Oucanasta was sensibly gratified: she raised her large
eyes to heaven as if in thankfulness; and by the light
of the lantern, which fell upon her dark but expressive
countenance, tears were to be seen starting unbidden from
their source.
Released from the embrace of her, whose life she had
twice preserved at imminent peril to her own, the Indian
again prepared to depart; but there was another, who,
like Madeline, although stricken by many sorrows, could
not forego the testimony of his heart's gratitude.
Captain de Haldimar, who, during this short scene, had
despatched a messenger to his room for the purpose, now
advanced to the poor girl, bearing a short but elegantly
mounted dagger, which he begged her to deliver as a token
of his friendship to the young chief her brother. He then
dropped on one knee at her feet, and raising her hand,
pressed it fervently against his heart; an action which,
even to the untutored mind of the Indian, bore evidence
only of the feeling that prompted it, A heavy sigh escaped
her labouring chest; and as the officer now rose and
quitted her hand, she turned slowly and with dignity from
him, and crossing the drawbridge, was in a few minutes
lost in the surrounding gloom.
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