University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.
TURNING ASIDE.

At the moment when Henry and Isaline turned
aside to visit the Indian mound, the train, of which
they formed a part, was slowly, carelessly, and irregularly
pursuing its way over the then beaten route
between Limestone and Lexington. It was passing
through an open, nearly level wood, within sight of
the romantic hills of the Licking, and was stretched
out, in a straggling manner from front to rear, to a
length of nearly half a mile. Though in the latter
part of the month of September, the day was extremely
warm and sultry, and every one, beast as
well as rider, seemed disposed to take matters as
easy as possible. The horses which carried burdens
moved slowly, with heads down, whisking their tails,
and occasionally stopping and turning to snap at
flies; their drivers sauntered along in a lazy, indifferent
manner, now and then with a chirrup, an oath,
or a crack of the whip, seemingly more from habit
and to keep awake than for any other reason; the
scouts plodded forward, with their rifles swung over
their shoulders and their eyes on the ground, evidently
thinking of anything rather than wild game
or savage foes; and the mounted females and children

jogged on, singly or in pairs, each looking
heated and wearied, and as if it would be too great
a task to hold a conversation with anybody. When
our young lady and gentleman so suddenly turned
aside and dashed away in company, it did excite
some little surprise in those nearest to them, and
some two or three of the more energetic ventured
to ask what it meant; but as no one assumed the
responsibility of giving an answer, and as they were
too far from Isaline's servants to understand the sage
remarks of the latter, the matter appeared to be
dropped as one which would require too much
trouble to investigate.

Meantime Henry and Isaline, with more life and
spirit than all the rest put together, were speeding
away toward one of the curiosities of the wilderness,
and it was evident that from some cause they
felt little of heat or fatigue.

A quarter of a mile brought them to a pretty little
brook, which ran along the base of a bank of earth,
some five or six feet high, that had apparently been
thrown up with a shovel, and formed one side of a
parallelogram of two hundred yards by one hundred
and fifty, with an opening of six feet wide at each
of the four corners or angles, the whole resembling
an earthwork or fortification of modern times.
Within this inclosure, at short, equal distances from
each embankment, rose an oblong mound, to the
height of fifty feet, with a regular rounding off of
the sides and apex, as though it had been constructed

in the best style of a genuine art. Upon the summit
of this mound were some half a dozen large trees,
which had grown there since its erection, and the
whole was covered with a thick, rich greensward,
interspersed with wild flowers of various bright hues,
presenting an appearance of striking novelty and
beauty. Riding into the inclosure through one of
the openings, our friends galloped entirely around
the interior, but found the main acclivity too steep
on all sides for an ascent on horseback.

“It is a beautiful curiosity, to be here in the wilderness,”
said Isaline, “and I should so like to go to
the top of it!”

“We can easily do so by dismounting, I think!”
returned Henry.

“But our horses?”

“Tie the bridle-reins around their necks and let
them graze here—my word for it they will not attempt
to run away.”

“If you are certain of that,” rejoined Isaline, “we
will do so—or,” she added, “we can hitch them outside.”

“They will remain quietly enough here; have no
fear!” said Henry, dismounting as he spoke and assisting
his companion to do the same.

The horses seemed eager for the rank grass, and,
leaving them to feed, their riders began to climb the
steep little hill before them. It was not easy to ascend,
even on foot—for the sides had an angle of
inclination like an old-fashioned house-roof—but

by taking hold of the grass, to keep from slipping
backward, Henry and Isaline soon managed to reach
the top, from which they had a fine view of the
country round about.

The scene was a pleasant one, but requires no
more than a general description. In the direction
from which they had approached the place, or looking
eastward, was a level, nearly open wood, among
the grand old trees of which they could catch
glimpses of the train they had left; further on to
the right, or southward, was a small ridge, beyond
which the ground descended to a swampy level,
covered with a thick canebrake; beyond that was
another ridge; and then the eyes rested upon the
hills of the Licking, some five or six miles away,
but coming up with a broad bend to within half that
distance westward, and then falling back till lost in
the dim blue of the northwestern horizon. Directly
northward the ground was rough, rocky, and bushy;
and between the artificial mound and the nearest
hill of the Licking range, was a thick wood, a
dense thicket, a rocky ridge, a canebrake, and a
grassy opening—so diversified was the face of the
country. The sun was some two hours past meridian,
but his rays were beating down with great
heat; and looming up above the western horizon
were some half-a-dozen ominous-looking cloud-heads,
as if they might be angry heralds of an approaching
storm.

“And where do we cross the Licking?” inquired

Isaline, after having looked around her with a flush
of delight.

“Yonder,” replied Henry, pointing in a southwesterly
direction, “where you see that opening between
the hills. The great buffalo trace we have
been following leads thither, and there, near the
Blue Licks, is the ford.”

“Oh, yes, the Blue Licks—I have heard my father
speak of that place. If I remember rightly, a great
battle was fought there between the Kentuckians
and Indians!”

“Yes,” replied Henry, “a terribly disastrous battle
for the borderers—one that nearly cost them the
possession of the country! Through their own
want of caution and the cunning of the savages,
they were drawn into a horrible ambuscade, and the
deeds of that day shrouded the whole fair land in
mourning!”

“I should so like to see the battle-ground!” said
Isaline.

“Should everything be favorable when we reach
there, I will show it to you.”

“You do not apprehend any danger?” returned
Isaline, looking at her companion searchingly.

“At least I hope for no trouble, either there or
elsewhere,” he answered; “but it is a place I never
approach without a feeling of dread—for there, at
different times, the Indians have ambushed the
whites and committed some fearful deeds.”

“Then why pass there now?”

“It is the only travelled road through this section
of the country, and has a good ford, except when
the river is raised by the spring and fall floods.”

“Why do you call our route the buffalo trace?”

“Because in times past the buffalo and other
animals, which roamed the wilderness here and
northward, came down yonder to lick the saline
earth and rocks, and on going and returning they
passed over and formed the beaten track we have
been pursuing. The springs, at what are called the
Licks, are strongly impregnated with salt; and this
even now draws from different quarters the beasts
of the wilderness; so that these Licks are still fine
places for the hunter, who, by concealing himself in
some neighboring thicket, can always supply himself
with game.”

“And so the builders of this mound are not known
even in tradition?” said Isaline, abruptly changing
the subject and whisking the ground with her riding
switch.

“So far as I can understand, not even our present
race of Indians knows anything of them,” replied
Henry.

“I wonder if they were as savage as their immediate
successors! Did I understand you to call this
mound a sepulchre?”

“Yes, for the ground contains a great many
human bones; and also implements of stone, such
as hatchets, knives, spear-heads, mortars, kettles, and
so forth. I have never dug here, but I have in

other mounds like it, and which appear to be scattered
all over this western country, and I doubt not
the same articles would be found here. I have
sometimes thought these hills might have been
thrown up for the burial of the chiefs and their
families, and that these household things, along with
the weapons of war and the chase, might have been
put in their graves, under the superstitious belief
that they would be needed in the other world—for
it is a singular fact, that all nations, peoples and
tongues, no matter how rude and low in the human
scale, have some kind of faith in the immortality of
the soul, or future existence of man.”

“I have often thought of that,” returned Isaline,
“as one of the strongest evidences we have of the
reality of a life beyond the grave—for to the barbarous
heathen the belief must come rather through
instinct than reason—and we know that in the life
around us instinct seldom if ever errs. I should
like exceedingly to get hold of some one of these
relics, as a memento of this visit!”

“If I had a spade with me, it might be the work
of only a few minutes,” answered Henry; “and even
as it is, I think with the use of my knife I can soon
get hold of something.”

“Perhaps it would delay us too long, and our
friends get too far ahead of us!”

“Oh, we could easily overtake them, were they
even to have a two hours' start!” said Henry, glancing

at the wood through which the train appeared
to be moving at a snail-like pace.

“But they may think strange of our absence, and
some of the scouts come off to seek us!” suggested
Isaline.

“They would hardly do that unless we were to be
absent till after dark,” returned Henry, “and we will
overtake them long before then, to say the worst.
But come and sit down, Miss Isaline, on the grass
here, in the shade of this tree, while I make a little
exploration of the mound!” he added, pointing her
to a very comfortable seat.

“I will take the shade of the tree, but prefer
standing to sitting,” answered the young lady, as
she moved forward to the place indicated.

“Sometimes,” pursued Henry, “there are marks
about these mounds which show us how to arrive
soonest at the treasures we seek, and I will endeavor
to find one of these.”

He forthwith began his search. Going down the
northern side, looking carefully at every step, he at
length exclaimed:

“I think I have found one of the places—a small,
flat stone, buried under the grass, and nearly concealed
by the earth itself. Remain up there in the
shade, Miss Isaline, have patience for a few minutes,
and I will tell you more.”

He took out his knife, got down on his knees, and
began to clear the dirt off from the stone. This
done, he tried to raise it, but found he could not

stir it. It was a reddish sandstone, about two feet
square, and was covered with hieroglyphics. He
again spoke to Isaline, told her of his discovery, and
she went down to look at it.

“If we could get it up,” he said, “I doubt not we
should find something beneath that would prove
interesting. If I had a spade, I would soon have it
out, but a hunting-knife is a slow tool to dig with.”

“Nay, then, let it go,” returned Isaline; “at best it
would only be gratifying a whimsical fancy, and I
do not want you to lose any more time here.”

“Pardon me, Miss Isaline!” he said, looking up
into her bright, sweet face, with a pleasant smile; “I
can never think any time lost that I may employ in
serving you!”

“You are very kind,” she replied, with a rosy
flush that increased her beauty; “but I fear we are
remaining here too long! We must not forget that
we are in a lonely wilderness, filled with prowling
wild beasts and savage men, and I see you have not
even brought your rifle with you!”

“True,” he said, “when I mounted my horse, I
gave it to one of the blacks to carry for me; but then
I really do not believe there is any danger here!”

“Perhaps not; but we are certainly in an exposed
situation, and I confess I am beginning to feel a little
uneasy. Although we can hear our friends, they
are already out of sight; and if anything were to
happen, we might not be able to rejoin them, or get
them to our assistance in time to serve us, if at all!”

“Do not be alarmed, Miss Isaline, for there is
really nothing to fear!” said Henry. “All around
us the country has been well scoured by the scouts,
and not a single Indian sign has been discovered
since we landed in Kentucky, and there are no wild
beasts in this region that would venture to attack us
by daylight. True, I have had some little dread of
the ford near the Licks; but we shall not approach
that alone, and my companions will look well to
the country in that vicinity, you may depend!”

“Well, suppose we rejoin them at once!”

“Give me a few minutes more, Miss Isaline, and I
think I can get this stone out. I will work fast, and
I confess I am myself not a little curious to see what
is underneath it.”

As Isaline made no further objections, though
she glanced around her with a greater feeling of
uneasiness than she would have cared to express,
Henry began to dig away the earth from around the
stone with his knife and hands. He worked hard
and fast, but his progress did not keep pace with his
expectation and desire. Five, ten, fifteen minutes
slipped away; and though he had by that time
cleared the dirt away from the sides of the stone to
the depth of several inches, yet he had not come to
the bottom of it and could not move it. He was
still at work, and his fair companion was glancing
around her with an increased feeling of uneasiness
that amounted to something like fear, when suddenly
both were startled by the sullen boom of distant
thunder.

“Ah!” exclaimed Isaline, turning deadly pale and
trembling in every limb.

“Good Heaven! what is the matter?” cried Henry,
catching the painful expression of her features and
noting her nervous agitation.

“It often affects me thus when it takes me so
much by surprise,” she answered, in a low, faint
tone, as she seated herself on the ground, apparently
too weak to stand. “Oh that we had not come here
at all!”

“We can easily rejoin our friends before the
shower can catch us, if that will make matters any
better!” he replied. “I did not think of this! One
moment, till I get a look at it!”

As he spoke there came another boom, and on
the heels of it a third, with a longer and heavier
rumble. Isaline covered her face with her hands,
and uttered a low, startled moan, which Henry did
not hear, for he was in the act of darting around
the hill to get a view of the approaching storm, his
late position having been about half-way between
the bottom and top of the mound and too much on
the eastern side to permit of his seeing the western
horizon.

A great change had taken place since he had last
looked in this direction. Half way up to the zenith,
a black, rolling, angry cloud was now stretched, from
which darted vivid chains of lightning; and the low,
sullen rumble of the distant thunder rapidly increased
in volume, and soon became an almost continuous

roar, with now and then a jarring boom.
The whirling of the clouds indicated a good deal of
wind, and the advance of the storm was so swift,
that even while he was calculating the time it would
take for it to reach the place where he stood, he
beheld the dark vapors shoot athwart the bright face
of the sun, casting a gloomy shadow over the whole
scene.

For himself Henry feared nothing; to him this
war of the elements was a sublime beauty and fascination;
and had he been alone, he would have remained
and gazed at the storm with a kind of poetical
rapture; but he remembered his fair companion,
now made timid even to terror through some unexplainable
action of the electrical forces upon her
nervous organization, and he hastened back to her
side. He found her sitting as we have described,
with her face buried in her hands, rocking herself
to and fro and moaning.

“The storm is nearer than I thought, Miss Isaline,”
he said, with hurried anxiety, “and unless we set
out immediately, I fear it will reach us before we
can possibly rejoin our companions.”

“Quick, then! let us go at once!” cried Isaline,
starting to her feet and finding herself so weak as
to require his support to keep her from staggering,
if not falling. “You think me a foolish coward, I
know,” she added, as she hurried down toward the
horses, “but I cannot help my feelings. A thunderstorm
has always had this effect upon me since I can

remember; and though I have often tried to reason
myself out of my terrors, I have never succeeded
in doing so.”

“Fear not that I shall think the less of you for
what you cannot avoid!” returned Henry. “We
have no more command over our feelings than our
faith.”

“Ha! what a sharp flash!” cried Isaline, covering
her eyes, as a bright bolt shot from heaven to earth,
and was shortly followed by a bursting roar.

As our two friends neared the horses, which had
all this time been as quietly feeding as if nature
were at holy peace around them, there suddenly
rung out upon the murky air another sound more
appalling than the loudest crash of thunder! It was
the wild, fierce scream of the panther, or cougar!
and the terrible animal was seen leaping from a tree
to the ground, just outside of the inclosure. This
even made Henry start, as well as his companion,
with a thrill akin to fear, and instinctively his hand
clutched the haft of his knife, the only weapon he
now had with him. The horses too at the same
instant threw up their heads and glared around
them, with snorts of terror; and then, before Henry,
who abruptly left his companion and darted forward
for the purpose, could reach and grasp their bridles,
they threw out their heels wildly and dashed away
like the wind.

“God help us!” murmured Isaline, clasping her
hands, with a feeling and look of absolute despair.