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By Root 1274 0

and Hist were near her; the former seated in deep grief, the latter standing, in readiness to offer any of the gentle attentions of feminine care. Deerslayer stood at the end of the pallet, leaning on Killdeer, unharmed in person; all the fine, martial ardor that had so lately glowed in his countenance, having given place to the usual look of honesty and benevolence; qualities of which the expression was now softened by manly regret and pity. The Serpent was in the background of the picture, erect and motionless as a statue; but so observant, that not a look of the eye escaped his own keen glance. Hurry completed the group; being seated on a stool near the door, like one who felt himself out of place in such a scene, but who was ashamed to quit it unbidden.

“Who is that in scarlet?” asked Hetty, as soon as the captain’s uniform caught her eye. “Tell me, Judith, is it the friend of Hurry?”

“ ’Tis the officer who commands the troops that have rescued us all from the hands of the Hurons,” was the low answer of the sister.

“Am I rescued, too? I thought they said I was shot, and about to die. Mother is dead, and so is father; but you are living, Judith, and so is Hurry. I was afraid Hurry would be killed, when I heard him shouting among the soldiers.”

“Never mind—never mind, dear Hetty,” interrupted Judith, sensitively alive to the preservation of her sister’s secret, more, perhaps, at such a moment than at any other. “Hurry is well, Deerslayer is well, and the Delaware is well, too.”

“How came they to shoot a poor girl like me, and let so many men go unharmed? I didn’t know that the Hurons were so wicked, Judith?”

“ ’Twas an accident, poor Hetty; a sad accident it has been! No one would willingly have injured you.”

“I’m glad of that—I thought it strange; I am feebleminded, and the redmen have never harmed me before. I should be sorry to think that they had changed their minds. I am glad, too, Judith, that they haven’t hurt Hurry. Deerslayer I don’t think God will suffer anyone to harm. It was very fortunate the soldiers came as they did though, for fire will burn!”

“It was indeed fortunate, my sister; God’s holy name be forever blessed for the mercy!”

“I dare say, Judith, you know some of the officers; you used to know so many.”

Judith made no reply; she hid her face in her hands and groaned. Hetty gazed at her in wonder; but naturally supposing her own situation was the cause of this grief, she kindly offered to console her sister.

“Don’t mind me, dear Judith,” said the affectionate and pure-hearted creature, “I don’t suffer, if I do die; why, father and mother are both dead, and what happens to them may well happen to me. You know I am of less account than any of the family; therefore, few will think of me after I’m in the lake.”

“No, no, no—poor, dear, dear Hetty!” exclaimed Judith, in an uncontrollable burst of sorrow, “I, at least, will ever think of you; and gladly, 0 how gladly would I exchange places with you, to be the pure, excellent, sinless creature you are!”

Until now, Captain Warley had stood leaning against the door of the cabin; when this outbreak of feeling, and perchance of penitence, escaped the beautiful girl, he walked slowly and thoughtfully away; even passing the ensign, then suffering under the surgeon’s care, without noticing him.

“I have got my Bible here, Judith! returned her sister, in a voice of triumph. ”It’s true, I can’t read any longer; there’s something the matter with my eyes—you look dim and distant—and so does Hurry, now I look at him; well, I never could have believed that Henry March would have so dull a look. What can be the reason, Judith, that I see so badly today? I, who mother always said had the best eyes in the whole family. Yes, that was it; my mind was feeble—what people call half-witted—but my eyes were so good.”

Again Judith groaned; this time no feeling of self, no retrospect of the past, caused the pain. It was the pure, heartfelt sorrow of sisterly love, heightened by a sense of the meek humility and perfect truth of the being before her. At that moment, she