"Why, there's a river between us."

"So there is, ma'am, but still that's his feeling. I said to him, that
if he would go, I dared say Mr. Campbell would buy his allotment of
him, and he seems to be quite willing to part with it."

"It would be a great addition to your property, Mr. Campbell," observed
Captain Sinclair. "In the first place, you would have the whole of the
prairie and the right of the river on both sides, apparently of no
consequence now, but as the country fills up, most valuable."

"Well," replied Mr. Campbell, "as I presume we shall remain here, or, at
all events, those who survive me will, till the country fills up, I
shall be most happy to make any arrangement with Bone for the purchase
of his property."

"I'll have some more talk with him, sir,'" replied Martin.

The second day was passed as was the first, in making preparations for
erecting the house, which, now that they had obtained such unexpected
help, was, by the advice of Captain Sinclair, considerably enlarged
beyond the size originally intended. As Mr. Campbell paid the soldiers
employed a certain sum per day for their labor, he had less scruple in
employing them longer. Two of them were good carpenters, and a sawpit
had been dug, that they might prepare the doors and the frames for the
window-sashes which Mr. Campbell had taken the precaution to bring with
him. On the third day, a boat arrived from the fort bringing the men's
rations and a present of two fine bucks from the commandant. Captain
Sinclair went in the boat to procure some articles which he required,
and returned in the evening. The weather continued fine, and in the
course of a week, a great deal of timber was cut and squared. During
this time, Martin had several meetings with the old hunter, and it was
agreed that he should sell his property to Mr. Campbell. Money he
appeared to care little about--indeed it was useless to him; gunpowder,
lead, flints, blankets, and tobacco, were the principal articles
requested in the barter; the amount, however, was not precisely settled.
An intimacy had been struck up between the old hunter and John; in what
manner it was difficult to imagine, as they both were very sparing of
their words; but this was certain, that John had contrived to get
across the stream somehow or another, and was now seldom at home to his
meals. Martin reported that he was in the lodge of the old hunter, and
that he could come to no harm; so Mrs. Campbell was