The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-04

l knew the place well. II was large
tree at the head of a gloomy ravine,
some two miles north of Little Beard
town of Chenussio. Under this tree,
Grahta or Old Smoke, the last and most
historic high priest of the Seneca Sun
superstition, sat nearly all the sum
mer through, awaiting the tributes of
food which his younger tribesmen
brought him.
Yes. 1 understand. I can make
that all right, ahead of any buck in
this crowd if I get a good start"
"Mohawks fix dat. Mohawks do all
eef-white mans eef in way" Here
the old fellow stopped and sat cycling
me.
IF what?" I asked, wondering what
was coming next.
"Quedar say he go way. Up long
little lake over cross to Mohawk. Den
back Schoharie."
What! You want me to desert the
army?"
"Yeeah. Quedar no lead Town Stroy-
err Mohawk country den"
"Oh! 1 see! You must think I'm
quite a fellow. You think I'm hired to
do that do your" Then 1 communed
with myself. well! It's a short cut
home anyway, and I know Sullivan
don't mediate any such move as that.
I'm a dead man if I don't agree to it.
I've never enlisted regularly anyway"
Then I made answer aloud. Yes, Lit
tie Aaron, I'll do it,"
"Ugh Good" was all he said as he
arose and went outside. He had not
been long gone, when younger Mo-
hawk came in with lotion of the bios
som Of the arnica or Indian tobacco
plant. With this he bathed not only
my bruised head, but my entire body.
Soothed by the treatment and once
more full of hope, drew on my cloth
ing and composed myself for sleep.
The next morning when 1 awoke it
was cloudy and the cold north wind
was sweeping up the Genesee from the
big lakes. I looked out through my
chink, and saw that every preparation
had been made for grand entertain
ment of which l was to be the chief
attraction A goodly portion of meat,
fish, and Indian potatoes was sent in,
and of this l ate all that l could crowd
down, for knew not when 1 might get
another meal. Little Aaron came in as
1 was finishing, and offered me a swig
of rum. Out of courtesy, l pretended
to drink heartily, but the stuff ran
down the outside rather than the in
side of my neck, and it being dark in
the CdDlH, ltllS Was not HOltCEu. W
not believe in rum anyhow and at this
time / needed all my wits. l was now
ordered to strip to the waist. Foresee-
ing this event 1 had secreted the buck
skin amulet containing Edith's picture,
which l generally wore about my neck,
in the belt of my buckskin breaches.
l noted with no little surprise that
some kind hand had removed my old
worn footwear during the night, and
put in its place a pair of heavy high
laced moccasins together with a guam
tity of fawn skin for wrapping my
feet. 1 put these on with great care,
and announced my readiness.
My hands were now bound behind my
back, and I was led out by a guard of
about 20 Mohawks. many of whom I
had known before the war, while on all
sides were the hundreds of Senecas,
Cayugas, Onondagas and Tuscaroras I
had known, traded with and lived
among, while they were peaceful farm
ers Now what a change. They were
furious devils. Taunts of every con-
name and nature came at me
from every throat. The squaws,
especially the older ones were par
ticularly venomous. One old Seneca
crone. whom 1 had refused to trade
with on my last trip through, because
of her tricky ways, ran screaming
along beside me, a veritable fury, a
huge dog club in one hand, a knife
and forked stick in the other. She in
formed me that she meant to knock
me down, carve choice bit from my
breast, and roast and eat 1t.
Drop that club and get a CAD, you
she woodchuck, or you won't be allowed
a crack at me in the gantlet," I called
out to her in Seneca. Then I laughed
as derisively as / could, and the squaw
mob went wild. There seemed dogs
and squaws in plenty. although where
they had come from I did not know.
I noted that the old stockade, extend
ing off south, had been newly waited
and repaired. This formed an enclosed
gauntlet course, such as is sometimes
erected when the victim, as in my case,
is large and strong. l was now led to
the torture tree. out opposite the cabin
at the head of this course, thrifty
young oak having been limbed and
peeled and horribly decorated for the
occasion. / noted that the Mohawks
seemed giving this entertainment, with
Brant as master of ceremonies. Only
his trusted guard handled me-
AS my wrists were tied to the stake
Brant stepped before me, and backing
off began taunts which, if less vulgar.
were certainly keener than any l had
yet heard. This haunting speech he
kept up for full minute, and then
taking from an attendant bow and
bunch Of arrows, he began shooting
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