ding to the mill as well, have their whole time taken
up. Such were the arrangements out of doors, and now that they had lost
the services of poor Percival, and the duties to attend to indoors were
so much increased, Mrs Campbell and the girls were obliged to call in
the assistance of Mr Campbell whenever he could be spared from the
garden, which was his usual occupation. Thus glided on the third winter
in quiet and security; but in full employment, and with so much to do
and to attend to, that it passed very rapidly.

It was in the month of February, when the snow was very heavy on the
ground, that one day Malachi went up to the mill to Alfred, whom he
found alone attending the saws, which were in full activity; for Martin
was squaring out the timber ready to be sawed at about one hundred
yards' distance.

"I am glad to find you alone, sir," said Malachi, "for I have something
of importance to tell you of, and I don't like at present that anybody
else should know anything about it."

"What is it, Malachi?" inquired Alfred.

"Why, sir, when I was out hunting yesterday I went round to a spot where
I had left a couple of deer-hides last week that I might bring them
home, and I found a letter stuck to them with a couple of thorns."

"A letter, Malachi!"

"Yes, sir, an Indian letter. Here it is." Malachi then produced a
piece of birch-bark, of which the underneath drawing is a fac-simile.

"Well," said Alfred, "it may be a letter, but I confess it is all Greek
to me. I certainly do not see why you wish to keep it a secret. Tell
me."

"Well, sir, I could not read one of your letters half so well as I can
this; and it contains news of the greatest importance. It's the Indian
way of writing, and I know also whom it comes from. A good action is
never lost, they say, and I am glad to find that there is some gratitude
in an Indian."

"You make me very impatient, Malachi, to know what it means; tell me
from whom do you think the letter comes?"

"Why, sir, do you see this mark here?" said Malachi, pointing to the one
lowest down on the piece of bark.

"Yes; it is a foot, is it not?"

"Exactly, sir; now, do you know whom it comes from?"

"I can't say I do."

"Do you remember two winters back our picking up the Indian woman, and
carrying her to the house, and your father curing her sprained ankle?"

"Certainly; is it from her?"

"Yes, sir; and you recollect she said that she belonged to the band
which fol