Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

RED BELT, THE TUSCARORA. “T know, my brother,” he said, in a low, deep voice, which was tremulous from conflicting emotions, “that it becomes women and children better to show anger than it does an old man who has grown gray in the woods, and wrinkled and tanned under all sorts of weather, on the war-path. But,my brother, that piece of lead calls up an old-time tale, which the Lean Wolf‘ would not hegr again! That bullet makes the back of old Sampson Lowe to smart, and his heart to ache! I know that ball; there is but one rifle in the settlements which tosses such lead. That rifle is the property of Derrick — Thorne, the White Leopard—the renegade and base-hearted scoundrel whose life old Sampson has long ago sworn away !” “Then all is well, my brother,” quietly responded the In- dian. “The day approaches when the Lean Wolf and the White Leopard may stand breast to breast. Then the Red — Belt will be by his brother's side; and his rifle and his bbw—” “No, no, my red brother! I know what you mean, and would say. But I could not allow it! When the day corffes, old Sampson, the Lean Wolf, must do the work himself! Ay! he must tear the heart from the coward’s breast, and wash his ~ hands in his blood! And Heaven bear him witness, old Sampson will do it !” The old man’s face was fearful to look upon, showing there on the wild banks of the wood-fringed river, as the flaring light from the flashing fagot fell over him. A moment passed, and no word was spoken. But the silence ‘was suddenly broken by the old hunter, who said, in a voice . strangely, unusually, harsh: ‘ “Come, my brother; we've work to do! Old Sampson is now on the war-path, and carries his knife between his teeth f? i: Leaving the boat where it was, the old hunter reascended - the cliff—Red Belt close behind him. A few moments passed, when the ladder was noiselessly drawn up from above and _ secured. Then in a few moments the old hunter, Red Belt and Eagle stood at the bottom of the bluff. In a short time they had safely launched the canoe. Carefully placing their weapons in and stowing away inthe — _ bow a bag of provisions, the old man entered, giving Eagle a a sign to follow him. Then Red Belt gave the canoe em ¥." ee ee hee reat aboard himself. ‘a tis . : re Pins w 5 s « Shue} i 4 ,-* : ' ne v TP Ae OE Eg ee ba ed eee eee ee Uae