med the girl, feelingly, "I have no father! I had nearly
said no friend."

The old man turned towards her, with a look of kindness and interest,
that was even more conciliating than the ordinary, upright, and
benevolent expression of his weather-beaten countenance.

"Why then do you venture in a place where none but the strong should
come?" he demanded. "Did you not know that, when you crossed the big
river, you left a friend behind you that is always bound to look to the
young and feeble, like yourself."

"Of whom do you speak?"

"The law--'tis bad to have it, but, I sometimes think, it is worse to
be entirely without it. Age and weakness have brought me to feel such
weakness, at times. Yes--yes, the law is needed, when such as have not
the gifts of strength and wisdom are to be taken care of. I hope, young
woman, if you have no father, you have at least a brother."

The maiden felt the tacit reproach conveyed in this covert question,
and for a moment she remained in an embarrassed silence. But catching
a glimpse of the mild and serious features of her companion, as he
continued to gaze on her with a look of interest, she replied, firmly,
and in a manner that left no doubt she comprehended his meaning:

"Heaven forbid that any such as you have seen, should be a brother of
mine, or any thing else near or dear to me! But, tell me, do you then
actually live alone, in this desert district, old man; is there really
none here besides yourself?"

"There are hundreds, nay, thousands of the rightful owners of the
country, roving about the plains; but few of our own colour."

"And have you then met none who are white, but us?" interrupted the
girl, like one too impatient to await the tardy explanations of age and
deliberation.

"Not in many days--Hush, Hector, hush," he added in reply to a low, and
nearly inaudible, growl from his hound. "The dog scents mischief in the
wind! The black bears from the mountains sometimes make their way, even
lower than this. The pup is not apt to complain of the harmless game.
I am not so ready and true with the piece as I used-to-could-be, yet I
have struck even the fiercest animals of the prairie in my time; so, you
have little reason for fear, young woman."

The girl raised her eyes, in that peculiar manner which is so often
practised by her sex, when they commence their glances, by examining the
earth at their feet, and terminate them by noting every thing within
the power of human