Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-07
NO. II.

canoe, In which the victim was to accom-
plish his short and fatal voyage. II con-
tained r supply of food sufficient for four
days journey, and fuel for four night en-
campments, those being supposed the nee
essarlos for spirits passage 10 the happy
hunting grounds; together with warriors
weapons-his stone axe or tomahawk, his
spear with is head of sharpened flint, and
his tufted bow, and quiver full Of brilliant
ly-feathered arrows. Adjacent, in a semi
circle, sat the medcne-men, magicians,
and prophets, with their drums aud rattles,
ready to raise the death-wail, when the
Black Cloud severed the rope, and conf
miited the occupant of the canoe 10 his
fate.
The Three Bears came forth from his wig
wan, radiant, triumphant, for in accord
ance with the Indian ethics, he believed
that the least manifestation OF fear or unea-
siness would forfeit the favor OF the god,
and imperil his future happiness. He was
clad in the gayost OF Iroquois finery, wear
ing hunting shirt OF embroidered doe
skin, fringed with ermine and ornamented
with beads and the parti-colored quils of
the porcupine, and belted with gaudy wam-
pun. On his head was a crest OF eagles
feathers, and round his neck his triple col
lar Of bears claws. His leggings were
decorated with the hair of scalps, shells
and hedgehog quills, and his mecca assins of
buckskin, trimmed with martens fur, gilt
tered with beads like dew on the grass OF
the meadow. His face was also brilliantly
painted with stripes of blue and red and
yellow, as when upon the war-patb, or
adorned for some savage festival. The sag
es and warriors beheld him in grave ST.
lence, but the squaws and younger braves
could not repress cry of mingled admira-
tion and sympathy. 1t was not sweled by
the voice of lamentation from the Startled
Fawn. Grief-stricken and PROSTATE, she
secluded herself in her wigwam.
With look OF pride and lofty confidence
the Three Bears advanced towards the bank.
Suddenly there arose a confused murmur
and movement on The outer edge of the
throng 1t parted and made way for the
Agile Panther, also in the full costume OF a
warrior. His face, the cynosure of all eyes,
blazed with the enthusiasm Of a great reso-
luton. He uttered not a word until he
stood by the side Of his former friend, and
then turned and confronted the crowd.
"Iroquois r. he said, raising his arm
aloft: "warriors this task is mine. claim
1t as my right. The Great Spirit has spok-
Ell 10 me by the voice of the thunder in the
wilderness, bidding me come TO him, and
alone, that his face may be frightened to-
wards you and his anger averted. Let my
brother return 10 the wigwam, and to her
who weeps for him. The time will come
when their children will speak OF the Ag-
lilo Panther. Who is there to mourn for
himf Not one?"
But there was a great clamor at this, the
Black Cloud interposing with the voice OF
authority, the Three Bears insisting on his
own prerogative OF selr-sacrfice, and the
rest crying, some one thing, tome another.
The contention did not last long. As though
simultaneously inspired with the same pur-
pose, the two warriors made sudden rush
for the canoe, coming into collision on the
very brink orthe rapids. There they closed
in desperate struggle, seemingly of NOR
tai hatred rather than of generous and he
roic resolution, the one 10 immediate himself
for the sake of the other. Terrible were
Bears was no match for his antagonist he
was thrown, lifted by sheer strength aloft,
and hurled backwards among the excited
crowd. triumphant twar-whoop-a bound
worthy of the animal from which ne de-
rived his name-and the Agile Panther was
in the fatal bark, had swung the ready axe
and severed the rope, and was gliding with
horrible velocity towards the fall.
He went over, not like the craven victim
of some wretched accident, lying prone and
with muffled head, but erect, Triumphant,
victorious; exhibiting generosity and a
magnanimiiy, the result of his penitent
self condemnation, which wonld have been
admirable in the child of civilization, but
were simply wonderful in a child of the
forest.-AH The Year Round.