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exclusively decorate their hair； was all she wore in her raven locks。
The Judge was the first to break the silence。
〃Genevra； the logs which compose yonder fire seem to have been
incautiously chosen。 The sibilation produced by the sap； which exudes
copiously therefrom； is not conducive to composition。〃
〃True； father； but I thought it would be preferable to the constant
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crepitation which is apt to attend the combustion of more seasoned
ligneous fragments。〃
The Judge looked admiringly at the intellectual features of the graceful
girl； and half forgot the slight annoyances of the green wood in the
musical accents of his daughter。 He was smoothing her hair tenderly； when
the shadow of a tall figure； which suddenly darkened the doorway； caused
him to look up。
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CHAPTER II。
It needed but a glance at the new…comer to detect at once the form
and features of the haughty aborigine；the untaught and untrammelled son
of the forest。 Over one shoulder a blanket； negligently but gracefully
thrown； disclosed a bare and powerful breast； decorated with a quantity of
three…cent postage…stamps which he had despoiled from an Overland Mail
stage a few weeks previous。 A cast…off beaver of Judge Tompkins's；
adorned by a simple feather； covered his erect head； from beneath which
his straight locks descended。 His right hand hung lightly by his side； while
his left was engaged in holding on a pair of pantaloons； which the lawless
grace and freedom of his lower limbs evidently could not brook。
〃Why；〃 said the Indian； in a low sweet tone；〃why does the Pale Face
still follow the track of the Red Man？ Why does he pursue him； even as O…
kee…chow； the wild…cat； chases Ka…ka； the skunk？ Why are the feet of
Sorrel…top； the white chief； among the acorns of Muck…a…muck； the
mountain forest？ Why；〃 he repeated； quietly but firmly abstracting a silver
spoon from the table；〃why do you seek to drive him from the wigwams
of his fathers？ His brothers are already gone to the happy hunting…grounds。
Will the Pale Face seek him there？〃 And； averting his face from the Judge；
he hastily slipped a silver cake…basket beneath his blanket； to conceal his
emotion。
〃Muck…a…Muck has spoken；〃 said Genevra； softly。 〃Let him now listen。
Are the acorns of the mountain sweeter than the esculent and nutritious
bean of the Pale Face miner？ Does my brother prize the edible qualities of
the snail above that of the crisp and oleaginous bacon？ Delicious are the
grasshoppers that sport on the hillside；are they better than the dried
apples of the Pale Faces？ Pleasant is the gurgle of the torrent； Kish…Kish；
but is it better than the cluck…cluck of old Bourbon from the old stone
bottle？〃
〃Ugh！〃 said the Indian；〃ugh！ good。 The White Rabbit is wise。 Her
words fall as the snow on Tootoonolo； and the rocky heart of Muck…a…
Muck is hidden。 What says my brother the Gray Gopher of Dutch Flat？〃
〃She has spoken； Muck…a…Muck；〃 said the Judge； gazing fondly on his
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daughter。 〃It is well。 Our treaty is concluded。 No； thank you； you need
NOT dance the Dance of Snow Shoes； or the Moccasin Dance； the Dance
of Green Corn； or the Treaty Dance。 I would be alone。 A strange sadness
overpowers me。〃
〃I go；〃 said the Indian。 〃Tell your great chief in Washington； the
Sachem Andy； that the Red Man is retiring before the footsteps of the
adventurous Pioneer。 Inform him； if you please； that westward the star of
empire takes its way； that the chiefs of the Pi…Ute nation are for
Reconstruction to a man； and that Klamath will poll a heavy Republican
vote in the fall。〃
And folding his blanket more tightly around him； Muck…a…Muck
withdrew。
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CHAPTER III。
Genevra Tompkins stood at the door of the log…cabin； looking after
the retreating Overland Mail stage which conveyed her father to Virginia
City。 〃He may never return again；〃 sighed the young girl as she glanced at
the frightfully rolling vehicle and wildly careering horses；〃at least； with
unbroken bones。 Should he meet with an accident！ I mind me now a
fearful legend； familiar to my childhood。 Can it be that the drivers on this
line are privately instructed to despatch all passengers maimed by accident；
to prevent tedious litigation？ No； no。 But why this weight upon my heart？〃
She seated herself at the piano and lightly passed her hand over the
keys。 Then； in a clear mezzo…soprano voice； she sang the first verse of one
of the most popular Irish ballads：
〃O Arrah； ma dheelish； the distant dudheen Lies soft in the moonlight；
ma bouchal vourneen： The springing gossoons on the heather are still； And
the caubeens and colleens are heard on the hills。〃
But as the ravishing notes of her sweet voice died upon the air； her
hands sank listlessly to her side。 Music could not chase away the
mysterious shadow from her heart。 Again she rose。 Putting on a white
crape bonnet； and carefully drawing a pair of lemon…colored gloves over
her taper fingers； she seized her parasol and plunged into the depths of the
pine forest。
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CHAPTER IV。
Genevra had not proceeded many miles before a weariness seized
upon her fragile limbs； and she would fain seat herself upon the trunk of a
prostrate pine； which she previously dusted with her handkerchief。 The
sun was just sinking below the horizon； and the scene was one of gorgeous
and sylvan beauty。 〃How beautiful is Nature！〃 murmured the innocent girl；
as； reclining gracefully against the root of the tree； she gathered up her
skirts and tied a handkerchief around her throat。 But a low growl
interrupted her meditation