“‘Thy mother!’ repeated the woman, ‘thy own mother is gone across the wide waters, far to the rising sun—and thy father,’ she pointed up to heaven, ‘it is twice five summers since thy father went to the hunting grounds of the paleface—he died—he was murdered; and so was my own little blossom—my own babe!’ Her voice was choked—she could not speak any more—her eyes grew burning and wild—her features quivered, and she shook so fearfully that Mary was frightened, and tried to get from her arms.
“‘Namoina,’ said the old man, ‘the daughter of Anawon must not be a coward.’
“This appeal had the desired effect—she dashed the few burning tears from her eyelids, and bending a moment before her father, she rose up again with a calm brow, that told not of the struggle in her heart; and, taking Mary again in her arms, she kissed her, and said a great many tender and affectionate things to her.
“‘Shall I never see my mother?’ asked the child, mournfully; ‘has she forgotten me?’
“‘Forget thee, my flower! Does the mother ever forget the child that has fed from her bosom!’ Again she was terribly distressed. After a few minutes she held the child up toward heaven and said, ‘The Great Spirit of thy fathers keep thee—and bless thee!’ then setting her down again, she resumed her former seat on the rock and began picking up the pebbles around her and counting them; but no entreaty or endearment could draw a single word or look from her.
“Mary saw Anawon partake of some of the food she had brought him, and, leaving the remainder, she took her basket and returned home for the first time in her life really unhappy; and for the first time in her life she did not open her whole heart to her mother. Mrs. Gray, however, observed that her cheek was flushed, and thought she must have taken cold; and when it was about sunset she persuaded her to go to bed. Mary was glad to be where no one could notice or disturb her feelings; so, kissing her good mother, she went to her room, and knelt down by her little bed and said her evening prayers. Very soon she heard voices; and then she knew that her father and brother had come; and just as she was going to rise from her bed and dress, for the purpose of seeing them, she heard William say that they had got on the track of old Anawon,[[8]] and that he believed he was not far hence, probably out toward Seekonk; and that they had better take whatever nourishment could be had and be after him directly. Mrs. Gray said nothing of the wounded Indian in the woods; and when William said he must go in and give his sister one kiss, she said, ‘Do not go to-night, my son, for the child has a bad cold and I am really afraid she will take the fever; and if she knows you are come she will not sleep another wink to-night for joy.’
“At any other time, indeed, Mary would have been overjoyed to see them—but now she was thinking only of the poor Indian, and that he might be killed; and, in her distress, she could not help thinking that men were very cruel and very wicked to wish to murder each other. After bearing her anxiety of mind as long as she could, she resolved to go herself, if she could steal from the house unperceived, and warn the Indian of his danger.
“‘That was right!’ exclaimed both the boys at once.
“That was right!” echoed Ann.
“I wish I could have seen that girl!” said George Gray.