t, Henry," replied Mr Campbell, aside. "Now, John, I will
give you the rifle, if you will promise me to ask leave when you want to
go, and always come back at the time you have promised."

"I'll always tell when I go, if mamma will always let me go, and I'll
always come back when I promise, if I've killed."

"He means, sir, that if he is on the track when his leave is out, that
he must follow it; but as soon as he has either lost his game, or killed
it, he will then come home. That's the feeling of a true hunter, sir,
and you must not baulk it."

"Very true; well then, John, recollect that you promise."

"Martin," said Percival, "when are you to teach me to fire the rifle?"

"Oh, very soon now, sir; but the soldiers are gone, and as soon as you
can hit the mark, you shall go out with Mr Alfred or me."

"And when are we to learn, Mary," said Emma.

"I'll teach you, cousins," said Alfred, "and give a lesson to my
honoured mother."

"Well, we'll all learn," replied Mrs Campbell.

"What's to be done to-morrow, Martin?" said Alfred.

"Why, sir, there are boards enough to make a fishing-punt, and if you
and Mr Henry will help me, I think we shall have one made in two or
three days. The lake is full of fish, and it's a pity not to have some
while the weather is so fine."

"I've plenty of lines in the store-room," said Mr Campbell.

"Master Percival would soon learn to fish by himself," said Martin, "and
then he'll bring as much as Master John."

"Fish!" said John with disdain.

"Yes, fish, Master John," replied Martin; "a good hunter is always a
good fisherman, and don't despise them, for they often give him a meal
when he would otherwise go to sleep with an empty stomach."

"Well, I'll catch fish with pleasure," cried Percival, "only I must
sometimes go out hunting."

"Yes, my dear boy, and we must sometimes go to bed; and I think it is
high time now, as we must all be up to-morrow at daylight."

The next morning, Mary and Emma set off to milk the cows--not, as usual,
attended by some of the young men, for Henry and Alfred were busy, and
Captain Sinclair was gone. As they crossed the bridge, Mary observed to
her sister, "No more gentlemen to attend us lady milkmaids, Emma."

"No," replied Emma; "our avocation is losing all its charms, and a
pleasure now almost settles down to a duty."

"Alfred and Henry are with Martin about the fishing-boat," observed
Mary.

"Yes," replied Emma; "but I fancy, Mary