Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-19


 tfonary lodges anu moved in a body, pitching temporary camp at spot not far from the falls. Here, in & great council lodge. the older men sat in deliberation for full day and night. The dull drum sounded continually, the council pipe went round, and the warriors besought the spirits to give them knowledge. The savage hysterfa. little by little. yet steadily, arose high CT and higher, until at length it reached that point of frenzy where naught could suffice save some terrible, some tremendous thing.
 r Enforced spectators of these curious and ominous ceremonies, the prisoners looked on, wondering, imagining, hesi- tating and fearing Monsieur" said Pierre Noir. turning at last to Law, "it grieves me to speak yet 'tis best for you to know. the truth. It Is to be you or Monsieur Pembroke. They will not have me. They say that 1t must be one of you two great chiefs. for that you were brave, your hearts were strong, and that hence you would find favor as the adopted child of the Great Spirit who has been offended"
 Law looked at Pembroke, and they both regarded Mary Connynge and the babe. At least,'' said Law, ;sthey spare the woman and the child. So far very well Sir Arthur, we are at the last hazard" l ''I have asked them to take me-" said Pierre Noir,. flor am an old man and have no family. But they will not listen to me" -@ Pembroke passed his hand wearily across his face ''I have behind me so long memory of suffering" said he, "and before me so small an amount of 1 promise, that for myself I am content to let it end. It comes to all sooner or later, according to our fate" 1 You speak" said Law, "as though it were determined. Yet Pierre says it will not be both of us, but one.' Pembroke smiled sadly. Why, sir," said he, do you think me so sorry 8 fellow as that? Look!'' and he pointed to Mary Connynge and the child. There is your duty
 Law followed his gaze, and his look was returned dumbly by the woman 1 who had played 50 strange a part in the late passages of his life. Never a word with her had Law spoken re- garding his plans or concerning what he had learned from Pembroke. As to this Mary Connynge had been afraid to ask, nor dare ask even now.
 Besides went on Pembroke later, l as he called Law aside, there is some thing to be done-not here. but over there, in England or in France. Your duty is involved not only with this woman. You must find sometime the other woman. You must see the Lady Catharine Knollys.''
 Law sunk his head between his hands and groaned bitterly.
 "Go you rather" said he, land spend your life for her. I choose that it should end at once, and here"
 tIs have not been wont to call MT. Law coward" said Pembroke, sim- ply.
 'I should be coward If should stand aside and allow you to sacrifice | yourself; nor shall I do so,' replied the other.
 ..They say" broke in Pierre Noir, who had been listening to the excited harangues of first one warrior and then ! another, s.that both warriors are great chiefs and that both should go to- 1 gether Teganisoris insists that only I one shall be offered. This last has ! been almost agreed; but which one of you 'tis to be has not yet been deter mined"
 Dawn came through the narrow door I and open roof holes of the lodge. The rising of the sun seemed to bring con- yiction to the Iroquois. All at once the savage council broke up and scat 1 tered into groups, which hurried to different parts of the village. Pres entity these reappeared at the central 1 lodge. There sounded concerted sav- | age chant. A ragged column appeared, l whose. head was faced toward the cat ! aract. There were those who bore strings of beads and strips of fur, even the prized treasures of the Iufted scalp iocks,e whose tresses, collbed smooth. were adorned with colored cloth and feathers. 7s
 Pierre Noir was silent; yet, as the captives looked, they needed no advice that the sacridcial procession was now forming. ...
 They said" began Pierre Noir, at length. with trembling voice, turning his eyes as he spoke, "that 1t could not be myself, that it must. be one of you, and but one. They are going to cast lots for it. It is Teganisoris who has proposed that the lots shall be thrown by Pierre Noir faltered, unwilling 10 so on.
 And by whom ?' asked Law, quietly. ! "By-.by the .woman---by madame!"