Peter was most struck with all that had just occurred.  He had often heard of the skill of those who hunted bees, and had several times met with individuals who practised the art, but this was the first occasion on which he had ever been a witness, in his own person, of the exercise of a craft so wonderful!  Had the process been simply that of catching a bee, filling it with honey, letting it go, and then following it to its hive, it would have been so simple as to require no explanation.  But Peter was too intelligent, as well as too observant, not to have seen that a great deal more than this was necessary.  On the supposition that the bee flew toward the forest, as had been the fact with two of the bees taken that morning, in what part of that forest was the hunter to look for the bee-tree?  It was the angle that perplexed Peter, as it did all the Indians; for that angle, to be understood, required a degree of knowledge and calculation that entirely exceeded all he had ever acquired.  Thus is it with us ever.  The powers, and faculties, and principles that are necessary fully to comprehend all that we see and all that surrounds us, exist and have been bestowed on man by his beneficent Creator.  Still, it is only by slow degrees that he is to become their master, acquiring knowledge, step by step, as he has need of its services, and learns how to use it.  Such seems to be the design of Providence, which is gradually opening to our inquiries the arcana of nature, in order that we may convert their possession into such uses as will advance its own wise intentions.  Happy are they who feel this truth in their character of individuals!  Thrice happy the nations which can be made to understand, that the surest progress is that which is made on the clearest principles, and with the greatest caution!  The notion of setting up anything new in morals, is as fallacious in theory as it will be found to be dangerous in practice.

It has been said that a sudden change had come over the fierce purposes of Peter.  For some time, the nature, artlessness, truth, feminine playfulness and kindness, not to say personal beauty of Margery, had been gradually softening the heart of this stern savage, as it respected the girl herself.  Nothing of a weak nature was blended with this feeling, which was purely the growth of that divine principle that is implanted in us all.  The quiet, earnest manner in which the girl had, that day, protested her desire to see the rights of the red man respected, completed her conquest; and, so far as the great chief was concerned, secured her safety.  It may seem singular, however, that Peter, with all his influence, was unable to say that even one that he was so much disposed to favor, should be spared.  By means of his own eloquence, and perseverance, and deep desire for vengeance, however, he had aroused a spirit among his followers that was not so easily quelled.  On several occasions, he had found it difficult to prevent the younger and