he garden now beginning to be wonderfully attractive, and
adding to the general home-like aspect of the place; while the captain
rubbed his hands as he gazed at his rapidly-growing prosperity, and
asked wife and daughters whether they had not done well in coming out to
so glorious a land.

They all readily agreed, for they had grown used to their active, busy
life, and were quite content, the enjoyment of vigorous health in a fine
climate compensating for the many little pleasures of civilised life
which they had missed at first. The timidity from which they had
suffered had long since passed away; and though in quiet conversations,
during the six early months of their sojourn, mother and daughter and
niece had often talked of how much pleasanter it would have been if the
captain had made up his mind to sell his property and go close up to
some settlement, such thoughts were rare now; and, as Aunt Georgie used
to say:

"Of course, my dears, I did at one time think it very mad to come right
out here, but I said to myself, Edward is acting for the best, and it is
our duty to help him, and I'm very glad we came; for at home I used
often to say to myself, `I'm getting quite an old woman now, and at the
most I can't live above another ten years.' While now I don't feel a
bit old, and I shall be very much disappointed if I don't live another
twenty or five-and-twenty years. For you see, my dears, there is so
much to do."

And now, on this particular morning, the boys were busy loading up a
sturdy, useful horse with provisions for an excursion into the scrub.
Sam German had left his gardening to help to get their horses ready; and
full of importance, in a pair of clean white drawers, Shanter was
marching up and down looking at the preparations being made, in a way
that suggested his being lord of the whole place.

All ready at last, and mounted. Mrs Bedford, Aunt Georgie, and the
girls had come out to see them off, and the captain and Uncle Jack were
standing by the fence to which the packhorse was hitched.

"Got everything, boys?" said the captain.

"Yes, father; I think so."

"Flint and steel and tinder?"

"Oh yes."

"Stop!" cried the captain. "I'm sure you've forgotten something."

"No, father," said Rifle. "I went over the things too, and so did Tim.
Powder, shot, bullets, knives, damper iron, hatchets, tent-cloth."

"I know," cried Aunt Georgie. "I thought they would. No extra
blankets."

"Yes, we