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diff --git a/39401-h/39401-h.htm b/39401-h/39401-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13c88ed --- /dev/null +++ b/39401-h/39401-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7980 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Frontiersmen, by Gustave Aimard. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39401 ***</div> + + + + + +<h1>THE FRONTIERSMEN</h1> + +<h3><i>A NOVEL</i>.</h3> + +<h2>By GUSTAVE AIMARD</h2> + +<h5>NEW YORK:</h5> + +<h5>THE F.M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY,</h5> + +<h5>Nos. 72-76 Walker Street.</h5> + +<h5>1854</h5> + +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<p><a href="#Contents">Contents</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>INTRODUCTORY.</h4> + + +<p>In the year 1783, Western New York—or at least what was then deemed +Western New York—was an almost unbroken wilderness, scarcely known to +the inhabitants of the eastern and south-eastern portions of the State; +although the greater part of that large tract of territory then known as +Tryon County, was especially an unexplored country. It is true that +occasionally some adventurous pioneer had penetrated the wilderness, and +endeavored to form for himself and family a home, where, if he could not +enjoy the luxuries and comforts to be found in more populous sections, +he could at least be freed from many of the evils incident to the +growing settlements and cities. Some there were, who had not these +inducements, but, moved by a spirit of hardy enterprise, and with a love +for the excitements and dangers of a pioneer life, penetrated the +wilderness alone, with no companion but the rifle—a sure and steadfast +friend amidst the dangers which were certain to beset him.</p> + +<p>Thus, an adventurous traveler, who perhaps fancied himself the first +white man who had ever toiled through the forests of this portion of the +State, would be surprised as he came upon the traces of civilization, in +a log hut, situated, perhaps, in the midst of a few acres of partially +cleared wilderness. When such happened to be the case, it would be no +occasion for wonder that the traveler and the <i>settler</i> became at once +acquaintances and friends. The news from the settlements—inquiries for +friends, and political information, would gladly be exchanged for the +homely but welcome entertainment, which was at once provided.</p> + +<p>At the period which we have chosen for our narrative, the County of +Tryon was inhabited by roving bands of Indians, mostly belonging to the +Six Nations. Some favorite localities were selected, which might be +deemed peculiarly the homes of these bands; although their roving +dispositions, the pursuit of game, or hostile encounters, would prevent +the permanent occupation of any one locality.</p> + +<p>That portion of Tryon County with which the reader will become somewhat +acquainted in due course of this narrative, was more especially +inhabited by that division of the Iroquois, known as the Oneidas. But it +was not infrequent that bands belonging to other tribes of the +confederacy made incursions into this territory, in pursuit of game, and +occasionally on less peaceable missions.</p> + +<p>It is well known that during the War of the Revolution, the different +tribes, composing the confederacy of the Six Nations, were divided in +their choice between England and the rebellious Colonies. The Oneidas, +and a part of the Tuscaroras and Mohawks, adhered to the Colonies, while +the other three nations of the confederacy were leagued with England, +under Col. Butler, and the notorious Johnson. It was under the former +officer that the Senecas, principally, aided by Tories, perpetrated the +Massacre of Wyoming. The Onondagas, at first, professed neutrality +between the belligerent parties; but as it was believed that they aided +in the more hostile operations of the Senecas, a detachment was sent +from Fort Stanwix, which destroyed their villages. This attack was +revenged by assaults upon the settlements of Schoharie and the western +borders of Ulster.</p> + +<p>During the war, Tryon County contained a large number of Tories, who +were constantly inciting the Indians to acts of hostility against the +Colonies. But while they were successful with a large portion of the +Iroquois, they signally failed in all their attempts to abate the +fidelity of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras. This division in the councils of +the Six Nations, disturbed the amity which had previously existed +between the confederated tribes; and the bond which had so long united +them, was severed forever. More than once, were the Oneidas driven from +their villages, and compelled to seek protection from the whites; and +parties of the latter tribe, with a part of the Tuscaroras, actually +took up arms against their ancient brethren. It is said that the +notorious Col. Walter Butler was killed by an Oneida Chief, during his +flight after the battle of Johnstown.</p> + +<p>At the time embraced by our narrative, it was not infrequent that +difficulties occurred between the separated parties of the confederacy, +and hostile encounters took place, which ended in bloodshed. Indeed, the +successful Colonies had not concluded any treaty of peace with the +Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, until October, 1784. By that +treaty, those tribes consented to a release of prisoners, and also to a +cession of all their territory west of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>The Six Nations, at the time of the Revolution, were considered the most +formidable of the Indian warriors to be found on the North American +Continent; and overtures were made to them, as well by the Congress of +the confederated Colonies, as by the English Government. The overtures +of the latter were made through Col. Guy Johnson—successor to Sir +William—and through the great influence he possessed over them, he was +able to induce them to take up arms against the peaceable and scattered +inhabitants of the frontier. The number of Indians of the Six Nations +who actually took up arms in favor of Great Britain, is estimated at +about 1200. The whole number of Indians, of all tribes, who were +employed by the British against the Colonies, was estimated by Captain +Dalton, (Superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1783.) at 12,690.</p> + +<p>The histories of the time, relate the terrible sufferings endured by the +inhabitants of Tryon County. The valleys of the Schoharie, the Mohawk +and the Susquehanna, were swept, year after year, by the Indians; +villages were burnt—and, without discrimination of age or sex, the +whites who were supposed to be favorable to the Colonial cause, were +massacred. These events gave rise to the expedition of Gen. Sullivan +into the Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca country, which was overrun and laid +waste; and it was hoped that the Indians, having lost their provisions +and stores, would cease their incursions upon the border settlements. +But all such hopes were vain; the depredations were renewed, and +continued until the end of the war. It is said by the author of the Life +of Brant, that "two years before the close of the war, one-third of the +population had gone over to the enemy—one-third had been driven from +the country, or were slain in battle, and by private assassination. And +yet among the inhabitants of the other remaining third, in June, 1783, +it was stated at a public meeting held at Fort Plain, that there were +three hundred widows and two thousand orphan children."</p> + +<p>The country which is the immediate scene of the following narrative, was +little known in the time of the Revolution. The maps of the period +designated it as Indian country, and as an unexplored region. The +Tienaderack, or Unadilla River—one of the tributaries of the +Susquehanna—is given as the western boundary of the whites, beyond +which are the villages and hunting-grounds of the Oneidas and +Tuscaroras. It is into this unexplored region that we propose to conduct +the reader. We cannot promise a strict fidelity to truth, in the precise +incidents related in our narrative, but they have kindred features in +narratives related by the ancient settlers of this valley. There are +traditions, well authenticated, which might give rise to many of the +incidents. With this general view of the condition of Tryon County, at +the time of the Revolution, we will conduct the reader to that portion +of it in which we are more immediately interested.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Hath not old custom made this life more sweet</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">More free from peril than the envious court?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Here feel we but the penalty of Adam—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The season's difference."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 20em;">AS YOU LIKE IT.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>It was, then, in the early part of the month of October, 1783, that two +travelers might have been seen, leisurely wending their way, on foot, +southwardly, along a somewhat narrow valley, through which flowed a +rapid but attractive river. That part of the valley which was now in +their view, was not more than half a mile in breadth. On the west, the +hills were low, and presented no peculiar attraction to the eye. On the +east, however, they attained a loftier height, and, in the golden +sunshine which fell from the autumn sky, excited the surprise and +admiration of our travelers. From the position they occupied, they could +trace the course of the valley for some six or seven miles, among the +hills, which became bolder and loftier, until it was lost in a sudden +turn to the westward. The river, along whose banks they had traveled for +some ten or twelve miles, was here from four to six rods in width; and, +as we have before observed, was attractive by the rapidity of its +current and the frequent but graceful curves in which it pursued its +course. The Indian name, which this river now bears, implies "the +Pleasant River."</p> + +<p>The forest about them exhibited much variety of vegetation; and among +the trees which they observed, they saw fine specimens of the pine, +which towered above the surrounding forest, in the graceful superiority +of foliage and beauty. The maple, hemlock, beech, birch, walnut, and +chestnut, were abundant. It was at just the season of the year when the +leaf of the maple wears its choicest hue of red; and the beech and +chestnut assume their "sere and yellow." Blending with these varieties, +the unfading richness of the evergreen, it would excite no wonder, that +the younger of our travelers, at least, beheld with admiration the +gorgeous drapery which, in this climate, the forest assumes, preparatory +to the desolation of winter.</p> + +<p>The younger of the two persons to whom we have called the attention of +the reader, might have been twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age. Of +middle stature, he exhibited a frame of much symmetry and power; and it +was apparent that he had been inured to labors which had fully +developed health and strength. His face was somewhat embrowned by +exposure to the weather; but his active and intelligent eyes, the firm +compression of his lips, and the ready play of his countenance, as he +listened to or answered some remark of his companion, made it apparent +that he had at least bestowed some labor upon the cultivation of his +mind; for inward discipline and culture always have their effect upon +the outward bearing. Besides this, there was in his countenance an +evidence of sincerity of purpose, which if it pursues but one path to +attain its end, and that frequently an <i>uncomfortable</i> one, always +triumphs over temporary difficulties. Ralph Weston—for that is the name +of the young traveler—was ever honorable and upright, even where +worldly "prudence" would have admitted of a slight departure from the +rigid rules of propriety. He was not of that modern school, which makes +<i>expediency</i> the touchstone of morality of conduct; but he always +disclaimed the artifices to which men too frequently resort to hide the +practices which are well enough in themselves, but which happen to +contravene popular opinions or customs. But, with this serious turn of +mind, he possessed a romantic disposition, which frequently led him into +acts that excited the surprise of more sedate or less romantic +acquaintances; but with no art, save a frank disposition, and a heart of +sympathy and friendship, Ralph Weston always found "troops of friends" +to whom he was little less than what we propose to make of him—a hero.</p> + +<p>Ralph Weston, then, as might be readily supposed, in the dark hours when +the Colonies were struggling for life, embarked his hopes and fortunes +in the cause of his country. At the age of eighteen, he volunteered as a +private soldier, and after serving a short time in this humble capacity, +he had risen in rank, until at the close of the war, he held the +commission of a captain. His maternal aunt (for he had neither father +nor mother, both having died in his infancy) always insisted that he +should have been a general, at least; and perhaps, if merit were always +the true test of advancement, he would have attained a much higher rank. +But while he was always foremost in danger, he was ever a laggard in the +ranks of those who press eagerly forward for the spoils of victory, or +the honors which are more often worn than deserved. But we will suffer +the reader to become more intimately acquainted with him as we proceed +in our history.</p> + +<p>His traveling companion, however, cannot be dismissed without notice; +for Ichabod Jenkins (familiarly called "Ike," by his too-presuming +acquaintances) had no small idea of his own importance. At the time when +he appears before us, he cannot be less than forty-seven or eight years +of age; when standing erect, he is full six feet two in stockings; but +as he generally appears in locomotion, you would make his height at +about five feet ten. His frame was not, apparently, robust, and a +stranger would have been surprised at any great indication of strength +on his part; yet few in the neighborhood of his residence, on any public +occasion, when feats of agility or strength were undertaken, would have +dared to match him in any game where these qualities were necessary. Yet +this was the least of Ichabod's merits, if his own judgment could be +trusted.</p> + +<p>In his earlier days, a long struggle had taken place in his mind between +the love of wealth and literary pursuits. He recognized the distinctive +antipathy between these two mistresses; yet neither of them had ever +acquired a complete victory over the other; so he had compromised +between them by uniting a course of such reading as could then be +attained in general literature, with a strong speculative disposition, +which desired to leap at once, and by one bound, from rags into purple. +Now, it must be confessed, that Ichabod had succeeded about as well in +one pursuit as in the other—and to which of his mistresses to attribute +his ill success, he did not know. He had read Mrs. Bradstreet's poems, +who, in her day, was styled "the mirror of her age and the glory of her +sex"—he had much admired the poetry of George Wolcott, but he was +completely intoxicated with the "Simple Cobbler of Agawam," by Nathanial +Ward, although he did not adopt its fanatical sentiments; the +Revolutionary poets he had by heart, and for the reputation of Freneau, +he would have abandoned the fame of Shakespeare, had he possessed the +power of choice. He had at one time secluded himself from all of his +acquaintances for a month or two; and at last, when he emerged from his +solitude, he was seen with a quantity of manuscript, which he read to +his most intimate friends with exceedingly rhapsodical gestures. It was +even thought that this manuscript had been offered to some publisher, +but as its contents whatever they were, never appeared in print, it was +well understood that it had been rejected. It is certain, that from this +time he abandoned all ideas of winning a literary reputation, and set +earnestly to work to win the fortune of which he had so long been +dreaming. But Ichabod, with an innate love for the jingle of rhyme, +could, even at this day, repeat enough of the lyrical poetry of the +country to endanger the patience and temper of his warmest friend.</p> + +<p>After attempting, at Boston, many schemes for the sudden acquisition of +wealth, which had all resulted in failure, he had, some time previous to +the war, shaken off the dust of the (to him) unprosperous city, and +traveled westward in search of a more congenial spot, where the +resources of his mind could be developed.</p> + +<p>He had <i>finally located</i> at one of the frontier settlements in the State +of New York—a small, but growing place—and unencumbered by wife or +family, he fancied himself certain of success at last. He had at one +time taken a trip to the shores of Long Island Sound, for the purpose +of making inquiry as to the prospect of realizing anything from the +buried money of Capt. Kidd; but he returned somewhat poorer than he +left. One time, while wandering on the shore of a small creek, in his +own neighborhood, devising means for the expenditure of his wealth when +it should be obtained, he was suddenly arrested by the glitter of some +fine, shining particles, in the sand. Certain that he had at length +discovered a gold mine, the land was purchased by him on contract, at an +extravagant price, by turning out what little money and few valuables he +possessed. His mysterious appearance and conduct, attracted towards him +the attention of the whole settlement; it was whispered that he was +always out of his boarding-house at night, and that he invariably slept +a portion of the day. He had been heard, too, to hint, in a solemn +manner, of his taking up his residence at Boston or New York, and of +building half a dozen blocks of brick buildings, and living in a style +of splendor that should astonish his early acquaintances, who had always +enviously predicted that he would never amount to anything. The +consequence was, that after much managing and prying, Ichabod's mine was +discovered, and the whole settlement rushed—men, women and children—to +share his good fortune. Trespass suits followed thick and fast, and at +length it was discovered that the glittering particles which had been +gathered so eagerly, were worth just as much as the sand in which they +were imbedded, and no more. The result of this speculation was, that +Ichabod lost both his gold and his land, and the little money he had +previously possessed.</p> + +<p>But nothing disheartened, other schemes filled his mind; and he was +always the surest of success, just as he was the most certain to be +unsuccessful. Ichabod was altogether too busy in his financial +operations to volunteer as a soldier during the Revolutionary War, +although he had cast around earnestly to ascertain if there was any way +by which he could make his business and patriotism harmonize together. +But while he had refused to sacrifice his chances of a fortune by taking +up arms as a soldier, to his credit be it said, that in the frequent +Indian incursions which had been made on the frontier settlements of New +York, he had zealously engaged in the plans of defense, and had won an +enviable notoriety as an Indian fighter. Always cool and calculating, he +never suffered himself to be surprised; and he came at last to be +dreaded by the Indians, as bearing a charmed life, which could not be +taken. More than one Seneca, who had escaped from his rifle, bore the +marks of his bullets; and his name was never mentioned by them but with +a look of hatred. This feeling was cordially reciprocated; and even a +lucky chance at a fortune could scarcely have deterred him from an +attack, even in a time of peace, upon an Onondaga, Cayuga, or Seneca.</p> + +<p>But with the return of peace, all ideas of war had vanished, and he now +felt that it was necessary to make a desperate effort for the fortune +which had been so long delayed. But it was necessary to possess some +little capital; and with the view of laying the foundation for the +capital desired, he had embraced the opportunity of guiding Ralph Weston +on his journey, which was now nearly completed. He also had an idea +about a speculation which he wished to look after; but of that +hereafter.</p> + +<p>Armed with a rifle, which had been his constant companion in his +encounters with the Indians, and with a hunting-knife which he wore in a +leathern belt, it would have been difficult for a stranger to have +pronounced his vocation. There was little in his figure or appearance +which would have indicated the habits of a borderer of the period, yet +one would scarcely have ventured to guess at any other calling or +profession.</p> + +<p>His hair, which was long and straight, and originally of a brownish +color, had become grizzly, and flowed from under his cap without order +or regularity. His face was embrowned by long exposure to the extremes +of weather, while its expression had a rigidity that was scarcely ever +discomposed. His eyes were of a grayish cast, and seemed always to be on +the alert, to detect dangers that might threaten either his person, or +the mental treasures which were just ready to be coined.</p> + +<p>The travelers journeyed in a sort of path, which had evidently been made +some time before, but which had been little used. Occasionally, a tree +that could not be avoided had been felled, and the stump wholly or +partially removed; and often the path was obstructed by the trunk of a +decayed tree, which had fallen from old age, or had been overthrown by +the violence of the winds.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ichabod," said Ralph, after the travelers had paused a while to +survey the valley which now opened upon their view, "we must be near our +journey's end. From the indications you gave me, we cannot be more than +a mile distant, at farthest."</p> + +<p>"I should say not, Captain," replied Ichabod; "I was never hereabouts +but once before, and then I reckon we made something of a spec in the +way of Injins. The varmints! but they are a long way off now, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"I have never heard," said Ralph, "that any battles of consequence were +fought in this section of the State. This region is too distant from the +settlements, and too much of a wilderness, to have been the scene of any +important conflict."</p> + +<p>"I can't say, Captain, how important it may or mayn't have been to the +country at large; but this I <i>do</i> calculate, that it was mighty +important to them that had the fighting on't. Three Injins to one man, +sartin; and they fought like devils, as they were, confound 'em! Why, +Captain, if you'll believe it, one of them red rascals and I ra'ally had +a pitched battle for the ownership of this here companion of mine," +pointing to his rifle; "but we taught the cussed red-skins better +manners. We don't part company so easy;" and Ichabod grasped his rifle +with a still firmer hand; and then half said and half sung, from the old +ballad of "Lovewell's fight,"</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'For, as we are informed,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">So thick and fast they fell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Scarce twenty of their number</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">At night did get home well.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I supposed," said Ralph, "that this country, through which we are now +traveling, was in the possession of the friendly Oneidas and +Tuscaroras?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was in their possession," answered Ichabod, "except when it was +overrun by those devils of Senecas or Onondagas and that was pretty +tolerably often. They got lots of scalps, sometimes, and sometimes they +lost their own. The Tryon County boys, when they had a fair chance at +'em, always paid 'em off with interest. As the poet said:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Come all you Tryon County men,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And never be dismayed;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But trust sincerely in the Lord,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And He will be your aid.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"But, as I ginerally found, they had to trust a good deal to their +rifles."</p> + +<p>"I had heard of the sufferings of the people at the settlements," said +Ralph, "and knew the fact that many sharp battles, which are little +known in the general history of the war, occurred; but I supposed they +were confined to the immediate neighborhood of the settlements."</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, Captain, if we got the start of 'em at the settlements, +we weren't such fools as to let 'em go without a taste of our pluck; and +it was on one of them occasions that I was down here. But I say, +Captain," exclaimed he, as he approached a sudden bend in the river, +where there was a much more than usual current, "what d'ye think of the +chance of setting up a woolen factory down here, on this creek?"</p> + +<p>Amused with the turn Ichabod had given to the conversation, Ralph +suggested that it might possibly be a profitable investment, provided he +could induce the Indians to become customers to his establishment, and +provided the requisite staples for the manufacture could be obtained. +Nothing daunted by the suggestion of obstacles, Ichabod proceeded to +explain to Ralph how a rapid fortune, in that line, could be +accumulated.</p> + +<p>"Now s'pose, Captain, that we buy of these Oneidas and Tuscaroras a +water-privilege. Well, that's done. Then we'll put up a building. Plenty +of materials, you see, all around here; and we can get the machinery at +New York, or send for a good hand, and make it ourselves. Then, as you +say, we shall have to get the wool; and after it's manufactured, we +shall have to sell it. But why can't we raise sheep here? We can get a +small stock at the settlement, and what with them and the increase, we +shan't have any lack of wool: and for a market, haven't we got the whole +country? But you'll say, Captain, that the foreign importations will +ruins us? Well, that <i>is</i> a difficulty; but it can't last, Captain; it +won't last. We'll conquer them foreign fellows in that business, yet, as +we did in the other. But I think we can, any way, get up a good-enough +home market among these Injins. I'll have a talk with 'em about it." And +we shall see that he did, on a subsequent occasion, faithfully perform +his promise.</p> + +<p>But we will not follow the worthy Ichabod in his calculations upon the +profits of his speculation. He had scarcely reached the middle of his +figurings upon the profits to be realized from a thousand sheep, when +Ralph, who was wearied, yet amused, by the earnestness of his companion, +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Arrived at last!"</p> + +<p>They had now approached near the northeastern shore of a small lake or +pond, which lay buried in the valley, completely surrounded by the +forest. Its eastern shore was about fifty rods from the river; and so +far as they could observe, it had neither inlet nor outlet. It was of an +almost perfect oval form, having on the eastern and a portion of the +southern shore a bluff of fifteen or twenty feet in height; but on the +southwest, the land gradually receded in an upward slope, into a hill of +fifty or sixty feet in height, while, towards the northwest, the land +rose sharply from the water's edge to an elevation of eighty or a +hundred feet. The northern shore seemed to be flat and marshy, and had +the appearance of having, at one time, been covered with the waters of +the pond. As we have said, it was of nearly an oval form, and was about +one hundred rods across, from east to west, while from north to south +the distance was still greater. The water was calm and clear, and +reflected, with the brightness and truthfulness of a mirror, the forms +of the trees which stood upon its western shore. Even Ichabod awoke from +his speculative dreams, and admired, with Ralph, the still and quiet +beauty of the scene.</p> + +<p>Upon the brow of the hill which we have described on the southwestern +shore of the pond, in a clearing of few acres in extent, stood a +cottage, not much different from the general style of cottages, as they +were then built by the pioneers of the wilderness. Yet, in the distance +which intervened between it and our travelers, and in the calmness and +clearness of the day, which had now nearly reached its close, the +cottage possessed charms, in their eyes, which its intrinsic beauties, +either in situation or construction, did not perhaps merit. So far as +Ralph was concerned, perhaps, there were other reasons to lend it a +charm, beyond the beauty of the landscape or the golden rays thrown upon +it by the setting sun.</p> + +<p>While they were yet observing it, with very different emotions, it was +apparent from an unwonted excitement among its inhabitants, that their +arrival had been observed, and the figure of a stout-looking elderly +man, followed by a negro, could be seen advancing towards them. But we +must leave the meeting to be recorded in the next chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Tis pleasant, through the loop-holes of retreat,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To peep at such a world; to see the stir</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To hear the roar she sends, through all her gates,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">At a safe distance, where the dying sound</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Falls, a soft murmur, on the uninjured ear."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;">WILLIAM COWPER</span> +</p> + + +<p>The individual we have mentioned, who now came rapidly, towards Ralph, +was somewhat advanced in years—not less, perhaps, than sixty. Yet, in +his whole bearing and appearance could be seen the iron frame and +hardihood, which in these days have given place to a certain effeminacy +of manners. The hardy, robust race of men who cleared our forests, and +encountered cheerfully the sufferings and privations, and endured the +toil incident to a pioneer life, are passing away; and however much our +vanity may suffer in making the confession, their sons and successors +are apt to lack in those iron qualities which succeeded against +obstacles, the magnitude of which most of us do not appreciate.</p> + +<p>The countenance of this individual exhibited tokens of the energy of +this now nearly departed class of men; yet upon it, at the same time, +glowed an expression of honesty and intelligence, which at once win the +heart and command confidence and respect. The frosts of time had but +lightly touched his hair, and at the first glance, one would have +guessed him at least ten years younger than he actually was.</p> + +<p>Matthew Barton, for such was his name, about two years before the period +we have assigned for our narrative, had left one of the settlements at +the eastward, and removed with his family to this remote region. He had +been unfortunate in his pecuniary affairs, and his confidence had been +betrayed by a friend for whom he had incurred obligations nearly to the +amount of his small fortune. With the remains of his little property he +had removed to the west, advancing beyond the remotest dwelling in this +section of the State. He was satisfied that he had years of labor left +in him yet; and with a prudent foresight, he saw that a few years, at +most, would surround him with neighbors, who would be likely to follow +him to the fertile and beautiful valley he had selected. Suddenly, +perhaps, for one advanced to his age, and yielding partially to the +feelings of mortification he endured at the idea of struggling with +poverty among those who had seen him in a more prosperous condition, he +resolved upon this course, and it was at once adopted.</p> + +<p>His wife had died a number of years before, leaving him but one child, a +daughter, who at this time had arrived at about twenty years of age. He +had purchased, with the remains of his property, a negro, to assist him +in his farming operations, and thus provided, we behold him in the new +house of his old age.</p> + +<p>Ralph advanced rapidly forward to meet him, and hearty were the +greetings between them.</p> + +<p>"Right glad am I to see you here, Ralph," said Barton, "yours is the +first friendly face I have seen from the settlements in many a day; and +I can say, too, that there is no other I would more gladly see. Oneidas +and Tuscaroras are well enough in their place, but it does one good to +see a little of the old eastern blood, once in a while."</p> + +<p>The first greetings over, Ralph, with a blush—very faint indeed, but +still a blush—of which the old gentleman was entirely unconscious, +inquired about his old playmate, Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Well and happy, Ralph—at least, as happy as one can be, so far from +friends; but she will be right glad to see you, I doubt not."</p> + +<p>Ralph introduced Ichabod to Mr. Barton, as a worthy gentleman from the +settlements, who had been induced to accompany him through the +wilderness; and the party then proceeded towards the cottage, which, on +a nearer approach, if it lost some of the enchantments which distance +had lent it, gained on the score of adaptation to the purposes for which +it had been erected. It was situated in the midst of a few acres of land +which had been almost entirely cleared, and which showed abundant signs +of having already repaid, for the season, the labor which had been +bestowed upon it. A log barn had been erected, a short distance from the +house, and about the premises were seen the usual fixtures of a pioneer +habitation. The house itself was built of logs, but they had been hewn +and squared with some care; and, altogether, it had the appearance of a +neat and comfortable residence. It had, also, with a foresight against +contingencies which might occur, been adapted as a place of defense +against any attacks which might be made upon it by Indians.</p> + +<p>"Stir your shanks, Sambo!" said Barton to the negro, "and inform your +mistress that she has visitors coming."</p> + +<p>The negro hurried away on his errand, while the party proceeded more +leisurely towards the dwelling.</p> + +<p>Ralph was welcomed by Miss Barton with all the warmth and pleasure that +might have been expected from their early friendship. Years had elapsed +since they had been separated, and, in the look of mutual joy and +pleased surprise at the changes which time had wrought in each other, +might be traced, perhaps, in both, the existence of a tenderer feeling +than belongs to mere friendship.</p> + +<p>Ruth Barton, as we have already said, was about twenty years of age. In +figure, she was of the medium female height, but with a form fully +developed by healthful exercise; her countenance possessed a gentle +quietness, which was peculiarly feminine; but withal it gave evidence of +a confidence and self-reliance necessary to the women as well as to the +men of the frontier settlements of that period. She was, as her +appearance would indicate, the life of the family—always busy in the +labors and duties of the household; and, under her superintendence, +there were a regularity and neatness which, to the most fastidious of +housekeepers, might perhaps have been a little surprising. But these +were not the only qualifications which Ruth Barton possessed. She was +not satisfied with the mere routine of ordinary duties, but she had +found time to adorn her mind with many of the accomplishments of +education—far beyond most of those even, who were elevated above her by +the means and opportunity of acquiring a thorough education. Her mind +was of a somewhat imaginative cast, and she possessed a deep and quiet +love for the beauties of Nature. She loved her new home in the +wilderness—the beautiful valley which her father had selected, +possessed charms which she admired; and she had never wished to exchange +it, though solitary and neighborless, for the more populous country in +which she had once resided.</p> + +<p>There was also present in the room an ill-clad, stout-looking man, by +the name of Guthrie, apparently about forty-five years of age. His +countenance had a vulgar cast; and it wore, besides, an ill-natured +expression, that repelled any attempt at an intimate acquaintance. This +Guthrie had, during the war of the Revolution, been a Tory; and it had +been suspected that he was one of the most active agents in inciting the +Indians of this locality to revolt. He resided at some distance below, +on the river, in a log shanty erected by him. He was a sort of squatter, +and tilled a few acres which had been partially cleared by the Indians +years before; but relied principally upon his gun and fish-pole for a +livelihood. Occasionally he went to the settlements with such skins or +other articles as he could exchange. He was merely tolerated in the +family of Mr. Barton, whenever he made his appearance; and knowing the +ill favor with which he was received, it was seldom that he intruded +himself upon them.</p> + +<p>As the party entered the door, Guthrie, who had been sitting listlessly +by the fireside, arose with a sort of dogged air; but as the tall figure +of Ichabod met his eye, he shrank quietly back again, and endeavored, as +much as possible, to withdraw himself from observation. Ichabod did not +observe him, or, at least, exhibited no signs of recognition.</p> + +<p>"We have been expecting you, Captain Weston, for some days," said Ruth; +"we learned by Guthrie, who came about a week ago from the settlements, +that you had returned from the army; and we have been awaiting the +fulfilment of an old promise to visit us."</p> + +<p>"I left Philadelphia but a few weeks since," replied Ralph: "I was +mindful of my promise, and set out on my visit here as soon as my +business arrangements would allow; but I hardly think I should have +found my way here at all, had it not been for my friend, Mr. Jenkins. He +picked his way through your wilderness like an old acquaintance."</p> + +<p>Ichabod acknowledged the attention which this remark attracted towards +him, by gradually elevating his form and replying:</p> + +<p>"Well, these woods <i>are</i> something like an old acquainance to me, seeing +as how I have been through here on some sharp war paths, afore now. It +was down yonder in them flats, we had a terrible skrimmage with them red +sarpints the Senecas and Onondagas; but we gave 'em a touch of +Independence, <i>con</i>-found 'em!"</p> + +<p>"How long ago, Mr. Jenkins," asked Barton, "did the fight which you +mention occur?"</p> + +<p>"Well, as near as I can calculate, I should think it was in the fall of +'79."</p> + +<p>"That must have been the same affair which I have heard you mention, +Guthrie," said Barton, addressing that individual, who sat in the corner +of the large fireplace, with his hat drawn over his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes," growled Guthrie, without moving.</p> + +<p>"What! old veteran, was you there, too?" asked Ichabod, approaching him.</p> + +<p>"No, I wan't there," replied Guthrie ferociously, partly turning his +face towards Ichabod.</p> + +<p>"Well, you needn't be so savage about it, friend," said Ichabod, slowly. +"Them that fout there, so far as I know, hadn't nothing to be ashamed +on." Then turning away, he muttered to himself, "I've seen them features +afore, somewhere—down in the settlements, perhaps. But I say, Squire," +turning towards Barton, "you've done a mighty smart business, clearing +up here, lately."</p> + +<p>"Yes, something of a business. We have not been idle. Sambo and I have +got ten or fifteen acres pretty well cleared."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Ruth was busy making preparations for the family +supper, and providing otherwise for the comfort of their guests. Guthrie +took the opportunity quietly to leave the room, and with his rifle on +his shoulder, proceeded rapidly in a southerly direction.</p> + +<p>The conversation then turned upon the political condition of the +country, the depreciated state of the currency, and the anticipated +proceedings of Congress.</p> + +<p>"The greatest difficulty that lies in the way of a proper management +and settlement of our affairs," said Ralph, in reply to some remark of +Barton, "it seems to me, is in the limited powers of Congress. Impotent +for any purpose, it has a herculean task before it. I think it will be +found necessary to adopt a stronger government."</p> + +<p>"No, no," replied Barton, who seemed to be tenacious of State rights, +and to labor under a great fear of the evil consequences of a +centralization of power. "Congress has power enough. The disorders under +which the country labors, would have been no less under any form of +government. Without resources, in a long and harassing war, the burden +of indebtedness and the depreciated condition of the currency, were +unavoidable; but all that will be necessary to restore us, will be a few +years of peace. Things will come round of themselves."</p> + +<p>"But," said Ralph, "how is our indebtedness to be paid? The country is +already exhausted by taxation. The States themselves are overburdened +with their own debts: when to these are added those contracted by +Congress, it is very difficult, under the present order of things, to +see our way clearly out of our embarrassments. No credit in Europe—no +money at home—no confidence anywhere. With a few years of peace, had +Congress the power to levy impost duties, much might be done. Even the +late measure of a proposed impost duty of five per cent. has been lost +by the obstinacy of Rhode Island, which would not concur in the +measure."</p> + +<p>"Say, the <i>patriotism</i> of Rhode Island, rather," answered Barton, "if +that term may be applied to a State. I look upon that system of impost +duties as a direct robbery of the people. Give Congress that power, and +you give away the whole property of the nation. Duties would be laid +that would deprive the poorer classes of all the comforts—ay, of many +of the necessaries of life. That won't do."</p> + +<p>"How, then," asked Ralph, "would you pay off our indebtedness, and +support the burthens of government?"</p> + +<p>"By direct taxation!"</p> + +<p>"But that system, you would find, I think," said Ralph, "would not +answer the purpose. It would only reach a certain class, and would be +very strongly resisted. But, by the other system, the trifling addition +to the cost of articles of general consumption would be little felt, and +after a time, would be generally acquiesced in. Besides, all classes of +persons would be reached, and almost universally in proportion to their +means."</p> + +<p>"It is only a return to the principle of the stamp act," said Barton, +who was a little excited; "and our seven years of warfare and suffering +will have been useless, if, after all, we are to permit any authority, +in its discretion, to impose burdens upon us."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that, Squire," interrupted Ichabod, who had +listened to this discussion with much interest, and to whose mind the +factory speculation proposed to Ralph, recurred. "Wouldn't such a system +a little better allow us to take care of ourselves? Couldn't we a little +easier build up manufactories of our own? Just add that five or ten per +cent, to the profits of our own manufacturers, and pretty soon we'd hold +them <i>furrin</i> manufacturers off at arm's length. You'd see factories of +all sorts starting up all over the country, and there would be a +pleasure in that, to a man who loved his own country—to wear cloth and +drive nails made at home. Now, couldn't <i>you</i>, Squire if a duty of ten +or fifteen per cent, was laid on woollen fixins', afford to go into the +factory business, on your own hook, on this river of your'n, here?"</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks!" ejaculated Barton, "what could <i>I</i> do in the factory +business?"</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps <i>you</i> mightn't do anything at it, Squire," replied +Ichabod; "but somebody else might. Now, suppose somebody <i>should</i> locate +a business of that kind down here, I'll tell you how you could make a +nice spec out of it, without laying out any capital at all—although it +would be kind'er fair to lend a helping hand, jist to start, perhaps, +seeing you could make so well out of it."</p> + +<p>Barton looked at Ichabod, as if he began to doubt his sanity; but to +Ralph, the earnestness of the one and the surprise of the other, was a +matter of great amusement.</p> + +<p>Ichabod continued, pleased at the surprised attention which Barton was +giving to him:</p> + +<p>"You see, Squire, s'pose that business should be started down here, jist +opposite them flats, it would be necessary to bring in lots of people, +and you could lay out them flats into building-lots, and realize +something handsome out of it."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" said Barton, "a city down here! Well, I'll tell you what I'll +do, Mr. Jenkins. I'll give you the land for your factory, together with +your water-privilege, and we'll divide the profits on the city lots;" +and the old gentleman laughed heartily at the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"That's what I call fair," said Ichabod, slowly; "but <i>couldn't</i> you, +Squire, do a little something towards furnishing the capital?"</p> + +<p>"Furnishing the capital!" ejaculated Barton; "why, as to that, I haven't +capital enough to furnish my own farm, small as it is. No: I think, Mr. +Jenkins, I have made you a very fair offer."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment, Sambo announced their supper to be ready, and +Ichabod was obliged to desist from the further prosecution of his +project. But, extremely well satisfied with the progress already made, +he began seriously to dream of the manufacturing firm of "Barton, +Weston, Jenkins & Co."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<blockquote><p><i>2d Fisherman</i>.—"Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea."</p> + +<p><i>1st Fisherman</i>.—"Why, as men do on land—the great ones eat up +the little ones."—PERICLES. </p></blockquote> + +<p>Ralph was now fairly installed as a member of the family of Mr. Barton. +He had found an opportunity, in the course of the evening of his +arrival, to exchange a few words of conversation with Ruth; and he was +now satisfied that the partiality with which, in former days, she had +regarded him, had not given place to indifference. The consciousness of +this fact amply repaid him for long years of absence, and led him to +look forward to such a future as only appears to the vision of those who +reason from the heart. The future, cold, impassable, dark, and filled +with mysterious dread, to him who has outlived the power of youthful +passion—to the young and the hopeful, is the unattained but attainable +region, where exist all the charms and raptures which can be bodied +forth by an ardent imagination. So different are the views of life which +can be made by a few active, busy years.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the day after their arrival, Ralph and Ichabod, +accompanied by Barton, examined the farm and the improvements which had +been made by the energy of the latter. Some fifteen acres of forest had +already been cleared, and Sambo, on this morning, was engaged in still +farther invading the domains of the wilderness; and with his bare and +muscular arms was wielding the axe like a redoubtable soldier among a +multitude of enemies.</p> + +<p>There is something pleasant to the eye in beholding the struggle of man +with the wilderness; to see old, mossy trees, that had stood for ages, +faithful guardians of the soil, whose long, leafy boughs and bushy +crowns, seemed to belong as much to the sky in which they waved and +nodded, as to the earth which sustained them, bow down their heavy heads +with a crash, that to the imaginative mind, seems, with its echoes, like +a mournful wail issuing from the surviving forest. As the tree falls, +the golden sunlight darts into a new and unexplored region, and the +melancholy forest abode recedes, as if pursued by an implacable enemy. +But it is a rescue of the earth from the long slumber of past time, and +an offering to the comforts and necessities of the future.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely to be wondered at, that in earlier times, when the +imaginations of men overruled their powers of reason, the sombre, +melancholy forest abode was peopled with fanciful beings—children of +the shadow and of the forest—Fairies, Dryads, and Satyrs, with Arcadian +landscapes, and the good god Pan to preside over sylvan sports! But in +these days of utility, the reed of the shepherd and the music of the +sylvan gods are drowned in the clatter of saw-mills, and the hoarse song +of the woodchopper.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, who had not forgotten the conversation of the previous evening, +endeavored, two or three times, to revive the project which on that +occasion he had proposed to Barton; but he was unsuccessful in his +attempts to renew the discussion. After a few hours thus spent, the +party returned to the cottage. Barton proposed, for the afternoon, a +fishing excursion upon the pond. "It is filled," said he, "with pickerel +and perch—both very delicious fish, and they are taken with the utmost +ease. This is just the season for them."</p> + +<p>Ralph inquired if the streams contained any specimens of trout; and +Barton answered, "that the river contained some very fine specimens, +although they were not so numerous as in the smaller streams. +Occasionally we take pike, but they do not come so far up the river in +very large quantities. But," he continued, with a zeal that showed he +was not a stranger to the gentle art, "our brooks are filled—absolutely +filled—with trout. There is a stream, about a mile and a half west of +us, which comes from the northwest, through a wilderness, with which I +am almost wholly unacquainted, where they can be taken in great numbers. +In an hour, we can catch as many as it will be convenient to carry. If +you like, we will go over there to-morrow, or next day; but for to-day, +I am anxious to show you sport nearer by."</p> + +<p>It was arranged, that in the afternoon the suggestion of Barton should +be followed; and hearing the latter giving some directions to Sambo, +which it will be unnecessary here to repeat, Ralph and Ichabod proceeded +leisurely towards the cottage.</p> + +<p>"There is a charm, for me, about a life in the woods," said Ralph, +"which I cannot explain. Mingled with the idea of a nearer approach to +the Court of Nature, is that of separation from the passions and vices +of men in the world. One feels to exclaim with the Bard of Avon,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">"Is not this life more sweet</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">More free from peril than the envious court?"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I don't dispute the general idea," said Ichabod, "about the sweetness +of a life in the woods. I have never tried it very much, but I always +have a different sort of feeling from usual when I find myself in the +forest; but I reckon that it can't be considered very patriotic for a +Captain in the Revolutionary Army to be quoting Shakspeare, or any +other British poet. What did <i>he</i> know about <i>our</i> woods? All the woods +he ever saw were but a child's play-ground compared with the eternal, +never-ending forests of America. As for me, if I've got any poetry to +quote, I can find enough of our own manufacture. I believe in the home +manufacture of <i>that</i> article, just as much as I do in that of the other +kind we were talking about last night."</p> + +<p>Ralph smiled at Ichabod's literary bigotry. He answered:</p> + +<p>"I do not know any reasonable objection to our admiring the men of +genius of a foreign or hostile nation, or their writings. Men of genius +are the property of the world. Whatever they may think or say that may +delight and instruct one people, may equally delight and instruct all +others. We are yet in the infancy of the poetic art, and have produced +no poets capable of winning a world-wide reputation."</p> + +<p>"That's precisely what the British say, Captain; and if I didn't know +that your heart was true as steel to the American cause, I should be a +little <i>jealous</i> of you. No poets of reputation! Did you ever read +Freneau, Captain? To my mind, he's got more poetry in his little finger +than Shakspeare had in his whole body. Now, did Shakspeare ever write +anything equal to Freneau's "Antiquity of America"?"</p> + +<p>And Ichabod began reciting, in a loud voice—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'America, to every climate known,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Spreads her broad bosom to the burning zone;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To either pole extends her vast domain,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Where varying suns in different summers reign.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"That's the way the poem begins, and it fully keeps up its pitch all the +way through."</p> + +<p>Ralph had some knowledge of the poetical compositions of Freneau, who +had really produced some poems, full of a fine, poetic feeling, and who +was much beyond the mass of his poetical contemporaries in this country; +yet, although he entertained a feeling of respect for the ability and +services of the revolutionary poet, he could not share the high degree +of admiration which Ichabod entertained for him.</p> + +<p>"I'll grant," said Ralph, scarcely knowing how to reply to the irritated +Ichabod, "that Shakespeare never <i>did</i> write precisely such a poem; and +I will admit that I do not believe he ever <i>could</i> have written such an +one."</p> + +<p>"I knew you were right at heart, Captain," exclaimed Ichabod, highly +elated over his equivocal victory. "Some of his verses have done as much +towards bringing down the British, as whole regiments of Continentals +could have done. But then, Freneau is only one of a whole circle of +poets. The British boast about their old ballads; now, I'll take an even +bet, that I can show 'em ballads, written here at home, that will make +'em ashamed. Why, we've had a woman that would eclipse 'em all, to my +mind—Mrs. Bradstreet, of whom another poet said:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Her breast was a brave palace, a broad street,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Where all heroic, ample thoughts did meet.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Bradstreet <i>did</i> possess a sweetness of expression," said Ralph; +"and, with a higher cultivation, she might have written some fine +poetry."</p> + +<p>"<i>Might</i>, Captain! Lord bless you, she did! Speaking of the Squire's +fishing expedition, what other poet ever said as fine things about +<i>fish</i>, for instance, as she did?</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Ye fish, which in this liquid region 'bide,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That for each season have your habitation,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Now salt, now fresh, where you think best to glide,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To unknown coasts to give a visitation.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In lakes and ponds you leave your numerous fry:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">So Nature taught, and yet you know not why,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">You wat'ry folk that know not your felicity.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Ralph was much amused at the earnestness of Ichabod, and he did not wish +to irritate him by any depreciating criticism upon verses which he +considered so extraordinary; but remarked:</p> + +<p>"An admiration of poetic productions depends very much upon the quality +of our taste. I presume that I have very little taste for such things; +but I do think that our ballad poetry has done us good service. Written +in a popular style, and sung or recited by men who <i>felt</i> the particular +sentiments usually contained in them, these ballads have frequently +proved effective in inspiring a proper, natural feeling."</p> + +<p>"Them's my sentiments, Captain," said Ichabod; "and I'm glad to see that +you're right on that p'int. We've got ballads on all sorts of subjects, +from the time of King Philip's war down to these days. Did you ever read +the ballad of 'Lovewell's Fight,' Captain? I call it a great poem. After +speaking of the valiant Captain Lovewell, it goes on to say:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'He and his valiant soldiers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Did range the woods full wide,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And hardships they endured,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To quell the Indian's pride.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">"''Twas nigh unto Pigwacket,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Upon the eighth of May,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They spied a rebel Indian</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Soon after break of day.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">He on a bank was walking,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Upon a neck of land</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Which leads into a pond, as</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">We're made to understand.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"It then goes on to describe the fight between the company and the +Injins that laid in ambush, and winds up with telling who and how many +were killed.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Our worthy Captain Lovewell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Among them there did die;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They killed Lieutenant Robbins,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And wounded good young Frye,'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>while the rest of the company started for home;</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'And braving many dangers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And hardship in the way,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They safe arrived at Dunstable,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The thirteenth day of May.'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Very good, Ichabod—very good! It is really quite American in style, as +well as theme."</p> + +<p>"But good as it is, Captain, it isn't a circumstance to some of 'em. +There's 'Brave Pawling and the Spy,' and 'Bold Hawthorne,' and 'American +Taxation.' That last poem, Captain, has got the true essence of poetry +in it. If I was the author of that, I'd die content. The poem goes on to +say.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'The cruel lords of Britain,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Who glory in their shame,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The project they have hit on</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">They joyfully proclaim;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Tis what they're striving after,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Our rights to take away,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And rob us of our charter,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">In North America.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Then 'two mighty speakers, who rule in Piedmont,' propose to King +George a plan for taxation of the colonies, to which the king accedes, +and says: +</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'My subjects shall be taxed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">In North America</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Invested with a warrant</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">My publicans shall go,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The tenth of all their current</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">They surely shall bestow:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">If they indulge rebellion,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or from my precepts stray,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I'll send my war battalion</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To North America.'</span> +</p> + +<p>"Then the people of the colonies address King George, and implore him +not to tax 'em; and finally say that if he does they'll fight about it, +and that</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'We never will knock under,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">O George, we do not fear</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The rattling of your thunder,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Nor lightning of your spear;</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Though rebels you declare us,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">We're strangers to dismay;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Therefore you cannot scare us</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">In North America.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"It's a great poem, Captain; it was written by a schoolmaster in +Connecticut."</p> + +<p>"It is patriotic in tone," replied Ralph; "it has that merit, at least. +Are you much acquainted with the old poets of the country?"</p> + +<p>"A little, Captain; I've read them all. Besides Mrs. Bradstreet, there's +Roger Wolcott, Nathaniel Ward, Mather Byles, Joseph Green, Peter +Foulger, old Michael Wigglesworth, and hosts of others. A splendid +galaxy, Captain! There's 'The Day of Doom; or, a Poetical Description of +the Great and Last Judgment,' by Wigglesworth. It <i>is</i> rather strong on +the old New England religion, but as a piece of poetical work, it's +really great. Was anything ever more terrible than the description of +the final judgment? After the sentence is pronounced, before the +condemned,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'They wring their hands, their caitiff hands,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And gnash their teeth in terror;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They cry, they war, for anguish sore,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And gnaw their tongues for horror;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But get away, without delay,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Christ pities not your cry:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Depart to hell—there ye may yell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And war eternally.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"We can admire poetry, sometimes, when we don't precisely approve of the +sentiments. Did you ever see a more terrific piece of writing than that, +Captain?"</p> + +<p>"It is full of horrors, I must confess," said Ralph, who was beginning +to get weary at the extent of Ichabod's poetical recollections; "but we +are near the cottage, and we must now make our preparations for the +fishing expedition. Are you anything of a fisherman, Ichabod?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I am, Captain. With all respect for the taste of other +people, it always looked to me like rather poor sport. A man may do +that, as he does anything else, for a livelihood; but, for sport, give +me a rifle, a sharp eye, and a practised hand. Howsomever, I am with +you."</p> + +<p>The afternoon seemed to prepare itself expressly for the accommodation +of the fishing party. Light clouds covered the sky and a gentle south +wind just stirred the face of the water. Sambo had been to the river and +caught for bait a quantity of small white fish; and, equipped with hooks +and line, Barton, with Ralph and Ichabod, proceeded to the pond, where +they entered a boat that had been made by hollowing out two halves of a +large log, some three feet in diameter and attaching them together. +Barton paddled towards the north-west side, and advanced some fifteen or +twenty rods from the shore.</p> + +<p>"In this portion of the pond," said he, "the pickerel are most abundant. +Perch are found in large quantities near the south-east shore."</p> + +<p>They then fastened the bait, which had been kept alive, to the hooks, +and threw them overboard. Ichabod was a stranger to this manner of +fishing, and he watched the proceedings with an evident degree of +interest. Ralph had been accustomed to it in his boyhood and therefore +needed no instructions.</p> + +<p>Seeing that Ichabod did not understand the course of operations, Barton +said to him, "It is necessary, usually, for the purpose of securing the +fish, whenever it strikes the bait, to allow it to run with the line for +a short distance, when it stops and endeavors to swallow its prey. If it +succeeds in doing so, or if it finds itself hooked, it then runs. Then +is the time to pull; pull slowly, but steadily, and you have him."</p> + +<p>"Hallo! ive got one!" shouted Ichabod; and, mindful of the directions he +had just received, he commenced jerking and pulling violently on his +line. The fish, which was of good size, and would weigh from two to +three pounds, came struggling towards the boat, as if not anxious to +make a more familiar acquaintance with the party. "Ah you varmint,—you +Seneca!" shouted Ichabod. "Pull will you! I'll show you a trick worth +two of that!" He had just got the fish close to the side of the boat, +and was eagerly bent over to grasp him, if necessary, when the pickerel, +with a desperate struggle, that splashed the water in all directions, +broke loose, and darted with the rapidity of light, as it seemed to the +eyes of Ichabod, back into the pond. The excitement, and the sudden +release of the prisoner, nearly capsized Ichabod. He fell towards the +other side of the boat, and and had it not been for Ralph, would have +tumbled overboard.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, there!" said Barton, laughing, "it's no use going into the water +after him; you cannot catch him that way."</p> + +<p>Ralph also laughed heartily at the accident; and Ichabod, much +disconcerted, quietly fastened another bait, determined to succeed +better on the next trial.</p> + +<p>Just then, a pickerel of large size darted at Barton's bait, and Barton +eased off his line, while the fish ran with it some eight or ten feet, +and then commenced its efforts to swallow the captive it had seized. It +would have been amusing to one who had no experience in the excitements +of that species of fishing, to have Seen the evident anxiety of Barton. +To the sportsman, the excitement is of such a degree as almost to obtain +the mastery of his calmness, when, with a dart like a flash of sunlight, +the pickerel seizes the bait, and flies so suddenly that one can +scarcely say he saw it; then comes the violent twitching and jerking of +the line, as the monster endeavors in its eagerness to devour its prey. +Barton waited patiently, until by the rapid motion of his line through +the water, it was apparent that the pickerel was disposed to make off, +either entirely satisfied or very much dissatisfied,—when, with a +steady pull, he assisted the captive in its escape, and brought it +slowly, but struggling violently, back to the boat. In a moment it was +lifted in, and the capture was completed. One would have supposed from +the appearance of Barton, that he had triumphed in some great encounter +in another and more important field of action. But it is true, although +perhaps not strange, that we enjoy with as keen a relish, a triumph, +when we contend only with trifles, if our success is owing to our own +skill or wisdom, as we do, where we triumph over greater obstacles with +less skill, but with the assistance of accident.</p> + +<p>Barton and Ralph both had extensively "good luck," and the boat began to +be loaded with the fish they had taken. Ichabod, who for some time had +watched their operations with much interest, had, of late, become +silent, and seemed to pay little or no attention to the sport. His first +failure, and the success of the others, had disconcerted him somewhat; +and his want of luck began to make him think he was engaged in rather +dull business.</p> + +<p>At an interval of cessation in their sport, which had now become a +little like labor, Ralph turned to Ichabod, and said,</p> + +<p>"How now, Ichabod—did that pickerel run away with your spirits? Wake +up, man; what are you dreaming about?"</p> + +<p>"Confound the varmints!" exclaimed Ichabod. "The pervarse cree'turs +ain't worth talking about, to say nothing about skirmishing here half a +day after 'em. Give me a chance at them deer yonder in the woods, or the +wolves I've heered of round here, and we'd have something to talk about, +I tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well we'll give you a chance," said Barton laughing; "you shall have an +opportunity to triumph in your own field. You don't like +pickerel-fishing, then?"</p> + +<p>"Pickerel-fishing," replied Ichabod gravely; "may be good sport for them +as likes it, and have a cunning that way; but you see, I don't look upon +it as a reg'lar large business any way. Give me the sports one can unite +with business. Now you see, the man that's a good shot on a deer, may be +jist as good a shot, providing he has steady nerves, on an Injin; but +you can't catch Senecas or Onondagas with this kind of bait. No, I don't +like it, Squire." And Ichabod drew back into his former position of +listlessness.</p> + +<p>"I say, Squire," said he, in a moment, with a twinkle of his eyes, as if +he had hit upon a happy idea. "I say, Squire, there's one way you might +make this pond profitable. This wasn't put here merely to grow these +cussed varmints in. Things has their uses; and the uses of this body of +water isn't to cover fish spawn, as any man can see with half an eye.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ichabod, any more factory projects?" asked Barton with an attempt +at composure.</p> + +<p>"There isn't anything to laugh at in that idea," said Ichabod. "You +haven't thought of it as much as I have. But I tell you, Squire, you +might jist as well build up this country here, and make your own spec. +out of it, as to allow some body else to come in here, and do it; for +'twill be done, I tell you. A country like this can't be kept out of all +its advantages a great while, any way. Now, you see, this pond, Squire, +providing—I say, <i>providing</i>—you can get a proper fall of water from +it, as I reckon you can, would make a great chance for a mill privilege, +or something of that sort; and you see, Squire, if that could be done, +you'd have a supply of water here, that——Creation, what <i>have</i> I got +hold on?" and Ichabod commenced tugging violently at his line; for he +evidently had caught something that offered much more than ordinary +resistance to his efforts. His struggles attracted the attention of both +Barton and Ralph, who came to offer him any assistance that might be +necessary.</p> + +<p>"Slow! steady!" said Barton.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," shouted Ichabod: "I'll have him now. Ah! here he comes—ugh! +what in creation——" and in his astonishment he dropped his line, which +began to make off rapidly from the boat.</p> + +<p>"A turtle!" exclaimed Barton, "a mud-turtle!" seizing the line, and +pulling in the turtle, which would weigh eight or ten pounds. "You have +triumphed at last, Jenkins. Nobody else has caught a turtle to-day—and +so large a one, too. It is a real victory—another Saratoga," and he +laughed so heartily that Ichabod showed some symptoms of getting angry.</p> + +<p>"<i>Con</i>-found the victory, Squire," said he, "I'll tell you what, Squire, +I don't handle them traps any more. If you want to see slaughter among +your bears and wolves, bring 'em on: but I've got through with this +cussed business, any how."</p> + +<p>"But, without jesting, Jenkins," said Barton, "that turtle is worth more +for eating than all the fish we've got here—their meat is delicious; +and I prize them highly."</p> + +<p>"If that's so, Squire," said Ichabod, "you're entirely welcome to it. +The varmint! I've seen 'em down in the settlements: but I never heerd of +eating 'em, before; <i>I'd</i> feed 'em to Senecas."</p> + +<p>"They would be very thankful for them," said Barton. "It isn't every day +they get a turtle like this."</p> + +<p>The lines were all taken in, and as they were now sufficiently wearied, +the boat was paddled towards the shore, where Sambo was waiting to +receive the fish.</p> + +<p>"Golly!" said the negro, grinning "who caught dis ere fellar? he! he! +he!" pointing towards the turtle.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> caught that varmint!" replied Ichabod, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Guess massa Jenkins let he bait die," said Sambo. "Dose fellars don't +bite like pickerel, no how. How massa Jenkins manage?"</p> + +<p>"Manage! you black devil," said Ichabod, angrily, "I'll feed you to him, +if you ask any more questions."</p> + +<p>Ralph and Barton were very much amused at Ichabod's discomfiture, which +did not at all pacify him; but the party proceeded towards the cottage, +Sambo being careful to keep out of Ichabod's way; but many were the +grins which he made at his expense, behind his back. Ichabod gave up the +idea of ever being a fisherman; but, as he seemed to be extremely +sensitive on that subject, neither Ralph nor Barton saw fit to make any +particular allusion to it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"We rustled through the leaves like wind,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Left shrubs, and trees, and wolves behind;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">By night I heard them on the track,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Their whoop came hard upon our back,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">With their long gallop, which can tire</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The hound's deep hate and hunter's fire."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">MAZEPPA</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, when they returned to the +cottage; and as the sun had again made its appearance, and there were no +indications of unpleasant weather. Ralph proposed to Miss Barton that +they should put in execution a project which she had mentioned, of +taking a ride on horseback down the valley.</p> + +<p>The horses were at once brought out, by the negro. They were kept for +working horses by Barton; but they had sufficient life and activity to +make an excursion in that mode pleasant and agreeable.</p> + +<p>Sambo, who was very much attached to his mistress, took the liberty of +cautioning her to be home again by nightfall, and muttered something +about "strange Injins" and wolves. Barton smiled at the fears of the +negro; but at the same time intimated that any possible danger might be +avoided by an early return.</p> + +<p>"As for Indians," said he, "I haven't known many around here lately, and +they are all of the friendly sort. The King's Indians, as they are +called, have not been here, as I have known, since I have resided here. +As for wolves, they are sometimes dangerous, in winter; I have heard of +them pursuing people, at that season of the year, when they are +particularly voracious; but I never heard of such an instance so early +in the season—although it is possible that it might occur. But Ruth +knows the country," continued he, "and will know how to avoid any +dangers that are incident to it."</p> + +<p>"I shall place myself wholly under the control of Miss Barton," said +Ralph; "she shall be both guide and guard."</p> + +<p>"I can answer for the guide," replied Ruth, "if not for the guard. But I +have often taken the short excursion I proposed for to-day; and I will +promise to bring home Captain Weston safe and sound."</p> + +<p>They mounted their horses, and proceeded slowly down the valley, along a +narrow path or road, but of sufficient width to allow two horses to +travel abreast. They had proceeded in this manner about a mile, in a +southerly direction, with little conversation, except such as was +suggested by their ride, when after rounding a hill which ran down +nearly to the river, they came in full view of the valley, which here +widened out into broad flats, and certainly offered to their observation +a high degree of beauty and attraction.</p> + +<p>"Beyond the hill which you see yonder," said Ruth, "the valley attains a +much greater width. The river, on one side, flows at the base of the +eastern hills; and a pleasant stream, which, to translate the Indian +appellation, means a "swiftly running creek," flows at the base of the +hills on the west. At about a mile and a half below, they unite, and +finally empty into the Susquehanna. The excursion I proposed for to-day +was only to the spot where the junction of the two streams is formed. I +have been there a few times, and I have always been charmed with the +beauty of the place."</p> + +<p>"The whole valley is beautiful," said Ralph, "beyond any ideas I +entertained before visiting it. Such a place will soon be populated. I +do not blame Ichabod for his schemes at speculation here; for with the +impulse which the country must now receive in population and wealth, so +beautiful and advantageous a region as this, will not long be +neglected."</p> + +<p>They passed around the hill which Ruth had mentioned, where the valley, +as she had observed, became of a much greater width, wider than Ralph +had yet seen it. It was almost entirely covered with forest; although +here and there were places which had been partially cleared by the +savages, in former days. The forest in which they were encompassed shut +out any very extensive observation of the valley itself, except when +they were upon some of the high ground; but enough could be seen to give +one a good general idea of its shape and condition. The path had become +somewhat more narrow, and they were surrounded by a wilderness of +vegetation, which was peculiarly attractive to the eyes of Ralph and his +companion.</p> + +<p>After about half an hour's further progress, they arrived at the place +which had been mentioned by Ruth. The river, just before it reaches the +spot where it receives the waters of the creek, makes a sudden turn to +the east, for about thirty rods, and then returns to nearly the same +point, in a north and south line, at a distance of only fifteen or +twenty rods, where the junction is formed. A portion of the waters of +the river, however escape from the main channel and flow directly +towards the south, making an island two or three acres in extent.</p> + +<p>Having arrived at this spot, Ralph and his companion dismounted from +their horses, and fastening them to some small trees nearby, they gave +themselves up to the contemplation of the fine scenery around them. The +sun was then about an hour high, and the golden sunlight flashing upon +the variegated foliage of the forest—the calmness which reigned +undisturbed around them, the solitude of the wilderness in which they +were encompassed, all conspired to give a hue to feelings which both +possessed, but which they scarcely dared to breathe to each other.</p> + +<p>"I have often dreamed," said Ralph, "of just such a spot as this. I am +something of a recluse by nature; but after all, I have some choice as +to the place of my isolation."</p> + +<p>"I shall expect, then," answered Ruth, smiling, "to hear of Ralph +Weston, the hermit, occasionally, from those who may pass by here. Where +do you propose to establish your hermitage?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, I cannot say," replied Ralph; "but I suppose it will be when +I, like the hermits of old, have become sufficiently disgusted with the +world, to make me fly from it with hatred; I will not fix the precise +time, just now—I will leave it to circumstances. But familiarity with +Nature—converse with the solitude of the forest, is the best antidote +to the disgust which many persons conceive of society. The man cannot be +all bad, who has any relish left in him for the beauties which Nature +can unfold to him."</p> + +<p>"You are becoming very much of a philosopher, Captain Weston. You shall +have another title added to that of hermit. You shall be a philosophical +hermit."</p> + +<p>"Ruth! you laugh at me! But you must pardon my caprice at the idea of a +forest life; for I am not much of a woodsman, you know. But I'll venture +to say, after all, that you agree with me."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Ruth, earnestly, "I do like our new mode of life. We are +nearly shut out from the world,—but we have still a thousand pleasures, +perhaps the sweeter from our solitary position. We do not merely <i>find</i> +a home, we <i>create</i> one. We see broad meadows starting out from the +forest, and know that they are ours by the best of titles—a reclamation +from the waste of Nature. I have often asked myself whether I would be +willing to abandon our present home for the old home in the settlements, +and I never yet could answer that I would."</p> + +<p>"To a light, vain head," answered Ralph, "such a life would be tiresome; +but it seems to me, although how long the feeling would endure, I cannot +say—yet it seems to me, that the constant idea of dependence upon a +Power beyond and over men, which must be ever present to the minds of +those who dwell in the wilderness, would give life a higher and truer +aim, than can be attained in society. But familiarity with scenes like +these, blunts the mind, perhaps, and the idea is soon lost."</p> + +<p>"I believe the remark is true," replied Ruth. "We cannot entirely forego +society, without injury to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Yes, perhaps it is so," said Ralph; "we can attain no such marvellous +degree of sentiment or independence as wholly to destroy our taste for +crowds and social intercourse. I think, after all, that if I were to +become a hermit, I should like a few familiar friends to share my +hermitage."</p> + +<p>Ruth smiled as she replied, "your hermitage, then, Captain Weston, would +be a very different affair from the 'cave, rock and desert' of an +old-fashioned recluse, who</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Had nought to do but feed on roots,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And gaze upon the stars!'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Were I ever to choose the 'rock, cave and desert,'" said Ralph, "I +believe I should wish my solitary life, after all, to be terminated, as +was the Solitude of Edwin, in the ballad of Goldsmith; that is, if I +could ever hope that any Angelina would seek the solitude I sought. But +I suppose that "Angelinas" are the creatures of poetry."</p> + +<p>"And why not Edwins, too?" inquired Ruth, with an arch smile.</p> + +<p>"And why, since we are asking questions," asked Ralph, with a look that +brought a blush to the cheek of his companion, "may I not ask Miss +Barton——"</p> + +<p>But the question, however important to the happiness of either, or both +of them, was interrupted by a sudden rustling of dry underbrush in their +immediate vicinity, as if trodden upon by a hasty foot. Ralph turned +suddenly round, and beheld the ill-natured countenance of Guthrie before +him. The squatter stopped short, leaning upon his rifle, and said, with +an attempt at civility, but in a gruff tone:</p> + +<p>"You're a <i>stranger</i> in these parts, friend, and don't know that you may +find it a little <i>dangerous</i> traveling through this forest by night."</p> + +<p>"Dangerous, Guthrie! how so?" inquired Ruth.</p> + +<p>"You, who live up at the cottage, Miss Ruth, mayn't know it, but the +wolves have been prowling around here in reg'lar troops, for a few days +past; and it will be dark now, afore you can get back to the cottage. I +had a set-to with a rascally troop of them, last night."</p> + +<p>Ralph thanked Guthrie for his caution, although he was half angry at the +interruption, at that particular moment of time, and intimated to Ruth +that perhaps they had better return. Ruth assented, the horses were +unfastened, and they proceeded at a leisurely pace towards home, +although more rapidly than they had come.</p> + +<p>The labor and perplexity of making their way along the rough path and +among the underbrush were such as to prevent any continued conversation. +By the time they had traveled half a mile, the sun, with a broad, ruddy +glow, had sunk behind the western hills. The twilight in the midst of +the forest soon gave way to a deep shade, which rendered their path +still more difficult.</p> + +<p>Ralph, who had at first inwardly cursed the interruption made by +Guthrie, in a conversation which had reached a point most deeply +interesting to him, now almost wished that it had occurred a little +earlier. Ruth evidently entertained the same thought, for her +countenance exhibited much anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Guthrie's advice was reasonable, most certainly," she said, "although +it was not given in the most civil manner."</p> + +<p>"It was somewhat later than I thought," answered Ralph, "but we shall +reach home in an hour more, at least. But who is this Guthrie? I believe +I saw him at your father's on the night of my arrival."</p> + +<p>"Nothing is known of him, with certainty," replied Ruth. "He has a +shanty somewhere below here, where he lives alone, subsisting upon such +game as he finds, and upon the trade he drives at the settlements. He is +supposed to have been a Tory, and to have been leagued with the Indians +of this region; although we merely suspect it—we do not know it."</p> + +<p>"He has an ill-favored countenance. He wears one of those peculiar +faces, that we always distrust. Is he often at your father's?"</p> + +<p>"Not very frequently; we entertained the same distrust of him you have +expressed, on first seeing him, and that feeling has rather increased +than diminished, with only a very short acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"He has certainly rendered us a favor on this occasion," said Ralph, who +found their progress was momently becoming more difficult, as the +darkness increased.</p> + +<p>It was just at this instant, that a long howl was heard at some distance +behind them, but apparently from the westward. In the stillness and +darkness which encompassed them, it had a melancholy and threatening +sound, which was far from agreeable. Scarcely a moment had elapsed ere +the howl which they had heard was answered from the opposite direction; +and almost simultaneously it seemed to be echoed by a hundred discordant +throats.</p> + +<p>"The wolves!" exclaimed Ralph and Ruth, together. "But," said Ralph, +"perhaps they have not scented us, and we may have nothing to fear from +them."</p> + +<p>"Heaven grant that it may be so," earnestly replied Ruth; but as if at +once to end their hopes, the cries were again heard, sharper and wilder. +Just at this moment the moon arose, and began to throw a misty and +uncertain light through the forest. Ralph seized the horse upon which +Ruth was mounted by the bits, and the animals were at once urged to the +greatest speed which the difficulties of their path would allow. The +horses themselves felt the alarm, and readily yielded to the impulse of +their riders.</p> + +<p>The cries seemed now to be nearly half a mile behind them; and Ralph +hoped, at the least, to be able to arrive so near the house of Mr. +Barton, that assistance could be immediately afforded. But in spite of +all their exertions, the path was so intricate, owing to the thick +underbrush and the overhanging branches of trees, together with the +rough and uneven surface of the ground, that the utmost care was +necessary to prevent the falling of the horses, on the one hand, and to +guard against being thrown from them by the branches which were +constantly projecting before them, on the other.</p> + +<p>On they rode, with as much rapidity as the utmost limit of safety would +allow. They well knew that their only hope of safety depended upon their +being able to keep mounted and in flight; for were any accident to +happen to their horses, they would be left, in the midst of the +wilderness, at the mercy of the ferocious beasts that were on their +track. But their pursuers gained upon them; the howls which but a few +moments since seemed fully half a mile behind, were now evidently within +a much less distance. The woods appeared to be alive with their enemies. +The discordant cries filled every avenue of sound. Faster, faster ran +the horses—but still nearer approached the sound of the cowardly +pack—cowardly when few in numbers, but savage in multitude.</p> + +<p>The moonlight lay in scattered patches in the forest, but every shadow +seemed occupied by an enemy. The pursuers had now approached so near, +that Ralph could hear the crackling of the dry underbrush and branches, +over and through which they ran, amidst the noise of their cries. +Looking behind him, he saw the leaders of the pack leaping upon their +track, and in the moonlight saw, with terrible distinctness, their +glaring eyes and protruded tongues. The horses strained every muscle, +quivering with affright, but the wolves were approaching—were almost +upon them! Snatching, with a hurried hand, a shawl from the shoulders of +Ruth, he threw it behind them. For a moment the chase ceased; and with +wild, ferocious cries, the pack gathered around the object which had +been so opportunely offered to them. At that instant, when the last hope +had nearly vanished, the eyes of the travelers encountered in the path +before them the form of an Indian, who, with outstretched arms, +requested them to stop. In a moment they approached him, when with a +rapid utterance, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Me friend; me Tuscarora—come!" and suddenly seizing the horses by the +bits, he led them three or four rods from the path, where they saw +before them, in the midst of the forest, a small log hut; although in an +extremely ruinous condition, it afforded the protection which, but a +few minutes before, seemed utterly withheld from them.</p> + +<p>Again were heard the cries of the wolves, and the noise of their +approach! Ralph leaped from his horse, and at once lifted Ruth from the +saddle, who, until that moment, had preserved her courage and fortitude, +but now fell fainting into his arms. He bore her instantly into the hut, +where the Tuscarora rapidly brought in the horses after them; and the +door was closed, just as the ferocious pack came rushing into the open +space before the hut.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"And then to mark the lord of all,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The forest hero, trained to wars,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Quivered and plumed, and lithe and tall,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And seamed with glorious scars."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 18.5em;">BRYANT.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>Ralph, as we have said, bore his fainting burden into the hut and the +Tuscarora, having secured the frightened horses, at once hastened to his +assistance. Ruth, in a few moments, became partially restored; and a +blush lit up the pallor of her countenance, as she found herself +sustained in the arms of Ralph. Partially withdrawing from his support, +she said:</p> + +<p>"You must be astonished, Captain Weston, that a woodman's daughter had +so little fortitude as to be unable to withstand the ordinary perils of +her condition. I almost feel that I owe you an apology."</p> + +<p>"You have no reason to be ashamed of your want of fortitude, Miss +Barton," answered Ralph. "The courage with which you endured that +terrible ride was amazing. You have more, much more, than sustained your +reputation as a woodman's daughter."</p> + +<p>Ralph now, for the first time, observed the Tuscarora, who was standing +silently before him leaning upon his rifle. The Indian was of little +more than medium height, and straight as an arrow. His form was rather +slight than otherwise, but was fully developed, and gave evidence of +great agility and strength. His countenance was open and frank; and in +his present attitude of repose, one would not have thought that he +possessed those peculiar qualities of the Indian, which we are apt to +associate with our recollections of that rapidly wasting race. He looked +like a true lord of the forest,—cold and impassive in demeanor,—but +concealing beneath that grave exterior a fountain of terrible passions. +He had not yet passed the age of "youth," for not more than thirty +times, to him, had the leaves of autumn fallen; yet his youth seemed +extinguished in the gravity of the warrior.</p> + +<p>Ralph could not resist a feeling of admiration at the well-built frame +and noble countenance of the Tuscarora; and advancing towards him, he +grasped him by the hand.</p> + +<p>"Tuscarora," said he, "you have this night rendered this young lady and +myself a service, for which we shall ever be grateful; you have +preserved our lives."</p> + +<p>The Indian, with a modest gesture, seemed to disclaim the gratitude +which Ralph so freely expressed—then quietly said:</p> + +<p>"Tuscarora friend to the colony pale-face—me no Kings Injin—me do my +duty to friend. Young people careless—all heart—no eyes—no mind +wolves;—me know—me waited for 'em."</p> + +<p>"I did not know," said Ralph, "that the wolves of this section ever +attacked men."</p> + +<p>"No often; but get hungry sometimes—then ugly—then must look out. Hear +that?"</p> + +<p>Since our travelers had entered their place of safety, the forest seemed +to be alive with the unearthly howls of the beasts, whose din increased +at the loss of their prey. They had rushed up to the sides of the hut; +and, as the Tuscarora answered Ralph, a number of them had evidently +leaped against the door and the sides of the building with a savage +ferocity.</p> + +<p>"Me have fun, now," said the Tuscarora, advancing towards one of the +numerous loop-holes of the hut, which had been made by its builder for +its defence. "Me shoot—give 'em something to howl for."</p> + +<p>His rifle was discharged, and for a moment, the din outside completely +ceased; but as the pack saw one of their number fall, their cries +increased in ferocity, until they became almost deafening. Ralph +advanced to one of the loop-holes, and looked out upon the savage crowd +of beasts, which seemed determined to besiege them into a surrender. As +well as he could observe in the moonlight, there appeared to be forty or +fifty of them, standing before and prowling about the hut, with their +faces upturned—and their eyes gleaming like balls of fire.</p> + +<p>The North American wolf is naturally a cowardly animal; and never, when +alone, dares to attack a man. The animal has become, in the section of +country of which we are now writing, entirely extinct. Mean, thievish, +cowardly in disposition, they always fled from an encounter with a human +creature, except when frenzied with hunger, and gathered in large packs. +At such times, they become extremely dangerous; yet, even then, any +resistance which seemed able to withstand their attack, at once +disconcerted them.</p> + +<p>The Indian again loaded his rifle, and again it was discharged. Another +wolf was killed; and although they still kept up their clamor, they +began to retreat to a distance from an enemy who had so much advantage +of them.</p> + +<p>"Wolf run," said the Tuscarora; "wolf no like rifle—they got no +heart—cowards!" and, as if he disdained the firing upon so mean a foe, +after reloading his rifle, he came towards Ralph, and quietly sat down +on a rough bench by the side of the hut.</p> + +<p>"Wolf run away," said he—"they gone soon—then you go home."</p> + +<p>"We have our lives to thank you for, Tuscarora," said Ruth, with a look +of gratitude, "and my father will always be glad to welcome you to the +cottage. Will you not return with us?"</p> + +<p>"Not now—may be by-'m-by."</p> + +<p>"Is your nation in this territory now?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Me got no nation," said the Indian, sorrowfully. "Tuscaroras once +great—away south. Then had great many warriors—then they great +nation—but most all gone, now."</p> + +<p>"Are not your people and the Oneidas brethren?"</p> + +<p>"Oneidas are brothers—love Oneidas."</p> + +<p>"Why are you here in this section alone, Tuscarora, with none of your +brethren near you?" abruptly asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>The Indian looked at him steadily for a moment, and then replied:</p> + +<p>"My young friend is wise. The white men all ask questions—no good for +Injin to answer questions;" and he fell into a gloomy and listless +posture, and refused, for the time, to hold any further conversation.</p> + +<p>The silence of the Tuscarora was somewhat embarrassing to Ralph; and he +again went towards the loop-holes to reconnoitre the present position of +the enemy. The howls had almost entirely ceased; and what few were +heard, seemed to be twenty-five or thirty rods distant. Just as he +reached the loop-hole, he heard a rifle discharged on the outside, and a +voice which he recognized as that of Ichabod, which made the woods ring +again with a loud halloo.</p> + +<p>The Indian started abruptly from his seat, and both he and Ralph +advanced towards the door. On opening it, they discovered at the +distance of ten rods three men who were rapidly approaching the hut. As +they came from among the shadows of the trees into the bright moonlight, +which lay in the small opening in front of the hut, Ralph recognized +Barton and Ichabod accompanied by the negro.</p> + +<p>The moment they were discovered by the party, Barton ran towards Ralph, +exclaiming, "Is she safe, Ralph—is she safe?"</p> + +<p>Scarcely was the question asked, before Ruth was in her father's arms. +"God bless thee, girl," said he; "I hardly dared hope ever to see thee +again," and the tears rolled down his manly face.</p> + +<p>"For this joy, my father, we have to thank this good Indian here. He it +was who saved us."</p> + +<p>The Indian, during this scene, had silently withdrawn into a deep shadow +which fell by the side of the hut. There he stood, leaning upon his +rifle, seemingly as passionless and unconcerned as the shadow within +which he stood.</p> + +<p>Barton went up to him, and grasped him by the hand. "You have this day," +said he, "in rescuing my daughter, saved both her life and my own. How +can I thank you?"</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora remained unmoved. "No thanks," said he. "The Great Spirit +smiles when his children do their duty. Tuscarora likes colony +pale-face. The Great Spirit sent me here—thank him, not poor +Tuscarora."</p> + +<p>"You say right, Tuscarora. God hath preserved my child this day. To Him +be thanks, who taketh and giveth."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the first sound issued from the mouth of the Tuscarora, +when Ichabod rapidly approached him. The Indian gave him a glance of +recognition, and silently took his hand.</p> + +<p>"Eagle's Wing, as I live!" exclaimed he. "Glad to see you again, old +friend. I haven't seen you since we were down here on that last +war-path."</p> + +<p>Canendesha, as the Tuscarora was named by his own people, bore also the +name of Eagle's Wing, which had been bestowed upon him not only for his +boldness in fight, but for the keenness and rapidity with which he +followed the trail of an enemy. When he heard himself thus called by his +name of honor, he drew himself up with pride as he replied:</p> + +<p>"Three summers and winters have destroyed the marks of the war-path. I +have dwelt in the wigwams of my people, and near by the fires of the +Oneidas."</p> + +<p>In the meantime Barton had approached Ralph, and testified scarcely less +joy at his deliverance than he had at that of Ruth. Ichabod and Eagle's +Wing had withdrawn still further from observation into the shadow.</p> + +<p>"Eagle's Wing," said Ichabod, imitating the language of the Tuscarora, +"is wise. He dwells in peace in the wigwams of his people. But why is he +here—two days' march from his friends?"</p> + +<p>The Indian remained silent for a few moments. At length he replied:</p> + +<p>"I am in the hunting grounds of my people. The heart of Eagle's Wing is +filled with peace."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, old friend," said Ichabod, resuming his usual manner of +expression. "You and I have been on a good many warpaths together. I +know a Tuscarora and Oneida just as well as I know a Seneca or Mohawk. I +know your people are gentlemen born, and I know them others are +reptiles. You can't deceive <i>me</i>, Eagle's Wing—you are on a trail?"</p> + +<p>"The eyes of my brother are keen—he has followed the war-path. Has he +crossed the trail of an enemy?"</p> + +<p>The Indian uttered this with a countenance so unmoved, and with such an +expression of sincerity, that Ichabod began to think the Tuscarora had +nothing to conceal from him. He said, however, in reply:</p> + +<p>"I know your heart is true, Eagle's Wing; but I rather thought, at +first, you might be following up some devil of a Seneca. But them +varmints have left these parts, I s'pose."</p> + +<p>"My brother is wise," softly replied the Tuscarora, but at the same time +with a quiet expression of victory in the glance which he cast towards +Ichabod. The glance was not unnoticed, and the latter at once saw that +his original suspicions were correct. But he knew it would be useless to +press the Tuscarora with questions. He said to him, however, in a tone +that convinced the Indian that Ichabod was not deceived:</p> + +<p>"Well, old friend, you and I have been brothers in harder times than +these; and if you need the help of this rifle here, which is an old +acquaintance of your'n, I shall take it in dudgeon if you don't call on +me."</p> + +<p>The Indian still remained unmoved; but Ichabod could see that the offer +was kindly received.</p> + +<p>At this moment, Barton approached, and invited the Tuscarora to +accompany him to his dwelling. "You will always be welcome there, and I +hope I may have many opportunities to testify to you my gratitude."</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora courteously declined the invitation for the present, and +the party prepared to depart. The horses were led out, and the party +proceeded towards the cottage, while Eagle's Wing, remained as long as +he could be observed, still leaning upon his rifle in front of the hut.</p> + +<p>The party journeyed for some distance without conversation, until Ralph +at length asked Ichabod, who seemed to be much less talkative than +usual, how they who were at the cottage had so soon learned the danger +which Ruth and he were in, from the pursuit of the wolves.</p> + +<p>"Learn!" answered Ichabod. "Why, you see the old Squire, 'long towards +dusk, began to get considerable uneasy, from some cause or other—either +because he had heard more about them infarnal varmints, lately, than he +chose to tell, or else because Sambo teazed him until he ra'ally thought +you was in some danger; and so he proposed to me to walk with him along +down the road, until we met you. We'd got in just about a mile of that +shanty, when we heard the yells of them pestiferous cre'turs. I tell +you, Captain, them would have been tough customers to have come to a +close fight with."</p> + +<p>"I was entirely unarmed," said Ralph, "but I had no reason to expect +meeting an enemy of any kind; and least of all did I suppose we should +run any danger from such an enemy."</p> + +<p>"Them varmints," replied Ichabod, "when they've once had a taste of +human blood, are as hungry for it as Senecas are for scalps—<i>con</i>-found +'em."</p> + +<p>"I know the prevalent opinion in some portions of Europe—in Germany, +for instance, of the ferocity of wolves. There is an old superstition of +Weird-wolves, of which I have heard."</p> + +<p>Ralph explained, by giving an account of this peculiar superstition. In +Germany, and in the Netherlands, and in some other portions of Europe, +the opinion had been prevalent among the people, that there were certain +sorcerers, who, having anointed their bodies with ointment, the +preparation of which, they had learned from the devil, and having put on +an enchanted girdle, so long as they wore it, appeared, to the eyes of +others, like wolves; and who possessed the same ferocity and appetite +for human blood, as the animals they were believed to resemble. A large +number of persons in these countries had been executed, who were +supposed to be guilty of that offence. They were generally known as +Weird-wolves.</p> + +<p>This popular superstition, indeed, has survived in some portions of +Europe, until this day. In the "Arabian Night's Entertainments," the +unhappy subjects of this superstition were denominated "ghouls," but in +the west they were known by the name we have already mentioned. A +circumstance occurred in Paris, in 1849, which seemed to throw more +light upon the nature of this superstition, and to prove indeed, that +there was a pretty good foundation for the popular belief. Like the +delusion under which many of those unhappy persons labored in the days +of the "Salem witchcraft," who really believed themselves to be what +their judges pronounced them, so these Weird-wolves were undoubtedly +insane persons, who fancied themselves possessed of the wolfish form and +nature.</p> + +<p>"I have heard," said Barton, who now joined in the conversation, "of +many instances in our northern settlements, where people have been +attacked by these animals; but, although it is a frequent occurrence for +them to disturb the whole country about here with their howls by night, +I had never apprehended any such danger from them. But we ought to be +thankful that there is no worse enemy about here."</p> + +<p>Ichabod, whose mind, ever since his conversation with the Tuscarora, had +been occupied with thoughts that did not seem very agreeable to him, +started at this remark, and said, slowly—</p> + +<p>"Well, squire, I hope you mayn't be able to change that last remark of +your'n by to-morrow this time."</p> + +<p>Ralph, who knew Ichabod well enough to know that however unsafe his +opinion might be upon subjects relating to moneymaking, yet that, upon +all the perils and dangers incident to a forest life, he possessed an +excellent judgment, with some anxiety asked him for an explanation.</p> + +<p>The whole party had caught the alarm; and Ichabod, with a mixture of +pride at finding himself in such an important position, and of sorrow at +the information he felt bound to communicate, answered—</p> + +<p>"You see, Eagle's-Wing and I are old friends. We've <i>fout</i> many a battle +agin them cussed Senecas and Onondagas; and I reckon I know an Injin, +and can read him through pretty tolerably easy. Now Eagle's-Wing isn't +down here for nothing; and though his Injin blood wouldn't let him tell +me what kind of speculation he <i>is</i> on, yet I know he's on a trail of +some sort. You can always tell an Injin when he's after an enemy."</p> + +<p>"But <i>what</i> enemy," asked Barton, "can he be pursuing in this direction? +There can be no large body of hostile Indians in these forests; for +Guthrie, who is a woodsman, and who would at once have discovered the +fact, would have communicated the intelligence to us. I think there can +be no ground for apprehension."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that, Squire," replied Ichabod, "but I'm sure +something's in the wind; and if you take my advice, you'll prepare for +defence. As for Guthrie, as you call him, <i>you</i> know best about <i>him</i>; +he's got a miserable, hang-dog face, any way."</p> + +<p>Although there was much plausibility in the opinion of Barton and +Ichabod's apprehensions did not seem to be well-grounded, yet Ralph, who +knew that Ichabod had not given this advice without reflection, also +advised Barton at once to take means of defense against any attack which +might be made upon the cottage.</p> + +<p>Barton yielded to the solicitations of Ralph and Ichabod; and the party +having arrived at the cottage, Sambo was at once despatched to drive in +the cattle into an enclosure which had been constructed upon the west +side of the house. This yard was guarded upon all sides by an enclosure +of logs some ten or twelve feet in height, and had been prepared +expressly for the purpose for which it was now used. Its construction +had been deemed necessary by Barton for the purpose of protecting his +cattle in case of an attack by Indians, as well as to protect them from +wolves or bears, which were occasionally seen prowling around the +premises.</p> + +<p>The house itself, as we have before remarked, was adapted for defence +against any outward attack from such means of warfare as Indians would +be likely to attempt. The outside doors were heavy, and were secured by +strong bars, which would resist any ordinary force that might be applied +to them. The windows in the lower story were fitted with strong blinds, +which it would be impossible to remove from the outside. In the second +story, the windows were guarded by long hickory bars which had been +morticed into the logs, while loop-holes had been provided, through +which an attack might be repelled.</p> + +<p>The house was put into a complete state of defense. The rifles were all +loaded, and placed in a position where they could be readily obtained, +in case they should be needed. Thus prepared, the family at length +retired to rest, the negro having been ordered to keep watch during the +night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">"It is not a time for idle grief,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Nor a time for tears to flow;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The horror that freezes his limbs is brief—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">He grasps his war-axe and bow, and a sheaf</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of darts made sharp for the foe."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 19.5em;">BRYANT.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>As might be inferred from the scenes and excitements of the preceding +day, the inmates of the cottage did not seek the night's repose with the +accustomed feelings of tranquility and safety. Ruth went over again in +memory the events of the day, and she could not conceal from her own +mind the fact that Ralph Weston was much more to her than an ordinary +stranger. Having known him in youth, she had always esteemed the leading +traits of his character; and she now felt that esteem ripening into a +passion which bears a much more tender name.</p> + +<p>As for Ralph, he had not needed to pass through any such excitements or +dangers, as Ruth and he had that day encountered, to adjust any wavering +balance of affection. He had seen enough to perfectly satisfy him that +Ruth looked upon him with no indifference; and notwithstanding the +preparations for defense and the unpleasant ideas which the prospect of +an Indian attack would be likely to excite, he sank into a pleasant +slumber, and was willingly borne off into the region of fairy dreams.</p> + +<p>Ichabod had no such potent specific with which to drown care and +reflection. The Tuscarora, and his probable object in visiting the +valley—his mysterious manner during their brief conversation—were ever +present to his mind; and after tossing about restlessly on his bed until +nearly daylight, he arose with the resolution of seeking an explanation +of the mystery. His preparations were made in silence, and without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house. Throwing his rifle across +his arm, and fastening into a belt which he buckled around him a large +hunting-knife, he noiselessly descended into the lower part of the +building.</p> + +<p>In the gloom which pervaded the room into which Ichabod entered, it was +some time before he discovered Sambo, who had been stationed there to +keep watch during the night. He at length espied him, sitting in a chair +before the huge fire-place, with his head bent upon his breast, in a +most unmistakable attitude of slumber. Ichabod had not forgotten the +grinning of the negro, at his exploits in fishing the day before, and he +was willing to give him a sufficient fright to punish him a little. +Advancing noiselessly towards him, he placed one hand on the top of his +woolly head, and with a rapid motion of the other imitated the circular +cutting used in the process of scalping, imprinting his thumb-nail with +sufficient force into the skin, to give the sleeping negro a distinct +impression of that disagreeable operation.</p> + +<p>As the whole family for that night had retired to the upper part of the +house, Ichabod knew that he should be able to stifle the cries of the +negro, so that no one in the building would be alarmed.</p> + +<p>The moment Sambo felt the impression of the thumb-nail on his skin, he +awoke with a scream of fear; but Ichabod rapidly closed his mouth with +one of his heavy hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh gor-a-massy—massa Injin! I'm scalped. O Lor'! O Lor'!" exclaimed +the negro; and in his distress he tumbled down upon the floor under the +impression that he was about to give up the ghost.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, who saw that he had carried the joke as far as safety to the +negro would allow, lifted him up into the chair.</p> + +<p>"There, you black devil! go to sleep will you, when you're on duty? You +do that again, and we'll have you hung by the articles of war."</p> + +<p>The negro, who was perfectly willing to escape a scalping for the +present, by a prospect of hanging in the future, speedily recovered from +his fright.</p> + +<p>"O gor-a-massy, 'twas you, was it, Massa Jenkins? Know'd it was you, all +the while! Needn't think you could come possum over this nigger, any +how; I jist set down in the chair to listen a little."</p> + +<p>Ichabod, who was amused at the assurance of the negro, advised him not +to listen in that manner any more, or he would get scalped in earnest. +Then unbarring the door, and bidding the negro to fasten it after him, +and to inform the Squire and Captain when they got up, that he should be +back in an hour or two, departed, in the direction of the shanty.</p> + +<p>It was now nearly day-light; and the first silvery rays of the morning +were beginning to dispel the darkness. The moon had set sometime before, +and as in the midst of the forest, it was almost impossible to discern +his path, it was necessary that he should proceed with extreme caution. +Following noiselessly the rough path over which Ralph and Miss Barton +had journeyed the day before, he hoped to reach the shanty by day-light.</p> + +<p>A walk through the forest in a new country by night, to one unaccustomed +to it, would not be likely to excite the most agreeable reflections. But +Ichabod had in other times been used to all the dangers of the +wilderness, and this morning walk had to him sufficient excitement to +make it decidedly a pleasure. As he journeyed on, the silence by which +he was surrounded was occasionally broken by the distant howl of a wolf. +Scarcely had the melancholy sound died in the echoes of the forest, ere +an owlet's shriek would be heard, sharp and piercing, by his side—and +in the next moment it would be answered by a cry that came mellowed from +the distance. Then, perhaps, the rustling of dry leaves, or the cracking +of a dry bough, indicated that some small animal was flying from his +presence. Occasionally stopping for a moment, to listen if he could not +catch sounds which would indicate the presence of something against +which it would be necessary to guard himself he continued to advance in +the direction of the hut, where on the evening before he had encountered +the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>This hut or shanty, the precise location of which, with reference to the +surrounding country, we have not described, was situated about a mile +below the residence of Barton, at the foot of a hill which gradually +rose on the western side to the height of one hundred and fifty or two +hundred feet. On the east, at the distance of about thirty rods, was the +river. Beyond the river were flats extending nearly half a mile in +width; while nearly opposite the hut, a small stream came from the +north-east, down a narrow valley, which gave to the valley just opposite +the hut the appearance of a much greater width than it really possessed.</p> + +<p>Ichabod arrived at the shanty at just about the hour he had calculated +upon. The light of the morning had begun to creep through the woods, +giving to objects an uncertain appearance. He approached it cautiously, +listening if he might not hear some sound that would indicate the +presence of the Tuscarora. Not receiving any such indication, he touched +the door, which noiselessly opened, when he entered the hut. It was +entirely deserted, and every trace of its recent occupation had been +removed.</p> + +<p>This caution on the part of the Tuscarora was strong evidence to Ichabod +that enemies were near, and he at once saw the object of it. In case the +hut should be visited, the Indian wished it to appear as if it had not +been disturbed, so that no clue could be obtained to his motions.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, who was an adept in the Indian mode of warfare, endeavored to +discover in which direction the Tuscarora had departed. But this was no +easy undertaking. He looked cautiously about for a trail, but the ground +had been so much trodden the night before, it was a long time ere he +could discover the print of the occasional foot of the Indian, and then +only by the side of the hut where he had conversed with him. At length, +moving off to the distance of six or eight rods from the shanty, he +commenced walking about it in a circle with his eyes fastened upon the +ground. He had proceeded but a few rods in this round before he +discovered the footprint for which he was searching. The Indian, on +leaving the hut, had evidently gone in a south-easterly direction +towards the river.</p> + +<p>The point, proceeding in the line taken by the Tuscarora, as which he +would reach the river, would be at just about a hundred rods from the +shanty. Ichabod followed, at once, in this direction; but advancing with +extreme caution. His progress was necessarily slow, as he was obliged +not only to examine the ground with great care to discover the +footprints which the light step of the Indian had made, but also to +observe if there were any signs of other Indians in the vicinity. At +length, he approached the river, the margin of which, here, was covered +with a thick growth of willows of about eight or ten feet in height, +which rendered it almost impossible to get a glimpse of the water.</p> + +<p>He had arrived within two rods of the shore, when, at once, he lost all +traces of the Tuscarora. He was searching the ground intently to regain +the trail he had lost, when he heard a slight sound in the direction of +the river, like that made by a paddle slightly rubbing the side of a +canoe. Stooping so as to be more thoroughly hidden by the willows, which +were much thicker towards the ground, he advanced close to them, and +endeavored to get sight of the object which had attracted his attention.</p> + +<p>It will be necessary to explain, a little more fully, the precise +situation of Ichabod with reference to the river. The line of willows we +have mentioned, was about six or eight feet in width, and run in a north +and south line, parallel with the course of the river; but immediately +below where he stood, there was a thick clump of them, which extended +some twenty feet from the apparent course of the river, directly towards +the forest; so that Ichabod was not only protected by those in front, +but he occupied a sort of cover formed by them in the sudden turn which +they took towards the west.</p> + +<p>Carefully pulling back a few of the twigs of the willows which skirted +the river, and which impeded his observation, he now distinctly heard +the sound of a canoe approaching from below. The river was here about +six rods in width, and was of considerable depth, although the current +was strong; which latter fact accounted for the sound he had heard—some +effort being required to urge the canoe against the force of the water.</p> + +<p>Shortly the canoe came in sight. Ichabod started as he beheld three +Indians in it, whom he at once knew to be Senecas. His first impulse was +to raise his rifle; but a moment's reflection taught him that such a +course would be unwise. In the first place, although the new government +had concluded as yet no formal treaty of peace with the hostile tribes +of the Six Nations, yet as it was tacitly understood that such a treaty +would soon be made, and all encounters had therefore been mutually +suspended it would be criminal and improper to attack them except in +self-defence, or the defence of his friends. Another reason, also came +to his aid—although it is proper to mention that it was the last one +that occurred to him—and that was, that if he succeeded in killing or +disabling one of the Indians, he would still have the remaining two upon +his hands, without possessing any adequate means of defending himself; +while it was more than probable that there were other Senecas in the +vicinity.</p> + +<p>The Indians were moving very slowly against the current, and were +evidently in search of some object which they expected to discover along +the shore. Ichabod recognized one of these Indians as a subordinate +chief of the Seneca Nation, whom he had encountered in some of the +conflicts of the war; but who possessed a high reputation among his +people, for boldness and cunning. The name of this chief was Panther, +which he had received from the characteristics we have mentioned. As +they came in sight, the canoe was not more than twenty feet from the +position occupied by Ichabod, and he could distinctly hear the +conversation between the chief and his companions, although they +conversed in a low tone. Ichabod had learned enough of the dialect which +was common to the Six Nations, to understand at once, the purport of the +conversation. We will endeavor to translate, for the benefit of the +reader, the language of the Senecas:</p> + +<p>"Me no understand," said Panther; "saw canoe here, somewhere. No get out +of water without seeing it."</p> + +<p>"Canoe light; gone up river p'raps," said one of his companions.</p> + +<p>"Canendesha got quick eye," said the other Seneca; "he cunning Injin. He +won't let scalp go, if he can help it."</p> + +<p>A gleam of ferocity passed across the swarthy face of Panther. +"Canendesha <i>is</i> cunning and brave. His enemies will say that; but he +has got the scalp of a Seneca, and I shall be ashamed to go back to the +wigwams of my nation, if I do not take his. The Senecas are not squaws, +to let a Tuscarora run off with their scalps."</p> + +<p>Slowly moving against the current, the three Indians had got both out of +sight and hearing of Ichabod. Immediately behind him was a small knoll +four or five feet in height. He had commenced moving towards it with the +intention of getting a further view of the Senecas, whose business he +now understood, when his attention was attracted by a slight waving of +the willows in the centre of the clump which we have mentioned. Glancing +sharply in that direction, with his rifle raised in a position to fire +should it be necessary, he saw an Indian emerging from the willows, whom +he knew at once to be the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"No get <i>my</i> scalp this time;" said Eagle's-Wing. "I get another scalp +first;" and he pointed to a bleeding trophy of a recent encounter, with +all the pride with which a victorious general would have pointed to the +capture of the standards and munitions of war of a vanquished enemy.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of all this, Eagle's-Wing?" asked Ichabod, with +evident disgust at beholding the bleeding trophy. "Why has Canendesha +dug up the hatchet, when the pale-faces and their Indian allies have +buried it?"</p> + +<p>"I no dig it up," answered the Tuscarora, with energy; "Seneca dig it +up. I must have Panther's scalp too," and he was about following the +canoe up the river.</p> + +<p>"Stop a moment, Eagle's-Wing," exclaimed Ichabod, who laid his strong +hand on the shoulder of his friend. "I want to know the meaning of all +this; you must not go after them Injins now. I hate a Seneca, on general +principles, as much as you do; but it won't do to go scalping round in +these days, without good reason for it. Let me know what's the matter, +and if it's anything where a friend can help with an easy conscience, +I'll rush into the speculation."</p> + +<p>Thus urged, the Indian, after a sufficient time had elapsed to satisfy +the dignity of a chief, proceeded to relate one of those romances of the +forest, which, in general feature, may not be very dissimilar to those +of civilized life—the only difference consisting in the darker and +wilder coloring which belongs to pictures of savage life. We will not +attempt to give it in the precise words and with the manner of the +Tuscarora, although we hope to exhibit in some degree the energy with +which some portions of it were related.</p> + +<p>It seemed that a short time before, a band of Senecas, for some purpose, +had been hanging about the villages of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, +situated some fifty miles north of that portion of the valley about +which we are now writing. Their business did not seem to be of a warlike +nature, and frequent visits of ceremony had been exchanged between the +chiefs of the once hostile tribes: and professions were made by the +Senecas of a desire to unite once more the severed bond of union between +the different nations of the confederacy. This condition of things +existed for a few days, when it was announced by the Senecas that they +were about to depart towards their own villages. The Tuscarora, the day +before that announced for the departure of the Senecas, made them a +visit of ceremony, accompanied by his young wife, whose Indian name, +translated into English, was Singing-Bird. The visitors were treated +with the utmost distinction, although Eagle's-Wing fancied that on one +or two occasions he observed symptoms of a revival of the old feeling of +hostility towards him, which the late conflicts had engendered. The band +of Senecas consisted of about thirty-five warriors, under the command of +Panther, whose treacherous and perfidious nature Eagle's-Wing was well +acquainted with.</p> + +<p>But the Tuscarora was brave, and if he felt, did not exhibit any +symptoms of the suspicions which occupied his mind. At length on the +approach of evening, the Tuscarora announced his departure. Panther +courteously accompanied him a short distance from the lodge, when +suddenly a number of Indians who had been secreted in ambush, sprang +upon the Tuscarora and the young squaw, and they were at once bound and +brought back to the lodge. The Indians made immediate preparations for +departure—as would be necessary, indeed, after such an act of +perfidy—for the Tuscaroras and Oneidas, whose villages were situated +but a few miles distant, would shortly suspect the treachery, and come +in search of the prisoners. Panther's motive in this double act of +treachery and inhospitality, was supposed to be a feeling of revenge +towards the Tuscarora—who had signalized himself during the war, by his +friendship for the cause of the Colonies—and also a desire to obtain +the beautiful Singing-Bird for his own wigwam.</p> + +<p>The Senecas, with their prisoners, had marched all that night in a +southerly direction, making use of all the devices of which an Indian is +capable, to conceal the direction of their march. Near morning, the +Tuscarora, although closely guarded, had found means to escape; but +instead of retracing his steps to get assistance from his own people or +from the Oneidas, he followed on the trail of the Senecas, hoping that +he should find some means to release Singing-Bird from her captivity. He +also hoped that his brethren, discovering, as they certainly would, the +treachery that had been used towards him, would send out a party of +warriors to rescue him.</p> + +<p>The Senecas had passed along the valley on the day when we first +introduced the Tuscarora to the reader. They had encamped on the flats, +about two miles below the shanty we have mentioned, but in a direction +much nearer the river than that taken by Ralph and Miss Barton, in their +journey of the day before.</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora, after the party, on the night before, had left the +shanty, carefully obliterated all traces of the recent occupancy of the +hut, and proceeded towards the encampment of the Senecas. He had nearly +accomplished his purpose of delivering Singing-Bird, who was confined in +a temporary wigwam which had been erected for her, when he was +discovered by a young warrior of the Senecas. A conflict, brief but +terrible, had ensued, which resulted in the death of the Seneca; and +although this conflict had prevented the execution of his purpose, he +succeeded in bearing away the usual Indian trophy of victory.</p> + +<p>A sufficient party had been left to guard the wigwam in which +Singing-Bird was confined, and the remainder of the Indians, almost +twenty-five in number, had set off in immediate pursuit of Eagle's-Wing. +The latter discovered, in his flight, which was along the course of the +river, a light bark canoe, which had been constructed by Guthrie; and +at once entering it, rapidly urged it up the stream. By so doing, +although the Senecas who were pursuing him by land, might pass him, yet +he could be able to secrete himself until day-light, certainly, and +leave no trail which could be followed. On the day before, in noting the +course of the river, and the means of shelter, should he find it +necessary to take to a hiding place, he had marked the clump of willows +we have mentioned, which to all appearance was merely a thicker and more +extensive growth than was elsewhere observed. But, as he now showed +Ichabod, in the centre of this clump was a small body of water connected +with the river—a sort of cove—the mouth of which was completely +guarded by a thick undergrowth of willows. To a person in a canoe on the +river, there was nothing to indicate, except with the very closest +attention, but that the line of the willows was the shore of the river. +Thus, by separating the willows, he had forced the canoe into this small +cove, where he was completely hidden from all observation, as well from +the land, as from the water.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, who was much excited by this forest romance, at once entered +into the feelings of the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you any, Eagle's-Wing," said he: "I don't like this +scalping business, but I s'pose you've got to fight according to your +natur'; but I'll tell you this, Eagle's-Wing,—here's my hand on a +bargain,—and I'll stick to it, whether the speculation's good or +bad—we'll rescue Singing-Bird, any way; but don't let us have any more +scalping, just now. We must deceive them rascals. I never knew a +scoundrel of a Seneca yet, but could be cheated some way or other."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the interest which this conversation had excited, the +Tuscarora and Ichabod had both been intent in watching the course of the +canoe. It had now advanced some twenty-five or thirty rods up the river, +when Panther, evidently believing he had passed the spot where the +Tuscarora had been observed, now headed the canoe downstream, with the +intention of making a more diligent search.</p> + +<p>Ichabod was about to propose a retreat towards the forest, when he +suddenly beheld in that direction a small party of Indians advancing +towards them. The intelligence was silently communicated to the +Tuscarora, when they both rapidly entered the clump of willows, and +seated themselves in the canoe. Their rifles were examined, and they +both adjusted their knives so that they would be in readiness, if it +should be necessary to use them.</p> + +<p>The Indians who were approaching from the forest perceived Panther and +his companions in the canoe, and signs were at once made to attract +their attention. Panther observed them, and the canoe was immediately +brought to the shore, where the other Indians had now arrived. The +Senecas who had come from the woods occupied the precise spot where +Ichabod had first observed the canoe of Panther. The latter had brought +his canoe to the edge of the willows, and putting them aside, sprung +lightly through them to the land.</p> + +<p>The Senecas were now not more than ten or fifteen feet from the hiding +place of the Tuscarora, so that their conversation could be easily +overheard.</p> + +<p>Panther, speaking to Deersfoot, who was the leader of the small party +which had been sent to scour the forest, asked if any trace had been +found of the fugitive. Deersfoot replied that he had not been able to +find any trail.</p> + +<p>Luckily for both Eagle's-Wing and Ichabod, the Indians who had visited +the shanty, since the latter left it in the morning, had not taken the +pains to discover the trail of the Tuscarora which Ichabod had done; and +they had also followed the same direction in approaching the river, but +without examining the ground with sufficient care, to discover the +footmarks of either Eagle's-Wing or Ichabod. The consequence was, that +now, so far as any clue could be obtained to their position from that +source, they were perfectly safe, as the Senecas, in traveling in the +same direction, had completely obscured the signs which, with a little +more care, they might have discovered.</p> + +<p>Panther and Deersfoot now held a whispered consultation, which Ichabod, +although he reached forward as far as his safety would permit, could not +distinctly overhear. But he was quite sure that he heard something said +about the pale-faces at the cottage. He was certain from this that the +Indians would visit the house of Barton; and he was extremely anxious to +return there, so that he might communicate the intelligence as soon as +possible.</p> + +<p>If such was the intention of the Senecas, it appeared that they did not +intend to put it in execution immediately; for after this consultation +was finished, Panther directed the Indians to follow along down the +shore, while he examined it from the canoe.</p> + +<p>Panther returned to his canoe; while Deersfoot with his party, passing +around the cove, proceeded diligently to search for the enemy whom they +were leaving in security, at least for the present, behind them.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had passed out of sight, Ichabod insisted that +Eagle's-Wing should accompany him to the cottage. The Indian at first +refused, from the idea that his presence there would bring danger upon +the family of Barton; but as Ichabod assured him of the certainty of +holding out the cottage against any attack which the Senecas might make +upon it, and also of the joy with which Barton and his daughter would +welcome him, he finally yielded; and leaving the canoe in its shelter, +they rapidly proceeded thitherward through the forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"But what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">smiled at, their offences being so capital?"</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">WINTER'S TALE.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>When Ichabod and the Tuscarora reached the cottage, they found the +inmates much alarmed, owing to the long absence of the former; and Ralph +was just about setting out in pursuit of him. Ichabod had perfectly +succeeded, without any effort on his part, in ingratiating himself into +the favor of all. There was something in his frank, hearty manner, that +at once gave him a place in the affections of those who were capable of +being moved by such qualities. The simplicity and earnestness with which +he pursued his schemes of pecuniary speculation, if they excited the +smiles or ridicule of those who saw their groundlessness, did not +detract from his reputation as a man of excellent judgment, on all +matters out of the range of that one idea.</p> + +<p>In a life such as we are now depicting, which was essentially new—where +men were not living on the labors of others, or eating up the substance +which others had gained, but where each relied upon his own effort to +procure the necessaries of life—there was a general simplicity of +manners, which is seldom to be found in these latter days. Although, as +in comparison with the history of population in Europe, we are +immediately connected in point of age, with the times of which we are +writing, yet in the rapidity of our own history, the seventy years which +have intervened have a much greater signification, and seem to extend +over a length of time sufficient to give the broadest play to the +imagination. We, who are now in the prime of life, and witness a broad, +fine country, thoroughly subdued to the uses of the farmer—cities and +villages connected by the ties of commerce—splendid mansions, which +already begin to wear the venerable appearance of age, can scarcely +realize that our fathers and grandfathers were the pioneers before whose +vigorous efforts the forests disappeared, and the wilderness gave place +to spacious fields, teeming with harvests, and homes where happiness +asked no aid from wealth, and virtuous simplicity paid no tribute to +overreaching avarice.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, there, was welcomed with a degree of warmth which he had no +reason to expect; but the excited state of mind which had been produced +by the events of the day before, and the probability of future troubles, +served to magnify the dangers which it was supposed he was likely to +encounter in his morning adventure.</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora, too, was heartily welcomed; and the morning meal, which +had been left waiting for Ichabod, was at once served. The Tuscarora ate +but little; for, however so much disposed an Indian may be to give way +to a gluttonous disposition in "piping times of peace," when on the +war-path, he is always abstemious to a degree; and he holds in great +contempt the man who suffers his appetite to overcome his necessary care +and watchfulness. Ichabod, however, had no such scruples; and he did as +ample justice to the "good things" which were set before him, as if such +an animal as a Seneca had never existed.</p> + +<p>Having finished their breakfast, Ichabod proceeded to communicate to +Ralph and Barton what he had witnessed, together with a brief account of +the treachery of Panther towards Eagle's-Wing. It was at once resolved +that the Tuscarora should be protected.</p> + +<p>"For," said Barton, "if the Senecas should dare to attack the cottage, +they will find that we have ample mean of defence. But I do not think +they will do so; they will not dare so openly to violate the neutrality +which now exists."</p> + +<p>"That tribe is proverbially treacherous," said Ralph, "and from +Eagle's-Wing's story, the chief of this party is especially so. I think +they will attack us, if they learn that the Tuscarora is sheltered here, +but I agree with you that we are bound to protect him. The cottage is in +a good state of defence, and we can defend it against twice the number +of this party.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and were they ten times as strong," answered Barton, "the +Tuscarora should not be surrendered. His services in our behalf are too +recent to be so soon forgotten; and besides, I would protect any +individual of the Oneida or Tuscarora nation, against those perfidious +rascals."</p> + +<p>The old man said this with an animation and energy that settled the +question.</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora, however, did not seem to assent, willingly, to the +arrangement. With a sensitiveness and courtesy which are almost peculiar +to the Indian warrior, he endeavored to decline a shelter which would be +likely to bring Barton and his family into some peril on his behalf.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "let Canendesha go. He knows the woods, and the warrior +likes the woods. <i>There</i> is plenty chance to fight—plenty good place to +hide. Warrior can't fight here—can't take any scalp here."</p> + +<p>Sambo put his hand to his head, with a vivid remembrance of the <i>joke</i> +of the night before; and even Barton and Ralph were a good deal shocked +at the cool-blooded way in which the Tuscarora spoke of this peculiar +mode of Indian warfare. Barton felt called to enter his protest, at +once.</p> + +<p>"Tuscarora," he said, "it isn't <i>Christian</i> to scalp. I supposed that +the Tuscaroras and Oneidas had better notions than to do so."</p> + +<p>"What Christian do, eh?" asked Eagle's-Wing, quietly.</p> + +<p>"A Christian never mutilates his enemy, after he has conquered him," +replied Barton.</p> + +<p>"What that?" inquired the Tuscarora, with a look of incomprehension.</p> + +<p>"A Christian warrior," said Barton, who found himself somewhat puzzled +to explain clearly, to the comprehension of the Indian, the idea he had +in his mind; "A Christian warrior <i>kills</i> his enemy; he don't——"</p> + +<p>"Christian <i>kill</i> enemy, eh?" said Eagle's-Wing, quickly "What scalp +good for to enemy, after he killed? Good to warrior to show squaw—good +to show chiefs—good many scalps make great chief."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but why not bear off some other trophy? why not take a portion of +the enemy's dress, or something of that sort?"</p> + +<p>"Warrior can't carry away <i>all</i>:—some other Injin get some,—make <i>him</i> +great warrior too. No—no—Injin got but <i>one</i> scalp: he 'spect to have +it taken; and if he killed, <i>must</i> lose it."</p> + +<p>Eagle's-Wing evidently thought he had exhausted the argument; and, in +truth, he had. It would have been utterly impossible to have held any +such controversy with him, with any prospect of success, and have +admitted the right to slay an enemy at all.</p> + +<p>Ichabod chuckled over the victory which had been gained by his friend; +not that he justified the practice, but that he thought it would be +utterly useless to endeavor to improve an Indian, in that respect. It +was a practice which had been taught in infancy, and become an instinct; +for the warrior having slain the enemy, secures the scalp, or his +victory is but half won.</p> + +<p>Just at this point in the conversation, Sambo, who had left the house a +few moments before, came running in, saying that Guthrie had just come +in sight, and was approaching the cottage. By a sort of instinctive +feeling, the whole party, except the Tuscarora, who did not seem to be +familiar with the name, looked as if they expected some new scene in +this forest drama was about to be enacted. But with an appearance of +unconcern, they prepared to receive him; and in a moment more, the door +opened, and the heavy, coarse figure of Guthrie was in the room.</p> + +<p>As he opened the door, the Tuscarora made a sudden movement of surprise, +which Ichabod saw, although it was unnoticed by either Ralph or Barton. +The Indian immediately resumed his appearance of composure, and looked +at the visitor with an air of indifference; but Ichabod saw that +Eagle's-Wing had made some discovery which might be of extreme +importance in the events which were likely to occur. As has been before +remarked, Ichabod had a distinct impression that he had before seen +Guthrie's face—but <i>where</i>, he could not recollect. With a feeling of +distrust, which the sudden gesture of the Tuscarora he served to +enliven, he now waited to earn the object of the visit. "Good day, +Guthrie," said Barton, "what news do you bring from below."</p> + +<p>"O nothing in particular, Squire; but I thought I'd come up and tell you +that there's a large lot of Injins round."</p> + +<p>"I suppose there is nothing very singular in that," answered Barton, "so +long as this may be considered Indian territory, as yet."</p> + +<p>Now, Barton had always looked upon Guthrie with a feeling of distrust; +and for this reason he thought it best to appear ignorant of facts he +well knew, as by so doing, he might better ascertain the true object of +his visit.</p> + +<p>He therefore continued: "I am a kind of tenant at sufferance of the +Oneidas here, myself; and I certainly cannot object to their visiting +their own territory."</p> + +<p>"But these Injins arn't Oneidas, Squire. If I know one Maqua from +another, they're Senecas," said Guthrie.</p> + +<p>"Senecas!" exclaimed Barton, with the appearance of surprise, "what +business have the Senecas here, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"I ra'ally can't tell, Squire, what kind of business they did <i>come</i> on +out here; but they've got into a raging passion since they've been here, +and I am ra'ally afeard of trouble."</p> + +<p>"They have had no occasion, certainly, for anger with me or mine, and I +cannot suppose that they intend me any injury."</p> + +<p>"Well, the truth is, Squire, they say that this Injin you've got here," +pointing to the Tuscarora, "has got the scalp of one of their young men; +and they declare they'll take him, any way; if they can't by fair means, +they will by foul."</p> + +<p>"You do not think they would dare to attack the cottage for the purpose +of capturing him?" said Barton.</p> + +<p>"There's no telling what them Senecas <i>won't</i> do, Squire, when they're +angry; but I rather reckon they will, if they know you've got him here."</p> + +<p>"What would you advise me to do, Guthrie? You understand the ways of +this nation pretty well."</p> + +<p>"As for understanding the ways of the Senecas, in particular Squire," +answered Guthrie somewhat hastily, "I can't say that I do; but a man +can't live in the woods as long as I have, without knowing <i>something</i> +about the Injins in general: but as for what you'd better do, I ra'ally +can't say. But the way it looks to me is, that if you want your +buildings burnt down, and may be yourself and family taken prisoners, +you'll keep him; but if you don't, you'll send him away. But it arn't +for me to say."</p> + +<p>"Now, Guthrie," said Barton, with the appearance of doubt. "I'll put it +to you as a question of honor, under all the difficulties you mention: +this Tuscarora saved my daughter's life, yesterday; now, can I, as an +honorable man, surrender him to his enemies?"</p> + +<p>"Well Squire, that <i>is</i> a pretty <i>tight</i> spot, that's sartin," said +Guthrie. "But you see, if he did save Miss Barton's life yesterday, it +is no reason why he should put it in danger to-day; and yours and your +guests besides."</p> + +<p>"Why, Guthrie, you talk as if I couldn't defend myself here, if I really +tried. You seem to take it for granted, that if we <i>are</i> attacked, +<i>they</i> must conquer. I am not so certain of that."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Guthrie, "you've got a pretty tolerably strong fix of a +place here; but I <i>do</i> reckon you couldn't hold out much of a siege. +I've seen stronger places taken by fewer Indians, in my day."</p> + +<p>"Why, how many Senecas do you think there are, Guthrie?" asked Barton.</p> + +<p>"Well, I ra'ally don't know; but I should think I'd seen pretty nigh a +hundred on 'em."</p> + +<p>Barton smiled. The object of Guthrie was now perfectly evident. For some +reason, he had endeavored to induce Barton to surrender the Tuscarora, +and had thus magnified the force of the enemy, and cast doubt upon the +ability of Barton to maintain the defence of his dwelling.</p> + +<p>Ralph, although very indignant at this dishonest intention of Guthrie, +maintained the appearance of composure. The Tuscarora one would have +judged to have been totally devoid of the sense of hearing; for no +motion or gesture betrayed that he supposed himself the subject of this +back-woods diplomacy. As for Ichabod, he had with difficulty restrained +himself, so far, from breaking into the conversation. Now, however, he +suddenly broke in by advancing towards Guthrie, and exclaiming—</p> + +<p>"I say, <i>stranger</i>, you can't be very good at reckoning, for a man who +has lived all his life in the woods, and ought to know the number of his +enemies at first sight. <i>Only</i> thirty-five, counting that red <i>reptile</i> +that lost his scalp. And as for them thirty-five, if they want +Eagle's-Wing, all they've got to do, you see, is to come and take him."</p> + +<p>Guthrie, who saw at once that his plan had failed, and that Barton knew +accurately the number of the Senecas with whom, at the worst, he would +have to contend, now changed his tactics.</p> + +<p>"Well, friend," said he to Ichabod, "you might have been a little more +civil, even if you <i>are</i> right, and I'm wrong. I didn't count 'em—I +only saw 'em a long ways off, through the woods, and might be mistaken, +you know. But," said he, with a manner of perfect frankness, turning to +Barton, "whether there's thirty-five or a hundred, I don't know nor +don't care, so far as I'm concerned; if you say fight, here I am, +Squire, and I'll help you out with it, any way."</p> + +<p>Barton suffered his feelings of distrust to be overcome at once. +Grasping Guthrie's hand, he exclaimed—"That's right, friend. You and I +are neighbors here, and there's no reason why we shouldn't be friends, +at such a time as this. The Tuscarora has been deeply wronged by these +Senecas, and if he has revenged himself, it's Indian law, and we can't +blame him for it. No—I can't surrender him; and if they want to fight +about it, why we'll get out of it the best we can."</p> + +<p>Barton, who was extremely gratified at this addition to the force of the +cottage, at once led Guthrie about the building and grounds, to show him +his preparations for defence. Ralph was not at all pleased with the +manner of Guthrie; but as he knew that Baron was much better acquainted +with him than he pretended to be, he could not object to receiving the +aid which was so frankly offered, and which might be needed. After the +departure of Barton and his new ally, Ichabod and the Tuscarora fell +into an earnest but whispered conversation, and Ralph left the apartment +in search of Miss Baron, whom he had not seen since the events of the +day before.</p> + +<p>"I say, Eagle's-Wing," said Ichabod, "I don't half like this business. +That stranger seems to be a kind of white Seneca. I never knew an honest +man who was afraid to look another honest man in the eye. I don't like +him."</p> + +<p>"You guess right: I know him. He King George's man," said the Tuscarora, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"What! a Tory!" exclaimed Ichabod. "How do you know that, Eagle's-Wing?"</p> + +<p>"Know? Know it sartin. Saw him down here on war-path. He fought with +Senecas. No recollect?"</p> + +<p>"That's it. Heavens and airth! why didn't I think of that? Here I've +been trying for two days to remember where I've seen that hang-dog face. +He was one of the leaders of them venomous <i>reptiles</i>. Nothing can beat +an Indian for recollecting things."</p> + +<p>"Indians got long memory. Know enemy always. Don't forget him."</p> + +<p>"I say, Eagle's-Wing, do you think the sarpent recollects <i>us</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—sartin. He recollect you—saw that. Recollect <i>me</i>, too. Most got +his scalp: he recollect that, well, I know."</p> + +<p>"How's that, Eagle's-Wing?"</p> + +<p>"When Seneca run, he run too. I shoot, and he fell. I run to get +scalp—but Seneca warriors turn—too many of 'em—and they take him off. +He 'members that, sartin."</p> + +<p>"Now Eagle's-Wing, that sarpent has come here to practise some deviltry +on us. He's fairly cheated the old Squire, and I s'pose he thinks he has +cheated us, too. What shall we do with him?"</p> + +<p>"I know what <i>I</i> do," and he significantly pointed to his knife.</p> + +<p>"No—that won't do at all. You see, if he is in league with them +Senecas, there's only <i>one</i> way that he can help <i>them</i> and injure <i>us</i>. +Being inside here, he reckons he can open the door to 'em."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the way—no other way."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Eagle's-Wing, we'll let him play his game out, but we'll +try and be there to see it done. Now, mind, Eagle's-Wing, until that +does happen, we mustn't seem to know him at all."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; make b'lieve friend—that the way."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we'll hear from them reptiles to-night; and if we do, +Eagle's-Wing, we'll thin out their numbers a little, and then to-morrow +for the Singing-Bird. You'll see her again to-morrow, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>A melancholy smile passed over the countenance of the Tuscarora. It was +immediately followed by such a gleam of deadly ferocity, that even +Ichabod started.</p> + +<p>"Panther got lying tongue—I tear it out. Panther got bad heart—I tear +it out. He take <i>my</i> squaw—he never see his own squaw again."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you. Eagle's-Wing, for your feelings towards that +reptile; but I do wish you Injins could learn a civilized mode of +warfare. I shan't argue with you: I know better than that; but I ra'ally +don't see how any Injin of your qualities can have such a strong desire +for tearing scalps off from all his enemies. But it's Injin natur' I +s'pose. When white people offer bounties for such things, I don't much +blame Injins for speculating in that kind of article: but to do it when +nothing's to be made out of it, beats my comprehension."</p> + +<p>But we must leave Ichabod and the Tuscarora to their conversation, while +we follow Ralph to the interview which he sought with Miss Barton.</p> + +<p>Proceeding directly towards the front portion of the house, and entering +a room which was fitted up tastefully, and adapted to "state occasions," +if we may be permitted to apply that term to an apartment designed as +well for a family room as a parlor, he found Ruth, who seemed to be yet +suffering from the agitation and excitement of the day before.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to see you, Miss Barton," said Ralph, "suffering no more +from your perilous night-ride. That was an adventure which, I think, we +shall remember."</p> + +<p>"I shall not forget it very soon, at least," she replied. "I think you +must confess that I showed you more of the peculiarities of forest life, +than was arranged beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Had you advertised me of precisely what we saw, we might have been a +little better prepared," said Ralph: "but that adventure would make an +excellent theme for a ballad, in the German style. It possessed +sufficient of the mysterious and terrible for that purpose, certainly."</p> + +<p>"You have visited us, Captain Weston," said Ruth, with seriousness, "in +an unfortunate time for yourself. I hear that we are threatened with an +attack from Indians."</p> + +<p>"Do not say unfortunate. Miss Barton: rather, I deem myself most +fortunate, in happening to be here at this time, should the attack which +is threatened be made."</p> + +<p>"I hope it may not be. O! it is horrible to think that this home I love +so much should be the scene of such a conflict."</p> + +<p>"I think that in no event can our safely be endangered," replied Ralph; +"and that we have nothing to fear from the attack, should it be made. We +have abundant means of defence, and the enemy is not strong enough, with +the stout hearts we shall have within these walls, to force the cottage. +But I can sympathize with your sorrow, Miss Barton. God has made this +country too beautiful to be marred by the strife of men."</p> + +<p>"It is a terrible blot on human nature," said Ruth, "that men dwelling +so far from society, in the midst of the forest, where every object +should excite sacred emotions, can engage in these unholy conflicts with +each other. It is a proof—a strong proof, of the wretched condition of +poor human nature, unassisted by the light that shines from above."</p> + +<p>"Such is the nature of men," replied Ralph, "and surely perhaps, it will +always be. The first men were warriors, and if ignorance and brutality +always exist, the last men will be warriors, also. The whole history of +the world has been written with the sword—places most sacred have been +profaned by the bloody stains of human passion, and themes the most holy +have given rise to the deadliest hatred and contention. We cannot expect +that men educated in the ways of the forest, shall be wiser than those +who boast of their civilization."</p> + +<p>"But is there no way," asked Ruth, "in which this conflict can be +avoided?"</p> + +<p>"None, perhaps, that would be honorable." Ralph then gave an account of +the wrongs which the Tuscarora had received from the Senecas, together +with the capture of his squaw. Ruth acknowledged the impossibility of +complying with the demands of the Senecas. Her heart at once sympathised +with the wrongs of the Tuscarora; and the picture which her imagination +drew of Singing-Bird in captivity in the hands of those unrelenting and +unmerciful enemies, brought tears to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said she; "the Tuscarora has been our friend, and we cannot +deliver him to his enemies. In such a cause, I could be a soldier +myself."</p> + +<p>Although Ruth had been educated to a far different manner of life, and +in former times had enjoyed many of the luxuries which would then be +afforded by persons in "comfortable" circumstances, yet she possessed +sufficient of that heroism of character which the times had engendered, +to enable her to throw off the habits of early education, and adopt the +character of fortitude and patience in the midst of suffering, peculiar +to the class of women in the station in which she then moved. Thus, +although she viewed with dread the prospect of a strife with the savage +and unmerciful enemies by whom they were then about to be attacked, she +did not suffer herself to yield to the terrors which such an idea would +be likely to inspire. The women of the times of the Revolution lost none +of their feminine graces, by bearing with fortitude the perils and +dangers by which they were encompassed.</p> + +<p>Ralph gazed with admiration on that beautiful countenance, thus excited +by a tender sympathy for the sufferings which she felt must be endured +by the Tuscarora and Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>"With such soldiers," said he, "we could not but succeed; but we shall +scarcely call upon Miss Barton to fall into the ranks, at present. We +shall only do that as a last resort."</p> + +<p>At this moment, their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of +Sambo, who informed Ralph that Mr. Barton desired his presence +immediately. Ralph at once obeyed the summons; but its object we shall +leave to the next chapter to unfold.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Here, Persian, tell thy embassy! Repeat</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That, to obtain my friendship, Asia's prince</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To me hath proffered sovereignty of Greece."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 20em;">LEONIDAS.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>Ralph found Mr. Barton and his companions in consultation upon some +subject of apparent importance, from the anxiety which was manifested in +their countenances. Two Indians of the Seneca Nation were seen +approaching the cottage; and although as they were unarmed, no immediate +hostility could be expected, yet it was evident they were coming upon +some errand relative to the shelter of the Tuscarora. If such were the +case, this departure from the ordinary caution of the Indian, might be +evidence either of the desire not to come in conflict with the whites, +or of a confidence, on their part, in their ability to succeed in any +attack they might make upon the dwelling.</p> + +<p>It was decided that Ralph, the Tuscarora and Gauthrie should remain in +the cottage, while Barton and Ichabod should meet the approaching +Indians, and ascertain the nature of their errand. With this view the +two latter proceeded to a small grove which had been left uncleared, +except of the underbrush, a short distance south of the dwelling.</p> + +<p>The two Indians approached with an apparent feeling of security. They +were to all appearance unarmed; and they exhibited a manner of +confidence and amity intended to convince the persons with whom they +were to deal, that their mission was a friendly one. One of these +Indians was Deersfoot, whom we have already mentioned; the other was of +a much less warlike appearance. He was small of stature, with a quick, +cunning glance, and was celebrated among his people for oratory. His +name was Snake-tongue,—given to him evidently, by reason of greater +powers with his eloquence than with his rifle.</p> + +<p>When they had approached within fifteen or twenty feet of the position +occupied by Barton and Ichabod, the former advanced towards them with a +smile, and welcomed them to his cottage.</p> + +<p>"It is not often," said he, "that I have an opportunity to honor the +young warriors of the Senecas. It is seldom that they visit the country +of the Oneidas, in time of peace."</p> + +<p>"The Oneidas and Senecas are brothers," said Deersfoot. "A cloud +sometimes has passed between them; but there is no cloud now. They are +brothers still. The young men of the Senecas came to look on the hunting +grounds of their brothers."</p> + +<p>"The country of the Senecas is not a good country, then?" asked Barton, +"I had heard that the Senecas dwelt in a garden—that they owned large +lakes that are filled with fish, and forests that are filled with deer."</p> + +<p>"My father," said Deersfoot, in deference to the grey hairs of Barton, +"my father tells the truth; such is the country of the Senecas. The +Great Spirit has given us a good land to dwell in. He has given us lakes +that are full of fish, and forests that are full of deer. The Senecas +and Oneidas belong to the same nation;—together they conquered the +Sennape; and the Senecas are proud when they hear of the fame of the +Oneidas. Why should we not love to look upon the country of our +brothers?"</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you like to look upon this valley, Deersfoot. I am glad +to hear that there is no cloud between the Senecas and the Oneidas. It +would not be well if there were."</p> + +<p>Barton had carefully abstained from touching the point which was likely +to be that of controversy. It never comports with the dignity of an +Indian to show haste or curiosity; and he knew that he could maintain a +better position on the question which would probably arise, if he +suffered them, without any manifestation of curiosity on his part, to +unfold the nature of their errand.</p> + +<p>"The Five Nations were once a great nation," said Deersfoot, "they could +travel a great many day's journey and not leave their country: the wolf +that howled amidst the snows north of the great lakes, they had a right +to hunt; and to gather fruits from under the warm sun of the south. But +it is not so now. We are now weak; and the pale-faces are strong. The +Great Spirit has willed it, and we cannot help it: we would help it if +we could. But it does no good to talk. We grow weaker every day."</p> + +<p>"The Great Spirit," said Barton, "has not been so unkind to the Five +Nations. The warriors of the Five Nations have not always been wise. If +they had listened to the words of the Christian teachers who have talked +to them, they would have been a stronger nation. But they dug up the +hatchet against their brothers of the Colonies, and they lost a great +many warriors."</p> + +<p>A gleam of deadly ferocity passed over the face of Deersfoot for a +moment, and his wild, dark eyes shot forth glances of hatred—but in an +instant he recovered his composure.</p> + +<p>"It may be that my father speaks wise. The Indians know but a little, +and may be they were wrong. They lost a great many warriors, it is true. +But they pleased the eyes of their old men and squaws with many scalps +of their enemies. A white man followed every warrior of the Senecas, in +the path that leads to the happy hunting grounds of the Great Spirit."</p> + +<p>The tone in which this reply of the Seneca was uttered was sufficiently +startling. Ichabod stretched his tall form as if he was about to intrude +upon the conversation, but at a gesture from Barton, he remained +silent.</p> + +<p>Deersfoot, after a moment's silence, continued: "We have come to have a +talk with the pale-faces of the cottage. The Senecas have not got forked +tongues. They have buried the hatchet with the Yengeese, and with the +Colony pale-faces. They would not dig it up again. Let my brothers hear +and be wise. Snake-tongue will speak."</p> + +<p>With these words, he stepped back, with dignity, while Snake-tongue, +after a few moment's hesitation, advanced towards Barton. In a low but +musical voice, he commenced his harangue:</p> + +<p>"My name is Snake-tongue. It is a good name for friends to bear—it is a +bad name for enemies. The warrior is known by his name.</p> + +<p>"Deersfoot has said that the Five Nations are weak, and that the +pale-faces are strong. It may be so; I cannot dispute it. I have seen +the Yankee pale-faces fight the Great King over the water for seven +winters and summers—they must be strong. Deersfoot has spoken the +truth.</p> + +<p>"Deersfoot has said that the Five Nations grow weaker every day. We are +now <i>Six</i> Nations, and we are weaker than when we were <i>Five</i> Nations. +Why is it so? The pale-faces have slain a great many of our warriors; +but that has not made us weak. It is because the Great Spirit has turned +the hearts of his red children against each other. If a pale-face slays +an Indian, it is wrong; but it is not so wrong as it is for one Indian +to slay another. The sad spirit of the dead warrior goes on its path, +and complains to the Great Spirit, that its enemy does not follow him, +and the Great Spirit is angry. We must shed the blood of the murderer. +It is the law of the Great Spirit, and it is a good law.</p> + +<p>"The Yankee pale-faces are strong, when they come together in armies; +but are they strong <i>here</i>? My father is away from his friends in the +settlements; he has but two or three pale-paces with him. Are two or +three pale-faces a match for the young warriors of the Senecas? Let my +father pause and think."</p> + +<p>"There are five of us, Snake-tongue, with plenty of rifles and powder; +and good walls behind which we can stand and pick out our enemies," said +Barton, who saw the tendency of this harangue, and who was disposed to +meet the issue half way.</p> + +<p>Snake-tongue continued, cold and impassive. "My father speaks the truth. +There are <i>five</i> warriors to defend the cottage of the pale-faces. There +are <i>four</i> pale-faces, and a red man. But we have buried the hatchet +with the pale-faces:—we are no longer enemies, but friends. We do not +care whether there are five warriors or twenty in the cottage. We are at +peace with the pale-faces. It makes no difference to us. We are +friends."</p> + +<p>"Why then, does Snake-tongue make us this long war-speech? It is true +that we are friends; let us continue so."</p> + +<p>"My father speaks wise. Let us remain friends. There is no cloud between +us and the pale-faces, that the pale-faces cannot put away. A young +warrior of the Senecas has been killed, and his enemy has got his scalp. +Did the pale-faces do that? No,—the pale-faces do not take scalps; but +an Indian always does; a scalp looks good in his eyes. We would find the +scalp of our young warrior! Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," answered Barton, "if any of your young men have been +killed; but Snake-tongue speaks true; he was not killed by the +pale-faces. I do not know where his scalp is."</p> + +<p>"But we know where it is," continued Snake-tongue. "It is hid beneath +the belt of Canendesha. He has hid it from his friends; but he cannot +hide it from the Senecas. Their eyes are sharp; they can see an enemy a +great way off,—and they can find his trail if he hides. Canendesha is +in the cottage of the pale-faces. We are at peace with the pale-faces; +but we want the Tuscarora. He has killed a warrior of the Senecas. The +Tuscarora must die. It is Indian law. It was taught us by the Great +Spirit that we must punish our enemies. We want the Tuscarora."</p> + +<p>The Indian paused, as if waiting for a reply. Barton answered—</p> + +<p>"My brother has a bad tradition; it is not true; the Great Spirit does +not teach the red men to punish their enemies. The red men have not +heard right; their ears have been shut. The Great Spirit has said that +the red men must love their enemies."</p> + +<p>"I have heard," answered Snake-tongue, "of such a tradition among the +pale-faces. It must be a false tradition, for the pale-faces do not +believe it; <i>they</i> punish their enemies. <i>We</i> believe in <i>our</i> +tradition. It is a good one."</p> + +<p>"I do not deny," said Barton, who saw that the conversation must be +terminated, "but that the Tuscarora may have killed one of your young +men; but did not the young Seneca try to prevent him from getting his +squaw? We have heard that Panther has stolen the squaw of the Tuscarora, +and will not give her up. Is that right? Do red men treat their brothers +so, and expect that their hearts will be filled with peace?"</p> + +<p>"The young squaw," answered Snake-tongue, quietly, "is in the wigwam of +Panther; she can go if she does not wish to stay there; but her eyes +like to look on Panther. He is a great warrior."</p> + +<p>Ichabod could be restrained no longer. This slander of Singing-Bird was +more than his friendship for Eagle's-Wing, would allow him to bear.</p> + +<p>"See here, Snake-tongue," said he, "you're a sort of ambassador here, +and its again all law to make war on that sort of people; but I don't +know of any law to prevent my telling you that you lie like a rascally +Seneca."</p> + +<p>Both Deersfoot and Snake-tongue started at this defiant speech of +Ichabod; and at the first impulse put their hands to their belts as if +to grasp their knives; but in a moment they resumed their composure, +and seemed to await the reply of Barton, who said, at length:</p> + +<p>"We have heard your demand, Snake-tongue. The Tuscarora is our friend. +He has been wronged by the Senecas. We do not believe that Singing-Bird +wishes to remain in the wigwam of Panther. It cannot be true, although +Panther <i>is</i> a great warrior. We cannot give up the Tuscarora. He is our +friend."</p> + +<p>"And furthermore," said Ichabod, "we demand that you should release +Singing-Bird; and tell your lying chief, that if she isn't sent along +instanter, we'll come after her. I've fou't Senecas before."</p> + +<p>"My brothers have spoken," said Snake-tongue, quietly; "I will give +their words to the warriors of the Senecas. Perhaps they have spoken +wise. It is not for me to say."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the two Indians withdrew from the grove, as quietly as they +had entered it.</p> + +<p>"The lying reptile!" exclaimed Ichabod. "To insinuate that Singing-Bird +has a liking for that rascally red-skin. If he hadn't been an +ambassador, I would have made him swallow his words on the spot."</p> + +<p>"The Seneca lied, undoubtedly," said Barton; "but we have now got to +defend ourselves. The language and tone of Snake-tongue implied nothing +less. I am getting very much interested in the history of Singing-Bird, +myself; and we will find some means, in case we succeed in repelling the +Senecas from the cottage, to aid the Tuscarora in rescuing her."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Squire," said Ichabod. "Eagle's-Wing and I have sworn to +do that; and Providence permitting, I'll have a chance at that +foul-mouthed rascal yet."</p> + +<p>Barton and Ichabod now entered the house, where they found Guthrie and +the Tuscarora engaged, apparently, in a friendly conversation. The +result of the "talk" was communicated; and although it was agreed that +the Senecas would make an attack upon the cottage, yet no one seemed to +think that they would immediately do so. The arrangements for defence +were now, however, all made, and the duty of each individual assigned, +so far as it could now be done. When this was accomplished, the party +separated; each, however, taking it upon himself to watch warily for the +first signs of the attack.</p> + +<p>Ralph walked out into the grove, where the recent conversation with the +Senecas had taken place. He felt much anxiety for the result of the +coming conflict; not that he really feared that the Indians would +succeed; but he well knew that the issues of such encounters are never +certain. Perhaps his warm attachment towards Ruth had much to do with +this feeling; for in the event of failure in defending the cottage, were +the Indians disposed to reap all the advantages of their success, as +would probably be the case, in the heat of their excitement and +passion, the situation of Ruth would be extremely dangerous. He would +have been much better satisfied at that moment, were Ruth at the +settlements, or in some place of safety, where she would not be exposed +to the accidents of the impending encounter. But it was now too late to +allow of her flight, even if it had been deemed advisable. While engaged +in these thoughts, Ruth, who had observed him from the cottage, +approached him, and laid her light hand on his shoulder. Ralph started, +but smiled as he recognized Miss Barton.</p> + +<p>"How now, Sir Knight?" said Ruth, "you do not seem to be occupied with +very pleasant thoughts."</p> + +<p>"They ought to be of a pleasant nature, certainly," said Ralph, "for I +was thinking of no one else than Miss Barton."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," said Ruth, "if so unworthy a person as I can give Captain +Weston such a serious countenance."</p> + +<p>"Miss Barton, I do not wish to say anything to alarm you, but all our +exertions will be required to defence our lives to-night."</p> + +<p>"Is it certain we are to be attacked so soon?" inquired Ruth, with a +slight look of alarm.</p> + +<p>"I think there can be no doubt of it; and at such a time with so few +defenders, and so unmerciful and vigilant an enemy, although we have not +much cause to fear defeat, yet that result is possible."</p> + +<p>"I did not think our situation was so serious," said Ruth, now evidently +alarmed. "What <i>can</i> we do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, but use such means as we possess for defending ourselves; and +I think we shall succeed in doing so. But," said Ralph, with a slight +embarrassment, "at such a time as this—when we are threatened with such +a danger, it is not surprising that you should have found me thinking +earnestly upon the situation of one so dear to me as yourself. Let me, +Ruth," he continued, taking her hand, which reposed not unwillingly in +his own, "tell you how much I esteem and love you, and that my whole +happiness now depends upon you."</p> + +<p>He paused, and whatever might have been the answer of Ruth, he saw that +in her countenance which informed him that his wishes were well +understood and answered.</p> + +<p>In that fond dream of happiness in which all present danger was +forgotten, they wandered through the grove, filled with those delightful +thoughts and fancies, which are only born in the sweet hopes of requited +affection.</p> + +<p>The shades of approaching evening were creeping slowly over the valley. +The long shadows of the trees fell upon the cleared meadow-land, the +perfect picture of repose. Never sank a brighter sun among more lovely +clouds—crimsoned in deep curtained folds, with golden edges, giving +full promise of a fair to-morrow.</p> + +<p>"It is a beautiful evening," said Ralph: "one of those hours when fair +hopes are fairer; and the natural world seems to reflect the happiness +of our souls. May this not be a promise for the future?"</p> + +<p>"May it be so," answered Ruth; "but what events may take place, before +that sun rises again!"</p> + +<p>"Let us not fear too much," said Ralph. "We must meet the danger +bravely, and when it is over, dear Ruth, we shall be none the less happy +that it is past."</p> + +<p>"Hush!" whispered Ruth suddenly, "look there!" pointing to a grove of +small trees but eight or ten rods distant. Ralph looked in the direction +indicated by her, and he beheld three Indians who were slowly creeping +towards them. The Indians, who had no cover behind which to advance, had +necessarily exposed their persons, and in this manner had progressed +unobserved for a number of rods. They now saw that they were discovered, +and rising with a wild whoop, rushed towards them.</p> + +<p>Ralph and Miss Barton were just about equi-distant from the Indians and +the cottage. Impulsively, Ralph, who was entirely without means of +defence, caught Ruth in his arms and ran towards the building. The +Indians pursued, and rapidly gained upon the fugitives. One of the +pursuers far outsped the others, and had already reached within twenty +feet of Ralph, when the discharge of a rifle was heard, and he leaped +with a yell into the air and fell struggling upon the ground. In another +moment Ralph and his precious burden were inside the door; but as it +closed, the tomahawk of another pursuer quivered in the post beside it. +Instantly the grove was filled with enemies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"That wicked band of villeins fresh begon,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That castle to assaile on every side,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And lay strong siege about it far and wyde."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 13em;">CHAUCER—FAERIE QUEENE.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>This sudden appearance of the Indians indicated that they could not have +been far distant at the time of the interview between Deersfoot and +Snake-tongue on the one side, and Barton and Ichabod on the other; and +that upon the refusal of the latter to surrender the Tuscarora, they had +at once resolved upon an attack upon the cottage.</p> + +<p>On the entrance of Ralph and Miss Barton, they, together with Barton and +the negro, who had remained below, at once proceeded to the upper +apartment, where they found the remainder of the party stationed at the +loop-holes on the south side of the house. Ichabod was loading his +rifle.</p> + +<p>"I have no particular reason to boast of uncommon accuracy with the +rifle," said the latter as Ralph entered the room, "but I'm most always +good for a Seneca. That rascal almost had his hand in your hair, +Captin."</p> + +<p>"It was a good service, Ichabod, and I hope to live to thank you for +it," said Ralph, grasping his hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't say anything about it, Captin: Eagle's-Wing would have done it in +the hundredth part of a second more. It's only one reptile the less."</p> + +<p>The cottage, the precise situation of which, with reference to +surrounding objects, we have not yet described, was situated upon a +slight eminence, which rose gradually westward from the small lake or +pond, which we have before mentioned. Behind the cottage, on the west, +the land gradually rose, spreading out into a wide plain with a rolling +surface. On the north, however, at the distance of only three or four +rods, there was a steep descent into a ravine some forty feet in depth, +in the bottom of which flowed a small brook. This ravine had not yet +been cleared, and the forest approached, consequently, to within four +rods of the cottage. On the south, the land gradually sloped downwards +for four or five rods, while at about twice that distance was left +standing a grove of small trees of two or three acres in extent. It was +in this grove that the Senecas were first discovered.</p> + +<p>It was obvious that the most dangerous point of attack was from the +north; as in that direction, the forest approached so near the cottage, +that the Senecas might obtain a cover behind the trees, and should such +be their object, find some means to set the buildings on fire.</p> + +<p>The Senecas, however, still remained in the grove, and did not show any +immediate intention of proceeding to the attack. They were gathered +together, while Panther, who was easily recognized by Ichabod, was +haranguing them; but although his words could not be heard, there was no +difficulty in understanding from his manner and gestures that he was +explaining the mode in which the attack should be made.</p> + +<p>"I reckon," said Ichabod, "that I might easily pick off that varmint, +even at this distance."</p> + +<p>"No," said Ralph, "we are on the defensive, and we will not commence the +fight. If they make an attack upon us, then we will all try to do our +duty."</p> + +<p>"I fancy it was something pretty nigh an attack," said Ichabod, "that +them rascals just made on you and Miss Ruth. But, perhaps, it's all +right, Captin. That account was settled on the spot; and may be it won't +be agin law for us to wait until the scoundrels open another."</p> + +<p>A small room had been constructed near the centre of the main apartment, +supposed to be entirely secure from any stray bullet that might chance +to enter the loop-holes.</p> + +<p>Into this small apartment, Ruth had entered, on reaching the upper part +of the house: but now she made her appearance among the little garrison, +with a great confidence, and a determination to make herself of service +if possible.</p> + +<p>"Do not remain here, Ruth," said Barton: "you may be exposed to danger +from some stray shot. It would be much better that you should be +entirely out of danger."</p> + +<p>This request was seconded by Ralph, with a look of earnest entreaty.</p> + +<p>"I do not fear any danger," answered Ruth. "I can certainly be of no +service shut up in that narrow cell; while I may possibly be of some +little service to you here. I can act as a lookout, you know," advancing +quietly to one of the loop-holes.</p> + +<p>"No good for squaw to be in fight," said the Tuscarora, quietly; "squaw +hide when warriors fight, that best for squaw."</p> + +<p>"I am not going to shoulder a rifle, Eagle's-Wing, without it is +absolutely necessary; but I want to look on, and see how warriors can +fight."</p> + +<p>It was evident that Ruth was not to be dissuaded from sharing the +danger, if danger there was, to which the defenders of the cottage were +exposed. Ichabod, who during this brief conversation had remained +watching intently the motions of the enemy, now exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"There are twenty of the red varmints, sartin, but they don't seem very +anxious to begin the fight. What d'ye think they mean to do, +Eagle's-Wing?"</p> + +<p>"Mean to 'tack cottage; that what they mean: wait till dark, then see +what they do."</p> + +<p>"There's some motion among 'em now," said Ichabod, "there go the +<i>reptiles</i>, creeping off through the wood. They're diving now, but +they'll come up again somewhere, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"I rather calculate," said Guthrie, who had thus far remained silent, +"that they're going to give up the business as a bad job. That's the +best thing they can do, any way."</p> + +<p>"Warriors mean to surround cottage. That what it means," said the +Tuscarora. "Pretty soon hear 'em over there,—hear 'em all round—see +'em, may be, if watch."</p> + +<p>Night was now rapidly approaching, and surrounding objects had already +become indistinct. One by one, the stars made their appearance, glaring +with the peculiar brightness of an autumn evening. Yet the darkness +would soon be sufficient to prevent any observation of the motions of +the enemy, unless they should make their appearance within the little +clearing that surrounded the cottage. There would yet be three hours +before the moon would rise; and during that time the very closest +observation would be necessary to detect the whereabouts of the savages, +except as their position should be manifested by an open attack.</p> + +<p>Ichabod and the Tuscarora now took a position upon the north side of the +apartment, while Ralph and Barton remained at the south side. Sambo was +stationed on the west, towards the cattle enclosure, while Guthrie was +directed to keep a look-out on the east or front of the house. This was +apparently the least dangerous point, as the land on this side was +partially cleared quite to the shore of the pond.</p> + +<p>But a few minutes had elapsed after this disposition of the forces of +the little garrison, before it was evident to the Tuscarora and Ichabod, +that a portion of the enemy had taken a position in the ravine. The +night was so still, that the slightest sound could be heard from that +distance, and the Tuscarora quietly called the attention of his +companion to a slight snapping of dry underbrush which had been trodden +upon by the foot of some careless Seneca; but, as if to deceive the +defenders of the cottage as to the point from which the main attack +would be made, suddenly, and as if by one impulse, the silence was +broken by the yells of the enemy from all directions, and a general +discharge of their guns at the building.</p> + +<p>"Yell and fire, you infernal reptiles," said Ichabod. "They must have +plenty of ammunition, to waste it in that style."</p> + +<p>"That done to cheat," said Eagle's-Wing.</p> + +<p>"Well, they've commenced the skrimmage, any way," said Ichabod, "and +now, let one of them miserable creturs get before this rifle of mine and +I'll settle an account with him."</p> + +<p>"We shall be over nice in our scruples," said Ralph, "if we hesitate any +longer to treat them as enemies. They have certainly committed an overt +act of war; and duty to ourselves will no longer allow us to remain +inactive."</p> + +<p>Since the first demonstration on the part of the Senecas, no other had +been made; and the silence without was as perfect and uninterrupted as +though no enemy surrounded them.</p> + +<p>It was obvious that the two most serious dangers to be encountered, were +past—an attempt on the part of the enemy to get under cover of the +walls of the cottage, where they would be in a great measure protected +from the rifles inside, and where they might find means to force the +doors; and, secondly, an attempt to set fire to the buildings.</p> + +<p>Any object of the size of a man could readily, notwithstanding the +darkness, be seen at the distance of four or five rods; and the garrison +were certain, thus far, that no enemy had approached within that +distance. Ichabod and the Tuscarora, as has been observed, were +stationed upon the north side of the apartment. The position which had +been chosen by the former, was near to the north-eastern angle, whence, +with a little trouble, he might also keep a look-out on the east. This +position had been chosen by him, owing to the distrust he entertained of +the fidelity of Guthrie; for there was nothing in the conduct of the +latter since his return to the cottage, that had been calculated to +dispel any suspicions which Ichabod had entertained of his real +character. He had taken little or no part in the plans of defence, and +had maintained a moody silence that had rarely been broken, except by +brief answers to such questions as were put to him.</p> + +<p>"I say, friend," said Ichabod, addressing Guthrie, "you keep a sharp +look-out over there, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I've been a woodsman all my life, I reckon," answered the latter, "and +I don't need any instructions on that point."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose you do, friend," said Ichabod, "and least of all from +me. I can't say as <i>I</i> have been a regular woodsman, although I've had a +little experience in the way of savages. A man who has spent a few years +fighting for his life, learns, after a while, to know when it's in +danger; but can you guess what that black lump may be, out yonder—right +ahead of your eyes?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if I can see straight, it's a stump, and nothing more."</p> + +<p>"I ain't much acquainted in these parts, friend, and it may be you've +got stumps here that wander round the lots at pleasure, but <i>I</i> +calculate that object ain't nothing but a venomous reptile," said +Ichabod, taking sight over his rifle upon the object which attracted his +attention. "Now, you see, if that's a stump, this bullet won't hurt it +much; but if it's an Injin, he'll signify it some way."</p> + +<p>The rifle of Ichabod was discharged; and the Seneca—for an Indian it +was—who, creeping to reach a cover under the walls—rose to his feet +with a leap, and then staggered and fell.</p> + +<p>Again was that wild yell renewed, but in a moment all was silent. +Guthrie ashamed, became angry, and turned with a fierce scowl on +Ichabod.</p> + +<p>"You havn't a very civil way to <i>strangers</i>, friend," said he, "and we +may find time to settle this business. You may bully Injins, but you +won't me."</p> + +<p>"I've just did my duty on that red varmint there," answered Ichabod +coolly; "and all I've got to say, friend, is, that we've got enemies +enough out-doors to attend to, without any civil war inside; but I ain't +particular."</p> + +<p>"Ichabod! Guthrie!" exclaimed Barton, "let there be no ill-blood between +you now; the mistake of Guthrie might easily have been made by any one, +however experienced."</p> + +<p>Guthrie turned again towards the loop-hole, muttering indistinctly. As +for Ichabod, he quietly reloaded his rifle saying:</p> + +<p>"That's right, Squire, I'm a man of peace, any way—except with them +infarnal Senecas. If I have any particular gift of which I can boast, it +is in another sort of speculation. Give it to 'em Eagle's-Wing!" said +he, as at this moment, he saw the Tuscarora about discharging his rifle. +At the discharge, the whole ravine seemed to pour out a tempest of +shrieks.</p> + +<p>"That Injin," said Eagle's-Wing, "won't fight any more—great pity lose +his scalp though."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the scalp, Eagle's-Wing," replied Ichabod, "if you fix the +owner, so that he won't have any more use for it; that's my doctrine."</p> + +<p>"That bad doctrine for Injin—good doctrine for pale-face p'raps."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the utmost watchfulness, on the part of the besieged, no +further demonstration was made by the Senecas, for nearly an hour; +until, at length, they began to hope that the contest might already be +terminated, and that the loss of three of their warriors, without having +been able to inflict any injury upon the garrison, had discouraged the +Indians. As time passed by, no further attack being made, even Ichabod +and the Tuscarora began to yield to the belief which Barton had +expressed, but they did not for a moment relax their watchfulness.</p> + +<p>Barton, Ralph and Ruth, had finally withdrawn from the loop-holes, while +Guthrie lounged moodily about.</p> + +<p>"I think," said Barton, "we shall have nothing more to apprehend +to-night. The savages have doubtless repented of their temerity in +attacking a place so well defended as this."</p> + +<p>"Heaven grant it may be so," replied Ruth. "We have had but little +experience, thus far, in the terrors of Indian warfare but as it is, it +is horrible."</p> + +<p>"I hope, with you, Miss Barton," said Ralph, "that the Indians have +abandoned the attack; and yet I know so well their treacherous mode of +warfare, that it would not be surprising to me, were the severest part +of our labor yet to come. Ichabod seems, by his actions, to have the +same opinion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Captin," answered Ichabod. "I <i>do</i> mistrust these infarnal +villians; and I shall mistrust 'em till day-light, sartin. You'll find +that they're plotting some deviltry which we shall know about before we +are many hours older."</p> + +<p>"It is strange," said Ruth, "that these savages should so resist all +attempts for their improvement; and that they should persist in their +cruel mode of warfare, after having received so much instruction from +Christian teachers."</p> + +<p>"I do not think it so very strange, perhaps," answered Ralph. "Their +habits—their modes of life, are the result of ages of barbarity, and +traditions communicated from father to son. No continuous effort has +ever been made to Christianize them; and it would be a miracle, were we +to find them now with Christian sentiments—adopting an entirely new +mode of life."</p> + +<p>"That's my opinion, Captin," said Ichabod. "That speculation has been a +failure, and it always will be a failure. You might as well talk of +civilizing wolves. Why, there's the Oneida nation, who have pretty much +all been to school, and sat under sermons month after month,—let them +hear the war-hoop, and they're as crazy as devils, and don't think of +anything but scalps. There's Eagle's-Wing, being just as good a +gentleman, for an Injin, as ever wore moccasins—I'll warrant you some +foolish missionary reckons <i>him</i> for a convarted Injin; and yet," said +he, with a whisper, "you'll find that infernal Seneca's scalp somewhere +about him now. Don't talk to me of convarting Injins. I don't think they +were ever intended to be convarted."</p> + +<p>"You remember the divine injunction to the apostles, Ichabod?" asked +Ruth; "that they were to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to +every creature?"</p> + +<p>"Lord love you, girl!" answered Ichabod, "you don't suppose that meant +to come over to America among these tomahawking savages! You see, in the +first place, it would have been something of a job for one of them +apostles to have got here; and in the second place, he'd wished himself +away again, in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"I agree with Miss Barton," said Ralph, "that there is no reason why +these savages might not learn to cherish Christian principles. The +efforts of the Jesuits show that something can be done to civilize them; +and the labors of Elliot among the New England Indians prove that they +<i>can</i> be Christianized."</p> + +<p>"I reckon there's two sides to that question," answered Ichabod, "I've +heard that those Injins were more troublesome than them that didn't have +any preaching. Their religion all stopped with drinking Christianized +rum. No, Captin, you can't give me any faith in that expectation, any +way."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid Mr. Jenkins," said Ruth, "that the same reasons you urge +against the conversion and improvement of the Indians, would apply as +well to all mankind generally as to them. There are but few, of all who +listen to the Scriptures, who act upon their precepts. They hear, as you +say the Indians do, and at once forget, in their worldly intercourse, +that there is such a book as the Bible."</p> + +<p>"Well. I can't dispute that p'int," replied Ichabod. "In these new +settlements, where men have so much to do, they ar'nt so much to blame, +if they can't understand what the preachers in the city are quarreling +about. I've lived a long while in the woods, and about the new +settlement, Miss Ruth, and havn't had much time to settle doctrinal +controvarsies; but I've got a faith of my own, which wouldn't, perhaps, +answer for you; and yet I'm willing to live by it, and die by it."</p> + +<p>"Of how many articles does your faith consist?" asked Ralph, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Well, Captin, that may be as you've a mind to classify the different +p'ints. I don't coincide quite, in my views of future life, with old +Michael Wigglesworth, who had no marcy for anybody but his own sect—not +for infants even. You recollect the varses on infants, Captin, where he +says that although in bliss—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"They may not hope to dwell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Still unto them he will allow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The easiest room in hell."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>No, Captin, a man cannot live in the forests, and look continually at +the works of God, and forget that He exists; and I reckon that a man who +always bears Him in mind, whether he be felling the trees, planting the +ground, turning his hand in an honest speculation, or shooting a Seneca, +will have marcy shown to him eventually. That's my doctrine."</p> + +<p>"It is a creed that has the merit of being short, if not orthodox," said +Ralph. "But I must acknowledge, that while I have not paid the attention +to religious matters that I ought to have done, and have been too +forgetful of claims that have been imposed upon all men, yet, from all +my doubts, I have ever returned to the Bible as the only sure anchor of +faith. Its opening revelations are corroborated in the history or +tradition of all nations; its divine teachings, interpreted according to +the simple understanding of one's own heart, accord with our +reason—satisfy our hopes—alleviate our sorrows—cheer us in death. The +uninstructed feelings of the heart, in this matter, are a purer, more +excellent wisdom, than all the pride of intellect."</p> + +<p>"Well, Captin," said Ichabod, "I never dispute on creeds—so you are +welcome to yours: but on <i>facts</i>, I've got a right to express my +opinion. Now, as for them opening chapters being corroborated by the +history of all nations—that's a question of fact, which I'm willing to +leave to Eagle's-Wing, whose nation, according to their traditions, is +older than I'd like to vouch for. Now, he'll tell you that the first +thing that was made was a tortoise and that the earth was then made and +placed upon its back. I say, Eagle's-Wing——Thunder and lightning!" +exclaimed he, springing towards the stairway.</p> + +<p>The fact was, that Ichabod had been so much engaged in this +conversation, relying upon the prudence and watchfulness of the +Tuscarora, that he had given up all his attention to it. But upon making +his appeal to the Tuscarora, he had turned towards the position lately +occupied by him when he discovered that both he and Guthrie were +missing.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he sprung towards the stairway, ere there rang through the +cottage a shriek of agony, immediately followed by the sound of a heavy +body falling upon the floor, in the room below. This was succeeded by a +tempest of shrieks, which apparently came from the whole body of the +enemy, who were now close under the cover of the building, in front of +the south door.</p> + +<p>Ichabod was followed by Barton and Ralph, down the stairway. As they +came towards the door, they beheld the Tuscarora standing silently +beside it, while at his feet lay a black mass, indistinct in the +darkness, which they took to be the body of Guthrie.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of this, Eagle's-Wing?" demanded Barton.</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora quietly pointed towards the door, the bar of which was +partially raised. "He traitor; got bad heart; meant to open door and let +Seneca come in. Can't do it <i>now</i>, if he try ever so much."</p> + +<p>"Eagle's-Wing," said Barton, with emotion, "you have saved our lives +to-night. We owe you a double debt of gratitude."</p> + +<p>"I suspected that fellow from the beginning," said Ichabod, "and +Eagle's-Wing and I agreed to watch him; but you're a better warrior than +I, old friend; you don't suffer yourself to be divarted by doctrinal +p'ints."</p> + +<p>It was now evident that some important movement was taking place out of +doors. Scarcely had Ichabod ceased speaking, ere the door received a +violent blow, as from a log thrown against it with great force.</p> + +<p>"We can't stand that thumping," said Ichabod. "We've been on the defence +agin them red devils long enough. Let's open the door and give 'em +fight."</p> + +<p>After some deliberation, this course was resolved upon. The party within +doors were to range themselves in front of the door, where they would +not at once be discovered in the darkness, by those outside; and as the +log was next thrown, and while the Indians would probably be unprepared +for this sudden attack, the door was to be suddenly thrown open, when +the whole party would deliver their fire. In the surprise, they might as +suddenly close it, should it be deemed necessary. This attack, from its +very boldness and seeming temerity, would be likely to succeed.</p> + +<p>Scarcely was the resolution formed and the party arranged ere the door +received another shock, and was immediately thrown wide open by Barton. +There were gathered before it ten or twelve Indians, four of whom held +in their hands a log of five or six inches in thickness and about twelve +feet in length, with which they were endeavoring to force the door. +Immediately the five rifles inside were discharged, and two of the +Indians fell. The remainder, surprised at this sudden attack, for a +moment seemed paralysed. The Tuscarora, no longer to be restrained, but +impelled not only by his Indian instincts, but by his hatred of the +Senecas, leaped from the door, with his knife in his hand, upon one of +the prostrate Indians.</p> + +<p>At this sudden appearance of the Tuscarora, the Senecas filled the air +with shrieks, and rushed towards him. But ere they had reached him, he +rose erect with the scalp of the Seneca in his hand, and waving it over +his head, uttered his defiance with a ferocious scream. Ichabod and +Ralph, in a moment, were by his side; and now commenced a hand-to-hand +combat, most desperate, indeed, on the part of the besieged. Barton and +the negro, who had again loaded their rifles, once more discharged them +upon the Senecas, and then sprang to the assistance of their friends. +Another Indian had fallen, so that now there was no such fearful +disparity of odds as when the strife commenced. Had it not been for the +impulse of the Tuscarora, the <i>ruse</i> of Ichabod would have been +completely successful; but Ralph, although engaged warmly in the melee, +saw the unfortunate position in which they were now placed. There were +at least a dozen more of the Senecas about the cottage, who would be +immediately attracted hither by the noise of the conflict, while the +cottage was now entirely undefended, and Ruth exposed to the hostility +of any savage who might take advantage of the conflict to force his way +into the building.</p> + +<p>"To the door!" cried he; "retreat towards the door at once."</p> + +<p>The darkness added to the terror and difficulty of the conflict. Ichabod +found himself, at first, engaged with Snake-tongue; but a blow from the +butt-end of his rifle ended the unequal conflict, and the Seneca lay +disabled. "Take that, you infarnal slanderer," he cried, as he dealt the +blow. "Learn to use your cussed snake's tongue with more moderation, +when speaking of respectable females." But Deersfoot now rushed upon +him, and a strife commenced, more equal; both strong and powerful in +frame, they were well matched. Ichabod caught the first blow of the +tomahawk upon his rifle, and then, ere the Indian could use his knife, +his long, muscular arms were about him. For a moment they wavered, as in +an equal struggle, when both fell to the ground. At the same moment, a +number more of the enemy came leaping to join the conflict.</p> + +<p>"To the door, for your lives!" shouted Ralph. The contest was now +desperate; and slowly retreating, they reached the door, the Tuscarora, +being last to cross the threshold. The Indians followed, leaping into +the doorway; but the Tuscarora, with the sweep of his rifle, for a +moment drove them backwards, then springing within, the door was closed.</p> + +<p>None of the party had escaped without injury; and it was not until the +door was closed, and the air rang with triumphant yells from the +Senecas, that it was discovered that Ichabod was missing. The first +impulse was again to open the door, and rescue him, at any odds; but a +moment's reflection taught Ralph, that such a course, now that the +Senecas were reinforced, would only put their own lives in the utmost +jeopardy, without their being able to assist their friend.</p> + +<p>"No good for <i>you</i> to open door," said Eagle's-Wing, "I go and save +friend."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Eagle's-Wing," exclaimed Barton, "you cannot save him now; and +you will only lose your own life, and peril ours. They will not take +<i>his</i> scalp, but they will <i>yours</i>."</p> + +<p>"That true—won't kill him to-night, any way. He great warrior—they +like to torture great warriors. We save him to-morrow, some way."</p> + +<p>It was with a feeling of sorrow that Ralph acknowledged their inability +to do anything for the rescue of Ichabod. Willingly would he have risked +his own life; but there was Ruth—who together with the others, might be +sacrificed by the imprudent attempt. With a feeling of deep grief, he +was obliged to leave him to his fate.</p> + +<p>It was now discovered, too, that Guthrie was gone. Could it be that his +body had been removed by a Seneca during the conflict? It was not +possible; and it was evident, that while in the darkness, he was +supposed to have been slain by the Tuscarora, he had counterfeited +death, hoping to find some means of escape. With beating hearts, Ralph +and Barton proceeded up the stairway. They reached the apartment which +they had so recently left: but it was empty. From the window, near which +Guthrie had stood, the fastening had been removed from the frame work of +bars, and it was certain that through this window Guthrie had escaped, +and had carried with him the unfortunate Ruth.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"'Tis vain to sigh! the wheel must on;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And straws are to the whirlpool drawn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">With ships of gallant mien."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 18em;">FRENEAU</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>No sooner had Barton realized his loss, than he gave himself up to the +bitterest feelings of despair. This interim was succeeded by a burning +thirst for revenge. "Come, Ralph!—Come, Eagle's-Wing! let us pursue +them—let us destroy them! Oh, my God! thus in my old age to suffer this +heavy blow!" and, excited to madness, he fled down the stairway, +followed by Ralph and the Tuscarora. Before they could overtake him, he +had unbarred the door, and crossed the threshold but no enemy was there.</p> + +<p>Ralph, himself overwhelmed with grief, endeavored to console the old +man; but there was no balm for such a wound, and he fell fainting into +the arms of Ralph.</p> + +<p>Ralph, although overborne by grief, possessed a firmness of mind that +sought a remedy for affliction, where a remedy was attainable, instead +of tamely yielding. Anxiously he and the Tuscarora counseled together +upon the course to be pursued. Whether Ruth had been taken prisoner +either by Guthrie or the Indians, the result would be the same—she +would be a captive among the Senecas. They did not believe any attempt +would be made upon her life; but they did fear that the Indians, who +had, for the present at least, abandoned their attack upon the cottage, +satisfied with the prisoners they had taken, might at once attempt a +march to the country of the Senecas, and thus hold their prisoners in a +long and tedious captivity. It was, then, with much anxiety that they +consulted together upon the course now to be adopted. But we will leave +them for the present, to follow the fortunes of Ichabod.</p> + +<p>After he had been deserted, unintentionally, by his companions, the +strife between him and Deersfoot was no longer equal. Scarcely had the +Senecas been foiled in their attempt to follow their intended victims +into the cottage, ere Ichabod was seized, and his arms securely +pinioned. The Senecas manifested their joy by the most ferocious yells, +when they discovered that they had in their possession an enemy so +formidable.</p> + +<p>"Yell, you red devils!" exclaimed Ichabod: "Ten to one ain't worth +crowing about. But I'll tell you what—give me that rifle of mine, and +I'll tackle any five of you, any way. But I never did know a Seneca that +had a particle of the gentleman about him."</p> + +<p>The Indians did not deign any reply to this proposition, but at once +made preparations to remove their prisoner. Four of the Senecas were +placed as a guard about him, and the march was begun towards their +encampment. The remainder of the party bore the dead bodies of their +companions, who had been killed in the affray: but Ichabod noticed that +there were only fifteen in this party, and consequently there must be +eight or ten more either about the cottage, or else already on the march +towards their camp.</p> + +<p>The route pursued by the Senecas, was that which we have already +described as the one traveled by Ralph and Miss Barton on a former +occasion, until they passed the shanty, when they struck off towards the +left, in the direction of the river.</p> + +<p>The encampment, or temporary village of the Senecas, was located in the +widest portion of the flats we have before noticed, and at a distance of +about ten or fifteen rods from the river, which at this point flowed for +nearly a hundred rods in a north and south line. But before reaching +this point, the course of the stream was extremely serpentine, making +several long windings through the valley.</p> + +<p>The encampment was in a clearing of an acre or two in extent; which had +evidently been cleared many years before; for the ground was covered +with a rich green-sward, while three or four old stumps, scattered about +the field, denoted that years had elapsed since it had been rescued from +the dominion of the forest. It was in an oval form, and entirely +surrounded by wilderness. In the midst of this field or clearing, there +had been erected five or six temporary huts, by the use of some small +saplings and boughs, sufficient to answer for a protection from the sun, +as well as from the rains. These huts were arranged in a circle, and in +the centre was one smaller than the others; and from the fact, that it +was more neatly as well as securely constructed, Ichabod <i>guessed</i> that +it must be occupied by Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>The party accompanying Ichabod, had reached the clearing soon after +sunrise, when he was led to one of the outer huts, where, after his +captors had securely fastened his feet, he was left upon a bed of leaves +and boughs to digest his thoughts as he was best able under the +circumstances. He had not remained a long time in this condition, before +he heard the noise of the arrival of another party; and he readily +imagined, from the joy with which they were received, that they, also, +had brought with them a captive from the cottage. Who this could be, he +could not conjecture; and this fact rendered his position still more +uneasy. He had already devised half-a-dozen plans, through some of +which, he calculated upon his escape, together with the rescue of +Singing-Bird. But if the new captive should happen to be the Tuscarora, +then the desire for vengeance, on the part of the Senecas, might +forestall his plans, before they could be put in operation. He did not +believe that the Indians intended <i>him</i> any bodily injury; for although +he knew their crafty and murderous natures, he did not think they would +dare, in the present condition of the Colonies, to violate a peace, +which would be likely to draw upon them the vengeance of the whites. +Uneasy at the conjecture that Eagle's-Wing might be the new captive, and +pained by the tightness of the withes which had been bound about his +feet and hands, he made a desperate effort to free himself from them. +While engaged in this effort, a shadow darkened the doorway of the hut, +and Panther and Snake-tongue stood before him. They had evidently +detected the effort of Ichabod; but no expression upon their +countenances denoted the fact.</p> + +<p>The two chiefs approached the bed occupied by Ichabod, and surveyed +their captive silently for a few moments; when Panther, directing his +conversation to Snake-tongue, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"This is the warrior of whom we have heard. He is a great warrior; he +has killed many Senecas; his eye is sharp on the war-path; his rifle is +sure. Our old men and squaws have heard of him beyond the lakes. It is +pleasant to have him in our hands."</p> + +<p>"His arm is strong; Snake-tongue knows it," said Snake-tongue, who still +retained a vivid impression of the blow which he had received from +Ichabod in the recent encounter at the cottage. "The young men of the +Senecas are no match for him; if the Great Spirit had given him a red +skin, we should have been proud of him. But he is a pale-face, and it is +good to have him bound in our huts. He cannot hurt the young warriors of +the Senecas any more."</p> + +<p>Ichabod had remained perfectly quiet during this by-conversation, +although a smile for a moment lit up his countenance, at the compliments +which the chiefs had bestowed upon his prowess. When they had concluded +he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I give you all the thanks for them compliments that you desarve. But +you <i>are</i> right about it. I <i>have</i> killed some of your warriors in my +day, you may depend on it: and I reckon that this is the first time that +any of your breed was quite so familiar with me. But I want to know, if +it's considered gentlemanly, among the Senecas, to tie a fellow's legs +so cussed tight?"</p> + +<p>"The pale-face is a great warrior," said Panther: "he is cunning as a +fox. The Senecas are poor and ignorant; they do not know as much as the +pale-faces; but they know how to tie a warrior's feet so that he cannot +run. They would be ashamed if they did not know how; and my brother +would be ashamed of us too."</p> + +<p>"I don't ask any kind of marcy of you, Panther," said Ichabod, "I know +better than that. You've got me here, and I s'pose you'll do pretty much +as you've a mind to; and when you want to begin with your deviltries, +just speak, and I'm ready."</p> + +<p>"My brother is not a squaw," said Panther, "if he was a squaw, and not a +great warrior, we should unbind him, and let him wander round our tents; +but the Senecas know how to honor their enemies, who are brave. But the +Senecas do not hate the pale-faces; they have buried the hatchet with +them, and we will not dig it up. We will let our brother go back to the +pale-faces, if he wishes."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I call that pretty clever, considerin'; I shall begin to +think you <i>are</i> gentlemen, after all," answered Ichabod, who saw the +drift of the discourse. "I'm ready to start any time you'll take these +things off my hands and feet."</p> + +<p>"My brother is ready to go," said Panther. "It is good. He does not like +the lodges of the Senecas; he likes his own people better. It is not +well for a pale-face to dwell in the lodges of the red men; and it is +not good for red men to dwell in the lodges of the pale-faces. They are +different: the Great Spirit has made them different—and it is well. The +pale-faces have killed five of our young men; but we will not do them +any harm. We will not dig up the hatchet against them. Our young men are +not painted for the war-path; they have not struck the war-post of their +nation."</p> + +<p>"For a civil people, who havn't dug up the hatchet, and who don't intend +to, against the pale-faces, you made a suspicious demonstration on the +cottage last night. I don't know but that is the <i>genuine</i> Seneca way of +being civil and peaceable."</p> + +<p>"The pale-faces killed five of our young men; but they did it in +defense," said Panther. "They did not want to do it; but Canendesha has +killed two of our young men; he did it because he hated them. He is a +great warrior, too, and we want him in your place."</p> + +<p>"Providing I go back to the cottage," replied Ichabod, "I'll tell him +what you want; but I won't promise that he'll be here at any <i>precise</i> +time. I couldn't do that."</p> + +<p>"My brother has not got a forked tongue; he will do what he says; but +that is not enough. Four of my young men will go with my brother, and he +will deliver Canendesha to them."</p> + +<p>"You mean, I reckon, that I shall take Eagle's-Wing and put these thongs +round his limbs, and pass him over to you as a prisoner?" asked Ichabod, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"My brother is wise. He knows what I mean: he can do it and be free."</p> + +<p>Ichabod was about to give way to a burst of indignation at this +treacherous proposal; but he saw that by so doing he should defeat his +own ends. He had also learned, to his great satisfaction, that the +Tuscarora had not been captured. It was with great difficulty that he +could conceal his joy from the inquisitorial eyes of the Senecas; but at +length, with an appearance of hesitancy, he answered.</p> + +<p>"I can't say, now, whether I will do as you wish or not. I want little +time to think about it. Speculating in flesh and blood, in that way, and +with a friend, too, is a kind of business I never yet undertook; but I +suppose one may get used to it. A little practice will blunt the +feelings, until one can come to bartering off friends—aye, one's own +flesh and blood, too." Then, as if suddenly remembering the declaration +of Snake-tongue, that Singing-Bird was reconciled to her captivity, he +added, "you see, if the Tuscarora knew that Singing-Bird had forgot him, +and had chosen the young chief of the Senecas for her husband, I +calculate he wouldn't care much whether he was here or there. Now if +that's true, I <i>rather</i> reckon, I'll do as you want me to, though I look +upon it as a rascally mean trick towards a friend."</p> + +<p>"It is true, what my brother has heard," said Panther: "Singing-Bird +will sing in the wigwam of Panther."</p> + +<p>"Now, I don't mean any disparagement to the Senecas, and you in +particular," said Ichabod; "I am beginning to think that you may be +gentlemen, after all; but <i>that</i> is a matter I can't take anybody's word +for. I want to <i>know</i> that it is true."</p> + +<p>"My brother shall hear with his own ears," said Panther. "He shall +<i>know</i> that the words of Panther are true; he shall see Singing-Bird, +and ask her if Panther has lied."</p> + +<p>This was just what Ichabod had desired. If he had made the proposition +himself, it was doubtful whether some ulterior purpose would not have +been suspected; but his seeming willingness to comply with the wishes of +Panther, had led the Seneca to suggest this as the surest mode of +dispelling his doubts.</p> + +<p>"My brother shall see Singing-Bird alone," said Panther, "we have not +got forked tongues, or we would not let him do so."</p> + +<p>The two Indians departed. Their willingness to allow this interview was, +for a moment, almost sufficient to induce Ichabod to believe that +Singing-Bird had become faithless to the Tuscarora. But he knew enough +of Indian character to know that Singing-Bird might have adopted this +line of conduct as the best mode of effecting her escape. With this +belief, he silently awaited the interview, determined not to believe +otherwise unless he received positive proof from Singing-Bird herself. +Scarcely five minutes had elapsed after the departure of the Seneca, +before a shadow again darkened the doorway of the hut, and the young +squaw stood before him.</p> + +<p>Singing-Bird—for she it was—was apparently not more than +two-and-twenty years of age. She was of small, light stature, yet with a +full and healthy development of body. Her features, although they +possessed the distinctive Indian cast, were moulded into a beauty +admirable to behold. Her complexion was a softening of the tawny-red of +the warriors into a delicate tint, while her large, dark eyes were full +of a gentle expression, that might, if need be, be exchanged for a wild +and passionate fire. Her long, dark, glossy hair flowed in graceful +waves down her neck, and were gathered in rich folds over her brow. Her +costume was that of a young Indian female of the period, beautifully and +tastefully decorated with ornaments of beads and flowers. As Ichabod +first beheld her, the prevailing expression of her countenance was that +of a gentle sorrow.</p> + +<p>Ichabod was surprised. He had never beheld the wife of Eagle's-Wing, and +never before had he beheld a female figure the beauty of which so much +surprised and delighted him. He gazed at her with a pleasure he could +not conceal, and then, while a melancholy smile passed over her +countenance, he said—</p> + +<p>"You have heard of me from Eagle's-Wing, perhaps, as an old friend? He +and I have known each other as tried friends, in times gone by."</p> + +<p>"I have heard of a pale-face," replied Singing-Bird, in a low, silvery +voice, "who, on the war-path, saved the life of Eagle's-Wing, when he +was in the hands of his enemies. I have heard it from Eagle's-Wing."</p> + +<p>"That's a circumstance not worth mentioning; but Eagle's-Wing and I +<i>are</i> friends. He knows he can always rely on me, in any sort of a +speculation. But I'm in rather a bad fix here; yet we can always find +some way of doing our duty by a friend, if we try. But Eagle's-Wing is +free, and isn't far from here—you may depend on that."</p> + +<p>Perhaps the slightest trace of an expression of joy passed over her +countenance for a moment; but it was instantly subdued. With her eyes +fixed upon the ground, she slowly said—</p> + +<p>"I loved <i>once</i> to look upon Canendesha—but he has passed from my +eyes."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Ichabod with a start that fairly made the withes snap +that were fastened upon his limbs.</p> + +<p>A momentary look of agony clouded the face of Singing-Bird. She seemed +endeavoring to speak, yet had not the power to command her organs of +speech.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell Eagle's-Wing this?" exclaimed Ichabod, with indignation. +"Shall I tell him to go back to the villages of his nation, and forget +his squaw? Or shall I tell him to come and deliver himself up to his +enemies?"</p> + +<p>With an effort that seemed almost to destroy her, but which was lost +upon Ichabod, as he had given himself up to the mastery of his +indignation—she softly answered—</p> + +<p>"I have said. Let the pale-face speak my words to his friend."</p> + +<p>It was not merely astonishment—it was shame, uncontrollable disgust, +towards the fair being who stood before him, that, for a moment, kept +Ichabod silent. When at last he found words to communicate his thoughts, +he exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have believed it, if all the Senecas this side of the +infarnal regions had told me! Such a beauty! Such a heart. I'll abandon +the settlements: I'll thank God, night and day, that I've no wife! Poor +Eagle's-Wing! Go and die. No; I know the heart of Eagle's-Wing. He won't +die for a squaw. He'll wince a little, at first: but he'll have the +scalps off the heads of the whole tribe of Senecas." Then, as if +concentrating all his indignation into one breath, he glanced at +Singing-Bird with a look of abhorrence, and exclaimed—"Go, you painted +lie!" and threw himself over on his bed, so as to avert his gaze from +her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Singing-Bird stood with her eyes riveted upon the ground, and +her countenance as calm and impassable as chiseled stone. A look of +agony had impressed it for a moment, but that had fled. Not a +gesture—not a breath, denoted that she felt the indignant speech of +Ichabod. At its close, however, her ear detected a slight rustling among +the leaves, near the door of the hut, and Panther glided from among the +boughs, and crept towards an adjoining lodge.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had she seen the retreat of the Seneca chief, than the whole +expression of her countenance changed—her figure became erect—a fire +gleamed in her eyes—a look of intense hatred clouded her countenance. +Then, springing towards the bed of Ichabod, she exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> a lie. Look at me, friend of Eagle's-Wing. It <i>is</i> a lie: the +heart of Singing-Bird is with her husband. She thinks only of him. Tell +Eagle's-Wing so. Tell him I shall soon fly from the Senecas."</p> + +<p>Ichabod gazed on her now with admiration. Such consummate <i>acting</i>, +though he thought himself skilled in Indian ways, he had never seen +before. He had seen warriors die bravely, and, unmoved in the hour of +peril, exasperate their enemies by words of reproach and shame: he had +seen the Indian smile as the scalping-knife tore from his brow the lock +of honor; but never did he imagine that one so young, so beautiful, so +loving, could give to her countenance a look so false, with a heart so +true.</p> + +<p>"God bless thee, girl!" exclaimed he. "Give me a woman, after all, for +stratagem. I don't know <i>when</i> I shall see Eagle's-Wing, but when I do, +I'll tell him if he don't snatch you from these red devils, he ought to +be scalped by Panther himself. Who would have believed it?"</p> + +<p>"Eagle's-Wing's friend don't hate Singing-Bird now?"</p> + +<p>"Hate you? Lord love you, girl! Give me your hand——- Pshaw! I haven't +got a hand to give you: but after this, girl, I'll always believe you, +and will find some means to get you out of this scrape. When are these +Indians going to leave here?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know," said Singing-Bird. "They want to get Eagle's-Wing, first."</p> + +<p>"It will be a long while, I reckon, before that happens. But I say," +asked he, just thinking of the other captive who had been brought in +that morning, "what other prisoner have they got here?"</p> + +<p>"They brought in a pale-face girl. King George's man got her from +cottage. She stays in hut with me."</p> + +<p>"Ruth Barton, by all the devils!" exclaimed Ichabod. "Who do you say +captured her?"</p> + +<p>"King George's man: Guthrie, they call him."</p> + +<p>Here was a new cause of wonderment. Guthrie was believed by Ichabod to +have been killed by the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"But I see into it, the white-livered villain. He'll get his pay for +this. I say, Singing-Bird, I shall refuse to go on that rascally +business for these Senecas. I suppose they'll be terribly mad about it, +but I can't help it. Now, you see, you keep up this sham affair between +you and Panther, and you can find some means to give me a hint of what's +going on: and, I say, if you can, just bring me a knife. It gives a man +a world of confidence, sometimes, to have a friend of that sort. +Eagle's-Wing and the Captin won't be idle, and we shall hear something +from 'em before long; and, till then——"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a gesture from Singing Bird, who immediately +assumed the appearance she had worn while Panther had been in hearing of +the conversation. At almost the same moment, Panther and Snake-tongue +entered the hut; and, at a gesture from the former, she silently +departed.</p> + +<p>Ichabod had endeavored to assume the appearance of indignation which his +countenance had worn during the early part of his conversation with +Singing-Bird, and with some degree of success.</p> + +<p>"My brother has heard the Singing-Bird of the Tuscaroras," said Panther; +"he has learnt that the Senecas have not got forked tongues."</p> + +<p>"I must confess," answered Ichabod, "that I'm ashamed of that girl. I +wouldn't have believed it from anybody else, although I'm beginning to +have great respect for the word of a Seneca. I wouldn't have believed +it, if she hadn't told me so."</p> + +<p>"My brother has heard the song he wished to hear," said Panther, +allowing a look of triumph to pass over his countenance. "It is pleasing +to my brother. He will now go with my young men, and be free."</p> + +<p>"I've no kind of objection to being free, in an honest sort of way," +answered Ichabod; "but about that business you mentioned, I've been +thinking that I've lived pretty nigh fifty years, and I never yet +deceived a friend—nor an enemy either, except in a lawful manner—and I +guess I won't begin now."</p> + +<p>"What does my brother mean?" asked Panther, giving way to anger. "Does +he mean to eat his own words? Does my brother mean to lie?"</p> + +<p>"Lie!" exclaimed Ichabod. "You can use that word in perfect safety, +while you are there and I am here: but you give me a fair chance, and +I'd endeavor to teach you better manners. But the plain English of the +thing is—I shan't go on that rascally errand, any way."</p> + +<p>"My brother is a great warrior," said Panther. "He is cunning as a fox. +He knows it well; but if my brother refuses to go, we will try and see +how brave he is."</p> + +<p>"If that means tortur' or anything of that sort," said Ichabod, quietly, +"all I've got to say is, bring it on. I don't know whether I can stand +all of your villainous inventions or not, and I ra'ally don't want to +know; but if that is <i>your</i> mind, I'll acquiesce, of course, seeing I +can't help it."</p> + +<p>"We leave our brother to his thoughts," said Panther. "He is brave, and +will think it over, and be braver by-and-bye. We will let our brother +know when we are ready."</p> + +<p>So saying, the two Indians left the hut; and Ichabod, with a mind +somewhat ill at ease, at the prospect before him, endeavored to follow +the advice of the Senecas—although given by them for a contrary +object—and gain strength of purpose by reflection.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"No tear relieved the burden of her heart;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stunned with the heavy woe, she felt like one</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Half-wakened from a midnight dream of blood."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">SOUTHEY.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>We shall be compelled to return upon the course of our narrative, for +the purpose of giving a relation of the manner in which Ruth had fallen +into the hands of the savages. Guthrie, who was supposed by Eagle's-Wing +to have been slain, was really but little injured. The Tuscarora had +followed him down the stairway unnoticed, and guided more by sound than +by sight, in the darkness of the room below, he glided after the Tory +until the latter had reached the door. He heard the attempt to remove +the bar which secured it, when, with a silent but rapid blow of his +tomahawk, he had, as he supposed, cloven the head of Guthrie to the +brain; but owing to the darkness, in which the form of the latter could +with difficulty be distinguished, the blow fell upon his left shoulder. +The pain as well as the surprise of Guthrie, had caused him to give the +shriek which attracted the attention of those above, and which was +followed by his fall upon the floor. As no further attack was made upon +him by the Tuscarora, he rightly concluded that Eagle's-Wing thought the +blow already given to have been fatal. With this impression he remained +motionless, until the ill-advised <i>sortie</i> of the defenders of the +cottage offered him the opportunity to escape, when he sprung to his +feet, and although suffering severely from his wound, rushed up the +stairway with the intention of leaping from the window—a distance of +ten or twelve feet, to the ground. But as he reached the upper floor, he +saw Ruth, who had fallen upon her knees in the act of prayer for the +assistance of Heaven towards the brave but few defenders of the cottage. +Instantly, Guthrie planned a scheme of vengeance, which was at once +carried into effect. Advancing rapidly towards Ruth he said:</p> + +<p>"Come, Miss Ruth; the Indians will take the cottage; and your father has +directed me to take charge of you and lead you to a place selected by +him and his companions for a <i>rendezvous</i>. There is no time for thought: +come instantly."</p> + +<p>Ruth arose, astonished by this sudden intelligence.</p> + +<p>"My father," she exclaimed, "is he safe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Guthrie, "they are all safe; but they have been compelled +to retreat towards the forest. Come instantly, or you are lost."</p> + +<p>Deceived by the earnestness of Guthrie, Ruth immediately followed him to +the window. In a moment a small ladder which had been constructed for +exit by the windows, in any emergency similar to the present, was let +down upon the ground, and Ruth descended, followed by Guthrie. Taking +her by the hand, and partly leading and partly carrying her, they +proceeded rapidly towards the south-east into the forest. When they +arrived at the base of the hill, near the shore of the pond, instead of +meeting her father and his companions, she found herself in the midst of +a small party of Senecas. She saw at once that she was betrayed, and +shrieked for help.</p> + +<p>"None of that, Miss Ruth," cried Guthrie, roughly; "it won't do you any +good. Them Colony men at the cottage, have got as much as they can do, +just now, to save their own scalps."</p> + +<p>"Wretch—villain!" cried Ruth, and she fell fainting upon the ground.</p> + +<p>By this time, it was apparent that the contest at the cottage had +terminated; and a rough frame-work of light saplings and boughs was +constructed, upon which Ruth was placed, and conveyed in the direction +of the temporary lodges of the Senecas. Before arriving there, she had +recovered from her swoon, when she realized the dangerous situation in +which she was placed. Arming herself with the fortitude which was not +uncommon among the women of the period, she commended herself to the +protection of that Divine Being, upon whom she was wont to rely for aid +and consolation.</p> + +<p>When they reached the huts of the Senecas, and the Indians ascertained +who was their prisoner, their exultation was announced in the shouts of +triumph which Ichabod had heard. Ruth, however, without suffering any +rudeness or ill-usage such as might have been expected, perhaps, in the +present excited state of mind of the savages, was conveyed, by the +direction of Panther, to the lodge occupied by Singing-Bird. She was not +bound or confined in any manner, the savages relying upon their +watchfulness to prevent her escape; and also upon the apparent fidelity +of Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>When Ruth saw the entire absence of restraint in which Singing-Bird +lived, and her apparent friendliness towards the savages, her mind +recurred to the imaginative picture she had formerly drawn of the young +squaw, separated by force from a husband she loved, and restrained by +captivity, among enemies who were thirsting for his blood, she could not +reconcile the present conduct of Singing-Bird with her own ideas of what +should have been her conduct; and she felt a degree of disgust towards +the young Indian beauty, who could so soon forget a husband so worthy of +her affection as the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"Can this be Singing-Bird, of whom I have heard so much?" asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Who heard it from?" inquired Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>"I heard it at the cottage, of a Tuscarora chief who had lost his squaw +by the treachery of the Senecas, and who were now seeking his life."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Eagle's-Wing kill Seneca—and Panther must have Eagle's-Wing's +scalp. Bad for Eagle's-Wing to kill Seneca."</p> + +<p>"Can it be possible?" asked Ruth, "—no, it cannot be—that you are the +Singing-Bird of whom I have heard."</p> + +<p>The young Indian placed her hands upon her breast, as struggling with a +violent emotion, and then looked at Ruth with an expression of entreaty +which was not lost upon her.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" faintly whispered Singing-Bird, "Seneca comes."</p> + +<p>Ruth saw at once that Singing-Bird was acting a part, and appreciated +that she did so from a feeling of necessity for the safety of herself, +and perhaps of her husband. Scarcely had Ruth caught the whisper, ere +the Indians who had stood by the door of the lodge departed, when +Singing-Bird advanced towards Ruth, and said—</p> + +<p>"Pale-face girl does not know Singing-Bird. She loves Eagle's-Wing. +Hates Panther ever so much. <i>Do</i> tell me 'bout Eagle's-Wing."</p> + +<p>Ruth related what she knew of the Tuscarora, and of the attack upon the +cottage. Singing-Bird listened intently; and when Ruth had concluded, +she placed her arm gently about her neck, and said—</p> + +<p>"We sisters now; but look out for Seneca. They think me friend; but I +want Eagle's-Wing to get all their scalp."</p> + +<p>She then informed Ruth that another party of the Senecas had also +brought in a prisoner, and from the description which she gave of the +appearance of the captive, Ruth concluded that the unfortunate prisoner +could be none other than Ichabod. She conjectured, also, that the +Senecas had made no other prisoners, and that her father, together with +Ralph and the Tuscarora, still remained in possession of the cottage. +This fact at once gave relief to her mind; and she regained a serenity +and composure which she had not before been able to feel since her +capture.</p> + +<p>"What are these Indians going to do with us?" asked she of Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>"Don't know what they do want with pale-face girl. P'raps want to trade +for Eagle's-Wing. But Panther wants <i>me</i> for his squaw—wants me to go +beyond the lakes, in the Seneca country, to live in his wigwam. Won't do +it, though; I kill myself first."</p> + +<p>"I never shall consent to be exchanged for Eagle's-Wing," said Ruth. "I +shall rely upon some other means of deliverance."</p> + +<p>Singing-Bird thanked her by a grateful smile. "O, I <i>do</i> want to get +away," replied she. "Oneida and Tuscarora warriors come pretty soon, I +hope. When they come, then I get away; p'raps before, if Eagle's-Wing +know how. He great warrior."</p> + +<p>"I have friends, too, who will assist; and I hope they will find means +to deliver us," said Ruth.</p> + +<p>"<i>What</i> friend?" asked Singing-Bird, suddenly. "Have you got husband, +too?"</p> + +<p>Ruth smiled and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Got friend, then," asked Singing-Bird, "who like to look at you—who +give you his heart?"</p> + +<p>Ruth blushed, and this time she did not smile.</p> + +<p>Singing-Bird continued, "If you got lover, then, why don't marry?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I may, sometime," answered Ruth, still blushing; "but I cannot, +you know, until these troubles are all over."</p> + +<p>"It's pleasant to live in wigwam with husband. When he gone on war-path, +or gone hunting, then you work in field—that good way to live."</p> + +<p>"We pale-face women do not work in the field. We make the men do that."</p> + +<p>"That squaw's business; men hunt deer, catch fish, take scalp—that +warrior's business. I don't want to stay in wigwam and do not'ing, +Eagle's-Wing wouldn't like that."</p> + +<p>"You do not mean to say that Eagle's-Wing would make <i>you</i> do labor in +the field?" asked Ruth, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"No—Eagle's-Wing wouldn't <i>make</i> me do that; but if I didn't, he t'ink +me lazy, good for not'ing squaw—then he get another squaw, p'raps. <i>I</i> +shouldn't like that."</p> + +<p>Ruth was not acquainted with this custom of the Indians; and her +astonishment was unfeigned. She could scarcely believe that one so +seemingly delicate as Singing-Bird, could accustom herself to a species +of labor, that was severe enough for the stronger muscles of the manly +portion of creation. Yet, it is true, that while the Indian warrior +undergoes the fatigues of war, or of the chase, with uncomplaining +fortitude, when idle he never compromises his dignity by any servile +employment. The cultivation of the field, and all of the severer +domestic duties, are performed by the squaws, with as much patience and +fortitude as the warrior displays on the war-path.</p> + +<p>"But," asked Singing-Bird, "what pale-face women <i>do</i>? sit still and do +not'ing?"</p> + +<p>"O, no; we have plenty of employment in attending to household matters. +We shouldn't think ourselves able to do labor out-of-doors, in tilling +land."</p> + +<p>It was now Singing-Bird's turn to be surprised; and while she was +expressing her wonderment at this want of love for their husbands on the +part of the women of the pale-faces, Panther was seen approaching the +lodge. At the suggestion of Singing-Bird, Ruth immediately assumed an +appearance of extreme sorrow, while the former took that of the careless +indifference which she had first exhibited to Ruth.</p> + +<p>Panther entered the lodge, and without seeming to notice the presence of +Ruth, approached Singing-Bird and said:</p> + +<p>"The pale-face prisoner does not believe that Singing-Bird loves to live +in the lodges of the Senecas. Will my sister go and tell him whether she +does or not?"</p> + +<p>Singing-Bird obeyed without reply; and followed by Panther, she +proceeded to the interview we have already described between her and +Ichabod.</p> + +<p>Ruth had been left alone but for a few moments, when she heard a slow +but heavy step approaching the lodge. With a look of uneasiness, she +gazed in the direction of the sound, and beheld Guthrie about entering +the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Miss," said he with a rude and familiar voice, that +grated harshly on her ears. "I thought I'd just see how you get along. +How do you like living with the Senecas?"</p> + +<p>"Guthrie," answered Ruth, "in what manner has my father or have I, +injured you, that you should commit the act you have, to-day?"</p> + +<p>The villain chuckled for a moment. "That's neither here nor there, Miss. +There never was any great love atween us, any way; and, you see, a wound +like this, ain't apt to increase it," pointing to his shoulder, which +had been bandaged. "It's enough for me to know that Squire Barton has +given shelter up at the cottage to them as has injured me; and no man +ever offends Ben Guthrie without getting his pay for't."</p> + +<p>"There has been no time, Guthrie," said Ruth with a shudder, "since we +have lived in this valley, but you have been welcomed at the cottage as +a friend."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; I know what kind of a welcome I've generally had:—such as +you Colony folks give a Tory, as you call me—a scornful eye—a curling +lip—and a hand that is never offered in friendship. But I'll let these +interlopers into this territory know that if King George's men have all +died in the settlements, there are some of 'em alive round here. But +<i>that's</i> neither here nor there. I've done you a kindness, after all; +for that cottage will yet be taken—burnt down, p'raps—and then you'd +better be here than there."</p> + +<p>"Guthrie, you have been guilty of a great wrong, in placing me in the +hands of these Senecas; and you may yet live to suffer for it. I never +knew a wicked act, that was not followed by its punishment."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, Miss Ruth—not so fast," said Guthrie, "I want you to +understand that you're <i>my</i> prisoner; and that these Senecas only hold +you for me; and that they are answerable to me for your safety."</p> + +<p>"If you have the power, O, take me back to my father! Guthrie," said she +imploringly, "and this act of yours to-day shall be forgotten and +forgiven; and you will find in me a friend ever more. You know the agony +my father must suffer. O, take pity on his gray hairs."</p> + +<p>Guthrie gave a peculiar chuckle. "Can't do that, any way," said he, "or +not if——You see. Miss, the matter's here. Now your father and I <i>can</i> +be friends. There's <i>one</i> way we can make this matter up. Let him give +up that Tuscarora to these Indians, and take me for a son-in-law, and +the thing's done at once."</p> + +<p>Ruth, for a moment, was astounded at this infamous proposal. She looked +at him, as if doubting the evidence of her senses; but disdained to +reply.</p> + +<p>"You see, Miss," continued Guthrie, "it wouldn't be so bad an affair, +after all. I ain't much of a woman's man, it's true; but I've got a snug +piece of land down here; and then, in these times, it isn't a bad thing +to have a friend among these wild savages; and, you see, I could protect +all of you."</p> + +<p>Ruth answered indignantly, "I did not think, Guthrie, you could do me a +worse wrong, than you committed in treacherously making me a prisoner; +but you <i>have</i> committed a worse one. Leave this hut, or I will appeal +to these savages to protect me; not one of them but has more courtesy, +and a better heart than you."</p> + +<p>Guthrie looked fiercely angry at this reply; but walked deliberately +towards Ruth, and seated himself upon a bench near her. "We'll see about +that, Miss. I ain't accustomed to child's play. Now I've made up my mind +that I want you for a wife, and my wife you shall be, any way. Now, +there ain't no use in screaming, or them sort of things; but you might +just as well make up your mind to it, first as last."</p> + +<p>Ruth, shuddering with horror, rushed from the hut: Guthrie sprang after +her, and caught her by the arm. "That won't do, Miss, any way. Them +tantrums will answer in the settlements; but out here in the woods, we +do things on squares. You can say, whether you will or you won't, and +make an end of it, just to show your freedom in the matter; but +whichever way you fix it, it don't make any difference to me; the thing +has got to be done."</p> + +<p>During this speech of Guthrie's, Ruth had been dragged back into the +hut. She shrieked with fear and disgust, and cried aloud for help. +Guthrie rudely endeavored to place his hand over her mouth, when +Singing-Bird came running into the lodge, followed by two or three +Indians. Guthrie, ashamed of his violence, retreated towards the door.</p> + +<p>"I've had <i>my</i> say, Miss, and you can make up your mind to it, and save +the folks at the cottage; or you can go into these tantrums, and let the +other thing happen, just as you've a mind."</p> + +<p>With this threat, he slowly departed, followed by the savages, while +Ruth threw herself into the arms of Singing-Bird, weeping bitterly at +this new addition to her misery.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + + +<p> +"There was such lawing and vexation in the towns, one dailie suing and<br /> +troubling another, that the veteran was more troubled with lawing within<br /> +the towne, than he was in peril at large with the enemie."<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 20.5em;">HOLINSHED—CONQUEST OF IRELAND.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>As we have said, Ralph and the Tuscarora, after the discovery of the +capture of Ruth, anxiously sought the means of releasing her and +Singing-Bird, as well as Ichabod, from the hands of the Senecas. They at +length hit upon a plan, which they proposed to put in execution on the +following night. They deemed it unsafe to attempt it in the daytime, as +they would be much more likely to be discovered by the Indians, than +when under the shelter of darkness.</p> + +<p>Barton had recovered somewhat from his first paroxysm of grief, and was +at length able to take part in the preparations which were in the +making. But it was insisted upon by both Ralph and Eagle's-Wing, that he +and the negro should remain at the cottage, as well for the purpose of +defence should another attack be made during their absence, as for that +of having an asylum in readiness, should they succeed in their +enterprise. The cottage contained five or six rifles, in addition to +those which had already been in use, and was well furnished with +ammunition; and it was believed that, should another attack be made, +Barton and the negro might defend it, until assistance could be rendered +by the return of Ralph and the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>Some time had elapsed in these preparations, and it was already noon, +before everything was completed in readiness for the enterprise. A few +hours more were to elapse before it would be proper for them to set +forth. They had no fear that any immediate injury could be contemplated +by the Senecas to Ichabod or Ruth. They supposed that the Indians would +not resort to any means of vengeance, until they had completely failed +in their attempt to get possession of the Tuscarora. Therefore, it was +with no fear, although with much anxiety, that they waited for the hour +fixed upon by them for their hazardous enterprise.</p> + +<p>It was just about noon that Sambo, who had been into the cattle-yard to +look after the cattle, came running into the cottage, and announced the +approach of two white strangers from the northward, who were coming on +foot in the direction of the cottage. This intelligence was received +with pleasure; for at any time, in the midst of the forest, when +visitors are few and rare, there is no little excitement on the arrival +of strangers, from whom welcome information of friends or of +occurrences at the settlement may be obtained; but at this time, when +surrounded by so many dangers, a <i>white</i> face was almost certain to be +that of a friend.</p> + +<p>The announcement had scarcely been made, when the strangers approached +the door, and were invited cordially by Barton to enter.</p> + +<p>The first of the strangers who attracted their attention was a man of +slight stature, not more than five feet six inches in height, with a +sly, cunning expression of countenance. His flesh was shrivelled and +thin, and his complexion was of a yellowish white, resembling somewhat +the color of parchment. He appeared to be about thirty-five years of +age. He had a fussy, uneasy air, never seeming to rest, but constantly +twitching and jerking about—a peculiarity that passes with most men as +the result of great mental activity, but which is more often the +evidence of a disarranged, unmethodized mind.</p> + +<p>The other personage was of a large and bulky frame, with a dull, stolid +expression of countenance; besides, his face wore unmistakable marks of +his being addicted to the use of ardent spirits—blossoms indicating +that fact being scattered in considerable profusion over it. He carried +in his hand a rifle, which, either from want of use or because just at +this precise time he was suffering from too familiar an acquaintance +with his favorite pocket companion, he seemed to have no appropriate +place for, and was unable to get into any convenient position.</p> + +<p>The strangers entered the cottage, and the first individual we have +described, with a nervous, twitchy manner, said, with an attempt at a +graceful salutation—</p> + +<p>"Good day, gentlemen. You do not know me, perhaps; my name is +Bagsley—attorney-at-law—reside in Johnstown, the shire of Tryon +County; and I am now out on a tour of professional business, gentlemen. +This person, who accompanies me, is Mr. Nathan Rogers, one of a +tributary profession. He is a bailiff, gentleman—deputy sheriff of the +county of Tryon—a worthy, time-honored profession; but one, which, +unfortunately, in this county, seems not to be properly appreciated, and +is not in great demand."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" exclaimed the Tuscarora, and turned leisurely towards the window.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome, gentlemen," said Barton, "but I am sorry chat I cannot +offer you a better hospitality; but such as I am able to give, you are +welcome to."</p> + +<p>The strangers seated themselves with an easy familiarity.</p> + +<p>"Quite a beautiful country through here," said Bagsley. "I am always +delighted when I can escape from the drudgery of the profession, and +hold communion with the beauties of nature. But I must confess, you have +rather <i>too much</i> of nature around here, gentlemen. Your roads are not +remarkably well worn or broken; and we have had quite a fatiguing +journey; have we not, Rogers?"</p> + +<p>Rogers assented, with a sort of affirmative grunt.</p> + +<p>"Belong in these parts?" asked Bagsley, turning towards Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I am only on a visit here," was the answer. "I am quite as much a +stranger as yourself."</p> + +<p>"Will you allow me to ask," continued Bagsley, addressing Barton, "how +long you have resided in this section?"</p> + +<p>"But two years," Barton replied.</p> + +<p>"I declare! you must have been active to have accomplished so much. But, +I believe," said Bagsley, with a professional Gravity, "you cannot have +the fee of the property here."</p> + +<p>"I am a sort of tenant at sufferance of the Oneidas; but should the +State purchase these lands—as I believe they will, soon—I may hope to +obtain a title to what I already occupy."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps—perhaps," answered Bagsley. "But you must be aware, as a +gentleman of experience, that, by an act of the Honorable, the +Legislature of the State of New York, passed July 25, 1782, this section +is particularly and definitely reserved to the Indians of the Six +Nations. Now, it may be questionable—I never speak with certainty out +of my office—but it may be questionable—whether the State will ever +purchase these lands. Should they not—you see the point—you lose, as a +matter of course, all of your improvements, and may be ejected at any +time."</p> + +<p>"Of that fact I am well aware," answered Barton, "and I run my risk, of +course. But will you allow <i>me</i> to ask, sir—if my question is not too +impertinent—what business gentlemen of your profession can find in +these forests?"</p> + +<p>"I might, sir, according to the doctrine of the common law—the <i>leges +non scriptæ</i>—of England, which is yet the law of this State, so far as +it has not been modified by statute, and according to well settled rules +of the courts, decline answering that question, as it relates to +business intrusted to one in a professional capacity, as well as upon +other grounds; but, sir, to a gentleman of your apparent prudence and +experience, and particularly so long as I may wish to obtain important +information from you, I cannot refuse so reasonable a request."</p> + +<p>"I did not ask the question," replied Barton, "from any desire to +intrude upon your privacy, but only as a matter of surprise that a legal +gentleman could find <i>any</i> business in this remote wilderness that would +compensate him for the trouble of coming here."</p> + +<p>"It <i>may</i> surprise you, sir—it would be likely to occasion surprise, +sir—and I noticed that our red friend, here, expressed his astonishment +on learning our profession; but the truth is, we are in pursuit of a +notorious debtor, with a <i>capias ad respondendum</i>. I will describe the +person, and you may be able to give me useful information as to his +whereabouts. He is said to be about forty-five years of age, with +grizzly hair, a tall, thin form, stoops much in walking, thin, dried-up +face, but intelligent countenance, and is said to converse a great deal +upon projects of speculation in property."</p> + +<p>"Ichabod, for all the world!" exclaimed Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jenkins!" exclaimed Barton.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" broke in the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"I am happy, gentlemen, that I have been able to give a description so +brief, but comprehensive, that you are enabled at once to name the +person of whom we are in pursuit. You see, Rogers, that we are on the +right track after all."</p> + +<p>"Yes," grunted that functionary. "We've got the track, but we haven't +got the game."</p> + +<p>"O, that will follow, as a matter of course," chuckled the attorney. +"This Ichabod Jenkins probably resides in these parts?"</p> + +<p>"I believe he is now in the neighborhood," answered Ralph, with a +gravity that he could scarcely maintain.</p> + +<p>"It is important that he should be arrested on this <i>capias</i>," said +Bagsley. "The debt is for a large sum, <i>to</i> wit: the sum of <i>£25, 7s. +6d</i>., which he owes and unjustly detains from one Samuel Parsons, +plaintiff, and he has not paid the same, or any part thereof, although +often requested so to do, wherefore the said Samuel Parsons claims +damages, &c. And any information of a precise nature, that can be given, +will be freely reciprocated on occasion. Perhaps we can get along +without troubling Mr. Jenkins very much. You seem to be his friends; and +as this is a bailable process, you can give bail for him."</p> + +<p>"I doubt," answered Ralph, "whether it will be at all necessary. I am +sorry to inform you, that Mr. Jenkins is now a prisoner among a party of +Senecas in this immediate neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Bagsley, "have they also lodged a capias against him!"</p> + +<p>"I am more fearful that they have taken him in execution," said Ralph, +with an attempt at a pun, which we are happy to say, he at once +rejected. "The truth is, that this cottage has been attacked by a party +of hostile Senecas, and not only Jenkins, but Miss Barton have been made +prisoners."</p> + +<p>Bagsley put on a look of incredulity. "You do not mean to say, that in +these times of peace, war has been levied in this territory against the +peace of our Lord the —— rather, against the State of New York, <i>ex +gratia Dei</i>, free and independent?"</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks!" ejaculated Rogers.</p> + +<p>"It is doubtless a mere assemblage of persons unlawfully together, for +the purpose of committing riot or some other disorderly act; and +probably a simple declaration that gentlemen of our profession are in +the neighborhood, will be sufficient to quell the disturbance. Did I +understand you to say, that this gentleman's daughter has been taken +prisoner?" pointing to Barton.</p> + +<p>"So I informed you, sir," answered Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to offer you my services," addressing Barton: "you can +undoubtedly sustain an action of trespass on the case, for the injury in +detaining your daughter from your service. This action, sir—and you +will notice the beauty and appropriateness of the law—is brought +technically for the loss of service—but you recover smart money, by way +of damages for harrowed feelings, &c. Miss Barton can also have her +action for assault and battery. Then there's Jenkins, why here's a way +provided, through the benignity and ubiquity of the law—for at once +satisfying this debt. He also has <i>his</i> action for damages. Really, +Rogers, we have done just the thing by coming here."</p> + +<p>"Make out the papers," said Rogers, "and we'll serve 'em tonight."</p> + +<p>"It is a most singular thing," said Bagsley, addressing the company +indiscriminately, "the antipathy entertained generally, against +gentlemen of our profession. Without us, I may venture to say, the world +would be helpless—without us, what power would sustain the weak? +Without us, there would be an entire ignorance of that beautiful system +which has been adorned by a Holt, a Hale and a Mansfield. But once let +us enter an ignorant village of this description, and intelligence upon +this subject spreads with wonderful rapidity—men rush forward to try by +experience the fruits of that system which has been adorned by the +labors of genius, and perfected by the wisdom of ages. Indeed, +gentlemen, we may be called the vanguard of civilization."</p> + +<p>This eloquent tribute to the legal profession, seemed to provoke a +variety of opinion. Barton and Ralph merely smiled. The Tuscarora +ejaculated "ugh!" with considerable more force than usual; Sambo seemed +to be perfectly enchanted—while Rogers, crossing his legs, and ejecting +a quantity of tobacco-juice upon the floor, exclaimed, +"right—Bagsley—right—and you might have added, what would have become +of the bailiffs, if there were no lawyers?"</p> + +<p>"Can you give me the direction towards the riotous assemblage you have +mentioned?" inquired Bagsley.</p> + +<p>"You certainly do not think of going thither?" exclaimed Ralph, in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Of course, sir—of course;" answered Bagsley; "were there any certainty +that Mr. Jenkins would immediately return, we would postpone the matter +for the day; but upon your intimation that he is detained <i>nolens +volens</i>, I think we shall be obliged to go in pursuit of him."</p> + +<p>"You will encounter a great danger," said Ralph. "These Indians are +highly excited and angry, and they may not discriminate between you and +us at the cottage."</p> + +<p>"No fear of that, sir," replied Bagsley with an air of dignity and +complacency, "I think they cannot but apprehend the distinction. What do +you think of that, Rogers."</p> + +<p>"Right again," said the functionary. "I don't think anybody could +mistake us. There's something in the eye and manner of a bailiff that +make a rogue crest-fallen, at once. I'm ready."</p> + +<p>"I beg you, gentlemen, as you value your lives," said Barton, "to give +up this foolish (as I must term it) errand—for the present, at least. +You will certainly regret it when too late."</p> + +<p>"We know our duty," said Bagsley, with dignity, "and we shall make an +overt of Mr. Jenkins, whether he be defended by his friends on the one +hand, or the Indians on the other."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that you cannot take good advice," said Ralph; "but we, at +least, shall be conscious that we have warned you of your danger."</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," said Rogers, rising and shouldering his rifle, "I've +only got this to say—I never saw a rascal, yet, that dare look Nathan +Rogers boldly in the face; and if these Injins have got more nerve than +other rascals, I want to know it. If there't anybody in my bailiwick +that will refuse to acknowledge my authority, I want to know it, and I +will know it—that's all."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you, gentlemen, for your advice and good +wishes for our welfare," said Bagsley, rising; "but when duty calls, we +must obey. If you will point us the direction, we will be doubly +obliged."</p> + +<p>Their direction was pointed out by Ralph, who again made an ineffectual +effort to induce them to desist from their dangerous expedition.</p> + +<p>"Good day, gentlemen," said Bagsley, as he was about leaving. "Our +intention is to return here this afternoon, and should you have no +objection, we will admit Mr. Jenkins to bail on your becoming bound in +double the sum I mentioned to you. Good day, gentlemen." And the +attorney departed, followed by the bailiff.</p> + +<p>The first impulse of Ralph was to laugh at this little interlude in the +tragedy that was being enacted around them: but the matter was too +serious, after all, to be treated so lightly.</p> + +<p>"They are gone to a long imprisonment—perhaps to death," said Barton.</p> + +<p>"No get Jenkins, this time," said the Tuscarora. "Lose their +scalps—that all they make."</p> + +<p>The hour now approached for the departure of Ralph and Eagle's-Wing. The +sun was just sinking behind the western hills, when, taking their +rifles, they left the cottage, proceeding is a southerly direction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"An host of furies,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Could not have baited me more torturingly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">More rudely, or more most unnaturally."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 13.5em;">BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>Ichabod, whom we have so long neglected, after the departure of Panther +and Snake-tongue, remained in as easy a position as the nature of his +confinement would permit, and gave himself up to reflection upon his +unpleasant situation. It was evident that it was the intention of the +Senecas to subject him to torture: but whether they would proceed to the +last extremity, he could not conjecture. But the possibility that such +might be their intention, could not but present itself to his mind. He +had often been in positions where death was impending; but those were +times when, amidst the excitement of conflict, the mind does not dwell +with any fixed tenacity upon that event; or, if it does, contemplates it +under the colors of excitement with which it is clothed. But now, bound +hand and foot, he was about to be led unresistingly, and in cool blood, +to that fate, about which all men think, and but few appreciate, until +the mortal hour.</p> + +<p>Ichabod had a sort of creed, upon which he had heretofore relied with +confidence. Now, however, for the first time, he began to <i>doubt</i> +whether there was not a possibility of error in it, and whether he had +sufficiently examined points of faith which he had heretofore rejected. +But whichever way his mind wandered, he ever recurred, in his ignorance, +to the simple articles of faith in which he had so long entertained +confidence. Such were the nature of his thoughts, when Deersfoot entered +the hut, to announce to him that the Senecas and their chief were +waiting for him.</p> + +<p>Now, Ichabod had, until this moment, been wholly engaged in the train of +thought which we have mentioned; but when it was broken by this +announcement, a new idea seemed suddenly presented to his mind.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know what that means, Deersfoot. It means that you are going to +tortur' me, according to Indian law. I never did ra'ally think that I +should live to be game for Senecas; but you do your duty according to +your natur', and I'll do mine, according to such light as I've got. But, +see here, Deersfoot, now, understand, that I don't ask for marcy, or +anything of that sort; but if this business <i>can</i> be compromised to the +benefit of <i>us</i> all then it's for your interest as well as mine to +settle it. Now, I've got a proposition to make to Panther and the rest +of you; and if you've a mind to hear it, well and good; and if you +havn't, why, then you needn't."</p> + +<p>Deersfoot listened, under the impression that Ichabod had, at last, +repented of his resolution, and that he was willing to accept freedom +upon the terms which had been proposed to him. After Ichabod had +concluded, he replied:</p> + +<p>"My brother is wise. I will say to the chief what my brother wishes. It +is good for us to be at peace."</p> + +<p>With this he departed. But a few moments elapsed, before he returned +with the information that the Senecas and their chief would meet their +prisoner in council. The withes that were bound about the ankles of +Ichabod, were unfastened, yet it was some time before he was able to +stand without assistance. When he had sufficiently recovered the use of +his feet, he was conducted by Deersfoot to a lodge on the opposite side +of the circle, where he found Panther and Snake-tongue, together with +the larger portion of the Senecas, who were seated in a circle about the +lodge, to listen to his proposal.</p> + +<p>Ichabod was placed in the centre of the circle. Conforming to Indian +custom, he preserved a perfect composure and silence, until, at length, +he was addressed by Panther:</p> + +<p>"My brother," said he, "had a cloud before his eyes, when he refused to +listen to my counsel. The cloud has now passed away; he now sees clear; +he sees that it will be wise to do as we wish. We have come together to +listen: my brother can speak."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we are laboring under some mistake here," replied Ichabod: +"as for that business you proposed to me, there's no use in talking +about <i>that</i>. It's all well enough for a Seneca to propose it; but it +would rather go agin my natur' to accept it. I came here to speak to you +about a matter of a great deal more importance than that."</p> + +<p>There was a loud murmur of dissatisfaction among the Senecas; and many +of them sprang to their feet with the intention of taking vengeance, at +once, for this seemingly public insult. Panther, however, immediately +restored silence.</p> + +<p>"My brother," said he, "is a great warrior; he is cunning as a fox; but +he is surrounded by warriors as brave and cunning as himself. We will +hear what he has got to say."</p> + +<p>"Now, I want to say to you, Panther, and to the rest of you," continued +Ichabod, unmoved, "what I said to Deersfoot before I was brought in +here, that if you want to put me to tortur', and think that's the best +use you can make of me, I've nothing to say agin it, for that's good +Injin law; but if you ra'ally want to make the most out of me that you +can, then you'll listen to what I've got to say."</p> + +<p>He paused for a few moments; but as the Indians remained silent, he +took it as a manifestation of their disposition to give him their +attention.</p> + +<p>"You see," continued he, "that ever since the white men came over the +ocean to this country, they've been increasing and growing more +powerful, and you've been growing weaker. The people who came over, in +the first place, established colonies—they <i>fit</i> the French—they <i>fit</i> +the Injins, and finally they had a fight with England for independence; +and notwithstanding all their Cornwallis's and Burgoyne's, and the +Injins to boot, they got what they fout for. Now, you can see, that +there's no use in your keeping up these old-fashioned customs of +tomahawking and scalping, and living in the woods, and acting like +Injins, more than like white people. If you do, it won't be long before +there won't be a red man left in the country. It's rather hard to tell +you these things to your faces; but they're facts, as you can see with +half an eye. Now there <i>is</i> a way, in which you can not only keep your +own, but get the start of the white people, in this territory, to boot. +It may be going agin flesh and blood and color to tell such a secret to +<i>you</i>, but still, I'm willing to do it."</p> + +<p>His auditory, at the first glance, would have seemed to be wholly +unmoved at this long introduction; but on a closer view, it would have +been seen, that while many of the Senecas shot forth wilder and fiercer +glances from behind passionless faces, others seemed moved by a feeling +of curiosity to hear the end of this strange exordium. Panther, after a +short silence, replied:</p> + +<p>"My brother is brave; he is not afraid to speak in the midst of his +enemies. It is true that the Injins are weak and the pale-faces are +strong. We are dropping like the leaves; and the hunter comes home to +his wigwam at night, tired and hungry, and brings but little game. The +pale-faces are growing stronger. I have thought of it much. There <i>is</i> a +way to make them grow weaker; but <i>that</i> is not the way which appears to +the eyes of my brother. His way, I am afraid, is not a good way. He +would have us forget that we are Injins. <i>That</i> we cannot do. Tho Great +Spirit made us red men; he made us Injins. He placed us in the forests; +he gave us tomahawks and knives with which to fight our enemies; and +bows and arrows to shoot the bear and deer. We cannot be anything but +Injins. Our fathers and grandfathers were Injins; and the little +pappoose is an Injin. As soon as he is grown, he takes to the path of +his nation. I may speak foolish; but this is what I know. If the white +men destroy us, we will die like Injins; if they drive us from our +hunting-grounds, we will not go without scalps. We will do as the Great +Spirit tells us."</p> + +<p>There was a loud expression of satisfaction at this speech of Panther; +and he sat down under a deluge of applause, that a little alarmed +Snake-tongue for his laurels. He waited with impatience until Ichabod +should give him an opportunity to assert his superiority in the way of +speech-making. Silence having been again restored, Ichabod continued:</p> + +<p>"To the threats you made, Panther, in your speech, I shall not reply. My +business, just now, is peaceable; and I'm addressing you for your +profit; and I shall not be diverted by angry insinuations. I've said +that the Injins are growing weaker, and the white men are growing +stronger. Now I want to give you a lesson, in the first place, in +political economy. A nation never become great and prosperous, that +relied wholly on fighting. There is no surer and better way for that, +than for a nation to be industrious, and keep a sharp eye out for the +chances. It may be, that you can't understand that idea, precisely; for +I never knew an Injin that <i>could</i> understand how anything could be made +by honest labor: but I'll try and make the thing plain to you. Now, you +see, as these Colonies are free and independent, this country that has +been growing so fast, is going to grow a great deal faster. You'll see, +in a few years, at most, that a valley like this will be occupied by +white men, and villages will start up, and water-powers will be selected +on all such streams as this. Now, why can't you get the start of the +white men? I've been talking with Squire Barton about setting up a +factory down here; and having all this land about here laid out into +building lots. Now, you see, if you'll just look at the thing in a +reasonable point of view, you'll see the advantages of going into this +business with a jump. I'm given you a hint of the thing, Panther, and +you might make a sly bargain with the Oneidas, and buy up a large +quantity of these lots. They'll be valuable, some day, sartain. That's +one way in which you could make money out of it. Then there's another +way in which it would be a decided advantage to all your nation, male +and female, old and young, under the present order of things. A man with +half an eye can see that there's a a great lack of clothing among you; +and some of you wouldn't hardly answer to be presented into fashionable +company. You havn't but mighty little of it; and what you do wear, is of +a kind of heathenish, Injin sort. Now, you see, at a small profit, we +could supply you with cloth, so that you could wear pantaloons, jackets +and coats, and look like gentlemen; and then all you'd have to do, would +be to behave yourselves, to be a respectable sort of people. Now, if you +can't see the advantages of this speculation, all that I've got to say +is, that I pity you; and you may work your tortur' on me just as soon as +you please. I've the satisfaction of knowing that I've done my duty by +you like a Christian."</p> + +<p>The Senecas seemed completely astounded by this long speech, and its +conclusion. The most of them looked at each other with a vacant stare, +as though they could not comprehend its meaning; while others regarded +it as a public insult, and intended as such; which, while it exasperated +their feelings, gave them a much greater regard for the bravery of +their prisoner. At length Snake-tongue slowly arose, and glancing with a +mien of dignity upon the assembly, proceeded to reply:</p> + +<p>"My brother has spoken," said he; "he speaks with the tongue of a +pale-face, and we poor Injins cannot understand. But we have heard +enough; we can guess what our brother means. He means to put up a house +on the river and drive away the fish. He means to cut down the trees, +and make them into houses, and drive away the deer. He wants us to wear +clothes like the pale-faces. It is a strange speech. My brother does not +smile; he looks as if he talked from his heart. If he means us well, +then we thank him, although we cannot see it as he does. We do not want +the land of the Oneidas. The Oneidas are squaws; they stayed in their +wigwams when their brothers went on the warpath. We do not want the land +of the squaws; let them keep it; we will not steal it or buy it. But my +brother wants us to wear the clothes of the pale-faces. It is strange +that my brother should speak such a thing. How would an Injin look in +the pantaloons and coat of a pale-face? His brethren could not know him; +they would look him in the face and laugh. The little pappooses would +laugh at him. It cannot be; my brother does not know the Senecas; they +live after the traditions of their fathers—and their fathers never wore +the clothes of the pale-faces. The Great Spirit gave them bows and +arrows, and told them to shoot bears and deer, and make clothes from +their skins. That is what we have done; that is what we mean to do. We +have bought blankets from the pale-faces: some of our wise men have said +that it was wrong to do so—that our fathers did not wear blankets of +wool, and that <i>we</i> ought not to do it. I have thought so myself. But to +wear pantaloons, jacket and coat! My brother might as well say that the +Senecas should learn to read in books, and hoe corn and potatoes in the +fields. We will not talk about it; my brother does not know the Senecas. +We are Injins, and we will live like Injins."</p> + +<p>"My brother has spoken; we have heard him, and we do not like his words. +He is a brave warrior; we know it; but we are going to try and see how +brave he is. Our young men will bind him to a tree, and will throw their +tomahawks to see how near they can come to his head and not hit it. We +will then try something else. We like to know a brave warrior. It does +us good to see a brave warrior laugh at his enemies; and my brother must +be glad to know that we are going to treat him like a brave. We shall +hurt him all we can. We do not wear pantaloons, jackets and coats; if we +did, we should not know how to honor him: we should be like the +pale-faces. My brother must be glad that we do not dress like the +pale-faces. Our young men are ready."</p> + +<p>This speech was received with "rounds of applause" in other words, "it +brought down the house;" and Snake-tongue sat down with a much greater +reputation for oratory than he possessed when he arose. When the +assembly once more became silent, and as three or four of the Senecas +advanced towards Ichabod for the purpose of conducting him to the place +selected for the torture, he said with a look of contempt:</p> + +<p>"I might have known better than to cast pearls afore swine. They are +nothing but venomous, thick-skulled Senecas; and they may go without +clothes all their life-times, before I'll ever give 'em a piece of +decent advice agin."</p> + +<p>Ichabod was now led a short distance from the lodges, in the direction +of the river, to the border of the cleared land. He was there fastened +to a tree, with thongs around his feet and waist. The upper part of his +body was left free, that he might display his fear by attempting to +dodge the hatchets as they were thrown at him. It was now about four +o'clock in the afternoon; and the bright autumn sun shone directly in +his face, so that it was with extreme difficulty, after a little while, +that he could even raise his eyes sufficiently to observe his enemies. +Yet he did so; for he knew that any shrinking in that respect, would be +deemed a mark of cowardice on his part.</p> + +<p>The Indians had now gathered in front of him, at the distance of fifteen +or twenty feet, and were preparing for the commencement of the ceremony. +Resting against a stump, at a short distance on one side, was Guthrie, +who was surveying the prisoner with a look of malicious pleasure, which +he did not attempt to conceal.</p> + +<p>Deersfoot was the first who advanced from the crowd of Senecas with his +tomahawk in his hand. As he stepped forward, he said to Ichabod:</p> + +<p>"I shall now throw my hatchet. I shall come as close as I can. I shall +try not to hit my brother. If I do, he will be ashamed of me."</p> + +<p>He threw his tomahawk with a force that drove the blade into the tree +within an inch of Ichabod's head, almost to the handle. Ichabod, during +the whole process, surveyed Deersfoot with a smile. As the hatchet +struck the tree, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well done, Deersfoot. That's almost as good as a bullet from a rifle in +<i>practised</i> hand, could have done it. You've got an expert hand, any +way, for that kind of we'pon."</p> + +<p>A murmur of admiration broke from the Indians at this specimen of +Ichabod's coolness. Another Seneca stepped forward, and had just raised +his hatchet in the act to throw, when a loud yell in the opposite +direction attracted the attention of the Senecas. In a moment, two of +their number, who had been stationed as lookouts in that direction, were +seen advancing towards the crowd, accompanied by two whites. The reader +will at once recognize in these strangers, the attorney and his worthy +companion, the bailiff. The latter, however, had been disarmed; and +although they were not bound, their faces showed signs of indignation at +what they, no doubt, supposed to be uncivil treatment. As they +approached the crowd of Indians, Bagsley cried out,</p> + +<p>"Will anybody be civil enough to show me the ringleader of this +disorderly assembly?"</p> + +<p>Panther stepped forward. "If the pale-faces wish to see the chief of the +Senecas, he is here."</p> + +<p>"I am happy to make your acquaintance, sir," said Bagsley. "I have the +honor to be a member of the legal profession—an attorney-at-law, sir, +and this gentleman who accompanies me is a deputy sheriff, sir—one who, +at this moment, bears in his own person, all the dignity and authority +of sheriff of the county of Tryon, in whose bailiwick you now are."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" ejaculated Panther; and the emphatic exclamation was answered by +the whole crowd of Senecas.</p> + +<p>"Our business here, sir, is to arrest one Ichabod Jenkins, upon a +<i>capias ad respondendum</i>, at the suit of Samuel Parsons, for <i>£25, 7s. +6d</i>. I have been given to understand that he is in your custody, or that +you know his whereabouts."</p> + +<p>Panther made a gesture towards the tree where Ichabod was confined. +Bagsley, whose view in that direction had been interrupted by the body +of Indians who stood between him and the tree, now discovered the +unfortunate debtor.</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you, gentlemen," said he, "for having detained him +until our arrival. I presume it was done as a matter of accommodation to +us, as you probably had heard of our coming. Although you have made the +arrest without color of law, and <i>ex colore officii</i>, and also without +process, yet I will undertake to defend you, should he be malicious +enough to bring his suit for assault and battery and false imprisonment. +And, further, as you have behaved so properly in this matter, I shall +feel disposed to compromise amicably with you a cause of action for the +same offence, in which I have been retained by Mr. Barton. Mr. Rogers, +you will do your duty."</p> + +<p>That worthy was about moving towards Ichabod, when his course was at +once arrested. The Indians, evidently, did not understand the value of +the proceeding, except that they were in danger of losing their victim +if this movement was not prevented. At a gesture from Panther, the +intruders were surrounded.</p> + +<p>"The pale-face is our prisoner," said he. "We do not understand what you +wish. Our young men are trying to see how brave he is, and we cannot let +him go."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say," exclaimed Rogers, "that you are going to +prevent this arrest! I'd like to see you do that! Stand back there," +shouted he, waving his arm towards the Senecas in his front. But this +gesture had only the effect of narrowing the circle within which to +stood.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Bagsley, "you are probably entirely unacquainted with +that beautiful system of jurisprudence which has been embellished by the +writings of Coke, and adorned by the lives of Hale, Holt and Mansfield. +You are probably, also, unacquainted with a statute recently enacted by +the Honorable, the Legislature of the State, of New York. You cannot be +aware that, by interfering with our proceedings, which are perfectly +regular—I give you my word and honor, as an attorney—you are +subjecting yourselves to fine and imprisonment."</p> + +<p>"We know no law, except Injin law," said Panther, "and we are trying to +do our duty, as we understand it. We do not know pale-face law and we do +not want to know it."</p> + +<p>"I must confess," answered Bagsley, "that I am not very well acquainted +with the Indian system of jurisprudence. It is, I presume, an unwritten +system—<i>leges non scriptæ</i>—and, as such, I have great respect for it; +it is undoubtedly an admirable system; but it is not the system to which +I allude. You are, gentlemen, in the county of Tryon, under the +jurisdiction of the State of New York, and amenable to its laws. I +really hope, gentlemen, that you perceive the point in the case, and +will retire, and leave us to the discharge of our duty. It will be +extremely unpleasant for us to be called upon to exercise the authority +with which we are clothed, and I really hope there will be no occasion +for it."</p> + +<p>And he and Rogers again attempted to move forward; but the Senecas +pressed still closer; and they now found themselves completely hemmed +in, and unable to move in either direction. Ichabod, who had seen and +understood the whole proceeding now exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"If I've got any friend among you Senecas, here, I hope you'll finish +this business as soon as practicable. A blow of a tomahawk will be +thankfully received; or if you've got up this matter to try a new system +of tortur' on me, I'll acknowledge myself a squaw at once, if that'll be +any pleasure to you. I can't stand out agin this kind of horrors, any +way."</p> + +<p>Rogers, who now found he would not be suffered to proceed in the making +of the arrest, by the actual touching of the person of Ichabod, cried +out—</p> + +<p>"Ichabod Jenkins, I arrest you by virtue of ——" but his voice was +drowned in the yells of the Senecas; and the two intruders were +immediately seized and bound.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Bagsley, "bound or unbound. I will do my duty towards +<i>you</i>, at least. I shall certify to the court, according to the statute, +in such case made and provided, the names of the resisters, aiders, +consenters, commanders and favorers, who have interfered with this +arrest, and by a writ judicial, your bodies will be attached to appear +in the same court."</p> + +<p>The voice of the attorney was drowned in the yells of the now angry +Senecas; and he, together with the bailiff, were at once led to one of +the lodges, where they were left, bound hand and foot.</p> + +<p>Ichabod laughed with great glee over the discomfiture of this new enemy, +whom he looked upon as more formidable than the other.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, red-skins, for this act of friendship; its ra'ally kind in +you; and I shan't have nigh so bad an opinion of your nation, hereafter, +as I have had. You <i>do</i> hate a lawyer; and there we agree. It's a pity +that we can't be friends, under the circumstances; but I reckon that's +impossible. So, proceed to business again, and get through with this +part of your tortur' as fast as possible."</p> + +<p>Order having been again restored, the Indian who had been interrupted by +the arrival of Bagsley and his companion, again stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"My brother," said he, addressing Ichabod, "is brave when he faces an +Injin; but he does not like the men with long, forked tongues. We do not +like them either. We think too much of our brother to give him up. He is +a great warrior; and we want to do him honor according to Injin law. I +may hit my brother, but I shall try not to."</p> + +<p>He threw his tomahawk as he spoke, and the blade grazed Ichabod's head +so closely that it severed a lock of hair from his brows. This was +considered a great exploit; and the Senecas testified their admiration +by loud yells.</p> + +<p>One after one, the tomahawks of the Senecas were thrown, with divers +success. Those who did not possess full confidence in their ability to +perform the ceremony with credit to themselves, threw more at random; +and many of the weapons did not even hit the tree. The perfect composure +with which Ichabod endured this species of torture, which, to one at all +fearful or timid, would be exquisitely painful, excited the admiration +of the Indians to the highest degree. At last, Panther, who had stood +calmly by, watching the ceremony, approached Ichabod, and said—</p> + +<p>"It is now my turn to do honor to the pale-face. I must say that he is +brave. We are glad that he is so brave. I shall now throw my hatchet, +and I hope I shall not hurt my brother very much. I expect to hurt him a +little. Should I hurt him very bad it will be a mistake, and I shall be +very sorry; for we mean to try something else. We mean to know how brave +our brother is."</p> + +<p>He threw his tomahawk with fearful rapidity and seeming carelessness. It +passed the side of Ichabod's head, opposite that from which the hair had +been partially shorn; but it grazed so closely that the hair was shorn +to the skin, almost as smoothly as it could have been done with a razor. +It must have been exceedingly painful; but the smile which rested upon +the face of Ichabod, as the hatchet left the hand of Panther, remained, +as the Senecas, with admiration divided between the victim and their +chief, crowded around Ichabod to examine the effects of the blow.</p> + +<p>"Well done! Well done!" exclaimed Ichabod. "I doubt whether I could beat +that with my rifle. I must say that you are about as expert a set of +fellows with them kind of we'pons as I ever come across."</p> + +<p>Panther now approached Ichabod, and said, "we have tried our brother as +well as we could with our tomahawks. He is very brave; and it does us +good to do him honor. If we had our squaws here to scold at him, or our +pappooses to shoot arrows at him, we might please him better; but we +have not, and we please him as well as we can, to-morrow we will try and +do better. But to-night, we will leave him here tied to the tree; but he +shall have an Indian by him to keep away the wolves. We expect, in the +morning, our brother will be weaker, and he will not then be so brave. +It is not natural that he should be. We will then tell him what we mean +to do. But let not my brother be troubled; it shall be something that +will honor him much."</p> + +<p>This was a species of torture which Ichabod had not expected. He had +been bound to the tree in such a manner that he was entirely sustained +by the thongs which confined him, and his position was becoming, +momentarily, more painful. It must be confessed, that his spirit quailed +at the idea of remaining so long a time in this painful situation; but +he knew of only one way by which he could be relieved—and that was, by +the betrayal of his friend. This he would not do; and he could only hope +that he might find some means so to provoke his guard that in his anger +the latter might, by some hasty blow, dispatch him. It was with much +impatience, then, that he waited for the approach of darkness—until +which time he would probably be left alone.</p> + +<p>He closed his eyes, into which the sun had shone until the brilliant +glare had nearly deprived him of the power of vision, and endeavored to +draw strength and fortitude from within. But a short time elapsed, +however, before he heard a step, as of someone approaching him from +behind. It was Guthrie, who had separated himself from the Indians, and +who now came up immediately in front of him, with an ironical smile upon +his countenance. Ichabod surveyed him with a look of calmness and +composure.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said he, "that you've come here for the purpose of having +<i>your</i> chance at me. Now, all I've got to say to you, is, that I've a +sort of respect for them red devils, for they do according to their +natur' and color: but as for you, you're a white-livered traitor and +Tory; and if anybody knows any other words in the English language that +have got a more contemptible meaning, they know more than I do—that's +all:" and Ichabod closed his eyes again, as with the effort to shut out +of his view so disgusting a sight.</p> + +<p>"Pluck to the last!" exclaimed Guthrie. "I must say, that you've got +more nerve than I reckoned on; but I rather expect that you'll give in +before to-morrow's over. Do you want to know what's coming next?" asked +he, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"Well, stranger, I don't suppose I should know any more about it after +you have told me, than I do now," answered Ichabod; "for I've set you +down for an infarnal liar. I ain't at all particular as to what you say; +but this I do know, if them Senecas—who are gentlemen born, compared to +what you are—would give me that rifle of mine again, and set me loose +for a few moments, I'd agree, that after I'd given you a proper sort of +chastising, I'd come back here again and stand all they might choose to +do to me. It rather provokes one with Natur' and Providence, to see such +an infarnal villain as you are, live and breathe."</p> + +<p>Guthrie chuckled, in his peculiar manner. "I've waited many a day to get +a chance at you. You didn't know <i>me</i>, when I saw you up at the cottage +yonder; but I knowed <i>you</i>. I've got a scar over here," pointing towards +his back, "that will remember you as long as it burns. You give it to me +in that scrimmage we had down here, in '79; and I thought I'd just let +you know that you may thank <i>me</i> for what you're getting now. As for +that fighting you propose, I don't think that it's any object, for +you're receiving, now, pretty much what you desarve." Then, approaching +close to Ichabod, and laying his hand upon the spot shaven by the +tomahawk of Panther, he continued—"That was a pretty close shave, any +way. I was rather afeard he would make a bad job of it, and kill you. I +knowed him do that once:" and the villain laughed.</p> + +<p>Ichabod groaned in his helplessness and anger. The agony of that moment +far exceeded any physical torture that the whole nation of Senecas could +have inflicted upon him. He wept in his misery, and a sob that seemed to +rend his frame, almost deprived him of consciousness for a moment. The +fearful spasm that convulsed his limbs, did what no ordinary exercise of +strength could have done,—the thongs that bound his hands snapped like +threads; and in a moment, with a convulsive rapidity against which +Guthrie could not guard, he seized the Tory by the throat—he shook him +like a leaf, until the villain fell, breathless and struggling, to the +ground. At the same moment, overpowered by this spasmodic exertion of +strength, Ichabod fell, fainting suspended by the withes which bound his +waist.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Bos</i>.—"He is fled—he is fled, and dare not sit it out.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Bir</i>.—What! has he made an escape! which way? Follow, neighbor Haggise."</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 32em;">JONSON.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>When Ichabod recovered from his swoon, he found himself in the presence +of three Senecas, who had been attracted by the struggle between him and +Guthrie. It was their presence that saved him from immediate death; for +as Guthrie arose panting and struggling for breath, his first impulse +was to present his rifle at the motionless form of Ichabod: but it was +instantly pushed aside by one of the Senecas, who had reached the spot +before his companions, and the charge passed behind the tree to which +Ichabod was confined. When the latter regained his consciousness, +Guthrie was nowhere to be seen. The hands of Ichabod were again secured, +and a thong was now passed around his shoulders, so that he was bound in +an upright and a much easier position, to the tree.</p> + +<p>The night was rapidly approaching, and by the time Ichabod had been +completely secured, it was almost impossible to discover surrounding +objects in the darkness. A fire was kindled near the centre of the space +around which the lodges had been erected, and it was consequently much +closer to the lodge occupied by Ruth and Singing-Bird, than either of +the others. An Indian had taken his position, as guard, within a few +feet of Ichabod, and between him and the fire; and this Indian, as +Ichabod discovered, was armed, besides his knife and tomahawk, with his +own <i>old</i> familiar rifle. How earnestly he gazed upon it, as if almost +expecting and hoping to see it recognize its old master and owner!</p> + +<p>It was at this time, and when silence throughout the Indian encampment +was so well preserved that Ichabod could plainly hear the crackling of +the boughs which were placed upon the fire, although he was at a +distance of eight or ten rods from it, that a wild yell, but one which +denoted exultation upon the part of the Seneca from whom it proceeded, +was heard to arise from the direction of the lodge in which Bagsley and +his companion were confined. He heard some words in the Seneca language, +pronounced, at which his guard arose erect, with an appearance of +excitement. In a few moments he discovered the cause of the exclamation +of the Seneca, and of the excitement under which his sentinel evidently +labored. An Indian came rapidly towards the fire, around which his +companions were gathered, with a bottle in his hand, of which he smelt +and tasted with gestures of extravagant joy.</p> + +<p>It seemed that the lucky Seneca, while in the lodge occupied by Bagsley +and the bailiff, had been attracted by a peculiar odor which came from +the breath of the latter, and which his olfactories at once pronounced +"fire-water." Convinced that this odor must be caused by the presence of +the article itself, in some quantity, he commenced a search of the +unfortunate dignitary; and, hidden in a capacious pocket, wrapped in old +writs and executions, but which were unintelligible to the Indian, he +found the bottle which we have seen him carry towards his companions at +the fire. It was at the moment of finding it, that he had uttered the +loud exclamation of joy, which had fallen upon the ears of Ichabod.</p> + +<p>Loud and frequent were the exclamations of "Ugh!" "ugh!" among the +Indians, when it was discovered that such a prize had been found. +Panther, who was attracted from his lodge by the noise, endeavored to +induce the Indians to surrender the pleasure of drinking the +"fire-water" on this occasion, for one more appropriate, and when less +watchfulness was necessary. But all his endeavors were vain; for the +authority of a chief, always precarious, cannot be enforced against the +wishes and demands of the tribe. Theirs was an arbitrary government, and +power was held only upon a feeble tenure, viz: the pleasure of the +people. When Panther found that he could not prevent the larger portion +of the Indians from indulging in the pleasant intoxication which would +result from imbibing the "fire-water," he took such means—with the +assistance of Deersfoot and a few others, who were determined to remain +sober—as would be most likely to promote their safety, should the +larger portion of the Senecas become unfit to discharge their duties.</p> + +<p>The Indians who were about the fire, and among whom the whiskey bottle +circulated freely, soon began to give evidence of unwonted excitement. +Dancing, singing, shrieking, they appeared, to one at the distance from +them at which Ichabod was placed, more like fiends in Pandemonium, than +human beings, as the red light of the fire fell upon their distorted +figures. The rays of the fire, when burning brightest, fell distinctly +upon the form of Ichabod; but as the drunkenness increased, and the +light diminished, he was thrown into a shadow. His guard labored under a +strong desire to get a taste of the whiskey; for he would occasionally +walk at a distance of three or four rods from him, where he would stand, +looking towards the fire, until a fear for the security of his prisoner +would steal across his mind, when he would rapidly return; and, +perceiving by a glance that all was right, would, after a few moments, +again move slowly in the direction of the fire. His guard had thus left +him, for the second time, when, as he fancied, he heard his name faintly +whispered behind him. In a moment afterwards, the thongs that bound his +feet, hands and shoulders, were cut, leaving fastened, only that which +bound him by the waist. The friend, whoever it was, that had performed +this kindly act, doubtless knew that it would not do to unbind him +completely, at once, as the tightness of the ligatures, and the length +of the confinement, would be apt to deprive the prisoner, for a few +moments, of the free use of his limbs. The thongs that had been cut, +were so disposed that the guard, on his return, without a very close +observation, would not be able to discover the deception. The unknown +friend had evidently planted himself behind the tree to which Ichabod +was fastened, waiting for the proper moment to sever the remaining +thong.</p> + +<p>"Know friend?" asked a voice, in a whisper, which Ichabod immediately +recognized.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it you, Eagle's-Wing? I might have known that, though. No one +else would have dared to do such a thing."</p> + +<p>"This nothing, when Injins drunk. Poor Injin that get drunk. Say, when +ready to have other thong cut."</p> + +<p>"Don't be in a hurry, Eagle's-Wing. You see that red devil, yonder, +that's been set here to guard me? He's got my rifle, and I want it. Wait +till he comes up here again, and when he has fairly got his back turned, +then cut the thong: or, if you've got a spare knife, just give me that, +and I'll cut it myself, while you get the rifle. Hush! he's coming."</p> + +<p>The Seneca advanced rapidly, evidently fearful that some accident might +have happened during his long absence. At this moment, a large quantity +of brush was thrown upon the fire, which almost wholly—for a few +moments—obscured the light, and left them buried in thick darkness. +This might be a circumstance either favorable or unfavorable, depending, +however, upon the suspicious nature of the Indian. As it seemed, he was +more than usually suspicious; and Ichabod breathed shorter, and the +Tuscarora prepared for a sudden spring upon him, as the Seneca advanced +close to Ichabod; and, with the intention of ascertaining that his +prisoner was safe, he reached out his hand to feel of the thongs. +Fortunately, his hand fell upon that which remained uncut, about the +waist of Ichabod, which he slightly jerked; and feeling it secure, did +not examine any further, but turned as if to walk back towards the fire. +At this moment, a knife was passed to Ichabod by the Tuscarora, and at +the same instant, the latter darted upon the Seneca, and struck him +through the back with his knife. There was no struggle—no shriek, no +sound that could have been heard four rods distant, even; for the blade +had, doubtless, pierced the heart of the Seneca, and he fell with a +slight shudder, forwards, on his face. The Tuscarora seized the rifle of +Ichabod, and before the latter had fairly unfastened himself from the +tree, he had secured beneath his belt the scalp of the unfortunate +Seneca.</p> + +<p>"Three scalp on war-path," said Eagle's-Wing. "That not bad."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that you should stick to that heathenish custom, +Eagle's-Wing," said Ichabod; "but there's no use talking about it. An +Injin's an Injin, and I suppose he must fight like an Injin."</p> + +<p>Guided by the Tuscarora, Ichabod proceeded to the border of the +clearing—but beyond the circle of light thrown by the fire—to the +distance of eight or ten rods, where they found Ralph, anxiously waiting +the result of Eagle's-Wing's enterprise. From his position, while the +fire was burning, he was able to see both Ichabod and the Tuscarora, +until the moment when the guard had returned to the tree, when the +obscurity had withdrawn them from his sight. The sudden renewal of the +light, as the fire leaped and crackled among the dry branches, showed +him that they had escaped; and it was with no little pleasure that he +again grasped the honest hand of Ichabod.</p> + +<p>But there was yet another undertaking to be performed—and that was, the +release of both Ruth and Singing-Bird. Ralph and Eagle's-Wing had hit +upon a plan by which they hoped to accomplish their purpose; and it was +rapidly communicated to Ichabod, who approved of it; when they +immediately set about putting it into execution.</p> + +<p>The lodge occupied by the two prisoners whom they now sought to release, +was, as we have already mentioned, situated in the centre of a circle of +lodges. The fire which the savages had kindled, was near the centre of +the circle, and was in close proximity, therefore, to the lodge occupied +by Ruth and Singing-Bird: but the fire was on the south of it, so that +the north side of the lodge, as well as the lodges immediately in the +rear, were thrown into the shade. When the hurried communication was +made to Ichabod, of the plan proposed, they were standing directly in +the rear of the lodge, and at a distance of only ten or fifteen rods +from the outer lodges. It was necessary that their plan should be put in +execution at once, as at any moment the discovery of Ichabod's escape +might be made, when the Indians would set off in pursuit; and without +their present plan could, therefore, be executed before that event +should happen, it would be likely to fail altogether.</p> + +<p>They advanced cautiously towards the lodges; and when they arrived at a +point where they had them in full view, as well as the Senecas, who were +yet dancing and screaming about the fire, they congratulated themselves +on the fact, that no Indian was to be discovered in the direction in +which they wished to proceed. They had reached within six rods of the +outer lodges, and Eagle's-Wing had already thrown himself upon the +ground, with the intention of creeping forward in the position, when +Guthrie was seen, accompanied by Panther, approaching the lodge occupied +by the two female prisoners. They came within a few feet of it, when +they sat down upon a log, engaged, apparently, in earnest conversation. +Their voices could be heard occasionally; and although their precise +conversation could not be ascertained, it was obvious that Guthrie was +warmly insisting upon some measure that was opposed to Panther. Once or +twice Ralph thought he detected the name of Ruth Barton, as Guthrie was +expostulating in a somewhat louder tone of voice than usual. Knowing the +unscrupulous nature of the villain, he felt, by a sort of instinct, that +Panther, in that conversation, for some reason of his own, was occupying +a position in accordance with his own sentiments and feelings.</p> + +<p>The presence of these two individuals disconcerted the whole plan of +operations. It was a difficulty which had not been anticipated. After +waiting for a short time, and seeing that neither Guthrie nor Panther +showed any immediate intention of removing, they anxiously sought for +some other plan, by which to accomplish their purpose. But ere that was +done, Panther, to their great joy, arose and departed in the direction +of the fire. Guthrie now remained alone. The Tuscarora significantly +drew his knife, and pointed towards him; but Ichabod, at once, expressed +his dissent.</p> + +<p>"That will never do, Eagle's-Wing. You can't do that twice in one hour, +and have it succeed; for if he makes the slightest noise, we shall be +obliged to take to our heels. No—that won't do. I have it," said he, +with a sudden idea, "and I'll do a little business of my own, at the +same time;" and, after whispering a few words to his companions, he +cautiously crept backwards into the wood, and then proceeded as +cautiously in a westward direction, until he had reached a point +sufficiently out of the course that it would be necessary for Ralph and +Eagle's-Wing to pursue in making their escape.</p> + +<p>Guthrie, in the meantime, remained seated in the same position which he +had occupied during the conversation with Panther. He was evidently in a +better mood; for, with his cap slouched over his eyes, and his head +leaning upon his hand, he seemed to be muttering his grievances to +himself. All at once, his ears were saluted with the peculiar grunt or +growl of a bear. He raised his head, turned slowly round, and looked +backwards toward the forest; then, examining his rifle, raised himself +upon his feet. Now, a bear, in the days of which we are writing, was +not, by any means, a very uncommon object with the hunter in this +portion of the State; but those animals were sufficiently scarce, so +that the capture of one, while it added largely to one's stock of +provisions, also added very much to the reputation of the hunter. +Guthrie, notwithstanding the mood which seemed to be upon him, did not +choose to neglect so favorable an opportunity of, at the same time, +ministering to the appetites of his companions, and to his own +reputation as a skilful hunter. He again heard the growl of the bear, +and, looking cautiously about to see that no one else had noticed the +proximity of the favorite game, he moved slowly forward towards the +forest.</p> + +<p>When he had advanced to a point where his back was turned towards the +position occupied by Ralph and Eagle's-Wing, the latter crept quickly +forward in the direction of the lodge; he passed the outer lodge, and +halting for a moment to see that he was not observed, moved again +rapidly towards the lodge where he expected to find Ruth and her +companion.</p> + +<p>As Guthrie advanced into the forest, Ichabod, from whom the sounds had +proceeded that attracted his attention, moved as cautiously before him, +occasionally, however, imitating the growl of the animal he was +personating, so as to keep Guthrie from straying from the right +direction. In this manner, he had succeeded in leading Guthrie nearly +half a mile from the lodges of the Senecas, when, as he believed that +before that time, Ralph and Eagle's-Wing must have succeeded in their +efforts, as a failure on their part would have been signalled by the +cries of the enemy, he determined to end the hunt upon which Guthrie was +engaged, by letting him know the precise <i>game</i> of which he had been in +pursuit. Secreting himself behind a tree, that he might not be too early +discovered by Guthrie, as it was not so dark but that objects at two or +three rods' distance might be discerned with tolerable accuracy, he +waited the coming of his enemy. As Guthrie was about passing him, +slightly bent forward, as in the attempt to pierce into the obscurity of +the forest, he leaped upon him and pinioned him in his muscular arms. In +a moment more, Guthrie was disarmed, and was lying helplessly upon the +ground, his hands being securely fastened by a cord which Ichabod had +drawn from his pocket. Guthrie, in his astonishment and fear, had not +yet recognized the person of his captor.</p> + +<p>"Get up here, you infarnal villain!" cried Ichabod; "what's the use of +lying upon the ground, when you can just as well stand on your feet?" +and he caught hold of him to assist him in rising. Guthrie now saw that +he was in the power of Ichabod—and at once, with the characteristic +meanness and cowardice of a rascal, began to beg for life.</p> + +<p>"You judge of me, I reckon," said Ichabod, with contempt, "by what you'd +do yourself, were you in my place, you white-livered Tory. Stop your +howling. I don't intend to kill you. I never do that kind of thing in +cold blood; and yet I don't know why a man's conscience should be +burdened any by smothering the venom of such a <i>reptile</i> as this, +anywhere he can catch him."</p> + +<p>Ichabod surveyed the miserable wretch for a few moments, with a mixture +of disgust, contempt, and pity. Fear seemed to deprive him of all +rational power of speech, and he testified his agony by sobs and +shrieks. Ichabod drew from his pocket another cord.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what, you infarnal traitor, you shall have a touch of +the same fare you sarved up for me; only you won't have anybody to guard +you from the bears and wolves. You'll be tied up to this tree to-night; +and if your friends find you scattered round in pieces in the morning, +it will be the fault of the bears and wolves, and not mine."</p> + +<p>With this, he fastened him securely to the tree. Then shouldering his +rifle, he exclaimed, amidst the shrieks of the miserable wretch for +help—</p> + +<p>"You're a Tory, a traitor, and a liar; and there's no use in asking God +to have marcy on your soul, under any circumstances. All I've got to say +is, before bidding you good-night, that if you escape from here, and +your miserable carcass ever crosses my path, I'll shoot you as I would a +wolf."</p> + +<p>So saying, he departed in a north-easterly direction, towards the clump +of willows where the canoe of Eagle's-Wing was concealed. This spot had +been agreed upon as the rendezvous; and Ichabod walked rapidly, spurred +on by the excitements of the day through which he had already passed, +and by the hope of meeting all his friends once more in safety. For +nearly a quarter of a mile, the shrieks of Guthrie could be heard, +mingled with oaths and cries for help; but soon these sounds failed to +reach his ears, and he was alone amidst the silence of the forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"The bow has lost its wonted spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The arrow falters on the wing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Nor carries ruin from the string,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To end their being and our woes."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;">FRENEAU.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora, after the departure of Ichabod, followed by Guthrie, +cautiously crept towards the lodge in which he expected to find Ruth and +Singing-Bird. This he was enabled to do in comparative safety, as he +moved in a deep shadow; and his only danger consisted in the chance of +meeting some straggling Seneca, or someone who might have been selected +as a guard for this particular quarter. But, without interruption, he +gained the side of the lodge, the entrance to which was upon the west; +but he could not reach it without a momentary exposure of his person to +the eyes of anyone who might chance to be looking in that direction. +Arriving at this point, he paused, and began imitating the shrill +whistle or screech of the tree-toad, which, it seems, had been agreed +upon between him and Singing-Bird, as a signal of his presence, in any +emergency like the present. To his surprise, he received no answer. +Again he gave the signal, but no answer was returned. A cold shudder +ran through that frame of the Tuscarora, as he feared that the prisoners +had been removed, and that their enterprise must fail. But he was +determined to realize his worst fears by an examination of the interior +of this lodge. With this view, he advanced to the extreme point where +his person could be obscured in the shadow—a distance of six or eight +feet from the entrance. He darted forward, with an agility quickened by +the mixture of hope and fear, and found himself within the lodge. It was +empty. For a moment, the impassable nature of the savage was +overpowered, and he gazed around him with a look of despair; and a +shudder passed over him, that shook his strong frame as a leaf is shaken +by the wind. But despair could not bring relief, and activity and +courage only could retrieve the time that had been lost. Again he passed +the entrance, and with the same caution retreated to the place where he +had left his companion.</p> + +<p>"They are gone!" he said.</p> + +<p>"Gone?" exclaimed Ralph.</p> + +<p>But at the same moment a yell was heard; and they beheld the Indians +darting from the fire towards the spot where Ichabod had been confined. +It was now too late; their only hope was in flight. A few moments was +left them, ere the Senecas would be upon their track; for the savages +would readily comprehend that the escaped prisoner would fly in the +direction of the cottage. Ralph and Eagle's-Wing hesitated for a moment; +the last hope of relief to the unfortunate prisoners seemed extinguished +by this premature discovery of the flight of Ichabod. They darted into +the forest, and rapidly ran in the direction of the <i>rendezvous</i> which +had been agreed upon with their friend. Some little time elapsed, ere +they discovered that they were pursued; but another, and wilder and +fiercer yell from the Indians, denoted that some new discovery had taken +place, which had excited them still more. Had Ichabod been again +captured? That could not well be; as he had but a short time before left +them; and they knew that he did not intend to return again to the lodges +of the Senecas. A hope sprang to the heart of Ralph, that perhaps Ruth +and Singing-Bird had also escaped; and that the Senecas had but just +ascertained that these, the most prized of their prisoners, had fled. +But the hope was too faint, too weak, to revive his drooping spirits.</p> + +<p>They were now conscious that they were pursued, and that their pursuers +could not be, at the most, more than a hundred rods behind them. It was +yet half a mile to the <i>rendezvous</i>; but they were both inured to +exercise; and they ran with an ease and freedom, that promised to keep +at least that distance between them and their pursuers. After the cries +of the Senecas which had first fallen upon their ears, had died in the +silence, occasionally was heard a wild shriek behind them; but at +length these entirely ceased. It was a chase of life and death—the +silence of the forest was unbroken by any sound save that of its own +music, answering to the gentle pressure of the wind; but they knew well +that this silence was owing to the caution of their unrelenting enemies.</p> + +<p>They arrived, panting at the <i>rendezvous</i>. Eagle's-Wing darted into the +clump of willows, with the expectation of beholding Ichabod; but he was +not there. What was now to be done? Should they remain here, or continue +their flight towards the cottage? It was fully a mile distant; and yet, +were they to be absent, should the Senecas again attack it, as they +would be likely to do, in their present excitement, Barton and the negro +would, perhaps, be unable to defend it; and they, too, would fall into +the hands of the Senecas, from whom no mercy could now be expected. They +must continue their flight; it was the only course. A few moments had +been lost in this brief consultation; but the time lost had served to +give them new energy for flight.</p> + +<p>They proceeded onward with the same rapidity; the shanty was passed; and +they reached the path leading from the cottage into the valley. They had +arrived within a quarter of a mile of the cottage, when they discovered +persons moving before them, in the same path in which they were +traveling. They relaxed their speed, and advanced with more caution than +they had yet observed. But, cautious as they were, their approach was +detected by the persons they had observed.</p> + +<p>"Speak, or I fire!" shouted the stentorian voice of Ichabod.</p> + +<p>"Ichabod!" exclaimed Ralph, who with Eagle's-Wing now rapidly +approached; and what was their surprise and joy, as they beheld with +their friend, both Ruth and Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>Hearty were the salutations, and joyful the greetings between the +re-united friends; but Ralph quickly explained the situation of matters; +and the fact that the Senecas must be within a hundred rods of them, at +least.</p> + +<p>They had yet time to reach the cottage. Their flight was necessarily +slow; but the Indians must run at least two rods to their one, to +overtake them. This was great odds, under ordinary circumstances; but, +although Singing-Bird was more used to this species of exercise than +Ruth, yet even she was fatigued already; but the energy that fear will +give, even when the physical powers are over-taxed, supported Ruth for a +while. They were in sight of the cottage—it was not more than a furlong +distant, when Ruth, who had been partially supported by Ralph, to this +point, fell fainting into his arms. Yet sustaining her insensible form, +he still advanced rapidly towards the cottage. It was now evident that +some of their pursuers were close behind them; a fierce yell +communicated to them the fact, that they had been discovered; and a wild +scream from twenty throats a few rods more distant denoted that their +pursuers was rapidly overtaking them.</p> + +<p>"I'll have a crack at that Injin any way," exclaimed Ichabod; as the +foremost Seneca came leaping towards them. Excited by the chase, he did +not stop to count the odds; but with upraised tomahawk, the Indian +rushed towards the flying group. Ichabod fired; and the scream of the +Indian denoted that the ball had taken effect. It had, at least, learned +him moderation; and he stopped leaning against a tree, awaiting the +approach of his companions.</p> + +<p>They passed the grove—the cottage door was opened, and Barton advanced +to meet them. A moment more, and they had passed the threshold, and the +door was barred. At this instant, the pursuers came rushing into the +grove; and fierce and wild were the shrieks of anger, as they saw their +escaped prisoners shut from their view.</p> + +<p>We will take this opportunity, while the reunited friends are exchanging +their congratulations at once more beholding each other in safety, to +narrate briefly the history of the escape of Ruth and Singing-Bird.</p> + +<p>It has been said that Singing-Bird, by the use of a little duplicity, +had been able partially to deceive the Senecas. She had been able to +make Panther believe that when they had once reached the country of the +Senecas, beyond the lakes, she would yield to his wishes, and become his +wife. From the time that Panther had formed this belief, she was much +less carefully watched; and had such opportunities to escape, that +nothing but her ignorance of the place where Eagle's-Wing was to be +found, had prevented her from improving them. When Ruth was brought in +as a captive, and she had ascertained the precise condition of matters, +she at once resolved to fly, on the first opportunity. The same incident +which had formed the escape of Ichabod—the debauch of the +Indians—presented the opportunity she wished; and taking a favorable +moment, when the larger portion of the Senecas were gathered about the +fire, and the few who remained sober, were distributed as guards over a +much larger space than usual, she and Ruth issued from the lodge. They +passed the precise spot, which, but a few moments later, was occupied by +Ralph and the Tuscarora—and entered the forest. At first, excited by +the hope of liberty, and the fear of detection, they fled with a speed +which their strength and power of endurance would not allow them long to +continue; but as they began to feel the fatigue incident upon their +efforts, and as they were not able to ascertain that the Senecas had +learned their flight, they slackened their speed, and walked with as +much rapidity as the nature of the ground would allow. They endeavored +to keep a straight north-westerly course; and by doing so; they would +naturally reach that point on the river, which had been selected, +although unknown to them, by Ichabod and his friends, for a rendezvous.</p> + +<p>They did, in fact, reach that particular spot; and were passing by it, +when Ichabod, who had just before reached it, to his exceeding surprise +beheld them, and at once presented himself, calling them by name, to +prevent the fear which they would naturally feel, had he suddenly shown +himself, when in the darkness, perhaps, they would not have been able to +recognize him.</p> + +<p>He informed them of the fact that Ralph and Eagle's-Wing were then +engaged in efforts for their escape; and he debated for a few moments +with himself, whether they should remain at the rendezvous, and wait the +coming of their friends, or proceed towards the cottage. But the +consideration, that should Ralph and Eagle's-Wing be discovered, or +should the Indians ascertain the flight of himself and his companions, +their position at the rendezvous would be much less safe, encumbered as +they would be with companions whom it would be necessary to protect, and +who could not add to the means of defence, determined him to proceed; +and they set off immediately, in the direction of the cottage. The rest +of the story has been already told.</p> + +<p>When the family and friends found themselves once more united in the +cottage, after the first hearty congratulations, they proceeded to +observe the dispositions made by the Indians; and to discover, if +possible, what might be their plan of operations. The grove by this time +was filled with enemies; and a few, even, had advanced upon the lawn +between the grove and the cottage; but they were soon recalled to their +ideas of safety and self-protection, by the discharge of the rifles of +Ichabod and the Tuscarora, not without effect. These more adventurous +Senecas, immediately retired.</p> + +<p>All necessary and proper precautions were at once taken; but the Indians +made no movement that indicated an immediate attack. It was probable, +even, that the result of their former attack, might altogether +discourage them from a new attempt; but whatever was their intention, +they were careful not to give any intimation of it. Within the grove, +they were not, in the darkness, visible from the cottage, and it was +only after a number of hours had passed, without any indications of an +attack, that it was thought they would be left in peace for the night.</p> + +<p>The proper precautions for safety were taken; and the over worn and +over-tasked defenders of the cottage sought a broken repose.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"The miserable have no other medicine,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But only hope;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I have hope to live."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">MEASURE FOR MEASURE.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The morning sun arose bright and cheerful, with promise of one of those +fair autumnal days which has crowned this peculiar season, as the +"sweetest, saddest of the year." The inmates of the cottage, too, arose +refreshed by a few hours of repose, and with energies strengthened for +the labors or dangers of the day. They were once more united. The malice +of their enemies had been defeated, and the courage and inspiration +which are derived from success, gave promise of ultimate triumph over +all their difficulties.</p> + +<p>The morning meal passed off happily and cheerfully; and Ruth +notwithstanding the excitement and fatigue of the preceding evening, +possessed all that sweetness and calmness of spirit which had so much +charmed Ralph, on the evening of his arrival.</p> + +<p>"Really, Captain Weston," she said, "you must have a strange idea of +this valley. You have been with us but four days, and we have had in +that brief time, an Indian war—sieges and battles—captivities and +escapes."</p> + +<p>"I must say, Miss Barton, that you have provided me with one +entertainment to which I was not invited; but we may hope now, that the +"piping days of peace" are come. Your father has some fine trout-fishing +yet in reserve for me, and Jenkins wishes to survey his location for a +factory and city lots."</p> + +<p>This rally at Ichabod was received with considerable merriment, but he +was not at all disconcerted.</p> + +<p>"You may laugh at that idea, Captin," said he, "but it isn't laughing at +a sensible thing that makes it ridiculous. But I <i>was</i> rather provoked, +when I proposed that idea to them Senecas in full council, and offered +to provide 'em with cloth for pantaloons, coats and jackets, to see the +pervarse creturs insist upon sticking to their Injin, heathenish sort of +garments. But, after all, it <i>is</i> an innovation on their old habits, and +I shall have to begin by fitting up Eagle's-Wing with Christian clothes, +and send him out as a missionary on that business.</p> + +<p>"No good for Injin to wear pale-face clothes," said the Tuscarora, with +contempt. "How Injin look dressed like white man?"</p> + +<p>"There you go!" exclaimed Ichabod. "Seneca or Tuscarora, it don't make +any difference. If I was going to convart the Injins, the first step I +should take, would be to send out a cargo of tailors; for I <i>do</i> +believe that if you could only get them to put on decent clothes, they'd +be willing to take up a decent religion."</p> + +<p>"That's a new idea, certainly," said Ruth; "but I should pity the +unfortunate workmen. They would scarcely make a living at the business."</p> + +<p>"The idea is not unphilosophical," said Ralph, laughing. "Ideas are very +much like clothes. They are just as easily put off or on; and to conquer +the prejudices of the Indians in one respect, would be to conquer them +in another. It is a pity, Ichabod, that you had not lived to be a +coadjutor with Elliot. The result of his labors might have been vastly +different."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Ichabod, "I never did know a new idea that wasn't +laughed at. I suppose you want to have your fun at me, but I'll live to +have mine at you, yet."</p> + +<p>While the family were at breakfast, Sambo had been sent out to overlook +the surrounding country for any signs of Indians. He now came running in +to say that a "whole army of Injins was coming, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>At this alarm, the party at once betook themselves to their defences; +and from the lookouts they endeavored to get a sight of the approaching +enemy.</p> + +<p>"The lying nigger!" exclaimed Ichabod. "Only <i>one</i> Injin and without +we'pons at that."</p> + +<p>"He is evidently coming with a message of some sort or other," said +Barton. "Suppose you go, Ralph, and hear what he has to say."</p> + +<p>Ralph went out towards the grove where the Indian was waiting for him. +As he approached the Seneca, the latter took from his belt a letter and +delivered it to him.</p> + +<p>"Pale-face prisoners send letter to talk," said the Seneca, as he +surveyed the document with a sort of superstitious fear. "Hear him talk, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," answered Ralph. "I will give you an answer soon, if it +should need one," and he again entered the cottage, while the Indian +threw himself lazily upon the ground.</p> + +<p>When Ralph reached the room where the inmates were assembled, much +speculation was going on as to the probable contents of the letter; for +its delivery to Ralph had been observed. It was evident that it must +have been written by the attorney; and it was immediately opened, and +the contents read aloud by Ralph. The letter ran thus:</p> + +<p>"To Esquire Barton, or to whomsoever these presents shall come, +Greeting:</p> + +<p>"Sir—I am requested by that excellent but somewhat irascible chief, +Panther, to address you a few lines—although I can scarcely say that +they are written in a professional capacity. He has just advised me that +he holds the Deputy Sheriff and myself in his hands, as a sort of +equivalent for a certain Tuscarora Indian and his squaw, supposed and +believed to be now at the cottage and he has even gone so far, though in +a very civil manner, as to inform me, that without the said Indian and +his squaw are delivered to him, he will be under the necessity of +executing upon us some horrid species of capital punishment, for which I +know no technical name; and for which, I think, none is to be found in +the most approved authorities. He has requested me, as he himself is not +skilled in clerical matters, to write this, and to say that he proposes +a consultation, at which said matter shall be considered, and at which +shall be present, besides myself and the said Deputy Sheriff, Rogers, +two of each party, unarmed; the meeting to take place in the grove south +of the cottage. This line is forwarded by the bearer, who is to precede +us by half an hour.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Your most humble servant,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">JOHN BAGSLEY."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S. Should Mr. Ichabod Jenkins be present at the cottage, I hope that +he will consider himself under arrest, although a manual touching was +not actually made upon his person, unfortunate circumstances preventing. +Should he decline to consider himself under arrest, I hope that he may +be detained until our arrival, and the making of the proposed exchange."</p> + +<p>Ralph could not restrain his laughter as he read this curious epistle. +The quiet confidence with which the attorney assumed that the exchange +would at once be made, and the business-like appeal to Ichabod, were +sufficiently provocative of a smile from all, except Ichabod, who did +not seem to relish this public reminder of the unfortunate result of +some of his previous speculations. But it was deemed advisable to +consent to the meeting, as it was possible that some result might be +arrived at, which would terminate the present difficulties.</p> + +<p>Ralph therefore informed the Seneca that they would consent to treat +with Panther on the terms proposed, at the time appointed; and the +Indian at once departed to convey the answer.</p> + +<p>"This attorney is a strange man," said Barton: "and he has probably +involved himself and his companion in a difficulty from which they will +not be able to escape."</p> + +<p>"Who wants him to escape?" growled Ichabod. "A Seneca even, is a +gentleman, compared with one of those sneaking attorneys; and yet, +perhaps, it wouldn't be right not to try to save the creturs; seeing as +how they're human flesh and blood; <i>but</i> if we do save 'em, I suppose I +must bid you good-bye, and start for the settlements."</p> + +<p>"Don't be discouraged, Ichabod," said Ralph; "we shall probably find +some means to relieve you, should you be actually arrested. But the +first thing is, to get these unfortunate men from the hands of the +Senecas. They would seem to insist, from the letter, that Eagle's-Wing +and Singing-Bird should be delivered up to them. If no other terms than +these are proposed, Bagsley and his companion will have to suffer the +penalty of their temerity. They were well advised beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Dey lose scalp: don't know enough to keep 'em," said Eagle's-Wing. +"What scalp good for, if they don't know 'nough to keep Injin from +taking 'em?"</p> + +<p>"It may be a small matter to you, Eagle's-Wing," said Barton, laughing, +"but these prisoners would probably think their scalps of great +importance to themselves. But if I am not mistaken, I see them +approaching through the grove. I would suggest that Ralph and myself be +selected for this meeting. You, Ichabod, and the Tuscarora, would be too +likely to provoke an unfortunate termination of the matter, by the anger +your presence would excite."</p> + +<p>This selection was agreed to; and Ralph and Barton walked towards the +grove, to the same place where the former consultation had been held. As +they arrived at this spot, they saw approaching, at a few rods distance, +Bagsley and the Deputy Sheriff, who were only bound by a strong thong +passed around the left arm of Bagsley and the right arm of Rogers; so +that they were effectually coupled. As Rogers was much taller than the +attorney, the confinement seemed to be equally irksome; for, while the +attorney was compelled to walk in a much more than usually erect +position, his companion was compelled to stoop enough to meet him +half-way. It was a compromise that did not seem to have the effect of +pleasing either, and gave rise to frequent altercations between them; +the attorney insisting that Rogers did not stoop enough, and the bailiff +swearing that Bagsley did not lift himself up enough, to divide equally +the difficulty.</p> + +<p>They were accompanied by our old acquaintances, Deersfoot and +Snake-tongue, who marched beside them with a steady gravity, which no +one but an Indian could have preserved. When they reached the small plot +of green-sward, the Indians made brief but dignified salutations to +Barton and Ralph, who returned them in as brief and dignified a manner. +But Bagsley made an effort to rush forward to grasp Barton by the hand, +but he was withheld by the weight of his more saturnine companion.</p> + +<p>"How often am I compelled to inform you, Mr. Rogers," said Bagsley with +irritation, "that the line of conduct adopted by you is neither in +accordance with courtesy nor good breeding? Could you not see that there +is a propriety in accosting our friends with warmth, who are about to +relieve us from an unpleasant situation? I declare, that under no +circumstances, will I ever consent to be so closely united with you +again. But excuse me, gentlemen. You will pardon any seeming +disrespect, under the circumstances," casting a contemptuous glance +over his left shoulder.</p> + +<p>"There's no use in blowing up a fellow in this fashion," answered +Rogers. "You hang down on me so, that it's no wonder I don't stir any +more than I'm obliged to."</p> + +<p>"Good day to you both," said Barton. "I am sorry to see you in such a +situation; but you will give me the credit of having prophesied such a +result to you."</p> + +<p>"I must say, that the advise you gave us, was not far from correct," +answered Bagsley; "but I relied upon the majesty of the law, and the +sanctity of our persons, as its humble officers, as sufficient to +protect us; and I am well convinced, that were our red friends to suffer +me to instruct them in some of its elementary principles, they would see +the error of their conduct, and discharge us with a proper +acknowledgment in satisfaction of damages. But I am sorry to say, that +they have thus far refused to listen to instruction relative to a system +of jurisprudence, adorned by the writings of Bacon and Coke, and +illumined and embellished by the lives of Hale and Mansfeld, and —— I +really wish, Mr. Rogers, that you would suffer your person to become a +little more pliable." This interruption was occasioned by Rogers having +risen erect, in an attempt to illustrate the dignity of the profession +of which he was an officer; and the consequence was, that the attorney +found himself lifted from his feet, and suspended in the air.</p> + +<p>"I aren't to blame," said Rogers gruffly, "for your being so small. Lay +that to them as it belongs to."</p> + +<p>"After the notice which you have received, gentlemen," said Bagsley, now +opening the business of the meeting, "it cannot be necessary for me to +state the object of this consultation. You are aware that Mr. Rogers and +myself have fallen into the power of our red friends, without legal +warrant or authority on their part; by which act, they have undoubtedly +become liable to us in damages. But they allege, that they are sovereign +in themselves, and only amenable to their own laws; but as they are now +in the county of Tryon, this position is anomalous, to say the least; it +is an establishment of an <i>imperium in imperio,</i> which cannot exist—as +I could substantiate by the authority of the best legal writers. But, +notwithstanding such points and arguments as I have presented, and—as +Mr. Rogers will admit, with considerable force—they adhere to their +first expressed opinion as a point <i>res adjudicata</i>, and refuse to +release us, except upon terms. I have the more readily consented to +those terms, as I am not called upon in any way to release our rights of +action for damages."</p> + +<p>"May I ask the precise nature of the terms you mention?" inquired Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Captain Weston; that is a proper subject of inquiry The +terms, in themselves, are easy, and I must say, much easier than could +have been expected. They are, that we shall be released, on the delivery +to them of a certain Indian and his squaw, who are somewhere +hereabouts."</p> + +<p>"I know the Indian to whom you allude," said Ralph. "The Senecas have +already endeavored to obtain possession of him, after having grievously +wronged him; and we have thus far defended him, at the risk of our +lives."</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about the original difficulty between this Indian and +the Senecas," said Bagsley, "but whatever it may have been, I think the +whole matter can now be amicably adjusted, and will be. You will deliver +him and his squaw, and receive us in exchange: the Senecas will at once +depart from this territory, and remove with them that anomaly in our +laws of which I have spoken; while we, having completed the arrest of +Mr. Jenkins, will depart also, and the territory will be quiet again."</p> + +<p>The duty which devolved upon Barton and Ralph was becoming exceedingly +unpleasant. It was hard to undeceive the unfortunate attorney, whose +confidence in the exchange proposed was so strong. He evidently could +not realize that any impediment could stand in the way; or that Ralph +and Barton could hesitate for a moment in releasing them upon terms that +seemed so easy.</p> + +<p>"We have already intimated to you, Mr. Bagsley," said Ralph, with a +seriousness that immediately attracted the attention of the attorney, +"that the Tuscarora is our friend. He has rendered Mr. Barton and myself +services for which we are deeply grateful to him."</p> + +<p>"That, perhaps, complicates the matter, a little," answered Bagsley: "a +debt of gratitude, although not strictly a legal obligation and of a +nature to be enforced in a court of law, (although it will frequently +support an executed contract by way of consideration,) is, I must +confess, exceedingly hard to be rid of; and perhaps one would not be +justifiable in repudiating it upon light occasions; but the question +here presents itself in this manner; a debt of gratitude upon the one +side, which, I have observed, is not actionable, and the lives of two +gentlemen of the profession on the other. The preponderance of argument +is so obvious, that I should be wasting time in calling your attention +to it."</p> + +<p>"There is an addition to the argument, upon what you deem the weaker +side, that you have forgotten to mention—that is, the <i>lives</i> of our +friends, whom you ask us to surrender."</p> + +<p>"That was not a matter unthought-of," said Bagsley, with complacency: +"it was merely a point reserved. I cannot bring myself to believe that +our red friends would carry matters to the extremity which they have +threatened. It was probably only one of those pardonable subterfuges by +which we endeavor, in the profession, to bring parties to terms—a +matter merely held up <i>in terrorem</i>."</p> + +<p>"I hope," said Ralph, who was determined to undeceive the attorney at +once, "that it may be as you say; but neither Mr. Barton nor myself, +however unpleasant to you or ourselves such a determination may be, can +think, for a moment, of surrendering the Tuscarora into the hands of +enemies who are thirsting for his blood."</p> + +<p>This announcement, made in a firm tone, but with a look that indicated +the sorrow with which it was made, struck the attorney with surprise and +fear. A mortal pallor overspread his features.</p> + +<p>"You do not mean, Captain Weston—you <i>cannot</i> mean, Mr. Barton, that +you will not release us?"</p> + +<p>"Anything that we can do, except the surrender of any of our friends +into the hands of the Senecas, we will cheerfully, gladly do. But that, +you will yourself see—however unpleasant it may be to you, to +acknowledge it—we cannot do."</p> + +<p>"My God! my God!" exclaimed Bagsley, forgetting, in his fear, his +professional character, "what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"I consider it rather hard fare," said Rogers, who being of a more +saturnine temperament than the attorney, was not so susceptible to +sudden emotions. "If two white men, and professional gentlemen to boot, +arn't reckoned of any more consequence than a couple of wild Injins, +what's the use of being white folks, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>Deersfoot and Snake-tongue, who had thus far preserved a perfect +silence, now advanced to take part in the conversation:</p> + +<p>"My brothers know," said Deersfoot, "that they must give us Canendesha +and his squaw, or these pale-faces must die. We have spoken, and so it +must be."</p> + +<p>"Deersfoot," said Barton, "I cannot believe that you will put them to +death. You are now at peace with the Colonies. These men have done you +no harm. Even if you have cause for anger with us, these men are +innocent. It would be a murder, for which the Colonists would take ample +revenge in burning your villages and destroying your people."</p> + +<p>"They are pale-faces, and that is all we know. If one pale-face does us +harm, we will hurt all the pale-faces we can. We have buried the hatchet +with the Colonies, and we will not dig it up. We are not on a war-path; +but if we are injured, we will do what hurt we can. I have spoken."</p> + +<p>"If you do any harm to these men," said Ralph, "we will punish you, if +we have to follow you to your own country. There are men at the +settlements who will take up this quarrel."</p> + +<p>"Let the pale-faces take care of themselves," said Snake-tongue. "They +may boast less, by-and-by. <i>We</i> do not boast, but we will do what we +can. Our talk is finished. Let us go."</p> + +<p>Deersfoot advanced towards the attorney, who remained as if stupified. +"Come!" said he, laying his hand upon him. The attorney shrieked with +fear.</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake, Captain Weston—Mr. Barton, do not let these Indians +take us back again."</p> + +<p>"We pity you, unfortunate men; but we cannot help you. We wish we +could," exclaimed Barton.</p> + +<p>At this moment, Ichabod and the Tuscarora were seen issuing from the +door of the cottage, with their rifles in their hands. Their faces +expressed a determination that was unmistakable but at the same instant, +a body of Indians was seen approaching at the opposite extremity of the +grove. The Indians had evidently foreseen this result of the +consultation, and were now approaching on some mischievous errand. +Barton and Ralph immediately departed towards the cottage, into which +Ichabod and the Tuscarora also retired, while the attorney and his +companion departed in the opposite direction, under guard of the +Senecas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"And long shall timorous Fancy see</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The painted chief and pointed spear;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And Reason's self shall bow the knee</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To shadows and delusions here."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 17.5em;">FRENEAU.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>Deersfoot and Snake-tongue, with the two prisoners, after a short +distance, met the main body of the Senecas. Beyond the grove was a small +strip of partially cleared land, which was covered with a thick +green-sward. Here the Indians halted, and immediately held a council, in +which to deliberate upon the fate of their prisoners, and upon their +future proceedings with reference to the cottage. When the failure of +the negotiation was announced, the whole wrath of the Indians was +concentrated upon the unfortunate attorney and his companion. In their +eyes, the latter were answerable for all the wrongs which they fancied +they had suffered from the pale-faces and their Tuscarora ally at the +cottage.</p> + +<p>Bagsley and the bailiff were placed in the centre of a circle of +warriors. Rogers maintained a sullen silence, and surveyed the hostile +countenances of the Senecas with a look of seeming indifference; but the +attorney, from the moment that the unexpected refusal of Barton and +Ralph to exchange him for the Tuscarora had shown him his imminent +danger, remained seemingly stupefied with fear. But, as he beheld around +him the assemblage of warriors, and a certain appearance of +deliberation, he began to recover the use of his faculties. Perhaps, he +thought that the act of deliberation implied a doubt of their actual +intention; or, perhaps, seeing that he might have an opportunity to +plead for his life, he placed some reliance upon his oratorical powers. +But, whatever was the cause, it is certain that, in his appearance, he +resumed a portion of his professional dignity of demeanor.</p> + +<p>The warriors and their chiefs were assembled in council. Panther, as +principal chief, occupied the most prominent situation; beside him sat +Deersfoot and Snake-tongue, and two or three others, who were recognized +as superior to the great mass of the Indians. When the assembly had +finally assumed an appearance of order, the younger chief, whose name +was Bearsclaw, arose to speak. He had never yet gained a reputation for +oratory, and he assumed a modesty and humiliation that were proper to +his station.</p> + +<p>"Brothers," said he, "you know my name—it is Bearsclaw; it is a name +which was given to me because I was thought to be strong in struggling +with my enemy. I did not deserve it: I should have had a smaller name. I +have not the tongue to speak; but I can tell what I think—I think these +pale-faces should live. I think that we should keep them prisoners a +little while, and then let them go. Shall I tell you why? They came to +us freely; we did not take them! they have not wronged us. Perhaps I do +not think right; I do not know but a little; but what I think I will +speak. I see that you do not like my words, and I am sorry that you do +not. If we kill them, we shall get into trouble. The pale-faces from the +settlements will come out on the war-path, and will ravage our hunting +grounds. I am not a coward—you have seen me in fight. My name is +Bearsclaw. I cannot speak much; but I can tell what I think. I have +spoken."</p> + +<p>This speech was received in silence—a silence, perhaps, that implied +dissatisfaction. But Bagsley argued from it a favorable result; for he +thought a matter could not be predetermined, about which a chief had +spoken, as if there was doubt as to the propriety of the course that had +been threatened. When Bearsclaw sat down, Snake-tongue, as the chief +next highest in rank arose and said:</p> + +<p>"Brothers, you have heard the counsel of Bearsclaw: he has a large name. +It is a great pity that a warrior with so brave a name, cannot be brave +in speech. I do not think as he does. I am an Iroquois—of the nation of +the Senecas. I have always been taught not to be afraid. Bearsclaw has +said that the pale-faces from the settlements will follow us on the +war-path. Let them come! We want to see them in the woods and fields. We +do not want to see them skulking behind walls and log houses. Let them +follow us into the woods: there is where I want to see them.</p> + +<p>"I say that these pale-faces should die. They have been the cause of all +our troubles. If it had not been for their fire-water to-day we should +have tortured the brave that we tortured yesterday. He was a brave +warrior, and it would have done us good to have tortured him. But he +escaped; and how? The fire-water of these pale-faces made our young +warriors careless, and we lost him; and we lost the pale-face squaw, and +the squaw of Canendesha. We have lost, too, our pale-face friend; he has +gone, and no one knows where. He was lost at the same time with the +others. They have taken him and killed him. Should we let the +pale-faces, who have done all this, go and laugh at us? No—let them +die! They are not as brave as the warrior we had yesterday; but they +will make sport for our young warriors. We shall be sorry if we do not +take their scalps. We shall always think of it, and wish we had done it, +when we think of our young men who have been killed in these forests. I +have spoken."</p> + +<p>He sat down amidst loud cheers. He was evidently on the popular side; +and the countenances of Bagsley and Rogers grew pale, as they saw the +effect of this speech. But there was some hope yet; only two of the +warriors had spoken, and, so far, the council was equally divided in +opinion. It was with the utmost anxiety that they waited for Deersfoot +to arise.</p> + +<p>After the noise had subsided, and silence was restored, the latter arose +to speak. He stood next to Panther in the estimation of the Senecas; and +some there were, who preferred him to that chief, as a braver and more +cunning warrior.</p> + +<p>"Brothers," he said in a tranquil tone, "we have come here to decide +upon two things. We are to say whether these pale-faces shall die, and +we are to say what we shall do about the pale-faces at the cottage. I +have no secrets; my heart is as open as my face. Snake-tongue has said +that these pale-faces are the cause of all of our troubles. May be this +is so; but I do not see it as he does. Our young men should not love the +fire-water of the pale-faces. If they had not loved it, then the +pale-faces could not have done us any harm. I do not know that they are +to be blamed. I want to think about it a little while.</p> + +<p>"But the other thing I <i>have</i> thought about. I do not want to think any +more about it. The pale-faces at the cottage have killed our young men. +They have made us ashamed, that so few pale-faces can escape from so +many Injins. I am so ashamed that my heart is sad; and it will not be +happy any more until we have taken their scalps. I wish to fight them +again. I wish to see if we cannot burn down the cottage, and take them +all prisoners. I am sure that we can do it. If we cannot, I shall be +much more ashamed: and I shall think that the Senecas, like the Oneidas +and Tuscaroras, are squaws. I, for one will never leave the valley of +the Pleasant River, until I take with me, the scalp of one of those +pale-faces. The scalps of these pale-faces will not do me any good; for +they have not killed our young men. I want to wear in my belt the scalp +of the enemy who has taken the scalp of a Seneca. Until that is done, I +shall always be ashamed.</p> + +<p>"Let these pale-faces live until we have attacked the cottage. If we +take the scalps of our enemies there, we shall have taken enough; and we +shall not want any more. If we do not get them, then we will think about +these pale-faces. I have spoken."</p> + +<p>This speech, which had touched the hearts of the Senecas with shame, and +kindled in them a wild hope of revenge, was received with shrieks of +delight. In the direction which it had given to the thoughts of the +Senecas, the prisoners were, for the moment, forgotten; and the counsel +of Deersfoot would doubtless have been acquiesced in, had it not been +for the fact that Panther did not share the general enthusiasm. When +this was noticed, his more particular adherents at once become silent, +and waited to take their cue from him. He was about to arise, when +Bagsley, who had also become much excited by this appeal of Deersfoot, +in his favor, and who was unable any longer to maintain silence, deeming +this the favorable moment to make a finish of the "case," exclaimed, +assuming as much of a forensic position and demeanor, as his connection +with Rogers would allow:</p> + +<p>"If the Court please, gentlemen of the—Council; for I may denominate +this respectable body, a Court, while it is actually sitting in <i>banco</i>, +according to the peculiar laws by which it is governed—I have listened +thus far, to this summary trial—a trial which, I may say, is +unrecognized by any statute of which I am cognizant—with a high opinion +of the ability and learning with which it has been conducted. But, as a +prisoner on trial for his life, I respectfully submit, whether I have +not the right to ask that this trial shall be conducted according to +some recognized form. I have as yet seen no bill of indictment; I have +not been called upon to plead; in other words, I have not had the +privilege of alleging my innocence upon the record I have not been +confronted with witnesses—therefore, in a legal point of view, I may +consider this whole proceeding as <i>coram non judice</i> and void, and of no +binding force whatever. According to the law of the land, as generally +understood, I am entitled to all of these rights. I, therefore, upon +these grounds, to say nothing about many other points which I consider +equally conclusive, wish to raise the question of jurisdiction. I could, +doubtless, make a motion in arrest of judgment, <i>non obstante +veredicto</i>; but a question of jurisdiction can be interposed at any +time. I therefore respectfully submit, whether, according to the advice +of my friend, Deersfoot, a <i>nolle prosequi</i> should not be entered."</p> + +<p>"Bearsclaw has presented the case upon somewhat different grounds, but +he arrives at the same conclusions. He alleges that we are guilty of no +offence. He is correct, not only in fact, but as matter of law. It is a +principle of the law, originating in a benevolent idea of mercy, that a +prisoner is to be presumed innocent until he is proved guilty. I rely +upon this principle, and I hope the court will make a note of it. On +examination, it will be found to be a principle admirably adapted to +Indian jurisprudence. Upon all of these grounds, I insist that Mr. +Rogers and myself should be discharged."</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of this speech, Rogers, who had listened with great +pleasure, and who had a high idea of his friend's eloquence exclaimed +with a gesture that lifted the attorney at least a foot from the ground, +"Them's my sentiments, and they are good law anywhere."</p> + +<p>The Indians had listened to this voluble speech of the attorney with +mingled feelings of amazement and disgust. They could comprehend +scarcely a word of the discourse, but its general tenor they understood; +and that was, that he was begging for his life. If there is anything in +the conduct of a prisoner which removes from an Indian all idea of +mercy, it is an exhibition of cowardice, or a desire to escape torture, +except by force or stratagem. The current which had set in their favor, +on the conclusion of Deersfoot's speech, was effectually checked; and +all that was now wanting, was Panther's approval, to decide them in +favor of putting the prisoners to immediate torture.</p> + +<p>Panther arose, and the assembly immediately became silent.</p> + +<p>"Brothers," said he, "you have heard the words which have been spoken to +you. It is for you to say which are wise, and which are foolish. +Bearsclaw, Snake-tongue and Deersfoot have all told you what they think. +The pale-faces, too, have spoken to you. You have heard their words. I +think with Deersfoot, that we must have the scalps of the pale-faces at +the cottage, and the scalp of Canendesha. There is no warrior here that +does not say so. We have thought so from the first. It was not a new +thing with Deersfoot; you have all thought so. That is not the matter we +have come here to talk about. We should be ashamed to talk about it. We +know what we will do.</p> + +<p>"I say let these pale-faces die. They do not deserve to live. They are +bad men—they are bad even among the pale-faces, and the pale-faces hate +them. They are like snakes, and have forked tongues; they do not tell +what they think. They lie in the grass, and bite at the foot of the +unwary. Even the pale-faces hate them; but they are worse to the Injins +than they are to the pale-faces; for they steal away our +hunting-grounds. Why should we let them loose to lie like snakes in the +grass and bite at us? Bearsclaw says that they came to us, and that we +did not take them on the war-path. That is true; but they came to us +with forked tongues, to get away our prisoner; and I do not know but +that they did get him away. They came, and he is gone.</p> + +<p>"If we keep them prisoners, we shall have to set some of the warriors to +watch them. That we ought not to do; for we shall want all of our +warriors to-night. I have said more than I meant to say. They are not +worth talking about; they are not braves that will laugh at the torture, +and please our ears with harsh words. They are cowards that will cry and +faint. Such men are not fit to live. Let the pale-faces die."</p> + +<p>This conclusion was received by the Senecas with shouts of savage +exultation. The unfortunate prisoners quailed beneath the fiery glances +of their enemies. The attorney endeavored to speak, but his utterance +failed—fear deprived him of the power of speech. The bailiff, however, +as the danger actually approached, grew firm and brave, and looked at +them with that peculiar gaze with which the officer looks into the eyes +of the thief.</p> + +<p>The Senecas approached them for the purpose of preparing them for the +torture.</p> + +<p>"Stand back, you rascals!" cried the bailiff. "You are now in my +bailiwick. Look me in the eyes, if you dare, and see if you can stand +the gaze of the law."</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding this effort at overawing them, the Indians rudely +tore apart the thongs that bound the attorney and the bailiff together, +and dragged them into the woods south of the little clearing in which +they were.</p> + +<p>We shall not attempt to narrate the disgusting and horrible scene; but +on that day, the bar of Tryon county lost a distinguished member, and +that bailiwick a faithful officer.</p> + +<p>While these scenes of savage cruelty are being enacted, let us return to +the cottage. The presence of the Indians in their neighborhood, was +known to the inmates of the cottage; for, occasionally, during the +council, the ferocious yells which had cheered the "hit" of some +favorite orator, had been heard with distinctness. Neither Ichabod, +Eagle's-Wing, nor any one who was acquainted with the customs and habits +of the Indians, could doubt as to the nature of the proceedings, of +which they heard frequent indications. It was rendered certain, by the +fact that the Indians were about to take the lives of the prisoners, +that the cottage would be again attacked.</p> + +<p>"With us five inside here," said Ichabod, "I'd risk all the Injins this +side of Tophet—provided they didn't set down in reg'lar siege, or set +the buildings afire. I reckon that last remark of mine will be found to +be a pretty good guess, as to the worst danger we shall run in this +attack."</p> + +<p>"Other time, Seneca want prisoner," said the Tuscarora. "Didn't want +pale-face scalp, half so bad as now. They take 'em to-night, if they +can."</p> + +<p>"I think," said Ralph, "we can guard against danger by fire; but, +nevertheless, we should not be so certain of it as to neglect any proper +precautions. The wooden portions of the building are very dry and if the +Indians can get fire upon the roof, we shall, indeed, run a serious +danger, for we could not show ourselves upon the outside, without +presenting fair marks for every Indian rifle."</p> + +<p>"The house is well provided with water," said Barton. "We have a large +cistern, which is supplied by an unfailing stream that comes down from +the west."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but the question is," said Ichabod, "how we're going to get the +water upon the roof, in case of necessity? The difficulty, in that +business, has been stated by the Captin. Now, I've got an idea about +managing the matter, if it comes to the worst; and that is, to leave the +cottage, and take to the water."</p> + +<p>This idea took the whole party by surprise; and Barton, with a look of +incredulity, asked Ichabod how he supposed they should be able to leave +the burning building without being exposed to the watchful eyes of the +Indians.</p> + +<p>"That's the p'int, Squire, that I've been thinking about; and +Eagle's-Wing and I have been talking it over, and you'll see we'll +manage it, in case of necessity. It's rayther risky, sartin; but I +calculate it ain't any more so than it would be to stay here, and be +burnt up. The best calculations will fail sometimes, in war, as well as +in business matters: but if them Injins should drive us to it, they'll +have to show more cunning than the sarpints have yet shown, to keep our +plan from working."</p> + +<p>The manner of the escape—should it be necessary—with as many of the +details as could be anticipated, were agreed upon and arranged. Any such +anticipation was sufficiently melancholy, as, if they were driven from +the cottage, they would be much more exposed to the danger of capture +than they had yet been. On the conclusion of these arrangements, Ralph +found himself by the side of Ruth, who seemed to be suffering a great +depression of spirits, from the saddening forebodings which she had +overheard. She had become attached to her quiet home—she had acquired a +fondness for the objects by which she was surrounded; and she could not +think of their destruction, without a feeling of exquisite sorrow.</p> + +<p>"If such be the will of Heaven," she said to Ralph, "we must submit."</p> + +<p>"It is but an anticipation. Ruth, against which we must guard. We may +succeed in repelling this attack, as easily as we did the former. But it +is not to be disguised, that while on the previous attack, the great +object of the enmity of the Indians was the Tuscarora; now, <i>we</i> as well +as <i>he</i> are the objects; and they will resort to the method we have +anticipated, if possible."</p> + +<p>"Would it not be better to escape at once? We could leave the cottage, +now, without danger; but during the attack, it seems to me it will be +impossible to do so."</p> + +<p>"We should then certainly abandon the cottage to destruction, and +encounter dangers that now are only possible and not certain. No, I am +willing to trust to the plan suggested by Ichabod and Eagle's-Wing. +Although they have not given us the full details of it, I think I +understand it. We have, thus far, been signally successful, and let us +rely upon our good fortune a little farther."</p> + +<p>"Say, rather, Ralph, upon God. It is His power, only, that supports and +protects us."</p> + +<p>Ralph at once admitted the propriety of the correction. "In affairs of +the world, we use worldly terms. We speak of the protection we receive +from our good fortune, without intending to imply any doubt of the +protection which we receive from Heaven."</p> + +<p>"Would it not be better, Ralph, at all times to acknowledge, by a proper +use of words, our dependence upon Him from whom good or bad fortune +proceeds, than only to acknowledge the results of circumstances?"</p> + +<p>"I do not doubt it. Let us rely upon His assistance, then," said Ralph. +"We shall certainly need it, to-night."</p> + +<p>The sun was already sinking behind the western hills, into a rich mass +of crimson clouds. The night approached with a melancholy step, and +every heart in the cottage beat with anxiety for the first sound that +should indicate the presence of the enemy. The aspect of nature was calm +and lovely. The setting sun wore the look of yesterday; familiar objects +gazed brightly in the golden garments which were woven around them; the +long shadows pointed eastward, towards the coming to-morrow. But who can +foretell, from the look of this day, what shall be the appearance of the +next?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Ah! whence yon glare,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That fires the arch of heaven?—that dark-red smoke,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Blotting the silver moon?"</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">SHELLEY.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>An hour had passed, and yet there were no indications of an attack. The +inmates of the cottage had taken their places as on the night of the +previous conflict; and, with all their senses upon the alert, endeavored +to detect the approach of an enemy, from whom so much was to be feared. +Ruth and Singing-Bird had both taken positions by the loop-holes, and +without strenuous objection; for, on a night that threatened to be so +dangerous, they, even, might render important resistance. Another hour +passed. Was it possible that the Indians, satisfied with the lives of +their two unfortunate prisoners, had abandoned the idea of again +attacking the cottage? This query presented itself to the mind of more +than one of the little garrison; and it was with a pleasant thrill of +hope, that the idea first occurred to the mind of Ruth. Even Ichabod, +with all his experience in Indian character, suggested to Eagle's-Wing +the possibility that such a hope might be well-founded.</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer; "don't know Injins if you think so. They come, +sartin, by'mby. Panther cunning Injin. He mean to get cottage to-night, +any way—that what it means."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose, Eagle's-Wing, that they're anywhere round here now?" +asked Ichabod, more to hear what his friend would answer, than for any +other purpose.</p> + +<p>"Guess so; guess that ravine <i>full</i> of Injins. Hear 'em, by'mby. They +won't yell nor shoot. Know that don't do any good. Can't shoot through +logs; that they know."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you're about right, Eagle's-Wing. They want to put us off our +guard; and by-and-by some miscreant will try to set us afire. But if we +watch, we can prevent that; they can't <i>carry</i> fire without our seeing +it."</p> + +<p>"Don't know that. Little spark make great fire, sometime. Hide little +spark pretty well, if they try."</p> + +<p>The night had now become dark; the sky was partly obscured by +clouds—sufficiently so to render it extremely difficult to discern +objects no larger than the size of a man, at even a rod's distance. But +while the darkness would allow the Indians to approach nearer the +building with less chance of detection, it would also render it more +difficult for them to conceal any attempt to set the cottage on fire.</p> + +<p>Two, three, or even four hours, might elapse ere any demonstration on +the part of the Senecas would be made. This uncertainty, united with the +darkness and silence which reigned both within and without, tasked the +spirits of the defenders more than any open attack would have done. No +anxiety is more overpowering than that of awaiting an event the coming +of which is to be dreaded, and yet which will certainly arrive. In the +whole range of catastrophes to which mankind are subject, there is, +perhaps, but one important exception to this remark, and that is the +great catastrophe to which each individual of the human family is +subject, which is certain to arrive, and which is universally dreaded. +It may arrive soon or late—no one knows when, or how it will come; yet +the anxiety incident to that event, is easily overcome; and one by one, +a generation passes away, each one knowing well his doom, yet neglecting +the least preparation.</p> + +<p>This anxiety at length became so irksome, that a desultory conversation +sprung up between the different individuals of the party—yet, without +any cessation of watchfulness, Ichabod, who had remained silent since +the last reply of Eagle's-Wing, now again addressed his companion.</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't it be a good idea for one of us to reconnoitre a little? +We could find out for sartin whether any of the reptiles are ra'ally +round here or not?"</p> + +<p>Eagle's-Wing did not answer. His eyes seemed to be strained almost from +their sockets in endeavoring to pierce the darkness. Suddenly the +silence was broken by the discharge of his rifle; and at the unexpected +sound amidst the unnatural quiet which reigned around them, every member +of the little garrison started simultaneously with the report. A scream +was heard from the outside, towards the ravine, and Ichabod saw an +Indian fall struggling upon the ground, while a small brand of fire fell +by his side upon the dry leaves along the edge of the ravine.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Eagle's-Wing!" exclaimed Ichabod. "It takes an Injin to see +an Injin in the dark; but that rascal won't set fire to the cottage, any +way."</p> + +<p>"Plenty more, down yonder, where he come from. They keep still, though; +won't be foolish, this time."</p> + +<p>It was true, that although the Seneca had fallen, and the brand of fire +which he had carried concealed, lay by his side; not a sound indicated +the presence of another enemy. They had failed in this attempt; but +another might be more successful. It was evident, that on this occasion, +the Senecas would throw away no chances of triumph.</p> + +<p>It has already been mentioned that the forest on the edge of the ravine, +approached within three or four rods of the cottage; and as the ground +was strewn with dry leaves and dead underbrush, the feelings of safety +which the defenders of the cottage, for a moment, had entertained on the +detection of this attempt to set the building on fire, was now exchanged +for alarm. The brand which had fallen by the side of the Indian, had +unfortunately fallen upon a small pile of dry underbrush, which was also +covered with dry leaves. A slight wind, which now blew in occasional +light gusts from the northward, ignited the whole brand into a live +coal, and a feeble blaze began to ascend from around it.</p> + +<p>"<i>Con</i>-found the fire!" exclaimed Ichabod. "I'll try and stop that +enemy, any way."</p> + +<p>He discharged his rifle at the burning brand, and the coal flew +scattered in all directions. This was a risk which he foresaw. The +scattered coals might fall upon other places which were equally +dangerous; if so, the danger would be increased; but there was a chance, +too, that they might fall upon places where they would be extinguished. +For a moment, the experiment seemed perfectly successful; a feeble and +flickering blaze, that seemed about to expire, only remained where the +brand had originally fallen. But another slight gust of wind now came, +and the feeble blaze streamed upwards into a steady fire.</p> + +<p>"Over here, with your rifles," shouted Ichabod; and five rifles were at +once discharged into the burning pile. The blazing brush was partially +scattered; but that now seemed to increase the danger. The wind came in +gentle currents, and the dry leaves and brush were taking fire in +half-a-dozen different places. It was useless to fight an enemy which +was only multiplied and made more dangerous by defeat.</p> + +<p>"I reckon it's bad enough," said Ichabod, "to have to fight them +rascally Injins, without being obliged to fight the elements, besides. +Wind, fire, and Injins, all at once, are <i>rayther</i> too much for human +natur'."</p> + +<p>"What's to be done now?" inquired Barton, who had become very much +agitated by this new danger, for it was apparent that should the dry +wood in the forest set fire to the trees, as would be most likely, with +a northern wind to blow the flames in the direction of the cottage, +nothing could prevent the building from taking fire. But there was yet +hope; the fire might be confined to the underbrush, and expire without +catching among the trees.</p> + +<p>"I don't know of anything we can do just now, Squire," replied Ichabod, +to the question of Barton, "except to wait. I've known things to be as +desp'rate before, and come out right in the end. I don't like it, +though, that's sartin. I'm afeard, Eagle's-Wing, that we shall have to +try that thing we talked about."</p> + +<p>"Think so, too," was the calm reply of the Tuscarora; "when time come, +then I'm ready."</p> + +<p>For a short time, the anxiety felt in the cottage was extreme. It was +yet doubtful whether there was any serious danger from this new enemy or +not. But the fire steadily increased; it ran along the ground, catching +from bush to bush, and among heaps of dry bushes and limbs of trees, +which had been collected by the labor of Barton, and soon the light +began to penetrate the recesses of the forest. The red rays darted in +among the old trees, and lit them up with a strange, wild glare. The +flames crept along with steady pace, as the fire increased, until the +whole ravine was suddenly illumined by a blaze of light, and in its +recesses were disclosed the main body of the Senecas, watching with +savage delight the insidious approaches of their new ally. When they saw +that they were discovered, a wild yell of exultation broke from every +throat, and darting from the ravine, they scattered in all directions +about the cottage; but at sufficient distance to be out of reach of the +rifles. For a short time, all was silent again, and all were intent upon +observing the progress of this new assailant.</p> + +<p>The whole surface of the ground for four or five rods in extent, +immediately north of the cottage, seemed now to be on fire. At numerous +points, the fire raged intensely, and shot up tall spires, of flames +among the crackling branches; now catching upon the mossy side of a +tree, it ran upward, darting with the rapidity of lightning for a +moment, then suddenly expiring, leaving a blackened crust, instead of +the fresh green moss. The wind gradually blew stronger and wilder. +Unluckily, heaps of dry wood had been piled around the trunks of trees, +and now the bodies of those trees were seen to be on fire. Up among the +branches leaped the flames: points of fire darted here and there, like +blazing serpents, while, borne by the wind, thick clouds of sparks began +to load the air, and dart towards the doomed roof of the cottage. Soon, +a steady stream of flame began to mount the trunk of a tall dead pine, +which stood upon the edge of the forest. Upward and upward it crept; now +pausing, as if to gnaw inward into its centre, then darting with a leap +like a wild beast, pouncing on its prey. Around the base of the tree, +the fire raged intensely, for here a mass of dry limbs and logs had been +collected; and momentarily, the flames from all sides ate inwardly +towards its centre. A few dry and leafless limbs stood out from the old +trunk, pointing upward; and along these the fire now crept, and they +seemed like tortured arms held bleeding to the sky.</p> + +<p>The cottage was no longer safe. A few moments more, and the pine must +fall; if it fell upon the cottage, it would crush it into a heap of +ruins; and if this danger was avoided, the fire could not be escaped. +The intense heat already penetrated the building, and through the +loop-holes streamed the light, with a red, unearthly glare. The Indians +saw that the inmates must either endeavor to escape or be consumed. They +had scattered about the cottage in all directions; not a point was left +unguarded, where their victims could escape; and as the moment of +vengeance approached nearer and nearer, they testified their joy by loud +and exulting shrieks. Every window, every door was guarded; the roof of +the cottage stood out against the sky, and every crack and cranny of its +thatching was exposed. Suddenly, to their surprise and delight, the door +that opened upon the roof was lifted, and their most hated enemy, the +Tuscarora, leaped from the glaring rafters with his rifle in his hand, +and stood for a moment before their eyes, erect and fearless. In the +strong, red light, every feature of his countenance could be +traced—every gesture could be marked. With a steady look of +indifference, he gazed about him for a moment, then darting forward, +leaped from the roof to the ground. The place selected for the leap was +the south-west angle of the building, where he would fall within the +shadow. Thirty rifles had been raised to shoot at him; but the +admiration of the Senecas at this exploit had probably saved his life; +for not a rifle was discharged, until he had darted forward in his leap +into the darkness. Every Indian rushed forward towards the spot where +the Tuscarora had been seen to leap; for this, the most prized, the most +hated of their enemies, they deemed to be now inevitably in their power. +The Tuscarora staggered as he struck the ground; but instantly gathering +himself, he darted towards the grove. Two Senecas leaped before him, who +had been stationed at this point—the others not having yet arrived. +With a blow from his rifle he knocked down one of them, and darting past +the other, gained the grove. The Senecas who had now arrived about the +cottage from the different points, set out in chase; but Panther, who +saw that this would afford means for those yet within the building to +escape, after the lapse of a few minutes, was able to recall a portion +of the Senecas, who were again distributed about the cottage.</p> + +<p>But these few minutes had accomplished all that the Tuscarora had +designed. Before he ascended the roof, the remainder of the party inside +gathered by the window through which Guthrie bore off Ruth, on the night +of the former attack. The ladder was in readiness, and at the moment +when the Senecas were seen to rush past the eastern side of the cottage +in pursuit of the Tuscarora, the window was opened, the ladder let down, +and one by one the party quickly descended—Ichabod descending last. As +he stepped out upon the ladder, he closed the window—and when he had +reached the ground, the ladder was thrown down by the side of the +cottage. The party instantly set out toward the pond, and at a distance +of about ten rods, they had descended the hill to a point where they +were concealed in the darkness. It was at just about this moment, that +Panther had again distributed a portion of the Senecas about the +cottage, while another portion was in pursuit of the Tuscarora. Their +flight had thus far been unobserved; and now they walked more leisurely +towards the shore of the pond, where they expected to find the boat +which we described on a former occasion, and the position of which had +been noticed by Ichabod, just before dark, from the cottage. After a +little time, the boat was reached; the party entered it, and an extra +supply of rifles, which had been brought from the cottage, was carefully +deposited. They shoved off from the shore, which, at this point might, +in the progress of the fire, become exposed—and paddling northward, +reached a point where the hill ascended, on the crest, sharply from the +shore, but where the land was sufficiently low in a north-westerly +direction to allow them to obtain a good and but partially obstructed +view of the cottage.</p> + +<p>But a few moments after they had taken up this position, they discovered +the roof of the cottage to be on fire. The sparks and pieces of blazing +bark which were blown from the ravine had fallen upon the thatching, +which was of light and combustible material, and had ignited it at +various points; and slowly but surely the flames began to devour this, +the only obstacle, as the Senecas believe, to their complete triumph.</p> + +<p>Soon, the fugitives saw the top of the tall, dry pine begin to rock and +waver with its blazing crown; then, slowly bending southward, the huge +trunk fell across the cottage, crushing in the burning roof, and +starting the logs from their places in the sides of the building. The +shrieks of the Indians were horrible, as they now supposed that their +victims were fully in their power. Leaping forwards, they broke in the +doors, and rushed in among the flames. From room to room, they wandered. +Up the stairway, which was covered with burning coals, they rushed, and +gazed in among the fallen and blazing rafters. Not a pale-face was to be +seen. The Senecas could not believe that they had escaped; and again and +again every point and portion of the cottage was searched; until, at +length, it became apparent that their victims had fled. But how, and +where? The superstitious feelings of the Indians, for a moment, were +excited; and they thought that their intended victims must have been +rescued by the direct interposition of the Great Spirit of the +pale-faces. But Panther, saw at once, the manner of the escape; and that +it had been accomplished while the attention of the Senecas was +withdrawn by the daring exploit of the Tuscarora. He immediately ordered +the Indians to scour the woods in all directions, and particularly the +shores of the pond.</p> + +<p>The party in the boat could see, from the gestures of the Indians, the +extent of their surprise; and they also well understood the directions +of Panther. They carefully paddled the boat farther out into the pond, +and more towards the northern shore, where they would be completely +hidden, for the present, in the shadows of the hills and trees, from the +light of the fire.</p> + +<p>"Them reptiles are deceived this time, any way," said Ichabod, laughing. +"If Eagle's-Wing only gets through his part, according to the programme, +we may consider ourselves pretty tolerably lucky; and I haven't any +doubt but what he will. We shall hear from him before a great while. I +agreed to lay off up here for him."</p> + +<p>"That was a daring act on the part of Eagle's-Wing," said Ralph; "and +had I known precisely his purpose, I doubt whether I, for one, should +have assented to it. The chances were ten to one, against his escaping +with life."</p> + +<p>"Lord love you, Captain," said Ichabod, "Eagle's-Wing knows Injin natur' +pretty well, considering he's an Injin himself; and he knew that them +rascals would be so astonished, that they wouldn't fire at him till he +had time to get out of their sight. What I was most afeard on, was his +getting off the roof; but it's all right, and went off according to +contract," and Ichabod laughed.</p> + +<p>"I can easily bear the destruction of my property," said Barton, "if +Eagle's-Wing escapes. But I think, as Ralph does, that if you had +disclosed the nature of your plan, I should have opposed it. I should, +rather, have relied upon fighting our way through to the shore."</p> + +<p>"Didn't we know that?" asked Ichabod, with a laugh. "Nobody but +Singing-Bird was let into that secret; and she, bless her little soul, +ra'ally insisted, for a long time, on going to the roof with him: but +she's got reason, and finally consented to the arrangement."</p> + +<p>Singing-Bird, to whom all eyes were now directed, in admiration, only +answered:</p> + +<p>"Eagle's-Wing do that for friend. He 'members friend. He wouldn't be +brave Injin if he didn't do <i>somet'ing</i> for friend."</p> + +<p>"He has always been the creditor in an account," answered Barton. "He +has given us no opportunity, yet, to repay him for anything."</p> + +<p>Both Barton and Ruth, notwithstanding their thankfulness at this escape, +surveyed the destruction of the cottage with feelings of melancholy. To +Barton, it was the home of his old age—where he had planted his +household gods, with the hope that they would survive him. The cottage +had been erected, and had gradually been made a comfortable dwelling, by +his labor; while around it, he had rescued fair fields from the +wilderness, from which he had hoped to derive the means of prosperity. +To Ruth, it was endeared by other associations; and they both saw that +all the hopes and dreams which they had cherished, were ended, and that +this place must again—even if they ultimately succeeded in escaping +from their enemies—pass from their possession, if not from their +remembrance. Barton continued, in answer to Singing-Bird:</p> + +<p>"And my power to repay him, is gone. I am now an old man, deprived of +everything but my daughter and my life. But I cannot complain. The +Lord's will be done."</p> + +<p>"Let us not think about our loss," said Ruth earnestly, "since we have +saved so much. We truly have need to be thankful to a kind Providence, +that we and all our friends have escaped with our lives."</p> + +<p>At this moment, a rifle was heard, at a few rods distance apparently on +the western shore; and at the same instant, there was a sound as of a +heavy body falling into the water. The idea occurred to each in the +boat, that this might be the Tuscarora, and the boat was instantly moved +in that direction. As they approached the shore, they heard some of the +enemy talking, and evidently laboring under a great excitement; and it +was easy to believe that it was owing to the escape of Eagle's-Wing. +They had reached, in perfect silence, within eight or ten rods of the +shore, when Ichabod discovered an Indian swimming towards the boat. It +was the Tuscarora, and he was lifted in, panting with fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Long run had this time," said he, "They almost catch me—they shoot me +a little; but better have arm shot, than lose scalp though."</p> + +<p>It was found, on examination, that the ball had merely penetrated the +fleshy part of his arm, without having done any very serious injury. It +was immediately bandaged by Ralph, with as much care as their means +would permit; while Ichabod and the negro paddled the boat towards the +northern shore.</p> + +<p>It has been mentioned before, in the brief description which we gave of +the pond, that on the north was a low marshy flat, and that the edge of +the pond was thickly bordered with willows and other bushes; but back a +short distance from the shore, the bushes were few and stinted in +growth, while the marsh was so soft, that it was impassable to one +unacquainted with it, even by the aid of day-light. Ichabod and the +Tuscarora were both confident that the Senecas had no canoes upon the +pond; and that there was only one upon the river in the possession of +the Senecas, and that this one was only capable of carrying three or +four persons. There were no materials at hand with which a raft could be +constructed; and it was with a feeling of security that the boat was +made fast among the willows for the night.</p> + +<p>The fire about the cottage, for a time, had been gradually diminishing; +and thicker and thicker fell the darkness upon forest and water. +Gradually the shrieks and cries of the Indians subsided, and silence at +length fell upon the scene.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Hence, strangers, to your native shore!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Far from our Indian shades retire."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">FRENEAU.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>When the morning light had rendered objects sufficiently visible, the +party in the boat endeavored to get a view of their precise situation. +The place where the cottage had stood, could be distinctly seen; but +instead of the dwelling, there appeared nothing but a mass of black and +smoking ruins. But not an Indian was to be seen. The party partook of a +very frugal breakfast; for previous to their flight, they had secured a +few articles of food—sufficient, if sparingly used, to last them for +three or four days.</p> + +<p>"The question now seems to be," said Ichabod, "what we're going to do +next. Here we are—the cottage is burnt down—that factory project is +blowed up, for a while, at least; and providing—I say, <i>providing</i>, we +<i>can</i> get away from these villainous reptiles, I'm for steering for the +settlements."</p> + +<p>"I think that will be the course that we must adopt," said Ralph. "It +will be a tedious undertaking, in the face of all our difficulties, as +we shall be obliged to walk the whole distance the horses will +undoubtedly either be destroyed or captured by the Indians. Could they +be saved, so that Miss Barton and Singing-Bird could ride, it would not +be so difficult."</p> + +<p>Barton assented with a melancholy look. "There's no use," he said, "in +my attempting to rebuild the cottage, even if the Senecas abandon the +country. I am getting old, and cannot labor as I once could. Yes—we +shall have to go to the settlements."</p> + +<p>Ruth assured them that she could walk the distance necessary with +perfect ease. As for Singing-Bird, she laughed at the idea of riding.</p> + +<p>As all assented to this proposal, the next thing was to find the means +of escape from their present difficulties. It would not be safe to leave +their cover in the willows, so long as the Senecas remained; and it was +hoped, that not discovering them upon the pond, they would, after +searching for them in the woods, for a day or two, finally abandon the +hope of capturing them, and either set out on their return to their own +country, or remove farther down the valley.</p> + +<p>A feeling of joyful excitement pervaded the party. The extreme danger of +their situation on the previous night, their fortunate flight, and the +hope of an early escape, served to awaken this feeling, which, even +Barton and Ruth, who were so much the greatest sufferers by recent +events, shared with the others.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said Barton, "that Jenkins will most seriously feel the +consequences of our removal to the settlements. First, he loses a +fortune by the failure of that city-lot and factory speculation; and +next, he runs the risk of escape from the Senecas, to be captured and +imprisoned by his pale-faced friends."</p> + +<p>"Now, that's rather too hard, Squire," said Ichabod. "That factory +business will keep for some years, at least: and as for that other +matter, I hope that fellow Parsons will discover from the fate of his +two officers, who took up the business on speculation, that there's a +special Providence agin his collecting it. But if he don't see reason, +we'll try and manage it."</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora, who had taken no part in the conversation but who had +simply exchanged a few words, at intervals, with Singing-Bird, which +seemed to cloud her face with anxiety, now arose, and stretching his arm +towards the south, merely uttered the common Indian ejaculation of +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!"</p> + +<p>The others immediately arose, and after a few moments, their eyes became +fastened upon a sight, which attracted their attention. On the opposite +shore of the pond, some half-a-dozen Indians were seen, busily at work, +partially hidden behind bushes that grew to the water's edge. It was +evident that they were engaged in the construction of a raft, with which +they probably intended to search the northern shore. Though this +afforded some cause for alarm, yet, as a raft large enough to convey a +sufficiently numerous party to attack them with any chance of success, +would be too unwieldy to be moved through the water, except with the +greatest labor—they had no fear but that, if their landing-place should +be discovered, they would be able, by the greater ease with which their +boat could be managed, to escape from its pursuit. So long as they could +remain near the northern shore, they would be comparatively safe, as +they had no fear of any attack in that quarter, by land. No force +sufficiently large could penetrate in that direction, to give them any +uneasiness; but should they be driven by the raft from their present +position, they might be compelled, in escaping from it, to pass between +it and the shore, at some point where they might be exposed to an attack +from either. But for the present, they maintained their position, and +awaited the movements of the enemy.</p> + +<p>It was probable that their precise position was unknown, although the +sagacity of the Indians would convince them that the fugitives must be +concealed somewhere on the northern shore. The woods had been thoroughly +searched, and no traces of the fugitives had been found, while the +disappearance of the boat, together with the fact that they could not +observe it upon the pond, was sufficient to induce them to believe that +the fugitives were yet in their power, had they any means to reach them. +They could not, without days of labor, construct canoes by which they +would be able to compete in speed with the boat in the possession of the +fugitives; but by building a large raft, which could be accomplished in +two or three hours, they might man it with sufficient numbers to move it +readily from place to place, as well as to capture the fugitives, should +they overtake them.</p> + +<p>An hour or two had elapsed since Eagle's-Wing discovered the employment +of the Senecas, when they saw a large number of Indians collected +together at the place where the raft was being constructed. Soon they +saw the unwieldy structure moved into the pond; when about fifteen of +the Senecas, some with poles for urging the raft along the shore, and +others with paddles for use in the deeper water, got upon it, and forced +it into the pond. At first, they kept close to the shore, but soon +struck out into the deeper water. Their progress was extremely slow; but +it was sufficiently rapid to keep pace with the anxiety of the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>The point was earnestly debated between Ichabod and his companions, +whether they should trust to the cover in which they now were, or +whether, on the near approach of the Indians, they should push out into +the pond. But it was finally agreed, as the safest course, to trust to +the water; as, were they to remain where they now were, and should they +be discovered, they would be compelled to fight at great odds; and +besides, there would be no means of flight; while, should they adopt +the other course, they might keep out of reach of the rifles of the +Indians; or if not, they could, at least, be in a condition to maintain +the fight at less odds and with greater chance of escape.</p> + +<p>The raft had been urged to some distance from the shore into the deep +water; it was moved towards the north-east shore, with the intention, +evidently, of carrying it thence, along the whole southern side of the +pond. It finally reached the shore, at which point, it was from thirty +to forty rods from the spot where the boat was concealed. As the Indians +began to move along the shore, partly by the use of poles, and partly by +pulling upon the willows, the boat shot out from its cove into the pond. +The Indians witnessed it with loud yells of joy both from the raft and +the shore; and three or four rifles from the raft were discharged, but +the bullets struck in the water, their force being spent before reaching +the boat. The fugitives moved leisurely towards the centre of the pond, +while the Indians who manned the raft, resumed the use of their paddles, +and endeavored to follow them. The boat kept its distance from the raft, +moving towards the south-west shore, until it had reached a position +just out of range of the fire of the Senecas from the land. As the +Indians upon the raft came up almost near enough to use their rifles +effectively, the boat, urged by five paddles, passed between it and the +south shore. It took no little time and labor to check the motion of the +raft, and when that had been accomplished, the boat was again +approaching the northern shore, and had nearly reached the point from +which it started. It was evident to the Indians upon the raft, that they +might thus be evaded during the whole day and they now ceased their +attempt to follow the fugitives.</p> + +<p>It was now nearly noon; and both the raft and boat lay motionless upon +the water.</p> + +<p>"There's deviltry in this business, somewhere," said Ichabod.</p> + +<p>"Injins done what they should have done this morning," said +Eagle's-Wing. "They gone after canoe."</p> + +<p>"That's it, Eagle's-Wing; and I reckon that when they've got it +launched, we shall have our hands full."</p> + +<p>"I am not certain," said Ralph, "but that we may hold out until night; +and then, perhaps, we should take to the shore, and run our chance in +the woods."</p> + +<p>"I'm of your opinion, Captin," said Ichabod, "provided we <i>can</i> hold out +until night. But I reckon—and I ain't use to giving up a speculation, +while there's a chance of making anything out of it—that if we stay +<i>here</i>, we shall lose our scalps, and if we go <i>there</i> it will be just +about the same thing. I'm blamed if I see my way out of it."</p> + +<p>"You must not despair, Ichabod," said Ruth—"if <i>you</i> do that; we shall +lose heart altogether."</p> + +<p>"Lord bless you, girl, I shouldn't <i>despair</i> till them villainous +reptiles have got my scalp beyond the hope of redemption; and when that +thing happens, I shall <i>have</i> to give it up. But what do <i>you</i> say, +Eagle's-Wing?"</p> + +<p>"Guess we lose our scalps. That's what I say," sententiously replied the +Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"But not without a fight for 'em, though," said Ichabod.</p> + +<p>"Has any one ever explored this swamp?" suddenly asked Ralph. "Is it not +possible that we may find some tolerably safe cover in it?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know that it has ever been thoroughly explored," answered +Barton; "but any place where we can go, those Senecas can follow."</p> + +<p>"I am not so certain about that," replied Ralph. "If you will put me +ashore, I will reconnoiter it."</p> + +<p>The boat again entered the cover, and Ralph stepped out upon the turf, +and instantly sank to his knees in the mud. But, clinging to the +willows, he extricated himself, and, assisted by the roots, which +furnished a sure footing, he passed some twenty rods from the shore, +when he discovered a little island of hard soil, not more than twenty +feet across in either direction, and which could only be reached, as he +ascertained on examination, by one path, part of which was formed by the +trunk of a fallen tree, some forty or fifty feet in length. He returned +with a heart relieved of half its load, to the boat; and he had but just +reached it, when the Indians upon the raft set up a loud yell of joy. +The cause was soon ascertained; for immediately afterwards, four Senecas +were seen approaching with a canoe, which they had brought from the +river. No time was to be lost, as the canoe and raft together would, +undoubtedly, be able to outmatch the boat, and either compel them to a +fight against great odds, or drive them to the shore.</p> + +<p>Ralph hastily communicated the result of his reconnoisance, and their +resolution was instantly formed. The party immediately left the boat; +and in a few minutes, although with great difficulty, they reached the +little island which had been discovered by Ralph. As soon as it was +reached, they saw its capabilities as a place of defence. It was +surrounded upon all sides by the swamp, and was approachable from no +point, except from that at which they reached it. Upon the island were +two large trees, behind which Ruth and Singing-Bird could remain in +safety, in case of an attempt to dislodge them from the only practicable +point. There were also thick clumps of willows around it, behind which +they could remain concealed, except upon a near approach of the enemy, +against which they thought themselves able to guard. Ichabod was highly +delighted with this new place of defence.</p> + +<p>"We're safe here, Captin. I'll risk all the Injins this side of the +infarnal legions, as long as our ammunition holds out. I'd like to see +them red devils poking their heads over them bushes, yonder."</p> + +<p>"You'll see them soon enough," answered Ralph; "but I think we shall +escape captivity to-night, at least."</p> + +<p>Preparations were now made for the effectual concealment of the women; +and when this was done, the rifles were all examined and put in +readiness. Scarcely had their preparations been concluded, when a loud +shout from the Indians announced that they had discovered the empty +boat. The path of the fugitives could easily be traced; and the latter +did not doubt but that a few moments would bring one or more of their +enemies in sight.</p> + +<p>Not more than ten minutes had elapsed, ere Ichabod discovered a Seneca +cautiously making his way along the path which they had taken, clinging +to the willows.</p> + +<p>"I'll give that fellow a taste of what his companions will get by +calling on us," said Ichabod. "It wouldn't be civil to refuse him what +he's come so far to get."</p> + +<p>Taking aim, he discharged his rifle, and the Seneca fell lifeless, +vainly grasping at the willows for support. The Indians who were behind, +endeavored to press forward; but again and again the rifles of the +defenders were discharged, and five or six dead or wounded Indians +testified to Ichabod and his companions, that the place could be +successfully defended. The Indians themselves saw the hopelessness of +approaching the fugitives directly in the face, and rapidly retreated +towards the boats.</p> + +<p>But to the astonishment of the little party on the island, scarcely had +the Senecas regained their boat, ere they heard a rapid discharge of +rifles on their left, with loud shrieks and yells, testifying the +arrival of another party of Indians. Were they friends or foes? The +Tuscarora rapidly swung himself into one of the trees upon the Island, +when with a yell of exultation which was answered from fifty throats he +shouted, "the Oneidas,—the Tuscaroras!"</p> + +<p>Rapidly Eagle's-Wing, Ichabod and Ralph retraced their way to the place +where they had left the boat; when they beheld the Senecas moving as +swiftly across the pond towards the south-west shore, as the nature of +their cumbrous raft would allow. The four Senecas in the canoe had +already nearly reached the shore. On the left they beheld a large band +of Oneidas and Tuscaroras, forty or fifty in number, who were following +the retreating Senecas. In a few moments more the released party had +re-entered their boat, and were following the Senecas upon the raft. +They had come within fair rifle-shot, as the raft touched the shore; +their rifles were discharged, and the Senecas plunged hastily into the +forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"How would you be,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">If He, who is the top of judgment, should</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But judge you as you are? O, think on that!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And mercy then will breathe within your lips</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Like man new made."</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;">MEASURE FOR MEASURE</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>The now liberated party left the boat, and with mingled feelings of +joyfulness for their delivery, and of sadness for the waste and +desolation caused by the unmerciful savages, proceeded towards the spot +where had once stood the dwelling of Barton. Scarcely a trace was left +of the cottage, and nothing but a mass of half-consumed and charred and +blackened timbers indicated that here had once been the habitation of a +happy family. On the north, the trees had been stripped of their leaves, +their trunks and boughs blackened and partially consumed, while the +ground appeared to have been covered with a carpet of fire. The lawn +about the cottage had been made desolate, and the shrubbery and flowers +that had began to gladden the wilderness with new and unaccustomed +beauties, had been trodden down and broken as with a wanton and +malicious desire on the part of the Indians to destroy every vestige of +civilization.</p> + +<p>A portion of the friendly Oneidas and Tuscaroras had followed in pursuit +of the Senecas, accompanied by Eagle's-Wing, who, on reaching the land, +had rushed with frantic haste to join and lead the pursuers, over whom +he was an acknowledged chief. Another portion, after going around the +south shore of the pond, with feelings of curiosity, sought this scene +of desolation, where they arrived a little before the party from the +boat. The savages moved about the mass of smoking ruins with excited +countenances and flashing eyes, and at every discovery of some blackened +and despoiled article of domestic use, gave vent to ejaculations, +either, of surprise or pleasure. As Barton, and the party from the boat +approached, the Oneidas, with a courtesy and delicate appreciation of +the feelings of Barton and his daughter, retired from the ruins towards +the grove, where, gathered in knots, or lying lazily upon the ground, +they gazed upon the pale-faces with mingled looks of curiosity and +sympathy.</p> + +<p>The cattle enclosure, which had stood by the side of the cottage, had +also been mostly destroyed; that portion of it, however farthest from +the dwelling, being least injured. The few cattle which had been shut up +in it, had perished, and their bodies more or less consumed, were found +among the ruins; but no traces were seen of the horses. The door of the +enclosure seemed, from the fact that a portion of it was found on one +side, unharmed, to have been broken open, and it was presumed, that the +Indians had taken possession of them.</p> + +<p>The barn, however, which was at a few rods distance, on the west, was +wholly uninjured; and Ichabod and the negro, assisted by two or three of +the Oneidas, began, at once, to put a portion of it in readiness for the +temporary occupation of Barton and his daughter. It would, at least, +afford a shelter; and however rude and uncomfortable it might be, it was +a happy exchange for the mode of life to which they had been compelled +on the previous night.</p> + +<p>Tears came into the eyes of Ruth, as she surveyed the desolation by +which she was surrounded. Scarcely a vestige could be found of those +delicate and womanly labors by which she had adorned her dwelling; and +it was with a feeling of momentary anguish that her eyes ran over the +familiar places, and found nothing upon which to rest but the marks of +violence and brutality. The whole party shared this feeling, and they +surveyed the scene, for a few moments, with a melancholy silence. +Ichabod was the first who gave voice to his feelings:</p> + +<p>"Don't be cast down, Miss Ruth; and you, Squire, keep up a good courage. +I've seen many an unfortunate speculation in my day; but somehow or +other, there is always a kind of philosophy in these things. The first +feeling is a hard one; it swells up the heart, and is apt to provoke +rebellious and unnatural thoughts; but it comes round all right in the +end. You'll yet be happy in another home, and then all these things will +be forgotten, except that <i>one</i> lesson, that they teach, and that is, +that all speculations are in the hand of Providence."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Ichabod, you are right," said Barton. "In our own +escape, the loss shall be forgotten. But the severest reflection is, +that we must now leave this valley forever; but we shall carry away with +us, the recollection of many happy days."</p> + +<p>Ruth smiled with a look of joy, that momentarily lit up the melancholy +of her countenance, at this feeling on the part of her father. It was +for him that she felt the most deeply. Youth, with the prospect of many +years, may rise renewed and hopeful from desolation; but, age, without +the means of reparation, is apt to sink beneath the load of misfortune. +Seeing, then, that her father bore his loss with resignation, and with a +happy idea of conforming to his altered circumstances, she assumed a +cheerfulness which she did not, perhaps, wholly feel.</p> + +<p>Scarcely an hour had elapsed, after the flight of the Senecas, when a +yell of exultation from beyond the grove, announced the return of the +party who had gone in pursuit of them. Words were heard in the Iroquois +tongue, which produced an unusual excitement in the savages, who were +wandering about the ruined dwelling. Then could be seen the returning +warriors advancing leisurely towards the ruins, while guarded among +them, they led an Indian bound as a prisoner.</p> + +<p>Eagle's-Wing came in advance, with a quiet look of triumph upon his +countenance, but illy disguised beneath the usual immobility of face of +the Indian. Mingled with this look, was a glow of satisfied revenge, and +savage exultation. He came up to the party at the ruins, while the rest +of the Indians remained in the grove.</p> + +<p>"Well, Eagle's-Wing, what news from the Senecas?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Ask Panther," answered the Tuscarora. "He yonder."</p> + +<p>"Such is the fortune of war," said Ichabod: "now a victor—now a +prisoner. But I am glad to see, Eagle's-Wing, that you're ra'ally +improving under my instructions. It's a great step towards civilization, +that you didn't take the fellow's scalp at once."</p> + +<p>Wild and fiendish was the glance that shot from the dark eye of the +Indian; but no words were given to its terrible significance. Turning +leisurely about, he moved slowly towards the grove.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Barton and Ruth, together with Singing-Bird, took +possession of the temporary dwelling that had been fitted up for them. +Sambo, who had gone up through the clearing, towards the forest, soon +was seen returning with the horses, which he was leading with the most +frantic exclamations of joy. He had discovered the marks of their hoofs +upon the ground, and had followed on their track, until he found them on +the edge of the forest. It was with scarcely less joy than that which +Sambo displayed, that Barton beheld them—the only remains of his little +property. They had been abandoned by the Senecas in their sudden +surprise, and thus the most serious difficulty in the removal of Barton +and his family to the settlements, was obviated.</p> + +<p>But we will follow Eagle's-Wing to the grove where the Indians were now +collected. Panther had been securely confined to a tree, and the change +which had come over him, under his reverse of fortune, was most +wonderful and striking. When in command of his party, he had preserved a +quiet dignity of demeanor—the natural consequence, to a manly mind, of +the power of command. His face had worn an expression of solemn gravity, +and there was, in all he said and did, an air of courtesy and sincerity, +which had struck his prisoners as inconsistent with his reputation for +cunning and cruelty. But now, deprived of his freedom, and in the power +of his enemies, his whole manner was changed. With head erect—with +flashing eyes, and nostrils that quivered with untameable ferocity, he +glared upon the Indians by whom he was surrounded. As Eagle's-Wing +approached, his glance fell upon him with a look of savage malice. The +Tuscarora came up directly before him, and with folded arms, gazed into +the eyes of his prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Seneca," said he, "you are a lying chief of a lying nation. You must +die. I have been told that the Senecas have the hearts of girls. I wish +to see the tears in your eyes."</p> + +<p>"The Tuscaroras are women," began the Seneca, in a quiet voice, and with +a look of contempt. "They once dwelt in the land of the sun, where the +snows of the winter never come, and their hearts became soft, and the +pale-faces made them slaves. That was all they were fit for. They did +not know how to fight their enemies, and the pale-faces took the +hatchets and the bows from their hands, and made them work in the +fields. Then the Iroquois took pity on them, and wrapped them in their +blankets, as the squaws do the pappooses; and they brought them up into +the land of braves, and gave them villages and hunting-grounds; but they +could do nothing but sit shivering by the fire. They were afraid of the +rifles of the Colony men, and they deserted the Iroquois. They are worse +than women—they are dogs! They are <i>little</i> dogs, that run barking at +our heels, and dare not bite! It is a shame for a warrior to fall into +their hands. The death of the brave warrior, in the midst of his +enemies, is the triumph of his glory. The Great Spirit smiles, as the +warrior endures the torture, and lifts him up to the happy +hunting-grounds with the hand of a father; while his name goes down in +the traditions of his enemies, as a brave who died without fear! But I +am ashamed. The Tuscaroras have no traditions! They are dogs! and +however so brave I may be, my name will be forgotten, as though I died +in the midst of dogs!</p> + +<p>"The Oneidas are liars! They have forgotten how to be brave. They live +with the dogs of the Tuscaroras, and think they are men. They smile in +the faces of the red-men, and throw their hatchets at their backs. They +sit down and listen to the medicine-men, (missionaries,) of the +pale-faces, and learn new traditions. They forget that they are Indians, +and try to worship the Great Spirit of the pale-faces. They are liars; +and I am ashamed to die in the midst of liars and dogs!"</p> + +<p>These contemptuous words excited the anger of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras +to the highest degree; and with a shout of rage, tomahawks were +brandished, and knives drawn from their belts, while three or four of +them darted forward with the determination of at once terminating the +life of the insulting Seneca; but at a gesture from Eagle's-Wing, they +retired.</p> + +<p>"Poor thief of a Seneca!" said Eagle's-Wing, "whose sharpest weapon is +that of a woman; he can only hurt his enemies with his tongue. If we had +him in our villages, we would put on him the dress of a squaw, that he +might scold, while the warriors stood around and laughed! It is a pity +that an Iroquois can only hurt his enemies with his tongue. I have +killed a great many Senecas; they all die like women, and scream when +they feel the knife on their scalps. I have got some of them here," +throwing back his blanket, and displaying to the passionate eyes of the +Seneca three or four gory scalps. "They are not fit for a warrior to +wear; and I will not hang them in the council-room of my nation. I will +give them to the pappooses to play with," and turning with a gesture of +contempt he walked back into the crowd of Indians.</p> + +<p>But while the preparations were being made for the torture of Panther, +Barton and his friends had concluded their arrangements for their return +on the next day to the settlements. But little preparation was +necessary, and the possession of the horses had obviated the greatest +difficulty in their removal. There was little or nothing to be +transported, as the Senecas had destroyed nearly every valuable upon the +premises.</p> + +<p>Their arrangements were all made, and that peculiar and natural +solemnity of feeling, which attends the abandonment of a cherished home, +laid waste and desolate, prevented any continued conversation.</p> + +<p>"The friendly Indians will accompany us a portion of the way, I +suppose," said Barton; "but only for a few miles, as their path lies +northward, while ours is more to the eastward. They will, doubtless, +take their prisoner with them."</p> + +<p>"That would be an useless trouble, I should think," said Ralph. "It +would be better for them to let him go at once. But perhaps, as a matter +of pride, they wish to display a Seneca chief in their villages, as a +prisoner."</p> + +<p>It was at this moment, that the shout was heard, which attended the +ebullition of anger on the part of the Indians at the contemptuous +language of Panther. Each individual of the party, excepting Ichabod and +Singing-Bird, started;—it recalled, for a moment, with vivid +distinctness, the memory of the perils from which they had just escaped.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of that shout?" asked Barton.</p> + +<p>"It is, perhaps, an attempt to terrify their prisoner," said Ralph, "or +perhaps it may be," and he started at the sudden conjecture, rising +hastily upon his feet, "that they are about to put him to torture."</p> + +<p>"Oh! they will not do that!" exclaimed Ralph. "It cannot be, that +Eagle's-Wing can imitate the cold-blooded cruelty of Panther. Say it is +not so, Singing-Bird."</p> + +<p>"Eagle's-Wing great chief," said the Indian, quietly, "he know how to +punish enemy."</p> + +<p>Ruth seemed astonished by this unlooked-for confirmation of her fears.</p> + +<p>"Ralph! Ichabod!" said she, "prevent this murder, if possible. Do not +let such a horrid act sully our last recollections of this place."</p> + +<p>Ichabod bowed his head for a moment with a shudder, and then said:</p> + +<p>"Miss Ruth, all people have their customs; an Englishman shuts up his +prisoners in old hulks, where they die of foul air, and filthiness, and +starvation; and the most civilized people, will punish their prisoners +in some way; and an Injin can't be expected to be better than those that +have some other light than the light of Natur' to walk by. It's their +way, Miss Ruth—it's their way; and there's no use trying to prevent +it."</p> + +<p>"I will go," she answered; "I will beg for his life; perhaps I may not +plead in vain."</p> + +<p>"Don't do so, Miss Ruth—it's no use. Their blood is up; and there is no +power in this world strong enough to control them, but force, and that +we haven't got."</p> + +<p>"But there is a Power above us and them, which may touch their hearts. I +will go."</p> + +<p>Seeing that she was determined to venture among the savages, on this—as +Ichabod, as well as the others also, thought—bootless errand, the whole +party accompanied her, and they proceeded hastily towards the grove. As +they reached the place where the Indians were gathered, they found them +busy in their preparations. A large number of pine knots had been +collected, and a pile of pointed splinters, the object of which was +apparent to them all. The Seneca, fastened to the tree, was surveying +the preparations with a look of indifference or contempt; but as Barton +and his party came in sight, his eyes rolled over them with glances of +uncontrollable hatred. Eagle's-Wing was quietly directing the +preparations.</p> + +<p>Barton approached the Tuscarora. "For Heaven's sake, Eagle's-Wing, what +do all these arrangements mean? It cannot be that you will torture this +Seneca. Let him go, Eagle's-Wing. You have done me many a friendly deed, +lately—add this to the number."</p> + +<p>"The hearts of the pale-faces are soft," said Eagle's-Wing. "Let my +father and his friends go back to their dwelling. The Seneca must die."</p> + +<p>Ralph, in turn, besought the Tuscarora to desist from his purpose. He +used all the arguments which he could summon to his aid, growing out of +the present condition of the Colonies, and their desire to keep on +peaceful terms with the hostile Indians of the Six Nations; but to no +purpose. Eagle's-Wing listened with courtesy, but declared that the +Seneca must die.</p> + +<p>"Old friend," said Ichabod, "you'll give me credit for understanding +Injin natur' pretty well, and that I never make it a point to interfere +in their lawful customs and amusements; but I can't help saying, now, +that this <i>is</i> a risky speculation. I never meant to call on you for +payment of any balance of account between us; but there's no disguising +that you do owe a little to me on the score of having saved your +scalp-lock, ere now; but give me that Seneca, and I will balance the +books."</p> + +<p>"I owe my brother my life, and it is his," said Eagle's-Wing. "Let my +brother take it, if he will; it is just. But the Seneca shall go with me +into the happy hunting-grounds of my nation. He shall go before me as my +prisoner."</p> + +<p>"Let us go back, Miss Ruth," said Ichabod. "These Injins are perfectly +set in their way. I knowed it was of no use. They won't imitate white +people in their conduct, any more than they will in their clothes."</p> + +<p>At these repeated failures, it must be confessed that Ruth almost +despaired of success. Yet she could not suffer the Seneca thus to be +murdered, without making one appeal in his behalf. Tears filled her eyes +as she approached the Tuscarora.</p> + +<p>"Eagle's-Wing," said she, smiling through her tears, "you have refused +Panther to my friends, that you might give him to me. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p>This pertinacity on the part of the pale-faces seemed partially to +irritate the Tuscarora; but he subdued the momentary flash of anger, and +answered quietly:</p> + +<p>"The hearts of the pale-face women are soft; they cannot look on the +death of a warrior in the midst of his enemies. Let the pale-face girl +go back with her friends."</p> + +<p>"You cannot mean to do this, Eagle's-Wing—you, who have been so gentle +and kind to us—<i>cannot</i> do this murder."</p> + +<p>"The Seneca must die," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Is it right, Eagle's-Wing, to kill Panther thus, in cold blood? It is a +great crime, both by the laws of men and of God."</p> + +<p>"Our traditions have not told us so," answered the Tuscarora. "They tell +us that we must do so, if we wish to please the Great Spirit."</p> + +<p>"But have you never heard of any other tradition? Have you not heard the +story of the life and death of the Redeemer of the world, and of the +truths that he taught?"</p> + +<p>The Indian seemed struck with a sort of consternation, for a moment. He +evidently recollected the teaching of the pious missionary of the +Oneidas and Tuscaroras, who had done so much to give the minds of the +Indians of those nations a proper direction, just previous to the +Revolutionary struggle. After a short pause, he answered:</p> + +<p>"The good missionary from the pale-faces has told us the story; but it +was a long while ago; it was before the war between the Colony men and +the Yengeese. I have almost forgotten it. If I was a pale-face, I should +love it very much. But an Indian must follow the traditions of his +fathers."</p> + +<p>"I know who you mean, Eagle's-Wing. It was Kirtland who taught you that +story. I am sorry that you should so soon have forgotten it. He was a +good man and told you the truth. He told you that you must not +persecute your enemies; but that you must forgive them, and that the +Great Spirit will like you better for it."</p> + +<p>"How know that?" asked Eagle's-Wing abruptly, and with a kind of +superstitious feeling, that Ruth should be able to repeat the +instructions which, in his ignorance, he supposed she could not have +understood, without having listened to the missionary, herself. "How +know that! That was great many years ago, when the pale-face girl was a +child."</p> + +<p>"I know that he told you so," replied Ruth, "because he must have told +you what the new tradition was. He told you that the Redeemer came down +from Heaven, and how he died because he loved all the nations and people +of the world; and how he told them that they must all love one another +like brothers. Would it not be better, Eagle's-Wing, if all the +pale-faces and all the Indians thought so?"</p> + +<p>The Tuscarora cast down his eyes, while he answered: "It <i>would</i> be +better, if they would think so; but they do not. If the pale-faces do +not, how can the Indians think so?"</p> + +<p>"It is only the bad men among the pale-faces who think otherwise. There +are a great many good men who always act upon this truth. If it would be +better for everybody to follow this teaching, it is a good thing for +those who do, even if a great many do not. Is it not so, Eagle's-Wing?"</p> + +<p>Eagle's-Wing turned away—his savage heart evidently touched by this +re-awakening of old recollections; but in the act of doing so, his eyes +fell upon the Seneca, who was surveying him and Ruth, with a look of +curious interest. The bitter taunt of Panther occurred to him, and those +cruel instincts which had been nearly overcome, were kindled again with +renewed force. Turning towards Ruth, he coldly answered:</p> + +<p>"It is a good tradition. I will not deny it; but it is a pale-face +tradition. The Great-Teacher was not a red man; he was a pale-face. The +pale-face girl must go back with her friends. The Seneca shall die."</p> + +<p>The color fled from the face of Ruth, and for a moment she looked as if +she would have fallen to the ground. Ralph was springing forward to +assist her, when a new and more heroic strength seemed to sustain and +inspire her. Advancing towards Eagle's-Wing, she laid her hand upon his +arm and exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"You shall not do this murder, Eagle's-Wing. Your own heart tells you +that it is wrong. The Seneca is a bloody, guilty man; but God—the same +God who looks down on the pale-face and the Indian—shall punish you. +You shall not do it. I will keep this great crime from your soul, and +you will thank me for it, some day. See here, you shall see what I will +do;" and she ran to the tree where Panther was confined. The Indians +hastened forward, yet seemingly without the intent to resist her +purpose. The daring energy which inspired her, and the lofty look of +innocent boldness, awed them into silence. With a rapidity she could +not have equalled at another time, she unfastened the withes with which +the Seneca was bound, and as rapidly returned to the side of +Eagle's-Wing. "See," she said, "he is free!" Again she laid her hand +upon the arm of the Tuscarora, while all eyes were watching the motions +of Panther, who seemed stupefied with the curious scene. As the withes +fell at his feet, he straightened his form, and glared slowly around on +the assembled warriors. For a moment his eyes fell upon Ruth, with a +look of awe, such as a debased human creature might be supposed to cast +upon a more exalted being: then slowly, and as if he expected his +attempt to be resisted, he moved from the tree, yet with his eyes firmly +fastened upon the face of Eagle's-Wing. The latter stood erect, his +nostrils dilated, and his eyes flashing, as if about to spring upon the +escaping prisoner, yet restrained by the gentle hand upon his arm, +which, without the exertion of physical strength, seemed to bind him to +the ground. Creeping as stealthily as the animal from which he derived +his name, the Seneca still moved away, but with his face partially +turned towards the group which he was leaving. A few moments, and he had +disappeared in the forest.</p> + +<p>A spasmodic shudder passed over the frame of the Tuscarora chief; then +he turned towards Ruth, with a smile upon his face and a tear in his +eye, as he said. "It is well—let the Seneca go."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION"></a>CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>We have brought this narrative, relating to the early history of an +interesting portion of New York, nearly to a close; and all that +remains, is to give the reader a brief account of the fortunes of some +of the personages in whom he is supposed to have taken some interest.</p> + +<p>After the defeat of the Senecas, Barton and his daughter, together with +Ralph, Ichabod and the negro, returned to the settlements, where Barton +finally concluded to remain. His advanced age prevented him from again +undertaking to build himself a house in the wilderness, while another +reason, perhaps still more powerful, forced him to the same conclusion.</p> + +<p>He discovered that Ruth, provided he would give his consent to the +arrangement, which, under the circumstances, he could not refuse, had +decided upon becoming Mrs. Ralph Weston. That event happened not long +after their return to the settlements; and the old gentleman found, +after the lapse of a very few years, that he could not again seek the +wilderness without abandoning two little grand-children of whom he had +become very fond. Sambo remained with the family; but in the course of a +short time, he was offered his freedom, which he refused.</p> + +<p>Ichabod, also, returned to the settlements; and through the assistance +of his friend, the Captain, he was enabled to satisfy the rapacious Mr. +Parsons for his demand of <i>£25 7s. 6d.</i>. He finally embarked in some +speculation in what were then deemed western lands, in which it is +believed that he came very near making his fortune. But he never +mentioned his adventures of the year 1783, without a sigh over the heavy +losses which he sustained in his factory and city-lot projects.</p> + +<p>As for the Tuscarora and his squaw, they returned to their village, and +there remained, until the removal of the Tuscaroras to the west, a few +years afterwards.</p> + +<p>Of Guthrie—whose fate has been left in some little doubt—nothing +certain was ever known. But a few years after, some adventurer, who +supposed himself a pioneer in this new country, discovered a human +skeleton by the stump of a tree, to which it had been apparently bound, +judging from the remnant of a strong cord, which was found by its side. +As some portions of the skeleton were found at some distance from the +tree, it was supposed that the unfortunate man, whoever he was, after +having been confined to the tree, had been devoured by wolves.</p> + +<p>Our tale is told; and seventy years have passed over its scenes and +actors. The forests have fallen; broad, green meadows, enriched with +labor and enriching the husbandman, are in their place; an active, +bustling village has effaced all signs of early hardship and suffering; +and, as if changed like the pictures in a magic glass, the old scenes +about which we have lingered are no more. Occasionally, the children in +the village gaze, with a mixture of fear and wonder, upon a wandering +Oneida, as he loiters in the streets, idle and drunken—a vagabond where +his fathers were lords and rulers.</p> + +<p>But, with all the changes which seventy years have produced and +notwithstanding Ichabod's city lots have been laid out and sold, and +succeeding speculators are still busy in the same short-handed means of +getting money, the woollen factory has never been built. In that +respect, his dreams have never been realized. Occasionally some +speculative Ichabod has broached the old scheme anew; but obstacle upon +obstacle has conspired to prevent its realization; and although the +sheep dot our hills, their wool seeks a foreign market.</p> + +<p>The pond, too, remains; but that which was once a sylvan lake, +surrounded with forests and crystalline in the purity of its waters, has +yielded all of its romantic associations to the practical spirit of the +age. It has become a portion of a canal, and a touring-path has been +constructed along its eastern and southern shores.</p> + +<p>So pass our dreams; the infancy of Nature has reached its age; old +fashioned modes of life, with their simplicity of manners, are passing +away with our forests.</p> + +<p>The valley is still, as of old, shut out from the world. Great +thoroughfares of travel are at its either extremity; but neither across +it nor through it is heard the rushing of the "iron horse;" still, as of +old, come trotting and jogging along, at morning and at night, the +lumbering coaches, rocking like cradles, while the weary traveler curses +the fortune which compels him to take this antiquated mode of travel. +Four miles an hour—<i>five</i>, perchance, in great emergencies—<i>rush</i> +these ancient vehicles; and therein only, perhaps, we have not +degenerated from the sober steadiness of our ancestors.</p> + +<p>But a newly-directed energy is now exulting over the prospect of +levelling our hills and elevating our valleys, and building a path upon +which shall be heard the scream of the locomotive, and the sweep of +travel. City lots are up; New York is small potatoes—half-acre +landholders, issuing like the youth in Cole's "Voyage of Life," from the +wilderness of long sleepy years, and guided by an angel with money-bags +under his wings, and with a voice like the ring of dollars, see castles +in the air, in the shape of depots and engine-houses, settling down upon +their premises! Ichabod is alive again!</p> + +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<p class="caption"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</p> + + +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CONCLUSION"><b>CONCLUSION.</b></a><br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39401 ***</div> + +</body> +</html> |