Beadle's New Dime Novels: The Specter Chief — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

THE PHANTOM CHIEF. 79 tised eye. For example, Marie was standing one evening at the door of her lodge. when she was approached by a party enveloped in Lear-skins, with the hair outward. and so well fitted that the chief resemblance to their own specics was in the posture of the wearers. Each of the maskers wore » false-face of hideous aspect, and carried a pole and a case made of tortoise-shell, into which grains of corn had been put for a rattle—metal appendages being added, to increase the noise. With fierce gestures they surrounded the caps tive, brandishing their poles and rattles, and committing numerous extravagancies of action. These were the frols ickers who assumed the license conceded by os to the mu ». mers of Christmas time. The comcidence of the savage with the European amusement is one of many remurkebie examples observed by residents in Indian towns. Mario was relieved from her unpleasant situation by the interfere ence of her hostess, whose represeplations prevented a res petition of the sport with the timid stranger. Our readers may desire to know how Marie fared as to food; and we can answer—almost luxurivusly. Only two formal weals were taken during the day, there b.ing always cold provisions in the lodge for a lunch when it was desire:l. The meats were boiled, roasted ou a spit, or broi!ed; and were venison, bear’s flesh. turkeys, geese, and fish in great ebundance. With these were sometimes boiled beans. corn or squashes, Preserves of cranberries and crab-apples far- wished, in seasov, an agreeable relish; to which we may add outs, and mavy of the berries which are so much evjoyed “@mongst ourselves in the spring and early summer. } Several public celebrations occurred, which were in part witnessed by Marie. Of these, the green-corn dunce was che most important. Sacrifices, dances, feastings, the ceres mony of collecting the corv, and the grand speech of the head chief by way of finale, kept the town in excitement for several days, and offered a favorable exhibition of the solemo festival rites of the nation, Still it was a weary life that she led, and many were the acts of devotion which she performed iv bitterness of sou). Eas a tc verdure of summer had ginte gs to the a comicbooks. oy 3 3 hte