Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

18 RED BELT, THE TUSOARORA. face grew dark. Then, as a fierce anathema broke from his - lips, without a word, he banded the piece of buck-skin to the young warrior. The haughty, grave-looking Indian received it silently, and said, quietly : “As Red Belt thought—Mingoes! and the pale-face rene- gade, the White Leopard, bears them company.” “ Ay! Derrick Thorne is here again! The varmint is in the woods once more!” and the hunter gripped his hands fiercely together. “ But come, Red Belt, we must eat some thing, and wait here to see what will happen. We can not teturn to the cave now. I see how it all happened. And I tell you, my brother, Roy’s scalp is not worth a buck-skin patch if he isn’t rescued. We must do it, Red Belt, or die?” The young Indian bowed his head in acquiescence, but made no reply. The hunter then entered the canoe, and brought ashore @ bag containing some jerked venison and hard bread: The two at once partook of a hearty meal. Eagle, likewise, shared in the repast. Then the old man again went into the canoe; and when he returned to the fire, this time he carried his rifle. A singular-looking weapon was this. It was of an extra- ordinary length, with a stock continuing out to the end of the long, slender barre]. The curve for the face-rest was well- marked. The piece was mounted in brass, and it glistened all over—stock, barrel and lock—in oil. It was welk kept. A pale-blue flint, with lots of latent fire, was screwed tightly in the hammer, and the small, half-inclined pan-face was shut nicely over the little parcel of powder which it preserved from moisture. The old man gazed affectionately at the weapon, and hay- ing examined it thoroughly in every particular, he plaeed it carefully against a tree. The night wore on, and still the hunter and his companion sat around the fire. It- was a cool, crispy night, and the breezes of the early fall Were chiil and searching. The old hunter drew his blanket over his shoulders, and placing his rifle in reach, leaned against — Be ee He was accustomed Wo this hind E- e ’ ii htN ~~ c- - x