e done?" said Alfred. "I must take a horse and ride
off to the fort, for if they do not see him before he passes he may not
be picked up."

"If he once gets into the rapids, sir," said Malachi, "he will be in
great danger, for he may be borne down upon one of the rocks and upset
in a minute."

"Yes, but he is some way from them yet," replied Alfred.

"Very true, sir; but with this strong wind right down to them, and
helping the current, he will soon be there. There is no time to be
lost."

"No; but I'll go in to dinner, and as soon as I have taken a mouthful,
just to avoid creating any alarm, I will slip out, and ride to the fort
as fast as I can."

"Just so; you will be there in good time, for he is now three miles
above the fort; indeed, he cannot well pass it without their seeing
him."

"Yes he can, now that the water is so rough," replied Alfred; "recollect
that they are soldiers in the fort, and not sailors, who are accustomed
to look on the water. A piece of drift timber and a punt is much the
same to their eyes. Come, let us go in to dinner."

"Yes, sir, I'll follow you," replied Malachi; "but, before I come in
I'll catch the horse and saddle him for you. You can tell Miss Emma to
hold her tongue about it."

Alfred rejoined Emma, whom he cautioned, and then they went in to their
dinner.

"Where's John?" said Mr Campbell; "he promised me some lake-fish for
dinner, and has never brought them in; so you will not have such good
fare as I expected."

"And where's Malachi?" said Alfred.

"I daresay he and John are out together somewhere," observed Henry, who,
with Martin, had come in before Alfred.

"Well he will lose his dinner," said Mrs Campbell.

"That's what I cannot afford to do, mother," said Alfred; "I am very
hungry, and I have not more than five minutes to spare, for that seed
must be put in to-night."

"I thought Malachi was with you, Alfred," said Mr Campbell.

"So he was, father," replied Alfred, "but he left me. Now, mother,
please to give me my dinner."

Alfred ate fast, and then rose from the table and went away from the
house. The horse was all ready, and he mounted and rode off for the
fort, telling Malachi that his father and mother thought John was with
him; and that, therefore, he had better not go in to dinner, but keep
out of the way.

"Yes, sir, that will be best, and then they can ask no questions. Be
quick, sir, for I am not at all easy about the boy."

Their