, to the sky, but they were never to throw forth
a branch or leaf again. It was a melancholy and desolate picture, and
rendered still more so by the heavy rain which still continued to pour
down without intermission.

As they were surveying the scene, Malachi and Martin came to them.

"The stock are all right, sir," said Martin; "I counted them, and there
is not one missing. There's no harm done except to the cow-house; on the
contrary, the fire has proved a good friend to us."

"How so, Martin?" asked Mr. Campbell.

"Because it has cleared many acres, of ground, and saved us much labor.
All on the other side of the stream is now cleared away, and next spring
we will have corn between the stumps; and in autumn, after we have
gathered in the harvest, we will cut down and burn the trees which are
now standing. It has done a deal of good to the prairie also, we shall
have fine herbage there next spring."

"We have to thank Heaven for its mercy," said Mr. Campbell; "at one time
yesterday evening, I thought we were about to be rendered destitute
indeed, but it has pleased God that it should be otherwise."

"Yes, sir," observed Malachi; "what threatened your ruin has turned out
to your advantage. Next year you will see every thing green and fresh as
before; and, as Martin says, you have to thank the fire for clearing
away more land for you than a whole regiment of soldiers could have done
in two or three years."

"But we must work hard and get in the corn next spring, for otherwise
the brushwood will grow up so fast, as to become a forest again in a few
years."

"I never thought of inquiring," said Mary, "how it was that the forest
could have taken fire."

"Why, miss," replied Malachi, "in the autumn, when every thing is as dry
as tinder, nothing is more easy. The Indians light their fire, and do
not take the trouble to put it out, and that is generally the cause of
it; but then it requires wind to help it."

The danger that they had escaped made a serious impression on the whole
party, and the following day, being Sunday, Mr. Campbell did not forget
to offer up a prayer of thankfulness for their preservation.

The roof of the cow-house was soon repaired by Alfred and Martin, and
the Indian summer passed away without any further adventure.

The day after the fire, a dispatch arrived from the fort to ascertain
their welfare, and the Colonel and officers were greatly rejoiced to
learn that comparatively so little