rible
ride are like the shadowy spectres of a magic lantern; vague memories
of sufferings, pangs that even yet chill my blood, steal over me, but
unconnected and incoherent, so that when, as I afterwards heard, the
herd dashed into the Camanche encampment, I have no recollection of
anything, except the terror-struck faces of the red men, as they bent
before me, and seemed to worship me as a deity. Yes, this terrible
tribe, who had scarcely ever been known to spare a white man, not
only did not injure, but they treated me with the tenderest care and
attention. A singular incident had favored me. One of the wise men had
foretold some days before that a herd of wild buffaloes, sent by their
god, Anadongu, would speedily appear, and rescue the tribe from the
horrors of impending starvation. The prediction was possibly based upon
some optical delusion, like that I have mentioned. Whatever its origin,
the accomplishment was hailed with ecstasy; and I myself, a poor, almost
dying creature, stained with blood, crushed and speechless, was regarded
as their deliverer and preserver."

"How long did you remain amongst them?" cried Miss Kennyfeck.

"And how did you escape?" asked Olivia.

"Were they always equally kind?"

"Were you sorry to leave them?" were the questions rapidly poured in ere
Cashel could reply to any one of them.

"I have often heard," said Miss Kennyfeck, "that the greater mental
ability of the white man is certain to secure him an ascendancy over the
minds of savage tribes, and that, if he be spared at first, he is sure
in the end to become their chief."

"I believe they actually worship any display of intelligence above their
own," said Olivia.

"These are exaggerated accounts," said Cashel, smiling. "Marriage is,
among savage as among civilized nations, a great stepping-stone to
eminence. When a white man is allied with a princess--"

"Oh, how shocking!" cried both together. "I'm sure no person, anything
akin to a gentleman, could dream of such a thing," said Miss Kennyfeck.

"It happens now and then, notwithstanding," said Cashel, with a most
provoking gravity.

While the sisters would have been well pleased had Cashel's personal
revelations continued on this theme, they did not venture to explore so
dangerous a path, and were both silent. Roland, too, appeared buried
in some recollection of the past, for he rode on for some time without
speaking,--a preoccupation on his part which seemed in no wi