The apprehension,
however, was no sooner formed than extinguished. Bitterly,
deeply as she had reason to abhor the treachery and
cunning of the dark race to which her captor belonged,
there was an expression of openness and sincerity, and
even imploringness, in the countenance of Oucanasta,
which, added to her former knowledge of the woman, at
once set this fear at rest, inducing her to look upon
her rather in the character of a disinterested saviour,
than in that of a cruel and vindictive enemy, goaded on
to the indulgence of malignant hate by a spirit of rivalry
and revenge. Besides, even were her cruellest fears to
be realised, what could await her worse than the past?
If she could even succeed in getting away, it would only
be to return upon certain death; and death only could
await her, however refined the tortures accompanying its
infliction, in the event of her quietly following and
yielding herself up to the guidance of one who offered
this slight consolation, at least, that she was of her
own sex. But Miss de Haldimar was willing to attribute
more generous motives to the Indian; and fortified in
her first impression, she signified by signs, that seemed
to be perfectly intelligible to her companion, she
appreciated her friendly intentions, and confided wholly
in her.
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