The group of the young and forlorn Evelyns rose when they saw me approaching, and one of them went softly and apprehensively to the door. I was struck with the caution which appeared in the manner of the boy. Before touching the latch he applied his ear to the key-hole, and then put his hand to the string, but did not pull it, for at that moment a voice, a few paces behind, hallooed.

On turning round I beheld my hospitable Highland landlord, Captain Campbell Dungowan, hastening towards me. He had recently come from Scotland, and being on his way to the Western district, where some of his old friends had settled, hearing, as he passed along Dundass road, of what was doing at Stockwell, he had come to see me. He had not heard that I had fixed my own residence at Sylvany, but understood that my home was at the new village.

I need not say that our meeting was cordial, and no accident could have happened at a better time. My own house was rather inconveniently distant, in the state of the paths through the woods, to allow me to watch with that constant and strict vigilance over the settlement, which every day rendered more necessary. Accordingly, our mutual greetings were scarcely over, when I said he had come at a fortunate moment, and hoped it was his intention to settle with us; adding, that we greatly stood in need of a magistrate, and a person accustomed to discipline, and the exercise of authority.