all its parts became fixed in my brain as if it were for that and nothing else that I had come. At the farther extremity of the room, on a rude hearth, a dull fire burned, and above it a kettle of water simmered. From the rafters festoons of corn hung, and near by vegetables and pieces of venison and smoked fish. On the wall a bunch of arrows, loosely tied, was held by a wooden peg, and beside it an Indian bow. Below this a rifle rested. Of furniture there was none, pallets of bear and panther skins serving alike for seats and beds. On the floor a gourd filled with water supplied the place of pail and cup, and in the corner a rude box answered for a cupboard. At my feet a floor hard as flint glistened in the dim light like polished oak; and this was all. No detail of the dark inclosure escaped me, yet while thus seeing without consciousness, my eyes sought the help I came for, and this fortunately, for in the twilight of the room and in lonely abandonment an Indian woman sat. Her bent form and worn and wrinkled face told of a life of sorrow and hardship, and my first thought was one of discouragement; but giving it no heed, I ran to where she sat, and grasping her hand, cried, at the top of my voice: "Help! help me to save my father and mother who are drowning in the river, and quick, before it’s too late!" At this she looked up as if not fully understanding, but upon repeating my appeal, she rose to her feet, saying slowly, as if not accustomed to the tongue, but plainly as one could wish: "What has happened to the white-faced child?" "The ferryboat’s upset, and they’re in the river; but we can reach them before it’s too late, if you’ll come with me, and quick," I answered, grasping her hand. "The white child’s mother’s in the water?" she answered, interrogating me and pointing toward the river. "Yes, my father and mother; and quick, please, or it’ll be too late," I answered, in a frenzy of haste. Comprehending at last, she answered, and now with animation and a wish to aid me: "Yes, yes, my child; I’ll come, I’ll come."