house, and saw the murdered man extended upon the ground, and Derbond still holding in his grasp the bloody bayonet. But at that moment the noise of Markham's slaves running towards the spot alarmed them, because they neither knew who, nor how numerous the approaching party might be; and they hastened into the adjoining forest, dragging Derbond and Emily along with them. These two wretched beings followed their conductors in a state of mental imbecility, produced by the horrid events of the day; and did not even seem to be aware of each other's presence, till the Apalachees, having gained the borders of the marsh, made a halt, considering themselves then safe from pursuit or discovery. Here they inquired of Derbond, what was to be done with his female companion, as they did not conceive themselves authorised to carry her into the interior of the Ouaquahenegow; but he replied, that she should not be separated from him, and that they might kill him on the spot if they pleased, as he would resist advancing a step further, unless she was permitted to accompany him.

The Apalachees said no more upon the subject, and soon after proceeded with Derbond and Emily on their journey to the highlands, by the same route as they had formerly pursued; and the whole party arrived in the village not many hours later than the time which the chiefs had prescribed for its return. The two prisoners were immediately conducted to a de

tached hut, where they were supplied with food and every thing necessary for their accommodation, while the ten Indians who had escorted them and carried the grain, went to present themselves before the chiefs, and to give a particular account of their expedition. They related how Derbond had deceived them in declaring that the promised grain was in his own house; and described his having conducted them to that of Markham, where, assisted by the wife of the latter, he had obtained what he wanted, evidently without the knowledge, and against the will of the owner, who, arriving at the moment, and seeing himself plundered, and his wife about to elope with the robber, had fired at him, and had been afterwards killed by Derbond.

Derbond felt himself indescribably wretched, and the presence of Emily only rendered his agonies more incessant and acute. Had Markham been still alive, or had he fallen by any other hand, he fancied that he should easily have made himself callous to the past, and even have found a kind of satisfaction in Emily's society; but the reflection that he was a murderer in deed though not in intention, haunted him perpetually, and like a hideous nightmare, chained and depressed his energies, and annihilated all those ambitious schemes and bold designs in reference to the Apalachees, which he had long cherished and indulged, and which his admission into their country in the character of a benefactor (as he thought) seemed to render of comparatively easy and certain execution.

Emily had continued panic-struck as it were, ever since the fatal affray between her husband and Derbond, and instead of addressing the latter in the language of affection, or attempting to console him, she never spoke but to utter execrations against herself as his seducer and the cause of his misery-she would sometimes steal a look at him, in the hope that he would return at least a glance of pity, and when his averted countenance explained what was passing in his mind, she would burst into tears, and cover her face with her hands, and fling herself upon the ground.

Two days passed without their being visited by any one, but every thing in the way of food and attendance was carefully provided for them, though they were not allowed to go far from the hut, several Indians being constantly on guard in its immediate neighbourhood. On the afternoon of the second day, however, one of the chiefs came to see them, and desired them to be in readiness to proceed a short way beyond the village one hour after sunset. Neither Derbond nor Emily could imagine what was meant by this intimation, and they somewhat fearfully prepared to obey it.

About eight in the evening they perceived a strong glare of light in the centre of the village, and heard a confused noise of voices and of people passing backwards and forwards. Presently it was announced to them that they were waited for at the council-house, and they proceeded thither and found six chiefs assembled

beside it, and twice as many other Indians, half the number of the latter, bearing upon their shoulders the grain that Derbond had procured for them, and the remainder carrying torches of hickory bark. The other inhabitants of the place, whether male or female, stood at a distance looking on, for it appeared that they had not the privilege of joining the group just described, or of taking any part in the ceremony that was about to be performed.

Every thing being arrayed, a signal was given that the whole party should go forward, and those laden with the grain advanced in front, while Derbond and Emily were instructed to walk close behind them, the chiefs closing the procession, and the torch-bearers distributing themselves on each side to shew the way, which lay through the adjoining forest. The night was as dark as it well could be, for the sky was covered with dense and heavy clouds which rolled rapidly along before a strong breeze, that was wholly confined to the upper regions of the air; a profound and oppressive calmness prevailing upon the earth below. It is true that a gust of wind sometimes sighed among the leafless trees, but so faintly that it would have been unheard had not every individual of the party maintained perfect silence, which a pair of night plovers seemed disposed to take advantage of, for they obstinately followed the travellers, incessantly circling round them, and repeating their melancholy and monotonous cries.

Derbond and Emily had hitherto advanced without attempting to learn their destination, for the reserved and solemn countenances of their companions and attendants did not encourage them to ask any questions, while depressing fears and terrible presentiments made them almost dread to hear the truth.

"What means this mysterious pageantry;" cried she, "will no one speak? Nature seems to shudder at our presence, and I am inclined to fancy that every ancient and moss-whitened tree that gleams in the torch light, waves its boughs to warn me of some horrible and nearly impending doom."

"Whither are you leading us?" inquired Derbond of one of the Indian chiefs; "why do you carry forth the grain at this untimely hour?"

"You shall soon understand these things," was the reply: "ours is an ungrateful soil, which refuses to accept your gift, or bring it to maturity. Young man, be not weary or faint-hearted—you and your associate have yet a long journey to perform, to a far distant country, where you will be required to give an account of your deeds to a being who, is greater than I, or any one of us now present. Should he approve what you have done, and permit you to return here, you shall be received with honour-yes, and be pre-eminent among the Apalachees. Meanwhile shut thy lips and commune with thyself."

Having proceeded nearly two miles through a part of