“June sorry the Lily” —­ for so the Indian, in her poetical language, had named our heroine —­ “June sorry the Lily no marry Arrowhead.  His wigwam big, and a great chief must get wives enough to fill it.”

“I thank you, June, for this preference, which is not according to the notion of us white women,” returned Mabel, smiling in spite of the fearful situation in which she was placed; “but I may not, probably never shall, marry at all.”

“Must have good husband,” said June; “marry Eau-douce, if don’t like Arrowhead.”

“June! this is not a fit subject for a girl who scarcely knows if she is to live another hour or not.  I would obtain some signs of my dear uncle’s being alive and safe, if possible.”

“June go see.”

“Can you? —­ will you? —­ would it be safe for you to be seen on the island? is your presence known to the warriors, and would they be pleased to find a woman on the war-path with them?”

All this Mabel asked in rapid connection, fearing that the answer might not be as she wished.  She had thought it extraordinary that June should be of the party, and, improbable as it seemed, she had fancied that the woman had covertly followed the Iroquois in her own canoe, and had got in their advance, merely to give her the notice which had probably saved her life.  But in all this she was mistaken, as June, in her imperfect manner, now found means to let her know.

Arrowhead, though a chief, was in disgrace with his own people, and was acting with the Iroquois temporarily, though with a perfect understanding.  He had a wigwam, it is true, but was seldom in it; feigning friendship for the English, he had passed the summer ostensibly in their service, while he was, in truth, acting for the French, and his wife journeyed with him in his many migrations, most of the distances being passed over in canoes.  In a word, her presence was no secret, her husband seldom moving without her.  Enough of this to embolden Mabel to wish that her friend might go out, to ascertain the fate of her uncle, did June succeed in letting the other know; and it was soon settled between them that the Indian woman should quit the blockhouse with that object the moment a favorable opportunity offered.

They first examined the island, as thoroughly as their position would allow, from the different loops, and found that its conquerors were preparing for a feast, having seized upon the provisions of the English and rifled the huts.  Most of the stores were in the blockhouse; but enough were found outside to reward the Indians for an attack that had been attended by so little risk.  A party had already removed the dead bodies, and Mabel saw that their arms were collected in a pile near the spot chosen for the banquet.  June suggested that, by some signs which she understood, the dead themselves were carried into a thicket and either buried or concealed from view.  None of the more prominent objects on the island, however,