a little darkened. He
was the white prisoner.

They arranged the scenery, while Alvina watched. It was soon done. A
back cloth of tree-trunks and dark forest: a wigwam, a fire, and a
cradle hanging from a pole. As they worked, Alvina tried in vain to
dissociate the two _braves_ from their war-paint. The lines were
drawn so cleverly that the grimace of ferocity was fixed and
horrible, so that even in the quiet work of scene-shifting Louis'
stiffish, female grace seemed full of latent cruelty, whilst
Ciccio's more muscular slouch made her feel she would not trust him
for one single moment. Awful things men were, savage, cruel,
underneath their civilization.

The scene had its beauty. It began with Kishwegin alone at the door
of the wigwam, cooking, listening, giving an occasional push to the
hanging cradle, and, if only Madame were taking the part, crooning
an Indian cradle-song. Enter the _brave_ Louis with his white
prisoner, Max, who has his hands bound to his side. Kishwegin
gravely salutes her husband--the bound prisoner is seated by the
fire--Kishwegin serves food, and asks permission to feed the
prisoner. The _brave_ Louis, hearing a sound, starts up with his bow
and arrow. There is a dumb scene of sympathy between Kishwegin and
the prisoner--the prisoner wants his bonds cut. Re-enter the _brave_
Louis--he is angry with Kishwegin--enter the _brave_ Ciccio hauling
a bear, apparently dead. Kishwegin examines the bear, Ciccio
examines the prisoner. Ciccio tortures the prisoner, makes him
stand, makes him caper unwillingly. Kishwegin swings the cradle. The
prisoner is tripped up--falls, and cannot rise. He lies near the
fallen bear. Kishwegin carries food to Ciccio. The two _braves_
converse in dumb show, Kishwegin swings the cradle and croons. The
men rise once more and bend over the prisoner. As they do so, there
is a muffled roar. The bear is sitting up. Louis swings round, and
at the same moment the bear strikes him down. Ciccio springs forward
and stabs the bear, then closes with it. Kishwegin runs and cuts the
prisoner's bonds. He rises, and stands trying to lift his numbed and
powerless arms, while the bear slowly crushes Ciccio, and Kishwegin
kneels over her husband. The bear drops Ciccio lifeless, and turns
to Kishwegin. At that moment Max manages to kill the bear--he takes
Kishwegin by the hand and kneels with her beside the dead Louis.

It was wonderful how well the men played their different parts. But