od and water than they
quickened their pace, and then succeeded the usual bustle and avocations
of a halt.

The impression made by the scene of that morning was not so deep, or
lasting, on the children of Ishmael and Esther, as to induce them to
forget the wants of nature. But while the sons were searching among
their stores, for something substantial to appease their hunger, and the
younger fry were wrangling about their simple dishes, the parents of the
unnurtured family were differently employed.

When the squatter saw that all, even to the reviving Abiram, were busy
in administering to their appetites, he gave his downcast partner a
glance of his eye, and withdrew towards a distant roll of the land,
which bounded the view towards the east. The meeting of the pair, in
this naked spot, was like an interview held above the grave of their
murdered son. Ishmael signed to his wife to take a seat beside him on a
fragment of rock, and then followed a space, during which neither seemed
disposed to speak.

"We have journeyed together long, through good and bad," Ishmael at
length commenced: "much have we had to try us, and some bitter cups have
we been made to swallow, my woman; but nothing like this has ever before
lain in my path."

"It is a heavy cross for a poor, misguided, and sinful woman to bear!"
returned Esther, bowing her head to her knees, and partly concealing her
face in her dress. "A heavy and a burdensome weight is this to be laid
upon the shoulders of a sister and a mother!"

"Ay; therein lies the hardship of the case. I had brought my mind to the
punishment of that houseless trapper, with no great strivings, for
the man had done me few favours, and God forgive me if I suspected him
wrongfully of much evil! This is, however, bringing shame in at one door
of my cabin, in order to drive it out at the other. But shall a son of
mine be murdered, and he who did it go at large?--the boy would never
rest!"

"Oh, Ishmael, we pushed the matter far. Had little been said, who would
have been the wiser? Our consciences might then have been quiet."

"Eest'er," said the husband, turning on her a reproachful but still a
dull regard, "the hour has been, my woman, when you thought another hand
had done this wickedness."

"I did, I did the Lord gave me the feeling, as a punishment for my sins!
but his mercy was not slow in lifting the veil; I looked into the book,
Ishmael, and there I found the words of comfort."

"