“I think my father intends to make the request,” replied Alfred.
“Ah, sir; he will now see the value of this bit of prairie land to a new settler; instead of having to go in search of hay, as they must do at the fort now, we have plenty for hay, and plenty for feed. So we are to have some sheep, I find?”
“Yes, and I suppose we must build a winter-yard for them.”
“To be sure we must, for the wolves are very partial to mutton; I think, on the whole, that they like pigs better. I wish we could get the fence up round the prairie, but that we never can do this year without we have help from the fort.”
“But will it be safe to turn the cows into the bush?”
“Oh, yes, sir, they will not be hurt by anything in the summer-time; sometimes we have trouble to find them again, but not when they have calves; they are certain to come home every evening to their young ones.”
“We shall have quite a herd of cattle; eight calves and eight cows.”
“We must only bring up the cow calves, unless your father intends to have oxen for the yoke. We shall require them about the time they are fit to break in, that is, in two or three years.”
“Yes, we shall be great farmers by-and-bye,” replied Alfred, with a sigh; for at the moment he was thinking of Captain Lumley and his nautical profession.
In the evening of the day on which this conversation took place, Malachi Bone was requested to resume his observations upon the beavers.