ivulet, whose path was fenced on each side with thick trees
and shrubs, bound together by vines of wild grape and ivy, came down
over the loose stones, and fell with a merry gurgle into the waters
below. It was the rivulet of Melsingah. The interlacing boughs and
vines formed a low arch over its mouth, that looked like the entrance
into a dark cavern. The young maiden pointed towards it, and intimated
to the warrior that up that stream lay the path to that asylum whither
she intended to conduct him. At this he took his oar from the water,
and in a low voice began to remonstrate with her on the imprudence of
remaining so near the haunts of his enemies. Long did they debate the
matter, but when she had explained to him what he had heard something
of before, the profound reverence in which the Cascade of Melsingah,
intended by her as the place of their retreat, was held, and related
the interposition of its benevolent spirit in behalf of her own life,
he was satisfied, and turned his canoe to the shore. They landed, and
the warrior taking the light barque on his shoulders, they passed
through the arch of shrubs and vines up the path of the rivulet, and
soon stood by the cascade. The maiden untied from her neck a string of
beads, and copper ornaments, obtained from the Indians of the island
of Manhahadoes, dropped them into the water, and murmured a prayer for
safety and protection to the Manitou of the place. On the western side
of the deep glen in which they found themselves was a shelf of rock
projecting from the steep bank, which has long since crumbled away,
and under this the warrior and his beautiful guide concluded to
shelter themselves till morning.

Scarcely had they seated themselves upon this shelf of rock, when
slowly uprose from the centre of the pool a being of immense
proportions, habited in a wolf-skin robe, and wearing on his head a
high tuft of eagle's feathers. It was the Manitou of the Cascade.
Approaching the trembling pair, who feared his anger for their
intrusion on his retreat, he said in a voice which resembled the
rattling of his own waterfall, "Why are ye here?" The maiden related
her story to him, and claimed his protection for herself and lover. He
appeared to be a spirit of few words, for he only said in reply, "Ye
shall have it. The disguise you have provided, the wolf-skin robe, and
the tuft of eagle feathers, are of the earth--they will not disguise
you--take mine." So saying, he gave the M