Red Plume — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

62 | RED PLUME. of “Hand.” Two large parties were drawn up, on each side of a blazing fire, one of which was called the party “ in hand,” and the other the party “out of hand.’ <A small piece of wood was rapidly passed from one to another of the party in hand, the other side striving to guess, as it was hurried from one-to another, where it was concealed. This was accom- panied by a wild chant, and by beating with sticks upon dry poles. Simple as the game may seem, it was wonderfully exciting, as played by a number of Indians. Commencing slowly at first, it soon waxed fast and furious, the chant rising and growing more rapid, and the din of the drumming increas- ing, until it was almost deafening. The players became greatly excited, the perspiration streamed off from their bodies, bets were wildly shouted from one side to the other, and it seemed, for a while, as if Pandemonium had broken loose. The old men walked among the groups, nearly as much ex- cited as the gamblers themselves, and could not refrain from guessing, now and then, at the place of concealment of the cache, or betting on the spotted dice. Among these oldsters, the recipient of” their on atten- tions, was Eben Gookin, with his magical harpoon! He was. as solemn as any Owl, as grave as any judge, but he was troubled, for he feared that these exciting exercises would lead to a fight, which might result in the death of some chief. As rapidly as his assumed dignity would allow, he edged away - from the crowd, toward the lodge that his cousin Ellen occu- pied. As he did so, he noticed that he was followed by an Indian, closely wrapped in a blanket, who had been watching the players. Eben did not think there was any thing strange in this, until the man touched him on the_shoulder. As he turned around, the blanket was drawn aside, and he recog- nized the familiar features of Black Beaver. The Delaware was one of the last men the Yankee would have expected to. meet at that time and place, but he was careful to conceal his surprise, and merely stared. ' “Eben mighty smart man,” said Black Beaver; “ fool In- juns, mighty much—but can’t be medicine-man always.” “That's a fact, Beaver, and ’'m thinkin’ how to sneak out. of this serape, and git the gal off.” | “Can’t Eben bring gal out to-morrer night, out where he — commiclbooks.conn