of the buildings, proved the industry and easy circumstances of its inhabitants.

Derbond was conducted to the centre of the village, and under a large shed, evidently intended for public meetings, where, having remained for some time exposed to the scrutiny of multitudes of Indians, none of whom had apparently ever before seen an European, he was removed into a hall, and presently some old men assembled in the same place, and seated themselves upon the ground, which was covered with mats. door being then closed against spectators or intruders, they began to consult together in a low voice, directing towards him, from time to time, many inquisitive and significant glances.

The

"Who are you? and whence came you?" demanded one of the party.

"I have a plantation," replied Derbond, " in the neighbourhood of the marsh Ouaquahenegow. I lost myself while hunting in the forests three days ago, and have been wandering ever since."

"Do you know where you now are?" continued his first interrogator.

66 Only in so far as my eyes instruct me," returned Derbond.

"And what do you now propose to do?" inquired the old man.

"I wish to rest here a few days," answered Derbond, "in order to recover my exhausted strength, and

then to be furnished with a guide to conduct me home."

Thou art

"Unhappy youth!" said the Indian chief. "Cruel is thy destiny; but we will not delude thee with false hopes. Know then, that thou hast forfeited thy life by coming here, and that yonder sunset is the last which thou shalt ever behold on this side of the great lake which separates us from the land of spirits. now amongst the Apalachees, and in the highlands of the Ouaquahenegow. Whether accident led thee hither as thou hast said, or a fatal curiosity to discover our place of retreat, matters not. Forty years ago, when harassed by long wars, and driven from its ancient possessions, our tribe sought refuge here, the leading men formed a sacred resolution, that in order to preserve our liberties and property inviolate, we should forego all intercourse or communication, direct or indirect, with other nations of Indians and with white men; and that any stranger of either description arriving here, on any pretext whatever, should suffer death, lest on returning to his home and people, he might instruct them how to reach the interior of the Ouaquahenegow, and introduce war, bloodshed, and desolation into the peaceful and secluded territories which we now occupy. In making thee a victim to this established rule, we merely perform an act of duty to our forefathers and ourselves. We pity thee, and weep for thee; but justice must be done. Three

strangers, as rash or as unfortunate as thyself, have been executed by us at different times, for the reason already assigned. Prepare then to follow them by an easy and an honorable death!"

Derbond remained some moments without the power of utterance, so much was he astonished and disturbed by the tenor of the Indian's speech. He had, indeed, always expected that the Apalachees would threaten to punish his temerity in entering their country, but he was any thing but prepared to hear sentence of immediate death pronounced upon him, and that too in a style of calmness, decision, and simplicity, which seemed to shew that its execution was inevitable. The chiefs surveyed him with pitying composure, and appeared to await his reply more from courtesy, than from any idea that it might induce them to change the resolution they had formed.

"Apalachees, hear me!" exclaimed Derbond. "I perceive that justice and mercy are attributes which your forefathers thought fit to leave behind them when they conducted you into the recesses of the Ouaquahenegow. I have a lonely hut in the forest, in and around which is to be found all my worldly wealth and possessions, and no one to defend them except myself and three slaves. Had an Apalachee happened to stray beyond the marsh, and visited my plantation, and sought my hospitality, would I have put him to death lest he should return home and bring a party of his

countrymen to plunder and destroy me? No! I would

6

have said, Brother, be my guest, and I will be thy protector. Rest thee under my roof, and in due time thou shalt have a guide to conduct thee to the confines of thy country, and all that I shall ask in return will be the word farewell! Apalachees, do I speak

But

the truth? If you believe that I would have acted thus, it must be your duty to do the like unto me: but if you think that I would have played the part of a betrayer and executioner, then it will be noble and magnanimous in you to spare my life, and thus give me an impressive lesson in those principles of forbearance and humanity, which all of us, of whatever race we be, ought to practise towards each other. I further demand my life on the plea that it is in my power to benefit your nation: I perceive that your people are already many, and that they must be rapidly increasing in number, and that game is proportionably scarce within the confines of the Ouaquahenegow; it forms your only subsistence, and therefore cannot fail sooner or later to be altogether extirpated. What will then become of yourselves and your children?-you must either perish with them, or quit the secure and isolated highlands of the great marsh, and seek an asylum in some neighbouring country, where new struggles, wars, and contests will attend your steps.-I can prevent the possibility of these evils occurring. Allow me to go home, escorted by a party of Apala

chees, and I will shortly return here, bringing along with me a quantity of maize, and wheat, and other kinds of grain, which, if sown in these fertile fields, will produce an annual and abundant supply of excellent food, and render you henceforth totally independent of the products of a fatiguing and precarious chase. I will thenceforth reside amongst you, and instruct the young generation in the art of agriculture, which is alone calculated to render a nation great, prosperous, happy, and unconquerable. My life will always be in your hands, and I only ask you to spare it for the present, in order that I may do you a lasting and invaluable good."

The chiefs desired him to retire from the hut, in order that they might consult more freely together on the subject of his proposal. In less than an hour he was readmitted, and informed that his suggestions were approved, and that next day he should depart homewards, attended by a certain number of Indians, who would receive orders to put him to death, in case he attempted to escape from them, or failed in quickly obtaining the promised supply of corn. Derbond thanked his judges, for he was glad to save his life on any terms, though he had reason to suspect that his greatest difficulties and dangers were only then commencing. Having no grain at home, his sole resource would be to apply to Markham for some, and this, at best, would bring him into contact with Emily, and lead to disagreeable ex