f Manitou for a holier faith. What is White Eagle now that he
should ask her, or even wish her, to keep that promise?"

"He is not a girl that he should kneel at the bidding of a French
priest," retorted the Indian, with evident irritation, "nor a child
that he should let a squaw choose for him what war-path he shall tread.
Is Amoahmeh a cheating French trader, who, when he has gotten the red
skin's peltries that he bargained for, refuses to pay for them? She
will keep faith."

"Faith!" replied Amoahmeh, indignantly. "How dares White Eagle even
name the word with the scalps of the friends he swore to fight for to
the death hanging at his belt? Amoahmeh at least will never desert
those she loves."

"Ay," rejoined the chief, passionately, "her white soul only loves the
pale faces; she hates the red skin now, and would fain be happy in the
wigwam of the young French warrior."

"Why does the great chief talk like a whining child?" said she, at once
regaining her wonted composure. "Amoahmeh does indeed love the French
brave, but it is with a sister's affection for one without whom she
never could have known the way to happiness here and hereafter. Beyond
this he is nought to her. He has a bride already, and it was even for
her sake that Amoahmeh gave the hasty, the wicked promise that White
Eagle wrung from her as the price of his help. She will yet keep it,
yes, even though her heart should break, if he still bids her do so;
but what she has not promised she will not do at his bidding. She will
not forsake her faith, nor will she rejoice when his warriors come back
from the war-path with the spoils of slaughtered Frenchmen. Let White
Eagle choose, but let him beware, lest when the Algonquins again see
the face of the daughter of War-thunder, and hear her voice, they dig
up again the hatchet that they buried at the false counsel of White
Eagle, and shout once more the war-cry of 'France and King Louis!'"

"That they shall never do!" exclaimed the Indian fiercely. "Listen!
Amoahmeh is free. Let her go her way, but not with the glad heart she
hoped for. Manitou has even now given into White Eagle's hand the
father and the kinswoman of the young French brave. Amoahmeh might
have saved them. Now let her come with me and see them die."

With these words the Indian grasped his tomahawk and sprang up the
rugged path. As he reached the top of the bank he turned and waved the
weapon aloft, as if to beckon after