Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-14


of saving his life, and had he not been
swayed far more than he would have
been willing to acknowledge by his
favorite daughter. s'+ 90 '-' .Gfaoe1
OF what had become of the detested
boy, DIR. Skinner never knew. The
| willy Indian effectuaIly blinded his
eyes when he visited, aud as years
passed even permitted the physician to
see him (among others of his ape and
rejoiced when he found that his dis
gu1se was not penetrated Yet the
| counterfeit Indian knew him well
enough, and all the old hatred aMoke
within his bosom, was Intensified by
the life he had led, and It was lucky
that the opportunity of revenge did
not offer. And yetit was eoming-was
very near. When Big Elk returned
from one of his annual visits to the
physician, his brow was clouded and
his heart filed with anger. He he'd
been coldly received, brutally treated,
bidden TO be gone for a miserable,
thieving Indian dog, when lie limited
that he should receive Il present (as
had always been the crlstom) for re-
moving the boy out of the way of the
great man. That he, Sachem of his
tribe, should be spoken to IN this man
ner, ranked within his soul, and he
pondered long upon tho course he
should follow. ----. -.
He saw clearly that the physician
would have nothing more to do with
him He had become very rich-tht.
power of the red man had been steadily
failing-the great white one couki
tra1nple him under his feet like dust,
and there would be none to forbid
Everything was for the one and against
the other, and Big Elk knew it would
not answer for him 10 attempt any
open revenge. Such Il thing, however,
was foreign to his nature. Like all OF
his race, he loved to lie IN ambush
until he could crush his enemy without
danger to himself.
For many hours he bitterly brooded
over the insults he had received, then
sought john Manning (who had grown
to the stature and almost years of Il
man), took him beyond the hearing of
all and poured venom into his ears,
and awoke again, in all his pristine
freshness the devilish fire that had
long slumbercd within his breast.
My son." said the Sachem, speak
ing after the manner of the elders of
his race, shave you forgotten the
home of your childhood, and he who
drove you from it as the fierce wolf
drives the deer?'
E'Ncvcr" was the curt reply.
''Then listen to me. The pale n,edi-
cine bribed me to lure you away, that
you might no longer trouble HIM with
your demands.
''For my right,'
"Aye. I did SO, and you have
grown into my heart like SON.
The boy shook with anger. and as
the Sachem paused, he laid his hand
in meaning manner upon his hatchet,
and asked?
"This?'
"No. Let your ears be open-your
heart-soft Us the soil OF the prairie in
the Spring time to receive, and hard
as is is in Winter to retain. He Of
whom we are speaking loves to study
the serpants that most men dread and
shun. In little box III the room
where he keeps his medicines LIE has
those I have brought him from year to
year, and he handles them as feare-
lessly and safely as he could the sting
less fishiog worm. He knows that
and the Indian dropped his voice into
a whisper and finished the sentence.
The boy started at the secret that
had been revealed to him, and smile
of Joy broke the usually stern lines
about his mouth-stern. for the sor-
rows OF his early youth and the habits
of reticence he had imbibed made him
much more SO than vas usually the
case with one of his age.
Il Will GO" he said at length. "Tt
viii not bring back to me the broad
lands know belong to me, but 1t viii
give me-
"Revenge." interrupted tho Indian,
breathing the word that Taa most deGr
to his savage heart.
Their consultation was continued for
some time. Then they separated, and
the boy stole away from The cncamp-
mont and h0stCne2 toward the village,
grown now SO that he could scarcely
find his way TO the pIace he sought
amid the many houses. But he did
so-found the abode Of Monroe Skin
ncr, watched his opportunity, and
creeping within the Office, deposited an
open vessel of water behind the
branches of feathery asparagus that
decorated the fireplace. Then Ike q
shadow he again departed, and no on"
knew either of his coming or going.
The next morning Doctor Skinner
was busy as usual IL his ofiice-even
moro so. Fc had professional friend
visiting him from the E1asr-one whom
he had not seen since they were st1i-
dents togctller-and was showing him
the curiosities he had collected, proudly
as be had done hisianIcd property and
stock.
s By the way" said he, after the sur
voy OF the room was finished. edo vor
take any interest in serpents? / have
some rare specimens that / have col.
lected from time to time, and among
them thc largest rattlcsnake I ever
saw. Nay, you need rot start there
is not the slightest danger. ] have
handled them for years without the
chance Of being poisoned, kDowing
what ] do
He opened the box IN which tbe.-
were confined, dragged them forth,
and IN n moment the ugly monsters
were wriggling about The floor.
This" he continued. taking up the
, largest, - IS King. An Indian brought
it 10 me from the Rocky Mountains."
BE careful, " was the reply Of bis,
friend, who shuddercd and drew away
al the sight. eft IS never safe to han
die such things"
80, pshawi I have done 30 a thou
sand times, and he continued tor
nenting it for time. Then his atten-
ton was called to other matters. He
put it down, and it crewled swiftly
away to join its companion lehind the
bushes in the chimney-the Doctor
muttering that it was a favorite place
with Them when n IaruC
/ The conversation flowed on with the
| olden times for n theme, and the ser
pent was forgotten until q patient de
manded the presence OF Doctor Skin
ner. Then he looked about him and
found them cooled upon the floor. One
after another be took mp and threw
them into their box, and receiving ss
| bite from several, and especially the
largest. But he only laughed al. the
fears of his companion.
| Their bite is harmless he said
s'I have tested it again and again. No
serpent can-O heaven how came this
| there 2" and he pointed to a -ittk,