" replied Joe, "none but your's."

"You are welcome to it--but be quick, and I will look on while you
have your revenge."

Joe sprang nimbly up the hill, and in a few minutes returned with
fresh tackle and another frog that he found on his way. They then
repaired to the margin of the river; but before Joe ventured to cast
out his line again he made the end of the rod fast to his wrist by
means of a strong cord he had provided for that purpose. But now his
precaution seemed to have been unnecessary, for many minutes elapsed
without any symptoms of success.

Glenn grew impatient and retired a few paces to the base of the cliff,
where he reclined in an easy posture on some huge rocks that had
tumbled down from a great height, and lay half-imbedded in the earth.
Here he long remained with his eyes fixed abstractedly on the curling
water, and meditated on the occurrence he had recently witnessed.
While his thoughts were dwelling on the singular affection and
constancy of the Indian girl, and the probable future happiness of her
young lord, his reflections more than once turned upon his _own_
condition. The simple pleasantries that had so often occurred between
Mary and himself never failed to produce many unconscious smiles on
his lips, and being reciprocated and repeated day after day with
increased delight, it was no wonder that he found himself heaving
tender sighs as he occasionally pictured her happy features in his
mind's eye. He now endeavoured to bestow some grave consideration on
the tender subject, and to think seriously about the proper mode of
conducting himself in future, when he heard the innocent maiden's
clear and inspiring voice ringing down the valley and sinking in soft
murmuring echoes on the gliding stream. Soon his quick ear caught the
words, which he recognised to be a short ballad of his own composing,
that had been written at Mary's request. He then listened in silence,
without moving from his recumbent position.

THE CRUEL MAIDEN.

I.

She heard his prayer and sweetly smiled,
Then frown'd, and laughing fled away;
But the poor youth, e'en thus beguiled,
Still would pray.

II.

He'd won her heart, but still she fled,
And laugh'd and mock'd from dell and peak
While his sad heart, that inward bled,
Was fit to break!

III.

Where the bright waters lead adown
The moss-green rocks and flags among,
He paused--and on his brow a frown
Darkly hung!