"Then I should recommend you to write to Quebec, and apply for another grant on each side of the stream; indeed, at the back of and equal to what you now have." "But if I do, I have not the means of working the land." "No, not with your present force, I grant; but there are many emigrants who would be glad of work, and who would settle here upon favourable conditions." "The expense would be very great," said Mr Campbell. "It would; but the return would indemnify you. The troops at the fort would take all the flour off your hands, if you had ever so much." "I am not inclined at present to speculate much further," replied Mr Campbell; "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I am successful I will then decide." "Of course you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land to cultivate and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion of corn in return as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having neighbours about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal and arrange all that." "I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied Mr Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a few hundreds at the bank to dispose of, if necessary." About three weeks after this conversation the _bateaux_ arrived with the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant, intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada, and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was constantly with the engineer, superintending the labour of the men, and contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on such a footing with the whole family as to be considered almost as one of them, for he was very amusing, very well-bred, and had evidently received every advantage of education. Mr Campbell found that Mr Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular relative to the emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly travelling about the country, and was in such constant communication with them. "You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr Campbell, "the land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property will be worth a large sum of money."