y force the
articles he had seen and so much coveted.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mr. Campbell acceded to the offer made by the commandant of the fort,
and purchased of him, at a moderate price, eighteen oxen, which were all
that remained of the stock at the fort, except the cows. He also took
six weaning calves to bring up. The cattle were now turned into the bush
to feed, that they might obtain some after-grass from that portion of
the prairie on which they had been feeding. The summer passed quickly
away, for they all had plenty of employment. They fished every day in
the lake, and salted what they did not eat, for winter provision. Martin
now was a great part of his time in the woods, looking after the cattle,
and Malachi occasionally accompanied him, but was oftener out hunting
with John, and always returned with game. They brought in a good many
bear-skins, and sometimes the flesh, which, although approved of by
Malachi and Martin, was not much admired by the rest. As soon as the
after-grass had been gathered in, there was not so much to do. Henry and
Mr. Campbell, with Percival, were quite sufficient to look after the
stock, and as the leaves began to change, the cattle were driven in from
the woods, and pastured on the prairie. Every thing went on in order;
one day was the counterpart of another. Alfred and Henry threshed out
the corn, in the shed, or rather open barn, which had been put up by the
soldiers in the sheep-fold, and piled up the straw for winter-fodder for
the cattle. The oats and wheat were taken into the store-house. Martin's
wife could now understand English, and spoke it a little. She was very
useful, assisting Mrs. Campbell and her nieces in the house, and
attending the stock. They had brought up a large number of chickens, and
had disposed of a great many to the Colonel and officers of the fort.
Their pigs also had multiplied exceedingly, and many had been put up to
fatten, ready to be killed and salted down. The time for that
occupation was now come, and they were very busy curing their meat; they
had also put up a small shed for smoking their bacon and hams. Already
they were surrounded with comfort and plenty, and felt grateful to
Heaven that they had been so favored.

The autumn had now advanced, and their routine of daily duty was seldom
interrupted; now and then a visit was paid them from the fort by one or
other of the officers or the commandant. The Indians had held their
council, but