The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-15


above the blast, while the bear uttered {
terrible howl and then sank upon tn,
snow with means almost human in theil
tones.
The Indian threw himself fiat upor
the side of the beast, and awaited fur
ther developments. In moment after
a man strobe up to the spot, and bent
over the bear. Life was not yet extinct
and so n knife was driven deep into his
heart. AS the man gazed upon the rec
blood as it gushed forth, he muttered
" L would that crimson came from the
head of Whirlwind Screaming Moses,
as he is called hereabouts. But it shall
be the same with him. Once | have
caught sight of him to day, and L was
on the point of sending bullet crash
ing through his brain but L would not
| do it. He must know by whose hand he
dies, and that death must be lingering
one-full of torture. And he must know
that the Wild Flower yet lives, and that
she is i'll my power.
The words were spoken in the most
perfect English, and there was bitter
ness in them which even surpassed their
import. When the Indian first heard
]
that he was scarcely able tc move. But
he soon recovered himself and the fires
of deadly hate and vengeance which
burned in his heart gave him the fierce
ness of tiger, as he leaped to his feet,
and sprang upon his foe. SO sudden
was the attack, that the stranger was
hurled upon his back, and the Indian
was astride him, holding gittering
knife to his throat, even before he had
time TO use his own weapon, or make the
slightest resistance. Moses gave utter
ance to shrek, which made the forest
echo again, and then he hissed these
words through his teeth:
"Jo Milburn, it was just such night
as this, fifteen years ago, that you came
upon my cabin. The red blood ran like
water, and the red flame crackled until
| became homeless. You were the
leader of the fiendish band who did that
fearful work.
You deserved it, for youwere rene
gade," growled Milbun.
"You speak falsely, for was no rene
gade. Once | was the chief of my tribe,
and they obeyed me. The pale. face
came among us, yourself with the others.
Soon | found that my people were be-
coming discontented. They thirsted for
the white mans blood You set them
on. l could see no reason why my pale
brothers should die, and SO l prevented
a general slaughter. The settlers were
grateful, and one of them gave me his
child as my bride. She was blue-eyed,
tender being of Is, and / loved her with
all my Indian heart and soul. 1t was on
account of this marriage, and my desire
to settle down into civilized life, that you
call me renegade.
The act made you so.
"But it did not make you the leader
OF my band, or give you the right to
murder my loved ones and destroy my
house."
I" L have not murdered your wife. "
$50 l learned by the words 1 overheard
you utter just now. l have always
thought you did, and for fifteen years |
have mourned her us lost. During that
time, too, L have constantly sought for
you, but until this moment | have never
been able to find you. Now You throw
yourself in my way, and your doom is
sealed. But first, tell me where l shall
find my wife-my Wild Flower"
"Alivei alive take him alive !"
shrieked Milburn, and then a fendish
laugh burst from his lips.
This was caused from the fact that
half -a-dozen savages had cautiously app
preached, and their knives were raised
over the head of Moses, as if about to be
plunged into his body. The words of
the white renegade were about to be
obeyed, and the former chief was seized,
and, in spite of his struggles, disarmed,
and firmly bound.
Milburn began to rave in his triumph.
He brandished his weapons in the face of
his former captain, and even inflicted
upon him a severe cut. He also gave
his enemy several kicks and blows, treat
ing him in most brutal manner, all of
which the Indian bore without even a
groan, although his eyes flashed fire and
his breast heaved with the intensity of
purpose of Milburn to kill his victim
then and there, for he had other plans
in view. In short time the bear was
dressed, a fire made, and some steaks
broiled, Milburn and his followers MAX
ing hearty meal, of which poor Moses
remained only spectator. After the re-
past was over, the party started off tow
ard the Hudson, dragging their victim
after them. They did not observe that
deeper in the forest there was single
human figure, and pair of dark eyes
watching them.
All that night the march was contin-
ued, and, with intervals of rest, until the
following night. BY this time the river
was reached, and out into the middle of
the Hudson the captive was taken over
the solid ice. He could not divine the
intention of his captor for in the middle
of the stream he halted, and then gave
some orders to his men, who at once set
to work to obey them. With tEeir hatch
cts IA hole but little larger than a mans
body was cut through the ice, and then
Moses was plunged into it, his head,
however, still remaining above the sur
face. Here he was secured in such
manner that he could not sink, neither
could he escape frcm his horrible posi-
ton. He could gaze around and see all
that was passing, but his eyes must soon
lose their power, as the water was chilling
him TO the very heart.
IA l.. -, g