to all animosity. We expect a large
supply of blankets and other articles to be sent up this spring, as
presents to the tribes, which we hope will procure their good-will; and
we have taken up several French emissaries, who were working mischief."

"But still we shall be liable to the assaults of straggling parties,"
said Mr Campbell.

"That is true," replied the Colonel, "but against them you have your own
means of defence. You would, in so isolated a position, he equally
liable to a burglary in England--only that in England you would have the
laws to appeal to, whereas here you must take the law into your own
hands."

"It certainly is not pleasant to be in a continual state of anxiety,"
observed Mr Campbell, "but we knew what we had to expect before we came
here, and we must make the best of it. So you have lost Captain
Sinclair, Colonel; he is a great loss to us."

"Yes, he is to go to England for a short time," replied the Colonel,
"but we shall soon have him back again. He must be very fond of his
profession to remain in it with his means."

"He told us that he was about to take possession of a small property."

"A property of nearly 2,000 pounds per annum," replied the Colonel. "He
may consider it a small property, but I should think it otherwise if it
had fallen to my lot."

"Indeed, I had no idea, from what he said, that it was so large," said
Mrs Campbell. "Well, I have a high opinion of him, and have no doubt
but that he will make a good use of it."

"At all events, he can afford the luxury of a wife," said the Colonel,
laughing, "which we soldiers seldom can."

The Colonel then entered into conversation with Mr Campbell, and after
many questions, he observed:

"I have been thinking, Mr Campbell, that it will be very advantageous
to the government as well as to you, when your farm is cleared and
stocked, if, with the water-power you possess here, you were to erect a
flour-mill and a saw-mill. You observe that the government has to
supply the fort with flour and provisions of all kinds at a very heavy
expense of carriage, and the cattle we have at the fort will cost us
more than they are worth, now that we have lost your prairie farm, so
conveniently situated for us. On the other hand, your produce will be
almost useless to you, at the distance you are from any mart; as you
will not find any sale for it. Now, if you were to erect a mill, and
grind your own wheat, which you may do in another