Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 148 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 -— - en — The Giant Hunter of the Great Lakes ; OR, THE MAID OF MICHIGAN. A ROMANCE OF THE WAR OF 1812. BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ LITTLE HURRICANE,” ‘‘OLD SOLI- TARY,” “ LITTLE TEXAS,” ‘‘ EAGLE KIT,” ‘* LUNG BEARD,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. THE MEETING IN THE FOREST. THE sun of a summer day, of the year of 1812, had long since risen, sending its warmth to the very roots of the t trees, when a human voice was heard in the depths of the wilderness some ten arene east of where the Muskegon river pays tribute to the vast expanse of Lake Michigan: not a savage war-whoop nora cry of distress, but a call which was immediately an- swered from a point not far distant. The call was that of an Indian who stood in a little open area, or glade, surrounded by tall trees and walled in beneath with a dense growth of under- brush. He was a chief of the Ojibways, as the peculiarities of his dress and application of the various colored pigments upon his face denoted —a tall, athletic-looking fellow in the very alec of a vigorous life. His shoulders were road and massive; his chest deep and swelling, and his limbs well-proportioned and muscular. His swarthy features..were poerepehis Indian, subtle and cunning in expression. is small black eyes, glitiering like beads of fire, were full of the vindictive craft of his race, while the thin lips and broad, flat nose with dilated nos- trils, showed a predominance of energy and sion. His majestic form was wrapped in a blanket | of English manufacture, and its cleanliness was | indicative of its newness. In his girdle hung a tomahawk and scalping-knife, while he stood leaning upon a rifle, which was also of English manufacture, and was evidently a new acquisi- tion to the chieftain’s private arsenal. The glade wherein this Ojibway stood, was covered with a growth of short grass; this, how- ever, was trampled down and partially dead, while here and there were the remnants of re- cent camp-fires. There were three or four nar- row passages through the surrounding thicket. converging there, and upon these paths the In- dian kept a close, keen watch as if he were ex- pecting some one, As the moments wore away into minutes he started suddenly, when he heard a slight rustle in the unde wth along one of the passages; and then alight of satisfaction kindled in his black, glittering eyes when he caught the flash of something among the fo A mo- ment later a white man in the scarlet uniform of a British officer, stepped into the opening before bim. This second person was a man of about forty years, whose bloated face and bloodshot eyes told of a life of dissipation; and the hard lines about his eyes and mouth betrayed a wicked, unscrupulous character. His uniform denoted the rank of lieutenant of infantry, though he had no regular command, havin n comniis- sioned by the king for past services among the Indians. ‘* Waugh!” ejaculated the Indian, as he enter- ed the opening, ‘‘ English chief come at last— Black Bird been here ever since sun look over the trees.” ‘* Yes, yes, red-skin,” replied the officer. ‘I heard your callseveral minutes ago, and answer- | ed it at once. Where are the other chiefs?” ws og | come soon—ugh! Big Elk come now.” The English lieutenant turned and saw the chief referred to enter the opening. He was im- mediately followed by another and still another, until not less than a dozen chiefs were assem- bled. Each was the head sachem, or represen- tative of the different northern tribes, both north and south of the Great Lakes; and was armed with a new rifle and bite aa in a new blanket—all of English Supply, an sy te 2 Heed of deep machinations on the part of the British crown. That they were there by appointment, was evident from the circumstances under which they met, wilderness. Having kindl arrival of the last chief in his smooth, bland way, Lieutenant Ensi self upon the ground ’ drew from his pocket a handsomely-ornamented pipe, which he proceeded to load and light. ing his example, seate upon the that the pipe of peace would be around, after which ceremony they would enter into a | the solemn pow-wow. ad The seal of Indian friendship was first passed ee as well as the presence of the English | officer therein that isolated spot of the great up here in ole One-Armed Alf. mm ee ee — —————— ———- — Migs 5 and came into the hands of the white man. Black Bird now arose, and with solemn dig- nity, announced the great council open, to which he added: - Chiefs and brothers of the great Ojibways, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Hurons and Chippe- was, the war-chief of our father across the t salt lake has called us here in council. Each of you carry a new rifle and a new blanket, but where did you get them? Our Canada father gave them to us, and he has promised us many more. He has sent his war-chief to meet_us here and give us the news from his people. Let us hearken while he ee , Black Bird sat down, and Lieutenant Mack- clogan arose and his speech. As he pro- pee | his low, dark brows became knitted and the spirit of evil was visible upon every linea- ment of his repulsive, bloated face. He was smooth-tongued and deceitful, and had jong been one of the mercenary tools of the Britis in America, employed to use his diplomatic powers among the Indians, to keep up a feeling of prejudice toward our ple. He was at heart a bad man, and all the evil of his soul cropped out upon his features and in his lan- guage, quite naturally. , Before he had proceeded far with his h, however, he was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a new-comer, whose presence caused his face to brighten, and his eyes to sparkle with an eager, anxious light, despite the murmur of indignation that passed from the lips of the assembled chiefs. CHAPTER IL, THE RUM-TRADER. ; THE intruder was a white man well-known to the Indians and Mackclogan as Whisky Mug, a name contracted from Jabez Muggins, and an odd specimen of humanity he was, his very presence evoking a spirit of mirth, He was about forty years of age, short, thick, and heavy set. is face was broad and beardless, his eyes keen, bright and sparkling; and his mouth large, yet wreathed in a quaint, comi- cal smile. Whuthal, Jabez Muggins was a rough- looking individual, yet. the personification of a free-and-easy ood-naturedness that was not in yiaciamet te with his surroundings. — He was dressed in a garb, half-civilized a: mene VaE, and wore an old coon-sk ss from which the fur had all been worn off until the erown glit- tered like a bald poll, gi n appearance as odd and qu nic professor. He possessed no any kind, but at his back he car to each end of the shoulder and means of straps ¢ vessel, and passin; under the ** What D4 z rent claimed Mack n, in apparent anger, brings me?” replied the whisk . ‘ “ ; why, (te in course, Mack, but, Til be sm: svundessticns if I kgs hipopal n of the peninsula war tucked i yere— T jist slid in to count my loss an ain, take a chunk of asleep: but I'll be u todeath by the poortiest leetle squaw onthe pint it I ain’t in luck; for I know you’re ~ | dryer than fish a r As he spoke thus, Muggins removed his keg from his back, and placing ig upon the seated himself upon it; then crossing bis short legs, and folding his arms over his breast, re- ga rded the councilors with a look of comical in- million leagues from war- difference, 5° Roe : “Do you Whisky Mug,” asked ‘the Englishman, ‘‘ that your wares are liable tocon- fiscation?” Ae a ‘‘Confiscation? Wherefore, Mack? E-xpos- tulate u little,” demanded the trader, with a quizzical grin. ‘* You are an intruder on sacred ground—so to speak; you are within the cou lodge of the ty tribes of the North.” ‘‘Scat!” drawled the whisky-trader, with a chuckle; “‘you’re spoutin’ now, lieutenant. Even if you have met to confab over P fine? affairs and sich, ar’n’t I the guidin’sstar of yer joy—yer guardian angel, come with light and sunshine and IY and liquid intelligence plugged nowledve- Box?’ | the whisky-trader sprung. to his So saying, and cordially welcomed the feet, and, witha business-like whistle, proceed ed to draw a cup of whisky. This done, he logan seated him- | drank the liquor himself, permitting it to gurgle true Indian style, and Heep of the Indians; and was soon engaged | in While he was thus engaged, the-chiefs, follow- inga hyo Dh in a circle : however, only served to sharpen the Indian’s in- down his throat in a manner intended to whet out whisky to the councilors, drink- utevery fifth cupful himself. One drain, grass, when Mackelogan announced | ordinate love for the liquor, and so the second and third drinks were called for and dealt out, trader continuing to take his intermediate potations; so that by the time the third drink was completed, his hand began to tremble and from Mackclogan to Black Bird, who took a few ' his voice to thicken. it to thenext. In this manner one to another, until it again | be he | of Michigan. und, The Indians were to feel the or; e and regret, | the found that the trader had fallen into his old habit of d twice to every man’s once, there so tly drunk that he had by getting failed to close the faucet, and let the remnants of the whisky run out upon ground, while he fell backward upon the grass in his drunken stupor. ‘See here, Whisky Mug,” cried Mackclogan, = you shall not sleep here; get up and begone at once, ‘‘PDurned if Ido,(hic) Britisher,” muttered the trader, with a drunken leer, ‘‘ fur I’ve (hic) done the fair thing by you (hic) drunken dogs—ho, what a gal—arious (bic) Injun summer’s this— all’s hazy’s a dream; and oh, (hic) how the trees ‘re dancin’—lick it down ole oak (hic) up sides and down middle thar, (hic) Mack—” And the trader sunk heavily to the earth in a drunken sleep, but, with an oath, Mackclogan gave him a kick with his booted foot and -suc- ceeded in arousing him again. “‘See here, Muggins,” he said, ‘‘ you must either leave here, or swear by the Great Spirit that—” ‘“‘Durned if I do,” muttered the trader; ‘I don’t swear (hic) by the Great Spirit—swear by Popo—cattypetle’s burnin’ mountin’ (hic) so I do; so you durned hipopa—(bic) can go on with yer rat-killin’ and let me slum’er sweetly (bic).” | The whisky-trader sunk into a deep slumber, | from which he could not be aroused; but the oc- casional delirious starts and cries, which seemed to throw bim into convulsions almost, were suf- ficient evidence of his total prostration, which would, perhaps, last for hours. > The councilors, however, had not imbibed so deeply as to lose sight of the object of. their meeting, and when Mackclogan had assured himself that no liquor remained in the cask, he called the chiefs’ attention and continued the speech so abruptly broken off by the whisky- trader. By his specious promises of all necessary aid from the British crown, and his incendiary false- hoods regarding the objects of the Yankees in prosecuting a war with Great Britain, he well succeeded in arousing the wildest passions of the assembled chiefs, and elicited from Black Bird the ae reply: | ‘*The words of our white brother have sunk deep in our hearts. We are ready to strike the ~~ = | blow that will free our land forever. We have waited for this time to come. When the new moon has come then will the Ojibways, the Otta- was, the Hurons, the Pottawatomies and the Renee together in the forests naw must fall; then we will sweep southward and take many scalps upon the Muskegon and Kilamazoo. e Spirit of the Woods, too, must be destroyed, for his victims are many, and he fills the heart of the red-man with terror—” ‘* Who is the wg Be the Wilderness, Black Bird?” interrupted Mackclogan. ‘*No one knows. He isan enemy that bas never been seen. He sboots down our people when they go alone into the forest to hunt the deer. e crack of his rifle has often been heard, yet his footsteps have never been found. He shoots our warriors through the heart with a bullet so small that its track can scarcely be found,” ) ‘* He’s some avenger I dare say | ‘*some Yankee scout.” t seen nor heard of any white sare is but one white man outside gon settlement on these bunting- ‘ounds, € im the Great Spirit has smitten ith a sad heart and misfortune. His right hand the Great Spirit kept back when he gave er life that it might not be raised against the red-man, * What's his name, Black Bird?’ asked Mack- clogan. ‘*One Arm, Injun call him. One-Armed Alf, his black servant call bim.” Mackclogan started up, and, fixing a keen, startled glance upon Black Bird, asked: ** Are you sure he is called One-Armed Alf?” **'Yes—me know it—me see him many times —he live in log-cabin down on Muskegon.” “Then do not trust to bis pretended friend- ship, Black Bird,” replied Mackelogan; ‘ he may be asecret spy and enemy watching all our movements—yea, he may be the Spirit of the Wilderness!” ; “Waugh!” ejaculated Black Bird, with an air that implied his disbelief; ‘he can not strike—he carries no “weapons—no gun—no tomahawk—nothing.” * That may all be, Black Bird,” replied Mack- clogan; ‘but: watch him; the Yangese are all sly and treacherous.” ‘ “He no enemy, but, if the hatchet is to be dug.up between the red-man and the Yangese, the scalp of One Arm will court in‘eur victo- ries. Butalready the sun is sinking, and Black | Bird and his friends have a long ways to go to | reach their lodges. Let the chief of our Can- ada brothers go back and say that Black Bird and all his friends will be ready to strike at Mackinaw when two more suns have yet,” ‘*] will bear your message to your friends in Ss Sa @ ° ie | ~ itp eit IMIGQOOKS (E©) (El)