Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-03-28
1SDAY MORNING, MARCH %, 1855.
After time the Indian girl touched his

i After time the Indian girl touched his
arm.
is not that canoe % she asked, d.
recting his attention to some object on the
| shore they had SO recently left.
/" 1t is Abankee! We are pursued; we
have been watched, y rejoined the chief in
some alarm. Lie down in the canoe,
he added, "and they will think I am
alone"
Mahala did as she was requested, and
put up prayer to the Great Spirit for
, assistance.
The canoe on the bank was now in mo.
ton, and kept steadily on in the course
the lovers were pursuing; but it was more
heavily freighted and not be propelled so
rapidly as their own. 1t was obvious,
however, that the pursuers were in earn
nest, and that they had everything to
dread.
Big Cloud strained every nerve, and
his trembling companion only regretted
her inability to assist him. One thing fa-
vored them. a curve in the river would,
: for some fifteen minutes, conceal them
from sight, when the chief who had a pur,
pose in view, hoped to successfully evade
his enemies. In moment they were
around the curve, their pursuers far be
hind; but instead of padding for the
shore, Big Cloud turned his prov toward
the cataract below
Like an arrow they sped down the
i swift current for a few moment, and Ma
haa by sudden turn, was sensible that
an other direction had been taken. So
it was, and few more vigorous paddles
brought them to the mouth of cavern
Chen upon the waters brink,) when Big
! Cloud, taking the astonished but pas
slve maiden in Ills affds. leaped ashore,
drawing the light canoe after him.
We are safe p he whispered, as he
drew lack to replace the bushes they had
! disturbed. " Abankee NAV row as hard
as he wishes !" And the chief laughed
triumphantly.
4 just at that moment the other canoe
darted around the bend. and were evident
4 ly unable to account for the sudden dis
appearance Of the fugitives They look
ed about hurriedly, and then padded
cautiously toward the falls, as if sure that
the lovers had gone together, in prefer
ence to their being overtaken and sepera-
ted. OfcourSe nothing more could be done,
and they disappointedly turned their
course homeward But how happened ii
that Big Cloud knew of this cavern, the
rest of his people beiag ignorant of it p
We will explain.
4 One day while padding about eisurely
in the vicinity, thinking Of Mahala his
!, rival, the old chiefs opposition, arid what
might ultimately result from it, his atten-
ton was attracted to the spot by seeing
a small animal, of some species, abruptly
disappear, while standing upon what APP
peared to be solid rock. Prompted by
curiosity he went nearer, and was so sue
cessful as to discover an opening.
He entered, and to his surprise found
) there was ample room for several persons
within. He was satisfied that none of his
people knew of its existence, and in an in
slant his mind caught at the idea that it
might, at some time, prove of greatbene6t
to him. Perhaps he included the maiden
whom he loved; but be that as it may he
privately conveyed there number of nice
skins, provisions. etc, in case an emergen-
Icy might occur Of this nature.
AS we have seen, his forethought was
wise. He had not even forgotten the ma
terials for fire, and cheerful blaze soon
made their retreat look comfortable. Ma
hala who had been shaking with fear and
suspense, now felt assured by the protest
ations of Big Cloud that danger was no
longer to be apprehended, and looked
4 about her with interest.
i As her eyes rested upon the skins, the
mats, and the venison he had provided, in
Guiding other things which affection had
} suggested, her heart overfowed with JOY.
The maiden wept; but they were not tears
ofregret. She would not have recalled
/ her decision had she been able to do so.
She had given her heart pnlrescrvedlv to
Big Cloud. and she trusted implicitly
Among her people. the acceptance Of the
I husband by the party most interested, con-
: stituted the only marriage ceremony, and
in the sight of the Great Spirit she was
s his wife.
Days passed away, and though Mahala
pined a little for the fresh air and bright
} sunlight, she was happy in her love. In
j, the night time the chief was able to leave
the cavern, seek the western shore Of the
river, and return with whatever was
} needed.
One night after an excursion of this
Kind, Big Cloud neglected to conceal the
canoe, as usual, and Abaukee, who was
: out hunting on the southern hills, saw the
frail vessel. 1t was calm, clear. even
i ing, and the full moon shone so brightly
he could not be mistaken in the outlines
of the object.
a thought flashed through the mind Of
! the thwarted lover. The canoe was near
J, the place where Big Cloud and his com
panion had SO nysteriously vanished, and
it might be that they were concealed some,
) where in the vicinity. One idea suggest
Il ed another, and not many minutes elapsed
before Abankee was padding over the
placid river.
| With an arm as strong, and skill as ac-