158 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



her face in her hands ; and their hearts failed them, and 

 they consented. The council again broke up, and the 

 old chief, raising his daughter there under the palm trees, 

 gave her the life of her captive. 



" When the morrow's sun glinted athwart the persim- 

 mons and sycamores, Ortez was again brought before the 

 council. But how different the scene ! His eye was bright 

 and hopeful his step as proud as a Don ; and in very 

 corner and on every face, fell his glance in pleasure and in 

 love. How had he learned the change in his fate ? Who 

 could tell him that he had been pardoned, when none in 

 all the land spoke a word of his tongue ? When he was 

 led before the council, Yahchilane stood beside her father 

 arrayed in her brightest dress. Ortez walked to her, 

 and raising her hand to his lips with the dignity of a 

 cavalier, kissed it and drew her to his side she was 

 already his wife. And all the chiefs, the women and 

 children, understood that mute ceremony; and they 

 clapped their hands and shouted unintelligible words, 

 and Ortez and his young bride were the fairest and bra- 

 vest for many years of all the Appalachians. 



