would be much difficulty about that, Al- 
 fred," replied Captain Sinclair; "if there were suf- 
 ficient danger to make that demand upon the com- 
 mandant, 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 SETTLERS. Ill 
 
 The conversation was then changed, and in half 
 an hour more they arrived at the fort. 
 
 Alfred was welcomed at the fort by Colonel Fors- 
 ter, with whom he was a great favorite. The colo* 
 nel could not refrain from expressing his opinion, 
 that Mr. Campbell and his family were in a position 
 of some danger, and lamenting that flie female por- 
 tion 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 accommo- 
 date 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 his ad- 
 versity ; 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 at- 
 tended 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 incum- 
 brance !" 
 
 " 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 laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 "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."
 
 112 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " I have been thinking, Colonel Forster, that, aa 
 we have no horses at present, if you have any rock- 
 ets they might be useful in such a case. At the dis- 
 tance we are from you a rocket would be seen im- 
 mediately 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 V 
 
 " Yes; I shall take that opportunity to save wear- 
 ing 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 the 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 transpa- 
 rent yellow leaves of the maple. A slight frost had 
 appeared for two or three mornings aboul 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 113 
 
 "and so tell your mother and cousins ; and mind to 
 show them how to fire them off from out of the bar- 
 rel 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 lookout and would give immediate 
 information and assistance in case of any hostile 
 measures on the part of the Indians. He told Mar- 
 tin, that in a few days he would discover what had 
 taken place and what might be looked forward to. 
 When Martin returned with this communication, 
 Alfred was satisfied, and did not acquaint anybody 
 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 despatches which 
 they had received since their arrival at the settle- 
 ment. 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 paper with " On His Majesty's Service," 
 
 10*
 
 114 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 rny rank, my dear mother ; I am 
 a lieutenant in his Majesty's service — huzza ! Here's 
 a letter enclosed 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 correspond- 
 ence, 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 re- 
 muneration 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 Cap- 
 tain Lumley, which made him very thoughtful. The 
 fact was, that 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 re- 
 covered 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 re- 
 tiring to bed.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 115 
 
 " 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 ex- 
 hausted, and Ave 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 advan- 
 tageous, as the sooner we clear the ground, the 
 sooner Ave shall be independent." 
 
 "I agree Avith you, Campbell; besides, we shall 
 now have Alfred's half-pay, poor felloAv, which will 
 help us very much ; I have been thinking more of 
 him than anything else this night ; I watched him 
 Avhen he read Captain Lumley's letter, and I well 
 understood the cause of his seriousness for some 
 time afterAvard ; I almost feel inclined to let him 
 return to his profession ; it Avould be painful parting 
 with him, but the sacrifice on his partis very great." 
 
 "Still it's his duty," replied Mr. Campbell, "and, 
 moreover, absolutely necessary at present, that he 
 should remain Avith us. When Ave are more settled 
 and mote independent of his assistance, weAvill 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 Avas a bracing air which cheered the 
 spirits, and the sunshine Avas pleasantly warm in 
 situations sheltered from the Avinds ; 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 doAvn with their pails 
 before them on a log, which Avas in front of Mala- 
 chi's lodge, noAv used as a cow-house. 
 
 " Do you know, Mary, "said Emma, after a pause, 
 " I'm almost sorrv that I have received a letter from 
 Miss Paterson." 
 
 " Indeed, dear Emma !" 
 
 " Yes, indeed, it has unsettled me. I did nothing
 
 ,16 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 but dream all last night. Everything 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 on the piano as usual; we 
 walked oul in the shrubberies ; we took an airing in 
 the carriage ; all the servants were before me ; we 
 went to the village and to the almshouses ; we were 
 in the garden picking dahlias and roses ; I was just 
 going up to dress for a large dinner-party, and had 
 rung ihe 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 re- 
 membering, 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 mur- 
 dered ; hut what have we lost in comparison ? noth- 
 ing- -a few luxuries. Have we not our 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 pri- 
 vations \o my uncle and aunt now that they are so 
 much more advanced in years, and have been so
 
 THE SETTLERS. 117 
 
 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 
 mu.:h of a philosopher as you are ; and, acknowledg- 
 ing that what you say is correct, I still have the 
 same feeling — that is, I wish that I had not received 
 the tetter 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 1 
 dare say in a day or two 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 sav- 
 age ; 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 nighi, these dogs 
 were tied up : Juno in the storehouse ; Bully and 
 Snob at the door of the house, within the palisade ; 
 Trim in doors, and old Sancho at the lodge of Mala- 
 chi Bon^, where the cows were put in at night. Mr. 
 Campbell found it rather expensive at first feeding 
 these dugs, but as soon as Martin and his compan-
 
 118 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 ions brought home game, there was always plenty 
 for them all. They were all very shfcrp 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 ra- 
 ther 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, how- 
 ever, 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 everything 
 announced that the winter was close at hand. Mar- 
 tin, who had been hunting, when he came home 
 bade them prepare for an immediate change in the 
 weather, and his prediction was speedily verified.
 
 THE SETTLERS. H9 
 
 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, "win- 
 ter 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 
 storehouse, John," said Martin, " and then we shall 
 see how you can get over the ground with them 
 when you go out 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 giver, to the animal." 
 
 "Have you ever shot any ?" said Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 "Yes, ma'am, many a one. They're queer ani- 
 mals ; 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 floun- 
 der about till they are overtaken. You see, Master 
 Percival, the moose can't put on snow-shoes like we 
 can, and that gives us the advantage ov*>r the ani- 
 mal."
 
 6 
 
 120 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "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 some- 
 times 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 appal- 
 ling 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 weath- 
 er, and some of the wakeful party \vere anxiously 
 watching the result. Toward the morning the storm 
 abated, and everything was again quiet. In conse- 
 quence 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 
 east three feet deep on the ground, ami in some
 
 THE SETTLERS. 121 
 
 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, in- 
 deed, winter come on with little warning." 
 
 " It still snows," observed Mary ; "not much, in- 
 deed, but the sky is very black." 
 
 " Yes, miss : we shall have some more of it yet," 
 observed Martin. " Mr. Campbell and Mr. Henry 
 have gone to the storehouse 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 cease, 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 storehouse ; Mr. Campbell and Henry re- 
 turned 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 pali- 
 sades 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 freez- 
 ing winds which they had to expect. All wc:ked 
 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 win- 
 dow-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 com- 
 menced 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 
 
 Vol. I.— 11
 
 12£ THE SETTLERS. 
 
 been -i day of great fatigue, and they were glad to 
 reihe to rest. Mrs. Campbell and the girls had put 
 an adJitional supply of blankets and skins upon the 
 beds, for the cold was now intense, and the ther- 
 mometer 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 firewood 
 as they could, before it was dark, within the pali- 
 sades. 
 
 " 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 show-shoes, and 
 .earn to walk in them," observed Martin ; " or oth- 
 erwise you'll be a prisoner as well as the ladies. 
 You see, John, you are not at Malachi's lodge." 
 
 " G-o 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 nei- 
 ther. 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." 
 
 " 1 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 MartiD;
 
 THE SETTLERS. 12? 
 
 " 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. Camp- 
 bell, " and we will not forget to have a good pro- 
 vision for next winter, if it pleases God to spare our 
 lives." 
 
 " Where were you born, Martin?" said Henry, aa 
 they were sitting round the kitchen fire, as usual, in 
 the evening. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Henry, I was horn 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 vic- 
 tory was to us." 
 
 " So I've heard, sir," replied Martin -" my mother 
 was an Englishwoman, and I was boffi 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 cal« 
 myself a trapper, but I still am both. I first wat 
 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, ' Fa 
 thei, I Avon't be a drummer.' — 'Well,' says he, ' Mar 
 tin, you must help yourself, for all my'interest lie' 
 in the army.'—' So I will,' savs I ; ' father, I'm ofl 
 for the woods.'— 'Well,' says 'he, 'just as you like 
 Martin.' So one fine day I wished him good-bv, ana 
 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
 
 124 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 — 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 birth on account of his wound." 
 
 " Well— go on, Martin." 
 
 "I hav'n't much more to say, ma'am. I brought 
 home my furs, sold them, and father helped me tr 
 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 1 
 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 set- 
 ting 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 it would 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 125 
 
 "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?" in- 
 quired Mary Percival. 
 
 " That depends, miss, how hungry they may be; 
 but they are not very fond of attacking a human be- 
 ing : 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 dog— let alone a Chris- 
 tian. 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 howling of a wolf." 
 
 "There is some difference, Alfred," replied Em- 
 ma, 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 hor- 
 
 11*
 
 126 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 ror 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 Ave 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. 
 
 "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 that 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 il : 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 127 
 
 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, 
 everything 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 coun- 
 try 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 
 startled at the sound of their own voices, which the 
 atmosphere rendered mor,e 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 maybe," replied Emma, "but still 
 we are very glad of your company." 
 
 They arrived at the cow-house without any ad- 
 venture, let loose Sancho who had been tied up, as 
 it was decided that the dog should remain at home 
 with the others, and proceeded to milk the cows. 
 Having finished that task, and supplied them with 
 fodder, Mary Percival observed, as they were re- 
 tracing their steps, 
 
 " I must say that it would not only be more con-
 
 128 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 venient but more agreeable if tbe cows were kep\ 
 nearer to the house." 
 
 " It would be, certainly," replied Alfred. " It is a 
 pity that there is not a cow-shed within the pali- 
 sades ; 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 one 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 
 practising upon the snow-shoes by the males of the 
 pariy, the women scarcely ever venturing out of 
 doors, as the cold was very severe. Mary and Em- 
 ma 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 nev- 
 er made their appearance by daylight, and went as 
 before to milk the cows by themselves. On the Sat- 
 urday, 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 rela- 
 te) 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 conver- 
 sation. Mr. Campbell, although usually in g<%d 
 spirits, was certainly not so on that evening ; wheth-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 129 
 
 er it -was that the severity of the winter which had 
 6et 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 their 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 posi- 
 tion from that which they had been forced to leave. 
 Mrs. Campbell, who perceived that a gloom was 
 gathering over the whole party, made several re- 
 marks tending to reconcile them to their present lot, 
 and, after a time Mr. Campbell observed — 
 
 "Perhaps, my dear children, it maybe 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 en- 
 joyments and pleasures which were 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 there have as- 
 sailed us."' 
 
 "But still, papa, you would be very glad if cir- 
 cumstances would permit us to return to England ; 
 would you notl" said Percival. 
 
 "Yes, my child, I should, and even if I had re- 
 mained 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 so- 
 ciety, 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 thtre, papa?" 
 
 " I see none, my dear boy ; but we never know
 
 130 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 what is in store for us. Should any of us ever re- 
 turn, I presume it would be to live in a more hum- 
 ble 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, 1 
 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 ihat I might have done more good 
 with it. Bat 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 appropri- 
 ately is inserted the prayer for deliverance under the 
 perils of wealth? — 
 
 • : ' In all time of ourtribulation, in all time of our 
 wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of judg- 
 ment, good Lord deliver us.' 
 
 "Examine this, my dear children : in time of our 
 tribulation — that is in poverty and distress, and per- 
 haps famishing from want (and in lew positions are 
 people so incited to crimed, then in all time of our 
 wealth, evidently and distinctly placing wealth as 
 more dangerous to the soul's welfare than the ex- 
 tremest poverty and its accompanying temptations ; 
 ana 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 131 
 
 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 bar- 
 ter is too apt to make us bend to that which is ac- 
 tually fraud. I should say, a country gentleman 
 living on his own property and among his own ten- 
 ants, employing the poor around him, holds a posi- 
 tion 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. This desire of aggrandize- 
 ment overcomes and masters us ; and vet, what can 
 be more absurd than to witness the care and anxiety 
 of those to gain riches, who have already more per- 
 haps than is necessary for their wants— thus ' heap- 
 ing 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 hoard- 
 ing 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 les- 
 son 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 1 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.
 
 132 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "But God said unto him: Thou fool, this night 
 thy soul shall be required of thee." 
 
 After a short silence, Mrs. Campbell observed, "1 
 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 mo- 
 ment have been in the greatest distress, even want- 
 ing a meal ; and I have, therefore, often thanked 
 God that he left us the means of comiag 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 re- 
 main 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 roo 
 many considered as a mere matter of form. They 
 forget that He who gives can also take away ; a^id 
 in their presumption, suppose their own ability aad 
 exertion to have been the sole means of procuring 
 themselves a daily supply of food ; thanking them- 
 selves 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 cancelled 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 mor- 
 row, who often suffers privation and hunger, and
 
 THE SETTLERS. 133 
 
 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 thank- 
 fulness 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 win- 
 ter consumption. 
 
 As the party were sitting down to dinner, they 
 were greeted by Captain Sinclair and a young lieu- 
 tenant of the garrison. It hardly need be said that 
 the whole family were delighted to see them. They 
 had come overland in their snow-shoes, and brought 
 some partridges or grouse, as they are sometimes 
 cal/ed, 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 communication 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 everything. 
 
 "By-the-by, Mr. Campbell, where have you built 
 your pig-sties?" 
 Vol. I.— 12
 
 134 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "Inside the palisade, next to the fowl-house. ' ? 
 
 " That is well," replied Captain Sinclair, " for oth- 
 erwise 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 in 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 pro- 
 posed 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, Al- 
 fred," said Mr. Campbell. "We have sufficient dan- 
 ger 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 informa- 
 tion relative to the Indians. Alfred replied, that they 
 expected him every day, but as yet had not received 
 any communication from him. Captain Sinclair 
 Elated that they were equally ignorant at the fort as
 
 THE SETTLERS. 135 
 
 to what had been finally arranged, and that Colonel 
 Forster was in hopes that the hunter would by this 
 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 impa- 
 tient to go." 
 
 "Well, I hope he will ; I shall be glad to have some- 
 thing to tell the colonel, as I made the request upon 
 that ground. I believe, however, he was very wil- 
 ling 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, ana 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 upon 
 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 young- 
 er male portion of the family slept, and which, as 
 we before stated, had two spare bed-places. 
 
 The next morning Captain Sinclair would have ac- 
 companied the Miss Percivals on their milking ex- 
 pedition, 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. Camp- 
 bell. John, after a time, having as usual rubbed 
 down his rifle, threw it on his shoulder, and, calling
 
 136 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 the dogs which lay ahout, 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 per- 
 mitted 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 snow heap 
 which he had sprang over, holding on and held fast by 
 a lanje 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, 
 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 evi- 
 dently about to attack the young women. Emma 
 threw her arms round 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 an- 
 imal'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, sup- 
 porting her sister, who had become insensible. 
 
 If John showed gallantry in shooting the wolf, he
 
 THE SETTLERS. 137 
 
 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 wait- 
 ing the return of the Miss Percivals to go to break- 
 fast. 
 
 " Was that you that 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. 
 
 " At 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, 
 Manin, and Henry, seizing their rifles, darted out 
 from the house, and ran with all speed in the direc- 
 tion of the cow-house. 
 
 " My poor girls !" exclaimed Mr. 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,
 
 138 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 out- 
 side, 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 that 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 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 that 
 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 ihe fault of Martin and me," replied 
 Alfred. " Thank Heaven it's no worse !" 
 
 " So far from its being a subject of regret, I consider 
 it one of thankfulness," replied Mr. Campbell. " This 
 might have happened when there was no one to as- 
 sist, 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 morn- 
 ing 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 irue. 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 139 
 
 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 that 
 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 gal- 
 lant little fellow you are, John," said Captain Sin- 
 clair ; " there are very few of them who have shot 
 a woif, 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 anything, 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. Camp- 
 bell, " 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.
 
 140 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "Where are you going, dear?" said Mrs. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " 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 cunuing, 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 
 everything." 
 
 "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 hol- 
 low 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 danger- 
 ous 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; hut. 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 141 
 
 tmraa wbs 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 wolfs 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.
 
 142 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 an'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 fas- 
 tened, in case of sending a message by night." 
 
 " Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. 
 Campbell, with surprise ; " why, what possible occa- 
 sion 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 imme* 
 diately."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 143 
 
 " 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 
 tittle fluttered at this fresh intimation of danger. 
 Captain Sinclair perceived it, and said, " We have 
 always spies on the lookout at the fort, that we may 
 know where the Indians are and what they are 
 about. Last month, we know that they held a coun- 
 cil, but that it broke up without their coming to any 
 determination, and that no hostile feeling was ex- 
 pressed so far as we could ascertain. But we never 
 trust the Indians, and they, knowing that we watch 
 them, have been verv careful not to commit any out- 
 rages; 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 imme- 
 diate word if he heard or saw anything 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."
 
 144 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " I do not think that there is any clanger, 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, pointed out 
 that mere was no occasion for alarm, he requested 
 Malachi Bone would say if he had any further infor- 
 mation. 
 
 " The Inguns 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 1 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 
 here about." 
 
 " 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 Indians 
 to make war with us ; but his day has 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 SETTLERS. 145 
 
 the young warriors, who look up to him, and he is 
 mischievous. If the Ingun nation won't make war 
 he will do something on his own account, if he pos- 
 sibly can. He's not badly named, I can tell vou " 
 " 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 Ingun myself, 
 and know Ingun craft. Then you see, these people 
 have strange ideas. During the whole war thev 
 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 farther 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 re- 
 spect to his age, do not acknowledge him or his 
 doings. They would disavow them immediately and 
 with truth, but they can not prevent his rtoin°- mis- 
 chief." 
 
 " What, then, is the redress in case oi hi* doing 
 any mischief?" said Henry. 
 
 " Why, upon him and his band, whenever you 
 can find them. You may destroy them all, and the 
 Inguns here won't say a word, or make any com- 
 plaint. That's all that can be done ; and that's 
 what I will do ; I mean to tell him so, when I mee' 
 him. He fears me, and so do his men ; they think 
 me medicine." 
 
 Vol. L— 13
 
 i46 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " Medicine ! Whal is that ?" said Henry. 
 
 "It means that he has a charmed life," replied 
 Captain Sinclair. The Indians are very supersti- 
 tious." 
 
 " Yes, they be ; well, perhaps, I'll prove medi- 
 cine ; and I'll give them a pill or two out of my 
 rifle," said Malachi, with a grim smile. " Howsom- 
 ever, 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 palis- 
 ade 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 aftei 
 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 ad- 
 venture 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 tha 
 this winter," said he. 
 
 The pariy 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 147 
 
 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 reiired *o 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 mag- 
 nificent 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 way 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 at- 
 tacked ; but good hunters don't want dogs. Is it to 
 watch for us, and give us notice of danger? Why 
 that's our duly, 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
 
 »48 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 Straw- 
 berry 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 
 m 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 pre- 
 caution was taken against it. More than once Per- 
 cival, whose business it was to bring in the fire- 
 wood, 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, Perchal
 
 THE SETTLERS. 149 
 
 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 ap- 
 peared longer and more tedious than it would have 
 done if they had been settled longer, and had the 
 crops to occupy their attention ; for it is in the win- 
 ter that the Canadian farmer gets through all his 
 thrashing and other work connected with his 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 constancy shut up within doors, they could not 
 help feeling the monotony and ennui of their situa- 
 tion. The young men found occupation and amuse- 
 ment in the chase ; they brought in a variety of ani- 
 mals and skins, and the evenings were generally 
 devoted to a narration of what occurred in the day 
 during their hunting excursions, but even these his- 
 tories of the chase were at last heard with indiffer- 
 ence. 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. 
 
 <3*
 
 150 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "Yes, well ; that old Malachi will never bring U3 
 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 leel so dull. It's 
 nothing but stitch, stitch, all day, and I am tired 
 of always doing the same thing. What a ho r rid 
 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't 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 dis- 
 content 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 noth- 
 ing but yawn, yawn, yawn, for want of air and exer- 
 cise. Uncle wont let us move out on account of that 
 horrid wolf. I wonder how Captain Sinclair is get- 
 ting on at the fort, and whether he is as dull as we 
 are." 
 
 To do Emma justice, it was seldom that she in- 
 dulged herself in such lamentings, but the tedium 
 was more than her high flow of spirits could well 
 bear. Mrs. Campbell made a point of arranging the
 
 THE SETTLERS. 151 
 
 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 practise for an hour or two, until at last Em- 
 ma 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 su- 
 perior dexterity, she was declared victor. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Campbell smiled when Emma came in and nar- 
 rated 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 fire- 
 wood which had been piled within the palisades, and 
 as it Avas 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, per- 
 ceiving the wolf, the courageous little animal squeez- 
 ed through them and flew toward it, barking as loud 
 as he could. Emma immediately ran in, took down
 
 152 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 her rifle and went out again, as she knew ihat 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. Camp- 
 bell, 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 ; youi 
 cousins will be home soon, and then we sha-ll 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 al- 
 lowed 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 sliall 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 !"
 
 THE SETTLEKS. 153 
 
 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 ac- 
 complished such a feat. 
 
 "Well," said Martin, " I never knew but one wo- 
 man who faced a wolf, except Miss Emma." 
 
 ''And who. was that, Martin?" said Mrs. Camp- 
 
 " It was a wife of one of our farmers, ma'am ; she 
 was at the outhouse doing something, when she per- 
 ceived 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 at 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 
 bred just as the wolf was making off, and the animal 
 tell, 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 
 lyolf 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 despatched 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 Mar- 
 "n. " Malachi Bone told me the story : he was born 
 there." 
 
 " Then he is an American." 
 
 "Well, ma'am, he is an American because he
 
 154 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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, tbe 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, Mar- 
 tin ?" 
 
 " 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 Mala- 
 chi 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 ap- 
 pears to live for ever, and they consider him as 
 charmed, and, to use their phrase, ' great medicine.'' 
 I've heard some Indians declare that Malachi has 
 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 re- 
 ally 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 pow- 
 der and ball, what else can he want ?" 
 
 "Happy are they whose wants are so few," ob- 
 served 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 !'
 
 THE SETTLERS. 155 
 
 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 re- 
 mained 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, afier 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 or- 
 dered from the poulterers." 
 
 " I know that we are not in England, my dear un- 
 cle, and I feel it too. How was the day before every
 
 156 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 husy 
 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 proporiion 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 misletoe. I know we are not in Kng- 
 land, my dear uncle, and that you have lost one of 
 your greatest pleasures — that of doing good, and ma- 
 king 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 dis- 
 pensing 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 an- 
 niversary 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 Christ- 
 mas times at Wexton Hal! ; 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. 
 
 il Perhaps I spoke rather loo severely, my dearest 
 Emma," said Mr. Campbell ; " but I did not like to 
 hear such a solemn day spoken of as if it were com- 
 memorated 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 157 
 
 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 Avere 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 mv 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 to carry 
 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 Indiana 
 Vol. I. — 14
 
 158 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 as- 
 sistance 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 Al- 
 fred. 
 
 " I love you better for your kindness, Alfred, re- 
 plied 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. Camp- 
 bell 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 applica- 
 tion. 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 to 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 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 159 
 
 are many divisions of them, but I will find out 
 when she wakes 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 
 nightsfor 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, cer- 
 tainly," observed Mr. Campbell ; "but, if I recollect 
 right, the savages do 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 civili- 
 zation is the treatment of the other sex, and in pro- 
 portion 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 fast- 
 ing you must require it." 
 
 "I am almost too tired to eat," observed Alfred. 
 " I shall infinitely more enjoy a good sleep under my 
 bear-skins. 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 con- 
 trived 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."
 
 160 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " How long has John been away ?" said Mr. 
 Campbell. 
 
 " Now nearly a fortnight," observed Mrs. Camp- 
 bell ; " he promised to come here on 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 re- 
 ligious," 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 Que- 
 bec on my return, although I do go to church. Now 
 old Malachi has, I think, a solemn reverence for the 
 Divine P>ein£, 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 
 feasts, are lost to him, except as a sort of dream of 
 former days, before he took to his hunter's life. In- 
 deed, 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 wa9 
 that he said he would come if he could. I'm sure
 
 THE SETTLERS 161 
 
 that now he knows it is Christmas-day, he intends to 
 keep it as such." 
 
 "There is much truth in what Martin says," ob- 
 served 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. 1 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 al- 
 though the frost was more than usually severe, and 
 the snow filled the air with its white flakes, and the 
 northeast 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 iuto 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 forbear- 
 ance ; proving how much better was "a dish of 
 herbs where love is, than the stalled ox with hatred 
 therewith." Moreover, they were all piously dis- 
 posed ; 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 ward- 
 
 14*
 
 162 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 mg 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 anniversa- 
 ry, when Malachi Bone, his little squaw the Straw- 
 berry, 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 Straw- 
 berry. 
 
 The Indian girl smiled, and nodded her head. 
 
 "And, John, you have brought us three wild tur- 
 keys ; 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," re- 
 plied Martin ; '• it's now more than six weeks since 
 !:<: has left, and if the colonel would allow him, I'm 
 sure that Captain Sinclair " 
 
 " Would be here on this day," said Captain Sin-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 163 
 
 clair, 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 conver- 
 sation 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 Ingun 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 Cap- 
 tain Sinclair. 
 
 " Then, perhaps, this poor woman whom you suc- 
 cored, 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 
 tiic woman, whom he pointed to in the corner, where 
 she had remained unnoticed by the visiters. 
 
 Malachi and the Strawberry went up to her ; the
 
 164 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 parly 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 ?" in- 
 quired 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 learnt 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 skir- 
 mish 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 1 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 escap'.l the mas- 
 sacre 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, sol don't exactly
 
 THE SETTLERS. 165 
 
 know what tribe she belongs to, as they all speak 
 the same tongue. I callsd 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 daugh- 
 ter, 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 are 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 tvy 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
 
 166 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 Are, when they were requested by Mrs. 
 Campbell to retreat to the sitting-room, that the cul- 
 inary operations might not be interfered with. Mal- 
 achi 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," con- 
 tinued 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 wc 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 at- 
 tentive. 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 ?"
 
 THE SETTLERS. 107 
 
 " 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 
 kepi 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 wAich they called it ; but 
 no matter, we went to pray." 
 
 " Was your father of the established church, Mai- 
 achi?" 
 
 " I can't tell, ma'arn ; indeed 1 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 haling 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 de- 
 nomination of Christians who hold the main truths 
 of the gospel. Are not all such agreed in things 
 essential, animated with the same hopes, acknowl- 
 edging 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 reason- 
 ably 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 fnow think
 
 168 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 hunt- 
 er's life; but my father would not allow me to go 
 from home, so I stayed till he died, and then I went 
 away on my rambles. I left when I was not twen- 
 ty 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 these 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 meet- 
 ing 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, 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 ofien 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 169 
 
 well recollected 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 that 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 
 beinor 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 hunt- 
 ing." 
 
 " 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 pro- 
 duced 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. Tf when it 
 pleased Providence to send us into this wilderness, it 
 Vol. I.— 15
 
 170 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 had been part of my lot to contend with "wilful 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 Avhich we have 
 been reduced. I say again, my dear children all, 
 you have my thanks, and may the Almighty blesa 
 and preserve you !" 
 
 ssr» o; roa» h
 
 THE 
 
 SETTLERS IN CANADA. 
 
 WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
 FV 
 
 CAPTAIN MARRY AT. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 D.APPLETOS & CO., 346 & :J48 BROADWAY 
 
 tS.DOCO.LVL
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Whkn we left off our narrative, our Canadian set* 
 tiers were enjoying themselves on Christmas-day. 
 On the following morning, Malachi Bone, the Straw- 
 berry, and Jc Jin, set off for their abode to the west- 
 ward, 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 accompa- 
 nied 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 hav- 
 ing received a supply of provisions, she took her 
 leave at (lie latter end of the montli 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 
 
 1*
 
 6 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 be- 
 fore, 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, Mala- 
 chi 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 
 u j) for so many dreary 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's very odd that Captain Sinclair has 
 not come to see us ; don't you, Mary ?" 
 
 " I certainly did expect him before this," replied
 
 THE SETTLERS. 7 
 
 Mary ; " I presume, however, his duty will not pir- 
 mit him to come." 
 
 " Surely he could get leave now that the weather 
 vs fine : there was some reason for his not coming 
 <Jurin2r 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 breakfasts ; 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 ap- 
 pearance, 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 Mala- 
 chi, brought in a basket of fine trout from the stream 
 almost every day, aod 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 command- 
 ant also sent his compliments to Mr. Campbell, and 
 chaired 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 mi<?ht 
 do so, and the boat would bring back the articles he 
 required. They had had no further communication 
 with Quebec, but expected a runner to come every day
 
 8 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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; Em- 
 ma made many inquiries relative to Captain Sinclaii 
 as Mary stood by, and Alfred laughed at her ex- 
 treme inquisitiveness. The proposition of the com- 
 mandant 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 deerskins. The 
 question was whom to send down with them. Mala- 
 chi 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 anything about the value 
 of skins ; otherwise, Mr. Campbell, who wished to 
 purchase flour and pork, besides several other arti- 
 cles, 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 un- 
 dertake 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 expedi- 
 tion ; since Malachi Bone had informed them that 
 the Strawberry was not his wife, as they had sup- 
 posed, Martin was continually by her side. She
 
 THE SETTLERS. 9 
 
 began to speak a few words of English, and had be- 
 come a great favorite with everybody. 
 
 Mr. Campbell, as soon as he perceived that Mal- 
 achi 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 ffreat sat- 
 isfaction to Mrs. Campbell, because John was now 
 always near to 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 Straw- 
 berry did not come to their house and make herself 
 useful, assisting in everything 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 rea- 
 sonable animal certainly, and I will say, I never was 
 tired with watching them ; I've even forgot in the 
 summertime what I came out for, from having fallen 
 in with them at work." 
 
 " And so have I," said Martin. " I once was ly- 
 ing 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, that
 
 10 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 I really think they have a language as good as oui 
 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' Chris- 
 tians would have done. The Inguns say that bea- 
 vers have souls as well as themselves, and certainly 
 if sense gave souls the Inguns 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 suffi- 
 cient 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 calcu- 
 late as exactly, as if they took their levels, to secure 
 the size and depth of water in the pond which is ne- 
 cessary. 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 Mal- 
 »chi ; "and then to see how they carry all theii
 
 THE SETTLERS. 11 
 
 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 forefeet 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 ,'aundred 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, Mal- 
 achi ?" said Emma. 
 
 ^ " There, miss, they show what sense they have. 
 I've often watched them when they have been saw- 
 ing through the large trees with the front teeth ; 
 they could not carry the tree, that's sartain, 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, thev 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
 
 12 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 napping and spattering 
 with their tails, that I could imagine there were fifty 
 men at work instead of a hundred of those small an- 
 imals. 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. Camp- 
 bell : " 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 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 himfeel 
 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, Al- 
 fred, 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 around the cleared 
 land, which was done with split rails made from 
 the white cedar, which grew in a swamp about ba!f 
 a mile distant, and which, it may be remembered, 
 had in a great measure been provided by the sol- 
 diers who had been lent to assist them on their arri- 
 val. 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 in- 
 tended 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 
 Vol. II.— 2
 
 14 THE SETTLERS 
 
 the prairie required to be fenced in, and this waa 
 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, they like 
 pigs better. I wish we could get the fence up round 
 the prairie, bu t that we never can do this year with- 
 out 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 anything 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," re- 
 plied Alfred with a sigh ; for at the moment he was 
 thinking of Captain Lumley and his nautical profes- 
 sion.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 15 
 
 In the evening of the day on which this conversa. 
 tion took place, Malachi Bone was requested to re- 
 sume 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 Jther, 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 
 narm 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 quanti- 
 ties of it in the autumn as a provision for winter, 
 when ihey 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 fe- 
 males 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 have 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,
 
 16 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 called the land-beaver, which is more easily taken,'' 
 observed Martin. " They make holes in the earth 
 like rabbits. The Indians say tbat 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 everything ; we go to the beaver-lakes, 
 and then we set our traps for beaver, otter, marten, 
 minx, 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 eat what flesh is good, and we employ our- 
 selves 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 cer- 
 tain," 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 17 
 
 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 exer- 
 tion 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 Mar- 
 tin. 
 
 " But what do you do all the summer time, Mala- 
 chi ?" 
 
 " 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 then sometimes we go bee-hunting, 
 for the honey." 
 
 " Pray tell us how you take the honey, Malachi." 
 
 "Why, ma'am, the tees always live in the hol- 
 lows of the old trees, and it's very difficult in a forest 
 to find them out, for the hole which they enter by is 
 
 2*
 
 18 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 flow- 
 ers 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 whiskey. 
 This makes the bee tipsy, and he 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 Avay 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 the 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 off." 
 
 " Indeed, there's no fear of that," said Emma ; " aa
 
 THE SETTLERS. 19 
 
 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're 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-defence, Mal- 
 achi ; 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 sound- 
 ed a tree in the forest with my axe, 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 lop, 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 1 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, whc 
 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 no?
 
 20 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 more, astonished than myself, and there he lay be- 
 neath me very quiet l ill 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 ray 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 fright- 
 ened 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 i< was; but there's no saying, 
 miss, which beats till the fight is over."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 21 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A notice luiived that the departure of the boat to 
 Montreal wouid take place on the next morning. 
 When the uoai 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 V 
 
 " To confess the truth, Emma," said Captain Sin- 
 clair, " 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
 
 22 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 se- 
 lect 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 tc England." 
 
 "Sly dear Emma," said .\Ir. Campbell, "you 
 ought not to put such questions ; Captain Sinclair 
 has his own reasons, I have no doubt." 
 
 " Jt is very true that I have my own reasons," re- 
 plied 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 or- 
 phan 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 posses- 
 sion 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. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " 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 ar- 
 rival 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 exe- 
 cute, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 23 
 
 f ou 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 fasbion 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 Cap'tain 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," observ- 
 ed 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 be- 
 fore we h,ave you to dine with us again," continued 
 Mr. Campbell to Captain Sinclair ; " but I wish you 
 your health and much happiness till your 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 re- 
 quired without her or my aunt either. Come, Per- 
 cival, 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 belter 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
 
 24 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 ; how- 
 ever, 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 travel- 
 lers. It was then time to start. Captain Sinclair 
 and Henry shook hands with Mr. Campbell and the 
 Mi>s 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 pain- 
 ful ; but here where we have so few, I might almost 
 say only Captain Sinclair, it is of course most pain- 
 ful. 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 din- 
 ner-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 Straw- 
 berry was at her own lodge. The party that sat in 
 the kitchen in the evening was, therefore, much re-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 25 
 
 duced, and the taking farewell of Captain Sinclair 
 did not dispose them to he very lively. A few words 
 were exchanged now and then, but the conversation 
 drooped. Emma spoke of Captain Sinclair's expect- 
 ations 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 practising in my pro- 
 fession, I little expected that I should be summoned 
 to take possesson 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 indi- 
 viduals, but even nations, are out in their expecta- 
 tions. 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 unequalled in his- 
 tory, both parties employing savages, by whom the 
 French and English were alternately tortured and 
 burnt 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 in- 
 stance in which affairs turned out contrary to the 
 expectations of France. , 
 
 "Now again: At no period was England more 
 
 Vol. II.— 3
 
 2b 
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 prosperous or more respected by foreign nations thaa 
 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 
 tong as the French held this country, the English 
 colonists had an enemy on their frontiers, and con- 
 sequently looked up to England for support and pro- 
 tection. 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 por- 
 tion 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, &c, was imposed, I question very 
 much if the colonists would have made any remon- 
 strance. But no longer requiring an army for their 
 own particular defence, these same duties induced 
 them to rise in rebellion against what they consid- 
 ered injustice, and eventually to assert their indepen- 
 dence. 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, irri- 
 tated at the loss of the Canadas, wished to humiliate 
 England by the loss of her own American posses- 
 sions. But little did the French king and his no- 
 blesse 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 accord-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 27 
 
 mg to expectation, and you will observe that 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." 
 
 "1 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 prov- 
 erb was, 'Never undertake anything 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 in- 
 scription, 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 these 
 who benefit them are treated Avith 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
 
 28 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 the whole body, and there is no passion so demoral- 
 izing. The other is, that where ihe 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. ISIow 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 contemp- 
 tible or so unpleasant for an honest man to live un- 
 der as a democracy." 
 
 " It is my opinion, sir, and I believe a very gene- 
 ral 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 pretence. 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 Di- 
 vine blessing upon those who, when th ey 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 pres- 
 ent may see the day, wnen the retribution will fall 
 upon their heads, or rather upon the heads of their 
 oflfspring; 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 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 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, Colo- 
 nel 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 concilia- 
 tion 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 work- 
 ing 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 defence. You 
 would, in so isolated a position, be equally liable to 
 a burglary in England — only with the difference that 
 
 3*
 
 30 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 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 sol- 
 diers 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 use- 
 less to you, at the distance you are from any mart; 
 as you will not find any sale for it. Now, if you
 
 THE SETTLERS. 31 
 
 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 au- 
 thorize 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 
 which the commandant would spare during the sum- 
 mer season. 
 
 " That is the very point which I wished to ascer- 
 tain ; but I felt some delicacy about making the 
 inquiry. Now I consider there will be no difficulty 
 
 . our arrangements." 
 
 The colonel remained for some time looking over 
 thp 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 col- 
 onel'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 
 tlour, coming in to dirner."
 
 32 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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 ir, 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 for ever, and this plan 
 appeared so like decidedly settling down to a resi- 
 dence 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 think- 
 ing 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, I only did it to tease you a little — no; 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 ihis place, I have no idea of its being 
 ever possible. I have made up my mind to live and 
 die in the Canadian woods, considering it my way- 
 ward 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 selllers 
 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 33 
 
 others, in perfect security, and in easy and independ- 
 ent circumstances, my uncle would not forget the 
 great sacrifice which my cousin Alfred so nobly made, 
 and would insist upon his returning to that profes- 
 sion, 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, kiss- 
 ing 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, 1 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 
 a fellow, who will set up a whiskey shop and install 
 his wife as bar maid to attend upon and conciliate 
 his customers." 
 
 " Emma, I think you have the worst of this peep- 
 ing 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
 
 34 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 great, and much as he must feel it, how well h« 
 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 con- 
 versation look 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 win- 
 ter. 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 fort. 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, &c, to his agent at Quebec ; 
 and another from his Quebec agent, advising the 
 receipt of the money and enclosing a balance-sheet.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 35 
 
 The letters were first read over, and then the news- 
 papers 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 sorrv 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 
 crod, 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 an- 
 swer 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 thai if, in 
 the meantime, I will let him know how many sol- 
 diers 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 Eng- 
 lish, 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
 
 36 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 V. 
 
 It was very nearly five weeks before Henry re- 
 turned from his expedition to Montreal. During lihis 
 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, ex- 
 pected that the mill would be erected until the fol- 
 lowing year, as it was necessary to have a millwright 
 and all the machinery from either Montreal or Que- 
 bec. It was intended that the estimate of the 
 expense should he 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 stayed 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 impa- 
 tience to Bee 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 pro-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 37 
 
 ceeded to acquaint his father with what he had done. 
 He had obtained from a Canadian farmer forty ewes 
 of very fair stock, although not anything 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 defend 
 on the agent and the parties he employed, as he was 
 no judge himself; but he had, upon his own judg» 
 ment, 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 ihe storehouse, and the sheep and horses 
 were turned into the prairie with the cows. A 
 week's rations for the soldiers were alao brought up 
 from the fort, and the men were very busy in the 
 distribution, and carrying them to the little tempo- 
 rary huts of boughs which they had raised for their 
 accommodation, during the time they worked for 
 Vol. II.— 4
 
 38 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 Mr. Campbell. Before the evening set in everything 
 was arranged, and Henry was again surrounded by 
 the family and replying to their remaining interrog- 
 atories. 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 aides-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 Mala- 
 chi ; " 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 10 make her his wife." 
 
 " Indeed !" 
 
 "Yes, sir; I don't think that he would have said 
 anything 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 uncomfort- 
 able 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 sha'n't demand any 
 presents for her."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 39 
 
 "Presents for her ! why we in general give pres 
 ents or money with a wife," said Emma. 
 
 "Yes, I know you do, but English wives a'n't In- 
 dian 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 val- 
 ue, 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, Mala- 
 chi," said Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 "Perhaps it an'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 ser- 
 vice, and go into the woods." 
 
 " I think it 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, lor if you have all you 
 want, you can't want more ; it's big enough, but per- 
 haps not quite near enough. I'm thinking that 
 when the sheepfold 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."
 
 40 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 "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 ill 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 ; " Thai'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 Straw- 
 berry 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, Mar- 
 tin 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 al- 
 lowances for our prejudices. We never should think 
 that she was a married woman, if no further cere- 
 mony was to take place than what you propose." 
 
 " Well, ma'am, just as you please ; but still, sup- 
 pose 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 here- 
 after ; 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 Chris-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 41 
 
 tian, as I hope in God she will, she then will per* 
 ceive that she has not been properly married, and 
 will be anxious to have the ceremony properly per- 
 formed over again ; so why not do it now l" 
 
 " Well, ma'am, if it pleases you, I have no objec- 
 tion ; 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 cap- 
 tain 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, noAVcame 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, "get- 
 ting out of the way of the soldiers ; now that the 
 work is done, they torment her not a little, and she 
 is elad 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 
 Avould be hard to sJioot 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 
 
 4*
 
 42 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 f6rward between the fort and the farm, Mr. Camp- 
 bell 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 establish- 
 ment ; and 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 deerskin, 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 explain- 
 ed 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, partic- 
 ularly 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 thev 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 their colonel 
 was there, effectually put a stop to anything like 
 annoyance or disturbance on their parts. 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 addi- 
 tional 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 43 
 
 Malachi, Percival, and John, who all went home 
 with them as a guard from any interruption on the 
 part of the disappointed suiters. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 "How cheerful and gay everything 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 land- 
 scape will be nothing but one dreary 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 occur- 
 ring 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 her- 
 bage was studded with the soldiers, dressed in white, 
 employed in various ways ; the corn waved its yel- 
 low 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 wa- 
 ters. 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 mis- 
 tresses ; and under the shade of a large tree, at a 
 .ittle distance from the house, were Mr. Campbell
 
 44 THE SETTLEBS. 
 
 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 
 w^re respectable and good." 
 
 " Thai's what I would have said, Mary : but we 
 must go in, and practise the new air for the guitar 
 which Henry brought us from Montreal. We prom- 
 ised 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," re- 
 plied 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 break- 
 fast ?" 
 
 " 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 lie has pro- 
 posed 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. 
 
 u Why, lie pointed out to me that the mill would
 
 THE SETTLERS. 45 
 
 *ost 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 erect- 
 ing 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 
 6aid, 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 uo." 
 
 "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 mar- 
 riage portion." 
 
 " Thank you, cousin," replied Emma, " I may put 
 you in mind of your promise ; but now Mary and I 
 must go in and astonisli 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 
 m, a barn had been raised close to the sheepfold as
 
 46 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 everything was got in safe. 
 The services of the soldiers were now no longer 
 required, and Mr. Campbell having settled his ac- 
 counts, they returned to the fort. 
 
 " Who would think," said Henry to Alfred, as he 
 cast his eyes over the buildings, the stacks of eorn 
 and hay, and the prairie stocked with cattle, " thai 
 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 a good return." 
 
 "You have heard of the proposal of Colonel For- 
 ster, 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 n6 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 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 47 
 
 have done," replied Alfred. "All this assistance 
 <vould not have been given to perhaps any other set- 
 tlers." 
 
 "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 in- 
 terest about us." 
 
 " I think we must allow that the peculiar position 
 of ihe 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 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 inci- 
 dent occurred which created some uneasiness. Mr. 
 Campbell was busy with Martin and Alfred clearing 
 out the storeroom 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, &c, 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
 
 48 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 the time of Mr. Campbell's exclamation, turned 
 round and beheld the Indian. He was an elderly 
 man, very tall and muscular, dressed in legginga 
 and deerskin 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. He had a toma- 
 hawk 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 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 temp 
 tation." 
 
 " Why, who is he?" said Mr. Campbell. 
 
 " The Angry Snake, sir," replied Malachi. "» 
 had no idea that he would be in these parts before 
 the meeting of the Indian council, which takes place
 
 THE SETTLERS. 49 
 
 in another month, and then I meant to have been on 
 the lookout for him." 
 
 "But what have we to fear from him ?" 
 
 " Well ; that's to be proved ; hut 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 anything but honest." 
 
 " But we have nothing to fear from one man," 
 observed Alfred. 
 
 " His party an'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 ?ood, but at all events it's just as well to let 
 them 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 1" 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 thelndian, 
 after waiting a short time, turned round on his heel, 
 and walked away, 
 
 "He is a regular devil, that Angry Snake," ob- 
 served 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," 
 
 Vol. II. — 5
 
 50 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 said Mariin ; "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. Camp- 
 bell and the others returned to the house, they found 
 that no one there had any idea of such a visit hav- 
 ing 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 pros- 
 pect of bis paying them another visit, if he could ob- 
 tain a sufficient number to join him, so that he might 
 obtain by force the articles he had seen and so much 
 coveted.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 51 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 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 down 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 bearskins, and some- 
 times the flesh, which, although approved of by Mal- 
 achi 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. Everything went on in order ; one 
 day was the counterpart of another. Alired and 
 Henry thrashed 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 ta- 
 ken into the storehouse. Martin's wife could now 
 understand English, and spoke it a little. She was 
 very useful, assisting Mrs. Campbell and her nieces
 
 i>2 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 in the house, and attending the stock. They had 
 brought up a large number of chickens, and had dis- 
 posed of a great many to the colonel and officers of 
 the fort. Their pigs also had multiplied exceeding- 
 ly, and many had been put up to fatten, ready to be 
 killed and salted down. The time for that occupa- 
 tion 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, andfelt grateful 
 to Heaven that they had been so favored. 
 
 The aulumn 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 pres- 
 ent, and the supply of blankets and other articles 
 sent to the chiefs for distribution had the expected 
 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. Mal- 
 achi 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 
 everything wore the appearance of peace and pros- 
 perity, when an event occurred which we shall now 
 relate. 
 
 What is termed the Indian summer had com- 
 menced, 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 appear- 
 ance of wind ; yet still there was but a light air, and 
 hardly perceptible at the time. In a moment after
 
 THE SETTLERS. 53 
 
 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. Mal- 
 achi 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 east- 
 ward, and extended many miles ; that they had been 
 induced to leave the chase and come home in con- 
 sequence. 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 northeast, 
 the direction in which the fire had been seen. Mal- 
 achi 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 be- 
 fore twelve o'clock on the next day, the smoke waa 
 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 shall 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'i know that, sir. You have never seen the 
 woods a-fire for miles as I have ; if you had, you 
 
 5*
 
 04 the settlers. 
 
 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 oppres- 
 sive, and the party were under great alarm. 
 
 As the sun set, the wind became even more vio- 
 lent, 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," re- 
 plied 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 is 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. Camp-
 
 THE SETTLEKS. 55 
 
 bell took his wife by the arm ; Henry led the girle, 
 for the smoke was so thick that they could not see 
 the way. Percival and Strawberry followed. Al- 
 fred 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 crowd- 
 ed, but being flat-bottomed she bore the load well. 
 They pulled out about half a mile into the lake, be- 
 fore they found themselves in a less oppressive at- 
 mosphere. 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 stayed 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. Camp- 
 bell, after a pause. " Look, the whole wood is now 
 on fire, close down to the clearing. The house must 
 be burnt, and we shall save nothing." 
 
 " It is the will of Cod, 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 com- 
 mencement of the destruction of their whole prop- 
 erty — all their labors and efforts had been throAvn 
 away. The winter was coming on, and thev w-ould 
 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
 
 £6 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 fell the drops 
 of rain. This pause continued for about three or four 
 minuies, during which the cow-house burnt furious- 
 ly, but the ashes and sparks were no longer hurled 
 down on the prairie ; then suddenly the wind shifted 
 to the southeast, 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 Mala- 
 chi. "It was touch and go, that's sartain ; 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 57 
 
 out, for we only have the beginning of it ; but it was 
 a near thing, that's sartain." 
 
 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 
 clothes, and retired to bed. 
 
 The next morning they rose early, for all were 
 anxious to ascertain the mischief which had been oc- 
 casioned by the fire. The cow-house, on the oppo- 
 site side of the stream, was the only part of the prem- 
 ises which had severely suffered ; the walls were 
 standing, but the roof was burnt. 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 min- 
 utes have been destroyed. The prairie was covered 
 with cinders, and the grass was burnt and withered. 
 The forest on the other side of the stream to a great 
 extent was burnt 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 con- 
 trary, 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
 
 53 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 will have our corn between the stumps ; and in au- 
 tumn, after we have gathered in, the harvest, we 
 will cut down and burn the tr,ees 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 in- 
 deed, but it has pleased God that it should be other- 
 wise." 
 
 " Yes, sir," observed Malachi ; "what threatened 
 your ruin has turned out to your advantage. Next 
 year you will see everything green and fresh as be- 
 fore ; 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 everything 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 preserva- 
 tion. 
 
 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 despatch arrived from the 
 fort to ascertain their welfare, and the colonel and 
 officers were greatly rejoiced to learn that, compara- 
 tively so little damage had been done, for they ex- 
 pected to find that the family had been burnt out,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 59 
 
 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 VIII. 
 
 Once more was the ground covered with snow to 
 to the depth of three feet. The cattle were littered 
 down inside the enclosure of palisades round the 
 cow-house; the sheep were driven into the enclosed 
 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 prep- 
 aration 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 af- 
 terward, 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 fulfil, and then Alfred 
 bade adieu to the officers of the fort, as they did not 
 expect to meet again till the winter was over. Hav- 
 ing experienced one winter, they were more fully 
 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, everything 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 oilier offices which the 
 increase of their establishment required. The new
 
 60 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 books brought by Henry from Montreal, and which 
 by common consent had been laid aside for the win- 
 ter's evenings, were now a great source of amuse- 
 ment, 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 du- 
 ties 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 dis- 
 missed 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 kitch- 
 en 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 mocassins, 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 at- 
 tention to what was said.' His father occasionally 
 tried to make him learn something, but it was use- 
 less. He would remain for hours with his book he- 
 fore him, but his mind was elsewhere. Mr. Camp- 
 bell, 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 ad- 
 vantage 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 pali- 
 sade, and every night the howling was incessant. 
 The howl of a wolf was sufficient to make John
 
 THE SETTLERS. Gl 
 
 seize his rifle and leave ihe house, and he would re- 
 main in the snow for hours till one came sufficiently 
 near for him to fire, and he had already killed seve- 
 ral when a circumstance occurred which was the 
 cause of great uneasiness. 
 
 John was out one evening as usual, crouched 
 down within tlie 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 
 levelled his rifle and fired, when to his astonishment, 
 the wolf appeared to spring up in ihe 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 as- 
 certain 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 wdl 
 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 gale 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 Avas to-morrow." 
 
 Mrs. Campbell and the girls were much alarmed 
 Vol. II.— 6
 
 62 THE SETTLEKS. 
 
 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 neices 
 had left the room. " The boy is right, I have no doubt. 
 It is the Angry Snake and his party who are prowl- 
 ing about, but if the boy has hit the Indian, which 1 
 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 Mala- 
 chi, Martin, and his wife, was built within the pali- 
 sade of the sheep-fold, and that there was a passage 
 from the palisade round the house to that which sur- 
 rounded 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 Mala- 
 chi ; " two rifles are better than one, and if any as- 
 sistance is required, there will be one to send for it." 
 "But what do you think they would do, Mala- 
 chi ?" 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 quite so easy a matter." 
 
 "They've been reconnoitring, sir, that's the truth 
 of it, and if John has helped one of them to a bit of 
 lead, it will do good ; lor it will prove to them that 
 we are on the alert, and make ihem careful how they 
 come near the house again."
 
 THE SETTLERS. Q3 
 
 After a few minutes' more conversation, Mr. Camp- 
 bell, 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 thej 
 were accustomed. 
 
 _ The next morning at daybreak, Malachi and Mar- 
 tin came to the house, and with John and Alfred, 
 they opened the palisade gate, and went out to sur- 
 vey 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 there- 
 abouts, 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 for- 
 est, and then, satisfied by the marks on the snow that 
 the wounded man had been carried away, they re- 
 turned 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 loo much. 
 Ihis has been a lesson to them. I only wish it had 
 been thp Angry Snake himself who was settled, as
 
 64 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 minds of Mrs. Campbell 
 and her nieces; Mr. Campbell also thought much 
 about it, and betrayed occasional anxiety. The par- 
 ties went out hunting as before, but those at home 
 now felt anxious till they returned from the chase. 
 Time, however, and not hearing anything more of 
 the Indians, gradually revived their courage, and be- 
 fore 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 satis- 
 fied them that the enemy had left immediately after 
 the attempt which he had made to reconnoitre the 
 premises. 
 
 The hunting parties, therefore, as we said, con- 
 tinued 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. lie 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 an- 
 noying 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, objec- 
 tions were constantly raised by his mother: they 
 could net spare him, he was not accustomed to walk
 
 THE SETTLERS. 65 
 
 in snow-shoes. Mr. Campbell observed that Perci- 
 val became dissatisfied and unhappy, and Alfred took 
 his part and pleaded for him. Alfred observed very 
 truly, that the Strawberry could occasionally do Per- 
 cival's work, and that if it could be avoided, be 
 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 toPerci- 
 val 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," re- 
 plied 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 feel- 
 ing 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 Chris- 
 tian ? She is very serious at prayers, J observe ; and 
 
 6*
 
 66 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 hur- 
 ry. A mere conforming to the usages of our reli- 
 gion would be of little avail, and I fear that too 
 manv of our good missionaries, in their anxiety to 
 make converts, do not sufficiently consider this point. 
 Religion must proceed from conviction, and be seat- 
 ed 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. 
 Jt is in many respects so near what is right, that In- 
 dians 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 offences in God's sight, and con- 
 sequently have no idea of the necessity of a media- 
 tor. 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 1 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. 1 have delayed because I con- 
 sider it absolutely necessary that she should be per- 
 fectly aware of what I say, before I try to alter her 
 belief. Now, the Indian language, although quite 
 sufficient fur Indian wants, is poor and has not the 
 same copiousness as ours, because they do not re- 
 quire 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 67 
 
 that the Strawberry now begins to comprehend suf- 
 ficiently for me to make the first attempt. I say first 
 attempt, because I have no idea of making a con- 
 vert 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 en- 
 lighten her mind to receive his truth." 
 
 The next day the hunting party went out, and 
 Percival, to his great delight, was pepmitted to ac- 
 company 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 hav- 
 ing particularly requested that they would not re- 
 turn home late. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 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 drifrs, 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 jjet 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 onlv cute of hear-
 
 68 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 ing 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 at- 
 tempt 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 du 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 Avalk 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 get to leeward, and then Ave 
 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 them who were below that the deal
 
 THE SETTLERS. 69 
 
 were in sight. After a moment or two reconnoi- 
 tring, he went down and informed them that there 
 were twelve or thirteen head of deer scraping up 
 the snow about one hundred yards a-head of them, 
 upon another swell of the land; but that they ap- 
 peared to be alarmed and anxious, as if they had an 
 idea of danger being near. 
 
 Malachi then again crawled up to make his ob- 
 servations, and returned. 
 
 "It is sartain," 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 wheth- 
 er 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 simultane- 
 ously. 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 
 farther 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 Avhere 
 the animals lay dead, and as soon as they had re- 
 loaded 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 
 carcase. He levelled his rifle and fired , the beast,
 
 70 THE SETTLER3. 
 
 although badly wounded, immediately sprang at him 
 and seized him by the shoulder. Alfred was sink- 
 ing 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 1 think 
 not, but my shoulder is badlv torn, and 1 bleed 
 freely." 
 
 Malachi and the others now came up, and per- 
 ceived 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 wesi. Are you hurt, 
 Mr. Alfred?" 
 
 " Yes, a little," replied Alfred, fainlly. 
 
 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 wa- 
 ter, 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 wa- 
 ter 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. "1 
 don't know that I ever saw one larger; they are 
 more than a match for one man, sir, and never
 
 THE SETTLERS. 71 
 
 should be attempted single-handed, for they are so 
 hard to kill." 
 
 " Wbere 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 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 mmiy miles to get home again." 
 
 In the course of ten minutes, Malachi and John 
 had skinned the puma, and Martin made his appear- 
 ance 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 him- 
 self in great pain, the walking upon snow-shoes re- 
 quiring so much motion as to open the wounds and 
 make them bleed asain ; but Malachi gave him his 
 assistance, and having procured him some more wa- 
 ter, thev 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 were not far from home. But Alfred 
 moved with great difficulty : he had become very 
 faint, so much so, that Martin requested John would 
 throw down the venison, and hasten before them to 
 he house to request Mr. Campbell to send some 
 Tandy or other cordial to support Alfred, who was
 
 72 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 minute that she advanced. At last they ar- 
 rived, and found the party: Alfred was lying insen- 
 sible 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, attempt- 
 ing 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 73 
 
 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 ex- 
 amined his wounds, which he considered very dan- 
 gerous, 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 parly 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 consterna- 
 tion ; 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 sartain," 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 Mala- 
 chi ; " 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 : 
 
 Vol II.— 7
 
 74 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 '* we should never find him, and only lose ourselves ; 
 but still Ave 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 Ave 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 wa6 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, how- 
 ever, 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 now fallen had 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 o( perceiving the muzzle of his rifle peeping
 
 THE SETTLERS. 75 
 
 out above the snow, but there was nothing to be 
 discovered, and after a search of four or live hours, 
 they returned to the house. They found Mr. Camp- 
 bell 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 1" 
 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 10 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.
 
 "8 THE SETTLERS 
 
 CHAPTER X- 
 
 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 im- 
 prudent 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 addi- 
 tion to the loss of one of their children, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Campbell were threatened with being deprived of two 
 more; for iheir 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 accu- 
 mulated 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 re- 
 sign 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 her prayers were heard, 
 and as the winter closed, their recovery was no lon- 
 ger doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to 
 them all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma re- 
 sume 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 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 77 
 
 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 anything like repining or complaint. 
 Grateful for the mercies vouchsafed to them in hav- 
 ing Alfred and Emma spared to them, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Per- 
 cival, 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 (he family became again 
 cheerful and happy ; the merry laugh of Emma once 
 more enlivened them, Alfred again r-^overed his 
 former health and spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could 
 bear the mention of the name of Percival, and join 
 in the praise of the amiable child. 
 
 The spring now came on, the snow gradually dis- 
 appeared, and 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, all the men were busy in prepar- 
 ing 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 every search fur 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 anywhere 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, 
 
 7*
 
 78 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 machi- 
 nery, and that the water-mill would be erected as 
 soon as possible. There was also a letter from Eng- 
 land, 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 gar- 
 rison. 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. Camp- 
 bell," 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 northwest is cleared by the fire." 
 
 "Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allot- 
 ment, 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 Que- 
 bec, and apply for another grant on each side of the 
 Stream ; indeed, at the back of and equal to what 
 you now have."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 79 
 
 "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 success- 
 ful, 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, beside 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 hun- 
 dreds at the bank to dispose of, if necessary." 
 
 About three weeks after this conversation, the ba- 
 teaux 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 engi- 
 neer was a very pleasant intelligent young English- 
 man, who had taken up his profession in Canada, 
 and was considered one of the most able in the col- 
 ony. The site of the mill was soon chosen, and now 
 the axes igain resounded through the woods, as the
 
 80 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 trees were felled and squared under his directions 
 Alfred was constantly with the engineer, superin- 
 tending 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 
 arousing, 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 travel- 
 ling 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. Fifiy 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 suf- 
 ficient 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 rasp- 
 berries, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 81 
 
 of them have not the means to go on, and, as a tem- 
 porary 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 dose 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 
 p/opose 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 fol- 
 lowing — that is, divide the land into lots of one hun- 
 dred 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 prop- 
 erty, 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 neigh- 
 bors around you, even after they are enabled to pur- 
 chase the other fifty." 
 
 "I think that a very good arrangement, Mr. Em- 
 merson, 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 ex- 
 pedient," replied Mr. Emmerson, " but according to 
 your present proposal, they may be better selected,
 
 82 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 everything 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. Captan 
 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 re- 
 ceived 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 slated 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 83 
 
 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," 
 jaid 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 per- 
 suade. I have my own path of duty pointed out to 
 <ne, 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. 1 have 
 been bred up and educated by them ; I bave 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." 
 
 " 1 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
 
 84 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 have my affections, and wait patiently till circum* 
 stances 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, and accept you willingly ; but 
 you must do your duty to yourself, while I 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," ob- 
 served 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 impos- 
 sible 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 de- 
 mands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for 
 Rachel." 
 
 " Do so, and you shall not be deceived at thfl pnd 
 of your services, as he was," replied Mary; "'but 
 now let us return to the house." 
 
 Captain Sinclair departed the day afterward, iuite 
 satisfied with Mary's resolution.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 85 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 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 suc- 
 cessfully, 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 the 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 Cap- 
 tain Sinclair and the colonel, and some other offi- 
 cers, 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 some- 
 
 Vol. II.— 8
 
 66 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 thing 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 con- 
 siderable amount for the flour and cattle furnished to 
 the troops ; and Mrs. Campbell's account for fowls, 
 pork, &c, furnished to the garrison, was by no 
 no means to be despised. Thus, by the kindness of 
 others, his own exertions, and a judicious employ- 
 ment 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, re- 
 newed 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, there- 
 fore, on that account was now over, and the family 
 prepared to meet the coming winter with all the 
 additional precautions which the foregoing had ad- 
 vised them of. But during the Indian summer they 
 received letters from England, derailing, as usual, 
 the news relative to friends with" whom they had 
 been in'.imate; 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 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 87 
 
 very good characters, and if they were accepted hy 
 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. Em- 
 merson, agreeing to the 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 inferior of the frrt 
 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 those terms, and have them ready by the follow- 
 ing spring. This was another act of kindness on the 
 part of the colonel, as it would now give employ- 
 ment to the saw-mill for the winter, and it was du- 
 ring 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 now arranged that 
 the only parties who were to go on the hunting ex- 
 cursions 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 mil/ 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 occu- 
 pation. Thus glided on the third winter in quiet and
 
 88 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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. 
 
 " 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 anybody else should 
 know anything 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 
 opposite drawing is a fac-simile. 
 
 " 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." 
 
 f Well, sir, I could not read one of your letters 
 half so well as I can this ; and it contain 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 Mal- 
 achi, pointing to the one lowest down on the piece of 
 bark. 
 
 " Yes ; it is a foot, is it not ?" 
 
 " Exactly, sir ; now, do you know whom it cornea 
 from ?"
 
 THE SETTLERS 
 
 89 
 
 "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 vour father curing her sprained ankle?" 
 
 " Certainly ; is it from her ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir ; and you recollect she said that she br- 
 longed to the band which followed the Ansrry Snake." 
 
 " 1 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 a* 
 
 8*
 
 90 THE SETTLEB9. 
 
 about fifteen miles a day. How much does fifteen 
 times twelve make, sir I 
 
 " One hundred and eighty, Malachi." 
 
 "Well, sir, then that is to say that it is one hun- 
 dred and eighty miles off, or thereabouts. Now, this 
 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, 
 1 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 follow- 
 ing 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 the little figure has a pair of snow-shoes over 
 it." 
 
 "Yes, Ida" 
 
 "Well, that little figure is your brother Percival, 
 whom we supposed to be dead." 
 
 "Merciful heaven ! is it possible ?" exclaimed Al- 
 fred ; " 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 pre- 
 served by your kindness. I don't think, Mr. Alfred, 
 that any while 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 anx- 
 iety of mind, that I hardly know what I say. Perci- 
 
 1 
 
 val alive ! we'll have him, if we have to go one 
 
 & v 
 
 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 91 
 
 "We must do nothing, sir," replied Malachi. 
 
 " Nothing, Malachi !" replied Alfred, with surprise. 
 
 " No, sir ; nothing at present, at all events. We 
 nave 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 knowl- 
 edge and belief. It is this : the Angry Snake came 
 to the settlement, and saw our stores of powder and 
 shot, and everything 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 
 that you were wounded by the painter, and carried 
 him off, and he intfnds to drive a bargain for his 
 being restored to us. That is my conviction." 
 
 " I ha'v« no doubt but that you are right, Mala- 
 « chi," 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."
 
 92 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " I hope to circumvent him yet, sir," replied Mal- 
 achi : " but we shall see." 
 
 " Well ; but, Malachi, are we to let this be known 
 to anybody, or keep it a secret?" 
 
 "Well, sir, I've thought of that; we must only 
 let Martin and the 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 have told them; 
 but Avhat pain it would give them for months after- 
 ward. ' 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, MalacL. , 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 anv 
 messenger sent to us by the Angry Snake, whos* 
 head I hope to bruise before I've done with him." 

 
 THE SETTLERS. 93 
 
 "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- 
 creature 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 that the Indian seeks the pow- 
 der and ball, not the life of the boy ; and recollect 
 that 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 everything." 
 
 The conversation was here finished ; Alfred and 
 all those who were possessed of the secret never al- 
 lowed 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 Hour-bar- 
 rels, ready for any further demand from the fort. 
 And thus terminated the third winter in Canada.
 
 i*A THE SETTLEES. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 It was now April, and for some days Malachi and 
 John had been very busy, assisted by the Strawber- 
 ry ; 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 cut- 
 ting 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 su- 
 gar 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." 
 
 " AVell, 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 storeroom, not 
 yet put up, which will answer our purpose very 
 well, ma'am. They hold about a hogshead each.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 95 
 
 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 Mala- 
 chi, " 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 Straw- 
 berry 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 fif- 
 teen or twenty years ; but it kills them at last." 
 
 " So I should suppose, for you lake 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 prob- 
 ably 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 fort- 
 night 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 all have plenty to do 
 just now." 
 
 " That we certainly have," replied Henry, laugh- 
 ing ; " 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 sha'n't
 
 96 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 use- 
 ful, 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, 
 .aughing. 
 
 " 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 Mal- 
 achi 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, hut did not attempt to take the honey 
 till the night, when they lighted a fire, and drove
 
 THE SETTLERS. 97 
 
 away the bees by throwing leaves on 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 Mala- 
 chi, 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 cop- 
 pers 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 after- 
 noon be turned into the 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 holyday 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 ex- 
 amined the trees and the trays into Avhich the juice 
 first ran, the boilers in which the liquor was now 
 simmering over the fire, and asked questions of Mal- 
 achi, so that they might, if necessarv, be abb? 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 tiie 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 
 
 Vol. II.— 9 v F
 
 98 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 
 busv 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 will dig him 
 out to-morrow." 
 
 " What is it, Strawberry f" said Mary. 
 
 The Strawberry pointed to her mocassins, 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 ani- 
 mal 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 vou 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 ad- 
 journed 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 defence ; 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 99 
 
 turn it over, so that he mitrht get at its stomach, 
 when he would soon have killed it, but Martin de- 
 spatched the poor beast with a blow on the nose, and 
 the dogs then rushed in upon it. They ani'uscd 
 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." 
 
 Maiachi and John had their rifles ready imme- 
 diately. Mrs. Campbell and Mary were much alarm- 
 ed, as the animal was not one hundred yards from 
 them. 
 
 "Do not be afraid, ma'am," said Maiachi ; " the 
 animal is only after the sugar. He likes su"-ar iust 
 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 ; " Mai- 
 achi 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, ap- 
 proving dt what he had tasted as a sample, now pro- 
 ceeded to help himself more liberally. 
 
 He therefore placed his paw down into the con- 
 tents of the cooler, but although the surface of the
 
 100 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 liquor was cocl, 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 
 burnt 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 
 6ight ; 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?" ex- 
 claimed 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 to- 
 gether 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 1 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 burnt 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. 

 
 THE SETTLERS. J 01 
 
 " 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. Camp- 
 bell, 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, go- 
 ing up to the bear. . "Let the dogs loose, that they 
 may worry the carcase; 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 meantime, Mr. Campbell and the 
 ladies had come up to where the animal lay. 
 
 " Well, ma'am, isn't John a cool shot ?" said Mala- 
 chi. " 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 lo 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 w T as very much praised, as he deserved to be, 
 by the whole party ; and then Malachi said, "The 
 skin belongs tc John, that of course." 
 
 " Is the bear good eating now ?'' said Mrs. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " 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 acknowl- 
 edge 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. Camp- 
 bell and the ladies go home." 
 
 9*
 
 102 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 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 bows and arrows and his toma- 
 hawk, but had no gun. Malachi was at that time sit- 
 ting 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 \Vest ?" 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 Grey 
 Badger, Avho 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 103 
 
 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 MalachJ. 
 
 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 sung 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 win- 
 ter's snow," replied Malachi. 
 
 "But the while 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 
 -ould 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 the rifle against
 
 104 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 the Indian, whether he comes by day or by night," 
 replied Malaehi. "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 Malaehi 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. Malaehi, 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 Malaehi. "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 ?" 
 
 Tlie Indian again paused. He perceived that Mal- 
 aehi 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 Malaehi. 
 
 " 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 
 Malaehi ; " the white man is poor, and hunts with 
 his young men as the Indian docs. What has the
 
 THE SETTLERS. 105 
 
 white man to give that the Indian covets? He has 
 no whiskey." 
 
 " The white man has powder, and lead, and ri- 
 fles," 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 Avill 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, com- 
 pared 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 storeroom 
 to regain his boy, but we must consider what will
 
 106 
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 be the consequence if he does so. One thing is cer 
 tain, 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 tc 
 use against us at any oiher time, and really make 
 them formidable ; and in the next place, vou encour- 
 age him to make some other attempt to obtain simi- 
 lar presents— for he will not be idle. Recollect, sir, 
 that we have in all probability killed one of their 
 band, when he came to reconnoitre 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 sur- 
 prised to find us one day attacked by him and his 
 band, and it may be, overpowered bv means of these 
 nfles which you propose to give him." 
 
 " There is much truth and much sood 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 anything else." 
 
 "No, sir, that he will not, depend upon it," re- 
 plied 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 loo strong, would have at- 
 tacked and murdered us all, that is clear. Not dar- 
 ing to do that, he has stolen Percival, and detains 
 him, to return him at his own price. Now, sir, the
 
 THE SETTLERS. 107 
 
 Young Otter has come to us, and offers to come 
 again. We have given him no pledge of safe con- 
 duct, and, therefore, when he comes again, we must 
 have an ambush ready for him, and make him pris- 
 oner ; but then you see, sir, we must have the as- 
 sistance of the colonel, for he must be confined at 
 the fort ; we could not well keep him at the farm, 
 hi 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 Ancrv 
 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 anything that 
 has taken place." 
 
 " I think we can not do better than you have pro- 
 posed," 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 arrange- 
 ments 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 musi be something of very great importance which
 
 108 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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. Ke returned at the time appointed, 
 and informed them that the colonel fully approved 
 of their plan of holding the young Indian as a host- 
 age, 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, Ave 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 will give some 
 trouble to two of us, and if once he breaks loose, he 
 would be too fleet for any of us." 
 
 "Well, then, Malachi, how shall we proceed?" 
 
 "Why, sir, 1 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 cannot 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-mor- 
 row, 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. ]09 
 
 and Malachi having selected his ground, and pointed 
 out to them where to conceal themselves, they re- 
 turned to the house, Alfred having made arrange- 
 ments 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 bow 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 ex- 
 ample. 
 
 " 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 In- 
 dian, "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 
 Vol. IL— 10
 
 110 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 me, my son ; say, did you ever hear that the Grey 
 Badger said a lie ?" and Malachi laid hold of the In- 
 dian'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 cer- 
 tainly have escaped, for he had got nis 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, and 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." 
 
 "1*11 fetch them; not that I think there's much 
 danger of a rescue." 
 
 " We have not far to take him," said Captain Sin- 
 clair, " 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 returned as soon as the boy is 
 cent back." 
 
 Malachi addressed the Indian in his own tongue, 
 and told him what Captain Sinclair requested. 
 
 " Tell him that there are several Indian women
 
 THE SETTLERS. Ill 
 
 about the fort, who will take any message he may 
 send to the Angry Snake." 
 
 The Young Otter made no reply to anything 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 Sin- 
 clair 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 figure 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."
 
 112 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Martin was right when he stated that he per- 
 ceived 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 Scrip- 
 ture 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 imme- 
 diately ; but that I have no idea 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 ha v e you got, Malachi ?"
 
 THE SETTLERS. 113 
 
 "About three or four hundred pounds, sir, as near 
 as I can reckon ; quite as much as madam will re- 
 quire." 
 
 " Yes, I should think so ; now we shall have pre- 
 serves 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 he would rather do anything 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 j:Ls like pick- 
 ing 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 worshipped as he ought to be." 
 
 "This is indeed a change, Malachi; well I hope 
 
 10*
 
 114 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 anything, 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 anywhere else with- 
 out fear of his getting into the prison for making a 
 disturbance....! see that a bear has been over into the 
 maize-field last night." 
 
 " What ! did he climb the snake-fence ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, they climb anything; 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 Em- 
 ma, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 115 
 
 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 distin- 
 guish. 
 
 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 ques- 
 tions, 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 Mala- 
 chi, " 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," re- 
 plied 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
 
 116 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 prom- 
 ised me some lake fish for dinner, and has never 
 brought them in ; so you will not have such good 
 fart as I expected." 
 
 " And where's Malachi ?" said Alfred. 
 
 " I dare say he and John are out together some- 
 where," observed Henry, who, with Martin, had 
 come in before Alfred. 
 
 "Well, he will lose his dinner," said Mrs. Camp- 
 bell. 
 
 " 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 that 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 aii 
 ready, and he mounted and rode off for the fort, tel- 
 ling 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, 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 Pircival, had become more than
 
 THE SETTLERS. 117 
 
 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, Al- 
 fred 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 Al- 
 fred'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, ex- 
 claimed — " 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. Mal- 
 achi is standing by himself outside. What can it be ?" 
 
 Mr. Campbell and all the others ran out immedi- 
 ately, except Mary Percival, who went to Mrs. Camp- 
 bell. 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?" said 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 Perci- 
 val !" continued Mrs. Campbell, again sobbing. 
 
 Every attempt was made to console her and as- 
 suage her fears, but with indifferent success, and the 
 afternoon of this day was passed in great concern by 
 all, and in an extreme stale 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. Camp- 
 bell in almost a fainting state. Alfred perceived
 
 118 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 ap- 
 proached. 
 
 " Safe, quite safe !" cried Alfred, in return. 
 
 u Thank Heaven !" cried Mrs. Campbell, in a low 
 voice, clasping her hands in gratitude. 
 
 Alfred leaped off his saddle, and hastened to com- 
 municate 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, ascer- 
 tained that John was in it, exerting himself very vig- 
 orously, but to no purpose. Captain Sinclair, having 
 reported it to the commandant and obtained permis- 
 sion, 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, 
 whicn in another hour would have, in all probabil- 
 ity, 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 communi- 
 cate it. This intelligence gave them all great de- 
 light, and now that they knew that John was safe, 
 they waited his return with patience. Captain Sin- 
 clair arrived, with John behind him, on horseback,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 119 
 
 about two hours afterward, and was gladly wel- 
 comed. 
 
 " Indeed, Captain Sinclair, we are under great ob- 
 ligations 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 morn- 
 ing," 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 1 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 remain with them that night. 
 Before daylight, the family were alarmed by the re- 
 port 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, Henry, 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. Everything,
 
 120 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 suc- 
 cessful, 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, point- 
 ed a little downward, would then about reach his 
 heart when the gun went ofl*. 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
 
 The. fetllLEl^. 121 
 
 with a cub of a few weeks old. The little animala 
 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. Em<ma 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 lit- 
 tle 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 to- 
 gether, the best friends in the world. But in a few 
 months they became too large for pets, and too 
 troublesome, so one was despatched by a bateau go- 
 ing 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. 
 Vol. II.— 11
 
 122 THF FKTTTFB* 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Captain Sinclair was now very constantly at the 
 nouse, for in the summer time the commandant al- 
 lowed 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 ap- 
 peared no intention on the part of the chief to re- 
 deem his young warrior by producing Percival. Ev- 
 ery 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 oc- 
 casioned 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 ar- 
 rival of letters and 'newspapers, both from England 
 and Montreal. There was nothing peculiarly inter- 
 esting 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 par- 
 agraph 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 Camp-
 
 THE SETIEEKS. 123 
 
 bell, 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 com- 
 municated 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 the 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 arid activity, that, if possible, the buildings 
 might be in forwardness previous to harvest time, 
 when they would all have ample occupation. In- 
 deed, as the hay harvest was just coming on, with- 
 out 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 com- 
 menced, 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
 
 124 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 everything was well in advance. The agreement 
 made by Mr. Campbell was, that the emigrants 
 6hould 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 tbe 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, &c, supplied 
 to the fort. 
 
 " I assure, you, Mr. Campbell, I have great pleas- 
 ure," said the colonel, " in giving you every assist- 
 ance, and I render it the more readily as I am au- 
 thorized 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 ex- 
 pense to you, as getting the provisions from Montre- 
 al 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 get- 
 ting 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 emi- 
 grants, and now I will let my readers know a little 
 more about them.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 125 
 
 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 in- 
 dustry 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 com- 
 pany, 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 hon- 
 esty 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 re- 
 solved to emigrate to a new country, where what 
 had happened would not be known. 
 
 He accordingly sold off everything, 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. Emmer- 
 son 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 respectable as himself. 
 
 The second family, of the name of Graves, con- 
 sisted 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 Buckingham- 
 shire, 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 ; they 
 had been farmers and market gardeners near Lon- 
 don, and had brought out some money with them; 
 but, as I have mentioned, they had a very large 
 
 11*
 
 126 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 suc- 
 ceed 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 
 tne 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 educa- 
 ted, 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 be- 
 ing 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 for- 
 mer, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 127 
 
 relative to, establishing a Sunday-school and many 
 other usttful 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 Sun- 
 day. 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 ; Mer- 
 edith and young Graves proved to be good woods- 
 men 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 fam- 
 ily 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 Stawberry, who, being ac- 
 quainted with the existence of young Percival, found 
 their secret a source of great annoyance, noAV that, 
 notwithstanding the capture and detention of the 
 Young Otter, no advance appeared to be made for 
 his exchange, nor any signs of an 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 with- 
 out attempting to recover the boy, appeared to them 
 to be delaying too long, and yet to communicate in- 
 telligence which might only end in bitter disappoint- 
 ment, 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
 
 128 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 re- 
 turn 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 s:irl 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 
 missis that I have gone down to the Cedar Swamp, 
 and will return as soon as possible, and do you fol- 
 low me as fast as you can, f >t your eyes are younger 
 than mine, and I shall want the use of them: tell 
 them not to s^nd anybody else, it will do harm in- 
 stead 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 129 
 
 Strawberry returned to the house to give his mes- 
 sage to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. Leaving Mr. and 
 Mrs. Campbell, who were in a state of great alarm, 
 and had sent the little girl, Mariha Jackson, to sum- 
 mon 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 mocassin. 
 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 l he bottom of ibis 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 fooi, which was more easily percep- 
 tible than the others, had served them for a few 
 yards : after which it was no more to be distinguish- 
 ed, 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
 
 130 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 of the hill, they could clearly distinguish the print 
 marks of mocassins, 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, when 
 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," re- 
 plied Malachi, " by the Snake. The rascal is deter- 
 mined 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, espe- 
 cially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a bet- 
 ter 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 parly, 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 Mala- 
 chi, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 131 
 
 which have occurred. I must tell them thut 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, with- 
 out their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there 
 is about the boy. 1 would only say that Mi-ss 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 be any good backwoodsmen 
 among ihem, we may find a couple of them of ser- 
 vice. We ought to have a larger force than the In- 
 dian ; 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 possi- 
 bly can." 
 
 " As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get 
 everything 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 hour, when ihey 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.
 
 132 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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 thera 
 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 mocassin 
 of a squaw." 
 
 "Right, then she is with them, so much the bet- 
 ter," replied Malachi, "for, as she sent me that let- 
 ter, she may serve us still, if she chooses." 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 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 Avhat cause could he have ?"' said Emma, 
 weeping 
 
 <« 
 
 Merely to get powder and shot as a reward for 
 bringing fu-r back again," replied Alfred ; " so there 
 is not anything 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. 
 
 "B,ide to the fort for assistance, bring Captain Sin- 
 clair, and go in pursuit as fast as we can, mother.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 133 
 
 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 may be supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and 
 Emma were in great distress ; this did not, however, 
 prevent them from listening to Martin, and supply- 
 ing him with all that he requested, which was salt 
 pork and other food for their journey, powder and 
 shot for their rifles, &c. 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 mocassins each was all that they required for the 
 journey, and in a i'ew 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 propor- 
 tion, Mr. Campbell said — 
 
 " Martin, supposing that you and Malachi are cor- 
 rect 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 that 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. 
 
 Vol. II.— 12
 
 134 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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, aU 
 though 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, Mar- 
 tin, will they give her up to you 1" 
 
 " We shan't ask their leave miss," replied Mar- 
 tin ; " 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 ad- 
 vantage, 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 interrogatories 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 feel- 
 ings ; I pity him," said Mrs. Campbell.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 135 
 
 "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 
 thev 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 anywhere on the opposite 
 side of the rivulet, 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 be- 
 fore 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 
 pari/ joined him, they and Malachi set off to where 
 the trail had been lost, and the latter had left the 
 Strawberry. 
 
 There thev 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 he imagined, was very active in his arrange- 
 ments, and showed that if his heart was smitten, his 
 head was clear. The order of the march was set- 
 tled bv Malachi and him, and as soon as all was 
 arranged, they waitel impatiently for the return of
 
 136 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 per- 
 fect 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 Straw- 
 berry, pointing to the former footmarks ; " see, the 
 track of the mocassins is both ways." 
 
 " That's true," said Malachi, after a close exami- 
 nation ; "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 a^ain, and proceeded with caution, led by 
 the Strawberry, until she stopped and spoke to Mal- 
 achi 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 Strawberrv pointed out another. 
 
 " Then all's right," said Malachi, " I said that she 
 could help us 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."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 137 
 
 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 setilement. They then laid 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.' 
 lhe trail was now pretty clear, and was occasion- 
 ally verified by the breaking of a twig, as before, 
 inis 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 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 Ave shall not find the 
 trail again ; perhaps, however, we shall see to-mor- 
 row morning ; it is too dark now to attempt to find 
 out, and we may do more harm than good bv track- 
 ing down the bank. We must bring to for the night 
 There is a high rock there on lhe beach farther°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 travelled 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 suiler 
 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." 
 
 12*
 
 138 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 col- 
 lecting 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 Mar- 
 tin held up his finger as a sign for silence. 
 
 "There's somebody coming this way — he is be- 
 hind 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. Have no fear." 
 
 Strawberry stepped out from the group, and went 
 up to the tree, calling John softly by name, and in a 
 Uiw seconds afterward returned, leading John by 
 the hand, who, wiihout 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 
 have come ?" said Captain Sinclair.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 139 
 
 "I met old Graves, and told him," replied John. 
 " Have you any meat ?" 
 
 " The boy has had nothing since he left, I'll an- 
 swer 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 yes- 
 terday to be up with us to-night, so let him eat in 
 quiet." 
 
 " What surprises me, Malachi, is how he could 
 have found his wav 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 ; " L 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 wuods ? It's a mercy 
 that he has fallen in with us," said Captain Sinclair. 
 Juhn slapped the barrel of his rifle, which was 
 lying by him, and which Captain Sinclair had L.\ot 
 perceived. 
 
 "You don't think that John would come into the 
 
 woods without his rifle, sir, do you ?" said Malachi. 
 
 " 1 did not perceive that he had it with him," 
 
 said Captain Sinclair, " but I certainly ought to have 
 
 known John belter." 
 
 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
 
 140 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 went down again to the borders of the lake, where 
 the trail had been lost. After a 1/mg 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 wa- 
 ter ; 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 shores of 
 the lake, until they arrived at the other side, care- 
 fully 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 larjre 
 rock behind which they had kindled their lire 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 fol- 
 low the trail, or discover the place of concealment 
 of the canoe, as it might be advantngeous to know 
 wnere 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 
 .'wo miles ; the twigs had been bent and 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,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 14l 
 
 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 Straw- 
 berry, 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 ad- 
 vanced 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 sprain- 
 ed 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, how- 
 ever, at the time they discovered her, for she had 
 lost a great deal of blood. They stopped the effu- 
 sion 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 farther 
 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 ; out 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
 
 142 th£ settlers. 
 
 wound, although it is a very ugly one, is not dan- 
 gerous, 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 inter- 
 vals. 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 in- 
 formation. The Angry Snake, irritated at the de- 
 tention of the Young Otter, had resolved to have 
 another hostage in lieu of him, and had carried off 
 Mary Percivai. 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 Percivai was very sore on her feet, and they 
 could not get her along, but that in every other re- 
 spect 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 Percivai 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 ex- 
 change for him, it was his intention to adopt the 
 boy, as he was very partial to him. On being aaked 
 if the boy was happy, she replied th?t he was not at
 
 THE SETTLERS. 143 
 
 first, but now he was almost an Indian ; that he was 
 seldom permitted to leave the lodges, and never un- 
 less accompanied by the Angry Snake. In answer 
 to their questions as to the direction and distance^) 
 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 to 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 conver- 
 sa ion with the Indian woman confirmed them in the 
 resolution. As they had no fear of the Indians dis- 
 covering 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 
 ner recovery was Downo longer considered doubtful.
 
 144 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to 
 have to wait in this manner, but there was no help 
 for il. He was satisfied that it was ihe most pru- 
 dent course, and therefore raised no objection. Al- 
 fred 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 ri- 
 fles to procure food. The evening before, they roast- 
 ed as much venison as they thought they could con- 
 sume while it was good, and at daylight again pro- 
 ceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by the In- 
 dian 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 sixlh 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 
 now they should proceed, and at last it was agreed 
 upon that they should be guided by the Indian 
 woman to a spot Avhcre they might be concealed, 

 
 THE oETTLERS. 145 
 
 as near as possible to the lodges, and that when the 
 parly had arrived there, that the woman and Mala- 
 chi should go and reconnoitre, to ascertain whether 
 the chief and his band with Mary Percival had i #t 
 turned or not. The night was passed very impa- 
 tiently, and without sleep by most of them, so anx- 
 ious were they for the morrow. Long before break 
 of day they again started, advancing with great cau- 
 tion, 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 afierward 
 Malachi and the Indian woman, creeping on all 
 fours, disappeared in the surrounding brushwood, 
 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 leggings and In- 
 dian 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 In- 
 dian," said Alfred ; "we shall have to make a pale- 
 face of him again." 
 
 Percival, for him 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 
 
 Vol. JL— 13
 
 146 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 has learned something at all events. You could nol 
 do that, John." 
 
 " No," replied John, " but they don't trust him 
 •ith a rifle." 
 
 They waited some little time longer, when an In- 
 dian 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 our- 
 selves." 
 
 In about half an hour afterward, Malachi and the 
 Indian woman returned ; they had crept in the 
 brushwood 10 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 proceed- 
 ings. 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, informatio'n of 
 their arrival might be conveyed to the absent party, 
 and induce them not to come home with Mary Per- 
 cival. This question was debated in a low tone be- 
 tween Malachi, Captain Sinclair, and Alfred. At 
 last John interrupted them by saying, "They are 
 going ou f 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 con- 
 sider this to decide the question. "We can now cap- 
 ture the men without the women knowing anything 
 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 147 
 
 them go some way. and then follow them. If we 
 secure them, we cau. 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 parly 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 fol- 
 lowed in a parallel direction, Malachi and John go- 
 ing 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 Al- 
 fred. 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 
 ■mmediately stopped, and crouched, to hide them- 
 selves. Martin and Allied 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 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 direc- 
 tion, and the rest of the party from a third, were 
 creeping slowly up toward them ; but to surround 
 them completely it was necessary that the main party 
 should divide, and send one or two more to the east- 
 ward. Captain Sinclair despatched 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
 
 148 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 to the ground ; 
 whenever he did this, they all stopped, and almost 
 held their breaths. 
 
 " The Indian woman says that the Old E.aven 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 al- 
 ready fast round the arms and legs of the Indians, 
 when Percival, who had not been tied, again at- 
 tempted to escape, and, by 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 in cut- 
 ting up the venison and preparing it for dinner, 
 while the Strawberry and the Indian woman were 
 collecting wood for a fire. In the meanwhile, Cap- 
 tain Sinclair, Alfred, 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 in- 
 stance where the parties were very young) wholly 
 obliterated, for the time, his recollections of his for- 
 mer life— so rapid is our falling off to the savage
 
 THE SETTLERS. 149 
 
 6tate. To the questions of Alfred he returned no re- 
 ply, 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 re- 
 turn to a state of nature when we are once in the 
 woods." 
 
 Malachi then spoke to Percival in the Indian lan- 
 guage ; 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 everything connected with the farm. 
 
 The Strawberry sal 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 la- 
 mented 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 
 
 13*
 
 150 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 evident that at last he now listened with attention. 
 The Strawberry continued to talk to him thus, foi 
 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 In- 
 dians 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 tempt- 
 ing 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 veni- 
 son, and being fed by John, made a very good din- 
 ner. As soon as their meal was over, they consulted 
 as to what steps should next be taken. The ques- 
 tion 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 mo- 
 tions. 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 encum-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 151 
 
 ber ourselves with more prisoners unless it is neces- 
 sary." 
 
 This opinion was at last assented to, and they set 
 off, on their return to the Indian lodges. They ar- 
 rived 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 con- 
 cealed 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 near- 
 er, 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 farther, 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
 
 152 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 pret- 
 ty 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 ihem." 
 
 " You are right, Malachi," replied Alfred. " Sin- 
 clair, 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 di- 
 vide, we must arrange accordingly. Who will re- 
 main with the prisoners ?" 
 
 "I won't," said John, in a positive manner. 
 
 "You must, John, if it is 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 Strawherry 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 watch- 
 ing the lodges, but everything appeared quiet, and not 
 person came out. Having examined the
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 153 
 
 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 prevent- 
 ing the women from escaping with her from the 
 lodge in which she was confined ; and John took 
 this 5 office willingly, as he considered it one of im- 
 portance, 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 Strawber- 
 ry, 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 safely 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 reconnoitred, and when they perceived that 
 he did so, they all rose up and hastened to their 
 allotted stations round the lodge into which the An- 
 gry Snake and his followers had entered. The In- 
 dians appeared to be asleep, for everything 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 Sin- 
 clair, 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 In- 
 dian 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 inlo 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 pnva-
 
 154 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 tions, 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 spring- 
 ing 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 dis- 
 charged 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 s'oldier 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 aud ar-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 153 
 
 rows, 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, immedi- 
 ately 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 ; 
 bu' .he other two had escaped into the woods during 
 the aflray. 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 compan- 
 ions. 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 reappearance of Percival — like a 
 restoration from the dead. Alfred was in consulta- 
 tion 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 ? J '
 
 156 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 " 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 thought- 
 ful 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 XVIII. 
 
 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 accommo- 
 dation 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 s ; .de 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 SETTLERS. 157 
 
 the grave, and then turned to the two wounded In- 
 dians. He brought them water, and spoke to them 
 in the Indian tongue; but while be 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 sen- 
 sations, he laid 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 skilful 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 applica- 
 tion. Before the day dawned, the two Indians who 
 had been wounded, were dead, and were immedi- 
 ately 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 pos- 
 sible 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 In- 
 dians, the one belonging to the soldier, and Martin's, 
 who could not carry anything 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, 
 bo as to D( carried between two men. Mary Perci 
 
 Vol II.— 14
 
 158 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 val 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 ihe 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 lime, and at 
 all events illow Mary Percival to recover. They de- 
 cided 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 sub-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 159 
 
 sistence. Alfred, Malachi, and John, went out this 
 time, for Percival had shown himself so quiet and 
 contented, and had gradually become so fond of be- 
 ing 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 re- 
 called to mind much of what had been forgotten 
 during his long sojourn with the Indians. The hun- 
 ters returned, having been very successful, and load- 
 ed 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 riv- 
 er Thames, and the town built upon it is named 
 London. It falls into the upper part of Lake Erie, 
 and is a fine rapid stream. For three days they pad- 
 dled their canoes, disembarking at night to sleep and 
 cook theii 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
 
 160 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 as they required for their food till they hoped to ar- 
 rive 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 in- 
 cessantly ; for he had again recovered his English, 
 which, strange to say, although he perfectly under- 
 stood 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 moschetoes, 
 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 lime to retire to rest. 
 
 On the sixth day, in the forenoon, they were de- 
 lighted 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 moor- 
 ed. 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 loug considered him as dead, that the 
 shock may be too great."
 
 THE SETTLERS. 161 
 
 "You say true, my dear Mary. Then we will go 
 forward with Captain Sinclair, and Malachi, and 
 John. Let Percival he put in the middle of the re- 
 mainder 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 this arrangement, 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, Hen- 
 ry 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 was 
 for a time 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 little 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 ac- 
 count 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. Campb di. 
 " God be praised for all his mercies! I was fea-'ul 
 
 14*
 
 162 THE SETTLEHS. 
 
 that I should have lost you, my dear Mary, as well 
 as my poor boy. He is lost for ever — 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 nervous- 
 ness 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 fuund by the Indians ; and I have great hopes 
 that we may recover him." 
 
 " God grant it : Gv«i grant it in his great mercy !" 
 said Mrs. Campbell, "my heart is almost breaking 
 with joy : may God sustain me ! Oh, where is — my 
 dear Alfred — where is he?" continued Mrs. Camp- 
 bell. 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 loo much overjoyed to speak, Al- 
 fred," replied Emma, extending her hand to Alfred, 
 " but no one welcomes your return more sincerely
 
 THE SETTLERS. 1 ^ 
 
 than I do, and no one is more grateful to you for hav- 
 ing 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 
 mini'te 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 good- 
 ness of God alone. Let us return our thanks while 
 our hearts are yet warm with gratitude and love, 
 and may our thanksgivings be graciously received." 
 
 Mr. Campbell knelt down, and his example was 
 followed by all the rest of the party assembled. In 
 a fervent tone he returned thanks for the recent mer- 
 cies 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 de- 
 vout life of faith in Him who had so graciously sup- 
 ported them in the hour of peril and affliction — who 
 had so wonderfully restored to them their lost treas- 
 ures, and turned all their gloom into sunshine — fil- 
 ling 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 re- 
 covered Mary and this dear boy." 
 
 Alfred then entered into his detail, first stating the 
 knowledge which Captain Sinclair, Malachi, and
 
 164 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 be- 
 come very painful." 
 
 "We owe him a large debt of gratitude," said 
 Mr. Campbell ; "he has suffered much on our ac- 
 count. 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. 1 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 shoul- 
 der kept me down, and I did not attempt a useless 
 resistance. Soon afterward, an Indian woman
 
 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 165 
 
 brought me some water, and I immediately recog- 
 nised her as the one whom we had succored when 
 we found her in the woods. This gave me courage 
 and hope, though her countenauce was immoveable, 
 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 doino-. 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 other- 
 wise, 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 laid 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 con- 
 trived to eat it. As soon as the day broke we set oft 
 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, how- 
 ever, to proceed, not using any great force, but still 
 dragging me and pushing me to make me keep up 
 withTthem. I soon perceived that I was a prisoner 
 only, and net likely to be ill treated if I complied 
 with their wishes. Toward evening I could hardly
 
 166 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 put one foot before the other, for they had obliged 
 me to walk on the water of a stream for two or three 
 miles, and my shoes were quite worn out in conse- 
 quence. At night they again stopped, and the Indian 
 woman prepared some herbs, and applied them tn 
 my feet. This gave me great relief, but she contin- 
 ued 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 per- 
 ceive that her s^ull 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 dis- 
 covered, 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 rny thoughts the poor Indian woman weltering 
 in her blood and murdered for no crime or fault —
 
 THE SETTLERS. 167 
 
 nothing that I could discover. The next morning, 
 as usual, my food was 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 farther. 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 insen- 
 sible." 
 
 " 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. 
 ms feet were in a dreadful state, and gave me much 
 pain. That night we stopped by a rivulet, and I 
 kept my feet in (he 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 ; 1 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
 
 168 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 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 ; bis 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. Camp- 
 bell ; " 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 maybe ima- 
 gined, very reluctantly, and in a day or two the fam- 
 ily again settled down to their usual occupations. 
 The emigrants had, during the absence of the expe- 
 dition, 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 169 
 
 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 mis- 
 ery 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's 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 arrows. 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.' 
 
 Vol. IL— 15
 
 170 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Cai'Tain 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 Sin- 
 clair must be very anxious to remain at the settle- 
 ment 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 lime 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 an- 
 swer 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 everything 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 hap- 
 piness 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 
 Mi. and Mrs. Campbell, who were certainly very
 
 THE SETTLERS. 171 
 
 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 quan- 
 tity 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 em- 
 ployment, 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 inde- 
 pendent, 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 Prov- 
 idence 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 a 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 it and 
 follow up your career, which we trust in God may 
 prove as prosperous as we are convinced it will be
 
 172 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 honorable. Take our best thanks, my dear boy, for 
 your kindness to us, and now consider yourself at lib- 
 erty 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 en- 
 counter. 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 connexions 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 hus- 
 band ; whenever and wherever you go, you will have 
 our blessings and our prayers, and the satisfaction of 
 knowing that you have been to us as a dutiful daugh- 
 ter, and that we love you as dearly as it is possible 
 for parents to do. Take her, Captain Sinclair, from 
 my hands, and take her Avith our blessings and best 
 wishes for your happiness, which I do not doubt 
 will be as great as we can expect in this chequered 
 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.
 
 THE SETTLERS. 173 
 
 " I wish you to go, Alfred," said his mother; "1 
 wish you to rejoin a service to which you are a credit. 
 Do not helieve 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 Cap- 
 tain Sinclair ventured to follow. Every one appeared 
 happy at this announcement of Mr. Campbell, except 
 Emma, who looked unusually serious. Alfred, per- 
 ceiving 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 con- 
 tinually 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 depar- 
 ture. 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 
 
 15*
 
 174 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 regiment at home. As every prospect of war ordis« 
 turbance in Canada was now over, he could take 
 either step without any censure being laid upon him. 
 
 A week afterward, the bateaux arrived from Mon- 
 treal, 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, ap- 
 peared 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 as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 "No, my dear Emily, no bad news, but most un- 
 expected 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 us to 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 hut 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 an- 
 ticipated, but it appears that his spine was injured, 
 and after some months' close confinement, he ex- 
 pired on the 9th of April. As Mr. Douglas Camp-
 
 THE SETTLERS. 175 
 
 bell has left no issue, and you are the next in tail, 
 you have now undisputed possession of the property 
 which you so honorable 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 re- 
 turn to Wexton Hall ; at all events, I shall leave 
 this place with regret. We have had loo many revo- 
 lutions of fortune, Campbell, since we have been 
 united, not to have learned by experience that a 
 peaceful, quiet, and contented home is more neces- 
 sary to our happiness than riches." 
 
 " I feel as you do, Emily," replied Mr. Campbell, 
 "but Ave are growing old, and have been taught 
 wisdom practically, by the events of a chequered 
 life. Our children, I perceive, think otherwise — nor 
 do I wonder at it." 
 
 " I shan't go," said John ; " I shall only he 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
 
 176 THE SETTLERS. 
 
 lis the elder portion of the party, could not help smi- 
 ling at the exclamations of two boys. They had both 
 Elayed the part of men, and it was but too evident 
 ow unfitted they would be for future scholastic dis- 
 cipline, 
 
 "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 to tbose 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 delight- 
 ed 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 Avas not much pleasure derived from this re- 
 accession to property, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell knew 
 their duty too well to hesitate, and every prepara- 
 tion was commenced for their return along with Al- 
 fred and Captain Sinclair. John, however, still con- 
 tinued obstinate in declaring that he would not go, 
 and Percival was very much of John's opinion, al- 
 though he did not*speak so plainly. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were alone, the for- 
 mer said to his wife : — 
 
 " I do not know what to do about John. He ap- 
 pears 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 
 wiih Malachi and Martin, and appears to have sev- 
 ered himself from his 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
 
 THE SETTLERS. 177 
 
 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 re- 
 main 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 colo- 
 nel, when he heard the arrangement, pledged him- 
 self 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 re- 
 mained a day or two, and then proceeded 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 them- 
 selves at Liverpool, from which town they posted to
 
 178 THE SETTLEKS. 
 
 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 him- 
 self 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 estates in Scotland. 
 
 Percival went to college, and turned out a very 
 clever lawyer. 
 
 John remained in Canada until he was twenty 
 years old, Avhen 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 cnief con- 
 versation 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 little 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 Cana- 
 dian properly, and shortly afterward John picked up 
 a little Canadian wife at Quebec, who made him 
 J trfectly happy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived to a good old age,
 
 THE SETTLERS. 179 
 
 respected as long as they lived, and lamented when 
 they died. They had known prosperity and adver- 
 sity, and in each state of life had acquitted them- 
 selves 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 anotner ; 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 re- 
 membered 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. 
 
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 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below. 
 
 Mi 
 
 LUAN 
 
 DEC 3 
 
 A.M. 
 
 ■•s'91101111,: 
 
 (D 1964 
 
 f&'D LD-L'RL 
 
 \ 
 
 ORION 
 
 «.0 :;RL JUI!l9^9 
 
 JUN 1 9 1389 
 
 1964 
 
 DL. 
 
 12 
 
 P.M. 
 
 10f^.-1 1-50 2555)470 
 
 REMINGTON RAND INC. ID
 
 L 005 243 273 9 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 370 479 8 
 
 PR 
 
 1977 
 
 S27