Beadle's Dime Library No. 16 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

OHAPTER XL Differentin numbers and equipment, was the third expedition which started from the mouth of the Miami, for the everglades, from either of the unfortunate ones which had preceded it. Heavier boats, more men, thorough! armed, and well provisoned for a lengthy eruise, were those which formed this “arm of invasion.” And the better to conceal his . approach, the commanding officer determined to enter the glades in the night, and to move as little as possible in the day, and thus to surprise the Indians on their islands, and to se- cure guides, whom he intended, by torture or bribes, to force into leading him to tke strong- holds and camps of their tribe. Ah, little did he know of the stern integrity of that noble race—of their honesty of heart, their courage and their fortitude. But he was doomed to learn it, ere he had passed through that campaign, or even much more than com- menced his trip. Coming stedithily to the small island, where Clarence had first encamped, the van-guard found an Indian canoe at the landing, and creeping quietly up, at a camp-fire in the bushes, found there, and secured a warrior and his aquaw, and two children, who had en- camped for the night. Extinguishing the fire, the commander halted his men there, as it was nearly morning, for- bidding any of them to show themselves out- side of the bushes, and also having his boats hauled up out of sight, so that no straggling scout should observe them. When the day dawned, he had the captive warrior brought up, and finding that he spoke English, demanded if he would show him where the villages of Ohikika and other chiefs were. “ No!” said the Indian, sullenly. “T will give you a rifle and new blankets, and plent of tobacco and whiskey, if you will !” said the commander. “Me no want ’em!” replied the Indian. “T'll shoot you, if you don’t!” “Shoot! me no ’fraid. Look there!” and he showed ten notches on the handle of his |scalping-knife, each counting one for scalps taken from his enemies. Me pay for life lon ago—s’pose me see you first last night, eount one more. Good scalp, yours, red like fire !’’ and the Indian smiled, grim y: “You cursed Indian dog, P’ll hang you!” shouted the infuriated officer. “Hang, damn, hang! Me only die once !” said the warrior, scornfull “Bring a tifle here—V'H see what stuff he is made of!” shouted the oommander. The order was obeyed, and by his directions, one end of the rope was thrown over the limb of a live-oak, and the other fastered in a eis ing noose around the warrior’s neck. His anal being bound behind nim, and his feet tied together, he could not have offered resist ance, if he would. ‘Run him up !” said the officer. we In a moment the brave fellow was swinging in the air. Full as long as he dared to let him hang, and yet keep life in him, the officer kept him suspended, and then gave the order to lower him away, and bade the surgeon to resuscitate him, 8o that he could again be questioned. . It was with considerable difficulty, that by bathing his temples and throat, and adminis- tering liquor, the poor fellow could be brought too, but at last he was once more conscious. The commander bent down, and, looking him in the eye, asked, in @ sneermg tone “How do you like on , you red dog ?” “Me like’um much ow you like whis- key ?” said the Indian, fiercely, as he spat the mouthful of whiskey, which the surgeon had given to him, full into the face of the com- mander. With a yell of rage the officer drew his sword, and, forgetting what he wanted to foree out of the prisoner, drove the sword home to the very hilt in his bosom. “Ugh! Long knife much good! Big eow- ard, you |” grunted the Indian, and then, with- out a groan, he fell back, dead ! The squaw and children looked on in hor- ror, but in silence, while the husband, father and protector thus suffered and died. To them the commander now turned, swear- ing that they, too, should perish. Anda man wits could whip a negro woman to death, in Tennessee, would not be likely to spare a poor, helpless squaw, in war-time ; but mer i The White fhite Wizard. were there, officers and gentlemen, who would not permit such an outrage to be committed without remonstrance and opposition. He knew it, and was content to utter only curses and threats. Ordering the body of the Indian to be hung up, as a terror to others who might come that way, the commander now bade his men take rest,as he meant to remain there until night would again conceal his move- ments. He also posted men up in the umbrageous tops of several of the loftiest trees, to watch for smokes upon other islands, and to detea any. boat which might approach. hus we will leave him, for the present. OHAPTER XLII. As she had wished, evineing great reluctance to go, and exhibiting the most profound sor- row, Clarence delayed his departure all that ne could upon the day which was set for his return. Ona did not make her appearance, but taught to be artful by the exigency of the case, she seemed to be utterly lost in grief, and locked herself in her apartment. But in truth she was preparing to follow him to whom she was already wedded in heart, and to whom she was ready to entrust life, honor and everything. Her preparations were sim- ple, yet there were things which she did not wish to leave behind. One was a packet which her father had given to her care long before, and which he, at the time, told her contained the proof of her birth, a copy of her grandfather's will, and other papers which would be of great value to her, if he should be eut off, and she should ever go out into the world again. And she also took, after loading them carefully, a pair of fine pistols and a large dagger, which she easily concealed oeneath the Indian costume which she wore, And some rare and costly jewels and money, too, she selected, for she knew that such things might be useful in a world where gold is the god of two-thirds of its people. Tired with the various excuses and delays which Clarence made, Arpiaka, who had given him the letter that he fad promised, in- troducing him to Blacking, and advising that worthy to give him the proof to require his rights from Ribera, told him, for about the fortieth time, that the warriors were ready, four of them in a canoe, to take him out to the fort on the Miami. “May I not say farewell to Ona, before I go?” asked the young man. “TI have waited to see her, but all the day she has kept within her room!” “Yes, and wisely. Parting words will make both your hearts heavier. I grieve for rar both, but you are young, and young eartas are forgetful. Had your father not slain her mother, I would not thus separate ye, but that bar of blood lies between ye, and it must not be passed! I have spoken! Go, and my blessing ge with you!” e “May I not take the arma which I wore when I was captured?” asked the you officer. ‘ Perchance I might meet the faith- less Coacooche before I reached the fort, and if I were unarmed, he might be more than a match for me !” “Tt is true ; your request is but reasonable It shall be granted to yon !” And Arpiaka went and brought Clarenee his two revolvers and his sort and at the same time Pn a purse of gold in his hand, saying: “Should you resign, you will need money before you reach home!” Clarence would have refused this, but Ar- piaka would take no refusal, and he was obliged to accede to his wishes, Looking, but in vain, to see Ona, although he had the utmost confidence that she would follow him, he at last shook hands with Ar- piaka, and with a heavy heart stepped inte the canoe, which was to bear him away from the island where he had first known the bliss of love. The bliss of love! Ah, to some, who know not change, over whom no cloud hovers, how blissful ts love! Yet others there are, whose love, too strong almost, is like madness. It is such that it is never satisfied, for, while sessing, it ever fears the loss of ite treasure. There can be no love, that is, love without jealousy and fear, and, alas! no torture is there in hell below, or on earth above, which is so keen, 80 killing as jealousy. But excuse the | digression. y 25 The warriors chosen by Arpiaka to escort Clarence back to his regiment were such as the latter would have picked, had he been permitted his choice. 1ey were honest and trusty braves, and they looked upon him noé as a captive, but as a late and honored guest of their great prophet. And they honored him, too, for his courage, that greatest of virtues in an Indian’s eyes, for they had seen him when he had struck down the warriors of Coacooches. \ The retreat of Arpiaka was soon left far be- hind, and when night came on, they encamp- ed upon an island out in the open glades, be- yound the swamp. After cooking their pro- visions and supping, the Indians laid down by their camp-tire to rest, so as to be ready for the long row of the next day. But Clarence could not sleep ; his thoughts, hopes and fears all were with Ona. The moon was shining brightly, and he knew that if she escaped she would pass the island before the dawn of day, and he hoped to see and make some sign of encouragement to her. We will leave him, thus, upon the watch, aml, for a moment, return to her, After Clarenee had gone, and his form could ne longer be seen, Arpiaka went to the door of her room, which was fastened, and called to her. For some time the only answer which she gave him was her sobs. At last, how- ever, she replied to his entreaties to come forth, and said: “ Let me grieve ! My heart is full, and it will break if I do not weep! Let me, at ieast, be left alone! I will not be so sad to- morrow !” “ Perhaps ’tis best; grief so fierce will be the less lasting !” said he, as he turned away. Three hours later, a tall and slender form stole away from a back window of the lodg. and, gliding down to the landing, unseen singled out a small and gracefully modelled canoe, and springing into it, pushed from the bank. For a little time she searcely touched the paddle to the water, but let the canoe, with gewtle impetus, drift down the dark lagoon, for it was night now, and doubly dense in that narrow channel, overhung by the gloomy cypress. But as she gained a little more distance from her father’e camp she plied her paddle with more strength, glided on more rapidly. CHAPTER XLII. Clarence, whom we left watching for the passing of her whom he loved so entirely, be- gan to tremble when the night was far ad- vanced and morning dawn was near at hand, for she came not, and he feared that her es- cape had either been prevented, or that she had been pursued and overtaken. The night was cloudless, and a full moon's light made everything almost as visible as day, therefore she could not pass the island in the channel | unobserved. “If she comes not, after 1 have resigned, I will return, and either perish by her side, or Arpiaka shall yield me her hand!” he mur- mured, as he stood by the water-side at the landing-place. But a flush rose quickly to his cheek, and he almost ceased to breathe, for he thought he heard the dip of a paddle in the rippling waters to the west. A few moments more and the thought became a certainty, for he could distinctly hear the sound, though as yet the tall grass concealed the approaching canoe “She comes—thank God, she comes!” he marmured. “She is mine now, and no power on earth shall ever wrest her from me!” ~ A moment later, and he could see her tall, graceful form as she stood up in the after-end of the canoe, plying, with easy strength and G@rmnesa, the hight but springy lance-wood paddle. : Suddenly she stopped! Did she sre him, and intend to speak? No, her eyes were fixed upon something beyond her, and, as she ceased vo urve her boat on. the oujek ear of Clarence detected the sound of paddles com- ing from the other direction. oo her attitude and look, as well as his own misgivings, he felt sure that he Baw dan. to her ahead, and, without attempting to awaken his escort, who slept at their camp, a hundred yards or more 9 in the bushes, he stepped into the canoe, and pushed out from the shore, loosening his pistols in his belt aa | he did so, micbooks (E (eco) (E(@)