ualities, the
Huron knew he might as well try to wake a dead man as to secure an
interview with him during the night.

An hour later the bank of the Miami was reached. As they stood on the
shore and looked down-stream, its clear surface, glistening brightly in
the moonlight, could be seen as plainly as at noonday, until it
disappeared from sight in a sweeping bend. From their stand-point it
resembled a lake more than a river, the woods, apparently, shutting
down in such a manner as to hide it entirely. Not a ripple was heard
along the shore, and only once a zephyr hurried over its bosom,
crinkling the surface as it passed, and rustling the tops of a few
trees along the bank as it went on and was lost in the wood beyond.
The great wilderness, on every hand, stretched miles and miles away,
until it was lost afar, like a sea of gloom, in the sky. Once a
night-bird rushed whirring past, so startlingly close, that the
Lieutenant felt a cold chill run over him as its wings fanned his face.
It shot off like a bullet directly across the river, and could be
distinguished for several minutes, its body resembling a black ball,
until it faded out from view. Nothing else disturbed the solemn
stillness that held reign. Everything wore the spirit of quietness and
repose.

The soldier was the first to speak.

"Isn't this an impressive sight, Oonomoo?"

"Yeh--make think of Great Spirit."

"That is true. You seem to be more than usually solemn in your
reflections, my good friend, and I am glad to see it. This calm
moonlight night, the clear sky and the deep, silent wood, is enough to
make any person thoughtful; but it must have required something more
than ordinary to impress you thus."

"Saw Fluellina to-day, Oonomoo's wife."

Lieutenant Canfield was considerably puzzled to understand how this
could account for the peculiar frame of the Huron's mind, but he had
too much consideration to question him further. It was not until he
spoke again, that he gained a clear idea of his meaning.

"Fluellina Christian--got Bible--tell 'bout God--Great Spirit up
dere--read out of it--tell Oonomoo 'bout t'ings in it--Oonomoo nebber
take anodder scalp."

"A wise determination; such a brave man as you needs no _proof_ of your
bravery, and that good Being which your Fluellina has told you about
will smile upon your noble conduct."

"Know dat--_feel_ it," added the Huron, eagerly. He stood a moment
longer, and then added, "Time dat