O, it was a sickening sight! and Oriana’s heart stood still in the agony of suspense She could not aid her brother!  She could not cope with that mad whirl of water!  But she leaped down the steep rocks, and stood on the narrow ledge of shore below, to wait the moment for action.  At length—­after what appeared almost a hopeless conflict with the dashing waters—­Rodolph appeared through the cloud of foam and slowly and feebly swam towards the shore, still supporting the lifeless burden that seemed almost to drag him beneath the surface.

Now was the time for the Indian girl to prove her skill and courage.  Lightly she sprang into the water, and in a moment she was at Rodolph’s side; and, with one arm sustaining the drooping head of Henrich, while, with the other, she dexterously swam back to the spot where Mailah stood ready to assist her.  With much difficulty they lifted the senseless form of Henrich on the shore, and proceeded to adopt every means in their power to restore suspended animation; while Rodolph—­the faithful devoted Rodolph—­lay down panting and exhausted, but still keeping a watchful eye on him whom he had so daringly rescued.  Long the two young Indians labored in silence, and almost in despair; for no color returned to those pallid lips, and no warmth was perceptible in the chilled and stiffened hands, that fell powerless by his side.  Still they persevered:  and no tear, no lamentation, betrayed the anguish that wrung the heart of Oriana, while she believed that all was in vain.  But her soul was lifted up in prayer to the One True God, in whom she had been taught to put her trust by her beloved ’white brother’:  and in His mercy was her only hope.

Nor was that hope in vain.  The warm beams of the mid-day sun fell powerfully on that sheltered spot where the little group were gathered, and, combined with the continued friction that Oriana and Mailah employed, at length brought back the life-blood to Henrich’s cheeks and lips, and his anxious nurses had the joy of perceiving that he breathed.  A few minutes more, and he opened his deep blue eyes, and looked wildly around him, and spoke some English words that Oriana heard amid the din of the falling waters, and knew were of his home and his kindred.  And then he uttered her own name, and attempted to rise, but fell back again into her arms, and smiled sweetly and gratefully when her eyes met his, and he saw that she was watching over him.  There was joy—­deep joy and gratitude—­in those young hearts at that moment; but Henrich’s weakness, and the noise of, the roaring cataract, prevented them from communicating their feelings in words, and Oriana forbore to ask any questions of Henrich relative to the cause of his perilous adventure.

After some time he seemed greatly to recover, and, rising from the ground, he slowly mounted the bank, supported by Oriana and her friend.  But it was evident that he was quite unable to proceed on foot to the camp, and it was agreed that Mailah should return as quickly as possible and bring such assistance as she could procure from thence, while Henrich and Oriana should advance as far as his enfeebled state would admit of.