ce of the humane
Englishman--suggesting that, if the Ottawas had discovered her retreat,
the Athapuscows might discover it also,--had its full share of weight,
the fair hermitess consented to accompany the strangers; though she
could not conceal her regret, in abandoning her snug little castle, to
set off on a new pilgrimage, she knew not whither.

"It matters little to Tula where she goes, so that she does not meet the
Athapuscow. His hands are red with the blood of her father, her husband,
her child. Let her never see his face, or walk in his shadow."

* * * * *

The singular romance of Tula's story, the comeliness of her person, and
her approved accomplishments, touched the hearts of some of the young
braves of the party. They had not gone far on their way, before a
contest arose between them, who, according to immemorial usage among the
tribes, should claim the privilege of making her his wife. The
dispute--to which she was no party, for her views were not so much as
consulted in the matter--ran very high, and had nearly resulted in
serious consequences. The poor girl was actually won and lost, at
wrestling, by near half a score of different men, in the course of as
many days. When, at length, a compromise was effected, and the prize
awarded to Lak-in-aw, a young warrior of the Temiscamings, Tula refused
to receive the pipe at his hands, or to listen in any way to his suit.

"Tula is buried in the grave of O-ken-ah-ga," she said. "Tula will walk
alone on the earth. Her heart is in the spirit land. It will never come
back. It has nothing here to love."

* * * * *

Onward--onward--over interminable fields of snow and ice, where scarce a
green thing appeared to relieve the utter desolation, the party
proceeded, with their prize, on their journey to the far north. She was
treated with chivalric tenderness and respect, and her comfort and
convenience consulted in all the arrangements of the way. She needed but
little indulgence, and solicited _none_. She was capable of enduring the
fatigues and hardships of a man. She never flagged in the march, nor
lingered a moment, when the word was given to go forward.

In traversing a deep valley near the eastern extremity of the Great
Slave Lake, their track was crossed by that of a considerable party of
Indians, returning from an expedition to the fur regions of the north.
Their course lay along the southern bord