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- WATER-CRAFT OF THE BACK-WOODS. 233 
the cunning beaver, rear themselves almost side by side, 
and nature reposes like a virgin bride in all her beauty 
and loveliness, soon to be stripped of her natural charms 
to fulfil new offices with a new existence. 
Onan abrupt bank of this beautiful stream, overlook- 
ing the surrounding landscape for miles—a spot of all 
others to be selected for a site of beauty and defence, 
might be seen a few lodges of the Wallawallah In- 
dians. 
On the opposite shore stood a fine young warrior, 
decked in all the tinsel gewgaws which his savage fancy 
had suggested, to catch the love of his mistress. With 
stealthy steps he opened the confused undergrowth that 
lined the banks, and taking therefrom a delicate paddle, 
he fruitlessly searched until the truth flashed upon him, 
that some rival had stolen his canoe. Readily would he 
have dashed into the bosom of the swollen river, and, as 
another Leander, sought another Hero, but his dress was 
not to be thus spoiled. Like a chafed lion he walked 
along the shore, his bosom alternately torn by rage, love, 
and vanity, when, far up the bank he saw a herd of 
buffalo slaking their thirst in the running stream. Seiz- 
ing his bow and arrow, with noiseless step he stole upon 
his victim, and the unerring shaft soon brought it to the 
earth, struggling with the agonies of death. 
It was the work of only an adept to strip off the skin 
and spread it on the ground. Upon it were soon laid 
the gayly wrought moccasons, leggings, and hunting 
