ou have had."

"I should have been at Montreal to-morrow morning," said John, laughing.

"No, never; you would have been upset in the rapids long before you
could get to Montreal."

"Well, mother, I can swim," replied John.

"You naughty boy, nothing will make you afraid."

"Well, ma'am, it's a good fault, that of having confidence in yourself,
so don't check it too much," replied Malachi. "It saves many a man who
would otherwise be lost."

"That's very true, Malachi," observed Alfred; "so, now that he is safe
back, we won't scold John any more. He will know better than to go out
in such rough weather again."

"To be sure I shall," said John; "I don't _want_ to go down the rapids."

"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," replied Mrs. Campbell.

Captain Sinclair remained with them that night. Before daylight, the
family were alarmed by the report of a gun, and it was immediately
supposed that some attack had been made on the lodge occupied by
Malachi, Martin, and his wife. Captain Sinclair, Alfred, and John sprang
out of bed, and were clothed in a minute. As soon as they had armed
themselves, they opened the door cautiously, and, looking well round,
went through the passage to the sheep-fold where the lodge was built.
Every thing, however, appeared to be quiet, and Alfred knocked at the
door. Malachi answered to the inquiry, "What is the matter?"

"We heard the report of a gun close to the house just now, and we
thought something might have happened."

"Oh!" cried Malachi, laughing, "is that all? Then you may all go to bed
again. It's my trap for the bear--nothing more. I forgot to tell you
last night."

"Well, as we are up, we may as well go and see," said Alfred; "the day
is breaking."

"Well, sir, I am ready," said Malachi, coming out with his deer-skin
jacket in one hand and his rifle in the other.

They walked to the maize-field on the other side of the river, and found
that the trap had been successful, for a large bear lay dead at the foot
of the snake-fence.

"Yes, sir, I've got him," said Malachi.

"But what was the trap?" said Henry.

"You see, sir, I tracked the brute over the rails by his broad
foot-mark, and as I knew he would come the same way, I fixed the rifle
with a wire to the trigger, so that, as he climbed up, he must touch the
wire with his fore-paws, and the muzzle, pointed a little downward,
would then about reach his heart when the gun went off. You see, sir, it
has happened