SPECULATIONS AND
V
THB
tlie lovers met. They had
left their first retreat, and
were now seated among
the branches of a large elni
which hung far over the
lake. (The same tree is
still standing, and excites
universal curiosity and in-
terest.) For fear of being
detected, they talked almost
in a whisper, and now,
that they might get back
to camp in good time and
thereby avoid suspicion,
they were just rising to
return, when the maiden
uttered a shriek which was
heard at the camp, and
bounding toward the young
brave, she caught his blan-
ket, but missed the direc-
tion of her foot and fell,
bearing the blanket with
her into the great arms
of the ferocious monster.
Instantly every man, wo-
man, and child of the band
were upon the bank, but
all unarmed. Cries and
waitings went up from every
mouth. What was to be
done? In the meantime
tins white and savage beast
held the breathless maiden
in his huge grasp, and
fondled with his precious
prey as if he were used to
scenes like this. One deaf-
eaing yell from the lover
warrior is heard above the
cries of hundreds of his
tribe, and dashing away to
his wigwam he grasps his faithful knife, returns almost at a single ixxxnd