Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-07-07
CHAPTER XIV.
SCENE At THE IxDIAN VILLAGE

PsAt4t
What would Starlight and her cousin
of the "yandots DO p asked the chief,
coldly.
White Cloud and the maiden they call
Starlight do not like cruelty; they seek
to save this pale face captive from death,
replied Wassahauza
And was not Otter Litter worthy Of
the confidence of Star Light and White
Cloud 2 replied the chief, in tone of
mild reproach
'OtterIIifter Of the red race of she
CherDkees is humane but this captive
was not taken by war party of his, and
be might have feared to offend the young
warriors who'brought her away from Har-
rodSburg,' answered Star Light
'Wassahauza speaks of fear when was
Otter Litter afraid When did he fail
to raise his voice against cruelty Who
can say that he ever tortured prisoner,
or made war on women aud children p
Not a person living said the chief, with
dignity.
Then, why does such gentle hearted
leader stand still when his help is needed
Does be not see this trembling girl suffer
ing the errors Of death Has he not
a hand to use, as well as tongue to talk q
exclaimed Starlight
The speech of Star Light is bitter
she wounds the heart of the chieftain
who is ready to die in her service re-
turned Otter-Lifter, mourufully.
My fair cousin means not to wrong her
friend the bold Otter LITTER. She speaks
thus because the danger is pressing said
Rosalthe
The Cherokee chief gave Rosalthe a
searching glance while she was speaking
Fanny Harrod had recovered her con
sciousuess. aud stood holding TO Star
Light and our heroine, awaiting with feel
ines which cannot be described the decis-
ion of her fate Hope and fear struggled
by turns In her bosom. aud held her in
the chains of suspense too dreadful TO i'm
agine When Rosalthe had first seen
her in the lodge, she had resigned herself
with the calmness Of despair to the doom
which appeared inevitable; but since u
ray of hope had reached her. the love of
life had returned with ali its legitimate
power
Miss Harrod was by no means a weak,
irresolute character but her position, it
VIII be perceived, was one to try the
strongest nerves; for there were bat two
sides to the momentous question. The
dark side was uhrelieved by single ray
of sunshine-it was to return and meet
death by a process from which the most
firmly organized mind shrinks with a
shivcr of inexpressible horror the other
side of the subject was life and all it's
sweet eujoyments
She fixed her burning eyes on the plac-
id face Of Otter Litter in silent agony of
spirit; for she felt, and truly, that it was
he who was to decide her fate. There
was short period IN which no words
were spoken The captive read no emo
tions of pity in the features of the chief
he gave back her appealing look with one
apparently as impasslve as hers had been
earnest A faint smile at length played
over his lips; be spoke, and Fanny and
Rosalthe beut forward to catch his words
with brcathless attention.
This white maiden, be said. slowly.
this white maiden is
Is what}' exclaimed Rosalthe no Ion
ger able to control her intense anxiety.
Is condemned to death added the
chief, in the same tone.
Heaven preserve my senses - murmur-
ed Rosalthe to herself
Yes. the Pale Lilly has been condemn
ed to death by the ordeal of fire but
What = cried Rosalthe, with quivering
lip aud trembling voice
But size saaHLtre p added Otter LITTER.
1t is well, said Starlight, loftily.
'She shall live repeated the chief even
if the sum Of her freedom be the life Of
Otter Litter Yes he viii perish, before
- / r 1 L. 4 I
By the devouring fire
The chieftain paused, aud turning moro
fully toward Star Light, asked
IS it enough 2
1T is enough, replied the Indian girl.
This way continued Otter-Lifter. The
latter moved on, aud the three maidens
followed him without question. Leaving
the little village be led the way to the
deep and dark forest through the umbrage
of which the pale moonlight with difficult
ty crept lie stopped at length a few hun.
dred yards from the encampment
Stay here be said, till / return and
Immediately left them
Rosathe was now about TO reveal her-
self to Miss HarrOd. but Star Light stern
ly bade her to be silent.
If you would save her be silent, she
said
Though this was a restraint which she
could not bear without much effort, she
felt the necessity Of obedience Fanny
Harrod was an intimate and valued friend
and she Ionged to throw herself into her
arms and tell her ali but that could not
be thought of under the circumstances in
which she was placed
Miss Harrod, who now began to feel
somewhat assured Gf escape, felt strong
desire to know who the delicate Indian
girl was who had embraced her aud called
her By name.
The time Of Otter Lifters absence
seemed long indeed to the expeetant cap
tive. 4 thousand fears and Wild conjec-
lures had birth in her mind Perhaps
the chief had been detected in his purpose
and the plan had failed. 1t was possibls
that be had not sufficient influence among
the other chiefs and warriors to save her,
r IL