He held up the glass to Arundel, and laughed, as he saw the reflection.

“My brother’s face is now in the frozen water,” he said, “and whenever I look into it, I shall see my brother as well as Waqua.”

“And trust me, Waqua, that I will be a true friend unto thee.  I do begin to think that the extraordinary liking of the knight for thy race is not misplaced.”

“Speaks my brother of Soog-u-gest, of the white chief who lives away from his people in the forest?”

“I speak of the Knight of the Golden Melice, of him whom the Indians call Soog-u-gest, or the eagle.  I had left his lodge but a short time when Heaven sent thee to my aid.”

“The tall, white chief, men say, is not like other white men.  He loves the forest children, and they love him.”

“Love begets love, and one noble quality attracts another.  But it is my turn, Waqua, to show you hospitality; and to a strong, healthy fellow like you, dinner, methinks, can never come amiss.”

The meal which, upon the order of Arundel, was served up, seemed to meet with the unqualified approbation of the Indian.  Yet this is an inference derived, not from the manner in which he partook of the repast, but from the quantity which he ate.  Although unacquainted with the mode of using a knife and fork, and, therefore, compelled to depend upon the instruments furnished by nature, there was nothing in his conduct that resembled ill-breeding.  He accepted, with a grave courtesy, whatever was offered, eating deliberately, and expressing no preference for one thing over another.  His entertainer fancied that, from time to time, he cast a stolen glance, as if watching motions in order to accommodate himself to them.  However that may be, the young white man was greatly pleased with the untutored politeness of his red companion, and desirous to please him in all respects, did not deny his guest the stimulus of strong water; taking care, nevertheless, that the wine drunk should be in too small quantities to affect him injuriously.  Of this, Waqua partook with peculiar zest, and it is fortunate that he had one more prudent than himself to stop him before temperate indulgence became excess.  For so great is the delight which the Indian temperament derives from the use of intoxicating drinks, that it is difficult to regulate the appetite.  Brought up without much self-control, if civilization be taken as a standard,—­regardless of the past, heedless of the future, and mindful only of the present,—­the wild child of nature quaffs with eager joy the fire-water, which seems to bring him inspiration, and to extend the bounds of existence.

“Waqua knows,” said the savage, holding up his cup at the end of the meal, “that the Great Spirit loves his white children very much, else never would he have given them the dancing fire-water that streams through me like the sun through morning clouds.”

“Beware,” said Arundel, “that it be not more like the lightning, which marks its path with destruction.  But, Waqua, come thou now with me.  I saw no red cloth in thy lodge, and there was but little paint in thy pot, and I know where there is plenty.”