The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-04-23

water from his light garments, and choosing
a solid piece of ground, he beckoned the
young brave to come on. With whoop that
made the welkin ring he sprang forward with
drawn knife, and for brief moment the two
stalwart young men eyed each other with con.
ccntrated hatred. Had not the young brave,
IN the absence of Eben, visited the cottage OF
Marianne and murdered father, mother
brother, and lastly the pleading maiden her
self? On the other hand had not the whites
encroached upon the fairest PORTIONS they
always do-of the Indians country-theirsn not
by discovery, but by actual possession ana &C.
cupation! And not two years previously had
not Eben and band of men slain in battle a
large number of Indians of Walhoopa's tribe,
both old men and young braves, and many or
the women and children Of the village, and
among Others the mother and sister OF wal
hoopa, and Guandiana escaped, perhaps, only
Inv be,ng on an excursion with her father and
others for game? In the eyes of Wahoopa
we're thousand furies; in those of Eben a
calm, determined, deadly purpose.
The morning sun was looking smllingly
down on an enchanting scene, the island was
clothed with noble trees whose pendant
branches almost reached the earth, covered
with vines clad with scarlet, white and purple
flowers; tie ground was rich, dark-green
Garnet the little lakelet reflected on lis fair
bosom the long branches of the mighty trees
on the shore near where Eben's men were ly-
ing in ambush and those on the western shore
of the tiny island where the two young men
stood ready for deadly conflict Alas! alas!
that Gods fair vestigc should be so desecrated
by the foul passions of man. But in these
two young men is represented two conilcting
principles: 1st That the aboriglnes are the
rightful owners of the soil. Cd That civiliza-
ton in its onward march will of necessity do
away with savage customs. If the people OF
the conquered country will, as did the original
English change their customs to suit their
conQuerers, and admit OF combination of
Saxon and Norman French, or such as the
case may afford constituting sturdy people,
or admit of combinations, as have hundreds
of other nations, then there may be peace.
But If the weaker nation chooses to give way
and on other ground maintain their ancient
customs intact, then they, as nation, must
reap the bitter consequences.
The Indian maiden, with her jet black hair
falling about her well rounded shoulders, and
her dark eyes glowing with a subdued, vol
canc fire, and one hand uplfted, stood spell
bound gazing on the fearful conflict.
As they stand ready to plunge the deadly
knife into each others bosom, let the millions
of our fair land, proud men and fair women
with the thoughtful of every age and station
look on and Judge. What do we as Chris
tan nation owe to the untutored savage? Is
1t revenge and deadly hatred or Is it brothery
kindness! Shall we slaughter him, or shall
we strive to make a man Of him? Oh, fol
the presence of Penn to help us to decide
Oh, for the Word of Inspiration to direct US
Oh, for the deep, penetrating light of the
Holy Spirit which is to direct US into al
truth
Now the young men have Joined in the
fearful battle and the victory waivers first tt
the one side and then to the other. Wahoopf
Is broad shoudered athlete, with sinews o.
steel and muscles Of iron, trained in the arts
of savage warfare, and with an unquenchabl(
thirst for the blood Of the white man, hi
sworn enemy. On the other hand Eben Il
tall and strong, with the steady nerve and IN
fnchlng perseverance Of his Scotch ancestry
His father was a Highlander, and had Otter
among his native hills commended with til,
neighboring clans, clan Alpine, clan Douglas
the Campbels and McPhcrsons. And tn,
youngest son Eben, born in the Canadas hat
the hardihood not only OF his Scotch, but alst
of his northern British friends.
They dealt each other sturdy blows. The
savage made desperate plunges for the unpro
tected breast of the white, while the latter par
rled with his adroitness and the great strength
of his left arm; while he on his part cut fear
fully the sword arm of the young brave, once
intlictng a severe wound on the right shout
der Nor was the white exempt from wounds
for once the long knife of the Indian touched
his breast and tasted OF his warm blood,-a
another it cut a fearful cash in the left arm
used for a shield.
For ten minutes the fearful contest contIn
ued, and the Indian maiden had not changed
her attitude, and the companions OF Eben look
ed upon the equal contest with fascinated
gaze. At length the Indian retreated step
and raising his right arm so his lips he tasted
of his own blood, and then, with one desperate
bound. he made deadly lunge at the breas
of the white. But Eben anticipated the ugel
leap and murderous purpose, and with quick
movement avoided it, and with a lightning
stroke his own knife found the heart blood o
bis desperate enemy But as the brave sanl