girl's
success. But Indian thought is not easily traced to its sources. Judith waited
with anxiety to hear the answer, filled with hope even while she doubted.
Rivenoak was a ready speaker, and he answered as promptly as comported with the
notions of Indian decorum; that peculiar people seeming to think a short delay
respectful, inasmuch as it manifests that the words already heard, have been
duly weighed.
    »My daughter is handsomer than the wild roses of Ontario; her voice is
pleasant to the ear as the song of the wren,« answered the cautious and wily
chief, who of all the band, stood alone in not being fully imposed on by the
magnificent and unusual appearance of Judith; but who distrusted even while he
wondered: »the humming bird is not much larger than the bee; yet its feathers
are as gay as the tail of the peacock. The Great Spirit sometimes puts very
bright clothes on very little animals. Still He covers the Moose with coarse
hair. These things are beyond the understanding of poor Indians, who can only
comprehend what they see and hear. No doubt my daughter has a very large wigwam,
somewhere about the lake; the Hurons have not found it, on account of their
ignorance?«
    »I have told you, chief, that it would be useless to state my rank and
residence, in as much as you would not comprehend them. You must trust to your
eyes for this knowledge; what red man is there who cannot see? This blanket that
I wear, is not the blanket of a common squaw; these ornaments are such as the
wives and daughters of chiefs only appear in. Now, listen and hear why I have
come alone, among your people, and hearken to the errand that has brought me
here. The Yengeese have young men, as well as the Hurons; and plenty of them,
too; this you well know.«
    »The Yengeese are as plenty as the leaves on the trees! This every Huron
knows, and feels.«
    »I understand you, chief. Had I brought a party with me, it might have
caused trouble. My young men and your young men, would have looked angrily at
each other; especially had my young men seen that pale face bound for the
torture. He is a great hunter, and is much loved by all the garrisons, far and
near. There would have been blows about him, and the trail of the Iroquois back
to the Canadas would have been marked with blood.«
    »There is so much blood on it, now,«