river.

The captive was now treated as a friend. Though he could not have known
what the contract between his father and the voyagers had been, except
so far as he had learned it from the subsequent events, he had
voluntarily surrendered himself, and insisted upon seeing Fanny
conveyed to a place of safety. Almost every day while they had been on
the island, she had sung her sweet songs to Wahena, and he had listened
to them with rapt attention. As the boat slowly went its way, he begged
her by signs to sing, and she complied. He expressed his pleasure,
which was shared by Ethan and Rattleshag, by the most eloquent signs.

During the day, Ethan and Rattleshag slept, while Fanny steered the
boat. Wahena, no longer in bonds, kept close to her. He intimated in
his dumb language that he wanted to take the helm, and gently took the
tiller from her. He was soon proficient in steering, for there was now
nothing to do but keep the boat in the middle of the river, and
occasionally to trim the sail.

At night Fanny and Wahena went to sleep again, and the management of
the boat was divided between Ethan and the trapper. The next morning
the bateau had entered the Big Woods, and the sail was nearly useless,
for the forest obstructed the wind, and the voyagers were mainly
dependent upon the current of the river for the little progress they
made; but on the afternoon of the third day of the journey, they came
in sight of a town, which Rattleshag said was not more than twelve
miles from Mankato. The Indian escort then hailed the boat.

"No go more," said the spokesman.

"I reckon 'twon't be safe for 'em to go any further," added Rattleshag.

Fanny ran the boat up to the shore, and Ethan, always dreading the
treachery of the savages, kept his gun and revolver in readiness for
immediate use. The time had come for Wahena to take leave of the party.
He was profoundly affected at the thought of bidding adieu to Fanny; he
did not appear to like Ethan or the trapper. He pressed her hand,
looked very sad, and made his demonstrative gestures. She kissed him on
the cheek, pointed up to the sky, and laid her hands upon his head. If
she could have spoken to him, she would have expressed the wish that he
would abandon the savage life of his people, and become a true man; and
she would have been glad to teach him the religion of the Saviour, now
so dear to her, and to show him how to _hope and have_.

Wahena turned slowly and sadly away from