 pressed forward, keeping as close as possible to
his conductor. The bear growled frequently at his heels, and once or twice its
enormous paws were laid on his person, as if disposed to prevent his further
passage into the den.
    How long the nerves of Heyward would have sustained him in this
extraordinary situation, it might be difficult to decide, for, happily, he soon
found relief. A glimmer of light had constantly been in their front, and they
now arrived at the place whence it proceeded.
    A large cavity in the rock had been rudely fitted to answer the purposes of
many apartments. The subdivisions were simple, but ingenious; being composed of
stone, sticks, and bark, intermingled. Openings above admitted the light by day,
and at night fires and torches supplied the place of the sun. Hither the Hurons
had brought most of their valuables, especially those which more particularly
pertained to the nation; and hither, as it now appeared, the sick woman, who was
believed to be the victim of supernatural power, had been transported also,
under an impression, that her tormentor would find more difficulty in making his
assaults through walls of stone, than through the leafy coverings of the lodges.
The apartment into which Duncan and his guide first entered, had been
exclusively devoted to her accommodation. The latter approached her bed-side,
which was surrounded by females, in the centre of whom, Heyward was surprised to
find his missing friend David.
    A single look was sufficient to apprise the pretended leech, that the
invalid was far beyond his powers of healing. She lay in a sort of paralysis,
indifferent to the objects which crowded before her sight, and happily
unconscious of suffering. Heyward was far from regretting that his mummeries
were to be performed on one who was much too ill to take an interest in their
failure or success. The slight qualm of conscience which had been excited by the
intended deception, was instantly appeased, and he began to collect his
thoughts, in order to enact his part with suitable spirit, when he found he was
about to be anticipated in his skill, by an attempt to prove the power of music.
    Gamut, who had stood prepared to pour forth his spirit in song when the
visiters entered, after delaying a moment, drew a strain from his pipe, and
commenced a hymn, that might have worked a miracle, had faith in its efficacy
been of much avail. He was allowed to proceed to the close, the Indians
respecting his imaginary infirmity, and Duncan too glad of the delay to hazard
the slightest interruption. As the
