li)8 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTE. 



her face in her hands ; and then- 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 diiferent the scene ! His eye was bright 

 and hopeful — his step as proud as a Don ; and in every 

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

 love. How had he learned the change m 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. 



