ncidents of their scout.

When the Athapuscow women, in examining the contents of the poor
captive's bundle, discovered the still sleeping infant, they seized him
as they would have done a viper, and dashed him on the ground. In vain
did the fond mother plead for her child. In vain did the voice of
nature, and a mother's instinct in their own bosoms, plead for the
innocent. It was an enemy's child, a hated Chippeway, and that was
enough to stifle every other feeling in their hearts, and make even "an
infant of days" an object of intense and implacable hatred. With the
Indian, the son of an enemy is an enemy, doomed only to death or
torture. The daughter may be spared for slavery or sacrifice.

* * * * *

The morning dawned with uncommon brilliancy and beauty upon the
Chippeway village, and warriors and children were astir with the
earliest light, some to fish in the smooth stream, that, like a silver
chain, bound their two beautiful lakes together--some to look after the
traps they had set over-night--some to prepare for the hunt--and some
for the merry games and athletic sports of the village. The quick eye of
Ish-ta-le-o-wah soon discovered that all was not right in the tent of
his father. Kaf-ne-wah-go was not abroad, as usual, with his net in the
stream. O-ken-ah-ga was not seen among the hunters with his bow, nor
among the wrestlers on the green. No smoke was seen curling among the
branches of the old tree that overshadowed his mother's tent. All was
still as the house of the dead.

"Why sleep the brave so long, when the light of day is already on the
hill-top, and coming down upon the valley. Has the snake crept into the
tent of Kaf-ne-wah-go, and charmed the father with the children? I must
go and see."

The loud and piercing yell of Ish-ta-le-o-wah, as he looked in upon that
desolate wigwam, roused the whole village, like the blast of a trumpet.
The counsellors and braves of the nation were soon on the spot. The
whole scene was understood in a moment, as clearly as if a written
record of the whole had been left behind. Pursuit, and the recovery of
the captive Tula and her child, were instantly resolved; and, ere the
sun had surmounted the eastern barrier of their beautiful valley,
Ish-ta-le-o-wah, with a band of chosen braves, was on the trail of the
foe.

With the keen eye and quick scent of a blood-hound, they followed the
almost obliterated track, through forest and brake