bout the preparation of a meal, to be
offered to her new friend as soon as the latter might be at liberty to
partake of it. While thus occupied, however, the ready girl in no degree
relaxed in her watchfulness, noting every change of countenance among
the chiefs, every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest occurrence that
could be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her new friend.

As Hetty approached the chiefs they opened their little circle, with an
ease and deference of manner that would have done credit to men of more
courtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the oldest of the warriors
made a quiet sign for the girl to be seated on it, taking his place at
her side with the gentleness of a father. The others arranged themselves
around the two with grave dignity, and then the girl, who had sufficient
observation to perceive that such a course was expected of her, began
to reveal the object of her visit. The moment she opened her mouth to
speak, however, the old chief gave a gentle sign for her to forbear,
said a few words to one of his juniors, and then waited in silent
patience until the latter had summoned Hist to the party. This
interruption proceeded from the chief's having discovered that there
existed a necessity for an interpreter, few of the Hurons present
understanding the English language, and they but imperfectly.

Wah-ta-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at the
interview, and least of all in the character in which she was now
wanted. She was aware of the hazards she ran in attempting to deceive
one or two of the party, but was none the less resolved to use every
means that offered, and to practice every artifice that an Indian
education could supply, to conceal the facts of the vicinity of her
betrothed, and of the errand on which he had come. One unpracticed in
the expedients and opinions of savage life would not have suspected the
readiness of invention, the wariness of action, the high resolution, the
noble impulses, the deep self-devotion, and the feminine disregard of
self when the affections were concerned, that lay concealed beneath the
demure looks, the mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young Indian
beauty. As she approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her with
pleasure, for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rare
a scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularly
practised, and as distinctly recognized among the tri