"The dear old Colonel! I quite learned to love him through Mrs. Manning's letters," said Maud.
"He's a brave commander, as well as gallant gentleman," returned the Doctor, "and we missed him terribly after he left. Still, our Fort was established, and taking fifty men away from the new quarters gave the rest more room."
"The winter would be the hardest upon you," said Maud.
"On the whole, we did well though. The frost was keen but we learned how to meet it, and another winter we'll be better prepared."
"How did you secure supplies?" she asked. "You are so far away from the east."
"They were brought chiefly by trail from Little York, except fish and game, which our own men always secured."
"It must be the hunter's paradise," said Maud, enthusiastically.
"The whole northern country is like a preserve," replied Beaumont, keenly watching her animated face. "When you come to Penetang you, too, must learn to follow the chase."
"Oh, what became of Corporal Bond?" she suddenly asked. "Did he ever return?"
"Yes, he came back at last. Latimer's craft was captured by an American gunboat when entering the St. Clair River, and everything was overhauled. Corporal Bond was retained a prisoner until the war was over, while Latimer, who declared himself to be an American, was allowed with his wife to go free and keep the boat."