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diff --git a/old/66190-0.txt b/old/66190-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f78906a..0000000 --- a/old/66190-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5258 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Antelope Boy; or, Smoholler the Medicine -Man, by George L. Aiken - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Antelope Boy; or, Smoholler the Medicine Man - Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 92 - -Author: George L. Aiken - -Release Date: August 31, 2021 [eBook #66190] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois - University Digital Library) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANTELOPE BOY; OR, SMOHOLLER -THE MEDICINE MAN *** - - - - - THE ANTELOPE BOY; - OR, - SMOHOLLER, THE MEDICINE-MAN - - - A TALE OF INDIAN ADVENTURE AND MYSTERY. - - - BY GEORGE L. AIKEN. - - - NEW YORK. - BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, - 98 WILLIAM STREET. - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by - FRANK STARR & CO., - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - I The Surveyors’ Camp 9 - II The Arrow Message 14 - III Smoholler’s Fiend 19 - IV Smoholler’s Angel 24 - V The Scouting Party 28 - VI Finding the Trail 32 - VII A Desperate Encounter 35 - VIII The Prophet-Chief 39 - IX Conjuration 42 - X Oneotah 46 - XI A Silvan Repast 50 - XII The Tree-Ladder 54 - XIII Multuomah 59 - XIV The Chief’s Bride 63 - XV The Old Hunter’s Idea 67 - XVI Holding a Council 70 - XVII The Boy Embassadors 75 - XVIII The White Lily 80 - XIX On the Way 84 - XX Oneotah’s Memories 88 - XXI The Mystic Cavern 91 - XXII The Search is Ended 95 - - - - - THE ANTELOPE BOY; - OR, - SMOHOLLER, THE MEDICINE-MAN. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - THE SURVEYORS’ CAMP. - - -The surveying party were camped upon the banks of the Columbia River, a -short distance from the mouth of its confluent, the Yakima. - -This party consisted of the two surveyors—Owen Blaikie, a bluff, -middle-aged Scotchman, long since “naturalized” to this country, and -Cyrus Robbins, a shrewd young Yankee, twelve United States soldiers -under command of Lieutenant Charles Gardiner, detailed expressly from -the nearest fort to protect the surveying party from predatory bands of -Indians, an old hunter, generally known under the name of “Gummery -Glyndon,”—his prefix of Montgomery having suffered this abbreviation at -the hands of his associates—whose duty it was to act as guide, and keep -the surveyors supplied with fresh meat; and two boys, the chain-bearers -of the expedition. - -These boys merit more than a passing notice here, as they are destined -to play conspicuous parts in the events which were to follow the advance -of the surveying party into the country of the Yakimas. - -There was this peculiarity about them, that they were first cousins, and -were both called Percy—Percy Vere and Percy Cute. - -But despite their relationship and the similarity of their surnames, -there was very little resemblance between the two. - -Percy Vere was a slender youth, graceful and active, with a frank, -honest face, and regular features, his hair being a dark chestnut, thick -and curly, and his eyes a clear hazel, giving evidence of courage and -decision of character in their glances. He looked quite picturesque in -his coarse suit, with the trowsers tucked into high-topped boots, and -his crispy curls straggling from beneath his broad-leafed felt hat. - -Percy Cute was full a head shorter, and his figure was decidedly -dumpish. He had a fat, good-natured face, light flaxen hair, and a -laughing blue eye. Indeed, a grin appeared to be the prevailing -expression of his features. He was sluggish-looking, and appeared like -one who would not put forth exertion unless compelled to do so. He was -dressed after the fashion of his cousin and comrade, with heavy boots, -coarse trowsers, a striped shirt, with a broad collar, and a kind of -roundabout, which was short for a coat, and too long for a jacket; and -like him, he wore a revolver in a belt buckled around his waist, the -pistol resting convenient to hand, upon his right hip, while on the left -side the handle of a bowie knife made itself conspicuous. - -All in this party carried arms, for the service was one of danger, and -at any moment the emergency for their use might arise. - -The boys were quite favorites in the party, the first by his frank, -manly bearing, and accommodating spirit, and the other by his unvarying -good nature, and the drollery in which he was so fond of indulging. His -humor appeared to be inexhaustible, and his quaint manner of giving vent -to it was irresistible. - -In fact, Percy Cute had, at a very early age, been forcibly impressed by -the antics of a clown in a circus, and his great delight had been to -play clown from that eventful moment. - -The culinary department of the expedition was attended to by a colored -individual who combined the two functions of cook and barber for the -party. He was a jolly little darky, but terribly afraid of the Indians. -The fear of his life was that he might have his “wool lifted”—as the old -hunter phrased it—before he got out of the wilderness. But he had one -consolation even in this apprehension: he had, like a great many other -barbers, invented a HAIR RESTORATIVE, which he considered infallible. - -“Never you mind, boys,” he would tell the soldiers, “if de Injines does -gobble us, an’ lift our ha’r, as Gummery says, I can make it grow -ag’in—hi yah-yah! I jist kin!” - -Whereupon he would exhibit a small bottle in a mysterious manner, -adding, “Dar’s de stuff dat can do it—you bet!” And then he would -consign it to his pocket again. - -This assurance afforded much amusement to the “high privates” of the -party, who made a standing joke of the Professor’s Hair Restorative—for -Isaac Yardell had prefixed the word “Professor” to his name when he was -a tonsorial artist in Chicago, before the spirit of adventure had seized -upon him and led him after gold among the mountains of Montana. - -Gummery Glyndon had brought in an antelope. Some of the soldiers had -captured a few fish from the river, a fire had been built in the center -of the camp, and preparations were going on briskly for the evening -meal. - -In this Isaac had four assistants, he having contrived to transfer the -drudgery of his office, with true Ethiopian cunning, to others. A -colored servitor will always shirk all the work he can. Thus two of the -soldiers, a German named Jacob Spatz—Dutch Jake, was his camp name—and -one Irishman, Cornelius Donohoe—Corney for short—were always available -for services at meal-time, and the two boys—the Percys—collected the -wood for the firing. By this arrangement Isaac had little to do but the -cooking, which he performed to the entire satisfaction of the party. - -Even the rough old hunter—Glyndon—a gaunt, grizzly man of fifty years of -age, bestowed his meed of praise upon him. - -“It don’t matter what I bring in,” he told Lieutenant Gardiner, “game, -fish or fowl—antelope, mountain sheep, or b’ar meat, that Ike can just -make it toothsome. These darkies take to cooking, ’pears to me, just as -naturally as ducks do to water.” - -Ike had only one grievance in the camp, Percy Cute was continually -playing jokes upon him. Such little pranks as putting powder in his -pipe, nipping at the calves of his legs and imitating a dog’s growl, and -grasping his wool at night, and shouting a war-whoop in his ear, had a -damaging effect upon Ike’s temper, and he vowed deadly vengeance. But -his vengeance never extended beyond a chase after Percy Cute with a -ladle, with the laudable intention of administering a severe spanking; -but in these onslaughts the redoubtable Isaac always came to grief; for, -just as he would overtake the flying youth, Cute, with a nimbleness that -his sluggish look and dumpy figure never led any one to expect, would -suddenly fall upon his hands and knees, and pitch his pursuer over him. -But as Isaac invariably alighted upon his head, he received no injury -from these involuntary dives. A shout of laughter would herald his -defeat, and he would pick himself up, and return to his camp-kettle, in -a crest-fallen manner, swearing to himself until every thing got blue -around him, and vowing that he would “fix him de next time, suah!” - -These little episodes enlivened the camp, and nobody enjoyed them better -than Gummery Glyndon. The old hunter had, generally, a morose look upon -his seamed and weather-beaten countenance, and his hatred of every thing -in shape of an Indian was well known. - -Nor was the cause of that hatred a secret. He had been the victim of one -of those forest tragedies so frequently enacted upon the frontier. It -was the old story which has been told so often, and will be repeated -until the extermination of the red-man—which has been going on slowly -but surely for years—is completed. - -While absent upon a hunting and trapping expedition, his cabin had been -surprised, his wife and only child, a little girl some three years of -age, cruelly murdered, and their mutilated remains consumed in the fire -that destroyed his home. - -A blackened ruin was all that was left of the spot that was so dear to -him, and he found himself alone in the world, with only one thought in -the future—vengeance upon the murderers. - -In the drear solitude of that heart-sickening scene, and beside the -ashes of all that he had treasured in the world, he breathed that vow of -vengeance, which the lips of so many bereaved settlers in the Far West -have sent up to heaven—death to the destroyers. - -That was fifteen years before the time in which I introduce him here. In -all those years he had pursued the Indians with a deadly malignity. He -had taken part in every Indian war that had broken out, and the number -of his victims had been many. - -As the years passed away this feeling of vengeance grew fainter, and -though he never spared an Indian who came against him with hostile -intent, yet he did not go out of his way to seek for them, as he had -done. The Yakimas were supposed to be the destroyers of his home and -family, and against that nation he cherished an undying enmity. Yet -circumstances had led him away from their country, to the -hunting-grounds of the Apaches, with whom he had many encounters. - -He had gladly accepted the service that would take him back to the land -of the Yakimas. In all these years he had gained experience as a guide, -in wood-craft, and as an Indian-fighter. No hunter of the plains bore a -better reputation for skill, prudence, and knowledge of the Indians than -Gummery Glyndon. - -His face bore a somewhat morose expression, as I have said, but he was -far from being a morose man. Indeed, there was quite a fund of dry humor -in his disposition, which was an agreeable surprise to those who judged -the man by his saturnine countenance. - -Percy Cute was a particular favorite of his, and none in the party -enjoyed the boy’s drolleries more than he did. Indeed, both the boys -were prime favorites with him, and often accompanied him upon his hunts. -He looked upon them in the light of _proteges_, as he had got them their -places in the expedition. - -He had met them at Fort Benton, where they had come from Omaha up the -Missouri river, on one of the steamboats that ply on that stream, and -was rather surprised to hear what had brought them there. - -Though partly led by a spirit of adventure, they had a mission, and one -of some importance. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - THE ARROW MESSAGE. - - -Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter. His father had been -missing for years. He was an eccentric character, and professed -spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a -little in magic and chemistry. In fact, he was a universal genius—a -jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any. - -Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate -milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s -eccentricities brought to the door, away. In other words, she was -obliged to support herself and son, and often furnish money to the -genius, who could not make it for himself with all his diverse talents. - -He did not appear to be able to concentrate his forces so as to produce -any good from them. He was full of wild theories and startling -speculations, but he failed signally whenever he attempted to put them -to an application. - -His wife expressed her opinion of him freely one day, and told him she -could no longer expend her savings in his wild schemes. He replied that -it was the fate of genius to be misunderstood, that he was destined to -be a great man, and she would live to see it; and having uttered this -ambiguous prophecy, left her. - -He did not return the next day, or the next—a year passed away without -bringing Guy Vere home. His wife became alarmed at his prolonged -absence. She reproached herself with being too harsh with him and having -driven him away from her. He was a handsome man, and she had cherished a -warm affection for him, which his eccentricities had not destroyed. She -feared that she had driven him to commit suicide. But no tidings came of -his death. - -She was obliged to keep her little millinery shop going for the support -of herself and son, and her sister’s child, who being left an orphan, -fell to her care. This was Percy Cute—who was just one year younger than -his cousin, his mother having been so pleased with the name of her -sister’s child, that she had bestowed it upon her own. - -The little shop prospered, and the boys grew in years. Mrs. Vere could -not drive the image of her husband from her mind. If she could have -satisfied herself that he was dead, she would have been more content, -but she could not do that. - -The impression among Guy’s neighbors when he was at home, was that he -was not in his right mind—“Luny,” they called him. - -But many years passed away before she got any tidings of the missing -man, and then it came in a very vague shape. - -Percy Vere got an Omaha _Herald_ one day, which had been sent as an -exchange to a St. Louis paper, and in it was the advertisement of an -astrologer who called himself “Professor Guy.” - -He took it home to his mother, and said to her, “That’s father!” - -These words put her all in a flutter. She took the paper and scanned the -advertisement eagerly. - -“What makes you think so?” she asked. - -“Father’s name was Guy, and he was a ‘professor’ of astrology!” - -She smiled. “He was a professor of almost everything.” - -“Suppose I go and see if it is my father,” he suggested. - -She pondered over this. - -“Would you know him, do you think?” - -“Oh, yes, if the picture you have in your locket is any thing like him.” - -“It was when it was taken.” - -She took out the locket, which she wore constantly around her neck, -sprung it open, and regarded the two portraits it contained earnestly, -for it held her miniature likeness as well as his. - -“I have not changed much,” she said, “and perhaps he has not, either. I -should really like to know if he is alive. Suppose I was to write to -this Professor Guy?” - -Percy, who was a bright youth, shook his head dissentingly. - -“If he is staying away of his own accord, it is no use to write to him -to come back,” he replied. - -She breathed a sigh. “I suppose not,” she said. - -“But if I was to go after him and have a talk with him, I might prevail -upon him to come back.” - -Mrs. Vere was impressed by these words, but she answered: “How could I -trust you so far away from home?” - -He smiled, and drew himself proudly up. - -“Don’t you think I am big enough to take care of myself?” - -She surveyed his tall, graceful figure, with a mother’s pride, saying: - -“Perhaps; but you are so young.” - -“I’m seventeen, and I feel quite a man.” - -“But I don’t like to trust you so far from home alone.” - -“Oh! I needn’t go alone; Percy can go with me.” - -Mrs. Vere laughed. - -“A great protection he would be—another boy like yourself!” she cried. -“There, there—let us not talk any more about it.” - -But they did talk about it upon several occasions afterward, and Mrs. -Vere’s desire to hear from her missing husband overcame all other -considerations, and she consented to Percy’s request to go in search of -him. She thought that the sight of his boy would induce him to return -home. - -Her business had proved prosperous, as I have said, and she was able to -fit out the boys in good style. She hung the locket that contained her -own and husband’s likeness around her son’s neck, and bade him a tearful -“good speed.” - -The boys took passage upon a steamboat bound for Omaha, and steamed up -the Big Muddy, as the Missouri is called by the dwellers on its banks, -and reached that ambitious city in due season. - -Upon making inquiries, Percy Vere learned that Professor Guy had found -Omaha dull for the exercise of his profession, and had joined a party of -adventurers—a mixture of hunters and gold-seekers—and gone with them to -Fort Benton. - -The very eccentricity of this proceeding was a convincing proof to Percy -that this Professor Guy was indeed his father So he wrote to his mother, -and then he and Percy Cute sailed up the river in one of the -light-draught steamboats. - -They reached Fort Benton without misadventure, but here, instead of -being at the end of their journey, they found it was just the -starting-point. The party to which the Professor had attached himself -had taken the trail that led into the wilderness, and it was necessary -to follow it, or abandon the search. - -Percy Vere chose the former alternative, for he could never think of the -latter, and Percy Cute was always of his way of thinking—in fact, -thinking was irksome to his sluggish nature. - -“I just tumble to any thing you say,” he told his cousin. “Follow your -leader—that’s my maxim. You lead and I’ll follow. Say! we might have -some high old fun among the Injuns, and bears, and things. Let’s invest -in a revolver and bowie-knife, and travel on our muscle!” - -So Percy Vere, filled with a true spirit of boyish adventure, wrote his -intentions to his mother, and he and Cute made their preparations for a -journey into the wilderness. - -At this juncture of affairs they made the acquaintance of the old -hunter, Gummery Glyndon. They told him their story, (or rather young -Vere did, for he was the spokesman on all occasions) and he promised to -aid them, and fulfilled his promise by attaching them to the surveying -party, though in the capacity of chain bearers; but the boys did not -mind that. - -Such an opportunity to penetrate into the Indian country was not to be -neglected, and the first Percy, who was treasurer, wished to husband -their means, for there was no telling how long their search might last, -or whither it would lead them. - -They made rapid journeys at first, as a portion of the “Northern Pacific -Railroad” had already been surveyed, and they were to take it up at, or -near, that point, where it was to connect in a south-easterly direction -with the “Union Pacific.” - -As they passed the different Government forts their escort was changed, -until they were joined by Lieutenant Gardiner and his squad, from Fort -Walla Walla. He was to remain with them until they were through the -Yakima country. - -Hitherto their journey had led through the land of the Nez Perces, who -were a friendly tribe, and they had been undisturbed; but when they made -this new camp Gummery Glyndon told them they might now expect trouble -from the Indians. - -“There’s three tribes through here,” he said, “and there ain’t much -choice between ’em. There’s the _Cayuses_, the _Yakimas_, and the -_Umatillas_—a pesky set of murdering thieves the lot of ’em. They all -belong to the great Snake Nation, I believe—red sarpints, every mother’s -son of ’em.” - -When he returned from his hunt he told them that he had seen “Indian -sign.” - -“There’s Injuns watching us, and we shall hear from them,” he said. -“We’ll have to keep a sharp watch to-night, or they’ll stampede our -animals.” - -The lieutenant and the surveyors did not neglect this warning. They had -great confidence in the old hunter’s judgment. - -When the supper was disposed of the camp was placed in as good a -condition of defense as the locality would permit. The ground had been -well selected; it was a little grove on the river’s bank, a kind of -oasis among the cliffs, which rose beetling upon either side, -precipitously, and, apparently, inaccessible. These cliffs were some -distance—a long rifle-shot—from the little grove, and a kind of rocky -valley lay between them, devoid of vegetation in many places, where the -hard rocks cropped up. Through this valley must the foe come, or else -risk their necks, or a plunge into the river, by attempting to skirt the -cliffs. - -The horses belonging to the party were secured in the grove. In the -center of the grove, in a kind of natural fireplace formed by the rocks, -the fire had been built, and its red embers were still glowing. Two -sentinels were posted at either extremity of the camp. Around the fire -the hunter, the surveyors, and the lieutenant were stretched in easy -attitudes, enjoying their pipes of tobacco—the great luxury of the -wilderness. - -A short distance from them the two boys reclined upon a mossy bowlder, -listening to their conversation. - -The sun had sunk, and the glorious twilight of that western land was -upon them. The scene was of calm tranquillity. But that tranquillity was -broken in a singular manner. - -There came a hurtling sound in the air, and an arrow descended, -apparently from the heavens, and stuck quivering in the turf at -Lieutenant Gardiner’s head. - -All started and grasped their weapons, instinctively, for the trusty -rifles were close at hand. - -“An attack?” cried Gardiner. - -“No—a message. See, there’s a scroll upon the arrow,” answered Gummery. -“Read it.” - -He threw some brush upon the coals which speedily burst into a flame. -Lieutenant Gardiner undid the scroll of bark from the arrow, and spread -it open. It contained characters which he had no difficulty in -deciphering, for they were written in English. - - “White men, begone! If you advance further into the land of the - Yakimas, certain destruction awaits you. - - “Smoholler, the Prophet.” - - - - - CHAPTER III. - SMOHOLLER’S FIEND. - - -“What does this mean?” added Lieutenant Gardiner, having read this -singular scroll aloud. - -“A game of bluff!” answered the irrepressible Percy Cute. “Let’s see -him, and go two better!” - -“It’ll be more than a bluff game,” rejoined Gummery Glyndon, shaking his -head gravely. “This means business. It’s a notice to quit, and if we -don’t take it, these Injuns will do their best to put us out.” - -“Rub us out entirely, I guess you mean,” cried Surveyor Robbins, -laughingly. “But we won’t take the back track on such a notice as that. -Who is this Smoholler?” - -“Yes, that’s what I want to know,” chimed in Blaikie and Lieutenant -Gardiner. - -“I have heard tell of him, though I never met him,” replied Glyndon. -“He’s a great gun among the Injuns hereabouts. He’s a kind of red -Brigham Young—calls himself a Prophet, and has started a new religion -among the red-skins.” - -“What is this religion like?” - -“That’s more than I can say; though, from what I’ve heard, there appears -to be a deal of trickery about it. He’s a great Medicine-man, and can -raise the Old Boy, generally. He has his familiar fiends, and makes ’em -appear to his followers whenever he likes. He works miracles, and all -that sort of thing. And when he predicts the death of any one, they just -go, sure pop, at the time mentioned.” - -“A singular man, this,” remarked Lieutenant Gardiner, thoughtfully. - -“He’s more smart than sing’lar; he just keeps these benighted heathen -right under his thumb. They don’t dare to say their souls are their own -when he’s around.” - -“Where did he come from?” - -“He is said to be a Snake Indian of the Walla Walla tribe. He started a -village on the river, above here, at a place they call Priest’s Rapids, -and his followers increased like magic. He is said, by the Nez Perces, -to have a couple of thousand of believers, renegades from all the other -tribes in this region, and he can put three hundred fighting men in the -field, and then the Cayuses, Yakimas and Umatillas all stand in dread of -him, and wouldn’t dare to do any thing else but join him in a war -against the whites if he called on ’em. I believe he’s got a reg’lar -stronghold at Priest’s Rapids.” - -“Is it named so on his account?” asked Robbins. - -Glyndon shook his head dubiously. - -“I s’pose so, but I couldn’t say for sure. I don’t know the place; was -never up there.” - -“What kind of a place is it—did you ever hear?” - -“Oh, yes. It is north of the Oregon line, and is a great place for -salmon-fishing. The Injuns have a great time catching ’em in the -season.” - -“This Smoholler, then, is a kind of independent chief among the other -tribes?” - -“Yes; and his tribe is a conglomeration of all the other tribes, and the -pick of ’em, too. They are called Smohollers by the other Injuns, but -there’s Cayuses, Yakimas, Umatillas, Modocs, Snakes, and Piutes amongst -them.” - -“A mongrel set!” - -“But tough customers to deal with.” - -Lieutenant Gardiner turned to Percy Vere. - -“You and your chum send the sentinels in to me, and take their -places—young eyes are sharp.” - -The two boys, who had been listening attentively to this conversation, -obeyed at once, and the two sentinels soon appeared before the -lieutenant. But they had not seen any one approach the camp, and were -surprised to hear that an arrow had been shot into it. - -Gummery Glyndon surveyed the nearest cliff critically. Its base was -about a stone’s throw from where he sat. The rising moon threw a silvery -radiance upon its peak, disclosing an irregularity near its top, that -looked like a cavity in its face, though it might have been only a -shadow. - -“It’s my opinion the arrow came from there,” he exclaimed, giving -utterance to this thought suddenly. - -All eyes were turned in the direction indicated. - -“But how could any one get up there? A cat couldn’t climb that. It’s as -steep and as smooth as a wall.” - -“Just you wait,” returned the old guide, coolly. “If this Smoholler is -the kind of man he’s said to be, we ain’t done with him yet. Just keep -your weather eye peeled in the direction of that cliff, and have your -rifles handy. That arrow was only the commencement. I saw plenty of -Injun sign to-day, and there may be a hundred of Smoholler’s braves -beyond there. I opine that he is not going to let us travel much further -into this country, if he can help it.” - -“But, man, what harm does our surveying do him?” asked Blaikie. - -“He don’t want any railroad through this country—all Injuns are down on -railroads—sp’ils their hunting-grounds, and settles up the country. And -the white settlers settle the Injuns. We’ve had a genteel notice to -leave, and if we don’t take it, we’ll have ’em swarming round us like -enraged hornets.” - -“You would not advise a retrograde movement?” asked Lieutenant Gardiner. - -“Who said any thing about taking the back-track?” somewhat tartly -rejoined Glyndon. “Did I? I never saw Injuns enough to back me down -yet.” - -The lieutenant laughed, as he added: - -“The suggestion of a backward movement came from me,” he said, “and by -so doing I am not afraid to have my courage called into question. -Discretion is said to be the better part of valor. We appear to have -reached a critical position here. Our party is small—nineteen in all, -counting the two boys. If the Indians oppose us in force—and from what -Glyndon says it seems that this Indian Prophet Smoholler can put three -hundred warriors in the field—shall we be justified in advancing against -such odds?” - -The surveyors looked at Glyndon, but he was silent, gazing reflectively -at the cliff, upon whose summit the moonbeams now played in a fantastic -manner. - -“I confess I don’t like the idea of retreating,” said Blaikie. “I don’t -want to be turned back by such a scarecrow as that.” - -“No more do I,” added Robbins. - -“I don’t say go back, and I don’t say go on,” replied Glyndon, in his -deliberate manner; “but I say, just hold on for a while here, where we -are, until we can see how the cat jumps.” - -“How long will it be before the feline animal indulges in her gymnastic -exercise, do you think?” asked Robbins. - -“Before you can smoke another pipe,” answered Glyndon. “I have an idea -that something is going to happen right away—kind o’ feel it in my -bones. Get the men ready, leftenant—there’s no telling what is— Hello! -it’s coming! Fireworks—by king!” - -The amazement of the old hunter was shared by the whole camp, and the -two boys came running in from their posts. - -“See—see—look there!” - -A strange fire issued from the face of the cliff, disclosing a little -shelf or platform, backed by a cavity. From this cavity the fire came -forth with crimson luster, and rose colored smoke rolled upward toward -the heaven, obscuring the moon-rays. - -The entire force of the whites clustered in front of the grove, -clutching their rifles, and gazing with wondering eyes upon this -singular sight, and exclamations burst spontaneously from their lips. - -“Ach Gott! what ish dat?” cried the Dutch private. - -“It’s a volcayano!” explained the Irishman. - -“It’s the debble’s fireplace!” mumbled Isaac, and his teeth chattered -together with superstitious awe. - -“It’s some of Smoholler’s deviltry!” said Glyndon. - -The fire grew in intensity, and then a dark body seemed to grow up in -the midst of it. A black, unearthly figure of a man, with eyes of fire, -a tongue of flame, and livid horns projecting from his head, of a -deep-red color. - -“The devil!” was the cry that burst from the lips of the astonished -whites. - -He held what appeared to be a thunderbolt in his hand, and suddenly -launched it like a javelin at the astonished gazers. It whizzed past -Isaac’s head, singeing his wool in its passage, and exploding at his -heels, and the tonsorial professor sprawled upon his back with one -heart-rending yell that evinced his firm belief that he had received his -quietus. - -“Fiend or man, I’ll have a try at him!” cried Glyndon, and he took a -rapid sight along the barrel of his rifle, and fired at the apparition -on the cliff. - -Two other rifles echoed his, for Blaikie and Robbins had impulsively -followed his example. The three rifles sent forth their contents, and -the smoke clouded their vision for a moment. But following the reports -came an unearthly, soul-curdling laugh, and then something pattered down -among them like heavy drops of rain. - -Robbins stooped and picked up a round object that struck at his feet. - -“Good heavens! here’s my bullet sent back to me!” he cried. - -These words sent a thrill through every heart. Isaac, still lying curled -up in a heap where he had fallen, uttered a plaintive howl. - -Percy Cute went to him. - -“Are you dead, Ike? If you are, say so, and tell us where you would like -to be buried,” he said. - -Isaac sat up on end, resenting this question. - -“Glory!” he cried. “S’pose de debble had shot you, how would you like -it?” - -“Well, if I warn’t hurt any more than you are, I shouldn’t mind it much. -Singed your wool a little, but your Hair Restorer will fix that all -right, you know.” - -A roar of laughter followed this remark, and in the midst of it Isaac -scrambled sheepishly to his feet. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - SMOHOLLER’S ANGEL. - - -When the smoke of the rifles cleared away the fiend had vanished from -the cliff, and the crimson light had died away. The silvery beams of the -moon played hide and seek among the projections and depressions of the -cliff’s peak. - -The gazers rubbed their eyes. What they had seen appeared to them -already like a fantastic dream. But a new vision awaited them, a new -wonder was to be presented to their eyes. - -Another light began to glow from the cliff, but this time it was of a -bluish tint, and the smoke that arose from it was white and fleecy. And -this light grew dense, as the other had done, and assumed a form and -shape—a shape of ethereal loveliness. - -As the other vision thrilled the beholders with a kind of supernatural -awe, so did this one excite their wondering admiration. It bore the -shape they supposed an angel would wear. - -The face was that of a girl, angelic in its beauty. Her long black hair -floated in wavy masses upon her neck and shoulders, and was confined -upon the forehead by a golden coronet in the center of which gleamed a -diamond star, which emitted scintillating rays of light. Her arms and -legs were bare, revealing their faultless perfection, and the alabaster -purity of her skin. Her only garment was a long white tunic, of some -snowy, fleecy fabric, confined at the waist by a golden cestus, which -was studded with large rubies glittering with blood-red rays. - -This angelic vision held in her right hand a kind of glittering dart. -For a minute she transfixed their wondering gaze, then hurled the dart -into their midst. - -The fire around her grew more vivid, the volume of white smoke increased -in density, obscured her figure from view, and then began to roll away. -When the light of the fire faded and the smoke lifted from the face of -the rock, the platform was vacant, the lovely vision had disappeared. - -The surveying party gaze inquiringly into each other’s faces. Lieutenant -Gardiner expressed the general opinion by asking the hunter, Glyndon: - -“What do you think of that?” - -Glyndon shook his head dubiously. - -“Did you ever see a girl as pretty as that one was?” he asked. - -“Well, no, I can’t say that I ever did,” the lieutenant admitted, with a -smile; “and if she is a human I should like to become better acquainted -with her.” - -“All women have something angelic about them,” said Glyndon, -reflectively, and his voice had a strange touch of pathos to it as he -spoke—“particularly when they are good and true women. I knew one -once—an angel couldn’t have had a better disposition, and she—” His -voice broke here. “Well, well, the murdering red-skins sent her to -heaven before her time!” he resumed, huskily. “And our little one went -with her. Perhaps it was best so—but I’ve often thought I could have -stood it better if she had been spared. Do you know, leftenant—it was an -odd idea, but when I looked at that bright spirit-angel or whatever it -was—up on the cliff yonder—I thought to myself, my little girl, maybe, -looks just like that up in heaven.” - -The hunter turned away his head and wiped his eyes with the back of his -bony hand. His hearers respected his grief for they knew the story of -Glyndon’s bereavement. - -Percy Cute picked up the javelin and the dart, if they could be called -by these names, for they were of singular construction, as we shall see -anon. - -“Here’s the telegrams,” he said; “they may tell us what the meaning of -the diorama was. A piece of birch bark is wrapped around each.” - -“I must examine them,” exclaimed Gardiner, taking possession of them. -“Freshen up the fire, my boy, so we can have a little more light upon -the subject.” - -“Better post the sentinels again,” suggested Glyndon. “This deviltry may -be only the forerunner of mischief.” - -“You are right. It behoves us to use every precaution.” - -Two other sentinels were posted, and then the balance of the party -returned to the camp-fire in the grove, which the two boys had started -into a blaze again. - -One of the missiles hurled from the cliff was about four feet in length, -the other two. The javelin was a stout stick of wood, apparently the -shoot of a tree, about an inch in diameter, and was painted a blood-red -color. It was blackened at one end, as if it had been loaded with some -kind of firework, on the rocket principle. Around the middle of it a -strip of flexible bark was secured by a leathern string. - -The dart was formed of the bone of the fore leg of an antelope, and was -gilded, as if by the application of that kind of gold-leaf known to -printers as “Dutch Metal.” This also had a strip of bark around it, but -it was secured by a long black hair, soft and glossy, as if plucked from -a woman’s head. - -“Funny gim-cracks, those,” said Glyndon, as Lieutenant Gardiner -unfastened the strips of bark. - -“Yes; nothing very supernatural about these,” he replied. “But let us -see what Smoholler has to say this time.” - -He read the words upon the strip of bark taken from the javelin first: - -“_Begone, or fear my vengeance!_” - -“Good! So speaks the Fiend. Let’s hear what the Angel has to say.” - -He read the second strip: - -“_Depart in peace, and escape the destruction that threatens you._” - -Lieutenant Gardiner passed the pieces of bark to the surveyors for their -inspection. - -“Well, gentlemen, what do you think of this?” he asked. - -Blaikie and Robbins examined the billets of bark curiously. - -“There is one thing singular about this affair,” said Blaikie. - -“What is that?” - -“These communications, like the one sent on the arrow, are written in -English, either with a red pencil or a piece of red chalk, and -apparently by the same hand, for the characters appear to be alike in -each.” - -“There’s nothing strange in that,” said Glyndon. “Many Injuns have -learned English from the numerous trappers and traders who have visited -them at different times. A man as smart as this Injun Prophet must have -had frequent dealings with the traders, and would be sure to get a -smattering of the language.” - -“The man who wrote these communications had more than a smattering,” -returned Robbins. “This Smoholler is determined that we shan’t run our -railroad through his country, that’s evident.” - -“Yes; and he has begun by trying to frighten us away.” - -“And if that don’t do it, he’ll try fighting us away next,” responded -Glyndon. - -“Likely; but I don’t scare worth a cent,” rejoined Robbins. “This -supernatural trickery may do among the Indians, but it won’t answer with -us. I’m going to survey this country in spite of Smoholler’s angels or -devils—though I wouldn’t mind a closer inspection of the angel.” - -“Nor I,” laughed Gardiner. “Girl or angel, she was certainly a vision of -beauty. By Jove! suppose we search the cliff—we might find her there.” - -He started impulsively to his feet, under the excitement of this idea. - -“I will go with you!” cried Percy Vere, always ready for an adventure. - -“Count me in!” added Percy Cute; the idea was firmly impressed upon his -mind that wherever Percy Vere went, he must go also. - -“Sit down,” said Glyndon, in his calm, deliberate manner. “You might as -well attempt to find a needle in a haystack as search that cliff -to-night. You’d only break your necks attempting it, and not find -anybody, either. If there’s a way up that cliff, they know how to get up -and down it, and they won’t stop there until we come to look for ’em. -Wait until morning.” - -“They’ll be gone then.” - -“They’re gone _now_. If we could surround the cliff, it might have been -of some use; but it joins the range beyond, as you can see, and they -probably came from the back of it, through some crevice, which we can’t -see from here. I’ll take a scout up that way in the morning, and see.” - -“My idea is to fortify our position here to the best of our ability, and -await an attack, which is sure to come. We might repulse it here.” - -“You are right every way, leftenant,” replied Glyndon. “This is a good -p’int. While I take a scout to-morrow, just cut down a few of these -trees, and make a breastwork. We can send to Fort Walla Walla for help -if we are hard pushed; but I have an idea that if we pepper a few of -Smoholler’s followers, he’ll get sick of it and let us alone. The -railroad’s bound to go through, and he can’t help it. Perhaps I can get -a talk with him, and convince him that we are not going within a hundred -miles of his village. We’ll see to-morrow. Now just sleep, all who want -to. I’m going to keep an eye on that cliff for the balance of the -night.” - -He took his rifle and walked to the edge of the timber; but his -vigilance appeared to have been uncalled-for, as the quiet of the camp -remained undisturbed through the night. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE SCOUTING PARTY. - - -In the morning, after partaking of breakfast, Gummery Glyndon prepared -for his scout. During this, he was urged by Percy Vere to allow him and -his cousin to accompany him. - -The hunter was inclined, at first, to refuse this request, but on -reflection, he consented. - -“They are smart boys, both of ’em,” he told himself, “and the surveyors -always lend them their rifles when they go with me. I’d rather have them -any time than the soldiers—these reg’lars ain’t worth shucks in an Injun -skirmish—it would be as good as three of us, and if the Injuns are thick -among the hills, and I opine so, I shall want some help along. Yes, -Percy, you can go.” - -These last words were uttered aloud. - -The two boys were quite pleased at being permitted to join in the scout, -and Blaikie and Robbins readily loaned them their rifles. The surveyors -were well provided in this respect as each had a breech-loading, -repeating rifle, besides the old-fashioned single-barreled, smooth bore -one. The boys got the single-barreled ones, of course. But they were -perfectly satisfied with them, and, by much practice, had gained -considerable skill in their use. - -“Do you know, Percy, I have an idea,” said the elder boy, as they -equipped themselves for the adventure. - -“Have you? How does it feel? Tell me, so I’ll know when I have one.” - -“Oh, pshaw! you are always at your joke. My idea is that Smoholler might -give me some intelligence concerning my father.” - -“Very likely; but do you think it safe to trust yourself in Smoholler’s -power?” suggested Cute. - -“Oh, no; but we might be able to hold a parley with him. I think he -would prefer to arrange matters peaceably with us if he could. He must -know that he can not drive back our party without considerable loss to -himself.” - -“Yes, and from what I have heard old Gummery Glyndon say, I should fancy -that these Indians don’t like to take any risks. Do you know, Percy, I’d -like to have a scrimmage with the red-skins. I think it would beat -bear-hunting all hollow—Smoholler!” - -Percy Vere laughed at this pun upon the Prophet’s name. - -“It might not be so funny as you imagine,” he answered; “particularly if -we should happen to get the worst of it, and you should have your hair -lifted.” - -Percy Cute passed his fingers through his shock of flaxen hair, -reflectively. - -“I would not like to be obliged to experiment on Professor Ike’s -Restorative in that fashion,” he said. “I’m afraid the soil is too poor -for another crop, even with that help. But I’m not going to let any -Indian take my top-knot if I can help it. I’ll trust to my arms, while -my powder and bullets last.” - -“And failing these?” - -“My dependence will be in my legs.” - -“You are too fat to run fast.” - -“Not if a crowd of red-skins was after me. The way I could get over the -ground then would be a caution to bedbugs.” - -Percy Vere laughed again. - -“You’ll do,” he cried. - -“You bet I will! Anybody’s got to get up early to get ahead of my time.” - -“Are you ready, boys?” asked Gummery Glyndon, as he approached them. - -“Ready and willing,” responded Cute. - -Glyndon took a critical survey of the boys, as they shouldered their -rifles and joined him. Besides the rifle each was armed with a -revolver—the large size called “navy”—and a bowie-knife, with a keen -blade, six inches in length, and a stout horn handle. A serviceable -weapon for a close encounter, and also serving the purpose of a hunting -and table knife. Few travelers upon the plains and amongst the mountains -of the Far West are without this useful article. - -“You’ll do,” said Glyndon, shaking his head, approvingly. “Come on.” - -Lieutenant Gardiner followed them to the edge of the timber. - -“How long do you intend to be absent?” he asked. - -“I shall try to bring you in something for dinner,” replied Glyndon. -“I’ve got the boys, and so I can bring in considerable game, if we are -lucky enough to find it. My idea is to go through the ravine, and skirt -the cliff to the left there—where the deviltry was last night—looking -for Indian sign by the way, and come back by the river’s bank, if -there’s footing—if not, we’ll get on some logs and let the tide float us -down.” - -“A good idea,” cried Gardiner, surprised by the mention of this -expedient. “I should never have thought of that. You are cunning in -devices.” - -“So are the Injuns,” returned Glyndon, impressively. “Take care some of -’em don’t come down on you that way while I’m gone.” - -“I’ll look out for them; you’ll find quite a fort here when you come -back. I hardly think Smoholler will dare attack us here.” - -Glyndon took a critical survey of the situation, and shook his head in -the manner he had when any thing met his approval. - -“It’s a good camping-ground,” he said, “and you can hold it ag’in’ a -hundred Injuns, in _daylight_.” He laid particular stress upon this -word. “An open attack is what you can beat off without any trouble, but -it’s stratagem and trickery will bother you. But we can tell more about -Smoholler when I come back. If he’s got a strong party near us he can’t -hide the signs of them from me.” - -“Can you judge of the number without seeing them?” asked Gardiner, in -some surprise. - -“Oh, yes.” - -“How can you do that?” - -“Every man to his trade; you know your tactics, and I know mine. I have -learned to trail Injuns pretty well in all these years. I couldn’t very -well explain to you how I do it—there’s a knack in it that some men can -never pick up. But, to us old forest rangers, there’s tongues and voices -in the running water, the rustling leaves, the waving grass, and the -moss-grown stones. Where an Injun plants his foot he leaves a sign, and -though they do their best to hide their trail, there’s always eyes keen -enough to spy it out.” - -“I have heard of the wonderful skill you hunters have in following a -trail,” rejoined Gardiner. “You beat the Indians in their own -woodcraft.” - -“The white man is ahead of the red-man in every respect,” replied -Glyndon, sententiously. “He can out-run him, out-hunt him, and out-fight -him! It’s the intellect does it. The Injun’s brain-pan wasn’t calculated -for any thing but a savage—but you can’t make the Peace Commissioners -believe it. Why don’t they pick up all the lazy, good-for-nothing white -men in the country, put ’em on a reservation, and feed and clothe them? -Waugh! Come, boys, let’s see if the ‘noble red-man’ isn’t after our -ha’r.” - -With this contemptuous reflection, Gummery Glyndon threw his long rifle -into the hollow of his arm, and walked toward the mouth of the ravine -with long strides, followed by the two boys, who kept up with him with -some difficulty; but their young hearts bounded with a pleasant -excitement. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - FINDING THE TRAIL. - - -The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the -little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting -the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon -its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions -had appeared upon the previous night. - -“There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there -may be on the other.” - -“There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in -the rock,” rejoined Cute. “There may be a cave up there.” - -“It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other -side,” remarked Percy Vere. - -“More’n likely,” answered the old hunter. “There’s a heap of snow lies -on these hills in the winter-time, and the spring thaw sends torrents -down to the river, and the water bores its way through the rocks just -like a gimlet. These cliffs are a spur of the Cascade Range, and when we -get upon the brow of one of them, I think we can see the white peak of -Mount Rainier, looking like a big icicle turned the wrong way upwards.” - -“Is it very high?” - -“Thirteen thousand feet, they say. It’s the highest peak of the Cascade -Mountains.” - -“Why do they call them _Cascade_?” - -“On account of the torrents I was telling you of. I’ll show you some -grand sights when we get among the mountains, for the road is to run -between Mount Adams and Mount Hood, Blaikie told me; that is if -Smoholler lets us get any further. We can never get out of this valley -with our present force, if he tries to stop us. Let’s push on and take -the timber there to the right. It’s pretty thick at the skirt of the -cliff.” - -The trees fringed the cliff half-way to its summit, a thick growth of -spruce, fir, and cedar, and through this the hunter and the boys made -their way with some difficulty, as the ground was rocky and uneven, and -the dwarf cedars and firs sprung from every crevice of rock and patch of -earth. - -After a toilsome tramp of an hour they turned the base of the cliff, and -emerged upon the other side of it. During their progress they started -quite a quantity of game. A huge elk galloped away within easy range, -and deer crossed their path several times, while numerous wild-fowl -arose from their perches and went whining away. - -The temptation to shoot was very great, and it was as much as Glyndon -could do to restrain the boys. - -“’Tain’t safe,” he told them. “Wait until we go back. I have an idea -that there’s Injuns round here, and a rifle-shot would bring ’em on us -quicker’n a wink.” - -“But oh, what a lovely shot that elk was!” cried Percy Vere. “And such -splendid horns. I would like to have them for a trophy.” - -“Wait—there’s more of ’em. We must look for Injuns first.” - -“That’s my idea!” cried Cute. “I’d rather have a scalp for a trophy than -a pair of horns.” - -Glyndon smiled, grimly. - -“I opine that there’s as many scalps around here as horns,” he said; -“but we must take care we don’t lose our own in looking for ’em.” - -“Have you seen any sign?” asked Percy Vere. - -“Not yet; but I think we’re coming to it.” - -They pressed forward, and as they skirted the cliff they bore upward -toward its crest. Its aspect was entirely different upon this side, its -slope being gradual, and the trees and bushes growing very near to the -top. - -The way was still difficult. Huge bowlders, some covered with moss and -making little openings in the woods, and others thickly studded with fir -trees, protruding like green spikes, continually obstructed their way. - -“Great Cæsar!” cried Glyndon, pausing to wipe the perspiration from his -brow. “This is tough work. I don’t see any signs of a trail yet—and -there must be one to the top of the cliff, if I could only find it.” - -Percy Cute, who was the last in the line of march, for he had a natural -tendency for loitering, had diverged a little to one side when this halt -was made and, though the hunter and Percy Vere were further up the cliff -than he was, he had gone more to the right, in a forward direction, and -suddenly came upon a kind of open way in the wood. - -“Look here!” he called out. “Here’s better traveling; come this way.” - -Glyndon and Percy Vere joined him. - -“Why, it looks like a path—a path leading to the summit of the cliff!” -cried Percy. - -“It is the trail!” said Glyndon, with satisfaction. - -He bent over it, and began to examine it attentively, and as he did so -his features assumed a grave expression, and he shook his head in a -dissatisfied manner. - -“Boys!” he said—“I’m an old fool!” - -This announcement rather surprised them. - -“What’s up?” demanded Percy Cute. - -“Mischief! We’ve walked into a trap, and I’ve led you into it like a -consumed idiot as I am.” - -“How so?” inquired both boys, eagerly. - -“Why, don’t you see? When we was a looking up at the cliff there must -have been one of the red-skins up there watching us. They know we are -here in the wood, and they are just waiting for our return to the camp -to surprise us. And there’s fifty of ’em at least.” - -The boys were thrown from one surprise into another. - -“How can you tell how many there are of them?” asked Percy Vere, -curiously. - -Glyndon pointed to the trail. - -“Here’s what tells me,” he answered. “These Injuns always go single -file, and tread in each other’s footsteps to blind their trail, but it -would take fifty of ’em, at least, to make so plain a trail. And see -there, just at one side, where her foot slipped on the stone, and she -stepped out of the trail, heavily, and come near falling—see that broken -branch to which she clung to save herself—that tells me there’s a squaw -along.” - -The boys were filled with wonder. - -“And the trail is scarcely cold either,” continued Glyndon, still -pursuing his examination. “They passed here less than a half an hour -ago, and they’re after us.” - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. - - -“After us?” repeated Percy Vere, in some consternation. - -“Just so,” replied Glyndon, calmly. - -“Then we had better git up and ’git,” suggested Percy Cute. “Let’s get -back to camp. I wouldn’t mind a scrimmage, but I think fifty against -three is a leetle too hefty.” - -“We can’t go back the way we came,” answered Glyndon. “They’re between -us and the camp now. We’ll have to take to the river the other side of -the cliff, and get back that way.” - -These words revived the boys’ spirits. - -“Oh! then there is a way out of the trap?” cried Percy Vere. - -“I reckon; I never got into so bad a scrape but what I could find a way -out of it. Let’s travel. We’ve found out enough, and the quicker we get -back to the camp now the better. We know that there is a way up to the -cliff’s top here, and we’ve found out that there’s a woman in the party, -so we can understand something of Smoholler’s deviltry last night.” - -“Yes, but this woman is a squaw, is she not?” - -“Of course.” - -“But the vision that appeared upon the cliff was _white_, how can you -account for that?” urged Percy Vere. - -Glyndon shook his head in a bewildered manner. - -“I can’t account for it,” he answered, reflectively. “She was white, as -you say, and if she wasn’t an angel she looked enough like one to be -one. The sight of her face affected me strangely—I hain’t cried for -years, and yet I felt the tears coming as I looked at her. It’s -witchcraft, and this Injun Prophet just knows how to play it. I don’t -wonder that the savages think he’s something great. I’d like to see him -once, just to see what kind of a man he is; but I don’t want to see him -just now—it might not be wholesome,” he added, dryly. “He might lift my -ha’r without the formality of an introduction. It’s lucky I didn’t let -you shoot at that elk when you wanted to. The sound of your rifle would -have brought the whole squad down upon us.” - -A peculiar cry arose on the air. - -“What’s that?” asked Percy Vere; a presentiment of evil entering his -mind as he listened to it. - -“That’s some bird calling for its mate,” said Cute. - -“Nary a bird,” cried Glyndon. “That’s an Injun. They’ve struck our -trail, and they’re coming for us. Come on; we must get to the river, -fast as we can travel.” - -“Couldn’t we make a stand here and fight them?” suggested Percy Vere. - -The old hunter shook his head. - -“Madness, my boy,” he replied. “I like your spunk, but it can’t be done. -I’m doubtful if we can all get back to the camp, but we’ll make a try -for it. Our only hope is to make for the river upon the other side of -the cliff.” - -Percy Cute took off his hat, and felt of his hair, while his face -assumed a rueful expression. - -“I wish I had a photograph of it,” he exclaimed. - -“Why so?” demanded Glyndon, in some surprise. - -“Because I’m afraid that I will never see it again.” - -Both the hunter and Percy Vere laughed at this sally. This dry humor in -the face of threatening danger pleased Glyndon greatly. - -“You’ll do!” he returned. “Good grit, both of you, and the Injuns shan’t -get you if I can help it. Come along. We can make a stand at the river’s -edge, and pepper some of ’em before we take to the water.” - -They pressed rapidly forward, but their path was beset with many -obstacles and obstructions. They had to clamber over huge bowlders, and -force their way through thickets of cedar, and fir-trees, nor were -brambles wanting in the way. - -The numerous signals that now sounded behind them lent spurs to their -exertions, for they told them that the Indians were following in swift -pursuit. - -As they approached the river’s brink the wood grew more open; there were -less rocks scattered about, and the trees were taller. As they emerged -into this opening, with only a fringe of trees between them and the -river’s bank, the report of guns rattled in quick succession behind -them, and a bullet went whistling by Glyndon’s ear. - -“Great Cæsar!” he cried, “this won’t do. Turn at the trees, boys, and -prepare for ’em. They’ll hit one of us next thing.” - -They gained a clump of fir trees that grew close together, which -afforded them a shelter, and an opportunity to fire their rifles between -the trunks. - -They were breathless with the exertions they had made, and were only too -glad to avail themselves of this temporary rest. - -“Phew! that’s what I call tall traveling,” cried Cute, panting to -recover his wind. “I heard the bullets rattling around me like -hailstones.” - -“It’s a mercy we were none of us hit,” rejoined Percy Vere. “Well, we’re -lucky so far.” - -“But we ain’t out of it yet,” said Glyndon, and he looked grave. -“They’ll make a rush for us, and when they come, fire your rifles, and -then take your pistols. Don’t stop to load; if we can’t drive ’em back -on the first fire, it’s all up with us. Give ’em every shot you’ve got, -and then take the river—the current will carry us down to the camp, and -we can’t be far above it. Maybe they’ll hear the firing and be ready to -help us.” - -“Hoop-la!” exclaimed Cute, excitedly. “Here they come. I’ll take that -big fellow in front.” - -A wild yell rung through the wood, and a score of painted savages -bounded swiftly forward. They had determined upon a desperate charge, -evidently; and this mode of attack so different from the customary -warfare of the red-man provoked a cry of rage from Glyndon’s lips. - -“Blast ’em!” he shouted, “somebody’s told ’em just how to beat us—but -give ’em Jessie! Come on, you murdering thieves!” - -The three rifles cracked simultaneously, and two of the advancing -warriors went down in their tracks; but Cute missed the tall Indian, the -leader of the party, and the savages came on unchecked, like a huge -ocean wave. Our three scouts were instantly surrounded. The two boys -fought back to back, with revolver and bowie-knife in either hand. - -Glyndon clutched his long rifle by the barrel and swept the Indians from -his path as he fought his way to the river. He reached the bank and -plunged into its turbid tide. He was loth to leave the boys to their -fate, but he knew he was powerless to help them—and self-preservation is -the first law of nature. - -Percy Cute received a blow from a tomahawk that stretched him upon the -ground; and Percy Vere found himself clutched by the strong arm of the -chief—a hideous-looking object in his war-paint. The warriors drew back, -as if feeling that the boy could not cope with his formidable opponent. - -Percy’s weapons were struck from his hands, and he was hurled to the -ground. The hideous face of the savage glared over him, and his knee was -pressed upon the boy’s chest, nearly suffocating him. Percy gave himself -up for lost. - -The chief clutched at his throat with his left hand, brandishing his -scalping-knife in his right. His fingers came in contact with the ribbon -that Percy wore around his neck, and the locket was pulled forth and -sprung open. - -The chief’s eyes fell upon the faces it contained, and a cry of -amazement burst from his lips. He sprung to his feet. - -A brawny savage was approaching Cute to give him his finishing-blow. - -“Hold!” shouted the chief, in a voice that was shrill and loud, like a -bugle-call. “Harm him not—harm neither—they are my captives, and their -lives are sacred.” - -A growl of discontent greeted these words. - -“Why not kill the pale-face whelps?” cried one of the braves. - -The chief stamped angrily upon the ground. - -“They are mine, I tell you,” he answered, in peremptory tones. “They are -the faces I have seen in my visions—and the White Spirit says they are -to live.” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - THE PROPHET-CHIEF. - - -The savages were loth to be cheated of their prey. - -“Six of our braves have fallen,” replied the warrior who had before -spoken, “and the gray hunter has escaped. The blood of our brothers -calls for vengeance! Death to the cubs of the pale-face!” - -He raised his tomahawk to smite Percy Cute. - -“_Monedo! Monedo!_” exclaimed the chief, in that shrill tone which -contrasted strongly with the deep guttural of the Indian. “Palsy the arm -that strikes against the will of Smoholler!” - -The warrior’s threatening arm dropped, and he retreated apprehensively -from the form of the prostrate boy. - -“Smoholler, do not call up your evil-spirit!” he cried, deprecatingly. - -The Prophet raised his right arm loftily. Cute recovered in a measure -from the effects of the blow which had felled him, and which, -fortunately for him, had been given with the blunt end of the tomahawk, -and crawled to Percy Vere, who rested upon one knee beneath the -Prophet’s protecting left arm. - -“Are these captives mine?” demanded Smoholler. - -A general murmur of affirmation was the response. - -“That’s right, Smoholler; you’re a brick—just you stick to us, that’s a -good fellow,” cried Cute, whose spirits were equal to any emergency. “I -say, Percy, our top-knots are safe yet.” - -This was whispered to his comrade. Percy said nothing; he was gazing in -a bewildered manner upon the strange individual who had so unexpectedly -spared his life. He was at a loss to account for this sudden clemency. - -The Prophet’s face, by the aid of war-paint, was made to assume an -expression frightful to look upon. He was tall in figure, and appeared -to possess extraordinary activity and strength, as indeed he did. Percy -thought him the best specimen he had yet seen of an Indian chief. His -dress displayed his tall and sinewy form to great advantage. It seemed -to have been chosen with the view of producing the greatest effect upon -the eye of the beholder. - -His moccasins and leggings were of buck-skin, stained black, and trimmed -with red fringe. His hunting-shirt was of the same material and color, -and trimmed in like manner, and upon its breast was painted in red a -grinning fiend, similar to the one who had appeared upon the cliff. His -head-dress was the skull of a buffalo, with the horns projecting on -either side of his head, and he wore it in the fashion of a helmet. - -These projecting, curved horns added to the ferocity of his face, the -features of which were nearly indistinguishable beneath the paint with -which it was daubed. You could see that he had deep, sunken eyes, with a -wild glare to them, like the light of insanity, and a long, prominent -nose, and that was all. - -Upon his back he wore a mantle of deer-skin, which was curiously stained -and colored, and covered with innumerable figures and characters. The -prominent figures were a fiend and an angel, who appeared to be engaged -in an interminable conflict. - -These were representatives of his _Monedos_, or spirits, which his -followers firmly believed he could conjure up at will to do his bidding. -No wonder the boys gazed with curious eyes upon this strange leader. -They could see that he was disposed to befriend them, but they could not -understand why. - -“The captives are mine; woe to him who seeks to harm them!” cried -Smoholler, thus asserting his claim in a manner that proved he -considered it settled beyond further dispute. “They shall go to the -Rapids with me.” - -“You’re a trump, Smoholler!” exclaimed Percy Cute, gratefully. - -“There to be sacrificed to the spirits I control,” continued Smoholler. - -Cute groaned. - -“Oh, law! are we only going out of the frying-pan into the fire?” he -muttered. - -“Don’t be frightened; he does not intend to harm us,” whispered Percy -Vere. - -Cute shook his head in a doleful manner. - -“I wish I was sure of that,” he answered. - -“Well, we can only trust to his mercy.” - -“Ah, yes! but if he happens to be out of it just now, and can’t get a -fresh supply?” suggested Cute, lugubriously. He appeared determined to -take a discouraging view of the situation. “I know the tricks of these -red codgers; I’ve read about ’em in books. He has got some horrible old -idol in a cave up at the Rapids, where he lives, and he makes human -sacrifices to it. We shall be grilled, like a couple of innocent lambs, -as we are.” - -“Pshaw! don’t lose all your courage at the first reverse. You’re not -goin to funk, are you?” - -“Nary a funk! I’m only taking a rational view of the situation. It’s -kind of tight papers now, ain’t it—you’ll allow that?” - -“Perhaps; but then we can’t help it, can we?” - -“No; that’s what’s the matter!” - -“Besides, we can’t die but once.” - -“I know it; that’s what makes it so awkward. If a chap could die two or -three times he might get used to it, don’t you see?” - -This reasoning provoked a smile from Percy Vere. - -“Well, we must take our chances,” he answered. “Repining won’t help us. -You wanted a brush with the red-skins, and you’ve had it.” - -“You bet! My head sings yet where the big chap hit me. It’s lucky for me -that my skull is tolerably thick. Didn’t I see stars when I went down? -And I never expected to get up again. Well, we peppered some of ’em, as -Gummery would say, and that’s some satisfaction. I wonder if he got safe -off?” - -This question was answered by the return of four of the warriors, who -had pursued Glyndon to the river’s edge, and who reported that the old -hunter had swam down the stream, apparently uninjured by the bullets -they had sent after him. - -The Prophet turned to Percy Vere. - -“What is the number of your party?” he demanded, in good English, and -spoken with a purity that surprised the boy. - -Percy Vere hesitated to answer this question. - -“Speak!” cried the Prophet, in a peremptory manner. - -Still Percy Vere hesitated. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - CONJURATION. - - -“Speak!” repeated the Prophet, and the shrill tones of his voice arose -in a menacing manner. - -“Why don’t you go to our camp, and find out?” suggested Cute, in a -sarcastical manner. - -“Hush!” cautioned Percy Vere, fearing that the Prophet might become -enraged. - -“I intend to go,” responded the Prophet, coolly. “You see my force here, -and you can tell if the surveyors will be able to withstand me.” He -waved his hand complacently toward his assembled braves. “These are -picked warriors. There is enough to drive away the surveyors. But, if -more should be wanted, I can summon two hundred more from my village at -the Rapids.” - -Percy Vere glanced at the braves. There was at least forty of them, and -each one carried a rifle. Among the friendly tribes through which he had -passed he had never seen so fine a body of men. It appeared to him -utterly impossible that the surveyors and soldiers could beat back this -force. - -The Prophet’s keen eyes were fixed upon his face, and he read what was -passing in his mind by the expression of his features. - -“You see how vain it is for your party to struggle against me?” he said. - -“Why do you object to the survey being made?” asked Percy. “Why harm -people that have no wish to harm you?” - -The Prophet drew his tall form proudly up. - -“This is my land,” he replied, “and I don’t want any railroad through -it.” - -“It will not run within a hundred miles of your village.” - -“I don’t want it within a thousand. I am forming a great nation here; -already our numbers count by thousands—my followers come from every -tribe. I would regenerate the red-man, make him what the Great Spirit -intended him to be. These woods teem with game—the water of yonder river -is alive with fish. This is the red-man’s Paradise, and the white-man is -the serpent who would destroy all. Settlement follows the railroad, -villages and cities spring up in the wilderness, and then there is no -longer any hunting-grounds left for the Indian. The game vanishes from -the forest, the fish desert the running streams, and the red-man is left -to starve, or become the drudge and servant of the pale-faces.” - -These words were spoken with a strange eloquence, and thrilled Percy -Vere as he listened to them. There was a ring of truth in them that -carried conviction to his mind. - -“It does appear a hard case for the red-man, I must admit,” he rejoined; -“but I don’t see how you are going to help it. Government lays out these -railroads, and they must be built. You can’t stop them.” - -“You will see,” replied the Prophet, darkly. “Your party dare not -advance after the warning I have given them.” - -“Perhaps not; but they will remain where they are.” - -“I will drive them into the river!” - -“I do not think you can do so, even with your force. You are not more -than four to one against them, and they have fortified their position by -this time, and the officer, in command of the soldiers, and the -surveyors are brave and determined men. A victory will cost you dear.” - -These words seemed to impress the chief. He walked moodily backward and -forward, for a few moments, in deep thought. - -“I must not risk my warriors’ lives,” he muttered. “I promised them an -easy victory, and a defeat would shake their faith in me. Already I have -lost six braves, and only those boy captives to show against their loss. -I must be cautious in my future movements.” - -He paused in his walk before Percy Vere, and began to interrogate him -again: - -“Do you think, if I was to send you back to your party with the -assurance that they will not be permitted to advance another foot into -this land, that they would abandon their undertaking and depart?” he -demanded. - -“I do not,” replied Percy, promptly. - -“Ha! Then you shall go to Priest’s Rapids with me. You shall see the -wonders of my subterranean temple there; you shall see the chiefs of the -Cayuses, Umatillas and Yakimas subservient to my will, and ready at my -bidding to make this valley swarm with a red host of painted braves. You -shall behold the power of Smoholler, and return to these pale-faced -leaders to tell them that at my will I can raise a red war-cloud such as -this land has never witnessed, and which will annihilate them when it -bursts.” - -“I say, Percy, old Smo’ is a little on the blow,” whispered Percy Cute. - -The quick ear of the Prophet appeared to catch these words, and he shook -his head disdainfully. - -“The Tow-head is incredulous,” he cried, in the sententious Indian -manner; at one moment speaking like a white man and the next with the -imagery of the Indian. - -Percy Cute opened his mouth in wonder. - -“How did he know that I was ever called ‘Tow-head?’” he cried. - -“Its color is enough to lead him to that conclusion,” answered Percy -Vere, laughingly. - -“If I get out of this scrape, I’ll have Ike dye my hair. If I escape a -die here, I’ll dye in camp,” cried Cute. - -It was impossible to detect through the paint upon Smoholler’s face any -indication of what was passing in his mind, for it was like a hideous -mask, but Percy Vere thought he was amused by his cousin’s drollery. - -“Do you also doubt my power?” the Prophet demanded of Percy Vere. “Would -it surprise you if I could tell you your name, and the purpose that -brings you into this wilderness?” - -“It would indeed,” answered the boy. - -“My spirits can tell me,” rejoined the Prophet. “In my dreams the past -and future are revealed to me.” - -He made a few cabalistic motions with his hand, and then assumed a rigid -attitude, like one in a trance, his head projected as if awaiting a -message from some unseen spirit in the air. - -“Whisky is said to be the most potent spirit among the Indians,” -whispered the irrepressible Cute; “but I don’t see any demijohns around -here.” - -“Hush! you will anger him,” returned Percy Vere. “It is all a mummery, -but we may as well humor it, for our lives depend upon the pleasure of -this strange chief.” - -Smoholler remained rigid, his eyes assuming a vacant look. His braves -stood at a respectful distance, leaning upon their rifles, and watching -their leader with an intent interest. These dreams of the Prophet were -always fraught with singular consequences. They knew he was holding -communion with his spirit, who had appeared to them, in the hideous form -that was shown upon the cliff, though he generally kept himself -invisible. - -“_Monedo! Monedo!_” murmured Smoholler, in a resonant whisper. - -A dead silence ensued, and the boys, despite their incredulity, were -thrilled by a feeling new to them—a sort of supernatural awe. - -“_Master, I am here!_” - -These words floated above the boys’ heads in clear, distinct tones. They -clutched at each other’s arms, and stared blankly around them. They -stood apart with the Prophet; there was not a warrior within a hundred -paces of them—not a soul from whom the voice could possibly have -proceeded. - -“Did you hear that?” gasped Percy Vere. - -“I just did,” replied Cute, sepulchrally. - -“What do you think of it?” - -“It knocks me endwise. Hush! he’s going to hocus-pocus a little more.” - -The boys were greatly interested now. Though they felt it was all -mummery, they could not help being impressed by it. - -The Prophet waved his hand in the direction of the boys. - -“Reveal all you know concerning them,” he said, as if addressing an -invisible spirit above his head—invisible to all other eyes but his. - -Then he appeared to listen for a moment; and in this moment the boys -could almost hear their hearts beat, in the intensity of their interest -in the proceedings. Smoholler nodded his head. - -“It is enough, good _Monedo_,” he said. “Depart to the Land of Shadows, -from whence I summoned you.” - -Then the Prophet came out of his trance, and addressed himself to the -first Percy. - -“Your name is Percy Vere,” he said. “The locket you wear contains the -portraits of your father and your mother. Your companion is your cousin, -Percy Cute; and you are here in the wilderness seeking your father.” - - - - - CHAPTER X. - ONEOTAH. - - -To say that the boys were surprised by these words would inadequately -describe the emotion that seized upon them as they listened to them—they -were literally dumbfounded. - -“Great heavens! this is wonderful!” cried Percy Vere. “What do you think -of it?” he added, appealing to his cousin. - -“I take all back; old Smo’ is by no means slow!” responded Cute. “I -don’t wonder that he can bamboozle the benighted Indians, for he has -completely kerflummixed me.” - -The warriors, who had drawn nearer when Smoholler dismissed his spirit, -uttered an approving grunt. It may be that the Prophet had purposely -availed himself of this opportunity of displaying his divining power -before them. - -“Is what I have told you true?” he demanded of the boys. - -“It is,” Percy Vere admitted. - -“Every word of it,” added Cute. “This beats spirit-rapping all hollow; -your spirit comes without a rap, and his information don’t cost a rap.” - -“And having told me so much, I am led to believe you can also tell me -where I can find my father?” cried Percy Vere, eagerly. - -The Prophet shook his head. - -“I can learn from my spirit whether he is alive or dead, perhaps,” he -replied; “but _Monedo_ does not care to seek for a pale-face; he hates -the white race, as I do.” - -“You have a queer way of showing it,” exclaimed Cute. “I should have -been like poor uncle Ned, without any hair on the top of my head, by -this time, if it had not been for you.” - -“Why have you spared our lives?” asked Percy. “The Indian seldom extends -mercy to a captive, I have heard.” - -The Prophet laughed disdainfully. - -“You have heard and read many things about the Indian,” he replied; “but -they are spoken and written by the pale-faces, and there is little truth -in them. I have spared your life that you may bear a message to the -surveyor’s camp for me. But first you shall partake of food with me. You -must feel the need of some refreshment.” - -“Well, I feel peckish, and no mistake,” answered Cute. “So if you have -got any fodder, just tote it along.” - -“Something to eat would not come amiss,” said Percy Vere. “We intended -to have been back with game to our camp before this.” - -The Prophet laughed in his forbidding manner. - -“Your camp will not get any game on this side of the river,” he -rejoined. “A dozen of my warriors guard the mouth of the ravine, and it -will be sure destruction to the pale-face who attempts to pass through -it. You would have fallen into the ambush, had you not turned to the -right and ascended the cliff.” - -“How did you know the direction we had taken?” asked Percy, curiously. - -“A sentinel posted upon the cliff gave us warning. Nothing can escape -the vigilance of my scouts. They have eyes like hawks. Yonder camp is -hemmed in—they must recross the river or I shall drive them into it.” - -He clapped his hands and an Indian boy came bounding toward him—a boy -with a graceful, lithe form, and step as bounding as that of an -antelope. He was handsomely dressed, and wore the same colors as the -Prophet, and was, evidently, his familiar attendant, or page. - -Like the Prophet, he wore a head-dress taken from an animal, but his was -the head of an antelope. The sharp horns were left, and the whole face -of the animal preserved in such a manner that the boy’s face was -completely covered by it, and his dark eyes glistened through the -eye-holes; and so nicely was the skin fitted to his face, that he -appeared to be a boy with an antelope’s head. - -“Jumping ginger!” exclaimed Cute, as the boy bounded lightly forward; -“what kind of a critter is that, anyway?” - -“Glyndon was mistaken,” remarked Percy, thoughtfully, as he watched the -Indian boy’s approach. - -“In what?” - -“It was his tracks we saw. There’s no squaw in the party.” - -“That’s so, by king! I never thought of it before; but you are right, -there isn’t.” - -“Oneotah,” said the Prophet to the boy; “prepare some venison steaks for -us.” - -The boy made a respectful obeisance. - -“Yes, master,” he replied, in tones that were singularly clear and -bell-like, and then he hastened to obey. - -Cute smacked his lips. - -“Venison-steaks, _a-la-mode de Indian_!” he exclaimed. “I think I can -put myself outside of some without any difficulty.” - -“I must confess to being rather sharp set myself,” replied Percy. “That -tramp through the thicket, and the lively fight afterward, have -freshened up my appetite to a degree.” - -“The food will be quickly served,” said the Prophet. “See, Nature -spreads her table for us. Come.” - -He led the way to a square bowlder that reared its form from the turf -beside a little streamlet that went purling by on its way to the river, -its clear, crystal water looking cool and refreshing. The Prophet cast -himself down beside the rock, and the boys followed his example. As they -glanced through the arches of the forest they saw several fires blazing -in different directions, and groups of Indians clustered around them. -General preparations for a meal were in progress. - -The boys were impressed by the romance of the scene, and Cute conveyed -his idea of it by exclaiming, rather unpoetically: - -“Say, Percy, ain’t this high? You said you would like to see Smoholler, -the Prophet, and here we are, invited to take an _al fresco_ dinner with -him.” - -The Prophet raised himself upon his elbow, and regarded Percy Vere -earnestly. - -“Why did you wish to see me?” he asked. - -“Because I thought you might give me some intelligence of my father,” -answered Percy. - -“Why should you think so?” - -“Because you are a man of great intelligence. I heard so before I saw -you, and I am satisfied of it now.” - -The Prophet inclined his head as if pleased with the compliment. - -“You possess a wonderful power over the Indians, I can see—and I think -few parties of hunters could cross the river, which you watch so -jealously, unknown to you.” - -“You are right; my spies are everywhere, my commands implicitly obeyed. -Along the course of yonder mighty river, from its rocky source to where -it empties into the ocean, there is no chief who is respected and feared -like Smoholler. Already my warriors outnumber the fighting men of the -other tribes, and daily I am gaining accessions to my ranks. They come -to listen to the recital of my dreams, and they remain, satisfied that -the power I profess is not an idle boast. You shall pay me a visit to -Priest’s Rapids, if you like, and I will show you the germ of a growing -nation. Ah! the day will come, and it is not far distant, when the -tribes of the Pacific Slope will be gathered into one grand confederacy -which will acknowledge Smoholler as its chief.” - -The Prophet’s breast heaved and his eyes dilated with a fervid -enthusiasm, as he pronounced these words. - -“An Indian emperor!” exclaimed Cute. “Bully for you!” - -“And why not? The descendants of the Aztecs and Toltecs still roam these -plains and mountains. Why should not I revive the glories of Montezuma’s -empire?” - -“Montezuma’s power fell before the white man’s advance, and I fear the -white settlers crowd too closely upon your projected empire,” replied -Percy Vere. “But it is a great idea, and that you may prosper is my -sincere wish. I would like to see the red-man raised to a better -position than that he now occupies. You are the best judge of his -capabilities. The white hunters are too prone to regard him in the light -of a savage beast—and not without some cause, either.” - -“Cause? The first offense came from the white man!” cried the Prophet, -fiercely. - -“It may be so; but, in our particular instance, if you had let us alone, -we should not have troubled you.” - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - A SILVAN REPAST. - - -The Prophet laughed in that rasping manner so peculiar to him. It was -not a pleasant kind of mirth to listen to. It set Percy Cute’s teeth on -edge every time he heard it. - -“You had set foot upon my territory after my warning,” he cried. “You -know the penalty of trespassing.” - -“Ah! then you had some hand in the apparitions that appeared upon the -cliff last night?” - -“They came at my bidding.” - -At this moment the Indian boy, Oneotah, brought them a venison steak -upon a birch platter, some parched corn, and three drinking-horns. He -placed the venison and corn before them, and then filled the -drinking-horns from the streamlet. - -Smoholler did the honors of this silvan table with a courtesy that won -strangely upon the boys, and Oneotah stood beside him, ready to do his -bidding at the slightest sign. - -“What did the surveyors and the soldiers think of the apparitions?” -asked Smoholler, after the boys had eaten for a while. - -“They were surprised by them,” answered Percy. - -“Knocked ’em higher’n a kite!” added Cute. “It was a neat piece of -hocus-pocus, however you did it. Say, couldn’t you give us another -squint at that angelic female of yours?” - -“The White Spirit will come at my bidding,” replied the Prophet. “Would -you like to see her?” he demanded of Percy Vere. - -“Wherefore?” rejoined the youth. - -“She might give you intelligence of your father?” - -Percy started at this, but shook his head incredulously after a moment’s -reflection. The Prophet appeared to divine his thoughts. - -“You do not believe her to be a spirit?” he asked. - -“Candidly, I do not.” - -“How, then, could she appear upon the face of that inaccessible cliff?” - -Percy Vere smiled. - -“That is a secret best known to yourself,” he rejoined. “At the risk of -offending you I must tell you that I believe you to be a skillful -Professor of Legerdemain, and by the exercise of it you have gained your -ascendancy over the rude minds of the Indians.” - -“Far from feeling offense, I like your candor,” responded the Prophet, -graciously. “My power impresses the white mind as well as the red—as you -shall have proof anon. You heard the voice of my Monedo, or Spirit, in -the air—you heard his voice, but his body remained invisible to your -eye. How can you account for that?” - -“You may have the gift of ventriloquism. My father had such a gift, for -I have often heard my mother describe it. He could throw his voice into -inanimate or animate objects to the great perplexity of the hearer.” - -“Yes,” chimed in Cute, “and I have heard lots of funny stories about -him. One day an old woman came to the house to make some inquiries, and -trod, by accident, upon the cat’s tail; and he made the cat say: ‘You -old fool! don’t you know any better than that?’ It nearly frightened the -old woman into a fit, and she left the house in a big hurry, I tell you; -and she believed to her dying day that the cat really spoke to her.” - -Oneotah indulged in a musical laugh at this recital. - -The boys regarded him curiously. - -“Holloa! does he understand what I say?” asked Cute. - -“Perfectly,” replied the Prophet. “English is as familiar to him as his -own tongue.” - -“And to yourself,” rejoined Percy Vere, pointedly. - -“Yes.” - -“Do you know I have a suspicion concerning you?” - -“Indeed! What is it?” - -“I think that you are a white man.” - -The Prophet laughed. - -“Do I look like one?” he returned. - -“It is impossible to say what you look like with those hideous daubs of -paint upon your face; but you talk like one—and, besides, you are too -smart for an Indian.” - -“Them’s my sentiments!” cried Cute. “Smoholler, you beat all the chiefs -I ever heard of all hollow.” - -“Smoholler is the great Prophet of the Snakes,” exclaimed Oneotah, -fervidly. “Wherever his name is known it is feared and dreaded. His -followers are many—his enemies perish, like the withered grass beneath -the fire, when his wrath pursues them.” - -“The boy is one of your converts, I perceive,” said Percy, with a smile. -“He believes in you.” - -“He has good cause,” answered the Prophet, sententiously. “I saved his -life.” - -“Oh! more than life!” exclaimed Oneotah. “If it was only death that -threatened me—” - -The Prophet held up his finger warningly, and Oneotah paused and bowed -his head submissively. - -“Oneotah is Smoholler’s slave,” he continued. “Until death, or his lips -release me, I have sworn to do his bidding.” - -“Enough! your bondage will not last until death,” returned Smoholler, -with a significancy which the boys could feel but could not understand. -“Be faithful but a short time longer, and you shall be restored to your -true condition—and the spirits shall no longer torment you.” - -The Indian boy appeared to be much gratified by this assurance. - -“It is good,” he answered. “The heart of Smoholler is noble, he will not -deceive me.” - -Percy Vere was much interested in Oneotah. - -“Of what tribe is he?” he asked. - -“He was reared by the Nez Perces, but is not of their blood, although he -thinks he is,” replied Smoholler. “There is a secret concerning his -birth, which my skill has divined, and which no other appears to have -suspected. He was made captive by a band of Yakimas under a chief named -Howlish Wampo, who had surprised and defeated the party to which he was -attached. I came up with Howlish Wampo at a critical moment in the boy’s -fate, and took him away from the chief. Wampo bears me a grudge for it -to this day. He would like to gain possession of the boy again, but dare -not do so while I protect him. If Oneotah were to rejoin the Nez Perces -he would no longer be safe from the pursuit of Howlish Wampo.” - -Oneotah shuddered, and Percy Vere felt, without exactly understanding -why, that there was a covert threat in these words of the Prophet. - -“_Multuomah_ could protect me,” answered Oneotah, plaintively. - -“No; not against Howlish Wampo,” answered the Prophet, impressively. -“Have patience; all I have promised shall come true.” - -Oneotah bowed his head again in his submissive manner. - -“I am content,” he answered. - -“Why does he wear that antelope’s head?” asked Percy Vere. - -“To carry out his name.” - -“You call him the Antelope?” - -“Among my followers he is known by that name.” - -“But the other name—Oneotah?” - -“Is one known only to ourselves.” - -“But it is his true name?” - -“Yes.” - -“But that head is like a mask, it hides his face.” - -“For that purpose it is worn.” - -Percy was somewhat surprised by this. - -“You do not wish his face to be seen?” he asked. - -“No; he has dangerous enemies. None here know him but myself. The shield -of my power falls over him, and his influence in my camp is second only -to my own. Now, our meal being ended, you shall return to your friends. -You have seen a portion of my force, and know my determination. Tell the -surveyors and the lieutenant that I will not permit them to advance -through the ravine. They must recross the river, or be annihilated. For -yourself, if you choose to return, there is a mystic cavern in yonder -cliff, and together we will summon the spirits that await my bidding, -and seek to learn your father’s fate. Will you do so?” - -“I will,” answered Percy, resolutely. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - THE TREE-LADDER. - - -Smoholler turned to Oneotah. - -“Give me two amulets,” he said. - -The Antelope boy took two little pouches, made of skin, and richly -trimmed with beads, from a kind of large pocket that he wore suspended -from a belt around his waist. These were attached to strings made of -different-colored strips of doe-skin twisted together. Smoholler gave -one to each of the boys. - -“Wear these,” he said. “They are marked with my totem, and I have -charmed them. They are amulets of great power, and they will preserve -you from harm. No Indian who knows Smoholler’s sign will raise his hand -against the wearer of his amulet.” - -“I thank you for the gift,” returned Percy Vere, “and shall always -treasure it as the memento of a wonderful man.” - -“And so shall I,” cried Cute. “This will be more efficacious in -preserving my top-knot than Professor Ike’s Restorative, I’m thinking. -Now, how shall we get back to camp? Roll a log into the river and float -down upon it, or go back the way we came?” - -“There is a trail along the cliff,” said Smoholler. “Oneotah will guide -you a part of the way. Remember, return this evening, and I will show -you a proof of my magical power that will astonish you.” - -The boys promised to do so, shook hands cordially with the Prophet, -notwithstanding his hideous war-paint, and followed Oneotah, who bounded -lightly on before. - -The way was a rough one, and they had some difficulty in keeping up with -Oneotah, who sprung over the bowlders and fallen trees in the path with -the nimbleness of a goat. - -A toilsome tramp of an hour brought them to a beetling crag that jutted -into the water, and appeared to bar all further progress in that -direction. Here Oneotah paused, and the boys joined him, panting and -breathless. - -“Phew! how are we going to get over that?” cried Cute; surveying the -impediment in dismay. - -Oneotah pointed to a tall spruce tree that grew beside the crag. - -“Climb this,” he said, “and from its branches you can reach the top of -the rock.” - -“Show! I should never have thought of that.” - -“Beyond it lies your camp. The descent upon the other side is easy. You -can climb?” - -“You had better believe it—like a monkey! Good-by, Antelope. Shake hands -before we slope.” - -Oneotah extended his hand cordially, but he winced a little under the -vigorous grasp that Percy Cute bestowed upon him, for the fat hands of -the boy had quite a degree of strength in them. Cute laughed as Oneotah -quickly released his fingers from the roguish squeeze, uttering a -suppressed “O—h!” - -“Did I hurt you?” asked Cute, with well-assumed innocence. - -Oneotah shook his fingers, as if to restore the circulation of the blood -in them, by way of answer. - -“Don’t mind him,” cried Percy Vere. “He’s always at his tricks. You -leave us here?” - -“Yes. When you reach the top of this rock you will see your camp.” - -“Good-by.” - -Percy extended his hand, but Oneotah hesitated to accept it. Percy -laughed. - -“Have no fear,” he said. “I will not serve you as he did.” - -Oneotah placed his hand in Percy’s, who uttered an exclamation of -surprise as he received it. - -“No wonder he hurt you,” he cried; “why your hand is as soft as a -girl’s.” - -Oneotah withdrew his hand quickly. - -“I must return to Smoholler,” he said. “Come back, and he will show you -the Black Spirit and the White. Farewell!” - -With these words, he bounded swiftly away, and was soon lost to sight -among the trees. - -“No wonder he is called the Antelope!” exclaimed Percy Vere, as he gazed -after him; “for he is as fleet as one.” - -“But he ought not be called the Antelope,” rejoined Cute. - -This difference of opinion, so unusual in friend and cousin, surprised -Percy Vere. - -“Why not?” he demanded. - -“’Tain’t correct.” - -“Indeed! Can you suggest an improvement?” - -“Yes; I should call him the Antelopess.” - -Percy Vere started. - -“Why, you don’t mean to say—” - -“Oneotah is a she antelope—that boy’s a girl!” - -“I do believe you are right!” returned Percy Vere, with conviction. - -“I know I am. Did you not notice how she squealed when I squeezed her -hand—and didn’t you think her hand was as soft as a girl’s?” - -“I wish I could have seen her face!” said Percy Vere, thoughtfully. - -“That beastly antelope’s head hides her face, and is worn on purpose to -do so.” - -“And yet, I fancy, it is a handsome one—it should be to correspond with -her shapely and flexible limbs; but I can’t imagine why she should wish -to hide it.” - -“That’s Smoholler’s doings—look at the way he had his face daubed; who -could make any thing of his features through all that paint? I tell you -what, I don’t think the Indians know what she is—the Prophet makes them -believe she is a boy, I bet.” - -“Why should he make her assume such a disguise?” - -“Because he’s an old humbug! He’s up to some trickery to bamboozling -these Indians, all the time; that’s the way he has made himself a great -man out this way. If he had been a white man, he would have been a -politician; but as he’s red, he turns Prophet—with an eye to profit, -don’t you see?” - -“He certainly has gained a great ascendancy over the Indians.” - -“Of course he has—there’s red fools as well as white ones. He’s as smart -as a steel trap—you can see that with half an eye. And she’s smart.” - -“Oneotah?” - -“Yes; she does just as he says, and believes in him, too, but that’s -only natural, because I can just guess what she is.” - -“What?” - -“His daughter. She’s a chip of the old block, and helps him in his -hocus-pocus conjurocus, I’ll bet.” - -“You’re good at guessing, and I think your guess is correct.” - -“You bet! I’m Cute by name, and ’cute by nature. Tell you what, Percy—if -we could have taken off that antelope’s head, do you know what we would -have found beneath it?” - -Percy smiled. - -“We should have found her face, of course,” he answered. - -“Yes, and something else—we should have found the face of the Angel that -appeared on the cliff, last night.” - -This assurance surprised Percy Vere. - -“Do you think so?” he cried, and his voice was strongly charged with -incredulity. - -“I’ll just bet my bottom dollar on it! She’s the Prophet’s White Spirit, -sure as a gun.” - -“I have only one objection to urge to that,” replied Percy Vere. “The -face of the Angel was white—you observed that?” - -This remark bothered Cute a little. - -“Y-e-s,” he admitted. - -“And Oneotah is undoubtedly an Indian—whether boy or girl—and his, or -her, face must necessarily be red.” - -“Ah, yes—but couldn’t the Prophet whitewash it for the occasion?” cried -Cute, triumphantly. “How can we tell but what the Prophet may have found -a lot of Lily-white or Pearl Powder in some emigrant train that his -braves have plundered?” - -“Pshaw! that’s too ridiculous an idea.” - -“You may think so, but I don’t. I tell you, this Prophet is a sly old -’coon, and up to all sorts of dodges. And then, how do we know that -Oneotah is an Indian girl?” he continued, suddenly inspired with a new -idea. “She may be a white girl—stolen away from her home when she was a -wee bit of a shaver—I have heard of such things, haven’t you?” - -“Certainly; the histories of the Indian tribes recount many such -instances. I should like to see her face, for what you have said has -made me very curious about it.” - -“You shall see it!” - -“How?” - -“When we give the Prophet our next call, I’ll contrive to throw some -flip-flaps for his amusement; and I’ll flip flap over Oneotah and knock -her head off!” - -“Oh! you mustn’t hurt her!” remonstrated Percy. - -“I don’t mean to—I’ll only knock the antelope’s head off her shoulders, -and then you can see her face.” - -“Do you think you can do it?” - -“You just keep your eye on me, and see if I don’t. Now, let’s shin up -this tree and get back to camp. We shall have plenty of news for them.” - -“Yes; they will be very much surprised to see us, as I think they have -given us up for lost. Glyndon has reproached himself with our death, I’m -sure, and he will be rejoiced to see us. Come on.” - -“You first.” - -They began to climb the tree. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - MULTUOMAH. - - -When Gummery Glyndon jumped into the river to escape from his pursuers, -he still clutched his trusty rifle by its barrel, and he held fast to -it, as the swift current swept him rapidly down-stream. - -The Indians did not follow him into the river, but paused upon its bank, -and began to hastily reload their guns. The loss they had sustained in -their attack upon the hunter and the boys had rendered them furious for -vengeance. But the current swept Glyndon out of sight, for the bank was -thickly wooded, before they could bring their guns to bear upon him. - -They discharged them, notwithstanding, in the direction in which he had -gone. - -Glyndon laughed as he heard the harmless discharge. - -“Trying to shoot me round a corner,” he muttered. “Well, they won’t get -my ha’r this time; but the boys are done for—poor lads! poor lads!” - -He shook his gray head sorrowfully over this reflection. Then he saw the -trunk of a tree floating in the stream ahead of him. He struck out for -it, gained it, and ensconced under its further side, floated with it -down the stream. As he went with the current, he made good headway, and -soon reached the camp of the surveyors. - -A shout from the bank announced that he was observed and recognized as -he approached, and the members of the party clustered upon the bank to -receive him, as he guided his log toward the shore. At this point the -river was fordable, and the banks were sandy and sloping. His feet -touched bottom as he came to the sand-bar that stretched across the -entire width of the stream, and he allowed the log to float away, and -walked ashore. - -“What luck?” demanded Lieutenant Gardiner, as the gaunt figure of the -old hunter drew near. - -“Bad!” answered Glyndon, laconically; and he briefly related to -Gardiner, Blaikie and Robbins the particulars of his scout. - -All were of his opinion that little mercy would be shown to the boys by -their captors, and they deeply lamented their untimely fate. - -“Do you know what tribe these Indians belong to?” asked Gardiner. - -“They’re Smohollers, I reckon,” replied Glyndon. - -“Did you see him with them?” - -“That’s more than I can say, for I don’t know him. So I might have seen -him without knowing it. There was a chief at the head of ’em, and he -acted differently from Injun chiefs in general, for he charged right -down upon us, without stopping to count the cost, and that was what -flaxed us—for they just drew our fire, and were upon us without giving -us a chance to reload; and there was too many of ’em for a hand-to-hand -fight. I managed to get out of it, but I had to leave the boys. There -was no help for it.” - -The old hunter uttered these words in an exculpatory manner, as if he -thought himself responsible, in a measure, for the misfortune that had -befallen them. - -“This attack looks as if the Indians were determined to prevent us from -proceeding in our survey,” remarked Robbins. - -“That ain’t the worst of it,” rejoined Glyndon. “They ain’t a-going to -allow us to stop here long. So just look out for a brush. I hope you -have been fixing things here, leftenant,” he continued, turning to -Gardiner. - -“Come and see,” replied the lieutenant, who wished to have the old -hunter’s opinion on the measures he had taken for the protection of the -camp. - -A semicircular breastwork, composed of felled trees and the loose large -stones lying about, had been constructed, running from the river around -the grove and back to the river again, completely guarding all approach -to the camp, except by the river, which was considered to be protection -enough in itself. - -Sentinels were posted at different points, and the utmost vigilance -observed. The quick discovery of Glyndon’s approach was a proof of this; -for the river was watched as well as the ravine. - -That there was an approach to the camp over the precipitous cliff to the -right was a circumstance that Lieutenant Gardiner was yet to learn; not -that it made his position more insecure, as his breastwork was some -distance from the cliff. - -Within the grove, and the breastwork, were the animals and the -implements of the party, and Ike Yardell, seeing the probability of -remaining there several days, had called upon Corney Donohoe and Jake -Spatz to assist him in building a fireplace of stones; a substantial -affair that would assist his culinary efforts. - -Gummery Glyndon expressed himself highly satisfied with the condition in -which the camp had been placed during his absence. - -“Smoholler can never drive us out of this,” he said. “He don’t care much -for the lives of his men, that’s certain, but he can’t take this place -in a single charge, and it will cost him pretty dear to try it.” - -“Have you any idea of the force under his command?” asked Lieutenant -Gardiner. - -“Nigh onto fifty, I should judge by the looks of his trail.” - -“We can drive off double that number.” - -“Yes; but I have an idea that he has a lot more coming. He can set all -the other tribes round here against us; and if he should muster three or -four hundred warriors in front of us, it would make things look squally -for us.” - -“It would, indeed. They might flank us on the other bank of the river, -and so hem us in, and starve us into submission. But I have an idea that -this obstruction will only be temporary, and that we shall be permitted -to proceed.” - -“Not a bit of it,” replied Glyndon, decidedly. “We have got to whip -these Injuns and drive ’em away—that’s the only way that we shall ever -ever get rid of ’em. And we must have some help to do it.” - -“What help can we get?” - -“Play the old game here, and set Injuns to fighting Injuns. Send for a -war-party of the Nez Perces.” - -“Will they fight against this Indian Prophet?” asked Gardiner, -doubtfully. - -“They’ll fight against the Yakimas, Umatillas, and Cayuses, who are -likely to side with him, and if they ’tend to them, we can take care of -the Smohollers.” - -“But where can we find a party of these Nez Perces?” - -“There’s generally some of ’em at Fort Walla Walla, as their country is -the other side of the Blue Mountains. I’m thinking it might be our best -plan to go back to the fort, and strengthen our party for a fresh -start.” - -“Or you might go to the fort and see what you could do in the way of -obtaining a reinforcement among the friendly Indians,” suggested -Gardiner. “I am confident that I could hold this position until you -return. Let us consult the surveyors, and get their ideas upon the -subject.” - -“Very good—two heads are better than one. Let’s have a council of war on -the subject. Holloa! What’s up now?” - -This question was caused by a sudden commotion in the camp, in the -direction of the river. They hurried to the bank. A young Indian, whose -dress proclaimed him a chief, was riding his horse across the river. He -had proclaimed himself a friend to the sentinels, and was suffered to -advance unmolested. - -“It is Multuomah!” exclaimed Glyndon. - -“Do you know him?” asked Gardiner. - -“Like a book!—and he’s just the man we want, for he’s a war-chief of the -Nez Perces.” - -“Good! He is welcome.” - -The young chief crossed the river, and rode up to the assembled group -that awaited his coming. He dismounted with an easy grace, and in a -manner that denoted his belief that he was among friends. - -“How d’ye do, Multuomah?” cried Glyndon, extending his hand, cordially. - -The young chief recognized him pleasantly. - -“The Gray Hunter!” he returned. “It is good. He can tell these white men -that Multuomah is their friend.” - -“That’s so. You are the youngest chief of the Nez Perces, but you are -the smartest one of the lot.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - THE CHIEF’S BRIDE. - - -Multuomah inclined his head in a gratified manner at this praise. -Lieutenant Gardiner and the surveyors gazed upon him curiously. He was a -fine specimen of the warlike nation to which he belonged—the powerful -Sahaptin tribe. The name of _Nez Perces_ was given to this tribe by the -early French voyageurs, as a custom once existed among them of wearing a -bone ring in the cartilage of the nose, which was pierced for that -purpose, hence _Nez Perces_, or in English Pierced Noses; and though the -custom is discontinued, the name still remains. - -Nor are they the only tribe of the Indians of that section who have lost -their original name in the fanciful ones bestowed upon them by the -voyageurs, who were the first explorers of the great North-west. The -_Pen D’Oreilles_ (Ear-rings), _Cœur D’Alenes_ (Needle-hearts), still -exist. - -Multuomah was of medium hight, slender in figure, but as straight as an -arrow, and gracefully proportioned. His face, undisfigured by war-paint, -was eminently handsome, and his features wore a pleasant expression. His -eyes were dark and keen as an eagle’s, and his hair was long and -flowing, and as black as jet. His complexion was not unlike bronze in -its hue, clear and vivid, and not that dull chocolate hue, so common -among the Oregon tribes. - -He wore a hunting-shirt, leggins, and moccasins of deer-skin, all richly -ornamented with fringe and beads; and an eagle’s feather was fastened in -the band that kept his long black hair from his eyes. He was armed with -rifle, tomahawk, and scalping-knife. - -His age could not have been over twenty-five. Take his appearance -altogether, he was one of the finest specimens of the red-men to be -found at the present day. He had mixed with the white men, and learned -some portion of their civilization without becoming contaminated by -their vices. - -“Is Multuomah alone?” asked Glyndon. - -“No,” answered the young chief, “there are a hundred warriors awaiting -his bidding yonder.” - -He pointed across the Columbia with a dignified action, but some little -pride mingled with his dignity, as if he felt that his consequence would -be increased by the announcement of the force at his command. Nor was he -deceived in this, for his hearers received the intelligence with great -satisfaction. - -“Good!” cried Glyndon. “We can wipe the Smohollers out in no time now.” - -“Is Smoholler near?” asked Multuomah, eagerly. - -“Well, he just is. His head-quarters are in yonder cliff, and he has -regularly besieged us here.” - -“Why should he trouble you? Smoholler seldom makes war—though he will -always fight stoutly in self-defense.” - -“He don’t like the idea of the railroad going through this territory. -These are the surveyors, Multuomah, Mister Blaikie and Mister Robbins, -and this is Lieutenant Gardiner, from Fort Walla Walla.” - -The young chieftain shook hands cordially with all three, as they were -introduced to him. - -“How many braves has Smoholler with him?” he asked, continuing the -conversation with Glyndon. - -“Nigh on to fifty, as near as I can calculate from their trail; but me -and the boys sent a few of ’em under.” - -“How was that?” - -Glyndon briefly described his scout and skirmish with Smoholler’s party. - -“The Prophet’s men fight bravely, I have been told,” rejoined Multuomah. - -“You have never had any brush with them?” - -“No.” - -“Then you have got a chance now.” - -Multuomah shook his head gravely. - -“I doubt if my braves will fight against the Prophet,” he said; “though -I have brought them here for that very purpose.” - -These words greatly excited the interest of his hearers. - -“Then your men believe in the mystical power of this red Prophet?” asked -Lieutenant Gardiner. - -“Yes; few Indians in this country doubt the power of Smoholler,” replied -Multuomah. “They dread the spirits that come at his bidding.” - -“But you—what do you think?” - -Multuomah shrugged his shoulders in a dubious manner. - -“I do not know what to think,” he responded. - -“Ah! I see; you would like to doubt him, but can not exactly divest your -mind of a certain belief in his supernatural powers. That is not to be -wondered at, for he has shown us some astonishing sights since we have -been here. I think it’s all trickery, but I can’t tell how it is done.” - -Multuomah looked troubled. - -“You have seen his spirits?” he asked. - -“Yes; black and white. Why should he choose those colors, when he is -red?” - -“One is the Spirit of Evil; the other the Spirit of Good.” - -“Have you ever seen them?” - -“Never; but I have been told by those who have. It is by means of these -spirits that he has gained so great a power. His followers come from all -tribes, and their belief in him is great. If I was to attack him, and he -should make his spirits appear before my braves, they would fly in -terror; and yet there are no braver warriors in all my nation.” - -The four white men, who were listening to him, exchanged glances. - -“This complicates the situation,” remarked Blaikie. “I don’t see as this -reinforcement will, under the circumstances, be of much use to us.” - -Gardiner and Robbins were of his opinion; but Glyndon took a more -favorable view of the matter. - -“We must make it of use to us,” he cried. “We are strong enough, with -Multuomah’s band, to just gobble this Prophet, and I’m going to do it. -The boys may be alive yet, and we must rescue them.” - -“But if the chief and his braves dare not fight against Smoholler?” -urged Lieutenant Gardiner. - -Multuomah crested his head proudly. - -“I dare fight against him, and I will,” he rejoined. “Multuomah will -fight against Smoholler and all his spirits, to gain Oneotah!” - -“Oneotah?” - -“A squaw?” - -These interrogations came from Glyndon and Lieutenant Gardiner. The -surveyors smiled and exchanged glances. - -“Here’s a woman in the case—away out here in the wilderness,” said -Blaikie. “Who would have thought it?” - -“Why not? There are women everywhere,” replied Robbins. - -Multuomah had nodded his head affirmatively to the questions put to him, -and Glyndon now demanded: - -“Who is Oneotah, chief?” - -“She is the White Lily of our tribe,” answered Multuomah, “and she was -my promised bride.” - -“One of your race?” - -“No; in her childhood she was captured from the Yakimas by one of our -chiefs, who reared her as his own daughter. He named her Oneotah, but, -from her fair complexion, she was commonly called the White Lily. She -grew to the age of seventeen in our village, and among the many suitors -who sought her smiles, her heart gave me the preference.” - -“I don’t wonder at that. You are just the chap to take a girl’s eye.” - -“Our wedding-day was fixed, when she accompanied her adopted father, -Owaydotah, upon a hunting expedition. His party was surprised by a band -of Yakimas, under the chief Howlish Wampo, and Owaydotah was killed, and -Oneotah carried away a captive.” - -“That was a bad job for you.” - -“I gave her up for lost, for I knew that Howlish Wampo would make her -his wife, inflamed by her great beauty. And he would have done so, had -not Smoholler taken her from him.” - -“What did he do with her?” - -Multuomah shook his head sorrowfully. - -“I can not tell,” he replied. “What I know was told me by a Yakima -warrior whom I captured a week ago; but he could not tell me what has -befallen Oneotah since Smoholler seized upon her.” - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE OLD HUNTER’S IDEA. - - -There was a touching plaintiveness to the tone of the Multuomah’s voice -as he pronounced these words, and his hearers could but sympathize with -him in his bereavement. - -“Why, this is a kind of turn-about affair,” observed Glyndon. “First, -you take the girl from the Yakimas, and then they retake her, and then -the Prophet puts his finger in the pie. But is the girl really a -Yakima?” - -“No, I think not.” - -“I’m glad of that, for I like you, and I don’t like the Yakimas. They’re -mean cusses, and I’d like to see ’em all wiped out. What nation do you -think the girl did belong to?” - -“Her face was so white that I have often thought she was a daughter of -the pale-faces,” answered Multuomah. - -This reply surprised them all. - -“How can that be?” demanded Glyndon. - -“She may have been made a captive when a child by the Yakimas in one of -their expeditions, either from a settler’s cabin or from some emigrant -train,” rejoined Multuomah. “She understood English when she was brought -into our village, and she taught it to me when we were children -together.” - -“That accounts for the ease with which you speak it,” remarked -Lieutenant Gardiner. - -“Yes.” - -“Your knowledge of our language surprised me, but I can easily -understand it now.” - -Gummery Glyndon had grown very thoughtful. - -“We must take this girl from him in spite of his medicine—whether it’s -quackery or the genuine article,” said the old guide, as if coming out -of a dream. - -Multuomah’s dark eyes glistened. - -“I came here for that purpose,” he answered. “I am willing to dare the -Prophet’s power—but my braves—” - -“You can’t count on them, eh?” - -Multuomah shook his head doubtfully. - -“They will not lift a hand against the Prophet,” he replied. - -“We can fix that. They wouldn’t object to surrounding the Prophet’s -party, and let us bring him to terms. Just explain to ’em that you want -your gal, and that we are going to help you get her. That will make ’em -feel all right, I’m thinking.” - -“They will gain more confidence when they know the soldiers will aid -them. They do not fear Smoholler’s braves, but his spirits.” - -“Tell ’em they can not injure the white men.” - -“That is their belief.” - -“So much the better! Holloa! what’s broke loose now?” - -This exclamation was drawn from Glyndon’s lips by a shout from one of -the sentinels who guarded the breastwork. This shout was taken up by the -other soldiers. - -“Good heavens! the boys have escaped!” cried Lieutenant Gardiner, -excitedly. - -Glyndon, usually so placid, found his excitement contagious. - -“Great Jericho! it’s more’n I expected!” he exclaimed. “I never thought -to set eyes on ’em again.” - -The shout of welcome at their appearance proved the regard in which the -boys were held by the soldiers. They approached, rifle in hand, for -their weapons had been restored to them by Smoholler when he suffered -them to go free, and were overwhelmed with eager inquiries by Glyndon, -Lieutenant Gardiner, Blaikie and Robbins. - -Percy Vere recounted their adventure with the Prophet, and his narrative -was embellished by supplementary remarks from Percy Cute, as he -proceeded. Thus they told the story between them. - -Their hearers listened to them incredulously; but that the boys stood -before them, a living evidence of the truth of their story, they would -not have believed it. - -“The Prophet let you go?” cried Glyndon. - -“As you see,” answered Percy Vere. - -“Scot free,” supplemented Cute; “and give us these gimcracks to protect -us from all Indians generally. Nice, ain’t they?” - -“Amulets!” ejaculated Glyndon, examining them curiously. - -“Yes, with the Prophet’s tetotum on ’em.” - -“Totem, you mean.” - -“Yes, that’s it; and we are to tote’em wherever we go, to keep us from -harm, according to old Smo’.” - -“Well, this just beats me,” cried Glyndon, in a bewildered manner. “Six -of their braves sent to grass, and they let you off. That ain’t -according to Indian custom, and I can’t understand it.” - -“Smoholler’s customs are different from ours,” observed Multuomah. - -“I should say so!” - -Percy Cute took a comprehensive survey of the young chief. - -“Holloa! have you taken this young chap prisoner?” he inquired. - -“No; he is a friend. This is a Nez Perce chief—Multuomah.” - -Cute offered his hand cordially to the chief. - -“How are you, Multum-in-parvo?” he exclaimed. - -Multuomah smiled and shook hands with Cute, who, with his irrepressible -spirit of mischief, gave him his favorite hand-squeeze; but Cute was -glad enough to withdraw his fat fingers, and dance away with a wry face. -The answering squeeze had proved too much for him. - -“He’s an Odd Fellow!” he remarked, as he straightened out his cramped -fingers. - -“How do you know that?” asked Percy Vere, enjoying his discomfiture. - -“’Cause he’s given me the grip.” - -“Served you right!” cried Glyndon. “No tricks upon travelers. And so you -had a long talk with the Prophet?” he added to Percy Vere. - -“Yes.” - -“Did you ask him about your father?” - -“I did.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - HOLDING A COUNCIL. - - -Glyndon became interested. - -“Well, what did he say? Could he tell you any thing about him?” - -“Not at that time; but on my return I expect to receive important -disclosures from him.” - -“Return?” cried the old hunter, in astonishment. “Why, you don’t -calculate to go back to him, do you?” - -“Such is my intention.” - -“Great Jericho! ain’t you satisfied with getting off this time, without -trying it again?” - -“I have the Prophet’s word that no injury will befall me.” - -Gummery Glyndon shook his head dubiously. - -“You can’t trust to an Injun’s word,” he said. “They’re lyin’ cusses, -the whole grist of ’em.” - -“You can trust Smoholler’s word,” interposed Multuomah. “He will not -harm the boys.” - -“I agree with the chief,” remarked Lieutenant Gardiner. “The very fact -of his having set them at liberty now is proof enough of that.” - -“There’s something in that,” Glyndon admitted. “But didn’t Smoholler -send us some message, Percy—some intimation to git up and git?” - -“He certainly did,” replied Percy Vere. “He appears to be resolute that -the survey shall not proceed, and he will force us to recross the river, -he says, if we do not do so of our own accord. He told me that he should -summon more of his warriors from his village at the Rapids, and, if -necessary, he would call upon the surrounding tribes to aid him.” - -“And they will do so,” said Multuomah. - -“A pretty hornet’s nest we appear to have got into here,” cried Blaikie. - -“And some of the hornets will get snuffed out when they come buzzing -around us,” responded Glyndon. “We can put an extinguisher on this -Prophet, first thing he knows. We’ll bottle him up before he can get any -help from his own village, or anywhere else. But now, tell me, did you -see any squaw with the Prophet?” - -“Yes—a squaw called Oneotah!” added Multuomah. - -“There, I told you Oneotah was a girl!” cried Cute. - -“She is there then?” - -This question sprung simultaneously from the lips of Glyndon and -Multuomah. - -“There is a singular-looking Indian boy there, wearing an antelope’s -head, which completely conceals his face, whom the Prophet calls -Oneotah,” replied Percy Vere; “and I have reason to believe that this -pretended boy is a girl.” - -“I’ll bet my bottom dollar on it!” exclaimed Cute. “She’s got the -nicest, softest little fingers that I ever got hold of—” - -“You did not see her face?” inquired Glyndon. - -“No; the antelope’s head conceals it utterly—indeed is worn for the -purpose of a disguise, the Prophet himself admitted to me.” - -“Does she appear to be under any restraint there?” Multuomah now asked, -with eager anxiety. - -“None whatever. She accompanied us nearly to the camp here, and could -have placed herself under its protection, if such had been her desire.” - -Multuomah’s features assumed a troubled expression. - -“She is there, then, of her own free will?” he asked, huskily. - -“Apparently. Indeed, she seemed to be greatly attached to the Prophet.” - -“Attached!” stammered Multuomah; and something that sounded very much -like a smothered groan burst from his lips. - -“He saved her from some great peril, I judge from some words between -them that I overheard,” continued Percy Vere; “and, now I think of it, -it appears to me that your name was mentioned.” - -“By him?” - -“No, first by her. Multuomah, she said, could protect her from some -threatening peril.” - -There was none of the fabled stoicism of the Indian in the young chief -as he listened to these welcome words. No white lover ever displayed a -more trembling eagerness to learn further intelligence of his -sweetheart. - -“Ah! she thinks of me—she speaks of me!” he cried. “Smoholler can not -then have made her his wife?” - -“His wife?” echoed Percy Vere, surprisedly. “No, I do not think there is -any such relationship existing between them. The tie that binds her to -him appears to be one of gratitude. As I understand it, he appears to -have saved her from a ferocious chief of the Yakimas named Howlish -Wampo. I remembered the name because it is such an odd one.” - -“And I have good cause to remember it too,” said Glyndon, “for he is the -head chief of the murdering tribe that destroyed my home. I heard his -name at the time—he was a young chief then, about the age of Multuomah -here. It grows upon me—I’ve got the idea into my head, and it sticks -there, that Oneotah is my daughter.” - -This was a revelation that greatly surprised all, and it made Percy Vere -thoughtful. - -“She spoke uncommonly good English for an Indian, I thought,” he said; -“but so did the Prophet, for that matter.” - -“Tip-top!” affirmed Cute. - -“I think the Prophet would give up this girl, if he thought she was your -daughter,” continued Percy Vere. - -Glyndon shook his head dubiously. - -“I have my doubts about that,” he answered. “These Injuns ain’t so fond -of giving up any thing they have once got hold of. But I do think we can -compel him to give her up.” - -“You do?” cried Multuomah, eagerly. - -“I just do! There’s one kind of logic that appeals irresistibly to an -Injun, and only one—and that is force. No offence to you, Multuomah. -There’s good and bad among Injuns, pretty much as there is among white -men. Human nature is about the same, no matter what the color of the -skin may be. I think we can get this Smoholler into a tight place, and -make him squeal!” - -“I am of that opinion also,” observed Lieutenant Gardiner; “but I would -like to have your ideas upon the subject, as an old Indian-fighter. You -know the best tactics to adopt against these savages.” - -By common consent Glyndon found himself constituted the leader of the -party. He accepted the position as a matter-of-course, and proceeded to -develop his plan of action. - -“Well, you see, Leftenant, my idea is just this,” he said: “Smoholler -doesn’t know of the arrival of Multuomah and his Nez Perces, and so he -doesn’t anticipate any attack from us. He’s got a party outlying at the -mouth of the ravine yonder, probably a dozen braves, to keep an eye on -us, but his main force is on the cliff, where, I opine, there’s some -kind of a cave.” - -“Yes; he told me that there was a mystic cavern in the cliff,” remarked -Percy Vere. - -“I thought so. There’s a way up to the top, as the trail we found -plainly shows. Now you can go to him again, my boy, as he might tell you -about your father, and as soon as it gets to be dark we’ll move quietly -through the ravine, surprise his scouts, and surround the cliff on this -side, while Multuomah and his braves cross the river above and unite -with us guarding the other side. Then we’ll have ’em just like rats in a -trap. When he finds out what we are doing you can just tell him that we -have been reinforced by a hundred Nez Perces—and mention Multuomah’s -name, for he must have heard of him—and that we want the girl Oneotah, -and will allow him to march off if he gives her up.” - -“Good!” ejaculated Multuomah. - -“The plan appears to be a good one,” rejoined Lieutenant Gardiner; “but -there is one drawback to it.” - -“What’s that?” - -“The Prophet, in his rage at thus finding himself surrounded, might -cause the boys to be slaughtered.” - -The surveyors were also of this opinion, and so said. - -“We might obviate that difficulty by keeping the boys here, and make the -attack without imperiling them,” continued Lieutenant Gardiner. - -Percy Vere objected strenuously to this. - -“That would deprive me of the opportunity of gaining the knowledge I -seek,” he urged, “nor would it be fair play to the Prophet.” - -“Fair play to an Injun—waugh!” rejoined Glyndon, contemptuously. - -“Smoholler was very generous toward us,” persisted Percy, “and I don’t -think we ought to take an unfair advantage of him.” - -“Percy’s right,” affirmed Cute. “He did the square thing by us, and so -give old Smo’ a show!” - -Blaikie laughed at the boys’ earnestness, though his words showed that -he was of their way of thinking. - -“The Prophet has shown a disposition to keep us back without bloodshed, -if he could, as his warnings prove,” he said. “I know that but very -little faith is to be placed in the tribes hostile to the whites, but -this Smoholler may be an exception. He’s an uncommon Indian—there’s no -mistake about that. Now, it appears to me, it would be best to let the -boys go to him, learn what they can, and tell him that we have been -strongly reinforced—let the Nez Perces light their watch-fires on the -opposite bank of the river to that effect—and that he must give up the -girl and withdraw his men, or we shall attack him.” - -Glyndon shook his head, discontentedly. - -“That won’t work,” he said—“I know it won’t—there’ll be no Smohollers -within ten miles of here by morning, and they’ll take the girl along -with them.” - -“Let us secure her while we can,” cried Multuomah. - -“Mr. Blackie’s plan is the best,” cried Percy; “and I think the Prophet -will yield Oneotah up to you, if I tell him you are here.” - -This assurance surprised them all, and Glyndon received it -incredulously. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - THE BOY EMBASSADORS. - - -“There’s more ways than one to kill a cat,” remarked Robbins, bringing -his Yankee shrewdness to bear upon this perplexing question. “What’s to -hinder Multuomah from crossing the river some distance above with half -his force, and so prevent the Prophet from retreating back to his -village?” - -Glyndon brightened up at this suggestion. - -“That’s the idea, by Jericho!” he exclaimed. “I’ve always heard that two -heads were better than one.” - -“Even if one is a cabbage-head,” supplied Robbins, laughingly. - -“I didn’t say that—though I don’t know whose head you allude to,” -rejoined Glyndon, with a grim facetiousness. “But you have just hit the -idea. Let the boys go. You can give Smoholler a wrinkle of what’s in -store for him, Percy, if he don’t give up the girl; and when you come -back safe we’ll just wake up these Smohollers lively.” - -“I am in hopes to bring Oneotah back with me,” responded Percy Vere. -“There are some good traits in this Prophet, notwithstanding his -objection to having a railroad run through his territory. Nor do I -believe he can be surprised.” - -“You don’t?” - -“No; I think his familiarity with this country will afford him an avenue -of escape.” - -Glyndon shook his head in his dubious manner. - -“Not if Multuomah and I get after him,” he rejoined. “I think we can -make things unpleasant for the Smohollers, eh, chief?” - -“If my warriors will second me, he can not escape us,” answered -Multuomah; “but I prefer that he should give up Oneotah and depart in -peace. I have no other cause of quarrel against him.” - -“But if he will not?” said Blaikie. “If he still persists in obstructing -our survey?” - -“The Nez Perces will guard your advance, and if they are attacked by the -Prophet’s braves, they will know how to defend themselves,” replied -Multuomah. “They believe that the white man has power to break the -strength of the Prophet’s medicine.” - -“That’s lucky, and they’ll fight all the better for it,” said Robbins. -“Our survey is all right; your party guarantees that. One good turn -deserves another, and so we’ll do our best to get your girl for you. Let -the boys go as embassadors to Smoholler—I don’t think they run any -risk—and demand the girl, and give him an intimation of what he may -expect if he tries to trouble us any further.” - -Lieutenant Gardiner, Blaikie, and Glyndon were of this opinion, and so -the boys prepared for their return to the Prophet. Percy Vere obtained a -small branch of a tree to which he affixed a white handkerchief, to -serve as a flag of truce. They left the rifles in the camp, but took -with them their revolvers and bowie-knives, though they did not think -they would have occasion to use either. Thus prepared they left the -breastwork, and walked across the open place toward the mouth of the -ravine. - -The surveyors, the lieutenant, the old hunter and the chief watched the -boys curiously, as they walked over this rocky plateau. The sun was -sinking, and its declining beams streamed ruddily through the gap in the -cliffs, and shed a kind of halo around the boys as they proceeded. - -They stepped forward lightly, and with an easy carriage that showed no -apprehension of danger lurked in their young hearts. - -The watchers behind the breastwork had soon a startling evidence of the -vigilance of Smoholler’s sentinels. Before the boys reached the mouth of -the ravine, a light form sprung from between the rocks and bounded -toward them—the form, apparently of an Indian boy, wearing an antelope’s -head. Oneotah, thus attired, presented a grotesque appearance to the -eyes of the beholders. It almost seemed to them as if the animal the -head represented was advancing upon its hind-legs, in a series of -graceful jumps, to greet the boys. - -Oneotah was quickly followed by the tall form of the Prophet, in all his -fanciful costume and hideous war-paint. Then, as if by magic, from -behind rocks, and from the thickets that skirted the mouth of the -ravine, sprung forth a score of Indian warriors, gorgeous in paint and -feathers, and the glittering tinsel of their barbaric dress, and each -one brandishing a rifle, whose bright barrel glittered in the sunlight. - -“Great Jericho! there’s a slew of ’em!” cried Glyndon, as he beheld -them. “Fifty of ’em, if there’s one. Ah! the Prophet’s playing a game of -brag with us. Wants to show us that he has got enough braves, as he -thinks, to wipe us out. He don’t know that Multuomah and his Nez Perces -are here, that’s evident.” - -Percy Cute was by no means intimidated by this display, for he -immediately reversed his position by a hand-spring, and walking toward -the Prophet on his hands, offered him one of his feet to shake hands -with. - -Instead of resenting this action, the Prophet entered into the spirit of -it, for he caught Percy Cute by the foot, and with a vigorous motion, -that showed his strength of arm, spun the boy up in the air, and Cute -descended upon his feet, resuming his proper attitude, and making a bow, -after the manner of a gymnast in a circus, as he did so. - -During this, Oneotah gave her hand to Percy Vere, and they disappeared -together through the mouth of the ravine. Smoholler and Cute followed -them, and when the rocks hid them from view, not an Indian warrior was -to be seen. They seemed to have melted away among the rocks and trees -before which they had been standing, disappearing with a noiseless -celerity. - -As the tall form of the Prophet, rendered more conspicuous by his -richly-bedizened cloak, was lost to view, the sun’s rays, which had -illuminated this rocky gorge, were suddenly withdrawn, and a gloom, like -a pall, settled over the little valley. - -The change, though due to natural causes, came so suddenly as to appear -peculiar; and the sudden disappearance of the Prophet and his warriors -seemed almost supernatural. There is little doubt that the wily -chieftain, knowing that the boys’ progress through the ravine would be -watched by their friends, had artfully arranged the whole scene to make -it as impressive as possible upon the minds of the beholders. - -If this was indeed the case, the effect produced upon the inmates of the -surveyors’ camp was all that he could have desired. - -As the gloom of night descended, so also did a gloom settle upon Gummery -Glyndon’s spirits, and he shook his long, gray locks discontentedly. - -“There’s trickery here, and deviltry, and what not!” he cried. “Why, the -Prophet was expecting the boys back—was all ready for them; and yet it -was ten chances to one against their trusting themselves in his hands -again.” - -Robbins took a more favorable view of the matter. - -“I differ with you there,” he said. “He must have seen Percy Vere’s -great anxiety to learn tidings of his father, and so artfully worked -upon his feelings to bring him back to him.” - -Glyndon shook his head again; but he could not shake away the sudden -foreboding that had seized upon his mind. - -“Do you think he can tell the boy any thing about his father?” he -returned. - -“Ah! you are too much for me there; but it is not out of the range of -probability. Who knows but what the father came this way, and that -Smoholler knows something of his fate?” - -Glyndon was impressed by this. - -“That’s so,” he admitted. - -“His spirits can tell him,” interrupted Multuomah. - -The surveyors and Gardiner turned a surprised look upon the young chief. - -“Do you believe in his spirits?” they demanded, in a breath. - -The young chief smiled. - -“Do not you, when you have seen them?” he rejoined. - -“It’s all a flam!” cried Glyndon. “The only spirit I ever knew an Injun -to have is whisky, and they are particularly fond of it. He can’t tell -the boys any thing that way. You saw the Antelope Boy?” he added, -suddenly, impressed by a new idea. - -“Yes,” answered Multuomah. - -“Was it Oneotah?” - -“I can not say. Who could tell her in that dress?” - -Glyndon shook his head sagely. - -“He’s fixed her for a purpose that way so nobody can tell her—the boys -said as much,” he responded. - -“She—if it is she—is under no restraint, and does his bidding willingly. -He’s cast some spell upon her, and that’s what he wants of the -boys—he’ll humbug them to go to his village with him, and make them -useful to him. He saw they were smart, and he wants them. His telling -them about giving them news of Percy’s father is all a humbug.” - -“Do you think so?” asked Blaikie, surprisedly. - -“I just do.” - -“Then, why did you let them go?” - -“I was a dunce to do so! But I kind of thought the Prophet might know -something, and then the boys were so anxious to go. However, that can’t -be helped now; but we must surround the Prophet, and prevent him from -carrying them off.” - -“Let us set about it, and not waste any more time in anticipating an -evil that may never occur,” suggested Lieutenant Gardiner. “Let -Multuomah send half his force over here, and then intercept the -Prophet’s retreat with the rest. We will wait here until morning, and -then force a passage through the ravine. The sound of our rifles will be -his signal to advance upon his side. With the force at my disposal, we -can soon overpower the Prophet’s band.” - -“Your head’s level, leftenant, and that’s just what we will do,” replied -Glyndon; “and now let’s have some supper.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE WHITE LILY. - - -The Prophet welcomed the boys in that stately manner which was as -impressive as it was characteristic with him, and Oneotah placed her -soft hand in Percy Vere’s with a gentle pressure; but when Cute extended -his chubby hand toward her, she declined it expressively. - -“Beg to be excused, eh?” said that roguish youngster. “Don’t want a -repetition of the grip? If I was somebody else now—a certain -good-looking young chief—Mister Multuomah.” - -“Multuomah!” exclaimed Oneotah, tremulously. - -The Prophet turned sharply upon Cute. - -“What do you know of Multuomah?” he demanded. - -Behind the Prophet’s back Percy Vere held up his finger, warningly, to -his cousin. - -“Oh! I don’t know much about him,” replied Cute, leisurely—“I’ve seen -him, that’s all. He’s a chief of the Nez Perces—and a splendid looking -fellow. He don’t daub his face up as you do yours. You put me in mind of -the clown in the circus.” - -The Prophet was not to be put aside in his inquiry. His suspicion had -been aroused, and he was determined to satisfy it. - -“You have seen Multuomah lately?” he continued, fixing his keen eyes -upon Cute’s face. “You found him in your camp on your return?” - -“Did your spirits tell you that?” rejoined Cute, bewildered by -Smoholler’s shrewd guess, and endeavoring to dodge the question. - -The Prophet shrugged his shoulders. - -“Your face tells me so,” he answered; “and I have no need to call upon -my spirits to corroborate it.” He turned to Percy Vere. “Your party has -been joined by the young chief of the Nez Perces, Multuomah?” he -inquired. - -Percy Vere, seeing that Cute had said enough to render any concealment -of the truth impolitic, answered: - -“Yes.” - -“You found him there on your return?” - -“I did.” - -“He has come in search of me!” exclaimed Oneotah, joyfully. - -This glad cry satisfied Percy Vere that the Antelope Boy was, indeed, a -girl, and the promised bride of Multuomah, and, with the inherent -chivalry of his nature, he resolved to reunite the lovers. - -The Prophet held up his finger warningly to Oneotah. - -“No matter how much he seeks for you,” he said, “he can never gain -possession of you against my will. You know my power—do not provoke it.” - -Oneotah shuddered and bowed her head submissively. - -“Oh! but you will give me to him?” she pleaded. - -“When the time comes,” he replied, impressively. - -She was satisfied with this assurance; and so was Percy Vere. - -“That is what I told them!” he cried, impulsively. - -The Prophet displayed an eager interest as he resumed his inquiries: - -“They spoke of Oneotah? Multuomah seeks her?” - -“He does.” - -“How many warriors has he with him?” - -“A hundred.” - -The Prophet started. - -“So many? Did you see them?” - -“No; they were upon the other bank of the river. The chief was alone in -our camp, in consultation with the lieutenant, the surveyors, and the -hunter, Glyndon. They proposed to hem you in, and prevent your retreat. -They do not seek to injure you, however; all they wish is to have you -give up Oneotah, and allow the survey to proceed.” - -The Prophet laughed contemptuously. - -“And if I should refuse to do either?” he returned. - -“They will attack you.” - -“Fools! The Nez Perces will not fight against Smoholler. When I appear -before them, they will scatter like a flock of sheep before the wolf. -Multuomah can not take Oneotah from me by force—he had best not attempt -it.” - -Percy, remembering Multuomah’s misgivings, was inclined to think that -this was no idle boast of the Prophet’s. - -“I returned to you to arrange matters peaceably, as much as to gain some -intelligence of my father, if you can give it to me,” he said. - -“I can give it to you,” replied Smoholler; “but it will try your nerves -to receive it, I warn you in advance. You must penetrate with me into -the Mystic Cavern beneath yonder cliff—the abode of evil spirits and -malignant demons.” - -“I will do so,” rejoined Percy, promptly. - -“And so will I,” added Cute. - -“Good! The sun is already down—let us advance.” - -The Prophet led the way from the little glen in which they had held this -conference, and struck a broad trail leading to the right. - -Percy Vere followed the Prophet, Oneotah came next to him, and Cute -brought up the rear. In this order they proceeded, the dim light growing -dimmer as they advanced. - -They had proceeded but a short distance when Percy felt a pressure upon -his right arm, and found that Oneotah had come to his side. - -“Do not fear the perils of the Mystic Cavern,” she said. “The White -Spirit will protect you.” - -These words were uttered cautiously, close to his ear. - -“I have no fear,” he returned. “I do not think the Prophet will allow -his spirits to injure me. I think him a man of his word, and I am in -hopes to persuade him to allow you to go to our camp with me on my -return.” - -The grasp upon his arm tightened. - -“Oh! if you only can!” she murmured, tremulously. - -“You would be glad to see Multuomah again?” - -“Yes.” - -“Oneotah loves Multuomah?” - -“Better than her life!” - -“Ah! then the Antelope Boy is the White Lily of the Nez Perces?” - -“Hush! Oneotah is only the slave of Smoholler—she is only what he -pleases until he sets her free,” she answered, with a sad resignation. - -“And would you remain with him if you had a chance to escape?” - -“I must.” - -“Even if I could restore you to Multuomah?” - -“Alas! yes.” - -The boy could not understand this. - -“What tie is it then that binds you so strongly to Smoholler?” he asked, -curiously. - -“One of gratitude—and still a stronger one.” - -“What?” - -“Hush! don’t let him hear us—he is fearful when angered. He is my—” - -“Husband?” supplied Percy, remembering the fear that Multuomah had -expressed to Glyndon. - -“No, no, no!” she answered, quickly. “Why, he is quite an old man. You -can not see his features from the war-paint—but I have been permitted to -gaze upon his face—I, of all his followers, because I am his -_daughter_!” - -Percy Vere was thoroughly amazed by this revelation. - -“His daughter?” he repeated vaguely. - -“Yes. He will give me to Multuomah, in good time, I know he will, for he -has always treated me kindly. He saved me from becoming the bride of the -fierce chief of the Yakimas. I am not a Nez Perce, nor yet a Yakima, -though I have lived with both tribes. I was stolen from my father by the -Yakimas when I was a child, and taken from them by a Nez Perce chief -named Owaydotah, who reared me as his own daughter. I was very happy in -the Nez Perce village, and it was a dreadful blow to me to fall again -into the hands of the Yakimas. Smoholler rescued me, and revealed my -true history to me, for his Spirit told him where I was. He saved me for -Multuomah—can you wonder that I love him for it?” - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - ON THE WAY. - - -Percy Vere was much interested in what Oneotah had told him, and he -gently detained her. - -“I do not wonder that you love this strange man,” he answered. “I am -more and more impressed by the evidences of his power that I have seen. -Let him pass on—we can overtake him—you know the way?” - -“Oh, yes; these scenes are familiar to me. I have often been here -before.” - -“Yonder cliff is a favorite haunt of the Prophet’s, I suppose?” - -“Yes.” - -“You have been in this Mystic Cavern, as you call it?” continued Percy, -pursuing his inquiries, curiously. - -“Repeatedly.” - -“And have you never feared the demons who inhabit it?” - -Oneotah glanced cautiously before her, as if seeking for the Prophet’s -tall form, but he had disappeared in the gathering gloom. It was evident -that she feared to speak of the cavern and its mysteries in his hearing. - -Percy understood the look, and answered to it. - -“He is out of sight—he can not hear you,” he said. “It appears that you -fear this man as well as love him.” - -“No, I do not fear him; but I would do nothing to displease him.” - -“Is he easily angered?” - -“Oh, no; he has never uttered an angry word to me yet.” - -Percy smiled. - -“It may be because you have been so submissive to his wishes,” he -rejoined. “You appear to me to have a very amiable temper.” - -Oneotah laughed, in her musical manner. - -“That is why the demons never seek to injure me, I suppose,” she -answered. - -“Have you ever seen any of these demons?” he cried, quickly. - -“Yes—one.” - -“The Black Fiend that appeared to us that night upon the cliff?” - -“Yes.” - -“And he did not seek to injure you?” - -“No; why should he?” - -Percy shrugged his shoulders; he had a shrewd suspicion of the cause of -this immunity, but he did not reveal that suspicion to her. - -“True; it must be a fiend indeed that would seek to injure you,” he -said. - -She turned suddenly upon him. - -“You like me?” she exclaimed, vivaciously. - -“Very much!” - -She gave him her hand with frank impulsiveness, crying: - -“And I like you!” - -“But not so well as Multuomah?” he rejoined, roguishly. - -“Multuomah is a great chief!” she replied, sententiously. - -“And an Indian of taste!” he added, impressively. - -His words bewildered her, for she did not catch his meaning. - -“Of taste?” she repeated, in a questioning manner. - -“Decidedly!” - -“What makes you think so?” - -“Don’t you?” - -She was puzzled again. - -“I don’t know what you mean,” she answered, simply. - -He smiled, but, instead of explaining himself, changed the conversation -abruptly by asking her: - -“You have also seen the White Spirit?” - -“I have.” - -“She is very beautiful!” - -“The red-men think her so.” - -“She has proved a great help to Smoholler in gaining his ascendancy over -the minds of the Indians.” - -“Yes.” - -“You do not fear _her_?” - -“Oh, no; she never injures any one.” - -“I thought not.” - -Cute now came up with them. - -“What are you stopping here for?” he asked. - -“Waiting for you to come up,” answered Percy. - -“Thank you. I came as fast as I could. I’m short-winded. Phew!” - -Cute drew in a long breath, as if preparing for a fresh start. - -“That’s because you are so fat!” cried Percy, laughingly. - -“Fat be blowed!” retorted Cute, indignantly. - -“That’s what I said—you are blown, because you are so fat.” - -“Funny, ain’t you? Well, I’d rather be fat than a Slim Jim, like you and -the Anteloper. Look at his horns! I’ve often heard of taking a horn, but -I wouldn’t like to take one of them horns.” - -Oneotah lowered her head and made a playful butt at Cute, who dodged her -nimbly, and got behind Percy, crying out: - -“None of that! If you are well-bred, don’t be a butter!” - -Oneotah laughed merrily at Cute’s apprehension. - -“That’s right, my jolly red boy,” continued the fat youth. “And now, -Anteloper, don’t you think you had better be a sloper? The Prophet has -invited us to a lunch, where we can ‘sup full of horrors’—a nice little -hash of goblins, spooks, demons, ghosts and spirits.” Then he began to -sing: - - “‘Red spirits and white, black spirits and gray, - Mingle, mingle, you that mingle may!’” - -“Hush!” cried Percy. “You’ll scare the owls!” - -“The what?” - -“The owls!” - -“Let ’em scare! Who’s afraid? If with my _howls_ I scare the owls, let -’em decamp to some adjacent shade!” - -“Will you be quiet? I wish to ask Oneotah a few questions before we -enter the Mystic Cavern.” - -Cute clutched Percy suddenly by the arm. - -“Will you take a fool’s advice?” he asked. - -“Well, if I take yours I don’t very well see how I can help it,” -answered Percy quietly. - -“Not bad for you, Percy; but fools sometimes hit the truth.” - -“If you think you can hit it, strike out.” - -“I was going to suggest that, instead of going into this Mystic Cave, it -would be better to cave in on going.” - -“Pshaw! are you afraid?” - -“Not of mortal, red or white, but when it comes to Black Spooks—fellows -that fight with their own shinbones, I beg to be excused.” - -“Nonsense! no harm will come to us.” - -Cute shook his head, dubiously. - -“Oh, won’t there?” he cried. “There aren’t any Accident Tickets issued -on this line yet.” - -“The Prophet will protect you!” exclaimed Oneotah. - -“Then he will be a profit to us if he does. He’s as smart as a -steel-trap, I know, is Old Smo’, so let us go, where glory, or any thing -else, awaits us.” - -“Do be quiet,” insisted Percy. “Oneotah was giving me some valuable -information when you interrupted us. She says Smoholler is her father.” - -“I wish I was farther—farther from this!” responded the incorrigible -Cute. “It’s a wise child that knows its own father, and Antelope may be -mistaken. You know what Glyndon thinks; and if she’s a she, and belongs -to he, how can the other matter be?” - -“That is just what I wish to ascertain.” - -“Fire away then, my boy.” - -Oneotah did not hear these words. Percy advanced to her, as she had -drawn a little apart while the boys held this whispered conference. - -“How long have you been with Smoholler, Oneotah?” asked Percy. - -“Twelve moons,” she answered. - -“Good Lord! do you Indian chaps have twelve moons?” cried Cute. “Why, we -white fellows only have one!” - -“The Indians count time by moons,” explained Percy. “Their moons are the -same as our months.” - -“That’s for a ‘twelve month and a day,’ as I have heard the old song -say. How moony, and how loony!” - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - ONEOTAH’S MEMORIES. - - -Percy Vere was too much accustomed to Cute’s nonsense to pay much heed -to it. He continued his inquiries of Oneotah. - -“And you were in the power of the Yakima tribe, you say, when he found -you—had you been taken a captive by that tribe?” - -She nodded assent. - -“They took you away from the Nez Perces, but if I remember aright, your -infancy was passed among the Yakimas.” - -“So I told you.” - -“Do you know how you fell into their hands in the first place?” - -“I do not.” - -They had paused beside a little brook which ran among the rocks, seeking -an outlet to the river. - -Percy was more and more satisfied that his idea was a correct one, and -that the Antelope Boy, or Oneotah, was of white origin. He was tempted -to ask her to remove the singular mask she wore, and let him look upon -her face, but the thought that she would probably decline to do so -restrained him, and he concluded to wait for a better opportunity. - -“I am upon the verge of a discovery,” he told himself. “I feel convinced -of it. The Mystic Cavern will clear away every doubt from my mind. But -if this is Glyndon’s child, the old hunter should know it; though I dare -say he would not have any objection to her marrying this young Nez Perce -chief, Multuomah.” - -This thought led him to resume his questions. - -“Your first recollection, then, dates from the Yakima village?” he said. - -“Yes,” replied Oneotah, answering his questions with great frankness. - -“Had you any father there?” - -“Not to my knowledge.” - -“Nor mother?” - -“None that ever claimed me.” - -“Have you any recollection of a mother?” - -Oneotah shook her head, pensively. - -“No,” she answered; “memory recalls no mother’s face gently bending over -her infant treasure; no father watching with fond delight the playful -gambols of his child, tracing in the little face before him the charms -of her who was his young heart’s choice.” - -“Nor had you other kindred?” - -She shook her head again, with the same plaintive expression. - -“I can recall no sister’s tenderness, no brother’s boisterous love,” she -rejoined. “Amid the dim phantoms of the past, that recollection -brightens into reality, one scene appears the strongest—clearest to my -mind.” - -Percy Vere was much interested in Oneotah’s recollections of the past. - -“What scene was that?” he asked. - -“It was on the plain near where the White Mountain towers to the -clouds.” - -“Mount Rainier?” - -“So the white men call it. It was five years ago.” - -“How old were you then?” - -Oneotah reckoned by “moons,” but Percy had no difficulty in estimating -her age at that period to have been thirteen years. - -“It was told to me that, when I grew old enough, I was to be the bride -of Howlish Wampo.” - -“There’s a name!” interrupted Cute, who had kept remarkably quiet for -him; but the fact was, he was as much interested as Percy in Oneotah’s -narration. “Who christened him I should like to know? You didn’t fancy -Mr. Howlish Wampo, eh?” - -“I shuddered whenever he looked at me.” - -“I don’t wonder at that, considering your prospect of becoming Mrs. -Howlish Wampo. Is he any relative to Wampum?” - -“Be quiet!” cried Percy. “Your tongue is like a mill wheel when it once -gets started.” - - “When the wind blows, - Then the mill goes!” - -sung Cute. - -“You objected, then, to this proposed marriage?” Percy said to Oneotah, -continuing his inquiries. - -“Yes; and I resolved to escape from him. Chance aided my design. Our -little village was surprised by a party of Nez Perces, led by a chief -named Owaydotah, and I willingly became his captive.” - -“He took you to the Nez Perce village?” - -“Yes.” - -“And there you met the young chief, Multuomah?” - -Oneotah’s voice sunk to a musical whisper as she answered: - -“Yes.” - -Percy smiled, significantly. - -“You did not find the same objection to him as to Howlish Wampo?” - -“No. I was very happy in the Nez Perce village. But Howlish Wampo was -resolved to get me again into his power. When an Indian vows revenge or -seeks redress for any injury inflicted upon him he will wait patiently -through long years for a favorable opportunity to accomplish his -designs. So Howlish Wampo watched and waited, and, at last, a cruel -chance made me again his captive.” - -“He succeeded in surprising you?” - -“Yes; and conveyed me back to the Yakima village. Here I was told that I -must become his wife. I gave myself up to despair.” - -“That was a year ago.” - -“Yes; but when hope had abandoned me, when my dread doom seemed -inevitable, Smoholler suddenly appeared in the village. He demanded me -of the chief, and Howlish Wampo dared not refuse him.” - -“That is strange! And the chief yielded you up to Smoholler?” - -“He did; for he feared the power of the great Prophet of the Snakes.” - -“And I don’t wonder, for he’s a regular anaconda!” interjected Cute. -“But won’t his Snakeship get tired of waiting for us?” - -“True, he will wonder what detains us,” answered Oneotah. “Come!” - -She led the way up the course of the brook. - -“But what plea could Smoholler put forward to claim you?” urged Percy, -as he followed her. - -“He said I was his child, and that the Yakimas stole me from him.” - -“He did?” - -“Yes.” - -“And did Howlish Wampo believe him?” - -“He must, or he would not have given me up to him.” - -“That’s so. But he can’t be your father!” cried Percy, earnestly. - -This exclamation surprised Oneotah. - -“Why not?” she demanded. - -Percy could not very well explain the cause of his doubts to her. - -“Because—because,” he stammered. “No matter! But do you think he is your -father?” - -“I do!” she answered, with decision. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - THE MYSTIC CAVERN. - - -Percy Vere listened to all this amazedly. - -“What makes you think Smoholler is your father?” he asked. - -“He has told me so,” she replied, simply. - -“He may have had a motive in doing so,” he urged. “What _proof_ have you -of it besides his word?” - -“A strong one. His face is of the same hue as mine—a hue that neither a -Yakima or a Nez Perce possesses.” - -These words made a powerful impression upon Percy’s mind. - -“Ha!” he cried, thoughtfully. “I remember Multuomah called you the -‘White Lily’—then your face is white?” - -“Yes.” - -“And Smoholler’s also?” - -“Yes.” - -Percy became excited. - -“Why, then, he is a white man!” he cried. - -“I do not know—but he is whiter than any Indian I ever saw.” - -“He _is_ a white man!” affirmed Percy, with conviction. “Good heavens! -his evident interest in me—can it be? Your father, girl? No, no—we -believe that you are _Glyndon’s_ daughter; and for the Prophet, he is—” - -It was now Oneotah’s turn to become amazed. - -“What?” she asked, as he paused abruptly. - -“No matter; this Mystic Cavern will satisfy my doubts, I fancy. I look -forward with interest to the revelations that I shall witness there.” - -“We have reached its entrance.” - -“Through this brook?” - -“Yes; the spring that feeds it bubbles up within the Mystic Cavern. Take -my hand, and give your other hand to your comrade. The entrance is low -and narrow.” - -Cute came up to them as they paused in the rocky bed of the brook. The -water was only a few inches deep, and went gurgling along with a -pleasant sound. - -“Where’s the cave?” - -“That hole in the rock, where the brook comes through—that is the -entrance to it.” - -“Why, that don’t look big enough for a cat to squeeze through.” - -“It is larger than it appears to be. The water is deeper there, forming -a little pool. Come, you must go down upon your hands and knees to -enter.” - -Oneotah set them the example, crawling through the aperture, and they -followed her. After proceeding a short distance on their hands and -knees, beside the brook (they were not obliged to go in the water, as -the stream had worn quite a passage in its long work of ages), they -emerged into a spacious and lofty apartment, and found the Prophet -awaiting them, holding a flaming torch in his hand. - -Its light dimly illuminated the spacious cavern. It was impossible to -form any estimate of its size by the light afforded by a single torch. -They were in a realm of shadows. Jagged rocks projected upon every side, -and an impenetrable gloom was above their heads. The murky air was -oppressive to the lungs, and strange murmurs, like the moaning of -prisoned spirits, fell upon the ear. - -The boys shivered. It appeared to them as if they had entered a huge -tomb. Cute’s teeth rattled in his head. - -“Oh! of all the dismal places!” he muttered. - -“Keep up your courage!” urged Percy. - -“I’m tryin’ to—but I never felt so flunky in all my life. I don’t want -to play hide-and-seek with red goblins. Ough! it’s awful chilly here.” - -The torchlight made fantastical shadows in the gloom, and it required no -great stretch of imagination to fancy that a host of grim goblins -surrounded them. - -The Prophet stuck his torch in a fissure of the rocky wall. - -“Fear nothing,” he said. “No harm will befall you. Oneotah and I must -not be present when the spirits appear. The White Spirit will obey your -bidding. Stand firm—be not appalled at any thing you see. If your father -is dead, his spirit will be shown to you.” - -The Prophet glided away in the gloom, followed by Oneotah. Cute clung -convulsively to Percy’s arm. - -“Let’s get out of this,” he stammered. “Never mind your father.” - -“No, I will remain,” answered Percy, resolutely. “Don’t be -frightened—shadows can not harm us.” - -“Ough! I know it—but who wants to shake hands with a lot of hobgoblins? -Oh, Lor’! what’s that?” - -The torch had dropped from the fissure to the rocky floor. This was the -cause of Cute’s alarm. It sputtered for a few moments and then expired. -Cute dropped upon his knees, as an utter darkness closed about them, -clutching Percy around the legs. - -“‘Now I lay me down to sleep,’” he muttered, his teeth chattering as he -did so. “Say your prayers, Percy—we are a couple of lost innocents. Oh! -if I ever get out of this—catch me coming here again!” - -“Don’t be a fool! Where’s your courage?” - -“I don’t know—I think I must have left it outside, for I haven’t got it -with me.” - -“Hush! the Spirit is coming!” - -“Oh! I wish I was going!” - -A light began to appear in a distant part of the cavern, some hundred -paces from where they were standing. It increased in volume until it -grew vivid, lighting up the cavern with an unearthly luster. Then came a -cloud of fleecy smoke, which rolled slowly upward and disclosed the -White Spirit, standing upon a rocky platform, about three feet from the -ground. The light fell strongly upon her face, revealing every feature, -and the snowy raiment, the golden bands, the glittering gem upon her -forehead, and the faultless contour of the bare limbs. It was a vision -of wondrous, supernal loveliness, and Cute’s courage revived as he -beheld it. He scrambled to his feet, crying out: - -“It is the Angel!” - -“Angelic, indeed,” returned Percy; “and if it is Oneotah, as I shrewdly -suspect, I do not wonder that Multuomah loves her.” - -Cute listened to him surprisedly. - -“Oneotah!” he exclaimed. “By Jingo! I think you are right. Now for the -Fiend!” - -“No; let her show me the spirit of my father, and I will be satisfied.” - -“_Behold!_” came in a musical whisper, that floated gently toward them. - -Again a cloud of smoke arose which hid the White Spirit from view, and -when it faded, a different form stood in her place—the form of a tall -man, with a pallid visage, and long, flowing black hair. His only dress -consisted of a pair of black pants and a white shirt, upon the breast of -which was a red gash, from which the blood appeared to be slowly oozing. -A look of anguish overspread his features, and with his right hand he -pointed to his gory breast, as if intimating that this was the wound -that had caused his death. - -“My Father!” exclaimed Percy, and he made an involuntary bound toward -the figure. - -“_Dead!_” came a hoarse whisper. - -Percy still pressed forward, dragging Cute, who clung to him in terror, -after him, exclaiming, frantically—“Father! father!” - -But his feet came in contact with a ridge in the floor, and he and Cute -were precipitated to the ground, the latter uttering a despairing yell -as he fell. He fell over Percy, and lay a dead weight upon him, and it -was only by a strong effort that Percy rolled him off, and struggled to -his feet again. But when he did so, light and figure both had -disappeared, and the blackness of a starless night encompassed them. - -“Gone!” he cried, disappointedly. - -“Oh! hocus-pocus conjurocus!” groaned Cute, upon the ground. “Phew! what -a smell of brimstone!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE SEARCH IS ENDED. - - -In the impenetrable gloom that now surrounded them, Percy could not -direct his steps toward the platform on which the figures had appeared. -He paused in bewilderment, amazed by what he had beheld. - -“It is wonderful!” he exclaimed. - -“I hope you are satisfied now,” cried Cute. - -“I am,” returned Percy. “Where are you?” - -“Here I am.” - -Cute arose, and Percy grasped him by the arm. - -“A word in your ear,” he whispered, impressively. “When they return to -us—as they shortly will—and conduct us to a place where there is a fire, -as is probable, contrive to knock off Oneota’s Antelope head, as you -promised to do. You understand?” - -“Oh, yes; I’m fly! If she turns out to be the White Angel—” - -“Why then, _Smoholler is my father_!” - -“Jumping Jerusalem! you don’t mean it?” - -“I do.” - -“That accounts for the milk in the cocoanut.” - -“Hush! I hear footsteps. See, there is the glimmering of a light.” - -“It is the Antelope with a torch, and her head on, as before. But I’ll -behead her. Just you wait.” - -“But don’t hurt her.” - -“Oh, no; I’ll decapitate her in the gentlest manner possible.” - -Oneotah drew near, carrying a torch in her hand. The way in which she -had approached proved that the cavern was divided into several -apartments, from one of which she had suddenly emerged bearing the -torch, whose light revealed her presence. - -“Come,” she said, as she reached them. - -“But tell me—” began Percy. - -“No questions now,” she interrupted quickly. “This is the Cave of the -Shadows—let us leave it for a more cheerful place. Come.” - -She led the way and the boys followed her, nothing loth to leave that -dismal, tomb-like apartment. The way proved a long and winding one, and -appeared to be a gradual ascent. Percy Vere could see by the light of -Oneotah’s torch that they were in a kind of rocky gallery, or -subterranean passage, a water-course formerly, though now entirely dry. - -After a tedious and tiresome ascent, during which the only words spoken -were muttered complaints from Cute as he scraped his shins against -projecting rocks, they emerged into a small but comfortable-looking -chamber. A fire burned brightly in a natural fire-place in one corner, -and as no smoke came into the chamber, it was evident that there was a -vent in the rocky roof above that served as a chimney. The light of the -fire made the little chamber look cheerful, and disclosed its -belongings. - -Considerable care had been expended in making it comfortable, and every -formation of the rocky chamber had been converted to a useful purpose. -Thus a huge square block of stone had been arranged for a table, and -smaller stones placed around it to serve as seats. Aromatic bushes had -been piled in little odd corners, and were covered with skins to serve -as couches. Various weapons were hung upon the walls, mingled with the -skins, and skulls, and horns of a variety of animals. - -In short, this strange apartment bore a picturesque appearance, and -seemed the fit home of a barbaric chief. Nor was the chief wanting, for -Smoholler was there; but he had laid aside his head-dress and cloak, and -his long black hair, which was almost as thick and as coarse as a lion’s -mane, hung down upon his shoulders. His face was still disguised in its -war-paint, though he appeared to have changed it in some respects since -they had last seen him. - -He was engaged in a peculiar occupation for a great Prophet and chief, -as he was cooking venison steaks before the fire, and the odor of the -meat saluted the nostrils of the boys most gratefully. - -“By king! this is something like!” exclaimed Cute. “Supper with the -Prophet.” - -Smoholler laughed. - -“Boys must eat,” he answered. “Have you not heard that the Indians are -celebrated for their hospitality?” - -“I don’t know much about Indians in general,” replied Cute, “but you are -a particular instance, and hard to beat. I don’t think there are many -like you.” - -“Smoholler is the great leader of the red-men,” answered the Prophet, -sententiously. “In all this land there is no other chief like him.” - -“That’s so!” affirmed Cute. “I’ll bet my bottom dollar on you.” - -Percy Vere, who had been gazing about him, curiously, now said: - -“Is not this near the top of the cliff?” - -Oneotah placed her torch in a niche in the wall. - -“Come,” she said. - -She gave him her hand, led him into a dark passage, turned abruptly to -the right after proceeding a few steps, and checked Percy’s further -advance. He gazed forward. The sky was overhead, studded with -innumerable stars. Far below, down in the gloom of night, a watch-fire -sent forth its ruddy glare. - -“It is the camp of the surveyors!” he exclaimed, surprisedly. - -Oneotah indulged in a musical laugh, as if she rather enjoyed his -surprise. - -“Yes,” she answered. - -“And it was here that the White and Black Spirits of Smoholler appeared -to us?” - -“Yes.” - -Every thing was becoming plain to him now. He made no other comment, -however, but followed Oneotah back into the chamber—the aerie of the -Prophet. - -The table was soon spread by Oneotah’s deft fingers, and they sat down -to their repast, the boys finding their appetites well-sharpened by the -events of the night. But little was said until their hunger was -satisfied, and then Smoholler pushed back his plate, saying: - -“What think you of the revelations of the Mystic Cavern? You will be -satisfied now to return to your mother and tell her that your father is -dead?” - -“No, for I think he still lives,” returned Percy; and he made Cute a -significant gesture toward Oneotah. - -“Still lives?” echoed the Prophet. - -“Yes; and is known by the name of Smoholler!” - -“Jumping Jerusalem!” exclaimed Cute, in pretended amazement, and he made -a clutch at one of the horns of the antelope’s head, and twitched it -dexterously away from Oneotah, revealing her white face, and luxuriant -black hair. - -“And there is the White Spirit!” continued Percy. “No wonder that you -could persuade these ignorant Indians that she is an angel, for she is -lovely enough to be one. Father, you will not deny me?” - -Smoholler gave him his hand. - -“No; for I am proud of such a son,” he answered. “You have penetrated my -mysteries, but I care not, as I intended to reveal myself to you; but my -followers must never know the deceit I have practiced upon them. I have -used my chemical knowledge in the manufacture of colored fires with -great effect. You have discovered who the angel was; I need scarcely -tell you that the Fiend was myself. Oneotah has been my only -confederate. And I am likely to lose her, for love has found his way to -her heart.” - -“My father, I will never desert you,” cried Oneotah. “I will still be -your White Spirit, if you wish it.” - -“No, Oneotah; you have served my purpose well, and now you shall reap -your reward. Your lover, Multuomah, is in yonder camp, and when they -return you shall go with them. My power is so well established now that -I can do without my White Spirit.” - -She beamed a grateful smile upon him. - -“It will aid your power, father,” she cried; “for Multuomah will become -your friend, and he will, one day, be the head chief of the Nez Perces.” - -“True; you see how politic she is; though I must confess that such an -alliance has long been one of my calculations.” - -“Why have you made her think she is your daughter?” asked Percy. - -“Because I wanted something to love me; my heart was not satisfied with -being feared alone,” answered the Prophet, feelingly. “I found her in -the power of a brutal savage, and saved her from the degrading fate of -becoming his wife. I saw by her face that she was the child of white -parents, and so I claimed her as mine.” - -Oneotah looked disappointed at this revelation. - -“Then you are not my father?” she cried. - -“No, Oneotah; only by adoption.” - -“Your real father is in our camp,” said Percy. “A hunter, named Glyndon. -This, we are all quite assured, is the case.” - -The Prophet looked surprised. “Is it so?” he asked. - -Percy briefly recounted Glyndon’s story, as he had repeatedly revealed -it to the boys and the lieutenant. - -“Undoubtedly she is his daughter,” responded Smoholler; “but for her own -good, and mine, she had better be considered my daughter.” - -“I shall never love any other father!” cried Oneotah. - -“This seems hard upon Glyndon,” remarked Percy. - -“Why so? He has long considered her dead. Let him content himself with -seeing her happy, and, if he is a sensible man, he will do so. Oneotah, -as the supposed daughter of the Great Prophet of the Snakes, will -receive a consideration among the Nez Perces that would be denied to her -as the daughter of a simple hunter. Besides, it makes a tribe, which has -been inclined to be inimical, friendly toward me. I must do all I can to -consolidate my power.” - -“Then you will not return to your home?” - -“Never. What is past is past. Discussion upon the subject would be idle. -Guy Vere is dead, and Smoholler, the Prophet, lives, to found the -greatest Indian nation that has ever existed in this country. I will -give you gems that will enrich you and your mother for life; but when -you leave me, forget me. It will be best. Oneotah shall go with you, and -the survey can proceed, for I will no longer obstruct it. I have changed -my views concerning the railroad. I think I was wrong in my calculation -of the injury it might do me. I shall return to my village at Priest’s -Rapids. Here are beds at your disposal. Oneotah has her own separate -apartment. Let us sleep.” - -Oneotah withdrew through one of the passages, and the Prophet and the -boys disposed themselves upon the couches of skins and fragrant herbs. -Sleep came to them speedily. - -In the morning they were up with the sun. The Prophet gave Percy a -little pouch of deer-skin that contained a fortune in precious stones, -and after partaking of a breakfast, and exchanging an affectionate -farewell with their strange host, the boys and Oneotah departed. But she -no longer wore the boy’s dress and antelope’s head—she had discarded -them for the rich costume of an Indian Princess, for was she not going -to her betrothed lord? - -I have not space to linger over a description of the surprise that their -arrival at the camp created, or the numerous inquiries that were -addressed to them. - -Glyndon could not determine whether Oneotah was his daughter or not, and -she showed no disposition to acknowledge him as a father. She had long -considered herself the daughter of the great Smoholler, and, -notwithstanding what he had said, she still clung to that belief. Percy -saw enough in her face to convince him that she was Glyndon’s child, -but, under the circumstances, he deemed it best not to interfere in the -matter. - -Multuomah preferred to receive her as Smoholler’s daughter, and conveyed -her to his village, where their nuptials were celebrated with great -pomp. - -Percy Vere and Percy Cute remained with the expedition until the survey -was completed, and then returned home. - - - THE END. - - - - - STANDARD - Dime dialogueS - - - For School Exhibitions and Home Entertainments. - -Nos. 1 to 21 inclusive. 15 to 25 Popular Dialogues and Dramas in each -book. Each volume 100 12mo pages, sent post-paid, on receipt of price, -ten cents. - - Beadle & Adams, Publishers, 98 William St., N. Y. - -These volumes have been prepared with especial reference to their -availability for Exhibitions, being adapted to schools and parlors with -or without the furniture of a stage, and suited to SCHOLARS AND YOUNG -PEOPLE of every age, both male and female. It is fair to assume that no -books in the market, at any price, contain so many useful and available -dialogues and dramas, pathos, humor and sentiment. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 1. - - Meeting of the Muses. For nine young ladies, - Baiting a Live Englishman. For three boys. - Tasso’s Coronation. For male and female. - Fashion. For two ladies. - The Rehearsal. For six boys. - Which will you Choose! For two boys. - The Queen of May. For two little girls. - The Tea Party. For four ladies. - Three Scenes in Wedded Life. Male and female. - Mrs. Sniffles’ Confession. For male and female. - The Mission of the Spirits. Five young ladies. - Hobnobbing. For five speakers. - The Secret of Success. For three speakers. - Young America. Three males and two females. - Josephine’s Destiny. Four females, one male. - The Folly of the Duel. For three male speakers. - Dogmatism. For three male speakers. - The Ignorant Confounded. For two boys. - The Fast Young Man. For two males. - The Year’s Reckoning. 12 females and 1 male. - The Village with One Gentleman. For eight females and one male. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 2. - - The Genius of Liberty. 2 males and 1 female. - Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper. - Doing Good and Saying Bad. Several characters. - The Golden Rule. Two males and two females. - The Gift of the Fairy Queen. Several females. - Taken in and Done For. For two characters. - The Country Aunt’s Visit to the City. For several characters. - The Two Romans. For two males. - Trying the Characters. For three males. - The Happy Family. For several ‘animals.’ - The Rainbow. For several characters. - How to Write ‘Popular’ Stories. Two males. - The New and the Old. For two males. - A Sensation at Last. For two males. - The Greenhorn. For two males. - The Three Men of Science. For four males. - The Old Lady’s Will. For four males. - The Little Philosophers. For two little girls. - How to Find an Heir. For five males. - The Virtues. For six young ladies. - A Connubial Eclogue. - The Public meeting. Five males and one female. - The English Traveler. For two males. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 3. - - The May Queen. For an entire school. - Dress Reform Convention. For ten females. - Keeping Bad Company. A Farce. For five males. - Courting Under Difficulties. 2 males, 1 female. - National Representatives. A Burlesque. 4 males. - Escaping the Draft. For numerous males. - The Genteel Cook. For two males. - Masterpiece. For two males and two females. - The Two Romans. For two males. - The Same. Second scene. For two males. - Showing the White Feather. 4 males, 1 female. - The Battle Call. A Recitative. For one male. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 4. - - The Frost King. For ten or more persons. - Starting in Life. Three males and two females. - Faith, Hope and Charity. For three little girls. - Darby and Joan. For two males and one female. - The May. A Floral Fancy. For six little girls. - The Enchanted Princess. 2 males, several females. - Honor to Whom Honor is Due. 7 males, 1 female. - The Gentle Client. For several males, one female. - Phrenology. A Discussion. For twenty males. - The Stubbletown Volunteer. 2 males, 1 female. - A Scene from “Paul Pry.” For four males. - The Charms. For three males and one female. - Bee, Clock and Broom. For three little girls. - The Right Way. A Colloquy. For two boys. - What the Ledger Says. For two males. - The Crimes of Dress. A Colloquy. For two boys. - The Reward of Benevolence. For four males. - The Letter. For two males. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 5. - - The Three Guesses. For school or parlor. - Sentiment. A “Three Person” Farce. - Behind the Curtain. For males and females. - The Eta Pi Society. Five boys and a teacher. - Examination Day. For several female characters. - Trading in “Traps.” For several males. - The School Boys’ Tribunal. For ten boys. - A Loose Tongue. Several males and females. - How Not to Get an Answer. For two females. - Putting on Airs. A Colloquy. For two males. - The Straight Mark. For several boys. - Two Ideas of Life. A Colloquy. For ten girls. - Extract from Marino Fallero. - Ma-try-Money. An Acting Charade. - The Six Virtues. For six young ladies. - The Irishman at Home. For two males. - Fashionable Requirements. For three girls. - A Bevy of I’s (Eyes). For eight or less little girls. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 6. - - The Way They Kept a Secret. Male and females. - The Poet under Difficulties. For five males. - William Tell. For a whole school. - Woman’s Rights. Seven females and two males. - All is not Gold that Glitters. Male and females. - The Generous Jew. For six males. - Shopping. For three males and one female. - The Two Counselors. For three males. - The Votaries of Folly. For a number of females. - Aunt Betsy’s Beaux. Four females and two males. - The Libel Suit. For two females and one male. - Santa Claus. For a number of boys. - Christmas Fairies. For several little girls. - The Three Rings. For two males. - - -DIME DIALECT SPEAKER, No. 23. - - Dat’s wat’s de matter, - The Mississippi miracle, - Ven te tide cooms in, - Dose lams vot Mary haf got, - Pat O’Flaherty on woman’s rights, - The home rulers, how they “spakes,” - Hezekiah Dawson on Mothers-in-law, - He didn’t sell the farm, - The true story of Franklin’s kite, - I would I were a boy again, - A pathetic story, - All about a bee, - Scandal, - A dark side view, - Te pesser vay, - On learning German, - Mary’s shmall vite lamb, - A healthy discourse, - Tobias so to speak, - Old Mrs. Grimes, - A parody, - Mars and cats, - Bill Underwood, pilot, - Old Granley, - The pill peddler’s oration, - Widder Green’s last words, - Latest Chinese outrage, - The manifest destiny of the Irishman, - Peggy McCann, - Sprays from Josh Billings, - De circumstances ob de sitiwation, - Dar’s nuffin new under de sun, - A Negro religious poem, - That violin, - Picnic delights, - Our candidate’s views, - Dundreary’s wisdom, - Plain language by truthful Jane, - My neighbor’s dogs, - Condensed Mythology, - Pictus, - The Neraides, - Legends of Attica, - The stove-pipe tragedy, - A doketor’s drubbles, - The coming man, - The Illigant affair at Muldoon’s, - That little baby round the corner, - A genewine inference, - An invitation to the bird of liberty, - The crow, - Out west. - - -DIME DIALOGUES, No. 26. - - Poor cousins. Three ladies and two gentlemen. - Mountains and mole-hills. Six ladies and several spectators. - A test that did not fail. Six boys. - Two ways of seeing things. Two little girls. - Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. Four ladies and a - boy. - All is fair in love and war. 3 ladies, 2 gentlemen. - How uncle Josh got rid of the legacy. Two males, with several - transformations. - The lesson of mercy. Two very small girls. - Practice what you preach. Four ladies. - Politician. Numerous characters. - The canvassing agent. Two males and two females. - Grub. Two males. - A slight scare. Three females and one male. - Embodied sunshine. Three young ladies. - How Jim Peters died. Two males. - -☞ The above books are sold by Newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, -post-paid, to any address, on receipt of price, 10 cents each. - - BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William St., N. Y. - - - - - DIME POCKET NOVELS. - PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH. - - - 1—Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes. - 2—Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken. - 3—The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis. - 4—Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid. - 5—Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor. - 6—The White Tracker. By Edward S. Ellis. - 7—The Outlaw’s Wife. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens. - 8—The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken. - 9—Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams. - 10—The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid. - 11—The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes. - 12—Bess, the Trapper. By E. S. Ellis. - 13—The French Spy. By W. J. Hamilton. - 14—Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock. - 15—The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen. - 16—Red Hand. By A. G. Piper. - 17—Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson. - 18—Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes. - 19—The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins. - 20—The B’ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock. - 21—Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster. - 22—Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson. - 23—Old Kent, the Ranger. By Edward S. Ellis. - 24—The One-Eyed Trapper. By Capt. Comstock. - 25—Godbold, the Spy. By N. C. Iron. - 26—The Black Ship. By John S. Warner. - 27—Single Eye. By Warren St. John. - 28—Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis. - 29—The Scout. By Warren St. John. - 30—Eagle Eye. By W. J. Hamilton. - 31—The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis. - 32—The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck. - 33—The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter. - 34—Old Lute. By E. W. Archer. - 35—Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes. - 36—The Boy Pioneer. By Edward S. Ellis. - 37—Carson, the Guide. By J. H. Randolph. - 38—The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard. - 39—Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap. - 40—The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis. - 41—Wild Nat, the Trapper. By Paul Prescott. - 42—Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs. - 43—The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard. - 44—The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey. - 45—The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 46—Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham. - 47—The Man-hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe. - 48—The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey. - 49—Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs. - 50—The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard. - 51—Tom Hawk, the Trailer. - 52—The Mad Chief. By Chas. Howard. - 53—The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing. - 54—Arkansas Jack. By Harry Hazard. - 55—Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs. - 56—The River Rifles. By Billex Muller. - 57—Hunter Ham. By J. Edgar Iliff. - 58—Cloudwood. By J. M. Merrill. - 59—The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 61—Mad Anthony’s Scouts. By E. Rodman. - 62—The Luckless Trapper. By Wm. R. Eyster. - 63—The Florida Scout. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 64—The Island Trapper. By Chas. Howard. - 65—Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 66—Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard. - 67—Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine. - 68—Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest. - 69—The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard. - 70—The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe. - 71—Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard. - 72—Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 73—The Skeleton Scout. By Maj. L. W. Carson. - 74—Little Rifle. By Capt. “Bruin” Adams. - 75—The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson. - 76—Old Ruff, the Trapper. By “Bruin” Adams. - 77—The Scarlet Shoulders. By Harry Hazard. - 78—The Border Rifleman. By L. W. Carson. - 79—Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard. - 80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. By R. Ringwood. - 81—Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve. - 82—Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard. - 83—The Specter Horseman. By Frank Dewey. - 84—The Three Trappers. By Seelin Robins. - 85—Kaleolah. By T. Benton Shields, U. S. N. - 86—The Hunter Hercules. By Harry St. George. - 87—Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 88—The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard. - 89—The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard. - 90—The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs. - 91—Star-Face, the Slayer. - 92—The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken. - 93—The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson. - 94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp. - 95—The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter. - 96—The Rival Trappers. By L. W. Carson. - 97—The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard. - 98—Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 99—Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle. - 100—Old Bear Paw. By Major Max Martine. - 101—Redlaw. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 102—Wild Rube. By W. J. Hamilton. - 103—The Indian Hunters. By J. L. Bowen. - 104—Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn. - 105—Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers. - 106—The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 107—Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North. - 108—The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 109—The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard. - 110—Nick, the Scout. By W. J. Hamilton. - 111—The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett. - 112—The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton. - 113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard. - 114—The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham. - 115—The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck. - 116—Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 117—Abdiel, the Avenger. By Ed. Willett. - 118—Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey. - 119—Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger. - 120—Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard. - 121—Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker. - 122—Kit Bird. By W. J. Hamilton. - 123—The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason. - 124—Giant Pete. By W. J. Hamilton. - 125—The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger. - 126—Yankee Eph. By J. R. Worcester. - 127—Silverspur. By Edward Willett. - 128—Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger. - 129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason. - 130—Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger. - 131—Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson. - 132—Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe. - 133—The Lost Cache. J. Stanley Henderson. - 134—The Cannibal Chief. Paul J. Prescott. - 135—Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson. - 136—Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs. - 137—Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson. - 138—Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton. - 139—The Scioto Scouts. By Ed. Willett. - 140—The Border Renegade. By Badger. - 141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark. - 142—Boone, the Hunter. By Whittaker. - 143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton. - 145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - 146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton. - 147—Chinga, the Cheyenne. By E. S. Ellis. - 148—The Tangled Trail. By Major Martine. - 149—The Unseen Hand. By J. S. Henderson. - 150—The Lone Indian. By Capt. C. Howard. - 151—The Branded Brave. By Paul Bibbs. - 152—Billy Bowlegs, The Seminole Chief. - 153—The Valley Scout. By Seelin Robins. - 154—Red Jacket. By Paul Bibbs. - 155—The Jungle Scout. Ready - 156—Cherokee Chief. Ready - 157—The Bandit Hermit. Ready - 158—The Patriot Scouts. Ready - 159—The Wood Rangers. - 160—The Red Foe. Ready - 161—The Beautiful Unknown. - 162—Canebrake Mose. Ready - 163—Hank, the Guide. Ready - 164—The Border Scout. Ready Oct. 5th. - - BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - -—Silently corrected a few typos. - -—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook - is public-domain in the country of publication. - -—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by - _underscores_. - -—Created a Table of Contents based on the chapter headings. - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANTELOPE BOY; OR, SMOHOLLER THE -MEDICINE MAN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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