University of Virginia Library

10. X.

“Jocassée looked up to the hills when she heard
the fierce cry of the descending Vipers. Their
joy was madness, for they had fought with — they
had slain, the bravest of their enemies. The intoxication

of tone which Cheochee exhibited, when
he told the story of the strife, and announced his
victory, went like a death-stroke to the heart of
the maiden. But she said not a word — she uttered
no complaint — she shed no tear — but,
gliding quietly into the boat in which they were
about to cross the river, she sat silent, gazing, with
the fixedness of a marable statue, upon the still
dripping scalp of her lover, as it dangled about
the neck of his conqueror. On a sudden, just as
they had reached the middle of the stream, she
started, and her gaze was turned once more backward
upon the banks they had left, as if, on a sudden,
some object of interest had met her sight, —
then, whether by accident or design, with look still
intent in the same direction, she fell over the side,
before they could save or prevent her, and was
buried in the deep waters of Sarratay for ever.
She rose not once to the surface. The stream,
from that moment, lost the name of Sarratay, and
both whites and Indians, to this day, known it only
as the river of Jocassée. The girls of Cherokee,
however, contend that she did not sink, but walking
`the waters like a thing of life,' that she rejoined
Nagoochie, whom she saw beckoning to
her from the shore. Nor is this the only tradition.
The story goes on to describe a beautiful lodge,
one of the most select in the valley of Manneyto,
the hunter of which is Nagoochie of the Green
Bird, while the maiden who dresses his venison is
certainly known as Jocassée.”