y the first who approached it, and
replied to by the second. After a short consultation they entered, and
she soon saw a light gleam, and supposed they had kindled it to search
for her. Her pulse beat wildly; yet, still she hoped to escape. It was
not probable that they would search a tree so near the cabin; they
would rather suppose she had fled to a distance. Presently a crackling
noise was heard in the cabin, and a bright light, as of flame, flashed
from the door and window. Presently the Indians rushed out, and,
raising their wild yell, danced around the cabin with their usual
demonstrations of joy, when they have accomplished a purpose of
revenge. The cabin was in flames.

Still the only sign she gave of fear was, as she unloosed the
handkerchief from her neck and threw it over her child's face to
screen his eyes from the glare of light that might awaken him, to
press him closer and closer to her heart.

The house was unfinished; there was nothing to delay, for a moment,
the progress of the fire which had been kindled in the centre of the
apartment, and fed by all the combustibles that could be found in the
dwelling. The flame very soon caught the rafters and boards, and it
seemed that she had scarcely time to breathe a dozen times, before the
blaze burst through the roof. The atmosphere, rarified by the heat
around the burning building, suddenly expanded, and the cold and more
dense air rushing in, it seemed as if a sudden wind was blowing
violently. The current drove the thick smoke, and showered the burning
cinders, directly on the chesnut-tree. She felt the scorching heat,
while the suffocating vapour almost deprived her of the power of
respiration. She grew dizzy; yet still the only movement she made was,
to turn her child a little in her arms, that he might be more
effectually shielded from the smoke. At that moment, one of the
warriors approached, in the wild movements of his dance, close to the
tree. An eddy of wind swept away the smoke; the light fell full on the
pale face of the horror-stricken woman; her eyes, as if by the power
of fascination, were rivetted on the tall and dusky form of the son of
the forest; his fiery glance was raised toward her, and their gaze
met. She gave a start; and the note of his wild war-song was shriller
as he intently regarded his victim. Suddenly he turned away. Murmuring
a short prayer to her God, the trembling woman resigned herself to
death, as she heard them all send