my love and anxiety that
speak in your behalf."

"It is the first request I have made to thee," said Arundel, "and, if
refused, it shall be the last. I shall be compelled to believe you
consider me unworthy of your friendship, too effeminate to bear a walk
of a few days in the forest, and unreliable in the hour of trial."

The voice of the young man trembled, and his whole manner betrayed his
wounded feelings.

"Hear me, my young friend," urged the Knight; "hast thou well weighed
the terrors thou wouldst seek? It is not merely death thou dost defy;
but, holy Mary, holy angels, what a death! Canst thou endure to have
thy tender flesh pierced with splintered sticks; thine eyes torn from
the sockets; the flames greedily dashing over thy head, and licking
up, as with the forked tongues of serpents, thy blood, hissing as it
drops upon the glowing brands? And this for the poor satisfaction of
being with me; for thou canst not afford protection, should the
Indians attempt outrage. Alas! how bitterly would the sorrow of my own
fate be enhanced by the consciousness of thine!"

"I have considered all these things, and they move me not. I admit the
possibilities of the painting, but no more. The conduct of the
Taranteens proves how high stands with them the point of honor and the
sacred estimate wherein they hold an embassy; else never would they
have ventured upon one like the second, after the unhappy termination
of the first. I partake not of thy fears."

"Then, if not with the unthinking heat of youth, but with thoughtful
deliberation, thou hast well weighed the matter, I will not deny thee,
and thou shalt visit with me these savages, if Providence spares our
lives to reach them. But I start this day, within a few hours; the
time is short; thou canst not be ready."

"I am ready. I came prepared, anticipating all things save thine
objections."

"Enter, then, my poor house, my dear young friend, and refresh
thyself," said Sir Christopher, leading the way.

The persistency of Arundel having thus wrung a consent from the
Knight, the subject was not again referred to by either of them; but
both considering the matter settled, addressed themselves to the
preparations remaining to be made. A small quantity of dried deer's
flesh, and corn parched and pounded, was packed up, sufficient, as was
supposed, to supply the wants of the travellers, should they be at any
time unfortunate in procuring game, upon which their chief rel