Oak Openings

all timorou

chief and po

self shall

and delus

EN

, though the persons they contained soon got to be so indistinct as to render it impossible to do more than count their numbers. The last he made out to be five each in three of the canoes, and six in the other, making twenty-one indivi

account of its shores being clear of the wild rice, and because the high ground near it promised both a lookout and comfortable lodgings. Several of the party strolled upward, as if searching for an eligible spot to light their fir

l communicated the same to her brother and his wife, who were quite near at hand in one of the canoes. As there was no danger of being ov

cabin?" asked Margery, when the bee-hunter had let her know the ma

these seem to be scenting about like so many hounds which are nosing for a trail. Th

further need of it. Tell me, Bourdon, do any go near

is a sudden movement and m

forgotten. The sight of even a lost dipper or cup would set them blo

smell the liquor! Some of it has escaped in rolling down the hill, and their noses are too keen to pass over a fragranc

or us, since the smell of whiskey can hardly be there without their s

say. They will never think the liquor grew there, like a black

reminded of it by those that call themselves friends," answered the girl pointedl

nning protestations of respect and concern. The mortified girl was soon appeased; and, after consulting

he approached. "It would seem that in moving the barrels some of the liquor has esc

ng for it without gettin' any, as a punishment for the same. My fortun' would have been ma

d already come so near to bringing want and ruin on himself and family, as momentarily to forget his recent scene with pretty Margery; "b

conceal the failings of him she loves. "As for the whiskey, I don't grudge THAT in the least; for it's a poor way of getting rich to be selling it to soldiers

n to it in the presence of those who felt for a husband's and a brother's weakness, with a liveliness of feeling that brutal indulgence had long since destroyed in the object of their solicitude. He accordingly pointed out the risk there was that the Indians should make the obvious inference, that human beings must have recently been in the hut, to leave the fresh scent of the liquor in questi

" le Bourdon concluded by saying. "By this time their fire must be lighted; and b

elding to a feverish desire to accompany him, at the very time she was half restrained by maiden

among the branches of his small tree. "There are lots of the red devils moving about the chiente, inside and out; and they seem to have fish as well as venis

in the gentle tones of female p

a minute till I can get the glass a little mo

rdon-and in what

ad and scalped, after he had left us; and the last is now in yonder hut, bound and a prisoner. He has taken to the lake on his way to Fort Dearborn, and has, with all his craft an

to revenge the death of their bro

. This of itself would make them enemies, and has no doubt been the cause of his being taken; but I do not well

as the warrior you call Elksfoot, and that they have had t

ed him, and certainly it was possible that the party now before him might have heard of the fate of the chief whose body he had found in the Openings, short as was the time for the news to have gone

oon?" asked Margery, who comprehended the difficulty in an instant. "Of those I

ake. But let the savages be whom they may, prudence tells us to keep clear of them if we can; and this more so

Bourdon? Do they prepare to eat,

some are busy cooking at the fire. I would give all my honey, pretty Margery, to be able to save Pigeonswing! He is a good

ife to save a savage, who kills and s

uite as bad, according to Injin ways of thinking. I DO believe, Margery, was that man to see ME i

rgery, a little reproachfully as to manner, speaking like one who had more inter

hey meant to do him harm. He is neither fed, nor suffered to be with his masters; but there the poor fellow is, bound han

rs concerning his situation, with a more marked interest than she had previously manifested in his state. The bee-hunter answered her questio

es, just above the knees and just below the ankles. Around the body was another fastening; which secured the captive to a beech that stood about thirty feet from the door of the cabin, and so nearly in a line with the fire within and the lookout of le Bourdon, as to enable the last distinctly to note these particulars, aided as he was by his glass. Rel

ntly. A general silence would succeed as soon as the savages disposed of themselves to sleep, which would be much more likely to allow his footsteps to be overheard, than when tongues and bodies and teeth were all in active movement. A man who eats after a long march, or a severe paddling, usually concentrates his attention on his food, as le Bourdon knew by long

the lower ground; but on the whole, the swamps were nearly devoid of what is termed "timber." Two sides of the knoll were abrupt; that on which the casks had been rolled into the lake, and that opposite, which was next to the tree where Boden had so long been watching the proceedings of the savages. The distance between the hut and this tree was somewhat less than a mile. The intervening ground was low, and most of it was marshy; though it was possible to cross the marsh by following a particular course. Fortunately this course, which was visible to the eye by daylight, and had be

pressed, he could not part from the girl without showing that he appreciated the interest she manifested in his behalf. Taking her hand, therefore, he spoke with a simplicity and truth, that imparted to his manner a natural grace that one bred in courts might have envied. What was more, with a deli

which, as I perceive, is the main reason why you have come here; and as for myself, be certain

It was new to her to hear allusions of this sort,

crossing in the marsh, in a night so very dark? I do not know but looking so long at the

ee where I go, and so long as I can do that there is not much fe

anything in which you think I can be

ree in the centre of the marsh, and I will set you on a duty that

m that completely overshadowed a considerable extent of firm ground. Here a full and tolerably near view could be had of the hut, which was still illuminated by the

to retrace his steps, and that at the imminent hazard of being captured. He carried habitually a small dark lantern, and had thought of so disposing of it in the lower branches of this very elm, as to form a focus of it, but hesitated about doing that which might prove a guide to his enemies as well as

family together in troublesome times; should I get back safe from this adventure, I shall look up

life, even though it be that of an Injin, and I will not try to persuade you from this undertaking; but do

tter understand our being and its objects, than is permitted to us in this our day of ignorance. But while we cannot trace the causes of a thousand things, we know and feel their effects. Among the other mysteries of our nature is this of sudden and strong sympathies, which, as between men for men, and women for women, awaken confidence and friendship; and as between those of different sexes, excite passionate attachments that more or less color their future lives. The great delineator of our common nature, in no one of the many admirable pictures he has drawn of men, manifests a more profound knowledge of his subject, than in that in which he portrays the sudden and nearly ungovernable inclination which

is point, she turned her eyes anxiously in the direction of the hut. By this time every trace of the bee-hunter was lost, the hillock in his front forming too dark a background to admit of his being seen. But the fire still blazed in the chiente, the savages not having yet finished their cooking, though several had satisfied their appetites, and had already sought pl

nce of seeing one who was placed beneath the light of the fire, since the brow of the acclivity formed a complete cover, throwing all below it into deep shade. This circumstance was of the greatest importance to th

two of which had been in sight, lying about half-way between the prisoner and the door of the hut. Boden had seen a savage feeding these dogs; and it appeared to him at the time as if the Indian had been telling them to be watchful of the Chippewa. He well knew the services that the red men expected of these animals, which a

times, while the bee-hunter was making these preparations, did the two dogs raise their heads and scent the air; once, the oldest of the two gave a deep and most ominous growl. Singular as it may seem, this last indication of giving the alarm was of great service to le Bourdon and the Chippewa. The latter heard the growl, and saw two of the movements of the animals' heads, from all which he inferred that there was some creature, or some danger behind him. This naturally enough induced him to bestow a keen attention in that direction, and being unable to turn body, limbs, or head, the sense of hearing was his only means of watchfulness. It was while in this state of profound listening that Pigeonswing fancied he heard his own name, in such a whisper as one raises when he wishes to call from a short distance with the least

the Indian in a low w

ian would have fallen like a log, from total inability to stand. His thongs had impeded the circulation of the blood, and the usual temporary paralysis had been the consequence. Pigeonswing understood the reason of his friend's forbearance, and managed to rub his hands and wrists together,

gh a new source of alarm presented itself by the time the Chippewa was barely able to sustain his weight on his feet, and long before he could use them with anything like his former agility. The manner in which the savages came together in the hut, and the gestures made by their chief, announced pretty plainly that a watch was about to be set for the night. As it was probable th

menced, "the chief is telling one of the y

ugh. Make too many

the warriors are asleep, or try t

ng. You got rifle-got

le is a short distance behind m

on war-path. Well, YOU tomaha

r it. If there is no other mode of getting you off, I shall choos

awk, den-give h

do not like to shed blood w

Pottawattamie dig up hatchet ag'in' Great Fadder at

sentinel left the hut and came slowly toward the prisoner. The circumstances admitted of no delay; le Bourdon pressed the keen edge of his knife across the withe that bound the Indian to the tree; first giving him notice, in order that he might be prepared to sustain his own weight. This