were until Atoka came and told
me. But I did know that you saved my life, for so great was my misery
and despair that in another minute I should have ended both by an act
that I now shudder to recall. So I thank you, Donald Hester, who art
now become my brother, since Pontiac claims you for a son."

"I did nothing worthy of thanks, Ah-mo, my sister," answered Donald,
bitterly, "and now that Edith is again lost to me, I feel that I have
done worse than nothing. But tell me of her. Is she well? and what
treatment does she receive at the hands of Mahng's ruffians?"

"I know not," replied Ah-mo, sadly, "for it is now many weeks since we
were cruelly separated, and whither she was taken I have no knowledge."

"What?" cried Donald, "was she not with you on this very spot but a few
minutes since? and did I not see her borne despairingly away in a canoe
that is but just lost to sight?"

"No, there was none with me save Mahng and his brother and their wives.
We have travelled long and wearily since Edith was torn from my arms,
and of her fate I know nothing. I was being taken to the north that I
might marry Suggema, the son of Mahng, who believed that my father
would thus be compelled to withdraw his curse."

"And did you wish for this marriage?" asked Donald, curiously.

"Did I not say that I was on the point of throwing myself from yonder
cliff to escape the misery of such a thing?"

"Forgive me, my sister," said the young man, humbly. "I had no cause
to doubt you, nor do I. It was a thoughtless question."

With their mission thus partly fulfilled, Donald and Atoka were
confronted by the serious problem of what move to make next. The
season was nearing winter. In a short time the streams would be
frozen, and the forest trails choked with snow. They had no canoe and
it was too late in the year to peel bark with which to construct one.
Their supply of food was scanty, and very soon the game on which they
were wholly dependent would disappear from that part of the country.
Then, too, Ah-mo's strength was so nearly spent that she was in no
condition for rough travel, even had they the means to go and a
knowledge of what direction to take. So, after a long discussion, it
was reluctantly decided that they must remain where they were until the
coming of spring with its flowing sap should enable them to build
another canoe, and resume their search for Donald's sister.

The succeeding weeks were filled with busy and