"
"You may bet yer pile on that, Miss," said her companion, gravely.
"It's all the preachin' and psalm-singin' I've heern since I was a
boy."
"Noble being!" said Miss Tompkins to herself, glancing at the
stately Pike as he bent over his paddle to conceal his emotion.
"Reared in this wild seclusion, yet he has become penetrated with
visible consciousness of a Great First Cause." Then, collecting
herself, she said aloud: "Methinks 'twere pleasant to glide ever
thus down the stream of life, hand in hand with the one being whom
the soul claims as its affinity. But what am I saying?"--and the
delicate-minded girl hid her face in her hands.
A long silence ensued, which was at length broken by her companion.
"Ef you mean you're on the marry," he said, thoughtfully, "I ain't
in no wise partikler!"
"My husband," faltered the blushing girl; and she fell into his
arms.
In ten minutes more the loving couple had landed at Judge
Tompkins's.
CHAPTER VI.
A year has passed away. Natty Bumpo was returning from Gold Hill,
where he had been to purchase provisions. On his way to Donner
Lake, rumors of an Indian uprising met his ears. "Dern their pesky
skins, ef they dare to touch my Jenny," he muttered between his
clenched teeth.
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