The Maid of the Mountain — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

130 THE SILENT HUNTER. _ He suddenly turned to the left, hurled an Indian to the ground and then away he darted toward the council-house, the post in front of which was now the coveted object of his desires. A shower of hickory sticks was sent after him to stay his progress if pos- sible ; ee € was not to be check- ed by es. The Indians were behind him, yelling—screeching, as he would have —like ‘* infer- na! faries.”’ The wished-for post was not far distant, and Dick ey began to pi gor Baye gage tr rt) when, su y; —_ before him stood an Indian, who had just entered the camp, and who, casting off his blanket, ppled with the unfortunate prisoner, and he, being out of ath and fatigued, was easily sent to the ground. The whole ferocious gang of pursuers were sent him - eee and one all the while at the fail- They then tore his clothes ribbons, and left him on. ihe ground uncon- scious and faint. Presently, how- ever, a woman—for all the women house, ail butdead. About an hour later, the savage us wretches took him into the council- atter his bruises with rum and ees good d t to he glaring utors A warrior rose, and the rest became silent, for to them one of the rich parts of such entertain- ments was the opportanity it of- fered of boasting and taunting. It was & savage-looking fellow who began, and Dick Harvey well knew that the purport of his speech was death—death without hesitation and without mercy. The man showed certain scars which had been inflicted on him in battle with the whites, and as he e of these the expression of his coun- tenance was perfectly diabolical. Holding in his hand a knife and a piece of wood, he spoke with ani- mation and fierceness, and though Dick Harvey was not able to com- prehend the words used, he knew very well their purport. The whole y applauded with frenzied de- ight. he speaker finally sat down, and the old chief made a notch on the piece of wood. Two other speakers followed, who appeared tos on the same side, and two notches were marked for them. Then an old man, cov- ered with scars and medals, rose and pointed to the white man, spreading his hand gently over him. His voice was musical and en and it was evident that e spoke on the side of mercy, as the victim might have gnessed by the murmurs which arose on ail sides. Instead of grunts of ap- proval, he met with grunts of dis- i re hen ng anda war-club was handed to the war- stack te wespon vilesdy ovata 8 weapon violently on the = And all those who struck e — were recorded as yotes for death, while those who declin- ed to strike the ground were taken no note of. They were the votes for cr. . The old chief stood up in the midst. He counted the notches. He then summed up the number ingly.» Puotejodity ior dest wep Se Comichooks.com », — ,