Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-30
copyright. 1893, BY Hsresr, $. stone . Co.
CHAPTER v.

The old Sac, who had guarded her
frooftree, whether cabin or wigwam,
every night of her remembrance, sat
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
schild.
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.
Peggys wild crying might have re-
sounded long In the hollow log, and
brought no person to help her. For
ali around was the vast prairie stretch
ftng from horizon to horizon, CLARA
snf Wilderness unpierced by the smoke of
a 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 Che 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
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 Antywine, in silent
agreement, stopped the OK sled they
bad borrowed, at the door of Rntledges
tavern. Neither said, LET us take
him to his own cabin" In death, at
least. he should escape from the en-
vfnonment which Sally made, and be
publicly honored.
Antywine went directly to carry the
newsstc the widow. and Sally heard 1t,
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.
Vow don't that beat ye, Gone and
froze bisself to death the first big snow
and New Salem seven miles from a
haryin' ground! He always was the
most ill-conyenient old In'jan. Took
afrre 10 fthe tavern, did ye?"
Yes, replied Antywine, without
apology.
well, Keep him there I'll come to
the funeral. Funerals is no novelty
10 me buryin' men as often as have"
Neigh bors talked in whispers around
The dignified figure stretched on q
wfiite-cDvered board under a canopy
3f sheets But Antywine and Lincoln
aad themselves wash ed it, and dressed
Il in the Sac's best buckskins. They
sUund girded around the waist heavy
belt of rattlesnake skin.
This is the snakeskin of money be-
longing to Peggy that he told me
shout r Lincoln said to Antywine, He
must have taken it out of its hiding
,face before he started to find Dick
Yates What shall we do with it?"
'eEput it. on, Sieur Abe. to wear for
her. as Shickshack did"
~srhey say snakeskin in the hat is
good for the headache; but l don't
think 4 cseu1& bear it rubbing against
INV naked hide. This belt is nearer
your size, Antywine.'
..Me, | am boy, Sieur Abe. Shick-
shack put his trust in you. He tell
you ! am a squaw
Il reckon he changed his opinion,
ae only struck out to hnd Dick be-
cause We were away. But you're q
f little nearer than nearest OF kin to
F Peggy, SO If you say I'm to undertake
the thing, III try it. And if Mother
Ewes ftpso strong in me to stand the
snake. next TO me III manage it some
other way
Lincoln and Antywine also helped
he cooper. make Shickshack's coffin,
ar neighborV was then Obliged to de-
pend upon neighbor for such a service.
M fee was ever charged, though IL
,ne.was. offered 1t had to be accepted
lReliginn did little to soften the grim
ieSs of death in tn ose early days. The
Imprinted coffin stood on two chairs
n the largest room of the tavern, and
kNhaaz Cameron's father, hymn book
n hand, placed himself behind 1t as
,shipr an intrenchment. whence he
ould launch warnings on the UNI
ertainty of life. His father, called old
DADDY Cameron, a tremulous and
Uothlsss creature, who encountered age
"A nisease rather than transition,
at by, signing. as II 10 illustrate the
mpieasantness of lifes certainty.
Sach funeral rites as New Salem
corded were held in the early fore
loon. because snow continued to fall,
md seven miles Of drift had to be cut
through to Concord burying ground.
mo entire population, as well as men
rom sClary's Grove, crowded the
nvern- People stared when Don Pedro
.orimeq came in with Redmond
nary richly and warmly dressed, as II