Part 26 (1/2)

I immediately rose, and, with outstretched hand, advanced towards the Indians Their leader galloped forward, then, greatly to ot up toout his own hand, tookfor you! Don't you know nised Manilick, the young chief, Ashatea's lover

”I happily met the friend of my tribe, Samson Micklan, ith his companions, are anxious about you,” he continued ”Confident of your courage and hardihood, they would not believe that you were lost; and they urged me toon your trail Glad I aiven you up as lost Right heartily will our aged friend rejoice that you have been found”

I thanked Manilick warmly for the interest he had taken in ons had turned back or continued their course ard, and whether they had been overtaken He replied that Samson had discovered their trail, but, in his search for me, he had lost so much time, that he had not yet been able to come up with them

As the party had several spare horses, Pablo and I were at once provided with steeds We then pushed on at a quick rate, Manilick observing that he wished to reach the ca day

I inquired who the friend was

”Kepenau,” he answered ”He has, with his whole tribe, moved ard, under my protection He has buried the hatchet with all mankind, and has induced me to follow his example, provided we are not attacked; for should we be, even he allows that it is both lawful and right to defend ourselves The good preacher, Martin Godfrey, has acco his people and mine; and he afterwards intends to visit the Palefaces settled in other parts of the country”

”And has his daughter acco chief

”Yes,” he answered, with a smile; ”and she is shortly to become my wife, as she is satisfied that I a held I bless the day, too, when she won h I had not before supposed it possible that I could abandon the religion of lad I was to hear this, and wished hiht in a wood near a stream, which we reached just before dark The saainst surprise which our small band had considered necessary; for, Manilick told me, should the Apaches discover his trail, they would be certain to attack him

”However,” he observed, ”we have hitherto been preserved by the Great Spirit, and we have no fear of the result of a fight”

”Then you cannot be said altogether to have buried the hatchet,” I observed

”We have resolved to attack no one, and the sin will lie with those who attack us,” he answered; ”while it is possible, ill avoid a quarrel, and proceed peaceably on our way”

As Manilick's party was numerous and well-armed, they were calculated to inspire respect; and if any foes did approach the caht it prudent to retire to a distance

The nextcaerness increased as we rode on We were still at some little distance froun in his hand issuing from under the shelter of the trees He looked towards us, apparently suspicious as to ere I had no doubt, froot still nearer to hinised Mike Laffan He knew iving vent to an Irish shout of joy, he ran forward

”Sure! is it you, Masther Roger dear, alive and well?” he exclaihty throubled at the thoughts that you were lost intirely”

I jus of the honest fellow

He had, I found, overcoht of my death, been knocked up, and had remained with Kepenau, whose camp he told me was concealed within the wood He led the way round to a narrow opening, where Manilick dish it, we soon reached an open spot on which Kepenau had pitched his tents He hireet us

Behind hiirl, her countenance beaiven her Though she met Manilick with a bashful reserve, I had little doubt that she had at length bestowed on hiht

Still I recollected honest Reuben's ad as he ht deem her, she was still a child of the desert,--and one of our fair countrywomen would, I was very sure, make him a far more useful and companionable wife than Ashatea would prove

Kepenau told hbourhood of the proposed settle that he should now have no fear of his people being seduced by the terrible ”fire water”--and that he hoped to change his skin-tents into substantial dwellings like those of the Palefaces, and to cultivate the ground instead of depending on the chase for subsistence In the meantime, however, he and his people must hunt the buffalo and deer to obtain support for the the arrival of Manilick and his tribe to set out with that object, as provisions were already running short in the cah I had borne the journey, I felt too much exhausted and weak to accompany him; and as both Mike and Pablo werecare ofthe Indians, who had plenty to do in guarding the ca after the horses

Mike and Pablo soon becah I had no real authority over either of the me