Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-08-03

|
quite as wild as the others, and tried
hard to learn English words. So these
two often walked and talked with
Ganoussi and Aholaha while the rest
were romping about. Wangetok and
Musketonga seemed to like each other
too, and were a companion pair for
Ganoussi and Aholaha.
Wangetok was an expert with his
! bow and arrow, seldom missing his
! aim, and under his instruction Gan
| oussi learned to shoot quite we'll too.
Halichsok was the best climber and
could get up a tree and among the
branches almost as nimbly as a squir-
rel, while Sutassik was the best SWIM
mer, and could stay under the water
! longer than others. Dannie took part
: in all their sports and soon showed
I them that a pale-face boy could do
some things pretty nearly as we'll as
they, and they were all glad to have
/ him try to beat them.
The older captives associated more
or less with the squaws and some
times helped them with their work,
teaching them some new things and
learning their ways and customs.
There were two who seemed to be es-
pecially friendly to the captives, try
ing to provide for their comfort in ev-
cry way, supplying them with meat
and other provisions, and furnishing
| their wigwam with furs and blankets,
cooking utensils, and other articles.
Machanissa, the Sachem Opecan-
ough's squaw, was tall and wellform-
ed, with high cheekbones, piercing
black eyes, and mouth and chin that
indicated firmness of character and
strong will. 1t was known that while
the Sachem ruled the rest she ruled
the Sachem, who was either too in
dolent or too good-natured to quarrel
with her or treat her with severity
Yet her whole countenance could as
| SulilC ChplCoSfoIi vi Soou"Aii diS
kindheartedness, and with smil.
showing her snow-white teeth, and hel
long black tresses neatly braided oil
confined by an ornamented headband
she made upon the whole favorable
impression upon the captives as well
as upon her liege lord, the Sachem
Calatoksa, Ta-ou-chi the war captains
squaw, was not as tall as Machanissa
and more docile in appearance, more
lively in her disposition and very alert
in her movements. She seemed tC
know almost intuitively what the cap
tives tried to tell her, and could pick
up English words more readily thar
the dignified Machanissa, who appear
ed to be somewhat jealous of her SUI
pelior ability in that respect, especi
ally as the captives seemed to be more
at ease in her company than with the
more stately Sachem's mistress.
Calatoksa had cunning little pap
poose which she took with her whol
she went to see the captives, who pit
led it as it lay or stood motiOnless eX
cept as to its eyes and arms, in it:
close quarters. But it seemed quite
contented and they thought it LOOKED
very much like it's mother. Whel
Dannie's mother asked Calatoksa VIII!
she fixed it up that way she told he
make grow big, heap strong" Sh'
had other children too, that sometime!
toddled after her, all apparently yer!
fond of her.
The captives often wondered why i
was that they received so much bette
treatment from the two principa
squaws, as well as from the others
than they had expected, and though
they would be fortunate indeed if !
continued.
While, however, all the captive
were we'll treated and not required t.
do much hard work, Ganoussi ant
Aholaha seemed to be the pets of tn
whole village. Perhaps it was partl.
. because Marie's Indian mother wa
, the widow of a famous old Sachen
and was also in high repute among
them for her medicinal skill and partl
: because they saw that Marie and Dan
ME were very fond of each other
company. The young warriors ha
soon left the village again, in two wa
, parties; but the old men as they sat i
, the sun, and the squaws at their work
: smiled and nodded to Ganoussi an
Aholaha as they passed by the wig
| vans, or tried to talk with the In
| dian children. Pretty soon they be
, gan to learn the names of things, an
| could make themselves understood; bu
\ both seemed best pleased when the
I could talk to each other in their ow
:. language, or try to teach it to thei
e dusky companions.
v The summer had passed and nuttin
e time had come. Now the Indian boy
showed Ganoussi and Aholaha whel
i to find the chestnuts and walnuts an
e hazelnuts, and took them along o
: their nutting expeditions. 1t was nj
! safe for them to go very far, as thel
;. were wild beasts in the forest tn;
It sometimes came prowling near I'll
d village, and the boys had only the
email bows and arrows with whiC
d to defend themselves.
1t 1t happened one day that they hs
: ,.LLI-. -. 49,. ..r,,ol IL,