When morning came the grave of Jo-que-yoh was opened by Os-ko-ne-an-tah, and the form of To-ke-ah, still arrayed in the weapons of a chief, was deposited in a sitting posture by her side. Again was the grave closed, and often did the young men and the maidens of the tribe repair thither, the first to celebrate the praises of To-ke-ah, and the latter to sing the virtues of Jo-que-yoh.
Paddock ceased amidst the plaudits of the company.
"He must have been a great fool to starve himself to death," said Jobson, "when he could have killed himself in a shorter time with his hatchet, or even by drowning himself in the pool!"
"What a barbarian you are, Jobson!" said Allthings, "every thing is matter of fact with you. Do be still!"
"Well, but I don't see the common sense," persisted Jobson, "if he was determined to kill himself, of leaving all the pies and things that they brought him, and starving himself and getting wet in the bargain, when he had a shorter way of doing the job!"
"Suppose you go and ask him, Jobson!" said Paddock, smiling; "I don't know his reasons, if he had any. At all events, I tell the tale as I heard it, and can't alter it!"
The Count had listened to the story with all his ears, but evidently, from his imperfect knowledge of the English language, without half understanding it.
"Pauvre demoiselle! so she did a--a--a--what ye call dat, (making as if pitching headlong,) a--a--a--"
"_Oui, oui, oui_, toomball, toomball down de--down de _roches--roches_, pauvre demoiselle! did she se blesser?"
"She went down the torrent, Count, in her canoe and was dashed to death!" exclaimed little Annie Mapes.
"Oh, oh, pauvre demoiselle!" answered the Count, sorrowfully. "The lovaire did _courir_ from her--ah--ah--pauvre demoiselle!"
"No, no, Count!" returned Annie impatiently, "her lover did not forsake her. She thought he was dead, and went in her canoe after his body!"
"Pauvre demoiselle! and did she _trouver_ him?"
"No. She was killed, and her lover had been detained in the chase, and he came afterwards and found her dead, as Mr. Paddock has just said!"
"_Oui, oui, oui_, me understand, he try to run away and fall down--me understand--_oui, oui, oui_--me understand."
"_No, no_, Count, you are all wrong; he starved himself to death from grief for her loss!"