"He brought home a whole basket of trout this afternoon," observed Mary; "so he is not quite idle." "No, miss, he's fishing at daylight, and gives one-half to you and the other to old Bone. He'll make a crack hunter one of these days, as old Malachi says. He can draw the bead on the old man's rifle in good style already, I can tell you." "How do you mean, Martin," said Mrs Campbell. "I mean that he can fire pretty true, ma'am, although it's a heavy gun for him to lift; a smaller one would be better for him." "But is he not too young to be trusted with a gun, uncle?" said Mary. "No, miss," interrupted Martin, "you can't be too young here; the sooner a boy is useful the better; and the boy with a gun is almost as good as a man; for the gun kills equally well if pointed true. Master Percival must have his gun as soon as I am at leisure to teach him." "I wish you were at leisure now, Martin," cried Percival. "You forget, aunt, that you promised to learn to load and fire a rifle yourself," said Mary. "No, I do not; and I intend to keep my word, as soon as there is time; but John is so very young." "Well, Mary, I suppose we must enlist too?" said Emma. "Yes; we'll be the female rifle brigade," replied Mary, laughing. "I really quite like the idea," continued Emma; "I will put up with no impertinence, recollect, Alfred; excite my displeasure, and I shall take down my rifle." "I suspect you will do more execution with your eyes, Emma," replied Alfred, laughing. "Not upon a catamount, as Martin calls it. Pray, what is a catamount?" "A painter, miss." "Oh! now I know; a catamount is a painter, a painter is a leopard or a panther.--As I live, uncle, here comes the old hunter, with John trotting at his heels. I thought he would come at last. The visit is to me, I'm sure, for when we first met he was dumb with astonishment." "He well might be," observed Captain Sinclair; "he has not often met with such objects as you and your sister in the woods." "No," replied Emma; "an English squaw must be rather a rarity." As she said this, old Malachi Bone came up, and seated himself, without speaking, placing his rifle between his knees. "Your servant, sir," said Mr Campbell; "I hope you are well." "What on earth makes you come here?" said Bone, looking round him. "You are not fit for the wilderness! Winter will arrive soon; and then you go back, I reckon." "No, we shall not," replied Alfred, "for we have nowhere to go back to; besides, the people are too crowded where we came from, so we came here for more room." "I reckon you'll crowd me," replied the hunter, "so I'll go farther." "Well, Malachi, the gentleman will pay you for your clearing." "I told you so," said Martin. "Yes, you did; but I'd rather not have seen him or his goods." "By goods, I suppose you mean us about you?" said Emma. "No, girl, I didn't mean you. I meant gunpowder and the like." "I think, Emma, you are comprehended in the last word," said Alfred.