orthward."

"But you killed the warriors of our nation; you have stricken the
people of the Sun."

"True, Daughter of the Sun; yet it was done only in self-defence. When
attacked we struck hard blows."

Her eyes glowed angrily, her face becoming cruelly hard.

"None of white blood may set foot in this valley and live. It is the
land of the Sun," she said haughtily. "None have ever before ventured
to do so, and found safe way back to their own. Are you French?"

[Illustration: "I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my children,
given unto me by the great Sun-god. . . . None of white blood may set
foot in this valley and live."]

"Not all,--the lady and yonder cavalier are of French blood, I am a
hunter of the Ohio country, while he who crouches beyond also calls
himself American."

"I know nothing of your Ohio, nor what may be an American," she replied
with an impatient stamp of the foot, "but it is bad any among you
should prove French. What does the woman do here?"

In a few brief sentences I told our story, marking as I spoke that she
followed my words with care. As I concluded she merely gazed more
closely into Madame's upturned face, speaking as though communing with
herself.

"She has the appearance of a fair woman; we need no such here." She
raised her voice slightly, addressing me in cold reserve.

"Your story sounds well. True or false, it makes small odds. We
attacked your party, believing you French, whom the children of the Sun
have good reason to hate. You have cost us the lives of many warriors,
and the Sun calls for vengeance. Already has the tribe solemnly voted
your death by fire. Now mark me closely. 'Tis not often I interfere
in such affairs as this, nor do I now for any higher object than my own
gratification. The Daughter of the Sun is no angel, nor ambitious to
become one. I have looked on unmoved at the torture of the stake more
than once, so 'tis no weak sentimentality that leads me to try to avert
your fate. Nor am I sure I can, whatever my motive be. I possess no
power to overturn the united vote of these warriors--they are all
children of the Sun. I can think of but one method by which I can even
hope to encompass your escape from immediate torture. If by some
subterfuge I can delay action until day-dawn, I may be able to control
these savages. The children of the Sun do not light their fires in the
presence of their Father. There is but one possible way to