or-like river reflected the great trees along
its border. Where she was she had no idea. That she was some distance
inland she felt certain. But how far? Whither was she bound? and what
were the Indians going to do with her? Over and over again she vainly
asked herself these questions as she gazed pensively out over the water.
All through the morning they continued on their way, and only stopped
once to rest and to eat a hurried meal. Then on again, hour after
hour, with nothing to break the monotony of vast forests crowding to
the very shores. The river was quite narrow now, and very crooked.
This led Jean to imagine that they were nearing the headwaters of the
St. John, for never once had she suspected that they were ascending one
of its tributaries. She was weary, and her body ached from her cramped
position. It seemed an age since she had last slept in her own little
bed far away. At times during the day her eyes had closed through
drowsiness, but she had always aroused with a start. She felt that she
must keep awake until night, at least--and what then?
At length, rounding a bend, her eyes rested upon two people standing
upon the shore not far ahead. That they were Indians, a man and a
woman, she could easily tell. Her captors saw them, too, so they ran
the canoe close to where they were standing, and began to converse with
them in the native language. That they were talking about her Jean was
fully aware, for at times the woman looked at her in a manner not at
all unfriendly. They seemed to be disputing about something, and their
voices grew quite loud, and their words most emphatic.
Presently the woman stepped up close to the canoe, reached out and
touched the little brooch at the girl's throat. "Su-wan! Su-wan!" she
exclaimed. After examining it most carefully, she turned upon the
captors and addressed them in an angry manner. They merely grunted at
what she said, and pushing the canoe from the shore, once more
continued on their way. Jean longed to know what had been said, and
the meaning of the woman's sudden interest in the little arrow. She
looked back several times and saw the two still standing upon the
shore. When another bend hid them from view, a great loneliness swept
upon her. She felt that those two were friendly, and had rebuked her
captors for what they were doing.
For about another hour they pushed forward, the river becoming narrower
all the time. Suddenly before th
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