which remained, leaving the captain and myself our guns only to carry: thus lightly equipped, the Micmacs passed us in their canoes over the stream, near which they were encamped, to the opposite side, where the portage commenced. There was a very general turn-out to see us off, and we took that opportunity of distributing a few presents which we had provided for such an occasion; but Tolotah was nowhere to be found, and we gave a pretty necklace of beads, which was specially reserved for her, to Keewozoze, with strict injunctions to deliver it to her daughter in our names. The afternoon was well advanced when we took our final leave, and struck into the forest; we moved steadily on for about half a mile, when a halt was called by Mahteen, who had hitherto been very silent, and seemed lost in deep thought. We seated ourselves by a cool spring, to listen to what he had to say, when he explained to us, in very few words, that "La Belle Tolotah," utterly disgusted with the match which was intended to be forced upon her, had agreed to go off with him, and join his fortunes, for better or worse. He earnestly desired. us to wait until after nightfall, when she would join us ; then we could get to our canoes, and, by proceeding all night down the Misgosquil, would, before morning, be far beyond the Micmac country, and out of the reach of pursuit.

Sabattis, at first, expressed his entire disapprobation of such a proceeding, as likely to lead to a quarrel between the tribes; but we told him, very peremptorily, that he must give his best assistance, for we were determined to succeed in the adventure, and carry off the Micmac beauty at all hazards; so, finding that we were fully bent on the mea

sure, he entered zealously into our plans, when it was arranged that he should go over to the Misgosquil, load the canoes, and remain in them afloat, ready to start on the instant we should arrive with the fair fugitive, while we remained with Mahteen to escort her across the portage, and assist him in case of pursuit or a scuffle. In pursuance of this arrangement, Sabattis forthwith proceeded to the canoes, and, after nightfall, Mahteen, the captain, and myself, returned to the bank of the stream we had just left, opposite to the encampment, where we lay concealed in a thicket, waiting until all should have retired to rest. At length, when everything appeared perfectly quiet, Mahteen imitated the sharp cry of the night-hawk three times in succession; the signal was heard and understood, for, in a few minutes, we saw a light figure on the opposite bank, stealthily slip into a canoe, which was allowed to drop a little down stream with the current, and was then pushed quickly across. The next moment Tolotah sprang on shore; and, as there was not a moment to be lost, we all started by the portage path in double quick time; in less than an hour we reached the Misgosquil, where we found everything ready; so we leaped into the canoes, wrapped Tolotah in our blankets, and were off instantly. There being a strong current in the river, we swept swiftly along, and were highly elated with our success, but were told by Sabattis not to be in too great a hurry; that, about twenty miles farther down the Misgosquil, there was a long and dangerous rapid, which he knew well; this rapid the Micmacs could reach by another portage of about nine miles, in consequence of a great bend in the river; and that, if Tolotah were missed soon after her departure, we

might make up our minds to be intercepted there, and, perhaps, have a brush: we, therefore, plied steadily at our paddles, in the hope of passing the rapid before daybreak, but the darkness just before day delayed us considerably. The first grey streaks of dawn were appearing, when Sabattis told us that another mile would bring us to the rapid we soon neared it; and the acute senses of the Indians told them that a fire was lighted in its vicinity, for they smelt the strong and pungent smoke of burning wood.

The left bank of the stream was bold and precipitous, while the right sloped easily down to the water's edge, and on that side we might expect to find our pursuers. Sabattis landed on the left bank, and, crawling along the top of the cliff, discovered that about half a dozen Micmacs were seated by a fire at the water-side, near the crest of the rapid, each with a gun across his knee, and that two others were just beginning to fell into the stream a large pine standing on the bank, for the purpose of stopping our passage, should we attempt to run the rapid, a very unusual thing without making a décharge, and using great care and precaution. We were told briefly, but expressively, that we must run the rapid at all hazards, as our only chance of escape. Sabattis said that he, with the captain in their canoe, would lead; while Mahteen would follow closely with the other, in which were Tolotah and myself. We dropped down, under the shadow of the cliffs, until near the top of the rapids, when we dashed boldly for the middle of the stream, and, just as the canoes sprang almost together over the first pitch, we were discovered; a bullet whistled over us; but the canoes were

now in the boiling, foaming, and roaring torrent-leaping, plunging, and flying along with the speed of sea-mews in a gale. The rapid, a quarter of a mile long, was passed in an incredibly short space of time, Sabattis leading in beautiful style; and, although the Micmacs, yelling like fiends, had each a shot at us, Mahteen did not lose his self-possession, until at the last pitch, where there was a short turn, he allowed the canoe to swerve slightly, and take one plunge. A little water was shipped, but it was of no moment; and then we answered the yells of the Micmacs with shouts of exultation at our perfect safety: we had turned the bend of the stream; were off in a different direction, with a swift rushing current, beyond the danger of pursuit, and the bride was won!

All that day, however, we kept steadily on, halting only once for refreshment, and, before sunset, reached the principal village of the Milicetes, where we found the priest attached to that mission. Brief was the shrift he gave the young couple and, ere we threw ourselves down to rest from our fatigue, we witnessed the marriage ceremony in the curious bower called the chapel, congratulated Mahteen, and wished all health and happiness in the marriage state to "LA BELLE TOLOTAH!"

100

A SONG FOR THE SEA.

A SONG for the sea! for the life so free

The merry mariner leads

For the bark's white wings, and the gale that sings,
As over the deep she speeds.

Oh! the bliss to feel the gallant keel

Through the wild wave cleave its way;
To rove, in pride, on the waters wide,
And bound o'er the surges gay!

Morn comes o'er the waves, from the coral caves,
Her soft breath stirring the seas,

And glittering bright, in the golden light,

Are the ripples that dance to the breeze:

When the waters glow, and the glad winds blow,
And the good boat gathers way—

Hurrah! to ride, on the sparkling tide,

And bound o'er the surges gay.

Bends the mast like a reed, as she cleaves, in her speed,

The foam she dashes aside,

Like a bird, or a steed from rider freed,

Exulting in grace and pride

When the thunder 's out, and the fierce winds shout,

And the sheeted lightnings play

For a bark that can ride on the yeasty tide,
And bound o'er the surges gay!

Then, a song for the sea- -the wild, the free,
And the merry mariner's life-

In storm or shine, there's bliss on the brine,

And the wave with joy is rife.

Let the hush'd wind sleep: o'er the startled deep

Let the fiend of the tempest cry

Oh! still be our home on the ocean foam,

Its chorus our minstrelsy!

J. W. C.