Tie War-Eagle of the Mohawks
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
n1ngta, tkt $onqt; ON. '4 TIE WAR-EAGLE OF THE MOHAWKS. +. S , .. ' t"! , ... ; A TALE OF. MYSTERY, RUTII, AND WRONG. " f " j r , i# " t , ' i , d i BY NED BUNTLINE. ,3: d. R'- as } ~ * . '~ ,, , . '. a ; r .r + ^,+, ' .t ; y ii i r I*li i 1 _ 1, '. NEW ,YORa- . ,; i RED E R I O A. 'B RADY, 'i_ t' ' f' ,' ' ;i NO. 24 ANN STREET. ' ;. f J ,, ' Y a . f' . Y' , k, :, ,", bT OR, 1.4 THE WAR-EAGLE OF THE MOHAWKS CHAPTER I. this word, and for a moment she looked him "Mother, I am almost a warrior now ! I full in the face, firmly but not unkindly. He am more fleet of foot than any runner in the east his eyes down for a moment, and then tribe ! My arrow never misses its mark, and said: when Ohanwanho lets me shoot his rifle, my "Mother, my ears are open to your words-- aim is yet more sure than his ! I am strong ; your eyes go through me, as the sun pierces I will soon put my foot upon the war-path, the water!" nd then I will prove I am brave ! Now, "The first duty of a warrior is to learn pa. hide from me no longer the place of my birth, tienee and fortitude 1" she said, slowly. or the name of my father ! It is time that I "Yes, mother! To bear hunger, thirst, should know it !-time that I should know pain of body, all without a murmur or a why we loiter here, away from the tribe of groan! These I am equal to,'but not, not to winch you say [ should be chief! There is this agony of mystery. To know that I am Act of Congress, in the year 1858. WrIDnaseeording to hot, strong blood in my veins-a big heart something, and yet know not what-to feel -ats in my breast--I am an eagle, and must that I have a field of action open for me-for BY CAULDWELL, SOUTHWORTH & WHITNEY, not be chained, or I will .die, beating myself me alone-yet know not where it is-to know that you have District Court for the Southern District of New York. to death with my own wings !" some hidden sorrow in your in the Clerk's Office of the These words were uttered by an Indian heart, and not know where to seek him who youth, whose age might he fifteenor sixteen- placed it there ! Again I ask-where is my it were hard to determine it, at a glance, for father?" . his form wasyet slender, though every muscle "Buried on the banks of the dear, dear Mo- was well developed, and it in its grace, height- hawk, where-where--" ened by his scanty but picturesque costume, The woman suddenly restrained herself, but would have formed a study for the first sculp- evidently with an effort. tor in the world. His features were noble, " Where you must guide meI" continued his eye large and flashing, and his thin nos- the'youth. "I will stand beside my father's trils dilated, and his veins seemed to swell and grave, and there learn my name-there take darken as he spoke. counsel of his spirit, and learn what a war- She whom he addressed looked young to rior's son should do. Mother, we must go to be the mother of such a boy-yet the like- the Mohawk !" ness of the two could not be mistaken. Tall, " Thayendaneges, I dare net!" elegantly formed, clad, indeed, like an Indian you are a squaw !" ,, "Mother, . queen, she was very, very beautiful. And a No pen could describe, or pencil properly f gook of settled sorrow added to her dignity, delineate, the tone and attitude with which ,,>> , for there was pride rather than despondency those words were CK delivered. To call a war- S mnit ! nor a squaw is the deadliest insult which can They stood upon the banks of La Belle be given; to remind a woman that she is a r, ' , Rliviere, the then silvery Ohio, for the dust squaw, is to bitterly reproach her for unwa. , I , (. and stain of commerce had not then been cast ./ 2 9 manly weakness. a spon its limpid bosom, nor the rush of paddle- his scornful tone-low, but deep and tun- f wheels migled earth with water. ing ; his turning upon his heel, with armed ,i t "Tn1AvrNoAmaaA !" folded upon his breast, as if he deemed it be.- fy: The mother laid her small hand upon the . y s neath ,3 him J' 1 to look upon her-all struck, . like ' ' ' impatient youth's shoulder, as she uttered a thousand serpent bites, into her very heart ! J q ,J +'f i ' /'1 Ic ds ' ' ' ' .' - r &:'} Y° j : < %' r } p' aYb i i r ! Y TIE WAR. EAGLE OF V THE MOHAWKS. g Y I TIAYENDANEGEA, TIE SCOURGE ; OR, seat, but the latter remained standing After " Has my brother waiting no interest in the matter? a moment to recover breath-for he Does lie forget I Id a daughter, had traveled-the and that she and she pressed one hand there, as if to and garments for the travel while you do that. Indian spoke. sleeps in her grave ?" "I have smother the fire, while the other was raised, We have lost half a moon in which to get news for my brother," said he. "No, Aroghya leeka, I do not; "It is well. and, if I dig and seemed to invoke help from above. To ready. And by no look, word, or sign, betray My ears are open--let my you never would let me be long in forgetful- brother speak !" said Si' William. add to the striking picture, a lovely girl-a our mitentions. Keen eyes are upon us--they nress," cried the baronet, now losing his ten- will stay us with strong arms if they think we "The news comes year or more riper in age than the boy-came from a black cloud !" per. "But were she a thousand] times leare them." continued the vo) bounding to her side, bearing wreathes of would Indian. daughter, and had she been a thousand fawn. " Why, my mother?" " So does the lightning. ties 8ow-rs, and followed by a beautiful My heart is as beautiful, her price has been paid and o'er- Ias Thay- " At a proper time, Thayendanegea shall strong, let may brother a What is the matter, mother? speak !" said Sir Wit- paid. Mark you, I have borne for her ham, smoking sake, endaneges angered thee? Forgive him, for know-it is not time yet. Now to your calmly, and shiowin an indif. and your feelings, all that I will bear.-A ONm.LovA's sake !" and the lovely creature sports, and leave me to think and to talk to ference worthy of the Indhian character. which brave chief was sacrificed to make wy for guide us, or our knelt at her mother's feet, and, drawing away the Great Spirit! IIrmust he, always emulated, and probably thereby you; his family were banished. -Evey dark !" gained wish Uie hand from over that aching heart, kissed path is much of his influence, you have ever spoken to me has been obeyed, and iWo ears too nany grati- it again and again. The young people reverently !" said the Indimi, fled; but now I have done. The more I give, The woman did not look down at her strolled along up the batik of the beautiful pointing to a servant of Sir William's. the more you ask. You get no more." as they had often done "You can retire,Pontioch, daughter: her eye was upon the boy, who, river, hand-in-hand, but do not go be- "My brother gets angry, like a squaw. fawn gambolled firm, as if lie had been a statue of bronze, before, while his dog and her yond hearing of my whistle ; and tell Malcom Let him be careful, or he'll bite his tongue stood as first he turned. ahead of them, as playfully as two kittens in to be ready forthe huntpf which Ispoke !" said off." the baronet, " Duee it become the son of a brave war- the sun of a June morning whose last words were precau- Sir William made no tionary, and reply ; but, resuming nor, atid the future chief of a nation, to im- such as lie knew Malcom, the his seat again, lighted his pipe, after CHAPTER II. chief of his body-guard, refui- sult the mother who gave him life ?" she said, would understand. it, and paid no further attention to the William Johnson, king's superintendent The truth was, that lie Indian "t last, in a voice so low that it seemed scarcely Sir did not like the ex- who stood regarding ~him with a look of to have left her lips; 'yet it reached his ears of the Six Nations-iti fact, of all the Indians, pressing upon the chieftain's face, and saw that the hatred that would have made most men quail. -- his heart, too. The folded arms were un- under British rule, north of New York-sat in latter was much excited, though lie strove After a short pause, to hide it lie took a silver whiste bent, and the flashing eyes east down; slowly, a front room of his baronial castle-for such from his vest, and blew a sharp note, and When the servant in an as if all unwilling to yield to his own convie- it really was-situated where still exists was gone, the Indian, instant the negro servant was by after looking around, his side.