ght have been
ours. As there was little probability that the Indian would have
remained in the neighbourhood, we soon abandoned the search and rejoined
the party.

It was late in the evening when we approached the farm, and recollecting
the threatened attack by the Indians, I felt more anxiety than I can
express, lest during our absence, they should have carried out their
project. Great therefore, was the relief to my mind when I saw Biddy
running down the hill to welcome us, followed by my mother to whose
charge we soon committed Kathleen and Lily.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

AN UNCOMFORTABLE STATE OF THINGS--KLUKO PAYS US A VISIT--STARTLING
INTELLIGENCE--THE FATE OF SILAS BRACHER--RETURN TO THE FARM--THE
INDIAN'S FRIENDSHIP FOR DIO--THE RED MAN'S OPINION OF SLAVERY--UNCLE
DENIS'S MENAGERIE--WINTER AT THE FARM--WE HAVE AN ADVENTURE--FIGHT
BETWEEN A SABLE AND PORCUPINE--WE CAPTURE THE COMBATANTS--THEIR
APPEARANCE--TREATMENT IN THE CAGE--TAMING OF THE SABLE AND URSON--LOSS
OF POULTRY--IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE--SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES.

The warning we had received of a projected attack on the farm by the
Indians compelled us to be on our guard. We kept a strict watch at
night, and two or three of us were constantly employed in scouting in
the neighbourhood, so as in good time to discover any red-skins who
might be approaching with hostile intent. Cunning as they may fancy
themselves, they are in reality easily outwitted by the superior
intelligence of white men.

We had got so accustomed to this state of things that we took them as a
matter of course. Even my mother, Kathleen, and Lily, were not in the
slightest degree alarmed, though they became somewhat anxious when my
father and uncle, or Dan and I did not return at the hour they expected.
We were annoyed chiefly by the interruption to our usual avocations,
as, when we had been out all day, neither our worthy Dominie, Dan, nor I
were much inclined for lessons. We, however, managed to hunt as usual,
as we could at the same time act as scouts, though we ran, it must be
confessed, some risk of being caught by any hostile Indians who might be
in the neighbourhood. Impunity, however, made us bold, and we were
inclined to think that the threatened attack would never take place.
The men continued cutting down trees, putting up fences, ploughing, and
sowing, as regularly as before, though, by my father's orders, they
always carried their arms with them, and piled them