The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-28
THE
BRIDE OF DACOTAn.
A TALE OF THE DELAWAKES.
CHAPTER II.

-. -, ,.o,, auough to penetrate those
80 ids or TO pass the phala1x Of those
;,,a,n,;,able trees but downward through |
,ha Isafv ,ops stole the reflected rays, ting
inc the messy carpet of she forest with rosy |
hue. At this early dawning OF the day all |
Nature seemed to be rousing ftom samber. |
The voices of birds were heard chirruping
forth their salutations from the green puma
Giles where they had made their nests the
brown squirrel hoped from branch to
branch, defiant In q liberty yet never inva-
ded while now and then shame faced
wolf trotted back TO his lair, as if his preda
tory deeds we're not intended for the garish
light Of day.
OF a sudden, new life was infused into the
scene. Bounding by, with the rapidity OF
lightning, came a stately elk. No race
horse flying to the goal, no greyhound,
whose leash has been slipped upon hare,
ever ran with greater good will than dld
this falow beauty. And the reason OF MS
haste was evident; he was running Tor no
less a stake than bis life. Scarcely had ne
passed when his Indian pursuers came IN
sight, mounted on fleet horses, ana .he
foremost of the party was the war entei'
Daoa,.h He was dressed as on the proceed |
inc evepiug. and was furnished with rifle, |
fashion. There was also something of a
iauuty gallantry in his manner, which
sho wed that he was not forgetful of the hap
piness which few hours were to bring him.
The party had in fact ridden out, in accord
ance with their previous arrangements, to
kill 40 elk. for the celebration OF his we'd
ding with Rosy Morn and the stag bound
ing through the forest was the victim select
ed for the purpose. It was Dacotah's secret
desire that he might Stay with his own hands
the noble game. He was keen huntsman,
and alive to all the tricks aud chances of the
chase. As he saw the direction the elk was
taking, he perceived at once that it would
be im possible to bring him down by keeping
directly in his track; for Dacotah, who
knew the ground well, was aware that
river, deep and rapid, crossed the course at
a point very close TO where they then were
ana experience led him to suppose that
rather than stand at bay, the animal would
attempt to swim ii; and this, if possible, 1t
would be necessary to prevent.
Directing the others to follow on the
track of the elk, Dacotah rode
straight for the stream, striking 1t al
point where the bunk was almost
level with the hurrying waters. BY
diut of strong swimming his horse
bore him safely to the opposite bank, but
some distance farther down, for the
current was very rapid. Emerged from
the water. the chief looked 10 the
printing Of his gun, and found that 1t was
quite dry, for he had held 1t high
above mis- head during the crossing. Urging
his horse, he now assembled the rugged slope
OF a cliff overhanging the water, whence he
could obtain view OF the surrounding
landscape, and would probably be able to
ascertain the precise place at which the stag
would essay the ferry. The cliff on which
be stood had It's exact prototype on the op
pos.te side of the stream, which was here
some eighty feet wide. 1t seemed as If the
two eminences had been originally one and
the same rock, split by e CONFUSION, and
torn asunder to leave passage for the
torrent. What was the surprise OF Dacotah.
OIL looking for signs of the chase, to observe,
on the very cliff opposite TO his own, the
noble form of the stag standing IN GREATNESS
fear, as if doubtful of its next movement.
The Young chief, anxious 10 obtain Tor him
self the honors of this day sport, had larry
circumvented the Stag, and the opportunity
was too good one to be lost With com
pgacent triumph he observed the rest of the
party closing upon the track OF the elk, and
reflected how they would be disappointed to
see the animal fall by his shot at the very
moment when their own pieces were leveled
TO bring him down. Should the stag, how
ever; succeed in taking the water, 1t would
be disgrace to him, for he had appointed
himself sentinel to prevent against that very
contingency and 1t was more than probable
that owing to the swift current they would
be unable 10 regain the carcass
AS the Indians neared the spot where the
elk stood, Dacotah raised his rifle steadily
TO his shoulder, and, short as was the dis
lance. took long and careful aim. He
wished to kill the elk upon the spot By
planting bullet IN his heart; but the
movement had attracted the animals atten-
tisn; for these creatures are very inquisi
tive, and, their curiosity overcoming tnelI
fear they will brave any danger to CRAFTY
it. So it was that the elk, presenting his
bold breast to the muZzle OF Dacotahs rifle,
stared at him with q peculiar and earnest
gaze, rendering the Indians opportunity for
aiming longer and better than 1t would
otherwise have been. AS the hand that sci
dom erred was laid on the trigger, q loud
shout announced that the Delawares had
found their game again and, at the sound
of the human voice, the poor elk started ;
out tudt start InTt" Ouh tue tOh4o SO VI VIC 90
aimed at his heart 80 that it only struck and
grazed the shoulder. At the same instant
the stag leaped over the face of the cliff into
the water.
This was as unexpected b. Dacotah il
was ANNOYING to him. He had intended tc
gain the admiration and applause of nj:
warriors By entrapping and killing the game
which they had failed to follow up. To tbs
want of success of his shot must now be
attributed its loss; nay, had he not fired, il
would perhaps have been better, for 1t was
doubtless the lain of the slight wound
caused by the bullet, which had driven the
animal in desperation, to choose the plunge
in preference to facing the human foe. But
the Delaware chief was not one to forsake
his object easily. Seeing that the magnifi
cent stag had escaped it's pursuers, he deter
mined that he would yet show skill and
courage in the pursuit of it, and SO wipe ont
the stain which would otherwise rest on his
judgment Is hunter. This determination
was formed as the body of the elk disap-
peared with mighty splash beneath the
turbld surface OF the torrent. Urging his
reluctant horse to the edge of the cliff Da-
cotah pricked him In the hanks with the
SHARP point of his bowie knife, and, az tn.
noble head OF the elk, with ito broad aud
branching antlers, rose above surface of tbs
stream. another, and a louder plunge, tolc
the terrified beast that he was still pursued
From land chase it had become chas'
By water, in which the stag had little th'
advantage from the start he had obtained.
Before the leap, Dacotah had thrown hi
rifle TO the ground, and as he emerged iron
the fearful plunge, still seated on his horse
1t could DO seen that his right hand graspee
his formidable bowie knife, while the lief
kept possession of his horses reins. Th'
chase was coon In favor of the pursuer, fol-
though the stag was perhaps the faster swim
mer, he was somewhat exhausted, In add
ton to which the superior weight of the
horse and rider told to their advantage I'M
on the swift current. A stern chase is prov
erbially long one, and so Dacotah founc
it, but after swim Of about a hundred yard
he was sufficiently close upon the stag t
extend his hand with the intention of GRASP
ing it's horns and so arressing it's fur,he