Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-17
CHAPTER V.

upright, holding his knife, on which
frozen blood was crystallized. Two or
three dead wolves lay outside the log
on the snow. But not one of them
was frozen sitter than the Indian,
who after his own fashion, had given
life itself for the safety of his adopted
child.
Peggy would not believe he was
dead. She chung TO his old shoulders,
and screamed to rouse him. The Sac,
who loved white men, and had never
failed to answer the appeal OF his white
child. silently blocked the entrance of
the log. His eyebrows were boar frost,
and the dark ruddiness of his face and
neck seemed crusted with rough silver.
Peggy's wild crying might have re-
sounded long IN the hollow log, and
brought no person to help her. For
all around was the vast prairie stretch
ing from horizon to horizon, a glare
of whiteness unpierced by the smoke of
single fire. But two figures toiled
toward New Salem through the early
cold, wading with effort. and finally
making for the hummock in which they
recognized the submerged log. Lincoln
and his chain-bearer encountered
the frozen Indian and the crying girl
as they stopped to enter and warm
themselves.
High as drifts were piled in New
Salem streets, for this was the winter
known long afterward as "the winter
of the deep snow" people gathered
hastily through the undated storm
when word went around that Shick-
shack had been brought in frozen to
death. Lincoln and Aptywine, in silent
agreement, stopped the OK sled they
had borrowed, at the door of Rutledges
tavern. Neither said, Let us take
him to his own cabin" In death, at
least. he should escape from the en-
viroDment which Sally made, and be
publicly honored.
Antywine went directly to carry the
news to the widow, and Sally heard it,
making clicking sound Of disapproval
with her tongue.
She knocked the ashes out OF her
cob pipe, partly on the hearth and
partly in the dinner pot, which hung
from the crane.
"Now don't hat beat ye! Gone and
froze hisself to death the first big snow
and New Salem seven miles from
buryin' ground! He always was the
most ill-convenient old In'janI Took
him to the tavern, did ye?"
YES" replied Antywine, without
apology.
We'll, keep him there. I'll come to
the funeral. Funerals is no novelty
to me, buryin' men as often as have"
Neighbors talked in whispers around
the dignified figure stretched on a
white-covered board under a canopy
or sheets. But Antywine and Lincoln
had themselves washed it, and dressed
1t In the Sac's best buckskins. TIley
found girded around the waist a heavy
belt of rattlesnake skin.
This is the snakeskin of money be-
longing to Peggy that he told me
about" Lincoln said TO Autywine. "Be
must have taken it out of its hiding
place before be started TO find Dick
Yates. What shall we do with it?"
Put it on, Sieur Abe, to wear for
her, as Shickshack did"
"They say snakeskin in the hat Is
good for the headache; but don't
think I could bear it rubbing against
my naked hide. This belt is nearer
your size, Antywine."
Me, l am a boy, Sieur Abe. Shicl-
shack put his trust in you. He tell
you am squaw!"
- reckon he changed his opinion
Ae only struck out to find Dick be-
cause We were away. But you're a
utue nearer than nearest OF kin 70
1esSy' SO II you say I'm to undertake
me Ihlhg, III try it And if Moth er
Eve Is TOO strong in me to stand the
snake next to me I'll manage it some
other way"
Lincoln and Antywine also helped
ahe cooper make Shickshack's comm
AoF nelehbor was then Obliged to de-
pend upon neighbor for such service.
NO Zee was ever charged, though If
one was offered it had to be accented
Religion did little to soften the grim.
ness OF death in those early DAYS. The
uhpalnted coffin stood on two cbaivs
IN the largest room of the tavern. andI
MahaIa Cameron's father, HYMN hook |
IN hand, placed himself behind it as
behind an intrenchment. whence he |
could launch warnings on tba nm
certainty OF life His father. called old |
Daddy Cameron, a tremnIous end
toothless creature, who encountered age
Us a olsease rather than a transition. /
sat by, signing, as If to illustrate tbs
III lie CGrJalntV.
such funeral rites as New Salem
aHorded were held in the early fore
noon, because snow continued to fall
and seven miles of drift had to be cut
through to Concord burying ground.
Inc entire population, as well as mon
from Clary's Grove, crowded the
tavern. People stared when Don Pedro
Lorlmer came in with Redmond
Clary, richly and warmly dressed. as If
ne had not found it improbable to
plead the annexation of Cuba. His
shlnlng black hair and olive face had
placid worldly look. One hard-work-
ing woman whispered to another that
you would not think butter cou1d melt
IN MS mouth, and he appeared the
last man to rob an orphan or to run
her or with him against her will.
Feggy saw him through her tears
win indignation She sat beside Antv-