at
the fort?"

"No; what is it?"

"He wrote to my father yesterday, saying, as he had only the means of
feeding the cows necessary for the officers of the garrison, that he
would sell all the oxen at present at the fort at a very moderate
price."

"But even if we have fodder enough for them during the winter what are
we to do with them?"

"Sell them again to the fort for the supply of the troops," replied
Henry, "and thereby gain good profit. The commandant says that it will
be cheaper to government in the end than being compelled to feed them."

"That it will, I have no doubt, now that they have nothing to give them;
they trusted chiefly to our prairie for hay; and if they had not had
such a quantity in store, they could not have fed them last winter."

"My father will consent, I know; indeed he would be very foolish not to
do so, for most of them will be killed when the winter sets in, and will
only cost us the grazing."

"We are fortunate in finding such friends as we have done," replied
Alfred. "All this assistance would not have been given to perhaps any
other settlers."

"No, certainly not; but you see, Alfred, we are indebted to your
influence with Captain Lumley for all these advantages, at least my
father and mother say so, and I agree with them. Captain Lumley's
influence with the Governor has created all this interest about us."

"I think we must allow that the peculiar position of the family has done
much toward it. It is not often that they meet with settlers of refined
habits and cultivated minds, and there naturally must be a feeling
toward a family of such a description in all generous minds."

"Very true, Alfred," replied Henry; "but there is our mother waiting for
us to go in to dinner."

"Yes; and the Strawberry by her side. What a nice little creature she
is!"

"Yes; and how quickly she is becoming useful. She has almost given up
her Indian customs and is settling down quietly into English habits.
Martin appears very fond of her."

"And so he ought to be," replied Henry; "a wife with a smile always upon
her lips is a treasure. Come, let us go in."

Another fortnight passed away when an incident occurred which created
some uneasiness. Mr. Campbell was busy with Martin and Alfred clearing
out the store-room and arranging the stores. Many of the cases and
packages had been opened to be examined and aired, and they were busily
employed, when, turning round, Mr. Campbell, to his great