THE FLORIDA POCAHONTAS. 



103 



they frowned and looked down, they still saw the young girl in 

 her beseeching posture, divested of her robes, with 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 persimmons 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 every 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 bravest for many years of all the 

 Apalacheans." 



" Pooty poor kind o' marryin', that," quoth Mike. 



" Better than yours, for you don't marry at all," retorted Poke. 



— -.--j ^ * v, :,. f~ 



