Beck Center English Dept. University Libraries Emory University
Emory Women Writers Resource Project Collections:
Women's Genre Fiction Project

Adventures of the Merton Family, an electronic edition

by Anne Bowman [Bowman, Anne]

date: 1868
source publisher: Quaker City Publishing House.
collection: Genre Fiction

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CHAPTER XXX.
The Second Day beneath the Ground. The First Ray of Light. The Exploits of Jack and Maria. The First View of the Ruined Settlement. The Escape from the Buried House. The Second Restoration of Esperanza. The Visit of Paul and his Bride.

AFTER some hours of feverish rest they again assembled. Night and day were alike; but they found from their watches that it was now midday, and twenty-four hours had elapsed since they were entombed. The props were examined, and all was found safe. Then an account of stores was taken. They had flour, tea, eggs, butter, and cold meat that would serve for a week, abundance of candles, which Nanny had recently made, and greatest blessing of all, a large butt of water which Nanny and her assistants had brought into the kitchen, on the morning of the storm, for the purpose of a great washing.

One consideration distressed Lewis greatly. The building was spacious; but twenty people were now crowded in it. He fancied the air had already become close and pernicious; what would it be in another day or two? He ordered fires to be lighted in the kitchen and in the ball, to discover if the chimneys were open. There was not much fuel in the house; but little was needed--they were too warm without fires. The experiment was first tried in the kitchen; but it was soon obvious there was no vent for the smoke, which returned down the chimney. That of the hall was near the front wall of the house; and Lewis watched for the effect of the fire with great anxiety. He saw the smoke hung round the grate; but he was of opinion that part of it had escaped, and was convinced that some small aperture afforded a passage for the air. As they watched the flame, Tom more than once remarked a slight hissing sound and asked Nanny if the wood was wet. She assured him it was perfectly dry.

"Then, I am certain," said the observing youth, "that a drip of water must have come down the chimney. Let its ascertain it."

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A bowl was place beneath the chimney, and they stood round, watching anxiously. In a few moments it was certain that a drop fell into the bowl; drop after drop following in slow succession.

"See, mamma!" said Tom, "that drop of water is the olive-branch to our ark. We shall be saved!" And this augury of hope inspired them with spirits to move about, eat, and work.

"Leave the bowl there, Tom," exclaimed Mrs. Douglas. "We must have the water, even if somewhat muddy, it will do for our ablutions, for none must be carelessly used from Nanny's treasure-tub. And, by the bye, where are the peaches we gathered yesterday? or the day before? or . . . Bless me William! I forget whether it is day or night; we shall have to keep a notched calendar, like Robinson Crusoe. Now, the peaches, girls?"

The peaches had been forgotten in the storm, and overlooked in the darkness. Several large baskets full were hanging up; they afforded a most agreeable and salutary refreshment, and enabled them to pass another day of darkness more cheerfully.

At an early hour of that part of the day which would be called morning in the world, Jack awoke Lewis, saying; "I must tell you something that I would rather no one else should know. I am going up the chimney. I helped to build it, and we left here and there a brick protruding for steps, in case we had to become chimney-sweeps. Help me to seek the small horn lantern which Tom made."

Lewis hesitated For a moment hut he satisfied himself with the reflection that Jack was light and active, and the best fitted of the party for an undertaking on which their sole hope rested.

They found the lantern, proceeded quietly to the hall, and removed the bowl, which was now filled with water, into which several stones and portions of earth had fallen; a gratifying sight, as they hoped this fall might have enlarged the opening. Lewis gave Jack a strict injunction not to venture to remove any earth or stones from the top, which might endanger the whole roof, but to content himself with observation.

The agile boy slung the lantern round his neck, and spring- | | 361 ing up the chimney, left Lewis in a state of intense anxiety, for he reflected that not only the life of the boy, but the lives of all might fall a sacrifice to this undertaking; yet every moment of inaction was a waste of life, energy, and resources, and he satisfied himself that he had only fulfilled a duty. He listened with his head within the chimney, and had speedily the pleasure of hearing the bold lad cry out; "Here I am, Lewis, safe at the top of the stair-case. I can see the dark, gray sky, and feel the rain pelting me, but the opening is a long slit, and my head is too big to go through it."

"Come down, my good fellow," cried Lewis. "You have done enough for the first trip." But Jack did not come down immediately, and a considerable fall of rubbish down the chimney was alarming; but in a few minutes he appeared, looking the better for a taste of fresh air.

"Did I frighten you, Lewis?" asked be, "I could not help making a little experiment. The top of the chimney is closed by a flat piece of rock, except a narrow opening. Now, I considered that if I could make the opening a little wider, as it is raining in torrents, we might get a supply of water for washing ourselves; so I leaned my back against the side of the chimney, and with both hands tried to give the stone a good shove. And I really did move it about an inch and a half, and then tried my head again; but it wouldn't do; and I began to be afraid that if I did get it through, it perhaps wouldn't come back; and I had no wish to be gibbeted. But after all we shall get more air and water for my expedition."

This was true, and by looking up the chimney they could even see the speck of light; and the light, the water, and the air cheered them through the third day. But the council who discussed Jack's attempt, decided that nothing more must be done till the rain ceased. Jack was not one of the council; he arranged a plan with Maria, who joined him early next morning, and held a light below, while he again ascended the chimney.

"I must try to move the great stone," said he; "so I shall take the poker and this rope, which I shall let down if I want anything, and you must send it up."

"I could climb as well as you, if you think there is room for two," said Maria.

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"You are of more use below," replied he, on the great principle of the division of labor, as Philosopher Tom would say, "Now watch for my signals."

After a little time several stones, and a quantity of earth fell, which alarmed Maria; but Jack's assurances tranquilized her. At length there was a long silence, and she determined to mount and discover the cause; so throwing off her pretty calico dressing-gown, she arrayed herself in a dark poncho belonging to Nanny, and sprung lightly up the chimney, guided by a faint ray of light front above. She reached the top, and found Jack with his head through a small opening, and his body in the chimney, and it was only when she shook hands with him, that be discovered she was near him, and withdrew his head.

They could not help laughing at the grotesque appearance of each other; then Maria begged also to have a peep into the world. "Come to this side Maria," said Jack; "but there is little to give you pleasure. I cannot think how I could be so hard-hearted as to laugh after seeing what I have seen."

Maria's small head passed easily through the aperture; she was able to raise herself higher than Jack had done, and see the whole of the melancholy spectacle below.

"Oh Jack!" cried she, "Our pretty shrubbery at the end of the house is quite covered up; and as far as I can see behind, there is nothing but stones, earth, and uprooted trees, covering all the slope up to the very woods; and, my dear Jack, I certainly see the end of a cask among the earth over the back part of the roof."

Jack gave a sudden cry as Maria said this. "I know it all " cried he. "The dear old cave that saved your life; that protected all our treasures from the savages, and was our powder magazine, has been torn up. Only think; if the lightning had struck the barrel, we must all have been blown up."

"The ammunition is no great loss," said Maria; "but Nanny will lament the loss of her honey and salted butter, and I do grieve for the destruction of the cave. Now let us try to move the stone a little, which can be done with perfect safety, for it rests on the fallen rock in front, and on the great mound over the shrubbery at the end."

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By exerting their united strength they moved the stone about two inches, which enabled them both to look round easily, but not to pass the whole body through. Then Maria sent Jack down for a wooden bowl, which they passed out, and left on the stone, for the heavy rain still continued, and they should thus be enabled to obtain fresh water.

"We can bring a tin cup and fill it when we choose from the bowl," said Maria; "for the water below is quite unpalatable, even when mixed with peach juice. And I have thought of something else, Jack. See, by removing the stone, we have uncovered a portion of the roof at the side of the chimney which has been protected, and is free from any covering of earth. Give me your knife, I will reach down and cut the hide-covering, and we will try to get an air-hole."

The strong and active girl was able to cut away a large square of the hide, for the chimney was very low; she then pulled away the maize-leaves beneath, and uncovered the spars which formed the roof. They washed their hands in the rain water, and then descended to see the effect of their experiment.

To their great delight they beheld the rays of light streaming down; and Jack, fetching a long ladder from the kitchen, mounted, and cleared away the remainder of the thatch, making a perfect skylight, about six inches square. They then placed a table underneath the aperture, and arranged the breakfast things by the light of heaven. Jack could contain no longer. "Now, Maria," said he, "Let us give three cheers, and rouse the sleepers."

The cheers did effectually rouse the family, and in a very short time they all appeared, half dressed, in their anxiety to know what was the cause of rejoicing.

"Look here!" cried Jack, in ecstasy, "see what we have done for you, idle sleepers!"

"And who are we?" asked Lewis, in astonishment.

"Maria and I, to be sure, the two geniuses of the family," replied he. "What could you do without us?"

"Bless the lad!" cried Nanny, "he was always a good scholar! And to think that this poor thing," stroking Maria's glossy hair approvingly, "should turn out so sharp, when we catched her running about, and living among trees, like a | | 364 wild cat. But, honeys, we needn't have our cups washed before we use them."

The rain was indeed falling into the cups, and precious as the water was, they preferred a drier situation for the breakfast table, so a tub was placed to collect the water. As they breakfasted, the adventurers described the desolation they had beheld, the gardens and shrubberies buried in earth, and the mighty ruin behind the house.

"And the new huts were all unthatched," continued Maria; "and our favorite beech-tree beside the gate is torn up, and lying across a haystack."

"Thereby saving the hay, I hope," said Tom.

"I believe the stacks are there," she added, "but covered with earth; and dear Mrs. Douglas' beautiful house is, like the rest, totally unroofed."

"And this tremendous rain falling!" cried Mrs. Douglas, in great tribulation. "All my pretty muslin curtains, my new carpets, and my polished stoves, will be entirely ruined."

"And your caps and bonnets, too, Margaret," said Mr. Douglas, laughing. "Confess that you were thinking of them; but I shall certainly not regret them, for your own pretty brown hair is much more ornamental than those strange combinations of frippery and artificial flowers that ladies choose to disfigure themselves with."

"Isabella can make straw bonnets very nicely, and has taught us," said Mary. "We have our straw-work in some corner, and will begin a bonnet for you to-day."

"I believe," said Jack, "that if Jem, who is very strong, was to mount the ladder, and help us by pushing through the skylight, and Maria and I were to push at the same time from the chimney, we might move the stone more; the chimney, would not hold two bigger than we are, so you must let us try, and if we do succeed in removing the stone entirely, we might all escape through the chimney."

"Impossible, my dear boy," said Mrs. Merton; "your papa and I could never climb a chimney."

"And consider what sort of climbing-boy Mr. Douglas would make," said his lady: and none of the party could forbear laughing, when they looked at the portly figure of Mr. Douglas, which could never have been forced up the chimney | | 365 by any means; and Jack's scheme was unanimously negatived. "Besides," said Lewis, "it is evident, that in the present rainy season, this dwelling, with all its inconvenience, is the only place that could shelter us. It appears secure, and we still have food, water, air, and some portion of light. Let us spend the day usefully, and defer further attempts till to morrow."

Every one therefore turned to some useful employment; and Jem, with some skill, enlarged the sky-light as far as it could be done with safety, so that the prisoners obtained a view of the dark, clouded sky. Thus the fourth day of captivity passed cheerfully, and on the fifth morning the sky was clear, and the rain had ceased. Maria was allowed to accompany Jack, and they once more ascended, Jem taking his station at the opening below to aid their exertions. They succeeded in enlarging the opening so far that Maria's slim figure passed through, and mounted on the flat piece of rock, she surveyed the dreary prospect. Then walking to the end where the buried shrubbery lay, she descended by an inclined plane of rubbish to the desolated garden.

She perceived that the front of the house was not barricaded, as they supposed, by one huge rock, but by two separate fragments which lay against the windows. Earth and stones hid the door, but sloped down to the garden; up this slope Maria walked with a broken branch in her hand, and as the upper part of the debris was chiefly loose earth, she probed it with the stick, and felt the door through not more than a foot of earth. Overjoyed at this discovery, she flew back to her companion, who, not being able to pass through the opening as she had done, was looking round with a melancholy earnestness. "Let its descend, Jack, I have a plan which I trust will release us," said she.

They descended, and Maria, addressing Lewis, said, "Pray, dear Dr. Lewis, unbar and open the door."

"Not on any account," said Mr. Merton; "the heavy rocks and earth, might then fall forward and crush us all."

"But hear me, good father," replied she; and she narrated her observations.

Lewis and Mr. Douglas agreed that the experiment must be tried, and everything being first moved out of danger, and a force of strong men placed behind to prevent the door being | | 366 forced suddenly open, it was unbarred, and allowed to open gradually; heaps of earth and stone falling inwards. At length being quite ajar, a light shone on them from above the wall of earth.

"Now, my good fellows, for the ladder and spades," cried Lewis. The ladder was raised against the barrier, but only one spade could be found in the house. Jem took it first, and shovelled vigorously, throwing the earth outwards as far as he could. After a little had been removed, it was easier to work; and they labored alternately, hurling away the large stones, and shovelling the earth, till the opening was sufficiently large to be passed. Then Almagro and John made their way through the rubbish to the carpenter's shop, and extracted three more spades from under the ruins. The work then went on briskly, and throwing the earth to the sides, before night a free passage was made, and the hall cleared from all the rubbish.

The long secluded family, anxious to taste the pleasant evening air, passed in single file through the narrow passage; and Jack, who was perched on the ruins above, cried out, laughing, "It is exactly the descent from the ark; and see, Wallace and the two pet hens finish the procession. You must make a sketch of the scene, Mary."

"It has indeed been an ark of refuge to us, my son," said Mr. Merton, "for we must inevitably have perished in any other of these ruined houses. We ought to thank God for our deliverance, and I cannot have a ludicrous picture made of this merciful dispensation."

A loud crowing announced that some of the animals were still living, and Nanny saw, with pleasure, one of her old favorites, issue from a hut to greet his acquaintances. Struggling through the ruins they made their way to the stables; many of the trees which fenced the corral had entirely disappeared, the roofs of the sheds were carried away, and of one cow-house the wall had fallen inward, and killed a calf; the rest of the animals were living but miserably thin for want of food, the supply given not being sufficient for more than two days. The haystacks were overthrown, but still safe, under the well-secured covers; and some hay was immediately cut for the exhausted animals.

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The roof of the church was partially injured, but the walls remained firm; all else was desolate, there was literally no resting place for the sole of their feet, and after milking the cows, they were glad to shelter themselves again in their ark, which was no longer regarded as a prison.

Next morning they visited the barn, the roof of which was on its way to the Atlantic; but the walls had fortunately fallen inwards, and thus kept down the greatest part of the precious store, though some of the upper sheaves had been carried away. In the fields, where the corn had been left standing, not a vestige was to be seen; the stubble was left as clean as if it had been raked. And the destruction of trees, amongst which were several valuable peach-trees, was immense. They returned melancholy, for it was difficult to decide on the first steps to be taken.

"I say, let us have a drop of good water for breakfast, if it can be had," said Nanny; and thus the first step was decided. The well had been fortunately provided with a wooden cover, and the earth was soon cleared from over it. The sight of the pure water, and the enjoyment of a breakfast of tea and fresh milk, restored them to cheerfulness and action, and after breakfast, Mrs. Douglas declared it would be better to get the shock over, so they would go and inspect her unfortunate mansion. It certainly presented a scene of desolation. Part of the front wall had fallen into the rooms, and the destruction of glass windows, curtains, and cushions, was, as Mrs. Douglas anticipated, tremendous. The carpets were covered with mud and moistened leaves, the heavy furniture turned topsyturvey, and a large table lay on what had been a bandbox, but was now but a flattened board. Mr. Douglas looked at his lady with affected dismay, which caused a hearty laugh, notwithstanding the vexations of the scene.

Fortunately a small room which Mr. Douglas called his study, had escaped the general ruin, and the globes, telescopes, writing and drawing materials, and scientific apparatus, were preserved and speedily removed to the more certain protection of the buried house.

"Now where will you begin work?" asked Mrs. Douglas. "I would say, put the small huts immediately into repair, for we are too many for this gloomy abode. It is really singular that with great antipathy to a dungeon, I should be | | 368 again compelled to reside in a cave. But, my good men could you not obtain us a little light? How did the early people of the world rear those buildings of mossy stones, some of which are standing to this day. You men of science understand the means of levers and such mechanical aids; I leave it to you; but do remove these frightful rocks."

"It is disgraceful to us, Margaret," said her husband, "that you have to remind us of this duty; come, Jem, you must be leader; here is a strong force to assist you."

Jem examined and measured the pieces of rock, then from one of the fallen trees wooden levers were soon made. One of the rocks was not very broad at the base, and the workmen were able, without much difficulty, to remove it from before the window. The rock on the other side of the door was much larger, and it was agreed that they should not attempt the removal of it. They had now light into two rooms; and as it would be impossible ever to uncover the house, they proposed, at a convenient season, to build another in the front of it.

In a week, by a prudent division of labor, wonders were accomplished. Three huts were rendered habitable, and the barn put into repair. The ladies, assisted by Tom, cleared the gardens, and restored them to some degree of order and neatness. The vines which had escaped destruction, but pined in their dark abode, now restored to the genial sunshine, raised their heads. Lewis doubted the success of a vineyard in a climate so subject to autumnal storms; but they persevered in the experiment, which afforded at all events, employment and amusement.

Effectual props were raised to support the roof of the subterranean dwelling, which the two families continued to inhabit till the Douglas mansion rose from the ruins, in outward appearance as neat as before, though certainly somewhat damaged in the internal arrangements. But brushes and water produced renovation in some cases, the broken furniture was mended, and the shattered glass replaced, as the crate was not yet emptied. After this, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas took possession once more of their own dwelling, with John and the two children, who were glad to escape from the "dark house."

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Before any more labors were undertaken, Mr. Carruthers returned, accompanied by Pedro and Zara, with two more young Indian boys, to learn the truths of Christianity. Mr. Carruthers was satisfied with his visit: he had now the respect of the Indians, and had been able, among the young, to sow the seeds of the true faith. He had assisted the people to improve their huts, induced them to cook their food, to till some plots of ground, and to sow them with maize which he had given them. He was called the good father by the tribe; and Pedro and Zara declared that there was a perceptible improvement in the manners of the people.

They were prepared to see some mischief at Esperanza, but had not surmised the extent of the destruction. The Pampero had extended so far south as to sweep over and scatter their huts; but those were more readily restored than the dwellings of their friends; and Mr. Carruthers shuddered over the recital of the danger be had not witnessed. The cacique and his wife were delighted with the improvement their child had made; he had already learned to read, and could speak English and Spanish fluently. He was glad to see his parents, but declined returning with them, unless "Cissy" would go; and Pedro was willing the child should remain, to fit him to rule a Christian tribe.

After their visitors departed, as the autumn was passing away, the workmen hastened to complete the buildings, and lay in stores for winter. The stones and earth scattered over the enclosure formed the foundation of a terrace, six feet broad, close to the wall, which it was proposed should, some time, be carried completely round. From the mass that lay above the house they succeeded in extracting, happily without accident or injury, the large barrel of gunpowder which had been in the cave that had been swept away in the vast slip of the mountain. They dug a deep hole in the earth for a powder magazine, carefully covered for fear of accidents, and then turned to the consideration of building once more a family mansion.

"But, my friends," said Mr. Merton, "I confess to much fearfulness of nature; I tremble to dwell in another abode beneath these towering mountains. May not another storm produce similar consequences? and it would be presumption to expect that we should again be saved."

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Mr. Merton was assured that an expedition had been made the previous day, to examine the rocks behind the house, and it was unanimously agreed that no danger now existed, those rocks which contained Maria's cave being the only parts of the mountains impending over the enclosure--now an inclined plane spread for a quarter of a mile behind them, which was bounded by rocks rising like a perpendicular wall.

"Still we have lost the useful cave," said Matilda; "and should we ever again be reduced to peril and flight, we shall miss our store house; and therefore I have thought of a plan;--but I will not speak till Jack promises not to laugh."

Jack did promise to be grave, and she then continued "I think we might rest the back of the new house against these caverns, for such they now are, securing for ourselves a secret entrance to them, and a means of escape from them."

"It is a hint worth consideration," said Mr. Douglas, "though I see some difficulties, principally in the contrivance necessary to escape from the retreat."

"And one grand objection to the plan," said Lewis, "is, that we should lose the advantages of light and air from the back of the house."

"But why not make the house face the south," said Tom, and place the end against the ruins; we can then have light and ventilation as we wish?"

Tom's plan was adopted. The family removed the next day into the third house which had been built and called Dr. Lewis' house, and the mansion was begun and finished in a short time. A small back room contained the communication with the cave, which was in fact the door of the old house, with a strong iron bar added to secure it inside. The room was tapestried with furs, nailed firmly down, except at the door, where it was loose to allow them to enter, and could then be fastened down from behind. The contrivance was perfect; but it was earnestly hoped it might never be needed.

In the interior of the cave they removed the front of the chimney, enlarged the opening on the roof till even Mr. Douglas could conveniently pass through it, and placed a ladder as an ascent. From the roof there was no difficulty in walking up the slope to the woods beyond. A large stone | | 371 covered the opening, and rapidly-spreading creeping plants were planted over the buried house, which would in a few months cover all the debris, and no one could believe that the mass which spread from the mountains contained a spacious dwelling.

All useful stores were placed in the subterranean retreat, to which the ammunition was now removed, as no place could be more secure; and Mr. and Mrs. Merton slept peacefully, for they had a refuge in case of need.

Provisions were speedily accumulated for winter; but before the snow, Paul arrived, accompanied by a young Indian girl, who, he told Mr. Merton, wished to become a Christian, and to whom he wished to be united. Paul had requested his intended bride to be composed and silent, as became her dignity; but his charge was forgotten when she was introduced to the wonders of Esperanza. She uttered loud exclamations in a dialect of mingled Indian and Spanish, and touched the bright hair and neat dresses of the young Europeans with admiration. But Paul assured Mr. Merton that, though Ara acted like a child, she thought profoundly, and believed in the true God.

"Ara is the descendant of a race of warriors from the north," said Paul, "who have their tents at the foot of the mountains. Before she had reached her eighth year the warriors of her tribe met, and attacked us on our own hunting grounds. My people fought bravely, and the cacique of the north and his wife were slain with many of his warriors; the rest fled, leaving the child of their chief weeping over the bodies of her parents. I was then a boy, and tender-hearted. I could not bear to see my people spear the weeping child; I took her upon my horse, and gave her to my mother, to whom she because a daughter. Yet I did not love the girl whom I had saved; she was proud and scornful; she spoke to me, a cacique, boldly, saying, 'The Indians of the south are like the puma and the jaguar; they hunt men; they love blood; they drink blood, they bathe themselves in blood. The noble warriors of the north hunt for gold; with gold they buy cattle to fill the corrals, and bright robes to clothe their maidens and wives. They eat meat, roasted by the fire, from dishes of silver, and drink the chica or the firewater from cups of gold. Their huts are dwellings for men, | | 372 but the toldos of the Pampas Indians are the dens of wild beasts.'

"My heart swelled, for I knew the girl spoke the words of truth; but still I loved her not. Then God cast me among new people, who taught me to love and worship him I returned to my tribe to tell them I had become a changed man. When our good father came to deliver to my ignorant people the message of God, the young captive listened in silence to words of wisdom; she thought on them long, then she came to me and said, 'Death comes to all the world, and one day the cacique, who loves her not, may choose to wash his hair in the blood of Ara. But Ara wishes not to pass after death to the hunting-fields of her own people; she would learn the way to that beautiful world where the cacique himself will come--the heaven of the Christians.'

"I spoke to the brave girl the words that had given me knowledge, and she wept over the love and sufferings of the Son of God. She prayed me to bring her to you, that she might learn to be a Christian, and to be patient and humble, although she was a captive and unloved. I said that Paul the Christian had no captives; she was free; my warriors should convey her in safety to the tents of her own people.

"Still the girl wept more; she told me she would die with my people, if I would permit her, and hide herself from my eyes, if I loved not to look on her. Then I said I did love to look on her, and that if she became a Christian she should abide in my tent, and be my only wife; and now I come to you, good father, to ask, is it good that I should take my captive foe to be my wife?"

"You will act like a Christian to do so," answered Mr. Merton. "If the young girl understands and believes the doctrines of Christianity, she shall be admitted into the Church, and I will unite you, trusting you may become the instruments of spreading around you the true religion."

The Indian stranger was a graceful girl, her glossy hair, bound round her head, was adorned with flowers and silver ornaments, and her throat and arms were decorated with bands of emerald and topaz. The girl had not forgotten among her wild captors the less barbarous habits of her own people; her poncho was arranged with a grace unknown among the Pampas Indians, and her whole appearance was | | 373 dignified. Her mind was lively and intelligent, and she readily comprehended, and was deeply affected by the beauties of religion.

Since they had last seen him, Paul had visited Buenos Ayres with some of his tribe, to dispose of a large collection of skins. His manners, dress, and facility in speaking the Spanish language had been the means of introducing him to the more honorable class of merchants, from whom he had obtained in exchange such iron utensils, china, and glasses as he had seen among his friends at Esperanza. He had also obtained for his fair sisters, as he called them, a guitar, to replace those destroyed; and this kind consideration deeply affected the family.

After a few days' instruction in household duties as well as religious doctrines, the marriage was solemnised, a great feast prepared, and afterwards John's fiddle was produced, and the great hall for the first time became a ball-room, even Mrs. Merton forgetting all her languor, and dancing merrily with the Indians and her children; and daily the reclaimed savages became more and more charmed with the life of civilization.

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