vered coming up the river, containing two persons, who, on nearer
approach, were seen to be Indians, a man and a woman, belonging to
the remnant of a tribe, lingering about their ancient hunting-grounds
along the banks of the river. The game, indeed, that once abounded in
the woods, had disappeared, and the blue stream and swelling hills,
and green plains, and intrusive industry and increasing villages of
the whites, but reminded them of present weakness and former power.
But, the sensibility to degradation was blunted. They had, gradually,
become assimilated to their condition; the river abounded in shell and
other fish; they could maintain existence, scanty and mean though
it was, and they preferred this certainty to the nobler, but more
precarious life of the Western tribes. As the canoe approached, the
Recluse beckoned with his hand, and the bow was turned towards the
islet.

"Welcome, Esther," he said, "goest thou to the town?"

A silent nod of the head was the reply.

"Wilt thou carry me a message?"

A nod of acquiescence answered as before.

"Go, then, quickly, and tell John Elmer, that a man, wounded by a gun,
is lying in my hut, and I desire him to come instantly."

The squaw again nodded, and, without making an inquiry, with the
natural apathy of her race, she said--

"What Father Holden say, I do."

The Indian, who, until now, had been silent, here addressed her in his
own tongue.

"Can the Partridge," he said, "use her wings to no better purpose than
to fly upon the errands of her white master?"

"Ohquamehud," said the squaw, "is a wise warrior, and his eyes are
sharp, but they see not into the heart of a woman. If the sunshine and
the rain fall upon the ground, shall it bring forth no fruit?"

"It is well," said the Indian, in a sarcastic tone; "Peena is well
named; and the Partridge, though the daughter of a Sachem, shall
flutter through the air to do the bidding of the white man."

The eyes of Peena, or the Partridge, flashed, and she was about to
return an angry reply, when she was prevented by the man whom she had
called Father Holden.

"Hasten!" he said, in the same language, forgetting himself, in the
excitement of the moment, and unconsciously using the same figurative
diction, "or the fountain of the red stream may be dried up before
the medicine-man comes. Hasten! It is noble to do good, and the Great
Spirit shall bless the deed."

Great was the astonishment of the Indians at disc