i 
 
 
 ,-, 
 
THE 
 
 PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
MONSIEUR PERROT is SCALPED 
 
 p. 276 
 
THE 
 
 PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 BY THE 
 
 HON. CHARLES AUGUSTUS MURRAY. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. B. ZWECKER. 
 
 LONDON: 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, 
 
 THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE; 
 NEW YORK: 416. BROOME STREET. 
 
*<* 
 
3/T473 
 Jfcncroh Library 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 " I HATE a Preface !" Such will probably be the reader's 
 exclamation on opening this volume. I will, however, 
 pursue the subject a little further in the form of a dia- 
 ^ logue. 
 
 Author. "I entirely agree in your dislike of a Pre- 
 face ; for a good book needs none, and a dull book cannot 
 ^ be mended by it." 
 
 Sv Reader. "If then you coincide in my opinion, why 
 write a preface ? Judging from appearances, your book 
 is long enough without one !" 
 
 A. " Do not be too severe ; it is precisely because 
 the road which we propose to travel together is of con- 
 siderable extent, that I wish to warn you at the outset of 
 the nature of the scenery, and the entertainment you are 
 likely to meet with, in order that you may, if these afford 
 you no attraction, turn aside and seek better amusement 
 and occupation elsewhere." 
 
 R. "That seems plausible enough; yet, how can I 
 be assured that the result will fulfil your promise ? I 
 once travelled in a stage coach, wherein was suspended, 
 for the benefit of passengers, a coloured print of the 
 watering-place which was our destination ; it represented 
 
7f PREFACE. 
 
 a magnificent hotel, with extensive gardens and shrub- 
 beries, through the shady walks of which, gaily attired 
 parties were promenading on horseback and on foot. 
 When we arrived, I found myself at a large, square, un- 
 sightly inn by the sea-side, where neither flower, shrub, 
 nor tree was to be seen : and on inquiry, I was in- 
 formed that the print represented the hotel as the pro- 
 prietor intended it to be! Suppose I were to meet with 
 a similar disappointment in my journey with you ?" 
 
 A. "I can at least offer you this comfort; that 
 whereas you could not have got out of the stage half-way 
 on the road without much inconvenience, you can easily 
 lay down the book whenever you find it becoming tedious : 
 if you seek for amusement only, you probably will be 
 disappointed, because one of my chief aims has been 
 to afford you correct information respecting the habits, 
 condition, and character of the North American Indians 
 and those bordering on their territory. I have introduced 
 also several incidents founded on actual occurrences ; and 
 some of them, as well as of the characters, are sketched 
 from personal observation." 
 
 7?. " Indeed ! you are then the individual who re- 
 sided with the Pawnees, and published, a few years since, 
 your Travels in North America. I suppose we may ex- 
 pect in these volumes a sort of pot-pourri, composed of 
 all the notes, anecdotes, and observations which you 
 could not conveniently squeeze into your former book ? " 
 
 A. (looking rather foolish.) " Although the terms in 
 which you have worded your conjecture are not the most 
 flattering, I own that it is not altogether without founda- 
 tion ; nevertheless, Gentle Reader " 
 
 R. " Spare your epithets of endearment, or at least 
 reserve them until I have satisfied myself that I can reply 
 in a similar strain." 
 
PREFACE. Vli 
 
 A. "Nay, it is too churlish to censure a harmless 
 courtesy that has been adopted even by the greatest dra- 
 matists and novelists from the time of Shakspeare to the 
 present day." 
 
 It. "It may be so; permit me, however, to request, 
 in the wcrds of one of those dramatists to whom you 
 refer, that you will be so obliging as to 
 
 ' Forbear the prologue, 
 And let me know the substance of thy tale 1' " 
 
 The Orphan. 
 
THE 
 
 PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IN WHICH THE HEADER WILL FIND A SKETCH OP A VILLAGE IN THE 
 WEST, AND WILL BE INTRODUCED TO SOME OF THE DRAMATIS 
 PERSONS. 
 
 ' THERE is, perhaps, no country in the world more favoured, 
 in respect to natural advantages, than the state of Ohio in 
 North America: the soil is of inexhaustible fertility; the cli- 
 mate temperate; the rivers, flowing into Lake Erie to the north, 
 and through the Ohio into the Mississippi to the south-west, 
 are navigable for many hundreds of miles ; the forests abound 
 with the finest timber, and even the bowels of the earth pay, 
 in various kinds of mineral, abundant contribution to the 
 general wealth : the southern frontier of the state is bounded 
 by the noble river from which she derives her name, and 
 which obtained from the early French traders and mission- 
 aries the well-deserved appellation of " La Belle Riviere." 
 
 Towns and cities are now multiplying upon its banks ; the 
 axe has laid low vast tracts of its forest ; the plough has passed 
 over many thousand acres of the prairies which it fertilised ; 
 and crowds of steam-boats, laden with goods, manufactures, 
 and passengers, from every part of the world, urge their busy 
 way through its waters. 
 
 Far different was the appearance and condition of that region 
 at the period when the events detailed in the following narra- 
 tive occurred. The reader must bear in mind that, at the close 
 of the last century, the vast tracts of forest and prairie now 
 
Z THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 forming the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, were all in- 
 cluded in what was then called the North-west Territory ; it 
 was still inhabited by numerous bands of Indian tribes, of 
 which the most powerful were the Lenape, or Delawares, the 
 Shawanons, the Miamies, and the Wyandotes, or Hurons. 
 
 Here and there, at favourable positions on the navigable 
 rivers, were trading-posts, defended by small forts, to which the 
 Indians brought their skins of bear, deer, bison, and beaver ; 
 receiving in exchange powder, rifles, paint, hatchets, knives, 
 blankets, and other articles, which, although unknown to their 
 forefathers, had become to them, through their intercourse with 
 the whites, numbered among the necessaries of life. But the 
 above-mentioned animals, especially the two last, were already 
 scarce in this region ; and the more enterprising of the hunters, 
 Indian as well as white men, made annual excursions to the wild 
 and boundless hunting-ground, westward of the Mississippi. 
 
 At the close of the eighteenth century, the .villages and set- 
 tlements on the north bank of the Ohio, being scarce and far 
 apart, were built rather for the purpose of trading with the 
 Indians than for agriculture or civilised industry ; and their 
 inhabitants were as bold and hardy, sometimes as wild and 
 lawless, as the red men, with whom they were beginning to 
 dispute the soil. 
 
 Numerous quarrels arose between these western settlers and 
 their Indian neighbours j blood was frequently shed, and fierce 
 retaliation ensued, which ended in open hostility. The half- 
 disciplined militia, aided sometimes by regular troops, invaded 
 and burnt the Indian villages ; while the red men, seldom able 
 to cope with their enemy in the open field, cut off detached 
 parties, massacred unprotected families ; and so swift and indis- 
 criminate was their revenge, that settlements, at some distance 
 from the scene of war, were often aroused at midnight by the 
 unexpected alarm of the war-whoop and the fire-brand. There 
 were occasions, however, when the Indians boldly attacked and 
 defeated the troops sent against them; but General Wayne, 
 having taken the command of the western forces (about four 
 years before the commencement of our tale), routed them at the 
 battle of the Miamies with great slaughter ; after which many 
 of them went off to the Missain plains, and those who re- 
 mained no more ventured to appear in the field against the 
 United States. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 3 
 
 One of the earliest trading ports established in that region 
 \ras Marietta, a pretty village situated at the mouth of the 
 Muskimgum river, where it falls into the Ohio. Even so far 
 back as the year 1 799 it boasted a church ; several taverns ; a 
 strong block-house, serving as a protection against an attack 
 from the Indians ; stores for the sale of grocery ; and, in 
 short, such a collection of buildings as has, in more than one 
 instance in the western states of America, grown into a city 
 with unexampled rapidity. 
 
 This busy and flourishing village had taken the lead, of all 
 others within a hundred miles, in the construction of vessels 
 for the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi ; nay, some of 
 the more enterprising merchants there settled, had actually 
 built, launched, and freighted brigs and schooners of sufficient 
 burthen to brave the seas of the Mexican gulf; and had 
 opened, in their little inland port, a direct trade with the West 
 Indian islands, to which they exported flour, pork, maize, and 
 other articles, their vessels returning laden with fruit, coffee, 
 sugar, and mm. 
 
 The largest store in the village, situated in the centre of a 
 row of houses fronting the river, was built of brick, and 
 divided into several compartments, wherein were to be found 
 all the necessaries of life, all such at least as were called 
 for by the inhabitants of Marietta and its neighbourhood ; one 
 of these compartments was crowded with skins and furs from 
 the north-west, and with clothes, cottons, and woollen stuffs 
 from England ; the second with earthenware, cutlery, mirrors, 
 rifles, stoves, grates, &c. ; while in the third, which was certainly 
 the most frequented, were sold flour, tea, sugar, mm, whiskey, 
 gunpowder, spices, cured pork, &c. j in a deep corner or recess 
 of the latter was a trap-door, not very often opened, but which 
 led to a cellar, wherein was stored a reasonable quantity of 
 Madeira and claret, the quality of which would not have dis- 
 graced the best hotel in Philadelphia. 
 
 Over this multifarious property on sale presided David 
 Muir, a bony, long-armed man, of about forty-five years of 
 age, whose red bristly hair, prominent cheek bones, and sharp, 
 sunken grey eyes, would, without the confirming evidence of 
 his broad Scottish accent, have indicated to an experienced 
 observer the country to which he owed his birth. In the 
 duties of his employment, David was well seconded by his 
 B 2 
 
4 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 helpmate, a tall, powerful woman, whose features, though 
 strong and masculine, retained the marks of early beauty, and 
 whose voice, when raised in wrath, reached the ears of every 
 individual, even in the furthest compartment of the extensive 
 store above described. 
 
 David was a shrewd, enterprising fellow, trustworthy in 
 matters of business, and peaceable enough in temper ; though 
 in more than one affray, which had arisen in consequence of 
 some of his customers, white men and Indians, having taken 
 on the spot too much of his " fire-water," he had shown that 
 he was not to be affronted with impunity ; nevertheless, in 
 the presence of Mrs. Christie (so was his spouse called) he 
 was gentle and subdued, never attempting to rebel against an 
 authority which an experience of twenty years had proved to 
 be irresistible. One only child, aged now about eighteen, was 
 the fruit of their marriage ; and Jessie Muir was certainly 
 more pleasing in her manners and in her appearance than 
 might have been expected from her parentage ; she assisted 
 her mother in cooking, baking, and other domestic duties; 
 and, when not thus engaged, read or worked in a corner of the 
 cotton and silk compartment, over which she presided. Two 
 lads, engaged at a salary of four dollars a-week, to assist in the 
 sale, care, and package of the goods, completed David's esta- 
 blishment, which was perhaps the largest and the best provided 
 that could be found westward of the Alleghany mountains. 
 
 It must not be supposed, however, that all this property 
 was his own : it belonged for the most part to Colonel Brandon, 
 a gentleman who resided on his farm, seven or eight miles 
 from the village, and who entrusted David Muir with the 
 entire charge of the stores in Marietta ; the accounts of the 
 business were regularly audited by the colonel once every year, 
 and a fair share of the profits as regularly made over to David, 
 whose accuracy and integrity had given much satisfaction to 
 his principal. 
 
 Three of the largest trading vessels from the port of Mari- 
 etta were owned and freighted by Colonel Brandon ; the com- 
 mand and management of them being entrusted by him to 
 Edward Ethelston, a young man who, being nowin his twenty- 
 eighth year, discharged the duties of captain and supercargo 
 with the greatest steadiness, ability, and success. 
 
 As young Ethelston and his family will occupy a consi- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 5 
 
 derable place in our narrative, it may be as well to detail 
 briefly the circumstances which led to his enjoying so large a 
 share of the Colonel's affection and confidence. 
 
 About eleven years before the date mentioned as being that 
 of the commencement of our tale, Colonel Brandon, having 
 sold his property in Virginia, had moved to the north-west 
 territory, with his wife and his two children, Reginald and 
 Lucy. He had persuaded, at the same time, a Virginian friend, 
 Digby Ethelston, who, like himself, was descended from an 
 ancient royalist family in the mother country, to accompany 
 him in this migration. The feelings, associations, and prejudices 
 of both the friends had been frequently wounded during the 
 war which terminated in the independence of the United States ; 
 for not only were both attached by those feelings and associa- 
 tions to the old country, but they had also near connections re- 
 sident there, with whom they kept up a friendly intercourse. 
 
 It was not, therefore, difficult for Colonel Brandon to per- 
 suade his friend to join him in his proposed emigration. The 
 latter, who was a widower, and who, like the colonel, had only 
 two children, was fortunate in having under his roof a sister, 
 who, being now past the prime of life, devoted herself entirely 
 to the charge of her brother's household. Aunt Mary (for she 
 was known by no other name) expressed neither aversion nor 
 alarm at the prospect of settling permanently in so remote a 
 region ; and the two families moved accordingly, with goods 
 and chattels, to the banks of the Ohio. 
 
 The Colonel and his friend were both possessed of consider- 
 able property, a portion of which they invested in the fur 
 companies, which at that time carried on extensive traffic 
 in the north-west territory ; they also acquired from the United 
 States government large tracts of land at no great distance 
 from Marietta, upon which each selected an agreeable site for 
 his farm or country residence. 
 
 Their houses were not far apart, and though rudely built at 
 first, they gradually assumed a more comfortable appearance ; 
 wings were added, stables enlarged, the gardens and peach- 
 orchards were well fenced, and the adjoining farm-offices 
 amply stocked with horses and cattle. 
 
 For two years all went on prosperously : the boys, Edward 
 Ethelston and Reginald Brandon, were as fond of each other 
 as their fathers could desire : the former, being three years 
 B 3 
 
O THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the senior, and possessed of excellent qualities of head and 
 heart, controlled the ardent and somewhat romantic temper of 
 Reginald : both were at school near Philadelphia : when on a 
 beautiful day in June, Mr. Ethelston and Aunt Mary walked 
 over to pay a visit to Mrs. Brandon, leaving little Evelyn 
 (who was then about eight years old) with her nurse at home : 
 they remained at Colonel Brandon's to dine, and were on the 
 point of returning in the afternoon, when a farm-servant of 
 Mr. Ethelston's rushed into the room where the two gentlemen 
 were sitting alone ; he was pale, breathless, and so agitated 
 that he could not utter a syllable : " For heaven's sake speak ? 
 What has happened ? " exclaimed Colonel Brandon. 
 
 A dreadful pause ensued : at length, he rather gasped than 
 said, " The Indians ! " and buried his face in his hands, as if 
 to shut out some horrid spectacle ! 
 
 Poor Ethelston's tongue clove to his mouth ; the prescient 
 agony of a father overcame him. 
 
 " What of the Indians, man ? " said Colonel Brandon, 
 angrily; a '. ' , '. we have seen Indians enough hereabout 
 before now ; what the devil have they been at ? " 
 
 A groan and a shudder was the only reply. 
 
 The Colonel now lost all patience, and exclaimed, " By hea- 
 yens, the sight of a red-skin seems to have frightened the 
 fellow out of his senses ! I did not know, Ethelston, that you 
 trusted your farm-stock to such a chicken-heart as this ! " 
 
 Incensed by this taunt, the rough lad replied, " Colonel 
 for all as you be so bold, and have seen, as they say, a bloody 
 field or two, youd a' been skeared if you'd a' seen this job ; 
 but as for my being afeared of Ingians in an up and down 
 fight, or in a tree skrimmage I don't care who says it 
 t'aint a fact." 
 
 " I believe it, my good fellow," said the Colonel ; " but 
 keep us no longer in suspense say what has happened ? " 
 
 "Why, you see, Colonel, about an hour ago, Jem and 
 Eliab was at work in the 'baccy-field behind the house, and 
 nurse was out in the big meadow a walkin' with Miss Evelyn, 
 when I heard a cry as if all the devils had broke loose ; in a 
 moment, six or eight painted Ingians with rifles and toma- 
 hawks dashed out of the laurel thicket, and murdered poor 
 Jem and Eliab before they could get at their rifles which stood 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 7 
 
 by the worm fence * ; two of them then went after the nurse 
 and child in the meadow, while the rest broke into the house, 
 which they ransacked and set o' fire ! " 
 
 " But my child ? " cried the agonised father. 
 
 " I fear it's gone too," said the messenger of this dreadful 
 news. fi I saw one devil kill and scalp the nurse, and t'other," 
 here he paused, awe-struck by the speechless agony of poor 
 Ethelston, who stood with clasped hands and bloodless lips, 
 unable to ask for the few more words which were to complete 
 his despair. 
 
 " Speak on, man, let us know the worst ; " said the Colonel, 
 at the same time supporting the trembling form of his unhappy 
 friend. 
 
 " I seed the tomahawk raised over the sweet child, and 1 
 tried to rush out o' my hidin' place to save it, when the flames 
 and the smoke broke out, and I tumbled into the big ditch 
 below the garden, over head in water ; by the time I got out 
 and reached the place, the red devils were all gone, and the 
 house, and straw, and barns all in a blaze! " 
 
 Poor Ethelston had only heard the first few words they 
 were enough his head sunk upon his breast, his whole frame 
 shuddered convulsively ; and a rapid succession of inarticulate 
 sounds came from his lips, among which nothing could be dis- 
 tinguished beyond " child," " tomahawk," " Evelyn." 
 
 It is needless to relate in detail all that followed this painful 
 scene ; the bodies of the unfortunate labourers and of the 
 nurse were found; all had been scalped: that of the child 
 was not found ; and though Colonel Brandon himself led a 
 band of the most experienced hunters in pursuit, the trail of 
 the savages could not be followed : with their usual wily fore- 
 sight they had struck off through the forest in different direc- 
 tions, and succeeded in baffling all attempts at discovering 
 either their route or their tribe. Messengers were sent to the 
 trading-posts at Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and even to Genevieve, 
 and St. Louis, and all returned dispirited by a laborious and 
 fruitless search. 
 
 Mr. Ethelston never recovered this calamitous blow : several 
 fits of paralysis, following each other in rapid succession, car- 
 
 * It may be necessary to inform some of our English readers, that a worm fence 
 it a coarse, zigzag railing, common in the new settlements of America, where 
 timber is plentiful. 
 
 B 4 
 
8 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ried him off within a few months. By his will he appointed 
 a liberal annuity to Aunt Mary, and left the remainder of his 
 property to his son Edward, but entirely under the control and 
 guardianship of Colonel Brandon. 
 
 The latter had prevailed upon Aunt Mary and her young 
 nephew to become inmates of his house ; where, after the sooth- 
 ing effect of time had softened the bitterness of their grief, 
 they found the comforts, the occupations, the endearments, the 
 social blessings embodied in the word " home." Edward be- 
 came more fondly attached than ever to his younger com- 
 panion Reginald ; and Aunt Mary, besides aiding Mrs. Bran- 
 don in the education of her daughter, found time to knit, to 
 hem, to cook, to draw, to plant vegetables, to rear flowers, to 
 read, to give medicine to any sick in the neighbourhood, and 
 to comfort all who, like herself, had suffered under the chas- 
 tising hand of Providence. 
 
 Such were the circumstances which (eleven years before the 
 commencement of this narrative) had led to the affectionate 
 and paternal interest which the Colonel felt for the son of his 
 friend, and which was increased by the high and estimable 
 qualities gradually developed in Edward's character. Before 
 proceeding further in our tale, it is necessary to give the reader 
 some insight into the early history of Colonel Brandon himself, 
 and into those occurrences in the life of his son Reginald 
 which throw light upon the events hereafter to be related. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MARRIAGE OF COLONEL BRANDON, 
 AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 
 
 GEORGE BRANDON was the only son of a younger brother, a 
 scion of an ancient and distinguished family : they had been, 
 for the most part, staunch Jacobites, and George's father lost 
 the greater part of his property in a fruitless endeavour to 
 support the ill-timed and ill-conducted expedition of Charles 
 Edward, in 1745. 
 After this he retired to the Continent and died, leaving to 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. Q 
 
 his son little else besides his sword, a few hundred crowns, and 
 an untarnished name. The young man returned to England ; 
 and, being agreeable, accomplished, and strikingly handsome, 
 was kindly received by some of his relations and their friends. 
 
 During one of the visits that he paid at the house of a 
 neighbour in the country, he fell desperately in love with Lucy 
 Shirley, the daughter of the richest squire in the country, a 
 determined Whig, and one who hated a Jacobite worse than a 
 Frenchman. As George Brandon's passion was returned with 
 equal ardour, and the object of it was young and inexperi- 
 enced as himself, all the obstacles opposed to their union only 
 served to add fuel to the flame ; and, after repeated but vain 
 endeavours on the part of Lucy Shirley to reconcile her father, 
 or her only brother, to the match, she eloped with her young 
 lover ; and, by a rapid escape into Scotland, where they were 
 immediately married, they rendered abortive all attempt at 
 pursuit. 
 
 It was not long before the young couple began to feel some 
 of the painful consequences of their imprudence. The old 
 squire was not to be appeased ; he would neither see his 
 daughter, nor would he open one of the many letters which 
 she wrote to entreat his forgiveness : but, although incensed, 
 he was a proud man and scrupulously just in all his dealings : 
 Lucy had been left 10,000/. by her grand-mother, but it was 
 not due to her until she attained her twenty-first year, or 
 married with her father's consent. The squire waved both 
 these conditions ; he knew that his daughter had fallen from 
 a brilliant sphere to one comparatively humble. Even in 
 the midst of his wrath he did not wish her to starve, and 
 accordingly instructed his lawyer to write to Mrs. Brandon, 
 and to inform her that he had orders to pay her 500/. a-year, 
 until she thought fit to demand the payment of the principal. 
 
 George and his wife returned, after a brief absence, to 
 England, and made frequent efforts to overcome, by entreaty 
 and submission, the old squire's obduracy ; but it was all in 
 vain : neither were they more successful in propitiating the 
 young squire, an eccentric youth, who lived among dogs and 
 torses, and who had imbibed from his father an hereditary 
 taste for old port, and an antipathy to Jacobites. His reply 
 to a letter which George wrote, entreating his good offices in 
 effecting a reconciliation between Lucy and her father, will serve 
 
10 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 better than an elaborate description to illustrate his character ; 
 it ran as follows : 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " When my sister married a Jacobite, against Father's 
 consent, she carried her eggs to a fool's market, and she must 
 make the best of her own bargain. Father isn't such a flat 
 as to be gulled with your fine words now : and tho' they say 
 I'm not over forw'rd in my schooling you must put some 
 better bait on your trap before you catch 
 
 "MARMADUKE SHIRLEY, Jun." 
 
 It may well be imagined, that after the receipt of this 
 epistle George Brandon did not seek to renew his intercourse 
 with Lucy's brother : but as she had now presented him with 
 a little boy, he began to meditate seriously on the means which 
 he should adopt to better his fortunes. 
 
 One of his most intimate and esteemed friends, Digby 
 Ethelston, being, like himself, a portionless member of an 
 ancient family, had gone out early in life to America, and 
 had, by dint of persevering industry, gained a respectable 
 competence : while in the southern colonies he had married the 
 daughter of an old French planter, who had left the marquisate 
 to which he was entitled in his own country, in order to live in 
 peace and quiet among the sugar-canes and cotton-fields of 
 Louisiana. Ethelston had received with his wife a consider- 
 able accession of fortune, and they were on the eve of returning 
 across the Atlantic, her husband having settled all the affairs 
 which had brought him to England. 
 
 His representations of the New World made a strong im- 
 pression on the sanguine mind of George Brandon, and he 
 proposed to his wife to emigrate with their little one to Ame- 
 rica. Poor Lucy, cut off from her own family, and devoted to 
 her husband, made no difficulty whatever, and it was soon 
 settled that they should accompany the Ethelstons. 
 
 George now called upon Mr. Shirley's solicitor, a dry, 
 matter-of-fact, parchment man, to inform him of their inten- 
 tion, and of their wish that the principal of Lucy's fortune 
 might be paid up. The lawyer took down a dusty box of 
 black tin whereon was engraved " Marmaduke Shirley, Esq., 
 Shirley Hall, No. 7" ; and after carefully perusing a paper of 
 instructions, he said, "Mrs. Brandon's legacy shall be paid 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. It 
 
 up, sir, on the 1st of July, to any party whom she may em- 
 power to receive it on her behalf, and to give a legal discharge 
 for the same." 
 
 " And pray, sir," said George, hesitating, *' as we are 
 going across the Atlantic, perhaps never to return, do you 
 not think Mr. Shirley would see his daughter once before she 
 sails, to give her his blessing ? " 
 
 Again the man of parchment turned his sharp nose towards 
 the paper, and having scanned its contents, he said, " I find 
 nothing, sir, in these instructions on that point. Good morn- 
 ing, Mr. Brandon. James, show in Sir John Waltham." 
 
 George walked home dispirited, and the punctual solicitor 
 failed not to inform the squire immediately of the young 
 couple's intended emigration, and the demand for the paying 
 up of the sum due to Lucy. In spite of his long-cherished 
 prejudices against George Brandon's Jacobite family, and his 
 anger at the elopement, he was somewhat softened by time, by 
 what he heard of the blameless life led by the young man, 
 and by the respectful conduct that the latter had evinced to- 
 wards his wife's family ; for it had happened on one occasion 
 that some of his young companions had thought fit to speak 
 of the obstinacy and stinginess of the old squire : this lan- 
 guage George had instantly and indignantly checked, saying, 
 " My conduct in marrying his daughter against his consent, 
 was unjustifiable : though he has not forgiven her, has he be- 
 haved justly and honourably. Any word spoken disrespectfully 
 of my wife's father, I shall consider a personal insult to 
 myself." 
 
 This had accidentally reached the ears of the old squire ; and 
 though still too proud and too obstinate to agree to any recon- 
 ciliation, he said to the solicitor : " Perkins, I will not be re- 
 conciled to these scapegraces ; I will have no intercourse with 
 them, but I will see Lucy before she goes ; she must not see 
 me. Arrange it as you please : desire her to come to your 
 house to sign the discharge for the 10,000^., in person ; you 
 can put me in a cupboard, in the next room ; where you will ; 
 a glass door will do ; you understand ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir. When?" 
 
 " Oh, the sooner the better ; whenever the papers are 
 ready." 
 
 " It shall be done, sir." And thus the interview closed. 
 
12 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Meantime George made one final effort in a letter, which he 
 addressed to the squire, couched in terms at once manly and re- 
 spectful ; owning the errors that he had committed, but hoping 
 that forgiveness might precede this long, this last separation. 
 
 This letter was returned to him unopened ; and, in order 
 to conceal from Lucy the grief and mortification of his high 
 and wounded spirit, he was obliged to absent himself from 
 home for many hours; and when he did return, it was with a 
 clouded brow. 
 
 Certainly the fate of this young couple, though not altoge- 
 ther prosperous, was in one particular a remarkable exception 
 to the usual results of a runaway match ; they were affec- 
 tionately and entirely devoted to each other : and Lucy, though 
 she had been once, and only once, a disobedient daughter, 
 was the most loving and obedient of wives. 
 
 The day fixed for her signature arrived. Mr. Perkins had 
 made all his arrangements agreeably to his wealthy client's in- 
 structions ; and when, accompanied by her husband, she en- 
 tered the solicitor's study, she was little conscious that her 
 father was separated from her only by a frail door, which being 
 left ajar, he could see her, and hear every word that she spoke. 
 
 Mr. Perkins, placing the draft of the discharge into George 
 Brandon's hand, together with the instrument whereby his 
 wife was put in possession of the 10,0002., said to him, 
 * ' Would it not be better, sir, to send for your solicitor to in- 
 spect these papers on behalf of yourself and Mrs. Brandon, 
 before she signs the discharge ? " 
 
 " Allow me to inquire, sir." replied George, " whether Mr. 
 Shirley has perused these papers, and has placed them here 
 for his daughter's signature ? " 
 
 "Assuredly, he has, sir," said the lawyer, "and I have 
 too, on his behalf; you do not imagine, sir, that my client 
 would pay the capital sum without being certain that the dis- 
 charge was regular and sufficient !" 
 
 " Then I am satisfied, sir," said George, with something of 
 disdain expressed on his fine countenance. " Mr. Shirley is a 
 man of honour, and a father ; whatever he has sent for his 
 daughter's signature will secure her interests as effectually as 
 if a dozen solicitors had inspected it." 
 
 At the conclusion of this speech, a sort of indistinct hem 
 proceeded from the ensconced squire ; to cover which, Mr. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 13 
 
 Perkins said, " But, sir, it is not usual to sign papers of this 
 consequence without examining them." 
 
 " Lucy, my dear," said George, turning with a smile of 
 affectionate confidence to his wife ; " to oblige Mr. Perkins, I 
 will read through these two papers attentively : sit down for 
 a minute, as they are somewhat long:" so saying, he applied 
 himself at once to his task. 
 
 Meantime Lucy, painfully agitated and excited, made se- 
 veral attempts to address Mr. Perkins ; but her voice failed 
 her, as soon as she turned her eyes upon that gentleman's 
 rigid countenance : at length, however, by a desperate effort, 
 she succeeded in asking, tremulously, " Mr. Perkins, have you 
 seen my father lately ? " 
 
 " Yes, ma'am," said the lawyer nibbing his pen. 
 
 " Oh ! tell me how he is ! Has the gout left him ? 
 Can he ride to the farm as he used ? " 
 
 " He is well, madam, very well, I believe." 
 
 " Shall you see him soon again, sir ? " 
 
 " Yes, madam, I must show him these papers, when 
 signed." 
 
 " Oh ! then, tell him, that his daughter, who never dis- 
 obeyed him but once, has wept bitterly for her fault ; that she 
 will probably never see him again, in this world ; that she 
 blesses him in her daily prayers. Oh ! tell him, I charge you 
 as you are a man, tell him, that I could cress the ocean 
 happy that I could bear years of sickness, of privation, 
 happy that I could die happy, if I had but my dear, dear 
 father's blessing." As she said this, the young wife had 
 unconsciously fallen upon one knee before the man of law, 
 and her tearful eyes were bent upon his countenance in earnest 
 supplication. 
 
 Again an indistinct noise, as of a suppressed groan or sob r 
 was heard from behind the door, and the solicitor wiping his 
 spectacles and turning away his face to conceal an emotion of 
 which he felt rather ashamed, said : " I will tell him all you 
 desire, madam ; and if I receive his instructions to make any 
 communication in reply, I will make it faithfully, and without 
 loss of time." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you a thousand times," said Lucy : 
 and resuming her seat, she endeavoured to recover her com- 
 posure. 
 
14 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 George had by this time run his eye over the papers ; and 
 although he had overheard his wife's appeal to the solicitor, he 
 "would not interrupt her, nor throw any obstacle in the way of 
 an object which he knew she had so much at heart. " I am 
 perfectly satisfied, sir," said he ; " you have nothing to do 
 but to provide the witnesses, and Mrs. Brandon will affix her 
 signature." 
 
 Two clerks of Mr. Perkins' were accordingly summoned, 
 and the discharge having been signed in their presence, they 
 retired. Mr. Perkins now drew another paper from the leaves 
 of a book on his table, saying : " Mr. Brandon, the discharge 
 being now signed and attested, I have further instructions from 
 Mr. Shirley to inform you, that although he cannot alter his 
 determination of refusing to see his daughter, or holding any 
 intercourse with yourself, he is desirous that you should not in 
 America find yourself in straitened circumstances; -and has 
 accordingly authorised me to place in your hands this draft 
 upon his banker for 5000/." 
 
 " Mr. Perkins," said George, in a tone of mingled sadness 
 and pride; " in the payment of the 10,000?., my wife's for- 
 tune, Mr. Shirley, though acting honourably, has only done 
 justice, and has dealt as he would have dealt with strangers ; 
 had he thought proper to listen to my wife's, or to ray own re- 
 peated entreaties for forgiveness and reconciliation, I would 
 gratefully have received from him, as from a father, any favour 
 that he wished to confer on us ; but, sir, as he refuses to see 
 me under his roof, or even to give his affectionate and re- 
 pentant child a parting blessing, I would rather work for my 
 daily bread than receive at his hands the donation of a 
 guinea." 
 
 As he said this, he tore the draft and scattered its shreds on 
 the table before the astonished lawyer. Poor Lucy was still 
 in tears, yet one look assured her husband that she felt with 
 him. He added in a gentler tone, " Mr. Perkins, accept my 
 acknowledgments for your courtesy;" and, offering his arm to 
 Lucy, turned to leave the room. 
 
TUB PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONTAINING SOME FURTHER ACCOUNT OF COLONEL AND MRS. BRANDON, 
 AND OF THE EDUCATION OF THEIR SON REGINALD. 
 
 WHILE the scene described in the last chapter was passing in 
 the lawyer's study, stormy and severe was the struggle going 
 on in the breast of the listening father ; more than once he 
 had been on the point of rushing into the room to fold his 
 child in his arms ; but that obstinate pride, which causes in 
 life so many bitter hours of regret, prevented him, and checked 
 the natural impulse of affection : still, as she turned with her 
 husband to leave the room, he unconsciously opened the door 
 on the lock of which his hand rested, as he endeavoured to 
 get one last look at a face which he had so long loved and 
 caressed. The door being thus partially opened, a very diminu- 
 tive and favourite spaniel, that accompanied him wherever he 
 went, escaped through the aperture, and, recognising Lucy, 
 barked and jumped upon her in an ecstasy of delight. 
 
 " Heavens ! " cried she, " it is it must be Fan ! " At 
 another time she would have fondly caressed it, but one only 
 thought now occupied her : trembling on her husband's arm, 
 she whispered, " George, papa must be here." At that mo- 
 ment her eye caught the partially opened door, which the 
 agitated squire still held, and breaking from her husband, she 
 flew as if by instinct into the adjacent room, and fell at her 
 father's feet. 
 
 Poor Mr. Perkins was now grievously disconcerted ; and 
 calling out, " This way, madam, this way ; that is not the 
 right door," was about to follow, when George Brandon, lay- 
 ing his hand upon the lawyer's arm, said, impressively, 
 
 " Stay, sir ; that room is sacred ! " and led him back to his 
 chair. His quick mind had seized in a moment the correct- 
 ness of Lucy's conjecture, and his good feeling taught him 
 that no third person, not even he, should intrude upon the 
 father and the child. 
 
 The old squire could not make a long resistance when the 
 gush of his once loved Lucy's tears trickled upon his hand, 
 and while her half-choked voice sobbed for his pardon and his 
 blessing ; it was in vain that he summoned all his pride, all 
 
16 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 his strength, all his anger ; Nature would assert her rights ; 
 and in another minute his child's head was on his bosom, and 
 he whispered over her, " I forgive you, Lucy : may God bless 
 you, as I do !" 
 
 For some time after this was the interview prolonged, and 
 Lucy seemed to be pleading for some boon which she could 
 not obtain ; nevertheless, her tears, her old familiar childish 
 caresses, had regained something of their former dominion 
 over the choleric but warm-hearted squire ; and in a voice of 
 joy that thrilled even through the quiet man of law, she cried, 
 " George ! George, come in ! " He leaped from his seat, and 
 in a moment was at the feet of her father. There, as he 
 knelt by Lucy's side, the old squire put one hand upon the 
 head of each, saying, " My children, all that you have ever 
 done to offend me is forgotten : continue to love and to cherish 
 each other, and may God prosper you with every blessing ! ** 
 George Brandon's heart was full : he could not speak ; but 
 straining his wife affectionately to his bosom, and kissing her 
 father's hand, he withdrew into a corner of the room, and for 
 some minutes remained oppressed by emotions too strong to 
 find relief in expressions. 
 
 We need not detail at length the consequences of this happy 
 and unexpected reconciliation. The check was re-written, 
 was doubled, and was accepted. George still persevered in his 
 wish to accompany his friend to Virginia ; where, Ethelston 
 assured him, that with his 20,000/. prudently managed, he 
 might easily acquire a sufficient fortune for himself and his 
 family. 
 
 How mighty is the power of circumstance ; and upon what 
 small pivots does Providence sometimes allow the wheels of 
 human fortune to be turned ! Here, in the instance just re- 
 lated, the blessing or unappeased wrath of a father, the joy or 
 despair of a daughter, the peace or discord of a family, all, 
 all were dependent upon the bark and caress of a spaniel! For 
 that stern old man had made his determination, and would 
 have adhered to it, if Lucy had not thus been made aware of 
 his presence, and, by her grief aiding the voice of nature, over- 
 thrown all the defences of his pride. 
 
 It happened that the young squire was at this time in Paris, 
 his father having sent him thither to see the world and learn 
 to fence. A letter was, however, written by Lucy, announcing 
 
*HK PRAIRIE-BIRD. 17 
 
 to him the happy reconciliation, and entreating him to parti- 
 cipate in their common happiness. 
 
 The arrangements for the voyage were soon completed ; the 
 cabin of a large vessel being engaged to convey the whole party 
 to Norfolk in Virginia. The old squire offered no opposition, 
 considering that George Brandon was too old to begin a pro- 
 fession in England, and that he might employ his time and 
 abilities advantageously in the New World. 
 
 We may pass over many of the ensuing years, the events of 
 which have little influence on our narrative, merely informing 
 the reader that the investment of Brandon's money, made by 
 the advice of Ethelston, was prosperous in the extreme. In 
 the course of a year or two, Mrs. Brandon presented her lord 
 with a little girl, who was named after herself. In the fol- 
 lowing year, Mrs. Ethelston had also a daughter : the third 
 confinement was not so fortunate, and she died in childbed, 
 leaving, to Ethelston, Edward, then about nine, and little 
 Evelyn a twelvemonth old. 
 
 It was on this sad occasion that he presuaded his sister to 
 come out from England to reside with him, and take care of 
 his motherless children : a task that she undertook and fulfilled 
 with the love and devotion of the most affectionate mother. 
 
 In course of time the war broke out which ended in the 
 independence of the colonies. During its commencement, 
 Brandon and Ethelston both remained firm to the crown ; but 
 as it advanced, they became gradually convinced of the im- 
 policy and injustice of the claims urged by England. Brandon 
 having sought an interview with Washington, the arguments, 
 and the character, of that great man decided him : he joined 
 the Independent party, obtained a command, and distinguished 
 himself so much as to obtain the esteem and regard of his 
 commander. As soon as peace was established, he had, for 
 reasons before stated, determined to change his residence, and 
 persuaded Ethelston to accompany him with his family. 
 
 After the dreadful domestic calamity mentioned in the first 
 chapter, and the untimely death of Ethelston, Colonel Brandon 
 sent Edward, "the son of his deceased friend, to a distant rela- 
 tive in Hamburgh, desiring that every care might be given to 
 give him a complete mercantile and liberal education, includ- 
 ing two years' study at a German university. 
 
 Meanwhile the old Squire Shirley was dead ; but his son 
 c 
 
18 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 and successor had written, after his own strange fashion, a 
 letter to his sister, begging her to send over her boy to Eng- 
 land, and he would if make a man of him." After duly 
 weighing this proposal, Colonel and Mrs. Brandon determined 
 to avail themselves of it ; and Reginald was accordingly sent 
 over to his uncle, who had promised to enter him immediately 
 at Oxford. 
 
 When Reginald arrived, Marmaduke Shirley turned him 
 round half a dozen times, felt his arms, punched his ribs, 
 looked at his ruddy cheeks and brown hair, that had never 
 known a barber, and exclaimed to a brother sportsman who 
 was standing by, ' ( ". a if he ain't one of the right sort ! 
 eh, Harry ? " But if the uncle was pleased with the lad's 
 appearance, much more delighted was he with his accomplish- 
 ments : for he could walk down any keeper on the estate, he 
 sat on a horse like a young centaur, and his accuracy with a 
 rifle perfectly confounded the squire. " If this isn't a chip 
 of the old block, my name isn't Marmaduke Shirley," said 
 he; and for a moment a shade crossed his usually careless 
 brow, as he remembered that he had wooed, and married, and 
 been left a childless widower. 
 
 But although, at Shirley Hall, Reginald followed the sports 
 of the field with the ardour natural to his age and character, 
 he rather annoyed the squire by his obstinate and persevering 
 attention to his studies at college : he remembered that walk- 
 ing and shooting were accomplishments which he might have 
 acquired and perfected in the woods of Virginia ; but he felt 
 it due to his parents, and to the confidence which they had 
 reposed in his discretion, to carry back with him some more 
 useful knowledge and learning. 
 
 With this dutiful motive, he commenced his studies ; and 
 as he advanced in them, his naturally quick intellect seized on 
 and appreciated the beauties presented to it. Authors, in whose 
 writings he had imagined and expected little else but diffi- 
 culties, soon became easy and familiar ; and what he had im- 
 posed upon himself from a high principle as a task, proved, 
 ere long, a source of abundant pleasure. 
 
 In the vacations he visited his good-humoured uncle, who 
 never failed to rally him as a " Latin-monger " and a book- 
 worm : but Reginald bore the jokes with temper not less 
 merry than his uncle's ; and whenever, after a hard run, he 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 1Q 
 
 had " pounded " the squire or the huntsman, he never failed 
 to retaliate by answering the compliments paid him on his 
 riding with some such jest as, " Pretty well for a book-worm, 
 uncle." It soon became evident to all the tenants, servants, 
 and indeed to the whole neighbourhood, that Reginald exer- 
 cised a despotic influence over the squire, who respected in- 
 ternally those literary* attainments in his nephew which he 
 affected to ridicule. 
 
 When Reginald had taken his degree, which he did with 
 high honour and credit, he felt an ardent desire to visit his 
 friend and school- fellow, Edward Ethelston, in Germany : he 
 was also anxious to see something of the Continent, and to 
 study the foreign languages. This wish he expressed without 
 circumlocution to the squire, who received the communication 
 with undisguised disapprobation : " What the devil can the 
 boy want to go abroad for ? not satisfied with wasting two or 
 three years poking over Greek, Latin, mathematics, and other 
 infernal ' atics ' and ' ologies/ now you must go across the 
 Channel to eat sour-krout, soup-maigre, and frogs ! 1 won't 
 hear of it, sir ; " and in order to keep his wrath warm, the 
 squire poked the fire violently. 
 
 In spite of this determination, Reginald, as usual, carried 
 his point, and in a few weeks was on board a packet bound 
 for Hamburgh, his purse being well filled by the squire, who 
 told him to see all that could be seen, and " not to let any 
 of those Mounseers top him at any thing." Reginald was 
 also provided with letters of credit to a much larger amount 
 than he required ; but the first hint which he gave of a wish 
 to decline a portion of the squire's generosity raised such a 
 ctorra, that our hero was fain to submit. 
 
20 THE PRAIRIE-BIRO. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CONTAINING SUNDRY ADVENTURES OF REGINALD BRANDON AND HIS 
 FRIEND ETHELSTON ON THE CONTINENT; ALSO SOME FURTHER 
 PROCEEDINGS AT SQUIRE SHIRLEY'S ; AND THE RETURN OF REGI- 
 NALD BRANDON TO HIS HOME. IN THIS CHAPTER THE SPORTING 
 READER WILL FIND AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNMADE RIDER ON A 
 MADE HUNTER. 
 
 REGINALD having joined his attached and faithful friend 
 Ethelston at Hamburgh, the young men agreed to travel 
 together ; and the intimacy of their early boyhood ripened 
 into a mature friendship, based upon mutual esteem. In per- 
 sonal advantages, Reginald was greatly the superior; for 
 although unusually tall and strongly built, such was the perfect 
 symmetry of his proportions, that his height, and the great 
 muscular strength of his chest and limbs, were carried off by 
 the grace with which he moved, and by the air of high breed- 
 ing by which he was distinguished: his countenance was 
 noble and open in expression ; and though there was a fire in 
 his dark eye which betokened passions easily aroused, still 
 there was a frankness on the brow, and a smile around the 
 mouth, that told of a nature at once kindly, fearless, and 
 without suspicion. 
 
 Ethelston, who was, be it remembered, three years older than 
 his friend, was of middle stature, but active, and well propor- 
 tioned : his hair and eyebrows were of the jettest black, and 
 his countenance thoughtful and grave ; but there was about the 
 full and firm lip an expression of determination not to be mis- 
 taken. Habits of study and reflection had already written their 
 trace upon his high and intellectual brow ; so that one who 
 saw him for the first time might imagine him only a severe 
 student ; but ere he had seen him an hour in society, he would 
 pronounce him a man of practical and commanding character. 
 The shade of melancholy, which was almost habitual on his 
 countenance, dated from the death of his father, brought pre- 
 maturely by sorrow to his grave, and from the loss of his 
 little sister, to whom he had been tenderly attached. The two 
 friends loved each other with the affection of brothers ; and 
 after the separation of the last few yeras, each found in the 
 other newly developed qualities to esteem. 
 
THE PRAIKIE-BIRD. 2? 
 
 The state of Europe during the autumn of 1 795 not being 
 favourable for distant excursions, Ethelston contented himself 
 with showing his friend all objects worthy of his attention in 
 the north of Germany, and at the same time assisted him in 
 attaining its rich though difficult language. By associating 
 much, during the winter, with the students from the univer- 
 sities, Reginald caught some of their enthusiasm respecting the 
 defence of their country from the arms of the French republic: 
 he learnt that a large number of Ethelston's acquaintances at 
 Hamburgh had resolved in the spring to join a corps of volun- 
 teers from the Hanseatic towns, destined to fight under the 
 banner of the Archduke Charles : to their own surprise, our 
 two friends were carried away by the stream, and found them 
 selves enrolled in a small but active and gallant band of sharp- 
 shooters, ordered to act on the flank of a large body of Aus- 
 trian infantry. More than once the impetuous courage of 
 Reginald had nearly cost him his life ; and in the action at 
 Am berg, where the Archduke defeated General Bernadotte, he 
 received two wounds, such as would have disabled a man of 
 less hardy constitution. It was in vain that Ethelston, whose 
 bravery was tempered by unruffled coolness, urged his friend 
 to expose himself less wantonly ; Reginald always promised it, 
 but in the excitement of the action always forgot the promise. 
 
 After he had recovered from his wounds, his commanding 
 officer, who had noticed his fearless daring, a quality so va- 
 luable in the skirmishing duty to which his corps were 
 appointed, sent for him, and offered to promote him. " Sir," 
 said Reginald, modestly, " I thank you heartily, but I must 
 decline the honour you propose to me. I am too inexperienced 
 to lead others ; my friend and comrade, Ethelston, is three 
 years my senior; in action he is always by my side, some- 
 times before me ; he has more skill or riper judgment ; any 
 promotion, that should prefer me before him, would be most 
 painful to me." He bowed and withdrew. On the following 
 day, the same officer, who had mentioned Reginald's conduct 
 to the Archduke, presented both the friends, from him. with a 
 gold medal of the Emperor; a distinction the more gratifying 
 to Reginald, from his knowledge that he had been secretly the 
 means of bringing his friend's merit into the notice of his 
 commander. 
 
 They served through the remainder of that campaign, when 
 c 3 
 
22 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the arms of the contending parties met with alternate success : 
 towards its close, the Archduke having skilfully effected his ob- 
 ject of uniting his forces to the corps d'armee under General 
 Wartenleben, compelled the French to evacuate Franconia, and 
 to retire towards Switzerland. 
 
 This retreat was conducted with much skill by General 
 Moreau ; several times did the French rear-guard make an 
 obstinate stand against the pursuers, among whom Reginald 
 and his comrades were always the foremost. On one occasion, 
 the French army occupied a position so strong that they were 
 not driven from it without heavy loss on both sides ; and even 
 after the force of numbers had compelled the main body to 
 retire, there remained a gallant band who seemed resolved to 
 conquer or die upon the field. In vain did the Austrian leaders, 
 in admiration of their devoted valour, call to them to surrender: 
 without yielding an inch of ground, they fell fighting where 
 they stood. Reginald made the most desperate efforts to save 
 their young commander, whose chivalrous appearance and 
 brilliantly decorated uniform made him remarkable from a 
 great distance : several times did he strike aside a barrel 
 pointed at the French officer ; but it was too late ; and when 
 at length, covered with dust, and sweat, and blood, he reached 
 the spot, he found the young hero, whom he had striven to 
 save, stretched on the ground by several mortal wounds in his 
 breast ; he saw, however, Reginald's kind intention, smiled 
 gratefully upon him, waved his sword over his head, and died. 
 
 The excitement of the battle was over ; and leaning on hi? 
 sword, Reginald still bent over the noble form and marble 
 features of the young warrior at his feet ; and he sighed deeply 
 when he thought how suddenly had this flower of manly 
 beauty been cut down. "Perhaps," said he, half aloud, 
 " some now childless mother yet waits for this last prop of her 
 age and name ; or some betrothed lingers at her window, and 
 wonders why he so long delays." 
 
 Ethelston was at his side, his eyes also bent sadly upon the 
 same object : the young friends interchanged a warm and si- 
 lent grasp of the hand, each feeling that he read the heart of 
 the other ! At this moment, a groan escaped from a wounded 
 man, who was half buried under the bleeding bodies of his 
 comrades : with some difficulty Reginald dragged him out from 
 below them, and the poor fellow thanked him for his humanity: 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 2S 
 
 he had only received a slight wound on the head from a spent 
 ball, which had stunned him for the time ; hut he soon reco- 
 vered from its effects, and looking around, he saw the body of 
 the young commander stretched on the plain. 
 
 " Ah, mon pauvre General! " he exclaimed : and on further 
 inquiry, Reginald learnt that it was indeed the gallant, the ad- 
 mired, the beloved General Marceau, whose brilliant career 
 was thus untimely closed. 
 
 " I will go/' whispered Ethelston, " and bear these tidings 
 to the Archduke ; meantime, Reginald, guard the honoured re- 
 mains from the camp-spoiler and the plunderer." So saying 
 he withdrew : and Reginald, stooping over the prostrate form 
 before him, stretched it decently, closed the eyes, and, throwing 
 a mantle over the splendid uniform, sat down to indulge in the 
 serious meditations inspired by the scene. 
 
 He was soon aroused from them by the poor fellow whom 
 he had dragged forth, who said to him, " Sir, I yield myself 
 your prisoner." 
 
 " And who are you, my friend ? " 
 
 " I was courier, valet, and cook to M. de Vareuil, aide-de- 
 camp to the General Marceau ; both lie dead together before 
 you." 
 
 " And what is your name, my good fellow ? " 
 
 " Gustave Adolphe Montmorenci Perrot." 
 
 " A fair string of names, indeed," said Reginald, smiling. 
 { ' But pray, Monsieur Perrot, how came you here ? are you a 
 soldier as well as a courier ? " 
 
 "Monsieur does me too much honour," said the other, 
 shrugging his shoulders. " I only came from the baggage- 
 train with a message to my master, and your avant-garde pep- 
 pered us so hotly that I could not get back again. I am not 
 fond of fighting : but somehow, when I saw poor Monsieur de 
 Vareuil in so sad a plight, I did not wish to leave him." 
 
 Reginald looked at the speaker, and thought he had never 
 seen in one face such a compound of slyness and honesty, 
 drollery and sadness. He did not, however, reply, and re- 
 lapsed into his meditation. Before five minutes had passed, 
 Monsieur Perrot. as if struck by a sudden idea, fell on his 
 knees before Reginald, and said, 
 
 " Monsieur has saved my life will he grant me yet one 
 favour ? " 
 
 c 4 
 
4 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 te If within my power," said Reginald, good-humouredly. 
 
 " Will Monsieur take me into his service ? I have tra- 
 velled over all Europe ; I have lived long in Paris, London,. 
 Vienna ; I may be of use to Monsieur ; hut I have no home 
 now." 
 
 " Nay, hut Monsieur Perrot, I want no servant ; I am only? 
 a volunteer with the army." 
 
 " I see what Monsieur is," said Perrot, archly, " in spiter 
 of the dust and blood with which he is disfigured. I will ask 
 no salary ; I will share your black bread, if you are poor, andi 
 will live in your pantry, if you are rich : I only want to serve 
 you." 
 
 Monsieur Perrot's importunity overruled all the objections 
 that Reginald could raise ; and he at last consented to the ar- 
 rangement, provided the former, after due reflection, should 
 adhere to his wish. 
 
 Ethelston meanwhile returned with the party sent by the 
 Archduke to pay the last token of respect to the remains of the 
 youthful General. They were interred with all the military 
 honours due to an officer whose reputation was, considering his 
 years, second to none in France, save that of Napoleon 
 himself. 
 
 After the ceremony, Monsieur Perrot, now on parole not to 
 bear arms against Austria, obtained leave to return to the 
 French camp for a week, in order to " arrange his affairs," at 
 the expiration of which he promised to rejoin his new master. 
 Ethelston blamed Reginald for his thoughtlessness in engaging 
 this untried attendant. The latter, however, laughed at his 
 friend, and said, " Though he is such a droll-looking creature, 
 I think there is good in him ; at all events, rest assured I will 
 not trust him far without trial." 
 
 A few weeks after these events, General Moreau having 
 effected his retreat into Switzerland, an armistice was con- 
 cluded on the Rhine between the contending armies ; and 
 Reginald could no longer resist the imperative commands of 
 his uncle to return to Shirley Hall. Monsieur Gustave 
 Adolphe Montmorenci Perrot had joined his new master, with 
 a valise admirably stocked, and wearing a peruke of a most 
 fashionable cut. Ethelston shrewdly suspected that these had 
 formed part of Monsieur de Vareuil's wardrobe, and his dis- 
 like of Reginald's foppish valet was not thereby diminished. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 25 
 
 On the route to Hamburgh the friends passed through 
 many places where the luxuries, and even the necessaries of 
 life, had been rendered scarce by the late campaign. Hert 
 Perrot was in his element; fatigue seemed to be unknown 
 to him ; he was always ready, active, useful as a courier, 
 and unequalled as a cook or a caterer ; so that Ethelston was 
 compelled to confess, that if he only proved honest, Reginald 
 had indeed found a treasure. 
 
 At Hamburgh the two friends took an affectionate farewell, 
 promising to meet each other in the course of the following 
 year on the banks of the Ohio. Reginald returned to his 
 uncle, who stormed dreadfully when he learnt that he had 
 brought with him a French valet, and remained implacable, in 
 spite of the circumstances under which he had been engaged ; 
 until one morning, when a footman threw down the tray on 
 which he was carrying up the squire's breakfast of beef-steaks 
 and stewed kidneys, half an hour before "the meet" at his 
 best cover-side. What could now be done? The cook was 
 sulky, and sent word that there were no more steaks nor kid- 
 neys to be had. The squire was wrath and hungry. Reginald 
 laughed, and said, " Uncle, send for Perrot." 
 
 " Perrot : ! " cried the squire. " Does the boy 
 
 think I want some pomatum ? What else can that coxcomb 
 give me ? " 
 
 " May I try him, uncle ? " said Reginald, still laughing. 
 
 " You may try him : but if he plays any of his jackanapes 
 pranks, I'll tan his hide for him, I promise you ! " 
 
 Reginald having rung for Perrot, pointed to the remains of 
 the good things which a servant was still gathering up, and 
 said to him, " Send up breakfast for Mr. Shirley and myself 
 in one quarter of an hour from this minute : you are per- 
 mitted to use what you find in the larder ; but be punctual." 
 
 Perrot bowed, and, without speaking, disappeared. 
 
 " The devil take the fellow ! he has some sense," said the 
 angry squire ; " he can receive an order without talking ; one 
 of my hulking knaves would have stood there five minutes out 
 of the fifteen, saying, * Yes, sir; I'll see what can be done; * 
 or, ' I'll ask Mr. Alltripe,' or some other infernal stuff. Come, 
 Reginald, look at your watch. Let us stroll to the stable ;. 
 we'll be back to a minute ; and if that fellow plays any of 
 his French tricks upon me, I'll give it him." So saying, the 
 
2O THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 jolly squire cut the head off one of his gardener's favourite 
 plants with his hunting whip, and led the way to the stable. 
 
 We may now return to Monsieur Perrot, and see how he set 
 about the discharge of his sudden commission ; but it may be 
 necessary, at the same time, to explain one or two particulars 
 not known to his master or to the squire. Monsieur Perrot 
 was very gallant, and his tender heart had been smitten by 
 the charms of Mary, the still-room maid ; it so happened on 
 this very morning that he had prepared slily, as a surprise, a 
 little dejeuner a la fourchette, with which he intended to 
 soften Mary's obduracy. We will not inquire how he had ob- 
 tained the mushroom, the lemon, and the sundry other good 
 things with which he was busily engaged in dressing a plump 
 hen-pheasant, when he received the above unexpected sum- 
 mons. Monsieur Perrot's vanity was greater than either his 
 gourmandise or his love ; and, without hesitation, he deter- 
 mined to sacrifice to it the hen-pheasant : his first step was to 
 run to the still-room ; and having stolen a kiss from Mary, 
 and received a box on the ear as a reward, he gave her two or 
 three very brief but important hints for the coffee, which was 
 to be made immediately ; he then turned his attention to the 
 hen-pheasant, sliced some bacon, cut up a ham, took possession 
 of a whole basket of eggs, and flew about the kitchen with 
 such surprising activity, and calling for so many things at 
 once, that Mr. Alltripe left his dominion, and retired to his 
 own room in high dudgeon. 
 
 Meanwhile the squire, having sauntered through the stables 
 with Reginald, and enlightened him with various comments 
 upon the points and qualities of his favourite hunters, took out 
 his watch, and exclaimed, " The time is up, my boy ; let us 
 go in and see what your precious mounseer has got for us." 
 As they entered the library, Monsieur opened the opposite 
 door, and announced breakfast as quietly and composedly as if 
 no unusual demand had been made upon his talents. The 
 squire led the way into the breakfast-room, and was scarcely 
 more surprised than was Reginald himself at the viands that 
 regaled his eye on the table. In addition to the brown and 
 white loaves, the rolls, and other varieties of bread, there 
 smoked on one dish the delicate salmi of pheasant, on another 
 the squire's favourite dish of bacon, with poached eggs, and 
 on a third a most tempting omelette aujambon. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-B-RD. 27 
 
 Marmaduke Shirley opened his eyes and mouth wide with 
 astonishment, as Monsieur Perrot offered him, one after an- 
 other, these delicacies, inquiring, with undisturbed gravity, if 
 " Monsieur desired any thing else ? as there were other dishes 
 ready below ? " 
 
 " Other dishes ! why, man, here's a breakfast for a court of 
 aldermen," said the squire ; and having ascertained that the 
 things were as agreeable to the taste as to the eye, and that the 
 coffee was more clear and high-flavoured than he had ever 
 tasted before, he seized his nephew's hand, saying, " Reginald, 
 my boy, I give in ; your Master Perrot's a trump, and no 
 man shall ever speak a word against him in this house ! A 
 rare fellow ! " Here he took another turn at the omelette ; 
 "hang me if he shan't have a day's sport;" and the squire 
 chuckling at the idea that had suddenly crossed him, rang the 
 bell violently : " Tell Repton," said he to the servant who 
 entered, " to saddle ' Rattling Bess/ for Monsieur Perrot, and 
 to take her to the cover-side with the other horses at ten." 
 
 " She kicks a bit at starting," added he to Reginald ; " but 
 she's as safe as a mill ; and though she rushes now and then 
 at the fences, she always gets through or over 'em." 
 
 Now it was poor Perrot's turn to be astonished. To do him 
 justice, he was neither a bad horseman (as a courier) nor a 
 coward ; but he had never been out with hounds, and the 
 enumeration of ei Rattling Bess' " qualities did not sound very 
 attractive to his ear: he began gently to make excuses, and to 
 decline the proposed favour : he had not the " proper dress ;" 
 " he had much to do for Monsieur's wardrobe at home ;" 
 but it was all to no purpose, the squire was determined; 
 Repton's coat and breeches would fit him, and go he must. 
 
 With a rueful look at his master, Perrot slunk off, cursing 
 in his heart the salmi and the omelette, which had procured 
 him this undesired favour : but he was ordered to lose no time 
 in preparing himself; so he first endeavoured to get into Mr. 
 Repton's clothes : that proved impossible, as Mr. R. had been 
 a racing jockey, and was a feather-weight, with legs like nut- 
 crackers. Having no time for deliberation, Monsieur Perrot 
 drew from his valise the courier suit which he had worn in 
 France ; and to the surprise of the whole party assembled at 
 the door, he appeared clad in a blue coat turned up with yellow, 
 a cornered hat, and enormous boots, half a foot higher than 
 
28 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 his knees. He was ordered to jump up behind the squire's 
 carriage, and away they went to the cover-side, amid the ill- 
 suppressed titter of the grooms and footmen, and the loud 
 laughter of the maids, whose malicious faces, not excepting 
 that of Mary, were at the open windows below. 
 ) When they reached the place appointed for "the meet," 
 and proceeded to mount the impatient horses awaiting them, 
 Perrot eyed with no agreeable anticipation the long ears of 
 Rattling Bess laid back, and the restless wag of her rat-tail, 
 and he ventured one more attempt at an escape. '* Really, 
 sir," said he to the squire, " I never hunted, and I don't 
 think I can manage that animal ; she looks very savage." 
 
 11 Never mind her, Monsieur Perrot," said the squire, en- 
 joying the poor valet's ill-dissembled uneasiness. "She knows 
 her business here as well as any whipper-in or huntsman ; 
 only let her go her own way, and you'll never be far from the 
 brush." 
 
 " Very well," muttered Perrot ; " I hope she knows her bu- 
 siness ; I know mine, and that is to keep on her back, which 
 I'll do as well as I can." 
 
 The eyes of the whole field were upon this strangely at- 
 tired figure ; and as soon as he got into the saddle, " Rattling 
 Bess " began to kick and plunge violently : we have said that 
 he was not in some respects a bad horseman ; and although in 
 this, her first prank, he lost one of his stirrups, and his cor- 
 nered hat fell off, he contrived to keep both his seat and his 
 temper : while the hounds were drawing the cover, one of the 
 squire's grooms restored the hat, and gave him a string where- 
 with to fasten it, an operation which he had scarcely concluded, 
 when the inspiring shouts of " Tally ho," " Gone away," 
 " Forward," rang on his ears. " Rattling Bess" seemed to 
 understand the sounds as well as ever alderman knew a dinner- 
 bell ; and away she went at full gallop, convincing Monsieur 
 Perrot, after an ineffectual struggle of a few minutes on his 
 part, that both the speed and direction of her course were 
 matters over which he could not exercise the smallest in- 
 fluence. 
 
 On they flew, over meadow and stile, ditch and hedge, no- 
 thing seemed to check Rattling Bess ; and while all the field 
 were in astonished admiration at the reckless riding of the 
 strange courier, that worthy was catching his breath, and mut- 
 
THE PRAIRIE. BIRD. $ 
 
 tering through his teeth, " Diable d'animal, she have a 
 mouth so hard, like one of Mr. Ailtripe's bif-steak, she know 
 her business and a sacre business it is hola there! mind 
 yourself ! " shouted he, at the top of his voice, to a horseman 
 whose horse had fallen in brushing through a thick hedge, and 
 was struggling to rise on the other side just as Rattling Bess 
 followed at tremendous speed over the same place ; lighting 
 upon the hind-quarters of her hapless predecessor, and scraping 
 all the skin off his loins, she knocked the rider head over heels 
 into the ploughed field, where his face was buried a foot deep 
 in dirty mould : by a powerful effort she kept herself from 
 falling, and went gallantly over the field ; Perrot still mutter- 
 ing, as he tugged at the insensible mouth, " She know her 
 business, she kill dat poor devil in the dirt, she kill herself and 
 me too." 
 
 A few minutes later, the hounds, having overrun the scent, 
 came to a check, and were gathered by the huntsman into a 
 green lane, from whence they were about to " try back " as 
 Rattling Bess came up at unabated speed. " Hold hard 
 there, hold hard ! " shouted at once the huntsman, the whips, 
 and the few sportsmen who were up with the hounds. 
 " Where the devil are you going, man ? " " The fox is 
 viewed back." * Halloo ! you're riding into the middle of 
 the pack." These and similar cries scarcely had time to reach 
 the ears of Perrot, ere " Rattling Bess " sprang over the 
 hedge into a green lane, and coming down upon the unfor- 
 tunate dogs, split the head of one, broke the back of another, 
 and, laming two or three more, carried her rider over the oppo- 
 site fence, who, still panting for breath, with his teeth set, 
 muttered, " She know her business, sacre animal." 
 
 After crossing two more fields, she cleared a hedge, so thick 
 that he could not see what was on the other side; but he heard 
 a tremendous crash, and was only conscious of being hurled 
 with violence to the ground : slowly recovering his senses, he 
 saw Rattling Bess lying a few yards from him, bleeding pro- 
 fusely ; and his own ears were saluted by the following com- 
 passionate inquiry from the lips of a gardener, who was 
 standing over him, spade in hand : " 'I : your stupid out- 
 landish head, what be you a doin' here ? " 
 
 The half-stunned courier, pointing to Rattling Bess, re- 
 plied : " She know her business." 
 
SO THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 The gardener, though enraged at the entire demolition of 
 his melon-bed, and of sundry forced vegetables under glass, 
 was not an ill-tempered fellow in the main ; and seeing that 
 the horse was half killed, and the rider, a foreigner, much 
 bruised, he assisted poor Perrot to rise ; and having gathered 
 from him that he was in the service of rich Squire Shirley, 
 rendered all the aid in his power to him and to Rattling Bess, 
 who had received some very severe cuts from the glass. 
 
 When the events of the day came to be talked over at the 
 Hall, and it proved that it was the squire himself whom Perrot 
 had so unceremoniously ridden over, that the huntsman 
 would expect some twenty guineas for the hounds killed or 
 maimed that the gardener would probably present a similar 
 or a larger account for a broken melon-bed and shivered glass 
 and that Rattling Bess was lame for the season, the squire 
 did not encourage much conversation on the day's sport ; the 
 only remark that he was heard to make, being, " What a fool 
 I was to put a frog-eating Frenchman on an English hunter!'* 
 
 Monsieur Perrot remained in his room for three or four 
 days, not caring that Mary should see his visage while it was 
 adorned with a black eye and an inflamed nose. 
 
 Soon after this eventful chase, Reginald obtained his uncle's 
 leave to obey his father's wishes by visiting Paris for a few 
 months. His stay there was shortened by a letter which he re- 
 ceived from his sister Lucy, announcing to him his mother's 
 illness ; on the receipt of which he wrote a few hurried lines 
 of explanation to his uncle, and sailed by the first ship for Phi- 
 ladelphia, accompanied by the faithful Perrot, and by a large 
 rough dog of the breed of the old Irish wolf-hound, given to 
 him by the squire. 
 
 Oh arriving, he found his mother better than he had ex- 
 pected; and, as he kissed off the tears of joy which Lucy shed 
 on his return, he whispered to her his belief that she had a little 
 exaggerated their mother's illness, in order to recall him. After 
 a short time, Ethelston also returned, and joined the happy 
 circle assembled at Colonel Brandon's. 
 
 It was now the spring of 1797^ between which time and 
 that mentioned as the date of our opening chapter, a period 
 of nearly two years, nothing worthy of peculiar record oc- 
 curred. Reginald kept up a faithful correspondence with his 
 kind uncle, whose letters showed how deeply he felt his ne- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. SI 
 
 rbew's absence. Whether Monsieur Perrot interchanged 
 letters with Mary, or consoled himself with the damsels on the 
 banks of the Ohio, the following pages may show. His 
 master made several hunting excursions, on which he was 
 always accompanied by Baptiste, a sturdy backwoodsman, who 
 was more deeply attached to Reginald than to any other being on 
 earth ; and Ethelston had, as we have before explained, un- 
 dertaken the whole charge of his guardian's vessels, with one 
 of the largest of which he was, at the commencement of our 
 tale, absent in the West India Islands. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS. REGINALD BRANDON MAKES THE 
 ACQUAINTANCE OF AN INDIAN CHIEF. 
 
 IT was a bright morning in April ; the robin was beginning 
 his early song, the wood-pecker darted his beak against the 
 lough bark, and the squirrel hopped merrily from bough to 
 bough among the gigantic trees of the forest, as two hunters 
 followed a winding path which led to a ferry across the Musk- 
 ingum river. 
 
 One was a powerful athletic young man, with a countenance 
 strikingly handsome, and embrowned by exercise and expo- 
 sure : his dress was a hunting shirt, and leggings of deer- 
 skin ; his curling brown locks escaped from under a cap of 
 wolf-skin ; and his mocassins, firmly secured round the ankle, 
 were made from the tough hide of a bear : he carried in his 
 hand a short rifle of heavy calibre, and an ornamented couteau- 
 de-chasse hung at his belt. His companion, lower in stature, 
 but broad, sinewy, and weather-beaten, seemed to be some 
 fifteen or twenty years the elder : his dress was of the same 
 material, but more soiled and worn ; his rifle was longer and 
 heavier ; and his whole appearance that of a man to whom all 
 inclemencies of season were indifferent, all the dangers and 
 hardships of a western hunter's life familiar; but the most 
 remarkable part of his equipment was an enormous axe, the 
 
52 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 handle studded with nails, and the head firmly riveted wit) 
 iron hoops. 
 
 " Well, Master Reginald," said the latter ; " we must hope 
 to find old Michael and his ferry-boat at the Passage des 
 Rochers, for the river is much swollen, and we might not 
 easily swim it with dry powder." 
 
 " What reason have you to doubt old Michael's being found 
 at his post ? " said Reginald : " we have often crossed there, 
 and have seldom found him absent." 
 
 " True, master ; but he has of late become very lazy ; and 
 he prefers sitting by his fire, and exchanging a bottle of fire- 
 water with a strolling Ingian for half a dozen good skins, to 
 tugging a great flat-bottomed boat across the Muskingum 
 during the March floods." 
 
 '' Baptiste," said the young man, " it grieves me to see the 
 reckless avidity with which spirits are sought by the Indians ; 
 and the violence, outrage, and misery which is the general 
 consequence of their dram-drinking." 
 
 " Why you see, there is something very good in a cup of 
 West Ingy rum." Here Baptiste's hard features were twisted 
 into a grin irresistibly comic, and he proceeded : u It warms 
 the stomach and the heart ; and the savages, when they once 
 taste it, suck at a bottle by instinct, as natural as a six-weeks' 
 cub at his dam. I often wonder, Master Reginald, why you 
 spoil that fine eau de vie which little Perrot puts into your 
 hunting flask, by mixing with it a quantity of water ! In my 
 last trip to the mountains, where I was first guide and tur- 
 j>ret*, they gave me a taste now and then, and I never found 
 it do me harm ; but the nature of an Ingian is different, you 
 know/' 
 
 " Well, Baptiste," said Reginald, smiling at his follower's 
 defence of his favourite beverage ; " I will say that I never 
 knew you to take more than you could carry ; but your head 
 is as strong as your back, and you sometimes prove the strength 
 of both." 
 
 The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the report of 
 Reginald's rifle, and a grey squirrel fell from the top of a 
 hickory, where he was feasting in fancied security. Baptiste 
 took up the little animal, and having examined it attentively, 
 
 * Anglic*, " Interpreter." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 33 
 
 shook his head gravely, saying, *' Master Reginald, there is 
 not a quicker eye, nor a truer hand in the territory, but " 
 
 As he hesitated to finish the sentence, Reginald added, 
 laughing, "but but lam an obstinate fellow, because I 
 will not exchange my favourite German rifle, with its heavy 
 bullet, for a long Virginia barrel, with a ball like a pea ; is it 
 not so, Baptiste ? " 
 
 The guile's natural good-humour struggled with prejudices 
 which, on this subject, had been more than once wounded by 
 his young companion, as he replied, " Why, Master Reginald, 
 the deer, whose saddle is on my shoulder, found my pea hard 
 enough to swallow; and look here, at this poor little vermint, 
 whom you have just killed, there is a hole in his neck big 
 enough to let the life out of a grisly bear ; you have hit him 
 nearly an inch further back than I taught you to aim before 
 you went across the great water, and learnt all kinds of Bri- 
 tish and German notions ! " 
 
 Reginald smiled at the hunter's characteristic reproof, and 
 replied, in a tone of kindness, " Well, Baptiste, all that I do 
 know of tracking a deer, or lining a bee, or of bringing down 
 one of these little vermint, I learnt first from you ; and if I 
 am a promising pupil, the credit is due to Baptiste, the best 
 hunter in forest or prairie ! " 
 
 A glow of pleasure passed over the guide's sunburnt coun- 
 tenance ; and grasping in his hard and horny fingers his 
 young master's hand, he said, " Thank'ee, Master Reginald ; 
 and as for me, though I'm only a poor ' Coureur des bois,' * 
 I a'n't feared to back my pnpil against any man that walks, 
 from Dan Boone, of Kentucky, to Bloody-hand, the great 
 war-chief of the Cayugas." 
 
 As he spoke, they came in sight of the river, and the blue 
 smoke curling up among the trees showed our travellers that 
 they had not missed their path to Michael's log-house and 
 ferry. ' ( What have we here ? " exclaimed Baptiste, catching 
 his companion by the arm ; " 'tis even as I told you ; the old 
 rogue is smoking his pipe over a glass of brandy in his kitchen 
 corner ; and there is a wild-looking Indian pulling himself 
 across with three horses in that crazy batteau, almost as old 
 and useless as its owner !" 
 
 * " Coureur des bois," an appellation often given to the Canadian and half-breed 
 woodmen. 
 
34- THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " He will scarcely reach the opposite bank," said Reginald ; 
 ft the river is muddy and swollen with melted snow, and his 
 horses seem disposed to be unquiet passengers." 
 
 They had now approached near enough to enable them 
 to distinguish the features of the Indian in the boat : the 
 guide scanned them with evident surprise and interest ; the 
 result of which was, a noise which broke from him, something 
 between a grunt and a whistle, as he muttered, " What can 
 have brought him here ? " 
 
 " Do you know that fine-looking fellow, then ? " inquired 
 Reginald. 
 
 " Know him, Master Reginald does e Wolf know Miss 
 Lucy ? does a bear know a bee tree? I should know him among 
 a thousand red-skins, though he were twice as well disguised. 
 Tete-bleu, master, look at those wild brutes how they struggle; 
 he and they will taste Muskingum water before long." 
 
 While he was speaking one of the horses reared, another 
 kicked furiously, the shallow flat boat was upset, and both 
 they and the Indian fell headlong into the river. They had 
 been secured together by a "laryette," or thong of hide, which 
 unfortunately came athwart the Indian's shoulder, and thus he 
 was held below the water, while the struggles of the frightened 
 animals rendered it impossible for him to extricate himself. 
 " He is entangled in the laryette," said the guide ; " nothing 
 can save him," he added in a grave and sadder tone. " 'Tis 
 a noble youth, and I would have wished him a braver death ! 
 What are you doing, Master Reginald ? are you mad ? 
 No man can swim in that torrent. For your father's sake" 
 
 But his entreaties and attempts to restrain his impetuous 
 companion were fruitless, for Reginald had already thrown on 
 the ground his leathern hunting shirt, his rifle, and ammuni- 
 tion ; and shaking off the grasp of the guide as if the latter 
 had been a child, he plunged into the river, and swam to the 
 spot where the feebler struggles of the horses showed that they 
 were now almost at the mercy of the current When he 
 reached them, Reginald dived below the nearest, and dividing 
 the laryette with two or three successful strokes of his knife, 
 brought the exhausted Indian to the surface. For a moment, 
 he feared that he had come too late; but on inhaling a 
 breath of air, the red-skin seemed to regain both consciousness 
 and strength, and was able in his turn to assist Reginald, who 
 
THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. 35 
 
 had received, when under water, a blow on the head from the 
 horse's hoof, the blood flowing fast from the wound. Short 
 but expressive was the greeting exchanged as they struck out 
 for the bank, which one of the horses had already gained : 
 another was bruised, battered, and tossed about among some 
 shelving rocks lower down the river ; and the third was 
 being fast hurried towards the same dangerous spot, when the 
 Indian, uttering a shrill cry, turned and swam again towards 
 this, his favourite horse, and by a great exertion of skill and 
 strength, brought it to a part of the river where the current 
 was less rapid, and thence led it safely ashore. 
 
 These events had passed in less time than their narration 
 has occupied : and the whole biped and quadruped party now 
 stood drenched and dripping on the bank. The two young 
 men gazed at each other in silence, with looks of mingled 
 interest and admiration : indeed, if a sculptor had desired to 
 place together two different specimens of youthful manhood, 
 in which symmetry and strength were to be gracefully united, 
 he could scarcely have selected two finer models: in height 
 they might be about equal ; and though the frame and mus- 
 cular proportions of Reginald were more powerful, there waf 
 a roundness and compact knitting of the joints, and a sinewy 
 suppleness in the limbs of his new acquaintance, such as he 
 thought he had never seen equalled in statuary or in life. The 
 Indian's gaze was so fixed and piercing, that Reginald's eyt 
 wandered more than once from his countenance to the belt, 
 where his war-club was still suspended by a thong, the scalp- 
 knife in its sheath, and near it a scalp, evidently that of a 
 white man, and bearing the appearance of having been 
 recently taken. 
 
 With a slight shudder of disgust, he raised his eyes again 
 to the chiselled features of the noble-looking being before him, 
 and felt assured that though they might be those of a savage 
 warrior, they could not be those of a lurking assassin. The 
 Indian now moved a step forward, and taking Reginald's 
 hand, placed it upon his own heart, saying distinctly in En- 
 glish, " My brother ! " 
 
 Reginald understood and appreciated this simple expression 
 of gratitude and friendship ; he imitated his new friend's 
 action, and evinced, both by his looks and the kindly tones of 
 
36 THE PRATBIE-BIRD. 
 
 his voice, the interest which, to his own surprise, the Indian 
 had awakened in his breast. 
 
 At this juncture they were joined by the guide, who had 
 paddled himself across in a canoe that he found at the ferry, 
 which was two hundred yards above the spot where they now 
 stood. At his approach, the young Indian resumed his silent 
 attitude of ropose ; while, apparently unconscious of his pre- 
 sence, Baptiste poured upon his favourite a mingled torrent of 
 reproofs and congratulations. 
 
 " Why, Master Reginald, did the mad spirit possess you to 
 jump into the Muskingum, and dive like an otter, where the 
 water was swift and dark as the Niagara rapids ! Pardie, 
 though, it was bravely done ! another minute, and our red-skin 
 friend would have been in the hunting-ground of his fore- 
 fathers. Give me your hand, master ; I love you better than 
 ever ! I had a mind to take a duck myself after ye ; but 
 thought, if bad luck came, I might serve ye better with the 
 canoe." While rapidly uttering these broken sentences, he 
 handed to Reginald the hunting-shirt, rifle, and other things, 
 which he had brought over in the canoe, and wrung the water 
 out of his cap, being all the time in a state of ill-dissembled 
 excitement. This done, he turned to the young Indian, who 
 was standing aside, silent and motionless. The guide scanned 
 his features with a searching look, and then muttered audibly, 
 " I knew it must be he." 
 
 A gleam shot from the dark eye of the Indian, proving that 
 he heard and understood the phrase, but not a word escaped 
 his lips. 
 
 Reginald, unable to repress his curiosity, exclaimed, " Must 
 be who, Baptiste? Who is my Indian friend my brother? " 
 
 A lurking smile played round the mouth of the guide, as 
 he said in a low tone to the Indian, " Does the paint on my 
 brother's face tell a tale ? Is. his path in the night ? Must his 
 name dwell between shut lips ? " 
 
 To this last question the Indian, moving forward with that 
 peculiar grace and innate dignity which characterised all his 
 movements, replied, " The War-Eagle hides his name from 
 none: his cry is heard from far, and his path is straight: a dog's 
 scalp is at his belt ! " Here he paused a moment ; and added, 
 in a softened tone, " But the bad Spirit prevailed : the waters 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. SJ 
 
 were too strong for him ; the swimming- warrior's knife came ; 
 and again the War-Eagle saw the light." 
 
 " And found a brother is it not so? " added Reginald. 
 
 " It is so ! " replied the Indian : and there was a depth of 
 pathos in the tone of his voice as he spoke, which convinced 
 Reginald that those words came from the heart. 
 
 " There were three horses with you in the bac," said the 
 guide : " two are under yonder trees ; where is the third? " 
 
 " Dead, among those rocks below the rapids," answered 
 War-Eagle, quietly. " He was a fool, and was taken from a 
 fool, and both are now together ; " as he spoke he pointed 
 scornfully to the scalp which hung at his belt. 
 
 Reginald and Baptiste interchanged looks of uneasy curio- 
 sity, and then directing their eyes towards the distant spot 
 indicated by the Indian, they distinguished the battered carcass 
 of the animal., partly hid by the water, and partly resting 
 against the rock, which prevented it from floating down with 
 the current. 
 
 The party now turned towards the horses among the trees ; 
 which, after enjoying themselves by rolling in the grass, were 
 feeding, apparently unconscious of their double misdemeanor, 
 in having first upset the bac, and then nearly drowned their 
 master by their struggles in the water. As Reginald and his 
 two companions approached, an involuntary exclamation of 
 admiration burst from him. 
 
 " Heavens, Baptiste ! did you ever see so magnificent a 
 creature as that with the laryette round his neck ? And what 
 a colour ! it seems between chestnut and black ! Look at his 
 short, wild head, his broad forehead, his bold eye, and that 
 long silky mane falling below his shoulder ! Look, also, at 
 his short back and legs ! Why, he has the beauty of a barb 
 joined to the strength of an English hunter ! " 
 
 It may be well imagined that the greater portion of this 
 might have been a soliloquy, as Baptiste understood but few, 
 the Indian none, of the expressions which Reginald uttered 
 with enthusiastic rapidity. Both, however, understood enough 
 to know that he was admiring the animal, and both judged 
 that his admiration was not misplaced. 
 
 Our hero (for so we must denominate Reginald Brandon) 
 approached to handle and caress the horse ; but the latter, with 
 erect ears and expanded nostrils, snorted an indignant refusal 
 
38 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 of these civilities and trotted off, tossing high his mane as if 
 in defiance of man's dominion. At this moment, the War- 
 Eagle uttered a shrill, peculiar cry, when immediately the 
 obedient horse came to his side, rubbing his head against his 
 master's shoulder, and courting those caresses which he had so 
 lately and so scornfully refused from Reginald. 
 
 While the docile and intelligent animal thus stood beside 
 him, a sudden ray of light sparkled in the Indian's eye, as 
 with rapid utterance, not unmingled with gesticulation, he said, 
 " The War-Eagle's path was toward the evening sun ; his 
 tomahawk drank the Camanchee's blood ; the wild horse was 
 swift, and strong, and fierce ; the cunning man on the evening 
 prairie said he was Nekimi*, 'the Great Spirit's angry 
 breath ; ' but the War-Eagle's neck-bullet struck " 
 
 At this part of the narrative, the guide, carried away by the 
 enthusiasm of the scene described, ejaculated, in the Delaware 
 tongue, ' That was bravely done ! " 
 
 For a moment the young Indian paused ; and then, with 
 increased rapidity and vehemence, told in his own language 
 how he had captured and subdued the horse ; which faithful 
 creature, seemingly anxious to bear witness to the truth of his 
 master's tale, still sought and returned his caresses. The In- 
 dian, however, was not thereby deterred from the purpose 
 which had already made his eye flash with pleasure. Taking 
 the thong in his hand, and placing it in that of Reginald, he 
 said, resuming the English tongue, " The War-Eagle gives 
 Nekimi to his brother. The white warrior may hunt the 
 mastoche -j*, he may overtake his enemies, he may fly from the 
 prairie-fire when the wind is strong : Nekimi never tires ! " 
 
 Reginald was so surprised at this unexpected offer, that he 
 felt much embarrassed, and hesitated whether he ought not to 
 decline the gift. Baptiste saw a cloud gathering on the 
 Indian's brow, and said in alow voice to his master, in French, 
 " You must take the horse ; a refusal would mortally offend 
 him." Our hero accordingly accompanied his expression of 
 thanks with every demonstration of satisfaction and affection. 
 Again War- Eagle's face brightened with pleasure; but the 
 effect upon Nekimi seemed to be very different, for he stoutly 
 
 * Nekimi is the Delaware for " Thunder." 
 
 t In the Delaware language this expression seems applicable to any larg swift 
 1 , as it is given to the elk, the buffalo, &c. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 3Q 
 
 resisted his new master's attempts at approach or acquaintance, 
 snorting and backing at every step made hv Reginald in 
 advance. 
 
 " The white warrior must learn to speak to Nekimi, " 
 said the Indian, quietly; and he again repeated the short, 
 shrill cry before noticed. In vain our hero tried to imitate 
 the sound ; the horse's ears remained deaf to his voice, and it 
 seemed as if his new acquisition could prove but of little 
 service to him. 
 
 War-Eagle now took Reginald aside, and smeared his hands 
 with some grease taken from a small bladder in his girdle, and 
 on his extending them again towards the horse, much of the 
 fear and dislike evinced by the latter disappeared. As soon as 
 the animal would permit Reginald to touch it, the Indian 
 desired him to hold its nostril firmly in his hand, and placing 
 his face by the horse's head, to look up steadfastly into its eye 
 fqr several minutes, speaking low at intervals to accustom it 
 to his voice : he assured him that in a few days Nekimi would 
 through this treatment become docile and obedient. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 REGINALD AND BAPTISTE PAY A VISIT TO WAR- EAGLE. AN ATTEMPT 
 AT TREACHERY MEETS WITH SUMMARY PUNISHMENT. 
 
 THE other horse being now secured, the party prepared to 
 resume their journey ; and as it appeared, after a few words 
 whispered between the Indian and the guide, that their routes 
 were in the same direction, they struck into the forest, Baptiste 
 leading, followed by Reginald, and War-Eagle bringing up 
 the rear with the two horses. 
 
 After walking a few minutes in silence, " Baptiste, " said 
 our hero, in French, "what was the story told about the 
 horse? I understood little of what he said in English, and 
 none of what he spoke in his own tongue." 
 
 li He told us, Master Reginald, that he was out on a war- 
 party against the Camanchees, a wild tribe of Indians in the 
 South west : they steal horses from the Mexicans, and exchange 
 D 4 
 
40 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 them with the Arlcaras > Kioways, Pawnees, and other Mis- 
 souri Indians. " 
 
 " Well, Baptiste, how did he take this swift horse with 
 his { neck-bullet/ as he called it ? " 
 
 " That, Master Reginald, is the most difficult shot in the 
 prairie; and I have known few red-skins up to it. The 
 western hunters call it 'creasing:' a ball must be shot just 
 on the upper edge of the spine where it enters the horse's 
 neck : if it is exactly done, the horse falls immediately, and is 
 secured ; then the wound is afterwards healed : but if the 
 ball strikes an inch lower, the spine is missed, or the horse 
 is killed. Few red-skins can do it," muttered the guide ; " and 
 the f doctor' here, " shaking his long rifle, " has failed more 
 than once ; but War-Eagle has said it, and there are no lies 
 in his mouth." 
 
 "Tell me, Baptiste/' said Reginald, earnestly; tell me 
 something about my brother's history, his race, and exploits. " 
 
 " Afterwards, my young master. I know not that he under- 
 stands us now ; but these Indians are curious critturs in 
 hearing ; I believe if you spoke in that strange Dutch lingo 
 which you learnt across the water, the red-skins would know 
 how to answer you stay," added he, putting his rifle to his 
 shoulder, " here is work for the doctor. " 
 
 Reginald looked in the direction of the piece, but saw 
 nothing ; and the guide, while taking his aim, still muttered 
 to himself, " The pills are very small, but they work somewhat 
 sharp." Pausing a moment, he drew the trigger; and a 
 sudden bound from under a brake, at fifty yards' distance, was 
 the last death- spring of the unlucky deer whose lair had not 
 escaped the hunter's practised eye. 
 
 " Bravely shot, " shouted Reginald ; ' '- what says War- 
 Eagle?" 
 
 " Good," replied the Indian. 
 
 " Nay," said Baptiste ; " there was not much in the shot ; 
 but your French waly -de-sham might have walked past those 
 bushes without noting the twinkle of that crittur's eye. Our 
 red-skin friend saw it plain enough, I warrant you," added he, 
 with an inquiring look. 
 
 " War-Eagle's path is not on the deer track, " said the young 
 chief, with a stern gravity. 
 
 In a very few minutes an additional load of venison was 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 41 
 
 across the sturdy shoulders of the guide, and the party resumed 
 their march in silence. 
 
 They had not proceeded far, when the Indian halted, saying, 
 " War-Eagle's camp is near ; will my white brother eat and 
 smoke ? the sun is high ; he can then return to his great 
 wigwam." 
 
 Reginald, who was anxious to see more of his new friend, 
 and in whom the morning's exercise had awakened a strong 
 relish for a slice of broiled venison, assented at once, and 
 desired him to lead the way. 
 
 As he was still followed by the two horses, War-Eagle 
 was somewhat in advance of his companions, and Baptiste 
 whispered, in French, " Beware, Master Reginald you may 
 fall into a trap." 
 
 " For shame," said the latter, colouring with indignation ; 
 " can you suspect treachery in him ? Did you not yourself 
 say he could not lie ? " 
 
 " Your reproof is undeserved," said the cool and wary 
 hunter ; " War-Eagle may not be alone, there may be turkey- 
 buzzards with him." 
 
 " If there be a score of vultures," said Reginald, " I will 
 follow him without fear he would not lead us into harm." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right," was the guide's answer ; and 
 again the party resumed their march in silence. 
 
 They soon arrived at a place where the forest was less 
 densely wooded; some of the larger trees appeared to have 
 been overthrown by a hurricane, and some of the lesser 
 to have fallen by the axe Nekimi trotted forward, as if 
 making for a spot that he recognised, and the Indian recalled 
 him with the same cry that he had before used, adding, how- 
 ever, another, and a shriller sound. 
 
 The guide shook his head, and muttered something inaudibly 
 between his teeth, loosening at the same time the huge axe in 
 his belt, and throwing his long rifle over his arm, ready for 
 immediate use. 
 
 These preparatioss did not escape the observation of Re- 
 ginald ; and although he said nothing, he felt more uneasy than 
 he cared to own ; for it struck him that if the guide, who 
 seemed to have so high au opinion of War-Eagle, was ap- 
 prehensive of treachery or of some unforeseen danger, there 
 was less ground for his own confidence. 
 
42 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Meantime the Indian walked composedly forward until he 
 reached the camp *, a pretty spot, sheltered on the windward 
 side hy a laurel thicket, and on the other commanding a view 
 of the open glade, and of a small stream winding its silent 
 course towards the river which our party had so lately left. 
 
 On a grassy plot, between two venerable trees, the embers 
 of a smouldering fire sent up the thin blue vapour which rises 
 from the burning of green wood, several logs of which were 
 still piled for fuel ; while sundry bones and feathers, scattered 
 at no great distance, gave sufficient evidence of recent feast- 
 ing. 
 
 War-Eagle glanced hastily around his camp ; and leaving 
 Nekimi to feed at liberty, secured the less tractable horse ; 
 while he was thus employed, the guide whispered in a low 
 voice, " There are three or four Indians here ! I trace their 
 marks on the grass, and I know it by this fire ; it is a war 
 party there are no squaws here ; Master Reginald, keep 
 your ears and eyes open, but show no distrust ; if he offers a 
 pipe, all may yet be right." 
 
 Although the guide said this so distinctly that Reginald 
 heard every syllable, he was to all appearance busily engaged 
 in throwing some dry sticks on the fire, and easing himself of 
 the skins and the venison with which he was loaded. The 
 Indian now took from a hollow in one of the old trees before- 
 mentioned, a pipe, the bowl of which was of red sandstone, 
 and the stick painted and ornamented with stained porcupine 
 quills; he also drew out a leather bag of kinne-kinek't ; and 
 having filled and lighted his pipe, seated himself at a short 
 distance from the fire, and gravely invited Reginald to sit on his 
 right, and the guide on his left. As soon as they were seated, 
 War-Eagle inhaled a large volume of smoke ; and looking 
 reverently up to the sky, sent forth a long whiff, as an offer- 
 ing to the Great Spirit ; then simply saying, " My brother is 
 welcome/' he passed the pipe to Reginald, and afterwards to 
 Baptiste. 
 
 * Among the western hunters, any resting-place for the night, or even where a 
 fire has been made for a mid-day halt, though it may be by one individual, is com- 
 monly called " a camp." This must be borne in mind throughout the following 
 tale. 
 
 f Kinne-linek is a mixture made by the Indians from the inner bark of the wil- 
 low pounded small, tobacco, and the dried leaves of the sumach : the flavour of this 
 composition is by no means disagreeable : the word itself is Delaware, but the mix- 
 ture is in common use among many tribes. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 4o 
 
 For some time they smoked in silence : not a sound was 
 heard but the crackling of the wood on the fire, and the 
 occasional chirrup of a robin in the neighbouring bushes. This 
 silent system not suiting Reginald's ardent temperament, he 
 abruptly addressed the Indian as follows: 
 
 "Has my brother come far from his people?" 
 
 A cloud gathered on the chief's brow, and the guide thought 
 that a storm of wrath would be excited by this unlucky 
 question ; but the Indian, looking steadily upon the frank open 
 countenance of the speaker, replied, in a voice rather melan- 
 choly than fierce, " War-Eagle has few people : the bones of 
 his fathers are not far /" 
 
 Our hero anxious to dismiss a subject which seemed painful 
 to his new friend, turned the conversation to his equipment, 
 and observed, " My brother walks abroad without fear; he is 
 almost without arms." 
 
 The Indian, carelessly resting his hand upon his war-club, 
 said (speaking rather to himself, than to his companions), " It 
 has tasted blood : ask the Dahcotahs !" 
 
 "The Dahcotahs are dogs," said the guide, angrily. "Their 
 skins are red, but their hearts are white ! " 
 
 War-Eagle, turning upon him a penetrating look, continued, 
 "Grande-Hache is a warrior; he has smoked, has feasted, 
 has fought among the Lenape *; he has struck more than one 
 Dahcotah chief. But the Grande-Hache cannot rest : the scalp 
 of his mother hangs in the lodge of the Assiniboins t; her 
 spirit is unquiet in the dark hunting-ground." 
 
 The guide made no reply, but the forced compression of his 
 lips, and the muscular contraction that passed over his sinewy 
 frame, showed how deeply he cherished that vengeance which 
 the Indian's word awakened. 
 
 " This is then," said our hero to himself, " the cause of that 
 fierce unextinguishable hate which Baptiste has always borne 
 to these Sioux ; I cannot wonder at it." Reginald continued, 
 however, his conversation respecting his new friend's equip- 
 ment, in the same tone: "My brother's war- club is strong, 
 and that iron spike in its head is sharp ; but the rifle kills from 
 far, and the white men are not all friends to him." 
 
 * The Dclawares call themselves Lenni-Lenapc, "the ancient or original 
 people" 
 
 t Axsiniboins " the stone heaters" a powerful and warlike branch of the great 
 Dahcotah or Sioux nation. 
 
44 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " War-Eagle has ears and eyes ; he can see snakes in the 
 grass," was the calm reply. 
 
 " Nay, but my brother is careless," said Reginald laughing; 
 " Grande-Hache, as you call him, and I are two men, both 
 strong and armed with rifles : if we were not his brothers, the 
 War-Eagle would be in danger." 
 
 "The had Spirit made the thick water and the horses too 
 strong for War-Eagle," said the latter, referring to the morn- 
 ing's accident, " but he could not be hurt by his brother's rifle." 
 
 " And why so ? " demanded Reginald. 
 
 " Because," said the Indian, " the white warrior has smoked, 
 has taken his brother's gift, and the Great Spirit has written 
 on his face that he cannot speak lies." 
 
 " You are right, my brave friend/' said Reginald (not a 
 little gratified by the untutored compliment) ; " but if you 
 fall in with white men who carry rifles, and who do speak lies 
 
 how fares it with you then ?" 
 
 " War-Eagle is always ready," said he, in the same un- 
 moved tone; "the Grande-Hache is a great warrior my 
 brother will take many scalps ; yet if their tongues were forked 
 
 if their hearts were bad both would die where they now 
 sit they have neither ears nor eyes but the Lenape is a 
 chief, they are as safe here as in the great white village." 
 
 Though inwardly nettled at this taunt, which he felt to be 
 not altogether undeserved, the guide took no other notice of it 
 than to strain to the utmost those organs of sight and hearing 
 which the red-skin had held so cheap, but in vain : the forest 
 around them seemed wrapt in solitude and silence ; the eyes of 
 Reginald, however, served him better on this occasion. " By 
 heaven, the Indian speaks truth," said he ; "I see them 
 plainly one, two, three ! and we, Baptiste, are at their 
 mercy." 
 
 This he spoke in French, and the guide answered in the 
 same language : " Do you see Indians, Master Reginald, where 
 I can see naught but trees, and logs, and grass ; if it is so 
 I am an owl, and no hunter !" 
 
 " Glance your eye," said our hero, calmly, ef to yon old fallen 
 log, that lies fifty or sixty yards to your right, there are three 
 small parallel lines visible there, they are three gun-barrels; 
 the sun shone on them a minute since, and their muzzles are 
 directed full upon us." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 45 
 
 " It is true ; your eyes are younger than mine, I suppose," 
 wid the guide, apparently more disconcerted at that circum- 
 stance than at the imminent peril of their situation ; he added, 
 in a low, determined tone, " but they must shoot very true, if 
 they wish to prevent me from taking this deep and deceitful 
 villain with me on the long journey." 
 
 During the whole of this conversation, War- Eagle sat in 
 unmoved silence, occasionally puffing out a whiff from the 
 fragrant herb in his pipe. Reginald met the unexpected danger 
 with the straightforward, daring courage which was the charac- 
 teristic of his mind ; Baptiste with the cool resolution which 
 was the result of a life of stratagems, perils, and escapes. 
 
 " AVar-Eagle," said the former, " you speak true ; Grande- 
 Hi ache and 1 have shut our eyes and ears ; but they are now 
 open ; I see your warriors." 
 
 The Indian turned his searching eye full upon the speaker ; 
 he met a look bold, open, fearless as his own. " Where can 
 my white brother see warriors ? " he inquired. 
 
 " Their guns are across yonder log," said Reginald ; " and 
 their muzzles are pointed here." 
 
 f{ It is so," said War-Eagle ; " the red men are on the 
 war-path ; they seek blood ; is my white brother not afraid ?" 
 
 " War-Eagle is a chief," replied the young man ; " he can- 
 not lie, he has said that his white brother is as safe as in 
 the wigwam of his father ! " 
 
 Again the Indian bent a scrutinising look upon the coun- 
 tenance of the speaker, and again met the same smile of fear- 
 less confidence. With more emotion than he had yet shown, 
 he said, et The Great Spirit has given to my white brother the 
 big heart of a Lenape ! " 
 
 He now made a signal to his ambuscade to come forth, on 
 which they started up from behind the large fallen tree which 
 had hitherto screened them, and advanced slowly towards the 
 camp. They were three in number ; two of them active 
 looking men, of moderate stature, but of symmetrical propor- 
 tions ; the third a lad, apparently about seventeen years old ; 
 the faces of the two former were painted with black stripes, 
 which gave them an appearance at once fierce and grotesque ; 
 they were lightly clad in hunting-shirts, leggins, and mocassins, 
 all of elk-skin, and each carried a tomahawk, scalp-knife, and 
 the gun before mentioned ; the young lad earned no other 
 
46 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 weapon but the gun ; his hunting-shirt was fancifully orna- 
 mented with tassels of porcupine quills, and was fastened at 
 the wa'st by a belt studded with party-coloured beads ; his 
 leggins were fringed, and his mocassins were also braided with 
 the quills of the porcupine ; in figure he was slight and tall ; 
 as he drew near, Reginald thought his countenance even more 
 remarkable than that of War-Eagle : indeed its beauty would 
 have been almost effeminate, had it not been for the raven 
 blackness of the hair, and the piercing fire of the dark eyes. 
 The three came forward in silence, the lad being rather in ad- 
 vance of the others, and stood before the War-Eagle. 
 
 He bade them, in his own language, to be seated, and smoke 
 the pipe with the white men. They did so, with the excep- 
 tion of the lad, who not being yet a warrior, passed it un- 
 touched ; and when it had gone round, War-Eagle harangued 
 his party : as he narrated the events of the morning, Reginald 
 was struck by the deep and flexible modulation of his voice ; 
 and although he did not understand a word of the language, 
 fancied that he knew when the chief related his immersion and 
 subsequent preservation by the white man's knife. 
 
 At this portion of the tale, the Indian youth made no at- 
 tempt to conceal his emotion ; his glistening eyes were fixed 
 upon the speaker, and every feature of his intelligent counte- 
 nance beamed with affectionate interest : as War-Eagle described 
 his being struck under water, stunned by a blow from a horse's 
 foot, and that the thick water covered him, a hurried excla- 
 mation escaped from the boy's lips ; and when his chief related 
 how the white warrior had dived, had cut the cord in which 
 he was entangled, and had brought him again to the air and to 
 life, the youth, no longer able to control his feelings, threw 
 himself into Reginald's arms, exclaiming, in good English, 
 
 " The Great Spirit reward the white warrior : he has given 
 me back my chief my brother !" 
 
 Our hero was no less astonished than was the guide, at such 
 uncontrolled emotion in a youth of a nation so early taught to 
 conceal their feelings ; nor were they less surprised at the 
 clearness and purity of accent with which he expressed him- 
 self in English. 
 
 (< I only did, my boy," said Reginald, kindly, (C what you 
 would have done had you been in my place." 
 
 " You are a great warrior," said the youth,. running his eye 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRF). 47 
 
 over the powerful frame beside him : " Wingenund would 
 have gone into the strong river, and would have died with the 
 War-Eagle." 
 
 " Is Wingenund, then, your name, my brave boy ? " 
 
 tf It was my forefather's name," said the youth, proudly. 
 " I have yet no name ; but War-Eagle says I may have one 
 soon, and I will have no other." 
 
 " I feel sure you will deserve your forefather's name," said 
 Reginald. " What does it mean in my language ? " 
 
 " It means, ' The Beloved.' " 
 
 " The youth speaks true," murmured the guide (who, 
 though busily engaged in rounding off a bullet with his knife, 
 lost not a word or gesture that passed), " he speaks only truth ; 
 I knew his forefather well : a braver and a better heart never 
 dwelt among the Lenape." 
 
 The boy looked gratefully at the weather-beaten hunter ; 
 and as he cast his eyes down in silence, it would have been 
 difficult to say whether pleasure, pride, or pain predominated 
 in their expression. 
 
 <c Tell me," resumed Reginald, " how come you to speak 
 English like a white man ? " 
 
 " The good father and Olitipa taught me." 
 
 Reginald looked at the guide for an explanation ; that worthy 
 personage shook his head, saying, " The boy talks riddles ; 
 but they are not hard to guess. The good father must be some 
 missionary, or priest ; and Olitipa would in their tongue signify 
 ' pretty prairie-fowl ; ' so it is probably the name of a Delaware 
 woman perhaps his sister." 
 
 " Kthella la so it is," said the boy : " Olitipa is in 
 your tongue ' pretty prairie-bird/ and she is my sister." 
 
 " Where is Prairie-bird ? " inquired Reginald, amused by 
 the youth's na'ivete. 
 
 " Far, far away, beyond the great river ! But we -will go 
 back soon ; shall we not ? " inquired he, looking up timidly 
 at War- Eagle. 
 
 " Pechu knitti* " answered the chief ; and leaning towards 
 the youth, he added some words in a whisper, which made 
 him start up to obey the orders he had received. 
 
 Reginald was not long left in ignorance of their nature, as 
 
 " By-and-by," 
 
48 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 in a few minutes the active lad had refreshed the fire, and was 
 busy in broiling some venison steaks, which, after the exercise 
 of the morning, sent up a steam far from unpleasant to the 
 senses of any of those present. 
 
 " Master Reginald," said the guide, " that silly perroquet 
 of yours, Gustave Perrot, is always telling fine stories of what 
 he has seen in Europe, and talking of the scent of roses, and 
 the sweet sounds of music, till the girls in the clearins think 
 he's a book-author and a poet : did you ever smell any scent, 
 or hear any music, sweeter than comes from the hissing and 
 frizzing of those slices of fat venison after a six hours' hunt 
 in the woods? " 
 
 " Perhaps not,'* said Reginald, laughing ; " but we are 
 only hunters, and Monsieur Perrot is a man of taste." 
 
 <c Whom have we here," grumbled the guide, as an Indian 
 appeared in the distance. " Friend War-Eagle, is this another 
 of your band ? " 
 
 " He is," replied the chief : " all are now here." 
 
 The new comer was a powerful, athletic-looking man : his 
 face was painted one half black, and the other half striped with 
 bars of red ; the sleeves of his hunting-shirt were so short 
 and loose, that his naked arms were visible, one of which was 
 tatooed in the form of a lizard, and on the other he wore an 
 armlet of brass ; his leggins and mocassins were soiled and 
 torn, and the perspiration streaming from his matted hair 
 showed that he had travelled both far and fast. He was, 
 like the rest, equipped with rifle, tomahawk, and scalp- 
 knife ; his countenance, as far as it could be distinguished 
 through its disguise of paint, was expressive of cunning and 
 ferocity. Though probably much surprised at seeing two 
 white men sitting thus amicably with his chief, he took little 
 notice of them, or of the rest of the party ; but without asking, 
 or being asked, any questions, seated himself on the opposite 
 side of the fire, lighted his pipe, and smoked. 
 
 " Master Reginald," said the guide, in French, " I do not 
 like that fellow. I know not how he comes to be with our 
 friend here, for he belongs to another tribe ; I have seen him 
 before." 
 
 Meantime, the industrious lad had broiled his venison 
 steaks, and having gathered some broad leaves, which served 
 on this occasion for plates, he brought the first slice to Regi- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 4<) 
 
 nald, the second to Baptiste, the next to War-Eagle, and so 
 on, until he went through the party ; after which, without 
 tasting anything himself, he took his station close to his chief 
 and his new friend. During the meal, the Indian last 
 arrived talked much in a suppressed voice to the one next to 
 him, and seemed studiously to avert his eyes from his chief 
 and the two white men. 
 
 e< Tarhe," said War-Eagl<% addressing him, (e is there not 
 tassmanane* for the stranger? he is my brother, and his 
 path has been long." 
 
 Tarhe went to his " cache," a spot not many yards distant, 
 and taking out two or three small cakes, brought them round 
 behind his chief, and offered one to our hero, who was in the 
 act of receiving it, when the miscreant, drawing the knife 
 from his girdle, aimed a blow at the back of the unsuspecting 
 Reginald. 
 
 Nothing could have saved him from instant death, had not 
 the gallant boy thrown himself between the savage and his 
 victim. The knife went through his arm ; and so deadly 
 was the force by which it was guided, that it still descended, 
 and inflicted a slight scratch on Reginald's shoulder. 
 
 War-Eagle sprang like a tiger from the ground, and with 
 one blow of his tremendous war-club dashed the ruffian to 
 the earth; then turning suddenly his angry glance upon the two 
 other Indians, he asked if they had any part in Tarhe's plot. 
 Neither had stirred from their seat, and both declared they 
 had known nothing of his intention. It was well for them 
 that the chief believed them, for this act of vile treachery had 
 aroused all the slumbering fire within him, and the veins 
 started like blue cords upon his temples. 
 
 Reginald's first impulse, when he jumped upon his feet, 
 was to hasten to the wounded youth, whose features were now- 
 lighted up by a smile of happiness. " Tell me, my brave, 
 generous boy, are you much hurt ? " 
 
 "No," said he, I should have been hurt if the War- 
 Eagle's camp had been stained with the blood of his white 
 brother." 
 
 The sturdy guide himself could not repress his admiration 
 of this gallant boy's conduct, who now stood looking intently 
 
 Tassmanane : a kind of bread made by the Delawares for long journey*. It ifl 
 made of maize, powdered very liue, and sweetened with maple sugar. . 
 
50 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 upon War- Eagle, his features animated by excitement and by 
 pride, and the knife still fixed up to the very handle in his arm, 
 
 "War-Eagle." said Baptiste, "the Lenape' are men, 
 their boys are warriors : that dog is not a Lenape," added he, 
 pointing to the prostrate body of Tarhe. 
 
 " Tah-Delamattenos*? said the chief indignantly. The 
 youth now moving a step forward, came before his chief with 
 an air of modest dignity, and slowly drew the reeking knife 
 from his arm, while a stream of blood gushed from the 
 wound ; not a muscle of his frame trembled, not a feature 
 varied its expression, as he said, in a voice of musical gentle- 
 ness, " War-Eagle, will Wingenund allow his grandson now 
 to bear his name ? " 
 
 <: Wingenund!" said War-Eagle, looking upon him with 
 affectionate pride, " the chiefs at the Council-fire shall know 
 that the blood of the well-beloved still flows in a young 
 warrior's veins." 
 
 " My good friend," said the guide to the chief, ft you have 
 no time to lose, the lad will bleed to death ! " 
 
 Reginald sprang forward, and closing as he best could the 
 gaping wound, bound his handkerchief tightly over it. 
 
 There was, indeed, no time to be lost ; for the blood had 
 flowed more freely than his youthful frame could endure. A 
 painful dizziness came over him ; and murmuring, almost 
 inaudibly, " The White Warrior is safe, and Wingenund is 
 happy," he fell senseless into Reginald's arms. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 CONTAINING SOME PARTICULARS OF THE HISTORY Off THE TWO DELA- 
 WARES AND OF BAPTISTE. THE LATTER RETURNS WITH REGINALD 
 TO MOOSHANNE, THE RESIDENCE OF COLONEL BRANDON. 
 
 " I FEAR he will die ! " said Reginald, in a tone of the 
 deepest grief, as he stooped over the inanimate form of the 
 wounded boy. 
 
 " Die ! " said the War-Eagle, almost fiercely ; " yes, he will 
 
 * " Tah-Delamattenos," " No, he is a Wyandot.' This tribe occupied the 
 region to the north of Ohio, and the north-west of Pennsylvania ; they spoke a dia- 
 lect of the Iroquois, and are better known by the name ot Hurons ; they sometime! 
 hunted with the Delaware, by whom they were desijrgtted as above. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 51 
 
 die ! but not by the bite of yonder serpent/' pointing to the 
 body of the Wyandot : " He will die when the Great Spirit 
 orders it ; but before he dies, the murderers of his father 
 shall hear his war-whoop ! His tomahawk shall be red in 
 their blood ; their scalps shall hang at his belt ! then Win- 
 genund may go to his ancient people in the happy hunting 
 fields!" 
 
 " My brother/' said Reginald, earnestly, and still supporting 
 the insensible frame of Wingenund, " do not lead this youth 
 to shed the white man's blood ! He cannot call back those 
 who are gone ! We have a book which the Great Spirit gave 
 to our forefathers ; it speaks His own words, and He tells us, 
 * Vengeance is mine;' and He also tells us that if we would 
 please Him, we must forgive those who have injured us : His 
 arrows are very sharp ; His anger is fierce ; His justice is sure. 
 Leave Him to punish those bad men, and teach the * well- 
 beloved' to be the white man's friend." 
 
 For a minute the chief seemed buried in deep thought; 
 then suddenly starting from his reverie, he spoke a few words 
 in a low tone to one of his men, who instantly moved away, 
 and disappeared in the forest. 
 
 War-Eagle then replied in a tone rather of melancholy than 
 of reproof, " The Great Spirit never speaks to the red man 
 in words : if He is angry, He thunders ; if He is pleased, He 
 sends rain and sunshine, to make the corn and fruits to grow, 
 and sweet grass to fatten the deer. My brother says the Great 
 Spirit has spoken plainly to the white man in words, and that 
 those words are painted in a book. War-Eagle believes it 
 because my brother's tongue is not forked : but he would ask, 
 Did those white men, who came in the night like wolves to 
 the couch of the fawn, who murdered the father, the kindred, 
 the little sisters of Wingenund, did those men hear the 
 Great Spirit's words ? " 
 
 " My brother," said Reginald, " there are among white men 
 many wolves and serpents : men whose hands are bloody, and 
 their tongue forked. The Great Spirit does not forbid to 
 punish, or even to kill such men, in defence of ourselves, our 
 wigwams, our children, or our friend. He is not angry with 
 War-Eagle for striking down that Huron whose hand was 
 raised to shed his brother's blood ; but when the grass of many 
 seasons has grown over the graves of those who were injured, 
 2 
 
52 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 then the Great Spirit commands man to let his anger sleep, to 
 bury his hatchet, and to forgive.'* 
 
 "It may be so/' said War-Eagle, gravely ; "the Good 
 Father in the Western Hunting-ground has said the same ; 
 Olitipa, whose voice is like the mocking-bird, and who speaks 
 only truth, she has spoken the same ; but it is very dark, 
 War-Eagle cannot see it." 
 
 " Who is the Prairie-bird ? " inquired Reginald, whose 
 curiosity had twice been excited by the mention of this extra* 
 ordinary name. 
 
 Before the chief could reply, the Indian, whom he had sent, 
 returned with a mess made from several leaves, herbs, and 
 roots, which he had bruised and reduced to a kind of glutinous 
 pulp. War-Eagle now took off the bandage from the youth's 
 arm : after examining it carefully, and applying some of the 
 above mixture to both the orifices of the wound, he bound it 
 again, more strongly and skilfully than before ; then taking 
 him in his arms, as if he had been a little child, he carried 
 him down to the rivulet ; and by dint of bathing his temples 
 and rubbing forcibly his hands and feet, soon restored the 
 suspended animation. 
 
 When he was recovered so far as to be able to speak, 
 Reginald, sitting down by him, said a thousand kind things 
 to him, such as were prompted by the gratitude of a gene- 
 rous heart. 
 
 While they were conversing, the guide drew near to the 
 chief; and pointing to the body of the Wyandot, which still 
 lay where he had fallen, said, " He is surely dead!" 
 
 et He is so," replied the other, gravely ; " when War-Eagle 
 is angry he does not strike his enemy's forehead twice." 
 
 The guide now turned over the body ; and seeing that the 
 iron point of the war-club had entered just above the eyes, 
 and had sunk deep into the brain, he knew that instant death 
 must have ensued. The chief calling the two Indians, desired 
 them to bury the body where it would be safe from wolves and. 
 buzzards. " But," he added, sternly, " let not the spot be 
 marked for his kindred : he died like a dog, and none should 
 lament him." 
 
 As they turned away to execute these orders, the guide 
 observed to the chief " that Huron has not been long with the 
 War-Eagle." 
 
THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. 55 
 
 " True, but how does the Grande-Hache know it ? " 
 
 " His eye has been on him more than oncq ; Grande- 
 Hache sees, but he can hold his tongue." 
 
 " Grande-Hache is a warrior/' replied the chief: "he has 
 seen many things ; he has talked with the wise men ; does he 
 know why yon Huron wished to kill the young white brave?'' 
 
 " He does," said Grande-Hache ; but as he did not of him- 
 self state what he knew, it would have been contrary to the 
 usages of Indian courtesy to have questioned him further. 
 
 Baptiste now diverting the conversation to another topic, 
 said, " It is singular that War-Eagle, on a war-path far from 
 his village, should have only strangers with him excepting the 
 youth who is wounded ! " 
 
 " What means the Grande-Hache ? '' 
 
 " He means," replied the guide, " that the other two, now 
 gone to bury the H uron, are Southern men * they are not 
 Lenape." 
 
 "Grande-Hache has ears and eyes open how can he know 
 that he speaks truth ? ' said the chief. 
 
 " Because he has eyes and ears ; " replied the guide. 
 " Does War-Eagle think that Grande-Hache has hunted twenty 
 years among the red nations, and knows not yet the mocassin 
 and tongue of a Shawanon ? 1 knew them at a glance," 
 added he, with shrewd smile, " as well as I knew the War- 
 Eagle in the batteau, though both he and they have put on 
 their faces the paint of the Mengwc"\ 
 
 " Grande-Hache speaks truth," replied the chief dryly, 
 without showing the surprise and annoyance that he felt at the 
 penetration of the guide. "The men are Shawanons, they 
 hunt with the Lenape, beyond the great river they are 
 brothers." 
 
 So saying, he broke off the conversation, and turning 
 towards Wingenund, saw that he was talking as earnestly and 
 freely with Reginald as if they had been long intimate; while 
 he contemplated this friendly intercourse with a smile of 
 
 * Southern-men in the Delaware language Cha-oua-no or Shawano known 
 to the Americans as " Shawnees." This powerful tribe were generally in alliance 
 with the Lenape, and inhabited the country on their western frontier. About the 
 time of our tale, they were very numerous on the banks of the Muskingum and of 
 the Wabash river. 
 
 t Mengwe, or Mingoes, - the Delaware name for those Indians who resided 
 chiefly in the northern State* of the Union, and who are better known as the 
 " Iroquois." 
 
 E 3 
 
5* THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 satisfaction, the guide felt himself called upon to remind his 
 companion that the sun was getting low, that they had yet 
 some miles to walk, and that the Colonel would be anxious and 
 impatient. 
 
 " True/' said Reginald, springing up, " I must take leave 
 of my brother, and of my young preserver ; but we shall 
 meet again ; we will hunt together, and be friends." 
 
 te Let it be so," said the lad, with an ardour which he cared 
 not to conceal ; lt and Wingenund will tell Prairie-bird that 
 the white warrior who drew War-Eagle from the deep water 
 will come to see her, and she will thank him." 
 
 While the boy was speaking, the chief turned away, and 
 busied himself in fastening a thong halter firmly to the head of 
 Nekimi, whom he again led to his new master. 
 
 Reginald now undid from his waist the silver buckled belt 
 with the couteau-de-chasse which it supported, and buckling 
 it round the youth, he said, " Wingenund must wear this, and 
 must not forget his white friend." 
 
 The boy's eyes sparkled with pleasure, as he received this 
 gift ; but he was still too weak to stand, and he only murmured, 
 in a low voice, " Wingenund will not forget." 
 
 The chief now taking the guide aside said to him, in his 
 own language, " How is my white brother called ? " 
 
 " I call him < Master Reginald/ " * 
 
 After one or two ludicrous attempts at an imitation, War- 
 Eagle shook his head, saying, " It is not good may his 
 Lenape friend call him * Netis ?' " 
 
 As soon as Reginald was informed of what had passed, and 
 of the meaning of his new name, he accepted it with pleasure, 
 and Wingenund repeated it again and again as our hero bid 
 him farewell. 
 
 War-Eagle insisted upon accompanying him, and leading 
 Nekimi through the forest, until they reached the broad wheel 
 track which passed Colonel Brandon's house, and thence led 
 through other clearings to the village of Marietta. As they 
 went along, Reginald desired Baptiste in a whisper to talk 
 with the chief, and endeavour to draw from him what article 
 
 * "Master Reginald " might well puzzle the chief, as there is no letter r in the 
 .Delaware language, though some of them contrive to pronounce it. 
 
 " Netis " signifies, ia their tongue, "a trusted friend," " one to whom all secrets 
 are confided." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 55 
 
 of dress, ornament or use, he would most value, as he was 
 anxious to make his Indian brother a present ; and the guide, 
 by skilfully manoeuvring his conversation, soon learnt that 
 War-Eagle had, on this last excursion, lost his rifle, and that 
 he was also short of ammunition. They now emerged from 
 the forest upon the great road, if it might be so called, leading 
 to Marietta ; and the Indian putting the halter of Nekimi into 
 Reginald's hand, said that he would return to his camp. Our 
 hero, taking him by the hand, said, " Netis wishes to see his 
 brother at this spot to-morrow at noon." 
 
 " War-Eagle will come," was the brief reply ; and shaking 
 both the white men cordially by the hand, he turned and dis- 
 appeared among the trees. 
 
 Reginald and the guide were within a few miles of Colonel 
 Brandon's house ; but they could not proceed very fast, owing 
 to the evident reluctance shown by Nekimi to follow his new 
 master ; he neighed, snorted, jumped, and played all manner 
 of pranks in his endeavour to get loose ; but this War-Eagle 
 had foreseen, and the tough halter of undressed hide was well 
 enough secured to defy all his efforts at escape. 
 
 " This has been a strange day of adventures, Baptiste," 
 said Reginald ; " it has been to me one of the pleasantest of 
 my life ! " 
 
 if Why, Master Reginald, it has been a day of events, such 
 as they are; you have been twice at the outside edge of t'other 
 world, with water and cold iron." 
 
 " Oh, there was not much harm in the water," said Re- 
 ginald, laughing ; " had it not been for the knock which one 
 of the horses gave me on the head ; but that villanous attempt 
 of the Huron makes me shudder ; to offer a man food, and 
 stab him while he is taking it ! I thought such a thing was 
 unknown in Indian history.'' 
 
 " It is almost," said the guide. "But a Huron and a 
 Dahcotah ! " added he, bitterly " would murder a brother 
 to gratify revenge." 
 
 "But I had never injured him, Baptiste." 
 
 " His memory is better than yours, Master Reginald. He 
 and his brother were two of the leading warriors in that un- 
 fortunate affair where St. Clair was beat by the Ingians, upon 
 the north fork of the Miami. I was there, too, and the 
 ' Doctor's' pills did some sarvice but not much to signify, 
 
 E 4 
 
56 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 neither. Colonel Brandon did all that man could do, but at 
 last he was forced back. * Well, that Tarhe and his brother, 
 first in the pursuit, killed two of our poor fellows, and were 
 scalping 'em, when the Colonel called out to "em, and fired. 
 He killed Tarhe's brother dead. I see'd it all ; and I took a 
 long squint with the Doctor at Tarhe*, which only lamed his 
 arm a bit ; for, you see, Master Reginald, I was a long ways 
 off; and a chap don't shoot quite so fine when he's a retreatin* 
 double-quick, with a few hundred red-skins yellin' in his rear. 
 However, that Tarhe has been more than once down atMarietta, 
 and round the neighbours' clearins; and he knowed you, 
 Master Reginald, just as well as a Kentucky hog knows an 
 acorn." 
 
 " Now I understand it, so far, Baptiste. But if the fellow 
 wanted to take my life, why did he not hide in the laurel- 
 thicket, and shoot me as I passed ? Why did he make the 
 attempt where my death was sure to be revenged ? " 
 
 " Now, Master Reginald, you are asking a poor ignorant 
 crittur, who knows nought but a little huntin', and, may be, 
 knows a beaver-skin from a buffalo-hide, all the ins and 
 outs of a red Ingian's crooked mind ! May be, he wanted to 
 force War-Eagle into shedding white man's blood. I saw 
 that one of those Shawanons was up to his game ; and if a 
 general skrimmage had come, they'd have tried to do for me. 
 Or, perhaps, when he found his knife so convenient to the 
 back of your neck, he couldn't lose the chance, for the bad 
 spirit had got hold of him." 
 
 " By heavens ! " cried Reginald, " I never can sufficiently 
 admire the quickness, and the heroic courage of that boy, 
 Wingenund ! Did you see, Baptiste, how he drew that great 
 knife slowly out of his wounded arm ; and how all the time he 
 smiled upon War-Eagle, as if to show him that he despised 
 the pain ? " 
 
 " He is a brave youth," said the guide. " I know the stock 
 he comes from : if he were a coward, the grisly bear might 
 breed sheep ! " 
 
 " Pray tell me something of his parents, and of his story. 
 Is he related to War-Eagle ? " 
 
 " He is," said the guide. " They are the children of two 
 brothers. War- Eagle of the eldest; Wingenund of the 
 youngest." 
 
THB PRAIRIE-BIRD. 5? 
 
 " Are these two brothers alive, Baptiste ? " 
 
 " No : both were murdered by the white men, in time of 
 peace, without provocation. There was a third brother, who, 
 happening to be absent from the village on a hunt, escaped. 
 He has now gone to the far west, beyond the great river. 
 Both the War-Eagle and the boy are called his sons ; and the 
 latter, as he told us to-day, lives in his lodge." 
 
 " Then all these three brothers were the children of 
 Wingenund ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 f< And who was he?" 
 
 " One of the old Lenape : first in council, and foremost 
 in the fight ! I remember him well when I was a boy," said 
 the guide, warming with his subject. " He taught me to 
 follow a trail, and to travel in the woods, with no other guide 
 than the wind, the stars, and the bark of the trees ; and before 
 I was as old as that boy, his grandson, he lent me his rifle to 
 shoot the first Dahcotah as ever I killed." 
 
 " What was the party, Baptiste ? " said Reginald (anxious 
 to keep the guide from the subject of the Dahcotahs), " what 
 party was it that committed the atrocious murder upon the 
 Indians in time of peace ? " 
 
 " Why, Master Reginald, though you were but a youngster, 
 don't you remember hearing that twelve or fourteen years ago 
 a party of white men, led by Williamson, Harvey, and some 
 other rough chaps from the Kentucky side, fell upon a village 
 of friendly Indians on the banks of Tuscarawas river, and 
 murdered all they found man, woman, and child? Some of 
 these poor red-skins had been made Christians, and were called 
 Moravians ; and their village as was destroyed was called by 
 some outlandish name, too long by half for me to speak or to 
 remember.* They had given over their own nat'ral life of 
 smoking, hunting, and fighting, and did nothing but plant, 
 and sow, and pray ! And, after all, that's the way they was 
 served, Master Reginald ! " 
 
 " Horrible and disgraceful cruelty ! " said the young man : 
 and rather thinking aloud, than addressing his companion, he 
 added, " It is no wonder that the Indians should receive so 
 unwillingly Christian precepts, when they have such examples 
 
 * The village was called Gnaden-Hiitten " tents," or " cabins of grace." 
 
58 THE PBAIRIE-BIBD. 
 
 of Christian practice. I am not surprised that War-Eagle 
 should find it hard to forgive such injuries." 
 
 "And yet you are surprised, Master Reginald," said the 
 guide, in a deep voice, almost hoarse from repressed emotion, 
 " that / do not forgive the Dahcotah ? " Did he not burn the 
 log-hut where I was horn and raised ? Did he not murder 
 those who gave me birth ? Did he not drive me out, a child, 
 into the woods, to live by berries, or wild fruits, or what I could 
 find or kill ? Is not my father's scalp (not half revenged !) 
 now hanging before a Dahcotah lodge ! Oh ! let me come 
 but within rifle range of the throat-cutter,* and if he comes 
 off with a whole skin, I will forgive him ! " 
 
 Our hero, seeing that further discussion would only increase 
 an excitement which already mastered his companion's self- 
 control, said to him kindly, " Well, Baptiste, it must be owned 
 that you have received from these people deep, irreparable 
 wrong ! You are a man, and would not pay them in their 
 own base coin, by killing one of their squaws or children : 
 but if it is ever your fortune to meet them in a fair stand-up 
 fight, when I am with you, then you shall see that I can stand 
 by a friend, and share in his just feelings of resentment." 
 
 " I know it I know it, Master Reginald," said the guide, 
 grasping the hand extended to him ; and having now recovered 
 an equanimity which nothing but the Dahcotah subject ever 
 disturbed, he added, 
 
 " If you and I were to take a summer-hunt towards the 
 mountains, with that light-limbed War-Eagle, who has the 
 eyes, and ears, and the spring of a painter^, we might p'raps 
 bring in a handsome load o' skins, and may be, pay off the 
 throat-cutters an old debt or two." 
 
 " It is more likely than you imagine, Baptiste, that we 
 should make an excursion to the West this spring ; for my 
 father told me the other day but see, there he is, with Lucy 
 on his arm, and Aunt Mary, and Wolf by her side ! " 
 
 As he said this, the young man bounded forward, and in a 
 moment was in the midst of them, kissing his sister, shaking 
 his father and Aunt Mary affectionately by the hand, and 
 patting Wolf's great shaggy head. 
 
 * Every Indian tribe has its peculiar mark or sign ; among all the nations of the 
 far-west, the Sioux, or Dahcotuhs, are designated by passing the hand across the 
 throat, as if cutting it. 
 
 f A panther is so called by the western hunters. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 59 
 
 " Dear Reginald ! what has kept you so long ? n said Lucy, 
 reproachfully ; " where can you have been ? Why, your 
 clothes are all soiled; and see, papa," she added, turning 
 deadly pale ; " there is blood upon his hunting-shirt and 
 upon his cheek ! " 
 
 " What a little coward art thou," said Reginald, " to be 
 the daughter of a soldier ! Why, Lucy, the few drops of 
 blood upon my clothes must surely have come from your 
 cheeks, which are as pale as a magnolia flower ! Harkee, 
 Lucy, I must do something to tjrive the rosy current back to 
 its proper channel ; come here, girl : " and bending her head 
 aside, he whispered something in her ear. 
 
 Never was the effect of magic more rapid, or more potent ; 
 for in an instant the obedient blood rushed to the fair girl's 
 cheek, suffusing at the same time her neck and temples with 
 the same glowing hue: casting upon her brother a look at 
 once playful and appealing, she pinched his ear between her 
 tiny fingers till he fairly begged pardon, and promised not to 
 do so again. 
 
 As it was now evident that Reginald was notmuchhurt, Lucy 
 turned her eyes towards the hunter, who approached, leading 
 Nekimi still snorting, prancing, and curvetting at the full 
 length of his laryette. " Baptiste," said the Colonel, " where 
 have you found that wild, untamed animal ? " 
 
 " He belongs," said the hunter, " to Master Reginald." 
 
 The Colonel looked to his son for an explanation, who 
 giving an arm to his sister, while the Colonel escorted Aunt 
 Mary, turned homewards, and narrated, as they Went, the 
 events described in this and the foregoing chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CONTAINING A SKETCH OF MOOSHANNE. REGINALD INTRODUCES TTLS 
 SISTER TO THE TWO DELAWARE6. 
 
 THE day following that on which the events related in the 
 preceding pages occurred there was an assemblage more than 
 usually numerous, gathered in and around the capacious store 
 of David Muir, in Marietta: immediately in front of his 
 door was a small party, who, from their bearing and appearance, 
 
60 THE PRAIBIE-BIRD. 
 
 might be easily recognised as leading persons in the little 
 community. In the midst of them was a roughly-dressed 
 country lad, whose haggard appearance indicated wretchedness 
 or fatigue, or hoth : near the group stood his horse, reeking 
 with sweat, and showing that the messenger, for such he 
 was, had not spared the spurs on the road. Many and eager 
 were the questions put to him ; and the countenances of his 
 auditors evinced no ordinary degree of interest in his replies ; 
 several women, and a dozen or two of boys and girls, made 
 repeated endeavours to penetrate into this important circle ; 
 and having contrived to overhear a disjointed word, here and 
 there, such as tf Indian," " scalped," " rifle," &c. they slunk 
 away, one by one, to spread it abroad through the village, 
 that a neighbouring settlement had been attacked by a large 
 body of Indians, armed with rifles and tomahawks ; and that 
 every man, woman, and child, excepting this messenger, who 
 had escaped, was scalped ! 
 
 We will, however, introduce the reader into the centre of 
 the above-mentioned group, and detail to him the substance of 
 the news which created so much excitement. 
 
 It appears that on the preceding day, two brothers, named 
 Hervey, were riding homeward after attending a marriage, 
 at a small settlement twenty miles to the northward of Marietta : 
 they were not above half a mile in advance of several other 
 men, also returning from the marriage ; both were armed 
 with rifles, having been shooting at a target for a wager, when 
 on a sudden, a single Indian, uttering a loud war-whoop, 
 sprang from a thicket by the road, and at one stroke of his 
 war-club felled the elder brother to the earth ; before the 
 second could come up to his assistance, the same Indian aimed 
 a sweeping blow at his head with the butt-end of his rifle; 
 the younger Hervey warded the blow also with his rifle, but it 
 fell with such force that both barrels were broken off from the 
 stocks : with the rapidity of lightning, the Indian struck him 
 heavily on the head, and he fell stunned from his horse. A 
 few minutes afterwards, he recovered, and found some of his 
 friends standing over him ; his unfortunate brother lay dead 
 and scalped at his side : his horse and the Indian had dis- 
 appeared. Several young men dashed off immediately in 
 pursuit, and tracked the hoofs successfully until the fugitive 
 had entered the hardy and stony bed of a rivulet falling into 
 
THE FRAIRIR-BIRD 6l 
 
 the Muskingum ; hence all further search proved unsuccessful, 
 and they returned dispirited to their companions. 
 
 It was long since so daring an outrage had been committed 
 in the territory ; seldom was it that the red-skins would attack 
 white men in open day, unless they were greatly superior in 
 numbers ; but for a single Indian to fall upon two armed 
 whites, killing one and leaving the other for dead, almost within 
 call of his friends, was an instance of audacity to which the 
 oldest hunter could scarcely remember a parallel : it was 
 evident also that the savage had been aware of a party of 
 whites being at hand, otherwise he would certainly* have shot 
 one brother before he attacked the other ; but, avoiding the 
 discharge of his rifle, he had effected his purpose with a 
 war-club. 
 
 Another striking circumstance was the clear evidence afforded 
 that the killing of the elder Hervey was an act of personal 
 revenge ; because the younger brother when knocked from his 
 horse had fallen helpless at the Indian's feet ; and the latter, 
 purposely to show that he had spared his life and scalp, had 
 struck a knife through the lappet of his coat into the ground, 
 with force enough to bury it up to the haft. Four or five of 
 the best hunters had recommenced the pursuit ; and although 
 they once struck the trail of a man on foot evidently running 
 from them, they were again baffled by the river, and returned 
 to the settlement. 
 
 Such was the sum of the messenger's intelligence, which 
 caused, as can easily be imagined, no little sensation in Marietta 
 and the neighbouring district*. 
 
 " 1 know some of the w<r st o' them red-skin devils," said 
 a bulky young man, whcse countenance betrayed violent 
 passions, and strong symptoms of free indulgence in David 
 Muir's "fire-water;" " tell me what was this Ingian like? 
 how did Dick Hervey describe him ? " 
 
 <c He hadn't over much time to look at him," said the 
 messenger, " afore he was sent to sleep ; but he says he was a 
 very tall powerful chap, streaked over the face with black." 
 
 " Was he a young un or an old un ?'' 
 
 " A young un, and active as a deer, or he couldn't have 
 knocked those two Herveys off their critturs, as a man knocks 
 off a corncob with an ash plant." 
 
 " I wish 1 had him here," said the young giant, shutting 
 
62 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 a hand as heavy and large as a shoulder of mutton. " I'd 
 give him a real Kentucky hug." 
 
 None of the bystanders seemed able to form any guess as to 
 who the perpetrator of this hold outrage might be. It was 
 resolved, however, to take all possible measures for his dis- 
 covery ; a meeting of the principal inhabitants was convened, 
 a description of the Indian's person, and of the marks by 
 which Hervey's horse might be recognised, was written, and 
 several copies thereof made, and forwarded to the nearest 
 posts and ferries ; at the same time a reward of a hundred 
 dollars was offered to any person who should discover the 
 offender, and a hundred more for his seizure, dead or alive. 
 
 During the discussion of these and other plans at the meet- 
 ing, our old acquaintance David Muir, who felt himself not to 
 be one of the least important persons present, said, "I'm 
 thinking, gentlemen, it would be as weel to send a messenger 
 out to Colonel Brandon, wi' this intelligence; he kens the 
 Indians as weel's ony man in this country side, mayhap he'll 
 gie us some gude counsel ; and, sirs," added David, his grey 
 eyes twinkling at his own sagacity, " be sure ye dinna forget 
 to tak the advice o' yon lang-headed chiel, Battiste ; if the 
 Indian deevil 's o' this side the Mississippi, Battiste will fin* 
 him out, as sure as twa threes mak sax." 
 
 This was one of the longest orations which David had ever 
 delivered in public ; and both his suggestions being approved, 
 carried nem. con., and the meeting dissolved, David returned 
 to his store with his hands thrust into his coat-tail pockets, and 
 his countenance big with the consciousness of having rendered 
 essential service to the territory. 
 
 We must now return to Reginald, who, on the morning of 
 this same day, rose with the sun ; and feeling himself nothing 
 the worse from his slight wounds, or from his diving adventure, 
 sallied forth to see how Baptiste had provided for Nekimi's 
 safety and comfort. All means having failed to entice him 
 into a stable, the hunter had secured him firmly to an oak, 
 casting down for him abundance both of food and litter. Re- 
 ginald approached him, holding in his hand some bread ; and 
 having given the sharp shrill cry (which to Lucy's great alarm 
 he had practised more than once in the house), he was agreeably 
 surprised to perceive that the horse recognised it, and seemed 
 less averse to his caresses. Having fed him, and carefully 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 63 
 
 observed all the rules laid down by War-Eagle for gaining his 
 affections, he returned to the house, and began to collect the 
 various articles which he proposed to give to his Indian 
 brother ; among these was a good Kentucky rifle, and a hand- 
 some buck's-horn knife for the chief; he selected also a light 
 fowling-piece, which he had used as a boy, and which he 
 intended for Wingenund ; to these he added several pounds of 
 powder, and a due proportion of lead ; he also threw into the 
 package a few beads and a large cornelian ring, which had 
 been long the occupant of his dressing-case. 
 
 When he had collected all these together, he gave them to 
 Baptiste, desiring him to be ready to accompany him to the 
 rendezvous after breakfast ; and having finished his prepara- 
 tions, he knocked at the door of Lucy's room, to inquire 
 whether she was ready to preside at the morning meal. 
 
 " Come in, Reginald," she said ; " if I am rather late it is 
 your fault ; for your adventures of yesterday have driven sleep 
 from my pillow ; and even when I did fall asleep, I dreamt of 
 nothing but your Indian hero." 
 
 " Say you so, faithless one ? * replied Reginald ; " 1 shall 
 tell that to " 
 
 " Hush, now, Reginald," said the blushing girl, putting her 
 little hand upon his mouth ; " did you not promise me yester- 
 day that you would not do so again ?" 
 
 "Perhaps I did," said her brother; "and I will keep it if 
 you will come down stairs and give me a very good cup of 
 coffee." 
 
 In the breakfast- room they were joined by the Colonel and 
 Aunt Mary ; and while they discuss that most comfortable of 
 family meals, we will give the reader a slight sketch of the 
 house in which they were assembled. 
 
 It was built of substantial brick of a dun red colour, and 
 had originally been a regular and solid building of moderate 
 dimensions ; but the Colonel had added on one side a wing, 
 containing a library and sitting-rooms for himself and his son, 
 while on the opposite side he had built additional apartments 
 for Aunt Mary, and a small conservatory for Lucy. Thus 
 the building had gradually assumed a straggling and irregular 
 shape, the back court being occupied by stables, barns, and 
 extensive farm offices. The site of the house was on a gentle 
 elevation, sloping down to a little brook, which wound its 
 
64 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 bubbling way through a deep grove of oak, maple, and syca- 
 more, and circling round the base of the hill, fell at the dis- 
 tance of half a mile into the Muskingum river. The spot 
 still retained the name of " Mooshanne" (signifying, in the 
 Delaware language, Elk Creek), probably owing to the little 
 streamlet above mentioned having been a favourite resort of an 
 animal which the rifles of Reginald and Baptiste had rendered 
 somewhat scarce in the neighbourhood. 
 
 We left the family assembled at the breakfast-table, where 
 the conversation still turned upon the adventures of the pre- 
 ceding day. 
 
 " Reginald," said Lucy, " I should like to go with you to- 
 day, to see your Indian brother, and that heroic boy." 
 
 " I fear," replied her brother, " it is farther than you could 
 easily walk ; and, moreover, Wingenund will scarcely accom- 
 pany his chief ; he must be still too weak from his wound." 
 
 ee Nay, Reginald ; if the distance is the only difficulty, I 
 can ride Snowdrop; and if Wingenund does come, I will 
 reward him for his brave defence of my brother, by giving 
 him some little trinket, which he may take back to his sister. 
 You cannot refuse me now," added she, in a coaxing tone, the 
 power of which over her brother was all but despotic. 
 
 " Of course I cannot, if you obtain Aunt Mary's and the 
 Colonel's permission," said Reginald, smiling. 
 
 Lucy met with no further opposition. Snowdrop was 
 ordered to be saddled : in a few minutes the happy girl was 
 equipped, and provided with a coral necklace for the chief, and 
 a pretty brooch, destined for her brother's preserver. 
 
 The party now assembled before the door, consisting of Re- 
 ginald, Baptiste, and Lucy, mounted on her favourite grey 
 pony : our hero slung his rifle across his shoulders ; the sturdy 
 woodsman, besides carrying his own enormous axe, walked 
 lightly under the two rifles and the other articles to be pre- 
 sented to the chief, and Wolf played around them his fantastic 
 and unwieldy gambols. 
 
 Cheerful and smiling was the woodland scenery through 
 which they passed ; the dew-drops still glittered in the beams 
 of the morning sun, and the air was impregnated with the 
 vernal fragrance arising from a thousand opening buds and 
 blossoms. 
 
 " See, Lucy," said her brother, as he walked by her side, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 65 
 
 while the tact of the sturdy hunter kept him a few paces in 
 the rear, " see how those mischievous squirrels hop and chatter 
 upon the boughs ! They seem to know that your presence is 
 a protection to them." 
 
 " I often wonder, Reginald, how you can shoot such playful 
 and graceful animals ; you, who have taste enough to admire 
 their beauty, and who can find sport more worthy of your 
 rifle." 
 
 " It is childish sport, Lucy ; yet they are no contemptible 
 additions to the table ; their furs are useful ; and there is some 
 skill in shooting them, that is, in shooting them properly." 
 
 " If I were a man, I would shoot nothing but lions and 
 tigers, buffaloes or bears ! " said his sister. 
 
 " A pretty Amazon, truly ! " said Reginald, laughing : 
 "yet, methinks your thoughts are not always so warlike. 
 Come, Lucy, now that we are alone (for our good Baptiste is 
 out of ear-shot), you need not pout or blush if I ask you 
 whether Ethelston is expected soon to return ? " 
 
 " Indeed, I know not, Reginald," said his sister, blushing, 
 in spite of his prohibition. " His last letter to the Colonel 
 mentioned something about privateers and the rupture with 
 France. Papa did not appear desirous of communicating 
 much upon the subject, so I dropt it." 
 
 " True," said Reginald ; " the French will not soon forget 
 or forgive the loss of their fine frigate, The Insurgente, which 
 was taken the other day so gallantly by The Constellation. I 
 doubt not they will endeavour to cripple our trade in the 
 West Indies. Edward has got a little craft that can run, if 
 she cannot fight." 
 
 " I am sure Edward will never run if it is possible to fight," 
 said Lucy, a little piqued. 
 
 " There, again, you speak the truth : it is because his cou- 
 rage is so tempered by his judgment, that he is fit to be en- 
 trusted with other lives and property than his own : if it is 
 not possible to fight, he will have sense and skill enough to 
 show the Frenchman his heels. By-the-by, Lucy, which 
 vessel is he now commanding ? " 
 
 Again there was a decided blush, and almost a pout on 
 Lucy's full lip, as she said, " You know, brother, that The 
 Adventure and the Pocahuntas are both in port, and the 
 vessel he is now on board of is the " 
 
66 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 "Oh! I remember/' said Reginald, laughing; "she 
 was to have been called the f Lucy ; ' but Edward did not 
 choose to hear that name in every common sailor's and negro's 
 mouth ; so he altered it to The Pride of Ohio, which means. 
 in his vocabulary, the same thing." 
 
 " I -wish," said Lucy, " there was any Mary, or Char- 
 lotte, or Catherine, or any other name under the sun, about 
 which I could tease you ! Have a little patience, Mr. Regi- 
 nald ; my turn will come ; you shall see what mercy I will 
 show you then ! " 
 
 Thus did the brother and sister spar and jest with each 
 other until they reached the spot appointed for the interview. 
 As they had arrived rather before the time, they imagined that 
 the War-Eagle had not yet come ; but Baptiste, putting his 
 finger to his mouth, blew a long shrill signal whistle, and in a 
 few minutes the chief appeared, accompanied by Wingenund. 
 As they emerged from the forest, and approached, Reginald 
 looked at his sister to see the effect produced by their appear- 
 ance ; for the chief was dressed in a manner calculated to dis- 
 play his noble figure and countenance to better advantage than 
 on the preceding day. His long black hair was parted on his 
 forehead, and gathered into a mass, confined by a narrow fillet 
 made from the fur of the white weasel, and surmounted by an 
 eagle's feather. It seemed that his vow of war and revenge 
 was for the time cancelled ; for the lines of black paint which 
 had disfigured his visage were removed, and the commanding 
 form and features were not marred by any grotesque or fan- 
 ciful attire. His brawny neck was bare, and a portion of his 
 bold, open chest appeared beneath the light hunting-shirt, 
 which was his only upper vesture. The ponderous war-club 
 was still at his girdle, but the scalp had disappeared ; and his 
 light, free step upon the grass was like that of a young elk on 
 the prairie. 
 
 The dress of Wingenund was unaltered. He was still very 
 weak from the loss of blood, and the pain consequent upon his 
 wound ; his arm rested in a sling, made from the plaited bark 
 of elm : and the air of languor cast over his countenance by 
 sleeplessness and suffering, gave additional effect to the delicacy 
 of his features, and the deep dark lustre of his eyes. 
 
 " Our new brother is indeed a fine looking creature ! " said 
 Lucy, as War-Eagle drew near. " What a haughty step and 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 67 
 
 bearing he has ! Wingenund looks too gentle to be an 
 Indian !" 
 
 "He is as brave as gentle, Lucy : look at his arm I" and, 
 as she did look at the wounded limb, she remembered that 
 only yesterday it had saved her brother's life. 
 
 The greeting between Reginald and the two Indians was 
 affectionate and cordial : he then presented his sister to them 
 both in turn. The chieftain placing his hand upon his heart, 
 fixed upon her that penetrating look with which he had before 
 scrutinised her brother : it was not the bold stare of vulgarity 
 admiring beauty, but the child of nature reading, after his own 
 fashion, a page in her book. 
 
 " War-Eagle," said Lucy to him, in her own gentle tone 
 of voice, " I know all that passed yesterday, and you are now 
 my brother ! " 
 
 As she pronounced his name in English, a gleam shot 
 from his eye, and a perceptible and sudden change came over 
 his countenance : it seemed produced by some unexpected as- 
 sociation ; and Lucy was surprised at the deep pathos of his 
 voice, as he replied, " The Great Spirit has made the sun to 
 shine upon my white brother's path ! His heart is brave ; 
 his arm is strong ; and his sister is like a flower of the 
 prairie ! her voice comes upon the ear like a pleasant 
 dream ! " These last words he spoke rather to himself than 
 addressing those around him. 
 
 Lucy was not displeased with the Indian's compliment, and 
 was about to speak to Wingenund, when Reginald said aloud, 
 <f Come, let us withdraw among those thick trees ; we have 
 many things to talk about." His proposal being assented to, 
 the whole party were soon re-assembled under a branching oak, 
 screened from the public track by a thicket of rhododendron. 
 
 While they were effecting this manoeuvre, the guide took 
 an opportunity of interchanging a few sentences with the 
 War-Eagle ; the result of which was apparently satisfactory 
 to the honest woodsman, for his face instantly resumed its 
 usual frank and careless expression. 
 
 " Lucy," said her brother, " as you have thought proper to 
 
 accompany me here, you must play your part as Queen of the 
 
 Feast. I hope my brothers will value these baubles more from 
 
 your hands than from mine." Thus instructed, Lucy opened 
 
 F 2 
 
68 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the canvass package, which the guide had hitherto carried, 
 and presenting the large rifle to the chief, she said to him : 
 
 " War-Eagle, your brother and your white sister give you 
 this rifle,, as a mark of their friendship ; and with it they give 
 you powder and lead enough to shoot all the deer and bears in 
 the territory." 
 
 The chief placed her hand and her brother's both upon his 
 heart, saying, " War-Eagle thanks you. May the Great Spirit 
 love you, and guard your path ! " 
 
 He then poised and examined the rifle, which was a piece 
 of no ordinary beauty and excellence ; while Baptiste whispered 
 to him, in his own language, " It is loaded." 
 
 Lucy then turned to Wingenund, and, presenting him with 
 the lighter fowling-piece, said to him, " With this, a sister 
 thanks Wingenund for a brother's life." 
 
 The boy cast his eyes modestly to the ground, saying, 
 kf Wingenund is too happy. War-Eagle will tell his name to 
 the braves in council. The sister of Netis is good to him ; 
 Wingenund is ready to die ! " 
 
 " Indeed," said Lucy to the guide, " I fear he is very 
 faint and ill ; ask the chief how he passed the night ! " 
 
 ' ' Wingenund is not ill," said the boy, with a smile ; " he 
 is very happy." 
 
 Meanwhile Baptiste, having conferred with the chief, re^ 
 plied, " Why, Miss Lucy, the wound was a very bad 'un, and 
 he lost a power o' blood ; once or twice in the night, War- 
 Eagle thought he might not get over it ; but he is better now, 
 and though unable to bear much fatigue, he is a hardy 
 young plant, and will take as much killing as an eel." 
 
 " Come, Baptiste," said Reginald ; " I know you put some- 
 thing to eat and drink into that sack with the ammunition : 
 War-Eagle must feast with us to-day." 
 
 The guide opening his capacious wallet, drew from it a 
 venison pasty, some bread, and a couple of bottles of Madeira. 
 Lucy declined taking more than a crust of bread, merely tasting 
 the wine to the health of the hunters. Wingenund was equally 
 abstemious, and sat a little apart with his new sister ; while 
 Reginald, Baptiste, and the Chief made a more substantial lun- 
 cheon. The latter being asked, by Reginald, how he liked 
 the wine, replied carelessly, " Good." But it was evident 
 
THE FHAIRIE-BIRD. 69 
 
 that he drank it rather from courtesy than because it pleased 
 Iris palate. 
 
 Reginald now desired the guide to speak to the War-Eagle 
 in his own tongue, and to gather from him all the requisite 
 particulars for his joining the Delawares in their summer-hunt 
 beyond the Mississippi. He had long been anxious to visit 
 some of those scenes which Baptiste had so often described ; 
 and his father having expressed a wish that he should go to 
 St. Louis on some business connected with his investments in 
 the fur-trade, he thought that so fair an opportunity ought 
 not to be lost. 
 
 While the guide and the chief conversed in a low and earnest 
 tone of voice, and Reginald listened with an idle curiosity, 
 imagining now and then that he could catch their meaning, 
 Lucy became much interested in her conversation with Win- 
 genund : she was surprised at his intelligence, and proficiency 
 in English, and was touched by the melancholy expression of 
 his countenance and of his deep lustrous eyes. As she was 
 speaking, he suddenly and impressively placed his finger on 
 her arm, then raised it to his own lips, as a sign to her to be 
 silent ; then creeping two or three yards from the party, he 
 threw himself full length upon the grass with his ear to the 
 ground. Lucy listened attentively, but could hear nothing 
 but the gentle breeze stirring the leaves, and the regular 
 sound of Snowdrop's teeth as he nibbled the young grass. 
 
 The three hunters were still busy with their arrangements 
 for the summer, when Wingenund, resuming his sitting posture, 
 uttered an almost imperceptible sound, like the hiss of a small 
 serpent. Instantly, as if by instinct, the War-Eagle grasped 
 his rifle, and looked inquiringly on the intelligent countenance 
 of the boy. 
 
 " Wingenund hears men and horses," was the short reply. 
 
 Baptiste strained his practised ears to the utmost, as did 
 Reginald, without success. Even War-Eagle seemed for a 
 moment unable to catch the sound. He then whispered to 
 Reginald, "Wingenund speaks truth, there are men not a 
 few." 
 
 Several minutes elapsed before our hero and the guido could 
 distinguish the tramp of horses and the voices of men speaking 
 angrily. 
 
 Our hero and his party being effectually screened from view 
 F 3 
 
70 THE PRAIRIE-3TRD. 
 
 by the dense laurel * thicket, could listen unobserved to the 
 conversation of those who were approaching ; and the following 
 expressions delivered in a loud and authoritative tone, at once 
 attracted and absorbed their attention : " It is impossible that 
 the fellow should escape, we have scouts out in every direction. 
 There can be no doubt that the camp which we have just 
 found in the woods is the one where he passed the night with 
 other red-skins, for the embers are still warm. Dickenson and 
 Brown are gone south towards Marietta ; Henderson and his 
 party are tracking the prairies to the north : it is impossible he 
 should long escape ; and young Hervey thinks he should know 
 him anywhere ! " 
 
 While the person who appeared to be the leader of the un- 
 seen party was thus speaking, War-Eagle whispered a few 
 sentences to Wingenund, to which the intelligent youth only 
 replied by a look ; the chief then conversed apart, in a low 
 earnest voice, with the guide, who ended by grasping his hand, 
 and saying, in the Delaware tongue, " Grande-Hache will do 
 it at the risk of his life." 
 
 The chief appeared satisfied, and rising with calm dignity, 
 he tightened the belt at his waist, to which he hung his newly 
 acquired knife and ammunition j and throwing his rifle into 
 the hollow of his left arm, he said to Reginald, ' ' War-Eagle 
 must leave his brother Netis ; Grande-Hache will tell him all; 
 before two moons have passed, Netis will come to hunt the 
 bison with his brother; and he shall smoke with the braves of 
 the Lenape'." 
 
 " He will," replied Reginald, warmly pressing his hand, and 
 at the same time passing the cornelian ring upon one of the 
 fingers of the chief. " If the Great Spirit gives him life, he 
 will come and hunt, and smoke with his Lenape brother." 
 
 The chief, now turning to Lucy, drew from his head the 
 eagle feather which was passed through his hair, and which 
 was quaintly stained, and ornamented with porcupine quills r 
 offering it gracefully to her, he said, in a voice of musical gen- 
 tleness, " War-Eagle wishes happiness to the e pale flower of 
 Mooshanne ; ' many braves have tried to pluck this feather 
 from his head ; no Dahcotah nor Pawnee has touched it and 
 
 _* la the Western States, the rhododendron is generally called the laurel. 
 
WlNGENUND AND LUCY 
 
 P. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 71 
 
 lived ! The Sister of Netis may fasten it in her hair let none 
 but a brave warrior raise his eyes to it there." 
 
 "Thank you, dear War-Eagle," said Lucy, kindly; "I 
 promise you it shall never be touched by an unworthy hand ; 
 and do you take this string of red beads," giving him at the 
 same time a coral necklace, " and wear it for the sake of your 
 white sister." 
 
 The chief received this gift with evident pleasure ; and 
 waving his hand in adieu, whispering at the same time one 
 parting word to Wingenund, he strode leisurely away, and was 
 soon lost in the deep glades of the forest. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HOW REGINALD BRANDON RETURNED TO MOOSHANNE WITH HIS 
 SISTER, ACCOMPANIED BY WINGENUND ; AND WHAT BEFEL THEM 
 ON THE ROAD. 
 
 LUCY BRANDON was not a little surprised at the chief's sudden 
 departure ; and, with the frankness natural to her character, in- 
 quired of her brother whether he could explain its cause. 
 Reginald appeared either unable or unwilling to do so ; and 
 an appeal to the guide produced only the following unsatis- 
 factory reply : 
 
 " War-Eagle is like the bird after which he's called it 
 ain't easy to explain or to follow his flight." 
 
 Wingenund remained silent, but every now and then he 
 fixed his bright and speaking eyes upon Lucy, as if he would 
 divine her thoughts. That young lady, though at a loss to 
 account for her embarrassment, entertained a fear that all was 
 not right, and proposed to her brother to return to Mooshanne. 
 
 Snowdrop was soon caught, and the little party moved lei- 
 surely homeward, Reginald and the guide leading the way, and 
 Wingenund walking by the side of Lucy's pony ; after riding 
 a few minutes, she recovered her spirits, and remembering 
 that there was no foundation for any surmises of evil, she 
 resumed the conversation with her young companion, which 
 the chief's departure had interrupted. " Tell me, Wingenund, 
 who is the ' Black Father,' of whom you speak ? " 
 v 4- 
 
72 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " He is very good," said the boy, seriously ; " He talks with 
 the Great Spirit ; and he tells us all that the Great Spirit has 
 done ; how He made the earth, and the water ; and how He 
 punishes bad men, and makes good men happy." 
 
 " He is a white man, then ? " said Lucy. 
 
 " He is/' replied the lad ; " but though he is a white man, 
 he always speaks truth, and does good, and drinks no fire- 
 water, and is never angry." 
 
 What a humiliating reflection is it, thought Lucy to her- 
 self, that in the mind of this young savage the idea of white 
 men is naturally associated with drunkenness and strife ! 
 " Tell me, Wingenund," she continued, " is the < Black Father ' 
 old?" 
 
 " Many winters have passed over his head, and their snow 
 rests upon his hair." 
 
 " Does he live with you always ? " 
 
 " He comes and he goes, like the sunshine and the rain ; he 
 is always welcome ; and the Lenape love him." 
 
 " Can he speak your tongue well ? " 
 
 " He speaks many tongues, and tries to make peace between 
 the tribes ; but he loves the Lenape, and he teaches ' the 
 Prairie-bird ' to talk with the Great Spirit." 
 
 " Does your sister speak to the Black Father in her own 
 tongue ? " 
 
 " Sometimes, and sometimes in the English ; but often in 
 a strange tongue, written on a great book. The Black Father 
 reads it, and the Prairie-bird opens her ears, and looks on his 
 face, and loves his words ; and then she tells them all to me. 
 But Wingenund is a child of the Lenape he cannot under- 
 stand these things ! " 
 
 " You will understand them," said Lucy, kindly, " if you 
 only have patience : you know," she added, smiling, " your 
 sister understands them, and she is a Lenape too ! " 
 
 " Yes," said the boy ; " but nobody is like Prairie-bird." 
 
 " She must, indeed, be a remarkable person," said Lucy, 
 humouring her young companion's fancy ; " still, as you have 
 the same father and mother, and the same blood, whatever she 
 learns, you can learn too." 
 
 <e I have no father or mother," said Wingenund, sadly, and 
 he added, in a mysterious whisper, drawing near to Lucy, 
 " Prairie-bird never had a father or mother." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 73 
 
 " Never had a father or mother ! " repeated Lucy, as the 
 painful thought occurred to her, that poor Wingenund was 
 deranged. 
 
 " Never," said the boy, in the same tone ; " she came from 
 there" pointing, as he spoke, towards the north-west quarter 
 of the heaven. 
 
 " How melancholy is it," said Lucy to herself, " to think 
 that this brave, amiable boy should be so afflicted ! that so in- 
 telligent and quick a mind should be like a lyre with a broken 
 string! Still," thought she, " I will endeavour to understand 
 his meaning, and to undeceive him." 
 
 " Dear Wingenund, you are mistaken your sister had the 
 same father and mother as yourself ; she may have learnt 
 much, and may understand things strange to you, but you 
 might learn them too." 
 
 " Wingenund's father and mother are dead," said the boy, 
 in a voice of deep and suppressed emotion ; '* he will not tell 
 you how they died, for it makes his heart throb and his eyes 
 burn ; but you are good to him, and shall not see his anger. 
 Prairie-bird never had a father ; the Great Spirit gave her to 
 the Lenape. 
 
 While Lucy was musing how she should endeavour to dis- 
 pel this strange delusion, which seemed to have taken such firm 
 hold of her young companion's mind, Reginald and Baptiste 
 halted, and the latter said, " You see that party approaching ; 
 they may put some troublesome questions, leave me to answer 
 them. Wingenund, you know what I mean ? " 
 
 " Wingenund does not understand English," said the boy, 
 a slight smile of irony lurking in the corner of his mouth. 
 
 The approaching party consisted of eight or ten men, all 
 armed with rifles, excepting two, who were mounted, and who 
 carried cutlasses and large horse-pistols ; among the pedes- 
 trians towered the gigantic form of young Mike Smith, who 
 has already been presented to the reader before the store of 
 David Muir in Marietta ; and among the horsemen was the 
 younger Hervey, leading his friends to scour the whole country 
 in search of the slayer of his brother : they were all in a high 
 state of excitement ; and despite the cool and unmoved de- 
 meanour of the guide, he was not without apprehension that 
 they might desire to wreak their vengeance on Wingenund. 
 
 " Ha ! Baptiste," said Hervey, grasping the guide's hand ; 
 
74? THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 "you are the very man we are in search of; we have already 
 been to the Colonel's, and he told us we should find you with 
 his son, and with Miss Brandon, in this quarter. We want 
 your assistance, man, and that speedily too." 
 
 " How can I serve you ? " said the guide ; " what is the 
 matter ? you seem bent on a hunt." 
 
 " A hunt ? " exclaimed Hervey, te yes, a hunt of a red-skin 
 devil ! Harkee, Baptiste ! " and stooping from his horse, he 
 repeated to the guide, in a low voice, but clear enough to be 
 heard by all present, the circumstances attending his brother's 
 death. 
 
 " A daring act, indeed," said the guide musing : te but could 
 not you follow the trail while it was fresh, yesterday ? " 
 
 " We followed it to a creek leading to the Muskingum, and 
 there we lost it." 
 
 " Can you describe the appearance of the Indian ? " in- 
 quired the guide. 
 
 " A tall, handsome fellow, as straight as a poplar, and with 
 a leap like a painter, so he seemed ; but ' ' ! , he gave me 
 such a knock on the head, that my eyes swam for five minutes." 
 
 A cold shudder ran through Lucy's limbs as, comparing 
 this slight sketch of War-Eagle with his sudden departure and 
 the guide's caution to Wingenund, she recognised in the chief 
 the object of their search : glancing her eye timidly at Win- 
 genund, she could read on his countenance no traces of un- 
 easiness ; he was playing with Snowdrop's mane ; his gun 
 resting on the ground, and he himself apparently unconscious 
 of what was passing. 
 
 After a minute's reflection, the guide continued : " You say 
 that the Indian's rifle was broken in half; did you notice any- 
 thing about it ? " 
 
 ' ' Nothing : it was a strong coarse piece ; we have brought 
 the stock with us ; here it is/' he added, calling up one of his 
 party to whom it had been entrusted. 
 
 The guide took it in his hand, and at the first glance detected 
 the imitation of a feather, roughly but distinctly cut with a 
 knife : his own suspicions were at once confirmed, although his 
 countenance betrayed no change of expression; but Mike 
 Smith, who had been looking over his shoulder, had also ob- 
 served the marks of the feather, and noticed it immediately 
 aloud, adding, "Come, Baptiste, you know all the Ingian 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 75 
 
 marks between Alleghany and the Missouri; what red-skin 
 has this belonged to ? " 
 
 " Mike," said the guide coolly, " a man's tongue must shoot 
 far and true to hit such a mark as that." 
 
 " And yet, Baptiste, if I'd been as long at the guiding and 
 trapping as you, I think I'd a' know'd something about it." 
 
 " Ay, that's the way of it," replied Baptiste ; " you young 
 'uns always think you can shave a hog with a horn spoon ! 
 I'spose, Master Mike, you can tell a buzzard from a mocking- 
 bird ; but if I was to show you a feather, and ask you what 
 buzzard it belonged to, the answer might not be easy to find." 
 
 " You're an old fool," growled Mike, angrily ; and he added,, 
 as his eye rested suddenly upon Wingenund, " What cub is 
 that standing by Miss's white pony ? we'll see if he knows this 
 mark. Come here, you devil's brat." 
 
 Not a muscle in the boy's face betrayed his consciousness 
 that he was addressed. 
 
 " Come here, you young red-skin ! " shouted Mike yet more 
 angrily, "or I'll sharpen your movements with the point of 
 my knife." 
 
 Reginald's fiery temper was ill calculated to brook the young 
 backwoods-man's coarse and violent language: placing him- 
 self directly between him and Wingenund, he said to the 
 former in a stern and determined tone, " Master Smith, you 
 forget yourself ; that boy is one of my company, and is not to 
 be exposed either to insult or injury." 
 
 " Here's a pretty coil about a young red-skin," said Mike, 
 trying to conceal his anger under a forced laugh ; " how do 
 we know that he ain't a brother or a son of the Ingian we're 
 in search of? .' " ' !, if we could find out that he was, we'd 
 tar him, and burn him over a slow fire ! " 
 
 " I tell you again," said Reginald, ei that he is guilty of no 
 crime ; that he saved my life, yesterday, at the risk of his own ; 
 and that, while I live, neither you nor any of your party shall 
 touch a hair of his head." 
 
 Baptiste fearing the result of more angry words, and moved 
 by an appealing look from Miss Brandon, now interposed, and 
 laying his hand on Smith's shoulder, said, "Come, Master 
 Mike, there is no use in threatening the young red-skin, when 
 you see that he does not understand a word that you say: 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 tell me what you wish to inquire of him, and I will ask him in 
 his own tongue." 
 
 "His tongue i/ .1," said Mike; "I'll wager a hat 
 
 against a gallon of David Muir's best, that the brat knows En- 
 glish as well as you or I, although he seems to have nothing to 
 do but to count the tassels on the edge of his shirt. I'll show 
 you, without hurting him," he added in a lower tone, " that 
 I'm not far wrong." 
 
 " You swear not to injure him ? " said Reginald, who over- 
 heard what passed. 
 
 " I do," said Mike ; " I only want to show you that he 
 can't make a fool of Mike Smith." Here he called up one of 
 the men from the rear ; and having whispered something in 
 his ear, he said, in a loud and distinct tone of voice, " Jack, 
 we have found out that this Indian cub belongs to the party, 
 one of whom murdered poor Hervey. Life for life is the law 
 of the backwoods : do you step a little on one side ; I will 
 count four, and when I come to the four, split me the young 
 rascal's head, either with a bullet or with your axe." 
 
 " For Heaven's sake, as you are men," exclaimed Lucy, in 
 an agony, "spare him!" 
 
 " Peace, Miss Brandon," said Mike ; e( your brother will ex- 
 plain to you that it must be so." 
 
 The guide would fain have whispered a word to the boy, 
 but he was too closely watched by Smith, and he was obliged 
 to trust to Wingenund's nerves and intelligence. 
 
 " Are you ready, Jack ? " said Mike, audibly. 
 
 " Yes ! " and he counted slowly, pausing between each num- 
 ber, " one two three ! " At the pronunciation of this last 
 word, Wingenund, whose countenance had not betrayed, by the 
 movement of a muscle, or by the expression of a single feature, 
 the slightest interest in what was passing, amused himself by 
 patting the great rough head which Wolf rubbed against his 
 hand as if totally unconscious that the deadly weapon was 
 raised, and that the next word from the hunter's lips was to be 
 his death warrant. 
 
 ' ' .. it, you are right, after all, Baptiste," said Mike 
 Smith ; " the brat certainly does not understand us, or he'd 
 have pricked his ears when I came to number three ; so, do 
 you ask him, in his own lingo, if he knows that mark on the 
 aifle-butt, and can tell us to what red-skin tribe it belongs? " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 77 
 
 The guide now addressed a few words to Wingenund in the 
 Delaware tongue, while Reginald and Lucy interchanged a 
 glance of wonder and admiration at the boy's sagacity and 
 courage. 
 
 " He tells me that he has seen this mark before/' said the 
 guide. 
 
 " Has he?" replied Mike ; " ask him whether it is that of 
 a Shawnee or a Wyandot, of an Iroquois or of a Delaware ? " 
 
 After again conferring with Wingenund, the guide muttered 
 to himself, " This youngster won't tell a lie to keep a bullet 
 from his brain or a halter from his neck ; I must act for him." 
 He added, in a louder tone, " Mike, a word with you : it is not 
 unlikely that the Ingian you're in search of, is the same who 
 gave the boy that wound, and who tried to kill Master Regi- 
 nald yesterday : if it is so, he wants no more punishing ; he 
 has his allowance already." 
 
 " How so ? " said Mike. 
 
 ' ' He is dead, man, killed on the spot. Do you and 
 Hervey meet me here to-morrow, an hour before noon; I 
 will take you to the place where the body is buried, and you 
 shall judge for yourselves whether it is that of the man you 
 seek." 
 
 " It's a bargain," said Mike ; fe we'll come to the time. Now, 
 lads, forward to Hervey's clearing. Let's have a merry 
 supper to-night; and to-morrow, if the guide shows us the 
 carcase of this rascal, why we can't hurt that much ; but we'll 
 pay off a long score, one day or other, with some of the red- 
 skins. Sorry to have kept you waitin', Miss ; and hope we 
 haven't scared you," said the rough fellow, making, as he drew 
 off his party, an awkward attempt at a parting bow to Lucy. 
 
 " That was a clever turn of Baptiste's," said Reginald in a 
 low voice to his sister ; " he has made them believe that the 
 cowardly knave who tried to stab me was the perpetrator of 
 the daring outrage which they seek to avenge ! " 
 
 *' And was it really War- Eagle?" said Lucy, with a slight 
 shudder, "he who looks so noble and so gentle, was it he 
 who did it ? " 
 
 " I believe so," said Reginald. 
 
 " But is it not wrong in us to be friends with him, and to 
 aid his escape ? " 
 
 " Indeed, " replied her brother, " it admits of doubt ; let us 
 
78 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ask the guide, he will speak now without reserve ; " and ac~ 
 cordingly Reginald repeated to Baptiste the question and his 
 sister's scruples. 
 
 <f Why you see, Miss/' said the wary hunter, " there is no 
 proof that War-Eagle did it ; though I confess it was too bold 
 a deed to have been done by that dog of a Wyandot : but I 
 will tell you, Miss," he added, with increasing energy and ve- 
 hemence, " IP the War-Eagle did it, you will yourself, when 
 you know all, confess that he did it nobly, and that he deserves 
 no punishment from man. That elder Hervey was one of the 
 bloodthirsty band by whom the harmless Christian Indians* 
 were murdered; and it is believed that it was by Hervey's 
 own hand that Wingenund's father fell; if War-Eagle re- 
 venged this cruel murder, and yet spared the life of the 
 younger brother, when lying helpless at his feet, who shall 
 <lare to blame him, or move a foot in his pursuit ? " 
 
 "He speaks the truth, Lucy," said her brother; "according 
 to the rules by which retaliation is practised by mankind, 
 War-Eagle would have been justified in punishing with death 
 such' an act of unprovoked atrocity : but it is a dangerous sub- 
 ject to discuss ; you had better forget att you have heard 
 about it ; and in case of further inquiries being made in your 
 presence, imitate the happy unconsciousness lately displayed 
 by Wingenund." 
 
 " Come here, my dear young brother," he added in a kindly 
 tone, "and tell us, did you really think that hot-headed 
 chap was going to shoot you when he counted number three ? " 
 
 " No," said the boy with a scornful smile. 
 
 " And why not? for he's a violent and angry man." 
 
 " He dared not," was the reply. 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 " He is a fool ! " said the boy, in the same scornful tone ; 
 f< a fool scarcely fit to frighten the fawn of an antelope ! If he 
 had touched me or attempted to shoot me, Netis and Grande- 
 Hache would have killed him immediately." 
 
 "You are right, my young brave," said Reginald, "he 
 dared not hurt you. See, dear Lucy," he added apart to his 
 sister, " what a ripe judgment, what an heroic spirit, what 
 nerves of iron, are found in the slender frame of this wounded 
 boy, exhausted by fatigue and suffering ! " 
 * Alluding again to the massacre of the Moravian Delawares at " Gnadenhutten." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 79 
 
 " We will at least give him a hearty supper," said Lucy, 
 " and an affectionate welcome to our home." 
 
 Wingenund thanked her with his dark eyes, and the little 
 party proceeded leisurely, without incident or interruption, to 
 Mooshanne. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 IN WHICH THE READER IS UNCEREMONIOUSLY TRANSPORTED TO 
 ANOTHER ELEMENT IN COMPANY WITH ETHELSTON; THE LATTER 
 IS LEFT IN A DISAGREEABLE PREDICAMENT. 
 
 IT is time that we should now turn our attention to Ethelston, 
 who is much too important a personage in our narrative to be 
 so long neglected, and respecting whose safety Lucy began to 
 feel the jealous anxiety of love ; for The Pride of Ohio had 
 been long expected in Marietta, and several French frigates 
 and corvettes were reported to be cruising among the West 
 Indian Islands, actively engaged in revenging upon American 
 commerce the loss which they had sustained in The Insurgente. 
 We shall soon see that Ludy's alarm was not altogether ground- 
 less, and that her lover's prolonged absence was not without 
 sufficient cause. About a month preceding the occurrences 
 detailed in the last chapter, Ethelston, having landed his mer- 
 chandise in safety at Port Royal, and having taken on board a 
 small cargo of sugar and coffee, prepared to return to New 
 Orleans. He had heard of the French men-of-war cruising in 
 the neighbourhood, and prudently resolved to risk as little as 
 possible on this trip : he took therefore securities for a great 
 portion of the amount due to him, which he left in the charge 
 of the vessel's consignees, and conveyed on board only a suffi- 
 cient cargo to put The Pride of Ohio in perfect sailing trim, 
 and to give her a fair chance of escape in case she were chased 
 by an enemy. His little brig was well rigged and manned, and 
 he felt confident that few, if any, of the French cruisers would 
 match her for speed. His mate, or sailing-master, was Greg- 
 son, a hardy weather-beaten old sailor, who had served on 
 board of every kind of craft, from a man-of-war to a fishing* 
 
80 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 cobble, and knew every headland, reef, and current in that 
 dangerous sea, as well as a Liverpool pilot knows the banks 
 and shoals in the mouth of the Mersey. The Pride of Ohio 
 mounted trjree guns ; two eighteen-pound carronades, and one 
 long nine-pounder : ten stout fellows and a black cook com- 
 pleted her complement : the last-mentioned person deserves 
 special notice, as he was a character strangely formed by the 
 alternations of fortune which he had seen. A native of the 
 interior of western Africa, he had in early life been chosen, 
 on account of his extraordinary strength and courage, a chief 
 of the Lucumi tribe, to which he belonged ; but having been 
 unfortunately made a prisoner, he was taken down to the coast 
 and sold to a slaver : thence he had been conveyed to some of 
 the Spanish Islands, and afterwards to Virginia, where he had 
 come into possession of Colonel Brandon, who finding him 
 possessed of many good qualities, and of a sagacity very rare 
 among his countrymen, had offered him his liberty when he 
 moved to Ohio ; but Cupid (for so was the negro called) had 
 grown so much attached to his master, that he begged to be 
 allowed to remain in his service, and, from one employment to 
 another, had now become cook and steward on board The 
 Pride of Ohio. In frame he was Herculean ; and though he 
 rarely exerted his strength, he had shown on various occasions 
 that it was nearly if not quite equal to that of any other two 
 men in the vessel. He spoke but little, and was sullen and 
 reserved in his manners ; but as he never disobeyed orders, 
 and never was guilty of aggression or violence, Cupid was, 
 upon the whole, a favourite with the crew. 
 
 To Ethelston he was invaluable ; for he was always at his 
 post, was scrupulously honest with respect to money or stores 
 placed under his charge, and on more than one occasion his 
 shrewdness and readiness had surprised his young commander. 
 The captain (for so was Ethelston called on board) always 
 treated Cupid kindly, and never allowed him to be made the 
 subject of those jeers and insults to which free negroes in the 
 States are usually exposed. On this account the cook, who 
 never forgot that he had been a warrior, entertained towards 
 him the warmest feelings of attachment and gratitude. 
 
 How or where he had obtained the name he bore, none 
 seemed to know ; and Ethelston remembered having heard that 
 when first he came into Colonel Brandon's possession, and was 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 81 
 
 asked his name, he had sullenly replied, " The name I once 
 had is at home: a slave has neither name nor home!" A 
 terrible gash across his forehead and left cheek (received, pro- 
 bably, in the war when he was captured,) had disfigured a 
 countenance that had been originally expressive of haughtiness 
 and determination, and had, perhaps, led the slave-dealer 
 to bestow upon him in irony the name by which he was now 
 called. 
 
 The Pride of Ohio had made good two days of her home- 
 ward passage, when, in endeavouring to round a point on the 
 southern coast of Cuba, Ethelston descried a ship some miles 
 to windward, and a-head, which a careful examination through 
 his glass convinced him was a French frigate. His mate 
 being below at the time, he sent for him on deck, anxious to 
 see whether the experienced sailor's observation would confirm 
 his opinion. As soon as he appeared, handing him the glass, 
 he said, " Gregson, see what you make of that fellow on our 
 larboard bow." 
 
 " Make of her ! " said the mate ; te the devil take him that 
 made her, and him that brought her athwart us, say I, cap- 
 tain ! She's a Frenchman ; and though we can't well see her 
 hull yet, I doubt it won't be long before we see her row of 
 teeth." 
 
 "I thought so -myself," said Ethelston, "We must hold 
 our course steady ; and if we can round the point, we may 
 then bear away, and show her a pair of heels. Turn the 
 hands up, Gregson ; trim the sails, and stand by for a run. 
 Put Harrison at the helm ; he can keep her a point nearer 
 than that youngster." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ! " was the reply ; and having executed the 
 order, he returned to Ethelston, who was still sweeping the 
 southern horizon with his glass, and examining the strange 
 ship, whose hull was now distinctly visible. 
 
 The young man's countenance wore a grave expression, as, 
 returning the glass to his mate, he said, Gregson, it is, as \ve 
 supposed, a French frigate. We may, perhaps, creep along 
 under the shore without his noticing our small craft." 
 
 The old seaman riveted the glass upon the stranger, as if he 
 wished to count every sail and plank. During the examina- 
 tion, he grunted two or three inarticulate ejaculations, in 
 unison with which his hard features underwent various contor- 
 
82 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 tions ; and his young commander waited with no little impa- 
 tience for what he called his " overhauling." 
 
 " She's neither more nor less than that infernal Epervier^ 
 commanded by L'Estrange. She's one of the fastest sailers in 
 their navy ; and as for our creeping past her without being 
 seen, he's the wrong sort o' man for that fun : herring or 
 whale, all's fish for his net ! " 
 
 " I have often heard of him," said Ethelston : " they say 
 he's a fine fellow." 
 
 " That he is, to give the devil his due, as jolly an old dog as 
 ever lived, and much too good a seaman for a mounseer. 
 Look'ee there, captain," added he, after another squint through 
 the glass; "he's altering his course already two or three 
 points free, and the reefs shaken out o' the tops'ls. We shall 
 hear from him soon." 
 
 " Can we give him the slip by bearing up for the eastern 
 passage? We should then show him our tail; and a stern 
 chase is a long one." 
 
 " We might try if you wish it, captain ; but it blows 
 fresh, and she won't be very fond of this lee shore. I think, 
 if you allow me to advise, we'd better hug it ; take the chance 
 of a long shot in rounding that headland, and then run for the 
 inner channel behind the Isle of Pines. He'll not be after 
 following us there; or, if he does, the frigate's keel will 
 chance to scrape acquaintance with a reef." 
 
 " You are right, Gregson," said Ethelston. " The Pride 
 may fetch that point on this tack. Keep a close luff, Har- 
 rison." 
 
 " Luff it is, sir," was the reply, as Ethelston went below to 
 consult his chart, and to prepare himself for entering the 
 intricate channel between the Isle de Pinos and the main 
 island. 
 
 The gallant little brig well sustained her high character as 
 a sailer, and dashed her bows fearlessly through the foaming 
 waves, under a press of canvass such as few vessels of her 
 tonnage could have borne. The breeze was freshening, and 
 the frigate now shaped her course with the evident intention 
 of cutting off the chase from rounding the headland before 
 mentioned. 
 
 The men on board the brig were now clustered forward, 
 anxiously debating the probable issue ; while Cupid steamed 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 83 
 
 away in his caboose, preparing the dinner as quietly as if 
 there had been no frigate to windward, nor a rock-bound 
 shore to leeward ; but though he seemed thus busied in his 
 usual avocations, he cast every now and then his dark eye 
 upon The Epervier ; and few on board could estimate better 
 than himself the danger of their situation. 
 
 Ethelston, having finished a careful examination of his chart, 
 now came on deck, and a single glance sufficed to show him 
 that he could not round the point a-head without coming 
 within range of the frigate's guns : but the brig had kept her 
 offing, and he had little doubt of her making good her escape, 
 unless she were crippled by a shot from the enemy. 
 
 The Epervier now hoisted her colours for the brig to heave- 
 to; and that being disregarded, she fired a shot, which fell 
 short of her bows. Finding that no notice was taken of this, 
 L'Estrange ordered his first lieutenant to fire at the saucy 
 brig in good earnest, to bring her to her senses. Fortunately 
 for the latter, there was a short angry sea running, and the 
 distance being considerable, the first shot did not take effect. 
 Several of the hands on board the brig had served in men-of- 
 war ; these were now oracles among their messmates, and they 
 looked with some anxiety at their young captain, curious to 
 see how he would behave under fire, for they believed he had 
 never smelt powder : and although strict and firm in his com- 
 mand, he was usually so gentle and quiet in his manner, that 
 they considered him rather a studious than a fighting cha- 
 racter. Their curiosity was not, however, much gratified; 
 for Ethelston, without appearing to notice the frigate, kept 
 his eye steadfastly fixed upon the cape a-head; and, after a 
 brief silence, he said, " Gregson, there is a strong current 
 which sets in shore here, The Pride cannot weather that 
 point on this tack." 
 
 " You are right, sir," said me mate ; " L'Estrange has got 
 his bristles up, he is nearing us every minute, and if we carry 
 on this course, in another half-hour, both will go ashore." 
 
 " Ha ! " exclaimed the young captain, the colour rising in 
 his cheek, as a sudden thought flashed across him. " If we 
 could ensure that both would go to pieces among those breakers, 
 it would be a glorious death for the little brig to die ! " 
 
 He spoke these words in an under tone, and rather musing 
 to himself than addressing his officer. The latter, however, 
 o 2 
 
84 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 overheard them, and looked at him with an astonishment 
 which he could not repress ; for he also knew as little as the 
 crew of the determined courage that reposed under the calm 
 and quiet demeanour of his young commander. Again a 
 wreath of smoke issued from the bows of the frigate, and a 
 round shot passed through the rigging of the chase, doing 
 fortunately no material damage, but proving that they were 
 now within easy range. 
 
 tl I fear it will not do, sir," said the mate, in reply to 
 Ethels ton's last words ; " she can pepper away at us, and yet 
 make her offing good." 
 
 " Then there remains but one chance for us," said the 
 captain ; " answer her signal, show your colours, 'bout ship, 
 and stand for the frigate." 
 
 The mate was, if possible, more surprised at this order than 
 he had been before at the proposal to try and cast both vessels 
 ashore j but he was too good a seaman to hesitate or to ask 
 any questions ; and in a few minutes the gallant little brig had 
 answered the signal, and was standing out towards the frigate 
 on the starboard tack. 
 
 We will now transport the reader for a few minutes on 
 board The Epervier, and make him acquainted with the captain, 
 into, whose clutches the poor little brig seemed destined to fall. 
 L'Estrange was a fine-looking, middle-aged man, who had 
 spent the greater part of his life at sea, and had married, 
 when very young, a Spanish Creole, whose beauty was her 
 only dower ; he had several children by this marriage, the 
 eldest of whom was now a lieutenant on board his ship ; the 
 remainder of the family resided at Point a Pitre, in Guada- 
 loupe, for the captain was in truth rather of the " ancien 
 regime ;" he loved his country, but he hated the Directory 
 and other fruits of the French revolution ; so that he never 
 went to Europe, anc}. would have been but rarely employed, 
 had he not been known to be one of the most skilful and ex- 
 perienced officers in the French navy. Such was the man 
 who now stood on the frigate's quarter-deck; and after ex- 
 amining The Pride again through his glass, turned to his 
 first lieutenant and desired him to cease firing. " That obsti- 
 nate trader," added he, " seemed very anxious to escape, and 
 thought but little of the risk she ran of going ashore, or of 
 being riddled by our shot ! " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 85 
 
 t( She's one of those saucy Americans," said the lieutenant, 
 " that think nothing afloat can match 'em ; however, she's 
 made a mistake this time ; and I hope, sir, when she's over- 
 hauled, she'll prove worth the trouble she's given." 
 
 The frigate, by this time, finding herself too close in on a 
 lee shore, hauled to the wind ; and, disliking the broken and 
 rugged appearance of the coast, determined not to lie-to for 
 the brig until she had made sufficient offing. This was pre- 
 cisely the calculation that Ethelston had made ; and he now 
 paced his deck with a calm and satisfied countenance ; whilst 
 his men, grouped on the forecastle, were quite at a loss to dis- 
 cover his intentions : the mate, however, was clearer sighted, 
 and could not withhold his admiration from the decision and 
 boldness of a manoeuvre, the success of which must soon be 
 tested. 
 
 The captain of the frigate went below to dinner, having 
 given orders to the lieutenant to stand out on the same tack 
 for another half-hour, then to lie-to, until the brig should come 
 alongside. 
 
 Meantime, Ethelston, who had kept his eye fixed upon the 
 head-land so often mentioned, muttering to himself, " she will 
 fetch it now," desired the man at the helm to yaw the brig 
 about, to throw her up now and then in the wind, so as to fall 
 astern of the frigate as much as possible, yet not apparently 
 varying the course. Having done so as long as he judged it 
 practicable without awakening the enemy's suspicion, he saw, 
 to his inexpressible delight, the frigate shorten sail to enable 
 him to come up ; instantly seizing this advantage, he ordered 
 his mate to put the brig about, and run for the Isle of Pines. 
 It may well be imagined that this bold manoeuvre was not many 
 moments unperceived on board the frigate ; and L'Estrange's 
 astonishment was great, when, from the noise overhead, and 
 from the heeling of the ship, he found that her course was 
 being altered. Springing on deck, he saw that he had been 
 outwitted by the saucy brig, which was crowding all sail, and 
 seemed not unlikely to effect her escape. The old captain 
 chafed, and stormed, and swore that the obstinate little trader 
 should pay dearly for her insolence. 
 
 The Epervier was a fast sailer, and, as she now dashed the 
 spray from her bows under a press of canvass, it was soon 
 G 3 
 
86' THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 evident that the brig could not yet round the point without 
 coming within range of her guns. 
 
 Ethelston's mind was now made up ; and finding his men 
 cheerful and inspirited by the success of his manoeuvre, he yet 
 hoped to bring his vessel into the intricate channel behind the 
 island, where the frigate would not venture to follow : it was 
 not long before she again saluted him ; and one of the shot 
 passing through the brig's bulwarks., close to him, shivered the 
 binnacle into a hundred pieces. Observing symptoms of un- 
 easiness in the man at the helm, and that he swerved from 
 the course, Ethelston gave him a stern reproof, and again de- 
 sired Harrison to come to the helm. The frigate, which still 
 held the weather-gage, seemed now resolved to cut off the brig 
 from the headland, and to sink her if she attempted to weather 
 it. Ethelston saw his full danger, and was prepared to meet 
 it ; had he commanded a vessel of war, however small, he 
 would not have shrunk from the responsibility he was about 
 to incur; but, remembering that his little brig was but a 
 trader, and that the crew ought not to be exposed, without 
 their own consent, to danger so imminent as that before them, 
 he desired Gregson to call them aft, when he addressed them 
 as follows : 
 
 " My lads, you see the scrape we are in : if we can round 
 that point, we may yet escape ; but to do so, we must run 
 within a few hundred yards of the frigate's broadside. What 
 say you, my lads, shall we strike, or stand the chance? a 
 French prison, or hurrah for the Belise ? " 
 
 " Hurrah for the Belise/' shouted the men, animated by 
 their young commander's words, arid by his fearless bearing ; 
 so the little brig held on her way. 
 
 A few minutes proved that he had neither magnified nor 
 underrated the danger : his chart gave him deep water round 
 the headland ; and he now ordered Harrison to keep her away, 
 and let her run close in shore, thereby increasing her speed, 
 and the distance from the enemy. 
 
 The surprise and wrath of L'Estrange, at the impudent 
 daring of a craft which he now perceived to be really nothing 
 but an insignificant trader, are not to be described. He bore 
 up after her, and having desired the men to stand to their 
 guns, generously determined to give the saucy chase one more 
 chance; but finding his repeated signal for her to heave-to^ 
 
THE PUAIR1K-BIRD. 8? 
 
 disregarded, he reluctantly gave the order to fire. Fortunately 
 for The Pride, the sea was running high, and naval gun- 
 nery had not then reached the perfection which it has since 
 attained ; and though her rigging was cut up from stem to 
 stern, and her fore-topmast was shot away, and though she 
 received several shot in her hull, she still answered her helm, 
 and gallantly rounding the point, ran in shore, and was in a 
 few minutes among shoals which, to her light draught, were 
 not dangerous, but where it would have been madness in the 
 frigate to follow. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ETHELSTON'S FURTHER ADVENTURES AT SEA, AND HOW HE BECAME 
 CAPTOK AND CAPTIVE IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OP TIME. 
 
 IT seemed almost miraculous that not a man on The Pride 
 of the Ohio was killed by the frigate's broadside ; nor was one 
 wounded, excepting Ethelston, who received a slight hurt in 
 the left arm from a splinter ; but he paid no attention to it, 
 and calmly gave all the requisite orders for repairing the 
 damaged spars and rigging. 
 
 As soon as all was made snug, he let the men go below to 
 dinner ; and leaning over the shivered bulwarks of his little 
 craft, seemed busily employed in counting the shot that had 
 struck her ; but his eyes were for a time fixed upon the water, 
 through which she was cutting her easy way, and his thoughts 
 were afar off, as he whispered almost audibly to himself, "Dear, 
 dear Lucy your namesake is wounded and disfigured, but 
 she is not disgraced. Thank Heaven, no Frenchman's foot 
 has yet trodden her deck, and " 
 
 Here he was interrupted by Gregson, who having been care- 
 fully observing the frigate through his glass, came up to him, 
 and said, " Beg pardon, sir ; but she is getting ready her boats, 
 and the breeze is failing fast ; in another hour we shall have 
 scarce a cat's paw." 
 
 Ethelston started from his short reverie, and immediately 
 convinced himself that the mate spoke the truth : ' You are 
 G 4 
 
88 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 right," said he, " but we have a good hour to spare, for the 
 frigate is nearly becalmed. Let the men have their dinner 
 quietly, say nothing to them about the matter, and give 'em 
 an extra glass of grog ; but no drunkenness, Gregson ; they 
 may want the full use of their heads and hands to-night ; send 
 Cupid to my cabin, and tell him to bring me a slice of cold 
 meat and a glass of Madeira." 
 
 So saying, he went below : the mate looked after him, and 
 turning his quid three or four times in his cheek, he muttered, 
 ' 1 . ^ if he makes any more count of the frigate's guns or 
 boats than a bear does of a bee-hive ! They spoilt as good a 
 commodore as ever stept a deck when they made a trading- 
 skipper of him ! " Having vented this characteristic encomium 
 on his young commander, the old seaman went forward to 
 execute his orders. 
 
 Meanwhile Ethelston, consulting his chart, found that the 
 reefs and shoals, as laid down, rendered the navigation of the 
 coast extremely dangerous, even for the light draught of his 
 brig ; having only allowed himself a few minutes for refresh- 
 ment, he again went on deck, and observing the frigate still 
 becalmed, he ordered the mate to shorten sail, take soundings, 
 and to desire the carpenter to make a report of the leakage, or 
 any other serious injury sustained by the frigate's shot. 
 
 During this time L'Estrange was not idle on board The 
 Epervier. Nettled at the successful trick played upon him, 
 he resolved as the breeze gradually died away to capture the 
 chase with his boats : for this duty the launch and the pin- 
 nace were assigned : the former had a carronade and twenty- 
 five hands, and was commanded by his son ; the latter had a 
 swivel, and thirteen hands, commanded by a junior lieutenant. 
 The object of L'Estrange being to prevent an unnecessary 
 effusion of blood, by sending a force strong enough to render 
 resistance hopeless on the part of what he called a dirty little 
 sugar-boat. The crew of The Pride of Ohio, elated by the 
 success of their .captain's manoeuvre, and exhilarated by the 
 extra grog served out, were in high good humour, and laugh- 
 ing over the events of the morning with reckless merriment, 
 when they received an order from Ethelston to come aft. On 
 their obeying the summons, he again addressed them as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " My lads, you have thus far done your duty like men ; but 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 89 
 
 our work is not yet over. The Epervier is determined to sink 
 or capture our little craft ; she is now getting out her boats 
 for that service : if we resist, we shall have warm work of it ; 
 if we strike without a fight, we may rot in a French dungeon. 
 Again I ask you, my lads, will you stick by The Pride, and 
 hurrah for home, or a sailor's grave ? " 
 
 A hearty and simultaneous cheer from the crew was the 
 only reply. 
 
 " I knew it, my lads," continued Ethelston, his counten- 
 ance, usually so calm, now glowing with enthusiasm ; " I 
 knew that you would not desert her while she could float ! It 
 is now my duty to tell you that she has received two awk- 
 ward shots just between wind and water line, and that she 
 leaks apace. We must stop them as well as we may ; but be 
 prepared for the boats from The Epervier ; they shall at least 
 buy us a dear bargain i " 
 
 Ethelston now called the mate, and gave him full instruc- 
 tions for the plan of defence from the expected attack. The 
 long gun and the carronades were got ready and loaded, the 
 former with round shot, the latter with grape ; small arms and 
 cutlasses were served out to the men, and the deck cleared of 
 every thing that might impede them in the approaching struggle. 
 Meantime Ethelston ordered to be hoisted a new ensign, given 
 to the brig by Lucy, and said to be partly worked by her own 
 fair fingers. As soon as it was run up, he sent aloft a boy, with 
 orders to nail it to the mast-head, which was done amid the 
 repeated cheers of the crew. They were not long kept in sus- 
 pense : the breeze had died away ; the flapping sails and 
 creaking yards gave the usual sullen indications of a calm r 
 when the boats from The Epervier advanced at a steady and 
 measured stroke towards the brig. Ethelston gave the long 
 gun to the charge of Gregson, reserving to himself that of the 
 carronades ; he issued also special orders not to fire, under any 
 circumstances, until he gave the word, or, in case he fell, until 
 they received the order from Gregson, who would succeed him* 
 in the command. 
 
 During all these preparations, Cupid appeared indifferent to 
 what was passing, and continued busily occupied with his pots 
 and pans in the caboose. This conduct caused some little- 
 surprise in Ethelston, who knew that the black was not the 
 stupid, phlegmatic character that he now seemed ; and he ac- 
 
90 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 cordingly sent Gregson to inquire whether, in the event of an 
 attack from the frigate's boats, he meant to fight ? desiring 
 the mate at the same time to offer him a cutlass. The African 
 grinned when he received this message, and replied that he 
 meant to do his best. He declined, however, the proffered 
 cutlass, informing the mate, that he had got a toasting-fork of 
 his own, ready for the mounseers ; as he said this, he showed 
 him the fragment of a capstan-bar, the end of which he had 
 sharpened and burnt hard in the hot cinders : it was an un- 
 wieldy kind of club, and in the hands of an ordinary man, 
 could have been but of little service ; but his gigantic strength 
 enabled him to wield it like a common cudgel. The truth is, 
 that Cupid would have preferred being armed with cutlass and 
 pistol, both of which he could use as well as any man on 
 board ; but he had tact enough to know that the prejudice 
 against his colour forbad his taking his place on deck among 
 the other defenders of the vessel. 
 
 The boats being now within hail, Lieutenant L'Estrange 
 stood up in the launch and ordered the brig to strike her co- 
 lours and receive him on board. Finding this order unheeded, 
 he repeated it through the trumpet in a sterner tone, adding 
 that, if not immediately obeyed, he should fire upon her. Not 
 a man stirred on board the brig, neither was any reply made 
 to the lieutenant, who forthwith discharged the contents of his 
 carronade into her hull, by which one man was killed dead, 
 and two were wounded by splinters ; he then desired his men 
 to pull hard for the brig to board her, while others had orders 
 to fire small arms at all whom they could see above the bul- 
 warks. The boats had approached within fifty yards before 
 Ethelston gave the word to fire. Gregson pointed the long 
 gun upon the smaller boat with so true an aim that the heavy 
 shot went clean through her, and she filled and went down in 
 a few minutes, the survivors of her crew being picked up by 
 the launch. Meanwhile, Ethelston fired a volley of grape 
 into the latter with terrible effect, several being killed on the 
 spot, and many of the remainder severely wounded. Nothing 
 daunted by this murderous fire, the gallant young lieutenant 
 held on his way to the brig, and again discharging his car- 
 ronade at the distance of only a few yards, her timbers were 
 fearfully rent, and amidst the smoke and confusion thereby 
 created, he and his crew scrambled up her sides to board. The 
 
THE FRAIRIE-BIRD. 91 
 
 combat was now hand to hand ; nor was it Tery unequal, so 
 many of the Frenchmen having been killed and wounded in 
 the boats ; they were strong enough, however, to make good 
 their footing on deck, and inch by inch they forced back the 
 crew of the brig. Ethelston fought with the courage of a 
 lion ; his voice was heard above the din of the fray, animating 
 his men ; and several of the boldest of the enemy had already 
 felt the edge of his cutlass. Nor was young L'Estrange 
 less gallant in his attack ; and his followers being more numer- 
 ous than their opponents, drove them back gradually by main 
 force. It was at this moment that Cupid, who had hitherto 
 remained unnoticed in his caboose, thought fit to commence 
 his operations ; which he did by throwing a great pan of 
 greasy boiling water over three or four of the assailants, and 
 then laying about him with his huge club, which felled 
 a man almost at every blow. The excruciating pain occa- 
 sioned by the hot liquid, together with the consternation pro- 
 duced by this unexpected attack in their rear, completed the 
 dismay of the Frenchmen. At this crisis young L'Estrange 
 slipped and fell on the deck : Gregson, bestriding him, was 
 about to dispatch him ; when Ethelston, who was already 
 bleeding from a severe cutlass wound in the forehead, rushed 
 forward to save him ; but the infuriated youth, perhaps mis- 
 taking his intention, drew his last remaining pistol, and fired 
 with so true an aim, that Ethelston's left arm fell powerless 
 at his side. A flush of anger came over his countenance ; 
 but seeing Gregson again raising his hand to dispatch the 
 young officer, he again interposed, and desired the mate to 
 spare him, an order which the seaman reluctantly obeyed. 
 
 Ethelston now entreated L'Estrange to give up his sword, 
 and to save further bloodshed ; and the young man, seeing 
 that his followers were mostly overpowered and wounded, 
 presented it with a countenance in which grief and shame 
 were blended with indignation. " Stay," said Ethelston ; 
 " before I receive your sword, the conditions on which I re- 
 ceive it are, that you give your parole, that neither you nor 
 any one of your men shall bear arms against the United 
 States during the continuance of this war, whether you and I 
 are recaptured or not ; and the launch becomes my prize." 
 
 To these terms the youth assented, and ordered such of his men 
 as vrure not quite disabled, to lay down their arms. In a few 
 
92 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 minutes, all who were unhurt were busily engaged in tending 
 the dying and wounded. Fortunately an assistant-surgeon, 
 who had volunteered on this service from the frigate, was 
 among those unhurt, and he set about his professional duties 
 with as much alacrity as if he had been in the ward of an 
 hospital. Cupid retreated quietly to his caboose, and Ethel- 
 ston continued giving his orders with the same clearness and 
 decision that had marked his whole conduct. Young L'Estrange 
 looked over the brig's low sides into the water : his heart was 
 too full for utterance ; and his captor, with considerate kind- 
 ness, abstained from addressing him. The surgeon, observing 
 that the blood still flowed from the wound on Ethelston's 
 forehead, and that his left arm hung at his side, now came and 
 offered his services. Thanking him courteously, he replied, 
 smiling, " I took my chance of wounds on equal terms with 
 those brave fellows, and I will take my chance of cure on, 
 equal terms also ; when you have attended to all those who- 
 are more seriously hurt, I shall be happy to avail myself of 
 your skill." 
 
 The surgeon bowed and withdrew. An audible groan 
 burst from the unhappy L'Estrange ; but still he spoke not ; 
 and Ethelston held a brief consultation with his mate and the 
 carpenter, the result of which was, an order given to the 
 former, in a low tone of voice, " to prepare immediately, and 
 to send Cupid to him in the cabin." 
 
 As he was going down, L'Estrange came to him, and asked 
 him, confusedly, and with an averted countenance, if he 
 might speak to him alone for a minute. Ethelston begged 
 him to follow him into his cabin, when, having shut the door, 
 he said, " Mr. L'Estrange, we are alone, pray speak ; is there 
 any thing in which I can serve you ? " 
 
 The youth gazed on him for a moment, in an agony that 
 could not yet find relief in words, and then falling on the 
 floor, burst into a flood of tears. Ethelston was moved and 
 surprised at this violent grief in one whom he had so lately 
 seen under the influence of pride and passion. Taking him 
 kindly by the hand, he said, " Pray compose yourself ! these 
 are misfortunes to which all brave men are liable. You did 
 all that a gallant officer could do ; success is at the disposal 
 of a higher power ; you will meet it another day." 
 
 " Never, never ! " said the young lieutenant, vehemently ; 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 93 
 
 " the loss of my boai is nothing; the failure of our attack is 
 nothing; but I am a dishonoured coward, and Heaven itself 
 cannot restore a tainted honour ! " 
 
 " Nay, nay," replied Ethelston ; " you must not say so. I 
 maintain that you and your crew fought gallantly till every 
 hope of success was gone the bravest can do no more !" 
 
 " You are blindly generous," said the youth passionately; 
 <f you will not understand me ! When every hope was gone 
 when I lay at the mercy of your mate's cutlass you sprang 
 forward to save my life. I, like a savage a monster a 
 coward, as I am, fired and tried to kill you; even then, 
 without a word of anger or reproach, you, although wounded 
 by my pistol, again interposed, and saved me from the death 
 I deserved. Oh, would that I had died an hundred deaths 
 rather than have lived to such disgrace ! " 
 
 And again the unhappy young officer buried his face in his 
 hands, while his whole frame still trembled convulsively with 
 grief. Ethelston used every exertion to soothe and allay his 
 agitation. He assured him that the wound he had received 
 was not serious, that the pistol was fired under a strong ex- 
 citement, and in the turmoil of a bloody fray, when no man's 
 thoughts are sufficiently collected to regulate his conduct; and 
 he forgave him so freely, and mingled his forgiveness with so 
 many expressions of kindness and esteem, that he succeeded 
 at length in restoring him to a certain degree of composure. 
 Nothing, however, would satisfy L'Estrange but that he should 
 have his wounds instantly dressed; and he ran himself and 
 summoned the surgeon, resolving to be present at the operation. 
 
 When Ethelston's clothes were removed, it appeared that, 
 besides a few flesh-cuts, of no great consequence, he had re- 
 ceived two severe shot wounds: one from a musket-ball, which 
 had sunk deep into the left shoulder ; the other from L'Es- 
 trange's pistol, by which the bone of the left arm was broken. 
 The latter was soon set and bandaged; but the ball could not 
 be extracted from the former, either because the surgeon's skill 
 was not equal to the task, or from his not having with him 
 the instruments requisite for the operation. As soon as this 
 was over, Ethelston dismissed the surgeon ; and turning good- 
 humouredly to L'Estrange he said, " Now, my young friend, 
 I want your assistance. I must lose no time in putting all 
 our men aboard the launch, and taking in as many stores and 
 
t THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 necessaries as she will hold, for this brig is doomed ; your 
 swivel and the frigate's guns have finished her; she is fast 
 settling down, and in a couple of hours I expect her to sink." 
 
 " On my word, sir," said L'Estrange, " you will pardon me 
 if I say that you are the strangest gentleman that I ever yet 
 knew to command a trading brig ! You out-manoeuvre a fri- 
 gate, capture her boats, fight as if you had done nothing but 
 fight all your life, sit as quiet under that surgeon's probes and 
 tortures as if you were eating your dinner, and now talk 
 calmly of scuttling your brig, for which you have run all 
 these risks ! " 
 
 " It is my philosophy, Monsieur L'Estrange. I tried first 
 to get away without fighting; when that was impossible, I 
 fought as well as I could. What has happened since, and 
 what is yet to come, I bear as well as I can ! All that I ask 
 of you is, to keep your fellows in order, and make them assist 
 mine in removing the wounded and the requisite stores on 
 board the launch." So saying, and again saluting his prisoner, 
 he went on deck. 
 
 Though he struggled thus manfully against his emotion, it 
 was with a heavy heart that Ethelston prepared to bid a final 
 adieu to his little vessel, which he loved much for her own 
 sake, more perhaps for the name she bore. While giving 
 the necessary orders for this melancholy duty, his attention was 
 called by Gregson to a sail that was coming up with the light 
 evening breeze astern. One look through the glass sufficed to 
 show him that she hoisted French colours; and L'Estrange, 
 who now came on deck, immediately knew her to be The 
 Hirondelle, an armed cutter, that acted on this cruise as a 
 tender to The Epervier. A momentary glow overspread the 
 countenance of Ethelston, as he felt that resistance was hopeless, 
 and that in another hour his brig would be sunk, and his brave 
 crew prisoners. But being too proud to allow the French 
 officer to see his emotion, he controlled it by a powerful effort, 
 and continued to give his orders with his accustomed coolness 
 and precision. 
 
 Though young L'Estrange's heart beat high at this sudden 
 and unlooked-for deliverance, he could not forbear his admira- 
 tion at his captor's self-possession ; and his own joy was damped 
 by the remembrance of that portion of his own conduct which 
 he had so deeply lamented, and also of the parole he had 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 95 
 
 given, not to bear arms again during the war. Meantime the 
 removal of the men, the stores, the provisions, and papers from 
 the brig went on with the greatest order and despatch. 
 
 Ethelston was the last to leave her: previous to his doing 
 so, he made the carpenter knock out the oakum aiid other tem- 
 porary plugs with which he had stopped the leaks, being deter- 
 mined that she shoukl not fall into the hands of the French. 
 This being completed, the launch shoved off; and while pull- 
 ing heavily for the shore, the crew looked in gloomy silence 
 at their ill-fated brig. Ethelston was almost unmanned ; for 
 his heart and his thoughts were on Ohio's banks, and he could 
 not separate the recollections of Lucy from the untimely fate 
 of her favourite vessel. He gazed until his sight and brain 
 grew dizzy ; he fancied that he saw Lucy's form on the deck 
 of the brig, and that she stretched her arms to him for aid. 
 Even while he thus looked, the waters poured fast into their 
 victim. She settled, sunk; and in a few minutes scarce a 
 bubble on their surface told where The Pride of Ohio had 
 gone down ! A groan burst from Ethelston's bosom. Nature 
 could no longer endure the accumulated weight of fatigue and 
 intense pain occasioned by his wounds : he sunk down insensi- 
 ble in the boat, and when he recovered his senses, found him- 
 self a prisoner on board The Hirondelle. 
 
 Great had been the surprise of the lieutenant who com- 
 manded her at the disappearance of the brig which he had been 
 sent to secure ; and greater still at the condition of the persons 
 found on board the launch. His inquiries were answered by 
 young L'Estrange with obvious reluctance : so having paid the 
 last melancholy duties to the dead, and afforded all the assist- 
 ance in his power to the wounded, he put about the cutter, 
 and made sail for The Epervier. 
 
 As soon as young L'Estrange found himself on the frigate's 
 deck, he asked for an immediate and private audience of his 
 father, to whom he detailed without reserve all the circum- 
 stances of the late expedition. He concluded his narration 
 with the warmest praises of Ethelston's courage, conduct, and 
 humanity, while he repeated that bitter censure of his own 
 behaviour which he had before expressed on board The Pride 
 of Ohio. The gallant old captain, though mortified at the 
 failure of the enterprise and the loss of men that he had sus- 
 tained, could not but appreciate the candour, and feel for the 
 
<)6 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 mortification of his favourite son; and he readily promised 
 that Ethelston should be treated with the greatest care and 
 kindness, and that the most favourable terms, consistent with 
 his duty, should be offered to the prisoners. 
 
 Young L'Estrange gave up his own berth to Ethelston, 
 whose severe sufferings had been succeeded by a weakness and 
 lethargy, yet more dangerous. The surgeon was ordered to 
 attend him ; and his care was extended to all the wounded, 
 without distinction of country. 
 
 After a few days, Captain L'Estrange determined to ex- 
 change Gregson, the mate, and the remainder of the brig's 
 crew, for some French prisoners lately taken by an American 
 privateer : they were accordingly placed for that purpose 
 on board the cutter, and sent to New Orleans. Young 
 L'Estrange having learned from the mate the address of 
 Colonel Brandon, and his connection with Ethelston, wrote him 
 a letter, in which he mentioned the latter in the highest and 
 most affectionate terms, assuring the Colonel that he should be 
 treated as if he were his own brother ; and that, although the 
 danger arising from his wounds rendered it absolutely necessary 
 that he should return to Guadaloupe with the frigate, his friends 
 might rely upon his being tended with the same care as if he 
 had been at home. Cupid, at his own urgent entreaty, remained 
 -with his master, taking charge of all his private baggage and 
 papers. 
 
 We need not follow the fate of the cutter any further than 
 to say that she reached her destination in safety ; that the pro- 
 posed exchange was effected, and the prisoners restored to their 
 respective homes. 
 
 The surgeon on board The Epervier succeeded at length in 
 taking out the ball lodged in Ethelston's shoulder ; and when 
 they arrived at Guadaloupe, he pronounced his patient out of 
 danger, but enjoined the strictest quiet and confinement, till 
 his recovery should be further advanced. The ardent young 
 L'Estrange no sooner reached home than he prevailed on his 
 father to receive Ethelston into his own house. He painted 
 to his sister Nina, a girl of seventeen, the sufferings and the 
 heroism of their guest in the most glowing colours; he made her 
 prepare for him the most refreshing and restoring beverages ; 
 lie watched for hours at the side of his couch ; in short, he 
 lavished upon him all those marks of affection with which a 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 97 
 
 hasty and generous nature loves to make reparation for a 
 wrong. In all these attentions and endeavours, he was warmly 
 seconded by Nina, who made her brother repeat more than 
 once the narrative of the defence and subsequent loss of the 
 brig. How Ethelston's recovery proceeded under the care of 
 the brother and sister shall be told in another chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 VISIT OF WINGENTTND TO MOOSHANNE. HE REJOINS WAR-EAGLE, AND 
 THEY RETURN TO THEIR BAND IN THE FAR WEST. M. PERROT MAKES 
 AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON THE HEART OF A YOUNG LADY. 
 
 WE must now return to Mooshanne, where Colonel Brandon 
 received Wingenund very kindly; and within half an hour of the 
 arrival of the party, they were all seated at his hospitable board, 
 whereon smoked venison steaks, various kinds of fowls, a sub- 
 stantial ham, cakes of rice, and Indian maize. On the side-table 
 were cream, wild honey, cheese, and preserved fruits, all these 
 delicacies being admirably served under the superintendence of 
 Aunt Mary, who was delighted with Wingenund, praised the 
 extreme beauty of his eyes and features, telling the Colonel, 
 in a whisper, that if she had been thirty-five years younger, 
 she should have been afraid of losing her heart ! The youth 
 was indeed the hero of the day : all were grateful to him for 
 his gallant preservation of Reginald's life, and all strove with 
 equal anxiety to make him forget that he was among strangers. 
 Nor was the task difficult ; for though he had only the use of 
 one hand, it was surprising to see the tact and self-possession 
 with which he conducted himself, the temperate quietness 
 with which he ate and drank, and the ease with which he 
 handled some of the implements at table, which he pro- 
 bably saw for the first time. Baptiste was a privileged per- 
 son in the Colonel's house, and was allowed to dine as he 
 pleased, either with its master, or with Perrot and the other 
 servants. On this occasion, he was present in the dining- 
 room, and seemed to take a pleasure in drawing out the 
 young Delaware, and in making him talk on subjects which 
 he knew would be interesting to the rest of the party. 
 
98 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Wingenund was quiet and reserved in his replies, except when 
 a question was put to him by Lucy, to whom he gave his 
 answers with the greatest na'ivete, telling her more than once, 
 that she reminded him of his sister Prairie-bird, but that the 
 latter was taller, and had darker hair. Whilst addressing her, 
 he kept his large speaking eyes so riveted upon Lucy's counte- 
 nance, that she cast her own to the ground, almost blushing 
 at the boy's earnest and admiring gaze. To relieve herself 
 from embarrassment, she again inquired about this mysterious 
 sister, saying, " Tell me, Wingenund, has she taught you to 
 read, as well as to speak our tongue ? " 
 
 " No," said the youth ; " Prairie-bird talks with the Great 
 Spirit, and with paper books, and so does the Black Father ; 
 but Wingenund cannot understand them, he is only a 
 poor Indian." 
 
 Here Reginald, whose curiosity was much excited, inquired, 
 " Does the Prairie-bird look kindly on the young chiefs of the 
 tribe? Will she be the wife of a chief?" 
 
 There was something both of surprise and scorn in Win- 
 genund's countenance, as he replied, " Prairie-bird is kind to 
 all the young chiefs find wives among the daughters of the 
 Delawares ; but the antelope mates not with the moose, 
 though they feed on the same Prairie. The Great Spirit 
 knows where the Prairie-bird was born ! but her race is 
 unknown to the wise men among the Tortoises." 
 
 Reginald and his sister were equally at a loss to understand 
 his meaning ; both looked inquiringly at the guide, who was 
 rubbing his ear, as if rather puzzled by the young Delaware's 
 answer. At length he said, "Why, Miss Lucy, you see, 
 much of what the lad says is as plain to me as the sight on 
 my rifle : for the tribes of the Lenape are as well known to me 
 as the totems of the Oggibeways. The Great nation is divided 
 into three tribes : the Minsi, or the Wolf-tribe (sometimes 
 called also Puncsit, or round-foot) ; the Unalacticos, or the 
 Turkey-tribe ; and the Unamis, or the Tortoise-tribe. The 
 last are considered the principal and most ancient; and as 
 Wingenund's family are of this band, he spoke just now of 
 their wise men. But who, or what kin' o' crittur this 
 Prairie-bird can be, would puzzle a Philadelphy lawyer to tell, 
 let alone a poor hunter who knows little out of the line of his 
 trade." 
 
THE PRAIRIK-BIRD. 99 
 
 " Then, Baptiste," said Lucy, smiling ; " your trade is a 
 pretty extensive one, for I think you have more knowledge in 
 your head on most subjects than half the lawyers and clerks 
 in the territory." 
 
 " There it is, Miss Lucy ; you're always a givin' me a 
 little dose of flattery, just as I give my patches a bit of 
 grease to make the Doctor swallow his lead pills. You ladies 
 think we're all alike, young sparks, and tough old chaps 
 like me, if you do but dip your fingers into the honey-pot, 
 you know we shall lick them as soon as your backs are turned ! 
 But it is getting late," he added, rising from his seat ; " and 
 I have much to ray to this youth, who is already tired; with 
 your leave, Miss, I will retire with him, and see that he has a 
 comfortable sleeping quarter, and that he wants for nothing." 
 
 " Pray do so," said Lucy ; " let him be treated as if he 
 were one of our own family. I am sure, dear papa, such 
 would be your wish," she added, turning to her father. 
 
 " It is indeed, my child," said the Colonel. " Wingenund, 
 again I beg you to receive a father's best thanks for your 
 brave defence of his son." 
 
 " It was nothing," replied the boy modestly. ee You are 
 all good, too good to Wingenund ; when he gets to the Far 
 Prairie, he will tell the Prairie-bird and the Black Father to 
 speak to the Great Spirit, that He may smile on my white 
 father and on my brother ; and," he added, slowly raising 
 his dark eloquent eyes to Lucy's face, " that he may send 
 down pleasant sunshine and refreshing dew on the Lily of 
 Mooshanne." So saying, he turned and left the room, 
 accompanied by the guide. 
 
 " Well," exclaimed the Colonel, as the youth disappeared, 
 " they may call that lad a savage ; but his feelings, ay, and 
 his manners too, would put to shame those of many who 
 think themselves fine gentlemen." 
 
 " He is, indeed, a noble young fellow," said Reginald, 
 "and worthy to be the relative and pupil of my Indian 
 brother. I would that you had seen him, father : you are in 
 general rather sceptical as to the qualities of the red-skins. I 
 think the War-Eagle would surprise you !" 
 
 " Indeed, Reginald," said the Colonel, " I have seen among 
 them so much cruelty, cunning, and drunkenness, that the 
 romantic notions which I once entertained respecting them are 
 H 2 
 
100 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 completely dissipated. Nevertheless, I confess that many of 
 their worst faults have arisen from their commerce with the 
 whites ; and they still retain some virtues which are extremely 
 rare among us." 
 
 ff To which do you allude? " inquired Reginald. 
 
 " More especially, to patience under suffering, a padlocked 
 mouth when entrusted with a secret, and unshaken fidelity 
 in friendship." 
 
 "These are indeed high and valuable qualities," replied 
 Reginald. " Moreover, it strikes me that in one principal 
 feature of character the Indian is superior to us ; he acts up to 
 his creed. That creed may be entirely based on error ; it may 
 teach him to prefer revenge to mercy, theft to industry, 
 violence to right; but such as he has learnt it from his 
 fathers, he acts up to it more firmly and consistently than we 
 do, t who know the right and still the wrong pursue.' " 
 
 " Your observation is just,'* replied his father ; " they are 
 benighted, and do many of the deeds of darkness. What 
 shall we say of those who do them under the light of a noon- 
 day sun ? " 
 
 ee And yet," said Lucy, " this Wingenund seems half a 
 Christian, and more than half a gentleman, either by nature, 
 or by the instructions of the strange being he calls the 
 Prairie-bird!" 
 
 " Upon my word, Lucy," said her brother, with a malicious 
 smile, " I thought, while the lad was speaking of his sister on 
 the Prairie, his eyes were strangely fixed upon the white lady in 
 the wigwam. It is fortunate he is going soon ; and still more 
 fortunate that a certain cruising captain is not returned from 
 the West Indies." As this impertinent speech was made in 
 a whisper, it did not reach Aunt Mary or the Colonel ; and 
 the only reply it drew from Lucy, was a blushing threat of 
 a repetition of the same punishment which she had inflicted 
 in the morning for a similar offence. He begged pardon, and 
 was forgiven ; soon after which the little party broke up and 
 retired to rest. 
 
 Meantime Baptiste, who knew that the well-intentioned 
 offer of a bed-room and its comforts would be a great annoyance 
 to Wingenund, took the lad out with him to a dry barn 
 behind the house, where there was an abundant supply of 
 clean straw, and where he intended to lodge him for the 
 
THE P11A1RIE-BIRD. 101 
 
 eight. " Wingenund," said he, " you will rest here for some 
 hours ; but we must go long before daylight to meet War- 
 Eagle, according to my promise." 
 
 " I will be ready," replied the youth ; and casting himself 
 down on a bundle of straw, in five minutes his wounds and 
 fatigues were forgotten in a refreshing sleep, over which 
 hovered the bright dreams of youth, wherein the sweet tones 
 of his sister's voice were confused with the blue eyes of Lucy ; 
 and yet withal, a sleep such as guilt can never know, and the 
 wealth of the Indies cannot purchase. 
 
 Before three o'clock on the following morning, the guide 
 re-entered the barn with a light step ; not so light, however, 
 as to escape the quick ear of the young Indian, who leapt 
 from his straw couch, and throwing his rifle over his shoulder, 
 stood before the hunter. " I hope you slept well," said the 
 latter, te and that your arm gives you less pain ?" 
 
 " I slept till you came," said the boy, " and the pain sleeps 
 still. I feel nothing of it." 
 
 "Wingenund will be like his father," said the guide; 
 " he will laugh at pain and fatigue and danger ; and his war- 
 path will be sprinkled with the blood of his enemies." 
 
 The youth drew himself proudly up ; and though gratified 
 by the guide's observation, merely replied, " The Great Spirit 
 knows. I am ready ; let us go." 
 
 Baptiste had provided a couple of horses, and they started 
 at a brisk pace, as he wished to reach the spot where he had 
 appointed to meet War- Eagle soon after daylight. To one 
 less familiar with the woods, the tangled and winding path 
 through which he led the way would have offered many im- 
 pediments; but Baptiste went rapidly forward without hesita- 
 tion or difficulty, Wingenund following in silence ; and after a 
 brisk ride of three hours they came to an opening in the forest, 
 where a log-hut was visible, and beyond it the broad expanse 
 of Ohio's stream. 
 
 The guide here whispered to Wingenund to remain con- 
 cealed in the thicket with the horses, whilst he reconnoitred 
 the hut ; because he knew that it was sometimes used as a 
 shelter and a rendezvous by some of the lawless and desperate 
 characters on the borders of the settlements. 
 
 Having finished his examination, and ascertained that the 
 hut was empty, he returned to Wingenund, and desired him 
 H 3 
 
102 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 to come down to the water's edge, where he was to make 3 
 signal for War-Eagle, who ought to be now at no great dis- 
 tance. The youth accordingly went to the river's bank, and 
 understanding from the guide that there was no occasion for 
 further concealment, he gave three whistles in a peculiar tone, 
 but exceedingly loud and shrill. For some time they listened 
 for a reply. Nothing was heard, except the beak of the wood- 
 pecker upon the bark of the elm, and the notes of the various 
 feathered choristers chirping their matin song. 
 
 After a pause of several minutes, the guide said, " Surely 
 some accident has detained War-Eagle ! Perhaps he has 
 failed in getting the canoe. Repeat the signal, Wingenund." 
 
 " War-Eagle is here,'* replied the youth, who was quietly 
 leaning on his rifle, with an abstracted air. 
 
 Again, the guide listened attentively ; and as he was unable 
 to distinguish the slightest sound indicative of the chief's ap- 
 proach, he was rather vexed at the superior quickness implied 
 in Wingenund's reply, and said somewhat testily, ec A moose 
 might hear something of him, or a blood-hound might find the 
 wind of him, but I can make out nothing, and my ears an't 
 used to be stuffed with cotton, neither ! " 
 
 ee Grande- H ache is a great warrior, and Wingenund would 
 be proud to follow in his war-path ; eyes and ears are the 
 gift of the Great Spirit." 
 
 " How know you that War-Eagle is here ?" inquired the 
 guide impatiently. 
 
 " By that," replied the boy, pointing to a scarcely percep- 
 tible mark on the bank a few yards from his feet, " that is the 
 mocassin of the War-Eagle; he has been to the hut this 
 morning ; below that foot-print you will see on the sand the 
 mark of where his canoe has touched the ground." 
 
 " The boy is right," muttered Baptiste, examining the 
 marks carefully. " I believe I am no hunter, but an ass after 
 all, with no better ears and eyes than Master Perrot, or any 
 other parlour-boarder." 
 
 In a very few minutes the sound of the paddle was heard, 
 and War-Eagle brought his canoe to the bank ; a brief con- 
 versation now took place between him and Baptiste, in which 
 some particulars were arranged for Reginald's visit to the West- 
 ern Prairie. The guide then taking from his wallet several 
 pounds of bread and beef, and a large parcel of tobacco, added 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 103 
 
 these to the stores in the bottom of the canoe, and having 
 shaken hands heartily with the chief and Wingenund, returned 
 leisurely on his homeward way ; but he still muttered to him- 
 self as he went ; and it was evident that he could not shake off 
 the annoyance which he felt at being te out-crafted," as he 
 called it, " by a boy !" 
 
 We will not follow the tedious and toilsome voyage of War- 
 Eagle and his young friend in the canoe, a voyage in which, 
 after descending the Ohio, they had to make their way up the 
 Mississippi to its junction with the Missouri, and thence up 
 the latter river to the mouth of the Osage river, which they 
 also ascended between two and three hundred miles before they 
 rejoined their band. It is sufficient for the purposes of our tale 
 to inform the reader that they reached their destination in 
 safety, and that Wingenund recovered from the effects of his 
 severe wound. 
 
 When Baptiste returned to Mooshanne, he found the family 
 surprised and annoyed at the siklden disappearance of their 
 young Indian guest; but when he explained to Reginald that 
 he had gone to rejoin his chief by War-Eagle's desire, Reginald 
 felt that the best course had been adopted, as the boy might, if 
 he had remained, have fallen in the way of the exasperated 
 party who were seeking to revenge Hervey's death. 
 
 It was about noon when Mike Smith, and several of those 
 who accompanied him the preceding day, arrived at Moo- 
 shanne, and insisted upon Baptiste showing them the spot where 
 he had told them that an Indian had been recently buried, 
 Reginald declined being of the party, which set forth under 
 the conduct of the guide, to explore the scene of the occur- 
 rences mentioned in a former chapter. 
 
 During their absence, Reginald was lounging in his sister's 
 boudoir, talking with her over the events of the preceding days, 
 when they heard the sound of a vehicle driven up to the door, 
 and the blood rushed into Lucy's face as the thought occurred 
 to her that it might be Ethelston ; the delusion was very brief, 
 for a moment afterwards the broad accent of David Muir was 
 clearly distinguishable, as he said to his daughter, "Noo, Jessie, 
 haud a grip o' Smiler, whilst I gie a pull at the door-bell." 
 
 Much to the surprise of the worthy "merchaunt" (by 
 which appellation David delighted to be designated), the door 
 was opened by no less a personage than Monsieur Gustave 
 H 4 
 
104 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Perrot himself, who seeing the pretty Jessie in her father's 
 spring-cart, hastened with characteristic gallantry to assist her 
 to descend ; in the performance of which operation he ex- 
 tended both his hands to support her waist, saying, in his most 
 tender tone, " Take care, Miss Jessie ; now shump, and trust 
 all your leetle weight with me." 
 
 But while he was speaking, the active girl, putting one foot 
 on the step, and touching him lightly on the arm, stood on the 
 ground beside him. 
 
 " Weel, Mr. Parrot, and how's a' wi' ye the day ?" said David, 
 who was busily employed in extracting various packages and 
 parcels from the cart. 
 
 " All ver' well, thank you, Mr. Muir ; wonderful things 
 happen, though. My young Mr. Reginald he be drowned and 
 stabbed, and quite well !" 
 
 ( i Gude save us !" said David in horror ; <e drowned and 
 stabbed, and quite well ! Ye're surely no in earnest, Mr. 
 Parrot !" 
 
 " I speak only the truth always, Miss Jessie, the fresh 
 air and the ride make your cheek beautiful rosy." 
 
 <e Mr. Perrot," replied Jessie, smiling, " that is a poor com- 
 pliment ! You are so gallant a gentleman, you should praise 
 the roses in a lady's cheek without mentioning that she owes 
 them to a rough road and a fresh breeze !" 
 
 This dialogue on roses was here interrupted by David, who 
 said, " May be, Mr. Parrot, ye'll just let Smiler be ta : en 
 round to the stable, and desire ane o' the lads to help us in 
 with these twa parcels ; yon muckle basket, there, isbrimfull of 
 all the newest kick-shaws, and modes, as they call 'em, frae Phi- 
 ladelphy ; so Jessie's just come wi' me to gie Miss Lucy the 
 first choice ; and she's a right to hae it too, for she's the 
 bonniest and the best young lady in the territory." 
 
 Mr. Perrot, having given these necessary orders, David, 
 with his papers, was soon closeted with the Colonel in his 
 business room ; and Jessie was ushered into the young lady's 
 boudoir, where her brother still sat, with the intention of 
 giving his sister the benefit of his advice in the selection of 
 what David called kick-shaws and modes for her toilet. 
 Meanwhile Perrot was preparing a formidable attack upon 
 Jessie's heart, through the medium of some venison steaks, a 
 delicate ragout of squirrel, and sundry other tit- bits, with which 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 105 
 
 lie hoped to propitiate the village beauty. As Jessie entered 
 the room, her salutation of Lucy was modestly respectful ; and 
 she returned Reginald's bow with an unembarrassed and not 
 ungraceful courtesy. While she was drawing out and placing 
 on a table the silken contents of her basket, Reginald inquired 
 of her whether any news was stirring in Marietta. 
 
 " None," replied she, " except the killing of Hervey. All 
 the town is speaking of it, and they say it will cause more 
 bloodshed ; for Mike Smith vows, if he cannot find the real 
 offender, he'll shoot down the first Indian he finds in the 
 woods." 
 
 . " Mike Smith is a hot-headed fool," replied Reginald ; but 
 remembering sundry reports which had reached his ear, he 
 added, " I beg your pardon, Miss Jessie, if the words give 
 you offence." 
 
 " Indeed you have given none, Master Reginald," said 
 Jessie, colouring a little at the implied meaning of his words ; 
 " Mike comes very often to our store, but I believe it is more 
 for whiskey than any thing else." 
 
 " Nay," said Reginald ; " I doubt you do him injustice. 
 They say he prefers the end of the store which is the furthest 
 from the bar." 
 
 " Perhaps he may," replied Jessie ; " I am always better 
 pleased when he stays away, for he is very ill-tempered and 
 quarrelsome ! Well, Miss," continued she, " are not these 
 pink ribbons beautiful, and these two light shawls, they 
 come from the British East India House?" 
 
 " They are indeed the prettiest and most delicate that I ever 
 saw," replied Lucy ; <; and see here, Reginald," said she, 
 drawing him aside, "these French bead necklaces will do 
 famously for some of your Delaware friends." She added in a 
 whisper, "Ask her if there is no other news at the town ? " 
 
 " What about ? " inquired her brother. A silent look of 
 reproach was her only reply, as she turned away, and again 
 busied herself with the silks. He was instantly conscious and 
 ashamed of his thoughtlessness, which, after a few moments' 
 silence, he proceeded to repair, saying, " Pray tell me, Miss 
 Jessie, has your father received no intelligence of The Pride of 
 the Ohio ? " 
 
 " Alas ! not a word," replied the girl, in a tone of voice so 
 melancholy, that it startled them both. 
 
106 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " But why speak you in so sad a voice about the vessel, 
 Jessie, if you have heard no bad news regarding her?" said 
 Reginald, quickly. 
 
 ( ' Because, sir, she has been very long over-due, and there 
 are many reports of French ships of war ; and we, that is, my 
 father, is much interested about her." 
 
 Poor Lucy's colour came and went ; but she had not the 
 courage to say a word. After a short pause, Reginald inquired, 
 " Have any boats come up lately from New Orleans ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, Henderson's came up only a few days ago, and 
 Henry Gregson, who had been down on some business for my 
 father, returned in her." 
 
 " That is the young man who assists your father in the 
 store ? I believe he is a son of the mate on board The Pride. 
 I have remarked that he is a very fine-looking young fellow ! " 
 
 " He is the son of Captain Ethelston's mate," said Jessie, 
 casting down her eyes, and busying herself with some of her 
 ribbons and silks. " But I hope," continued she, " that you, 
 Mr. Reginald, are not seriously hurt. Mr. Perrot told me you 
 had been drowned and stabbed ! " 
 
 " Not quite so bad as that," said Reginald, laughing ; " I 
 had, indeed, a swim in the Muskingum, and a blow from a 
 horse's hoof, but am none the worse for either. Do not forget, 
 Miss Jessie, to send off a messenger immediately that any news 
 arrive of The Pride. You know what a favourite she is, and 
 how anxious we are here about her ! " 
 
 " Indeed I will not forget," replied Jessie. 
 
 Lucy sighed audibly j and after purchasing a few ribbons 
 and shawls, as well as a stock of beads for her brother, she 
 allowed Jessie to retire, begging, at the same time, her accept- 
 ance of one of the prettiest shawls in her basket. As the 
 latter hesitated about receiving it, Lucy threw it over the 
 girl's shoulder, saying playfully, " Nay, Jessie, no refusal ; I 
 am mistress here ; and nobody, not even Mr. Reginald, dis- 
 putes my will in this room." 
 
 Jessie thanked the young lady, and saluting her brother, 
 withdrew to a back parlour, where Monsieur Perrot had al- 
 ready prepared his good things, and where her father only 
 waited her coming to commence a dinner which his drive had 
 made desirable, and which his olfactory nerves told him was 
 more savoury than the viands set before him at Marietta by Mrs. 
 Christie. 
 
THE PRAIBIE-BIUD 107 
 
 " Call ye this a squirrel ragoo ?" said the worthy merchaunt ; 
 <( weel now it's an awfu' thing to think how the Lord's gifts 
 are abused in the auld country ! I hae seen dizens o' they 
 wee devils lilting and louping amaing the woods in the 
 Lothians ; and yet the hungry chaps wha can scarce earn a 
 basin o' porritch, or a pot o' kail to their dinner, would as soon 
 think o' eatin' a stoat or a foumart ! " 
 
 While making this observation, Davie was despatching the 
 " ragoo" with a satisfaction which showed how completely he 
 had overcome his insular prejudices. Nor were Perrot's 
 culinary attentions altogether lost upon Miss Jessie ; for al- 
 though she might not repay them entirely according to the 
 wishes of the gallant Maitre d'Hotel, she could not help 
 acknowledging that he was a pleasant good-humoured fellow, 
 and that his abilities as a cook were of the highest order. 
 Accordingly, when he offered her a foaming glass of cider, she 
 drank it to his health, with a glance of her merry eye sufficient 
 to have turned the head of a man less vain and amorous than 
 Monsieur Perrot. 
 
 The dinner passed pleasantly enough ; and as David Muir 
 drove his daughter back to Marietta, his heart being warmed 
 and expanded by the generous cider (which, for the good of 
 his health, he had crowned with a glass of old rum), he said, 
 " Jessie, I'm thinking, that Maister Parrot is a douce and 
 clever man ; a lassie might do waur than tak' up wi* the like o^ 
 him ! I'se warrant his nest will no be ill feathered !" 
 
 fl Perhaps not," replied Jessie ; and turning her head 
 she sighed, and thought of Henry Gregsoii. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IX WHICH THE READER WILL FIND THAT THE COUCH OF AW IN- 
 VALID HAS PERILS NOT LESS FORMIDABLE THAN THOSE WHICH 
 ARE TO BE ENCOUNTERED AT SEA. 
 
 WE left Ethelston stretched on a sick couch in Guadaloupe, 
 in the house of Captain L'Estrange, and tended by his daughter 
 Nina, and by her brother, the young lieutenant. The latter 
 grew daily more attached to the patient, who had been his 
 captor, and was now his prisoner ; but he was obliged, as soon 
 
108 THE PRIARIE-BIRB, 
 
 as Ethelston was pronounced out of danger, to sail for Europe, 
 as he was anxious to obtain that professional distinction which 
 his parole prevented his gaining in service against the United 
 States. And in France there seemed a promising harvest of 
 combat and of glory, sufficient to satisfy the martial enthusiasm 
 even of the most adventurous of her sons. When he sailed, 
 he again and again pressed upon his sister to bestow every 
 attention upon Ethelston ; and as the Captain was much 
 busied with his command, and as Madame L'Estrange was 
 entirely devoted to her boudoir, where, with two chattering 
 parrots to amuse her, and a little black girl to fan her while 
 listlessly poring over the pages of Florian in a fauteuil, the 
 whole charge devolved upon the willing and kind-hearted Nina. 
 She was the third and youngest daughter of Monsieur and 
 Madame L'Estrange ; but (her two elder sisters being married) 
 she was the only one resident with her parents. 
 
 Sixteen summers had now passed over her, and her disposi- 
 tion was like that of her brother, frank, impetuous, and 
 warm-hearted. Her feelings had never been guided or re- 
 gulated by her handsome but indolent mother ; her mind had 
 been allowed to seek its food at hap-hazard among the 
 romances, poems, and plays upon the shelves in the drawing- 
 room. Her father spoilt and her brother petted her. A 
 governess also she had, whom she governed, and to whose 
 instructions she owed little, except a moderate proficiency in 
 music. Her countenance was a very beautiful mirror, reflect- 
 ing the warm and impassioned features of her character. Her 
 complexion was dark, though clear, and her hair black and 
 glossy. The pencilling of her eyebrows was exceedingly 
 delicate ; and the eyes themselves were large, speaking, and 
 glowing with that humid lustre which distinguishes Creole 
 beauty. Nothing could exceed the rosy fulness of her lip, 
 and the even whiteness of the teeth which her joyous smile 
 disclosed. Her figure was exquisitely proportioned ; and her 
 every movement a very model of natural grace. She seemed, 
 indeed, impregnated with the fervour of the sunny climate in 
 which she had been reared ; and her temper, her imagination, 
 her passions, all glowed with its ardent but dangerous warmth. 
 According to the usage of her country, she had been betrothed, 
 when a child, to a neighbouring planter, one of the richest in 
 the island ; but as he was absent in Europe, and there re- 
 mained yet two years before the time fixed for the fulfilment 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 109 
 
 of the contract, she rarely troubled her head about the mar- 
 riage or her future destiny. 
 
 Such was the girl who now officiated as nurse to Ethelston, 
 and who, before she had seen him, had gathered from her 
 brother such traits of his character as had called forth all the 
 interest and sympathy of her romantic disposition. Although 
 not eminently handsome, we have before noted that his coun- 
 tenance was manly and expressive, and his manners courteous 
 and engaging. Perhaps also the weakness, remaining after the 
 crisis of his fever, imparted to the usually gentle expression 
 of his features that touching attraction which is called by a 
 modern poet " a loving languor." At all events, certain it is, 
 that ere poor Nina had administered the third saline draught 
 to her grateful patient, her little heart beat vehemently ; and 
 when she had attended his feverish couch one short week, she 
 was desperately in love ! 
 
 How fared it in the meantime with Ethelston ? Did his 
 heart run any risk from the dark eloquent eyes, and the grace- 
 fully rounded form of the ministering angel who hovered 
 about his sick-room ? At present none, for Lucy was shrined 
 there; and he had been taught by young L 'Estrange to con- 
 sider his sister in the light of a nursery-girl, still under the 
 dominion of the governess. 
 
 Days and weeks elapsed, Ethelston's recovery progressed, 
 and he was able to stroll in the shade of the orange and 
 citron groves which sheltered Captain L'Estrange's villa to the 
 northward. Here, with his eyes fixed on the sea, would he 
 sometimes sit for hours, and devise schemes for returning to 
 his home. On these occasions he was frequently accompanied 
 by Nina, who walked by his side with her guitar in her hand; 
 and under the pretence of receiving instructions from him in 
 music, she would listen with delight, and hang with rapture 
 on every syllable that he uttered. Though he could not avoid 
 being sensible of her ripening beauty, his heart was protected 
 by the seven-fold shield of a deep and abiding attachment; 
 and as he still looked upon Nina as a lovely girl, completing 
 her education in the nursery, he gladly gave her all the as- 
 sistance that she asked under her musical difficulties ; and this 
 he was able to do, from having made no small proficiency in 
 the science during his long residence in Germany. 
 
 Sometimes he paid his respects to Madame L'Estrange ; but 
 
110 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 that lady was so indolent, and so exclusively devoted to her 
 parrots and her lap-dog, that his visits to her were neither 
 frequent nor of long duration. The Captain was very seldom 
 ashore; and thus Ethelston was obliged to spend his time 
 alone, or in the society of the young girl who had nursed him 
 so kindly during his illness. Her character seemed to have 
 undergone a sudden and complete change. The conquering 
 god, who had at first only taken possession of the outworks of 
 her fancy, had now made himself master of the citadel of her 
 heart. She loved with all the intense absorbing passion of a 
 nature that had never known control. The gaiety and buoy- 
 ancy of her spirits had given place to a still, deep flood of 
 feeling, which her reason never attempted to restrain. Even 
 when with him she spoke little. Her happiness was too intense 
 to find a vent in words ; and thus she nursed and fed a flame, 
 that needed only the breath of accident to make it burst forth 
 with a violence that should burn up or overleap all the barriers 
 of self-control. 
 
 Nor must the reader imagine that Ethelston was dull or 
 blind, because he observed not the state of Nina's affections. 
 His own were firmly rooted elsewhere ; he was neither of a 
 vain nor a romantic disposition ; and he had been duly 
 informed by Monsieur L'Estrange, that in the course of two 
 years Nina was to be married to Monsieur Bertrand, the 
 young planter, to whom, as we have before mentioned, she had 
 been betrothed by her parents since her thirteenth year. He 
 could not help seeing that, although her intellect was quick, 
 and her character enthusiastic, her education had been shame- 
 fully neglected both by Madame L'Estrange and the governess. 
 Hence he spoke, counselled, and sometimes chid her, in the 
 tone of an elder brother, heedless of the almost imperceptible 
 line that separates friendship from love in the bosom of a girl 
 nurtured under a West Indian sun. 
 
 In this state were matters, when, on a fine evening, Ethel- 
 ston strolled alone into his favourite orange-grove, to look out 
 upon the ocean, and, in the enjoyment of its refreshing breeze, 
 to ruminate on his strange captivity, and revolve various plans 
 of escape. 
 
 Captain L'Estrange had paid a visit to his home on the 
 preceding day, and finding his prisoner so completely restored 
 to health and strength, had said to him, jokingly, " Indeed, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. HI 
 
 fair sir, I think I must put you on your parole, or in chains ; 
 for, after the character given of you by my son, I cannot allow 
 so dangerous a person to be at large during the continuance of 
 hostilities between our respective nations." 
 
 Ethelston answered, half in earnest, and half in jest, " Nay, 
 sir, then I must wear the chains, for assuredly I cannot give 
 my parole ; if an American vessel were to come in sight, or 
 any other means of flight to offer itself, depend upon it, in 
 spite of the kindness and hospitality I have met with here, I 
 should weigh anchor in a moment." 
 
 *' Well, that is a fair warning," said the old Commodore ; 
 " nevertheless I will not lock you up just yet, for I do not 
 think it very likely that any strange sail will come under the 
 guns of our fort ; and I will run the risk of your flying 
 away on the back of a sea-gull." Thus had they parted ; and 
 the old gentleman was again absent on a cruise. 
 
 Ethelston was, as we have said, reclining listlessly under an 
 orange-tree, inhaling the cool breeze, laden with the fragrance 
 of its blossoms, now devising impossible plans of escape, and 
 now musing on a vision of Lucy's graceful figure, gliding 
 among the deep woods around Mooshanne. As these thoughts 
 passed through his mind, they imparted a melancholy shade to 
 his brow, and a deep sigh escaped from his lips. 
 
 It was echoed by one yet deeper, close to his ear; and 
 starting from his reverie, he beheld Nina, who had approached 
 him unawares, and who, leaning on her guitar, had been for 
 the last few minutes gazing on his countenance with an ab- 
 sorbed intensity, more fond and riveted than that with which 
 the miser regards his treasure, or the widowed mother her 
 only child. 
 
 When she found herself perceived, she came forward, and 
 covering her emotion under an assumed gaiety, she said, 
 " What is my kind instructor thinking of ? He seems more 
 grave and sad than usual." 
 
 " He is thinking," said Ethelston, good-humouredly, " that 
 he ought to scold a certain young lady very severely for 
 coming upon him slily, and witnessing that gravity and sad- 
 ness in which a captive must sometimes indulge, but which 
 her presence has already dissipated." 
 
 " Nay," said Nina, still holding her guitar, and sitting 
 down on the bank near him ; " you know that I am only 
 
112 THE PBAIRIE-BIPT). 
 
 obeying papa's orders in watching you; for he says you 
 would not give your parole, and I am sure you were thinking 
 of your escape from Guadaloupe." 
 
 ' ' Perhaps you might have guessed more wide of the mark. 
 Mademoiselle Nina," said Ethelston. 
 
 " And are you then so very anxious to to see your 
 home again ? " inquired Nina, hesitating. 
 
 " Judge for yourself, Nina," he replied, " when I remind 
 you that for many months I have heard nothing of those who 
 have been my nearest and dearest friends from childhood; 
 nothing of the brave men who were captured with me when 
 our poor brig was lost ! " 
 
 " Tell me about your friends and your home. Is it very 
 beautiful? Have you the warm sun, and the fresh sea- 
 breeze, and the orange-flowers, that we have here ? " 
 
 " Scarcely," replied Ethelston, smiling at the earnest rapi- 
 dity with which the beautiful girl based her inquiries oh the 
 scene before her ; " but we have in their place rivers, on the 
 bosom of which your father's frigate might sail ; groves and 
 woods of deep shade, impenetrable to the rays of the hottest 
 sun ; and prairies smiling with the most brilliant and varie- 
 gated flowers." 
 
 "Oh! how I should love to see that land!" exclaimed 
 Nina, her fervid imagination instantly grasping and heighten- 
 ing its beauties. " How I should love to dwell there ! " 
 
 " Nay, it appears to me not unlikely that you should at 
 some time visit it," replied Ethelston. " This foolish war 
 between our countries will soon be over, and your father may 
 wish to see a region the scenery of which is so magnificent, 
 and which is not difficult of access from here." 
 
 " Papa will never leave these islands, unless he goes to 
 France, and that he hates," said Nina. 
 
 " Well then," continued Ethelston, smiling, as he alluded 
 for the first time to her marriage, " you must defer your 
 American trip a year or two longer ; then, doubtless, Mon- 
 sieur Bertrand will gladly gratify your desire to see the Mis- 
 sissippi." 
 
 Nina started as if stung by an adder ; the blood rushed 
 and mantled over her face and neck ; her eyes glowed with 
 indignation, as she exclaimed, " I abhor and detest Monsieur 
 Bertrand. I would die before I would marry him ! n Then 
 
THE PRAIRIE -BIRD. 113 
 
 adding in a low voice, the sadness of which went to his heart, 
 *< and this from you too ! " She covered her face with her 
 hands and wept. 
 
 Never was man more astonished than Ethelston at the 
 sudden storm which he had inadvertently raised. Remem- 
 bering that Madame L'Estrange had told him of the engage- 
 ment as being known to Nina, he had been led to suppose 
 from her usual flow of spirits, that the prospect was far from 
 being disagreeable to her. Young L'Estrange had also told 
 him that Bertrand was a good looking man, of high character, 
 and considered, from his wealth, as the best match in the 
 French islands ; so that Ethelston was altogether unprepared 
 for the violent aversion which Nina now avowed for the mar- 
 riage, and for the grief by which she seemed so deeply agitated. 
 Still he was as far as ever from divining the true cause of 
 her emotion, and conjectured that she had probably formed 
 an attachment to one of the young officers on board her 
 father's ship. Under this impression he took her hand, and 
 sympathising with the grief of one so fair and so young, he 
 said to her kindly, " Forgive me, Nina, if I have said any 
 thing to hurt your feelings ; indeed I always have believed 
 that your engagement to Monsieur Bertrand was an affair 
 settled by your parents entirely with your consent. I am sure 
 Monsieur L'Estrange loves his favourite child too well to com- 
 pel her to a marriage against her inclination. Will you permit 
 your Mentor (as you have more than once allowed me to call 
 myself) to speak with him on the subject ? " 
 
 Nina made no reply, and the tears coursed each other yet 
 faster down her cheek. 
 
 " Your brother is absent," continued Ethelston ; " you 
 seem not to confide your little secrets to your mother will 
 you not let me aid you by my advice ? I am many years 
 older than you. I am deeply grateful for all your kindness 
 during my tedious illness; believe me, I will, if you will only 
 trust me, advise you with the affectionate interest of a parent, 
 or an elder brother." 
 
 The little hand trembled violently in his, but still no reply 
 escaped from Nina's lips. 
 
 " If you will not tell me your secret," pursued Ethelston, 
 " J must guess it. Your aversion to the engagement arises not 
 so much from your dislike to Monsieur Bertrand, as from your 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 preference of some other, whom perhaps your parents would not 
 approve ? " 
 
 The hand was withdrawn, being employed in an ineffectual 
 attempt to check her tears. The slight fillet which bound her 
 black tresses had given way, and they now fell in disorder, 
 veiling the deep crimson glow which again mantled over the 
 neck of the weeping girl. 
 
 Ethelston gazed on her with emotions of deep sympathy. 
 There was a reality, a dignity about her speechless grief, that 
 must have moved a sterner heart than his ; and as he looked 
 upon the heaving of her bosom, and upon the exquisite pro- 
 portions unconsciously developed in her attitude, he suddenly 
 felt that he was speaking, not to a child in the nursery, but 
 to a girl in whose form and heart the bud and blossom of 
 womanhood were thus early ripened. It was, therefore, in a 
 tone, not less kind, but more respectful than he had hitherto 
 used, that he said, "Nay, Nina, I desire not to pry into your 
 secrets I only wish to assure you of the deep sympathy 
 which I feel with your sorrow, and of my desire to aid or 
 comfort you by any means within my power ; but if my curi- 
 osity offends you, I will retire, in the hope that your own gentle 
 thoughts may soon afford you relief." 
 
 Again the little hand was laid upon his arm, as Nina, still 
 weeping, whispered, ' ' No, no, you do not offend me. 
 Do not leave me, I entreat you ! " 
 
 A painful silence ensued ; and Ethelston, more than ever 
 confirmed in the belief that she had bestowed her affections on 
 some young middy, or lieutenant, under her father's command, 
 continued, in a tone which he attempted to render gay : " Well 
 then, Nina, since you will not give your confidence to Mentor, 
 he must appoint himself your confessor ; and to commence, 
 is he right in believing that your dislike to Monsieur Bertrand 
 arises from your having given your heart elsewhere ? " 
 
 There was no reply ; but her head was bowed in token of 
 acquiescence ! 
 
 " I need not inquire," pursued he, " whether the object of 
 your choice is, in rank and character, worthy of your affec- 
 tion ? " 
 
 In an instant the drooping head was raised, and the dark 
 tresses thrown back from her brow, as, with her eyes flashing 
 through the moisture by which they were still bedewed, Nina 
 replied, " Worthy ! worthy the affection of a queen ! " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 115 
 
 Ethelston, startled by her energy, was about to resume his 
 inquiries, when Nina, whose excited spirit triumphed for the 
 moment over all restraint, stopped him, saying, " I will spare 
 you the trouble of further questions. I will tell you freely, 
 that till lately, very lately, I cared for none. Monsieur Ber- 
 trand and all others were alike to me; but fate threw a stranger 
 in my path. He was a friend of my brother ; he was 
 wounded. For hours and hours I watched by his couch ; 
 
 he revived ; his looks were gentle ; his voice was music 
 
 I drew counsel from his lips ; he filled my thoughts, my 
 dreams, my heart, my being! But he he considered me 
 only as a silly child ; he understood not my heart ; he 
 mocked my agony ; he saved my brother's life, and is 
 now accomplishing the sister's death ! " 
 
 The excitement which supported Nina during the com- 
 mencement of this speech gradually died away. Towards its 
 close, her voice grew tremulous, and as the last words escaped 
 her quivering lips, exhausted nature gave way under the burden 
 of her emotion, and she fainted ! 
 
 The feelings of Ethelston may be better imagined than 
 described. As the dreadful import of the poor girl's words 
 gradually broke upon him, his cheeks grew paler and paler ; 
 and when, at their conclusion, her senseless form lay extended 
 at his feet, the cold dew of agony stood in drops upon his 
 forehead ! But Nina's condition demanded immediate aid and 
 attention. Mastering himself by a powerful effort, he snatched 
 a lemon from a neighbouring tree ; he cut it in half, and 
 sustaining the still insensible girl, he chafed her hands, and 
 rubbed her temples with the cool refreshing juice of the fruit. 
 After a time, he had the consolation of seeing her restored 
 gradually to her senses ; and a faint smile came over her coun- 
 tenance as she found herself supported by his arm. Still she 
 closed her eyes, as if in a happy dream, which Ethelston could 
 not bring himself to disturb ; and, as the luxuriant black 
 tresses only half veiled the touching beauty of her countenance, 
 he groaned at the reflection that he had inadvertently been the 
 means of shedding the blight of unrequited love on a budding 
 flower of such exquisite loveliness. A long silence ensued, 
 softened, rather than interrupted, by the low wind as it whis- 
 pered through the leaves of the orange-grove ; while the sur- 
 rounding landscape, and the wide expanse of ocean, glowed 
 
 i 2 
 
116 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 with the red golden tints of the parting sun. No unplighted 
 heart could have resisted all the assailing temptations of that 
 hour. But Ethelston's heart was not unplighted ; and the 
 high principle and generous warmth of his nature served only 
 to deepen the pain and sadness of the present moment. He 
 formed, however, his resolution ; and as soon as he found that 
 Nina was restored to consciousness, and to a certain degree of 
 composure, he gently withdrew the arm which had supported 
 her, and said, in a voice of most melancholy earnestness, 
 " Dear Nina ! I will not pretend to misunderstand what you 
 have said. I have much to tell you ; but I have not now 
 enough command over myself to speak, while you are still too 
 agitated to listen. Meet me here to-morrow at this same 
 hour ; meanwhile, I entreat you, recall those harsh and unkind 
 thoughts which you entertained of me ; and believe me, dear, 
 dear sister, that I would, rather than have mocked your feel- 
 ings, have died on that feverish couch, from which your care 
 revived me." So saying, he hastened from her presence in a 
 tumult of agitation scarcely less than her own. 
 
 For a long time she sat motionless, in a kind of waking 
 dream ; his parting words yet dwelt in her ear, and her pas- 
 sionate heart construed them now according to its own wild 
 throbbings, now according to its gloomiest fears. " He has 
 much to tell me/' mused she; " he called me dear Nina; he 
 spoke not in a voice of indifference ; his eye was full of a 
 troubled expression that I could not read. Alas ! alas, 'twas 
 only pity ! He called me ' dear sister ! ' what can he 
 mean ? Oh that to-morrow were come ! I shall not outlive 
 the night unless I can believe that he loves me ! " And then 
 she fell again into a reverie ; during which all the looks and 
 tones that her partial fancy had interpreted, and her too faithful 
 memory had treasured, were recalled, and repeated in a thou- 
 sand shapes ; until, exhausted by her agitation, and warned 
 by the darkness of the hour, Nina retired to her sleepless 
 couch. 
 
 Meanwhile Ethelston, when he found himself alone in his 
 room, scrutinised with the most unsparing severity his past 
 conduct, endeavouring to remember every careless or unheeded 
 word by which he could have awakened or encouraged her 
 unsuspected affection. He could only blame himself that he 
 had not been more observant ; that he had considered Nina 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 117 
 
 too much in the light of a child ; and had habitually spoken 
 to her in a tone of playful and confidential familiarity. Thus, 
 though his conscience acquitted him of the most remote inten- 
 tion of trifling with her feelings, he accused himself of having 
 neglected to keep a watchful guard over his language and 
 behaviour, and resolved, at the risk of incurring her anger or 
 her hatred, to tell her firmly and explicitly on the morrow, 
 that he could not requite her attachment as it deserved, his 
 heart having been long and faithfully devoted to another. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 NARRATING THE TRIALS AND DANGERS THAT BESET ETHELSTON; ANJ> 
 HOW HE ESCAPED FROM THEM, AND FROM THE ISLAND OF GUADA 
 LOUPE. 
 
 THE night succeeding the occurrences related in the last 
 chapter brought little rest to the pillow either of Nina or of 
 Ethelston ; and on the following day, as if by mutual agree- 
 ment, they avoided each other's presence, until the hour 
 appointed for their meeting again in the orange-grove. Ethel- 
 ston was firmly resolved to explain to her unreservedly his 
 long engagement to Lucy, hoping that the feelings of Nina 
 would prove, in this instance, rather impetuous than perma- 
 nent. The tedious day appeared to her as if it never would 
 draw to a close. She fled from her mother, and from the 
 screaming parrots ; she tried the guitar, but it seemed tune- 
 less and discordant ; her pencil and her book were by turns 
 taken up, and as soon laid aside ; she strolled even at mid-day 
 into the orange-grove, to the spot where she had last sat by 
 him, and a blush stole over her cheek when she remembered 
 that she had been betrayed into an avowal of her love ; and 
 then came the doubt, the inquiry, whether he felt any love 
 for her ? Thus did she muse and ponder, until the hours, 
 which in the morning had appeared to creep so slowly over 
 the face of the dial, now glided unconsciously forward. The 
 dinner-hour had passed unheeded ; and before she had sum- 
 moned any of the courage and firmness which she meant to 
 call to her aid, Ethelston stood before her. He was surprised 
 I 3 
 
118 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 at finding Nina on this spot, and had approached it long 
 before the appointed time, in order that he might prepare 
 himself for the difficult and painful task which he had under- 
 taken. But though unprepared, his mind was of too firm and 
 regulated a character to be surprised out of a fixed determina- 
 tion ; and he came up and offered his hand to Nina, greeting 
 her in his accustomed tone of familiar friendship. She re- 
 ceived his salutation with evident embarrassment ; her hand 
 and her voice trembled, and her bosom throbbed in a tumult 
 of anxiety and expectation. Ethelston saw that he could not 
 defer the promised explanation ; and he commenced it with 
 his usual gentleness of manner, but with a firm resolve that he 
 would be honest and explicit in his language. He began by 
 referring to his long illness, and, with gratitude, to her care 
 and attention during its continuance*; he assured her, that 
 having been told both by Madame L'Estrange and her brother, 
 that she was affianced to Monsieur Bertrand, he had accus- 
 tomed himself to look on her as a younger sister ; and, as such, 
 had ventured to offer her advice and instruction in her studies. 
 He knew not, he dreamt not, that she could ever look upon 
 him in any other light than that of a Mentor. 
 
 Here he paused a moment, and continued in a deeper 
 and more earnest tone " Nina dear Nina, we must be as 
 Mentor and his pupil to each other, or we must part. I 
 will frankly lay my heart open to you. I will conceal 
 nothing; then you will not blame me, and will, I hope, 
 permit me to remain your grateful friend and brother. Nina, 
 I am not blind either to your beauty, or to the many, many 
 graces of your disposition. I do full justice to the warmth 
 and truth of your affections : you deserve, when loved, to be 
 loved with a whole heart " 
 
 " O spare this ! " interrupted Nina, in a hurried whisper : 
 " Spare this, speak of yourself ! " 
 
 " I was even about to do so," continued Ethelston ; " but, 
 Nina, such a heart I have not to give. For many months 
 and years, before I ever saw or knew you, I have loved, and 
 still am betrothed to another." 
 
 A cold shudder seemed to pass through Nina's frame 
 while these few words were spoken, as if in a moment the 
 health, the hope, the blossom of her youth were blighted ! 
 Not a tear, not even a sob, gave relief to her agony her 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 119 
 
 bloodless lip trembled in a vain attempt to speak she knew 
 not what, and a burning chill sat upon her heart. These 
 words may appear to some strange and contradictory : happy, 
 thrice happy, ye to whom they so appear ! If you have 
 never known what it is to feel at once a scorching heat parch- 
 ing the tongue, and drying up all the well-springs of life 
 within, while a leaden weight of ice seems to benumb the 
 heart, then have you never known the sharpest, extreme 
 pangs of disappointed love ! 
 
 Ethelston was prepared for some sudden and violent ex- 
 pression on the part of Nina, but this death-like, motionless 
 silence almost overpowered him. He attempted, by the 
 gentlest and the kindest words, to arouse her from this 
 stupor of grief. He took her hand ; its touch was cold. 
 Again and again he called her name ; but her ear seemed 
 insensible, even to his voice. At length, unable to bear the 
 sight of her distress, and fearful that he might no longer 
 restrain his tongue from uttering words which would be treason 
 to his first and faithful love, he rushed into the house, and 
 hastily informing Nina's governess that her pupil had been 
 suddenly taken ill in the orange-grove, he locked himself in 
 his room, and gave vent to the contending emotions by which 
 he was oppressed. 
 
 It was in vain that he strove to calm himself by the reflec- 
 tion that he had intentionally transgressed none of the de- 
 mands of truth and honour ; it was in vain that he called 
 up all the long-cherished recollections of his Lucy and his 
 home ; still the image of Nina would not be banished ; now- 
 presenting itself as he had seen her yesterday, in the full glow 
 of passion, and in the full bloom of youthful beauty, and 
 now, as he had just left her, in the deadly paleness and fixed 
 apathy of despair. The terrible thought that, whether guiltily 
 or innocently, he had been the cause of all this suffering in 
 one to whom he owed protection and gratitude, wrung his 
 heart with pain that he could not repress ; and he found relief 
 only in falling on his knees, and praying to the Almighty that 
 the sin might not be laid to his charge, and that Nina's sorrow 
 might be soothed and comforted by Him, who is the God of 
 consolation. 
 
 Meanwhile the governess had, with the assistance of two of 
 the negro attendants, brought Nina into the house. The poor 
 x 4 
 
120 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 girl continued in the same state of insensibility to all that 
 was passing around ; her eyes were open, but she seemed to 
 recognise no one, and a few vague indistinct words still trem- 
 bled on her lips. 
 
 The doctor was instantly summoned, who pronounced, as 
 soon as he had seen his patient, that she was in a dangerous 
 fit, using sundry mysterious expressions about " febrile symp- 
 toms," and " pressure on the brain," to which the worthy leech 
 added shakings of the head yet more mysterious. 
 
 For many days her condition continued alarming ; the 
 threatened fever came, and with it a protracted state of 
 delirium. During this period Ethelston's anxiety and agita- 
 tion were extreme; and proportionate was the relief that he 
 experienced, when he learnt that the crisis was past, and 
 that the youthful strength of her constitution promised speedy 
 recovery. 
 
 Meanwhile he had to endure the oft-repeated inquiries of 
 the governess, Cf How he happened to find Mademoiselle just 
 as the fit came on ? " and of Madame L'Estrange, " How it 
 was possible for Nina to be attacked by so sudden an illness, 
 while walking in the orange-grove ? " 
 
 When she was at length pronounced out of danger, Ethel- 
 ston again began to consider various projects for his meditated 
 escape from the island. He had more than once held com- 
 munication with his faithful Cupid on the subject, who was 
 ready to brave all risks in the service of his master ; but the 
 distance which must be traversed before they could expect to 
 find a friendly ship or coast, seemed to exclude all reasonable 
 hope of success. 
 
 It would be impossible to follow and portray the thousand 
 changes that came over Nina's spirit during her recovery. She 
 remembered but too well the words that Ethelston had last 
 spoken : at one moment she called him perfidious, ungrateful, 
 heartless ; then she chid herself for railing at him, and 
 loaded his name with every blessing, and the expression of the 
 fondest affection : now she resolved that she would never see 
 nor speak to him more ; then she thought that she must see 
 him, if it were only to show how she had conquered her weak- 
 ness. Amidst all these contending resolutions, she worked 
 herself into the belief that Ethelston had deceived her ; and 
 that, because he thought her a child, and did not love her, he 
 
THE PBA1RIE-B1RD. 121 
 
 had invented the tale of his previous engagement to lessen her 
 mortification. This soon became her settled conviction ; and 
 when it crossed her mind, she would start with passion and 
 exclaim, " He shall yet love me, and me alone ! " 
 
 The only confidant of her love was a young negress, who 
 waited upon her, and who was indeed so devoted to her that 
 she would have braved the Commodore's utmost wrath, or 
 perilled her life, to execute her mistress' commands. 
 
 It happened one evening that this girl, whose name was 
 Fanchette, went out to gather some fruit in the orange-grove ; 
 and while thus employed she heard the voice of some one 
 speaking. On drawing nearer to the spot whence the sound 
 proceeded, she saw Ethelston sitting under the deep shade of 
 a tree, with what appeared a book before him. 
 
 Knowing that Nina was still confined to her room, he had 
 resorted hither to consider his schemes without interruption, 
 and was so busily employed in comparing distances, and calcu- 
 lating possibilities, on the map before him, that Fanchette 
 easily crept to a place whence she could, unperceived, overhear 
 and observe him. " I must and will attempt it," he muttered 
 aloud to himself; "we must steal a boat. Cupid and I can 
 manage it between us ; my duty and my love both forbid my 
 staying longer here : with a fishing-boat we might reach 
 Antigua or Dominica, or at all events chance to fall in with an 
 American or a neutral vessel. Poor dear Nina," he added, in 
 a lower tone. " Would to God I had never visited this shore ! 
 this" he continued, drawing a locket from his breast, " this 
 treasured remembrance of one far distant has made me proof 
 against thy charms, cold to thy love, but not, as Heaven is my 
 witness, unmoved or insensible to thy sufferings." So saying 
 he relapsed into silent musing ; and as he replaced the locket, 
 Fanchette crept noiselessly from her concealment, and ran to 
 communicate to her young mistress her version of what she 
 had seen. Being very imperfectly skilled in English, she 
 put her own construction upon those few words which she 
 had caught, and thought to serve Nina best by telling her 
 what she would most like to hear. Thus she described to 
 her how Ethelston had spoken to himself over a map ; how 
 he had mentioned islands to which he would sail ; how he 
 had named her name with tenderness, and had taken some- 
 thing from his vest to press it to his lips. 
 
122 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Poor Nina listened in a tumult of joy; her passionate 
 heart would admit 110 doubting suggestion of her reason. 
 She was too happy to bear even the presence of Fanchette, 
 and rewarding her for her good news by the present of a 
 beautiful shawl which she wore at the moment, pushed the 
 delighted little negress out of the room, and threw herself 
 on her couch, where she repeated a hundred times that he 
 had been to her orange-grove, where they had last parted, 
 had named her name with tenderness, had pressed some token 
 to his lips what could that be ? It might be a flower, 
 a book, any thing it mattered not so long as she only 
 knew he loved her ! Having long wept with impassioned 
 joy, she determined to show herself worthy of his love ; and 
 the schemes which she formed, and resolved to carry into 
 effect, evinced the wild force and energy of her romantic 
 character. Among her father's slaves was one who, being 
 a steady and skilful seaman, had the charge of a schooner 
 {originally an American prize), which lay in the harbour, 
 and which the Commodore sometimes used as a pleasure- 
 yacht, or for short trips to other parts of the island: this 
 man (whose name was Jacques) was not only a great favourite 
 with the young lady, but was also smitten with the black 
 eyes and plump charms of M'amselle Fanchette, who thus 
 exercised over him a sway little short of absolute. Nina 
 having held a conference with her abigail, sent for Jacques, 
 who was also admitted to a confidential consultation, the 
 result of which, after-occurrences will explain to the reader. 
 When this was over, she acquired, rather than assumed, a 
 sudden composure and cheerfulness : the delights of a plot 
 seemed at once to restore her to health ; and on the fol- 
 lowing day she sent to request that Ethelston would come 
 to see her in her boudoir, where she received him with a 
 calmness and self-possession for which he was altogether 
 unprepared. " Mr. Ethelston," said she, as soon as he was 
 seated, " I believe you still desire to escape from your pri- 
 son, and that you are devising various plans for effecting 
 that object ;- you will never succeed unless you call me into 
 your counsel." 
 
 Ethelston, though extremely surprised at the composure of 
 her manner and language, replied with a smile, (C M'amselle 
 Nina, I will not deny that you have rightly guessed my 
 
THE PKAIRIE-Bmn. 128 
 
 thoughts ; but as your father is my jailor, I did not dare to 
 ask your counsel in this matter." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Mentor," said the wayward girl, " how does 
 your wisdom propose to act without my counsel ? *' 
 
 " I confess I am somewhat at a loss," said Ethelston, good- 
 humouredly ; " I must go either through the air or the water ; 
 and the latter, being my proper element, is the path which I 
 would rather attempt." 
 
 " And what should you think of me, if I were to play the 
 traitoress, and aid you in eluding the vigilance of my father, 
 and afford the means of escape to so formidable an enemy ? " 
 
 Ethelston was completely puzzled by this playful tone of 
 banter, in one whom he had last seen under a paroxysm of 
 passion, and in whose dark eye there yet lurked an expression 
 which he could not define ; but he resolved to continue the 
 conversation in the same spirit, and replied, " I would not 
 blame you for this act of filial disobedience ; and though no 
 longer your father's prisoner, I would, if I escaped, ever remain 
 his friend." 
 
 " And would you show no gratitude to the lady who effected 
 your release ? " 
 
 " I owe her already more far more, than I can pay ; and, 
 for this last crowning act of her generosity and kindness, I 
 would" 
 
 As he hesitated, she inquired, abruptly, " You would what, 
 Ethelston ? " For a moment she had forgotten f he part she 
 was acting ; and both the look that accompanied these words, 
 and the tone in which they were pronounced, reminded him 
 that he stood on the brink of a volcanic crater. 
 
 " I would give her any proof of my gratitude that she 
 would deign to accept, yes any," he repeated earnestly, " even 
 to life itself, knowing that she is too noble and generous to 
 accept aught at my hands which faith and honour forbid me to 
 offer." 
 
 Nina turned aside for a moment, overcome by her emotion ; 
 but recovering herself quickly, she added, in her former tone 
 of pleasantry, " She will not impose any hard conditions ; but 
 to the purpose ; has your sailor-eye noticed a certain little 
 schooner anchored in the harbour? " 
 
 " What ! " said Ethelston, eagerly, " a beautiful craft, of 
 about twenty tons, on the other side of the bay ? " 
 
124 THE PRAIRIE-BIRI). 
 
 "Even the same." 
 
 " Surely I have ! She is American built, and swims like a 
 duck." 
 
 " Well then/' replied Nina, " I think I shall do no great 
 harm in restoring her to an American ! How many men 
 should you require to manage her ? " 
 
 " I could sail her easily with one able seaman, besides my 
 black friend Cupid." 
 
 " Then," said Nina, " I propose to lend her to you ; you 
 may send her back at your convenience ; and I will also provide 
 you an able seaman : write me a list of the stores and articles 
 which you will require for the trip, and send it me in an 
 hour's time : prepare your own baggage, and be ready upon 
 the shortest notice. It is now my turn to command, and yours 
 to obey. Good-b'ye, Mr. Mentor." So saying, she kissed her 
 hand to him, and withdrew. 
 
 Ethelston rubbed his eyes as if he did not believe their 
 evidence. " Could this merry, ready-witted girl be the same 
 as the Nina whom he had seen, ten days before, heart-broken, 
 and unable to conceal or repress the violence of her passion ? " 
 The longer he mused, the more was he puzzled ; and he came 
 at length to a conclusion at which many, more wise and more 
 foolish than himself, had arrived, that a woman's mind, when 
 influenced by her affections, is a riddle hard to be solved. He 
 had not, however, much time for reflection, and being resolved 
 at all risks to escape from the island, he hastened to his room, 
 and, within the hour specified by Nina, sent her a list of the 
 stores and provisions for the voyage. 
 
 Meanwhile Fanchette had not been idle : she had painted to 
 Jacques, in the liveliest colours, the wealth, beauty, and free- 
 dom of the distant land of Ohio, artfully mingling with this 
 description promises and allurements which operated more 
 directly on the feelings of her black swain ; so that the latter, 
 finding himself entreated by Fanchette, and commanded by 
 his young mistress, hesitated no longer to betray his trust, and 
 desert the Commodore. 
 
 Ethelston, having communicated the prosperous state of 
 affairs to Cupid, and desired him to have all ready for imme- 
 diate escape, hastened to obey another summons sent to him 
 by Nina. He found her in a mood no less cheerful than before ; 
 and although she purposely averted her face, a smile, the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 125 
 
 meaning of which he could not define, played round the corner 
 of her expressive mouth. Though really glad to escape home- 
 ward, and disposed to be grateful to Nina for her aid, he could 
 not help feeling angry and vexed at the capricious eagerness 
 with which she busied herself in contriving the departure of 
 one to whom she had so lately given the strongest demonstration 
 of tenderness ; and although his heart told him that he could 
 not love her, there was something in this easy and sudden 
 withdrawal of her affection which wounded that self-love from 
 which the best of men are not altogether free. These feelings 
 gave an unusual coldness and constraint to his manner, when 
 he inquired her further commands. 
 
 To this question Nina replied by saying, "Then, Mr. 
 Ethelston, you are quite resolved to leave us, and to risk all 
 the chances and perils of this voyage ? " 
 
 " Quite," he replied : " it is my wish, my duty, and my 
 firm determination ; and I entered the room," he added, almost 
 in a tone of reproof, " desirous of repeating to you my thanks 
 for your kind assistance." 
 
 Nina's countenance changed ; but, still averting it from 
 Ethelston, she continued in a lower voice, " And do you leave 
 us without pain without regret ? " 
 
 There was a tremor, a natural feeling in the tone in which 
 she uttered these few words, that recalled to his mind all that 
 he had seen her suffer, and drove from it the harsh thoughts 
 which he had begun to entertain ; and he answered, in a voice 
 from which his self-command could not banish all traces 
 of emotion, " Dear Nina, I shall leave you with regret that 
 would amount to misery, if I thought that my visit had 
 brought any permanent unhappiness into this house. I desire 
 to leave you as a Mentor should leave a beloved pupil as a 
 brother leaves a sister ; with a full hope, that when I am gone, 
 you will fulfil your parents' wishes, your own auspicious 
 destinies, and that, after years and years of happiness among 
 those whom Fate has decreed to be the companions of your 
 life, you will look back upon me as upon a faithful adviser of 
 your youth, an affectionate friend, who " 
 
 Nina's nerves were not strung for the part she had under- 
 taken : gradually her countenance had grown pale as marble ; 
 a choking sensation oppressed her throat ; and she sunk in a 
 chair, sobbing, rather than uttering, the word, "Water." 
 
126 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 It was fortunately at hand ; and having placed it in a glass by 
 her side, Ethelston retired to the window to conceal his own 
 emotion, and to allow time for that of Nina to subside. 
 
 After a few minutes she recovered her self-possession ; and 
 although still deadly pale, her voice was distinct and firm, as 
 she said, " Ethelston, I am ashamed of this weakness ; but it 
 is over : we will not speak of the past, and will leave to Fate 
 the future. Now listen to me: all the arrangements for 
 your departure will be complete by to-morrow evening. At 
 an hour before midnight, a small boat, with one man, will be 
 at the Quai du Marche, below the Place St. Louis. It is far 
 from the fort, and there is no sentry near the spot : you can 
 then row to the vessel and depart. But is it not too dan- 
 gerous ? " she added. " Can you risk it ? for the wind 
 whistles terribly, and I fear the approach of a hurricane ! " 
 
 Ethelston's eye brightened as he replied, " A rough night 
 is the fairest for the purpose, Nina." 
 
 " Be it so," she replied. " Now, in return for all that I 
 have done for you, there is only one favour I have to ask at 
 your hands." 
 
 " Name it," said Ethelston, eagerly. 
 
 " There is," she continued, " a poor sick youth in the 
 town, the child of respectable parents in New Orleans; he 
 desires to go home, if it be only to die there : and a nurse 
 will take care of him on the passage, if you will let him go 
 with you?" 
 
 "Assuredly I will," said Ethelston; "and will take as 
 much care of him as if he were my brother." 
 
 (t Nay," said Nina, " they tell me he is ordered to be per- 
 fectly quiet, and no one attends him but the nurse ; neither 
 will he give any trouble, as the coxswain says there is a small 
 cabin where he can remain alone and undisturbed." 
 
 " You may depend," said Ethelston, " that all your orders 
 about him shall be faithfully performed ; and I will see, if I 
 live, that he reaches his home in safety." 
 
 " He and his nurse will be on board before you," said 
 Nina ; " and as soon as you reach the vessel, you have 
 nothing to do but to escape as quick as you can. Now I must 
 bid you farewell ! I may not have spirits to see you again ! " 
 She held out her hand to him ; it was cold as ice ; her face 
 was still half-averted, and her whole frame trembled violently- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 127 
 
 Ethelston took the offered hand, and pressed it to his lips, 
 saying, " A thousand, thousand thanks for all your kindness ! 
 If I reach home alive I will make your honoured father ample 
 amends for the theft of his schooner ; and if ever you have 
 an opportunity to let me know that you are well and happy, 
 do not forget that such news will always gladden my heart." 
 He turned to look at her as he went ; he doubted whether 
 the cold rigid apathy of her form and countenance was that 
 of despair or of indifference ; but he dared not trust himself 
 longer in her presence ; and as he left the room she sunk on 
 the chair against which she had been leaning for support. 
 
 When Ethelston found himself alone, he collected his 
 thoughts, and endeavoured in vain to account for the strange 
 deportment of Nina in bidding him farewell. The coldness of 
 her manner, the abrupt brevity of her parting address, had 
 surprised him ; and yet the tremor, the emotion, amounting 
 almost to fainting, the forced tone of voice in which she had 
 spoken, all forbad him to hope that she had overcome her un- 
 happy passion ; he was grieved that he had scarcely parted from 
 her in kindness; and the pity with which he regarded her was, 
 for the moment, almost akin to love. 
 
 Shaking off this temporary weakness, he employed himself 
 forthwith in the preparations for his departure : among the 
 first of which was a letter, which he wrote to Captain 
 L'Estrange, and left upon his table. On the following day 
 he never once saw Nina ; but he heard from one of the 
 slaves that she was confined to her room by severe headache. 
 
 The wind blew with unabated force, the evening was dark 
 and lowering, as, at the appointed hour, Ethelston, accompanied 
 by his faithful Cupid, left the house with noiseless step. 
 They reached the boat without obstruction ; pushed off, and 
 in ten minutes were safe on deck: the coxswain whispered 
 that all was ready; the boat was hoisted up, the anchor 
 weighed, and the schooner was soon dashing the foam from her 
 bows on the open sea. 
 
128 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WHAT TOOK PLACE AT MOOSHANNE DURING THE STAY OP ETHELSTON 
 IN GUADALOUPE. DEPARTURE OF REGINALD FOR THE FAR-WEST. 
 
 WHILE the events related in the last two chapters occurred 
 at Guadaloupe, Reginald was busily employed at Mooshanne 
 in completing the preparations for his projected visit to the 
 Delawares, in the Far-west ; he had (by putting in practice 
 the instructions given him by War-Eagle respecting Nekimi) 
 at length succeeded in gaining that noble animal's affection ; 
 he neighed at Reginald's approach, knew and obeyed his 
 voice, fed from his hand, and received and returned his cares- 
 ses, as he had before done those of his Indian master. It was 
 when mounted on Nekimi that our hero found his spirit most 
 exulting and buoyant ; he gave him the rein on the broadest 
 of the neighbouring prairies, and loved to feel the springy fleet- 
 ness and untiring muscles of this child of the western desert. 
 Sometimes, after a gallop of many miles, he would leap from 
 the saddle, to look with pride and pleasure on the spirited eye, 
 the full veins, the expanded nostril of his favourite ; at other 
 times he would ride him slowly through the most tangled and 
 difficult ground, admiring the instinctive and unerring saga- 
 city with which he picked his way. 
 
 Among Reginald's other accomplishments, he had learnt in 
 Germany to play not unskilfully on the horn ; and constantly 
 carrying his bugle across his shoulders, Nekimi grew so accus- 
 tomed to the sound, that he would come to it from any dis- 
 tance within hearing of its call. It appeared to Reginald so 
 probable that the bugle might render him good service on his 
 summer excursion, that he not only practised his horse to it, 
 but he prevailed on Baptiste to learn his various signals, and 
 even to reply on another horn to some of the simplest of them. 
 The Lonest guide's first attempts to sound the bugle were lu- 
 dicrous in the extreme ; but he good-humouredly persevered, 
 until Reginald and he could, from a considerable distance, 
 exchange many useful signals agreed upon between them, and 
 of course intelligible to none but themselves. Among these 
 were the following: "Beware!" "Come to me," "Be 
 Still," "'Bring my horse," and one or two others for hunt- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 129 
 
 ing purposes, such as "A bear!" li Buffalo!" To these 
 they added a reply, which was always to signify " I under- 
 stand." But if the party called was prevented from obeying, 
 this signal was to be varied accordingly. 
 
 At the same time Reginald did not omit to learn from the 
 guide a number of Delaware words and phrases, in order that 
 when he arrived among his new friends he might not be alto- 
 gether excluded from communication with such of them as 
 should not understand English ; in these preparations, and 
 occasional hunts in company with Baptiste, his time would 
 have glided on agreeably enough, had he not observed with 
 anxiety the settled melancholy that was gradually creeping 
 over his sister Lucy. It was in vain that he strove to comfort 
 her by reminding her of the thousand trifling accidents that 
 might have detained Ethelston in the West Indies, and have 
 prevented his letters from reaching home. She smiled upon 
 him kindly for his well-meant endeavours, and not only ab- 
 stained from all complaint, but tried to take her part in con- 
 versation ; yet he saw plainly that her cheerfulness was forced, 
 and that secret sorrow was at her heart. She employed her- 
 self assiduously in tending her mother, whose health had of 
 late become exceedingly precarious, and who was almost always 
 confined to her apartments. Lucy worked by her side, con- 
 versed with her, read to her, and did all in her power to hide 
 from her the grief that possessed her own bosom. Reginald 
 marked the struggle, which strengthened, if possible, the love 
 that he had always felt for his exemplary and affectionate 
 sister. 
 
 One day he was sitting with her in the boudoir, which com- 
 manded, as we have before observed, a view of the approach 
 to the house, where they saw a horseman coming at full speed. 
 As he drew near, he seemed to be a middle-aged man, wear- 
 ing a broad-brimmed hat, a coarse over-coat, and loose trow- 
 sers ; his knees were high up on the saddle, and he rode in 
 so careless and reckless a manner, that it was marvellous how 
 the uncouth rider could remain on his horse in a gallop. 
 Reginald threw open the window ; and as the strange-looking 
 figure caught a sight of him, the steed was urged yet faster, 
 and the broad-brimmed hat was waved in token of recogni- 
 tion. 
 
 " Now Heaven be praised ! " exclaimed Reginald aloud : 
 
ISO THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 " 'tis Gregson the mate ! " He turned towards his sister : the 
 blood had fled from her cheeks and lip, her hands were clasped 
 - together, and she whispered, in a voice scarcely articulate, 
 " Heaven be merciful ! " 
 
 ' Nay, Lucy," said ker sanguine brother, " why this grief? 
 are you not glad that The Pride is returned ? " 
 
 " Oh, Reginald !" said Lucy, looking on him reproachfully 
 
 through the tears which now streamed from her eyes. " Think 
 
 you that if he had been alive and well, he would have allowed 
 
 > another to come here before him ! Go and speak to the man 
 
 I cannot see him you will return and tell me all." 
 
 Reginald felt the reproof, and, kissing her affectionately, 
 hastened from the room. 
 
 Who shall attempt to lift the veil from Lucy's heart during 
 the suspense of the succeeding minutes ? It is fortunate for 
 human nature, that at such a moment the mind is too confused 
 to be conscious of its own sufferings : the mingled emotions of 
 hope and fear, the half-breathed prayer, the irresistible desire 
 to learn, contending with the dread of more assured misery,- 
 all these unite in producing that agony of suspense which it is 
 impossible to describe in words, and of which the mind of the 
 sufferer can scarcely realise afterwards a distinct impression. 
 
 After a short absence, Reginald returned, and said to his 
 sister, " Lucy, Ethelston is not here, but he is alive and safe." 
 
 She hid her face in her brother's breast, and found relief in 
 a flood of grateful tears. As soon as Lucy had recovered her 
 composure, her brother informed her of Ethelston's captivity, 
 and of the serious, though not dangerous, wounds that he had 
 received ; but he mingled with the narration such warm 
 praises of his friend's heroic defence of the brig, and so many 
 sanguine assurances of his speedy release and return, that her 
 fears and her anxietv were for a time absorbed in the glow of 
 pride with which she listened to the praises of her lover's con- 
 duct, and in the anticipation of soon having his adventures 
 from his own lips. The faithful mate received a kind wel- 
 come from the Colonel, and though the latter had sustained a 
 severe loss in the brig, he viewed it as a misfortune for which 
 no one could be blamed ; and directed all his anxiety and his 
 inquiries to the condition of Ethelston, whom he loved as his 
 own son. 
 
 " Depend on'r, Colonel/' said Gregson, " he'll come to no 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 131 
 
 harm where is he; for L'Estrange is a fine old fellow, and 
 Master Ethelston saved his son's neck from my cutlass. I was 
 cuttin' at him in downright airnest, for my dander was up ; 
 and you know, Colonel, a man a'nt particular nice in a deck 
 scurry like that ! " 
 
 " And what made him so anxious to save the youngster ? " 
 inquired the Colonel. 
 
 " Why I s'pose he thought the day was our own, and the 
 lieutenant too smart a lad to be roughly handled for naught ; 
 but the young mad-cap put a pistol-ball into his arm by way of 
 thanks." 
 
 ' Well, and did Ethelston still protect him ? " 
 
 "Ay, sir, all the same. I've served with a number of cap- 
 tains o' one sort or other, smugglers, and slave cruisers, and 
 old Burt, that the Cuba pirates used to call Gunpowder Jack, 
 but I will say I never saw a better man than Ethelston step 
 a deck, whether it's ' up stick and make sail,' or a heavy gale 
 on a lee-shore, or a game at long bowls, or a hammer-away 
 fight at yard-arm to yard-arm, it's all one to our skipper, he's 
 just as cool, and seems as well pleased, as when it's a free 
 breeze, a clear sea, and Black Cupid has piped to dinner." 
 
 " He is a gallant young fellow," said the Colonel, brushing 
 a little moisture from the corner of his eye ; " and we will 
 immediately take all possible measures for his liberation, both 
 by applying, through Congress, for his exchange, and by com- 
 municating with the French agents at New Orleans." 
 
 The conversation was protracted for some time ; and after 
 its termination, the mate having satisfied himself that the 
 Mooshanne cider had lost none of its flavour, and that Mon- 
 sieur Perrot's flask contained genuine cognac, returned in high 
 spirits to Marietta. 
 
 The preparations for Reginald's expedition now went briskly 
 forward, as the business which the Colonel wished him to 
 transact with the trading companies on the Mississippi did not 
 admit of delay. A large canoe was fitted out at Marietta, 
 capable of containing sixteen or eighteen persons, and possess- 
 ing sufficient stowage for the provisions and goods required : 
 the charge of it was given to an experienced voyageur, who 
 had more than once accompanied Baptiste in his excursions to 
 the Upper Mississippi and the Great Lakes ; he was a steady 
 determined man, on whose fidelity reliance might be placed, 
 
132 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and well calculated, from the firmness of his character, to keep 
 in order the rough and sturdy fellows who formed his crew. 
 Born and hred in that wild border region which now forms 
 the State of Michigan, the woods, rapids, and lakes had been 
 familiar to him from his childhood ; unlike most of his tribe, 
 he was singularly grave and taciturn ; he always wore a bear- 
 skin cap, and, whether in his bateau, his canoe, or his log-hut, 
 his bed was of the same material, so that he was known only 
 by the name of " Bearskin ; " his paternal appellation, whatever 
 it might have been originally, having become altogether obso- 
 lete and unknown. His crew consisted of four stout fellows, 
 who, like most of the Indian borderers, were as skilful in the 
 use of the paddle on the river as in that of the rifle on the 
 land. Among them was the gigantic form of Mike Smith, 
 before mentioned in this narrative ; all these were engaged by 
 the Colonel, at a liberal salary, for six months, which was to 
 be proportionately increased if they were detained in his ser- 
 vice for a longer period. It was also settled that Monsieur 
 Gustave Perrot should take his passage in the canoe ; and to 
 his care were entrusted the Indian presents, clothes, and other 
 articles, which were his master's own property. Reginald had 
 resolved to cross the territory on horseback, accompanied by 
 Baptiste, and he therefore meant to carry with him only such 
 arms, and other articles, as were likely to be required on the 
 journey. 
 
 The orders given to Bearskin were, to make the best of his 
 way to St. Louis, and having delivered the letters with which 
 he was entrusted, there to await Reginald's arrival. The 
 cargo of the canoe consisted chiefly (with the exception of a 
 full supply of arms and provisions) of powder, cutlery, clothes 
 of various colours, paints, mirrors, and a great variety of beads. 
 Her equipment was soon completed, and she left Marietta amid 
 the cheers of the crowd assembled on the wooden pier in front 
 of David Muir's store, the latter observing to our old friend the 
 mate, who stood at his elbow, " I'm thinking, Maister Greg- 
 son, they chaps will hae eneugh o' the red-skin deevils, an' 
 fur-huntin' amongst a wheen wild trappers and daft neer-do- 
 weels ayont the Mississippi ! Weel a weel, ye maun just step 
 ben and tak' a stoup o' cognac to the success o' Bearskin and 
 his crew." 
 
 Although there was much in the merchant's harangue that 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 133 
 
 was like Greek or Hebrew to the mate, the closing invitation 
 being adapted as well to his comprehension as to his inclina- 
 tion, he expressed a brief but cheerful acquiescence, and the 
 worthy couple entered the house together. As soon as they 
 were seated in the parlpur, Jessie placed on the table some 
 excellent conircakes and cheese, together with the before-men- 
 tioned cognac, and busied herself with even more than her 
 wonted alacrity, to offer these good things to the father of the 
 youth towards whom she entertained, as we have said, a secret 
 but very decided partiality. She carried her hospitality so far 
 as to bring a bottle of old madeira from David's favourite 
 corner in the cellar, which she decanted with great dexterity, 
 and placed before the mate. The jolly tar complimented the 
 merchant, after his own blunt fashion, both on the excellence 
 of his liquor, and the attractions of his daughter., saying, in 
 reference to the latter, " I can tell you, Master Muir, that I 
 hold Jessie to be as handsome and as handy a lass as any in 
 the territory. If I were twenty years younger, I should be 
 very apt to clap on all sail, and try to make a prize of her! " 
 
 At this moment his son entered from the store, under the 
 pretext of speaking to David about the sale of some goods, but 
 with the object of being for a few minutes near to Jessie. He 
 had never spoken to her of love, being afraid that his suit 
 would certainly be rejected by her parents, who, from their 
 reputed wealth, would doubtless expect to marry their daughter 
 to one of the principal personages in the commonwealth of 
 Marietta. As he entered, his eyes encountered those of Jessie, 
 who was still blushing from the effect of the compliment paid 
 to her by his father. 
 
 " Harry, my boy," shouted the mate, te you are just come in 
 time ; I have filled a glass of David's prime 84, and you must 
 give me a toast ! Now, my lad, speak up ; heave a-head ! " 
 
 " Father, I am ashamed of you ! " replied the youth, colour- 
 ing. " How can you ask for another toast when Miss Jessie's 
 standing at your elbow ? " 
 
 " The boy's right," said the sailor, " and he shall drink it, 
 too ; shan't he, David ? " 
 
 <( I'm thinking ye'll no need to ask him twice. Jessie, 
 hand the lad a glass ! " 
 
 At her father's bidding she brought another glass from the 
 cupboard ; and in giving it to young Gregson, one or other of 
 K 3 
 
134 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 them was so awkward, that, instead of it, he took her hand in 
 his ; and although he relinquished it immediately, there was a 
 pressure, unconscious perhaps, but so distinctly perceptible to 
 Jessie, that she blushed still deeper, and felt almost relieved 
 by hearing her name called from the store in the loudest key 
 of her mother's shrill voice, while it was repeated yet more 
 loudly by the honest mate, who gave the toast as she left the 
 room, " Here's Jessie Muir, a long life, and a happy one, 
 to her ! " 
 
 Henry Gregson drank the madeira, but he scarcely knew 
 whether it was sweet or sour, for his blood still danced with 
 the touch of Jessie's hand ; and setting down the glass, he re- 
 turned abruptly to the store, whether in the hope of stealing 
 another look at her, or to enjoy his own reflections on the 
 last few minutes, the reader may determine for himself. 
 
 The mate and the merchant continued their sitting until the 
 bottle of madeira was empty, and the flask of cognac was con- 
 siderably diminished : and although their conversation was 
 doubtless highly interesting, and worthy of being listened to 
 with the greatest attention, yet, as it did not bear immediately 
 upon the events of our narrative, we will leave it unrecorded 
 amongst the many other valuable treasures of a similar kind 
 which are suffered day by day to sink into oblivion. 
 
 M. Perrot being now fairly under way, and having taken 
 with him all the articles required by Reginald for his Indian 
 expedition, our hero resolved no longer to delay his own de- 
 parture, being about to encounter a very tedious land journey 
 before he could reach St. Louis, and being also desirous of 
 performing it by easy marches, in order that Nekimi might 
 arrive at the Osage hunting-camp fresh, and ready for any of 
 those emergencies in which success might depend upon his 
 strength and swiftness. Baptiste was now quite in his element ; 
 and an early day being fixed for their departure, he packed 
 the few clothes and provisions which they were likely to re- 
 quire on the journey, in two capacious leather bags, which 
 were to be slung across the rough hardy nag which had ac- 
 companied him on more than one distant expedition, and he 
 was soon able to announce to Reginald that he was ready to 
 start at an hour's notice. 
 
 The parting of our hero from his family was somewhat 
 trying to his firmness ; for poor Lucy, whose nerves were 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 135 
 
 much affected by her own sorrows, could not control her grief. 
 Aunt Mary also shed tears, whilst, mingled with her repeated 
 blessings, and excellent counsel, she gave him several infallible 
 recipes for the cure of cuts, bruises, and the bite of rattle- 
 snakes. The Colonel squeezed his hand with concealed emo- 
 tion, and bid him remember those whom he left behind, and 
 not incur any foolish risk in the pursuit of amusement, or in 
 the excitement of Indian adventure. But it was in parting 
 with his mother that his feelings underwent the severest trial, 
 for her health had long been gradually declining ; and although 
 she evinced the resigned composure which marked her gentle 
 uncomplaining character, there was a deep solemnity in her 
 farewell benediction, arising from a presentiment that they 
 might not meet again on this side of the grave. It required 
 all the beauty of the scenery through which he passed, and all 
 the constitutional buoyancy of his spirits, to enable Reginald 
 to shake off the sadness which crept over him, when he caught 
 from a rising ground the last glimpse of Mooshanne ; but the 
 fresh elasticity of youth ere long prevailed, and he ran his 
 fingers through the glossy mane that hung over Nekimi's 
 arching crest, anticipating with pleasure the wild adventures 
 by flood and field that they would share together. 
 
 Reginald wore the deer-skin hunting-suit that we have be- 
 fore described : his rifle he had se>:t with the canoe, the bugle 
 was slung across his shoulders, a brace of horse-pistols were 
 in the holsters, and a hunting-knife hanging at his girdle 
 completed his equipment. The sturdy guide was more heavily 
 armed ; for besides his long rifle, which he never quitted, a 
 knife hung on one side of his belt, and at the other was slung 
 the huge axe which had procured him the name by which 
 he was known among some of the tribes ; but in spite of these 
 accoutrements, and of the saddle-bags before mentioned, his 
 hardy nag paced along with an enduring vigour that would 
 hardly have been expected from one of so coarse and un- 
 promising an exterior ; sometimes their way lay through the 
 rast prairies which were still found in the states of Indiana and 
 Illinois ; at others among dense woods and rich valleys, through 
 which flowed the various tributaries that swell Ohio's mighty 
 stream, the guide losing no opportunity of explaining to Re- 
 ginald as they went all the signs and secret indications of 
 Indian or border wood-craft that occurred. They met with 
 K 4 
 
136 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 abundance of deer, and at night they made their fire ; and, 
 having finished their venison supper, camped under the shelter 
 of some ancient oak or sycamore. Thus Reginald's hardy 
 frame became on this preliminary journey more inured to the 
 exposure that he would have to undergo among the Osages 
 and Delawares of the Far- west : they fell in now and then 
 with straggling bands of hunters and of friendly Indians, but 
 with no adventures worthy of record ; and thus, after a steady 
 march of twenty days, they reached the banks of the Missis- 
 sippi, and crossed in the ferry to St. Louis. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE ESCAPE OF ETHELSTON FROM GUADALOUPE, AND THE CONSE- 
 QUENCES WHICH ENSUED FROM THAT EXPEDITION. 
 
 WE left Ethelston on the deck of the little schooner, which 
 was bearing him rapidly from the shores of Guadaloupe, under 
 the influence of an easterly wind, so strong that all his atten- 
 tion was absorbed in the management of the vessel. During 
 the night the gale increased, and blew with unabated violence 
 for forty-eight hours. The Seagull, for so she was called, 
 scudded lightly before it; and on the third day, Ethelston 
 had made by his log upwards of five hundred miles of wes- 
 terly course. 
 
 Having only two hands on board, and the weather being so 
 uncommonly boisterous, he had been kept in constant employ- 
 ment, and had only been able to snatch a few brief intervals 
 for sleep and refreshment : he found Jacques the coxswain an 
 active able seaman, but extremely silent and reserved, obeying 
 exactly the orders he received, but scarcely uttering a word, 
 even to Cupid ; it was he alone who attended upon the in- 
 valid and the nurse in the after-cabin and the weather having 
 now moderated, Ethelston asked how the youth had borne the 
 pitching and tossing of the vessel during the late gale. Jacques 
 replied, that he was not worse, and seemed not to suffer from 
 the sea. The captain was satisfied, and retired to his cabin ; 
 he had not been there long before Cupid entered ; and care- 
 fully shutting the door behind him, stood before his master, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 13? 
 
 with a peculiar expression of countenance, which the latter 
 well knew to intimate some unexpected intelligence. 
 
 " Well, Cupid, what is it ? " said Ethelston, " is there a 
 suspicious sail in sight ? " 
 
 " Very suspicious, Massa Ethelston/' replied the black, 
 grinning and lowering his voice to a whisper, " and suspicious 
 goods aboard the schooner." 
 
 " What mean you, Cupid ? " 
 
 " There is some trick aboard. I not like that Jacques th&t 
 never speak, and I not like that sick boy and his nurse, that 
 nobody never see." 
 
 " But why should you be angry, Cupid, with the poor boy 
 because he is sick ? I have promised to deliver him safe to 
 his friends at New Orleans, and I hope soon, with this breeze, 
 to perform my promise." 
 
 " Massa Ethelston, I believe it all one 1....... trick I not 
 
 believe there is one sick boy :. when Jacques come in and go 
 out of that cabin he creep, and look, and listen, and watch 
 like the Colonel's grey cat at the cheese cupboard. Cupid no 
 pretend to much learnin', but he no be made fool of by >\L a 
 French nigger, and he no tell Massa Ethelston a lie." So 
 saying, the African withdrew as quietly as he had entered. 
 
 After musing some time on his follower's communication 
 and suspicions, he resolved to unravel whatever mystery might 
 be attached to the matter, by visiting the invalid immediately. 
 On his knocking gently at the door for admission, he was an- 
 swered from within by the nurse that her patient was asleep, 
 and ought not now to be disturbed ; but being determined not 
 to allow another day to pass in uncertainty, he went on deck, 
 and summoning Jacques, told him to go down presently and 
 inform the nurse that in the evening, as soon as her patient was 
 ajyake, he should pay him a visit. 
 
 Jacques received this mandate with some confusion, and 
 began to stammer something about the " poor boy not being 
 disturbed." 
 
 " Harkee, sir," said Ethelston sternly ; " I am captain on 
 board this craft, and will be obeyed: as you go into that 
 cabin three or four times a day to attend upon the invalid, 
 methinks my presence cannot be so dangerous. I will take 
 the risk upon myself : you hear my orders, sir, and they are 
 not to be trifled with ! " 
 
138 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Jacques disappeared, and Ethelston remained pacing the 
 deck. In about half an hour the latter came up to him and 
 said, " The young gentleman will receive the captain at sun- 
 down." 
 
 te Very well," replied Ethelston, and continued to pace the 
 deck, revolving in his mind all the strange events of the last 
 month, his illness, the unfortunate passion of Nina, and her 
 strange behaviour when he bid her farewell. 
 
 At the appointed time he went down, and again knocked at 
 the side cabin door for admission : it was opened by the 
 nurse, apparently a young woman of colour, who whispered to 
 him in French, ""' Go in, sir, and speak gently to him, for he 
 is very delicate." So saying, she left the cabin, and closed the 
 door behind her. 
 
 Ethelston approached the sofa, on which the grey evening 
 light permitted him to see a slight figure, covered with a 
 mantle ; and addressing the invalid kindly, he said, " I fear, 
 young sir, you must have suffered much during the gale." 
 
 " No, I thank you," was the reply, but so faintly uttered 
 as to be scarcely audible. 
 
 "Can I do anything to make your stay on board more 
 comfortable ? " 
 
 " Yes," was the whispered answer. 
 
 " Then tell me what, or how ; as I have promised to do all 
 in my power to make the voyage agreeable to you." 
 
 After a pause of a minute, during which the invalid seemed 
 struggling with repressed emotion, the mantle was suddenly 
 thrown aside, the recumbent figure sprang from the sofa, and 
 Nina stood before him ! " Yes," she said ; " you have pro- 
 mised and my ears drank in the promise : for it, and for 
 you, I have abandoned home, country, kindred, what do I 
 say, I have abandoned nothing ; for you are to me home, 
 kindred, country, every thing ! Dear, dear Ethelston ! this 
 moment repays me for all I have suffered." As she spoke 
 thus, she threw her arms round his neck, and hid her blushing 
 face upon his breast. 
 
 Ethelston was so completely taken by surprise, that for a 
 moment he could not utter a syllable. Mistaking his silence 
 for a full participation in her own impassioned feelings, and 
 looking up in her face, her eyes beaming with undisguised 
 affection, and her dark tresses falling carelessly over her beau- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 139 
 
 tiful neck, she continued, "Oh, speak speak one gentle 
 word, nay, rather break not this delicious silence, and let 
 me dream here for ever." 
 
 If Ethelston was for a moment stupified, partly by surprise, 
 and partly by the effect of her surpassing loveliness, it was 
 but for a moment. His virtue, pride, and honour were aroused, 
 and the suggestions of passion found no entrance to his heart. 
 Firmly, but quietly replacing her on the sofa she had quitted, 
 he said, in a voice more stern than he had ever before used 
 when addressing her. " Nina, you have grieved me more than 
 I can express ; you have persisted in seeking a heart which I 
 frankly told you was not mine to give. I see no longer in you 
 the Nina whom I first knew in Ouadaloupe, gentle, affec- 
 tionate, and docile, but a wild, headstrong girl, pursuing a 
 wayward fancy, regardless of truth, and of that maidenly 
 reserve which is woman's sweetest charm. Not only have 
 you thus hurt my feelings, but you have brought a stain upon 
 my honour, nay, interrupt me not," he added, seeing that 
 she was about to speak ; " for I must tell you the truth, and 
 you must learn to bear it, even though it may sound harsh to 
 your ears. I repeat, you have brought a stain upon my 
 honour, for what vfill your respected father think of the 
 man whom he received wounded, suffering, and a prisoner 
 whom he cherished with hospitable kindness, and who now 
 requites all his benefits by stealing from his roof the daughter 
 of his love, the ornament and blessing of his home ? Nina, 
 I did not think that you would have brought this disgrace and 
 humiliation upon my name ! I have now a sacred and a pain- 
 ful duty before me, and I will see you no more until I have 
 restored you to the arms of an offended father. I hope he 
 will forgive you, as I do, for the wrong that you have done to 
 both of us. Farewell, Nina." With these words, spoken in 
 a voice trembling with contending emotions, he turned and 
 left the cabin. 
 
 Reader ! have you ever dwelt in Sicily, or in any other 
 southern island of volcanic formation ? If so, you may have 
 seen a verdant spot near the base of the mountain, where the 
 flowers and the herbage were smiling in the fresh beauty of 
 summer, where the luxuriant vine mingled her tendrils with 
 the spreading branches of the elm, where the air was loaded 
 with fragrance, and the ear was refreshed by the hum of bees 
 
140 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and the murmur of a rippling stream : on a sudden, th 
 slumbering mountain-furnace is aroused the sulphurous cra- 
 ter pours forth its fiery deluge, and in a moment the spot so 
 lately teeming with life, fertility, and fragrance is become the 
 arid, barren abode of desolation. If, reader, you have seen 
 this fearful change on the face of nature, or if you can place 
 it vividly before your imagination, then may you conceive 
 the state of Nina's mind, when her long-cherished love was 
 thus abruptly and finally rejected by the man for whom she 
 had sacrificed her home, her parents, and her pride ! It is 
 impossible for language to portray an agony such as that by 
 which all the faculties of her soul and body seemed absorbed 
 and benumbed. She neither spoke nor wept, nor gave any 
 outward sign of suffering, but, with bloodless and silent lips, 
 sat gazing on vacancy. 
 
 Fanchette returned, and looked on her young mistress with 
 fear and dread. She could neither elicit a word in reply, nor 
 the slightest indication of her repeated entreaties being under- 
 stood. Nina suffered her hands to be chafed, her temples to 
 be bathed, and at length broke into a loud hysteric laugh, 
 that rang through the adjoining cabin, and sent a thrill to the 
 heart of Ethelston. Springing on deck, he ordered Jacques to 
 go below, and aid Fanchette in attending on her young lady ; 
 and then, with folded arms, he leaned over the low bulwark, 
 and sat meditating in deep silence on the events of the day. 
 
 The moon bad risen, and her beams silvered the waves 
 through which the schooner was cutting her way ; scarcely a 
 fleeting cloud obscured the brightness of the sky, and all nature 
 seemed hushed in the calm and peaceful repose of night. How 
 different from the fearful storm now raging in the bosom of 
 the young girl from whom he was divided only by a few 
 inches of plank ! He shuddered when that thought arose, but 
 his conscience told him that he was acting aright, and, in- 
 dulging in the reverie that possessed him, he saw a distant 
 figure in the glimmering moonlight, which, as it drew near, 
 grew more and more distinct, till it wore the form, the fea- 
 tures, and the approving smile of his Lucy ! Confirmed and 
 strengthened in his resolutions, he started from his seat, and 
 bid the astonished Cupid, who was now at the helm, to pre- 
 pare to go about, and stand to the eastward. Jacques was 
 called from below, the order was repeated in a sterner voice, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 141 
 
 the sails were trimmed, and in a few minutes the schooner 
 was close-hauled and laying her course, as near as the wind 
 would permit, for Guadaloupe. 
 
 While these events were passing on board The Seagull, 
 Captain L'Estrange had returned in the frigate to Point a 
 Pitre. His grief and anger may be better imagined than 
 described, when he learnt the flight of his daughter and of 
 his prisoner, together with the loss of his yacht and two of 
 his slaves. 
 
 Concluding that the fugitives would make for New Orleans, 
 he dispatched The Hirondelle immediately in pursuit, with 
 orders to discover them if possible, and to bring them back by 
 stratagem or force. He also wrote to Colonel Brandon, paint- 
 ing in the blackest colours the treachery and ingratitude of 
 Ethelston, and calling upon him, as a man of honour, to dis- 
 own and punish the perpetrator of such an outrage on the 
 laws of hospitality. 
 
 Meanwhile the latter was straining every nerve to reach 
 again the island from which he had so lately escaped. In this 
 object he was hindered, not only by baffling winds, but by the 
 obstinacy of Jacques, who, justly fearing the wrath of his 
 late master, practised every manoeuvre to frustrate Ethelston's 
 design. But the latter was on his guard ; and unless he was 
 himself on deck, never trusted the helm in the coxswain's 
 hands. 
 
 He learnt from Fanchette that Nina was in a high fever, 
 and quite delirious ; but though he inquired constantly after 
 her, and ordered every attention to be paid to her that was 
 within his power, he adhered firmly to the resolution that he 
 had formed of never entering her cabin. 
 
 After a few days' sailing to the eastward, when Ethelston 
 calculated that 'he should not now be at a great distance from 
 Guadaloupe, he fell in with a vessel which proved to be The 
 Hirondelle. The Seagull was immediately recognised ; and 
 the weather being fair, the lieu tenant, and eight men, came on 
 board. The French officer was no sooner on the deck than he 
 ordered his men to seize and secure Ethelston, and to place the 
 two blacks in irons. 
 
 It was in vain that Ethelston indignantly remonstrated 
 against such harsh and undeserved treatment The officer would 
 
142 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 listen to no explanation ; and without deigning a reply, ordered 
 his men to carry their prisoners on board The Hirondelle. 
 
 On reaching Point a Pitre, they were all placed in se- 
 parate places of confinement; and Nina was, not without 
 much risk and difficulty, conveyed to her former apartment in 
 her father's house. The delirium of fever seemed to have 
 permanently affected the poor girl's brain. She sang wild 
 snatches of songs, and told those about her that her lover was 
 often with her, but that he was invisible. Sometimes she fan- 
 cied herself on board a ship, and asked them which way the wind 
 blew, and whether they were near the shore. Then she would 
 ask for a guitar, and tell them that she was a mermaid, and 
 would sing them songs that the fishes loved to hear. 
 
 The distracted father often sat and listened to these inco- 
 herent ravings, until he left the room in an agony not to be 
 described ; and when alone, vented the most fearful impreca- 
 tions on the supposed treachery and ingratitude of Ethelston. 
 He could not bring himself to see the latter ; " for," said he, 
 " I must kill him, if I set eyes on his hateful person : " but 
 he one day wrote the following lines, which he desired to be 
 delivered to his prisoner : 
 
 " A father, whose indignation is yet greater than his agony, 
 desires to know what plea you can urge in extenuation of the 
 odious crimes laid to your charge : the deliberate theft of 
 his slaves and yacht, and the abduction and ruin of his child, 
 in recompense for misplaced trust, kindness, and hospita- 
 lity ? " 
 
 Poor Ethelston, in the gloomy solitude of the narrow 
 chamber where he was confined, read and re-read the above 
 lines many times before he would trust himself to reply to them. 
 He felt for the misery of L'Estrange, and he was too proud and 
 too generous to exculpate himself by the narration of Nina's 
 conduct : nay, although he knew that by desiring L'Estrange 
 to examine separately Fanchette and Jacques, his own inno- 
 cence, and the deceit practised upon him, would be brought .to 
 light, he could not bring himself to forget that delicacy which 
 Nina had herself forgotten ; nor add, to clear himself, one 
 mite to the heavy weight of visitation that had already fallen 
 upon her. He contented himself with sending the following 
 answer : 
 
THE PRAIIIIE-BIRD. 14J 
 
 "Sir, 
 
 " Your words, though harsh, would be more than merited 
 by the crimes of which you believe me guilty. There is a 
 Being above, who reads the heart, and will judge the conduct 
 of us all. If I am guilty of the crimes imputed to me, His 
 vengeance will inflict on me, through the stings of conscience., 
 punishment more terrible even than the wrath of a justly 
 offended father could desire for the destroyer of his child. If I 
 am not guilty, He, in His own good time, will make it known, 
 and will add to your other heavy sorrows regret for having 
 unjustly charged with sucb base ingratitude 
 
 " Your servant and prisoner, 
 
 " E. ETHELSTON." 
 
 On receiving the above letter, which seemed dictated by a 
 calm consciousness of rectitude, L'Estrange's belief of his pri- 
 soner's guilt was for a moment staggered ; and had he bethought 
 himself of cross-examining the other partners in the escape, he 
 would doubtless have arrived at the truth ; but his feelings 
 were too violently excited to permit the exercise of his reason; 
 and tearing the note to pieces, he stamped upon it, exclaiming 
 in a paroxysm of rage, " Dissembling hypocrite ! does he 
 think to cozen me with words, as he has poisoned poor Nina's 
 peace ? " 
 
 Her disorder now assumed a different character. The ex- 
 citement of delirium ceased, and was succeeded by a feebleness 
 and gradual wasting, which baffled all the resources of medi- 
 cine ; and such was the apathy and stupor that clouded her 
 faculties, that even her father could scarcely tell whether she 
 knew him or not. In this state she continued for several 
 days ; and the physician at length informed I/Estrange that 
 he must prepare himself for the worst, and that all hope of 
 recovery was gone. 
 
 Madame L'Estrange had, under the pressure of anxiety, 
 forgotten her habitual listlessness, and watched by her daugh- 
 ter's couch with a mother's unwearied solicitude. On the night 
 succeeding the above sad announcement, Nina sunk into a 
 quiet sleep, which gave some hope to her sanguine parents, 
 and induced them also to permit themselves a few hours' 
 repose. 
 
 In the morning she awoke : her eye no longer dwelt on 
 
144 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 vacancy : a slight flush was visible on her transparent cheek, 
 and she called her father, in a voice feeble indeed, but clear 
 and distinct. Who shall paint the rapture with which he 
 hailed the returning dawn, of reason and of hope ? But his 
 joy was of brief duration ; for Nina, beckoning him to ap- 
 proach yet nearer, said " God be thanked that I may yet beg 
 your blessing and forgiveness, dearest father ! " then pressing 
 her wasted hand upon her brow, she continued, after a short 
 pause, " Yes, I remember it all now all ; the orange-grove 
 the flight the ship the last meeting! Oh; tell me, 
 where is he ? where is Ethelston ? " 
 
 " He is safe confined," answered L'Estrange, scarcely re- 
 pressing his rage ; " he shall not escape punishment. The 
 villain shall yet know the weight of an injured father's " 
 Ere he could conclude the sentence, Nina, by a sudden exer- 
 tion, half rose in her bed, and grasping his arm convulsively, 
 said, " Father, curse him not you know not what you say ; 
 it is on me, on me alone, that all your anger should fall : listen, 
 and speak not, for my hours are numbered, and my strength 
 nearly spent." She then proceeded to tell him in a faint but 
 distinct voice, all the particulars already known to the reader, 
 keeping back nothing in her own defence, and confessing how 
 Ethelston had been deceived, and how she had madly persisted 
 in her endeavours to win his love, after he had explicitly owned 
 to her that his heart and hand were promised to another. 
 
 "I solemnly assure you," she said in conclusion, "that he 
 never spoke to me of love, that he warned me as a brother, 
 and reproved me as a father; but I would not be counselled. 
 His image filled my thoughts, my senses, my whole soul 
 it fills them yet ; and if you wish your poor Nina to die in 
 peace, let her see you embrace him as a friend and son." So 
 saying she sunk exhausted on her pillow. 
 
 L'Estrange could scarcely master the agitation excited by 
 this narration. After a short pause he replied, " My poor 
 child ! I fear you dream again. I wrote only a few days ago 
 to Ethelston, charging him with his villany, and asking what 
 he could say in his defence ? His reply was nothing but a 
 canting subterfuge." 
 
 " What was it ? " inquired Nina, faintly. 
 
 L'Estrange repeated the words of the note. As he did so 
 a sweet smile stole over her countenance; and clasping her 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 145 
 
 hands together, she exclaimed, " Like himself noble, gene- 
 rous Ethelston ! Father, yovi are blind ; he would not excul- 
 pate himself by proclaiming your (laughter's shame ! If you 
 doubt me, question Fanchette Jacques who know it all 
 too well; but you will not doubt me, dear dear father! 
 By that Being to whose presence I am fast hastening, I tell 
 you only the truth ; by His ,name I conjure you to comfort 
 my last moments, by granting my last request ! " 
 
 L'Estrange averted his face : and rising almost imme- 
 diately, desired an attendant to summon Ethelston without 
 delay. 
 
 A long pause ensued : Nina's lips moved as if in silent 
 prayer ; and her father, covering his face with his hands, strug- 
 gled to control the anguish by which his firmness was all but 
 overpowered. At length Ethelston entered the room ; he had 
 been informed that Nina was very ill, but was by no means 
 aware of the extremity of her danger. Naturally indignant 
 at the treatment he had lately received, knowing it to be unde- 
 served, and ignorant of the purpose for which he was now 
 called, his manner was cold, and somewhat haughty, as he in- 
 quired the commands which Captain L'Estrange might have 
 for his prisoner. 
 
 The agonised father sought in vain for utterance : his only 
 reply was to point to the almost lifeless form of his child. 
 
 One glance from the bed to the countenance of L'Estrange 
 was sufficient to explain all to Ethelston, who sprang forward, 
 and, wringing the old captain's hand, faltered in a voice of 
 deep emotion, " Oh ! forgive me for so speaking, I knew 
 nothing nothing of this dreadful scene ! " then turning from 
 him, he fixed his eyes upon Nina, while the convulsive work- 
 ing of his features showed that his habitual self-command was 
 scarcely equal to support the present unexpected trial. 
 
 The deadly paleness of her brow contrasted with the dis- 
 ordered tresses of her dark hair, the long eyelashes, reposing 
 upon tbe transparent cheek, which wore a momentary hectic 
 glow, the colourless lip, and the thin wan fingers, crossed 
 meekly upon her breast, all gave to her form and features 
 an air of such unearthly beauty, that Ethelston almost doubted 
 whether the spirit still lingered in its lovely mansion : but his 
 doubts were soon resolved ; for having finished the unuttered 
 but fervent prayer which she had been addressing to the Thron 
 
146 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 of Grace, she again unclosed her eyes ; and when they rested 
 upon his countenance, a sweet smile played round her lip, and 
 a warmer flush came over her cheek. Extending her hand to 
 him, she said, " Can you forgive me for all the wrong I have 
 done you ? " 
 
 In reply, he pressed her fingers to his lips, for he could not 
 speak. She continued : " I know that I grievously wronged 
 my parents ; but the wrong which I did to you was yet more 
 cruel. God be thanked for giving me this brief but precious 
 hour for atonement. You more than once called me your 
 sister and your friend! be a brother to me now. And 
 you, dearest father, if your love outweighs my fault, if you 
 wish your child to die happy, embrace him for my sake, 
 and repair the injustice that you have done to his generous 
 nature !" 
 
 The two men looked at each other j their hearts were melted^ 
 and their cordial embrace brought a ray of gladness to Nina's 
 eyes. " God be thanked ! " she murmured faintly. " Let my 
 mother now come, that I may receive her blessing too." 
 
 While L'Estrange went to summon his wife to a scene 
 which the weakness of her mind and nerves rendered her un- 
 equal to support, Nina continued: "Dear, dear Ethelston, let me 
 hear your voice ; the madness, the passion, the jealousy, that 
 filled my bosom are all past ; but the love is there, imperish- 
 able : tell me, my friend, counsellor, brother, that you are not 
 angry with me for saying so now." 
 
 Again the wasted fingers were pressed to his burning lip ; 
 his tongue could not yet find utterance, but a tear which fell 
 upon them told to the sufferer that there was no indifference 
 in that silence. 
 
 Captain L'Estrange now entered, accompanied by his wife. 
 Although a weak and foolish woman, her heart was not dead 
 to those natural affections of a mother which the present scene 
 might be expected to call forth ; she wept long and violently 
 over her dying child, and perhaps her grief might be embit- 
 tered by a whisper of conscience that her sufferings were more 
 or less attributable to neglected education. Fearing that her 
 mother's excessive agitation might exhaust Nina's scanty store 
 of remainingstrength, Ethelston suggested to Captain L'Estrange 
 to withdraw her into the adjoining apartment ; and approaching 
 the sufferer, he whispered a few words in her ear. A sweet 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 147 
 
 smile played upon her countenance as she answered, " Yes, 
 and without delay." 
 
 Following her retiring parents from the room, he motioned 
 to the priest, who was waiting at the door, to enter ; and the 
 sad party remained together while the confessor performed tlie 
 rites of his sacred office. Madame L'Estrange was so over- 
 powered by her grief, that she was removed, almost insensible, 
 to her own apartment ; while, upon a signal from the holy man, 
 Ethelston and the father re-entered that of Nina. 
 
 Addressing the latter, she said, in a faint voice, "Dearest 
 father, I have made my peace with Heaven ; let me add one 
 more prayer to you for peace and forgiveness on earth ! " 
 
 " Speak it, my child ; it is already granted," said the soft- 
 ened veteran. 
 
 " Pardon, for my sake, Fanchette and Jacques : they have 
 committed a great offence ; but it was I who urged them to it. 1 ' 
 
 " It is forgiven ; and they shall not be punished," replied 
 L'Estrange : while Ethelston, deeply touched by this amiable 
 remembrance of the offending slaves at such a moment, whis- 
 pered to her in a low voice 
 
 " * Blessed are the peace-makers ; for they shall be called the 
 children of God ! ' " 
 
 A grateful pressure of the hand which he had placed in hers 
 was the only reply, as she continued, addressing L'Estrange, 
 <e And let them marry, father j I know they love each other ; 
 and those who love should marry." Here her voice became 
 feebler and feebler, as, once more opening her dark eyes, which 
 shone with preternatural lustre upon Ethelston, she added, 
 " You, too, will marry ; but none will ever love you like your 
 . . . sister! closer closer yet! let me feel your breath. 
 Father, join your hand to his so ! This death is - - Par- 
 
 The closing word died upon her lips ; but the angelic smile 
 that lingered there seemed to emanate from that Paradise 
 which their last moments strove in vain to name. Her earthly- 
 sorrows were at rest, and the bereaved father fell exhausted 
 into Ethelston's arms 
 
 L 2 
 
148 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 fiXCURSION ON THE PBAIRIE. THE PARTY FALL IN WITH A VETEKAW 
 HUNTER. 
 
 WE must now return to Reginald and his trusty follower} 
 Baptiste, whom we left at St. Louis, where they were busily 
 employed in disposing of Colonel Brandon's share of the pel- 
 tries brought in by the trapping party, which he had partly 
 furnished the preceding year. They did not find much diffi- 
 culty in effecting an advantageous sale to two of the other part- 
 ners in the expedition, active, enterprising men, who, from 
 their connection with the Mackinaw Fur Company, were sure 
 cl reselling at considerable profit. 
 
 As soon as these affairs were settled, Reginald, who had 
 been joined by Perrot, Bearskin, and the remaining crew of 
 the canoe, resolved to defer no longer his proposed journey 
 into the Osage country. He left all the arrangements to Bap- 
 tiste and Bearskin, under whose superintendence the prepara- 
 tions advanced so rapidly, that at the end of a week they were 
 satisfactorily completed. 
 
 It had been determined to leave the canoe at St. Louis, and 
 to perform the journey by land ; for this purpose a strong 
 saddle-horse was purchased for each of the party, together with 
 six pack-horses, and as many mules, for the transfer of the am- 
 munition, baggage, and presents for their Indian allies. Four 
 additional Canadian " coureurs des bois " were engaged to 
 take charge of the packs ; so that, when they started for the 
 Western Prairies, the party mustered twelve in number, whose 
 rank and designation were as follow : 
 
 Reginald Brandon ; Baptiste, his lieutenant ; Bearskin, who, 
 in the absence of the two former, was to take the command ; 
 M. Perrot, Mike Smith, with three other border-hunters, and 
 the four Canadians, completed the party. 
 
 Baptiste had taken care to place among the packages an 
 abundance of mirrors, cutlery, and other articles most highly 
 prized by the savages. He had also selected the horses with 
 the greatest care, and two spare ones were taken, in case of acci- 
 dents by the way. When all was ready, even the taciturn 
 
THE FRAIBIE-BIRD. 149 
 
 Bearskin admitted that he had never seen a party so well fitted 
 out, in every respect, for an Indian expedition. 
 
 It was a lovely morning when they left St. Louis, and en- 
 tered upon the broad track which led through the deep Mis- 
 sourian forest, with occasional openings of prairie towards a 
 trading-post lately opened on the Osage, a river which runs 
 from S. W. to N. E. and falls into the Missouri. Of all the 
 party, none were in such exuberant spirits as Perrot, who, 
 mounted on an active, spirited, little Mestang horse*, capering 
 beside the bulky figure of Mike Smith, addressed to him various 
 pleasantries in broken English, which the other, if he under- 
 stood them, did not deign to notice. 
 
 It was now near the close of May, and both the prairie and 
 the woodland scenery were clad in the beautiful and varied 
 colours of early summer ; the grassy road along which they 
 wound their easy way was soft and elastic to the horses' hoofs; 
 and as they travelled farther from the settlements scattered 
 near St. Louis, the frequent tracks of deer which they observed 
 tempted Reginald to halt his party, and encamp for the night, 
 while he and Baptiste sallied forth to provide for them a veni- 
 son supper. 
 
 After a short hunting ramble they returned, bearing with 
 them the saddle of a fine buck. A huge fire was lighted ; the 
 camp-kettles and other cooking utensils were in immediate re- 
 quest, and the travellers sat down to enjoy their first supper in 
 the Missourian wilderness. 
 
 Monsieur Perrot was now quite in his element, and became 
 at once an universal favourite, for never had any of the party 
 tasted coffee or flour-cakes so good, or venison steaks of so deli- 
 cate a flavour. His good-humour was as inexhaustible as his 
 inventive culinary talent ; and they were almost disposed to 
 believe in his boasting assurance, that so long as there was a 
 buffalo-hide or an old mocassin left among them, they should 
 never want a good meal. 
 
 Having supped and smoked a comfortable pipe, they pro- 
 ceeded to bivouac for the night. By the advice of Baptiste, 
 Reginald had determined to accustom his party, from the first, 
 to those precautionary habits which might soon become so 
 essential to their safety ; a regular rotation of sentry duty was 
 
 * Mestang, a horse bred between the wild and the tame breeds : they are some- 
 times to be met with among the traders to Santa Fe. 
 
150 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 established, the horses were carefully secured, and every man 
 lay down with his knife in his belt, and his loaded rifle at his 
 side : the packs were all .carefully piled, so as to form a low- 
 breastwork, from behind which they might fire in case of sud- 
 den attack ; and when these dispositions were completed, those 
 who were not on the watch wrapped themselves in their blan- 
 kets or buffalo skins, and, with their feet towards the fire, slept 
 as comfortably as on a bed of down. 
 
 For two days they continued their march in a north-west 
 direction, meeting with no incident worthy of record ; the 
 hunters found abundance of game of every description, and 
 Monsieur Perrot's skill was daily exercised upon prairie-hens, 
 turkeys, and deer. On the third day, as they were wending 
 their way leisurely down a wooded valley, the sharp crack of a 
 rifle was heard at no great distance. Reginald, desiring to as- 
 certain whether Indians or White men were hunting in the 
 neighbourhood, halted his party, and went forward, accompa- 
 nied by Baptiste, to endeavour, unperceived, to approach the 
 person whose shot they had heard. A smooth grassy glade 
 facilitated their project, and a slight column of smoke curling 
 up from an adjoining thicket served to guide them towards the 
 spot. Ere they had advanced far, the parting of the brush- 
 wood showed them that the object of their search was ap- 
 proaching the place where they stood, and they had barely 
 time to conceal themselves in a bush of sumach, when the 
 unknown hunter emerged from the thicket, dragging after him 
 a fine deer. He was a powerful man of middling height, not 
 very unlike Baptiste in dress and appearance, but even more 
 embrowned and weather-beaten than the trusty guide ; he 
 seemed to be about fifty years of age, and the hair on his tem- 
 ples was scant and grey ; his countenance was strikingly ex- 
 pressive of boldness and resolution, and his eye seemed as clear 
 and bright as that of a man in the early prime of life. Lean- 
 ing his rifle against an adjoining tree, he proceeded to handle 
 and feel his quarry, to ascertain the proportions of fat and 
 meat ; the examination seemed not unsatisfactory, for when it 
 was concluded he wiped the perspiration from his brow, and 
 with a complacent smile muttered half aloud, u Ah, 't ain't 
 every day as a man can find a saddle like that in old Kentuck 
 now what with their dogs, and girdlins, and clearing, and 
 hog- feedings, and the other devilments of the settlements, the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD, 151 
 
 deer's all driven out of the country, or if it ain't driven out, 
 they run all the fat off, so that it's only fit to feed one of your 
 tradin' town-bred fellows, who wouldn't know a prime buck 
 from a Lancaster sheep ! " 
 
 After this brief soliloquy, the veteran sportsman tacked up 
 the sleeve of his hunting-shirt, and proceeded to skin and cut 
 up his quarry, with a skill and despatch that showed him to be 
 a perfect master of his craft. Reginald and Baptiste had 
 remained silent observers of his proceedings, but the former 
 inferred from the pleased twinkle of the guide's grey eyes, and 
 the comic working of the muscles of his mouth, that the soli- 
 tary hunter was no stranger to him: touching Baptiste lightly, 
 he whispered," I see that we have come across an acquaint- 
 ance of yours in this remote place." 
 
 " That we have Master Reginald," said the guide ; " and 
 you'd have known him too, if you'd spent som* of the years 
 in Kentuck as you passed at those colleges in the old country ; 
 but we'll just step out and hail him, for though he ain't par- 
 ticular fond of company, he's not the man to turn his back 
 on a friend to whom he has once given his hand." 
 
 So saying he rose from his hiding-place, and coming out on 
 the open glade, before Reginald could inquire the stranger's 
 name, the guide said aloud," A prime buck, colonel; I see 
 your hand's as steady as ever !" 
 
 At the first sound of a voice addressing him in his own 
 language, a shade of displeasure came across the hunter's 
 countenance ; but as he recognised the speaker it disappeared 
 instantly, and he replied, " Ha ! Baptiste, my old friend, is 
 that you ? What chase are you on here ?" 
 
 So saying, he grasped the horney hand of the guide with a 
 heartiness which proved that the latter was really welcome. 
 
 " Why, colonel, I'm out on a kind o' mixed hunt this turn 
 with this young gentleman, whose father, Colonel Brandon, 
 you've known many a day. Master Reginald, I'm sure you'll 
 be glad to be acquainted with Colonel Boone, howbeit you 
 little expected to find him in this part of the airth." 
 
 Atthe mention of the stranger's name, Reginald's hand was 
 raised unconsciously to his cap, which he doffed respectfully 
 as he said, " I am indeed glad to meet the celebrated Daniel 
 Boone, whose name is as familiar to every western hunter as 
 that of Washington or Franklin in our cities." 
 
152 THE PEAIIHE-BIIID. 
 
 " My young friend," said the colonel, laughing good-hu- 
 mouredly, " I am heartily glad to see your father's son, but 
 you must not bring the ways of the city into the woods, by 
 flattering a rough old bear-hunter with fine words." 
 
 Nay," said Reginald, ( ' there is no flattery, for Baptiste 
 here has spoken of you to me a hundred times, and has told 
 me as often, that a better hunter or a better man does not 
 breathe. You seem to have known him some time, and must 
 therefore be able to judge whether he is of a flattering sort or 
 not." 
 
 " Why, it wasn't much his trade, I allow," replied the 
 colonel, " in old times, when he and I hunted bear for three 
 weeks together in the big laurel thicket at Kentucky Forks. I 
 believe, Baptiste, that axe at your belt is the very one with 
 which you killed the old she, who wasn't pleased because we 
 shot down two of her cubs ; she hadn't manners enough to 
 give us time to load again : and when you split her skull hand- 
 somely,, she was playing a mighty unpleasant game with the 
 stock of my rifle. Ah, that was a reasonable quiet country in 
 those days," continued the colonel : fc we had no trouble, but 
 a lively bit of a skrimmage, now and then, with the Indians, 
 until the Browns, and Frasers, and Micklehams, and heaven 
 knows how many more, came to settle in it ; and what with 
 their infernal ploughs, and fences, and mills, the huntin' was 
 clean spoilt. I stayed as long as I could, for I'd a kind o' 
 likin' to it ; but at last I couldn't go ten mile any way with- 
 out comin' to some clearin' or log-hut; so says I to myself, 
 'colonel, the sooner you clear out o' this, the better you'Jl 
 be pleased.' " 
 
 " Well, colonel," said the guide, " I heard you had moved 
 away from the Forks, and had gone further down west, but 
 they never told me you had crossed the big river." 
 
 "I only came here last fall," replied the colonel; "for I 
 found, in Kentucky, that as fast as I moved, the settlers and 
 squatters followed ; so I thought I'd dodge 'em once for all, 
 and make for a country where the deer and I could live com- 
 fortably together." 
 
 " As we have thus accidentally fallen in with you," said 
 Eeginald, " I hope you will take a hunter's meal with us be- 
 fore we part ; our men and baggage are not a mile from this 
 spot, and Colonel Boone's company will be a pleasure to us all." 
 
THE PKAIRIE-BIRD. 158 
 
 The invitation was accepted as frankly as it was given. 
 
 Baptiste shouldered the colonel's venison, and in a short 
 time the three rejoined Reginald's party. Daniel Boone's 
 name alone was sufficient in the west to ensure him a hearty 
 welcome. Perrot's talents were put into immediate requisition, 
 and ere long the game and poultry of the prairie were roasting 
 before a capital fire, while the indefatigable Frenchman pre- 
 pared the additional and unusual luxuries of hot maize-cakes 
 and coffee. 
 
 During the repast, Eeginald learnt from Colonel Boone 
 that various parties of Indians had been lately hunting in the 
 neighbourhood. He described most of them as friendly, and 
 willing to trade in meat or skins for powder and lead ; he 
 believed them to belong to the Konsas, a tribe once powerful, 
 and resident on the riyer called by that name, falling into the 
 Missouri, about a hundred miles to the north-west of the place 
 where our party were now seated ; but the tribe had been 
 of late reduced by the ravages of the small-pox, and by the 
 incursions of the Pawnees, a nation more numerous and war- 
 like, whose villages were situated a hundred miles higher up 
 the same river.* 
 
 The colonel described the neighbourhood as abounding in 
 elk, deer, bear, and turkeys : but he said that the beaver and 
 the buffalo were already scarce, the great demand for their 
 skins having caused them to be hunted quite out of the region 
 borderiag on the settlements. After spending a couple of 
 hours agreeably with cur party, the veteran sportsman shoul- 
 dered his trusty rifle, and wishing our hero a successful hunt 
 and shaking his old comrade Baptiste cordially by the hand, 
 walked off leisurely in a northerly direction, towards his pre- 
 sent abode; which was not, he said, so far distant but that he 
 should easily reach it before sundown. 
 
 As the last glimpse of his retiring figure was lost in the 
 shades of the forest, the guide uttered one of those grunts 
 which he sometimes unconsciously indulged. Reginald knew 
 that on these occasions there was something on his mind: and 
 guessing that it referred to their departed guest, he said, 
 
 " Well, Baptiste, I am really glad to have seen Daniel 
 
 * The Pawnee nations have of late years fixed their winter villages on the banks 
 of the Nebraska, or Platte river, many hundred miles to the Is. W. of the spot 
 named in the text ; but at the date of our narrative they dwelt on the banks of the 
 Ko lisas, where the ruins of their principal village are still faintly to be discerned. 
 
154 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Boone ; and I can truly say I am not disappointed ; he seems 
 to be just the sort of man that I expected to see." 
 
 " He is a sort," said the guide, " that we don't see every 
 day, Master Reginald. Perhaps he ain't much of a talker; 
 and he don't use to quarrel unless there's a reason for 't ; but 
 if he's once aggravated, or if his friend's in a scrape, he's 
 rather apt to be dangerous." 
 
 " I doubt it not," said Eeginald ; " there is a quiet look of 
 resolution about him; and, in a difficulty, I would rather 
 have oce such man with me than two or three of your violent, 
 noisy brawlers." 
 
 As he staid this his eye inadvertently rested upon the huge 
 figure of Mike Smith, who was seated at a little distance, 
 lazily smoking his pipe, and leaning against a log of fallen 
 timber. The guide observed the direction of Reginald's eye, 
 and guessed what was passing in his mind. A grave smile 
 stole for a moment over his features ; but he made no reply, 
 and in a few minutes, the marching orders being issued, the 
 party resumed their journey. 
 
 On the following day they reached a point where the track 
 branched off in two directions; the broader, and more beaten, 
 to the N. W.; the other towards the S. W. The guide in- 
 formed them that the former led along by the few scattered 
 settlements that were already made on the southern side 
 of the Missouri, towards the ferry and trading-post near the 
 mouth of the Konsas river ; while the smaller, and less beaten 
 track, led towards the branch of Osage river, on which the 
 united party of Delawares and Osages, whom they sought, were 
 encamped. 
 
 Having followed this track for fifty miles, they came to a 
 spot well known among hunters by the name of the Elk Flats, 
 where the branch of the Osage, called Grand River, is fordablc. 
 Here they crossed without accident or difficulty, except that 
 M. PerroVs horse missed his footing, and slipped into a deeper 
 part of the stream. The horse swam lustily, and soon reached 
 the opposite bank ; but the Frenchman had cast himself off, 
 and now grasped with both hands an old limb of a tree that 
 was imbedded near the middle of the river ; he could just touch 
 the ground with his feet ; but, being a bad swimmer, he was 
 afraid to let go his hold, for fear of being again swept away 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 155 
 
 by the current, while his rueful countenance, and his cries for 
 assistance, provoked the mirth of all the party. 
 
 After enjoying his valet's alarm for a few minutes, Reginald, 
 who had already crossed, entered the river again with Nekimi s 
 and, approaching Perrot, desired him to grasp the mane firmly 
 in his hand, and leave the rest to the animal's sagacity, which 
 instruction being obeyed, he was safely brought ashore, and 
 in a short time was laughing louder than the rest at his own 
 fright., and at the ludicrous predicament from which he had 
 been extricated. 
 
 The packages were all conveyed across without accident, 
 and the party found themselves encamped in what was then 
 considered a part of the Osage country. Here they were 
 obliged to use greater vigilance in the protection of their camp 
 and of their horses during the night, as they had not yet 
 smoked the pipe with the chiefs, and were liable to an attack 
 from a party of warriors or horse-stealers. 
 
 The night passed, however, without any disturbance ; and 
 on the following day at noon they reached a spot which Bap- 
 tiste recognised as a former camping-plate of the Osages, and 
 which he knew to be not distant from their present village. 
 Here his attention was suddenly drawn to an adjoining maple, 
 on the bark of which sundry marks were rudely cut, and in a 
 fork of the tree were three arrows, and as many separate bunches 
 of horsehair. He examined all these carefully, and replaced 
 them exactly as he found them ; after which he informed 
 Reginald that three braves of the Osages had gone forward 
 during the past night on a war-excursion towards the Konsas, 
 and all these marks were left to inform their followers of their 
 purpose, and the exact path which they intended to pursue. He 
 also advised Reginald to halt his party here, while he went on 
 himself with one of the men to the village, it being contrary 
 to the customs of Indian etiquette for a great man to come 
 among them unannounced. 
 
 Reginald adopted his counsel, and the sturdy guide, accom- 
 panied by one of the coureurs des bois, set out upon his mis- 
 sion, the result of which will appear in the following chapter. 
 
156 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 REGINALD AND HIS PARTY REACH THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 THE guide and his companion pursued their way leisurely 
 along a beaten tracl?, which led them through a well-timbered 
 ralley, watered by one of the branches of Grand River, until 
 it emerged upon a rising slope of open prairie. Having 
 gained its summit, they saw at a little distance the Indian 
 encampment stretched along the banks of a rivulet, which, 
 after curving round the base of the hill on which they now 
 stood, found its way to the line of heavy timber that marked 
 the course of the main river. They were soon hailed by a 
 mounted Delaware scout, to whom Baptiste explained the 
 peaceful nature of his mission, and desired to be shown into 
 the presence of the principal chiefs. 
 
 As the guide walked through the scattered lodges of the 
 Delawares, his eye rested on more than one Indian to whom 
 he was well known ; but as he was now acting in the capacity 
 of ambassador, it was not consistent with Indian usage that 
 he should speak or be spoken to by others on the way. So 
 well did he know the habits of the people among whom he 
 now found himself, that when he arrived before the lodge of 
 the Great Chief, he passed by War- Eagle and Wingenund, 
 who had come to its entrance on the approach of a stranger, 
 and giving them merely a silent sign of recognition, took the 
 place pointed out to him in the centre of the lodge, by the side 
 of the venerable man who was the head of tbis emigrant band 
 of the Lenape ; to whom, as the highest proof of their respect 
 and veneration, they had given the name of Tamenund*, by 
 which alone he was now known throughout the nation. 
 
 * The name of Tamenund is doubtless familiar to all Americans who have taken 
 the slightest interest in the history of the Indian tribes, as well as to that more 
 numerous classwho have read the graphic and picturesque descriptions pennesl 
 by the great American novelist : nevertheless, it may be necessary, for the infor- 
 mation of some European readers, to state that Tamenund was an ancient 
 Lenap6 chief, whose traditionary fame is so great in the tribe, that they have 
 from time to time given his name to chiefs, and even to white men whom they 
 desired especially to honour. At the time of the revolutionary war, so numerous 
 were the traditions and legends .respecting this hero, that he was in some 
 quarters established as the patron saint of America, under the name of St. 
 Tammany ; and hence arose the Tammany societies and Tammany buildings iu 
 various parts of the Union. See Heckewalder's Historical Account of the Indian 
 Nations, chap, xl., and The Last of the Mohicans, vol. iii. p. 152, &o. 
 
THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 157 
 
 The pipe of welcome having been presented, and been 
 smoked for a few minutes with becoming gravity, Baptiste 
 opened to Tamenund the object of his visit, and informed him 
 that a white warrior and chief, already known to some of the 
 Delawares present, desired to eat, to smoke, and to hunt with 
 them for a season as a brother. To this Tamenund, who had 
 already been informed by War- Eagle of the character and con- 
 duct of Reginald, as well as of his promised visit, replied with 
 becoming dignity and hospitality, that the young white chief 
 should be welcome ; that his heart was known to be great 
 among the Delawares, and that both he and his people should 
 be held as brothers ; at the same time he informed the guide, 
 that as they were about tolnove their encampment immediately 
 to a more favourable spot, it might be better for the white 
 chief to join them on the following morning, when all should 
 be prepared for his reception. 
 
 The guide having acceded to this suggestion, rose to take 
 his leave, and retired with his companion from the village. 
 Before they had gone a mile on their return, they heard behind 
 them the trampling of horses, and Baptiste recognised War- 
 Eagle and Wingenund approaching at full speed, who greeted 
 him cordially, and made many inquiries about Neds and the 
 Lily of Mooshanne. 
 
 Having acquired the desired information, it was agreed, that 
 before noon on the following day Reginald should come to the 
 spot where they were now conversing, and that War- Eagle 
 should be there to escort and accompany him to his first meet- 
 ing with the Delaware and Osage chiefs. 
 
 These preliminaries being arranged, the Indians galloped 
 back to the village, and Baptiste returned without accident or 
 interruption to Reginald's camp, where he gave an account of 
 his mission and of the arrangements for the morrow's con- 
 ference. 
 
 Early on the following morning they set forth towards the 
 Indian village. By Baptiste's advice, Reginald attired him- 
 self more gaily than usual ; his hunting- shirt and leggins of 
 elkskin were ornamented with fringes ; the bugle slung across 
 his shoulders was suspended by a green cord adorned with 
 tassels ; on his head he wore a forage-cap, encircled by a gold 
 band; a brace of silver-mounted pistols were stuck in his 
 belt, and a German boar-knife hung at his side; he had 
 
158 THE PEAIEIE-BIBD. 
 
 allowed Baptiste to ornament Nekimi's bridle with beads after 
 the Indian fashion ; and the noble animal pranced under his 
 gallant rider, as if conscious tkat he was expected to show his 
 beauty and his mettle. The dress and appearance of Reginald, 
 though fanciful and strange, was rendered striking by the 
 grace and muscular vigour of his frame, as well as by the 
 open, fearless character of his countenance ; and the party of 
 white men went gaily forward, confident in the favourable im- 
 pression which their young leader would make on their Indian 
 allies. 
 
 When they reached the spot where Baptiste had, on the 
 preceding day, parted from War-Eagle, they descried two 
 Indians sitting at the root of an old maple-tree, as if awaiting 
 their arrival : a single glance enabled Reginald to recognise 
 them, and springing from his horse., he greeted War-Eagle 
 and Wingenund with affectionate cordiality, and read in the 
 looks of both, though they spoke little, that he was heartily 
 welcome. When they had saluted Baptiste, Reginald intro- 
 duced them in form to the other members of his party, and, 
 among the rest, to Monsieur Perrot, who having as yet seen 
 few Indians, and those of the meanest class, was surprised at 
 the noble and dignified appearance of War- Eagle, to whom he 
 doffed his cap with as much respect as if he had been a field- 
 marshal of France. 
 
 Having made a short halt, during which the pipe was passed 
 round, and some cakes of Indian corn and honey set before 
 their guests, the party again moved forward, under the guid- 
 ance of War-Eagle. Leaving the heavy timber in the valley, 
 they ascended the opposite hill, where a magnificent prospect 
 opened upon their view ; below them was an undulating prairie 
 of boundless extent, through the middle of which ran a tributary 
 branch of Grand River ; behind them lay the verdant mass of 
 forest from which they had lately emerged ; the plain in front 
 was dotted with the lodges of the Delawares and Osages, while 
 scattered groups of Indians, and grazing horses, gave life^ 
 animation, and endless variety to the scene. 
 
 Halting for a moment on the brow of the hill, War-Eagle 
 pointed out to Reginald the lodge of his father Tamenund, 
 distinguished above the rest by its superior size and elevation, 
 and at the same time showed him at the other extremity of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 159 
 
 the encampment, a lodge of similar dimensions, which he de- 
 scribed as being that of the Osage chief. 
 
 tf How is he called?" inquired Reginald. 
 
 " Mahega," replied the War- Eagle. 
 
 At the mention of this name, the guide uttered one of those 
 peculiar sounds, something between a whistle and a grunt, by 
 which Reginald knew that something was passing in his mind ; 
 but on this occasion, without apparently noticing the interrup- 
 tion, he continued, addressing War-Eagle, " Will Mahega 
 receive me too as a brother is the Osage chief a friend to the 
 white men ? " 
 
 " Mahega is a warrior," replied the Indian; "he hunts 
 with the Lenape, and he must be a friend of their brother." 
 
 Not only did this answer appear evasive, but there was 
 also something more than usually constrained in the tone and 
 manner of War-Eagle, which did not escape the observation 
 of Reginald, and with the straight-forward openness of his 
 character, he said, " War-Eagle, my heart is open to you, and 
 my tongue can be silent if required speak to me freely, and 
 tell me if Mahega is a friend or not; is he a brave or a 
 snake?" 
 
 War-Eagle, fixing his searching eye upon Reginald's coun- 
 tenance, replied, " Mahega is a warrior the scalps in his 
 lodge are many his name is not a lie, but his heart is not 
 that of a Lenape War-Eagle will not speak of him : 
 Grande-Hache knows him, and my brother's eyes will be 
 open." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the young chief added a few words in 
 his own tongue to Baptiste ; and making a sign for Wingenund 
 to follow, he galloped off at speed towards the encampment. 
 
 Reginald, surprised, and somewhat inclined to be displeased 
 by their abrupt departure, turned to the guide, and inquired the 
 cause of it, and also the meaning of War-Eagle's last words. 
 
 Baptiste, shaking his head significantly, replied in a low 
 voice, " I know Mahega well at least I have heard much of 
 him ; his name signifies ' Red-hand,' and, as the young chief 
 says, it tells no lie, for he has killed many : last year he at- 
 tacked a war-party of the Outagamis* near the Great River, 
 and cut them off to a man ; he himself killed their chief and 
 
 The tribe called by white men the Foxes," who inhabit chiefly the region 
 between the Upper Mississippi and Lake Michigan. 
 
ICO THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 several of their warriors : they say he is the strongest and the 
 bravest man in the nation." 
 
 (f It seems to me/' said Reginald, " that War-Eagle and he 
 are not very good friends." 
 
 <e They are not," replied Baptiste ; et the young Delaware 
 has evidently some quarrel with him, and therefore would not 
 speak of him we shall learn what it is before many days are 
 over : meanwhile, Master Reginald, say nothing to any others 
 of the party on this subject, for they may take alarm, or show 
 suspicion ; and if they do, your summer hunt may chance to 
 end in rougher play than we expect. I will keep my eye on 
 ' Red-hand,' and will soon tell you what tree he's making for." 
 
 " Why did they gallop off so abruptly ? " inquired Re- 
 ginald. 
 
 " They are gone to rejoin the bands which are coming out 
 to receive us on our entrance," replied the guide. " We must 
 put our party in the best array, and get the presents ready, for 
 we have not many minutes to spare." 
 
 The event proved the correctness of his calculation ; for 
 they had scarcely time to select from the packs those articles 
 destined to be presented to the chiefs at this interview, before 
 they saw two large bands of mounted Indians gallop towards 
 them from the opposite extremities of the encampment. As they 
 drew near that which came from the Delaware quarter, and 
 was headed by War-Eagle in person, they checked their speed, 
 and approached slowly ; while their leader, advancing in front 
 of the band, saluted Reginald and his party with dignified 
 courtesy. Meanwhile the body of Osages continued their 
 career with headlong speed, shouting, yelling, and going 
 through all the exciting manoeuvres of a mock fight, after their 
 wild fashion. Their dress was more scanty and less orna- 
 mented than that of the Delawares ; but being tricked out 
 with painted horsehair, porcupine quills, and feathers, it bore 
 altogether a more gay and picturesque appearance ; neither can 
 it be denied that they were, in general, better horsemen than 
 their allies ; and they seemed to delight in showing off their 
 equestrian skill, especially in galloping up to Reginald's party 
 at the very top of their speed, and then either halting so sud- 
 denly as to throw their horses quite back upon their haunches, 
 or dividing off to the right and to the left, and renewing their 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. l6l 
 
 manoeuvres in another quarter with increased extravagance of 
 noise and gesture. 
 
 .Reginald having learned from Baptiste that this was theii 
 mode of showing honour to guests on their arrival, awaited 
 patiently the termination of their manoeuvres ; and when at 
 length they ceased, and the Osage party reined their horses up 
 by the side of the Delawares, he went forward and shook 
 hands with their leader, a warrior somewhat older than War- 
 Eagle, and of a fine martial appearance. As soon as he found 
 an opportunity, Reginald, turning to Wingenund, who was 
 close behind him, inquired, in English, if that Osage chief 
 was Mahega? 
 
 " No," replied the youth, " that is a brave*, called in their 
 tongue the Black-Wolf. Mahega," he added, with a peculiar 
 smile, " is very different" 
 
 " How mean you, Wingenund ? " 
 
 tc Black- Wolf," replied the youth, ff is a warrior, and has 
 no fear, but he is not like Mahega; an antelope is not an 
 elk ! " 
 
 While this conversation was going on, the party entered 
 the encampment, and wound their way amongst its scattered 
 lodges, towards that of Tamenund, where, as the War-Eagle 
 informed Reginald, a feast was prepared for his reception, to 
 which Mahega and the other Osage leaders were invited. 
 
 On arriving before the Great Lodge, Reginald and his com- 
 panions dismounted, and giving their horses to the youths in 
 attendance, shook hands in succession with the principal chiefs 
 and braves of the two nations. Reginald was much struck by 
 the benevolent and dignified countenance of the Delaware 
 chief; but in spite of himself, and of a preconceived dislike 
 which he was inclined to entertain towards Mahega, or Red- 
 hand, his eye rested on that haughty chieftain with mingled 
 surprise and admiration. He was nearly a head taller than 
 those by whom he was surrounded ; and his limbs, though 
 
 * In describing the manners and distinctions of rank among the Indians of the 
 Missouri plains, it is necessary to adopt the terms in common use among the guides 
 and traders, however vague and unsatisfactory those terms may be. In these 
 tribe* the chieftainship is partly hereditary and partly elective : there is usually 
 one Great Chief, and there are also chiefs of a second degree, who are chiefs of 
 different bands in the tribe ; next to these in rank are the " Braves," the leading 
 warriors of the nation ; and in order to be qualified for admission into this rank, 
 an Indian must have killed an enemy or given other sufficient evidence of courage 
 and capacity. When a war-council is held, the opinion of the principal Brave it 
 frequently preferred before that of the chief. 
 
162 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 cast in an Herculean mould, showed the symmetrical propor- 
 tions which are so distinctive of the North American Indians : 
 his forehead was bold and high, his nose aquiline, and his 
 mouth hroad, firm, and expressive of most determined cha- 
 racter ; his eye was rather small, but bright and piercing as a 
 hawk's ; his hair had been all shaven from his head, with the 
 exception of the scalp-lock on the crown, which was painted 
 scarlet, and interwoven with a tuft of horsehair dyed of the 
 same colour. Around his muscular throat was suspended a 
 collar formed from the claws of the grisly bear, ornamented 
 with party-coloured beads, entwined with the delicate fur of 
 .the white ermine ; his hunting-shirt and leggins were of the 
 finest antelope skin, and his mocassins were adorned with beads 
 and the stained quills of the porcupine. He leant carelessly 
 on a bow, which few men in the tribe could bend. At his 
 back were slung his arrows in a quiver made with wolf-skin, 
 so disposed that the grinning visage of the animal was seen 
 above his shoulder ; while a war-club and scalping-knife, 
 fastened to his belt, completed the formidable Mahega's 
 equipment. 
 
 As he glanced his eye over the party of white men, there 
 was an expression of scornful pride on his countenance, which 
 the quick temper of their youthful leader was ill-disposed to 
 brook, had not the prudent counsels of the guide prepared him 
 for the exercise of self-command. Nevertheless, as he turned 
 from the Osage chief to the bulky proportions of his gigantic 
 follower, Mike Smith, he felt that it was like comparing a lion 
 with an ox ; and that, in the event of a quarrel between them, 
 the rifle alone could render its issue doubtful. 
 
 The feast of welcome was now prepared in the lodge of 
 Tamenund, which was composed of bison-skins stretched upon 
 poles, arranged in the form of a horse-shoe, and covering an 
 extent of ground apparently not less than twenty yards in 
 length. Reginald observed also several smaller lodges imme- 
 diately adjoining that of the chief, on one side, and on the 
 other a circular tent of wax-cloth, or painted canvass, evidently 
 procured from white men, as it was of excellent texture, and 
 its door, or aperture, protected by double folds of the same 
 material. 
 
 Whilst he was still looking at this comparatively civilised 
 dwelling, with some curiosity to know by whom it might be 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. l6S 
 
 tenanted, the folds of the opening were pushed aside, and an 
 elderly man appeared, who,, after contemplating for a moment 
 the newly-arrived group, came forward to offer them a friendly 
 salutation. He was apparently between fifty and sixty; but 
 his years were not easily guessed, for his snow-white hair 
 might seem to have numbered seventy winters ; while from 
 the uprightness of his carriage, and the elasticity of his step, 
 he seemed scarcely past the vigour of middle life. In figure 
 he was tall and slight; his countenance, though tanned by 
 long exposure to the sun, was strikingly attractive, and his 
 mild blue eye beamed with an expression of benevolence not 
 to be mistaken. His dress was a black frock of serge, fastened 
 at the waist by a girdle of the same colour, from which was 
 suspended a small bag, wherein he carried the few simples and 
 instruments requisite for his daily offices of charity and kind- 
 ness. Dark grey trowsers of the coarsest texture, and mocassins 
 of buffalo-hide, completed the dress of Paul Muller, already 
 mentioned by Wingenund to Reginald as the ' ' Black Father ;" 
 under which name, translated according to their various lan- 
 guages, the pious and excellent missionary was known among 
 the Delawares, Osages, loways, Otoes, Konsas, and other 
 tribes then inhabiting the regions lying between the Missouri 
 and the Arkansas. 
 
 Such was the man who now came forward to greet the 
 newly-arrived party ; and such was the irresistible charm of 
 his voice and manner, that from the first Reginald felt himself 
 constrained to love and respect him. 
 
 The feast being now ready, and Reginald having pointed 
 out Baptiste and Bearskin as his officers, or lieutenants, they 
 were invited with him to sit down in the lodge of Tamenund, 
 with the principal chiefs of the Delawares, the chief and Great 
 Medicine-man* of the Osages, and the Black Father. (Mike 
 Smith and the other white men being feasted by a brave in an 
 adjoining lodge.) The pipe was lighted, and having been 
 passed twice round the party with silent gravity, the Great 
 
 " Medicine-men." This term (commonly used by traders among the Indians 
 beyond the Mississippi) signifies the " priests," or " mystery-men, " who are set 
 apart for the celebration of all religious rites and ceremonies. They are the name 
 class as those who were described by Charlevoix, and other early French writers, 
 as " Jongleurs," because they unite medical practice to their sacerdotal office, and, 
 more especially in the former, exercise all manner of absurd mummery. Their 
 dress, character, and habits vary according to the tribe to which they belong ; bat 
 they are genuine " Jongleurs" throughout 
 
 ii 2 
 
164 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Medicine-man made a speech, in which he praised the virtues 
 and hospitality of Tamemmd, and paid many compliments to 
 the white guests ; after which a substantial dinner was set 
 before them, consisting of roasted buffalo-ribs, venison, and 
 boiled maize. 
 
 Reginald had never before been present at an Indian feast, and 
 though he had the appetite naturally belonging to his age and 
 health, he soon found that he was no match, as a trencherman, 
 for those among whom he was now placed ; and before they 
 had half finished their meal, he replaced his knife in its sheath, 
 and announced himself satisfied. 
 
 The old chief smiled good-humouredly, and said that he 
 would soon do better ; whilst Mahega, quietly commencing an 
 attack upon a third buffalo-rib, glanced at him with a look of 
 contempt, that he was at no pains to conceal, and which, as 
 may well be imagined, increased our hero's dislike for the 
 gigantic Osage. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 1 (J5 
 
 SECOND VOLUME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 REGINALD AND HIS PARTY AT THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 WHILE Reginald and his two companions were feasting with 
 Tamenund, a similar repast was laid before the rest of the 
 party, in the lodge of a brave named Maque-o-nah, or the 
 <f Bear-asleep," at which Mike Smith occupied the centre or 
 principal seat, and next to him sat Monsieur Perrot, the 
 latter personage being very curious to see the culinary arrange- 
 ments made for this, his first Indian banquet. He was horri- 
 fied at observing the carelessness with which they thrust half 
 the side of a buffalo to the edge of a huge fire of undried 
 wood, leaving a portion of the meat to be singed and burnt, 
 while other parts were scarcely exposed to the heat : he 
 could not refrain from expressing to one of the Canadian 
 coureurs des bois, in his own language, his contempt and pity 
 for the ignorant savages who thus presumed to desecrate a 
 noble science, which ranked higher, in his estimation, than 
 poetry, painting, or sculpture : but he was warned that he 
 must be very careful neither to reject nor show any distaste 
 for the food set before him, as by so doing he would give 
 mortal offence to his entertainers. It was ludicrous in the 
 extreme to watch the poor Frenchman's attempts at imparting 
 to his features a smile of satisfaction, when a wooden bowl was 
 placed before him, filled with half boiled maize, and beside it 
 one of the buffalo-ribs, evidently less favoured by the fire, as 
 it was scarcely warmed through, and was tough and stringy 
 as shoe-leather. After bestowing upon sundry portions of if 
 many fruitless attempts at mastication, he contrived, unper- 
 <eived, to slip what remained of the meat into the pocket of 
 M 3 
 
166 
 
 THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 his jacket, and then laughed with great self-satisfaction at the 
 trick he had played his uncivilised hosts. 
 
 When the feast was concluded in Tamenund's lodge, Regi- 
 nald desired his men to unpack one of the bales, which he 
 pointed out, and to spread its contents before him ; the 
 savages gathered round the coveted and glittering objects with 
 eager but silent astonishment, while he separated the presents 
 which, by the advice of Baptiste, were now distributed among 
 their chiefs ; to Tamenund he apportioned a large blanket of 
 scarlet cloth, a silver-mounted pistol, and a basket containing 
 mirrors, beads, and trinkets, for his wives and daughters ; to 
 Mahega, a bridle ornamented with beads, several pounds of 
 tobacco, powder, and lead, a fowling-piece, and a blanket of 
 blue woollen-stuff. The features of the Osage chief relaxed 
 into a grim smile of satisfaction as he received these valuable 
 gifts ; and he so far overcame the repulsive sternness of his 
 usual character as to seize Reginald's hand, and to tell him 
 that he was a great chief, and good to his Indian brothers. 
 The other presents having been distributed among the chiefs 
 and braves, according to their rank, the feast was broken up, 
 and they retired to their respective lodges ; Reginald, Baptiste, 
 and M. Perrot being accommodated in that of Tamenund's 
 himself, and Bearskin, with the rest of the white men's party, 
 in those lodges which have before been mentioned as being 
 contiguous to that of the old chief. 
 
 During the first night that he spent in his new quarters, 
 the excitement and novelty of the scene banished sleep from 
 the eyes of Reginald ; and, finding himself restless, he arose 
 half an hour before daybreak, to enjoy the early freshness of 
 the morning. Throwing his rifle over his arm, he was about 
 to leave the lodge, when Baptiste touched him, and inquired, 
 in a low voice, if he were prepared with a reply in case of 
 being challenged by any of the scouts around the encamp- 
 ment; with some shame he confessed he had forgotten it: and 
 the guide then instructed him, if he were challenged, to say 
 *' Lenape ria Id Netis" or " I am Netis, the friend of the 
 Delawares." Being thus prepared, and carrying with him the 
 few articles requisite for a Prairie toilet, he stepped out into 
 the open air. Close by the opening of the lodge, he saw a tall 
 figure stretched on the grass, enveloped in a buffalo robe, the 
 hairy fell of which was silvered with the heavy night-dew : it 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. lj 
 
 was War-Eagle, who rarely slept in lodge or tent, and whose 
 quick eye, though he neither moved nor spoke, discerned his 
 white brother in a moment, although the latter could not 
 recognise his friend. 
 
 Reginald pursued his way through the encampment to its 
 extremity, where the streamlet before mentioned wound its 
 course among the dells and hillocks of the Prairie, until it 
 reached the larger river that flowed through the distant forest. 
 After following the banks of the stream for one or two miles, 
 the red streaks in the eastern horizon gave notice of day's ap- 
 proach, and observing near him a hill, somewhat more elevated 
 than those by which it was surrounded, Reginald climbed to 
 its top, in order to witness the effect of sunrise on that wild 
 'and picturesque scene. 
 
 To the westward, the undulations of the Prairie, wrapped 
 in heavy folds of mist, rose in confused heaps, like the waves 
 of a boundless ocean : to the south he could just distinguish 
 the lodges and the smouldering fires of the encampment, 
 whence, at intervals, there fell upon his ear mingled and in- 
 distinct sounds, disagreeable perhaps in themselves, but ren- 
 dered harmonious by distance, and by their unison with the 
 wildness of the surrounding objects ; while to the eastward 
 lay a dense and gloomy range of woods, over the summits of 
 whose foliage the dawning sun was shedding a stream of 
 golden light. 
 
 Reginald gazed upon the scene with wonder and delight; 
 < p.d every moment while he gazed called into existence richer 
 and more varied beauties. The mists and exhalations rising 
 from the plain curled themselves into a thousand fantastic 
 shapes around the points and projections of the hills, where 
 they seemed to hang like mantles which the earth had cast 
 from her bosom, as being rendered unnecessary by the appear- 
 ance of the day ; swarms of children and of dusky figures 
 began to emerge from the encampment, and troops of horses 
 to crop the pasture on the distant hills ; while the splendour of 
 the sun, now risen in ks full glory, lit up with a thousand 
 varying hues the eastern expanse of boundless forest. Regi- 
 nald's heart was not insensible to the impressions naturally 
 excited by such a scene; and while he admired its variegated 
 beauties, his thoughts were raised in adoration to that al- 
 M ! 
 
168 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 mighty and beneficent Being, whose temple is the earth, and 
 whose are the " cattle upon a thousand hills." 
 
 Having made his way again to the banks of the stream, and 
 found a spot sheltered by alder and poplar trees, he bathed 
 and made his morning toilet ; after which he returned towards 
 the encampment, his body refreshed by his bathe, and his 
 mind attuned to high and inspiring thoughts by the medita- 
 tion in which he had been engaged. As he strolled leisurely 
 along, he observed a spot where the trees were larger, and the 
 shade apparently more dense than the other portions of the 
 valley ; and, being anxious to make himself acquainted with 
 all the localities in the neighbourhood of his new home, he 
 followed a small beaten path, which, after sundry windings 
 among the alders, brought him to an open space screened on 
 three sides by the bushes, and bounded on the fourth by the 
 stream. Reginald cast his eyes around this pleasant and 
 secluded spot, until they rested upon an object that riveted 
 them irresistibly. It was a female figure seated at the root of 
 an ancient poplar, over a low branch of which one arm was 
 carelessly thrown, while with the other she held a book, which 
 she was reading with such fixed attention as to be altogether 
 unconscious of Reginald's approach. Her complexion was 
 dark, but clear and delicate, and the rich brown hair which 
 fell over her neck and shoulders, still damp and glossy from 
 her morning ablutions, was parted on her forehead by .1 
 wreath of wild flowers twined from amongst those which 
 grew around the spot : the contour of her figure, and her un- 
 studied attitude of repose, realised the classic dreams of 
 Nymph and Nereid, while her countenance wore an expres- 
 sion of angelic loveliness, such as Reginald had never seen 01 
 imagined. 
 
 He gazed and gazing on those sweet features, he saw the 
 red full lips move unconsciously, while they followed the sub- 
 ject that absorbed her attention ; and forgetful that he was 
 intruding on retirement, he waited, entranced, until those 
 downcast eyes should be raised. At length she looked up, 
 and seeing the figure of a man within a few paces of her, she 
 sprang to her feet with the lightness of a startled antelope; 
 and darting on him a look of mingled surprise and reproof, 
 suppressed the exclamation of alarm that rose to her lips. 
 Reginald would fain have addressed the lovely being before 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD . 169 
 
 him he would fain have excused his unintended intrusion ; 
 but the words died upon his lips, and it was almost mechani- 
 cally that he doffed his hunting-cap, and stood silent and 
 uncovered before her ! Recovering from the momentary con- 
 fusion, she advanced a step towards him, and with an ingenuous 
 blush held out her hand, saying in a gentle tone of inquiry, 
 and with the purest accent, "Netis, my brother's friend?" 
 
 f< The same, fair creature," replied Reginald, whose wonder 
 and admiration were still more excited by the untaught grace 
 and dignity of her manner, as well as by hearing his own 
 tongue so sweetly pronounced ; " but, in the name of Heaven, 
 who what whence can you be ?" Blushing more deeply 
 at the animation and eagerness of his manner, she was for a 
 moment silent ; when he continued, striking his hand on his 
 forehead : " Oh, I have it, fool, tortoise, that I was. You 
 are ' Prairie-bird,' the sister of whom Wingenund has told 
 me so much." Then, gently pressing the little hand which 
 he had taken, he added, " Dear Wingenund ! he saved my 
 life ; his sister will not consider me a stranger ?" 
 
 Again a warmer blush mantled on the cheek of Prairie-bird, 
 as she replied, " You are no stranger : you speak of Winge- 
 nund's good deed : you are silent about your own ! You 
 drew War-Eagle from the deep and swift waters. I have 
 heard it all, and have often wished to see you and thank you 
 myself." There was a modest simplicity in her manner, as 
 she uttered these few words that confirmed the impression 
 made on Reginald by the first glimpse of her lovely form and 
 features ; but beyond this there was something in the tone of 
 her voice that found its way direct to his heart; it fell upon 
 his ear like an old familiar strain of music, and he felt un- 
 willing to break the silence that followed its closing accents. 
 
 It is not our province, in a simple narrative of this kind, 
 to discuss the oft-disputed question, whether love at first 
 sight deserves the name of love ; whether it is merely a pass- 
 ing emotion, which, though apparently strong, a brief lapse 
 of time may efface ; or, whether there be really secret irre- 
 sistible natural impulses, by which two human beings, who 
 meet together for the first time, feel as if they had known and 
 loved each other for years, and as if the early cherished visions 
 of fancy, the aspirations of hope, the creations of imagination, 
 the secret, undefined longings of the heart, were all at once 
 
170 THE PKAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 embodied and realised.* We are inclined to believe that, 
 although not frequent, instances sometimes occur of this 
 instinctive sympathy and attraction, and that, when they do 
 so, the tree of affection (like the fabled palm at the touch of 
 the genius' wand) starts into immediate luxuriance of flower 
 and foliage, striking its tenacious roots far into the kindly soil, 
 destined thenceforward to become the nurture of its verdant 
 youth, the support of its mature strength, and at length the 
 resting-place of its leafless and time-stricken decay. 
 
 Such seemed to be the case with Reginald and Prairie-bird ; 
 for, as they looked one at the other, each was unconsciously 
 occupied with teeming thoughts that neither could define nor 
 express, and both felt relieved at hearing approaching foot- 
 steps and the voice of the Black Father, who called out in 
 English, 
 
 " Come, my child, I have allowed you full time this morn- 
 ing ; we will return to the camp." As he spoke his eye fell 
 upon Reginald, and he added, courteously, " You have been 
 early abroad, young sir." 
 
 " I have," replied Reginald. " I went to the top of yonder 
 heights to see the sun rise, and was amply repaid by the beauty 
 of the scene : on my return, I wandered accidentally into 
 this secluded spot, and trust that my intrusion has been 
 forgiven." 
 
 " I believe that my dear child and pupil would forgive a 
 greater offence than that, in one who has shown so much 
 kindness to her brothers," replied the missionary, smiling : 
 and he added, in a low voice, addressing the Prairie-bird in 
 his own language, " Indeed, my child, I think he deserves 
 our friendly welcome ; for, unless his countenance strongly 
 belies his character, it expresses all those good qualities which 
 Wingenund taught us to expect." 
 
 " Stay, sir," and Reginald, colouring highly ; " let me not 
 participate, without your knowledge, in your communications 
 to Prairie-bird. I have travelled much in Germany, and the 
 language is familiar to me." 
 
 " Then, my young friend," said Paul Miiller, taking his 
 hand kindly, " you have only learnt, from what I said, how 
 hard a task you will have to fulfil the expectations that Winge- 
 nund has led us to entertain." 
 
 * See Schiller's " Bride of Messina." 
 
TUB PRAIRlE-Einr). 171 
 
 " i can promise nothing," replied Reginald, glancing 
 towards the maiden, " but a true tongue, a ready hand, and 
 an honest heart; if these can serve my friend's sister, me- 
 thinks she may expect them without being disappointed." 
 
 The words in themselves were nothing remarkable, but 
 there was an earnest feeling in the tone in which they were 
 spoken that made Prairie-bird's heart beat quicker: she an- 
 swered him by a look, but said nothing. Wonderful is the 
 expression, the magic eloquence of the human eye ; and yet 
 how is its power tenfold increased when the rays of its glance 
 pass through the atmosphere even of dawning love. Reginald 
 longed to know whence and who she could be, this child of 
 the wilderness, who had so suddenly, so irresistibly, engaged 
 his feelings ; above all, he longed to learn whether her heart 
 and affections were free ; and that single look, translated by 
 the sanguine self-partiality of love, made him internally ex- 
 claim, " Her heart is not another's !" Whether his conjecture 
 proved correct the after-course of this tale will show : mean- 
 while we cannot forbear our admiration at the marvellous 
 rapidity with which our hero, at his first interview with 
 Prairie-bird, settled this point to his own satisfaction. The 
 little party now strolled towards the camp; and as they went, 
 Reginald, seeing that Prairie-bird still held in her hand the 
 book that he had seen her peruse with so much attention, 
 said, 
 
 " May I inquire the subject of your studies this morning ? u 
 
 " Certainly," she replied, with grave and sweet simplicity ; 
 " it is the subject of my study every morning : the book was 
 given me by my dear father and instructor now by my side. 
 I have much to thank him for; all I know, all I enjoy, almost 
 all 1 feel, but most of all for this book, which he has taught 
 me to love, and in some degree to understand." 
 
 As she spoke she placed in Reginald's hand a small copy of 
 Luther's translation of the Bible. In the fly-leaf before the 
 title-page was written, " Given to Prairie-bird by her loving 
 father and instructor, Paul M tiller." Reginald read this in- 
 scription half aloud, repeating to himself the words " Miiller," 
 * father ;" and coupling them with the strange enigmas for- 
 merly uttered by Wingenund respecting the origin of Prairie- 
 oird, he was lost in conjecture as to their meaning. 
 
 " I see your difficulty," said the missionary, "you do not 
 
1?2 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 understand how she can call Wingenund and War-Eagle 
 brothers, and me father. In truth, she has from her earliest 
 childhood been brought up by Tamenund as his daughter, 
 and as I reside chiefly with this Delaware band, I have made 
 it my constant occupation and pleasure to give her such in- 
 struction as my humble means admit ; she has been entrusted 
 to us by the mysterious decrees of Providence ; and though 
 the blood of neither flows in her veins, Tamenund and I have, 
 according to our respective offices, used our best endeavours 
 to supply the place of natural parents." 
 
 " Dear, dear father," said Prairie-bird, pressing his hand 
 to her lips, and looking up in his face with tearful eyes, " you 
 are and have been every thing to me, instructor, comforter, 
 guide, and father ! My Indian father, too, and my brothers, 
 are all kind and loving to me. I have read in the books that 
 you have lent me many tales and histories of unkindness and 
 hatred between parents and children, among nations enlight- 
 ened and civilised. I have had every wish gratified before 
 expressed, and every comfort provided. What could a father 
 do for a child that you have not done for me ?" 
 
 As she spoke she looked up in the missionary's face with 
 a countenance so beaming with full affection, that the old man 
 pressed her in his arms, and kissing her forehead, muttered 
 over her a blessing that he was too much moved to pronounce 
 aloud ; after a pause of a few minutes, he said to Reginald, 
 with his usual benevolent smile, " We only know you yet by 
 your Indian name of ' Netis' how are you called in the 
 States ? We inquired of War-Eagle and Wingenund, but 
 they either did not remember, or could not pronounce your 
 name ?" 
 
 " Reginald Brandon," replied our hero. 
 
 Prairie-bird started, and abruptly said, " Again, again ; say 
 it once more?" 
 
 Reginald repeated it, and she pronounced the first name 
 slowly after him, pressing her hand upon her forehead, and 
 with her eye fixed on vacancy, while broken exclamations 
 came from his lips. 
 
 " What are you thinking of, dear child ?" said the mis- 
 sionary, somewhat surprised and alarmed by her manner. 
 
 " Nothing, dear father," she replied, with a faint smile ; 
 *' it was a dream, a strange dream, which that name recalled, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 173 
 
 and confused my head : we are now^ close to the camp, I will 
 go in and rest awhile ; perhaps you may like to talk more 
 with Ne I mean," she added, hesitating, "with Reginald." 
 So saying, and saluting them with that natural grace which 
 belonged to all her movements, she withdrew towards the 
 camp, and Reginald's eyes followed her retreating figure until 
 it was lost behind the canvass folds that protected the opening 
 to her tent. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 REGINALD HOLDS A CONVERSATION WITH THE MISS1ONART. 
 
 REGINALD still kept his eyes on the opening through which 
 Prairie-bird had disappeared into the tent, as though they 
 could have pierced through the canvass that concealed from his 
 view its lovely inhabitant : his feelings were in a state of con- 
 fusion and excitement, altogether new to him ; for if, in his 
 European travels, he had paid a passing tribute of admiration 
 to the beauties who had crossed his path, and whom his 
 remarkable personal advantages had rendered by no means in- 
 sensible to his homage, the surface only of his heart had been 
 touched ; whereas now its deepest fountains were stirred, and 
 the troubled waters gushed forth with overwhelming force. 
 
 He was recalled to himself by the voice of the missionary, 
 who, without appearing to notice his abstraction, said, " My 
 son, if you choose that we should prolong our walk, I ana 
 ready to accompany you.** If the truth must be told, Regi- 
 nald could at that moment scarcely endure the presence of any 
 human being: he felt an impulse to rush into the woods, or 
 over the plain, and to pour forth in solitude the torrent of 
 feelings by which he was oppressed ; but he controlled him- 
 self, not only because he really felt a respect for the good mis- 
 sionary, but also because he hoped through him to obtain some 
 information respecting the extraordinary being who had taken 
 such sudden possession of his thoughts : he replied, therefore, 
 that he would willingly accompany him, and they took their 
 way together along the banks of the streamlet, alternately ob- 
 serving on the scenery and surrounding objects 
 
174 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 This desultory conversation did not long suit the eager 
 and straightforward character of Reginald Brandon ; and he 
 changed it by abruptly inquiring of his companion, whether he 
 knew any thing of the history and parentage of Prairie-bird. 
 
 "Not much," replied Paul Miiller, smiling; "she was 
 with this band of Delawares when I first came to reside among 
 them : if any one knows her history, it must be Tamenund ; 
 but he keeps it a profound secret, and gives out among the 
 tribe that she was sent to him by the Great Spirit, and that as 
 long as she remains with the band they will be successful in 
 hunting and in war." 
 
 ' ' But how, ( " inquired Reginald, " can he make such a tale 
 pass current among a people who are well known to consider 
 the female sex in so inferior and degraded a light ?" 
 
 " He has effected it," replied the missionary, " partly by 
 accident., partly by her extraordinary beauty and endowments, 
 and partly, I must own, by my assistance, which I have given 
 because I thereby ensured to her the kindest and most respect- 
 ful treatment, and also endeavoured, under God's blessing, to 
 make her instrumental in sowing the seed of His truth among 
 these benighted savages." 
 
 " Let me understand this more in detail," said Reginald, 
 *< if the narration does not trouble you." 
 
 " Her first appearance among the Delawares, as they have 
 told me," said the missionary, was as follows : " Their pro- 
 phet, or Great Medicine-man, dreamt that under a certain 
 tree was deposited a treasure, that should enrich the tribe and 
 render them fortunate : a party was sent by order of the chief 
 to search the spot indicated ; and on their arrival they found a 
 female child wrapped in a covering of beaver-skin, and reposing 
 on a couch of turkey-feathers : these creatures being supposed 
 to preside peculiarly over the fate of the Delawares, they 
 brought back the child with great ceremony to the village, 
 where they placed her under the care of the chief; set apart a 
 tent or lodge for her own peculiar use ; and ever since that time 
 have continued to take every care of her comfort and safety." 
 
 " I suppose," interrupted Reginald, " the dream of the 
 Great Medicine, and all its accompaniments, were secretly ar- 
 ranged between him and the chief ? " 
 
 " Probably they were," replied Paul ; " but you must be- 
 ware how you say as much to any Delaware : if you did not 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 175 
 
 risk your life, you would give mortal offence. After all, an 
 imposition that has resulted in harm to no one, and in so much 
 good to an interesting and unprotected creature, may be for- 
 given." 
 
 "Indeed I will not gainsay it," replied our hero: "pray 
 continue your narrative." 
 
 " My sacred office, and the kindly feelings entertained to- 
 wards me by these Indians, gave me frequent opportunities of 
 seeing and conversing with Olitipa, or the ' Prairie-bird ; ' and 
 I found in her such an amiable disposition, and so quick an 
 apprehension, that I gave my best attention to the cultivation 
 of talents which might, I hoped, some day produce a harvest 
 of usefulness. In reading, writing, and in music, she needed 
 but little instruction. I furnished her from time to time with 
 books, and paper, and pencils : an old Spanish guitar, probably 
 taken from some of the dwellings of that people in Missouri, 
 enabled her to practise simple melodies ; and you would be sur- 
 prised at the sweetness with which she now sings words, strung 
 together by herself in English and German, and also in the 
 Delaware tongue, adapting them to wild airs, either such as she 
 hears among the Indians, or invents herself. I took especial 
 pains to instruct her in the practical elements of a science that 
 my long residence among the different tribes has rendered ne- 
 cessary and familiar to me, I mean that of medicine, as con- 
 nected with the rude botany of the woods and prairies ; and 
 so well has she profited by my instruction, and by her own 
 persevering researches, that there is scarcely a tree, or gurn, or 
 herb, possessing any sanatory properties, which she does not 
 know and apply to the relief of those around her." 
 
 < : Indeed/' said Reginald, laughing ; " I had not expected 
 to find this last among the accomplishments of Prairie-bird." 
 
 " You were mistaken then," replied Paul Miiller ; " nay 
 more, I fear that, in your estimate of what are usually termed 
 female accomplishments, you have been accustomed to lay too 
 much stress on those which are light or trifling, and too little 
 on those which are useful and properly feminine : even 
 in settled and civilised countries the most grievous fevers 
 and ailments to which we are subject require the ministra- 
 tion of a female nurse ; can it be then unreasonable that 
 we should endeavour to mingle in their education some know- 
 ledge of the remedies which they may be called upon to ad- 
 
176 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 minister, and of the bodily ills which it is to be their province 
 to alleviate ? " 
 
 "You are right," answered Reginald, modestly; "and I 
 entreat your pardon for the hasty levity with which I spoke 
 on the subject. I am well aware that, in olden times, no 
 young woman's education was held to be complete without 
 some knowledge both of the culinary and healing arts ; and 
 I much doubt whether society has not suffered from their 
 having altogether abandoned the cultivation of these in favour 
 of singing, dancing, and reading of the lightest kind." 
 
 " It is the character of the artificial state to which society is 
 fast verging," replied Paul, " to prefer accomplishments to 
 qualities, ornament to usefulness, luxury to comfort, tinsel 
 to gold : setting aside the consideration of a future state, 
 this system might be well enough, if the drawing-room, the 
 theatre, and the ball were the sum of human life ; but it 
 is ill calculated to render man dignified in his character, 
 and useful to his fellow-creatures, or woman what she ought 
 to be, the comfort, the solace, the ornament of home." 
 
 (t These observations may be true as regards England or 
 France," replied Reginald ; " but you surely would not apply 
 them to our country ?" 
 
 " To a certain extent, I do," answered the missionary. 
 " I have been now thirty years on this continent, and have 
 observed that, as colonists, the Americans have been very 
 faithful imitators of these defects in their mother country ; I 
 am not sure that they will be rendered less so by their politi- 
 cal emancipation." 
 
 The conversation was now straying rather too far from the 
 subject to which Reginald desired to confine it: waving, 
 therefore, all reply to the missionary's last observation, he said, 
 " If I understood you aright, there were, beyond these studies 
 and accomplishments of Prairie-bird, some other means em- 
 ployed by you, to give and preserve to her the extraordinary 
 influence which you say that she possesses over the Indians." 
 
 " There were," replied Paul Muller : " amongst others, I 
 enabled her to vaccinate most of the children in this band, by 
 which means they escaped the fatal effects of a disorder that 
 has committed dreadful ravages among the surrounding tribes : 
 and I have instructed her in some of the elementary calcula- 
 tions of astronomy ; owing to which they look upon her as a 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 177 
 
 superior being, commissioned by tbe Great Spirit to live among 
 them, and to do them good : thus her person is safe, and her 
 tent as sacred from intrusion as the Great Medicine Lodge. I 
 am allowed to occupy a compartment in it, where I keep our 
 little stores of books and medicines; and she goes about the 
 camp on her errands of benevolence, followed by the attach- 
 ment and veneration of all classes and ages ! " 
 
 " Happy existence ! " exclaimed Reginald ; " and yet," 
 added he, musing, ' ' she cannot, surely, be doomed through 
 life to waste such sweetness on an air so desert ! " 
 
 " I know not," answered the missionary. <f God's purposes 
 are mysterious, and the instruments that he chooses for effect- 
 ing them, various as the flowers on the prairie. Many an 
 Indian warrior has that sweet child turned from the path of 
 blood, more than one uplifted tomahawk has fallen harmless 
 at the voice of her entreaty ; nay, I have reason to hope, that in 
 Wingenund, and in several others of the tribe, she has partially 
 uprooted the weeds of hatred and revenge ; and sown in their 
 stead the seeds of gospel truth. Surely, Reginald Brandon, 
 you would not call such an existence wasted ? " 
 
 " That would I not, indeed," replied the young man, with 
 emphasis. "It is an angel's office ! " he added, inaudibly, 
 " and it is performed by an angel ! " 
 
 Although he could have talked or listened on the subject 
 of the Prairie-bird for hours together, Reginald began already 
 to feel that sensitive reserve respecting the mention of her name 
 to another which always accompanies even the earliest dawnings 
 of love ; and he turned the conversation by inquiring of the 
 venerable missionary, whether he would kindly communicate 
 something of his own history ; and explain how he had come 
 from so remote a distance to pass the evening of life among 
 the Indians. 
 
 " The tale is very brief, and the motives very simple. I 
 was born in Germany, and having early embraced the tenets 
 of the United Brethren, of whom you have probably heard in 
 that country under the name of ' Herrn-Huter/ I received a 
 pressing invitation from Heckewalder, then in England, to join 
 him in his projected missionary journey to North America. 
 I gladly accepted the offer, and after a short stay in London, 
 embarked with that learned and amiable man, who soon 
 became what he now is, the nearest and dearest friend I have 
 
178 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 on earth; and I placed myself under his guidance in the 
 prosecution of the grand objects of our undertaking, which 
 were these to endeavour to convert the Indian nations to 
 Christianity, not, as the Spaniards had pretended to attempt. 
 by fire, and sword, and violence ; but by going unarmed and 
 peaceably among them, studying their languages, characters, 
 and history ; and while showing in qur own persons an example 
 of piety and self-denial, to eradicate patiently the more noxious 
 plants from their moral constitution, and to mould such as 
 were good and wholesome to the purposes of religious truth. 
 God be praised, our labours have not been altogether without 
 effect ; but I blush for my white brethren when I confess that 
 the greatest obstacle to our success has been found in the vices, 
 the open profligacy, the violence, and the cruelty of those who 
 have called themselves Christians. Heckewalder has confined 
 his exertions chiefly to the Indians remaining in Pennsylvania 
 and the Western territory ; mine have been mostly employed 
 among the wandering and wilder tribes who inhabit this remote 
 and boundless region." 
 
 " I have often heard your pious friend's name," said Re- 
 ginald ; " he enjoys the reputation of being the most eminent 
 Indian linguist in our country, and he is supposed to know the 
 Delaware language as well as his own." 
 
 " He is indeed," said Paul, " the most skilful and successful 
 labourer in this rude but not unfruitful vineyard. Now and 
 then, at remote intervals, I contrive, by means of some 
 returning hunter or Indian agent, to communicate with him, 
 and his letters always afford me matter of consolation and 
 encouragement ; though I was much cast down when he 
 announced to me the cruel and wanton massacre of his Indian 
 flock near the banks of the Ohio." 
 
 " I have heard of it," replied Reginald ; " I regret to say 
 that the outrage was committed not very far from the spot 
 where my father lives." 
 
 u Do you live in that neighbourhood ? " exclaimed the mis- 
 sionary, suddenly catching his arm ; " then you may, perhaps, 
 but no, it cannot be," he muttered to himself ; " this 
 youth can know nothing of it " 
 
 " My honoured friend," replied Reginald, colouring at the 
 idea suggested by the words which he had overheard, " I 
 trust you do not believe that my father, or any of my kindred, 
 had a share in those atrocities ! ' 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 179 
 
 " You misunderstood me altogether, I assure you," answered 
 the missionary ; " my exclamation had reference to another 
 subject. But I see War-Eagle coming this way ; probably he 
 is bent upon some hunting excursion, in which you may wish 
 to be his companion." 
 
 ef I shall gladly do so," replied Reginald, "as soon as I 
 have breakfasted: my faithful follower, Perrot, desired very 
 much that I should taste some collops of venison, which he 
 said that he could dress in a style somewhat superior to that 
 of the Indian cookery. Will you share them with me ? " 
 
 The missionary excused himself, as he had already taken 
 his morning meal, and was about to return to the tent of Prairie- 
 bird. 
 
 Reginald assured the good man of the pleasure which he 
 had found in his conversation, and expressed a hope that he 
 would be enabled soon to enjoy it again, as there was much 
 information respecting the habits, religion, and character of the 
 different Indian tribes which he felt anxious to acquire, and 
 which none could be better able to communicate. 
 
 " Whatever instruction or information I may have collected 
 during my residence among them, is freely at your service," 
 replied Paul Miiller ; " and if you find yourself in any diffi- 
 culty or embarrassment where my advice can be of use, you 
 may always command it. You know," he added, smiling, 
 " they consider me Great Medicine, and thus I am able to say 
 and do many things among them which would not be permitted 
 in another white man." So saying, he shook hands with Re- 
 ginald, and returned slowly towards the encampment. 
 
 War-Eagle now came up, and greeting his friend with his 
 usual cordiality, inquired whether he would accompany him in 
 the chase of the elk, herds of which had been seen at no great 
 distance. Reginald acceded to the proposal ; and, having has- 
 tily dispatched the collops prepared by Perrot, the two friends 
 left the village on foot, and took their way towards the timber 
 in the valley. 
 
 The day was hot, and the speed at which the agile Indian 
 unconsciously strode along, would have soon discomfited a less 
 active pedestrian than Reginald ; but having been well seasoned 
 in his hunting excursions with Baptiste, he found no difficulty 
 in keeping pace with his friend ; and he amused himself, as 
 they went, by asking him a variety of questions respecting the 
 
 N2 
 
180 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 country, the tribe, and its language, to all of which War-Eagle 
 replied with much intelligence and candour. 
 
 As Reginald had not seen Wingenund, he asked his com- 
 panion how it happened that the youth did not accompany 
 them. " He is gone," replied War-Eagle, " to bring turkeys 
 to the camp." 
 
 " Does he shoot them ? " inquired Reginald. 
 
 "No, he takes them my white brother shall see; it is 
 not far from the Elk Path." 
 
 When they reached the wooded bottom, War-Eagle struck 
 into a small track which seemed to have been made by a 
 streamlet in spring, and having followed it for about a mile, 
 they came to a more open woodland scene, where the Indian 
 pointed, as they passed along, to scattered feathers, and foot- 
 tracks of turkeys in abundance. They had not proceeded far, 
 when he uttered a low exclamation of surprise as he discovered 
 Wingenund stretched at the foot of a tree, with his eyes busily 
 fixed upon something which he held in his hand, and which 
 so riveted his attention that he was not aware of their approach. 
 Beside him lay two old and two young turkeys, which he had 
 caught and killed : the friends had not looked at him many 
 seconds, before he raised his eyes and perceived them : starting 
 to his feet, he made an ineffectual attempt to conceal that 
 which he had been holding in his hand, which was, in fact, 
 a sheet of coarse white paper. Reginald drew near and said 
 to him, " Come, Wingenund, you must show Netis what you 
 hold in your hand : I am sure it is no harm ; and if it is a 
 secret, I will keep it." 
 
 Wingenund, in some confusion, handed the scroll to Regi- 
 nald, who saw at the first glance that it was a fragment of an 
 elementary vocabulary of Delaware and English words, written 
 in a free bold character : he ran his eye over the paper, which 
 contained chiefly phrases of the most simple kind, such as, 
 < N'menne, I drink," " N'ani pa wi, I stand," " Tokeldn, it 
 rains," " Loo, true," " Yuni, this," " Na-ni, that," &c. c. 3 
 and a smile came over his features when his eye met his own 
 name, "Netis," with its translation, "dear friend." Below 
 this he read, " N'quti," " Nisha," "Nacha," " Newo," and a 
 succession of single words, which he rightly conjectured to be 
 numerals, 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., and at the bottom of the page was 
 a long sentence in the Lenape tongue, which began as fol- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 181 
 
 lows : " Ki wetochemelenJc talli epian awassagame, c." 
 " What is this last sentence, Wingenund ? " inquired Regi- 
 nald. 
 
 " It is the prayer," replied the youth, c( that the Good Spirit 
 taught the white men to say, when he came to live among 
 them." 
 
 " And who wrote all these words for you ? " 
 
 " Prairie-bird wrote them, and every day she teaches me to 
 understand the marks on the paper." 
 
 Reginald's eyes strayed unconsciously to that part of the 
 sheet where he had seen his own name written by the Prairie- 
 bird's hand. " Happy boy ! " he mentally ejaculated, "to sit 
 at her feet, and draw instruction from her lips ! " " With such 
 a teacher, methinks I could learn the Lenape tongue in a 
 month! What says my brother?" continued he aloud, 
 addressing War-Eagle, whose fine countenance wore an expres- 
 sion of indifference, almost amounting to contempt. " What 
 says my brother of this paper ? " 
 
 <e It is perhaps good/' replied the Indian gravely, " for 
 the Black Father, and for the white man but not for the 
 Lenape. The Great Spirit has given him a heart to feel, 
 and a hand to fight, and eyes to see the smallest track on the 
 grass that is enough. Our fathers knew no more, and they 
 were great, and strong, and brave ! chiefs among the nations ! 
 What are we now ? Few, and weak, and wandering. It is 
 better for us to live and die like them, and we shall hunt with 
 them in the happy fields. Let us go and show Netis where 
 Wingenund takes the turkeys." So saying, he turned and led 
 the way, followed by his two companions. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AN ARRIVAL AT MOOSHANNE. A CALM ASHORE AFTER A STORM 
 AT SEA. 
 
 WHILE the events, narrated in the preceding chapter, were 
 occurring in the Western wilderness, the family at Moo- 
 shanne had been thrown into a state of the greatest dismay 
 and confusion, by the arrival of Captain L'Estrange's first 
 N 3 
 
182 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 letter announcing the flight of Ethelston with his daughter, 
 and depicting his conduct in the blackest colours. Colonel 
 Brandon had perused its contents half a dozen times, and 
 they had produced traces of anxiety upon his countenance, too 
 evident to escape the observation of Lucy, so that he was 
 obliged to break to her by degrees the painful intelligence of 
 her lover's infidelity : with a calmness that surprised him, she 
 insisted on reading the letter ; as she proceeded her brow 
 crimsoned with indignation, and those blue eyes, usually 
 beaming with the gentlest expression, flashed with an angry 
 lustre. 
 
 Colonel Brandon knew full well the affection she had long 
 conceived for Ethelston, and though his own feelings were 
 deeply wounded by the misconduct of one whom he had loved 
 and trusted as a son, they were at present overpowered by 
 the fears which he entertained of the effect which this 
 unexpected blow might produce on Lucy's health and hap- 
 piness. He was, therefore, relieved by observing the anger 
 expressed on her countenance, and prepared himself to hear 
 the deserved reproaches on her former lover, which seemed 
 ready to burst from her tongue. What was his surprise when 
 he saw her tear the letter in pieces before his face, and heard 
 her, while she set her pretty little foot upon them, exclaim, 
 
 " Dear, dear father, how could you for a moment believe 
 such a tale of vile, atrocious falsehood ? " 
 
 However disinclined the Colonel might be to believe any 
 thing to the disadvantage of Ethelston, there was so much, 
 circumstantial evidence to condemn him, that he felt it his 
 duty to prepare his child for the worst at once, and to point 
 out to her how they already knew that Ethelston had been 
 wounded and conveyed to the house of L' Estrange, that his 
 long absence was unexplained, and lastly that the character of 
 the French commodore, as an officer, arid a man of honour, 
 was unimpeached. 
 
 Lucy heard him to the end ; the glow on her cheek assumed a 
 warmer hue, and the little foot beat with a nervous and 
 scarcely perceptible motion on the floor, as she replied, " Father 
 I will believe that the letter is a forgery, or that the French 
 officer, or commodore, or admiral, is a madman, but never 
 that Ethelston is a villain." 
 
 " My dear Lucy," said the Colonel, " I am almost as un- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 183 
 
 willing to think ill of Ethelston as you can be yourself; but 
 alas ! I have seen more than you of the inconstancy of men ; 
 and I know, too well, that many who have enjoyed a good 
 reputation have yet been found unable to withstand temptation, 
 such as may have beset Ethelston while an inmate of the 
 same house with the Creole beauty " 
 
 " Dear father," answered Lucy, colouring yet more deeply ; 
 " though it were possible that Ethelston, in the presence of 
 greater attractions, may have yielded to them his affections, 
 and withdrawn them from one who had hoped to possess and 
 treasure them for life, though this may be possible, it is not 
 possible that he should be guilty of a violation of the laws 
 of hospitality and honour, such as that slanderous paper lays 
 to his charge. Promise me, dearest father, to suspend your 
 belief, and never to speak on this subject again, until it is 
 God's pleasure that the truth shall be brought to light." 
 
 " I promise you, my sweet child," said her father ; " and 
 may that merciful Being grant that your trust be not disap- 
 pointed ! " 
 
 " I have no fears," said Lucy ; and, as she spoke, her eyes 
 beamed with that full undoubting love such as can only be 
 felt by one who has never known what it is to deceive or to be 
 deceived. 
 
 Days and weeks passed on without any intelligence of 
 Ethelston ; and while the fears of Colonel Brandon became 
 more confirmed, the agony of suspense and the sickness of 
 deferred hope began to prey upon the spirits of his daughter: 
 she never alluded to the forbidden subject ; but her nervous 
 anxiety, when the weekly letter-bag was opened, clearly showed 
 that it was ever in her mind : nevertheless she continued her 
 occasional excursions to Marietta, and visited, as usual, those 
 around Mooshanne who were sick or in distress ; so that neither 
 her mother nor Aunt Mary detected the anxiety by which she 
 was tortured. One evening, half an hour before sunset, as 
 the family party were seated at their simple supper, the clatter 
 of a horse's hoofs was heard approaching at full speed, fro 
 which the rider dismounted, and, lifting the latch of the un- 
 locked door, entered the house. Traversing the vestibule wit* 
 hasty strides, and apparently guided by instinct to the apart- 
 ment in which the family were assembled, he threw open the 
 door, and Ethelston stood before the astonished party. His 
 N 4 
 
184 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 countenance was haggard from fatigue and exposure to the 
 sun, and his whole appearance indicated exhaustion. Lucy 
 turned deadly pale, and Colonel Brandon's constrained manner, 
 as he rose from his chair, must have convinced the new comer 
 that his return was productive of other feelings than those of 
 unmingled pleasure. He was moving, however, a few steps 
 forward to pay his first respects to Mrs. Brandon, when the 
 Colonel, touching him lightly on the arm, said, ff Mr. Ethel- 
 ston, I must crave a few words with you in the adjoining 
 room/' 
 
 Hitherto Lucy had remained silent, with her eyes fixed 
 intently on Ethelston's countenance ; he returned her look with 
 one as long and fixed : the expression of his eyes was mourn- 
 ful, rather than joyous, but there was no trace of uneasiness 
 or of shame. Springing from her seat, she placed her hand 
 imploringly on the Colonel's arm saying, 
 
 "Dear father, I told you so from the first, I knew it 
 always I read it now plain as the sun in heaven, that vile 
 letter was a string of falsehoods; he is returned as he left 
 us, with an untarnished honour." 
 
 " Thank you, dear Lucy," said Ethelston, advancing and 
 pressing her extended hands to his lips : " blessings on that 
 trusting affection which has rendered it impossible for you to 
 believe aught to the prejudice of one on whom you have 
 deigned to fix it. Colonel Brandon," he continued, " I can 
 guess how you have been misled, and appearances were for 
 a short time so much against me, that I acquit of all in- 
 tentional malice those who have misled you. Judge for your- 
 self whether, if I were stained by the crime of which I have 
 been accused, I could now ask, on my bended knee, for the 
 blessing of you, my second father, and thus hold in mine, as 
 I dare to do, the hand of your pure, trusting, and beloved 
 child." 
 
 There was a truth in every tone of his voice, and a con- 
 vincing dignity in his manner, that swept away all doubts 
 like a torrent. The Colonel embraced him with cordial affec- 
 tion ; Aunt Mary kissed her favourite nephew over and over 
 again ; Mrs. Brandon wept tears of joy on his neck ; and Lucy 
 was so overpowered by delight, that she was perhaps scarcely 
 conscious of all that passed around. 
 
 After they were in some degree recovered from their emo- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 185 
 
 tion, and had pressed Ethelston to take some refreshment, he 
 said to the Colonel, "Now I am prepared to give you an 
 account of my adventures, and to explain those circumstances 
 that led to the misunderstanding under which you have so 
 long laboured." 
 
 " Not a word not a word will I hear of explanation 
 to-night, my dear boy," replied the Colonel. " I am already- 
 ashamed that I have not shown the same undoubting confi- 
 dence in your rectitude, both of purpose and conduct, that 
 has been evinced from first to last by Lucy. You are \veary 
 and exhausted ; the agitation of this scene has been trying to 
 all of us ; we will defer your narrative until to-morrow. Our 
 first duty this evening is to return our thanks to Providence 
 for having protected you through all danger, and restored you 
 safe to the comforts of home." 
 
 As he spoke, the worthy old gentleman took down a Bible 
 from the shelf; and having desired Lucy to summon all the 
 servants into the room, he read an appropriate chapter, and 
 added to the selected prayer for the evening a few impressive 
 and affecting words of thanksgiving, for the safe return of the 
 long-lost member of the family. 
 
 This duty was scarcely concluded, when the outer door 
 was violently opened ; a heavy step was heard approaching, 
 and, without waiting to be admitted or announced, the sturdy 
 figure of Gregson entered the room. 
 
 "The captain himself, as I live!" said the honest mate. 
 " Beg pardon, Colonel Brandon, but I heard a report of his 
 having been seen going ten knots an hour through Marietta. 
 So up I sticks, made sail, and was in his wake in less time 
 than our nigger cook takes to toss off a glass of grog." 
 
 " Give me your hand, Gregson," said Ethelston, kindly ; 
 " there is not a truer nor an honester one between Marietta 
 and China." 
 
 " Thank ye, thank ye, captain," said the mate, giving him 
 a squeeze that would have broken the knuckles of any hand 
 but a sailor's ; " the flipper's well enough in its way, and 
 I trust the heart's somewhere about the right place ; but 
 what the devil have they been at with you in Guada- 
 loupe ? " added he, observing his chief's wearied and wasted 
 appearance ; " considering how long those rascally Frenchmen- 
 
18G THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 have had you in dock, they've sent you to sea in precious 
 state, hoth as to hull and rigging." 
 
 " I confess, I am not over ship-shape," said Ethelston, 
 laughing ; c ' hut my present condition is more owing to the 
 fatigues of my tedious journey from New Orleans than to any 
 neglect on the part of the Frenchmen." 
 
 The Colonel now invited the worthy mate to be seated ; and 
 Lucy brewed for him, with her own fair fingere a large 
 tumbler of toddy, into which, by her father's desire, she 
 poured an extra glass of rum. Ethelston,, pretending to be 
 jealous of this favour, insisted on his right to a draught, con- 
 taining less potent ingredients, but administered by the same 
 hand ; and an animated conversation ensued, in the course of 
 which Gregson inquired after the welfare of his old friend 
 Cupid, the black cook. 
 
 " Poor fellow, he is no more/' replied Ethelston, in a tone 
 of deep feeling ; ' f he died as he had lived, proud, brave, 
 faithful to the last. I cannot tell you the story now, it is too 
 sad a one for this our first evening at home:" as he spoke, 
 his eyes met those of Lucy, and there he read all that his 
 overcharged heart desired to know. 
 
 Soon after the allusion to this melancholy incident, the little 
 party broke up; the evening being already far advanced, 
 Gregson returned to Marietta, and the members of the Colonel's 
 family retired to their respective apartments, leaving Ethelston 
 alone in the drawing-room. For a few minutes he walked up 
 and down, and pressed his hand upon his forehead, which 
 throbbed with various and deep emotions. He took up the 
 music whereon Lucy had written her name, and the needle- 
 work on which her fingers had been employed : he sat down 
 on the chair she had just left, as if to satisfy himself with 
 the assurance that all around him was not a dream ; and again 
 he vented the full gratitude of his heart in a brief but earnest 
 ejaculation of thanksgiving. After a short indulgence in such 
 meditations, he retired to that rest of which he stood so much 
 in need. The room that had been prepared for him was up 
 stairs, and, on crossing a broad passage that led to it, he 
 suddenly met Lucy, who was returning to her own from her 
 mother's apartment. Whether this meeting was purely acci- 
 dental, or whether Lucy, remembering that she had not said 
 good-night quite distinctly to her lover, lingered in her 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 187 
 
 mother's room until she heard his step on the stair, we have 
 no means of ascertaining, and therefore leave it undecided: 
 certain it is, however, that they did meet in the passage above 
 mentioned, and that Ethelston, putting down his candle on a 
 table that stood by, took Lucy's unresisting hand and pressed 
 it in his own : he gazed on her blushing countenance with an 
 intensity that can only be understood by those who, like him, 
 have been suddenly restored to a beloved one, whose image 
 had been ever present during a long absence, assuaging the 
 pain of sickness, comforting him in trials, dwelling with him 
 in the solitude of a prison, and sustaining him in the extremest 
 perils of the storm, the fight, and the shipwreck ! Though he 
 had never been formally betrothed to her in words, and though 
 his heart was now too full to give utterance to them, he had 
 heard enough below to satisfy him that she had never doubted 
 his faith he felt that their troth was tacitly plighted to each 
 other, and now it was almost unconsciously that their lips met 
 and sealed the unspoken contract- 
 That first, long, passionate kiss of requited love ! Its 
 raptures have been the theme of glowing prose, of impassioned 
 verse, in all ages and climes ; the powers of language have 
 been exhausted upon it, the tongue and the pen of genius 
 have, for centuries, borrowed for its description the warmest 
 hues of fancy and imagination and yet how far short do 
 they fall of the reality ! how impossible to express in words 
 an electric torrent of feeling, more tumultuous than joy, more 
 burning than the desert's thirst, yet sweeter and more deli- 
 cious than childhood's dream of Paradise, pouring over the 
 heart a stream of bliss, steeping the senses in oblivion of all 
 earthly cares, and so mysteriously blending the physical with 
 the immaterial elements of our nature, that we feel as if, in 
 that embrace, we could transfuse a portion of our soul and 
 spirit into the beloved object on whose lip that first kiss of 
 long-treasured love is imprinted. 
 
 Brief and fleeting moments ! they are gone almost before 
 the mind is conscious of them ! They could not, indeed, be 
 otherwise than brief, for the agony of joy is like that of pain, 
 and exhausted nature would sink under its continued excess. 
 Precious moments, indeed ! to none can they be known more 
 than once in life ; to very many, they can never be known at 
 all. They can neither be felt nor imagined by the mere 
 
188 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 worldling, nor the sensualist ; the sources of that stream of 
 bliss must be unadulterated by aught low, or selfish ; it is not 
 enough that 
 
 " Heart and soul and sense in concert move ; " 
 
 desire must go hand in hand with purity, and virtue be the 
 handmaid of passion, or the blissful scene will lose its fairest 
 and brightest hues. 
 
 The step of some servant was heard approaching; and 
 Lucy, uttering a hasty good-night, returned to her room, 
 where she bolted her door, and gave herself up to the varied 
 emotions by which she was overcome. Tears bedewed her 
 eyes, but they were not tears of grief; her bosom was agitated, 
 but it was not the agitation of sorrow ; her pillow was sleep- 
 less, but she courted not slumber, for her mind dwelt on the 
 events of the past day ; and gratitude for her lover's return, 
 together with the full assurance of his untarnished honour, 
 and undiminished affection, rendered her waking thoughts 
 sweeter than any that sleep could have borrowed from the 
 land of dreams. 
 
 On the following morning, after breakfast, when the family 
 were assembled in the library, Ethelston, at the request of 
 Colonel Brandon, commenced the narrative of his adventures. 
 As the reader is already acquainted with them, until the 
 closing scene of poor Nina's life, we shall make mention of 
 that part of his tale no further than to state that, so far as 
 truth would permit, in all that he told, as well as all that he 
 forbore to tell, he feelingly endeavoured to shield her memory 
 from blame; the sequel of his story we shall give in his own 
 words. 
 
 " I remained only a few days with L'Estrange after his 
 daughter's death ; during which time I used my best endea- 
 vours to console him ; but, in spite of the affectionate kindness 
 which he showed me, I felt that my presence must ever recall 
 and refresh the remembrance of his bereavement, and I was 
 much relieved when the arrival of one of his other married 
 daughters, with her family, gave me an excuse and an oppor- 
 tunity for withdrawing from Guadaloupe. The vessel which 
 had brought them from Jamaica proposed to return imme- 
 diately, and I easily obtained L'Estrange's permission to sail 
 with her, only on the condition of not serving against France 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 189 
 
 during the continuance of these hostilities : when I bade him 
 farewell he was much affected, and embraced me as if he were 
 parting with a son ; so I have at least the melancholy satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that I retain his best wishes and his esteem. 
 
 " My voyage to Port Royal was prosperous. On arriving 
 I found a brig laden with fruit, just about to sail in a few 
 days for New Orleans. I confess I did not much like the 
 appearance either of the vessel or her commander ; but such 
 was my impatience to return to Mooshanne, that I believe I 
 would have risked the voyage in an open boat." Here Ethel- 
 ston looked at Lucy, on whose countenance a blushing smile 
 showed that she well knew the meaning of his words. " I 
 embarked," continued he, " accompanied by my faithful 
 Cupid, on board the Dos Amigos : the captain was an 
 ignorant rum-drinking Creole ; besides himself there was only 
 one white man in the crew, and the coloured men were from 
 all countries and climates, the most reckless and turbulent 
 gang that I had ever seen on board a ship. During the first 
 half of the voyage, the weather being favourable, we crept 
 along the southern coast of Cuba, and passed almost within 
 sight of the Isla de Pinos, which I had so much cause to re- 
 member ; thence we steered a north-westerly course, and 
 doubled the Cape of Saint Antonio in safety, whence we had 
 a prospect of a fair run to the Belise ; but, two days after we 
 had lost sight of the Cuban coast, it came on to blow a gale of 
 wind, which gradually increased until it became almost a hurri- 
 cane from the south-west. 
 
 " The brig drove helplessly before it; and from her leaky and 
 shattered condition, as well as from the total want of seaman- 
 ship exhibited by her drunken captain, I hourly expected that 
 she would founder at sea : for twenty-four hours the gale con- 
 tinued with unabated violence, and the weather was so thick 
 that no object could be discerned at two hundred yards' dis- 
 tance. I remained constantly on deck, giving such assistance 
 as I could render, and endeavouring to keep the captain's 
 lips from the rum-bottle, to which he had more frequent re- 
 course as the danger became more imminent. Being at length 
 wearied out, I threw myself in my clothes on my cot, and soon 
 fell asleep. I know not how long I slept ; but I was awakened 
 by a violent shock, accompanied by a grating, grinding sound, 
 from which I knew in an instant that the brig had struck on 
 
190 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 a rock. Almost before I had time to spring from my cot, Cupid 
 dashed into the cabin, and, seizing me with the force of a 
 giant, dragged me on deck. At this moment the foremast fell 
 with a tremendous crash, and a heavy sea swept over the de- 
 voted vessel, carrying away the boat, all loose spars, and many 
 of the crew. Cupid and I held on by the main rigging, and 
 were not swept away ; but wave after wave succeeded each 
 other with resistless fury, and in a few moments we were both 
 struggling, half stunned and exhausted, in the abyss of waters, 
 holding on convulsively to a large hen-coop, which had pro- 
 videntially been thrown between us. 
 
 <( One wild shriek of despair reached my ear, after which 
 nothing was heard but the tumultuous roar of the angry ele- 
 ments." 
 
 At this part of Ethelston's narrative, Lucy covered her face 
 with her hands, as if she would thereby shut out the dreadful 
 view, and in spite of all her struggle for self-command, a tear 
 stole down her colourless cheek. 
 
 " It was, indeed, a fearful moment," he continued, "and 
 yet I did not feel deserted by hope ; I was prepared for death, 
 I prayed fervently, and I felt that my prayer was not unheard ; 
 even then, in that strife of foaming sea and roaring blast, God 
 sent the vision of an angel to comfort and sustain me ! It 
 wore the form of one who has ever dwelt in my thoughts by 
 day, and in my dreams by night ; who seemed as near to me 
 then, as she does now that her gentle tears are flowing at this 
 recital of my trials." 
 
 While speaking the last words, his low voice trembled until 
 it fell into a whisper, and Lucy, overcome by her feelings, 
 would have fallen from her chair, had not his ready arm sup- 
 ported her. A dead silence reigned in the room ; Aunt Mary 
 wept aloud, and Colonel Brandon walked to the window to 
 conceal his emotion. After a few minutes, as he turned again 
 towards them, Ethelston, who still supported Lucy, beckoned 
 him to approach, and, addressing him in a tone of deep and 
 earnest feeling, said, 
 
 " Colonel Brandon, my guardian, friend, and benefactor ; 
 add yet this one to all your former benefits, and my cup of 
 gratitude will be full indeed : " as he spoke he took the unresist- 
 ing hand of Lucy in his own: the Colonel looked inquiringly 
 and affectionately at his daughter, who did not speak, but 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 191 
 
 raised her tearful eyes to his, with an expression not to be 
 misunderstood. Pressing their united hands between his own, 
 and kissing Lucy's forehead, he whispered, 
 
 " God bless you, my children : " after a pause he added, 
 with a suppressed smile, " Ethelston shall finish his narrative 
 presently ; " and, taking Aunt Mary's arm, he left the room. 
 
 We will imitate the Colonel's discretion, and forbear to 
 intrude upon the sacred quiet of a scene where the secret, 
 long-cherished love of two overflowing hearts was at length 
 unreservedly interchanged ; we need only say that ere the 
 Colonel returned with Aunt Mary, after an absence of half an 
 hour, Lucy's tears were dried, and her cheeks were suffused 
 with a mantling blush, as she sprung into her father's arms, 
 and held him in a long and silent embrace. 
 
 '* Come, my child ," said the Colonel, when he had returned 
 her affectionate caress : " sit down, and let us hear the con- 
 clusion of Ethelston's adventures we left him in a perilous 
 plight, and I am anxious to hear how he escaped from it." 
 
 " Not without much suffering, both of mind and body, my 
 dear sir," continued Ethelston in a serious tone of voice ; " for 
 the sea dashed to and fro with such violence the frail basket- 
 work to which Cupid and I were clinging, that more than 
 once I was almost forced to quit my hold, and it was soon 
 evident that its buoyant power was not sufficient to save us 
 both, especially as Cupid's bulk and weight were commen- 
 surate with his gigantic strength. His coolness under these 
 trying circumstances was remarkable : observing that I was 
 almost fainting from the effects of a severe blow on the head 
 from a floating piece of the wreck, he poured into my mouth 
 some rum from a small flask that he had contrived to secure, 
 and then replacing the stopper, he thrust the flask into my 
 breast pocket, saying, f Capt'n drink more when he want : * 
 at this moment a large spar from the wreck was driven past 
 us, and the faithful creature said, * Capt'n, hencoop not big 
 enough for two, Cupid swim and take spar to ride ;' and, ere I 
 could stop him, he loosed his hold and plunged into the huge 
 wave to seize the spar : more I could not see, for the spray 
 dashed over me, and the gloom and the breakers hid him in a 
 moment from my sight. I felt my strength failing, but 
 enough remained for me to loose a strong silk kerchief from 
 my neck, and to lash myself firmly to the hencoop. Again 
 
192 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and again the wild sea broke over me ; I felt a tremendous 
 and stunning blow as I thought, the last, and I was no 
 more conscious of what passed around. 
 
 " When I recovered my senses, I found myself lying upon 
 some soft branches, and sheltered by low bushes, a few hundred 
 yards from the sea-beach ; two strange men were standing near 
 me, and gave evident signs of satisfaction when they saw my 
 first attempts at speech and motion ; they made me swallow 
 several morsels of sea-biscuit steeped in rum, and I was soon 
 so far restored as to be able to sit up, and to learn the parti' 
 culars of my situation. The island near which the brig had 
 been wrecked, was one of the Tortugas ; the two men who 
 had carried me up to a dry spot from the beach, belonged 
 to a small fishing-craft, which had put in two days before the 
 hurricane for a supply of water and in hopes of catching 
 turtle. Their vessel was securely moored in a little natural 
 harbour, protected by the outer ledge of rocks : the reef on 
 which the brig had struck was upwards of a mile from the 
 spot where they had found me ; and I could not learn from 
 them that they had seen any portion of her wreck, or any part 
 of her crew, alive or dead. 
 
 " As soon as my bruised condition permitted me to drag my 
 limbs along, I commenced a careful search along the low rocky 
 shore, in hopes of learning something of the fate of Cupid, 
 and at length was horrified on discovering the mutilated 
 remains of the faithful creature, among some crevices in the 
 rocks. He had clung to the spar which still lay beside him 
 with the pertinacious strength of despair : his hands and 
 limbs were dreadfully mangled, and his skull fractured by the 
 violence with which he had been driven on the reef. I re- 
 membered how he had resigned the hencoop to save my life ; 
 and the grief that I evinced for his loss moved the compassion 
 of the fishermen, who aided me to bury him decently on the 
 island. 
 
 ec We remained there two days longer, until the gale had 
 subsided, during which time I frequently visited poor Cupid's 
 grave ; and though many of our countrymen would be ashamed 
 of owning such regret for one of his colour, I confess that 
 when on that lonely spot I called to mind his faithful services, 
 and his last noble act of generous courage, I mourned him as 
 a friend and brother. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 1Q3 
 
 " When the fishing-smack put to sea, I prevailed on her 
 captain to visit the reef where the brig had struck ; but we 
 found not a spar nor plank remaining ; nor am I to this 
 moment aware whether any others of her crew survived the 
 wreck ; but it is more than probable that they perished to 
 a man. Upon the promise of a considerable sum of money, 
 I prevailed upon the fishermen to give me a passage to New 
 Orleans, where we arrived without accident or adventure, and 
 my impatience to reach home only permitted me to stay in 
 that city a few hours, when, having provided myself with 
 a horse, I rode on hither by forced marches, and arrived in 
 the travel-worn condition that you observed yesterday." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 AN ELK-HUNT. REGINALD MAKES HIS FIRST ESSAY IN SURGERY. 
 
 THE READER IS ADMITTED INTO PRAIRIE-BIRD'S TENT. 
 
 WE left Reginald Brandon in the skirt of the forest bounding 
 the Western Prairie, accompanied by Wingenund and War- 
 Eagle. The latter, having taken the lead, conducted his com- 
 panions through a considerable extent of ground, covered with 
 bushes of alder and scrub-oak, until they reached an open forest 
 glade, where the Indian pointed out to Reginald a large square 
 building, composed of rough logs, and covered with the same 
 material. In the centre of one side was a low aperture, or 
 door, about fifteen inches in height, in front of which was a 
 train of maize laid by Wingenund. On approaching this tur- 
 key-pen, or trap, they observed that there were already two 
 prisoners, a large gobbler and a female bird, although not 
 more than an hour had elapsed since the lad had taken out 
 the four turkeys which have been before mentioned. When 
 the captives became aware of the approach of the party, they 
 ran about the pen from side to side, thrusting out their long 
 necks, peering through the crevices in the logs, jumping and 
 flying against the top, in their violent endeavours to escape. 
 
 "Do they never stoop their heads?" inquired Reginald, 
 " and go out at the same door by which they entered ? " 
 
 " Never/' replied Wingenund. 
 
I94 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ' ( That is singular/' said Reginald, " for the bird is in 
 general very sagacious and difficult to be taken or killed ; 
 how does it happen that they are so unaccountably stupid as 
 not to go out where they came in ? " 
 
 Before answering the question addressed to him, Wingenund 
 cast a diffident look towards War-Eagle, and on receiving from 
 the chief a sign to reply, he said, 
 
 " Netis knows that the Great Spirit distributes the gifts of 
 wisdom and cunning like the sunshine and the storm ; even the 
 Black Father does not understand all his ways. How can 
 Wingenund tell why the turkey's eye is so quick, his ear so 
 sharp, his legs so swift? and yet he is sometimes a fool; 
 when he picks up the maize, his head is low ; he walks through 
 the opening ; he is in a strange place ; he is frightened ; and 
 fear takes from him all the sense that the Great Spirit had 
 given him. Wingenund knows no more." 
 
 " My young brother speaks truly, and wisely, beyond his 
 years," said Reginald, kindly. " It is, as you say, fear makes 
 him forget all the capacities of his nature : it is so with men, 
 why should it be otherwise with birds ? Does War-Eagle say 
 nothing?" 
 
 lt My brother's words are true," replied the chief, gravely ; 
 " he has picked out one arrow, but many remain in the quiver." 
 
 " My brother speaks riddles," said Reginald ; <c I do not 
 understand him." 
 
 " Fear is a bad spirit," replied the chief, raising his arm, 
 and speaking with energy. " It creeps round the heart of a 
 woman, and crawls among the lodges of the Dahcotahs ; it 
 makes the deer leap into the river when he would be safer in 
 the thicket ; it makes the turkey a fool, and keeps him in the 
 pen : but there are other bad spirits, that make the heart crooked 
 and the eyes blind." 
 
 " Tell me how so?" inquired Reginald, desirous of en- 
 couraging his Indian friend to continue his illustration. 
 
 tc Does my brother know the antelope," replied War- Eagle ; 
 " he is very cunning and swift ; his eye is quick as the tur- 
 key's ; the hunter could not overtake him : but he lies down in 
 a hollow and hides himself ; he fastens a tuft of grass to his 
 bow and holds it over his head ; the Bad Spirit gets into the 
 antelope ; he becomes a fool ; he comes nearer and nearer to 
 look at the strange sight; the hunter shoots and he dies. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 There are many bad spirits. The Wyandot who struck at my 
 white brother, he was a cunning snake ; he had taken scalps, 
 the ball of his rifle did not wander ; if he had crept in the 
 bushes on my brother's path, Netis would now be in the happy 
 hunting-fields of the white warriors. But a bad spirit took 
 him ; he offered food while his heart was false, and he thrust 
 his head under the tomahawk of War-Eagle. There are 
 many bad spirits. I have spoken." 
 
 Reginald listened with interest to these sentiments of his 
 Indian friend, expressed, as they were, in broken sentences 
 and in broken English, the purport of them being, however, 
 exactly conveyed in the foregoing sentences ; but he refrained 
 from pursuing the subject further, observing that War-Eagle 
 was slinging the turkeys over Wingenund's shoulder, and 
 preparing to pursue their course in search of the elk. Leaving 
 the youth to return with his feathered burden to the encamp- 
 ment, the two friends continued their excursion, War-Eagle 
 leading the way, and stopping every now and then to examine 
 such tracks as appeared to him worthy of notice. They had 
 not proceeded far, when they reached a spot where the path 
 which they were following crossed a small rivulet, and, the 
 soil being soft on its bank, there were numerous hoof-prints 
 of deer and elk, but so confused by the trampling of the dif- 
 ferent animals, that Reginald could not distinguish the one 
 from the other. It was not so, however, with the Indian ; 
 for, pointing downward to a track at his foot, he made a sign, 
 by raising both his hands above his head, to indicate a pair of 
 antlers, and whispered to Reginald " very big." 
 
 " An elk ? " inquired the latter ; making a silent affirmative 
 sign, War-Eagle pursued the trail which conducted them to 
 the top of a small rising ground, where it appeared to branch 
 in several directions, and became almost imperceptible from the 
 shortness of the grass and the hardness of the soil. But these 
 seemed to offer no impediment to the Indian's pursuit of his 
 quarry, for turning short at a right angle to their former 
 course, he descended the hillock in a different direction, walk- 
 ing with a swift noiseless step, as if he saw his game before 
 him. 
 
 Reginald's surprise overcame even his eagerness for the 
 sport, trained as he had been in the woods, and justly held one 
 of the quickest and most skilful hunters in the territory. He 
 o 2 
 
196 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 had looked in vain on the ground which they were now tra- 
 versing for the slightest point or footmark : touching, there- 
 fore, his friend lightly on his shoulder, he whispered, " Does 
 my brother guess the elk's path ? or can he smell it, like the 
 Spaniard's dog ? " 
 
 A good-humoured smile played on the Delaware's lip as he 
 replied, " The trail of the elk is broad and easy ; War-Eagle 
 could follow it by the moon's light ! My white brother will 
 see : he is an elk-chief; his squaws are with him." 
 
 As he spoke he showed several marks, which Reginald could 
 scarcely distinguish, on the short grass : a few yards further 
 War-Eagle added, pointing to a low bush beside them, " If 
 Netis does not see the elk's foot, he can see his teeth." 
 
 On examining the bush, Reginald perceived that a small 
 fresh twig from the side of it had been recently cropped, and 
 suppressing his astonishment at his friend's sagacity, in fol- 
 lowing with such apparent ease a trail that to him was scarcely 
 discernible, he allowed him to proceed without further inter- 
 ruption, closely watching his every movement, in the hope that 
 he might be able to discover some of the indications by which 
 the Indian was guided. Moving lightly forward, they soon 
 had occasion again to cross the brook before mentioned ; and 
 on the soft edge of its banks War-Eagle pointed in silence to 
 the track of the large hoof of the elk, and to the smaller print 
 left by the feet of its female companions. Desiring Reginald 
 to remain still, the Indian now crept stealthily forward to the 
 top of a small hillock covered with brushwood, where he lay 
 for a few seconds with his ear touching the ground. Having 
 once raised his head to look through a low bush in front of 
 him, he sunk again upon the ground, and made a signal for 
 his friend to creep to the spot. Reginald obeyed, and peering 
 cautiously through the leaves of the same bush, he saw the 
 stately elk browsing at a distance of an hundred and fifty 
 yards, the two hinds being beyond him. The intervening 
 ground being barren and almost flat, offering no cover for a 
 nearer approach, his first impulse was to raise his rifle for a 
 distant shot ; but War-Eagle, gently pressing down the barrel, 
 motioned him to crouch behind the bush. When they were 
 again concealed, the Delaware whispered to his friend, that 
 he would go round and creep on the elk from the opposite, 
 quarter. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 197 
 
 Reginald, in reply, pointed to the top branches of a young 
 poplar gently waving in the breeze. 
 
 "War-Eagle knows it," said the Indian, gravely, "the 
 wind is from that quarter ; it is not good ; but he will try ; 
 if elk smell him, he comes this way, and Netis shoot him." 
 So saying, he crept down the little hillock by the same path 
 which they had followed in the ascent, and then striking off 
 in an oblique direction, was soon lost to view. 
 
 Reginald, still concealed behind the bush, silent and motion- 
 less, with his hand on the lock of his rifle, watched intently 
 every movement of the antlered monarch of the woods : the 
 latter, unconscious of danger, lazily picked the tenderest 
 shoots from the surrounding bushes, or tossed his lofty head 
 to and fro, as if to display the ease and grace with which it 
 bore those enormous antlers. More than once, as he turned 
 to brush off from his side some troublesome fly, Reginald 
 thought he had become suddenly aware of the Indian's 
 approach ; but it was not so, for in spite of the disadvantage 
 of the wind, the practised Delaware moved towards his 
 unsuspecting prey with the stealthy creep of a panther. 
 Reginald's impatience was such that minutes seemed to him 
 hours ; and his fingers played with the lock of his rifle, as if 
 he could no longer control their movement : at length a 
 sudden snort from one of the hinds announced that she smelt 
 or heard some object of alarm as she came trotting to the side 
 of her lordly protector. 
 
 Turning himself to windward, and throwing forward his 
 ears, the elk listened for a moment, while his upturned and 
 wide distended nostril snuffed the breeze, to discover the dan- 
 ger of which he had been warned by his mate. That moment 
 was not lost by the Delaware, and the report of his rifle 
 echoed through the forest. Tossing his head with a sudden 
 start, the elk fled from his now discovered foe, and came 
 bounding over the barren space in front of the bush where 
 Reginald was concealed. With a coolness that did great credit to 
 his nerves as a hunter, the latter remained motionless, with 
 his eye on the game and his finger on the trigger, until the 
 elk passed his station at full speed : then he fired, and with so 
 true an aim, that ere it had gone fifty yards, the noble beast 
 fell to the earth, and immediately Reginald's hunting-knife 
 put an end to its pain and to its life. The young man looked 
 o 3 
 
198 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 over the quarry with pride and pleasure, for it was the 
 largest he had ever seen ; and the shot (which had pierced 
 tbe heart) was well calculated to raise War-Eagle's opinion of 
 his skill in wood-craft. Whilst he was still contemplating the 
 animal's bulk and fine proportions, the exclamation u good I " 
 uttered in English, gave him the first notice that the Delaware 
 was at his side. 
 
 " Ha ! my friend," said Reginald, grasping his hand cor- 
 dially ; cc you sent him down towards me in fine style. Tell 
 me War-Eagle, are there many elks as large in this country ? " 
 
 " Not many," replied the Indian ; " War-Eagle told his 
 white brother that the elk's foot on the trail was big." 
 
 " Was my brother very far when he shot ? " inquired 
 Reginald; "when his rifle speaks, the ball does not wander 
 in the air." 
 
 " War-Eagle was far," replied the Indian, quietly, tf but 
 the elk carries the mark of his rifle Netis shot better." 
 On examination, it appeared that the chief was right ; his 
 bullet had passed through the fleshy part of the animal's neck ; 
 but not having cut the windpipe, the wound was not mortal, 
 and but little blood had flowed from it. 
 
 While the Indian was busied in skinning and cutting up 
 the elk, Reginald amused himself by reconnoitring the ground 
 over which his friend had crept before he shot, and he was 
 struck by the extraordinary sagacity with which the latter had 
 made his approach ; for on that side there were but few and 
 scattered bushes, nor was there any rugged or broken ground 
 favourable for concealment. 
 
 When the cnoicest portions of meat were duly separated 
 and enveloped in the skin, War-Eagle hung them up on 
 an adjacent tree, carefully rubbing damp powder over the 
 covering, to protect the meat from the wolves and carrion 
 birds ; after which the friends proceeded on their excursion. 
 
 Having found fresh tracks of elk leading towards the open 
 Prairie, they followed them, and succeeded in killing two more,, 
 after which they returned to the encampment, whence War- 
 Eagle despatched a young Indian with a horse, and with 
 directions as to the locality of the meat, which he was 
 instructed to bring home. 
 
 As Reginald walked through the lodges of the Osage village, 
 he observed a crowd of Indians collected before one of them, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 199 
 
 and curiosity prompted him to turn aside and observe what 
 might be passing. Making his way without difficulty through 
 the outer circle of spectators, he found himself before a lodge, 
 in front of which a wounded boy of twelve or fourteen years 
 of age was extended on a buffalo-robe. On inquiry, Reginald 
 learnt from an Indian who could speak a few words of English, 
 that the lad had been struck down and trampled on by a vicious 
 horse : although no sounds escaped from his lips., the involun- 
 tary writhing of the youthful sufferer showed the acuteness of 
 the pain which he endured ; while a bulky Indian, in the 
 garb of an Osage medicine-man, was displaying beside him 
 the various absurd mummeries of his vocation. 
 
 This native quack was naked to the waist ; his breast and 
 back being painted over with representations of snakes and 
 lizards. Instead of the usual breech-cloth, or middle garment, 
 he wore a kind of apron of antelope skins, hemmed, or 
 skirted with feathers of various colours : the borders of his 
 leggings~were also adorned with the wings of an owl ; in one 
 hand he held a tomahawk, the haft of which was painted 
 white, and in the other a hollow gourd, containing a few hard 
 beans, or stones of the wild cherry, which latter instrument 
 he rattled incessantly round the head of his patient, accompa- 
 nying this JEsculapian music with the most grotesque gesticu- 
 lations, and a sort of moaning howl all these being intended 
 to exorcise and drive away the evil spirit of pain. 
 
 While Reginald was contemplating the strange spectacle 
 with mingled curiosity and compassion he heard a confused 
 murmur among those Indians nearest to the corner of the 
 lodge, and thought he could distinguish the name of Olitipa : 
 nor was he mistaken, for almost immediately afterwards the 
 crowd divided, and Prairie-bird appeared before the lodge. 
 Her dress was the same as that which Reginald had before 
 seen, excepting that, in place of the chaplet of wild flowers, 
 she wore on her head a turban of party-coloured silk, the 
 picturesque effect of which blending with her dark hair and the 
 oriental character of her beauty, reminded our hero of those 
 Circassian enchantresses whom he had read of in eastern fable, 
 as ruling satrap or sultan with a power more despotic than 
 his own ! 
 
 Prairie-bird, walking gently forward with modest self-pos- 
 session, took her place by the side of the sufferer, as if un- 
 o 4 
 
200 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 conscious of the numerous eyes that were observing all her 
 movements : the medicine-man, whose exorcisms had been 
 hitherto attended with no success, retreated into the lodge, 
 whence he narrowly and silently observed the proceedings of 
 his fair rival in the healing art. 
 
 It was not difficult for Prairie-bird to ascertain that the 
 boy's hurts were very serious ; for the hot brow, the dry lip, 
 the involuntary contortions of the frame, gave clear evidence 
 of acute pain and fever. She deeply regretted that the mis- 
 sionary had been absent when she was summoned, as his as- 
 sistance would have been most useful; nevertheless, she resolved 
 to do all in her power towards the mitigation of sufferings, 
 the cure of which seemed beyond the reach of her simple 
 remedies. Operiing a bag that hung at her girdle, she drew 
 from it some linen bandage, and various salves and simples, 
 together with a small case of instruments belonging to Paul 
 Miiller, and kneeling by her young patient's side, she breathed a 
 short but earnest prayer for the blessing of Heaven on her hum- 
 ble exertions. During this pause, the Indians observed a strict 
 and attentive silence ; and Reginald felt a kind of awe mingle 
 itself with his impassioned admiration, as he contemplated the 
 unaffected simplicity and loveliness of her kneeling figure. 
 
 A serious wound in the young patient's temple claimed her 
 first care, which having washed and closed, she covered with a 
 healing plaster ; but observing that the symptoms of fever had 
 rather increased than diminished, she knew that the lancet 
 should be immediately applied, and cast her anxious eyes around 
 in the hope that the missionary might have heard of the acci- 
 dent, and be ncrw on his way to the lodge. While looking thus 
 around, she became for the first time aware of Reginald's 
 presence ; and a slight blush accompanied her recognition 
 of him ; but her thoughts recurring immediately to the object 
 of her present attention, she asked him in a clear low voice to 
 come nearer, on which he moved forward from the circle of 
 spectators, and stood before the lodge. 
 
 Prairie-bird, pointing to the form of the young Indian, said, 
 in English, " The poor boy is much hurt, he will die if he is 
 not bled; the Black Father is absent ; can Reginald take blood 
 from the arm ? " 
 
 " I do not pretend to much skill in surgery, fair Prairie- 
 bird," replied the young man. smiling ; " but I have learnt to 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 201 
 
 bleed my horse and my dog, and if the necessity be urgent, 
 methinks I can open a vein in this boy's arm without much 
 risk of danger." 
 
 " It is indeed urgent," said the maiden, earnestly ; " here 
 are Paul Muller's instruments ; I pray you take a lancet and 
 proceed without delay." 
 
 Thus urged, Reginald selected a lancet, and having proved 
 its sharpness, he passed a bandage tightly round the sufferer's 
 arm, and set about his first surgical operation with becoming 
 care and gravity, the Osages drawing near and looking on in 
 attentive silence. Before applying the lancet, he said in a low 
 voice to Prairie-bird, " Must I allow a considerable quantity 
 of blood to flow ere I stanch it ? " and on her making an 
 affirmative sign, he added, " Let me entreat you to turn your 
 eyes away, it is not a fitting sight for them, and they might 
 affect the steadiness of my nerves." 
 
 With a deep blush Prairie-bird cast down her eyes, and 
 began to employ them busily in searching her little bag for 
 some cordial drinks and healing ointment, to be administered 
 after the bleeding should be over. 
 
 Reginald acquitted himself of his task with skill and with 
 complete success, and found no difficulty in stanching the 
 blood, and placing a proper bandage on the arm ; after which 
 the restoratives prepared by Prairie-bird were applied, and in a 
 very short time they had the satisfaction of finding the symp- 
 toms of fever and pain subside, and were able to leave the 
 youthful patient to repose, Prairie-bird promising to visit him 
 again on the morrow. 
 
 An elderly brave of the Osages now stepped forward, and 
 presented Prairie-bird with a girdle of cloth, ornamented with 
 feathers, quills, and beads, of the gayest colours, an offering 
 which she received with that modest grace which was insepa- 
 rable from her every movement ; the same brave (who was, 
 in fact, the father of the wounded boy,) presented Reginald 
 with a painted buffalo robe, which, as soon as he had displayed 
 its strange designs and devices, he desired a young Indian to 
 convey to the white chiefs lodge. Our hero having, in re- 
 turn, given to the Osage a knife with an ornamented sheath, 
 which he had worn, in addition to his own, in case of being 
 suddenly called upon to make such a present, prepared to 
 accompany Prairie-bird to her lodge. 
 
202 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 As they left the circle, Reginald's eye encountered that of 
 Mahega, fixed with a scowling expression on himself and his 
 fair companion ; but he passed on without noticing the sullen 
 and haughty chief, being resolved not to involve himself in 
 any quarrel in her presence. They walked slowly towards the 
 lodge of Tamenund, and it must be confessed that they did 
 not take exactly the shortest path to it, Reginald leading the 
 way, and Prairie-bird following his occasional deviations with 
 marvellous acquiescence. 
 
 The young man turned the conversation on the character of 
 Paul Miiller, knowing it to be a subject agreeable to Prairie- 
 bird, and well calculated to give him an opportunity of listen- 
 ing to that voice which was already music to his ear ; nor was 
 he disappointed, for she spoke of him with all the warmth of 
 the most affectionate regard; and the expression of her feel- 
 ings imparted such eloquence to her tongue and to her beam- 
 ing eyes, that Reginald looked and listened in enraptured 
 silence. As they drew near her tent, she suddenly checked 
 herself, and looking up in his face with an archness that was 
 irresistible, said, " Pray pardon me, I have been talking all 
 this time, when I ought to have been listening to you, who 
 are so much wiser than myself." 
 
 " Say not so," replied Reginald, with an earnestness that he 
 attempted not to conceal : " say not so, I only regret that we 
 have already reached your tent, for I should never be weary of 
 listening to your voice." 
 
 Prairie-bird replied with that ingenuous simplicity peculiar 
 to her : 
 
 " I am glad to hear you say so, for I know you speak the 
 truth, and it makes me very happy to give you pleasure. Now 
 I must go into my tent." 
 
 So saying she held out her hand to him, and nothing but the 
 presence of several Indians loitering near prevented his obey- 
 ing the impulse which prompted him to press it to his lips. 
 Checking it by an effort of prudence, he withdrew into the 
 lodge of Tamenund, and mused on the qualities of this extra- 
 ordinary child of the wilderness, her beauty, her grace, her 
 dignity, and, above all, that guileless simplicity that distin- 
 guished her beyond all that he had ever seen ; in short, he 
 mused so long on the subject that we will leave him to his 
 meditations, as we fear it must be confessed that he was almost, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 203 
 
 if not quite, " in love ; " and the reflections of parties so cir- 
 cumstanced, are rarely interesting to others. 
 
 What were the feelings of Prairie-bird when she once more 
 found herself alone in her tent, and vainly endeavoured to still 
 the unwonted tumult in her heart ? Her thoughts, in spite of 
 herself, would dwell on the companion who had escorted her 
 from the Osage lodge : his words still rung in her ears ; his 
 image was before her eyes ; she felt ashamed that one, almost a 
 stranger, should thus absorb all her faculties ; and was the more 
 ashamed, from being conscious that she did not wish it were 
 otherwise ; her heart told her that it would not exchange its- 
 present state of tumult and subjection for its former condition 
 of quiet and peace ! 
 
 Lest the reader should he inclined to judge her as harshly 
 as she judged herself, we will beg him to remember the cir- 
 cumstances and history of this singular girl. Brought up 
 among a roving tribe of Indians, she had fortunately fallen into 
 the hands of a family remarkable for the highest virtues exhi- 
 bited by that people : the missionary, Paul Miiller, had culti- 
 vated her understanding with the most affectionate and zealous 
 care ; and he was, with the exception of an occasional trader 
 visiting the tribe, almost the only man of her own race whom 
 she had seen ; and though entertaining towards Tamenund the 
 gratitude which his kindness to her deserved, and towards War- 
 Eagle and Wingenund the affectionate regard of a sister, both 
 the knowledge imparted by the missionary, and her own in- 
 stinctive feeling, had taught her to consider herself among 
 them as a separate and isolated being. These feelings she had 
 of course nourished in secret, but they had not altogether 
 escaped the penetration of Wingenund, who, it may be remem- 
 bered, had told Reginald on their first meeting that the antelope 
 was as likely to pair with the elk, as was his sister to choose a 
 mate among the chiefs of the Osage or the Lenape. 
 
 On the return of the two Delawares from their excursion to- 
 the Muskingum, Wingenund had related to Prairie-bird the 
 heroic gallantry with which the young white chief had plunged 
 into the river to save War-Eagle's life : he had painted, with 
 untutored but impassioned eloquence, the courage, the gentle- 
 ness, the generosity, of his new friend. Prairie-bird's own 
 imagination had filled up the picture, and the unseen pre- 
 server of her Indian brother was therein associated with all the 
 
204 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 highest qualities that adorned the heroes of such tales as she 
 had read or heard recounted by the missionary. 
 
 She had reached that age when the female heart, unsup- 
 ported by maternal protection, and severed from the ties of 
 Idndred, naturally seeks for something on which to rest its 
 affection. Are we then to wonder if, when Reginald Brandon 
 first stood before her, when she saw in his noble form and ex- 
 pressive features all her secret imaginations more than realised, 
 when he addressed her in her own tongue, and in a tone of 
 voice gentle even to tenderness ; are we to wonder, or to blame, 
 this nursling of the wilderness, if the barriers of pride and 
 reserve gave way beneath the flood which swept over them 
 with fresh and irresistible force ? Often had she, on various 
 pretexts, made Wingenund repeat to her the adventures and 
 occurrences of his excursion to the Ohio ; and as the artless 
 boy described, in language as clear as his memory was tena- 
 cious, the dwelling of Reginald's father, the range of build- 
 ings, the strange furniture, the garden, the winding brook that 
 bounded its enclosure, and above all the fair features and winning 
 gentleness of the Lily of Mooshanne, Prairie-bird would cover 
 her averted face with her hands, as if struggling to banish or to 
 recall some wild delusive dream, and ber lips would move in 
 unconscious repetition of " Mooshanne." Surprised at her agi- 
 tation, Wingenund had once so far laid aside the strictness of 
 Indian reserve as to inquire into its cause ; and she replied, 
 with a melancholy smile, 
 
 " Wingenund has painted the Lily of Mooshanne in colours 
 so soft and sweet, that Olitipa longs to embrace and love her 
 as a sister." 
 
 The boy fixed his penetrating eye upon her countenance, in 
 deep expressive silence, the innate delicacy of his feeling tri- 
 umphed, and Prairie-bird's secret meditations were thence- 
 forward undisturbed. 
 
 To return from this retrospective digression. Prairie-bird's 
 lent was divided, by a partition of buffalo skins, into two com- 
 partments, in the outer of which was her guitar, the books lent 
 her by the missionary, a small table and two chairs, or rather 
 stools, the latter rudely but efficiently constructed by his own 
 hands ; in the corner also stood the chest, where his medicines, 
 instruments, and other few valuables were deposited ; in the 
 inner compartment was a bed, composed of Mexican grass, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 205 
 
 stretched upon four wooden feet, and covered with dressed an- 
 telope skins and blankets of the finest quality. Here also was 
 a chest, containing her quaint but not ungraceful apparel, and 
 the other requisites for her simple toilet ; at night a female 
 slave, a captive taken from one of the southern tribes, slept 
 in the outer compartment, and the ever watchful Wingenund 
 stretolied himself on a buffalo robe across the aperture, so that 
 the slumbers of the fair Prairie-bird were securely guarded 
 even during the absence of Paul Miiller ; arfd when he was 
 with the tribe, his small tent was separated from hers only by 
 a partition of skins, which in case of alarm might be cut open 
 by a sharp knife in a moment. There was, in truth, little 
 fear for the security of this extraordinary girl, who was looked 
 upon, as we have before observed, by all the tribe with min- 
 gled awe and affection. 
 
 In the outer room of the two compartments above mentioned 
 she was now sitting, with her eyes cast upon the ground, and 
 her fingers straying unconsciously over the strings of her guitar, 
 when she was aroused from her long reverie by the soft voice 
 of the female slave who had entered unperceived, and who now 
 said, in the Delaware tongue, 
 
 "Are Olitipa's ears shut, and is the voice of Wingenund 
 strange to them ? " 
 
 " Is my brother there," replied the maiden, ashamed at her 
 fit of absence ; " tell him, Lita, that he is welcome." 
 
 The girl addressed by the name of Lita was about seventeen 
 years of age, small, and delicately formed, exceedingly dark, 
 her wild and changeful countenance being rather of a gipsy 
 than of an Indian character. She had been taken, when a 
 child, by a war-party which had penetrated into the country 
 of the Comanches, a powerful and warlike tribe still inhabit- 
 ing the extensive prairies on the Mexican and Texian frontier. 
 She was devotedly attached to Prairie-bird, who treated her 
 more like a friend than a slave, but towards all others she 
 observed an habitual and somewhat haughty silence. Had her 
 fate condemned her to any other lodge in the encampment, the 
 poor girl's life would have been a continued succession of 
 blows, labour, and suffering ; for her spirit was indomitable, 
 and impracticable to every other control than kindness ; but as 
 the good-humoured Tamenund had appropriated her services to 
 his favourite child, she passed most of her time in Olitipa's 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 tent, and thus avoided the ill-usage to which she might other- 
 wise have been exposed. 
 
 Such was the girl who now went to the folding aperture of 
 the tent, and desired Wingenund to come in. The youth 
 entered, followed by a boy bearing a large covered dish or 
 basket of wicker-work, which having placed on the table, he 
 withdrew. Prairie-bird could not fail to observe in her young 
 brother's countenance and carnage an unusual stateliness and 
 dignity, and she remarked at the same time the circumstance 
 of his having brought with him the boy to carry her basket,, a 
 service which he had been accustomed to perform with his 
 own hands. Making him a sign to sit down, she thus accosted 
 him, in terms allusive to the customs of the tribe : 
 
 " Has my young brother dreamt ? Has the breath of the 
 Great Spirit passed over his sleep ? " 
 
 " It is so," replied Wingenund. " The chiefs and the 
 braves have sat at the council-fire ; the name of Wingenund 
 was on their tongues, the deeds of his fathers are not forgotten; 
 he is not to do the work of squaws ; his name will be heard 
 among the warriors of the Lenape." 
 
 From this reply Prairie-bird knew that her young brother 
 was about to undergo the fasting, and other superstitious 
 ordeals, through wkich those youths were made to pass who 
 wished to be enrolled among the warriors of the tribe at an 
 earlier age than usual. These superstitious observances were 
 repugnant to her good sense and enlightened understanding ; 
 and as she had hitherto acted in the capacity of monitress and 
 instructress, she was perhaps not pleased at the prospect of his 
 suddenly breaking loose from her gentle dominion : she said 
 to him, therefore, in a tone more grave than usual, 
 
 ' ' Wingenund has heard the Black Father speak ; were his 
 ears shut ? Does he not know that there is one God above, 
 who rules the world alone ? The totems*, and the symbols and 
 the dreams of the medicine-men, are for those poor Indians 
 whose minds are under a cloud. Wingenund cannot believe 
 these things ! " 
 
 * Every warrior belonging to the Lenape, Saukee, and all the branches of the 
 great Chippewyan tribe, believes himself to be under the mysterious guardianship 
 of some spirit, usually represented under the form of an ;mimal. This is called his 
 " totem," and is held sacred by him; thus, a warrior whose totem is a tortoise, or 
 a wolf, or even a snake, will cautiously abstain from injuring or killing one of those 
 animals. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 207 
 
 " My sister speaks wisely," replied the youth ; ef the wind 
 cannot blow away her words : but Wingenund is of the Lenape*, 
 the ancient people ; he wishes to live and die among their braves ; 
 he must travel in the path that his fathers have trod, or the 
 warriors will not call his name when the hatchet is dug up." 
 
 " Let not the hatchet be dug up," said the maiden, anxiously. 
 " Have I not told my brother that God is the avenger ol 
 blood spilt by man ? why should his foot be set on the war- 
 path ? " 
 
 "While the hatchet is below the earth," replied the 
 youth, in the low, musical accent of his tribe, "Wingenund 
 will sit by his sister and listen to her wisdom ; he will go out 
 with War-Eagle and bring back the skin of the antelope or 
 the doe for her apparel, the meat of the deer and the bison for 
 her food ; he will open his ears to the counsel of the Black 
 Father, and will throw a thick blanket over thoughts of strife 
 and blood. But if the Washashee (the Osage) bears a 
 forked tongue (here the youth sank his voice to a whisper of 
 deep meaning), if he loosens the scalp-knife while his hand 
 is on the poacan* if the trail of the Dahcotah is found near 
 our village, Wingenund must be awake : he is not a child : 
 the young men will hear his voice, and the old men shall say, 
 ( He is the son of his father/ It is enough. Let my sister 
 eat the meat that War-Eagle has sent her: for three suns 
 Wingenund tastes not food." 
 
 So saying, the lad threw his robe over his shoulder and left 
 the tent. Prairie-bird gazed long and thoughtfully on the 
 spot where her brother's retreating figure had disappeared ; she 
 felt grieved that all the lessons and truths of Christianity 
 which she had endeavoured to instil into his mind were unable 
 to change the current of his Indian blood : she had hoped to 
 see him become a civilised man and a convert, and, through his 
 amiable character, and the weight of his name, to win over 
 many others of the Lenam? tribe. In addition to this dis- 
 appointment, she was alarmed at the purport of his parting 
 words: he had hinted at some treachery on the part of 
 their Osage allies, and that a trail of the Dahcotahs had been 
 seen near the encampment. These subjects of anxiety, added 
 to the excitement which her feelings had lately undergone, so 
 
 * Anglice, " the pip* " 
 
208 THE FRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 completely engrossed the maiden's attention, that,, although the 
 corn-cakes were of the sweetest kind, and the venison of the 
 most delicate flavour, the basket of provisions remained un- 
 touched on the table when Paul Miiller entered the tent. 
 
 His brow was grave and thoughtful, but his countenance 
 relaxed into its usual benevolent expression, as his affectionate 
 pupil sprang forward to greet and welcome him. 
 
 " Dear father, I am so glad you are come ! " she exclaimed ; 
 " I have been waiting for you most impatiently, and I have 
 been in need of your aid." 
 
 <f I heard, my child, as I walked through the village, that 
 you had been tending the wounds of a boy much hurt by a 
 horse ; was the hurt beyond your skill ? " 
 
 " Not exactly," she replied, hesitating. " It was needful 
 that blood should flow from his arm ; and, as you were not 
 there, I was forced to ask the assistance of Netis that is, of 
 Reginald." 
 
 " Well," said the missionary, smiling, " I hope he proved 
 a skilful leech ? " 
 
 " He would not allow me to look on," she replied : " but, 
 though it was his first trial, he drew the blood, and stanched 
 it, as skilfully as you could have done it yourself ; and then he 
 walked with me to the tent." 
 
 " And you conversed much by the way ? " inquired the 
 missionary. 
 
 <e Oh yes ; and he made me tell him a great deal about 
 you, and I was ashamed of talking so much ; but then he told 
 me that it gave him pleasure to hear me talk.- How can it 
 please him to hear me talk, dear father? I know nothing, 
 and he has seen and read so much." 
 
 Paul Miiller averted his face for a moment to conceal from 
 her the smile which he could scarcely repress, as he replied, 
 
 " My child, he has perhaps seen and read much ; but the 
 life and habits of the Indians are new to him, and of these you 
 can tell him many things that he does not know." 
 
 " Tell me, dear father," she said, after a short silence, te are 
 there others like him in my country ? I mean, not exactly 
 like him, but more like him than the traders whom I have 
 seen; they are so rough, and they drink fire-water, and they 
 never think of God or his mercies : but he is so noble, big 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 209 
 
 countenance made me afraid at first, but now, when he speaks 
 to me, his voice is as gentle as the fawn calling to its dam ! " 
 
 Paul Miiller saw very well how it fared with the heart of 
 Prairie-bird. He remembered that Reginald was the son of a 
 wealthy proprietor, who would probably have insuperable ob- 
 jections to his son's marrying a foundling of the wilderness, 
 and lie hesitated whether he should not give her some warning 
 caution on a subject which he foresaw would so soon affect her 
 peace of mind. On the other hand, he was convinced that 
 Reginald was a man of generous and decided character, and, 
 -while he resolved carefully to observe the intercourse between 
 them, he would not mar the unsuspecting purity of her nature, 
 nor throw any obstacle in the way of an attachment which he 
 believed might lead to the happiness of both parties. In 
 coming to this conclusion, it must not be forgotten that he 
 was a Moravian missionary, long resident in the Far-west, and 
 therefore not likely to trouble his head with the nice distinc- 
 tions of European aristocracy. In the country which was 
 now his home, he might be justified in deeming a match 
 equal, if the man were honest and brave, and the bride young 
 and virtuous, without reference to their birth, connections, or 
 worldly possessions. Under the impression of considerations 
 like these, the missionary replied to the maiden's inquiry: 
 
 " My child, I will not say that among the cities and settle- 
 ments of the white men, there are many who would gain by 
 comparison with Reginald Brandon ; for not only has he the 
 accidental advantages of fine features, and a form singularly 
 graceful and athletic, but he seems to me to possess the far 
 higher and rarer qualities of a modest, generous mind, and an 
 honest heart : nevertheless, my child, I will pray you, even in 
 respect to him, not to forget what I have told you regarding the 
 general infirmity and waywardness of our nature ; keep a watch 
 on your eyes and on your heart, and Providence will rule all 
 for the best : we will speak no more on this subject now ; let 
 us take some food from the basket on your table." Prairie- 
 bird spread the simple meal in thoughtful silence, and when 
 the missionary had asked a blessing on it, they sat down to- 
 gether. After a pause of some minutes she communicated to 
 him her anxiety on account of the hints dropped by Win- 
 genund respecting the suspected treachery of some of their 
 Osage allies, and the circumstance of a hostile trail having 
 
 p 
 
210 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 been discovered near the encampment. te It is too true," replied 
 the missionary gravely, " there are signs of approaching strife ; 
 and even that boy, whom I have so long endeavoured to in- 
 struct and lead aright, his blood is beginning to boil. I fear 
 it is almost as hard for an Indian to change his nature as an 
 Ethiopian his skin. He has told you the truth, and we must 
 be prepared for approaching trouble." 
 
 After musing for a few moments, Paul Miiller, fixing his 
 eye on Prairie-bird, continued : " Do you know any cause of 
 quarrel between the Osage and Lenape chiefs ? " 
 
 "None," replied the maiden in unaffected surprise. Ci How 
 should I know ? I go not near their council-fire." 
 
 " True," said the missionary ; ( ' but your eyes are not often 
 shut in broad day. Have you spoken to Mahe'ga of late ? have 
 you observed him ? " 
 
 " He has spoken to me more than once, and often meets me 
 on my return from any far lodge in the village. I do not 
 like him ; he is fierce and bad, and he beats his young squaw, 
 Wetopa." 
 
 " You are right, my child ; avoid him ; there is evil in that 
 man ; but if you meet him, do not show any dislike or sus- 
 picion of him ; you would only kindle strife : you are among 
 faithful and watchful friends ; and if they were all to slumber 
 and sleep, you have a Friend above, whose eye is never closed, 
 and whose faithfulness is everlasting. Farewell, my child. 
 I must converse awhile with Tamenund. Do you solace an 
 hour with your guitar ; it will put your unquiet thoughts to 
 rest." 
 
 Prairie-bird was so accustomed to pay implicit obedience to 
 the slightest wishes and suggestions of her beloved preceptor, 
 that as he left the tent she mechanically took up the guitar, 
 and passed her fingers through the strings. By degrees the 
 soul of music within her was stirred, and ere long vented itself 
 in the following hymn. 
 
 The words were in the Delaware tongue, and composed by 
 herself the melodies (for more than one were introduced into 
 the irregular chaunt) were such as she had caught or mingled 
 from Indian minstrelsy, and the whole owed its only attraction 
 to the sweet and varied tones of her voice. The first measure 
 was a low recitative, which might be thus rendered in Eng- 
 lish : 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 211 
 
 " The sun sinks behind the western hills ; 
 Deep red are the curtains of his couch. 
 One by one the stars appear ; 
 Many they are and lustrous. 
 The pale moon is among them ! 
 They walk in their appointed path, 
 Singing on their way, ' God made us all ! ' 
 
 Machelenda stitch Ktelewunsoacan, 
 or 
 
 Hallowed be thy name." 
 
 Here the measure changed, and sweeping the strings with a 
 bolder hand, she continued her untutored hymn, blending her 
 Christian creed with the figures and expressions of the people 
 among whom she dwelt. 
 
 " TheJGreat Spirit of the Lenapg is God. 
 He has sent His word to gladden the heart of man. 
 But clouds still darken the minds of the ancient people. 
 The Great Spirit knows that they are blind and deaf, 
 Yet His ear is open to hear, 
 His hand is ready to guide. 
 
 (ut supra.) 
 Hallowed be thy name ! " 
 
 Again the measure changed, as in the richest tones of her 
 melodious voice she pursued her theme. 
 
 " Sion and the everlasting mountains are thy footstool ! 
 Lightnings are about thy throne. 
 Thunder is thy voice. 
 And the evil spirit trembles before thee ! 
 The eagle cannot soar to thy habitation ; 
 His eye cannot look on thy brightness ; 
 Yet dost thou give life to the insect, 
 And breath to the merry wren ! 
 Thou leadest the wild horse to the pasture, 
 And the thirsty fawn to the stream. 
 Hallowed be thy i 
 
 Here the measure resumed its low and plaintive melody, as 
 she thus concluded her song. 
 
 " Who sings the praise of God ? 
 It is ' Prairie-bird,' the poor child of the wilderness. 
 But God spurns not her prayer ; 
 She is a stray-leaf, that knows not the tree 
 Whence the rude wind hath blown it ; 
 But God planted the parent stem. 
 And not a branch or leaf thereof is hid from His sight. 
 Th- young whip-poor-will flies to its mother's nest, 
 The calf Meats to the bison-cow : 
 No mother's voice says to Olitipa, ' Come here !' 
 The wide prairie is her home ! 
 God is a Father to Olitipa ! 
 
 Hallowed be thy name ! " 
 
 In singing the last few words, the tones of her voice were 
 "most musical, most melancholy ;" and though no human eye 
 
212 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 marked the teardrop that stole down her cheek, it would ap- 
 pear that her song had excited sympathy in some human 
 bosom, for a deep sigh fell upon her ear: startled at the 
 sound, Prairie-bird looked around her tent, but no one could 
 be seen ; she listened, but it was not repeated, and the maiden 
 remained unconscious that at the very first touch of her guitar 
 Reginald had crept out of the adjoining lodge, and, enveloped 
 in a buffalo robe on the grass at the back of her tent, had 
 heard from beginning to end her plaintive hymn, and had paid 
 the unconscious tribute of a heavy sigh to the touching pathos 
 of its closing strain. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SYMPTOMS OF A RUPTURE BETWEEN THE DELAWARES AND OSAGES. 
 
 MAHEGA COMES FORWARD IN THE CHARACTER OF A LOVER. HIS 
 
 COURTSHIP RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION. 
 
 PAUT, MULLEB, having left the lodge of Prairie-bird, fulfilled 
 his intention of entering that of Tamenund : he found the 
 venerable chieftain seated upon a buffalo robe ; his back 
 leaned against a bale of cloth, a highly ornamented pipe-stem 
 at his lips, while from its other extremity a thin column of 
 smoke, rising in wavy folds, found its way out of the accidental 
 rents and crevices in the skins which covered the lodge. War- 
 Eagle was listening in an attitude of respectful attention to the 
 words which fell from his father ; but the subject of conversa- 
 tion was evidently of some importance, as the women and the 
 youths were whispering together at a distance from the two 
 principal persons. The entrance of the missionary was not 
 unnoticed, for Tamenund made him a signal to draw near and 
 sit down ; several times the pipe was passed round in silence, 
 when the old chief addressing his guest in the Delaware 
 tongue, said, " The Black Father knows that there are dark 
 clouds in the sky ! " 
 
 " He does," replied the missionary. A glance of intelli- 
 gence passed between War-Eagle and Tamenund, as the latter 
 proceeded. 
 
THE PHAIRIE-BIRD. 213 
 
 <f What says the Black Father? Is the storm to break, or 
 will the sun shine again ? " 
 
 " The Great Spirit only knows/' replied the missionary ; 
 (f if the sun shines, we will be thankful ; if the storm falls, we 
 will wrap round us the cloak of patience." 
 
 A fierce gleam shot from the young chiefs eye, but he spoke 
 not a word until Tamenund addressed him thus: " What 
 says War- Eagle? let him speak." 
 
 " The snows of many winters are on my father's forehead ; 
 the Black Father has learnt wisdom from the Great Spirit : it 
 is more fitting for War-Eagle to listen than to speak," replied 
 the young man, curbing the angry thoughts that glowed in his 
 breast. 
 
 " Nay, my son," said the missionary, " let War-Eagle 
 speak, and his saying be afterwards weighed by the aged 
 heads." 
 
 War-Eagle then proceeded to explain how Wingenund, in 
 returning from the turkey-pen, had caught a glimpse of a dis- 
 tant figure, whom he knew at a glance to belong to another tribe. 
 Hastily concealing himself among the bushes, he waited till 
 the strange Indian passed, and then resolving to watch him, 
 crept stealthily on his trail. 
 
 Having made his way to a hollow in the thickest part of 
 the forest, he sat down on the stump of an alder-tree, where 
 he made and twice repeated a low signal whistle, which was 
 soon answered by another Indian, who approached in an op- 
 posite direction, and in whom, to his great surprise, Winge- 
 nund recognised Mahega. He was not near enough to overhear 
 their conversation, neither was he aware whether they spoke in 
 the Delaware tongue ; but after conversing in a low tone for 
 some minutes, they separated, and Wingenund again put him- 
 self on the trail of the stranger ; the latter frequently stopped 
 in his course, looked round and listened, but the youth was too 
 practised and sagacious to be baffled by these precautions, and 
 finally succeeded in tracking the object of his pursuit to an 
 encampment containing ten or a dozen armed Indians, whom 
 he knew at once to form a war-party, but could not decide to 
 what tribe they belonged ; he succeeded, however, in securing 
 a mocassin which one of them had dropped, and returned un- 
 perceived to the Delaware village. 
 
 Such was the outline of the occurrences now rapidly 
 p 3 
 
214? THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 sketched by War-Eagle ; and in concluding his narrative, he 
 held up the mocassin above mentioned, and presented it to the 
 aged chief. The latter examined it for a moment in silence, 
 and restoring it to the warrior, pronounced, in a low guttural 
 tone, the word (t Dahcotah." 
 
 " Yes," said the War-Eagle, in a deep whisper, indicative 
 of the indignant passion that boiled within ; " yes, the Dah- 
 cotah is in the woods ; he prowls like a prairie-wolf. The 
 Great Spirit has made him a dog, and if he sets his foot on the 
 hunting-ground of the Lenape, let not his wife complain if she 
 looks along his path in vain, and strikes her breast, saying, 
 < The wife of the Dahcotah is a widow ! ' But the Evil Spirit 
 has crept into the heart of the Washashee, a snake is in the 
 council-chamber of the Lenape, and lies are on the tongue of 
 Mahega! Is it enough, or must War- Eagle speak more?" 
 
 " The words of my son are hard," replied Tamenund, 
 shaking his head sorrowfully ; " the Dahcotah are dogs, they 
 are on a deer-hunt ; their heart is not big enough to make 
 them dig up the hatchet to fight with the Lenape. Tamenund 
 cannot believe that the tongue of Mahega is so forked, or his 
 heart so black, that two suns have not passed since he sat and 
 smoked in this lodge, and spoke of Olitipa, the daughter of the 
 Prairie. He said that her voice was music to him, that her 
 form was in his dreams, and he asked Tamenund to give her 
 to him as a wife." 
 
 At these words the suppressed rage of the youthful warrior 
 had well-nigh burst the iron bands of Indian self-control ; he 
 ground his teeth audibly together, his dilated form trembled 
 through every nerve and muscle ; but observing the keen eye 
 of the missionary fixed upon his countenance, he subdued in a 
 moment the' rising tempest, and asked, in a voice the forced 
 calmness of which was fearful, " What said my father ? " 
 
 Tamenund replied that the maiden was Great Medicine in 
 the tribe, that she was a gift of the Great Spirit, and that her 
 dwelling could never be in the lodge of an Osage chief. " He 
 went away without speaking," added the old man seriously ; 
 if but his eye spoke bad words enough ! " 
 
 "My father said well," exclaimed the impetuous young 
 man ; " let Mahega seek a wife among his dog-brothers the 
 Dahcotahs ! War-Eagle will smoke no more in his lodge." 
 
 After a brief pause, Tamenund continued : 
 
THE PUALRIE-B1RD. 215 
 
 " My son has told half his thoughts, let him speak on." 
 
 " Nay," returned the young Warrior, " let my father consult 
 the Medicine, and the counsellors who have seen many win- 
 ters : War-Eagle will whisper to his braves, and when the 
 ancient men in council have spoken, he will be ready." 
 
 With this ambiguous answer, he folded his buffalo robe over 
 his shoulder and left the lodge. 
 
 The missionary saw that mischief was brewing, yet knew 
 not how to prevent it. He had gained extraordinary influence 
 among the Delawares. by never interfering in their councils, 
 unless when he felt assured that the result would justify the 
 advice which he offered; but on the present occasion it was 
 evident that his Indian friends had sufficient grounds for sus- 
 pecting their Osage allies of treachery ; he resolved, there- 
 fore, to wait and observe, before making those attempts at 
 reconciliation which became his character and his mission. 
 Influenced by this determination, he spoke a few words to the 
 aged chief on indifferent matters, and shortly afterwards re- 
 tired to his own lodge. 
 
 During the preceding conversation Baptiste had been seated 
 at a little distance, his whole attention apparently engaged 
 in mending a rent in his mocassins, but scarcely a word had 
 escaped his watchful ear ; and while he heard with secret de- 
 light that there was every chance of a fight with the Sioux, 
 towards whom he cherished, as we have before observed, an 
 unextinguished hatred, he could not view without much un- 
 easiness the dangerous position in which Reginald's party 
 might be placed by a rupture between the Delawares and 
 Osages, in a wild region where either party might so soon 
 obtain the ready aid of the Pawnees, or some other warlike 
 and marauding tribe ; he resolved, however, for the present to 
 content himself with putting his young leader on his guard, 
 reserving a fuller explanation until he should have been able to 
 ascertain the intentions of his Delaware friends : in this last 
 endeavour he did not anticipate much difficulty, for the ex- 
 perienced woodsman had proved his steadiness to them in 
 many a fray, and bis courage and skill were no less proverbial 
 among them than was his mortal enmity to the Dahcotahs. 
 
 Nothing occurred during the ensuing night to disturb the 
 quiet of the encampment, if that may be denominated quiet 
 vfhich was constantly interrupted by the chattering of wakeful 
 p 4 
 
216 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 squaws, the barking of dogs, the occasional chaunt of a war- 
 rior, and the disf^nt howling of hungry wolves. Our hero's 
 dreams were, like his waking thoughts, full only of Prairie- 
 bird ; and when he rose at daybreak he expressed no wish to 
 roam or hunt, but lingered within view of that small circular 
 lodge, which contained the treasure that he valued most on 
 earth. To the cautious warning of Baptiste he answered,, 
 smiling, " You confess yourself that you only suspect ; you 
 know our friends and their language, their wiles, and their 
 stratagems. I trust the safety of my party to your sagacity ; 
 if your suspicions are turned into certainty, tell me, and I am 
 ready to act." 
 
 As the young man left the lodge without even taking his 
 cutlass or his rifle, Baptiste, looking after him, shrugged his 
 shoulders, adding in an under tone, just loud enough to be 
 heard by Monsieur Perrot, who sat at his side, 
 
 <f f Suspicion/ 'certainty,' ' sagacity,' why surely he is 
 mad ! He talks as if plots and plans were measured out by 
 rule amongst the red-skins, as they may be 'mongst lords and 
 princes in Europe ! This comes of his towering, as they call 
 it, amongst the Dutch, and other outlandish tribes. Surely, 
 he's lived enough in the territory to know that with these 
 Ingians, and special near a Sioux trail, the first suspicion a 
 man is like to get is an arrow in his ribs or a tomahawk in 
 his brain. Capote-bleu, Maitre Perrot, what do you think of 
 your master, is he mad ? " 
 
 Very much mad," said the good-humoured valet, grinning, 
 whilst he continued assiduously to pound some coffee-beans 
 which he was preparing for breakfast; "very much mad, 
 Monsieur Baptiste ; he very mad to leave Paris to go to his 
 fox-huntin' oncle in England ; he more mad to leave dat for 
 the back-woods by de Muskingum ; but he i pa mad to leave 
 Mooshanne to come here where dere is nothing but naked 
 savages and naked prairies." 
 
 " Ah ! Maitre Perrot," replied the guide, tc my father was 
 a Canada Frenchman, and although he was, mayhap, never 
 further east than Montreal, he was as fond of talking of Paris- 
 as a bear is of climbing a bee-tree ! " * 
 
 * An allusion to the fondness of bears for honey occurs more than once in thi& 
 tale, and will be met with in some shape or other in most works which treat of that 
 animal's habits and propensities: that such is the case in Europe, as well as ia 
 
THE PRAlrtlE-BIRD. 217 
 
 " He very right, Monsieur Ba'tiste ; de world without 
 Paris is no more dan a woman widout a tongue; but as you 
 know our language, I will speak it to you, for pronouncing 
 English is no better dan breaking stones wid your teeth ! " 
 And the merry valet forthwith inflicted upon his graver com- 
 panion a Parisian tirade, that very soon went beyond the 
 latter's -stock of Canadian French. 
 
 The morning dawned with unusual splendour^; the sun 
 gradually rose over the wooded hills that bounded the eastern 
 horizon, and the light breeze shook the dewdrops from the 
 flowers, as Prairie-bird, fresh and lovely as the scene around 
 her, tripped lightly over the grass to the sequestered spot 
 which we have before mentioned as being her favourite resort ; 
 there, seated at the root of the aged tree where Reginald had 
 first seen her, she opened the volume which was her constant 
 companion, and poured forth the grateful feelings of her heart, 
 in the words of the inspired Prophet-King ; at her feet flowed 
 the brawling stream which fed the valley below the encamp- 
 ment; the merry birds sang their matins among the leafy 
 branches above her head, and around her sprang sweet-scented; 
 flowers and blossoms of a thousand varied hues. There are 
 some spots, and some brief seasons, on earth, so redolent of 
 freshness, beauty, and repose, as almost to revive the Paradise 
 lost by our first parents; but soon, too soon, the effects of 
 primeval sin and its punishment are felt, and the atmosphere 
 of heavenly peace is tainted by the miasma of human passion ! 
 
 Prairie-bird had enjoyed for some time her study and her 
 meditations undisturbed, when her attention was caught by the 
 sound of approaching footsteps: the conscious blood rushed to- 
 ner cheek as she expected to see the same visitor who had so- 
 suddenly presented himself on the preceding day, when, to her 
 surprise and annoyance, the gigantic figure of Mahe'ga stood be- 
 fore her, on the opposite side of the streamlet by which she was 
 seated : although simple, unsuspecting, and fearless by nature, 
 there was something in the countenance and bearing of this 
 formidable chief that had always inspired her with mingled 
 dislike and awe : remembering on the present -occasion the 
 hint lately given to her by the missionary, she returned the 
 
 North America, maybe gathered from the fact that, in the Russian tonpue, a bear 
 is called " Med-vede," which word is thus formed : med, honey ; vede, who knows r 
 " He who knows honey.*' 
 
218 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 haughty greeting of the Indian by a gentle inclination of her 
 head, and then summoned composure enough to continue her 
 reading, as if desirous to avoid conversation : such, however, 
 was not Mahega's intention, who, softening, as far he was able, 
 the rough tones of his voice, addressed to her, in the Delaware 
 tongue, a string of the finest Indian compliments on her 
 beauty and attractions. To these the maiden coldly replied 
 by telling him, that she thanked him for his good words,, but 
 that as she was studying the commands of the Great Spirit, 
 she wished not to be disturbed. 
 
 Mahega, nothing checked by this reply, continued to ply 
 her with protestations and promises, and concluded by telling 
 her that she must be his wife ; that he was a warrior, and 
 would fill her wigwam with spoils and trophies. As he pro- 
 ceeded, his countenance became more excited, and the tones of 
 his voice had already more of threat than of entreaty. Prairie- 
 bird replied, with forced calmness, that she knew he was a 
 great warrior, but that she could not be his wife : their paths 
 were different; his led to war, and spoils, and power in ruling 
 his tribe ; hers to tending the sick and fulfilling the com- 
 mands of the Great Spirit given in the Medicine Book. 
 Irritated by the firm though gentle tone of her reply, the 
 violent passion of the chief broke out in a torrent of harsh 
 and menacing words : he called her a foundling and a slave ; 
 adding, that in spite of the Delaware squaws and their white 
 allies, she should sleep in his lodge, although the honour was 
 greater than she deserved. 
 
 Fired with indignation at this brutal menace, the spirited 
 girl rose from her seat, and, looking him full in the face, re- 
 plied, " Prairie-bird is a foundling; if Mahega knows his 
 parents, he disgraces their name ; she would rather be the 
 slave of Tamenund than the wife of Mahega." 
 
 A demoniac grin stole over the features of the savage, as 
 he replied : " The words of Olitipa are bitter. Mahega 
 laughs at her anger ; she is alone and unprotected ; will she 
 walk to his lodge, or must the warrior carry her ? " 
 
 So saying, he advanced to the very edge of the narrow 
 stream ! The maiden, although alarmed, retained sufficient 
 presence of mind to know that to save herself by flight was 
 impossible ; but the courage of insulted virtue supported her, 
 
PRAIRIE-BIRD AND MAHEGA 
 
 P. 219 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 219 
 
 and she answered him in a tone that breathed more of indig- 
 nation than of fear: 
 
 " Olitipa is not alone is not unprotected ! The Great 
 Spirit is her protector, before whom the stature of Mahega is 
 as a blade of grass, and his strength like that of an infant. 
 See/' she continued, drawing from her girdle a small, sharp- 
 pointed dagger, e< Olitipa is not unprotected : if Mahega moves 
 a foot to cross that stream, this knife shall reach her heart ; 
 and the great Mahega will go to the hunting-fields of the 
 dead, a coward, and a woman-slayer." 
 
 As she spoke these words she held the dagger pointed to 
 her bosom, now heaving with high emotion; her form seemed 
 to dilate, and her dark eye kindled with a prouder lustre. 
 The glow on her cheek, and the lofty dignity of her attitude, 
 only heightened her beauty in the eyes of the savage, and 
 confirmed him in carrying out his fell purpose, to ensure the 
 success of which he saw that stratagem, not force, must be 
 employed: assuming, therefore, a sarcastic tone of voice, he 
 replied, 
 
 " Olitipa trusts to the edge of her knife ; Mahega/ laughs 
 at her." Then he continued, in a louder key, as if addressing 
 an Indian behind her, ft Let Wanemi seize her arm and 
 hold it." 
 
 As the surprised maiden turned her head in the direction 
 where she expected to see the Indian to whom Mahe'ga was 
 speaking, that crafty chief cleared the brook at a bound, and 
 seizing her waist, while a smile of triumph lit up his features, 
 said, " The pretty one is Mahega's prisoner ; there is no one 
 here but himself; a cunning tale tickled the ears of Olitipa." 
 
 The hapless girl saw how she had been outwitted by the 
 savage : she struggled in vain to free herself from his grasp, 
 and a faint scream of despair broke from her lips. 
 
 The spring of a famished tiger on a heifer is not more 
 fiercely impetuous than was the bound with which Reginald 
 Brandon rushed from the adjacent thicket upon Mahega, 
 reckless of his opponent's huge bulk and strength, forgetful 
 that he was himself unarmed. The cry of Prairie-bird had 
 strung with tenfold power every sinew in his athletic frame : 
 seizing with both hands the throat of Mahe'ga, he grasped it 
 with sucli deadly force that the Indian was compelled to re- 
 lease his hold of the maiden, but he still retained her knife, 
 
220 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and in the struggle plunged it into the arm and shoulder of 
 Reginald, who relaxed not, however,, his iron grasp, but still 
 bore his opponent backwards, until the foot of the latter 
 tripped over a projecting root, and he fell with tremendous 
 force upon his head, the blood gushing in torrents from his 
 nose and mouth. Reginald, who had been dragged down in 
 his fall, seized the dagger, and, as he raised it above his head, 
 felt a light touch upon his arm, and turning round saw Prairie- 
 bird kneeling at his side, her face pale as monumental marble, 
 and the sacred volume still clasped in her hand. 
 
 " Kill him not, Reginald," she said, in a low impressive 
 voice ; ' ' * Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord ! ' ' 
 
 Breathless, and flushed with the late severe struggle, the 
 young man replied : " I will spare the villain, dear Prairie- 
 bird, at your bidding : he is stunned and senseless now, but 
 he will soon recover, and his fury and thirst for revenge will 
 know no bounds ; he shall know, however, that I have spared 
 him." So saying, he cut off the dyed and ornamented scalp- 
 lock from the top of Mahega's head, and, laying it beside the 
 prostrate chieftain, arose, and retired with Prairie-bird from 
 the spot. 
 
 They walked together some distance in silence, for her 
 heart was overcharged with contending emotions ; and as they 
 went she unconsciously clung to his arm for support: at 
 length she stopped, and looking up in his face, her eyes glist- 
 ening with tears, she said, 
 
 " How am I ever to thank you ? my first debt of grati- 
 tude is due to Heaven ; but you have been its brave, its 
 blessed instrument of my deliverance from worse than death!" 
 and a shudder passed over her frame as the rude grasp of 
 Mahega recurred to her remembrance. 
 
 ' ' Dear Prairie-bird," he replied ; f ' as a man I would have 
 done as much for the poorest and most indifferent of your 
 sex how then am I repaid a thousand, thousand fold by 
 having been allowed to serve a being so precious ! " The deep 
 mellow tone in which he spoke these words, and the look by 
 which they were accompanied, brought the truant colour again 
 to the cheek of his companion, and as she cast her full dark 
 eyes downwards, they rested on the arm that supported her, 
 and she saw that his sleeve was stained and dropping with 
 blood ! 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 221 
 
 " Oh ! you are wounded, badly hurt, I fear. Tell me, tell 
 me, Reginald," she continued, with an intensity of anxiety 
 that her expressive countenance betrayed, " are you badly 
 hurt?" 
 
 " Indeed, dear Prairie-bird, I cannot tell you : I felt the 
 Indian strike me twice with the dagger before he fell ; I do 
 not think the wounds are serious, for you see I can walk and 
 assist your steps too." 
 
 While he thus spoke he was, however, growing faint from 
 loss of blood, and the wound in his shoulder, having become 
 cold and stiff, gave him exquisite pain. Prairie-bird was not 
 deceived by the cheerfulness of his manner ; she saw the pale- 
 ness that was gradually stealing over his countenance, and, with 
 ready presence of mind, insisted on his sitting down on the 
 trunk of a fallen tree beside their path. The suffering condi- 
 tion of Reginald redoubled instead of paralysing her energies ; 
 she filled his cap with fresh water from the brook, urged him 
 to taste a few drops, and sprinkled more over his face and 
 temples ; then ripping up the sleeve of his hunting-shirt, she 
 found the blood still welling from two severe wounds between 
 the elbow and shoulder in the left arm : these she bathed and 
 carefully closed, applying to them a healing salve, which she 
 drew from the small bag that she wore at her girdle, after 
 which she bandaged the arm firmly with her kerchief; then, 
 kneeling beside him, strove to read in his face the success of 
 her simple surgery. 
 
 In the course of a few minutes the dizzy sensation of faint- 
 ness that had been produced by loss of blood, passed away, 
 and the delighted Prairie-bird, seeing on his countenance the 
 beaming smile of returning consciousness and strength, mur- 
 mured to herself, " Oh ! God I thank thee ! " then hiding her 
 face in her hands, wept with mingled emotion and gratitude. 
 Reginald heard the words, he marked the tears, and no longer 
 able to suppress the feelings with which his heart overflowed, 
 he drew her gently towards him with his yet unwounded arm, 
 and whispered in her ear the outpourings of a first, fond, pas- 
 sionate love ! 
 
 No reply came from her lips, her tears (tears of intense 
 emotion) flowed yet faster ; but a sensible pressure on the 
 part of the little hand which he clasped within his own, gave 
 him the blest assurance that his love was returned ; and again 
 
222 THE PBAIBIE-BIBD. 
 
 and again did he repeat those sacred and impassioned vows by 
 which the hopes, the fears, the fortunes, the affections, the 
 very existence of two immortal beings, are inseparably blended 
 together. Her unresisting hand remained clasped in his, and 
 her head leaned upon his shoulder, that she might conceal the 
 blushes that suffused her countenance : still he would not be 
 satisfied without a verbal answer to his thrice urged prayer, 
 that he might call her his own ; and when at length she raised 
 her beaming eyes to his, and audibly whispered, " For ever," 
 he sealed upon those sweet lips the contract of unchanged 
 affection. 
 
 Bright, transitory moments of bliss ! lightning flashes that 
 illumine the dark and stormy path of life, though momentary 
 in your duration, how mighty in your power, how lasting in 
 your effects ! Sometimes imparting a rapturous glow and 
 kindling an unceasing heat that death itself cannot extinguish, 
 and sometimes under a star of evil destiny searing and wither- 
 ing the heart rendered desolate by your scorching flame ! 
 
 It is not necessary to inform the gentle reader how long the 
 tete-a-tete on the fallen tree continued ; suffice it to say, that 
 Prairie-bird forgot her fright, and Reginald his wounds ; and 
 when they returned to the village, each sought to enjoy in 
 solitude those delicious reveries which deserve certainly the 
 second place in love's catalogue of happiness. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ETHELSTON PREPARES TO LEAVE MOOSHANNE. MAHEGA APPEARS AS 
 AN ORATOR, IN WHICH CHARACTER HE SUCCEEDS BETTER THAN IN 
 THAT OF A LOVER. A STORM SUCCEEDED BY A CALM. 
 
 WHILE the events described in the last chapter were in pro- 
 gress, the hours sped smoothly onward at Mooshanne. Lucy 
 and Ethelston thought themselves justly entitled to a liberal 
 compensation for the trials of their long separation ; and, as 
 the spring advanced, morning and evening generally found 
 them strolling together, in the enjoyment of its opening beau- 
 ties. Sometimes Aunt Mary encountered them during the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 225 
 
 busy round of her visits to the poultry, the piggery, or to the 
 cottage of some neighbour, whither sorrow or sickness called 
 her. The mate frequently came over from Marietta to see his 
 captain, and to inquire whether there was no early prospect of 
 another voyage, for he already began to find that time tra- 
 velled slowly ashore ; and although he consoled himself, now 
 and then, with a pipe and social glass in David Muir's back 
 parlour, he longed to be afloat again, and told the worthy 
 merchant that he would rather have made the fresh-water 
 trip in the canoe, than be laid up in dock, while he felt his 
 old hull still stout and seaworthy. His son Henry continued 
 to advance in the good graces of Jessie Muir; but unfortu- 
 nately for the youth his father had discovered his attachment^ 
 and lost no opportunity of bantering him in the presence of 
 the young lady, accompanying his jokes with sundry grins, 
 and severe pokes in the ribs, which caused sometimes a dis- 
 agreeable alternation of vexation and confusion : nevertheless 
 David Muir remained habitually blind to the state of his 
 daughter's affections, and Dame Christie was a great deal too 
 much occupied with the cares of domestic government (in- 
 cluding the occasional lectures and reproofs administered to 
 David) to admit of her troubling her head with what she 
 would have termed their childish fancies. 
 
 Such was the general state of affairs on the banks of the 
 Muskingum, when Colonel Brandon received letters from St. 
 Louis, informing him that, since the departure of his son > 
 various disputes had arisen between the agents of the different 
 companies, and that unless a speedy and amicable arrangement 
 could be effected, a heavy loss must necessarily fall upon the 
 fur-proprietors and others interested in the speculation. By 
 the same post a letter bearing a foreign post-mark was placed 
 in the hands of Ethelston, during the perusal of which, an ex- 
 pression of sadness spread itself over his countenance, and he 
 fell abstractedly into a reverie, the subject of which was 
 evidently of a painful nature. Such indications were not 
 likely to escape the anxious and observant eye of love ; and 
 Lucy, laying her hand lightly on his arm, said in a tone half 
 joking, half serious, " Am I not entitled to know all your 
 secrets now, Edward ? " 
 
 " I think not," he replied in the same tone ; " and I am 
 rather disposed to refuse gratifying your curiosity, until you 
 
224 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 consent to acquiring such a title as shall be indisputable." 
 Lucy coloured ; but as she still held out her hand and threat- 
 ened him with her displeasure, if he continued disobedient, he 
 gave her the letter, saying, " I suppose I must submit ; the 
 contents are sad, but there is no reason why I should withhold 
 them from yourself, or from your father." With these words 
 he left the room : after a short pause, Lucy, at the Colonel's 
 request, read him the letter, which proved to be from young 
 Lieutenant L'Estrange, and which, being translated, ran as 
 follows : 
 
 " My Honoured Friend, 
 
 " I need not tell you of the grief that I experienced on 
 revisiting my changed and desolate home. My father has 
 told me all that passed during your stay in the island. He 
 looks upon those days not in anger, but in sorrow ; he is sen- 
 sible that for a time he did you injustice, and fears that, in 
 the first bitterness of his grief, he may have omitted to make 
 you full reparation. These feelings he entreats me to convey 
 to you, and desires me to add, that from the first day of your 
 arrival, to that of your final departure, your conduct was like 
 yourself, noble, upright, and generous. The misfortune 
 that we still bewail, we bow to, as being the infliction of a 
 Providence whose ways are inscrutable. Accept the renewed 
 assurance of the highest regard and esteem of your friend, 
 
 " EUGENE L'ESTRANGE." 
 
 As Lucy read this letter, her eyes filled with tears, though, 
 perhaps, she could scarcely have explained, whether she wept 
 over the afflictions that had befallen the L'Estrange family, 
 or the generous testimony which it bore to her lover's conduct. 
 The Colonel, too, was much affected, and gladly acquiesced in 
 his daughter's proposal, that they should for the future 
 abstain from renewing a subject which must cause such 
 painful recollections to Ethelston. 
 
 Ere many hours had elapsed, the latter was summoned to 
 attend the Colonel, who informed him that the intelligence 
 lately received from St. Louis was of a nature so important 
 to his affairs, that it required immediate attention. " There 
 is no one," he continued, (( to whom I can well entrust this 
 investigation, except yourself, for none has deserved or re- 
 ceived so much of my confidence." There was an unusual 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 225 
 
 embarrassment and hesitation observable in Ethelston*s coun- 
 tenance, on hearing these words, which did not escape his 
 guardian's quick eye, and the latter added, " I see, my dear 
 fellow, that you are not disposed to leave Mooshanne again so 
 soon ; you are thinking about certain promises, and a certain 
 young lady, is it not so, Edward? " 
 
 "It is so, indeed, my best and kindest of friends," said 
 Ethelston. " Can you think or wish that it should be other- 
 wise ? " 
 
 " Nay/' said Colonel Brandon, smiling, " I will not deny 
 that you are entitled to entertain such thoughts, but believe 
 me, when I assure you seriously that this expedition is essen- 
 tial to your own interests and to mine. A great portion of the 
 property left to you under my care by your father, is invested 
 in these Fur companies; and ere you enter on the respon- 
 sibilities of a married life, it is necessary that you put your 
 affairs in such a posture, as to ensure some future provision 
 for the lady of whom you are thinking. These arrangements 
 will not detain you at St. Louis for more than six weeks or 
 two months, by that time Reginald will have returned from 
 his Indian excursion; you will come home together, and I 
 will then listen patiently to whatever you may think fit to say, 
 regarding the young lady in question ; shall it be so, 
 Edward ? " 
 
 " How can I be grateful enough! " replied Ethelston, taking 
 the Colonel's hand ; " give me only leave to explain to Lucy 
 the cause and probable duration of my absence, then I am 
 ready to receive your instructions, and to set about it imme- 
 diately." We will not inquire too minutely how Lucy re- 
 ceived this explanation from her lover's lip, nor what means 
 he took to reconcile her to the proposed arrangement ; it is 
 sufficient to state, that she finally acquiesced with her habitual 
 gentleness, and that, in a few days after the above conversation, 
 Ethelston had completed his preparations for his journey to 
 St. Louis. 
 
 We will again take leave of him and of Mooshanne for a 
 season, and return to Mahega, whom we left bleeding and 
 senseless, at no great distance from the Osage and Delaware 
 encampment. Indeed, we should, ere this, have accused our- 
 selves of inhumanity towards that chief, for leaving him so long 
 
226 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 in such sorry plight, had he not merited severe punishment, 
 for his rough and brutal behaviour to Prairie-bird. 
 
 When Maliega recovered his senses, he was still so much 
 confused from the stunning effects of the severe blow that he 
 had received on the head, as well as from loss of blood, that 
 he could not recall to mind the events immediately preceding 
 his swoon ; nor did they present themselves distinctly to his 
 memory, until his eye rested upon his stained scalp-lock, and 
 beside it the knife that Reginald Brandon had driven firmly 
 into the turf. Then he remembered clearly enough the 
 struggle, his fall, and the maiden's escape j and the rage engen- 
 dered by this remembrance was rendered yet more violent, 
 when he reflected on the insult that his scalp had sustained 
 from an enemy who had scorned to take his life. 
 
 Fierce as were the passions that boiled within the breast of 
 the Osage, his self-command was such that he was able to 
 control all outward demonstration of them ; and, rising slowly, 
 he first effaced in the stream all the sanguinary marks of the 
 late contest, and then took his way toward the camp, revolving 
 in his mind various projects for securing the two principal 
 objects that he was determined to accomplish, the possession 
 of Prairie-bird, and the death of Reginald Brandon ! 
 
 Although a wild uninstructed savage, Mahe'ga was gifted 
 with talents of no common order. Bold, and inflexible in 
 carrying out his purposes, he had cunning sufficient to make 
 unimportant concessions to the opinions of other chiefs and 
 braves in council: unlike the great majority of his tribe and 
 race, he was well aware of the power and strength resulting 
 from union, and although all his ambition ultimately centred 
 in himself, he had the art of persuading his countrymen that 
 he sought only their interests and welfare ; thus, while many 
 hated, and more feared Mahe'ga, he was the most influential 
 chief in the tribe, on account of his daring courage, his success 
 in war, and the reckless liberality with which he distributed 
 among others his share of booty, or of spoil. When the De- 
 laware band had migrated to the banks of the Osage river, 
 Mahega's first impulse had been to attack and destroy them ; 
 but finding that the new corners were better supplied with 
 arms and ammunition, the issue of a conflict seemed doubtful. 
 Moreover, as they were visited by many traders, he calculated 
 that, by keeping on friendly terms with them, he should ac- 
 
THE PRA1K1E-BIRD. 227 
 
 quire for his tribe, and for himself, many advantages greater 
 than they had before enjoyed. 
 
 Acting upon these motives, he had not only encouraged peace 
 with the Delawares, but had effected through his own influ- 
 ence the league that had for some time united the two bands 
 in our encampment ; nor had he been mistaken in his expecta- 
 tions, for, since their union with the band of Delawares, the 
 Osages had been enabled to beat off the Pawnees and other 
 roving tribes, from whose inroads upon their hunting-ground 
 they had before been exposed to frequent and severe disasters ; 
 the objects which he had contemplated, had thus been for the 
 most part accomplished. The tribe was plentifully supplied 
 with arms and ammunition by the traders ; his own influence 
 amongst them was higher than ever ; but he could not brook a 
 rival to his fame as a warrior in War-Eagle, nor bear to be 
 checked and thwarted in his ambitious schemes, by the mild 
 authority of Tamenund. 
 
 The mind of Mahega being thus prepared for seizing the 
 earliest opportunity of coming to a rupture with the Dewares 
 it may well be imagined how his most violent and rancorou 
 passions were excited by the scornful rejection of his suit o\- 
 the part of Prairie-bird, and the disgrace he had incurred in his 
 rencounter with her white protector. He resolved no longer to 
 delay the meditated blow; he had already made a secret league 
 with the warlike and powerful Dahcotahs ; and the occasion 
 seemed most favourable for wreaking his vengeance on the re- 
 latives of Prairie-bird, and the white men now resident in the 
 Delaware camp. 
 
 Having once formed his determination, he set about carrying 
 it into effect with the sagacity and profound dissimulation 
 which had already obtained for him such an ascendancy in the 
 Osage council. No sooner had he reached his lodge, than he 
 dressed himself in his Medicine robe*, adorned his face with 
 corresponding streaks of paint, and concealing the loss of his 
 scalp-lock by a Spanish kerchief, which he folded round his 
 head, somewhat after the fashion of a turban, he sallied forth 
 
 * The buffalo robes worn by the Osages, as well as by some other Missouri 
 tribes. are variously ornamented and [tainted with devices. Some of these refer to 
 war, ,-omo to marriaze, some to medicine or mystery ; these last are generally vrorn 
 at councils, on wliioh occasions a chief who has some important subject to propose, 
 frequently adds to the *^i-i on his face some streaks corresponding to th ... ice* 
 im his bulfalu robe. 
 
228 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 to visit the chiefs and braves, on whose co-operation he felt 
 that success must mainly depend. 
 
 Some of these were already prepared to adopt his views, by 
 their previous participation in the league with the Dahcotahs ; 
 others he bent and moulded to his purpose by arguments and 
 inducements suited to their character or circumstances; and 
 ere he returned to his lodge, he felt confident that his proposed 
 plans would be supported by the most influential warriors in 
 the tribe, and that he should easily bear down the opposition 
 of the more cautious and scrupulous, who might be disposed 
 to keep faith with their Delaware allies. 
 
 In the meanwhile War-Eagle was riot idle, he visited the 
 principal braves and warriors of his tribe, and found them 
 unanimous in their resolution to break off all communication 
 with the Osages, as soon as the latter should commit any overt 
 *ct that should justify them in dissolving the league into which 
 they had entered. He also resolved to watch closely the move- 
 ments of Mahega, of whose malice and influence he was fully 
 aware ; with this view he selected an intelligent Delaware boy, 
 who knew the Osage language, and desired him to hover about 
 the tent of the chief, and to bring a report of all that he should 
 see or hear. 
 
 Towards the close of day, Mahega sent runners about his 
 village, after the usual Indian fashion, to summon the war- 
 riors and braves, most of whom were already prepared for the 
 harangue which he was about to address to them ; as soon as 
 a sufficient number were collected, the wily chief came forth 
 from his lodge, in the dress before described, and began by 
 thanking them for so readily obeying his call. 
 
 " Why did Mahega call together the warriors ? " he con- 
 tinued ; " Was it to tell them that a broad bison-trail is near 
 the camp ? The Medicine-men have not yet smoked the 
 hunting-pipe to the Wahcondah. Was it to tell them of the 
 scalps taken by their fathers ? The young men have not been 
 called to the war-dance, their ears have not heard the Drum.* 
 Was it to tickle their ears with words like dried grass ? 
 Mahega's tongue is not spread with honey ; he has called the 
 
 * In the performance of the war-dance among the Indians of the Missouri, the 
 tread of the dancers is guided by a monotonous chaunt, sung by some of the Medi 
 cine-men, and accompanied by the beat of a small drum of the rudest constrmtion, 
 and most barren dismal tone. It is generally nothing more than a dried skin, 
 Btivtcht'd upon a wooden frame hollowed out with a knife by the squaws. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 29 
 
 Washashe to open their ears and eyes, to tell them that snakes 
 have crept under their lodges, that the dogs in the village have 
 become wolves !" 
 
 As he paused, the auditors looked each at the other ; those 
 who were not yet instructed in the speaker's project being at a 
 loss to catch the meaning of his words. Seeing that he had 
 arrested their attention, he proceeded: "When Mahega was 
 young, when our fathers were warriors, who was so strong as 
 the Washashe ? Our hunters killed the deer and the bison 
 from the Neska to the Topeo-ka. * The Konzas were our bro- 
 thers, and we were afraid of none. But the Mahe-hunguh f 
 came near, their tongues were smooth, their hands were full, 
 and the Washashe listened to their talk : is it not so ?'' 
 
 A deep murmur testified the attention of his auditors ; but 
 Mahega knew that he was venturing on dangerous ground, 
 and his present object was rather to incite them to vengeance 
 against the band of Delawares and their guests, than against 
 the white men in general. He resumed his harangue in a 
 milder tone. 
 
 *' The Long-knives smoked the pipe of peace with us, we 
 gave them meat and skins, and they gave us paint and blan- 
 kets, and fire- weapons with Medicine-powder and lead, all 
 that was well; but who came with the Long-knives, the 
 Lenape !" He paused a moment, then looking fiercely round, 
 he continued in a louder strain ; '' and who are these Lenape? 
 They were beggars when they came to us ! Their skin is red, 
 but their hearts are pale. Do we not know the tale of their 
 fathers ? Were they not slaves to the warriors of other na- 
 tions ? | Were they not women ? Did they not leave the 
 war-path to plant maize, and drink the fire-water of the Long- 
 knives? They gave up their hunting-ground; they left the 
 bones of their fathers; they crossed the Ne-o-hunge , and 
 asked for the friendship of the Washashe. We lighted the 
 
 * The Indian names for the rivers now called " Konsas" and " Osage," both of 
 which fall into the Missouri. 
 
 t Anplice, Long-knives, or Americans. 
 
 J Mahega here alludes to that unfortunate era in the history of the Lenape, so pa- 
 thetically described by Heckewa der, when they permitted themselves to be per- 
 suaded by the whites to abandon all their warlike weaponsand pursuits, and follow- 
 ing those of agriculture, to leave the affairs of war entirely to the northern tribes, 
 who guaranteed their safety. The consequence was such as might have been ex- 
 pected, they were treated with contumely and injustice; and being compelled at length 
 to resume those arms to which they had been for sometime unaccustomed, they suf- 
 fered repeated defeats and disasters from the " six nations," and adjoining tribes. 
 
 The Mississippi is to called by the Os^ges. 
 
 Q 3 
 
230 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 pipe for tliem ; we received them like brothers, and opened to 
 ihem our hunting-ground ; but their hearts are bad to us, 
 Washashes. Mahega tells you that the Lenape are snakes !" 
 
 Another deep guttural sound, indicative of increased excite- 
 ment, gratified the speaker's ear, and he continued in a strain 
 yet bolder: " Is Mahega not a chief? Has he not struck 
 the bodies of his enemies ? Are there no scalps on his war- 
 shirt ? He was good to these Lenape, he treated their warriors 
 like brothers, he offered to make Olitipa his wife, they gave 
 him bitter words and threw dirt upon his lodge. Shall the 
 Washashe Chief be called a dog ?" he exclaimed in a voice of 
 thunder; " Shall he sit on the ground while a Lenape spits in 
 his face ?" 
 
 A shout of anger and fury burst from the audience, as, wav- 
 ing his hand impatiently for silence, he went on : "The Lenape 
 knew that their hearts were false, their arms weak, their 
 tongues forked, and they have brought in a band of Long- 
 knives to defend them and to drive the Washashe from their 
 hunting-grounds. Shall it be so ? Shall we hold our backs 
 to be scourged like children? Shall we whine like starved 
 wolves ? See how the pale faces can insult your chief ! " As 
 he spoke, Mahega tore the turban with one hand from his head, 
 and holding up his severed scalp-lock with the other, while 
 every muscle of his countenance worked with fury, " See what 
 the hand of a white-face boy has done. Mahega slept under a 
 tree, and he whom they call Netis, the stranger who has eaten 
 our meat and smoked with our chiefs, stole upon Mahega, 
 struck him on the head, and cut off his hair." As he uttered 
 this audacious falsehood, which was, of course, believed by all 
 who heard him, a terrific shout burst from the assembled 
 Osages, and the wily chief, striking while the iron was hot, 
 went on : 
 
 " It is enough the Washashes are not women ; they will 
 dig up the hatchet, and throw it into the council lodge of these 
 white-faced and pale-hearted dogs. The great chief of the 
 Dahcotahs has spoken to Mahega ; he seeks the friendship of 
 the Washashes ; the Dahcotahs are men ; the bisons on their 
 hunting-grounds are like the leaves in the forest. They wish to 
 call the Washashes brothers, they wait for Mahega's words. 
 What shall he say ?" 
 
 A tremendous shout was raised in reply, a shout that could 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 231 
 
 be heard throughout the whole encampment. Mahega saw 
 that his triumph was complete., and folding his Medicine robe 
 over his shoulder, he once more waved his hand for silence, 
 and dismissed the assembly, saying, " Before the sun sinks 
 again the chiefs and braves will meet in council. The Wash- 
 ashes will hear their words and they will be ready." As he 
 spoke he cast his dark eye expressively downwards to the toma- 
 hawk suspended at his belt, and slowly re-entered his lodge. 
 
 Meanwhile the youth who had been sent by War-Eagle to 
 observe what was passing in the Osage encampment, executed 
 his commission with fidelity and address. Although not suffi- 
 ciently familiar with the language to catch all that fell from 
 Maht'ga, he yet learnt enough to satisfy his young chief that 
 a rupture was at hand. It only remained now to be proved 
 whether it would take place as the result of an open council, or 
 whether the Osages would withdraw secretly to their new Dah- 
 cotah allies. 
 
 . On the morning succeeding the events above related, War- 
 Eagle left the encampment before daybreak, partly to see whe- 
 ther he could discover any unusual stir among the Osages, and 
 partly to revolve in his mind the course of conduct that he 
 should suggest if called upon to give his opinion before the 
 Lenape council. Many various emotions were struggling in 
 his bosom, and in this respect the descendants of Adam, whe- 
 ther their skins be white or red, so far resemble each other, 
 that on such occasions they seek to avoid the turmoil of their 
 fellow-men, and to be for a season alone amid the works of 
 inanimate nature. 
 
 It was with impressions and feelings far different that Regi- 
 nald and Prairie-bird found themselves soon after sunrise toge- 
 ther, as if by tacit appointment, by the great tree, under which 
 he had first seen her. In order to guard against the treachery 
 of which he believed Mahega capable, he had communicated to 
 Baptiste the events of the preceding morning, and had de- 
 sired him to watch the movements of the latter, especially 
 guarding Prairie-bird against any renewal of his violence. The 
 trusty forester, who had grown extremely taciturn since he 
 had observed his young master's attachment, shrugged his 
 shoulders, and briefly promised to obey his instructions. He 
 was too shrewd to oppose a torrent such as that by which 
 Reginald was carried away ; and, although it must be con- 
 Q 4 
 
232 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 fessed, that he had many misgivings as to the reception that the 
 tidings would meet with at the hands of Colonel Brandon, the 
 beauty and gentleness of Prairie-bird had so far won upon his 
 rough nature that he was well disposed to protect her from the 
 machinations of the Osage. With these intentions he followed 
 her when she left her lodge, and as soon as she entered the 
 thicket before described, he ensconced himself in a shady cor- 
 ner whence he could observe the approach of any party from 
 the encampment. 
 
 We will now follow the steps of War-Eagle, who, having 
 satisfied himself by a careful observation of the out piquette 
 that no immediate movement was on foot among the Osages, 
 turned towards the undulating prairies to the westward of the 
 village. 
 
 He was in an uneasy and excited mood, both from the 
 treachery of the Osages towards his tribe, and various occur- 
 rences which had of late wounded his feelings in the quarter 
 where they were most sensitive. 
 
 The victory over self is the greatest that can be achieved by 
 man ; it assumes, however, a different complexion in those who 
 are guided by the light of nature, and in those who have been 
 taught by revelation. In the heathen it is confined to the 
 actions and to the outward man, whereas in the Christian it 
 extends to the motives and feelings of the heart. The former 
 may snare an enemy, the latter must learn to forgive and love 
 him. But in both cases the struggle is severe in proportion to 
 the strength of the passion which is to be combated. In War- 
 Eagle were combined many of the noblest features of the Indian 
 character ; but his passions had all the fierce intensity common 
 to his race ; and although the instructions of Paul Miiller, falling 
 like good seed on a wild but fertile soil, had humanised and 
 improved him, his views of Christianity were incipient and 
 indistinct, while the courage, pride, and feelings of his race 
 were in the full zenith of their power. He had long known 
 that Prairie-bird was not his sister in blood, she had grown up 
 from childhood under his eye, and, unconsciously perhaps at 
 first, he had loved her, and still loved her with all the impas- 
 sioned fervour of his nature. It may be remembered in the 
 earlier portion of this tale, when he first became acquainted with 
 Reginald, that he had abstained from all mention of her name, 
 and had avoided the subject whenever young Wingenund 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 233 
 
 brought it forward. He had never yet asked Olitipa to become 
 his wife, but the sweet gentleness of her manner, and her open 
 contempt for the addresses of the handsome and distinguished 
 Osage, had led him to form expectations favourable to his own 
 suit. At the same time there was something in the maiden's 
 behaviour that had frequently caused him to doubt whether 
 she loved him, and sharing in the awe with which she inspired 
 all the Indians around her, he had hitherto hesitated and feared 
 to make a distinct avowal. Of late he had been so much 
 occupied in observing the suspicious movements of the Osages 
 that his attention had been somewhat withdrawn from Olitipa : 
 he was aware of her having become acquainted with Reginald, 
 and the adventure of the preceding day, which had been com- 
 municated to him, filled him with an uneasiness that he could 
 not conceal from himself, although he had succeeded in con- 
 cealing it from others. 
 
 In this frame of mind, he was returning to the camp, along 
 the course of the streamlet passing through the grove where 
 the rencounter of the preceding day had occurred. When he 
 reached the opening before described, his eyes rested on a sight 
 that transfixed him to the spot. Seated on one of the project- 
 ing roots of the ancient tree was Prairie-bird, her eye and 
 cheek glowing with happiness, and her ear drinking in the 
 whispered vows of her newly-betrothed lover ; her hand was 
 clasped in his, and more than once he pressed it tenderly to 
 his lips. For several minutes the Indian stood silent and mo- 
 tionless as a statue ; despair seemed to have checked the cur- 
 rent of his blood, but by slow degrees consciousness returned ; 
 he saw her, the maiden whom he had served and loved for 
 weary months and years, now interchanging with another 
 tokens of affection not to be mistaken, and that other a stran- 
 ger whom he had himself lately brought by his own invitation 
 from a distant region. 
 
 The demon of jealousy took instant possession of his soul ; 
 every other thought, feeling, and passion was for the time 
 annihilated, the nobler impulses of his nature were forgotten, 
 and he was in a moment transformed to a merciless savage, 
 bent on swift and deadly vengeance. He only paused as in 
 doubt, how he should kill his rival perhaps, whether he 
 should kill them both; his eye dwelt upon them with a 
 stern ferocity, as he loosened the unerring tomahawk from his 
 
234 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 belt ; another moment he paused, for his hand trembled con- 
 vulsively, and a cold sweat stood like dew upon his brow. At 
 this terrible crisis of his passion, a low voice whispered in his 
 ear, in the Delaware tongue, 
 
 " Would the Lenape chief stain his Medicine with a bro- 
 ther's blood?" War- Eagle, turning round, encountered the 
 steady eye of Baptiste ; he gave no answer, but directed his 
 fiery glance towards the spot where the unconscious lovers 
 were seated, and the half-raised weapon still vibrated under 
 the impulse of the internal struggle that shook every muscle 
 of the Indian's frame. Profiting by the momentary pause, 
 Baptiste continued, in the same tone, " Shall the tomahawk 
 of the War-Eagle strike an adopted son of the Unami ? * 
 The Bad Spirit has entered my brother's heart ; let him hold 
 a talk with himself, and remember that he is the son of 
 Tamenund." 
 
 By an effort of self-control, such as none but an Indian can 
 exercise, War-Eagle subdued, instantaneously, all outward in- 
 dication of the tempest that had been aroused in his breast. 
 Replacing the tomahawk in his belt, he drew himself proudly 
 to his full height, and, fixing on the woodsman an eye calm 
 and steady as his own, he replied, 
 
 " Grande-Hache speaks truth ; War-Eagle is a chief; the 
 angry spirit is strong; but he tramples it under his feet." 
 He then added, in a lower tone, tf War-Eagle will speak to 
 Netis ; not now ; if his white brother's tongue has been forked, 
 the medicine of the Unami shall not protect him. The sky is 
 very black, and War-Eagle has no friend left." So saying, 
 the Indian threw his light blanket over his shoulder and 
 stalked gloomily from the spot. 
 
 Baptiste followed with his eye the retreating figure of the 
 Delaware, until it was lost in the dense foliage of the wood. 
 
 " He is a noble fellow," said the rough hunter, half aloud, 
 leaning on his long rifle, and pursuing the thread of his own 
 reflections. " He is one of the old sort of Ingians, and there's 
 but few of 'em left. I've been with him in several skrimages, 
 
 * After their first meeting, in which Reginald had saved the life of War-Eagle, 
 the latter had adopted his new friend, not only as a brother, but as a member of 
 that portion of his tribe who were called Unami, and of which the turtle was the 
 medicine, or sacred symbol ; after the ratification of such a covenant of brother- 
 hood, each party is, according to Indian custom, solemnly bound to defend the other, 
 on ail occasions, at the risk of his own life. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 235 
 
 and I've seen him strike and scalp more than one Dahcotah ; 
 but I never saw the glare of his eye so wild and blood-thirsty 
 before ; if he had kept his purpose, my old sinews would have 
 had some trouble to save Master Reginald from that tomahawk. 
 It's well for him that I've lived long enough among the Dela- 
 wares to know the ins and outs of their natur', as well as John 
 Skellup at the ferry knows the sand-bars and channels in 
 Bearcreek Shallows. I thought the Unami Medicine whispered 
 in his ear might do something ; but I scarcely hoped it could 
 smother such a fire in a minute. 1 remember, when I was 
 young, I was in a hot passion, now and then, myself. Capote ! 
 I'm sometimes in a passion still, when 1 think of those cut- 
 throat Sioux, and if my bristles are up, it takes some time to 
 smooth 'em down." Here the woodsman's hand unconsciously 
 rested for a moment on the huge axe suspended at his belt ; 
 but his musings took another course, as he continued his mut- 
 tered soliloquy : 
 
 " Well, I sometimes think the bears and the deer have more 
 reason than human critturs, ay, and I believe that shot isn't 
 overwide o' the mark. Look at them two youngsters, Master 
 Reginald and War-Eagle, two brave honest hearts as ever 
 lived ; one saves the other's life ; they become brothers and 
 swear friendship ; of a sudden, I am obliged to step in be- 
 tween 'em, to prevent one from braining the other with a 
 tomahawk. And what's the cause of all this hate and fury ? 
 Why, love, a pair of black eyes and red lips; a strange 
 kind of love, indeed, that makes a man hate and kill his best 
 friend. Thank Heaven, I have nothing to do with such love ; 
 and I say, as I said before, that the dumb animals have more 
 reason than human critturs. Well, 1 must do all I can to 
 make 'em friends again, for a blind man might see they'll 
 need each other's help, ere many days are past ! " 
 
 So saying, the woodsman threw his rifle into the hollow of 
 his arm, and moved towards Reginald Brandon, who, uncon- 
 ^cious of the danger that he had so narrowly escaped, was still 
 engaged with Prairie-bird in that loving dialogue which finds 
 no satiety in endless reiteration. 
 
 Baptiste drew near, and after the usual greetings, took an 
 opportunity, as he thought unobserved by Prairie-bird, of 
 making a sign to Reginald that he wished to speak with him in 
 private ; but the maiden, watchful of every movement directly 
 
236 
 
 THE PRAIUIE-B1H1). 
 
 or indirectly affecting her lover, and already aware of the 
 intrigues and treachery of the Osages, said to him with her 
 usual simplicity of manner, " Baptiste, if you have aught to 
 say requiring my absence, 1 will go ; but as there are dangers 
 approaching that threaten us all alike, do not fear to speak 
 before me. I know something of these people, and though 
 only an unskilled maiden, my thoughts might be of some 
 avail " 
 
 The sturdy hunter, although possessed of a shrewd judg- 
 ment, was somewhat confused by this direct appeal ; but after 
 smoothing down the hair of his fur cap for a few moments, as 
 was his custom when engaged in reflection, he resolved to speak 
 before her without concealment; and he proceeded accordingly, 
 with the blunt honesty of his nature, to narrate to them all 
 the particulars of his late interview with War- Eagle. During 
 his recital, both the auditors changed colour more than once, 
 with different yet sympathetic emotions ; and when he con- 
 cluded, Reginald suddenly arose, and, fixing his eye upon the 
 maiden's countenance, as if he would read her soul, he said, 
 
 *' Prairie-bird, I conjure you by all you love on earth, and 
 by all your hopes of Heaven ! tell me truly, if you have known 
 and encouraged these feelings in War-Eagle ? " 
 
 The dark eyes that had been cast to the ground with various 
 painful emotions were raised at this appeal, and met her lover's 
 searching look with the modest courage of conscious truth as 
 she replied, 
 
 " Reginald, is it possible that you can ask me such a ques- 
 tion ? Olitipa, the foundling of the Delawares, loved War- 
 Eagle as she loved Wingenund ; she was brought up in the 
 same lodge with both ; she called both, brother ; she thought 
 of them only as such. Had War- Eagle ever asked for other 
 love, she would have told him she had none other to give. 
 
 She knew of none other, until until " The presence of 
 
 a third person checked the words that struggled for utterance ; 
 her deep eyes filled with tears, and she hid them on Reginald's 
 bosom. 
 
 " I were worse than an infidel, could I doubt thy purity 
 and truth," he exclaimed with fervour ; " Baptiste, I will 
 speak with my Indian brother I pity him from my heart: 
 I will strive all in my power to soothe his sorrow ; for I, and 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 23? 
 
 I alone, can know what he must suffer, who has, in secret and 
 in vain, loved such a being as this ! Let us return." 
 
 Slowly and sadly they wended their way to the encamp- 
 ment, the guide bringing up the rear. He was thoroughly 
 convinced that Prairie-bird had spoken the truth : every look, 
 every accent carried conviction with it ; but he feared for the 
 meeting between the young men, being fully aware of the im- 
 petuosity of Reginald's character, and of the intense excitement 
 that now affected the Indian's mind. He determined, how- 
 ever, to leave them to themselves, for he had lived enough 
 among men of stormy and ungoverned passions to know, that 
 in a tete-a-tete between two high and generous spirits a con- 
 cession will often be made, to which pride might, in the pre- 
 sence of others, never have submitted. 
 
 On reaching their quarters in the encampment, they found 
 Paul Mulled standing thoughtfully before Prairie-bird's tent, 
 into which, after exchanging a brief but cordial greeting, he 
 and the maiden withdrew, leaving Reginald and the guide to 
 retire into the adjoining lodge of Tamenund. 
 
 War-Eagle, who had posted himself in a spot whence, 
 without being seen himself, he could observe their movements, 
 now walked slowly forward to the entrance of the tent, into 
 which he was immediately invited by the missionary ; his 
 manner was grave and composed, nor could the most observant 
 eye have traced in the lines of his countenance the slightest 
 shade of excitement or agitation. 
 
 After the usual salutation, he said, " War-Eagle will speak 
 to the Black Father presently ; he has now low words for the 
 ear of Olitipa." 
 
 Paul Miiller, looking on him with a smile, benevolent 
 though somewhat melancholy, said, " I shut my ears, my son, 
 and go, for I know that War-Eagle will speak nothing that 
 his sister should not hear ; " and so saying, he retired into his 
 adjacent compartment of the tent. Prairie-bird, conscious of 
 the painful scene that awaited her, sat in embarrassed silence, 
 and for upwards of a minute War-Eagle contemplated without 
 speaking the sad but lovely expression of the maiden's coun- 
 tenance ; that long and piercing look told him all that he 
 dreaded to know ; he saw that Baptiste had spoken to her ; he 
 saw that his hopes were blasted ; and still his riveted gaze was 
 fixed upon her, as the eyes of one banished for life dwell upon 
 
2S8 i"HE ntAIRIE-DIRD. 
 
 the last receding tints of the home that he is leaving for ever. 
 Collecting, at length, all the stoic firmness of his nature, he 
 spoke to her in the Delaware tongue ; the words that he used 
 were few and simple, but in them, and in the tone of his 
 voice, there was so much delicacy mingled with such depth of 
 feeling, that Prairie-bird could not refrain from tears. 
 
 Answering him in the same language, she blended her ac- 
 customed sincerity of expression with gentle words of soothing 
 kindness ; and, in concluding her reply, she took his hand in 
 hers, saying, " Olitipa has long loved her brothers, War-Eagle 
 and Wingenund ; let not a cloud come between them now ; her 
 heart is not changed to the great warrior of Lenape; his sister 
 trusts to his protection ; she is proud of his fame ; she has no 
 other love to give him ; her race, her religion, her heart forbid 
 it ! but he is her dear brother ; he will not be angry, nor leave 
 her. 
 
 f( Mahega and the Osages are become enemies ; the Dahco- 
 tah trail is near ; Tamenund is old and weak ; where shall 
 Olitipa find a brother's love, and a brother's aid, if War-Eagle 
 turns away his face from her now ? " 
 
 The noble heart to which she appealed had gone through its 
 fiery ordeal of torture, and triumphed over it. After the man- 
 ner of his tribe, the Delaware, before relinquishing her hand, 
 pressed it for a moment to his chest, in token of affection, and 
 said, " It is enough, my sister's words are good, they are not 
 spilt upon the ground; let Mahega or the Dahcotahs come 
 near the lodge of Olitipa, and they shall learn that War-Eagle 
 is her brother ! " The chieftain's hand rested lightly on his 
 tomahawk, and his countenance, as he withdrew from the tent, 
 wore an expression of high and stern resolve. 
 
 How often in life is the observation forced upon us, that 
 artlessness is the highest perfection of art! It is an axiom, 
 the truth of which remains unchallenged under whatever aspect 
 we view it, and is indisputable even in its converse ; thus, as 
 in writing, the apparent ease and simplicity of style is the re- 
 sult of frequent correction and laborious study ; so in corporeal 
 exercises, the most assiduous practice must be combined with 
 the highest physical qualifications, ere the dancer or the pos- 
 ture-master can emulate the unconscious grace displayed in the 
 movements of a sportive kitten, or a playful child. 
 
 Had Prairie-bird been familiar with all the learned treatises 
 
Tin: PRAIRIE-BIRD. 239 
 
 on rhetoric that have appeared from the time of Aristotle to 
 the present day, she could not have selected topics better cal- 
 culated to move and soften the heart of her Indian brother. 
 And yet she had no other instructor in the heart than the natural 
 delicacy of her sex and character. While the tribute to his 
 warlike fame gratified his pride, the unstudied sisterly affection 
 of her tone and manner soothed his wounded feelings ; and 
 while the brief picture of her unprotected state aroused all his 
 nobler and more generous sentiments, no breath of allusion to 
 his successful rival's name kindled the embers of jealousy that 
 slumbered beneath them. 
 
 As he walked from her tent, the young Indian's heart di- 
 lated within him ; he trod the earth with a proud and lordly 
 step; he had grappled with his passion ; and though it had been 
 riveted "to his soul with hooks of steel/' he had plucked it 
 forth with an unflinching hand, and he now met his deep- 
 rooted grief with the same lofty brow and unconquerable will 
 with which he would have braved the tortures of the Dahcotah 
 stake. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 i 
 
 IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A MORAL DISQUISITION SOMEWHAT 
 TEDIOUS, A TRUE STORY SOMEWHAT INCREDIBLE, A CONFERENCE 
 THAT ENDS IN PEACE, AND A COUNCIL THAT BETOKENS WAR. 
 
 IT is not a feature in the character of Indians to do anything 
 by halves ; their love and their hate, their patience and im- 
 patience, their abstinence and self-indulgence, all are apt to run 
 into extremes. Moderation is essentially a virtue of civilisa- 
 tion ; it is the result of forethought, reasoning, and a careful 
 calculation of consequences, whereas the qualities of the Indian 
 are rather the children of impulse, and are less modified by 
 conflicting motives ; hence, the lights and shades of character 
 are broader and more distinct ; and though it may be perhaps 
 impossible that Indian villany should assume a deeper dye 
 than that which may unfortunately be met with among civi- 
 lised nations, it is not asserting too much to say, that there 
 
40 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 are to be found among these savages instances of disinterested, 
 self-devoted heroism, such as are rarely heard of beyond the 
 world of chivalry and romance. 
 
 This assertion will be received by many readers with an in- 
 credulous smile, and still more will be disposed to believe that 
 it can be true only in reference to such virtues or actions as are 
 the immediate result of a generous impulse ; but examples are 
 not wanting to prove the argument to be defensible upon higher 
 grounds. It will readily be admitted, that retributive justice, 
 although consonant to the first principles of reason and natural 
 law, cannot, when deliberately enforced, be considered in the 
 light of a sudden impulse, much less can it be so considered 
 when the party enforcing it is to be himself the sufferer by it; 
 and those who are conversant with the history of the Indian 
 nations can testify that parallel instances to that which follows 
 have frequently occurred among them. 
 
 Some years ago, a young married Indian, residing on the 
 western bank of the Mississippi, quarrelled with another of his 
 tribe, and in the heat of passion killed him with a bloxv of his 
 tomahawk. After a few moments' reflection, he walked direct 
 to the village, and presenting himself before the wigwam of 
 the murdered man, called together his relations, and addressed 
 them as follows : 
 
 t( Your relative was my friend; we were together, some 
 angry words arose between us, I killed him on the spot. 
 My life is in your hands, and I have come to offer it to you ; 
 but the summer hunting-season has now begun. I have a 
 wife and some young children ; they have done you no wrong ; 
 I wish to go out into the woods to kill a plentiful supply of 
 meat, such as may feed them during the winter ; when I have 
 done that, I will return and give myself to you." 
 
 The stern assembly of mourners gave their assent, and the 
 young man retired ; for many weeks he toiled indefatigably in 
 the chase, his wife jerked and dried the meat as he daily 
 brought it in, until he saw that the supply was ample for the 
 ensuing winter ; he then bid farewell to her and to his little 
 ones, and once more presenting himself before the wigwam of 
 his late friend, he said, " I am come : my squaw has meat for 
 the winter, my life is now yours ! " To these words the eldest 
 male relative of the deceased replied, " It is well : " and rising 
 from the ground, executed on the unresisting offender the sura* 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 241 
 
 mary justice of Indian retribution, by cleaving his skull with a 
 tomahawk. Neither the self-devotion of the one, nor the un- 
 relenting severity of the other, excited any peculiar sensation, 
 each having acted according to the strict, though barbarous 
 usage of the tribe. 
 
 Amongst a people accustomed to look with stoic composure 
 on scenes such as that just described, War-Eagle had already 
 won a distinguished name, and he supported it on this trying 
 occasion by resigning what was dearer to him than life, and 
 crushing, as under a weight of iron, that passion which had 
 been for years the hope and nourishment of his heart; whether, 
 albeit crushed and smothered, it still lingered there, is a secret 
 which it is neither our wish nor our province to betray, but 
 regarding which the reader may form his own opinion from 
 the subsequent conduct of the chief. 
 
 His first step was to seek Reginald Brandon, whom he de- 
 sired, by a silent signal, to leave the lodge and follow him. 
 Our hero mechanically obeyed, in a painful state of excitement 
 and agitation, feeling that he had been the unconscious means 
 of blasting all the dearest hopes of his Indian friend ; and 
 although he had intended no injury, he was sensible that he 
 had done one, such as man can rarely forgive, and can never 
 repair; for even had the romantic generosity of friendship 
 prompted him to resign all pretensions to Prairie-bird, he felt 
 that such a resignation, while he was secure of her affections, 
 would be mere mockery and insult. He knew also how pro- 
 minent a feature is revenge in the Indian character, and 
 thought it not improbable that he might be now following his 
 conductor to some secluded spot, where their rivalry should be 
 decided by mortal strife, and the survivor return to claim the 
 lovely prize. This last thought, which would, under any 
 other circumstances, have nerved his arm and made his heart 
 exult within him, now overwhelmed him with sadness, for he 
 loved both Wingeiiund and U'ar-Eagle, they were endeared to 
 him by reciprocal benefits, and he shrunk from a quarrel with 
 the latter as from a fratricide. 
 
 Meanwhile the Indian strode rapidly forward; neither 
 could Reginald detect the feelings that lurked beneath the dig- 
 nified and unmoved composure of his countenance. 
 
 After walking in silence for some minutes, they reached a 
 small hollow, where a few scattered aider- bushes screened them 
 
242 THE PRA1UIH-BIRD. 
 
 from the observation of the stragglers round the skirts of the 
 Delaware camp : here the chief suddenly halted, and turning 
 towards Reginald, bent on him the full gaze of his dark and 
 lustrous eyes ; the latter observed with surprise that their ex- 
 pression, as well as that of his usually haughty features, was a 
 deep composed melancholy. 
 
 At length the Delaware broke the long and painful silence, 
 addressing his companion, after his imperfect notion of En- 
 glish, in the following words : 
 
 " The Great Spirit sent a cloud between Netis and War- 
 Eagle a very black cloud ; the lightning came from it and 
 blinded the eyes of tha Lenape chief, so that he looked on his 
 brother and thought he saw an enemy. The Bad Spirit whis- 
 pered in his ear that the tongue of Netis was forked ; that the 
 heart of Olitipa was false ; that she had listened to a mocking- 
 bird, and had mingled for War-Eagle a cup of poison." 
 
 The Delaware paused for a moment ; his eye retained its 
 steady but sad expression, his lips were firmly compressed, 
 and not a muscle betrayed the intensity of his feeling ; but 
 Reginald appreciated rightly the self-control that had con- 
 quered, in so severe a struggle, and grasping his friend's 
 hand, he said, 
 
 " Noble and generous son of the Lenape, the Bad Spirit 
 has no power over a heart like yours ! Are we not brothers ? 
 Have not the waters of the Muskingum, and the treacherous 
 knife of the Huron, tied our hearts together, so that no fear, 
 no suspicion, no falsehood, can come between them ? Netis 
 believed that War- Eagle loved Olitipa only as a sister, or he 
 would rather have given his scalp to Mahega than have spoken 
 soft words in the maiden's ear ! " 
 
 " My brother's words are true," replied the Delaware, in 
 the low and musical tone for which his voice was remarkable ; 
 (l War-Eagle knows it; he has dreamt, and is now awake: 
 Olitipa is his sister the Great Spirit decrees that no child 
 of an Indian warrior shall call her mother. It is enough." 
 The countenance of the Delaware assumed a sterner expres- 
 sion as he continued: 
 
 <e My brother must be ready ; let his rifle be loaded and his 
 eye open, for Tamenund has seen the snow of many winters ; 
 the Black Father is good and true, but his hand knows not the 
 tomahawk: the Osage panther will crouch near the tent of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 243 
 
 Olitipa, and the feet of the Cut-throats * will not be far ; be- 
 fore the sun goes down War-Eagle will see his brother again." 
 
 Thus saying, and waiting no reply, he returned with hearty 
 strides towards the village. Reginald gazed long and earnestly 
 after the retreating figure of the Indian, forgetting awhile, in 
 admiration of his heroic self-control, the dangers that beset his 
 beloved and his party. 
 
 " Could I," he asked himself, " could I, under the same 
 circumstances, with all the light, and aid, and high motives of 
 Christianity, have shown the forbearance, generosity, and self- 
 command displayed by this noble heathen ? Could I have seen 
 all my long-cherished hopes, my warm and passionate love, 
 blasted in a moment, and have so soon, so frankly, and so fully 
 exculpated and forgiven the man to whom I owed my misery? 
 I hope I might have done so, still I am afraid to ask my heart 
 the question ! " 
 
 Reginald's cheek glowed under the influence of this self- 
 scrutiny, and he gladly availed himself of the approach of 
 Paul Muller, to whom he related what had passed, and ex- 
 pressed in the warmest terms his admiration of his Indian 
 brother's conduct. The good missionary felt inexpressibly 
 relieved at hearing the amicable issue now announced to him, 
 for although he had never been made a confidant of War- 
 Eagle's feelings towards Olitipa, his own observation had 
 shown him of late that they were not exactly fraternal, and he 
 had viewed with dread a rivalry between the two high-spirited 
 young men, at a crisis when the aid of both might be so 
 necessary to protect his fair pupil from the perils by which 
 she was surrounded. 
 
 Meanwhile the machinations of Mahega, which had been 
 conducted with his accustomed secrecy and cunning, were 
 almost ripe for execution ; several runners had interchanged 
 communication between him and the Dahcotah chief, the latter 
 of whom was delighted at the prospect, thus unexpectedly 
 offered, of taking vengeance on his ancient and hated Lenape 
 foes. A secret council of the Osages had been held, at which 
 a treaty with the Sioux and a rupture with the Delawares were 
 discussed, and. almost unanimously carried, Mahe'ga appearing 
 rather to have coincided in the general determination than to 
 
 The Sioux, or Dahcotahs, are so designated by the Missouri tribes. 
 B 2 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 have caused it by his influence and intrigues. The result of 
 this council was, that the Osage village immediately struck 
 their lodges, the horses were driven in, skins, poultry, provi- 
 sions, and all their utensils were packed upon them, and in a 
 few hours the whole body moved in a north-easterly direction 
 towards the upper fork of the river Konzas. 
 
 While they were departing, the Delaware council was sum- 
 moned by a crier ; Reginald and Baptiste were also invited to 
 attend, the former in compliment to his station in the tribe as 
 adopted brother of War-Eagle ; the latter being recognised as 
 a warrior of tried courage and experience. The Chiefs and 
 Braves having seated themselves in a semicircle, the centre of 
 which was occupied by Tamenund, the Great Medicine pipe 
 was first passed round in silence, and with the accustomed 
 solemnities, after which Tamenund arose, and in a voice feeble 
 from age, but distinctly audible, proceeded to explain to the 
 assembly the affairs respecting which they had met to consult: 
 while he was speaking, one of the Indians appointed to guard 
 the entrance of the council lodge, came in and announced a 
 messenger from the Osage encampment. Tamenund paused, 
 and desired the messenger to be introduced. 
 
 All eyes were bent sternly on the envoy, who advanced 
 with a haughty and dignified step into the centre of the lodge, 
 where he stood still, and resting on a long lance which he held 
 in his right hand, awaited, according to Indian custom, a sig- 
 nal from the council-chief to deliver his errand. His dress, 
 and the paint by which his body was adorned, had evidently 
 been prepared with every attention to the niceties of Indian 
 diplomacy, some portions of it being significant of peace or 
 alliance, and others of hostile preparation ; his right side was 
 painted red, with streaks of black ; on his left arm he wore a 
 round shield of buffalo-hide, a quiver of arrows hung at his 
 back, a tomahawk and knife were in his girdle, and in his left 
 hand he carried a large string of wampum*, adorned with 
 sundry ribbons and thongs of party-coloured deer-skin. 
 
 The Delawares recognised in the messenger a young kins- 
 man of Mahega, one who had already distinguished himself 
 by several feats of daring gallantry, and had l?een lately en- 
 
 * Wampum, a corruption of the word " wampampea," small shells strung to- 
 gether, and used by the Indians for barter among themselves; a belt of wampum 
 is the emblem of peace, as the hatchet, or tomahawk, is that of war. 
 
THE PRAIRIE -BIRD. 245 
 
 rolled among the braves of his nation: he had hitherto been 
 upon the most friendly terms with the Lenape, was familiar 
 with their language, and had volunteered on more than one 
 occasion to follow War-Eagle on the war-path ; but the lines 
 of paint and his accoutrements were now, as has before been 
 observed, so carefully selected, that their practised eyes were 
 unable to decide whether peace or war was the object of his 
 mission ; neither was any inference to be drawn from his coun- 
 tenance or bearing, for after the first cold salutation on enter- 
 ing, he leaned on his lance in an attitude of haughty indifference. 
 Under these circumstances he was not invited to sit, neither 
 was the pipe handed to him, but Tamenund briefly addressed 
 him as follows : 
 
 " The messenger of the Osage may speak. The ears of the 
 Lenape' are open." 
 
 <: Flying-arrow," replied the young man, in a modest and 
 quiet tone, " knows that many winters have passed over the 
 head of the Lenape chief; he is sorry to speak hard words to 
 Tamenund." 
 
 " Let the young warrior speak freely ; Tamenund knows 
 that he is the mouth of the Osage council," was the grave 
 reply. 
 
 " The Washashe say that the Lenape have walked in a 
 crooked path. The council have assembled ; and the words 
 delivered to Flying-arrow are these : The Washashe allowed 
 the Lenape to kill meat on their hunting-ground, they smoked 
 the pipe together, and gave each other the wampum-belt of 
 peace ; but the Lenape hearts are white, though their skin is 
 red ; their tongues are smooth with telling many lies : they 
 have brought the pale- faces here to aid them in driving the 
 Washashe from the hunting-fields of their fathers ! Is it not 
 true ? " continued the fearless envoy, in a louder strain ; " they 
 have done all they can to throw dirt upon the lodges of those 
 whom they call brothers. When Mahe'ga offered to take the 
 daughter of Tamenund as his wife, what was said to him ? 
 Does not the pale-face who crept upon him and defiled his 
 medicine, still sit and smoke at the Lenape fire? Mahega 
 says, let Tamenund give him Olitipa for a wife, and the pale- 
 face, called Netis, as a prisoner, and let him send back the 
 other white men to the Great River ; then Mahega will believe 
 u 3 
 
24>6 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 that the hearts of the Lenape' are true to the friendship pledged 
 on this belt." 
 
 Thus saying, he shook the wampum before the assembled 
 Delawares witluan air of proud defiance. A brief pause fol- 
 lowed this daring speech ; the heart of War-Eagle boiled 
 within him, but a scornful smile sat upon his haughty counte- 
 nance, as he waited composedly for the reply of his father, who 
 seemed engaged in deep and serious meditation. 
 
 Reginald had, of course, been unable to follow the envoy's 
 discourse, but his quick ear had detected his own name ; and 
 a fierce look, which accompanied its pronunciation, told him 
 that he was personally interested in the object of the Osage's 
 message. Having gathered from Baptiste, in a whisper, the 
 nature of Mahega' s charge and demand, a flush of indignation 
 coloured his brow, but the examples of self-command that he 
 had so lately seen, and that he still witnessed in the iron fea- 
 tures by which he was surrounded, taught him to place a like 
 restraint upon his own feelings, and to await the reply of the 
 aged chief. 
 
 The latter, fixing his eye sternly upon the envoy, thus ad- 
 dressed him : " Mahega has filled the young brave's mouth 
 with lies. The hearts of the Lenape are true as the guiding- 
 star.* They are faithful to their friends, they fear no enemies. 
 Tamenund will not give Olitipa to Mahega, nor his adopted 
 son to be the Washashe's prisoner. Tamenund is old, but he 
 is not blind, Mahega wishes to become a friend of the Dah- 
 cotahs. It is well ; he will find among them hearts as bad 
 and tongues as forked as his own ! I have spoken." 
 
 A deep murmur of approbation followed the aged chief's 
 brief but energetic harangue, and as soon as it was concluded, 
 the fearless messenger drew a sharp knife from his girdle, and 
 severing the wampum-belt, he cast the two halves on the 
 ground, saying, " It is well ! thus is the league between the 
 Washashe and the Lenape divided." 
 
 Baptiste, to whom* Reginald had again addressed a few 
 words in a whisper, now rose, and having requested permis- 
 sion of Tamenund, said to the Osage messenger, " Netis desires 
 you to tell Mahega that he is a liar, brave enough to frighten 
 women, but nothing more. If he is a warrior, let him come 
 
 * The North Star is often alluded to by the Indian tribes, under this and other 
 similar denominations. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 247 
 
 to-morrow at sunrise to the open prairie, north of the camp ; 
 the friends of both shall stand back three arrow-flights apart ; 
 Netis will meet him with a rifle and a hunting-knife ; Olitipa 
 will not be there to save his life again ! " 
 
 Another murmur of approbation went round the assembly, 
 many of whom had already heard of the rough treatment that 
 the gigantic Osage had received at Reginald's hands, but hear- 
 ing it now confirmed by the lips of a tried warrior, like-Grande- 
 Hache, they looked with increased respect and esteem on the 
 adopted brother of War-Eagle. 
 
 a Flying-arrow will tell Mahega," was the brief reply ; and 
 the messenger glancing his eye haughtily around the circle, 
 left the lodge and returned to the encampment of his tribe. 
 After his departure the council continued their deliberations 
 for some time, and had not yet concluded them when a distant 
 and repeated shouting attracted their attention, and a Delaware 
 youth, of about fifteen years of age, rushed into the lodge, 
 breathless, and bleeding from a wound inflicted by an arrow, 
 which had pierced his shoulder. A few hurried sentences 
 explained to the chiefs the news of which he was the bearer. 
 It appeared that he had been tending, in u bottom not far 
 distant, a herd of horses, chiefly belonging to Tamenund, 
 War-Eagle, and the party of white men, when a band of 
 mounted Sioux came sweeping down the valley at full speed ; 
 two or three young Dela wares, who formed the out-picquet 
 on that side, had been taken completely by surprise, and 
 paid with their lives the penalty of their carelessness. 
 
 The wounded youth who brought the intelligence had only 
 escaped by his extreme swiftness of foot, and by the unwil- 
 lingness of the enemy to approach too near the camp. Thus 
 had the Dahcotahs succeeded in carrying off, by a bold stroke, 
 upwards of one hundred of the best horses from the Dela- 
 ware village ; and Reginald soon learnt, to his inexpressible 
 annoyance and regret, that Nekimi was among the number of 
 the captives. A hurried consultation followed, in which War- 
 Eagle, throwing off the modest reserve that he had practised 
 during the council, assumed his place as leader of the Lenape 
 braves, of whom he selected forty of the most active and daring, 
 to accompany him on the difficult and dangerous expedition 
 that was to be instantly undertaken for the recovery of the 
 stolen horses. 
 
 R 4 
 
248 THE PHAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Reginald and Baptiste eagerly volunteered, and were in- 
 stantly accepted by War-Eagle ; but it was not without some 
 persuasion on the part of the guide, that the chief allowed 
 Monsieur Perrot to be of the party ; that faithful valet in- 
 sisted, however, so obstinately upon his right to attend his 
 master, that, on Baptiste enjoining that he should implicitly 
 obey orders, he was permitted to form one of the selected band. 
 
 In less than half an hour, from the receipt of the above 
 disastrous intelligence, the party left the camp well armed and 
 equipped, each man carrying three pounds of dried buffalo 
 meat ; and Baptiste secured twice that quantity to his sturdy 
 person, thinking it probable that Reginald's endurance of hun- 
 ger might not prove proportionate to his active qualities. The 
 latter had, indeed, forgotten the meat altogether, for he passed 
 the last few minutes of his stay within the camp, in bidding 
 farewell to Prairie-bird, and in assuring her that he would 
 not be long absent, but trusted soon to return with his fa- 
 vourite Nekimi. At his departure, Reginald left the strictest 
 orders with Bearskin (who remained in charge of his party) 
 to keep a faithful watch over the safety of Prairie-bird, and 
 to follow the injunctions that he might receive from Tamenund 
 and Paul M tiller. 
 
 The small band, who, at the instigation of Mahega, had 
 stolen the Delaware horses, were chosen warriors, well mounted, 
 thoroughly trained to the predatory warfare in which they were 
 now engaged, and ready, either to defend their prize against 
 an equal force, or to baffle the pursuit of a superior one. As 
 War-Eagle had lost many of his best horses, he resolved to 
 follow the enemy's trail on foot, but he desired two or three of 
 his most active and enterprising followers, whose horses had 
 not been stolen, to hover on the rear of the retreating party, 
 to watch their motions, and bring back any intelligence that 
 might aid him in the pursuit. 
 
 The select band of Delawares moved swiftly forward under 
 the guidance of their young leader ; close upon his steps fol- 
 lowed Reginald, burning with impatience to recover his fa- 
 vourite steed ; next to him came Baptiste, then Perrot, and the 
 remainder of the Lenape warriors. 
 
 The prairie-grass trodden down by the hoofs of the galloping 
 and affrighted steeds driven fiom their pasture, afforded a trail 
 tha* could be traced without difficulty, and the trampled banks 
 of several slow and lazy streams, which they passed in their 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 249 
 
 course, marked the headlong course taken by their fugitive 
 steeds and their fierce drivers. 
 
 We will leave the pursuers for a time, and follow the move- 
 ments of Mahega, who was now acting in. concert with the 
 Sioux, and who contrived by his superior address to direct 
 their plans, as completely as if he had been himself the chief 
 of their tribe. Having accompanied the Osage village, four- 
 teen or fifteen miles on their route to the northward, he ordered 
 a halt by the side of a stream, in a valley adjacent to the en- 
 campment of their new allies, the two bands forming a body 
 so superior in number to the Delawares, that they had no 
 cause to fear an attack, especially as they learnt from their 
 scouts that War-Eagle and his followers had gone in an oppo- 
 site direction in pursuit of the horse-stealing party. 
 
 The evening was dark, and favoured the execution of a plot 
 which Mahega had formed, and in furtherance of which all 
 his preceding measures had been taken. As soon as the sun 
 had set, he selected one hundred of the bravest and most ex- 
 perienced warriors in his tribe, whom he armed only with bow 
 and arrows, knife, and tomahawk ; strictly forbidding the use 
 of any fire-arms ; for he well knew that the latter were far 
 from being effective weapons in the hands of his followers, 
 especially in such an expedition as that in which he was en- 
 gaged. Swiftly and silently they moved under their leader's 
 guidance, who, directing his course towards the south-east, 
 brought them, after a few hours' march, to the line of wood 
 skirting the great Prairie. Aware that the warriors remaining 
 in the Delaware encampment would be prepared against any 
 surprise from the quarter in which the Sioux were posted, his 
 present object was to make his attack from the opposite side, 
 in order to effect which, undiscovered, the greatest skill and 
 rapidity were necessary. 
 
 It was en occasions such as these that the 'qualities of the 
 Osage chief were most conspicuously exhibited ; with light and 
 noiseless step, he led his party through the depths of the forest, 
 and during a swift march of many hours not a word was 
 spoken ; now arid then he paused as a startled deer rustled 
 through the thicket, and once or twice, when a stray moonbeam, 
 forcing its way through the foliage, silvered the bark of the 
 sycamore, he cast his eye upwards, as if to learn from the 
 leaves the direction of the wind, or to scan the heaven in search 
 
250 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 of one of those stars-, which the imperfect,, but sagacious astro- 
 nomy of the Indians teaches them to recognise as guides. 
 
 Leave- we them to pursue their dark and circuitous path 
 and let us transport the reader to the interior of the Delaware 
 encampment^ where (as it may be remembered) Bearskin was 
 left in command of that portion of the white men who had 
 not accompanied their leader in pursuit of the Sioux. 
 
 Paul M Ciller sat late at night in the tent of the Prairie-bird ; 
 on the rude table lay the Bible from which he had been read- 
 ing, and explaining some difficulties that had perplexed her 
 strong, yet inquiring mind ; afterwards they had turned the 
 conversation to the scenes which had occurred within the last 
 few days, and which were calculated to inspire serious antici- 
 pations of coming evil. Prairie-bird made no effort to conceal 
 from her affectionate instructor how entirely her heart was 
 given to Reginald; she knew his bold and fearless disposition; 
 she knew too the wily cunning of the powerful tribe against 
 whom his expedition was undertaken, and more than one 
 heavy sigh escaped her when she thought of the risks that he 
 must incur. 
 
 The good missionary employed every possible argument to 
 allay her fears, but none so effectively as that which referred to 
 the protection of that Being who had been from childhood her 
 hope, her trust, and her shield, and, bidding her good night, he 
 had the pleasure of seeing her agitated spirit resume its usual 
 composure. He then wrapped his cloak round his shoulders, 
 and went out to see what provision Bearskin had made for the 
 security of the camp, during the absence of Reginald, War- 
 Eagle, and their party. The rough old boatman was smoking 
 his pipe over the embers of a fire in front of the lodge where 
 he slept ; beside him lay, half-asleep, the gigantic Mike Smith ; 
 and the other white men were within the lodge, each having 
 his rifle within reach, and his knife and pistols in his belt. 
 Bearskin returned the greeting of the missionary with blunt 
 civility, and informed him that he had been to the lodge of 
 Tamenund, where it had been agreed to throw forward an 
 outpost of a dozen light, active, young Indians, half a mile be- 
 yond the camp, in the direction of the Sioux : runners had 
 also been sent round to desire the warriors to be ready, and all 
 the usual precautions taken, such as are observed by Indians 
 in the neighbourhood of a dangerous enemy. 
 
TUB P11A1RIE-BIRD. 251 
 
 Satisfied with these arrangements, Paul Muller returned to 
 his tent, and throwing himself on the pile of buffalo skins 
 that formed his bed, was soon fast asleep. He knew not how 
 long he had slept, when he was aroused by a cry such as none 
 who has once heard it can mistake or forget. Scarcely had 
 that shrill and savage whoop pierced the dull silence of the 
 night, when every creature within the encampment sprang to 
 their feet ; the braves and warriors, seizing their weapons, 
 rushed to the quarter whence the cry proceeded, while the 
 women and children, crowding round the aged and defenceless 
 men, waited in suspense the result of the sudden and fierce 
 attack. The noise and the tumult' came from the northern 
 quarter, that most remote from the lodges of Tamenund and 
 Prairie-bird. Sixty of the chosen Osage warriors had fallen 
 upon the small outpost placed to give the alarm, and, driving 
 them easily before them and killing some, entered the camp 
 almost simultaneously with the survivors. This band was led 
 by that daring young warrior before introduced to the reader 
 under the name of Flying-arrow, who now burned with desire 
 to render his name in the war annals of his tribe famous as 
 that of his kinsman Mahega. Nor were the Delaware warriors 
 slow to meet the invaders, with a courage equal to their own ; 
 the conflict was fierce and confused, for the moon was no longer 
 up, and the pale stars were contending, in a cloudy sky, with 
 the dim grey hue that precedes the dawn of day, so that the 
 dusky figures of the combatants were scarcely visible, and by 
 their voices alone could they distinguish friends from foes. 
 
 At the first alarm, Bearskin, with his habitual coolness, 
 ordered Mike Smith, with three of his men, to retire into the 
 rear, to assist in protecting the lodge of Tamenund and the 
 tent of Prairie-bird, while he led the remainder to check 
 the advance of the Osages from the northward. For some 
 time the latter seemed to be gaining ground, but the Delawares, 
 still superior in number and hastening to the spot, aided by 
 Bearskin and his followers, recovered their lost advantage, and 
 the combat raged with renewed fury. 
 
 At this crisis Mahega, who had succeeded in paining, un- 
 perceived, the valley to the southward of the Delaware camp, 
 fell upon their rear with his reserve of forty men ; overthrowing 
 all who opposed him, he forced his way towards the white 
 tent, which the advancing light of dawn rendered now easily 
 
252 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 distinguishable from the dark-coloured lodges around it ; 
 shouting his battle-cry with a voice like a trumpet, he rushed 
 onward, caring not, apparently, for scalps or trophies, hut de- 
 termined on securing the prize for which he had already 
 broken his faith, and imbrued his hands in the blood of allies 
 who had done him no injury. A gallant band of Delawares 
 surrounded their aged chief, whose trembling hand now grasped 
 a tomahawk that had for twenty years reposed idly in his belt. 
 Prairie-bird had sprung from her couch, and already joined in 
 the brief, but earnest prayer, which Paul Miiller breathed at 
 her side ; he recognised the Osage war-cry, and divining the 
 chief object of their terrible leader, he whispered solemnly to 
 her, 
 
 " My dear child, if I am soon taken from you, keep, never- 
 theless, your trust in God. I see that knife still in your girdle ; 
 I know what you have once dared ; if it be the will of Heaven, 
 you must be prepared patiently to endure pain, sorrow, con- 
 finement, or oppression ; remember, it is only as the last re- 
 source against dishonour, that you may have recourse to it." 
 
 The maiden replied not, but a glance from her dark 
 eye assured him that he was understood, and would be obeyed ; 
 many emotions contended in her bosom, but, for the moment, 
 reverence and attachment to her affectionate instructor pre- 
 vailed over all others, and, dropping on her knees before him, 
 she covered his hand with kisses, saying, 
 
 " Dear Father, if we must be separated, bless, bless your 
 grateful child." 
 
 The worthy missionary, albeit accustomed to resign himself 
 entirely to the will of Heaven, could scarcely command himself 
 sufficiently to utter aloud the blessing that he implored upon 
 her head ; but the shouts and cries of the combatants were 
 every moment approaching nearer, and seizing his staff, he 
 went to the aperture in front of the lodge, in order to ascertain 
 how the tide of conflict was turning. 
 
 The first object that met his view was the aged Tamenund, 
 who had fallen in his hurried endeavour to rush to the combat, 
 but was now partly supported and partly detained by his 
 wailing wives and daughters, while the tomahawk that had 
 dropped from his nerveless arm lay upon the ground beside 
 him. As soon as he saw Paul Miiller, he called him, and said, 
 in a low voice, 
 
THE P11A1HIE-BIRD. 253 
 
 " The breath of Tamenund is going ; he has lived long 
 enough ; the voices of his fathers are calling to him from the 
 far hunting-fields ; he will go, and pray the Great Spirit to 
 give the scalps of these snake-tongued Washashe to the knife 
 of War-Eagle." After a moment's pause, the old man con- 
 tinued : " 1 know that the heart of the Black Father is good 
 to the Lenape ; he has been a friend of many days to the lodge 
 of Tamenund ; he must be a father to Olitipa ; she is a sweet- 
 scented flower; the Great Spirit has given rain and sunshine 
 to nourish its growth, and its roots are deep in Tamenund's 
 heart ; the Black Father will not allow it to be trodden under 
 the feet of Mahega." While saying these words he drew from 
 under his blanket a small leathern bag, the neck of which was 
 carefully closed with ligaments of deer sinew that had been 
 dipped in wax, or some similarly adhesive substance. " This," 
 he added, " is the medicine-bag of Olitipa ; the Black Father 
 must keep it when Tamenund is gone, and, while it is safe, 
 the steps of the Bad Spirit will not draw near her." 
 
 The missionary took the bag and concealed it immediately 
 under his vest, but, before he had time to reply to his aged 
 friend, a terrific cry announced that the Osages had succeeded 
 in breaking through the Delaware ranks, and a fearful scene of 
 confusion, plunder, and massacre ensued ; the faithful mis- 
 sionary hastened to the side of his trembling pupil, resolved 
 to die in defending her from injury, while the air was rent 
 by the shouts of the victors, and the yells and shrieks of those 
 suffering under their relentless fury. , 
 
 Mike Smith and his men plied their weapons with deter- 
 mined courage and resolution, and several of the Osages paid 
 with their lives the forfeit c: their daring attack ; still the sur- 
 vivors pressed forward, bearing back the white men by force 
 of numbers, and allowing not a moment for the reloading of 
 the fire-arms. The voice of Mahega rose high above the sur- 
 rounding din, and all seemed to shrink from the terrible weapon 
 which he wielded as if it had been a light cane or small-sword; 
 it was a short bludgeon, headed with a solid ball of iron, from 
 which protruded several sharp iron spikes, already red with 
 human blood. Mike Smith came boldly forward to meet him, 
 holding in his left hand a discharged horse-pistol, and in his 
 right a heavy cutlass, with which last he made a furious 
 cut at the advancing Osage. The wary chief neither received 
 
254 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 nor parried it, but, springing lightly aside, seized the same 
 moment for driving his heavy mace full on the unguarded 
 forehead of his opponent, and the unfortunate woodsman 
 dropped like an ox felled at the shambles ; the fierce Indian, 
 leaping forward, passed his knife twice through the prostrate 
 body, and tearing off the scalp, waved the bloody trophy over 
 his head. 
 
 Disheartened by the fall of their brave and powerful com- 
 panion, the remaining white men offered but a feeble resist- 
 ance, and the Osage chief rushed onwards to the spot where 
 only some wounded Dela wares and a few devoted and half- 
 armed youths were gathered around the aged Tamenund, de- 
 termined to die at his side. It is not necessary to pursue the 
 sickening details of the narrative. 
 
 The old man received his death-blow with a composed 
 dignity worthy of his race, and his faithful followers met 
 their fate with equal heroism, neither expecting nor receiving 
 mercy. 
 
 The victory was now complete, and both the scattered 
 Delawares and the remaining white men fled for shelter and 
 safety to the nearest points in the dense line of forest ; few, if 
 any, would have reached it, had not the war-pipe of Mahega 
 called his warriors around him. None dared to disobey the 
 signal, and in a few minutes they stood before him in front 
 of the tent within which the faithful missionary still cheered 
 and supported his beloved pupil. The fierce Osage, counting 
 over his followers, found that fifteen were killed or mortally 
 wounded : but the loss on the part of their opponents was much 
 heavier, without reckoning upwards of a score prisoners, whose 
 hands and legs were tightly fastened with bands of withy and 
 elm-bark. 
 
 Mahega, putting his head into the aperture of the tent, 
 ordered Paul Miiller to come forth. 
 
 " Resistance is unavailing," whispered the missionary to 
 the weeping girl ; " it will be harder with thee if I obey not 
 this cruel man. Practise now, dear child, the lessons that we 
 have so often read together, and leave the issue to Him who 
 has promised never to leave nor forsake those who trust in 
 Him." 
 
 So saying, he kissed her forehead, and gently disengaging 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD, 255 
 
 himself from the hand that still clung to his garment, he went 
 forth from the tent, and stood before Mahega. 
 
 That wily chief was well aware that both the missionary 
 and his fair pupil had many warm friends among his own 
 tribe ; ihere was in fact scarcely a family among them that had 
 not experienced from one, or both, some act of charity or kind- 
 ness ; he had resolved therefore to treat them without severity, 
 and while he assured himself of the person of Olitipa, to send 
 her instructor to some distant spot, where neither his advice 
 nor his reproofs were to be feared ; with this determination he 
 addressed him briefly, as follows : 
 
 " The Black Father will travel with my young men towards 
 the east ; he is no longer wanted here ; he may seek the lodges 
 of the Lenape squaws beyond the Great River ; he may advise 
 them to remain where they are, to dig and grow corn, and not 
 to come near the hunting fields of the Washashe. My young 
 men will travel three days with him ; they may meet 
 strangers, if he is silent, his life is safe ; if he speaks, their 
 tomahawk drinks his blood ; when they have left him, his 
 tongue and his feet are free. I have spoken." 
 
 Mahega added a few words in a lower tone to the young 
 warrior who was to execute his orders, and who, with two 
 others, now stood by his prisoner ; there was a lowering frown 
 on the brow of the chief, and a deep meaning in his tone, 
 showing plainly that these would be danger in disobeying the 
 letter of those commands. 
 
 Paul Miiller, advancing a few steps, addressed the chief in 
 the Delaware tongue, with which he knew him to be familiar. 
 " Mahe'ga is a great chief, and the Black Father is weak, and 
 must obey him ; before he goes he will speak some words 
 which the chief must lock up in his heart. He loves Olitipa ; 
 he wishes to make her his wife ; it may be, after a season, 
 that she may look kindly upon him ; but she is not like other 
 maidens, she is under the care of the Great Spirit. Mahega 
 is strong, but her medicine is stronger. She can hide the 
 moon behind a cloud, and gather the fire of the sun as the 
 daughters of the Washashe gather the river-waters in a vessel; 
 let the chief remember the Black Father's last words. If 
 Mahega protects Olitipa and what belongs to her in the tent, 
 it may be better for him when the Great Spirit is angry ; if he 
 
256 
 
 THE PR AIR IK-BIRD. 
 
 offers her harm or insult, he will die like a dog, and wolves 
 will pick his bones." 
 
 The missionary delivered this warning with a dignity and 
 solemnity so earnest, that the eye of the fierce but superstitious 
 savage quailed before him ; and pleased to mark the effect of 
 his words, Paul Miiller turned and left the spot, muttering in 
 his own tongue to himself, " God will doubtless forgive my 
 endeavour to protect, through this artifice, a forlorn and friend- 
 less maiden, left in the hands of a man so cruel and un- 
 scrupulous." 
 
 In a few minutes the good missionary had completed the 
 slight preparation requisite for his journey, and, accompanied 
 by his Indian escort, left the ruined and despoiled village with 
 a heavy heart. 
 
 As soon as Mahega was somewhat recovered from the 
 startling effect of Paul Mutter's parting address, he made his 
 dispositions for the further movements of his band with his 
 usual rapidity and decision ; he was well aware that his posi- 
 tion was now one of great peril, that in a short time War- 
 Eagle and his party would be informed of all that had passed, 
 and would seek a bloody revenge ; he knew also that some of 
 the fugitive Whites or Delawares might speedily arm a body 
 of the inhabitants of the frontier against him, and that he 
 would be altogether unable to maintain himself in the region 
 that he now occupied. 
 
 Under these circumstances he made up his own mind as to 
 the course that he would pursue ; and having first given all 
 the necessary orders for the burial of the Osage dead and the 
 care of the wounded, as well as for the security of the pri- 
 soners, he called together the heads of his party, and having 
 laid before them his plans, asked their advice with a tone and 
 manner probably resembling that with which, a few years 
 later, Napoleon was in the habit of asking the counsel of his 
 generals and captains ; a tone indicating that his course being 
 already determined, nothing was expected of them but com- 
 pliance. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 25? 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WAR-EAGLE AND REGINALD, WITH THEIR PARTY, PURSUE TUB 
 DAHCOTAHS. 
 
 WE left Reginald, and War-Eagle's party, in pursuit of the 
 marauding band of Sioux horse-stealers. They continued their 
 toilsome march with unabated speed until nightfall, when the 
 trail was no longer distinguishable: they then halted, and 
 while they ate a scanty supper, the mounted Delawares, who 
 had been sent forward, returned, bringing with them two 
 wearied horses which had escaped, in the hurried flight, from 
 their captors. 
 
 War-Eagle, summoning Baptiste to his side, questioned the 
 young man closely as to the appearance and direction of the 
 trail. From their answers he learnt that its course was north- 
 ward, but that it bore gradually towards the east, especially 
 after a brief halt, which the Sioux had made for refreshment ; 
 a gleam shot athwart the dusky features of the young chief at 
 this intelligence, but he made no observation, and contented 
 himself with asking the opinion of his more experienced 
 companion. 
 
 The guide, taking off his hunting-cap, allowed the evening 
 breeze to play through the grisly hairs which were scattered, 
 not too plentifully, on his weather-beaten forehead, as if his 
 reflective powers might thence derive refreshment ; but, ap- 
 parently, the expedient was not, at least on this occasion, re- 
 warded with success ; for, after meditating in silence for a few 
 seconds, he shook his head and owned that he saw no clue to the 
 intentions of the party whom they were pursuing. The young 
 chief had his eye still bent upon the ground, seemingly em- 
 ployed in observing a large rent, which the day's march had 
 made in his mocassin ; but the woodsman read in the lines of 
 his intelligent countenance that the mind was busily engaged 
 in following a connected train of thought. 
 
 After allowing a few minutes to pass in silence, the guide, 
 addressing his companion, said, " Can War-Eagle see the 
 Dahcotah path ? It is hid from the eyes of Grande-Hache." 
 
 " The night is dark, and the eyes cannot see the trail ; but 
 the wolf finds his way to the wounded bison, and the blue 
 
 s 
 
258 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 dove keeps her course to her nest in the mountain. The Great 
 Spirit has not made the Lenape warrior more ignorant than 
 the bird, or the brute; War-Eagle knows the path of the 
 Dahcotah dogs." He then bent down towards the ear of 
 Baptiste, and whispered to him long and earnestly in the 
 Delaware tongue. 
 
 " Capote-bleu ! but the boy is right/' exclaimed the guide, 
 in his own mixed dialect ; " the dogs have only taken this 
 northern start to mislead us; they are not making for the 
 Missouri river, but intend to double back and join their vil- 
 lage, now lying to the eastward of us. The boy is right ; my 
 brain must be getting as worn-out as my hunting-shirt, or I 
 should have understood their drift. I see his plan is to lie in 
 cash* for them on their return. Well, if he can make sure 
 of his game, I will say that he's fit to be a war-chief, for 
 these Sioux have a long start, and the village must be many 
 miles to the right." 
 
 As he made these reflections half aloud, Reginald caught 
 their general bearing ; and though he had great confidence in 
 the sagacity of his Indian friend, still he felt a chill of dis- 
 appointment at the idea that the pursuit was to be abandoned, 
 for what appeared to him the hopeless chance of intercepting 
 a small band of Sioux, of whose course they were ignorant, in 
 a boundless extent of prairie like that around him. He had, 
 however, good sense enough to conceal all traces of his disap- 
 pointment, knowing that on such an expedition there can be 
 but one leader, and that, without unanimity and discipline, 
 failure must ensue. 
 
 War-Eagle now called one of the young Lenape warriors 
 to his side, and gave him brief instructions, to the effect, that 
 he was to choose three others of the best runners of the 
 party, and, accompanied by the mounted Indians, to start with 
 the earliest dawn on the Dahcotah trail, which they were to 
 follow as close as possible without discovering themselves. He 
 then desired Reginald and Baptiste to divide the band into 
 watches, and to sleep alternately, but not to move until he 
 returned. 
 
 Having given these few directions, without allowing himself 
 
 * An expression used by the Canadian hunters for an ambush : the " cache" is 
 also iamiliar to all readers of western story, as the place of deposit for peltries, or 
 stores. 
 
THE PRAIR1E-BIRI* 2,59 
 
 either food or rest after a march of so many hours, he drew 
 his belt tighter around his loins, and started on his solitary 
 excursion. Reginald watched the retreating figure of his 
 friend, until it was lost in the deepening gloom, and turning 
 to the guide, he said, 
 
 " Baptiste, 1 cannot but envy War-Eagle the possession of 
 sinews that seem unconscious of fatigue, and eyes that require 
 no slumber ! We have marched from daylight until this late 
 hour without either rest or refreshment, and I confess I am 
 very glad of this seat on my buffalo-robe, and this slice of 
 dried venison, with a draught of water ; War-Eagle, however, 
 walks off into the prairie, as if he had just started fresh from 
 repose, and Heaven only knows where or for what purpose 
 he is going." 
 
 " Master Reginald," replied the guide, throwing himself 
 lazily down by the side of his young leader ; " I will not 
 deny that War-Eagle's sinews are strung like the bow of a 
 Pawnee, for I have been on a trail with him before, and few 
 could follow it so long or so true ; but there has been a time," 
 he added, casting his eyes down on his worn and soiled 
 leggins, " when these limbs of mine would have kept me for a 
 week at the heels of the fleetest Dahcotah that ever crossed 
 the country of the Stone-eaters.* Those days are gone, but 
 when the game's afoot, perhaps there may be younger men 
 who might give out before old Baptiste yet." 
 
 As he spoke, the eye of the guide rested with a comic grin 
 on Monsieur Perrot, who, with a countenance somewhat rue- 
 ful, was endeavouring to masticate a crude pomme de prairie f 
 that one of the Delawares had given to him, with the assur- 
 ance that it was " very good !" 
 
 " I believe you, Baptiste," said Reginald, humouring the 
 old hunter's pardonable vanity ; " I believe you, indeed, and 
 if the Sioux offer us a long chase, as appears likely, the crack 
 of your rifle will be heard before the foremost of our party 
 
 * The country of the Stone-eaters, or, as they are called in their own language, 
 the Assineboins. This is a branch of the Great Sioux tribe to the northward of 
 the Missouri river ; the region is peculiarly wild and broken, and the Indians in- 
 habiting it are famous for their pedestrian activity and endurance. 
 
 f Pommes de prairie are small roots, somewhat resembling white radishes, that 
 are found in great abundance in the Western wilderness, being in some places the 
 only esculent vegetable within a range of several hundred miles: when eaten raw 
 they are tough, tasteless, and hard of digestion ; but if boiled or stewed, are tolera- 
 bly palatable and wholesome. 
 
 8 2 
 
260 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 has come to close quarters with them ; but you have not 
 answered my question relative to War-Eagle's excursion during 
 this dark night." 
 
 " He is gone," replied the guide, " to examine the ground 
 carefully, perhaps even to approach the northern border of the 
 Dahcotah encampment ; he will then judge of the route by which 
 these horse-stealing vagabonds are likely to return, and will 
 choose a place for us to conceal ourselves for an attack." 
 
 " I understand it all, Baptiste ; it seems to be a bold, well- 
 devised plan, if War-Eagle is only correct in his guess at 
 their intentions : mean while* let us post our sentries, and get 
 what sleep we can, for to-morrow may be a busy day." 
 
 They accordingly divided their party into watches, Baptiste 
 and Perrot with one Indian taking the first, and Reginald 
 undertaking the charge of the second. The night was gloomy, 
 and few stars were visible through the thick clouds, by which 
 the heavens were overspread ; the men were partially sheltered 
 by some stunted alder-bushes which grew by the side of the 
 stream with whose waters they had cooled their thirst, and 
 those who were not destined to the first watch soon fell asleep, 
 lulled by the distant howling of a hungry pack of prairie- 
 wolves. 
 
 Towards the close of Reginald's watch, about an hour before 
 daybreak, a dusky figure glided with noiseless step towards the 
 encampment j the young man cocked his rifle, in order to be 
 prepared against surprise, but in the next moment recognised 
 the commanding form of his friend, and hailed him by name. 
 
 " Netis !" replied the chief, sitting down beside him, and 
 wringing the water from his leggins, which had been saturated 
 partly by the heavy dew on the long grass through which he 
 had made his way, and partly by the streams which he had 
 been obliged to ford* 
 
 " Has my brother found a path ? " inquired Reginald in a 
 whisper j " has he been near the Dahcotah village ? " 
 ' " He has," replied the chief; " he has seen their lodges." 
 
 " Can my brother find the path by which the horse-stealers 
 will return ! " 
 
 " He can guess, he cannot be sure," replied the young Indian, 
 modestly. 
 
 Here the conversation closed, and in a few minutes the little 
 party were aroused and afoot, their leader being resolved that 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 26l 
 
 not a moment should be lost, as soon as there was sufficient 
 light for pursuing the trail. 
 
 When on the point of starting, Baptiste, taking War-Eagle 
 aside, whispered in his ear a few words, on which the latter 
 appeared to reflect seriously and somewhat in doubt : he nod- 
 ded his head, however, and replied, " Well, it is good." 
 
 The guide informed Reginald that at his own request he was 
 to accompany the party on the trail. 
 
 " You see, Master Reginald," he continued, " I am a true- 
 scented old hound, and if these young ones run too fast, I may 
 perhaps help 'em at a pinch ; then if we catch the scoundrels, 
 you will be in their front, and we in their rear, and they will 
 be as bad off as a Kentucky coon between two of old Dan 
 Boone's cur dogs. Remember the signals," he added impres- 
 sively, touching the bugle slung across his shoulder. " We have 
 not practised them of late, but I have forgot none of them ; 
 they may do us a good turn here ; stick close to War- Eagle, 
 you are sworn brothers, and, according to Indian fashion, if he 
 falls you must die with him or revenge him." 
 
 " That will I, honest Baptiste," replied our hero ; " the 
 Lenape shall not say that their chief was deserted by his 
 adopted brother ; neither will I forget the signals farewell !" 
 
 Here the two parties separated, that of Baptiste resuming 
 their pursuit of the trail, and that of War-Eagle following in 
 silence the rapid strides of their young chief across the prairie 
 to the eastward. He marched for several hours in silence 
 his brow wore an expression of thoughtfulness, and he stopped 
 several times as if to scan the bearing and the distance of every 
 remarkable elevation or object in the undulating prairie which 
 they were crossing. It was now about midday ; they had 
 walked since daybreak without halt or food ; the rays of the sun 
 were fiercely hot, and it required all the determined energy of 
 Reginald's character to enable him to endure in silence the 
 heat and thirst by which he was oppressed ; as for Monsieur 
 Perrot, he had contrived to secrete a small flask of brandy 
 about his person, more than one mouthful of which, mingled 
 with the muddy water of the pools which they passed, had 
 hitherto enabled him to keep pace with the rest of the party, 
 but he was now beginning to lag behind, and some of the 
 Indians were obliged to urge and assist him forward. 
 
 At this juncture War-Eagle suddenly stopped, and uttering 
 s 3 
 
2O2 THE PHAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 a sound like a low hiss, crouched upon the ground, an attitude 
 into which the whole party sunk in a moment. Laying a 
 finger lightly on Reginald's arm, he pointed to the upper range 
 of a distant hill, saying, " There are men !" Our hero, shad- 
 ing his eyes with his hand, looked in the direction indicated, 
 hut, after a careful survey, he could see nothing but the faint 
 green reposing in the sunny haze of noon : he shook his head; 
 but War-Eagle replied with a quiet smile 
 
 " My brother saw the rifles behind the log near the Mus- 
 kingham ; his eyes are very true, but they have not looked 
 much at the prairie ; let him use his medicine glass-pipe." 
 
 When Reginald had adjusted his telescope, he looked again 
 to the spot on which the bright clear eye of War-Eagle was 
 still riveted like the gaze of a Highland deer-hound, who has 
 caught sight of a hart browsing en the further side of some 
 wide and reeky glen. 
 
 " By Heaven, it is true ! " he exclaimed. " I see them one, 
 two, three, mounted Indians ; they are at speed and buffalo 
 are galloping before them." 
 
 " That is good," said War-Eagle ; " keep the glass-pipe 
 before them, and say if they go out of sight, or if more 
 appear." 
 
 Reginald did so ; and after a few minutes, reported that 
 they had disappeared over a neighbouring height, and that no 
 others had come in view. 
 
 Upon this, War- Eagle rose, saying, " My brother shall 
 drink and rest there are shade and water not far." As he 
 had said, half an hour's march brought them to a clump of 
 stunted alders, beside which flowed a stream, the waters of 
 which were tolerably fresh and cool. Here they ate some 
 dried buffalo-meat, and satisfied their thirst, after which they 
 followed with renewed spirits their gay leader, whose iron and 
 sinewy frame seemed (like that of Antssus of old) to gather 
 fresh strength every time that his foot fell upon the earth. The 
 prairie through which they now passed was extremely hilly 
 and broken, intersected by many steep and narrow ravines ; 
 threading his way among these, the chief frequently stopped 
 to examine the footmarks which had been left by bison or 
 other animals, and often bent his searching glance along the 
 sides of the hills around him. The only living creatures seen 
 during the whole march were a few bulls, lazily cropping the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 263 
 
 prairie grass, as if conscious that their tough carcase, and 
 burnt, soiled hides, rendered them at this season worthless 
 to the hunters, who had driven from them the cows and 
 the younger bulls of the herd. Emerging from these defiles, 
 the party came to a broader valley, the sides of which were 
 very steep ; along the bottom ran a stream of considerable 
 magnitude, on the banks of which was a large tract of copse- 
 wood, consisting apparently of alder, poplar, and birch, and 
 affording ample space for concealing a body of several hundred 
 men. 
 
 Towards this wood War-Eagle led the way ; and when he 
 reached a few bushes, distant from it some hundred yards, he 
 desired the rest of the party to lie still, while he went forward 
 alone to explore. During his absence Reginald occupied him- 
 self with examining through his glass the sides of the valley, 
 but could see neither man nor any other living creature ; and 
 when War-Eagle returned and conducted them into the wood, 
 Reginald could read on his friend's countenance that he was 
 in high spirits at having reached this point undiscovered. 
 
 When they came to the centre of the woodland, they found 
 a broad trail, near which they were carefully posted by their 
 chief, in such a manner that, themselves unseen, they could 
 command a view of any one passing along it. 
 
 The party led by Baptiste was not less successful in carrying 
 out the instructions given to them by War-Eagle. After a 
 rapid and toilsome march of many hours upon the Dahcotah 
 trail, they came at length in sight of their enemies ; although 
 at a distance of many miles, the prudence and caution of the 
 experienced scout controlled the impetuous ardour of the 
 young Delawares, who were burning to revenge the insult 
 offered to their tribe. But Baptiste was aware that to attack 
 with his present force would be hopeless, and he bent all his 
 energies to creep as near to the Sioux as possible, so that he 
 might be ready to dash in upon their rear, in case he should 
 find that the ambuscade of War-Eagle was successfully laid ; 
 at the same time the hardy woodsman was determined not to 
 allow them, under any circumstances, to gain the village with- 
 out making by day or by night one bold effort for the recovery 
 of the horses. 
 
 A habit of self-control was one of the distinguishing features 
 of the guide's character ; and although his hatred of the Sioux 
 
 s 4 
 
264 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 was fierce and intense, as we have seen in the earlier part of 
 this tale, he now conducted his operations with a cool delibera- 
 tion that might almost have been mistaken for indifference : 
 selecting the most intelligent warrior among the Lenape, he 
 sent him forward to creep on the trail ; he himself followed at 
 a short distance ; then the other runners at short intervals, and 
 the mounted Indians were desired to keep entirely out of sight 
 in the rear. In this order they continued the pursuit ; and by 
 the skilful selection of ground, and taking advantage of every 
 trifling hill or ravine over which they passed, he contrived at 
 length to approach as near as he deemed it prudent to venture 
 until he should see the result of the stratagem devised by War- 
 Eagle. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A DESERTED VILLAGE IN THE WEST. MAHEGA CARRIES OFF PRAIRIE- 
 BIRD, AND ENDEAVOURS TO BAFFLE PURSUIT. 
 
 WE must now shift the scene to the spot where the Delaware 
 village had been encamped. What a change had a few days 
 produced ! The lodges of the chiefs, with their triangular 
 poles bearing their shields and trophies ; the white tent of 
 Prairie-bird ; the busy crowds of women and children ; the 
 troops of horses, the songs and dances of the warriors all 
 were gone ! and in their stead nothing was to be seen but a 
 flock of buzzards, gorging themselves on a meal too revolting 
 to be described, and a pack of wolves snarling and quarrelling 
 over the remains of the unfortunate Lenape victims. 
 
 On the very spot where the tent of Olitipa had been pitched, 
 and where the marks of the tent-poles were still easily recog- 
 nised, stood a solitary Indian, in an attitude of deep musing ; 
 his ornamented hunting-shirt andleggins proclaimed his chief- 
 tain rank ; the rifle on which he leaned was of the newest and 
 best workmanship, and his whole appearance was singularly 
 striking; but the countenance was that which would have 
 riveted the attention of a spectator, had any been there to look 
 upon it, for it blended in its gentle yet proud lineaments a 
 
THE PHAIR1E-BIRD. 263 
 
 delicate beauty almost feminine, with a high heroic sternness, 
 that one could scarcely have thought it possible to find in a 
 youth only just emerging from boyhood: there was too a deep 
 silent expression of grief, rendered yet more touching by the 
 fortitude with which it was controlled and repressed. Drear 
 and desolate as was the scene around, the desolation of that 
 young heart was yet greater : father, brother, friend ! the be- 
 loved sister, the affectionate instructor ; worst of all, the tribe, 
 the ancient people of whose chiefs he was the youngest and 
 last surviving scion, all swept away at (t one fell swoop !" 
 And yet no tear fell from his eye, no murmur escaped his lip, 
 and the energies of that heroic though youthful spirit rose above 
 the tempest, whose fearful ravages he now contemplated with 
 stern and gloomy resolution. 
 
 In this sketch the reader will recognise Wingenund, who 
 had been absent, as was mentioned in a former chapter, on a 
 course of watching and fasting, preparatory to his being en- 
 rolled among the band of warriors, according to the usages of 
 his nation. Had he been in the camp when the attack of the 
 Osages was made, there is little doubt that his last drop of 
 blood would have there been shed before the lodge of Tame- 
 nund ; but he had retired to a distance, whence the war-cry 
 and the tumult of the fight never reached his ear, and had 
 concluded his self-denying probation with a dream of happy 
 omen a dream that promised future glory, dear to every am- 
 bitious Indian spirit, and in which the triumphs of war were 
 wildly and confusedly blended with the sisterly tones of Oli- 
 tipa's voice, and the sweet smile of the Lily of Mooshanue. 
 
 Inspired by his vision, the ardent boy returned in high hope 
 and spirits towards the encampment ; but when he gained the 
 summit of a hill which overlooked it, a single glance sufficed 
 to show him the destruction that had been wrought during his 
 absence ; he saw that the lodges were overthrown, the horses 
 driven off, and that the inhabitants of the moving village were 
 either dispersed or destroyed. Rooted to the spot, he looked 
 on the scene in speechless horror, when all at once his atten- 
 tion was caught by a body of men moving over a distant height 
 in the western horizon, their figures being rendered visible by 
 the deep red background afforded by the setting sun : swift as 
 thought the youth darted off in pursuit. 
 
 After the shades of night had fallen, the retreating party 
 
266 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 halted,, posted their sentries, lit their camp-fires, and, knowing 
 that nothing was to be feared from an enemy so lately and so 
 totally overthrown, they cooked their meat and their maize, 
 and smoked their pipes, with the lazy indifference habitual to 
 Indian warriors when the excitement of the chase or the fight 
 has subsided. In the centre of the camp rose a white tent, 
 and beside it a kind of temporary arbour had been hastily con- 
 structed from reeds and alder-boughs ; beneath the latter re- 
 clined the gigantic form of Mahega, stretched at his length, 
 and puffing out volumes of kinnckenik* smoke with the self- 
 satisfied complacency of success. 
 
 Within the tent sat Prairie- bird, her eyes meekly raised to 
 heaven, her hands crossed upon her bosom, and a small basket 
 of corn-cakes being placed, untasted, upon the ground beside 
 her. At a little distance, in the corner of the tent, sate her 
 female Indian attendant, whom Mahega had permitted, with a 
 delicacy and consideration scarcely to be expected from him, 
 to share her mistress's captivity. He had also given orders 
 that all the lighter articles belonging to her toilet, and to the 
 furniture of her tent, should be conveyed with the latter, so 
 that as yet both her privacy and her comfort had been faith- 
 fully secured. 
 
 Guided by the fires, Wingenund, who had followed with 
 unabated speed, had no difficulty in finding the Osage encamp- 
 ment ; neither was his intelligent mind at a loss to apprehend 
 what had occurred : he had long known the views and plans 
 entertained by Mahega respecting Prairie-bird, and when, from 
 a distant eminence he caught a sight of her white tent pitched 
 in the centre of a retreating Indian band, he understood in a 
 moment her present situation, and the disastrous events that 
 had preceded it. Although he believed that both War-Eagle 
 and Reginald must have fallen ere his sister had been made a 
 captive, he resolved at all hazards to communicate with her, 
 and either to rescue her, or die in the attempt. 
 
 Having been so long encamped with the Osages, he was 
 tolerably well versed in their language ; and he also knew so 
 well the general disposition of their outposts, that he had no 
 doubt of being able to steal into their camp. As soon as he 
 had gained, undiscovered, the shelter of a clump of alders, 
 
 * A mixture used for smoking by the Indians of the Missouri ; it is usually com- 
 posed of tobacco, dried sumach-leaf, and the inner bark of the white willow, cut 
 small and mixed in nearly equal proportions. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 26? 
 
 only a few bow-shots distant from the nearest fire, he stripped 
 off and concealed his hunting-shirt, cap, leggins, and other 
 accoutrements, retaining only his belt, in which he hid a small 
 pocket-pistol, lately given to him by Reginald, and his scalp- 
 knife, sheathed in a case of bison-hide. Thus slightly armed, 
 he threw himself upon the grass, and commenced creeping 
 like a serpent towards the Osage encampment. 
 
 Unlike the sentries of civilised armies, those of the North 
 American Indians frequently sit at their appointed station, and 
 trust to their extraordinary quickness of sight and hearing to 
 guard them against surprise. Ere he had crept many yards, 
 Wingenund found himself near an Indian, seated with his 
 back against the decayed stump of a tree, and whiling away 
 his watch by humming a low and melancholy Osage air; 
 fortunately, the night was dark, and the heavy dew had so 
 softened the grass, that the boy's pliant and elastic form wound 
 its onward way without the slightest noise being made to alarm 
 the lazy sentinel. Having passed this outpost in safety, he 
 continued his snaky progress, occasionally raising his head to 
 glance his quick eye around and observe the nature of the 
 obstacles that he had yet to encounter : these were less than 
 he expected, and he contrived at length to trail himself to the 
 back of Olitipa's tent, where he ensconced himself unperceived 
 under cover of a large buffalo- skin, which was loosely thrown 
 over her saddle, to protect it from the weather. His first 
 object was to scoop out a few inches of the turf below the 
 edge of the tent, in order that he might conveniently hear or 
 be heard by her, without raising his voice above the lowest 
 whisper. 
 
 After listening attentively for a few minutes, a gentle and 
 regular breathing informed him that one sleeper was within ; 
 but Wingenund, whose sharp eyes had already observed that 
 there were two saddles under the buffalo robe which covered 
 him, conjectured that her attendant was now her companion 
 in captivity, and that the grief and anxiety of Olidpa had 
 probably banished slumber from her eyes. To resolve these 
 doubts, and to effect the purpose of his dangerous attempt, he 
 now applied his mouth to the small opening that he had made 
 at the back of the tent, and gave a low and almost inaudible 
 sound from his lips like the chirping of a cricket. Low as it 
 was, the sound escaped not the quick ear of Olitipa, who 
 
268 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 turned and listened more intently : again it was repeated, and 
 the maiden felt a sudden tremor of anxiety pervade her whole 
 frame,, as from an instinctive consciousness that the sound 
 was a signal intended for her ear. 
 
 Immediately in front of the lodge were stretched the bulky 
 forms of two half-slumbering Osages. She knew that the 
 dreaded Mahega was only a few paces distant, and that if 
 some friend were indeed near, the least indiscretion on her 
 part might draw down upon him certain destruction ; but she 
 was courageous by nature, and habit had given her presence of 
 mind. Being aware that few, if any, of her captors spoke the 
 English tongue, she said, in a low but distinct voice, " If a 
 friend is near, let me hear the signal again ?" 
 
 Immediately the cricket-chirrup was repeated. Convinced 
 now beyond a doubt that friendly succour was nigh, the 
 maiden's heart throbbed with hope, fear, and many contend- 
 ing emotions ; but she lost not her self-possession ; and having 
 now ascertained the spot whence the sound proceeded, she 
 moved the skins which formed her couch to that part of the 
 tent, and was thus enabled to rest her head within a few inches 
 of the opening made by Wirigenund below the canvass. 
 
 " Prairie-bird," whispered a soft voice, close to her ear a 
 voice that she had a thousand times taught to pronounce her 
 name, and every accent of which was familiar to her ear. 
 
 " My brother !" was the low-breathed reply. 
 
 " If the Washashee do not hear, let my sister tell all, in 
 few words." 
 
 As Prairie-bird briefly described the events above narrated, 
 Wingenund found some comfort in the reflection that War- 
 Eagle, Reginald, and their band had escaped the destruction 
 which had overwhelmed the Lenape village : when she con- 
 cluded, he replied, 
 
 " It is enough ; let my sister hope ; let her speak fair words 
 to Mahe'ga : Wingenund will find his brothers, they will 
 follow the trail, my sister must not be afraid ; many days and 
 nights may pass, but the Lenape will be near her, and Netis 
 will be with them. Wingenund must go." 
 
 How fain was Prairie-bird to ask him a thousand questions, 
 to give him a thousand cautions, and to send as many messages 
 by him to her lover ! but, trained in the severe school of Indian 
 discipline, she knew that every word spoken or whispered in- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRO. 269 
 
 creased the danger already incurred by Wingenund, and in 
 obedience to his hint she contented herself with silently in- 
 voking the blessing of Heaven on the promised attempt to be 
 made by himself and his beloved coadjutors for her rescue. 
 
 " That pale-faced maiden speaks to herself all through the 
 night," said one of the Osage warriors to his comrade stretched 
 beside him before the tent. 
 
 11 I heard a sort of murmuring sound," replied the other ; 
 " but I shut my ears. Mahega says that her words are like 
 the voices of spirits ; it is not good to listen ! Before this moon 
 is older I will ask her to curse Paketshu, that Pawnee wolf 
 who killed my two brothers near the Nebraske." * 
 
 Profiting by this brief dialogue, Wingenund crept from 
 under the buffalo-skin ; and looking carefully around to see 
 whether any new change had taken place since his concealment, 
 he found that several of the Osage warriors, who had been 
 probably eating together, were now stretched around the tent, 
 and it was hopeless to attempt passing so many cunning and 
 vigilant foes undiscovered. While he was meditating on the 
 best course to be pursued, his attention was called to a noise 
 immediately in front of the tent, which was caused by the 
 horse ridden by Olitipa having broken from its tether and 
 entangled its legs in the halter. Springing on his feet, 
 Wingenund seized the leather-thong, using 'at the same time 
 the expressions common among the Osages for quieting a 
 fractious horse. 
 
 ** What is it ? " exclaimed at once several of the warriors, 
 half raising themselves from their recumbent posture. 
 
 " Nothing," replied Wingenund, in their own tongue ; 
 " the pale-faced squaw's horse has got loose." 
 
 So saying, he stooped leisurely down, and fastened the 
 laryette again to the iron pin from which it had been detached. 
 Having secured the horse, he stood up again, and stepped 
 coolly over several of the Osages stretched around the tent ; 
 and they, naturally mistaking him for one of their own party, 
 composed themselves again to sleep. Thus he passed through 
 
 * The Indians believe that some persons have the power of injuring, or even of 
 killing others at a distance of many hundred miles, by charms and spells : this be- 
 lief in witchcraft is constantly noticed by Tanner and others, who have 1 1 > (i ;l 
 long among the Indians, and it seems to have been especially prevalent amo: * the 
 Oggibeways and other northern tribes. In illustration of a similar notion in the 
 eastern hemisphere, see Borrow's " Zincali, or the Gypsies of Spain," vol. i. chap, 
 ix. on the Evil Eye. 
 
2?0 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the encampment, when he again threw himself upon the 
 ground, and again succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the 
 outposts, and in reaching safely the covert where he had left 
 his rifle and his accoutrements. 
 
 The active spirit of Wingenund was not yet wearied of 
 exertion. Seeing that the course taken by the Osages was 
 westerly, he went forward in that direction, and having 
 ascended an elevated height commanding a view of the ad- 
 joining valleys, he concealed himself with the intention of 
 watching the enemy's march. 
 
 On the following morning the Osages started at daybreak, 
 and marched until noon, when Mahega halted them, and put 
 in execution the plan that he had formed for throwing off any 
 pursuit that might he attempted. He had brought four horses 
 from the Delaware encampment : of these he retained two for 
 the use of Prairie-bird and her attendant, and ordered their 
 hoofs to be covered with thick wrappers of bison-hide * ; he 
 selected also ten of the warriors, on whose courage and fidelity 
 he could best depend; the remainder of the band he dismissed, 
 under the conduct of Flying-arrow, with the remaining two 
 horses laden with a portion of the Delaware spoils and trophies, 
 desiring them to strike off to the northward, and, making a trail 
 as distinct as possible, to return by a circuitous march to the 
 Osage village. These orders were punctually obeyed, and 
 Mahega, having seen the larger moiety of his band start on 
 their appointed route, led off his own small party in a south- 
 westerly direction, through the hardest and roughest surface 
 that the prairie afforded, where he rightly judged that their 
 trail could with difficulty be followed, even by the lynx-eyed 
 chief of the Delawares. 
 
 From his concealment in the distance, Wingenund observed 
 the whole manoeuvre : and having carefully noted the very 
 spot where the two trails separated, he ran back to the deserted 
 Lenape village to carry out the plan that he had formed for 
 the pursuit. On his way he gathered a score of pliant willow 
 rods, and these lay at his feet when he stood in the attitude of 
 deep meditation, described at the commencement of this chap- 
 ter. He knew that if War-Eagle and his party returned in 
 
 * This method of baffling pursuit is not unfrequently resorted to by the Indian 
 marauders. The reader of Sliakespear-i (and who that can read is net ?) will re- 
 member Lear's 
 
 " It were a delicate stratagem to shoe 
 A troop of horse with felt ! " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 2? 1 
 
 safety from their expedition, their steps would be directed at 
 once to the spot on which he now stood, and his first care was 
 to convey to them all the information necessary for their guid- 
 ance. This he was enabled to do by marking with his knife 
 on slips of elm-bark various figures and designs, which War- 
 Eagle would easily understand. To describe these at length 
 would be tedious, in a narrative such as the present ; all readers 
 who know anything of the history of the North American 
 Indians being aware of their sagacity in the use of these rude 
 hieroglyphics : it is sufficient here to state, that Wingenund 
 was able to express, in a manner intelligible to his kinsman, 
 that he himself marked the elm-bark, that Olitipa was prisoner 
 to Mahega, that the Osage trail was to the west ; that it 
 divided, the broad trail to the north being the wrong one ; and 
 that he would hang on the right one, and make more marks for 
 War-Eagle to follow. 
 
 Having carefully noted these particulars, he stuck one of 
 his rods into the ground, and fastened to the top of it his roll 
 of elm-bark : then giving one more melancholy glance at the 
 desolate scene around him, he gathered up his willow-twigs, 
 and throwing himself again upon the Osage trail, never rested 
 his weary limbs until the burnt grass, upon a spot where the 
 party had cooked some bison-meat, assured him that he was 
 on their track ; then he laid himself under a neighbouring 
 bush and slept soundly, trusting to his own sagacity for fol- 
 lowing the trail over the boundless prairie before him. 
 
 While these events were passing on the Missouri prairie, 
 Paul Miiller having been escorted to the settlements and set 
 free by the Osages, pursued his way towards St, Louis, then 
 the nucleus of Western trade, and the point whence all expe- 
 ditions, whether of a warlike or commercial nature, were 
 carried on in that region. He was walking slowly forward, 
 revolving in his mind the melancholy changes that had taken 
 place in the course of the last few weeks, the destruction of the 
 Lenape band, and the captivity of his beloved pupil, when he 
 was overtaken by a sturdy and weather-beaten pedestrian, whose 
 person and attire seemed to have been roughly handled of late, 
 for his left arm was in a sling, various patches of plaster were 
 on his face and forehead, his leggins were torn to rags, and 
 the barrel of a rifle broken off from the stock was slung over 
 his shoulder. 
 
272 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 The missionary, turning round to greet his fellow-traveller 
 with his accustomed courtesy, encountered a countenance 
 which, notwithstanding its condition, he recognised as one 
 that he had seen in the Delaware village. 
 
 ** Bearskin, my good friend," said he, holding out his hand, 
 and grasping heartily the horny fist of the voyageur, " I am 
 right glad to see you, although it seems that you have received 
 some severe hurts ; I feared you had fallen among the other 
 victims of that terrible day." 
 
 " I can't deny that the day was rough enough," replied 
 Bearskin, looking down upon his wounded arm ; " and the 
 red-skin devils left only one other of my party besides myself 
 alive : we contrived to beat off those who attacked our quarter, 
 but when we found that Mahega had broken in upon the rear, 
 and had killed Mike Smith and his men, we made the best of 
 our way to the woods : several were shot and scalped, two of 
 us escaped : I received, as you see, a few ugly scratches, but 
 my old carcase is accustomed to being battered, and a week 
 will set it all to rights." 
 
 " You know," replied the missionary, " that I have some 
 skill in curing wounds. When we reach St. Louis we will 
 take up our lodging in the same house, and I will do what I 
 can to relieve your hurts. Moreover, there are many things 
 on which I wish to speak with you at leisure, and I have 
 friends there who will supply us with all that is needful for 
 our comfort." 
 
 While they were thus conversing, the tall spires of the 
 cathedral became visible over the forest, which then grew dense 
 and unbroken to the very edge of the town, and in a few 
 minutes Bearskin, conducted by the missionary, was snugly 
 lodged in the dwelling of one of the wealthiest peltry-dealers 
 in the famous frontier city of St. Louis. 
 
TKE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 275 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AN AMBUSCADE. REGINALD BRANDON FINDS HIS HORSE, AND M. 
 I'ERROT NEARLY LOSES HIS HEAD. WHILE INDIAN PHILOSOPHY 
 IS DISPLAYED IN ONE QUARTER, INDIAN CREDULITY IS EXHIBITED 
 IN ANOTHER. 
 
 WE left War-Eagle and his party posted in a thicket of con- 
 siderable extent, in the centre of a valley through which he 
 had calculated that the marauding band of Sioux would 
 return with the captured horses to their village; long and 
 anxiously did he wait in expectation of their appearance ; and 
 both himself and Reginald began to fear that they must have 
 taken some other route, when they saw at a distance an Indian 
 galloping down the valley towards them ; as he drew near, the 
 head-dress of eagle's feathers, the scalp-locks on his leather 
 hunting-shirt, and the fringes by which his legdns were 
 adorned, announced him to the practised eye of the young 
 Delaware chief, as a Dahcotah brave of some distinction ; 
 but what was the astonishment of Reginald, at recognising in 
 the fiery steed that bore him, his own lost Nekimi. By an 
 unconscious movement he threw forward his rifle over the log 
 which concealed him, and \vas preparing to secure a certain 
 aim, when War-Eagle, touching his arm, whispered, "Netis 
 not shoot, more Dahcotahs are coming, noise of gun not 
 good here, Netis have enough fight soon, leave this man to 
 War-Eagle, he give Netis back his horse." 
 
 Reginald, although disappointed at not being allowed to 
 take vengeance on the approaching savage, saw the prudence 
 of his friend's counsel, and suffering himself to be guided by 
 it, waited patiently to see how the Delaware proposed to act. 
 The latter, laying aside his rifle, and armed only with his 
 scalp-knife and tomahawk, crept to a thick bush on the edge of 
 the broad trail passing through the centre of the thicket ; in his 
 hand he took a worn-out mocassin, which he threw carelessly 
 upon the track, and then ensconced himself in the hiding- 
 place which he had selected for his purpose. The Dahcotah 
 warrior, who had been sent forward by his chief to recon- 
 noitre, and to whom Nekimi had been lent on account of 
 
274 THE PRA1RIK-DIRD. 
 
 the extraordinary speed which that animal had been found to 
 possess, slackened his speed as he entered the thicket, and 
 cast his wary eyes to the right and to the left, glancing 
 occasionally at the sides of the hills which overhung the 
 valley. 
 
 The Delawares were too well concealed to be seen from 
 the path, and he rode slowly forward until he came to the 
 spot where lay the mocassin thrown down by War-Eagle. 
 
 " Ha ! " said the Sioux, uttering a hasty ejaculation, and 
 leaping from his horse to examine its fashion. As he stooped 
 to pick it up, War-Eagle sprung like a tiger upon him, and 
 with a single blow of his tomahawk laid the unfortunate 
 warrior dead at his feet. Throwing Nekimi's bridle over his 
 arm, he drew the body into the adjacent thicket, and, having 
 found in the waistband the small leathern bag in which the 
 Indians of the Missouri usually carry the different coloured 
 clays wherewith they paint themselves, he proceeded to trans- 
 form himself into a Sioux. Putting on the Dahcotah head- 
 dress and other apparel, aided by one of the most experienced 
 of his band, he disguised himself in a few minutes so effectually 
 that, unless upon a very close inspection, he might well be 
 taken for the Indian whom he had just killed. 
 
 As soon as this operation was completed, he desired Regi- 
 nald and the rest of the party to remain concealed, and if he 
 succeeded in luring the enemy to the spot, on no account to 
 fire until their main body had reached the bush from which 
 he had sprung on the Sioux. Having given this instruction, 
 he vaulted on Nekimi's back, and returned at speed to the 
 upper part of the valley, from which direction he knew that 
 the Dahcotahs must be approaching. He had not ridden 
 many miles ere he saw them advancing at a leisurely rate, 
 partly driving before them, and partly leading, the horses 
 stolen from the Delawares. This was an occasion on which 
 War-Eagle required all his sagacity and presence of mind, for 
 should he betray himself by a false movement or gesture, not 
 only would the enemy escape the snare laid for them, but his 
 life would pay the forfeit of his temerity. Wheeling his 
 horse about, he returned towards the thicket, and, after riding 
 to and fro, as if making a careful investigation of its paths and 
 foot-marks, he went back to the broad trail, and as soon as 
 the foremost of the Dahcotahs were within a couple of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 275 
 
 hundred yards, he made the signal e ' All right *," and rode 
 gently forward through the wood. So well did his party 
 observe the orders which he had given them, that, although 
 he knew the exact spot where they were posted, and scanned 
 it with the most searching glance of his keen eye, not a 
 vestige of a human figure, nor of a weapon could he detect, 
 and a smile of triumph curled his lip as he felt assured of the 
 success of his plan. No sooner had he passed the bush where 
 the Dahcotah had fallen, than he turned aside into the thicket, 
 and., having fastened Nekimi securely to a tree, tore off his 
 Sioux disguise, and resuming his own dress and rifle, con- 
 cealed himself on the flank of his party. 
 
 The Dahcotahs, who had, as they thought, seen their scou 
 make the sign of " All right," after a careful examination of 
 the wood, entered it without either order or suspicion ; neither 
 did they discover their mistake until the foremost reached the 
 fatal bush, when a volley from the ambuscade told among them 
 with terrible effect. Several of the Sioux fell at this first 
 discharge, and the confusion caused by this unexpected attack 
 was increased by the panic among the horses, some of which 
 being frightened, and others wounded, they reared and plunged 
 with ungovernable fury. 
 
 Although taken by surprise, the Dahcotah warriors behaved 
 with determined courage ; throwing themselves from their 
 horses, they dashed into the thicket to dislodge their unseen 
 foes, and the fight became general, as well as desultory, each 
 man using a log or a tree for his own defence, and shooting, 
 either with rifle or bow, at any adversary whom he could see 
 for a moment exposed. The Sioux, though more numerous, 
 were unprovided with efficient fire-arms ; and sensible of the 
 advantages thence arising to their opponents, they made des- 
 perate, and not unsuccessful efforts to bring the fight to close 
 quarters. Reginald and War-Eagle were side by side, each 
 endeavouring to outdo the other in feats of gallantry, and at 
 the same time to watch over the safety of his friend. 
 
 One of the most extraordinary specimens of the ingenuity of the tribes who 
 inhabit the Great Missouri wilderness, and who speak many languages, so different 
 that they can have with each other no verbal communication, is the language of 
 Signs, common to them all, by which Pawnees, Dahcotahs, Osages, Blackfeet, 
 Upsarokas, or the Crows and other Western nations, can understand each other 
 quite sufficiently for the ordinary purposes of their simple life. The sign for " all 
 right" is made by holding the hand with the palm downward;, in a horizontal 
 position, and waving it slowly outwards. 
 
 T 2 
 
76 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Monsieur Perrot caught the general spirit of the affray, and, 
 as he afterwards said of himself, " fought like a famished 
 lion ! " when, unluckily, his pistol snapped in the face of a 
 Sioux warrior, who struck him a blow that felled him to the 
 earth. Stepping lightly over the form of his prostrate foe, the 
 savage, grasping a knife in his right hand, and seizing the 
 luckless Frenchman's hair with his left, was about to scalp 
 him, when the knife dropped from his hand, and he stood for 
 a moment petrified with astonishment and horror. The whole 
 head of hair was in his left hand, and the white man sat grin- 
 ning before him with a smooth and shaven crown. 
 
 Letting fall what he believed to be the scalp of some devil 
 in human shape, the affrighted Sioux fled from the spot, while 
 Perrot, replacing his wig, muttered half aloud, " Bravo ! ma 
 bonne perruque ! je te dois mille remerfimens I " 
 
 At this crisis, while the issue of the general combat was still 
 doubtful, the sound of a bugle was heard in the distance, and 
 the signal immediately answered by Reginald, who shouted 
 aloud to War-Eagle, that Grande-Hache was at hand. In- 
 spired by the knowledge of approaching reinforcement, the 
 Delawares fought with renewed confidence, while the Dahco- 
 tahs, startled by the strange and unknown bugle calls, were 
 proportionately confused and thrown into disorder. The panic 
 among them was complete when the sharp crack of Baptiste's 
 rifle was heard in the rear, and one of their principal braves fell 
 dead at the root of the tree which sheltered him from the fire of 
 War-Eagle's party. Hemmed in between the two hostile bands, 
 the Sioux now gave up all hope of concealment, and fought 
 with the courage of despair; but the resistance which they 
 offered was neither effective nor of long duration. Baptiste, 
 wielding his terrible axe, seemed resolved this day to wreak 
 his fierce and long-delayed vengeance on the tribe at whose 
 hands he had sustained such deadly injury ; and regardless of 
 several slight wounds which he received in the fray, continued 
 to deal destruction among all who came within reach. Nor 
 were Reginald and War-Eagle less active in the fight; the 
 struggle was hand to hand; the Sioux seeming to expect no 
 quarter, and being determined to fight while they could wield 
 a knife or tomahawk. 
 
 Their chief, a man of stature almost as powerful as that of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 2?? 
 
 Mahega, seemed gifted with a charmed life, for although he 
 exposed himself freely to the boldest of his opponents, ani- 
 mating his men by shouting aloud the terrible war-cry of the 
 Dahcotahs*, and rushing to their aid wherever he found them 
 giving way, he was hitherto unhurt, and bent every effort to 
 destroy War-Eagle, whom he easily recognised as the leader, 
 and most formidable of the Delawares. An opportunity soon 
 offered itself, as War-Eagle was engaged with another of the 
 Dahcotahs. The chief aimed at his unguarded head a blow 
 that must have proved fatal, had not Reginald warded it off 
 with his cutlass ; the Indian turned furiously upon him, and a 
 fierce combat ensued, but it was not of long duration, for after 
 they had exchanged a few strokes, a successful thrust stretched 
 the Dahcotah chief upon the ground. An exulting cry burst 
 from the Delawares, and the panic-struck Sioux fled in every 
 direction. The pursuit was conducted with the merciless 
 eagerness common to Indian warfare, and as Reginald felt no 
 inclination to join in it, he returned his cutlass to its sheath, 
 and busied himself in securing all the horses that came within 
 his reach. 
 
 One by one the Delawares came back to the place of ren- 
 dezvous, some bearing with them the scalps which they had 
 taken, others leading recaptured horses, and all in the highest 
 excitement of triumph. 
 
 War-Eagle set free Nekimi, and led it towards its master. 
 As soon as it was near enough to hear his voice, Reginald 
 called to the noble animal, which, shaking its flowing mane, 
 came bounding and snorting towards him. He caressed it for 
 a short time, then vaulted upon its back, and was delighted to 
 find that its spirit and strength had suffered no diminution 
 since its capture. Again he dismounted, and Nekimi followed 
 him unled, playing round him like a favomite dog. While he 
 thus amused himself with his recovered steed, Baptiste sat by 
 the side of a small streamlet, cleaning his axe and his rifle, and 
 listening with a grim smile to Monsieur Perrot's account of the 
 danger from which he had been saved by his peruke. In the 
 midst of his narrative, seeing some blood on the sleeve of his 
 
 * It is well known that every tribe has its separate war-cry ; that of the Dah- 
 cotahs resembles the.short angry bark of a dog, but they utter it with a piercing 
 shrillness that renders it terrific in the extreme. 
 T 3 
 
278 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 companion's shirt, he said, " Baptiste, you are surely 
 wounded ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied the other; "one of the red-skins gave me a 
 smartish stroke with a knife in that skrimmage however, I 
 forgive him, as I paid him for it." 
 
 " But would it not be better to attend to your wound first, 
 and to your weapons afterwards ? " 
 
 " Why, no, Monsieur Perrot, that isn't our fashion in the 
 woods ; I like first to make the doctor ready for service, and 
 then it will be time enough to put a little cold water and a 
 bandage to the cut." 
 
 The good-humoured Frenchman insisted upon his proposal, 
 but had some difficulty in persuading the rough guide to let 
 him dress the wound, which, though deep and painful, was 
 not dangerous. 
 
 On the following day, War-Eagle returned with his tri- 
 umphant party and with the rescued horses towards the 
 Delaware village, every bosom, save one, beating high with 
 exultation. Reginald could scarcely control his impatience to 
 relate to Prairie-bird the events of the successful expedition. 
 The young warriors anticipated with joy the beaming smiles 
 with which they would be welcomed by the Lenape maidens ; 
 while those of maturer age looked forward to the well-merited 
 applause of their chiefs, and the fierce excitement of the war- 
 dance with which their victory would be celebrated. Baptiste 
 had satiated his long-cherished vengeance on the tribe which 
 had destroyed his parents, and Monsieur Perrot prepared many 
 jokes and gibes, which he proposed to inflict upon Mike Smith, 
 and those who had not partaken in the glory which he and his 
 party had gained. 
 
 War-Eagle alone shared not in the general joy ! Whether 
 it was that he could not prevent his thoughts from reverting 
 to Prairie-bird, or that he was oppressed by a vague and mys- 
 terious presentiment of calamity, his demeanour was grave, 
 even to sadness, and the trophies of victory hung neglected 
 from the fringes of his dress. 
 
 Having taken the shortest route, they arrived, a few hours 
 before night-fall, at a point where a broad trail led direct to 
 the encampment; and War-Eagle, whose penetrating eye had 
 marked his friend's impatience, and who never lost an oppor- 
 
THE PRA1RIE-EIRD. 279 
 
 tuniiy of proving to him the warmth of his attachment, said to 
 him, 
 
 " Netis should go forward and tell Tamenund and the 
 chiefs, that the Lenape war-party are coming, and that the 
 Dahcotah scalps are many. It will be a pleasant tale for 
 the ancient chiefs, and it is good that they hear it from the 
 mouth of the bravest warrior." 
 
 This compliment was paid to him aloud, and in the hearing 
 of the whole band, who signified their approbation by the usual 
 quick and repeated exclamation.* 
 
 Reginald replied, " No one is bravest here ; where War- 
 Eagle leads, none but brave men are worthy to follow." 
 
 The next minute Nekimi was in full speed towards the 
 village ; and the Delaware band, with Baptiste and Perrot, 
 moved leisurely forward after him. 
 
 Scarcely two hours had elapsed when a single horseman was 
 seen riding towards them, in whom, as he drew near, they 
 had some difficulty in recognising Reginald, for his dress 
 was soiled, his countenance haggard and horror-stricken, 
 while the foaming sides and wide-dilated nostril of Nekimi 
 showed that he had been riding with frantic and furious 
 speed. All made way for him, and he spoke to none untiJ 
 he drew his bridle by the side of War-Eagle, and beckone^ 
 to him and to Baptiste to come aside. For a moment he 
 looked at the former in silence with an eye so troubled, 
 that the guide feared that some dreadful accident had un- 
 settled his young master's mind, but that fear was almost 
 immediately relieved by Reginald, who, taking his friend's 
 hand, said to him, in a voice almost inarticulate from sup- 
 pressed emotion, 
 
 " I bring you, War-Eagle, dreadful dreadful news." 
 
 " War- Eagle knows that the sun does not always shine," 
 was the calm reply. 
 
 " But this is darkness, ' said Reginald, shuddering ; " black 
 darkness, where there is neither sun nor moon, not even a 
 star!" 
 
 " My brother," said the Indian, drawing himself proudly 
 
 * This cxclamat : on resemble* the English word " How-how," repeated with a 
 strong aspirate and great rapidity. It seem* common to all Indian nations, for the 
 author h is heard it used by many different tribes, and it is mentioned by Charle- 
 voix as neiiig constantly uttered bv the Natchez, Illinois, and other Indian nations, 
 then dwelling near the 'banks ot'Uie Mississippi. 
 
 T 1< 
 
280 THE 1'RAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 to his full height; "ray brother speaks without thinking. 
 The sun shines still, and the stars are bright in their place. 
 The Great Spirit dwells always among them ; a thick cloud 
 may hide them from our eyes, but my brother knows they are 
 shining as brightly as ever." 
 
 The young man looked with wonder and awe upon the lofty 
 countenance of this untaught philosopher of the wilderness ; 
 and he replied, "War-Eagle is right. The Great Spirit 
 sees all, and whatever he does is good! But sometimes 
 the cup of misfortune is so full and so bitter, that man can 
 hardly drink it and live." 
 
 "Let Netis speak all and conceal nothing/' said the chief: 
 " what has he seen at the village ? " 
 
 " There is no village ! " said the young man in an agony of 
 grief. " The lodges are overthrown ; Tamenund, the Black 
 Father, Olitipa, all are gone ; wolves and vultures are quarrel- 
 ling over the bones of unburied Lenape I " 
 
 As Reginald concluded his tragic narrative, an attentive ob- 
 server might have seen that the muscles and nerves in the 
 powerful frame of the Indian contracted for an instant, but no 
 change was visible on his haughty and commanding brow, as 
 lie stood before the bearer of this dreadful news a living im- 
 personation of the stern and stoic philosophy of his race. 
 
 " War-Eagle," said Reginald, " can you explain this ca- 
 lamity do you see through it how has it happened?" 
 
 " Mahega," was the brief and emphatic reply. 
 
 " Do you believe that the monster has murdered all, men, 
 V7omen, ?.nd children ? " said Reginald, whose thoughts were fixed 
 on Prairie-bird, but whose lips refused to pronounce her name. 
 
 <( No," replied the chief; "not all, the life of Olitipa is 
 safe, if she becomes the wife of that wolf; for the others, 
 War-Eagle cannot tell. The Washashe love to take scalps, 
 woman, child, or warrior, it is all one to them ; it is enough. 
 War-Eagle must speak to his people." 
 
 After a minute's interval, the chief accordingly summoned 
 his faithful band around him, and in brief but pathetic lan- 
 guage informed them of the disaster that had befallen their 
 tribe. Reginald could not listen unmoved to the piercing cries 
 and groans with which the Delaware's rent the air on receiving 
 this intelligence, although his own heart was racked with anx- 
 iety concerning the fate of his beloved Prairie- bird. While 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 281 
 
 the surrounding warriors thus gave unrestrained vent to their 
 lamentations, War-Eagle stood like some antique statue of 
 bronze, in an attitude of haughty repose, his broad chest thrown 
 forward, and his erect front, bearing the impress of an uncon- 
 querable will, bidding defiance alike to the human weakness 
 that might assail from within, and the storms of fate that 
 might threaten from without. The stern and impressive 
 silence of his grief produced, ere long, its effect upon his fol- 
 lowers ; by degrees the sounds of wailing died away, and as 
 the short twilight of that climate was rapidly merging into 
 darkness, the chief, taking Reginald's arm, moved forward, 
 whispering to him in a tone, the deep and gloomy meaning of 
 which haunted his memory long afterwards, 
 
 " The spirit of Tamenund calls to War-Eagle and asks, 
 ' Where is Mahega ? ' " 
 
 On the following morning War-Eagle rose an hour before 
 daybreak, and led his party to the spot where the lodges of 
 their kindred had so lately stood, and where they had antici- 
 pated a reception of honour and triumph. The chief strode 
 forward across the desolate scene, seemingly insensible to its 
 horrors ; faithful to his determination, all the energies of his 
 nature were concentrated in the burning thirst for revenge, 
 which expelled, for the time, every other feeling from his 
 breast. The Delaware warriors, observant of the stern de- 
 meanour of their leader, followed him in gloomy silence ; 
 and although each shuddered as he passed the well-known 
 spot where, only a few days before, an anxious wife had 
 prepared his food, and merry children had prattled round his 
 knee, not a groan nor a complaint was uttered ; but every 
 bosom throbbed under the expectation of a vengeance so 
 terrible, that it should be remembered by the Osages to the 
 latest hour of their existence as a tribe. 
 
 War-Eagle moved directly forward to the place where the 
 lodge of Tamenund and the tent of the Prairie-bird had been 
 pitched. As they approached it Reginald felt his heart faint 
 within him, and the colour fled from his cheek and lip. 
 
 Baptiste, taking his master's hand, said to him, in a tone of 
 voice the habitual roughness of which was softened by genuine 
 sympathy, " Master Reginald, remember where you are ; the 
 eyes of the Lenape are upon the adopted brother of their 
 chief; they have lost fathers, brothers, wives, and children ; 
 
282 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 see how they bear their loss ; let them not think Neds less 
 brave than themselves." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you, honest Baptiste," said the un- 
 happy young man, wringing the woodman's horny hand ; <f I 
 will neither disgrace my own, nor my adopted name ; but who 
 among them can compare his loss with mine ! so young, so 
 fair, so gentle, my own affianced bride; pledged to me under 
 the eye of Heaven, and now in the hands of that fierce and mer- 
 ciless villain." 
 
 At this moment a cry of exultation burst from the lips of 
 War-Eagle, as his eye fell upon the wand and slips of bark 
 left by Wingenund. One by one the chief examined them, 
 and deciphering their meaning with rapid and unerring saga- 
 city, communicated to his friend that the youth was still alive 
 and free ; that Olitipa, though a prisoner, was well, and that 
 a fine trail was open for them to follow. 
 
 " Let us start upon it this instant," cried Reginald, with the 
 re-awakened impetuosity of his nature. 
 
 " War-Eagle must take much counsel with himself," replied 
 the chief, gravely. " The ancient men of the Lenape are 
 asleep, their bones are uncovered ; War- Eagle must not forget 
 them ; but," he added, while a terrible fire shot from his dark 
 eye, " if the Great Spirit grants him life, he will bring Netis 
 within reach of Mahega before this young moon's horn be- 
 comes a circle." 
 
 Having thus spoken, he resumed his scrutiny of the ciphers 
 and figures drawn upon the bark ; nor did he cease it until he 
 fully understood their purport ; he then called together his 
 band, and explained to them his further plans, which were 
 briefly these : 
 
 He selected ten of the youngest and most active, who were 
 to accompany him, with Reginald, Baptiste, and Perrot, on 
 the trail of Mahega ; the remainder of the party, under the 
 guidance of an experienced brave, were to follow the more 
 numerous body of the Osages, to hang on their trail, and never 
 to leave it while there remained a chance or a hope of an ene- 
 my's scalp. Two of the Delawares were at the same time 
 despatched, one to seek the aid and sympathy of the Konsas 
 and other friendly, or neutral tribes, the other to prowl about 
 the woods in the neighbourhood., to collect any fugitives who 
 might have escaped, and guide any party that might be formed 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 283 
 
 to aid in the meditated pursuit. He also ordered the larger 
 party to gather the bones and relics of their kindred, and to 
 perform the rites of sepulture, according to the custom of the 
 tribe. 
 
 While the chief was giving these instructions to the several 
 parties above 1 designated, Reginald sat musing on the very 
 grass over which the tent of his beloved had been spread ; no 
 blood had there been spilt ; it had been spared the desecration 
 of the vulture and the wolf; her spirit seemed to hover unseen 
 over the spot ; and shutting his eyes, the lover fancied he could 
 still hear her sweet voice, attuned to the simple accompaniment 
 of her Mexican guitar. 
 
 How long this waking dream possessed his senses he knew 
 not, but he was awakened from it by War-Eagle, who whis- 
 pered in his ear, " The trail of Mahega waits for my brother." 
 Ashamed of his temporary weakness, Reginald sprung to his 
 feet, and thence upon the back of Nekimi. The chief having 
 chosen four of the strongest and best from the recaptured 
 horses, one for the use of Perrot, the others for such emer- 
 gencies as might occur, left the remainder with the main body 
 of the Delawares, and, accompanied by his small party 
 thoroughly well armed and equipped, started on the trail in 
 pursuit of the Osages. 
 
 While these events were passing near the site of the Lenape 
 village, Mahega pursued his westward course with unremitting 
 activity, for although he felt little apprehension from the broken 
 and dispirited band of Delawares, he knew that he was entering 
 a region which was the hunting-ground of the Pawnees, 
 Otoes, loways, and other tribes, all of whom would consider 
 him a trespasser, and would be disposed to view his present 
 expedition in the light of a hostile incursion ; for this reason, 
 although he was amply provided with presents for such Indians 
 as he might fall in with, from the plunder of the Delaware 
 lodges, he marched with the greatest rapidity and caution, and 
 never relaxed his speed until he had passed lhat dangerous 
 region, and had entered upon the higher, and, comparatively, 
 less frequented plain, lying between the waters of the Nebraska, 
 or Platte River, and the lower ridges, known by the name of 
 the Spurs of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 During the whole of this tedious march the attention paid 
 to the comfort of Olitipa by her wild and wayward captor was 
 
284? THE PRAIRIE-BIRD, 
 
 constant and respectful ; secure, as he thought, from pursuit, 
 he had determined to gain her confidence and affection, and 
 thus to share in that mysterious knowledge and power which 
 he believed her to possess, and which he well knew that force 
 or harshness would never induce her to impart. Thus she 
 remained continually attended by her favourite Lita ; when 
 the band halted for refreshment, the choicest morsels were set 
 apart for her use, and the young branches of the willow or 
 poplar were gathered to shelter her from the sun. Mahega 
 rarely addressed her, but when he did so it was in language 
 calculated to dispel all apprehension of present injury or insult; 
 and Prairie-bird, remembering the parting counsel of the mis- 
 sionary, replied to the haughty chiefs inquiries with courtesy 
 end gentleness ; although she could not help shuddering when 
 she remembered his former violence, and the dreadful massacre 
 at the Delaware village, she felt deeply grateful to Heaven for 
 having softened the tiger's heart towards her, and for having 
 led him, by means and motives unknown to herself, to consult 
 her safety and her comfort. 
 
 On one occassion during the march, Mahega availed himself 
 of her mysterious acquirements, in a manner that reflected 
 great credit upon his sagacity, at the same time that it increased, 
 in a tenfold degree, the awe with which she had inspired him 
 and his adherents. They had made their usual halt at noon, 
 by the side of a small stream ; Prairie-bird and her faithful 
 Lita were sheltered from the burning rays of the sun by an 
 arbour of alder-branches, which the Osages had hastily, but 
 not inconveniently, constructed ; Mahega and his warriors 
 being occupied in eating the dainty morsels of meat afforded 
 by a young buffalo cow killed on the preceding day, when a 
 large band of Indians appeared on the brow of a neighbouring 
 hill, and came down at full speed towards the Osage encamp- 
 ment. Mahega, without manifesting any uneasiness, desired 
 his men to pile a few of their most valuable packages within 
 the arbour of Olitipa, and to form themselves in a semicircle 
 around, for its protection, their bows and rifles being ready for 
 immediate use. Having made these dispositions, he waited 
 the approach of the strangers, quietly cutting his buffalo beef, 
 and eating it, as if secure of their friendly intentions. Having 
 come within a hundred yards, they drew in their bridles on a 
 signal from their leader, who seemed disposed to take a more 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 285 
 
 deliberate survey of the party. From their appearance Ma- 
 hega knew that they must belong to one of the wild roving 
 tribes who hunt between the sources of the Platte and Arkansas 
 rivers, but the name or designation of their tribe he was at first 
 unable to make out. Their weapons were bows and arrows, 
 short clubs, and knives ; their dress, a hunting-shirt of half- 
 dressed skin, a centre-cloth of the same material, and mocas- 
 sins on their feet, leaving the legs entirely bare ; the leader 
 had long hair, clubbed at the back of his head, and fastened 
 with sinew-strings round a wooden pin, to which were attached 
 several stained feathers, which danced in the wind, and 
 heightened the picturesque effect of his costume. 
 
 A rapid glance sufficed to show him that the new comers, 
 although apparently busied about their meal without distrust, 
 were not only well armed but ready for immediate service ; 
 nor did his eye fail to note the martial bearing and gigantic 
 proportions of Mahega, who sat like a chief expecting the 
 approach of an inferior. 
 
 Influenced by these observations, the leader of the roving 
 band resolved that the first intercourse at least should be of a 
 peaceful nature, prudently reflecting, that as his own numbers 
 were far superior, the nearer the quarters the greater would be 
 their advantage. Having uttered a few brief words to his fol- 
 lowers, he advanced with a friendly gesture towards Mahega, 
 and the following dialogue took place, in the ingenious language 
 of signs before referred to : 
 
 Mahega. " What tribe are you ? " 
 
 Leader. " Ari-ca-ra.* What are you, and whither going? " 
 
 M. " Washashee, goir.; to the mountains." 
 
 L. What seek you t.ere ? " 
 
 M. " Beaver, otter, and grisly bear-skins." 
 
 L " Good. What is in the green-branch wigwam ? " 
 
 M. ' ' Great Medicine let the Aricara beware." To 
 this the chief added the sign usually employed for their most 
 solemn mysteries. 
 
 While this conversation was going on, the rovers of the 
 wilderness had gradually drawn nearer, not, however, un- 
 perceived by Mahega, who, throwing down a strip of blanket 
 
 * Aricara. This tribe is by descent a branch of the great Pawnee nation, to 
 whose language their own still bears a close resemblance ; they are usually known 
 
 among western travellers by the name of Riccarees, and 
 " Les His ; " they are a very predatory, wild, and thievish r 
 
 d the French call them 
 ace. 
 
286 THE PBAIUIE-SIUD. 
 
 at a distance of twenty yards from the arbour of Prairie-bird, 
 explained by a sign sufficiently intelligible, that if the main 
 body of them crossed that line, his party would shoot. 
 
 At a signal from their leader they again halted ; and 
 Mahega observed that from time to time they threw hasty 
 glances over the hill whence they had come, from which he 
 inferred that more of their tribe were in the immediate neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 Meanwhile their leader, whose curiosity urged him to 
 discover what Great Medicine was contained in the arbour, 
 advanced fearlessly alone within the forbidden precincts, thus 
 placing his own life at the mercy of the Osages. 
 
 Ordering his men to keep a strict watch on the movements 
 of the Aricaras, and to shoot the first whom they might detect 
 in fitting an arrow to his bow-string, Mahega now lighted a 
 pipe, and courteously invited their leader to smoke ; between 
 every successive whiff exhaled by the latter, he cast an 
 inquisitive glance towards the arbour, but the packages and 
 the leafy branches baffled his curiosity ; meanwhile the pre- 
 liminaries of peace having been thus amicably interchanged, 
 the other Aricaras cast themselves from their horses, and 
 having given them in charge to a few of the youngest of the 
 party, the remainder sat in a semicircle, and gravely accepted 
 the pipes handed to them by order of Mahega. 
 
 That chief, aware of the mischievous propensities of his 
 new friends, and equally averse to intimacy or hostility with 
 such dangerous neighbours, had bethought himself of a 
 scheme by which he might at once get rid of them by in- 
 spiring them with superstitious awe, and gratify himself with 
 a sight of one of those wonders which the missionary had 
 referred to in his last warning respecting the Prairie-bird. 
 It was not long before the curious Aricara again expressed his 
 desire to know the Great Medicine contents of the arbour. 
 To this Mahega replied, 
 
 " A woman," adding again the sign of solemn mystery. 
 
 " A woman ! " replied the leader, in his own tongue, 
 expressing in his countenance the scorn and disappointment 
 that he felt. 
 
 " A woman," repeated Mahega, gravely ; " but a Medicine 
 Spirit. We travel to the mountains ; she will then go to the 
 land of spirits." 
 
THE PHAIRIE-BIRD. 287 
 
 The Aricara made here a gesture of impatient incredulity, 
 with a sign that, if he could not see some medicine-feat, he 
 would believe that the Osage spoke lies. 
 
 Mahega, desiring him to sit still, and his own party to be 
 watchful, now approached the arbour, and, addressing Prairie- 
 bird in the Delaware tongue, explained to her their present 
 situation, and the dangerous vicinity of a mischievous, if not 
 a hostile tribe, adding, at the same time, 
 
 "Olitipa must show some wonder to frighten these bad 
 men." 
 
 " What is it to Olitipa," replied the maiden, coldly, ' < whe- 
 ther she is a prisoner to the Osage, or to the Western Tribe ? 
 perhaps they would let her go." 
 
 " Whither ? " answered the chief. " Does Olitipa think 
 that these prairie wolves would shelter her fair skin from the 
 sun, or serve and protect her as Mahega does ? If she were 
 their prisoner they would take from her every thing she has, 
 even her medicine book, and make her bring water, and carry 
 burdens, and bear children to the man who should take 
 Mahega's scalp." 
 
 Bad as was her present plight and her future prospect, the 
 poor girl could not help shuddering at the picture of hopeless 
 drudgery here presented to her eyes, and she replied, 
 
 "What does the Osage chief wish? How should his 
 prisoner frighten these wild men ? " 
 
 "The Black Father said that Olitipa could gather the 
 beams of the sun, as our daughters collect the waters of the 
 stream in a vessel," said the chief in a low tone. 
 
 Instantly catching the hint here given by her beloved in- 
 structor, and believing that nothing done in obedience to his 
 wishes could be in itself wrong, she resolved to avail herself 
 of this opportunity of exciting the superstitious awe of the 
 savages, and she replied, 
 
 " It is good. Let Mahega sit by the strange men; Olitipa 
 will come." 
 
 Hastily winding a party-coloured kerchief in the form of a 
 turban, around the rich tresses of her dark hair, and throwing 
 a scarf over her shoulder, she took her small bag, or reticule, 
 in her hand, and stepped forth from the arbour. Such an 
 apparition of youthful bloom, grace, and beauty, extracted, 
 even from the wild leader of the Aricaras, an exclamation of 
 
288 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 astonished admiration. Having seated herself upon a finely 
 painted bison robe, placed for her by Lita, she waited gravely 
 until Mahega should have prepared the stranger chief for 
 what was to follow. 
 
 It was now scarcely an hour after noon, and the sun shone 
 full upon them, with bright and excessive h?at ; Mahega, 
 pointing upward, explained to the Aricara tha: the Woman- 
 Spirit would bring some fire down from that distant orb. 
 He could not give any further information, being totally 
 ignorant of the nature of the wonder to be wrought, and as 
 anxious to witness it as the wild chief himself. 
 
 " Where will she place it ? " he inquired. 
 
 " In the chiefs hand/' replied the maiden, whose intelli- 
 gent mind had long since, during her residence with the 
 Delawares, become familiar with the language of signs. 
 
 The two leaders now explained to their followers, in their 
 respective tongues, the great medicine which they were about to 
 see ; and the latter, forgetful alike of distrust and precaution, 
 crowded with irresistible curiosity about the spot, Mahega 
 alone preserving his habitual self-command, and warning those 
 nearest to him to be prepared against treachery or surprise. 
 The only ornament worn by the Aricara leader was a collar, 
 made of dark blue cloth, adorned with porcupine quills, and 
 girt with the formidable claws of the grisly bear. This collar, 
 being at once a trophy of his prowess, and a proof of its 
 having been gained among the Rocky Mountain traders (from 
 whom alone the cloth could have been procured in that remote 
 region), was highly prized both by the owner and his followers, 
 and was, therefore, as well as from its colour, selected by 
 Prairie-bird as a fitting object on which to work her " medi- 
 cine wonder." She desired him to take it from his neck, and 
 to place it on the grass, with his hands below it, that no fire 
 might come near it. When he had complied with her request, 
 she drew from her bag a burning-glass, and, carefully ad- 
 justing the focus, held it over the dark blue cloth, in which 
 ere long a hole was burnt, and the astonished leader's hand 
 below was scorched. 
 
 It is impossible to depict the wonder and awe of the 
 attentive savages ; they looked first at her, then at her glass, 
 then at the sun ; then they re-examined the cloth, and 
 ascertained that it was indeed burnt through, and that the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 28j) 
 
 smell of fire still rested on the edge of the aperture. After 
 this they withdrew several paces from the spot, the leader 
 inquiring with submissive signs whether he might replace the 
 collar ? to which inquiry the maiden gravely bowing assent, 
 retired again into the arbour. For some time a profound 
 silence ensued, the Osages being as much awe-struck as the 
 Aricaras; even Mahega himself was not proof against the 
 prevalent feeling of superstitious terror ; and thus, while 
 desiring Prairie-bird to terrify others, he had unconsciously 
 furnished her with a mysterious and powerful check upon 
 himself. 
 
 It was not long before the Aricaras rose to take leave, 
 their chief presenting Mahega with a fine horse ; and receiv- 
 ing in return sundry ornaments and trinkets, of no real value, 
 but highly prized from their rarity in that wild and desolate 
 region. As they withdrew, they cast many a furtive glance 
 at the arbour and its mysterious tenant, seemingly glad when 
 they found themselves at such a distance as rendered them 
 safe from her supernatural influence. On their return to their 
 own people, they related, with considerable exaggeration, the 
 wonders which they had witnessed; and Prairie-bird was 
 long afterwards spoken of in the tribe by a name equally im- 
 possible to print, or to pronounce, but which, if translated into 
 English, would be, "The Great- Medicine-Daughter-of-the- 
 burning-sun ! " 
 
 After this adventure, Mahega pursued his uninterrupted 
 way towards the spurs of the Rocky Mountains ; his manner 
 and bearing towards Prairie-bird being more deferential than 
 ever, and the passion that he entertained for her being checked 
 and awed by the miraculous power that she had displayed ; he 
 still nourished strong hopes of being able ultimately to gain her 
 affection, but in the meantime resolved to turn her supernatural 
 skill to good account, by frightening such wild roving bands 
 as they might fall in with, and extorting from their super- 
 stitious fears valuable presents in horses and peltry. 
 
 Meanwhile, the maiden's observant eye had marked the effect 
 upon Mahega produced by the burning-glass, in spite of his 
 well-dissembled indifference, and she secretly determined that 
 the chief use that she could make of such exhibitions as were 
 calculated to excite superstitious awe among Indians, should 
 
290 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 be to maintain the command over Mahega which she was 
 conscious she now possessed. 
 
 During the whole of this long and toilsome march, the 
 faithful and indefatigable Wingenund hovered over the trail 
 at such a distance as never to be perceived by any of the 
 party, and left at occasional intervals a willow-rod, or a slip 
 of bark, so marked as to be a sure guide to an eye less keen 
 and sagacious than that of War-Eagle. His only food was 
 dried undressed buffalo meat ; his drink, the stream where the 
 Osages had slacked their thirst ; his bed, the barren prairie ; 
 he made no fire to scare away the prowling wolves, that yelped 
 and howled at night round his solitary couch, his only protec- 
 tion from their ravenous hunger being a tuft of damp grass, 
 over which he rubbed some powder from his flask. Twice was 
 he descried and pursued by roving bands of Indians, but on 
 both occasions saved himself by his extraordinary fleetness of 
 foot ; and the moment that the immediate danger was over, 
 renewed his weary and difficult task. 
 
 Cheered by his deep affection for his sister, encouraged by 
 the approval which he knew that his exertions would meet 
 from War-Eagle and Reginald, and, more than all, stimulated 
 by the eager desire to distinguish himself as a Delaware chief 
 on this his first war-path, the faithful youth hung over the 
 long and circuitous trail of his enemies with the patience and 
 unerring sagacity of a bloodhound ; and though she saw him 
 not, Prairie-bird felt a confident assurance that her beloved 
 young brother would be true to his promise, and would never 
 leave nor desert her while the pulses of life continued to beat 
 in his affectionate heart. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ETHELSTON VISITS ST. LOUIS, WIIEKE HE UNEXPECTEDLY MEETS AN 
 OLD ACQUAINTANCE, AND UNDERTAKES A LONGER JOURNEY THAN 
 HE HAD CONTEMPLATED. 
 
 DURING the occurrence of the events related in the preceding 
 chapters, the disputes and difficulties attending the distribution 
 of peltries among the different fur companies at St. Louis had 
 
THE PRA1B1E-BIRD. 2Q1 
 
 rather increased than diminished, and Ethelston had found 
 himself compelled, however unwillingly, again to bid adieu to 
 Lucy, and take a trip to the Mississippi for the arrangement 
 of his guardian's affairs in that quarter ; a considerable portion 
 of the fortune that he inherited from his father was invested in 
 the same speculation, and he could not, without incurring the 
 charge of culpable negligence, leave it in the hands of others at 
 a great distance, many of whose interests might perhaps be at 
 variance with those of Colonel Brandon and himself. 
 
 He had been only a short time in St. Louis when, one day, 
 on passing the cathedral, he met two men, whose appearance 
 attracted his attention. The one was past the meridian of life, 
 and the benevolent though tfulness of his countenance accorded 
 well with the sober suit of black that indicated the profession 
 to which he belonged ; the other was a stout, square-built 
 man. evidently cast in a coarser mould than his companion, 
 but apparently conversing with him on terms of friendly 
 familiarity. After looking stedfastly at this second, Ethelston 
 felt convinced that he was not mistaken in addressing him : 
 '' Bearskin, my good friend, how come you to be in St. Louis? 
 I thought you were busy, bear and buffalo hunting with my 
 friend Reginald, among the Dela wares of the Missouri ? " 
 
 " Ha ! Master Ethelston," replied the sturdy voyageur, " I 
 am right glad to see your face here. We have been in some 
 trouble of late, and instead of our hunting the bears, the bears 
 has hunted us." 
 
 " I see you have been in some trouble," said Ethelston, 
 noticing for the first time the boatman's scars and bruises ; 
 " but tell me," he added, hastily catching him by the arm, 
 " has any evil befallen my friend,, my brother Reginald?" 
 
 " No harm that I knows of," replied the other ; " but I 
 must say that things wern't what a man might call altogether 
 pleasant, where I left him." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Ethelston, with an indignation that 
 he made no attempt to conceal, " you left him in danger or in 
 difficulties, and can give no account of him ? Bearskin, I 
 would not have believed this of you, unless I had it from your 
 own lips ! " 
 
 " Master Ethelston," answered the justly offended voyageur, 
 '' a man that goes full swing down the stream of his own 
 notions, without heeding oar or helm, is sure to run athwart a 
 u 2 
 
292 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 snag ; here's my worthy friend here, Paul Miiller, and though 
 he is a preacher, I'll hold him as honest a man as any in the 
 territory ; he can tell you the whole story from one end to 
 t'other ; and when he's done so, perhaps you'll be sorry for 
 what you've said to old Bearskin." 
 
 " I am already sorry," replied Ethelston, moved hy the 
 earnest simplicity of the scarred and weather-beaten boatman. 
 " I am already sorry that I have done you wrong, but you 
 will make allowance for my impatience and anxiety concerning 
 my brother's fate ! " (Ethelston always spoke of Reginald as 
 his brother, for he had a secret and undefined pleasure in so 
 doing, as it implied his union with the sister of his friend.) 
 Paul Miiller, easily guessing from the few words that had 
 passed that the person now addressing Bearskin was the Ed- 
 ward Ethelston of whom Reginald had so often spoken to him, 
 said, 
 
 " Sir, you certainly did an injustice to Bearskin, in think- 
 ing him capable of deserting a friend in need ; but the apology 
 you have offered is, I am sure, sufficient to satisfy him. The 
 intelligence which I have to communicate respecting Reginald 
 Brandon and his party is in some respects exceedingly melan- 
 choly ; if you will accompany me to our lodging, which is just 
 at hand, I will explain it to you in full ; meanwhile, rest satis- 
 fied with the assurance that, to the best of our belief, your 
 friend is safe and well in health." 
 
 As soon as they had entered the house, Bearskin, forgetting 
 the hasty words which had so much hurt his feelings, busied 
 himself in preparing some refreshment for Ethelston, while the 
 missionary related to him all that had occurred since his friend 
 joined the Delaware encampment. He did not even conceal 
 from him the violent passion that the latter had conceived for 
 Prairie-bird, and the despair with which, on his return to the 
 village from the Sioux expedition, he would learn the de- 
 struction of her kindred, and her own captivity among the 
 Osages. 
 
 " Indeed, my good sir," said Ethelston, se I must freely 
 confess that this portion of your intelligence is the only one 
 that brings with it any comfort: the fate of Mike Smith and 
 his companions, and the destruction of the unoffending Dela- 
 wares, are disasters deeply to be lamented ; but, surely, the fact 
 of the Osage chief having carried off the Indian maiden whom 
 
THE PRAIRIK-BIRD. 293 
 
 you call Prairie-bird, and who seems to have exercised such a 
 strange fascination over Reginald Brandon, can scarcely be re- 
 gretted : for she will be more likely to find a congenial mate 
 among the red-skins, and a bitter disappointment will be spared 
 to my excellent guardian Colonel Brandon." 
 
 " I know not, my son," answered the missionary mildly ; 
 " the ways of Providence are inscrutable, and it does frequently 
 happen, as you say, that events which we lament at the mo- 
 ment, afford afterwards just grounds for rejoicing. Neverthe- 
 less, I cannot view this matter exactly as you do, for I have 
 known the maiden from her childhood, and she is a more 
 fitting bride for a Christian gentleman, than for a heathen 
 warrior." 
 
 " I did, indeed, hear the Colonel, and the other members of 
 the family at Mooshanne, say that the Delaware youth who so 
 bravely defended the life of Reginald at the risk of his own 
 had spoken in the highest terms of praise respecting his sister 
 the Prairie-bird, as if she were a being of a superior race ; but 
 you, my good father, are above the prejudices which darken 
 the minds of these Indians ; and you must therefore know, that 
 whatever may be her beauty and amiable qualities, she is, after 
 all, the daughter of a Delaware chief, and, as such, could not 
 be a welcome inmate of my guardian's house." 
 
 " Nay, my son," replied the missionary, <f she is but the 
 adopted child of the venerable Delaware who lately fell in the 
 massacre which I have related to you ; she was not of his 
 blood nor of his race ; such qualities and nature as she pos- 
 sesses have been in some measure the fruit of my own care and 
 toil. Were it not that you might mistake my language for 
 that of boasting, I would say, that although the prairie has 
 been her dwelling, and a Lenape tent her home, she does not 
 in her education fall far short of your maidens in the settle- 
 ments, who have had greater advantages of instruction." 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted by the entrance of a 
 negro with refreshment, preceded by Bearskin, bearing in his 
 hand a bottle of French brandy, of which he vaunted, not 
 without reason, the excellent quality and flavour ; but Ethel- 
 ston continued to converse in an under tone with the missionary, 
 his countenance evincing every moment increased eagerness and 
 interest in the subject of their discourse, which so absorbed his 
 attention, that he never noticed the honest boatman's repeat?^ 
 u S 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 attempts to call his attention to the refreshment which he had 
 prepared. Even Paul Muller was unable to comprehend this 
 sudden change in his manner, and his vehement desire to know 
 all the most minute particulars respecting a person of whom he 
 had spoken a few minutes before in terms of disparagement ; but 
 he attributed it to the interest which he took in his friend's se- 
 lected bride, and satisfied his curiosity to the best of his ability. 
 
 When all his many and rapidly uttered questions were an- 
 swered, Ethelston rose from his seat, and abruptly took his 
 departure, saying, as he left the room, " Thanks, thanks, my 
 good friends., you shall see me again ere long." 
 
 f( Indeed I care not much how long it may be before I see 
 his face again," said Bearskin sulkily. " Here have I been 
 bothering myself to make Pompey bring up these cakes and 
 fruits, and I have opened a bottle of Father Antin's best 
 brandy, and he goes off without tasting with us, or so much 
 as taking a drop to wash down the ill words which were in his 
 mouth a while since." 
 
 " Nay, my good friend," replied the missionary, " be not 
 hasty to censure Master Ethelston, for he is a true and zealous 
 friend to Reginald Brandon, and the news from the west seems 
 to have affected him with much anxiety and alarm." 
 
 " That's all very well for you learned folk," said the un- 
 pacified boatman, " but we don't do things after that fashion 
 on the river-side ; and for all he's the son of an-old friend of 
 the Colonel's, when he comes this way again he's like to hear 
 something of my notion of his manners." 
 
 " What sort of character bears he at home ? " 
 
 " Why, to tell the truth, his character's indifferent good ; I 
 never heard of his bein' rude or on civil- like before." 
 
 "Well, then, Bearskin, if he comes here again, give him an 
 opportunity for explaining his sudden departure, before you 
 take or express any offence at conduct of which you may not 
 rightly understand the motives. Come, my good friend, clear 
 your brow, and let us partake with gratitude of the excellent 
 cheer that you have provided." 
 
 Thus saying the missionary placed himself with his com- 
 panion at table, and the ill-temper of the latter was dispelled 
 by the first glass of Father Antin's cognac. 
 
 After this interview with Paul Muller, Ethelston pursued 
 the business which had brought him to St. Louis with such 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 vigour and energy, that at the close of a week's negotiation he 
 was able to inform Colonel Brandon that by sacrificing a small 
 portion of the disputed claim, he had adjusted the matter upon 
 terms which he trusted his guardian would not consider dis- 
 advantageous ; his letter concluded thus : 
 
 " Having now explained these transactions, and informed 
 you in another letter of the melancholy fate of Mike Smith 
 and some of his companions, I must announce to you my in- 
 tention of setting off immediately in search of Reginald, with 
 the best-appointed force that I can collect here, for I am 
 seriously apprehensive for his safety, surrounded as he is by 
 roving tribes of Indians, with some of whom he and his party 
 are at open war ; while the band of Delawares, upon whose 
 friendship he might have relied, is almost destroyed. As it 
 may be a work of some time and difficulty to find Reginald in a 
 region of such boundless extent, I must entreat you not to feel 
 uneasy on my account, should my absence be more protracted 
 than I would wish it to be, for I shall be accompanied by 
 Bearskin and other experienced trappers ; and I know that 
 even Lucy would have no smile for me on my return, if I 
 came back to Mooshanne without making every exertion to 
 extricate her brother from the difficulties in which these un- 
 expected incidents have involved him." 
 
 By the same post Ethelston wrote also to inform Lucy of 
 his resolution ; and though she felt extremely vexed and 
 anxious on account of the lengthened absence which it fore- 
 told, still she did him the justice in her heart to own that he 
 was acting as she would have wished him to act. 
 
 Not a day passed that he did not consult with Paul 
 Miiller, and also with the most experienced agents of the 
 fur companies, in order that he might provide the articles 
 most requisite for his contemplated expedition, and secure 
 the services of men thoroughly trained and accustomed to 
 mountain and prairie life. 
 
 In this last respect he was fortunate enough to engage a man 
 named Pierre, a half-brued from the Upper Missouri, whose 
 life had been spent among the most remote trading-posts, 
 where his skill as a hunter, as well as in interpreting Indian 
 languages, was held in high estimation. Bearskin, who was 
 almost recovered from his wound, and from his short fit of ill- 
 humour with Ethelston, agreed to join the party, and the 
 u 4 
 
296 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 good missionary resolved to brave all dangers and fatigues 
 in the hope -of rejoining, and perhaps of being instrumental in 
 rescuing, his beloved pupil. 
 
 With unwearied industry and exertion Ethelston was able, 
 in one week subsequent to the date of his letter, to leave 
 St. Louis in search of his friend, attended by eight hardy 
 and experienced men, all of whom, excepting the mission- 
 ary, were well armed, and furnished with excellent horses, 
 mules, and every necessary for their long and arduous under- 
 taking. 
 
 Guided by Bearskin, they reached without accident or ad- 
 venture the site of the desolate Lenape village, in the Osage 
 country, and there fell in with one of the young Delawares 
 detached by War-Eagle to observe what might be passing in 
 the neighbourhood : from this youth they learnt that War- 
 Eagle and Reginald, with a small party, had gone westward 
 in pursuit of Mahega, and that the large body of the surviving 
 Delawares were on the trail of the more numerous band of the 
 treacherous Osages. 
 
 Ethelston wished to go on at once in search of his friend, 
 but the youth insisted that he should first assist his band in 
 taking vengeance on their enemies. Promises and threats 
 proved equally unavailing ; and after the missionary had ex- 
 hausted all his eloquence in endeavouring to promote peace, he 
 was himself compelled to assure Ethelston that his only chance 
 of finding the trail of his friend in a spot so intersected by 
 multitudinous paths, was to accede to the terms proposed by 
 the Indian ; he concluded in these words : 
 
 " Doubtless the conduct of these Osages was bloodthirsty 
 and treacherous. I cannot deny that they deserve punishment, 
 but I would fain have left them to the chastisement of a higher 
 Power ; I know, however, that I cannot change the notion of 
 retributive justice entertained by the Indians ; and although I 
 cannot prevent retaliation, my presence may soften the severi- 
 ties by which it is usually accompanied ; at all events I will 
 not shrink from the attempt, especially as it is the only means 
 by which we can possibly hope to trace those in whose safety 
 we are so deeply interested." 
 
 Ethelston could not press any further objection ; and his 
 party, under the guidance of the young Delaware, was soon in 
 rapid motion upon the trail of the larger body of the Osages, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 297 
 
 who were, as it may be remembered, already pursued by a band 
 of Lenape warriors. 
 
 Towards the close of the second day's march, Ethelston 
 and his party met the latter returning in triumph from a 
 successful pursuit of their enemies, whom they had overtaken 
 and surprised before they could reach the main body of the 
 Osage village. The attack was made by night, and the Dela- 
 wares had taken many scalps without the loss of a single man ; 
 but their number was not sufficient to justify their remaining 
 in the neighbourhood of a force so much superior to their own, 
 so they had retreated to the southward, and were now on the 
 way to their former village, where they intended to perform 
 more at leisure the funeral ceremonies due to their aged chief, 
 and those who had been killed with him, and to appease their 
 unquiet spirits by offering at their graves the trophies taken 
 during their late expedition. A few of the most daring and 
 adventurous entreated permission to join Ethelston's band in his 
 search for War-Eagle, their favourite leader ; nor was he by 
 any means sorry to grant their request, justly considering the 
 addition of ten well-armed Lenape warriors as a most desirable 
 reinforcement to his party. 
 
 As soon as the selection was made, they separated at once 
 from the remaining body of Delawares, and, guided by the 
 youth before mentioned, threw themselves upon the trail of 
 M ah eg a and his pursuers. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE OSAGES ENCAMP NEAR THE BASE OP THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 
 AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR ARRIVES. 
 
 AFTER parting with the Aricaras, Mahe'ga travelled westward 
 for many days over that barren and desolate region lying 
 between the sources of the Platte and Arkansas rivers, without 
 falling in with any other Indians : his party was guided by a 
 grim and scarred warrior, who had been on several hunting 
 excursions to the Rocky Mountains, in the course of which he 
 had been more than once engaged with the Shiennes, Crows, 
 and other tribes, whose names have of late years become 
 
298 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 familiar to the general reader, but who were then known only 
 to the few adventurous spirits who had pushed their way into 
 that wild and dangerous country. 
 
 Prairie-bird, attended by her faithful Lita, and mounted on 
 her high-mettled and sure-footed pony, was placed near the 
 centre of the line of march, and Mahega himself always 
 brought up the rear, that being the post usually occupied by 
 an Indian chief on all occasions,, excepting when engaged in 
 attack or pursuit of a foe. 
 
 The maiden seemed to have resigned herself composedly to 
 her captive condition ; and if she still harboured thoughts, or 
 projects of escape, none could detect them in the quiet obser- 
 vant eye with which she noted the new and interesting objects 
 presented to her view. They had already passed the chain of 
 hills known as the Ozark range, and leaving the Black Hills to 
 the northward, were crossing the sandy elevated plain which 
 lies between them and the Rocky Mountains : the sand of this 
 district is of a reddish hue, and in many places the hollows 
 and small ravines are incrusted with salt, which gives them, at 
 first, the appearance of being covered with snow ; large masses 
 of rock salt are also of frequent occurrence, and give to the 
 waters of all the smaller tributaries of the Upper Arkansas a 
 brackish and briny taste. 
 
 One evening., a little before sunset, Prairie-bird checked her 
 horse, to enjoy at leisure the magnificent panorama before her j 
 and even the suspicious Mahega forbore to interrupt her enjoy- 
 ment of its beauties, contenting himself with viewing them as 
 reflected on her own lovely countenance. To the northward 
 was an abrupt crag of sandstone rock, towering above the 
 plain, over which the party were now travelling ; its rugged 
 outline broken into a thousand fissures and rents, probably by 
 the might of a rushing torrent in bygone years, frowned like 
 the turrets and battlements of an ancient feudal castle, and the 
 maiden's fancy (recurring to some of the tales which had found 
 their way into her slender library) peopled its lofty towers and 
 spacious courts below with a splendid host of chivalry, fairest 
 and foremost amongst whom was the proud and martial figure 
 of Reginald Brandon ! 
 
 Brushing a teardrop from her eye, she averted it from the 
 castellated bluff, and turned it westward, where was spread a 
 gradually ascending plain, covered with cedars, pines, and rich 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 299 
 
 masses of various forest growth ; far beyond which the Great 
 Peak, highest of the Northern Andes, reared its majestic form, 
 the setting sun shedding a flood of golden light upon the 
 eternal snow reposing on its crest. With admiring wonder, 
 Prairie-bird, to whom the dread magnificence of mountain 
 scenery was new, gazed on the mighty landscape stretched out 
 before her ; she held her breath as the rays of the sinking sun 
 changed the golden fleecy haze around the distant peak to a 
 rosy hue, and soon again to a deeper saffron tint ; and -when, 
 at last., it disappeared behind the rocky barrier in the west, 
 Prairie-bird covered her eyes with her hands, as if to enjoy 
 over again in memory a scene of such surpassing beauty. 
 
 " Yes," she exclaimed half aloud; " many of the works of 
 man are wonderful, and the fictions of his fancy yet more 
 marvellous; even visions such as rose before my imagination, 
 when contemplating yon rugged craggy height ; but what are 
 they, when compared to the living wonders of creation ! Al- 
 mighty Creator merciful Father ! Thou hast led the steps 
 of thy feeble and helpless child to this wild and remote moun- 
 tain solitude ! it is rilled with Thy presence ! Thou art her 
 protector and guide her trust is in Thee ! " 
 
 Mahe'ga gazed with awe on the maiden as, with parted lips, 
 and eyes upturned to the glowing western heaven, she seemed 
 to commune with some unseen mysterious Being ; and the 
 other Indians, watchful of their leader's countenance, kept at 
 a respectful distance until her short reverie was past, when the 
 party resumed their march towards the spot chosen for the 
 evening encampment. 
 
 The journey over the ascending sandy plain before men- 
 tioned, occupied several days, at the end of which they reached 
 the opening of a fertile valley, sheltered on three sides by steep 
 ridges, well covered with wood, and watered by a clear stream : 
 far as the eye could reach, the plain to the southward was 
 studded with vast herds of buffalos grazing in undisturbed 
 security ; the timid antelope bounded across the distant prairie ; 
 and as the travellers entered the valley, the quick eye of Ma- 
 hega detected on the velvet turf stretched beneath the northern 
 ridge, numerous tracks of the mountain deer and of the argali, 
 or big-horn, a species of goat, the chamois of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains, found generally among the most rugged cliffs and pre- 
 cipices ; to the scenery of which his long beard, bright eyes, 
 
300 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and enormous twisted horn, give a wild and picturesque effect. 
 Mahega was so struck with the singular advantages offered by 
 this valley, both as affording a sheltered camp, ample pasturage 
 for the horses, and a plentiful supply of game, that he resolved 
 to take up there his summer quarters, and in selecting the spot 
 for his encampment displayed the sagacity and foresight pecu- 
 liar to his character. 
 
 About a mile from the point where the valley opened upon 
 the plain, there was, at the base of the northern ridge, a curved 
 and secluded verdant basin of turf, the entrance to which was 
 so narrow and so well shaded by overhanging trees, that it was 
 not visible from any distance, and could not be approached on 
 any other side, owing to the precipitous height of the crags 
 by which it was surrounded ; on an elevated peak or promon- 
 tory, immediately above the opening which led to this natural 
 lawn, grew a number of thick, massive, dwarf cedars, from under 
 the shade of which a clear-sighted man could command a view 
 of the whole valley, and give early notice, to those encamped 
 below, of the approach of danger. Having satisfied himself 
 that by posting a watchman there he could secure himself 
 against the unperceived attack of any foe, Mahega left three 
 of his most trustworthy men in charge of Olitipa, and having 
 despatched the remainder of his party to kill buffalo, pro- 
 ceeded to make a careful scrutiny of the valley, in order to 
 ascertain whether there were signs of Indians in the neigh- 
 bourhood, and whether, in the event of his being compelled to 
 shift his quarters, he could find any defile through which it 
 might be practicable to effect a retreat. 
 
 For three whole days he pursued his search with unremitting 
 toil, during which time he ascertained that there were no 
 visible traces of Indians being near, and that three miles 
 higher up the valley there was a transverse opening in the 
 northern ridge, which led to another and a larger valley, 
 through which flowed a river of considerable magnitude. In 
 the mean time the Osages had not been idle, and although little 
 pleased to perform menial services, such as are usually left to 
 their women, they pitched the tent of Olitipa, with much 
 taste, at the foot of a huge rock, and between two lofty pines ; 
 next to it they constructed, at a distance of only a few yards, 
 a lodge for their chief, by stretching double piles of buffalo- 
 hide over bent poles, cut after their fashion ; and again, beyond 
 
THE PRAIHIE-BIBD. 301 
 
 that, they raised a larger and ruder skin lodge for themselves ; 
 the guitar, and the few moveables belonging to Prairie-bird 
 were carefully piled in her tent ; and, as a watch was stationed 
 at the opening to the valley, she was free to wander as she 
 pleased among the trees which bordered the edge of the lawn 
 on which they were encamped. 
 
 " Surely," said the maiden, casting her eyes upward to the 
 beetling crags above, and then letting them rest upon the green 
 turf at her feet, " if it be God's pleasure that 1 should be a 
 captive still, he has granted me, at least, the favour of a goodly 
 prison wherein to dwell." 
 
 She observed with gratitude the change that had taken 
 place in the demeanour of Mahega towards herself: so far 
 from being harsh or violent, he was respectful in the highest 
 degree ; and, whether the change was owing to his fears, or to 
 more creditable motives on the part of the Osage, she followed 
 the advice tendered by the missionary, by treating him with 
 courteous gentleness. Whenever he addressed her, it was in 
 Delaware ; and her perfect familiarity with that tongue*ren- 
 dered it easy for her to make such replies as the occasion might 
 demand, sometimes ambiguous, sometimes mysterious, but 
 always such as were not calculated to irritate or offend his 
 pride. 
 
 Venison and buffalo meat abounded in the Osage camp, the 
 choicest morsels being always set apart for the use of Prairie - 
 bird ; and Lita gathered for her various kinds of berries, which 
 are plentiful in that region, some of them resembling the 
 gooseberry, the serviceberry, and others of excellent flavour ; 
 there was also found an esculent root, called by the Indians 
 " o-ka-no-mi," of a farinaceous quality, which the Comanche 
 girl had often seen on her native plains, and from which, when 
 she had beaten and pulverised it between two flat stones, she 
 baked a kind of cake, that was by no means unpalatable. 
 
 The Osages had now been encamped nearly a week on this 
 pleasant and sheltered spot, dividing their time between their 
 two favourite occupations of hunting and smoking : neither 
 had any fresh Indian trail been discovered, to arouse their 
 suspicion or their watchfulness. Before retiring to rest, it was 
 usual for Mahega to come before the tent of Prairie -bi rd ; 
 and she, aware of the helplessness of her situation, came 
 forth to meet him, receiving with guarded courtesy the fine 
 
302 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 compliments which he thought fit to pay her, and replying in 
 a tone which, although not directly encouraging to his hopes, 
 was calculated to soothe the irritation which her former treat- 
 ment of him, and the recollection of his unsuccessful struggle 
 with Reginald, had left upon his mind. 
 
 And here we may pause to observe how the strange contradic- 
 tions that are found in the human character frequently produce 
 a line of conduct which would, at first sight, appear irreconcilable 
 with all probability, and yet which is in strict accordance with 
 the secret workings of the wayward will by which it is directed. 
 Thus Mahega, when he first became smitten with the beauty 
 of Prairie-bird in the Delaware camp, where she was sur- 
 rounded by friends and protectors, wooed her with the rough 
 impetuosity of his nature, and, finding his advances rejected, 
 he resorted, as we have seen, to brutal violence, his passion 
 being so much heightened by the obstacles which it encoun- 
 tered, that, in order to gratify it, he provoked that quarrel 
 with the Delawares in which so much blood, both of his own 
 people and of his allies, had been already shed. Now that he 
 was triumphant, and felt secure of the person of his captive, a 
 new and ardent desire had arisen within him, a desire to 
 compel her to love him. In this pursuit, also, his proud 
 and haughty spirit led him to anticipate success j and thus, for 
 a time, the darker and more malignant feelings of his bosom 
 slumbered undisturbed. 
 
 One evening, when he had held his customary talk with 
 Prairie-bird, he retired to his lodge, and the maiden to her 
 tent, where she took up her long-neglected guitar, and ran 
 her fingers carelessly through its strings. Lita sat by her side, 
 braiding the front of a pair of mocassins with stained quills of 
 the porcupine ; and, although neither sigh nor tear betrayed 
 her feelings, Prairie-bird, whose heart now led her intuitively 
 to dive into that of her companion, saw that sad and busy 
 thoughts were there : the Comanche girl, proud and reserved as 
 she was with others, had been won, by the gentleness of her 
 mistress, to entertain for her an attachment, that was now 
 strengthened and cemented by the trials and dangers which 
 they had shared together. It might, indeed, be supposed that, 
 as both were now captives of the chief of another tribe, the 
 relation of Distress and servant had ceased ; yet Lita seemed to 
 
THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 303 
 
 think otherwise, and her attendance upon Prairie-bird was, if 
 possible, more devoted than before. 
 
 *' For whom are you ornamenting those mocassins, Lita ? " 
 inquired the latter, with a sad smile. 
 
 " For whom ? " repeated Lita, casting up her dark eyes, and 
 fixing them on her mistress as if she would read her soul. 
 The tone in which the exclamation was uttered, and the look 
 by which it was accompanied, assured Prairie-bird that her 
 conjectures were well founded. 
 
 When the heart is full, one overflowing drop tells the con- 
 tents of the golden chalice ; and from the two words spoken 
 by her companion, Olitipa gathered her meaning as well as if 
 she had replied, " Is there any other being on earth but one for 
 whom I can be braiding them ?" 
 
 The voice of Prairie-bird trembled with a conscious fellow- 
 feeling as she said, " Lita, I ask not to know your secret, 
 but I pray to the Great Spirit so to direct the steps of him 
 for whom those mocassins are made, that he may receive 
 them at your hands, and wear them for your sake ! " 
 
 On hearing these words, a deep blush came over the face 
 and neck of the Comanche girl ; a word of kindness bad 
 touched a spring which, in her wild and wayward nature, would 
 have been unmoved by fear or by violence, and she threw 
 herself into the arms of Prairie-bird, giving vent to long- 
 concealed emotions in a flood of tears. 
 
 Scarcely had she regained her composure and resumed her 
 braiding, when the quick ear of Prairie-bird caught the sound 
 of a low chirrup, like that of a grasshopper, close at the back 
 of the tent : she remembered to have heard that signal before ; 
 the blood fled from her cheek, and she held her breath in 
 agitated silence : again the sound was repeated, and Prairie- 
 bird stole to the corner of the tent whence it proceeded, and 
 stooping her head, said, in English, " If Wingenund is 
 there, let him speak." 
 
 " My sister ! " whispered the soft voice of the youth in reply. 
 
 " Tis he ! 'tis my dear young brother himself ! " 
 
 " Is all quiet, Prairie-bird ?" 
 
 " All is quiet." 
 
 " Then Wingenur.d will pull out one of these tent-pegs, 
 and creep in below the canvas, he has much to say to his 
 sister." 
 
304? THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 In spite of the emotion caused by her brother's sudden 
 appearance, and by the recollection that, if discovered, his life 
 would certainly be forfeited, Prairie-bird retained sufficient 
 presence of mind to continue passing her fingers through the 
 chords of her guitar, in order to drown the noise made by 
 Wingenund in removing the fastenings, and effecting his en- 
 trance below the tent. At length he stood before her ; and, 
 after gazing sadly, fondly, on his countenance for a few mo- 
 ments, she fell upon his neck and wept ! The figure was 
 indeed that of her favourite brother ; but oh, how changed 
 since she had last seen him ! Cold, wet, sleepless nights, 
 fatigue, and hunger, had all combined to wear and exhaust a 
 frame which, although cast in nature's fairest and most grace- 
 ful mould, had not yet reached the enduring strength of man- 
 hood : his once gay attire was soiled and ragged, the mocassins 
 on his feet were of undressed bison-hide, torn, and scarcely 
 affording any protection against the stones and thorny plants 
 with which that region abounds ; his light bow, with a few 
 arrows still hung at his back, and the hunting-knife at his 
 girdle : this was all that remained of the gay accoutrements 
 with which he had been adorned in the Osage village ; yet, 
 although the frame was emaciated, and the cheeks sunken, the 
 proud lustre of his eye told of a spirit unquenched by suffer- 
 ing, and rising superior to the trials which had almost de- 
 stroyed its earthly tenement. Prairie-bird longed to ask a 
 hundred questions in a breath : how he had come ? whether he 
 had seen or learnt any thing of War-Eagle, and of Reginald ? 
 but affectionate compassion for her young brother's sad condition 
 overcoming every other feeling, she said to him, " Dear, dear 
 Wingenund, you are wearied to death, sit by me and rest ; 
 you are starved, are you not ?" 
 
 " Wingenund has not eaten for two days," replied the 
 youth, seating himself gently at his sister's side. 
 
 Fortunately, more than half of the evening meal appor- 
 tioned to Prairie-bird and Lita remained untouched in the 
 tent, and the latter instantly set before the youth some well- 
 cooked cakes and bison meat, luxuries such as had not passed 
 his lips for many a day ; and having also placed a vessel of 
 water within his reach, she went, with the intuitive delicacy 
 and sagacity of her sex, towards the opening of the tent, so as 
 to afford Prairie-bird an opportunity of speaking unrestrain- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 30*5 
 
 edly to her brother, and at the same time to secure them as far 
 as possible against interruption. Wingenund, with all big 
 heroic patience and self-denial, was a young half-starved 
 Indian, and the delicacies set before him vanished in a few 
 minutes, as if they had been placed before a famished wolf. 
 Prairie-bird offered him a draught of water, adding, with an 
 affectionate smile, " My brother, 'tis well that there is no 
 more meat ; a full meal is dangerous after so long a fast ! " 
 
 " It is enough," replied the youth ; " Wingenund is well 
 now." 
 
 "Tell me, then, how you have followed to this distant 
 region, and whether you have seen any thing of War- Eagle, 
 and of his friends ?" 
 
 " Wingenund has seen none," he replied ; " nothing except 
 the trail of Mahe'ga, and that he would have followed to the 
 big salt lake, or to death." 
 
 " But how has it been possible for you to pursue the trail 
 undiscovered, to find food, and to avoid strange Indians on the 
 path ? " 
 
 " Wingenund kept far behind the Washashee ; their eyes 
 could not reach him ; he has left on every day's trail marks 
 that War- Eagle will know ; they will speak to him as plainly 
 as my sister's Medicine-book tells her the Great Spirit's will. 
 He will come soon, and his friends with him." 
 
 " But my brother has not told me how he procured food on 
 this toilsome journey ? " 
 
 " When the Lenape's heart is full he thinks little of food," 
 replied the youth proudly. He added, in a more subdued 
 tone: " It was not easy to find meat, for the Washashee had 
 driven the bison from their path, and Wingenund could not 
 leave their trail. Twice he has met bad Indians, who tried 
 to kill him." 
 
 " And how did he escape them, being without a horse ? " 
 inquired Prairie-bird. 
 
 " They were too many for him to fight, and he ran from 
 them ; but being weak with hunger, one Aricara overtook him 
 by the waters of the Arkansas. Wingenund shot him, and, 
 plunging into the river, dived ; and the others never found 
 him ; but Wingenund lost his rifle, and since then he has 
 eaten only roots and fruit." 
 
 The simple narrative of the hardships and sufferings which 
 x 
 
306 THF, PRAIR1E-B1RP. 
 
 her young brother had undergone for her sake, and which his 
 emaciated appearance attested but too well, brought fresh tears 
 to the eyes of Prairie-bird ; but she checked them as well as 
 she was able, and said, cc Tell me yet one more thing ; how 
 have you been able to reach this spot unperceived by the 
 Osage watchmen ? " 
 
 " Wingenund saw from far the camp chosen by Mahega ; 
 he saw that he could not approach it in front ; but the rocks 
 behind are rough and high ; he made a rope of bark and grass, 
 climbed up the height, and let himself down from a pine-tree 
 above the tent ; but in case he should be discovered and killed 
 by the Osages, he has left an arrow where War-Eagle is sure 
 to find it, and the arrow will show him where to come." 
 
 *' Dear, dear Wingenund, you are indeed a brother," said 
 the maiden, deeply moved by the mingled foresight, patience, 
 and devotion that he had evinced. " You are, indeed, a worthy 
 son of the ancient people." 
 
 Here she was interrupted by a shrill cry ; Lita was at the 
 same instant thrown rudely aside by Mahega, who rushed into 
 the tent, followed by two of his warriors. Wingenund sprang 
 to his feet ; but ere he could draw the knife from his girdle he 
 was seized by the Osages, and his arms pinioned behind his 
 back. 
 
 Dark and louring was the frown which the angry chief 
 cast upon his prisoner. The Delaware youth quailed not 
 before it; the hour of trial had arrived, and the haughty 
 spirit rising within him, triumphed over all that he had under- 
 gone ; all that he knew he had yet to undergo. He drew 
 himself to the full height of his graceful figure ; and fixing 
 his bright keen eye full upon Mahdga, awaited his fate in 
 silence. 
 
 " Has the cunning antelope of the Delawares run so far to 
 see the den of the Black Wolf? " demanded the chief, with a 
 contemptuous sneer. " Has the buffalo bull sent the calf on 
 a path that he was afraid to tread himself ? Have the Lenap 
 girls sent one of their number to carry wood and water for the 
 Washashee warriors ?" 
 
 Mahega paused; and on finding that his cowardly and 
 brutal jeers called forth no reply, nor changed a muscle on the 
 haughty countenance before him, his anger grew more un- 
 governable, and he exclaimed in a voice of thunder, " If the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 307 
 
 cmr-dog will not bark, the whip, and the knife, and the fire 
 shall find him a tongue ! If he wishes not to be torn in pieces 
 on the spot, let him say what brought him to the Osage camp, 
 and where he has left War-Eagle and his pale-faced friends ! " 
 
 Neither to the threats nor the inquiries of Mahega did Win- 
 genund deign to make any reply, and the enraged chief struck 
 him across the face with the heavy bull-hide whip suspended 
 from his wrist*; the blow was given with such force that it 
 laid open the youth's cheek, and a stream of blood poured 
 from the cut. At the sight of this unmanly outrage, the self- 
 control of Prairie-bird almost gave way ; but a look from her 
 brother recalled her to herself, and checked the impulse which 
 would have led to the utterance of entreaty mingled with 
 indignant reproach. 
 
 " Speak not, my sister," said the hero boy in the Delaware 
 tongue ; " speak not to the cowardly Washashee wolf ! Waste 
 not your breath on one who has only courage to strike when 
 his enemy's hands are tied ! " 
 
 Mahega fixed his eyes upon the maiden, and a sudden 
 thought lighted up his countenance with a gleam of malignant 
 triumph. Approaching close to her, he said in a stern lovr 
 whisper, " To-morrow, before the sun goes down, Olitipa be- 
 comes the bride of Mahega, or that boy is burnt at a slow 
 fire with such tortures as the Lenapn never thought of in 
 dreams ! " So saying, he ordered the prisoner to be carefully 
 guarded, and left the tent. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 WAR-EAGLE'S PARTY FOLLOW THE TRAIL. A SKIRMISH AND ITS 
 
 RESULTS. THE CHIEF UNDERTAKES A PERILOUS JOURNEY 
 
 ALONE, AND HIS COilPANIONS FIKD SUFFICIENT OCCUPATION 
 DURING HIS ABSENCE. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the pains that Wingenund had taken to 
 leave on the trail such occasional indications as might assist 
 
 * The Indians in the Missouri constantly carry a short whip of bull or cow-hide 
 suspended from their wrist, with which, when in pursuit of buffalo or any other 
 game, they lash their horses most unmercifully. 
 
 x 2 
 
308 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 War-Eagle in following it, the progress made by the latter 
 was much slower than might have been expected by any one 
 who knew the fierce desire of vengeance that burnt within 
 him. Several times did the impatience of Reginald Brandon 
 vent itself in words, which he addressed in an under-tone to 
 Baptiste. 
 
 " I fear that my Delaware brother has lost some of his 
 energies, in this great calamity which has befallen his tribe ; 
 when he followed the Dahcotah trail his foot was light and 
 swift ; now, when more than life and death may hang upon 
 the events of an hour, his march is heavy and slow as that of a 
 jaded ox." 
 
 " Master Reginald," replied the guide, " you do the War- 
 Eagle wrong. A trail on this hard barren region is not like 
 one in the prairies of Illinois or Missouri, where, in every 
 little bottom, there are patches of long grass on which it is 
 marked as plain as a high-road. We have passed to-day 
 several trails of strange Indians, probably Aricaras or Upsa- 
 rokas*; had the War-Eagle made a mistake and followed one 
 of these, we might have wandered several days before we 
 recovered our right route ; watch his eye, it is bent on the 
 ground, not a blade of grass escapes it ; he has not time for a 
 word, even with you." 
 
 (C I believe you are right, Baptiste ; yet I have now studied 
 my Delaware brother's countenance and character for some 
 time. I have seen him under the influence of strong, ay of 
 deadly passion, and I truly wondered at his self-control : but 
 there seems now to be a dull heavy load upon his spirit, as if 
 it were overwhelmed." 
 
 " Look at your feet this moment," quoth the guide ; " and 
 tell me if, on this hard spot, you can trace the trail on which 
 we are moving." 
 
 " In truth I could not," said Reginald, looking down ; " I 
 grant our friend's sagacity in following it, but what has that 
 to do with the state of his mind and temper, which we were 
 discussing ? " 
 
 " More, perhaps, than you think, Master Reginald. Along 
 this very path the steps of Mahega and his warriors have 
 
 * Upsaroka, the Indian name of the tribe usually designated in Reeky Mountain 
 travels as the " Crows ; " a fierce roving nation, who were then, as they still are, 
 at deadly enmity with their neighbours the Blackfeet, and agree with them only io 
 the propensity to plunder or kill white men, whenever opportunity offers. 
 
THE PEAIRIE-BIUD. 309 
 
 passed, the hoofs of the horse bearing Olitipa have trod it : it 
 is now broad daylight, yet you can see nothing ; do you 
 wonder, then, that you cannot discern the trail of the thoughts 
 and purposes that travel, in the dark, over the heart of the 
 Delaware ? " 
 
 " Baptiste," said Reginald, smiling, " I knew that you 
 were a skilful hunter, and an experienced woodsman ; but I 
 never before knew that you were a philosopher !" 
 
 " Nor I either, Master Reginald ; but perhaps I may not 
 be one after all. What is a philosopher ? " 
 
 This blunt question from the sturdy guide, seemed some- 
 what puzzling to his young master : and the former continued, 
 laughing, "Well, I suppose it's some curious kind o' crittur 
 or other that we never heard df in the woods ; and you don't 
 seem to have met it often yourself, or you'd not find it so hard 
 to give a description of it ! " 
 
 " You are right, Baptiste ; it is a creature not very often 
 met with, either in the woods or in civilised life ; but as I 
 have likened you to it, I am in duty bound to describe it to 
 you as well as I can. A philosopher is a man whose desires 
 are moderate, and his passions under due control ; who can 
 trace human actions to their real motives, and effects to their 
 true causes; who can read the character of others without 
 prejudice, and study his own without self-partiality ; who 
 can bear prosperity without pride, and adversity without re- 
 pining ; such is my idea of a philospher : the sketch is rough, 
 but sufficient to give you some notion of the object in view." 
 
 The guide was silent for a few moments ; he took off his 
 hairy cap and twirled it several times round in his bony hands, 
 as was his frequent custom when perplexed. At length he 
 replied, " Well, Master Reginald, if that be what you call a 
 philosopher, I'm sure War-Eagle is more like one than I am, 
 and perhaps you'll not take offence if I say that he is more 
 like one than you are yourself : it comes natural to an Ingian 
 to read his neighbour's heart, and hide what passes in his own; 
 and, as to governing his passions, I think you have seen enough 
 to convince you that, although they were as hot and wild as 
 was the horse which you bestride, they are now as obedient to 
 the bridle as Nekimi." 
 
 " I grant it," said Reginald, reining in the proud steed 
 alluded to in the guide's illustration; " I grant it; and see 
 x 3 
 
310 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 how earnestly our Delaware friend is now bent upon his task ; 
 he has made a signal for the party to halt, and is stooping to 
 examine a blade of grass, as if life itself depended upon his 
 acute sagacity. 
 
 It was, indeed, as the young man said ; the Delaware chief 
 had stooped to examine a bunch of grass by the side of the 
 trail, in which his quick glance had detected a small object 
 which would have escaped a less-practised eye : with a sub- 
 dued exclamation of surprise he seized it, and concealed it for 
 a moment in his hand, a ray of animation lighting up his fine 
 countenance ; it was but for a moment, his features almost 
 immediately relapsed into their usual melancholy grave expres- 
 sion ; and drawing near to Reginald, he put into his hands a 
 small golden clasp, saying, 
 
 " My brother, War-Eagle knows it well ; it was given by 
 the Black Father to Olitipa : the trail is clear as the great white 
 pathway of heaven."* 
 
 Reginald took the clasp, and seizing the hand which held it, 
 he pressed it in silence to his heart: he had marked the vary- 
 ing expression on War-Eagle's countenance ; he saw how a 
 moment's recollection had changed the sanguine exultation of 
 the lover, to the sad yet steady firmness of the friend ; and 
 his heart yearned towards his Indian brother with an affection 
 that words could not express ; but they were not needed ; his 
 moistened eye and glowing cheek spoke volumes to his friend, 
 and War-Eagle bounded forward again upon the trail, his 
 spirit excited by an incident which, though slight in itself, had 
 called forth high and generous emotions. 
 
 A few minutes after the Delaware had resumed his post as 
 guide, our hero purposely fell into the rear of the party, and 
 throwing the rein loosely over the neck of his horse,' turned 
 the precious golden relic over and over between his fingers, 
 and pressed it a thousand times to his lips ; the ground over 
 which they were travelling was a broken series of ravines or 
 ridges, and thus he was enabled to indulge in the extravagant 
 endearments which he bestowed upon the senseless trinket, 
 without being exposed to the curious eyes of his fellow-travel- 
 lers, now out of his sight. 
 
 He was aroused from his reverie by a terrific yell, accom- 
 
 * By this name the milky way is known among some of the Indian tribes. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 311 
 
 panied by a sharp sensation of pain ; and on raising his eyes 
 perceived at once that he was cut off from his party by a 
 mounted band of Indians, one of whom had shot an arrow 
 through the fleshy part of his thigh, into the flap of the saddle, 
 where it was still sticking. Instantly deciding that it was 
 better to trust to the speed of Nekimi than to the desperate 
 chance of forcing his way through the Indians in front, h: 
 struck the steed with his heel, and turning his head towards 
 the open prairie to the left of the trail, went off at full 
 speed, followed by several mounted warriors ; his first care 
 was to secure the clasp within his hunting-shfrt ; his next to 
 examine the priming of his rifle, and of the pistols at his 
 saddle-bow ; finding these all in order, he looked round at his 
 pursuers, who, although urging their horses by yells and 
 blows, did not gain upon Nekimi, even when going at an easy 
 gallop. 
 
 Re-assured by finding the advantage which he had over his 
 enemies in the speed of his horse, Reginald cut the arrow 
 where it pinned his leg to the saddle, and then, without much 
 pain or difficulty, drew the shaft from the flesh. Being now 
 satisfied that he had nothing to fear from the wound, he 
 turned the head of his horse in a direction parallel to the trail 
 on which his party had been marching, as he felt that his 
 ultimate safety must depend upon his not being separated from 
 them. 
 
 A loud yell followed by a succession of rifle-shots an- 
 nounced to him that the attack on his friends had commenced ; 
 and although the broken nature of the ground still prevented 
 him from seeing them, he could gather from the sound that 
 they were at no great distance ; rightly judging that they 
 must be anxious respecting his own safety, he now applied his 
 bugle to his lips, and blew a clear blast, which Baptiste im- 
 mediately recognised as the concerted signal for " All's well," 
 and cheerily responded to. 
 
 The Indians in pursuit of Reginald reined in their horses, 
 and stood gazing at each other in astonishment, at sounds 
 which had never before reached their ear ; and all, excepting 
 one, wheeled to rejoin the main body of their band ; he who 
 remained was evidently a chief, or principal brave, his dress 
 was splendidly adorned with scalp-locks, eagle-feathers, and 
 beads ; and instead of the shaven crown and single tuft of 
 x -1- 
 
312 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 hair usually worn by the Pawnees, and other Indians of the 
 PJatte and Missouri region, his long black hair streamed over 
 his shoulders, and fell upon the haunches of the wild spirited 
 courser on which he was mounted. When he found that the 
 number of his enemies was reduced to a single one, Reginald 
 was not of a temper to consider flight as any longer necessary; 
 so he checked the speed of Nekimi, and trotting to the sum- 
 mit of a rising ground in front of him, saw, at a little distance, 
 in the ravine below, the skirmish that was still continued be- 
 tween his friends and the attacking party. 
 
 But he was not long permitted to remain an idle spectator ; 
 for the Indian, having recovered from the surprise occasioned 
 by the bugle- call, was again approaching him at full speed. 
 Reginald turned his horse towards his assailant, and deliberately 
 raising his rifle, waited until the latter should be near enough 
 to afford him a certain aim ; but the Indian observing his 
 eool determined bearing, and having some experience of the 
 dangerous nature of the white man's weapon, suddenly wheeled 
 his horse, and galloped to and fro in a zigzag direction, some- 
 times advancing, sometimes retreating, with a rapidity that 
 left Reginald in doubt whether he were meditating an attack, 
 or desirous only of exhibiting his wonderful powers of horse- 
 manship. 
 
 These doubts were, however, soon resolved ; for in one of 
 these swift evolutions, when passing the spot where Reginald 
 stood, at a distance of fifty yards, the Indian suddenly threw 
 himself half oft' his horse, and hanging over its side, dis- ' 
 charged from under the animal's neck an arrow, which whizzed 
 close by Reginald's ear ; then, when he was himself out of shot, 
 resumed his seat in the saddle, and again wheeling his horse, 
 prepared to repeat a manoeuvre which had so nearly been at- 
 tended with success. 
 
 On this second occasion Reginald was resolved to try his 
 chance with the rifle ; and when his enemy, emboldened by 
 the quiet and apparently surprised demeanour of the white 
 man, threw himself again over the side of his horse, and came 
 within a nearer range, our hero levelled his rifle at the animal, 
 whose body shielded completely that of his opponent, and the 
 ball taking effect behind the shoulder, both horse and man 
 rolled upon the grass. 
 
 Reginald sprung from his saddle and hastened to the spot, 
 
REGINALD AND THE CROW CHIEF 
 
 P. 312 
 
THE PR AIR IK-BIRD. 313 
 
 hoping to secure the Indian while still encumbered by the 
 fallen horse ; but the active savage leapt upon his feet, and not 
 having time to fit an arrow to the string, struck a furious but 
 unsuccessful blow at the young man's head, with his bow ; 
 then uttering his war-cry, rushed upon him with a long sharp 
 knife that he had drawn from his belt ; but the Indian had 
 mistaken both the skill and strength of the opponent with 
 whom he thus rashly endeavoured to close, and in a moment 
 Reginald's cutlass was buried in his chest. In vain he sum- 
 moned all his remaining strength to strike a last blow ; both 
 hand and eye refused their aid, and he fell heavily forward 
 upon the grass. Reginald, sheathing his cutlass, knelt by the 
 side of the wounded man, and strove to stanch the blood ; 
 but his efforts were fruitless, the lungs were pierced, and it 
 was evident that death was fast approaching. 
 
 The Indian, still conscious of what was passing around, 
 and momentarily expecting the scalp-knife upon his fore- 
 head, the usual fate of the conquered amongst those of his 
 race, gazed in surprise upon the countenance of the young 
 man, who was now tending him with compassionate anxiety : 
 they could not interchange a word ; the Indian feebly raised 
 his hand to his head with an inquiring look, and then pointed 
 to the knife. Reginald shook his head, as if to intimate that 
 he need be under no apprehension of that indignity ; and then 
 continued his earnest but ineffectual endeavours to stanch 
 the flowing blood, while the sufferer's head rested upon his 
 shoulder. 
 
 During this time not a groan escaped from the lips of the 
 savage warrior : but feeling his end at hand, he gathered his 
 dying energies; and taking from his neck the magnificent 
 collar which he wore, made from the claws of a grisly bear, 
 bound together with skins of snow-white ermine, he gave 
 it to Reginald, making him a sign that he should wear it ; 
 then supporting himself in a sitting posture by the end of 
 his bow, which he had caught up from the ground, and 
 with his eye steadily fixed upon the snow-clad peak now 
 visible in the western horizon, the prairie-warrior breathed his 
 last. 
 
 As soon as Reginald was assured that life was extinct, he 
 stretched the unconscious limbs, closed the eyes, gathered the 
 massive hair over the rigid countenance, and arranged the 
 
314- THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 arras and accoutrements decently beside the fallen chieftain, 
 knowing well that it would not be long before the body \vas 
 borne off by those of his own tribe. There was neither 
 exultation nor triumph on the young man's countenance, as 
 he looked from the lifeless form of his late adversary to that 
 of the steed, which lay dead beside him, on which, not many 
 minutes before, he was careering over his native plains in the 
 pride and vigour of manhood ; he felt that the strength, the 
 activity, the courage of the savage warrior, were equal to his 
 own ; that it had depended upon a single successful thrust 
 whether of the two should be now taking his last un coffined 
 sleep in the wilderness. Sad thoughts of his waiting mother 
 and sister, musings on the fate of Prairie-bird, stole upon his 
 heart, and he continued gazing almost unconsciously on the 
 body of the Indian, until he was aroused by a shrill blast 
 from the bugle of Baptiste ; the signal-blast was " Beware ;" 
 and casting his eyes around, he saw that the band of Indians 
 who had been skirmishing with War-Eagle's party were 
 advancing at full speed to the spot where he stood. His spirit 
 rekindled by this fresh excitement, he caught up his rifle, and 
 vaulting on the back of Nekimi, gave him the rein. The 
 pursuers soon found that their chance of overtaking him was 
 hopeless ; and while they gathered round the body of their 
 fallen chief, Reginald rejoined his party, who received him 
 with a shout of triumph that reached the ears of the mourners 
 on the far prairie. 
 
 As Reginald dismounted and walked gravely through the 
 group to salute War-Eagle, every eye was fixed upon the 
 bear-claw collar around his neck, and he received the silent 
 homage which Indian warriors pay to successful valour. 
 
 There was also a quiet dignified modesty in the young 
 man's bearing and demeanour, which did not escape their 
 observant and approving eyes. " My brother is welcome," 
 said War-Eagle, extending his hand to greet his friend ; " he 
 has killed a great chief; when the warriors tell their deeds at 
 the war-dance, the tongue of Netis will not be silent." 
 
 " The red man of the prairie was brave," replied Reginald; 
 " he died like a warrior. I trust his spirit is gone to the 
 happy land." 
 
 " Master Reginald," said the guide, thrusting his large 
 bony hand into that of our hero, te it did my heart good to 
 
TIIE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 315 
 
 see the Ingian fall ; he sprang upon you like a tiger, and I 
 feared he might catch you unawares." 
 
 " No, Baptiste, no ; he was a gallant fellow, and I am 
 truly sorry that, in self-defence, I was obliged to kill him ; 
 but the advantages were all on my side ; Nekimi v,*as far 
 swifter than his horse, and his knife was no match for my 
 cutlass. Do you know to what tribe he and his party be- 
 longed ? " 
 
 " Capote-bleu, Master Reginald this is the first time you 
 have seen Les Corbeaux Upsaroka they call themselves ; 
 they are a wild race." And he added, in a lower tone, " We 
 shall see more of them before we go much further." 
 
 "In the skirmish which they had with you, were any 
 wounded on either side ?" 
 
 " Not many, for the rascals galloped about in such an un- 
 accountable flurry, it wasn't easy to make sure work with the 
 rifle ; but the Doctor scored the ribs of one, and I think War- 
 Eagle struck another ; they kept at a very unfamiliar distance, 
 and their arrows were as harmless as snow-flakes." 
 
 " How fared it with Monsieur Perrot ?" inquired Reginald, 
 who saw the light-hearted valet grinning with satisfaction at 
 his master's victory and safe return, " did he not try his skill 
 upon any of these marauding Crows ?" 
 
 " Well, I hardly know," said the guide. " Master Perrot 
 is like the bear in the tree, he fights very well when he can't 
 help it ; but I conceive he's not over fond of the red-skins 
 ever since that Dahcotah handled his wig so roughly ! What 
 say you, Monsieur Perrot ?" 
 
 fl Monsieur Baptiste is not altogether wrong," replied the 
 good-humoured valet ; " if one of those red Corbeaux come 
 very near to peck me, I do ray best to pluck his feathers out ; 
 but I much rather see a fat partridge or capon than one of 
 them !" 
 
 The conversation between the Frenchman and the guide 
 was interrupted by War-Eagle, who made a sign to the latter, 
 as well as to Reginald, that he wished to speak with them 
 apart. 
 
 " Brother," said the chief, addressing our hero, " the Up- 
 sarokas are many ; their warriors are like the bison-herds ; 
 they will soon return to our path, we must be ready for them. 
 What is my brother's counsel ?" 
 
3l6 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 te Baptiste/' said the young man, " you have more experi 
 ence in these matters than I have ; speak first." 
 
 The guide did not reply immediately ; he bent his eyes 
 upon the ground, and his ringers rested on the head of the 
 massive hatchet from whence he derived his Indian name. 
 When he spoke, it was with slow but decisive enunciation. 
 " War-Eagle has spoken truly, the Crows will return in 
 greater numbers; they will seek revenge for the death of their 
 chief; they are brave, but their arms are bad we are few, 
 but our weapons can do service. My counsel is, that we choose 
 a strong camp and await their coming ; we will then handle 
 them so that they shall not desire to interrupt us again ; or 
 perhaps they may offer to make a treaty upon our own terms." 
 
 ft The words of Grande-Hache are wise," rejoined the 
 chief ; " he does not waste his breath in blowing against the 
 wind. What says my brother Netis?" 
 
 " He says," replied Reginald, with his characteristic impe- 
 tuosity, " that the counsel of Grande-Hache may be good for 
 our own safety, but it will not bring us nearer to Mahega. 
 Netis would follow the Osage trail in spite of all the Crows 
 between the Platte and the Mountains." 
 
 " My brother speaks like a warrior without fear," said the 
 chief in reply ; ' ' yet we cannot follow the trail of the Wash- 
 ashee while fighting by day and by night with the Upsaroka. 
 War-Eagle will join the counsel of Grande-Hache to that of 
 Netis. Let us choose a strong camp, bring in plenty of meat, 
 and prepare to receive the Upsaroka. I will steal away alone 
 in the night. I will follow the trail of Mahega, and return to 
 tell my brother what I have seen. It is enough, I have 
 spoken." 
 
 Both the guide and Reginald approved the chief's deci- 
 sion ; and although our hero would rather have accompanied 
 him on the trail, he felt that he would impede the progress of 
 his Indian brother, whose fleetness of foot was so much greater 
 than his own ; he therefore acquiesced with cheerfulness, and 
 they set forward to select a camp that should unite the advan- 
 tages of a defensible position to those of a plentiful supply of 
 water. 
 
 For several hours War-Eagle pursued the Osage trail with- 
 out halting, but his keen eye roved occasionally from si'de to 
 side in search of a spot favourable for encampment, while Re- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 317 
 
 ginald and Baptiste brought up the rear of the party ; the 
 former mounted on Nekimi, prepared to gallop forward to the 
 front and give the alarm, in case of the re-appearance of the 
 marauding Crows. About an hour before sunset they reached 
 a valley watered by a small stream, the taste of which proved 
 refreshing, and free from the salt with which that region 
 abounds; near the centre of the valley was a thick copse 
 of alder and willow, covering a space of fifty or sixty yards 
 square. On forcing his way through the outer bushes, 
 War-Eagle found an open plot of fine level turf, entirely 
 surrounded by the copse which sheltered it from view on all 
 sides. 
 
 The Delaware, having brought his party into this natural 
 encampment, and picqueted the horses within the space above 
 mentioned, made a careful examination of the thicket, in which 
 he was accompanied by Reginald and Baptiste ; they then 
 selected the points from which they could best command the 
 approaches from different quarters; at these they piled logs 
 and branches matted with grass and turf, from behind which 
 secure though slight breastwork they could take deliberate 
 aim at any hostile party approaching from the prairie. Before 
 dusk their preparations were complete ; the watch was set, 
 and the remainder, after a frugal supper, forgot the fatigues 
 c( the day in sleep. 
 
 The night passed without the occurrence of any alarm ; and 
 an hour before daylight War-Eagle arose and prepared him- 
 self for his perilous expedition, after the ancient fashion of his 
 tribe ; a fashion which the Delawares, in common with most 
 of the semi- civilised Indian , have in these modern days neg- 
 lected, if not forgotten. 
 
 Having smeared himself from head to foot with an oint- 
 ment made from the fat and marrow of deer, he painted his 
 face and chest with stripes of a dark colour, purposely making 
 the form and device to resemble those of the Missourian na- 
 tions. He wore upon his legs a light pair of deerskin leggins, 
 without ornament, supported at the waist by his belt ; from 
 the latter was suspended on one side his tomahawk, on the other 
 his knife ; he also stuck into it a brace of loaded pistols given 
 to him by Reginald, and within the folds secured some bullets 
 and charges of powder, as well as a few slices of dried buffalo- 
 meat : his throat, chest, and arms were naked, with the excep- 
 
318 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 tion of a small light blanket., which, when thrown across his 
 shoulder, did not in the least impede the free exercise either 
 of his hands or feet. As speed was now his chief object, he 
 left both his rifle and his heavy war-club in the charge of 
 Reginald, who looked on with mingled feelings of admiration 
 and envy, while his friend was preparing for his solitary jour- 
 ney. Knowing that War-Eagle, if successful in his under- 
 taking, would see the Prairie-bird, he longed to send by him 
 a thousand messages of love ; yet he remembered and respected 
 the feelings of his friend, and, controlling his own, embraced 
 him in silence. 
 
 As War-Eagle was about to depart, Reginald was surprised 
 at seeing him attach to his belt a small bunch of feathers, 
 carefully tied together, and he imagined that they might be in 
 some measure connected with his Indian brother's totem, or 
 heraldic designation ; but the latter resolved his doubts by say- 
 ing to him and to Baptiste, 
 
 " War-Eagle will follow the trail of Washashee as swiftly 
 as his feet can run : whenever it is difficult to find, or divides 
 in a fork, he will stick one of these small feathers in the grass ; 
 let c Atto ' follow first on the trail, he has been often on the 
 war-path, and his eyes are good ; Grande-Hache with his long 
 rifle should come next : let my brother go last with Nekimi, 
 and let him always have eyes in his back ; the Upsarokas are 
 cunning, and the wives of a dead chief are lamenting. If 
 Wai -Eagle lives, he will return quick and meet his brothers 
 on the trail ; if he is killed, he will meet them afterwards in 
 the fields where his fathers hunt. Farewell." So saying, the 
 Delaware chief pointed impressively to the distant ridge of the 
 mountains, and left the encampment. 
 
 After the departure of War-Eagle, Reginald busied him- 
 self, with the aid of Baptiste in making further preparations 
 against the expected attack. On inquiring of the latter, he 
 learnt, with much satisfaction, that Atto or A-to (Anglice, 
 ff The Deer"), who had been designated by the chief as 
 leader on the trail in his absence, was a tried and experienced 
 warrior. His appearance, indeed, was not much in his favour, 
 for he was small and spare in stature, and his features, though 
 not positively ugly, were stern, and rarely lighted up by ex- 
 pression ; his eye was piercing rather than brilliant ; and he 
 scarcely ever spoke, excepting in reply to a question : his 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 319 
 
 swiftness of foot., which was almost equal to that of War- 
 Eagle himself, had procured for him the appellation by which 
 he was known in the tribe. It should however, in justice to 
 him, be mentioned, that he seldom ran from an enemy, for 
 his courage was proverbial ; and in a former expedition against 
 the Dahcotahs, he had made several escapes so extraordinary, 
 that his comrades had given him a name consisting of sixteen 
 or seventeen syllables, which we will not inflict upon civilised 
 eyes or ears, but which signifies, tf The-man-who-cannot-be- 
 killed-by-an-arrow." 
 
 Reginald, finding that Atto was familiar with the English 
 tongue, and desirous to be on good terms with his new officer, 
 addressed him as follows : 
 
 " Does Atto think that the Upsaroka will come to-day ? " 
 
 ' ' They will come." 
 
 ee Will they attack us in this position ? " 
 
 "Perhaps; the Upsarokas are fools they do not know 
 the Lenape'." 
 
 " Are you satisfied with the arrangements we have made 
 for the defence ? " 
 
 " Yes ; but you should let the horses feed outside, with a 
 guard, or they will soon eat up the grass within ; it will be 
 time enough to drive them in when the Upsaroka come." 
 
 " You are right," said Reginald, frankly, and he ordered it 
 to be done immediately. 
 
 Savages are extremely like ourselves in all that concerns the 
 internal workings of self-respect ; and if Reginald already 
 stood high in Atto's opinion for his courage and bodily advan- 
 tages, the Indian was disposed to think more highly of him 
 when he found, even in a matter so trifling, that the young 
 man listened to and followed his counsel. 
 
 The forenoon passed without any tidings of the Crows ; and 
 Reginald, impatient of a state of inaction, resolved to sally 
 forth upon Nekimi, and to make a sweep over the adjacent 
 undulating prairie, to see whether he could discover any signs 
 of them. 
 
 Armed with his knife, pistols, and cutlass, he slung his spy- 
 glass over his shoulder, and vaulted on the back of his favour- 
 ite, charging Baptiste and Atto, now left in joint command of 
 the garrison, to keep a sharp look-out, and promising to return 
 before dusk. 
 
S20 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 How did his blood dance with excitement as he found him- 
 self trotting briskly across the virgin turf of that wild, bound- 
 less, vegetable ocean ; beneath him a steed, bold, eager, joyous 
 as himself; above him a blue immensity of unclouded sky ; 
 and around him breezes fresh from the snowy chambers of the 
 Northern Andes ! Nor were the sources of excitement from 
 within wanting to complete its measure, a consciousness of 
 youth, and health, and strength ; a mind capable of appre- 
 ciating the wonders of nature, and of following them up to 
 their Almighty Framer ; a heart filled to overflowing with the 
 image of a kindred being whose love he doubted not, and 
 whom, in spite of dangers and obstacles, his ardent and san- 
 guine spirit whispered that he would soon rejoin ! 
 
 Again and again did he draw from his bosom the precious 
 clasp, which assured him that he was following her footsteps ; 
 and then replacing it, he would stoop over the neck of Nekimi, 
 and caressing his playful ear, and gently pressing his flank, 
 the noble creature caracoled, neighed, and bounded beneath 
 him, like the " wild and wanton herd " described in one of 
 the most exquisite scenes depicted by our immortal dramatist.* 
 
 Notwithstanding the excited flow of his spirits, Reginald 
 did not forget the object of his excursion : he not only noted 
 carefully the various remarkable features of the surrounding 
 country, so as to secure, in case of need, his retreat to the en- 
 campment, but he scanned the side of every hill, and the bosom 
 of every valley that he passed, to see whether any parties of 
 the Upsaroka were yet within view. 
 
 He had ridden many miles without seeing any thing alive, 
 except a few straggling bufFalos and antelopes, and was on the 
 point of returning towards the camp, when he descried some 
 moving body on the sky-line in the eastern horizon : throw- 
 ing himself from his horse, he adjusted his telescope, and fix- 
 ing it on the object, ascertained at once that it was a large 
 party of Indians on horseback. Although his glass was of 
 excellent quality, they were so distant that he could not count 
 them, but he was satisfied that they considerably exceeded a 
 hundred. Observing that their course was directed westward, 
 he was able, by descending an oblique ravine, to reach the 
 edge of a copse which they were likely to pass at no great dis- 
 
 * Merchant of Venice, act v. 
 
THE PRAIRIE -BIRD. 321 
 
 tance, whence, himself unseen, he might watch their move- 
 ments, and form a more accurate estimate of their force. 
 
 He had not been long stationed at the post which he had 
 selected for this purpose, when the band came full in view on 
 the ridge of a neighbouring hill. 
 
 That it was a war-party of the Crows he could no longer 
 doubt, as their dress and appearance were precisely the same, 
 and they were following, with the faultless sagacity of a pack 
 of blood-hounds, the trail which he and his companions had 
 trodden on the preceding day. 
 
 Being completely sheltered from their view by the copse, ha 
 was able to observe their movements, and to plan his own 
 accordingly ; he counted upwards of two hundred and fifty 
 mounted warriors ; and his impression was that their numbers 
 amounted in all to nearly three hundred : they moved forward 
 upon the trail at an even pace until they reached the brow of 
 the hill, whence they could perceive, although at a consider- 
 able distance, the thicket in which the Delawares were en- 
 camped. Pausing here, they held a brief council : it was clear 
 that they suspected that the above-named wood contained those 
 of whom they were in pursuit ; nor was it long before their 
 lynx eyes detected a slight column of smoke curling up above 
 the trees, on seeing which they shouted aloud, while their 
 rapid and vehement gesticulations sufficiently explained to 
 Reginald the discovery that they had made. 
 
 It was evidently not the present intention of the Crows to 
 make an open attack ; for they now divided their force into 
 two bands, each of which pursued its course along the back of 
 the ridges which crowned the valley wherein the encampment 
 lay, and thus they would be enabled to reach a point not far 
 distant from their enemy on opposite sides, before their ap- 
 proach could be perceived. 
 
 The position of Reginald himself was now critical, for in 
 his eagerness to watch the motions of the Indians, he had 
 allowed them to get between him and his own party ; it only 
 remained for him, therefore, to decide whether he should 
 endeavour to reach the camp unperceived, or, trusting to the 
 speed of Nekimi, ride boldly towards it ; he chose the latter, 
 rightly judging the impossibility of escaping Indian eyes in 
 so open a country ; and he thought it also probable, that if 
 
322 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 they meditated a night attack upon the encampment, they would 
 permit him to enter it without showing themselves. 
 
 Having therefore examined the priming of his pistols, and 
 loosened his cutlass in the sheath, he pushed his way through 
 the thicket, and, emerging on the opposite side, rode delibe- 
 rately forward. 
 
 Choosing the most open ground, he pursued his homeward 
 way down the valley ; and though his eye glanced occasionally 
 to the hills on each side, not an Indian was to be seen, and in 
 less than an hour he found himself again within the precincts 
 of the wooded camp. 
 
 The gravity of his demeanour, as he joined his companions, 
 led them to conjecture that he had seen some trace of their 
 enemies, which impression was confirmed amongst them when 
 he led Baptiste and Atto aside to hold with them a council of 
 war. 
 
 Having briefly detailed what he had seen, he expressed his 
 belief that the Crows had divided their force for the purpose 
 of attacking the camp in the course of the ensuing night, and 
 concluded by asking their opinion as to the most advisable 
 means of defence. After a short deliberation, it was agreed 
 that four men should watch at the opposite sides of the thicket, 
 each of whom being well sheltered behind a log of wood 
 already rolled to its edge, could detect the approach of an 
 enemy from the prairie, and that each should be provided 
 with two loaded rifles, so that in case of his being obliged to 
 fire one to give the alarm, he might still have another ready 
 for immediate use. 
 
 These preparations having been made, and the horses 
 brought within the encampment, the little party sat down to 
 their supper, and afterwards smoked their pipes as uncon- 
 cernedly as if neither Crows nor danger were lurking in the 
 neighbourhood. Night came on, and those whose turn it was 
 to sleep, announced by their heavy breathing that the hour of 
 rest was not unwelcome. Monsieur Perrot snored so loudly 
 from beneath the pile of blankets in which he had enveloped 
 himself, that he siiore than once received a slight admonition 
 from the elbow of the half-awakened guide, who lay beside 
 him. Reginald, however, was in a mood which would have 
 no fellowship with sleep ; his thoughts were of Prairie-bird, 
 still in Mahega's power, of his Indian brother, row far on his 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 323 
 
 solitary and dangerous journey, of the lurking foes whose 
 attack he hourly expected, and of the familiar faces at Moo* 
 shanne, whom distance and absence now rendered doubly dear. 
 The night was dark, for the young moon, after traversing her 
 appointed section of the southern sky, had disappeared, and 
 the twinkling stars threw but an uncertain light, rendered yet 
 more doubtful by the leafy branches which waved gently to 
 and fro under the light breath of the night breeze. 
 
 In order to give some employment to his unquiet spirit, 
 Reginald resolved to visit the several stations where his sentries 
 were posted, and, throwing his rifle over his shoulder, arose 
 and commenced his rounds. Moving with a slow and noise- 
 less step, he went to each of the posts in succession, and find- 
 ing all the watchmen on the alert, whispered to each a word 
 of approbation. The last station that he visited was occupied 
 by Atto ; and Reginald, sitting down behind the log, conversed 
 with him for a short time, in a low tone of voice, each pausing 
 at intervals, to listen and look out upon the valley. On a 
 sudden, Atto, touching his arm, pointed to a spot near the 
 summit of the neighbouring hill ; and, following the direction 
 indicated, Reginald could plainly see a small light, as of a dry 
 stick, which burnt for a few seconds, and was then extin- 
 guished. 
 
 " Let Netis watch," whispered the Indian ; " Atto will 
 return directly ; " and with these words he disappeared in the 
 thicket. 
 
 Not many minutes elapsed ere he came back, and, in the 
 same subdued tone, said, " All is well now, the Upsaroka are 
 coming, Atto saw the same light on the other hill ; it is a 
 sign for both parties to attack from opposite sides at once." 
 
 " All is well, indeed," thought Reginald, within himself 
 " This fellow must have a strange stomach for fighting, whe& 
 he applies such a term to an expected conflict, where the 
 odds are to be two or three hundred to ten." 
 
 These were Reginald's thoughts for a moment ; but his 
 words were : " Baptiste, Perrot, and I will remain at this 
 post ; you can spare us also one of your warriors ; you will 
 guard the opposite post with three others ; there will remain 
 one to move constantly round within the edge of the thicket, 
 to summon us to any point where the Crows may threaten an 
 attack. Is the plan good, what says my brother?" 
 y 2 
 
324 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " It is good," replied the Indian, and they set about it 
 forthwith in earnest and in silence. 
 
 Reginald and Baptiste, having previously examined all the 
 logs which were now to serve for their defence, lost no time 
 in selecting their respective stations ; the Indian warrior allotted 
 to them was placed between them ; Monsieur Perrot, safely 
 ensconced behind the fallen trunk of an alder, was to lead his 
 master's rifle, and when discharged, to replace it by an- 
 other ; and the defenders of the camp were all instructed not 
 to fire until their enemies were so near as to afford a certain 
 aim. 
 
 The side on which Reginald was stationed was the most 
 open to attack, from its being adjacent to the brook that flowed 
 through the centre of the valley, the banks of which, being 
 dotted here and there with alder-bushes, afforded an occasional 
 covert to an approaching enemy. Nearly an hour had elapsed, 
 and Reginald began to suspect that they had mistaken the 
 intentions of the Upsaroka, when Baptiste pointed in silence 
 towards the prairie, and on following with his eye the direc- 
 tion of his companion's finger, he saw a dusky object in mo- 
 tion. Looking steadily forward, each with his finger on the 
 trigger of his rifle, Reginald and Baptiste could now distinguish 
 the figures of several Indians, creeping along the ground to- 
 wards the thicket. On a sudden the report of Atto's rifle in 
 the opposite quarter was heard, and the creeping figures starting 
 up, advanced with shouts and yells, vainly hoping that the 
 spot which they had selected for attack was defenceless. When 
 they were within a few paces, Reginald and Baptiste fired at 
 once, and the two leading Indians fell; most of their com- 
 panions retired in dismay, one only sprung forward with 
 desperate courage, and his evil destiny bringing him close past 
 the log behind which the guide was posted, the latter cleft 
 ; the skull of the unfortunate savage with his tremendous 
 hatchet. 
 
 Maddened by disappointment, and by the loss of several of 
 their comrades, the Crows let fly a shower of arrows at the 
 edge of the thicket, and retreated on all sides, filling the air 
 with their cries and yells. Reginald, having crossed over to 
 visit Atto at his post, found that the Delaware had not fired 
 in vain, for a reeking scalp already hung at his belt, and it 
 appeared that the enemy had retired on this side also, as soon 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 325 
 
 as they found themselves exposed to the murderous fire of 
 unseen marksmen. 
 
 Not long after this unsuccessful attack on the part of the 
 Upsarokas, day broke, and having mounted their horses, which 
 had been left at some distance, they returned towards the 
 encampment ; and galloping to and fro, endeavoured, by every 
 kind of insulting gesticulation, to induce their cautious enemies 
 to come forth, or at least to exhaust their ammunition by firing 
 at random ; but Reginald's party kept close within their covert, 
 taking no notice whatever of these bravadoes, although several 
 of the horsemen came within a distance which would have 
 rendered them an easy mark for the guide's unerring rifle; 
 their insolence produced only a grim smile on his weather- 
 beaten countenance, as he whispered to Reginald. 
 
 " They are somewhat out of their reckoning as to the 
 f Doctor's ' range ; poor devils, if they'll only keep off, I don't 
 want to hurt any more of them. But if that long-haired 
 fellow, capering on a brown horse, were a Dahcotah, I'd make 
 a hole in his hunting-shirt before he was many minutes older." 
 
 " I am glad to find you in a merciful humour, Baptiste," 
 replied the young man. " I too would willingly avoid farther 
 slaughter of these Crows ; and while fighting with them, we 
 are losing time more precious to me than gold." 
 
 As he was yet speaking, his attention was caught by the 
 sound of a scuffle within the thicket, followed by a shout; and 
 immediately afterwards Atto and another Delaware came for- 
 ward, dragging with them a Crow, whom the quick eye of the 
 former had detected lurking under dense foliage of an alder- 
 bush, 
 
 " Whom have you here? " exclaimed Reginald; " and where 
 did you find him ? " 
 
 " Upsaroka," replied Atto; "he must have crept like a 
 snake under the grass, for the Delawares are not blind, yet he 
 is here." 
 
 The prisoner was a tall bold-looking youth, and he seemed 
 resolutely prepared to meet the fate which a spy and an enemy 
 must expect in that wild region. 
 
 " 'Tis a fine lad," said Baptiste dryly, " and he has given 
 us a lesson to keep a better look out ; 'tis clear that he has 
 crept down the brook, while we have been watching those gal- 
 loping thieves : tie the rogue's hands, my friend Atto, and let 
 
S2O THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 us scour the thicket from one end to the other. Two or three 
 such as him within the camp in the middle of the night, 
 vould be apt to interfere with our rest." 
 
 The prisoner having been bound, Atto proceeded with two 
 of his warriors to search every corner of the thicket, while 
 Baptiste with the remainder watched the various parties of 
 horsemen who were still hovering at a distance. 
 
 Reginald was left for a few minutes alone with the youth, 
 whom he looked at with mingled compassion and admiration, 
 for it was clear that he had devoted his own life to obtain a 
 triumph for his tribe ; and although he had not the expressive 
 intellectual beauty of Wingenund, nor the heroic stamp of 
 form and feature by which War-Eagle was distinguished, yet 
 there was a certain wild fierceness in his eye betokening a 
 spirit that awakened a feeling of sympathy in Reginald's breast. 
 While looking steadfastly on the youth under the influence of 
 these feelings, he observed that the Delawares, in their hurried 
 anxiety to secure the prisoner, had bound the thongs so tightly 
 round his arms as to cause a stoppage of the blood, the veins 
 around the ligature being already swollen to a painful extent. 
 
 With the unhesitating generosity of his nature, Reginald 
 stepped forward, and, loosening the thong, left the youth at 
 liberty ; at the same time he smiled, and, pointing to the knife 
 in his belt, made the sign of " No/' intimating that he should 
 not repay this benefit by using that weapon. 
 
 The quick-sighted savage understood him as plainly as if 
 the hint had been given in his own language, for he instantly 
 detached the knife frcrruhis belt and presented it to Reginald. 
 There was so much natural dignity and sincerity in his man- 
 ner while doing so, that our hero, in receiving his weapon, 
 gave him in exchange a spare knife that hung in his own belt, 
 making at the same time the Indian sign for friendship. 
 
 The nerves which were strung to endure expected torture 
 and a lingering death, were not prepared for this unlooked-for 
 clemency; the youth spoke a few soft words in his own tongue, 
 looking earnestly in Reginald's face, and had not yet recovered 
 his self-possession, when Atto returned with his companions, 
 to report that the prisoner must have come upon this dangerous 
 war-path alone, as no other of his tribe was lurking in or near 
 the thicket. 
 
 " Atto," said Reginald, addressing the Delaware ; " this 
 
THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. . 327 
 
 youth belongs by right to the hand that took him, he is yours; 
 J ask you to give him to me, to do with him as I like." 
 
 " The hand and the heart of Atto are both open to Netis ; 
 he is brother to the war-chief of the Lenape Atto is glad 
 to give him what he asks." 
 
 " Atto is a brave man," replied Reginald, " and worthy of 
 his race ; he can see that this youth is on his first war-path ; 
 he came to the camp to make himself a name; if the quick eye 
 of Atto had not found him, there would have been a war-cry 
 in the night is it not so, brothers ? Jr 
 
 The Delawares gave their usual exclamation of assent. 
 
 te Brothers," continued Reginald, ff Atto has given this 
 youth to me I thank him : the hand of Netis is not shut, it 
 holds a collar which hung upon the neck of a great warrior, it 
 will not be ashamed to hang on the neck of Atto." 
 
 As he said this, he threw over the neck of the Delaware the 
 magnificent bear-claw collar which adorned his own. This 
 was perhaps the happiest moment of Atto's life, for such a 
 collar could be worn only by braves of the highest rank in 
 Indian aristocracy, and the acclamation with which his com- 
 rades hailed the presentation of the gift, assured Reginald that 
 it had been neither unwisely nor unworthily bestowed. 
 
 The latter then turned towards the prisoner, and made him 
 a sign to follow towards the outer edge of the thicket, in the 
 direction where Baptiste and he had shot the two Indians who 
 led the attack; their bodies still lay where they fell; the 
 youth gazed upon them with stern composure. Reginald in- 
 quired by a sign if he knew them: he replied in the affirmative; 
 and he added, pointing to the nearer of the two, a sign which 
 Reginald did not comprehend ; he turned to Atto for an ex- 
 planation. 
 
 " He says," replied the Delaware, " that was his father." 
 
 Reginald, much affected, placed the youth's hand against his 
 own breast in token of regard, and made him understand that 
 he was free to go himself, and to remove the bodies without 
 interruption. 
 
 The young Crow replied by a look of gratitude too ex- 
 pressive to require the interpretation of language, and moving 
 towards the body of his father, bore it into the midst of his 
 wondering companions, who received him with repeated 
 wailings and cries : none, however, seemed disposed to believe 
 Y 4 
 
328 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 in his assurance that they might take away the other body 
 likewise; he was obliged to return himself: and then one of 
 his tribe, seeing that he stood uninjured beside it, came out 
 from their ranks and assisted him to bear it off. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. REGINALD PREPARES TO FOLLOW THE 
 TRAIL. 
 
 FOR two days the band of Crows hovered round the encamp- 
 ment, sometimes showing themselves on the adjacent heights, 
 at others drawing off to a distance, in hopes of enticing some 
 of Reginald's party to venture into the open country ; but 
 although he himself chafed and fretted like an impatient steed, 
 he was sensible of the risk that must attend any error or im- 
 prudence while in the neighbourhood of an enemy so crafty 
 and so strong in numbers, and he never permitted the watch- 
 fulness of his little garrison to be relaxed for a moment : the 
 horses were driven to feed under the guard of two armed Dela- 
 wares, and were not sent to a distance whence their return 
 could be intercepted, and the watches were regularly set and 
 relieved during the whole night. 
 
 On the third day the Crows, finding that all their en- 
 deavours to draw their cautious enemy from the covert were 
 vain, held a council of war, after which three or four of their 
 principal chiefs approached the encampment, making, as they 
 advanced, signs of amity and truce. Reginald went out to 
 meet them, accompanied by Baptiste and Atto, leaving orders 
 with the remainder of his party to hold themselves in readi- 
 ness against any attempt at treachery : halting at a spot not 
 more than eighty yards from the wood, he awaited the Crow 
 leaders, who came forward to meet him without any apparent 
 suspicion or treacherous design. 
 
 They had taken the precaution to bring with them the 
 youth to whom Reginald had already shown kindness, and 
 whose presence they rightly conjectured would facilitate the 
 amicable nature of their mission. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 329 
 
 Reginald acknowledged with a smile the friendly greeting 
 of his young protege', and then drawing himself up to his full 
 height, awaited in silence the opening of the parley. 
 
 The Crow partisan* first glanced his keen eye over the 
 persons of those whom he was about to address, as if scanning 
 them for the purpose of ascertaining their qualities and cha- 
 racter, and whether he should best succeed by endeavouring 
 to circumvent or to overawe them. Keen as he was, his pene- 
 tration was here at fault; for although no three persons could 
 be more dissimilar than those before him, yet, whether taken 
 collectively or severally, they looked like men who would not 
 be easily over-reached : his eye first rested on the spare 
 sinewy frame and impenetrable countenance of Atto; thence 
 it glanced to the muscular frame and shrewd hard features of 
 the guide; and turning from them, it found but little encourage- 
 ment in the bright bold eye and commanding form of Reginald 
 Brandon. 
 
 Perceiving with the intuitive sagacity of an Indian that 
 the latter was the leader of his party, the partisan opened the 
 parley by pointing his fore-finger at Reginald, and then press- 
 ing the closed fingers against his own breast : he then pointed 
 to himself with the same finger, and afterwards stretching 
 both arms horizontally, moved them up and down with a 
 vibrating motion, concluding his pantomime by again raising 
 the fore-finger of his right hand vertically to the height of his 
 forehead. Reginald, who could not understand these gestures, 
 turned to Atto, saying, " Does my brother know what the 
 stranger speaks? if so, let him explain." 
 
 " He says," replied the Delaware, " that he wishes to be 
 friends with you, and he tells you by the last signs that he is 
 an Upsaroka, and a chief." f 
 
 " Tell him," said Reginald, " that if his heart is true, and 
 his tongue not forked, we also wish to be friends with him and 
 his people." 
 
 * Tn the travels of Major Long an<1 others, who have described the Indians of 
 the Far-western prairies, the " brave" who leads a war-party is usually designated 
 a "partisan." 
 
 t It has before been mentioned, that among the roving tribes of the Great Mis- 
 sourian wilderness every one has its distinctive national sign : these are well 
 known to each other, and to white men who are experienced in the life of the 
 Far-west: the sign mentioned in the text is that adopted by the Upsarokas, as 
 they intend, by the motion of their extended arms, to imitate the wings of a crow in 
 flight. The Sioux, Black-feet, Pawnees, Snakes, Arkaras, Comanches, &c., have 
 all their distinctive national signs ; but an enumeration of them would be tedious, 
 and out of ]>luce here. 
 
330 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 The Crow replied by making the conventional sign for 
 *' good," adding to it that for " truth." 
 
 On this being explained to Reginald, the latter desired Bap- 
 tiste to bring from the camp some tobacco, a pipe, and a few 
 trinkets for distribution among the Crows. On the return of 
 the guide, the whole party took their seats, Reginald placing 
 the partisan on his right, and the young prisoner whom he 
 had released on his left. After the pipe had been smoked with 
 due gravity and decorum, he divided among his guests some 
 beads and other fanciful ornaments, according to their rank, 
 with which they seemed highly delighted ; the chief in par- 
 ticular testified his satisfaction by repeated gesticulations of 
 friendship and affection towards his white-brother, whom he 
 invited to go and feast with him and his braves : this invitation 
 Reginald begged leave to decline ; but he desired Atto to ex- 
 plain to his guest that he would visit him on some other 
 occasion. 
 
 While these civilities were passing between the respective 
 parties, a great commotion was observed among the Crows 
 stationed on the neighbouring hill, some of whom were seen 
 galloping to and fro, as if communicating some unexpected 
 intelligence. The partisan arose, and took his leave with 
 courteous dignity, explaining by signs that he wished to ascer- 
 tain what was passing among his people. 
 
 As he withdrew, the youth whose life Reginald had spared, 
 turned his head and gave the latter a look which he understood 
 to convey a warning, but it was so rapid that he could not feel 
 assured that he had rightly construed its meaning. Reginald 
 remained for some time on the spot watching the motions of 
 the Crows, who had now gathered in their scattered horsemen, 
 and were evidently awaiting with some impatience the return 
 of their chief. Reginald's eye was still fixed upon them, 
 when Atto, pointing to the eastward, whispered, 
 
 " Men are coming !" 
 
 Turning his head in the direction indicated, Reginald 
 thought he perceived a moving object in the distance. 
 
 " I see something in that quarter, but not distinctly ; are 
 you sure it is a party of men ? 
 
 " Sure." 
 
 " Mounted, or on foot ?" 
 
 " Beth," replied the Delaware, without removing his bright 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 331 
 
 keen eye from the object : " they are upon our trail/' he 
 added ; " if they are not friends, we had better return to the 
 camp." 
 
 Meanwhile Reginald unslung his telescope, and having at 
 length brought it to bear upon the advancing party, he ex- 
 claimed 
 
 " By Heaven!" there are white men as well as Indians ther 
 horses, and loaded mules !" 
 
 "How many?" inquired Baptiste. 
 
 " They seem to me to be fifteen or twenty strong : should 
 their intentions appear suspicious, we are near enough to retire 
 into our camp ; if they are friends, they will soon see us, and 
 approach without fear or hesitation." 
 
 The guide shook his head as if distrusting all new comers 
 in that remote region ; but they were within rifle-shot of the 
 covert, and could, if necessary, retire thither under the protec- 
 tion of the fire of those within it. 
 
 The Crows still hovered upon the summit of the adjoining 
 hill, and several minutes of breathless interest elapsed ere the 
 approaching band emerged from a hollow, upon a point of the 
 valley where they were now clearly distinguishable, and proved 
 to be, as Reginald had said, a mixed party of Indians and 
 white men. 
 
 He was not aware that among the latter was a telescope as 
 good, and a horseman whose eye was more practised in the use 
 of it than his own ; that horseman galloped out in front of his 
 band, and advanced at full speed to the spot where Reginald 
 stood, and almost before the latter could rightly use his facul- 
 ties of sight or speech, that horseman flung himself from his 
 horse, and Reginald was in the arms of Ethelston. 
 
 There is nothing that stirs the heart to its very depths, 
 more than the meeting of a friend after a long separation ; not 
 such a friend as is found in the ordinary intercourse of worldly 
 society, but a friend whom we really esteem and love, a friend 
 whom \\e have learnt to cherish in our bosom's core, this 
 must have been felt by all (alas ! they are not very many) 
 who have deserved and obtained such a blessing in life. How, 
 then, must these stirrings of the heart be increased if such a 
 friend comes to our aid and comfort when we thought him 
 thousands of miles distant, when we are in anxiety and peril, 
 when he brings us the latest tidings of our home ! We will 
 
332 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 not attempt to describe the meeting of the two long-separated 
 and loving friends under such circumstances, nor to relate one 
 hundredth part of the inquiries which each had to make and to 
 reply to. 
 
 The reader is already in possession of the information which 
 they had to communicate to each other, and can easily under- 
 stand how Ethelston and his party, guided by the young Dela- 
 ware, had followed the trail on which they had been preceded 
 by the bands of Mahega and of Reginald : the latter greeted 
 with cordial pleasure Paul Miiller, who now advanced to offer 
 him his friendly salutation, while Pierre Baptiste, and Bear- 
 skin, who had weathered many a stormy day by flood and field 
 together, interchanged the grasp of their horny hands with 
 undisguised satisfaction. 
 
 In the meeting between the two bands of the Dela wares 
 there was less demonstration, but it may be doubted whether 
 there was less excitement, as the last comers narrated to their 
 comrades the bloody vengeance which they had taken on some 
 of their foes, and dilated upon that which they anticipated in 
 pursuit of Mahega. 
 
 Ethelston's party being provided with some coffee, sugar, 
 biscuits, and other luxuries, which had been long strange to 
 Reginald's camp, the evening of their arrival was devoted to a 
 great merry-making, Monsieur Perrot undertaking the office of 
 chief cook and master of the ceremonies, both of which he 
 executed with so much skill and good-humour as to win the 
 favour of all present, in the midst of the feasting, the security 
 of the encampment was never endangered by the omission of 
 due precautions ; for the horses were driven in and the sentries 
 posted, as on the preceding night, Reginald being well aware 
 of the treacherous character of his Crow neighbours, and his 
 suspicions aroused by the slight, but significant look given to 
 him at parting by the youth whose life he had spared. 
 
 While they were seated round a blazing fire enjoying the 
 good cheer which Perrot had provided, Pierre, fixing his eyes 
 upon the bear-claw collar worn by Atto, uttered an exclama- 
 tion of surprise, and springing from his seat, went to examine 
 it closer ; having done so, he pronounced slowly and with em- 
 phasis a name as long as a Sanscrit patronymic. 
 
 " What does that mean, Pierre ?" inquired Ethelston, who 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 333 
 
 had found in the latter a guide of great shrewdness and expe- 
 rience. 
 
 "It is the name of the Upsaroka to whom that collar be- 
 longed, in our tongue, f The man whose path is red.' I saw 
 it upon his neck last year, when I was at the post near the 
 Upper Forks. He came to trade with us for a few knives and 
 blankets he was a great war- chief, and had killed more 
 Black-feet than any man in his tribe." 
 
 " Well, Pierre, his own turn has come now ; he will kill no 
 more Black-feet, nor white men either," said Baptiste to his 
 comrade. 
 
 " Did yonder Lenape kill him, and in fair fight, man to 
 man ? " 
 
 " He was killed in fair fight, man to man ; not by Atto, 
 but by a young war-chief whom the Lenape call Netis," re- 
 plied the guide. 
 
 Pierre fixed his quick grey eye upon the athletic figure of 
 Reginald Brandon, who coloured slightly as he encountered at 
 the same time the glance of Paul Muller. 
 
 tf It is true," he said, " I had foolishly separated myself 
 from the rest of my party ; I was intercepted in attempting to 
 return, and only escaped paying the penalty of my carelessness 
 by the speed of my horse. The Crow chief was better mounted 
 than the rest of his tribe, and as soon as I paused to breathe 
 my horse he attacked, and slightly wounded me ; in defend- 
 ing myself, I killed him." 
 
 " My son," observed the missionary, " he died as he had 
 lived, reckless and brave ; it rejoices me to hear you speak of 
 the deed as one of necessity and self-preservation." 
 
 " I know not," muttered Pierre, " what he calls necessity ; 
 but it's a fine feather in the youth's cap, and our Delaware^ 
 shall know it too." 
 
 One of the most remarkable features in the character of this 
 man was the facility with which he acquired the habits and 
 languages of the different tribes among whom his roving life 
 had thrown him ; moreover, he had the faculty of remember- 
 ing with unerring certainty, any face, or spot, or tree, or path, 
 that he had once seen so that his services as guide and in- 
 terpreter were highly valued ; and as Pierre, though a good- 
 humoured fellow, was shrewd enough in matters of business, 
 he usually exacted, and had no difficulty in obtaining a liberal 
 
S34 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 remuneration from the rival leaders of the fur-trade companies ; 
 he was tolerably well versed in the language of the Crows and 
 the Black-feet, the two great nations inhabiting the vast region 
 between the upper waters of the rivers Platte and Missouri ; 
 and there were few of the roving tribes upon either bank of 
 the latter among whom he could not make himself understood. 
 As an interpreter, he dealt fairly by his employer, although he 
 hated the Black-feet, in consequence of a warrior of that tribe 
 having carried off an Indian belle to whom Pierre was paying 
 his addresses. This offence he had never forgiven, and it gave 
 him in all subsequent transactions, a natural leaning towards 
 the Crows, the mortal and hereditary foes of his successful 
 rival's tribe. 
 
 While Pierre related, in an under tone, to those Delawares 
 of his party who did not understand English, the victory 
 obtained over the great war-chief of the Crows by Reginald 
 Brandon, the latter kept up a long and interesting conversation 
 with Ethelston, whom he found already informed by the mis- 
 sionary of his engagement to Prairie-bird. 
 
 On this subject, Reginald, who knew the prudence of his 
 friend's usual character, scarcely expected his sympathy or 
 concurrence ; he was therefore the more agreeably surprised 
 when he found him disposed to enter into all his plans for the 
 recovery of his betrothed, with a zeal and enthusiasm almost 
 equal to his own. 
 
 " The good missionary," said Ethelston, "has told me much 
 of the early life, as well as of the character and qualities of 
 Prairie-bird. I cannot tell you how deeply she has engaged 
 my interest ; my own feelings towards your sister render me 
 capable of appreciating yours ; and I pledge my faith, dear 
 Reginald, that I will spare neither toil nor exertion, nor life 
 itself, to aid you in this precious search." 
 
 Reginald grasped his hand, there was no need of words 
 of gratitude between them, and ere long both turned to con- 
 sult with Paul Miiller, as to their further proceedings. After 
 due deliberation, they agreed that on the following morning they 
 should pursue the trail, regardless of their Crow neighbours, 
 whom they had now little cause to fear, and that previous to 
 starting they would hold a council, at which Reginald should 
 propose the distribution of their respective posts, on the line 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 335 
 
 of march, in the event of their wishing him to retain that of 
 leader. 
 
 The night having passed without any alarm, Reginald sum- 
 moned a general council of war before daybreak : as soon as 
 they were assembled he told them, through Baptiste, who acted 
 as interpreter, that they were now strong enongh to pursue the 
 trail, without fear of interruption from the Crows ; and that if 
 the latter were foolish enough to make an attack, they would 
 soon have cause to repent it. He then added that War-Eagle 
 their chief being absent on the war-path, it was necessary for 
 some one to act as leader until his return ; and, as his party had 
 been joined by so many warriors of experience, he would gladly 
 place himself under the advice and guidance of the man whom 
 they might select. 
 
 When Baptiste had finished this speech, the oldest warrior 
 of Ethelston's party arose and said : " Is it not true that War- 
 Eagle, when he went, appointed Netis leader in his place ? " 
 (A murmur of assent came from the lips of Atto and his party.) 
 <( Is it not true," continued the Indian, " that Netis is a brave 
 and skilful warrior ? one who need not be silent when the 
 braves strike the war-post ? His heart is true to the Lenape, 
 and he will tell them no lies. If the white men are content 
 with Netis, the Lenape wish no other leader. I have 
 spoken." 
 
 As the scarred and weather-beaten warrior resumed his seat, 
 another and a general murmur of approbation broke from the 
 Delawares ; and Ethelston having spoken a few words of simi- 
 lar import to the white men, Reginald found himself bj uni- 
 versal acclamation chosen leader of the party. 
 
 After modestly thanking them for their good opinion, his 
 first act was to appoint Atto as guide upon the trail, desiring 
 him to select any two whom he might wish to assist him, 
 in the event of its becoming forked, or otherwise difficult 
 to follow ; Monsieur Perrot, with the provisions and loaded 
 mules, occupied the centre of the line of march, in which com- 
 paratively secure post he was accompanied by Paul Miiller, the 
 main body of the hunters and the Delawares being distributed 
 before and behind the baggage. 
 
 For himself Reginald reserved the rear-guard, where he 
 retained Ethelston, Baptiste, and a young Delaware, whom he 
 might despatch upon any emergency to communicate with the 
 
336 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 front. He also appointed four of the best mounted of his men, 
 two on each side of his party, to protect the flanks against any 
 sudden attack, Pierre being sent forward to render any assist- 
 ance to Atto that he might require. 
 
 These arrangements being complete, and made known to 
 the respective parties, they were about to set forth on their 
 journey., when Atto informed Reginald that the Crow youth 
 was coming swiftly across the valley towards the encampment, 
 pursued at a distance by several horsemen of his tribe ; the lad 
 was riding one of the swiftest and most untamed of the wild 
 horses with which that region abounds, yet he had neither 
 bridle nor saddle, guiding the animal with a leather thong, 
 which he had thrown round its nose, and urging it to its 
 utmost speed with a bow which he held in his right hand. A 
 few minutes brought the foaming little steed and its rider to the 
 edge of the thicket, where the latter, still holding the leather 
 thong, stood in silence before Reginald ; his eyes were literally 
 sparkling with indignant rage, and he did not even deign to 
 look behind him to see whether his pursuers approached : the 
 latter, however, did not choose to venture near the encamp- 
 ment; but as soon as they saw that he had gained its shelter, 
 they gave a few loud and discordant yells, and disappeared 
 behind the hill. 
 
 The services of Pierre were now put into requisition ; and 
 as soon as the youth found an ear that could understand his 
 tale, he told it with a rapidity and vehemence that showed the 
 strong excitement of his feelings : the story, as interpreted by 
 Pierre, was briefly thus : 
 
 The youth was present on the preceding day at a war- 
 council, where the Crows proposed a plan for inveigling the 
 white men to a feast, and then attacking them unawares, at the 
 same time desiring him to use the favour that he had found in 
 their eyes as an additional means for entrapping them : this he 
 positively refused to do, and boldly told the assembled chiefs 
 that their counsels were wicked and treacherous, and that he 
 would in no wise aid or abet them. Indignant at this remon- 
 strance from a stripling, the partisan had ordered him to be 
 whipped severely with thongs, and to be tied hand and foot; 
 the sentence was executed with the utmost cruelty; but he had 
 contrived early in the morning to slip off his bands, and springing 
 to his feet, he seized the fleetest horse belonging to the par- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 337 
 
 tisan, and, leaping on its back, galloped off to warn his protector 
 against the meditated treachery. 
 
 The truth of the tale required no confirmation, for the glow 
 of resentment burnt too fiercely in his eye to he dissembled, and 
 the light covering of antelope skin which he had thrown across 
 his shoulders, was saturated with his blood. Reginald's first 
 natural impulse was to punish the perpetrators of this outrage, 
 but he checked it when he remembered the magnitude of the 
 stake that bound him to the trail, " Tell him, Pierre," said 
 he, " that I thank him for his single tongue, and I love him 
 for his honest brave heart. Ask him if there is anything that 
 I can do for him.'' 
 
 " Nothing," replied the youth to this question : " tell him 
 that I have warned him against the forked tongues of my tribe, 
 because he gave me my life, and was good to me, but I 
 must not forget that his hand is red with my father's blood. 
 The day is very cloudy ; the Great Spirit has given a hard 
 task to the son of the fallen chief ; his back is marked like the 
 back of a slave ; he has lived enough." 
 
 The voice of the youth faltered as he pronounced the last 
 words ; the thong dropped from his feeble grasp, and as he fell 
 to the ground, the wild horse broke away and galloped across 
 the valley. " He is dying," said Reginald, bending over him ; 
 " see, here below his hunting shirt is the broken shaft of an 
 arrow, which one of his pursuers has shot with too true an 
 aim." While he spoke the young Crow breathed his last. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SHOWING HOW WINGENUND FARED IN THE OSAGE CAMP, AND THE 
 ISSUE OF THE DILEMMA IN WHICH PRAIRIE-BIRD WAS PLACED BY 
 UAHEGA. 
 
 WE trust that the compassionate reader is now desirous to 
 learn something more of the fate of Prairie-bird and her un- 
 fortunate brother Wingenund, whom we left a prisoner in the 
 hands of the merciless chief of the Osages. For a long time 
 after the latter had left her tent, his parting threat rung in her 
 
338 TMK PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ears, that sho must on the morrow give her consent to be his 
 bride, or by her refusal consign Wingenund to a cruel and 
 lingering death. Her busy imagination pourtrayed in vivid 
 colours the scene of torture, and the heroic fortitude with 
 which she knew he would endure it, and as she turned from 
 that picture, the figure of Reginald Brandon rose to her view, 
 as if upbraiding her with the violation of her plighted troth ; 
 torn by these contending struggles, the poor girl sobbed con- 
 vulsively, and the tears forced their way through the fingers 
 with which she in vain endeavoured, either to suppress or con- 
 ceal them. Lita threw her arms round her mistress's neck, 
 and strove by her affectionate, yet simple, endearments to soothe 
 her grief: for a long time they proved unsuccessful, but when 
 at last she whispered, 
 
 " The Great Spirit is very good; he is stronger than Mahega; 
 let Prairie-bird speak with him as she often did when the 
 Black Father was with her " 
 
 <( True, Lita," she replied, looking gratefully at the Co- 
 manche girl through her tears ; " you remind me of what I 
 ought not to have forgotten." 
 
 The next moment saw her prostrate upon her couch the 
 book of comfort in her hand, and her earnest prayers ascend- 
 ing toward Heaven. 
 
 She rose from her devotions with a calmed and strengthened 
 spirit ; the first result of which was a desire to converse with 
 Wingenund, and to decide with him upon the morrow's fear- 
 ful alternative. 
 
 Mahega willingly consented to the interview, justly be- 
 lieving that it would rather forward than retard his plan for 
 compelling her consent, compared with which the boy's life 
 weighed not a feather in the balance, so he ordered him to be 
 conveyed to her tent; and the guards who conducted him having 
 informed her that if she unbound his hands, he would be 
 instantly seized and removed, they retired to the aperture, 
 awaiting the termination of the meeting with their habitual 
 listless indifference. 
 
 Prairie-bird cared not whether they listened, as she spoke 
 to her young brother in English, of which she knew that they 
 understood little or nothing. 
 
 {( Dear Wingenund," she said, " you heard the threat 
 uttered by that savage, after he struck you ? " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 339 
 
 " I did." 
 
 " Is there no device or means by which we can contrive 
 your escape ? we may trust the Comanche girl." 
 
 " I do not see any," replied the boy calmly ; " the eyes of 
 the Osage chief are open, the hands of his warriors are many 
 and ready. It does not matter ; War-Eagle and Netis will be 
 here soon ; then all will go well." 
 
 "All well!" said Prairie-bird, shuddering. "Know you 
 not, that to-morrow I must consent to be the wife of the 
 Osage, or be the cause, and the witness of my brother's horri- 
 ble death ? " 
 
 Wingenund looked at her with unfeigned surprise. 
 
 " The daughter of Tamenund the Prairie-bird sent by 
 the 'Great Spirit, from an unknown land, to dwell among the 
 lodges of the Lenape she who has learnt all the wise words 
 of the Black Father she to become the wife of that wan- 
 dering wolf ! Can my sister's heart beat towards h : m ?" 
 
 " Heaven knows how I loathe and dread him ! worse than 
 the most poisonous snake in the prairie." 
 
 " I thought so," he replied. " And how ought a wife to 
 feel towards the man whom she marries ? " 
 
 " To feel that he is the joy, the food, the treasure of her 
 heart ; the object of her secret thoughts by day, of her dreams 
 by night; that when she prays to Heaven, his name is on her 
 lips ; that she loves him as as " 
 
 <f As Prairie-bird loves Netis," said Wingenund, smiling. 
 
 The conscious girl blushed at the impassioned eagerness into 
 which her feelings had betrayed her, but she did not attempt 
 to deny her brother's conclusion, and he continued more 
 gravely : " Then my sister could not be the wife of the Osage, 
 without leading a life of misery and falsehood. No, no," he 
 added, his bright eye kindled as he spoke ; " let to-morrow 
 come ; Wingenund is ready ; he will show that wolf how the 
 Lenape die. Let to-morrow come, and Mahega shall learn 
 that Wingenund despises his hate as much as Prairie-bird scorns 
 his love. My sister, I have spoken it. The deeds of my 
 fathers are before my eyes ; the blood of the ancient people is 
 in my veins ; words cannot change my mind. Farewell ! and 
 when you see War-Eagle and Netis, tell them that the Was- 
 hashe fire drew neither complaint nor cry from the lips of 
 Wingenund." 
 
340 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 As he spoke, his agonised sister looked up in his face, and 
 read but too plainly the high, unconquerable determination 
 legibly stamped upon its proud expressive features. She saw 
 that the instinctive feelings of his race had triumphed over all 
 the gentler impressions which she and the missionary had en- 
 deavoured to implant, and, knowing that now she might as well 
 attempt to bend a stubborn oak as to effect any change in his 
 resolution, she embraced him in silence, and suffered the Osage 
 guards to lead him from the tent. 
 
 Composing herself by a strong effort of self-command > 
 Prairie-bird revolved in her mind various schemes for saving 
 the life of her devoted brother ; one after another she consi- 
 dered and rejected, until at length the idea occurred to her 
 that perhaps she might contrive to work upon the superstitious 
 fears of Mahega. With this view she examined carefully all 
 her slender stock of instruments and curiosities, the novelty 
 of the burning-glass was past, the ticking of the watch given 
 to her by Paul Muller, though it might surprise the Osage, 
 could not be expected to alarm, or induce him to abandon his 
 determination. Then she cast her despairing eyes upon the 
 few volumes which formed her travelling library ; among these 
 her attention was accidentally directed to the almanack which 
 the good Father had brought to her, from the settlements, when 
 he gave her the watch, and she sighed when she thought how 
 often she had amused herself in the spring comparing them 
 together, calculating the lapse of time, and the changes of sea- 
 son which they severally announced. Her observation of the 
 sabbaths had been most punctual, nor had it been interrupted by 
 the toils and privations of the journey, so she had no difficulty 
 in finding the week or the day then passing. " July," she 
 exclaimed, reading to herself half aloud, <l only two weeks of 
 this sad month are yet past, methinks they seem more like 
 fourteen months than fourteen days ! See here, too, on the 
 opposite leaf prophecies regarding wind and weather. How 
 often would the dear Father point these out to me, and strive 
 to explain the wonderful terms in which they describe the 
 movements of the stars ; he was very patient, but they were 
 too hard for me ; I am sure he tried to make me understand 
 these strange words, f Aphelion,' 'Apogee,' ' Perigee,' but if 
 lie ever succeeded, I have forgotten it all. What is this notice 
 in larger letters? to-morrow, to-morrow it stands written, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 341 
 
 ' Total eclipse of the sun, visible at Philadelphia, Qh. 42m.' 
 surely surely it will be visible here too. I will trust to it, I 
 will build my faith upon it, and Wingenund's life shall yet be 
 saved." So saying, she clasped her hands together, and her 
 lovely countenance beamed with re-awakened hope. 
 
 Lita, who had been watching her mistress with affectionate 
 solicitude, and listening with childish wonder to her half- 
 uttered soliloquy, was overcome with surprise at this sudden 
 change in her demeanour; she thought that Prairie-bird had 
 been conversing with some unseen being ; under which im- 
 pression she approached, and asked, timidly, 
 
 " Has Olitipa seen a Good Spirit, and have her ears drunk 
 words of comfort ? " 
 
 " Olitipa has received words of comfort," replied her mis- 
 tress, kindly ; " they seem to her words from Heaven ; she 
 trusts that she may not be deceived ; she will address her 
 evening prayer to the Great Merciful Spirit above, and retire 
 to rest, at least to such rest as it may be His will to give her." 
 
 For many hours after Prairie-bird had been stretched upon 
 her furry couch didher thoughts dwell upon the solar eclipse now 
 the foundation of her hopes; she remembered how the missionary 
 had explained to her that it was visible at one hour in one part 
 of the earth, at a different hour in another part ; then she won- 
 dered whether at the spot where she now was it would be seen 
 sooner or later than at Philadelphia, this doubt her science 
 could not resolve, and it held her long in anxious suspense ; 
 but overwearied nature at length claimed her rights, and she 
 sank into an unrefreshing dreamy slumber, in which the images 
 of Wingenund, Mahega, and Reginald Brandon were stalking 
 confusedly over an eclipsed and darkened region of earth. 
 
 Early on the following morning Mahega, who had resolved 
 not to lose this favourable opportunity for working upon the 
 fears of Prairie-bird, caused a pile of dry branches of wood to 
 be placed round a tree, which stood nearly opposite to her 
 tent, to which he ordered Wingenund to be secured with 
 thongs of bison-hide ; after which he and his warriors seated 
 themselves in a semi- circle before their victim, passing the 
 pipe deliberately from mouth to mouth, as if to enjoy his sus- 
 pense and terror. 
 
 If such was their object, it met with little success, for the 
 young Delaware, in the brightest day of his youth and frec- 
 z 3 
 
34-2 THE PRAIRIE-BIRP. 
 
 dom, had never worn so proud and lofty an air as that which 
 now sat enthroned upon his brow. 
 
 lf A thousand warriors of the Lenape, whose blood is in my 
 veins, have gone before me co the happy fields, they knew 
 not fear, and I the last of their children will bring no shame 
 upon their race ; when I come they will say. f Welcome, Win- 
 genund ! ' and before many winters and summers are past, 
 War-Eagle and Netis, Prairie-bird and the Black Father, will 
 join me, and the blue eyes of the Lily of Mooshanne will be 
 there also, and we will dwell in a land of streams and flowers, 
 of numberless deer, and abundant corn, unvexed by cold, or 
 want, or pain.*' 
 
 Such was the vision that rose before the mental eye of the 
 youth, and so completely was he engrossed by it, that he took 
 not the slightest notice of the group assembled to put him to 
 a slow and agonising death. 
 
 Meanwhile Prairie-bird having prayed earnestly to Heaven 
 to support her, and pardon the deceit which she was about to 
 practise, dressed herself with more than usual care, and com- 
 ing forth from her tent, stood before Mahega with a dignity 
 of demeanour, to the effect of which even his fierce and in- 
 tractable nature was not insensible. He rose not, however, at 
 her approach, but contented himself with inquiring, " Has 
 Olitipa come to save her brother's life, or to kill him ? " 
 
 " Neither," replied the maiden, firmly ; she is come to 
 give good counsel to Mahega ; let him beware how he neg- 
 lects it ! " 
 
 " Let not Olitipa's speech travel in circles," said the angry 
 chief. " Mahega has said that this day she should consent to 
 be his wife, or she must see that feeble boy burnt before 
 her eyes, there are but two paths, which does Olitipa 
 choose ? " 
 
 " The feet of foolish men often wander where there is no 
 path at all," replied Prairie-bird ; and she added, with solem- 
 nity, pointing upward to Heaven : <c There is only one path, 
 and one Guide, the Great Spirit who dwells above !" 
 
 Those of the Osages who were familiar with the Delaware 
 tongue in which she was speaking, looked at each other, as if 
 wondering at her words, but Mahega, whose passion was only 
 increased by her exceeding beauty, answered vehemently, 
 
 " It is easy for Olitipa to talk and to make children believe 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 343 
 
 that her words are those of the Great Spirit Mahega is not 
 a child." 
 
 " If he compare his strength with that of the Great Spirit," 
 said the maiden, boldly, " Mahega's is less than the least finger 
 of a child. Who can tell the power of the Great Spirit ? The 
 strong wind is his breath, the thunder is his voice, the 
 sun is his smile. If He is angry and withdraws the sun, day 
 is turned into night darkness and fear dwell in the hearts 
 of men/' 
 
 The energy of her language and manner were not altogether 
 without their effect even upon the stern nature of Mahega ; 
 nevertheless, he replied, 
 
 " These are but the notes of singing-birds. Mahega waits 
 for the choice of Olitipa, she becomes his wife, or the fire 
 is kindled at the feet of Wingenund." 
 
 Prairie-bird cast an anxious glance athwart the blue vault 
 above ; not a cloud was in the sky, and the sun shone with the 
 full brightness of an American July. She would not yet 
 abandon hope, but, making a strong and successful effort to 
 maintain her composure, she said in a firm, impressive tone, 
 " Mahega, let there be a bargain between us ; you seek Olitipa 
 for a wife; if it be the will of the Great Spirit, she will sub- 
 mit, and her brother's life will be spared ; but if the Great 
 Spirit is displeased, and shows his anger by drawing a cloak 
 over the face of that bright sun in the heavens, Mahega will 
 obey His will, and let the brother of Olitipa go away unhurt. 
 Is Mahega content that it shall be so ? 
 
 " He is," replied the chief, " if the sign be such as he and 
 the Osage warriors may look upon with wonder ; not a mist, 
 or dark cloud." 
 
 s< It will be such as will make Mahega tremble" replied the 
 maiden with dignity. " Warriors of the Washashe, you have 
 heard the treaty. Before the sun has reached yon western 
 peak, the answer of the Great Spirit will be known." Having 
 thus spoken, she withdrew into the tent, leaving the Osages 
 gazing upon each other with undisguised awe and amazement. 
 
 The maiden threw herself upon her couch in an agony of 
 suspense, greater than can be described ! It was terrible to 
 think that her every hope of escaping from the dreadful 
 alternative, was staked upon a sentence in an almanack, of the 
 correctness of which she had not the slightest power to judge, 
 z 4 
 
344 THE PKAIIUE-BIUU. 
 
 Even the well-intentioned attempts at consolation made by her 
 affectionate Lita were of no avail ; her unhappy mistress en- 
 treated her to remain at the door of the tent, and report what- 
 ever might occur ; within and without a profound stillness 
 reigned. The prisoner stood motionless by the sapling to 
 which he was bound ; Mahega smoked his pipe in the full 
 confidence of anticipated triumph, surrounded by his warriors, 
 who, less sceptical, or more superstitious than their chief, 
 looked and listened, expecting some confirmation of the last 
 words of Prairie-bird. 
 
 Although the sun could not be opposite the rock which she 
 had pointed out for nearly three hours, of which not a fourth 
 part had yet elapsed, the anxious girl began to imagine that 
 hope was at an end. Visions of future degradation and misery 
 shot through her brain ; she tore from her hot brow the fillet 
 that confined her hair, which floated in glossy luxuriance over 
 her shoulders. The reproaches of Reginald Brandon rung in 
 her ears. The loathed embrace of Mahega crept over her 
 shuddering frame ! At this crisis her eye fell upon the handle 
 of the sharp knife concealed in her bosom ; she drew it forth ; 
 the triumph of the powers of Evil seemed at hand, when a 
 cry of surprise and terror from Lita recalled her wandering 
 senses. She sprang to the door ; visible darkness was spread- 
 ing over the scene, and the terrified Osages were looking up- 
 ward to the partially obscured disk of the sun, over the centre 
 of which an opaque circular body was spread ; a brilliant ring 
 being left around its outer ridge.* 
 
 Prairie-bird gazed upon the wondrous spectacle like one 
 entranced ; the late fearful struggle in her breast had given 
 a supernatural lustre to her eye ; her frame was still under high 
 nervous excitement, and as, with long hair floating down her 
 back, she pointed with one hand to the eclipsed sun, and with 
 the other to Mahega, well might the savage imagine that he 
 saw before him a prophetess whose will the Spirit of Fire must 
 obey. Under the influence of awe and dread, which he strove 
 in vain to conceal, he moved forward, and said to her, " It is 
 
 * It is unnecessary to inform the render that neither the date nor the description 
 of this solar eclipse is intended to challenge scientific criticism. Merely the genera! 
 features are preserved of that kind of solar t-clipse which is termed " annular," and 
 which takes place when the eclipse, though central, is not total, on account of the 
 moon not being near enough to hide the whole of the sun, in which case part of 
 the latter is &een as a bright ring round the part hidden by the moon. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 345 
 
 enough ! let Olitipa speak to the Great Spirit that the light 
 may come again." 
 
 The sound of his voice recalled the mind of Prairie-bird to 
 a consciousness of what had passed. She answered not, but 
 with a gesture of assent motioned to him to withdraw, and 
 supporting herself against one of the trees that grew in front 
 of her tent, she knelt beside it, and, veiling her face in the re- 
 dundant tresses of her hair, found relief in a flood of tears. 
 Overwhelmed by a sense of the merciful interposition by which 
 she and her brother had been saved, and by a feeling of deep 
 contrition for the sudden impulse of self-destruction to which, 
 in a moment of mental agony, she had yielded, she thought 
 neither of the continuance nor the withdrawing of the dark 
 phenomenon of external nature, but of the evil gloom which 
 had for the time eclipsed the light of grace in her heart, and 
 the tears which bedewed her cheek were tears of mingled peni- 
 tence and gratitude. 
 
 Still, Nature held on her appointed course ; after a few 
 minutes the moon passed onward in her path, and the rays of 
 the sun, no longer intercepted, again shed their brightness over 
 earth and sky. 
 
 The Osages, attributing these effects to the communing of 
 Prairie-bird with the Great Spirit, stood in si'ent awe as she 
 arose to retire to her tent, and her secret humiliation became, 
 in their eyes, her triumph. 
 
 Mahega, finding that he had no pretext for refusing to re- 
 lease Wingenund, and that his warriors evidently expected him 
 to fulfil his promise, ordered the youth to be unbound ; and in 
 the height of his generosity, desired that some food might be 
 offered to him, which Wingenund scornfully rejected. 
 
 The Osage chief having called aside two of those most de- 
 voted to him, spoke to them a few words apart ; and then, 
 addressing his liberated prisoner in the Delaware tongue, he 
 said, " The Osage warriors will conduct Wingenund two hours 
 on his journey : he will then be free to go where he likes ; but 
 if he is again found skulking round the Osage camp, nothing 
 shall save his life." 
 
 Wingenund knew that he was to be turned loose in a de- 
 solate region, unarmed and half-starved, but his proud spirit 
 would not permit him to ask the slightest boon of his enemy ; 
 and without a word of reply, without even directing a look 
 
346 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 towards his sister's tent, he turned and followed his con- 
 ductors. 
 
 For several miles they pursued the back-foot* of the trail 
 by which they had come from the eastward, Wingenund being 
 placed in the centre without weapon of any kind, and the two 
 Osages marching one before, and the other behind him, being 
 well armed with bow, knife, and tomahawk. The youth, un- 
 conscious that they had secret instructions from Mahega to 
 kill him as soon as they reached a convenient and sufficiently 
 distant spot, made no attempt to escape, but walked quietly 
 between them, considering within himself whether he should 
 endeavour to rejoin his party, or persevere in hovering in the 
 neighbourhood of the Osages : if a suspicion of Mahega's 
 treachery did cross his mind, he allowed it not to influence his 
 bearing, for he moved steadily forward, not even turning his 
 head to watch the Osage behind him. 
 
 About five or six miles from Mahega's camp, the trail passed 
 along the edge of a low wood, which skirted the banks of the 
 same stream that flowed through the upper valley. This was 
 the place where they proposed to kill their prisoner, and hide 
 his body in the bushes, the chief having commanded that the 
 murder should be kept secret from the rest of his party. 
 They bad just passed a thicket on the side of the trail, when 
 the terrible battle-cry of War-Eagle rose behind them, and his 
 tomahawk clove the skull of the Osage in the rear. Quick as 
 thought, Wingenund sprang upon the one in front, and pin- 
 ioned his arms ; the Osage tried in vain to disengage them from 
 the grasp of his light and active opponent. Brief was the 
 struggle, for the deadly weapon of the Delaware chief de- 
 scended again, and the second Osage lay a corpse upon the 
 trail. 
 
 The brothers, having exchanged an affectionate but hasty 
 greeting, took the spoils from their enemies according to 
 Indian fashion, War-Eagle contenting himself with their 
 scalps, and his brother taking such weapons and articles of 
 dress as his present condition rendered necessary for his 
 
 * "When a trail is made by a party on a march, the grass is of course trodden 
 down in the same direction as that in which they are going. A party travelling 
 along it from the opposite quarter, are said to take the hack-foot of the trail. The 
 author heard the expression used by an experienced Western hunter, but is not 
 aware whether it is in common use , at all events it explains its own meaning sig- 
 nificantly enough. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 347 
 
 comfort and defence; after which, they threw the two 
 bodies into the thicket, into which the Osages had intended 
 to cast that of Wingenund, and continued their course at a 
 rapid rate towards the eastward, War-Eagle relating as they 
 went the events which had brought him so opportunely to the 
 scene of action : they were briefly as follow : 
 
 When he left his party, he never halted nor slackened his 
 speed until he saw the smoke of the Osage camp-fire : con- 
 cealing himself in the adjoining wood, he had witnessed all the 
 surprising occurrences of the day ; and in the event of the 
 Osages actually proceeding to set fire to the faggots around 
 Wingenund, he was prepared to rush upon them alone, and 
 either rescue his brother or perish with him : but, with the 
 self-command and foresight of an Indian, he kept this despe- 
 rate and almost hopeless attempt for the last chance ; and 
 when to his surprise and joy he saw the prisoner sent upon the 
 trail with a guard of only two Osages, he took advantage of a 
 bank of rising ground, behind which he crept, and moving 
 swiftly forward under its shelter, gained unperceived the 
 thicket, where he had so successfully waylaid them. 
 
 Fearing a pursuit, the brothers never abated their speed 
 throughout the evening, or the early portion of the night. A 
 few hours before dawn, some scattered bushes near the path 
 offering them a precarious shelter, they lay down to snatch a 
 short repose ; a mouthful of dried bison-meat, which remained 
 in War- Eagle's belt, he gave to his exhausted brother ; and one 
 blanket covering them both, they slept soundly and undisturbed 
 until the sun was high in heaven. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 MAHEGA FINDS THE BODIES OP HIS TWO FOLLOWERS SLAIN BY WAR- 
 EAGLE. SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE INDIAN CHARACTER. WAR- 
 EAGLE RETURNS TO HIS FRIENDS, AND THE OSAGE CHIEF PUSHES 
 HIS WAT FURTHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 MAHEGA waited anxiously the return of the two men whom 
 he had sent with Wingenund, being desirous to learn whether 
 they had faithfully executed the treacherous commission with 
 
348 TBE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 which he had entrusted them. When he found that the even- 
 ing passed away, and that the successive hours of the night 
 brought no intelligence of them, he became alarmed lest they 
 should have fallen in with some hostile band of Indians ; an 
 occurrence which, in addition to the loss of two of his war- 
 riors, would threaten imminent danger to his whole party. 
 
 At the earliest peep of dawn he set out in search of them, 
 accompanied by three of his followers, giving orders to the 
 remainder to observe a strict watch during his absence. Tra- 
 versing the little valley in front of his camp with hasty strides, 
 he struck into the eastward trail, and followed it with un- 
 abated speed until he reached the spot where the deadly strug- 
 gle of the preceding evening had arisen. Here the indications 
 were too evident to leave a moment's doubt upon his mind ; 
 the grass on and beside the trail was stained with blood, and 
 from the neighbouring thicket were heard the snarls and yells 
 of a pack of wolves quarrelling over their horrible banquet ; 
 while high in air several buzzards were wheeling round and 
 round, as if endeavouring to find courage to descend and dis- 
 pute the prey with the quadruped spoilers. 
 
 Dashing into the thicket, and driving the snarling wolves 
 before him, Mahega found his worst fears realised, and his 
 horror-struck warriors stood in silence beside the mangled 
 remains of their comrades. The conduct of Indians under 
 such circumstances is uncertain and various as their rnood, 
 their impulse, their tribe, and their age. Sometimes they 
 indulge in fearful threats of vengeance ; sometimes in the 
 most woeful bowlings and lamentations ; at others they observe 
 a silence as still as the death which they are contemplating. 
 
 The Osages, on this occasion, following the example of their 
 leader, spoke not a word, although the sight before them (far 
 too horrible for description) was sufficient to try the strongest 
 nerves ; it was chiefly by the immoveable firmness of his 
 character that Mahega had gained and maintained the despotic 
 influence which he exercised over his followers ; neither did 
 it fail him on this occasion, for he proceeded to examine the 
 mutilated remains of his deceased warriors with his usual 
 coolness and sagacity, in order that he might discover by whom 
 the deed had been perpetrated ; on a close inspection of the 
 skulls, he found that both had been fractured by a tomahawk 
 blow, which had fallen in a direction almost vertical, but 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 349 
 
 rather at a posterior angle of inclination, whence he imme- 
 diately inferred that they had been killed by some enemy who 
 had surprised and attacked them from behind, and not in an 
 open fight : after a long and careful observation of the frac- 
 tures, he was of opinion that they were made by the same 
 weapon. This inference, however, he kept to himself; and 
 directing two of his followers to pay such offices to the dead 
 as were possible under the circumstances, and then to return 
 to the camp, he went forward with the remaining Osage, to 
 satisfy himself as to the manner in which the calamity had 
 occurred: he remembered to have seen Wingenund starting 
 on the trail, and, although he knew him to be bold and active, 
 he could not for an instant entertain the belief that a stripling, 
 wearied with a sleepless night, stiff from being so many hours 
 bound with thongs, and totally unprovided with arms, could 
 have killed his two guards, who were strong, wary, and well- 
 armed men ! 
 
 For some distance Mahega continued his course in moody 
 silence, the beaten trail affording no indication sufficient to 
 guide him in his conjecture, but at length he reached a place 
 where it crossed a small rivulet, the flat banks of which were 
 sprinkled with a kind of gravelly sand : here he paused and 
 examined every inch of the ground with the eye of a lynx ; 
 nor was it long before he detected the foot-prints which he 
 sought, a smaller and a greater, the latter showing longer 
 intervals, and a deeper impression. 
 
 Rising from his stooping scrutiny, the eyes of the chief glared 
 with fury, as he turned to h's follower, and, in a voice almost 
 inarticulate with rage, groan -d the hated name of War-Eagle. 
 
 " It is," he continued vehemently, " plain as the moon in 
 the sky, the trail of the cursed Lenape and the light foot of 
 his brother ; see here, War-Eagle has walked through the 
 water, and Wingenund has sprung over it ; the dew has fallen 
 since they passed, they are far before us ; but Mahega must 
 not sleep till their scalps are in his belt. Is Toweno ready ?" 
 inquired the fierce chief, tightening his girdle while he loosened 
 the tomahawk suspended from it. 
 
 " Toweno is ready," replied the Indian, " to fight or run by 
 the side of Mahega from morning until night ; his hand is not 
 weak, nor are his feet slow, but the great chief must not let 
 the angry spirit bring a cloud before his eyes." 
 
350 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " Let Toweno speak," said Mahega, controlling his fierce 
 impatience, " his words will find a path to open ears." 
 
 " War- Eagle/' pursued the Osage, "is swift of foot and 
 cunning as a twice-trapped wolf. He has not come upon this 
 far war-path alone. Wingenund has been prowling round 
 the camp ; and while Mahega follows the trail of War-Eagle, 
 the youth may guide the pale-faced warrior called Netis, with 
 his band, to the encampment of the Washashe. Toweno has 
 need of no more words." 
 
 Mahega saw in a moment the truth and force of his fol- 
 lower's suggestion, and smothering for the moment his passion 
 for revenge, he resolved to return at once to his encampment. 
 
 " The counsel of Toweno is good," said he ; " when a 
 friend speaks, Mahega is not deaf." 
 
 Among the features that distinguish the character of the 
 North American Indian, there is none more remarkable, none 
 more worthy of the study and the imitation of civilised man, 
 than the patience and impartial candour with which they listen 
 to the advice or opinion of others : although so prone to be 
 swayed by passion and governed by impulse, the Indian seems 
 to have a wonderful power of laying aside these predispositions, 
 when discussing a matter privately with a friend, or openly in 
 council. The decorum with which all their public discussions 
 are conducted has been observed and recorded by every writer 
 familiar with their habits, from the time of Charlevoix, and of 
 the interesting <c Letters Edifiantes " to the present day. 
 Golden, Tanner, Mackenzie, and many others who have de- 
 scribed the Northern tribes, concur in bearing their testimony 
 to the truth of this observation ; Heckewalder, Loskiel, Smith, 
 Jefferson, confirm it in the central region; and the Spanish 
 writers bear frequent witness to it in their descriptions of the 
 Southern tribes whom they met with in their campaigns in 
 Florida and the adjacent country. In reading the account 
 given of the numerous tribes inhabiting the vast region be- 
 tween the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, by Clarke, 
 Lewis, Long, and others, the same observation forces itself 
 upon us almost at every page, and it is the more remarkable 
 when we reflect upon two facts : first, that we find this 
 characteristic attributed to forty or fifty different nations 
 inhabiting a continent larger than Europe, by the concurring 
 testimony of travellers from different countries, and holding 
 the most opposite opinions. 
 
THE PRAIIUE-BIHD. 351 
 
 Secondly, we do not find a similar characteristic distinguish- 
 ing other savages, or nomadic tribes in Asia, Africa, or the 
 Pacific Islands. 
 
 There is not a public body in Europe, from the British 
 parliament down to the smallest burgh meeting, that might not 
 study with advantage the proceedings of an Indian council, 
 whether as described in the faithful pages of the German 
 missionaries, or, as it may still be seen by any one who has 
 leisure and inclination to visit those remote regions, where the 
 Indian character is least changed and contaminated by inter- 
 course with the whites. Such an observer would find his 
 attention attracted to two remarkable facts ; first, that no 
 speaker is ever interrupted ; and, secondly, that only those 
 speak who from age, rank, and deeds, are entitled to be 
 listened to. 
 
 It is a popular and plausible reply to say, that discussions 
 concerning the complicated business of a great country cannot 
 be carried on like the unimportant " talks" of these savage 
 tribes. This reasoning is shallow and full of sophistry ; for 
 many of the Indian councils above referred to have involved 
 all the dearest interests of the nation ; their soil, their pride, 
 their ancestral traditions, all were at stake, perhaps all with 
 little more than a nominal alternative, to be bartered for the 
 grasping white man's beads, whiskey, and subsidies. In 
 these councils, every listening Indian must have felt that his 
 own home, the lodge built by his father, and the patch of 
 maize cultivated by his family, were dependent on the issue of 
 the negotiation, and yet it is not upon record that a chief or 
 elder brave was ever interrupted in his speech, or that the 
 decorum of the council was infringed by irregularity or tumult 
 on the part of those who might have considered themselves 
 injured and aggrieved. 
 
 Even in regard to time, it is a great mistake to suppose that 
 anything is gained by interruption ; for an obstinate talker 
 will carry his point in the end ; and although the persevering 
 exclamations and groanings, and Growings of an impatient 
 House of Commons may succeed in drowning his voice, and 
 forcing him to sit down, he will rise again on some other 
 occasion, and inflict upon his hearers a speech whose bulk and 
 bitterness are both increased by the suppressed fermentation 
 which it has undergone. 
 
S52 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Leaving the moody and dispirited Osage chief to find his 
 ivay back to his encampment, we will now return to Reginald 
 Brandon and his party, whom we left starting westward on 
 the trail, marching in regular order, and prepared, without 
 delaying the progress, to repel any hostile attempt on the 
 part of the Crows. The latter band seemed, however, so 
 impressed with the strength, discipline, and appointments of 
 the white men's force, now that it had received a strong 
 reinforcement, that they gave up all present intention of 
 molesting it, and went off in an opposite direction in search 
 of game, horses, or booty where these might be acquired with 
 less risk and danger. 
 
 Reginald and Ethelston went together on the line of 
 march ; and although the spirits of the former were damped 
 by the recent and melancholy fate of the Crow youth, in 
 whom he had felt much interest, the buoyant hilarity of hi& 
 disposition did not long resist his friend's endeavours to 
 banish that subject from his thoughts, and to turn the con- 
 versation to topics more immediately connected with the object 
 of their present expedition. 
 
 Reginald having once confided to Ethelston his love for 
 Prairie-bird, found a pleasure in describing to him her beauty, 
 her natural grace, her simplicity, in short, all those charms 
 and attractions which had carried by storm the fortress of his 
 heart ; and it seemed that his friend was no less willing to 
 listen than he to talk upon the subject ; repeating question 
 after question, regarding her with an unwearied intensity of 
 curiosity that excited at length the surprise of Reginald 
 himself. 
 
 " Indeed, Edward," he said, laughing, " did I not know 
 that you are devoted to a certain lady on the banks of the 
 Muskingum, and that your attachments are reasonably steady, 
 I could almost believe that the fidelity and eloquence with 
 which I have described Prairie-bird had made you fall in love 
 with her yourself." 
 
 " Perhaps you are claiming more merit for your own 
 eloquence than is due to it," said Ethelston, in a similar tone 
 ' ' you forget that before I joined you, Paul Miiller and I had 
 travelled many hundred miles together ; and it is a topic upon 
 which he speaks as warmly and partially as yourself." 
 
 f( Well he may !" replied Reginald with energy, ' for she 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 353 
 
 owes everything to his affectionate care and instruction, in 
 return for which she loves and venerates him as if he were her 
 father." 
 
 In such conversation did the friends while away many 
 weary hours on the march ; and at the midday halt and 
 evening camp, they were joined by the worthy missionary, 
 who, justly proud of his pupil/ and knowing that he was 
 addressing those who would not soon be weary of hearing her 
 praises, told them many anecdotes of her early youth, with an 
 earnestness and feeling which often caused Reginald to avert 
 his face, and Ethelston to shade his brow thoughtfully with 
 his hand. 
 
 Nor was the march unenlivened by scenes of a merrier 
 kind, for Pierre, Baptiste, and Monsieur Perrot kept up a 
 constant round of fun and raillery around their camp-kettle ; 
 the latter continuing to act as chief cook for all the white men 
 and half-bred in the party, and leaving the Delawares to dress 
 their food after their own fancy. Provisions were abundant in 
 the camp, and Perrot contrived by his ingenuity to give a 
 variety both in appearance and flavour to supplies, which in 
 truth consisted of little more than parched maize, biscuit, 
 coffee, and bison-meat. He talked incessantly, and his lively 
 sallies not only amused his two companions, but often drew a 
 smile from Reginald, in spite of the anxiety occasioned by the 
 object of the expedition. 
 
 " Master Baptiste," said the valet cook (as nearly as his 
 language may be rendered into English), " methinks those 
 great hands of yours are better skilled in chopping Sioux 
 skulls, or felling bee-trees, than in the science of butchery ; 
 see here, what unchristian lumps of meat you have brought 
 me to dress ! " 
 
 "Were it not for these great hands, as you call them," 
 replied the sturdy guide, " you, Master Perrot, with those fine- 
 skinned fingers, would often ere this have seen little of either 
 deer or bison-meat for your supper." 
 
 " As for that, I deny not that you are tolerably successful 
 in hunting, and your load of venison is sometimes brought 
 decently home ; but in the cutting up of a bison, your educa- 
 tion has been much neglected." 
 
 " It may be so, Monsieur Perrot," answered Baptiste : " I 
 do not pretend to much skill in the matter, and yet methinks 
 
 A A 
 
S54> THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 I should understand as much of it as one who had never seen 
 a bison a month since ; and who could not now dress a cow's 
 udder half so well as an Osage squaw." Pierre laughed out- 
 right at his comrade's depreciation of Perrot's culinary skill ; 
 and the latter, whose temper was not a whit ruffled by this 
 disparagement of his talents, inquired with the utmost gra- 
 vity, 
 
 " Pray, Baptiste, instruct me in this matter, for I doubt 
 not, although you have so grievously mutilated the ox, that 
 your method of dressing the cow's udder must be worth 
 learning." 
 
 " Nay," replied Baptiste, f( I will show you that when we 
 come among cows and squaws ; meanwhile I recommend you 
 to make yourself a spare peruke, as we may soon be running 
 foul of those Osages, or some other roving Indians, who may 
 chance to carry off that moveable scalp on the top of your 
 head." 
 
 This allusion to Perrot's disaster and narrow escape among 
 the Sioux, turned the laugh against him ; but he quickly 
 checked its current by placing before his companions some 
 buffalo steaks, and cakes of maize flour, which practically 
 contradicted all that they had been saying in his disparagement 
 of the good-humoured Frenchman's cookery. 
 
 Towards the close of the second day's march, one of the 
 Delawares, who had been sent forward to reconnoitre, galloped 
 to the rear and reported that he had seen one or two men at a 
 great distance ahead, nearly in the line of the trail which they 
 were now following. Reginald immediately sprung upon 
 Nekimi, who was walking like a pet-dog at his side; and, 
 accompanied by Ethelston, rode forward to examine the 
 strangers with his telescope. The undulations of the inter- 
 vening ground hid them for a considerable time from his view, 
 and when they reappeared they were near enough to be clearly 
 distinguished through his glass. 
 
 " War-Eagle," he exclaimed, ' ' Heaven be praised ! It IB 
 my brave Indian brother returning with young Wingenund. 
 Edward, I will now present to you the noblest creature that 
 ver yet I encountered in human shape. My feelings would 
 prompt me to rush forward and embrace him; but we must 
 conform ourselves to Indian usage here, or we shall lose the 
 good opinion of our Delaware friends." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 355 
 
 Reginald had confided to his friend all that had passed 
 between himself and War-Eagle, not even omitting his unfor- 
 tunate and long-cherished passion for Prairie-bird, so that 
 Ethelston awaited his approach with no ordinary interest. 
 
 As the Delaware chieftain advanced with erect front, his 
 expanded chest thrown slightly forward, and the fine symmetry 
 of his form developed in every movement as he stepped lightly 
 over the prairie, Ethelston felt that he had never seen, either 
 in nature or in the works of art, a finer specimen of manhood ; 
 and when he witnessed the grave simplicity which mingled 
 with his cordial greeting of Reginald Brandon, he could not 
 deny that features, form, and bearing stamped the Delaware 
 chieftain at once as one of the lords of the creation. Neither 
 did the gentle gracefulness of the slighter figure by whom he 
 was accompanied escape Ethelston's notice, and he felt no 
 difficulty in recognising, in the interesting features of the 
 youth, that Wingenund of whose high and amiable qualities 
 he had heard so much from Reginald. 
 
 " These are, indeed," said Ethelston to himself, " worthy 
 descendants of the Lenape princes, whose sway in bygone days 
 extended over many hundred leagues of fertile territory, from 
 the Ohio to the Atlantic coast: whose broad lands are now tilled 
 by the Saxon plough, on the site of whose ancient villages 
 now stand the churches and the popular streets of Baltimore, 
 and the city of Brotherly Love. With the loss of their domi- 
 nion, most of these once-powerful tribes have lost the highest 
 and best characteristics of their race ; subdued by the rifle, 
 corrupted by the silver, degraded by the ardent spirits of the 
 white man, they present but too often a spectacle in which it 
 is difficult to recognise any traces of the attributes with which 
 the narratives of our early travellers and missionaries invest 
 them. But these are, indeed, features which a Titian would 
 not have scorned to delineate; these are forms which the pencil 
 of Michael Angelo and the chisel of Praxiteles would have 
 rejoiced to immortalise." 
 
 While these thoughts were rapidly passing through the mind 
 of Ethelston, the greeting between Reginald and War-Eagle 
 was exchanged; and the former had given to his Indian brother 
 a hasty sketch of the events which had occurred in his absence 
 and of those which had led to the reinforcement brought by 
 Ethelston. A gleam of joy shot athwart the features of the 
 
 A A 2 
 
356" THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Delaware, as he learnt the vengeance which his warriors had 
 taken of their enemies ; and his quick eye glanced with gratified 
 pride over the scalps which they displa} ed, and the magnificent 
 bear-claw collar dependent from Atto's neck. The Lenape 
 braves saw too that the tomahawk of their leader had not slept 
 in its belt on his solitary war-path, for the scalps of the two 
 unfortunate Osages whom he had slain hung close to its handle; 
 and though there was no shout of triumph, an audible murmur 
 of satisfaction ran through the whole band. 
 
 When Reginald presented Ethelston to War-Eagle as his 
 earliest and most faithful friend from childhood, the chief, 
 taking him by the hand, said, " The friend of Netis is the 
 friend of War-Eagle, their hearts are one; he is very wel- 
 come." Reginald then presented Wingenund to his friend, 
 as the gallant youth who had saved his life on the banks of 
 the Muskingum. 
 
 (C I feel as if I had long known him," said Ethelston, shak- 
 ing his hand cordially ; " I have come lately from Mooshanne, 
 where his name is not forgotten." 
 
 " Is the Lily of Mooshanne well ? " inquired the youth, 
 fixing his dark and earnest eyes full upon the countenance ot 
 the person whom he was addressing. Ethelston had been 
 prepared by his friend's description of Wingenund for a 
 demeanour and character highly interesting; but there was a 
 melody, a pathos, a slight tremor in the tone in which he 
 spoke those few words, there was also in his countenance a 
 touching expression of melancholy, that thrilled to the heart 
 of Ethelston. How quick is the jealous eye of love ! Ethel- 
 ston knew that Wingenund had passed only one day in the 
 society of Lucy, yet he saw in an instant the deep impression 
 which that day had left on the young Indian's mind. 
 
 " The Lily of Mooshanne is well/' he replied. " If she 
 had known that I should visit her brother, and his Lenape 
 friends, she would have bid me speak many kind words to 
 them from her." 
 
 Wingenund passed on, and War-Eagle related to the two 
 friends the leading circumstances of his own expedition, 
 omitting all mention of the fatigue, the hunger, the sleepless 
 nights that he had undergone, before he discovered and reached 
 the Osage camp. 
 
 As he described the scene of Wingenund being tied to the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 35? 
 
 post, with the dried faggots at his feet, and the appearance cf 
 Prairie-hird when Mahega called upon her to pronounce her 
 own or her brother's fate, both of his auditors held their 
 breath with anxious suspense, which gave place to astonish- 
 ment, as he proceeded to relate with undisguised awe the 
 mystery of the solar eclipse, which led to the liberation of 
 Wingenund. 
 
 When he had concluded his narrative, Reginald was speech- 
 less ; and Ethelston, catching the Delaware's arm, inquired in 
 a low whisper, " Has the Osage dared, or will he dare, to 
 make Prairie-bird his wife by force ? " 
 
 " He has not," replied the chief ; " the words of Olitipa, 
 and the black sun, made him afraid." He added, drawing 
 "himself proudly to his full height, " Had the wolf threatened 
 to touch her with his paw, the tomahawk of War-Eagle would 
 have pierced his heart, or the bones of the Lenape chief and 
 his brother would have been picked by the buzzards of the 
 mountains." So saying, War-Eagle joined his expectant 
 warriors. 
 
 In the meantime Mahega returned to his camp, in a vexed 
 and gloomy state of mind ; as he passed the tent of Prairie- 
 bird, a darker frown lowered upon his brow ; and having 
 entered his lodge, he seated himself, without speaking to any 
 of those who had assembled there in expectation of his return. 
 
 The youngest of the Osages present having handed him a 
 lighted pipe, retired to a corner of the lodge, where he 
 resumed his occupation of sharpening the head of a barbed 
 arrow, leaving the chief to his own meditations. These 
 dwelt mainly upon Prairie-bird, and were of a nature so 
 mingled and vague, as to cause him the greatest perplexity. 
 The effect of her beauty and attractions upon his passions had 
 rather increased than diminished : he loved her as much as 
 one so fierce and selfish could love another ; yet, on the other 
 hand, he felt that he ought to hate her, as being the sister of 
 War-Eagle, and the betrothed of the man who had struck and 
 disgraced him : with these contending feelings there was 
 blended a superstitious awe of her communion with the world 
 of spirits, and a remote hope that some of these supernatural 
 agencies might turn her heart in his favour, and induce her 
 not only to become his bride, but zealously to employ all her 
 mysterious powers iu the furtherance of his ambitious schemes. 
 A A 3 
 
358 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Such was the train of thought pursued by the Osage, as he 
 leaned against the pile of furs that supported his back, and 
 stretching his huge limbs at their ease, watched the eddying 
 wreaths of fragrant smoke, which gently puffed from his 
 mouth and nostril, wound their slow way to the fissures in 
 the lodge-roof by which they escaped.* 
 
 The suggestion of Toweno had made a strong impression 
 upon Mahega's mind, and led him to expect, at no distant 
 period, an attack on the part of the Delawares ; and as he was 
 uncertain of the force which his enemy might bring against 
 him, he resolved to make a timely retreat to some spot where 
 a pursuit, if attempted by the Delawares, might enable him to 
 take them at a disadvantage. 
 
 Calling to him an Osage who was leaning against one of the 
 outer posts that supported the lodge, he desired him to make, 
 with a comrade, a careful search of the neighbourhood, and to 
 report any trail or suspicious appearance that they might find; 
 and when he had given these orders he summoned Toweno, 
 and started with him towards the head of the little valley, 
 without informing him of the object which he had in view ; 
 but as the latter was the only person :to whom the chief had 
 entrusted the secret of the cache, where his most valuable 
 spoils were deposited, and as they were now marching in that 
 direction, he was not at a loss to divine Mahega's intentions. 
 After a brief silence, the chief said to his follower, " Do the 
 thoughts of Toweno walk upon the same path with the 
 thoughts of Mahega ? " 
 
 " They do," he replied. 
 
 " Can Toweno speak them ? " 
 
 " Mahega intends to leave the camp before the Lenape 
 come ; and taking some goods with him as presents to the 
 mountain tribes, to find a safe place where the enemy cannot 
 follow him." 
 
 " Toweno says well," answered the chief, with a grim smile, 
 " but that is not enough, the Lenape must be made a fool, he 
 must be put upon a wrong trail." 
 
 The herbs mingled, by the Indians with a small proportion of tobacco, are fre- 
 quently of a light and fragrant flavour ; sometimes, too, they have some narcotic 
 properties. In order fully to enjoy their qualities after the Indian fashion, the 
 smoker mu-t inhale the smoke by the mouth and expel it through the noitril, in 
 which operation the nerves and small vessels of the latter expe'icnce a pungent 
 sensation, which some consider highly agreeable, and is not unlike that which is 
 caused bv a pinch of mild or perfumed snuff. 
 
THE PRAIIIIE-BIRD. 359 
 
 " That is good, if it can be done," said Toweno, gravely, 
 " but it is not easy to put sand in the eyes of War-Eagle," 
 
 " Mahega will put sand into his eyes, and a knife into his 
 heart before this moon becomes a circle," replied the chief, 
 clutching as he went the haft of his scalp-knife, and uncon- 
 sciously lengthening his stride under the excitement produced 
 by the thoughts of a conflict with his hated foe. They had 
 now reached the " cache," which was a large dry hole in the 
 side of a rocky bank, the entrance to which was closed by a 
 stone, and admirably concealed by a dense thicket of brambles 
 and wild raspberry bushes : having rolled away the stone, 
 Mahega withdrew from the cache a plentiful supply of beads, 
 vermillion, powder, and cloths of various colour, being part 
 of the plunder taken from the camp of the unfortunate Dela- 
 wares, and wrapping in two blankets as much as he and his 
 companion could carry, they replaced the stone, carefully con- 
 cealing their foot-prints as they retreatel, by strewing them 
 with leaves and grass. At a spot very near the cache was the 
 skeleton of a deer, which Mahega had killed on a former occa- 
 sion, and purposely dragged thither. As soon as they reached 
 this point, they took no further precaution to conceal their 
 trail, because, even if it were found, the party discovering it 
 would stop under the impression that it was made by the 
 hunters who had killed the deer. On returning to the camp 
 they met the two Osages who had been despatched to recon- 
 noitre, and who reported that they had found one fresh Indian 
 trail in the woods opposite the little valley, and that they had 
 followed it as far as the stream, where, from its direction and 
 appearance, they were assured it was the trail of War-Eagle; 
 and Mahe'ga now first learnt that his daring foe had been 
 within eighty yards of the spot selected for the torture of 
 Wingenund. His was not a nature to give way to idle 
 regrets ; equally a stranger to fear and to remorse, the future 
 troubled him but little, the past not at all, excepting when it 
 afforded him food wherewith to cherish his revenge ; so the 
 information now received did not interrupt him in carrying 
 into execution his plans for retreat. Accordingly, he de- 
 sired Toweno to summon his warriors to a council, and in a 
 short time the band, now reduced to eight besides himself, 
 assembled in front of his lodge. Here he harangued them 
 with his usual cunning sagacity, pointing out to them the risk 
 
 A 4 
 
360 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 of remaining in their present position, and setting before them 
 in the most favourable light the advantages which might 
 accrue from their falling in with some of the peaceable tribes 
 among the mountains, and carrying back from them to the 
 banks of the Osage and Kansas rivers a plentiful cargo of 
 beaver and other valuable skins. Having concluded his 
 harangue, he opened before them the largest (although the least 
 precious) of the bales brought from the cache, which he 
 divided equally amongst them, so that each warrior knowing 
 what belonged to him, might use it as he thought fit ; the 
 remaining bale he ordered to be carefully secured in wrappers 
 of hide, and to be reserved for negotiations for the benefit of 
 the whole band. The Osages were loud in their approbation 
 of the speech, and of the liberal distribution of presents by 
 which it had been accompanied, and they retired from his 
 lodge to make immediate preparations for departure. 
 
 While these were rapidly advancing, Mahega, who had 
 made himself thoroughly familiar with the neighbouring 
 locality, considered and matured his plans for retreat, the chief 
 object of which was to mislead the Delawares, in the event of 
 their attempting a pursuit. The result of his meditations he 
 Confined to his own breast, and his followers neither wished 
 nor cared to know it, having full reliance upon his sagacity 
 and judgment. Meanwhile, Prairie-bird remained quietly in 
 her tent, grateful for the deliverance of her young brothers, 
 and indulging in a thousand dreamy visions of her own escape, 
 contrived and effected by Reginald and War- Eagle. These 
 were suddenly interrupted by the entrance of Lita, who, while 
 engaging in carrying water from the brook, had gathered from 
 one of the Osages some intelligence of what was going for- 
 ward. If the truth must be told, this Indian, separated from 
 the woman-kind of his own tribe, had begun to look on the 
 expressive gipsy countenance of the Comanche girl with an 
 eye of favour ; and she not being slow to detect the influence 
 which she had acquired, encouraged him just enough to render 
 him communicative, and willing to offer her such attentions 
 as were admissible in their relative situations. Yet in her 
 heart she scorned him as a " dog of an Osage," and though he 
 knew her to be only a slave, there was something in her 
 manner that attracted him in spite of himself; it was not 
 difficult for the quick girl to gather from her admirer the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 36l 
 
 news of WingenuncTs escape, and the death of the two Osages 
 sent to guard him ; hut when she heard the latter attributed 
 with an execration to the hand of War-Eagle, she was obliged 
 to avert her face, that her informant might not observe the 
 look of triumph that gleamed in her dark eyes. 
 
 Having ascertained at the same time that Mahega was 
 about to strike his camp and resume his march, she rewarded 
 the Osage by an arch smile, that sent him away contented, 
 while she, taking up her water-vessel, pursued her way to her 
 mistress's tent. 
 
 To the latter Lita lost no time in communicating what she 
 had learnt, and was disappointed to observe that Prairie-bird 
 seemed rather vexed than gratified by the intelligence. 
 
 * ; Does Olitipa not rejoice ? " inquired she eagerly, " that 
 the scalps of the Washashee dogs who kept Wingenund prisoner 
 are hanging at the belt of the Lenape chief? " 
 
 " Olitipa is tired of blood," answered the maiden, mourn- 
 fully, " and the loss of his warriors will make Mahega more 
 fierce and cruel to us. See already he prepares to go on a 
 distant path, where the eyes of War-Eagle and Netis may not 
 find us ; " and the poor girl shuddered at the prospect of a 
 journey to regions yet more wild and remote, and a captivity 
 yet more hopeless of deliverance. 
 
 " Let him go where never Washashee foot stepped before," 
 replied Lita, " where no trail is seen but that of the bighorn, 
 and the black-tailed deer : War-Eagle will follow and will 
 find him." 
 
 Prairie-bird smiled sadly at the eagerness of her companion, 
 and then desired her aid in getting their wardrobe and few 
 moveables ready for the expected journey. While they were 
 thus employed Mahega called Prairie-bird to the door of her 
 tent, where she found the chief, with his arm wrapped round 
 with a cloth ; and believing him to be wounded, she acceded 
 at once to his request that she would give him one of her 
 kerchiefs for a bandage. During the remainder of the evening 
 she saw nothing more of him or of his people, and she slept 
 undisturbed until an hour before dawn, when she was awakened 
 by the bustle of preparation for departure. 
 
 As soon as her light tent was struck and fastened to the 
 poles which supported it, she observed that a kind of cradle 
 had been constructed by the Osages, which was covered with 
 
862 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 skins, and was adapted to the purpose of carrying herself or 
 her moveables, when slung to the tent-poles, as well as to 
 convey its contents dry over any river that might obstruct 
 their passage. 
 
 The Osage party was now divided into two, of which one 
 was reserved by Mahega for his own guidance, the other being 
 entrusted to that of Toweno : all the horses were placed under 
 the charge of the latter, including those carrying the packages, 
 and the palfrey usually ridden by Prairie-bird : this party 
 bent their course to the northward, and Mahega accompanied 
 them a few hundred yards, repeating many instructions to 
 Toweno, which seemed from his earnest gesticulation to be 
 both minute and important. 
 
 The heart of Prairie-bird sank within her, when she saw 
 her favourite horse led away, and herself left with Lita on 
 foot, attended by Mahega and four of his men : knowing, 
 however, the inutility of any present attempt either at resist- 
 ance or flight, she awaited in uncomplaining silence the further 
 commands of her captor, although she easily saw through the 
 mocking veil of courtesy with which he disguised his antici- 
 pated triumph over her baffled friends. To his inquiry 
 whether she preferred travelling on foot to being carried in the 
 wicker-frame by two of his men, she replied, without hesita- 
 tion, in the affirmative ; upon which he presented her with a 
 pair of mocassins, to be worn over her own, so ingeniously 
 contrived that although they did not encumber her movements 
 by their weight, they yet rendered it impossible that her foot- 
 print should be recognised, even by the practised eye of War- 
 Eagle. A similar pair was also placed on the feet of Lita. 
 
 It may easily be imagined that the Osages, during their 
 residence at this encampment, made various excursions for 
 hunting and other purposes ; they had used on these occasions 
 old trails made by native tribes or by the bison ; one of these 
 ran in a north-east direction, skirting the base of the high 
 western hills, and offering the prospect of easy travelling, 
 through an undulating and partially wooded country. Into 
 this path Mahega struck at once, leading the way himself, 
 followed by Prairie-bird and Li la, the four Osages bringing 
 up the rear. This line of maich being adopted by the cun- 
 ning chief, first, that he might have frequent opportunity of 
 watching and speaking with the maiden, and secondly, that 
 
THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. 363 
 
 his men might be the better enabled to fulfil his strict injunc- 
 tion that they should carefully remove any trace which she 
 might purposely or accidentally leave on the trail. 
 
 Such an idea did not, however, appear to have entered the 
 thoughts of Prairie-bird, for she followed the Osage chief with 
 a blithe and cheerful air, replying good-humouredly to the 
 observations which he from time to time addressed to her, 
 and pointing out to Lita the beauties of the scenery through 
 which they were passing. 
 
 It was indeed a lovely region, abounding in rock, herbage, 
 and magnificent timber, the latter affording an agreeable 
 shelter, from the rays of the sun, while the fresh breeze, 
 blowing from the snow-capped mountains, which bounded the 
 western prospect, rendered the exercise of walking pleasant in 
 the highest degree. 
 
 They had followed the trail for some time without meeting 
 with any game when the quick eye of Mahe'ga detected a 
 mountain-deer, browsing at no great distance, and in a mo- 
 ment an arrow from his bow pierced its flank ; the wounded 
 animal bounded onward into the glade, and the chief sprang 
 forward in pursuit. The Osages fixed their keen and eager 
 eyes on the chase, muttering half-aloud expressions of im- 
 patient discontent at being prevented from joining it. Swift 
 as had been the arrow of Mahega, it was not more so than the 
 thought and hand of Prairie, bird, who contrived while her 
 guards were gazing intently on the deer and its pursuer, to let 
 fall unperceived a small slip of paper upon the trail : so com- 
 pletely did she appear absorbed in watching the chase, that the 
 movement was unnoticed even by Lita, and the party continued 
 their way a few hundred steps when a signal from Mahega, 
 now out of sight, soon brought one of his followers to assist 
 him in cutting up the quarry. 
 
 Before leaving her tent, Prairie-bird had prepared and 
 secreted about her person several small slips of paper, on each 
 of which she had written the word, " Follow," trusting to her 
 own ingenuity to find an opportunity of dropping one now and 
 then unobserved by the Osages. 
 
 Such an opportunity having now occurred, it had been 
 successfully employed, and the maiden went forward with a 
 lighter heart, in the confident hope that Providence would 
 
364 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 cause some friendly eye to rest upon the slight, yet guiding 
 token left upon her path. 
 
 For two days Mahega pursued his march leisurely, as if 
 fearless of pursuit, halting frequently to afford rest and 
 refreshment to Prairie-bird, and camping at night, on some 
 sheltered spot, where his men constructed for her protection a 
 hut, or bower of branches, over which was thrown a covering 
 of skins : before setting out in the morning this bower was 
 destroyed, and the branches dragged to some distance in 
 several directions ; and Mahega having carefully examined the 
 spot, was the last to leave it, in order to ensure that no indi- 
 cation or trace of his fair prisoner might remain. 
 
 On the third day about noon they reached the banks of a 
 broad stream, which two of the Osages crossed immediately, 
 with instructions from their chief to make a visible trail in a 
 N.E. direction for some distance, when they were to enter 
 the river again at another place, and to wade or swim down it 
 until they rejoined him : meanwhile Prairie-bird and Lita, 
 with such articles as they wished to keep dry, were placed in 
 the light coriole or wicker-boat covered with skins, and 
 Mahega guided its course down the stream, followed by the 
 remainder of his men : they descended the bed of the river 
 for several miles in this way ; and although more than one 
 trail appeared on the banks as a crossing-place for Indians or 
 bison, he passed them all unheeded, until he came to a broad 
 track which had very lately been trodden by so many feet 
 that the trail of his own party could not be distinguished upon 
 it ; here he halted until he was rejoined by the men whom he 
 had left behind, when they proceeded forward at a brisk pace, 
 towards the spot which he had appointed as the rendezvous 
 for his party in charge of the packages and the horses. 
 
 Mahega was now in high spirits, being confident that the 
 precautions which he had taken would throw the pursuers off 
 the scent, and enable him to follow out his plans, which were 
 to trade during the summer, with the Shosonies and other 
 tribes hovering about the spurs of the mountains, procuring 
 from them beaver and other valuable furs in exchange for the 
 fine cloths and goods which he had brought from the Dela- 
 ware camp ; after which he proposed to return to the northern 
 portion of the Osage country, enriched by his traffic, and 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 365 
 
 glorying in the possession of his mysterious and beautiful 
 bride. 
 
 Such were the projects entertained by the Osage chief, and 
 he brooded over them so abstractedly, that he afforded to the 
 ever-watchful Prairie-bird an opportunity of dropping another 
 of her small slips of paper unperceived; she did not neglect it, 
 although almost hopeless of her friends ever discovering her 
 path after the many precautions taken by Mahega, and the 
 long distance down the course of the river, where no trail nor 
 trace of the passage of his party could be left. 
 
 On reaching the rendezvous he found his detachment with 
 the horses and luggage already arrived : they had come by a 
 circuitous route, availing themselves of several Indian trails 
 by the way, on one of which Toweno had, by direction of his 
 chief, scattered some shreds of the kerchief that he obtained 
 from Prairie-bird ; after which he had returned upon the same 
 trail, and diverged into a transverse one, which had enabled 
 him to reach the rendezvous by the time appointed. 
 
 Prairie-bird being again mounted upon her favourite palfrey, 
 the whole party set forward with increased speed, which they 
 did not relax until towards evening, when they saw in the 
 distance numerous fires, betokening the neighbourhood of a 
 populous Indian village. Mahega then ordered a halt, and 
 having sent forward Toweno to reconnoitre, encamped in a 
 sheltered valley for the night. When Prairie-bird found her- 
 self once more, after the fatigues of the two preceding days, 
 under the cover of her own tent, she looked round its small 
 circular limits, and felt as if she were at home ! Casting herself 
 upon her couch of furs, she offered up her grateful thanks to 
 the Almighty Being who had hitherto so mercifully protected 
 her, and soon forgot her cares and weariness in sound and 
 refreshing slumbers. 
 
 END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 36? 
 
 THIRD VOLUME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WAR- EAGLE AND HIS PARTY REACH THE DESERTED CAMP OF THE 
 OSAGES. THE LATTER FALL IN WITH A STRANGE BAND OF INDIANS, 
 AND MAHEGA APPEARS IN THE CHARACTER OF A DIPLOMATIST. 
 
 A BRIGHT sun shone upon the little valley which, twenty- 
 four hours before, had been deserted by the Osages, when a 
 tall form glided cautiously to its entrance, half concealed by 
 the bushes that fringed its edge. Glancing hastily around, 
 War-Eagle, for he it was, who was guiding his party in pur- 
 suit, returned to announce to them his belief that the enemy 
 had decamped : nevertheless, the usual precautions were 
 adopted against a surprise. A small body of Delawares were 
 thrown forward to reconnoitre the neighbouring woods, under 
 the command of Atto, while the chief, accompanied by Re- 
 ginald, Ethelston, and the rest of the party, entered the de- 
 serted Osage encampment ; every nook and cranny among the 
 adjacent woods and rocks were diligently explored, and not 
 till then were they convinced that their crafty foe had given 
 them the slip. While the rest of the party were busied in 
 this search, the eye of Reginald Brandon rested in absorbed 
 attention upon the spot to which his steps had been first led, 
 as if by the power of instinct ; it was a small plot, completely 
 sheltered by the rock which guarded the front of the recess ; 
 a few holes made in the turf showed where pegs had been 
 driven in to secure a circular tent. " Here," said Reginald to 
 Ethelston, " here is the spot trodden by her dear feet here 
 have her weary limbs reposed during the long watches of the 
 night here have her prayers been offered up at noon and ere 
 
368 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 for that rescue which we seem doomed, alas ! never to ac- 
 complish ! " 
 
 " Say not a word, my son/' said Paul Miiller, laying his 
 hand kindly on the excited Reginald's shoulder ; " say not a 
 word, my son, which would seem to limit the power or the 
 mercy of that Being to whom those prayers were addressed. 
 Hope is the privilege, perseverance the duty of man ; let us 
 faithfully use these bounties, and leave the issue to His all-wise 
 disposal." 
 
 " I am indeed ashamed of my hasty expression, worthy 
 father," said Reginald, frankly ; " but I will draw encourage- 
 ment from your suggestion, and banish every desponding 
 thought, while there remains a chance of success, or even a 
 glimmering of hope." 
 
 Wingenund, who had approached unobserved to the side of 
 his friend, whispered to him in a low voice, " Netis is right : 
 here it was that Olitipa sat when Wingenund was a prisoner ; 
 she is not far, the Lenape warriors never lose a trail." 
 
 While they were thus conversing, a messenger from War- 
 Eagle summoned them to a consultation on the plan of pur- 
 suit which should be adopted. 
 
 It may not be unnecessary to inform those who have never 
 been upon the prairies of the Far-west, that a trail is easily 
 followed when the party pursued is in full retreat, because any 
 indication of footsteps is a sure guide to its course ; whereas, 
 in a camping-place, where a party has remained for a consi- 
 derable time, numberless paths are trodden in various direc- 
 tions during its stay, some for hunting excursions, some for 
 bringing water, others for leading horses to and from their 
 pasturage, so that the pursuer is at a loss to discover by which 
 of these paths those of whom he is in pursuit have retreated. 
 
 War-Eagle being well aware that Mahega was not less 
 skilled than himself in all the stratagems and devices of Indian 
 warfare, set about this difficult task with a deliberation that 
 did not suit the eager temper of Reginald Brandon ; never- 
 theless, he had so much confidence in the sagacity of his 
 Indian brother, that he restrained all expression of his impa- 
 tience, and agreed without objection to the method proposed 
 by him at the council. Agreeably to this plan, Paul Muller, 
 Perrot, and several of the hunters and Delawares, remained 
 on guard at the camp, while the main body, divided into small 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 parties of two or three in each_, were to explore every trail 
 that offered a probability of success, and to return before 
 nightfall to report the result of their search. War-Eagle set 
 out, accompanied by Atto ; Reginald was joined by Ethelston 
 and Baptiste ; the other parties took the respective quarters 
 assigned to them, and Wingenund, who remained some time 
 after they had started, left the camp alone. 
 
 The trail followed by Reginald and his friends led towards 
 the upper part of the valley, over broken and bushy ground, 
 intersected here and there by streamlets, and small springs, 
 which just afforded water enough to soften the herbage, in which 
 they were soon lost. Had he been less absorbed by the object 
 of the expedition, Reginald could not have failed to admire 
 the tranquil beauty of this sheltered and secluded spot ; but 
 the rich foliage of the forest trees, the merry chirrup of the 
 birds, the fragrance exhaled by the numberless shrubs and 
 flowers, the tempting clusters of wild raspberries, scattered 
 around their path, all these were passed unheeded by men 
 whose senses and faculties were centered only on the trail. 
 With equal modesty and good sense, Reginald had desired 
 Baptiste to take the lead, knowing that the sturdy forester's 
 experience in such matters was far greater than his own. 
 
 After they had marched a considerable distance in silence, 
 Reginald inquired the opinion of his guide. 
 
 " Why, you see," replied the latter, " the Osages have 
 driven their horses several times this way to feed, and their 
 marks are plain enough ; but if a man may judge by the looks 
 of the country forward, this is not likely to be the right trail. 
 It seems to get smaller the further we go ; and I'm inclined 
 to think it's only been a hunting-path into the woods." 
 
 After this unsatisfactory observation, Baptiste again went 
 forward, until he stopped at the skeleton of a deer ; the same, 
 it may be remembered, as was mentioned in a former chapter. 
 Here all traces of a further trail ceased, and the disappointed 
 Reginald exclaimed, 
 
 '* Baptiste, your suggestion was only too correct ; we have 
 lost our time ; let us return, and search in some other direc- 
 tion." 
 
 " Not so fast, Master Reginald," replied the cautious guide ; 
 " there's as many tricks in an Indian's brain as there are holes 
 in a honey-comb. The animal has been dead some time, and 
 
 mm 
 
370 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 unless this grass deceive me, it has been trodden within these 
 two days. Voyons vite, as they say up north. Stand quite 
 still : arid you, too, Master Etbelston, keep on that side of the 
 deer's bones, while I have a bit of a hunt after the wood 
 fashion." 
 
 So saying, the guide, resting the " Doctor " upon the 
 skeleton, and throwing himself upon his knees, began to turn 
 over the leaves, and to examine minutely every blade of grass 
 and fallen twig, muttering, as he pursued his task, " If War- 
 Eagle, or one of his double-sighted Delawares were here, he 
 would pick out this trail in no time. My eyes are not so good 
 as they were some years back ; but they will serve this pur- 
 pose, however ! This is only bungling work, after all : one 
 two; yes, I think there's been two of them. Capote! 
 they've strewed sticks and leaves over the back-trail!" And 
 the rough woodsman as, creeping forward on his knees, he 
 discovered each succeeding step on the trail, hummed snatches 
 of an old Canadian song, the only words of which that the 
 two friends could distinguish, being, " Vogue, vogue, la bonne 
 pirogue !" 
 
 " Has it not often been a matter of surprise to you," said 
 Ethelston in a whisper to Reginald, " that the language, and 
 even the dialect of the guide so constantly varies ? Some- 
 times he speaks very intelligible English \ at others, his phrases 
 and exclamations are mostly French ; and, on other occasions, 
 he mingles the two most strangely together." 
 
 " I confess," replied Reginald, " the same thought has often 
 occurred to me ; yet it is not, perhaps, so strange as it would 
 at first sight appear, when we remember the vicissitudes of 
 his early life, the number of years that he spent in youth 
 among the French boatmen and traders of the northern lakes, 
 his excursions with them into the country of the Upper Sioux 
 and the Chippewyan nations ; while for the last fifteen years 
 he has been much employed by my father, and, from his honesty 
 and trustworthy qualities, has been thrown a great deal into con- 
 stant intercourse with persons of respectability and education." 
 
 Meanwhile, Baptiste having ascertained the direction of the 
 trail, cast his eyes forward, and, like a shrewd reasoner, jumped 
 to his conclusion, in this instance, more correctly than is 
 usually the case with the persons to whom he has been likened. 
 Pushing aside the bushes which grew at the base of a rock, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 371 
 
 he soon observed a large aperture, closed by a stone of corres- 
 ponding dimensions. This last was, with the aid of Reginald, 
 soon displaced, and the "cache " of the Osages, together with 
 the plundered treasure it contained, was exposed to view. 
 
 " So, so ! " chuckled the guide, " we have found the thiev- 
 ing fox's hole; an' they do not cover their trail somewhat 
 better from the eyes of War-Eagle, we shall have their skins 
 before three nights are over ; why, a town lawyer could have 
 treed this coon ! " 
 
 Reginald and Ethelston could not . forbear laughing at the 
 low estimation in which the woodsman held the ferreting 
 powers of a town lawyer, an estimation so contrary to that 
 entertained by those who have any experience in the capacity 
 of a class so unjustly depreciated. They resolved to carry 
 with them to the camp the whole contents of the cave, with a 
 view to their being forthwith appropriated and disposed of by 
 War- Eagle, now the chief of the tribe. 
 
 Three large blankets were easily tied into the form of so 
 many sacks, of which each threw one over his shoulder, and 
 they returned with their recovered spoil to the encampment. 
 
 Great was the surprise of the Delawares when they saw the 
 three white men coming in, hot and weary with their load; 
 greater still, when the blankets were opened, and their contents 
 laid out-upon the turf, among which were found lead, powder, 
 cloth, knives, beads, paint, medicine-bags, and a variety of 
 small articles, plundered from the lodge of the unfortunate 
 Tamenund, and those adjoining. Among these were a few 
 books and instruments belonging to Prairie-bird and Paul 
 Miiller, all of which were immediately delivered over to the 
 latter. 
 
 War-Eagle's party was already so well supplied with neces- ; 
 saries of every kind, that only a small portion of the goods ; 
 was required for their use ; and the chief, after permitting [ 
 every man to claim anything which might have belonged to ' 
 himself or his relatives, ordered the remainder to be packed 
 in bales of convenient size, so that they might be eithef 
 carried with them, or concealed, as circumstances might render 
 advisable. 
 
 The council was opened by War- Eagle, who desired the 
 several parties, who had been out in different directions, to 
 state the result of the search. This was done with the brie/ 
 
 B B 2 
 
372 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 simplicity usually observed by Indians on such occasions. But 
 nothing of importance was elicited; for of the trails which 
 they had examined, none seemed to be that pursued by the 
 Osages in their retreat. During the speech of one of the 
 Delaware warriors, Wingenund, who had not before made his 
 appearance, noiselessly entered the circle, and taking his place 
 by the side of Reginald, leaned in silence upon his rifle. 
 
 Baptiste, whose age and experience entitled him to speak 
 and who suspected that the chief had not been altogether un 
 successful in his search, addressed him thus: "Has War 
 Eagle no word for his warriors ? Grande-Hache and Netis 
 have found the stolen goods : has the path of the thief been 
 dark to the eyes of the chief? " 
 
 " The foot of War-Eagle has been on the Washashee trail," 
 was the calm reply. 
 
 A murmur of satisfaction ran through the assembly, and 
 Reginald could scarcely restrain the open expression of his 
 impatient joy. 
 
 ' ' The trail is fresh," continued the chief : " not more than 
 two dews have fallen on the prints of foot and hoof." 
 
 " Did my brother see the foot-marks of Olitipa and the 
 Comanche girl ? " inquired Reginald, hastily. 
 
 " He did not ; but he saw the trail of Olitipa's horse ; iron 
 is on two of its feet."* 
 
 During this conversation, Wingenund more than once looked 
 up in the face of his white brother, then cast his eyes again 
 upon the ground without speaking. The expression of the 
 youth's countenance did not escape the observation of War- 
 Eagle, who thus addressed him : " Has the young warrior of 
 the race of Tamenund seen nothing ? He has been far over 
 the prairie ; his step was the last to return to camp ; his eyes 
 are not shut : there are words in his breast : why are his lies 
 silent?" 
 
 The youth modestly replied, in a voice, the singularly mu- 
 sical tone of which charmed and surprised Ethelston, who had 
 seldom heard him speak before, " Wingenund waited until 
 warriors who have seen many summers, and travelled the war- 
 path often, should have spoken. Wingenund has been on the 
 Washashee trail." 
 
 * It may well be supposed that the horses used by the Indians on the prairie are 
 never shod. The palfrey of Olitipa had probably been procured from some Wexi- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 373 
 
 At this announcement an exclamation of surprise was uttered 
 by several of the by-standers, for all had seen that the direc- 
 tion whence the youth had returned to the camp was quite 
 different from that which had been pursued by War-Eagle, 
 and yet the latter had affirmed that he had been on the trail of 
 the enemy. The chief himself was, indeed, surprised, but he 
 knew the diffidence, as well as the acute sagacity of the young 
 speaker ; and although confident that he was not mistaken in 
 his own judgment, he was not by any means disposed to over- 
 rule, without careful inquiry, that of his brother. The con- 
 versation between them was thus pursued : 
 
 " Were there horses on the trail found by Wingenund ? " 
 
 " There were not." 
 
 " Were the men many in number ? " 
 
 "Wingenund cannot surely say; the trail was old and 
 beaten ; buffalo had passed on it ; of fresh marks he could 
 not see many ; more than four, not so many as ten." 
 
 " Let my brother point with his finger to the line of the 
 trail." 
 
 The youth slowly turned, cast his eye upward at the sun, 
 thence at the rocks overhanging the valley to the northward, 
 and then pointed steadily in a north-easterly direction. 
 
 War-Eagle, well assured that his own observation had been 
 correct, and that he had followed a trail leading towards the 
 north-west, thus continued : " There are many nations and 
 bands of Indians here; a false light may have shone on the 
 path. How does my young brother know that the feet of the 
 Washashee had trodden it ? " 
 
 There was a natural dignity, without the slightest touch of 
 vanity, in the manner of the youth, as he replied : " The 
 Great Spirit has given eyes to Wingenund, and he has learnt 
 from War-Eagle to know the mocassin of a Washashee from 
 that of a Dahcotah, a Pawnee, a Shawano, or a Maha." 
 
 After musing a moment, War-Eagle continued, " Did my 
 brother find the foot of Olitipa and the Comanche girl on the 
 path?" 
 
 " He could not find the mark of their feet, yet he believes 
 they are on the path," was the unhesitating reply. 
 
 Reginald and Ethelston looked at the speaker with undis- 
 guised astonishment ; and War-Eagle, although he could not 
 believe but what the latter was mistaken, continued thus to 
 
 BBS 
 
374 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 question him : " My brother's speech is dark ; if he could 
 find no trail of the women, why does he think that they are 
 on the path ? Have the Washashee carried them ? " 
 
 " Not so," replied Wingenund. " Twice the trail crossed 
 a soft bank of sand, where water runs from the mountains in 
 winter : there were the marks of two who had passed lately, 
 their feet large as those of the warriors, the tread light as that 
 of a woman or young boy." 
 
 The chief was very reluctant to say or do aught that might 
 give pain to his young brother, whose future success as war- 
 leader of the Lenape had ever been the object of his fondest 
 hopes ; but in the urgent business in which they were now 
 engaged, he felt that all other considerations must be secondary 
 to the recovery of Olitipa, and revenge on Mahega for the loss 
 and disgrace inflicted on the Lenape. 
 
 " My brother has eyes as sharp, and feet as light, as a 
 panther," he said in a kindly tone, '* but a trail in this strange 
 country may deceive a man who has been on the war-path for 
 twenty summers. The trail followed by War-Eagle goes 
 through that small valley between the hills," pointing to the 
 north-west. t( Atto was with him ; they knew the iron hoof 
 of Olitipa's horse ; they found this scrap, torn from her dress 
 by a bramble stretching across the path. Is my brother 
 satisfied ? " 
 
 As the chief spoke he held up before the council a shred of 
 a silk kerchief, such as none, certainly, except she whom they 
 sought, was likely to have worn in that region. Again a 
 murmur of approbation ran through the assembly ; and Regi- 
 nald, vexed that his young friend should have been subjected 
 to such a disappointment, looked towards him, in order to see 
 whether he bore it with equanimity. 
 
 The countenance of Wingenund underwent not any change, 
 save that a quiet smile lurked in the corner of his mouth, as 
 he replied, " My brother and Atto are both known on the war- 
 path ; their feet are swift, and no lies are found on their lips ; 
 it must be true that they have seen the hoof-print of Olitipa's 
 horse ; it is true that the piece of dress torn off by the bramble 
 belonged to her. Very cunning are the Washashee wolves ; 
 they have tried to blind the eyes of the Lenape ; they have 
 made two paths ; let my brother follow that which he has 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIKE. 375 
 
 found and Wingenund the other; perhaps they joined beyond 
 the mountain." 
 
 " There is sense in what the lad proposes," said Baptiste, 
 who had listened attentively hitherto, without speaking, and 
 who remembered the acuteness shown by Wingenund near the 
 banks of the Ohio. " If he is sure that he has been on the 
 Washashee trail, 'tis like enough they have divided, to throw 
 us off the scent ; they will come together again further north." 
 
 Again War-Eagle mused in silence for a few minutes; then 
 tbuuptly turning towards Reginald, he inquired, " What is the 
 thought of Netis ? " 
 
 " I think," replied the latter, " that Wingenund would 
 never have spoken as he has spoken, were it not that he felt 
 assured of all that he said. I would venture my life, and 
 what is now far dearer to me than my life, on the truth of his 
 words." 
 
 The youth looked gratefully at the speaker, and a smile of 
 gratified pride stole over his eloquent countenance. 
 
 " It is enough," said War-Eagle, with dignity, " let Win- 
 genund go upon his path ; he shall not go alone. Which path 
 does my brother Netis choose ? he has heard all that has been 
 said ? " 
 
 Reginald was sorely puzzled : on one side was the sagacious 
 experience of the chief, added to the strong evidence afforded 
 by the shred of silk ; on the other, the confident assurance of 
 a youth, of whose diffidence and acuteness he had seen so many 
 proofs. While he was still hesitating, he saw the eyes of the 
 latter fixed upon him with an earnest, imploring expression, 
 that decided him at once. 
 
 " I will go with my young brother," he said firmly ; 
 " Grande-Hache, Ethelston, and six men shall go with us; 
 War-Eagle, with the rest of the party, shall go on the large 
 Washashee trail that he has struck. Let the chief say how we 
 shall meet beyond the mountain, if either of the trails prove 
 false." 
 
 < e It is good," said War-Eagle ; " Atto shall lead the war- 
 riors who go with my white brother, and before the third sun 
 rises we will come together again, and talk of what we have 
 seen." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the chief waved his hand to intimate 
 that the council was dissolv ed ; and calling Wingenund and 
 
 BB 4 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Atto aside, he gave them clear and rapid instructions as to the 
 course to be pursued in case of the trails diverging to opposite 
 quarters, and he established at the same time various signals, 
 to be used in case of necessity. 
 
 Pierre and M. Perrot asked and obtained leave to join 
 Reginald's party ; most of the horses, and all the spare bag- 
 gage, followed that of War- Eagle, who led them off through 
 the defile in the mountains before alluded to, while Wingenund 
 led the way to the trail which he had discovered, with the 
 light springy step of an antelope, and an expression of bright 
 confidence on his countenance, which communicated a similar 
 feeling to those who might otherwise have been disinclined to 
 trust themselves to the guidance of a youth on his first war- 
 path. 
 
 While these things were passing in the allied camp, the 
 Osage named Toweno, who had, it may be remembered, been 
 sent forward by Mahega to reconnoitre, returned on the follow- 
 ing morning to his chief, bringing him intelligence that the 
 fires seen at a distance were those of a numerous band of 
 Upsarokas : he had crept near enough to recognise them as 
 such by their dress, the trappings of their horses, and other 
 indications not to be mistaken. On receiving this information, 
 Mahega revolved in his mind various plans for gaining the good 
 will of his dangerous neighbours, and of securing their alliance 
 as a protection against any further hostilities that might yet 
 be attempted by those in pursuit of his trail. As he had often 
 before profited by the shrewd advice of his follower, so did he 
 invite him now to give his opinion as to the best course to be 
 adopted ; and in order that the discussion might not be over- 
 heard, he walked slowly with Toweno down a glade which led 
 towards the Crow camp. 
 
 They had not proceeded far, when they saw a fine bison- 
 cow coming directly towards them : from her languid and 
 crippled movement, it was evident that she was wounded ; 
 while from her struggles to get forward, it was equally clear 
 that she was pursued. The Osages lost not a moment in 
 crouching below the cover of a thick bush ; and scarcely had 
 they done so, when a mounted Indian appeared, urging his 
 tired horse up the glade after the wounded cow. It happened 
 that she fell, unable to proceed further, not many yards from 
 the spot where Mahega was concealed ; and her pursuer slack- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 377 
 
 ening his pace, approached leisurely ; and having shot another 
 arrow into her side, despatched her with the long knife which 
 hung at his belt. 
 
 He was a tall, fine-looking man, in the prime of life, with 
 remarkably high cheek bones, an aquiline nose, and a mass of 
 long hair, gathered or clubbed at the back of his head ; his 
 hunting-shirt and leggings denoted by their ornaments a 
 warrior of rank in his tribe, and his whole appearance and 
 bearing were indicative of habitual authority. 
 
 The little steed which had borne him, and which in truth 
 would have been termed among white men a pony, stood 
 panting beside its master, whose weight seemed entirely dis- 
 proportioned to its size and strength ; and the Crow hunter 
 now stooped over the bison-cow, examining her condition and 
 her fat with the attention of a practised Indian gourmand. 
 
 Meanwhile, half a minute sufficed for Mahe'ga to explain his 
 intentions in a whisper to his follower, and less than half a 
 minute sufficed to carry them into execution. Rushing together 
 upon the Crow while he was stooping with his back towards 
 them, they seized and pinioned him before he had time to 
 catch up his knife or to offer the least resistance. Never was 
 there an attack more unexpected, nor a victory more easily 
 obtained ; and the discomfited Crow looked upon his two cap- 
 tors with an astonishment that he could not conceal. Their 
 dress and tribe were altogether strange to him ; and the scouts 
 around the camp having brought in no report of any sus- 
 picious appearance or trail having been discovered, it could not 
 be wondered at if he imagined that they must have pounced 
 upon him from the clouds. 
 
 As soon as Mahega had assured himself that the hands of 
 the prisoner were securely tied, he led him towards a spot 
 more sheltered from observation, Toweno following with the 
 horse ; and if the Crow felt at first any uneasiness respecting 
 their intentions towards him, it must have been soon dispelled, 
 as the Osage chief assured him, in the language of signs, that 
 no harm was intended to him, and that he would soon be at 
 liberty. 
 
 After a short consultation with Toweno, the chief deter- 
 mined to conduct the prisoner to his camp, on reaching which 
 his arms were unbound, and he was courteously invited to take 
 a seat by his captors. The Crow obeyed without any appa- 
 
378 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 rent reluctance, having satisfied himself by a hasty glance 
 around that he was watched by several well-armed men, and 
 that any attempt at escape or resistance must be for the pre- 
 sent hopeless of success. 
 
 The pipe of peace having been smoked between the Osage 
 and his prisoner, some meat and cakes were placed before the 
 latter, of which he partook without hesitation ; but h^ ^ould 
 not resist casting sundry curious glances at the white tent, 
 wondering what it might contain ; he observed also the 
 numerous packs and bales scattered around, and thought 
 within himself that, whatever might be his own fate, many 
 of these would ere long fall into the hands of his tribe. 
 
 As soon as he had finished his meal, Mahega resumed the 
 conversation in the language of signs, explained to him that 
 he wished to become friends with the Upsaroka ; that he had 
 come from very far with few followers, having fought with the 
 Pale-faces ; that the tent was Great Medicine, and contained 
 that which brought wealth and good things to friends, but 
 terror and misfortunes to enemies. 
 
 It may be supposed that the Upsaroka did not, in his pre- 
 sent circumstances, regret these peaceful overtures ; on the 
 contrary, he bound himself by the most solemn promises to 
 do every thing in his power towards establishing friendship 
 between their respective tribes, and he gave Mahega to under- 
 stand by his gestures that he was not without authority among 
 the Crows.* 
 
 Upon receiving this assurance the Osage chief suffered his 
 prisoner to depart, restoring to him his horse, and presenting 
 him with several trinkets in token of friendship. 
 
 The first use which the latter made of his recovered liberty 
 was to invite Mahega to return with him to the Upsaroka 
 
 * Among some of the North American tribes it is the custom for an Indian en- 
 tering into a solemn obligation, to place his hand against the thigh of the party to 
 whom he makes the promise ; and this usage has in several instances been triumph- 
 antly quoted by those authors who have laboured to prove the descent of the 
 North- American Indians from the lost tribes of Israel: the origin and meaning of 
 the custom, which is as ancient as the time of Abraham (Gen. xxiv. 2), are both 
 involved in great obscurity: sundry explanations have been attempted by learned 
 commentators of different ages and nations ; the Jewish writings of the highest 
 authority, such as the Targum of Jerusalem, and that of Jonathan Ben Uzziel, derive 
 it from the covenant of Circumcision, to which they maintain its symbolic analogy 
 by arguments which it is unnecessary here to produce. Adam Clarke, in his Com- 
 mentary, leans to this view, but does not offer any conclusive reasoning in support 
 of it. Bishop Patrick, following the learned Calmet, describes this usage as an 
 ancient sign of subjection and homage prevalent throughout the East ; and Locke 
 mentions it as being " practised by some Indians to this day." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIUD. 379 
 
 village, an invitation which, to the surprise of his followers, 
 he accepted without hesitation. 
 
 With a parting caution to Tower.o to keep his men watchful 
 and ready against a surprise, he threw a battle-robe * over his 
 broad shoulders, and, armed with his rifle, tomahawk, and 
 knife, accompanied his new ally towards the Crow village. 
 
 On approaching it, he found that it consisted of more than 
 a hundred lodges, containing, probably, two hundred men, 
 besides women and children. 
 
 Great was their surprise when they saw the gigantic stranger 
 advancing with his conductor towards the lodge of the prin- 
 cipal chief, to whom he was nearly related. 
 
 The mien and bearing of the Osage, as he entered the lodge, 
 were alone sufficient to secure for him a courteous invitation 
 to sit in the place of honour ; while the Crow who had been 
 his prisoner briefly narrated to the head chief the circumstances 
 under which the stranger visited his camp. 
 
 The pipe of friendship having been smoked in due form, 
 the Crow chief whispered a few words in the ear of a youth 
 beside him, who disappeared immediately, and the party satin 
 silence until he returned, accompanied by an individual whose 
 appearance was singular in the extreme : his head was of an 
 enormous size, and covered with black shaggy hair ; his fea- 
 tures were coarse and forbidding, nor was their expression 
 improved by a patch of leather plastered over the cavity which 
 had once been occupied by his left eye ; his shoulders were 
 broad, and his arms of unusual length ; his stature was scarcely 
 five feet, and his legs were bandy, with clumsy knees, like those 
 of a buffalo-bull : this unsightly ogre rejoiced in the name of 
 Besha-ro-Kata, signifying, in the Crow language, " the little 
 bison," but he was commonly called " Besha," or the ** Bison," 
 the diminutive termination being omitted. 
 
 His origin was involved in a mystery that neither he nor 
 any one else could satisfactorily explain, for he had been born 
 in that wild region watered by the Arkansas, and his mother, 
 a Comanche woman, was said to have divided her favours, 
 previous to the birth of Besha, between a half-bred trader to 
 Santa Fe, and a runaway negro from one of the southern 
 
 * It is a frequent custom among the Missouri Indians to sketch upon the interior 
 fa bison-robe the various battles in which they have fought and conquered. 
 
380 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 slave-states ; she died while he was yet an infant ; and as he 
 had never been owned or claimed by either of his reputed 
 fathers, it was a miracle that he ever lived to manhood. 
 
 In his early years he hovered about the hunting parties of 
 Osages, Comanches/ Pani-picas, and other tribes, who fre- 
 quented the region where he had been left to shift for himself, 
 and at other seasons none knew whether he lived upon roots, 
 berries, and honey, or wandered to tribes yet more remote 
 from his birth-place. He was never known, either in summer 
 or 'winter, to wear any other dress than a bison-skin with the 
 hair outwards, in the centre of which he cut a hole, and pass- 
 ing his head through the aperture, wore this uncouth skin like 
 the Poncha of the Mexicans. From these early rambling 
 habits, he had picked up a smattering of many Indian dialects, 
 and of these the Osage was one with which he was the most 
 familiar; he enjoyed a high reputation among the Crows, not 
 only from his being often useful as an interpreter, but because 
 he was, without exception, the most skilful horse-stealer in the 
 whole region between the Arkansas and the mountains. He 
 was also deeply versed in the knowledge of all the properties 
 of plants, roots, and herbs, so much so, that, unless fame 
 wronged him, more than one of his enemies had died by the 
 agency of subtle poison. Such was the personage who, fixing 
 his single cunning eye upon Mahega, inquired, on the part of 
 the Crows, his object in paying them a visit. The conversation, 
 rendered into English, was in substance as follows : 
 
 Besha. " Has the Washashee come to hunt and trap among 
 the Stony Mountains?" 
 
 Mahega. " He has not ; he has come towards the setting 
 sun, because the enemies on his path were too many for him 
 he wished for peace." 
 
 B. " Has the Washashee a name in his tribe ? " 
 
 M. '" He has a name ; when the war-post is struck, 
 Mahega is not silent," said the chief, haughtily. 
 
 B* " Mahega ! " repeated the horse-stealer, to whom the 
 name was evidently not unknown. " Mahega, the Red-hand.' 
 does he wander so far from his village? " 
 
 M. " He wanders, but there is Great Medicine in his 
 lodge ; blood has been on his path, and his enemies do not 
 laugh." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 381 
 
 B. " Whom are the men with whom Mahega has dug up 
 the hatchet ? " 
 
 M. " Pale-faces, and cowardly red-skins, who are their 
 friends." 
 
 When this reply was translated, a great sensation was visible 
 mong the Crows, several of whom whispered together. After 
 eceiving a few instructions from the chief, Besha proceeded 
 with his inquiry. 
 
 4 Are the Pale-faces on the trail of Mahega ?" 
 
 M. " They are." 
 
 B. ** How many ? " 
 
 M. " Mahega does not know." 
 
 B. " Is there a pale-faced warrior with them, young and 
 tall, riding a dark horse, very swift and strong ? " 
 
 M. " There is," said the Osage, astonished in his turn at 
 hearing Reginald thus accurately described by the interpreter. 
 
 Again there was a murmur, and consultation among the 
 Crows, after which Besha thus proceeded : 
 
 " What is the wish of Mahega ? the Upsaroka ears are 
 open/' 
 
 M. te He wishes to make friends with them, to join his 
 strength to theirs, to drive these Pale-face thieves out of the 
 Crow country. Mahega's warriors are few, but they are not 
 squaws ; his hands are not empty ; he has presents for the 
 chiefs, and he will not forget the interpreter." He added, 
 sinking his voice almost to a whisper, " He has many things, 
 enough to make the tribe rich, hid in a cave far to the south ; 
 if the Crow will be his brother, he shall find that Mahe'ga has 
 an open hand." 
 
 The cunning chief was aware of the thieving propensities 
 of the Upsaroka, and he purposely threw out this last hint that 
 they might be induced to spare his baggage, in the hope of 
 ultimately possessing themseves of the more important treasure 
 in his * cache." Nor was his stratagem without effect, for 
 the discovery and possession of the contents of that cache 
 became forthwith the principal object of the Crow chief; and 
 the readiest mode of attaining it was to make friends with the 
 party who could alone guide him to it. 
 
 fortune had in this instance been more propitious to Mahega 
 than he deserved ; for, as the reader has probably conjectured, 
 he had fallen in with that very Upsaroka band, a detachment 
 
382 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 of which had been so roughly handled a few days before by 
 Reginald Brandon and the Delawares under his command. 
 
 The high contracting parties being thus united by the strong 
 ties of avarice, and revenge against a common enemy, an 
 offensive and defensive alliance was entered into immediately. 
 Mahega soon discovered the motive which impelled his new 
 friends so strongly to espouse his cause, and was thereby satis- 
 fied that, for the present at least, he might trust them. Before 
 nightfall, the white tent of Prairie-bird was pitched at the 
 edge of the Upsaroka camp, and the Osages took up their 
 quarters around it, so that none could leave or enter it unper- 
 ceived by them. 
 
 Early on the following morning Mahega received a visit 
 from the Crow chief, who, accompanied by Besha, came osten- 
 sibly to show him courtesy, but in reality to inspect his pack- 
 ages, horses, men, and equipments ; and, if possible, to solve 
 the mystery of the Great Medicine in the white tent. The 
 Osage warriors, strong, weather-beaten men, every one pro- 
 vided with a rifle in addition to the usual arms of an Indian, 
 had no reason to fear the scrutinising eye of the Crow ; indeed, 
 the latter began already to calculate how he might best avail 
 himself of their aid in an expedition which he meditated 
 against his hereditary enemies the Black Feet. 
 
 After the pipe had been smoked, and food set before his 
 guests, Mahega desired one of the smaller packages to be 
 opened, from which he selected a blanket, and spreading upon 
 it various beads and trinkets, presented the whole, in token of 
 friendship, to the Upsaroka chief, who seemed highly delighted 
 with the gift. 
 
 His expressions of gratitude, conveyed through Besha, were 
 unbounded. He did not, however, think it requisite to express, 
 at the same time, his vehement desire to become the possessor 
 of all the goods and chattels belonging to the Osage ; neither 
 did the latter forget to propitiate the interpreter, whom he pre- 
 sented with a knife and ornamented sheath, both of which 
 were graciously accepted. 
 
 The Crow was resolved not to leave the spot until he had 
 solved the enigma of the mysterious tent ; and finding that 
 his guest still kept silence on the subject, he directed Besha to 
 use his best exertions towards the gratification of his curiosity. 
 An opportunity being afforded by the appearance of Lita, who 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 383 
 
 went out to draw some water from the stream, the interpreter 
 inquired whether that woman was the " Great Medicine " of 
 which he had spoken. 
 
 Mahega, who was desirous of impressing the Crows with a 
 due respect for Prairie-bird, shook his head, replying, " That 
 is the slave of the Great Medicine." 
 
 Besha. " Is the Great Medicine a chief a wise man ? " 
 
 Mahega. " No : it is in the form of a woman ; but its 
 power is very great. It talks with the Great Spirit, and the 
 Wahconda * listens to its speech ! " 
 
 Besha. " Many are the medicine-men who talk with the 
 Great Spirit j they see dreams, and give counsel to the warriors 
 and chiefs ; there is no new Medicine here." 
 
 '' My brother speaks truth," said Osage, smiling scornfully. 
 "But if the medicine-men of the Upsaroka call to the sun, will 
 he come out of his path, or hide his face at their words ?" 
 
 Having thus spoken, Mahega lowered his voice, as if afraid 
 of being overheard by the mysterious tenant of the tent, and 
 related to the wondering Besha the circumstances attending 
 the late eclipse. 
 
 The interpreter having given the explanation to his chief, 
 they looked at each other in speechless astonishment ; for not 
 only was there an air of truth in the statement of Mahega, but 
 the Crows having themselves observed the mystery of the 
 darkened sun, were thereby led to listen with believing awe to 
 the wonderful disclosure made by the Osage. 
 
 Perceiving his advantage, the latter again relapsed into 
 silence, which was broken, after a few minutes, by the inter- 
 preter, who inquired, on the part of his chief, whether the 
 Great Medicine of the tent would receive a present from him. 
 To this the cautious Osage replied, that the daughter of the 
 Unknown cared not for the things belonging to other women ; 
 but that her smile and her good words would bring prosperity 
 to those with \vhom she dwelt, while her curse would ensure 
 their destruction ; on which account it would not do any harm 
 if the Upsaroka were to offer a present to her Medicine. 
 
 The latter now finding that, during this visit at least, his 
 
 * A* the Great Spirit is designated bjr the Delaware*, Chippewavs, Sakis, and 
 other tribes on this side of the Mi-sissippi by the name of " Manitto," or " Mani- 
 tou," familiar to every reader of Transatlantic travel or romance, so is he known 
 amon<r the Osages, Omahau s, lowavs, ;-.ud other Missouri tribes, by the designa- 
 tion of Wah-con-da, or Master of Life. 1 ' 
 
3S4> THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Curiosity would not be gratified by a sight of the mysterious 
 dweller in the tent, arose, and took a courteous leave of the 
 Osage chief, who remained for some time ruminating abstract- 
 edly over his future plans, and the probability of their ultimate 
 success. 
 
 Scarcely half an hour had elapsed ere Besha returned, 
 accompanied by two young Indians, one of whom led a wild 
 horse, which he presented on the part of his chief to Mahega ; 
 and the other was the bearer of a large package of beaver-skins 
 of the finest quality, which he laid down at the door of the 
 tent, and retired, casting back uneasy glances, apparently re- 
 lieved at having safely executed a commission fraught with 
 danger. 
 
 Mahega presented each of the youths with a handsome 
 knife, and Besha with a mirror, wherein he contemplated his 
 cyclopean countenance with undisguised satisfaction ; so long, 
 indeed, did he continue this admiring self-inspection, that the 
 two young Crows left him engaged in it, and returned to their 
 quarters. 
 
 They had not been long gone before the interpreter com- 
 menced a confidential conversation with the Osage chief, during 
 which each endeavoured, with little success on either side, to 
 overreach the other : at the same time, the conference was not 
 without its satisfactory issue to both parties; for Mahe'ga 
 ascertained that the Crows viewed the mixed band of Whites 
 and Delawares with feelings as hostile as his own, and that 
 they were as deeply impressed as he could desire with awe for 
 the mysterious powers of Prairie-bird. On the other hand, 
 Besha satisfied himself that his own services would be almost 
 indispensable to the Osage, and that the latter was neither un- 
 willing nor unable to reward them liberally ; so that after a 
 complimentary conversation of some length, these two rogues 
 parted, with many expressions of mutual regard and esteem. 
 
 Scarcely was the interpreter out of sight, when Mahega 
 sprung from the ground to examine more closely the steed 
 presented to him by the Crow chief. It was a strong, high- 
 mettled bay colt, untamed, and almost untameable ; if the truth 
 must be told, the latter had given it to his guest because neither 
 he nor any of his warriors could subdue its violent and vicious 
 spirit, although the Crows are renowned among the Indian 
 nations as bold and expert horsemen. 
 
THE PRAIKIE-BIRD. 385 
 
 On whatever side Mahe'ga endeavoured to approach to mount 
 it, the horse struck fiercely at him, using both hind and fore 
 feet with equal rapidity ; but the Osage, penetrating at once 
 the motives of the Crow's liberality, smiled in disdain of the 
 shallow trick, and, seizing his opportunity, threw himself 
 upon the wild, unsaddled animal, despite of whose furious 
 plunging and resistance, he sat unmoved like a centaur; and 
 plying his whip and heel with unmitigated severity, compelled 
 it to gallop at full speed over the prairie, until he thought fit 
 to bring it back to the camp, wearied, breathless, and subdued. 
 Then throwing the halter to one of his men, he quietly resumed 
 his pipe, leaving the Crow chief and his people to draw their 
 own conclusions from what they had seen. 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 CONTAINING VAETOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCUKRED TO THE PARTY 
 FOLLOWING THE TRAIL. PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS, AND A DIS- 
 CUSSION UPON ORATORY, WHICH IS VERY MUCH OUT OF PLACE, AND, 
 FORTUNATELY FOR THE READER, IS NOT VERY LONG. 
 
 THERE is scarcely any position or occasion in life more grati- 
 fying to a young and generous spirit, than when it finds itself, 
 for the first time, entrusted with a high responsibility. The 
 elastic mind, far from succumbing under the unwonted burden, 
 springs upward with increased vigour to resist its pressure; and 
 the trials and difficulties which threaten to overwhelm it, only 
 serve to call forth and multiply its energies. Such was tho 
 case with Wingenund, who now found himself, although not 
 yet seventeen years of age, leading a gallant band on a trail 
 a task which is at all times the greatest trial of an Indian war- 
 rior's skill; and, if successful, lays the foundation of his fame. 
 The issue at stake was, in this instance, heightened by the im- 
 portance of the object to be attained, and by the remarkable 
 circumstance that he had ventured to differ from, and overrule, 
 the opinion of his elder brother, the most sagacious warrior of 
 the tribe. 
 
 c o 
 
386 
 
 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 Fully impressed with the serious responsibility that he had 
 incurred, the youth set forth upon the trail with a gravity of 
 demeanour which contrasted strongly with his almost boyish 
 years. Yet while his keen eye darted from point to point; 
 suffering not a blade of grass to escape its scrutiny, his counte- 
 nance wore a beaming look of confidence, that imparted its 
 cheering influence to the whole party. 
 
 For some hours he marched rapidly forward, with the as- 
 sured step of a man who was treading a familiar path. Atta 
 followed at no great distance, next to whom, on the trail, came 
 Reginald, with Ethelston, Baptiste, and the other Whites, the 
 line being closed by the Delawares, who brought up the rear. 
 It may easily be imagined that Reginald bent his eyes anx. 
 iously on the path ; but although frequent traces were dis- 
 cerrible of the passage of men, as well as of various animals, 
 he could not discover the slightest indication of the marks for 
 which he looked; neither did the observation of the more ex- 
 perienced Baptiste meet with any better success. 
 
 When Wingenund reached the streamlet, on the sandy edge 
 of which he had before noticed the light tread of a foot, which 
 in spite of its dimension, he believed to be that of Prairie- 
 bird or her attendant, he halted the party, and summoned 
 Atto to a close examination of the trail. Stooping over it, the 
 Indian looked long and earnestly, after which he shook his 
 head, as if dissatisfied, and muttered a few words, the meaning 
 of which Baptiste was not near enough to catch. Wingenund 
 made no reply, and crossing the brook resumed the trail on its 
 opposite bank. 
 
 " Does Atto find the mark of women's feet on the sand ? " 
 inquired Baptiste. 
 
 " He is not sure ; bison have passed over the marks, and 
 trodden them," was the evasive reply, and the party proceeded 
 on the track. 
 
 Nothing of any importance occurred for some time to en- 
 liven the tedium of the march. The sanguine hopes of Regi- 
 nald had been checked by what had fallen from Atto, of whose 
 acuteness he justly entertained a high opinion. Ethelston 
 seemed buried in deep reflection ; and even the comic sallies 
 of Monsieur Perrot failed to excite any mirth in those to whom 
 they were addressed. 
 
 "Ethelston, I fear that I acted imprudently," said his 
 
THE PUA1RIE-BIRD. 387 
 
 friend in a low voice " when I preferred the counsel of this 
 youth to the more experienced opinion of War-Eagle ; yet 
 there was something in his manner that I could not resist," 
 
 " Doubtless, " replied Ethelston, " the counsel of the elder 
 warrior was entitled to the greater weight ; and yet I do not 
 think that he would himself have placed this detachment under 
 the guidance of Wingenund, unless he felt sure that the latter 
 had strong grounds for the tenacity with which he clung to his 
 opinion." 
 
 " I would willingly peril my life on his truth and fidelity/' 
 said Reginald. " The question is, whether on this occasion he 
 may not have been led into some error by the very eagerness of 
 his wishes, and the ardour of his temperament." 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered these words, when Wingenund 
 stooped to pick up a small object which his quick eye had 
 caught beside the trail ; in another minute he placed it in the 
 hand of Reginald, while a triumphant smile lit up his animated 
 features. The object referred to was a slip of folded paper, 
 damp with the dew which had fallen upon it. Reginald 
 opened its folds, then gazed upon it in silence, with a fixed 
 look, like one in a trance, while his powerful frame trembled 
 from head to foot. The paroxysm of excitement lasted but 
 for a moment, then putting the slip of paper into the hand of 
 Ethelston, he threw himself into the arms of Wingenund; 
 and if a tear escaped him, it fell unseen upon the bosom which 
 he pressed with grateful affection to his heart. 
 
 Meanwhile Ethelston made himself master of the secret 
 which had produced an effect so sudden as to cause the greatest 
 astonishment in the whole party, now gathered round to ascer- 
 tain what had happened. He had read on the slip the magical 
 word " Follow," written in a distinct legible hand, and every 
 doubt as to the Prairie-bird having passed along the trail 
 vanished in an instant. This was no sooner made known to 
 the hunters, and by Baptiste to the Delawares, than a shout of 
 triumph from the whole party roused Reginald from the mo- 
 mentary weakness into which he had been betrayed. 
 
 " Follow thee ! " he exclaimed aloud, holding the paper in 
 his left hand, and grasping a rifle in his right; " Follow thee, 
 dearest one ! yes, over prairie and mountain, through valley 
 and river, in cold or in heat, in hunger or thirst, there are 
 those here who will never cease to follow thee, until thou art 
 c c 2 
 
388 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 set free, and the injuries done to thyself and thy kindred 
 dearly avenged!" 
 
 Again a shout of sympathetic enthusiasm broke from the 
 party, as they caught the words of their leader, and read cm his 
 glowing countenance the intense ardour of feelings, too strong 
 to be repressed. 
 
 What must have been, in the meantime, the sensations of 
 the Delaware youth ? The affectionate yearnings of his heart 
 towards his adopted brother, his deep anxiety for his sister's 
 fate, his future fame as the rising war-chief of his tribe, all 
 these combined together to swell the triumph of the hour ; yet 
 there was not visible in his features the slightest appearance 
 of gratified pride or vanity; and if his dark eye beamed with 
 a brighter lustre, it was not so much with self-congratulation 
 at what he had done, as with high aspirations for the glorious 
 task before him. 
 
 Ethelston, who had watched him closely, was surprised at 
 his calm, unmoved demeanour, and whispered to Baptiste, 
 fe Wingenund evinces little anxiety or emotion on this occa- 
 sion ; and yet this undoubted token which he has found on the 
 trail must be a great triumph to him, after the doubts ex- 
 pressed by so many warriors of greater experience." 
 
 " It's partly the natur', and partly the trainin' of the boy," 
 replied the guide, leaning on his long rifle; " the stronger his 
 feelings the less will he show 'em to another man. I reckon 
 this has been one of the proudest moments in his life, yet, as 
 you say, he looks almost as if he'd nothin' to do with the 
 matter ; and he'd look the same if the Osages were pinchin' 
 his flesh with hot tongs. Wingenund is three years older now 
 than he was last month !" 
 
 " You are right," Baptiste, replied Ethelston : " it is not 
 days, nor weeks, nor months, but rough trials, brave deeds, 
 and deep feelings that make up the calendar of human life." 
 
 So saying, he sighed, and musingly resumed his place in the 
 line of march, remembering in how short a space of time 
 Nina's unrequited love had, while she was still younger than 
 the lad of whom he was speaking, consigned her, wasted and 
 heart-broken, to the grave. 
 
 Again Wingenund moved swiftly forward on the trail, and 
 the whole party followed, their hopes excited, and their 
 spirits raised by the occurrence above related. Reginald 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 389 
 
 walked silently on, still clasping in his hand the magic token 
 which had conjured up hopes and thoughts too deep for utter- 
 ance. From time to time his lips unconsciously murmured 
 " Follow ! " and then the idea shot like fire through his brain, 
 that all his power to obey the dear behest hung upon the saga- 
 city of the youth who was now tracing the steps of an enemy, 
 skilled in all the wiles of Indian warfare, and whose object; it 
 clearly was to baffle pursuit. 
 
 Before the close of day the watchful perseverance of Winge- 
 nund was again rewarded by finding another of the slips of 
 paper dropped by Prairie-bird, which he brought, as before, 
 to Reginald. The magic te Follow" again met his longing 
 eyes; and as he announced it to the rest of the party, a joyful 
 anticipation of success pervaded every breast. 
 
 After a brief consultation with Atto, Wingenund now re- 
 v solved to halt for the night, as the increasing darkness ren- 
 dered it impossible any longer to distinguish the trail with 
 accuracy ; so the horses were picketed, the succession of sen- 
 tries arranged, and the party bivouacked under the shelter 
 of two enormous pines, where the preparations for a sub- 
 stantial supper were soon completed, Monsieur Perrot taking 
 charge of that destined for Reginald and Ethelston, while 
 Bearskin and the other hunters prepared a meal for themselves 
 and the Delawares apart. Wingenund was about to join the 
 latter party ; but at the earnest request of the two friends, he 
 placed himself beside them, Baptiste being invited to sit down 
 with them also. 
 
 It may be imagined that the conversation turned chiefly 
 upon the all-engrossing subject of the pursuit in which they 
 were engaged ; and Ethelston was struck by the change 
 which he observed in the demeanour of Wingenund ; for the 
 latter had now put off the gravity and somewhat haughty 
 bearing of the aspiring warrior, and had resumed the playful 
 and touching simplicity of manner that was natural to his 
 years, and accorded equally well with the almost feminine deli- 
 cacy of his features and the soft melody of his voice. He 
 took no pains to conceal the pleasure with which he received 
 the warm and sincere encomium that Reginald passed upon 
 the patience and sagacity that he had displayed in his arduous 
 task. 
 
 " Netis owes me no thanks," he said, smiling. " Love for 
 c o 3 
 
390 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 my sister, and revenge on the Washashes, who like cowards 
 and false friends slew my kindred, these lead me on the 
 trail." 
 
 " It is not your eagerness, nor the strength of your motives 
 that I call in question, dear Wingenund ; but I am surprised 
 that you are able to follow so slight a trail without being de- 
 ceived by the tricks and devices of the Osage." 
 
 " The Black Father has often told me that among the 
 southern men there are dogs who can follow the foot of a 
 man by day or night, and will never leave the scent till they 
 seize him. If an antelope is wounded, the wolf will hunt the 
 track of her blood on the prairie till he finds her ; if a bison 
 is killed, turkey buzzards, many in number, fly from far to 
 to the carcass, though there is no trail in the air for them to 
 follow. Is it wonderful that the Great Spirit should bestow 
 on the son of his ancient people a gift enjoyed by these beasts 
 and fowls ? " 
 
 "What you say is true," replied Reginald, "yet certainly 
 we who live in settlements have not these faculties ; at least we 
 have them in a very inferior degree." 
 
 " The wise men of our nation have always said that the 
 eyes and ears of white men are not good ; but the Black 
 Father says that their speech is not true, for that the Great 
 Spirit has made the ears and eyes of red and white men 
 alike, only the Pale-faces do not improve them, as we do, by 
 use." 
 
 " Your Black Father may say what he likes," interposed 
 Baptiste, " but I maintain that the ears of a white man are no 
 more like the ears of a real Ingian than the paws of a bear 
 are like the legs of an antelope. I remember, though it's now 
 some twenty years ago, I was out on a hunt in the North 
 with a Delaware comrade ; he was called in the tribe, ' The- 
 man-who-hears-from-far ;' to say truth, I thought he often 
 pretended to hear things that never happened, only just to 
 keep up his name. We had walked all the morning, and 
 having killed an elk, sat down to cook it on the prairie. All at 
 once he held up his finger for me to keep silence ; and turning 
 his head to listen, his countenance changed, and his ear pricked 
 up like that of a scared doe. Nay, Master Reginald, you 
 need not smile, for it's as true as a gun -barrel ; and said I, 
 f What's the matter now ?' He made no answer, but went a 
 
THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 391 
 
 little way off; and lying down, put the side of his head to the 
 ground. He soon returned, and told me that ' a big canoe 
 was coming over the lake.' e What/ said I, ' over that lake 
 we passed this morning beyond those high woods ? ' * Yes/ 
 he replied, ' the same ; I hear the paddles dip in the water/ 
 I laughed in his face, and told him he was dreaming ; for the 
 lake was, may be, two miles off; but he declared that he had 
 heard the paddles as plain as he now heard my voice. I tried 
 to listen, but could not hear a sound ; however, I knew that 
 if he was right, the canoe would be full of enemies, seein' that 
 we had no particular friends then in the Dahcotah country, 
 and I thought it better to believe him for once : so we put 
 more sticks on the fire, to make as great a smoke as we could 
 and then ran off to the top of a hill, where a big pine-tree 
 grew ; and as it was about half-way between the fire and the 
 lake, we clomb in among its branches, where we could have a 
 good look-out on both. We remained some time without 
 hearing or seeing any thing ; and I began to conceive that my 
 comrade had made a fool of me, as well as of himself, when we 
 saw five or six Sioux devils peep out of the brush at the edge 
 of the prairie, where they pointed to the smoke that rose from 
 our fire, and began to creep cautiously towards it." 
 
 At this point the narrative of the guide was unexpectedly 
 interrupted by a sharp cry uttered by Monsieur Perrot, who 
 jumped up from his seat, and capered like a harlequin, making 
 at the same time the most doleful grimaces and ejaculations. 
 Wingenund was the first to perceive and to explain to Regi- 
 nald the cause of the unfortunate valet's distress, in doing 
 which he laughed with such hearty inexpressible mirth, that 
 the tears started from his eyes. 
 
 It appears that Monsieur Perrot, in his anxiety to hear 
 Baptiste's adventure, had unconsciously edged himself nearer 
 and nearer to the fire, by the side of which was a small pile 
 of dry burrs and prickly adhesive twigs ; while- sitting upon 
 these, and listening intently to the narrative, they had become 
 accidentally ignited, and not only burnt him as he sat, but 
 adhered to his nether garments when he jumped up, where 
 they continued to crackle and smoke in spite of the efforts 
 which he made to disengage himself from them. To add to 
 his terror, he remembered at this critical juncture that there 
 was a powder-flask in the hinder pocket of his jacket ; a cir- 
 c r. 4 
 
302 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 cumstance which he communicated to his master with renewed 
 exclamations, and unavailing attempts to rid himself of the 
 dangerous magazine. On hearing this, Ethelston emptied a 
 vessel full of water over a blanket that lay beside him, in 
 which he immediately enveloped the alarmed valet, and by 
 this ready application of one element freed him from the more 
 serious danger to be apprehended from the other. 
 
 As soon as the gravity of the party was in some degree 
 restored, Reginald requested the guide to conclude the narra- 
 tive which had been so unexpectedly interrupted, expressing 
 at the same time his curiosity to learn how Baptiste and his- 
 comrade had extricated themselves from their unpleasant posi- 
 tion among the branches of the pine-tree. 
 
 te Why, you see, Master Reginald, as soon as they were 
 fairly busied in making their way to the fire which we had 
 left burning, we slipped down the tree, and struck into the 
 wood, where we had no difficulty in finding their back-trail 
 to the lake, and creeping cautiously towards the shore, we 
 found that the hot-headed fools had left no one to watch 
 their canoe, which we spied under the boughs of an alder that 
 hung over the lake ; so we just stuck a piece of stick in the 
 ground, with a Delaware mark on it to vex 'em on their return., 
 when we paddled away to the other side ; and having bored 
 two holes in the canoe, and broken the paddles, we went on 
 our way ; and since that time I've always held my own opi- 
 nion about an Indian's ears, and I'm not likely to change it 
 now." 
 
 Whether the guide's story was tedious, or that the fatigues 
 of the day had produced their effects upon his hearers, cer- 
 tain it is, that soon after its conclusion both the ears and eyes 
 of the greater portion were closed in sleep ; and nothing 
 having occurred during the night to alarm those who had 
 watched, the whole party set forward as soon as daylight broke 
 on the following morning. 
 
 Wingenund had no difficulty in making out the trail until 
 he reached the banks of the river, in crossing which Mahe'ga 
 had taken so much pains to mislead his pursuers. Here the 
 youth halted, and informed Reginald that he might look for 
 game during the remainder of the day, as it would be neces- 
 sary for him and Atto to search for War-Eagle's party, ark 
 with them to find the right trail on the opposite bank. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 33 
 
 The two Delawares started at a rapid pace to the westward, 
 bestowing as they went careful attention on various tracks 
 of bison and other animals which had crossed at the different 
 fords that they passed. After a toilsome march of some 
 hours, they fell in with War- Eagle's party, whom they found 
 occupied in a like investigation. The chief learnt his young 
 brother's success with undisguised pleasure ; his nature was 
 too noble to entertain a thought of jealousy ; and one of the 
 first wishes of his heart was to see Wingenund take his place 
 among the first warriors of the tribe. He had ascertained 
 beyond a doubt, that although the horses of the Osages had 
 crossed the river opposite to the trail which he had been fol- 
 lowing, they had not travelled far in that direction, but had 
 returned to the bed of the river for the obvious purpose of 
 baffling pursuit ; and the Delawares now crossed to the 
 northern bank, and after minute examination of every path and 
 track which led from it, they arrived in the evening at the 
 point from whence Wingenund started, confident that the 
 right trail must, if the Osages had crossed at all, be at some 
 spot lower down the stream. 
 
 The whole party, now again reunited, encamped for the 
 night, and related, over their evening meal, the indications and 
 tracks which they had remarked on their respective lines of 
 march. At the earliest dawn War-Eagle was again afoot, and 
 after an hour's patient search, he struck a trail, which he pro- 
 nounced, without hesitation, to be that of the Osages. As it 
 led through a wooded and hilly region along the base of the 
 Great Mountains, abounding in narrow and dangerous passes, 
 every precaution was used against ambush or surprise ; War- 
 Eagle, Wingenund, and Atto leading the advance, with 
 several of the most swift and skilful of their warriors, and 
 the white men, who brought up the rear, being cautioned 
 against straggling or falling behind the main body. 
 
 Another slip of paper found upon the trail, bearing Prairie- 
 bird's inspiring watchword " Follow," raised the spirits of the 
 party to the highest pitch. They halted at midday to refresh 
 themselves and their horses for an hour under the shade of 
 some spreading cedars, above which rose a high conical peak, 
 on the sides of which were scattered a few dwarf oaks, and 
 other timber of stunted growth. Obeying a signal from War- 
 Eagle, Reginald climbed with him to the summit of this hill, 
 
394> THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 whence they could command an extensive view of the sand-hills 
 and undulating ocean of prairie to the eastward, while above 
 them to the westward towered the lofty and still distant 
 mountain-tops, clad in their bright mantle of eternal snow. 
 
 But it was not to enjoy the splendour of this magnificent 
 prospect that the Delaware had toiled up this steep ascent, or 
 that he now cast his restless and searching eye towards the 
 north and east horizon : he had another object in view. Neither 
 did he seem to have altogether failed in its attainment, for after 
 gazing long and intently upon a spot to the northward, his 
 countenance brightened, and he desired Reginald, who was 
 unable to distinguish so distant a speck with the naked eye, to 
 examine it carefully with his telescope, for that he would 
 see something there that would make his heart beat. 
 
 Reginald did so, and having succeeded in catching the indi- 
 cated object with his glass, he exclaimed, " War-Eagle, my 
 brother, you are right, I can see them plainly, one two 
 three aye, twenty Indian lodges, and the white tent among 
 them. Heaven be praised for all its mercies, we shall save 
 her yet !" 
 
 For a few moments the chief was silent; then he said, "Let 
 my brother use the glass again, and say how many lodges he 
 can count." 
 
 " There seem to be very many," said Reginald, after a 
 careful survey, " more than fifty, but I cannot count them, for 
 the tent is on a small hill, and some may be hid behind it." 
 
 u Mahega smokes the pipe with a powerful tribe," said the 
 Delaware, musing ; and the two friends descended the hill, each 
 contemplating, according to the bent of their respective charac- 
 ters, the difficulties yet to be encountered, and the means by 
 which those difficulties might be overcome. 
 
 Meanwhile it must not be supposed that Mahega remained 
 in idle security a resident in the Crow encampment; he ap- 
 preciated too justly the skill and perseverance of War-Eagle to 
 suppose that the latter would not strike and follow his trail, 
 he therefore turned his attention to the strengthening of his 
 alliance with his new friends by every means in his power. In 
 this endeavour his own sagacity was admirably, though perhaps 
 unconsciously, seconded by the winning manners and character 
 of Prairie-bird ; for the Crows, who had been prepared to look 
 upon her with a feeling akin to dread, were agreeably sur- 
 
THE PllAIRIE-BIRD. 3<)5 
 
 prised by her extreme beauty, and the gentleness of her de- 
 meanour. 
 
 The cunning Osage, knowing that she could only be drawn 
 from the strict seclusion in which she lived by her never-failing 
 willingness to alleviate suffering, had caused several children, 
 and others afflicted with illness, to be brought to her, and she 
 never declined giving them such remedies from her remaining 
 stock of medicine as she thought most likely to afford relief. 
 The general success of her simple pharmacy fully answered 
 the expectations of Mahega, in the increasing anxiety daily 
 evinced by the Crows to guard and protect the " Great Me- 
 dicine" of the tent; and thus, while obeying the dictates of 
 her own gentle and humane feeling, the maiden little knew 
 that she was strengthening the cords of her captivity. 
 
 Neither did Mahega neglect to take every precaution 
 against an attack or surprise on the part of War-Eagle and 
 his party. Although ignorant of their precise force, he knew 
 that they would in all probability be well armed, and was far 
 from satisfied with the position of the present encampment 
 occupied by the Crows. 
 
 After conversing once or twice with Besha, and the judicious 
 admixture of a few presents to that disinterested personage, he 
 learnt that there was at a distance of half a day's march to the 
 northward a favourite stronghold of the Crows, to which they 
 frequently resorted when attacked by an enemy too numerous 
 to be resisted in the open plain, and it was represented to be 
 in a neighbourhood affording abundance of game, and a plen- 
 tiful supply of pasture for the horses. 
 
 Mahega found it not a very difficult task to persuade the 
 Crow chief to withdraw to this post, representing to him the 
 formidable equipment of the Delawares aided by their white 
 allies, and he urged him also to send a few of his best runners 
 to hang about the trail by which he had himself arrived, so 
 that timely notice of the enemy's approach might be received. 
 
 The Crow acquiesced in both suggestions, and the united 
 band moved off accordingly to the post above referred to, 
 which they reached in the afternoon of the same day ; it was 
 a conical hill, covered on one side with low juniper bushes, 
 and rising suddenly out of the prairie at a distance of several 
 miles from the higher range of mountains to the west ; a few 
 hundred yards further to the east was another height of similar 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 elevation, but of less circumference, and between these two lay 
 a valley of extreme fertility, watered by a stream so cool and 
 clear, that it bespoke at once the mountain source whence it 
 flowed ; the eastern side of this second hill was almost perpen- 
 dicular, so as to be secure against any attack from that quarter ; 
 while an enemy approaching from the valley would be exposed 
 to missiles shot from either height. 
 
 Mahega saw at a glance the strength of the position, and 
 proposed to the chief that he, with his Osages, should garrison 
 the smaller height, leaving the larger hill and the intermediate 
 valley to be occupied by the Crows. 
 
 This arrangement being agreed upon, the tent of Prairie- 
 bird was pitched near the summit, on a spot where the ground 
 gently sloped to the westward, and a few scattered oaks, cedars, 
 and pines afforded not only a partial shelter from the rays of 
 the sun, but a sufficient supply of fuel for cooking the venison 
 and bison-meat, which the hunters had brought in abundantlv. 
 Some twenty lodges of the Crows were placed upon the op- 
 posite and larger height ; these consisted chiefly of the prin- 
 cipal braves and warriors ; the intermediate valley being 
 occupied by the remainder of the band; and an ample space 
 was left for picketing the horses at night between the two 
 hills. 
 
 On arriving at her new quarters, Prairie-bird could not 
 avoid being struck by the singularity as well as by the beauty 
 of the scenery. It was evident that the face of the sandstone 
 rock, above which her tent was pitched, had been eaten away 
 by the action of water and the elements; and she imagined 
 that ere many years should pass, the precipitous cliff on its 
 eastern front would partially fall in, and leave in its place a 
 broken and turreted ruin, such as she had before noted and 
 admired on the western borders of the great prairie. It was 
 a great relief to her that she was so much by herself ; for the 
 lodge of Mahega and his followers was pitched somewhat 
 lower down the hill than her own tent, and she was yet further 
 removed from the dirt and other annoyances of the Crow 
 lodges. This was, indeed, a great luxury, as the quantity of 
 bison-meat brought into the camp on the first day's hunt 
 was so great, that the Upsaroka women were spreading and 
 drying it in every direction ; and as these ladies are not 
 usually very particular in removing the offal, the odour thence 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 397 
 
 arising in the valley below was not the sweetest that couid be 
 imagined. 
 
 Mahega was in high good humour in consequence of the 
 successful result of his arrangements ; for he now occupied a 
 post not only well protected against the attack of an enemy, 
 but where his baggage could not be purloined by the light- 
 fingered youths, who are so proverbially abundant among 
 the Crows. But however secure he might feel, he did not 
 relax his usual vigilance, in which he was zealously seconded 
 by Toweno ; and whenever the one was absent from the 
 garrison, even for a short time, the other always remained at 
 home on the watch. He renewed, also, a rude breastwork of 
 unhewn logs, which had been thrown up by the Crows on 
 some former occasion, and which afforded a shelter, from 
 behind which he and his men could fire upon an approaching 
 enemy without being themselves exposed. 
 
 They had not long been settled in their new quarters before 
 the detachment which had been sent to reconnoitre returned 
 to report that they had seen the united band of white men and 
 Delawares, about thirty in number, advancing cautiously along 
 the base of the hills towards the Upsaroka camp. The 
 scouts had recognised Reginald as the person who had killed 
 one of their principal warriors; and the announcement of his 
 approach was received with a yell that showed how determi- 
 nately the Crows were bent on revenge. 
 
 A war-council was immediately held, which Mahega was 
 summoned to attend ; and although the wary Osage kept him- 
 self in the background, and showed no disposition to offer his 
 advice until twice pressed by Besha to do so, it was soon evi- 
 dent that his spirit would rule the meeting, and that on him 
 would devolve the conduct of the struggle in which they must 
 soon expect to be engaged : such was the impression already 
 made upon his new allies by his gigantic stature, and the air 
 of command that accompanied his every word and gesture. 
 
 Unless the advantage of numbers was to be very great on 
 his side, Mahega did not augur favourably of the result of an 
 open conflict between the Crows and the small but well- 
 appointed force opposed to them. He formed a just estimate 
 of the skill and sagacity of War-Eagle, and of the impetuous 
 courage of Reginald Brandon. He hated both, especially the 
 latter, with all the bitter intensity of which his nature was 
 
PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 capable; and resolved that no stratagem should be left untried 
 to heap upon them every species of suffering and disgrace. 
 
 With this view, he conferred long, through the medium of 
 Besha, with the leading warriors of the Crows as to the 
 nature of the ground in the neighbourhood of the enemy's 
 line of march ; being determined, if possible, to lead them 
 into an ambush ; or at least to attack them in some defile or 
 pass, where the bow and arrow would be a better match for 
 the rifle than in the open plain. Not being altogether satis- 
 fled with the replies which he received, he declined giving his 
 opinion until he should have reconnoitred the district in 
 person, and set forth without delay, accompanied by the 
 dwarfish interpreter and two Crow warriors, all being mounted 
 on swift horses. 
 
 Having reached the base of the first range of hills, the Crow 
 who acted as guide struck into a narrow winding ravine ; after 
 following the course of which for some distance, the party 
 emerged upon an elevated table land, which they crossed at 
 full speed, and found themselves at the base of a second range 
 of hills, more broken and abrupt than the first. Here the 
 guide and Mahe'ga dismounted, and having concealed the 
 horses, and left them behind the projection of a rock in charge 
 of the other two, they climbed with some difficulty to the brow 
 of a sandstone cliff, whence they could command an extensive 
 view of the region to the southward. 
 
 Creeping cautiously to the edge of the height, and screening 
 themselves behind the junipers and scanty bushes growing 
 there, they could easily distinguish the camp of the Delawares 
 and white men in the valley below. The band had come to a 
 halt, and were evidently engaged in refreshing themselves and 
 their horses with their midday meal. 
 
 The Osage chief glared upon them like a tiger on his antici- 
 pated prey. He examined the ground in front and rear and 
 flank of their position; he noted the breadth of the pass where 
 the valley opened out upon the plain beyond, and questioned 
 his guide closely as to the route which they would probably 
 take in advancing towards the Crow encampment. 
 
 We will leave him for a time to pursue these investigations, 
 while we return to Reginald and War-Eagle, whom we left 
 deliberating as to the most advisable course to be pursued for 
 the rescue of Prairie-bird. 
 
MAHEGA SPYING THE CAMP OF THE DELAWARES P. 398 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 399 
 
 The Delaware chief having been soon informed by his scouts 
 of the enemy's retreat to another and stronger position, lost 
 no time in pushing forward his party to the point in the valley 
 where it had (as above mentioned) been descried by Mahega 
 and his guide. Reginald and the other white men were at a 
 loss to imagine why War-Eagle had selected for his halt a spot 
 where a dense thicket on the side of each hill seemed to offer 
 to an enemy, familiar with the country, a favourable opportu- 
 nity for attacking him unawares ; and even Baptiste. when 
 questioned upon the subject, shook his head, saying : <e Wait 
 till to-morrow ; we shall know by that time what hole the coon 
 is making for." 
 
 As for the Delawares, they ate their bison-meat and smoked 
 their pipe with as much indifference as if they were in the 
 heart of their own hunting-ground, being confident in the skill 
 of their leader, from the experience of many a foray and fight. 
 The latter, having thrown forward two or three of his men as 
 outposts, to guard against surprise, summoned Wingenund, to 
 whom he gave, in an earnest voice, some minute directions, 
 which did not reach the ears of others in the party ; and the 
 youth, as soon as he had received them, went up to Reginald, 
 and said to him, " Will Netis lend Nekimi to Wingenund ? 
 He will be back before the moon is up, and if he meets the 
 Upsarokas, he must leave them behind." 
 
 Reginald testified his willing assent to the youth's request, 
 and in a few minutes Nekimi, was bounding over the prairie 
 beneath his light burthen with a speed that soon brought him 
 to a point whence he could command a view of the two heights, 
 upon and betweeen which the Crows were encamped. 
 
 The sand-hills in that region project in many places from 
 the base of the Great Mountains into the open plain, like the 
 promontories of an indented shore into the ocean, and it was 
 by skirting one of these until he reached its extremity that he 
 contrived to watch the encampment of the Crows without 
 being observed by their scouts ; for several hours he stood mo- 
 tionless by the side of Nekimi, under the shade of a pine, with 
 that untiring patience which renders an Indian unequalled as 
 a spy, when he saw four horsemen emerge from the camp, and 
 gallop off towards the base of the mountains. As socn as they 
 entered a valley where they were screened from his view, he 
 put Nekimi to his speed, and by a shorter cut reached the 
 
400 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 head of the same valley before them ; then leaving his horse 
 behind a thicket of junipers, he crept forward, and hiding 
 himself in some brushwood, waited for the passing of the 
 horsemen. 
 
 As the roughness of the ground had compelled them to 
 slacken their speed, he had no difficulty in recognising Mahega, 
 but the features of the misshapen interpreter and the Crow 
 warriors were, of course, strange to him. He watched the 
 Osage chief and his companion as they climbed the hill, from 
 the top of which they made their observations of the Delaware 
 camp ; and as they returned and remounted their horses, they 
 passed so near to his hiding-place that the youth distinctly 
 heard two or three words which Mahega spoke to Besha in 
 the Osage tongue. As soon as they were out of sight he hast- 
 ened to the spot where he had left Nekimi, and returned at 
 full speed to make his report to War-Eagle. 
 
 The chief had evidently been awaiting with some impatience 
 the return of his messenger, and when he received the intelli- 
 gence which the latter brought back, he said, " It is well, let 
 Netis and the chiefs be called to council there is no time to 
 lose." 
 
 A few minutes sufficed to assemble the leaders, who were 
 expected to take a part in the deliberations about to be entered 
 upon, all of them being well aware of their vicinity to the 
 enemy of whom they had so long been in pursuit ; but when 
 called upon to express their opinion as to the course to be 
 adopted, a manifest reluctance prevailed, arising probably from 
 the wild and rugged nature of the region, and from their igno- 
 rance of the strength of the band with which Mahega had 
 allied himself. After a brief pause, Baptiste, who was tho- 
 roughly versed in the character of the Delawares, arose and said, 
 <f Are the tongues of the warriors tied ? the sun will not stay 
 in his path, neither will the grass grow beneath the feet of the 
 Washashee and Upsaroka ; the white men and the Lenape 
 wait to hear the voice of the Great Chief let War-Eagle 
 speak." 
 
 Thus called upon, the Delaware leader came forward to 
 address the council. He painted the wrongs that his tribe 
 had suffered at the hands of the Osages, the treachery and 
 cruelties practised on their wives and children ; then he dwelt 
 on the spoiling of their lodges, the abduction of Prairie-bird, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 401 
 
 and the attempted murder of Wingenund. Having thus 
 roused the passions of his Delaware hearers, he gradually 
 brought them back to a calmer state of reflection, by represent- 
 ing to them' the dangers and difficulties of their present posi- 
 tion, owing to the alliance formed by their implacable enemy 
 with the Upsaroka, who knew every pass and dangerous defile 
 of the country through which they were marching, and he im- 
 pressed upon them the necessity of their having recourse to 
 stratagem in order to make up for their deficiency in numbers 
 and in local knowledge. He then proceeded to unfold his 
 plan of operations, which (as afterwards explained by Baptiste 
 to Reginald and his friend) was nearly in the following 
 words : 
 
 " Mahega and the Upsaroka will attack our camp to-night 
 the wolf shall fall into a trap they will come to take 
 scalps, let them look after their own but we must divide our 
 party Wingenund has seen the Washashee camp, he shall 
 guide ten warriors to it in the dark, and while Mahega is lead- 
 ing his blind followers here, the tomahawk and tbe fire shall be 
 in his lodge ! " 
 
 A deep murmur of approbation satisfied the chief as to the 
 sentiments of his stern and determined band ; and Ethelston, 
 although he knew not the meaning of the words which had 
 been uttered, was struck by the dignity with which they had 
 been spoken, and by the rich and varied intonation of War- 
 Eagle's voice. 
 
 " Reginald," said he, " how much I regret that I could not 
 follow your Indian brother in his discourse. His attitudes 
 brought to my mind the orators of old, as represented to us by 
 classic pen and chisel : it seemed as if I could almost gather 
 his meaning from his eloquence of eye and tone !" 
 
 " Certainly," replied Reginald, " whether the merit of 
 oratory consists in action, as held by the ( old man eloquent 
 who fulmined over Greece,' or in the art of persuasion, by 
 convincing the judgment while moving the passions of the 
 hearers, as held by the best authors who have since written on 
 the subject, War-Eagle possesses it in an eminent degree." 
 
 " Yes," replied Ethelston, " I admit the persuasive power, 
 and the action at once graceful and commanding, but I main- 
 tain that there is yet a stronger element, the mention of which 
 you, and the authors whom you quote, have strangely neglected, 
 
 D D 
 
402 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD 
 
 namely, truth; that immortal essence, which pervades the 
 whole intelligent creation, before which falsehood shrinks 
 abashed, and sophistry vanishes into vapour. This it is that 
 guides the winged words of man direct to the heart of his bro- 
 ther ; by this, and this alone, did the voice of Luther triumph 
 over the thunders of the Vatican, and beneath its mighty in- 
 fluence the haughty Felix trembled before the captive apostle. 
 This is, if I mistake not, the secret of your Indian friend's 
 oratory ; every word that he utters finds an echo in the breast 
 of those whom he is addressing. The injuries that he recounts 
 are recent ; the dangers against which he warns them are real 
 and present ; and the vengeance to which he guides them, they 
 pant for with a thirst ardent as his own." 
 
 " Far be it from me," replied Reginald, " to disparage the 
 might and majesty of truth, or to doubt that in the end it must 
 triumph over error and falsehood, as certainly as Good shall 
 obtain the victory over Evil. Nevertheless, I hold, that as the 
 object of eloquence frequently is to ' make the worse appear the 
 better cause,' and to guide the hearers, not so much to their 
 own real good as to the immediate purpose of the speaker, 
 there are some occasions, where he will more effectively attain 
 it by working on the prejudices, frailties, and passions, than 
 he could by the most direct appeal to justice or to truth. If 
 Felix trembled at the denunciations of Paul, the bolder and 
 mightier spirit of Wallenstein quailed before the wily astro- 
 loger, who pretended to have interwoven his destinies with the 
 mysterious movements of the planets." 
 
 (f I see the scope of your argument, Reginald, and acknow- 
 ledge its force. It is because men obey the dictates of passion 
 more willingly than those of conscience, that they are more 
 easily led by the factious sophistry of a Cleon than by the vir- 
 tuous wisdom of a Socrates. Nevertheless, you will not deny 
 that even sophistry and faction bear testimony to the might of 
 truth, by putting on her semblance, and disguising themselves 
 as her followers, thus do they achieve success, until they en- 
 counter some champion strong enough to unmask and detect 
 them ; as the Trojans fled before Patroclus clad in the armour 
 of Achilles, until Hector pierced his disguise, and killed him." 
 
 " Is it not strange," said Reginald, laughing, " that in this 
 wild and remote region, and amidst its wandering tribes, we 
 should renew discussions, which we so often held together in 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 403 
 
 early days on the banks of the Elbe and Rhine ! I remember 
 that you generally beat me in argument, and yet permitted me 
 to retain possession of the field of battle. On this occasion 
 I think we must draw off our forces, and neither claim the 
 victory. The Indians are already preparing for the night's 
 expedition, and interests so dear to me depend upon its result, 
 that I look foward to it with the deepest anxiety. If War- 
 Eagle is correct in his calculation, that the Osages and their 
 allies will attack our camp to-night, it is uncertain whether 
 they will carry Prairie-bird with them, or leave her behind 
 under a guard. We must be prepared for either plan; and in 
 dividing our force arrange it so, that if we succeed, she may 
 be sure of falling into the hands of those fit and authorised to 
 protect her. 1 will take with me Wingenund, and our steady 
 friends Baptiste and Pierre : do you remain with War-Eagle, 
 Paul Miiller, and the main body reserved for the defence of 
 the camp." 
 
 " Be it so," replied Ethelston, " I trust we shall not be 
 long separated, and that before this hour to-morrow we shall 
 have rescued your betrothed from her captors." He added, 
 with a smile, " Remember that in our German expedition you 
 made me many promises of discretion, which in the excite- 
 ment of action you were somewhat apt to forget; you must 
 not do so now that you are engaged in the cause of one, to 
 whom your life is perhaps dearer than it is to yourself." 
 
 tf Baptiste himself shall not be more cautious than I will 
 be," replied Reginald, grasping his friend's hand ; and they 
 parted to make the requisite preparations for their respective 
 duties. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A SCENE IN THE TENT OP PRAIRIE-BIKD, WHO GIVES SOME GOOD AD- 
 VICE, AND RECEIVES IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME MORE THAN ONE 
 UNEXPECTED VISITOR. THE CROWS LED BY MAHEGA ATTACK THE 
 DELAWARE CAMP BY NIGHT. THE DEFEATED PARTY ACHIEVE A 
 KIND OF TRIUMPH, AND THE VICTORS MEET WITH AN UNEXPECTED 
 LOSS. 
 
 THE evening passed away with the rapidity usual in that 
 western region, where twilight has no sooner thrown its dusky 
 
 D D 2 
 
404 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 hue over mountain and plain, than it again yields its place to 
 the darker gloom of night ; and yet it were a libel upon nature 
 to call by the name of gloom that uncertain light in which 
 that mighty landscape reposed. The moon was half full, and 
 her beams, scarcely piercing through the deep foliage of the 
 wooded vale, streaked with silver lines its mossy herbage; east- 
 ward lay the vast expanse of undulating prairie, on which 
 countless herds of bison lazily cropped the dew-sprinkled grass, 
 while high above the scene towered the gigantic peaks of the 
 Western Andes slumbering in a light as cold and pale as there 
 own eternal snow. 
 
 Nothing was heard to disturb the reign of silence save the 
 distant murmur of the streamlets as they plashed from rock to 
 rock in their descent to the quiet river that flowed beneath ; 
 or here and there the stealthy foot of the panther or prowling 
 bear. A few stars glimmering in the vault above, and clouds 
 of ever-varying shape flitted athwart its surface, now hiding.,. 
 and again partially revealing, the dark outlines of forest, vale, 
 and rugged cliff. 
 
 It was an hour and a scene calculated to inspire thoughts of 
 awe, piety, and gratitude towards the Creator ; of love, gentle- 
 ness, and peace towards His creatures ; and yet through those 
 groves and glens feet more stealthy than the panther's step, 
 foes more fell than the prowling bear, now wound their silent 
 way, bent on their secret errand of destruction and of blood. 
 
 In one quarter Reginald, followed by Baptiste, Pierre, and 
 six men, moved swiftly across the prairie, under the guidance 
 of Wingenund, towards the camp of the Osages ; in another, 
 Mahega led a numerous band through the defiles before de- 
 scribed, to surprise the encampment of the Delawares ; while at 
 the latter place War-Eagle, aided by Atto and his chosen war- 
 riors, was making all the necessary dispositions for a stratagem 
 by which he hoped to defeat the expected attack of his enemies. 
 
 It was already several hours past midnight, the moon had 
 withdrawn her light, and Prairie-bird was buried in the 
 refreshing sleep that visits the eyelids of guileless youth ; Lita 
 slumbered on a couch of skins stretched across the entrance 
 of her mistress's tent, before which at a little distance the 
 Osage sentry, seated by the breastwork thrown up for the 
 defence of the position, hummed a low and plaintive air of his 
 tribe. Suddenly his ear caught the sound of approaching 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 405 
 
 feet, and quick as thought the arrow was fitted to his bow- 
 string, but he checked the hasty movement, remembering that 
 sentries were posted at the base of the hill, who would not 
 have permitted any hostile step to approach unchallenged. 
 As the new comers drew near he distinguished through the 
 gloom the figures of a man and a woman, the former short 
 and square-built, the latter slight and graceful. 
 
 " What do the strangers seekr" inquired Toweno, for he 
 it was whom Mahega had left in charge of his camp, and who 
 now guarded the tent of Prairie-bird. 
 
 " Toweno is a great warrior among the Washashee ; his 
 voice is welcome to the ear of a friend," replied in the Osage 
 tongue, the rough voice of Besha, the horse-dealer. " The 
 Upsaroka maiden wishes to speak with Olitipa, the Great Me- 
 dicine of the tent." 
 
 " This is not a time for maidens to visit or to speak," re- 
 plied Toweno ; " the feet of the braves are on the night-path, 
 and many wives who sleep now will be widows ere the sun is 
 up." 
 
 " Besha knows it well," answered the horse-dealer ; " nor 
 can he understand how Toweno is in the camp while Mahega 
 and his warriors are on the bloody- path." 
 
 " The Pale-faces are cunning," replied the Osage, " and 
 Mahega would not leave the rich skins of otter, beaver, and 
 bison, and the Great Medicine of the tent, without a guard." 
 
 " The Pale-faces will not come near the high-camp," said 
 Besha, casting a rapid glance over the bales of fur and cloth, 
 u Have you many warriors left with you ? " 
 
 " Four of the Washashee, and four times four of the Upsa- 
 roka, is the band in camp*; but what does the woman desire 
 of Olitipa ? " 
 
 " She is the youngest and favourite wife of the Upsaroka 
 chief," replied Besha, lowering his voice, " and she desires a 
 medicine that his love for her may never change ; her heart is 
 .good towards the Washashee, and her hands are not empty." 
 Here he whispered a few words to his companion, and the 
 
 The various methods of counting adopted by the weitern tribes are curious in 
 the extreme ; some reckon chiefly by fives, and among these an expression equi- 
 valent to "hands and feet" signifies "twenty;" in one language the number 
 eight is expressed by a word meaning six with two; in another by a word signify. 
 ing ten without two : in fact, some very interesting illustrations of their language 
 and modes of thought might be drawn from an accurate investigation of their nu- 
 merals, but they would be entirely out of place in a work ot faction. 
 D D 3 
 
406 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 girl timidly extending her hand placed in that of the Osage a 
 small roll of tobacco. 
 
 The grim features of the warrior relaxed into a smile, as 
 his fingers closed upon the scarce and much-coveted leaf *, and 
 without further delay he moved to the entrance of the tent, 
 and wakening Lita, desired her to arouse her mistress for a 
 conference with the bride of the Upsaroka chief. 
 
 Although surprised at this unexpected summons, Prairie- 
 bird hastened to receive her visitor, supposing that some sud- 
 den illness or accident must be the cause of her coming at such 
 an hour. Her simple toilet was soon made ; and fastening to 
 her girdle the bag containing the slender stock of instruments 
 and trifles that she always carried with her, she stepped into 
 the outer compartment of the tent, and desired Lita to admit 
 the stranger. 
 
 The Crow girl, led by Besha, came forward with apparent 
 reluctance, obviously under the influence of the greatest terror, 
 and Prairie-bird was, for the moment, annoyed at the admis- 
 sion into her tent of a man whom she had only seen once or 
 twice before, and whose appearance was forbidding in the ex- 
 treme; but quickly remembering that without him it would have 
 been impossible to communicate with her visitor, she desired 
 Lita to place three mats ; and seating herself upon one, kindly 
 took the Crow girl by the hand, drawing her gently to that 
 nearest to herself; then motioning to Besha to occupy the 
 third, she requested him in the Delaware tongue, to explain 
 the object of this nightly visit. 
 
 " The tale of the Upsaroka maid is secret," he replied ; 
 " it is only for the ears of Olitipa." 
 
 At a signal from her mistress, Lita, throwing a blanket over 
 her shoulder, stepped into the open air, and leaned against the 
 breastwork not far from the post of Toweno. 
 
 " Does the f Bending- willow ' wish all to be told ? " in- 
 quired Besha of his companion in a whisper. 
 
 Bending- willow, who had not yet dared to lift her eyes 
 from the ground, now timidly raised them ; and encountering 
 the kind and encouraging glance of Prairie-bird, answered, 
 " Let all be told." 
 
 * Tobacco is extremely scarce, and highly valued among the western tribes : at 
 the close of the last century it was probably unknown among the Crows, so that 
 we must suppose that the horse-dealer produced this present from his o\vu stores, 
 and for purposes best known to himself. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 407 
 
 Having received this permission, the one-eyed horse-dealer 
 proceeded to relate, with more feeling than could have been 
 expected from his harsh and uncouth appearance, the story of 
 his fair companion. She was the daughter of the principal 
 brave in the nation; both he and his only son had fallen 
 lately in a bloody engagement with the Black-feet. The 
 father had, with his dying breath, bequeathed his surviving 
 child to the protection of his chief, and the latter had fulfilled 
 the trust by giving her in marriage to his eldest son, a gallant 
 youth, who, although not yet twenty-five years of age, had 
 already two wives in his lodge, and had taken many scalps 
 from the Black-feet, against whom he was now absent on an 
 expedition undertaken to avenge th* slain relations of his newly- 
 espoused bride. 
 
 Bending-willow, who had not yet seen eighteen summers, 
 was passionately fond of her young lord, who now returned 
 her affection with an ardour equal to her own; this had moved 
 the spite and jealousy of his two former wives, who took no 
 pains to conceal their hatred of her; and although they dared 
 not strike or ill-treat her as long as she remained the favourite, 
 they endeavoured by every means in their power to vex and 
 annoy her, and to bring her, by degrees, under the suspicion 
 and distrust of their husband. 
 
 It was to obtain from Prairie-bird a medicine by which she 
 might secure his continued affection, that Bending-willow had 
 made this visit ; and she had come stealthily by night, in 
 hopes of escaping thereby the observation of her watchful 
 colleagues. 
 
 During the horse-dealer's recital, Prairie-bird glanced more 
 than once at the young woman's countenance, of which she 
 was enabled by the red light of the wormwood torch that 
 burnt near the centre of the tent, to distinguish the features 
 and expression ; both were remarkably pleasing and attractive, 
 while the long black hair falling over her shoulders in two 
 plaits, interwoven with beads of various colours, was set off 
 by the delicate hue of the fawn-skin dress, which displayed 
 to advantage the symmetry of her slight and graceful figure. 
 Prairie-bird took her hand in silence, and the Crow girl fixed 
 her eyes with guileless and admiring wonder upon the surpass- 
 ing loveliness of the " Great Medicine of the tent," which 
 struck her the more forcibly, as she had come in the expect- 
 
 D D 4 
 
408 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ation of seeing a person decked out and ornamented after the 
 fantastic fashion adopted among the Indian tribes by those 
 who pretend to supernatural powers. 
 
 After a brief silence, Prairie-bird, addressing her visitor 
 through the interpreter, said, " When the wives of the young 
 chief scold and speak bad words to Bending-willow, what does 
 she reply ? " 
 
 " She gives them bad words again, sharper and harder than 
 their own," answered the bride hastily. 
 
 Prairie-bird shook her head, and continued, f ' Has Bending- 
 willow watched their faces when they scold and heap angry 
 words upon her ? How do they look then ? " 
 
 " They look ugly and spiteful as spotted snakes ! " 
 
 " Bending-willow has come for a medicine to make the love 
 of her husband endure fresh and green as the valleys watered 
 by the Nebraska ! Does she think he would love her if when 
 he returns to his lodge he hears sharp angry tones in her voice, 
 and sees spiteful looks in her countenance ? The Great Spirit 
 has made her face and voice sweet as the breath of the morn- 
 ing ; if she makes them ugly and harsh, the medicine of 
 Olitipa cannot preserve her husband's love." 
 
 The Crow bride cast down her eyes, evidently confused and 
 puzzled by this address. At length she inquired, in a subdued 
 tone, " What, then, is the counsel of Olitipa ? " What is Bend- 
 ing-willow to do when these sharp tongues scold and rail at 
 her?" 
 
 Prairie-bird opened the volume that lay beside her, and 
 answered, " The words of the Great Spirit are, ' A soft answer 
 turneth away anger ! ' When the tongues of the women ar< 
 bitter against Bending-willow, let her give gentle words in 
 reply ; they will be ashamed, and will soon be silent." 
 
 " But," said the quick-tempered bride, " the angry spirit 
 gets into the heart of Bending-willow : when fire is in the 
 breast, cool water flows not from the tongue ! " 
 
 " Olitipa will give a medicine to her sister," replied our 
 heroine ; and opening a case that stood near her, she drew 
 thence a small hand-mirror. Presenting this to her visitor, she 
 added, " When Bending-willow finds the angry spirit in her 
 heart, and bitter words ready on her tongue, let her look at 
 her face in this medicine-glass, and say to herself, f Are the.se 
 the soft eyes that the chief loves to look upon ? " 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 409 
 
 The bride took the glass, and contemplated her features 
 therein, apparently not without satisfaction. But their expres- 
 sion was troubled, for she was frightened at the words which 
 Prairie-bird had told her were those of the Great Spirit, and 
 her eyes wandered from the book to the maiden, as if she 
 would willingly learn more of her mysterious communion with 
 the powers above. 
 
 At this crisis the wild war-cry of the Crows rang through 
 the tent ; several shots followed each other in rapid succession, 
 mingled with the whistling of arrows and the clash of blows, 
 while loud above the din of conflict rose the voice of Toweno, 
 urging and encouraging his men. 
 
 Besha started to his feet, and rushed from the tent to learn 
 whence came this sudden and unexpected attack, and Lita 
 hastened to the side of her mistress, as if resolved to share her 
 fate, whatever that might be, 
 
 Louder and nearer came the mingled cries and yells of 
 battle, and a stray rifle-ball pierced the canvass of the tent, 
 leaving a rent in it close to the head of Prairie-bird. She 
 neither stirred nor spoke ; and as the wailing and terrified 
 Bending-willow, the daughter and the bride of warriors inured 
 to scenes of blood, looked on the pale, calm cheek of the 
 Christian maiden, whose hand still rested on the mysterious 
 volume, she felt as if in the presence of a superior being, and 
 crept closer to her side for protection and security. 
 
 But we must leave the tent and its inmates, and turn to the 
 scene of strife without. The darkness of night was giving 
 place to the grey hue of dawn, and a faint streak of light was 
 already discernible in the eastern horizon, ere Reginald's party, 
 guided by Wingenund, was able to reach the base of the hill 
 on which the Osages were posted. His intention had been to 
 arrive there several hours sooner ; but he had been prevented 
 by various obstacles, such as might be expected to occur on a 
 night-march through so rugged and difficult a country, and 
 also by the necessity of making a considerable circuit to avoid 
 being seen by the Crows encamped, as was before mentioned, 
 on a hill on the opposite side of the valley. 
 
 Reginald had no means of ascertaining the force that might 
 be left to guard the camp and the tent, arid it appeared rash 
 in the extreme to attempt by daylight the storming, with only 
 ten men, a position so fortified by nature, and defended by 
 warriors familiar with its local advantages. But his impetuous 
 
41O THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ardour had communicated itself to all his party, and it was 
 unanimously agreed that the attack should be made. 
 
 In the sketch before given of the Osage camp, it was stated 
 that the hill was steep, and of a conical shape, sloping less 
 abruptly towards the valley, while the front that it presented 
 to the prairie eastward was precipitous and inaccessible. The 
 attacking party had made their approach from this quarter, 
 rightly conjecturing that it would be left unguarded. They 
 succeeded in gaining the base of the cliff unperceived ; but in 
 spite of the caution with which they advanced towards the 
 more sloping face of the hill, they were descried by the 
 enemy's outposts, who discharged at them a flight of arrows, 
 uttering at the same time the shrill war-cry that had startled 
 the party within the tent. 
 
 There being now light sufficient to enable the combatants to 
 distinguish each other, the rifles of the white men told with 
 fatal effect, and several of ihe Crows fell at their first fire ; 
 the remainder retreated fighting, towards the breastwork above, 
 whither Reginald's party pursued them with an impetuosity 
 not to be resisted. When, however, the Crows gained the pro- 
 tection of the breastwork, they recovered from their temporary 
 panic, and, animated by the example of Toweno and the few 
 Osages with him, let fly their arrows with precision and effect. 
 
 The leader of the Osages, and one of his band, were pro- 
 vided with rifles, and although the attacking party availed 
 themselves of the occasional shelter of trees and bushes in 
 their ascent, two of them received severe bullet- wounds from 
 the marksmen securely posted above. They were not unnoticed 
 by the quick eye of Baptiste, who, having reloaded his long 
 rifle, deliberately waited until the Osage beside Toweno showed 
 the upper part of his head above the breastwork as he aimed at 
 Reginald, now within pistol-shot of him. The finger of the 
 savage was on the trigger, when a ball from the rifle of the 
 guide struck him in the centre of the forehead, and with a con- 
 vulsive bound he fell dead on the spot, overthrowing in his fall 
 Toweno, whose rifle was thereby for the moment rendered 
 unserviceable. 
 
 " Forward ! Master Reginald," shouted the guide ; " Win- 
 genund is already at the breastwork ! " 
 
 Light as an antelope, and active as a mountain cat, the 
 Delaware youth had distanced all his companions in the ascent, 
 and, regardless of the fearful odds of numbers opposed to him. 
 
THE PRAIHIE-BiRD. 411 
 
 was already clambering over the stockade, when an arrow 
 pierced his arm, and a war-club, hurled with equal force and 
 precision, struck him on the head, and he fell backwards at 
 the feet of Reginald. The latter rendered desperate by the 
 fall of his Indian brother, caught from Baptiste the huge axe 
 that hung at his belt, and springing forward to the stockade, 
 soon hewed himself a passage through its wooden barrier 
 wounded slightly by an arrow in his thigh, grazed by another 
 on the cheek, his hunting-cap pierced and carried from his 
 head, it seemed as though his life were charmed against the 
 missiles of the enemy and despite every obstacle, he stooi* at 
 length within the breastwork, followed by Baptiste and his brave 
 companions. The guide, whose cool and wary eye noted every 
 movement, had reserved the fire of the pistols in his belt, and 
 twice, while his young master was hewing with reckless daring 
 at the tough barrier, had an unerring ball from them rendered 
 powerless an arm raised for his destruction. 
 
 Although still superior in numbers in the proportion of two 
 to one., the allied band of Osages and Crows were so dis- 
 couraged by the storming of their barrier, that they offered 
 but a feeble resistance, each endeavouring to provide for his 
 own safety. Toweno alone, aided by one of the bravest war- 
 riors of his band, determined in this fatal crisis to execute 
 the bloody orders of Mahega ; and by a preconcerted signal, 
 as soon as Reginald made good his footing within the breast- 
 work, they rushed into the tent of Prairie-bird. 
 
 From the beginning of the affray, the terrified Upsaroka 
 bride had never moved from the side of our heroine, on whose 
 countenance she fixed her anxious eyes, as if expecting from 
 her some display of supernatural power for their common pro- 
 tection ; Lita clung also to the arm of her mistress ; and the 
 Christian maiden, trusting to that Word on which her hand 
 and her heart alike reposed, awaited with patient resignation 
 the issue of a peril, of which she knew neither the nature nor 
 the extent. That the camp was attacked she was well aware, 
 by the shouts and cries of the combatants ; but who the at- 
 tacking party might be, and whether likely to fail or to succeed, 
 she had no means of judging. 
 
 Besha had from the commencement of the affray shot se- 
 veral arrows from the breastwork at the invaders ; but seeing 
 them press forward with such determined resolution, he be- 
 
412 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 thought himself of the bride, for whose safety he was respon- 
 sible, and retired within the tent, resolved, if possible, to 
 withdraw her from the scene of confusion while there might 
 yet be time for escape ; but Bending- willow obstinately refused 
 to quit the side of Prairie-bird, and he was still urging his 
 entreaties to that effect, when the two Osages burst into the 
 tent. 
 
 " Let the Medicine-woman of the Bad Spirit die," shouted 
 Toweno, as he raised his tomahawk to strike ; but Besha 
 caught the descending blow, and endeavoured to avert the 
 murderous weapon from his hold. Meanwhf'e the other Osage 
 advanced to execute the fell purpose of his leader, when the 
 devoted Lita, throwing herself in his way, clung to his up- 
 raised arm with the strength of despair. Slight, however, was 
 the resistance which she could offer ; and the savage, throwing 
 her with violence to the ground, again raised his knife above 
 the head of his unresisting victim. Lita shrieked aloud, and 
 the fate of Prairie-bird seemed inevitable, when a warlike 
 figure burst into the tent, and Reginald Brandon, still wielding 
 the axe of Baptiste, stood in the midst of the group. His 
 fiery glance fell upon the savage about to strike his beloved, 
 and swift as thought that terrible weapon descending, clove 
 the Indian's skull. 
 
 By this time Toweno had freed himself from Besha, whom 
 he had rendered almost helpless by two severe wounds with 
 his scalp-knife, and he now flew at Reginald with the fury of 
 a tiger at bay ; but the presence of Prairie-bird nerved her 
 lover's arm with threefold strength, and parrying the blow 
 which his opponent aimed at his throat, he passed his cutlass 
 through the body of the Osage, and threw him, bleeding and 
 mortally wounded, several yards from the tent. At this mo- 
 ment a shout of triumph without, raised by Baptiste and his 
 companions, assured Reginald that the victory was complete, 
 and that those of the enemy who survived had fled and left 
 him in possession of the camp. Then he cast himself on his 
 knees by the side of his betrothed, and as she leaned her head 
 upon his shoulder, a flood of tears relieved the suppressed emo- 
 tions catised by the fearful trial that she had undergone. Few 
 tnd broken were the words that passed between them, yet in 
 those few words what volumes of the heart's grateful and 
 affectionate language were expressed ! 
 
THE PBAIEIE-BIRD. 413 
 
 The entrance of Baptiste recalled to the recollection of 
 Reginald the duties that still remained for him to perform, 
 while the wounds received by Besha in her defence pleaded 
 with the maiden for such remedies as she had within her 
 power. After briefly explaining to her lover the circum- 
 stances which had brought the horse-dealer and his still trem- 
 bling companion to her tent, she sought her stock of healing 
 ointments and salves ; while Reginald, although slightly 
 wounded, went out to arrange with Baptiste and Pierre for the 
 defence of their newly-acquired possession, and to ascertain the 
 loss which his party had sustained. This last was less than he 
 had feared it might prove ; and it was with heartfelt pleasure 
 that he shook by the hand young Wingenund, who had re- 
 covered from the stunning effects of the blow which he had 
 received in his gallant attack upon the breastwork. 
 
 (f Let my young brother go into the tent," said Reginald; 
 " rest will do him good, and the eyes of Olitipa will be glad to 
 see him." 
 
 As the youth turned away, Baptiste added, " Let not the 
 man nor the Crow woman escape; we may want them yet." 
 
 Wingenund replied by a sign of intelligence, and entered 
 the compartment of the tent where he found his sister exer- 
 cising her office of charity. 
 
 We will now leave Reginald Brandon and his party busily 
 employed in repairing the breach made in the breastwork, in 
 examining and strengthening all the defences of the post (which 
 they found much stronger than they had expected), and in 
 making all the requisite preparations for the attack which they 
 anticipated on the return of Mahe'ga and his Crow allies. The 
 booty, ammunition, and supplies found in the camp exceeded 
 their expectations, as in searching the Osage lodges they dis- 
 covered all the goods stolen by the latter from the Delawares. 
 The eyes of Baptiste and Pierre brightened at the sight of this 
 recovered treasure; those experienced hunters well knowing 
 that the Osage chief, when deprived of the means of offering 
 presents or bribes, would not long retain the friendship of 
 his treacherous allies. 
 
 We will now go back for a few hours, and see with what 
 success he met in the expedition which he undertook against 
 the camp of War-Eagle. 80 confident did he feel in its issue, 
 that he had prevailed upon two-thirds of the fighting men of 
 
414 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 the Crows to join his party, promising them abundance of 
 scalps and plunder, as well as revenge for the losses which 
 they had sustained at the hands of Reginald's band. Having 
 already carefully noted all the land-marks on the path by 
 which he meant to make his approach,, he followed it with 
 instinctive sagacity, and a few hours' rapid night-march along 
 the base of the hills brought him to the opening of the narrow 
 valley, at the upper extremity of which the enemy's camp 
 was posted. Here they slackened their speed, and advanced 
 in silence with noiseless step, Mahega stealing onward in 
 front, darting his quick glance from side to side, as if he 
 would penetrate the gloom, rendered yet deeper by the trees 
 and rocks, beneath which they wound their cautious way. It 
 was not long before he was enabled to distinguish the site of 
 the Delaware camp, by the ruddy glare cast by the watch- 
 fires on the surrounding foliage. The Osage stopped and 
 pointed out the welcome beacon to his followers not a word 
 was spoken every warrior there knew the preconcerted plan 
 of attack, and was aware that a careless step upon a dry stick 
 might discover and defeat it. Mahega carried a rifle, and the 
 discharge of it was to be immediately followed by a flight of 
 arrows from his party, after which they were to rush on the 
 surprised foe, with battle-axe and tomahawk. Onward moved 
 the dusky band ; and it seemed as if fate had given the enemy 
 into their power. Not a deer nor a mountain-cat was startled 
 from its lair to give warning of their approach; and at length 
 Mahega succeeded in creeping to the bushy summit of a hil- 
 lock, whence, at a distance of less than fifty yards, he com- 
 manded a view of the camp below. 
 
 " For once have the cunning and watchfulness of War- 
 Eagle failed him," said the triumphant Osage to himself, as 
 he loosened the thong of his war-club, and thrust forward the 
 barrel of his rifle. 
 
 One by one of his followers crept forward, until they lay in 
 line beside him, behind the crest of the hillock, over which 
 their eager eyes looked down with savage anticipation upon the 
 Delaware camp. The moon had entirely withdrawn her light, 
 and all the scene was wrapt in impenetrable gloom, save where 
 the camp-fires cast a red glare on the bark and branches of the 
 surrounding trees, and on the figures which lay around, enve- 
 loped in blanket or in bison-robe; no sound disturbed the deep 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 415 
 
 silence of the night, except the nibbling bite of the horses as 
 they cropped the cool grass of the valley below the camp. 
 For a minute Mahega contemplated, with fierce delight, the 
 helpless condition of his hated foes, then taking deliberate aim 
 at a blanketed form supported against the tree nearest to the 
 fires, he pulled the fatal trigger, and without waiting to see 
 the effect of his shot, he shouted his battle-cry, and sprang 
 forward with his war-club towards the camp. Scarcely had 
 the bullet left his rifle ere the Crows discharged their arrows, 
 each aiming at the figure that he could the most easily distin- 
 guish ; then they rushed forward to complete the work of des- 
 struction with knife and tomahawk. 
 
 Leaping into the camp, fifty of the savages were already in 
 the full glare of its fires, when a shrill whistle was heard, and 
 the simultaneous report of a dozen rifles echoed through moun- 
 tain, forest, and valley. So near were the marksmen, and so 
 true their aim, that not a bullet failed to carry a death or fatal 
 wound; and the surviving Crows now first ascertained that 
 the figures which they had been piercing were stuffed with 
 grass, and wrapped in blankets or robes, so as to resemble 
 sleeping warriors ! Great was their terror and dismay ; they 
 knew neither the number nor position of their concealed foe, 
 and the master-spirit who had led them, and to whose guidance 
 they trusted for their extrication, was nowhere to be seen. 
 Such had been the impetuous haste of the Osage to satisfy his 
 desire for vengeance, that in his rapid descent upon the enemy's 
 camp he had caught his foot in a tough and tangled ground- 
 brier, and had fallen headlong forwards. It happened that the 
 very spot where he fell was the post of one of the concealed 
 Delawares, who grappled with him before he could rise to 
 continue his course. 
 
 Though taken thus by surprise and at disadvantage, the 
 fierce Osage lost not for a moment his courage or self-posses- 
 sion ; seizing the upraised arm of his antagonist, he wrenched 
 the knife from his grasp, and, swift as thought, drove it into 
 the heart of his foe ; then tearing off the scalp, and suspending 
 it to his belt, he looked upon the scene of confusion and 
 slaughter below. A glance sufficed to show him that he had 
 fallen into the trap that he had prepared for others, and that a 
 continued contest with an enemy armed with rifles, and se- 
 curely hidden, must be attended with great and unavailing 
 
416 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 loss. His own person had not yet come within the light of the 
 fires, neither had the groans of the dying Delaware been heard 
 amid the yells of the Crow attack, and the succeeding report 
 of the guns; thus was the Osage enabled to retire unobserved 
 a score of paces into the wood, bearing with him the yet undis- 
 charged rifle of the Delaware whom he had slain ; then he ap- 
 plied his war- whistle * to his lips, and blew a loud and shrill 
 recal. 
 
 Glad were his faithful followers and the terrified Crows to 
 hear and obey the signal ; yet did they not leave the scene 
 without further loss, for ere they got behind the circle around 
 which the camp-fires shed their uncertain light, another volley 
 was fired after them by the enemy, and although none were 
 killed by this second discharge, many were so grievously 
 wounded that they were with difficulty borne off by their 
 companions. It was some relief to them in their hasty retreat 
 to find that they were not pursued. Mahega placed himself 
 in the rear; he even lingered many yards behind the rest, 
 crouching now and then behind tree or bush in hopes of being 
 able to slake his burning thirst for revenge but in vain; War- 
 Eagle was too sagacious to pursue by night, in an unknown 
 and broken country, an enemy who, although dismayed and 
 panic-struck, still out-numbered his band in the proportion of 
 three to one. 
 
 "Bloody-hand, the great warrior of the Osages, will not 
 come again soon to visit the Lenape camp," said War-Eagle, 
 in answer to Ethelston's congratulations, as they stood sur- 
 rounded by their victorious handful of men on the spot whence 
 they had just driven the enemy with so much slaughter. 
 " Let Atto count the dead," continued the chief, " and bring 
 in the wounded, if any are found." 
 
 " War-Eagle," said the missionary, who from his conceal- 
 ment had been an unwilling spectator of the late brief, but 
 sanguinary skirmish, " forbear to exercise here the cruel usages 
 of Indian war ; let the wounded be cared for, and the dead be 
 put to rest in peace below the earth." 
 
 " The ears of War-Eagle are open to the Black Father's 
 
 * Some of the Indian warriors when leading a war-part}* carry a shrill whistla, 
 wherewith they direct the movements of their followers. These whistles vary as 
 to th"ir form and ornament, according to the tribe to which the leader belongs. 
 Those which the author has seen in most frequent use were made from the bone of 
 the wild turkey's leg, and were fancifully adorned with stained porcupine quills. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 417 
 
 words," replied the chief sternly ; if any wounded are found, 
 they shall suffer no further hurt : but the scalps of the dead 
 shall hang on the medicine-pole of the Lenape village, that 
 the spirits of Tamenund and his fathers may know that 
 their children have taken vengeance on the forked-tongued 
 Washashee." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by a cry uttered by 
 Atto, who had found the body of the unhappy Delaware slain 
 by Mahega. The whole party hastened to the spot ; and 
 War-Eagle, without speaking a word, pointed to the reeking 
 skull whence the fierce Osage had torn the scalp. 
 
 Paul Muller, feeling that all reply would be ill-timed and 
 unavailing, turned away, and walked towards the feeding-place 
 of the horses, while the Dela wares scalped and threw into an 
 adjacent hollow the bodies of the Crows and Osages who had 
 fallen. Of the latter they counted two, and of the former ten, 
 besides a much greater number whom they knew to have been 
 borne off mortally wounded. 
 
 As the missionary strolled onward, accompanied by Ethel- 
 ston, a low moan caught his ear, and, stooping down, he 
 discerned an Indian coiled up in a position indicative of intense 
 agony under the branches of a juniper. They carried him 
 back to the camp-fire, and on examining him by its light, he 
 proved to be a young Crow warrior, shot through the body, 
 who had dragged himself with difficulty for some distance, 
 and had then fallen exhausted to the ground. Doubtless he 
 expected to be immediately scalped and despatched ; nor could 
 he for some time be induced to believe that those into whose 
 hands he had fallen were indeed endeavouring to alleviate his 
 sufferings. 
 
 War-Eagle, faithful to his promise, rendered every assistance 
 in his power to the worthy missionary while thus employed ; 
 but it might easily be seen, by the scornful curl of his lip, that 
 he looked upon this care of an enemy wounded in battle as an 
 absurd and effeminate practice. 
 
 Day broke, and the dispirited band of Crow and Osage 
 warriors returned from their fruitless expedition, only to find 
 a worse disaster at home. Great, indeed, was their dismay, 
 when they were met by a scout from their village, who informed 
 them that a party of white men had stormed the Osage camp 
 by night, and still retained possession of it, having destroyed 
 
 E 
 
418 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the greater proportion of those left to defend it. In his 
 description of the attack, the height, the strength, the daring and 
 impetuous courage of the young warrior who had led it were 
 painted in colours exaggerated by terror ; yet the Osage chief 
 had no difficulty in recognising the hated rival who had struck 
 and disgraced him, and who was now master of the fate of her 
 for whose sake he had toiled, and plotted, and suffered so- 
 much. 
 
 Stung to the quick hy these suggestions of wounded jealousy 
 and pride, he ground his teeth with fury that would not be 
 repressed, and he swore that before two suns had risen and 
 set, either he or his rival, or both, should see the light of day 
 no more. His position was now precarious in the extreme, 
 all his goods and ammunition having fallen into the enemy's 
 hands, excepting that which he and his few remaining fol- 
 lowers had about their persons. He knew that if he no longer 
 possessed the means of making presents, the Crows would 
 abandon, if not betray him at once, and he resolved to strike 
 some sudden and decisive blow before that thought should ob- 
 tain possession of their minds. 
 
 This resolve imparted again to his manner its usual fierce 
 and haughty grandeur ; and, although the Crows loved him 
 not, they could not help looking with a certain awe upon the 
 man who, amid the confusion and panic of the late disastrous 
 attack upon the Delaware camp, had borne away from the 
 victorious enemy the bloody trophy which now hung at his 
 belt, and who, although he had lost by a single blow his lodges, 
 his supplies, and the Great Medicine of the tent, preserved 
 unsubdued the commanding pride of his demeanour. 
 
 The success of the stratagem which he now meditated will 
 appear in due season ; meanwhile, we must return to the camp 
 of War-Eagle, who began his march at dawn of day, with the 
 view of rejoining Reginald and his band with the least possible 
 delay. 
 
 Although he did not anticipate any attempt at reprisals on 
 the part of the Crows, to whom he had just given so severe a 
 lesson, yet he was aware of Mahega's having escaped, and well 
 knew that he would leave untried no schemes for obtaining 
 revenge. 
 
 On this account the Delaware chief went forward to the 
 front, taking with hisa several of his warriors, whom he sent 
 
THE PRAIKIE-BIRD. 419 
 
 out from time to time to examine the ground, and leaving 
 Atto with Ethelston and Paul Miiller to bring up the rear. 
 The latter could not be prevailed upon to abandon the wounded 
 Crow, whom he had placed upon his own horse, which he led 
 by the bridle, while Ethelston supported the sufferer in the 
 saddle. 
 
 Ever since the occasion when Reginald Brandon had pre- 
 sented to Atto the bear-claw collar as a testimony to his 
 bravery, the Delaware had attached himself more and more 
 to the white men ; and although, with the instinctive sagacity 
 of his race, he foresaw that the best exertions of the two now 
 in his company would fail to effect a cure of the wounded 
 man, he willingly and good-humouredly assisted their chari- 
 table endeavours. 
 
 In this order they had marched for some hours, and the 
 leaders of the .band having attained the summit of a ridge, 
 already saw at no great distance the two remarkable hills before 
 mentioned as the favourite encampment of the Crows. En- 
 couraged by the sight, they descended the opposite slope with 
 increased speed, War-Eagle being most anxious to learn the 
 success of Reginald's detachment. The whole band had passed 
 over the summit of the ridge, excepting the small party who 
 escorted the wounded Crow, when the latter grew so faint 
 from the effects of internal bleeding that they were no longer 
 able to keep him in the saddle, and deposited him gently on 
 the grass. The poor fellow pointed to his parched lips, and 
 made an imploring sign for water. Paul Miiller, casting his 
 eyes around, saw at a small distance a broken ravine or fissure, 
 in which he hoped that some rain-water might be found, and 
 he desired Atto to hasten thither with all speed. 
 
 The Delaware obeyed, and had approached within a few 
 paces of its edge, when an arrow from an unseen enemy pierced 
 him through the breast; and Mahega, leaping from his con- 
 cealment, killed the brave fellow with his club, and attached 
 another Lenape scalp to his belt. He was followed by eight 
 or ten well-armed Crow warriors, who, passing him while he 
 stooped over his fallen enemy, hastened forward and sur- 
 rounded Paul Miiller, Ethelston, and the wounded man. Great 
 was their astonishment at recognising in the latter a highly 
 esteemed brave of their own tribe, and greater still at observing 
 that the two white men were so busily engaged in tending and 
 
 E E 2 
 
420 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 supporting him in his sufferings, as not to have noticed their 
 approach. 
 
 When Ethelston became aware of their presence, his first 
 impulse was to lay his hand upon a pistol in his helt ; but, 
 with the steady self-possession of true courage, he saw at a 
 glance that he should, by unavailing resistance, only cause the 
 certain death of himself and his peaceable companion ; so he 
 continued his attentions to the wounded man, and poured into 
 his mouth the last few drops of a cordial which he had reserved 
 in a leathern flask. 
 
 Fresh from the slaughter of the unfortunate Atto, Mahega 
 now came forward, and would have sacrificed the unresisting 
 missionary to his blind fury, had not one of the Crow warriors 
 caught his arm, and pointed in an attitude of remonstrance to 
 his wounded comrade. 
 
 The Osage perceived at once that the time was not pro- 
 pitious for his indiscriminate revenge, and contented himself 
 with explaining by signs to his allies that ere long the party 
 now out of sight behind the hill would reappear over its crest 
 in search of their missing companions. 
 
 This hint was not lost upon the Crows, who forthwith de- 
 prived Ethelston of his arms, and, tying him with a leather 
 thong to the missionary, hurried them along in an oblique 
 direction towards an adjoining thicket, while some of them 
 relieved each other in the care of the dying man. 
 
 War-Eagle was already far advanced in his descent of the 
 hill on the opposite side, when his progress was arrested by 
 shouts and cries from the rear. On looking round he per- 
 ceived that these proceeded from Monsieur Perrot, who w r as 
 waving his arms, and with other gesticulations, indicative of 
 the greatest excitement, calling upon the chief to return. 
 
 " Varicle, Varicle, come quick back ! " 
 
 Although the latter had little regard for the character of the 
 French valet, he saw that something alarming had occurred ; 
 and hastening to the spot, scarcely waited to hear his explana- 
 tion that " Monsieur Etelston, de Black Fader, and de vounded 
 Corbeau, were not to be seen," but pushed on at once to the 
 top of the hill, over which he had so lately passed. 
 
 Casting his anxious eyes around, he looked in vain for the 
 missing members of his party ; but he saw at a considerable 
 distance on the back trail the missionary's pony quietly crop- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 421 
 
 ping the prairie-grass. Having called one of his men to his 
 side, and given him a few brief instructions, he returned 
 speedily towards the scene of the late catastrophe, and, on ap- 
 proaching it, found the scalped and plundered body of Atto, 
 from which the Crows had carried off the arms, the belt, and 
 the bear-claw collar given to him by Reginald. Although 
 deeply grieved at the loss of the bravest of his followers, War- 
 Eagle was too much inured to scenes of strife and bloodshed 
 to give way to any emotion save the ardent desire for revenge ; 
 and he struck off alone upon the enemy's trail, some of his 
 party following him at a distance. 
 
 As he approached the thicket, his attention was caught by 
 a column of smoke ascending from a point near the centre of it ; 
 and he judged that the band must be very strong, either in 
 their position or in numbers, if they could have the audacity 
 thus to light a camp-fire, in defiance as it were of his pursuit. 
 Influenced by this consideration, he waited until his whole 
 party had come up, when he again moved forward towards the 
 wood, cautiously watching every bush and shrub, in moment- 
 ary expectation of seeing the enemy start from the covert. 
 
 These precautions seemed, however, altogether unnecessary; 
 for he reached unmolested the spot whence he had seen the 
 smoke ascend, and on his arrival found that the fire was con- 
 suming the last mortal remains of some human being, whose 
 bones were mingled with its dying embers. This he knew at 
 once to have been the wounded Crow who had expired in the 
 arms of his companions, and to whom they had paid in their 
 retreat this hasty funeral rite, to prevent his body from being 
 liable to any indignities in the event of a pursuit. The quiver 
 and tomahawk of the deceased warrior were suspended by a 
 branch over his funeral pyre, and War-Eagle turned from the 
 spot ip moody, silent meditation. He felt assured that the 
 retreating party were now too far advanced for him to overtake 
 them, unless he gave up the idea of joining Reginald ; and he 
 thought it by no means improbable that this attack had been 
 devised for the purpose of preventing that junction, so import- 
 ant to the safety of both parties ; wherefore he resolved to 
 effect it without delay, and afterwards to employ all possible 
 means for the recovery of the prisoners. 
 
 With this view he returned upon his steps ; and having 
 E E 3 
 
422 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 seen the last honours paid to the remains of the faithful Atto, 
 again proceeded in the direction of the Crow camp. 
 
 As his little band drew near upon the prairie, it was dis- 
 tinctly visible from both the fortified hills, and some fifty or 
 sixty horsemen galloped out from the higher of the two, with 
 the apparent intention of attacking him ; but the steady front 
 presented by the white men and Delawares deterred them 
 from approaching too near the glittering tubes levelled to receive 
 them, and they galloped and wheeled in rapid circles over the 
 prairie, taking care, however, to keep beyond rifle range. At 
 this junqture the cheering notes of a bugle rose on the air ; 
 and Reginald, who had descried his friends, now came down 
 with two men from his little garrison to meet them. The 
 Crows, seeing that further opposition on the open ground was 
 unavailing, retired with threats and yells to their camp ; and 
 a few minutes afterwards the parties under War-Eagle and 
 Reginald were reunited within the little fortress so hardly won 
 by the latter, who now learnt, with unspeakable regret, the 
 capture of Ethelston and Paul Miiller, and the death of the 
 brave warrior who had shared with him the perils of the first 
 skirmish with the Crows. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE NEGOTIATION SET ON FOOT BY REGINALD FOR THE RELEASE 
 OP HIS FRIENDS. BESHA BECOMES AN IMPORTANT PERSONAGE. 
 
 SCARCELY had War-Eagle entered within the breastwork by 
 the side of his friend, ere his eager and indefatigable spirit 
 prompted him to inspect the defences of the new camp, and to 
 guard every approach open to the attacks of their dangerous 
 neighbours. On this service Baptiste willingly agreed to 
 accompany the chief; and while they were thus employed, 
 Reginald undertook the painful task of communicating to 
 Prairie-bird the intelligence that her beloved instructor was, 
 with his friend Ethelston, a captive in the hands of the Crows. 
 Trials and sufferings of her own the maiden could bear with 
 fortitude ; but her feelings towards the missionary were those 
 of the fondest daughter towards a parent ; and when she 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 423 
 
 thought of the risk that he incurred of ill-usage or death at 
 the hands of his captors, she burst into tears, and exclaimed, 
 <c Oh, Reginald ! cannot he be rescued ere it be too late?" 
 
 At the sound of that voice, and the sight of those tears, 
 Reginald's heart would have prompted him to rush headlong 
 into the camp of the Upsarokas ; but he felt that he would 
 thereby only sacrifice his own life without effecting the object 
 in view ; and, moreover, he was by no means certain whether 
 Mahega and his party had conveyed their prisoner to the 
 central camp. 
 
 The doubt and anxiety of his mind were plainly visible on 
 his countenance, when a low voice whispered in his ear, " May 
 Wingenund speak to Netis ? " 
 
 " Surely, dear brother," said Reginald, laying his hand 
 kindly on the youth's shoulder, " when I remember that it 
 was Wingenund who guided me over the prairie to his sister's 
 tent, I were worse than ungrateful to reject his counsel now ! " 
 
 <l That young woman," he replied, pointing to the captive 
 bride seated in the corner of the tent, " is dear to the Upsaroka 
 chief; she is his youngest wife, and his heart is warm towards 
 her. Let the one-eyed stranger from the unknown tribes, who 
 speaks many tongues, go back to the Crow camp, and tell the 
 chief that if his prisoners are hurt, his bride shall be burnt 
 alive ; if they are set free, she shall return unhurt to his 
 lodge." 
 
 "It is a brave device, dear Wingenund, and shall be exe- 
 cuted without loss of time ; but can we trust the stranger ? " 
 
 " Methinks you may," said Prairie-bird, " for he received 
 his wound in defending me from those cruel men." 
 
 " True," replied Reginald ; " let my brother speak to him 
 in the Delaware tongue, and explain the message he is to 
 bear." 
 
 " It is well," answered the youth ; adding, with an arch 
 look, " and let Netis not send him away with empty hands. 
 There is cunning in the stranger's eye, he knows that Mahega 
 is poor ; and he will rather make friends with those who have 
 something to give." 
 
 "Be it so," said Reginald, laughing; and he forthwith 
 
 desired one of his men to select from a package containing 
 
 knives, powder, tobacco, and cloth, a quantity equal to the 
 
 usual Indian price for a horse. Wingenund, having waited 
 
 E 4 
 
424 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 in silence the return of the messenger, addressed the prisoner 
 as follows : 
 
 fl Has the stranger a name in his tribe ? " 
 
 " He is called Besha in the southern prairies." 
 
 " Besha dwells among the Crows. They have shed the 
 blood of white men and Delawares in battle; his scalp be- 
 longs to those who have taken him." 
 
 The horse-dealer bowed in silence, and the youth continued : 
 
 ' ' But the heart of the white chief is great ; he will not 
 take Besha's life, neither will he bind his limbs. Besha is free 
 to go where he likes." 
 
 The horse-dealer stared as if he did not quite believe his 
 ears; but Wingenund, without appearing to notice his sur- 
 prise, proceeded. 
 
 ff That is not all. Besha received a wound in defending 
 Olitipa from the Washashee. The white chief's hand is open ; 
 it is quick to reward good deeds, and to punish bad ones ; the 
 presents in that package, of knives and cloth, tobacco and 
 powder, are for Besha : he may return to the Upsaroka camp, 
 and his friends shall not say that he comes with empty hands.'* 
 
 The deep -set eye of the horse-dealer gleamed with pleasure 
 as he fixed it on the welcome bale, and heard these words. 
 His first movement was to rise from the ground, and place the 
 right hands of Reginald and of Wingenund on his heart in 
 token of gratitude ; then turning towards the latter, he in 
 quired, " Is there a dark cloud over the Upsaroka bride ? Will 
 the white chief kill her, or make her a slave ? " 
 
 " Let Besha open his ears," replied the youth, earnestly 
 " and let not the wind blow away good counsel. The Wash- 
 ashee and the Upsaroka have taken captive two white men from 
 this band ; these have killed no red man ; they have done no- 
 harm. If any hurt be done to them, or their lives be taken, 
 the Upsaroka bride shall be burnt before the next setting sun ; 
 but if they are sent back free and unhurt, she shall return ta 
 her husband the same hour, and a present four times as great 
 as this shall be given to Besha." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the youth placed the package in the 
 horse-dealer's hands, and made him a sign to go. Before 
 obeying this hint, the latter whispered a few words to Bending- 
 willow, in which he comforted her with the assurance that he 
 would labour incessantly for her release ; after which he 
 
THE PRAIBIE-B1RD. 425 
 
 departed towards the Crow camp, with a gait somewhat 
 tottering and uncertain, from the joint effect of the weight of 
 his burthen and the wound that he had so lately received. 
 
 We will now leave Reginald engaged in the sad yet dear 
 employment of comforting his betrothed, and striving, by a 
 thousand suggestions, to relieve her anxiety respecting the fate 
 of her beloved instructor, and her lover's friend. Neither 
 will we follow War-Eagle and Baptiste in securing the im- 
 portant post which they had so unexpectedly won ; but we 
 will return to the Crow camp, where Mahega had newly 
 arrived with his prisoners, and where every thing was in a 
 state of alarm and confusion. 
 
 Great had been the panic consequent on the double defeat 
 which they had sustained ; nor had its effects been entirely 
 removed by the successful blow last struck by Mahega, and 
 the capture of the two white men. The Osage chief had lost 
 all his warriors, with the exception of four, his baggage and 
 ammunition were in the hands of the enemy, and he well 
 knew that his only remaining chance of retaining the support 
 of his allies, was in vigorously pursuing the success which he 
 had so opportunely gained. The Crow chief, on the other 
 hand, disheartened by the loss and disgrace which had befallen 
 his tribe, and vexed beyond measure at the detention of his 
 son's favourite wife, justly attributed both these misfortunes 
 to an alliance which had brought no increase either to his 
 power or his wealth. 
 
 Such was the state of parties when the council of the 
 Upsarokas met to decide upon the fate of their prisoners. The 
 debate being carried on in their own language, Mahega was 
 unable to gather the sentiments of the several speakers, and he 
 declined to sit in the circle, but stood leaning against the outer 
 post of the council lodge, his quick eye bent upon the counte- 
 nance of each successive speaker, as if he would read there the 
 purport of his harangue. One fierce and hot-headed warrior 
 proposed that the prisoners should be instantly put to death, 
 and a sudden attack be made with their whole force on the 
 opposite hill, which would be easily recovered, and an abun- 
 dance of plunder acquired. An older Indian next addressed 
 the meeting in a persuasive tone, that suited well the sharp 
 and cunning expression of his countenance. He argued, that 
 the Crows had derived no advantage, but rather loss and mis- 
 
426 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 fortune, from their alliance with Mahega, and that it was their 
 interest to make friends with the newly arrived band, who were 
 more rich and powerful ; wherefore he advised that the lives 
 of the prisoners should for the present be spared. 
 
 The debate was at its height, and the assembly apparently 
 divided in opinion, when Besha entered the council-lodge, and 
 sat down in the outer circle near to the entrance. All eyes 
 were turned to him, as the report of his capture had already 
 spread through the village, and his wasted appearance, as well 
 as the bandages over his neck and arm, showed that he had 
 been wounded in the late affray. After a brief silence, the 
 chief desired that he would relate what had occurred, a com- 
 mand which the horse-dealer obeyed without hesitation. 
 
 Although not gifted with any orational powers, he was a 
 shrewd fellow, thoroughly versed in all the wiles of Indian 
 diplomacy, and well aware, as a resident guest among the 
 Crows, that his best chance of a favourable hearing was to 
 frame his speech according to their interests, which happened 
 in the present instance to tally with his own. In relating the 
 events which had occurred in the opposite camp, he exaggerated 
 the strength and wealth of the enemy, dwelling at large upon 
 the clemency shown to himself, and upon the desire evinced 
 for peace ; stating, in conclusion, that he was the bearer of a 
 specific message, or proposal, to the great chief. At this 
 announcement there was a general murmur of curiosity, and 
 Mahega bit his lip with vexation at his inability to understand 
 what was going on. 
 
 At a signal from the chief, Besha proceeded to inform the 
 council, that Bending-willow, the bride of their favourite and 
 absent war-leader, was now a captive ; and he recounted faith- 
 fully the circumstances under which she had visited the \vhite 
 tent with him,, and the terrible threats held out respecting her 
 in the event of any injury being done to the white prisoners. 
 The effect of this announcement was so great, that it was 
 visible even to Mahega; nor was he surprised when Besha 
 explained to him, by order of the chief, that the council had 
 decided upon sparing the lives of the white men, at least until 
 the return of the war-leader and his band of braves, now ab- 
 sent on a foray into the country of the Black-feet. 
 
 Agreeably to this decision, Paul Miiller and Ethelston were 
 confined in a lodge adjoining that of the chief, under a Crow 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 427 
 
 guard, to whom strict orders were given to prevent their es- 
 cape, and also to protect them against any attempt on the part 
 of Mahega or his followers. Besha was allowed to see them, 
 and they learnt from him that their friends had been completely 
 successful, and had recaptured the Great Medicine of the 
 tent, as well as the ammunition and baggage. He further 
 informed them, that he would do all in his power to effect 
 their release ; adding a significant hint that he should not be 
 unwilling to receive tangible proofs of their gratitude. 
 
 The captives were, upon the whole, much comforted by 
 this interview; and on his departure, Ethelston said, address- 
 ing his companion, ' ' Reverend father, we have cause to be 
 grateful for the intelligence communicated to us by this man, 
 inasmuch as we expected no less than to be put to an imme- 
 diate and perhaps a cruel death. Yet, methinks, for a mes- 
 senger of good tidings, he has the most uncomely and villanous 
 countenance that ever I beheld." 
 
 " I will not say that his face recommends him," said Paul 
 Miiller, smiling ; " albeit the expression thereof may have 
 been altered for the worse by the loss of an eye. I have seen 
 him more than once before among the tribes bordering upon 
 the Mexican frontier, and if my memory serves me, he bore 
 the reputation of being a crafty and designing knave in his 
 vocation ; but I never heard him charged with cruelty or thirst 
 of blood." 
 
 " What, then, do you think are the motives for the friendly 
 exertions which he professes to make in our behalf ? " 
 
 " We will hope that they are partly owing to a grateful 
 sense of the treatment he has experienced at the hands of our 
 friend Reginald, and partly from the expectation of presents 
 and rewards, which the Osage is no longer in a condition to 
 offer. Meanwhile, we must solace ourselves in our captivity with 
 the reflection, that my beloved pupil is safe under the charge 
 of friends upon whose fidelity and devotion we can fully rely." 
 
 Leaving the captives to comfort each other with these and 
 other similar suggestions, we will return to Reginald Brandon, 
 who forgot not, even in the enjoyment of Prairie-bird's society, 
 to occupy himself constantly in* devising plans for their libe- 
 ration. In these he was warmly seconded by War-Eagle and 
 Baptiste ; but, after carefully reconnoitring the Crow camp, 
 they agreed that it was too strong to be carried by open attack 
 
428 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 by their small party, especially as they had learnt from Besha 
 lhat the husband of Bending- willow, the son of the great 
 chief, had just returned with his band, consisting of fifty 
 chosen warriors,, from a successful foray into the Black-foot 
 country. 
 
 The wily horse-dealer was allowed, in his mixed capacity of 
 interpreter and envoy, to pass from camp to camp ; and, as 
 both parties were desirous of securing his co-operation, presents 
 were liberally heaped upon him ; and his grey eye twinkled, as 
 he cast it upon the increasing pile of goods at the back of his 
 lodge. " There will soon be enough to exchange for a hun- 
 dred beaver-skins/' said he to himself; " then Besha will look 
 for some fine horses, and go towards the east." 
 
 While he was thus congratulating himself on his prospects 
 of future wealth, a tall figure darkened the entrance of his 
 lodge, and the young war-chief stood before him. " White- 
 bull* would speak with Besha," said the former in a haughty 
 tone, adjusting with dignity the cream-coloured robe from 
 which he took his designation. 
 
 f: Let the young chief be seated," replied the horse-dealer, 
 making at the same time a signal to one of his lads to offer 
 food and a pipe to his guest. 
 
 White-Bull's first impulse was to refuse this hospitality, 
 but he checked it ; and having tasted a morsel, and emitted two 
 voluminous puffs of smoke from the pipe, he turned to the 
 horse-dealer, and said in a stern deep tone, " Bending-willow 
 is a prisoner in the white tent ! Besha took her there, he 
 must bring her back, for the heart of White-bull is dark 
 there is no light or pleasure without her." 
 
 " The will of the bride was strong," he replied ; ( ' she 
 would take no counsel from Besha ; if he did not go with her 
 she would go alone to consult the Medicine of the tent ; Besha 
 went with her that none might do her harm." 
 
 " The ears of White-bull are not to be tickled by the songs 
 of birds," said the young chief, fiercely. <e Besha took her to 
 the white men's camp, and he must bring her back before two 
 suns have set, or his heart shall be cut out from his body." 
 
 " White-bull knows that there are two white prisoners 
 
 * It was at one time currently rumoured among the trappers of the Rocky 
 Mountains, that a Crow warrior had found and killed a white bison-bull, the skin 
 of which he wore as a robe. The story, whether true or false, is adopted here, and 
 assigned to the husband of " Bending-vallow." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 429 
 
 here ; let him give them to Besha, and he will bring back 
 Ben ding- willow before the sun is in the west." 
 
 " The white prisoners belong to the war-council," said the 
 young man sullenly. " White-bull cares not whether they 
 live or die ; but he wants his bride, whom the fool Besha led 
 away to a place where she was caught like a beaver in a trap ; 
 if he does not bring her back within two sunsets, the blade of 
 this knife shall be red. White-bull has spoken, and his words 
 are not wind ! " So saying, the violent youth passed with 
 angry strides from the horse-dealer's lodge. 
 
 Besha now found himself in an awkward predicament, in 
 endeavouring to extricate himself from which his first step 
 was to consult the young chief's father, hoping that the latter 
 would give his consent at once to release the prisoners for the 
 recovery of the favourite bride. But the old man would not 
 agree to the proposal, giving as his reason, that the council 
 had resolved either to take the lives of the prisoners, or to 
 make the enemy pay many horses and much goods for their 
 ransom. "Besha has a tongue," continued the crafty old 
 man ; " he can speak with the white men ; he can tell them 
 that if the bride is given up, their friends shall be returned ; 
 they will believe him, and all will be well." 
 
 Besha, though not particularly scrupulous in his morality, 
 was startled at first by this proposal of treacherous and deli- 
 berate falsehood towards one who had spared his life and had 
 given him his liberty, besides loading him with presents ; but 
 his conscience being of an extremely elastic texture, he soon 
 reconciled himself to the idea by the reflection that it was his 
 best, if not his only chance of saving his life from the fury of 
 the incensed White-bull. He made no reply to the old chief; 
 but, as he went away, the two rogues exchanged a look which 
 satisfied them that they understood each other. 
 
 The horse-dealer proceeded without delay to the lodge where 
 Paul Miiller and Ethelston were confined, into which he was 
 admitted by their guards. Having explained to the missionary 
 that he was about to visit the white men's camp for the purpose 
 of liberating him and his companion by the recovery of the cap- 
 tive bride, he desired to be furnished with a sign by which 
 they would be induced to give her up without hesitation ; for 
 Besha, in his rambles on the Mexican frontier, had frequently 
 met with the Spanish traders, and although he could not read 
 
430 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 letters himself, he kne\v how they were used for the inter- 
 change of communication at a distance. 
 
 Before giving any reply, Paul Miiller explained the state of 
 affairs to his companion, and asked his counsel. 
 
 " Methinks we should trust the fellow," said Ethelston, 
 ff for he has hitherto hefriended us: but let us not write any 
 thing that can endanger the safety of Prairie-bird." 
 
 " I agree with you, my son," he replied, <f and will write 
 accordingly." 
 
 So Baying, he took a small pocket-book from his breast, and 
 wrote with a pencil upon a leaf of it the following words : 
 
 " Ethelston and Paul Miiller send their affectionate greet- 
 ing. The bearer says that he can liberate them if the captive 
 bride is restored. Reginald Brandon will consult with those 
 about him, and do what he thinks best. Let the safety of 
 Prairie-bird, and of those who are now her protectors, be the 
 first object. Glad and thankful should we be to embrace our 
 dear friends again ; but we are well and cheerful here : in joy 
 and in sorrow, in life and in death, we are in the hands of 
 One who rules all for the best. Farewell." 
 
 Having received the paper, Besha lost no time in setting off 
 to the opposite camp. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 DAVID MUIR AND HIS DAUGHTER PAT A VISIT TO COLONEL BRAN- 
 DON. THE MERCHANT BECOMES AMBITIOUS ; HE ENTERTAINS 
 
 PROJECTS FOR JESSIE'S FUTURE WELFARE, WHICH DO NOT 
 COINCIDE WITH THAT YOUNG LADY'S WISHES. 
 
 WHILE the events related in the preceding chapters were 
 passing in the great Western wilderness, the days of early 
 summer glided smoothly on at Mooshanne, uninterrupted by 
 any incident worthy of record. Aunt Mary continued her 
 round of busy occupation with her usual indefatigable activity. 
 Never could there occur in the neighbourhood a case of sick- 
 ness or of sorrow to which she did not hasten to administer 
 the needful consolation ; and in the town of Marietta her 
 benevolent exertions were assisted by Jessie Muir, whose 
 
THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 431 
 
 attendance in her father's store enabled her to gather all the 
 current news from the numerous customers who frequented it. 
 
 " The merchant" (for so David Muir was designated by all 
 who did not wish to affront him) grew daily in importance 
 and dignity. His speculations in trade had been, for the most 
 part, successful ; and two or three of his suggestions for the 
 improvement of the town had been adopted. A sharp attack 
 of fever had subdued for a season the domineering spirit of 
 Dame Christie ; and David found himself not only respected 
 by the neighbours, but even enjoyed the sweet though brief 
 delusion, that he was master in his own house. 
 
 Neither his pride nor his increasing wealth interrupted, 
 however, his close attention to business ; and Colonel Brandon, 
 finding that the affairs entrusted to him were managed with 
 great punctuality and skill, treated him with corresponding 
 confidence. 
 
 On a fine summer's morning, about a month after Ethel- 
 ston's departure for the Far-west, the merchant's four- 
 wheeled chaise stood before his door, drawn, not by sorry 
 pony, but by a strong horse, the condition and appearance of 
 which betokened the thriving circumstances of the owner. 
 Jessie Muir, wearing a very becoming bonnet, and a shawl 
 newly arrived from England, had just cast a passing look into 
 the oval mirror in the back-parlour, and was busily employed 
 in giving directions respecting the contents of a parcel about 
 to be placed in the seat of the chaise, while Henry Gregson 
 was listening with ill-dissembled impatience to the repeated 
 cautions given to him by David as to his conduct during the 
 brief absence which he meditated. 
 
 ' ' Noo, Hairy," (for thus was the name of Harry pro- 
 nounced in David's north-country dialect,) " ye maun be vera 
 carefu' o' the store, and see that the lads attend weel to the 
 folk wha come to buy, and that Jane stays aye amang the caps 
 an' shawls and printed cottons, instead of keekin out o' the 
 window at a wheen idle ne'er-do-weels in the street ; and as 
 for the last lot of Bohea, ye can truly say it's the finest that 
 ever cam' to Marietta : I'm thinkin' the minister's wife will 
 be fain to buy a pun' or twa. And, Hairy, mind that ye . . . 
 but the deil's in the lad ! what are ye glow'ring at, over my 
 shoulder, as if ye se'ed a wraith, an* no listening to what 
 I'm savin'?" 
 
432 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Here the merchant turned round, and his eye happening to 
 fall upon a parcel of fire-irons so carelessly placed on an upper 
 shelf, that they threatened the destruction of a pile of crockery 
 below, he ordered the shop-boy to secure the offending tongs, 
 and. turning to Harry, continued in a more complacent tone, 
 " It's nae wonder, lad, that ye could na tak' your een off they 
 irons ; they had like to make an awfu' smash amaing the cups 
 and saucers ; I'm glad to see that ye 're so canny and carefu' 
 o' the goods." 
 
 Harry bit his lips, and made no reply, while the merchant, 
 who had already seen Jessie take her seat in the chaise, was 
 preparing to follow, when he turned to the young man, and 
 said in a low voice, ec Ye '11 not forget that the mistress will 
 need her gruel at midday ? " 
 
 tf I will take care that it is not forgotten, and I suppose, 
 sir, the glass of French brandy is to be put into it ? " 
 
 " Glass o' French brandy, ya daft chiel," said the merchant, 
 forgetting for a moment the prudential whisper ; then resum- 
 ing it, he added, " Wha talks o' glasses o' French brandy ? 
 Ye ken tho' that the mistress has no gotten her strength yet, 
 and she said she would like just four spoonfu's o' brandy in 
 the gruel to gie't a taste and keep the cauld out o' her wame. 
 Ye ken the mistress' ain spoon in the tea-cup-board ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, I know it well," replied Harry, with demure 
 gravity, adding, half- aloud, as his principal drove from the 
 door, <c and a precious gravy-spoon it is ; before it is four 
 times filled and emptied it will make the largest wine-glass in 
 the store run over the brim, and the old lady's tongue go like 
 a mill-wheel. Never mind, for Jessie's sake, I'll brew the 
 gruel as stiff as my father's grog, and bear Dame Christie's 
 scolds without complaint." 
 
 "He's a canny, douce lad, yon Hairy," said the merchant 
 to his daughter, as they jolted leisurely along the uneven, but 
 picturesque road that led from Marietta to Mooshanne, " and 
 does na' care to rin about the toon like ither idle gillies, but 
 seems aye content to min' the store ; did ye see, Jessie, how 
 he caught wi' ae blink o' his ee the aims that were about to 
 fa' amongst my best Wedgewood ? " 
 
 Had the merchant not been occupied as he put this ques- 
 tion, in guiding the wheels between sundry deep ruts and holes 
 in the road, he could not have failed to observe the heightened 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 433 
 
 colour that it brought into Jessie's countenance ; for the maiden 
 was conscious that at the moment referred to, Harry's gaze 
 had been fixed, not upon the fire-irons or the Wedgewood, 
 but upon her own comely self. 
 
 It is one of the peculiar properties and triumphs of love, 
 that, not content with securing its own position in the human- 
 heart, it delights in unsettling and metamorphosing the tenants 
 by which it was previously occupied. Under its wayward 
 sway boldness becomes timidity, and fierceness is transformed' 
 into gentleness, while bashfulness is rendered bold, and sim- 
 plicity has recourse to the devices of cunning. 
 
 Thus Jessie Muir, who was naturally of a frank open dis- 
 position, but who had a secret presentiment that her father 
 would reject the suit of her lover if it were now to be de- 
 clared, acquiesced demurely in his observation respecting the- 
 attention shown by Harry Gregson to the business of the 
 store. 
 
 "Weel, a-weel," continued the merchant, "he's a gude 
 lad, and no ill-faured neither ; I'm thinkin', Jessie, that he 
 and Jean will maybe fancy each other ; they 're aye thegither 
 i' the store, an' the bit lassie might gae further and fare waur 
 than by takin' up wi' Hairy." 
 
 This speech was too much for Jessie's equanimity ; the 
 coolness with which her father spoke of his servant-maid 
 " takin' up " with her lover, stung her to the quick, and she 
 replied tartly. " Father, I wish you would mind your driving 
 among these noles and stumps, instead of talking about Jean 
 and her idle nonsense. Indeed, father, that last jolt nearly 
 threw me out of the chaise." 
 
 "Weel, Jessie, ye need na mak' such a pother about a. 
 stump mair or less atween Marietta and Mooshanne ; and 
 though I'll no say that my drivin' is like that of Jehu, the 
 son of Jehoshaphat, ye need na fear that I'll coup the braw 
 new chaise for a' that." 
 
 Jessie was well pleased to have turned her father's thoughts 
 into another channel ; and being a little ashamed of the mo- 
 mentary irritation to which she had given way, she now 
 exerted herself to please and amuse him, in which she suc- 
 ceeded so well that they reached Mooshanne in cheerful mood, 
 and with wheels uninjured by hole or stump. 
 
434 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Colonel Brandon, seeing the merchant drive up to the door 
 just as he, with Lucy and Aunt Mary, were ahout to sit down 
 to dinner, went himself to the door, and, with the frank hos- 
 pitality of his nature, invited him and his daughter to share 
 their family meal. This invitation was no small gratification 
 to the pride of David Muir, who had on former visits to Moo- 
 shanne regaled himself with Monsieur Perrot in the pantry. 
 The boxes and parcels having been safely deposited, and the 
 chaise sent round to the stable, Lucy aided Jessie to uncloak 
 and unbonnet, and in a few minutes the party, thus increased, 
 found themselves assembled at the Colonel's table. 
 
 " My worthy friend," said the latter, addressing his guest, 
 f( you seem to have brought an unusual variety of packages to- 
 day ; I suppose the greater part of them are for Lucy's benefit 
 rather than for mine ? " 
 
 " Maybe Jessie has brought a few things fresh frae Phila- 
 delphy for Miss Lucy to look at," replied David ; " but the 
 maist part o' what I hae wi' me the day, came late yestreen, 
 by Rob Mitchell's batteau from St. Louis. There's a wheen 
 letters and parcels frae Messieurs Steiner and Roche, which 
 will, nae doubt, explain the settlement o' the matter anent your 
 shares in the fur trade." 
 
 " Are there not any other letters from Saint Louis ? " 
 inquired Lucy, colouring slightly. 
 
 " There's^ nane, my bonny young leddy," replied David, 
 "excepting twa, ane frae auld Miller, to acknowledge the 
 receipt o' the last ten barrels o' saut pork that I sent him, and 
 anither frae Reuben Stiggs, wha keeps the great outfitting store 
 for trappers, to order an early freight o' blankets, bibles, reli- 
 gious tracts, scalp-knifes, and whisky, for the Indian trade." 
 
 In spite of her disappointment, Lucy could not forbear 
 smiling at the gravity with which the merchant enumerated 
 this strange mixture of goods ordered for a warehouse, to 
 which the missionary and the trapper both resorted for 
 their respective supplies. 
 
 The dinner passed agreeably enough ; and Jessie Muir 
 having soon recovered from the diffident shyness by which 
 she had been at first overcome, amused Lucy and Aunt 
 Mary by her quiet, but shrewd, observations on persons and 
 things in Marietta; while the merchant enjoyed, with evi- 
 dent satisfaction, several glasses from a certain bottle of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIBP. 435 
 
 madeira, which he knew to have been for some years de- 
 posited in his own warehouse. 
 
 As soon as dinner was over, the ladies retired to Lucy's 
 boudoir, where she examined the contents of the packages 
 which Jessie had brought for her inspection, while Colonel 
 Brandon looked over the letters and papers from St. Louis. 
 These proved to be of considerable importance, as they an- 
 nounced that all the points in dispute with the other fur 
 company had been satisfactorily arranged, and that his own 
 shares, as well as those in which Ethelston's property was 
 chiefly invested, had risen greatly in value. During the 
 perusal of this correspondence the Colonel spoke from time 
 to time familiarly and unreservedly with his companion. 
 He had learnt from Lucy the attachment that existed be- 
 tween Henry Gregson and the merchant's daughter, and 
 had formed an internal resolution to contribute to its suc- 
 cessful issue by advancing to the young man a sum suffi- 
 cient to enable him either to enter into partnership with 
 the merchant, or to commence business on his own account ; 
 but it was not his intention to develope this scheme until 
 he had spoken with the elder Gregson; wherefore, he con- 
 tented himself for the present with sounding the merchant 
 in vague and general terms respecting the disposal of his 
 daughter's hand. 
 
 " My good friend," said the Colonel, " now that we have 
 despatched our business, it occurs to me that I ought to 
 remind you of a circumstance which may not yet have en- 
 tered your thoughts, namely, that your daughter Jessie is 
 grown up to be a very pretty, sensible, and discreet young 
 woman, and that having no son of your own, you ought 
 to seek for her a worthy husband, who might hereafter aid 
 her ki comforting the declining years of Dame Christie 
 and yourself." 
 
 During this address the merchant fidgeted on his chair, 
 and betrayed other evident symptoms of uneasiness ; but he 
 made no reply, and the Colonel continued : " I think I 
 know of a young man who has long entertained an attach- 
 ment for her ; and, if I am not mistaken, Miss Jessie would 
 be more likely to smile than to frown upon his suit. Feel- 
 ing myself not a little interested in his future prospects, I 
 should, if Mrs. Muir and yourself approve the match, will- 
 
 F F 2 
 
436 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ingly contribute, as far as lies in my power, to their com- 
 fortable settlement." 
 
 " Really, Colonel Brandon, ye're vera kind, I can no' fin* 
 words to thank ye," stammered David, who seemed to have 
 lost his self-possession ; and before he could recover it so 
 far as to make any distinct reply, Lucy came into the room ; 
 and taking the Colonel's arm, looked up affectionately into 
 his face, saying, " Dear father, you have given enough time 
 now to business ; come into my room and hear one of Jessie's 
 Scotch songs. I have just been listening to one which was 
 written, as she tells me, by Robert Burns ; it is so simple and 
 so beautiful, she has promised to sing it over again for you." 
 
 The Colonel smiled, and followed his daughter, saying to the 
 merchant as they left the room, " We will speak further on 
 that subject the next time that we meet." 
 
 As soon as the little party was assembled in the boudoir, 
 Colonel Brandon entreated Jessie Muir to fulfil her promise of 
 singing again the song which had given so much pleasure to 
 his daughter. Blushing slightly, Jessie complied, and sung, 
 in a voice of much natural sweetness, and without accompani- 
 ment : 
 
 " Oh ! wert thou in the cauld, cauld blast, 
 
 On yonder lea, on yonder lea ; 
 My plaidie to the angry airt,* 
 
 I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee. 
 Or did misfortune's bitter storms 
 
 Around thee blaw, around thee blaw ; 
 Thy bield*; should be my bosom, 
 
 To share it a', to share it a'. 
 
 " Or were I in the wildest waste, 
 
 Sae black an' bare, sae black and bare ; 
 The desert were a paradise, 
 
 If thou wert there, if thou wert there : 
 Or were I monarch of the globe, 
 
 Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign ; 
 The brightest jewel in my crown 
 
 Should be my queen, should be my queen." 
 
 The Colonel having bestowed not undeserved praise upon the 
 taste and feeling with which Jessie had sung her simple me- 
 lody, added, " Yet I do not remember these words among the 
 songs of the Ayrshire bard. Lucy, you have often read to me 
 from the volume of his poems which came from England ; do 
 you recollect having seen this song amongst them ? " 
 
 * " Angry airt," the quarter whence the angry wind was blowing. 
 t Shelter. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 437 
 
 " Indeed I do not," replied Lucy ; " yet it is so full of 
 his peculiar force of expression and feeling, that it is difficult 
 to believe it to have been written by any one else." 
 
 " I have been told," said Jessie, " that this song was found 
 among his papers after his death. This may be the reason 
 why you have not seen it in your volume." 
 
 The conversation having once turned upon the subject of the 
 writings of Ayrshire's immortal bard, whose fame was then 
 spreading far and wide over the habitable globe, it dwelt for some 
 time upon the attractive theme ; and the tall pines were already 
 beginning to cast their lengthened shadows over the lawn, ere 
 the merchant remembered that Dame Christie might be 
 fc wearyin'" for his return, and perhaps scold him for expos- 
 ing himself and his daughter to the perils of the Mooshanne 
 stump-studded track in the dusk of the evening. The chaise 
 having been ordered to the door, David Muir put on his hat 
 and cloak, while Jessie donned her bonnet and shawl ; and a 
 few minutes saw them jogging steadily away on their return to 
 Marietta. 
 
 For some time, neither broke the silence of the deep forest 
 through which they were driving, for each had their own 
 subject for meditation. Jessie, whose spirit was softened by 
 the songs of her father-land, and had been touched by the 
 gentle kindness of Lucy's manner towards her, looked steadily 
 towards the west ; and while she thought that she was 
 admiring the gigantic hemlock pines, whose huge limbs now 
 came out in bold relief from the ruddy saffron sky beyond, 
 her musings blended in sweet, but vague, confusion the banks 
 of Allan, Doon, and Ayr, with those of the river beside her, 
 and pictured the " Jamies," "Willies," and other " braw, 
 braw lads" of Scottish minstrelsy, in the form of no less a per- 
 sonage than Harry Gregson. 
 
 She was roused from her reverie by the voice of her father, 
 whose meditations had taken quite a different direction, as 
 will be seen by the conversation that ensued between them. 
 
 " Jessie, it's a gae bonnie house, yon Mooshanne, an' the 
 mailen's* the best in th' haill territory." 
 
 " Indeed, father, it is a very pretty house, and most kind 
 are those who live in it." 
 
 * Farm-buildings. 
 
 F v 5 
 
438 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " Wad ye no' like to live in it yoursel, Jessie ? " 
 
 ec To say truth, father, I would rather live in a smaller 
 house that I might call my own." 
 
 e{ But suppose ye might ca' yon fine house your own, what 
 wad ye say then, lassie ? " This inquiry was enforced with a 
 significant poke from the merchant's elbow. 
 
 Jessie looked up in her father's face, and seeing that it 
 was unusually grave, she replied, " Father, I do not under- 
 stand what you are aiming at. I am very happy in our 
 house at Marietta, and wish for none better." 
 
 " Ye're a fule," said the merchant, angrily. " I tell ye, 
 Jessie, ye're no better than a fule ; and when fortun' hands 
 oot her han' to ye, yell no' gang half-way to tak' it. Hae ye 
 no' seen how oft Maister Reginald comes to our store, and 
 hangs aboot it like a tod round a hen-roost ?" 
 
 " Indeed, father, I have made no such remark ; and if 
 Master Reginald did often come to our store, it was for pow- 
 der, or a knife, or some trifle for Miss Lucy, and not for any 
 other cause." 
 
 " Hoot awa' wi' your pouther and knives, ye blind hizzie," 
 said the merchant ; <c it was to see and speak wi' yoursel', and 
 no' for any other cause." 
 
 " Father, I am sure you are mistaken ; Master Reginald 
 would never so far forget the difference in our rank and 
 condition, and I should be very sorry if he did." 
 
 " What do ye mean, lass, about difference o' rank and 
 condeetion ? Are the Muirs no' as weel-born as ony lord or 
 duke in the auld kintra ? Do ye no' ken that my mother's 
 father's sister was married to Muir of Drumliwhappit, an* 
 that he was near cousin to the Laird o' Blagowrie,, wha 
 married the sister o' the Earl o' Glencairn ? Rank and con- 
 deetion, indeed ! as I tauld ye, just now, ye're neither mair 
 nor less than a fule, Jessie. Why, the Colonel spak' wi' me 
 anent the matter this vera day, an' said that he'd do what lay 
 in his power to mak a' smooth an' comfortable." 
 
 Jessie Muir was now, indeed, surprised ; for she had 
 hitherto imagined that the idea of Reginald Brandon having 
 taken a fancy to her, was one of those crotchets which the 
 merchant sometimes took up, and which he would then main- 
 tain with all the pertinacious obstinacy of his character ; but 
 she knew him to be incapable of a direct untruth, and was 
 
THE PBA1RIE-B1RJ). 
 
 therefore overwhelmed with astonishment at the communi- 
 cation last made to her. 
 
 We should not faithfully portray Jessie's character, were w* 
 to say that she experienced no secret gratification when she 
 learnt that her hand was sought by one possessed of so many 
 advantages of person and fortune ; but we should do her 
 injustice were we not to add, that the sensation endured only 
 for a moment ; and then, her heart reverting to Henry Greg- 
 son, she thought only of the increased obstacles which would 
 now interfere with their attachment, and she burst into tears. 
 
 " Dinna greet, lassie, dinna greet," * said the merchant, 
 surprised and somewhat softened by this unexpected emotion, 
 and he muttered to himself, " There's no kenning the twists 
 and krankums o' a woman's mind ! I tell her that she's 
 courted by a weel-faured young man, wi' the best prospects in 
 the haill territory, and she taks on to greet like a skelpit 
 wean." f 
 
 After various ineffectual attempts to draw from her any 
 explanation of the cause of her grief, he ceased to interrogate 
 her, wisely resolving to consult Dame Christie on the subject, 
 and they drove on in silence until they reached their home in 
 Marietta. 
 
 As they entered the house they were met by Harry Greg- 
 son, who led the way into the parlour, where he placed in the 
 merchant's hand a paper which had arrived during his absence, 
 and which proved to be an extensive order for articles to be 
 shipped for St. Louis on the following day. 
 
 Whilst David Muir ran his eye over the list, calculating 
 the amount of profit which he might expect to realise from 
 the whole, young Gregson, observing the tears not yet dry 
 upon Jessie's cheek, cast upon her a look of anxious affec- 
 tionate inquiry, which seemed only to increase her confusion 
 and distress. 
 
 " Father, I am tired," she whispered, in a subdued voice, 
 " and will go to my room to rest." Having received his em- 
 brace, she turned towards the door, where Gregson presented 
 to her a candle that he had lighted for her, and in so doing he 
 took her hand and pressed it ; she withdrew it gently, and, in 
 reply to his " Good night, Miss Jessie," gave him in^ silence a 
 
 * Cry or weep. t Whipped child. 
 
 <' F 4 
 
440 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 parting look so full of mingled tenderness and grief, that his 
 anxiety was no longer to be controlled, and he resolved to draw 
 from the merchant some explanation of her agitation. Seeing 
 that he had at length finished his careful perusal of the paper, 
 he said, " I think, sir, that Miss Jessie looks very unwell this 
 evening ; has any thing happened to hurt or alarm her ? " 
 
 " Naething, naething, my gude lad, only I tauld her some 
 news that ought to have made her blithe as a lavrock, * and 
 she thought fit to wet her een wi' doolf anent it." 
 
 " That is strange, indeed," replied the young man ; and he 
 added, in a hesitating tone, " I hope, sir, you will not think 
 me impertinent, as I take so much interest in all that concerns 
 jour family, if I inquire what was the nature of the good 
 news that you communicated to Miss Jessie ? " 
 
 " Why, Hairy," replied the merchant, sinking his voice to 
 a confidential whisper, " as ye're a discreet cannie lad, that'll 
 no crack $ about they things all ower the toon, I may just tell 
 ye that, Jessie " 
 
 " David ! David ! " screamed a shrill voice from the room 
 above, " are ye gaun to haver there the lee-lang night ? " 
 
 <e Comin' this moment, Christie," said the obedient hus- 
 band, leaving the room as he spoke, with the air and counte- 
 nance of one so thoroughly hen-pecked, that Harry Gregson, 
 in spite of his anxiety, laughed outright; saying to himself, 
 as many a lover has said before and since, " How unlike is 
 Jessie's voice to that of her mother ! " 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BESHA PURSUES HIS CAREER AS A DIPLOMATIST. AN AGREEABLE 
 TETE-A-TETE DISAGREEABLY INTERRUPTED. THE STEPS THAT 
 MAHEGA TOOK TO SUPPORT HIS DECLINING INTERESTS AMONG 
 THE CROWS. 
 
 WE left Besha engaged in an attempt to liberate the bride of 
 the young Crow chief, by proposing to Reginald and his party 
 iin exchange of prisoners. 
 
 On arriving at the camp, he was allowed to pass by the 
 
 * Lark. t Sorrow. J Gossip. Chatter. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 441 
 
 sentries, and took his way up the hill to the tent of Prairie- 
 bird. As soon as the object of his errand became known, a 
 council was held, consisting of Reginald Brandon, War-Eagle, 
 Baptiste, Pierre, and Wingenund ; and, having heard the 
 proposal made on the part of the Crows they proceeded to 
 deliberate on the course to be pursued. 
 
 They could have no hesitation in agreeing to an exchange 
 of prisoners, could that be effected upon equal terms ; but the 
 Crows insisted upon the return of Bending-willow, as a pre- 
 liminary step towards the release of their prisoners, and to 
 this Baptiste and Pierre were most strongly opposed, especially 
 the latter, who had experienced on more than one occasion 
 the proverbial treachery of the Upsaroka tribe. 
 
 Reginald was disposed, with the fearless generosity of his 
 nature, to be satisfied with binding them, by the most solemn 
 obligations recognised by their customs, to release their pri- 
 soners on the safe return of Bending-willow ; but his opinion 
 was over-ruled by his companions, and the horse-dealer's 
 mission wore a most unpromising aspect, when he bethought 
 him of delivering the note written by Paul Muller to Re- 
 ginald. 
 
 The perusal of this effected an immediate alteration in the 
 sentiments of the council, and the restoration of the captive 
 bride was decided upon. She was seated in the outer com- 
 partment of Prairie-bird's tent, when Besha entered, accom- 
 panied by Reginald, to inform her of her liberation. 
 
 Pierre, who was still suspicious of some treachery, and who 
 had some knowledge of the Crow language, placed his ear at 
 the corner of the aperture, with the intention of discovering 
 any under-plot that might be going forward. 
 
 Besha, however, was too crafty to be caught in such a trap, 
 or else he did not intend to make Bending- willow the con- 
 fidant of his real intentions ; so he simply announced to her 
 that she was free to return to her husband's lodge, and that 
 the white prisoners were to be restored in exchange for her. 
 
 Shaking off the sadness by which she had been of late over- 
 come, she sprang to her feet, and her eyes sparkling with 
 grateful joy, she pressed her hand upon Reginald's breast, 
 then, looking round, she pronounced distinctly the name of 
 "Olitipa." 
 
 On hearing herself thus called, Prairie-bird came forth from 
 
442 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 her inner tent, and having learnt the intelligence that, hy the 
 restoration of her new friend, the liberation of Paul Miiller 
 was to be effected, she embraced the former and presented her 
 with a necklace of coral. Bending-willow returned the em- 
 brace with affectionate earnestness, and was then led by Besha 
 from the tent. 
 
 As they passed towards the stockade, Pierre, whose sus- 
 picions were not yet entirely lulled, and who felt a deep interest 
 in the safety of Ethelston, came up to the horse-dealer, and 
 whispered in his ear, " If the tongues of the Crows or of 
 Besha are forked, if the white prisoners are detained or in- 
 jured, many widows shall howl in the camp, and the tongues 
 of the wolves shall be red with Upsaroka blood ! " 
 
 The prairie-guide spoke these words in a tone of deep mean- 
 ing, and Besha knew that he was not a man likely to utter an 
 idle or empty threat; he answered accordingly, " If Besha 
 lives, the prisoners shall return unhurt before the next sun- 
 set," and, so saying, pursued his unmolested way to the Crow 
 camp. 
 
 While they were crossing the valley which separated the 
 two encampments, Reginald, War-Eagle, and Baptiste still 
 lingered near the door of the tent, discussing the events of the 
 day, and expressing their respective opinions as to the pro- 
 bable conduct of the Crows. 
 
 " What says Prairie-bird ? " inquired Reginald, addressing 
 the maiden, who had been a not uninterested auditor of the 
 discussion. 
 
 " Has not the Crow chief," she replied, " given a faithful 
 promise that on the return of the bride he would restore my 
 father and his friend unhurt ? " 
 
 He has." 
 
 " What, then, is the doubt? " 
 
 " The doubt is, whether the word of the Crow can be 
 believed : whether he may not still detain or injure his 
 prisoners." 
 
 Prairie-bird mused for a few seconds, as if debating within 
 herself the possibility of such falsehood ; then raising her head, 
 she said in a tone of emphasis, " Fear not : my father and 
 your friend will return to us uninjured." 
 
 (( I accept the omen, sweet prophetess ! " exclaimed Regi- 
 nald, cheerfully; "and will believe that their thoughts are 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 443 
 
 honest and straightforward, as you deem them, unless their 
 conduct should prove the contrary ; in that event," he added, 
 turning to War-Eagle, " my Indian brother and I will see 
 what our own heads and hands can do to set free our friends." 
 
 The chief replied not ; but the sarcastic smile that played 
 over his dark features, showed how little he shared in Prairie- 
 bird's opinion of Upsaroka faith. 
 
 Meanwhile, Bend ing- willow returned in safety to her lodge, 
 where Besha presented her, with an air of triumph, to her 
 impatient lord. The other wives and women retired while she 
 related to him her adventures ; and from the mingled laughter 
 and caresses with which he listened to her narrative, it is pro- 
 bable that she confessed to him the motive that had induced 
 her to seek the Medicine of the white tent. 
 
 As soon as she concluded, he desired one of his young men 
 to lead before the lodge a favourite horse, swift, high-couraged, 
 and strong, from the back of which he had killed, with lance 
 and bow, many a bison cow. Placing the bridle of raw hide 
 in the hands of the horse-dealer, he said, a Besha has brought 
 back the Sweet-scented-willow to its bed, he shall not go away 
 with empty hands. When he rides through the village the 
 warriors shall say that his horse is fit to carry a chief; and if 
 any speak to him bad words, let him tell them to beware, for 
 White-bull calls him brother ! " 
 
 So saying, the young savage, who had now completely re- 
 covered his good humour, half-lifted, half-threw the astonished 
 dealer upon the horse's back, and turned again into the lodge 
 to renew his caresses to his recovered bride. 
 
 "All goes well!" thought Besha within himself, as he 
 rode towards his own quarters, proving, with professional skill, 
 the paces and qualities of his new steed. (i All goes well ! 
 and this animal will fetch me two hundred dollars in the lower 
 Arkansas country ; few such are to be found there. I wonder 
 where this Crow thief found or stole it ? If I can manage 
 with fine words to get a few more skins from this tribe, and a 
 few more presents from the white men, I will join the summer 
 return-train from the Black Hills, and make my way back 
 towards the east. 
 
 Indulging in these honest and disinterested meditations, the 
 horse-dealer arrived before his own lodge, where his Indian 
 wife awaited his coming with a savoury mess of bison-meat 
 
444 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and marrow ; after despatching which he smoked his pipe, 
 without permitting any reflections concerning the prisoners 
 whose cause he had so shamelessly betrayed to disturb his 
 appetite or his present lazy enjoyment. 
 
 It was fortunate for them that they had an advocate more 
 honest and zealous in a quarter where they least suspected it. 
 This was Bending-willow ; who, after showing to her lover- 
 husband the coral necklace given to her by Prairie-bird, and 
 repeating to him the kind treatment that she had experienced 
 in the tent, entreated him to use his influence for the restora- 
 tion of the prisoners. 
 
 This she was not able to effect, as he stated that they 
 belonged to the great council, who would decide upon their 
 fate, after consulting the Medicine ; but she obtained from him 
 a promise that he would in the meantime protect them from 
 all chance injury, as well as from the violence of any personal 
 enemy who might bear them ill-will. 
 
 The deliberations of the Indian tribes are, in fact, carried 
 on in a manner more strongly resembling those of civilised 
 nations than is usually believed ; that is, a few leading men 
 meet together, and arrange the plan of operations to be pur- 
 sued, after which they convoke the grand council, by whatever 
 name it may be called, and insensibly lead its members to 
 propose, second, and carry the measures previously agreed 
 upon. Thus it was with the Crows upon the present occasion. 
 The old chief of the band, as soon as he learnt the safe return 
 of Bending-willow, sent for his son the White-bull, whose 
 rank as leader of the braves entitled him to be present at a 
 secret council ; two other warriors, of more advanced age and 
 experience, were also admitted ; and these four being assembled, 
 they entered upon their deliberations with a freedom of thought 
 and speech such as could not have been consistent with the 
 forms and usages of a public meeting. 
 
 It would be tedious to relate in order the various arguments 
 that were adduced by the several speakers in turn ; suffice it 
 to say, that the father of White-bull, independent of his 
 claim to authority as chief, happened to be the oldest man and 
 the greatest rogue present ; all which concurrent advantages 
 gave a preponderating influence to his advice. The result 
 was, as might have been expected, its adoption by the unani- 
 mous consent of his three companions; and, as the after- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 445 
 
 movements of the band were regulated by it, a brief sketch of 
 its purport and objects will not be misplaced. 
 
 His counsel, stript of Indian imagery and ornament, was 
 that they should for the present detain the prisoners ; and in 
 order to avoid the consequences of the violent ebullition of 
 resentment which might be expected on the part of the white 
 men and Delawares, that they should instantly decamp, and 
 marching towards the south and west by the most intricate and 
 difficult passes, make their way to the neighbourhood of the 
 district where Mahega informed them that he had concealed 
 his goods and stores. These it was their intention, of course, 
 to appropriate, and afterwards to deal with their dangerous and 
 haughty possessor as might be found most expedient. Mean- 
 while it was certain that the allied band would follow their 
 trail for the recovery of the prisoners ; and if they did so, 
 with their baggage and Prairie-bird's tent, the Crows had little 
 fear of being overtaken, excepting when they chose to halt for 
 the purpose ; if, on the contrary, the allied band should divide, 
 the chief knew that from the intimate acquaintance of his 
 warriors with the localities, they would easily find means to 
 attack and overcome the weakened party left in charge of the 
 tent and its wonderful mistress. 
 
 The outline of operations being settled, it was further 
 agreed that the prisoners should be entrusted to the care of 
 White-bull, who made himself responsible for their security, 
 and who was to lead the van of the retreat, while Besha was 
 summoned, and ordered to explain to the Osage chief the 
 proposed plan of operations, and that to him was to be assigned 
 the honourable post of defending the rear of the march. 
 
 In consequence of all these preliminary arrangements, a 
 formal council was summoned, at which they were proposed 
 and agreed upon, with the sanction of the Medicine, and a 
 treaty was entered into with Mahega, by which he bound him- 
 self with his companions to fight faithfully for the Crows, 
 and to make over to them one half of his goods concealed in 
 the cache, on condition that they should do every thing in their 
 power to recover for him the Great Medicine of the tent, and 
 his baggage now in the hands of the Delawares. 
 
 These arrangements and agreements were no sooner com- 
 pleted than they were carried into execution with a speed, 
 order, and noiseless silence peculiar to these roving tribes, 
 
446 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 whose fate is so often dependent upon the secrecy and celerity 
 of their movements. 
 
 While these things were going forward in the Crow camp, 
 Reginald sat by the side of Prairie-bird under the small cedar- 
 tree in front of her tent. Being still somewhat stiff from the 
 wounds and bruises received in the late attack, he gladly availed 
 himself of that pretext for enjoying a few hours of repose in 
 the society of his beloved, while he left the chief care of the 
 defence of the camp to Baptiste and War-Eagle. 
 
 His eye wandered occasionally across the valley below, and 
 scanned with an anxious look the opposite hill upon which the 
 dusky figures of the Crows were seen moving to and fro 
 between the lodges and bushes, until it returned to rest upon 
 the lovely countenance of his companion : that countenance, 
 which was now lighted up by the parting rays of the declin- 
 ing sun, beamed with emotions too deep for utterance. 
 
 Her love for Reginald was not like the love so often found 
 in the artificial world of society, a mere preference, engendered, 
 perhaps, by fancy, and nurtured by habit, accident, or mere 
 congeniality of tastes; but a single absorbing passion, the 
 intensity of which she trembled to acknowledge even to herself. 
 All v the poetry, the enthusiasm, the yearnings of womanly 
 feeling in her nature were gathered into a focus, and nothing 
 but her strong and abiding sense of religion prevented that 
 love from being idolatry. 
 
 As her eye fell upon the recent scar upon his forehead, and 
 the sling in which his left arm was enveloped, she remem- 
 bered that twice already had his blood been shed in her de- 
 fence twice had her life been saved at the risk of his own. 
 Tears of delicious gratitude, tears sweeter than any smiles that 
 ever dimpled the cheek of joy began to flow, and half averting 
 her face from her lover, she turned it thoughtfully towards 
 the western horizon. 
 
 The orb of the sun had just disappeared behind the rugged 
 and far-distant mountain range, whose towering and snow-clad 
 peaks stood out in clear relief from the deep masses of cloud 
 whose wavy edges still reflected his golden light. A mellowed 
 haze wrapped as in a saffron mantle the nearer hills, whose 
 irregular forms, some rocky and precipitous, others undulating 
 and covered with dense forests of pine and cedar, formed the 
 foreground of the magnificent evening landscape. A single 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 447 
 
 star glimmered palely in the twilight heaven, a forerunner of 
 the thousand glorious lights about to emerge from its un- 
 fathomed vault. To look up from nature to nature's God was 
 the habitual process of Prairie-bird's mind, a habit resulting 
 partly from the fatherly instructions of the missionary, but 
 chiefly from her constant study of the Scripture amid scenes 
 calculated to impress its lessons most deeply upon her. 
 
 Such a scene was that now before her ; and as the deepening 
 shadows fell upon mountain, forest, and vale, a holier calm 
 stole over the current of her thoughts, and imparted to her 
 eloquent features an expression in which the sweet conscious- 
 ness of reciprocated earthly affection was blended with adoring 
 gratitude to Him whose everlasting name is Love. 
 
 The earnest and affectionate gaze of Reginald was still 
 riveted upon her countenance, when a gentle sigh fell upon 
 his watchful ear. Taking her hand within his own, he whis- 
 pered, "Is Prairie-bird sad? Does any sorrow disturb her 
 peace ? " 
 
 Dropping to the earth those humid eyes so late upraised to 
 heaven, she replied, in a hesitating voice, "Not sad, dear 
 Reginald, but ... afraid." 
 
 " Afraid ! dearest ; and of what ? Nay, blush not, but tell 
 me your cause of fear." 
 
 " Afraid of too much happiness, of too much love. I 
 tremble, and doubt whether my thoughts are such as God 
 approves." 
 
 " Be not rash nor unjust in self-condemnation," said Regi- 
 nald, in a chiding tone, while secretly delighted by a confession 
 which his heart interpreted aright; "think you that the 
 Creator who implanted these affections within us, and who 
 has pronounced repeated sanctions and blessings upon the 
 bond of wedded love; think you, dearest, that He can be 
 offended at your love for one to whom you have plighted your 
 troth, and who, albeit in many respects unworthy of such a 
 treasure, has at least the merit of repaying it an hundred- 
 fold ! " 
 
 " Unworthy ! " repeated Prairie-bird, in a tone of reproach- 
 ful tenderness, other words trembled upon her lips, but the 
 instinct of maidenly reserve checked their utterance, and she 
 was silent. 
 
 " Nay, if you like not the word, it shall be unsaid," whis- 
 
448 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 pered Reginald, gently pressing the hand which he held within 
 his own ; " and my whole future life shall be a constant en- 
 deavour to make it untrue. Let me, however, guess at the 
 secret cause of your fear, and of the sigh that escaped you, 
 you were thinking of your dear fatherly instructor, and were 
 afraid that he would not return ? " 
 
 " Indeed my thoughts were not of him at the moment/' 
 she replied, with earnest simplicity ; " nor am I afraid on his 
 account." 
 
 " Why, is he not yet in the hands of an enemy whose 
 cruelty and treachery are proverbial ? What if the Crow 
 chief should, in spite of his solemn promise, refuse to give up 
 his prisoners ? " 
 
 " It cannot be," she replied gravely ; "God will not permit 
 such falsehood." 
 
 " You speak," said Reginald, " like one who has studied 
 chiefly your own heart, and the precious book now lying at 
 your side ; but even there you may have read that the Almighty 
 sometimes permits falsehood and wickedness to triumph upon 
 earth." 
 
 " It is too true/' replied Prairie-bird ; " yet I feel a strong 
 assurance that our friends will return to us in safety. I 
 cannot tell whence it comes whether from a dream sent in 
 the watches of the night, or the secret whispers of some mys- 
 terious and unseen counsellor, but it brings hope,, rest, and 
 comfort to my heart." 
 
 " God forbid," said Reginald passionately, " that I should 
 say any thing likely to banish such sweet guests from so sweet 
 a home. But if the Crow chief should be guilty of this 
 treacherous act of falsehood, I will endeavour to inflict upon 
 him a vengeance so signal as shall deter him and his tribe 
 from any future repetition of the crime." 
 
 " It is lawful," replied the maiden, " to recover our friends 
 by force or device, if they are detained by treachery ; but 
 remember, dear Reginald, that vengeance belongs not to our 
 erring and fallen race ; if the Upsaroka should sin as you 
 expect, defeat, if you can, his evil schemes, but leave his 
 punishment to the Great Avenger, who can make his latter 
 days loathsome as those of Gehazi, or his death sudden and 
 fearful as that of Ananias and his guilty spouse." 
 
 Reginald coloured deeply, for his conscience reminded him 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 44{) 
 
 that on a late occasion he had used, in a discussion with War- 
 Eagle, the same argument as that now applied with so much 
 force to himself, and he felt ashamed of having forgotten, in 
 the excitement of his own passions, a truth which he had 
 labouied strongly to impress upon another. 
 
 " Thanks, clearest monitress/' he replied, " for recalling me , 
 to my better self; would that you were always by my side to f 
 control my impatience and reprove the hastiness of my temper. : 
 Nay, I trust ere long that you will be always at my side ; i 
 your father and instructor will return, and will unite us in 
 those holy bands not to be severed by man. You will then 
 leave the prairie and the tent, and come with me to a home 
 where a second father and a loving sister claim a share in your 
 affection." 
 
 " It shall be so," replied Prairie-bird, in a low and earnest 
 voice ; " read my answer in the language of one who, like 
 myself, was humble and friendless, but who, trusting in her 
 God, found in a strange land a husband and a home." 
 
 " Nay, read it to me," said Reginald, anticipating her selec- 
 tion ; " however beautiful the words may be, your voice will 
 make them fall more sweetly on my ear." 
 
 Prairie-bird opened the book, but she looked not on the 
 page, for the words were treasured in her heart ; and she re- 
 peated, in a voice faltering from deep emotion, " Whither 
 thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge ; 
 thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where 
 thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried ; the Lord do 
 so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and 
 me." 
 
 As she concluded these words, she looked up to the face of 
 her betrothed with eyes beaming with truth and affection. The 
 strong man was overcome ; he could only utter a deep Araen. 
 The consciousness that the trustful, guileless being now at his 
 side had surrendered to his keeping the ark of her earthly 
 happiness, mingled an awful responsibility with the more 
 tender feelings that possessed his inmost soul ; he felt what 
 I -.as been so truly described by a poet out of fashion and out 
 of date, that 
 
 M TJie tr* nturei of the deep are not so precious 
 As ;:rr the concealed comforts of a man 
 Locked up in woman's love." 
 
 G a 
 
450 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Then did he record a secret and solemn vow that he would 
 guard his precious treasure with a miser's care ; the stars 
 began more brightly to twinkle in the sky, the watch-fires 
 emitted through the deepening gloom a clearer ray ; and as 
 the head of Prairie-bird lightly rested upon her lover's 
 shoulders, they gave themselves up to the delicious reveries 
 suggested by the hour, the scene, and hearts overcharged 
 with bliss. 
 
 The happy pair were suddenly aroused from their waking 
 drearn by the sharp crack of a rifle, the flash of \\hich Regi- 
 nald distinctly saw through the bushes on the side of the hill 
 below them ; a bullet whizzed close to his head, and a half- 
 suppressed cry broke from Prairie-bird. 
 
 " Speak, love, speak ! " he exclaimed, in frantic alarm ; 
 " speak but one word to tell me you are not hurt ! " 
 
 " I am not hurt," she replied ; " God be praised that you 
 are also unharmed ! Nay, dearest, do not break from me." 
 Here the report of fire-arms was again heard, mingled with 
 the shouts and tumult of a sudden fray. ' : Our friends are 
 on their guard ! you are still weak from your late wound ! 
 Oh, Reginald, stay ! I entreat I implore ! " 
 
 But he heard her not ; the din of arms and the foul 
 attempt at murder, directed, as he believed, against the life of 
 his betrothed, had awakened the tempest within him ; the 
 wounded arm was released from its sling, and with drawn 
 cutlass in his right hand, he rushed down the steep slope of 
 the hill with the reckless speed of a madman. We will now 
 proceed to explain the cause of this sudden interruption of 
 their tete-a-tete. 
 
 It has been already mentioned that Besha had been charged 
 with explaining to Mahega the arrangements and plans 
 adopted at the Upsaroka council. No sooner had he done so, 
 than the Osage chief, finding that the evacuation of the camp 
 was to take place during the night, resolved upon striking, 
 before they withdrew from the neighbourhood, one blow at the 
 foes who had defeated and baffled him. 
 
 Too cunning to be deceived by the Crows, or to be misled 
 by the flattery of Besha, he knew that as he had now no 
 more presents to offer, his only chance of retaining any 
 authority or influence with them was by such deeds of daring 
 as should compel them to look up to him as a war-leader. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 451 
 
 This feeling, stimulated by his thirst for revenge, led him 
 without hesitation to attempt a feat which, if successful, must 
 render him the terror not less of his allies than of his foes. 
 
 As soon as the horse-dealer had left him, he summoned his 
 few remaining followers, and informed them that they must 
 prepare to march during the ensuing night; he told them, 
 also, that he was about to set forth himself on the war-path 
 alone, and all that he required of them was to conceal them- 
 selves among the bushes fronting towards the enemy's camp, 
 o as to cover his retreat in case of his being pursued from that 
 quarter, and that he intended to return, if possible, on a horse. 
 
 The men listened with silent attention to their leader's 
 orders, and retired without making either comment or reply. 
 Mahega then stripped himself of every ornament that could 
 attract attention, and threw off his hunting-shirt and leggins, 
 thrusting a brace of small pistols and a long knife into his 
 waist-belt ; and with no other covering than a light pair of 
 mocassins on his feet, he stole out of the camp at a point 
 which was not visible from the enemy's quarters. 
 
 Availing himself of every ravine and undulation of ground, 
 he made a swift circuit in the distant prairie, and approached 
 the Delaware camp on the north-eastern side, where, as has 
 been before mentioned, it was protected by a precipitous cliff. 
 He had observed a narrow valley in this direction, not more 
 than half a mile from the base of the rock, to which the 
 white men drove their horses for pasture ; and as a view of it 
 was commanded from the height, they were only guarded by 
 a single man, who drove them back in the evening to the 
 camp. The man who happened to be on duty there was a 
 hunter belonging to the band brought out by Pierre, a brave 
 and somewhat reckless fellow, who had been inured to all the 
 hardships and risks of a mountain trapper's life. 
 
 The crafty Osage, having succeeded in obtaining the im- 
 portant advantage of seeing his opponent before he could be 
 himself perceived, directed his movements accordingly. He 
 might, perhaps, have succeeded in creeping near enough to 
 shoot him, and have gained the shelter of his own camp before 
 he could be overtaken ; but such was not his purpose. He 
 had determined that the bullet now in his rifle should lodge in 
 the heart of Reginald or War-Eagle, and no other life could 
 satisfy his revenge. 
 
 G O 2 
 
452 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Not more than a hundred paces from the spot where the 
 unconscious sentry sat, with his face towards the Upsaroka 
 camp, the valley made a bend, becoming at the same place 
 narrower and steeper in its banks ; thither did Mahega 
 stealthily creep, and on reaching it found that he was not 
 within sight of his enemy. 
 
 After waiting some time, during which he carefully noted 
 every brush and hillock that might be made subservient to his: 
 projected plan, he saw feeding towards him a steady old pack- 
 horse, whose scarred back and sides showed that he had carried' 
 many a weary burthen over mountain and prairie. The Osage 
 remarked, also, that the animal had a long laryette of hide 
 round its neck. As soon as he felt assured that it had passed 
 the bend, and could no longer be seen by the man on guard, 
 he caught the end of the laryette, and led his unresisting 
 quadruped prisoner to a spot further up the valley, where some 
 thick bushes offered him the means of concealing himself. 
 Here he twisted the laryette firmly round the fore -leg of the 
 horse, and ensconcing himself behind the largest of the bushes, 
 patiently awaited the result. 
 
 As the shades of evening drew on, the hunter rose to collect 
 and drive his horses to the camp. Having gathered those in 
 the lower part of the valley, he afterwards came in search of 
 those that had strayed beyond the bend. When his eye fell 
 upon the old pack-horse cropping the long grass, and occa- 
 sionally the younger shoots of the adjacent bushes, he mut- 
 tered to himself, " The old fool hasn't sense to know summer 
 from winter : there he stands, gnawing the twigs off the 
 bushes, when he might be eating the best grass in the bottom." 
 
 As soon as be reached the animal whom he thus apostro- 
 phised, he laid down his rifle, in order to free the entangled 
 leg from the laryette. While stooping for this purpose, a 
 slight rustling of leaves caught his ear ; and ere he could 
 look round, the fierce Osage sprang upon him with the bound 
 of a tiger. The unfortunate man strove to catch up his rifle, 
 but the foot of the giant was upon it, a grasp of iron was upon 
 his throat, and ere he could utter a sound, or raise a hand, the 
 knife of the savage was buried in his heart. 
 
 Having thus far succeeded in his plan, Mahega dressed him- 
 self from head to foot in the clothes of his victim, taking pos- 
 session at the same time of his knife and pistols, having first deli- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 453 
 
 terately scalped him, and placed the scalp in his own belt, 
 below the ill-fated hunter's shirt. When thus accoutred and 
 'attired, the Osage grinned with satisfaction, and proceeded to 
 the next and more dangerous portion" of his enterprise. 
 
 His first step was to select and secure the best horse from 
 those pasturing in the valley, which he bridled with the lary- 
 ette already mentioned ; and having slung the hunter's rifle 
 over his shoulder, he mounted his newly-acquired steed, and 
 began leisurely to drive the others towards the Delaware camp. 
 As soon as he emerged from the valley he came in sight of the 
 enemy's sentries and outposts ; but the well-known wolf-skin 
 cap and elk-skin shirt attracted no particular attention, and 
 he rode deliberately forward until he reached a huge pine- 
 tree, the shade of whose branches was rendered yet more dark 
 by the deepening gloom of evening. Here he fastened his 
 horse ; and leaving the others to find their way as they best 
 might, he struck boldly into the thicket that fringed the base 
 of the hill. 
 
 Conscious that he was now in the midst of enemies, and 
 that his life must depend upon his own skill and address, he 
 crept forward up the steep ascent, now stopping to listen for 
 the sound of a footfall, now straining his eyes through the 
 dusky shade in search of some light or object by which to 
 direct his course. Knowing every inch of the ground, he was, 
 soon able to distinguish the angle of the stockade, and at no 
 great distance above it the white tent, partially lighted up by a 
 fire, round which were seated Monsieur Perrot, Pierre, and 
 everal others. 
 
 As night drew on, and the surrounding scenery became in- 
 volved in deeper gloom, the watch-fire emitted a stronger 
 light, by which Mahe'ga caught, at length, a view of Reginald 
 seated by the side of Prairie-bird. All the stormy passions in 
 his breast, jealousy, hatred, and revenge, were kindled at the 
 sight ; and as soon as he thought the muzzle of his rifle truly 
 aimed at his rival's heart, he fired. Fortunate was it for Re- 
 ginald, that the light cast by the fire was flickering and uncer- 
 tain, or that hour had been his last. 
 
 The savage, without waiting to see the result of his shot, 
 which had alarmed the hunters and the Delawares patrolling 
 near the spot, rushed down the hill towards the tree where he 
 had left his horse. Twice was his path crossed by an enemy ; 
 
 G G 3 
 
454 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the first he felled with a blow on the head from the discharged 
 rifle ; and the second, which was no less a person than honest 
 Bapttste himself, he narrowly missed, in firing a pistol in his 
 face at so near a distance that, although unhurt by the ball,, his 
 cheek was singed by the powder. 
 
 Completely taken by surprise, the guide fired into the 
 bushes after the retreating figure of his unknown foe, and 
 then dashed forward in pursuit; but the darkness favoured 
 the escape of the Osage, who never paused nor turned again 
 until he reached the spot where he had fastened the horse ; 
 then vaulting on its back, he shouted his insulting war-cry, in" 
 a voice that might be heard above all the mingled sounds of 
 pursuit, struck his heel into the flank of the captured steed, and, 
 unscathed by any of the bullets that whistled after him, reached 
 the Crow camp in safety. 
 
 The Osage warriors looked with some surprise upon their 
 chief in his unusual attire, but he briefly returned their greeting, 
 and proceeded without delay to the lodge of the Upsaroka 
 chief. A fire was burning there, by the light of which he 
 recognised the old man seated in the midst, with his son 
 White-Bull on his right, and Besha .at some distance on his 
 left. Mahega had by this time thrown off the gar- 
 ments of the slain hunter, which were slung across the 
 horse. Leading the latter forward, until the light of the fire 
 fell upon it and upon himself, he stood a moment in an attitude 
 of haughty and silent expectation. White-Bull and his father 
 raised their eyes in surprise at the sudden appearance of 
 their guest, and in involuntary admiration of his herculean 
 figure, the fine proportions of which were seen to advantage 
 by the ruddy glare of the blazing logs. 
 
 " Let Besha tell my brother he is welcome," said the old 
 chief, cautiously ; " and let him inquire whence he comes, 
 and what he has to say." 
 
 " Mahega is come," replied the proud Osage, " from a 
 visit to the pale-faces and the Lenape women. His hands are 
 not empty ; the shirt, the leggins, the belt, the head-dress, and 
 the horse of a white hunter he has brought as a present to the 
 Upsaroka chief. If White-Bull will receive the Medicins- 
 uwapon*, the heart of Mahega will be glad." 
 
 * At the date of this tale the use of fire-arms was very little known among the 
 tribes in the neighbourhood of the Kocky Mountains; find in in.ist of thc'ir lan- 
 guages, to this day, the words by which they express "arflv," signify, usually, 
 "medicine-weapon," " wonderful fire-\vapou," "fire-tube," &c. &t. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 455 
 
 White-Bull and his father accepted the offered presents with 
 every demonstration of satisfaction. The latter, again ad- 
 dressing Besha, desired him thus to speak : 
 
 " Mahega forgets that all his goods are in the hands of his 
 enemies does he keep nothing for himself?" 
 
 The Osage made no reply, but, drawing the recent scalp 
 from his belt, and pointing to it, the knife still red with human 
 blood, he smiled scornfully, and strode through the camp back 
 to his own lodge. His purpose was effected ; he had suc- 
 ceeded in his daring exploit, and, although uncertain of the 
 result of the shot fired at Reginald, he had regained some of 
 his influence over the Upsaroka chief and his intractable son. 
 Mahega pondered over these things in his lodge, as he mecha- 
 nically attached the scalp of his last-killed foe to a thong, on 
 which were already fastened many similar trophies of his 
 former prowess. 
 
 His musings were soon disturbed by the voice of Besha, 
 who entered the lodge, bearing a sack of considerable dimen- 
 sions, which he deposited upon the ground. " Mahega is a 
 great warrior/' said he, greeting the Osage with something of 
 the reluctant courtesy which a terrier shows to a mastiff: " his 
 name will be heard far among the tribes of the Upsaroka 
 nation. The Great Chief wishes to make his Washashee 
 brother a present .-three horses stand without the lodge to carry 
 the followers of Mahega on the path of the bison, or of the 
 Lenape." 
 
 The eye of the chief brightened with fierce pleasure at this 
 announcement, as two of his few remaining men were un- 
 horsed ; and he satisfied himself, by going to the door of the 
 lodge, that the horses now presented to him were good and fit 
 for service. 
 
 " That is not all," continued the horse-dealer ; White- 
 Bull knows that the medicine- weapon cannot live without food, 
 he lias sent me to offer this bag to Mahega." 
 
 As he spoke, Besha opened the sack, and exposed to the 
 view of the Osage powder and lead sufficient for fifty or sixty 
 shots, and half-a-dozen pair of strong mocassins, such as are 
 made by the Crow women for their lords. 
 
 " The hand of the Upsaroka is open," said Mahega ; " tell 
 him that his gifts shall not fall upon the ground ; the lead 
 shall be buried in the hearts of his enemies." 
 
 G G 4 
 
456 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD 
 
 Besha, having given to the chief a few brief explanations 
 of the hour and the arrangements fixed for the night- march, 
 withdrew, and left him to communicate with his followers. 
 
 We must now return to Reginald Brandon, whom we left 
 engaged in the disagreeable and perilous task of pursuing an 
 unseen enemy down the slope of a steep hill in the dark. His 
 was not, however, a foot or a heart likely to fail him in such 
 an emergency, and, reckless alike of obstacles or of the diffi- 
 culties in his path, he continued his rapid descent, and soon 
 found himself among the glades and bushes whence the firing 
 had aroused his attention. Advancing with his drawn cutlass 
 still in his hand, he stumbled over something which he found 
 to be the prostrate form of a man, and in whom he recognised 
 by his dress one of his own party. Finding that he could 
 extract from him nothing but broken and muttered sentences, 
 about "the devil" and "the darkness," he hastened on until 
 he reached a spot where he heard several voices in earnest con- 
 versation ; these he found to be War-Eagle, Wingenund, and 
 Baptiste ; and he soon gathered from the latter all that he had 
 to tell, which was, that, having suddenly heard the crack of a 
 rifle in the camp, and then seen a man rushing through the bushes 
 in descending the hill, he had thrown himself in the way of 
 the stranger, who. after nearly blinding him by the discharge 
 of a pistol in his face, had darted past him into the thicket 
 below. " I fired after him," continued the honest guide, 
 " both pistol and rifle, but 1 scarcely think I hit him, for on 
 reaching the edge of the timber, I could just distinguish a horse- 
 man crossing the prairie at full speed to the Crow camp ; 'tis 
 a bad business, but I fear there is worse yet behind." 
 
 tf How mean you?" inquired Reginald. 
 
 " Why, I fear some foul play in our own camp ; the fellow 
 who shot the pistol at me was one of our party." 
 
 " Impossible !" said Reginald ; " I will not believe it." 
 
 " Neither would 1, if I could help it," replied the guide ; 
 " but, dark as it was, I could plainly see the fur-cap and elk- 
 shirt upon him ; whoever it was, he joined Mahega on the 
 prairie, for the Washashee shouted his cursed warwhoop aloud 
 to insult us." 
 
 Wingenund here whispered a few words to War- Eagle, who 
 replied, " Right, my young brother, let us visit the posts and 
 the fires, we shall soon see who is missing." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 457 
 
 While the chief, with the aid of Pierre and Baptiste, un- 
 dertook this task, Reginald returned, accompanied hy Win- 
 genund, to the spot where he had stumbled over the wounded 
 man. They found him seated in the same place, but his senses 
 had returned, and with the exception of the severe bruises on 
 the head, they were glad to learn that he was uninjured. He 
 could give no account of what had passed further than that 
 already given by Baptiste. He had been prostrated and 
 stunned by a heavy blow from some one descending the hill 
 with great rapidity ; he also stated his impression that he had 
 distinguished the dress of a white hunter. 
 
 The result of the investigation may of course be anticipated ; 
 the unfortunate owner of the wolf-skin cap was suspected of 
 having plotted with Mahega, and (after aiding him in an 
 attempt to murder Reginald (of having gone off with one of 
 the best horses to the Crow camp. Such was the conjecture 
 of some, and if there were others who guessed more nearly at 
 the truth, their opinions were for the present reserved ; it being, 
 "however, impossible to make further inquiry until daylight, 
 the different parties retired to their respective quarters, and 
 Reginald again sought the tent to give to Prairie-bird an 
 account of what had passed, and to assure her of his safe 
 return. At the first sound of his voice she came forth, and 
 listened with breathless attention to his brief narration. The 
 watch-fire had been fed with fresh fuel, and its light falling 
 upon her countenance, enabled her lover to see the intense 
 anxiety which it expressed ; a handkerchief, hastily folde.l like 
 a turban, covered her head, and a dark Mexican mantle was 
 thrown over her shoulders ; her hand trembled in his, and a 
 slight shudder passed through her frame as he mentioned the 
 name of Mahega. 
 
 " Nay, dearest," said Reginald, " I shall grieve, indeed, if 
 the name of that hateful savage hath power so to move and 
 disturb your peace. Fear him not : believe me, we shall yet 
 defeat all his attempts, whether of hidden fraud or open force." 
 
 " There is no room, dear Reginald, for thoughts of fear for 
 the future in my heart, 'tis already full, too full, of gratitude 
 for the past ; you are again by my side, safe and unhurt. Yet, 
 methinks, I am sadly changed of late ! A short time since, 
 the report of the rifle, the arrow's hissing path, brought no 
 terror to my ear, and now I tremble when I hear them! 
 
458 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Will you not regret having chosen a coward for your 
 bride?" 
 
 " Perhaps I may," said Reginald, {( when the thirsty 
 summer-grass regrets being moistened by the dew of heaven ; 
 when the watchful mother regrets that she has borne the infant 
 by whose cradle she is seated ; when the miser regrets having 
 discovered an unsuspected treasure; and the weary traveller 
 regrets having found a fresh spring amid the burning sands of 
 the desert, then may I perhaps regret having cho.sen Prairie- 
 bird to be to my thirsting heart its summer-dew, its firstling, 
 its treasure, its fountain of exhaustless joy and love \" 
 
 Although it was not the first time that she had received the 
 assurance of his affection, her ear drank it in with delight : 
 the repetitions of love have for his votaries perpetual freshness 
 and variety. 
 
 " How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night ! " 
 
 So says one of the fairest creations of the great interpreter of 
 human passion ; yet it is only to each other that these voices 
 do so sweetly sound; to others, less interested, their parlance 
 is apt to seem dull and monotonous. Neither would a dinner 
 of honey, or guava jelly alone, be more nauseous and disap- 
 pointing to the appetite of a hungry man than a volume filled 
 with love-letters, or love-speeches, to one in search of literary 
 food. Duly impressed with this truth, we will spare any fur- 
 ther detail of the conversation that passed between Reginald 
 and his betrothed, and will content ourselves with relating that 
 after more than one "Good night!" such as only lovers know, 
 Prairie-bird retired into her tent, with her thoughts so ab- 
 sorbed in one object, that she was scarcely conscious of the 
 affectionate attentions of her faithful Lita, or of the watchful 
 care of young Wingenund, who took his accustomed station at 
 the entrance to the outer division of his sister's canvass 
 dwelling. 
 
 An hour before the dawn the wakeful youth arose and 
 looked abroad. The pale and expiring fires of the opposite 
 camp were still distinctly visible ; but his practised ear missed 
 the usual sounds of Indian life the hum of men, the cries 
 of children, and the barking of curs. Having learnt the use 
 of Reginald's spy-glass, he took it down from the peg on which 
 it was suspended, and examined the opposite hill. As the 
 light of day gradually advanced, and objects became more 
 
THE PRAIR1E-BIBD. 459 
 
 easily distinguishable, his suspicions became confirmed, and he 
 resolved no longer to delay communicating them to War- 
 Eagle. He found the chief seated at the door of his lodge, in 
 an attitude which he at first mistook for slumber, but it proved 
 to he one of deep meditation ; for, on the youth's approach, he 
 looked up, and said, in the gentle tone in which he always ad- 
 dressed his beloved brother, 
 
 fe Wingenund is a foot before the sun ; have his ears cr eyes 
 been open during the night? " 
 
 "They have," said the youth gravely; "and the words 
 that he brings to his brother are not good." 
 
 " The Wolf-cap hunter is gone to the Upsaroka camp ; that 
 is bad news : is there any worse ? " 
 
 " Wingenund knows nothing of the Wolf-cap hunter ; but 
 the Upsaroka camp is like the village of the Lenape, on the 
 prairies of the east; there remains in it neither man, nor 
 woman, nor child !" 
 
 War-Eagle sprang upon his feet, and hastily desiring Win- 
 genund to summon Reginald, Baptiste, and Pierre to council, 
 he descended the hill to the spot where his horses were fast- 
 ened, and throwing himself upon the back of the swiftest, he 
 galloped at full speed towards the opposite camp. As he ap- 
 proached it, he began to suspect that its apparent desertion 
 might be only a manoeuvre to draw his party into an ambush, 
 wherefore he wheeled his horse, and made a circuit round the 
 base of the hill, at such a distance as to be secure from the 
 arrow or ball of any marksman hidden among the bushes. As 
 he gained a spot whence the expanse of prairie was open to 
 his view towards the south-west, he saw a body of horsemen 
 retreating rapidly in that direction ; they were already several 
 miles from the camp, and he rightly conjectured them to be the 
 rear-guard of the retiring enemy. 
 
 The main body had marched early in the night, and only a 
 score of the best mounted had been left, to walk up and down 
 by the fires, to talk aloud, and thus to prevent any suspicion 
 of their movements from entering the Delaware camp. 
 
 Vexed and disappointed, the chief returned to his party, 
 which he found in confusion and dismay, from their having 
 just discovered the body of the unfortunate Wolf-cap hunter, 
 one of his companions having visited the valley before men- 
 tioned, in search of the missing horse and laryette ! 
 
460 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 The mystery was now cleared up, and the truth flashed 
 upon them that Mahega, dressed in the clothes of their slain 
 comrade, had actually come within their posts, and,, after a 
 deliberate attempt to shoot Reginald, had singed the beard of 
 Baptiste, knocked down another of their party, stolen one of 
 their best horses, arid escaped in triumph to his camp ! 
 
 It may well be imagined how such a complication of 
 injury and insult aggravated the hatred which they already 
 entertained towards the Osage. Yet were there many among 
 the rough and hardy men present, who could not prevent 
 feeling a secret admiration of his daring and successful 
 exploit. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WINGENUND DEVISES A PLAN FOR THE LIBERATION OF HIS FRIENDS, 
 AND SEEKS TO OBTAIN BY MEANS EQUALLY UNUSUAL AND EFFEC- 
 TIVE THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ONE-EYED HORSE-DEALEIt. A 
 FURTHER MARCH INTO THE MOUNTAINS W1NGENUND PAYS A 
 VISIT TO HIS FRIENDS, AND THE LATTER MAKE ACQUAINTANCE 
 WITH A STRANGE CHARACTER. 
 
 IT was about a week after the events related in the preceding 
 chapter, that, in a deep romantic glen, apparently locked in by 
 impassable mountains, there sat a hunter busily engaged in 
 changing the flint of his rifle, it having just missed fire, and 
 thereby lost him a fine chance of killing a bighorn, or moun- 
 tain sheep ; his countenance expressed little of the disappoint- 
 ment which would have been felt by a younger man on such 
 an occasion, and its harsh, coarse features would have led any 
 observer to believe that their possessor was habituated to 
 occupations less generous and harmless than those of the chase. 
 
 As he fixed a fresh flint into the lock of his rifle, he 
 hummed, or rather grunted, in a low tone, a kind of chaunt, 
 which was a mixture of half a score different tunes, and as 
 many various dialects, but from the careless deliberation with 
 which he went on with his work, it was easy to perceive that 
 his mind was otherwise occupied. 
 
 Whatever might have been his reflections, they were sud- 
 denly interrupted by a hand laid upon his shoulder, which 
 made him start as if he had been stung by a serpent. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 46l 
 
 Springing to his feet, and instinctively dropping the muzzle of 
 his rifle to the breast of his unexpected visitor, he exclaimed, 
 after a momentary pause, " Does Wingenund come as a 
 friend or an enemy ? " 
 
 " Neither," replied the youth, scornfully. " Wingenund 
 has no friendship for a forked tongue ; and if he had come 
 as an enemy, Besha would not now have been alive to ask the 
 question ; 'twas as easy to shoot him as to touch his shoulder." 
 
 "For what, then, is he come?" inquired the horse-dealer, 
 who, although somewhat abashed at this reproof, was not dis- 
 posed to endure the tone of superiority assumed towards him 
 by the young Delaware. 
 
 " He is come to speak to Besha, and then to return ; this 
 is not a place to throw away words and time." 
 
 " Indeed it is not, for Wingenund knows that his enemies 
 are within hearing of a rifle-shot." 
 
 " There may be other rifles nearer than Besha thinks," 
 replied the youth, dryly. " Wingenund is not a bird ; 
 wherever he goes his friends can follow him." 
 
 The horse-dealer cast an uneasy glance around, and mut- 
 tered half-aloud, " If Wingenund is not a bird, I know not 
 how he came to this place unseen by the Upsaroka scouts, who 
 are abroad in every quarter ? " 
 
 To this Wingenund deigned no reply, but entered at once 
 upon the business upon which he had come. As he explained 
 his proposal, the single eye of his auditor seemed to dilate 
 with unfeigned astonishment, and at its conclusion he shook 
 his head, saying, " It cannot be ! the mad-spirit has entered 
 my young brother's head. Besha would do much to serve his 
 friends, but this would hold a knife to the cord of his own 
 life!" 
 
 " The knife is there already," said the youth sternly ; 
 " Besha has told lies to Netis and to War-Eagle, and unless 
 he makes good his first words, their knife or bullet shall find 
 him on the mountain or in the wood, or in the midst of the 
 Upsaroka camp." 
 
 For an instant Besha was tempted to rush upon the bold 
 speaker, and trust the issue to his superior strength ; but the 
 quiet eye of the young Delaware was fixed upon him with an 
 expression so fearless and resolved, that he involuntarily 
 quailed before it j and as he was endeavouring to frame some 
 
462 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 further excuse, the youth continued., in a tone of voice less 
 stern, " Let Besha's ears be open, it is not yet too late ; if he 
 chooses to be friends with Netis, Wingenund can tell him some 
 news that will be good for the person whom he loves best." 
 
 " And who may that be ? " said the horse-dealer, doubtless 
 surprised at the youth's pretending to a knowledge of his 
 affections. 
 
 " Himself," was the brief reply. 
 
 The horse-dealer's eye twinkled with a comic expression, 
 and a broad grin sat upon his countenance. (e Supposing that 
 my young brother's words are true, what is the good news 
 that he has to tell ? " 
 
 "If the white prisoners are given back unhurt to their 
 friends, the lodge of Besha shall be more full of gifts than any 
 lodge on the banks of the great southern river * ; if not, the 
 mountain wolves shall gnaw his bones before the change of 
 another moon : let him choose for himself/' 
 
 " My brother's words are big," replied the horse-dealer, 
 striving to overcome the effect produced upon him by the threat 
 of the Delaware youth. " The tongues of women are very 
 brave ; if the Washashee tell the truth, not many summers 
 have passed since the Lenape were a woman-people." 
 
 The blood of the young chief boiled within him at this in- 
 sulting allusion to an era in the history of his tribe which has 
 already been explained to the reader, and had he followed his first 
 fierce impulse he would have instantly avenged the affront in 
 the blood of the speaker ; but he never lost sight of the object 
 for which he had so long sought an interview with the horse- 
 dealer, wherefore he controlled his rising passion, and replied, 
 <e Wingenund comes with this message from those who not 
 many days ago drove the Washashee and the Upsaroka from 
 their strong camp : Besha may judge whether they are women 
 or warriors." 
 
 The horse-dealer felt, if he did not own, the justice of the 
 reproof ; he knew also that the greater portion of the coveted 
 goods were in the possession of War- Eagle's party, and he 
 was willing enough to conciliate them, provided he could en- 
 sure a safe retreat from the anger of the Crows, in the event 
 of his intrigue being discovered by them. 
 
 Moved by these considerations, he said, in an undecided 
 
 * The Arkansas. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 463 
 
 tone, " My young brother must not forget that the edge of the 
 knife is on the cord of his life ; if Besha agrees to his proposal, 
 and the Crows discover him, he will be torn in pieces like a 
 wounded elk among wolves." 
 
 " The life of Wingenund is like the breath of the moun- 
 tain breeze," answered the youth ; " it is in the hands of the 
 Great Spirit, to move and send it whither he pleases. Let 
 Besha taste this black-water," he added, drawing from his belt 
 a small bottle; " it is very wonderful." 
 
 The horse-dealer took the phial, which contained a strong, 
 and not very palatable mixture, which had been borrowed by 
 Wingenund from his sister's chest of medicine ; but he de- 
 clined tasting it, shaking his head in a manner that gave the 
 youth to understand that he suspected something of a hurtful 
 or poisonous nature. 
 
 " Let not Besha be afraid," said the youth scornfully ; 
 <{ the tomahawk and the rifle are the death-weapons of the 
 Lenape, they war not with bad waters ! " and as he spoke he 
 drank a portion of the dark and distasteful liquid. 
 
 It would not have been held, according to Indian custom, 
 an act of unpardonable cowardice in Besha had he any longer 
 hesitated to taste the pledge ; and whatever doubts or scruples 
 he might in secret have entertained, he concealed them, and 
 drank off the remaining contents of the phial. 
 
 As soon as he had swallowed them, the youth, pointing up 
 to the sky, said, with much solemnity, " Now Wingenund and 
 Besha are before the Great Spirit, and they must beware what 
 they do. This dark-water was given into their hands by the 
 Medicine of the white tent : it is made up by Prairie-bird 
 from a thousand unknown herbs ; it is harmless to the good, 
 but it is poison to the forked tongue ! Has Besha ever heard 
 of the sickness which makes the skin like a honeycomb ; which 
 spares neither woman, warrior, nor child ; and in the course 
 of half a moon turns a powerful tribe into a feeble and ex- 
 hausted band ? " 
 
 " He has heard of it," replied the horse-dealer, trembling 
 from head to foot at this allusion to that fell disease*, which 
 had already begun its fearful ravages among the Indian na- 
 tions, and lias since fulfilled to the very letter the description 
 given of it by the Delaware youth. Its origin and causes were 
 
 * Small-pox. 
 
464 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 unknown, its cure beyond their skill ; it is not therefore to be 
 wondered at if they looked upon it with a mysterious dread. 
 
 "Yes," continned Wingenund, " if truth is on the lips and 
 in the heart of Besha, the medicine-water will be good for 
 him and make him strong. If he thinks of falsehood, and 
 lies spring up in his heart, but he overcomes the bad spirit 
 within, and treads it under his foot, then will the medicine- 
 water give him pain for a short time, but he will recover and 
 be stronger than before ; and if his lips and heart continue full 
 of .deceit, diseases and sores shall come so thick upon his skin 
 that he shall die among these rocks, the hungry wolf and the 
 turkey-buzzard shall refuse to come near the polluted carcase." 
 
 Such, or nearly such, was the warning threat which the 
 youth held forth in the bold and figurative language of his 
 tribe : and although Beslia could not with justice be called a 
 coward, and was superior to many of the superstitions of the 
 Indian nations, still he had heard such well-authenticated ac- 
 counts of the miraculous power of the Great Medicine of the 
 tent, that the words of Wingenund produced all, and more 
 than all, the effect he had anticipated. 
 
 " It shall be done," said Besha, in a subdued tone ; "let 
 Wingenund tell Olitipa that the lips and the heart of her 
 friend will be true, and let him desire her to speak to the 
 Great Spirit, that the medicine-water may not hurt him. 
 Besha will be true ; if the Crows discover and kill Winge- 
 nund, the hands of Besha shall be clear of his blood." 
 
 " Let the words of Wingenund remain in Besha's ears ; let 
 his tongue and his path be straight, and the hearts and hands 
 of the Lenape will be open to him. At two hours after night- 
 fall* Wingenund will be here again." 
 
 So saying, the youth turned ; and, darting through some low- 
 bushes, clambered up the steep and rocky bed of a mountain- 
 torrent with the activity of a mountain-cat. 
 
 Besha followed with his eyes the light form of the young 
 Delaware, until it disappeared behind a tall cliff that projected 
 so far across the narrow gorge as completely to hide its ex- 
 
 * It has before been mentioned that the division and notation of time vary ex- 
 tremely in the Indian tribes ; those who have had much commerce with the whites 
 have coined words answering to what we denominate hours ; but the tribe* of the 
 Far-western prairies usually express the successive periods of the night by resting 
 hecht-ek upon the hand in a recumbent posture, and then, holding up the fore- 
 finger and thumb in the form of a crescent, they show, by the number of motion* 
 which they make in pointing to the sky, the number of hours or watches after 
 tighttall which they wish to indicate. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 465 
 
 istence from the observation of any one traversing the valley, 
 while its rujrged and precipitous front might have deterred 
 the boldest hunter from attempting the passage. The horse- 
 dealer then shouldered his rifle, and returned slowly to the 
 Crow camp, distant about a mile, revolving as he went along 
 various schemes for ensuring the gratitude of the Delawares, 
 without forfeiting the friendship of those with whom he was 
 now allied. 
 
 Wingenund had rightly estimated the probable nature and 
 quality of his reflections, and sundry sharp twitches which he 
 felt in his stomach served to remind him of the dangerous 
 liquid which it contained. Warned by these sensations, he 
 made up his mind to obey the Great Medicine of the tent, 
 and for the present, at least, to be faithful to the promise 
 made to Wingenund. 
 
 The Delaware youth pursued his way up the rough and 
 craggy gorge until he reached a cave that he had noticed on 
 his descent as likely to afford shelter and a secure retreat. 
 Here he stopped ; and ensconcing himself in a dark recess, 
 whence he could, without being himself discovered, see any 
 one passing before the aperture, he threw himself on the 
 ground, and drawing from his belt a few slices of dried bison- 
 raeat, he made his frugal meal, and quenched his thirst from 
 a streamlet that trickled down the face of the rock behind 
 him. While resting himself, he indulged in hopes and reve- 
 ries suited to his enthusiastic nature ; he was now engaged in 
 an enterprise such as he had often heard recorded in the songs 
 of the Lenape warriors ; he was about to trust himself alone 
 in the midst of a hostile camp, and to risk his life for the 
 liberation of his early benefactor and the friend of his adopted 
 brother ; he felt the spirit of his fathers stir within his 
 breast. 
 
 " If I escape," said he to himself, " they shall escape with 
 me ; and if I die, I will not die alone, and the name of Win- 
 genund shall not be forgotten among the warriors of his 
 tribe." 
 
 In these and similar meditations he beguiled the hours 
 until darkness overspread the earth, and the time of the ap- 
 pointed rendezvous drew nigh ; then, once more emerging from 
 the cave, he picked his way cautiously among the rocks, and 
 at length found himself at the spot where he had parted from 
 li H 
 
466* 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Besha. Having purposely concealed his rifle in the cave, he 
 was now armed only with a knife and a small pistol,, which 
 he carried in his belt. 
 
 The night was cold and boisterous ; dark clouds hung 
 around the mountain-peaks, and chased each other in rapid 
 succession over the disc of the moon, while a fitful gust of 
 wind swept down the rocky glens, whistling as they passed 
 among the branches of the scathed pines which were thinly 
 scattered in that wild and desolate region. 
 
 He had not waited long when he heard the sound of ap- 
 proaching footsteps, and straining his keen sight to its utmost 
 power, he recognised Besha, who came not alone, but accom- 
 panied by another man. 
 
 Although this was an addition to the company that he did 
 not expect, the youth came fearlessly forward, his quick ap- 
 prehension suggesting to him that if treachery had been 
 intended the horse-dealer's companion would have been con- 
 cealed. After exchanging a sign of recognition, Wingenund 
 led the way to a deep recess which he had noted in a rock at 
 no great distance, where they collected and kindled a few 
 sticks of withered juniper and sage, which supplied them with 
 warmth and light without rendering the place of their colloquy 
 visible from the valley below. 
 
 By the light of the fire Wingenund observed with surprise 
 that the horse-dealer's companion, a lad of nearly his own 
 size and stature, had only one eye, the cavity of the other 
 being covered with a patch of cloth ; his complexion was of a 
 hue so swarthy, that it evidently contained an admixture of 
 the negro race : and his hair, though not woolly, was coarse, 
 long, and matted, differing entirely in its texture from that 
 of the tribes of purely Indian blood. He was wrapped in a 
 tattered blanket, and stood apart like one conscious of his in 
 feriority of station. To account for his appearance without 
 entering at length into the explanations given by the horse- 
 dealer to Wingenund, it will be sufficient to state that the 
 latter had proposed to enter the Crow camp in a female dress, 
 and to find an opportunity, as an inmate of his lodge, for 
 communicating with Paul M tiller and Ethelston. 
 
 As soon as Besha once made up his mind to forward the 
 scheme, he resolved to do so with as little risk of discovery 
 as possible. Happening to have in his lodge a slave, a captive 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 467 
 
 taken in a horse stealing skirmish among the Comanches, who 
 was nearly the same age as Wingenund, he thought that the 
 youth might personate him more easily than he could imitate 
 the gait and appearance of a woman. 
 
 Many \vere the jokes among the Crows about the one-eyed 
 Besha, and his one-eyed slave. The latter had lost his eye 
 by the point of an arrow, in the same skirmish which threw 
 him into Besha's power, and being a cunning and dexterous 
 lad, he soon grew into favour with his new master, who fre- 
 quently employed him as a spy, and found him extremely 
 useful in stealing, marking, and disguising horses for him. 
 
 Wingenund saw at once the drift of Besha's project, and 
 they lost no time in carrying it into effect. The exchange of 
 dress was made in a few seconds, and the horse-dealer then 
 drew from his pouch a small bladder, containing ointment, 
 with which he stained the youth's hands and face, fastening 
 at the same time a patch over his left eye. Wingenund then 
 desired Besha to walk up and down, and speak with the lad, 
 that he might carefully note his movements, and the intona- 
 tion of his voice. This observation he continued for some 
 time, until he thought himself tolerably perfect in his lesson. 
 There remained, however, one point on which he still felt 
 himself very insecure against detection. On his explaining 
 this to Besha, the latter grinned, and drawing from under his 
 vest a head-dress of false hair, ragged and matted as that of 
 his slave, he placed it on the head of Wingenund. The 
 youth felt his disguise was now complete ; and retaining his 
 own knife and small pistol in his belt, threw the tattered 
 blanket ove/ his shoulder, and prepared to accompany Besha 
 to his lodge. 
 
 The latter having instructed the slave to keep himself con- 
 cealed among the rocks for a few days, and having provided 
 him with a small bag of provisions, returned slowly towards 
 the Crow camp, giving to his young companion by the way 
 such hints as he deemed necessary for his safety. Fortu- 
 nately for Wingenundj the lad whom he personated was 
 known by the Crows to be ignorant of their language, so 
 there was no great risk of his being betrayed by his speech. 
 
 As they picked their way slowly along the base of the 
 rugged hills which frowned over the valley, they came to a 
 spot where a few stunted pines threw t* darker shadow across 
 
 H H 2 
 
468 THE PRAIRIE- BIRD, 
 
 their path. To one of these was attacned a horse, which 
 Wingenund unfastened hy desire of Besha, and led it after 
 him by the halter. 
 
 As they reached the outposts of the camp, Besha was 
 addressed hy several of the sentries, to whom he explained his 
 night expedition, by informing them that he had been with 
 his slave to recover a horse that had strayed. They were 
 perfectly satisfied with this explanation, it being of very fre- 
 quent occurrence that both master and man returned by day 
 and by night with horses that they had " recovered ; " the 
 latter word being in the Crow dialect almost, if not quite, 
 synonymous with " stolen." 
 
 The lodge of Besha was pitched next to that of White- 
 bull, in which Ethelston and Paul Miiller were confined. 
 His entrance caused no disturbance amongst its slumbering 
 inmates; and Wingenund, fore-armed with the requisite 
 local information, tied up the horse beside its fellow ; and 
 nestling himself into his allotted corner, laid himself down 
 to rest as composedly as if he had been in his usual quarters 
 in the outer division of his sister's tent 
 
 While Wingenund was thus carrying his project into effect 
 his friends fulfilled the intention they had formed of marchiug 
 further into the mountains. 
 
 * ; Dear Prairie-bird ! " said Reginald, as they walked toge- 
 ther in front of her tent, " I fear you must be much fatigued 
 by this last march. I never could have believed that a horse, 
 bearing a female rider, could have crossed that rocky pass by 
 which we entered this valley." 
 
 " The horse deserves more praise than the rider, Reginald ; 
 and Nekimi seemed quite aware that his master attached a 
 higher price to his burthen than it was worth, for he put his 
 feet so safely and gently down, that I need not have feared his 
 slipping, even had he not been led by one yet more gentle and 
 careful than himself." 
 
 " It was, however, a severe trial, Prairie-bird," replied her 
 lover; "for you remember that Lita's mule stumbled, and 
 nearly fell with her over that fearful precipice ! but Nekimi 
 is unmatched for speed and sureness of foot, and is of so ge- 
 nerous and affectionate a nature that I love him more than I 
 ever thought I could have loved a quadruped. When we re- 
 turn to Mooshanne, he shall be repaid for all his faithful ser- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 vice ; warm shall be his stable, soft his litter, and his beloved 
 mistress shall sometimes give him corn with her own fair 
 hand, in remembrance of these days of hardships ! " 
 
 At the mention of his home, the cheek of Prairie- bird 
 coloured with an emotion which that subject never failed to 
 excite. Reginald observed it, and said to her, in a half-jesting 
 tone, " Confess now, dearest, have you not a longing desire to 
 see that home of which I have so often spoken to you ? " 
 
 " It appears to me so like a dream, that I scarcely dare let 
 my thoughts dwell upon it ! But your sister, of whom Winge- 
 nund told me so much, I hope she will love me ? " 
 
 Reginald bent his dark eyes upon her countenance with an 
 expression that said, as plainly as words could speak it, " How 
 could any one see thee, and fail to love thee ? " Then turning 
 the conversation to Wingenund, he replied, " Two days have 
 now elapsed since your young brother went upon his dangerous 
 expedition ; I begin to feel most anxious for his safety." 
 
 " With grief I saw him go ; for even if he succeeds in see- 
 ing and speaking with the Black Father, I cannot tell what 
 advantage will come from it." 
 
 " They may perhaps devise some scheme for escape, and 
 will at all events be comforted by the assurance that their 
 friends are near and watchful. Three several times on the 
 march hither had we made our plans for attacking the camp, 
 and rescuing them, but the hateful Mahega was always on his 
 guard, and had posted himself in such a manner that we could 
 not approach without incurring severe loss. War-Eagle has 
 himself owned that the Osage has conducted this retreat with 
 wonderful skill. What a pity that so great a villain should 
 possess such high qualities ! " 
 
 " If he were not in the camp of the Crows," said Prairie- 
 bird, " my beloved father and your friend would have been 
 set free long ago ; cruelty and revenge are his pleasures, and 
 his hand is ever ready to shed blood." 
 
 " He will doubtless do all in his power to prevent their 
 liberation ; and if his malignant eye should detect the presence 
 of Wingenund, he would represent the brave youth as a spy, 
 and urge the Crows to destroy him." 
 
 " I trust much to Wingenund's skill, but more, oh ! how 
 much more to the protection of Him, at whose word the 
 
 H H 3 
 
470 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 strongest bars and bolts are broken, and the fetters of iron fall 
 from the limbs of the captive ! " 
 
 " What a strength and support must it be to you, dearest 
 Prairie-bird, thus habitually to look up to Heaven amid all the 
 trials and troubles of earth !" 
 
 " How would it be possible to do otherwise ? " she replied, 
 looking up in his face with an expression of innocent surprise; 
 " Can any one look upon the flowers of the prairie, the beauty 
 of the swift antelope, the shade of the valleys, the hills and, 
 snow -clad mountains, the sun, the moon, and the thousand 
 thousand worlds above, and yet not worship Him who framed 
 them ? " 
 
 " I grant you, dearest," he replied, " that no reasonable 
 being could consider those things without experiencing the 
 emotions that you describe, yet many, very many, will not 
 consider them ; still fewer are there who refer the thoughts, 
 actions, and events of daily life to an ever-present, over-ruling 
 Providence." 
 
 ff Surely they can never have read this book," she said, 
 pointing to the volume which was her constant companion; 
 " or they must feel ever grateful for past mercies, present 
 benefits, and the blessed promises of the future revealed in it ! " 
 
 For a moment Reginald cast his eyes upon the ground, 
 conscience reminding him of many occasions on which he had 
 been led by temptation and carelessness to wander from those 
 ordinances and precepts of religion which he respected and 
 approved ; at length he replied, " True, my beloved, but the 
 human heart is a treacherous guide, and often betrays into 
 errors which reason and revelation would alike condemn." 
 
 tc It may be so among the cities and crowded haunts of men, 
 of which I know nothing beyond what I have read and what 
 the Black Father has taught me; yet I cannot understand 
 how a loving heart can be, in such cases, a treacherous guide. 
 Is it not sweet to serve one whom we love on earth, to think 
 of him, to bless him, to follow where he points the way, to 
 afford him pleasure, to fulfil his wishes, even before they are 
 expressed ? If such feelings be sweet and natural towards 
 one frail and imperfect as ourselves, why should the heart 
 refuse to entertain them towards the one perfect Being, our 
 ever-present Benefactor, the Fountain of Love ? " 
 
 Again Reginald was silent; the impassioned eloquence of her 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIKD. 4?1 
 
 eyes told him how her heart overflowed with feelings but 
 faintly shadowed in her simple language ; and he desired 
 rather to share than to shake her creed. Why should he tell 
 her, that in spite of all the incentives of hope and gratitude, 
 in spite of all the arguments of reason and the truths of re- 
 velation, the great majority of the so-called Christian world 
 pursued their daily course of business or amusement as if the 
 present were the substance of life, and eternity a dream? 
 Reginald felt his own heart softened, purified, and exalted by 
 communion with the gentle being at his side ; the cares and 
 troubles of life might perhaps disturb at some future time the 
 current of her lot, but her faith was built upon a Rock that 
 would not be shaken, and his spirit, already sympathising with 
 hers, experienced a new and delightful sensation of happiness. 
 
 He might have indulged longer in this blissful reverie, had 
 not his ear caught the sound of an approaching footstep : he 
 turned quickly, and recognising the light form of Wingenund, 
 exclaimed, " See, Prairie-bird, our dear young brother safely 
 returned ! May all your other hopeful anticipations be as 
 happily realised ! Speak, Wiugenund ; let us hear how you 
 have sped in your difficult and dangerous mission ? " 
 
 Instead of giving the youth's narrative in his own words, 
 we will resume the thread of his story where we left it, being 
 thus enabled to relate various particulars which his modesty 
 induced him to omit. 
 
 At the first dawn of day he looked round the horse-dealer's 
 lodge, and made a survey of its inmates. In the centre lay 
 Besha himself, and by his side a squaw from one of the 
 southern tribes, who had been the companion of his rambles 
 and expeditions for many years. Beyond them there slept, or 
 seemed to sleep, a youth, whose appearance indicated that he 
 also belonged to a southern clime, and that some Mexican 
 blood ran in his veins j his features were finely formed, his 
 complexion darker than that of a northern Indian, and a short 
 moustachio began to shade his upper lip ; his eye was small, 
 but piercing, and black as jet, and scarcely was the light suffi- 
 cient to render distinguishable the objects in the lodge ere his 
 quick gaze fell upon Wingenund, with an expression that 
 convinced the latter that the plot had been confided to him. 
 These were the only inmates of the lodge, which was filled with 
 
 H H 4 
 
4?2 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 various indications of its owner's success in trade, packages 
 and bales being piled therein to a considerable height. 
 
 Agreeably to the plan preconcerted by Besha, his wife in- 
 vited Bending-willow to come to her in the course of the 
 morning ; and, on her arrival, set before her some cakes of 
 inaize, sweetened with sugar, a luxury equally new and 
 agreeable to the Upsaroka bride. Further civilities beyond 
 those interchangeable by signs were precluded between them, 
 by the circumstance of their being each entirely ignorant of 
 the other's language ; but the offering of a string of blue- 
 beads after the cakes completed the triumph of the hostess ire 
 the good graces of her guest. 
 
 Besha did not lose this favourable opportunity for calling 
 the attention of the latter to the subject of the prisoners, in 
 whose behalf he expressed a hope that she would use her best 
 exertions. 
 
 Banding-willow smiled, and said that she was a woman,, 
 and had no power in the council of the tribe. 
 
 The crafty horse-dealer saw at a glance how the assertion 
 was belied by the smile, and replied, 
 
 <f When White-bull speaks, the braves listen : when Bend* 
 ing- willow speaks, does not White-bull listen too ? " 
 
 The Upsaroka beauty looked down and counted the beads 
 upon her new bracelet, with an expression of countenance 
 which encouraged Besha to proceed. " These white men are 
 of no use in the Upsaroka camp ; they eat and drink, and kill 
 no game. If they are sent back to their own people, the 
 lodge of White-bull will be full of presents, and the women 
 will say, * Look at Bending-willow ; she is dressed like the 
 wife of a great chief ! ' " 
 
 By these, and similar arguments, the Crow bride was easily 
 induced to connive at the plot laid for the liberation of the 
 prisoners. Being a good-natured creature, and feeling that 
 the kindness of Prairie-bird to her had been ill requited, she 
 was the more willing to favour the white people, and only 
 held Besha to the promise that, in contriving their escape, no 
 injury should be done to the person or property of any of her 
 tribe. 
 
 With the assistance of Bending-willow, Wingenund found 
 several opportunities of conversing with Ethelston and the 
 Black Father ; but the camp was so strictly guarded that they 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 473 
 
 could not devise any plan that seemed to promise success, 
 while a failure was sure to bring upon them more rigid con- 
 finement, if not a severer and more summary punishment. 
 Wingenund was authorised by Besha to comfort them with 
 the assurance that they had a true friend in White-bull's 
 bride, and that they were quite safe from the malignant de- 
 signs of Mahe'ga. On the other hand, the horse-dealer posi- 
 tively refused, under present circumstances, to incur the risk 
 of aiding their escape while the position of the camp was so 
 unfavourable for it, and the Crow sentries were kept so much 
 on the alert by the immediate vicinity of War-Eagle's party. 
 
 Under these circumstances, the youth had slipped away by 
 night to consult with his friends whether the liberation of the 
 prisoners should be attempted by force, or whether it might 
 not be more advisable to throw the Crows off their guard by 
 discontinuing the pursuit, and leaving it to the ingenuity of 
 Wingenund to devise a plan for their escape. 
 
 These twq alternatives having been duly discussed in coun- 
 cil, it was almost unanimously agreed to adopt the latter ; and 
 Wingenund prepared again to return to his perilous post, 
 having received from War-Eagle, Reginald, and Prairie- bird 
 the praises which his skill and enterprise had so well deserved, 
 
 He did not forget to take with him a small supply of beads 
 and trinkets, which he concealed in his belt, and which were 
 destined to secure the continued favour of Bending- willow. 
 
 As soon as he was gone, War. Eagle proposed that the 
 party should quit their present station in search of one where 
 they might be more likely to fall in with deer and bison, as 
 meat was becoming very scarce in the camp ; and a scout, sent 
 out on the preceding day, had returned with a report that he 
 had found, at the distance of half a day's march, a large and 
 fertile valley, watered by a fine stream, and abounding in 
 n.;itor'uls for fuel. This last consideration was of itself highly 
 important, for the Crows had gathered every dry bush and 
 sii'.-k i -om the barren glen in which they were now encamped ; 
 and the utmost exertions of the indefatigable Perrot scarcely 
 enable. 1 him to provide a sufficiency for cooking the neces- 
 saiy provisions: while the coldness of the atmosphere, espe- 
 cially >t ni^ht, rendered the absence of fire a privation more 
 th; 11 o linarily severe. 
 
 The counsel of War-Eagle was therefore adopted without 
 
474 THE PRAIBJE-BIRD. 
 
 delay, it having been agreed that two of the most experienced 
 men, the one a Delaware, and the other a white hunter, should 
 hover around the Crow camp, and communicate to the main 
 body, from time to time, their movements and proceedings. 
 
 Having been supplied with an extra blanket, and a few 
 pounds of dried meat and parched corn, these two hardy 
 fellows saw their comrades depart without the least apparent 
 concern, and soon afterwards withdrew to a sheltered and 
 more elevated spot, whence they could, without being per- 
 ceived, command a distant view of the Crow camp. 
 
 Following the steps of the scouts, War-Eagle led his party 
 to a part of the valley where a huge rent or fissure in the side 
 of the mountain rendered the ascent practicable for the horses. 
 It was, however, a wild and rugged scene, and a fitting 
 entrance to the vast pile of mountains that showed their 
 towering peaks far to the westward. 
 
 Prairie-bird was mounted upon Nekimi, and Reginald 
 walked by her side, his hand ever ready to aid and guide him 
 amongst the huge stones, which in some places obstructed the 
 path. 
 
 Never had velvet lawn, or flower-embroidered vale, seemed 
 to our hero half so smooth and pleasant as did that rocky pass. 
 At every turn some new feature of grandeur arrested the 
 attention of Prairie-bird, who expressed her admiration in 
 language which was a strange mixture of natural eloquence 
 and poetry, and which sounded to his ears more musical than 
 te Apollo's lute." 
 
 What struck him as most remarkable was, that, whether in 
 speaking of the magnificent scenery around, or of the more 
 minute objects which fell under her observation, her spirit 
 was so imbued with Scripture, that she constantly clothed her 
 ideas in its phraseology, without being conscious of so doing. 
 
 Thus, when in crossing the valley they passed by some ant- 
 hills, and, in ascending the opposite height, saw here and there 
 a mountain-rabbit nibbling the short moss that overspread the 
 bed of rock, Reginald directed her attention to them, saying, 
 "See, Prairie-bird, even in this desolate wilderness these 
 insect-millions have built them a city, and the rabbit skips 
 and feasts as merrily as in more fertile regions." 
 
 " True, dear Reginald," she replied, " therefore did the wise 
 man say in days of old, ' The ants are a people not strong, 
 
THE PRAIHIK-BIRD 4? 
 
 yet they prepare their meat in the summer: the conies are 
 but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.' " 
 
 A little further onward, the pass was overhung by an enor- 
 mous cliff, from the top of which a bighorn looked down 
 upon the party below, the long beard of the mountain-goat 
 streaming in the wind. One of the hunters fired at it, but 
 the harmless bullet glanced from the face of the cliff, while 
 amid the echoes repeated and prolonged by the surrounding 
 heights, the bighorn sprang from rock to rock across the 
 yawning chasms by which they were divided, as lightly as the 
 forest squirrel leaps from a branch of the spreading oak to 
 that of the neighbouring elm. 
 
 Reginald watched the animal's progress, and called the 
 attention of Prairie-bird to the surprising swiftness and acti- 
 vity with which it held on its perilous course. 
 
 When at length it disappeared behind the angle of an abrupt 
 precipice, she said, " Does it not call to your mind the de- 
 scription given of the wild-ass of the East, in the Book of 
 Job, ' Who has sent out the wild-ass free ? or who hath 
 loosened the band of the wild-ass ? whose house I have made 
 the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling ? He scorn- 
 eth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying 
 of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and 
 he searcheth after every green thing.' Tell me, Reginald," 
 continued the maiden, after a momentary pause, " can the 
 creature here described be the same dull patient animal that I 
 have often seen bearing the packs of the Mexican traders ? " 
 
 " The same, I believe, dearest, in its origin, and its place 
 in natural history, but widely different in its habits and 
 powers, if we may credit the narratives of travellers, whether 
 modern or ancient. I remember reading a most spirited 
 description of this same animal in the account given by the 
 eminent historian * of the expedition of the younger Cyrus, 
 who relates that the herds of them found near the banks of 
 the Euphrates surpassed the swiftest horses in speed, and were 
 neither to be tamed nor approached without the greatest diffi- 
 culty ; and in later times they have been described as abound- 
 ing in the wildest regions of Persia and Tartary, where their 
 flesh is considered one 7 of the greatest delicacies at the table 
 6T the hunter, and even at that of the prince. In order to 
 
 * Xenophon. 
 
476 
 
 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 distinguish this animal from its humble and degraded kindred 
 in the West, it has been dignified by the name of the 
 Onager." 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted by a sudden halt in 
 the line of march, and Reginald heard the sound of numerous 
 voices towards the front as of men speaking under surprise and 
 excitement. When he advanced, with Prairie-bird at his 
 side, they made way for him to pass until he reached the 
 front, where he found War-Eagle holding by a leathern thong 
 the most singular-looking creature that he had ever beheld. 
 It bore in some respects the semblance of a human being, but 
 the extreme lowness of its stature, the matted hair by which 
 it was covered, the length of the finger nails, and the small- 
 ness of the deep-set eyes, made it almost a matter of doubt 
 whether it did not rather belong to the monkey tribe. 
 
 This was. however, soon dispelled by Pierre, who recog- 
 nised in the diminutive and terrified creature one of the race 
 known to mountain-hunters under the name of Root-diggers. 
 They are the most abject and wretched of all the Indians 
 tribes, living in caves and holes, and supporting their miser- 
 able existence upon such animals as they can catch, in toils of 
 the simplest kind, and by grubbing and digging for roots such 
 as no other human being could eat or digest. The one now 
 taken by the Delawares had been engaged in the latter occu- 
 pation when he first saw them approach, and he fled imme- 
 diately towards the rocks. Had he been followed by an eye 
 less sure, and a foot less fleet than that of War-Eagle, he 
 might have escaped, for despite his uncouth appearance, he 
 was nimble as a mountain-cat, but the Delaware chief over- 
 took and secured him ; and in spite of all the endeavours made 
 to reassure him, the unfortunate Root-digger now looked about 
 him as if he expected every moment to be his last. Beads, 
 trinkets, and shreds of bright-coloured cloth were all held up 
 to him in turn, but were left unnoticed, and his deep twink- 
 ling eyes roved incessantly from one to another of the by- 
 standers with an expression of the most intense alarm. 
 
 " Are they always thus fearful and intractable?" inquired 
 Reginald of the Canadian hunter. 
 
 11 Not always," replied Pierre ; " but the Crows and Black- 
 feet, and white men too, generally treat them worse than dogs 
 whenever they find them : that is not often, for they always 
 
THE PRAiniE-BIRD. 477 
 
 hide among rocks and stones, and seldom come down so low in 
 the valleys. I never saw one in this region before." 
 
 " Prairie-bird," said Reginald in a whisper to the maiden, 
 " speak to the poor creature a few words of comfort. Were he 
 shy, suspicious, and wild as a wolf, that voice would subdue 
 and dispel his apprehensions." 
 
 " The sweetness of the voice lies in the hearer's partial ear," 
 replied Prairie-bird, blushing deeply ; " but I will do your bid- 
 ding to the best of my power ; and if I mistake not the poor 
 creature's symptoms,. 1 think I can find the means to relieve 
 them." 
 
 So saying, and leaping lightly from her horse, the maiden 
 took from one of the packs a piece of baked maiza-cake, and a 
 slice of dried bison-meat. Carrying these in her hand, she 
 approached the Root-digger, and motioning to the bystanders 
 to retire to some distance, she deliberately untied the thong by 
 which he had been fastened, and placing the food before him, 
 made signs that he should eat. At first the uncouth being 
 gazed upon her as if he could or would not understand her 
 meaning ; but she spoke to him in the soft Delaware tongue, 
 and eating a morsel of the cake, repeated the signal that he 
 should eat with her. Whether overcome by the gentleness of 
 her manner, or by the cravings of hunger, the savage no longer 
 resisted, but devoured with ravenous haste the food which she 
 had set before him. Prairie-bird smiled at the success of her 
 attempt, which so far encouraged her, that she again offered 
 the several presents which he had before rejected, and which 
 lie now accepted, turning them over and over in his hand, and 
 inspectimg them with childish curiosity. 
 
 Reginald looked on with gratified pride, saying within him- 
 self, " I knew that nothing could resist the winning tones of 
 that voice ! 
 
 ' Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage, 
 But music for the time doth change his nature ; ' 
 
 And where is there music like the voice of Prairie-bird ? " 
 
 
4?8 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE ROOT-DIGGER MAKES FRIENDS WITH THE PARTY. AN ADVES- 
 TUKE WITH A GRISLY BEAR. THE CONDUCT OF WAR-EAGLE. 
 
 No sooner had Prairie-bird gained the confidence of the Root- 
 digger, than War- Eagle, Reginald, and the other chief hunters 
 approached him with signs of amity and friendship : neverthe- 
 less, he continued shy and suspicious, still refusing to receive 
 either food or present from any hand excepting that of the 
 maiden. They were obliged, therefore, to make her their 
 interpreter, and to endeavour, through her, to acquire the in- 
 formation of which they were in want respecting the scarcity 
 or abundance of deer and bison in the neighbourhood. 
 
 In the discharge of this office, Prairie-bird discovered so 
 much natural quickness, and at the same time so complete 
 a knowledge of the Indian language of signs, that Reginald 
 looked on with the most intense interest, while the maiden, 
 whose beauty was so strongly contrasted with the hideous face 
 and figure of the mountain dwarf, maintained with him a con- 
 versation of some length, in the course of which she learnt 
 that there were few, if any, bison in the neighbourhood, but 
 that the argali, or mountain sheep, and deer of several kinds, 
 were to be found at no great distance. She succeeded also, at 
 length, in so far disarming his suspicions, that he agreed to 
 act as guide to Baptiste and Reginald in pursuit of game, and 
 to return with them to reap the reward of his trouble in further 
 presents from the hand of Prairie-bird. 
 
 The sturdy back-woodsman did not seem to place much 
 confidence in the fidelity of his new acquaintance, and bluntly 
 observed to Pierre, " For sure, I never saw an uglier crittur, 
 and his eyes rolled from side to side with an underlook that 
 I don't half like : perhaps he'll lead us into some ambush of 
 Upsarckas, or other mountain Ingians, rather than to a herd 
 of deer." 
 
 " You need not be afraid, Baptiste," replied his brother 
 hunter, laughing ; " these poor Root-diggers are harmless and 
 honest in their own miserable way. They are said to belong 
 to the Shoshonies, or Snake-tribe, and are the best of all the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BJRD. 4-79 
 
 Ingians hereabouts ; not such fighting devils as the Black-feet, 
 nor such thieves as the Crows, but friendly to the Whites. 
 This poor crittur has been digging for roots many a long day 
 with that sharpened flint, which you see in his hand. After 
 you have started on your hunting trip, make him a present of 
 a good knife. I have watched his eyes roving from belt to 
 belt ; he would give his ears for one, and yet is too frightened 
 to ask for it." 
 
 (f Thanks for the hint, Pierre," said his companion, looking 
 carefully to the priming of his rifle ; "thanks for the hint. 
 I will carry a spare one with me on purpose ; and in case we 
 should fall in with a fat herd, do you, friend War-Eagle, give 
 us the company of one of your stoutest men, that he may 
 assist in bringing in enough meat for the party." 
 
 On hearing these words, Prairie-bird inquired of the Root- 
 digger, by signs, whether one of the mules could not go over 
 the hunting-ground. The savage looked first at the animal, 
 then at the fair speaker, and then, with a grin, gave a most 
 decided indication of a negative. 
 
 The preparations for the hunt were soon made. Prairie- 
 bird urged Reginald in a low voice, not to remain too long 
 absent, a command which he faithfully promised to obey ; and 
 just as he was about to set forth, he led her up to the chief, 
 and said, " War-Eagle will take care of his sister ?" 
 
 The Indian's proud heart was gratified by this simple proof 
 of his friend's unbounded confidence ; he saw that no jealousy, 
 no doubt of his victory over self, lurked in the breast of Regi- 
 nald, and he replied, " While War-Eagle has life to protect 
 her, Olitipa shall be safe as in the lodge of Tamenund." 
 
 Reginald turned and followed Baptiste and the Root-d ; .gger, 
 who had already taken their way up the valley, accompanied 
 by the Delaware selected to aid in carrying home the anti- 
 cipated booty. 
 
 Leaving them to toil up one rocky steep after another, 
 wondering at the enduring agility of the Shoshonie dwarf, 
 who seemed almost as active and sure-footed as one of the 
 mountain -goats of which they were in search, we will return to 
 the valley where War-Eagle's camp was posted, which formed, 
 as we have before noticed, a pleasing contrast to the savage 
 scenery around. The stream that flowed through its centre, 
 fresh from the snowy bosom of the mountain was cool and 
 
480 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 clear as crystal, and the shade of the trees which grew along 
 its banks was delightfully refreshing after the fatigues of a 
 summer march, even in a region, the elevation of which ren- 
 dered the atmosphere extremely cold before the rising and 
 after the setting of the sun. Prairie-bird felt an irresistible 
 ilesire to stroll by the banks of this stream, a desire that 
 was no sooner mentioned by Lita to War-Eagle than he at 
 once assented, assuring her that she might do so in safety, as 
 his scouts were on the look-out both above and below in the 
 valley, so that no enemy could approach unperceived. At the 
 same time he gave instructions in the camp that none of the 
 men should wander to that quarter, in order that it might be 
 left altogether undisturbed. 
 
 Shortly afterwards Prairie-bird set forth, taking in her hand 
 a mocassin, which she was ornamenting with stained quills 
 for the foot of Reginald, and accompanied by her faithful 
 Lita, who bore upon her hand a bundle containing various 
 articles belonging to her mistress and to herself, on which she 
 was about to exercise her talents as a laundress. 
 
 They had pursued their respective avocations for several 
 hours without interruption, when on a sudden they heard the 
 report of a rifle and the voice of a man shouting, as if engaged 
 in the pursuit of game. This was an occurrence to which 
 both were so much accustomed, that they paid at first little 
 attention to it ; but they felt some alarm when they saw one 
 of their party, a white hunter, coming towards them as if run- 
 ning for his life. Before reaching the spot where they were 
 seated, he threw his rifle upon the ground and climbed into a 
 tree ; immediately afterwards a young male, not full-grown, 
 of the species called the grisly or rocky mountain bear, came 
 up, limping as if wounded by the rifle so lately discharged, 
 and missing the object that he had been following, looked 
 around him, howling with mingled rage and pain. At length 
 he caught sight of Prairie-bird and her companion; and setting 
 up a more loud and angry howl, trotted towards them. Un- 
 fortunatejy, the spot to which they had retired was a narrow 
 strip of wooded ground, projecting into a curve of the stream 
 above mentioned, and they could not retreat towards the camp 
 without approaching yet nearer to the wounded bear. There 
 was no time for reflection ; and in the sudden emergency, 
 Prairie-bird hesitated whether she should not adopt the de- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 481 
 
 sperate alternative of throwing herself into the water, in hopes 
 that the stream might carry her out of the reach of danger. 
 
 At this crisis the crack of a rifle was heard, and the young 
 "bear fell, but again rose and struggled forward, as if determined 
 not to be disappointed of its prey. Seeing the imminent danger 
 of the woman, the hunter who had climbed the tree dropped 
 lightly to the ground, and catching up his rifle, attacked the 
 half-exhausted animal, which still retained sufficient strength 
 to render too near an approach extremely dangerous. War- 
 Eagle for he it was who had fired the last opportune shot 
 now sprang forward from the bushes, reloading his rifle as he 
 came, in order to decide the issue of the conflict, when a loud 
 shriek from Lita reached his ear ; and on turning round he 
 beheld the dam of the wounded cub, a she-bear of enormous 
 bulk, trotting rapidly forward to the scene of action ; the 
 hunter was so much engaged in dealing blow after blow with 
 the butt of his rifle, that he had noticed neither her approach 
 nor the warning shout of War-Eagle, when one stroke from 
 her terrible paw struck him bleeding and senseless to the 
 ground. For an instant she smelt and moaned over her dying 
 offspring ; then, as if attracted by the female dress, pursued 
 her way with redoubled speed and fury towards the spot where 
 Lita clung, with speechless terror, to the arm of her mistress. 
 The latter, although fully alive to the imminency of the peril, 
 lost not her composure at this trying moment. Breathing a 
 short prayer to Heaven for support and protection, she fixed 
 her eyes upon War-Eagle, as if conscious that the only human 
 possibility of safety now lay in his courage and devotion. 
 
 Then it was that the Indian chief evinced the high and 
 heroic properties of his character ; for although every second 
 brought the infuriated brute near and more near to her who 
 had been from youth his heart's dearest treasure, he continued, 
 as he advanced, to load the rifle with a hand as steady as if 
 he had been about to practise at a target ; and just as the ball 
 was rammed home, and the priming carefully placed in the 
 pan, he threw himself directly in front of the bear, so that it 
 was only by first destroying him that she could possibly 
 approach the objects of his care. It was a moment, and but 
 a moment, of dreadful suspense, for the bear swerved neither 
 to the right nor to the left from her onward path; and it was 
 not until the muzzle of the rifle was within three yards of her 
 I I 
 
482 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 forehead that he fired, taking his aim between her eyes j 
 shaking her head as if more angered than hurt, she raised her 
 huge form on her hind legs, and advanced to seize him, when 
 he drew his pistol arid discharged it into her chest, springing 
 at the same time lightly back, almost to the spot to which 
 Prairie-bird and her trembling companion seemed rooted as if 
 by a spell. Although both shots had struck where they were 
 aimed, the second appeared to have taken no more effect than 
 the first, and the bear was again advancing to the attack, when 
 War-Eagle, catching up from the ground a blanket which 
 Tata had brought down to the brook, held it extended before 
 him until the monster sprung against it, and with her claws 
 rent it into shreds ; not, however, before it had served for an 
 instant the purpose of a veil ; profiting by that opportunity, 
 the heroic Delaware dashed in between her fore-paws and 
 plunged his long knife into her breast. Short, though terrible, 
 was the struggle that ensued ; the bear was every moment 
 growing weaker from the effect of the shot-wounds, and from 
 loss of blood, and although she lacerated him dreadfully with 
 her claws and teeth, sfce was not able to make him relax the 
 determined grasp with which he clung to her, plunging the 
 fatal knife again and again into her body, until at length she 
 fell exhausted and expiring into a pool of her own blood, 
 while the triumphant war-cry of the Delaware rung aloud 
 through wood and vale.* 
 
 Alarmed by the shots, the yells of the dying bear, and the 
 shouts of the chief, several of the party now hastened towards 
 
 * To some who have read the descriptions of bear-hunts in Norway and Russia 
 it may appear neither wonderful nor unusual thv.t a single hunter should kill a 
 full-grown bear ; but it must be borne in mind, that the bear of the north of Eu- 
 rope bears about the same proportion t> a grisly bear of the Kocky Mountains 
 (Urtsus/iorribilis) as a panther does to a Bengal tiger. The grisly bear is not 
 only the largest and most ferocious of his species, but his tenacity ot life is so re- 
 markable that he frequently runs a considerable distance and survives some hours 
 after receiving several balls through the lungs, head, and heart. On this account 
 it is never safe for the most experienced marksman to attack him alone, unless 
 there be some tree or place of safety at hand, for the. grisly bear cannot or will not 
 climb a tree ; and some idea of the animal's strength may be formed from the fact, 
 attested by many credible witnesses, that, alter killing a bison, he will frequently 
 drag the carcase some distance to his lair. For descriptions and anecdotes of the 
 grisly bear, see Lewis's and Clark's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, and Major 
 Long's ditto. A feat almost similar to that recorded in the text was performed 
 some years ago by an Iroquois, one of the last of his tribe, and who, though griev- 
 ously wounded, survived. The Author saw this Indian hero arrive at St. Louis in 
 a canoe, containing only himself and a boy, they having descended the Missouri for 
 more than 1500 miles in their frail bark ; and having passed in their perilous 
 voyage the villages of Crows, Riccarees, Sioux, Black-feet, and other predatory 
 
WAR-EAGLE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR P. 4 8 2 
 
TI1K PHAIHIE-BIRD. 483 
 
 the scene of action ; but before they could reach it Reginald 
 Brandon, who was just returning into the camp with the 
 results of a successful chase, caught the mingled sounds, and 
 outstripping all his companions, arrived, panting and breath- 
 less, on the spot. For a moment he gazed on the strange and 
 fearful spectacle that met his view. The Delaware chief, sup- 
 porting his head upon his hand, still reclined against the body 
 of his grim antagonist, his countenance calm in its expression, 
 but both his face and his whole form covered with recent 
 blood ; at his feet lay Lita, perfectly unconscious, and sprinkled 
 with the same crimson stream ; while at his side knelt Prairie- 
 bird breathing over her heroic preserver the fervent outpour- 
 ings of a grateful heart ! Another moment, and Reginald 
 wts beside her ; he understood instinctively all that had passed, 
 and no sooner had ascertained that his betrothed was safe and 
 unhurt, than he turned with affectionate and anxious solicitude 
 to inquire into the condition of his friend. " Olitipa is safe 
 and War-Eagle is happy," replied the chief. 
 
 By this time the Delawares were all gathered round their 
 beloved leader, and in obedience to an order which he gave in 
 a low voice, one of them threw a blanket over his torn and 
 blood-stained dress, while another brought from the stream a 
 bowl of fresh water, which Prairie-bird took from the mes- 
 senger, and held to his parched lips ; then, wetting a cloth, 
 she washed the blood from his face, cooled his hot brow, and 
 inquired in a tone of sisterly affection, whether he found him- 
 self recruited and refreshed. 
 
 " The hand of Olitipa is medicine against pain, and her 
 voice brings comfort ! " replied the chief gently. " War- 
 Eagle is quite happy." 
 
 Not so were those around him. His stern warriors stood in 
 sad, unbroken silence ; the features of the hardy guide worked 
 with an emotion that he strove in vain to conceal, for he knew 
 that the Delaware would not have retained his sitting posture 
 by the carcase of the bear had not his wounds been grievous 
 and disabling ; Reginald Brandon held the hand of his friend, 
 unable to speak, save a few broken words of affection and grati- 
 tude : while Prairie-bird found at length relief for her oppressed 
 heart in a flood of tears. So much engrossed were they all by 
 their own feelings, that none seemed to notice the anguish of 
 Lita, who still lay in a pool of blood at the feet of him whom 
 11 2 
 
484 THE FKA1IUE-BIHD. 
 
 she had long and secretly loved, giving no further signs of life 
 than a succession of smothered wailings and groans that escaped 
 from her unconscious lips. 
 
 The only countenance among those present that retained its 
 unmoved composure was that of the chief himself; and a 
 bright ray shot from his dark eye when one of the bravest of 
 his warriors laid down before him the claws of the huge bear 
 and her cub, which he had cut off according to custom, and 
 now presented as a trophy of victory. 
 
 Baptiste and Pierre having conferred together for a few 
 minutes, the former whispered to Reginald Brandon that 
 Prairie-bird and Lita should be withdrawn for a short time, 
 while War-Eagle's wounds were examined, and his real con- 
 dition ascertained. Agreeably to this suggestion, Reginald led 
 his betrothed weeping from the spot. Some of the Delawares 
 and hunters removed Lita ; but not without difficulty, as she 
 still clung with frantic energy to the torn garments of the 
 chief; and, as they bore her away, they now for the first 
 time observed that she had received some severe scratches in 
 her fruitless endeavour to rescue him from the struggles of 
 the dying bear. 
 
 When all had retired to some distance, and there remained 
 only by the Delaware the oldest of his warriors, Pierre and 
 Baptiste, the latter gently lifted the blanket from the shoulders 
 of the wounded man, saying, <( Let my brother allow his 
 friends to see the hurts which he has received, that they may 
 endeavour to relieve or heal them." 
 
 The chief nodded his assent, and no sign, save the dew that 
 stood upon his brow, betrayed the agony and the sense of 
 exhaustion that he endured. When the tattered remnants of 
 his hunting dress were removed, a spectacle so terrible was 
 presented to the eyes of the guide, that even his iron nerves 
 could not endure it, and, covering his face with his hands, he 
 groaned aloud, whMe the exclamation, " Dieu de la mise'ri- 
 corde!" broke from his lips in the language that they had 
 first been taught to speak. 
 
 The left arm of the chief was bitten through and through, 
 and so dreadfully mangled that no skill of surgery could 
 restore it ; the shoulders and chest had been lacerated by the 
 fore-paws, some of the wounds being wide and gaping, as if 
 made by a saw or hatchet; these, however, might possibly 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 485 
 
 yield to time and careful treatment ; but the injuries that he 
 had received in the lower part of the body were such as to 
 leave no hope of recovery, for the bear, in her last dying 
 struggles, had used the terrible claws of her hind feet with 
 such fatal effect, that the lacerated entrails of the sufferer 
 protruded through the wound. 
 
 Baptiste saw at a glance that all was over, and that any at- 
 tempt at closing the wounds would only cause additional and 
 needless pain. War- Eagle watched his countenance, and 
 reading there a verdict that confirmed his own sensations, 
 gave him his hand and smiled. The rough woodsman wrung 
 it with ill-dissembled emotion, and turned away his head that 
 his Indian friend might not see the moisture that gathered in 
 his eye. 
 
 A brief consultation now ensued, during which it was ar- 
 ranged that the carcases of the bears should be carried away, 
 and the wounded chief gently moved to a soft grassy spot a few 
 yards distant, where his wounds might be so far dressed and 
 bandaged as to prevent further effusion of blood. It was also 
 agreed that the tent and the lodges should be brought to the 
 spot, so that he might receive all the care and attention that 
 his desperate case admitted. 
 
 These arrangements having been made, Baptiste walked 
 slowly towards the place where the rest of the party awaited 
 in deep anxiety the result of his report. As he drew near 
 with heavy, lingering steps, and his weather-beaten countenance 
 overspread with gloom, they saw too well the purport of his 
 message, and none had courage enough to he the first to bid 
 him speak. Prairie-bird clung to the arm of Reginald for 
 support ; the Delawares leaned upon their rifles in silence ; 
 and even the rough hunters of the prairie wore an aspect of 
 sadness that contrasted strongly with their habitual bold and 
 reckless bearing. 
 
 Recovering his composure by a powerful effort, the guide 
 looked gravely around him as soon as he reached the centre of 
 the semicircle in which they stood, and addressing himself 
 first to Reginald and the white men, said, " There is no cure 
 for the wounds of the Delaware ; were the Black Father him- 
 self among us, his skill and his medicine would be in vain." 
 Then turning to the Delawares, he added in their own tongue, 
 " The sun of the Lenape Chief is setting. The Great Saint 
 1 1 3 
 
486 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 has sent for him, and he must ohey : let his warriors gather 
 round him to smooth his path through the dark valley." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the guide hastened to carry into effect 
 the arrangements above mentioned, and in a short time the 
 little camp was moved to the spot where the Delaware reclined 
 against the stump of a withered alder, over which his followers 
 had already thrown some blankets and buffalo-robes to soften 
 his couch. Hither was brought the tent of Prairie-bird, which 
 was so pitched that the outer compartment might shelter the 
 wounded chief, and might afford to Reginald and Prairie-bird 
 the means of watching him constantly, and administering 
 such relief in his extremity as was within their power. 
 
 Lita's energies, both of mind and body, seemed entirely 
 paralysed, she neither wept nor sobbed, but sate in a corner 
 of the tent, whence she gazed intently, yet with a vacant ex- 
 pression, upon the sufferer. 
 
 He alone of the whole party maintained throughout a dig- 
 nified and unmoved composure ; nor could either the pangs he 
 endured, nor the certain prospect of a lingering death, draw 
 from him a word of complaint. He smiled gratefully as 
 Prairie-bird from time to time raised the refreshing cup of 
 water to his lips, or wiped away the drops which weakness 
 and agony wrung from his forehead. Once, and once only, 
 did a look of gloom and discontent pass over his countenance. 
 
 Reginald observing it, took his hand and inquired, *' Is 
 there a dark thjought in my brother's heart, let him speak 
 it?" 
 
 " There is/' replied the chief, with stern energy, " Ma- 
 hega, the bloody-hand the Washashee wolf the slayer of 
 my tribe, he lives, and "War-Eagle must go to the hunting- 
 fields of the brave, and when his fathers say to him, * where 
 is the scalp of Mahega ? ' his tongue will be silent, and Ms 
 hands will be empty." 
 
 " His hands will not be empty," replied Reginald, breath- 
 ing his own impassioned feelings in the figurative language of 
 his friend. " His hands will not be empty ; he can show the 
 scalps of many enemies ; he may tell the ancient people that 
 he was the war-chief of their race, that neither YTa,hashee 
 nor Dahcotah ever saw his back ; and that, to save his sister's 
 life, he gave his own. Where is the warrior who would not 
 
TUT PRAIRIE-BIRD. 48? 
 
 enry the fame of War-Easle, and who would not rejoice in 
 the glory of such a death ? '' 
 
 These words, and the tone of earnest feeling in which they 
 were spoken, touched the right chord in the heart of the chief; 
 he pressed the hand of his friend, and a smile of triumph shot 
 across his features like a sunbeam breaking through the thick 
 darkness of a thunder cloud. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MAHEGA IS FOUND IN STRANGE COMPANY, AND WINGENTJND DEFERS, 
 ON ACCOUNT OF MORE IMPORTANT CONCERNS, HIS PLAN FOR THE 
 
 LIBERATION OF HIS FRIENDS. A COUNCIL, A COMBAT, AND A 
 
 SKIRMISH, IN WHICH LAST THE CROWS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM 
 A QUARTER WHENCE THEY LEAST EXPECTED IT. 
 
 WE left Wingenund on his way to the Crow camp, revolving 
 as he went various schemes for the deliverance of his friends. 
 However slight was the faith which he was disposed to place 
 in the honesty of Besha, he confidently believed that the horse- 
 dealer's self-interest would keep him true, at least for the time, 
 to the party whence the greater rewards and presents might be 
 expected. He knew also that Bending-willow was kindly dis- 
 posed towards the prisoners, and would do all that was in her 
 power towards engaging her impatient and hot-headed husband 
 to favour their release. Nevertheless, the game to be played 
 was a difficult one, especially as the consequence of any unsuc- 
 cessful attempt might prove fatal to them as well as to himself. 
 
 So intent was the youth upon these meditations that he 
 forgot the distance and the difficulties of his circuitous route, 
 his light elastic step bearing him over hill and vale with a 
 speed of which he was scarcely conscious, and long before the 
 sun went down he found himself at the further extremity of 
 the mountain pass, which has been before mentioned as leading 
 into the valley where the Crows were encamped, from a quar- 
 ter exactly opposite to that where his own friends were 
 stationed. 
 
 As he was about to step across a small rivulet that trickled 
 ji 4 
 
488 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 from the rocks above, lending a greener freshness to the nar- 
 row strip of grass through which it flowed, his attention was 
 arrested by a recent footmark upon its margin. Starting with 
 surprise, he stooped to examine it more carefully, it was plain 
 and distinct, so that a less sagacious eye than his might have 
 traced its form and dimensions. A single look satisfied him,, 
 and as he rose from his scrutiny, the name of Mahega escaped 1 
 from his lips. 
 
 Without a moment's hesitation he resolved to follow the 
 trail of the Osage, and observe his movements, conjecturing; 
 that these probably boded no good to the Delaware party,, 
 although he felt at some loss to imagine what object could lead 
 him to a quarter almost immediately opposite to that where they 
 were encamped. 
 
 The task which Wingenurid had now undertaken was not 
 an easy one, for the ground was hard and barren, and the 
 short grass partly dried by the mountain winds and partly 
 burnt by the summer sun, scarcely received any impression 
 from the pressure of a foot, and the youth was compelled to 
 pause so frequently in order to examine the scarcely perceptible 
 marks of the trail, that his progress was far from being so rapid 
 as he could have wished. Nevertheless he toiled perseveringly 
 forward, his hopes being every now and then refreshed by 
 finding on the descent of the steep hill- side an indication of 
 the Osage's tread that he could not mistake. 
 
 Wingenund had followed the trail for several hours, when 
 he caught a distant view of a slight column of smoke rising 
 from a dell, the bottom of which was concealed by intervening 
 heights. One of these, more rugged and lofty than the rest, 
 lay at his right hand, and he climbed with some difficulty to 
 the top of it, in hopes of being able thence to descry the spot 
 whence the smoke arose. Neither was he disappointed in this 
 expectation, for on reaching the height, he could see into the 
 deep bosom of the mountain glen, where he clearly discerned 
 a large body of men and horses, assembled round a fire ; care- 
 fully noting the nature of the intervening ground, he re- 
 descended the hill, and again threw himself upon the trail of 
 the Osage, which continued, as he expected, to lead him in the 
 direction of the unknown band. 
 
 As he advanced he felt the necessity of using the greatest 
 caution lest he should inadvertently come within sight of any 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 489 
 
 scouts or stragglers from the valley below ; but fortune and 
 his own skill so far favoured his approach, that he reached 
 unperceivecl a point whence he could more clearly see the 
 circle assembled round the fire, and could distinguish the 
 horses and the men sufficiently to ascertain that they belonged 
 to some mountain tribe bent on a war excursion, as they had 
 with them neither their women nor their lodges. With 
 awakened curiosity and interest, the youth now crept to a spot 
 at a little distance, where a confused pile of huge stones, here 
 and there overgrown with stunted shrubs, offered a sheltered 
 retreat, whence, without being himself seen, he could observe 
 all that passed below. In making his way to the place he was 
 somewhat surprised to find what might almost be called a 
 beaten path, upon which the recent tracks of men and horses, 
 as well as of bison, were clearly discernible. 
 
 He had scarcely time to conceal himself, when he perceived 
 two men coming directly towards his hiding-place, in one of 
 whom he recognised the Osage chief, while the other belonged 
 apparently to some tribe of Indians that he had never seen 
 before. They came slowly up the path before-mentioned, 
 stopping almost at every step, and conversing in the language 
 of signs, by which means their expressions of mutual friend- 
 ship were as intelligible to the quick-witted youth as they 
 were to each other. The stranger was a fine-looking Indian, 
 and thougli lower in stature than his gigantic companion, had 
 the appearance of great muscular strength, and his dress be- 
 tokened, according to Indian notions of magnificence, a chief 
 of high degree. His black hair was clubbed behind his head, 
 and fastened with several painted feathers bound with fillets 
 of ermine ; his hunting-shirt was of the skin of the mountain 
 goat, and both it and his deerskin leggins were ornamented 
 with porcupine-quills, and fringed with the scalp-locks of ene- 
 mies slain in battle ; he carried in his hand a long lance, also 
 decorated with scalp-locks, and at his back hung a quiver 
 made from the skin of the panther, in which bristled a score 
 of arrows beautifully tipped with sharp flint, and attached to 
 it by a leather thong was a bow so short that it looked more 
 like the plaything of a boy than the deadly weapon of a 
 warrior. 
 
 Wingenund wondered to what tribe the stranger might 
 belong; and as the two Indians seated themselves upon a 
 
490 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 fragment of rock only a few yards from the recess in which 
 he was ensconced, he trusted that some signal would pass by 
 which his curiosity might be afterwards satisfied ; at all 
 events, it seemed clear that they were already upon the best 
 terms with each other, for they smiled and grinned, each 
 placing a hand upon the heart of the other, after which Ma- 
 he'ga extended his arms like a flying bird, and then passed 
 his right hand with a rapid movement round his own scalp ; 
 from which sign the youth instantly knew that their plot was 
 to attack and kill the Upsarokas. 
 
 te Double-tongued, cowardly snake ! " said Wingenund to 
 himself, et he made a league with the Dahcotahs to destroy 
 his Lenape friends, and now he makes one with a stranger 
 tribe to destroy those with whom he eats and smokes." 
 
 That the youth rightly conjectured the object of the inter- 
 view he could no longer doubt, when Mahega, pointing di- 
 rectly to the valley where the Crows were encamped, repeated 
 again the signals for attack and slaughter. Not a word passed 
 during this time, excepting when the stranger dtew from under 
 his hunting-shirt a small whistle, made apparently either from 
 a bone or a reed, and quaintly ornamented with stained quills 
 and the down from the breast of some mountain bird ; having 
 applied this to his lips, he drew from it a peculiar sound, not 
 remarkable for its shrillness, but different from any tone that 
 Wingenund remembered to have heard before. 
 
 After two or three attempts Mahega succeeded in sounding 
 it correctly ; and nodding intelligently to the stranger, con- 
 cealed it carefully in his belt ; they then exchanged the names 
 or war-cry, by which they were to recognise each other, Ma- 
 hega teaching his new friend to say " Waskashce," and learn- 
 ing in return to pronounce ( c Kain-na" which he repeated 
 three or four times so distinctly that Wingenund caught and 
 remembered it. These preparatory civilities having passed, 
 they proceeded to the interchange of presents, by which their 
 alliance was to be cemented. 
 
 Mahega drew from his girdle a pistol, which he gave, toge- 
 ther with a small leather pouch containing lead and powder, 
 to the stranger chief, who received it with an air so puzzled 
 and mysterious, that Mahega could scarcely refrain from smil- 
 ing. He turned the pistol over and over, looking down the 
 barrel, and examining the lock with a curiosity that he cared 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 491 
 
 not to conceal ; he pointed it, however, towards a mark in an 
 adjoining rock, and made a sound with his lips, which was 
 intended to imitate its report, repeating at the same time the 
 word " sachsi-nama," as if to show that the name and use of 
 the weapon were not strange to him, although he might never 
 have seen one before. Mahega then proceeded to show him 
 how to use it, making signs that with it he might kill all his 
 enemies ; and upon the stranger expressing a wish to see an 
 instance of its power, he placed a thin flat stone at the distance 
 of a few yards, and split it in two at the first shot ; after 
 which he reloaded it, snowing at the same time the use of the 
 priming-pan and trigger. 
 
 It was not without a look of gratified pride that he placed 
 the pistol in his belt, repeating again and again, "sachsi- 
 nama," " nahtovi-nama." He then unslung the short bow 
 that hung at his back, and presented it, with the panther-skin 
 quiver full of arrows, to the Osage chief, who received the 
 gift with every appearance of satisfaction, and they parted, 
 the former returning towards the encampment of his tribe, 
 after he had told Mahega that the name of the bow was 
 " nutsi-nama." * 
 
 For some time after the departure of his new ally, the 
 Osage remained upon his seat examining the bow, which at 
 first sight he had considered a mere toy, but which he found, 
 to his astonishment, required all his force to draw it to its full 
 power. Being formed of bone, strengthened throughout with 
 sinew, it was stiff and elastic to an extraordinary degree ; and 
 although not more than three feet in length, would drive an 
 arrow as far as an ordinary six-feet bow. 
 
 When he had sufficiently examined his new acquisition, it 
 occurred to the chief that he could not, without risk of detec- 
 
 * Of all the Indian nations who inhabit the wild regions near the base of the 
 Rocky-Mountain range, the most fierce and powerful are the Black-feet. Few, if 
 any white men have penetrated into the heart of their country, and returned to tell 
 their tale. Very little is known, therefore, either of their customs or language: 
 and it may not be uninteresting for the reader to be informed, that every particular 
 mentioned respecting them in this volume, was obtained direct from a French 
 trader, who had been permitted to marry a Black-foot wife, and had resided nine- 
 teen years among them. The construction of their language is very remarkable, 
 and some account of it would doubtless be gladly received by philologists; but 
 such a subject cannot be treated in a work like the present. With respect to the 
 words referred to in the text it will be seen that ihey show the synthetic nature of 
 the language, '"nama" being the root, and signifying a weapon. Hence came 
 "suksinama," rifle; literally, "heavy weapon;" "saksinama," pistol , literally, 
 " light-weapon ; " " nahtovinama," wonderful, or medicine-weapon ; and " nitsi- 
 nama," literally, useless weapon ; which latter name has probably been given to 
 the bow, since the Black-feet have learnt the superior efficacy of fire-arms. 
 
4^2 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 tion, carry it into the Crow camp. He resolved, therefore, to 
 hide it in a dry cleft of the rock, and take it out again after the 
 issue of his plot should he decided. 
 
 This resolution threatened to bring ahout an unexpected 
 catastrophe, as it happened that he approached the very recess 
 in which Wingenund was stationed. Drawing the knife from 
 his belt, the youth stood in the inmost corner of the cavern, 
 ready, as soon as discovery became inevitable, to spring upon 
 his powerful enemy ; but fate had otherwise decreed, and the 
 Osage passed on to a higher and narrower cleft, where he de- 
 posited the quiver and the bow, carefully closing the aperture 
 with moss and lichen. 
 
 It was not until he had gone some distance on his homeward 
 way, that Wingenund emerged from his hiding-place, and 
 having possessed himself of the quiver and bow, returned 
 slowly upon the Osage's trail towards the Upsaroka camp, 
 proving as he went the surprising strength of the weapon, and 
 admiring the straightness and beauty of the war-arrows with 
 which the quiver was supplied. * 
 
 Following unperceived, and at some distance, the steps of 
 the Osage, he found that the latter took a shorter, though a 
 somewhat steeper and more rugged way than that by which he 
 had come, so that very little more than two hours of brisk walk- 
 ing brought him within sight of the watch-fires of the Upsaroka 
 camp, just as day closed, and their light began to shine more 
 brightly through the valley. Availing himself of the shelter 
 of a stunted pine, the youth lay down for some time, and did 
 not re-enter the camp until late at night, when he made his 
 way without interruption to Besha's tent, giving to the out- 
 posts by whom he was challenged, the countersign taught him 
 by the horse-dealer. 
 
 On the following morning Before sunrise, Bush a was aroused 
 by Wingenund, who told him that he had news of great im- 
 portance to communicate to the Crow chiefs, and that no time 
 should be lost before they were summoned to council. The 
 horse-dealer rubbed his eyes as he wakened by degrees and 
 listened to this intelligence, which he suspected at first to be 
 
 * It may not be generally known to European readers, that the arrows used by 
 the western Indians are of two sorts. The hunting arrow, which has a head ta- 
 pering in the form of an acute lozenge, and firmly secured fo th* shaft, so a> to be 
 easily withdrawn from a wound, and the war-arrow, sometimes poisoned, but 
 always b-trbed like a fish-hook, and having its head so slightly fastened to the shaft, 
 as to remain infixed in the wound when the wood is pulled o'ut. 
 
THE PRAlRlE-BIRD. 4-Q3 
 
 some trick on the part of the youth for the liberation of his 
 friends ; but there was an earnest simplicity in his manner 
 that carried conviction with it ; and Besha endeavoured, as he 
 threw on his hunting-shirt, and fastened his belt, to learn from 
 the youth the nature and purport of his intelligence. The 
 latter seemed, however, to be in no very communicative mood; 
 he merely replied ; " Wingenund speaks not the Upsaroka 
 tongue ; let Besha repeat to the council word after word what 
 he hears, that will be enough ; he will serve both the Crows 
 and the Delawares, and will obtain thanks and presents from 
 both. Let Mahega, too, be called to attend the council." 
 
 The horse-dealer having departed upon his errand, Winge- 
 nund found an opportunity to detail briefly to Paul Muller and 
 Ethelston the discovery that he had made on the preceding 
 evening ; but it may well be imagined that he could obtain 
 from neither any information respecting the mountain tribe 
 with whom the Osage was carrying on his treacherous intrigue. 
 
 " Let my son boldly speak the truth," said the missionary, 
 " and leave the result to God." 
 
 " Wingenund never told a lie,'* replied the young Delaware ; 
 and the bright, fearless expression of his countenance warranted 
 the proud assertion. 
 
 " How many are there in our crowded cities and churches," 
 said the missionary, looking after the youth as he re-entered 
 the horse-dealer's lodge, " who dare echo that speech ? yet 
 methinks, as far as memory and conscience serve him, he has 
 said no more than the truth. I have known him from his 
 childhood, and believe him to be as much a stranger to false- 
 hood as to fear." 
 
 " They are cousins-german, my worthy friend," said Etliel- 
 stori, " and generally dwell together ! I wonder not at the 
 affection which Reginald bears to that youth ; nature has 
 stamped upon his countenance all the high and generous quali- 
 ties that endear man to his brother. Let us endeavour to be 
 present at the council which is now assembling ; we have been 
 such quiet prisoners that perhaps our guards will allow us to 
 be spectators on this occasion." 
 
 Besha happening to pass at this moment, obtained for them 
 the desired permission, which was the more readily granted 
 that the Crow sentries themselves were desirous of seeing what 
 was going forward, and knew that no danger could be appre- 
 
THE P I* A fR IE-BIRD. 
 
 hendcd from the two unarmed captives. The spectacle that 
 met their view when they issued from the lodge was striking 
 and picturesque ; runners had been sent throughout the camp, 
 and all the principal chiefs, braves, and medicine-men were 
 already assembled in a semicircle, the concave centre of which 
 was formed by the lodge of White-Bull and his father, the 
 latter of whom had put on for the occasion a magnificent head- 
 dress of painted eagle -feathers which betokened his rank as 
 head-chief of the band. The horse-dealer stood in front of 
 his own lodge to the left, and frequent were the glances di- 
 rected to him from all quarters, it having been generally un- 
 derstood that the council was summoned to consider matters 
 brought forward by him. Behind him stood Wingenund, 
 wrapped in a loose blanket, which partially concealed his fea- 
 tures and covered entirely the rest of his person ; on the oppo- 
 site wing of the circle, and at a distance of twenty-five or 
 thirty yards, stood Mahe'ga, his gigantic stature shown off to 
 the best advantage by the warlike dress which he had put on 
 complete for the solemn occasion, his neck and arms being co- 
 vered with beads of various colours, and his fingers playing 
 unconsciously with the weighty iron-pointed mace or war club 
 which had slain so many of those whose scalp-locks now fringed 
 his leathern shirt and hose. The warriors and other Indians 
 of inferior degree stood in the back-ground, and some, anxious 
 to get a better view of what was going forward, had perched 
 themselves upon the adjoining rocks and cliffs, where their 
 dusky forms, dimly seen through the mists which were now 
 vanishing before the beams of the rising sun, gave a wild and 
 picturesque effect to the scene. 
 
 Nearly half an hour was consumed by the soothsayers or 
 medicine-men in going through their formal mummeries to 
 ascertain whether the hour and the occasion were favourable 
 for the proposed business, and it was not until the medicine- 
 pipe had been passed round, and the chief functionary had 
 turned gravely to the north, south, east, and west, blowing to 
 each quarter successively a whiff of medicine-smoke, that he 
 gave his permission for the council to proceed with its deliber- 
 ations. 
 
 During all this time a profound silence reigned throughout 
 the camp, the women suspending their scolding, chattering, 
 and domestic avocations, and even the children peeping, half 
 
THC PBAIKi::-BIIU>. 495 
 
 frightened, from behind their m ethers, or stealing away to 
 some spot where they might laugh and play without fear of 
 being whipped for disturbing the solemnities. 
 
 The venerable father of White-Bull now returned the great 
 pipe to the medicine-men, saying, in a voice distinctly audible 
 throughout the circle: " Besha has called the chiefs and braves 
 of thellpsaroka together ; they are come their ears are open 
 let the one-eyed man who brings horses from the far 
 prairies, speak with a single tongue." 
 
 Thus called upon, the horse-dealer stepped forward, saying : 
 "Besha is neither wise in council, nor a chief among warriors; 
 he has travelled far among the eastern tribet>, and he knows 
 their tongues ; he stands here to uive out of his mouth what 
 goes in at his ear. Let the Upsaroka warriors listen ; they 
 are not fools, they will soon know if lies are told to them. 
 Let them look at this youth ; his blanket is that of Besha's 
 slave ; he is not what he seems ; he is a son of the Lenape, a 
 friend of the Whites ; yet he is come alone into the camp to 
 show to the Upsaroka that a snake is crawling among their 
 
 A murmur ran through the assembly as Besha pronounced 
 these words, and pointed to Wingenund, who, throwing the 
 blanket into the hollow of his left arm, advanced to the front, 
 and with a slight inclination to the old chief, awaited his per- 
 mission to proceed. 
 
 The youth, the graceful form, the open countenance, and 
 the dignified bearing of Wingenund, as he stood forward in 
 the assembled circle, prepossessed the Crows strongly in his 
 favour, and they awaited with excited curiosity the intelli- 
 gence that he had to communicate ; but their chief did not 
 appear disposed to gratify their impatience, for after whis- 
 pering a few words to a messenger who stood beside him, he 
 relapsed into silence, scanning with a fixed gaze the counte- 
 nance of the young Delaware. The latter bore the scrutiny 
 with modest, yet undisturbed composure, and not a voice was 
 raised in the council until the return of the messenger, con- 
 ducting a Crow doctor or conjuror, somewhat advanced in 
 years, who took his station by the chief, and gave a silent as- 
 sent to the whispered orders that he received. 
 
 It may well be imagined with what mingled feelings of 
 surprise and indignation the haughty Osage beheld the young 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Delaware thus standing forward in the midst of the council- 
 circle ; that his presence boded no good to himself he well 
 knew ; but how and wherefore he came, and why he, belong- 
 ing as he did to a hostile band, was thus permitted to appear 
 before the assembly of Crow warriors, he was quite at a loss 
 to understand. His suspense, however, was not destined to 
 be of long duration, for as soon as Besha, in obedience to a 
 signal from the chief, had desired Wingenund to speak what 
 he had to say, the youth came another step forward, and said 
 in a clear voice 
 
 " There is a snake among the lodges of the Upsaroka ; a 
 hidden snake, that will bite before its rattle is heard." 
 
 The Crows looked from one to the other as Besha translated 
 this sentence, and the old conjuror gave a slight nod to the 
 chief, indicating that the youth's meaning was rightly given. 
 It may be as well to inform the reader that the said conjuror 
 had in early life been taken prisoner by the Pawnees, with a 
 party of whom he had been conveyed to a great council held 
 with the Indian agents at St. Charles's, in Missouri, respecting 
 the cession and appropriation of territory. Several of the 
 western Delawares had been present at this meeting, which 
 was protracted for many weeks, and the Crow prisoner had 
 picked up a smattering of their tongue, which, however slight 
 it might be, had occasioned him to be sent for on this occa- 
 sion to check any propensity for untruth that might be enter- 
 tained by the horse-dealer. Whether the latter was influenced 
 by these, or by other motives, he rendered faithfully the con- 
 versation that ensued, and therefore it is not necessary to 
 notice further the part played by the interpreter. 
 
 " Who is it that speaks ? " demanded the old chief, with 
 dignity : " the Crows open not their ears to the idle words of 
 strangers." 
 
 " Then let them shut their ears," replied the youth, boldly. 
 " Before another sun has set they will wish they had listened 
 to the words of Wingenund ! " 
 
 " Who is Wingenund ? Is he not an enemy ? have not 
 his people shed Upsaroka blood ? why, then, should they be- 
 lieve his words ? " 
 
 " Wingenund is the son of a Lenape chief. For a thousand 
 summers his fathers have hunted over forest and plain beyond 
 the Great River. Wingenund has heard of their deeds, and 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 497 
 
 he v;ill not stain his lips with a lie. The Lenape have taken 
 Crow scalps in defence of their own, Wingenund will not 
 deny it ; but he came here to serve his white friends, not to 
 hurt the Upsaroka." 
 
 On hearing this bold reply, White-bull bent his brow 
 fiercely upon the speaker ; but the youth met his eye with a. 
 look of bright untroubled confidence, while he quietly awaited 
 the chief's further interrogation. 
 
 " Let the son of the Lenape speak, but let him beware, 
 if his tongue is forked, the Upsaroka knives will cut it out 
 from his head." 
 
 " Wingenund is not a woman, that he should be frightened 
 with big words ; when he speaks, the truth comes from his 
 lips ; and if he chooses to be silent, the Upsaroka knives can- 
 not make him speak," replied the youth, with a look of lofty 
 scorn. 
 
 "Is it so? we shall see," cried White-bull, springing 
 forward, at the same time drawing his knife, with which he 
 struck full at the naked breast of the youth. Not a muscle 
 moved in the form or countenance of Wingenund ; his eye 
 remained steadily fixed on that of the Crow, and he did not 
 even raise in his defence the arm over which his blanket was 
 suspended. Nothing could have saved him from instant 
 death, had not White-bull himself arrested the blow just as it 
 was falling, so that the point of the knife scratched, but did 
 not penetrate the skin. Wingenund smiled, and the Crow 
 warrior, partly ashamed of his own ebullition of temper, and 
 partly in admiration of the cool courage of the young Dela- 
 ware, said to his father, " Let him speak : there are no lies 
 upon his tongue." 
 
 The old man looked for a moment sternly at his son, as if 
 he would have reproved him for his violence, in interrupting 
 the business of the council, but apparently he thought it 
 better to let it pass ; and, turning towards Wingenund, he 
 said, in a milder tone than he had yet used, " Let the young 
 stranger speak if he will, his words will not be blown away ; 
 if he has seen a snake, let him show it, and the chiefs of the 
 Upsaroka will owe him a debt." 
 
 Thus appealed to. Wingenund, slowly raising the forefinger 
 of his right hand, pointed it full upon Mahega, saying, in a 
 loud voice, " There is the snake ! Fed by the hand of the 
 K K 
 
49& THE PRAIRIE- BIRD. 
 
 Upsaroka, clad in their gifts, warmed by their fire, he now 
 tries to bite them, and give them over to their enemies, 
 even as his black heart and forked tongue have before destroyed 
 those whom he called brothers." 
 
 It is beyond the power of words to paint the rage of the 
 conscious Osage, on hearing this charge: he concealed it, 
 however, by a strong effort, under a show of just indignation, 
 exclaiming aloud, ''The Upsaroka warriors are not fools, that 
 they should believe the idle words of a stranger boy, a spy, 
 who stole into their camp by night, and now tickles their ears 
 with lies." 
 
 " The young Lenape must tell more," said the old chief, 
 gravely, " before the Upsaroka can believe bad things of a 
 warrior who has smoked and fought with them, and has 
 taken the scalps of their enemies." 
 
 Thus called upon, Wingenund proceeded to relate distinctly 
 the circumstances narrated in the last chapter. His tale was 
 so clearly told, his description of the locality so accurate, 
 that the attention of the whole council was riveted, and they 
 listened with the most profound attention. A cloud gathered 
 upon the brow of White-bull, and the gigantic frame of 
 Mahega swelled with a tempest of suppressed passion. Inde- 
 pendently of the dangers that now threatened him, his proud 
 spirit chafed at the thought of being thus tracked, discovered, ex- 
 posed, and disgraced by a boy ; and his fury was heightened 
 by observing the bright eye of the Delaware youth fixed upon 
 Turn with a steady searching gaze, indicative at once of con- 
 scious truth and triumph. Still he resolved to hold out to the 
 last ; he trusted that after the great services he had rendered 
 in battle to the Crows, they would at least believe his word, 
 before that of an unknown youth, who came amongst them 
 under such suspicious circumstances. These reflections passing 
 rapidly through his mind, restored his disturbed self-posses- 
 sion, and enabled him to curl his haughty features into an 
 expression of sneering contempt. 
 
 Great was the excitement among the Crows, as Wingenund 
 described., with unerring minuteness and accuracy, the dress 
 and equipments of the stranger with whom Mahega had held 
 the interview ; and there was dead silence in the council when 
 the interpreter was ordered to inquire whether he knew to 
 what tribe the strange Indian belonged. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 499 
 
 " Wingenund knows not," he replied ; " but he heard the 
 name that was taught to the Osage, as the battle-cry of his 
 new allies." 
 
 " E-ch\-pltn,!" shouted the impetuous White-bull, who 
 had already recognised in the youth's description one of the 
 warriors of the Black-feet, the hereditary enemies of his tribe. 
 
 " It was not so," replied Wingenund gravely. " Ka-in-na* 
 was the name ; it was twice spoken." 
 
 A deep murmur ran round the assembly. White-bull ex- 
 changed a significant glance with the nearest of his braves, 
 and again a profound silence reigned throughout the assembly. 
 
 Mahega now felt that the crisis of his fate was at hand, and 
 that every thing must depend on his being able to throw dis- 
 credit on the tale of Wingenund. This was not, however, an 
 easy task, for he suspected Besha of a secret leaning to the 
 Delaware side, while the fierce and lowering looks of the by- 
 standers showed him how little was wanting to make the 
 smothered flame burst forth. 
 
 These indications did not escape the aged chief, who spoke 
 a few words in a serious and warning tone, the purport of 
 which was to remind them that the present council was sacred 
 to the Medicine, and was not to be desecrated by any violence 
 or shedding of blood. He concluded by saying, " Let the 
 Washashee speak for himself, and let Besha give his words 
 truly, if he does not wish to have his ears cut off." 
 
 Thus admonished, the horse-dealer lent all his attention to 
 the Osage, who came forward to address the council with an 
 imposing dignity of manner that almost made the most suspi- 
 cious of his hearers doubt the truth of the accusations brought 
 against him. 
 
 Being nqw in front of the semicircle, which was not more 
 than twenty yards in width, he was directly opposite to Win- 
 genund, who stood forward a few feet in advance of its other 
 wing. The contrast offered by the stature and bearing of the 
 accuser and the accused, the slight active frame, the youth and 
 grace of the one, and the haughty air and gigantic bulk of the 
 
 * The name by which the Black-feet are generally known among the Crows is 
 *' Echipeta." In th^ir own tongue they coll themselves " Siksikapa;" both words 
 having the signification of Blark-leet. They are divided into three bands, the 
 largest of whit h is called by the generic name above mentioned, as being that of 
 the tribe; the other two hands are CJilied " Piecan " or " Piegan " (the meaning of 
 which word is not known to the author), and "Ka-in-na-" or "Bloody-men," 
 which last are held to be the most fierce and formidable of the three. 
 KK 2 
 
500 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 other, struck Ethelston so forcibly that he could not forbear 
 whispering to Paul Miiller, "Worthy father, does not the 
 scene recall to mind the meeting between the Hebrew shepherd 
 and the giant of Gath ? " 
 
 " It does, my son ; and I misjudge the looks of the Osage 
 if they part hence without the shedding of blood. I have long 
 studied his countenance, and, however skilfully he has subdued 
 its expression, I can trace the full storm of passions raging 
 within his breast." 
 
 Further discourse was prevented by the commencement of 
 the Osage's speech, which he delivered with a tone and gesture 
 of indignation, suitable to one who declared himself injured 
 and belied. 
 
 He N>c;an by recapitulating the services that he had ren- 
 dered to the Crows, the faithful warriors that he had lost in 
 their cause, and their valuable presents concealed in the cache, 
 to which he was even now conducting them ; on the other 
 hand, he painted the injuries they had received from the Le- 
 nape, who had come into their country in league with the 
 white-skins, the bane of their tribe and race, that their hands 
 were still wet with Upsaroka blood; and "whose is the forked 
 tongue," said he, " that is to cover with lies and dirt the fame 
 of the great chief of the Washashee, the sworn brother of the 
 Upsaroka? Who but a boy, a stranger, a liar, and a spy, 
 telling his idle dreams to the council to break the friendship of 
 warriors whom his cowardly tribe, and their pale-faced allies, 
 dared not meet in the field !" 
 
 During the whole of this tirade, which was delivered with 
 much vehemence and gesticulation, Wingenund stood motion- 
 less as a statue, his calm eye fixed upon the excited counte- 
 nance of his opponent with an undisguised expression of 
 contempt. 
 
 Receiving no reply, Mahega continued : * ( Chiefs and 
 brothers, you are wise in council men of experience; your 
 ears will not be tickled with the idle songs of this false -tongued 
 singing-bird ; a messenger who brings such news to the great 
 council of the Upsaroka who tells them that their brother 
 who has fought by their side, and smoked at their fire, is a 
 forked snake, he must bring something better able to convince 
 them than the cunning words coming from his own lying 
 lips!'* 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 501 
 
 These words, supported by the commanding tone assumed 
 by the Osage, were not without their effect upon the minds of 
 that fierce and deeply-interested assemblage. 
 
 Wingenund waited until the speech of his antagonist had 
 been translated to them, when he replied, with unmoved com- 
 posure, " If the Crow warriors require better witness than 
 words, it is not difficult to find ; they have already been told 
 that the Kainna stranger gave to Mahega a present of a bow 
 and arrows, which he hid in the rocks ; Wingenund took them 
 out, and here they are." 
 
 As the youth spoke he dropped the blanket that had been 
 thrown over his left arm and shoulder, holding up to the 
 council the bow and arrows, which all present instantly recog- 
 nised as being made and ornamented by the Black-feet. 
 
 " Are the warriors yet convinced," continued the youth, 
 raising his voice, " or do they wish for more ? If they do, let 
 them seize the Washashee wolf, they will find in his belt " 
 
 He was not allowed to finish the sentence ; the storm that 
 had long been brooding, now burst in all its fury. Mahega, 
 driven to desperation by the damning evidence brought against 
 him, and reckless of all save the gratification of his fierce re- 
 venge, whirled his iron-pointed mace around his head, and 
 launched it with tremendous force at Wingenund. 
 
 Never had the latter, even for an instant, taken his falcon 
 eye off the Osage ; but so swift was the motion with which 
 the weapon was thrown, that although he sprung lightly aside 
 to avoid it, the spiked head grazed and laid open his cheek, 
 whence it glanced off, and striking an unlucky Crow who 
 stood behind him, felled him, with a broken arm, to the 
 -ground. Even in the act of stooping to escape the mace, 
 Wingenund fitted an arrow into the Black-foot bow which he 
 held in his hand ; and rising quick as thought, let it fly at his 
 gigantic adversary, with so true an aim, that it pierced the 
 windpipe, and the point came out at the back of his neck, 
 close to the spine. While the Osage, half strangled and 
 paralysed, tugged ineffectually at the fatal shaft, Wingenund 
 leaped upon him with the bound of a tiger, and uttering aloud 
 the war-cry of the Lenape, buried his knife in the heart of his 
 foe. With one convulsive groan the dying Osage fell heavily 
 to the earth ; and ere the bystanders had recovered from their 
 KK 3 
 
502 
 
 THE PRAIRIE -BIRD. 
 
 astonishment, his blood-stained scalp hung at the belt of the 
 victorious Delaware. 
 
 For a moment all was tumult and confusion ; the few re- 
 maining Osages made a rush towards Wingenund to avenge 
 the death of their chief, but they were instantly overpowerd 
 and secured with thongs of pliant bark, while White-bull 
 sprang into the arena of combat, and in a voice of thunder 
 shouted to his warriors to stand back and unstring their bows. 
 
 During the brief but decisive conflict the appearance of 
 Wingenund was so much changed, that Ethelston declared to 
 his friend afterwards that he should not have recognised him. 
 The muscles of his active frame swelled with exertion, while 
 the expanded nostril and flashing eye gave to his countenance 
 an expression of fierce excitement, almost amounting to 
 ferocity. Now that the struggle was over he resumed, with- 
 out an effort, the habitual quiet gentleness of his demeanour, 
 and turning to Besha, said, " Let the Upsaroka chiefs look 
 below the belt of that dead wolf; perhaps they will find the 
 signal whistle of the Kainna." 
 
 The horse-dealer stooped ; and searching, as he was directed, 
 found a small leathern bag, on opening which there fell out, 
 as Wingenund had said, the whistle of the Black-foot chief; 
 a yell of indignation burst from the assembly, some of the 
 nearest of whom vented their rage by bestowing sundry kicks 
 upon the inanimate remains of the treacherous Osage. 
 
 Popularity is a plant that springs up as suddenly, and 
 perishes as rapidly, among the tribes of the Western wilderness, 
 as among the mobs of Paris or of London ; and Wingenund, 
 whose life would scarcely have been safe had he been found 
 an hour earlier in the Crow camp, was now its hero and its idol. 
 To say that the youth was not elated, would be to say that he 
 was not human; for he had avenged the slaughter of his 
 kindred, and had overcome the most powerful and renowned 
 warrior in the Missouri plains, the fell destroyer of the race ctf 
 Tamenund. But so well had he been trained in the school of 
 self-command, that neither Ethelston, nor Paul Muller who 
 had known him from his childhood, could trace in his demean- 
 our anything different from its usual quiet modesty; and they 
 waited, with no little impatience, to see what results would 
 ensue from this triumph in respect of their own release. 
 
 The Crow chiefs and warriors did not forget, in the ex- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 503 
 
 citement of the scene just described, the threatened attack to 
 which the treachery of Mahega had exposed them ; and they 
 now crowded round Wingenund, while White-bull put many 
 questions to him, through Besha, respecting the position and 
 apparent numbers of the Black-feet, to all of which he an- 
 swered with a precision that increased the high opinion that 
 they already entertained of his quickness and intelligence. 
 White-bull even condescended so far as to explain to him his 
 own projects for withdrawing his band from the neighbour- 
 hood of the formidable Kainna to some more secure position. 
 A slight smile curled the lip of the young Delaware, as he said 
 to Besha, " The counsel of the Crow chief does not seem good 
 to Wingenund : if White-bull will agree to his terms, he will 
 place the Kainna chief, and half a score of his best warriors, 
 as captives in this camp before to-morrow at midday." 
 
 A general murmur of surprise followed these words ; and 
 White-bull, somewhat nettled, inquired what might be the 
 terms proposed. 
 
 " They are/' said Wingenund, " first, that the two white 
 prisoners shall be immediately restored to their friends ; se- 
 condly, that the Osages shall be given up to the Lenape; 
 thirdly, that there shall be peace and friendship between the 
 friends of Wingenund and the Upsaroka until the snow falls 
 again upon the earth." 
 
 The leaders having conversed apart for a few minutes, 
 White-bull said, " If Wingenund fails, and the Kainna take 
 many scalps from the Upsaroka, what will happen then ?" 
 
 " They will take the scalp of Wingenund too," replied the 
 youth calmly. 
 
 Again the Crow chiefs consulted together for some time, and 
 at length they resolved to agree to the terms proposed by Win- 
 genund. The medicine-pipe was brought, and was passed 
 from the chief to him, as well as to Ethelston and the mission- 
 ary j after which Wingenund said to White-bull, " There is 
 no time to be lost ; let sixty of the best warriors be chosen, 
 twenty to go with Wingenund, and forty with White-bull ; and 
 let one be found, very large and tall ; let him put on the dress 
 of Mahega ; Wingenund will take the whistle, and all will be 
 ready." 
 
 A short time sufficed to collect and marshal the party ; and 
 Ethelston was, at his own earnest request, permitted to join 
 KK 4 
 
504" THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the band led by the Delaware youth, being anxious to see the 
 manoeuvres about to take place, and Besha having made him- 
 self responsible for his fidelity. 
 
 Wingenund led the way at a swift pace, until he gained the 
 summit of the first range of hills ; nor did he slacken it until 
 he had crossed the valley beyond, and stood upon the opposite 
 brow of the heights, whence the Black-foot band was visible. 
 Here he concealed and halted his party, until he had crept 
 forward and examined all the range of hills within sight. As 
 soon as he had satisfied himself that all was quiet, he drew his 
 party gently on, and at length succeeded in hiding White-bull 
 and his forty men behind some rocks in the steepest and nar- 
 rowest part of the gorge leading down to the glen below. His 
 quick eye had noted the spot before, and a more minute in- 
 spection now convinced him that there was no other pass by 
 which the enemy could ascend the height, and that a handful 
 of determined men might defend it against ten times their 
 number. 
 
 Having warned White-bull to keep his own men close, and 
 to stir neither hand nor foot until he heard the Lenape war- 
 cry, which was the appointed signal, he retreated with his own 
 band of twenty men to the point where the interview between 
 Mahega and the Black-foot had taken place, which was about 
 forty yards higher up the mountain, and where the gorge was 
 almost as narrow and precipitous as at the pass below. Here 
 he concealed his men among the rocks, and Ethelston primed 
 and loaded three rifles, which they had taken from the Osages, 
 and which were now destined for the use of Wingenund and 
 himself. 
 
 For several weary hours the youth watched in vain for the 
 approach of the Black-feet ; and any nerves less steady than 
 his own would have been shaken by the remembrance of the 
 disagreeable consequences that might result from the failure of 
 his plot. He lay, however, still and motionless as the stone 
 upon which his elbow rested, until, just as the grey hue of 
 evening was beginning to steal over the landscape, he descried 
 an Indian slowly ascending the steep, followed at a distance 
 by a long line of warriors. A low whistle from Wingenund 
 warned his party to be ready, but he moved not until the ad- 
 vancing band were sufficiently near for him to recognise in 
 their leader the chief who had conferred with Mahega on the 
 preceding day. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 505 
 
 While they were approaching in careless security, the Crows 
 prepared for the attack, each man being provided with a tough 
 halter of hison-hide, in addition to his usual weapons of bow, 
 knife, and war- club ; and the leader of the Black-feet had 
 already passed the lower gorge (where White-bull and his 
 party were concealed), ere he sounded the signal preconcerted 
 with Mahega. Wingenund immediately replied by a similar 
 sound drawn from the whistle which he had secured, desiring 
 -at the same time the Crow who wore the dress of the slain 
 Osage to show himself at the edge of the rock skirting the 
 pass. The Black-foot chief, completely deceived, toiled lazily 
 up the steep and narrow ascent, beckoning to his men to 
 follow ; and just as he reached the upper station, Wingenund, 
 seeing that twelve or fourteen of them were now fairly caged 
 between the party below and his own, leapt from his conceal- 
 ment upon the astonished leader of the Black-feet, and dealing 
 him a blow on the head that stunned and disabled him, shouted 
 aloud the war-cry of the Lenape. 
 
 No sooner was the signal uttered, than White-bull rushed 
 from his ambuscade, and seized the pass below ; so that the 
 unfortunate Black-feet, enclosed between the two parties, 
 panic-struck by the suddenness of the attack, and the fall of 
 their leader, could neither fight nor fly ; and in spite of their 
 desperate but unavailing attempts at resistance, were all in the 
 -course of a few minutes disarmed and securely bound. 
 
 Meanwhile the main body of their comrades made a gallant 
 attempt to force the lower pass, but it was so stoutly defended 
 by the Crows, and was in itself so narrow and difficult, that 
 they were soon forced to retire with loss. Neither could those 
 who succeeded to the command bring them again to the attack. 
 The war-cry of the Lenape had never before been heard in 
 these glens, and the dismayed Black-feet thought that the evil 
 spirits were fighting against them ; while to increase their 
 terror, Ethelston and Wingenund fired two of the rifles over 
 their heads, the bullets from which whistled past them, and 
 the echoes of their report, prolonged by the rocks and crags 
 around, died away at length like the muttered thunder of 
 a distant storm. Terrified by the suddenness of the attack, 
 and by the noise of the fire-arms, ignorant of the number, 
 position, and even of the nation, of their unexpected assailants, 
 and fearful that another manoeuvre might cut off their retreat, 
 
506' THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 they fled precipitately down the mountain-side, and halted not 
 until they brought their tale of disgrace and disaster into the 
 Kainna camp. 
 
 In the course of a few hours after the events above narrated, 
 Wingenund and White-bull stood together before the lodge of 
 the aged chief of the Crows, whom the former addressed as 
 follows : " My father, see there the Kainna chief, and twelve 
 of his best warriors ; they are prisoners; their life hangs upon 
 my father's breath ; the promise of Wingenund has not been 
 blown away by the wind." 
 
 Besha having duly translated this address, was desired by 
 the old chief (whose astonishment was scarcely exceeded by 
 his delight) to bestow the highest praise that he could express 
 upon the young Delaware's skill and courage ; to which 
 effusion of complimentary eloquence he replied : " My father, 
 Wingenund has not seen many summers ; he has no skill in 
 speech, nor experience in council ; but he knows that the 
 Great Spirit loves a single tongue, and a true heart. Mahega 
 was cunning as a wolf, swift as a deer, strong as a bison-bull ; 
 but there was poison in his heart, and lies dwelt under his 
 tongue, like snakes under a smooth stone. What is the end? 
 The mountain-buzzards pick his bones ; and when his children 
 ask, where is the grave of Mahega ? there shall be none to 
 answer. My father, when the sun has risen, the treaty shall 
 be made, the pipe of peace shall be smoked, and the Medicine 
 of the white tent shall bring many good things to the Upsa- 
 roka." 
 
 Having thus spoken, Wingenund retired to the lodge of 
 Besha; and the captive Black-feet having been placed under 
 a guard, White-bull remained in consultation with his father, 
 while the other warriors soon forgot in sleep the fatigues of the 
 past eventful day. 
 
THE PBAIKIE-BIRD. 50? 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WINGENUND AND HIS FRIENDS RETURN TOWARDS THEIR CAMP. A 
 SERIOUS ADVENTURE AND A SERIOUS ARGUMENT OCCUR BY." THB 
 WAT. SHOWING, ALSO, HOW THE EXTREMES OF GRIEF, SURPRISE, 
 AND JOY MAY BE CROWDED INTO THE SPACE OF A FEW MINUTES. 
 
 THE result of the consultation between White-bull and his 
 father was, that the terms of the treaty made with Wingenund 
 should be strictly observed ; but lest the ingenuous reader 
 should be misled into the belief that this resolution was 
 influenced by any considerations of good faith or honesty, 
 it may be as well to inform him that the advantages and 
 disadvantages of the two opposite courses were discussed with 
 the most deliberate calculation, and the path of honour was at 
 length selected upon the following grounds : 
 
 First. It was expedient to make friends with the allied 
 band, inasmuch as the latter were formidable enemies, from 
 their courage, skill, and equipment. 
 
 Secondly. They had many bales of cloth, blankets, and 
 other goods, of which they would probably make liberal pre- 
 sents to their friends : and, 
 
 Thirdly. The Crows having just incensed and triumphed 
 over their hereditary foes the Black-feet, they might expect 
 reprisals from the latter ; in which event, the alliance of a 
 band commanding upwards of twenty "medicine-fire-weapons," 
 was not to be despised. 
 
 Having embraced this resolution, and communicated it by 
 secret messengers to the principal braves and conjurers, the 
 worthy sire and son summoned them to a grand council on the 
 following morning, at which the treaty was ratified in due 
 form ; Wingenund, Paul Miiller, and Ethelston representing 
 the allied band, and each party loading the other with praises 
 and compliments, until the oily tongue of Besha was almost 
 weary of translating and retranslating their expressions of 
 mutual amity and fidelity. 
 
 The four unhappy survivors of Mahega's band were now 
 brought forward, their arms being securely pinioned behind 
 them, and Besha inquired of Wingenund his wishes concern- 
 
508 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ing them. It needed only a word from his lips, and they 
 would have been stabbed, burnt, or more slowly tortured to 
 death on the spot. The youth looked at them sternly for a 
 moment, and Paul Miiller trembled lest the vengeful instinct 
 of his race should guide his decision; but he replied, " Win- 
 genund will take them with him to the Lenape camp. War- * 
 Eagle, Netis, and the Black Father shall hold a council, and 
 what they think best it shall be done." 
 
 Ethelston, Paul Miiller, and Wingenund now prepared to 
 bid adieu to their Crow friends, it having been agreed that 
 White-bull, accompanied by some of his principal braves, 
 should visit the Delaware camp on the following day to inter- 
 change presents, and confirm the alliance thus happily and 
 unexpectedly commenced ; and, as a further proof of his 
 friendly disposition, the Crow chief permitted Bending-willow 
 to send a girdle of delicate fawn-skin, adorned with feathers 
 and stained quills, to the "Great Medicine of the white tent." 
 
 Wingenund had still kept possession of the three Osage 
 rifles, one of which was in the hands of Ethelston ; and the 
 other two he now loaded, and offered one to Paul Miiller. 
 
 "Nay, my son/' said the missionary, smiling, "these hands 
 are not skilled in the use of the firelock ; neither do they 
 desire to be acquainted with any weapon more dangerous than 
 this oaken staff. The shedding of human blood would ill 
 beseem a humble minister of the Gospel of Peace." 
 
 " The words of the Black Father," said the youth respect- 
 fully, " are full of goodness and truth ; but he must not forget 
 that the path lies over rough and dangerous places ; that there 
 are four prisoners, who may attempt to overcome or escape 
 from us, and that we may meet enemies by the way ; therefore 
 Wingenund wished to give the Black Father a weapon to de- 
 fend himself." 
 
 " The motive, my son, was natural and blameless ; never- 
 theless, I purpose to abstain from handling any deadly weapon, 
 and to entrust my personal safety to Him who has so marvel- 
 lously preserved us through trials, captivity, and dangers in- 
 numerable. My children," continued the worthy man, in the 
 English tongue, ' ' before we depart hence to revisit our friends, 
 let us together thank God for the great mercies shown to us ; 
 let us implore his further protection for ourselves and all dear 
 to us ; and let us humbly entreat him, in his own good time, 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 509 
 
 to soften, turn, and enlighten the hearts of these benighted 
 children of the wilderness, so that they may hereafter, with 
 us, be brought to his heavenly kingdom." 
 
 As he said these words, the venerable missionary dropped 
 upon his knees, Ethelston and Wingenund kneeling beside 
 him, while he uttered a fervent prayer, which embraced, in 
 simple, yet eloquent language, all the objects above alluded to. 
 
 Great was the surprise of the Crows at the attitude of the 
 three, and their sudden abstraction from all that was passing 
 around ; but Besha having whispered to the chief that they 
 were talking to the Great Spirit, he made a signal that pro- 
 found silence should be observed, fearful that if they were dis- 
 turbed, or anyways annoyed, they would invoke evil upon 
 himself and his tribe. 
 
 The prayer was concluded, and they were about paying their 
 farewell salutations to the chiefs, when the low wailing of a 
 female voice from an adjoining lodge caught the missionary's 
 ear an ear to which the accents of distress ever found im- 
 mediate entrance. Having desired Besha to inquire into the 
 cause of her complaint, he learnt that she was the wife of the 
 man who had been struck down by Mahega's war-club, after 
 it had grazed the cheek of Wingenund, and that her husband 
 was now lying in a state of great misery and suffering. In 
 spite of a gesture of impatience from the Delaware youth, 
 whose feet burned to be upon the homeward path, the mission- 
 ary approached the sufferer, and carefully examined his con- 
 dition. He found that the bones of the broken arm had been 
 joined with tolerable skill and success, and that it was well 
 secured by bandages to a straight splinter of pine-wood ; but, 
 whether owing to the roughness of the treatment, or the pain 
 he had undergone, he was now in a high and dangerous state 
 of fever. The missionary had still concealed in his girdle a 
 small bag, containing, among other medicines, a few powders 
 exactly adapted to the emergency ; of these he mixed one with 
 a little water, and having given it to his patient, left another 
 with Besha, desiring that it might be administered at noon, 
 and that no meat should be given to him until the following 
 day. " With these remedies, and with the blessing of the 
 Great Spirit," said he, as he retired, " the man will soon be 
 well." 
 
 " Did I understand rightly," said Ethelston to Wingenund, 
 
510 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " that White-bull comes over to-morrow with his braves to 
 complete the treaty with us, and exchange presents ? " 
 
 <{ It is so settled," replied the youth. 
 
 " Would it not then be better to let him and his men bring 
 with them the Osage prisoners ? They are four desperate men, 
 and only we two are armed ; if they mutiny by the way, we 
 shall be obliged to shoot them in self-defence." 
 
 " My brother does not know the Washashee and the Upsa- 
 roka," said Wingenund, smiling ; " both of them love the Pale- 
 faces and the Lenape as the wolf loves the deer. No, my 
 brother, let the prisoners go with us ; our eyes must be open ; 
 if they try to run away or do us harm, the rifle must keep 
 them quiet." 
 
 The youth spoke these words in a low, determined tone; and 
 Ethelston feeling that he could not gainsay their truth, listened 
 while Wingenund repeated the warning to the Osages in theirown 
 tongue, informing them that if they made the slightest attempt 
 to escape, or demonstration of violence by the way, they would 
 be instantly shot ; a sullen and silent inclination of the head, 
 signifying that he was understood, was the only reply ; and 
 once more greeting their Crow allies, the little party moved off 
 in the direction of the Delaware camp, Wingenund leading the 
 way, with a loaded rifle in his hand., the Black-foot bow and 
 quiver slung at his back, and a knife and pistol, taken from one 
 of the Osages, being fastened in his girdle ; next came the 
 four prisoners, with their arms still pinioned, but their legs en- 
 tirely at liberty ; Paul Miiller and Ethelston brought up the 
 rear ; the latter carrying two loaded rifles, one in his hand, and 
 the other slung over his shoulder. 
 
 It was a beautiful summer morning, the grey mists had 
 arisen from the valley and curled in spiral folds round the rug- 
 ged and precipitous rocks that frowned above it. Short and 
 scant as was the herbage, still as it glistened in the early dew, 
 and hung forth its diamond drops in the sun,' it imparted a 
 touch of sweetness to scenery, the dreary barrenness of which 
 might otherwise have oppressed the mind of the traveller with 
 a feeling of desolation. Never, perhaps, over that, or over any 
 other mountain track, passed a lighter foot or a more rejoicing 
 heart than that of our young friend Wingenund. The dreams 
 of boyhood, dreams that a few weeks ago he had himself 
 deemed visionary, or at least remote, were already accom- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. All 
 
 plished ; he had won the gold spurs of Indian chivalry : in 
 the dance, or the council, or the field, neither envy nor detrac- 
 tion could now forbid his mixing with the braves and warriors 
 of his tribe ; and his heart exulted within him as he thought 
 of presenting to Netis and War-Eagle the scalp of their arch- 
 enemy, the insolent captor of Prairie-bird, the great warrior of 
 the Osages, slain by his own hand. These were feelings 
 which the boy-hero could share with none, for with Ethelston 
 he was as yet little acquainted, and Paul-Muller he knew to 
 be averse to all thoughts of strife and conflict ; still the feel- 
 ings arose unchecked and unrepressed within his bosom when 
 he remembered the name by which he was called, the deeds of 
 those who had borne it before him ; and mingled with these 
 memories of the past came the proud reflection, that wherever 
 the Delaware tongue was yet spoken among the scattered bands 
 of the Ancient People on the banks of Missouri and Ohio, of 
 Susquehana and Miami, the song of Lenape warrior and Lenape 
 maiden would tell how the scourge of their tribe, Mahega, the 
 Bloody-hand, had been slain by Wingenund, the brother of 
 War-Eagle ! 
 
 The events of the preceding days had been to the youth the 
 realised romance of his life ; and as he strode along the moun- 
 tain side, he felt as if his expanded chest were a world too 
 narrow for the high emotions that swelled within it. 
 
 Perhaps it may seem unnatural to the reader, that amidst 
 all the excitement of awakened hope, ambition, and exultation, 
 the youth forgot not for a moment the perils by which he was 
 surrounded. It is our business to describe the Indian cha- 
 racter, not as it might be, if designed " to point a moral or 
 adorn a tale," but as it is, with all those lights and shades 
 which distinguish it from that of white men ; and one of the 
 most remarkable features one which has also escaped the ob- 
 servation of those writers who are chiefly quoted as authority 
 on this subject is that power of reserved abstraction which 
 the mind of the Indian acquires as a result of an early and 
 constant habit of control over the will. Thus, during the 
 wildest flight of his imagination, and the highest aspirations of 
 his ambitious hopes, under an excitement which would have 
 rendered an English youth of his years blind, and deaf, and 
 careless for the moment of all that was passing around, the 
 quick eye of Wingenund roved with incessant motion from 
 
512 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 hill to vale, embracing every hollow that might contain art 
 ambush, and every crag near his path that might give shelter 
 to a foe. 
 
 Ethelston conversed little with the missionary, for there was 
 a thought which lay close to his heart, and made its pulses 
 throb more quickly at every step that he made towards the 
 Delaware camp. Already they were within a few miles of it, 
 when, in passing a streamlet that flowed across their path, 
 Wingenund suddenly turned and proposed to his companions 
 to refresh themselves with a drink. 
 
 Passing the Osages, he came back to Ethelston, and said to 
 him, while the missionary filled a small tin cup with water, 
 " My brother's eyes have been shut, let him be ready now ; 
 one of the prisoners is free, and has almost cut the bands of a 
 second." 
 
 Accustomed to dangers and emergencies, Ethelston did not 
 start nor take any outward notice of the young Delaware's 
 observation ; but he replied, " It is true, I have been heedless ; 
 but it is not too late to repair the error : seize him while he is- 
 drinking, I will secure the others ; do not take life if it can 
 be avoided." 
 
 Wingenund took the hint and carried the cup round, 
 offering a draught to each of the pinioned Osages, without 
 appearing to notice the severed thong hanging from the wrist 
 of the one who had freed himself. 
 
 Thus thrown off his guard, and thinking he was unsuspected, 
 the Osage stooped to drink from the cup, when Wingenund 
 seized him with his left hand, and, presenting a pistol to his 
 breast, said to him in his own tongue, " If you stir, you die.'' 
 
 Reckless of consequences, and despairing of mercy in the 
 Delaware camp, the fierce Osage sprang upon the youth, and 
 strove to wrench the pistol from his grasp. Being a powerful 
 man, he might have succeeded in the attempt, had not a blow 
 from the butt end of Ethelston's rifle laid him stunned and 
 prostrate on the ground. 
 
 The three other prisoners, seeing their comrade's helpless 
 condition, ceased from the violent efforts which they had been 
 making to free themselves, and by the time that he had 
 recovered from the effects of the blow, his arms were pinioned 
 more strongly than before, and the thongs by which the others 
 were fastened were re-examined and secured. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 513" 
 
 While engaged in this operation, Wingenund showed to 
 Ethelston a sharp flifit with which the Osage had cut his own 
 bands, anil had begun to separate those of his next comrade 
 in the line of march : a few minutes more and his hands 
 would also have been free, in which case the task of our 
 two friends would not have proved so easy. 
 
 Ethelston well understood Wingenund's meaning as the 
 latter showed him the half-cut thong on the wrist of the 
 second Indian, and he said, " I confess I was blind, my young 
 friend, and am ashamed of myself ! you will have but a low 
 opinion of my talents as a warrior." 
 
 " My brother's eye may have wandered a little," replied 
 the youth, smiling, "because he is not skilled in the Wa- 
 shashee tricks; but his heart is in the right place, and his 
 hand knows how to strike ; a few suns will rise and set before 
 the skull of that dog forgets what my brother bestowed upon 
 it." 
 
 " It was time to strike hard, because I did not wish to 
 strike twice. As I had requested you not to shoot, I felt that 
 I had made myself answerable for your safety, and if that 
 second fellow had succeeded in freeing his hands, we might 
 have had some troublesome work of it. But tell me, Win- 
 genund, how did you, while walking in front, discover what 
 was passing behind you ? " 
 
 " The Osage told me himself," replied the youth, again 
 smiling. 
 
 " I do not understand you, for assuredly he never spoke." 
 
 " Not with his tongue, but plainly enough with his face. 
 I looked round once or twice, and my eye met his; I saw 
 there was mischief, for he looked too good. When I passed 
 to ask you for the cup, I looked again, quickly, but closer, 
 and saw that his hands were free, though he kept them 
 together as before." 
 
 Ethelston could not forbear laughing at the youth's notion 
 of the ill-favoured Osage, " looking too good ; " but feeling both 
 amused and interested by his replies, he again said, " I must 
 own my admiration of your quick-sightedness, for doubtless 
 the Osage tried to make the expression of his face deceive 
 you. 
 
 " He has not the face of an Indian warrior," said the 
 youth, scornfully. " When a deed is to be done or concealed 
 
 L L 
 
514 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 let my brother try and read it in the face of War-Eagle, or 
 any great chief of the Lenape ! As well might he strive to 
 count the stones in the deepest channel of the great Muddy 
 River,* or the stars of heaven in a cloudy night ! 
 
 The party had now struck a broad trail, leading across the 
 valley, and up the opposite height, in the direction of the 
 Delaware camp ; the Osage prisoners were therefore sent to 
 the front, and ordered to march forward on the trail by 
 which means Wingenund enjoyed the advantage of watching 
 their movements, while he continued to converse with his 
 friends. 
 
 " I own," said Ethelston, " that I had not before considered 
 a command over the muscles of the countenance as being a 
 matter of so much importance in the character of an Indian 
 warrior." 
 
 " Nevertheless the youth is right in what he says," replied 
 Paul Muller. " Where cunning and artifice are so often 
 resorted to, a natural and unconcerned air of candour is an 
 admirable shield of defence : the quickness of sight which you 
 lately observed in Wingenund, is an hereditary quality in his 
 race. The grandfather of Tamenund was so celebrated for it, 
 that he was called by a name signifying e The man who has 
 eyes in his back : ' he was killed only twenty years ago, 
 during the fierce irruption made by a band of the five nations 
 into the valley of Wyoming, to which the old man had retired 
 in the hope of closing his eyes in peace." 
 
 ' I have heard of that tragedy," said Ethelston ; " indeed, 
 it occurred while I was at school on the banks of the Musk- 
 ingum ; and often as the boys went or returned, \ey used to 
 frighten each other with cries of ' The Indians \ but I have 
 since been much absent from my own country,, and never 
 rightly understood who were the actors in that scene of terror, 
 and what were the tribes usually known by the name of the 
 Six Nations, for so I have always heard them called." 
 
 * The Missouri is here alluded to, the ancient name of which, " Pekitanoui," 
 signifies "muddy water" in the language of the Illinois, once a most powerful 
 tribe, dwelling near its confluence with the Mississippi. They have since given a 
 name to one of the states of the Union, but not one of the tribe survives at this day. 
 Some antiquarians think that they were formerly a branch of the great nation of 
 the Delawares (a supposition confirmed by the resemblance of their name, Il-lenni, 
 to that of the Lenni-Lenape) ; one half of which remained on the great prairies 
 bordering the Mississippi, while the other half overran, and finally occupied, the 
 greater portion of country between the Ohio and the Atlantic. See Charle 
 voix, &c. 
 
THE PUAlIIiE-BlUD. 515 
 
 " There were in fact only five," replied the missionary ; 
 lc for although the Tuscaroras joined the confederation, they 
 did not originally belong to it. These five are known among 
 white men by the following names : The Mohawks, Oneidas, 
 Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas ; and it was a band of the 
 latter that made the irruption into the valley of Wyoming. I 
 dare say that Wingenund knows more of them than I do, for 
 he often heard Tamenund speak of them, and he knew their 
 history like the traditions of his own tribe." 
 
 "Wingenund has not forgotten," replied the youth, " what 
 his grandfather taught him concerning the Five Nations. The 
 names spoken by the Black Father are those commonly given 
 them ; but they call themselves otherwise." 
 
 "Tell me, Wingenund/' said Ethelston, "the names by 
 which they are known among themselves ? " 
 
 "The Moh-awks are called Coningionah. The Oneidas, 
 Oni-eut-kah ; or * The people of the standing- stone.' The 
 Cayugas, Senanda Wanandu-nah ; l The people of the great 
 pipe.' The Onondagas, Nundagekah ; ' People of the small 
 hill.' The Senecas, Nundawa-gah ; * People of the big hill.' 
 But the council name of the last is different." 
 
 " What do you mean by the council name ? " 
 
 " Many of the nations have more than one name, and the 
 council name is never spoken except by the chiefs and wise 
 men in council ; the women and boys seldom know it ; and if 
 they do, they must not speak it." 
 
 " Did Tamenund tell you the council name of the Se- 
 necas ? " 
 
 " Yes ; it is Oni-hoout, ' Those who shut the door ;' because 
 the Senecas live the furthest to the south-west, and guard the 
 others from the approach of their enemies." * 
 
 "It always appeared to me," said Ethelston, turning to the 
 missionary, " that the variety and arbitary alteration of 
 
 * These, and many other particulars respecting the Six Nations, the author had 
 from the lips of a veteran, who was carried off as a child by the Senecas when they 
 sacked Wyoming. He was adopted into their tribe, and lived with them the 
 greater part of his life, during a portion of which he acted for them in the capacity 
 of interpreter and Indian agent ; afterwards he retired to spend a vigorous and 
 green old age in the western part of the state of New York. He always spoke with 
 affection.-ito enthusiasm of his adopted kindred, and it was easy to see that the 
 white man's blood in his veins circulated through an Indian heart. Those who 
 wish to know more of the early history of the Five Nations are referred to the ac- 
 curate and interesting account given of them by Golden. 
 
 L 2 
 
5l6 THE PRAIHIE-BIKD. 
 
 Indian names present an insuperable barrier in the way of any 
 inquiry into their national or local history." 
 
 " Certainly, my son ; the difficulty is great, and proceeds 
 from various causes : First, because it is frequently, perhaps 
 generally, the case among Indian nations, that the son takes 
 the name of the mother, and not, as with us, that of the 
 father. Secondly, there often are, as you have just learnt 
 from Wingenund, two or three names by which the same 
 person or tribe is designated. Thirdly, nothing is more 
 common than for a warrior to receive a new name from any 
 daring or remarkable feat that he may have performed, in 
 which case his former name is dropped, and soon forgotten : 
 and, lastly, it must be remembered, that we, American, Ger- 
 mans, and English, have obtained the greater part of our 
 Indian nomenclature, both as to persons and places, from the 
 French ; who, in the various capacities of possessors, adven- 
 turers, missionaries, voyageurs, hunters, and interpreters, have 
 overrun almost the whole of this continent before us." 
 
 " It is, then, your opinion that the French travellers and 
 writers from whom these names have been chiefly derived, 
 have been very careless and inaccurate in their transcription of 
 them ? " 
 
 " Extremely so. When they first reached and descended 
 the Mississippi, they called it the ' Colbert ; ' afterwards, on 
 finding what a magnificent river it became when it received 
 the waters of the Missouri, they call it e La riviere St. 
 Louis,' by which name it was known for many years, until 
 insensibly it recovered its Indian appellation. When the ad- 
 venturers came to any unknown tribe, they called them by some 
 name descriptive of the accidental circumstances under which 
 they first saw them, and these names they have ever since 
 retained. Thus, the Winnebagoes in the north happened, 
 when first visited, to be drying fish in their camp, and thence 
 obtained the pleasant name by which they are now known, 
 ' Les Puans ! ' Another band, some of whom had acciden- 
 tally been scorched, by the prairie and underwood near their 
 encampment taking fire, have ever since been called f Les 
 Bois-Brules ; ' another, * Les Gros Ventres.' * The Dahcotah 
 nation they have called * Les Sioux;' the Aricara, 'Les Ris;' 
 
 * The Minnetarees. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 517 
 
 and so forth, until it is difficult, if not impossible, to recognise 
 any of the original Indian names under their French disguise." 
 " I grant this," said Ethelston. " Yet we must not forget 
 that the English have in several instances laid themselves open 
 to the same charge ; otherwise the great nation to which our 
 young friend belongs would not have been called after a Nor- 
 man baron ! But you will surely allow that the early French 
 missionaries in North America were men of great piety, learn- 
 ing, and enterprise ? " 
 
 " It is true, my son, many of them were so ; and none caa 
 feel more grateful than I do 10 such of them as laboured sin- 
 cerely in the service of the Gospel. Yet I am bound to say, 
 that in the best authorised account which they sent to France 
 from Natchez of the surrounding country,* there is so much 
 pedantry, prejudice, and fancy, mingled with highly interesting 
 information, that the book cannot be quoted as one possessing 
 historical authority. A writer who gravely infers that the 
 Mississippi Indians came from the north-eastern straits, from 
 the identity of the Choctaws with the people of Kamchakta 
 (or Royaume des Chactas), must expect that some of his other 
 arguments and speculations should be received with diffidence. 
 But see, we have reached the summit of this range, and 
 Wingenund's sparkling eye is already fixed upon the tent of 
 Prairie-bird." 
 
 " There it is ! " said the youth ; " they have moved it since 
 I came away, and placed it on that point nearer the stream." 
 
 Little did he suspect what had occurred during his brief 
 absence, as, with a foot light and elastic as his heart, he put 
 himself at the head of his little party, and led the way swiftly 
 towards the camp. 
 
 As the party drew near the camp they fell in with the out- 
 piquet on guard in that quarter, consisting of one of the 
 Delaware braves and two of his men, to whom Wingenund 
 entrusted his Osage prisoners, adding, " Give them water and 
 food, but let them not escape." 
 
 The brave looked full in the face of the youth, then his 
 eye roved from the scalp at his belt to the pinioned Osages, 
 and a grim smile played across his features ; but they almost 
 instantly relapsed into the grave and gloomy expression that 
 
 * The celebrated " Lettres Edifiantes. 
 L L 3 
 
518 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 they had before worn ; not another word was spoken, and the 
 three passed on towards the white tent. As they drew near, 
 they saw a group of hunters, among whom were Pierre and 
 Bearskin, sitting round a smouldering fire, some smoking, and 
 others engaged in mending their mocassins or cleaning their 
 pistols and rifles. There was neither joke nor song amongst 
 them ; and although they started up to welcome their rescued 
 and returning friends, the latter perceived that something was 
 wrong, and it was with aching arid foreboding hearts that they 
 returned the friendly greeting, and passed onwards towards the 
 tent, before which they saw Reginald and Baptiste in earnest 
 conversation. 
 
 Reginald no sooner saw them, than he sprung forward tt 
 embrace Ethelston, exclaiming, " God be praised for this great 
 and unexpected comfort ! " 
 
 Ethelston looked in his friend's face ; and its expression 
 confirming his apprehensions, his lip grew pale and trembled ; 
 he gasped for breath, as, pressing Reginald's hand within his 
 own, he said, " Speak speak! tell me what has happened? " 
 then pointing to the tent, he added, " Is she safe? is she 
 well ? " 
 
 "She is safe shs is well!" replied Reginald; "never- 
 theless " 
 
 Ethelston heard no more, but a deep groan relieved the 
 oppression of his heart, as he ejaculated, " Blessed be the 
 God of Mercies ! " and covering his face with his hands, stood 
 for a moment in silence. 
 
 Reginald was surprised at this extraordinary emotion in hia 
 friend, usually so composed and calm, and at the deep interest 
 that he took in one whom, although betrothed to his intended 
 brother-in-law, he had not yet seen. But he added, gravely, 
 l( God knows, my dear friend, that my gratitude is not less 
 fervent than yours. Precious as her life is, it has however 
 been ransomed at a price dearer to me than aught else on earth 
 besides herself, Wingenund," he continued, addressing the 
 youth, and affectionately taking his hand, "you are the son of 
 a race of heroes ; is your heart firm ? are you prepared to 
 suffer the griefs that the Great Spirit thinks fit to send ? " 
 
 The youth raised his dark eyes to the speaker's face ; and 
 subduing by a powerful effort the prescient agony of his soul, 
 he said in a low tone, " Let Netis speak on ; the ears of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 519 
 
 Wingenund are ready to hear what the Great Spirit has 
 sent." 
 
 " Dear Wingenund, alas ! War-Eagle, our beloved brother 
 is" 
 
 " Dead ! " interrupted the youth, letting the butt of his rifle 
 fall heavily to the ground. 
 
 "Nay, not yet dead, perhaps worse than dead; for he is 
 hurt beyond all hope of cure, yet suffers torture such as none 
 fcut himself could endure without complaint." 
 
 It was fearful for those who stood by to witness the agonis- 
 ing struggle of emotions that convulsed the frame of the young 
 Delaware on receiving this announcement; for War-Eagle had 
 been to him not only a brother, but father, companion, and 
 friend, the object on whom all the affections of his young 
 heart had been concentrated with an intensity almost idola- 
 trous ! yet even in the extremity of anguish he forgot not the 
 rude yet high philosophy of his race and nurture ; he could 
 not bear that any human eye should witness his weakness, or 
 that any white man should be able to say that Wingenund, 
 the last of the race of Tamenund, had succumbed to suffering. 
 Terrible was the internal conflict ; and while it was yet un- 
 certain how it might end, his hand accidentally rested upon 
 his belt, and his fingers closed upon the scalp of Mahega ; 
 instantly, as if by magic, the grief of the loving brother was 
 crushed by the stoic pride of the Indian warrior. 
 
 " War- Eagle is not dead ; his eyes shall look upon the 
 scalp of his great enemy slain by the hand which he first 
 taught to use a bow ; and when he goes to the hunting-fields 
 of the brave, our fathers may ask him, ' Where is the scalp 
 of the destroyer of our race ? ' ' Such were the thoughts that 
 shot like wildfire through the brain and through the breast of 
 the young Delaware, as with a countenance almost haughty in 
 its expression, he drew up his graceful form to its full height, 
 saying, " Where is War-Eagle ? Wingenund would see him. 
 Let the Black Father go too ; perhaps his healing skill might 
 avail." 
 
 " I will not deceive you, dear Wingenund ; no human skill 
 \:an avail our departing friend. He is now within the tent ; 
 Prairie-bird watched with him all the night ; she spoke to him 
 often words from God's own book, and they seemed to com- 
 fort him, for he smiled, and said he would gladly hear more* 
 L L 4 
 
520 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 She has retired to take a few hours' sleep, then she will return 
 and resume her sad hut endearing task." 
 
 " Wingenund will go to him ; but first letNetis say whence 
 the wounds of War-Eagle came. Have enemies been near the 
 camp ? " 
 
 With the eloquence of deep feeling Reginald briefly related 
 the circumstances attending War-Eagle's devoted and heroic 
 defence of Prairie -bird from the bears. 
 
 Ethelston and Paul Miiller listened with suspended breath, 
 and as he concluded exclaimed together, " Noble, brave, and 
 generous War-Eagle ! " while the youth, pressing his lips 
 together as if steeling his breast against softer impressions, 
 said in a low tone, " 'Twas well done ; few are the warriors 
 whose single knife has reached the heart of a grisly bear. Let 
 us go on to the tent." 
 
 Reginald led the way, and, lifting the flap, entered, followed 
 by Ethelston, Wingenund, and Paul Miiller. 
 
 The chief was seated in the centre, propped by bales of 
 cloth and fur ; his sunken eye was closed from sleeplessness 
 and exhaustion, and a blanket loosely thrown over his 
 shoulders, covered the emaciated remains of his once powerful 
 and athletic frame. At his side lay his favourite pipe, his 
 war-club, knife, and rifle ; while the faithful Lita, stretched 
 at his feet, strove in vain to restore their natural warmth, by 
 applying to them hot stones enveloped in the shreds of a blanket,, 
 which she had torn up for the purpose. The entrance of the 
 party was not unmarked by the wounded chief, and a smile 
 passed over his wasted features when he unclosed his eyes, 
 and recognised Wingenund and the two others whom he had 
 rescued from the Crows. 
 
 " The Black Father is welcome," he said, in a faint, but 
 cheerful voice, " and so is the friend of Netis ; and War- 
 Eagle is glad to see the face of his brother Wingenund." 
 
 We have seen how the youth had, by a desperate effort, 
 nerved himself to bear, without giving way, the description of 
 his brother's wounds and hopeless condition ; yet when the 
 feeble tones of that loved voice thrilled upon his ear, when his 
 eye fell upon the wasted frame, and when he saw written 
 upon that noble countenance proofs not to be mistaken, of 
 torture endured, and death approaching, the string which had 
 refused to be relaxed started asunder, and he fell senseless to 
 the ground, while a stream of blood gushed from his mouth. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 521 
 
 Half-raising himself by the aid of his yet unwounded arm, 
 War-Eagle made a vain effort to move towards his young 
 brother, and his eye shone with something of its former eager 
 lustre, as he said, in a voice louder than he was deemed 
 capable of uttering, " Let the Black Father lend his aid and 
 skill to the youth ; he is the last leaf on the Unami branch ; 
 dear is his blood to the Lenape." 
 
 " Dearer to none than to me," said the missionary, raising 
 and supporting the unconscious youth, " for to him I owe 
 my liberty, perhaps my life. 'Tis only the rupture of a small 
 blood-vessel ; fear not for him, my brave friend, he will soon 
 be better." 
 
 While Paul Muller, assisted by one of the Delawares who 
 stood at the entrance of the tent, carried the youth into the 
 open air, and employed the restoratives which his experience 
 suggested, the chief mused upon the words which he had last 
 heard, and inquired, addressing himself to Reginald, " What 
 said the Black Father of his life and liberty being given by 
 Wingenund ? " 
 
 fe Tell the chief, Ethelston, what has befallen, and how you 
 and Paul Muller were rescued by Wingenund. In my deep 
 anxiety for my suffering friend, I was satisfied with seeing 
 that you had returned in safety, and never inquired how you 
 escaped." 
 
 Ethelston drew near to the wounded chief, so that he might 
 distinctly hear every syllable spoken, and said, War-Eagle, 
 as surely as Prairie -bird owes her life and safety to your 
 devoted courage, so surely do the Father and I owe our lives 
 and liberty to that of Wingenund. Can you listen now, and 
 follow me while I tell you all that has happened ? " 
 
 The chief gave a silent nod of assent, and Ethelston pro- 
 ceeded in the simple language of true feeling, to relate to him 
 the events recorded in the last chapter. At the commencement 
 of the narrative, the chief, expecting, probably, that the escape 
 had been effected by some successful disguise or stratagem, 
 closed his eyes, as if oppressed by the torturing pains that 
 shot through his frame ; but he opened them with awakened 
 interest, when the scene of the council was described, and at 
 the mention of JVIahega's name, he ejaculated " Ha ! " his 
 countenance assumed a fierce expression, and his hand uncon- 
 sciously grasped the war-club that lay beside him. 
 
 Reginald listened with deep interest, and even Lita, who had 
 
522 THE PRAIRIE-BIBD. 
 
 hitherto appeared insensible to every thing except the suffer- 
 ings of her beloved lord, threw back the long hair from her 
 eyes, marvelling what this might be that so excited and revived 
 him ; but when Ethelston related the catastrophe, how Mahega 
 had thrown his club, slightly grazing the youth, and how the 
 latter had, in presence of the assembled Crows, killed and 
 scalped the great Osage, the breast of the Delaware warrior 
 heaved with proud emotions, which quelled for the moment all 
 sense of the pains that racked his frame : his eye lightened 
 with the fire of other days, and waving the war-club over his 
 head, he shouted, for the last time, the war-cry of his tribe. 
 
 As the chief fell back exhausted upon his rude pillow, the 
 gentle voice of Prairie-bird was heard from the adjoining com- 
 partment of the tent, calling Lita to explain the meaning of 
 the loud and unexpected cry by which she had been aroused 
 from her slumber. Lita withdrew ; and while her mistress 
 made her rapid and simple toilet, informed her of the safe 
 return of the Black Father and Wingenund, and that the latter 
 having been seized with a sudden illness, the friend of Regi- 
 nald had remained by the chief, and had communicated some 
 intelligence, which seemed to affect him with the most extra- 
 vagant joy and excitement. 
 
 So anxious was the maiden to see her beloved preceptor, and 
 so hastily did she fold the kerchief in the form of a turban 
 round her head, that several of her dark tresses escaped from 
 beneath it, and fell over her neck. The first dress that came 
 to her hand was one made from a deep-blue Mexican shawl, 
 of ample dimension, given to her by the missionary. Fasten- 
 ing this round her slender waist with an Indian girdle, and a 
 pair of mocassins upon her delicate feet, she went forth, 
 catching up as she left the tent a scarf, which she threw care- 
 lessly over her shoulders. Greeting War-Eagle hastily, but 
 affectionately, as she passed, she flew with a glowing cheek 
 and beating heart to the spot where the missionary still bent 
 with anxious solicitude over the reviving form of Wingenund. 
 
 " My father my dear father ! " she exclaimed, seizing 
 his hand ; " God be praised for thy safe return ! " 
 
 The venerable man embraced her tenderly, and after con- 
 templating for a moment her countenance beaming with filial 
 affection, he placed his outspread hands upon her head, saying, 
 with impressive solemnitv, fi May the blessing of God rest 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 523 
 
 upon thee, my beloved child, and upon all near and dear to 
 thee, for ever ! 
 
 Prairie- bird bowed her head meekly while breathing a silent 
 amen to the holy man's benediction., and then turned to in- 
 quire of her young brother how he now felt, and of Paul 
 Muller into the cause of his sudden illness. 
 
 Wingenund was sufficiently recovered to speak to her grate- 
 fully in reply, and to press the hand which she held out to 
 him ; but he was much reduced by loss of blood, and the 
 missionary, putting his finger to his lips, enjoined him quiet 
 and silence for the present. He continued, however, in a low 
 voice to explain to her the strange events that had lately 
 occurred, and how he and the friend of her betrothed owed 
 to the heroism of Wingenund their life and liberty. 
 
 While the maiden listened with absorbed attention, every 
 passage in the brief but eventful tale was legible on her elo- 
 quent countenance. As Reginald stood at a little distance 
 gazing earnestly upon its changeful loveliness, he was startled 
 by a suppressed ejaculation from some one at his side, at the 
 same time that his arm was seized and pressed with almost 
 convulsive force. He turned, and saw his friend Ethelston, 
 who, finding that War-Eagle had fallen into a tranquil sleep 
 had stolen out of the tent to the side of Reginald, where he 
 first caught a sight of the maiden as she listened to the mis- 
 sionary's narrative. Reginald again observed with astonish- 
 ment that his friend, usually so calm, trembled from head to 
 foot: his eye rested upon the group with a preternatural fixed- 
 ness, and his lips moved inaudibly, like those of a man scarcely 
 recovered from a trance. " Gracious Heaven ! what can have 
 happened ? Edward, you are not surely ill ! that would indeed 
 fill the cup of our trials to the brim. Speak to me ! let me 
 hear your voice, for your looks alarm me ! " 
 
 Ethelston made no reply, but he pointed with his finger 
 towards Prairie-bird, and two or three large tear-drops rolled 
 down his cheeks. 
 
 While this was passing, Paul Muller had brought his tale 
 to a conclusion, and his eye happening to light upon Ethelston, 
 he continued (still addressing Prairie-bird), " And now, my 
 dear child, it only remains for me to tell you the cause of our 
 beloved young brother's weakened condition. The extremes 
 of joy and of anguish will sometimes sweep before them the 
 
524 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 mightiest bulwarks that can be raised in the heart of man by 
 his own unaided strength. Wingenund opposed to the stroke 
 of affliction sent from on high not the meek, trusting endurance 
 of Christian resignation, but the haughty resistance of human 
 pride. Already he sees and repents his error, and the mist is 
 clearing away from his eyes ; but you, my dear child, have 
 been better taught ; you have, learnt, in all trials and in all 
 emergencies, to throw yourself upon the mercy of your heavenly 
 Father, and to place your whole trust in his gracious promises 
 of protection. We are more apt to forget this duty when our 
 cup overflows with joy than when his chastening hand is upon 
 us ; but it should not be so. Promise me, then, promise me, 
 my beloved child, that in weal or in woe, in the rapture of joy 
 as in the extremity of sorrow, you will strive to remember and 
 practise it." 
 
 Awed by the unusual solemnity of his manner, the maiden 
 bowed her head, aud said, " I promise." 
 
 Scarcely had she said these words, when Reginald came 
 forward, leading his friend Ethelston, who had by a strong 
 effort recovered from his extreme agitation, and regained some- 
 thing of his usual composure. te Prairie-bird," said Reginald, 
 " I wish to make known to you, my most faithful companion, 
 my tried and attached friend Ethelston. You must love him 
 now for my sake ; when you know him, you will do so for his 
 own." 
 
 Leaning on the missionary's arm, the maiden raised herself 
 from her stooping posture to greet the friend of her betrothed. 
 
 " I have heard much ," she said, with her sweet natural 
 
 dignity of manner ; but she suddenly stopped, starting as if 
 she had seen a ghost, and clinging closer to Paul M tiller's arm, 
 while her earnest gaze encountered the eyes of Ethelston fixed 
 upon her with an expression that seemed to shake the nerves 
 and fibres of her heart. To Reginald their silence and agitation 
 was an incomprehensible mystery : not so to the missionary, 
 who still supported Prairie-bird, and whispered to her as she 
 advanced a step nearer to the stranger, " Your promise." She 
 understood him, for he heard her breathe the Almighty's name, 
 as Ethelston also advanced a step towards her ; and again their 
 looks dwelt upon each other with a fixed intensity that spoke 
 of thoughts too crowded, and confused, and mysterious, for 
 expression. At length Ethelston, whose strong and well- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 526 
 
 balanced mind had triumphed over the first shock of emotion, 
 addressed the maiden, saying, " Have the latter years been so 
 happily spent that they have quite banished from the mind of 
 Prairie-bird the memory of early days." 
 
 At the sound of his voice the maiden started, as if she had 
 received an electric shock ; her bosom heaved with agitation, 
 and her eyes filled with tears. 
 
 Again the missionary whispered, " Your promise ! " while 
 Ethelston continued, " Has she forgotten her own little garden 
 with the sun-dial ? and poor Mary, who nursed, and dressed, 
 and taught her to read? Has she forgotten the great Bible full 
 of prints, of which she was so fond ; and the green lane that 
 led to Mooshanne ? Has Evy forgotten her Edward ? " 
 
 "'Tis he 'tis he ! 'tis Eddy! my own, my long-lost 
 brother ! " cried the maiden aloud, as she threw herself into 
 his arms ; and looking up into his face, she felt his cheek as if 
 to assure herself that all was not a dream, and poured out her 
 grateful heart in tears upon his bosom. She did remember 
 her promise, and even in the first tumult of her happiness, 
 she sought and derived from him to whom she owed it, strength 
 to endure its sudden and overwhelming excess. 
 
 " 'Tis even so," said the missionary, grasping the astonished 
 Reginald's arm ; "for some time I had suspected that such was 
 the case ; Prairie-bird, my beloved pupil, and your betrothed 
 bride, is no other than Evelyn Ethelston, the sister of your 
 friend. My suspicions were confirmed and almost reduced to 
 certainty, during the first conversations that I held with him 
 in St. Louis; for he, being several years older than you, re- 
 membered many of the circumstances attending the disappear- 
 ance and supposed destruction of his little sister by the Indians, 
 when his father's house was ravaged and burnt. I foresaw 
 that they must meet when he left the settlements in search of 
 you, and though I prepared him for the interview, I thought 
 it better to say nothing to her or to you, but to leave the recog- 
 nition to the powerful voice of Nature. You see the result in 
 that fraternal embrace, and I have in a little bag, given to me 
 by Tamenund when at the point of death, proofs of her iden- 
 tity that would convince a sceptic, were you disposed to be 
 one the cover of a child's spelling-book, in which her name 
 is written at length (possibly by Ethelston), and a little ker- 
 chief, with the initials E. E. in the corner, both of which were 
 
526 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 in her band when she was carried off by the Indian who spared 
 and preserved her! " 
 
 While the missionary felt beneath the folds of his dark serge 
 robe for the bag which he had always carefully kept suspended 
 by a ribbon from his neck, Reginald's memory was busy in 
 recalling a thousand indistinct recollections of early days, and 
 in comparing them with those of a more recent date. 
 
 e ' Well do I remember," he exclaimed, " missing my sweet 
 little playmate in childhood ; and how all allusion to the ter- 
 rible calamity that befel our nearest neighbour and friend, was 
 forbid in our family ! Scarcely ever, even in later years, have 
 I touched upon the subject with Ethelston, for I saw that it 
 gave him pain, and brought a cloud over his brow. Now, I 
 can understand the wild and troubled expression that came 
 across her countenance when she first saw me near the Osage 
 camp, and first heard my voice, and how she started, and 
 afterwards recovered herself, when I told her of Mooshanne ! 
 How blind have I now been to every thing save her endearing 
 qualities, and the ten thousand graces that wait upon her an- 
 gelic form ! See how like they are, now that a tide of feeling 
 is poured into the countenance of my steady and composed 
 friend. Jealous as I am of her time, and of every grain of 
 her affection, I must not grudge them a few minutes of undis- 
 turbed intercourse after a separation of so many years ! Come, 
 worthy Father, let us employ ourselves in tending and minis- 
 tering to War-Eagle and Wingenund, and let us not forget 
 that to them, next to Heaven, we are indebted for the life and 
 happiness of every single member of our miraculously re-united 
 circle." 
 
 ' You have a warm and a kindly heart, my young friend," 
 said the missionary, " and that is a blessing without which all 
 the other blessings of Heaven may fall like showers upon the 
 Lybian desert. I know how you must long to pour out your 
 feelings of affection on this occasion to your friend, and to 
 your betrothed ; but. believe *me, you will not have done amiss 
 by following the first promptings of your heart. Let us, as 
 you propose, endeavour to soothe and comfort the sufferers ; 
 Wingenund is now sufficiently recovered to listen while you 
 relate to him these strange occurrences ; only caution him not 
 to speak too much at present. I will return to the side of 
 War-Eagle, and although it be too late now for us to attempt 
 any remedy for his bodily pains, who shall limit the power of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 52? 
 
 the Almighty, or circumscribe the operation of his hands ? 
 Who knows whether He may not think fit, even at the eleventh 
 hour, to touch that stern and obdurate heart with a coal from. 
 His altar ? And, oh ! my dear young friend, if such be His 
 blessed purpose, I would not forego the privilege of being the 
 humble instrument in effecting it for all the wealth, the 
 honours, the happiness, that earth can bestow." 
 
 Reginald looked after the worthy missionary until he dis- 
 appeared within the tent, then sighing heavily, he said to 
 himself, " Jf zeal, honesty, and true piety can render any 
 human means available, assuredly that excellent and holy 
 man's attempt will not be made in vain ; and yet I fear that 
 nothing short of a miracle can soften or subdue the stern pride 
 of War- Eagle's spirit. How deeply anxious do I feel for the 
 issue ! for I cannot forget that it was in defence of Prairie- 
 bird that he incurred this fearful torture, ending in an un- 
 timely death ! His life sacrificed that mine might be happy 
 with her ! Where, where, my generous Indian brother, shall 
 I find, among the cities and crowded haunts of civilized man, 
 truth, self-denial, and devoted affection like thine ? At least 
 I will strive to fulfil the wish that I know to be nearest thy 
 heart, by cherishing in my bosom's core thy beloved brother 
 Wingenund ! " 
 
 Thus meditating, Reginald sat down by the young Dela- 
 ware, and strove, by awakening his interest in the strange 
 events lately brought to light respecting Prairie-bird, to wean 
 him from the deep dejection caused by his brother's hopeless 
 plight. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 CONTAINING A TREATY BETWEEN THE CROWS AND DELAWAHEg, 
 AND THE DEATH OP AN INDIAN CHIEF. 
 
 IT is unnecessary to describe at length the occupations of 
 the party during the remainder of this eventful day ; how 
 the re-united brother and sister called up a thousand long- 
 stored, endearing remembrances ; how they looked upon the 
 childish relics preserved by the missionary, and how, after 
 interchanging a rapid but interesting sketch of each other's 
 
528 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 history, they turned again to share with him and with Re- 
 ginald the melancholy and affecting duty of attending upon 
 the dying chieftain. His sufferings were now less acute, 
 but mortification had extended itself rapidly, and threatened 
 hourly to terminate them altogether, by seizing upon the vitals. 
 His mind seemed tranquil and collected as ever, only the 
 watchful missionary, observing that he listened more attentively 
 to the voice of Prairie-bird than to any other, he yielded his 
 place beside the dying man to her, entreating her to spare no 
 efforts that might lead him, by the appointed path, to the 
 Fountain of Mercy. 
 
 Willingly did the maiden resume the task on which she had 
 been employed during the greater part of the preceding night; 
 and after praying fervently for a blessing on her labours, she 
 proceeded to explain to him again, in his own language, some 
 of the simplest and most affecting truths of the Gospel dis- 
 pensation. 
 
 What an interesting spectacle for the contemplation of a 
 Christian philosopher ! A heathen warrior, whose youth had 
 been nurtured with tales of fierce reprisal and revenge, whose 
 path in life had been marked with blood, war being at once 
 his pleasure and his pride, stretched now upon the ground, 
 still in the prime of manhood, yet with shortening breath and 
 ebbing strength listening with deep attention to the words of 
 hope and consolation pronounced by the lips of her who had 
 been, through life, the secretly treasured idol of his heart ! 
 Perhaps this earthly love, purified as it had long been from pas- 
 sion and ennobled by the sacrifice that he had made to friend- 
 ship, was the channel through which the mysterious influences 
 of the Divine Spirit were appointed to flow ; for his eager ear 
 lost not a word of what she uttered, and his heart was softened 
 to receive from her lips, truths against which, if delivered by 
 another, its early prejudices might have rebelled. 
 
 Partly by the religious creed of his race, and partly by 
 former conversation with herself and the missionary, he was 
 already impressed with a just view of the principal attributes 
 of Deity, His omnipotence, goodness, and eternity. The 
 chief endeavour of Prairie-bird was now to convince him that 
 the God of the Christians addressed the same word, the same 
 promises and invitations to the Indians as to them, and that 
 they also were included in the vast and mysterious scheme of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 52$ 
 
 redemption; for this purpose she translated for him, into the 
 Delaware tongue, some of those magnificent passages in 
 Isaiah wherein the Almighty, after declaring his unity and 
 irresistible power, sends forth his gracious promises to the 
 uttermost parts of the earth, to the isles, to the wilderness, to 
 the inhabitants of the mountains, and those that dwell among 
 the rocks, and concludes with the assurance, " I will bring the 
 blind by a way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths 
 that they have not known. I will make darkness light before 
 them, and crooked things straight ; these things will I do unto 
 them, and not forsake them." 
 
 War-Eagle listened attentively, and gave the whole strength 
 of his mind to the consideration of the subject propounded ! 
 Some of these truths he had heard before, but they had taken 
 no fixed root, and had rather been dismissed unheeded, than 
 weighed and rejected. Now they presented themselves under 
 a very different aspect ; for they were pressed upon him with 
 the most affectionate earnestness by the one whom he looked 
 up to as the most gifted and the most guileless of human 
 beings ; and the Black Father also, for whom he entertained 
 the highest esteem and regard, and told him repeatedly that 
 every truth, every thing necessary for happiness after death, 
 was written in that book from which she was now reading ; 
 that it was, in short, the written command of Him whom he 
 had from his youth addressed as the Great Spirit. 
 
 Deeply moved by these reflections (aided as they may per- 
 haps have been by the operations of a mightier influence), the 
 chief propounded to his young instructress several inquiries, 
 which it rejoiced her to hear, as they indicated a softened and 
 teachable spirit. Neither were they difficult for her to answer, 
 as she was familiar with almost every page of the volume 
 before her, and thus knew where to seek at once a solution of 
 every doubt and difficulty that occurred to her simple-minded 
 and ingenuous patient. 
 
 While she was engaged in this interesting and truly Chris- 
 tian task, Reginald, Ethelston, and the missionary sate with 
 Wingenund, and strove to socthe and tranquillise the agitation 
 into which the late disaster had thrown him. Although some- 
 what weakened by loss of blood, he had recovered his faculties, 
 both of body and mind ; but all the well-meant endeavours 
 of his friends to raise him from the deep depression of spirits 
 
530 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 into which he had fallen were exerted in vain. He replied 
 gently, and without petulance, to various questions that they 
 put to him, and then sank again into desponding gloom, 
 musing over the fading fortunes of his family and of his 
 tribe, now about to lose him who was the pride, the support, 
 and the glory of both. 
 
 After several unsuccessful attempts, Ethelston touched at 
 length upon a topic which had in some degree the effect of 
 arresting his attention and engaging the more active powers of 
 his mind ; for on reminding the youth that the Crows were to 
 visit the camp on the morrow, to interchange presents and 
 conclude the treaty of peace, Wingenund proposed to Reginald 
 that he should summon E*aptiste and Pierre, and concert, with 
 their advice, the course that it might be advisable to pursue. 
 
 While they were employed in considering and discussing 
 -deliberately the various plans proposed, Paul Miiller and 
 Prairie-bird continued, sometimes together, and sometimes 
 alternately, their attendance upon War-Eagle, whose strength 
 was rapidly declining, although his intellect remained clear and 
 unimpaired. Food he was unable to taste ; but the grateful 
 smile with which he received now and then a cup of water 
 from the hand of Prairie-bird touched her sensibly ; and there 
 was a serene composure upon his countenance, which en- 
 couraged her to hope that his mind was in a peaceful frame, 
 and that thoughts of war and strife were gradually giving 
 place to better and holier meditations. 
 
 The sun went down, evening fell, and* the darkening hours 
 of night found the maiden still unwearied at her post, seizing, 
 with instinctive tact, every opportunity offered by his inquiries 
 or remarks for quoting to him from the Book of Life some 
 appropriate and consoling truth ; nor did she retire to rest 
 until she felt assured that exhausted nature had extended the 
 boon of slumber to her suffering patient. 
 
 Not even then did the faithful Lita quit the place that she 
 had chosen at the feet of the warrior whom she had so long 
 worshipped in secret j noticed or unnoticed, thanked or un- 
 thanked, whether hungry, or thirsty, or sleepless, all was the 
 same to her. In life her love had been either unknown or 
 despised ; and now the last faint glimmerings of hope were to 
 be extinguished, without even the wretched consolation of pity. 
 During the watches of that night there were tears upon the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 531 
 
 pillow of Prairie-bird ; the eyes of Wingenund were sleepless, 
 and his heart loaded with sorrow. Sharp and frequent were 
 the pangs and shooting-pains that broke the rest of the de- 
 parting chief; yet was there, perhaps, none amongst them all 
 whose sufferings were not light in comparison with the silent 
 and hopeless anguish of the Comanche girl. 
 
 The morning dawned with all the fresh beauty of summer 
 in that mountain region ; and, agreeably ** the resolution 
 formed at the council held on the preceding caning, the whole 
 party was summoned to parade with their best arms and ac- 
 coutrements, so as to produce upon the Indians a due impres- 
 sion of their formidable strength ; at the same time that various 
 bales were unpacked, from which were selected the presents 
 intended for the principal chiefs and braves. 
 
 No great change had taken place in the state of War-Eagle, 
 but Wingenund had spent an hour with him alone ; during 
 which, among other subjects of greater importance, he had 
 mentioned the expected visit of the Crows, and the conditions 
 of the treaty which it was proposed to make with them. To 
 these the chief had given his assent, and had deputed his 
 young brother to act in his stead ; after which he turned again 
 with renewed eagerness and anxiety to the subjects suggested 
 to him by Prairie-bird and the missionary. 
 
 The sun was not very high in the heaven, when the band of 
 Crows were seen descending the hill towards the encampment. 
 They were led by White-bull, accompanied by Besha, and 
 were only twelve in number, all magnificently clad in dresses 
 of deer-skin, ornamented with coloured feathers, stained quilk, 
 scalp-locks, and the other adjuncts of Crow chivalry. Besha 
 apologised for the scantiness of the deputation, stating, that 
 during the past night an attempt had been made by the Black- 
 feet to rescue their prisoners j and although it had not been 
 successful, the Crows could not venture, in the neighbourhood 
 of such dangerous foes, to weaken the defence of their camp, 
 by sending away a large body of its best warriors. To this a 
 suitable and complimentary reply having been made, the 
 business of the day commenced by presenting food to the 
 Upsaroka guests. 
 
 A circle having been made, the white hunters were ranged 
 on one side of it, and the Delawares on the other : the former, 
 being all armed with rifles, and pistols, and hunting-knives, 
 MM 2 
 
532 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 presented a very warlike appearance ; while the sinewy and 
 weather-beaten frames of the latter, armed as they were with 
 rifle, war- club, and scalp-knife, inspired the observant leader 
 of the Crows with no wish to bring his band into hostile 
 collision with such a party. In the centre were seated Regi- 
 nald Brandon, Wingenund, and Ethelston, Pierre having 
 taken his place near the latter, and Baptiste occupying his 
 usual station beside his young master, and leaning upon his 
 enormous hatchet. If the intentions of White-bull were 
 treacherous, he found no greater encouragement to his hopes 
 from a survey of the leaders, men of powerful form, and 
 grave, determined aspect, with the exception of Wingenund, 
 whose youth and slight figure might have led a stranger to 
 fear him less as an opponent. He had, however, given such 
 proof of his skill, courage, and activity in Indian warfare, 
 that the Crows did not look upon him with less respect than 
 upon the more experienced men by whom he was surrounded. 
 
 When the Upsaroka deputation had finished the portion of 
 bison-meat set before them, Reginald gave them a treat, such 
 as they had never before enjoyed, in the shape of a tin-cup 
 full of coffee, sweetened with sugar, which they passed round, 
 and tasted at first with some reluctance, owing to its dark 
 colour, taking it for ef Great Medicine." After sipping it once 
 or twice, however, they seemed to find it more palatable, and 
 drank all that was offered to them, and then the pipe was 
 lighted and smoked with due solemnity. 
 
 When these preliminaries were concluded, the business of 
 the day was entered upon, and was conducted with equal 
 caution and distrust on both sides ; Besha being, of course, 
 the interpreter, and moulding the respective communications 
 in the manner most likely, according to his views, to ensure 
 the continuance of the truce agreed upon ; because he had 
 been most distinctly warned by Wingenund, that he would 
 receive no present until all the terms of the treaty were duly 
 fulfilled, and that then he might expect one liberal enough to 
 adorn the wigwam of a chief. The crafty horse-dealer had, 
 at the same time, contrived to persuade the Crows that the 
 white men were secretly disinclined to the treaty, and that 
 they could only be induced to observe it by his own cunning 
 and contrivance. 
 
 This being the relative position of the parties, it may well 
 
THU PRAIRIE-BIRD. 533 
 
 be imagined that the diplomatic arrangements were neither 
 very long nor difficult, and it was finally agreed that the 
 Crows should, when called upon, supply the party with a 
 trusty guide, who should lead them eastward by the route on 
 which they would find the easiest travelling and the best 
 supply of bison ; that an alliance for mutual defence should 
 exist between the parties so long as they were within the 
 boundaries of the Crow country, but that they should never 
 encamp nearer to each other than at a distance of twice the 
 longflight of an arrow ; that so soon as they should emerge 
 from the denies of the mountains, the Crows should supply 
 their allies with twenty horses, some of those which they had 
 brought from the settlements being travel-worn and exhausted ; 
 and that Besha was to have free leave to come and go from 
 one encampment to the other at all hours of the day or night, 
 in the event of any communication being necessary. 
 
 The allied band agreed, in consideration of the above con- 
 ditions, to present the Crows with a certain number of bales 
 of cloth, a score of blankets, and an ample supply of beads, 
 paint, and knives ; one-third of the amount to be paid on the 
 delivery of the horses, and the remainder when the parties 
 separated on the Great Prairie, at the eastern boundary of the 
 TJpsaroka country. 
 
 These terms having been written down by Reginald, he 
 yead them slowly one after the other, Wingenund repeating 
 them to Besha, and he again translating them to White-bull, 
 who nodded his approbation as they were successively recapi- 
 tulated ; after which Reginald and Ethelston, having signed 
 their names in pencil, desired Besha and White-bull to affix 
 their mark. 
 
 The former did so without hesitation ; but the latter made 
 all kinds of excuses, and looked extremely puzzled, whisper- 
 ing his doubts and fears to his interpreter, who, being a reck- 
 less fellow, and having seen more of the world, could scarce 
 forbear laughing in his face. 
 
 In truth, the Crow chief, though brave and daring in the 
 field, was not above the superstitions current in his tribe, and 
 he entertained a kind of vague notion that, by putting his 
 mark upon the paper, he brought himself under the power of 
 the white man's medicine. 
 
 Nevertheless, he was at length persuaded, and drew upon 
 MM 3 
 
534 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 the paper, with a hand not unskilful, the broad forehead and 
 projecting horns of a hison's head, which design represented 
 his consent to the treaty. 
 
 No sooner was the business concluded than the presents 
 were brought forth, and distributed according to the terms pre- 
 scribed, Reginald adding for the chief a hair-brush, in the 
 back of which a small mirror was set. Never had such a 
 curiosity been seen in the Crow country, and White-bull 
 turned it over and over in his hand, contemplating it and 
 himself in it with undisguised satisfaction, while Pierre whis- 
 pered to Baptiste, " If Madame Bending-vvillow is in favour,, 
 she will have it before to-morrow." 
 
 The Crows now took their leave, amid many protestations- 
 of friendship on both sides, and returned with all speed to- 
 wards their own encampment, White-bull's mind being divided 
 between delight at the possession of his brush, and dread at 
 the mysterious dangers he might have incurred by putting his 
 mark upon the white man's paper. 
 
 The departure of their wild allies left the party at the camp 
 leisure to return to their ordinary avocations, and to the sad 
 recollection of their chief's condition ; indeed, a very short 
 time elapsed before he sent a message by Paul Muller, desiring 
 that they would all come to him without delay. 
 
 The tone of deep yet composed sadness in which it was 
 delivered, announced to most of those who heard it that War- 
 Eagle was drawing near to his end ; and Reginald, passing 
 his arm within that of Wingenund, whispered to him, as he 
 went, such words of sympathy as he thought most like to 
 soothe and console him. 
 
 " Dear Netis," replied the youth, in a tone of the deepest 
 melancholy, " you are very good, but there is no happiness- 
 more for Wingenund ! " 
 
 " Say not so, my young brother ; you are still in the early 
 spring of life, and I hope, when these present sorrows are past,, 
 you will yet enjoy a long and happy day of summer." 
 
 " Wingenund's spring and summer are both gone ! but he 
 does not complain : it is the will of the Great Spirit, and 
 Wingenund knows that what He does is right." 
 
 As he said these words they reached the tent, and the day 
 being extremely fine, the poles of that compartment were 
 taken up, and the canvas folded back, at the request of the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 535 
 
 ehief, that he might once more look upon the sun, and feel 
 the fresh mountain breeze upon his cheek. 
 
 Lita had retired into the inner tent, and Prairie-bird was 
 seated at his side, a cup of water being the only source of 
 relief to which she from time to time had recourse to cool his' 
 lips and recruit his ebbing strength. 
 
 The whole party being gathered round him, Wingenund,. 
 Reginald, and Ethelston somewhat in advance of the rest, he 
 addressed the former in alow but distinct voice, saying, "War- 
 Eagle is going on the dark path, from which he will not 
 return ; Wingenund will be chief of the Lenape band ; has 
 he any thing to say while War- Eagle is yet chief? " 
 
 <e He has," replied the youth, in a voice tremulous from 
 emotion ; " a treaty has been made with the Upsaroka, does 
 War-Eagle think it good?" He then proceeded to enumerate 
 its several terms and conditions. 
 
 " It is good/' said the chief, after a few moments' reflec- 
 tion : " only let Netis and Wingenund remember that the 
 Upsaroka are double-tongued ; they hate the Black-feet, and 
 will be glad to spend my brother's powder and blood in de- 
 stroying their enemies. Let my brothers keep near the home- 
 path, and not wander from it to please the Upsaroka. Is there 
 more that my brother wishes to say ?" 
 
 " There is more, my brother. Here are the four Osage 
 captives taken among the Upsaroka. Their deeds of blood 
 are known to War-Eagle. Let him say what shall be done 
 with them." 
 
 (f Let them stand forward," said the chief, raising himself 
 with difficulty from the blanket-cushion against which he had 
 been reclining. 
 
 They were accordingly brought to the front of the circle, 
 and stood awaiting their doom with the fierce determined air 
 of warriors who knew and feared it not. The eldest among 
 them was a fine powerful man, who bore about him the marks 
 of many a fray, and had been one of the leading braves who 
 followed the fortunes of Mahega. He it was who acted as 
 spokesman in the dialogue that ensued. 
 
 War-Eagle. f< Have the Washashee any thing to say that 
 their lives should not be given to the slow fire ? " 
 
 Osage. ' The warriors of the Washashee talk with their 
 
 M II 4 
 
536 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 hands, when their hands are not tied; they are not famous 
 for their tongues." 
 
 W. " Yet with their tongues they spoke smooth words to 
 the Lenape : they called them brother ; they ate, hunted, 
 fought, and smoked with them, and then joined the Dahcotahs, 
 to kill the women and children of their friends. If the 
 tongues of the Washashee are not famous, they are forked." 
 
 O. " Mahega was the war-chief of his tribe ; when he went 
 upon the war-path, the Washashee followed. He is gone to 
 the hunting-fields of the braves, and they are not afraid to 
 follow him. When War-Eagle took his rifle and his club, 
 and went out upon the war-path by night, his warriors fol- 
 lowed in silence. Who among them said, ' Where does War- 
 Eagle go ?' " 
 
 W. " War-Eagle never raised his rifle at a friend ; he 
 never called out his braves to burn the wigwam of his brother ; 
 there was never a scalp of woman or child taken by his hand. 
 When he struck it was at an open foe, or to save or avenge a 
 friend." He added in a subdued tone, " And yet there is tqo 
 much blood on the hands of War-Eagle ; the Great Spirit is 
 angry with him for it." 
 
 The Osage made no reply. The missionary interchanged 
 a whispered word with Prairie-bird, and the chief continued, 
 addressing chiefly the Delawares in their own language ; " My 
 brothers, we often pray to the Great Spirit to forgive what we 
 have done that is wrong. The Black Father and Olitipa 
 have told War-Eagle the answer that he gives ; it is written 
 in the great book in which there are no lies : ' The Great 
 Spirit will forgive us, if we forgive our brother ; if we refuse 
 to forgive our brother, the Great Spirit will refuse to forgive 
 us.' War- Eagle has done many things wrong; he hopes the 
 Great Spirit will forgive him. Shall he now kill the Wa- 
 shashee ? " He then turned to the prisoners, and said, u Let 
 their bands be cut, and let them return to their own people to 
 tell them, that the Lenape hurt not women nor children, nor 
 men whose hands are tied. Olitipa has read from the book 
 that such is the will of the Great Spirit, whom the white men 
 call by the name of God, and the heart of War-Eagle tells 
 him that it is true." 
 
 It is doubtful whether this speech caused greater surprise 
 among his own followers, or among the Osages, whom it 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 537 
 
 restored to life and liberty. Both, however, heard it with 
 that absence of outward emotion which characterises the red- 
 skin race in North America ; so that Ethelston, who did not 
 understand a word of the Delaware tongue, was perfectly 
 unconscious of anything having been said that might mate- 
 rially affect the fortunes of the prisoners ; and he was in 
 momentary expectation of seeing them led away to suffer, 
 according to the laws of Indian retribution, the deserved 
 penalty of their cruelty and treachery. 
 
 While Pierre was informing him of what had occurred, the 
 Osage spokesman resolved apparently to try the patience of 
 the expiring chief to the uttermost, and said to him, with a 
 sneer, " War-Eagle is very good to the Washashee ; he knows 
 that they have neither food nor arms ; there is not one knife 
 among the four : they are among the mountains, a whole 
 moon's journey from their village, surrounded by war-parties 
 of the Upsaroka and Black-feet, and on their return path must 
 pass the hunting-grounds of the Shiennes, the Kiowas, the 
 Panis, and the Mahas. War-Eagle would rather that they 
 were starved, and their bones gnawed by the wolves, than see 
 them die like warriors, and laugh at the Lenape in their 
 death." 
 
 Paul Muller looked anxiously at the chief to mark what 
 effect would be produced by this ungrateful and intemperate 
 speech ; and his apprehensions were much relieved when he 
 heard War-Eagle reply, in a calm and unmoved tone : " There 
 is no wonder that the Washashee think others are like them- 
 selves, false-hearted and double-tongued. Had the Lenapt? 
 intended that the Washashee should be killed, they would 
 have spared the Upsaroka and the wolves the task. War- 
 Eagle intends that they should live to be ashamed of their bad 
 deeds. Wingenund will see that they enter safely on the 
 home-path. Now let them go; their words are bitter, and 
 they can neither speak nor believe the truth. War-Eagle has 
 no more time to waste with them." 
 
 As he uttered this reproof, in a contemptuous rather an 
 angry tone, the chief fell back much exhausted upon his 
 cushion, and the leading Osage was about to make some violent 
 reply, when Pierre, taking him by the arm, hurried him and 
 his companions to the outer edge of the circle, saying to him, 
 as he went, " Peace, fool ! Is thy thick head so fond of tast- 
 
538 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ing a Lenaps tomahawk, that thou canst not hold thy tongue, 
 when thy saucy wagging of it might cost thy life ? Peace, I 
 say, or in spite of the chief's pardon, I will have thee and thy 
 comrades tied down again like fresh-caught colts." 
 
 Having spoken words to this effect to the reckless and grum- 
 bling Osage, Pierre re-entered the circle gathered round the 
 chief, and found, on his return, that a general silence prevailed. 
 Wingenund was sitting upon the ground, close to his brother, 
 listening with the deepest attention to the injunctions and 
 counsel which the latter was delivering, in a voice that became 
 every moment more feeble and indistinct. None present could 
 overhear what passed ; but at the conclusion the two brothers 
 sat for a few seconds in silence, each pressing his clenched 
 hand upon the heart of the other, after which Wingenund re- 
 tired a few paces back, while the chief, collecting his remaining 
 strength, said aloud to his devoted followers : " War-Eagle is 
 going to the land where his fathers dwell ; he is sorry to leave 
 his brothers, but it is the will of the Great Spirit, who is the 
 Master of Life ;* and when he speaks the Lenape are silent, 
 and obey. When War-Eagle is gone, it is his wish that 
 Wingenund should be chief of the band : the blood of Tame- 
 nund war'ms his heart ; and though he has not seen many sum- 
 mers, his eyes have not been shut, nor have his ears been 
 closed against the counsel of wise men. My brothers, you 
 have the care of a great treasure, the care of Olitipa, the be- 
 loved daughter of Tamenund, the sister who has cleared away 
 the cloud that hid the sun from War-Eagle, and the thorns 
 that beset his path in the dark valley. My brothers, let not 
 one of you leave her until she is safe at the white man's 
 boundary ; and if you love War-Eagle, you will also love and 
 obey Wingenund, and Netis his adopted brother." 
 
 * In the greater number of the Indian languages known on the North American 
 continent, the Supreme Being is designated by a name bearing one of the three 
 following significations : 
 
 1. " Great, or Good Spirit;" such is the " Manitou," " Manitto," " Kitche- 
 Manitou," &c., of the Delawares, Chippeways, Sakis, Pottawatomis, and most of 
 the Algonkin tribes. 
 
 2. " The Wonderful, or Wonderful Spirit," by which name He is designated 
 among most of the tribes resident on the banks of the Missouri ; e.g. " Wahcon- 
 dah " by the Otpes and Omahaws, " Wahcatunca " by the Dahcotahs, " Ma-na- 
 kopa " by the Minneterees, &c. 
 
 3. " Master of Life," which is the signification of the name by which the Al- 
 mighty is recognised among the Pawnees, and many other numerous and powerful 
 tribes. The subject is too comprehensive to be more than briefly alluded to in 
 this place. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 539 
 
 A deep suppressed murmer was the only reply made by the 
 gloomy warriors around; but War-Eagle knew its import, and 
 read its confirmation on the determined countenances of those 
 who had so often followed him to strife and victory. 
 
 The mortal agony was at hand, and the chief, feeling its ap- 
 proach, looked suddenly round as if he missed some one who 
 should be there : his utterance was scarcely articulate, but 
 Prairie-bird caught the intended sound of Lita's name, and 
 flying into the tent, speedily returned, bringing with her the 
 weeping girl. Again he contrived to make Prairie-bird un- 
 derstand his wish, that an armlet of beads that he wore should 
 be taken off and hung round Lita's neck; the chief smiled and 
 said, "Lita has been faithful to Olitipa, and very good to War- 
 Eagle ; the Great Spirit will reward her." 
 
 The destroyer was now rapidly tightening his fell coils 
 round the vital organs, but the chief still retained sufficient 
 strength to press the hand of each of his sorrowing friends in 
 succession against that generous heart which must so soon 
 cease to beat. Wingenund was the last; and as he stooped over 
 his brother, whispered to him a word that reached the ear of 
 Prairie-bird ; and while it richly rewarded her pious and affec- 
 tionate toil, lighted up at the same time the countenance of the 
 dying man with a smile of triumph that bid defiance to the 
 pangs of the grisly king of terrors. From the time that he 
 received his fatal wounds, not a groan nor a murmur of com- 
 plaint had escaped him ; and when he resigned his parting 
 breath, it was with the peaceful tranquillity of childhood falling 
 asleep. 
 
 " My children," said the missionary, solemnly, " War- 
 Eagle, the son of Tamenund, is no more ! In life none walked 
 more uprightly than he, according to the light that was given 
 to him ! He gave up his life to save that of another, and 
 after enduring grievous pains with the heroism of an Indian 
 warrior, he died with a full hope and trust in the redeeming 
 mercy of his God. Peace be with his soul ; and may we all 
 rejoin him hereafter in the land where separation and sorrow 
 will be unknown ! " 
 
54-0 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 WAR"-EAGLE'S FUNERAL. THE PARTY COMMENCE THEIR HOMEWARD 
 
 JOURNEY. BESHA EXERTS HIS DIPLOMATIC TALENTS FOR THE 
 
 LAST TIME, AND RECEIVES SEVERAL REWARDS, WITH SOME OF 
 WHICH HE WOULD WILLINGLY HAVE DISPENSED. 
 
 IT may well be imagined what a gloom was cast over the 
 whole party by the death of the Delaware leader ; not only 
 among those who, like Reginald, Wlngenund, and Prairie-bird, 
 mourned for him as for a departed brother, but even among 
 the rough hunters and woodsmen, to whom he had endeared 
 himself no less by his dauntless courage than by a thousand 
 acts of kindness and generosity. As for his own trusty Le- 
 nape warriors their spirit seemed entirely broken ; too proud 
 to weep or lament, they walked to and fro by the spot where 
 his remains still rested, casting upon the dark cloth by which 
 they were covered desponding and melancholy looks ; and 
 when Baptiste, whom they esteemed as the long-tried friend of 
 their late chief, tried to offer a few words of consolation, hinting 
 also at the virtues and qualities of the surviving brother, they 
 shook their heads and returned to cherish their grief, like the 
 wife of Phinehas, who when she heard that her husband and 
 her father-in-law were dead, and the Ark captured, regarded 
 not the consolation of her new-born child, but called it Ichabod, 
 saying " The glory is departed from Israel." 
 
 " Ethelston," said Reginald to his friends, "methinks the 
 sooner we strike our camp, and move from this sad spot, the 
 better: it is necessary, from the progress that mortification 
 has made in the frame of our lamented friend, that he should 
 be buried immediately. Let us speak to Wingenund, and see 
 whether he wishes it performed according to our customs, or 
 according to those of his own people; for in this we ought not 
 to dictate to him." 
 
 Having joined the youth, whom they found standing in an 
 attitude of dejection at no great distance, Reginald, after a few 
 words of kindly sympathy, proposed to him the subject under 
 discussion. To the surprise of both, they found him quite 
 prepared for it. " Yes," he said ; " War-Eagle said to Win- 
 genund what he wished, and it shall be done this dav. First 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 541 
 
 let us obey his commands about the Washashee ; let them be 
 called before the tent, and let the hunters and the Lenape be 
 summoned too." 
 
 This was soon done ; and the party being assembled, the 
 Osages were once more brought forward, their limbs having been 
 freed from the thongs by which they had been bound ; and the 
 general stock of meat, fresh as well as dried, was also, by de- 
 sire of Wingenund, placed before the tent. These prelimina- 
 ries being completed, the young chief addressed them as fol- 
 lows : " Washashee, it is known to you that War-Eagle, 
 forgiving your bad deeds, gave you your lives the Lenape* 
 respect the wishes of their great chief, and will not send you 
 away with empty hands." He then desired that a fair pro- 
 portion of meat, a rifle, with a reasonable supply of ammuni- 
 tion, a knife, and a small package of Indian presents should 
 be given to each of the Osages. These orders having been 
 punctually, though reluctantly, obeyed by one of the Delaware 
 warriors, Wingenund continued: "if the Washashee fear to 
 enter upon the long home-path with so few men, they may 
 camp under the shelter of the Lenape' fires they cannot be 
 called brothers, but no harm shall be done to them." 
 
 " The Washashee," replied the powerful Indian who has 
 before been mentioned as the spokesman of the Osages, and 
 who now grasped his restored rifle with an air of fierce 
 exultation " the Washashee have no fear they will go 
 upon the path alone they will not dwell a night by the 
 fires of the Lenape camp. Wingenund is a young chief, 
 and the Lenape need not be ashamed when they speak his 
 name ; his words and his years are few, but his deeds will 
 be told where the council of warriors meet. His hand is 
 open but it is red with the blood of their great chief: the 
 Washashee thank him, but they cannot call the Lenape bro- 
 thers. The Washashee have no more to say ; before the night 
 falls, their feet will be far on the homeward path." 
 
 So saying, the grim warrior stalked away with his three 
 companions, the assembled party looking after them in silence, 
 until their forms were lost behind a rock that projected into 
 the valley. 
 
 " Proud and thankless scoundrels," muttered Baptiste, half 
 aloud to the hunter who stood nearest to him. " Had my 
 opinion been taken, they should have been Hogged with cow- 
 hides out of the camp, and they might have found their way 
 
542 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 i*s they could to their cut-throat friends the Dahcotahs ! 
 *Twas always so with War-Eagle, and will be the same with 
 Wingenund ! When the skrimmage was over, and his blood 
 was cool, there was no more cruelty in his natur' than there is 
 in that of a Philadelphy Quaker." 
 
 Wingenund having spoken for a few minutes with the mis- 
 sionary, a party of half a -dozen men were desired by the 
 latter to dig a grave for the deceased chief under a scathed 
 and picturesque pine that stood alone on a small natural 
 mound near the river. It was a spot that seemed to have 
 been framed by the hand of the Creator for a sepulchre, rising 
 as it did in the centre of a wild and unfrequented vale, sur- 
 rounded on all sides by precipitous rocks, beyond which rose in 
 the distance the snow-clad summits of the gigantic mountain- 
 range the fittest natural emblem of Eternity; while round 
 the base of the mound flowed the bubbling stream, a me- 
 mento, no less apt, of the changeful and fleeting nature of all 
 the things belonging to this earthly scene. 
 
 The descending sun was just beginning to gild the peaks of 
 the Western Andes when the party assembled to pay the last 
 tribute of affectionate regard to the mortal remains of their 
 late leader. Prairie-bird and her faithful Lita attended, both 
 having their faces veiled by a shawl, and the former supported 
 by her newly restored brother ; nor was there one of the 
 party absent from the mournful ceremony, which was com- 
 menced (as soon as the body, still enveloped and bound in 
 dark cloth, was placed near the grave,) by a brief address 
 from Wingenund, in which he said : 
 
 " My brothers know that War-Eagle was a great chief; 
 that the blood of many warriors ran in his veins. The ene- 
 mies of the Lenape were his enemies, and their friends his 
 friends. When their warriors went forth to battle, he was 
 not the last ; and when they returned, his war-club could tell 
 a tale." A deep murmur of assent was uttered by the Dela- 
 wares, and Wingenund continued : " War-Eagle loved the 
 Lenape from his childhood ; and in his last moments he 
 prayed to the Great Spirit for their happiness. He also told 
 Wingenund that Olitipa and the Black Father had read to 
 him many wonderful things from the Great Spirit's Book ; 
 that he had thought much of them, and found them very 
 good, and very true : they had made his heart so glad, that 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 543 
 
 he wished Wingenund and his Lenape brothers to hear them, 
 that they might learn how to please the Great Spirit, and to 
 obey His will. Wingenund promised War-Eagle, that when 
 the Black Father told them the commands of the Great Spirit 
 written in the book, the ears of the Lenape should be open 
 to listen to the words of his wisdom, and to let his counsel 
 guide their feet. My brothers, such were the wishes of War- 
 Eagle, great chief of the Unami band of the Ancient People. 
 Wingenund has told them truly, and he intends to obey them 
 himself: his years are yet too few, that he should advise 
 others ; let each of my brothers think of these things wisely, 
 and act as the Great Spirit shall incline his heart." 
 
 A long and profound silence followed this speech ; after 
 which Paul Miiller, approaching the mound, desired that the 
 body might be lowered into the grave : when this was done, 
 he addressed first the Delawares, setting forth the virtues of 
 the deceased chieftain, and laying the greatest stress upon 
 those which were of a more mild and peaceful character. He 
 touched also most feelingly upon the occasion on which he 
 had received the injuries from which he died ; assuring the 
 Delawares that no length of time, nor changes of life, would 
 ever efface from the memory of Prairie-bird, or those to whom 
 she was so dear, the devoted heroism of her deliverer. " But, 
 my beloved brothers,** said he in conclusion, <c great as was 
 the gift that he gave to her, even his life for hers, he received 
 from her a gift much greater ; for it is my humble hope and 
 belief, that through her entreaty and prayer, his eyes were open 
 to see things that he had never seen before ; and, having once 
 seen their riches and their beauty, he desired that you, my 
 brothers, should see them too. He learnt what, I fear, you 
 cannot yet understand, that it is the will of the Great Spirit 
 that we should observe and study His works, and copy them. 
 Is it true, my friends ? Is there sense in my words ? " 
 
 He paused for a reply. The elder Delawares looked at 
 each other, and then, as if by mutual consent, nodded their 
 assent. 
 
 The missionary continued: "Well, then, the Great 
 Spirit is merciful and just, kind and forgiving ; loving peace 
 and hating strife. How do we try to please him ? By hating 
 peace, and being swift to shed blood ; by revenging where we 
 ought to forgive, and dealing harshly by those on whom we 
 
544* THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 ought to have mercy. The Osages who are just gone are 
 wicked men ; they have heen guilty of treachery and cruelty ; 
 and you are disappointed that you were not permitted to kill 
 them, and that Wingenund sent them away unhurt. They 
 have been wicked, far more wicked, towards the Great Spirit ; 
 they have disobeyed His commands, despised His laws, de- 
 stroyed the creatures of His hand, and have insulted Him and 
 braved His anger for weeks, for months, and years ! How 
 has He treated them ? He has given them water from His 
 clouds, and has brought the herds of bison to their hunting- 
 ground, and has given the sun to warm them by day, and the 
 moon and stars to light their path by night ? And if even 
 now one of them nay, the very worst among them, were to 
 have his heart softened, and to turn to the Great Spirit, and 
 to say, ' My Father, in heaven, I am sorry for all the wrong 
 that I have done, O forgive and guide me, for I wish to do 
 so no more ! ' it is written in that book, by the hand of the 
 Great Spirit himself, that He would forgive that sorrowful 
 man, and bless him, and turn the bitterness of his heart into 
 gladness and joy sweeter than honey ! These things, my 
 dear brothers, are not learnt in a day ; but, I thank God that 
 by his blessing, and the affectionate and patient labours of 
 Olitipa, the eyes of War-Eagle were opened to see them ; 
 and he desired that those whom he most loved should see and 
 feel them like himself. We will now take our last farewell of 
 him on earth, after the manner of those who love, fear, and 
 obey the word of the Father of us all." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the worthy missionary knelt by the 
 side of the newly filled grave, and concluded the solemnities 
 of the occasion by an affecting prayer in the English tongue ; 
 Reginald, Ethelston, and all the hunters and woodsmen, kneel- 
 ing uncovered, and finally joining in that perfect model of 
 supplication taught by the Redeemer himself to those who, in 
 whatever age or clime, are called by His name. 
 
 Having paid these last honours to their departed friend, the 
 leaders of the party withdrew to make the proposed arrange- 
 ments for striking the camp on the following morning, and for 
 settling the line and order of march. 
 
 The Delawares lingered for some time, as if unwilling to 
 leave the remains of their beloved chief, and at length slowly 
 retired, one by one, until there remained only our old friend 
 
THE PRAIRIE -B1UJ>. 545 
 
 Baptiste and a veteran Delaware, who, from his feats of hardi-< 
 hood, and the stern fierceness of his nature, was generally 
 known by the name of Stony-heart. 
 
 " Grand-Hache," said the latter, addressing his companion, 
 " it may be all very good what the Black Father says, but 
 Stony-heart does not understand it. When War-Eagle said 
 that the Lenape should not kill those who had taken the scalps 
 of their warriors or of their women, the Mad Spirit must have 
 got into his brain ! Stony-heart has seen many winters, and 
 has heard the talk of the wise men in council, but he never 
 heard such words as these." 
 
 It must be confessed that Baptiste was not in his heart a 
 very strong advocate for the doctrine of forgiveness ; we have 
 already seen in a former chapter that he was rather disposed 
 to favour the Indian law of retaliation; he answered, however, 
 on this occasion cautiously. 
 
 " Stony-heart speaks true ; yet he must remember that 
 War-Eagle only desired that his Lenape brothers should hear 
 what the Black Father had to say on this matter ; they can 
 then decide whether his words are idle or not. It will be 
 easier for him to persuade the young than men who like us 
 have known for forty winters that the custom of the woods, 
 and of the prairie, is life for life, and scalp for scalp !" 
 
 "It will," rejoined the other; "and Grand-Hache will 
 see that no good will follow from having spared the lives of 
 those four Washashee dogs." 
 
 With this prophetic observation, Stony-heart rejoined his 
 comrades, and Baptiste joined the small group assembled before 
 the door of the tent. 
 
 On the following morning the party began their homeward 
 march, Wingenund leading the way, followed by his Delawares, 
 and accompanied by Besha and the Crow guide, who had been 
 sent for by a runner before daybreak. The packed mules and 
 horses were placed in the centre under the special charge of 
 Monsieur Perrot, whose fund of good-humour and resource 
 had never failed him, and who now performed the office of a 
 muleteer with the same readiness with which he fulfilled the 
 respective duties of valet to Reginald, and cook, messman, and 
 Ituffoon to the whole party. The rear was brought up by 
 Etheiston and Reginald, the latter still keeping his post at the 
 Iridle of Nekiini, the line of march being closed by Baptiste 
 N N 
 
546 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 and some of the most experienced hunters, while Pierre was 
 sent forward to aid Wingenund, he being the most skilful and 
 practised in the peculiar difficulties of the dangerous region 
 which they were now about to traverse. 
 
 For several days all went on as well as could be expected. 
 The heat was intense, and water was sometimes scarce ; several 
 of the mules and pack-horses dropped down from exhaustion, 
 and were left behind ; the stock of provisions was somewhat 
 short, but the party twice fell in with a small herd of buffalo,, 
 from which they procured a tolerable supply; and, at camping 
 time, they all assembled round the fire in front of Prairie-bird's 
 tent, and, after their frugal evening meal, wore away the time 
 with conversation suited to the different groups into which the 
 party divided itself, some talking over former campaigns, others 
 cracking their jokes and enjoying the laugh which invariably 
 followed Perrot's determined attempts to explain himself in 
 the Delaware tongue ; while Reginald, Ethelston, and Prairie- 
 bird lived over again the days of their childhood, or recounted 
 to each other some of the most interesting incidents of the 
 -intervening years. 
 
 All remarked the changed aspect and increased gravity of 
 Wingenund ; his manner was indeed gentle and quiet as 
 before, but the death of his brother, and the responsibility 
 now entrusted to him, added to other serious matters which 
 occupied his mind, seemed in him to have annihilated the 
 interval between early youth and ripened manhood. First to 
 rise before daybreak, and last to lie down at night, he seemed 
 unconscious of fatigue, and resolved that on this occasion at 
 least the Delawares should not from his neglect be reminded 
 of the loss that they had so lately sustained. At night he 
 visited the sentries, and saw that every one was at his allotted 
 post ; and on the march, whenever the nature of the ground 
 rendered precaution necessary, scouts were sent forward to ex- 
 amine it, and to guard against ambush or surprise. Every 
 evening he joined the little party before the tent, and never 
 left it without wishing his sister (as he still called Prairie- 
 bird) a night of rest, and asking a blessing from the lips of 
 the Black Father. 
 
 The Crows behaved upon this occasion better than had been 
 expected of them, camping always at a certain distance from 
 the allied party, and, observing faithfully the other conditions 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 547 
 
 of the treaty. The guide, whom they had supplied, led the 
 way towards the Great Prairie, by a valley considerably to the 
 northward of that by which they had entered the mountain 
 region ; and Pierre soon perceived that its eastern termination 
 was at a spot that was easily recognised, by all experienced 
 trappers, as the " Devil's Kettle/' owing to the steam that as- 
 cended from a hot-spring, celebrated for its medicinal qualities 
 -among the neighbouring tribes. 
 
 Here the fresh horses promised by the Crows were supplied, 
 and an equal number of those exhausted and incapable of fur- 
 ther travel, were left behind. Nekimi, alone of the whole 
 quadruped band, seemed insensible alike to the scantiness of 
 pasture, and the heat and fatigue of the journey. The fair 
 burthen that he bore was as that of a feather compared to the 
 powerful frame of his former rider when armed and equipped, 
 and the noble animal seemed desirous of expressing his grati- 
 tude for the change, by rubbing his forehead against Reginald 
 as he walked before him, or nibbling out of his hand a few 
 young shoots of alder or willow, that he was now and then 
 fortunate enough to cut by the half-dried bed of some moun- 
 tain stream. 
 
 In this way they travelled forward without accident or ad- 
 venture, until they reached the banks of a river of considerable 
 size, which Pierre conjectured to be the head-water of the 
 southern fork of the Neosho, or the Platte ; and here they 
 were to complete the terms of the treaty, and bid adieu to 
 their Upsaroka friends, the opposite banks of the river not 
 being considered within the limits of their hunting ground. 
 
 The ceremonials observed upon this occasion were much 
 the same as the preceding, with the exception that Bending- 
 willow paid a visit to Prairie-bird, received from her several 
 presents, drank a cup of the wonderful black liquor, of which 
 her husband had told her, namely, coffee sweetened with 
 sugar, and told her fair hostess that his affections had not as 
 yet strayed to any other of his spouses, a fact, the truth of 
 which was attested by her displaying, with the most ostenta- 
 tious coquetry, the mirror- backed brush, of which he was 
 more proud of than of any thing that he possessed. 
 
 Besha made himself wonderfully busy during the payment 
 of the presents due to the Crows ; and in one or two in- 
 stances, when the latter claimed more than was recorded in 
 
 NN 2 
 
548 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 Reginald's memorandum, he stoutly maintained that the white 
 men were right, and recommended the Crows to withdraw 
 their pretensions : in so doing, he did not neglect to whisper 
 every now and then to Baptiste or Pierre, a hint that he 
 intended to be paid for his disinterested support. 
 
 All this was not lost upon White-bull, who, although he 
 could not understand a word of what passed, felt nevertheless 
 convinced that the interpreter was playing some under-game. 
 He said nothing, however; and the distribution was satis- 
 factorily completed, Wingenund and Reginald adding gratuit- 
 ously several presents for the chiefs beyond those promised in 
 the treaty. Besha, to the surprise of many of the Crows, who 
 knew his avaricious disposition, went away, apparently well 
 satisfied, with nothing more than a blanket and a knife ; but 
 they did not know that he had privately whispered to Baptiste 
 that he would come by night to fetch away his stipulated 
 share of the presents (and that, too, a lion's share), as the 
 Crows might be jealous if they saw them, and might take them 
 from him. 
 
 The two parties, having taken their final leave of each 
 other, the task of guide devolved upon Pierre, who resolved 
 not to cross the Platte that evening, it being now rather late, 
 but to encamp where they were, while the Crows returned 
 some dozen miles upon their trail before they encamped for 
 the night. They had seen enough of the effective force and 
 discipline of the allied band to deter them from attacking it, 
 and prudently resolved to return to their own country, with the 
 goods which they had already acquired, without loss or risk ; 
 although it becomes us, as veracious historians, to state (how- 
 ever little credit the statement may reflect upon White-bull) 
 that it had been, from the first, his intention to attack and 
 plunder the party, had their carelessness or neglect afforded 
 him an opportunity of doing so with impunity. 
 
 Besha, having ascertained the spot selected for the Crow 
 encampment, lingered behind their line of march, accom- 
 panied by the lad before mentioned, as being his constant 
 attendant, whom he left concealed, with two of his horses, 
 behind a small hillock beside the trail, desiring him there to 
 await his return. In order to avoid suspicion, he continued in 
 the company of White-bull until it was dusk, and did not 
 leave the camp until an hour later, when he threw a large dark- 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 54>9 
 
 coloured blanket over his shoulders, and, slipping away un- 
 perceived, rejoined the lad left in charge of the horses. 
 
 Mounting one himself, he desired his companion to follow 
 on the other, and trotted briskly forward, under the partial 
 light of a young moon, over the ground which he had care- 
 fully noted during the day, until he reached a spot where the 
 trail approached within a hundred yards of the banks of the 
 Platte, and where a few alder bushes offered convenient shelter 
 for the horses. Here the lad was again desired to await his 
 master's return ; and as the dew began to fall heavy, he was 
 not sorry that the latter left with him the large dark-coloured 
 blanket above mentioned. 
 
 Besha now pursued his way on foot ; and on reaching the 
 outposts of the allied band found, as had been preconcerted, 
 two of the Delawares, bearing several large packages, contain- 
 ing the presents and goods that he had earned in his mixed 
 capacity of diplomatic agent and interpreter. The packages 
 being inconvenient for the horse-dealer to carry alone, both on 
 account of their weight and number, he prevailed upon one of 
 the Delawares to assist him in carrying them to the spot where 
 he had left the horses. It was only by offering the Indian, 
 who was no other than Stony-heart, a little bag full of excel- 
 lent kinne-kinnik for his pipe, that he prevailed upon him to 
 undertake this task. But the materials for smoking had become 
 scarce, and it was an indulgence from which, when within 
 reach, Stony-heart could not refrain ; he accordingly sent back 
 his companion, and telling him that he would return in the 
 course of an hour or two, set forth with the horse-dealer on the 
 trail. 
 
 We must now see how it fared with the lad left in charge 
 of the horses, who, being tired with the day's march, fastened 
 the end of their long halters to his arm, and, wrapping himself 
 in the blanket, lay down upon the grass, and soon fell into a 
 -comfortable doze. One of the horses, probably disliking this 
 unusual separation from those with which it was accustomed 
 at this hour to feed, neighed several times aloud, for which 
 disturbance of his slumber it received a pull of the halter, and 
 a muttered execration from the youth, when he again fell into 
 a state of unconsciousness. 
 
 Now it so happened that the neighing of the horse reached 
 NN 3 
 
550 THE PR Aim E- BIRD. 
 
 other ears at no great distance, being those of no less a person 
 than the Osage, who, with his three companions, was on his 
 homeward way, and had on the preceding day stolen an old 
 canoe that they found on the bank of the river; and, after 
 patching up a few rents and holes, had embarked in it, to save 
 themselves a portion of their long foot journey. They had 
 seen from a distance the moving bands of the white men and 
 of the Crows, and had hauled their canoe under some alder 
 bushes on the bank, in order to consult and determine whether 
 they should drop farther down the river during the night, or,, 
 leaving it, strike a more southerly course. 
 
 Whilst holding this consultation, the neighing of Besha's 
 horse caught the quick ear of their leader ; he listened and 
 hearing it repeated, crept towards the spot, followed by his 
 three companions. As soon as the uncertain light of the moon 
 enabled him to distinguish the two pack-horses fastened to the 
 sleeping lad, he again crept noiselessly forward, and, springing 
 upon him, enveloped him in his own blanket, stuffing the 
 corner of it into his mouth, so that he could neither struggle 
 nor make any noise. 
 
 Leaving one of his men in charge of the horses, he carried 
 the youth swiftly to the water's edge where he securely pin- 
 ioned and gagged him, not, however, before he had recognised 
 by the moonlight the countenance of Besha's attendant. The 
 Osage's plan was soon formed ; for he rightly conjectured that 
 the horse-dealer was gone upon some errand, from which he 
 would not return empty handed ; and he also owed the horse- 
 dealer a grudge for having, as he supposed, favoured Win- 
 genund in that eventful scene which terminated Mahega's life. 
 
 Stripping the youth of his dark blanket and of the broad- 
 brimmed hat of Mexican grass that he wore, the Osage put 
 them on himself; and, taking his seat by the same bush, he 
 held the halters of the horses, and partially concealing his face 
 in one of the folds of the blanket, awaited in this disguise the 
 return of the horse-dealer, while his three companions con- 
 cealed themselves behind the adjacent bushes. 
 
 They had not been very long ensconced before Besha ap- 
 peared, followed by the doughty Stony-heart, who muttered to 
 himself as he came that he would not carry such a load so far 
 again for all the kinne-kinnik in the camp. The horse-dealer 
 as he drew near gave the usual signal-whistle for his attendant ; 
 
THE PHAIRIE-BIRD. 551 
 
 and, finding that it was unanswered, looked towards the spot 
 where he descried the slumbering figure in the slouched hat 
 and dark blanket; while one of his pack-horses, lately cast 
 loose, seemed to be deliberately waiting off 1 to seek better pas- 
 ture. Hastily throwing his own package to the ground, he went 
 to secure the stray animal, calling at the same time to Stony- 
 heart, 
 
 " Kick that sleepy dog till he wakens, that he may come 
 and assist me with these packs." 
 
 The Delaware, who was not a man of many words, proceeded 
 forthwith to execute this order, and, without putting down his 
 heavy load, bestowed a sound kick upon the reclining figure, 
 which, to his infinite surprise, started instantly to its feet in 
 the shape of a powerful man, who threw him, encumbered as 
 he was, upon the ground, and successfully resisted all his vio- 
 lent efforts to extricate himself. While one of the Osages 
 came to assist in securing the fallen Delaware, the other two 
 seized the unlucky horse-dealer, just as he was mounting in 
 the hope of saving himself by flight. 
 
 So successfully had the Osages planned and executed this 
 manoeuvre, that in less than five minutes their two last pri- 
 soners were laid bound and pinioned together with the first in the 
 canoe, where the captured bales and presents were also stowed 
 away, and while one of the Osages took the horses to a ford 
 not far distant, which had been recently crossed by a large herd 
 of bison, the remaining three, with their prisoners, paddled 
 across the river, and then noiselessly along the opposite bank, 
 until they had reached a deep and winding creek, which fell 
 into the main river, and which they had noticed by daylight 
 as affording convenient fuel and shelter. Having pursued 
 their way up the creek until they considered themselves safe 
 from pursuit, and their fire from the observation of either en- 
 campment, they gathered and lighted a goodly pile of dry 
 alder-wood, and proceeded deliberately to unpack and examine 
 the bales and packages, throwing their three pinioned captives 
 roughly on one side, as being so much live lumber unworthy 
 of their notice. 
 
 The plunder that they found themselves thus suddenly 
 possessed of exceeded their utmost expectations ; and as it 
 contained, amongst other things, a package of excellent dried 
 meat and the kinne-kinnik, from which poor Stony-heart had 
 
 N N 4 
 
552 THE PRAIRiK-BlRD. 
 
 f 
 
 expected so much gratification, they ate copiously of the 
 former, and smoked copiously of the latter, until they were in 
 the highest possible state of Osage enjoyment. 
 
 It was not long before they were joined by their comrade 
 with the horses, who received, as soon as he had fastened the 
 latter, his due share both of the provisions and the plunder ; 
 after which they ungagged the prisoners, at the same time 
 giving them to understand that if they made the least noise 
 they would be put to death immediately. Indeed, whether 
 they were noisy or quiet, it seemed by no means improbable 
 that such might be their fate, for two of the Osages strongly 
 urged the necessity for so doing, under the plea of self- 
 preservation. The leader seemed, however, to be of a different 
 opinion, and he had already established a kind of prescriptive 
 right of command over his comrades. 
 
 Having thrown some dry sticks upon the fire to make it 
 blaze, he drew Stony- heart towards the light, and, as it fell 
 upon his countenance, enabled him to recognise in his prisoner 
 one of the chief warriors of the Delaware band. 
 
 " Is Stony-heart become a mule," said he with a grin, 
 " that he carries bales and blankets upon his back ? " 
 
 To this taunt Stony-heart did not deign to reply, and a 
 brief conversation ensued among the Osages ; after which their 
 leader came again to him, and, having searched his dress, satis- 
 fied himself that the Delaware had no other arms with him 
 than a knife and a small pistol .concealed in his belt. The 
 former he left untouched, but the latter he dipped in the creek 
 until it was thoroughly soaked, and then returned it to the 
 owner, whom, having now released from his bands, he thus 
 addressed : 
 
 " Stony-heart may return to his people ; he is free ; and 
 he may t&ll Wingenund that the Washashee know how to 
 repay a good deed as well as to revenge a bad one. Stony- 
 heart may go ! " 
 
 The Delaware waited no second bidding, but retuiued with 
 all haste towards his camp, being obliged to swim the river, 
 and muttering to himself, /after he had crossed it, "I told 
 Baptiste that no good could ever come of sparing the lives of 
 those Washashee dogs ! " Such being the only gratitude that 
 he either felt or expressed for the clemency that he had just 
 experienced at their hands ! 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 553 
 
 Scon after his departure, the Osages turned their attention 
 to Besha, sternly questioning him as to the part he had taken 
 in their late chief's dispute with Wingenund; and in spite of 
 all his protestations of impartiality and innocence, they stripped 
 him of every article of clothing save his moccassins, and gave 
 him a most severe flogging with a laryette of bull's-hide, after 
 which they decamped, leaving him still pinioned, and writhing 
 with pain, while they carried with them his attendant, whom 
 they compelled to load and arrange the packs upon the horses, 
 and to lead the latter for the first dozen miles of their route ; 
 after which they permitted him to return to release his master, 
 who crawled back with difficulty, before daylight, to the Crow 
 camp, having reaped the reward of his intrigues, cunning, and 
 avarice, in the loss of all his presents, two of his best horses, 
 and a flogging, from the effects of which he suffered for a long 
 time. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SCENE IS SHIFTED TO THE BANKS OP THE MUSKINGUM, AND 
 PRAIRIE-BIRD RETURNS TO THE HOME OF HER CHILDHOOD. 
 
 ABOUT two months after the events related in the preceding 
 chapters, there was an unusual stir and bustle in the town of 
 Marietta, and half a score of its principal inhabitants were 
 assembled in front of David Muir's house, to witness the land- 
 ing of the crew and passengers belonging to a large boat that 
 had just arrived at the wooden pier which projected into the 
 river. 
 
 Foremost of a busy group at the water's edge was the sturdy 
 form of Gregson the mate, whose orders respecting the bring- 
 ing- to, and making fast, were implicitly obeyed; and when at 
 length she was securely moored alongside the pier, numerous 
 and hearty were the greetings between those who stepped 
 ashore from her, and the friends from whom they had been so 
 long severed. 
 
 "Bearskin, how are you? my old fresh-water porpoise!" 
 said the mate, squeezing the hard hand of the Mississippi 
 boatman. " How fares it, messmate?" 
 
554 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 "All right now, my hearty; but we've had some foul 
 weather since I saw you last." 
 
 " Ay, I see ! " said the mate, observing the scars upon his 
 old companion's face and forehead; "you've been snagged, 
 and damaged your figure-head a bit: never mind that; we '11 
 have all that yarn out by and bye over a bottle of David's best. 
 See, here he comes to welcome you himself!" 
 
 Leaving David Muir and Bearskin to their mutual greet- 
 ings, the mate returned to the water-side and lent his power- 
 ful assistance to the landing of the cargo of the heavily-laden 
 boat; and certainly, a more strange or heterogeneous mixture 
 of animate and inanimate stock never came out of any vessel 
 since the disembarkation from the ark. Skins, furs, 'bows, 
 rifles, moccassins, and Indian curiosities of every description, 
 were piled near the bows, while in the after-part were stowed 
 provisions of all kinds, and kegs, which were by no means so 
 full as they were when the boat left St. Louis. 
 
 The appearance, language, and costume of the crew would 
 baffle any attempt at description, inasmuch as each sunburnt, 
 un shaved individual composing it, had equipped and attired 
 himself according to his own fancy, and according to the con- 
 tents of his remaining wardrobe after a long sojourn in the 
 western wilderness : and when it is remembered that these 
 hardy fellows were from all the varied clans and nations found 
 between the sources and the mouth of the " Father of Waters," 
 it is not surprising that their mingled jargon should have 
 struck upon the ear like the dialects of Babel in the day of its 
 confusion. There were half-bred Creeks and Cherokees ; 
 Canadians, some with no little admixture of Chippeway blood; 
 others, proud of their pure French descent : there were also 
 some of the rough boatmen, who had already migrated to the 
 banks of the Great River, where it washes the western bound- 
 aries of what are now the States of Kentucky and Illinois ; 
 and a raw-boned sinewy fellow, who acted as a sort of second 
 mate, was giving instructions in broad Scotch, to a dark-eyed 
 and diminutive individual, who replied to him in bad Spanish. 
 Above the din of all these multifarious tongues, was heard the 
 shrill and incessant voice of Monsieur Perrot, who was labour- 
 ing with indefatigable zeal to collect his master's baggage, and 
 to put it safely ashore. 
 
 This he was at length enabled to effect with the aid of 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 555 
 
 David Muir and the mate ; after which the articles destined 
 for Mooshanne were piled in readiness for the waggon which 
 was to convey them, and tlje remainder found their way by 
 degrees to their respective destinations. 
 
 When at last the good-humoured valet found himself com- 
 fortably seated in the merchant's parlour with the worthy man 
 himself, Dame Christie, Jessie, and the mate, for his audience, 
 and a bottle of madeira, with some fried ham and fresh eggs 
 upon the table, he gave a sigh, the importance of which was 
 lost upon none of those present, and he looked from one to the 
 other with the conscious superiority of a man who knows how- 
 much he has to tell. 
 
 It is not our province to follow him through the (i hair- 
 breadth 'scapes," the " moving accidents by flood and field," 
 with which he set his astonished hearers tc all agape ;" the only 
 portion of his narrative which it concerns us to know, is that 
 which referred to the movements of Reginald Brandon and the 
 remainder of his party, who might, according to Monsieur 
 Perrot's account, be almost daily expected at Mooshanne, as 
 they had left St. Louis and crossed its ferry with tent, baggage, 
 and a large cavalcade, on the day of his embarkation in the 
 great " Batteau." 
 
 It was so long since Monsieur Perrot had tasted any liquid 
 with a flavour like that of the merchant's madeira, that he 
 sipped and talked, talked and sipped, without noting the 
 lapse of time, and the evening was already far advanced before 
 he thought of rising to take his departure for Mooshanne ; 
 even then, David Muir pressed him so strongly to remain 
 with him over-night, and continue his journey on the follow- 
 ing morning, that Monsieur Perrot found himself quite unable 
 to resist accepting the invitation ; especially as he thought that 
 another day or two might probably elapse before the return of 
 Reginald ; and, moreover, the bright eyes of Jessie Muir looked 
 a thousand times brighter from the contrast that her beauty 
 afforded to the swart dusky complexions by which he had so- 
 lately been surrounded. 
 
 Leaving the merry Frenchman, and his still wondering 
 auditors in David's parlour, we will proceed without delay to 
 Mooshanne, where it happened that, about four o'clock on the 
 same afternoon, a single horseman sprang from the animal 
 that, to judge from its appearance, had carried him far and 
 
556 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 fast, and, having rung the door-bell, waited not for any one to 
 answer it, but walked straight into the vestibule. 
 
 The bell was still ringing when the door of the drawing- 
 room was slightly opened that the blue eyes of Lucy might 
 herself reconnoitre the new comer ; the next moment saw her 
 in her brother's arms. 
 
 " Dear, dear Reginald ! 'tis he, 'tis he, indeed ! " and she 
 drew him into the room that her father might share her rap- 
 turous joy. 
 
 While the colonel pressed his son to his heart in a fond 
 paternal embrace, Lucy ran up stairs to prepare the more 
 delicate nerves of her invalid mother for the shock of happi- 
 ness that awaited her. 
 
 Scarcely were these first affectionate greetings exchanged, 
 ere Lucy inquired with expectant eagerness, " When will they 
 arrive ? how far off are they, Reginald ? " 
 
 ' : They cannot now be long; I think within a couple of 
 hours they must be here. If I mistake not, Lucy, there is 
 one of the party who begrudged me not a little my office of 
 avant-courier." 
 
 Lucy blushed " celestial rosy red, love's proper hue," as 
 she felt haw her heart leaped within her to meet the one to 
 whom her brother referred ; and she hastened away to conceal 
 her mingled confusion and happiness, in the thousand little 
 details of preparation for her expected guests. 
 
 It may be as well here to mention, that immediately on 
 reaching St. Louis, Reginald had dispatched a messenger on 
 horseback to his father with a letter, containing the outline of 
 the events connected with his western expedition, and inform- 
 ing him of the rescue of Prairie-bird, and of the attachment 
 that existed between her and himself. He spoke not of her 
 parentage, further than to say, that she had been carried off in 
 childhood from her own family, who were of a lineage and 
 descent altogether unexceptionable ; and he entreated and con- 
 jured his father not to entertain, nor pronounce any objection 
 to his proposed alliance, until he had an opportunity of seeing, 
 hearing, and judging for himself. 
 
 Reginald had also insisted upon Ethelston's abstaining from 
 this topic in any letter that he might wish to send from St. 
 Louis, and the colonel had thought it advisable to say nothing 
 to Lucy of her brother's attachment, while there remained a 
 
THE PRAIB1E-BIRD. 557 
 
 doubt of its being such as he could approve or sanction ; so 
 that he had only informed her that the party would bring back 
 with them Prairie-bird, whom the young Delaware had men- 
 tioned so often as his sister, but who was, in fact, the daughter 
 of English parents, of the highest respectability ; and that she 
 would be accompanied by Paul Miiller, a missionary, whose 
 reputation for piety and learning was extensively spread, and 
 who had been, since her residence with the Indians, her in- 
 structor and adopted father. 
 
 Lucy's curiosity to see Prairie-bird had been, since the 
 arrival of her brother's letter, extraordinarily excited. Some- 
 times she fancied her a half-wild, half-civilized being, clad in 
 a dress of skins, and speaking broken English. Then again 
 she was puzzled at the remembrance of the affectionate rever- 
 ence, almost amounting to worship, with which Wingenund 
 had spoken of her, and again her calculation was at fault. 
 Under these doubts and perplexities, she consulted Aunt Mary, 
 and with her aid and concurrence had prepared for her expected 
 guest a room upon the ground-floor, that looked upon her own 
 flower-garden. Its furniture was simple, but exceedingly 
 pretty, being a kind of representation of a tent, of an octagon 
 shape, and hung with a delicate-coloured pink chintz. 
 
 The view from the windows was lovely ; for although the 
 flowery parterres had lost their brightest summer hues, a few 
 roses still lingered among them, contrasting with the thousand 
 autumnal colours that decked the shady mass of distant forests 
 between which and the flower-garden was seen here and there, 
 through a leafy vista, the winding course of the Muskingum. 
 Lucy had decked the interior of the room with all those name- 
 less comforts and luxuries that betoken women's affectionate 
 care ; several shelves were covered with well- selected books, 
 and two china baskets upon the table were filled with such 
 flowers as the indefatigable Aunt Mary had placed there, un- 
 conscious for whom she gathered them. 
 
 As soon as Reginald had enjoyed a short interview with his 
 mother, whose health, though still delicate, had somewhat im- 
 proved since he had last seen her, Lucy entered, and taking 
 him by the arm, said, " Come, Reginald, you must inspect my 
 preparations. See, this is your own room, which you will find 
 rather more gay than when you left it, as Aunt Mary would 
 have it new-papered. That beyond is destined, as before, for 
 Ed for Eihelston." 
 
558 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 " lias Aunt Mary thought it requisite to new-paper that 
 too, or did it occur to Miss Lucy without her aunt's sug- 
 gestion ? " 
 
 Lucy punished him with a slight pinch on the arm j and 
 then leading him down the stairs -to the tent apartment, said 
 to him, " Now, Sir, I will show you what I have prepared 
 for your Indian lady ; this is Prairie-bird's room." 
 
 The tell-tale blood rushed into Reginald's bronzed and sun- 
 burnt cheek, as he stood within the room destined to contain 
 his heart's treasure ; thoughts, far too sweet, and deep, and 
 swift for words, mingled the past and the future in a delicious 
 dream, as bending over his sister he kissed her fair forehead, 
 and pressed her in silence to his heart. 
 
 With the intuitive quickness of sympathy, Lucy read in that 
 expressive silence the secret of her brother's breast ; and look- 
 ing up to him, half-reproach fully, she said, " Reginald, could 
 not you have trusted your Lucy so far, as to tell her that 
 Prairie-bird would have a dearer title to her affections than 
 that of being Wingenund's sister, or the child of the mission- 
 ary's adoption ? " 
 
 <: Dear Lucy," replied her brother, with an impressive ear- 
 nestness, that re-assured while it awed her, " there has been 
 so much of the mysterious and merciful working of Providence 
 in the history of Prairie-bird, that I am sure you will forgive 
 me when I ask you to wait a few hours before all is explained 
 to you. Meanwhile, receive her, for these few hours, as a 
 guest ; if at the end of them you do not love her as a sister, 
 my prophetic spirit errs widely of its mark." 
 
 Lucy saw well how deeply her brother's feelings were moved, 
 and she prayed inwardly that her expected guest might fulfil 
 his prophecy. It must be owned, however, that there lurked 
 a doubt in her heart whether it could be possible that a girl, 
 reared in an Indian camp, could be to her a sister, or could be 
 worthy of that brother, whom her fond partiality clothed with 
 attributes beyond those which belong to ordinary mortals. Her 
 affection for Reginald would not permit her to let him perceive 
 these doubts ; but fearful of betraying them by her manner, 
 she left him in the room destined for Prairie-bird, while she 
 hastfned to aid the indefatigable Aunt Mary in some of the 
 other preparations that were going forward ; the colonel 
 having given orders that the whole party, of whatever rank 
 or station, should be hospitably entertained. 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 559 
 
 Reginald was no sooner left alone, than casting his eyes 
 around the room, a sudden idea occurred to hiin of preparing 
 an agreeable surprise for his betrothed on her entrance to her 
 new domicile. He remembered having seen below, in the 
 drawing-room, a Spanish guitar, which he lost no time in se- 
 curing ; and having taken it from the case, he ascertained that 
 it was a very fine instrument, and that the strings were in very 
 tolerable order. He now laid it upon the sofa-table in her 
 room, placing beside it a slip of paper which he took from his 
 pocket, and which seemed from its soiled and crumpled con- 
 dition, to have suffered not a little from the various wettings to 
 which, during the past months of travel, it had been exposed. 
 Still he lingered in the room, noting with satisfaction the 
 various trifling luxuries and comforts which his sister had pre- 
 pared for Prairie-bird, when suddenly he caught the sound of 
 a bugle-note, in which he instantly recognised the signal to be 
 given by Baptiste of the party's approach. 
 
 How did his heart beat within him as he flew to welcome 
 them ! yet were its throbbing pulsations like the quiet of sleep 
 compared to those of the maiden, who now drew near the 
 home of her infancy. Ethelston had leaped to the ground, 
 and half supported her in the saddle with one hand, while with 
 the other he checked Nekimi, whose impatient neigh betrayed 
 his remembrance of the corn-bin, and the well-known stall. 
 
 " Edward Edward, I cannot go through this ! " said the 
 half-fainting girl. "My thoughts are all confused my 
 brain turns round see there is the house ! I cannot re- 
 member it. O, stay a minute only one minute, that I may 
 recover myself ! " 
 
 "Dear Evy ! " said her brother, looking up while she 
 leaned affectionately upon his shoulder, " 'tis natural that 
 your thoughts should be mingled and confused, but let them 
 not be gloomy now I The house is so changed within the last 
 ten years, that had you built it yourself you could not recog- 
 nise it in its present state. Already I can distinguish dear 
 Aunt Mary's white cap and apron ; and Lucy, longing to em- 
 brace a sister; the gray locks of the stately colonel, and one 
 beside him, who will not be the last to welcome Prairie- bird I" 
 
 "I can distinguish nothing, Edward; there is a mist 
 before my eyes : but it is a mist of love and happiness un- 
 speakable ! " 
 
 "Courage, dear Evy !" said her brother in a cheering tone, 
 
560 
 
 TIIIO PRAIttlE-BIRD. 
 
 " let them not think that Prairie-bird draws near with slow, 
 unwilling step, and that her heart regrets the change from the. 
 prairie to the scenes of her childhood, and the home of her 
 choice ! " 
 
 " Edward ! " said his sister reproachfully, while a tear started 
 in her eye, and the blood mounted to her temples; then., 
 shaking back the dark locks from her glowing cheeks, as if 
 she would thereby shake off the temporary weakness by which 
 she had been overcome, she added, " Remount your horse ; 
 we have yet some hundred feet to go ; if Prairie-bird draws 
 near with slow, unwilling step, it shall be Nekimi's fault, and 
 not her own ! " 
 
 So saying, she shook the loosened rein upon the neck of 
 the fiery steed, which, bounding forward with a spring that 
 would have unseated a less practised rider, bore her swiftly to 
 the door, where he stopped, obedient to her delicate hand, and 
 champed, and frothed, and snorted, as if proud alike of his 
 burden, and of his own matchless symmetry of form. 
 
 Never had her radiant beauty so thrilled through Reginald's 
 every nerve as at this moment, when, lightly touching his 
 preferred arm, she sprang to the ground ; her cheek glowing 
 with agitation, and her eye moistened by contending emotions, 
 she interchanged with him one silent look of conscious love, 
 and then turned, with gentle grace, to receive the greeting of 
 Colonel Brandon. 
 
 We have before said that he had been far from pleased 
 with the contemplated alliance of his son, and had made up 
 his mind to receive Prairie-bird with cold and studied courtesy, 
 nor to treat her otherwise than as an ordinary guest, until he 
 should have satisfied himself respecting her birth and con- 
 nexions ; but, in spite of himself, these resolutions vanished 
 before the irrelistible attractions of her manner and bearing, 
 so that, instead of only extending his hand, as he had pro- 
 posed, he imprinted a parental kiss upon her forehead, saying, 
 
 "Welcome, heartily and truly welcome to Mooshanne!" 
 
 She tried to speak, but she looked on the half-remembered 
 features of Reginald's father, and her collected strength began 
 to fail. At this moment she was greated by Lucy, whom she 
 already knew to be the chosen of her brother's heart. 
 
 " Prairie-bird must learn to love her sister ! " whispered 
 she, folding her in an affectionate embrace. 
 
 " Learn, Lucy ! " replied Prairie-bird, whose tears could 
 
THE PRAIRIK-BIRD. 56l 
 
 no longer be controlled ; " Learn ! can a few years have so 
 changed outfaces and our hearts, that Lucy and Evy must 
 now learn to love each other ? " 
 
 Before the astonished girl could reply, Aunt Mary, darting 
 forward with frantic haste, exclaimed, " What voice is that ? " 
 then catching Prairie-bird by the arm, examined with wild 
 intensity every line of her countenance. As she looked, the 
 tears gathered in her own eyes, her frame trembled with 
 agitation, and she fell upon her neck, saying, " 'Tis she 
 'tis my poor brother's long-lost child ! " 
 
 Lucy's heart told her that it was so indeed : Colonel Bran- 
 don was overcome with astonishment ; but he read in the 
 looks of Reginald and Ethelston that the lost treasure was 
 restored ; and as memory retraced in the features of Prairie- 
 bird those of his attached and lamented friend, he too was 
 unmanned ; and grasping Ethelston's hand, wrung it with an 
 emotion beyond the power of words. 
 
 The news spread like wild-fire throughout the house, that 
 Captain Ethelston's sister was returned ; and Lucy was obliged 
 to run with all speed to her mother's room to prevent a sudden 
 shock of joy that might affect her weakly nerves. Is it pos- 
 sible to describe or imagine the transports of the succeeding 
 hour in that happy circle ! or the caresses showered upon 
 Prairie-bird! 'What word would the pen or tongue employ? 
 " Congratulations ? " As well might one attempt to represent 
 Niagara by the water poured from a pitcher ! 
 
 We will trust that hour to the reader's heart, and will sup- 
 pose it past, and that Lucy, with still tearful eyes, and her 
 arm still round her recovered sister's neck, was leading her 
 from the room where she had just knelt, to receive Mrs. 
 Brandon's maternal kiss, when in passing a half-open door, 
 Lucy said, " Evy, that is your brother's room ; but he is not 
 in it, he is still on the lawn." 
 
 " Oh ! I must look into Edward's room," exclaimed Prairie- 
 bird ; and opening the door, she entered, followed by Lucy. 
 A rifle, a fowling-piece, and a fishing-rod stood in one corner ; 
 over them were ranged several pairs of pistols, and two or three 
 cutlasses, apparently of foreign workmanship ; in the opposite 
 corner, near the window, was a globe, by the side of which stood 
 a case filled with naval charts ; on the other side of the room 
 was ranged a row of shelves well stored Tvith books, and the 
 o o 
 
562 THE PRAIRIE -BIRD. 
 
 writing-table in the centre was covered with papers, all neatly 
 tied and docketed, as he had left them at his last departure. 
 
 Prairie-bird's eye wandered with a certain degree of interest 
 over all these indications of her brother's habits, until it rested 
 upon a small portrait, hung over the chimney-piece. It re- 
 presented a man of middle age and stature, and although the 
 painting was scarcely above mediocrity as a work of art, the 
 expression of the countenance was strikingly open and bene- 
 volent. Prairie-bird gazed upon it, until she thought that the 
 mild orbs upon the inanimate canvas returned her affectionate 
 gaze. With clasped hands and beating heart, she stood awhile 
 silent, and then sinking on her knees, without removing her 
 eyes from the object upon which they rested, she murmured, 
 in a whisper scarcely audible, " My father ! " 
 
 It was indeed the portrait of his lamented friend, that 
 Colonel Brandon had kindly placed in Ethelston's room, a cir- 
 cumstance which had escaped Lucy's memory at the moment 
 of her entering it. 
 
 Stooping over her kneeling companion, she kissed her fore- 
 head, saying, " Evy, I will leave you for a few minutes to 
 commune with the memory of the honoured dead ; you will 
 find me in the vestibule below." So saying, she gently closed 
 the door, and left the room. 
 
 In less than a quarter of an hour Prairie-bird rejoined her 
 friend ; and though the traces of recent emotion were still to be 
 observed, she had recovered her composure, and her countenance 
 wore an expression of grateful happiness. 
 
 " Come, Evy," said her young hostess, " I must now show 
 you your own room ; the cage is not half pretty enough for BO 
 sweet a bird, but it opens upon the flower-garden ; so you can 
 escape when you will, and your dear good Paul Miiller is your 
 next neighbour." 
 
 An exclamation of delight broke from the lips of Prairie- 
 bird as she entered and looked around the tented apartment, 
 and all its little comforts, prepared by Lucy's taste and affection. 
 Fortunately, the day was beautiful, and the casement-windows 
 being wide open, her eye caught, beyond the flower-garden, a 
 view of the distant mass of forest, with its thousand varied 
 autumnal tints, reposing in the golden light of the declining sun. 
 
 "Oh, it is too, too beautiful !" said Prairie-bird, throwing 
 her arms around Lucy's neck ; " I can scarcely believe that 
 this is not all a dream ! " 
 
Tllli PHA.1RIE-BIRD. 563" 
 
 " There have indeed been some fairies here, or some such 
 beings as dwell in dreams, Evy," said Lucy, whose eyes fell 
 upon the guitar lying on the .able ; " for I left this room a 
 short time ago, and this instrument was not here then. Who 
 can have brought it ? can you play upon it, Evy ? " 
 
 " A little," replied Prairie-bird, colouring. 
 
 " And see," continued Lucy, " here is a scrap of paper 
 beside it, so soiled and dirty that I should have put it in the 
 fire had I seen it before ; do you know the hand-writing, 
 Evy ? " As Lucy said this, she looked archly up in hei 
 friend's face, now glowing with a rosy blush. " Well, you 
 need not answer, for methinks I know it myself ; may I 
 unfold the paper, and read its contents ? What, no answer 
 vet? then I must take your silence for consent." Thus 
 saying, she opened the paper, while Prairie-bird, blushing 
 still more deeply, glanced at it with longing, but half-averted 
 eyes. "Verses, I declare !" exclaimed Lucy. " Why, Evy, 
 what magic art have you employed to transform my Nimrod 
 brother, the wild huntsman of the west, the tamer of horses, 
 and the slayer of deer, into a poet ? " 
 
 She then proceeded to read, in a voice of deep feeling, the 
 following stanzas, which, although without any pretensions to 
 poetical merit in themselves, found such acceptance with their 
 present warm-hearted and partial judges, that, at the conclusion 
 of their perusal, the two girls fell upon each other's neck, and 
 remained locked in a silent and affectionate embrace. 
 
 On overhearing Prairie-bird's Evening Hymn, " HALLOWED BE 
 THY NAME. "* 
 
 " Yes, hallowed be His Holy Name 
 
 Who formed thee what thou art ! 
 Whose breath inspired the heav'nly flame 
 
 Now kindled in thy heart ! 
 "Whose love o'erflowing in thy breast 
 
 These vocal raptures stirred 
 Whose angels hover round thy nest, 
 
 Thou orphan Prairie-bird ! 
 
 " Methinks, I see that guardian throng 
 
 Still mirrored in thy face ! 
 Thy voice hath stol'n their angel-song, 
 
 Thy form their angel-grace. 
 Oh breathe once more that plaintive strain, 
 
 Whose every tone and word. 
 Deep-treasured in my heart and brain 
 
 Shall dwell, sweet Prairie-bird ! " 
 Delaware and Osage Camp, 
 Tuesday Night. - R. B. 
 
 * See vol. ii. chap. iv. page 81. 
 00 2 
 
564 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 On the following clay, the family party at Mooshanne were 
 assembled at luncheon under a large tree on the banks of the 
 Muskingum, from beneath the shade of which the gables and 
 irregular chimneys of the house were seen through occasional 
 openings in Lucy's shrubbery ; while the deep river flowed 
 silently onward, bearing away in its tranquil course the leafy 
 tribute of autumn showered upon it by the light breath of the 
 western wind. 
 
 Already had Prairie-bird visited the spot where her father's 
 house had stood, the site of which was only to be recognised 
 by a few heaps of stones and blackened timbers, over which 
 the luxuriant mosses and lichens with which that region abounds 
 had long since cast their mantle of green, while a few apple, 
 plum, and peach trees, unprotected by hedge or fence still 
 showed {e where once the garden smiled." 
 
 Colonel Brandon had not thought it advisable to rebuild 
 either the house or the offices after their destruction by the 
 savages, but had contented himself with a careful administra- 
 tion of his late friend's property, leaving it to his son Edward 
 to choose a site for his residence at a later period. Neither 
 must it be supposed that our heroine had omitted to pay a 
 morning visit to Nekimi, who now knew her voice and obeyed 
 her call like an affectionate and faithful dog. As soon as she 
 came to the stable, into which he had been turned without 
 halter or fastening of any kind, the generous animal, after sa- 
 luting her with a neigh of recognition, rubbed his broad fore- 
 head against her shoulder, and playfully nibbled the grains off 
 the head of maize which she held out to him ; but even that 
 he did not venture to do until he had acquired a claim to it by 
 holding one of his feet up and pawing with it until she let it 
 rest in her delicate hand. It must assuredly have been by mere 
 accident that Reginald entered while she was thus employed, 
 and reminded her how he had, with prescient hope, foretold 
 this very scene amongst the rocky cliffs of the far distant 
 Andes. Well did Prairie-bird remember the spot, and every 
 syllable of that prophecy ; neither did she affect to have for- 
 gotten it, but with a sweet blush held out one hand to her lover, 
 while the other still played with the silken tresses of Nekimi's 
 mane. 
 
 What a delightful occupation is it to caress a dumb favourite 
 by the side of one beloved, when the words of endearing ten- 
 
T11E PRAIRIE-BIRD. 565 
 
 derness lavished on the unconscious pet are th? outpourings of 
 a heart sensitively shrinking from addressing them directly to 
 their real object ! And if it be true, that many a sleek and 
 glossy spaniel has thus received the caress intended for its 
 owner, how much more natural was it that Reginald and 
 Prairie-bird should find pleasure in bestowing their caresses on 
 a noble animal, endeared to them by so many associations ; for 
 while she remembered how often Nekimi had borne him in the 
 chase and in the fight, he was not likely to forget with how 
 true and unwearied a step the faithful steed had carried his 
 betrothed over many hundred miles of mountain and of prairie ; 
 and even now, as her hand rested in his, both by a conscious 
 sympathy thought of Nekimi's former generous lord, and 
 breathed a sigh over War- Eagle's untimely fate. 
 
 To return to our party assembled round the luncheon -table 
 under the venerable tree. The first tumult of joy had sub- 
 sided, and was succeeded by a feeling of more assured happiness 
 "a sober certainty of waking bliss," which pervaded every 
 breast. Aunt Mary contemplated her lovely niece with looks 
 of the fondest affection, recalling in her sweet smile and in the 
 expression of her features the beloved brother, whose loss she 
 had with deep but chastened grief for many years deplored ; 
 for a few minutes there was a general silence ; one of those 
 pauses in which each member of the party pondered, as if by 
 a common sympathy, on the wonderful events which had led 
 to their reunion. Lucy was the first to break it. 
 
 " Reginald," said she, " you related to us yester-evening the 
 commencement of your homeward journey, and how the Dela- 
 ware called ' Stony -heart ' was permitted by the Osages to 
 return unhurt to your camp : you must resume the thread of 
 your tale where you left it, and tell us especially how and 
 where you parted from dear Wingenund, to whom we all owe 
 a debt of gratitude greater than we can ever pay." 
 
 " That do we indeed, Lucy," replied her brother, earnestly ; 
 " fortunate, too, is it that deeds of generous self-devotion like 
 those done by Wingenund reward themselves, and that a debt 
 of gratitude to one whom we love is a treasure, not a load 
 upon the breast. You remember how a writer, who used to be 
 a favourite with you, has expressed it : 
 
 ' A grateful mind 
 
 By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 
 Indebted and discharged.' " 
 
 00 J 
 
-566 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 "What a beautiful thought!" exclaimed Prairie-bird, 
 eagerly ; " tell me the book wherein 1 may find it written. 
 Such a lovely flower as that cannot surely grow alone; there 
 must be others of similar beauty near it." 
 
 " There are, indeed ; fresh, fragrant, and abundant, as on 
 a western prairie in June ; ( Paradise Lost ' is the garden 
 wherein they grow ; many of the descriptions contained in it 
 are among the most beautiful in our language ; I hope ere long 
 to read them to and with you, dearest," he added in a whisper, 
 intended for her ear alone : " there are some lines descriptive 
 of Eve as she first appeared to Adam, which always seemed to 
 me exaggerated, until you taught my eye to see and my heart 
 to feel their truth." 
 
 With a deep blush Prairie-bird cast her dark eyes upon the 
 ground, while Reginald continued aloud,, again addressing 
 himself to Lucy. 
 
 " Our own adventures after we crossed the Piatte river are 
 scarcely worth relating ; for although we had a few alarms 
 from wandering parties of Pawnees, Omahaws, and Dahco- 
 tahs, our band was too strong and too well armed to fear any- 
 thing from their open attack ; and the ever-watchful care and 
 sagacity of Wingenund left them no chance of surprising us. 
 
 " The warlike spirit and experience of his noble brother 
 seemed to have descended, like Elijah's mantle, upon the 
 youth ; and feeling the responsibility that attached to him as 
 leader of the party, he allowed himself little rest either by day 
 or by night, setting the watches himself, and visiting them 
 repeatedly at intervals to ascertain that they were on the alert. 
 He always came to our camp-fire in the evening, and I observed 
 that he daily became more interested in the conversation of our 
 worthy friend the missionary, and more anxious to understand 
 the principles and truths of Christianity ; in so doing he was 
 not only following the bent of his own amiable and gentle dis- 
 position, but he felt a secret pleasure in the remembrance that 
 he was fulfilling the last wishes of his dying brother. I dare 
 say Paul Miiller would now tell you that he would be thank- 
 ful indeed if the average of professing Christians understood 
 and practised the precepts of their creed as faithfully as Win- 
 genund." 
 
 <e That would I in truth, my son/' replied the missionary; 
 "'nevertheless I cannot claim the honour of having been the 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 56? 
 
 instrument of the conversion of the Delaware youth or his 
 brother ; it was effected, under the blessing of Heaven, by the 
 patient, zealous, and affectionate exertion of Prairie-bird.'' 
 
 " Nay, my dear father, you do yourself grievous wrong in 
 so speaking," said Prairie-bird, reproachfully ; " and even were 
 it as you say, to whom do I owe every thing that I know ? 
 whom have I to thank that I was not left in the dark and 
 hapless condition of the females by whom I have so long been 
 surrounded ?" 
 
 The tears gathered in her eyes as she spoke, and she 
 pressed affectionately to her lips the hand which her adopted 
 father extended to her. 
 
 " Yes, my sister speaks only the truth," said Ethelston, 
 addressing the missionary in a voice of deep emotion ; " we all 
 feel how far beyond the power of words we are indebted to you 
 for all that you have done for her, and we only trust that some 
 opportunity may be afforded us of showing a deep, sincere, 
 and permanent gratitude that we are unable to express." 
 
 Colonel Brandon, and every one of the family circle rose, as 
 by a common impulse, and one by one confirmed by a silent 
 pressure of the hand, the sentiment expressed by Ethelston. 
 The venerable man, uncovering his head, and allowing the 
 breeze to waive to and fro his silver locks, looked for a minute 
 upon the kindred group before him, and thus addressed 
 them : 
 
 " Think you not, my friends, that this scene, these happy 
 faces, and this happy home, might well reward any degree or 
 duration of earthly toil ? But toil there has been none, for 
 the teaching and nurture of this sweet child has been from the 
 first a labour of love ; and the only pain or regret that she has 
 ver caused me, is that which I now feel, when I recollect, 
 that I must resign her into the hands of her natural guardians, 
 and return to my appointed task, the occasional troubles of 
 which will not any more be sweetened by her presence, nor its 
 vexations be soothed by her affection. Such, however, is the 
 will of Him whom I serve, and far be it from me to repine." 
 
 " Nay," interrupted Reginald, eagerly, " you will not leave 
 us yet. After the fatigues and trials of this summer, you will 
 surely give yourself some repose." 
 
 " My son, I would gladly 'dwell awhile in this pleasant and 
 happy abode ; but I must not leave Wingenund to contend 
 oo 4 
 
568 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 unaided against the difficulties by which his present path will 
 be beset, the doubts and temptations which may assail him 
 from within, and the sneers or scorn he may experience from 
 the more proud and violent spirits of his tribe." 
 
 " There is, however, one service that you have promised 
 to render before you take your departure from Mooshanne. 
 Perhaps there are others here beside myself who will urge 
 you to its faithful performance." 
 
 This bold speech threw the whole party into momentary 
 confusion. Prairie-bird, pretending to whisper to the mis- 
 sionary, hid her blushing face upon his shoulder ; the con- 
 scious eyes of Ethelston and Lucy met ; while Aunt Mary 
 bestowed upon Colonel Brandon one of those knowing smiles 
 with which elderly ladies usually think fit to accompany 
 matrimonial allusions. 
 
 The awkwardness was of short duration ; for the mutual 
 feelings of the parties betrothed were no secret to any present ; 
 and Reginald was not of a disposition to endure unnecessary 
 delays ; so he drew Prairie-bird with gentle force towards her 
 brother, and still retaining her hand in his own, he said, 
 " Ethelston, will you, as guardian of your sister, consent to my 
 retaining this fair hand ? Beware how you reply, lest I should 
 use my influence against you in a request which you may 
 make to my father." 
 
 Had Ethelston been ignorant of his sister's feelings, he 
 might have read them in the expression of her blushing coun- 
 tenance ; but being already in full possession of them, and 
 meeting a smile of approval from Colonel Brandon, he placed 
 his sister's hand within that of Reginald, saying' " Take her, 
 Reginald, and be to her, as a husband, true, faithful, and affec- 
 tionate, as you have been to me as a friend." 
 
 It will not be supposed that Ethelston waited long for the 
 consent of either her father or brother to his union with Lucy ; 
 and Paul M tiller agreed to remain at Mooshanne one week, at 
 the end of which time the double ceremony was to take place. 
 
 While these interesting arrangements were in progress, the 
 noise of wheels, and the tramp of many horses, announced the 
 approach of a large party ; upon which Colonel Brandon, ac- 
 companied by the missionary and Aunt Mary, went to see 
 who the new comers might be, leaving the two young couples 
 to follow at their leisure. The Colonel was not long kept in 
 
THE PBAIRIE-BIRD. 569 
 
 suspense as to the quality of his visitors, for before reaching 
 the house, he heard the broad accent of David Muir's voice 
 addressing Reginald's attendant. 
 
 " Thank ye, thank ye, Maister Parrot," for so did he pro- 
 nounce the Frenchman's name ; " if ye'll just haud the uncanny 
 beast by the head, Jessie can step on the wheel an' be down 
 in a crack. There, I tauld ye so ; it's a' right noo ; and Jessie, 
 lass, ye need na' look sae frighted, for your new gown's nae 
 rumpled, an' Hairy will tak' the bit parcel into the house 
 for ye." 
 
 " Indeed, father, I am not frightened," said Jessie, settling 
 the side curls under her bonnet upon her glowing cheek, and 
 giving the parcel to Henry Gregson, whose hands had for the 
 moment encircled her waist as she jumped from the wheel to 
 the ground. Several vehicles of various descriptions followed, 
 containing the spoils and baggage brought back from the 
 prairies, together with Pierre, Bearskin, and all the members 
 of the party who had accompanied Reginald and Ethelston, 
 and who now came to offer their congratulation on the events 
 attending their safe return ; for the story of the wonderful re- 
 storation of Ethelston's sister to her family had already spread 
 throughout the neighbourhood, receiving, as it went, various 
 additions and embellishments from the lovers of the marvellous. 
 
 Meanwhile, Jessie Muir had gathered from Monsieur Perrot 
 sufficient information respecting the true state of affairs, to set 
 her mind at rest with respect to Reginald Brandon's inten- 
 tions ; and encouraged by the interest which the Colonel and 
 Lucy had always taken in her prospects, she felt a secret assur- 
 ance that they would prove powerful auxiliaries in advocating 
 the cause of Harry Gregson, and reconciling her parents to his 
 suit. Neither was she mistaken in her calculation ; for while 
 the preparation for the entertainment of the numerous guests 
 was going forward, Colonel Brandon, after a brief consultation 
 with Ethelston, called David Muir aside, and opened to him 
 the subject of the youth's attachment to his daughter. 
 
 It is difficult to say whether the surprise or the wrath of the 
 merchant were the greater on hearing this intelligence, which 
 was not only a death-blow to his own ambitious hopes, but 
 was, in his estimation, an act of unpardonable presumption on 
 the part of young Gregson. 
 
 " Colonel, ye're surely no in airnest ! it's no possible ! 
 
570 THE PRAIRIE BIRD. 
 
 Jessie, come here, ye hizzie ! " said he, stamping with anger, 
 and raising his voice to a louder pitch. 
 
 It happened that Jessie, being engaged in conversation with 
 Monsieur Perrot, did not hear his call, and the Colonel took 
 the opportunity of leading him a little further from the house, 
 and entreating his calm attention to the explanations which he 
 had to give. David walked on in silence, his face still red 
 with anger, and his heart secretly trembling within him when 
 he thought of his next interview with Dame Christie. 
 
 The Colonel, who knew both the weak and the good points 
 of his companion's character, dexterously availing himself of 
 both, effected in a few minutes a considerable change in his 
 views and feelings on the subject. He represented to him that 
 Ethelston would now have a house and establishment of his 
 own ; that his property was already very considerable, and, 
 with prudent management, would receive gradual augmenta- 
 tion ; and that from his attachment to Gregson, it was his 
 intention to make the honest mate's son the managing agent of 
 his concerns ; to facilitate which purpose he, Colonel Bran- 
 don, proposed to advance a few thousand dollars, and to esta- 
 blish the young man in a suitable house in Marietta. 
 
 "David," continued the Colonel, "you and I have long 
 been acquainted ; and I do not think you ever yet knew me to 
 give you counsel likely to injure your welfare or your pros- 
 pects, and you may trust me that I would not willingly do so 
 now. The young people are attached to each other ; they may 
 certainly be separated by force ; but their hearts are already 
 united. Harry is an honest, industrious, enterprising lad ; he 
 will start in the world with fair prospects ; every year will lend 
 him experience; and as you and I are both of us on the wrong 
 side of fifty, we may be very glad a few summers hence to 
 rest from active business, and to have about us those to whom 
 we can entrust our affairs with well-placed confidence." 
 
 There was much in this speech that tended to soothe, as 
 well as to convince, the merchant. He was gratified by the 
 familiar and friendly expressions employed by the Colonel, 
 while his shrewd understanding took in at a rapid glance the 
 prospective advantages that might accrue to the agent manag- 
 ing the extensive affairs of the families of Brandon and Ethel- 
 ston ; added to this, he was at heart a fond and affectionate 
 father; and the symptoms of irritation began to disappear 
 
THE PHAIRIK-B1RD. 5?1 
 
 from his countenance ; yet he scarcely knew how to reply, 
 and before even he meant to speak, the name of his gude- 
 wife escaped from his lips. 
 
 " Leave me to manage Dame Christie," said the Colonel, 
 smiling. " Ethelston shall go into Marietta himself, and break 
 the subject to her, founding his request upon his regard for 
 the elder Gregson, who has served under him so faithfully 
 ever since his boyhood. Come, my good friend, let us join 
 the party : I do not press you for any reply HOW ; but if you 
 should detect a stolen glance of affection between the young 
 people, do not be angry with Jessie, but think of the day when 
 you first went forth, dressed in your best, to win a smile from 
 Dame Christie." 
 
 " Ah, Colonel, ye're speakin' of auld lang syne now ! " said 
 the merchant, whose ill-humour was no longer proof against 
 the friendly suggestions of his patron, though he muttered to 
 himself, in an under-tone, as they returned towards the house, 
 (e I ken now why Maister Hairy was aye sae fond o' the store, 
 when the ither lads were fain to win' awa to hunt in the woods, 
 or to fish in the river ! Weel a weel, he's a douce callant, 
 an' the lassie might aiblins gae farther an' fair waur ! " 
 
 The preparations for the entertainment were still in pro- 
 gress, under the superintendence of Aunt Mary and Monsieur 
 Perrot ; the latter having already doffed his travelling attire, 
 anil assumed, in his jacket of snowy white, the command of 
 the kitchen, when Harry Gregson, who had opened the Ma- 
 rietta post-bag, put a letter into the hands of Reginald 
 Branden, which he instantly knew, by the bold, careless 
 hand-writing, to be from his uncle Marmaduke. He broke 
 the seal, and read as follows : 
 
 " Shirley Hall, July 15. 
 
 " Dear Reginald, 
 
 " I have very lately received your letter, announcing your 
 intention of making a hunting excursion in the west, in pur. 
 suit of bears, elk, wolves, Indians, and other wild beasts. I 
 hope you'll come safe back, with a score or two of their out- 
 landish brushes. After you left me, I began to feel very un- 
 comfortable, and did not know what was the matter, for I was 
 cold by night, and sulky and out of sorts by day. Parson 
 Williams took me in hand; but though we drank many a 
 
572 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 bottle of old port together, and played drafts, and attended 
 several road-meetings (which you know was an amusement I 
 had never tried before), it was all no use, and I began to think 
 that I was on a down-hill road to the next world ; but, some- 
 how or other, it happened that I dropped in now and then to 
 the parsonage, and whenever I had talked half an hour with 
 Margaret (you remember Margaret, the parson's daughter), 
 I felt in a better humour with myself and all the world. So* 
 matters went on, until one day I mustered courage to ask her 
 to come up to the hall, and change her name to Shirley. She 
 did so, and your old uncle writes with the halter round his 
 neck. When I married, Perkins came down from London 
 (the son of my father's solicitor) with a dozen boxes of parch- 
 ment, in a post-chaise ; and made me sign my name at least 
 a score of times ; after which I desired him to draw up two 
 more deeds for my pleasure. These were for transferring 
 to yourself, and to your sister, a legacy left me a few years 
 ago by an old relation whom I had never seen, and whose 
 money I did not want. The amount is forty thousand pounds ; 
 so there will be twenty thousand pounds apiece for you, and 
 you may set to work and clear (as you used to call it) an estate 
 as big as the old county of Warwick. I explained what I was 
 about to Meg, telling her, at the same time, that it was a 
 debt that I owed you in conscience, having considered you for 
 so many years as my heir, until her plaguing black eyes made 
 a fool of me, and threatened me with the prospect of brats of 
 my own. For this she pulled my ears twice ; first for calling 
 her Meg instead of Greta, by which name she was known at 
 the parsonage ; and secondly, for talking about the brats, a sub- 
 ject which always makes her cheeks redden. But I had no idea 
 of putting the reins into her hand so early in the day, and I 
 told her outright, that the first boy should be called Reginald, 
 to please me ; and the second might be called Greto, to please 
 her ; and the third might be called Marmaduke to please the 
 family : on which, without waiting to hear any more, she 
 bolted, and left me master of the field. I have just mentioned 
 this, in order that you, if ever you get into a similar scrape, 
 may know how to behave yourself. Mr. Perkins has com- 
 pleted his deeds of assignment, and has received my instruc- 
 tions to transfer the money to America by the next vessel, in 
 bills upon Messrs. Powell and Co., of Philadelphia ; and 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 573 
 
 though I have more than once found you as proud and as 
 straight-laced as a turkey-cock where money was concerned, I 
 know that you dare not, you dog ! I say you dare not re- 
 fuse, either for yourself or your sister, this token of the 
 affectionate regard of your uncle, 
 
 " MARMADUKE SHIRLEY." 
 
 The flush that came over Reginald's open countenance as 
 he read this epistle from his eccentric but warm-hearted rela- 
 tive, did not escape the watchful eye of Lucy, who was stand- 
 ing near him, and she anxiously inquired whether it contained 
 any unpleasant intelligence. 
 
 " Read it, Lucy, and judge for yourself," he replied, while 
 he went to communicate its contents to Colonel Brandon. 
 
 We will leave to the reader's imagination the mirth and 
 festivity that reigned at Mooshanne during that happy even- 
 ing; how Pierre, Baptiste, and Bearskin talked over their 
 adventures of ancient and of recent date ; how David Muir's 
 grey eye twinkled when he detected Jessie exchanging a stolen 
 glance with Harry Gregson ; how the cheers rang through 
 the forest when the Colonel proposed the health of Prairie-bird, 
 the long-lost child of his dearest friend, the bride of his only 
 son ; and how Aunt Mary's sweetmeats and preserves adorned 
 her snowy table-cloth ; and how Monsieur Perrot had con- 
 trived, as if by magic, to load the hospitable board with every 
 swimming, flying, and running eatable creature to be found in 
 the neighbourhood, dressed in every known variety of form. 
 The healths of Ethelston and Colonel Brandon had not been 
 forgotten ; and the latter, observing a shade of melancholy 
 upon his son's brow, said to him aloud, " Reginald, you have 
 not yet given your friends a toast, they claim it of you now." 
 
 Thus addressed, Reginald, reading in the dark eyes of his 
 betrothed, feelings kindred to his own, said in a voice of deep 
 and undisguised emotion, " My friends, you will not blame 
 me if I interrupt for a moment the current of your mirth, but 
 it would be doing equal injustice, I am sure, to your feelings 
 and to my own, were we to part without a tribute to the me- 
 mory of one, now no more, to whose self-devoted heroism 
 Ethelston owes the life of a sister, and I the dearest treasure I 
 possess on earth : The memory of ray Indian brother, War- 
 Eagle, late Chief of the Delawares ! " 
 
The party rose in silence, every head was uncovered, a tear 
 trembled on the long lashes of Prairie-bird's downcast eye, 
 arid Baptiste muttered to himself, yet loud enough to be heard 
 by all present, as he reversed his glass, ee Here's to the me- 
 mory of the boldest hand, the fleetest foot, and the truest 
 heart among the sons of the Lenape !" 
 
 As the day was now drawing to a close, David Muir re- 
 turned to Marietta, Bthelston having promised to pay a visit 
 to Dame Christie on the following day. The merchant was 
 so elated by the day's festivities, that he winked his grey 
 twinkling eye at Jessie, forgetting at the moment that she 
 knew nothing of the conversation that had passed between the 
 Colonel and himself; and when the youth, in escorting them 
 homeward, warned David of sundry holes and stumps upon 
 the road, thereby enabling them to avoid them, he poked his 
 elbow into Jessie's side, saying. " He's a canny lad, yon Hairy 
 Gregson ; what think ye, Jessie ? " 
 
 She thought that her father was crazy, but she said nothing; 
 and a certain vague sensation of hope came over her, that all 
 was going more smoothly for her wishes than she had dared 
 to expect. 
 
 For the ensuing week the whole village of Marietta was 
 enlivened by the preparations for the twofold wedding at 
 Mooshanne ; silks, ribbons, and trinkets without end were 
 bought, and there was not a settlement within fifty miles in 
 which the miraculous return of Reginald Brandon's bride was 
 not the theme of discourse and wonder. Paul Mtiller became 
 in a few days so universally beloved at Mooshanne, that all the 
 members of the family shared in the regret with which Prairie- 
 bkd contemplated his approaching departure ; and as they 
 became more intimately acquainted with him, and drew from 
 him the various information with which his mind was stored, 
 they no longer marvelled at the education that he had found 
 means, even in the wilderness, to bestow upon his adopted 
 child. Colonel Brandon was extremely desirous to make him 
 some present in token of the gratitude which he, in common 
 with all his family, felt towards the worthy missionary, and 
 spoke more than once with Reginald on the subject : but the 
 latter stopped him, saying, " My dear father, leave us to 
 manage that, we have entered into a secret conspiracy, and 
 must entreat you not to forbid our carrying it into execution." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 575 
 
 The colonel smiled, and promised obedience, knowing that 
 those in whose hands the matter rested were more familiar 
 with the good man's wants and wishes than he could be him- 
 self. 
 
 At length the week, long as it may have appeared to Regi- 
 nald and Ethelston, passed away. The morning which united 
 them to those whom they had respectively loved through so 
 many trials and dangers, arrived ; and Paul Miiller, having 
 joined the hand of his beloved pupil to the chosen of her 
 heart, prepared to take his leave, when she knelt to him for 
 his blessing. With faltering voice and tearful eyes he gave 
 it ; she could not speak, but pointing to a small box that 
 stood upon an adjoining table, with a letter addressed to him 
 beside it, yielded to the gentle force with which her bride- 
 groom drew her from the room. 
 
 Taking up the letter, the missionary read as follows : 
 
 '*' Oh, my beloved preceptor and father, let me once again 
 thank you for all your goodness and affectionate care ! for to 
 you, next to my Father in heaven, do I owe all my present 
 happiness, and all my knowledge of that Saviour who is my 
 everlasting hope and trust. My heart would sink under the 
 thought of being separated from you, if I did not know that 
 you are returning to my dear young brother Wingenund, to 
 guide and assist him in the good path that he has chosen; tell 
 him again and again how dearly we all love him, and that day 
 after day, and night after night, he shall be remembered in 
 his sister's prayers. Bancroft Library 
 
 " I am sure you will not forsake him, but will give him 
 your advice in teaching his Lenape brothers, who have laid 
 aside the tomahawk, to cultivate the earth, and to raise corn 
 and other nourishing food for their little ones. You will also 
 continue your favourite and blessed work of spreading among 
 them, and the surrounding tribes, the light of the gospel. 
 Edward and Reginald tell me that for these objects nearest 
 your heart, gold and silver can be usefully applied, and they 
 desire me to entreat your acceptance of this box containing a 
 thousand dollars, one half to be expended as you may think 
 best for spreading Christianity among our Indian brethren, 
 and the other half in seeds, working-tools, and other things 
 necessary for Wingenund and those who dwell with him. 
 
 " I hope you will come and see us at least once in every 
 
5?6* THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 year, to tell us of the health and welfare of Wingenund. If 
 you can bring him with you, the sight of him will make glad 
 our eyes and hearts. 
 
 " Farewell, dear father. Forgive the faults in this letter, 
 remembering that although I have read so much to you and 
 with you, I have had little practice in writing, and neither 
 Reginald nor Edward will alter or correct one word for me ; 
 they both smile and say it will do very well ; perhaps it may, 
 for, without it, you know already how dearly you are loved 
 and honoured by your affectionate and ever grateful, 
 
 " PBAIRIE-BIRD." 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 577 
 
 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 
 
 SUPPOSING the gentle reader to have taken sufficient interest 
 in Prairie-bird to be desirous of learning something of the 
 after fortunes of herself and those connected with her, we 
 subjoin a letter which accidentally came into our possession, 
 and which appears to have been written a few years subse- 
 quent to the date of the conclusion of the preceding tale. 
 
 "St. Louis, June 12th, 18. 
 " Dear Ethelston, 
 
 " I have just returned from my long-promised visit to 
 Wingenund, whose village is situated, as you know, not far 
 from the southern banks of the Missouri, about one hundred 
 miles beyond St. Charles's. I found there our respected and 
 venerable friend Paul M filler, whose intercourse with Winge- 
 nund and his band has been for some years almost uninter- 
 rupted, and productive of the most striking improvement, both 
 in the village itself, and in the character and manners of its 
 inhabitants. Several small settlements of Delawares are in 
 the neighbourhood, all of whom acknowledge Wingenund as 
 their chief ; and most of them have availed themselves, more 
 or less, of the teaching of the exemplary missionary. 
 
 " The village is situated on the side of a hill, gently sloping 
 to the south, along the base of which flows a considerable 
 stream, which, after watering the valley below, falls into the 
 Missouri at a distance of a few miles. The huts or cottages 
 occupied by the Delawares are built chiefly of wood ; and each 
 having a garden attached to it, they present a very neat and 
 comfortable appearance. That of Wingenund is larger than 
 the rest, having on one side a compartment reserved entirely 
 for the use of the missionary ; and on the other a large oh- 
 
 p P 
 
578 THE PRAIBJE-BIRD. 
 
 long room, in which are held their devotional meetings ; the 
 latter serves also the purpose of a school-room for the educa- 
 tion of the children. You would be surprised at the progress 
 made by them, and by many of the adults, in reading, as well 
 as in agriculture and other useful craft ; and I must own 
 that, when my eye fell upon their ploughs, hammers, saws, 
 chisels, and other utensils, and then rested on the Bibles, a 
 copy of which is in every dwelling, I felt a deep and gratify- 
 ing conviction, that our annual present to Wingenund has 
 been productive of blessings quite beyond our most sanguine 
 expectations. 
 
 " I need scarcely tell you that his reception of me was that 
 of a man welcoming a long-absent brother. He fell on my 
 neck, and held me for some time embraced without speaking ; 
 and when he inquired about his dear sister Olitipa, his voice 
 resumed the soft and almost feminine tones that I formerly 
 noticed in it, when he was under the influence of strong emo- 
 tion. In outward appearance he is much changed since you 
 last saw him, having grown both in breadth and height ; in- 
 deed, I am not sure whether he is not now almost as fine a 
 specimen of his race as was his noble brother, whom I never 
 can mention or think of without a sigh of affectionate regret. 
 Yet, in his ordinary bearing, it is evident that Wingenund, 
 from his peaceful habits and avocations, has lost something of 
 that free and fearless air that distinguished his warrior brother. 
 I have learnt, however, from Baptiste (who, as you know, 
 insisted upon accompanying me on this expedition), that the 
 fire of former days is subdued, not extinguished within him, 
 as you will perceive from the following anecdote, picked up by 
 our friend the guide from some of his old acquaintance in the 
 village. 
 
 " It appears that last autumn a band of Indians, who had 
 given up their lands somewhere near the head waters of the 
 Illinois river, and were moving westward for a wider range 
 and better hunting-ground, passed through this district; and 
 seeing the peaceful habits and occupations of the Delawares 
 settled hereabouts, thought that they might be injured and 
 plundered with impunity. They accordingly came one night 
 to a small settlement only a few miles from here, and carried 
 off a few score of horses and cattle, burning at the same time 
 the dwelling of one of the Delawares, and killing a young man 
 
THE PRAraiE-BIRD. 579 
 
 who attempted to defend his father's property. A messenger 
 having brought this intelligence to Wingenund, he collected a 
 score of his most trusty followers, and taking care that they 
 were well armed, went upon the trail of the marauders. He 
 soon came up with them ; and their numbers being more than 
 double his own, they haughtily refused all parley and redress, 
 telling him, that if he did not withdraw his band they would 
 destroy it, as they had destroyed the young Delaware and his 
 house on the preceding night. 
 
 " This insolent speech, uttered by the leader of the party, 
 a powerful and athletic Indian, aroused the indignation of 
 AVingenund : his eyes flashed fire, and his followers saw that 
 the warrior spirit of his early days was rekindled within him. 
 Ordering them to unsling and level their rifles, but not to fire 
 until he gave the word, he drew near to the leader of the 
 party, and in a stern voice desired him to restore the plunder 
 and give up the murderer of the Delaware youth. The reply 
 was a shout of defiance ; and a blow levelled at his head, which 
 he parried with his rifle, and, with a heavy stroke from its 
 butt, levelled his antagonist on the ground ; then, swift as a 
 panther's spring, he leaped upon the fallen Indian's chest, and 
 held a dagger to his throat. 
 
 " Panic-struck by the discomfiture of their leader, and by 
 the resolute and determined attitude of the Delawares, the 
 marauders entreated that his life might be spared, promising 
 to give all the redress required ; and on the same day Winge- 
 nund returned to his village, bringing with him the recovered 
 horses and cattle, and the Indian charged with the murder, 
 whom he would not allow to be punished according to the 
 Delaware notions of retributive justice, but sent him to be 
 tried at a circuit court then sitting near St. Charles's. This 
 exploit has completely established our young friend's authority 
 among his people, some of whom were, if the truth must be 
 told, rather disposed to despise the peaceful occupations that 
 he encouraged, and even to hint that his intercourse with the 
 missionary had quenched all manly spirit within him. You 
 will be surprised to hear that he has married Lita, who was 
 for a long while so deeply attached to his brother : even had 
 she been the wife of the latter, this would have been as con- 
 formable to Indian as to ancient Jewish usage. She now 
 speaks English intelligibly, and asked me a thousand questions 
 pp 2 
 
580 THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 
 
 about Prairie-bird. Fortunately, she had chosen a subject of 
 which I could never weary ; and I willingly replied to all her 
 inquiries : when I told her that her former mistress and 
 favourite had now three little ones, the eldest of whom was 
 able to run about from morning till night, and the youngest 
 named Wingenund, after her husband, tears of joy and of 
 awakened remembrance started in her eyes. 
 
 ff I understood her silent emotion, and loved her for it. 
 How changed is her countenance from the expression it wore 
 when I first saw it ! Then it was at one moment wild and 
 sad, like that of a captive pining for freedom ; at the next, 
 dark and piercing, like that of the daughter of some haughty 
 chief. Now you may read upon her face the gentle feelings 
 of the placid and contented wife. 
 
 tf When I left the village, Wingenund accompanied me for 
 many miles ; twice he stopped to take leave of me, when 
 some still unsatisfied inquiry respecting your Lucy or Prairie- 
 bird rose to his lips, and again he moved on. I can scarcely 
 remember that he uttered any distinct profession of his affec- 
 tion for any of us, and yet I saw that his heart was full ; and 
 what a heart it is, dear Edward ; fear, and falsehood, and self, 
 are all alike strangers there ! When at length we parted, he 
 pressed me in silence against his breast, wrung the hand of 
 Baptiste, and turned away with so rapid a stride, that one who 
 knew him not would have thought we had parted in anger. 
 
 " On reaching the summit of a hill whence I could com- 
 mand a few of the track that I had followed, I unslung my 
 telescope, and carefully surveying tne prairie to the westward, 
 I could distinguish, at a distance of several miles, Wingenund 
 seated under a stunted oak with his face buried in his hands, 
 and in an attitude of deep dejection. I could scarcely repress 
 a rising tear, for that youth has inherited all the affection that 
 I felt for him to whom I owe my Evelyn's life ! 
 , " Harry Gregson and his wife are very comfortably settled 
 here, and appear to be thriving in their worldly concerns. I 
 have been several times to his counting-house, and, from the 
 returns which he showed me, your investments in the fur- 
 trade, as well as in land, seemed to have been most successful. 
 
 " Jessie's looks are not quite so youthful as they were when 
 she was the belle of Marietta, but she has the beauty of un- 
 failing good-temper, which we Benedicts prize at a rate 
 
THE PRAIRIE-BIRD. 581 
 
 unknown to bachelors. Harry has promised to pay us a visit 
 this autumn ; he will be delighted with the new house that 
 you have built for his father, since his promotion to the rank 
 of captain. 
 
 " Perrot has found so many ' compatriots * here, that he 
 chatters from morning till night ; and his wonderful adven- 
 tures, by * flood and field,' both in Europe and the Western 
 Prairies, have rendered him at once the lion and the oracle of 
 the tavern at which we lodge. 
 
 " Distribute for me, with impartial justice, a thousand loves 
 among the dear ones in our family circle, and tell Evy that I 
 shall not write again, as I propose to follow my letter in the 
 course of a few days. 
 
 " Now and ever your affectionate brother, 
 
 "REGINALD BRANDON." 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON: 
 C. WHITING, BEAUFORT-HOUSE, DUKE-STHEET, LINCOLN'S-IXN-FIELDS. 
 
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