just as I wished it, and there's another good skin for
Montreal."

"It is a she-bear," said Martin, who had joined them, "and she has cubs;
they can't be far off."

"That's true," replied Malachi; "so now you had better all go back
again. Martin and I will hide, and I'll answer for it, in an hour, we
will bring the cubs home with us."

The rest of the party returned to the house. The Strawberry had already
made known to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell the cause of the report. About an
hour before breakfast, Malachi and Martin came in, each with a cub of a
few weeks old. The little animals had come in the track of the mother in
search of her, and were pawing the dead body, as if trying to awaken
her, when Malachi and Martin secured them.

"What a charming pet," said Emma; "I will rear it for myself."

"And I'll have the other," said John.

No objection was raised to this, except that Mr. Campbell observed, that
if they became troublesome as they grew up, they must be parted with,
which was agreed to. Emma and John took possession of their pets, and
fed them with milk, and in a few days they became very tame; one being
chained up near the house, and the other at Malachi's lodge. They soon
grew very playful and very amusing little animals, and the dogs became
used to them, and never attempted to hurt them; indeed, very often Oscar
and the bear would be seen rolling about together, the best friends in
the world. But in a few months they became too large for pets, and too
troublesome, so one was dispatched by a _bateau_ going to Montreal, as a
present to Mr. Emmerson, and the other was taken to the fort by Captain
Sinclair, and became a great favorite of the soldiers.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Captain Sinclair was now very constantly at the house, for in the summer
time the commandant allowed much more liberty to the officers. Although
the detention of the Young Otter and the cause of his being detained,
had been made known to the Angry Snake, weeks passed away, and yet there
appeared no intention on the part of the chief to redeem his young
warrior by producing Percival. Every day an overture on his part was
expected, but none came, and those who were in the secret were in a
continual state of suspense and anxiety. One thing had been ascertained,
which was, that the Indian fired at by John had been killed, and this
occasioned much fear on the part of Malachi and Martin, that the Angry
Snake would revenge the death upon young