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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:36 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:36 -0700 |
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diff --git a/11991-h/11991-h.htm b/11991-h/11991-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb8d23a --- /dev/null +++ b/11991-h/11991-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1917 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + Po-No-Kah, + by Mary Mapes Dodge. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + P { margin-left: 4%; + margin-right: 4%; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } + .note { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>PO-NO-KAH</h1> +<h3> +AN INDIAN TALE OF LONG AGO +</h3> +<h2> +By Mary Mapes Dodge +</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h4> +1903 +</h4> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<hr> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a> +<h2> + PO-NO-KAH. +</h2> + +<h3> +AN INDIAN STORY OF LONG AGO. +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h3> + I. +</h3> +<h3> +THE HEDDEN FAMILY. +</h3> +<p> </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—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—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. +</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,—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—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_2"><!-- RULE4 2 --></a> +<h3> + II. +</h3> + +<h3> +EXPLORING THE STREAM. +</h3> +<p> </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?—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—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?—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—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—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—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— +</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—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—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—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—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—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—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 <i>that</i>—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!" +</p> +<p> +Ah! happy, unconscious mother, if you <i>could</i> have seen them—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—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—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— +</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—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_3"><!-- RULE4 3 --></a> +<h3> + IV. +</h3> + +<h3> +THE SEARCH. +</h3> +<p> </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—<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?—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—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— +</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—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—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—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—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—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. +</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;—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—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—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?—tell me, +quick!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</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— +</p> +<p> +"Give her this, Dennis—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> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3> + V. +</h3> +<h3> +THE CAPTIVES. +</h3> +<p> </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—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—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—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—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—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. +</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—as nearly as Tom could +estimate—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—hundreds of savages, men, women, and children—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—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—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—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—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. +</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—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?—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—Rudolph and Kitty were to +be put to death! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_4"><!-- RULE4 4 --></a> +<h3> + VI. +</h3> + +<h3> +KA-TE-QUA. +</h3> +<p> </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—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. +</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—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_5"><!-- RULE4 5 --></a> +<h3> + VII. +</h3> + +<h3> +BIG TOM. +</h3> +<p> </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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_6"><!-- RULE4 6 --></a> +<h3> + VIII. +</h3> + +<h3> +BOUNCER'S WORK. +</h3> +<p> </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;"—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_7"><!-- RULE4 7 --></a> +<h3> + IX. +</h3> + +<h3> +INDIAN LIFE. +</h3> +<p> </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—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. +</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—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 <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—tiny little +woman that she was—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—but that may not strike my civilized readers as being a +very barbarous custom. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3> + X. +</h3> +<h3> +KA-TE-QUA'S "GOOD NIGHT." +</h3> +<p> </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,—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_8"><!-- RULE4 8 --></a> +<h3> + XI. +</h3> + +<h3> +FIRE-WATER BECOMES MASTER. +</h3> +<p> </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!—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. +</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—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—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.—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—he remember—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> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="RULE4_9"><!-- RULE4 9 --></a> +<h3> + XII. +</h3> + +<h3> +SHOWING HOW THE BAG OF POTATOES CAME BACK AGAIN. +</h3> +<p> </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—" +</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—and yet why not hope? why +not think that perhaps—" +</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—Po-no-kah and little Kitty! +</p> +<p> +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— +</p> +<p> +"Rudolph? the boy—is he—" +</p> +<p> +She could say no more. +</p> +<p> +"Yes—boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break +heart see two—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—such tears—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—" +</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—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> </p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11991 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |