"Then you think we had better not take any step until the chief

returns?"

"That is my impression. He will return in two hours, or so."

Two, three, and nearly four hours elapsed before the chief returned,

and the suspense had become painful, when, without warning, or their

knowing he was near, he stept into their midst.

"Why, Whirlwind, had you dropt from the clouds you could not have come

more noiselessly. What success did you have?" said Howe.

"The Tabagauches are cowards, they will not fight, but will steal away

like dogs. The pale faced prisoners are even now moving toward the

west, guarded by fifty of their braves."

"We must head them," cried Sidney, springing to his feet. "They shall

never escape thus."

"The pale faced brave has spoken well. We must divide our warriors;

part attack the cowards in the rear, to prevent them joining those in

charge of the white prisoners, while the other part must ride ahead and

attack them in front, and secure the children."

"If we break up our force in this way, all will be lost," said Mr.

Duncan. "It is my opinion we had better all keep together, and try to

get ahead of the main body by a circuitous route, and thus be more

certain of overcoming the savages."

"Certainly, father, the party must not be divided, the half of fifteen

is almost too few to attack seventy or a hundred," remarked Lewis.

"Let us keep together, by all means," said Sidney.

"I do not think we had better divide our force," said Howe, after

hearing all their opinions, and finding they all coincided with his

own, excepting the chief. "We will be too few for them."

"The white chief forgets we cannot expect to overcome them by a fair

fight, but must depend on strategy for success."

"If we have as good success as we had last night, I think we may,"

returned Howe.

"They will build no more fires to give us another such a chance," said

the chief.

"We had better follow Mr. Duncan's suggestion," said Howe, "and try to

head them off by a circuitous route. Come boys! Lead on chief; we will

follow you."

Light began to break in the east, so that they could see to make their

way, and rapidly they pursued it, their animals refreshed by the

night's rest. On they went, and about sunrise, saw the detachment of

Indians not more than a mile ahead. Whirlwind threw the halter (the

only accoutrement, his half-tamed prairie horse boasted,) loosely on

the proud steed's neck, and with his body bent almost on a level to his

back, rode like a Centaur over the ground. The rest gave their horses

the spur, but they were out-stripped by the Arapahoes, who one by one

darted past them, in the wake of their chief. Before Mr. Duncan and his

party had accomplished two-thirds of the distance, the war-whoops of

the combatants burst on the air, and when he joined them many a brave

had gone to the "spirit land."

And now, fiercer than ever the battle raged, the Tabagauches retreating

as they fought, and being on foot were slain or dispersed at will,

until they saw the other detachment of their tribe advancing, when they

turned and fought with the fury of demons. This furious charge killed

one of the Arapahoes, badly wounded Mr. Duncan in the shoulder with a

tomahawk, and Lewis slightly in the thigh with an arrow.

During this time they saw nothing of Edward and Jane, but distinctly

heard their voices as they called out to encourage their friends, from

a little distance, where they were bound and closely guarded.

Encouraged by the thought they were so near the captives, and maddened

by the obstinacy with which the savages contended for the captives,

they made a desperate charge, breaking through the savages, and falling

upon the guard that surrounded the children, shot them, and unbinding

the thongs around their hands, and placing Edward on the dead

Arapahoe's horse, and Jane behind Edward; they then attempted to fly.

While doing this, the two detachments had joined, and now bore down

with terrible force on the little band. But they were met with volley

after volley, until desperate from the loss of their braves that fell

around them, the savages closed in and attempted to drag them from

their horses. Mr. Duncan, Lewis, and three of the Arapahoes, being

mounted on high mettled steeds, finding all would be lost if they fell

into the hands of the savages, spurred their steeds, and bounding over

the assailants, escaped into the forest. Not so fortunate were the

rest, for Howe, Sidney, Whirlwind, Edward, and Jane, were pulled from

their horses, overpowered, and bound prisoners. The rest of the

Arapahoes had fallen by the hand of their foes.

Mr. Duncan, faint with the loss of blood, and suffering severely from

his wound, would still have plunged into the midst of the savages, had

not Lewis and one of the Arapahoes ridden at his side, with his bridle

rein in their hand to prevent him from plunging into certain

destruction. They bent their course to the east whence they came, and

the second day reached camp half dead with fatigue and distress they

endured at the inevitable fate of the lost ones.

Terrible was the revulsion to Edward and Jane, for now they had no hope

from their friends, as Sidney and their uncle were captives with them,

and they supposed their father and Lewis had fallen by the savages who

went in pursuit. They knew all was lost unless they could elude the

vigilance of their pursuers, which they could not expect to do, bound

and guarded as they were.

Calmly they resigned themselves to a doom they could not avert, to be

offered as burnt-offerings to the spirits of those who had fallen in

battle. The savages having lost half of their number, were intoxicated

with rage, and with demoniac yells, goaded on their prisoners with the

points of their arrows, causing the blood to flow from numberless

punctures. Occasionally they would bring their tomahawks circling round

their heads as if to sink them in their skulls; and then with savage

gestures retreat and make the forest ring with their howls of rage. For

three days they were hurried on deeper and deeper into the wilderness,

now passing over broad level prairies, then plunging into swamps and

deep ravines; anon climbing precipices, rugged mountains, and then

passing over the deeply shaded valley, through which streamlets sung

year after year their sweet songs of peace and love.

The third day, towards night, as they were going through a thick

coppice that skirted a prairie they had just crossed, they were

surprised by a party of Pah-Utah Indians, and after a short but fierce

engagement, in which the Tabagauches were completely cut up, the

captives fell into the hands of the victors. They had eaten but very

little since they were captured, and faint and exhausted from their

sufferings, they hailed any change with joy. The Pah-Utahs treated them

with great kindness, washed and dressed their wounds, presented them

with parched corn and dried meat, and fitted them a bed of ferns and

dried leaves to sleep upon. They were congratulating themselves on

their happy change, when they saw with horror, the Indians roast and

devour with great avidity the dead Tabagauches: they were at the mercy

of cannibals! Late in the night the revolting feast was prolonged, and

then all was still, save the soft tread of their guard, as he hovered

around them. The next morning a deer was given them which had been just

killed, and they were shown a large fire, and given to understand they

were to cook and eat it. This they did with very good appetites, and,

together with the parched corn, made a savory repast. When this was

done, they were placed on horses and driven on, now taking a south-west

direction. Though treated very kindly, their wants anticipated, and

provided for, yet they were given to understand that an attempt to

escape would be punished with death by fire.

Whirlwind told his fellow captives that their safest way was to assume

an air of indifference, and even gaiety, in order to deceive their

captors, and impress them with the idea that they had no hope of

escaping. "There is a possibility that we may throw them off their

guard and slip away, if we are cunning, at stratagems; but, should we

fail, they will eat us without further delay."

Accordingly they rallied their drooping spirits, and appeared more like

a party roaming through the forest for pleasure than doomed captives,

for such their captors held them, and only delayed their death, that

they might enjoy the horrid feast in their village at leisure. They

journeyed on, and the second day when the savages halted they were

astonished to see them, instead of kindling a fire, touch a burning

torch to what they had taken for springs of water that bubbled up from

the base of a rugged range of hills, but which blazed with a clear,

strong flame on being touched with fire, and by which the savages

cooked their supper, by placing it on a forked stick and holding it in

the flame.[3]

[3] This curious phenomena was at that time entirely unknown to

the white man, but has since been discovered to exist four

hundred miles east of the land of the Amachuba.

The captives gathered around the singular phenomena with astonishment,

which so amused the Indians that, taking a burning stick, they ran from

place to place lighting the curious liquid where it bubbled up in jets,

until fifty fires were blazing around them, lighting the forest with

brilliancy. On examining this liquid they found it clear, and having

the appearance of pure spring water. The Pah-Utahs gave them to

understand that it flowed unceasingly, and was much used by them for

light and heat. It was a great curiosity, and elicited a great deal of

speculation as to what uses it might be applied if it could be conveyed

to the haunts of civilization. That night they slept quite soundly,

considering the circumstances under which they were placed, and arose

much refreshed.

"I really feel well this morning," remarked Howe, "and do believe we

shall yet escape from these demons."

"The white chief has dreamed," said Whirlwind.

"I believe I did dream a curious dream last night," said Howe. "It

seemed as though I stood on a precipice looking calmly on the plain

below, when an eagle came down, and taking me in his talons, carried me

to his eyrie, which seemed to be perched on a mountain whose summit

passed the clouds; and there, oh! horror, a hundred eaglets with open

mouths stood ready to devour me. Then it seemed as if a heavy cloud

passed by, and with a fearful leap I sprang upon it and floated through

the sky until it began gradually to grow thinner and thinner and I lay

unsupported in mid-air. Then I began to sink, first slowly, but

gradually increasing in velocity until I seemed to go swifter than the

wind, and at every moment expected to be dashed to pieces. But as I

neared the earth I began to descend slower; when, lo! I softly alighted

at the door of our camp, and there I found Duncan and Lewis. Indeed it

seemed we all were there as if nothing had happened."

"A singular dream, uncle," said Jane, "but you know it could not come

true. Besides," she added sadly, "there is little hope that father and

Lewis escaped."

"I am impressed with the idea they did," said Sidney. "Had they been

murdered, the savage murderers would not fail to have scalped them and

exhibited the scalps in triumph."

"The young brave is right; they have escaped," said Whirlwind. "The

Tabagauches would have scalped the white chief had they taken him."

"You always said you did not believe in dreams," said Jane, upon whose

imagination it seemed to have considerable influence.

"Neither do I, generally. But now, even a dream of freedom and friends

is gratifying, and I cannot help feeling elated by it."

"The Great Spirit visited the white man in his slumber. Believe what he

showed to thy slumbering spirit, lest he be angry and destroy thee,"

said Whirlwind earnestly.

"Really, Whirlwind, it is as absurd as singular," remarked Edward, "and

is taxing credulity too much to ask an implicit confidence in it."

"The brave is young, and cannot interpret the signs of the presence of

the Great Spirit. His children know him better, and recognize his

teaching."

"Oh! well, chief, I hope he is in earnest now, at least, and will

succeed in getting us out of the clutches of these promising children

of his," said Edward.

"Then the young brave must not anger him," returned the chief,

solemnly.

"I should like to know how far we are from camp, and how much farther

they intend taking us," said the trapper.

"Their village is half a day's march to the setting sun," replied

Whirlwind, "and we evidently are from six to seven days' journey from

our camp."

About noon they entered their village, displaying their captives in

triumph to the rest of the tribe, who surrounded them in great numbers,

grinning and twisting their naturally ugly visages into frightful

grimaces, at the same time filling the air with yells of delight and

satisfaction.

That night there was another revolting feast. The victims being three

Indians of a peculiar form and features different from any they had

ever seen.

"They are from over the desert," said Whirlwind to Howe's inquiry of

what tribe they were, "and have been taken in battle. The tribes all

through this region are very warlike, and every year countless numbers

are taken and sacrificed at their feasts. The tribes are cannibals, and

eat their enemies as you see these do; therefore, they fight with more

desperation knowing they must conquer and feast on their foes or be

conquered and feasted upon."

"What is our chance, do you think, of being sacrificed?" asked Howe.

"We shall be, of course, unless the Great Spirit saves us. It is the

fate of war," replied the chief, with as much indifference as if he was

discussing a puppy stew.[4]

[4] A great delicacy with Indians.

"I could bear it for myself, Whirlwind, but these children!--No; we

must out-wit them and escape," replied the trapper. "Prudence and

cunning may save us."

The village of their captors was situated on a low, level plain,

sloping gently towards the south and west, bordered by the Wahsatch

mountains on the east, a spur of which, branching from the regular

chain, ran a number of miles from east to west, and formed a high

barrier on the north, rising in perpendicular precipices to the height

of three hundred feet. The village was very populous, the corn fields

numerous, and now just in bloom, promising an abundant yield. The

lodges were large, convenient and well stored with furs and skins,

while large quantities of arms for defence hung around, intermixed with

curiously wrought baskets, elaborately embroidered tunics and

moccasins, gay colored blankets, scalps of fallen foes, eagle plumes,

bears' claws, antlers of deer, and innumerable tails of fox and beaver.

The captives were distributed among the different lodges, at first

closely guarded; but as they evinced perfect content, they were allowed

gradually more and more liberty, until at last they were permitted to

roam through the village at will, with a single guard, whose duty it

was to give the alarm in case they should attempt to escape. This

greatly elated them; and, as not one of the tribe understood English,

they were able, at all times, to converse and devise plans without fear

of detection by being overheard.

About two weeks after their captivity, they were wandering around the

outskirts of the village, and approaching the precipice at the north,

penetrated the thick underbrush that grew at its base, and seated

themselves in its cool shade, their sentinel taking up his position a

few rods from them in the path by which they had entered. Some of them

sat so as to recline against the rock that rose above them, whilst

others leaned in thoughtful mood against a cluster of bushes that were

entwined with the wild grape, forming a strong but easy support. Jane

was pulling up the ferns and wild flowers, and as they drooped in her

hand threw them aside and gathered fresh ones until there were no more

in her reach; then her eye becoming attracted by some rich, green

mosses, she gathered them, when among the black earth from which they

were taken something gleamed bright and distinct from everything around

it. Sidney, who was nearest her, regarding her with a sorrowful look,

was the first one attracted by its glitter, and being undecided what it

was, called the attention of Howe to it.

"It is gold!" cried the trapper, after closely examining the tiny flake

Sidney had placed in his hand.

"Gold! let me see it," they all cried. "Is gold always found in that

shape?" queried Edward.

"Not always," he replied. "Sometimes it is imbedded in the rocks, and

has to be dug out by blasting; while, at others, it comes in globules,

called nuggets, often of great value."

"Perhaps there is more around here; let us see," said the trapper, and

taking a stick he dug among the soft earth, when, lo! it was speckled

with the precious ore.

The sentinel seeing them gathering up the glittering scales with great

eagerness, came forward, and with his hatchet struck a few heavy blows

against a fragment that projected from a fissure in the rock, when it

split from the solid mass, and revealed the precious ore, intermixed

with quartz rock; then turning away with disdain, left them to amuse

themselves, and took up his former position in the pathway.

"We can gather as much as we please; and if we have the good luck to

escape the vigilance of these demons, we shall be rich," said Sidney.

"It is something, at least to have made the discovery. These mountains,

I judge from the fragment broken, must be full of ore?" said the

trapper.

"The Indians," said Whirlwind, "say there are stones still farther

towards the setting sun that give light like stars, and glitter in

their bed with a hundred fires; but they are never seen in these

hunting grounds. All through the mountains these are to be found in

abundance," said he, pointing to the gold that lay glittering in the

earth.

"You never told me of this before, Whirlwind," said the trapper. "Why

were you so wary about what you must have known was of importance?"

The chief drew up his tall, athletic form, and pointing with his finger

to the sky, said:

"As many moons ago as there are stars yonder, when the sun is in the

west, there came to the hunting-grounds of the red man a band of white

men. They were few, and my fathers fostered them; and, when the white

men found the glittering earth accidentally, as you have, they showed

them where it could be scooped up by handfuls, and where the star

stones lighted up the caverns. Then grew hatred between the red and

white man; for the star stones are bad spirits who stirred up evil

passions in the heart, then laughed and mocked at their warring. The

white man grew many and strong, and more came from beyond the big

water. Then they made the earth red with each other's blood, and my

forefathers were obliged to give up their hunting grounds, and fly into

other possessions, where there was again war for a place to hunt in,

until the earth was again red with blood. And now all between the swift

water and the great sea towards sunrise is covered by the pale faces'

lodges, while, we, a remnant of former days, are forced to give way

until we shall have all perished, and the graves of my ancestors become

the play grounds of the white man's papoose. Then let the glistening

earth sleep where the Great Spirit buried it, that the evil spirits may

never again gloat over the earth dyed with the blood of its people.

Whirlwind has spoken, let his white brother hear, that their love be

not turned to anger, and that they slay not each other."

As he ceased speaking, he quietly walked from amid his fellow captives

and taking a position but a few feet from them, bent a decisive look of

commiseration on their every movement.

"Throw down the stuff," said the trapper, "the chief is angry, and we

can have no use for it here, so it is not worth while to provoke him by

even retaining what we have."

The children obeyed, for they were not willing to risk the friendship

of the chief for whom they entertained great respect, although they

could not always appreciate his curious logic. He seemed relieved when

he saw them do so, and proposed they should quit the dangerous spot,

which they acceded to.

Towards evening of the same day, they were wandering leisurely on the

southern border of the corn-fields, when they were startled by a drove

of deer bounding past them, and making for the forest beyond. A noble

buck was the leader, with head erect, making ten feet at every jump.

Away they went, casting the earth from their slender hoofs, caring for

neither brush or brake, for a relentless pursuer was on their track.

"See! there goes three small specks close to the ground; there they

are, three monstrous black wolves with glistening coats, their fiery

eyes sparkling, and jaws distended."

They were larger than the largest dog; long, gaunt limbs, small, and

all muscle, and so persevering that every thing tired before them. They

seldom, when they start in a chase, give up their prey.

"Without doubt, the weakest of that noble herd will make a supper for

their rapacious foes," said Howe.

Such is the black wolf of the western wilds, attacking every thing he

meets when hunger is on him; even the buffalo falls a prey to him.

Chapter Seventh.

Their continued Captivity. Attempt to Escape. They are cautiously

watched and guarded. Fears and apprehensions. They discover Gold in

various quantities. A singular Cave. Preparations to escape into it.

Lassoing the Chief. Enter the Cavern and close the Door. They are

missed by the Indians. Tumult in the Camp. They follow the Cavern.

Singular adventure. Jane rescued from Drowning. Strange appearance of

the Cave. Mysterious discoveries. They Continue on. Cross a stream.

Discovery of an Outlet. They halt for repose.

Six weeks elapsed and they were still prisoners, treated with great

kindness; although they were forced to be present at the revolting

feast on human flesh, as often as a war party returned, which was

almost every week. And, though they saw the Indian captives sacrificed

with relentless cruelty, yet the fear that they should be made victims

had partially subsided, as week after week went round, and, except the

single sentinel who was relieved from duty morn and night, they were

left entirely to themselves to do as they pleased. They had often

attempted to draw him into the forest with them, but when he had

accompanied them to a certain boundary, he gave them to understand they

must return immediately to the village; and, as they knew the penalty

of attempting an escape they did not dare to undertake it, knowing they

would be pursued with fleet horses, and perhaps be taken and sacrificed

the same day. They were wearied with their captivity, and became gloomy

and sad. The Pah-Utah saw this, and directed the sentinel to give them

a wider range. This they hoped might facilitate an escape. But in this,

they were mistaken; for the sentinel used renewed vigilance. The moment

they were beyond the prescribed boundaries, the guard, with his fiery

eye fixed on them with a lynx-like keenness, would follow them with his

horn trumpet to his mouth, ready at a second's warning, to sound the

note of alarm.

Things were in this state when they went together to the base of a

precipice, half a mile to the east from where they found the gold. Here

they whiled away an hour discussing the ever present theme of their

captivity, except Edward who, not having the fear of the chief before

him began to tear up mosses, and dig into crevices in search of

precious ore. While doing this, his foot slipped from under him, and he

fell heavily forward against a smooth, slab-like surface of the rock,

when, to his dismay, it gave back a hollow sound, and a large block

yielding an inch or two, showed an aperture within.

Calling his uncle, he pointed it out to him, who after examining it

closely, declared it to be a cavern within; but how the stone came

fitted into the door way, was a question they could not solve, for the

Pah-Utahs had no way of shaping stone with such precision, and

evidently were not aware that the cavern existed.

"Walk quietly away, and appear to be busy about anything you choose, in

order not to draw the attention of the sentinel this way, and I will

communicate it to Whirlwind," said the trapper. The chief after

examining the place, retreated with Howe a few rods distant, and then

said. "That cavern will prove our deliverance. Evidently it is one of

those of which tradition speaks, and that it communicates to some

distant point. That stone door is unknown to the Pah-Utah for the

trailing mosses have become imbedded in the fissures of the rock in a

way it would have taken a hundred years to have accomplished, showing

it could not have been entered in that time."

"Had we better enter it, and try to find another outlet?" asked the

trapper.

"I hardly like to decide; the undertaking is very hazardous. We might

possibly find it, if there is an outlet, but if we should not, a

horrible death awaits us--buried alive; or if we should return, a worse

one at the hands of our captors."

"What reason have you to suspect there is an outlet at a distant

point?" asked the trapper.

"The similarity of this opening to one on the side of the Medicine Bow

Mountains, towards the rising sun. That has been known by the red men

since the Great Spirit gave them their hunting grounds; and at that

time he told my fathers they were built by a people whom he had

destroyed in anger. And to this day they are strewn with bones and

utensils of the lost people."

"Is this story of the opening a tradition, or have you seen it, and

what is the appearance of the interior of the cavern?"

"I have been through it often. In some places it is rough, and in

others as smooth as sleeping water. It is a long, toilsome journey; and

at its end opens at the base of a hill a day and a half's journey

towards the west," replied the chief.

"Then you think this cavern is similar to the one you have seen, and

that, if we enter it, we shall escape in safety?"

"Were I alone, I should not be afraid to venture in it. Whirlwind is

not a coward, and pines in captivity. If he escapes, it is good, he

will then be a free chief. If he dies, he will go to the hunting

grounds of the Great Spirit, where the deer, beaver, and buffalo are as

plenty as the leaves in the forest."

"For one, I am willing to make the trial, and am certain the children

will be also. We must provide some food and light before we try it. It

would never do to venture in unprovided with these."

"My brother would betray us if we should attempt to conceal either, for

the Pah-Utah are as vigilant as brave, and would be sure to know it and

determine our fate on the instant. Our only way of escape is to fast,

and be fleet of foot."

"Perhaps you are right. When would it be prudent for us to make the

trial, do you think? For my part, I am ready at any moment. It is five

days since these demons made one of their horrid feasts; and as we came

by the chief's lodge, I saw him in council with his warriors, and I

thought they looked very suspiciously towards us as we passed."

"Whirlwind also saw it; but his heart was then almost dead within him.

It is alive now, and we will enter the cavern. My white brother will

tell the children of our design, and lead them to the mouth of the

cavern, and keep his eye on the sentinel. The moment he sees this

around his enemy's neck, roll away the rock, and have it ready to put

in its place again as soon as I enter," said the chief, taking from

beneath his tunic a strong, long cord made of hide, formed into a

lasso.

"He will blow his horn, and draw the whole tribe on us if you attempt

to strangle him. I think we had better try to slip in one by one, and

not disturb him," said the trapper.

"We should be missed before we could replace the stone, and they would

drag us from our hiding place as soon as we entered it. Whirlwind's

step is as noiseless as the wing of a bird, when after a foe. But

should the sentinel give the alarm, enter and close the door; for,

perchance, I may escape from them at last; if not, I shall have drawn

his attention from you so as to enable you to facilitate your escape."

"No, brave chief, we are captives together, and we will all be saved,

or perish together. You shall not be left alone for them to wreak their

vengeance upon. We will not enter the cave unless you are with us."

"My white brother speaks like a child. Whirlwind has said and will do

it," returned the chief, who possessed a truly royal soul, imperious in

decision, impatient of contradiction, and never turned from a course he

had determined to pursue, when assured it was for the good of others.

As he ceased speaking, he left the trapper, and disappeared in the

bushes. Howe thought it most prudent to obey the injunction of

Whirlwind, and making a sign to the children to follow, he carelessly

made his way to the spot, and with palpitating heart, awaited the

signal. The children shared with him the anxiety, till at last so

intense it became, that their hearts almost ceased to pulsate. Life or

death was in the throw, and death itself could not exceed the agony

they endured. The signal came at last--a circle in the air--which in an

instant tightened on the sentinel's throat; five minutes elapsed, when

the chief came bounding towards them with a tame deer, that belonged to

the tribe, in his arms, then rolling away the stone, and entering the

cavern, they replaced it with great precision, so as to prevent

detection. But great was their surprise and gratification to see the

cavern was quite light, by the rays penetrating innumerable small

fissures in the rocky precipice. Whirlwind immediately killed and

dressed the prize that so fortunately happened to be in his path; and

distributing it among them, they prepared to penetrate into the

darkness of the cave. Where they entered, it was about twenty feet

wide, and about fifty feet high, having the appearance of the rock

having been blasted, and hewn down smoothly at the sides. The floor was

of a solid rock, smooth and level, though strewn with some rubbish,

which they did not stop to examine. They were too anxious to place

distance between themselves and the cannibals, to think of anything but

how to ensure their safety. Accordingly they pressed boldly on, but had

not gone over twenty rods, when yells of disappointment and rage made

the air quiver as they echoed and re-echoed through the cavern. Their

escape had been discovered; and now, if the door to the cavern was

known, they knew they had but a few moments to live.

"Give me your hand, Jane," said Whirlwind; "take hold of Edward, Howe,

that we may not be divided. The young brave will keep in our tracks,

now, let us proceed, and, perhaps, if the cave is found we may hide in

some of its recesses." On they went, and louder and fiercer grew the

yells, as the village poured out its hordes, until it seemed to our

heroes as if every rock had a tongue, and was telling, in thundering

echoes, the place of their retreat. Still on they went, and now, the

voices began to soften in the distance; then they grew fainter, until

nothing but low, confused sounds were heard. The cavern was level on

the bottom, which facilitated their flight; being actuated by the most

sacred passion of our nature--the love of life, which gave them courage

and strength, and with the hope of freedom beckoning them on, they made

unprecedented speed. They had been blessed for about half a mile by the

rays of light that penetrated the cavern at the mouth; but for the last

hour they had been plunging on in total darkness, not knowing where

they went; but now, as no sounds were heard, and they were getting

fatigued, they halted and began to devise some means of guiding them on

their way.

Howe commenced moving around in the darkness to see where the

boundaries of the cave were, and the rest following his example, part

of them touched one side, and feeling its smooth surface, thought the

cavern must be uniform throughout; for, as near as they could tell, by

feeling, it had the same appearance as it had at the entrance.

At that moment Jane, who was groping round to find the other side,

uttered a piercing scream which was quickly followed by a heavy splash

in water.

"Jane! Jane!" they all cried; and the chief, at the moment springing

towards the place where she had stood, with a half-uttered exclamation,

fell heavily with a loud splash also.

"Keep back! keep back! there is danger here!" he cried; "I can save her

if any one can! Jane! Jane! where are you?" he called eagerly, as he

splashed round in the water, which was so deep he could not touch the

bottom. "Jane! Jane!" he cried, but no sound came from the still water,

till at last a faint bubbling sound was heard, and a hand grasped him.

Catching her round the waist, he raised her head above the water, when

the half-drowned girl began to revive; but too much exhausted to assist

herself in the least. The chief swam with her towards the place where

they had fallen, hoping to find a projecting rock to support her on,

but he was disappointed, although he was enabled to obtain footing in

three feet water, where he stood holding her in his brawny arms.

"All safe," he cried, the moment he had obtained footing. "But how we

are to get up there is a different affair."

"Keep up your courage," cried the trapper; "we must have a light. I

have a flint, knife, and punk-wood; so far all is well, but what are we

to burn?"

"There is wood in here I know," said Sidney, "for I have stumbled over

it a number of times?"

"Have a care how you hunt round for it, or you will go down after Jane

and the chief," said Edward.

"Here is wood, plenty of it," said Sidney, bringing forward a handful

of sticks. In the meanwhile the trapper had struck fire, and was

blowing the punk into a blaze, and taking some of the sticks in his

hand to communicate with the burning punk, found them in a crumbling

condition but perfectly dry, and they quickly ignited. A cheerful blaze

was in a few minutes lighting up the cavern; they then cautiously

approached the place where Whirlwind and Jane had fallen, who were

patiently awaiting light and assistance from above. Holding some

blazing sticks over the edge they discovered the chief and Jane ten

feet below them, with water smooth and placid, full thirty feet beyond,

and extending along the cavern as far as the eye could reach. Evidently

they had been making their way on its verge quite a distance, and the

least deviation on that side would have plunged them all into its

waters. The rock was rough and jagged with many small fissures in which

they could get a foothold, and by the assistance of Sidney, who

descended a few feet, Jane was soon lifted up to the floor of the

cavern, where, with the agility of a deer, the chief followed her.

Saturated with water, without a single extra garment, they were in a

very uncomfortable condition, yet they laughed heartily over their

mishaps; for, indeed, they thought anything preferable to being in the

power of cannibals. Piling together the half decayed wood and wringing

their clothes as dry as they could, they were in a fair way of

recovering from the ducking, and as they apprehended no further danger

from their enemies, they concluded to make a short halt and examine the

locality around them. The cave in this place was no more than twenty

five feet high, but was very wide, as well as they could determine over

a hundred feet, thirty of which was water, and beyond which they could

not distinguish the appearance of the cave. But the other side was as

singular as wonderful. Eight feet from the floor it was smooth and even

as hewn rock could be made; then there was a vast niche cut in,

extending to the top of the cave, thirty feet wide and sixteen deep.

This niche was ascended by a flight of six very steep steps cut in the

rock in the centre of the front of the rock below the niche and were as

perfect and uniform as if just made. Ascending these steps they

discovered a chair of graceful form cut out of a huge stone,

fantastically carved, which they found themselves unable to move by

reason of its great weight, but being of a different material than the

rock of which the cave was composed they supposed it to be separate

from it. On each side of this curious chair there arose a tripod three

feet high and two in diameter, the top being scooped out concavously,

like a basin, in the centre of which was a round orifice, half an inch

in diameter, out of which bubbled up a clear liquid, which, filling the

basin, ran down its sides into a drain cut in the rock, and was

conveyed into the lake in which the chief and Jane had fallen.

"Astonishing!" cried the trapper, examining the curiosities as well as

his light would permit.

"The place of refuge of the lost people!" said the chief. "Our

traditions say that they were mighty and strong, and, like the tall

trees for strength; they had skill in cutting stone, and digging copper

from its bed, and making it into armor and utensils."

"And these were their fountains: well, I think they were people of

taste. That chair is good enough for the president, and I suspect he

has not got one half as curious. We will take a drink at their

fountain, replenish our light, and see if there is anything else

around."

Bending his head to take a drink in a primitive way, he drew a mouthful

of the clear and transparent liquid, but quickly discharged it, with a

grimace. "Whew! they must have been a strong people to drink such

strong drink," cried the trapper.

"Perhaps it is not water;" so saying, the chief touched the brand he

had in his hand to it, when, lo! it blazed with a strong white flame.

Touching the other also, two clearer, purer lights never illumined a

cavern. The light penetrated the recesses and laid open every object to

view, and as their eyes fell once more on the curious chair they

uttered an exclamation of wonder. It was sparkling and glowing with a

thousand rays. Approaching it they saw it was covered with dust, which

they brushed away; and if they were astonished before, now they gazed

with speechless wonder at the curiosity before them, that threw back

the light that fell full upon it, in flashing rays, dazzling the eyes

of the beholders.

"The fire stones! Touch them not!" cried the chief, waving the rest

back with his hand imperiously. "The evil spirit presides in this spot,

and we are in his power. Provoke him not, or we shall be all destroyed

like the lost people were, a thousand moons ago."

"Pshaw! Chief, you are ridiculous. This has evidently been a chair of

state, and has been made for one high in power to sit in. The material

appears to be quartz, studded with diamonds enough to enrich a kingdom.

The bad spirits are all in your imagination; they will keep a

respectful distance from us, I promise you."

"Glad to hear you speak up, uncle," said Sidney, "for unless we

overcome Whirlwind's prejudice against carrying any of these wonderful

things home with us, to give occular proof of what we saw, every one

will think our account exaggerated. For instance, now, I intend

breaking off one of the arms of the chair to give proof of what it is

composed."

"No, no; not for any consideration shall it be mutilated. It would be

desecration to do it. If we never get home, it could do no good; and if

we do, the day may come when we can return in safety, and remove it

whole, or at least we might give the information that would lead to its

removal," returned the trapper.

"Oh! well then, I must find something else that will answer my purpose

as well," and going to one of the corners of the niche, or rather an

elevated room, he came to a pile of rubbish which he commenced pulling

away, and, which, on examining, proved to be a human figure. Starting

back, with a cry of terror, the rest hurried to where he stood staring

with distended eyes toward the form that was stretched on the rocky

bed, in the corner; when they saw the figure, they too stepped

involuntarily backwards, and Howe, advancing, laid his hand on the form

before him, discovered it was stone--a petrified human body.

On examination, it proved to have been a man nearly nine feet high, of

extraordinary muscular proportions. He had evidently been slain here or

wounded elsewhere, and crawled in this cavern to die, for a javelin was

sticking in his side, which he had endeavoured to extricate, but died

in the act, as his hand was clenched around it. It proved to be made of

copper, a fact which they ascertained by scraping the corroded metal

away, leaving the pure copper beneath. They attempted to withdraw the

javelin, but could not move it. The body, in petrifying, had closed

around it like a vice--the hand holding it in a position slanting

downwards, as if in that direction he had attempted to draw it from the

wound. On examining the rubbish that Sidney had pulled off him, they

found a helmet, precisely similar to the one found by Edward and Anne

in the old fort, which was in a good state of preservation. Besides

these, there was a broken javelin--the two pieces looking as if, when

whole, it had been a formidable weapon. Scraping these relics away with

a quantity of other things, too much decayed to ascertain what they

originally were, they came to what they had supposed to be the floor,

but which they discovered to be a skin of some kind petrified also. It

did not have the appearance of a buffalo skin, for it had a soft,

silky, or furry appearance. In the other corner, there was a large pile

that looked as if something had been stowed away, but on its being

disturbed, a dry musty vapor filled the air, and the heap became a

shapeless mass--the original character of which they could not

ascertain. Time had claimed its own; and what once, perhaps, were

costly and beautiful fabrics, was now a pile of dust.

Descending the stone steps to the cavern, they found that the brilliant

light from the tripods dispelled the gloominess around them, and gave,

as far as the eye could reach, a lively appearance to the place.

The party were now quite hungry; after roasting and eating some of

their venison, they prepared to penetrate still further in search of an

outlet. At first they thought of leaving the lights burning, but on

prudent second thought, they concluded to extinguish them, that, in

case their enemies did discover the cave, they might not discover that

they had been there.

"If we had a vessel to carry some of it in to light us on our way, we

should be saved much trouble," remarked the trapper.

"Perhaps we shall find something," said Sidney; "let us not despair,

but look around."

"I think we had better spend no more time," said Jane; "I long to be

going on. We can make light enough to guide us with sticks."

"The pale-faced maiden speaks well," said the chief; "let us proceed,

and save ourselves while we can. The venison will not last long, and we

must find an outlet or die."

"I think so likewise," said Edward. "Come, uncle, let us be moving."

"Very well; but we must beware of the gulf by our dim light, or we

shall all be in it in a twinkling," said the trapper, as he prepared

his torch.

Again they were moving on. Sometimes the cavern presented a low, narrow

defile, with hardly ten feet of rock to pass on; then it again widened

and grew lofty, until they could not make out its size by the rays of

their lights, which illumined out a few feet around them. After

proceeding about a mile further, they came to an abrupt halt, for a

barrier was in their track. The gulf extended across the cave from side

to side, and so wide that they could not see the opposite shore. Here

was a barrier, indeed, which they knew not how to overcome. They could

all swim, for that is an accomplishment that our borderers, of either

sex, never fail of acquiring. But they had great objections to plunging

into water of an unknown extent or depth.

"I will explore it," said the chief, throwing off his moccasins and

tunic; and with a torch in one hand, he let himself down with the

other, and then moved cautiously out into the unknown lake.

The chief was an adept in swimming, and made good headway with the only

hand at liberty. After swimming about twenty rods, his feet touched a

pebbly bed, and in a moment more he was in shallow water enough to

obtain footing; and wading a little further on, he came to land.

Astonished beyond measure, he looked around, and at a little distance

saw what looked as though large masses of rock had been cut away--the

bottom of which was about two feet higher than the ground; and in the

centre of this slight elevation, stood a single tripod, like the one

they had seen in the niche that they had passed. This was also filled

with the singular liquid that burned; and on the chief's touching it

with his torch, the cavern around was illumined in an instant.[5] A

shout of exultation burst on the air from those on the other shore, as

the brilliant light showed them that the chief had gained his object.

[5] By filling a tumbler nearly full of water, and pouring a

small quantity of ether upon its surface, on application of a

torch, it will burn with a very beautiful light.

After lighting the tripod, the chief saw, a little way up the shore,

three objects that, from their resemblance to a canoe, attracted his

attention. Going close to them, he found the largest ten feet long, and

four wide in the middle, oval at the bottom, and tapering to a point at

the ends. They seemed to be made of metal, for, though quite strong,

they were covered inside and out with corroding rust. A thought struck

the chief that, perhaps, they were canoes, and might still be used. To

settle the point was but a moment's work; and he dragged one to the

water, when, lo! it floated in a handsome style, and jumping in, and

using his hands for paddles, with wild delight beaming from his bronzed

features, he gained the other shore. As he approached, they laughed and

shouted with pleasure. One at a time was conveyed over, until all, in a

little while, were landed safely on the beach. Here the water evidently

terminated; but the sides were still precipitous, although the cavern

was of much less height than formerly, and they had some hope that they

were near the outlet. The shore was covered with smooth white pebbles,

that shone brightly in the light, and had much the appearance of quartz

worked by the constant action of water. The children, who were eager to

find something that they could convey away without the knowledge of the

chief, searched eagerly among these pebbles; nor was their labor lost,

for every few minutes one or the other found a "_star stone_," as the

chief called them, and adroitly placed them in their pockets. In this

way they had made quite a collection by the time they were called to

move on. They found, also, at this spot, piles of what had evidently

been of some importance, but so much decayed by time, as to defy the

possibility of telling their original compositions.

On they moved, but, still, they came to no outlet. The bottom had the

same pebbly appearance, the sides precipitous, the top low; and, for

more than a mile, there was not the slightest variation in the

appearance of the cavern.

"This is a long cave," said Howe, "and the strangest I ever saw. And

that is saying much, for a trapper gets in all sorts of places."

"Strange enough, that is true," said Sidney, "I wonder if there is an

end?"

"I guess so," said Edward, "everything that has a beginning has an end,

I believe; but, whether we shall find it, is another question."

"I propose we halt and rest," said Jane. "For one, I am exhausted, I

think it must be far into the night."

"I suspect it is," said the trapper. "Suppose we take a little sleep,

and then start afresh. But, then, if we do this, what shall we do for

light? No sticks are to be gathered on these pebbles, and ours will not

burn an hour longer. If it is possible for you to stand it, Jane, we

had better move on. I can help you, for I am too much used to

travelling to tire."

"Perhaps, we can find more of the burning water, if we keep a look

out," said the chief.

But on they went; yet no tripod met their eye, until they feared Jane

would be unable to proceed, and worst of all, two of their torches gave

out, and the rest would not last twenty minutes longer.

"The braves and maiden, will await us here," said the chief, "while my

brother and I bring relief. Come," said he, to Howe, "we are the

strongest, let them rest, and when we have found light we will return."

"Perhaps it is best," said the trapper. "Sit here, we will leave the

venison with you, that we need not be encumbered. Sit down on these

pebbles, they are dry and much easier than the fire of the cannibal.

Keep courage, and sleep if you can," so saying, he and the chief, took

the torches to light them on the way, and soon disappeared in the

distance. Sidney seated himself on the pebbles beside where Jane had

sank quite exhausted, and drawing her to him rested her head in his

arms, where she soon fell asleep. Edward was also soon in the land of

dreams, while Sidney watched over them with the care of a mother. Here

his whole life passed before him. His orphanage, the care of Mr. and

Mrs. Duncan, the tenderness they had bestowed upon him, his boyhood,

and dawning manhood, his capture by the Indians, and providential

escape, up to the present moment, and finally his present position.

Long did the children sleep, and long did he watch without a ray of

light, in a darkness more intense than anything he had ever imagined

surrounding him. No sound was heard, not even the faintest breath, save

the soft respiration of the sleepers. The time seemed to him endless;

and the oppressive silence had become more painful than can be

expressed, when, oh! joy, the distant sound of a human voice was heard,

which every second grew louder and louder, and then a bright glittering

light was seen in the distance approaching. His uncle and the chief had

returned, bearing new torches, the light of which awoke the sleepers,

who were much refreshed by their repose.

"Come," said Howe, "we must make our way some three miles farther,

where we can find not only daylight, but plenty of wood and water, and

as I am getting ravenous, we must hurry on."

"Then you have found an outlet!" cried the children. "Oh, uncle, we may

yet see home again."

"Certainly, you not only may, but probably will. We have undoubtedly

gone right through the mountain, and as the cannibals will never think

we have effected this, all we have to do is, to be wary, so as to

escape from roving parties, and we shall be safe enough."

They were soon at the outlet, which they found was concealed by a

stone, like the inlet, and the only way the trapper and chief had

discovered it, was by the daylight that came peeping through its

crevices; for night had already gone and the day again was nearly

spent. They thought it prudent to build their fire for cooking a little

way in the cavern to prevent being discovered, and after satisfying

their hunger with broiled venison, for which their long fast had

sharpened their appetites, they put out their fire, and as it began to

grow dark, fastened the outlet of the cavern, and laid down to rest.

Their only bed now was the earth, having left the pebbles, full a mile

behind them. Sweet and calm were their slumbers, for they felt secure

and free.

Chapter Eighth.

A Night of invigorating Repose. Entering the unknown Wild. They capture

a mountain sheep. The encampment attacked by Panthers. They save

themselves by climbing a tree, and building up fires. The Panthers kill

one of their pack. They continue their journey. Whirlwind becomes lost.

They find a wild Goat. They start for the mountains. Everything strange

about them. Their Deception. Talk of preparing for Winter. Encampment

at the base of the mountain.

Our wanderers awoke the next morning from a long and refreshing sleep,

and on rolling away the stone from the outlet of the cavern they found

the sun up, and the forest vocal with the feathered songsters. Never

sounded melody sweeter than that; and, as the birds jumped from branch

to branch, or soared away on free wing, trilling their sweet notes,

breaking into the wildest gushing songs, they involuntarily exclaimed,

"We too are free, and sing with great joy of our deliverance!"

After consuming the rest of their deer for a morning's repast, they

plunged into the unknown wild, for so various had been their trials

that they had lost all conception of distance or place; and, save the

knowledge that they had travelled sometimes south, then again west,

they had no idea where they were. Taking a north-easterly direction as

near as they could determine the points of compass, they boldly set out

and travelled until the sun was high in the heavens; then faint and

weary, they sought for a place to rest, and something to satisfy their

hunger. They soon found a cool shady spring, and after quenching their

thirst, saw with pleasure, a little way beyond, where there had been a

windfall, and as berries generally grow profusely in such places, they

hastened to it and found, as they had anticipated, an abundant supply,

as it was now the season for their ripening. After eating as many as

they desired, the chief took some stout twigs, and weaving them into a

basket, lined it with leaves, and recommended filling it with the

fruit; which they did, and then returned to the spring where they sat

down to rest.

"Well, chief," said Howe. "I don't think we shall make much headway,

living on berries. We must contrive some means of taking some of the

game with which these woods are filled."

"True," said Sidney. "I, too, do not think a dinner of berries is at

all necessary. The game here, evidently, has never been hunted, for it

is remarkably tame. I almost laid my hand on a pheasant once or twice

before it flew away, while picking berries."

"I must say, a roasted pheasant would be very welcome now," said

Edward, "I wish you had quite laid your hands on it."

"Hark!" said the chief, "I hear steps: something is coming to the

spring to drink. Stay in your positions without making a noise, and I

will see what can be done." So saying, he swiftly and noiselessly crept

among some bushes that grew on the side of the spring, which would

bring him a few feet behind any animal that approached by a small path

which had probably been beaten by the denizens of the forest as they

came here to slake their thirst. His only weapons were a tomahawk, a

long hunting knife, and bow and arrows, which he had taken from the

sentinel. Indeed, these were all the weapons of any kind in the

possession of the whole party, except a hunting knife that the trapper

had adroitly concealed from the cannibals. Whatever game was

approaching, it evidently intended to take its time, for they could

hear it, every few minutes stop to browse, which argued well for its

being a deer, and which they earnestly desired it should be. At last it

came in sight, and they beheld a small mountain sheep. Though it was

not what they anticipated, yet it was a welcome prize, and the chief's

unerring aim secured it.

They dressed and broiled a few steaks of it, but hesitated to build a

large fire, for fear that straggling Indians might see the smoke rising

above the tree tops, which would direct them on their trail. After

satisfying their hunger, taking the remainder and the basket of

berries, they again set out on their journey and travelled until

sunset, when they encamped in a valley for the night. They had put out

their fire, and with Whirlwind for sentinel, had a feeling of security,

which they acknowledged by the deep sleep which enshrouded them. At

midnight he was relieved by the trapper, and he too slept soundly.

About the second hour of Howe's watch, his ear was attracted by

stealthy advancing steps, and in a few moments within ten paces of the

sleepers, gleamed a pair of glaring eyes flashing in the darkness that

surrounded them, like coals of fire.

"A panther," muttered the trapper, and then he continued as if the

beast could understand him, "you had better stand back, old fellow, if

you have any respect for yourself. We shall not accommodate you with a

meal to-night, so keep back."

But the panther did not understand him, or, if he did, he did not heed

the advice; for the trapper could tell by his low growl that he was

preparing to spring; quickly drawing the bow, and taking aim between

the flashing eyes, he gave him an arrow. With a howl of rage, the beast

sprang back into the bushes, and retreating to the top of the hill, set

up a quick, fierce, and wailing cry, which sounded like that of an

angry child, only fiercer, until it seemed as if the whole forest had

taken up and echoed the sound. The beast's first howl had awakened the

sleepers; and when they heard him on the hill, all were frightened, for

they well knew it was the panther's call for help.

The panther being eminently a social animal, it is said, go in bands,

but usually search for food singly; and when found, if too formidable

to be secured by the finder, he retreats a little distance, and then

sets up his call for help.

"We must take to trees," said the chief; "nothing can save us if they

come down with the whole pack, which they will be likely to do by what

that coward is telling them."

"Why, chief, do you suppose the beast is telling his mates that we are

five strong, and he cannot kill us all, and if he should, there would

be too much for one to eat?"

"Yes," replied the chief, "and not only that, but there are two old

ones, and the rest are young, so they must fetch their mates and cubs,

that all may enjoy the great feast."

"Ha! ha! chief," laughed Howe; "but that is going it strong for the

brutes!"

"Don't laugh, uncle," said Jane. "It is really horrible to be torn to

pieces by these animals."

"Why, who intends to be torn to pieces by these howling vagabonds? Not

I; nor do I intend any of us will. Here, Sidney, you climb this tree

and fix a place for Jane. Edward, help yourself into this one

also--catch hold of that limb. Jane, place your foot on my hand, and

raise yourself so as to catch the next limb. Help her, Sidney. There,

all are safe now but us, chief, and I believe we know how to take care

of ourselves. Had we better kindle a fire? The panthers, you know,

would as soon run up these trees as not; but a fire would have a

tendency to keep them at a respectful distance."

"And, perhaps, draw the cannibals on us!"

"I think not, chief. I think that in going through the mountain we

escaped from their territory."

"Build the fire and run the risk. They can climb trees like cats; and

as we have no weapons but our clubs to defend ourselves with, they

would have us, if they come in numbers, in a twinkling."

"Oh! yes, do!" cried Jane and Edward, as they now heard the yells of

the beasts from distant parts of the forest, giving back the call from

the hill.

"Let us run the risk, chief, and light three or four fires around the

tree, keeping within the circle, and then, if they press us too hard,

we can climb the tree also. It is large and strong, and will hold us

with ease."

Accordingly the dry brush wood that always covers the grounds in our

primitive forests, was hastily scraped together and fired; and as the

blaze lighted up the forest, three other heaps were collected in a

circle around the tree, which were also fired, and larger sticks

brought and heaped upon them--the smoke and heat of which drove the

children to the topmost limbs of the tree. It is well they had decided

on the fires, for they had not been blazing ten minutes, when the whole

pack of beasts, numbering full fifty, with ferocious growls, came down

from the hills around them. They came within a few feet of the fires,

then retreated into the darkness; but in a few moments advanced again,

wrangling among themselves, and endeavored to penetrate the ring of

fire. But the heat drove them back a second time, when the fighting and

wrangling became frightful from the din they made. After a while they

again advanced, eyeing the tree and fire alternately, keeping up the

growls for half an hour, when they formed a circle around a solitary

panther which occupied the centre, with drooping head and tail, and

after eying him a moment, precipitated themselves upon him with a

bound, tearing him into fragments, and devouring him.[6] They then

quietly separated, and bounded away into the gloom, leaving our young

friends astonished at the singular termination of the fray.

[6] A fact which was related to the author by a trader, who was

one among some others that saw a similar circumstance.

"Why, uncle, do panthers prey upon each other when hungry?" asked

Edward.

"Seldom; but when they do, it is to punish one of their number that

offends them. In this instance, the panther was destroyed because he

had deceived them by calling them when it could do no good."

"Do you think that was the panther that yelled so on the hill?"

"Quite certain of that," said Whirlwind. "He was calling his mates, but

did not tell them we were surrounded with fire, or in a tree, and that

they could not reach us; because, when the brute saw us, we were on the

ground, and without that element. Most beasts fear fire. It was for

this they destroyed him. They were led to expect a feast, and being

disappointed, devoured him to punish him for the deception."

"Really, Whirlwind, do you suppose beasts reason, and have a language

so as to converse?"

"The reasoning part I cannot answer for; but that they can convey

thought and feeling as well as the passions, from one to another, there

is no doubt. You and I understand what each other wishes to be

understood by language; but we cannot comprehend the first sound a

beast makes, yet, they not only understand their own language, but many

words of our own. Which then has the most intellect?"

"You are not in earnest when you would compare man and beast together?"

"The Great Spirit made them both, and gave to each the attributes best

suited to the station it was to occupy; and when those attributes are

exhibited as they were to-night, it would anger the Great Spirit to

believe they were not bestowed upon a creature, because that creature

was not a man."

"It is a truth well known to those who have spent the greater part of

their lives in the forest as I have, that the scene we have witnessed

to-night, is not of rare occurrence. This is the third time that I have

had to save myself by stratagem from panthers in my life," said the

trapper.

The next morning they again bent their course towards the north-east;

and as the day began to wane, the lofty peaks of a range of mountains

loomed up before them directly in their path.

"What can that mean," said the trapper, calling the attention of the

others to them. "It cannot be the Wahsatch mountains, for we went

through them; besides, they ought to be nearly a hundred miles behind

us. And they are not the Medicine Bow Mountains, for I am familiar with

them, and these are quite unlike them."

"Oh! uncle, it cannot be we have been travelling the wrong direction,

and are quite lost," said Jane, anxiously.

"I hardly know myself," he replied, with some trepidation. "I was sure

we came south and west when carried away, and then of course the

opposite direction is north-east, and we have, as near as I could tell,

been travelling that direction. Yet," he added, musingly, "I ought to

know the ground, but I do not recall one feature of it as familiar.

What do you think about these mountains?" he asked of the chief, who

stood moodily apart gazing upon the distant range with a troubled look.

"It is time Whirlwind visited the hunting grounds of the Great Spirit,

for he is no longer a chief to lead his warriors to victory, but is a

child that cannot find his way to his village through the forest,"

returned the chief.

"Then we are lost! I feared it! Oh! we shall never see home again!"

said Jane, weeping.

"Why, child! there is none of your mother about you," said the trapper.

"When she was not more than half your age she and I wandered off into

the forest, got lost, and saw no human face for fourteen days, and

during that time, although we had to eat leaves, berries and roots, she

never shed a tear; but if she saw I was getting sad, she would begin

some funny story that was sure to get us laughing. But there are no

more girls like your mother was; they are all down in the mouth at the

sight of danger now; nervous they call it, I believe."

"No, no, uncle, Jane is none of that; but she is tired, and will have

courage enough when rested," spoke up Edward.

"I believe it is all your work, chief; you have frightened her, she

places such confidence in your wood craft that she supposes if you

cannot find your way out no one can."

"My shoes are worn to shreds," said Jane, holding up the remnant of

what once had been a pair of strong leather shoes, "and my feet are

lacerated and bleeding. I am sure I have been patient; for, though I

have been travelling with great pain, I have borne it uncomplainingly,

hoping every day we should arrive at some place where relief might be

obtained."

"My poor sister you shall have mine," said Edward, taking them off;

"for, though much worn, and too large, yet they will be a better

protection than your own."

"Young brave, put on your shoes again. I can provide the antelope[7]

with moccasins that will be softer, and more effectually protect her

feet than your shoes."

[7] A pet name bestowed on Jane by the chief for her agility in

travelling.

So saying, the chief took off his tunic, which was made of fawn-skin,

laid it on the ground, and bade her place her foot upon it, and then

drawing his hunting-knife around, cut the exact shape of her foot in

the skin. Then taking some strips of leather wood he split it and

twisted it into a strong thread, after which he punctured small holes

with the point of his knife in the shoe he had cut, and drawing the

thread through, soon had completed a pair of strong soft moccasins.

"Well done, chief," said Jane, delighted with his handy work; "I did

not think of this resort to a covering, but own it is effectual and

very neatly done. You must kill another fawn and I will make you a new

tunic to replace the one you have spoiled."

As it was getting late they encamped on the spot, there being water but

a few rods distant, and visiting it, the chief pulled from the earth

some roots, at the same time crying, "Yampa! yampa!"[8]

[8] A root much used by the Indians as food.

"Nothing so welcome in our situation," cried the trapper. "Collect

enough of them, while I try to kill some turkies that I have a glimpse

of yonder."

Sidney and Edward went to work and soon had a nice fire blazing, and

then began to clear away the rubbish from around it, so as to make it

more comfortable. This accomplished, the chief returned with his arms

full of vegetables, and directing Sidney and Edward where plenty of

berries could be had near the spring, he proceeded to cook them. In a

little while the trapper returned, but instead of a turkey he brought a

string of very large fish.

"Where did those come from?" they all exclaimed.

"From a river, of course," he replied laughing. "You don't suppose they

grew on bushes, do you?"

"Certainly not; but are we really near a large river?"

"Within half a mile of it," he replied.

"Then, can't we find our way out, if we follow it to where it empties?"

asked Jane.

"I should think not. Now, for supper; there come the boys laden with

fruit, and between them and our fish and vegetables, I intend to have a

feast."

"Hist!" said Jane, "I heard a noise--a bleat, I am sure; There it is

again; don't you hear it?"

"Now I do, and will soon know what it is," said the trapper, making his

way towards it, guided by the noise. About fifty rods distant he found

a goat with its leg wedged between two rocks, so as to hold it fast,

and preclude the possibility of its escaping. The goat was much

emaciated, and had probably been there two or three days. But a few

paces distant, was its kid, being about five months old, browsing with

perfect unconcern. Howe released the goat and attempted to drive her to

the camp, but she was too weak to walk, and he was compelled to take

her in his arms, and carry her, the kid following, as though it was

nothing new to have its dam carried away.

"He has found a goat," said Edward, "now we can drive it with us and

keep it for milk."

"Poor thing!" said Jane, "it is almost dead: see how parched its mouth

is? Take it to the spring and let it drink, and we will collect

something for it to eat. What a pretty thing the kid is, and so very

tame. You will not kill it, will you?"

"Not unless necessity compels us to. If we can get a little strength in

this goat, I think, myself, she will be of service to us. Now for

supper, for this mountain air gives me a voracious appetite."

"And after supper, uncle, we had better build a bough-house, for last

night the dew fell heavy and cold. I think the summer must be over and

September already here."

"The young brave is right; the harvest moon is yonder a crescent. When

it is full, comes the harvest feast; and, then, unless Whirlwind

returns, another will be chief in his place."

"If we are not there then, we have this consolation, others have been

in as bad situations as we are."

"But, uncle, supposing we are still wandering around the forest when

the snows begin to fall?" said Jane.

"Why, then we must make the best of it we can."

"That is, lay down and freeze."

"Does the red man lay down and die, when the snows fall?" asked the

chief. "If we cannot find our homes, we must make a new one. Then we

shall be content again. The antelope shall sit in her lodge happy as

the singing bird, while her brothers bring her venison, fish, and the

choicest fruits that grow."

The next morning they were again in motion, making direct for the lofty

peaks before them, expecting to find a pass, and hoping when on the

other side to find a country with which they were familiar. For turn it

as they could, they arrived at the same conclusion at last, that they

ought to travel towards the northeast, a course they believed they

constantly kept. But they were mistaken in supposing the cave went

through the Wahsatch mountain; for, instead, it went through a spur of

it, leaving the principal range on the east, instead of the west as

they supposed. And now another spur lay between them and the principal

range, rising in lofty peaks, beyond which was an extensive level plain

many miles in extent, before the principal range could be reached. The

reason they were so deceived in the locality was, that they had never

been on the western side of the Wahsatch mountains, until carried

prisoners there; and, supposing the outlet of the cavern was on the

eastern side, they boldly pushed ahead. Had they known of these two

spurs--(the one the cavern conducted them through, and the one that lay

before them,) they would have known precisely where they were. But, as

the savages had gone round them by crossing the mountains a hundred

miles below, when they took them prisoners to their village, they had

no means of knowing it.

That night they encamped at the base of the second spur, by which ran a

small brook, and after a hearty supper, laid down to rest, with Sidney

on the watch, who was to be relieved at twelve by the chief.

Chapter Ninth.

Encounter with a Wolf. Sidney seriously wounded. They construct a bed.

Whirlwind procures medicine. Dressing Sidney's wounds. They Build a

Cabin. A high fever sets in. Fears entertained of Sidney's death. Talk

of Pow-wowing the disease. Howe's story of encountering a Polar Bear.

His faith in the Indian's Medicine Man. Miscellaneous conversation on

the matter. Their final consent to the Pow-wow.

Hardly an hour of Sidney's watch had elapsed, when, feeling very

thirsty, he stepped down the embankment to the stream, (which was only

two rods from the camp fire,) to get a drink; when in the act of

raising it to his lips, a huge black wolf sprang at him from beneath a

coppice of laurel that skirted the bank, and planting its huge teeth in

his shoulder, crushed the bones in a terrible manner--at the same time

his great weight bearing him to the ground.

The attack came so suddenly, that he was totally unprepared; and the

mangled shoulder sending a sickening effect through him, caused him to

faint with a single cry for help. However, it had been heard; Howe and

Whirlwind bounding to their feet on the instant, with their clubs in

their hands, which they always slept with by their sides, sprang on the

beast that was now growling ferociously over the insensible boy.

"Let him have it!" cried the trapper, dealing him the first blow; but

scarcely were the words uttered, when, with a leap, the wolf sprang

past the trapper at Jane, who stood on the bank above gazing with

horror on the mangled form of Sidney below her, and catching her by the

side, bore her also to the ground. Scarcely had she fallen, when a

powerful hand grasped him by the throat, and the chief's hunting knife

was buried a dozen times in the monster's heart--its life-blood almost

suffocating the prostrate and terrified girl.

Raising her in his arms, the chief carried her to the brook, bathed her

face, hands, neck, and even her hair--which was saturated with

blood--in the water. Then cleansing her dress, carried her back to the

camp-fire, and calling Edward to watch her, hastened to the side of

Sidney to assist the trapper, who was dashing water in his face in his

endeavors to bring him to consciousness.

"Hold, there!" cried the chief; "would my brother drown the young

brave?"

"Not exactly; only put a little life in him," said the trapper, dashing

over him some more water.

"Stop, or you will kill him! He must be brought up the embankment

nearer the light, so as to give us a better chance to care for him.

Raise his feet while I lift his shoulders. Oh! he is dreadfully

lacerated. Gently, gently; there, lay him softly down. He is

recovering! see, he breathes and turns his eyes."

"Sidney! Sidney! look up: are you much hurt?"

A heavy groan, and a relapse into unconsciousness, were all the answers

he could give. But it was very expressive to the wanderers, who were

without surgical aid, or even a bed to lay him on, or roof to shield

him from the dews of night.

"A terrible business, this," said the trapper. "I fear the poor boy has

received his death-wound. How is it with Jane? is she much injured?"

"I think not," said the chief; "the monster jumped too far to do much

harm, save that which she received by the fall, and I gave him no

chance to try a second time."

"We must take off his clothes, examine his wounds, and dress them,"

said the chief, "but first, we must make a bed to lay him on. My

brother will watch him while I make it--it is but a few minutes' work."

So saying, he took his tomahawk, cut and drove four stout posts into

the ground, notched at the top, across which he placed two stout poles,

which constituted a strong bedstead, though of a very primitive order;

yet it was better than lying on the damp ground.

The bed was next to be manufactured, which was done by placing short

poles across the structure. On this hemlock boughs were placed, and on

these again a thick covering of dried leaves. Nor was this bed as hard

as a person would imagine who had never reposed on one. The poles that

upheld the upper structure were springy; the boughs were soft and

yielding, while the leaves filled all the little crevices, and made it

smooth and easy.

Lifting their patient upon his couch, they took off his upper garments,

and then saw, to their dismay, the bones broken and protruding, the

flesh mangled and torn, presenting a terrible spectacle. Besides, there

were two other flesh wounds, but these alone would not have been

dangerous.

"Nothing can be done until I collect some medicine leaves," said the

chief, "which I am not sure of doing before daylight; but as the case

is so urgent, I will try."

Taking a torch of pitch pine knots, he began searching round in the

forest for the plant he desired, which he succeeded in finding very

soon. Pressing some of the leaves so as to start the juice, he put them

into a gourd, filled it with water, and after replacing the fractured

bones as well as he could, with Howe's assistance, who had some

practice that way during his roving life, proceeded to cleanse the

wounds with the decoction: after which he held some of them in his

hands until they were wilted, then laid them smoothly over the wound,

confining the whole with the small fibre of leather wood--that

never-failing substitute for thread or cord.

Jane was next attended to; but, on examination, hers proved to be a

mere flesh wound, neither deep nor large, but which they thought

prudent to dress so there need not be any danger of inflammation.

"We will take care of the monster's skin," said the trapper, "for we

may need it, if we can save Sidney's life, to protect him from the cold

before he recovers."

To take off and stretch the skin for drying, was but the work of a few

minutes for their practised hands; and the rest of the night was spent

in endeavoring to determine what was the safest plan to adopt; but the

morning broke, leaving them as undecided as at first. At one moment

they were for dividing their force, part remaining until the wounded

could be removed, or, as they feared, died, the rest hasten on, and

return with assistance as soon as possible. This was rejected, as it

would be weakening their numbers, already too small to provide for

their sick properly. Thus project after project was rejected, for their

condition was bad enough before, but now they felt it was doubly

appalling. Sad, indeed, they were; for they dreaded every hour the fate

of him who had been as a son and brother; and to have him die there,

and be buried in the vast wilds, the location of which they knew not

themselves, and, perhaps, could not point out should they be so

fortunate as to escape a similar fate, was enough to wring the stoutest

heart. But it was now the time that the untutored Indian showed his

superior tact and energy. Howe was cheerful, still hopeful, but not

resigned, like the chief, who, at first, had pined for the station of a

free leader of a free people; but, as the time advanced when the

authority would be given to another, unless he returned by the harvest

feast according to custom, and the injury Sidney had received, would

prevent their travelling, he nobly resolved that let the consequences

to himself be what they might, he would not desert the young man in his

hour of need.

Anxiously they watched by the couch hour after hour, until dawn of day,

when the poor fellow began to call for water; a fever had set in. When

this new evil became apparent, it destroyed what little hope remained,

and though they sought every way to baffle the disease, yet it was

through a desire to leave nothing undone, that might possibly in any

way relieve him. The trapper gathered some roots noted for their

cooling properties, and bruising them extracted their juice which was

given to the patient, while a tea made by soaking slippery elm bark,

was his constant drink. It all seemed to do no good; for his fever rose

higher and burned fiercer, until his brain wandered, his eyes grew

wild, and his skin became dry and husky. He raved alternately of home

and his wanderings. At one time, talking familiarly with his friends,

as though he was by the old fireside in Missouri, then in piteous

accents calling on some one to save him from the fire of the cannibals

who he said were roasting him, alternately with praying them to kill

him with their arrows to end his sufferings. Again, he imagined the

wolf was at his throat, and it then required all their tact to soothe,

and keep him from tossing about, and again displacing the fractured

bones of his shoulder.

They built a hut of boughs, making the corners of four saplings which

they cut off at the proper height, where they formed a crotch

supporting strong poles, across which other poles were laid, and which

they covered with hemlock boughs; this again was covered with bark they

had detached from fallen trees, and which made a good defence against

heat or rain. The sides were fitted up the same way, with the exception

of a door which they closed by a large piece of bark, when they

desired.

Day after day went by, and though they could not see that their patient

was better, yet he was, certainly, no worse. This encouraged them.

"If we can keep him quiet, so as to give the mangled bones time to set,

the fever will die off itself. For, no doubt, it is caused by the

irritation of the wounds," said the trapper.

"If the Medicine Man[9] of the Arapahoes was here, to pow-wow the

disease, the young brave would live," said the chief.

[9] Physician.

"That would only frighten him," said Edward, who had often seen this

same mode of curing diseases exercised, and had no very high opinion of

it.

"The more complete the fright, the sooner the recovery," retorted the

chief.

"Suppose you pow-wow him," said the trapper, "you know the virtue lies

in you by your right of chief, if you choose to exercise it, which you

should be willing to do, if it would heal him."

"Oh! no, no; don't think of such a thing, he could not bear it. The

least noise makes him worse, even the chirping of the birds and

squirrels in the trees overhead, irritates him; and only an hour ago, I

had to lead the goat and her kid farther away to tether them; for, at

every bleat they made, he started nervously, and moaned," said Jane,

who had great faith in quietness, and soothing applications in

restoring the sick.

"He has got no medicine bag," said Edward, "and could not, very

happily. Any one that is well and can stand a pow-wow, ought to live

forever, but I am sure if I was as sick as poor Sidney is, and they

undertook to raise such a rumpus about me, I would die to get out of

the noise."

"Hush! you don't know anything about it. I am sure I should have died

once if I had not been pow-wowed," said the trapper. "As for the

medicine bag, every chief is gifted with making one at will."

"Why, uncle, you would not consent to have such a din raised around

Sidney, would you? I am sure it would kill him."

"I rather think it would help him. A sick man among the wilds and one

in a populous district are to be treated on different plans, and the

one recovers as often as the other. Still there is this difference: the

one, if he recovers, carries a poison in him that finally does its

work; while the other, if he recovers, soon regains his former vigor,"

said the trapper.

"Really, uncle, I did not think you superstitious before; but this

seems like it," said Jane.

"Prejudiced, Jane; he has been among the natives until almost one of

them," said Edward.

"Call it what you like. I have reasons for it. When I was about thirty,

I, in company with my father, had been trading with the Hudson's Bay

Company, and were preparing for a homeward voyage when it occurred to

us that our collection would not be complete without a polar bear skin.

This we resolved to have, and supposing it could be had from the

natives, we started out one morning to visit the different lodges that

were located around the station in search of our object. We found

enough that had been divided into parts, but there was but a single

complete one to be found, and that was the skin from a young cub which

would give but a faint idea of the size and strength of the full grown

animal. It was our object to get a complete one, as a large price had

been offered for a perfect skin of full size.

"There were reports of polar bears having been seen at no great

distance, within a few days, and my father was too famous a hunter to

be baulked when bears could be had by hunting. Engaging six Esquimaux

to accompany us with their dogs and spears we set out. We knew it was

dangerous game that we were after, but we thought two rifles, six

Esquimaux spears and dogs were strong enough for them, and we went

carelessly on, guided by a native until we were in their haunts, as the

natives informed us.

"'You don't pretend to say that the beasts are in that ugly looking

hole, do you?' said father, as the guide pointed to a low hole that ran

beneath a high cliff, bordering the bay.

"'There,' said the native, still pointing to the hole; 'one, two, big,

one little.'

"'Three of them! Why, you rogue, what made you lead us into their den?

A pretty time there will be if they all charge us at once!'

"'White man shoot one big one, other white man shoot one big one, red

men and dogs, six men, six dogs kill little one,' said the Esquimaux,

smiling at the allotment he had made.

"'All very well if they have the goodness to die at the first, or even

second fire; but there have been animals of this kind that have

required twenty balls before it was safe to approach them. If wounded,

without being disabled, they are ferocious.'

"'Bear eat white man then; bear very fond of him,' said the native,

enjoying the scrape he had led us into.

"'Look here, you villain,' said father, 'if we are killed I will blow

your brains out, depend upon it, when we return to the station!'

"'White man may, when he gets back, if he is killed,' said the guide,

who stood grinning horribly with his keen, serpent-like eyes fixed on

the den of beasts.

"The ground was covered with snow, and the bay for half a mile out with

ice strong enough to have held a hundred tons in one solid body.

Beyond, the bay was filled with a sea of floating ice, that ebbed in

and out again as the wind or tide carried it. I said the cliff skirted

the bay; still there was a beach some twenty rods wide that lay between

it and the bay which was covered with snow as every thing else is in

that region in March.

"'We are in for it, Andy,' said father. 'Keep a good look out that the

beasts do not get at you; if they do, depend upon it, they will give

you cause to repent your hunt. See! the natives are pricking them up

with the points of their spears. Stand back so as to give him a wide

berth, and we will let the natives see that some things can be done as

well as others.'

"'Back! back!' yelled the natives; at the same moment a savage shaggy

head protruded from the den, and with angry growls, made for the

nearest native. Every one of us, in our haste to clear the way for his

bearship, tumbled over each other until he was in a fair way to have us

all in a heap to devour at leisure.

"'Pretty doings this, with our backs to the game!--face round every one

of you. Seek him! Seek him, there! Now, you red rogues, give him your

spears while he is engaged in boxing over the dogs as fast as they get

at him. Ho! that makes him sorry,' said father, who was all alive with

sport, for the old bear was a male of the largest kind; and he was just

congratulating himself on the easy victory he was obtaining, when his

mate came with flashing eyes and ferocious growls towards us.

"I was the first to note her exit from the den, and drawing my rifle to

my shoulder gave her a ball in the side. With a roar of rage she

bounded towards me and giving her another ball I attempted to save

myself in flight, but my foot slipping on the snow, threw me on the

ground, at the mercy of the terrible brute. Father saw the affray, and

after discharging every ball in his rifle at her, clubbed her with

blows that shivered the stock of his gun into splinters. So I

afterwards learned, for the first blow she dealt me with her huge paw,

took me on the temple, and I knew no more of the terrible whipping she

gave me until it was all over. That was soon enough, for I thought my

last hour had come for many a week. The physician at the station gave

me over, and as a last resort the medicine man of a neighboring tribe

took me in hand, pow-wow'd me, and from that hour I began to recover."

"You really think that the medicine man saved your life, do you?"

queried Jane.

"Certainly--nothing can be clearer. The Indians know more of the art of

healing, than half of your pop-in-jay doctors."

"How about the noise: it must have set you most wild," said Edward.

"It was a little too strong, I thought at the time, but afterwards was

convinced it was all for the best."

"And the bears: were they secured?"

"Oh! yes, and the cub, too. But they told me it was a terrible fight."

"My brother has seen the efficacy of our medicine men. The Great Spirit

would assist his son to cure the young brave, if the white chief

desires it should be done," said Whirlwind.

"I am inclined to think it would help him, and at least could do no

harm."

"Let him try, uncle. I am willing anything to save him should be

tried," said Edward.

Jane was silenced, but not convinced, by her uncle's story; and though

doubting the termination, offered no more opposition. Whirlwind

retreated into the forest, desiring that no one should follow him,

where he remained all night--during intervals of which, they heard his

voice alternately in entreaty, command, and supplication.

Chapter Tenth.

Preparations for a grand Pow-wow. The apparent solemnity of Whirlwind.

He dresses himself in the wolf-skin. The Pow-wow. Its effects upon

Sidney. He becomes delirious. Favourable turn in his fever. His health

improves. They proceed on their way. The Indian acknowledges himself

lost. Encamp for the night. Their journey continued. Singular trees

discovered. Preparations for spending the winter.

At noon the next day, the chief returned, carrying in his hand a small

bag made of bark, and filled with something they did not attempt to

ascertain, well knowing the chief would look on such an act as

unpardonable profanity. He had gone into the forest without supper, and

had taken no breakfast, yet he refused anything to eat. They did not

urge him, for they had never seen such an expression of humility and

meekness on the chief's features before as they wore then; and Jane and

Edward felt rebuked for the levity they had exhibited, for evidently he

was acting the farce in which he was engaged, with a sincerity and

purity of motive that commanded respect.

With eager curiosity, blended with fear for the result, they watched

every movement of the chief's preparations, which were as unique as

singular. After depositing his bag with great care on the limb of a

tree, he took the now dry wolf-skin, wrapped it around him, running his

arms through the skin of the fore legs. The skin of the head, which had

been stretched and dried whole, he drew over his own, confining the

body of the skin around him with a string, leaving the long bushy tail

dragging behind him. Then taking his medicine bag in his hands, he

assumed the appearance of the wolf; and thus accoutred, no one would

have taken him for a human being, so completely was he metamorphosed.

With stealthy tread, he crept slowly round the couch on which the

patient lay, snuffing the air like a hound on a scent; then placing his

hands on the side, raised his head, and, after taking a survey of the

sick man, again dropt down, and commenced moving around very slowly,

and snuffing the air for full half an hour. Suddenly, with a yell that

made the old forest ring, and a bound, he darted round the couch with a

velocity truly astonishing. He did not run, nor bound, but jumped, and

at every jump, sent out one of those hideous yells, that startled the

echoes from their retreats, and sent them forth with a hundred voices.

After whirling around the bed in this way a number of times, with

frantic howls he sprang upon the bed, and commenced snuffing round the

patient. Starting with terror, the poor boy half raised his head, and a

glance of intelligence lighted his sunken eye, as he cried, with

gestures of fear and horror, "The wolf! the wolf! Save me! oh, save

me!" and then sank back, fainting. They at first thought he was dead.

"You have killed him. Stop! for mercy's sake, stop!" cried Jane,

placing herself between the hideous looking object and Sidney.

"The young brave will live," said the chief, suddenly raising himself,

and speaking in his natural tones; and after divesting himself of the

skin, without another word, disappeared in the forest.

"Give me water," said Jane, "and chafe his hands while I bathe his

temples."

"Put some water in his mouth," said the trapper. "I fear we did wrong

in this affair. Poor boy! he thought the wolf had him again."

"We certainly ought not to have permitted it. The shock to the nervous

system must be terrible. Should he never have his reason again, I shall

never forgive myself. That Whirlwind would adhere to so ridiculous a

farce is not to be wondered at; but that we, born and bred among a

civilized nation, educated, and with claims to intelligence and

refinement, should consent to such mummery, is a libel on humanity."

"I believe you, Jane," said the trapper. "The poor boy was too ill to

bear it. As for myself, I think, when I was pow-wowed, I must have been

already on the mend. But these savages _do_ exert an influence over

one. I don't know how it is, but I never knew a person that had been

much with them, but what was forced to acknowledge it."

"See! he breathes. Edward, hide away that ugly skin that he need not

get another fright.--Sidney! Sidney! don't you know me!" said Jane, as

the invalid slowly opened his eyes, and then with a shudder, closed

them again.

"Come, Sidney, rouse up," said the trapper. "We are only waiting for

you to be able to travel in order to start for home. We cannot be far

from it now."

"The wolf! the wolf! take him away!" cried Sidney, in piteous accents,

and then once more fainted with terror and fright.

"Now, keep out of sight, every one of you, and be careful that not a

sound or noise is made. I think I can manage him best alone," said

Jane, as she commenced bathing his temples with water.

Slowly his eyes again opened, and as they rested on her, she smiled

softly, as she said in gentle tones; "You know me, surely, Sidney,

don't you?"--and then she added, after a moment's pause, "there is no

one else around, but me, and I do not frighten you, do I?"

Suddenly his eye lit up with an intelligent light, and a half smile

hovered round his lips, as he said: "Oh no, I am not afraid of you,

Jane, but what has happened? what am I lying here for?--Ah! ah! my arm,

I cannot move it," said he, as a sharp pain ran through his shoulder,

when he attempted to raise himself.

"Do not attempt it," said Jane, laying her hand on his to keep him

quiet, as he again stirred. "You are very ill, and your life depends on

your keeping quiet. You must neither move nor talk much."

"Then I have not been dreaming; a wolf has----"

"Yes, you have been dreaming; there is nothing here, except myself, and

I really think, I frighten you, and will have to go away."

"Oh, no, do not: but I am quite sure I did see a great black----"

"Hush! hush! if you talk so strange, you will frighten me. There is,

nor has been nothing here. Come, now, don't you feel better. I am sure

you do; you look like yourself again. Here are some delicious

blackberries, cool and juicy, try one," she said, putting one to his

lips.

"Delicious, give me more. But Jane, I am quite sure there was a

monstrous black----"

"Come, if you do not stop such nonsense, I will give you no more

berries," said Jane, gaily.

"Well, then, I will, yet I saw his great, shaggy----"

"I tell you, Sidney, you dreamed; and, as dreams all go by the rule of

contrary, I presume you never will see one. Come, you must sleep

now--not another word," and she playfully placed her hand over his

mouth to enforce her command.