PLACE DE LA CROIX. 251 
her language. With this high resolve, he repeated the 
sounds of her voice, imitated her gesticulations, and en- 
couraged, with marked preference, her society. 
The few weeks passed by Rousseau among the 
Choctaws, had made him one bitter, implacable enemy. 
Unable to explain his office or his mtentions, his prefer- 
ence for Chechoula, had been marked by the keen eye 
of a jealous and rejected lover. | 
Wah-a-ola was a young “ brave,” who had distin. 
guished himself on the hunting and war paths. Young 
as he was, he had won a name. ‘Three times he had 
laid the trophies of his prowess at the feet of Chechoula, 
and as often she had rejected his suit. Astonished at 
his want of success, he looked upon his mistress as la- 
boring under the influence of some charm, for he could 
find no accepted rival for her hand. 
The presence of Rousseau—the marked preference 
which Chechoula exhibited for his society, settled, in 
his own mind, that the “ pale face ’’ was the charmer. 
With this conviction, he placed himself conveniently 
to meet his mistress, and once more pleaded his suit 
before he exhibited the feelings of hatred which he felt 
towards Rousseau. The lodge of Chechoula’s father 
was, from the dignity of the chief, at the head of the 
Indian village, and at some little distance. The impa- 
tient Wah-a-ola seated himself near its entrance, where, 
from his concealment, he could watch whoever entered 
its door. A short time only elapsed, before he saw, in 
