The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-02-11
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that you may the better hear my words.
The chief obeyed him.
Ralph's object was 10 get the chief to
confirm the seemingly improbable sorry
of Untilla and Dinah, and at the same
time to learn all that meas knew about
the motives and conduct Of Captain Fox.
With skill that would have excite d
| the admiration OF Squire Condit, and
,, which he would have been certain to
attribute to his own example, Ralph
Denham piled his questions and the
| chief answered without hesitation, cor
roborating Untilla and Dinah, and prov
| ing to the Captain, beyond all doubt.
that the commander of the Wanderer
| was indeed The infamous Captain Kidd.
So far all had gone we'll; but 1t was
| not in Ralph Denham's nature to con-
| tinue a 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
J that he was in the flesh.
Advancing to the side of the wooden
| cot on which the chief lay, he said, With
much solemnity:
"Uncas OF the Mont auks, you have an
swered me truthfully al l know. You
planned for my murder, though Fnever
did you wrong, but on the contrary
have been ever your friend
| You won Lea hedges. The woman l
loved" groaned the chef.
If she preferred me to you, was that
my fsult?"
| Uncas did not answer.
| You have become the partner OF
| 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 youf"
| This was asked with the utmost 30
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 q ripe
old age If you promise 10 do as say
| VIII 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 your"
| "And lastly you must give up all
thoughts Of Lea Hedges, and wish In
| your heart Ralph Denham was alive"
AZ 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 ghost, so he leaned over
the cot and said:
"Open your eyes, Uncas. and look at
me-"
The chief promptly obeyed.
"Do look like dead mann"
81 know you are dead"
81 am not. To-day your sister and
Dinah rescued me from the vault, and
here am In the flesh
| -
his own generosity made mistake. So
far Uncas was certain that he had been
talking to Q 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 blOOC
like molten lava.
Kissing out an oath which he hat
learned from the whites, he bounded
like a tiger from the cot, threw his long
strong arms about Ralph Denham. who
unp, er AIRED for the furious onset, wal
borre to the floor.
GU came to me dead. and I'll max,
YOU dead" cried the chief, the foam
fiying from his lips as If he were wilt
animal.
II Ralph Denham in his usual health
was matched in strength against thu
Montauk, the contest would be long II
doubt. but would finally be decided II
favor OF the white man, who had tn
distin gushing race quality OF endur
ance. Both were young, strong, activ'
and resolute; the one acted under TIT
destroying influence OF passion, tn
other under the guidance OF that reason
which generally conquers where tn
contest is prolonged.
But this contest did not promise to b
prolonged. Ralph's weakness alarms
himself. By fierce effort and superio
skill. he threw the Indian hack, an
fastening his left hand In the red swol
len throat he succeeded in getting OF
his feet.
Expert in the use Of his fists abou
which the Ind an knew no more than
woman. Ralph trie- hald to fell his op
penent by strong blow, when he woul
have time to draw one OF his pistols, an
to use it if need be.
But the Indian eluded him. cauzs
him in his mighty arms and again Dor
him to the earthen for.
With quick clutch the India
On Matched the jewsl-hilted dagger fror
the belt at his side. and he was in tn
act OF raising it above his victim, whe
q tongue Of fame darted from one {
the chinks between the logs; the crac
Of a pistol rang Ont, and, from the sha
tered hand, the dagger dropped to tn
hosr.
, With . cry OF rage and pain. such 9
. wounded tiger gives when 1t turns