The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-28
RAVENNA. SATURDAY, JULY 2S, 1855.

"These yur heathsns must intend cookin'
us, for the wimin are lookin' out chice bits
a reedy."
The Indians conducted them to one of
the principal lodges, where they were as
signed mats to rest Upon. It was huge
cone-like tent, thirty feet high, covered en-
tirely with Buffalo hides. A fire burned in
the centre, beneath large cauldron, and
the smoke curling upward found vent through
an opening in the apex of the lodge A
wlthered looking squaw was the presiding
deity at this altar, and as they entered, she
ceased from her labor of feeding the fire,
to survey the persons of the captive white
men.
"Old CONAN, you're a beauty-you are,
you cussed old rip!" said Harry whispering
in the ear Of the crone.
She opened her mouth, with the familiar
ity, and chuckling in a horrid attempt at
laugh, murmured ali ineligible response
through her decayed teeth. Having thrown
themselves upon their pallets, the prison.
ers quietly watched the preparations for
supper. AS they thus reclined, numbers of
the tribe, both male and female, entered to
survey them. Among this crowd of gazers
were two sisters, who looked on Harry and
his companion will more than a feeling Of
idle curiosity-their countenances betrayed
pleasing interest. They were graceful in
form, clad with taste, and their dark hair
confined by head band, hung flowing like
mantle over their brown shoulders. Be-
meath their light deerskin robes beat SYM
pathizing hearts, and urged by pity, they
gazed intently upon the PROSTATE forms of
the two trappers; at length Harry noticed
them, and turning to his desponding com.
panion, he exclaimed:-
'I'll swar, you're in luck"
"IfI am should like to see it," answer
ed Murtel, mournfully.
"Well. look thar and see that Ingn gal,
how she's eye'n on you. Eff I'm any Judge
she's of one of the first families as tina say
in Old Varginny, and eff you can get the soft
side of her We'll git out'n this fix, sartin.
"The one beside her is staring as fixedly
at you," replied Murtel.
"Ef she kin see anythin' handsome in me,
I'm agreeable" says Harry, " and yur goes
to improve furst Impressions"
Following up this expressed purpose, Har-
ry winked at the youngest one of the girls,
upon which she, smiling, hid her face be-
hind her sister. The Englishman, improv-
ing the opportunity, kissed his hand to the
eldest, and she, her eyes sparkling with
pleasure, turned to the other, whispered
something in her ear, and both Immediately
disappeared.
"Thar, krow'd you'd frighten 'em!" ex-
claimed the Kentuckian, "why in thunder
did you sign fur 'em to clar out!"
"I saw light in that tallest ones eye
not to be Mistaken" cried Murtel; sit spoke
compassion and pity, which are akin to love,
and that simple motion of mine has called
these better impulses into activity"
81 should like desp'rate we'll to know,
them" said Harry, "what my wink has done
with the youngest"
"Kindled a fire in the dusky maiden's
heart" was his companions answer.
81 amt done no thing SO savage" said he,
"and eff you please, don't talk no more a.
bout that element, its so cussed near that its
gettin' to be warm subject"
at is horrid one," said Ned, "but we
will think of it no more, let US rather think
of escape"
"Pm agreed to think Of anything that's
pleasin'," answered Harry mournfully, "let's
think of that thar old cook"
Murtel turned from his reckless compan-
ion with a shudder at his untimely jests.-
The evening meal was now announced ready
by the old crone, and straight the Indians
belonging to the lodge gathered around the
smoking contents of the cauldron. Each
dipping portion into wooden plates. retired
to their mats, and with a righteousness
equal to the animals which roamed wildly
around them, they devoured the food. The
prisoners, with the rest, had share allotted
to them, and the composition of the stew i'm
mediatey became subject of discussion
between them, While Murtel contended
that it was buffalo, Harry avowed it was
young dog, and to prove his assertion fished
in the dish until he drew up the paw of a
six months old. Here Murtel gave up the
point and his dish at the same time. Harry
was too old trapper to finch at such dis
covery; on the contrary, he quietly finished
his meal and rolled over on his mat to sleep.
Two of the Indians now placed long withes
across the bodies of the trappers, and laying
their mats on either end, bestowed themselv.
es upon them as guards; others lay down
across the entrance, while the regular ten
ants of the lodge, male and female, ranged
themselves upon rude hammocks tied to the
lodge poles which supported the structure
All but the prisoners were soon wrapped in
sleep. Hope had whispered to their hearts
that the Indian maids would in some way re-
lease them; how, they had not the least ldea'
but they long and anxiously watched fol
some sign from them. Murtel persuaded
himself that they would cut an opening II
l H. L.