Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-08-24

his own character with great skill TO
that OF his Victim,
Crime becomes much easier II tn
criminal can delude himself into tn
thought that good Is to result to other
from the act he contemplates, 80 INCA
soon began TO look on himself as an In
strumeht OF justice.
Except Old Somonk, his son and wife
with the two warriors who helped I,
carry Ralph Denham from tho boat I,
the vault, not one of the Montauk
KIN ew anything about the murderous en-
terprise In which their chief was en-
gagged; and even II all knew 1t and de-
preclated it, fidelity to their chief woult
prevent an act Of betrayal.
But Uncas had a spy on his acts
| whom he dreaded with superstitious
fear that is often found associated with
the greatest physical courage.
He wished old Dlnah as dead as he
believed Ralph Denham would soon be-
but neither he nor any Of his tribe
would have dared TO raise hand
against her.
From old Dinah's bold statements the
chief had suspected that she knew all,
but his fear OF her interference was
Offset by his faith In the fidelity OF the
people who had his secret,
Dinah lost no time after Uncas left
with his white visitors and their serv-
ants for Sag Harbor. She sent an In
dian lad to Untllla, the beautiful sister
of the chief, asking her to come TO her
hut.
Dinah at once began preparations for
tho work she had set herself. About
her thin neck she strung a number Of
peculiar shell-neckaces. About her
head she wound tightly white turban,
and bound 1t into place by snake so
naturally preserved, that the eyes and
tongue, in the center OF her forehead,
seemed flashing and darling
About her lank arms she wound other
snakes, and they looked to be held In
place by their own contractions.
Over her shoulders she threw scar
let mantle, decorated with tinsel stars,
the moon in all its stages, and queer
cabalistlc characters, all the more awful
to the ignorant Indians for their repre-
sentlng nothing in particular.
This done, Dlnah took long staff,
not the one she usually carried, but an
other that looked as much like great
serpent as the rods the Egyptians tried
to palm off on Moses, and her toilet was
complete.
She next sat down on high stool in
her cabin door, sight to alarm the
strongest If she appeared unexpectedly,
and waited for the coming Of Untllla.
In a few minutes light quick step
was heard approaching, and then a
shadow fell across the threshold.
Untllla stood there, but the old black
woman, without looking up, said in q
voice that seemed to come from some
far-off place:
"Untilla of de Montauks---"
Yes, Dinah.
"You en- me hez got to run race wild
death. We must git ahead Of i'm, en-
drive i'm back from de grave"
Il am ready" said Untllla, eagerly;
"let us be goirg,"
The old crOne seized her staff, took
from the floor near by basket contain
ing an earthen dish and sundry parcels
of herbs. and then started off.
They bent their course to the west;
the Indian girl walking with the light,
springy step OF fawn, and DinSh with
vigor that was wonderful in one Of
her years.
Without an iustant's hesitation or
stop they hurried on, till the hill, with
the vault at its base, rose before them.
They saw Old Somonk and his wife
cooking before little fire outside, and
Young Somonk and two other Indians
lying on the grass and smoking with an
air OF lazy contentment.
At sight Of Untilla and Dlnah the
men sprang to their feet and Old So
monk and his wife stopped their work
and looked up in surprise.
Without moments hesitation Dinah
walked up to the fire, removed the pot
boiling thereon and replaced it with her
own.
Into this she put some water and sew
eral punches Of herbs, muttering to her.
self the while. Then she grasped her
staff as o drum-maior does his baton,
whirllng 1t around her snake-crowned
head, and began to dance about the fire,
shouting out a wild song, Of which the
terrified listeners could not understand
word.
Stopping suddenly, she drew Untllla
near to her, and facing the terrified In
dams, she said aloud:
"De sperrits of de dead command dat
all leave but de slstah Of de chief en-
Dinah, do sarvlnt of de sperrits, Go,
Somonk, en- yer family; go, We Mon
tauks watohin nigh; go to de village Of
de Montauks, en- stay dar until we jine
ye."
ITO re CONTTNTEn I