The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-08-05


his age and now while the latter sat in per-
feet silence for several minutes, Wind-Foot
idly sported near him. II was solemn spot
in every direction around were towering pa
triarchs of the wilderness growing and de.
caying in solitude. At length the stranger
spoke: t f..........-.
+" Wind Foot"
The child who was but few yards of,
approached at the call AS he came near,
he stopped in alarm; his companions eyes
had that dreadfully bright glitter again----and
while they looked at each other terrible fore
bodings arose in the boys soul.
"Young chieftain," said the stranger, "you
must dieP' t ft-tt.
"The brave is in play," was the response.
"Wnd-Foot is little boy"
"Serpents are small at first" replied the
savage, j" but in few moons, they have
fangs and deadly poison. Harken, branch
from an evil root!-I am Kansi!-The
youth your parent spared in the forest has
now become a man. Warriors of his tribe
point TO him, and say, his fathers scalp
adorns the lodge Of the Unrelenting, but
the wigwam of the Kansi is re!-Wind-
Foet it must be bare no longer!"
The boys heart beat quckly-but beat
true to the stern courage of his ancestors.
81 am the son of Chief" he answered,
"my cheek cannot be wet with tears"
The Kansi looked at him a few seconds
with admiration, which soon gave way 10 ma
lignant scowls. Then producing from an
inner part of his dress wthe of some tough
bark, he stepped to Wind-Foot, and began
binding his hands. II was useless TO at
tempt resistance, for besides the disparity of
their strength, the boy was unarmed, while
the savage had at his waist Ratchet, and
rude stone weapon resembling poiniard.-
He pointed to Wind-Foot the direction he
must take, gave significant touch at his
girdle, and followed close on behind.
When the Unrelenting and his people
started to seek for the child and that fearful
stranger, they were lucky enough to find the
trail which the absent ones had made. None
except an Indians eye could have tracked
them by so slight and devious guide. But
the chiefs sight was sharp with parental love;
they followed on-winding on again-at
length coming to the fallen tree. The trail
was now less irregular, and they traversed
with greater rapidity. The direction SEEM
ed towards the shores of narrow lake
which lay adjacent to their territory. On
ward went they, and as the sun sank in the
west they saw his last fitting CLEANS re-
flected from the waters of the lake. The
grounds here were almost clear of trees; and
as they came out, the Uurelentng and his
warriors swept the range with their eyes.
Was it so indeed?-There, on the grass
not twenty yards from the shore, were the
persons they sought-and fastened near by
canoe. They saw from his posture that
the captive was bound; they saw, too, that
if the Kansi should once get him in the boat
and gain start for the opposite side where
very likely some of the tribe were waiting
for him, release would be impossible. For
moment only they paused. The Urelent-
ing sprang of, uttering the battle cry of his
tribe, and the rest joining in the terrible
chorus and followed him.
As the sudden sound was swept along by
the breeze to the Kansi's ear, he jumped 10
his feet, and with that wonderful selfposses-
sion which distinguishes his species, deter
mined at once what was safest and surest for
him to do. He seized Wind-Foot by the
shoulder, and ran towards the boat, holding
the boys person as a shield from any wca-
pons the pursuers might attempt to launch
after him. He still possessed the advantage
1t was fearful race; and the Unrelenting
felt his heart grow sick, as the Indian, dragg-
ing his child, approached the waters edge.
Turn, whelp of Kansi" the chief mady
cried. "Turn, thou whose coward arm war
rest against children! Turn if thou darest,
and meet the eye of full grown brave!
A loud taunting laugh was borne back
from his flying enemy to the ears of the
rurous father. The savage did not look
found, but twisted his left arm, and pointed
with his finger to Wind-Foot's throat. At
that moment he was within twice his length
of the canoe. The boy heard his fathers
voice and gathered his energies, faint and
bruised as he was, for last struggle. Vain
his efforts! for moment only he loosened
himself from the grip Of his foe, and fell to
the ground. That moment, however, was a
fatal one TO the Kansi With the speed of
lightning, the chiefs bow was up at his
shoulder-the cord twanged sharply-and a
poison tipped arrow sped through the air.
Faithful to the mission, it cleft the Indians
side, just as he was STOPPING 10 lift Wind
Foot in the boat He gave wild shrek
his blood spouted from the wound, and he
staggered down upon the sand. His strength,
however, was not yet gone. Hate and mea-
sureless revenge-the stronger they were
baffled, ragged within him, and shot through
F his eyes, CLASSY as they were beginning 10 be
with death-damps. Twisting his body like a
bruised snake, he worked himself close up
to the bandaged Wind-Foot. He felt to his
waistband and drew forth the weapon ofstone
He laughed a laugh of horrid triumph--hc
shouted aloud-he raised the weapon in the
-. md il,n don Ih ttlo co,,rdoI