darkness
was driven away by the same mighty hand which called it forth; the
thunder became as mute as the sleep of a child which is filled with its
mother's milk, and the sun shone out full and clear as before the
Wahconda had shut his mouth. Then succeeded most terrific lightnings;
lightnings which rent the solid trees, and clove asunder the flinty
rocks. A moment, and they too were called back;--the Great Being had
closed his eyes, and the lightnings were imprisoned between their lids.
The Indians stood for a moment aghast, and then fell on their faces in
worship of the Being who could command all things so promptly to do his
bidding, and who kept his mouth shut, and his eyes closed, in mercy to
the poor creatures of the earth.

[Footnote A: Quebec--Heights of Abraham.]

When they had recovered from their fright, they rose to an upright
posture, and paid their obeisance to the stranger, now proved to be the
Wahconda's son by signs that no one would dare dispute. He showed his
love for them by the kind look he gave them. Turning to the Little Black
Bear, he said, "Has the Wahconda's son proved himself worthy to have the
beautiful daughter of the Otto chief to be his wife?"

Wasabajinga answered, "The Wahconda's son has proved himself worthy to
have for his wife the daughter of the head chief of the Ottoes. The
chief gives her to him (6), in the presence of all his nation."

The chief went into his lodge, and brought out his daughter. The son of
the Wahconda then went up to the beautiful maiden, and fondly pressing
her in his arms, called her his wife, and told her that, moved by her
beauty and goodness, he had left the pleasant skies of his dwelling, to
come into the cold and misty region where the Ottoes had their lodges.
She wept, but the tears came not from her heart, and smiles beamed
through them, as the stars of night shine through mist, or the sun of a
spring morning looks, through a cloud of vapour. Then the beautiful
couple went through the Indian form of marriage(7). When this was ended,
the tribe gathered to the feast in the cabin of the chief. Rich and
juicy was the bear's meat, set out on the buffalo robe, and ripe were
the berries, and sweet was the roasted corn, which the women brought to
feed the guests. They sung, and danced, and recounted their warlike
exploits in the ears of the listening boy. They told of their hostile
visits to the countries of the Padoucas and Bald-heads; they mimicked
the cr