Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-12

'Silver Bird would rather dig grave in the
snow, and lie down in it and die, than go but
the Great Spirit would be angry then, and not
receive her to his Summer Land.''
" Is there no other warrior among the tribe
to whose wigwam you had rather go?"
"None," and as Ernest continued silent, she
soon asked: I" Does my brother blame Silver
Bird for being sad?"
"No; oh, no; but was thinking. Do
you know what the chief will do with me when
he returns?"
She seemed troubled at this question, and
Ernest seeing it, continued
Will he not let me 60 back to my friends? p
She shook her head :
''Then must make my escape before they
come
"No, brother, Silver Bird will not let them
take your life, and you can be happy to live
here.'
Never, Silver Bird. | cannot be happy
here, and shall CO."
6" No, my brother must not do that. Say
you will not do that " she exclaimed, greatly
distressed
&C But cannot stay. You would not be hap
py to be taken away from all you loved, and
carried to live with strangers, and told that you
must always remain there. You would escape,
Silver Bird, know you would if you could"
At this she seemed to reflect awhile, and then
said sadly,
" Brother shall go to his home, but he must
wait awhile
" Why waltz
" Because while the snow is on the ground
he could be traced, and Soonsectah would send
the warriors after him. and when they brought
him back, Silver Bird could not save him then. P"
{" But they would not overtake me.'
"They would. 1t must not be. Promise
that you will not 60, brother, till Silver Bird
tells you it is safe. When the snow melts
away you shall take my canoe and go down
q the river, and they will not find you. Oh,
promise, brother" and she looked up 50 plead
, ingly into his face that he said,
{" promise"
The light came back to her face again, and
she said,
"Tallayna told Soonseetah if you got away
before he came back, she should die; and you
4 could not escape her. You must talk as if you
o would not go back, if you could, and by-and-
e by, when they think so, they will cease to
d watch you, and then you shall 60"
: After this Ernest followed the plan, and he
soon saw that it was taking effect, and on the
i return of the warriors, some weeks after, he
was allowed to go about the village.
80 Tallayna had not come back with the chief,
II having gone farther; but they said he would
,f soon be back. 1t was not until the last of
70 March that he came, flushed with success, and
o. eager to claim his promised bride. Tho day
II after his return the old chief was taken sick,
n.y. and Silver Bird persuaded him that none of the
of maidens could nurse him like herself, and thus
rt Tallayna was obliged to be content till the chief
Vi should recover. The snow was fast disappear
,t ing, and together with waiting on her father
10 Silver Bird had another object to take up heI
III mind. The summer before, she had discovered
"a small cave on the bank of the Connecticut
ps about half mile from the village, and the en-
trance to it was nearly concealed by some small
r evergreen trees-a great many growing on the
n bank. By obtaining pieces of bark the color
tb of the ground, she succeeded In hiding all ira
is ces from view. Here, under cover of night
ID she carried provisions and other articles tina
" she thought Ernest might need, for as she haC
never disclosed the knowledge of this place to- any
he one, she intended to conceal him here, ant
he then after the search she knew would be mad
H. for him was over, he could easily take he
ed beautifully painted canoe and go down tn
he river. Hardly had she completed these prepa
all rations, when her father began to grow worse
in spite of her skill, and she was considere
st very skillful by all the tribe, and she felt tina
90 he would die.
M Tallayna, alarmed by the frequent visits c
100. Ernest to the chiefs wigwam, reflected that
no, the old chief should die before he obtaine
Silver Bird, he might have some difficulty
'" Ernest, and he began to fear she already did,
Avn He accordingly sought the chief one day, an
wv demanded his bride.
'"' Wait" said the chief, "untl | am deat
'"' l cannot spare her now but when am gor
you shall have her,
nav They conversed in the Indian tongue, but v
''' will relate it in English.
+" But" said Tallayna, " she does not To-
"'0 me. She has turned from my love to that
:, your captive and when you are dead, the
will be no one to make her become mine, al
no' thus shall lose her,
" Silver Bird will not refuse to wed you
not fear''
"Then give her to me now, or else give 1
leave to destroy the captive"
Then take the captive" said the Chief
he found that he loved his daughter too w
to spare her in his last moments, I" but wait u
' til tomorrow, and perhaps shall be dead the
and if Silver Bird consents to have you, ant
think she will, there will be no need of taxi
his life"
ho' Silver Bird had heard all this unknown
Tallayna, and she felt that the time had con
oons When Ernest came that day, she found occas
MIN to tell him she should come for him that mig
IN and he must not sleep; but when he heard
step by the door of the wigwam he must co
out. 1t was not till near midnight that her
ther slept so she could leave him. Then
oid FASTENED to Ernest, and soon after she left |
OF in tho hiding place, saying,
"When the search is over for you, Sill