m strong again now, Emma," replied Alfred. "But you must not remain
here in the cold. See, the snow is falling again."

"I must remain now till they are ready to carry you, Alfred, for I dare
not go back by myself."

By this time the litter was prepared, and Alfred placed on it. Malachi,
Henry, Martin, and John took it up.

"Where is Percival?" said Emma.

"He's behind a little way," replied John. "The snow-shoes hurt him, and
he could not walk so fast. He will be here in a minute."

They carried Alfred to the house, where Mr and Mrs Campbell and Mary
were waiting at the door in great anxiety; poor Emma was quite knocked
up by the time that they arrived, and went into her own room.

Alfred was laid on his bed, and his father then examined his wounds,
which he considered very dangerous, from the great laceration of the
flesh. Mr Campbell dressed them, and then they left Alfred to the
repose which he so much required. The state of Alfred so occupied their
minds and their attention, that nothing and nobody else was thought of
for the first hour. Emma, too, had been taken very ill soon after she
came in, and required the attention of Mrs Campbell and Mary. It was
not until they were about to sit down to supper that Mr Campbell said,
"Why, where's Percival?"

"Percival! Is he not here?" was the question anxiously uttered by all
the party who had been hunting.

"Percival not here!" exclaimed Mrs Campbell, starting up. "Where--
where is my child?"

"He was just behind us," said John; "he sat down to alter his
snow-shoes: the ties hurt him."

Malachi and Martin ran out of doors in consternation; they knew the
danger, for the snow was now falling in such heavy flakes that it was
impossible to see or direct their steps two yards in any direction.

"The boy will be lost for sartain," said Malachi to Martin; "if he has
remained behind till this fall of snow, he never will find his way, but
wander about till he perishes."

"Yes," said Martin, "he has but a poor chance, that is the truth. I
would have given my right arm this had not happened."

"Misfortune never comes single," replied Malachi; "what can we do?
Madam Campbell will be beside herself, for she loves that boy beyond all
measure."

"It's useless our going out," observed Martin; "we should never find
him, and only lose ourselves; but still we had better go back, and say
that we will try. At all events, we can go to the edge of the forest,
and