," replied Mrs Campbell; "and Emma has
begun to laugh again; but her laugh is rather hysterical and forced;
they will come out at dinnertime. It appears that they are indebted to
John for their preservation, for they say the wolf was about to spring
upon them when he came to their assistance. We ought to be very
grateful to Heaven for their preservation. I had no idea, after what
Martin said about the wolves, that they were so dangerous."

"Why, ma'am, it is I that am most to blame, and that's the fact,"
replied Martin. "When we killed the bullock I threw the offal on the
heap of snow close to the cow-lodge, meaning that the wolves and other
animals might eat it at night, but it seems that this animal was hungry,
and had not left his meal when the dog attacked him, and that made the
beast so rily and savage."

"Yes; it was the fault of Martin and me," replied Alfred. "Thank Heaven
it's no worse!"

"So far from its being a subject of regret, I consider it one of
thankfulness," replied Mr Campbell. "This might have happened when
there was no one to assist, and our dear girls might have been torn to
pieces. Now that we know the danger, we may guard against it for the
future."

"Yes, sir," replied Martin; "in future some of us will drive the cows
home, to be milked every morning and evening; inside the palisade there
will be no danger. Master John, you have done well. You see, ma'am,"
continued Martin, "what I said has come true. A rifle in the hands of a
child is as deadly a weapon as in the hands of a strong man."

"Yes, if courage and presence of mind attend its uses," replied Mr
Campbell. "John, I am very much pleased with your conduct."

"Mother called me naughty," replied John rather sulkily.

"Yes, John, I called you naughty, for not telling us the wolf was dead,
and leaving us to suppose that your cousins were in danger; not for
killing the wolf. Now I kiss you, and thank you for your bravery and
good conduct."

"I shall tell all the officers at the fort, what a gallant little fellow
you are, John," said Captain Sinclair; "there are very few of them who
have shot a wolf, and what is more, John, I have a beautiful dog, which
one of the officers gave me the other day in exchange for a pony, and I
will bring it over, and make it a present to you for your own dog. He
will hunt anything, and he is very powerful--quite able to master a
wolf, if you meet with one. He is half mastiff and half Scotch