Nebraska advertiser., 1864-07-02
gr1eet GaIe.
Ir From Balou's Dollar Monthly.
THE TRAPPERS PERIL. I
ALEGEED OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
BY VIZ n. BUSHNELL.
CHAPTER II.

| Near where the swift-rolling Kaman
i Isuoue empues itself into the iae
so many mouths that the stranger is ofleI
lost ia their windings, and seeks in vail
for the main stream, was the home camp
ling ground of the ojibwsys. Upon th'
very spot where their wigwams were
built. standing in picturesque confusion
about, is now Fort William, one of ih'
frontier trading posts of that graspins
monopoly, the Hudson Bay Company =
From the labors and excitement of tht
hunt, or the more dangerous path of war
Ethhher the chiefs returned to rest. feas
and offer sacrifices 10 the Manitou-
waited upon by their wives and daughters
who we're very slaves totheir lords and
psrents-hewers Of wood and drawers oil
water, and uncompiaining dFOd ges in all
menial offices.
The Acknowledged beauty Of thetribe
for the savage heart bows in as great
| if not greater devotion to one Thus gifted
than their more cultivated Br5,tersA-was
the daughter and only living Child Of the
kgreat war.chief of the n1lion. Her
brothers bad passed from earth to the
shadowy land of spirits, on the bloody
path of battle, when the fire-weapons OF
the white man thinned their ranks, and
f,reshadowed the fate that should follow
fhem--total destruction Far and wide
had the fame of this forest belle spread,
and many warrior had sought, but in
vain, 10 mesh her heart in the rosy net
of love, and lure her to his wigwam 70
cook his venison and cUnninely embroider
his moccas ms and leggings. Bnl Fire
Ffv" as she had been named with The
red man's love Of the poetical in nomeh-
clature, was as yet heart whole. Per-
chance in her many visits with her la'heT
AZ the rapid of the SAUL de SLeg. Marie
(for he grea; chief was proudse'f his
beautiful child) and her consequent as
sociation in sone degree with the white
man, she had been strikingly impressed
with the different treatment of her sex
and so resolved never to own one Of her
tribe as master. No offerings hat had
ever been laid at the door of her wigwa m
had ever been taken in. and no brav
ever received smile of encouragement
When the bright sun Of morning fun :
its braided rays of gold. azure and v'r-
million over the dreamy landscape, gid.
ing the little wavelets of the river, ereer.
ing among The tangled bowers IF the am.
arack, throwing a halo around the lofy
mountain crests, and kissing the dewy
cups of the God cultured flowers. Fire.
Fiy issued from the screening eurtsins of
her lodge. Her tall, slender figure was
clad in the most snowily. dressed doe
skins, quill and wampum. worked and
bead fringed. Among the midnight bra d
of her hair single feather, torn from
the great war-eagle. was twined, and
dropped daintiIy over her shOulder-a
token of her rank
With light rapid step she threaded
her way through the encampment, and
sappeared in the thickets that formed
dark back ground 10 the scene. Secure
from prying eyes, after having wandered
far, she seated herself upon fallen tree,
and began weaving a basket of green
twigs and blood flowers of the
moisture loving larch. Communing with
her thoughts, and busy with her dainty
employment, hours passed without her
needing them, when suddenly raising heE
head, she saw the form of a huge bear
crowding its way along ard almost al her
side.
| Spring ing to her feet. she would have
sought safety in flight; bot her path was
Obstructed by the beast, and with a heart
born but unuttered prayer, she sank down
again hopeless and helpless. With the
calmness of despair she awaited death
coming, even as she knew it was. in the
most horrible form. But her torturing
suspense was but mnmentary, for tn
/ huge beast reared itself aloft, raising al
the same time its paws as in The act ia
strike. The head of Fire Fly sank upon
her knees. her eyes were covered with
her hands. but no stroke followed. A
few moments Of intene agony--An ago
nv that was more, terrible than death it.
self, and she sgain cautiously raised bel
eyes to solve the mystery
A war.fainted brave stood before her,
ard at bis feet, in many fold lay the
skin stripped frcm The fierce back bear
of The mountains.
"A-puk. ~ she exclaimed, starting
up in confusion, not unmixed wiih anger
al having, her privacy thus disturbed.
Fire Fly wanders far" was the eva
sivs reply.