University of Virginia Library

6. VI.

“That was the signal for uproar and commotion.
The Occonies were desperately angered,
and the fierce Cheochee, whom nothing, not even
the presence of the great war-chief, could restrain,
rushed forward, and dragging the maiden violently
from the hold of Nagoochie, hurled her backward
into the ranks of his people; then, breathing nothing
but blood and vengeance, he confronted
him with ready knife and uplifted hatchet, defying
the young hunter, in that moment, to the fight.

“`E-cha-e-cha, e-herro—echa-herro-echa-herro,'
was the warwhoop of the Occonies; and it gathered
them to a man around the sanguinary
young chief who uttered it. `Echa-herro, echa-herro,'
he continued, leaping wildly in air with the
paroxysm of rage which had seized him, — `the
brown viper has a tooth for the green bird. The

Occony is athirst — he would drink blood from
the dog-heart of the Estato. E-cha-e-cha-herro,
Occony.' And again he concluded his fierce
speech with that thrilling roll of sound, which, as
the so much dreaded warwhoop, brought a death
feeling to the heart of the early pioneer, and made
the mother clasp closely, in the deep hours of the
night, the young and unconscious infant to her
bosom. But it had no such influence upon the
fearless spirit of Nagoochie. The Estato heard
him with cool composure, and though evidently
unafraid, it was yet equally evident that he was
unwilling to meet the challenger in strife. Nor
was his decision called for on the subject. The
great chief interposed, and all chance of conflict
was prevented by his intervention. In that presence
they were compelled to keep the peace,
though both the Occonies and Little Estatoees
retired to their several lodges with fever in their
veins, and a restless desire for that collision which
Moitoy had denied them. All but Nagoochie
were vexed at this denial; and all of them wondered
much that a warrior, so brave and daring
as he had always shown himself, should be so
backward on such an occasion. It was true, they
knew of his love for the girl of Occony; but
they never dreamed of such a feeling acquiring
an influence over the hunter, of so paralyzing and
unmanly a character. Even Nagoochie himself,
as he listened to some of the speeches uttered
around him, and reflected upon the insolence of
Cheochee — even he began to wish that the affair
might go over again, that he might take the hissing
viper by the neck. And poor Jocassee —
what of her when they took her back to the
lodges? She did nothing but dream all night of
Brown Vipers and Green Birds in the thick of
battle.