H. Bedford-Jones

Name: The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2
Author: H. Bedford-Jones

The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

Summary

“The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2”, published in 1924, is a work by H. Bedford-Jones. It explores elements such as Maclish, Crawford and the Stone Men.

Quotes from The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (H. Bedford-Jones)

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ CHAPTER II A KNIFE DOES DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT HANDS IN the heart of this northland wilderness, set amid trees like a green crystal jewel, was a hard-frozen little lake, solidly rimmed in by heavy evergreens, its ice blown clear and smooth by the keen winds. To-day it was calm and deathly still; the very air seemed heavy, bitter with the doom of men, chilled by the unseen breath which struck so terribly. In the centre of the lake thrust up a tiny islet of bare and jagged rock, now blown partially grey and naked, now cloaked with masses of ice. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ With a swift motion he drove the knife through the centre of the wampum belt, which he twisted about the haft; he flung belt and knife at the feet of Standing Bull.
"There is my answer to the Star Woman," he said, and with an angry laugh rose to his feet. "So her lodge is pitched at the lake of many stars? Good. I shall come and take her as my squaw. The Stone Men shall dance with your scalps and put you into the kettle, taking your women as slaves. That is my response. As for this rascal," and he whirled on Crawford with a baleful glare, "stand up and fight, ye vagabond rogue! ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ Hatred lay between them, and fear. Maclish was a subtle and a canny man, but he could not fathom the stern silence and self-control of Crawford. Nor had the latter missed certain indications which warned him that Maclish was even now carrying on some treacherous game. The Stone Men had sent up lengthy smoke-signals which he could not read, and messengers had departed. It was tacitly understood that after meeting the Dacotah envoys, the quarrel between the two men would be settled—Maclish doubtless counting on murdering both Frontin and Crawford. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ Now, as Standing Bull produced a calumet and a bag of willow bark, Maclish spat hot words at him.
"I will not smoke with you! Am I to smoke with you while the eyes of that dead chief reproach me?"
"The calumet has not been offered you," was the calm response. "We do not smoke with Englishmen, who are enemies of our brothers the French. Which of you is to receive the belts?"
Crawford intervened with precision.
"This man Red Bull seeks to marry the Star Woman and to carry her off among the Stone Men. It is to him that your belts are sent. I am an Irishman. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ Crawford, inwardly laughing at all this, struck in smoothly. The fact that these chiefs spoke French, which was obviously difficult for Maclish, was a godsend.
"This man is an Englishman," and he gestured toward Maclish, who was purple with fury. "He is my enemy, and leads the Stone Men. He seeks the Star Woman, and so do I. Presently he and I will settle our quarrel. We await your message."
"That is good," said the Dacotah. "Standing Bull and Yellow Sky have brought belts from the Star Woman. We are of the nation of The Men, the Issanti clan of the Dacotah. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ It says: 'You cannot go farther; the trail is closed against you. The Star Woman knows your people for bad men and does not desire to look upon your face. Go back. If you come farther your scalp will be dried in the lodges of The Men, your skin will be stretched on the bark wall of the council house; your manzakawan, your iron tube in which dwells a spirit, will sit in the lodge of the above the lake of many stars, and will spit no more bullets.' I have spoken."
Standing Bull seated himself and drew his robe about his knees. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ Friend!" said that singular creature perched against the blue sky, and flung out empty hands. "The Star Woman sent us to meet you. Come."
Then the figure vanished. The islet was bare and empty again.
"No spirit, but a trap," said Frontin, first to recover speech. "There are our messengers—and have a care, cap'n!"
"Deil take me," snorted Maclish, "but yon man spoke French! From the south, belike."
"Of course," said Crawford quietly. "Frontin, wait here with the muskets. It's no trap, but we'll not take chances." He passed his musket to Frontin. "Coming with me, Maclish?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ Frontin retrieved the muskets he had left at the shore.
"Come, my brothers!" said Standing Bull. "Even if they see us go, the Stone Men will not follow us—until after they have found their chief."
Crawford followed them to the edge of the islet, on the side farthest from the camp of the Stone Men. There, as all five came to the open ice, with the islet to cover them from sight of Maclish's men, Frontin suddenly halted. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ His red features whitened and became almost livid, then crimsoned again. His breath came hoarsely. Yet he tried to master himself, his big bearded jaw jutting forth, his hands clenched until the knuckles showed white. The effort succeeded. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (1924)

“ His whitish eyes probed the shores around, and the treetops. "Likely they'll come to us when they see our smoke. Let's find some wet wood and make a good signal."
The three turned in among the trees.
After a time, at another point around the lake, a man emerged upon the ice. He, too, was following the trail of sharp hooves; it was quite singular that such a trail should have been left, running straight to the little islet, and so he found it. He was the Assiniboine chief, and alone. ”

H. Bedford-Jones

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Quotes from The Star Woman — BOOK III. Chapter 2 (H. Bedford-Jones)

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