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THE PURSUIT. 55
‘¢ But it was in battle.’
‘In fair battle; did you say that?” re
‘Yes, child. . Your father was friendly with them, but they
thonght he had turned enemy. A great chief: met him in the midst
of the fight, and they killed eachother, They fell and died together.’’
.*¢ Did you know this great chief, Malaeska.”’ .
He was my father,’? answered the Indian woman, hoarscly;
**my own father.’’
‘© Your father. and mine; how strange that they should hate each
other,”’ said the boy, thoughtfully.
«* Not always,’’ answered Malaeska, struggling against the tears
that choked her words; ‘* at one time they loved each other.’’
*‘ Loved each other! ‘Did my father love you, Malaeska ? ”’
White as death the poor woman turned; a hand was clenched un-
der her deer-skin robe, and pressed hard against her heart; but she
had promised to reveal nothing, and bravely kept her word.
The boy forgot his reckless question the moment it was asked, and
did not heed her pale silence, for. the storm was gathering darkly
over them. Malaeska wrapped him in her cloak, and sheltered him
with her person. ‘Ihe rain began to patter heavily overhead; but
the pine tree was thick with foliage, and no drops, as yet, could pen-
_ etrate to the earth. :
“See, my boy, we are safe from the rain; nothing can reach us
here,’ she said, cheering his despondency. ‘‘I will heap piles of
dry wood on the fire, and shelter you all night long.”’ .
She paused a moment for flashes of blue lightening began to
play fiercely through the thick foliage overhead, revealing depths of
darkness that was enough to terrify a brave man, ‘No wonder the
boy shrank and trembled as it flashed and quivered over him.
Malaeska saw how frightened he was, and piled dry wood reck-
lessly on the fire, hoping that its steady blaze would reassure him.
. They were encamped on a spur of the Highlands that shot in a
precipice over the stream, and the light of Malaeska’s fire gleamed
far and wide, casting a golden track far down the Hudson.
Four men, who were urging a boat bravely against the storm, saw
the light, and shouted eagerly to cach other.
‘* Here she is; nothing-but an Indian would keep up a fire like
that. Pull steadily and we have them.”’
They did pull ‘steadily, and defying the storm, the boat mado
harbor under the cliff where Malacska’s fire still burned. Four
“men stole away from the boat, and crept stealthily up the hill,
guided by the lightning and the gleaming fire above. The rain,
beating’ among the branches, drowned their footsteps; and they
spoke only in whispers, which were lost on the wind... “
William had dropped asleep with tears. on his thick eyelashes,
which the strong firelight revealed to Malaeska, who regarded him
with mournful affection. . ‘fhe cold wind chilled her through and
through, but she did not feel it. So.leng as:the hoy slept comfort-
_ ably she had no want.