Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 183 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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ee ee ee enemies. Scarcely had they disappeared beyond a bend in the river when Morena appeared, and Dar- romed was delighted that she had not come in time to see Helen and Pat. “The woods are full of braves,” she said, wind?” ‘Big Whirlwind will meet the fate of other white chiefs who have come into the country of | | “Do the Indians mean to strike at Big Whirl- | | | the Saawnee and the Wyandot,” replied Darro- | med, he shall sleep in a bloody grava.” ‘So will many braves of the nations,” she de- clared, ‘I pray you do not stir up the war- riors to battle, for they cannot beat the Bi Whirlwind as they have beaten St. Clair an Harmar.” ‘You will not believe that the nations are | tle, and sittin strong. They are not alone, for their brothers, the British, will give them aid.” ‘““Why should you change masters?’ she asked. ‘‘What the Americans want the red- coats will also demand. McKay is a snake in the grass, and his heart is full of evil. If you had heard the words he has spoken in the ears of Morena you would no longer trust him.” ‘‘Ha! did he insult Morena, Queen of the Luke?” he cried. ** He did.” “It is well that I was not by with a hatchet in my hand,” hissed the chief. well to be careful, for the blood of a chief is warm, and may grow warmer.” ‘Are the chiefs determined upon battle?’ she persisted, still eager to find out what they in- tended to do.” “Yes; the nations cry out for war. But first we must put the fox asleep, and so we speak kind words in the ears of the white men, and when they are lulled to rest, the nations will come down like a flood.” Morena, by a series of skillful questions, made out that the attack would not be many hours deferred. Then, as she turned to go away, she remembered something. “Chief,” she said, coming quickly back, **you know what I wear about my neck. It opens like a watch, and inside are two pictures, atmian anda woman. Ever since I can remem- ber Ihave worn this. Will you tell me from whence it cams?” “Wagh!” cried the chief, angrily. ‘‘ When had Morena so long a tongue? It is yours, and that is enough for you to know.” ‘Why should | not know?’ **Be silent, Morena, or you will arouse the reat wrath of Darromed, whose has been indled against you for many days. Say no more about the pictures, or I will tear the bau- ble from your neck and cast it into the water. Does it seem well for a daughter of the Wyan- dots to love the pictures of those of the accursed race? ‘**Some of the blood flows in these veins, how much Ido not know,” replied Morena, ‘‘ And when you say you will take this picture from me, you know that you dare not; for your life you dare not!” She stood like an enraged pythoness glarin at him, one hand firmly clasping the barrel o her ca-bine, and the other stretched out in a haughty gesture. Cowed by her manner, Dar- romed was silent, and shortly after she left the oy A to carry Wayne the intelligence which put him upon his guard against the Indians. After she left the camp she met an Indian who was in her service, and who told her exactly when the fight would begin, and under her di- rection he lighted the fire upon the hill-to which commanded a view of the battle-field, ek the sanguinary conflict she stood upon the hill, looking down upon the strife, her fine face expressing her sorrow. “Why would not my Bee listen, why would they not remember that my knowledge was greater than theirs? See, they fly before the disciplined men of Wayne, and there will be wailing to-night in the villages of the tribes,” she said, unconsciously. “Then the tribes should hear reason when it is spoken,” said a quiet voice at her side. She turned and saw that Owasco had come up the hill, and with her was looking at the battle. CHAPTER XXII, A GENEROUS DEED—MORENA AT MIAMI. “ Have you found her?” cried the chief, ea- gerly, ‘‘or is she still in the hands of Darro- med?’ “*Darromed did not have her a few hours ago | from exhaustion, he unless she was hidden somewhere, for I was In his camp. But let me give you a guide, so that _ you may know which way to go. Darromed is a snake in the grass, but he has another friend, even worse than he, Have you heard the name of McKay on the river?” “Hugh!” was the guttural exclamation. ‘See you how the blood of the red-man is flow- | ing yonder? McKay is the cause, and I will nad He it was who stirred up the In- | bow, and at his side four or five arrows, thrust not forget it. ‘* Before a sun has gone over your head | ; ; Gilbert, the Guide. banks were lined, could not mistake them for | beaten, and it is better so. The tribes must know their master. See, see!” The Indians were broken and flying in wild disorder through the woods. They heard the charging cheer of tbe legion, and caught pumpeds of their blue uniforms and bright ayonets dashing through the cover. A cloud of fugitives ran along the river bank in wild dismay, while some cast themselves into the stream, preferring rather to meet that fate than to feel the steel of their pursuers, “We must away,” cried the Onondaga. ‘My life would not be worth one of the shining coins of the white man if I stayed.” ‘““Go, then!” replied Morena. ‘‘I have no fear of the coming Indians, for they know that I am a true friend.” Owasco turned and ran rapidly up the stream to a point half a mile above the scene of the bat- down in a place where a screen of bushes hid him from the view of those upon the other bank, he waited anxiously. When he escaped with Gilbert from the toils of the savages, into which they had been led _ by the treachery of McKay, he had been com- **He would do | pelled to make a defour in order to get away from them, and when he considered himself safe, none of his party could be seen, nor had they answered his signals, and he was forced to believe either that they had perished or were prisoners in the handsof the enemy. He had turned back because he found the country full of Indians, advancing to the ren- _dezvous of the Rapids, and he knew that the great struggle was about to commence, but had not come in time to join it. Sitting concealed under the bushes, he was aware that a man in ragged and bloody attire was crawling down the opposite bank. In spite of the mask of blood and filth in which he was enveloped, Owasco knew his enemy, Darromed. | After launching the poisoned arrow at Gilbert, he had made a circuit, and passing through the rear of the Americans, gained the bank of the river. There was something horrible be- yond description in the savage chief in his lood-stained garb, and he was evidently half- maddened by his misfortunes. He did not pause long upon the bank, but plunged boldly in, and when he appeared upon the surface, swam vigorously toward the very spot where Owasco Jay concealed. The Onondaga looren- ed bis hatchet and knife, and prepared for a desperate encounter, for he knew that Darro- med would be no easy prey. The Wyandot reached the bank at last, and drew himself up slowly, evidently in great ain. Owasco then for the first time saw how adly wounded he was, and the generous heart which beatin his red bosom would not suffer him to assail a wounded man. But he lay quiet, while the chief slowly ascended the bank, when he sprung up suddenly and ap- ared before him, with his hand upon his atchet. Darromed uttered a low, guttural cry, and looked at the Soopers with a glance of fire, as he slowly drew his knife from bis belt. ‘*Renegade dog!” he hissed. ‘‘ You have stood upon the hights to laugh at the destruc- tion of the greatest plot the Indians ever framed; you, whose skin is red but whose heart is black; you, who should have stood by my side fighting against the enemies of your race. Come to me, and I will give the crows Mes body to pick at. Your scalp shall not ang in my lodge, with the scalps of those who have fallen in battle bravely; I will tie a stone to it and sink it in the depths of a black river, for it is not worthy to bang beside brave men’s,” ‘*‘Your blood has flowed fast and you have lost your mind, or you would remember that I bave fought with you before,” answered Owas- co, quietly. ‘No, lam not a fool, neither am I a coward. en you are strong enough to fight, I will meet you and teach you what it is to meet the wrath of an Onondaga chief. Where is Helen, the girl whose face is fairer than the Night Spirit, whom you stole away?” **Do I not say that ‘you are a coward? ho ever dared to face Darromed in his anger? Where the white girlis I know, but you must dig deep into my heart to find the secret out. She is far away, and nevermore shall the white man gaze upon her, never hear her voice, sweet as the music of running water.” “You must tell me!” replied Owasco, firmly. ** The secret is here,” replied Darromed, beat- ing upon his breast. ‘‘Come and find it.” wasco ey daw to grow angry. He knew that at any time he was a match for Darromed, but now, when the bad! a's actually trembled ad the game in his own hands. But, it did not accord with his ideas of honor, and he restrained himself by an ef- | fort. ‘You talk like a child,” said he: “as if I[ could not see that your blood is flowing. Ha! put down your hand, If you touch the bow I will kill you like a dog.” Darromed had upon his back a small steel dian to fight against his white brothers, and | into a thick leathern sheath, with the points now the power of the tribes must be broken.” downward. Once or twice he had attempted “‘T have no fear that the white man will be ' to take down this bow, but as often was re- strained by the menacing attitude of Owasco. The Onoridaga knowing the nature of the chief, understood at once that the arrows were poi- soned, and that the slightest touch was death ~ ~ any part of the body, mutilation if ina imb. He saw that nothing but quick action could save him, and darting in, he threw his right arm about the body of the chief, pinioning bis left arm to his side, As they went down to- gether, he snatched the little quiver from the side of Darromed and flung it into the stream. The victory was even more rapid than he had hoped, for Darromed had not been aware how very weak he had become from loss of blood, and he was but a plaything in the bands of his foe. Before he had time to think, his only re- maining weapon, his knife, was wrested from his grasp, and he was a prisoner in the hands of Owasco. “Why don’t you strike?” he screamed. ‘‘ Why are you a fool, when you should be wise? Iam the man who hates you, the man who to-day took the life of Gilbert, the Guide.” “Take care!” hissed Owasco, gritting his teeth. “If I thought that true I would bury my knife to the bilt in your heart.” ‘*It is true. The poison of the rattlesnake is in his veins, Ab, ha!” ‘*] begin to see blood before my eyes,” mut- tered Owasco. ‘‘ Dog, if you speak true, the death I will give you will be terrible. Say once more that you bave sjain him.” But Darromed was silent. The last flash from the eyes of Owasco had cowed him, ani he dared not speak. * Answer!” cried Owasco, ** Yes,” replied Darromed. Owasco took out the buckskin thongs from the leggins of his prisoner, and tied bim secure: ly. One of the qneia arrows bad dropped out upon the earth, and he picked it up, looking at it curiously. Then, with anything but an agreeable expression upon his face, he sat down by the chief. ‘*T want to know where the white girl is, and no man can tell so well as Darromed. Will you not speak?” ‘** Owasco isa fool,” was the reply. **' Yes; Owasco is such a fool that he wishes to see how poison works upon the flesh of a W yandot. it is a strange thing that a little stain upon a steel point is enough to take the life of aman. Se ! lam going to prick you in the face.” ‘No, no!” screamed Darromed, for the first time showing fear; ‘‘ do not touch me.” ‘You are caught in the net veu set for others. Tell me where Helen is, or I will touch you. ‘She is with McKay, the red-coat agent,” Darromed confessed. ‘1 speak true words, and now take away the arrow.’ - Owasco did nothing of the kind, but kept moving the horrible weapon backward and for- ward over the nose of the terrified chief, who actually turned livid with affright. “What must I tell you now?’ te cried. “Take it away or you will touch me.” “It is good!” persisted Owasco. ‘I have found one thing that Darromed fears. Where has McKay gone with Helen?” “Down the river, and then to Detroit,” re- plied Darromed. ‘*Good! Does he want her for his wife?” de- manded the Onondaga. ‘Yes. Take away the arrow.” ‘*T will lay it down; and when I think you are lying to me, you areadead man. Where is Waterman, the agent?” , ‘He escaped. He rode a wild horse over the Council Bluff, and got clear.” “ Where is Pat, the Irishman?” “He is with McKay, to wait upon him, be- cause he ran away from him long ago.” ** And where is Gilbert, the Guide, the friend who has been true to me so many years?” ‘IT do not know,” answered the chief, sullen- ly; “‘he is a dog, and I hate bim.” Owasco took up the arrow and approached it to the cheek of the bound man. But the chief did not flinch, He knew that if he acknowl- edged the death of Gilbert it would be his own passport into eternity. “Are you telling me true words?’ demanded the Onondago, sullenly. “If you lie, you die upon the spot.” Darromed said nothing; and with a guttural laugh the Onondaga cast the arrow into the stream, cut the bonds upon the limbs of his prisoner, and assisted him to arise. ““Go!” he said. * An Onondaga cannot strike an unarmed man, and one who is wounded, We shall meet again.” Now that the prospect of a horrible death b poison had passed away, the chief was himself again, ‘Kill me,” he said, offering his breast. ‘I do not fear death by the knife or the hatchet. and I will not take life from your hands.” ‘You must.” Owasco spoke scornfully. “1 warn you that I will never rest until you are dead if you let me go.” “TI care not. I will net strike you. Go in peace, and wait for the time when you will be strong enough to meet Owasco in battle.” “Have you lied?” JOO (ECA MCE <S co