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suppose your kindness squandered upon one who was unworthy。'
Thereupon she sat down upon the bench； and motioning
Challoner to take a place immediately beside her； began in
the following words； and with the greatest appearance of
enjoyment； to narrate the story of her life。
STORY OF THE DESTROYING ANGEL
MY father was a native of England； son of a cadet of a great；
ancient； but untitled family； and by some event； fault or
misfortune； he was driven to flee from the land of his birth
and to lay aside the name of his ancestors。 He sought the
States； and instead of lingering in effeminate cities； pushed
at once into the far West with an exploring party of
frontiersmen。 He was no ordinary traveller； for he was not
only brave and impetuous by character； but learned in many
sciences； and above all in botany； which he particularly
loved。 Thus it fell that； before many months； Fremont
himself； the nominal leader of the troop； courted and bowed
to his opinion。
They had pushed； as I have said； into the still unknown
regions of the West。 For some time they followed the track
of Mormon caravans； guiding themselves in that vast and
melancholy desert by the skeletons of men and animals。 Then
they inclined their route a little to the north； and； losing
even these dire memorials； came into a country of forbidding
stillness。
I have often heard my father dwell upon the features of that
ride： rock； cliff； and barren moor alternated； the streams
were very far between； and neither beast nor bird disturbed
the solitude。 On the fortieth day they had already run so
short of food that it was judged advisable to call a halt and
scatter upon all sides to hunt。 A great fire was built； that
its smoke might serve to rally them； and each man of the
party mounted and struck off at a venture into the
surrounding desert。
My father rode for many hours with a steep range of cliffs
upon the one hand； very black and horrible； and upon the
other an unwatered vale dotted with boulders like the site of
some subverted city。 At length he found the slot of a great
animal； and from the claw…marks and the hair among the brush；
judged that he was on the track of a cinnamon bear of most
unusual size。 He quickened the pace of his steed； and still
following the quarry； came at last to the division of two
watersheds。 On the far side the country was exceeding
intricate and difficult； heaped with boulders； and dotted
here and there with a few pines； which seemed to indicate the
neighbourhood of water。 Here； then； he picketed his horse；
and relying on his trusty rifle； advanced alone into that
wilderness。
Presently； in the great silence that reigned； he was aware of
the sound of running water to his right； and leaning in that
direction； was rewarded by a scene of natural wonder and
human pathos strangely intermixed。 The stream ran at the
bottom of a narrow and winding passage； whose wall…like sides
of rock were sometimes for miles together unscalable by man。
The water； when the stream was swelled with rains； must have
filled it from side to side； the sun's rays only plumbed it
in the hour of noon； the wind； in that narrow and damp
funnel； blew tempestuously。 And yet； in the bottom of this
den； immediately below my father's eyes as he leaned over the
margin of the cliff； a party of some half a hundred men；
women； and children lay scattered uneasily among the rocks。
They lay some upon their backs； some prone； and not one
stirring； their upturned faces seemed all of an extraordinary
paleness and emaciation； and from time to time； above the
washing of the stream； a faint sound of moaning mounted to my
father's ears。
While he thus looked； an old man got staggering to his feet；
unwound his blanket； and laid it； with great gentleness； on a
young girl who sat hard by propped against a rock。 The girl
did not seem to be conscious of the act； and the old man；
after having looked upon her with the most engaging pity；
returned to his former bed and lay down again uncovered on
the turf。 But the scene had not passed without observation
even in that starving camp。 From the very outskirts of the
party； a man with a white beard and seemingly of venerable
years； rose upon his knees； and came crawling stealthily
among the sleepers towards the girl； and judge of my father's
indignation； when he beheld this cowardly miscreant strip
from her both the coverings and return with them to his
original position。 Here he lay down for a while below his
spoils； and； as my father imagined； feigned to be asleep； but
presently he had raised himself again upon one elbow； looked
with sharp scrutiny at his companions； and then swiftly
carried his hand into his bosom and thence to his mouth。 By
the movement of his jaws he must be eating； in that camp of
famine he had reserved a store of nourishment； and while his
companions lay in the stupor of approaching death； secretly
restored his powers。
My father was so incensed at what he saw that he raised his
rifle； and but for an accident； he has often declared； he
would have shot the fellow dead upon the spot。 How different
would then have been my history！ But it was not to be： even
as he raised the barrel； his eye lighted on the bear； as it
crawled along a ledge some way below him； and ceding to the
hunters instinct； it was at the brute； not at the man； that
he discharged his piece。 The bear leaped and fell into a
pool of the river； the canyon re…echoed the report； and in a
moment the camp was afoot。 With cries that were scarce
human； stumbling； falling and throwing each other down； these
starving people rushed upon the quarry； and before my father；
climbing down by the ledge； had time to reach the level of
the stream； many were already satisfying their hunger on the
raw flesh； and a fire was being built by the more dainty。
His arrival was for some time unremarked。 He stood in the
midst of these tottering and clay…faced marionettes； he was
surrounded by their cries； but their whole soul was fixed on
the dead carcass； even those who were too weak to move； lay；
half…turned over； with their eyes riveted upon the bear； and
my father； seeing himself stand as though invisible in the
thick of this dreary hubbub； was seized with a desire to
weep。 A touch upon the arm restrained him。 Turning about；
he found himself face to face with the old man he had so
nearly killed； and yet； at the second glance； recognised him
for no old man at all； but one in the full strength of his
years； and of a strong； speaking； and intellectual
countenance stigmatised by weariness and famine。 He beckoned
my father near the cliff； and there； in the most private
whisper； begged for brandy。 My father looked at him with
scorn： 'You remind me；' he said； 'of a neglected duty。 Here
is my flask； it contains enough； I trust； to revive the women
of your party； and I will begin with her whom I saw you
robbing of her blankets。' And with that； not heeding his
appeals； my father turned his back upon the egoist。
The girl still lay