But, as the party approached, a chill struck into the heart of Oriana, and she instinctively clung closer to her husband’s arm, as if she felt that some danger threatened him; while the open, manly brow of Henrich contracted for an instant, and was crossed by a look of doubt and suspicion that was seldom seen to darken it, and could not rest there long.  In a moment that cloud had passed away, and he rose to greet the stranger with a frank and dignified courtesy, that showed he felt suspicion and distrust to be unworthy of him.  Rodolph, also, seemed to be affected by the same kind of unpleasant sensations that were felt by his more intellectual, but not more sagacious fellow-creatures.  No sooner did the stranger advance beyond the shadow of trees, and thus afford the dog a full view of his very peculiar and striking countenance, than he uttered a low deep growl of anger; and, slowly rising from the ground, placed himself between his little charge and the supposed enemy, on whom he kept his keen eye immovably fixed, while his strong white teeth were displayed in a very formidable row.

Coubitant—­for it could be no other than he—­saw clearly the impression that his appearance had excited on the assembled party of his old acquaintances; but he was an adept in dissimulation, and he entirely concealed his feelings under the garb of pleasure at this reunion after so long a separation.  The candid disposition of Henrich rendered him liable to be deceived by these false professions of his former rival; and he readily believed that Coubitant had, during his absence of so many years, forgotten and laid aside all those feelings of envy and jealousy that once appeared to fill his breast, and to actuate him to deeds of enmity towards the white stranger, whose father had slain his chosen friend and companion.

But was it so?  Had the cruel and wily savage indeed become the friend of him who had, he deemed, supplanted him—­not only in the favor of his Chief, but also in the good graces of his intended bride—­and who was now, as he had learnt from Jyanough, the husband of Oriana, and the virtual Sachem of Tisquantum’s subject warriors?  No:  ’jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame’; and in the soul of Coubitant there dwelt no gentle principles of mercy and forgiveness to quench this fiery flame.  He was a heathen:  and, in his eyes, revenge was a virtue, and the gratification of it a deep joy:  and in the hope of attaining this joy, he was willing to endure years of difficulty and disappointment, and to forego all that he knew of home and of comfort.  Therefore had he left the tribe of his adoption, and the friends of his choice, and dwelt for so many winters and summers among the Narragansetts, until he had acquired influence in their councils, and won for himself rank in their tribe.  And all this rank and influence he had, as we have seen, exerted to procure the destruction