But they
were forced to believe he was still living from the fact that the canoe
steadily progressed across and was not carried down-stream by the
current. The whoop of the Shawnees had been heard by their comrades
further down the bank. As the canoe reached the middle of the river,
they caught a sight of it, and readily conjectured the true state of
the case. In a twinkling, two of their own were launched in pursuit.
Discovering this, Oonomoo arose to the upright position, and dipping
his paddle deep in the water, sent his boat forward with astonishing
swiftness. As it lightly touched the bank, he leaped ashore and pulled
it up after him. Then uttering a defiant yell, he turned, and to show
the scorn in which he held the Shawnees, walked slowly and deliberately
into the forest. Once fairly beyond their sight, however, his pace
quickened, and when the sun sunk low in the western horizon, he was
many a mile from the Miami.
CHAPTER IV.
THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT AND CATO.
Suddenly rose from the South a light, as in autumn the blood-red
Moon climbs the crystal walls of heaven, and o'er the horizon,
Titan-like, stretches its hundred hands upon mountain and meadow,
Seizing the rocks and the rivers and piling huge shadows together.
--LONGFELLOW.
From a long distance the conflagration had been visible, its light
throwing a red glare far up in the sky, and revealing the huge clouds
that swept forward like crimson avalanches, while the surrounding trees
glowed as if their branches were burning hot.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54