ure of the light currents of
the air, aided by some eddies in the water.

"Come," said the Huron with a quiet gesture of authority, to order his
prisoner to land, "my young friend has sailed about till he is tired; he
will forget how to run again, unless he uses his legs."

"You've the best of it, Huron," returned Deerslayer, stepping steadily
from the canoe, and passively following his leader to the open area of
the point; "Providence has helped you in an onexpected manner. I'm your
prisoner ag'in, and I hope you'll allow that I'm as good at breaking
gaol, as I am at keeping furloughs."

"My young friend is a Moose!" exclaimed the Huron. "His legs are very
long; they have given my young men trouble. But he is not a fish; he
cannot find his way in the lake. We did not shoot him; fish are taken
in nets, and not killed by bullets. When he turns Moose again he will be
treated like a Moose."

"Ay, have your talk, Rivenoak; make the most of your advantage. 'Tis
your right, I suppose, and I know it is your gift. On that p'int
there'll be no words atween us, for all men must and ought to follow
their gifts. Howsever, when your women begin to ta'nt and abuse me, as I
suppose will soon happen, let 'em remember that if a pale-face struggles
for life so long as it's lawful and manful, he knows how to loosen his
hold on it, decently, when he feels that the time has come. I'm your
captyve; work your will on me."

"My brother has had a long run on the hills, and a pleasant sail on the
water," returned Rivenoak more mildly, smiling, at the same time, in a
way that his listener knew denoted pacific intentions. "He has seen the
woods; he has seen the water. Which does he like best? Perhaps he has
seen enough to change his mind, and make him hear reason."

"Speak out, Huron. Something is in your thoughts, and the sooner it is
said, the sooner you'll get my answer."

"That is straight! There is no turning in the talk of my pale-face
friend, though he is a fox in running. I will speak to him; his ears
are now open wider than before, and his eyes are not shut. The Sumach
is poorer than ever. Once she had a brother and a husband. She had
children, too. The time came and the husband started for the Happy
Hunting Grounds, without saying farewell; he left her alone with his
children. This he could not help, or he would not have done it; le Loup
Cervier was a good husband. It was pleasant to see the venison, and wild
ducks, and geese, an