Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-14
trembling soul awaited judgment be-
fore higher tribunal.

|
pallid face of the boy, who was still
lying at little distance, with his head
resting against the trunk of tree.
Repeating his favorite expression,
he retreated beyond the eyes of the
boy, that even appeared to him to be
reading his guilty soul, communed
with himself for a long time, and then
finding that John Manning Che bore
| disappeared he started forth, mounted
his horse, and rode out of town, with
his customary dignifed bearing and
not-to-be read face, when he chose to
conceal his emotions.
But 1t was no patient that had called
him from his comfortable office, as
soon became apparent; for. turning
aside from the vicinity of the sparse
settlements. he struck into q wooded
path, and went on until he reached a
little group OF wigwams Of tho Indians,
one Of whom--a sachem, by the eagle
pltsmes twined with his scalp lock-he
familiarly addressed and motioned
aside, SO that he could converse with
him unheard
1.-The medicine of tho pale-faces
wants more of the roots that grow in
tho deep swamps ?" said the Indian,
guostioningly.
"Ycs, though not to-day. Youknow
the boy that is constantly following
and teasing me. I want You to take
him out Of my sight. Do you under
stand o.
Yes" and tho savage drew his
scalping knife from his bolt sufficient
~ to show the shining blade and the
keen edge.
mo, no, Not in that manner, was
the hurried answer
"Then the trail is dark. The pale
medicine must clear it so that the rcd
man can sec.
''1our people are soon going off on
your annual buffalo hunt, l presume. )"
The Indian bowed in affirmation,
crossed his arms upon his breast. stood
like bronzed statue and waited to
hear what more would be said.
Could you not take the boy with
you? I don't see any difficulty in it,
and well, you need not bring him back
again-can manage to trade him off
! with some distant tribe. believe you
often do such things with your cap
tives."
'The light is beginning to break
upon the trail" replied the Indian,
though scarcely moving a muscle of
his face.
"That's we'll. Now We understand
each other. When will YOU break
your encampment ?
when the moon is dark again.
LET me see. That will be in about
two weeks. Well, / suppose [ shall
| have to get along with the troublesome
brat somehow until that time"
very soon, and the sguaws and papooses
| viii follow"
"Ah. How soon =
''All are ready but me-
What keeps you?"
The rest arC mounted My pony
/ died last night. Tho trail is very long,
and my moccasins would wear out and
/ my feet become sore should seek to
| keep up with them AD.' he turned
his eyes 10 where the horse of the phv-
sician waS standing. "Yes, yes. 7 see.
If give you the horse, you viii take
| care that the hey posters lae 10 moro
! that ne never returns g
! The word Of Big Elk has never
been hrakel.. His tongue never les
| D0s4s the pale medicine not know this :?
I and he looked III q manner that would
have made Il denial somew hat danger
| Gus
YES you have dealt squarelv witt.
| ut., | own, and II YOU still continue TO
! DO SO, will not be the loser Nou want
| the llorse-he 5 Il good one and Will
carry You fast and far--and l want to
be clear Ok the boy. That's :, iair trade
So il ! happen TO find the stable door
open and the steed gone / shall ask no
questions. But when shall the matter
be finished ?"
The pale viii 60 on foot when the
sun shines again, OF get another horse, -
replied the Indian. permitting the stern
lines about his mouth 10 relax ,i.lto
something like smile.
Tomorrow ? So soon WHY.
how you do Jump at conclusions. No
matter, Ii shall be is you wish, and
the fact is, that tho thing shall be done
quietly, without noise, or coming TO
the knowledge OF any one.
The footsteps Of Maple Leaf are
soft as the falling OF snowflake"
"Nhat has Your daughter 10 dowith
it"
Tho boy OF The pale faces and the
child of the red men are friends. She
viii I,lpe him into the forest, and none
OF his people shall know that hc has
gone"
"a capital plan You well deserve
Your reputation for wisdom, Big Elk. y
lis there anything" asked the In
dian, ,cptirelyignorinS the compliment,
1.-The pale mcdicine would like to have
from the country where the Gral,nd
tremblcs as the herds OF buffalo pass
over 1t.
81 don't know, Let me sec p
He who cures the sick Of his spcople
loves To study tho nature of serpents
and test their pOisOns.
SO do Are there any different
! ones where you are going from wn2t
we have about here? ?"
''Some. But the rattlcsnake of the
mountains are as kings to those that
hive in the prairie.
THAT l have heard. Yes, bring Inc
tbs, largest you can tind. Mind, how.
ever, that vou knock its teeth out
1t shall be so harmless that 81 p.s-
poose could play with it in safety"
That settles the matter. Mind
YOU make sure tha* ahe boy don't re-
turn, and when Nolt come back I'll
find means to flrtheI, satisfy yo,l fol
: al Your trouble.
With Il few words more the physl-
= cian departed, fully satisfied with the
| result OF his mission, except that he
begrudged the valuable horse he had
been forced to part with, not daring
. to question the terms so plainly lfn.
piled by his savage confederate
Tho Indian watched until he had
entirely disappeared, and then sought
, his daughter and whispered few
words in her ear. To hear a command
was to obey; and that afternoon tht
obnoxions boy was tempted to the for
:. est,-te,npted to pass the night there
! and to join the Indians upon their dis
tant Journey. Abused and homeless
as he WAS, this did not prove Difficult
. task, especially with the prospect of {
great buffalo hunt before him.
. Provided with pony by the Indian
and constantly influenced by the youn:
squaw, he came to lose, in a great de
/ gree, his remembrance of wrongs ant
= his love for civilized life; and afte
wandering with the tribe for severa
| vaarS u.r ndonfa6 into it-aI0nfp(