to inhale the balmy air of midsummer morning, to chase the panting
deer upon the dizzy peak, and to hail once more the bright smiles of
his timid bride in the forest-shadowed glen.

"Go! thou art free!" said Roughgrove.

The Indian stared in doubt, and looked reproachfully at the guns in
the hands of his captors, as if he thought they were only mocking him
with hopes of freedom, when it was their intention to shoot him down
the moment he should think his life was truly spared.

"Go! we will not harm thee!" repeated Roughgrove.

"And take this," said Mary, placing some food in his yielding hand.

The Indian gazed upon the maiden's face. His features, by a magical
transition, now beamed with confidence and hope. Mary was in
tears--not tears of pity for his impending death, but a gush of
generous emotion that his life was spared. The savage read her
heart--he knew that the white woman never intercedes in vain, and that
no victim falls when sanctified by her tears. He clasped her hand and
pressed it to his lips; and then turning away in silence, set off in a
stately and deliberate pace towards the west. He looked not back to
see if a treacherous gun was pointed at him. He knew that the maiden
had not trifled with him. He knew that she would not mock a dying man
with bread. He neither looked back nor quickened his step. And so he
vanished from view in the valley.

"Dod! he's gone! We ought to've had his sculp!" said Sneak, betraying
serious mortification.

"We must give it up, though--we were in the minority," said Joe,
satisfied with the decision.

"In the what?" asked Sneak.

"In the minority," said Joe.

"Let's go in the house and git something to eat," said Sneak.

"Hang me if I ain't willing to be with you there," said Joe.

The whole party entered the house to partake of a collation prepared
by the dainty hands of Mary. Mary had frequently insisted upon serving
them with refreshments during the night, but hitherto all her
persuasions had been unavailing, for the dangers that beset them on
every hand had banished all other thoughts than those of determined
defensive operations.

[Illustration: He clasped her hand, and pressed it to his lips.--P.
120]

Boone was so certain that nothing farther was to be apprehended from
the enemy, that he dispensed with the sentinels at the loopholes. He
relied upon Ringwood and Jowler to guard them through the remainder of
the night; and when a hearty meal was eaten he