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Ellis</title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + margin-top: { 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; right: 100%; font-size: 8pt; justify: right;} /* page numbers */ + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size:10pt;} + // --> + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Lost Trail, by Edward S. Ellis</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Lost Trail</p> +<p>Author: Edward S. Ellis</p> +<p>Release Date: February 18, 2004 [eBook #11151]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: iso-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST TRAIL***</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><h3>E-text prepared by Wilelmina Mallière<br> + and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders</h3></center> +<br> +<table border=0 bgcolor="ccccff" cellpadding=10> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Project Gutenberg also has another text file version of + this book from a different source.<br> + See etext04/lstrl10.txt or etext04/lstrl10.zip:<br> + <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/lstrl10.txt"> + http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/lstrl10.txt</a><br> + or<br> + <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/lstrl10.zip"> + http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/lstrl10.zip</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="full"> +<br> +<div style="text-align: center;"><img + style="width: 512px; height: 747px;" alt="The Lost trail" + title="The Lost Trail" src="images/lt001.jpg"><br> +</div> +<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 482px; height: 725px;" + alt="THAT INDIAN HAS CARRIED CORA AWAY!"—Frontispiece." + title="THAT INDIAN HAS CARRIED CORA AWAY!"—Frontispiece." + src="images/lt002.jpg"></p> +<h1><br> +</h1> +<h1>THE LOST TRAIL</h1> +<h2>BY</h2> +<h2>EDWARD S. ELLIS</h2> +<h2><small><small><small>AUTHOR OF "SETH JONES," "THE FOREST SPY," +ETC., +ETC. +</small></small></small></h2> +<p style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">NEW YORK HURST & +COMPANY PUBLISHERS</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<h6>COPYRIGHT, 1911. BY HURST & COMPANY.</h6> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<h3 style="text-align: left;">CHAPTER</h3> +<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span + style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I. The Shadow</span></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">II. The +Adventures of a Night</span></a><br> + +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">III. The Jug +Acquaintances</span></a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">IV. An Ominous +Rencounter</span></a><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V">V. Gone</a></span><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">VI. The Lost Trail</span></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">VII. A +Hibernian's Search for the Trail</span></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII. The Trail of Death</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">IX. The +Dead Shot</span></a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">X. Conclusion</span></a><br> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;"><br> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<p><a href="#He_held_his_long_rifle_in_his_right_hand_while_he_drew">He +held his long rifle in his right hand, while he drew the shrubbery +apart with his left, and looked forth at the canoe</a></p> +<p><a href="#A_purty_question_ye_murtherin_haythen">"A purty question, +ye murtherin haythen!"</a></p> +<p><a href="#Where_does_yees_get_the_jug">"Where does yees get the jug?"</a></p> +<p><a href="#Dealt_the_savage_a_tremendous_blow">Dealt the savage a +tremendous blow</a></p> +<p><a href="#quotWell_At-to-uckquot_said_he_kindly_quotyou_seem">"Well, +At-to-uck," said he, kindly, "you seem troubled."</a></p> +<p><a href="#THE_TRAIL_WAS_LOST">The trail was lost</a></p> +<p><a href="#quotAnd_so_Teddy_ye're_sayin_it_war_a_white_man">"And +so, Teddy, ye're sayin' it war a white man that took away the +missionary's wife."</a></p> +<p><a + href="#Its_all_upquot_muttered_the_dying_man">"It's +all up!" muttered the dying man. "I am wiped out at last, and +must go under!"</a></p> +<p><a href="#quotHarvey_Richtermdashdont_you_know_me">"Harvey +Richter—don't you know me?" he gasped.</a></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h1>THE LOST TRAIL.</h1> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE SHADOW.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 200px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ye +who love the haunts of nature,</span><small style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love the sunshine of the +meadow,</span><small style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love the shadow of the forest,</span><small + style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love the wind among the +branches,</span><small style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">And the rain-shower and the +snow-storm,</span><small style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">And the rushing of great +rivers.</span><small style="font-weight: bold;"><br> +</small><span style="font-weight: bold;">Listen to these wild +traditions.—HIAWATHA.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>One day in the spring of 1820, a singular occurrence took place on +one +of the upper tributaries of the Mississippi.</p> +<p>The bank, some fifteen or twenty feet in height, descended quite +abruptly to the stream's edge. Though both shores were lined with +dense forest, this particular portion possessed only several sparse +clumps of shrubbery, which seemed like a breathing-space in this sea +of verdure—a gate in the magnificent bulwark with which nature girts +her streams. This green area commanded a view of several miles, both +up and down stream.</p> +<p>Had a person been observing this open spot on the afternoon of the +day +in question, he would have seen a large bowlder suddenly roll from the +top of the bank to bound along down the green declivity and fall into +the water with a loud splash. This in itself was nothing remarkable, +as such things are of frequent occurrence in the great order of +things, and the tooth of time easily could have gnawed away the few +crumbs of earth that held the stone in poise.</p> +<p>Scarcely five minutes had elapsed, however, when a second bowlder +rolled downward in a manner precisely similar to its predecessor, and +tumbled into the water with a rush that resounded across and across +from the forest on either bank.</p> +<p>Even this might have occurred in the usual course of things. +Stranger +events take place every day. The loosening of the first stone could +have opened the way for the second, although a suspicious observer +might naturally have asked why its fall did not follow more +immediately.</p> +<p>But, when precisely the same interval had elapsed, and a third stone +followed in the track of the others, there could be no question but +what human agency was concerned in the matter. It certainly appeared +as if there were some <i>intent</i> in all this. In this remote +wilderness, +no white man or Indian would find the time or inclination for such +child's play, unless there was a definite object to be accomplished.</p> +<p>And yet, scrutinized from the opposite bank, the lynx-eye of a +veteran +pioneer would have detected no other sign of the presence of a human +being than the occurrences that we have already narrated; but the most +inexperienced person would have decided at once upon the hiding-place +of him who had given the moving impulse to the bodies.</p> +<p>Just at the summit of the bank was a mass of shrubbery of sufficient +extent and density to conceal a dozen warriors. And within this, +beyond doubt, was one person, at least, concealed; and it was certain, +too, that from his hiding-place, he was peering out upon the river. +Each bowlder had emerged from this shrubbery, and had not passed +through it in its downward course; so that their starting-point may +now be considered a settled question.</p> +<p>Supposing one to have gazed from this stand-point, what would have +been his field of vision? A long stretch of river—a vast, almost +interminable extent of forest—a faint, far-off glimpse of a mountain +peak projected like a thin cloud against the blue sky, and a solitary +eagle that, miles above, was bathing his plumage in the clear +atmosphere. Naught else?</p> +<p>Close under the opposite shore, considerably lower down than the +point +to which we first directed our attention, may be descried a dark +object. It is a small Indian canoe, in which are seated two white men +and a female, all of whom are attired in the garb of civilization. The +young man near the stern is of slight mold, clear blue eye, and a +prepossessing countenance. He holds a broad ashen paddle in his hand +with which to assist his companion, who maintains his proximity to the +shore for the purpose of overcoming more deftly the opposition of the +current. The second personage is a short but square-shouldered +Irishman, with massive breast, arms like the piston-rods of an engine, +and a broad, good-natured face. He is one of those beings who may be +aptly termed "machines," a patient, plodding, ox-like creature who +takes to the most irksome labor as a flail takes to the sheafs on the +threshing-floor. Work was his element, and nothing, it would seem, +could tire or overcome those indurated muscles and vice-like nerves. +The only appellation with which he was ever known to be honored was +that of "Teddy."</p> +<p>Near the center of the canoe, which was of goodly size and straight, +upon a bed of blankets, sat the wife of the young man in the stern. A +glance would have dissipated the slightest suspicion of her being +anything other than a willing voyager upon the river. There was the +kindling eye and glowing cheek, the eager look that flitted hither and +yon, and the buoyant feeling manifest in every movement, all of which +expressed more of enthusiasm than of willingness merely. Her constant +questions to her husband or Teddy, kept up a continual run of +conversation, which was now, for the first time, momentarily +interrupted by the occurrence to which we have alluded.</p> +<p>At the moment we introduce them the young man was holding his paddle +stationary and gazing off toward his right, where the splash in the +water denoted the fall of the third stone. His face wore an expression +of puzzled surprise, mingled with which was a look of displeasure, as +if he were "put out" at this manifestation. His eyes were fixed with a +keen, searching gaze upon the river-bank, expecting the appearance of +something more.</p> +<p>Teddy also was resting upon his paddle, and scrutinizing the point +in +question; but he seemed little affected by what had taken place. His +face was as expressionless as one of the bowlders, save the +ever-present look of imperturbable good-humor.</p> +<p>The young woman seemed more absorbed than either of her companions, +in +attempting to divine this mystery that had so suddenly come upon them. +More than once she raised her hand, as an admonition for Teddy to +preserve silence. Finally, however, his impatience got the better of +his obedience, and he broke the oppressive stillness.</p> +<p>"And what does ye make of it, Miss Cora, or Master Harvey?" he +asked, +after a few moments, dipping his paddle at the same time in the water. +"Arrah, now, has either of ye saan anything more than the same +bowlders there?"</p> +<p>"No," answered the man, "but we may; keep a bright look-out, Teddy, +and let me know what you see."</p> +<p>The Irishman inclined his head to one side, and closed one eye as if +sighting an invisible gun. Suddenly he exclaimed, with a start:</p> +<p>"I see something now, <i>sure</i> as a Bally-ma-gorrah wake."</p> +<p>"What is it?"</p> +<p>"The sun going down in the west, and tilling us we've no time to +shpare in fooling along here."</p> +<p>"Teddy, don't you remember day before yesterday when we came out of +the Mississippi into this stream, we observed something very similar +to this?"</p> +<p>"An' what if we did, zur? Does ye mane to say that a rock or two +can't +git tired of layin' in bed for a thousand years and roll around like a +potaty in a garret whin the floor isn't stiddy?"</p> +<p>"It struck us as so remarkable that we both concluded it must have +been caused <i>purposely</i> by some one."</p> +<p>"Me own opinion was, ye remember, that it was a lot of school-boys +that had run away from their master, and were indulging themselves in +a little shport, or that it was the bears at a shindy, or that it was +something else."</p> +<p>"Ah! Teddy, there are times when jesting is out of place," said the +young wife, reproachfully; "and it seems to me that when we are alone +in this vast wilderness, with many and many a long mile between us +and a white settlement, we should be grave and thoughtful."</p> +<p>"I strives to be so, Miss Cora, but it's harder than paddling this +cockle-shell of a canoe up-shtream. My tongue will wag jist as a dog's +tail when he can't kape it still."</p> +<p>The face of the Irishman wore such a long, woebegone expression, +that +it brought a smile to the face of his companion. Teddy saw this, and +his big, honest blue eyes twinkled with humor as he glanced upward +from beneath his hat.</p> +<p>"I knows yees <i>prays</i> for me, Misther Harvey and Miss Cora, +ivery +night and morning of your blessed life, but I'm afeard your prayers +will do as little good for Teddy as the s'arch-warrant did for Micky, +the praist's boy, who stole the praist's shirt and give it away +because it was lou—"</p> +<p>"<i>Look!</i>"</p> +<p>From the very center of the clump of bushes of which we have made +mention, came a white puff of smoke, followed immediately by the faint +but sharp report of a rifle. The bullet's course could be seen as it +skipped over the surface of the water, and finally dropped out of +sight.</p> +<p>"What do you say, now?" asked the young man. "Isn't that proof that +we've attracted attention?"</p> +<p>"So it saams; but, little dread need we have of disturbance if they +always kaap at such a respictable distance as that. Whisht, now! but +don't ye saa those same bushes moving? There's some one passing +through them! Mebbe it's a shadow, mebbe it's the divil himself. If +so, here goes after the imp!"</p> +<p>Catching up his rifle, Teddy discharged it toward the bank, although +it was absolutely impossible for his bullet to do more than reach the +shore.</p> +<p>"That's to show the old gintleman we are ready and ain't frightened, +be he the divil himself, or only a few of his children, that ye call +the poor Injuns!"</p> +<p>"And whoever it is, he is evidently as little frightened as you; +that +shot was a direct challenge to us."</p> +<p>"And it's accepted. Hooray! Now for some Limerick exercise!"</p> +<p>Ere he could be prevented, the Irishman had headed his canoe across +stream, and was paddling with all his might toward the spot from which +the first shot had been fired.</p> +<p>"Stop!" commanded his master. "It is fool-hardiness, on a par with +your general conduct, thus to run into an undefined danger."</p> +<p>Teddy reluctantly changed the course of the boat and said nothing, +although his face plainly indicated his disappointment. He had not +been mistaken, however, in the supposition that he detected the +movements of some person in the shrubbery. Directly after the shot had +been fired, the bushes were agitated, and a gaunt, grim-visaged man, +in a half-hunter and half-civilized dress, moved a few feet to the +right, in a manner which showed that he was indifferent as to whether +or not he was observed. He looked forth as if to ascertain the result +of his fire. The man was very tall, with a face by no means +unhandsome, although it was disfigured by a settled scowl, which +better befitted a savage enemy than a white friend. He held his long +rifle in his right hand, while he drew the shrubbery apart with his +left, and looked forth at the canoe.</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="He_held_his_long_rifle_in_his_right_hand_while_he_drew"></a><img + style="width: 466px; height: 725px;" + alt="He held his long rifle in his right hand, while he drew the shrubbery apart with his left, and looked forth at the canoe." + title="He held his long rifle in his right hand, while he drew the shrubbery apart with his left, and looked forth at the canoe." + src="images/lt003.jpg"></p> +<p>"I knew the distance was too great," he muttered, "but you will hear +of me again, Harvey Richter. I've had a dozen chances to pick you off +since you and your friends started up-stream, but I don't wish to do +<i>that</i>. No, no, not that. Fire away; but you can do me no more +harm +than I can you, at this moment."</p> +<p>Allowing the bushes to resume their wonted position, the stranger +deliberately reloaded his piece and as deliberately walked away in the +wood.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the voyagers resumed their journey and were making +quite rapid progress up-stream. The sun was already low in the sky, +and it was not long before darkness began to envelop wood and stream. +At a sign from the young man, the Irishman headed the canoe toward +shore. In a few moments they landed, where, if possible, the wood was +more dense than usual. Although quite late in the spring, the night +was chilly, and they lost no time in kindling a good fire.</p> +<p>The travelers appeared to act upon the presumption that there were +no +such things as enemies in this solitude. Every night they had run +their boat in to shore, started a fire, and slept soundly by it until +morning, and thus far, strange as it may seem, they had suffered no +molestation and had seen no signs of ill-will, if we except the +occurrences already related. Through the day, the stalwart arms of +Teddy, with occasional assistance from the more delicate yet firm +muscles of Harvey, had plied the paddle. No attempt at concealment +was made. On several occasions they had landed at the invitation of +Indians, and, after smoking, and presenting them with a few trinkets, +had departed again, in peace and good-will.</p> +<p>Not to delay information upon an important point, we may state that +Harvey Richter was a young minister who had recently been appointed +missionary to the Indians. The official members of his denomination, +while movements were on foot concerning the spiritual welfare of the +heathen in other parts of the world, became convinced that the red-men +of the American wilds were neglected, and conceding fully the force of +the inference drawn thence, young men were induced to offer themselves +as laborers in the savage American vineyard. Great latitude was +granted in their choice of ground—being allowed an area of thousands +upon thousands of square miles over which the red-man roamed in his +pristine barbarism. The vineyard was truly vast and the laborers few.</p> +<p>While his friends selected stations comparatively but a short +distance +from the bounds of civilization, Harvey Richter decided to go to the +Far Northwest. Away up among the grand old mountains and majestic +solitudes, hugging the rills and streams which roll eastward to feed +the great continental artery called the Mississippi, he believed lay +his true sphere of duty. Could the precious seed be deposited there, +if even in a single spot, he was sure its growth would be rapid and +certain, and, like the little rills, it might at length become the +great, steadily-flowing source of light and life.</p> +<p>Harvey Richter had read and studied much regarding the American +aborigines. To choose one of the wildest, most untamed tribes for his +pupils, was in perfect keeping with his convictions and his character +for courage. Hence he selected the present hunting-grounds of the +Sioux, in upper Minnesota. Shortly before he started he was married to +Cora Brandon, whose devotion to her great Master and to her husband +would have carried her through any earthly tribulations. Although she +had not urged the resolution which the young minister had taken, yet +she gladly gave up a luxurious home and kind friends to bear him +company.</p> +<p>There was yet another whose devotion to the young missionary was +scarcely less than that of the faithful wife. We refer to the +Irishman, Teddy, who had been a favorite servant for many years in +the family of the Richters. Having fully determined on sharing the +fortunes of his young master, it would have grieved his heart very +deeply had he been left behind. He received the announcement that he +was to be a life-long companion of the young man, with an expression +at once significant of his pride and his joy.</p> +<p>"Be jabers, but Teddy McFadden is in luck!"</p> +<p>And thus it happened that our three friends were ascending one of +the +tributaries of the upper Mississippi on this balmy day in the spring +of 1820. They had been a long time on the journey, but were now +nearing its termination. They had learned from the Indians daily +encountered, the precise location of the large village, in or near +which they had decided to make their home for many and many a year to +come.</p> +<p>After landing, and before starting his fire, Teddy pulled the canoe +up +on the bank. It was used as a sort of shelter by their gentler +companion, while he and his master slept outside, in close proximity +to the camp-fire. They possessed a plentiful supply of game at all +times, for this was the Paradise of hunters, and they always landed +and shot what was needed.</p> +<p>"We must be getting well up to the northward," remarked the young +man, as he warmed his hands before the fire. "Don't you notice any +difference in the atmosphere, Cora?"</p> +<p>"Yes; there is a very perceptible change."</p> +<p>"If this illigant fire only keeps up, I'm thinking there'll be a +considerable difference afore long. The ways yees be twisting and +doubling them hands, as if ye had hold of some delightsome soap, +spaaks that yees have already discovered a difference. It is better +nor whisky, fire is, in the long run, providin' you don't swaller +it—the fire, that is."</p> +<p>"Even if swallowed, Teddy, fire is better than whisky, for fire +burns +only the body, while whisky burns the soul," answered the minister.</p> +<p>"Arrah, that it does; for I well remimbers the last swig I took +a'most +burnt a hole in me shirt, over the bosom, and they say that is where +the soul is located."</p> +<p>"Ah, Teddy, you are a sad sinner, I fear," laughingly observed Mrs. +Richter, at this extravagant allusion.</p> +<p>"A <i>sad</i> sinner! Divil a bit of it. I haven't saan the day for +twinty +year whin I couldn't dance at me grandmother's wake, or couldn't use a +shillalah at me father's fourteenth weddin'. Teddy <i>sad</i>? Well, +that +is a—is a—a mistake," and the injured fellow further expressed his +feelings by piling on the fuel until he had a fire large enough to +have roasted a battalion of prize beeves, had they been spitted before +it.</p> +<p>Darkness at length fairly settled upon the wood and stream; the +gloom +around became deep and impressive. The inevitable haunch of venison +was roasting before the roaring fire, Teddy watching and attending it +with all the skill of an experienced cook. While thus engaged, the +missionary and his wife were occupied in tracing the course of the +Mississippi and its tributaries upon a pocket map, which was the chief +guide in that wilderness of streams and "tributaries." Who could deny +the vastness of the field, and the loud call for laborers, when such +an immense extent then bore only the name of "Unexplored Region!" And +yet, this same headwater territory was teeming with human beings, as +rude and uncultivated as the South Sea Islanders. What were the +feelings of the faithful couple as their eyes wandered to the left of +the map, where these huge letters confronted them, we can only +surmise. That they felt that ten thousand self-sacrificing men could +be employed in this portion of the country we may well imagine.</p> +<p>As the evening meal was not yet ready, the missionary folded the map +and fell to musing—musing of the future he had marked out for +himself; enjoying the sweet approval of his conscience, higher and +purer than any enjoyment of earth. All at once came back the +occurrence of the afternoon, which had been absent from his thoughts +for the hour past. But, now that it was recalled, it engaged his mind +with redoubled force.</p> +<p>Could he be assured that it was a red-man who had fired the shot, +the +most unpleasant apprehension would be dissipated; but a suspicion +<i>would</i> haunt him, in spite of himself, that it was not a red-man, +but +a white, who had thus signified his hostility. The rolling of the +stones must have been simply to call his attention, and the rifle-shot +was intended for nothing more than to signify that he was an enemy.</p> +<p>And who could this enemy be? If a hunter or an adventurer, would he +not naturally have looked upon any of his own race, whom he +encountered in the wilderness, as his friends, and have hastened to +welcome them? What could have been more desirable than to unite with +them in a country where whites were so scarce, and almost unknown? +Was it not contrary to all reason to suppose that a hermit or +misanthrope would have penetrated thus far to avoid his brother man, +and would have broken his own solitude by thus betraying his presence?</p> +<p>Such and similar were the questions Harvey Richter asked himself +again +and again, and to all he was able to return an answer. He had decided +who this strange being might possibly be. If it was the person +suspected, it was one whom he had met more frequently than he wished, +and he prayed that he might never encounter him again in this world. +The certainty that the man had dogged him to this remote spot in the +West; that he had patiently plodded after the travelers for many a day +and night; that even the trackless river had not sufficed to place +distance between them; that, undoubtedly, like some wild beast in his +lair, he had watched Richter and his companions as they sat or +slumbered near their camp-fire—these, we may well surmise, served to +render the missionary for the moment excessively uncomfortable, and to +dull the roseate hues in which he had drawn the future.</p> +<p>The termination of this train of thought was the sudden suspicion +that +this very being was at that moment in close proximity. Unconsciously, +Harvey rose to the sitting position and looked around, half expecting +to descry the too well remembered figure.</p> +<p>"Supper is waiting, and so is our appetites, be the same token in +your +stomachs that is in mine. How bees it with yourself, Mistress Cora?"</p> +<p>The young wife had risen to her feet, and the husband was in the act +of doing the same, when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the +stillness, and Harvey plainly heard and felt the whiz of the bullet as +it passed before his eyes.</p> +<p>"To the devil wid yer nonsense!" shouted Teddy, furiously springing +forward, and glaring around him in search of the author of the +well-nigh fatal shot. Deciding upon the quarter whence it came, he +seized his ever-ready rifle, which he had learned to manage with much +skill, dashed off at the top of his speed, not heeding the commands of +his master, nor the appeals of Mrs. Richter to return.</p> +<p>Guided only by his blind rage, it happened, in this instance, that +the +Irishman proceeded directly toward the spot where the hunter had +concealed himself, and came so very near that the latter was compelled +to rise to his feet to escape being trampled upon. Teddy caught the +outlines of a tall form tearing hurriedly through the wood, as if in +terror of being caught, and he bent all his energies toward overtaking +him. The gloom of the night, that had now fairly descended, and the +peculiar topography of the ground, made it an exceedingly difficult +matter for both to keep their feet. The fugitive, catching in some +obstruction, was thrown flat upon his face, but quickly recovered +himself. Teddy, with a shout of exultation, sprung forward, confident +that he had secured their persecutor at last, but the Irishman was +caught by the same obstacle and "floored" even more completely than +his enemy.</p> +<p>"Bad luck to it!" he exclaimed, frantically scrambling to his feet, +"but it has knocked me deaf and dumb. I'll have ye, owld haythen, yit, +or me name isn't Teddy McFadden, from Limerick downs."</p> +<p>Teddy's fall had given the fugitive quite an advantage, and as he +was +fully as fleet of foot as the Irishman, the latter was unable to +regain his lost ground. Still, it wasn't in his nature to give in, and +he dashed forward as determinedly as ever. To his unutterable chagrin, +however, it was not long before he realized that the footsteps of his +enemy were gradually becoming more distant. His rage grew with his +adversary's gradual escape, and he would have pursued had he been +certain of rushing into destruction itself. All at once he made a +second fall, and, instead of recovering, went headlong down into a +gully, fully a dozen feet in depth.</p> +<p>Teddy, stunned by his heavy fall, lay insensible for some fifteen or +twenty minutes. He returned to consciousness with a ringing sensation +in his ears, and it was some time before he could recall all the +circumstances of his predicament. Gradually the facts dawned upon him, +and he listened. Everything was oppressively still. He heard not the +voice of his master, and not even the sound of any of the denizens of +the wood.</p> +<p>His first movement was to feel for his rifle, which he had brought +with him in his descent, and which he found close at hand. In the act +of rising, he caught the sound of a footstep, and saw, at the same +instant, the outlines of a person that he knew at once could be no +other than the man whom he had been pursuing. The hunter was about a +dozen feet distant, and seemed perfectly aware of the Irishman's +presence, for he stood with folded arms, facing his pursuer. The +darkness prevented Teddy's discovering anything more than his enemy's +outline But this was enough for a shot to do its work. Teddy +cautiously brought his rifle to his shoulder, and lifted the hammer. +Pointing it at the breast of his adversary, so as to be sure of his +aim, he pulled the trigger, but there was no response. The gun either +was unloaded, or had been injured by its rough usage. The dull click +of the lock reached the ear of the target, who asked, in a low, gruff +voice:</p> +<p>"Why do <i>you</i> seek me? You and I have no quarrel."</p> +<p>"A purty question, ye murtherin' haythen! I'll settle with yees, if +yees only come down here like a man. Jist play the wolf and belave me +a sheep, and come down here for your supper."</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="A_purty_question_ye_murtherin_haythen"></a><img + style="width: 487px; height: 722px;" + alt=""A purty question, ye murtherin haythen!"" + title=""A purty question, ye murtherin haythen!"" + src="images/lt004.jpg"></p> +<p>"My quarrel is not with you, I tell you, but with your psalm-singing +<i>master</i>—"</p> +<p>"And ain't that <i>meself</i>?" interrupted Teddy. "What's mine is +his, and +what's his is mine, and what's me is both, and what's both is me, +barring neither one is my own, but all belong to Master Harvey, and +Miss Cora, God bless their souls. Don't talk of quarreling wid <i>him</i> +and being friendly to <i>me</i>, ye murtherin' spalpeen! Jist come +down +here a bit, I say, if ye's got a spick of honor in yer rusty shirt."</p> +<p>"My ill-will is not toward you, although, I repeat, if you step in +my +way you may find it a dangerous matter. You think I tried to shoot +you, but you are mistaken. Do you suppose I could have come as near +and <i>missed</i> without doing so on <i>purpose</i>? To-night I +could have +brought you and your master, or his wife, and sent you all out of the +world in a twinkling. I've roamed the woods too long to miscarry at a +dozen yards."</p> +<p>Teddy began to realize that the man told the truth, yet it cannot be +said that his anger was abated, although a strong curiosity mingled +with it.</p> +<p>"And what's yer raison for acting in that shtyle, to as good a man +as +iver asked God's blessing on a sunny morning, and who wouldn't tread +on one of yer corns, that is, if yer big feet isn't all corns, like a +toad's back, as I suspict, from the manner in which ye leaps over the +ground."</p> +<p>"<i>He</i> knows who I am, and he knows he has given me good cause +to +remind him of my existence. <i>He</i> can tell you, if he chooses; I +shall +not. But let yourself and him take warning from what you already +know."</p> +<p>"And be the same token, let yourself be taking warning. As sure as +I'm the ninth son of the seventh mother, I'll—"</p> +<p>The hunter was gone!</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE ADVENTURES OF A NIGHT.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px; font-weight: bold;">The echoing rock, +the rushing flood,<br> +The cataract's swell, the moaning wood;<br> +The undefined and mingled hums—<br> +Voice of the desert never dumb!<br> +All these have left within this heart<br> +A feeling tongue can ne'er impart;<br> +A wildered and unearthly flame,<br> +A something that's without a name.—ETTRICK SHEPHERD.<br> +</div> +<br> +<p>With extreme difficulty, Teddy made his way out of the ravine into +which purposely he had been led by the hunter. He was full of aches +and pains when he attempted to walk, and more than once was compelled +to halt to ease his bruised limbs.</p> +<p>As he painfully made his way back to the camp he did a vast deal of +cogitation. When in extreme pain of body, produced by a mishap +intentionally conceived by another, it is but following the natural +law of cause and effect to feel a certain degree of exasperation +toward the evil-doer; and, as the Irishman at every step experienced a +sharp twinge that ofttimes made him cry out, his ejaculations were +neither conceived in charity nor uttered in good-will toward all men. +Still, he pondered deeply upon what the hunter had said, and was +perplexed to know what could possibly be its meaning.</p> +<p>The simple nature of the Irishman was unable to fathom the mystery. +He +could not have believed even had Harvey Richter himself confessed to +having perpetrated a crime or a wrong, that the minister had been +guilty of anything sufficient to give cause of enmity. The strange +hunter whom they had unexpectedly encountered several times, must be +some crack-brained adventurer, the victim of a fancied wrong, who, +most likely, had mistaken Harvey Richter for another person.</p> +<p>What could be the object in firing at the missionary, yet taking +pains +that no harm should be inflicted? That was another impenetrable +mystery; but, let it be comprehensible or not, the wrathful servitor +inwardly vowed that, if the man crossed the path of himself or his +master again, and the opportunity offered, he should shoot him down as +he would a wild animal.</p> +<p>In the midst of his absorbing reverie, Teddy suddenly paused and +looked around him. He was lost. Shrewd enough to understand that to +attempt to extricate himself would only lead into a greater +entanglement, from which it might not be possible to escape at all, he +wisely concluded to remain where he was until daylight. Gathering a +few twigs and leaves, with his well-stored "punk-box" he soon started +a small fire, by the light of which he collected a sufficient quantity +of fuel to last until morning.</p> +<p>Few scenes of nature are more impressive than a forest at night. +That +low deep roar, born of silence itself—the sad sighing of the +wind—the tall, column-like trunks, resembling huge sentinels keeping +guard over the mysteries of ages—the silent sea of foliage overhead, +that seems to shut in a world of its own—all have an influence, +peculiar, irresistible and sublime.</p> +<p>The picket upon duty is a prey to many an imaginary danger. The +rustling of a leaf, the crackling of a twig, the flitting shadows of +the ever-changing clouds, are made to assume the guise of a foe, +endeavoring to steal upon him unawares. Again and again Teddy was +certain he heard the stealthy tread of the strange hunter, or some +prowling Indian, and his heart throbbed violently at the expected +encounter. Then, as the sound ceased, a sense of his utter loneliness +came over him, and he pined for his old home in the States, which he +had so lately left.</p> +<p>A tremulous wail, which came faintly through the silence of the +boundless woods, reminded him that there were other inhabitants of the +solitude besides human beings. At such times, he drew nearer to the +fire, as a child would draw near to a friend to shun an imaginary +danger.</p> +<p>But, finally the drowsy god asserted himself, and the watcher passed +off into a deep slumber. His last recollection was a dim consciousness +of hearing the tread of something near the camp-fire. But his stupor +was so great that he had not the inclination to arouse himself, and +with his face buried in the leaves of his bushy couch, he quickly lost +cognizance of all things, and floated off into the illimitable realms +of sleep—Sleep, the sister of Death.</p> +<p>He came out of his heavy slumber from feeling something snuffing and +clawing at his shoulder. He was wide awake at once, and all his +faculties, even to his anger, were aroused.</p> +<p>"Git out, ye owld sarpent!" he shouted, springing to his feet. "Git +out, or I'll smash yer head the same as I smashed the assassin's, +barring I didn't do it!"</p> +<p>The affrighted animal leaped back several yards, as lightly as a +shadow. Teddy caught only a glimpse of the beast, but could plainly +detect the phosphorescent glitter of his angry eyes, that watched +every movement. The Irishman's first proceeding was to replenish the +fire. This kept the creature at a safe distance, although he began +trotting around and around, as if to seek some unguarded loophole +through which to compass the destruction of the man who had thus +invaded his dominions.</p> +<p>The tread of the animal resembled the rattling of raindrops upon the +leaves, while its silence, its gliding motion, convinced the +inexperienced Irishman of the brute's exceedingly dangerous character. +His rifle was too much injured to be of use and he could therefore +only keep his precocious foe at a safe distance by piling on fuel +until the camp-fire burned defiantly.</p> +<p>There was no more sleep for Teddy that night. He had received too +great a shock, and the impending danger was too imminent for him to do +any thing but watch, so long as darkness and the animal remained. +Several times he thought there was evidence of the presence of another +beast, but he failed to discover it, and finally believed he had been +mistaken.</p> +<p>It was a tiresome and lonely occupation, this incessant watching, +and +Teddy had recourse to several expedients to while away the weary +hours. The first and most natural was that of singing. He trolled +forth every song that he could recall to remembrance, and it may be +truly said that he awoke echoes in those forest-aisles never before +heard there. As in the pauses he heard the volume of sound that seemed +quivering and swaying among the tree-trunks, like the confined air in +an organ, he was awed into silence.</p> +<p>"Whist, ye son of Patrick McFadden; don't ye hear the responses all +around ye, as if the spirits were in the organ loft, thinkin' ye a +praist and thimselves the choir-boys. I belaves, by me sowl, that +ivery tree has got a tongue, for hear how they whispers and mutters. +Niver did I hear the likes. No more singin', Teddy my darlint, to sich +an audience."</p> +<p>He thereupon relapsed into silence, but it was only momentary. He +suddenly looked out into the darkness which shrouded the still +watchful beast from sight, and exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Ye owld shivering assassin, out there, did yees ever hear till how +Tom O'Reilly got his wife? Yees never did, eh? Well, then, be aisy +now, and I'll give yees the truths of the matter.</p> +<p>"Tom was a great, rollicking boy, that had an eye gouged out at the +widow Mulloney's wake, and an ugly cut that made his mouth six inches +wide: and, before he got the cut, it was as broad as yer own out +there. Besides, his hair being of a fire's own red, you may safely say +that he was not the most beautiful young man in Limerick, and that +there wasn't many gals that were dying of a broken heart for the same +Tom.</p> +<p>"But Tom thought a mighty sight of the gals and a great deal more of +Kitty McGuire, that lived close by the brook as yees come a mile or +two out of this side of Limerick. Tom was possessed after that same +gal, and it only made him the more determined when he found that Kitty +didn't like him at all. He towld the boys he was bound to have her, +and any one who said he wasn't would get his head broke.</p> +<p>"There was a little orphan girl, whose father had gone to Ameriky +and +whose mother was dead, that was found one night, years before, in +front of old Mrs. McGuire's door. She was about the same age as Kitty, +and the owld woman took her out of kindness and brought them up +together. She got to be jist as ugly a looking a gal as Tom was a man. +Her hair was redder than his, and her face was just that freckled that +yees couldn't tell which was the freckle and which was the skin +itself. And her nose had a twist, on the ind of it, that made one +think it had been made for a corkscrew, or some machine that you bore +holes with.</p> +<p>"This gal, Molly Mulligan, used to encourage Tom to come to the +house, +and was always so mighty kind to him that he used to kiss and shpark +her by way of compinsating her for her trouble. She used to take this +all <i>very</i> well, for she was a great admirer of Tom's, and always +spoke his praise. But Tom didn't make much headway with Kitty. It +wasn't often that he could saa her, and when he did; she was mighty +offish, and was sure to have the owld woman present, like a +dumb-waiter, to be sure. She come to tell him at length that she +didn't admire his coming, and that he would greatly plaise her if he +would make his visits by staying away altogether. The next time Tom +went he found the door locked, and, after hammering a half-hour, and +being towld there was no admittance, he belaved it was meant as a kind +hint that his company was not agreeable. Be yees listening, ye +riptile?</p> +<p>"Tom might have stood it very well, if another chap hadn't begun +calling on Kitty about this time. He used to go airly in the evening, +and not come out of the house till after midnight, so that one might +belave his visits were welcome. This made Tom feel mighty bad, and so +he hid behind the wall and waylaid the chap one night. He would have +killed the chap, his timper was so ruffled, if the man hadn't nearly +killed him afore he had the chance. He laid all night in the gutter, +and was just able to crawl home next day, while the fellow went +a-courting the next night, as if nothing had happened.</p> +<p>"Tom begun to git melancholy, and his mouth didn't appear quite as +broad as usual. Molly Mulligan thought he had taken slow poison and it +was gradually working through his system; but he could ate his pick of +praties the same as iver. But Tom felt mighty bad; that fact can't be +denied, and he went frequently to consult with a praist that lived +near this ind of Limerick, and who was knowed to cut up a trick or +two during his lifetime. When Tom came out one day looking bright and +cheery, iverybody belaved they had been conspiring togither, and had +hit on some thavish trick they was to play on little Kitty McGuire.</p> +<p>"When the moon was bright, Kitty used to walk to Limerick and back +again of an evening. Her beau most likely went with her, but sometimes +she preferred to go alone, as she knowed no one would hurt a bonny +little gal as herself. Tom knowed of these doings, as in days gone by +he had jined her once or twice. So one night he put a white sheet +around him as she was coming back from Limerick, and hid under the +little bridge over the brook. It was gitting quite late, and the moon +was just gone down, so, when she stepped on the bridge, and he came +out afore her, she gave one shriek, and like to have fainted intirely.</p> +<p>"'Make no noise, or I'll ate ye up alive,' said Tom, trying to talk +like a ghost.</p> +<p>"'What isht yees want?' she asked, shaking like a leaf, 'and who are +yees?'</p> +<p>"'I'm a shpirit, come to warn ye of your ill-doings.'</p> +<p>"'I know I'm a great sinner,' she cried, covering her face with her +hands; 'but I try to do as well as I can.'</p> +<p>"'Do you know Tom O'Reilly?' he asked, loud enough to be heard in +Limerick. 'You have treated him ill.'</p> +<p>"'That I know I have,' she sobbed, 'and how can I do him justice?'</p> +<p>"'He loves you.'</p> +<p>"'I know he does!'</p> +<p>"'He is a shplendid man, and will make a much bitter husband than +the +spalpeen that ye now looks on with favor.'</p> +<p>"'Shall I make him my husband?'</p> +<p>"'Yis; if ye wish to save yourself from purgatory. If the other man +marries yees, he'll murder yees the same night.'</p> +<p>"'Oh!' shrieked the gal, as if she'd go down upon the ground, 'and +how +shall I save meself?'</p> +<p>"'By marrying Tom O'Reilly.'</p> +<p>"'Is that the only way?'</p> +<p>"'Ay. Does yees consint?'</p> +<p>"'I do; I must do poor Tom justice.'</p> +<p>"'Will ye marry him this same night?'</p> +<p>"'That I will.'</p> +<p>"'Tom is hid under this bridge; I'll go down and bring him up, and +he'll go to the praist's with yees. Don't ye shtir or I'll ate yees.'</p> +<p>"So Tom whisked under the ind of the bridge, slipped off the sheet, +all the time kaaping one eye cocked above to saa that Kitty didn't +give him the shlip. He then came up and spoke very smilingly to the +gal, as though he hadn't seen her afore that night. He didn't think +that his voice was jist the same.</p> +<p>"Kitty didn't say much, but she walked very quiet by his side, till +they came to the praist's house at this ind of Limerick. The owld +fellow must have been expecting him, for before he could knock, he +opened the door and let him in. The praist didn't wait long, and in +five minutes he towld them they were man and wife, and nothing but +death could iver make them different. Tom gave a regular yell that +made the windys rattle, for he couldn't kaap his faalings down. He +then threw his arms around his wife, gave her another hug, and then +dropped her like a hot potato. For instead of being Kitty McGuire, it +was Molly Mulligan! The owld praist wasn't so bad after all. He had +told Kitty and Molly of Tom's plans, and they had fixed the matter +atween thim.</p> +<p>"Wal, the praist laughed, and Tom looked melancholier than iver; but +purty soon he laughed too, and took the praist's advice to make the +bist of the bargain. Whisht!"</p> +<p>Teddy paused abruptly, for he heard a prolonged but faint halloo. It +was, evidently, the call of his master, and indicated the direction of +the camp. He replied at once, and without thinking one moment of the +prowling brute which might be upon him instantly, he passed beyond the +protecting circle of his fire, and dashed off at top of his speed +through the woods, and ere long reached the camp-fire of his friends. +As he came in, he observed that Mrs. Richter still was asleep beneath +the canoe, while her husband stood watching beside her. Teddy had +determined to conceal the particulars of the conversation he had held +with the officious hunter, but he related the facts of his pursuit and +mishap, and of his futile attempt to make his way back to camp. After +this, the two seated themselves by the fire, and the missionary was +soon asleep. The adventures of the night, however, affected Teddy's +nerves too much for him even to doze, and he therefore maintained an +unremitting watch until morning.</p> +<p>At an early hour, our friends were astir, and at once launched forth +upon the river. They noted a broadening of the stream and weakening of +the current, and at intervals they came upon long stretches of +prairie. The canoe glided closely along, where they could look down +into the clear depths of the water, and discover the pebbles +glistening upon the bottom. Under a point of land, where the stream +made an eddy, they halted, and with their fishing-lines, soon secured +a breakfast which the daintiest gourmand might have envied. They +were upon the point of landing so as to kindle a fire, when Mr. +Richter spoke:</p> +<p>"Do you notice that large island in the stream, Cora? Would you not +prefer that as a landing-place?"</p> +<p>"I think I should."</p> +<p>"Teddy, we'll take our morning meal there."</p> +<p>The powerful arms of the Irishman sent the frail vessel swiftly over +the water, and a moment later its prow touched the velvet shore of the +island. Under the skillful manipulations of the young wife, who +insisted upon taking charge, their breakfast was quickly prepared, +and, one might say, almost as quickly eaten.</p> +<p>They had now advanced so far to the northward that all felt an +anxiety to reach their destination. Accordingly no time was lost in +the ascent of the stream.</p> +<p>The exhilarating influence of a clear spring morning in the forest, +is +impossible to resist. The mirror-like sparkle of the water that sweeps +beneath the light canoe, or glitters in the dew-drops upon the ashen +blade; the golden blaze of sunshine streaming up in the heavens; the +dewy woods, flecked here and there by the blossoms of some wild fruit +or flower; the cool air beneath the gigantic arms all a-flutter with +the warbling music of birds; all conjoin to inspire a feeling which +carries us back to boyhood again—to make us young once more.</p> +<p>As Richter sat in the canoe's stern, and drank in the influence of +the +scene, his heart rose within him, and he could scarcely refrain from +shouting. His wife, also, seemed to partake of this buoyancy, for her +eyes fairly sparkled as he glanced from side to side. All at once +Teddy ceased paddling and pointed to the left shore. Following the +direction of his finger, Richter saw, standing upon the bank in full +view, the tall, spare figure of the strange hunter. He seemed occupied +in watching them, and was as motionless as the tree-trunks behind +him—so motionless, indeed, that it required a second scrutiny to +prove that it really was not an inanimate object. The intensity of his +observation prevented him from observing that Teddy had raised his +rifle from the canoe. He caught the click of the lock, however, and +spoke in a sharp tone:</p> +<p>"Teddy, don't you dare to—"</p> +<p>His remaining words were drowned in the sharp crack of the piece.</p> +<p>"It's only to frighten him jist, Master Harvey. It'll sarve the good +purpose of giving him the idee we ain't afeard, and if he continues +his thaiving tricks, he is to be shot at sight, as a shaap-stalin' +dog, that he is, to be sure."</p> +<p>"You've hit him!" said his master, as he observed the hunter leap +into +the woods.</p> +<p>"Thank the Lord for that, for it was an accident, and he'll l'arn +we've rifles as well as himself. It's mighty little harm, howiver, is +done him, if he can travel in that gay style."</p> +<p>"I am displeased, for your shot might have taken his life, and—but, +see yonder, Teddy, what does that mean?"</p> +<p>Close under the opposite bank, and several hundred yards above them +was discernible a long canoe, in which was seated at least a dozen +Indians. They were coming slowly down-stream, and gradually working +their way into the center of the river. Teddy surveyed them a moment +and said:</p> +<p>"That means they're after us. Is it run or fight?"</p> +<p>"Neither; they are undoubtedly from the village, and we may as well +meet them here as there. What think you, dear wife?"</p> +<p>"Let us join them, by all means, at once."</p> +<p>All doubts were soon removed, when the canoe was headed directly +toward them, and under the propulsion of the many skillful arms, it +came like a bird over the surface of the waters. A few rods away its +speed was slackened, and, before approaching closer, it made a circuit +around the voyageurs' canoe, as if the warriors were anxious to assure +themselves there was no decoy or design in this unresisting surrender.</p> +<p>Evidently satisfied that it was a <i>bona fide</i> affair, the +Indians +swept up beside our friends, and one of the warriors, stretching out +his hands, said:</p> +<p>"Gib guns me—gib guns."</p> +<p>"Begorrah, but it would be mighty plaisant to us, if it would be all +the same to yees, if ye'd be clever enough to let us retain +possission of 'em," said Teddy, hesitating about complying with the +demand. "They might do ye some injury, ye know, and besides, I didn't +propose to—"</p> +<p>"Let them have them," said Richter. The Irishman reluctantly obeyed, +and while he passed his rifle over with his left hand, he doubled up +his right, shaking it under the savage's nose.</p> +<p>"Ye've got me gun, ye old log of walnut, but ye hain't got me fists, +begorrah, but, by the powers, ye shall have them some of these fine +mornings whin yer eyes want opening."</p> +<p>"Teddy, be silent!" sharply commanded the missionary.</p> +<p>But the Indians, understanding the significance of the Irishman's +gestures, only smiled at them, and the chief who had taken his gun, +nodded his head, as much as to say he, too, would enjoy a fisticuff.</p> +<p>When the whites were defenseless, one of the savages vaulted lightly +into their canoe, and took possession of the paddle.</p> +<p>"I'm highly oblaiged to ye," grinned Teddy, "for me arms have been +waxin' tired ever sin' I l'arned the Injin way of driving a canoe +through the water. When ye gets out o' breath jist ax another +red-skin to try his hand, while I boss the job."</p> +<p>The canoes were pulled rapidly up-stream. This settled that the +whites +were being carried to the village which was their original +destination. Both Harvey and his wife were rather pleased than +otherwise with this, although the missionary would have preferred an +interview or conversation in order to make himself and intentions +known. He was surprised at the knowledge they displayed of the English +language. He overheard words exchanged between them which were as easy +to understand as much of Teddy's talk. They must be, therefore, in +frequent communication with white men. Their location was so far north +that, as Richter plausibly inferred, they were extensive dealers in +furs and peltries, which must be disposed of to traders and the agents +of the American Fur and Hudson Bay Companies. The Selkirk or Red river +settlement also, must be at an easily accessible distance.</p> +<p>It may seem strange that it never occurred to the captives that the +savages might do them harm. In fact, nothing but violence itself would +have convinced the missionary that such was contemplated. He had +yielded himself, heart and soul, to his work; he felt an inward +conviction that he was to accomplish great good. Trials and sufferings +of all imaginable kinds he expected to undergo, but his life was to be +spared until the work was accomplished. Of that he never experienced a +moment's doubt.</p> +<p>Our readers will bear in mind that the period of which we write, +although but a little more than forty years since, was when the +territory west of the Mississippi was almost entirely unknown. +Trappers, hunters and fur-traders in occasional instances, penetrated +into the heart of the mighty solitude. Lewis and Clarke had made their +expedition to the head-waters of the Columbia, but the result of all +these visits, to the civilized world, was much the same as that of the +adventurers who have penetrated into the interior of Africa.</p> +<p>It was known that on the northwest dwelt the warlike Blackfeet, the +implacable foes of every white man. There, also, dwelt other tribes, +who seemed resolved that none but their own race should dwell upon +that soil. Again, there were others with whom little difficulty was +experienced in bartering and trading, to the great profit of the +adventurous whites, and the satisfaction of the savages; still, the +shrewd traders knew better than to trust to Indian magnanimity or +honor. Their reliance under heaven, was their tact in managing the +savages, and their own goodly rifles and strong arms. The Sioux were +among the latter class, and with them it was destined that the lot of +Harvey Richter and his wife should be cast.</p> +<p>The Indian village was reached in the course of a couple of hours. +It +was found to be much larger than Richter could have anticipated. The +missionary soon made known his character and wishes. This secured an +audience with the leading chief, when Harvey explained his mission, +and asked permission for himself and companions to settle among them. +With the ludicrous dignity so characteristic of his people, the chief +deferred his reply until the following day, at which time he gave +consent, his manner being such as to indicate that he was rather +unwilling than otherwise.</p> +<p>That same afternoon, the missionary collected the dusky children of +the forest together and preached to them, as best he could, through +the assistance of a rude interpreter. He was listened to respectfully +by the majority, among whom were several whom he inferred already had +heard the word of life. There were others, however, to whom the +ceremony was manifestly distasteful. The hopeful minister felt that +his Master had directed him to this spot, and that now his real +life-work had begun.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE JUG ACQUAINTANCES.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">With +that dull, callous, rooted impudence,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">Which, dead to shame and every nicer +sense,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ne'er blushed, unless, when spreading +Vice's snares,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">He stumbled on some virtue +unawares.—CHURCHILL.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>A year has passed since the events recorded in the preceding pages, +and it is summer again. Far up, beside one of those tributaries of the +Mississippi, in the western portion of what is now the State of +Minnesota, stands a small cabin, such as the early settlers in new +countries build for themselves. About a quarter of a mile further up +the stream is a large Sioux village, separated from the hut by a +stretch of woods through which runs a well-worn footpath. This +arrangement the young missionary, Harvey Richter, preferred rather +than to dwell in the Indian village. While laboring with all his heart +and soul to regulate these degraded people, and while willing to make +their troubles and afflictions his own, he still desired a seclusion +where his domestic cares and enjoyments were safe from constant +interruption. This explains why his cabin had been erected at such a +distance from his people.</p> +<p>Every day, no matter what might be the weather, the missionary +visited +the village, and each Sabbath afternoon, when possible, service was +held. This was almost invariably attended by the entire population, +who now listened attentively to what was uttered, and often sought to +follow the counsels uttered by the good man. A year's residence had +sufficed to win the respect and confidence of the Indians, and to +convince the faithful servant that the seed he had sown was already +springing up and bearing fruit.</p> +<p>About a mile from the river, in a dense portion of the wood, are +seated two persons, in friendly converse. But a glance would be +required to reveal that one of these was our old friend Teddy, in the +most jovial and communicative of moods. The other, painted and +bedaubed until his features were scarcely recognizable, and attired in +the gaudy Indian apparel, sufficiently explains his identity. A small +jug sitting between them, and which is frequently carried to the mouth +of each, may disclose why, on this particular morning, they seemed on +such confidential terms. The sad truth was that the greatest drawback +to Harvey Richter's ministrations was his own servant Teddy. The +Indians could not understand why he who lived constantly with the +missionary, should be so careless and reckless, and should remain +"without the fold," when the good man exhorted them in such earnest +language to become Christians. It was incomprehensible to their minds, +and served to fill more than one with a suspicion that all was not +what it should be. Harvey had spent many an hour with Teddy, in +earnest, prayerful expostulation, but, thus far, to no purpose.</p> +<p>For six months after the advent of the missionary and his wife, +nothing had been seen or heard of the strange hunter, when, one cold +winter's morning, as the former was returning from the village through +the path, a rifle was discharged, and the bullet whizzed within an +inch or two of his eyes. He might have believed it to be one of the +Indians, had he not secured a fair look at the man as he ran away. He +said nothing of it to his wife or Teddy, although it occasioned him +much trouble and anxiety of mind.</p> +<p>A month or two later, when Teddy was hunting in the woods, and had +paused a moment for rest, a gun was discharged at him, from a thick +mass of undergrowth. Certain that the unknown hunter was at hand, he +dashed in as before, determined to bring the transgressor to a +personal account. Teddy could hear him fleeing, and saw the agitation +of the undergrowth, but did not catch even a glimpse of his game.</p> +<p>While prosecuting the search, Teddy suddenly encountered an Indian, +staggering along with a jug in his hand. The savage manifested a +friendly disposition, and the two were soon seated upon the ground, +discussing the fiery contents of the vessel and exchanging vows of +eternal friendship. When they separated it was with the understanding +that they were to meet again in a couple of days.</p> +<p>Both kept the appointment, and since that unlucky day they had +encountered quite frequently. Where the Indian obtained the liquor was +a mystery, but it was an attraction that never failed to draw Teddy +forth into the forest. The effect of alcoholic stimulants upon persons +is as various as are their temperaments. The American Indian almost +always becomes sullen, vindictive and dangerous. Now and then there is +an exception, as was the case with the new-made friend of Teddy. Both +were affected in precisely a similar manner; both were jolly.</p> +<p>"Begorrah, but yees are a fine owld gintleman, if yer face does look +like a paint-jug, and ye isn't able to lay claim to one-half the +beauty meself possesses. That ye be," said Teddy, a few moments after +they had seated themselves, and before either had been affected by the +poisonous liquid.</p> +<p>"I loves you!" said the savage, betraying in his manner of speech a +remarkable knowledge of the English language. "I think of you when I +sleep—I think of you when I open my eyes—I think of you all the +time."</p> +<p>"Much obleeged; it's meself that thinks and meditates upon your +beauty +and loving qualities all the time, barring that in which I thinks of +something else, which is about all the time—all the same to yer +honor."</p> +<p>"Loves you very much," repeated the savage; "love Mister Harvey, +too, +and Miss Harvey."</p> +<p>"Then why doesn't ye come to hear him preach, ye rose of the +wilderness?"</p> +<p>"Don't like preaching."</p> +<p>"Did yees ever hear him?"</p> +<p>"Neber hear him."</p> +<p>"Yer oughter come; and that minds me I've never saan ye around the +village, for which I axes yees the raison?"</p> +<p>"Me ain't Sioux—don't like 'em."</p> +<p>"Whinever yees are discommoded with this jug, p'raps it wouldn't be +well for yees to cultivate the acquaintance of any one except meself, +for they might be dispoused to relave yees of the article, when yees +are well aware it's an aisy matter for us to do that ourselves. Where +does yees get the jug?"</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a name="Where_does_yees_get_the_jug"></a><img + style="width: 482px; height: 721px;" + alt=""Where does yees get the jug?"" + title=""Where does yees get the jug?"" src="images/lt005.jpg"></p> +<p>"Had him good while."</p> +<p>"I know; but the contents I mean. Where is it ye secures the +vallyble +contents?"</p> +<p>"Me get 'em," was the intelligent reply..</p> +<p>"That's what I've been supposing, that yees was gitting more nor +your +share; so here's to prevint," remarked Teddy, as he inverted the jug +above his head. "Now, me butternut friend, what 'bjections have yees +to that?"</p> +<p>"All right—all be good—like Miss Harvey?"</p> +<p>Teddy stared at the savage, as if he failed to take in his question.</p> +<p>"Like Miss Harvey—good man's squaw—t'ink she be good woman?"</p> +<p>"The loveliest that iver trod the airth—bless her swate soul. She +niver has shpoken a cross word to Teddy, for all he's the biggest +scamp that iver brought tears to her eyes. If there be any thing that +has nigh fotched this ould shiner to his marrowbones it was to see +something glistening in her eyes," said the Irishman, as he wiped his +own. "God bliss Miss Cora," he added, in the same manner of speech +that he had been wont to use before she became a wife. "She might make +any man glad to come and live alone in the wilderness wid her. It's +meself that ought to be ashamed to come away and l'ave her alone by +herself, though I thinks even a wild baste would not harm a hair of +her blissid head. If it wasn't for this owld whisky-jug I wouldn't be +l'aving her," said Teddy, indignantly.</p> +<p>"How be 'lone?—Mister Harvey dere."</p> +<p>"No, he isn't, by a jug-full—barring the jug must be well-nigh +empty, +and the divil save the jug, inny-how; but not until it's impty."</p> +<p>"Where Mr. Harvey go, if not in cabin?" asked the savage, betraying +a +suspicious eagerness that would have been observed by Teddy upon any +other occasion.</p> +<p>"To the village, that he may preach and hould converse wid 'em. I +allers used to stay at home when he's gone, for fear that owld thaif +of a hunter might break into the pantry and shtail our wines—that is, +if we had any, which we haven't. Blast his sowl—that hunter I mane, +an' if iver I cotch him, may I be used for a flail if I don't settle +<i>his</i> accounts."</p> +<p>"When Mister Harvey go to village?"</p> +<p>"Whin he plaises, which is always in the afternoon, whin his dinner +has had a fair chance to sittle. Does ye take him for a michanic, who +goes to work as soon as he swallows his bread and mate?" said the +Irishman, with official dignity.</p> +<p>"Why you not stay with squaw?"</p> +<p>"That's the raison," replied Teddy, imbibing from the vessel beside +him. "But you will plaise not call Miss Cora a <i>shquaw</i> any more. +If +ye does, it will be at the imminent risk of havin' this jug smashed +over yer head, afther the whisky is all gone, which it very soon will +be if a plug isn't put into your mouth."</p> +<p>"Nice woman—<i>much</i> good."</p> +<p>"You may well say that, Mister Copperskin, and say nothing else. And +it's a fine man is Mister Harvey, barring he runs me purty close once +in a while on the moral quishtion. I'm afeard I shall have to knock +under soon. If I could but slay that thaif of a hunter that has been +poking around here, I think I could go the Christian aisy; but whin I +thinks of <i>that</i> man, I faals like the divil himself. They's no +use +tryin' to be pious whin <i>he's</i> around; so pass the jug if ye +don't +mane to fight meself."</p> +<p>"He bad man—much bad," said the savage, who had received an account +of him from his companion.</p> +<p>"I promised Master Harvey not to shoot the villain, excipt it might +be +to save his life or me own; but I belave if I had the chance, I'd jist +conveniently <i>forgit</i> me promise, and let me gun go off by +accident. +St. Pathrick! <i>wouldn't</i> I like to have a shindy wid the sn'akin, +mean, skulkin' assassin!"</p> +<p>"Does he want kill you?"</p> +<p>"Arrah, be aisy now; isn't it me master he's after, and what's the +difference? Barring I would rather it was meself, that I might sittle +it gintaaly wid him;" and Teddy, "squaring" himself, began to make +threatening motions at the Indian's head.</p> +<p>"Bad man—why not like Mr. Harvey?" said the savage, paying no +attention to Teddy's demonstrations.</p> +<p>"There yees has me. There's something atween 'em, though what it +might be none but Mr. Harvey himself knows, less it mought be the +misthress, that I don't belave knows a word on it. But what is it yer +business, Mr. Mahogany?"</p> +<p>"Mebbe Mr. Harvey hurt him some time—do bad with him," added the +Indian, betraying an evident interest in the subject.</p> +<p>"Begorrah, if yees can't talk better sinse nor that, ye'd bist put a +stopper on yer blab. The idaa of me master harming any one is too +imposterous to be intertained by a fraa and inlightened people—a fraa +and inlightened people, as I used to spell out in the newspapers at +home. But whisht! Ye are a savage, as don't know anything about Fourth +of July, an' all the other affections of the people."</p> +<p>"You dunno what mebbe he done."</p> +<p>"Do ye know?" asked Teddy, indignantly.</p> +<p>"Nebber know what he do—how me know?"</p> +<p>"Thin what does ye mane by talking in that shtyle? I warns ye, +there's +some things that can't be passed atween us and that is one of 'em. If +ye wants to fight, jist you say that again. I'm aching for a shindy +anyhow: so now s'pose ye jist say that again." And Teddy began to show +unmistakable signs of getting ready.</p> +<p>"Sorry—didn't mean—feel bad." "Oh blarney! Why didn't ye stick to +it, and jist give me a chance to express meself? But all's right; +only, be careful and don't say anything like it again, that's all. +Pass along the jug, to wash me timper down, ye know."</p> +<p>By this time Teddy's ideas were beginning to be confused, and his +manner maudlin. He had imbibed freely, and was paying the +consequences. The savage, however, had scarcely taken a swallow, +although he had made as if to do so several times. His actions would +have led an inexperienced person to think that he was under the +influence of liquor; but he was sober, and his conduct was feigned, +evidently, for some purpose of his own. Teddy grew boisterous, and +insisted on constantly shaking hands and renewing his pledges of +eternal friendship to the savage, who received and responded to them +in turn. Finally, he squinted toward the westering sun.</p> +<p>"I told Mr. Harvey, when I left, I was going to hunt, and if I +expects +to return to-day, I thinks, Mr. Black Walnut, we should be on our way. +The jug is intirely impty, so there is no occasion for us to remain +longer."</p> +<p>"Dat so—me leave him here."</p> +<p>"Now let's shake hands agin afore we rise."</p> +<p>The shaking of hands was all an excuse for Teddy to receive +assistance +in rising to his feet. He balanced himself a moment, and stared around +him, with that aimless, blinking stare peculiar to a drunken man.</p> +<p>"Me honey, isn't there an airthquake agitatin' this solitude?" he +asked, steadying himself against a sapling, "or am I standing on a +jug?"</p> +<p>"Dunno—mebbe woods shake—feel him a little—earth must be sick," +said the savage, feigning an unsteadiness of the head.</p> +<p>"Begorrah, but it's ourselves that's the sickest," laughed Teddy, +fully sensible of his sad condition. "It'll niver do to return to +Master Harvey in <i>this</i> shtyle. There'd be a committee of +investigation appointed on the spot, an' I shouldn't pass muster +excipt for a whisky-barrel, och hone!"</p> +<p>"Little sick—soon be well—then shoot."</p> +<p>"I wonder now whether I could howld me gun straight enough to drop a +buffler at ten paces. There sits a bird in that tree that is grinning +at me. I'll t'ach him bitter manners."</p> +<p>The gun was discharged, the bullet passing within a few inches of +the +head of the Indian, who sprung back with a grunt.</p> +<p>"A purty good shot," laughed Teddy; "but it <i>would</i> be rayther +tiresome killing game, being I could only hit them as run behind me, +and being I can't saa in that direction, I'll give over the idaa; and +turn me undivided attention to fishing. Ah, divil a bit of difference +is it to the fish, whin a worm is on the right ind, whether a drunken +man or a gintleman is at the other."</p> +<p>The Indian manifested a readiness to assist every project of the +Irishman, and he now advised him to fish by all means, urging that +they should proceed to the river at once. But Teddy insisted upon +going to a small creek near at hand. The savage strongly demurred, but +finally yielded, and the two set out, making their way somewhat after +the fashion of a yoke of oxen.</p> +<p>Upon reaching the stream, Teddy, instead of pausing upon the bank, +continued walking on until he was splashing up to his waist in water. +Had it not been for the prompt assistance of the Indian, the poor +fellow most probably would have had his earthly career terminated. +This incident partially sobered Teddy, and made him ashamed of his +condition. He saw the savage was by no means so far gone as himself, +and he bewailed his foolishness in unmeasured terms.</p> +<p>"Who knows but Master Harvey has gone to the village, and Miss Cora +stands in the door this minute, 'xpacting this owld spalpaan?"</p> +<p>"No go till arternoon," said the savage.</p> +<p>"What time might it be jist now?"</p> +<p>"'Tain't noon yit—soon be—bimeby."</p> +<p>"It's all the same; I shan't be fit to go home afore night, whin I +might bist stay away altogether. And you, Mr. Copperskin, was the +maans of gittin' me in this trouble."</p> +<p>"<i>Me</i> make you drink him?" asked the savage. "You not ax for +jug, eh? +You not want him?"</p> +<p>"Yes, begorrah, it was me own fault. Whisky is me waikness. Its +illigant perfume always sits me wild fur it. Mister Harvey was +belaving, whin he brought me here, that I wouldn't be drinking any of +the vile stuff, for the good rais'n that I couldn't git none; but, +what'll he say now? Niver was I drunker at Donnybrook, and only once, +an' that was at me father's fourteenth weddin'."</p> +<p>"Don't want more?"</p> +<p>"NO!" thundered Teddy. "I hope I may niver see nor taste another +drop +so long as I live. I here asserts me ancient honor agin, an' I defy +the jug, ye spalpeen of a barbarian what knows no better." Teddy's +reassertion of dignity was very ludicrous, for a tree had to support +him as he spoke; but he evidently was in earnest.</p> +<p>"Neber gib it—if don't want it."</p> +<p>"They say an Indian never will tell a lie to a friend," said Teddy, +dropping his voice as if speaking to himself. "Do you ever lie, Mr. +What's-your-name?"</p> +<p>"No," replied the savage, thereby uttering an unmitigated falsehood.</p> +<p>"You give me your promise, then, that ye'll niver furnish me anither +drap?"</p> +<p>"Yis."</p> +<p>"Give me yer hand."</p> +<p>The two shook hands, Teddy's face, despite its vacant expression, +lighting up for the time with a look of delight.</p> +<p>"Now I'll fish," said Teddy. "P'raps it is best that ye l'ave these +parts; not that I intertains inmity or bad-will toward you, but thin +ye know----hello! yees are gone already, bees you?"</p> +<p>The Indian had departed, and Teddy turned his attention toward +securing the bait. In a few moments he had cast the line out in the +stream and was sound asleep, in which condition he remained until +night set in.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br> +</h2> +<h2>AN OMINOUS RENCOUNTER.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px; font-weight: bold;"> +"I will work him<br> +To an exploit now rich in my device,<br> +Under the which he shall not choose but fall."<br> +</div> +<br> +<p>The sun passed the meridian, on that summer day in 1821 and Harvey +Richter, the young missionary, came to the door of his cabin, +intending to set forth upon his walk to the Indian village. It was +rather early; the day was pleasant and as his wife followed him, he +lingered awhile upon the steps, loth to leave a scene of such holy +joy.</p> +<p>The year which the two had spent in that wilderness had been one of +almost unalloyed happiness. The savages, among whom they had come to +labor, had received them more kindly than they deemed it right to +anticipate, and had certified their esteem for them in numberless +ways. The missionary felt that a blessing was upon his labor.</p> +<p>An infant had been given them, and the little fellow brought nothing +but gladness and sunlight into the household. Ah! none but a father +can tell how precious the blue-eyed image of his mother was to Harvey +Richter; none but a mother can realize the yearning affection with +which she bent over the sleeping cherub; and but few can enter into +the rollicking pride of Teddy over the little stranger. At times, his +manifestations were fairly uproarious, and it became necessary to +check them, or to send him further into the woods to relieve himself +of his exuberant delight.</p> +<p>Harvey lingered upon the threshold, gazing dreamily away at the +mildly-flowing river, or at the woods, through which for a +considerable distance, he could trace the winding path which his own +feet had worn. Cora, his wife, stood beside him, looking smilingly +down in his face, while her left hand toyed with a stray ringlet that +would protrude itself from beneath her husband's cap.</p> +<p>"Cora, are you sorry that we came into this wild country?"</p> +<p>The smile on her face grew more radiant, as she shook her head +without +speaking. She was in that pleasant, dreamy state, in which it seems an +effort to speak—so much so that she avoided it until compelled to do +so by some direct question.</p> +<p>"You are perfectly contented—happy, are you?"</p> +<p>Again the same smile, as she answered in the affirmative by an +inclination of the head.</p> +<p>"You would not change it for a residence at home with your own +people +if you could?"</p> +<p>The same sweet denial in pantomime.</p> +<p>"Do you not become lonely sometimes, Cora, hundreds of miles away +from +the scenes of your childhood?"</p> +<p>"Have I not my husband and boy?" she asked, half reproachfully, as +the +tears welled up in her eyes. "Can I ask more?"</p> +<p>"I have feared sometimes, when I've been in the village, that +perhaps +you were lonely and sorrowful, and often I have hurried my footsteps +that I might be with you a few moments sooner. When preaching and +talking to the Indians, my thoughts would wander away to you and the +dear little fellow there. And what husband could prevent them?" said +Harvey, impulsively, as he drew his wife to him, and kissed her again +and again.</p> +<p>"You must think of the labor before you."</p> +<p>"There is scarcely a moment of my life in which I don't, but it is +impossible to keep you and him from my mind. I am sorry that I am +compelled to leave you alone so often. It seems to me that Teddy has +acted in a singular manner of late. He is absent every afternoon. He +says he goes hunting and yet he rarely, if ever, brings anything back +with him."</p> +<p>"Yesterday he returned shortly after you left, and acted so oddly, I +did not know what to make of him. He appeared very anxious to keep me +at a distance, but once he came close enough for me to catch his +breath, and if it did not reveal the fumes of liquor then I was never +more mistaken in my life."</p> +<p>"Impossible! where could he obtain it?"</p> +<p>"The question I asked myself and which I could not answer; +nevertheless his manner and the evidence of his own breath proved it +beyond all doubt to my mind. You have noticed how set he is every +afternoon about going away in the woods. Such was not his custom, and +I think makes it certain some unusual attraction calls him forth."</p> +<p>"What can it all mean?" asked the missionary of himself. "No; it +cannot be that he brought any of the stuff with him and concealed it +in the boat. It must have been discovered."</p> +<p>"Every article that came with us is in this house."</p> +<p>"Then some one must furnish him with it, and who now can it be?"</p> +<p>"Are there not some of your people who are addicted to the use of +liquor?"</p> +<p>"Alas! there are too many who cannot withstand the tempter; but I +never yet heard of an Indian who knew how to <i>make</i> it. It is +only +when they visit some of the ports, or the Red river settlement, that +they obtain it. Or perhaps a trader may come this way, and bring it +with him."</p> +<p>"And could not Teddy have obtained his of such a man?"</p> +<p>"There has been none here since last autumn, and then those who +visited the village had no liquor with them. They always come to the +village first so that I could not avoid learning of their presence. +Let me see, he has been away since morning?"</p> +<p>"Yes; he promised an early return."</p> +<p>"He will probably make his appearance in the course of an hour or +so. +Watch him closely. I will be back sooner to-day, and we shall probe +this matter to the bottom. Good-by!"</p> +<p>Again he embraced his wife, and then strode rapidly across the +Clearing in the direction of the woods. His wife watched his form +winding in and out among the trees, until it finally disappeared from +view; and then, waiting a few moments longer, as if loth to withdraw +her gaze from the spot where she had last seen him, she finally turned +within the house to engage in her domestic duties.</p> +<p>The thrifty housewife has seldom an idle moment on her hands, and +Cora +passed hither and thither, performing the numerous little acts that +were not much in themselves, but collectively were necessary, if not +indispensable, in her household management. Occasionally she paused +and bent over her child, that lay sleeping on the bed, and like a fond +mother, could not restrain herself from softly touching her lips to +its own, although it was at the imminent risk of awaking it.</p> +<p>An hour passed. She went to the door and looked out to see whether +Teddy was in sight; but the woods were as silent as if they contained +no living thing. Far away over the river, nearly opposite the Indian +village, she saw two canoes crossing the stream, resembling +ordinary-sized water-birds in the distance. These, so in harmony with +the lazy, sunshiny afternoon, were all that gave evidence that man had +ever invaded this solitude.</p> +<p>Cora Richter could but be cheerful, and, as she moved to and fro, +she +sung a hymn, one that was always her husband's favorite. She sung it +unconsciously, from her very blithesomeness of spirits, not knowing +she was making music which the birds themselves might have envied.</p> +<p>All at once her ear caught the sound of a footstep, and confident +that +Teddy had come, she turned her face toward the door to greet him. She +uttered a slight scream, as she saw, instead of the honest Hibernian, +the form of a towering, painted savage, glaring in upon her.</p> +<p>Ordinarily such a visitor would have occasioned her no surprise or +alarm. In fact, it was rare that a day passed without some Indian +visiting the cabin—either to consult with the missionary himself, or +merely to rest a few moments. Sometimes several called together, and +it often happened that they came while none but the wife was at home. +They were always treated kindly, and were respectful and pleased in +turn. During the nights in winter, when the storm howled through the +forest, a light burned at the missionary's window, and many a savage, +who belonged often to a distant tribe, had knocked at the door and +secured shelter until morning. Ordinarily we say, then, the visit of +an Indian gave the young wife no alarm.</p> +<p>But there was something in the appearance of this painted sinewy +savage that filled her with dread. There was a treacherous look in his +black eyes, and a sinister expression visible in spite of vermilion +and ocher, that made her shrink from him, as she would have shrunk +from some loathsome monster.</p> +<p>As the reader may have surmised, he was no other than Daffodil or +Mahogany, who had left Teddy on purpose to visit the cabin, while both +the servant and his master were absent. In spite of the precaution +used, he had taken more liquor than he intended; and, as a +consequence, was just in that reckless state of mind, when he would +have hesitated at no deed, however heinous. From a jovial, +good-natured Indian, in the company of the Hibernian, he was +transformed into a sullen, vindictive savage in the presence of the +gentle wife of Harvey Richter. He supported himself against the door +and seemed undecided whether to enter or not. The alarm of Cora +Richter was so excessive that she endeavored to conceal it.</p> +<p>"What do you wish?" she asked.</p> +<p>"Where Misser Richter?"</p> +<p>"Gone to the village," she replied, bravely resolving that no lie +should cross her lips if her life depended upon it.</p> +<p>"When come back?"</p> +<p>"In an hour or so perhaps."</p> +<p>"Where Ted?"</p> +<p>"He has gone hunting."</p> +<p>"Big lie—he drunk—don't know nothing—lay sleep on ground."</p> +<p>"How do you know? Did you see him?"</p> +<p>"Me gib him fire-water—much like it—drink good deal—tumble over +like tree hain't got root."</p> +<p>"Did you ever give it him before?" asked the young wife, her +curiosity +supplanting her alarm for the moment.</p> +<p>"Gib him offin—gib him every day—much like it—drink much."</p> +<p>Again the wife's instinctive fear came back to her, and she +endeavored +to conceal it by a calm, unimpassioned exterior.</p> +<p>"Won't you come in and rest yourself until Mr. Richter returns?"</p> +<p>"Don't want to see him," replied the savage, sullenly.</p> +<p>"Who do you wish to see then?"</p> +<p>"You—t'ink much of you."</p> +<p>The wife felt as if she would sink to the floor. There was something +in the tones of his voice that had alarmed her from the first. She was +almost certain this savage intended rudeness, now that he knew the +missionary himself was gone. She glanced up at the rifle which was +hung above the fireplace. It was charged, and she had learned how to +fire it since her marriage. Several times she was on the point of +springing up and seizing it and placing herself upon the defensive. +Her heart throbbed wildly at the thought, but she finally concluded to +resort to such an act only at the last moment. She might still +conciliate the Indian by kindness, and after all, perhaps he meditated +no harm or rudeness.</p> +<p>"Come and sit down then, and talk with me awhile," said she, as +pleasantly as it was possible.</p> +<p>The savage stumbled forward a few feet, and dropped into a seat, +where +he glared fully a minute straight into the face of the woman. This was +the most trying ordeal of all, especially when she raised her own blue +eyes, and addressed him. It seemed impossible to combat the fierce +light of those orbs, although she bore their scrutiny like a heroine. +He had seated himself near the door, but he was close enough for her +to detect the fumes of the liquor he had drank, and she knew a savage +was never so dangerous as when in a half-intoxicated condition.</p> +<p>"Have you come a long distance?" she asked.</p> +<p>"Good ways—live up north."</p> +<p>"You are not a Sioux, then?"</p> +<p>"No—don't like Sioux—bad people."</p> +<p>"Why do you come in their neighborhood—in their country?"</p> +<p>"'Cause I want to—<i>come see you</i>."</p> +<p>"You must come again—"</p> +<p>At this juncture, the child in the cradle awoke and began crying. +The +face of the savage assumed an expression of ferocity, and he said, +abruptly:</p> +<p>"Stop noise—me tomahawk if don't."</p> +<p>As he spoke he laid his hand in a threatening manner upon his +tomahawk, and the mother sprung up and lifted the infant in her arms +for the purpose of pacifying it. The dreadful threat had almost +unnerved her, for she believed the savage would carry it out upon the +slightest pretext. But before that tomahawk should reach her child, +the mother must be stricken to the earth. She pressed it convulsively +to her breast, and it quickly ceased its cries. She waited until it +closed its eyes in slumber and then some impulse prompted her to lay +it upon the bed, and to place herself between it and the Indian, so +that she might be unimpeded in her movements if the savage should +attempt harm to her or her offspring.</p> +<p>Several moments now passed without the Indian speaking. The interval +was occupied by him in looking around the room and examining every +portion upon which it was possible to rest his gaze. The survey +completed, he once more fixed his scrutiny upon the young wife, and +suddenly spoke in his sententious, abrupt manner.</p> +<p>"Want sunkin eat."</p> +<p>This question was a relief, for it afforded the wife an opportunity +of +expressing her kindness; but, at the same time, it caused a more rapid +beating of her heart, since to procure what was asked, she would be +compelled to pass out of the door, and thus not only approach him much +more closely than she was willing, but it would be necessary to leave +him alone with her infant until her return.</p> +<p>She was in a painful dilemma, to decide whether it was best to +refuse +the visitor's request altogether or to comply with it, trusting to +Providence to protect them both. A casual glance at the Indian +convinced her that it would be dangerous to thwart his wishes +longer; and, with an inward prayer to God, she arose and approached +the door. As she passed near him, he moved and she involuntarily +quickened her step, until she was outside. The Indian did not follow, +and she hurried on her errand.</p> +<p>She had gone scarcely a yard, when she heard him walking across the +floor, and detected at the same moment, the cry of her infant. Fairly +beside herself with terror, she ran back in the house, and saw the +savage taking down her husband's rifle. The revulsion of her feelings +brought tears to her eyes, and she said:</p> +<p>"I wish you would go away, I don't like you."</p> +<p>"Kiss me—den I go!" said he, stepping toward her.</p> +<p>"Keep away! keep away!" she screamed, retreating to the door and yet +fearing to go out.</p> +<p>"Kiss me—tomahawk pappoose!" said the savage, placing his hand upon +the weapon.</p> +<p>The young wife placed her hands over her face and sobbed aloud. She +did not hear the cat-like footsteps of the savage, as he approached. +His long arm was already stretched forth to clasp her, when the door +was darkened, a form leaped into the room, and with the quickness of +lightning, dealt the savage a tremendous blow that stretched him limp +and lifeless upon the floor.</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="Dealt_the_savage_a_tremendous_blow"></a><img + style="width: 493px; height: 726px;" + alt="Dealt the savage a tremendous blow." + title="Dealt the savage a tremendous blow." src="images/lt006.jpg"></p> +<p>"Move a limb and I will kill you!" shouted the young missionary, his +face all ablaze with passion. "Cora, has he harmed you?"</p> +<p>"No, no, no, Harvey; have you not already killed him?"</p> +<p>"Pity that I haven't. He is not fit to live."</p> +<p>"Dear Harvey, you are carried away by your passion. Do restrain +yourself."</p> +<p>Woman-like, the only emotion of Cora Richter was that of +commiseration +for the poor wretch that had been stricken down by the hand of her +husband. She saw the blood trickling from his face and knew that he +was dreadfully injured. The missionary, too, began to become more calm +and collected; and yet, while regretting the occasion, he could but +think he had done his simple duty to his insulted wife. Had he been +prepared as he entered the door, he would have shot the savage dead in +his tracks.</p> +<p>Harvey picked up his rifle that lay in the middle of the floor, and +approached the prostrate Indian. After pushing and shaking, he gave +signs of returning consciousness, and at length arose to his feet. +His nose had bled copiously, and one eye was "closed," as if he had +been under the manipulation of some pugilist.</p> +<p>The wife brought a basin of water, and offered a bandage, while +Harvey +proffered his assistance. But the Indian, without speaking, motioned +them aside, and made his way out the door. On the threshold he paused +a moment and looked back—and that look Harvey Richter will remember +to his dying day.</p> +<p>Both breathed freer when he had gone. They then looked in each +other's +faces a moment and the wife sunk into her husband's arms.</p> +<p>"Did I not do right, Cora?"</p> +<p>"Yes; oh, yes; but, Harvey, this will not be the last of it. You +have +made an enemy of that Indian, and he can never be made a friend."</p> +<p>"Such is often the result of doing your simple duty. Let us +therefore +trust to God and say no more about it. Ah! here comes Teddy."</p> +<p>The Irishman at this moment entered the door. He was still under the +influence of liquor though he made ludicrous efforts to conceal it. +The wife found opportunity to communicate to her husband all that had +been told her, before the conversation had progressed far. The peril +which she had so narrowly escaped decided the missionary to be +severely just with his servant.</p> +<p>"Teddy, where have you been?"</p> +<p>"Won't that spake for itself?" he replied, holding up a handsome +string of fish. "Begorrah, but it was mighty poor luck I had hunting."</p> +<p>"I should judge you had discovered something unusual from your +strange +actions."</p> +<p>The face of the Irishman flushed scarlet, and his confusion was +distressing. "Teddy," he continued, "I am displeased at the manner in +which you have acted for the last week or two. Had it not happened +that I left the village sooner than usual to-day, most probably my +wife and son would have been killed."</p> +<p>The fellow was completely sobered.</p> +<p>"What is it ye say, Mister Harvey?"</p> +<p>"For several days you have failed to return in the time you +promised, +so that I have been compelled to leave them alone and unprotected. +This afternoon, an Indian came in the house and threatened the life of +both my wife and child—"</p> +<p>"Where the divil is he?" demanded Teddy, springing up; "I'll brake +ivery bone in his body."</p> +<p>"He is gone, never to return I trust."</p> +<p>"Be the powers! if I could but maat him—"</p> +<p>"Do not add falsehood to your conduct. He said that you and he have +met constantly and drank liquor together."</p> +<p>The expression of blank amazement was so genuine and laughable that +the missionary could hardly repress a smile. He felt that his last +remark was hardly fair. Teddy finally burst out.</p> +<p>"'Twas that owld Mahogany copperskin; but did I iver 'xpact he was +up +to <i>sich</i> a trick and he would niver have l'aved me a-fishing. +Oorah, +oorah!" he muttered, gnashing his teeth together. "What a miserable +fool I <i>have</i> been. He to come here and insult me mistress after +professin' the kindest regards. May I be made to eat rat-tail files +for potaties if iver I trust red-skin honor again!"</p> +<p>"It strikes me that you and this precious savage had become quite +intimate. I suppose in a few weeks longer you would have left us and +lived with him altogether."</p> +<p>The tears trickled down Teddy's cheeks, and he made answer in a +meek, +mournful tone:</p> +<p>"Plaise forgive me, Mister Harvey, and Miss Cora. Yees both knows I +would die for yees, and it was little I dr'amed of a savage iver +disecrating this house by an ungentlemanly act. Teddy never'll sarve +yees the like agin."</p> +<p>"I have no faith in the promises of a man who is intemperate."</p> +<p>The Irishman raised his hand to heaven:</p> +<p>"May the good Father above strike me dead if I iver swallow another +drop! Do yees belave me now. Mister Harvey?"</p> +<p>"You must not place the reliance in your own power, Teddy. Ask His +assistance and you'll succeed."</p> +<p>"I'll do so; but, ye saa, the only mill where I could get the cursed +stuff was of this same Indian, and as I politely towld him I'd +practice wid me gun on him if he offered me anither drop, and, as I'd +pick him off now, after this shine, as quick as I would a sarpent, it +ain't likely he'll bother me agin."</p> +<p>"I hope not, but I have the same apprehension as Cora that he will +return when we least expect him. We must manage so that we are never +both away from the house at the same time. It is now getting well +along in the afternoon, Teddy; you may prepare your fish for supper."</p> +<p>The Irishman obediently moved away, and the young missionary and his +wife were left together.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.<br> +</h2> +<h2>GONE!</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alas, +alas, fair Inez,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> She went away with +song,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">In sounds that sang Farewell, Farewell</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> To her you've loved +so long.—HOOD.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>Alertness or watchfulness is sure to succeed the accomplishment of +an +enemy's designs. The moment danger is over, then the most vigilant +preparations against it are made. The burglar knows better than to +visit the same house two nights in succession. He is wise enough to +wait until time has lulled the inmates into fancied security.</p> +<p>With such an interest at stake as had Harvey Richter, one may well +believe that no precaution was neglected which could operate to defeat +the designs of the savage whom he had driven in anger from his door. +He changed his hour of visitation from the afternoon to the forenoon. +Teddy needed no admonition against leaving the house during his +absence. He kept watch and ward over the house as if he would atone +by vigilance for past shortcomings.</p> +<p>The missionary had dwelt long enough among the Indians to gain a +pretty accurate estimate of their character. What troubled him most, +therefore, was a conviction that the savage's revenge, though delayed +for ten years, for want of the convenient opportunity, was sure to be +accomplished. He might have gone immediately to the north or east, +there to remain with his own tribe until convinced that the moment had +come to strike the blow—a blow, which no human influence, no personal +danger, no suffering, could persuade him from inflicting upon the +offending white man.</p> +<p>But there was no certainty even of delay. Did the savage believe the +moment to strike propitious, he would be ready for the trial. Even +then, he might be skulking in the woods, with his black eyes fixed +upon the cabin. It will be perceived, that, did he contemplate the +death of either of the parties concerned, he could have compassed it +without difficulty. Opportunities offered every day for the fatal +bullet to reach its mark; but the <i>insult</i> to the Indian was so +great, +that he contemplated a far sweeter compensation than death itself. +Whatever that might be, time would be sure to develop it, and that, +too, at the moment when least expected.</p> +<p>This fear became so ever-present and troublesome, that the +missionary +made it known in the village, where he could command the services of +half a hundred warriors. A dozen at once made search through the woods +to ascertain whether the savage was concealed anywhere in the +vicinity. One of these chanced upon a trail, which, after following +some distance, was lost in the river. This, however, he pronounced to +be the trail of a <i>white man</i>. The suspected Indian evidently, +had +fled, and no trace was discovered of him.</p> +<p>Another source of annoyance was opened to Harvey. Since the shot at +Teddy, nothing had occurred to remind them of the existence of the +strange hunter, whose mysterious warnings had accompanied their advent +into the country. Richter could not believe that the man had left +altogether, but regarded his actions with considerable equanimity, as +it was apparent that his warning shots were intended rather to +frighten than to kill. Harvey never would converse with his wife about +this white foe, and had cautioned Teddy not to allude to him in her +presence. The missionary had a strong hope that, some day, he would +be brought face to face with this stranger, when an explanation would +be secured and the annoyance ended. He therefore repeated his warning +to the Irishman not to shoot the hunter, unless compelled to do so to +save his own life; but rather to use every effort to secure him and +bring him to the cabin.</p> +<p>About a week after the occurrence narrated, Teddy went fishing, +leaving the husband and wife together. He followed the shore of the +river about a half-mile downward, when he settled himself by a huge +rock that projected a few feet into the water. He had just thrown his +line into the stream, when he heard the crackling of bushes behind +him, and, turning, saw the hunter walking in a direction parallel with +the river, with his head bent, as if in thought. Apparently he was +unsuspicious of the presence of any one.</p> +<p>Teddy at once sunk down to screen himself as he watched the +movements +of his old foe, out of all manner of patience with himself that he had +left his rifle at home, and possessed only the arms that nature had +furnished him. Still, he resolved that the man should be secured, if +possible.</p> +<p>"Arrah, now, be aisy!" he whispered, "and yees may cotch a fish that +didn't nibble at yer bait. Whisht! but do ye <i>saa</i> him? But <i>isn't</i> +he +a strappin' fellow, to be sure—a raal shark ten foot long, with claws +like an alligator!"</p> +<p>The hunter walked but a few rods, when he seated himself upon a +fallen +tree, with his back toward the Irishman. This was the coveted +opportunity.</p> +<p>"Yees have got the fellow now, Teddy, barring yees haven't got him +at +all, but that ain't saying ye won't get him. Be aisy now, and don't +get excited! Jist be as wise as a rat and as still as a mouse, and +ye'll catch the catamount, if he don't catch you, that is."</p> +<p>These self-admonitions were much needed, for the fellow was all +tremulous with excitement and scarcely able to restrain himself. +Waiting a few moments until he could tone down his nerves, he +commenced making his way toward his victim. He exercised extreme +caution until within a rod, when a twig snapped under his foot. He +made ready to spring, for he was certain of being discovered; but, to +his surprise, the hunter made no motion at all. He evidently was so +absorbed in some matter as to be unconscious of what was passing +around.</p> +<p>Slowly and stealthily Teddy glided toward the man, until he arose +almost to the standing position, not more than a foot distant. Then +slowly spreading out his arms, so as to inclose the form of the +stalwart woodsman, he brought them together like a vise, giving +utterance at the same time to an exultant "whoop."</p> +<p>"Yer days of thramping <i>this</i> country, and alarming paceable +inhabitants are done wid, Mister Anaconda. So jist kaal over +gracefully, say tin Ave Marias, and consider yourself in the hands of +Gabriel sint for judgment."</p> +<p>All this time Teddy had been straining and hugging at the hunter as +if +determined to crush him, while he, in turn, had taken it very coolly, +and now spoke in his gruff bass voice:</p> +<p>"Let go!"</p> +<p>"Let go! Well now, that's impudint, ye varlet. As if Teddy McFadden +would let go hook and line, bob and sinker, whin he had got hold of a +sturgeon. Be aisy now; I'll squaze the gizzard and liver iv ye +togither, if ye doesn't yield gracefully."</p> +<p>"Let go, I say! Do you hear?".</p> +<p>"Yis, I hears, and that is the extint—"</p> +<p>Teddy's next sensation was as if a thunderbolt had burst beneath his +feet, for he was hurled headlong full half a rod over the head of the +hunter. Though considerably bruised, he was not stunned by the fall, +and quickly recovered. Scratching his head, he cried:</p> +<p>"Begorrah, but yees can't repate <i>that</i> trick!" making a rush +toward +his antagonist, who stood calmly awaiting his onset.</p> +<p>"By heavens, I'll give you something different then!" said the man, +as +he caught him bodily in his arms, and running to the edge of the +river, flung him sprawling into it. The water was deep, and it +required considerable struggling to reach the shore.</p> +<p>This last prodigious exhibition of strength inspired the Irishman +with +a sort of respect for the stranger. Teddy had found very few men, even +among frontiersmen and Indians, who could compete with him in a +hand-to-hand struggle; yet, there was now no question but what he was +overmatched, and he could but admire, in a degree, the man who so +easily handled his assailant. It was useless to attack the enemy after +such a repulse; so he quietly seated himself upon the shore.</p> +<p>"Would ye have the kindness, ye assassinating disciple of the +crowner's jury, whin yees have jist shown how nately ye can dishpose +of a man like meself, to tell me why it was you run so mighty harrd +whin I took once before after yees? Why didn't ye pause, and sarve me +then jist as ye have done? I'd jist like to know that before we go any +further wid <i>this</i> matter."</p> +<p>"It wasn't because I feared you!" said the hunter, turning sullenly +away, and walking into the wood.</p> +<p>"Farewell!" called out Teddy, waving his hand toward him. "Ye're a +beauty, and yees have quite taking ways wid ye; but it wouldn't be +safe for me to find yees lurking about the cabin, if I had a rifle in +me hand. You'd have trouble to fling a bullet off as ye flung me. Be +jabers, but <i>wasn't</i> that a nate thing, to be sure. I'll bet a +thousand pounds which I niver had, that that fellow could draw the +Mississippi up-stream if he was fairly hitched on to it. Ah, Teddy, +you ain't much, afther all," he added, looking dolefully at his wet +garments.</p> +<p>Teddy had been so completely outwitted that he was unwilling any one +should know it. So he resolved to continue fishing until his clothes +were thoroughly dry, and until he had secured enough fish to repay him +for his journey. It was near the middle of the afternoon, and, as he +had remained at home until the return of the young missionary from +the village, there was nothing to disturb his labor, or sport as it +might be called, except darkness itself.</p> +<p>During this same afternoon, Harvey Richter and his wife were sitting +on a bench in front of their cabin. The day was warm, but, as the +bench always was shaded, it was the ordinary resort of the young +couple when the weather was sultry. The missionary had been reading, +but the volume was laid aside, and he was smilingly watching his wife +as she sported with the boy in her lap. The little fellow was in +exuberant spirits, and the parents, as a matter of course, were +delighted. Finally he betrayed signs of weariness, and in a few +moments was asleep in his mother's arms.</p> +<p>"I think it was a wise thing, for several reasons—that of changing +your hour from the afternoon to the forenoon," said the wife.</p> +<p>"Why do you think so?"</p> +<p>"We all feel more wearied and less inclination at this time of day +for +work than we do during the earlier hours. We could then be little +together, but now nothing interferes with our afternoon's enjoyment of +one another's society."</p> +<p>"That is true; but you see the Indians are more likely to be off +fishing or hunting during the earlier part of the day. They have +willingly conformed, however, to the change."</p> +<p>"I think it is more in accordance with your own disposition," smiled +the wife, "is it not?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I am free to admit that my lazy body inclines to quiet and +rest +after partaking of a hearty dinner, as I have done to-day."</p> +<p>"If we think of rest at this early stage in our lives, how will it +be +when we become thirty or forty years older?"</p> +<p>"I refer only to the temporary rest of the body and mind, such as +they +must have after periods of labor and excitement. Such rest the +youngest as well as the oldest requires. Be careful, Cora, you don't +drop the little fellow!"</p> +<p>"Never fear," laughed the mother, as the youngster woke and +commenced +several juvenile antics more interesting to the parents than to any +one else:</p> +<p>"How lively!" remarked the proud father. "It seems to me I never saw +a +child at his age as bright and animated."</p> +<p>And what father does not hold precisely the same opinion of his +young +hopeful?</p> +<p>"Look!" exclaimed the mother, "some one must be coming to see you."</p> +<p>An Indian woman was discernible among the trees, walking along the +path at a rapid walk, as if she were greatly hurried. Her head was +bent, but now and then she raised it and glanced toward the cabin, +showing that that was her destination.</p> +<p>Passing from the shadow of the wood into the Clearing, the +missionary +recognized one of the worst women of the tribe. She had scoffed at his +preaching, had openly insulted him, and during the first month or two +had manifested a disposition approaching violence. To this Richter +only answered by kindness; he used every means to conciliate her +good-will, but thus far with indifferent success. Her husband, +The-au-o-too, a warrior favorably inclined toward the white man, was +thoughtful and attentive; and the good minister wondered that the +savage did not restrain these unwomanly demonstrations upon his +squaw's part.</p> +<p>She approached with rapid step, until she stood directly in front of +them. Harvey saw that her countenance was agitated.</p> +<p>"Well, At-to-uck," said he, kindly, "you seem troubled. Is there +anything I can do for you?"</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="quotWell_At-to-uckquot_said_he_kindly_quotyou_seem"></a><img + style="width: 482px; height: 721px;" + alt=""Well, At-to-uck," said he, kindly, "you seem troubled."" + title=""Well, At-to-uck," said he, kindly, "you seem troubled."" + src="images/lt007.jpg"></p> +<p>"Me ain't trouble," she answered, using English as well as her very +imperfect knowledge would admit. "Me ain't trouble—<i>me</i> ain't."</p> +<p>"Who may it be then?"</p> +<p>"The-au-o-too—he <i>much</i> trouble. Sick—in woods—die—<i>berry</i> +sick."</p> +<p>"What do you mean, At-to-uck?" asked the missionary, his interest +strongly awakened. "Has anything befallen your husband?"</p> +<p>"He fall," she answered, eagerly, catching at the helping word, "he +fall—much hurt—die—die—won't got well."</p> +<p>"Where is he?"</p> +<p>She spun around on one foot, and pointed deeper into the woods. "He +dere—lay on back—soon die."</p> +<p>"And he wishes me to see him; is that it?"</p> +<p>She nodded her head vigorously, but made no answer for a moment. +Then +she suddenly broke forth:</p> +<p>"Send At-to-uck to git good man—hurry—berry hurry—he die—won't +live. The-au-o-too say hurry—die soon—won't see good man—Riher."</p> +<p>Harvey looked at his wife. "What must I do, Cora? It will not do to +leave you, as Teddy may not return for several hours, and yet this +poor Indian should be attended in his dying moments."</p> +<p>"You should go, Harvey; I will not fear."</p> +<p>He turned to the squaw in perplexity.</p> +<p>"How far away is The-au-o-too?"</p> +<p>"Not much far—soon find—most dead."</p> +<p>"It may be," he said in a low tone, "that he can be got to the +house, +although it would be no easy matter for us two to bring him."</p> +<p>"I think your duty calls you to the dying man."</p> +<p>"I ought to be there, but I tell you, Cora, I don't like this +leaving +you alone," said he, impressively. "You know we made up our minds that +it should never occur again."</p> +<p>"There must be occasions when it cannot be avoided, and this is one +of +them. By refusing to attend this man, you may not only neglect a great +duty, but incur the ill-will of the whole tribe. You know the +disposition of this woman."</p> +<p>The latter, at this point, began to give evidence of agitation, and +to +remark in her broken accents that The-au-o-too was dying and would be +dead before they could reach him. The missionary, in sore perplexity, +looked at his wife.</p> +<p>"Go," she said, or rather signified without speaking.</p> +<p>"I will," he said, rising with an air of decision. "God grant I may +never regret this."</p> +<p>"I trust you never will."</p> +<p>He kissed the infant, embraced his wife and then signified to the +squaw to lead the way.</p> +<p>"Keep up a good heart," he added, turning, as he moved away.</p> +<p>The wife smilingly nodded her head but said nothing. It did not +escape +the notice of her husband that there were tears in her eyes, and he +half resolved to remain with her after all, but the next moment he +moved on.</p> +<p>The squaw took the well-beaten track, walking very rapidly and often +looking back to see that she was followed. Her strangeness of manner +the missionary attributed to her excitement regarding her husband. +Several times she exhibited hesitation, and once or twice muttered +something that was unintelligible to him.</p> +<p>When they were about half-way to the village, she paused.</p> +<p>"Well, At-to-uck, what is the matter now?"</p> +<p>"Mebbe dead."</p> +<p>"Oh, I hope not," he answered, cheerfully. "Do you turn off here?"</p> +<p>She answered in the affirmative and asked him to lead the way.</p> +<p>"No; I am unacquainted, and you ought certainly to know where to +find +your dying husband better than I do."</p> +<p>She took the duty of guide upon herself again, and advanced but a +rod, +when she abruptly paused. "Hark! hear groan? Me hear him."</p> +<p>Harvey listened intently but heard nothing. Knowing that the hearing +of the Indians is marvelously acute, he believed the squaw had heard +sounds of distress; but, instead of quickening her steps, she now +moved more slowly than ever.</p> +<p>"Have you lost your way, At-to-uck?"</p> +<p>"No," she answered, in a significant voice.</p> +<p>The suspicions of the missionary that had been slumbering were now +fully roused.</p> +<p>"What do you mean then?"</p> +<p>The squaw turned full around and gave a leer which, if possible, +made +her face more hideous than ever. Without thinking Harvey caught her by +the arm and shook her sharply.</p> +<p>"Explain this, At-to-uck. What is the meaning of this?"</p> +<p>"He-he-e-e-e! <i>big</i> fool. The-au-o-too hunt—<i>no hurt</i>!"</p> +<p>A sharp reproof arose to the missionary's lips, but deeming it would +be lost upon such a person, he merely turned his back upon her and +walked away. She called and taunted him, but he was the last man who +could have been roused to anger by such means, and he walked, with his +arms folded, slowly and deliberately away toward the path.</p> +<p>It had not occurred, as yet, to the mind of Richter that anything +more +than a simple annoyance to himself was contemplated by this +proceeding; but, as he resumed his steps homeward, a suspicion flashed +upon him which almost checked the beating of his heart. "God save it +being so!" was his mental prayer, as he hurried forward. A moment +later he was on a full run.</p> +<p>The afternoon was well advanced, but he soon caught a glimpse of his +cabin through the trees. Before this, however, he had detected the +outcries of his infant, which struck him as a favorable omen, and he +abated his speed somewhat. But, as he came into the Clearing, his +heart gave a great bound, as he saw his child lying upon the ground +some distance from the house. His anxiety was so distressing that he +dashed by it into the cabin.</p> +<p>"Cora, Cora, what is the matter? Where have you concealed yourself? +Why this untimely pleasantry?"</p> +<p>He came out again, caught up the infant and attempted to soothe it, +all the time looking wildly about in the hope of seeing the returning +mother.</p> +<p>"CORA! CORA!" he again called in agonized tones, but the woods gave +back only the hollow echo. For a few moments he was fairly beside +himself; but, at the end of that time, he began to reason more calmly. +He attempted to persuade himself that she might return, but it was +useless; and with a sort of resigned despair, he looked about him for +signs of the manner in which she was taken away.</p> +<p>The most convincing evidence was not wanting. The ground was +trampled +and torn, as if there had been a violent struggle; and, inexperienced +as were his eyes, he detected the unmistakable impress of a moccasin +upon the soft earth, and in the grass. The settle, too, was overturned +and the baby lay in the grass as if tossed there by the act of some +other arm, than a mother's.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE LOST TRAIL.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"'Twas +night—the skies were cloudless blue,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> And all around was +hushed and still,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">Save paddle of the light canoe,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> And wailing of the +whippowill."</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>On that sunny afternoon, the fish in a particular locality of a +tributary of the Mississippi did not take the bait very well. The spot +to which we refer was that immediately surrounding Teddy, whose +patience was well-nigh exhausted. There he sat for several tedious +hours, but had secured only two nibbles at his line, neither of which +proved to be anything more.</p> +<p>"Begorrah, but it must be they'se frightened by meself, when that +ould +scalliwag give me a fling into the stream. Jabers! <i>wasn't</i> it +done +nately. Hallo! there's a bite, not bigger, to be sure, than a lady's +fut, but a bull-pout it is I know."</p> +<p>He instantly arose to his feet, as if he were about to spring in the +water, and stood leaning over and scanning the point where his line +disappeared in the stream, with an intense interest which the +professional angler alone can appreciate. But this, like all others, +proved a disappointment, and he soon settled down into his waiting but +necessary attitude of rest.</p> +<p>"A half-hour more of sunshine, and then these same pants will be the +same as if they've niver saan water, barring it's mighty seldom they +have or they wouldn't be in this dirty condition. Arrah! what can be +the m'aning of that?"</p> +<p>Faintly but distinctly through the long stretch of woods came the +sound of his name. It was repeated again and again until the Irishman +was convinced beyond all possibility of mistake.</p> +<p>"What is up now?" he asked of himself as he drew in his line. "That +is +Mister Harvey's voice sure, and he is calling as though he was in a +mighty hurry. Faith, and I must not linger! If anything <i>should</i> +happen whin I was away I'd feel wus'n old Boney at Watherloo whin he +lost the day an' his crown."</p> +<p>The line was soon stowed away, and Teddy made his way at a half-walk +and ran in a homeward direction. He had gone about a hundred rods when +he paused and listened. Clearer and more distinctly came his name in +tones whose earnest entreaty could not be mistaken. Teddy rose on his +heels and made reply to the hail, to assure his master, if possible, +that he was approaching with all speed.</p> +<p>The Irishman's words were yet lingering in his mouth, when another +and +more terrible sound reached his ears. It was that of a suppressed, +half-smothered woman's scream—a sort of gasp of terror. It was so +short and so far away that it was impossible to tell its direction. He +stopped, his heart beating like a hammer, but he heard no more.</p> +<p>"God protect me, but there's something gone wrong at the cabin!" he +exclaimed, dashing forward through the wood at a reckless rate. A few +moments later it came in view, and he then saw his master walking to +and fro, in front of the house, with the child in his arms. His manner +and deathly pale face confirmed the forebodings of Teddy's heart.</p> +<p>"What's the matter, Mister Harvey? What's the matter?"</p> +<p>"<i>That Indian has carried Cora away</i>!" was the agonized reply.</p> +<p>"Where has the owld divil carried her?" very naturally asked the +Hibernian.</p> +<p>"I do not know! I do not know! but she has gone, and I fear we shall +never see her again alive."</p> +<p>"May me owld head be scraped wid a scalping-knife, an' me hands be +made into furnace-grates for being away," ejaculated the servant, as +the tears streamed down his cheeks.</p> +<p>"No, Teddy, you are not in the least to blame, nor is it my fault," +impetuously interrupted the missionary.</p> +<p>"Till me how it was, Mister Harvey."</p> +<p>The husband again became composed and related what is already +familiar +to the reader. At its close, Teddy dashed into the house and brought +out his rifle.</p> +<p>"I'll murther that At-to-uck, be me sowl, and then I'll murther that +haythen assassinator, an' iverybody that gits in me way. Be the powers +of the saints and divils, but I'll murther somebody. May the divil +roast me if I—"</p> +<p>"Hold!" said the missionary, who by this time was himself again. +"The +first thing to be attended to is pursuit. We must not lose a second. +We can never follow them ourselves through the wood. Hold the child, +while I go to the village and get some of the Indians to help us."</p> +<p>Teddy took the child that had cried itself asleep, and the +missionary +started on a full run up the river. When he reached the settlement, it +required but a moment to make his errand known. A dozen warriors +volunteered at once, for these dozen would have laid down their lives +for their faithful instructor. Many of the squaws also gave utterance +to dismal howls upon learning what had befallen their pale-faced +sister. Had the missionary chosen to tell the part taken by At-to-uck +in the affair, it may be reasonably doubted whether her life would +have been spared. But he was not the man to do such a thing. Knowing +how anxious Teddy would be to participate in the pursuit, he secured +the wife of one of the Christian Indians to return with him, and take +charge of the boy during their absence.</p> +<p>At the time of the missionary's visit, the chief and his principal +warriors were absent on an expedition to the north. Although holding +little interest himself in the mission of the minister among his +people, he would undoubtedly have led a party to the search for the +audacious savage who had abducted the respected white woman; and, had +he been overtaken, a swift and merciless retribution would have +fallen upon the trangressor's head.</p> +<p>Harvey Richter deemed it best to take but a few Indians with him. +Accordingly he selected five that he knew to be skillful, and with +them hurried at once in the direction of his cabin. He saw with a +sinking heart, as he returned, that the sun was already low in the +horizon, and the woods were becoming dark and gloomy. Teddy was at his +post chafing like a confined lion.</p> +<p>"This woman, Teddy, will take care of the boy, so that you may join +us +in the search."</p> +<p>"Bliss you for that! It would be the hardest work of me life to stay +here when I thought there's a chance of gitting a whack at that +thaiving villian. Oh, <i>if</i> I could only git howld of him, I +wouldn't +l'ave a piece of him big enough to spit on."</p> +<p>"I think there's little probability of either of us obtaining a +glimpse of him. We must rely upon these Indians to take the trail and +follow it to the end."</p> +<p>"They're like the hounds in the owld country, barring they go on two +legs an' don't stick their noses in the ground, nor howl whin they git +on trail. They're mighty handy to have around ye at such a time as +this, if they be savages wid only a spark of Christianity in 'em not +bigger than a tobaccy pipe."</p> +<p>"It will be impossible, I think, for the savage to conceal traces of +his flight, and, if there be any chance of coming up with him, these +men will surely do so."</p> +<p>"But suppose Miss Cora should be tomahawked and—"</p> +<p>"Don't mention it," said the missionary, with a shudder.</p> +<p>While these words were interchanged, the Indians had employed the +time +more profitably in solving the meaning of the footsteps upon the +ground. A slight whoop announced the trail's discovery, and when the +missionary turned, he saw the whole five gliding off in a line through +the woods. They went in "Indian file," and resembled a huge serpent +making its way with all swiftness toward its prey.</p> +<p>Our two friends started at once after them. On reaching the edge of +the Clearing Teddy asked, abruptly:</p> +<p>"If the haythen comes back to the cabin while we's be gone?"</p> +<p>"Impossible! he cannot."</p> +<p>"Spowsen he hides his track in that manner, he may take a notion to +gobble up the little boy."</p> +<p>"He would not dare—"</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the remark of his servant alarmed the missionary, and +he +hesitated. There might be foundation for what had been said. The +savage finding the pursuit too close to escape with his prey, might +slay her and then return stealthily to the cabin and dispatch the boy. +It would not do to leave him alone with the Indian woman.</p> +<p>"I can afford little assistance in the hunt, and will remain behind. +Hurry on, Teddy, or they will be too far away for you to follow."</p> +<p>The Hibernian shot off through the trees, at a rate that soon +exhausted him, while Harvey Richter returned within his cabin, there +to keep company with his great woe, until the return of the pursuers +brought tidings of the lost one.</p> +<p>An Indian on the trail is not likely to permit any trivial cause to +turn him aside, and the five Sioux made rapid progress so long as the +light in the wood allowed them to do so. This, however, was a +comparatively short time; and, after progressing fitfully and +uncertainly for several hundred yards, they finally drew up to wait +until the morrow.</p> +<p>The trail, instead of taking the direction of the river, as the +pursuers believed it would, ran precisely parallel to it. So long as +the savage kept away from the stream—that is, so long as he did not +take to a canoe—his trail could be followed with absolute certainty, +and he be overtaken beyond doubt. Impeded by an unwilling captive, he +could not avoid a rapid gain upon him by his pursuers; and to escape +certain capture, he must either abandon his prey or conceal his flight +by resorting to the river.</p> +<p>It might be, and the pursuers themselves half believed, that the +fleeing Indian did not fear a pursuit by any of his own race, in which +case he could make a leisurely escape, as the unpracticed white men +could not have followed him for a half-mile through the wilderness. If +this were really the case, the Sioux were confident of coming up with +him before the morrow's sun should go down.</p> +<p>The Indians had paused but a few moments, when a great tearing and +scrambling was heard, and Teddy came panting upon them.</p> +<p>"What be yees waiting for?" he demanded. "Tired out?"</p> +<p>"Can't go furder—dark—wait till next day."</p> +<p>"I'm sorry that yees didn't stand it bitter. I can go some ways +further meself if yees'll be kind enough to show me the trail. But, +yees don't pant or blow a bit, so I can't think ye're too much tired."</p> +<p>"Too dark—can't see—wait till sun."</p> +<p>"Oh, begorrah! I didn't understand ye. The Injin 'l' git a good +start +on us, won't he though?"</p> +<p>"Ain't Injin—<i>white man</i>!"</p> +<p>"A white man, does ye say, that run off wid Miss Cora?"</p> +<p>Two of the Indians replied in the affirmative.</p> +<p>Teddy manifested the most unbounded amazement, and for a while, +could +say nothing. Then he leaped into the air, struck the sides of his +shoes with his fingers, and broke forth:</p> +<p>"It was that owld hunter, may purgatory take him! Him and that owld +Mahogany, what made me drunk—blast his sowl—have been hid around in +the woods, waiting for a chance to do harm, and one is so much worse +than t'other yees can't tell both from which. Och! if I but had him +under the sight of me gun."</p> +<p>The spot upon which the Indians and Teddy were standing was but a +short distance from the village, and yet, instead of returning to it, +they started a small fire and lay down for the night. <i>They were +upon +the trail</i>, and nothing was to turn them aside from it until their +work was completed, or it was utterly lost to them.</p> +<p>Teddy was more loth than they to turn his face backward, but, under +the circumstances, he could not forget the sad, waiting husband at +home. So he returned to the cabin, to make him acquainted with the +result of their labors thus far.</p> +<p>"If the Indian only avoids the river, he may be overtaken, but if he +takes to that, I am fearful he can never be found."</p> +<p>"Be me sowl, Mr. Harvey, but thim savages says he's not an Injin, +but +a <i>white man</i>, and yees know they cannot be mistook fur they've +got +eyes like hawks, and sinses sharper than me only needle, which, +begorrah, hasn't got a point."</p> +<p>"Can it be that Bra—that that hunter has done me this great wrong?" +said the missionary, correcting himself so dextrously that his servant +failed to observe it. "Has such been the revenge that he has been +harboring up for so many years? And he has followed us these hundreds +of miles for the purpose of striking the blow!"</p> +<p>"The owld haythen assassinator! The bloodthirsty beast, the sneakin' +dog, the dirthy jail-bird, the—"</p> +<p>"He has not shot either of us when we were at his mercy, for the +purpose of lulling us into security, the better to obtain his revenge, +and oh, he has succeeded how well!"</p> +<p>The strong man, who still sat in the front of his cabin, where he +might catch the first sound of returning footsteps, now covered his +face, and his whole form heaved with emotion. Teddy began to feel +uncomfortable. He arose, walked to and fro, and wiped the tears from +his own cheeks. Despite his tears, however, he recognized in the +exclamations of his master a reference to some mystery which he had +long suspected, but which had never been cleared up. The missionary +must have met this strange hunter before this encounter in the +wilderness, and his identity, and the cause of his deadly enmity, +must, also, be known. Teddy had a great curiosity; but, as his master +had repulsed his inquiries upon a previous occasion, he forbore to +make any reference to it. He walked backward and forward until the +good man's emotion had subsided somewhat, and then he said:</p> +<p>"Good Master Harvey, the owld cabin is so lonely wid the form of +Miss +Cora gone, that it's meself that couldn't very well stay here till +morning. So, wid yer leave jist, I'll return to the Injins, so as to +be ready to folly the trail bright and early in the mornin'."</p> +<p>"And how do you suppose I feel, Teddy?"</p> +<p>"God save us! It can be no worse than meself."</p> +<p>"I am willing that you should go."</p> +<p>The missionary had need, indeed, for the sustaining power which can +come only from above. The faithful Indian woman remained with his +child through the night, while he, with bare head, and hands griped +together, paced backward and forward until the morrow's sun had risen. +How he prayed and agonized in spirit during those long, lonely hours, +God and himself only know. When the day had fairly dawned, he entered +the house, lay down wearily, and slept a "long and troubled sleep."</p> +<p>With a heavy heart Teddy made his way back through the woods to +where +the Indians were congregated. They were seated around the camp-fire +engaged in smoking, but did not exchange nor utter a syllable. They +all understood each other, and therefore there was no need of talk. +The Irishman seated himself beside them, and joined an hour or two in +smoking, when they all lay down and slumbered.</p> +<p>All with the exception of Teddy, who could not sleep. He rolled +hither +and thither, drew deep sighs, and took new positions, but it availed +nothing. The events of the past day had driven sleep far from his +eyelids, and he soon gave over the effort altogether. Rising to a +sitting position, he scratched his head (which was significant only of +abstraction of thought), and gazed meditatively into the smoldering +embers.</p> +<p>While seated thus, an idea suddenly came to him which brought him +instantly to his feet. The fact that it had not occurred to the +Indians he attributed to their inferior shrewdness and sagacity. He +recalled that the abduction of the young wife took place quite late in +the afternoon; and, as she must be an unwilling captive of course, she +would know enough to hinder the progress of the man so as to afford +her friends a chance to overtake them. Such being the case, the hunter +would find himself compelled to encamp for the night, and therefore he +could be but a short distance away. The more the Irishman reflected, +the more he became convinced that his view was right; and, we may +state, that for once, at least, his supposition had a foundation to +stand upon.</p> +<p>The matter, as has been evident from the first to the reader, rested +entirely upon the impossibility of following the trail at night. Thus +far it had maintained its direction parallel with the river, and he +deduced that it must continue to do so. Such being the case, the man +could be reached as well during the darkness as daylight.</p> +<p>Teddy concluded not to awaken the savages, as they would hardly +coincide with him. So he cautiously rose to his feet, and walking +around them, made off in the darkness. He was prudent enough to obtain +an idea of the general direction before starting, so as to prevent +himself going astray; after which he pressed the pursuit with all +possible speed. At intervals he paused and listened, but it seemed as +if everything excepting himself was asleep. He heard no sound of +animal or man: He kept his eyes flitting hither and thither, for he +had hopes of chancing upon the camp-fire of the abductor.</p> +<p>It is always a difficult matter to keep one's "reckoning" in the +woods. If they be of any extent, it requires extraordinary precautions +upon the part of an inexperienced person to prevent himself from +being lost. Should he endeavor to travel by night, it would be almost +a miracle indeed if he could save himself from going totally astray.</p> +<p>Teddy had every disadvantage to contend against, and he had not +journeyed a half-hour, when his idea of his own position was just the +opposite of truth. As he had not yet become aware of it, however, it +perhaps was just as well as if he had committed no error. He was +pressing forward, with that peculiar impelling feeling that it was +only necessary to do so ultimately to reach his destination, when a +star-like glimmer caught his eye. Teddy stopped short, and his heart +gave a great bound, for he believed the all-important opportunity had +now come. He scanned the light narrowly, but it was only a flickering +point, such as a lantern would give at a great distance at night. The +light alone was visible, but no flame. It was impossible to form any +correct idea of its location, although, from the fact that the nature +of the wood must prevent the rays penetrating very far, he was pretty +certain it was comparatively close at hand.</p> +<p>With this belief he commenced making his way toward it, his +movements +certifying his consciousness that a mis-step would prove fatal. To his +dismay, however, he had advanced but a dozen steps or so when the +light disappeared, and he found it impossible to recover it. He moved +from side to side, forward and backward, but it availed nothing, and +he was about to conclude it had been extinguished, when he retreated +to his starting-point and detected it at once.</p> +<p>Keeping his eye fixed upon it, he now walked slowly, but at the same +point as before it disappeared. This, he saw, must arise from some +limb, or branch or tree interfering, and it only remained for him to +continue advancing in the same line. Having proceeded a hundred rods +or so, he began to wonder that he still failed to discover it. +Thinking he might be mistaken in the distance, he went forward until +he was sure he had passed far beyond it, when he turned and looked +behind him. Nothing but the dim figures of the tree-trunks rewarded +his gaze.</p> +<p>Fully a half-hour was spent in wandering to and fro in the further +efforts to locate the light that had caught his eye, and he finally +sought to obtain his first stand-point. Whether he succeeded or not +Teddy never could tell, but he never saw nor learned anything more +regarding the camp-fire to which he was confident that he had been +in such close proximity.</p> +<p>About this time, which was in the neighborhood of midnight, Teddy +made +the discovery that he was lost, and, like a sensible person, gave up +all efforts to right himself. He was so wearied that he did not awake +until daylight, when he was aroused by the five Indians, whose +trail-hunt led them to the spot where he lay sleeping.</p> +<p>The trail was now followed rapidly for a half-mile when, as the +pursuers had feared all along, it made a sudden bend to the river, +upon the banks of which it was totally lost. Not to be baffled in this +manner, a canoe was produced with which three crossed the river. The +entire day was spent by these upon one bank, while the two other +Indians and Teddy pursued the search for traces of the hunter's +landing upon their own side of the stream. Not the slightest evidence +was discovered that he had touched shore after embarking. The man had +escaped, and even the eagle-eyed Sioux were compelled on the second +night to return to their village with the sad announcement that the +TRAIL WAS LOST!</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a name="THE_TRAIL_WAS_LOST"></a><img + style="width: 482px; height: 721px;" alt="THE TRAIL WAS LOST." + title="THE TRAIL WAS LOST." src="images/lt008.jpg"></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.<br> +</h2> +<h2>A HIBERNIAN'S SEARCH FOR THE TRAIL.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Oh I +let me only breathe the air,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The blessed air +that's breathed by thee;</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">And, whether on its wings it bear</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Healing or death, +'tis sweet to me."</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>At the close of a windy, blustering day in 1821, two men were seated +by a camp-fire in the depths of the wilderness of the northwest. The +wind howled through the branches with a moaning sound such as often +heralds the approach of bitter cold weather; and a few feathery flakes +of snow that sailed along on the wind, proved that the season of +storms was close at hand.</p> +<p>The fire was built down deep in a sort of gorge, where its cheery, +crackling blaze could not be seen by any one until he was nearly upon +it. The men sat with their pipes in their mouths, their rifles beside +them and their feet toward the fire. From appearances they were on +the best of terms. One of them needs no introduction, as he is our old +friend Teddy, who evidently feels at home in his new situation. The +other is a man of much the same build although somewhat older. His +face, where it is not concealed by a heavy, grizzly beard, is covered +by numerous scars, and the border of one eye is disfigured from the +same cause. His dress and accouterments betray the hunter and trapper.</p> +<p>"And so, Teddy, ye're sayin' it war a white man that took away the +missionary's wife, and hain't been heard on since. Let me see, you +said it war nigh onto three months ago, warn't it?"</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="quotAnd_so_Teddy_ye're_sayin_it_war_a_white_man"></a><img + style="width: 482px; height: 725px;" + alt=""And so, Teddy, ye're sayin' it war a white man that took away the missionary's wife."" + title=""And so, Teddy, ye're sayin' it war a white man that took away the missionary's wife."" + src="images/lt009.jpg"></p> +<p>"Three months, come day after to-morrow. Begorrah, but it's not I +that'll forgit that same date to my dying day, if, indade, I forgit it +at all, at all, even whin somebody else will be wearin' me clothes."</p> +<p>"It was a dirty trick, freeze me if it wasn't; but you can <i>allers</i> +find a white man to do a mean trick, when you can't a copperskin; +<i>that</i> you may set down as a p'inted fact, Teddy."</p> +<p>"I belaves ye, Mister Tim. An Indian is a poor mean thing at the +bist, +an' their squaws—kah! they are the dirtiest beasts that iver jabbered +human lingo; an' their babies, I raaly belaves, is caught with a hook +an' line in the muddy creeks where the catfish breed; but, fur all +that, I don't think they could have been equal to this piece of +wickedness. May the divil git howld of his soul. Blazes, but won't +there be a big squeal in purgatory when the divil gits howld of him!" +And Teddy seemed to contemplate the imaginary scene in Hades with a +sense of intense satisfaction.</p> +<p>"But it's powerful strange you could never git on the trail. I don't +boast of my own powers, but I'll lay if I'd been in the neighborhood, +I'd 've found it and stuck to it like a bloodhound, till I'd 've +throttled that thievin' wretch."</p> +<p>"The Sioux spent the bitter part of the day in the s'arch, an' +meself +an' siveral other savages has been looking iver since, and none of us +have got so much as a scint of his shoe, bad luck to him."</p> +<p>"But, Teddy, what made him do it?" asked the trapper, turning his +keen, searching eyes full upon him.</p> +<p>"There's where I can't answer yees."</p> +<p>"There be some men, I allow, so infarnal mean they'll do a mean +thing +just 'cause they <i>like</i> to do it, and it might be he's one of +them."</p> +<p>"It's meself that belaves he howlds some spite agin Mister Harvey +for +something done in years agone, and has taken this means of revinging +himself upon the good man, as I am sure niver did one of his +fellow-creatures any harm."</p> +<p>"It may be there's been ill-blood a long time atween 'em, but the +missionary couldn't a done nothin' to give the rapscallion cause to +run off with his wife, 'less he'd run off with this hunter's old woman +before, and the hunter was paying him for it."</p> +<p>"Git out wid yer nonsense!" said Teddy, impatiently. "It couldn't +been +a great deal, or if it was, it couldn't been done purposely, for I've +growed up wid Mister Harvey, and knowed him ever since he was knee +high to a duck, and he was <i>always</i> a boy that did more praying +than +fighting. The idea of <i>his</i> harming anyone, is <i>pre-pos-te-trous.</i> +After the haythen had fired at us, the good man actilly made me +promise not to do the wretch hurt if the chance was given me; and a +mighty foolish thing, for all it was Master Harvey who towld me, fur +I've had a chance or two at the spalpaan since. Oh blissed Virgin, why +<i>didn't</i> I cut his wizzen for him whin I could have done it—that +is, +if I could!"</p> +<p>"And you've been huntin' 'im these three or four months be you?"</p> +<p>"The same, yer honor, huntin' constantly, niver losing a day rain or +shine, wid Indians an' widout 'em, cold, hungry and tired, but not a +day of rist."</p> +<p>"Freeze me then, if you haven't got <i>grit</i>. Thar ain't many +that would +track through the woods that ar long. And ye haven't caught a glimpse +of the gal nor heard nothin' of her?"</p> +<p>"Not a thing yet; but it's meself that 'xpacts to ivery day."</p> +<p>"In course, or ye wouldn' keep at the business. But s'pose, my +friend, +you go on this way for a year more—what then?"</p> +<p>"As long as I can thravel over the airth and Miss Cora isn't found, +me +faat shall niver find rest."</p> +<p>The trapper indulged in an incredulous smile.</p> +<p>"You'd be doing the same, Tim, if yees had iver laid eyes on Miss +Cora +or had iver heard her speak," said Teddy, as his eyes filled with +tears. "God bliss her! she was worth a thousand such lives as mine—"</p> +<p>"Don't say nothin'" interrupted the trapper, endeavoring to conceal +his agitation; "I've l'arned years ago what that business is. The +copperskins robbed me of a prize I'll never git agin, long afore +you'd ever seen one of the infarnal beings."</p> +<p>"Was she a swateheart?"</p> +<p>"Never mind—never mind; it'll do no good to speak of it now. She's +<i>gone</i>—that's enough."</p> +<p>"How do you know she can't be got agin, whin—"</p> +<p>"She was tomahawked afore my eyes—ain't that enough?" demanded the +trapper, indignantly.</p> +<p>"I axes pardon, but I was under the impression they had run away +with +her as they did with Miss Cora."</p> +<p>"Hang 'em, no! If they'd have done that I'd have chased 'em to the +Pacific ocean and back agin afore I'd give 'em up."</p> +<p>"And that's what meself intends to do regarding Miss Cora."</p> +<p>"Yer see, yer don't know much about red-skins and their devilments, +and therefore, it's my private opine, instead of getting the gal, +they'll git you, and there'll be the end on't."</p> +<p>"Tim, couldn't yees make the s'arch wid me?" asked Teddy, in a +deeply +earnest voice. The trapper shook his head.</p> +<p>"Like to do't, but can't. It's time I was up to the beaver runs this +night and had my traps set. Yer see I'm <i>compelled</i> to be in St. +Louey +at the end of six months and hain't got a day to spare."</p> +<p>"Mister Harvey has money, or, if he hasn't, he has friends in St. +Louis, be the same token, that has abundance of it, and you'd find it +paid you bitter in the ind than catching poor, innocent beavers, that +niver did yees harm."</p> +<p>"I don't foller sich business for money, but I've agreed to be in +St. +Louey at the time I was tellin' you, and it's allers a p'int of honor +with me to keep my agreements."</p> +<p>"Couldn't yees be doing that, and this same thing, too?"</p> +<p>"Can't do't. S'pose I should git on the trail that is lost, can yer +tell me how fur I'd have to foller it? Yer see I've been in that +business afore, and know what it is. Me and three others once chased a +band of Blackfeet, that had carried off an old man, till we could see +the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and git a taste of the breath of +wind that comes down from their ice and snow in middle summer."</p> +<p>"Didn't yees pursue the subjact any further?"</p> +<p>"We went fur enough to find that the nimble-footed dogs had got into +the mountains, and that if we wanted to keep our ha'r, we'd only got +to undertake to foller 'em thar. So we just tramped back agin, havin' +our trouble for nothin'."</p> +<p>"Wasn't that about as poor a business, for yees, as this be for me, +barring yees was hunting for an old man and I'm hunting for a young +woman?"</p> +<p>"It warn't as foolish by a long shot, 'cause we <i>war on the trail</i> +all +the time, and kept it, while you've lost yours, and never'll be able +to find it agin. We war so close more nor once that we reached their +camp-fires afore the embers had died out and from the tops of two, +three hills we got a glimpse on 'em on thar horses. We traveled all +night a good many times, but it done no good as they done the same +thing, and we found we war further away, if anything, next morning +than we war at sundown. If we'd ever lost the trail so as not to find +it we'd guv up and come home, but we never done that nor never lost +more nor an hour in lookin' for it. You see," added the trapper, +impressively, "you never have found the trail, and, therefore, there +ain't the shadder of a chance."</p> +<p>"Begorrah, yees can't blame us whin we tried to the bist of our +indeavor to find it and wasn't able."</p> +<p>"Yer done the best yer knowed, I s'pose; but why didn't four on 'em +divide so as to let one go up one side the river and one t'other, and +the same way down-stream. Yer don't s'pose that feller was able to +keep paddlin' forever in the river, do yer? and jist so soon as he +landed, jist so sure would one of them Sioux find the spot where he +touched land, and foller him to his hole."</p> +<p>"Begorrah, if wees had only thought of that!"</p> +<p>"A Sioux is as cunning a red-skin as I ever found, and it's jist my +opine every one of 'em <i>did</i> think of that same thing, but they +didn't +try it for fear they might catch the varmint! They knew their man, +rest assured o' that."</p> +<p>Teddy looked up as if he did not comprehend the meaning of the last +remark.</p> +<p>"'Cordin' to yer own showin', one of them infarnal copper-gals was +at +the bottom of the hull business, and it's like as not the men knowed +about it, too, and didn't <i>want</i> to catch the gal!"</p> +<p>"There's where yees are mightily mistook, as Pat McGuire said whin +his +landlord called him honest, for ivery one of them same +chocolate-colored gintlemen would have done their bist for Master +Harvey. They would have cut that thaif's wizzen wid a mighty good +will, I knows."</p> +<p>"Mebbe so, but I don't believe it!" said the hunter, with an +incredulous shake of his head.</p> +<p>"Would ye have me give up the s'arch altogether?"</p> +<p>"Can't say that I would; howsumever, the chance is small, and ye'd +better go west with me, and spend the winter in l'arning how to trap +fur beaver and otter."</p> +<p>"What good might result from that?"</p> +<p>"None, as I knows on."</p> +<p>"Then it's meself that thanks yees for the offer and respectfully +declines to accept the nomination. I'll jist elict meself to the +office of sheriff an' go about these regions wid a s'arch-warrint in +my shoes that'll niver let me rist until Miss Cora is found."</p> +<p>"Wal, I 'spose we'll part in the mornin' then. As yer say this are +the +first time you've got as fur north, I'll say I think you're nearer the +trail than yer ever war yit."</p> +<p>"What might be the reason for that?" eagerly asked Teddy.</p> +<p>"I can't say what it is, only I kind o' feel it in my bones. Thar's +a +tribe of copperskins about a hundred miles to the north'ard, that I'll +lay can tell yer <i>somethin'</i> about the gal."</p> +<p>"Indians? An' be what token would they be acquaint with her?"</p> +<p>"They're up near the Hudson Bay Territory line, and be a harmless +kind +of people. I stayed among 'em two winters and found 'em a harmless lot +o' simpletons that wouldn't hurt a hair o' yer head. Thar's allers a +lot of white people staying among 'em."</p> +<p>"I fails yit to see what they could be doing with Miss Cora."</p> +<p>"Mind I tells yer only what I <i>thinks</i>—not what I <i>knows</i>. +It's my +private opine, then, that that hunter has took the gal up among them +Injins, and they're both living thar. If that be so, you needn't be +afeard to go right among 'em, for the only thing yer'll have to look +out fur will be the same old hunter himself."</p> +<p>This remark made a deep impression upon Teddy. He sat smoking his +pipe, and gazing into the glowing embers, as if he could there trace +out the devious, and thus far invisible, trail that had baffled him so +long. It must be confessed that the search of the Hibernian thus far +had been carried on in a manner that could hardly be expected to +insure success. He had spent weeks in wandering through the woods, +sleeping upon the ground or in the branches of some tree, fishing for +awhile in some stream, or hunting for game—impelled onward all the +time by his unconquerable resolve to find Cora Richter and return her +to her husband. On the night that the five Sioux returned to the +village, and announced their abandonment of the pursuit, Teddy told +the missionary that he should never see him again, until he had gained +some tidings of his beloved mistress, or had become assured that there +could be no hope of her recovery. How long this peculiar means of +hunting would have gone on, it is impossible to tell, but most +probably until Teddy himself had perished, for there was not the +shadow of a chance of his gaining any information of the lost one. His +meeting with the trapper was purely accidental, and the hint thrown +out by the latter was the reason of setting the fellow to work in the +proper way.</p> +<p>The conversation was carried on for an hour or so longer, during +which +the trapper gave Teddy more advice, and told him the best manner of +reaching the tribe to which he referred. He cautioned him especially +against delaying his visit any longer, as the northern winter was +almost upon them, and should he be locked in the wilderness by it, it +would be almost impossible for him to survive its rigor; but if he +should be among the tribe, he could rest in security and comfort until +the opening of spring. Teddy concluded to do as his companion advised, +and, after more unimportant conversation, both stretched themselves +out by the camp-fire and slept.</p> +<p>Just as the earliest light was breaking through the trees, the +trapper +was on his feet, rekindling the fire. Finding, after this was +completed, that Teddy still slumbered, he brought him to his senses by +several forcible applications of his foot.</p> +<p>"Begorrah, it's meself that's thinking yees 'av a mighty gintle way +of +coming upon one unawares, barring it's the same as a kick from a wild +horse. I was dr'aming jist thin of a blast of powder in a stone +quarry, which exploded under me feet, an' sint me up in the ship's +rigging, an' there I hung by the eaves until a lovely girl pulled me +in at the front door and shut it so hard that the chinking all fell +out of the logs, and woke me out of me pleasint delusions."</p> +<p>The trapper stared at the Irishman incredulously, thinking him +demented. Teddy's gaping and rubbing of his eyes with his fists, and, +finally, his stretching of arms and legs, reassured Tim of the +fellow's sanity, and he added:</p> +<p>"If yer hadn't woke just now, I'd tried ef lammin' yer over the head +would've done any good."</p> +<p>"Yees might have done that, as long as ye plaised, fur me sconce got +used to being cracked at the fairs in the owld country."</p> +<p>"I thought yer allers lived in this country."</p> +<p>"Not always, or how could I be an Irishman? God plaise I may niver +live here long enough to forgit owld Ireland, the Gim of the Sea. +What's the matter with yees now?"</p> +<p>The trapper having wandered a few yards from the camp-fire, had +paused +suddenly and stood gazing at the ground. Teddy was obliged to repeat +his question.</p> +<p>"What is it yees have diskivered?"</p> +<p>"Sign, or ye may shoot me."</p> +<p>"Sign o' what?"</p> +<p>"Injins, ye wood-head! What else could I mean?"</p> +<p>Teddy now approached and narrowly examined the ground. His knowledge +of wood-craft had been considerably increased during the past month or +two, and he had no difficulty in distinguishing the imprint of a +moccasin.</p> +<p>"Look at the infarnal thing!" exclaimed the trapper, in disgust. +"Who'd a thort there'd 've been any of the warmints about, whin we +took sich pains with our fire. Why the chap didn't send a piece of +cold lead into each of our bread-baskets is more nor I can tell. It +would've sarved us both right."</p> +<p>"P'raps thim tracks there was made fornenst the night, and that it's +ourselves that was not here first."</p> +<p>"Don't yer s'pose I know all about <i>that</i>?" demanded the +trapper, +savagely. "Them tracks was made not more'n three or four hours ago."</p> +<p>As he spoke. Tim turned and followed it a rod or two, and then, as +he +came back, said:</p> +<p>"If I had the time I'd foller it; but it goes just t'other way from +what I want to go. I think like 'nough it leads to the village that +you want to find; so if yer'd like one of 'em to introduce yer to the +rest on 'em, drive ahead and make his acquaintance. Maybe he kin tell +yer something about the gal."</p> +<p>Teddy determined to follow the trail by all means. He partook of the +morning meal with the trapper, exchanged a pleasant farewell, and +then the two parted never to meet again.</p> +<p>The footprints were distinct and easily followed. Teddy advanced +with +long, loping strides, at a gait considerably more rapid than his usual +one. He indulged in curious reveries as he followed it, fancying it to +be an unfriendly Indian with whom a desperate collision must +inevitably take place, or some friendly member of the tribe, of whom +the trapper had told him, that would prove a boon companion to him. +All at once he reached a small, marshy tract, where the trail was much +more palpable; and it was here that he either saw or fancied the toes +of the footprints turned <i>outward</i>, thus demonstrating that, +instead +of an Indian, he was following a white man.</p> +<p>The Hibernian's heart throbbed at the thought that he was upon the +track of the strange hunter, with all probability of overtaking him. +It caused his heart to throb violently to reflect how close he was +upon the critical moment. Drawing a deep breath and closing his lips +tightly, he pressed on ready for the conflict.</p> +<p>The trail continued as distinct as ever, and the pursuit suffered no +interruption until it entered a deep swamp into which Teddy hesitated +to enter, its appearance was so dark and forbidding. As he gazed into +its gloomy depths, he was almost certain that he had discovered the +<i>home</i> of the hunter. That at that moment the criminal was within +its +confines, where perhaps the beloved Cora was imprisoned, a miserable +and pining captive. The thought maddened him, and he pressed forward +so rashly that he soon found himself completely entrapped in a network +of briers and brambles. Carefully withdrawing into the open wood, it +suddenly occurred to him, that if the hunter had passed through the +thicket, there was no earthly necessity of his doing it. He could pass +around, and, if the footprints were seen upon the opposite side, it +only remained to follow them, while, if they were not visible, it +certified that he was still within the thicket and he could therefore +shape his actions accordingly.</p> +<p>Teddy therefore made his way with patience and care around one end +of +the thicket. He found the distance more considerable than he at first +supposed. It was full an hour before he was fairly upon the opposite +side. Here he made a careful search and was soon rewarded by finding +unmistakable footprints, so that he considered it settled that the +hunter had passed straight through the thicket.</p> +<p>"It's a quaar being he is entirely, when it's meself that could +barely +git into the thicket, and he might have saved his hide by making a +short thramp around, rather than plunging through in this shtyle."</p> +<p>Teddy pressed on for two hours more, when he began to believe that +he +was close upon the hunter, who must have traveled without intermission +to have eluded him thus far. He therefore maintained a strict watch, +and advanced with more caution.</p> +<p>The woods began to thicken, and the Hibernian was brought to a +stand-still by the sound of a rustling in the bushes. Proceeding some +distance further, he came upon the edge of a bank or declivity, where +he believed the strange hunter had laid down to rest. The footprints +were visible upon the edge of the bank, and at the bottom of the +latter was a mass of heavy undergrowth, so dense as effectually to +preclude all observation of what might be concealed within it.</p> +<p>It was in the shrubbery, directly beneath him, that Teddy believed +the +hunter lay. He must be wearied and exhausted, and no doubt was in a +deep sleep. Teddy was sure, in his enthusiasm, that he had obtained a +glimpse of the hunter's clothes through the interstices of the leaves, +so that he could determine precisely the spot where he lay, and even +the position of his body—so eagerly did the faithful fellow's wishes +keep in advance of his senses.</p> +<p>And now arose the all-important question as to what he should do. He +might shoot him dead as he slept, and there is little question but +what Teddy would have done it had he not been restrained by the simple +question of expediency. The hunter was alone, and, if slain, all clue +to the whereabouts of Mrs. Richter would be irrecoverably lost. What +tidings that might ever be received regarding her, must come from the +lips of him who had abducted her. If he could desperately wound the +man, he might frighten him into a confession, but then Teddy feared +instead of wounding him merely with his rifle, he would kill him +altogether if he attempted to shoot.</p> +<p>After a full half-hour's deliberation, Teddy decided upon his course +of action. It was to spring knife in hand directly upon the face of +the hunter, pin him to the ground and then force the confession from +his lips, under a threat of his life, the Irishman mercifully +resolving to slay him at any rate, after he had obtained all that was +possible from him.</p> +<p>Teddy did not forget his experience of a few months before when the +hunter gave him an involuntary bath in the river. He therefore held +his knife firmly in his right hand. Now that he had concluded what to +do, he lost no time in carrying his plan into execution.</p> +<p>He took a crouching position, such as is assumed by the panther when +about to spring upon its prey, and then drawing his breath, he leaped +downward.</p> +<p>A yelping howl, an impetuous scratching and struggling of the +furious +mass that he attempted to inclose in his arms, told Teddy that instead +of the hunter, he had pounced down upon an innocent, sleeping bear!</p> +<p>It was well for the Irishman that the bear was peaceably inclined, +else his search for the lost trail might have terminated then and +there. The brute, after freeing itself from its incubus, sprung off +and made all haste into the woods, leaving Teddy gazing after it in +stupefied amazement. He rose to his feet, stared at the spot where it +had last appeared and then drew a deep sigh, and sadly shook his +head.</p> +<p>"I say nothing! Be jabers! it's meself that can't do justice to the +thame!"<br> +<br> +</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"><br> +<p>Harvey Richter stood in his cabin-door, about five months after his +great loss, gazing off toward the path which led to the Indian +village, and which he had traveled so many, many times. Sad and weary +was his countenance, as he stood, at the close of the day, looking +into the forest, as if he expected that it would speak and reveal what +it knew of his beloved partner, who was somewhere concealed within its +gloomy depths. Ah, how many an hour had he looked, but in vain. The +forest refused to give back the lost, nor did it breathe one word of +her, to ease the gloom which hung so heavily upon his soul.</p> +<p>A footfall caught his ear, and turning, he saw Teddy standing before +him. The face of the Irishman was as dejected as his own, and the +widowed man knew there was scarce need of the question:</p> +<p>"Have you heard anything, Teddy?"</p> +<p>"Nothing, sir, saving that nothing is to be learnt."</p> +<p>"Not my will, but thine, oh God, be done!" exclaimed the missionary, +reverently, and yet with a wailing sadness, that proved how +unutterable was his woe.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE TRAIL OF DEATH.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">These +likelihoods confirm her flight from hence;</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">Therefore, I pray you, stay not to +discourse,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">But mount you presently.—SHAKESPEARE.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>The trapper, after separating from the Irishman, pursued his way +through the woods with a slow tread, as if he were deliberating some +matter with himself. Occasionally he muttered and shook his head, in a +manner that showed his conscience was getting the better of the +debate, whatever it might be. Finally he paused.</p> +<p>"Yas, sir; it's a mean piece of business in me. 'Cause I want to +cotch +a few beavers I must let this gal be, when she has been lost to her +husband already for three months. It's ongenerous, and <i>can't be +done</i>!" he exclaimed, emphatically. "What if I does lose a few +peltries when they're bringing such a good price down in St. Louey? +Can't I afford to do it, when there's a gal in the matter?"</p> +<p>He resumed his walk as slowly and thoughtfully as before, muttering +to +himself.</p> +<p>"If I go, I goes alone; least I don't go with that Teddy, for he'd +be +sartin to lose my ha'r as sure as we got onto a trail. There's no +calc'latin' the blunders of <i>such</i> a man. How he has saved his +own +scalp to this time is more nor I can tell, or himself neither, for +that matter, I guess. I've been on many a trail-hunt alone, and if I +goes—if I goes, why, <i>in course</i> I does!" he added, impetuously.</p> +<p>The resolution once taken seemed to afford him unusual pleasure, as +it +does with us all when the voice of conscience is a monitor that is +heeded. He was tramping toward the west, and now that the matter was +decided in his own mind, he paused again, as if he could better debate +other matters that must in the circumstances necessarily present +themselves.</p> +<p>"In the first place, there's no use of going any further on <i>this</i> +track, for I ain't gettin' any nigher the gal, that's pretty sartin. +From what that Teddy told me of his travels, it can't be that she's +anywhere in these parts, for if she war, he couldn't have helped +l'arning something of her in all this time. There's a tribe up north +that I've heard was great on gettin' hold of white gals, and I think +I'll make a s'arch in that direction afore I does anything else."</p> +<p>Nothing more remained for Tim but to carry out the resolution he had +made, and it was characteristic of the man that he did it at once. +Five minutes after the above words had been muttered, he was walking +rapidly along in a northern direction, his rifle thrown over his arm, +and a beaming expression of countenance that showed there were no +regrets at the part he was acting. He had a habit of talking with +himself, especially when some weighty or unusual matter obtruded +itself. It is scarcely to be wondered, therefore, that he became quite +talkative at the present time.</p> +<p>"I allers admire such adventur's as this, if they don't bring in +anything more nor thanks. The style in which I've received them is +allers worth more money nor I ever made trapping beavers. The time I +cotched that little gal down on the Osage, that had been lost all +summer, I thought her mother would eat me up afore she'd let me go. I +believe I grinned all day and all night for a week after that, it made +me think I was such a nice feller. Maybe it'll be the same way with +this. Hello!"</p> +<p>The trapper paused abruptly, for on the ground before him he saw the +unmistakable imprint of a moccasin. A single glance of his experienced +eye assured him upon that point.</p> +<p>"That there are Injins in these parts is a settled p'int with me, +and +that red and white blood don't agree is another p'int that is settled. +That track wasn't made there more nor two hours ago, and it's pretty +sartin the one that made it ain't fur away at this time. It happens it +leads to the north'ard, and it'll be a little divarsion to foller it, +minding at the same time that there's an Injin in it."</p> +<p>For the present the trapper was on a trail, and he kept it with the +skill and certainty of a hound. Over the dry leaves, the pebbly earth, +the fresh grass, the swampy hollow—everywhere, he followed it with +unerring skill.</p> +<p>"That Injin has been on a hunt," he muttered, "and is going back +home +agin. If it keeps in this direction much longer, I'll believe he's +from the very village I'm hunting after. Heigh! there's something else +up!"</p> +<p>He suddenly checked himself and began snuffing the air, as though it +was tainted with something suspicious.</p> +<p>"I hope I may be shot if there ain't a camp-fire within two hundred +yards of where I am standing."</p> +<p>He looked sharply around in every direction, but saw nothing of the +camp, although positive that his olfactories could not have deceived +him.</p> +<p>"Whether it belongs to white or red can't be said, <i>sartin</i>; +but it's +a great deal most likely that it's red, and it's just about as sartin +that that Injin ahead of me has gone pretty close to the camp, so I'll +keep on follering him."</p> +<p>A short distance further he became assured that he was in close +proximity to the fire, and he began to use extreme caution in his +movements. He knew very well how slight an inadvertence would betray +his approach, and a betrayal was almost fatal. Advancing some distance +further, he suddenly came in full view of the camp-fire. He saw three +Indians seated around it, smoking, and appearing as if they had just +finished their morning meal. It seemed, also, as if they were +discussing some matter that deeply interested all. The mumbling of +their voices could be heard, and one of them gesticulated quite +freely, as though he were excited over the conference. There was not +even the most remote possibility that what they were saying was of the +least concern to the trapper; and so, after watching them a few +moments, he moved cautiously by.</p> +<p>It was rarely that Tim ever had a mishap at such perilous times as +these, but to his dismay something caught his foot so dextrously, that +in spite of himself he was thrown flat upon his face. There was a dull +thump, not very loud, it is true, but he feared it had reached the +ears of the savages. He lay motionless, listening for a while, but +hearing nothing of their voices or footsteps, he judged that either +they had no suspicion of the true cause, or else had not heard him at +all. He therefore rose to his feet and moved on, occasionally glancing +back, to be sure he was not pursued.</p> +<p>The trapper proceeded in this manner until noon. Had the case been +urgent, he would not have paused until nightfall, as his indurated +muscles demanded no rest; he could go a couple of days without +nourishment, and experience little inconvenience. But there was no +call for haste. He therefore paused at noon, on the banks of a small +stream, in quest of some water-fowl.</p> +<p>Tim gazed up and down-stream, but saw nothing that would serve as a +dinner. He could have enticed a fish or two from their element, but he +had set his heart upon partaking of a bird, and was not willing to +accept anything else. Accordingly, he began walking down the bank of +the creek in search of one.</p> +<p>In such a country as was Minnesota forty years ago, the difficult +matter would have been to <i>avoid</i> game rather than to find it. +The +trapper had searched but a short distance, when he caught sight of a +single ptarmigan under the opposite bank. In a twinkling Tim's rifle +was raised, and, as it flashed forth its deadly messenger, the bird +made a single struggle, and then floated, a dead object, down the +current.</p> +<p>Although rather anxious for his prize, the trapper, like many a +hunter +since that day, was not willing to receive a wet skin so long as it +was possible to avoid it. The creek could be only of inconsiderable +depth, yet, on such a blustering day, he felt a distaste toward +exposing himself to its chilling clasp. Some distance below he noticed +the creek narrowed and made a curve. At this point he hoped to draw it +in shore with a stick, and he lost no time in hurrying to the point. +Arrived there, the trapper stood on the very margin of the water, +with a long stick in hand, waiting for the opportune moment. He +naturally kept his eye upon the floating bird, as any animal watches +the prey that he is confident is coming directly into his clutches.</p> +<p>From the opposite bank projected a large, overhanging bush, and such +was the bird's position in the water, that it was compelled to float +within a foot, at least, of this. Tim's eyes happened to be fixed +intently upon it at this moment, and, at the very instant it was at +the point named, he saw a person's hand flash out, seize the ptarmigan +by the neck, and bring it in to shore in a twinkling.</p> +<p>Indignation upon the part of the trapper was perhaps as great as his +surprise. He raised his rifle, and had it already sighted at the point +where he was confident the body of the thief must be concealed, when a +second thought caused him to lower his piece, and hurry up-stream, to +a spot directly opposite where the bird had disappeared.</p> +<p>Here he searched the shore narrowly, but could detect no sign of the +presence of any person. That there was, or had at least been, one +there, needed no further confirmation. The trapper was in no mood to +put up with the loss of his dinner, and he considered it rather a +point of honor that he should bring the offending savage to justice. +That it was an Indian he did not doubt, but he never once suspected, +what was true, that it was the identical one he had been following, +and who had passed his camp-fire.</p> +<p>In a few moments he found a shallow portion of the creek across +which +he immediately waded and made his way down the bank, to where the +Indian had first manifested his presence. Here the keen eye of Tim at +once detected moccasin prints, and he saw that the savage had departed +with his prize.</p> +<p>There was no difficulty in following the trail, and the trapper did +so, with his long, loping, rapid walk. It happened to lead straight to +the northward, so that he felt it was no loss of time for him to do +so.</p> +<p>It was morally certain the savage could be at no great distance; +hence +the pursuer was cautious in his advance. The American Indian would +rather seek than avoid an encounter, and he was no foe to be despised +in a hand-to-hand contest. The trapper was in that mood that he would +not have hesitated to encounter two of them in deadly combat for the +possession of the bird which was properly his own, and which he was +not willing to yield until compelled to do so by physical force.</p> +<p>About a hundred rods brought the trapper to a second creek of larger +size than the first. The trail led directly into this, so he followed +without hesitation. Before doing so, he took the precaution to sling +his rifle to his back, so that his arms should be disencumbered in any +sudden emergency.</p> +<p>The creek proved to be of considerable depth, but not sufficient to +cause him to swim. Near the center, when it was up to his armpits, and +he was feeling every foot of the way as he advanced, he chanced by +accident to raise his head. As he did so, he caught a movement among +the undergrowth, and more from habit than anything else, dodged his +head.</p> +<p>The involuntary movement allowed the bullet that was discharged at +that moment to pass harmlessly over his crown and bury itself in the +bank beyond. The next instant the trapper dashed through the water, +reaching the shore before the savage could reload. To his +disappointment and chagrin, the Indian was gone.</p> +<p>Tim, however, was not to be baffled in this manner, and dashed on as +impetuously as before. He was so close that he could hear the +fugitive as he fled, but the nature of the ground prevented rapid +progress upon the part of either, and it was impossible to tell for a +time who it was that was gaining.</p> +<p>"There's got to be an end to this race <i>some time</i>," muttered +Tim, "or +I'll chase you up the north pole. You've stole my dinner, and tried to +steal my topknot, and now you shall have it or I shall have yours."</p> +<p>For some time this race (which in many respects resembled that of +Teddy and the strange hunter) continued, until the trapper found it +was himself that was really losing ground, and he sullenly came down +to a walk again. Still, he held to the trail with the unremitting +perseverance of the bloodhound, confident that, sooner or later, he +must come up with the fugitive.</p> +<p>All at once, something upon the ground caught his eye. It was the +ptarmigan, and he sprung exultingly forward and picked it up. It was +unharmed by the Indian, and he looked upon it as a tacit surrender, on +the part of his adversary, of the matter of dispute between them.</p> +<p>At first Tim was disposed to keep up the pursuit; but, on second +thought, he concluded to partake of his dinner, and then continue +his search for his human game. In order to enjoy his dinner it was +necessary to have it cooked, and he busied himself for a few moments +in collecting a few dried sticks, and plucking the feathers from the +fowl and dressing it.</p> +<p>While thus occupied, he did not forget to keep his eyes about him, +and +to be prepared for the Indian in case he chose to come back. He +discovered nothing suspicious, however, and came to believe there was +no danger at all.</p> +<p>At length, when the afternoon was well advanced, the trapper's +dinner +was prepared. He took the fowl from the blaze, and cutting a piece +with his hunting-knife, was in the very act of placing it in his +mouth, when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the stillness, and he +fell backward, pierced through the body by the bullet of the Indian +whom he had been pursuing.</p> +<p>"It's all up!" muttered the dying man. "I am wiped out at last, and +must go under!"</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="Its_all_upquot_muttered_the_dying_man"></a><img + style="width: 484px; height: 722px;" + alt=""It's all up!" muttered the dying man. "I am wiped out at last, and must go under!"" + title=""It's all up!" muttered the dying man. "I am wiped out at last, and must go under!"" + src="images/lt010.jpg"></p> +<p>The Lost Trail had been the means of Tim, the trapper, discovering +what proved to him <i>the trail of death!</i></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.<br> +</h2> +<h2>THE DEAD SHOT.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And +now 'tis still I no sound to wake</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The primal +forest's awful shade;</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">And breathless lies the covert brake,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Where many an ambushed form is laid.</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">I see the red-man's gleaming eye,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Yet all so hushed, +the gloom profound,</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">That summer birds flit heedlessly,</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> +And mocking nature smiles around.—LUNT.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>Five years have passed. It is the summer of 1825. In that +comparatively brief period, what vast changes have taken place! How +many have come upon and departed from the stage of life! How many +plans, intentions and resolutions have been formed and either failed +or succeeded! How many governments have toppled to the earth, and +followed by "those that in their turn shall follow them." What a +harvest it has been for Death!</p> +<p>The missionary's cabin stands on the Clearing where it was first +erected, and there is little change in its outward appearance, save +that perhaps it has been more completely isolated from the wood. The +humble but rather massive structure is almost impervious to the touch +of time. It is silent and deserted within. Around the door plays a +little boy, the image of his mother, while some distance away, under +the shadow of the huge tree, sits the missionary himself. One leg is +thrown over the other, an open book turned with its face downward upon +his lap, while his hands are folded upon it, and he is looking off +toward the wood in deep abstraction of thought. Time has not been so +gentle with Harvey Richter. There are lines upon his face, and a sad, +wearied expression that does not properly belong there. It would have +required full fifteen years, in the ordinary course of events, to have +bowed him in this manner.</p> +<p>The young man—for he is still such—and his little boy are the only +ones who now dwell within the cabin. No tidings or rumors have reached +him of the fate of his wife, who was so cruelly taken from him four +years before. The faithful Teddy is still searching for her. The last +two winters he has spent at home, but each summer he has occupied in +wandering hither and thither through the great wilderness, in his +vain searching for the lost trail. Cast down and dejected, he has +never yet entirely abandoned hope of finding traces of her. He had +followed out the suggestion of the trapper, and visited the Indians +that dwelt further north, where he was informed that nothing whatever +was known of the missing woman. Since that time his search had been +mostly of an aimless character, which, as we have already stated, +could be productive of no definite results.</p> +<p>The missionary had become, in a degree, resigned to his fate; and +yet, +properly speaking, he could not be said to be resigned, for he was not +yet convinced that she was entirely lost to him. All traces of the +strange hunter seemed irrecoverably gone, but Richter still devoutly +believed the providence of God would adjust everything in due time. It +is true, at seasons, he was filled with doubt and misgiving; but his +profession, his devotedness to his work, brought him in such close +communion with his divine Master that he trusted fully in his +providences.</p> +<p>On this summer afternoon, thoughts of his wife and of the strange +hunter occupied his mind more exclusively than they had for a year +past. So constant and preoccupying, indeed, were they, that he once +or twice believed he was on the eve of learning something regarding +her. While engaged in reading, the figures of his wife and the hunter +would obtrude themselves; he found it impossible to dismiss them, so +he had laid down the book and gone off into this absorbing reverie.</p> +<p>An additional fear or presentiment at times haunted the mind of the +missionary. He believed this hunter who could resort to such +diabolical means to revenge himself, would seek to inflict further +injury upon him, and he instinctively looked upon his boy as the +vulnerable point where the blow would be likely to fall. For over a +year, while Teddy was absent, Richter had taken the boy with him, when +making his daily visits to the village, and made it a point never to +lose sight of him. During these years of loneliness, also, Harvey +Richter had hunted a great deal in the woods and had attained +remarkable skill in the use of the rifle—an accomplishment for which +he had reason to be thankful for the remainder of his life, as we +shall presently see. On a pleasant afternoon, he frequently employed +himself in shooting at a target, or at small game in the lofty trees +around him, until his aim became so unerring that not a warrior among +the Sioux could excel him. It may seem singular, but our readers will +understand us when we say that this added to his popularity—and, in a +manner, paved a way for reaching many a heart that hitherto had +remained unmoved by his appeals.</p> +<p>The year preceding, an Indian had presented the missionary with a +goat, to the neck of which was attached a large cow-bell, that +probably had been obtained of some trader. Where the animal came from, +however, he had never been able to tell. It was a very acceptable +present, as it became a companion for his Charley, who spent many and +many an hour in sporting with it. It also afforded for a while a +much-valued luxury in the shape of milk, so that the missionary came +to regard the animal as an indispensable requirement in his household.</p> +<p>The goat acquired a troublesome habit of wandering off in the woods, +with an inclination not to return for several days. From this cause +the bell became useful as a signal to indicate the animal's +whereabouts. It rarely wandered beyond hearing, and caused no more +trouble than would have resulted from a cow under the same +circumstances. For the last few weeks it had been the duty, or rather +privilege, of Charley to bring his playmate home, and the child had +become so expert that the father had little hesitation in permitting +him to go out for it. The parent had misgivings, however, in allowing +him to leave the house, so near dark, to go beyond his sight if not +beyond his hearing; and for some time he had strenuously refused to +permit the boy to go upon his errand; but the little fellow plead so +earnestly, and the father's ever-present apprehensions having +gradually dulled by their want of realization, he had given his +reluctant consent, until it came to be considered the special province +of the boy to bring in the goat every evening just before nightfall.</p> +<p>The afternoon wore away, and still the missionary sat with folded +hands, gazing absently off in the direction of the wood. The boy at +length aroused him by running up and asking:</p> +<p>"Father, it is getting late. Isn't it time to bring Dolly home?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my son; do you hear the bell?"</p> +<p>"Listen!"</p> +<p>The pleasant <i>tink-a-link</i> came with faint distinctness over +the still +summer air.</p> +<p>"It isn't far away, my son; so run as fast as you can and don't play +or loiter on the way."</p> +<p>The child ran rapidly across the Clearing in the direction of the +sound, shot into the wood, and, a moment later, had disappeared from +his father's sight.</p> +<p>The father still sat in his seat, and was looking absently toward +the +forest, when a startled expression flashed over his face and he sprung +to his feet. What thus alarmed him? <i>It was the sound of the +goat-bell.</i></p> +<p>All of my readers who have heard the sound of an ordinary cow-bell +suspended to the neck of an animal, have observed that the natural +sound is an <i>irregular one</i>—that is, there is no system or +regularity +about the sound made by an animal in cropping the grass or herbage. +There is the clapper's tink-a-link, tink-a-link—an interval of +silence—then the occasional tink, tink, tink, to be followed, +perhaps, by a repetition of the first-named sounds, varied +occasionally by a compound of all, caused by the animal flinging its +head to free itself from troublesome flies or mosquitoes. The bell in +question, however, gave no such sounds <i>as these</i>, and it was +this +fact which filled the missionary with a sudden, terrible dread.</p> +<p>Suppose a person take one of these bells in his hand, and give a +steady, <i>uninterrupted</i> motion. The consequence must be a +regular, +unvarying, monotonous sound, which any ear can distinguish from the +natural one caused by the animal itself. It was a steady tink, tink, +tink, that the bell in question sent forth.</p> +<p>The missionary stood but a moment; then dashing into the house, he +took down his ever-loaded rifle and ran in the direction of the sound. +In his hurry, he forgot powder-horn and bullet, and had, as a +consequence, but a single charge in his rifle. He had gone scarcely a +hundred yards, when he encountered the goat returning home. One glance +showed there was <i>no bell</i> to its neck, while that ominous tink, +tink, +tink, came through the woods as uninterruptedly as before.</p> +<p>The father now broke into a swifter run, almost losing his presence +of +mind from his great, agonizing fear. The picture of the Indian, whom +he had felled to the floor, when he insulted his wife years before, +rose before him, and he saw his child already struggling in the +savage's merciless grasp. Nearer and nearer he approached the sound, +until he suddenly paused, conscious that it was but a short distance +away. Hurrying stealthily but rapidly several rods to the right, the +whole thing was almost immediately made plain to him.</p> +<p>Two trees, from some cause or other, had fallen to the ground in a +parallel direction and within a yard of each other. Between the trunks +of these an Indian was crouched, who held the goat-bell in his left +hand, and caused the sound which so startled the father. The savage +had his back turned toward the missionary, and appeared to be looking +in the opposite direction, as if he were waiting the appearance of +some one.</p> +<p>While the father stood gazing at this, he saw his boy come to view +about fifty feet the other side of the Indian, and, as if wearied with +his unusual hunt, seat himself upon a log. As soon as the boy was +visible, the savage—whom Richter recognized at once as the same man +that he had felled to the floor of his cabin, four years +before—called into use a little common sense, which, if it had been +practised somewhat sooner, must have completely deluded the father and +accomplished the design meditated. If, instead of giving the bell the +monotonous tink, the Indian had shaken the clapper irregularly, it +would have resulted in the certain capture of the child, beyond the +father's power of aid or rescue.</p> +<p>The missionary, we say, penetrated the design of the Indian almost +instantly. Although he saw nothing but the head and top of one +shoulder, he recognized, with a quick instinct, the villain who had +felt the weight of his hand years before, and who had now come in the +fullness of time, to claim his revenge. Directly in front of the +savage rose a small bush, which, while it gave him a view of the boy, +concealed himself from the child's observation.</p> +<p>The object of the Indian seemed to be to lure the boy within his +reach, so as to secure him without his making an outcry or noise. If +he could draw him close to the logs, he would spring upon him in an +instant, and prevent any scream, which assuredly must reach the +father, who, with his unerring rifle would have been upon the ground +in a few moments. It was an easy matter for the savage to slay the +boy. It would not have done to shoot his rifle, but he could have +tomahawked him in an instant; hence it was plain that he desired only +to take him prisoner. He might have sprung upon his prey in the woods, +but there he ran the risk of being seen by the child soon enough for +him to make an outcry, which would not fail of bringing immediate +assistance. His plan, therefore, was, to beguile the little fellow on +until he had walked directly into the snare, as a fly is lured into +the web of a spider.</p> +<p>This, we say, was the plan of the Indian. It had never entered into +his calculations that the goat, after being robbed of her bell, might +go home and tell a tale, or that there were other ways in which the +boy could be secured, without incurring half the peril he already had +incurred.</p> +<p>The moment the father comprehended what we have endeavored to make +plain, he raised his rifle, with the resolve to shoot the savage +through the head. As he did so, he recalled the fact that he had but a +single charge, and that, as a consequence, a miss would be the +death-warrant of himself as well as of his child. But he knew his eye +and hand would never fail him. His finger already pressed the trigger, +when he was restrained by an unforeseen impediment.</p> +<p>While the deadly rifle was poised, the boy stretched himself up at +full length, a movement which made known to the father that his child +was exactly in range with the Indian himself, and that a bullet +passing through the head of the savage could not fail to bury itself +in the little fellow's body. This startling circumstance arrested the +pressure of the trigger at the very moment the ball was to be sped +upon its errand of death.</p> +<p>The missionary sunk down upon one knee, with the intention of +bringing +the head of the savage so high as to carry the bullet over the body of +his boy, but this he found could not be done without too seriously +endangering his aim. He drew a bead from one side of the tree, and +then from the other, but from both stand-points the same dreadful +danger threatened. The ground behind the tree was somewhat elevated, +and was the only spot from which he could secure a fair view of the +bronze head of the relentless enemy.</p> +<p>Two resorts were at the command of Richter. He could leave the tree +altogether, and pass around so as to come upon the savage from a +different direction; but this involved delay during which his boy +might fall into the Indian's power and be dispatched, as he would be +sure to do when he found that the father was close at hand; and from +the proximity of the two men, it could hardly fail to precipitate a +collision between them. The Indian, finding himself at bay, could not +fail to prove a most troublesome and dangerous customer, unarmed, as +Richter was, with weapons for a close encounter.</p> +<p>The father might also wait until the boy should pass out of range. +Still, there was the possibility of his proceeding directly up to the +spot where the savage lurked, thus keeping in range all the while. +Then the attempted rescue would have to be deferred until the child +was in the hands of the savage. These considerations, passing through +Richter's brain much more rapidly than we have narrated them, decided +him to abandon both plans, and to resort to what, beyond question, was +a most desperate expedient.</p> +<p>The Indian held the bell in his left hand. It was suspended by the +string which had clasped the neck of the goat, and, as it swayed +gently back and forth, this string slowly twisted and untwisted +itself, the bell, of course, turning back and forth. The father +determined to slay the Indian and save his son by <i>shooting this +bell</i>!</p> +<p>It is not necessary to describe the shape and make of the common +cow-bell in general use throughout our country; but it is necessary +that the reader should bear them in mind in order to understand the +manner in which the missionary proposed to accomplish this result. +His plan was to strike the bell when in the proper position, and +<i>glance the bullet into the head of the savage</i>!</p> +<p>The desperate nature of this expedient will be seen at once. Should +the gun be discharged when the flat side of the bell was turned toward +him, the ball would pass through, and most probably kill his child +without endangering the life of the Indian. If it struck the narrow +side, it accomplished neither harm nor good; while, if fired at the +precise moment, and still aimed but an inch too low, the bell would +most likely be perforated. Consequently, it was requisite that the +rifle be discharged at the precise instant of time when the signal +brass was in the correct position, and that the aim should be +infallibly true.</p> +<p>All this Richter realized only too painfully; but, uttering an +inward +prayer, he raised his rifle with a nerve that knew no faltering or +fear, holding it pointed until the critical moment should arrive. That +moment would be when the string was wound up, and was turning, to +unwind. Then, as it was almost stationary, he fired.</p> +<p>No sound or outcry betrayed the result; but, clubbing his rifle, the +father bounded forward, over the trees, to the spot where the Indian +was crouching. There he saw him in his death-struggle upon the ground +the bell still held fast in his hand. In that critical moment, Harvey +Richter could not forbear glancing at it. Its top was indented, and +sprinkled with white by the glancing passage of the lead. The blood, +oozing down the face of the savage, plainly showed how unerringly true +had been the aim.</p> +<p>Something in the upward look of the dying man startled the +missionary.</p> +<p>"Harvey Richter—don't you know me?" he gasped.</p> +<p style="text-align: center;"><a + name="quotHarvey_Richtermdashdont_you_know_me"></a><img + style="width: 474px; height: 722px;" + alt=""Harvey Richter—don't you know me?" he gasped." + title=""Harvey Richter—don't you know me?" he gasped." + src="images/lt011.jpg"></p> +<p>"I know you as a man who has sought to do me a wrong that only a +fiend +could have perpetrated. Great Heaven! Can it be? Is this you, Brazey +Davis?"</p> +<p>"Yes; but you've finished me, so there isn't much left."</p> +<p>"Are you the man, Brazey, who has haunted me ever since we came in +this country? Are you the person who carried away poor, dear Cora?"</p> +<p>"Yes—yes!" answered the man, with fainting weariness.</p> +<p>Such, indeed, was the case. The strange hunter and the Indian known +as Mahogany were one and the same person.</p> +<p>"Brazey, why have you haunted me thus, and done me this great wrong?"</p> +<p>"I cannot tell. When I thought how you took her from me, it made me +crazy when I thought about it. I wanted to take her from you, but I +wouldn't have dared to do that if you hadn't struck me. I wanted +revenge then."</p> +<p>"What have you done with her?"</p> +<p>"She is gone, I haven't seen her since the day after I seized her, +when a band of Indians took her from me, and went up north with her. +They have got her yet, I know, for I have kept watch over her, and she +is safe, but is a close prisoner." This he said with great difficulty.</p> +<p>"Brazey, you are dying. I forgive you. But does your heart tell you +you are at peace with Him whom you have offended so grievously?"</p> +<p>"It's too late to talk of that now. It might have done years ago, +when +I was an honest man like yourself, and before I became a vagabond, +bent on injuring one who had never really injured me."</p> +<p>"It is never too late for God to forgive—"</p> +<p>"Too late—too late, I tell you! <i>There!</i>" He rose upon his +elbow, +his eyes burning with insane light and his hand extended. "I see +her—she is coming, her white robes floating on the air. Oh, God, +forgive me that I did her the great wrong! But, she smiles upon +me—she forgives me! I thank thee, angel of good----"</p> +<p>He sunk slowly backward, and Harvey Richter eased the head softly +down +upon the turf. Brazey Davis was no more.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.<br> +</h2> +<h2>CONCLUSION.</h2> +<div style="margin-left: 160px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heart +leaps to heart—the sacred flood</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> That warms us is +the same;</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;">That good old man—his honest blood</span><br + style="font-weight: bold;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Alike we frankly +claim.—SPRAGUE.</span><br> +</div> +<br> +<p>The missionary gazed sadly upon the inanimate form before him. He +saw +the playmate of his childhood stricken down in death by his own hand, +which never should have taken human life, and although the act was +justifiable under the circumstances, the good man could but mourn the +painful necessity that occasioned it. The story, although possessing +tragic interest, was a brief one. Brazey Davis, as he had always been +termed, was a few years older than himself, and a native of the same +neighborhood. He was known in childhood as one possessing a vindictive +spirit that could never forgive an injury—as a person who would not +hesitate at any means to obtain revenge. It so happened that he became +desperately enamored of the beautiful Cora Brandon, but becoming +aware, at length, that she was the betrothed of Harvey Braisted, the +young missionary in embryo, the disappointed lover left the country, +and was never heard of by the missionary until he made himself known +in the singular manner that we have related at the opening of our +narrative. He had, in fact, come to be a sort of monomaniac, who +delighted in annoying his former rival, and in haunting his footsteps +as if he were his evil shadow. The abduction of his wife had not been +definitely determined upon until that visit to the cabin, in the garb +and paint of an Indian, when he received the tremendous blow that +almost drove the life from his body. Davis then resolved to take the +revenge which would "cut" the deepest. How well he succeeded, the +reader has learned.</p> +<p>The missionary's child stood pleading for an explanation of the +strange scene before him. Loosening the bell from the grasp of the +dead man, the minister took the little hand, and, with a heart +overflowing with emotion, set out for his cabin. It was his wish to +give the hunter a Christian burial; but, for the present, it was +impossible. These dying words rung in his ears: "The Indians took her +from me, and went up north with her, where she now is, <i>and safe</i>!" +Blessed thought! She was then living, and was yet to be restored to +his arms. The shadow of death passed away, and a great light +illuminated his very being. The lost was found!</p> +<p>When the missionary came to be more collected, he concluded that +this +must be the tribe of which Teddy had once spoken, but which had been +visited by him without success. The prize was too great to be +intrusted in the hands of another, and Harvey determined to make the +search in person, to settle, if possible, once and forever, the fate +of his beloved wife.</p> +<p>He soon proceeded to the Indian village, where he left his boy and +gave notice that he should not be back for several days. He then +called one of the most trusty and skillful warriors aside, and asked +for his company upon the eventful journey. The savage cheerfully +complied, and the two set out at once. It was a good distance to the +northward, and when night came down upon them, many miles yet remained +to be passed. There was little fear of disturbance from enemies, and +both lay down and slept until daylight, when they were immediately on +their way again.</p> +<p>This journey through the northern wilderness was unvaried by any +event worthy of record, and the details would be uninteresting to the +reader. Suffice it to say that, just as the fourth day was closing in, +they struck a small stream, which pursued a short distance, brought +them directly upon the village for which they had been searching.</p> +<p>The advent of the Indian and missionary among them created +considerable stir, but they were treated with respect and +consideration. Harvey Richter asked immediately for the chief or +leading man, and shortly stood in his presence. He found him a short, +thick-set half-breed, whose age must have been well-nigh three-score +years, and who, to his astonishment, was unable to speak English, +although many of his subjects spoke it quite intelligibly. He +understood Sioux, however, and the missionary's companion acted as +interpreter.</p> +<p>Our friend made a full statement of his wife's abduction, years +before, and of the assertion of the dying man that she had been taken +from him by members of this tribe, who had retained her ever since. +The chief waited sometime before replying; he seemed debating with +himself as to the proper course to pursue. Finally he said he must +consult with one of his warriors, and departed abruptly from the +lodge.</p> +<p>Ten minutes later, while the missionary, with a painfully-throbbing +heart, was gazing around the lodge, with that minute scrutiny of the +most trifling objects peculiar to us at such times, he caught the +sound of returning footsteps, and turned to the lodge door. There +stood the Indian, and, directly beside him, his own lost Cora!</p> +<p>The next day at noon, a camp-fire might have been seen some miles +south of the northern village of which we have made mention. An Indian +was engaged in cooking a piece of meat, while the missionary and his +reclaimed jewel, sitting side by side, her head reclining upon his +shoulder and his hand dallying with her hair, were holding delightful +communion. She looked pale and somewhat emaciated, for these years of +absence had indeed been fraught with suffering; but the old sweet look +had never departed. It was now changed into an expression of perfect +joy.</p> +<p>The wife's great anxiety was to reach home and see the child she had +left an infant, but who was now a frolicksome boy, and she could +hardly consent to pause even when night overtook them, and her +lagging limbs told her husband how exhausted she had become. Cora +never had suspected the identity of the Indian and the hunter, until +on that sad day when he sprung from behind the cabin and hurried her +off into the wood. There was something, however, in his look, when he +first felt the weight of her husband's blow, that never left her +remembrance. While hurrying her swiftly through the wood he said +nothing at all, and at night, while she pretended to sleep, he watched +by the camp-fire. It was the light of this fire which had puzzled +Teddy so much. On the succeeding day the abductor reached the river +and embarked in his canoe. A half-hour later he leaned over the canoe +and washed the paint from his face and made himself known in his true +character, as Brazey Davis, her former lover. He had scarcely done so, +when an Indian canoe rounded a bend in the river, and, despite his +earnest protestations, the savages took the captive from him, and +carried her with them to their village, where she had been ever since. +Retained very closely, as all prisoners among Indians are, she had +heard nothing of Teddy's visit. She was treated with kindness, as the +destined wife of a young chief; but the suit for her consent never +was pressed by the chief, as it is in an Indian's code of honor never +to force a woman to a distasteful marriage. The young brave, with true +Indian pertinacity, could wait his time, confident that his kindness +and her long absence from home would secure her consent to the savage +alliance. She was denied nothing but her liberty, and her prayers to +be returned to her husband and child.</p> +<p>At this point in her narration, an exclamation from the Indian +arrested attention. All listened and heard but a short distance away:</p> +<p>"Begorrah, Teddy, it's yerself that's entitled to a wee bit of rist, +as yees have been on a mighty long tramp, and hasn't diskivered +anything but a country that is big enough to hide the Atlantic ocean +in, wid Ireland on its bosom as a jewel. The chances are small of yees +iver gitting another glimpse of heaven—that is, of Miss Cora's face. +The darlint; if she's gone to heaven, then Teddy McFadden don't care +how soon somebody else wears out his breeches—that is, on the +presumption that St. Peter will say, 'Teddy, me lad, ye can inter an' +make yerself at home, to be sure!'"</p> +<p>The husband and wife glanced at each other significantly as the +fellow +rattled on.</p> +<p>"Wait a moment," said Harvey, rising to his feet, and carefully +making his way in the direction of the sound.</p> +<p>It was curious that the Irishman should have paused for his noonday +rest in such close proximity to our friends; but, he had learned from +a trader who had recently visited the Red River country, that there +<i>was</i> a white woman, beyond all question, among the tribe in the +north, and he was on his way to make them a second visit.</p> +<p>The missionary found his servant seated by a tree. Teddy looked up +as +he heard a footstep. It seemed as if his eyes would drop from their +sockets. His mouth opened wide, and he seemed, for the moment, +confounded. Then he recovered his presence of mind in a measure, and +proceeded to scratch his head vigorously. That, with him, ever was a +sign of the clearing up of his ideas.</p> +<p>"How do you do, Teddy?" at length the missionary said, after having +enjoyed the poor fellow's confusion.</p> +<p>"Faith, but ye sent the cold shivers over me. <i>Is</i> it yerself, +Mister +Harvey, out in these woods, or is it yer ghost on the s'arch for +Misthress Cora? I sometimes thinks me own ghost is out on the s'arch +without me body, an' I shouldn't be surprised to maat it some day. +But I'm mighty glad it's yerself an' not yer ghost, for, to till the +thruth, I don't jist like ghosts—they makes a body feel so quare in +the stomach."</p> +<p>"Come with me; I have an Indian as company, and you may as well join +us."</p> +<p>The Hibernian followed, a few paces behind, continually expressing +his +astonishment at seeing his master so far away from home. He did not +look up until they were within a few paces of the camp-fire, when +Richter stepped from before him.</p> +<p>"Save us! save us! but if there isn't the ghowst of Miss Cora come +to +haunt me for not finding her afore!" exclaimed Teddy, retreating a +step or two in genuine terror. "Saint Patherick, Saint Pether, Saint +Virgin Mary, protict me! I didn't mane to get dhrunk that day, ye +know, nor to make a frind of—"</p> +<p>"I am no ghost but my own self, Teddy, restored to my husband in +safety. Can you not welcome me?"</p> +<p>"Oorah! Oorah!" and he danced a moment in uncontrollable joy. Then +he +exclaimed: "God bliss yer own swate self!" taking her in his brawny +arms. "God bliss you! No ghost, but yer own swate self. Oh, I feel +like a blast of powder ready to go off!" And again he danced a +singular commixture of the jig and cotillion, much to the Indian's +amazement, for he thought him crazy. "I knew that I should look upon +your face again; but, till me where it is yees have come from?" he +finally subsided enough to ask.</p> +<p>Teddy was soon made to understand all that related to the return of +the young wife. When he learned that Mahogany, with whom he had so +often drank and "hobnobbed," was only the hunter disguised, who was +thus plotting his crime, the Irishman's astonishment can hardly be +described. He was irritated, also, at his own stupidity. "That Teddy +McFadden iver should have been so desaved by that rascal of +purgatory!" he exclaimed; but, as the evil man had gone to the great +tribunal above, there was no disposition, even in Teddy's heart, to +heap curses on his memory.</p> +<p>A few days more, and the three whites passed through the Indian +village on their way to the Clearing. The joy of the savages at the +return of their sweet, pale-faced sister was manifested in many ways, +and she once feared they would never allow her to leave them and go +to her own humble home. Finally, however, they reached the Clearing, +and, as they walked side by side across it, opened the door and sat +down within the cabin, and the fond mother took the darling boy in her +lap, the wife and husband looked in each other's faces with streaming +eyes, and murmured "Thank God! thank God!"</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">THE END.</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<p>Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our Publications</p> +<p>1. You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the +best standard books published, at prices less than offered by others.</p> +<p>2. You will find listed in our catalogue books on every topic: +Poetry, +Fiction, Romance, Travel, Adventure, Humor, Science, History, +Religion, Biography, Drama, etc., besides Dictionaries and Manuals, +Bibles, Recitation and Hand Books, Sets, Octavos, Presentation Books +and Juvenile and Nursery Literature in immense variety.</p> +<p>3. 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