designs. The language used by the miserable man on the present
occasion was bitter and abusive; it related to his children, who he
said were being taken away that they might be delivered to the white
man; but his words fell idly upon the ears of the Indians, who only
shuddered as they gazed upon his dark visage now distorted with
passion; and his whole figure, to which portions of the cords which
had bound him were still clinging, presenting the appearance of a man
possessed, the veritable Nakani--(wild man of the woods,) in whom the
Indians believe, and whom they so greatly dread.

It was not until the Indians had reached the other side of the
river, which at that part may be a mile and a quarter wide, that they
collected together and became aware that _one of the children was
missing!_ That this should be so, and that in their terror and
haste to depart they had forgotten or overlooked the baby, still a
nursling, who must have been crawling about outside the camp during
the fatal tragedy of that morning, may seem strange. More strange
still, that not one of that party should have thought of going back
to seek her. But the female infant occupies an insignificant place
among those uncivilized people: the birth of one of them is greeted
with but a small fraction of the honours with which a male child
would be welcomed.

And into the causes of the death of not a few of these girl-babies
it would perhaps be painful to enquire; but many a poor Indian mother
will delude herself into the belief that she has done a merciful act
when the little infant of a few hours' life is buried deep under the
snow, the mother's sin undiscovered, and "my baby saved from
starvation."