252 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



the cold moonlight, a group of Indian girls approaching 

 the Indian lodge, in busy conversation, and conspicu- 

 ously among them all, Chechoula. 



Her companions separated from her, and as she en- 

 tered her fathers's lodge, a rude buffalo skin shut her 

 in. Soon after her disappearance, the little groups about 

 the Indian village gra^lially dispersed ; the busy hum 

 of conversation ceased ; and when profound stillness 

 reigned, a plaintive note of the whip-poor-will was heard ; 

 it grew louder and louder, until it appeared as if the lone 

 bird was perched on the top of the lodge that contained 

 Chechoula. It attracted her ear, for she thrust aside 

 the buffalo-skin, and listened with fixed attention.' The 

 bird screamed, and appeared to flutter, as if wounded. 

 Chechoula rushed toward the bushes that seemed to 

 conceal so much distress, when Wah-a-ola sprang up and 

 seized her wrist. The affrighted girl stared at her cap- 

 tor for a moment, and then exclaimed, 



'' The snake should not sing like the birds ! " 



Wah-a-ola relaxed not his hold ; there was a volcano 

 in his breast, that seemed to overwhelm him as he glared 

 upon Chechoula with blood-shot eyes. Struggling to 

 conceal his emotion, he replied to her question, by ask- 

 ing " If the wild-flowers of the woods were known only 

 to their thorns ? " 



" The water-lilies grow upon smooth stones," said 

 Chechoula, striving violently to retreat to her father's 

 lodge. 



