CHAPTER XIV.
TERRIBLE NEWS.
Another two years passed over, bringing increased prosperity to the
Hardys. No renewal of the Indian attacks had occurred, and in
consequence an increased flow of emigration had taken place in
their neighborhood. Settlers were now established upon all the lots
for many miles upon either side of Mount Pleasant; and even beyond
the twelve miles which the estate stretched to the south the lots
had been sold. Mr. Hardy considered that all danger of the flocks
and herds being driven off had now ceased, and had therefore added
considerably to their numbers, and had determined to allow them to
increase without further sales until they had attained to the
extent of the supporting power of the immense estate.
Two hundred acres of irrigated land were under cultivation; the
dairy contained the produce of a hundred cows; and altogether Mount
Pleasant was considered one of the finest and most profitable
estancias in the province.
The house was now worthy of the estate; the inside fence had been
removed fifty yards further off, and the vegetable garden to a
greater distance, the includes space being laid out entirely as a
pleasure garden.
Beautiful tropical trees and shrubs, gorgeous patches of flowers,
and green turf surrounded the front and sides; while behind was a
luxuriant and most productive orchard.
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