A faint cry of pleasure burst from the lips of Tachechana
in the suddenness of her surprise, but the emotion was instantly
suppressed in that subdued demeanour which should characterise a
matron of her tribe. Instead of returning the stolen glance of his
youthful and secretly rejoicing wife, Mahtoree moved to the couch,
occupied by his prisoners, and placed himself in the haughty, upright
attitude of an Indian chief, before their eyes. The old man had glided
past him, and already taken a position suited to the office he had
been commanded to fill.
Surprise kept the females silent and nearly breathless. Though
accustomed to the sight of savage warriors, in the horrid panoply of
their terrible profession, there was something so startling in the
entrance, and so audacious in the inexplicable look of their
conqueror, that the eyes of both sunk to the earth, under a feeling of
terror and embarrassment. Then Inez recovered herself, and addressing
the trapper, she demanded, with the dignity of an offended
gentlewoman, though with her accustomed grace, to what circumstance
they owed this extraordinary and unexpected visit.
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