being very curious to see his
Indian wife, she persuaded Alfred and Captain Sinclair to accompany her
and Mary to the other side of the stream. The great point was to know
where to cross it, but as John had found out the means of so doing, it
was to be presumed that there was a passage, and they set off to look
for it. They found that, about half a mile up the stream, which there
ran through the wood, a large tree had been blown down and laid across
it, and with the assistance of the young men, Mary and Emma passed it
without much difficulty; they then turned back by the side of the stream
until they approached the lodge of old Malachi. As they walked towards
it, they could not perceive any one stirring; but at last a dog of the
Indian breed began to bark; still nobody came out, and they arrived at
the door of the lodge where the dog stood; when, sitting on the floor,
they perceived the Indian girl whom they were in search of. She was
very busy sewing a pair of mocassins out of deer leather. She appeared
startled when she first saw Alfred; but when she perceived that the
young ladies were with him, her confidence returned. She slightly bowed
her head, and continued her work.

"How very young she is," said Emma; "why she cannot be more than
eighteen years old."

"I doubt if she is so much," replied Captain Sinclair.

"She has a very modest, unaffected look, has she not, Alfred?" said
Mary.

"Yes, I think there is something very prepossessing in her countenance."

"She is too young a wife for the old hunter, at all events," observed
Alfred.

"That is not unusual among the Indians," said Captain Sinclair; "a very
old chief will often have three or four young wives; they are to be
considered more in the light of his servants than anything else."

"But she must think us very rude to talk and stare at her in this
manner; I suppose she cannot speak English."

"I will speak to her in her own language, if she is a Chippeway or any
of the tribes about here, for they all have the same dialect," said
Captain Sinclair.

Captain Sinclair addressed her in the Indian language, and the Indian
girl replied in a very soft voice.

"She says her husband is gone to bring home venison."

"Tell her we are coming to live here, and will give her anything she
wants."

Captain Sinclair again addressed her, and received her answer.

"She says that you are beautiful flowers, but not the wild flowers of
the country, and that t