fortunate it was that Alfred was
so much recovered that he could join in the labor. Malachi, John, and
even Mr. Campbell, assisted, and at last the task was completed. Then
they had a communication with the fort, and letters from Quebec,
Montreal, and England: there were none of any importance from England,
but one from Montreal informed Mr. Campbell, that, agreeably to
contract, the engineer would arrive in the course of the month, with the
_bateaux_ containing the machinery, and that the water-mill would be
erected as soon as possible. There was also a letter from England, which
gave them great pleasure; it was from Captain Sinclair to Alfred,
informing him that he had arranged all his business with his guardian,
and that he should rejoin his regiment and be at the fort early in the
spring, as he should sail in the first vessel which left England. He
stated how delighted he should be at his return, and told him to say to
Emma that he had not found an English wife, as she had prophesied, but
was coming back as heart-whole as he went. Very soon afterward they had
a visit from Colonel Forster and some of the officers of the garrison.
The Colonel offered Mr. Campbell a party of soldiers to assist in
raising the mill, and the offer was thankfully accepted.

"We were very much alarmed about you last autumn, when the woods were on
fire, Mr. Campbell," said the Colonel; "but I perceive that it has been
of great advantage to you. You have now a large quantity of cleared land
sown with seed, and if you had possessed sufficient means, might have
had much more put in, as I perceive all the land to the north-west is
cleared by the fire."

"Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allotment, as you know, extends
along the beach, and we have sown the seed as far from the beach as the
property extends."

"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 favorable
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.