vity like a
child, "Svim!"

He did not mean literally "swim," and to offer them the facilities of
the Tennessee River for that purpose, although this might have been
inferred. But the pioneers understood the proffer of the canoe for the
remainder of their journey, and a deadly terror seized the heart of
Odalie as she marked the demonstrations of the others in pulling
Willinawaugh forcibly from his horse in spite of his feigned objections,
for the canoe could hold but three persons. Little choice had she,
however. Willinawaugh, maintaining the affable demeanor of a guest of
conscious distinction, was already seated in the boat, and pointed out
Alexander as his preferred companion. For once the Scotchman disregarded
the wishes of his guide, philosopher, and friend, and taking his wife by
the hand motioned to her to step over the side of the little craft.
Odalie could only look reproachfully at him; she could not contend with
her lord and master in the presence of savages--such are the privileges
of civilization! The Indians, somewhat accustomed by the talk, and on
occasion the example, of the French traders, and perhaps by traditions
from the white settlements, to the idea of the extreme value that the
paleface was wont to place on wife or daughter, scornfully marked the
instance, but beyond an expressive "Ugh!" naught was said. The child was
lifted to Odalie's arms--the cat strapped pappoose-wise to Josephine's
back and accommodating itself quiescently to the situation.

Alexander had never intended to embark Odalie and Josephine alone with
the Indians, although his will was but a slight thing, so entirely were
they now in the power of the savages; he motioned to Hamish to take the
paddle, and with the slight mixture of French and Cherokee at his
command, intimated to the apparent owner of the boat that he would
rather walk by his side and profit by his converse than to be able to
sail at will on the water like the swan there--a large and handsome
bird, who was giving the finest exhibition of that method of progression
to be easily found anywhere, with her white neck arched, her gliding
motion, and snowy breast reflected in the clear water.

And so Odalie had parted from her husband, without so much as a glance
of farewell! Perhaps he dared not look at her. So far they had come
together, and now in these wild fastnesses, among these blood-loving
fiends in the likeness of humanity, they were separated to meet
when?--wh