T. C. Harbaugh

“ A few bounds brought him near the girl, whose limbs were bruised by the rocks against which the waves had hurled her unconscious body, and suddenly, still in the firelight, she stopped.
She saw the giant form that swooped down upon her, and as the red arm leaped forward to claim the prize which it had just won, she struck with the butt of her rifle!
“Coocha!” shrieked Renadah, recoiling from the blow, which had driven the flint to the bone of his arm. ”

“ Impulsively the chief stepped toward the girl, and in the light of a fire which several braves had kindled upon the forest meeting, the maiden shrunk back with blanched cheek and flashing eyes.
“Girl, give Oagla little talker!” demanded the chief.
“Unbind my hands, that I may do it,” was the reply. “What is it to Silver Rifle now? ’Tis near a spot which the Indian’s hand must not touch; but Silver Rifle will give it to him when she is free.”
Oagla smiled faintly, drew his knife, and, before Mossuit could interpose to prevent him, severed the girl’s bonds. ”

“ Now let him be a man, and surrender when he sees that he can not escape.”
The chief spoke in the language of his nation, and a smile wreathed the lips of the noble quarry, who, a moment after the chief had finished, threw rifle, knife and tomahawk on the ground in token of surrender.
Then he folded his half-naked arms, and surveyed the savages who sprung forward elated with long-sought triumph.
“The White Tiger is a true brave,” said the red leader, as he reached a spot within ten feet of the youth. ”

“ White Tiger, where are the chiefs?”
“They never crossed my trail,” was the quick, but measured reply. “Hondurah, if I slew Dohma and Renadah, I would not lie about it. Neither was their blood upon my darker brother’s hands.”
Murmurs of incredulity ran round the red circle, which impulsively contracted.
“White Tiger lies,” said the chief, slowly, but with rising indignation. “A forked tongue will do him no good here. Let him speak the truth, or die before yonder fiery Manitou sleeps below the waves of Gitche Gumee.” ”

“ Surely these were the two oaks mentioned by Dohma; they were the only two which stood together near the lake-shore.
“The ring will greet me with its glitter,” she muttered, searching around the trunks of the trees, and gradually describing larger circles, which drew her nearer the edge of the cliffs.
A pale moonlight flooded the ground, and more than once Silver Rifle was momentarily deceived by the glitter of lake pebbles, which by divers means had found their way into the forest, so far above their rocky bed. ”

“ Hondurah folded his arms, drew himself to his full hight, and fastened his eye upon the terrible double cross.
His warriors watched him narrowly, and saw the sinews of anger, black and terrible, that swept across his face.
“Hondurah,” he said at length, “is father to a snake. That snake may live, for he would hardly bear a corpse away. Warriors, Hondurah is a father no more; he is an avenger. Throw yourselves upon the trails of the pale-faces; but do not touch Clearwater. When you find her hiding-place, speed swiftly to Hondurah, for he, and he alone, shall punish the traitress.” ”

“ A deep sigh escaped Silver Rifle’s lips, and a moment later the voice of Hondurah attracted the attention of all.
“Oagla, where is the pale girl’s ring?” he demanded of the chief. “Let her read life before she dies.”
“Ring bad,” answered Oagla, quailing with shame before the flashing eyes of his stern sachem. “It kill Hawkeye. Oagla fear it kill him, so he throw it among trees. ”

“ A single star glittered overhead, the others were obscured by clouds.
“That star, Ahdeek,” said a whispered voice. “He tells Clearwater not to spare young braves. She spare ’em not.”
Four figures flitted through the darkness that enwrapped the Indian village; they were Clearwater, Silver Rifle, the White Tiger, and Doc Cromer, the trader.
Clearwater had led the trio to comparative freedom. Her cunning had outwitted her own father, and, like Yucata’s braves, he guarded an empty lodge. ”

“ Past the grave of Renadah and into a narrow, rocky corridor the twain walked, and, after many tortuous windings, felt the cool lake breeze on their faces.
“We have journeyed three miles under ground,” said the girl, thrusting her torch around a rock, that its light might not attract the attention of foes who, perhaps, were abroad on the lake. “There are places in the corridor where we could successfully defend ourselves against a tribe of red-men. We are below the pictured rocks now, having passed almost directly beneath the chapel. ”

“ He hate bad ring; Silver Rifle kill him for it, mebbe.”
“Oagla is a coward!” thundered Hondurah, and the flash of his eyes seemed to blast the look of the superstitious and fearful chief. “The Chippewa who is afraid of a shining thing should break his gun and become a squaw. Single out your best trailers now, Oagla, and before to-morrow’s sleep place the ring in Hondurah’s hand, or be a chief no longer among the warlike Chippewas. Hondurah has spoken!”
And, as he resumed his former position, the chief waived aside the savages who had laid hands on the dauntless girl. ”

“ He saw Mossuit face the menacing braves, with Silver Rifle hanging heavily on his arm, and then he heard the sub-chief’s voice.
“Warriors, I will be obeyed now,” cried the young Chippewa. “Hondurah is dead, and Oagla, who should have stepped into his shoes, lies before us. The Chippewas are chiefless. In the council-house we must say who shall be chief in Hondurah’s stead. Now turn upon your heels. Back to the council-house; and when we have a chief, the captives shall die.” ”

“ The Indians crowded round with “ughs” of surprise.
“Silver Rifle no dead,” continued the warrior, “She live to die among the squaws. Oagla take ring. Him wear it now.”
38
At first Oagla’s hand shrunk from contact with the ring.
He thought of Hawkeye lying dead in the forest; but when he saw smiles of derision, with looks of covetousness, all about him, he took the ring, and dropped it into his medicine bag.
“Now, braves, back to the war-path!” he cried. “Omaha carry Silver Rifle. Oagla glad he did not kill her now. See that she does not escape; if she does, Omaha steps upon the death-trail.” ”

“ Rigid in death lay Mossuit, and Silver Rifle bent tenderly over him.
“He saved my life once,” she said, pushing aside the scalp-lock that shaded the stony face. “Peace to his ashes.”
A wounded savage told the victors that Mossuit had overcome Wildcat, and, with a few of his braves, had trailed them to the cave. The Indian whom Ahdeek slew when returning with the “talking-papers,” was Mossuit’s spy, and after waiting beyond patience for his return, the chief and his warriors sought the foe themselves.
“Our last battle has been fought,” said Dorsey Webb. ”

“ The warriors gathered around the tree with bated breath, and stared at the deeply cut double cross.
“Clearwater plays the White Tiger,” said a young brave, at length.
“Clearwater!” yelled a gray-haired chief, turning fiercely upon the speaker. “Clearwater’s arm was weak, and the tomahawk went through the bark. A man’s muscle drove the hatchet;” and then, raising his thunderous voice to its highest pitch, he swept the young braves with a finger of scorn. “Chopah knows all!” he cried. “The young warriors have lied!” ”

“ Ahdeek rose with an effort, and faced the savages with folded arms.
“Strike! Send Ahdeek after Black Eagle.”
“The White Tiger of Gitche Gumee dies here!” was the reply, and the spokesman of the party clutched the half-breed’s shoulder, as he raised his knife.
But a yell, the counterpart of which pealed from Ahdeek’s throat when attacked in the dell, startled every one, and the next moment a youthful figure dropped, like a thunderbolt, among the Chippewas.
“Devils!” he cried, hurling aside the Indian who held Ahdeek. “Demons, you’ve caught the wrong man, I say. ”

“ Hondurah’s tomahawk shot from his girdle.
“White Tiger, you have killed many Chippewas,” he hissed. “We have hunted you long, never dreaming that you were a twin. Your twin brother is dead; the young braves stole him from the lodge last sleep, and burned him in the forest. You may not tread the long trail to-day by taking the forked tongue from your mouth and putting one in that is not forked. Now Hondurah asks for the last time. Where are Dohma and Renadah?”
“I don’t know!” shouted the youth. “If I possessed a 46 knife, Hondurah, you’d never call another white boy a liar!” ”

“ There was but one way to escape the savages, and that was by a leap into the white waters, forty feet below the chapel!
20
And that leap, seemingly, was but a synonym of death.
“We must go, Ahdeek,” suddenly cried the Destroyer. “But, first, we’ll tell those murderers that somebody besides themselves are abroad. We can shoot into the chapel in the dark. We know exactly where it is. Ready!” ”

“ Ahdeek struck with his remaining strength; but the rifle 13 was caught by a young Hercules, and wrenched from his grip.
“Now, what says the White Tiger?” cried a savage, triumphantly.
“He says that he slew the Black Eagle with his rifle,” was the reply. “Not far away lie four Chippewas, who have sung the war-song for the last time. Ahdeek struck them! Squaws, the young half-breed has not lived in vain!”
Irritated beyond endurance, the savages contracted their red ranks, and tomahawks shot upward for the carnival of death. ”

“ Silver Rifle, blinded by the flashes, started back; but the next moment she cocked her gun and sprung with Ahdeek, who, fortunately, had escaped injury, into the mouth of the cave!
“The Chips no shoot good,” smiled the half-breed, trying to catch a glimpse of their foes at the risk of his life. “They heard Ahdeek comin’ through the wood, so they wait for him on bank, an’ shoot at him; not to kill, but to hurt. But, Silver Rifle, where pale hand?”
“I have it, thank Heaven!” said the girl, in tones of satisfaction; “the ring is at last in my possession. ”

“ Something glittered in the moonlight on Hawkeye’s tiniest finger.
“What frighten pale girl?” demanded the chief, not wholly unfrightened himself.
“My ring! my ring!” cried Silver Rifle, starting forward. “Hawkeye, you’ve got my ring! Give it here!”
She pointed to the ring as she spoke; but the savage drew back, with an Indian oath.
“Ring Hawkeye’s,” he cried. “Him find it here by dead panther. Sequesta grabbed ring when Hawkeye saw it; so they fought for it, and Sequesta sleeps in Gitche Gumee. Girl shan’t have ring. It’s Hawkeye’s. Too pretty for Silver Rifle.” ”

“ The savages, as has been seen, pursued the White Tiger and Silver Rifle to the edge of the forest, when the chase was given up, and the fugitives rejoiced to find themselves at liberty.
“We will not remain unmolested long,” said the youth, when they found themselves near the girl’s cave. “Having slain Ahdeek and the trader, the red fiends will give no rest to their feet until they have run us to earth.”
“They will certainly attempt to run us down,” replied the girl, calmly. “But when they bring Marie Knight to bay, they may lose some warriors.” ”

“ Ahdeek remained sullen during the dressing of his wound, which was not so bad as it might have been, the heavy hunting-frock having protected his flesh.
“I do not think the Indians killed Doc Cromer,” said the Destroyer, looking up from the meal they were discussing before the blaze. “I couldn’t find his body after the massacre, and I wonder that he has not been here. You know, boy, that he was the only trader who knew our cave.”
“Oh, he dead, like all the traders!” said the half-breed. “Indians make sure work of traders. Pontiac got long arms and strong voice.” ”

“ White Tiger struck as it rose erect before him, and a savage reeled away with a low cry, indicative of death. Another and another Indian made their appearance, and after a desperate resistance, Silver Rifle and the White Tiger found themselves captives once more. Their captors numbered four Chippewas, who quickly assured them that they had caught the glimmer of Silver Rifle’s torch from the water, and had pursued, little dreaming, until they found themselves in the corridor, that they were on the trail of their worst enemies. ”

“ He will hunt the traitress, whose fate shall be more terrible than the wolf’s when the brave has trapped him. Watch now the caves of Gitche Gumee. Throw your selves at once upon the trail, and if Yucata crosses it, strike him dead and bring his scalp to me.”
With the last word the chief turned toward the village.
“What would Hondurah do?” questioned Chopah.
“Punish the young braves.”
“Beware, Hondurah,” said the chief. “The young braves are strong; they will strike back if Hondurah raises his hand. Let them go.” ”

“ But one White Tiger lives; there can not be another. I saw him on the lake one night, and since, I have seen him in the woods. He is a half-breed, too. If I meet him, he must pay for losing the ring, for undoubtedly the bauble which poor Dohma found in the forest was mine.”
When the sun sunk behind Chapel Rock and the shadows of night swept over lake and forest, Silver Rifle glided from the cave. ”

“ Clearwater hate all young braves now. Omaha never call her squaw. He know she love Ahdeek, and he thought he would kill him; then Clearwater must turn to him. But he miss mark very far. He better not cross Clearwater’s path in the forest; she always carry rifle on her shoulder.”
The white teeth met with vengeance over the last words, and Silver Rifle looked proudly down upon the loveless girl.
“Silver Rifle have to tell Indians that Nahma and Renadah died by her hand,” said Clearwater, after a long pause. ”

“ Dohma, waking from his trance in the grove in Silver Rifle’s cave, allured by the glitter of its diamond, stole it from the shelf whereon Ahdeek had placed it until he could find the Girl Trailer, and carried it to the spot where he was choked to death, by the ill-fated trader.
“At last! at last!” cried our friends, one evening, several days after the last battle, as they came in sight of a strong French settlement on the lake shore.
Well might they shout for joy, for the dangers of the wilderness were paused.
“The White Tigers have buried the hatchet forever. ”