University of Virginia Library

16. CHAPTER XVI.

The snake-killer urged his way through the forest
with a rapid but noiseless step, followed by our friend
George, whose weary horse was scarce able to keep
pace with the hardy boy. After travelling a short distance,
they arrived at the top of a hill, whence the river
Ohio could be seen at a distance, gliding placidly, and
reflecting the sun-beams from the broad mirror of its
clear and beautiful surface. Here Mr. Lee was requested
to dismount, and leave his horse; and arrangement
with which he was by no means disposed to comply,
for he was too good a horseman not to love the generous
animal which had borne him safely through the
fatigues of so long a journey. But the cautious policy
of Hark was not to be overthrown by any argument;
and after some discussion, the saddle and bridle were
stripped off and hung upon a tree, and the horse turned
out to graze, with his legs secured in such a manner as
to prevent him from wandering far from the spot. They
then descended the hill until they reached an extensive
plain of flat alluvion land, covered with a thick forest
of tall trees, skirting the shores of “the beautiful
stream,” and forming what is called in this country, the
river bottom. Here, concealed in a tangled thicket of
brushwood, matted with grape-vines, was a small lodge,

constructed of slender poles, covered with bark. Hark
paused, and cast furtive glances of apprehension around,
before he disclosed the entrance to this primitive and
wretched abode, examining with his eye the neighboring
coverts, and then looking timidly towards his companion,
as if still balancing in his mind between prudence and
hospitality; while the dog, imitating his master's caution,
crept silently round the spot, snuffing the air. At last,
Hark, as if satisfied, pushed aside the leafy branches
which concealed his place of retreat, and entering hastily
with his guest, carefully replaced the bushes behind him.

If Mr. Lee had been astonished before, at all he had
seen of the mysterious being into whose company he had
been so strangely thrown, his wonder was not decreased
on finding himself introduced into “a lodge in some
vast wilderness,” which seemed a more fit habitation for
a wild beast than a human creature. The lodge was
square, and not more than eight feet in diameter, while
its height was barely sufficient to allow the dwarfish proprietor
to stand upright in the centre. It was dry and tight.
The floor was formed by logs embedded in the ground,
and covered with dried grass. The only visible articles
of property consisted of an iron stew-pan, a steel trap,
an axe, and a quantity of skins. Motioning to his companion
to seat himself on the floor, Hark proceeded with
some alacrity to prepare a meal. In the first place, he
drew from a magazine of sundries, hidden in one corner
of his tent, several pieces of jerked venison dried so
hard as to be nearly of the consistency of wood, but
which, by the bye, was by no means unpalatable; and
placing them before his guest, signified that he might

commence operations; an intimation which Mr. Lee,
with the assistance of a pocket-knife, obeyed without
hesitation. Hark then retired, and having kindled a
small fire, in a ravine near the tent, produced the carcase
of a fat opossum, which he cut up, and placed in
the stew-pan. In a few minutes the savory mess was
in a condition to be placed before the traveller; and
although totally unseasoned, and destitute of the accompaniment
of bread or vegetables, the famished wayfarer
did ample justice to the cookery of Hark, who sat by,
and refused to partake, until the hunger of his guest was
appeased. This was the proudest day of the life of
Hark the snake-killer. Unused to kindness, and accustomed
from the earliest dawn of reason to consider men
as his enemies, this was probably the first time that he
had ever enjoyed the luxury of doing good from motives
entirely voluntary. He was in company with a gentleman
of fine appearance, and, to his apprehension, of
superior intelligence, who treated him as an equal.
Although an aristocrat by birth, property, and association,
Mr. Lee was naturally good-humored, and his
habits as a sportsman and man of pleasure had thrown
him frequently into contact with the lower classes of
society, and this we suppose to be generally true of those
who engage in sensual pleasures, or in what is more
commonly called dissipation. And it is, if we mistake
not, a national characteristic, that our gentlemen can,
when circumstances render it convenient, adapt themselves
with perfect ease to the society of their inferiors
in education and manners. Mr. Lee, therefore, without
much effort, had the tact to treat our friend Hark as an
equal, simply by avoiding any supercilious show of aversion,
or airs of superiority; and the consequence was
that he rose every moment in the esteem and affection
of this uncouth boy, who soon began to venerate him as
a superior being.

It was now dusk, and our traveller had no choice left
but to spend the night under the miserable shelter which he
had found so opportunely. Indeed, contrasting his present
situation with the gloomy terrors of the forest, and
the disquietude which he had experienced within the last
twenty-four hours, he found great room for congratulation,
and recovered his natural flow of spirits sufficiently
to converse freely with Hark, whose reserve began imperceptibly
to wear away. While they were thus engaged,
the dog all at once showed symptoms of agitation,
pricking his ears, then crawling out of the tent and
snuffing the air, and at last uttering a low sharp whine,
and hastily retreating back to his master, with his hair
bristling and his limbs trembling. Hark, always alive
to fear, looked at his dumb companion, and at his guest,
with a ghastly expression of terror on his sallow features.
Mr. Lee would have spoken, but the boy cautioned
him to be silent, and creeping to the aperture of
the lodge, reconnoitred the surrounding shades with the
cunning of a wary hunter. George followed, and was
about to step from the lodge, when his companion caught
his arm, and whispered “Indians!” Footsteps could
now be heard passing around; they were the wily steps
of the cautious savage treading softly as if aware of the
vicinity of a foe; but the rustling of the leaves, and the
cracking of the dried twigs, betrayed them to the ears

of the attentive listeners. Then a low signal-cry was
heard, which was answered by another from a different
direction. A party of Indians, painted for war, was
seen scattered about, moving silently through the bushes,
or standing in the attitude of eager and watchful attention,
with their hands upon their weapons, and their
dark eyes gleaming with ferocious avidity. It was evident
that they had traced their victims to this spot, and
were now anxiously seeking the place of their concealment.
Suddenly, Hark uttered a piercing scream, and
rushing forward a few steps, pushed aside the bushes, so
as to disclose the entrance of the lodge to the Indians.

“Traitor!” exclaimed Mr. Lee, as he sprung after
him, convinced by this action that the wretched boy had
betrayed him into an ambuscade, and intending under a
sudden impulse of passion to strike him to the ground.
But a momentary glance induced him to abandon the
suspicion. Before him stood a tall Indian, whose superior
air and dress announced him to be a leader, with
his rifle pressed to his shoulder as if in the act of taking
aim. His keen eye had discovered the faces of the
whites, through some slight opening of the intervening
foliage, and he was deliberately preparing to fire with
a deadly aim, when Hark, perceiving his intention,
leaped towards him to implore mercy, throwing himself
on his knees, and regarding his savage captor with looks
of intense agony. Mr. Lee stood behind him, unarmed,
and embarrassed; while the Indians, dashing through
the bushes, with the most terrific yells, and brandishing
their tomahawks, crowded about their victims, prepared
to glut their vengeance by immolating them upon the

spot. But the chief restrained them, making a brief but
peremptory explanation, in a language unknown to the
prisoners, but which probably suggested a respite from
instant death, only as a prelude to a more lingering and
dreadful fate.

Ferocious as this band of savages appeared to the eye
of Mr. Lee, to whom the scene was new, an experienced
observer would have remarked in their deportment a
more than ordinary degree of moderation. The Indians,
like all other unlettered men, act from impulse. A battle
always whets their appetite for blood; and they visit
upon the lives of their unfortunate captives, the ill-humor
occasioned by their own fatigues, losses, or sufferings.
They are cruel, always when excited, and often without
excitement; and sometimes from mere caprice treat their
prisoners with lenity, and even kindness.

It happened that the captors of Mr. Lee were in a
good humor. They had perhaps made a successful inroad
upon the whites, or had met with no occurrence
recently to awaken resentful feelings. The fine horse
of Mr. Lee, the gun, the axe, and the skins of Hark,
constituted in their estimation a prize of no small value,
and their ready tact enabled them to see at a glance
that their prisoners were not persons of warlike habits.
Some, or all of these reasons operated to protect the captives
from ill usage, and they were marched off to the
shore of the Ohio, where the Indians embarked in
canoes that were concealed among the willows, and
crossed to the opposite bank, where they encamped.

At an early hour the following morning, the whole
party prepared to march; but not until some of the warriors

evinced a disposition to amuse themselves at the
expense of Hark. The diminutive size and queer looks
of the half-civilized youth, attracted their attention, and
they indulged their drollery by forming themselves into
two parallel lines, and making the disconcerted snake-killer
march backwards and forwards between them.
As he passed along, one would prick him in the side with
the point of his knife, and when the frightened boy
turned his head towards his tormentor, another would
trip him by placing an obstacle in his path. One of the
tallest of the braves led him to a tree, against which he
placed him, while with a tomahawk he marked his diminutive
height accurately upon the bark; then measuring
and marking his own height upon the same tree, he
pointed out the difference to the amused warriors, who
laughed vociferously at this specimen of wit.

Mr. George Lee joined heartily in the laugh occasioned
by the ludicrous appearance of his new acquaintance,
but it was not long until he became himself a subject
of merriment. Among the spoils was a large iron
kettle, into which the Indians had packed their provisions,
and when the march was about to be commenced,
it was determined to make our friend George the bearer
of this burden. In vain did he remonstrate, both by
emphatic signs and imploring language, assuring them
that he was a gentleman, unused to labor, and totally
unable to carry such a burthen; the Indians persisted in
placing the kettle on his head, and the unfortunate gentleman,
willing to try the virtue of obedience, and afraid
to refuse, moved forward. But although his head had
always been considered hard, in one sense of the word,

it did not prove so in the present instance, and after proceeding
a few steps he began to falter, and showed a
desire to set down his load. A very muscular savage,
a surly malicious-looking ruffian, advanced towards him,
and brandishing his war-club, ordered him to proceed.
George, without understanding the language, readily
comprehended the meaning of the Indian, and turning
towards him, exclaimed in a tone of vexation, “I say,
my good fellow, if you think it's so mighty easy to
carry this load, you had better try it yourself.” The
Indian raised his club to strike, but George, who was a
theoretical boxer, and a man of spirit, threw the kettle
from his head, suddenly darted upon him, wrested the
club from his grasp, and throwing it from him, struck
his assailant with his fist. The Indians shouted applause,
formed a circle, and encouraged their companion to continue
the battle; and the latter, who could not refuse
without disgrace, sprung furiously upon the rebellious
prisoner. Though stout and active, he found his full
match in Mr. Lee, who was a young man of large
frame, in the prime of manhood, and accustomed to
athletic exercises. He was much stronger than the
savage, while the latter was his superior in cunning.
Thus matched, the battle was severely contested for
several minutes, when George, by a lucky blow, stretched
his adversary upon the ground, to the infinite amusement
of the bystanders, who made the forest ring with
their acclamations, while they taunted their beaten comrade
with the severest irony. Mr. Lee now rose considerably
in the estimation of his captors; the kettle was
suspended upon a pole and carried by two of the party,
and our friend accommodated with a lighter load.

They had not proceeded far when they reached the
margin of a broad and rapid stream, which they prepared
to cross by fording. To this evolution Hark
evinced great repugnance; for although accustomed to
dabble in marshy pools, he could not swim, and was
marvellously afraid of deep water. The Indians, who
became more and more amused with his untoward vagaries,
drove him into the water before them, with shouts
of merriment. The stream was about waist deep to the
men, who waded firmly through without difficulty; not
so, Hark, whose chin floated like a cork upon the surface,
while his feet scarcely touching the bottom, were
frequently swept by the force of the current from under
him, and the terrified urchin completely immersed—until
he was relieved, and again placed in a perpendicular
attitude. The Indians, either from a sense of the ludicrous,
or from the pleasure of giving pain, found such
rare sport in the sufferings of Hark, that they no sooner
reached the shore, than they determined to repeat the
exhibition; actuated by the same spirit which induces
the spectators at a theatre to encore some precious piece
of buffoonery. Hark was therefore commanded to retrace
his steps to the opposite bank, attended by a warrior,
whose duty was to keep the performer's head above
water, but who mischievously bobbed it under the surface,
whenever a suitable opportunity offered. Having
thus recrossed, and returned, the savages, satisfied for
the present, prepared to resume their journey. Such
are some of the sports of the Indians, by which they

enliven the brief intervals of enjoyment, few and far
between, that succeed the solitary labors of the chase,
and the butcheries of war, the gloomy nights of watching,
and the long days spent in brooding over meditated violence,
and insatiable revenge.

Hark, though greatly terrified, was not much fatigued
by his late exertions, for he was as hardy as a pine knot,
and accustomed to exposure to the elements. He was
therefore soon rested, and was leaning carelessly against
the stem of a young tree, when the singular expression
of his countenance attracted the attention of the Indians,
who are quick and accurate observers of physiognomy.
His eye, usually dull, was now lighted up, and keenly
fixed upon some object at a short distance off, in the
woods. His lips were compressed, and the muscles of
his vacant countenance in perceptible motion. He seemed
to be drawing himself up like some crouching animal
preparing to spring on its prey. Suddenly he darted
forward towards a large black-snake, which was slily
dragging its shining folds over the dry leaves, and seizing
the reptile by the neck with one hand, whirled the
long body in the air over his head, as a child would
flourish a whip-lash. Then he suffered it to coil itself
round his arm and neck; and disengaging it, threw it
into the air, catching it as it fell. This he repeated frequently,
always taking care to seize the animal dexterously
so near the head, as to prevent the possibility of
its biting. At length, he dropped on his hands and
knees, and fixing his teeth in the back of the creature's
neck, shook it violently as a terrier dog worries a rat;
and finally taking the head in his hand, he rose and

lashed the trees with the long flexible body of his victim,
until he dashed it to pieces, exhibiting in the latter part
of this singular exercise, a degree of spite and fury altogether
foreign from his ordinary indolence of manner.
The Indians, in the meanwhile, gazed at this novel
achievement with delighted admiration, clapping their
hands, and shouting applause; and when Hark rested
from his labors, some of the oldest warriors patted him
on the head, and exclaimed in broken English, “good!”
“velly good!” They forthwith conferred upon him a
sonorous Indian name, which being interpreted, signified
“He that kills snakes,” and treated him afterwards with
lenity, and even favor.

It was very evident that the Indians were neither in
haste, nor fearful of pursuit; for they loitered by the
way, stopping at particular places, and examining for
signs, as if expecting to fall in with some other war
party of their own tribe. At length, towards evening,
they reached the brow of a hill, where a small mark
was discovered, which had been made by chipping a
portion of the bark from a sapling, with a tomahawk;
and at a distance, in the low ground, a thin column of
smoke was seen wreathing above the trees. Here they
halted, cut a large pole, which, after stripping off the
bark, they painted with several colors, and then planted
in the ground. They now cut a lock of hair from the
head of each of the prisoners, and after braiding them,
placed them in a medicine bag, which they hung upon
the pole; and endeavored to explain by signs and broken
English, that these locks represented the prisoners, whom
they intended to adopt into their tribe. All things being

ready, the chief shouted with a loud voice, uttering certain
peculiar yells by which they intended to convey to
their tribe the intelligence of their successful return, and
the number of their prisoners. Then they formed a
circle round the pole, and joining hands with each other
and with the prisoners who were now taken into companionship,
danced round it, singing and leaping with
great vivacity.

After this exercise had continued about half an hour,
they were joined by some of their companions whose
smoke they had seen, and the whole party marched off,
in great ceremony, to the camp, where Mr. Lee witnessed
a spectacle which filled him with astonishment and
horror. What this was, will be explained in a future
chapter.