Every metallic substance was seized as
a prize, and some of the wooden portions of instruments were also
appropriated. Thin twists of smoke still ascended from different spots
in the clearing, and the ashes when stirred showed the red live coals
beneath them.
"Yah! yah! dat feller's got sumkin' nice," said Cato, laughing heartily
and silently at one of the Indians, who had pulled forth a long board
with evident delight. Turning it over, he balanced it on his shoulder
and was walking rapidly away, when suddenly he sprung several feet in
the air with a yell of agony, and jumped from beneath it, rubbing his
shoulder very violently as if suffering acute pain.
"Yah! yah! knowed 'twould do dat. Lower part all afire, and reckoned
it burnt him a little."
The Indian continued dancing around for several moments, not ashamed to
show to his companions how much he suffered. He by no means was the
only one who was caught in this manner. Very often, a savage would
spring from the ground, with a sharp exclamation, as some coal pierced
through his moccasin, and now and then another could be seen, slapping
his fingers against his person, after he had hastily dropped some
object. One eager Shawnee attempted to draw a red-hot nail from a slab
with his thumb and finger, and roasted the ends of both by the
operation, while a second seated himself upon a board which set fire to
the fringe of his hunting-shirt.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71