n."

"Ay, boy, but it was queerer still that none o' the pieces struck me or
my horse 'cept that bit o' the stock. An' I'm none the worse, barrin'
this lump on the head, that only serves to cock my hat a little more to
one side than seems becomin' to a sober-minded man."

"We were sorry to be able to bring away so little o' the meat," said
Archie, with the gravity of an old hunter; "but, you see, it was too
late to send a cart for it after we got back."

"Never mind," said Dan Davidson, when the narrative was brought to a
close, "you have done very well for a beginning."

"Moreover," added Fergus, "it iss a goot feast the wolves will be havin'
on the plains this night, an' so, Archie, I'll be wishin' ye better luck
next time."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

BRIGHT HOPES TERMINATE IN FURIOUS WAR.

Turning once again to the colony at Red River, we introduce the reader
to the Scotch settlers in the autumn of the year--at a time when there
was some appearance of the commencement of a season of prosperity, after
all the troubles that had befallen and surrounded, and well-nigh
overwhelmed them in time past.

The Davidson and McKay families had re-established themselves on their
farms, rebuilt their houses and planted their fields, and splendid crops
of all kinds were now flourishing, ready for spade and sickle.

The soil was found to be excellent. In after years, forty-fold was no
uncommon return. In one case, for a bushel of barley sown, fifty-six
bushels were reaped; and from a bushel of seed potatoes were obtained
one hundred and forty-five bushels! Industry, however, had not at that
time been rewarded with such encouraging results, but there was
sufficient to indicate cheering prospects in the near future, and to
gladden the hearts of the pioneer settlers.

As a good number of these had, under the depressing influence of
disappointment and failure in the past, neglected to sow extensively,
not a few families were forced again to winter at Pembina, and draw
their supplies from the chase to avoid consuming all the seed which
alone ensured them against famine. Among these were the Swiss families,
most of whom, being watch and clock makers, pastry-cooks, mechanics and
musicians, were not well adapted for agricultural pursuits. Perhaps
they were as ill-adapted for the chase, but seed takes time to sow and
grow, whereas animals need no prolonged nursing--at least from man--and
are quickly killed if one can shoot.