d to pass on before them, they would discover her track, and
soon overtake her flight. She had nothing to do, therefore, but wait
till they had passed, in the hope of eluding their eager scent.
Concealing herself in the thicket, in a position that overlooked the
valley, she awaited with composure the coming of that fearful band. They
descended into the valley, and, to the utter consternation of Monica,
began to pitch their tents under the shade of a spreading oak, on the
bank of a little stream. She watched the movement with an anxious heart,
not knowing how she should escape, with a pursuing enemy so near. Her
consternation and anxiety were soon, however, changed to joy, when one
of the company, approaching the vicinity of her hiding place, to cut a
pole for his tent, was recognized as a chief of her own tribe. Springing
from the thicket with a scream of delight, which startled the whole
encampment, and brought every brave to his feet, with his hand on the
trigger of his rifle, she rushed into the midst of her astonished
people, and was received with silent joy, as one restored from the dead.
Under their protection, the remainder of her journey was safely and
easily performed. Before the moon, which was then crescent, had reached
her full, Monica had embraced her mother, and added a fresh flower to
the grave of her brother.

The brave, the generous, the chivalrous Petalesharro returned to his
father's tent with the fearless port and composed dignity of one whose
consciousness of rectitude placed him above fear. He was a young man,
just entered upon manhood, and a general favorite of his tribe.[E] His
countenance, as represented in Col. McKenney's magnificent work upon the
North American tribes, is one of uncommon beauty of feature. In its
mildness of expression, it is almost effeminate. But in heart and soul
he was a man and a hero. His courage, and the power of his arm, were
acknowledged by friend and foe; and on the death of his father, he was
raised to the chieftaincy of his tribe. The season which followed his
noble act of humane, may we not say religious chivalry, was one of
uncommon fertility, health and prosperity. "_The Great Star_" had not
demanded the victim. And the Pawnees never again polluted their altars
with the blood of a human sacrifice.

[E] Major Long, in his "Expeditions to the Rocky Mountains,"
thus describes Petalesharro, as he appeared in his native
wilds, and among his own people, in t