78
��Asquam Lake and its Environs.
��them all none looked so grand and stately as Marnon, and none of the maidens were like Amata, whose form was like the river willow, and her eyes like stars, and her hair lus- trous and glistening as the flash of the waterfall in the sunshine. But Moowis, the young brave, was not at the banquet : his heart was too heavy, and his grief too great.
The full moon shone over the lake whenMamon returned with his bride. His heart was ver}' happy, but Araa- ta's face was sad, and the tears twinkled in her soft, dark eyes. He thought she wept because she left the home of her childhood, but it was because her heart was with the absent young warrior, Moowis. Through all the night hours she prayed that the warrior she loved might come to see her once more.
In his wigwam, on a couch of sweet fern and beech leaves, the old chief slept the sleep of the aged, and by his side tossed the sleepless Amata. The curtains of the lodge flapped in the breeze, and she knew no one was near until a hand touched her forehead, and the voice of her lover whispered in her ear :
"•I have come. My canoe dances on the lake, and the night is dark. My beloved, shall I go away with my heart sad and my arms empty?"
"No, Moowis, I go with thee, be- cause my heart cleaveth to thee. It is only for you that I wish to prepare the fresh killed game, sweep the hearth with fresh hemlock boughs, and embroider moccasins to adorn your feet. But it is so black and stormy, it may be the Manitou is angry, and 3'ou know the fate that befalls the false wife if she is caught."
��"Thou wert mine ere thou became his. My arms are strong, my arrows sure, my canoe staunch, yet light as a feather, and I love you. Come, O Amata."
His voice was sweet and musical as the ripple of running water over a mossy ledge in the hot summer noon, and her heart answered to his. And she stole out of the wigwam into the darkness and the storm, and the two lovers hastened down to the shore where his birch canoe was wait- ing. But as they fled the sagamore awoke, and by the gleam of the light- ning caught a glance of the flying fugitives. Wrathful was the heart of Mamou as he saw the arm of a stranger around his bride, and her long, dark hair flowing over his shoul- ders. And he cauo;ht his strong bow and his quiver and rushed in pur- suit.
Strong were the arms of Moowis and brave was his heart, but the heart of Amata was weak and waxed faint as water as she heard the stern voice of the sagamore through the tempest. And the storm grew yet wilder ; the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled ; the water came rush- ing down the mountain sides in tor- rents, and huge trees in the forest fell crashing to the ground.
"Oh! I cannot fly farther," cried Amata breathlessly. "Gitchie Man- itou is angry with his child."
"If you love me, follow," cried the young warrior, and he seized her in his arms and bore her into the water.
Mamon arrived at the shore, and seeing by a flash of lightning the figures struggliug in the water, dis- charged his shaft. A loud cry es- caped the lips of Moowis, the water
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