t had the habit of going to
sleep so soundly that it was difficult to awaken it. It was about
eighteen inches long, exclusive of its bushy tail, and much resembled
the ordinary marten in shape. The fur was of a rich brown, with white
about the neck, and on the head there was a grey tinge. It was of
unusual length for so small an animal, and its most remarkable
peculiarity was, that in whatever way the hair was pressed down, it lay
smoothly on the animal's back. It extended down the legs to the end of
the claws. So tame did it at last become, that it was allowed to roam
about at large. Shortly afterwards Kathleen and Lily lost a favourite
hen and several young chickens, and as there could be no doubt as to who
was the criminal, the sable was doomed to imprisonment for life. Its
health suffered in consequence, and in a couple of years it died, but
Uncle Denis got 10 pounds for its skin, so that it thus became far more
profitable dead than alive.

I have said little of the doings of my sister and Lily. Both were
growing into charming young girls, and certainly looked older than they
really were. They were also--which was of more importance--sensible and
good, devoted to our mother. I always looked upon Lily as a sister;
indeed our mother treated her with the same affection as she did
Kathleen.

Months and years went by, faster than I could suppose possible. We
brought more and more ground under cultivation, our cattle increased, as
did our herds of swine even still faster, while the few sheep we had
brought became a large flock. Mr Tidey still acted as tutor to the
family. Dan had, however, become almost a young man, and I had long
considered myself grown up. We laboured on the farm, hunted and fished
and traded in furs; some of the furs we bought from the Indians, and a
considerable number we trapped or shot ourselves.

Uncle Denis remained a bachelor, although, when urged by my mother, he
sometimes talked of going eastward to look out for a wife. I had no
intention of following his example even if he did go. I could not tell
whether Lily would consent to marry me, but I determined some day to ask
her, feeling now that I should never find her equal in any part of the
world.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

MY MOTHER IS TAKEN DANGEROUSLY ILL--DIO AND I SET OFF TO FORT HAMILTON--
BOXER DISOBEDIENT--END OF OUR FIRST DAY'S JOURNEY--AN AGREEABLE ADDITION
TO OUR SUPPER--CAT-FISH--MY DOG ON THE WATCH--A MIDNIGHT INT