Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 20 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

- Jutions of a real At the moment when Black Cat rose and was preparing to utter a few words, proba- -bly with the intention of explaining the rea- son of the meeting, a great noise was heard, and a mounted Indian galloped up, shout- ” a a The Buffaloes! Stanapat, Stanapat !’’ Another Indian arriving at equal speed from the opposite direction, shouted at the same time: ‘The Siksekai! the Siksekai !”’ ‘‘ Here are Ourallies,’’ Black Cat then said; “my sons will prepare to receive them.”’ The council was broken up. The warriors, hurriedly assembled, formed into two large bands, flanked on the wings by horsemen, and ranged themselves for battle in the two directions indicated by the scouts. The wardetachment of the Buffaloes ap- peared descending a hill, and advancing in ood order. It was composed of about ve hundred warriors, perfectly armed and painted for war, and looking most martial. A detachment of the Siksekai of about equal strength appeared immediately after, marching in good order. So soon as the four Indian bands saw each other, they uttered their war-cry, discharged their muskets and brandished their lances, while the horsemen, starting at full speed, executed the most singular evolutions, rush- ing on each other asif charging, turning and eurveting round the detachments which marched on at quick-step, singing, shouting, firing their guns, rattling their chikikouis, blowing their shells, and incessantly sound- ing their war-whistles. Phere was something really imposing in the aspect of these savage warriors, with their stern faces, clothed in fantastic cos- tumes, andcovered with feathers and hair, which the wind blew in every direction. hen the four parties arrived at a short distance from each other, they stopped and the noise ceased. Then the principal chiefs, holding in their hand the totem of their tribes, left the ranks, followed by the pipe-bearer, carrying a great sacred calumet ; they walked a few paces toward each other, and planted the totem on their right. The pipe-bearers filled the calumets, light- ed them, bowed to the four cardinal points, and handed them in turn to the chief, while holding the bowls in their hands, and being careful that no one was passed over. ‘This preliminary ceremony accomplished, the principal sorcerer of the Buffaloes plac- ed himself between the totems, and turned to the sun. _**Home of light!’ he said, ‘‘ thou who Vivifiest every thingin nature, servant and visible representative of the Great Invisible Spirit who governs the world which he has created, thy children long separated are as- sembling to-day to defend their villages and hunting-grounds, unjustly and incessantly attacked by men without faith or country whom Niang, the Spirit of Evil, has lot loose npon them. Smile on their efforts, O Sun, and grant them the scalps,of their en- emies! Grant that they be victorious, and accept this offering made thee by thy fervent adorer, to render thee favorable to thy sons, and make thy Apache children invincible!” While uttering these words, he seized a light stone-ax banging at his girdle, anc placing his left arm on a rock, laid open his wrist with one blow. The blood poured profusely from this hor- rible wound ; but the sorcerer, impassive and apparently insensible to pain, drew himself up with an eye flashing with enthusiasm and religious fanaticism, and shaking his arm in every direction, sprinkled the chiefs. with his blood, while shouting in a lowd voice: ‘Sun, Sun, grant us our enemies, as J] have given thee my hand!”’ \l the Indians repeated the same prayer, ~The ene recommenced, and in an instant the red-skins, seized with a spirit of frenzy, rushed upon each other, peanaiening their weapons to the sound of the chickikouis and sagan ie a imitating all the evo- attle. The sorcerer, still stoical, wrapped up his mutilated arm in grass,and retired with aslow and measured step, saluted on his passage by she Indians whom his action had electri- ed. When the tumult was slightly calmed, the chs hance dice, for the second time round e council-fire, whose circle had been en- larged to make room for the allies. e newly-arrived warriors were mingled with those of Black Cat, and the greatest cordiali.y prevailed among those ferocious , men, whose number amounted at this. mo- ment to nearly two thousand, who. only Opgamert of Blood, murder, and pillage. “Confederate sachems of the powerful nation of the Apaches,’ Stanapat said, ‘‘ you know the cause which once again draws us uD, arnis in hand,against the perfidious white men, It is, therefore, useless to enter into The New York Library. details you know; still, I believe, that since fie hatchet has been dug up, we ought to use it tillit is blunted. ‘The pale-faces daily invade our territory more and more; they respect none of our laws; they kill us like wild beasts. Let us forget our personal strifes for an instant, to combine against the common foe, that Bloodson, whom the genius of evil has created for our ruin. If we can manage to remain united, we shall exterm- inate him, for we shall be the stronger! When we have conquered, we will share the spoil of ourenemy. I have spoken.” Stanapat sat down again, and Black Cat rose in his turn. ‘‘ We are unanimous enough to commence the war with advantage; within afew days other auxiliaries will have found us. Why wait longer? ‘Ten white hunters of the prairies, our allies, offer to surrender to us the den of the long-knives of the East, in which they tell me they have friends. What do we wait for? Let us ulter our war-cry and start at once; any delay may be deadly for us, by giving our enemi¢s time to pre- pare a desperate resistance, against which all our efforts will be broken. Let my broth- ers reflect. I have spoken,”’ ‘* My brother has spoken well,” Stanapat answered; ‘‘we must fall like lightning on our enemy, who will be terrified by an unex- — attack; but we should not be impru- ent. Where are the white hunters?” ‘* Here,’’ Black Cat replied. ‘‘T ask,” the sachem continued, ‘‘ that they be heard by the council.”’ The other chiefs bowed their heads in as- sent, and Black Cat rose and went to the Pi- rates, who were impatiently awaiting the result of the deliberation of the sachems. CHAPTER XIL BLACK OAT. In order to understand the ensuing inci- dents, we are compelled to return to the maidens whom we leit at the moment when they escaped from Red Cedar’s camp, es- corted by the Canadian hunters. The fugitives stopped a few moments be- fore sunrise on a little tongue of sand form- ing a species of promontory a few yards in length on the waters of the Gila, which were rather deep at this point, whence the river or prairie could be surveyed. All was calm and tranquil in the desert. The impetuous Gila rolled along its yellow- ish stream between two banks clothed with wood and thick chapparal. Amid the dark green branches, thousands of birds were striking up a concert, with which was min- gied at intervals the lowing of the buffaloes. The first care of the hunters was to kindle a fire and prepare the morning meal, while their hobbled horses nibbled the young tree- shoots. ‘‘Why breakfast already, Harry ?’’ Ellen asked, ‘‘ when we have been traveling hard- ly four hours.”’ ‘“We do not know what awaits us in an hour, Miss Ellen,” the hunter answered; “hence we must profit by the moment of respite Providence grants us to restore our strength.’’ The maiden let her head droop. © The meal was soon ready, and when it was over they remounted and the flight com- menced. Al) at onee, a shrill and peculiar whistle was heard in the tall grass, and some forty Indians, as if emerging from the ground, surrounded the party. At the first moment, Ellen fancied that these men were the Coras warriors Eagle- wing was to bring up; but the illusion last- ed a very short while, and agiance sufficed for them to recognize Apaches. Dona Clara, at first alarmed by this unex- pected attack, soon regained her coolness, and saw that any resistance was impossible. ‘* You would sacrifice yourselves in vain for me,’’ she said to the Canadians; ‘ leave me temporarily in the hands of these In- dians, whom I fearless than Red Cedar’s gold-seekers, Fly, Ellen—fly, my friends.’ ‘*No!l’’ the American girl exclaimed, pas- sionately ; ‘* I will die with you, my friend.’’ ‘The two women will follow us, as well as the pale-face hunters,’’ one of the Indians commanded. ‘For what purpose |”? Dona Clara asked, softly. At asign from the chief, two men seized the young Mexican girl, and tied her to her horse, though not employing any violence. With a movement swifter than though Harry lifted Elien from her saddle, place her across his horse’s neck, and trying a des- erate effort, threw himself,followed by Dick, nto the thick of the red-skins. Employing their rifles like clubs, they began felling the Apaches, « | ‘here was, for a moment, a terrible con- test, but at length Harry succeeded, after desperate efforts, In forcing his way, and set off at full speed, bearing with him Red Ce- dar’s daughter, who had fainted from terror. Less lucky than he, Dick, after felling two or three Indians, was hurled from his horse, and nailed to the Seng by a lance, The young man, in falling, cast a despairing, glance at her whom he had been unable to save, and for whom he died. An Indian leaped on his body, raised his* scalp, and brandished it, with cries of feroci- ous laughter, before the eyes of Dona Clara, who was half dead with terror and pain. The red-skins then started at a gallop, carrying off their prey with them. Dona Clara’s abductors had not made her endure any unkind treatment. These Indians formed part of an Apache war-party, about ond hundred strong, and commanded by a renowned chief, Black Cat. All these warriors were well armed, and mounted on handsome and good horses. Immediately after capturing the maiden, they startedat a gallop across the prairie for nearly six hours, in the hope of outstri ping any party that might start in pursuit, and toward nightfall they halted on the banks of the Gila. At this spot the river flowed majestically between two escarped banks, bordered by lofty rocks carved in the strangest fashion, The ground was still covered bya grass at least three feet high, and a few clumps of trees scattered. over the plain agreeably diversified the landscape, which was enliv- ened by flocks of buffaloes, elks, and big- horns, which could be seen feeding in the distance. The Indians raised their tents on a hill, from the top of which a very extensive view could be enjoyed. They lit several fires, and prepared to pass the night in waiting for the other warriors to join them. Dona Clara was placed by herself in a tent of buffalo-skins, in which a fire was lighted, as at this advanced season the nights are cold. Accustomed to desert life, and familiar- ized with Indian customs, Dona Clara would have patiently supported her position, had it not been forthe thought of the misfor- tunes which had so long crushed her, and of her father’s fate of which she was ignorant. Seated on buffalo-skins by the fire, she had ‘ust finished eating afew mouthfuls of roast elk, washed down with water, and was re- flecting deeply on the strange and terrible events which had marked this day, when the curtain of the tent was raised, and Black Cat appeared. The chief was a man of lofty stature. He was upward of sixty years of age, but his hair was still black. a He enjoyed in his tribe a reputation for courage and wisdom, which he justified in every respect. A cloud of sorrow vailed his naturally soft and placid features, He walked slowly in, and took @ seat the side of Dona Clara, whom he regarde for some moments with interest, ‘* My daughter is afflicted,” he said ; “‘ she is thinking of her father, her heart is with her family; but my daughter will take courage, and not be cast down. Natosh (God) will come to her, and dry her tears.”’ The young Mexican shook her head sadly, but made noreply; the chief continued: -- ‘‘T alsosuffer: a cloud is very heavy on my mind. The pale-face warriors of her nation wage an obstinate war with us, but I know the way to make them assume the féet of antelopes, to fly far from ‘our hunt- mF Ngee To-morrow, on reaching the village of my tribe, I will have recourse to a vreat medicine. My daughter will con+ sole herself; no harm will happen to her among us; 1 will be her father.” ‘Chief,’ Dona Clara answered, “lead me back to Santa Fé, and I promise you my father will give you as many rifles, powder, bullets, and looking-glasses as you like to ask of him.”’ “That is not possible; my daughter is too precious # hostage for me to think of surrendering her. My daughter must for- get the whites, whom she will never see ain, and prepare to become the wife of a ef. ‘““T!” the maiden exclaimed, in terror, “become the wife of an Indian? Never— make mé undergo all the tortures you please to inflict ov me, instead of condemning me to such a punishment.”’ ! ** My daughter will reflect,” Black Cat an- swered. ‘*Of what does the White Lily of the Valley complain? We are only doing to y= her what has been done to us that is the law of the prairies.” a oon Black Cat rose, giving Dona Clara a min« led glance of tenderness and pity, and slow+ y left the tent. «ginal After his departure the poor girl fell: inte a state of utter prostration; the horror of a A ser orie appeared before her in all iv boo > » sh}