University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.

The next day being Sunday, the servies of the church were duly
performed in the Chapel, or room so called, in one of the extreme
wings of the mansion. Mr. Roughgrove had been ordained a deacon
during his residence in Virginia, and had been constituted a
missionary, by the Bishop, to reside among the Indians.

Not a cloud was in the heavens. Not a breath of air disturbed
the foliage. The temperature was pleasant in the glorious sunshine;
and even the birds, on that happy Sabbath morning, seemed
to gambol on the wing and to strain their tiny throats in grateful
melody. The earth, the air, the sky, everything, animate and inanimate,
as Mr. Roughgrove said in his sermon to his white friends,
and to his black friends, the slaves, seemed, on that bright and
balmy morning in the wilderness, to declare the beneficence of God,
the great Creator and Giver of all good things.

When the services were ended, Glenn ascended the tower. This
was a precautionary measure; and it was a rule for some one to go
thither every hour, and gaze over the surrounding country.

He returned immediately, with delighted interest in his looks,
and taking the children by the hand, and beckoning the rest to follow,
reascended the stairway to the lofty summit.

“Oh,” cried Charley, leaping up, and dancing, and clapping his
hands.

“Catch one, pa!” cried Jule, manifesting the ecstasy she felt, by
her smiles and exclamations.

A considerable number of wild horses, during the service, had
entered the delta from the forest on the west; and a portion of
them attracted by the domestic animals grazing on the eastern side
of the palisaded enclosure, had gone thither, and were now, apparently,
holding a conference with them. Their noses were mutually

advanced, and their mouths were in motion, as if really whispering
together. Their necks were arched, their tails were lifted, and
their steps were lofty, as if to make as imposing an appearance as
possible.

“I'll have the beautiful black and white colt!” cried Charley.
“Can't you catch him, pa?”

“Not by chasing, Charley,” said William, “for, when they are a
week old, they can run as fast as the grown horses.”

“Is that so, William?” asked Mary.

“It is so said, and I do not doubt it,” he replied. “And I believe
it is the same thing with our tame horses.”

While the horses were exchanging friendly greetings, the colts
amused themselves playing round them, and chasing each other
with a fleetness, that convinced even little Charley it would be a difficult
matter to catch one in a race.

“But where is the General?” asked Glenn, looking in vain for
the large white horse, of the most majestic proportions.

“There!” said William, pointing in the opposite direction, on the
west of the enclosure. He stood some three or four hundred paces
distant, gazing alternately at the detachment, mostly mares and
colts, that had ventured down to the eastern extremity of the delta,
and at the palisade enclosure. Near him were several other horses
of noble dimensions, and several half-grown ones, of his own spotless
hue.

“Look, Mary—and La-u-na!” said Glenn.

“Beautiful,” said La-u-na.

“Grand,” said Mary. “How stately and majestic his attitude!
Look, Charley and Juliet. Did you ever see so beautiful an animal
as that?”

“Never,” cried they. “But ma,” said Juliet, “I should be
afraid to ride him, he looks so strong.”

“Truly,” said old Mr. Roughgrove, “it is a noble animal, and
the handsomest of the brute creation.”

“Mr. Glenn, Mr. Glenn,” said Joe, coming up hastily—“may I
shoot him? I've got an ounce bullet, and my musket can kill him
at that distance. His skin can be stuffed, and —”

“Joe,” said Glenn, “if you were to fire at that horse, or at any
of them, I would order Cæsar to burn the wood of your musket,
and to make horse shoes of the iron. And what is more, you should
not have another gun for twelve months.”

“Dod rot it, didn't I tell you so?” said Sneak, who had followed
Joe.

“Shut your mouth,” said Joe. “I didn't mean any harm, Mr.
Glenn,” he continued. “I don't want to break the law; but I
thought little Charley would like to have a stuffed horse, and such a
pretty one as that.”

“No he wouldn't,” said Juliet; but he would like to have a live
colt. Don't hurt any of 'em Joe—please don't shoot 'em, for
they're prettier than our tame horses.”

“I won't hurt a hair of their backs, Miss Juliet.”

“Go, Joe,” said Glenn. “I know you had no wicked motive.
Reserve your ounce bullet for the buffalo or the Indians. The
horses are animals of too high an order ever to be shot like common
game.”

“There, Sneak,” said Joe, retreating hastily. “The Indians are
coming. I know it. Mr. Glenn said Indians, to prepare me for
'em. I know him, better than you do. But I'm not afraid.”

After gazing many minutes, during which the white steed did
not once lower his head to pluck the rich grass growing between his
feet, he uttered a prolonged neigh, which attracted the attention of
the distant stragglers, and they came trotting up the valley immediately.
The colts soon outstripped the rest, and seemed to contend
for mastery in speed. They came very near the house, and the
spectators in the tower had a fair view of them as they careered
past the enclosure.

“Oh, they're just like the circus ponies,” said Juliet.

“Faster, prettier,” said Charley.

Before the mares had come up even with the house, the colts had
reached the grand white horse which had given the signal. They
ran up to him and lifted their mouth to his, as if in salutation; and
he seemed pleased with the attention. And when the mares passed
by, he still stood with his head towards the cast, gazing at Joe's

Dick, a heavy built, docile iron gray stallion, which had been amusing
himself with his awkward gallantries. Dick, upon seeing the
stranger awaiting his approach, stopped fifty paces short of him.

“He backs his ears, pa,” said Charley.

“And Dick understands it,” said William.

“Is there not danger that Joe's pet may be handled rather roughly?”
asked Glenn.

“Not if he is submissive,” said William. “I have often seen
the meeting of wild horses with domestic ones; and the latter rarely
suffer injury unless they are the aggressors.”

“The wild ones are the noblest,” said Juliet.

“Certainly,” said Glenn. “They are of pure Arabian descent,
their progenitors being brought over by the Spanish Cavaliers.
They conquered Montezuma's country, and if this did not improve
the stock of man, they left in the wilderness an undegenerate breed
of horses.”

Dick refusing to follow the mares and colts any further, and seeming
disinclined to exchange salutations with the leader of the drove,
the white horse, while his company pursued their way towards the
upper end of the valley, very deliberately, and with dignity in every
step, advanced towards the stranger. Dick seemed to crouch and
tremble, and did not dare to turn and attempt to escape. The noble
animal of the prairie walked quite up to him, and then around
him, and smelt his mouth, his neck and his back, while poor Dick
seemed submissive from fear. Then giving him a nip in the shoulder,
which made Dick yell in pain and turn and fly, the noble animal
likewise turned towards his family, and neighing loudly, exhibited
a specimen of his speed, by seeming to fly upon the wings of
the wind. In a few moments he was at the head of his company,
and then falling into a more moderate pace, he led them into the
forest, beyond the island.

“The next time they come,” said William, they will be less fearful,
because we have not sought to catch or kill any of them.”

“But won't they catch or kill some of us, Misther William?” asked
Biddy, who had been hitherto a silent, but interested spectator
of the novel scene.

“No, Biddy,” said he. “They never attack any of the human
kind. Even the noble leader of the troop would run away from
Charley or Juliet, if he were to meet either of them alone in the
prairie.”

“I see them now, in the high prairie, on the right of the forest,”
said Mr. Roughgrove. “And now, my children,” he continued,
“as God has given us so lovely a Sabbath for our enjoyment, let us
walk forth and manifest our grateful appreciation of the boon. And
I will show you some of the wonderful works of Providence which
have escaped the eyes of William and Glenn, notwithstanding they
have been out on exploring expeditions.”

“Probably,” said Glenn, “your discoveries were made on foot,
and where horsemen could not go.”

“True,” said Roughgrove. “Come, let us repair to the scene.
Mary and La-u-na, Charley and Jule, Biddy and all.”

They descended to the area in the rear of the house, where they
found Joe, with his Dick, under the persimmon trees. Joe was in
a furious passion, washing and swabbing his shoulder, where the
blood still run from the bite of the wild horse.

“You make more fuss over it, Joe,” said Sneak, “than you did
over the bite you got on the leg from Pete's shadow. Maybe it was
only the shadow of the critter that bit Dick.”

“I wish you'd take your shadow away from here,” said Joe, “before
I spoil it. Don't fret me, Sneak; this quiet Sunday morning,
after the sermon we've heard.”

“It was a good sarmon, Joe,” said Sneak, “and it made me feel
fifty pounds lighter. But what's the use of Mr. Roughgrove putting
on a white gown out here?”

“Ask him yourself, Sneak, and don't trouble me. Still, I can
say, I wouldn't give one of them green persimmons for a bushel of
sermon's if the priest didn't wear something more than common
people. And Biddy thinks so too.”

“Put up your horse, Joe, and come with us,” said Glenn.

“And may I take my gun, Mr. Glenn?” asked Joe, giving Dick
a slap that sent him trotting off to the stable.

“Certainly, Joe,” said Glenn. “William and I have our rifles.

No man, except Mr. Roughgrove, is ever to leave the enclosure, day
or night, week or Sunday, without his gun.”

“And is Sneak to go too?” asked Joe.

“No. You and he might quarrel, and that may be prevented on
Sunday, by keeping you apart.”

“And may I take Pete?”

“No. Fasten him securely. I want to see the other Pete, alone,
if I can.”

“And so do I, Mr. Glenn, and I want you, if you please, to run
up a silver dollar I've got, into a bullet, for me to shoot him with.”

“Pa,” said Jule, “I heard Biddy tell him the other Pete could'nt
be killed, if he didn't shoot him with a silver bullet.”

“That's Biddy's superstitious nonsense, my child,” said Glenn,
“and you must not believe a word of it. The dog is a real dog,
and no ghost, Biddy,” he added, when the nurse came within hearing,
leading Charley; “ghost must be killed, if at all, with silver
bullets, but did you ever see one Biddy, after it was killed?”

“Niver, Misther Glenn. But me father kilt one in Connaught,
and I would'nt look at it, at all.”

“What did your father say it looked like?” asked Mary.

“A great big saal, Misthress Glenn, and it cum up out of the
say.”

“No doubt,” said Glenn. “But, Joe, you must understand that
this little strange dog is not to be molested. If it were not that
you say he is fat, I would have him fed every day. No doubt he
belonged to a christian master, who is either dead or lost. He can
do no harm.”

“But he bit me,” said Joe.

“And you deserved it, for throwing him so rudely on the
ground,” said Glenn.

They proceeded along the margin of the brook on the northern
side of the island, until they reached a place where a flat piece of
timber had been lain across the shining stream. They passed over,
and following the guidance of old Mr. Roughgrove, ascended to
the summit of the hill above the great cave.

The children were wild with delight in the glorious sunshine, and
ran hither and thither plucking the flowers. La-u na and Mary

partaking of their glee, followed them only to warn them against
the tempting berries that were unwholesome, and the thorns that
often environed the rarest blossoms.

“And now,” said Mr. Roughgrove, with recovered breath, after
elambering up the ascent, “we are approaching the scene of my
discovery.” He led the way by a narrow path into what seemed a
dense and almost impenetrable thicket of bushes and brambles.

“Of course we did not ride in here,” said Glenn.

“But we skirted it,” said William, “and here are the tracks of
our horses, along the edge.”

“That's Dick's track,” said Joe; “I know it by the split in the
hoof.”

“Behold!” said Mr. Roughgrove, parting the branches of a mulberry
tree, whose large leaves had obscured the objects beyond.

“Mercy on us!” said Mary, starting back.

“Hold me, or I'll fall,” cried Joe, backing out as well as he
could.

“There is no danger,” said La-u-na, holding her little Charles by
the hand.

They stood near the brink of an immense chasm, of almost unfathomable
depth. It was some thirty feet in width at the surface,
and extended more than fifty paces in length. It ran from east to
west, transversing the direction of the cave, with which, from the
location, there might be some communication. But the objects
which attracted the most attention, were the immense pieces of mica
or isinglass, that seemed to have been divided by the convulsion of
nature which produced the chasm, leaving great vertical plates,
most of spotless transparency, on either hand. The sun was shining
resplendently against them on the side opposite to where the party
stood, and they beheld, or fancied they saw, vegetation, and particularly
fruit and flowers in caverns beyond, as if the enormous plates
had been placed there by man, to concentrate the rays of the sun
on plants too delicate to withstand the blasts of winter.

“Mary,” said Glenn, his wife clinging to his arm, “does it not
seem to you that bushes and flowers are growing on the other side

of the windows, or mirrors, or whatever may be the most proper designation
of the wonderful specimens of mica?”

“Truly there seems to be vegetation, green and rank, beyond the
plates.” La-u-na, William, and the children bore the same testimony.
And Joe swore to it—for he could see great bunches of
grapes, larger than any of the wild ones, through the glass, just as
plainly as he could feel the nose on his face.

“I thought so, too,” said Mr. Roughgrove, “when I stood here
yesterday, but as it might possibly be an optical illusion, I said nothing
about it. But who knows there are not chambers in the great
cave, extending this far from the valley, and why should they not
have mica walls as well as partitions of granite or slate. But come
with me further along the margin. You have not beheld their full
extent.”

He led the way by a well-beaten deer or wild goat path, where a
regular growth of young cedars, forming a natural balustrade, protected
them from falling.

The plates of mica extended, with inconsiderable intervals, the
entire length of the chasm. In some places they were perpendicular,
and in others inclined sixty or seventy degrees, resembling the
exterior of an immense hot-house. Between the ledges dividing the
different masses of mica, several streams of smoking waters gushed
forth, as if fresh from the volcanic fires that heated them; and the
rumbling of a stream of considerable volume was heard far below,
beyond the reach of vision.

“No doubt,” said William, “the chasm communicates with the
cave, for it is probable the hot spring has its source in this vicinity.

“Look!” cried La-u-na, pointing to a niche in the cliff opposite,
some ten feet in diameter, where a very large rattlesnake was coiled.
His head and tail were both erect, and his rattle sounded thrillingly
a moment afterwards.

“We are beyond his reach,” said William, holding Charley, who
gazed at the seene in silent awe.

“Don't shoot, Joe,” said Glenn, seeing Joe taking aim at the
reptile.

“Oh, my goodness. It's the biggest sort of a rattlesnake, Mr.
Glenn,” said Joe, with the biggest sort of eyes.

“Well, suppose it is—it can't harm us at that distance,” said
Glenn; “besides it is never an aggressor—is it William?”

“No,” said William. “It acts only on the defensive, and it
gives warning.”

“But there's another snake,” cried Joe. “I see two more;
great long black snakes.”

“And they are not venomous,” said William, “but they often
kill the rattlesnakes.”

“And it is not us for whom the warning is designed,” said La-u-na,
“but for the blacksnakes. See, one of them is about to attack
the rattlesnake.”

This was true. But in endeavoring to seize the rattlesnake by
the neck he missed the mark, and received its fangs about midway
of his body. He sprang up several feet in the air, and glided
away as quickly as possible, beyond the reach of his foe, who still
maintained his coil, and soon after turned over on his back and expired.
The other black snake was more circumspect, and for a
long time glided round the rattlesnake, keeping out of his reach.
The latter kept his glittering eye upon him, at first, but seemed to
lose his steady gaze as the other increased his speed. Then making
a quick spring, the black snake succeeded in catching his antagonist
by the back of his head, and thus prevented him from striking.
He then, with almost inconceivable rapidity, wrapped himself round
the much thicker body of the rattlesnake, and by a sudden muscular
action, elongated himself on the rock, when the separation of the
vertebre of his victim could be distinctly heard. Releasing his
hold, the conqueror moved slowly away, leaving the rattlesnake
quite dead.

“Hurrah for the black snake,” cried Joe. “I'll never kill another.”

“If one should get round your neck, Joe,” said William, “and
separate the joints, by straightening himself, perhaps you would
never hurra for another”

“Oh, don't talk so, if you please,” said Joe, “it makes me choke
to think of it.”

“I have no doubt,” said Glenn, “a great many snakes repair
hither at this season of the year. They go into the cliffs for refuge
in the winter, and perhaps they derive warmth from the vicinity of
the hot water flowing through the rocks. You must be very watchful,
Biddy.”

“Oh, Misther Glenn,” said she, shivering in dread, “you didn't
tell me the nasty things would ate me, or I would niver 've come
out here.”

“They don't eat anybody, Biddy,” said Joe, striving to comfort
her; “but they bite, sometimes. Don't be afraid—I'll guard you.
I ain't afraid of anything; and Mr. Boone used to say when a person
wasn't afraid, he wasn't in danger. Don't be afraid, Biddy.”

“Don't cry, Biddy,” said Juliet.

“No—look at me,” said Charley, “I'm not afraid.”

The party then followed Mr. Roughgrove round to the opposite
side of the chasm, and they found the walls on the South side similar
to the others, the mica being exfoliated by the parting of the
earth and rocks

While they were gazing at this singular freak of nature, Joe,
who had lingered a little behind, plucking some delicious grapes,
joined them in a most unexpected manner. He came tearing through
the bushes and vines in a frightful condition. His hands were up,
his face as pale as dough, and his eyes and mouth wide open. He
rushed to where the party stood in amazement, and without uttering
a word, fell prostrate on his face.

“What is the matter?” cried Glenn, striding to where he lay, and
seizing him by the collar, turned him over.

Joe's eyes and mouth were still wide open, but he uttered no reply.
Nevertheless, he pointed towards the bush upon which the
grapevine was growing. William walked in that direction, and discovered,
several hundred paces distant, on a knoll in the prairie, a
solitary Indian. He stood perfectly still, gazing in the direction of
the chasm. His arms were folded, and his bow and quiver were behind

him. William made a gesture of friendly salutation, which
was understood and responded to by the Indian.

“There is no danger,” said William, to his party, as they came
to where he stood. “That chief has no evil design, else it would
have been manifested before this. You need not hesitate to come
out in view of him, for no doubt he has seen us all, keeping himself
and his party unseen.”

“Can you be sure there is no danger, William?” asked Mary,
clinging to Glenn, and pressing Juliet to her side.

“Quite sure, Mary,” said he; “he is not painted for war—but
rather for worship. I will speedily learn more.”

William advanced alone some forty paces, and in full view of the
Indian, laid his rifle on the ground. The Indian did the same with
his bow. Then the two continued to advance until they met. Their
greeting was a very hearty one, as seen from a distance, but their
words could not be heard.

“Misther Back,” said Biddy, who had been left at the chasm
with Joe, and now came forward with him towards the group at the
edge of the prairie, after hearing William's declaration that there
was no danger. “Misther Back, I thought you said you wasn't
afraid of anything?”

“Me, Biddy? Did I? But I ain't. Who thought I was
afraid?”

“I did, Mr. Back. You was as pale as a candle, and you couldn't
spake at all.”

“Me? It was a mistake, Miss Biddy, I give you my word and
honor I was only uneasy for the little children and you, Biddy. I
thought what a horrid act it would be to see the poor little children
and their beautiful nurse scalped and tomahawked by the bloody
savages, and I turned pale on their account and on yourn, Biddy.
That was all. I hadn't a bit of fear for myself. Why should I?
I've been in their clutches many a time. I'll tell you all about it
some of these days.”

“Did they scalp you, Mr. Back? Let me see.”

“No—but they were going to—only they were disturbed.”

“But you couldn't spake, Mr. Back, when you tumbled, and give
us warning to hide.”

“Couldn't speak! Why, Miss Biddy, you don't understand me
any better than Sneak. It was my superior prudence, my tact and
skill. I didn't want to speak—because I didn't want the Indians,
who I thought might be enemies, to hear me. But didn't I point
silently at 'em, and didn't Mr. William understand me, and go out
and see who it was? He knows 'em all—and it's a lucky thing it's
a friendly chief at their head. But the hostile ones will come, and
then you'll see whose's afraid.”

“Will they come, Mr. Back?”

“To be sure they will, Biddy. What do you think I brought my
musket all the way out here for, if it wasn't to fight?”

“Och, and I won't stay to have the top of me head cut off. I'll
give Mr. Glenn warning.”

“Warning?”

“Yes. I'll lave.”

“Why, Biddy, how can you leave us? There isn't another white
man or white woman in a thousand miles of us. The Indians would
scalp you, the rattlesnakes would bite you, and the wolves and the
grizzleys would tear you, and hug you a hundred times before you
could go half way back.” Biddy shed tears; and then Joe sought
to comfort her, pledging himself to protect her, and to die a hundred
times before a hair of her head should suffer.

Now all eyes were turned in the direction of the chief and William,
who were conferring in the prairie, and the latter, after the
exchange of a few speeches with the chief, called to La-u-na in the
Indian language, to join them.

La-u-na, who had been regarding the noble form of the chief in
silence, no sooner heard the words of her husband, than she placed
little Charley's hand in Juliet's, and then bounded away over the
prairie. The chief strode forward to meet her, and clasped her in
his brawny arms, while the long feathers on his head fell over her
neck.

“The Trembling Fawn,” exclaimed the chief.

“Red Eagle—my uncle!” cried La-u-na. Although La-u-na's
mother had been the wife of one said to be a white man, she was,
nevertheless, the sister of the Red Eagle, the highest chief, and

greatest king of the Camanches, one of the most powerful tribes on
the continent. He had come, with the prophet of his nation, to
make one of their customary offerings to the White Spirit of the
valley—a spirit, which, he said, was reverenced also by the Apaches,
with whom the Camanches were at war—but that the valley was
neutral ground between the hostile nations, and in which neither of
them were permitted by the White Spirit to kill any game, as it
was reserved for a portion of the hunting grounds beyond the grave,
where wars and scalping would be at an end.

William assured him that no game had been killed by his white
friends in the valley, and the chief seemed delighted to hear it—
for if they were to molest the animals there, both the Camanches
and the Apaches might be bound to make war on them. The Apaches,
he feared would do so, nevertheless, if not controlled by the
White Spirit of the cave—and they could not be restrained even by
the White Spirit, if it were known that La-u-na was his niece.

La-u-na said they should never know it; and she begged her uncle
to guard their abode. She then beckoned Mary and the rest to
approach.

“Come, Joe,” said Glenn, “put down your gun beside mine.”

“There is no danger,” said Mr. Roughgrove, taking the hands
of Juliet and Charley.

“I believe you, grandpa,” said Jule, but shrinking and trembling
even in her confidence.

“I want to see him closer, Jule,” said little Charley. “Look at
the silver on his breast—and his pretty plumes. I'm not afraid,
grandpa.”

“I don't see any use in our going, Biddy,” said Joe, hanging
back. “We can't understand their language—and can't learn anything.”

“I want to see him, Mr. Back,” said Biddy, her curiosity excited
by the gaudy trappings of the chief. “They say there's no danger—and
Charley's not afraid.”

“Afraid? Nobody need be afraid,” said Joe. “I could whip
that fellow with my fist. But what's the use? I believe I'll wait
here, till you all come back.”

“Come on, Joe,” cried Glenn.

“Come,” said Mr. Roughgrove. “We must not let him suppose
any one of our party mistrusts his professions of friendship. The
Indians despise unfounded suspicion even more than cowardice.”

“Mr. Roughgrove,” said Joe, “I hope you don't think I have
any cowardice, after all the terrible times I've had in the wilderness?
I confess I was, when I first came to Missouri, a little skittish,
because I didn't know any better then.”

“You know better, now. You know, until the Indians learn the
deceptions of white men, they never make false professions of friendship.
I would rather trust in the honor of that chief, than in the
honor of many of the chiefs of my own race.”

“Take my arm, Biddy,” said Joe, striding on. “It's bad walking
amongst these gopher hills, and a snake might be in the way.”
The allusion to the snake sufficed; and Biddy seized his arm with
a decided grasp.

When the party joined William and La-u-na, each of them in
turn, beginning with Mr. Roughgrove, the eldest, advanced and received
the extended hand of the tall and noble chief.

“Mr. Glenn,” said Joe, in a whisper, after this ceremony was
completed, “wouldn't it be well for us to make him a prisoner? We
can catch him, easy.”

“Joe,” said Glenn, indignantly, “when will you cease to be a
dunce? Look round in the grass.”

Joe did look, and his mouth fell open. Not less than a dozen Indians
were in view. They rose from their coverts, but without
arms, and, at the bidding of William, came forward, with every
manifestation of amity. Still, Joe was frightened, and seemed disposed
to slink behind Biddy, who had dismissed her fears. Most of
the Indians were aged chieftains and prophets, and all were decked
in their richest habiliments.

William explained to those who were not familiar with the Indian
tongue, that the king of the Camanches was the uncle of La-u-na—and
that he had seen him during his captivity, and had been
protected by him on several occasions of peril.

Little Charley was delighted with the gaudy trappings of the
chief, and even little Juliet soon dismissed her fears.

In response to an invitation to the Indians to accompany the party
to the house and partake of a feast, William, who interpreted for
them, said it would be an infraction of a treaty with the Apaches,
who doubtless kept spies always in the vicinity.

“But ask them,” said Glenn, “if they will receive some presents
from us.” Glenn had provided an ample store of them.

“Gladly,” said William, after communicating the inquiry.

“Will it be wrong to make these presents to-day?” Glenn asked
of Mr. Roughgrove.

“No, my son, I think not. If it were necessary, we should be
compelled to destroy life on the Sabbath, and how much better it is
to preserve than to destroy?”

“Joe,” said Glenn, writing rapidly with his pencil on a piece of
paper, “run home and bring me these articles.”

“I'm lame, Mr. Glenn,” said Joe. “I hurt my ankle when I
fell in the bushes. I ran in to give you notice of my discovery of
the Indians —”

“Cease your jargon,” said Mr. Roughgrove. “William, ask the
Red Eagle how long he will tarry in this neighborhood.”

The reply was that it would depend on the movements of the
Apaches, of which he received information from his spies every
day. It was uncertain. The Red Eagle and his prophets would
see the White Spirit at night, and then they would learn more.
“The White Spirit,” said William, “they inform me, is a living being
whom they can see and touch; and he dwells in the cave. But
if you have no objection, I will promise to meet them an hour
hence, upon the brink of the chasm, with the presents.”

This was agreed to, and Joe was relieved. But pretending not
to be cognizant of the agreement, he set off, limping slightly, towards
the valley.

“Stop, Joe,” said Glenn, who had not heard his excuse distinctly.
“William and I will ride over here with the presents. You
need not go.”

“I'm perfectly willing to go,” said Joe, “only I can't run very

fast. But maybe when my blood gets a little warm, the lameness
will leave me.”

“Never mind, I say. We have made other arrangements.”

“Oh, very well. Then I'll go with the rest.”

As Joe returned towards the company, a very old Indian, whom
he had almost trodden on in the rank grass, without seeing him,
rose up and confronted him with a broad smile on his face.

“Who are you? And where did you come from?” exclaimed
Joe.

“Me talk English,” said the old man; “me once tie you to tree
—me once going to burn you—and the long brave white man.”

“You old rascal, you!” cried Joe, in a tremendous rage. “You
pulled my hair, too. Now I'll have my revenge.” He then threw
down his cap and began to strip off his coat, when he was interrupted
by Glenn.

“Would you fight a man over a hundred years old?” asked
Glenn.

“No,” said Joe, putting on his cap and coat again. “I didn't
know he was that old. You never can tell how old these fellows
are, because they shave off their hair, and of course it ain't gray.
But, Mr. Glenn, he's strong. He's the one who pulled my hair out
once, when they caught Sneak and me in the woods.”

“He has left off fighting, now,” said William, smiling, who had
interpreted Joe's words to Red Eagle, and had received the information
he imparted to Joe, in return. “He is a prophet, or priest,
and is as harmless as a dove, but as wise as a serpent.”

“And if Mr. Glenn hadn't stopped me,” said Joe, shaking his
head, “I'd soon served him as the black snake served the rattle-snake.”

The pipe of peace was then smoked, even in the prairie, and the
company from the valley took leave of the children of the forest.
But before this was done, Red Eagle bestowed several beautiful
presents on La-u-na and Mary, consisting of precious stones, a boon
he alone might confer; to the children some stuffed birds of exquisite
plumage; and he threw around Biddy's neck the stuffed skin
of a rattlesnake.

“Och! St. Peter! Murther! Take the nasty varmint away,”
cried she. “Oh, Misther Glenn, Misther William, saize it, kill
it.”

“It's not a snake,” said Joe—“its only a stuffed skin of one—
and a fine present it is. Keep it Biddy—it'll be a nice thing to
show, when we get to house-keeping together. See, here's all the
rattles as perfect as life—and they'll please the children.”

“Kape it yerself,” said Biddy, striving to get it from around her
neck, but fearing to touch it with her hands, to the infinite diversion
of the Indians.

The party returned without delay to the valley. They had intended
to enter the cave during their rambles, but this was postponed
for a future occasion.

“Biddy,” said Joe, when they were about to pass the mouth of
the cave, the children being with their parents, some distance in
advance, “wouldn't you like to go in here and see the White Spirit
the Indians talk so much about?”

“Murther! No. I'm frightened most into fits now, at the thoughts
of the things. Oh, the bloody snakes. And I've got the skin of one
on me, now.”

“I'm worth a hundred dollars, Biddy. I heard Mr. Glenn say
so. See what a lovely tail its got, and all the rattles on it.”

“The jangle makes me blood run cowld,” said Biddy.

“They may save your life, Biddy; I heard Mr. William say so.
If an enemy comes at you in the night, all you'll have to do is to
hide out of sight, and rattle the tail. Then he'll be sure to run
away.”

“Is that thrue, Mr. Back.”

“As true as gospel, Biddy. And now here's the other Pete, the
saucy image of my Pete, standing in the door of the cave, as if he
was the owner of the house.”

“And sure he's friendly,” said Biddy,” “for he wags his tail at
us.”

“It's at me; he wants me to pardon him for biting my leg. See,
here's the print of his teeth,” and Joe rolled up his breeches and
exhibited the marks.

“The vile little crather,” said Biddy.

“But I'll have my revenge, some day,” said Joe, glancing forward,
to see if he might not throw a stone at the dog, without being
seen by Glenn. Finding none of a convenient size, he abandoned
his purpose. But the dog seemed to understand the thing he was
meditating, and just after he passed by the cave, the little, sly tormentor
sprang nimbly out and nipped him again, on the same leg,
but not so severely as at the first time.

“Confound your skin,” cried Joe, whirling round and pointing
his musket at the dog.

“Don't shoot, Mr. Back, or I'll faint,” cried Biddy. But the dog
was out of sight in a moment.

“Where is he?” asked Joe. “He's vanished—and maybe he's
a spirit. If so, its no use shooting, without a silver bullet. But I
pulled the trigger before I thought of the law—and I'm glad it
wasn't cocked.”

They strode forward more briskly after this accident, and overtook
the rest before they reached the great gate of the enclosure.