e a home for someone he was engaged to
in England. A few days since he was killed by a tree he was cutting down
falling upon him. He lived twenty-four hours after the accident, and
father rode out to him when he heard of it. He directed him to sell the
land for whatever it would fetch, and to send the money over to England.
There are two hundred acres on the river and a comfortable log hut,
which could of course be enlarged. He had about fifteen acres cleared
and cultivated. The scenery is beautiful, much prettier than it is here,
with lots of lovely tree-ferns; and there are many open patches, so
that more land can be cleared for cultivation easily. Mabel and I agreed
when we rode over there two days ago that it would be just the place for
you."

"It sounds first-rate," Wilfrid said; "just the sort of place that will
suit us."

"But how about me, Miss Mitford?" Mr. Atherton asked. "Have you had my
interest at heart as well as those of Wilfrid and his people?"

"You can take up the next bit of land above it," Mr. Mitford said.
"Langston's was the last settlement on the river, so you can take up any
piece of land beyond it at the government upset price, and do as much
fishing and shooting as you like, for I hear from my daughters that you
are not thinking of permanently settling here, but are only a bird of
passage. Anyhow, it would not be a bad investment for you to buy a
considerable acreage, for as soon as the troubles are over there is sure
to be a rush of emigration; and there are very few places now where land
is to be had on a navigable river, so that when you are tired of the
life you will be able to sell out at considerable profit."

"It sounds tempting, Mr. Mitford, and I will certainly have a look at
the ground. How much would this piece of land be of Mr. Langston's?"

"The poor fellow told me to take anything that I could get. He said he
knew that at present it was very difficult to sell land, as no new
settlers were coming out, and that he should be very glad if I get what
he gave for it, which was ten shillings an acre, and to throw in the
improvements he had made; so that a hundred pounds would buy it all. I
really don't think that Mr. Renshaw could do better if he looked all
through the island. With a cow or two, a pen of pigs, and a score or two
of fowls, he would practically be able to live on his land from the hour
he settled there."

Wilfrid was greatly pleased at the idea. He knew that his fath