The Pirates of the Prairies

w, had yielded unresistingly to her abductors, despairing ever to escape from them; especial

nually lavished on her, the new existence commencing was an uninterrupted succession of tortures, among half savage ru

squatter was ignorant of such refinements-but, at any rate, proper, that is to say, he ha

by the scalp hunter to his wif

e young Mexican. As for Ellen, she had constituted herself, on her private authority, the friend of the prisoner, to whom she rendered all those

merican's unchanging gentleness, and her patience, which nothing rebuffed, affected her; she had felt the services which the other occasiona

ith it, renders it expansive. Alone among the bandits, to whom chance had handed her over, Do?a Clara must inevitably-so soon as the f

ircumstances, thanks to the sympathising kindness of the youn

ing, but this scalp hunter, this man that seemed to have nothing human about him, who perspired crime at every pore, whose ferocity was unbounded, had

eel indescribable delight; a smile from her rosy lips overwhelmed him with happiness. By her charming caresses, her gentle and insinuating words, Ellen had power to govern despotically that gathering of birds of prey which was her family. The chaste kis

her friendship. This gentle girl was in his sight the securest gaoler he could give Do?a Clara. Hence, in order, to facilitate, as far as possible

the stifled sound of voices induced her to listen. Do?a Clara was speaking in a low voice to a man, and that man was the Sachem o

ed about the camp with an affected carelessness, intended to remove th

bly drew nearer to the cabin, which served as a refuge to the maidens, an

as for the squatter's wife, faithful to her husband's instructions not to ann

and sad thought. At the sound of the Indian's steps, she raised

duced on her, he stopped on the threshold of the cabin

id in a gentle and insinuating voice,

as she took a side glance at him;

ps nearer to her, and wen

y serpent, in order to introduce himself among his enemies,

ment, and then answered with hesita

ar to me, I seek in vain to remember where, and u

go, at the passage of the ford, I tried to save her, and was on the po

nd a circumstance, I may poss

or moments are precious. I am Moukapec, the great Chief of the Coras, of the Del Nort

. Poor people! They were pitilessly massacred, and their vi

yed round the chief'

; "the jaguars do not wage war on jaguars. They were not

e said,

ued quickly; "now that I have told her m

erly, "for I know the no

sake alone. I have sworn to save

and we are surrounded by enemies. The bandits who guard us are a

bout saving my sister," the chief said, firm

Whatever requires to be done, I will do without hesitatio

exican kings. I count on her when the moment arrives. Red Cedar is absent

t sign from you I shall

ster can take courage,

expected touch, in spite of his self-command, the chief could not repress a start of terror. He turned, and Red Ceda

long and sad lo

etray you, for I am a friend of Do?a Clara. Reassure yourself; if accident has made me

ara exclaimed, as she threw her arms round

mply answered; "Y

ty on my grief, and wept with me." Eagle-wing fix

ly you with the means you lack. We

ra asked; "Wha

nued, quickly, "that

be pos

elancholy voice; "I can

ster ray flashed from his dark eyes; but he immediately resumed h

we do to procure

uble yourself about it. This very

rant it!" Do?

d to the ch

ce from the spot where we now are, any I

pueblo, inhabited by a tribe of my nation. It was thither I i

be in safety w

be as safe as in her father's hacien

y father lea

he flight of the condor? Moukapec

her will

oo

will return to meet us with the warriors he has collected, in order that

sister is young, but wisdom dwells in her heart

on

r will my siste

owl sings its first hy

after her departure. She must remember in her f

ll do

to the maidens an

iced, which was the more easy to effect, because the Canadians were not watching the island, from which they had no danger to apprehend, but had their eyes fixed on the prair

gave her a loving kiss on the forehead, and said softly-"Try to s

ed, "How can I with the res

"For we shall have great f

aid, softly, "I will

lance. When left alone, Do?a Clara fell on her knees, clasped her hands, and addressed a fervent prayer to God. Then, slightly tranquilised by her