eded. On again glided the beast, and was
soon lost to view, while Oowikapun followed as rapidly as he thought it
was best in the crooked trail, when suddenly he heard the wild shriek
that seemed to tell of the triumph of the savage beast. As he dashed
on, a sharp turn in the trail showed him the bloodthirsty brute tearing
at the back of a prostrate woman, upon whom he had sprung from the tree,
thus dashing her to the ground.

With all an Indian's coolness and presence of mind, Oowikapun knew that,
while he must act quickly, he must also guard against accidentally
injuring the woman, and so, raising his gun in position, he shouted the
Indian word for "keep still," and as the fierce brute raised his head at
the unexpected sound, the bullet went crashing through his brain, and he
fell dead as a stone.

To rush forward and find out who the woman was he had rescued, and the
extent of her wounds, was but the work of an instant. And that instant
was all the woman required to spring up and see who it was that she had
to thank for her sudden deliverance from such a terrible death.

Thus face to face they met again--Oowikapun and Astumastao. Reaching
out her hand, while her bright eyes spoke more eloquently than her
words, she said, "I am very thankful for your coming and for my speedy
rescue; and not less so," she added, "when I see it has been by
Oowikapun."

"Oowikapun is glad to be of any service to Astumastao," he said, as he
took the proffered hand and held it, while he added, "But you are not
badly wounded?"

"Only in my arm do I feel hurt," she replied.

On inspection it was found that the wounds there were made by the claws
and not by the teeth, and so did not appear serious.

As these very practical young people discussed the attack and escape, it
was unanimously agreed that it was fortunate for Astumastao that she had
the heavy load of rabbits on her back and several brace of partridges
about her neck. So when the brute sprang upon her, with the exception
of wounding her arm, he had only plunged his teeth and claws into the
game.

We need not here go into the particulars of all the beautiful things
which were said by these two interesting young people. Human nature is
about the same the world over. This is not a romantic love story, even
if it turns out to be a lovely story. Suffice it here to say that at
first a fire was kindled and the wounded arm was dressed and bandaged.
Some balsam from the trees