m."

"Love begets love, and one noble quality attracts another. But it is
my turn, Waqua, to show you hospitality; and to a strong, healthy
fellow like you, dinner, methinks, can never come amiss."

The meal which, upon the order of Arundel, was served up, seemed to
meet with the unqualified approbation of the Indian. Yet this is an
inference derived, not from the manner in which he partook of the
repast, but from the quantity which he ate. Although unacquainted with
the mode of using a knife and fork, and, therefore, compelled to
depend upon the instruments furnished by nature, there was nothing in
his conduct that resembled ill-breeding. He accepted, with a grave
courtesy, whatever was offered, eating deliberately, and expressing no
preference for one thing over another. His entertainer fancied that,
from time to time, he cast a stolen glance, as if watching motions in
order to accommodate himself to them. However that may be, the young
white man was greatly pleased with the untutored politeness of his red
companion, and desirous to please him in all respects, did not deny
his guest the stimulus of strong water; taking care, nevertheless,
that the wine drunk should be in too small quantities to affect him
injuriously. Of this, Waqua partook with peculiar zest, and it is
fortunate that he had one more prudent than himself to stop him before
temperate indulgence became excess. For so great is the delight which
the Indian temperament derives from the use of intoxicating drinks,
that it is difficult to regulate the appetite. Brought up without much
self-control, if civilization be taken as a standard,--regardless of
the past, heedless of the future, and mindful only of the
present,--the wild child of nature quaffs with eager joy the
fire-water, which seems to bring him inspiration, and to extend the
bounds of existence.

"Waqua knows," said the savage, holding up his cup at the end of the
meal, "that the Great Spirit loves his white children very much, else
never would he have given them the dancing fire-water that streams
through me like the sun through morning clouds."

"Beware," said Arundel, "that it be not more like the lightning, which
marks its path with destruction. But, Waqua, come thou now with me. I
saw no red cloth in thy lodge, and there was but little paint in thy
pot, and I know where there is plenty."

"My brother is an open hand, and will make Waqua's wigwam as gay as
the breast of the Gues-ques-kes