Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER II.

The first day or two after her meeting
with the Captain, Millicent worked with a
| light heart and renewed strength, and
| though Ninigret now never assisted her in
| carrying water, as he had formerly done,
| the thought of her new friend and of free
dom sustained her. When after a week.
| however, there was no sign of the approach
of friends she grew restless. Her work
| tired her more than it ever had the water
! bucket seemed to hold twice the usual
quantity; there was double the amount of
| food to prepare and the women all seemed
| to want clothing made. Doubtless all was
as it had been in her surroundings, only the
| hope that had dawned one June day in her
heart had died out She had tried to rea-
son with herself. Why was she so impa-
tent? Did it not take time in this season
of war to accomplish anything? Why,
after all, should he return? Her story may
| have interested him at the time, even
aroused his sympathies but, afterwards, it
was but natural he should, on returning to
his duties, forget about her and her misery.
What did she know of him? They had
| met but once: still her belief in him was
strong, though wavering at the same time.
Had he not said the unfortunate had a
claim on all honorable men, and surely he
was man an unfortunate might apply to,
if any man was? Such is the effect of i'm
agination upon all poor mortals; it may be
grand gift, but is often most uncomtort-
able one.
Upon the tenth night after the meeting
with the Captain quiet reigned at the In
dian camp, where all slumbered except
Millicent, to whom, in her anxiety, sleep
was denied. She sat meditating upon re-
cent events, her bosom stirred with the
hope OF speedy deliverance, and fear lest
untoward circumstances should prevent the
Captain from executing his plan for her
rescue. After a time her attention was at
tracted by peculiar sounds breaking upon
the stiffness of the night. These, al first
faint and distant gradually grew nearer
and louder, till trembling, she recognized
the yells of the savages, who were return
ing through the woods rejoicing over the
atrocities they had committed. She aroused
the women to prepare for the wanderers,
who, bounding like deer through the for
est, soon burst into the clearing and threw
themselves on the ground in front of the
wigwam calling upon the women for food
and drink In order to help the squaws
| provide for their impatient lords Millicent
offered to carry out some provisions. As
| she appeared the warriors greeted her with
shout, calling her Philips pretty maid.
She did not reply, but moved about silently
among them, Mortified at their revolving
| account of an attack upon lone country
house. where, having murdered the in
mates, they had possessed themselves of
all value in the house. EXultingly they
| told their tale of horror, their painted faces
and blood-stained garments looking CHASTITY
| in the moonlight. One man threw an or
nament, torn from the person of white
woman, to his squaw who had brought his
! supper; and another, with q fiendish laugh,
| tossed a scalp to Millieent, calling out in
coarse tones, Here little white-skin, take
| that for a remembrance of your race"
With loathing she crept back to her tent,
and, stopping her ears, tried to keep out the
sound of their diabOlical cries.
Toward morning the noise ceased, as
they. weary with carousing, one after an
other, fell into a heavy slumber. Allured
! by the silence, Millicent slipped out into
| the forest to quiet her aching brow in the
| fresh morning air. What If the English
| should come now, when these warriors are
all at home? Would they be prepared for
the fierce resistance they would encounter,
she murmured, and, lost in thought, gazed
mournfully at the waters of the lake, cold
and gray in the early daylight. Suddenly
she was startled by the tall form of Mini
| greet appearing like phantom at her side.
II have come to join you in your morn
ing walk, Millicent," he said. with mean
ing in his dark eyes, as he watched her
narrowly.
You need not have come; prefer to
be alone" she answered, drawing herself
up haughtily
q know you do; but you are out early,
and need a protector"
A look of disgust swept over her face as
he spoke the word protector. As if COM
pretending the expression, he said, hurri-
edly-
Have you considered what | said to
you? Have you had enough of this life
and are YOU ready to come with me?''
"No, never l would rather die at the
hands of the warriors up there'-but the
words died on her lips, for, as she spoke
the sounds of firearms reached their ears
mingled with the war-cry of the half
aroused Indians. With an exclamation Of
Joy Nillicent started in the direction of the
firing, but had advanced but a step before
the 1.-THE Indian had her in his grasp.
" You shall not escape me now. Resign
yourself The white men have found the
camp, but they will not rescue you. Dare
to utter cry, and | will kill you" he add
ed, brandishing cleaning knife before
her eyes.
Terrified at this menance she allowed
herself to be dragged INTERESTINGLY into
the forest
Immediately after his interview with
Millicent Captain Merwin returned to Bos
ton to secure the force necessary to his pur
pose. This required some days. during
which he found himself becoming very
restless. The story of the fair captive had
strongly excited his sympathy, and hel
sweet face had made a deep impression
upon his imagination, and he longed witt
an impotence he could hardly control, tt
| IL a,ai,, lx- bar side He was also fparfu
lest harm should befall her during his alb
sence.
All this gave him stimulus to action
and caused him to use every endeavor t
prepare for mis- undertaking. When every
thing was at last ready he departed Will
all possible dispatch.
In the evening after leaving Boston. a
the English approached Lake Qninsigam
ond, when more than mile from the In
dian headquarters. they heard the shouting
| of the warriors above described.
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