Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-07
A Legend Of Niagara.
STORY OF INDIAN LOVE AND SACRIFICE.

ever set bis fatal foot in this country, all
the inland region, from what is now Cana
da to North Carolina, and westward from
central Pennsylvania to Michigan, was peo.
pied by the Iroquois nation while the AL
gonquins, or ojibways, occupied the coast
Of tho Atlantic, and the extreme north and
west, from labrador even 10 tue remote
bounds of Oregon. These were the two
great aboriginal races; all the minor tribes
being included therein. or their feuds and
hereditary hatred there are tnnumerable
traditions; but it is not my purpose to
speak of such. Mine is only story Of in
dividual passion, rivalry, and self-sacritice,
illustrative OF the great humanizing fact,
that even in savage life there may occur
deeds VIII ch equal in their involuntary he
roism some OF the most admired achieve
ments of classical antiquity.
The Iroquois were by far the more war
like and powerful of the two nations their
courage, rerccity and cruelty rendered them
victorious over all native antagonists
Among those who lived on the banks OF the
great Thunder Water, Niagara, were, prom
inent above all their ellow-braves, two
young warriors, known respectively as the
Agile Panther and the Three Bears, and al
so, in virtue of the strict friendship which
united them, as The Brothers, slteit no
blood relationship existed. The first owed
his name TO his extraordinary bodily activ-
| ity and prowess on the war-path; he could
run, row, swim, leap, and fight beyond all
rivalry-better even than his sworn friend
the Three Bears, who had earned his des-
| ignation by the honorable achievement OF
killing that number of formidable grizzlies
the monstrous claws of which formed a
triple collar round his neck. The Agile
Panther could boast no such decoration,
| but when his friend had been caI tured by
the Mohawks, and was in imminent danger
or torture and death, he alone had made a
secret expedition for the purpose OF rescu-
ing lin, and accomplished it by Staying
five of the hostile tribe in a single combat.
! His wigwam bad more scalps in it than
that of any other warrior or the Niagara
Iroquois.
Great was the friendship between The
Brothers. Together they traversed the
dense forest covering all the western or Ca
madam banks of the Thunder Water, hunt
ing the elk, the bear, aud the bison, the roe
aud the reindeer together they trapped
the fox, the rabbit and the beaver; togeth-
er they fished in the sah-sah- -je- wun, or rap
ids, or the great lakes Erie and Ontario |;
side by side they lay, in winter, on the
frozen surface of the water, their heads COW
cred with skins, spearing the salmon
through the air-holes With their barbed
al nd har lao
shoes on their feet, and danced or ran races,
emulaling the flight of tho shaw-shaw, or
swallow, in swiitness, Or engaged in play
ball on the ice. Their words were the same
at the council tire; they lived in the same
wigwam, and were inseparable.
What could occasion division and ss-
trangement-nay, strife and hatred-be-
tween such friends2 The old, old cause OF
conteDtlon-a woman. They loved the same
maiden, and henceforth were rivals and en-
emies.
There came from the lodges of the onon-
dagas young squaw, all of whose relations
had been killed by the Algonquins, who
had spared not even the women and chill
| dren. No drop OF her blood ran in tho
veins OF any living creature. She was slen-
der and shapely as the willow, with great
dark eyes, and black, flowing hair, fine and
silky as the golden tresses Of the maize, or
Indian corn. She had sweet, low voice,
musical as birds singing, or the ripping
OF the strsamlet 10 the nights of summer,
or the moon of straw berries. She was also
gentle and helpful, swim OF foot and nimble
Of fingers, and skilled in all The accomplish
menis of women. She could weave mats
of flags and rushes dress aud whiten skins
for tents and raiment; string in tho most
beautiful patterns the beads OF shell form
ing wampun make sugar from tho maple !;
dry, and pound into pemmican, the flesh OF
the deer or buffalo ; prepare and cook cakes
of maize or rice, and other Indian dainties.
From a rather terrified expression of coun-
tenance which she had on first joining the
tribe, In consequence of the dismal massa-
ere of her people, she was called the Start
led Fawn.
l have said that the two young warriors
loved the timid beauty of the Onondagas.
They had been indifferent to the hahdsonl-
est of all the young squaws OF their own
tribe; but the charms of the lovely strang-
er penetrated their hearts. They We'd with
each other in bringing to the tent of the
family, in which she was an adopted daugh-
ter, presents of game and birds and fish.
Her smile was to them 4 sunshine; her sor-
row as a cloud at noon but they were no
longer friends. The past was thing which
had not been. They lived in separate wig
vans, nor was the grass between them ev-
| al Inv tho Tread nj aaab sfharia
cassns. They hunted apart aud alone.
When they chanced 10 meet 1t was with
lowering and ayerled looks, and soon with
glances OF jealousy, hatred and defiance.
Only in ironry could they be mentioned by
their former name OF The Brothers.
OF her two suitors, the Startled Fawn
preferred the tall and handsome Three
Bears before the steiner and more redoubt-
able Agile Panther; he had not the fluent
tongue which, even in savage life, wins the
favor Of woman. He was u battle Scared
warrior, eloquent only at the council-fire.
The Three Bears, on the other hand, need
ed but the inspiration OF the most human
iZing passions TO become all that an Indian
maiden could desire. Very pleasant TO her
was the sound of his voice; but the iervid
regards of the Agile Panther frightened
her. Wherefore, he became savagely, ter
ribly jealous, and revolved evil thoughts in
his mind against his late friend and com
psnion.
There would, undoubtedly, have occur
red some bloody struggle between them, II
circumstances had not induced another ca
tastrophe. During the rivalry Of the two
warriors, and even before, various misfor-
tunes had befallen the Niagara Iroquols.