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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***
+
+PO-NO-KAH
+
+AN INDIAN TALE OF LONG AGO
+
+
+By Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+
+1903
+
+
+PO-NO-KAH.
+
+AN INDIAN STORY OF LONG AGO.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+THE HEDDEN FAMILY.
+
+
+We who live in comfortable country homes, secure from every invader,
+find it difficult to conceive the trials that beset the hardy pioneers
+who settled our Western country during the last century.
+
+In those days, and for many a year afterward, hostile Indians swarmed in
+every direction, wherever the white man had made a clearing, or started
+a home for himself in the wilderness. Sometimes the pioneer would be
+unmolested, but oftener his days were full of anxiety and danger.
+Indeed, history tells of many a time when the settler, after leaving
+home in the morning in search of game for his happy household would
+return at night to find his family murdered or carried away and his
+cabin a mass of smoking ruins. Only in the comparatively crowded
+settlements, where strength was in numbers, could the white inhabitants
+hope for security--though bought at the price of constant vigilance and
+precaution.
+
+In one of these settlements, where a few neatly whitewashed cabins, and
+rougher log huts, clustered on the banks of a bend in the Ohio River,
+dwelt a man named Hedden, with his wife and three children. His farm
+stretched further into the wilderness than his neighbors', for his had
+been one of the first cabins built there, and his axe, ringing merrily
+through the long days, had hewn down an opening in the forest, afterward
+famous in that locality as "Neighbor Hedden's Clearing." Here he had
+planted and gathered his crops year after year, and in spite of
+annoyances from the Indians, who robbed his fields, and from bears, who
+sometimes visited his farm stock, his family had lived in security so
+long that, as the settlement grew, his wife sang at her work, and his
+little ones shouted at their play as merrily as though New York or
+Boston were within a stone's throw. To be sure, the children were bidden
+never to stray far from home, especially at nightfall; and the crack of
+rifles ringing now and then through the forest paled their cheeks for
+an instant, as the thought of some shaggy bear, furious in his death
+agony, crossed their minds.
+
+Sometimes, too, the children would whisper together of the fate of poor
+Annie Green, who, a few years before had been found killed in the
+forest; or their mother would tell them with pale lips of the night when
+their father and neighbor Freeman encountered two painted Indians near
+the cabin. The tomahawk of the Indian who tried to kill their father was
+still hanging upon the cabin wall.
+
+But all this had happened twelve years earlier--before Bessie, the
+oldest girl, was born--and seemed to the children's minds like a bit of
+ancient history--almost as far off as the exploits of Hannibal or Julius
+Caesar appear to us. So, as I have said, the girls and boys of the
+settlement shouted joyously at their play, or ran in merry groups to the
+rough log hut, called "The School-House," little dreaming of the cares
+and anxieties of their elders.
+
+Bessie Hedden was a merry-hearted creature, and so pretty that, had she
+been an Indian maiden, she would have been known as "Wild Rose," or
+"Singing Bird," or "Water Lily," or some such name. As it was, many of
+the villagers called her "Little Sunshine," for her joyous spirit could
+light up the darkest corner. She was faithful at school, affectionate
+and industrious at home, and joyous and honorable among her playmates.
+What wonder, then, that everybody loved her, or that she was happiest
+among the happy? Her brother Rudolph was much younger than she,--a
+rosy-checked, strong-armed little urchin of seven years; and Kitty, the
+youngest of the Hedden children, was but three years of age at the date
+at which my story opens.
+
+There was one other individual belonging to the family circle, larger
+even than Bessie, stronger and saucier even than Rudolph, and but little
+older than Kitty. He had no hands, yet once did, as all admitted, the
+best day's work ever performed by any member of the family. This
+individual's name was Bouncer, and he had a way of walking about on
+all-fours, and barking--probably in consequence of his having been
+created a dog.
+
+Bouncer loved all the children dearly; but, stout-hearted fellow that he
+was, he loved the weakest one best; and, therefore, little Kitty was
+never without a friend and protector. Ever since a certain day in the
+summer, when she had fallen into the stream, and had been carried home
+insensible by Bouncer, Kitty had loved the huge mastiff dearly, and
+nightly added to her simple prayer, "Please, God, bless dear Bouncer,
+too!"
+
+And Bouncer _was_ blessed beyond most dogs. Gentle as a baby when
+Kitty's arm was about his neck, he was fierce as a lion when fierceness
+was required. His great white teeth were a terror to evil-doers, and his
+bark in the dead of night would make venturesome bears sneak back into
+the forest like kittens.
+
+Often would Mrs. Hedden say to her neighbors, that with "husband's rifle
+and Bouncer's teeth, she felt that she lived in a fortress. As for the
+children," she would add, laughingly, "I scarcely ever feel any anxiety
+about them, when I know that Bouncer has joined their little
+expeditions. He is a regiment in himself."
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+EXPLORING THE STREAM.
+
+
+One of the favorite holiday resorts of Bessie and Rudolph was a lovely
+spot in the forest, not a quarter of a mile from the house. Shaded by
+giant oaks, whose gnarled roots lay like serpents, half hidden in the
+moss, ran a streamlet, covered with sunny speckles, where parted leaves
+admitted the sunshine. Flowers grew along its banks in wild profusion,
+and it held its wayward course with many a rippling fall and fantastic
+turn, until it was lost in the shades of the forest.
+
+"Where does it go to, I wonder?" the children often would say to each
+other, longing for permission to follow its windings farther than the
+limits prescribed by their parents would allow.
+
+"To the ocean, of course," Rudolph would answer, triumphantly; while
+Bessie, looking at its golden ripple, and listening to its musical song,
+half believed that it carried its wealth of sparkling jewels to
+Fairyland itself.
+
+Sometimes, when Bouncer was with them, they lingered so long by the
+mysterious streamlet, sending chip boats adrift upon its surface, or
+trying to adjust troublesome little water-wheels under some of its tiny
+cascades, that Mrs. Hedden would blow the big horn as a signal for their
+return; and as they ran home, playing with Bouncer by the way, or
+scolding him for shaking his wet sides under their very faces, they
+would inwardly resolve to coax father to take them up the stream on the
+very first pleasant Saturday.
+
+Accordingly, on one bright Friday in June, as Bessie and Rudolph were
+returning from school together, they ran toward their father, who was
+working in the clearing.
+
+"Father! father!" they shouted, "will you take us down the stream
+to-morrow?--we want to see where it goes to."
+
+"Goes to?" laughed back the father. "Why, it goes to the moon; didn't
+Kitty say so last night?"
+
+"Now, father," returned Bessie, pouting just a little, "you _know_ we
+don't believe that. We want you so much to take us in the boat; it
+doesn't leak at all now--oh! do." And both children fairly capered in
+their excitement.
+
+Mr. Hedden smiled; but; after wiping his forehead with a red and yellow
+handkerchief, went on thoughtfully with his work without returning any
+answer.
+
+The children, looking wistfully at him a moment, turned toward the
+house, wondering among themselves, "what father meant to do about it."
+
+That evening, at the supper-table (where they didn't have napkin rings
+or silver salt-cellars, I can assure you), Mr. Hedden asked his wife
+whether Tom Hennessy was back from "up river" yet?
+
+"I think he came home yesterday," returned his wife. "Why do you ask?"
+
+"Because I thought, as to-morrow'll be a holiday, I'd get him to take
+the youngsters down the stream in the scow."
+
+"Oh! husband," rejoined Mrs. Hedden, looking up anxiously, "do you think
+it's safe?"
+
+"Why not, Betsey?--the scow doesn't leak; and even if it did, the water
+isn't above Tom's waist anywhere."
+
+"I don't mean anything of that kind," pursued the wife, smiling in spite
+of herself at the joyful faces of the young folks. "I--I mean the
+Indians."
+
+"Oh, never fear about them; I'll give Tom every necessary caution," was
+the answer. "The boat won't be gone more than two hours altogether; and,
+to my mind, there wouldn't be the slightest danger in letting even
+little Kitty join the party."
+
+"Oh! tanky, Poppy, tanky!" shouted Kitty, clapping her chubby hands in
+great glee. Every one at the table laughed heartily at her unexpected
+response.
+
+Bright and early the next morning, the children stood in the door-way,
+eagerly looking out for Tom. Big Tom, the village boys called him; and
+well they might, for he was a staunch, burly fellow, who looked as if he
+could crush an Indian in each hand--not that he had ever had an
+opportunity to perform that remarkable feat, for Tom Hennessy had but
+recently arrived from a large town in the East; but he _looked_ as if he
+could do it; and, therefore, had credit for any amount of prowess and
+strength.
+
+After sundry directions given by Mr. Hedden to Tom, and a command from
+their mother for the little folks to be home at dinner-time, they set
+forth amid shouts of laughter and merriment. Kitty was there in all her
+glory, for, after what "Poppy" had said, she had insisted upon joining
+the party. Even Bouncer, in spite of many a "Go back, sir!" "Call him,
+mother!" had quietly insinuated himself into the group, and neither
+threats nor coaxing could force him away.
+
+It was a glorious day; and, as they neared the stream, it seemed to
+sparkle into joyous welcome at their approach.
+
+Soon, comfortably seated in the scow, they were pushed and rowed
+laboriously along by the good-natured Tom, while Bouncer panted along
+the bank, or dashed into the water, splashing the boat in fine style. In
+passing the accustomed "limits," the delight of the children knew no
+bounds.
+
+"Now for it!" cried Bessie, clapping her hands. "Now we shall find out
+where the stream goes to!"
+
+And so they sailed along, following its graceful windings--sometimes
+touching bottom, and sometimes skimming smoothly over deep water, where
+Kitty could no longer clutch for the tall, bright grass that here and
+there had reared itself above the surface. Often Big Tom would sing out,
+"Lie low!" as some great bough, hanging over the stream, seemed
+stretching out its arms to catch them; and often they were nearly
+checked in their course by a fallen trunk, or the shallowness of the
+water. At last, upon reaching a very troublesome spot, Tom cried
+good-naturedly--
+
+"Now, youngsters, you must all get out while I turn the scow over this
+'ere log, and then you can jump in again on t'other side."
+
+With merry shouts they leaped out, one after the other, Tom holding
+Kitty in his arms, as he stood knee-deep in the water.
+
+"What is the matter with Bouncer?" cried Bessie.
+
+There was no time for a reply. Looking up, the frightened party saw
+three hideous faces peering at them over the bushes!
+
+"The Indians! the Indians!" screamed Bessie.
+
+Springing to the shore, and catching Rudolph with one arm, while he
+held Kitty tightly in the other, Tom Hennessy dashed into the forest,
+calling upon Bessie to follow. Poor Bessie! What could she do? With a
+thrill of horror she saw two fierce savages bounding after them with
+fearful yells, while a third, with upraised club, and tomahawk and
+scalping-knife in his belt, was rushing toward her.
+
+Uttering one long piercing scream, the poor girl knelt to await her
+doom. A prolonged roar of fury caused her to raise her head. Bouncer,
+brave, noble Bouncer, and the Indian had fallen together in a deadly
+struggle! Now was her time! With new energy and hope, she sprang to her
+feet, and darted through the forest, rending the air with cries for
+help, and unconscious of whither she was flying.
+
+"Rudolph! Kitty!" she cried, frantically. "God in heaven help us! Oh!
+help us!"
+
+
+
+III.
+
+WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?
+
+
+It was nearly dinner-time in the Hedden cottage. Farmer Hedden sat in
+the doorway, equipped in his hunting dress--for he usually spent
+Saturday afternoons in the forest; and it was only at his wife's
+solicitation that he had consented to wait and "take a bite of dinner"
+before starting, Every now and then he raised his head from the almanac,
+over which he was bending, to listen to the whirr of his wife's
+spinning-wheel, and her merry song issuing from the cottage, or to cast
+an impatient glance in the direction of the streamlet.
+
+Within, all was neatness and cheerfulness; the clean deal table was
+arranged with its row of yellow platters and shining pewter-mugs--even
+the stools were standing round it, ready for the hungry household that
+usually assembled at noon, eager for dinner.
+
+"Father's" and "mother's" places were at either end of the table;
+Rudolph's and Kitty's at one side (Kitty had a high chair made by
+"father" out of young oak branches); Bessie's opposite; and, beside
+hers, the prettiest plate; and the brightest mug for Big Tom--for, of
+course, he must be asked to stay.
+
+Everything was ready. Far back in the open fireplace the fagots were
+blazing and snapping. Hanging above them, the great iron pot threw forth
+a circle of noisy steam around the loosely fitted lid, while the
+potatoes within were in a high state of commotion--little ones tumbling
+pell-mell over big ones, and big ones rocking dolefully backward and
+forward in the boiling water as though they felt sure their end was
+approaching.
+
+"Blow the horn again, John," called out Mrs. Hedden, as she cut another
+slice from the big brown loaf that had rapidly been growing less under
+her shining knife. "Ha! ha! they can't help hearing _that_," she
+laughed, as her husband blew a blast even louder than usual.
+
+After waiting a moment, Mr. Hedden came in, throwing the almanac on a
+low wooden settee as he entered.
+
+"No use waiting any longer, wifey--let's sit by. I don't see a sign of
+the youngsters; though it did seem to me I heard some of 'em screaming
+and laughing in the distance a bit ago. 'Twon't do, though," he
+continued, shaking his head; "we must make the crazy little cubs mind
+the horn closer. Play's play, and all well enough in its way, but you
+must teach children regularity from the very outset, or they'll never be
+good for much."
+
+"That's true enough, John," answered his wife, as she "dished" some of
+the steaming potatoes--leaving a goodly number in the pot for the little
+folk--"that's true enough; but you know this is a day of extra frolic
+for the children. They're having such fun, likely, they've no notion
+how the time is passing. As for the horn, who could expect mortal ears
+to hear _that_--with Bessie and Big Tom laughing and singing, and
+Rudolph screaming with fun--as I know he is; and little Kit, bless her!
+just frantic with delight; I think I can see them now, the merry
+madcaps!"
+
+Ah! happy, unconscious mother, if you _could_ have seen them--if their
+cries of terror could but have reached your ears!
+
+Finally, neighbor Hedden arose, shoving back his stool on the sanded
+floor.
+
+"Well, well, wifey, you're right enough, no doubt; but I tell you it
+isn't best to be too easy with youngsters, though ours are the best
+going, if I _do_ say it. A good trouncing all around, when they come in,
+wouldn't be a bit too much for them for being so late;" and, half in
+fun, half in earnest, he shook his head rather fiercely at his wife, and
+stalked out of the cottage.
+
+Presently she laughed outright to hear the loud, impatient tones issuing
+from the great tin horn. "That'll fetch them, I reckon," said neighbor
+Hedden, showing a smiling face at the window.
+
+As another hour passed away, the songs grew fewer and fainter upon the
+mother's lips--at first from vexation, and, finally, from weariness and
+a vague feeling of anxiety.
+
+"Bessie should know better," she thought to herself, "than to stay so
+long. I wish I had not let Kitty go with them."
+
+The next moment she smiled to think how hungry the children would be
+when they returned, and half wished that it would not be "spoiling" them
+to make them a good sugar-cake for their supper.
+
+Not until the shadows grew longer upon the edge of the forest, and
+threatening clouds grew thicker overhead, did her heart quail or her
+cheek grow white with sudden fear.
+
+"Oh! what _can_ keep them, I wonder! Why didn't I ask John to go look
+for them?" she asked herself over and over again. But Mrs. Hedden was
+not one to sit weeping with folded hands while anything remained to be
+done.
+
+It was not long before their nearest neighbor, who was still at work,
+enjoying the coolness of the afternoon, leaned upon his spade to wonder
+what on earth neighbor Hedden's wife was up to now.
+
+"Why, look there! Bob," he called out to his son, "if she ain't leaping
+over this way like a year-old colt!"
+
+In the mean time, neighbor Hedden himself was having but sorry sport in
+the forest. He saw nothing worth even pointing his gun at, and felt
+altogether so ill at ease and so fidgety as he trudged along, stepping
+now upon the soft moss, and now upon fallen branches that crackled even
+under the stealthy tread of his hunting moccasins, that I doubt whether
+half the bears hidden in the depths of the forest were not in a livelier
+mood than he. Not that he had anything to make him feel especially
+ill-humored, unless it was the disobedience of his children in having
+failed to appear at dinner-time--but it seemed to him that there was
+something going wrong in the world, some screw loose in his affairs
+that, unless he turned it tight in time, would cause his happiness and
+the prosperity of his home to fall in ruins about him. After awhile this
+feeling became so strong that he seated himself upon a stone to think.
+
+"I haven't been as neighborly as I might have been," he reflected:
+"there's many a turn been wanting by these new-comers, the Morrises,
+that I might have tended to, if I hadn't been so wrapped up in my own
+affairs. Come to think, almost the only kindness I've done for nearly a
+year past was in giving a bag of potatoes to that sick fellow,
+Po-no-kah, who seemed to me to be a good fellow, as Indians go. However,
+it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's
+plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot
+anything, I guess I'd better go home."
+
+With these last words, uttered half aloud, neighbor Hedden arose, and
+walked a few steps in the direction of his home. Presently he paused
+again, muttering to himself--
+
+"It's blamed queer I haven't heard the youngsters coming down with the
+scow; I certainly should have heard them if they'd passed anywhere
+near--guess I'd best walk on a little way up stream."
+
+So saying, he turned, with a new anxiety upon his countenance, and moved
+with rapid strides toward the rivulet, that still ran rippling on,
+though the bright sparkles that lit its surface at noon had vanished.
+Indeed, by this time the sunshine was, fast vanishing, too, for heavy
+clouds were gathering overhead, while those in the west were gilded on
+their lower edge.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+THE SEARCH.
+
+
+Neighbor Hedden, now intent upon his new thoughts, hurried along the
+bank of the stream. There were pretty tassel-flowers and Jack-in-pulpits
+growing there, which at any other time he might have plucked, and
+carried home in his cap for Kitty; but he did not heed them now.
+Something in the distance had caught his eye, something that, showing
+darkly through the trees, from a bend in the streamlet, caused his
+breathing to grow thicker and his stride to change into a run--_it was
+the empty boat_!
+
+Hastening toward it, in the vain hope that he would find his little ones
+playing somewhere near the spot, he clutched his ride more firmly, and
+gasped out their names one by one. Where were they?--his sunny-hearted
+Bessie, his manly little Rudolph, and Kitty, his bright-eyed darling?
+Alas! the only answer to the father's call was the angry mutter of the
+thunder, or the quick lightning that flashed through the gathering
+gloom!
+
+In frantic haste he searched in every direction.
+
+"Perhaps," thought he, "they have become frightened at the sound of
+bears, and hidden themselves in a thicket. They may even have got tired
+and gone to sleep. But where is Tom Hennessy?"
+
+Again and again he returned to the boat, as though some clue might there
+be found to the missing ones; but as often he turned back in despair,
+trusting now only to the flashes of the lightning to aid him in his
+search. The sharp twigs and branches tore his face and hands as, bending
+low, he forced himself where the tangled undergrowth stood thickest.
+Soon his hunting-cap was dragged from his head, as by some angry hand;
+he knew that it had caught upon the branches, and did not even try to
+find it in the darkness.
+
+The heavy drops of rain, falling upon his bare head, cooled him with a
+strange feeling of relief. Next his gun, which he had leaned against a
+tree, while on hands and knees he had forced his way into some brush,
+was swallowed up in the darkness.
+
+In vain he peered around him at every flash that lit the forest--he
+could see nothing of it. Suddenly a bright gleam, shooting across his
+pathway, revealed something that instantly caught his eye--it was a
+small bit of blue ribbon, such as Bessie often wore. Bending to pick it
+up, he started back in horror! The light had lasted but an instant, yet
+it had been long enough to show him that the ribbon was stained with
+blood, while near it the stones and leaves shone crimson! Even the
+gnarled roots of a fallen tree were dabbled with a fearful stain. He
+could see it all distinctly. With upraised arms, he knelt and poured
+forth an agonized prayer--
+
+"Great God! where are my children? Oh! have mercy! have mercy!"
+
+Flash after flash lighted up the kneeling form. Presently loud voices
+resounded through the forest:
+
+"What, ho!" "Hedden! Hedden!" "Hennessy! Tom!" "Hallo!"
+
+Hedden stood upright. The voices were familiar. He shouted back lustily,
+and hurried toward the approaching lanterns. Alas! he came upon faces
+almost as pale and inquiring us his own--no news on either side!
+
+His neighbors had eagerly responded to the mother's appeal, but so far
+had searched the forest in vain. If Bouncer only could be found; and,
+for almost the first time in years, Hedden called, "Bouncer! Bouncer!"
+without seeing the great fellow leaping toward him. What wonder,
+though--even Bouncer could scarcely have recognized that voice now!
+
+"Hark!" cried one of the neighbors.
+
+They listened. There was certainly a panting sound from some spot not
+far away.
+
+"Bouncer! Bouncer!" cried the poor father. The panting again; they
+lowered their lanterns. What was that lying upon the ground--lying there
+close by Bouncer? It was Bessie! They rushed toward her. She was lying
+very still; Bouncer was breathing heavily.
+
+They raised her from the ground.
+
+"Bessie! Bessie! my darling, speak to me!" cried the father.
+
+Her eyes opened slowly; for an instant she did not know who held her.
+
+"Bessie, child, it's father--speak to me!"
+
+She looked at him an instant, then with a pitiful cry buried her face in
+his bosom.
+
+Bouncer staggered forward, and now, by the light of the lanterns, they
+could see a broad gash upon his shoulder, and another upon his head. He
+looked up at Bessie with a mournful whine.
+
+"Oh, Bouncer, dear Bouncer! can't _you_ tell me where they are?" cried
+Bessie, turning suddenly, and gazing upon him with streaming eyes.
+
+The brave fellow tried to wag his tail, but his strength was failing
+fast.
+
+"He came to me only a little while ago," sobbed Bessie. "Oh! I was so
+thankful! but he came so slowly I knew he was hurt. I put out my hand
+and felt him all hot and wet--I can't remember anything since then. Oh!
+father, don't let poor Bouncer die--see! he is falling! Dear old
+Bouncer!" and she threw herself down beside him.
+
+The poor fellow turned his head, and tried to lick her hand; then
+started up, growling with something like his old savageness, and fell
+over. They tried to lift him; they called his name. Even Bessie
+attempted to arouse him with a cheerful call. There was no
+movement;--Bouncer was dead!
+
+It seemed hard to leave the body of the faithful creature lying exposed
+in the forest, but this was no time to bury him.
+
+All that they could gather from Bessie's confused account of the
+surprise by the Indians, and her own escape, served to make the party
+feel that further effort was almost hopeless--still they would not
+despair. It was decided that one of their number should take the rescued
+girl back to her mother, while the rest should proceed in their search.
+
+The fury of the storm had passed by this time, though the rain fell in
+great splashing drops, and the wind muttered angrily among the trees in
+answer to the distant rumbling of the thunder. Drenched to her skin, and
+shivering with excitement, Bessie begged that she might go with her
+father.
+
+"We will find them soon," she pleaded; "I'm sure we will, and then we
+can all go home together. It will frighten mother so dreadfully to see
+me coming alone, without Rudolph and Kittie, and Bouncer!"
+
+The man whose lantern had gleamed upon her shaded the light with his
+great rough hand from the spot where Bouncer lay, and in a voice as
+tender as a woman's, urged her to go with him at once,
+
+"Go, Bessie," said her father hurriedly, on seeing that she still
+resisted, "we are losing time."
+
+This was enough. "Good-night, dear father!" she sobbed, as she was led
+away; "don't tell Rudolph about Bouncer until he gets home, father--it
+will almost break his heart."
+
+A voice that even Bessie could scarcely recognize called back through
+the darkness: "Good-night, my child. Go easy, Joe, and keep a sharp
+look-out."
+
+"Ay! Ay!" answered the man in a suppressed voice, as he grasped more
+firmly the little hand in his, and hurried on.
+
+After a wearisome tramp, they at last reached the edge of the forest.
+Bessie started to see a tall, white figure rushing with outstretched
+arms toward them.
+
+"It's the mother," said Joe, pityingly, raising the lantern as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, Joe!" screamed the poor woman, "have you found them?--tell me,
+quick!"
+
+"Well--no, Mrs. Hedden," he shouted in reply, "not exactly that--but
+we've got the gal safe an' sound--not a scratch on her."
+
+In another moment Bessie was in her mother's arms.
+
+"Only me, mother!" she sobbed; "only me; but father's looking for them
+and, oh! mother, Bouncer is dead!"
+
+The next day brought no better tidings. At noon the men returned from
+their search, jaded and dispirited. After the first explanations were
+over, Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered, huskily--
+
+"Give her this, Dennis--I can't; and tell her it was the only trace we
+could find."
+
+The mother's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had
+fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket. "It's Kitty's hood,"
+she cried, stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor.
+
+That evening, and for many a day afterward, the search was continued but
+without success; no trace could be found of either Tom Hennessy,
+Rudolph, or little Kitty.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+THE CAPTIVES.
+
+
+And what had befallen Tom and the children, on the fearful day of their
+sail up the beautiful stream? Bessie's eyes had not deceived her when,
+in one agonized glance, she had seen Tom dash into the forest bearing
+Rudolph and Kitty in his arms, followed by yelling savages. The chase,
+however, was a short one; before Tom had advanced many steps his
+pursuers closed upon him, and tearing the children from his embrace,
+bound his arms close to his body with deerskin thongs. The children,
+screaming with terror, struggled in the arms of the Indians and called
+frantically upon Tom for help; but he, poor fellow, could only turn his
+pitying eyes upon them and beg them to remain quiet.
+
+"It'll save you from worse things," he groaned. By this time several
+savages, darting from near hiding-places, had surrounded them and Tom
+abandoned all hope of escape. Bessie's screams had died away, and he
+felt sure that she had been killed by the Indian who had first rushed
+upon her.
+
+After holding a moment's council the Indians began a rapid march,
+hurrying Tom along with them, and almost dragging the terrified
+children--who, each with a tiny hand in the grip of a painted warrior,
+ran panting by their sides. Hurrying on, faster and faster, until even
+Tom was nearly out of breath, the savages, without exchanging a word
+among themselves, continued their flight (for such it seemed), carefully
+avoiding even the breaking of a twig, or anything that could furnish a
+clue to those who might come in pursuit.
+
+Soon Kitty, who could run no more, was snatched angrily from the ground
+and carried, like a bundle, under the great muscular arm of one of the
+savages. But when Rudolph showed evident signs of exhaustion, the
+Indians paused, evidently consulting together whether they should not
+tomahawk the children at once. Tom could stand it no longer. He declared
+that he would not go another step if the children were injured a hair.
+
+"Let me carry them," he cried. "I am strong enough to bear a dozen
+youngsters--unbind me, I say, and hand 'em over."
+
+Some of the red men knew enough of English to understand his meaning.
+With a contemptuous sneer one of them tossed Rudolph on Tom's back; then
+set one of his arms free, and drove him onward with many a brutal
+stroke. It was hard work for Tom, shackled as he was, to bear the
+frightened boy, who at times clung to his throat so tightly as to almost
+strangle him.
+
+"Hold on, Rudolph, boy," he whispered; "lower down--there, that way. Now
+don't cry; you're father's little man, you know."
+
+"Oh, Tom," sobbed the poor boy, "they'll kill us, I'm sure, as they
+killed little Annie Green. See, now, how they carry Kitty--how they
+scrape her face against the bushes; oh! oh!" and Rudolph hid his eyes in
+Tom's hair, crying as if his little heart would break.
+
+"Hush!" muttered Tom, sternly, "or I'll put you down."
+
+In an instant one of the red men whose look, though grim and fearful
+enough, showed less savageness than his companions, gruffly took Kitty
+from the Indian who was carrying her with such cruel carelessness. The
+change comforted the child, and in a few moments the exhausted little
+creature was sleeping soundly upon his shoulder, never waking even
+through the thunder-storm that ere long seemed to rend the forest.
+
+In this way the Indians hurried on, pausing once to change their
+captive's bands, so as to leave his right arm free instead of his left.
+Now and then Tom would put Rudolph upon the ground for awhile, and when
+the little fellow flagged he would lift him up to his shoulder again.
+
+At nightfall the party halted and made a large fire of brush, by which
+they cooked some venison and hominy, which had been carried by them
+during the march. After partaking of their meal, and giving their
+prisoners a liberal supply, they disposed themselves for the night,
+first taking care to fasten Tom's hands and feet securely, and even to
+bandage the children's ankles so that they could not stand. In vain Tom
+peered about him for a chance of escape for himself and his charges--for
+he would on no account have left them behind--but there was no hope.
+His knife had been taken away from him, and all night long he was
+watched by two Indians, who remained near him in a sitting posture. Even
+when their dusky faces were lost in the darkness, he could see the gleam
+of their piercing eyes as the fire-light flashed and faded. Once, when
+the pain from his fastenings became insupportable, he complained to one
+of the watchers and begged to be unbound for a moment, while a wild hope
+rushed through his heart that he might then, quick as a flash, seize
+Rudolph and Kitty and fly through the darkness out of the reach of his
+pursuers. Vain hope! no opportunity came, though the Indian readily
+complied with his request. Almost every warrior raised himself upon his
+elbow in an instant, and he felt the glare of a dozen eyes upon him at
+the slightest motion he made. After the Indian had loosened the
+fastenings somewhat, and given Tom a drink of pure spring water, he even
+offered him some parched corn, and in no unfriendly way motioned to him
+to try and sleep; but all this show of kindness did not reassure Tom. He
+had heard enough of Indian warfare to feel that any consideration they
+might show their prisoners at first was often but a proof that they
+were reserving them for the greatest cruelties afterward.
+
+Long before daylight the next morning, the march was resumed, in the
+same manner as on the previous day; and, indeed, for three or four days
+it was continued over a country dense with cedar thicket, and becoming
+rougher and more rocky as they journeyed on. At last, after traveling
+westward for a distance of ever a hundred miles--as nearly as Tom could
+estimate--they saw, afar, rising from the lowlands, the smoke of an
+Indian encampment.
+
+Some one evidently had been on the look-out for them. Before they
+reached the spot, they were welcomed with loud whoops and yells.
+Presently the entire community, as it seemed, turned out to receive
+them--hundreds of savages, men, women, and children--who, when they saw
+the prisoners, pierced the air with wild shouts of joy.
+
+The men were painted in every conceivable way, with hideous daubs of
+color upon their limbs and faces, or tattooed so as to look more fearful
+still; their heads were closely shaved, leaving only a lock on the
+crown, called the scalp-lock, which was twisted up so as to hold tufts
+of brilliant feathers. The women, scarcely less hideous than the men
+(excepting here and there a young maiden, the joy of her tribe,
+standing apart from the rest), crowded fiercely about, and the children,
+naked and dirty, whooped and yelled like so many imps.
+
+The scene was certainly not likely to inspire the prisoners with any
+keen sense of security. Indeed, Tom expected instant death at their
+hands. As for Rudolph and Kitty, the poor little creatures were
+stupefied with terror, and clung to Tom in a way that seemed to make the
+Indian children half mad with delight.
+
+Suddenly all the warriors arranged themselves into two long lines,
+facing each other--and, brandishing their tomahawks, switches, and
+clubs, called upon Tom to run the gauntlet! One of the savages proceeded
+to set free the limbs of the captive, at the same time explaining to
+him, in broken English, the nature of the ceremony about to be enacted.
+This was nothing less than for Tom to run between the lines, along their
+entire length, with the chance of receiving a blow from each Indian as
+he passed.
+
+"Run like deer!" said the Indian, as he jerked off the last strip of
+hide from the captive's arm, "then he get more few knock."
+
+Casting one despairing look about him, and seeing not a possible chance
+of escape, even if he were not bound to the spot by the presence of
+Rudolph and Kitty, poor Tom entered upon the dread ordeal. His weariness
+was forgotten as, in very desperation, he flew between the lines so
+rapidly that for a short distance the blows fell but lightly upon him.
+Soon a crushing stroke from the back of a tomahawk fell heavily upon his
+shoulder, but he did not falter; the yells and blows of the savages lent
+wings to his feet--until, at last, when the end was nearly reached, a
+huge chief struck him a blow, with his club, that felled him to the
+ground. Springing up instantly, Tom dashed forward again, and staggered
+on to the end of the line where he sank to the ground, unable to rise.
+Up to the last moment he could hear the shrieks of Rudolph rising above
+the din. The poor child had been forced to witness Tom's suffering from
+the first.
+
+As soon as Tom opened his eyes he saw the pale, tearful faces of Rudolph
+and Kitty. "Don't cry, youngsters," he gasped; "be good, and we may get
+home again yet."
+
+"Oh, come _now_," urged Kitty; "come tell mammy--mammy'll whip'em for
+hurtin' 'oo; naughty Injins!"
+
+Rudolph, forgetting his misery for an instant, laughed outright at
+Kitty's words. The next instant he shook his head solemnly--at
+her--"No, Kitty, mother couldn't whip 'em. But oh, I wish we were home!
+I wish we were home!" he cried, giving vent to his terrors again, as he
+saw a group of red men moving hastily towards them.
+
+After dashing water over Tom's wounds and laying him upon a bed of
+deer-skins, the savages seated themselves in a ring, and held a council
+to decide the fate of the prisoners. The warriors sat in silence while a
+great war-club was passed around the circle. Those who were in favor of
+burning them alive struck the ground heavily with the weapon before
+handing it to the next warrior; while those who objected to putting them
+to death in that manner merely passed it on in silence.
+
+Tom saw all this from where he lay, and he knew its meaning well. With a
+sinking heart he heard the heavy thump of the club as each warrior gave
+his cruel vote, until at last one chief, holding the club in the air,
+pointed with a meaning gesture--first at Tom, then at Rudolph and Kitty.
+The chiefs responded with a grunt of assent to his inquiry concerning
+the latter, but shook their heads when their attention was directed to
+Tom. Then the noble fellow knew that not his fate, but that of the
+children was being decided; while they, unconscious little creatures,
+looked on half amused at what seemed to them some singular game.
+
+"Hi!" whispered Rudolph to Kitty, "didn't that fellow hit hard,
+though?--he'll beat I guess."
+
+A moment more and the council was ended. One of the Indians approached
+the children and daubed their faces with black; it was a fatal sign, for
+it proved that the vote had been against them--Rudolph and Kitty were to
+be put to death!
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+KA-TE-QUA.
+
+
+All that night, and for many days afterward, Tom lay in a burning fever,
+quite unconscious of what was passing around him.
+
+Meanwhile, strange to say, Rudolph and Kitty were treated almost with
+kindness. They were well fed, and were given the softest deer-skins to
+lie upon at night. Finding themselves unharmed as the hours went on, the
+little creatures became more confident, and finally resumed their
+natural playfulness.
+
+Kitty was never weary of the bright beads and ornaments of the Indian
+maidens, and Rudolph found great delight in shooting with the bows and
+arrows of the _papooses_ or children, who, in turn, were wonderfully
+amused at the bad shots of the little pale-face. Now and then, to be
+sure, the vicious child of some chieftain would amuse itself by pricking
+Kitty's tender skin with a thorn, and hearing her scream in consequence;
+or, having seen the black-and-blue marks upon her delicate arms, caused
+by the rough handling of her captors, they would pinch her flesh and
+watch for the change of color with intense interest. One day they tried
+it while Rudolph was standing by, holding the hand of the squaw who had
+him in charge. No sooner did the usual scream escape Kitty's lips than,
+quick as thought, the boy broke from the woman's grasp, and, rushing
+upon his sister's tormentor, laid the little savage in the dust and
+pummeled him well. Instead of resenting this, the Indians seemed to
+admire the pluck of the young pale-face, and he rose in their favor at
+once. Especially did the old squaw, as Indian women are called, applaud
+him. She was a strange old creature, named Ka-te-qua (_female eagle_),
+and, being half crazy, was looked upon by the Indians as one inspired by
+Manitou, or the Great Spirit. Besides, her brother had been a famous
+Medicine-man[1] of the tribe; and her two sons, who had been slain in
+battle, were celebrated braves or warriors, each owning long chains of
+scalps, which they had taken from their enemies. So, of course, when she
+wagged her head in approbation of Rudolph's conduct, all the women near
+her wagged their heads also. Indeed, had Tom remained ill a few weeks
+longer, the black marks on the children's faces would have worn off
+without any further injury being done them. But as he grew better, and,
+finally, was able to sit upright on his deer-skin couch, the malice of
+his captors was renewed. They resolved not only to carry out the
+sentence upon the children, but to put the sick pale-face to new
+tortures as soon as he was strong enough to afford them the requisite
+amount of sport on the occasion. Accordingly on the fourth day after
+Rudolph had punished the little "Red-skin," preparations were begun.
+Heaps of fagots were industriously piled against an oak tree, which
+stood apart. Tom, with feet shackled, and his arms tightly secured to
+his sides, was led out to witness the fearful scene. Rudolph and Kitty
+were seized, and, in spite of their struggles, bound side by side to the
+tree.
+
+Already the wild dance of the Indians had begun. Frightful yells and
+whoops filled the air, and even women and little dusky children clapped
+their hands and shouted with excitement and delight. They brought
+armfuls of brush and laid it close to the pile. Nothing was needed to
+complete the deed but to apply the fatal torches, now sending forth hot,
+fierce gleams into the pale air, and brandished by a dozen yelling
+savages.
+
+At a signal from an aged chief, the brush was lighted. The fire cracked
+and snapped; soon its snake-like wreaths curled about the pile, sending
+thick smoke around the screaming victims, when, suddenly, old
+Ka-te-qua--she who had taken charge of the children--rushed from the
+neighboring forest. Tearing through the crowd, she flew to the pile of
+fagots, and with vigorous strokes scattered the blazing wood in every
+direction.
+
+Then, turning toward the astonished savages, who had retreated a few
+paces to escape the burning brands, she addressed them passionately in
+the Indian tongue:
+
+"The Great Spirit," she cried, "scowls upon you--the very flames hiss in
+the wet grass. The sons of Ka-te-qua are gone to the happy hunting
+grounds of the dead. Her wigwam is dark. The young pale-faces are to her
+like the water-lilies of the stream. Why, when she was in the forest
+gathering herbs for the sick of her tribe, did ye steal them from her
+lodge like dogs?
+
+"Is the tongue of Ka-te-qua forked? Has she not said that no warrior
+need hunt the deer for the young pale-faces? With her they shall grow
+like hickory saplings, towering with strength. The deer shall not be
+more fleet than they, nor the songs of the birds more glad. The sun
+shall paint their white skins. The love of the red man shall enter their
+hearts: they shall be as the young of our tribe. Unbind them! Give them
+to Ka-te-qua, or by the next moon a burning fever shall fall upon you.
+Like panthers will you bite the dust. All the waters of the great
+cataract cannot quench your thirst, and your mightiest hunters will be
+as women."
+
+She paused. A fine-looking chieftain arose and spoke:
+
+"The sister of the great Medicine-man has spoken well. She dwells alone
+in her wigwam Her arm is strong. Her eye is keen, like the hawk's. The
+deer fall before her, and her arrow can find the heart of the grizzly
+bear. Her corn stands higher than the grass of the prairie. She can feed
+the young pale-faces. The Great Spirit gives them to her. Let it be so."
+
+A council was held at once. This time more than half the chieftains
+passed the club on in silence, for Ka-te-qua, as I have said, was
+respected among them; she had great powers of healing, and many of the
+Indians regarded her with a superstitious reverence.
+
+The children were unbound and borne in state to the old squaw's wigwam.
+From that hour, though they were closely watched and guarded, their
+lives were safe.
+
+[Footnote 1: Mystery-man or Indian prophet.]
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+BIG TOM.
+
+
+From the conduct of the Indians towards Tom, it was evident that his
+time for torture had not yet arrived. He therefore had tact enough to
+remain "weak" as long as possible, tottering languidly about the
+grounds whenever they allowed him the liberty of exercising his limbs,
+and drinking the mixtures and decoctions of Ka-te-qua with the patience
+of a martyr. In the meantime, the shrewd fellow took care to win the
+good-will of the tribe by taking apparent interest in their games, and
+showing a great amount of admiration at their feats of strength and
+agility. He amused them too by the display of numerous accomplishments
+peculiar to himself, such as whistling in close imitation of the songs
+of various birds, and performing feats of jugglery that he had long ago
+learned in his native town. He could bark like a dog and howl like a
+wolf; imitate the distant tramping of horses' feet, and give the sound
+of a whizzing arrow so perfectly that the oldest chiefs would turn their
+head quickly in the direction of the sound. Neither at this, however,
+nor at any other of Tom's performances, would they show the slightest
+change of countenance, for an Indian never allows himself to exhibit
+feelings of surprise, considering it quite beneath the dignity of his
+race to do so. Even when, by some dexterous trick, Tom would show them
+two or three acorns under a leaf where their reason told them there
+could be none, and then as mysteriously cause the same acorns to
+disappear, the stony faces looking on never changed a muscle though at
+heart they were probably quite as astounded as the Welsh monster was
+supposed to be when Jack the Giant-Killer, performed such wonderful
+feats with hasty-pudding. By degrees, as Tom deemed it prudent to appear
+stronger, he would dance the sailors' hornpipe for them, or sing wild,
+rollicksome songs, or make beautiful rustic seats and bowers for the
+squaws. He was a capital marksman, too, and soon won respect by showing
+that he could handle a musket with the best of them. The few Indians who
+owned guns had become very expert in their use; and Tom, whenever they
+had trials of their skill, took care to shoot just well enough to prove
+himself a good marksman, without provoking their anger by excelling too
+often.
+
+After awhile, in his desire to win their confidence, he even went so far
+as to signify to the Indians that he would like to become one of them;
+that their mode of life suited him well, and he would be glad to hunt
+and fish with them and be a pale-face no more. Alas! poor fellow, he did
+not know what he was saying, or how soon he would find out that even in
+cases of great temptation no one can tell a lie without suffering
+unhappy consequences. The savages took him at his word. They held a
+council. After it was over, while most of them were still smoking their
+long, richly ornamented pipes with great deliberation, two or three of
+the Indians seized him and gravely commenced plucking out his hair by
+the roots.[2] Soon Tom twitched from head to foot, and water stood in
+his eyes; but the red men still kept on with their work, dipping their
+fingers in ashes occasionally to enable them to take a better hold.
+Before long his head was completely bald, with the exception of one long
+tuft upon his crown, called the scalp-lock. This was immediately
+stiffened and plaited, so as to stand upright and hold a variety of
+ornaments, which his glum hairdresser fastened upon it. Then two old
+Indians pierced his nose and ears and hung big rings in the smarting
+holes. They then took off his clothing and painted his body with every
+variety of color. Next they hung a gaily embroidered cloth about his
+loins, put a wampum[3] chain about his neck and fastened silver bands on
+his right arm. When this was done the whole party gave three shrill
+whoops, and men, women, and children crowded around him, making the most
+frantic gestures, and uttering the most horrid sounds that ever a poor
+fibbing white man heard.
+
+Next the maidens of the tribe rushed upon him, and, hurrying him to a
+stream that ran near by, dragged him into the water until it reached his
+waist, and tried to force his head under. This of course, aroused all
+his spirit of resistance; but, when one of the girls, named She-de-ah
+(wild sage), cried into his ear. "No kill! no kill!" he concluded to
+submit.
+
+After this he was ducked and held under most unmercifully, until,
+believing by this time that "the white blood must be all washed out of
+him," they led him up the shore, all shivering and dripping, and
+presented him to their principal chief.
+
+The next performance was to dress him in an Indian shirt ornamented with
+feathers and beads and bits of porcupine quill. They put leggins on his
+legs and moccasins on his feet, and, seating him upon a bear-skin, gave
+him flint and steel to strike a light with; then a pouch, a tomahawk,
+some tobacco, and a long pipe. Then the chiefs seated themselves beside
+him, and smoked in silence. Tom knew well enough that he was expected to
+smoke too, and filled and lit his pipe accordingly, never dreaming of
+the consequences. Old as he was, nearly twenty, this was his "first
+smoke," and very soon the poor fellow found himself growing deadly sick.
+He could feel the cold chills creeping one after another into his very
+face. Finally, something within him seemed to turn somersaults, when,
+yielding to a sudden impulse, he flung the pipe upon the ground, and
+rushed into the recesses of the wigwam, where he usually slept. This
+the Indians, who attach an almost sacred importance to the pipe, took as
+a great affront; and only when Tom afterward, by the most earnest
+gestures, explained to them the real cause of his conduct, did they
+allow their injured feelings to be pacified; though it cut him sorely to
+notice the expressions of contempt, and ridicule that were soon lavished
+upon him. Whether this proof of what seemed in Indian opinion a want of
+manliness had anything to do with their conduct or not, I cannot say,
+but certain it is that no further ceremonies towards making him a
+red-man were performed though he was allowed to wear his Indian costume.
+Neither did they allow him to hunt with them, as he had hoped. Whenever
+they went forth to shoot the bison or deer, or to trap the beavers, or
+wage war with hostile tribes, they always left him with the squaws, the
+old men, and the warriors who remained at home to take charge of the
+settlement.
+
+Rudolph and Kitty were sorely frightened when they first saw the strange
+figure, "half Indian, half Tom," as Rudolph afterward described him,
+stalk into Ka-te-qua's wigwam. His bald head and painted body struck
+poor Kitty with dismay. When he spoke soothingly to her, and gave her a
+handful of bright feathers, she ventured to approach him, though she
+cried pitifully all the time for Tom, dear, big Tom, who knew papa and
+mamma, and Bessie and Bouncer.
+
+Neither Kitty nor Rudolph had forgotten the brave dog through all these
+days of absence, and they loved to hold long conversations with Tom
+about him; though the little creatures oftener talked of their parents
+and Bessie, as they lay at night upon their beds of dried grass.
+
+[Footnote 2: See American Adventure by Land and Sea. Harper Bros. 1842.]
+
+[Footnote 3: _Wampum_. Beads made of shells, used by North American
+Indians as money, the shells run on strings, and are wrought into belts
+and ornaments.]
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+BOUNCER'S WORK.
+
+
+There was another person in the settlement besides the captives, who was
+not likely to forget Bouncer very soon. This was an Indian who, wounded
+and exhausted, had reached the settlement four days after the arrival of
+the prisoners. He had an ugly mark upon his throat, and another on his
+chest, and he sulked aside from the rest of his tribe as though he felt
+that his wounds were ignoble, and a dishonor to his Indian birth. It was
+his blood that Farmer Hedden had seen on that fearful night; and when
+more than once the agonized father had listened to what seemed to be the
+tread of some skulking wolf, he had heard this very Indian, who, half
+dead with pain and loss of blood, was dragging himself slowly through
+the depths of the forest.
+
+This discomfited warrior had looked upon Tom and the two little
+pale-faces with dislike, from the hour when he first saw them as
+prisoners in the encampment. They were constant reminders to him of his
+mortifying struggle with the dog. He felt it all the more because,
+though his jacket and leggings were trimmed with the scalps of his
+enemies, he had lately been forced to receive charity from the white
+man's hand, This was when, starving and nearly frozen, he had fallen
+helpless in the forest, after an unlucky trapping excursion; a settler
+had found him there, given him food and drink and sent him on his way
+with a bountiful supply of provisions.
+
+Big Tom saw the dark looks of this Indian, and regarded him with
+suspicion; but little Kitty was quite unconscious of the resentful
+feelings of "the sick man," as she called him. In fact, as soon as she
+grew more familiar with the Indians, she often sought him in preference
+to the rest, and loved to sit upon the ground beside him, and trace
+with her tiny fingers the patterns worked upon his leggings and
+moccasins.
+
+At first the grim warrior repulsed these familiarities; but when, as he
+began to mingle with his tribe, he heard her sweet voice calling him by
+name, and saw her day after day display her store of beads and feathers
+at his feet, his feelings gradually softened. Before long he ceased to
+scowl upon her when she lifted her sunny face to his, and, on rare
+occasions, he even allowed her to count his arrows.
+
+Once, when Rudolph had shot a wild turkey, he rushed to Ka-te-qua's
+wigwam with his prize, for he had learned to love the strange old squaw,
+though he feared her, too, sometimes. Kitty clapped her hands with
+delight at her brother's skill, and begged him to go with her and show
+the dead bird to her favorite Indian.
+
+"Come, Rudolph; come show 'Nokah,'" she pleaded, pulling the young
+hunter by the arm. "Come twick! he goin' away."
+
+Rudolph suffered himself to be led. They found Po-no-kah standing alone
+by a tree, fully equipped for the hunt.
+
+He looked at the turkey and gave a grunt, not particularly flattering to
+Rudolph's vanity.
+
+"I've shot THREE!" said the boy, holding up three fingers to make his
+meaning clearer.
+
+"Ugh!" grunted the savage again. "Paleface no shoot much."
+
+"But I'm growing," persisted Rudolph. "When I'm big, I'm going to shoot
+bears and bison. Did you kill the bears to get all these claws?" he
+added, pointing up to Po-no-kah's necklace, which was formed entirely of
+huge bear-claws, strung through the thickest end.
+
+"Ugh," replied the Indian, nodding his plumed head, "me shoot him."
+
+"And these scalps," said Rudolph, shuddering as he pointed to the fringe
+of human hair hanging from the buckskin leggings; "did _you_ get all
+these?"
+
+"Ugh," he answered grimly, nodding the plumes again.
+
+"You are bad, then," exclaimed Rudolph, looking fearlessly into
+Po-no-kah's eyes. "I know _you_," he added suddenly, after gazing at him
+intently for an instant. "Father brought you into our kitchen last
+winter, and I ran behind the door. Mother gave you meat and hot drink,
+and father warmed you and gave you a bag of potatoes. Oh!" he continued,
+clasping Po-no-kah's knee, "_you_ know where our home is. Nearly every
+night I dream that mother is calling us. Show me the way, please do.
+Ka-te-qua says there are dreadful things in the forest that will eat me
+up, but I am not afraid. Oh, do tell us the way home!"
+
+The Indian gave a sharp look at the sobbing boy, and seemed in part to
+understand his words. Stooping, he whispered in a stern tone: "No speak;
+no tell Ka-te-qua;"--and without one glance of encouragement, he stalked
+away to the spot where the other Indians had assembled, preparing for
+the hunt.
+
+The children saw him no more for weeks. Rudolph remembered his parting
+words, and though he could not fully understand Po-no-kah's motive, he
+faithfully obeyed his command. Not even to Tom did he relate what had
+occurred.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+INDIAN LIFE.
+
+
+Rudolph and Kitty learned many things from the Indians that they never
+would have studied in the rough school-house near their pretty home; and
+they soon became familiar with many singular customs that at first
+filled them with wonder.
+
+For instance: when they, or any of the little papooses, were naughty or
+disobedient, they were put under what might be called the water-cure
+treatment. Instead of being whipped or locked up in a dark pantry--as
+was, I am sorry to say, the custom among some white people--they were
+simply "ducked" under water until they became manageable. Winter or
+summer, it was all the same. A bad child would very soon become a wet
+child, if there were any water within a mile.
+
+There are bright sides, as well as dark, to the Indian character; and in
+considering their cruelties and inhuman practices, we must remember that
+the white man has not always been just to him or set a good example to
+his uncivilized brother, or been careful not to provoke him to deeds of
+resentment and wrong. An Indian rarely forgets a kindness, and he never
+tells a lie. He is heroic, and deems it beneath a man's dignity to
+exhibit the slightest sign of pain under any circumstances. Among the
+Sioux tribe of that time, the boys were trained from the first to bear
+as much hardship as possible. They had a ceremony called the Straw
+Dance, in which children were forced to maintain a stately and measured
+step, while bunches of loose straws tied to their naked bodies were
+lighted and allowed to burn slowly away. Any poor little creature who
+flinched or "broke step" was sorely punished and held in disgrace.
+
+There were certain dances among the Indians performed by the warriors,
+before going either to battle or to the hunt. If to battle, they spent
+hours, and often whole days and nights together, in the fearful
+war-dance, accompanied by clashing on their drumlike instruments, and
+whoops that rang long and loud amid the echoing hills. If to the hunt,
+the Bear-Dance or the Buffalo-Dance was kept up nights and days before
+starting, in order to propitiate the Bear Spirit or Buffalo Spirit,
+whichever it might be. They had a funeral dance also, which was very
+solemn and impressive. And if a chieftain was to be buried, either in
+the river, or, as among the Mandans, on a rough platform erected on
+poles high up from the ground, the warriors danced before his wigwam,
+and assigned to a few of their number the duty of seeing that his widow
+and children, if he left any, should never be without food and shelter.
+
+Kitty and Rudolph often looked on with, mingled feelings of terror and
+delight, while some of these strange ceremonies were being enacted. It
+was curious to see the stalwart warriors, with bent backs and glum
+faces, and many a grunt or whoop, stamp through the measured dance.
+Often Kitty would clutch her brother's arm in terror, when, in strange
+concert, the savages would suddenly halt, and with fiendish look and
+stealthy gesture, seem to be listening to the approach of an enemy.
+
+Sometimes, too, the women danced, but always apart from the men. Even in
+their games the warriors and squaws never played together. Among the
+Crow Indians, famous for their long black hair, it was not uncommon for
+a thousand young men to play in one game of ball for three or four
+consecutive days without interruption. As soon as one player retired,
+exhausted, another took his place. Often hundreds of women played
+together, and they were generally as expert as the men in throwing and
+catching the ball.
+
+Another strange feature among Indian customs, was the importance
+attached to the _medicine-bag_. Every warrior had one, and would no
+sooner hunt, or go to battle, or appear among his tribe without it, than
+he would neglect to wear his bow or his scalping-knife. Not that the bag
+contained any medicine, such as we understand by the word--for it was
+nothing but a small piece of skin sewed like a bag, curiously
+ornamented, and stuffed with straw or leaves--but because he regarded it
+as a _charm_. With him, "medicine" meant some mysterious power that
+would protect and guide him, and propitiate the unseen powers in his
+favor. When about to obtain his medicine, the young Indian went alone to
+some solitary river or lake in the depths of the forest, or mounted to
+some lonely peak. Here he fasted, and remained until, sleeping, he
+dreamed. The first animal he dreamed about, whether it were a bear,
+buffalo, deer, weasel, or bird or reptile of any kind, became his
+"medicine" forever. He at once hunted until he found one, and obtained
+its skin for a bag.
+
+Rudolph and Kitty looked with awe upon many of the rare medicine-bags of
+the tribe, though they were never on any account allowed to touch them.
+Indeed, Kitty had managed to make a rough little one for Rudolph, dotted
+with clumps of beads, and he wore it next his heart with secret pride.
+The little fellow had once, while tramping through the forest with
+Katequa, seen a number of deer gathered around a spring, or salt-lick,
+as it is called, and had quivered with frightened delight to see the
+finest one fall wounded by her arrow. When the large eyes of the wounded
+creature had turned plaintively toward him, he had tried not to feel
+sorry, but his heart ached in spite of his efforts,
+
+"I shall be a mighty hunter one of these days," he said to Kitty on his
+return; "but I won't shoot deer, for they look at you just as if they
+wanted to speak. I'll get bears though, lots of 'em, and buffalo; and
+I'll have a fine trap when I get home, and catch badgers and foxes, just
+as the Indians do."
+
+Tom and Rudolph saw with indignation that, throughout the village, the
+labor and drudgery were forced upon the squaws, while the warriors
+stretched themselves lazily upon the ground, or smoked their pipes under
+the spreading trees. As for Kitty, she was too busy watching the women
+cook, dig, chop, and carry, to make any moral reflections.
+
+She loved, also, to sit beside them when they prepared the skins brought
+in from the hunt, or while they were busy with their curious sewing, so
+different from that with which she had seen her mother occupied.
+
+Bright-colored rags, feathers, beads, porcupine-quills, and even scraps
+of tin, were the ornaments upon which the squaws relied to make the
+toilets of their tribe "stylish" and beautiful; and Kitty--tiny little
+woman that she was--soon grew to agree with them perfectly in matters of
+taste.
+
+To be sure, the Indian women never did anything quite so barbarous as to
+put their little girls' feet into narrow shoes with high heels, nor
+fasten tight belts about their waists, so that the God-given machinery
+within could hardly work. But they did many preposterous things, for all
+that. They painted their bodies and tattooed their skins, by pricking
+figures on the flesh and rubbing in some staining juice when the blood
+appeared. They even pierced their noses so that bright rings could
+dangle from them. Many, too, hung bits of metal from their ears in a
+similar way--but that may not strike my civilized readers as being a
+very barbarous custom.
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+KA-TE-QUA'S "GOOD NIGHT."
+
+
+Thus weeks and months passed away, not so wearily to the prisoners, as
+to the poor, sorrowing hearts that mourned for them at home. Tom's brain
+was always busy in planning some mode of escape for himself and his
+little charges. But, as he was still closely guarded, never being left
+alone for an instant, night or day, and as the children slept in the
+wigwam of Ka-te-qua, whose eyes seemed never intended to close, he
+concluded to wait patiently rather than to risk the lives of all three
+by an unsuccessful attempt.
+
+Meantime, Ka-te-qua's strong arms grew feeble, her arrow became less
+fatal in its aim, and her strange fits of moodiness filled Rudolph and
+Kitty with dread.
+
+For hours she would sit at the entrance of her wigwam, chanting
+mournfully in the Indian tongue. At such times she would compel the
+children to remain within,--becoming frantic with crazy rage should they
+attempt to force past her into the pleasant sunshine; and they would sit
+together in the shadow, hoping that by some whim she would walk away, or
+that the long, long chant would cease. One afternoon she kept them
+waiting in this way for hours. The sun sank lower and lower into the
+distant prairie, and the crimson clouds faded to a dull gray. Rudolph
+and Kitty sat listening to the wailing tones of Ka-te-qua's voice until,
+as the evening grew dark and chilly, they found for themselves a scanty
+supper of parched corn, and after whispering their simple prayer, groped
+their way to bed.
+
+The strange old creature ceased singing after a while, and entered the
+wigwam. They could distinguish her form as she slowly moved about,
+before throwing herself down near the entrance to indulge in her usual
+cat-like sleep. Afraid to speak to her, for they were not quite sure in
+what mood she might be, they watched her movements as well as they
+could, and at last felt sure that she was tottering slowly toward them.
+
+Kitty clasped Rudolph's neck more tightly, and broke into a frightened
+sob. In an instant, they felt her hand steal very gently over their
+tumbled curls.
+
+"Night! night!" she whispered softly.
+
+"Good-night, Ka-te-qua," they answered in a breath, for their fear was
+all gone now.
+
+"Night, night," repeated the voice, as kindly as their own mother could
+have said it, and after giving each a caressing stroke, their old friend
+moved softly away.
+
+Very early the next morning the children were awakened by a buzzing of
+many voices. Ka-te-qua had been found lying stiff and cold at the
+entrance of her wigwam. Not a trace of injury of any kind was upon her.
+The Indians, crowding round, shook their heads gravely. Ka-te-qua was
+wise, they said, but Manitou had sent for her. She had gone to the happy
+Hunting Grounds of her fathers.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+FIRE-WATER BECOMES MASTER.
+
+
+After a long absence, the hunting party returned. As soon as Po-no-kah's
+stalwart form appeared in sight, Rudolph and Kitty rushed, with a cry of
+joy, to meet him; but, to their great dismay, he pushed them away with a
+frown and a grunt that told them plainly that they were to be familiar
+with him no more. Poor children!--Ka-te-qua gone, Po-no-kah changed, and
+Tom scarcely heeding them,--they felt friendless indeed. Kind words they
+never heard now, and kind looks rarely, except when Tom threw them a
+hasty glance that warmed their hearts, though they scarcely knew why.
+They did not know how his feelings yearned towards them, nor how eagerly
+he would have joined in all their simple pursuits, had he dared to do
+so; but the poor fellow had discovered that any notice he took of the
+children aroused suspicion, and he therefore concluded to pursue a
+prudent course.
+
+In the meantime the children had one great joy. Their love for each
+other was always the same. Kitty trusted in the belief that "mammy"
+would send for them; but Rudolph looked ever up to the Great Love that
+he knew was watching over them and the dear ones at home.
+
+"If it's _right_, Kitty," he would whisper, "I _know_ we'll go home one
+of these days. Don't be afraid. God will take care of us."
+
+"But Dod took Te-qua away," Kitty would sometimes say.
+
+"Yes, I know He did, Kitty," and Rudolph's eyes would look sadly up to
+the blue sky, "I know He did, but then I think she was tired and wanted
+to go."
+
+Summer, autumn, and winter had passed away, and now came the season when
+the Indians carried their largest supply of furs and skins to sell in
+the city far over the prairies. Often, after their hunts, they had met
+with traders, and exchanged the skins they had taken for such articles
+as the white man had to give--guns, blankets, knives, powder, pipes, and
+fire-water;[4] but this was the grand trading excursion of the year.
+
+When the party returned, after a few weeks' absence, they brought with
+them among other things, a keg of whisky. After the first welcome was
+over, the savages held a council.
+
+It was soon evident that a fearful scene was to be enacted. The
+prisoners had seen something of the kind before, but never on so large a
+scale as this.
+
+The Indians had decided to hold a revel, in which nearly all the men
+were to drink fire-water until they could take no more.
+
+Even these savages knew the horrible consequences of parting with their
+wits in this manner. Before the drinking commenced, they appointed a few
+able-bodied Indians who were to remain sober and take care of the rest.
+They then deprived themselves of all their dangerous weapons--tomahawks,
+clubs, guns, arrows, and knives, and prepared for their fearful riot.
+
+The scene that followed need not be described.
+
+Soon the confusion became fearful. The few sober chiefs were constantly
+risking their lives in their efforts to prevent mischief. Squaws were
+screaming, and frightened children were hiding in every direction.
+
+Tom, who was half forgotten in the general excitement, saw Po-no-kah
+whisper hurriedly to one of the women. In a moment she caught Rudolph
+and Kitty by their hands and stole cautiously with them into the forest.
+Tom's suspicions were aroused. He started up only to feel a strong arm
+force him back to the log upon which he had been seated.
+
+"No move!" muttered a voice, close by his ear. "Soon come.--Be very
+drunk."
+
+In a few moments, while the tumult and uproar were at their height, Tom
+saw Po-no-kah reeling toward the forest.
+
+Wondering what the fellow meant to do, yet filled with a wild hope, Tom
+watched his chance, staggered past the rioters, and managed to follow
+the warrior by another path, without creating any suspicion.
+
+When, at last, they met, Po-no-kah had Rudolph and Kitty in his arms,
+and, staggering no more, was hurrying through the forest, armed with
+bow, quiver, and traveling pouch. The astonished prisoner, after taking
+Kitty from his companion's arms, followed him in silence. Not for hours
+did Po-no-kah look back or speak, and then it was but to say a few
+broken words:
+
+"Po-no-kah was hungry. The father of the little pale-faces fed him.
+Po-no-kah no snake--he remember--Po-no-kah take 'em home."
+
+[Footnote 4: Brandy, rum, and all alcoholic liquors.]
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+SHOWING HOW THE BAG OF POTATOES CAME BACK AGAIN.
+
+
+Farmer Hedden was busily at work in the fields, looking ten years older
+than on that sunny day, nearly a year before, when he had shouted a
+laughing "good-bye" to Tom and the little ones.
+
+Bessie was trudging alone from school, wondering why the birds sang less
+sweetly than they did the May before, and wishing that the noble dog
+that bounded by her side looked a little more like the first Bouncer.
+
+Mrs. Hedden sat with her brother in the lonely cottage, talking on the
+old, old theme; the memory of that terrible night had never left her
+heart.
+
+"No, no, Robert," she said at length, in reply to some appeal from her
+brother, "we must not go. I know it would be better for us to sell out
+and go to Philadelphia. But it cannot be; we must never leave this
+spot."
+
+"Surely, Betsy," urged her brother, "you cannot be so wild as to
+suppose--"
+
+"No!" she interrupted, "I never dare even hope for that now. I know my
+lost darlings are not in this world, and yet--and yet why not hope? why
+not think that perhaps--"
+
+A shadow fell upon the threshold. What wonder that the mother sprang
+forward with a cry of joy! What wonder that Farmer Hedden, looking from
+the field, came bounding toward the house! Po-no-kah was
+there--Po-no-kah and little Kitty!
+
+Laughing,--crying,--clasping her dear Kitty frantically to her heart,
+then gazing at her at arms' length, Mrs. Hedden raised her eyes to the
+Indian, and gasped faintly--
+
+"Rudolph? the boy--is he--"
+
+She could say no more.
+
+"Yes--boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break
+heart see two--he here."
+
+Just then Farmer Hedden, Tom Hennessy, and Rudolph rushed in.
+
+Oh, what a meeting that was! And Bessie, too, was there before they knew
+it. Such laughter--such tears--such shouts of rejoicing had never been
+known in the Hedden cottage before!
+
+Soon the barking of a dog was heard. Rudolph sprang from his father's
+arms:
+
+"Oh, it's Bouncer!" he cried; "let me see him. Here, Bouncer!"
+
+Bouncer indeed came leaping in at the call, but it was not _the_
+Bouncer, though it was a great, shaggy fellow, worthy of the name.
+
+Rudolph started back; the dog, too, eyed him with a suspicious look.
+
+"That isn't Bouncer! Where is he, mother?" exclaimed the poor boy,
+looking up with a bewildered glance.
+
+Po-no-kah slunk aside.
+
+"Do tell me where Bouncer is," he repeated,
+
+"We are all here but him. Here, Bouncer! Bouncer!" and he ran to the
+door.
+
+Bessie wound her arms about his neck.
+
+"Rudolph, darling," she sobbed, "don't cry. Bouncer was killed on _that_
+day. He saved my life, Rudolph--"
+
+"Bouncer dead!" screamed the boy.
+
+Just then the new dog, seeing Bessie and her brother so close together,
+felt that he had a right there, too. With many a frantic leap and bound
+he endeavored to draw Rudolph's attention, until, finally, the tearful
+eyes of the boy were turned upon him. Then, if ever a dog tried to do
+his best, that fellow did. He sprang into the air, barked, tumbled,
+leaped, whined, wagged his tail till it almost spun, and, finally,
+licked Rudolph in the face until the chubby cheeks shook with laughter.
+
+All this time Tom's Indian dress had scarcely been noticed. At last Mrs.
+Hedden, grasping both his hands, exclaimed:
+
+"Why, what in the world have you been doing with yourself? I knew you,
+though, the moment you came in. Oh, Tom, how you have suffered!"
+
+Tom tried to answer her; but somehow his great faithful heart was
+overflowing, and he could only look at her with a tearful smile.
+
+"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a
+fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees
+such a meeting as this."
+
+Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and
+placed his hand upon his shoulder.
+
+"_We_ are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never
+repay what I owe you. Remember, our home is yours from this hour. I
+shall take no denial."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Bessie, clapping her hands; "now I shall have two
+brothers!"
+
+Mrs. Hedden, who had listened to Po-no-kah's broken words, kissed and
+hugged Tom in her motherly way. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "how can we
+make you look like a white man again; and to think you have had chances
+to escape and would not leave the children," and then she hugged him
+again.
+
+"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, nodding his head and holding up three
+fingers--to signify that Tom had had three chances.
+
+"Pooh!" said the brave fellow, blushing through all the red paint, "I
+didn't have any at all until a month or so ago, and I'd got kind o' used
+to staying then."
+
+Soon the red man turned to go. In vain the grateful parents tried to
+force their gifts upon him, and to persuade him to at least partake of
+some refreshment after his long journey.
+
+He pointed to his hunting-pouch and his bow, as if to say that they
+would furnish all the the food he required, and nodded westward to show
+that he must be far on his way before sundown.
+
+As Tom gave him a hearty hand-shake and the rest crowded about him, all,
+even to little Kitty, thanking him over and over again, he waved them
+off with dignity.
+
+"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the
+young pale-faces gave him food. He come tell white man Indian no
+forget."
+
+Tom expressed anxiety lest their deliverer should suffer for his act
+when he returned to his tribe.
+
+"Po-no-kah no fraid" answered the Indian grimly with almost a smile upon
+his face. And, nodding a farewell to little Kitty, he strode
+majestically away.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A year later, the Heddens settled on a fine farm near Philadelphia.
+Rudolph and Kitty doubtless walked many a time by the old Hall where our
+Declaration of Independence was signed.
+
+Bessie Hedden's sons when they grew up became pioneers themselves; and
+their names were Hennessy; so you see the maiden probably, in the course
+of time, changed her mind about having Tom for a brother.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Po-No-Kah, by Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***
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+    content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of
+    Po-No-Kah,
+    by  Mary Mapes Dodge.
+</title>
+<style type="text/css">
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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h1>PO-NO-KAH</h1>
+<h3>
+AN INDIAN TALE OF LONG AGO
+</h3>
+<h2>
+By Mary Mapes Dodge
+</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>
+1903
+</h4>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a>
+<h2>
+	PO-NO-KAH.
+</h2>
+
+<h3>
+AN INDIAN STORY OF LONG AGO.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>
+	I.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+THE HEDDEN FAMILY.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+We who live in comfortable country homes, secure from every invader,
+find it difficult to conceive the trials that beset the hardy pioneers
+who settled our Western country during the last century.
+</p>
+<p>
+In those days, and for many a year afterward, hostile Indians swarmed in
+every direction, wherever the white man had made a clearing, or started
+a home for himself in the wilderness. Sometimes the pioneer would be
+unmolested, but oftener his days were full of anxiety and danger.
+Indeed, history tells of many a time when the settler, after leaving
+home in the morning in search of game for his happy household would
+return at night to find his family murdered or carried away and his
+cabin a mass of smoking ruins. Only in the comparatively crowded
+settlements, where strength was in numbers, could the white inhabitants
+hope for security&mdash;though bought at the price of constant vigilance and
+precaution.
+</p>
+<p>
+In one of these settlements, where a few neatly whitewashed cabins, and
+rougher log huts, clustered on the banks of a bend in the Ohio River,
+dwelt a man named Hedden, with his wife and three children. His farm
+stretched further into the wilderness than his neighbors', for his had
+been one of the first cabins built there, and his axe, ringing merrily
+through the long days, had hewn down an opening in the forest, afterward
+famous in that locality as "Neighbor Hedden's Clearing." Here he had
+planted and gathered his crops year after year, and in spite of
+annoyances from the Indians, who robbed his fields, and from bears, who
+sometimes visited his farm stock, his family had lived in security so
+long that, as the settlement grew, his wife sang at her work, and his
+little ones shouted at their play as merrily as though New York or
+Boston were within a stone's throw. To be sure, the children were bidden
+never to stray far from home, especially at nightfall; and the crack of
+rifles ringing now and then through the forest paled their cheeks for
+an instant, as the thought of some shaggy bear, furious in his death
+agony, crossed their minds.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, too, the children would whisper together of the fate of poor
+Annie Green, who, a few years before had been found killed in the
+forest; or their mother would tell them with pale lips of the night when
+their father and neighbor Freeman encountered two painted Indians near
+the cabin. The tomahawk of the Indian who tried to kill their father was
+still hanging upon the cabin wall.
+</p>
+<p>
+But all this had happened twelve years earlier&mdash;before Bessie, the
+oldest girl, was born&mdash;and seemed to the children's minds like a bit of
+ancient history&mdash;almost as far off as the exploits of Hannibal or Julius
+Caesar appear to us. So, as I have said, the girls and boys of the
+settlement shouted joyously at their play, or ran in merry groups to the
+rough log hut, called "The School-House," little dreaming of the cares
+and anxieties of their elders.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie Hedden was a merry-hearted creature, and so pretty that, had she
+been an Indian maiden, she would have been known as "Wild Rose," or
+"Singing Bird," or "Water Lily," or some such name. As it was, many of
+the villagers called her "Little Sunshine," for her joyous spirit could
+light up the darkest corner. She was faithful at school, affectionate
+and industrious at home, and joyous and honorable among her playmates.
+What wonder, then, that everybody loved her, or that she was happiest
+among the happy? Her brother Rudolph was much younger than she,&mdash;a
+rosy-checked, strong-armed little urchin of seven years; and Kitty, the
+youngest of the Hedden children, was but three years of age at the date
+at which my story opens.
+</p>
+<p>
+There was one other individual belonging to the family circle, larger
+even than Bessie, stronger and saucier even than Rudolph, and but little
+older than Kitty. He had no hands, yet once did, as all admitted, the
+best day's work ever performed by any member of the family. This
+individual's name was Bouncer, and he had a way of walking about on
+all-fours, and barking&mdash;probably in consequence of his having been
+created a dog.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer loved all the children dearly; but, stout-hearted fellow that he
+was, he loved the weakest one best; and, therefore, little Kitty was
+never without a friend and protector. Ever since a certain day in the
+summer, when she had fallen into the stream, and had been carried home
+insensible by Bouncer, Kitty had loved the huge mastiff dearly, and
+nightly added to her simple prayer, "Please, God, bless dear Bouncer,
+too!"
+</p>
+<p>
+And Bouncer <i>was</i> blessed beyond most dogs. Gentle as a baby when
+Kitty's arm was about his neck, he was fierce as a lion when fierceness
+was required. His great white teeth were a terror to evil-doers, and his
+bark in the dead of night would make venturesome bears sneak back into
+the forest like kittens.
+</p>
+<p>
+Often would Mrs. Hedden say to her neighbors, that with "husband's rifle
+and Bouncer's teeth, she felt that she lived in a fortress. As for the
+children," she would add, laughingly, "I scarcely ever feel any anxiety
+about them, when I know that Bouncer has joined their little
+expeditions. He is a regiment in himself."
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_2"><!-- RULE4 2 --></a>
+<h3>
+	II.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+EXPLORING THE STREAM.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+One of the favorite holiday resorts of Bessie and Rudolph was a lovely
+spot in the forest, not a quarter of a mile from the house. Shaded by
+giant oaks, whose gnarled roots lay like serpents, half hidden in the
+moss, ran a streamlet, covered with sunny speckles, where parted leaves
+admitted the sunshine. Flowers grew along its banks in wild profusion,
+and it held its wayward course with many a rippling fall and fantastic
+turn, until it was lost in the shades of the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Where does it go to, I wonder?" the children often would say to each
+other, longing for permission to follow its windings farther than the
+limits prescribed by their parents would allow.
+</p>
+<p>
+"To the ocean, of course," Rudolph would answer, triumphantly; while
+Bessie, looking at its golden ripple, and listening to its musical song,
+half believed that it carried its wealth of sparkling jewels to
+Fairyland itself.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, when Bouncer was with them, they lingered so long by the
+mysterious streamlet, sending chip boats adrift upon its surface, or
+trying to adjust troublesome little water-wheels under some of its tiny
+cascades, that Mrs. Hedden would blow the big horn as a signal for their
+return; and as they ran home, playing with Bouncer by the way, or
+scolding him for shaking his wet sides under their very faces, they
+would inwardly resolve to coax father to take them up the stream on the
+very first pleasant Saturday.
+</p>
+<p>
+Accordingly, on one bright Friday in June, as Bessie and Rudolph were
+returning from school together, they ran toward their father, who was
+working in the clearing.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Father! father!" they shouted, "will you take us down the stream
+to-morrow?&mdash;we want to see where it goes to."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Goes to?" laughed back the father. "Why, it goes to the moon; didn't
+Kitty say so last night?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now, father," returned Bessie, pouting just a little, "you <i>know</i> we
+don't believe that. We want you so much to take us in the boat; it
+doesn't leak at all now&mdash;oh! do." And both children fairly capered in
+their excitement.
+</p>
+<p>
+Mr. Hedden smiled; but; after wiping his forehead with a red and yellow
+handkerchief, went on thoughtfully with his work without returning any
+answer.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children, looking wistfully at him a moment, turned toward the
+house, wondering among themselves, "what father meant to do about it."
+</p>
+<p>
+That evening, at the supper-table (where they didn't have napkin rings
+or silver salt-cellars, I can assure you), Mr. Hedden asked his wife
+whether Tom Hennessy was back from "up river" yet?
+</p>
+<p>
+"I think he came home yesterday," returned his wife. "Why do you ask?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Because I thought, as to-morrow'll be a holiday, I'd get him to take
+the youngsters down the stream in the scow."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! husband," rejoined Mrs. Hedden, looking up anxiously, "do you think
+it's safe?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why not, Betsey?&mdash;the scow doesn't leak; and even if it did, the water
+isn't above Tom's waist anywhere."
+</p>
+<p>
+"I don't mean anything of that kind," pursued the wife, smiling in spite
+of herself at the joyful faces of the young folks. "I&mdash;I mean the
+Indians."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, never fear about them; I'll give Tom every necessary caution," was
+the answer. "The boat won't be gone more than two hours altogether; and,
+to my mind, there wouldn't be the slightest danger in letting even
+little Kitty join the party."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! tanky, Poppy, tanky!" shouted Kitty, clapping her chubby hands in
+great glee. Every one at the table laughed heartily at her unexpected
+response.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bright and early the next morning, the children stood in the door-way,
+eagerly looking out for Tom. Big Tom, the village boys called him; and
+well they might, for he was a staunch, burly fellow, who looked as if he
+could crush an Indian in each hand&mdash;not that he had ever had an
+opportunity to perform that remarkable feat, for Tom Hennessy had but
+recently arrived from a large town in the East; but he <i>looked</i> as if he
+could do it; and, therefore, had credit for any amount of prowess and
+strength.
+</p>
+<p>
+After sundry directions given by Mr. Hedden to Tom, and a command from
+their mother for the little folks to be home at dinner-time, they set
+forth amid shouts of laughter and merriment. Kitty was there in all her
+glory, for, after what "Poppy" had said, she had insisted upon joining
+the party. Even Bouncer, in spite of many a "Go back, sir!" "Call him,
+mother!" had quietly insinuated himself into the group, and neither
+threats nor coaxing could force him away.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was a glorious day; and, as they neared the stream, it seemed to
+sparkle into joyous welcome at their approach.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon, comfortably seated in the scow, they were pushed and rowed
+laboriously along by the good-natured Tom, while Bouncer panted along
+the bank, or dashed into the water, splashing the boat in fine style. In
+passing the accustomed "limits," the delight of the children knew no
+bounds.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now for it!" cried Bessie, clapping her hands. "Now we shall find out
+where the stream goes to!"
+</p>
+<p>
+And so they sailed along, following its graceful windings&mdash;sometimes
+touching bottom, and sometimes skimming smoothly over deep water, where
+Kitty could no longer clutch for the tall, bright grass that here and
+there had reared itself above the surface. Often Big Tom would sing out,
+"Lie low!" as some great bough, hanging over the stream, seemed
+stretching out its arms to catch them; and often they were nearly
+checked in their course by a fallen trunk, or the shallowness of the
+water. At last, upon reaching a very troublesome spot, Tom cried
+good-naturedly&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now, youngsters, you must all get out while I turn the scow over this
+'ere log, and then you can jump in again on t'other side."
+</p>
+<p>
+With merry shouts they leaped out, one after the other, Tom holding
+Kitty in his arms, as he stood knee-deep in the water.
+</p>
+<p>
+"What is the matter with Bouncer?" cried Bessie.
+</p>
+<p>
+There was no time for a reply. Looking up, the frightened party saw
+three hideous faces peering at them over the bushes!
+</p>
+<p>
+"The Indians! the Indians!" screamed Bessie.
+</p>
+<p>
+Springing to the shore, and catching Rudolph with one arm, while he
+held Kitty tightly in the other, Tom Hennessy dashed into the forest,
+calling upon Bessie to follow. Poor Bessie! What could she do? With a
+thrill of horror she saw two fierce savages bounding after them with
+fearful yells, while a third, with upraised club, and tomahawk and
+scalping-knife in his belt, was rushing toward her.
+</p>
+<p>
+Uttering one long piercing scream, the poor girl knelt to await her
+doom. A prolonged roar of fury caused her to raise her head. Bouncer,
+brave, noble Bouncer, and the Indian had fallen together in a deadly
+struggle! Now was her time! With new energy and hope, she sprang to her
+feet, and darted through the forest, rending the air with cries for
+help, and unconscious of whither she was flying.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph! Kitty!" she cried, frantically. "God in heaven help us! Oh!
+help us!"
+</p>
+<h3>
+III.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?
+</h3>
+<p>
+It was nearly dinner-time in the Hedden cottage. Farmer Hedden sat in
+the doorway, equipped in his hunting dress&mdash;for he usually spent
+Saturday afternoons in the forest; and it was only at his wife's
+solicitation that he had consented to wait and "take a bite of dinner"
+before starting, Every now and then he raised his head from the almanac,
+over which he was bending, to listen to the whirr of his wife's
+spinning-wheel, and her merry song issuing from the cottage, or to cast
+an impatient glance in the direction of the streamlet.
+</p>
+<p>
+Within, all was neatness and cheerfulness; the clean deal table was
+arranged with its row of yellow platters and shining pewter-mugs&mdash;even
+the stools were standing round it, ready for the hungry household that
+usually assembled at noon, eager for dinner.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Father's" and "mother's" places were at either end of the table;
+Rudolph's and Kitty's at one side (Kitty had a high chair made by
+"father" out of young oak branches); Bessie's opposite; and, beside
+hers, the prettiest plate; and the brightest mug for Big Tom&mdash;for, of
+course, he must be asked to stay.
+</p>
+<p>
+Everything was ready. Far back in the open fireplace the fagots were
+blazing and snapping. Hanging above them, the great iron pot threw forth
+a circle of noisy steam around the loosely fitted lid, while the
+potatoes within were in a high state of commotion&mdash;little ones tumbling
+pell-mell over big ones, and big ones rocking dolefully backward and
+forward in the boiling water as though they felt sure their end was
+approaching.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Blow the horn again, John," called out Mrs. Hedden, as she cut another
+slice from the big brown loaf that had rapidly been growing less under
+her shining knife. "Ha! ha! they can't help hearing <i>that</i>," she
+laughed, as her husband blew a blast even louder than usual.
+</p>
+<p>
+After waiting a moment, Mr. Hedden came in, throwing the almanac on a
+low wooden settee as he entered.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No use waiting any longer, wifey&mdash;let's sit by. I don't see a sign of
+the youngsters; though it did seem to me I heard some of 'em screaming
+and laughing in the distance a bit ago. 'Twon't do, though," he
+continued, shaking his head; "we must make the crazy little cubs mind
+the horn closer. Play's play, and all well enough in its way, but you
+must teach children regularity from the very outset, or they'll never be
+good for much."
+</p>
+<p>
+"That's true enough, John," answered his wife, as she "dished" some of
+the steaming potatoes&mdash;leaving a goodly number in the pot for the little
+folk&mdash;"that's true enough; but you know this is a day of extra frolic
+for the children. They're having such fun, likely, they've no notion
+how the time is passing. As for the horn, who could expect mortal ears
+to hear <i>that</i>&mdash;with Bessie and Big Tom laughing and singing, and
+Rudolph screaming with fun&mdash;as I know he is; and little Kit, bless her!
+just frantic with delight; I think I can see them now, the merry
+madcaps!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Ah! happy, unconscious mother, if you <i>could</i> have seen them&mdash;if their
+cries of terror could but have reached your ears!
+</p>
+<p>
+Finally, neighbor Hedden arose, shoving back his stool on the sanded
+floor.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Well, well, wifey, you're right enough, no doubt; but I tell you it
+isn't best to be too easy with youngsters, though ours are the best
+going, if I <i>do</i> say it. A good trouncing all around, when they come in,
+wouldn't be a bit too much for them for being so late;" and, half in
+fun, half in earnest, he shook his head rather fiercely at his wife, and
+stalked out of the cottage.
+</p>
+<p>
+Presently she laughed outright to hear the loud, impatient tones issuing
+from the great tin horn. "That'll fetch them, I reckon," said neighbor
+Hedden, showing a smiling face at the window.
+</p>
+<p>
+As another hour passed away, the songs grew fewer and fainter upon the
+mother's lips&mdash;at first from vexation, and, finally, from weariness and
+a vague feeling of anxiety.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie should know better," she thought to herself, "than to stay so
+long. I wish I had not let Kitty go with them."
+</p>
+<p>
+The next moment she smiled to think how hungry the children would be
+when they returned, and half wished that it would not be "spoiling" them
+to make them a good sugar-cake for their supper.
+</p>
+<p>
+Not until the shadows grew longer upon the edge of the forest, and
+threatening clouds grew thicker overhead, did her heart quail or her
+cheek grow white with sudden fear.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! what <i>can</i> keep them, I wonder! Why didn't I ask John to go look
+for them?" she asked herself over and over again. But Mrs. Hedden was
+not one to sit weeping with folded hands while anything remained to be
+done.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was not long before their nearest neighbor, who was still at work,
+enjoying the coolness of the afternoon, leaned upon his spade to wonder
+what on earth neighbor Hedden's wife was up to now.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why, look there! Bob," he called out to his son, "if she ain't leaping
+over this way like a year-old colt!"
+</p>
+<p>
+In the mean time, neighbor Hedden himself was having but sorry sport in
+the forest. He saw nothing worth even pointing his gun at, and felt
+altogether so ill at ease and so fidgety as he trudged along, stepping
+now upon the soft moss, and now upon fallen branches that crackled even
+under the stealthy tread of his hunting moccasins, that I doubt whether
+half the bears hidden in the depths of the forest were not in a livelier
+mood than he. Not that he had anything to make him feel especially
+ill-humored, unless it was the disobedience of his children in having
+failed to appear at dinner-time&mdash;but it seemed to him that there was
+something going wrong in the world, some screw loose in his affairs
+that, unless he turned it tight in time, would cause his happiness and
+the prosperity of his home to fall in ruins about him. After awhile this
+feeling became so strong that he seated himself upon a stone to think.
+</p>
+<p>
+"I haven't been as neighborly as I might have been," he reflected:
+"there's many a turn been wanting by these new-comers, the Morrises,
+that I might have tended to, if I hadn't been so wrapped up in my own
+affairs. Come to think, almost the only kindness I've done for nearly a
+year past was in giving a bag of potatoes to that sick fellow,
+Po-no-kah, who seemed to me to be a good fellow, as Indians go. However,
+it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's
+plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot
+anything, I guess I'd better go home."
+</p>
+<p>
+With these last words, uttered half aloud, neighbor Hedden arose, and
+walked a few steps in the direction of his home. Presently he paused
+again, muttering to himself&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"It's blamed queer I haven't heard the youngsters coming down with the
+scow; I certainly should have heard them if they'd passed anywhere
+near&mdash;guess I'd best walk on a little way up stream."
+</p>
+<p>
+So saying, he turned, with a new anxiety upon his countenance, and moved
+with rapid strides toward the rivulet, that still ran rippling on,
+though the bright sparkles that lit its surface at noon had vanished.
+Indeed, by this time the sunshine was, fast vanishing, too, for heavy
+clouds were gathering overhead, while those in the west were gilded on
+their lower edge.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_3"><!-- RULE4 3 --></a>
+<h3>
+	IV.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+THE SEARCH.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Neighbor Hedden, now intent upon his new thoughts, hurried along the
+bank of the stream. There were pretty tassel-flowers and Jack-in-pulpits
+growing there, which at any other time he might have plucked, and
+carried home in his cap for Kitty; but he did not heed them now.
+Something in the distance had caught his eye, something that, showing
+darkly through the trees, from a bend in the streamlet, caused his
+breathing to grow thicker and his stride to change into a run&mdash;<i>it was
+the empty boat</i>!
+</p>
+<p>
+Hastening toward it, in the vain hope that he would find his little ones
+playing somewhere near the spot, he clutched his ride more firmly, and
+gasped out their names one by one. Where were they?&mdash;his sunny-hearted
+Bessie, his manly little Rudolph, and Kitty, his bright-eyed darling?
+Alas! the only answer to the father's call was the angry mutter of the
+thunder, or the quick lightning that flashed through the gathering
+gloom!
+</p>
+<p>
+In frantic haste he searched in every direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Perhaps," thought he, "they have become frightened at the sound of
+bears, and hidden themselves in a thicket. They may even have got tired
+and gone to sleep. But where is Tom Hennessy?"
+</p>
+<p>
+Again and again he returned to the boat, as though some clue might there
+be found to the missing ones; but as often he turned back in despair,
+trusting now only to the flashes of the lightning to aid him in his
+search. The sharp twigs and branches tore his face and hands as, bending
+low, he forced himself where the tangled undergrowth stood thickest.
+Soon his hunting-cap was dragged from his head, as by some angry hand;
+he knew that it had caught upon the branches, and did not even try to
+find it in the darkness.
+</p>
+<p>
+The heavy drops of rain, falling upon his bare head, cooled him with a
+strange feeling of relief. Next his gun, which he had leaned against a
+tree, while on hands and knees he had forced his way into some brush,
+was swallowed up in the darkness.
+</p>
+<p>
+In vain he peered around him at every flash that lit the forest&mdash;he
+could see nothing of it. Suddenly a bright gleam, shooting across his
+pathway, revealed something that instantly caught his eye&mdash;it was a
+small bit of blue ribbon, such as Bessie often wore. Bending to pick it
+up, he started back in horror! The light had lasted but an instant, yet
+it had been long enough to show him that the ribbon was stained with
+blood, while near it the stones and leaves shone crimson! Even the
+gnarled roots of a fallen tree were dabbled with a fearful stain. He
+could see it all distinctly. With upraised arms, he knelt and poured
+forth an agonized prayer&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Great God! where are my children? Oh! have mercy! have mercy!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Flash after flash lighted up the kneeling form. Presently loud voices
+resounded through the forest:
+</p>
+<p>
+"What, ho!" "Hedden! Hedden!" "Hennessy! Tom!" "Hallo!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Hedden stood upright. The voices were familiar. He shouted back lustily,
+and hurried toward the approaching lanterns. Alas! he came upon faces
+almost as pale and inquiring us his own&mdash;no news on either side!
+</p>
+<p>
+His neighbors had eagerly responded to the mother's appeal, but so far
+had searched the forest in vain. If Bouncer only could be found; and,
+for almost the first time in years, Hedden called, "Bouncer! Bouncer!"
+without seeing the great fellow leaping toward him. What wonder,
+though&mdash;even Bouncer could scarcely have recognized that voice now!
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hark!" cried one of the neighbors.
+</p>
+<p>
+They listened. There was certainly a panting sound from some spot not
+far away.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bouncer! Bouncer!" cried the poor father. The panting again; they
+lowered their lanterns. What was that lying upon the ground&mdash;lying there
+close by Bouncer? It was Bessie! They rushed toward her. She was lying
+very still; Bouncer was breathing heavily.
+</p>
+<p>
+They raised her from the ground.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie! Bessie! my darling, speak to me!" cried the father.
+</p>
+<p>
+Her eyes opened slowly; for an instant she did not know who held her.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie, child, it's father&mdash;speak to me!"
+</p>
+<p>
+She looked at him an instant, then with a pitiful cry buried her face in
+his bosom.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer staggered forward, and now, by the light of the lanterns, they
+could see a broad gash upon his shoulder, and another upon his head. He
+looked up at Bessie with a mournful whine.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Bouncer, dear Bouncer! can't <i>you</i> tell me where they are?" cried
+Bessie, turning suddenly, and gazing upon him with streaming eyes.
+</p>
+<p>
+The brave fellow tried to wag his tail, but his strength was failing
+fast.
+</p>
+<p>
+"He came to me only a little while ago," sobbed Bessie. "Oh! I was so
+thankful! but he came so slowly I knew he was hurt. I put out my hand
+and felt him all hot and wet&mdash;I can't remember anything since then. Oh!
+father, don't let poor Bouncer die&mdash;see! he is falling! Dear old
+Bouncer!" and she threw herself down beside him.
+</p>
+<p>
+The poor fellow turned his head, and tried to lick her hand; then
+started up, growling with something like his old savageness, and fell
+over. They tried to lift him; they called his name. Even Bessie
+attempted to arouse him with a cheerful call. There was no
+movement;&mdash;Bouncer was dead!
+</p>
+<p>
+It seemed hard to leave the body of the faithful creature lying exposed
+in the forest, but this was no time to bury him.
+</p>
+<p>
+All that they could gather from Bessie's confused account of the
+surprise by the Indians, and her own escape, served to make the party
+feel that further effort was almost hopeless&mdash;still they would not
+despair. It was decided that one of their number should take the rescued
+girl back to her mother, while the rest should proceed in their search.
+</p>
+<p>
+The fury of the storm had passed by this time, though the rain fell in
+great splashing drops, and the wind muttered angrily among the trees in
+answer to the distant rumbling of the thunder. Drenched to her skin, and
+shivering with excitement, Bessie begged that she might go with her
+father.
+</p>
+<p>
+"We will find them soon," she pleaded; "I'm sure we will, and then we
+can all go home together. It will frighten mother so dreadfully to see
+me coming alone, without Rudolph and Kittie, and Bouncer!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The man whose lantern had gleamed upon her shaded the light with his
+great rough hand from the spot where Bouncer lay, and in a voice as
+tender as a woman's, urged her to go with him at once,
+</p>
+<p>
+"Go, Bessie," said her father hurriedly, on seeing that she still
+resisted, "we are losing time."
+</p>
+<p>
+This was enough. "Good-night, dear father!" she sobbed, as she was led
+away; "don't tell Rudolph about Bouncer until he gets home, father&mdash;it
+will almost break his heart."
+</p>
+<p>
+A voice that even Bessie could scarcely recognize called back through
+the darkness: "Good-night, my child. Go easy, Joe, and keep a sharp
+look-out."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ay! Ay!" answered the man in a suppressed voice, as he grasped more
+firmly the little hand in his, and hurried on.
+</p>
+<p>
+After a wearisome tramp, they at last reached the edge of the forest.
+Bessie started to see a tall, white figure rushing with outstretched
+arms toward them.
+</p>
+<p>
+"It's the mother," said Joe, pityingly, raising the lantern as he spoke.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Joe!" screamed the poor woman, "have you found them?&mdash;tell me,
+quick!"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Well&mdash;no, Mrs. Hedden," he shouted in reply, "not exactly that&mdash;but
+we've got the gal safe an' sound&mdash;not a scratch on her."
+</p>
+<p>
+In another moment Bessie was in her mother's arms.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Only me, mother!" she sobbed; "only me; but father's looking for them
+and, oh! mother, Bouncer is dead!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The next day brought no better tidings. At noon the men returned from
+their search, jaded and dispirited. After the first explanations were
+over, Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered, huskily&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Give her this, Dennis&mdash;I can't; and tell her it was the only trace we
+could find."
+</p>
+<p>
+The mother's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had
+fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket. "It's Kitty's hood,"
+she cried, stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor.
+</p>
+<p>
+That evening, and for many a day afterward, the search was continued but
+without success; no trace could be found of either Tom Hennessy,
+Rudolph, or little Kitty.
+</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>
+	V.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+THE CAPTIVES.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+And what had befallen Tom and the children, on the fearful day of their
+sail up the beautiful stream? Bessie's eyes had not deceived her when,
+in one agonized glance, she had seen Tom dash into the forest bearing
+Rudolph and Kitty in his arms, followed by yelling savages. The chase,
+however, was a short one; before Tom had advanced many steps his
+pursuers closed upon him, and tearing the children from his embrace,
+bound his arms close to his body with deerskin thongs. The children,
+screaming with terror, struggled in the arms of the Indians and called
+frantically upon Tom for help; but he, poor fellow, could only turn his
+pitying eyes upon them and beg them to remain quiet.
+</p>
+<p>
+"It'll save you from worse things," he groaned. By this time several
+savages, darting from near hiding-places, had surrounded them and Tom
+abandoned all hope of escape. Bessie's screams had died away, and he
+felt sure that she had been killed by the Indian who had first rushed
+upon her.
+</p>
+<p>
+After holding a moment's council the Indians began a rapid march,
+hurrying Tom along with them, and almost dragging the terrified
+children&mdash;who, each with a tiny hand in the grip of a painted warrior,
+ran panting by their sides. Hurrying on, faster and faster, until even
+Tom was nearly out of breath, the savages, without exchanging a word
+among themselves, continued their flight (for such it seemed), carefully
+avoiding even the breaking of a twig, or anything that could furnish a
+clue to those who might come in pursuit.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon Kitty, who could run no more, was snatched angrily from the ground
+and carried, like a bundle, under the great muscular arm of one of the
+savages. But when Rudolph showed evident signs of exhaustion, the
+Indians paused, evidently consulting together whether they should not
+tomahawk the children at once. Tom could stand it no longer. He declared
+that he would not go another step if the children were injured a hair.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Let me carry them," he cried. "I am strong enough to bear a dozen
+youngsters&mdash;unbind me, I say, and hand 'em over."
+</p>
+<p>
+Some of the red men knew enough of English to understand his meaning.
+With a contemptuous sneer one of them tossed Rudolph on Tom's back; then
+set one of his arms free, and drove him onward with many a brutal
+stroke. It was hard work for Tom, shackled as he was, to bear the
+frightened boy, who at times clung to his throat so tightly as to almost
+strangle him.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hold on, Rudolph, boy," he whispered; "lower down&mdash;there, that way. Now
+don't cry; you're father's little man, you know."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Tom," sobbed the poor boy, "they'll kill us, I'm sure, as they
+killed little Annie Green. See, now, how they carry Kitty&mdash;how they
+scrape her face against the bushes; oh! oh!" and Rudolph hid his eyes in
+Tom's hair, crying as if his little heart would break.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hush!" muttered Tom, sternly, "or I'll put you down."
+</p>
+<p>
+In an instant one of the red men whose look, though grim and fearful
+enough, showed less savageness than his companions, gruffly took Kitty
+from the Indian who was carrying her with such cruel carelessness. The
+change comforted the child, and in a few moments the exhausted little
+creature was sleeping soundly upon his shoulder, never waking even
+through the thunder-storm that ere long seemed to rend the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+In this way the Indians hurried on, pausing once to change their
+captive's bands, so as to leave his right arm free instead of his left.
+Now and then Tom would put Rudolph upon the ground for awhile, and when
+the little fellow flagged he would lift him up to his shoulder again.
+</p>
+<p>
+At nightfall the party halted and made a large fire of brush, by which
+they cooked some venison and hominy, which had been carried by them
+during the march. After partaking of their meal, and giving their
+prisoners a liberal supply, they disposed themselves for the night,
+first taking care to fasten Tom's hands and feet securely, and even to
+bandage the children's ankles so that they could not stand. In vain Tom
+peered about him for a chance of escape for himself and his charges&mdash;for
+he would on no account have left them behind&mdash;but there was no hope.
+His knife had been taken away from him, and all night long he was
+watched by two Indians, who remained near him in a sitting posture. Even
+when their dusky faces were lost in the darkness, he could see the gleam
+of their piercing eyes as the fire-light flashed and faded. Once, when
+the pain from his fastenings became insupportable, he complained to one
+of the watchers and begged to be unbound for a moment, while a wild hope
+rushed through his heart that he might then, quick as a flash, seize
+Rudolph and Kitty and fly through the darkness out of the reach of his
+pursuers. Vain hope! no opportunity came, though the Indian readily
+complied with his request. Almost every warrior raised himself upon his
+elbow in an instant, and he felt the glare of a dozen eyes upon him at
+the slightest motion he made. After the Indian had loosened the
+fastenings somewhat, and given Tom a drink of pure spring water, he even
+offered him some parched corn, and in no unfriendly way motioned to him
+to try and sleep; but all this show of kindness did not reassure Tom. He
+had heard enough of Indian warfare to feel that any consideration they
+might show their prisoners at first was often but a proof that they
+were reserving them for the greatest cruelties afterward.
+</p>
+<p>
+Long before daylight the next morning, the march was resumed, in the
+same manner as on the previous day; and, indeed, for three or four days
+it was continued over a country dense with cedar thicket, and becoming
+rougher and more rocky as they journeyed on. At last, after traveling
+westward for a distance of ever a hundred miles&mdash;as nearly as Tom could
+estimate&mdash;they saw, afar, rising from the lowlands, the smoke of an
+Indian encampment.
+</p>
+<p>
+Some one evidently had been on the look-out for them. Before they
+reached the spot, they were welcomed with loud whoops and yells.
+Presently the entire community, as it seemed, turned out to receive
+them&mdash;hundreds of savages, men, women, and children&mdash;who, when they saw
+the prisoners, pierced the air with wild shouts of joy.
+</p>
+<p>
+The men were painted in every conceivable way, with hideous daubs of
+color upon their limbs and faces, or tattooed so as to look more fearful
+still; their heads were closely shaved, leaving only a lock on the
+crown, called the scalp-lock, which was twisted up so as to hold tufts
+of brilliant feathers. The women, scarcely less hideous than the men
+(excepting here and there a young maiden, the joy of her tribe,
+standing apart from the rest), crowded fiercely about, and the children,
+naked and dirty, whooped and yelled like so many imps.
+</p>
+<p>
+The scene was certainly not likely to inspire the prisoners with any
+keen sense of security. Indeed, Tom expected instant death at their
+hands. As for Rudolph and Kitty, the poor little creatures were
+stupefied with terror, and clung to Tom in a way that seemed to make the
+Indian children half mad with delight.
+</p>
+<p>
+Suddenly all the warriors arranged themselves into two long lines,
+facing each other&mdash;and, brandishing their tomahawks, switches, and
+clubs, called upon Tom to run the gauntlet! One of the savages proceeded
+to set free the limbs of the captive, at the same time explaining to
+him, in broken English, the nature of the ceremony about to be enacted.
+This was nothing less than for Tom to run between the lines, along their
+entire length, with the chance of receiving a blow from each Indian as
+he passed.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Run like deer!" said the Indian, as he jerked off the last strip of
+hide from the captive's arm, "then he get more few knock."
+</p>
+<p>
+Casting one despairing look about him, and seeing not a possible chance
+of escape, even if he were not bound to the spot by the presence of
+Rudolph and Kitty, poor Tom entered upon the dread ordeal. His weariness
+was forgotten as, in very desperation, he flew between the lines so
+rapidly that for a short distance the blows fell but lightly upon him.
+Soon a crushing stroke from the back of a tomahawk fell heavily upon his
+shoulder, but he did not falter; the yells and blows of the savages lent
+wings to his feet&mdash;until, at last, when the end was nearly reached, a
+huge chief struck him a blow, with his club, that felled him to the
+ground. Springing up instantly, Tom dashed forward again, and staggered
+on to the end of the line where he sank to the ground, unable to rise.
+Up to the last moment he could hear the shrieks of Rudolph rising above
+the din. The poor child had been forced to witness Tom's suffering from
+the first.
+</p>
+<p>
+As soon as Tom opened his eyes he saw the pale, tearful faces of Rudolph
+and Kitty. "Don't cry, youngsters," he gasped; "be good, and we may get
+home again yet."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, come <i>now</i>," urged Kitty; "come tell mammy&mdash;mammy'll whip'em for
+hurtin' 'oo; naughty Injins!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph, forgetting his misery for an instant, laughed outright at
+Kitty's words. The next instant he shook his head solemnly&mdash;at
+her&mdash;"No, Kitty, mother couldn't whip 'em. But oh, I wish we were home!
+I wish we were home!" he cried, giving vent to his terrors again, as he
+saw a group of red men moving hastily towards them.
+</p>
+<p>
+After dashing water over Tom's wounds and laying him upon a bed of
+deer-skins, the savages seated themselves in a ring, and held a council
+to decide the fate of the prisoners. The warriors sat in silence while a
+great war-club was passed around the circle. Those who were in favor of
+burning them alive struck the ground heavily with the weapon before
+handing it to the next warrior; while those who objected to putting them
+to death in that manner merely passed it on in silence.
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom saw all this from where he lay, and he knew its meaning well. With a
+sinking heart he heard the heavy thump of the club as each warrior gave
+his cruel vote, until at last one chief, holding the club in the air,
+pointed with a meaning gesture&mdash;first at Tom, then at Rudolph and Kitty.
+The chiefs responded with a grunt of assent to his inquiry concerning
+the latter, but shook their heads when their attention was directed to
+Tom. Then the noble fellow knew that not his fate, but that of the
+children was being decided; while they, unconscious little creatures,
+looked on half amused at what seemed to them some singular game.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hi!" whispered Rudolph to Kitty, "didn't that fellow hit hard,
+though?&mdash;he'll beat I guess."
+</p>
+<p>
+A moment more and the council was ended. One of the Indians approached
+the children and daubed their faces with black; it was a fatal sign, for
+it proved that the vote had been against them&mdash;Rudolph and Kitty were to
+be put to death!
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_4"><!-- RULE4 4 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VI.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+KA-TE-QUA.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+All that night, and for many days afterward, Tom lay in a burning fever,
+quite unconscious of what was passing around him.
+</p>
+<p>
+Meanwhile, strange to say, Rudolph and Kitty were treated almost with
+kindness. They were well fed, and were given the softest deer-skins to
+lie upon at night. Finding themselves unharmed as the hours went on, the
+little creatures became more confident, and finally resumed their
+natural playfulness.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty was never weary of the bright beads and ornaments of the Indian
+maidens, and Rudolph found great delight in shooting with the bows and
+arrows of the <i>papooses</i> or children, who, in turn, were wonderfully
+amused at the bad shots of the little pale-face. Now and then, to be
+sure, the vicious child of some chieftain would amuse itself by pricking
+Kitty's tender skin with a thorn, and hearing her scream in consequence;
+or, having seen the black-and-blue marks upon her delicate arms, caused
+by the rough handling of her captors, they would pinch her flesh and
+watch for the change of color with intense interest. One day they tried
+it while Rudolph was standing by, holding the hand of the squaw who had
+him in charge. No sooner did the usual scream escape Kitty's lips than,
+quick as thought, the boy broke from the woman's grasp, and, rushing
+upon his sister's tormentor, laid the little savage in the dust and
+pummeled him well. Instead of resenting this, the Indians seemed to
+admire the pluck of the young pale-face, and he rose in their favor at
+once. Especially did the old squaw, as Indian women are called, applaud
+him. She was a strange old creature, named Ka-te-qua (<i>female eagle</i>),
+and, being half crazy, was looked upon by the Indians as one inspired by
+Manitou, or the Great Spirit. Besides, her brother had been a famous
+Medicine-man<a href="#note-1">[1]</a> of the tribe; and her two sons, who had been slain in
+battle, were celebrated braves or warriors, each owning long chains of
+scalps, which they had taken from their enemies. So, of course, when she
+wagged her head in approbation of Rudolph's conduct, all the women near
+her wagged their heads also. Indeed, had Tom remained ill a few weeks
+longer, the black marks on the children's faces would have worn off
+without any further injury being done them. But as he grew better, and,
+finally, was able to sit upright on his deer-skin couch, the malice of
+his captors was renewed. They resolved not only to carry out the
+sentence upon the children, but to put the sick pale-face to new
+tortures as soon as he was strong enough to afford them the requisite
+amount of sport on the occasion. Accordingly on the fourth day after
+Rudolph had punished the little "Red-skin," preparations were begun.
+Heaps of fagots were industriously piled against an oak tree, which
+stood apart. Tom, with feet shackled, and his arms tightly secured to
+his sides, was led out to witness the fearful scene. Rudolph and Kitty
+were seized, and, in spite of their struggles, bound side by side to the
+tree.
+</p>
+<p>
+Already the wild dance of the Indians had begun. Frightful yells and
+whoops filled the air, and even women and little dusky children clapped
+their hands and shouted with excitement and delight. They brought
+armfuls of brush and laid it close to the pile. Nothing was needed to
+complete the deed but to apply the fatal torches, now sending forth hot,
+fierce gleams into the pale air, and brandished by a dozen yelling
+savages.
+</p>
+<p>
+At a signal from an aged chief, the brush was lighted. The fire cracked
+and snapped; soon its snake-like wreaths curled about the pile, sending
+thick smoke around the screaming victims, when, suddenly, old
+Ka-te-qua&mdash;she who had taken charge of the children&mdash;rushed from the
+neighboring forest. Tearing through the crowd, she flew to the pile of
+fagots, and with vigorous strokes scattered the blazing wood in every
+direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+Then, turning toward the astonished savages, who had retreated a few
+paces to escape the burning brands, she addressed them passionately in
+the Indian tongue:
+</p>
+<p>
+"The Great Spirit," she cried, "scowls upon you&mdash;the very flames hiss in
+the wet grass. The sons of Ka-te-qua are gone to the happy hunting
+grounds of the dead. Her wigwam is dark. The young pale-faces are to her
+like the water-lilies of the stream. Why, when she was in the forest
+gathering herbs for the sick of her tribe, did ye steal them from her
+lodge like dogs?
+</p>
+<p>
+"Is the tongue of Ka-te-qua forked? Has she not said that no warrior
+need hunt the deer for the young pale-faces? With her they shall grow
+like hickory saplings, towering with strength. The deer shall not be
+more fleet than they, nor the songs of the birds more glad. The sun
+shall paint their white skins. The love of the red man shall enter their
+hearts: they shall be as the young of our tribe. Unbind them! Give them
+to Ka-te-qua, or by the next moon a burning fever shall fall upon you.
+Like panthers will you bite the dust. All the waters of the great
+cataract cannot quench your thirst, and your mightiest hunters will be
+as women."
+</p>
+<p>
+She paused. A fine-looking chieftain arose and spoke:
+</p>
+<p>
+"The sister of the great Medicine-man has spoken well. She dwells alone
+in her wigwam Her arm is strong. Her eye is keen, like the hawk's. The
+deer fall before her, and her arrow can find the heart of the grizzly
+bear. Her corn stands higher than the grass of the prairie. She can feed
+the young pale-faces. The Great Spirit gives them to her. Let it be so."
+</p>
+<p>
+A council was held at once. This time more than half the chieftains
+passed the club on in silence, for Ka-te-qua, as I have said, was
+respected among them; she had great powers of healing, and many of the
+Indians regarded her with a superstitious reverence.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children were unbound and borne in state to the old squaw's wigwam.
+From that hour, though they were closely watched and guarded, their
+lives were safe.
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-1"><!-- Note Anchor 1 --></a>[Footnote 1: Mystery-man or Indian prophet.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_5"><!-- RULE4 5 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+BIG TOM.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+From the conduct of the Indians towards Tom, it was evident that his
+time for torture had not yet arrived. He therefore had tact enough to
+remain "weak" as long as possible, tottering languidly about the
+grounds whenever they allowed him the liberty of exercising his limbs,
+and drinking the mixtures and decoctions of Ka-te-qua with the patience
+of a martyr. In the meantime, the shrewd fellow took care to win the
+good-will of the tribe by taking apparent interest in their games, and
+showing a great amount of admiration at their feats of strength and
+agility. He amused them too by the display of numerous accomplishments
+peculiar to himself, such as whistling in close imitation of the songs
+of various birds, and performing feats of jugglery that he had long ago
+learned in his native town. He could bark like a dog and howl like a
+wolf; imitate the distant tramping of horses' feet, and give the sound
+of a whizzing arrow so perfectly that the oldest chiefs would turn their
+head quickly in the direction of the sound. Neither at this, however,
+nor at any other of Tom's performances, would they show the slightest
+change of countenance, for an Indian never allows himself to exhibit
+feelings of surprise, considering it quite beneath the dignity of his
+race to do so. Even when, by some dexterous trick, Tom would show them
+two or three acorns under a leaf where their reason told them there
+could be none, and then as mysteriously cause the same acorns to
+disappear, the stony faces looking on never changed a muscle though at
+heart they were probably quite as astounded as the Welsh monster was
+supposed to be when Jack the Giant-Killer, performed such wonderful
+feats with hasty-pudding. By degrees, as Tom deemed it prudent to appear
+stronger, he would dance the sailors' hornpipe for them, or sing wild,
+rollicksome songs, or make beautiful rustic seats and bowers for the
+squaws. He was a capital marksman, too, and soon won respect by showing
+that he could handle a musket with the best of them. The few Indians who
+owned guns had become very expert in their use; and Tom, whenever they
+had trials of their skill, took care to shoot just well enough to prove
+himself a good marksman, without provoking their anger by excelling too
+often.
+</p>
+<p>
+After awhile, in his desire to win their confidence, he even went so far
+as to signify to the Indians that he would like to become one of them;
+that their mode of life suited him well, and he would be glad to hunt
+and fish with them and be a pale-face no more. Alas! poor fellow, he did
+not know what he was saying, or how soon he would find out that even in
+cases of great temptation no one can tell a lie without suffering
+unhappy consequences. The savages took him at his word. They held a
+council. After it was over, while most of them were still smoking their
+long, richly ornamented pipes with great deliberation, two or three of
+the Indians seized him and gravely commenced plucking out his hair by
+the roots.<a href="#note-2">[2]</a> Soon Tom twitched from head to foot, and water stood in
+his eyes; but the red men still kept on with their work, dipping their
+fingers in ashes occasionally to enable them to take a better hold.
+Before long his head was completely bald, with the exception of one long
+tuft upon his crown, called the scalp-lock. This was immediately
+stiffened and plaited, so as to stand upright and hold a variety of
+ornaments, which his glum hairdresser fastened upon it. Then two old
+Indians pierced his nose and ears and hung big rings in the smarting
+holes. They then took off his clothing and painted his body with every
+variety of color. Next they hung a gaily embroidered cloth about his
+loins, put a wampum<a href="#note-3">[3]</a> chain about his neck and fastened silver bands on
+his right arm. When this was done the whole party gave three shrill
+whoops, and men, women, and children crowded around him, making the most
+frantic gestures, and uttering the most horrid sounds that ever a poor
+fibbing white man heard.
+</p>
+<p>
+Next the maidens of the tribe rushed upon him, and, hurrying him to a
+stream that ran near by, dragged him into the water until it reached his
+waist, and tried to force his head under. This of course, aroused all
+his spirit of resistance; but, when one of the girls, named She-de-ah
+(wild sage), cried into his ear. "No kill! no kill!" he concluded to
+submit.
+</p>
+<p>
+After this he was ducked and held under most unmercifully, until,
+believing by this time that "the white blood must be all washed out of
+him," they led him up the shore, all shivering and dripping, and
+presented him to their principal chief.
+</p>
+<p>
+The next performance was to dress him in an Indian shirt ornamented with
+feathers and beads and bits of porcupine quill. They put leggins on his
+legs and moccasins on his feet, and, seating him upon a bear-skin, gave
+him flint and steel to strike a light with; then a pouch, a tomahawk,
+some tobacco, and a long pipe. Then the chiefs seated themselves beside
+him, and smoked in silence. Tom knew well enough that he was expected to
+smoke too, and filled and lit his pipe accordingly, never dreaming of
+the consequences. Old as he was, nearly twenty, this was his "first
+smoke," and very soon the poor fellow found himself growing deadly sick.
+He could feel the cold chills creeping one after another into his very
+face. Finally, something within him seemed to turn somersaults, when,
+yielding to a sudden impulse, he flung the pipe upon the ground, and
+rushed into the recesses of the wigwam, where he usually slept. This
+the Indians, who attach an almost sacred importance to the pipe, took as
+a great affront; and only when Tom afterward, by the most earnest
+gestures, explained to them the real cause of his conduct, did they
+allow their injured feelings to be pacified; though it cut him sorely to
+notice the expressions of contempt, and ridicule that were soon lavished
+upon him. Whether this proof of what seemed in Indian opinion a want of
+manliness had anything to do with their conduct or not, I cannot say,
+but certain it is that no further ceremonies towards making him a
+red-man were performed though he was allowed to wear his Indian costume.
+Neither did they allow him to hunt with them, as he had hoped. Whenever
+they went forth to shoot the bison or deer, or to trap the beavers, or
+wage war with hostile tribes, they always left him with the squaws, the
+old men, and the warriors who remained at home to take charge of the
+settlement.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty were sorely frightened when they first saw the strange
+figure, "half Indian, half Tom," as Rudolph afterward described him,
+stalk into Ka-te-qua's wigwam. His bald head and painted body struck
+poor Kitty with dismay. When he spoke soothingly to her, and gave her a
+handful of bright feathers, she ventured to approach him, though she
+cried pitifully all the time for Tom, dear, big Tom, who knew papa and
+mamma, and Bessie and Bouncer.
+</p>
+<p>
+Neither Kitty nor Rudolph had forgotten the brave dog through all these
+days of absence, and they loved to hold long conversations with Tom
+about him; though the little creatures oftener talked of their parents
+and Bessie, as they lay at night upon their beds of dried grass.
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-2"><!-- Note Anchor 2 --></a>[Footnote 2: See American Adventure by Land and Sea. Harper Bros. 1842.]
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-3"><!-- Note Anchor 3 --></a>[Footnote 3: <i>Wampum</i>. Beads made of shells, used by North American
+Indians as money, the shells run on strings, and are wrought into belts
+and ornaments.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_6"><!-- RULE4 6 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VIII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+BOUNCER'S WORK.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+There was another person in the settlement besides the captives, who was
+not likely to forget Bouncer very soon. This was an Indian who, wounded
+and exhausted, had reached the settlement four days after the arrival of
+the prisoners. He had an ugly mark upon his throat, and another on his
+chest, and he sulked aside from the rest of his tribe as though he felt
+that his wounds were ignoble, and a dishonor to his Indian birth. It was
+his blood that Farmer Hedden had seen on that fearful night; and when
+more than once the agonized father had listened to what seemed to be the
+tread of some skulking wolf, he had heard this very Indian, who, half
+dead with pain and loss of blood, was dragging himself slowly through
+the depths of the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+This discomfited warrior had looked upon Tom and the two little
+pale-faces with dislike, from the hour when he first saw them as
+prisoners in the encampment. They were constant reminders to him of his
+mortifying struggle with the dog. He felt it all the more because,
+though his jacket and leggings were trimmed with the scalps of his
+enemies, he had lately been forced to receive charity from the white
+man's hand, This was when, starving and nearly frozen, he had fallen
+helpless in the forest, after an unlucky trapping excursion; a settler
+had found him there, given him food and drink and sent him on his way
+with a bountiful supply of provisions.
+</p>
+<p>
+Big Tom saw the dark looks of this Indian, and regarded him with
+suspicion; but little Kitty was quite unconscious of the resentful
+feelings of "the sick man," as she called him. In fact, as soon as she
+grew more familiar with the Indians, she often sought him in preference
+to the rest, and loved to sit upon the ground beside him, and trace
+with her tiny fingers the patterns worked upon his leggings and
+moccasins.
+</p>
+<p>
+At first the grim warrior repulsed these familiarities; but when, as he
+began to mingle with his tribe, he heard her sweet voice calling him by
+name, and saw her day after day display her store of beads and feathers
+at his feet, his feelings gradually softened. Before long he ceased to
+scowl upon her when she lifted her sunny face to his, and, on rare
+occasions, he even allowed her to count his arrows.
+</p>
+<p>
+Once, when Rudolph had shot a wild turkey, he rushed to Ka-te-qua's
+wigwam with his prize, for he had learned to love the strange old squaw,
+though he feared her, too, sometimes. Kitty clapped her hands with
+delight at her brother's skill, and begged him to go with her and show
+the dead bird to her favorite Indian.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Come, Rudolph; come show 'Nokah,'" she pleaded, pulling the young
+hunter by the arm. "Come twick! he goin' away."
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph suffered himself to be led. They found Po-no-kah standing alone
+by a tree, fully equipped for the hunt.
+</p>
+<p>
+He looked at the turkey and gave a grunt, not particularly flattering to
+Rudolph's vanity.
+</p>
+<p>
+"I've shot THREE!" said the boy, holding up three fingers to make his
+meaning clearer.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh!" grunted the savage again. "Paleface no shoot much."
+</p>
+<p>
+"But I'm growing," persisted Rudolph. "When I'm big, I'm going to shoot
+bears and bison. Did you kill the bears to get all these claws?" he
+added, pointing up to Po-no-kah's necklace, which was formed entirely of
+huge bear-claws, strung through the thickest end.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh," replied the Indian, nodding his plumed head, "me shoot him."
+</p>
+<p>
+"And these scalps," said Rudolph, shuddering as he pointed to the fringe
+of human hair hanging from the buckskin leggings; "did <i>you</i> get all
+these?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh," he answered grimly, nodding the plumes again.
+</p>
+<p>
+"You are bad, then," exclaimed Rudolph, looking fearlessly into
+Po-no-kah's eyes. "I know <i>you</i>," he added suddenly, after gazing at him
+intently for an instant. "Father brought you into our kitchen last
+winter, and I ran behind the door. Mother gave you meat and hot drink,
+and father warmed you and gave you a bag of potatoes. Oh!" he continued,
+clasping Po-no-kah's knee, "<i>you</i> know where our home is. Nearly every
+night I dream that mother is calling us. Show me the way, please do.
+Ka-te-qua says there are dreadful things in the forest that will eat me
+up, but I am not afraid. Oh, do tell us the way home!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The Indian gave a sharp look at the sobbing boy, and seemed in part to
+understand his words. Stooping, he whispered in a stern tone: "No speak;
+no tell Ka-te-qua;"&mdash;and without one glance of encouragement, he stalked
+away to the spot where the other Indians had assembled, preparing for
+the hunt.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children saw him no more for weeks. Rudolph remembered his parting
+words, and though he could not fully understand Po-no-kah's motive, he
+faithfully obeyed his command. Not even to Tom did he relate what had
+occurred.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_7"><!-- RULE4 7 --></a>
+<h3>
+	IX.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+INDIAN LIFE.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty learned many things from the Indians that they never
+would have studied in the rough school-house near their pretty home; and
+they soon became familiar with many singular customs that at first
+filled them with wonder.
+</p>
+<p>
+For instance: when they, or any of the little papooses, were naughty or
+disobedient, they were put under what might be called the water-cure
+treatment. Instead of being whipped or locked up in a dark pantry&mdash;as
+was, I am sorry to say, the custom among some white people&mdash;they were
+simply "ducked" under water until they became manageable. Winter or
+summer, it was all the same. A bad child would very soon become a wet
+child, if there were any water within a mile.
+</p>
+<p>
+There are bright sides, as well as dark, to the Indian character; and in
+considering their cruelties and inhuman practices, we must remember that
+the white man has not always been just to him or set a good example to
+his uncivilized brother, or been careful not to provoke him to deeds of
+resentment and wrong. An Indian rarely forgets a kindness, and he never
+tells a lie. He is heroic, and deems it beneath a man's dignity to
+exhibit the slightest sign of pain under any circumstances. Among the
+Sioux tribe of that time, the boys were trained from the first to bear
+as much hardship as possible. They had a ceremony called the Straw
+Dance, in which children were forced to maintain a stately and measured
+step, while bunches of loose straws tied to their naked bodies were
+lighted and allowed to burn slowly away. Any poor little creature who
+flinched or "broke step" was sorely punished and held in disgrace.
+</p>
+<p>
+There were certain dances among the Indians performed by the warriors,
+before going either to battle or to the hunt. If to battle, they spent
+hours, and often whole days and nights together, in the fearful
+war-dance, accompanied by clashing on their drumlike instruments, and
+whoops that rang long and loud amid the echoing hills. If to the hunt,
+the Bear-Dance or the Buffalo-Dance was kept up nights and days before
+starting, in order to propitiate the Bear Spirit or Buffalo Spirit,
+whichever it might be. They had a funeral dance also, which was very
+solemn and impressive. And if a chieftain was to be buried, either in
+the river, or, as among the Mandans, on a rough platform erected on
+poles high up from the ground, the warriors danced before his wigwam,
+and assigned to a few of their number the duty of seeing that his widow
+and children, if he left any, should never be without food and shelter.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty and Rudolph often looked on with, mingled feelings of terror and
+delight, while some of these strange ceremonies were being enacted. It
+was curious to see the stalwart warriors, with bent backs and glum
+faces, and many a grunt or whoop, stamp through the measured dance.
+Often Kitty would clutch her brother's arm in terror, when, in strange
+concert, the savages would suddenly halt, and with fiendish look and
+stealthy gesture, seem to be listening to the approach of an enemy.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, too, the women danced, but always apart from the men. Even in
+their games the warriors and squaws never played together. Among the
+Crow Indians, famous for their long black hair, it was not uncommon for
+a thousand young men to play in one game of ball for three or four
+consecutive days without interruption. As soon as one player retired,
+exhausted, another took his place. Often hundreds of women played
+together, and they were generally as expert as the men in throwing and
+catching the ball.
+</p>
+<p>
+Another strange feature among Indian customs, was the importance
+attached to the <i>medicine-bag</i>. Every warrior had one, and would no
+sooner hunt, or go to battle, or appear among his tribe without it, than
+he would neglect to wear his bow or his scalping-knife. Not that the bag
+contained any medicine, such as we understand by the word&mdash;for it was
+nothing but a small piece of skin sewed like a bag, curiously
+ornamented, and stuffed with straw or leaves&mdash;but because he regarded it
+as a <i>charm</i>. With him, "medicine" meant some mysterious power that
+would protect and guide him, and propitiate the unseen powers in his
+favor. When about to obtain his medicine, the young Indian went alone to
+some solitary river or lake in the depths of the forest, or mounted to
+some lonely peak. Here he fasted, and remained until, sleeping, he
+dreamed. The first animal he dreamed about, whether it were a bear,
+buffalo, deer, weasel, or bird or reptile of any kind, became his
+"medicine" forever. He at once hunted until he found one, and obtained
+its skin for a bag.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty looked with awe upon many of the rare medicine-bags of
+the tribe, though they were never on any account allowed to touch them.
+Indeed, Kitty had managed to make a rough little one for Rudolph, dotted
+with clumps of beads, and he wore it next his heart with secret pride.
+The little fellow had once, while tramping through the forest with
+Katequa, seen a number of deer gathered around a spring, or salt-lick,
+as it is called, and had quivered with frightened delight to see the
+finest one fall wounded by her arrow. When the large eyes of the wounded
+creature had turned plaintively toward him, he had tried not to feel
+sorry, but his heart ached in spite of his efforts,
+</p>
+<p>
+"I shall be a mighty hunter one of these days," he said to Kitty on his
+return; "but I won't shoot deer, for they look at you just as if they
+wanted to speak. I'll get bears though, lots of 'em, and buffalo; and
+I'll have a fine trap when I get home, and catch badgers and foxes, just
+as the Indians do."
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom and Rudolph saw with indignation that, throughout the village, the
+labor and drudgery were forced upon the squaws, while the warriors
+stretched themselves lazily upon the ground, or smoked their pipes under
+the spreading trees. As for Kitty, she was too busy watching the women
+cook, dig, chop, and carry, to make any moral reflections.
+</p>
+<p>
+She loved, also, to sit beside them when they prepared the skins brought
+in from the hunt, or while they were busy with their curious sewing, so
+different from that with which she had seen her mother occupied.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bright-colored rags, feathers, beads, porcupine-quills, and even scraps
+of tin, were the ornaments upon which the squaws relied to make the
+toilets of their tribe "stylish" and beautiful; and Kitty&mdash;tiny little
+woman that she was&mdash;soon grew to agree with them perfectly in matters of
+taste.
+</p>
+<p>
+To be sure, the Indian women never did anything quite so barbarous as to
+put their little girls' feet into narrow shoes with high heels, nor
+fasten tight belts about their waists, so that the God-given machinery
+within could hardly work. But they did many preposterous things, for all
+that. They painted their bodies and tattooed their skins, by pricking
+figures on the flesh and rubbing in some staining juice when the blood
+appeared. They even pierced their noses so that bright rings could
+dangle from them. Many, too, hung bits of metal from their ears in a
+similar way&mdash;but that may not strike my civilized readers as being a
+very barbarous custom.
+</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>
+	X.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+KA-TE-QUA'S "GOOD NIGHT."
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Thus weeks and months passed away, not so wearily to the prisoners, as
+to the poor, sorrowing hearts that mourned for them at home. Tom's brain
+was always busy in planning some mode of escape for himself and his
+little charges. But, as he was still closely guarded, never being left
+alone for an instant, night or day, and as the children slept in the
+wigwam of Ka-te-qua, whose eyes seemed never intended to close, he
+concluded to wait patiently rather than to risk the lives of all three
+by an unsuccessful attempt.
+</p>
+<p>
+Meantime, Ka-te-qua's strong arms grew feeble, her arrow became less
+fatal in its aim, and her strange fits of moodiness filled Rudolph and
+Kitty with dread.
+</p>
+<p>
+For hours she would sit at the entrance of her wigwam, chanting
+mournfully in the Indian tongue. At such times she would compel the
+children to remain within,&mdash;becoming frantic with crazy rage should they
+attempt to force past her into the pleasant sunshine; and they would sit
+together in the shadow, hoping that by some whim she would walk away, or
+that the long, long chant would cease. One afternoon she kept them
+waiting in this way for hours. The sun sank lower and lower into the
+distant prairie, and the crimson clouds faded to a dull gray. Rudolph
+and Kitty sat listening to the wailing tones of Ka-te-qua's voice until,
+as the evening grew dark and chilly, they found for themselves a scanty
+supper of parched corn, and after whispering their simple prayer, groped
+their way to bed.
+</p>
+<p>
+The strange old creature ceased singing after a while, and entered the
+wigwam. They could distinguish her form as she slowly moved about,
+before throwing herself down near the entrance to indulge in her usual
+cat-like sleep. Afraid to speak to her, for they were not quite sure in
+what mood she might be, they watched her movements as well as they
+could, and at last felt sure that she was tottering slowly toward them.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty clasped Rudolph's neck more tightly, and broke into a frightened
+sob. In an instant, they felt her hand steal very gently over their
+tumbled curls.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Night! night!" she whispered softly.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Good-night, Ka-te-qua," they answered in a breath, for their fear was
+all gone now.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Night, night," repeated the voice, as kindly as their own mother could
+have said it, and after giving each a caressing stroke, their old friend
+moved softly away.
+</p>
+<p>
+Very early the next morning the children were awakened by a buzzing of
+many voices. Ka-te-qua had been found lying stiff and cold at the
+entrance of her wigwam. Not a trace of injury of any kind was upon her.
+The Indians, crowding round, shook their heads gravely. Ka-te-qua was
+wise, they said, but Manitou had sent for her. She had gone to the happy
+Hunting Grounds of her fathers.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_8"><!-- RULE4 8 --></a>
+<h3>
+	XI.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+FIRE-WATER BECOMES MASTER.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+After a long absence, the hunting party returned. As soon as Po-no-kah's
+stalwart form appeared in sight, Rudolph and Kitty rushed, with a cry of
+joy, to meet him; but, to their great dismay, he pushed them away with a
+frown and a grunt that told them plainly that they were to be familiar
+with him no more. Poor children!&mdash;Ka-te-qua gone, Po-no-kah changed, and
+Tom scarcely heeding them,&mdash;they felt friendless indeed. Kind words they
+never heard now, and kind looks rarely, except when Tom threw them a
+hasty glance that warmed their hearts, though they scarcely knew why.
+They did not know how his feelings yearned towards them, nor how eagerly
+he would have joined in all their simple pursuits, had he dared to do
+so; but the poor fellow had discovered that any notice he took of the
+children aroused suspicion, and he therefore concluded to pursue a
+prudent course.
+</p>
+<p>
+In the meantime the children had one great joy. Their love for each
+other was always the same. Kitty trusted in the belief that "mammy"
+would send for them; but Rudolph looked ever up to the Great Love that
+he knew was watching over them and the dear ones at home.
+</p>
+<p>
+"If it's <i>right</i>, Kitty," he would whisper, "I <i>know</i> we'll go home one
+of these days. Don't be afraid. God will take care of us."
+</p>
+<p>
+"But Dod took Te-qua away," Kitty would sometimes say.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Yes, I know He did, Kitty," and Rudolph's eyes would look sadly up to
+the blue sky, "I know He did, but then I think she was tired and wanted
+to go."
+</p>
+<p>
+Summer, autumn, and winter had passed away, and now came the season when
+the Indians carried their largest supply of furs and skins to sell in
+the city far over the prairies. Often, after their hunts, they had met
+with traders, and exchanged the skins they had taken for such articles
+as the white man had to give&mdash;guns, blankets, knives, powder, pipes, and
+fire-water;<a href="#note-4">[4]</a> but this was the grand trading excursion of the year.
+</p>
+<p>
+When the party returned, after a few weeks' absence, they brought with
+them among other things, a keg of whisky. After the first welcome was
+over, the savages held a council.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was soon evident that a fearful scene was to be enacted. The
+prisoners had seen something of the kind before, but never on so large a
+scale as this.
+</p>
+<p>
+The Indians had decided to hold a revel, in which nearly all the men
+were to drink fire-water until they could take no more.
+</p>
+<p>
+Even these savages knew the horrible consequences of parting with their
+wits in this manner. Before the drinking commenced, they appointed a few
+able-bodied Indians who were to remain sober and take care of the rest.
+They then deprived themselves of all their dangerous weapons&mdash;tomahawks,
+clubs, guns, arrows, and knives, and prepared for their fearful riot.
+</p>
+<p>
+The scene that followed need not be described.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the confusion became fearful. The few sober chiefs were constantly
+risking their lives in their efforts to prevent mischief. Squaws were
+screaming, and frightened children were hiding in every direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom, who was half forgotten in the general excitement, saw Po-no-kah
+whisper hurriedly to one of the women. In a moment she caught Rudolph
+and Kitty by their hands and stole cautiously with them into the forest.
+Tom's suspicions were aroused. He started up only to feel a strong arm
+force him back to the log upon which he had been seated.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No move!" muttered a voice, close by his ear. "Soon come.&mdash;Be very
+drunk."
+</p>
+<p>
+In a few moments, while the tumult and uproar were at their height, Tom
+saw Po-no-kah reeling toward the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+Wondering what the fellow meant to do, yet filled with a wild hope, Tom
+watched his chance, staggered past the rioters, and managed to follow
+the warrior by another path, without creating any suspicion.
+</p>
+<p>
+When, at last, they met, Po-no-kah had Rudolph and Kitty in his arms,
+and, staggering no more, was hurrying through the forest, armed with
+bow, quiver, and traveling pouch. The astonished prisoner, after taking
+Kitty from his companion's arms, followed him in silence. Not for hours
+did Po-no-kah look back or speak, and then it was but to say a few
+broken words:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Po-no-kah was hungry. The father of the little pale-faces fed him.
+Po-no-kah no snake&mdash;he remember&mdash;Po-no-kah take 'em home."
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-4"><!-- Note Anchor 4 --></a>[Footnote 4: Brandy, rum, and all alcoholic liquors.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_9"><!-- RULE4 9 --></a>
+<h3>
+	XII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+SHOWING HOW THE BAG OF POTATOES CAME BACK AGAIN.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Farmer Hedden was busily at work in the fields, looking ten years older
+than on that sunny day, nearly a year before, when he had shouted a
+laughing "good-bye" to Tom and the little ones.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie was trudging alone from school, wondering why the birds sang less
+sweetly than they did the May before, and wishing that the noble dog
+that bounded by her side looked a little more like the first Bouncer.
+</p>
+<p>
+Mrs. Hedden sat with her brother in the lonely cottage, talking on the
+old, old theme; the memory of that terrible night had never left her
+heart.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No, no, Robert," she said at length, in reply to some appeal from her
+brother, "we must not go. I know it would be better for us to sell out
+and go to Philadelphia. But it cannot be; we must never leave this
+spot."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Surely, Betsy," urged her brother, "you cannot be so wild as to
+suppose&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+"No!" she interrupted, "I never dare even hope for that now. I know my
+lost darlings are not in this world, and yet&mdash;and yet why not hope? why
+not think that perhaps&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+A shadow fell upon the threshold. What wonder that the mother sprang
+forward with a cry of joy! What wonder that Farmer Hedden, looking from
+the field, came bounding toward the house! Po-no-kah was
+there&mdash;Po-no-kah and little Kitty!
+</p>
+<p>
+Laughing,&mdash;crying,&mdash;clasping her dear Kitty frantically to her heart,
+then gazing at her at arms' length, Mrs. Hedden raised her eyes to the
+Indian, and gasped faintly&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph? the boy&mdash;is he&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+She could say no more.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Yes&mdash;boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break
+heart see two&mdash;he here."
+</p>
+<p>
+Just then Farmer Hedden, Tom Hennessy, and Rudolph rushed in.
+</p>
+<p>
+Oh, what a meeting that was! And Bessie, too, was there before they knew
+it. Such laughter&mdash;such tears&mdash;such shouts of rejoicing had never been
+known in the Hedden cottage before!
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the barking of a dog was heard. Rudolph sprang from his father's
+arms:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, it's Bouncer!" he cried; "let me see him. Here, Bouncer!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer indeed came leaping in at the call, but it was not <i>the</i>
+Bouncer, though it was a great, shaggy fellow, worthy of the name.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph started back; the dog, too, eyed him with a suspicious look.
+</p>
+<p>
+"That isn't Bouncer! Where is he, mother?" exclaimed the poor boy,
+looking up with a bewildered glance.
+</p>
+<p>
+Po-no-kah slunk aside.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Do tell me where Bouncer is," he repeated,
+</p>
+<p>
+"We are all here but him. Here, Bouncer! Bouncer!" and he ran to the
+door.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie wound her arms about his neck.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph, darling," she sobbed, "don't cry. Bouncer was killed on <i>that</i>
+day. He saved my life, Rudolph&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bouncer dead!" screamed the boy.
+</p>
+<p>
+Just then the new dog, seeing Bessie and her brother so close together,
+felt that he had a right there, too. With many a frantic leap and bound
+he endeavored to draw Rudolph's attention, until, finally, the tearful
+eyes of the boy were turned upon him. Then, if ever a dog tried to do
+his best, that fellow did. He sprang into the air, barked, tumbled,
+leaped, whined, wagged his tail till it almost spun, and, finally,
+licked Rudolph in the face until the chubby cheeks shook with laughter.
+</p>
+<p>
+All this time Tom's Indian dress had scarcely been noticed. At last Mrs.
+Hedden, grasping both his hands, exclaimed:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why, what in the world have you been doing with yourself? I knew you,
+though, the moment you came in. Oh, Tom, how you have suffered!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom tried to answer her; but somehow his great faithful heart was
+overflowing, and he could only look at her with a tearful smile.
+</p>
+<p>
+"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a
+fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees
+such a meeting as this."
+</p>
+<p>
+Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and
+placed his hand upon his shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>
+"<i>We</i> are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never
+repay what I owe you. Remember, our home is yours from this hour. I
+shall take no denial."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Good!" exclaimed Bessie, clapping her hands; "now I shall have two
+brothers!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Mrs. Hedden, who had listened to Po-no-kah's broken words, kissed and
+hugged Tom in her motherly way. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "how can we
+make you look like a white man again; and to think you have had chances
+to escape and would not leave the children," and then she hugged him
+again.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, nodding his head and holding up three
+fingers&mdash;to signify that Tom had had three chances.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Pooh!" said the brave fellow, blushing through all the red paint, "I
+didn't have any at all until a month or so ago, and I'd got kind o' used
+to staying then."
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the red man turned to go. In vain the grateful parents tried to
+force their gifts upon him, and to persuade him to at least partake of
+some refreshment after his long journey.
+</p>
+<p>
+He pointed to his hunting-pouch and his bow, as if to say that they
+would furnish all the the food he required, and nodded westward to show
+that he must be far on his way before sundown.
+</p>
+<p>
+As Tom gave him a hearty hand-shake and the rest crowded about him, all,
+even to little Kitty, thanking him over and over again, he waved them
+off with dignity.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the
+young pale-faces gave him food. He come tell white man Indian no
+forget."
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom expressed anxiety lest their deliverer should suffer for his act
+when he returned to his tribe.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Po-no-kah no fraid" answered the Indian grimly with almost a smile upon
+his face. And, nodding a farewell to little Kitty, he strode
+majestically away.
+</p>
+<hr>
+<p>
+A year later, the Heddens settled on a fine farm near Philadelphia.
+Rudolph and Kitty doubtless walked many a time by the old Hall where our
+Declaration of Independence was signed.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie Hedden's sons when they grew up became pioneers themselves; and
+their names were Hennessy; so you see the maiden probably, in the course
+of time, changed her mind about having Tom for a brother.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***</div>
+</body>
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+    Po-No-Kah,
+    by  Mary Mapes Dodge.
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Po-No-Kah, by Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Po-No-Kah
+       An Indian Tale of Long Ago
+
+Author: Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+Release Date: April 11, 2004 [EBook #11991]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PO-NO-KAH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h1>PO-NO-KAH</h1>
+<h3>
+AN INDIAN TALE OF LONG AGO
+</h3>
+<h2>
+By Mary Mapes Dodge
+</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>
+1903
+</h4>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a>
+<h2>
+	PO-NO-KAH.
+</h2>
+
+<h3>
+AN INDIAN STORY OF LONG AGO.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>
+	I.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+THE HEDDEN FAMILY.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+We who live in comfortable country homes, secure from every invader,
+find it difficult to conceive the trials that beset the hardy pioneers
+who settled our Western country during the last century.
+</p>
+<p>
+In those days, and for many a year afterward, hostile Indians swarmed in
+every direction, wherever the white man had made a clearing, or started
+a home for himself in the wilderness. Sometimes the pioneer would be
+unmolested, but oftener his days were full of anxiety and danger.
+Indeed, history tells of many a time when the settler, after leaving
+home in the morning in search of game for his happy household would
+return at night to find his family murdered or carried away and his
+cabin a mass of smoking ruins. Only in the comparatively crowded
+settlements, where strength was in numbers, could the white inhabitants
+hope for security&mdash;though bought at the price of constant vigilance and
+precaution.
+</p>
+<p>
+In one of these settlements, where a few neatly whitewashed cabins, and
+rougher log huts, clustered on the banks of a bend in the Ohio River,
+dwelt a man named Hedden, with his wife and three children. His farm
+stretched further into the wilderness than his neighbors', for his had
+been one of the first cabins built there, and his axe, ringing merrily
+through the long days, had hewn down an opening in the forest, afterward
+famous in that locality as "Neighbor Hedden's Clearing." Here he had
+planted and gathered his crops year after year, and in spite of
+annoyances from the Indians, who robbed his fields, and from bears, who
+sometimes visited his farm stock, his family had lived in security so
+long that, as the settlement grew, his wife sang at her work, and his
+little ones shouted at their play as merrily as though New York or
+Boston were within a stone's throw. To be sure, the children were bidden
+never to stray far from home, especially at nightfall; and the crack of
+rifles ringing now and then through the forest paled their cheeks for
+an instant, as the thought of some shaggy bear, furious in his death
+agony, crossed their minds.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, too, the children would whisper together of the fate of poor
+Annie Green, who, a few years before had been found killed in the
+forest; or their mother would tell them with pale lips of the night when
+their father and neighbor Freeman encountered two painted Indians near
+the cabin. The tomahawk of the Indian who tried to kill their father was
+still hanging upon the cabin wall.
+</p>
+<p>
+But all this had happened twelve years earlier&mdash;before Bessie, the
+oldest girl, was born&mdash;and seemed to the children's minds like a bit of
+ancient history&mdash;almost as far off as the exploits of Hannibal or Julius
+Caesar appear to us. So, as I have said, the girls and boys of the
+settlement shouted joyously at their play, or ran in merry groups to the
+rough log hut, called "The School-House," little dreaming of the cares
+and anxieties of their elders.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie Hedden was a merry-hearted creature, and so pretty that, had she
+been an Indian maiden, she would have been known as "Wild Rose," or
+"Singing Bird," or "Water Lily," or some such name. As it was, many of
+the villagers called her "Little Sunshine," for her joyous spirit could
+light up the darkest corner. She was faithful at school, affectionate
+and industrious at home, and joyous and honorable among her playmates.
+What wonder, then, that everybody loved her, or that she was happiest
+among the happy? Her brother Rudolph was much younger than she,&mdash;a
+rosy-checked, strong-armed little urchin of seven years; and Kitty, the
+youngest of the Hedden children, was but three years of age at the date
+at which my story opens.
+</p>
+<p>
+There was one other individual belonging to the family circle, larger
+even than Bessie, stronger and saucier even than Rudolph, and but little
+older than Kitty. He had no hands, yet once did, as all admitted, the
+best day's work ever performed by any member of the family. This
+individual's name was Bouncer, and he had a way of walking about on
+all-fours, and barking&mdash;probably in consequence of his having been
+created a dog.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer loved all the children dearly; but, stout-hearted fellow that he
+was, he loved the weakest one best; and, therefore, little Kitty was
+never without a friend and protector. Ever since a certain day in the
+summer, when she had fallen into the stream, and had been carried home
+insensible by Bouncer, Kitty had loved the huge mastiff dearly, and
+nightly added to her simple prayer, "Please, God, bless dear Bouncer,
+too!"
+</p>
+<p>
+And Bouncer <i>was</i> blessed beyond most dogs. Gentle as a baby when
+Kitty's arm was about his neck, he was fierce as a lion when fierceness
+was required. His great white teeth were a terror to evil-doers, and his
+bark in the dead of night would make venturesome bears sneak back into
+the forest like kittens.
+</p>
+<p>
+Often would Mrs. Hedden say to her neighbors, that with "husband's rifle
+and Bouncer's teeth, she felt that she lived in a fortress. As for the
+children," she would add, laughingly, "I scarcely ever feel any anxiety
+about them, when I know that Bouncer has joined their little
+expeditions. He is a regiment in himself."
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_2"><!-- RULE4 2 --></a>
+<h3>
+	II.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+EXPLORING THE STREAM.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+One of the favorite holiday resorts of Bessie and Rudolph was a lovely
+spot in the forest, not a quarter of a mile from the house. Shaded by
+giant oaks, whose gnarled roots lay like serpents, half hidden in the
+moss, ran a streamlet, covered with sunny speckles, where parted leaves
+admitted the sunshine. Flowers grew along its banks in wild profusion,
+and it held its wayward course with many a rippling fall and fantastic
+turn, until it was lost in the shades of the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Where does it go to, I wonder?" the children often would say to each
+other, longing for permission to follow its windings farther than the
+limits prescribed by their parents would allow.
+</p>
+<p>
+"To the ocean, of course," Rudolph would answer, triumphantly; while
+Bessie, looking at its golden ripple, and listening to its musical song,
+half believed that it carried its wealth of sparkling jewels to
+Fairyland itself.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, when Bouncer was with them, they lingered so long by the
+mysterious streamlet, sending chip boats adrift upon its surface, or
+trying to adjust troublesome little water-wheels under some of its tiny
+cascades, that Mrs. Hedden would blow the big horn as a signal for their
+return; and as they ran home, playing with Bouncer by the way, or
+scolding him for shaking his wet sides under their very faces, they
+would inwardly resolve to coax father to take them up the stream on the
+very first pleasant Saturday.
+</p>
+<p>
+Accordingly, on one bright Friday in June, as Bessie and Rudolph were
+returning from school together, they ran toward their father, who was
+working in the clearing.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Father! father!" they shouted, "will you take us down the stream
+to-morrow?&mdash;we want to see where it goes to."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Goes to?" laughed back the father. "Why, it goes to the moon; didn't
+Kitty say so last night?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now, father," returned Bessie, pouting just a little, "you <i>know</i> we
+don't believe that. We want you so much to take us in the boat; it
+doesn't leak at all now&mdash;oh! do." And both children fairly capered in
+their excitement.
+</p>
+<p>
+Mr. Hedden smiled; but; after wiping his forehead with a red and yellow
+handkerchief, went on thoughtfully with his work without returning any
+answer.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children, looking wistfully at him a moment, turned toward the
+house, wondering among themselves, "what father meant to do about it."
+</p>
+<p>
+That evening, at the supper-table (where they didn't have napkin rings
+or silver salt-cellars, I can assure you), Mr. Hedden asked his wife
+whether Tom Hennessy was back from "up river" yet?
+</p>
+<p>
+"I think he came home yesterday," returned his wife. "Why do you ask?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Because I thought, as to-morrow'll be a holiday, I'd get him to take
+the youngsters down the stream in the scow."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! husband," rejoined Mrs. Hedden, looking up anxiously, "do you think
+it's safe?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why not, Betsey?&mdash;the scow doesn't leak; and even if it did, the water
+isn't above Tom's waist anywhere."
+</p>
+<p>
+"I don't mean anything of that kind," pursued the wife, smiling in spite
+of herself at the joyful faces of the young folks. "I&mdash;I mean the
+Indians."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, never fear about them; I'll give Tom every necessary caution," was
+the answer. "The boat won't be gone more than two hours altogether; and,
+to my mind, there wouldn't be the slightest danger in letting even
+little Kitty join the party."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! tanky, Poppy, tanky!" shouted Kitty, clapping her chubby hands in
+great glee. Every one at the table laughed heartily at her unexpected
+response.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bright and early the next morning, the children stood in the door-way,
+eagerly looking out for Tom. Big Tom, the village boys called him; and
+well they might, for he was a staunch, burly fellow, who looked as if he
+could crush an Indian in each hand&mdash;not that he had ever had an
+opportunity to perform that remarkable feat, for Tom Hennessy had but
+recently arrived from a large town in the East; but he <i>looked</i> as if he
+could do it; and, therefore, had credit for any amount of prowess and
+strength.
+</p>
+<p>
+After sundry directions given by Mr. Hedden to Tom, and a command from
+their mother for the little folks to be home at dinner-time, they set
+forth amid shouts of laughter and merriment. Kitty was there in all her
+glory, for, after what "Poppy" had said, she had insisted upon joining
+the party. Even Bouncer, in spite of many a "Go back, sir!" "Call him,
+mother!" had quietly insinuated himself into the group, and neither
+threats nor coaxing could force him away.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was a glorious day; and, as they neared the stream, it seemed to
+sparkle into joyous welcome at their approach.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon, comfortably seated in the scow, they were pushed and rowed
+laboriously along by the good-natured Tom, while Bouncer panted along
+the bank, or dashed into the water, splashing the boat in fine style. In
+passing the accustomed "limits," the delight of the children knew no
+bounds.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now for it!" cried Bessie, clapping her hands. "Now we shall find out
+where the stream goes to!"
+</p>
+<p>
+And so they sailed along, following its graceful windings&mdash;sometimes
+touching bottom, and sometimes skimming smoothly over deep water, where
+Kitty could no longer clutch for the tall, bright grass that here and
+there had reared itself above the surface. Often Big Tom would sing out,
+"Lie low!" as some great bough, hanging over the stream, seemed
+stretching out its arms to catch them; and often they were nearly
+checked in their course by a fallen trunk, or the shallowness of the
+water. At last, upon reaching a very troublesome spot, Tom cried
+good-naturedly&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Now, youngsters, you must all get out while I turn the scow over this
+'ere log, and then you can jump in again on t'other side."
+</p>
+<p>
+With merry shouts they leaped out, one after the other, Tom holding
+Kitty in his arms, as he stood knee-deep in the water.
+</p>
+<p>
+"What is the matter with Bouncer?" cried Bessie.
+</p>
+<p>
+There was no time for a reply. Looking up, the frightened party saw
+three hideous faces peering at them over the bushes!
+</p>
+<p>
+"The Indians! the Indians!" screamed Bessie.
+</p>
+<p>
+Springing to the shore, and catching Rudolph with one arm, while he
+held Kitty tightly in the other, Tom Hennessy dashed into the forest,
+calling upon Bessie to follow. Poor Bessie! What could she do? With a
+thrill of horror she saw two fierce savages bounding after them with
+fearful yells, while a third, with upraised club, and tomahawk and
+scalping-knife in his belt, was rushing toward her.
+</p>
+<p>
+Uttering one long piercing scream, the poor girl knelt to await her
+doom. A prolonged roar of fury caused her to raise her head. Bouncer,
+brave, noble Bouncer, and the Indian had fallen together in a deadly
+struggle! Now was her time! With new energy and hope, she sprang to her
+feet, and darted through the forest, rending the air with cries for
+help, and unconscious of whither she was flying.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph! Kitty!" she cried, frantically. "God in heaven help us! Oh!
+help us!"
+</p>
+<h3>
+III.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?
+</h3>
+<p>
+It was nearly dinner-time in the Hedden cottage. Farmer Hedden sat in
+the doorway, equipped in his hunting dress&mdash;for he usually spent
+Saturday afternoons in the forest; and it was only at his wife's
+solicitation that he had consented to wait and "take a bite of dinner"
+before starting, Every now and then he raised his head from the almanac,
+over which he was bending, to listen to the whirr of his wife's
+spinning-wheel, and her merry song issuing from the cottage, or to cast
+an impatient glance in the direction of the streamlet.
+</p>
+<p>
+Within, all was neatness and cheerfulness; the clean deal table was
+arranged with its row of yellow platters and shining pewter-mugs&mdash;even
+the stools were standing round it, ready for the hungry household that
+usually assembled at noon, eager for dinner.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Father's" and "mother's" places were at either end of the table;
+Rudolph's and Kitty's at one side (Kitty had a high chair made by
+"father" out of young oak branches); Bessie's opposite; and, beside
+hers, the prettiest plate; and the brightest mug for Big Tom&mdash;for, of
+course, he must be asked to stay.
+</p>
+<p>
+Everything was ready. Far back in the open fireplace the fagots were
+blazing and snapping. Hanging above them, the great iron pot threw forth
+a circle of noisy steam around the loosely fitted lid, while the
+potatoes within were in a high state of commotion&mdash;little ones tumbling
+pell-mell over big ones, and big ones rocking dolefully backward and
+forward in the boiling water as though they felt sure their end was
+approaching.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Blow the horn again, John," called out Mrs. Hedden, as she cut another
+slice from the big brown loaf that had rapidly been growing less under
+her shining knife. "Ha! ha! they can't help hearing <i>that</i>," she
+laughed, as her husband blew a blast even louder than usual.
+</p>
+<p>
+After waiting a moment, Mr. Hedden came in, throwing the almanac on a
+low wooden settee as he entered.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No use waiting any longer, wifey&mdash;let's sit by. I don't see a sign of
+the youngsters; though it did seem to me I heard some of 'em screaming
+and laughing in the distance a bit ago. 'Twon't do, though," he
+continued, shaking his head; "we must make the crazy little cubs mind
+the horn closer. Play's play, and all well enough in its way, but you
+must teach children regularity from the very outset, or they'll never be
+good for much."
+</p>
+<p>
+"That's true enough, John," answered his wife, as she "dished" some of
+the steaming potatoes&mdash;leaving a goodly number in the pot for the little
+folk&mdash;"that's true enough; but you know this is a day of extra frolic
+for the children. They're having such fun, likely, they've no notion
+how the time is passing. As for the horn, who could expect mortal ears
+to hear <i>that</i>&mdash;with Bessie and Big Tom laughing and singing, and
+Rudolph screaming with fun&mdash;as I know he is; and little Kit, bless her!
+just frantic with delight; I think I can see them now, the merry
+madcaps!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Ah! happy, unconscious mother, if you <i>could</i> have seen them&mdash;if their
+cries of terror could but have reached your ears!
+</p>
+<p>
+Finally, neighbor Hedden arose, shoving back his stool on the sanded
+floor.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Well, well, wifey, you're right enough, no doubt; but I tell you it
+isn't best to be too easy with youngsters, though ours are the best
+going, if I <i>do</i> say it. A good trouncing all around, when they come in,
+wouldn't be a bit too much for them for being so late;" and, half in
+fun, half in earnest, he shook his head rather fiercely at his wife, and
+stalked out of the cottage.
+</p>
+<p>
+Presently she laughed outright to hear the loud, impatient tones issuing
+from the great tin horn. "That'll fetch them, I reckon," said neighbor
+Hedden, showing a smiling face at the window.
+</p>
+<p>
+As another hour passed away, the songs grew fewer and fainter upon the
+mother's lips&mdash;at first from vexation, and, finally, from weariness and
+a vague feeling of anxiety.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie should know better," she thought to herself, "than to stay so
+long. I wish I had not let Kitty go with them."
+</p>
+<p>
+The next moment she smiled to think how hungry the children would be
+when they returned, and half wished that it would not be "spoiling" them
+to make them a good sugar-cake for their supper.
+</p>
+<p>
+Not until the shadows grew longer upon the edge of the forest, and
+threatening clouds grew thicker overhead, did her heart quail or her
+cheek grow white with sudden fear.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh! what <i>can</i> keep them, I wonder! Why didn't I ask John to go look
+for them?" she asked herself over and over again. But Mrs. Hedden was
+not one to sit weeping with folded hands while anything remained to be
+done.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was not long before their nearest neighbor, who was still at work,
+enjoying the coolness of the afternoon, leaned upon his spade to wonder
+what on earth neighbor Hedden's wife was up to now.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why, look there! Bob," he called out to his son, "if she ain't leaping
+over this way like a year-old colt!"
+</p>
+<p>
+In the mean time, neighbor Hedden himself was having but sorry sport in
+the forest. He saw nothing worth even pointing his gun at, and felt
+altogether so ill at ease and so fidgety as he trudged along, stepping
+now upon the soft moss, and now upon fallen branches that crackled even
+under the stealthy tread of his hunting moccasins, that I doubt whether
+half the bears hidden in the depths of the forest were not in a livelier
+mood than he. Not that he had anything to make him feel especially
+ill-humored, unless it was the disobedience of his children in having
+failed to appear at dinner-time&mdash;but it seemed to him that there was
+something going wrong in the world, some screw loose in his affairs
+that, unless he turned it tight in time, would cause his happiness and
+the prosperity of his home to fall in ruins about him. After awhile this
+feeling became so strong that he seated himself upon a stone to think.
+</p>
+<p>
+"I haven't been as neighborly as I might have been," he reflected:
+"there's many a turn been wanting by these new-comers, the Morrises,
+that I might have tended to, if I hadn't been so wrapped up in my own
+affairs. Come to think, almost the only kindness I've done for nearly a
+year past was in giving a bag of potatoes to that sick fellow,
+Po-no-kah, who seemed to me to be a good fellow, as Indians go. However,
+it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's
+plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot
+anything, I guess I'd better go home."
+</p>
+<p>
+With these last words, uttered half aloud, neighbor Hedden arose, and
+walked a few steps in the direction of his home. Presently he paused
+again, muttering to himself&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"It's blamed queer I haven't heard the youngsters coming down with the
+scow; I certainly should have heard them if they'd passed anywhere
+near&mdash;guess I'd best walk on a little way up stream."
+</p>
+<p>
+So saying, he turned, with a new anxiety upon his countenance, and moved
+with rapid strides toward the rivulet, that still ran rippling on,
+though the bright sparkles that lit its surface at noon had vanished.
+Indeed, by this time the sunshine was, fast vanishing, too, for heavy
+clouds were gathering overhead, while those in the west were gilded on
+their lower edge.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_3"><!-- RULE4 3 --></a>
+<h3>
+	IV.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+THE SEARCH.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Neighbor Hedden, now intent upon his new thoughts, hurried along the
+bank of the stream. There were pretty tassel-flowers and Jack-in-pulpits
+growing there, which at any other time he might have plucked, and
+carried home in his cap for Kitty; but he did not heed them now.
+Something in the distance had caught his eye, something that, showing
+darkly through the trees, from a bend in the streamlet, caused his
+breathing to grow thicker and his stride to change into a run&mdash;<i>it was
+the empty boat</i>!
+</p>
+<p>
+Hastening toward it, in the vain hope that he would find his little ones
+playing somewhere near the spot, he clutched his ride more firmly, and
+gasped out their names one by one. Where were they?&mdash;his sunny-hearted
+Bessie, his manly little Rudolph, and Kitty, his bright-eyed darling?
+Alas! the only answer to the father's call was the angry mutter of the
+thunder, or the quick lightning that flashed through the gathering
+gloom!
+</p>
+<p>
+In frantic haste he searched in every direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Perhaps," thought he, "they have become frightened at the sound of
+bears, and hidden themselves in a thicket. They may even have got tired
+and gone to sleep. But where is Tom Hennessy?"
+</p>
+<p>
+Again and again he returned to the boat, as though some clue might there
+be found to the missing ones; but as often he turned back in despair,
+trusting now only to the flashes of the lightning to aid him in his
+search. The sharp twigs and branches tore his face and hands as, bending
+low, he forced himself where the tangled undergrowth stood thickest.
+Soon his hunting-cap was dragged from his head, as by some angry hand;
+he knew that it had caught upon the branches, and did not even try to
+find it in the darkness.
+</p>
+<p>
+The heavy drops of rain, falling upon his bare head, cooled him with a
+strange feeling of relief. Next his gun, which he had leaned against a
+tree, while on hands and knees he had forced his way into some brush,
+was swallowed up in the darkness.
+</p>
+<p>
+In vain he peered around him at every flash that lit the forest&mdash;he
+could see nothing of it. Suddenly a bright gleam, shooting across his
+pathway, revealed something that instantly caught his eye&mdash;it was a
+small bit of blue ribbon, such as Bessie often wore. Bending to pick it
+up, he started back in horror! The light had lasted but an instant, yet
+it had been long enough to show him that the ribbon was stained with
+blood, while near it the stones and leaves shone crimson! Even the
+gnarled roots of a fallen tree were dabbled with a fearful stain. He
+could see it all distinctly. With upraised arms, he knelt and poured
+forth an agonized prayer&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Great God! where are my children? Oh! have mercy! have mercy!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Flash after flash lighted up the kneeling form. Presently loud voices
+resounded through the forest:
+</p>
+<p>
+"What, ho!" "Hedden! Hedden!" "Hennessy! Tom!" "Hallo!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Hedden stood upright. The voices were familiar. He shouted back lustily,
+and hurried toward the approaching lanterns. Alas! he came upon faces
+almost as pale and inquiring us his own&mdash;no news on either side!
+</p>
+<p>
+His neighbors had eagerly responded to the mother's appeal, but so far
+had searched the forest in vain. If Bouncer only could be found; and,
+for almost the first time in years, Hedden called, "Bouncer! Bouncer!"
+without seeing the great fellow leaping toward him. What wonder,
+though&mdash;even Bouncer could scarcely have recognized that voice now!
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hark!" cried one of the neighbors.
+</p>
+<p>
+They listened. There was certainly a panting sound from some spot not
+far away.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bouncer! Bouncer!" cried the poor father. The panting again; they
+lowered their lanterns. What was that lying upon the ground&mdash;lying there
+close by Bouncer? It was Bessie! They rushed toward her. She was lying
+very still; Bouncer was breathing heavily.
+</p>
+<p>
+They raised her from the ground.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie! Bessie! my darling, speak to me!" cried the father.
+</p>
+<p>
+Her eyes opened slowly; for an instant she did not know who held her.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bessie, child, it's father&mdash;speak to me!"
+</p>
+<p>
+She looked at him an instant, then with a pitiful cry buried her face in
+his bosom.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer staggered forward, and now, by the light of the lanterns, they
+could see a broad gash upon his shoulder, and another upon his head. He
+looked up at Bessie with a mournful whine.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Bouncer, dear Bouncer! can't <i>you</i> tell me where they are?" cried
+Bessie, turning suddenly, and gazing upon him with streaming eyes.
+</p>
+<p>
+The brave fellow tried to wag his tail, but his strength was failing
+fast.
+</p>
+<p>
+"He came to me only a little while ago," sobbed Bessie. "Oh! I was so
+thankful! but he came so slowly I knew he was hurt. I put out my hand
+and felt him all hot and wet&mdash;I can't remember anything since then. Oh!
+father, don't let poor Bouncer die&mdash;see! he is falling! Dear old
+Bouncer!" and she threw herself down beside him.
+</p>
+<p>
+The poor fellow turned his head, and tried to lick her hand; then
+started up, growling with something like his old savageness, and fell
+over. They tried to lift him; they called his name. Even Bessie
+attempted to arouse him with a cheerful call. There was no
+movement;&mdash;Bouncer was dead!
+</p>
+<p>
+It seemed hard to leave the body of the faithful creature lying exposed
+in the forest, but this was no time to bury him.
+</p>
+<p>
+All that they could gather from Bessie's confused account of the
+surprise by the Indians, and her own escape, served to make the party
+feel that further effort was almost hopeless&mdash;still they would not
+despair. It was decided that one of their number should take the rescued
+girl back to her mother, while the rest should proceed in their search.
+</p>
+<p>
+The fury of the storm had passed by this time, though the rain fell in
+great splashing drops, and the wind muttered angrily among the trees in
+answer to the distant rumbling of the thunder. Drenched to her skin, and
+shivering with excitement, Bessie begged that she might go with her
+father.
+</p>
+<p>
+"We will find them soon," she pleaded; "I'm sure we will, and then we
+can all go home together. It will frighten mother so dreadfully to see
+me coming alone, without Rudolph and Kittie, and Bouncer!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The man whose lantern had gleamed upon her shaded the light with his
+great rough hand from the spot where Bouncer lay, and in a voice as
+tender as a woman's, urged her to go with him at once,
+</p>
+<p>
+"Go, Bessie," said her father hurriedly, on seeing that she still
+resisted, "we are losing time."
+</p>
+<p>
+This was enough. "Good-night, dear father!" she sobbed, as she was led
+away; "don't tell Rudolph about Bouncer until he gets home, father&mdash;it
+will almost break his heart."
+</p>
+<p>
+A voice that even Bessie could scarcely recognize called back through
+the darkness: "Good-night, my child. Go easy, Joe, and keep a sharp
+look-out."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ay! Ay!" answered the man in a suppressed voice, as he grasped more
+firmly the little hand in his, and hurried on.
+</p>
+<p>
+After a wearisome tramp, they at last reached the edge of the forest.
+Bessie started to see a tall, white figure rushing with outstretched
+arms toward them.
+</p>
+<p>
+"It's the mother," said Joe, pityingly, raising the lantern as he spoke.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Joe!" screamed the poor woman, "have you found them?&mdash;tell me,
+quick!"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Well&mdash;no, Mrs. Hedden," he shouted in reply, "not exactly that&mdash;but
+we've got the gal safe an' sound&mdash;not a scratch on her."
+</p>
+<p>
+In another moment Bessie was in her mother's arms.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Only me, mother!" she sobbed; "only me; but father's looking for them
+and, oh! mother, Bouncer is dead!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The next day brought no better tidings. At noon the men returned from
+their search, jaded and dispirited. After the first explanations were
+over, Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered, huskily&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Give her this, Dennis&mdash;I can't; and tell her it was the only trace we
+could find."
+</p>
+<p>
+The mother's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had
+fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket. "It's Kitty's hood,"
+she cried, stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor.
+</p>
+<p>
+That evening, and for many a day afterward, the search was continued but
+without success; no trace could be found of either Tom Hennessy,
+Rudolph, or little Kitty.
+</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>
+	V.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+THE CAPTIVES.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+And what had befallen Tom and the children, on the fearful day of their
+sail up the beautiful stream? Bessie's eyes had not deceived her when,
+in one agonized glance, she had seen Tom dash into the forest bearing
+Rudolph and Kitty in his arms, followed by yelling savages. The chase,
+however, was a short one; before Tom had advanced many steps his
+pursuers closed upon him, and tearing the children from his embrace,
+bound his arms close to his body with deerskin thongs. The children,
+screaming with terror, struggled in the arms of the Indians and called
+frantically upon Tom for help; but he, poor fellow, could only turn his
+pitying eyes upon them and beg them to remain quiet.
+</p>
+<p>
+"It'll save you from worse things," he groaned. By this time several
+savages, darting from near hiding-places, had surrounded them and Tom
+abandoned all hope of escape. Bessie's screams had died away, and he
+felt sure that she had been killed by the Indian who had first rushed
+upon her.
+</p>
+<p>
+After holding a moment's council the Indians began a rapid march,
+hurrying Tom along with them, and almost dragging the terrified
+children&mdash;who, each with a tiny hand in the grip of a painted warrior,
+ran panting by their sides. Hurrying on, faster and faster, until even
+Tom was nearly out of breath, the savages, without exchanging a word
+among themselves, continued their flight (for such it seemed), carefully
+avoiding even the breaking of a twig, or anything that could furnish a
+clue to those who might come in pursuit.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon Kitty, who could run no more, was snatched angrily from the ground
+and carried, like a bundle, under the great muscular arm of one of the
+savages. But when Rudolph showed evident signs of exhaustion, the
+Indians paused, evidently consulting together whether they should not
+tomahawk the children at once. Tom could stand it no longer. He declared
+that he would not go another step if the children were injured a hair.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Let me carry them," he cried. "I am strong enough to bear a dozen
+youngsters&mdash;unbind me, I say, and hand 'em over."
+</p>
+<p>
+Some of the red men knew enough of English to understand his meaning.
+With a contemptuous sneer one of them tossed Rudolph on Tom's back; then
+set one of his arms free, and drove him onward with many a brutal
+stroke. It was hard work for Tom, shackled as he was, to bear the
+frightened boy, who at times clung to his throat so tightly as to almost
+strangle him.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hold on, Rudolph, boy," he whispered; "lower down&mdash;there, that way. Now
+don't cry; you're father's little man, you know."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, Tom," sobbed the poor boy, "they'll kill us, I'm sure, as they
+killed little Annie Green. See, now, how they carry Kitty&mdash;how they
+scrape her face against the bushes; oh! oh!" and Rudolph hid his eyes in
+Tom's hair, crying as if his little heart would break.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hush!" muttered Tom, sternly, "or I'll put you down."
+</p>
+<p>
+In an instant one of the red men whose look, though grim and fearful
+enough, showed less savageness than his companions, gruffly took Kitty
+from the Indian who was carrying her with such cruel carelessness. The
+change comforted the child, and in a few moments the exhausted little
+creature was sleeping soundly upon his shoulder, never waking even
+through the thunder-storm that ere long seemed to rend the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+In this way the Indians hurried on, pausing once to change their
+captive's bands, so as to leave his right arm free instead of his left.
+Now and then Tom would put Rudolph upon the ground for awhile, and when
+the little fellow flagged he would lift him up to his shoulder again.
+</p>
+<p>
+At nightfall the party halted and made a large fire of brush, by which
+they cooked some venison and hominy, which had been carried by them
+during the march. After partaking of their meal, and giving their
+prisoners a liberal supply, they disposed themselves for the night,
+first taking care to fasten Tom's hands and feet securely, and even to
+bandage the children's ankles so that they could not stand. In vain Tom
+peered about him for a chance of escape for himself and his charges&mdash;for
+he would on no account have left them behind&mdash;but there was no hope.
+His knife had been taken away from him, and all night long he was
+watched by two Indians, who remained near him in a sitting posture. Even
+when their dusky faces were lost in the darkness, he could see the gleam
+of their piercing eyes as the fire-light flashed and faded. Once, when
+the pain from his fastenings became insupportable, he complained to one
+of the watchers and begged to be unbound for a moment, while a wild hope
+rushed through his heart that he might then, quick as a flash, seize
+Rudolph and Kitty and fly through the darkness out of the reach of his
+pursuers. Vain hope! no opportunity came, though the Indian readily
+complied with his request. Almost every warrior raised himself upon his
+elbow in an instant, and he felt the glare of a dozen eyes upon him at
+the slightest motion he made. After the Indian had loosened the
+fastenings somewhat, and given Tom a drink of pure spring water, he even
+offered him some parched corn, and in no unfriendly way motioned to him
+to try and sleep; but all this show of kindness did not reassure Tom. He
+had heard enough of Indian warfare to feel that any consideration they
+might show their prisoners at first was often but a proof that they
+were reserving them for the greatest cruelties afterward.
+</p>
+<p>
+Long before daylight the next morning, the march was resumed, in the
+same manner as on the previous day; and, indeed, for three or four days
+it was continued over a country dense with cedar thicket, and becoming
+rougher and more rocky as they journeyed on. At last, after traveling
+westward for a distance of ever a hundred miles&mdash;as nearly as Tom could
+estimate&mdash;they saw, afar, rising from the lowlands, the smoke of an
+Indian encampment.
+</p>
+<p>
+Some one evidently had been on the look-out for them. Before they
+reached the spot, they were welcomed with loud whoops and yells.
+Presently the entire community, as it seemed, turned out to receive
+them&mdash;hundreds of savages, men, women, and children&mdash;who, when they saw
+the prisoners, pierced the air with wild shouts of joy.
+</p>
+<p>
+The men were painted in every conceivable way, with hideous daubs of
+color upon their limbs and faces, or tattooed so as to look more fearful
+still; their heads were closely shaved, leaving only a lock on the
+crown, called the scalp-lock, which was twisted up so as to hold tufts
+of brilliant feathers. The women, scarcely less hideous than the men
+(excepting here and there a young maiden, the joy of her tribe,
+standing apart from the rest), crowded fiercely about, and the children,
+naked and dirty, whooped and yelled like so many imps.
+</p>
+<p>
+The scene was certainly not likely to inspire the prisoners with any
+keen sense of security. Indeed, Tom expected instant death at their
+hands. As for Rudolph and Kitty, the poor little creatures were
+stupefied with terror, and clung to Tom in a way that seemed to make the
+Indian children half mad with delight.
+</p>
+<p>
+Suddenly all the warriors arranged themselves into two long lines,
+facing each other&mdash;and, brandishing their tomahawks, switches, and
+clubs, called upon Tom to run the gauntlet! One of the savages proceeded
+to set free the limbs of the captive, at the same time explaining to
+him, in broken English, the nature of the ceremony about to be enacted.
+This was nothing less than for Tom to run between the lines, along their
+entire length, with the chance of receiving a blow from each Indian as
+he passed.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Run like deer!" said the Indian, as he jerked off the last strip of
+hide from the captive's arm, "then he get more few knock."
+</p>
+<p>
+Casting one despairing look about him, and seeing not a possible chance
+of escape, even if he were not bound to the spot by the presence of
+Rudolph and Kitty, poor Tom entered upon the dread ordeal. His weariness
+was forgotten as, in very desperation, he flew between the lines so
+rapidly that for a short distance the blows fell but lightly upon him.
+Soon a crushing stroke from the back of a tomahawk fell heavily upon his
+shoulder, but he did not falter; the yells and blows of the savages lent
+wings to his feet&mdash;until, at last, when the end was nearly reached, a
+huge chief struck him a blow, with his club, that felled him to the
+ground. Springing up instantly, Tom dashed forward again, and staggered
+on to the end of the line where he sank to the ground, unable to rise.
+Up to the last moment he could hear the shrieks of Rudolph rising above
+the din. The poor child had been forced to witness Tom's suffering from
+the first.
+</p>
+<p>
+As soon as Tom opened his eyes he saw the pale, tearful faces of Rudolph
+and Kitty. "Don't cry, youngsters," he gasped; "be good, and we may get
+home again yet."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, come <i>now</i>," urged Kitty; "come tell mammy&mdash;mammy'll whip'em for
+hurtin' 'oo; naughty Injins!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph, forgetting his misery for an instant, laughed outright at
+Kitty's words. The next instant he shook his head solemnly&mdash;at
+her&mdash;"No, Kitty, mother couldn't whip 'em. But oh, I wish we were home!
+I wish we were home!" he cried, giving vent to his terrors again, as he
+saw a group of red men moving hastily towards them.
+</p>
+<p>
+After dashing water over Tom's wounds and laying him upon a bed of
+deer-skins, the savages seated themselves in a ring, and held a council
+to decide the fate of the prisoners. The warriors sat in silence while a
+great war-club was passed around the circle. Those who were in favor of
+burning them alive struck the ground heavily with the weapon before
+handing it to the next warrior; while those who objected to putting them
+to death in that manner merely passed it on in silence.
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom saw all this from where he lay, and he knew its meaning well. With a
+sinking heart he heard the heavy thump of the club as each warrior gave
+his cruel vote, until at last one chief, holding the club in the air,
+pointed with a meaning gesture&mdash;first at Tom, then at Rudolph and Kitty.
+The chiefs responded with a grunt of assent to his inquiry concerning
+the latter, but shook their heads when their attention was directed to
+Tom. Then the noble fellow knew that not his fate, but that of the
+children was being decided; while they, unconscious little creatures,
+looked on half amused at what seemed to them some singular game.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Hi!" whispered Rudolph to Kitty, "didn't that fellow hit hard,
+though?&mdash;he'll beat I guess."
+</p>
+<p>
+A moment more and the council was ended. One of the Indians approached
+the children and daubed their faces with black; it was a fatal sign, for
+it proved that the vote had been against them&mdash;Rudolph and Kitty were to
+be put to death!
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_4"><!-- RULE4 4 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VI.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+KA-TE-QUA.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+All that night, and for many days afterward, Tom lay in a burning fever,
+quite unconscious of what was passing around him.
+</p>
+<p>
+Meanwhile, strange to say, Rudolph and Kitty were treated almost with
+kindness. They were well fed, and were given the softest deer-skins to
+lie upon at night. Finding themselves unharmed as the hours went on, the
+little creatures became more confident, and finally resumed their
+natural playfulness.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty was never weary of the bright beads and ornaments of the Indian
+maidens, and Rudolph found great delight in shooting with the bows and
+arrows of the <i>papooses</i> or children, who, in turn, were wonderfully
+amused at the bad shots of the little pale-face. Now and then, to be
+sure, the vicious child of some chieftain would amuse itself by pricking
+Kitty's tender skin with a thorn, and hearing her scream in consequence;
+or, having seen the black-and-blue marks upon her delicate arms, caused
+by the rough handling of her captors, they would pinch her flesh and
+watch for the change of color with intense interest. One day they tried
+it while Rudolph was standing by, holding the hand of the squaw who had
+him in charge. No sooner did the usual scream escape Kitty's lips than,
+quick as thought, the boy broke from the woman's grasp, and, rushing
+upon his sister's tormentor, laid the little savage in the dust and
+pummeled him well. Instead of resenting this, the Indians seemed to
+admire the pluck of the young pale-face, and he rose in their favor at
+once. Especially did the old squaw, as Indian women are called, applaud
+him. She was a strange old creature, named Ka-te-qua (<i>female eagle</i>),
+and, being half crazy, was looked upon by the Indians as one inspired by
+Manitou, or the Great Spirit. Besides, her brother had been a famous
+Medicine-man<a href="#note-1">[1]</a> of the tribe; and her two sons, who had been slain in
+battle, were celebrated braves or warriors, each owning long chains of
+scalps, which they had taken from their enemies. So, of course, when she
+wagged her head in approbation of Rudolph's conduct, all the women near
+her wagged their heads also. Indeed, had Tom remained ill a few weeks
+longer, the black marks on the children's faces would have worn off
+without any further injury being done them. But as he grew better, and,
+finally, was able to sit upright on his deer-skin couch, the malice of
+his captors was renewed. They resolved not only to carry out the
+sentence upon the children, but to put the sick pale-face to new
+tortures as soon as he was strong enough to afford them the requisite
+amount of sport on the occasion. Accordingly on the fourth day after
+Rudolph had punished the little "Red-skin," preparations were begun.
+Heaps of fagots were industriously piled against an oak tree, which
+stood apart. Tom, with feet shackled, and his arms tightly secured to
+his sides, was led out to witness the fearful scene. Rudolph and Kitty
+were seized, and, in spite of their struggles, bound side by side to the
+tree.
+</p>
+<p>
+Already the wild dance of the Indians had begun. Frightful yells and
+whoops filled the air, and even women and little dusky children clapped
+their hands and shouted with excitement and delight. They brought
+armfuls of brush and laid it close to the pile. Nothing was needed to
+complete the deed but to apply the fatal torches, now sending forth hot,
+fierce gleams into the pale air, and brandished by a dozen yelling
+savages.
+</p>
+<p>
+At a signal from an aged chief, the brush was lighted. The fire cracked
+and snapped; soon its snake-like wreaths curled about the pile, sending
+thick smoke around the screaming victims, when, suddenly, old
+Ka-te-qua&mdash;she who had taken charge of the children&mdash;rushed from the
+neighboring forest. Tearing through the crowd, she flew to the pile of
+fagots, and with vigorous strokes scattered the blazing wood in every
+direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+Then, turning toward the astonished savages, who had retreated a few
+paces to escape the burning brands, she addressed them passionately in
+the Indian tongue:
+</p>
+<p>
+"The Great Spirit," she cried, "scowls upon you&mdash;the very flames hiss in
+the wet grass. The sons of Ka-te-qua are gone to the happy hunting
+grounds of the dead. Her wigwam is dark. The young pale-faces are to her
+like the water-lilies of the stream. Why, when she was in the forest
+gathering herbs for the sick of her tribe, did ye steal them from her
+lodge like dogs?
+</p>
+<p>
+"Is the tongue of Ka-te-qua forked? Has she not said that no warrior
+need hunt the deer for the young pale-faces? With her they shall grow
+like hickory saplings, towering with strength. The deer shall not be
+more fleet than they, nor the songs of the birds more glad. The sun
+shall paint their white skins. The love of the red man shall enter their
+hearts: they shall be as the young of our tribe. Unbind them! Give them
+to Ka-te-qua, or by the next moon a burning fever shall fall upon you.
+Like panthers will you bite the dust. All the waters of the great
+cataract cannot quench your thirst, and your mightiest hunters will be
+as women."
+</p>
+<p>
+She paused. A fine-looking chieftain arose and spoke:
+</p>
+<p>
+"The sister of the great Medicine-man has spoken well. She dwells alone
+in her wigwam Her arm is strong. Her eye is keen, like the hawk's. The
+deer fall before her, and her arrow can find the heart of the grizzly
+bear. Her corn stands higher than the grass of the prairie. She can feed
+the young pale-faces. The Great Spirit gives them to her. Let it be so."
+</p>
+<p>
+A council was held at once. This time more than half the chieftains
+passed the club on in silence, for Ka-te-qua, as I have said, was
+respected among them; she had great powers of healing, and many of the
+Indians regarded her with a superstitious reverence.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children were unbound and borne in state to the old squaw's wigwam.
+From that hour, though they were closely watched and guarded, their
+lives were safe.
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-1"><!-- Note Anchor 1 --></a>[Footnote 1: Mystery-man or Indian prophet.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_5"><!-- RULE4 5 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+BIG TOM.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+From the conduct of the Indians towards Tom, it was evident that his
+time for torture had not yet arrived. He therefore had tact enough to
+remain "weak" as long as possible, tottering languidly about the
+grounds whenever they allowed him the liberty of exercising his limbs,
+and drinking the mixtures and decoctions of Ka-te-qua with the patience
+of a martyr. In the meantime, the shrewd fellow took care to win the
+good-will of the tribe by taking apparent interest in their games, and
+showing a great amount of admiration at their feats of strength and
+agility. He amused them too by the display of numerous accomplishments
+peculiar to himself, such as whistling in close imitation of the songs
+of various birds, and performing feats of jugglery that he had long ago
+learned in his native town. He could bark like a dog and howl like a
+wolf; imitate the distant tramping of horses' feet, and give the sound
+of a whizzing arrow so perfectly that the oldest chiefs would turn their
+head quickly in the direction of the sound. Neither at this, however,
+nor at any other of Tom's performances, would they show the slightest
+change of countenance, for an Indian never allows himself to exhibit
+feelings of surprise, considering it quite beneath the dignity of his
+race to do so. Even when, by some dexterous trick, Tom would show them
+two or three acorns under a leaf where their reason told them there
+could be none, and then as mysteriously cause the same acorns to
+disappear, the stony faces looking on never changed a muscle though at
+heart they were probably quite as astounded as the Welsh monster was
+supposed to be when Jack the Giant-Killer, performed such wonderful
+feats with hasty-pudding. By degrees, as Tom deemed it prudent to appear
+stronger, he would dance the sailors' hornpipe for them, or sing wild,
+rollicksome songs, or make beautiful rustic seats and bowers for the
+squaws. He was a capital marksman, too, and soon won respect by showing
+that he could handle a musket with the best of them. The few Indians who
+owned guns had become very expert in their use; and Tom, whenever they
+had trials of their skill, took care to shoot just well enough to prove
+himself a good marksman, without provoking their anger by excelling too
+often.
+</p>
+<p>
+After awhile, in his desire to win their confidence, he even went so far
+as to signify to the Indians that he would like to become one of them;
+that their mode of life suited him well, and he would be glad to hunt
+and fish with them and be a pale-face no more. Alas! poor fellow, he did
+not know what he was saying, or how soon he would find out that even in
+cases of great temptation no one can tell a lie without suffering
+unhappy consequences. The savages took him at his word. They held a
+council. After it was over, while most of them were still smoking their
+long, richly ornamented pipes with great deliberation, two or three of
+the Indians seized him and gravely commenced plucking out his hair by
+the roots.<a href="#note-2">[2]</a> Soon Tom twitched from head to foot, and water stood in
+his eyes; but the red men still kept on with their work, dipping their
+fingers in ashes occasionally to enable them to take a better hold.
+Before long his head was completely bald, with the exception of one long
+tuft upon his crown, called the scalp-lock. This was immediately
+stiffened and plaited, so as to stand upright and hold a variety of
+ornaments, which his glum hairdresser fastened upon it. Then two old
+Indians pierced his nose and ears and hung big rings in the smarting
+holes. They then took off his clothing and painted his body with every
+variety of color. Next they hung a gaily embroidered cloth about his
+loins, put a wampum<a href="#note-3">[3]</a> chain about his neck and fastened silver bands on
+his right arm. When this was done the whole party gave three shrill
+whoops, and men, women, and children crowded around him, making the most
+frantic gestures, and uttering the most horrid sounds that ever a poor
+fibbing white man heard.
+</p>
+<p>
+Next the maidens of the tribe rushed upon him, and, hurrying him to a
+stream that ran near by, dragged him into the water until it reached his
+waist, and tried to force his head under. This of course, aroused all
+his spirit of resistance; but, when one of the girls, named She-de-ah
+(wild sage), cried into his ear. "No kill! no kill!" he concluded to
+submit.
+</p>
+<p>
+After this he was ducked and held under most unmercifully, until,
+believing by this time that "the white blood must be all washed out of
+him," they led him up the shore, all shivering and dripping, and
+presented him to their principal chief.
+</p>
+<p>
+The next performance was to dress him in an Indian shirt ornamented with
+feathers and beads and bits of porcupine quill. They put leggins on his
+legs and moccasins on his feet, and, seating him upon a bear-skin, gave
+him flint and steel to strike a light with; then a pouch, a tomahawk,
+some tobacco, and a long pipe. Then the chiefs seated themselves beside
+him, and smoked in silence. Tom knew well enough that he was expected to
+smoke too, and filled and lit his pipe accordingly, never dreaming of
+the consequences. Old as he was, nearly twenty, this was his "first
+smoke," and very soon the poor fellow found himself growing deadly sick.
+He could feel the cold chills creeping one after another into his very
+face. Finally, something within him seemed to turn somersaults, when,
+yielding to a sudden impulse, he flung the pipe upon the ground, and
+rushed into the recesses of the wigwam, where he usually slept. This
+the Indians, who attach an almost sacred importance to the pipe, took as
+a great affront; and only when Tom afterward, by the most earnest
+gestures, explained to them the real cause of his conduct, did they
+allow their injured feelings to be pacified; though it cut him sorely to
+notice the expressions of contempt, and ridicule that were soon lavished
+upon him. Whether this proof of what seemed in Indian opinion a want of
+manliness had anything to do with their conduct or not, I cannot say,
+but certain it is that no further ceremonies towards making him a
+red-man were performed though he was allowed to wear his Indian costume.
+Neither did they allow him to hunt with them, as he had hoped. Whenever
+they went forth to shoot the bison or deer, or to trap the beavers, or
+wage war with hostile tribes, they always left him with the squaws, the
+old men, and the warriors who remained at home to take charge of the
+settlement.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty were sorely frightened when they first saw the strange
+figure, "half Indian, half Tom," as Rudolph afterward described him,
+stalk into Ka-te-qua's wigwam. His bald head and painted body struck
+poor Kitty with dismay. When he spoke soothingly to her, and gave her a
+handful of bright feathers, she ventured to approach him, though she
+cried pitifully all the time for Tom, dear, big Tom, who knew papa and
+mamma, and Bessie and Bouncer.
+</p>
+<p>
+Neither Kitty nor Rudolph had forgotten the brave dog through all these
+days of absence, and they loved to hold long conversations with Tom
+about him; though the little creatures oftener talked of their parents
+and Bessie, as they lay at night upon their beds of dried grass.
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-2"><!-- Note Anchor 2 --></a>[Footnote 2: See American Adventure by Land and Sea. Harper Bros. 1842.]
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-3"><!-- Note Anchor 3 --></a>[Footnote 3: <i>Wampum</i>. Beads made of shells, used by North American
+Indians as money, the shells run on strings, and are wrought into belts
+and ornaments.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_6"><!-- RULE4 6 --></a>
+<h3>
+	VIII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+BOUNCER'S WORK.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+There was another person in the settlement besides the captives, who was
+not likely to forget Bouncer very soon. This was an Indian who, wounded
+and exhausted, had reached the settlement four days after the arrival of
+the prisoners. He had an ugly mark upon his throat, and another on his
+chest, and he sulked aside from the rest of his tribe as though he felt
+that his wounds were ignoble, and a dishonor to his Indian birth. It was
+his blood that Farmer Hedden had seen on that fearful night; and when
+more than once the agonized father had listened to what seemed to be the
+tread of some skulking wolf, he had heard this very Indian, who, half
+dead with pain and loss of blood, was dragging himself slowly through
+the depths of the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+This discomfited warrior had looked upon Tom and the two little
+pale-faces with dislike, from the hour when he first saw them as
+prisoners in the encampment. They were constant reminders to him of his
+mortifying struggle with the dog. He felt it all the more because,
+though his jacket and leggings were trimmed with the scalps of his
+enemies, he had lately been forced to receive charity from the white
+man's hand, This was when, starving and nearly frozen, he had fallen
+helpless in the forest, after an unlucky trapping excursion; a settler
+had found him there, given him food and drink and sent him on his way
+with a bountiful supply of provisions.
+</p>
+<p>
+Big Tom saw the dark looks of this Indian, and regarded him with
+suspicion; but little Kitty was quite unconscious of the resentful
+feelings of "the sick man," as she called him. In fact, as soon as she
+grew more familiar with the Indians, she often sought him in preference
+to the rest, and loved to sit upon the ground beside him, and trace
+with her tiny fingers the patterns worked upon his leggings and
+moccasins.
+</p>
+<p>
+At first the grim warrior repulsed these familiarities; but when, as he
+began to mingle with his tribe, he heard her sweet voice calling him by
+name, and saw her day after day display her store of beads and feathers
+at his feet, his feelings gradually softened. Before long he ceased to
+scowl upon her when she lifted her sunny face to his, and, on rare
+occasions, he even allowed her to count his arrows.
+</p>
+<p>
+Once, when Rudolph had shot a wild turkey, he rushed to Ka-te-qua's
+wigwam with his prize, for he had learned to love the strange old squaw,
+though he feared her, too, sometimes. Kitty clapped her hands with
+delight at her brother's skill, and begged him to go with her and show
+the dead bird to her favorite Indian.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Come, Rudolph; come show 'Nokah,'" she pleaded, pulling the young
+hunter by the arm. "Come twick! he goin' away."
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph suffered himself to be led. They found Po-no-kah standing alone
+by a tree, fully equipped for the hunt.
+</p>
+<p>
+He looked at the turkey and gave a grunt, not particularly flattering to
+Rudolph's vanity.
+</p>
+<p>
+"I've shot THREE!" said the boy, holding up three fingers to make his
+meaning clearer.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh!" grunted the savage again. "Paleface no shoot much."
+</p>
+<p>
+"But I'm growing," persisted Rudolph. "When I'm big, I'm going to shoot
+bears and bison. Did you kill the bears to get all these claws?" he
+added, pointing up to Po-no-kah's necklace, which was formed entirely of
+huge bear-claws, strung through the thickest end.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh," replied the Indian, nodding his plumed head, "me shoot him."
+</p>
+<p>
+"And these scalps," said Rudolph, shuddering as he pointed to the fringe
+of human hair hanging from the buckskin leggings; "did <i>you</i> get all
+these?"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh," he answered grimly, nodding the plumes again.
+</p>
+<p>
+"You are bad, then," exclaimed Rudolph, looking fearlessly into
+Po-no-kah's eyes. "I know <i>you</i>," he added suddenly, after gazing at him
+intently for an instant. "Father brought you into our kitchen last
+winter, and I ran behind the door. Mother gave you meat and hot drink,
+and father warmed you and gave you a bag of potatoes. Oh!" he continued,
+clasping Po-no-kah's knee, "<i>you</i> know where our home is. Nearly every
+night I dream that mother is calling us. Show me the way, please do.
+Ka-te-qua says there are dreadful things in the forest that will eat me
+up, but I am not afraid. Oh, do tell us the way home!"
+</p>
+<p>
+The Indian gave a sharp look at the sobbing boy, and seemed in part to
+understand his words. Stooping, he whispered in a stern tone: "No speak;
+no tell Ka-te-qua;"&mdash;and without one glance of encouragement, he stalked
+away to the spot where the other Indians had assembled, preparing for
+the hunt.
+</p>
+<p>
+The children saw him no more for weeks. Rudolph remembered his parting
+words, and though he could not fully understand Po-no-kah's motive, he
+faithfully obeyed his command. Not even to Tom did he relate what had
+occurred.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_7"><!-- RULE4 7 --></a>
+<h3>
+	IX.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+INDIAN LIFE.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty learned many things from the Indians that they never
+would have studied in the rough school-house near their pretty home; and
+they soon became familiar with many singular customs that at first
+filled them with wonder.
+</p>
+<p>
+For instance: when they, or any of the little papooses, were naughty or
+disobedient, they were put under what might be called the water-cure
+treatment. Instead of being whipped or locked up in a dark pantry&mdash;as
+was, I am sorry to say, the custom among some white people&mdash;they were
+simply "ducked" under water until they became manageable. Winter or
+summer, it was all the same. A bad child would very soon become a wet
+child, if there were any water within a mile.
+</p>
+<p>
+There are bright sides, as well as dark, to the Indian character; and in
+considering their cruelties and inhuman practices, we must remember that
+the white man has not always been just to him or set a good example to
+his uncivilized brother, or been careful not to provoke him to deeds of
+resentment and wrong. An Indian rarely forgets a kindness, and he never
+tells a lie. He is heroic, and deems it beneath a man's dignity to
+exhibit the slightest sign of pain under any circumstances. Among the
+Sioux tribe of that time, the boys were trained from the first to bear
+as much hardship as possible. They had a ceremony called the Straw
+Dance, in which children were forced to maintain a stately and measured
+step, while bunches of loose straws tied to their naked bodies were
+lighted and allowed to burn slowly away. Any poor little creature who
+flinched or "broke step" was sorely punished and held in disgrace.
+</p>
+<p>
+There were certain dances among the Indians performed by the warriors,
+before going either to battle or to the hunt. If to battle, they spent
+hours, and often whole days and nights together, in the fearful
+war-dance, accompanied by clashing on their drumlike instruments, and
+whoops that rang long and loud amid the echoing hills. If to the hunt,
+the Bear-Dance or the Buffalo-Dance was kept up nights and days before
+starting, in order to propitiate the Bear Spirit or Buffalo Spirit,
+whichever it might be. They had a funeral dance also, which was very
+solemn and impressive. And if a chieftain was to be buried, either in
+the river, or, as among the Mandans, on a rough platform erected on
+poles high up from the ground, the warriors danced before his wigwam,
+and assigned to a few of their number the duty of seeing that his widow
+and children, if he left any, should never be without food and shelter.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty and Rudolph often looked on with, mingled feelings of terror and
+delight, while some of these strange ceremonies were being enacted. It
+was curious to see the stalwart warriors, with bent backs and glum
+faces, and many a grunt or whoop, stamp through the measured dance.
+Often Kitty would clutch her brother's arm in terror, when, in strange
+concert, the savages would suddenly halt, and with fiendish look and
+stealthy gesture, seem to be listening to the approach of an enemy.
+</p>
+<p>
+Sometimes, too, the women danced, but always apart from the men. Even in
+their games the warriors and squaws never played together. Among the
+Crow Indians, famous for their long black hair, it was not uncommon for
+a thousand young men to play in one game of ball for three or four
+consecutive days without interruption. As soon as one player retired,
+exhausted, another took his place. Often hundreds of women played
+together, and they were generally as expert as the men in throwing and
+catching the ball.
+</p>
+<p>
+Another strange feature among Indian customs, was the importance
+attached to the <i>medicine-bag</i>. Every warrior had one, and would no
+sooner hunt, or go to battle, or appear among his tribe without it, than
+he would neglect to wear his bow or his scalping-knife. Not that the bag
+contained any medicine, such as we understand by the word&mdash;for it was
+nothing but a small piece of skin sewed like a bag, curiously
+ornamented, and stuffed with straw or leaves&mdash;but because he regarded it
+as a <i>charm</i>. With him, "medicine" meant some mysterious power that
+would protect and guide him, and propitiate the unseen powers in his
+favor. When about to obtain his medicine, the young Indian went alone to
+some solitary river or lake in the depths of the forest, or mounted to
+some lonely peak. Here he fasted, and remained until, sleeping, he
+dreamed. The first animal he dreamed about, whether it were a bear,
+buffalo, deer, weasel, or bird or reptile of any kind, became his
+"medicine" forever. He at once hunted until he found one, and obtained
+its skin for a bag.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph and Kitty looked with awe upon many of the rare medicine-bags of
+the tribe, though they were never on any account allowed to touch them.
+Indeed, Kitty had managed to make a rough little one for Rudolph, dotted
+with clumps of beads, and he wore it next his heart with secret pride.
+The little fellow had once, while tramping through the forest with
+Katequa, seen a number of deer gathered around a spring, or salt-lick,
+as it is called, and had quivered with frightened delight to see the
+finest one fall wounded by her arrow. When the large eyes of the wounded
+creature had turned plaintively toward him, he had tried not to feel
+sorry, but his heart ached in spite of his efforts,
+</p>
+<p>
+"I shall be a mighty hunter one of these days," he said to Kitty on his
+return; "but I won't shoot deer, for they look at you just as if they
+wanted to speak. I'll get bears though, lots of 'em, and buffalo; and
+I'll have a fine trap when I get home, and catch badgers and foxes, just
+as the Indians do."
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom and Rudolph saw with indignation that, throughout the village, the
+labor and drudgery were forced upon the squaws, while the warriors
+stretched themselves lazily upon the ground, or smoked their pipes under
+the spreading trees. As for Kitty, she was too busy watching the women
+cook, dig, chop, and carry, to make any moral reflections.
+</p>
+<p>
+She loved, also, to sit beside them when they prepared the skins brought
+in from the hunt, or while they were busy with their curious sewing, so
+different from that with which she had seen her mother occupied.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bright-colored rags, feathers, beads, porcupine-quills, and even scraps
+of tin, were the ornaments upon which the squaws relied to make the
+toilets of their tribe "stylish" and beautiful; and Kitty&mdash;tiny little
+woman that she was&mdash;soon grew to agree with them perfectly in matters of
+taste.
+</p>
+<p>
+To be sure, the Indian women never did anything quite so barbarous as to
+put their little girls' feet into narrow shoes with high heels, nor
+fasten tight belts about their waists, so that the God-given machinery
+within could hardly work. But they did many preposterous things, for all
+that. They painted their bodies and tattooed their skins, by pricking
+figures on the flesh and rubbing in some staining juice when the blood
+appeared. They even pierced their noses so that bright rings could
+dangle from them. Many, too, hung bits of metal from their ears in a
+similar way&mdash;but that may not strike my civilized readers as being a
+very barbarous custom.
+</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>
+	X.
+</h3>
+<h3>
+KA-TE-QUA'S "GOOD NIGHT."
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Thus weeks and months passed away, not so wearily to the prisoners, as
+to the poor, sorrowing hearts that mourned for them at home. Tom's brain
+was always busy in planning some mode of escape for himself and his
+little charges. But, as he was still closely guarded, never being left
+alone for an instant, night or day, and as the children slept in the
+wigwam of Ka-te-qua, whose eyes seemed never intended to close, he
+concluded to wait patiently rather than to risk the lives of all three
+by an unsuccessful attempt.
+</p>
+<p>
+Meantime, Ka-te-qua's strong arms grew feeble, her arrow became less
+fatal in its aim, and her strange fits of moodiness filled Rudolph and
+Kitty with dread.
+</p>
+<p>
+For hours she would sit at the entrance of her wigwam, chanting
+mournfully in the Indian tongue. At such times she would compel the
+children to remain within,&mdash;becoming frantic with crazy rage should they
+attempt to force past her into the pleasant sunshine; and they would sit
+together in the shadow, hoping that by some whim she would walk away, or
+that the long, long chant would cease. One afternoon she kept them
+waiting in this way for hours. The sun sank lower and lower into the
+distant prairie, and the crimson clouds faded to a dull gray. Rudolph
+and Kitty sat listening to the wailing tones of Ka-te-qua's voice until,
+as the evening grew dark and chilly, they found for themselves a scanty
+supper of parched corn, and after whispering their simple prayer, groped
+their way to bed.
+</p>
+<p>
+The strange old creature ceased singing after a while, and entered the
+wigwam. They could distinguish her form as she slowly moved about,
+before throwing herself down near the entrance to indulge in her usual
+cat-like sleep. Afraid to speak to her, for they were not quite sure in
+what mood she might be, they watched her movements as well as they
+could, and at last felt sure that she was tottering slowly toward them.
+</p>
+<p>
+Kitty clasped Rudolph's neck more tightly, and broke into a frightened
+sob. In an instant, they felt her hand steal very gently over their
+tumbled curls.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Night! night!" she whispered softly.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Good-night, Ka-te-qua," they answered in a breath, for their fear was
+all gone now.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Night, night," repeated the voice, as kindly as their own mother could
+have said it, and after giving each a caressing stroke, their old friend
+moved softly away.
+</p>
+<p>
+Very early the next morning the children were awakened by a buzzing of
+many voices. Ka-te-qua had been found lying stiff and cold at the
+entrance of her wigwam. Not a trace of injury of any kind was upon her.
+The Indians, crowding round, shook their heads gravely. Ka-te-qua was
+wise, they said, but Manitou had sent for her. She had gone to the happy
+Hunting Grounds of her fathers.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_8"><!-- RULE4 8 --></a>
+<h3>
+	XI.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+FIRE-WATER BECOMES MASTER.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+After a long absence, the hunting party returned. As soon as Po-no-kah's
+stalwart form appeared in sight, Rudolph and Kitty rushed, with a cry of
+joy, to meet him; but, to their great dismay, he pushed them away with a
+frown and a grunt that told them plainly that they were to be familiar
+with him no more. Poor children!&mdash;Ka-te-qua gone, Po-no-kah changed, and
+Tom scarcely heeding them,&mdash;they felt friendless indeed. Kind words they
+never heard now, and kind looks rarely, except when Tom threw them a
+hasty glance that warmed their hearts, though they scarcely knew why.
+They did not know how his feelings yearned towards them, nor how eagerly
+he would have joined in all their simple pursuits, had he dared to do
+so; but the poor fellow had discovered that any notice he took of the
+children aroused suspicion, and he therefore concluded to pursue a
+prudent course.
+</p>
+<p>
+In the meantime the children had one great joy. Their love for each
+other was always the same. Kitty trusted in the belief that "mammy"
+would send for them; but Rudolph looked ever up to the Great Love that
+he knew was watching over them and the dear ones at home.
+</p>
+<p>
+"If it's <i>right</i>, Kitty," he would whisper, "I <i>know</i> we'll go home one
+of these days. Don't be afraid. God will take care of us."
+</p>
+<p>
+"But Dod took Te-qua away," Kitty would sometimes say.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Yes, I know He did, Kitty," and Rudolph's eyes would look sadly up to
+the blue sky, "I know He did, but then I think she was tired and wanted
+to go."
+</p>
+<p>
+Summer, autumn, and winter had passed away, and now came the season when
+the Indians carried their largest supply of furs and skins to sell in
+the city far over the prairies. Often, after their hunts, they had met
+with traders, and exchanged the skins they had taken for such articles
+as the white man had to give&mdash;guns, blankets, knives, powder, pipes, and
+fire-water;<a href="#note-4">[4]</a> but this was the grand trading excursion of the year.
+</p>
+<p>
+When the party returned, after a few weeks' absence, they brought with
+them among other things, a keg of whisky. After the first welcome was
+over, the savages held a council.
+</p>
+<p>
+It was soon evident that a fearful scene was to be enacted. The
+prisoners had seen something of the kind before, but never on so large a
+scale as this.
+</p>
+<p>
+The Indians had decided to hold a revel, in which nearly all the men
+were to drink fire-water until they could take no more.
+</p>
+<p>
+Even these savages knew the horrible consequences of parting with their
+wits in this manner. Before the drinking commenced, they appointed a few
+able-bodied Indians who were to remain sober and take care of the rest.
+They then deprived themselves of all their dangerous weapons&mdash;tomahawks,
+clubs, guns, arrows, and knives, and prepared for their fearful riot.
+</p>
+<p>
+The scene that followed need not be described.
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the confusion became fearful. The few sober chiefs were constantly
+risking their lives in their efforts to prevent mischief. Squaws were
+screaming, and frightened children were hiding in every direction.
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom, who was half forgotten in the general excitement, saw Po-no-kah
+whisper hurriedly to one of the women. In a moment she caught Rudolph
+and Kitty by their hands and stole cautiously with them into the forest.
+Tom's suspicions were aroused. He started up only to feel a strong arm
+force him back to the log upon which he had been seated.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No move!" muttered a voice, close by his ear. "Soon come.&mdash;Be very
+drunk."
+</p>
+<p>
+In a few moments, while the tumult and uproar were at their height, Tom
+saw Po-no-kah reeling toward the forest.
+</p>
+<p>
+Wondering what the fellow meant to do, yet filled with a wild hope, Tom
+watched his chance, staggered past the rioters, and managed to follow
+the warrior by another path, without creating any suspicion.
+</p>
+<p>
+When, at last, they met, Po-no-kah had Rudolph and Kitty in his arms,
+and, staggering no more, was hurrying through the forest, armed with
+bow, quiver, and traveling pouch. The astonished prisoner, after taking
+Kitty from his companion's arms, followed him in silence. Not for hours
+did Po-no-kah look back or speak, and then it was but to say a few
+broken words:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Po-no-kah was hungry. The father of the little pale-faces fed him.
+Po-no-kah no snake&mdash;he remember&mdash;Po-no-kah take 'em home."
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+<a name="note-4"><!-- Note Anchor 4 --></a>[Footnote 4: Brandy, rum, and all alcoholic liquors.]
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<a name="RULE4_9"><!-- RULE4 9 --></a>
+<h3>
+	XII.
+</h3>
+
+<h3>
+SHOWING HOW THE BAG OF POTATOES CAME BACK AGAIN.
+</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>
+Farmer Hedden was busily at work in the fields, looking ten years older
+than on that sunny day, nearly a year before, when he had shouted a
+laughing "good-bye" to Tom and the little ones.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie was trudging alone from school, wondering why the birds sang less
+sweetly than they did the May before, and wishing that the noble dog
+that bounded by her side looked a little more like the first Bouncer.
+</p>
+<p>
+Mrs. Hedden sat with her brother in the lonely cottage, talking on the
+old, old theme; the memory of that terrible night had never left her
+heart.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No, no, Robert," she said at length, in reply to some appeal from her
+brother, "we must not go. I know it would be better for us to sell out
+and go to Philadelphia. But it cannot be; we must never leave this
+spot."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Surely, Betsy," urged her brother, "you cannot be so wild as to
+suppose&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+"No!" she interrupted, "I never dare even hope for that now. I know my
+lost darlings are not in this world, and yet&mdash;and yet why not hope? why
+not think that perhaps&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+A shadow fell upon the threshold. What wonder that the mother sprang
+forward with a cry of joy! What wonder that Farmer Hedden, looking from
+the field, came bounding toward the house! Po-no-kah was
+there&mdash;Po-no-kah and little Kitty!
+</p>
+<p>
+Laughing,&mdash;crying,&mdash;clasping her dear Kitty frantically to her heart,
+then gazing at her at arms' length, Mrs. Hedden raised her eyes to the
+Indian, and gasped faintly&mdash;
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph? the boy&mdash;is he&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+She could say no more.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Yes&mdash;boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break
+heart see two&mdash;he here."
+</p>
+<p>
+Just then Farmer Hedden, Tom Hennessy, and Rudolph rushed in.
+</p>
+<p>
+Oh, what a meeting that was! And Bessie, too, was there before they knew
+it. Such laughter&mdash;such tears&mdash;such shouts of rejoicing had never been
+known in the Hedden cottage before!
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the barking of a dog was heard. Rudolph sprang from his father's
+arms:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Oh, it's Bouncer!" he cried; "let me see him. Here, Bouncer!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Bouncer indeed came leaping in at the call, but it was not <i>the</i>
+Bouncer, though it was a great, shaggy fellow, worthy of the name.
+</p>
+<p>
+Rudolph started back; the dog, too, eyed him with a suspicious look.
+</p>
+<p>
+"That isn't Bouncer! Where is he, mother?" exclaimed the poor boy,
+looking up with a bewildered glance.
+</p>
+<p>
+Po-no-kah slunk aside.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Do tell me where Bouncer is," he repeated,
+</p>
+<p>
+"We are all here but him. Here, Bouncer! Bouncer!" and he ran to the
+door.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie wound her arms about his neck.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Rudolph, darling," she sobbed, "don't cry. Bouncer was killed on <i>that</i>
+day. He saved my life, Rudolph&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+"Bouncer dead!" screamed the boy.
+</p>
+<p>
+Just then the new dog, seeing Bessie and her brother so close together,
+felt that he had a right there, too. With many a frantic leap and bound
+he endeavored to draw Rudolph's attention, until, finally, the tearful
+eyes of the boy were turned upon him. Then, if ever a dog tried to do
+his best, that fellow did. He sprang into the air, barked, tumbled,
+leaped, whined, wagged his tail till it almost spun, and, finally,
+licked Rudolph in the face until the chubby cheeks shook with laughter.
+</p>
+<p>
+All this time Tom's Indian dress had scarcely been noticed. At last Mrs.
+Hedden, grasping both his hands, exclaimed:
+</p>
+<p>
+"Why, what in the world have you been doing with yourself? I knew you,
+though, the moment you came in. Oh, Tom, how you have suffered!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom tried to answer her; but somehow his great faithful heart was
+overflowing, and he could only look at her with a tearful smile.
+</p>
+<p>
+"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a
+fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees
+such a meeting as this."
+</p>
+<p>
+Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and
+placed his hand upon his shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>
+"<i>We</i> are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never
+repay what I owe you. Remember, our home is yours from this hour. I
+shall take no denial."
+</p>
+<p>
+"Good!" exclaimed Bessie, clapping her hands; "now I shall have two
+brothers!"
+</p>
+<p>
+Mrs. Hedden, who had listened to Po-no-kah's broken words, kissed and
+hugged Tom in her motherly way. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "how can we
+make you look like a white man again; and to think you have had chances
+to escape and would not leave the children," and then she hugged him
+again.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, nodding his head and holding up three
+fingers&mdash;to signify that Tom had had three chances.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Pooh!" said the brave fellow, blushing through all the red paint, "I
+didn't have any at all until a month or so ago, and I'd got kind o' used
+to staying then."
+</p>
+<p>
+Soon the red man turned to go. In vain the grateful parents tried to
+force their gifts upon him, and to persuade him to at least partake of
+some refreshment after his long journey.
+</p>
+<p>
+He pointed to his hunting-pouch and his bow, as if to say that they
+would furnish all the the food he required, and nodded westward to show
+that he must be far on his way before sundown.
+</p>
+<p>
+As Tom gave him a hearty hand-shake and the rest crowded about him, all,
+even to little Kitty, thanking him over and over again, he waved them
+off with dignity.
+</p>
+<p>
+"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the
+young pale-faces gave him food. He come tell white man Indian no
+forget."
+</p>
+<p>
+Tom expressed anxiety lest their deliverer should suffer for his act
+when he returned to his tribe.
+</p>
+<p>
+"Po-no-kah no fraid" answered the Indian grimly with almost a smile upon
+his face. And, nodding a farewell to little Kitty, he strode
+majestically away.
+</p>
+<hr>
+<p>
+A year later, the Heddens settled on a fine farm near Philadelphia.
+Rudolph and Kitty doubtless walked many a time by the old Hall where our
+Declaration of Independence was signed.
+</p>
+<p>
+Bessie Hedden's sons when they grew up became pioneers themselves; and
+their names were Hennessy; so you see the maiden probably, in the course
+of time, changed her mind about having Tom for a brother.
+</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Po-No-Kah, by Mary Mapes Dodge
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diff --git a/old/11991.txt b/old/11991.txt
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+++ b/old/11991.txt
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Po-No-Kah, by Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Po-No-Kah
+       An Indian Tale of Long Ago
+
+Author: Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+Release Date: April 11, 2004 [EBook #11991]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PO-NO-KAH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+PO-NO-KAH
+
+AN INDIAN TALE OF LONG AGO
+
+
+By Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+
+1903
+
+
+PO-NO-KAH.
+
+AN INDIAN STORY OF LONG AGO.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+THE HEDDEN FAMILY.
+
+
+We who live in comfortable country homes, secure from every invader,
+find it difficult to conceive the trials that beset the hardy pioneers
+who settled our Western country during the last century.
+
+In those days, and for many a year afterward, hostile Indians swarmed in
+every direction, wherever the white man had made a clearing, or started
+a home for himself in the wilderness. Sometimes the pioneer would be
+unmolested, but oftener his days were full of anxiety and danger.
+Indeed, history tells of many a time when the settler, after leaving
+home in the morning in search of game for his happy household would
+return at night to find his family murdered or carried away and his
+cabin a mass of smoking ruins. Only in the comparatively crowded
+settlements, where strength was in numbers, could the white inhabitants
+hope for security--though bought at the price of constant vigilance and
+precaution.
+
+In one of these settlements, where a few neatly whitewashed cabins, and
+rougher log huts, clustered on the banks of a bend in the Ohio River,
+dwelt a man named Hedden, with his wife and three children. His farm
+stretched further into the wilderness than his neighbors', for his had
+been one of the first cabins built there, and his axe, ringing merrily
+through the long days, had hewn down an opening in the forest, afterward
+famous in that locality as "Neighbor Hedden's Clearing." Here he had
+planted and gathered his crops year after year, and in spite of
+annoyances from the Indians, who robbed his fields, and from bears, who
+sometimes visited his farm stock, his family had lived in security so
+long that, as the settlement grew, his wife sang at her work, and his
+little ones shouted at their play as merrily as though New York or
+Boston were within a stone's throw. To be sure, the children were bidden
+never to stray far from home, especially at nightfall; and the crack of
+rifles ringing now and then through the forest paled their cheeks for
+an instant, as the thought of some shaggy bear, furious in his death
+agony, crossed their minds.
+
+Sometimes, too, the children would whisper together of the fate of poor
+Annie Green, who, a few years before had been found killed in the
+forest; or their mother would tell them with pale lips of the night when
+their father and neighbor Freeman encountered two painted Indians near
+the cabin. The tomahawk of the Indian who tried to kill their father was
+still hanging upon the cabin wall.
+
+But all this had happened twelve years earlier--before Bessie, the
+oldest girl, was born--and seemed to the children's minds like a bit of
+ancient history--almost as far off as the exploits of Hannibal or Julius
+Caesar appear to us. So, as I have said, the girls and boys of the
+settlement shouted joyously at their play, or ran in merry groups to the
+rough log hut, called "The School-House," little dreaming of the cares
+and anxieties of their elders.
+
+Bessie Hedden was a merry-hearted creature, and so pretty that, had she
+been an Indian maiden, she would have been known as "Wild Rose," or
+"Singing Bird," or "Water Lily," or some such name. As it was, many of
+the villagers called her "Little Sunshine," for her joyous spirit could
+light up the darkest corner. She was faithful at school, affectionate
+and industrious at home, and joyous and honorable among her playmates.
+What wonder, then, that everybody loved her, or that she was happiest
+among the happy? Her brother Rudolph was much younger than she,--a
+rosy-checked, strong-armed little urchin of seven years; and Kitty, the
+youngest of the Hedden children, was but three years of age at the date
+at which my story opens.
+
+There was one other individual belonging to the family circle, larger
+even than Bessie, stronger and saucier even than Rudolph, and but little
+older than Kitty. He had no hands, yet once did, as all admitted, the
+best day's work ever performed by any member of the family. This
+individual's name was Bouncer, and he had a way of walking about on
+all-fours, and barking--probably in consequence of his having been
+created a dog.
+
+Bouncer loved all the children dearly; but, stout-hearted fellow that he
+was, he loved the weakest one best; and, therefore, little Kitty was
+never without a friend and protector. Ever since a certain day in the
+summer, when she had fallen into the stream, and had been carried home
+insensible by Bouncer, Kitty had loved the huge mastiff dearly, and
+nightly added to her simple prayer, "Please, God, bless dear Bouncer,
+too!"
+
+And Bouncer _was_ blessed beyond most dogs. Gentle as a baby when
+Kitty's arm was about his neck, he was fierce as a lion when fierceness
+was required. His great white teeth were a terror to evil-doers, and his
+bark in the dead of night would make venturesome bears sneak back into
+the forest like kittens.
+
+Often would Mrs. Hedden say to her neighbors, that with "husband's rifle
+and Bouncer's teeth, she felt that she lived in a fortress. As for the
+children," she would add, laughingly, "I scarcely ever feel any anxiety
+about them, when I know that Bouncer has joined their little
+expeditions. He is a regiment in himself."
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+EXPLORING THE STREAM.
+
+
+One of the favorite holiday resorts of Bessie and Rudolph was a lovely
+spot in the forest, not a quarter of a mile from the house. Shaded by
+giant oaks, whose gnarled roots lay like serpents, half hidden in the
+moss, ran a streamlet, covered with sunny speckles, where parted leaves
+admitted the sunshine. Flowers grew along its banks in wild profusion,
+and it held its wayward course with many a rippling fall and fantastic
+turn, until it was lost in the shades of the forest.
+
+"Where does it go to, I wonder?" the children often would say to each
+other, longing for permission to follow its windings farther than the
+limits prescribed by their parents would allow.
+
+"To the ocean, of course," Rudolph would answer, triumphantly; while
+Bessie, looking at its golden ripple, and listening to its musical song,
+half believed that it carried its wealth of sparkling jewels to
+Fairyland itself.
+
+Sometimes, when Bouncer was with them, they lingered so long by the
+mysterious streamlet, sending chip boats adrift upon its surface, or
+trying to adjust troublesome little water-wheels under some of its tiny
+cascades, that Mrs. Hedden would blow the big horn as a signal for their
+return; and as they ran home, playing with Bouncer by the way, or
+scolding him for shaking his wet sides under their very faces, they
+would inwardly resolve to coax father to take them up the stream on the
+very first pleasant Saturday.
+
+Accordingly, on one bright Friday in June, as Bessie and Rudolph were
+returning from school together, they ran toward their father, who was
+working in the clearing.
+
+"Father! father!" they shouted, "will you take us down the stream
+to-morrow?--we want to see where it goes to."
+
+"Goes to?" laughed back the father. "Why, it goes to the moon; didn't
+Kitty say so last night?"
+
+"Now, father," returned Bessie, pouting just a little, "you _know_ we
+don't believe that. We want you so much to take us in the boat; it
+doesn't leak at all now--oh! do." And both children fairly capered in
+their excitement.
+
+Mr. Hedden smiled; but; after wiping his forehead with a red and yellow
+handkerchief, went on thoughtfully with his work without returning any
+answer.
+
+The children, looking wistfully at him a moment, turned toward the
+house, wondering among themselves, "what father meant to do about it."
+
+That evening, at the supper-table (where they didn't have napkin rings
+or silver salt-cellars, I can assure you), Mr. Hedden asked his wife
+whether Tom Hennessy was back from "up river" yet?
+
+"I think he came home yesterday," returned his wife. "Why do you ask?"
+
+"Because I thought, as to-morrow'll be a holiday, I'd get him to take
+the youngsters down the stream in the scow."
+
+"Oh! husband," rejoined Mrs. Hedden, looking up anxiously, "do you think
+it's safe?"
+
+"Why not, Betsey?--the scow doesn't leak; and even if it did, the water
+isn't above Tom's waist anywhere."
+
+"I don't mean anything of that kind," pursued the wife, smiling in spite
+of herself at the joyful faces of the young folks. "I--I mean the
+Indians."
+
+"Oh, never fear about them; I'll give Tom every necessary caution," was
+the answer. "The boat won't be gone more than two hours altogether; and,
+to my mind, there wouldn't be the slightest danger in letting even
+little Kitty join the party."
+
+"Oh! tanky, Poppy, tanky!" shouted Kitty, clapping her chubby hands in
+great glee. Every one at the table laughed heartily at her unexpected
+response.
+
+Bright and early the next morning, the children stood in the door-way,
+eagerly looking out for Tom. Big Tom, the village boys called him; and
+well they might, for he was a staunch, burly fellow, who looked as if he
+could crush an Indian in each hand--not that he had ever had an
+opportunity to perform that remarkable feat, for Tom Hennessy had but
+recently arrived from a large town in the East; but he _looked_ as if he
+could do it; and, therefore, had credit for any amount of prowess and
+strength.
+
+After sundry directions given by Mr. Hedden to Tom, and a command from
+their mother for the little folks to be home at dinner-time, they set
+forth amid shouts of laughter and merriment. Kitty was there in all her
+glory, for, after what "Poppy" had said, she had insisted upon joining
+the party. Even Bouncer, in spite of many a "Go back, sir!" "Call him,
+mother!" had quietly insinuated himself into the group, and neither
+threats nor coaxing could force him away.
+
+It was a glorious day; and, as they neared the stream, it seemed to
+sparkle into joyous welcome at their approach.
+
+Soon, comfortably seated in the scow, they were pushed and rowed
+laboriously along by the good-natured Tom, while Bouncer panted along
+the bank, or dashed into the water, splashing the boat in fine style. In
+passing the accustomed "limits," the delight of the children knew no
+bounds.
+
+"Now for it!" cried Bessie, clapping her hands. "Now we shall find out
+where the stream goes to!"
+
+And so they sailed along, following its graceful windings--sometimes
+touching bottom, and sometimes skimming smoothly over deep water, where
+Kitty could no longer clutch for the tall, bright grass that here and
+there had reared itself above the surface. Often Big Tom would sing out,
+"Lie low!" as some great bough, hanging over the stream, seemed
+stretching out its arms to catch them; and often they were nearly
+checked in their course by a fallen trunk, or the shallowness of the
+water. At last, upon reaching a very troublesome spot, Tom cried
+good-naturedly--
+
+"Now, youngsters, you must all get out while I turn the scow over this
+'ere log, and then you can jump in again on t'other side."
+
+With merry shouts they leaped out, one after the other, Tom holding
+Kitty in his arms, as he stood knee-deep in the water.
+
+"What is the matter with Bouncer?" cried Bessie.
+
+There was no time for a reply. Looking up, the frightened party saw
+three hideous faces peering at them over the bushes!
+
+"The Indians! the Indians!" screamed Bessie.
+
+Springing to the shore, and catching Rudolph with one arm, while he
+held Kitty tightly in the other, Tom Hennessy dashed into the forest,
+calling upon Bessie to follow. Poor Bessie! What could she do? With a
+thrill of horror she saw two fierce savages bounding after them with
+fearful yells, while a third, with upraised club, and tomahawk and
+scalping-knife in his belt, was rushing toward her.
+
+Uttering one long piercing scream, the poor girl knelt to await her
+doom. A prolonged roar of fury caused her to raise her head. Bouncer,
+brave, noble Bouncer, and the Indian had fallen together in a deadly
+struggle! Now was her time! With new energy and hope, she sprang to her
+feet, and darted through the forest, rending the air with cries for
+help, and unconscious of whither she was flying.
+
+"Rudolph! Kitty!" she cried, frantically. "God in heaven help us! Oh!
+help us!"
+
+
+
+III.
+
+WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?
+
+
+It was nearly dinner-time in the Hedden cottage. Farmer Hedden sat in
+the doorway, equipped in his hunting dress--for he usually spent
+Saturday afternoons in the forest; and it was only at his wife's
+solicitation that he had consented to wait and "take a bite of dinner"
+before starting, Every now and then he raised his head from the almanac,
+over which he was bending, to listen to the whirr of his wife's
+spinning-wheel, and her merry song issuing from the cottage, or to cast
+an impatient glance in the direction of the streamlet.
+
+Within, all was neatness and cheerfulness; the clean deal table was
+arranged with its row of yellow platters and shining pewter-mugs--even
+the stools were standing round it, ready for the hungry household that
+usually assembled at noon, eager for dinner.
+
+"Father's" and "mother's" places were at either end of the table;
+Rudolph's and Kitty's at one side (Kitty had a high chair made by
+"father" out of young oak branches); Bessie's opposite; and, beside
+hers, the prettiest plate; and the brightest mug for Big Tom--for, of
+course, he must be asked to stay.
+
+Everything was ready. Far back in the open fireplace the fagots were
+blazing and snapping. Hanging above them, the great iron pot threw forth
+a circle of noisy steam around the loosely fitted lid, while the
+potatoes within were in a high state of commotion--little ones tumbling
+pell-mell over big ones, and big ones rocking dolefully backward and
+forward in the boiling water as though they felt sure their end was
+approaching.
+
+"Blow the horn again, John," called out Mrs. Hedden, as she cut another
+slice from the big brown loaf that had rapidly been growing less under
+her shining knife. "Ha! ha! they can't help hearing _that_," she
+laughed, as her husband blew a blast even louder than usual.
+
+After waiting a moment, Mr. Hedden came in, throwing the almanac on a
+low wooden settee as he entered.
+
+"No use waiting any longer, wifey--let's sit by. I don't see a sign of
+the youngsters; though it did seem to me I heard some of 'em screaming
+and laughing in the distance a bit ago. 'Twon't do, though," he
+continued, shaking his head; "we must make the crazy little cubs mind
+the horn closer. Play's play, and all well enough in its way, but you
+must teach children regularity from the very outset, or they'll never be
+good for much."
+
+"That's true enough, John," answered his wife, as she "dished" some of
+the steaming potatoes--leaving a goodly number in the pot for the little
+folk--"that's true enough; but you know this is a day of extra frolic
+for the children. They're having such fun, likely, they've no notion
+how the time is passing. As for the horn, who could expect mortal ears
+to hear _that_--with Bessie and Big Tom laughing and singing, and
+Rudolph screaming with fun--as I know he is; and little Kit, bless her!
+just frantic with delight; I think I can see them now, the merry
+madcaps!"
+
+Ah! happy, unconscious mother, if you _could_ have seen them--if their
+cries of terror could but have reached your ears!
+
+Finally, neighbor Hedden arose, shoving back his stool on the sanded
+floor.
+
+"Well, well, wifey, you're right enough, no doubt; but I tell you it
+isn't best to be too easy with youngsters, though ours are the best
+going, if I _do_ say it. A good trouncing all around, when they come in,
+wouldn't be a bit too much for them for being so late;" and, half in
+fun, half in earnest, he shook his head rather fiercely at his wife, and
+stalked out of the cottage.
+
+Presently she laughed outright to hear the loud, impatient tones issuing
+from the great tin horn. "That'll fetch them, I reckon," said neighbor
+Hedden, showing a smiling face at the window.
+
+As another hour passed away, the songs grew fewer and fainter upon the
+mother's lips--at first from vexation, and, finally, from weariness and
+a vague feeling of anxiety.
+
+"Bessie should know better," she thought to herself, "than to stay so
+long. I wish I had not let Kitty go with them."
+
+The next moment she smiled to think how hungry the children would be
+when they returned, and half wished that it would not be "spoiling" them
+to make them a good sugar-cake for their supper.
+
+Not until the shadows grew longer upon the edge of the forest, and
+threatening clouds grew thicker overhead, did her heart quail or her
+cheek grow white with sudden fear.
+
+"Oh! what _can_ keep them, I wonder! Why didn't I ask John to go look
+for them?" she asked herself over and over again. But Mrs. Hedden was
+not one to sit weeping with folded hands while anything remained to be
+done.
+
+It was not long before their nearest neighbor, who was still at work,
+enjoying the coolness of the afternoon, leaned upon his spade to wonder
+what on earth neighbor Hedden's wife was up to now.
+
+"Why, look there! Bob," he called out to his son, "if she ain't leaping
+over this way like a year-old colt!"
+
+In the mean time, neighbor Hedden himself was having but sorry sport in
+the forest. He saw nothing worth even pointing his gun at, and felt
+altogether so ill at ease and so fidgety as he trudged along, stepping
+now upon the soft moss, and now upon fallen branches that crackled even
+under the stealthy tread of his hunting moccasins, that I doubt whether
+half the bears hidden in the depths of the forest were not in a livelier
+mood than he. Not that he had anything to make him feel especially
+ill-humored, unless it was the disobedience of his children in having
+failed to appear at dinner-time--but it seemed to him that there was
+something going wrong in the world, some screw loose in his affairs
+that, unless he turned it tight in time, would cause his happiness and
+the prosperity of his home to fall in ruins about him. After awhile this
+feeling became so strong that he seated himself upon a stone to think.
+
+"I haven't been as neighborly as I might have been," he reflected:
+"there's many a turn been wanting by these new-comers, the Morrises,
+that I might have tended to, if I hadn't been so wrapped up in my own
+affairs. Come to think, almost the only kindness I've done for nearly a
+year past was in giving a bag of potatoes to that sick fellow,
+Po-no-kah, who seemed to me to be a good fellow, as Indians go. However,
+it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's
+plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot
+anything, I guess I'd better go home."
+
+With these last words, uttered half aloud, neighbor Hedden arose, and
+walked a few steps in the direction of his home. Presently he paused
+again, muttering to himself--
+
+"It's blamed queer I haven't heard the youngsters coming down with the
+scow; I certainly should have heard them if they'd passed anywhere
+near--guess I'd best walk on a little way up stream."
+
+So saying, he turned, with a new anxiety upon his countenance, and moved
+with rapid strides toward the rivulet, that still ran rippling on,
+though the bright sparkles that lit its surface at noon had vanished.
+Indeed, by this time the sunshine was, fast vanishing, too, for heavy
+clouds were gathering overhead, while those in the west were gilded on
+their lower edge.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+THE SEARCH.
+
+
+Neighbor Hedden, now intent upon his new thoughts, hurried along the
+bank of the stream. There were pretty tassel-flowers and Jack-in-pulpits
+growing there, which at any other time he might have plucked, and
+carried home in his cap for Kitty; but he did not heed them now.
+Something in the distance had caught his eye, something that, showing
+darkly through the trees, from a bend in the streamlet, caused his
+breathing to grow thicker and his stride to change into a run--_it was
+the empty boat_!
+
+Hastening toward it, in the vain hope that he would find his little ones
+playing somewhere near the spot, he clutched his ride more firmly, and
+gasped out their names one by one. Where were they?--his sunny-hearted
+Bessie, his manly little Rudolph, and Kitty, his bright-eyed darling?
+Alas! the only answer to the father's call was the angry mutter of the
+thunder, or the quick lightning that flashed through the gathering
+gloom!
+
+In frantic haste he searched in every direction.
+
+"Perhaps," thought he, "they have become frightened at the sound of
+bears, and hidden themselves in a thicket. They may even have got tired
+and gone to sleep. But where is Tom Hennessy?"
+
+Again and again he returned to the boat, as though some clue might there
+be found to the missing ones; but as often he turned back in despair,
+trusting now only to the flashes of the lightning to aid him in his
+search. The sharp twigs and branches tore his face and hands as, bending
+low, he forced himself where the tangled undergrowth stood thickest.
+Soon his hunting-cap was dragged from his head, as by some angry hand;
+he knew that it had caught upon the branches, and did not even try to
+find it in the darkness.
+
+The heavy drops of rain, falling upon his bare head, cooled him with a
+strange feeling of relief. Next his gun, which he had leaned against a
+tree, while on hands and knees he had forced his way into some brush,
+was swallowed up in the darkness.
+
+In vain he peered around him at every flash that lit the forest--he
+could see nothing of it. Suddenly a bright gleam, shooting across his
+pathway, revealed something that instantly caught his eye--it was a
+small bit of blue ribbon, such as Bessie often wore. Bending to pick it
+up, he started back in horror! The light had lasted but an instant, yet
+it had been long enough to show him that the ribbon was stained with
+blood, while near it the stones and leaves shone crimson! Even the
+gnarled roots of a fallen tree were dabbled with a fearful stain. He
+could see it all distinctly. With upraised arms, he knelt and poured
+forth an agonized prayer--
+
+"Great God! where are my children? Oh! have mercy! have mercy!"
+
+Flash after flash lighted up the kneeling form. Presently loud voices
+resounded through the forest:
+
+"What, ho!" "Hedden! Hedden!" "Hennessy! Tom!" "Hallo!"
+
+Hedden stood upright. The voices were familiar. He shouted back lustily,
+and hurried toward the approaching lanterns. Alas! he came upon faces
+almost as pale and inquiring us his own--no news on either side!
+
+His neighbors had eagerly responded to the mother's appeal, but so far
+had searched the forest in vain. If Bouncer only could be found; and,
+for almost the first time in years, Hedden called, "Bouncer! Bouncer!"
+without seeing the great fellow leaping toward him. What wonder,
+though--even Bouncer could scarcely have recognized that voice now!
+
+"Hark!" cried one of the neighbors.
+
+They listened. There was certainly a panting sound from some spot not
+far away.
+
+"Bouncer! Bouncer!" cried the poor father. The panting again; they
+lowered their lanterns. What was that lying upon the ground--lying there
+close by Bouncer? It was Bessie! They rushed toward her. She was lying
+very still; Bouncer was breathing heavily.
+
+They raised her from the ground.
+
+"Bessie! Bessie! my darling, speak to me!" cried the father.
+
+Her eyes opened slowly; for an instant she did not know who held her.
+
+"Bessie, child, it's father--speak to me!"
+
+She looked at him an instant, then with a pitiful cry buried her face in
+his bosom.
+
+Bouncer staggered forward, and now, by the light of the lanterns, they
+could see a broad gash upon his shoulder, and another upon his head. He
+looked up at Bessie with a mournful whine.
+
+"Oh, Bouncer, dear Bouncer! can't _you_ tell me where they are?" cried
+Bessie, turning suddenly, and gazing upon him with streaming eyes.
+
+The brave fellow tried to wag his tail, but his strength was failing
+fast.
+
+"He came to me only a little while ago," sobbed Bessie. "Oh! I was so
+thankful! but he came so slowly I knew he was hurt. I put out my hand
+and felt him all hot and wet--I can't remember anything since then. Oh!
+father, don't let poor Bouncer die--see! he is falling! Dear old
+Bouncer!" and she threw herself down beside him.
+
+The poor fellow turned his head, and tried to lick her hand; then
+started up, growling with something like his old savageness, and fell
+over. They tried to lift him; they called his name. Even Bessie
+attempted to arouse him with a cheerful call. There was no
+movement;--Bouncer was dead!
+
+It seemed hard to leave the body of the faithful creature lying exposed
+in the forest, but this was no time to bury him.
+
+All that they could gather from Bessie's confused account of the
+surprise by the Indians, and her own escape, served to make the party
+feel that further effort was almost hopeless--still they would not
+despair. It was decided that one of their number should take the rescued
+girl back to her mother, while the rest should proceed in their search.
+
+The fury of the storm had passed by this time, though the rain fell in
+great splashing drops, and the wind muttered angrily among the trees in
+answer to the distant rumbling of the thunder. Drenched to her skin, and
+shivering with excitement, Bessie begged that she might go with her
+father.
+
+"We will find them soon," she pleaded; "I'm sure we will, and then we
+can all go home together. It will frighten mother so dreadfully to see
+me coming alone, without Rudolph and Kittie, and Bouncer!"
+
+The man whose lantern had gleamed upon her shaded the light with his
+great rough hand from the spot where Bouncer lay, and in a voice as
+tender as a woman's, urged her to go with him at once,
+
+"Go, Bessie," said her father hurriedly, on seeing that she still
+resisted, "we are losing time."
+
+This was enough. "Good-night, dear father!" she sobbed, as she was led
+away; "don't tell Rudolph about Bouncer until he gets home, father--it
+will almost break his heart."
+
+A voice that even Bessie could scarcely recognize called back through
+the darkness: "Good-night, my child. Go easy, Joe, and keep a sharp
+look-out."
+
+"Ay! Ay!" answered the man in a suppressed voice, as he grasped more
+firmly the little hand in his, and hurried on.
+
+After a wearisome tramp, they at last reached the edge of the forest.
+Bessie started to see a tall, white figure rushing with outstretched
+arms toward them.
+
+"It's the mother," said Joe, pityingly, raising the lantern as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, Joe!" screamed the poor woman, "have you found them?--tell me,
+quick!"
+
+"Well--no, Mrs. Hedden," he shouted in reply, "not exactly that--but
+we've got the gal safe an' sound--not a scratch on her."
+
+In another moment Bessie was in her mother's arms.
+
+"Only me, mother!" she sobbed; "only me; but father's looking for them
+and, oh! mother, Bouncer is dead!"
+
+The next day brought no better tidings. At noon the men returned from
+their search, jaded and dispirited. After the first explanations were
+over, Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered, huskily--
+
+"Give her this, Dennis--I can't; and tell her it was the only trace we
+could find."
+
+The mother's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had
+fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket. "It's Kitty's hood,"
+she cried, stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor.
+
+That evening, and for many a day afterward, the search was continued but
+without success; no trace could be found of either Tom Hennessy,
+Rudolph, or little Kitty.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+THE CAPTIVES.
+
+
+And what had befallen Tom and the children, on the fearful day of their
+sail up the beautiful stream? Bessie's eyes had not deceived her when,
+in one agonized glance, she had seen Tom dash into the forest bearing
+Rudolph and Kitty in his arms, followed by yelling savages. The chase,
+however, was a short one; before Tom had advanced many steps his
+pursuers closed upon him, and tearing the children from his embrace,
+bound his arms close to his body with deerskin thongs. The children,
+screaming with terror, struggled in the arms of the Indians and called
+frantically upon Tom for help; but he, poor fellow, could only turn his
+pitying eyes upon them and beg them to remain quiet.
+
+"It'll save you from worse things," he groaned. By this time several
+savages, darting from near hiding-places, had surrounded them and Tom
+abandoned all hope of escape. Bessie's screams had died away, and he
+felt sure that she had been killed by the Indian who had first rushed
+upon her.
+
+After holding a moment's council the Indians began a rapid march,
+hurrying Tom along with them, and almost dragging the terrified
+children--who, each with a tiny hand in the grip of a painted warrior,
+ran panting by their sides. Hurrying on, faster and faster, until even
+Tom was nearly out of breath, the savages, without exchanging a word
+among themselves, continued their flight (for such it seemed), carefully
+avoiding even the breaking of a twig, or anything that could furnish a
+clue to those who might come in pursuit.
+
+Soon Kitty, who could run no more, was snatched angrily from the ground
+and carried, like a bundle, under the great muscular arm of one of the
+savages. But when Rudolph showed evident signs of exhaustion, the
+Indians paused, evidently consulting together whether they should not
+tomahawk the children at once. Tom could stand it no longer. He declared
+that he would not go another step if the children were injured a hair.
+
+"Let me carry them," he cried. "I am strong enough to bear a dozen
+youngsters--unbind me, I say, and hand 'em over."
+
+Some of the red men knew enough of English to understand his meaning.
+With a contemptuous sneer one of them tossed Rudolph on Tom's back; then
+set one of his arms free, and drove him onward with many a brutal
+stroke. It was hard work for Tom, shackled as he was, to bear the
+frightened boy, who at times clung to his throat so tightly as to almost
+strangle him.
+
+"Hold on, Rudolph, boy," he whispered; "lower down--there, that way. Now
+don't cry; you're father's little man, you know."
+
+"Oh, Tom," sobbed the poor boy, "they'll kill us, I'm sure, as they
+killed little Annie Green. See, now, how they carry Kitty--how they
+scrape her face against the bushes; oh! oh!" and Rudolph hid his eyes in
+Tom's hair, crying as if his little heart would break.
+
+"Hush!" muttered Tom, sternly, "or I'll put you down."
+
+In an instant one of the red men whose look, though grim and fearful
+enough, showed less savageness than his companions, gruffly took Kitty
+from the Indian who was carrying her with such cruel carelessness. The
+change comforted the child, and in a few moments the exhausted little
+creature was sleeping soundly upon his shoulder, never waking even
+through the thunder-storm that ere long seemed to rend the forest.
+
+In this way the Indians hurried on, pausing once to change their
+captive's bands, so as to leave his right arm free instead of his left.
+Now and then Tom would put Rudolph upon the ground for awhile, and when
+the little fellow flagged he would lift him up to his shoulder again.
+
+At nightfall the party halted and made a large fire of brush, by which
+they cooked some venison and hominy, which had been carried by them
+during the march. After partaking of their meal, and giving their
+prisoners a liberal supply, they disposed themselves for the night,
+first taking care to fasten Tom's hands and feet securely, and even to
+bandage the children's ankles so that they could not stand. In vain Tom
+peered about him for a chance of escape for himself and his charges--for
+he would on no account have left them behind--but there was no hope.
+His knife had been taken away from him, and all night long he was
+watched by two Indians, who remained near him in a sitting posture. Even
+when their dusky faces were lost in the darkness, he could see the gleam
+of their piercing eyes as the fire-light flashed and faded. Once, when
+the pain from his fastenings became insupportable, he complained to one
+of the watchers and begged to be unbound for a moment, while a wild hope
+rushed through his heart that he might then, quick as a flash, seize
+Rudolph and Kitty and fly through the darkness out of the reach of his
+pursuers. Vain hope! no opportunity came, though the Indian readily
+complied with his request. Almost every warrior raised himself upon his
+elbow in an instant, and he felt the glare of a dozen eyes upon him at
+the slightest motion he made. After the Indian had loosened the
+fastenings somewhat, and given Tom a drink of pure spring water, he even
+offered him some parched corn, and in no unfriendly way motioned to him
+to try and sleep; but all this show of kindness did not reassure Tom. He
+had heard enough of Indian warfare to feel that any consideration they
+might show their prisoners at first was often but a proof that they
+were reserving them for the greatest cruelties afterward.
+
+Long before daylight the next morning, the march was resumed, in the
+same manner as on the previous day; and, indeed, for three or four days
+it was continued over a country dense with cedar thicket, and becoming
+rougher and more rocky as they journeyed on. At last, after traveling
+westward for a distance of ever a hundred miles--as nearly as Tom could
+estimate--they saw, afar, rising from the lowlands, the smoke of an
+Indian encampment.
+
+Some one evidently had been on the look-out for them. Before they
+reached the spot, they were welcomed with loud whoops and yells.
+Presently the entire community, as it seemed, turned out to receive
+them--hundreds of savages, men, women, and children--who, when they saw
+the prisoners, pierced the air with wild shouts of joy.
+
+The men were painted in every conceivable way, with hideous daubs of
+color upon their limbs and faces, or tattooed so as to look more fearful
+still; their heads were closely shaved, leaving only a lock on the
+crown, called the scalp-lock, which was twisted up so as to hold tufts
+of brilliant feathers. The women, scarcely less hideous than the men
+(excepting here and there a young maiden, the joy of her tribe,
+standing apart from the rest), crowded fiercely about, and the children,
+naked and dirty, whooped and yelled like so many imps.
+
+The scene was certainly not likely to inspire the prisoners with any
+keen sense of security. Indeed, Tom expected instant death at their
+hands. As for Rudolph and Kitty, the poor little creatures were
+stupefied with terror, and clung to Tom in a way that seemed to make the
+Indian children half mad with delight.
+
+Suddenly all the warriors arranged themselves into two long lines,
+facing each other--and, brandishing their tomahawks, switches, and
+clubs, called upon Tom to run the gauntlet! One of the savages proceeded
+to set free the limbs of the captive, at the same time explaining to
+him, in broken English, the nature of the ceremony about to be enacted.
+This was nothing less than for Tom to run between the lines, along their
+entire length, with the chance of receiving a blow from each Indian as
+he passed.
+
+"Run like deer!" said the Indian, as he jerked off the last strip of
+hide from the captive's arm, "then he get more few knock."
+
+Casting one despairing look about him, and seeing not a possible chance
+of escape, even if he were not bound to the spot by the presence of
+Rudolph and Kitty, poor Tom entered upon the dread ordeal. His weariness
+was forgotten as, in very desperation, he flew between the lines so
+rapidly that for a short distance the blows fell but lightly upon him.
+Soon a crushing stroke from the back of a tomahawk fell heavily upon his
+shoulder, but he did not falter; the yells and blows of the savages lent
+wings to his feet--until, at last, when the end was nearly reached, a
+huge chief struck him a blow, with his club, that felled him to the
+ground. Springing up instantly, Tom dashed forward again, and staggered
+on to the end of the line where he sank to the ground, unable to rise.
+Up to the last moment he could hear the shrieks of Rudolph rising above
+the din. The poor child had been forced to witness Tom's suffering from
+the first.
+
+As soon as Tom opened his eyes he saw the pale, tearful faces of Rudolph
+and Kitty. "Don't cry, youngsters," he gasped; "be good, and we may get
+home again yet."
+
+"Oh, come _now_," urged Kitty; "come tell mammy--mammy'll whip'em for
+hurtin' 'oo; naughty Injins!"
+
+Rudolph, forgetting his misery for an instant, laughed outright at
+Kitty's words. The next instant he shook his head solemnly--at
+her--"No, Kitty, mother couldn't whip 'em. But oh, I wish we were home!
+I wish we were home!" he cried, giving vent to his terrors again, as he
+saw a group of red men moving hastily towards them.
+
+After dashing water over Tom's wounds and laying him upon a bed of
+deer-skins, the savages seated themselves in a ring, and held a council
+to decide the fate of the prisoners. The warriors sat in silence while a
+great war-club was passed around the circle. Those who were in favor of
+burning them alive struck the ground heavily with the weapon before
+handing it to the next warrior; while those who objected to putting them
+to death in that manner merely passed it on in silence.
+
+Tom saw all this from where he lay, and he knew its meaning well. With a
+sinking heart he heard the heavy thump of the club as each warrior gave
+his cruel vote, until at last one chief, holding the club in the air,
+pointed with a meaning gesture--first at Tom, then at Rudolph and Kitty.
+The chiefs responded with a grunt of assent to his inquiry concerning
+the latter, but shook their heads when their attention was directed to
+Tom. Then the noble fellow knew that not his fate, but that of the
+children was being decided; while they, unconscious little creatures,
+looked on half amused at what seemed to them some singular game.
+
+"Hi!" whispered Rudolph to Kitty, "didn't that fellow hit hard,
+though?--he'll beat I guess."
+
+A moment more and the council was ended. One of the Indians approached
+the children and daubed their faces with black; it was a fatal sign, for
+it proved that the vote had been against them--Rudolph and Kitty were to
+be put to death!
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+KA-TE-QUA.
+
+
+All that night, and for many days afterward, Tom lay in a burning fever,
+quite unconscious of what was passing around him.
+
+Meanwhile, strange to say, Rudolph and Kitty were treated almost with
+kindness. They were well fed, and were given the softest deer-skins to
+lie upon at night. Finding themselves unharmed as the hours went on, the
+little creatures became more confident, and finally resumed their
+natural playfulness.
+
+Kitty was never weary of the bright beads and ornaments of the Indian
+maidens, and Rudolph found great delight in shooting with the bows and
+arrows of the _papooses_ or children, who, in turn, were wonderfully
+amused at the bad shots of the little pale-face. Now and then, to be
+sure, the vicious child of some chieftain would amuse itself by pricking
+Kitty's tender skin with a thorn, and hearing her scream in consequence;
+or, having seen the black-and-blue marks upon her delicate arms, caused
+by the rough handling of her captors, they would pinch her flesh and
+watch for the change of color with intense interest. One day they tried
+it while Rudolph was standing by, holding the hand of the squaw who had
+him in charge. No sooner did the usual scream escape Kitty's lips than,
+quick as thought, the boy broke from the woman's grasp, and, rushing
+upon his sister's tormentor, laid the little savage in the dust and
+pummeled him well. Instead of resenting this, the Indians seemed to
+admire the pluck of the young pale-face, and he rose in their favor at
+once. Especially did the old squaw, as Indian women are called, applaud
+him. She was a strange old creature, named Ka-te-qua (_female eagle_),
+and, being half crazy, was looked upon by the Indians as one inspired by
+Manitou, or the Great Spirit. Besides, her brother had been a famous
+Medicine-man[1] of the tribe; and her two sons, who had been slain in
+battle, were celebrated braves or warriors, each owning long chains of
+scalps, which they had taken from their enemies. So, of course, when she
+wagged her head in approbation of Rudolph's conduct, all the women near
+her wagged their heads also. Indeed, had Tom remained ill a few weeks
+longer, the black marks on the children's faces would have worn off
+without any further injury being done them. But as he grew better, and,
+finally, was able to sit upright on his deer-skin couch, the malice of
+his captors was renewed. They resolved not only to carry out the
+sentence upon the children, but to put the sick pale-face to new
+tortures as soon as he was strong enough to afford them the requisite
+amount of sport on the occasion. Accordingly on the fourth day after
+Rudolph had punished the little "Red-skin," preparations were begun.
+Heaps of fagots were industriously piled against an oak tree, which
+stood apart. Tom, with feet shackled, and his arms tightly secured to
+his sides, was led out to witness the fearful scene. Rudolph and Kitty
+were seized, and, in spite of their struggles, bound side by side to the
+tree.
+
+Already the wild dance of the Indians had begun. Frightful yells and
+whoops filled the air, and even women and little dusky children clapped
+their hands and shouted with excitement and delight. They brought
+armfuls of brush and laid it close to the pile. Nothing was needed to
+complete the deed but to apply the fatal torches, now sending forth hot,
+fierce gleams into the pale air, and brandished by a dozen yelling
+savages.
+
+At a signal from an aged chief, the brush was lighted. The fire cracked
+and snapped; soon its snake-like wreaths curled about the pile, sending
+thick smoke around the screaming victims, when, suddenly, old
+Ka-te-qua--she who had taken charge of the children--rushed from the
+neighboring forest. Tearing through the crowd, she flew to the pile of
+fagots, and with vigorous strokes scattered the blazing wood in every
+direction.
+
+Then, turning toward the astonished savages, who had retreated a few
+paces to escape the burning brands, she addressed them passionately in
+the Indian tongue:
+
+"The Great Spirit," she cried, "scowls upon you--the very flames hiss in
+the wet grass. The sons of Ka-te-qua are gone to the happy hunting
+grounds of the dead. Her wigwam is dark. The young pale-faces are to her
+like the water-lilies of the stream. Why, when she was in the forest
+gathering herbs for the sick of her tribe, did ye steal them from her
+lodge like dogs?
+
+"Is the tongue of Ka-te-qua forked? Has she not said that no warrior
+need hunt the deer for the young pale-faces? With her they shall grow
+like hickory saplings, towering with strength. The deer shall not be
+more fleet than they, nor the songs of the birds more glad. The sun
+shall paint their white skins. The love of the red man shall enter their
+hearts: they shall be as the young of our tribe. Unbind them! Give them
+to Ka-te-qua, or by the next moon a burning fever shall fall upon you.
+Like panthers will you bite the dust. All the waters of the great
+cataract cannot quench your thirst, and your mightiest hunters will be
+as women."
+
+She paused. A fine-looking chieftain arose and spoke:
+
+"The sister of the great Medicine-man has spoken well. She dwells alone
+in her wigwam Her arm is strong. Her eye is keen, like the hawk's. The
+deer fall before her, and her arrow can find the heart of the grizzly
+bear. Her corn stands higher than the grass of the prairie. She can feed
+the young pale-faces. The Great Spirit gives them to her. Let it be so."
+
+A council was held at once. This time more than half the chieftains
+passed the club on in silence, for Ka-te-qua, as I have said, was
+respected among them; she had great powers of healing, and many of the
+Indians regarded her with a superstitious reverence.
+
+The children were unbound and borne in state to the old squaw's wigwam.
+From that hour, though they were closely watched and guarded, their
+lives were safe.
+
+[Footnote 1: Mystery-man or Indian prophet.]
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+BIG TOM.
+
+
+From the conduct of the Indians towards Tom, it was evident that his
+time for torture had not yet arrived. He therefore had tact enough to
+remain "weak" as long as possible, tottering languidly about the
+grounds whenever they allowed him the liberty of exercising his limbs,
+and drinking the mixtures and decoctions of Ka-te-qua with the patience
+of a martyr. In the meantime, the shrewd fellow took care to win the
+good-will of the tribe by taking apparent interest in their games, and
+showing a great amount of admiration at their feats of strength and
+agility. He amused them too by the display of numerous accomplishments
+peculiar to himself, such as whistling in close imitation of the songs
+of various birds, and performing feats of jugglery that he had long ago
+learned in his native town. He could bark like a dog and howl like a
+wolf; imitate the distant tramping of horses' feet, and give the sound
+of a whizzing arrow so perfectly that the oldest chiefs would turn their
+head quickly in the direction of the sound. Neither at this, however,
+nor at any other of Tom's performances, would they show the slightest
+change of countenance, for an Indian never allows himself to exhibit
+feelings of surprise, considering it quite beneath the dignity of his
+race to do so. Even when, by some dexterous trick, Tom would show them
+two or three acorns under a leaf where their reason told them there
+could be none, and then as mysteriously cause the same acorns to
+disappear, the stony faces looking on never changed a muscle though at
+heart they were probably quite as astounded as the Welsh monster was
+supposed to be when Jack the Giant-Killer, performed such wonderful
+feats with hasty-pudding. By degrees, as Tom deemed it prudent to appear
+stronger, he would dance the sailors' hornpipe for them, or sing wild,
+rollicksome songs, or make beautiful rustic seats and bowers for the
+squaws. He was a capital marksman, too, and soon won respect by showing
+that he could handle a musket with the best of them. The few Indians who
+owned guns had become very expert in their use; and Tom, whenever they
+had trials of their skill, took care to shoot just well enough to prove
+himself a good marksman, without provoking their anger by excelling too
+often.
+
+After awhile, in his desire to win their confidence, he even went so far
+as to signify to the Indians that he would like to become one of them;
+that their mode of life suited him well, and he would be glad to hunt
+and fish with them and be a pale-face no more. Alas! poor fellow, he did
+not know what he was saying, or how soon he would find out that even in
+cases of great temptation no one can tell a lie without suffering
+unhappy consequences. The savages took him at his word. They held a
+council. After it was over, while most of them were still smoking their
+long, richly ornamented pipes with great deliberation, two or three of
+the Indians seized him and gravely commenced plucking out his hair by
+the roots.[2] Soon Tom twitched from head to foot, and water stood in
+his eyes; but the red men still kept on with their work, dipping their
+fingers in ashes occasionally to enable them to take a better hold.
+Before long his head was completely bald, with the exception of one long
+tuft upon his crown, called the scalp-lock. This was immediately
+stiffened and plaited, so as to stand upright and hold a variety of
+ornaments, which his glum hairdresser fastened upon it. Then two old
+Indians pierced his nose and ears and hung big rings in the smarting
+holes. They then took off his clothing and painted his body with every
+variety of color. Next they hung a gaily embroidered cloth about his
+loins, put a wampum[3] chain about his neck and fastened silver bands on
+his right arm. When this was done the whole party gave three shrill
+whoops, and men, women, and children crowded around him, making the most
+frantic gestures, and uttering the most horrid sounds that ever a poor
+fibbing white man heard.
+
+Next the maidens of the tribe rushed upon him, and, hurrying him to a
+stream that ran near by, dragged him into the water until it reached his
+waist, and tried to force his head under. This of course, aroused all
+his spirit of resistance; but, when one of the girls, named She-de-ah
+(wild sage), cried into his ear. "No kill! no kill!" he concluded to
+submit.
+
+After this he was ducked and held under most unmercifully, until,
+believing by this time that "the white blood must be all washed out of
+him," they led him up the shore, all shivering and dripping, and
+presented him to their principal chief.
+
+The next performance was to dress him in an Indian shirt ornamented with
+feathers and beads and bits of porcupine quill. They put leggins on his
+legs and moccasins on his feet, and, seating him upon a bear-skin, gave
+him flint and steel to strike a light with; then a pouch, a tomahawk,
+some tobacco, and a long pipe. Then the chiefs seated themselves beside
+him, and smoked in silence. Tom knew well enough that he was expected to
+smoke too, and filled and lit his pipe accordingly, never dreaming of
+the consequences. Old as he was, nearly twenty, this was his "first
+smoke," and very soon the poor fellow found himself growing deadly sick.
+He could feel the cold chills creeping one after another into his very
+face. Finally, something within him seemed to turn somersaults, when,
+yielding to a sudden impulse, he flung the pipe upon the ground, and
+rushed into the recesses of the wigwam, where he usually slept. This
+the Indians, who attach an almost sacred importance to the pipe, took as
+a great affront; and only when Tom afterward, by the most earnest
+gestures, explained to them the real cause of his conduct, did they
+allow their injured feelings to be pacified; though it cut him sorely to
+notice the expressions of contempt, and ridicule that were soon lavished
+upon him. Whether this proof of what seemed in Indian opinion a want of
+manliness had anything to do with their conduct or not, I cannot say,
+but certain it is that no further ceremonies towards making him a
+red-man were performed though he was allowed to wear his Indian costume.
+Neither did they allow him to hunt with them, as he had hoped. Whenever
+they went forth to shoot the bison or deer, or to trap the beavers, or
+wage war with hostile tribes, they always left him with the squaws, the
+old men, and the warriors who remained at home to take charge of the
+settlement.
+
+Rudolph and Kitty were sorely frightened when they first saw the strange
+figure, "half Indian, half Tom," as Rudolph afterward described him,
+stalk into Ka-te-qua's wigwam. His bald head and painted body struck
+poor Kitty with dismay. When he spoke soothingly to her, and gave her a
+handful of bright feathers, she ventured to approach him, though she
+cried pitifully all the time for Tom, dear, big Tom, who knew papa and
+mamma, and Bessie and Bouncer.
+
+Neither Kitty nor Rudolph had forgotten the brave dog through all these
+days of absence, and they loved to hold long conversations with Tom
+about him; though the little creatures oftener talked of their parents
+and Bessie, as they lay at night upon their beds of dried grass.
+
+[Footnote 2: See American Adventure by Land and Sea. Harper Bros. 1842.]
+
+[Footnote 3: _Wampum_. Beads made of shells, used by North American
+Indians as money, the shells run on strings, and are wrought into belts
+and ornaments.]
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+BOUNCER'S WORK.
+
+
+There was another person in the settlement besides the captives, who was
+not likely to forget Bouncer very soon. This was an Indian who, wounded
+and exhausted, had reached the settlement four days after the arrival of
+the prisoners. He had an ugly mark upon his throat, and another on his
+chest, and he sulked aside from the rest of his tribe as though he felt
+that his wounds were ignoble, and a dishonor to his Indian birth. It was
+his blood that Farmer Hedden had seen on that fearful night; and when
+more than once the agonized father had listened to what seemed to be the
+tread of some skulking wolf, he had heard this very Indian, who, half
+dead with pain and loss of blood, was dragging himself slowly through
+the depths of the forest.
+
+This discomfited warrior had looked upon Tom and the two little
+pale-faces with dislike, from the hour when he first saw them as
+prisoners in the encampment. They were constant reminders to him of his
+mortifying struggle with the dog. He felt it all the more because,
+though his jacket and leggings were trimmed with the scalps of his
+enemies, he had lately been forced to receive charity from the white
+man's hand, This was when, starving and nearly frozen, he had fallen
+helpless in the forest, after an unlucky trapping excursion; a settler
+had found him there, given him food and drink and sent him on his way
+with a bountiful supply of provisions.
+
+Big Tom saw the dark looks of this Indian, and regarded him with
+suspicion; but little Kitty was quite unconscious of the resentful
+feelings of "the sick man," as she called him. In fact, as soon as she
+grew more familiar with the Indians, she often sought him in preference
+to the rest, and loved to sit upon the ground beside him, and trace
+with her tiny fingers the patterns worked upon his leggings and
+moccasins.
+
+At first the grim warrior repulsed these familiarities; but when, as he
+began to mingle with his tribe, he heard her sweet voice calling him by
+name, and saw her day after day display her store of beads and feathers
+at his feet, his feelings gradually softened. Before long he ceased to
+scowl upon her when she lifted her sunny face to his, and, on rare
+occasions, he even allowed her to count his arrows.
+
+Once, when Rudolph had shot a wild turkey, he rushed to Ka-te-qua's
+wigwam with his prize, for he had learned to love the strange old squaw,
+though he feared her, too, sometimes. Kitty clapped her hands with
+delight at her brother's skill, and begged him to go with her and show
+the dead bird to her favorite Indian.
+
+"Come, Rudolph; come show 'Nokah,'" she pleaded, pulling the young
+hunter by the arm. "Come twick! he goin' away."
+
+Rudolph suffered himself to be led. They found Po-no-kah standing alone
+by a tree, fully equipped for the hunt.
+
+He looked at the turkey and gave a grunt, not particularly flattering to
+Rudolph's vanity.
+
+"I've shot THREE!" said the boy, holding up three fingers to make his
+meaning clearer.
+
+"Ugh!" grunted the savage again. "Paleface no shoot much."
+
+"But I'm growing," persisted Rudolph. "When I'm big, I'm going to shoot
+bears and bison. Did you kill the bears to get all these claws?" he
+added, pointing up to Po-no-kah's necklace, which was formed entirely of
+huge bear-claws, strung through the thickest end.
+
+"Ugh," replied the Indian, nodding his plumed head, "me shoot him."
+
+"And these scalps," said Rudolph, shuddering as he pointed to the fringe
+of human hair hanging from the buckskin leggings; "did _you_ get all
+these?"
+
+"Ugh," he answered grimly, nodding the plumes again.
+
+"You are bad, then," exclaimed Rudolph, looking fearlessly into
+Po-no-kah's eyes. "I know _you_," he added suddenly, after gazing at him
+intently for an instant. "Father brought you into our kitchen last
+winter, and I ran behind the door. Mother gave you meat and hot drink,
+and father warmed you and gave you a bag of potatoes. Oh!" he continued,
+clasping Po-no-kah's knee, "_you_ know where our home is. Nearly every
+night I dream that mother is calling us. Show me the way, please do.
+Ka-te-qua says there are dreadful things in the forest that will eat me
+up, but I am not afraid. Oh, do tell us the way home!"
+
+The Indian gave a sharp look at the sobbing boy, and seemed in part to
+understand his words. Stooping, he whispered in a stern tone: "No speak;
+no tell Ka-te-qua;"--and without one glance of encouragement, he stalked
+away to the spot where the other Indians had assembled, preparing for
+the hunt.
+
+The children saw him no more for weeks. Rudolph remembered his parting
+words, and though he could not fully understand Po-no-kah's motive, he
+faithfully obeyed his command. Not even to Tom did he relate what had
+occurred.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+INDIAN LIFE.
+
+
+Rudolph and Kitty learned many things from the Indians that they never
+would have studied in the rough school-house near their pretty home; and
+they soon became familiar with many singular customs that at first
+filled them with wonder.
+
+For instance: when they, or any of the little papooses, were naughty or
+disobedient, they were put under what might be called the water-cure
+treatment. Instead of being whipped or locked up in a dark pantry--as
+was, I am sorry to say, the custom among some white people--they were
+simply "ducked" under water until they became manageable. Winter or
+summer, it was all the same. A bad child would very soon become a wet
+child, if there were any water within a mile.
+
+There are bright sides, as well as dark, to the Indian character; and in
+considering their cruelties and inhuman practices, we must remember that
+the white man has not always been just to him or set a good example to
+his uncivilized brother, or been careful not to provoke him to deeds of
+resentment and wrong. An Indian rarely forgets a kindness, and he never
+tells a lie. He is heroic, and deems it beneath a man's dignity to
+exhibit the slightest sign of pain under any circumstances. Among the
+Sioux tribe of that time, the boys were trained from the first to bear
+as much hardship as possible. They had a ceremony called the Straw
+Dance, in which children were forced to maintain a stately and measured
+step, while bunches of loose straws tied to their naked bodies were
+lighted and allowed to burn slowly away. Any poor little creature who
+flinched or "broke step" was sorely punished and held in disgrace.
+
+There were certain dances among the Indians performed by the warriors,
+before going either to battle or to the hunt. If to battle, they spent
+hours, and often whole days and nights together, in the fearful
+war-dance, accompanied by clashing on their drumlike instruments, and
+whoops that rang long and loud amid the echoing hills. If to the hunt,
+the Bear-Dance or the Buffalo-Dance was kept up nights and days before
+starting, in order to propitiate the Bear Spirit or Buffalo Spirit,
+whichever it might be. They had a funeral dance also, which was very
+solemn and impressive. And if a chieftain was to be buried, either in
+the river, or, as among the Mandans, on a rough platform erected on
+poles high up from the ground, the warriors danced before his wigwam,
+and assigned to a few of their number the duty of seeing that his widow
+and children, if he left any, should never be without food and shelter.
+
+Kitty and Rudolph often looked on with, mingled feelings of terror and
+delight, while some of these strange ceremonies were being enacted. It
+was curious to see the stalwart warriors, with bent backs and glum
+faces, and many a grunt or whoop, stamp through the measured dance.
+Often Kitty would clutch her brother's arm in terror, when, in strange
+concert, the savages would suddenly halt, and with fiendish look and
+stealthy gesture, seem to be listening to the approach of an enemy.
+
+Sometimes, too, the women danced, but always apart from the men. Even in
+their games the warriors and squaws never played together. Among the
+Crow Indians, famous for their long black hair, it was not uncommon for
+a thousand young men to play in one game of ball for three or four
+consecutive days without interruption. As soon as one player retired,
+exhausted, another took his place. Often hundreds of women played
+together, and they were generally as expert as the men in throwing and
+catching the ball.
+
+Another strange feature among Indian customs, was the importance
+attached to the _medicine-bag_. Every warrior had one, and would no
+sooner hunt, or go to battle, or appear among his tribe without it, than
+he would neglect to wear his bow or his scalping-knife. Not that the bag
+contained any medicine, such as we understand by the word--for it was
+nothing but a small piece of skin sewed like a bag, curiously
+ornamented, and stuffed with straw or leaves--but because he regarded it
+as a _charm_. With him, "medicine" meant some mysterious power that
+would protect and guide him, and propitiate the unseen powers in his
+favor. When about to obtain his medicine, the young Indian went alone to
+some solitary river or lake in the depths of the forest, or mounted to
+some lonely peak. Here he fasted, and remained until, sleeping, he
+dreamed. The first animal he dreamed about, whether it were a bear,
+buffalo, deer, weasel, or bird or reptile of any kind, became his
+"medicine" forever. He at once hunted until he found one, and obtained
+its skin for a bag.
+
+Rudolph and Kitty looked with awe upon many of the rare medicine-bags of
+the tribe, though they were never on any account allowed to touch them.
+Indeed, Kitty had managed to make a rough little one for Rudolph, dotted
+with clumps of beads, and he wore it next his heart with secret pride.
+The little fellow had once, while tramping through the forest with
+Katequa, seen a number of deer gathered around a spring, or salt-lick,
+as it is called, and had quivered with frightened delight to see the
+finest one fall wounded by her arrow. When the large eyes of the wounded
+creature had turned plaintively toward him, he had tried not to feel
+sorry, but his heart ached in spite of his efforts,
+
+"I shall be a mighty hunter one of these days," he said to Kitty on his
+return; "but I won't shoot deer, for they look at you just as if they
+wanted to speak. I'll get bears though, lots of 'em, and buffalo; and
+I'll have a fine trap when I get home, and catch badgers and foxes, just
+as the Indians do."
+
+Tom and Rudolph saw with indignation that, throughout the village, the
+labor and drudgery were forced upon the squaws, while the warriors
+stretched themselves lazily upon the ground, or smoked their pipes under
+the spreading trees. As for Kitty, she was too busy watching the women
+cook, dig, chop, and carry, to make any moral reflections.
+
+She loved, also, to sit beside them when they prepared the skins brought
+in from the hunt, or while they were busy with their curious sewing, so
+different from that with which she had seen her mother occupied.
+
+Bright-colored rags, feathers, beads, porcupine-quills, and even scraps
+of tin, were the ornaments upon which the squaws relied to make the
+toilets of their tribe "stylish" and beautiful; and Kitty--tiny little
+woman that she was--soon grew to agree with them perfectly in matters of
+taste.
+
+To be sure, the Indian women never did anything quite so barbarous as to
+put their little girls' feet into narrow shoes with high heels, nor
+fasten tight belts about their waists, so that the God-given machinery
+within could hardly work. But they did many preposterous things, for all
+that. They painted their bodies and tattooed their skins, by pricking
+figures on the flesh and rubbing in some staining juice when the blood
+appeared. They even pierced their noses so that bright rings could
+dangle from them. Many, too, hung bits of metal from their ears in a
+similar way--but that may not strike my civilized readers as being a
+very barbarous custom.
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+KA-TE-QUA'S "GOOD NIGHT."
+
+
+Thus weeks and months passed away, not so wearily to the prisoners, as
+to the poor, sorrowing hearts that mourned for them at home. Tom's brain
+was always busy in planning some mode of escape for himself and his
+little charges. But, as he was still closely guarded, never being left
+alone for an instant, night or day, and as the children slept in the
+wigwam of Ka-te-qua, whose eyes seemed never intended to close, he
+concluded to wait patiently rather than to risk the lives of all three
+by an unsuccessful attempt.
+
+Meantime, Ka-te-qua's strong arms grew feeble, her arrow became less
+fatal in its aim, and her strange fits of moodiness filled Rudolph and
+Kitty with dread.
+
+For hours she would sit at the entrance of her wigwam, chanting
+mournfully in the Indian tongue. At such times she would compel the
+children to remain within,--becoming frantic with crazy rage should they
+attempt to force past her into the pleasant sunshine; and they would sit
+together in the shadow, hoping that by some whim she would walk away, or
+that the long, long chant would cease. One afternoon she kept them
+waiting in this way for hours. The sun sank lower and lower into the
+distant prairie, and the crimson clouds faded to a dull gray. Rudolph
+and Kitty sat listening to the wailing tones of Ka-te-qua's voice until,
+as the evening grew dark and chilly, they found for themselves a scanty
+supper of parched corn, and after whispering their simple prayer, groped
+their way to bed.
+
+The strange old creature ceased singing after a while, and entered the
+wigwam. They could distinguish her form as she slowly moved about,
+before throwing herself down near the entrance to indulge in her usual
+cat-like sleep. Afraid to speak to her, for they were not quite sure in
+what mood she might be, they watched her movements as well as they
+could, and at last felt sure that she was tottering slowly toward them.
+
+Kitty clasped Rudolph's neck more tightly, and broke into a frightened
+sob. In an instant, they felt her hand steal very gently over their
+tumbled curls.
+
+"Night! night!" she whispered softly.
+
+"Good-night, Ka-te-qua," they answered in a breath, for their fear was
+all gone now.
+
+"Night, night," repeated the voice, as kindly as their own mother could
+have said it, and after giving each a caressing stroke, their old friend
+moved softly away.
+
+Very early the next morning the children were awakened by a buzzing of
+many voices. Ka-te-qua had been found lying stiff and cold at the
+entrance of her wigwam. Not a trace of injury of any kind was upon her.
+The Indians, crowding round, shook their heads gravely. Ka-te-qua was
+wise, they said, but Manitou had sent for her. She had gone to the happy
+Hunting Grounds of her fathers.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+FIRE-WATER BECOMES MASTER.
+
+
+After a long absence, the hunting party returned. As soon as Po-no-kah's
+stalwart form appeared in sight, Rudolph and Kitty rushed, with a cry of
+joy, to meet him; but, to their great dismay, he pushed them away with a
+frown and a grunt that told them plainly that they were to be familiar
+with him no more. Poor children!--Ka-te-qua gone, Po-no-kah changed, and
+Tom scarcely heeding them,--they felt friendless indeed. Kind words they
+never heard now, and kind looks rarely, except when Tom threw them a
+hasty glance that warmed their hearts, though they scarcely knew why.
+They did not know how his feelings yearned towards them, nor how eagerly
+he would have joined in all their simple pursuits, had he dared to do
+so; but the poor fellow had discovered that any notice he took of the
+children aroused suspicion, and he therefore concluded to pursue a
+prudent course.
+
+In the meantime the children had one great joy. Their love for each
+other was always the same. Kitty trusted in the belief that "mammy"
+would send for them; but Rudolph looked ever up to the Great Love that
+he knew was watching over them and the dear ones at home.
+
+"If it's _right_, Kitty," he would whisper, "I _know_ we'll go home one
+of these days. Don't be afraid. God will take care of us."
+
+"But Dod took Te-qua away," Kitty would sometimes say.
+
+"Yes, I know He did, Kitty," and Rudolph's eyes would look sadly up to
+the blue sky, "I know He did, but then I think she was tired and wanted
+to go."
+
+Summer, autumn, and winter had passed away, and now came the season when
+the Indians carried their largest supply of furs and skins to sell in
+the city far over the prairies. Often, after their hunts, they had met
+with traders, and exchanged the skins they had taken for such articles
+as the white man had to give--guns, blankets, knives, powder, pipes, and
+fire-water;[4] but this was the grand trading excursion of the year.
+
+When the party returned, after a few weeks' absence, they brought with
+them among other things, a keg of whisky. After the first welcome was
+over, the savages held a council.
+
+It was soon evident that a fearful scene was to be enacted. The
+prisoners had seen something of the kind before, but never on so large a
+scale as this.
+
+The Indians had decided to hold a revel, in which nearly all the men
+were to drink fire-water until they could take no more.
+
+Even these savages knew the horrible consequences of parting with their
+wits in this manner. Before the drinking commenced, they appointed a few
+able-bodied Indians who were to remain sober and take care of the rest.
+They then deprived themselves of all their dangerous weapons--tomahawks,
+clubs, guns, arrows, and knives, and prepared for their fearful riot.
+
+The scene that followed need not be described.
+
+Soon the confusion became fearful. The few sober chiefs were constantly
+risking their lives in their efforts to prevent mischief. Squaws were
+screaming, and frightened children were hiding in every direction.
+
+Tom, who was half forgotten in the general excitement, saw Po-no-kah
+whisper hurriedly to one of the women. In a moment she caught Rudolph
+and Kitty by their hands and stole cautiously with them into the forest.
+Tom's suspicions were aroused. He started up only to feel a strong arm
+force him back to the log upon which he had been seated.
+
+"No move!" muttered a voice, close by his ear. "Soon come.--Be very
+drunk."
+
+In a few moments, while the tumult and uproar were at their height, Tom
+saw Po-no-kah reeling toward the forest.
+
+Wondering what the fellow meant to do, yet filled with a wild hope, Tom
+watched his chance, staggered past the rioters, and managed to follow
+the warrior by another path, without creating any suspicion.
+
+When, at last, they met, Po-no-kah had Rudolph and Kitty in his arms,
+and, staggering no more, was hurrying through the forest, armed with
+bow, quiver, and traveling pouch. The astonished prisoner, after taking
+Kitty from his companion's arms, followed him in silence. Not for hours
+did Po-no-kah look back or speak, and then it was but to say a few
+broken words:
+
+"Po-no-kah was hungry. The father of the little pale-faces fed him.
+Po-no-kah no snake--he remember--Po-no-kah take 'em home."
+
+[Footnote 4: Brandy, rum, and all alcoholic liquors.]
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+SHOWING HOW THE BAG OF POTATOES CAME BACK AGAIN.
+
+
+Farmer Hedden was busily at work in the fields, looking ten years older
+than on that sunny day, nearly a year before, when he had shouted a
+laughing "good-bye" to Tom and the little ones.
+
+Bessie was trudging alone from school, wondering why the birds sang less
+sweetly than they did the May before, and wishing that the noble dog
+that bounded by her side looked a little more like the first Bouncer.
+
+Mrs. Hedden sat with her brother in the lonely cottage, talking on the
+old, old theme; the memory of that terrible night had never left her
+heart.
+
+"No, no, Robert," she said at length, in reply to some appeal from her
+brother, "we must not go. I know it would be better for us to sell out
+and go to Philadelphia. But it cannot be; we must never leave this
+spot."
+
+"Surely, Betsy," urged her brother, "you cannot be so wild as to
+suppose--"
+
+"No!" she interrupted, "I never dare even hope for that now. I know my
+lost darlings are not in this world, and yet--and yet why not hope? why
+not think that perhaps--"
+
+A shadow fell upon the threshold. What wonder that the mother sprang
+forward with a cry of joy! What wonder that Farmer Hedden, looking from
+the field, came bounding toward the house! Po-no-kah was
+there--Po-no-kah and little Kitty!
+
+Laughing,--crying,--clasping her dear Kitty frantically to her heart,
+then gazing at her at arms' length, Mrs. Hedden raised her eyes to the
+Indian, and gasped faintly--
+
+"Rudolph? the boy--is he--"
+
+She could say no more.
+
+"Yes--boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break
+heart see two--he here."
+
+Just then Farmer Hedden, Tom Hennessy, and Rudolph rushed in.
+
+Oh, what a meeting that was! And Bessie, too, was there before they knew
+it. Such laughter--such tears--such shouts of rejoicing had never been
+known in the Hedden cottage before!
+
+Soon the barking of a dog was heard. Rudolph sprang from his father's
+arms:
+
+"Oh, it's Bouncer!" he cried; "let me see him. Here, Bouncer!"
+
+Bouncer indeed came leaping in at the call, but it was not _the_
+Bouncer, though it was a great, shaggy fellow, worthy of the name.
+
+Rudolph started back; the dog, too, eyed him with a suspicious look.
+
+"That isn't Bouncer! Where is he, mother?" exclaimed the poor boy,
+looking up with a bewildered glance.
+
+Po-no-kah slunk aside.
+
+"Do tell me where Bouncer is," he repeated,
+
+"We are all here but him. Here, Bouncer! Bouncer!" and he ran to the
+door.
+
+Bessie wound her arms about his neck.
+
+"Rudolph, darling," she sobbed, "don't cry. Bouncer was killed on _that_
+day. He saved my life, Rudolph--"
+
+"Bouncer dead!" screamed the boy.
+
+Just then the new dog, seeing Bessie and her brother so close together,
+felt that he had a right there, too. With many a frantic leap and bound
+he endeavored to draw Rudolph's attention, until, finally, the tearful
+eyes of the boy were turned upon him. Then, if ever a dog tried to do
+his best, that fellow did. He sprang into the air, barked, tumbled,
+leaped, whined, wagged his tail till it almost spun, and, finally,
+licked Rudolph in the face until the chubby cheeks shook with laughter.
+
+All this time Tom's Indian dress had scarcely been noticed. At last Mrs.
+Hedden, grasping both his hands, exclaimed:
+
+"Why, what in the world have you been doing with yourself? I knew you,
+though, the moment you came in. Oh, Tom, how you have suffered!"
+
+Tom tried to answer her; but somehow his great faithful heart was
+overflowing, and he could only look at her with a tearful smile.
+
+"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a
+fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees
+such a meeting as this."
+
+Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and
+placed his hand upon his shoulder.
+
+"_We_ are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never
+repay what I owe you. Remember, our home is yours from this hour. I
+shall take no denial."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Bessie, clapping her hands; "now I shall have two
+brothers!"
+
+Mrs. Hedden, who had listened to Po-no-kah's broken words, kissed and
+hugged Tom in her motherly way. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "how can we
+make you look like a white man again; and to think you have had chances
+to escape and would not leave the children," and then she hugged him
+again.
+
+"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, nodding his head and holding up three
+fingers--to signify that Tom had had three chances.
+
+"Pooh!" said the brave fellow, blushing through all the red paint, "I
+didn't have any at all until a month or so ago, and I'd got kind o' used
+to staying then."
+
+Soon the red man turned to go. In vain the grateful parents tried to
+force their gifts upon him, and to persuade him to at least partake of
+some refreshment after his long journey.
+
+He pointed to his hunting-pouch and his bow, as if to say that they
+would furnish all the the food he required, and nodded westward to show
+that he must be far on his way before sundown.
+
+As Tom gave him a hearty hand-shake and the rest crowded about him, all,
+even to little Kitty, thanking him over and over again, he waved them
+off with dignity.
+
+"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the
+young pale-faces gave him food. He come tell white man Indian no
+forget."
+
+Tom expressed anxiety lest their deliverer should suffer for his act
+when he returned to his tribe.
+
+"Po-no-kah no fraid" answered the Indian grimly with almost a smile upon
+his face. And, nodding a farewell to little Kitty, he strode
+majestically away.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A year later, the Heddens settled on a fine farm near Philadelphia.
+Rudolph and Kitty doubtless walked many a time by the old Hall where our
+Declaration of Independence was signed.
+
+Bessie Hedden's sons when they grew up became pioneers themselves; and
+their names were Hennessy; so you see the maiden probably, in the course
+of time, changed her mind about having Tom for a brother.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Po-No-Kah, by Mary Mapes Dodge
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PO-NO-KAH ***
+
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