The Mohegan Maiden — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

54 - ‘THE MOHEGAN MAIDEN. in those forest-depths. ‘The party had not yet halted, but | were upon the point of doing so, when moving bodies were — discovered in the distance. Archibald saw at once that they were Indians, and his first hope was that they might be a superior body of Mohegans. But, as they came nearer, he saw that they, too, were Narragausetts. The party with the prisoner seemed at first ill disposed to meet the others, who were by far the most numerous ; but, finally they advanced, after having conferred together upon some matters of interest. The new-comers were hideously painted and decked, for it would seem arid were upon the war-path in good earnest. The meeting between the two bodies was not friendly. The chief of the larger party, a hideously disfigured and _ be- decked brute in human shape, strode forward, and addressed some harsh-sounding gutturals to the tall brave who had ar- gued so effectively for the retention of the ptisoner. The one addressed responded by pointing to the white man, and repeating some rather confused sentences, from which it ap- peared that his superior was displeased at his proceedings. An interchange of sentences followed, during which the new warriors crowded around, viewing the prisoner with many exclamations of satisfaction. The chief having in- dulged in some very loud words, also strode up and viewed the:enemy of his people. One hand was upon his hatchet, and he seemed disposed to strike down the white man where he stood. But, the tall brave ventured to make intercession, pointing earnestly to the east, and finally the chief gave a reluctant consent to his proposition, whatever it might have been. Preparations were at once made for a night bivouac of all the Indians, and, as some game had been shot during the afternoon, they were better provided with food than at their midday resting-place. Archibald, however, did not fare so sumptuously, and he noticed a marked difference in the man- ner of the savages toward him. Soon after their supper was eaten, the braves threw them- selyes upon the ground, and relapsed into slumber, but Arch- ibald lay with open eyes, reflecting upon what had transpired during the day. What gave him the most concern, was their comichooks.com