isconna had fallen was vacant as I passed, and I found
him standing among his comrades round the camp fires, examining the guns
and other articles which they had collected. He gave me a short glance
of deep hatred as I passed, and turned his head hastily away. A few
minutes sufficed to collect the spoils, and so rapidly had everything
been done that the light of day was still faint as we silently returned
on our track. We marched in the same order as before, Misconna and I
bringing up the rear. As we passed near the place where the poor woman
had been murdered, I felt a strong desire to return to the spot. I
could not very well understand the feeling, but it lay so strong upon me
that, when we reached the ridge where we first came in sight of the
Chipewyan camp, I fell behind until my companions disappeared in the
woods, and then ran swiftly back. Just as I was about to step beyond
the circle of bushes that surrounded the spot, I saw that some one was
there before me. It was a man, and as he advanced into the open space
and the light fell on his face, I saw that it was the trapper. No doubt
he had watched us off the ground, and then, when all was safe, returned
to bury his wife. I crouched to watch him. Stepping slowly up to the
body of his murdered wife, he stood beside it with his arms folded on
his breast and quite motionless. His head hung down, for the heart of
the white man was heavy, and I could see, as the light increased, that
his brows were dark as the thunder-cloud, and the corners of his mouth
twitched from a feeling that the Indian scorns to show. My heart is
full of sorrow for him now," (Redfeather's voice sank as he spoke); "it
was full of sorrow for him even _then_, when I was taught to think that
pity for an enemy was unworthy of a brave. The trapper stood gazing
very long. His wife was young; he could not leave her yet. At length a
deep groan burst from his heart, as the waters of a great river, long
held down, swell up in spring and burst the ice at last. Groan followed
groan as the trapper still stood and pressed his arms on his broad
breast, as if to crush the heart within. At last he slowly knelt beside
her, bending more and more over the lifeless form, until he lay extended
on the ground beside it, and twining his arms round the neck, he drew
the cold cheek close to his, and pressed the blood-covered bosom tighter
and tighter, while his form quivered with agony as he gave her a last,