Evening star., 1905-11-11
A Seneca's Revenge.
BY L. A. ALLEN.

On the shore Of a beautiful little lake in
one of the forests of western New York,
two centuries and a half ago. two Indians
| We're walking back and forth engaged in
earnest conversation They were boys and
had been lifelong friends: but one
Seneca, the other Wyandot.
The Seneca was talking Of the glory of
his tribe, the bravery of the warriors and
of their taking up the war hatchet against
the Ottawas But the Wyandot did not hear
him, he was looking across the lake and
his face bore an expression that the Seneca
had never seen there before. Finally he
spoke:
, ..Sucoochee, you are nearly man, and
the time has come when l should be your
friend no longer" There were unshed tears
| in his eyes; his hands grew cold and his
| voice was faint and hoarse.
Listen. Ten years ago two men walked
| here-here just where walking now.
| They had been friends ever since they had
| been younger than we. 1t was just this
| kind of a day. all nature was at peace" He
hesitated, looked out across the lake, then
drew a long breath and continued TO-
Yes, they were walking just as We are
| now, when suddenly they heard a shout,
| and turning saw two men running toward
| them; one was a Wyandot the other q SEN
eca.'
! Suscoochee started. and turning closely
| ScrutnlZeQ his companion lace.
The Seneca was wounded, and the Wy
! andot was pursuing him. When the Seneca
| reached the spot where the two men stood
| he threw himself at the feet of one, and
cried. Mercy Now the man at whose feet
the Seneca had begged for mercy was him.
| self Seneca, and his friend was a-a-a Wy
| andot."
Again Suscoochee glanced at the speaker.
| but he had turned away as If he could not
| bring himself to say more. Presently he
| faced his companion ~ $780,.
1.-The Seneca he continued, and his voice
| sounded far off. refused to give up the
man who had sought his protection when
| he found that he belonged to his own tribe.
| and demanded what right the Wyandot had
| to his life The Wyandot replied that that
| was no mans affair, and, turning to the
| Seneca's friend, appealed to him, as Wy
| andot, to prevent the Seneca 8 interference.
| At this appeal the Wyandots blood was on
| fire. and confronting the friend of his child
| hood, the brother with whom he had eaten
and slept, the hero of his boyhood, the man
| whom he had learned to love and admire,
| he cried. angrily, Give to the Wyandot
warrior his enemy. that he may die the
death of dog
mo replied the Seneca. firmly. he has
sought my protection and he shall have it.
| At these words the Wyandot raised his bow
and the deed was done That night two
Senecas were laid to rest and two Wyan-
dots went home satisfied in their vengeance.
But before many suns had set one Wy
| andot began to miss his Seneca friend, and
4
| not hold up his head for sorrow"
The young Wyandot trembled. he was
| cold from head to foot, and yet the per-
| spiration rolled from his face. He tried to
| say more, but his voice had left him; he
sat down on the ground and looked up at
| the sky. How should he tell him, the boy
| who for ten years had been his constant
companion, with whom he had played. and
| by whose side he had helped the Senecas
with their battles? Suscoochee would never
again look at him through the eyes of a
friend but If they ever met again they
| would meet as enemies, one anxious to kill
the other. ,u. ..,... ~. s.
But honor now forbade the friendship.
He was no longer child, and his great
ambition was to become brave and re-
spected warrior in the Wyandot nation,
With this secret upon his mind untold, he
never could become what he hoped.
Suscoochee was leaning against a tree,
looking into the water. The Wyandot rose
and stood before him. He spoke slowly.
Suscoochee, the Seneca was your father,
the Wyandot was mine" - .-.
Nine years passed and the Senecas and
Wyandots were at war.
1t was winter day in the year 1649. Two
Senecas stood breathlessiy at the entrance
of narrow cave about three miles solth
of Lake Ontario.
Ugh" exclaimed one; "the wyandot
dogs were not smart enough; we are safe
Yes, kiashuta." replied the other. They
have won a great victory, but they could
not catch this Seneca.
Come, let CO." said Kiashuta and
they walked on in silence one thinking of
the message he was to take to the Seneca
chiefs, the other of the great victory that
had just been won by the Wyandots.
Suddenly kiashuta stopped. Here is the
lake." he said. "and We must part With
that Kiashuta pulled &. hidden canoe from
the bushes and padded swiftly and silent
ly down the lake.
The other sat down on the bank and lean
ed against tree His thoughts were of
that day long years ago when he had stood
In that same place and listened to the tale
that had frozen his heart against the friend
of his boyhood Yet he did not think of
II with sorrow, but with anger. His hatred
for the young Wyandot grew stronger and
stronger, until he rose to leave the spot.
But he had not gone three steps before he
discovered lying before him The body of
an Indian. He stopped down and gazed at
the face-a cold thrill ran through him.
The man was asleep. and even had he been
awake he had no weapon with which to de-
fend himself. He was Wyandot warrior,
at the mercy of a Seneca. But as the Sem
eca looked his face turned to stone He
took an arrow and htted il to his bow. The
moment for which he had waited all these
years had arrived. The son of the slayer
OF his father was in his power! He stepped
back. but as he raised his bow his eye
caught strange marking on the tree
against which he had leaned. He saw q
chief representing the Wyandot nation and
chief representing the Seneca nation
clasping hands. and under the Wyandot
chief was cut the totem OF the Wolf. and |
under the Seneca chief the totem OF the
the sieepfng man. He understood And a.
he took his quiver Of arrows from his back
and laid them beside the sleeping tWyandot