The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10

SO far all haG gone we'll; out II was
not in Ralph Denham's nature to con-
tinuo deceit after it had assured the
| good purpose for which he had employed
! it.
Confident that in any event he
had the advantage of this mamie little
knew how the terrible ordeal through
which he had just passed had weakened
| him-he determined to reveal the fact
that he was in the flesh.
Advancing to the side Of the wooden
cot on which the chief lay, ha said, with
much solemnity:
"Uncas of the Montauks, you have an
swered noe truthfully as know. You
planned for my murder, though / never
did you wrong, but on the contrary
have been ever your friend"
You won Lea Hedges, The woman l
loved" groaned the chief.
If she preferred me to you' was that
my fault?"
Uncas lid not answer.
You have become the partner OF a
bad man, the worst man that lives to-
day; and in the world where brave
spirits dwell the soul Of your ancestor,
the mighty Wyandauch, cannot rest
for the misdeeds Of his descendant.
Did he so tell you?"
This was asked with the utmost So
lemnity; but the sense Of honor was so
strong in Ralph Denham that he was
impressed with the oddity and gro
tesqueness of the question. to the mo-
mentary forgetfulness Of the many i'm
portant things pressing on his attention.
He laughed, but checked himself so
suddenly as to increase the specter-
like effect of his talk.
Now, Uncas, you can live to ripe
old age if you promise to do as say.
Will you agree?"
After few seconds hesitation. the
chief replied
Il will"
Good; then you must promise never
to see this Capt. Fox again.
Il so promise"
You must pledge yourself and the
warriors of your tribe to help the Off
GERS of the Sea Hawk should they call
on you?"
II also promise that"
"And lastly you must give up all
thoughts of Lea Hedges, and wish in
your heart Ralph Denham was alive
"I will never speak to Lea Hedges
again; but don't ask me the other
thing" said the chief, still consistent
in his hate.
Ralph now felt that the time had come
to discover himself; he imagined that
the chief would be delighted to find that
this was not a ghost, so he leaned over
the cot and said:
"Open your eyes, Uncas, and look at
me-"
The chief promptly obeyed.
"Do I look like dead man?"
81 know you are dead
81 am not. To-day your sister and
Dipah rescued me from the vault, and
here am in the flesh"
Ralph Denham erring on the side OF
his own generosity made mistake. So
far Uncas was certain that he had been
talking to a specter, but the moment he
felt the hot breath on his cheek; realized
that his hated rival was before him in
the flesh; that his sister and his people
had BETRAYED him; that all his murder
Gus purposes were known, the
frightened, fainting devil in his heart
leaped into life and heated his blood
like molten lava.
Kissing out an oath which he had
Ouu luO WulICos hS pooANSA
like tiger from the cot, threw his long,
strong arms about Ralph Denham, who,
unpl epared for the furious onset, was
borne to the floor.
You came to me dead, and III make
YOU dead" cried the chief, the foam
flying from his lips as if he were wild
animal.
II Ralph Denham in his usual health
was matched in strength against the
Montauk, the contest would be long in
doubt, but would finally be decided in
favor Of the white man, who had the
distinguishing race quality of endur-
ance. Both were young, strong, active
and resolute; the one acted under the
destroying influence Of passion, the
other under the guidance Of that reason
which generally conquers where the
contest is prolonged.
But this contest did not promise to be
prolonged. Ralph's weakness alarmed
himself. By fierce effort and superior
skill. he threw the Indian back, and
fastening his left hand in the red swol-
len throat he succeeded in getting on
his feet.
Expert in the use of his fists about
which the Indian knew no more than
woman, Ralph trie- hard to fell his op-
penent by strong blow, when he would
have time to draw one or his pistols, and
to use it if need be.
But the Indian eluded him, caught
him in his mighty arms and again bore
him to the earthen floor.
With quick clutch the Indian
snatched the jewel-hilted dagger from
the belt at his side. and he was in the
act of raising it above his victim, when
a tongue Of flame darted from one OF
the chinks between the logs; the crack
of q pistol rang ont, and, from the shat
tered hand, the dagger dropped to the
floor
With cry of rage and pain, such as
q wounded tiger gives when it turns to
the Jungle from which the shot came,
the chief leaped to his feet and glared
about him.
The door was thrown open and with
smoking pistol in her hand, which she
had obtained from Dinah, Untilla en-
tered the hut.
Seeing his sister and the old negress
the maddened chief would have rushed
upon them, so blind was his fury, had
not phi rose straight before him with
pistol in each hand.
You hag!" roared Uncas, and you,
you falsest Of sisters; this is your
work." and he held up his bleeding
hand.
1T is my work." replied Untilla, with
form erect and eyes blazing with a
steadier and more resolute light than