unny days."

The maiden then replied that she would consult with her father and
answer his request to-morrow.

To-morrow came. The chief appeared gloomy and thoughtful. He well knew
the undaunted courage, the sure and steady aim of the Mayalls to guide
the bullet in its airy track, the power of their strong arms in wielding
the tomahawk in battle strife. He had no reason to fear the protection
of his daughter, but the thought of parting with the sunny face of one
he had ever idolized, whom he had carried for more than a hundred miles
on his back through the wilderness when she was a child, because he
loved her snowy face and flowing hair--this thought pained him. Long
years he had dressed her in robes of beaver during the winter, and made
her bed of down; the fawn had yielded her skin to clothe her naked feet,
and the brightest wampum had encircled her waist, the most costly jewels
had ever sparkled in her ears, and he had employed the most skillful of
his race to teach her to border her flowing dress in summer with the
quills of the porcupine. He had hunted weeks to capture the swan to deck
her hat with snowy plumes to wave in open air and clothe her queenly
neck.

"I have acted the part of a kind father," thought he, "and if I give her
hand to young Mayall, who would cheer my wigwam in sickness, and smooth
the winter of my declining years? Who would ring my funeral knell, and
plant the wild rose upon my lonely grave?" No tears flowed to soothe his
troubled brain; there was no wanton moisture in his eye. "And then,
again, if I should deny my daughter's request I fear the consequences.
Mayall had the shrewdness and courage to take her from me, and then,
again, I have taken her from her parents and her home, and she might be
left unprotected when I am dead and gone."

The chief passed a sleepless night, but rose bright and cheerful in the
morning, and informed his daughter, if she chose to leave his wigwam for
that of her lover, she might go, with his blessings upon her youthful
head; but one thing he must insist upon, in order to preserve harmony,
that the tribe that lived in the surrounding forest should be invited to
the wedding, and the whole tribe should join in the marriage dance,
according to the ancient customs of the Indian tribes.

Young Mayall was informed of the Indian chief's decision. He walked
boldly up to the chief, who was seated in his wigwam, and took his
daughter by the hand, and said, "When I ha