their children during the first year of their existence.  The eyes of the captive young mother were fixed tearfully on the majestic form of her husband, who was too proud—­perhaps, also, too sad—­to turn and meet her gaze, while the eyes of his foes were upon him to detect his slightest weakness.  Even the low wailing cry of her child was unheeded by this broken hearted wife in that sad hour; for she well knew the customs of Indian warfare, and she had no hope for the life of her warrior, even if her own should be spared.

Henrich gazed on the little group in pity; for be instinctively read their story, and their coming fate, in their countenances, and in the cruel glances that fell on them from their guards.  He looked at Jyanough; and in his expressive features he saw a fell confirmation of his worst fears.

’They will sacrifice them to Maatche-Mahneto in the vain hope of lengthening Terah’s life,’ he softly whispered in Henrich’s ear.  ’Let us go back and seek Oriana.  Perhaps, for her sake, Tisquantum may ask the lives of the squaw and her young child; and, as Chingook’s honored guest, they would be granted to him; but there is no hope for the warrior.  His blood will surely be shed to appease Maatche-Mahneto, and to atone for the death of several of the Cree braves who have fallen this year by the hands of the Stone tribe.’

Hastily Henrich turned; and, followed by Jyanough, took a by-path well known to them, and entered the village before the arrival of the warriors and their unhappy prisoners.  A brief explanation was sufficient to enlist all the kindly feelings, and all the Christian spirit, of Oriana in favor of their project; and she lost no time in seeking her father, who had again repaired to Terah’s hut, to superintend the costly sacrifice that was being offered in his behalf.  She found him exulting in a partial improvement in his patient, whose senses had again returned with a brief and deceitful brilliance, and attributing what he called the aged Pince’s recovery to the potency of his own spells.

This was no time for Oriana to argue with the elated Powow on the fallacy of his pretensions.  She therefore listened patiently to his boastings; and then, with much feeling and natural eloquence, told him the cause of her interrupting him at such a moment, and besought him to exert all his great influence with the Crees, to induce them to spare the lives of the Stone captives.

Tisquantum listened with attention to her story and her petition, for he was always gentle to Oriana; but he gave her little hope of that fell success which her warm young heart desired, and anticipated.

‘My child,’ he said, ’I will do what you ask, so far as to request that the woman and child may be placed at your disposal.  But the warrior’s life I cannot demand, for it would be an insult to the brave Crees to suppose that they would suffer an enemy to escape, and tell his tribe that they were woman-hearted.  No, he must die; and, if the soul of his ancestors dwells in him, he will exult in the opportunity of showing how even a Stone Indian can meet death.’