Not a word was sighed out for forgiveness on either side.  They held each other and floated back into the lake.  Adam took an oar and occasionally paddled, without wholly releasing his hold of Eva.

“Don’t you remember our fish’s nest?” she whispered beside his neck.  “I wonder if the slim little silver thing is swimming around over the gravel hollow, frightened by all this glare?  I hope those overhanging bushes won’t catch fire and drop coals on her; for she’s a silly thing,—­she might not want to dart out in deep water and lose her unhatched family.”

Adam smiled into his wife’s eyes.  He was quite singed, but did not know it.

“Ay, burn,” he spoke out exultantly, apostrophizing the island.  “Burn up our first home and all.  It’s worth it.  We’re the other side o’ the world of fire now.  We’ve passed through it, and are afloat on the sea of glass.”

     M. H. CATHERWOOD.

PROBATION.

Full slow to part with her best gifts is Fate: 
  The choicest fruitage comes not with the spring,
But still for summer’s mellowing touch must wait,
  For storms and tears that seasoned excellence bring;
And Love doth fix his joyfullest estate
  In hearts that have been hushed ’neath Sorrow’s brooding wing. 
Youth sues to Fame:  she coldly answers, “Toil!”
  He sighs for Nature’s treasures:  with reserve
Responds the goddess, “Woo them from the soil.” 
  Then fervently he cries, “Thee will I serve,—­
Thee only, blissful Love.”  With proud recoil
  The heavenly boy replies, “To serve me well—­deserve.”

     FLORENCE EARLE COATES.

THE PIONEERS OF THE SOUTHWEST.

TWO PAPERS.  II.

The route of Robertson lay over the great Indian war-path, which led, in a southwesterly direction, from the valley of Virginia to the Cherokee towns on the lower Tennessee, not far from the present city of Chattanooga.  He would, however, turn aside at the Tellico and visit Echota, which was the home of the principal chiefs.  While he is pursuing his perilous way, it may be as well to glance for a moment at the people among whom he is going at so much hazard.

The Cherokees were the mountaineers of aboriginal America, and, like most mountaineers, had an intense love of country and a keen appreciation of the beautiful in nature, as is shown by the poetical names they have bequeathed to their rivers and mountains.  They were physically a fine race of men, tall and athletic, of great bravery and superior natural intelligence.  It was their military prowess alone that enabled them to hold possession of the country they occupied against the many warlike tribes by whom they were surrounded.