faithful artisans, bestowing upon them a liberal
reward for their labour, and took possession of his castle. But,
notwithstanding the strange manner in which he proposed to spend his
days, and his habitual grave demeanour and taciturnity, yet his kind
tone, when he uttered a request, or ventured a remark, on the
transactions passing around him, and his contempt for money, which he
squandered with a prodigal hand, had secured for him the good-will of
the ferrymen, and the friendship of the surrounding emigrants. But
there was one whose esteem had no venal mixture in it. This was Mary,
the old ferryman's daughter, a fair-cheeked girl of nineteen, who
never neglected an opportunity of performing a kind office for her
father's temporary guest; and when he and his man departed for their
own tenement, not venturing directly to bestow them on our hero, she
presented Joe with divers articles for their amusement and comfort in
their secluded abode, among which were sundry live fowls, a pet fawn,
and a kitten.

The first few days, after being installed in his solitary home, our
hero passed with his books. But he did not realize all the
satisfaction he anticipated from his favourite authors in his secluded
cell. The scene around him contrasted but ill with the creations of
Shakspeare; and if some of the heroes of Scott were identified with
the wildest features of nature, he found it impossible to look around
him and enjoy the magic of the page at the same time.

Joe employed himself in attending to his horses, feeding the fowls and
dogs, and playing with the fawn and a kitten. He also practiced
loading and shooting his musket, and endeavoured to learn the mode of
doing execution on other objects without committing violence on
himself.

"Joe," said Glenn, one bright frosty morning, "saddle the horses; we
will make an excursion in the prairie, and see what success we can
have without the presence and assistance of an experienced hunter. I
designed awaiting the visit of Boone, which he promised should take
place about this time; but we will venture out without him; if we kill
nothing, at least we shall have the satisfaction of doing no harm."

Joe set off towards the stable, smiling at Glenn's joke, and heartily
delighted to exchange the monotony of his domestic employment, which
was becoming irksome, for the sports of the field, particularly as he
was now entirely recovered from the effects of his late disasters, and
began to g