Sarah Johnson was about eighteen years of age, when she was first brought to our notice. She was not handsome, but she was tolerably “good looking,” and possessed a stock of good sense, which is somewhat rarer than beauty. Old Johnson said she was a “likely girl,” and her mother thought she deserved a good husband. This desert seemed to be about to receive its reward. Two or three miles from Johnson’s cabin, lived another hunter, named John Blake. Like Johnson, Blake had long followed hunting for a subsistence, had married, and had one child. The wife was dead; but the child had grown to manhood, and Samuel Blake was now regarded as quite equal to his father in hunting. As Johnson and Blake had been very intimate friends for a long time, their children were frequently thrown into each other’s company; and a strong attachment had sprung up between them. The fathers looked favorably upon this perpetuation of their intimacy, and it soon became a settled matter that Samuel Blake and Sarah Johnson should be man and wife. Both the old hunters had always kept up a friendly intercourse with the neighboring Indians, and many of the latter had visited the cabins and partaken of their hospitalities. Johnson had obtained a great reputation among the red men for his skill in hunting. His company was sought by the young men of the tribe, and always with profit. Samuel Blake was also regarded as a brave and skilful hunter, and admired by the Indians. Among those who frequently visited Johnson’s cabin, was young Oconostota, son of the chief of the neighboring tribe. He was already distinguished as a warrior and hunter, and his personal appearance was so admirable that many an Indian maiden’s heart beat high with the hope that she might be the fortunate one who should share his wigwam. But Oconostota’s eyes and thoughts were fixed elsewhere. He had seen and conversed with Sarah Johnson, and he burned with the desire to secure her for his wife. Sarah could not help seeing the admiring looks he gave her during his frequent visits; but she did not suspect the real state of his feelings; probably, because her thoughts found occupation enough in thinking of Samuel Blake. At length, however, the young brave ventured to disclose his wishes to old Johnson, during a hunting excursion, in which they were engaged together. The old hunter was surprised; but considering that Oconostota might easily be irritated and dangerous consequences ensue, he calmly and deliberately made known to him that Sarah had long been engaged to Samuel Blake, and that that engagement could not be broken.