Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 183 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 ing-shirt, embroidered with beads by a skillful hand, and his leggings and moccasins were marked with various symbols in the same way. His dark hair was surmounted with a sort of coronet of feathers, marking him as a chief. He stretched out his hund and grasped that of the white man, who returned the pressure cor- dially. ‘“@hief,” said the latter, speaking in the On- ondaga tongue, “ the days have been long since you have been away.” , ‘‘Qwasco is very proud to be the friend of the white man,” replied the Indian. “ He will al- ways remember the night in the forest, when the long rifle of Gilbert saved him from the claws of the panther. When an Onond for- gots, the streams will run up hill, the birds talk ike men, and the trees grow downward. Owasco has been sad too, while parted from his white friend, but he has said to himself, ‘ There will he great joy when we meet again.’ ” ** Did you scent any danger when you came up the river?’ asked the man called Giibert. “Yes. There is death in the air, and the scent of the Lattle came to the nostrils of Owasco. Let the people along the Miami look ze sapers ves, for the Wyandots are on the war- rail. “* How do you know that?’ demanded Gilbert, quickly. ‘*‘ Wyandots! A curse upon them, body and soul. May their lives be like mine, may their hopes wither as mine have, their homes'lie in the blackness of desolation. I curse them with the curse of the broken and blighted heart, the sleepless eye and the pulseless limb, Lead me to them at once, and I will take vea- geance upon them.” ‘*My brother has suffered great evil at the hands of the W yandots, or he would not curse them so,” said the Indian. ‘‘ Let him listen to the words of Owasco, and write his promise in his mind. I swear by the bones of the dead; by our sacred totem, by the everlasting flame, and the Great Spirit we all adore, to be true to you and never forsake you, until you have revenged yourself upon your enemies.” ‘Right, Owasco, right! I can trust you, and when I cease to do that, may my rifle fail me inatrying hour. But, what reason have you to think that the Indians are on the war-path?” ‘* Let Gilbert look at this,” said the Indian, quictly, taking a pipe-bowl from the pocket of his hunting-shirt and giving it to the white man. He looked at it witha guttural exclama- tion of surprise, and turned it over in his hand and looked at it closely. It was a bow] of red elay, roughly carved with a knife. This was in itself nothing remarkable, for it is a common practice with the young braves to carve pipes out of the red sandstone with which the country abounds, but upon the side of this bowl was a cross, and the letters I. H. 8. ‘* 1 see,” said the borderman. ‘‘Some Indian who has been converted by the Catholics of Canada cut that bowl. It is new, too, and his not been dropped any great length of time. Where did you find it? These Canada Indians are stirring up the other nations.” ** Close by the river, three miles below.” **Ha! say you so? These devils are drawing in close upon us then. Let them look to them- selves, for they shall hear of Gilbert, the Guide, unless my right hand has forgotten her cunning. Did you look for the signs?” ‘‘Yes, There are many Wyandots, and they are in the woods now. I fear that much suffer- ing will be felt by the good white men who dwell below on the Miami of the Lakes” (the Maumee). “We must be on the move. Wayne must know what is going on, and at once,” The chief suddenly laid his finger on his lip, and the voice of Gilbert was hushed. They waited, and beard a light step upon the forest leaves. The ardor of battle began to show itself in the face of Owasco, and he drew his hatchet from his belt, and stoopimg suddenly, moved with a rapid step out of the cover, closely fol- lowed by Gilbe There was something won- derful in the ease with which these men passed over the dried leaves, without making a sound louder than the rustle of tbe wind among them. They reached the edge of a little opening, to- ward which the footsteps tended, and waited. They had not long to wait, for the rapid foot- falls came nearer, and the bushes were pushed aside, and, instead of the painted warrior the looked to see, they beheld a beautiful girl, ‘“‘ browm, but comely,” dressed in the garb of an Indian woman of high rank—a maid of-such re- markable a nee that Gilbert could not re- press a low exclamation of astonishment, and she paused with a shy, startled glance, and looked about her, as they darted out together. But the girl stood with a carabine at her shoul- der, her beautiful cheek pressed tightly against the breech, and her dark eyes flashing through the double sights, ‘‘ Hold, there!” she cried, in good English. ‘* What do you seek?” Gilbert, who had tramped the country over, from the extreme North to Florida, and was an apt student in the ways of men, answered: __. ‘* Wear nothing from us, beautiful child. We war not with women, and would not injure a hair of your head,” : Gil rt, the Guide. — $$ —— _—— - She looked at them corres as if studying w them, and appeared satisfi ith the inspec- tion, for she drop the muzzle of the carabine and finally let the breech drop to the earth at her feet. She was of slight but symmetrical figure, uncramped by the fashionable folly woaich regards unhealthy development as a beauty in woman. Her face was brown, but it was the effect of the sun, and it was plainly to be seen that she was not all Indian. er hair, though black as midnight, had 4 lustrous gloss upon it never seen in the pure Indian, and fell in waving masses half-way to her feet. Her dress was of dark-green riding-cloth, fringed and embroidered in the manner which has never been attained by any except the Indian woman, and fell to the knee. Below this a crimson em- broidered kirtle showed itself, Her limbs were incased in leggings of the same material as her dress, and she wore dainty moccasins. Upon her head was a sort of cap, with a waving heron feather at the side, giving her a piquant and charming expression. Besides the carabine with which she had threatened them, which was of English manufacture, and richly plated with silver ornaments, she carried a pair of silver- mounted pistols, and a dagger with a jewel in the hilt. ‘‘Why.do you stop me as I walk the woods?” she demanded, in a sweet voice, “Is it not free to all?” ‘‘Yes; but there is danger for one so beauti- ful alone in the forest,” said Gilbert. ‘‘ May I ask your name and where you are going?” ‘‘ T have no name for the white man,” she said. ‘‘T am the spirit that walks the woods. Where I go is nothing to you.” ‘* But do you not fear?” ‘‘ What have I to fear? No Indian will touch me when [ tell him my name, and my eye is quick and my aim true, when a white man dares insult me. But why should I refuse to tell you why I am here, though it is not necessary for you to know my name? Listen: let the young children stay within doors through the corn month, for they will be safer there; bid the old men sit close to the doors of the wigwam, as they smoke their pipes in the sun, and tell the warriors to sharpen their knives, and make the gates of their villages very strong, lest they should be broken down.” ‘You warn us of danger, and yet you wear the dress of a tribe who hate us, and speak the language of a people who are our deadliest foes,” said Gilbert. ‘It is true, and for that reason you should give greater heed to the warning. I hear a humming noise, as of an army marching to bat- tle. The sound comes from the north and rides on the wings of the rushing wind. Red are the coats of the warriors, and their banner is the cross of St, George.” ss Ta hod ‘*Warn them at Defiance, warn them at every lace along the great river. A greater than ontiae leads the army of braves to the battle, and lifts high the great banner—a man who was born a hero, and who will make wailing through all the land.” | “The maiden speaks well,” said Owasco. ‘“‘ Her voice is pleasant in the ear of a chief, like water running over the stones, making sweet music. Let her come to General Wayne and singin bis ears the words she says to us.” ‘*T cannot,” said the girl, quickly. ‘Go; you are warned.” ‘You must come with us,” said Gilbert. ‘I cannot consent to leave you here.” a ‘Do you hear that?’ said the girl, raising her band for silence. ‘‘ My friends are at band!” A sharp, fierce cry, full of dread import, seemed to fill the forest on every side. | ‘Save yourselves if you can!’ she cried. ‘“‘I cannot aid you now.”* CHAPTER II. THE ‘HORNED OWL.” GILBERT, the Guide, had heard that sound too often before not to understand its meaning. The Indians, lurking in the woods, had struck the trail of the chief, Owasco, and were follow- ing it like sleuth-hounds, ., ‘‘Tnto the canoe, chief,” whispered Gilbert. “Girl, tell me ae whether you are safe here, for if there is the least danger, ] swear to ou that I will not leave you, but will remain, Paes will not go with me, and die by your e. ‘“Tam safe, 1am safe,” she replied, quickly. “‘ Have no fear on that score, but cross the river as quickly as you can.” * But we shall meet again?” **T hope so,” she said. . ‘‘Go, if you would save pow life, for I hear them close at hand.” Gilbert d into the boat and pushed off quickly, making at once for the other bank, for the shouts told him. that they were all upon the western side of the stream. Midway in the channel was a small island covered with a thick green foliage. The moment they reached it, the two men dragged the canoe out of the water and pushed it over the bank on the other side, and came back to see what was going on upon the spot they had left. The young girl, whoever she was, had followed them down to the water’s edge, and they could see her stand- ing alone upon the bank, listening to the sounds which came to her out of the forest. ‘“‘Hugh!” muttered Owasco, laying his hand upon his companion’s arm. ‘‘ See!” Gilbert looked up-stream and saw a. large canoe filled with warriors rounding the point above them’ and coming down the stream at full speed. Opposite the island they swung the head of the canoe toward the place where the girl stood, and lunded, Now, for the first time, Gilbert saw that they had a prisoner, for they were dragging a mau up the bank with little ceremony, kicking and cuffing him in a spiteful way, and cursing him with a hearty good-will. The river was so narrow at this point that every movement they made could not only be — seen, but every word was distinctly ear They were Wyandots, and were 1 d by aman whom they recognized by a peculiar head-dress he wore, having two great eagle-feathers rising like horns in front, giving him a singular ap- arance. Both the guide and Owasco knew im by this to be a chief known as the *‘ Horned Owl,” one of the most bitter enemies of the Americans among all the tribes. ‘** And that old scoundrel lives vet,” muttered Gilbert. ‘* You see that man, Owasco? Then know that his life is mine, and [ will have it. Never aim at bis breast, except to save a life, for he is my worst enemy and I have sworn to kill him.” ‘The Owl is a very bad man, but he is a brave warrior,” said Owasco. ‘‘ Why not shoot him now?” ‘No, no. He must not die until I have torn from his base heart the secret he hides there— the secret which it is my life’s business to un- ravel. What are they doing with that fellow? Asl live by bread, it is that young Irishman who lives with Jan Phieffer, at the Oak Open- ings. I wonder how they caught the rascal?” They dragged the prisoner more out into the light, kicking and cuffing him. For some reason they were highly incensed with him, and were proceeding to greater enormilies, when the girl advanced, and laid, her hand up- on the arm of the Owl, saying something to him which he did not seem +o like, for he stamped impatiently, and spoke quickly to his men in the Incian language, who at once ceased to beat the boy, and hauled him along until he stood before the young girl. ‘*] begin to understand,’ said Gilbert. “ That girl seems to have a great deal of power among the Indians, does she not? Then, im my opinion, she can be only one person.” The chief nodded, and kept his eyes upon the risoner. He wasa lean, shock-headed, bright- ooking boy, of undoubted Milesian origin, who had taken the many stripes he had received with a philosophical composure which was praiseworthy. ‘‘Who are you?’ said the girl, whose clear, rich voice reached the men on the island easily. ‘Pat O'Driscoll,” replied the boy. ** What were you doing in the woods to-day?” **None of your business,” replied the boy, with sturdy independence. ‘I want ye to know that I do jist as | want in the woods.” “You must be careful how you answer me. The warriors say that you were spying about their camp,” rH itp the girl. ‘“Tt’s a fia, thin,” replied the lad, with great composure. ‘‘The divil resave the step I tuk to folly thim. Sure an’ I have betther busi- mee than to chase a lot av red naygurs like thim. ‘‘The impudent young scoundrel will get him- self into trouble,” whispered the Guide. ‘‘ Can we do nothing for him?’ **Pat bas a long tongue,” said the chief. ‘‘He will make the hearts of the Wyandots burn within them, and they will light the death-fire about him, unless the Queen of the Lake will stand his friend.” ‘*Can she save him?” said Gilbert. ** My brother knows it,” said Owaseo. ‘‘ Who has not heard of the Queen of the Lake and her wonderful — among the Wyandots? From the great falls to the lake of the North they have heard her name. Sbe prophesies t things, and they come to pass. Her yoice is heard in the council, and old men listen, and say it is good. She walks the woods like a spirit, and no man dare say to ‘Come no further.’ Great medicine is the Queen of the Lake.” | ‘‘ Boy,” said the Queen, with a haughty look, “you do not know to whom you speak or what ou say. These braves who have taken you lave been taught to hate men of your nation, and to kill them wherever they can find them. Do not use your tongue so freely, or no one can tell what may happen.” ‘‘ Lookee here,” retorted Pat; ‘*I’m an Irish- man miesilf, born an’ brid, till the backbone. I'm thrue grit, too, and I’m like the bull-dog— onee I seize hould ay any wan, I niver lit go till the tathe break or the piece comes out. hoo! Here’s til the ‘gem av the say; Erin go bragh! Whoo! I kin bate the hid av inny man that spakes a wurrud against ould Ireland.” The Queen turned to her men and touched her forehead significantly. ‘‘ Brethren,” she EGOmiGcbdooks-co