of us, to have our scalps off our heads.

"Much obliged to the gintlemen," remarked Mike; "but we will not let
them do that same if we can help it, and we'll show them that the
Palefaces have as much brains in their skulls as the Ridskins, cunning
as they think themselves."

Kakaik consented to stop with us for the night, and we had several more
tunes from Mike's fiddle, and another dance, almost as boisterous as the
first. Kakaik, after remaining a day with us, took his departure,
loaded with as many articles as he could well carry; some forced on him
by Mike and Quambo, others being given by my uncle and myself as
presents to our friends. I should have said that Kakaik also told us
that Manilick was frequently at Kepenau's camp, and appeared to be
favourably received by Ashatea.

Mike's fiddle was a constant source of amusement to us during the
remainder of the winter.

Spring returned, whereupon Kepenau paid us another visit. He said that
he and his people had determined to move further westward, into an
unoccupied territory, and he feared that some time would pass before he
could again see our faces, but that he hoped occasionally to come with
the peltries he and his people might obtain.

I accompanied him to the settlement. Lily was much grieved to find that
she and Ashatea were not likely to meet again for a long time.

"I thought that she would have become like one of us," she said, "and
live in a comfortable house, and adopt our habits."

"A flower of the forest cannot bloom on the mountain top; nor can one
born in the wilderness live happily in a city," answered Kepenau.
"Though she may not adopt the habits of the Palefaces, she loves them,
and the true faith they have taught her, and will ever pray to the same
God they worship to protect them from danger."

Reuben scarcely attempted to conceal his disappointment, and even
offered to accompany Kepenau back to his lodges; but the chief shook his
head.

"If it is not well for my daughter to dwell among your people, still
worse would it be for you to live with us, natives of the land," he
answered. "Stay with your parents, and support and protect them, and
you will be blessed, and made far happier than were you to follow the
desires of your heart."

After spending some days with us, Kepenau took his departure.

We were, as usual, very busy getting in the crops on our newly cleared
ground, and carrying on other agricultural pursuits. The summer