r the
cattle during the summer, so they go along by the borders of the lake
and islands, where they know there are patches of clear land, cut the
grass down, make the hay, and collect it all in the _bateaux_, and carry
it to the fort to be stacked for the winter. This prairie was their best
help, but now they have lost it."

"But Colonel Forster has promised papa sufficient hay for the cows for
this winter; indeed, we could not have fed them unless he had done so.
Depend upon it, Captain Sinclair will bring the hay round, and then we
shall see him again, Mary; but we must walk after our own cows now. No
one to drive them for us. If Alfred had any manners he might have come."

"And why not Henry, Emma?" said Mary, with a smile.

"Oh! I don't know; Alfred came into my thoughts first."

"I believe that really was the case," replied Mary. "Now I'm even with
you; so go along and milk your cows."

"It's all very well, miss," replied Emma, laughing; "but wait till I
have learned to fire my rifle, and then you'll be more cautious of what
you say."

On their return home, they found the old hunter with a fine buck lying
before him. Mr. Campbell was out with the boys and Martin, who wished
his opinion as to the size of the punt.

"How do you do, Mr. Bone?" said Mary. "Did John shoot that deer?"

"Yes; and shot it as well as an old hunter, and the creatur' can hardly
lift the gun to his shoulder. Which of you is named Mary?"

"I am," said Mary.

"Then I've something for you," said old Malachi, pulling from out of his
vest a small parcel, wrapped up in thin bark, and handing it to her;
"it's a present from the Strawberry."

Mary opened the bark, and found inside of it a pair of moccasins, very
prettily worked in stained porcupines' quills.

"Oh! how beautiful, and how kind of her! Tell her that I thank her, and
love her very much. Will you?"

"Yes; I'll tell her. Where's the boy?"

"Who, John? I think he's gone up the stream to take some trout; he'll be
back to breakfast, and that's just ready. Come, Emma, we must go in with
the milk."

Mr. Campbell and those who were with him soon returned.

Malachi Bone then stated that he had brought the buck killed by John;
and that, if it suited, he would carry back with him a keg of gunpowder
and some lead; that he wished Mr. Campbell to calculate what he
considered due to him for the property, and let him take it out in
goods, as he required them.

"Why don't you name yo