Silouee now fell to pow-wowing with all his might, making grimaces, contorting his body, and uttering strange, unintelligible ejaculations. It was a hot, close day, and it so happened that towards evening, the sky, which had been clear for some weeks, clouded over, and the appearance of the heavens was strongly in favor of rain. Before midnight thunder was heard, and heavy showers of rain watered the colonel’s plantation thoroughly; while it was remarked that the showers were so partial that the neighboring plantations were left almost as dry as they were before. The Indian waited quietly till the rain was over, and then walked away. A few days after, the colonel returned to the plantation, and, when Silouee heard of his arrival, he went immediately to visit him. “Master Bird,” said he, “me come for my two bottles of rum.” “Your two bottles of rum,” exclaimed the colonel, pretending not to know any thing of the matter; “pray do I owe you two bottles of rum?” “You do,” replied the Indian. “How so?” inquired the colonel. “Me bring you rain--me save your crop,” said the Indian. “You bring rain,” said the colonel; “no such thing.” “Me did,” persisted the Indian; “me loved you; me tell overseer to give me two bottles of rum, and then me bring rain. Overseer say he would; me bring cloud, then rain; now me want rum.” “You saw the cloud,” said Colonel Bird; “you are a sad cheat.” “Me no cheat,” said the Indian; “me _saw_ no cloud; me _bring_ cloud.” “Well, well,” said the colonel, “you are an old friend, and you shall have the rum, since you beg so hard for it. But mind you, it is not for the _rain_. The Great Spirit sent the rain, not you.” “Well,” said the Indian, “_your_ tobacco had rain upon it--why others have _none?_ Answer _that_, colonel, if you can.” [Illustration: 0029] [Illustration: 0030] THE CAPTIVE SISTER. [Illustration: 9030] NSTANCES are recorded in which white children have been captured and brought up by the Indians, and have so far forgotten early associations as to become identified in habits and manners with their red captors. In most of these cases, the adopted Indian could not be induced to return to the haunts of civilization and the friends of his or her race; which fact would seem to prove that, either the life of the Indian is happier than that of the civilized white man, or, the qualities of our nature may be altered by the power of habit. [Illustration: 0031]