Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 14 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

make life terrible all the while!” she said, at last. “My lips have spoken truth!” he said, as he rose. “ Youd be Dyagetto’s friend !” “When she takes an adder into her bosom and it harms her not—when the humgered panther spares the helpless doe—when fishes walk on Jand—when all men speak only truth —when blood is white, and fire is ecold—then I will consent to be the friend of Aroghya- decka!” said she, bitterly, and she turned haughtily away, and walked toward the vil- lage, leaving him standing upon the spot where she had intercepted him. His face darkened with a scowl! of the dead liest hate, as he watched her receding form. “My time will come, sguato—my time will come !”’ he said, bitterly. “ You shall weep for more than a hushand! The young eagle that looks so high shall come down, and the young fawn of your bosom shall drink muddy water! Aroghyadecka is not done yet He has not forgotten who scorned his love, and threw his presents back into his face! He is no child now; his heart is of stone; his will is like the oak—it may bend, but it will not break! His revenge 1s slow, but sure! Dya- tto sheds tears of water now, but tears of lood shall come! I have the power, and will use it. What do I fear? Nothing! My heart is big, and my strength —” A hollow groan—a deep and awful sound, which seemed to come right up from the grave beside which he had so lately knelt— broke upon his ear, and choked his utterance in an instant. And it so terrified him that he fled from the spot with a speed which the pur- suit of a hundred foes would not have got out of him. Without once looking back, or paus- ing for an instant, he fled away, nor did he stop until he was once more safe beneath the bark roof of his wigwam. Once there, he began to consider what it was that had so terrified him. Naturally su- rstitious, he finally concluded that it must ave been, what in his terror he first believed it to be, a spirit—the spirit of one from the grave! CHAPTER XIII. Weeks rolled on, and to Thayendanegea they did not pass unpleasantly. Pleased with and very attentive to his studies, he became a great favorite with Mr. O’Whackem, who, even had he not been, would not have dared to use the birch upon him as he did upon some other of his pupils, for he had seen enough of the young “ Eagle” to pay proper respect to his talons, which were as ready as his talents. And with the rise of the sun each morning, he led out his fiery stallion, and, springing upon his back, bounded away for miles over the plains that lay so level on the plateau above the Mohawk. The horse now seemed to be as fond of his young master as the lat- ter was of him—would go and come at his eall—kneel for him to mount, and act as gen- tly as a lady’s palfrey, without any one else attempted to mount, or even approach him. Not a groom about the stable, or a man upon the premises, could do so, without his relax- ing into his former terrible ferocity. Toward Guy Johnson he exhibited a fiercer hatred than to all the rest, and even Thayendanegea could scarcely restrain him from plunging apon Aim when his eyes fell — the young man, who, however, took the best of care to seep out of his way. And at night, or rather in the afternoon, when the sun began to sink in the west, and the coo! breezes to breathe amid the trees, the oung ladies and their brother Jolin, and Ona- va, all well mounted, would gallop out with Thayendanegea, and sometimes the old baro- net, mounted upon a sturdy hunter, would join the cavaleade. At other times, when free from their studies, John instructed Thayendanegea’in the use of the sword, but soon found that his pupil was his equal if not his master ; and when it eame to the use of the tomahawk, the bow, or even the rifle, Thayendanegea had no equal on the estate—not one who could even approach to his skill. With two exeeptions, the young Indian had not an enemy on the place—not even through envy, that most. petent of enemy-makers. The men liked him for his skill, his willing- _ness, good nature, and courage—the women, for his manly beauty, combined with these, though to them he paid searcely any atten- Th a7 tion. The exceptions were Guy Johnson and I}p\- sico. The former had never forgiven the first slight put upon him by Thayendanegea, por his toss from the black stallion—nor the son of Aroghyadecka, that he was looked upon 4s a “crow” and a “squaw ” by the dashing ana fearless young warrior, who never for a mo- ment, in any position, attempted to eonceal his contempt for him, or his hatred of Iie father ! One evening, some four weeks after Thay- endanegea had become a member of Sir Wil- liam’s family, the cavaleade alluded to above, including Sir William, started upon an even- ing ride. Kathleen was mounted upon her pretty white pony—Leonore upon a more sober bay filly—Onalova Bpor a vicious little spotted pony, as full of * Old Nick” as herself when she wanted to be—John upon a spirited, blooded animal, imported from England, and Sir William upon his favorite hunter, Of course, Vesnvius aad his bold rider led the van. The evening was rather close, and the day had been hot. and, as it was that season in the latter part of summer when sudden thunder- storms are common, the proposed ride was not intended to be a long one. Seated in a shady spot near the house, Guy and his inseparable Ipinteo, with lowering looks, watched the gay party as they rode off, for, though invited f Sir William, they never could be induced to join in these rides, except by a positive command, which he would not give ; for, fond of enjoyment himself, he would not mar that of others, by foreing upon them unwilling and disagreeable company. For disagreeable it would have been. Ipisico was not liked by any of the party, for he had beeome morose, sullen, anil ailiey ead Guy was only liked by one, the gentle Leonore, who had been a favorite of his father while he lived, and who, at an early age, had, by the mutual agreement of the two parent-brothers, been betrothed to Guy, whom she was to marry when he arrived at hie majority. In her woman-heart she pitied him when she saw that others disliked him, and, while they magnified his many faults, her sympathy caused her to overlook them entirely. She was his frequent defender before Sir William, and even gently chided those who spoke ill of him, for she never got angry, and could not speak rudely to any one. But to return. With scowling looks, Guy and his companion regarded the gay party whieh rode by them. *T thought,” said Guy to the other, “ that jou had promised to kill that cursed black stallion and the white pony for me!” ‘I did so promise, my brother,” ‘replied ‘the Indian. ‘But I was afraid of the spirit that heard us when we spoke in the wobtls there.” And he pointed to the grove where they had been so terrified. “Bah! We only dreamed we heard some- thing—I’ve almost forgotten it,” replied Guy, with a shrug of his shoulders and a cur! of his thin lip. “It was avery loud dream, and I cannot forget it,” ne the young Indian. “Very well—if you are such a coward, and eannot keep your you for a brother. the women!” romises, I do not’ want ou can go and play with “Tam no eoward,” said Ipisico, fiercely ; » “1 will kill the horses 'this night!” “Do ‘it, and I will give you a new rifle,” said the young conspirator. “I am sick of seeing people happy while I am wretched ! If J must live in a eloud, they shall not have all sunshine, if I can help it !’ “My ‘brother speaks. wise words! When he sits in a cloud, am not J, too, in the dark ? The cold which makes him shiver is felt by Ipisico, The enemies of my brother are my enemies, and I will eat their hearts!” “Big words—big words! Do, and then [ will believe you,” said Guy. “Look, there ‘is’ a great storm coming,” said the Indian, pointing to a huge black cloud which seemed to have risen in an in- stant, and with wonderful rapidity was over- . spreading the sky in the north-west. * Good—they’ll get a thorough soaking, if nothing else, and we, too, if we don’t go to the house,” said Guy, as he moved o the mansion, chuckling at the idea that the party would be out in the storm. | —p . ; ? a endansgea, tuic Scourge. toward | heels. — ‘pony, 9 CHAPTER XIV... The sir being more cool and pleasant as the evening drew on, the ride of Sir William and iis party was extended much further, than they had at first intended. Indeed, with free reins, they had galloped several miles along the carriage road toward the Sacandaga, which the baronet had caused to be made for his convenience in going to his favorite resort, for hunting water fowl and fishing—the spot j known ¢hen, and now, as the * lisa, House.” and the Viaie’s adjoining. And riding on so merry, with tall trees on either side of them, they had not noticed the rising storm. The very first intimation which they had of it, was the sudden cessation. of the breeze that had been rustling the leaves, and the actions of the birds, that ceas-ed to sing, and flew, affrighted, to seek covert where beat they might. Then a startling clap of thunder pealed from the gathering blackness overhead, and echoed far and wide through the. wild- wood. The horses, with the instinct of their natures, hudded closely together and trembled, all but Vesuvius, who snorted and bounded gladly,as if he liked the coming storm, which was 80 like his own wild nature. “Turn and ride fast, girls!” exclaimed the baronet ; “a storm like that which threatens us now is better met anywhere than in the forest !’’4 ; They quickly obeyed, while the swift-gather- ing b Basis above cast a gloom upon, all below, and peal. after peal of loud thunder, preceded by flashes of lurid lightning, rolled along the sky, and almost deafened them. And in great drops, at first, then literally in torrents, the rain poured down, wettin gthem to the skins ; and. then, just as they arrived at a very small clearing— which had been made by the laborers who made the road when they encamped there for some time, and in cutting timber for a bridge—the fearful force of a hur- ricane burst upon them in its terrible might. It was so strong that it drove the heavy rain along horizontally, in a fine mist, sent limbs and ealved flying through the air, and dashed hundreds of trees in every direction to the earth, : “My father must not ride on—the great trees will fall and crush him!” said Thayen- danegea to Sir William, who, in his fear and confusion of mind, was trying to spur his horse past the opening, which was their ony place of safety from breaking limbs and. fall- ing trees; and the young Indian popgg) bat firmly, seized the bridle of the baronet’s horse and led him into the centre of the cleared space, beckoning to the others to follow. This they did as best they were able, for their terrified horses were almost unmanagea- ble. Yet the black stallion showed no more sign of fear than his master. an “By my life, lad, but thy coolness has saved the whole of us!” exclaimed the baro- net, as he dismounted from his horge, and re- arded anxiously the falling trees and huge ranches, which were feeling the force of the hurricane. ‘Dismount, children—your horses may start, and it would be death, certain death, to ride along that road now.” All obeyed but Thayendanegea, whose horse was perfectly manageable and uiet ; and Kathleen, who, ever willful, and wishing to appear well in the eyes of the young brave, wo y not Jeave her saddle, though the white ony Was qui a8 uneasy uo any other of the orses. Soon she had cause to regret this reckless- ness; for, as a huge old hemlock came crash- ing to the ground, but a few yards from them, the pony took fright, and, in spite of voice and rein, bounded down the road, and she sould not stop him. , “Do not move!” cried Thayendanegea to her terrified father and relatives ; “J wit save her !”’ sh try. And he gave a loose rein to his noble horse, and with a word urged him forward. In a moment—and it was not a second too soon—he was at her side, for a huge old pine, that had numbered centuries where it stood, reeled an instant, and came crashing through the other! trees, right toward the spot where she was. With a giant's strength, the youn Indian bent and snatched her Rein the saddle with one arm, while he wheeled his’ Sedna. ae other, and struck him in the flanks with both With ‘one mighty’ bound, the horse leaped back clear of the datiger, ‘while the freed from its burthen, bounded for- ward, and escaped being crushed by pay a y where ‘few feet, and the huge tree fell exac Cc €oim JOOKS ele Geom