The Hidden Children

l around us, as we advanced, the wilderness began to wear an aspect very different to that

-walks; foot-paths enlarged to permit the passage of mounted men; cattle-roads cleared, levelled, made smoother for wagons and artillery; log bridges built across the rapid streams that darkled westward, swamps and swales paved with logs, and windfalls

Park, and near it old Fort Johnson and Johnson Hall. Farther still to the northward stretched the Vale and silvery Sacandaga with its pretty Fish House settlement now in ashes; and Summer House Point and Fonda's B

that crept into the wilderness, penetrating to distant, lonely farms or grist mills where some hardy fellow had cleared the

se that its strange gigantic shadow fell up

side that our own people lately passed this way-yes, even when we began to meet or overtake men of

ocean, and as trackless and uncharted-gigantic forests in the de

eft by his pygmy hacking at some high forest monument, all this m

d beauty which enveloped it in the making, and which had remained after creation's handiwork was done, seemed still to linger in this dim solitude

the trees; only the immemorial strata of dead leaves spread one above another in endless coverlets of

rk-naked rocks towered skyward, or where, in profound and velvet depths, crystalline streams and rivers widened betw

New York brigade, which was ours, was still slowly concentrating in the vicinity of Otsego Lake; that innumerable and endless difficulties in obtaining forage and provisions had delayed everything; that the main division, Sullivan's, w

for if they continue to believe that, they will

and his Mohawks are out somewhere or other,

same di

d with the outlying farms and settlements. Small doubt, too, that they will

ke more heavily still and draw them with the very wind of our

w our Commander-in-Chief, and that he was an officer not to be lightly swayed or turned from th

agonized appeals for aid; but if I judge our General, he will not be halted or drawn aside until the monstrous

man of iron," said I

o Catharines-town or paradise-to hell or heaven. A

his handsome face, and he sa

to tell that story-yet, I can never hear

ock, now a sweating company of military surveyors from headquarters, burdened with compass, chain, and Jacob-staff, already running their lines into the wilderness. Here trudged the frightened

bloody business; where, in "The Shades of Death," a hundred frightened women and little children had perished in that ghastly darkness. Also, we were but a few miles from that scene of terror where, through the wintry dawn at Cherry V

of this ghastly business, as I caught hi

hates the Iroquois no more fiercely than do we white-skins. Wait till he leads our van within rifle-range of Catharines-town! And if Walter Butler be the

, too-knowing that if he had ever dreaded anything it was the stake, and the lingering death that lasted till the very soul lay burnt to cinders before the tortured body

the Low Dutch Church. Above us lay the Middle Fort, and the roads to Cherry Valley and Schenec

acket of their saws and axes; over the log bridges rumbled their loaded transport wagons; road and trail were filled with their crowding cattle; the wheels of Eckerson's and Becker's grist mills clattered and creaked under the splash of icy, limpid waters, an

, and who greeted us gaily or otherwise, according to their temper and disposition. But everybody-officers, troops, batt-men-looked curiously at our Siwanois

question him concerning the maid who now shared well-nigh every thought of mine-askin

no knowledge of these things. And I knew he lie

efore, or where she had likely gone, pretending that I had been mistaken w

-guard. Of what my brother Loskiel and this strange maiden did under

appeal to Mount, the rifleman must corroborate him, because doubtless the wily Siwanois had

I pity her and wish her well. It is for her safety

he said gravely. "Where do the rosy-throated pigeon

She has been bred at home, mannered and schooled. She knows the cote, I tell you, and not th

an said

abandoned roof and fire fo

ttle for his own

eases her, too, for aught I

ease her to roa

hould

do

ps I know of other matters, too. Ask me s

ers do you

e forest summon Morgan's men to battle. Then ask; and a Sagam

, and I was not fool enough

uous, restless, or dully astonished that my pride permitted it. For in my heart such sentiments for such a maid as this-tenderness, consciousness of some subtlety about her that attracted me-should have no place. There was eve

little hands as she broke the morsels of that midnight meal and lifted the cup of chilly water in which I saw the star-light dancing. And

led figment that I saw-the echo, doubtless, of some tale I read concerning raven hair and

on with sword and spur, laden with riches, too, and territories stretchin

t, would step one day my vision-to admire my fame and ric

rifle-shirt and skinning-knife; and out of the dawn-born glory of the hills had stepped no silken damsel of romance to pause and worship me-on

s to Duansboro and Cobus-Kill, we saw the tents and huts of the New York brig

e the Fox-Kill, we saw the headquarters flag of the 4th brigade, and Majo

he soldiers stared at our Indian. Then we passed Gansevoort's Third Regiment, under tents and making ready to march; and the log cantonment of Colonel Lamb's artillery, where the cannoneers saluted, th

for barracks when a bed in the open is good enough. Wh

id he, and liked our

Benjamin Chambers, a smart young dandy, met us at the guard-house, direct

my ear. "Egad, Loskiel, he looks a treacherous de

ut for heaven's sake, Benny, are we

for you and this pretty and fragrant aborigine down by the river, and lodge him there under your eye and nose and rifle. I ad

him," said I, delighted that I was not to lie in barracks foul

hat Jimmy Parr desires to see your

oward the quarters of Major Parr. And I saw him take a pinch o' the scented snuff he affected, and whisk his supercilious no

rdid business of their own; and there were women there, too-pallid refugees from distant farms, and now domiciled within the stockade; gaunt wives of neighbouring settlers, bringing baske

s again, saying that the Sagamore and

that temper, for mercy's sake, Loskiel; he's been scarcely a

once. But we all loved him in our small mess of five-Captain Simpson, Lieutenant Boyd, and we two ensigns; and I think he knew it. Had we disliked him, among ourselves we would have dubbed him James, intendi

of you from Lieutenant Boyd. I am gratified, Mr. Loskiel, that my confidence in your ability and in your knowledge o

and Lieutenant Boyd, hesitati

of the Mohican tribe of the great Delaware nation. You may address him as an equal. Our General S

holding that warrior's sinewy fist in an iron grip that matched it, named

; his pay is the pay of a captain in the rifles. By order of General Clinton, commanding the Fourth, or New York, Brigade, I am requested to say to the Mohican Sagamore that valuable presents will be offered

he added

te, Mr.

understood, sir," said I

rstood," said th

at Mohican Sa

word to his younger brother Loskiel. A Mohican Sagamore never lies. Los

y lying either, But he had lied to me concerning his knowledge of the strange maid, Lois, whi

had made of the Sagamore and myself, recommended Mayaro to my most civil attention,

not betray by the quiver of an eyelash that he comprehended he was practically under guard.

f of our hut, which was visible above the feathery river willows. So we proceeded thither, I resigning my horse

tch a loaf, in God's name. I could gnaw black-birch and reindeer moss, so famishe

owed into my soldier's chest, and put on clean clothing that Jack Mount managed to steal the loaf he had aske

my only duty, for the present, was to act as mentor to the Sagamore, keep him pleasantly affected toward our cause, see that he was not tampered with, and that h

atteaux, loaded with stores and soldiers, were passing up, and O

ches, or, seated cross-legged on the bank, were mending rents with needle and thread. Half a dozen Oneida Indians sat gravely smoking and blinking at the scene-no doubt belonging to our corps of runne

he details of the day. This finished, I pouched quill, ink-horn, and journal, and sat a-thinking for a while of that strange maid, and what

sed against my palm, pondering. And ever within my breast was I conscious of a faint, dull aching-a steady

she used me, I could never seem to understand; for she had done nothing to win even

Why had I used her as a comrade-who had been but the comrade of an hour? Why had I been so loath to part with her whom I sc

thing in rags! And I could

corps see me abroad in company with her. I knew it well enough. I knew that if in this girl anything was truly appealing to my unquiet heart

ing, thinking-her faded rosebud lying

pprehension that some mischance might overtake her, left me no peace of mind, so that the memory of

y body to rest-sleep perhaps. But flies and sun k

errific emblems of death. He was seated cross-legged on the floor, my camp mirror before him-a superb specimen of

king somewhat carelessly of the beautiful sh

le beads were the gold, the white beads the silver, and the black beads the copper equivalents in English coinage. And so we conducted very politely and agreeably there in the hut, the while he painted himself like a ghastly death, and brightened the scarlet

t and beaded sheaths hatchet and knife, and fell to shining

tle then near at hand that you make

peared for a mo

epared for life or death, L

the express rider when he said that Indi

nce of the Sagamore relaxed

. He has discovered that the Si

ll certain that you understood in

ry glance at me, "my brother has only h

ly taunting reference to my lack of all success in

r see their coldly dignified features alter, except in scorn, suspicion, pride, and anger. Only in time of peace and amid their own intimates or families do our Eastern forest Indians put

rse, it was also true that Guy Johnson was never a man to inspire personal confidence or any

f the prairies-were like ourselves in our own families; and that, naturally, they were a kindly, war

ow, when first we met, his eye and hand met mine. And ever since, also-even when I was

I had ever known. And now it seemed to me that from the very first I

ked me, but so far trusted me-entertained, in fact, so unusual a confidence in me-that he even permi

safety of this little forest-running maid. If I could

res became smo

y younger brother fear

is. You know we

ll the rosy-throated pigeon of the forest for wh

d again, but I

ust be well with her. My elder brother

dded, with a gleam of humour, "All children, O Loski

ou, Mayaro, my

very night," he said, with keenest

you after all!" I said, smil

sure I did not know he foll

u know,

vement of slight, but

no wings track and fol

ld see the person to whom you brou

her has

willing that

s, Loskiel. But perhaps the rosy throat coul

her not to

ed his he

hat true? She left Westchester

l does

keep our camp in view, what had become of her now, Sagamore?" I add

e kept in communication with her-th

nois smi

he better class? I can not believe it-yet-she roves the world in tatters,

an made

de you prom

but I saw very plai

to myself, I rose from the door-sill, buckled on belt, knife, and h

asantly, yet with a h

in the pleasant weather, Mayaro will

evelation that he had noted and unde

eave I shall be disgraced. But-Siwanois are free people! The Sagamore is my elder brother who w

gs under him, sprang noiselessly to his feet, laid his right hand on the hilt of my knife, and his left one on his own,

d even to witness such an act-never dared

in of his wrist with the keen edge. I followed his example

ean water and extended his wrist. A single

sed it to me. I wet my lips, offered it to him again. And very solemnly

he rite of blood brotherhood-an alliance of implicit