et us some?"

"We had no time to get it last autumn, miss, but we will try this autumn
what we can do. When John and I are out in the woods, we shall very
probably find a honey-tree, without going very far. I did intend to
have looked out for some, if you had not mentioned it."

"I know one," said Martin; "I marked it a fortnight ago, but I quite
forgot all about it. Since the mill has been in hand, I have had little
time for anything else. The fact is, we have all plenty to do just
now."

"That we certainly have," replied Henry, laughing; "I wish I could see
the end of my work in the barn; I doubt if I shall be able to get out
with my rifle this winter."

"No, sir, you must leave the woods to John and me," replied Malachi.
"Never mind, you shan't want for venison. Do you require the sledge
to-morrow, Mr Alfred?"

Malachi referred to a small sledge which they had made in the winter,
and which was now very useful, as they could, with one horse, transport
things from place to place. It was used by Alfred for bringing down to
the store-house the sacks of flour as fast as they were ground in the
mill.

"I can do without it for a day. What do you want it for?"

"To bring all the honey home," said Emma, laughing.

"No, miss, to take the coppers out into the woods," replied Malachi,
"that they may be ready for the liquor. As soon as we have tapped the
trees we will look for the honey."

"Did you send your skins down to Montreal by the _bateaux_?" inquired
Mr Campbell.

"Yes, father," replied Alfred; "Mr Emmerson took charge of them, and
promised to deliver them to the agent; but we have not so many this year
as we had last. John has the largest package of all of us."

"Yes, he beats me this year," said Malachi; "he always contrives to get
the first shot. I knew that I should make a hunter of the boy. He
might go out by himself now, and do just as well as I do."

The next morning Malachi went out into the woods, taking with him the
coppers and all the trays on the sledge; during that day he was busy
boring the trees and fitting the reed-pipes to the holes. Strawberry
and John accompanied him, and by sunset their work was complete.

The next morning, when they went out, only Malachi and John took their
axes with them, for John could use his very well for so young a lad.
They first went to the tree which Martin had discovered; he had given a
description where to find it. They cut it down, but did not