other
than white men, it was not found necessary for the purposes of this
paper to mention it. Perhaps emphasis is indispensable in advocating
reforms, and Indian reforms are surely needed. At all events, there
was no lack of accentuation in Miss Slopham's paper. The little
audience murmured to each other of its literary skill, and noticed
that Mr. Blagg, who was a high authority, wore an approving smile.

"And now," she read, as she approached the end of the essay, "we have
felt that there could be no better way to enlist the sympathies of
practical men and women than to show them one of these unfortunate
people as he is at home, in his native dress, in the picturesque
pigments which he delights, in his innocent and child-like fancy, to
adorn himself with, and to let you see how far he is from being the
wretch he is represented to be, how clearly the natural mildness of
his disposition, when unvexed by the tyranny of governments, shines
through the manly beauty of his countenance. It has so happened that
one of these poor creatures has been placed for a time under my
charge" (and here a look of dawning suspicion began to appear
simultaneously upon the faces of Miss Ayr and Miss Tristan), "and I
shall be able to summon him in a few moments into your presence, and
beg you to render, in behalf of this simple and suffering race, the
kind yet impartial testimony of your own eyes. I ask this because"--

But what was this strange noise in the distance that made Miss Slopham
pause in her reading, and sent a pallor across her cheek?--a sound as
of the dragging of a heavy body through the private hallway leading
from her kitchen--a sound as of a struggle, and of scuffling and
heavy breathing, and loud mutterings. It flashed upon her in an
instant that she had forgotten the little window in the store-room.
Had Ogla-Moga escaped? What had happened?

But she made an effort and resumed: "I ask this because--"

"Mither of Moses! what are ye a-doin'? Let go me hair, or I'll scrame
for the perlice;" and forthwith there went up just outside of the
drawing-room door a scream in the unmistakable voice of Bridget, which
must have reached the traditionally absent policeman, no matter how
far he was away.

The company had now started to their feet in astonishment and fright.

"Queltzcoatchstepukulistini!"--or that was what the response sounded
like.

Another scream from Bridget.

"Akuishnapaccademipechacquinishcrekepa!"

In anot