Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-10-26
81 A ROSE OF e
| NORMANDY |
By
WILLIAM r. A. WILSON
~ X
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
WHEREIN A BATTLE IS FOUGHT
AND AKIESKO COMES OFF VICTO-
RiOUS.
The prisoners slept little that night.
Both Renee and Tonti had undergone
a nervous excitement during the day
sufficient to keep every fiber tingling,
he at the discovery of her love for
him, she upon learning the truth from
the lips of Madame Bizard. Now that
the heat of his encounter with Miron
had subsidized Torti fell into a slough
of despair Escape seemed impossible.
Renee's fate became more hideous
now that he knew her secret Even
the satisfaction of dying together was
denied them. Renee was happy, re-
joicing in the restoration to his proper
place of the lover she had vainly
sought to forget: unmindful of the ter
rible ordeals the future might have
for her; believing vaguely that the dis
covery of her lovers faithfulness was
not for naught; that a means of es-
cape would be accorded to them
Akiesko alone of the three prisoners
had neither hope nor fear. He faced
the dawn of the day of suffering with
the stoicism of his race. He knew
that he would be sacrificed first, in or
der to whet the appetite of the people
for blood so that the torture of Tonti
would be Lesson of greater enjoy
ment to this captors. Help, unless it
came within very few hours, could
not rescue him, even if it were to ar
rive before Tonti's turn came A feel
ing akin to sorrow invaded his savage
heart at the thought of the disappoint-
ment and injury that would come to
La Sale from the loss of Tonti A
feeling of pity for the white girl, whose
days thenceforward would be death
in life, then followed. Last of all, the
hatred of his tribe against his enemies
surged across his mind, obliterating all
other feelings and his thoughts were
filled with plans how to endure his
pains bravely and give defiance to them
until the very last.
Thus passed the weary hours of
darkness to the three captives. The
camp was astir at dawn, and the sound
of voices and din of preparation for
the days festivities smote ominously
upon their ears. Food was served to
each at breakfast time. After noon
they were summoned to the begin
ming of the santurnalia of bestial
cruelty.
In an open place in the center of the
town were gathered the Indians, who
ranged themselves in an elongated cir
oil he nF ;nI,
piled at intervals seven brush heaps
ready for lighting. Equidistant from
each end a small scaffold some six
feet from the ground had been built
On one of them Mron had reserved
seat, one on each side of himself for
Renee and Tonti, so situated that they
would be witnesses of the ensuing
scene. He greeted them with a sar-
doniC smile. and wished them all man
ner of pleasure during the coming
hours. Tonti's hands were securely
bound. but mis- feet were free.
They were scarcely settled when an
opening in the throng on the opposite
side was made and through it Akiesko
was led, with every mark of respect
and attention from those attending
him. His escort consisted of some 30
or 40 of the young men of the tribe
who advanced singing and dancing
The prisoner strobe along haughtily in
their midst clad In a magnificent
beaver robe, with a string of polished
multicolOred shells about his neck and
smaller one placed like wreath or
crown about his head lie was greet
ed by friendly shout from the wait
ing crowd. The procession marched
about the edges of the throng, so that
all could catch a glimpse Of the con.
demned Finally they conducted him
20 log placed In the center Of the
open space and he was seated Food
was set before him, sagamite
sqEashes, yenison and fruit As his
wrists were bound, one OF the chief
men was deputed 10 feed him
Here, my nephew" he said grayely
and m the NHdest tones, "oat Of this
food your friends have prepared for
you. II Will give you strength. Eat
and have no fear. for no one Is doing
you any harm Behold thyself now
among thy kindred and thy friends"
When thlB portion Of the repast was
huahcd a dog which had been placed
iu kettle near by and boiled was
produced ana being eut into pieces
" egayeulgut size, vac presented H.