But Capt. Wilder did not think so, and instantly mounting his horse, he started in pursuit; but the path he took was entirely different from the one chosen by Orianna, and at nightfall he returned home, weary and discouraged. For some time he had been contemplating a visit to his brother, and he now resolved to do so, hoping by this means to fall in with the fugitives. Mrs. Wilder warmly approved the plan, but made him promise that if no good news were heard of Ella, he would instantly return. Taking with him two negroes, he started on his journey, but no trace of Orianna did he discover, and he reached Glen’s Creek before she had accomplished half the distance. Assured by his brother’s family of Ella’s perfect safety with the Indian girl, he grew calm, although he impatiently waited their coming. Meantime little Charlie had grown worse, until at last he ceased to speak of Ella, although he confidently expected to see her, and requested that his bed might be moved to a position from which he could discern the path which led up from the woods. There for many days he watched, and then turning sadly away, he said, “Mother, now take me back. Ella will come, but I shall be dead.” From that time he grew worse, and the afternoon on which we left Orianna and Ella in the woods was the last he ever saw on earth. Gathered around the dying boy were weeping friends, who knew that the mild spring sun which so gently kissed his cold, pale brow, would never rise again for him. Kind words he had spoken to all, and then in a faint whisper, he said, “Tell Ella ——;” but the sentence was unfinished, for Ella stood before him, while the look of joy that lighted up his face told how dear to him was the little girl around whose neck his arms twined so lovingly. And now a darker face, but no less loving heart approached, and whispered softly, “Charlie, do you know me?” “Orianna,” was the answer, as on her lips a kiss was pressed. Then the arms unclasped from Ella’s neck, over the blue eyes the heavy eyelids closed, and Charlie had gone home. With a bitter wail of sorrow Orianna bent for a moment over the marble form, for which she had sacrificed so much, and then, from among those who fain would have detained her, she went, nor paused a moment until the wigwam of her father was reached. In the doorway she found Narretta, whose first exclamation was, “Have you heard! Have they told you? The Great Spirit has answered my prayer!” and then to her daughter she unfolded a tale which we, too, will narrate to our readers. It will be remembered that on the day when Orianna left home for Virginia, Narretta accompanied her a short distance, and learned from her the story of her love for Robert. To that story there was another—an unobserved listener—Wahlaga, who from that hour resolved to take the life of his pale rival, but his designs were foiled by a summons from the invisible world, which he could not disobey.