and a large portion of the prairie land was under
water.

A few days, however, sufficed to change the scene; the snow which had
covered the ground for so many months had all disappeared; the birds
which had been mute or had migrated during the winter, now made their
appearance, and chirped and twittered round the house; the pleasant
green of the prairie was once more presented to their view, and Nature
began to smile again. Other ten days passed, and the trees had thrown
out their leaves, and after one or two storms, the weather became warm
and the sky serene.

Great was the delight of the whole party at this change; and now the
cows were put out to their pasture, and Emma and Mary went milking as
before, no longer afraid of meeting with the wolves. The boat was
launched, and Percival and John went out to procure fish. Alfred,
Henry, and Martin were very busy picking up the cleared ground, to sow
the first crop. Mr Campbell worked all day in the garden; the poultry
were noisy and bustling, and soon furnished an abundant supply of eggs;
and as now the hunting season was over for a time, Malachi and the
Strawberry were continually coming to visit them.

"Oh! how delightful this is," exclaimed Emma, as she stopped at the
bridge and looked on the wide blue lake; "is it not, Mary, after having
been cooped up for so many dreary months?"

"It is, indeed, Emma; I do not wonder at your flow of spirits; I feel
quite another person myself. Well, if the winter is long and dreary, at
all events, it doubly enhances the value of the spring."

"I think it's very odd that Captain Sinclair has not come to see us;
don't you, Mary?"

"I certainly did expect him before this," replied Mary; "I presume,
however, his duty will not permit him to come."

"Surely he could get leave, now that the weather is fine; there was some
reason for his not coming during the winter. I hope he is not ill."

"I hope so too, most sincerely, Emma," replied Mary; "but come, sister,
we must not loiter; hear how the calves are bleating for us to let them
have their breakfasts; we shall have more of them very soon; yes, and
plenty of milk, and then we shall have plenty of churning; but I like
work when the weather is fine."

After breakfast, Emma expressed her surprise to Alfred at Captain
Sinclair's not having made his appearance, and her fear that he was not
well. Alfred, at her request, promised to walk to the fort in the
afternoon, and ascerta