It was with a beating heart,
to which mere personal fear, however, was a stranger,
that Captain de Haldimar performed this concluding stage
of his adventurous course; but, at a moment when he
considered detection unavoidable, and was arming himself
with resolution to meet the event, the female suddenly
halted, placing, in the act, the trunk of an enormous
beech between her companion and the dusky forms within,
whose very breathing could be heard by the anxious officer.
Without uttering a word, she took his hand, and, drawing
him gently forward, disappeared altogether from his view.
The young man followed, and in the next moment found
himself in the bowelless body of the tree itself; into
which, on the side of the encampment, both light and
sound were admitted by a small aperture formed by the
natural decay of the wood.
The Indian pressed her lips to the ear of her companion,
and rather breathed than said,--"The Saganaw will see
and hear every thing from this in safety; and what he
hears let him treasure in his heart. Oucanasta must go.
When the council is over she will return, and lead him
back to his warriors.
Pages:
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383