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"They have not yet appeared," I answered; "nor have we received any tidings of them." "Dora wants to make the acquaintance of a real Indian girl, fit to be a heroine," said Lily, laughing. "She has hitherto only seen the wretched squaws who appear in the Eastern States. She can scarcely believe that Ashatea is the interesting creature I describe her."
Yet I was very glad that it was so; for, charming as he might deem her, she was still a child of the desert, and one of our fair countrywomen would, I was very sure, make him a far more useful and companionable wife than Ashatea would prove.
Reuben brought his sister Dora over to see Ashatea, and the three girls seemed very happy together. The Indian girl was as eager to learn English as Lily and Dora were to instruct her; and she got on rapidly. Old Samson had suffered more from his long tramp on foot than he was at first willing to confess, and a fit of illness was the consequence.
His father was very willing to give him leave, as it might turn his thoughts from the wilder and more dangerous adventures on which he was set. He had, some time before this, obtained a birch-bark canoe, which Kepenau, and sometimes Ashatea, had taught him how to use; and as he was constantly practising, he was by this time well able to employ his paddle.
Ashatea looked at him, evidently understanding the matter as well as I did. "You better let your friend do as he says," she observed. At length Reuben, who was getting very hot, and had stumbled more than once, said, "Well, I do think it will be the best way. I am much obliged to you, Roger." We soon had the pack slung to the sticks, and poor Reuben stepped along much more easily than before.
On hearing that we were on our way home, he offered to accompany us; observing that Ashatea could steer the canoe as well as he could, and though the distance by the river was greater, she would not be long after us. "There are no more rapids or waterfalls to be passed, so that the remainder of the voyage can be performed without danger," he observed.
There's Misthress Ashatea and the young chief billing and cooing at her tent-door like two turtle-doves; and if they were to see you moving about, maybe they'd think it necessary, out of courtesy, to come and help you and it would be a pity to disturb them."
I did not fail to give her Ashatea's message; and she was much pleased to hear of her. "I do hope they will come into our neighbourhood; I should be so glad to see her again," said Lily. "Ashatea promised to take me out in her canoe; for, you know, she is as expert as any of the men in paddling one. She wished to show me how the Indians catch fish.
The whole party joined us in the hut at supper, which, thanks to the diligence of Mike and Quambo, was quickly prepared. The old trapper had many anecdotes to tell, and many a wild adventure to recount, which, I saw, was greatly interesting to Reuben. Ashatea spoke but little, though I could see, by her quick glance, that she understood much, if not all, that was said.
Ashatea was, I had no doubt, hoping the same. Kepenau had nearly brought his address to a conclusion when we arrived. Now, rising from his seat, he took Manilick's hand, and spoke to him affectionately, as it seemed to me. The young chief hung down his head, and answered only in monosyllables.
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