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Show 62 THf: LILY A:"D THE TOTE~f. She showed herself to none of the people of tl1e fortress. She suspected them all; she Jmd no faith but in the single one. And he, nt length, came forth, unaccomp:micd, in the prosecution of an occasional labor-that oC cutting nnd procuring wood. She suf· fcrcd him to make his way into the forests-to lose sight of tl1c fortrc~, and, with a weary spirit nnd a wounded soul, to begin his lonely labors with the :u:c. Then did she steal behind him, nnd bcsilfe him ; and whcu he mo1mcd aloud-supposing tlw.t he bad no auditor-IJOW startling fell upon l1is car the sweet, soft whisper of that preciou.~ voice which he hnd so lovingly learned to distinguish from all others. He turned with a guah of rapturous dt·light, and, weeping, she rushed into his arms, pouriug forth, in a wild cry, upon l1is breast, the whole full ,•olumc of her warm 1 devoted heart ! Thnt moment, in spite of all his fears, wns a.mply compensativo to Gucrnacbe for all his troubles. lie forgot them all in tile in~ tensity of his new delights. And when Monalcttn led him off from his tasks to the umbrageous retreat in the deeper woods where her nights bad been recently pn.ssed,-whcn she conducted him to the spot where her own hands had built a mystic bower for her own shelter-when she declared her purpose still to occupy this rctrcn.t, in the solitud!l nlonc,-that she might be ever ncar him, to behold him nt a distance, herself unseen, when ]1c came forth accompanied by others-to join him, to feel his embrace, hear his words of love, n.nd assist him in his labors when he came forth unattended-when, speaking and promising thus, she lny upon the poor fellow's bosom, looking up with tcnrful nud bright eyes in his wan and apprehensive countenance-then it was that he eoulJ forget his tyrant--could lose his fears and sorrows in his love, and in the enjoyment of moments the most precious to his Til£ LEGEND OF OUERNACH£. 63 heart, forget all the accompanying in6.ucnecs which might en~ danger his snfety. But necessity arose sternly between the two, and pointed to the exactions of duty. The tasks of Guernache were to be completed. Ilis axe was required to sound nmong the trees of the forest, a.nd a certain number of pieces of timber were required by sunset at his hands. It 'vas surprising as it was sweet to behold the Indian womnn ns she assisted him in his tasks. Tier strength did not suffice for the severer toils of the wood-cutter, but she contrived a thoustmd modes for contributing to his performances. Love liglJtens every labor, and invents a thousand arts by which to do so. Monaletta anticipated the wants of Gucrnaehe. She removed the branches as he smote them, she threw the impediments from hi.!:l wny,-hclped him to lift and turn the logs a.s each successive side was to be hewn. She brought him water, when lle thirsted, from tlle spring. She spoke and eung to him in the most encouraging voice when he wa.s weary. lie was OC\'Cr weary when with her. Guernachc eombt~-tted her determination to remain in tile neigh~ borhood of the fortress ; but llis obj ections were foobly urged, nod she soon overcame them. ITo had not the courage to insist upon his argument, n.s he had not the strength to resist tho consolations wl1ieh her presence brought him. She soon succeeded in nssuring him that there was little or no danger of detection by their enemy. She laughed at the idea of the l~renchmcn discovering her place of concealment, surprising her in her progress through tho wood.!:l, or overtaking her in flight; nnd Guernaehe knew enough of Indian subtlety readily to bclie• e thnt the white was no match for the dusky race in the exercise of all those arts which nrc taught by forest life. "But her loneliness and privation, exposed to the |
