ddenly missing, and no one could say
what had become of him. After months of search, he was discovered to
have returned secretly to his former home and associates, and was there
found as naked and nomadic as the rest. No inducement could prevail upon
him to return to a life among the whites.

There is a brief romance connected with the story of this youth which is
not without interest. It appears that the young native, who was a fine
specimen of his race, became warmly attached to the lovely daughter of
the white family with whom he made his temporary home. The girl was
about his own age, and it is believed that her refining influence over
him was the secret of his remarkable studiousness and rapid progress in
learning. After he was discovered among his own people, the young lady
acknowledged that they had regarded each other with tenderest affection,
and that the youth would long before have returned to his tribe but for
her restraining influence. He regarded her with too much honest
affection, however, to suggest even her going with him to share the
hardships of his savage life, but told her that he grew hourly more
restless and miserable, and that he _must_ seek his native wilds. This
girl was too sensible to argue against the manifest destiny of both
their lives, and with a first and last kiss they separated forever. No
one can say how it was with the savage youth, whose eyes had been opened
to all there is of noble and good in civilization; but doubtless he was
finally consoled by some dusky maiden of his tribe. As to her whom he
left behind, her true woman heart was sorely tried; and after hiding her
sorrow for some five years she died unmarried.

The most singular weapon possessed by these aborigines is one which
originated with them, and is known as the boomerang,--of which every one
has heard, but which perhaps few of our readers have seen. It is a
weapon whose special peculiarities have caused it to pass into a synonym
of anything which turns upon the person who uses it. It seems at first
sight to be only a flat, crooked, or curved piece of polished wood,
about twenty or twenty-four inches long (though these instruments vary
in length), and three quarters of an inch in thickness. There is nothing
particularly striking about this weapon until you see a native throw
one; in doing which he carefully poises himself, makes a nice
calculation as to the distance from him of the object he designs to hit,
raises his a