habitations, to lay up firewood for the
winter, and clearing away a spot for a garden, and for planting potatoes
in the following spring. The harvest being ripe again, gave them all
full employment; the corn was got in with great expedition by the united
labour of the soldiers and emigrants, when the former, having completed
their work, returned to the fort, and the Campbells, with the addition
to their colony, were now left alone. Visiting the emigrants in their
own cottages, and making acquaintance with the children, was now a great
source of amusement to the Misses Percival. Various plans were started
relative to establishing a Sunday-school, and many other useful
arrangements; one, however, took place immediately, which was, that
divine service was performed by Mr Campbell in his own house, and was
attended by all the emigrants every Sunday. Mr Campbell had every
reason to be pleased with their conduct up to the present time; they all
appeared willing, never murmured or complained at any task allotted to
them, and were satisfied with Mr Campbell's arrangements relative to
supplies. Parties were now again formed for the chase; Meredith and
young Graves proved to be good woodsmen and capital shots with the
rifle, so that now they had enough to send out a party on alternate
days, while one or two of the others fished all the day and salted down
as fast as they caught, that there might be a full supply for the
winter.

But although Mr and Mrs Campbell and the Misses Percival, as well as
the major part of the family were fully satisfied and happy in their
future prospects, there were four who were in a state of great anxiety
and suspense. These were Alfred, Malachi, Martin, and the Strawberry,
who, being acquainted with the existence of young Percival, found their
secret a source of great annoyance, now that, notwithstanding the
capture and detention of the Young Otter, no advance appeared to be made
for his exchange, nor any signs of an overture on the part of the Angry
Snake. Captain Sinclair, who was usually at the farm twice during the
week, was also much fretted at finding that every time Malachi and
Alfred had no more information to give him, than he had to impart to
them. They hardly knew how to act; to let a second winter pass away
without attempting to recover the boy, appeared to them to be delaying
too long, and yet to communicate intelligence which might only end in
bitter disappointment, seemed unad