Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 183 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Gilbert, the Guide. al) hope of vengeance upon Gilbert, the Guide, was gone for the present. The young citizen turned and cut the green withes which bound Gilbert to the stake, but his peralyzed limbs refused to bear his weight, and he sunk help- less to the earth. ** Are you hurt?” said Gandelion, quickly. *“Not in the least,” replied Gilbert, “but I have been tied up so long that I must rub a little life into these legs before I can use them.” The young man sat down by him and began to chafe his limbs with his hand until the circu- lation was restored, while Gilbert was lookin furtively at the men who had come to his aid. From their dress it was impossible to say who or what they were, for they were clad in all costumes, from that of the Grenadier Guards to the buckskin garments of the voyageur. They appeared to of various nations, Half- breeds, English, German and Irish. A smile passed over the face of Gandelion as he saw the puzzled look on the face of the Guide. “You are Jooking at my men,” he said, “‘ and trying to find out in what service they are. That is a harder g08 than you are equal to just now, I’m inclined to think. Let it satisfy you that I have saved you from a barbecue, and say no more about it. How do you feel?” “Tecan stand now, thanks to you,” replied Gilbert. ‘‘ As to who you are, do not think I am so little acquainted with the able men of this country, as to hesitate for a moment. If you will allow me, I will give you your rank in your ear.” Gandelion inclined his head, and Gilbert whis- pered a sentence at which the young man started back with a light laugh. ‘Ha! You know more about me than I gave you credit for, and I will not question vour sagacity by saying that you are in the wrong. Bah! what does it matter, after all, that one knows me? 1 am the man you name!” A quiet smile played for a moment over the features of the Guide, **! know your character well, sir; and this I will say, though an enemy, you are a brave man, who can be generous even to a foe. Know- ing what I am, and that my whole life is given to the defeat of your cherished design, you still can treat me well.” **Perish all who make war vindictive!” re- plied Gandelion, quickly. ‘I love a man who, though an enemy, can show me that he has wer. It is only to mean and little souls that can reply in kind. But, though I hurried to aid you as soon as I knew your danger, [ should not have come but for this brave girl, who came to me out of breath, in the darkness of night, at the peril of her life, to call upon me to save a white man from the stake. She knows well that I have sworn, so far as in my power lies, to give my best efforts to suppress _ this horrible practice upon the part of our sav- age allies, she herself has saved many from the stake.” ‘You speak too well of me, Gandelion,” said the girl, with the tears coming into her eyes. ‘‘ What am I but a poor Indian girl, with but few opportunities to do good?” ‘* Hush!” said Gandelion, promptly. ‘ You are great, you are noble, and have done much to humanize the Wyandots. Why do F stand there glowering at me, Darromed? You know that your infamous counsels have always gone to neutralize the good done by Morena, and you will have a heavy reckoning to pay, some day, when you atone in your own person for innocent blood.” “Speak not to me, Gandelion!” said Darro- med, fiercely. ‘‘I will see whether a great chief is to be interfered with by one who— “Silence!” cried Gandelion. ‘‘ Incense me, and | will not leave a man alive in your worse than villainous band. I know you for what you are, not for what the Wyandots think you, and if you would have me speak, I can do so.” Darromed cast a wicked look at the glowing face of this young Apollo, and was silent. For some reason he did not dare to speak, but the expression of his face was demoniac. His hand wandered unconsciously to the hilt of his knife, but the menacing eye of Gandelion was upon him, and restrained him in a moment. ‘*T say no more, Gandelion,” be said, at last; ‘*T will go away and seek my home, since my friends no longer need me.” ‘“*Tt would be far better for them and for you, if you can not do them nobler service than to burn prisoners at the stake. You understand me well enough, Darromed. I appreciate the aid of our allies, and have done all I could to secure it; but there are few among them like ourself—savage demagogues, who believe not n war, but extermination. Go, if you like; but if you remain, it must be with the under- standing that prisoners must in future receive the treatment of brave but unfortunate men.” ‘* Has Gandelion anything more to say?” ‘* Nothing, except that you are free to come with me if you like.” ‘‘ No; I will stay upon the Miami.” — ** As you like. Attention, men! By the right flank, march! Gilbert, you will remain with me, and keep yourself well covered by the men, for our friends, the Wyandots, might take a shot at you from a thicket. But first, do you give your parole?” ‘For the present; but I will retract when tired of it,” replied Gilbert. PE ny og my dear fellow. me if but I admire a brave man, and you have earned that reputation nobly, in our wars,” ‘Thank you,” said Gilbert. Little more was said, as they marched on, side by side, through the darkness. The Shaw- nee was still their guide, and he knew the path well. All the allied tribes were familiar with the Miami country. They turned north along the river, crossing a bend, and the country was broken into ranges of limestone bills, increasing in size as they proceeded. Gilbert also knew the ground, for he had tramped it with Owasco a score of times, often pursued by wily and dangerous enemies, It abounded in hiding-places which would have baffled the ingenuity of the keenest scout in the world—places which the water had carved out in the limestone rocks, making won- derful chambers, with domes and pillars, the handiwork of the great architect and artist, Nature herself. Then there were places amon these rocks which only the eagle could reach i the only accessible paths were unknown, and these were so concealed by nature that it needed a keen and vigilant scout to look them out. Toiling up the passes, over broken rocks and debris, under ledges, and through huge open gates, they reached, at last, a sort of amphi- theater, walled in on every side but one by massive walls, and that entrance so narrow that a single man, well-armed and courageous, might have kept an army at bay, as the daunt- less ‘‘ Three ” kept the bridge whith led to Rome against the fell legions of ‘‘ Lars Porsena of Clusium,.” ‘You have chosen this position well,” said Gilbert. ‘There is not force enough in the North-west Territory to drive you out of it.” ‘**T thought so,” said Gandelion, with his rare smile lighting up his face. ‘‘I was taught in military matters in a good school, and know how to choose a position, [ think. These natu- | ral ramparts are firm enough to withstand a strong attack, I can well believe.” ‘You have behaved nobly with me,” said Gilbert, ‘‘and I will do as much for you. There is but one weak spot in your defenses, and that I will point out to you if you would care to have me.” ‘Would you do that? Remember that we are enemies, and that if we meet in battle I shall assail you as if I never saw you in my life, and beat you down or capture you if I can. ‘*T could not expect anything else from a man who would deserve well at the hands of his country,” responded Gilbert. ‘‘ Come with me and I will show you something.” The men were already at work building fires and making ready for their night’s rest. Gil- bert took a blazing piece of knot from the near- est fire and led the way to the lower end of this strange mountain fastness, where the waters of the river lapped against the wall, made a turn, ie ents from view behind the bastion of rock. ‘*'Your idea was that the rocky wall extend- ed far down the stream,” said Gilbert. “If you will follow me, I will show you how wrong you are,” Stepping into the water, which was shallow close to the rock, be swung himself round the point and disappeared. ndelion followed, and was standing upon arock platform, eight or ten feet wide, which made a gradual ascent until it reached the level of the rock above. “T see,” said Gandelion. ‘A force approach- ing b this way could pass eight or ten despe- ra ghting-men round the point, who could hold their position until reinforced. The plan then would be to see that these eight or ten men did not get around the point.” ‘* Precisely.” ‘*] will post a strong guard here at once, and I offer you my sincere thanks for making me aware of the danger. Few men in your position, even though under an obligation, would have done so much for an enemy. There is but one way in which I can return it, and [ hope the time may come wben I can do it with honor. Let us go back, as I wish to post my guards,” This duty was quickly done, and the young | commander and his prisoner sat down side by side. ‘You seem to know a great deal about this section, Gilbert?” said Gandelion. ‘‘ You will excuse my speaking so en to you, but I have never heard you called by any other name.” ‘* Nor would I have those who are my friends call me by any other,” replied the Guide. ‘* You are quite right;..1 know much of the In- dian country, and surely I ought, for I have tramped it up and down for fifteen years, in pursuance of a vow. I cannot tell you what that vow is, but it seems as far off of fulfill- ment as ever. Led by a vain hope I have passed from tribe to tribe, until all men know my name, and I can speak almost every Indian You will excuse | am inclined to be affectionate with you, | care to be without reward.” - tongue beneath the northern skies. Shall I ever attain my object? I can not tell, but something whispers to me, ‘ Hope on; you have labored and waited, and , who is so good and merciful, will not permit all this toil and “That you may succeed is my earnest prayer,” was Gandelion’s answer. ‘‘ Have you looked at that rare Indian maiden, Morena? I ask you solemnly if in all your wanderings north and south, you have ever seen one who is ber equal in grace of person and beauty of face and mind. I am a strange fellow, per- haps, but never, in court or camp, have I seen & woman who could compare with her. ‘I never saw but one, and that one might have been her sister, if one had not Indian blood in her veins,” replied Gilbert. “Who was she?” demanded the young sol- dier, eagerly. ‘‘I can hardly believe it, for I am proud of my little maid.’ ‘Her name was Helen Carlyon, and her fa- ther is a major in a regiment of volunteer troops serving under Wayne.” ‘* You said her name was ; is she dead?’ “Alas, that I must say it, this very night | she died, the most terrible death I ever heard or read of. ‘Poor girl, beautiful child! I found her bones and buried them, and it was while performing the sad duty that Darromed came upon me.” Gandelion hissed an imprecation directed at the head of the offending chief through his half-closed teeth. ' **Go on,” be said; ‘‘ tell me how she died.” | And, marching over the log road in the | marsh beside the Miami, Helen’s lover told the | story of her fearful fate at the same hour, al- most the same moment, that Gilbert, the Guide, seated upon a stone beside the river, told the | same sed tale to Gandelion, listening with dila- | ted eyes. | ‘And you do not know in what manner the tree was fired?” ‘‘No. We heard the report of weapons in the direction of the giant sycamore, and when we _ looked again the flames were pouring out at the opening between the branches and running u to the top. It was a ghastly sight to us, but if we felt it keenly, imagine the agony of that gallant young man, her lover. At first he was unjust, and be blamed us, asif we would have put ber where she would be in danger if we had areamed of such an event! But, when he came to his senses, he begged pardon of Owasco and me for wronging us even inthought. Poor lad, they were to have been married soon,” ‘‘ Ah, what a horrible story !” exclaimed Gan- delion, brushing bis band in a suspicious manner before bis eyes. ‘‘ And you say that this poor girl bore a marvelous likeness out Queen of the Lake, Morena?” ‘Wonderful; I never saw two people of a different race who bore any such resemblance, and perbaps you may say that for that reason the likeness might be slight. But, I assure you, a | | upon my honor, that it was no fancied similar- ity, for the contour of the face and figure was the same, Darken the face and hands of Helen with a little tinge of brown, and place the two side by side, and you could not te] the differ- ence, Who is this wonderful girl, Morena, and ered does she wander at will through the for- est?’ ‘| might ask you the same question with as ood a prospect of a correct answer,” answered endelion. ‘‘I only know that she is well and favorably known at Detroit and York, where she is a favorite with some of the best people. Indeed, her education is the result of her con- nection with an excellent lady there, who has taught her to read and write and speak with fluency and ease, both the French and English ry, yl ‘*So I understood her to say. Do you know “ ae, who has been so kind to this beautiful ‘*T have the honor to be her cousin. She is called by the name of Lagrange, and she refuses to go into company, or to receive calls. When she goes out, she always wears a thick vail, and few except myself have ever seen her face. She is the Lady Bountiful of that portion of York north of the cathedral, and gives alms to all who ask. Upon the rolls of the city her name is put down as Madame Lucille Lagran Be- yond that I can iell younothing of her, for I am _ sworn to secrecy.” ‘* And she was kind to Morena? 1 wonder if the child ever saw her face?” ‘‘ Let us ask her. Morena!” The young girl was leaning gracefully against a rock, looking across the dark stream, Hear- ing her name called, she came slowly toward them, and stood with downcast eyes, a sad look upon her face. “What is the matter, Morena?” kindly in- quired Gandelion, as he saw the traces of tears upon her cheeks. ‘‘ Why co you weep?” “T have heard—I could not help it—the story which Gilbert told you. It is very sad, for I would have loved that sweet young lady, be- cause all spoke so tenderly of her. But now—it is too horrible to think of.” ‘Do you know anything of it?’ ‘‘No. I meant to go to her and give her aid, Sj COMMUGC OO) (C ; y ~ = o ——