“ A few feet from her stood an Indian, whose silent footstep
she had ot heard apvroaching.”—Page 8.
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LAUGHING EYES:
A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ.
BY HENRY J. THOMAS,
ADTHOR OF “THE ALLENS,” “ THE WRONG MAN,” ETC., ETC.
Rondon :
BEADLE AND COMPANY,
44, PATERNOSTER ROW,
LAUGHING EYES.
CHAPTER I.
THE CASKET GIRI.
A youne girl, with dimpled cheeks and laughing eyes, sat
on the door-step of the comfortable log dwelling which was
occupied by two of the Ursulines within the confines of the
Natchez fort. The sun was going down, and she liked the
breath of the breeze blowing through her hair bettet than the
close air within, where the most nun-like neatness and prim-
ness reigned. There was nothing prim about the girl.
Although she was very busy with a piece of embroidery
which she had in her hands, and there was nothing at all
about her to awaken merriment, the natural buoyancy of wer
spirits bubbled over continually in smiles and piquant gestures,
Occasionally, she would pause to admire the progress of her
work, or to throw a flashing glance in the face of the setting
sun. Her name was Marguerite Cantarelle, and her history
up to this seventeenth year of her life may be briefly told.
She was one of the “casket girls” who had been sent over
by the French Government to aid in supplying their Louisiana
colonies with the much-needed article of wives. The ship
which had brought this precious freight had landed three
months before, and all of its cargo was already wedded and
well disposed of except Marguerite, the belle of the “ assort-
ment.” Her brilliant face and pretty manners had bought
her an offer from every unprovided man in the vicinity
of the fort, but she had steadily resisted all, begging the Ursu-
lines to keep her with them until she found the object of her
journey across the sea.
When it had become known among the grisettes of Paris
that the Government proposed to send a company from their
ranks to the adventurers across the sea, who were reported to
be living in @ land of milk and honey, where gold and silver
6 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
grew on trees, there were many who offered themselves, eager
to try these novel fortunes. Alas, for those gay young
creatures! The fate which they afterward, many of them,
met, was far different from the brilliant and romantic .ife
which they had anticipated. Among those who thus solicited
a passage to the New World was Marguerite Cantarelle. She
was not as poor as the other girls, having a chest of good
clothing, many little trinkets, and some money of her own;
moreover, she was so skillful with her needle as to have the
means of gaining her own living in the city where she had
peen born. But she had a purpose in emigrating which
made her very anxious to be one of the accepted. Two
years before, when she was but fifteen, her second cousin,
Maurice Cantarelle, a young man of good education but small
fortune, had been beguiled by the stories of enormous wealth
to be rapidly gained in the province in which the merchant
-prince, Crozat, was risking his great fortunes, and had gone
off as secretary, or something of the kind, to one of the lead-
ing men of the colony. On the eve of his departure he had
told her how much he loved her, and that, as soon as she
was old enough, and he had a home provided for her, he was
coming back to marry her. It nearly broke her heart to kt
him go, for she adored him with all the passionate ardor of
her French nature; but she was naturally gay and hopeful—
she was young, and could not be forever sad; so that, after a
time, she regained her joyousness, though she did not cease
to love her cousin. In two years she received but one mes-
sage from him, which was to the effect to be faithful to him,
for he should certainly return to claim her, as soon as the
country in which he was should become more settled, and
less in perpetual alarm from the red-men.’ In the mean time,
the grandmother with whom she lived died, leaving her
almost destitute of friends and relations. Then it was that,
hearing of the intention of the company to export respectable
wives to the far colony, she secured a free passage on the
ship which conveyed these girls to their destination. She
was resolved to go to Maurice, and thus save him the trouble
of coming to her. Through all the long and wearisome
voyage her cheek would flush.and her heart thrill with the
thought of the glad surprise in store for her lover. She had
MARGUERITE. y
ascertained that it was probable that he was at Natchez, the
very settlement at which it was proposed to land the delecta- .
ble invoice of bright eyes and rosy cheeks, so that her antici-
pations were of the happiest character. She was the envy of
all her companions on account of her superior beauty, educa-
tion and manners, and the fact of her having a nice little
wedding outfit in her “casket,” which was a good-sized chest.
But however much they envied her, they could not withhold
their loye, she was so kind and unassuming; and so artless
and bewitching in her manners, that men and women were
equally. charmed.
When the ship arrived in port, Marguerite was destined to
a heavy disappointment. Maurice was not at the fort, but
was away with his employer on a long and dangerous expe-
dition into the interior, near Natchitoches, where the French
were disputing with the Spaniards for a settlement. But her
spirits were too elastic, her courage too great, to give way
long to depression; she rallied her hopes to await his return,
and in the mean time remained undef the protection of the
good sisters, who soon grew to feel that she was like a ray
of.sunshine in their cold and formal abodes. Suitors enough
to have turned her pretty head, had it not been steadied by a
real and solemn love, sued for her hand, some of them, in
despair, seeking the influence of the Ursulines to compel her
to.yield to their’ wishes. These were too glad of her presence
in. their household to be anxious to get rid of her; they knew
that she was betrothed, and was awaiting the return of her
loyer, and they admired her purity of heart and constancy
too sincerely to wish to influence her to accept any of the
offers made to her. So she plied her needle in their service,
and waited for Maurice.
“T am going to put this on Sister Marie’s table, and see if
she. doesn’t pick it up and smell of it,” said Marguerite, as she
sat on the door-step, looking with admiration at the rose she
was embroidering, which was indeed almost life-like enough
to. tempt a careless observer to think it had perfume as well
as.color, “It will please me to see how proyoked she will
be at the mistake. She is so correct, she thinks herself right
in eyery thing. Ah, me! I could never be an Ursuline! I
am not good enough.”
8 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
Wialf Jaughing, half sighing, she lifted hervheady with a
backward toss of the drooping curls, to meet a pair of eyes
fixed on her with such fiery intensity as to fairly startle the
color out of her cheeks. s
12 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
to be idle; a time to scalp our enemies, a time to feast on corn
and a time to feast on fish, and a time to woo our ‘Wives.
Haye I not said truly 2?” :
“ You speak well,” rejoined the maiden, and for the life of
hér she could not repress the arch smile and look which she
gave her visitor.
She did not feel such a dread of him as at first; his manner
was softer and less intense; though not meaning the least in
the world to coquet with him, she felt a mischicyous triumph
in her conquest. She did not fear, because she did not
know, the dangerous passions of the savage nature, resistless
alike in hate or love. She knew that the young brave
admired her; but she did not really think that he would have
thie presumption to solicit her hand. As he met that piquant
look, the fire in the Indian’s eye softened into a liquid
splendor which poured itself into her own, until her lashes
drooped, and to cast off the feeling which overpowered her,
she began to hum a gay little song, and to affect to be very
much engaged with her work. Ifshe had seen the changing
expression of his face, she would hardly have dared to con-
tinue; but she never looked off her embroidery. Her voice
was sweet, and the Natchez, who had never heard any music
but the dreary, monotonous drumming and rattling of his
fational war music, listened, like one who sees heayen open
and catches the sound of its melodies, Rapture lighted up his
swarthy features till they glowed, while according to the
sentiment of the song his emotions varied. When she caroled
a lively measure, he laughed and kept time with his hands
and feet; when she hummed a tender love song he remained
absorbed in silent ecstasy.
“You have swallowed a thousand birds, feathers and all,”
said he, when she stopped singing, and told him the mocca-
sins were finished.
“Dear me, what an idea,” said Marguerite. “Do you hear
what he says, Sister Marie? Here are his shoes. Shall I
give them to him ?”
“Not until he brings the corn,” was the prudent answer.
“Qome to-morrow and you shall haye them,’ continued
the girl, to her visitor.
“Tt is well,” he replied, but still he remained in his seat.
y
-
RATTLESNAKE'’S MESSAGE TO MARGUERITE. 18
Every word and gesture of the beautiful French girl
deepened his fascination. She was so utterly different from
the submissive, homely, despised women of his own race, that
his mind as well as his senses were enthralled. Being a
person of fine natural gifts and considerable intelligence, he
was charmed with her spirit and wit, and the constant play
of expression over her animated face. Men of more cultiva-
tion than Rattlesnake would have been delighted with the
same, though to him these graces had the added power of
novelty.
Seeing him remain after the moccasins were completed, it
just began to creep into the nun’s comprehension that it was
not his anxiety about these which alone had detained him.
The childish love of ornament possessed by the Indian braves
had accounted to her for his interest in the progress of the
embroidery, and it was not until now that she perceived any
other motive. Then she began to feel uneasy. Marriage
between white women and Indian men was almest unknown,
although Indian wives were plenty in the French colony, and
it had not entered into the good Ursuline’s head, until this
hour, that the haughty young chief had aspired to so great
an honor. Now she began to observe him more closely, and
was not long in making up her mind that he must be dis-
countenanced. She sent Marguerite off to one of the neigh-
bors on an errand, and, during her absence, hinted that it
was getting too late in the afternoon for them to longer
entertain company. Rattlesnake took the hint, withdrawing
in majestic silence.
The next day three Natchez women, belonging to the ple-
peians, or lower class, appeared at the Ursuline dwelling with
a sack of corn each, which he had employed them to deliver
in payment for the moccasins; and shortly after, another
woman, old, and of higher rank—one of the female Suns—
presented herself, entering the house and sitting down in dig-
nified silence. Sister Marie and Marguerite, who were both
of them sewing, waited for her to make her errand known;
the former had already guessed it, and therefore was not
much surprised when their visitor, having remained silent as
long as she thought becoming, rose and said :
“My son has sent_me for the moccasins; the corn which
°
14 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
he promised has been delivered, and the first: time>that! he
goes deep into the forest after game, when: he shall: take the
head off the wild turkey with his arrows, he will bring it, as
he said. My son, Rattlesnake, is a handsome youth and a
bold warrior. _He could have any of the maidens of his
tribe whom he should solicit. But he has been-wounded
with the bright rays which come from the Laughing Eyes,
and nothing will heal. the wound, unless the Laughing Eyes
consent to abide in his dwelling. His mother has come to
bring her this token of his regard, and to take back to her
son the French girl’s answer.”
So saying, she laid three Spanish dollars. and a bundle of
gorgeous feathers and porcupine quills upon the table beside
which she stood.
Sister Marie had no need to look in the maiden’s face to
see how unexpected and distasteful was this proposition ; she
knew that her heart was pledged to a lover of her own nation,
and, if it were not, that Marguerite had a very great aversion
to the Indians, in any’ other view than as-wild creatures.
She herself was extremely opposed to the mingling of bloods,
which she would have prevented, had it been in her-power;
but. she knew the sensitive and jealous character of the red
people, and was anxious to conciliate them. She warned.her
protégé, by a look, not to betray either contempt or. merri-
ment. After a sufficient time for apparent reflection, she
rose, also, and replied: :
“Your son, as you say, is a bold warrior and a handsome
youth. We have never beheld a noble of your tribe whom
we admired so much...We are very sorry that he has been
wounded by Laughing Eyes; but we hope and. believe that
time will heal the wound; for, Laughing Eyes, long before
she crossed the big salt lake, was promised to a young brave
of her own nation. She loves him, and him only, and she
waits for him here, until he returns from Natchitoches, whither
he has gone with St. Denis. For his sake she has refused) as
many lovers as there are feathers in that bundle. Besides,
the ways of the French are not like those of the Natchez
Your son would be better content with a wife from his ow?
~ people. If he thinks of it twice, he will agree with me that
vo Natchez maiden would be a more suitable companion.
AN INDIAN LOVER REJECTED, 15
Return him his munificent- present, with our grateful thanks
for the honor he has done us.” B
Receiving this reply, the Indian woman bowed her head
in ‘disappointment, took up the feathers and money, and
moved silently from the house; but in two hours she had
returned, and deposited twice the amount of the first present
on the table, while she again addressed ‘the nun:
“T know not if ever before a female Sun condescended
twice to sue for a wife for her son. It is bitter as salt water
to my pride to do it, but my son has asked it, and he is so
afflicted, that I can refuse him nothing. He bids me say
that he will make himself a Frenchman for the sake of
Laughing Eyes. She shall have a house, like the French
houses, to abide in; she shall not hoe corn, nor carry water
nor burdens, but do nothing from morning till night but
beautify his garments with her excellent sewing. His heart.
is set upon her, for his wife, as immovably as a rock is set in
the earth. I hope that the soft heart of the maiden will
yield to his entreaty, for he is much troubled.”
“What do you say, Marguerite?” asked the Ursuline,
turning to her.
“Tell your son, the great and honored chief, Rattlesnake,
to judge my actions by his own feelings. Even as you say
his heart is fixed, has mine been set upon another for many
years. The man whom I will have for my husband is my
cousin. One grandmother brought us up. I should be light
and trifling did I forsake him for another. I should not
make a good wife, were I capable of this thing. Besides, I
am a Frenchwoman, and could never become a Natchez.
My heart is with my own people. Ask me no more.”
“You speak truth,” murmured the old woman, taking up
her gifts again. “TI will tell my son that your words are
discreet, and that he must look elsewhere.”
“Tsn’t it funny?” cried Marguerite, when the embassador
had departed. “TIshall have such amusement telling Mau-
rice about my Indian conquest. He was a splendid-looking
person, for an Indian, but, ah—bah!” and she laughed and
shuddered at the same moment.
“You're a giddy child,” said the Ursuline, reprovingly.
*If I had guessed his object I would not have allowed you
a
16 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
to work his moccasins. I would rather he would not have
taken such a fancy into lis head. The more.I see of these
Indians, the more dread I have of arousing their passions in
any manner. God grant nothing serious comes of it! Beauty
is the devil’s gift, Marguerite—it is bad to have it...I wisn
you had less of it,’—and with a halfsigh, halfsmile, she
glanced at the bright young face.
“JT don’t second that wish,” thought Marguerite, “and 4
guess Maurice doesn’t,”—and she fell to wondering when she
should ever see him.
CHAPTER If.
“THR MOON OF NEW CORN.
MARGUERITE saw no more of her Indian suitor for thrze
or four weeks, except that on several occasions he had stopped
in the street opposite the door and gazed at her for some time,
when she sat, sewing, in the door or window. If she had
not thus been reminded of him she would have forgotten him
easily for her thoughts were engrossed in pleasant anticipa-
tions of the return of Maurice. She had heard from the
Officer in command of the fort, that the expedition to which
he had attached himself was expected home in the fall, and
August was already slipping away. In looking over the
contents of her chest, making her dresses, trimming her
clothes, and working herself a white muslin for a wedding-
robe, she passed the time. But now she had to find herself
a new home; orrather anew family came into the house which
the Ursuline had occupied, who returned to New Orleans to,
fulfill her promised and-her duty asa hospital nurse. The
people who came into the dwelling were a respectable mer-
chant and his wife, who guaranteed to take good care of
the maiden till her betrothed should take her off their
hands.
The people within Fort Rosalie and surrounding it, within
reach of its walls, were not entirely denied the pleasures of
social life, of which even new settlements contrive to have ®
*
és
v
7
AN EXCURSION TO THE INDIAN VILLAGE. 17
fair portion. -'The privations they were compelled to encounter
deepened their appreciation of the few comforts they possessed,
while the sense of danger from which they were never free
added a keener zest to their enjoyments. During the preced-
ing Winter more than one merry dancing-party had been
improvised ; and as the heats of that southern summer forbade
such lively exercise, there was boating by moonlight, out-of
door gatherings for gossip and games, with an occasional
excursion tothe Indian villages to witness their feasts and
ceremonies. A general feeling of security prevailed. The
Natchez, whose villages surrounded the fort, the nearest over
two miles distant, and who were the most powerful and intel-
ligent of all the various tribes, were now exceedingly friendly,
standing in wholesome awe of their white neighbors, for
whom they expressed great admiration. Marguerite had
heard so much of their customs and manners that she had a
curiosity to see them in their own homes; and when, early
in September, it was proposed by some of the young people
to-go out to the principal village of the Great Sun and wit-
ness the feasting on the occasion of the Moon of New Corn,
she was eager to make one of the company. 4
On'the morning of the first day of the ceremonies a gay
party started forth on foot, from the fort,reaching the principal
village, near which the barn for the reception of the sacred
corn had been erected, in time to become spectators to the
greater part of the observances. The corn which was used
on this great occasion had been previously planted and reaped,
by certain warriors, in virgin soil, and deposited in the shed,
erected for the purpose, after which notice was given to the
Great Sun that the corn was ready. . The Great. Sun was both
the religious and civil head of the nation. When. the pale-
faces reached the ground whereupon the whole tribe was
assembled, the king had already» been conveyed on a sedan
chair to his throne near the barn, the corn had been conse-
crated by various solemn and dismal howls, and was now
undergoing the process of cooking. The visitors were made
welcome and given places near the nobles who surrounded
the Sun, among whom Marguerite instantly recognized Rattle-
snake, whose eyes were fixed upon her whenever she Eianoell-
in that direction. =" Bi Soisde
18 Ao PALE OF ‘HW NATCHEZ, ron
When the corn was cooked, two dishes were brought to the
Great Sun, who presented them: to, the four. quarters of the
world, and sending one of them to the war-chief, commanded
him to eat—his subjects eagerly following the example set,
The warriors ate first, then the young men and boys, and
lastly the women and young girls. On this occasion their
guests were treated with illustrious courtesy, being served at
the same time with the warriors; all of them partook of the
sacred corn, which ‘was really an excellent dish, the refusal to
share which would have been taken as an affront.
‘When the warriors had done, they formed themselves into
two sides of a square, fitted up for the occasion, and sung
battle-songs, with alternate choruses, for half an hour. The
war-chief put an end to the concert by striking with his
tomahawk a red post in the midst of the square, called the
warriors post. Then began declamations from various
warriors, beginning with that of their chief. With the elo-
quence of an Indian he recited his exploits, boasting of the
number of foes he had slain. When he finished, he appealed
to the bystanders to say if what he had asserted was not true,
who answered in the affirmative with a prolonged howl.
Marguerite was deeply interested in these proceedings ; yet
it was a kind of interest such as the fascinated bird feels in
the serpent which charms it. Inwardly she shuddered all the
time. When the war-chief so vigorously asserted his deeds
of prowess, brandishing his tomahawk, with flashing eyes
and body painted in emblematic red, going over the bloody
acts of which he boasted, a cold hand seemed to stretch out
of the future and grasp her benumbed heart. She felt as if
herself and the little party with her would be but feathers in
the tempest, should the rage of these wild creatures break
out on them—she wondered, when she saw the nation together
‘in its power, that Clopart,:the commander of the fort, could
feel’ safe “with ‘so’ small a ‘band of soldiery. . Not eyen the
few cannon which defended the citadel appeared to her sufli-
“cient for the risks.
As the speakers followed one another in rapid succession,
she lost herself in a dream of terror; it seemed to her that
they were threatening the little fort toward which.some of
their most violent gestures were made, Of course. she
RATTLESNAKE RENEWS HIS’ SUIT. 19
not understand their language, which was translated to her
by a white officer who sat by her side.
Among those who declaimed on the first day of the feast
was Rattlesnake. He spoke with fierce and terrible energy,
calling out the loud plaudits of the company. To Margue-
rite it seemed as if all his eloquence was directed to her;
and indeed he was addressing himself to her alone—his whole
wild soul was given to the endeavor to arouse her admiration
—and there was much to excite admiration in the superb
attitudes of the lithe and graceful figure and the innate power
of his oratory. But the timid girl was only alarmed to see
him in this new guise. Had she been an Indian maiden he
certainly would have won the coveted prize of her love; for
no woman of his race could have withstood his matchless
and fiery eloquence.
There was one among the young girls of the Natchez pre-
sent there into whose breast the eloquence of Rattlesnake
melted like liquid light. She sat not far from the pale-faces
whom she had been regarding with civil curiosity ; but when
the young warrior spoke, her attention was concentrated upon
him; her black eyes flashed with delight and the dark blood
glowed in her swarthy cheeks. Occasionally she glanced
proudly around to notice if his efforts were appreciated by
their visitors, whom she supposed him trying to im ress;
but gradually, with the instinct of jealousy, she perceived
that one, the fairest and most youthful of the pale-faccs, was
the only person he really addressed. He heeded not even
“the acclamation with which the old men of the tribe greeted
each fresh burst of oratory; his eyes were bent upon one
countenance, even as the Indian girl’s were bent upon him.
When she became fully conscious of this, her expression
changed from that of delight to melancholy, distress, and
anger. As plainly as clouds sweep over the sky, the passions
of the forest-maiden swept over her face; she was not trained,
as were the men of her tribe, to hide her emotions’; if any
had been watching her they could hardly have failed to read
the meaning of the burning glances which she cast from be-
neath a scowling brow, first at the speaker and again to the
white girl.
Tree-la-lu, a Little Bird, had been enamored of Rattlesnake
30 A TALE) OF THE NATOUEZ FORT.
g
formany months. Early in the summer she had placed her-
self in his way, for the purpose of attracting his affections. ;
he had accepted and worn the bead-embroidered belt she had
given him; and she had daily expected his mother to come
to the hut of her parents to make an. arrangement, when a
change had suddenly come over her almost avowed lover.
He had sent back her belt; his manner was moody and cold ;
she thought him either about to be attacked with sickness, or
to go off on some important war expedition ; but when she
found that he was neither ill nor going away, she obseryed
him vigilantly, to find if he had favored any other maiden
of her village. Not the least sign of any such rival could
she detect, except the splendid moccasins that he wore, and
these she knew were probably purchased from the French. In
alternate hope and despondency she had waited for the cloud
to pass off the brightness of her idol, that his eyes might
again warm her soul with theirsmiles. She expected, during
the several days of dancing and feasting of the Moon of New
Oorn, to bring him to her feet; she had attired herself with.
the utmost coquetry of Indian fashion, a jingle of tiny bells
around the bottom of her red-cloth skirt making her the envy
of every other female present. These bells, which the emi-
grants had imported from France, were the most coveted of
ornaments, and by their soft tinkle she had expected to sub-
due the cold heart of Rattlesnake. The emotions which now
stormed in her wild bosom, when she heard his overpowering
eloquence, and saw its force all directed toward the beautiful
white girl, were painted on her face. Rage, despair, deep.
sorrow drifted in clouds over her countenance, broken by:
transient gleams of hope. The young brave did not observe
her. Had he done so, it is probable that policy would haye
prompted him to make the object of his attentions less appa-
rent, for his'own mature would haye taught him the wild
character and suggestions of the passions he was arousing in
this woman of his race. But his attention was riveted too
strongly upon Marguerite, for him to think of, the rest of
his auditory; when he caught her eyes, he held them with
his own—their fierce magnetism. prevented her:turning her
glance away—she turned pale while she listened ;, and he;
seeing how fixed she became under the influence, of his
ry
RATTLESNAKE RENEWS HIS! SUIT, ab
eloquencé, redoubled its power, pouring forth a strain of self
glorification and aspiration, which brought down, ‘at its close,
a succession of deafening howls of approbation from. his
admiring companions. A glow of triumph lit up his swarthy
face, at the acclamations; he had no doubt of the effect of
these honors in moying the heart of Laughing Eyes, Return-
ing to his place in the ring, to make way for the next speaker,
he cast frequent glances at the group of pale-faces; but the
eyes of the white maiden were now diverted to the present
orator, and Rattlesnake failed to receive the smiles of encour-
agement which he had expected.
He did not approach the visitors until late in the afternoon,
when he came with a couple of his inferiors, who bore the
boiled corn which he offered for the refreshment of the guests,
He, in person, gave Marguerite her share, and as he did so,
said, in a low voice:
“You see that even our wisest men have faith in. the
bravery of Rattlesnake. His house has been lonely for the
last moon—there is no music but the hooting of owls at
night, and no brightness by day. Will the Laughing Eyes
come? She shall be a princess, and the wife of a warrior.”
This last sentence was spoken with great dignity, as if he
apologized to himself for his want of self-respect in asking a
woman twice; but he could not conceal the intense feeling
in his voice and manner.
“T have no other reply than the one I made your mother.
I am not free to accept your offer—I am already promised to
another, as I said,” answered the girl, firmly, looking him full
in the eyes—for Marguerite, although young and. thoughtless,
had’ plenty of character, and she felt that it was time to put
an end to this unpleasant affair, which she had not expected
would be again revived.
This was all that passed between. them at) that: time.
As Marguerite turned away from the:silent brave,:an Indian
girl pressed into her hand a little gift of shells. strung for a
necklace; and almost before she could smile her thanks, re-
treated, the bells upon her skirt chiming to her light and
rapid motions., It was Tree-la-lu, who had: sacrificed her
favorite necklace to this artifice to get near her lover, and
overhear what he should say to the pale-faee. He had not
23 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ’ FORT.
observed her, while she, breathless and silent, stood close at
hand, listening to the proposal and rejection. ' When she met
the glance of the brave, she gave the white girl the shells, as
if to do that had brought her there; but the scornful look
and muttered word of Rattlesnake revealed that he read‘hér
purpose, and that she had made him angry.
Marguerite, who felt very much disturbed by what the
brave had said to her, now urged her companions to return
to the fort before dark; but they had so little to vary the
monotony of their lives at home that they voted to remain
and witness the dancing by torch-light. At dusk the square
was illuminated by two-hundred torches, made of reeds and
frequently renewed. The music was produced by beating
upon a rude drum, made of a deer-skin stretched tightly
over a large kettle in which there was a little water. * The wo-
men formed a circle round it, at a certain distance from
each other, having their hands thrust into a ring of feathers
which they twirled round their wrists, while they moved:in
silence from left to right. The men formed another circle,
next to the one of the women, keeping at a distance of six
feet from each other. Every one of the men had a hollow
gourd, filled with small stones, with which he kept time,
shaking it as he danced. As the women turned, in dancing,
from left to right, the men turned from right to left. It was
monotonous, and barbarous enough; but the scene was novel,
and the French people took pleasure in gazing. The fitful,
flaring light of, the torches, the dark background of the for-
est, the wild dress and motions of the red-men, made an im-
pressive picture.
The discarded Indian maiden now strove as earnestly to
attract the admiration of the young brave, as in the morning
he had done to excite that of the white girl. She was near
him in the dance, and as she swayed to and fro in its meas-
are, she shook the gay litile bells which edged her robe, and
twirled her wreath of feathers, with an air of graceful lan-
guishment, while the black eyes rested on the form of the
man. she loved, until his notice was attracted to her, when the
glance of liquid light would sink and a sigh would heave her
bosom. ‘Tree-la-lu’s eyes were a handsome oyal, bright and
intelligent ; but otherwise she was ugly, like the other women
RETURN .TO THE FORT BY MOONLIGHT. 28
sof-her, tribe; being short and coarse-featured. Nevertheless,
she was,the belle of the village; warriors and nobles had
made. overtures for the honor of her hand, and when she had
made up her mind to dispose of it to the young chief, whose
famewas, growing amid his people, she had not entertained
the slighest fear of having her preference slighted. It was
doubly hard for her to find herself scorned on account of
this. beautiful and dazzling white girl. Hate and admiration
struggled together in her bosom. She was almost equally
fascinated: with her lover by the charms which, to her unso-
phisticated eyes, seemed supernatural; yet she hated them
because they had. beguiled her chieftain and led him to slight
her own attractions. It was a consolation to her to know
that Laughing Eyes had refused the Indian ; it revived her
hopes, and also softened her anger at her rival; but now, as
she danced and twirled her feathery wreath, she saw that the
heart and eyes of her partner were not with her, and she
watched both him and the white woman with vigilance.
After an hour or two of dancing, the curiosity of the
visitors. being satisfied, they paid their compliments and
said their farewells to the head of the assemblage, and de-
parted. for the fort.. A young moon, sinking low in the west,
dimly lighted their path homeward ; they made the two or
three miles’ walk a short one, with merry singing and laugh-
ter. Only Marguerite was thoughtful and silent—she who
was. usually the life of every company. The wild scenes
which ‘she had .that day witnessed—the mimic action of im-
aginary, battles—the rude. war-song—the fierce discourse of
excited chiefs—although they were the festival of this strange
people, had, made.a deep and terrible impression ‘upon her
-omind. - Being a new-comer, she, was more forcibly affected
than. those who. had,;.become familiar with the habits and
manners of the Indians. ..Gay and fresh as was her nature,
it was one of the sensitive kind, quick to receive impressions ;
and she could not. but realize how small a handful was her
own people, and how. utterly in the power of this native race,
should they. become aroused to the exercise of their superior
might, She felt as if she and her friends were sporting on
the brink of destruction. A weight settled on her spirits ;
she longed.for.the return of Maurice, feeling that were she
ath . , om,
we
54 A TALE OF TNE NATCHEZ FORT.
once safe in his arms, she would beg him to return to Ja delle
France, away from these uncongenial scenes. It was as if
the future had cast backward a reflection upon the mirror
of her mind, in which she saw pictured—what? Let us turn
from it with shuddering and dismay, as she herself turned.
“ Marguerite has, fallen, in loye with, some one of those
handsome braves!” said a young man, tauntingly—in merri-
ment only, for her engagement to her cousin was a well
understood fact in the little colony.
“ No—but to tell you the truth, Iam homesick to-night,”
she answered, “for the first time since I left Paris. I wish
Maurice would come. You must sce it is lonely for me
without any relatives.”
“We, too, wish him safely back, and good luck to both of
you! We'll have a merry wedding of it, be sure of that;
you'll not get rid of your friends upon that occasion,” an-
swered some of the company, kindly, for all of them liked
Marguerite, and wished her well.
By this time they had come inside the palisades of the
fort; 4nd in front of the little dwelling where the maiden
boarded, where they bade her good-night and sweet dreams of
her lover. - None of them had noticed the person who fol-
lowed ‘them away from the Indian village, flitting on their
track, lightly and as silently as a shadow, up to the gate of
the fort, where he turned back into the darkness, made deeper
by the setting of the moon.
It was Ratilesnake, taking this method to spy out the
thoughts of the French, and to learn if the lover of Laugh-
ing Eyes had yet arrived, and when he was expected.
pene cece
ae pea a
THE GOVERNOR'S DEMAND, 25
CHAPTER III.
CLOPART, THE GOVERNOR.
Au this time that Marguerite was embroidering her
wedding-dress, and waiting for the return of Maurice Can-
tarelle from Natchitoches, the management of Clopart, the
commander of the fort, was bringing trouble upon. the
colony under his charge. He was haughty and tyrannical
to his own people, but to the Indians he was insolent
and cruel. The haughty temper of the Natchez could
not brook the wrongs which he delighted to heap upon
them, Already there was the distant muttering of thunder,
foretelling the coming storm. But the Natchez were not
more proud than they were compliant and polite. They
treated the French with extreme civility, and thus far
there had been no outward demonstration of their growing
restlessness under the yoke which he sought to place upon
their necks.
As on the occasion of the visit to their village in time of
festival, they seemed pleased and honored by the attendance
of the pale-faces, so on all others they had behaved themselves
with forbearance and courtesy. But it was not a week after
this, that Clopart perpetrated an outrage upon the Natchez,
which made more prudent persons fear for the consequences,
Summoning’to his presence the Great Sun, or chief ruler of
the nation, he told him that he had received orders from
Governor Périer, at New Orleans, to tuke possession of the
beautiful village of the White Apple, which was a favorite
village of the Natchez, situated six miles from the fort, and
there to establish a plantation and construet certain buildings,
He did not need this particular-situation for his plantation ;
his object was simply to drive away the Natchez entirely,
He told the chief that his people must remove to some other
place which they could occupy without incommoding the
French, and accompanied this peremptory and startling
demand with no attempt at conciliation.
“Surely my white brother does not speak in earnest? He
“
86 A TALE OF ‘THE (NATCHEZ FORT.
only ‘wishes’ to’ ‘try the fortitude of the red-man. «Does ‘not
my white brother know that the Natchez have-lived in that
village more years'than there are hairs in this twisted iscalp-
lock which hangs from the top of my head’ to» my-.waist-?”
remarked the chief, looking Clopart full in the eyes:
“Foolish barbarian,” exclaimed the commander, with fierce
contempt, “what ties of brotherhood can there ‘be between
my race and thine? I have no explanation or apology. to
give to such as you. It is sufficient for you to-know that I
ebey superior orders. Obey mine!”
The habitual command of an Indian over his muscles and
features could not entirely subdue the working of the red
chief’s lip, nor the flash of his eye.
“Brother, we haye not been used to such treatment... So
far, the French have taken nothing from us by force. What
they possess we gave freely or they purchased. ' Wishing to
live in peace with thy nation, I say to thee,‘ We have other
lands we can spare, take them.’ Can we do more? . But.as
tothe village of White Apple, leave it untouched in, the
hands of the Natchez. There we have a temple, and there
thé bones’ of our ancestors have slept since we came to dwell
on the banks of the father of rivers.”
Listening to this touching appeal with an ironical smile,
Clopart replied :
*. “Romantic Indian, I will not bandy fine sentiments with
@ savage.” But mark my word, and remember that I shall
keep it:’ Toward the latter part of November I expecta
galley from “New Orleans.” If, when she ‘arrives, the village
of the “White Apple “is ‘not delivered up to me, I will. send
you if chaitis to-our great chief in our great village down the
river: “Thou seest that I make short work of it... Go.”
@ood, Psee, replied’ the Indian. ‘I will go home and
Tay’ this matter before the old and ‘wise men of my nation.”
Some ‘white’ officerswho* had ‘been present during. this
jnterview, venttired to remonstrate with their superior upon
the Unnécessary harshness of his demand, but he turned upon
them With so “much ire, that they were glad: to retreat-from
‘his presence. To be
‘*Clothed in a little brief authority ””
ikea fools of some ‘mien.
ASSEMBLAGE” OF "THE \CHIEFS. 27
“Whom the gods would destroy they first’ make mad,’
and it seemed’as if the silly tyranny-of this one officer was
dooming those in his charge to a fate which should have
been® reserved for himself alone... What) had. transpired was
spoken of freely in the fort, and though many disapproyed.of
this ‘order of their unpopular commander, and thought it
calculated to excite needless hard feelings in the breasts of
their Indian neighbors, few believed that. these had. really
power to revenge their wrongs.
In the mean time, the Great. Sun had. returned. home. and
called a meeting of the magnates of his nation. There was
not a warrior but knew beforehand the subject of their.coming
deliberations. The order of Clopart, and the insulting words
in which it was given, had flown like wild-fire through the
tribe. It had applied the spark to the tinder laid ready for
kindling. But when what had transpired was officially com-
municated by their king, there arose in the assembly a fresh
outburst of indignation, which was hushed. up, giving place
to profound silence, when the chief of the White Apple was
seen to rise: He was second in influence only. to the.Great
Sun himself, being famous for his exploits as a-warrior, and
his eloquence as an orator.
Moved by the threatened destruction of his. village; he
made a speech which aroused the passions of his .hearers to
the highest pitch. He was answered, at various points of his
address, by low and suppressed growls forcing ‘their way, as
it were, between the teeth of the grim-visaged assembly.
Some of the young warriors, giving way: to their excitement,
started up from their seats, and, uttering fierce threats, shook
their tomahawks with wild fury, but, soon calmed. these out-
ward tokens of their emotions as they met the rebuking glance
of the majestic orator. It is well/known.that,the Indians are
possessed of a singular and native eloquence of speech, and jit
may easily be credited that om an, occasion) like this, this;elo-
quence did not fail them. Every passion and sentiment, was
appealed to, from the veneration which they cherished, for the
bonesof ‘their’ ancestors: preserved. in their,sacred temples, to
the jealousy they felt for the “silyer-tongued strangers,” who
were “turning the heads of, their women,” until the “very
blood of the Natchez was tainted in its source.” .Their pride
=
28 AO TALE! OF) THE) NATCHEZ, FORT.
as warriors, was! appealed. to, not. to. allow, their nation, to.be
blotted::out: of -existence, without atleast. .perishing in: its
defense.
In the midst cf all this tumult, Rattlesnake sat among-the
young warriors, intently listening, but taking no-part.in/the
proceedings. A smile of triumph lit up his face when the
simultaneous war-cry announced the spontaneons. decision of
the assembly to resist the tyranny of the French...At that
moment he was not thinking so much of the outraged, honor
of his race, as he was of the opportunity this event would
give him for securing for his own the French girl for whom
he had conceived so intense a passion. That she did not loye
him was to, his savage mind no objection. The women of
the Natchez were the slayes of the men; they had no will
of their own, and no rights; he was too thoroughly imbued
with the spirit of the master-sex to regard it as any drawback
to his happiness to secure a wife by force, That the delicate
pale-face was a warbling bird who ought not to work in the
garden, nor carry corn on her back, he had decided; as he
had promised her, when making his proposal, he intended to
keep her from. hard Jabor, but further than this the niceties
of his mental perceptions did not reach,
Already, in his mind’s eye, as the discussions of the council
proceeded, he saw Laughing Eyes his prisoner and the inmate
of his hut, and his rifle-ball in the heart of her hated white
loyer, should that person haye returned before the consumma-
tion, of this wild bridal. It is no wonder that Marguerite
shuddered in her little room, working on her white embroidery,
while.plots so red as these were forming in the brain of the
stealthy and persistent savage.
Before the.-wise men of the Natchez left their council-
chamber, it was decided in what way to resist the invasion of
Clopart, and to be reyenged for the insulis he had heaped
upon them, It was agreed to send messengers to the Yazoos,
the Chickasaws, the Choctaws, and other tribes, who, having
also suffered from the oppressions of the French, were sup-
posed to. be ready to enter into any scheme of retaliation—to
inyite them to forget their past hostilities with the Natchez,
and unite with them in a holy alliance against the common
enemy. If the proposition was adopted by their wise men,
>
PLAN TO DESTROY |THE) FRENCH, 29
bundles, nrade up of an equal number of small sticks; were to
be remitted “to each tribe, from which one stick was to be
removed each day. The last remaining stick was to'desig-
nate the day upon which the combined attack was to be
made against the French, over the whole face of the country,
Thus assailed by surprise, cut off from the reciprocal succor
which the several settlements would give to each other if this
plan were not adopted, the French would be compelled to
succumb to the vastly superior numbers brought to bear
against them. For the successful execution of this plan, it _
was necessary to gain time; and for this purpose, their sove-
reign was entreated to enter into negotiations with the hungry
French wolf—the crocodile-hearted chief—in yonder fort, to
obtain, by dint of presents, that their removal be postponed
sufficiently for their plot to arrive at maturity.
In conclusion, it was suggested by the chief of the White
Apple, that the utmost ‘secrecy be observed; to secure which
it would be absolutely necessary to keep their designs a secret
from their women.
“Women,” said the chief, “are fickle and indis¢reet, and
they can no more keep a secret than a sieve can hold water.
Besides, many of them love the French, and would certainly
betray us, Therefore, let us sweat, before we separate, to
keep our lips sealed, and not to say one word which might
give to our women the slightest intimation of what we
intend.”
Those were not the days of woman’s rights, it is evident.
The pledge of secrecy was taken. Among the embassadors
chosen to communicate their designs to the neighboring tribes,
was Rattlesnake, who was to be the bearer of the message
and the bundle of sticks to the Chickasaws. — His flectness of
foot and his smoothness of tongue were his recommendations
to this embassy, He would eagerly have accepted the com-
mission had it not been that he was loth to leaye the vicinity
of the fort eyen for so short a time. N
Ardent, loving little Marguerite did not dream. that the
arrival of her lover was watched for by another almost as
eagerly as by herself. Yet so it was. The jealous Indian
haunted the fort, to the neglect of his hunting, often hover-
ing unseen in the vicinity of the white girl’s dwelling, not
30 A°TALE OF THEY NATCHEZ FORTS 7
only to feast ‘his Cyes’upon an occasional sight/of :her; butte
ascertain whether Maurice Cantarelle was arrived.::-Now that
this errand was to‘take him away for some days, he feared
that his rival might ‘reach the fort during his absence ; how-
ever, it would not do to hesitate, since: hesitation’ would -be
looked upon ‘by the council, as a want of earnestness’ in-the
matter, and his fidelity would be suspected. . He therefore
accepted the service, and girded himself for the journey.
The next day after this meeting of the council; their
sovereign called at the French fort, and representing to: Clo-
part how ill prepared they were to move so suddenly, with-
out having selected the place whither they could transport
their effects, he obtained that the fulfillment of the order of
expulsion should be postponed until the latter part of Decem-
ber, provided that the Natchez should pay to the commander,
in the interval, a contribution consisting of one barrel of corn,
and a certain quantity of fowls, furs and bear’s oil, for each
and every cabin of the White Apple village; which was a
valuable contribution, considering that there were eighty
cabins: in the village. The Great Sun and Clopart parted
with mutual satisfaction at the bargain they had made; the
one having gratified his appetite for gain, and the other
expecting to secure his revenge.
The excitement of the warriors, the departure of the mes-
sengers, and all the movements following upon the council,
‘ had not taken place without exciting the curiosity of the
Natchez women. With feminine tact they endeavored. to
wile the secret from their husbands or lovers; but the con-
spiracy to which they had. devoted themselves was of too
serious a nature to allow the warriors to break the pledge
which they had given.
. © One woman, however, was resolved to discover what was
going on.” Tree-la-lu, or Little Bird, was moved by deeper
motives than those of ‘mere curiosity. Her unhappiness since
the day of the festival had been as deep. as. it was silent.
Rattlesnake had no more idea of the jealous eye which for-
ever tracked him to the fort and back, than Marguerite of his
own untiring vigilance. When she saw him depart upon a
journey, as if to be absent some time, she guessed that noth-
ing -but the most powerful motives would induce him to
rod
4
ee
TREE-LA-LU) DISCOVERS THE SECRET. 3h,
withdiaw from: his: secret pursuit of, the French girl, Little
Bird ‘possessed quick: judgment, and keen, instincts; her ear,
was'acute, and her footstep light, as the fallof dew,upon the
grass. . Having resolved to know what was going.on among
the men°of her nation, it is not surprising that she succeeded
in getting such an inkling-of the truth as to convince her that
an attack upon the fort was meditated; from this, the logic
of jealousy proved clearly to her mind that Rattlesnake would
seize the opportunity to take: prisoner Laughing Eyes, who
would then be obliged to become his wife, whether or not she
wished it herself. :
Day after day she brooded over this, as she sat in the sun,
working belts and moccasins, until, one by one, the messen-
gers who had gone off on their secret mission returned,
and among the others her lover. Then the council met
again to listen to the joint report. Little Bird knew the
midnight hour at which they were to meet, at the council-
house. Risking every thing to obtain the knowledge she
coveted, she stole forth from her cabin a couple of hours
before the appointed time for the conclave to open, gliding
by a roundabout path to that part of the village in which the
council-chamber stood.
The cabins of the Natchez were really substantial houses,
built of logs and mortar, of comfortable size, containing some-
times two large apartments.
The council-room was near the temple, and was built of
squared logs, elevated a foot from the ground, and: resting
upon solid posts at the corners. With a heart. beating high
from fear and excitement, Tree-la-lu crept. near this building.
The night was intensely dark, but her eyes were like. those of
a wild animal—she could see very well.in the dark. | Cau-
tiously reconnoitering every side,-she approached the back
of the house, toa spot which she had marked during the day,
awhere’a little hollow in the ground: running under the floor
made a space large enough to admit her body. Creeping
into this, she waited until the warriors began to arrive, and
torches were lit in the council-room. A glimmer. of light
showed her where to place her ear to catch the drippings of
sound from above; she could hear distinctly every word
which was uttered during the confab which followed, and
82 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ Fort.
»was rewarded for her painful position and the risks,of betrayal
which she ran, by coming into possession of the particulars
of the plot against the French. She heard all abowt the
bundle of sticks which had been given to the other tribes,
and that the bundle belonging to the Natchez was deposited
for safe keeping in the temple, and from which, each day, a
stick was drawn. She remained in her hiding-place until
the council broke up, who were in excellent spirits at hearing
with what eagerness the other tribes had entered into the ar-
rangement. Waiting a safe time after the last warrior had
deserted the building, she crept out from the hole, and fled
home, undiscovered.. The warrior was powerful and intelli-
gent; but the woman was jealous and subtle,
CHAPTER IV.
THE WARNING.
On a bright.day in the early part of November, Margue-
rite, with the woman at whose house she was stopping, went
a little beyond the palisades, to gather a basket of pecan:
nuts, -IHer spirits had been drooping for some time; she was
actually growing pale with watching for her bridegroom ; slie
needed the exercise, and as she walked along in the bracing
air, so welcome after the hot southern summer, she felt her
gayety revive. Warbling little snatches of French loye-songs
betweentimes, she kept up a lively conversation with her
companion until they came to the little grove of stately pe-
cans; there both of them became absorbed in their pleasant
labor,. Marguerite, throwing sticks up into the trees, and
stooping to gather the nuts which fell, upon rising from her
knees, was startled to find herself confronted by an Indian
gitl, who had approached so. close as to touch her, but in
such silence that she was unaware of her neighborhood:
The girl had a basket, also, which was half filled with nuts.
She smiled at Marguerite’s exclamation, who then, recognized
her ag the one who had given her the necklace of shells at
THE PLOT REVEALED. 33
the festival of the Moon of New Corn, and who smiled in
return, saying in her pleasant voice:
“Good morning—but I don’t know your name.”
“Jt is Little bird,” replied the Indian, in tolerable French ;
then stooping over the maiden’s basket, as if to examine it,
she said, in a low tone: “Our people are no longer your
friends, I have always liked the French. Ask your white
chief if his fortis strong, and if he sleeps with his eyes open.”
“What do you mean ?” answered Marguerite, in the same
tone, the vague uneasiness which had so long haunted her at
ounce taking definite shape.
“The Natchez will shut the eyes of the white chief with
soft words. But they hate him as the wild horse hates the
bridle. Their knives are whetted, the powder is ready in
their rifles, Before another moon broadens to the width of
the one you will see to-night, the Natchez will sit in the seat
of the false-hearted white officer.”
“Oh, what shall I do?” cried Marguerite, turning pale as
she listened, and gazing into the glittering eyes of the Indian
girl with touching appeal.
“ Nothing,” said the other; “you cannot fly. The tribes
have risen all along the father of waters. They are like the
blades of grass. They will sweep away the French, as the
fire sweeps the prairie when itis dry. Little Bird has wished
to carry the twig in her mouth to lay it before the white
chief. Let him strengthen his fort, and keep the flame and
thunder ready in the big guns.”
“JT will tell him,” said Marguerite, “but I do not think he
will believe it. Te is a bad and cruel man.” '
“Tell him that one told you who will not lie. When is
the white girl’s brave coming back from Natchitoches ?”
The last question was put suddenly, and the keen eyes of
the Indian read the face of her companion, who answered :
“ T have looked for him many weeks, Oh, I wish I could
fly to Natchitoches. I should be safe there, with Maurice.”
“You. would be safe there for the present. But the
Natchez have likewise plotted to get the better of St. Denis.
Do you know there is a warrior of my people who is keeping
his wigwam empty for the day when he shall bring the white
maiden to it, over the corpse of her own brave ¢”
61 '
34 A TALE OF THE NATCTUEZ FORT.
“Poor Marguerite shuddered and hid her face in her hands,
“Never! never! tell him I will kill myself: Ah? ‘if ‘he
truly loves me, why does he not let me alone, when T wish
it?”
“J cannot tell him. I have waited days to bring you this
warning. Rattlesnake watches me with his cunning eyes, for
he knows that when a woman is jealous it makes her dan-
gerous. Let Laughing Eyes beware. He lies coiled before
her door, and he looks beautiful and like the rainbow as the
sun plays over him—but he is coiled to strike.”
“ What shall I do ?” said the white girl again.
“There is but one thing. Let the white chief be’on the
watch.”
There were others, who had been in and about the grove,
now drawing nigh; the woman who came with Marguerite
approached, thinking the Indian girl was trying to make a
bargain in selling her nuts. Tree-la-lu wandered on, gather-
ing the fruit diligently, as if that only was in her thoughts;
but shortly after, again coming near the French girl, she said:
“Keep it secret what bird it was that brought the twig in
its mouth.”
"Twill. Do you know what day the attack will occur?”
“No. The sticks are in the temple. If I find out the
time, and can send a message, I will send you a present ofa
ved basket, the day before the Natchez are ready.”
“Marguerite looked up quickly and suspiciously.
“Why are you,” she asked, “the friend of the French,
against your own people ?”
The only answer of the girl was a shrug of the shoulders,
and a low laugh; but as she walked off by herself again, she
muttered :
' “There is more fire in the heart of an Indian woman than
in these pale-faces. Our blood is redder and warmer. Ido
not love the French. But I love Rattlesnake ; and I would
save the whole white people before I would see him in pos-
session of the French woman whom he covets. Little Bird
will be his wife, whether he wishes it or not. He shall yet
‘wear the belt which he has shamed her by returning.”
The brightness had all gone out of the day now for Mar-
guerite. Look which way she would, she seemed_ to see
siniee aad
MARGUERITE..AND. THE, GOVERNOR. 35
stains. of.,blood on eyerything—the blue sky, the. bright rose,
the ‘green, fields... She hurried to fill her basket, that she might
haye an,,excuse for returning home, The woman who accom-
nied her rallied her on the change of her spirits, declaring that
she was,loye-sick, and:so impatient to be back, for fear that Mau-
rice might have arrived. in her absence., The jesting words
fell-upon her soul, like blows. She felt as if an awful fate
were impending over all; oyer this. thoughtless mother, and
her two. little innocent children at home, over other mothers
and children, over the braye little garrison whose only fault
was that it had so unworthy a commander.
When they arrived at the house, Marguerite, made an ex-
cuse for being absent an hour or two, and went directly to
the, quarters of the commander... She had. resolved that it
was the best thing for her to inform him personally of the
warning she had received.
Clopart was in his house, and upon being ushered into his
presence, the young girl found him alone. . He turned .wpon
her.a-careless eye, while he asked in an arrogant. yoice upon
what. business she had intruded upon his time. He had. not
even the courtesy to offer her a chair, and Marguerite, stand-
ing there in his lofty presence, felt something of the same
indignation which had roused the slumbering fury of the
Natchez... The tidings she had to communicate were of too
much importance, however, to admit of more than a passing
personal feeling. In, a clear and concise statement she.laid
before;him all the information which she had receiyed.from
Little Bird, but concealing the name of her informant... Her
heart sunk, within her when she saw the indifferent, contemp-
tuous manner with which he listened to her story.
“Who's been telling you such stuff ?”
“ A Natchez woman, who said she was friendly. to .the
French... Indeed, Monsieur Commander, I am certain there
is truth in. it.”
“Well; I don’t, ask you for your opinion, Mademoiselle,
Some squaw has, been, trying to frighten you, for the fun of
the thing... Don’t annoy me with your nonsense again—though
to be sure, we can put up with some silliness when it comes
from a;mouth.as pretty as yours;” and he, beginning. to. ob-
serve the beauty of his visitor, which was. rare enough in the
86 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
colony, favored her with a smile quite as disagreeable as his
frown. She would have retired’ immediately; but her mind
was too fully impressed ‘with the reality of the danger not
to compel her to make one moré effort to convince thé officer
who had the fate of the fort in his keeping, so she éontinwéd :
“Yam certain that mischief is‘ preparing. I’ pray you;
sir, to at least be cautious—be on your guard!”
“Perhaps I had better resign my conimand to Mademot-
selle’s hands,” he said, with cool irony, glancing at them ‘as
she clasped them in supplication. He condescended, liow-
ever, to add, “T assure you, you need not trouble your pretty
head. ‘The Indians are crafty—quite too cunning for your
little brain, I fear. They wish to escape the payment of thie
tribute which they have promised in return for the permission
to stay in the village of the White Apple a few weeks longer ;
not only that, but, if they can frighten me sufliciently, they
hope to escape the necessity for leaving at all. All these lit-
tle ‘hints which they are throwing out, are for this purpose.
I understand the rascals. Don’t be alarmed, little girl. And
now, if you have anything to say on a more interesting sub-
ject, I’ will hear it. Are you married ?”
The tone of insolent familiarity which he put on, as he
attempted to take her hand, alarmed her so much that she
retreated instantly to the door, and with a hasty bow, de-
parted.
“T can never go to see him again,” she thought, as she
hurried home. “And it would do no good if I did. “THe
says that they are cunning and crafty, yet he refuses to be
warned against their intrigues. God grant that what he’ says
about their motives be true. But I cannot believe it: ° Ab}
lion Dieu, if he felt about it as I do, there would be léss
danger. If he would be prepared, and have the fort in readi-
ness, I think it could be defended. I wish Maurice would
come.” He might have some influence !”
Thousands of times she had breathed that’ wish, but’ never
with such earnestness as now. ‘Bat Maurice did not come.
Day after day she inquired, through a friendly acquaintance;
a sub-Lieutenant who knew the most of the Government busit-
ness, if there were any arrivals of persons or messages from
Natchitoches.’ She would long since have’ given up ‘her
—
~ ee fe
THE GOVERNOR'S OBSTINACY. 37
plan, of surprising, Maurice, and sent him word.of her arrival
in, the country, but no dispatches had) recently gone to, that.
far-away post, the way to which was difficult and, dangerous.
Now, she, would herself gladly have undertaken, the journey,
had she been able to find a guide, . Although its perils would
be extreme, she felt as if no danger was greater than that, of
remaining, in the fort. She told..the, sub-Lieutenant, of ;her
fears, who was so impressed, by their probability that. he
undertook, himself, to arouse Clopart to a realization of his
position. . Ilis efforts met with no better success than those.
of the girl had done. Indeed, the bare mention, of the sub-
~ ject made him angry. A soldier who had also been warned,
probably by Little Bird herself, ventured to admonish the
commander, who, instead of inquiring into the meaning of
these repeated warnings, called the soldier a coward anda
visionary, put him in the stocks to punish him. for spreading
false reports, and: declared that he would. certainly abstain,
from repairing the fortifications, or from doing anything that
would give the Natchez to understand that he was afraid of
them—because the secret motives of all these warnings, as he
pretended, was to frighten him out of his resolution. to com-
pel them to evacuate the village of the White Apple. . Such
was,the fatal infatuation of the commander of the fort! .....
Tn the mean time Marguerite lived in such a state of appre-
hension, that the smallest sound caused her to startle and her ~
cheek to, turn pale, Through the long and restless nights
she scarcely slept at all. Hach moment she expected to hear...
the savage war-whoop, and to see enacted in dreadful reality
the scenes which, even in their mimic performance, had taken
so. powerful a hold upon: her imagination. Look where she;
would in the dark, she saw the burning eyes of Rattlesnake
gleaming out of the obscurity, She grew feverish and ill—
so excited and nervous, that the fumily with which she stayed .
naturally attributed her excessive apprehension to. the. state
of her system. They jthought she might be coming down,
with one of the fevers of the climate... At first, they had felt,
alarmed, when she communicated. to. them the warning she
had received ;, but the merchant, whose thoughts, were mostly
in.his business, seeing that Clopart gaye no credit. to. the ru-,,
mor, began to laugh at it himself, and to rally the young girl ~
38 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
on her foolish fancies. His heart was in the galley which was
expected soon from New Orleans, and in which he had valu-
able merchandise. So his rosy wife smiled at her work, and
his two little children laughed in the sunshine, as usual. “It
seemed to Marguerite as if nobody would see the cloud but
herself... She felt an oppression, as if the fate of the whole
thriving settlement, with all its flourishing fortunes and pre-
cious lives, rested. upon her conscience. Yet she had done
all she could,, She hoped that Tree-la-lu would find means
to see her again, and either relieve her anxiety or give her
more definite information ; but the girl did not come near
her,
Once Rattlesnake himself came to see her. He brought
her a present of some wild-plums which he had found in the
forest, but. he stayed only a few moments, and made no re-
ference whatever to the topic of his last conversation with
her... That visit was no comfort to Marguerite. She was
. now so almost magnetically alive to all that passed, it seemed
»,to, her that she could read the thoughts of anticipated triumph
. which shone in his black eyes—something, intense and lus-
trous, not a smile, but the gleam of anticipation, lurked in his
(gaze.
, And, still the days and nights, dreary and endless as they
were, were not long enough ; for the moon had moved to the
fuJl and was,on the wane, and Maurice had not come, and
Little Bird had said, that before the moon had filled its first
new quarter, the French would be exterminated. At length
an apathetic dullness settled over Marguerite. Her nerves had
been so long strained to an unnatural tension, that a reaction
took place. . The dreadful vision of fire and massacre which
was forever before her eyes did not vanish; she only stared
at it helplessly. Knowing that any attempt at personal safety
would be useless, should the fort fall, and that there was ab-
solutely nothing to be done, but to suffer such fate as was in
store, she grew numb under the presence of continual terror.
3 She had made frantic efforts to get a passage to New Or-
4) leans, or, to find some persons who could be induced to go to
-,, Natchitoches, but. had failed in all. The fact that the rising
, of. the Indians was to be universal precluded any hope of
escape by flight. If there was safety anywhere, it was in the
Ran
THE INDIAN GIRL'S PLOT. 39
_ forts. Oh, if Clopart would but do his duty—would be
warned in time ! 0
But let us return to Little Bird. Finding with ‘surprise,
by means which she took to keep herself informed,’ of the
little effect. her warnings had upon the commander of the
fort, she was obliged, reluctantly, to give up hopes of saving
it, at least from a dangerous attack. But she did not de-
spair, even in that case, of being able to thwart the' designs
of Rattlesnake, as far as they included the possession of the
white maiden. Before she would see him happy with the
pale-face, she herself would wing an arrow, or mingle a cup
of poison, destined for the white girl. But in doing this, she
must be wary; for should Rattlesnake detect her hand in the
business, she knew that his vengeance upon her would be
sure... In the mean time, having given her mind to the effort
to warn the French, she grew ardent for its success; and
without any particular motive, either of humanity or love,
she resolyed to do what was in her power to balk the enter-
prise. of her own people. She reflected that if she could
withdraw a few of the sticks from the bundle which meas-
ured the time of the concerted attack upon all the settlements,
she would disarrange the day of operations, so that the’ other
settlements would receive warning in time to prepare for the
blow... This would hasten the day of the attack upon Fort
Natchez; but as the struggle would be no more bloody upon
that account, she thought this would be no objection.
But the bundle of sticks was kept in the sacred temple,
where it would be dangerous, if not impossible, to reach it,
[he plebeians, or common people, to whom Little Bird’ be-
longed, were never permitted to enter the precincts of the
sacred edifice, which was always under guard, because here
the sacred and eternal fire was kept burning, to allow which
to expire was death to the guilty watchers. Eight of these
guardians served at one time, in keeping the holy flame ‘con-
tinually rising.
As we have said, Little Bird was the belle of the village ;
her, fascinations were admitted by many of the young braves ;
these,she now used to the utmost of her power to soften’ the
sensibilities of one of the guard, who finally yielded to her
overwhelming solicitations to be permitted a peep into’ the
> *
49 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ. FORT,
temple. Supposing her moved only, by the curiosity..of hez
sex, and persuaded by her, that the sin, if unknown, would;
not be a sin, he admitted her, in the darkness .of, midnight,
into the sihetuiar , Where, haying overcome. the..first. great
obstacle, she found it comparatively easy to, cover her. with-
drawal of cight of the, sticks from the. bundle, there de-
posited.
But eyen the bold heart of Little Bird quivered in: ‘her
bosom, when, coming out of the temple, she, was addressed
in a low voice by some one who stood near, in the darkness.
The voice was that of Rattlesnake. She knew at, once that
she had been followed; that. the suspicion which she endeay-
ored to avert was fixed upon her,
The yillage in which the sacred temple. stood was several
miles from the one in which Tree-la-lu dwelt; to reach it,
she had traveled since sundown; and now she knew that-all
that time a silent foot was tracking her own. She instantly
tried to recall what look, expression or occurrence could have
served to waken the watchfulness which she had wished to
avoid.’ She could think of nothing. She had kept her. own
counsel, except what she had confided to the white maiden
and the soldier; and these she did not believe had betrayed
her. “ Satisfied, upon a rapid survey of the past, that the war-
rior could haye no proofs against her, and that he was prob-
ably acting upon slight suspicions, she grew. immediately
as Calm'as before; even while she began to answer him, the
momentary quiver of her pulse subsided, and_her voice was
perfectly steady. She was afraid that he might take. hold
of her and discover the sticks which she had slipped beneath
her shawl; she did not dare to drop themso near the temple,
lest ‘they should be observed in the morning, but her: voice
betrayed’ nothing of what was passing in her mind.
“Why do you come here to profane the temple at this
solemn hour ?”
“T thought not to profane it, but only to here adore the
Great Spirit which watches over the Natchez. I know that
the foot of ‘one like me ought not to be sect therein; but oh,
Rattlesnake, you know that I'am sad and desolate. . He only,
whom T love in this world loyes not me; and I thought,
perhaps, if I should supplicate the Great Spirit, here in, his
—_———=
ie ee, A shata te a> o* %
ie
* DETECTION EVADED. 41
own temple, to soften the heart that is all HORE, to me, he
would hear ‘my prayer.”
Indifferent’as tlie young warrior might be to the affection,
of the girl who made him this artful answer, .he was. not
proof’ against’ flattery.
“ Your excuse is good,” said he, “but do not repeat the,
offense. You will be punished if it becomes known.”
“Tt'is all’one to me. Ihave no desire to live. , Since T
am trampled under the foot of my master, who. will not have
mé even for his slave, I will not plant corn nor cook- food
for any other. Let me die.”
“Push,” said the brave, disdainfully, “you have a, fair
portion to bring your husband, and you vwill marry. soon.
Why not take one of the fine French chiefs, with their beards.
and their broadcloth coats ?”
“Because I hate the French. I wish they were all driven
away from here. If the Natchez warriors had the fire in,
their blood which their ancestors had, these pale-faces would...
not taunt us in our own places. It is time the women should. ,
begin ‘to fight.”
“Ay! replied Rattlesnake, taken off his guard, in the,
deep tone of exultation, “we will attend to that. You. wo-
men’ need not trouble yourselves.”
“But why did you follow me here to-night?’ asked the
girl, who allthis time was walking slowly along, and when-
ever she came to the darkest shadows, dropped one. of the,,
sticks upon the ground.
“Po see what you were about,” was the curt reply. ;
“T do not see why it is,” continued she, “that you. re-..;
turned me my belt. I have looked closely at all the maidens...
of our village, and Ido not see that any of them is pleasing
in the eyes of Rattlesnake. Perhaps he is going to take the
war-path, and ‘when he returns he will be kinder to Little
Bird.”
This she said in order to conceal from him that she had...
detected the real object of ‘his affections ; concealing. the. ;,
jealousy which devoured her soul, and making no allusion to
the French girl. Rattlesnake, not looking for this profound ,..
dissimulation in anything so utterly, senseless as 9 woman,....
was satisfied that ‘she knew nothing, either of the meditated
oh
B A TALE TOF -THE: NATCHEZ FORT.
attaék upon the fort, or of his design of taking. to himself_a
White wife. °° Viewing her mission tothe temple in.the flatter-
ing’ light ‘in which: she: had: placed. it, he no longer .conde-
scended’to shorten ‘his steps! to hers, but strode forward.on
the path, leaving her to make her way, home unattended.
Tree-la-lu would rather he should. have been cruel and harsh
with her, than so utterly indifferent. As his steps outstripped
hers ‘until: she’no longer could catch their distant echo, she
sunk down at the foot of a tree, and bowed her forehead to
the’ damp ground, while a storm of passion swept oyer her.
Tn return for all her ardent. confession, he had not said one
kind word to her; the spell of the French girl’s charms was
‘400 powerful for her weak hands. to. break. In a few days,
Rattlesnake would bear the white bride to his cabin, and she,
poor Tree-la-lu, might tear her hair and weep her. eyes out in
vain. “In such a case,” she whispered to herself, ina hard
yoicé,“if she could have nothing sweeter, she would haye
revenge.” .
CHAPTER V.
THE RED BASKET.
THREX weeks had elapsed since the day upon which, Mar-
guerite, going out for the pecan-nuts, received. the first, inti-
*Snation of the hostility of the Natchez... The time, to her, had
* seemed unendurably long, yet she trembled to find. it flying.
“Her wedding-dress was finished and put) away in her chest ;
she no longer liked to look atvit, but passed the hours in dull
_ reverie, wishing herself and Maurice back in. the dear. old
“house of their grandmother, where all had been.so safe and
~~ quiet.
~The noon meal of the family had been partaken of, and the
“young girl was assisting the mistress to clear away the table,
“when a shadow ‘fell ‘across the floor from the. open door.
Marguerite started, as she did now constantly, and turning,
-* Deheld standing in the entrance an old squaw, who apparently
“had berries to sell; instantly her eyes hecame riveted upon @
siieilaitiaialas -.
sc ik
ate
THE’ RED BASKET.
‘ved basket, the only one of that’ color out-of the six oryeight
which ‘the woman carried: Every:vestige of ‘color fled out
of her face ‘as ‘she recognized) the fatal: signaly It was with
difficulty that she ‘repressed the scream which. rose toher
lips} she could not speak, but’ sunk upon-a seat, while the
mistress’ of ‘the house went forward. to. invite, the Indian
woman ‘to rest herself, and to ask the price of her. berries.
The withered old creature, who could not speak any French,
made motions to signify that the red basket, was, for the
maiden, before whom she set it down, and. then abruptly
departed, without waiting for any reward for the fruit.con-
tained in it.
“Mon Dieu !” murmured Marguerite, as soon as she could
speak, “this is the token I was to receive to signify that the
fort was about to be attacked.”
“What is it? What do you mean?” cried. the mistress of
the house, alarmed by the words and manner of the other,
“The red basket !”
“ What of it?”
“T tell you it is the signal. We are lost, my friend, we
are lost!”
“Poor child, your head is turned. What has a basket of
berries to do with an attack upon the fort ?”
“JT tell you again that it is the signal. The Indian girl
promised me that she would warn me of the time when the
attack was about to begin by sending me a red. basket, The
woman who brought it must be her mother; I saw a resem-
platice’ between them. ‘Who knows. how. soon. the, trouble
will begin? Yet no one is alarmed, no one, is.prepared.. I
will go again to Clopart:. I will. take the. basket with me to
show him, to tell him. Iwill beg him.to close, the gates,
and to prepare himself.”
As she was about to rush from the house upon this errand,
the merchant returned to it, in high spirits, to inform, his
wife of the arrival of the expected galley from. New. Orleans,
richly freighted with the needed articles of food, clothing and
medicines; She paused to explain to him the, meaning of the
basket. He could not be so careless.as not to feel apprehen-
sive at the sight of this mysterious, warning. He looked
gravely at his children and his wife, his. brow clouded, and
He
AL A TALE OF TNE NATCHEZ’ FORT.
lie offered’'to ‘proceeds in the girl's stead, to the commander,
show him ‘the’ basket, and’ solicit him to instantly close the
portals, ‘and put himself on the defensive.
During ‘his absence, the two women sat looking in each
others blank ‘fices, not knowing what to do where nothing
could be done, “In about an hour the merchant returned with
the information that Clopart was not within the limits of the
fort; that he had gone off with a party of Frenchmen, to
feist and drink with the Natchez in their own great village.
Clopart had indeed carried his madness to that extent. In
order to show in a signal manner his contempt for the alarm-
ing reports which had been made to him, he had gone to the
WNatcléz ‘to spend the night in carousal with the Great Sun
and his chiefs;'to whom he told, as a good joke, the stories
which’ had’ been brought to him of the enmity of those with
whom he“wis now on such excellent terms. The sovereign
of ‘the Natchez took pains to compliment his discretion, and
to’ assure him that his real enemies were those who brought
thése ‘idle’ tales’; in proof whereof, he declared his people
should ‘to'motrow bring the white chief the amount of the
tribute which had been promised, and would then put him in
possession of the White Apple village.
Tn ‘thé mean time, the merchant in whose family Marguerite
resided; felt “his courage revive, as he ascertained the course
which the ‘commander was pursuing. He did not believe
tliat an ‘Officer like Clopart could be so unfitted for his duty,”
as to'do'as he was doing, without he had the best of reasons
for trusting the Natchez. So he banished the chill, uneasy
feeling which possessed him, as far as possible, played with
the children ‘upon his knees, and laughed at the cowardly
women-folks.
Feeling it useless to attempt any thing more for the salva-
tion of her friends, Marguerite set herself down in the back
door, to calm her mind and consider if there was any possible -
step fO be taken to save herself from the fate which she saw
impending. ‘It was fot the prospect of death which so utterly
dismayed’ her’ Although'a cruel death, to one so young and
full of love, inthe midst’ of circumstances so appalling, was
enougl to blast her shuddering soul to contemplate, yet this
—was’'not the fullness of her dread.’ She remembered the
THE, LITTLE..CANOE, 45)
words. of Little Bird, that she, was, destined forthe wife, of the;
Natchez chief whom.she,had , refused... It, was not; for;such, a
wedding that she had crossed the ocean which rolled. between,
her and. the ties of the past—this sayage.and unnatural, bridal,
cursed by.the blood of her friends.,,, Desolate beyond descrip-
tion did the poor girl feel in. this crisis,;. There was noone
to, care_more for her, than. they would. for. any. passing
acquaintance... _It was. true that all were alike threatened ;
but, she felt then, in her solitude, as if even to die with some
one who cherished her, would be a relief.
A short distance from the little garden into which she was
looking, the river stretched away in broad and languid folds,
She could see the newly-arrived galley where it lay by the
little dock, with the tri-color flying from. its. mast. Oh that
she was on board of that vessel, and that its sails were set.for
the distant sea! At that moment, the yellow water, glittering
in the light of the descending sun, was. the. kindest. looking
object of all to which she turned her eyes or thoughts,.,..To
fiy to it, and find rest beneath its waves, from her relentless,
pursuers, would not be so very dreadful... But.in order tobe
sure of even this security, it would be necessary for her to, be,;
near it in the hour of danger, While she sat, pondering the
matter, she detected a little canoe, lying close.in to, the shore,
which some one had left there, moored to a bush whieh grew,
onthe bank, She had often noticed it there before, to-day ;,
but now it appeared to her in the shape of a deliverer... As;
we have said, the girl was not wanting in energy; andywith,.
the first. gleam of hope, some of her old strength and coolness.»
returned... She resolved to..wait until, dark, then:,to steal.»
down to. the bank, climb the. palisades,. and, take possession. ;
of the bark. But what to do then? There were: houses,.,
occupied, by, planters, standing. lere .and. there, , for, miles
around the fort; but she had been told that the attack would,
be. general, and she had no doubt. that all these, families were ;.
doomed, as well as any,and every Frenchman or, settlement,
perhaps, the whole length of the river.,, To reach any. of these. ;
would afford, at the best, but temporary shelter, One moment,
she. would think it, better to remain and meet;her fate,in the,
midst of her acquaintances;,the next, the glittering eyes of,,..
Rattlesnake would rise in her memory, causing her to.feel.,,
46 A TALE, OF THE. NATCHEZ .FORT.
thatit would, ;be,better, to get far enough away from him. to
ayoid, a love: which. was, worse than, hate.
» She .remained.,in, the door, watching the river until vhe
sun set, and she was. called to partake of the evening. mval.
Little.as. she felt inclined to eat, she considered. that it would
be better'to maintain. her strength with food; so she partook
of the corn-bread and milk which formed their simple supper,
and before she left. the table slipped a couple of pieces of the
bread into the.pocket of her. dress. She was. preparing for
that. vague journey she knew not whither nor toward what.
By this time the sunset had deepened into twilight. Be-
lieving that the attack would take place at the dead hour of
midnight, she resolved. to quit the house at once, and. make
her way, in. the dusk, to the canoe. Into this she would
creep; and. lie.by. the shore, in the shadow of the bushes,
until.she heard something to convince her that the attack had
really commenced, when she would paddle out into the stream,
and float down. the current, committing herself to Providence.
Hugging the dear little children in her arms, she helped their
mother, to, undress.them, dropped a bitter tear over their
unconscious faces, smiling in their sleep, went into the garden,
climbed the.fence, and. made her way across the space which
Jay. between. the house and the river. She was obliged to
surmount the palisades, which here ran down to the water’s
edge, for the canoe lay on the other side of the wall, where
‘it:sloped down on the bank. This was not difficult to accom-
plish, for the wall being strengthened on the inside by banks
of-earth, she easily climbed to the summit by means of. these.
Here.she.paused to ascertain if the canoe was still in its place.
Through the semi-darkness, which was partially lighted by a
young.moon shining through clouds, she saw it at. rest, just
as it lay when she observed it by daylight. There appeared
to;-be no one near enough to notice her movements; she
-could hear the men talking in the galley and on the docks,
and see the lights. beginning to twinkle from the windows of
the houses. Swinging herself over the palisades, she hung by
lier hands an instant, then dropped. lightly down upon the
ground beneath.
-o,Ab was. not more than a rod from here that the bark was
»moored, .; In afew moments she had loosened the cord which
MARGUERITE’S ADVENTURE, 47
tied it to a stout bush, waded out a step or two into the water
and stepped into the canoe. ‘Then, for the first time, she per
ceived that she was not alone. ‘A tall Indian, with one stride,
passed from the shore to her side, sat down, took up a paddle,
and struck out into the stream. She was too astonished and
terrified to scream or speak, and in the pause, he asked:
“What Laughing Eyes do with my canoe ?”
It was Rattlesnake. She recognized him by his voice, and
could also make out his features in the faint moonlight.
“T did not know it was yours,” she gasped. “I thought I
would take a little ride on the water.”
He chuckled as if intensely pleased.
“Me paddle for you,” he said. “Laughing Eyes need not
tremble. I will bring her back in one little time.”
He struck out into the stream. If the waters beneath her
had been rushing over her, Marguerite could not have felt
‘worse. More than once she opened her lips to shriek, but
could not summon the power. He paddled up to the galley
and all about it. This gave her some confidence. She saw
that he did not intend any present harm, or he would’ take
her away from the fort. He paddled up and down the river,
shooting about with extreme swiftness, laughing at his own
skill and at her evident fright. That unpleasant ridé may
have been of half an hour’s duration, but to her it seemed
endless. Finally she found herself at the starting-point. “The
Indian leaped ashore, and as she followed him, he said, —
with the same chuckle of satisfaction:
“How you like it? “Rattlesnake’s canoe swift as an artow.
White brave has not come for Laughing Eyes. He has mar-
ried squaw and forgotten her. Rattlesnake’s house very lone-
some. Bring your sewing-silk, and fill it full of sunbeams.
Soon—come soon.”
Then seizing her in one arm, he climbed, with the agility
of a squirrel, partly up the palisades, by some small foothold
which he obtained, swung her over the pickets to the top,
and jumped down again, saying:
“Laughing Eyes go home. She shall not be hurt.”
Sick at heart, Marguerite obeyed him, for she had nothing
else to do. This proof of how closely she was watched,
showed that an attempt to escape the general fate which might
48 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
be in store for all would be unavailing. She did not doubt
that the Indian had released his prey upon this occasion only
because he was so sure of it. He was playing with her as a
cat plays with the mouse which it has doomed. He did not
wish to run the risk of arousing the garrison, by abducting
the girl before the train was sprung upon the fort.
All that night she remained on her knees, trying to pray
and to gather faith, but with every nerve on the strain,
and her cars and brow aching with the stretch of expecta-
tion. Yet those black hours of suspense rolled by, one by
one, Without bringing any cause for alarm, and as the sun
once more, more welcome and glorious than ever before, shot
his arrows of gold oyer the horizon, himself, like a good
huntsman, still lying perdu, exhausted by her vigils, Mar-
guerite fell asleep.
CHAPTER Vi.
THE EVE OF ST. ANDREW'S.
Farm and clear dawned the morning of the 29th of No-
vember. No sun ever rose more brightly than this which
was destined to set in fire and blood. Later in the night, the
commander of the fort had returned from his drunken frolic
with the chiefs of the Natchez, and had retired'to bed, giving
the most particular orders, that upon no account must he be
disturbed before nine o’clock.
Long before the break of day there was a great bustling
in all the villages of the Natchez. By eight o’clock the
Great Sun was seen departing from the village at the head of
his nobles and a band of warriors. The procession moved with
a great noise of instruments, and carried, with as much shew
as possible, the stipulated tribute of fowls, corn, oil and furs.
The master of ceremonies, gorgeously dressed, and mak-
ing himself conspicuous above the rest, twirled on high, with
fantastic gestures, the calumet of peace. With demonstra-
tions of joy, they paraded several times around the fort, before
entering it.
ig ore: anion
THO DALTON VHNoHANGH, 49
Tn the mean time, with ‘such’ foresisht’ and precision “had
the conspirators taken ‘their’ measures, that, at'the’same mo-
ment, the house of every Frenchman, within’a radius of many
miles, found itself full of Indians asking for this thing or that.
Some begged fur powder, shot, and bread, to go on @ hunting
expedition, promising an ample'return for the loan demanded.
Others had a present to make, or an ‘old-remembered debt to
pay, or some bargain or ‘other to propose. Motives or ex-
cuses of infinite variety were not wanting to allay suspicion,
The barbarous musi¢ of the procession which was moving
around the fort aroused Marguerite from: the light sleep’ into.
which she had fallen. Coming out of the little closet which
served her for a bedroom, she found the family gathered in
the deor, looking out to see the cause of the tuniult,
“You are as white as my wife’s night-cap,”* laughed the
merchant, making room for her: “come, look at this! and
see how silly you have been to be-frightened. It is only the
Natchez bringing the promised tribute to our commander
They could not possibly be more friendly. You see they
display the calumet of ‘peace. | And I tell you that I am not
sorry to find that our stock of corn is going to be so hand-
somely replenished—it was getting scarce.”
“Hold nie high, papa; to see the drums,” cried the oldest
child,ra dittle fellow of three: years, and his father’ took» hin
in‘ his arms.
“They mean wwell;\ Pm sure,” said the young mother; :draw-
ing ‘a breath of ‘relief
“God grant it? murmured Marguerite.
In the mean time the procession entered the gate and :pro-
ceeded to the house of the commander; who, aroused by the
music; made his appearance at'the door in his morning-gown,
Elated at the sight:of the valuable presents which were laid
before himy laughing: in ‘his heartiat the veredulity of those
who ‘had attempted to ‘arouse his suspicions against these
good friends, Clopart’ graciously received the: tribute, conde-
seending to offer'the Great Sun a drink of brandy: outof hig
own" liquor case.» Then, the Indians began to dance, to sing;
aud! tovereep into the: fort and’ everywhere. . A: chosen’ band)
ofiwarriors ‘glided’ down the ‘bank of the river whiere swas!
moored the long-expected and richly-loaded galley. They
50 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
passed by the house from which Marguerite looked out. The
merchant smiled, and said: “ How do you do?” “ Good-morn-
ing,” as they turned their eyes in that direction, but the young
girl shrunk back with a shudder—she was not so much ac-
customed to the red-men.
Hardly had this dozen of savages passed, when her quick
eye recognized Rattlesnake, and another Indian, coming to-
ward the house, laughing, and making gestures as if they
desired to present the inmates a wild turkey, which one of
them carried. Their guns were slung over their shoulders,
but their whole mannér was extremely friendly. Margue-
rite shrunk back to the furthest verge of the apartment as
they came to the steps, but the merchant, with his boy in his
arms, stood in the door to receive them ; and the child laughed
as the feet of the bird were placed in his outstretched hand.
As Rattlesnake handed the turkey to the boy and his father,
his lightning glance swept the room, until it met Marguerite’s.
If hell had suddenly opened and she had seen the red glow
of its molten fires, her eyes would not have been more
blasted. She sunk down upon the bench behind her, her eyes
turning away.
At that moment came the destruction of Fort Natchez.
Even at that instant, while Clopart laughed, drinking the
health of his red guests, while the babe smiled on the moth-
er’s arm, and the sun shone cheerfully upon happy homes—
then, fell the instantaneous, simultaneous blow.
A discharge of fire-arms in the direction of the galley was
heard. Each warrior of the band who had approached the
vessel, leisurely picking his man and making his aim sure,
had killed every sailor on board. This was the preconcerted
signal ; and was followed, far and wide, by discharges so close
upon each other, that they seemed to make but one whole.
Even as they started, and turned to observe the meaning of
the first report, the white men, saving three or four, for miles,
within the fort or about it, sleeping, eating, walking, work-
ing, whatever or wherever they were, fell dead before they
knew what threatened them. “Such being the dispositions
of the Indians, and the hour having come,” says the Goy-
ernor of Louisiana, in his report of the massacre, “ the gen-
eral assassination of the French took so little time, that the
MASSACRE OF THE FRENCH,
execution of the deed and the preceding signal were almost
one and the same thing. One rifle discharge closed the whole
affair, with the exception of the house of La Loire des Orsins,
in which were eight men, who defended themselves with des-
peration. They made good the house against the Indians
the whole day. Six of them were killed, and when night
came the remaining two made their escape. When the at-
tack began, La Lotre des Ursins happened to be on horseback,
and being cut off from his house by intervening foes, he
fought to death, and killed four Indians, Thus it cost the
Natchez but twelve men to destroy two-hundred-and-fifty of
ours, through the fault of the commanding officer, who alone
deserved the fate which was shared by his unfortunate com-
panions.”
As for the haughty and supercilious Clopart, who had brought
this calamity upon the garrison and settlement which he should
have protected, his own death was sufficiently miserable.
Such was the contempt which the Natchez entertained for
him, that death inflicted by the hand of a warrior was
thought too honorable for the white chief. None of that class
laid hands on him, and the lowest among their plebeians
was sent for, who beat him to death with a club, in his own
garden, whither he had fled.
But to return to those in whom we are more immediately
interested. Marguerite, looking up at the report of fire-arms
from the galley, heard the fruitless shriek of the young wife
mingled with the nearer discharge of a gun—which Rattle-
snake had suddenly brought to a level and fired—and saw the
merchant fall to the floor, bathed in his own blood and that
of his little son, who chanced to be in the way of a deadly
aim, She heard the two or three convulsive moans of the
child; saw his mother lift him from the relaxing hold of her
expiring husband, hug him to her breast, on her knees on
the floor—all this so suddenly that she remained breathless
and motionless, paralyzed by the quick horror, But when
the companion of Rattlesnake, advancing, tore the dying -boy
from the woman’s arms, which he began to pinion behind
her, and she saw Rattlesnake himself coming toward her
with a leather cord, with a lightning impulse she sprung to
the corner of the room, where stood a gun which the
“ OF FORT.
THE NATCHEZ
unfortunate merchant had Joaded, the previous evening, to
have ready in case of an emergency.
Placing her back to the wall, with her finger to the trigger
of the musket, she stood at bay, her white face gleaming out
of her disheveled hair, and her blue eyes fixed on those of
the chief. They were no longer “laughing eyes.” Even the
willful savage, who had been reared to see nothing base in this
black treachery and murder, felt uneasy beneath the blaze of
rebuke and horror which they flashed upon him.
“Put down the gun,” he said, coaxingly. “Laughing
Eyes shall not be hurt. She shall be the wife of the warrior,
and sew sunbeams in his tent.”
She repressed the shiver that ran over her, lest it should
disturb the precision of her aim. She had but one thought,
to kill him. She knew that torture and death would be her
punishment, that she could not hepe to escape from the fate
of her people, and that the incensed savage would be likely
to wreak double vengeance upon her, should she harm one
of tleir number. Better this than the other fate. A
thought of Maurice steadied her hand. The chief, guessing
her intention, sprung forward to wrest the gun from her
grasp, As he did so, she fired. She was a second too late;
the ball missed the heart for which it was destined, passing
through the fleshy part of the Indiaa’s arm, and lodging in
the oppostte side of the reom.
“Ah, Mon Dieu!” she cried, in despair, seeing she had
not killed him. .
“Brave squaw—very brave!” said Rattlesnake, repressing
all signs of pain from his wound, and even smiling.
Tnstead of being furious at her for the injury she had in-
flicted, he evidently admired her spirit ; he was too proud’a
chief to allow himself to be provoked by a woman. The
next instant, he had wrested the weapon from her weak hands,
which he brought behind her back and bound with the leather
cord—she was his prisoner.
With the apathy of despair she looked on at the proceed-
ings which followed. Finding a piece of cloth which an-
swered the purpose, Rattlesnake had his companion bandage
his wounded arm, after which the two proceeded to gather
up the spoils of the merchant's house. Rattlesnake had
*
RATTLESNAKE. AND HIS CAPTIVE. 58
probably calculated upon obtaining a portion with his unwilling
bride, as he immediately went. into the closet which contained
her. chest of clothing, and such trinkets and mementoes as
she had brought across the sea. Opening the chest, he took
out.the white, embroidered dress into. which Marguerite had
woven so many happy thoughts and loying hopes. Holding
it up, turning it round, feeling of it, and chuckling over it,
he expressed the highest satisfaction with the article, which
he intimated to her she should wear in his house, and to
excite the envy of the Natchez maidens. There certainly
was some fancy about the savage chief, for no sooner had this
idea entered his head, than he signified his pleasure that it
should be carried into execution, Untying her arms, he bade
her strip off the dark dress which she wore, and put on this
dainty apparel. She was obliged to obey him, or to submit
to haye him make her toilet for her; as it was, his hand put
around her neck the string of gold-and-coral beads which he
found ; and he continued decorating the victim as long as
there was a brooch or trinket in her casket, He made par-
ticular search for the beautiful floss silk and canvas with
which the young girl did her embroidery, and these choice
things he concealed about his own person, for fear of their
falling into other hands. He was proyiding for the future
with thrifty care.
All this time the shrieks and cries of women and children
filled the air, mingled with the yells of the Indians, making a
dreadful tumult. The merchant’s wife, stupeiied by misery,
tried in vain to give any shelter to the frightened little one
who clung to her dress; her arms, bound behind her, could
not be used as a hayen for the weeping infant. On the floor
lay the dead bodies of the merchant and his boy, rudely
thrust to one side by their murderers,
This scene was but one of a hundred others of equal hor-
ror... Through all the hours of that most awful day the work
of pillage and destruction continued. When every article of
any yalue had been remoyed from the dwellings, they were
set on fire and consumed, burning up the bodies of their
owners in the ruins. The rich stores of the newly-arrived
galley were taken from the vessel; and as among these was
a plentiful supply of brandy, as also in many other places
B4 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
about the fort, the consequences upon the savages so extremely
fond of the fire-water, can be imagined. Each hour their
passions rose fiercer until their rejoicings became like a car-
nival of hell. A wagoner and a tailor were the only two
men spared by the Natchez from the universal destruction ;
but as usual, the women and children were destined for a
sad captivity. Of these, there were about three hundred.
The wagoner was immediately set to work to convey the sto-
len goods out of the fort to the square in front of the palace
of the Great Sun, where that sovereign was to make a fair
distribution of the spoils among his subjects. The tailor was
reserved to alter the clothing of the dead, and fit it to the new
wearers. The Natchez being under the impression that all
the French were destroyed throughout the land, and that
there was no longer any thing to be feared from these power-
ful foreigners, and finding themselves more wealthy than they
had ever been, with the spoils obtained of the murdered, gave
themselyes up to wild exhibitions of joy. While the burn-
ing and pillaging of houses was taking place, they continued
to stimulate themselves with frequent draughts of the coveted
fire-water.
The Eve of St. Andrew’s descended darkly upon this
bloody day, for those victims who were spared, more wretched
than those who had found shelter in death. The Indians
concluded their diabolical work by a general carousal. “They
kept dancing and singing,” says the historian, “ until late at
night, around pyramids of French heads, piled up as cannon-
balls usually are in an arsenal. The agonies of the wretched
women and children who witnessed the slaughter of their
husbands and fathers, and who, amid the demoniacal rejoic-
ings which followed, had to bear outrages too horrific to be
related, are more easily conceived than described !”
When eyerything had been removed from the merchant’s
dwelling, and the two Indians had decked themselves out
with the wearing apparel of the dead, even to the seal-ring
on his finger, (over which they had quarreled,) they marched
their prisoners into the street. It was fortunate for one of
those prisoners that the greed of gain for the present delayed
all other purposes. It being left to the sovereign of the
Natchez to have the privilege of dividing the spoils, Rattlesnake
2
RATTLESNAKE’S SQUAW.
was, obliged to leaye Marguerite’s chest, with. the other
furniture, upon the street, to be carted away ; but, as we have
said, he made sure of those small articles which he most
especially coveted, by hiding them about his person. The
other savage now tied the merchant’s wife to a post for safe
keeping, while he went to attend to other matters, first free-
ing her arms that she might nurse her child. Poor babe!
the mother’s milk had been poisoned in the fountain, and
what it drew was tears and blood.
The last glimpse which Marguerite had of the two, was of
the desolate woman, bound to the post, and trying to suckle
her babe. Gladly would the two women have clung together
in their misery, but the chief now signified that his prisoners
must go with him.
“Let us remain in company,” pleaded the young girl.
“No! Laughing Eyes better off in her husband's wigwam.
If she stays in the street, other braves will covet Rattlesnake’s
squaw. It’s not good for her to see what’s going on here. In
my cabin she will be comfortable. My own mother will
cook her food, and wipe away her tears. Come !”
He strode on, dragging her by the leather cord. She could
only print a last kiss on the outstretched hand of her friend,
and they were parted. Through hundreds of excited sava-
ges, and amidst awful scenes, the young chief led the girl,
shrinking, in her misplaced finery, from the light of flashing
eyes, and even from the sunshine of the calm heavens. His
bearing was as lofty as if he had conquered a province; he
was evidently proud of his beautiful captive, and of the white
robe which received more than one red stain upon its borders
as she walked around and over the corpses of those who had
been her acquaintance and countrymen. When they had
cleared the fort, and the scenes of the principal excitement,
upon entering the edge of a wood which led toward the vil-
lage in which Rattlesnake resided, he untied a pony which
stood ready for the purpose, lifted his companion upon ‘its
back, and walked forward rapidly, holding the horse ‘bya
rope. The distance to his home was only a little over two
miles, and he was not long in passing over it. Brief as the
time was, a thousand wild thoughts of escape hurried through
her mind, but all so futile, so desperate, that they only seryed
56 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
to increase her despair. One consolation, and only one, was
present with her. . Among her articles of embroidery had
been a fine steel bodkin or stiletto, used for piercing the eye-
lets, and the bodkin was in her bosom. She had seen it,.as
her captor was disposing of the flosses, along with her thimble,
‘and other implements of sewing, and she had immediately
asked for the little box which held them, and he had given
it to her, not dreaming of the reason for her request. With
this instrument, she intended to kill herself, before she would
submit to become the wife of the dreaded Indian.
The savage nature of the chief gave him no key to her
thoughts. He showed unusual delicacy, for one of his race,
in taking her away from the barbarous scenes transpiring at
the fort, and placing her under his mother’s care. He did,
indeed, respect the white girl as superior to the women of his
tribe; and if he could have known of the repulsive effect
upon her mind of his murderous treachery, he would have
taken some means to have removed her from the scene be-
fore the attack upon the fort took place. The Natchez were
an intelligent people, of good minds, and he was one of their
superior young men. If Marguerite had not already loved:
one of her own nation, and if she had not been wooed in
this appalling manner, it is not improbable that time and
custom would have reconciled her to her fate, for the warrior
was noble-looking, and there was real politeness in his man-
ners.. Now all her soul was filled with mad loathing and
horror. She shrunk from the glance of his eye with more
fear than she would have done from the dangerous gaze of
the reptile after which he was named. When he lifted her
from, the. pony before the door of his house, a chill, as of
ague, made her shiver so that she could hardly stand.
The abodes of the Natchez were regular houses, built of
timber and mortar, each dwelling being about fifteen feet square,
though lighted only by the always open entrance; they
stood upon streets, as in our own villages; and some of the
higher ranks had still larger houses, divided into two apart-
ments. Before one of these more spacious edifices now
stood the red chief, bringing home his bride. Pushing her
into the lodge before him, he said:
“Mother, I haye brought you a daughter. Treat her well.”
“~
A I PEI EE ee,
aE
A ena rtm ene
Be ecient se iy PE eS
eee
THE BRIDE AT HOME. 57
The same withered old woman whom Marguerite recog-
nized as having brought the proposition for her hand came
forward, and said:
“She is welcome.”
It will be remembered that the meditated attack upon the
French had been kept a secret from the women, who had
now just begun to hear of what was going on, and who were
running from house to house, talking and gesticulating, and
many of them running toward the fort. No doubt the
mother of the young chief was extremely surprised; but it
did not appear in her manner. to
op areet «
%
ili Aaa tetanic Date ethat
pecans yaamectiiticiie
A “VISION “ON THE -RIVER. 3
inspire ‘lis “men. The preparations were ‘quickly’ made ;
plenty of animunition and guns had been’ gained by the seizure
of the’ fort; the necessary shoes aud provisions were as ‘easily
provided, and one wild and stormy midnight, when the chill
rains’ of December were falling, the band of warriors set forth
on their journey.
Entering a number of canoes provided for the purpose,
they paddled silently up the stream, intending to keep to the
river until about daybreak, then to send the boats back’ by
men whom they had brought along with that object, and to
start across the country for Natchitoches, which lay a little
over a hundred miles to the west. In order to keep them-
selves from the observation of other tribes, who might act’as
spies and informers, they resolved to travel mostly by night,
except where the land was so thickly wooded as to give
shelter to their movements. They had been about three
hours upon the water, swiftly pushing themselves along
against the current, maintaining as perfect silence among
themselves as if they were in the neighborhood of an enemy,
such being their cautious habit; the rain fell more heavily
than ever, almost flooding the narrow dug-outs in which they
crouched ; the wind whistled down the river, and now, as the
storm ‘began to beat more wildly, the lightning flashed at
quick intervals. One moment there would be impenetrable
darkness, the next every object would be lighted up with a
vivid brightness, showing the frothy water, the dripping pad-
les; the dark shores lined with gloomy pines or stretching up
in low bluffs. 3
Rattlesnake was in a canoe with half a dozen of his chosen
braves. Although an expert in the use of the paddle, he had
allowed the canoe to drop behind, for his thoughts were busy
with the details of the work before him. Suddenly, he sprung
to his feet with an abruptness which nearly capsized the frail
bark; his friends gazed upon him in wonder as the transient
lightning revealed his extended arm, his finger pointing down
the stream, his face blanched, his eyes opened as in terror or
surprise, while the wild wind blew his long hair and his
deer-skin mantle back from his tall form.
“T,ook! look!” he cried, in a low, excited voice.
They stared hard in the direction he had indicated, but
y 8 _ A TALE OF THE) NATCHEZ FORT.
they saw nothing, for the blackness of the night was upon all
things. ,
“T see her! I-see her!’ he murmured, in an “intense
whisper.
They continued to gaze until the next flash of light lit up
the scene, but nothing more revealed itself than they had seen
before.
Rattlesnake sat down, pressing his hand upon his heart.
“IT saw her,” he muttered, “it was no delusion. She
followed: us upon the waters. She was standing in a little
canoe; her white dress floated back like the sails of the
strange ships, her beautiful hair rippled on the wind. By the
fire of the sky Isaw her as plainly as I saw my mother’s face
yesterday.” :
“Tt must have been a vision,” the warrior nearest him ven-
tured'to say.. “She has come down from the moon to follow
us, and warn her people of our intentions. I am afraid it is
wv bad sign.”
“Ay,” spoke the others, “it is an evil omen. She will be-
friend the French. But let us say nothing about it to our
brothers, lest it depress their spirits and make them less
daring.”
A feeling of awe crept over the party. They would have
rushed into the fiercest battle with savage joy, or have en-
dured the tortures of the stake without the contortion of a
muscle, but they were afraid of that which they could not
understand. The elements were haunted to them by myste-
rious powers; each one strained his eyes to catch the flutter
of that silver robe through the wildness of the storm.
For another hour they sat in silence, plying their paddles
diligently to keep up with the convoy, while the thunder
seemed to shake the water as well as the air with its heavy
vibrations. Rattlesnake’s eyes were never removed from
looking down the stream.
“Hal it is she—again!” he cried at last, but before the
others could follow his gaze the darkness had once more
enveloped all.
The next instant a suecession of quivering flashes kept the
earth aglow for nearly half a minute, and then all saw what
their leader had seen—a vision of the beautiful pale-face,
a
>)
x
>
A» DISCOVERY. U8
standing erect)in a tiny bark, paddling against! the current,
which seemed not to weigh a feather against her. She was
alk.white, except her streaming hair, her face and neck being
as colorless as the robe she wore. Though she held a paddle
in:her hands, it seemed. to the warriors. that, her boat moved
of sitself, it shot along so lightly and swiftly.
It was but a brief time they had for observation; when the
lightning flashed again, there was nothing to be seen of the
spirit-canoe and its spirit-occupant. Presently the. storm
broke up, and through the scattering clouds could be seen the
faint flush of approaching. day. It was time to land, and
return the canoes upon their homeward way... This was soon
done.- The spot chosen for the landing was a-low bank
leading into a forest of pine. The guide to the expedition
had been across the country twice, and knew how to pursue
the route, to avoid the most hardships, and to maintain the
safety of the band. After they had penetrated a few miles
into the interior, they halted in a little sheltered valley where
there was. a stream of water. It was now broad daylight;
they stopped to breakfast on the dried venison which they
carried with them, and as the brushwood was so. wet with
the rain, they warmed themselves with fire-water in place of
fire-wood. Then the company set their guard, and lay down
to rest for a few hours, purposing to resume their march
when it grew toward night.
Rattlesnake did not improve this opportunity to recruit, his
strength for the coming fatigues. Saying that he would go
off a little way and spy about for any lurking enemy, he
withdrew from the valley ; but instead of skirting the vicinity,
as he had said, he retraced his steps to the river. There was
aniimpression on his mind which he wished, if possible, to
verify’ or dismiss. Upon reaching the spot at which the
boats had landed, he looked intently up and down the river;
but from the accent of impatience which he uttered, it would
seem that he did not obtain what he wished. Next he com-
menced.a careful investigation of the shore, up and down, for
some rods from the central part.
“Ha! he at length exclaimed, bending over something
which he had detected in the bend of the shore. When he
raised his head again, a glow of satisfaction and triumph
76° A TALE? OFCTHEY NATCHEZ “FORT.
lighted» his; -face.:; He vhad: amadesa:discoverys o’Phere! were:
marks made by a canoe in landing and being shoved offs:and
from these marks fresh’footsteps led’ away up’the bank and
intoothe ‘forest. These imprints: were light enough to be a
child’s, and they were evidently those of a ‘white child’ or
woman, for they were turned out, and were made by one
who: wore French shoes.
If indeed: he: had seen Laughing Eyes following on°the
river through the night, and these were now’ her footsteps:
which: he-was tracking; any one would have sworn that’ the
poor girl;would haye: had a slender chance of ‘escape, for a
panther would not be more ‘subtle nor more powerful than
this wild creature on the trail of the game which had once
eludedhim., ‘Hagerly he followed the plainly visible imprints
which there’ had been no attempt at hiding, and which ‘the
soft mud molded so deeply, up into the grass of the bank, and
along into the woods, their pathway still marked by the rain
which had been brushed from the bushes and grass in passing:
He followed-on for half a mile, growing more eager at every
step, though the trail began to be more indistinct; presently he
lost it altogether for a little way, and then came upon it where
it hadsturned and returned toward the river. It was now
very distinct again... At that moment he caught the flutter
of something white behind a tree. Creeping up stealthily,; he
was about: to make a sudden grasp at his prize, when an arch;
provoking laugh rung out, and the person stepped from behind
the tree. > It was Little Bird.
of You take, much> trouble to catch me, when I sald be
caught at home as easy as a tame chicken,” she said,still
laughing. oa
~Rattlesnake’s:eyes glanced quickly in every direction; “but
the girl was’ positively alone, and there: had: been but one
track, » His disappointment made him furious.
of What are you doing here, fool ?” he said, scornfully.
\duittle Bird’s' eyes flashed fire. It was not often that a
Natchez woman gave a look like that to one of the master-
sex); but) her spirit’ had never been so thoroughly broken as
the most of ‘her meek companions were. She had loved the
young:chief with all humility, ready to bear his coldness, his
indifference, his blows, even; but these accents of contempt
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THE PHANTOM CAUGHT. me
stung her beyond: endurance. Her love turned suddenly:'to
bitterness.
“ Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
The: love which would endure all for its object, would
endure. as much for revenge, when turned to hate. Her
breast; heaved high, her fingers worked together; for a mo-
ment her lips quivered, as she tried to answer; but mastering
herself, she bent her eyes on the ground, that he might not
see the anger which was in them, and said, gently :
“T know it is wrong, and that Tree-la-lu is indeed a fool;
but her heart urged her to follow after her chief, that per-
chance, if he should be wounded in battle, she might be near
to take care of him.”
“Bah! you haye no sense. Do you expect to keep ‘up
with warriors on the war-path? We will not be bothered
with women. Go back.”
“Tree-la-lu will not annoy the brave chiefs; she will keep
modestly far behind, only that she may sometimes see, witlr
her own eyes, that her lord is well; and if he should: be
killed, that she may thrust an arrow into her heart and die
upon his body.”
“You are as silly as an owl,” grumbled the chief, a little
more complacently, for he could not be entirely insensible to
the flattery of a love so devoted as this. ‘“ But how did this
trail.of the French come here?” and he poiwted to the foot-
steps which had led him there. vg
Little Bird laughed again, and thrust out her feet, which,
were cased in shoes, Once the property of some poor victim
of the massacre.
“You fancied that you saw Laughing Eyes on the river
last night,’ she said, with a swift glance at him. | “I knew
you would fancy it, and that you would return to the river,
That is why I wore these shoes, and why I twisted this picee
of white cloth about me. It was Tree-la-lu whom you ‘saw
in the canoe by the fire of the sky. Laughing Eyes is beyond
us, in the spirit-land. Why mourn for her, since’ she hag’
gone? Will you never again be content with the love of a
maiden of your ownrace?” Her voice grew liquid, her eye soft.:
“Tam sure that I saw the French girl,” said ee
gloomily.
78 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
“TJ tell you it: was Tree-la-lu, wrapped in’ this \clow. | it
you saw any thing else, it must have been the soul of>the
pale-face guiding my canoe through the storm. Shecknew
that I loved you, perhaps.”
“JT must return to my band,” said Rattlesnake, abruptly,
“Go home. Ishall kill the white chief, but I shall: not:be
harmed. I shall need no women to nurse me.”
He stalked away in the direction of the encampment, yexed
beyond words at this termination of his adventure. He
would not even once turn his head to find if Little Bird was
following, though he suspected that such would be her course,
Reaching the valley, he threw himself on the ground for an
hour's sleep. Late in the afternoon the party began again to
move forward through the dim recesses of the pine woods.
It seemed to Rattlesnake, as he strode moodily along, as ifthe
solemn murmur of the pines was the whisper of the white
girl’s spirit; and many times, through the following night, as
he followed the guide, by the light of the full moon, gleaming
in broken patches through the forest-arches, the white spots
of moonlight looked like the fluttering of her bridal dress.
He knew nov, certainly, that Tree-la-lu was on the march,
though she kept out of sight of the band, and did not intrude
herself at all upon his notice.
When morning broke, the expedition was out of ‘the
bleak pine wilderness upon wide and sofily-rolling prairies,
stretching away in boundless magnificence. ‘They could see
immense herds of bisons grazing here and there, while multi-
tudes of .birds rose ont of the grass and circled about in short
flights... It’ was glorious hunting-ground. The dark: bleod
surged. up into the cheeks of Rattlesnake and /his wartiors';
their hearts burred for their swift horses, their arrows; and
their lassoes, that. they might dart away. over the plains, and
hurl their weapons at the noble game. But they were.on the
war-path, painted for the deadly work of another kind, and
they would have been false to their training, and the lessons
of their fathers, if they had, tarried by the way... Judging» by
the perfect composure of the bisons, far. and near; that. no
Indians of other tribes. were. hunting. there. at- present, they
ventured, to shoot a deer and some birds-for their breakfast,
and to kindle a:fire for roasting them. This done, and their
ate:
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37
THE FORT AT NATCHITOCHES. 79
halfraw food disposed of, again they caught. a few hours’
sleep, concealed by the tall grass of the prairie from any
chance travelers,
Thus the band continued for four or five days, observing
greater caution as they neared the French post, and making
the latter part of their journey entirely by night. The nearer
the approach to Natchitoches the more eager and restless was
Rattlesnake, All the superstition of his nature had been
wrought upon by things which he had observed by the way—
ill-omens pursued him—he was convinced that the pale-faced
maiden was hovering near, intent upon giving the alarm to
$t. Denis, so that, as they encamped one night under the
walls of the fort, he was not surprised to observe, with the
quickness of an Indian’s perorpiven, that his approach had
been discovered.
CHAPTER Ik:
THE CAPTIVE AT THE! STAKE.
Ir was night in the encampment of the Natchez. They
had met with the spies of St. Denis on the previous day,
who had given them to know that their approach was ex-
pected at the fort. There was, therefore, no further necessity
for caution, nor for the night attack with which they had
expected to surprise the garrison, The warriors had there:
fore lain down in the latter part of the night, to be prepared
for the duties of the morrow. Only Rattlesnake was entirely
sleepless. The responsibility which rested upon him was too
great for him to forget it in slumber. His mind was busy
with schemes for over-matching the vigilant and indomitable
French chief with whom he had to cimisiit: ile was aware
that unless he could obtain some advantage by stratagem,
there was small prospect of taking the fort.
And even in the midst of these important reflections, his
thoughts: were disturbed by the image of Laughing Hyes.
Yhings had occurred to awake his suspicions ; yet, wary and
geen as he was, he could not detect the secret of what was
80 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
passing near him, without his knowledge. Of one thing he
was convinced—that Little Bird was playing a double part,
and that-she had some object besides affection for him ‘in
following him in this rough and perilous journey. He be-
lieved that cither she was attached to the French, and had
come with the purpose of betraying her people to them, or
that she knew more of the disappearance of the pale-face
than she chose to reveal. Several times he had returned upon
his path, during the journey, and had come upon her in the
most unexpected manner; yet silent and slily as he had
dropped behind, (sometimes lying behind a tree or fallen log
until she came up and passed him by,) he had never discoy-
ered any thing to confirm his suspicions. She was always
alone, trudging patiently along, and she, when he would
spring at her from his hiding-place, would betray neither
guilt nor alarm.
Once only had he seen in the distance, between the branches
of the undergrowth, the motion of some white object; and
when he would have rushed forward to examine it, Little
Bird had clung to his arm in terror, declaring it to be a ghost,
with which he must not trouble himself. She had seen it often
she said, and when she would draw near it, it would vanish into
air; and so, indeed, did this white object, whatever it was,
for when the chief had shaken off the trembling girl and
soughtito find what he had seen, there was nothing in the
underbrush but the wind sighing.
Now, as he lay on the ground, thinking these matters over,
and affecting sleep, it occurred to him that it was no more
than prudent to find out what Little Bird might be doing.
'The bare possibility that she might be treacherous to her own
peeple was enough to fill him with anger at one whose best
efforts at pleasing him were only fortunate enough to secure
hhis dislike. The sentries, who were posted for fear of a sur-
‘prise from St. Denis, were on the alert ; but he thought it
best to be sure, by personal observation, that all was right.
Arising from his couch with so light a tread as not to disturb
‘the repose of his slumbering braves, he passed the sentries
‘with a whispered word that he was going out to reconnoiter
the enemy. With astep softer than that of the cat he made
the civeitit of the camp: He did not find Little Bird where
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THE MYSTERY SOLVED. $1
eHetad expected that she would be, sleeping near enough ‘to
the party to be under their protection in case of an attack.
This ‘surprised him, and he resolved to find out where she
was. Tlie’ nioon now rose very late ; it was long past mid-
iwightjand® her waning crescent was just rising beyond the
fort: Taking a path which led in the direction of the fort,
he'crept along, gliding from tree to tree, silent as death,
avoiding even the little patches of moonlight, keeping in’ the.
deepest’shadow, but scarching about with sharp eyes’ for the
‘east’ movement of a living object. This caution was’ ren-
déred necessary by the consideration of his own safety, so
near the enemy, as well as from the desire not to alarm the
person upon whose track he supposed himself to be.
Almost absolute as was the control which the Indian had
over the expression of his emotions, he nearly uttered a cry,
when, suddenly, only a little in advance of him, he heard the
snapping of a dry twig, and saw two figures glide out into
the path where the moonlight glimmered faintly, and) lose
theniselyes again in the shadow. Brief as the glimpse had
been; he knew them both—they were Little Bird and. Laugh-
ing Byes! Quick as a flash of lightning came the understand-
ing of the whole mystery—that jealousy had prompted
Pree-la-lu to secrete her rival, and that, not daring to dispose
of her in any other way, at the prospect of this expedition,
she had consented for the white girl to attempt to reach her
lover, by means of following, at a little distance, on the trail
ofthe warriors: He could not but admire the boldness of
she-schemeand when he remembered the caution of Little
Bird,;-who hadnever allowed the white girl to be in her com-
pany; but who, after his first discovery of her, had pretended
that she was following him; he whispered to himself that
Little Bird was'a smart woman, after all, and almost worthy
to be a man‘and awarrior. , He no longer believed that she
had intended going the whole distance, but had attempted to
get the French girl safely on her journey, when, finding that
he only suspected something from discovering their canoe by
the flashes of lightning, she had adapted her case to meet the
emergency. Rack his Indian wit as he might, he still, could
not conceive where Laughing Hyes had been at that time
when lie first tracked and surprised her guide, However;he
83 A TALE OF THE NATCIEZ FORT.
was amply satisfied now. to have them both within his grasp,
one to, be reseryed.for the fate. he had once before marked
out. for her, the other for punishment.
Stealthily as the serpent after whom he was named, he
glided behind the two girls, who, appeared to be making their
way, to the fort. The gleam of Marguerite’s white dress
enabled him easily to. keep on their track. With a curiosity
to see what their purpose was he forebore to lay hands on his
prey until they had emerged from the woods and began to
run lightly across the open fields. which lay about the fort.
Then, with the silent spring of the panther, he had ‘the pale-
face in his arms, his hand pressed over lrer mouth to smother
the scream which rose to her lips.
. Oh, God! this was a horrible moment for Marguerite Can-
farelle. When she had suffered so long, had borne every
misery but the [worst, had made that weary and desperate
journey, dragging her faint steps to keep up with the stride
of warriors, the chill dews of the winter nights drenching
her light garments, her shoes worn from her bleeding feet—
had endured the fear of betrayal, the acute suspense—had
strained every nerve to its utmost tension to comprehend and
execute. the subtle cautions of her guide—now, now, when
the fort was in sight, when she could fancy that she saw her
loyer through its walls, when she felt his protecting arm
closing about, her—when her heart, which had been cold ‘for
weeks, was beginning to throb in her bosom beneath ‘the
warmth of hope—now, to feel the relentless grasp of that
thiyarted chief, to be stabbed by the glittering triumph of
his eye, was,too much. He need not have pressed his hand
over her mouth so closely; for after the first impulse ‘to
shriek, she had fainted, and hung limp as her own soiled
robes, over his shoulder.
“Wa! the serpent is more cunning than the dove,” ex-
claimed Little Bird, after standing confounded by this sudden
disaster.
“He will never,forgive me now,” was her next thought ;
*T nave lost all my trouble which I have taken for that hated
-bale-face, .,But he shall not have her; no, I will kill them
sboth. first, and ‘creeping into. the thickést part of the’ forest,
‘she Yaughed aloud, maliciously, as if she ‘dared the’ chief to
LIES AND DUPLICITY. 83
exercise power over her. He could make no effort to arrest
her, with his present burden, and of the two he had rather that
Little Bird should escape. He knew of no harm that she
could do, at this late hour, and he rather considered her a
good riddance,
Great was the surprise of the awakening warriors when
the French gitl was borne into their encampment. Many
were at first afraid of her, persisting in believing her a spirit,
but. Rattlesnake assured them that she had followed them all
this distance in the hopes of reaching her people, and that he
was glad of it, for he could make her an important cousider-
ation in his negotiations with the French.
When the poor girl recovered her senses she found herself
tightly bound to a tree and watched over by a guard.
It was now getting daylight. The day was to bea mo-
mentous one. Rattlesnake was in the highest spirits—battle
and victory first, and afterward the wooing of his pale-
face wife. His strategic mind saw at once that he could
turn the presence of the French girl in his camp into an im-
mense advantage. It required but a short council with his
warriors to decide upon the course of action.
Lies and duplicity, as usual, were the things relied on, He
proposed that they should send a deputation with the ealu-
met of peace, to inform St. Denis that they had come with
the most friendly intentions—that they had lately had some
difficulties with the French settled in their neighborhood, and
that. they wished to make him their arbiter, knowing his
great wisdom and discretion, in the settlement of their affairs.
In proof of which they had brought with them a French-
woman, whom they wished to set free, and to deliver to him
in proof of their good intentions.
An hour or so afier sunrise the deputation set forth, bear-
ing, as in the case of the massacre at Fort Natchez, the pipe
of peace. They were admitted to speak to the commander,
as their number only amounted to four, and St. Denis listened
politely to their communication. He knew the Indian char-
acier thoroughly, and though he listened as if he was con-
yinced, he had his own private opinions.
The force at that time was very small He had at his
disposal only forty soldiers and twenty scttlers ; less than half
"a3
84 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
the number of his opponents, who were picked men of their
tribe.,...Under; such; circamstancesyhe: deemed: if prudent to
keep, the.gates closed’ against: so. largesan® array of: strangers,
whatever, their intentions) really were. -He answered ‘the de-
putation that he: would accede: to the wish of their chief,
provided they sent to him the Frenchwoman with an éscort
of only ten.warriors.. Upon, this message being returned‘ to
Rattlesnake, he saw that he was foiled in all his attempts'to
get into the fort by strategy ; he however sent’a second time,
refusing to deliver up the prisoner unless his warriors were
admitted in a body. St. Denis then sent: them word that ‘He
saw plainly from their large number, and: from their refusal
to comply with his demand, that they were traitors and liars,
bent upon mischief; that he was disposed, however, to allow
them. to return quietly to their villages, provided they gave up
to him the Frenchwoman, for whom he would pay a ransom.
Enraged by this answer, and seeing himself foiled at every
turn by the invincible St. Denis, of whom all his enemies
stood in awe, Rattlesnake ground his teeth in anger. His
honor as a warrior was at stake. The enterprise had been
committed to his hands, and his people waited for tidings of’
its success. He did not know what force St. Denis*might
have with him; but he knew that it would be impossible to
attack the fort without he could assault it at some great
advantage—either, by getting within its walls, in the guise of
friends, as he had first proposed, or by drawing the garrison
outside, as he now hoped, by a devilish plan, to do.
His darkening eye, as it glanced about upon ‘his moody
group of warriors, fastened itself upon Marguerite, where she
leaned against the tree to which she was bound. «She was
a sight to wake. pity, eyen in. an Indian breast, so pale, so
worn, all the light gone from her eyes andthe roses
from her, cheeks,.. Those. eyes, sad, -wild, shining with a
feverish luster, were, fixed nervously on the fort. She owas
thinking of Maurice. There was no pity. in -the heart of
Rattlesnake as he gazed ather. He guessed that her thoughts
were with her cousin, and,he hated her. because it» was so.
His passion for her, was, fierce and strong, as were all thé
passions of his nature-—but not stronger than his warlike ¢ ams
bition, nor the baser impulse of, revenge.
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*
FEO me
REVENGE SWEETER THAN LOVE. 85
The cruel resolve he was forming glittered in’ his eye + but
she saw nothing, except: that: spot: which had been the goal
of her hopes:so. long. This frail French girl’ should -be the
instrument in’ his hands, either to tempt’ the garrison from
their stronghold, or with which to wreak his revenge upon
them. He forgot now the fingers which could sew sunbeams,
and the corner in his cabin which he had longed to brighten
with her presence ; he forgot the sweetness of her Jaugh and
the mirthful light which had once danced over that now
pale and melancholy face.
A few sentences passed rapidly between him and his band.
They all approved of his resolution, which was to provoke
the French by erecting a stake within sight of the fort, and
binding their prisoner upon it, to make signs that they would
burn her if they were not instantly treated with. ‘Then,
should they still fail to call out the garrison, the torch should
really be-applied to her funeral pyre.
“ Loye is sweet,’ muttered the chief, as he looked at his
yictim ; “but revenge is sweeter.”
eo They were not long in driving into the ground a stake, in
an, open space, where the French could watch their every
movement. Unbinding Marguerite, they led her to the place
of;horror. When she began to comprehend what was about
to be done, she looked wildly at Rattlesnake, then lifted’ her
eyes:and hands to-heaven.
“ Better so,” she murmured, as soon as the first shock was
over,‘ than to have lived the wife of on Indian. But oh,
if/I could have seen Maurice before I dic! He will never
know how [have loved ‘him !” :
They bound her to the stake, and she hung there patiently,
scarcely heeding the appalling preparations as they hea; ed
the brushwood near her, and gathered sticks ready for the
torture.” Her eyes were constantly bent upon the fort—her
wish to a a sight of her lover, if ever so brief and far
away:
Inthe’ mean time ‘an intense excitement existed in the fort,
Phe garrison could see the revenge which was threatened,
and theirlips turned pale, and they” clutched’ their weapons
with nervous hands. They’ could distinguish’ that the victiny
was a young and slender girl, and their manly courage would
86 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
not submit, to be kept in abeyance, while she perished there
in the midst of her savage foes, without an effort being made
to save her. The men clustered about St. Denis, and begged
to be allowed to sally out and attempt a rescue.
But he reasoned with them. that the case was hopeless;
that if there appeared to be any danger of her escape, her
tormentors would immediately tomahawk her ; while, with-
out the satisfaction of saving her, they would lose their own
lives and abandon the fort to destruction ; and as in the fort
were women and children as helpless as the poor girl they
saw hanging there, it would only bring a similar fate upon
them. :
Among those who opposed this determination of his was
his young aid-de-camp, who stood beside him. He was a
fine-looking: young man, with courage and candor written
upon every feature. He could not submit—he was too fresh
in all his impulses, too chivalrous and warm-hearted—to re-
main idle, when a woman implored his aid.
“T pray you, St. Denis, let me go, with such a company a8
will volunteer. You can close the gates after us, andif we
all perish, why, it will not be said that we let a woman, and
a countrywoman at that, die unayenged. Decide, my lord,
before itis too late !”
“You are mad, Maurice, really mad! Your life is worth
too much to me, for me to permit you to throw it away.
Remember what is at stake! and remember the one, in la
belle France, who waits and watches for your return. Would
you widow her in her maidenhood ?”
“Ah, my lord, it is the thought of her which makes me so
true to her sex. Wers she where that poor creature hangs,
would I not wish the man who saw her to forget himself in
her defense ?” and the young man, as he grew eloquent in
his earnestness, raised himself higher on the parapet to scru-
tinize the gentle yictim, surrounded by her savage foes. They
were already forming for the dance of death, before applying
the fatal torch,
While he gazed on the scene, so terribly fascinating, his
cheek grew pale.and his gaze fearfully eager.
“$t. Denis,” he cried, suddenly turning, “lend me your
glass.” f
*
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SF
LOVE'S AGONIZING CRY.
87
The, commander handed to him the small spy-glass which
he himself had. been using; his ‘aid looked ‘throtig@h at) a
minute, and letting the instrument fall at his fect, he exclaimed),
hoarsely, while a spasm of agony passed’ over his blanched
countenance :
“My God, St. Denis, it 7s Marguerite !”
« Maurice, I verily believe you are going wild. “Margue-
rite! and pray how came she here, with this band of hostile
Indians, when you left her in Paris, safe in her own’ little
room 2” i
“How do I know? Oh, God! T am afraid she’ has°fok
lowed me, and fallen into their hands.’ I tell you ds hor?
Should. I not know my own little cousin? Oh, I saw'the
necklace about her neck which T clasped there at ‘parting.
Come, men!”
“ Stay! cried St. Denis, grasping the arm of the young
man, as he was about to leap to the ground beneath,* t
At that moment a cry rent the air—a woman’s cry—not
yery.Joud, but clear and sharp ; it uttered one word? if
“Maurice !”
“She calls me,” groaned the aid, wringing his arm ‘from
his superior’s grasp; “did I not tell you? Come, you who
are willing to risk your lives to save a woman who is deat
to. me!”, And with these words he bounded over the parapet
into the open field beneath.
The men had already grasped their weapons, and more
than half of them impetuously followed Maurice, who had
nothing with him but his sword. When the Indians saw this
effect, which they had hoped for, they stopped singing ‘the
death-song and gave a yell of delight. They made a formi-
-dable appearance, thoroughly armed as they were, and made
hideous by the shrieks and yells with which they” prepared
for the conflict, overmatching the French by four to'one.
Now that the emergency had come, St. Denis was not the
man to shrink. from it. Prudence had dictated ‘his course’.
put when he saw his young friend rushing into. the unequal
conflict, he hastily, summoned every soldier in’ the’ fort’ who
had not already leaped the parapets, and leaving: the twenty
getters. to defend the gates, he hurried forth ‘to' support
Maurice. ‘
8 A TALE.OF THE, NATCHEZ, FORT.
* «There areemotions which, seem, to, raise’ men: into deéni-
gods... Such impulses.now neryed the arms and) steadied :the
aim. of every..man who, adyanced, to, meet, the: whooping sax:
ages. As for their leader, .he marched impatiently on, only
his sword in his hand, but, his eyes. seemed .to flame ‘destroy-
ing glances, and his stature to increase with the mighty. reso-
lution within him. ..More .than | twenty) shots, were aimed
particularly at: him, as he: ran oyer the -intervening.spacej
many.feet in adyance of his.men;. but, not one injuredohimi
The Indians. gazed..in. wonder, thinking he must be: some
supernatural being, impervious-to bullets... With such ardor;
such, inspired rage did.the little band. of French falb upon
their .powerful, foes, that at the. first charge, the loss of=the
latter was such as to make their numbers nearly equal with
that. of the whites.
> dustead of rallying and..rushing over the: French, fighting
their, way into.the fort, as had. been their plan, the Natchéz
now began. to.fly to the woods, firing as they ran, and: seek-
ing covert, wherever. they could obtain it, from whence.to
load and. fire again. . In this manner the.scene of :the-contest
was soon. in the rear of the stake to which Marguerite was tied.
When they first saw the French emerging from tle: fort,
the Natchez had asked their leader if they should -dispateh
the girl, to, which he. had answered in the negative. Proudly!
confident.of victory, he wished to. preserve Laughing: Byes,
to show.her the scalp.of her, lover, and -prove.to her that
there was no..longer any use in her refusing to shareshis
wigwam, :
And now, before this stake, where Marguerite gazediat it
with anguished, looks, a desperate combat: was: taking place.
The tide of, battle had: rolled away; leaving -these tworenes:
mies,-stranded: there. | Maurice’ Cantarelle and» Rattlesnake
were locked in each other’s:embrace, » We may well believe”
that it. was not the-embrace of loves». The knife ofvthe In:
dian, had. been wrested: from him, and lay at Marguerite’s
feet; whither, Maurice had flung >it... Ifshe could have
stooped,.to pick .it.up) and ‘sever her bonds, to ‘rush to
the assistance of her lover would have been quick work with:
her, but she. was too)securely bound..o:The Frenchman's arms
were clasped about the waist of the savage; his sword/wasc
th A Ee
”
A STRUGGLN AND’ A VioToRy. / 89
invhis left hand, but he could ‘not bring himself into’ ‘a ‘posi-
tion to use “it; while the right arm of the ‘chief, who was
much taller than he, was clasped closely ‘about his throat
with the intention of choking him to death.
Maurice did, indeed, begin to’ feel his own hold relax, and
a sense of suffocation overpowering him, when a thought of
his love,'a glance at her pale face, awoke his reeling energies
_ tora last mighty exertion, and with a blow of his left hand
he wounded the Indian so severely across the back of his
head and shoulder that the arm compressing his neck grew
weak, Maurice improved the instant to break away from
his uncomfortable position; and again began a struggle of’
strength and cunning to get possession of the sword, of which’
both now had a hold.
Marguerite, gazing on the scene with straining eyes, expected
eyery moment when some warrior would return to the rescue
of his chief. Rattlesnake was so much the more powerful
in frame that her lover seemed a child in his hands; but
Maurice’s heart was fired with superhuman energy, and he’
clung to the sword which was now cutting his fingers to the
bone, At this critical moment, the Frenchman, who was‘a’
scientific wrestler, suddenly tripped up his antagonist, who
fell, dragging him down with him ; but in falling, Rattlesnake
lost his grasp upon the weapon, and the next instant Maurice”
had: plunged it into hisside. Blood spouted from the wound;
and with a groan, the chief turned over on his face, in ‘an:
apparently dying condition. The dark hue receded from* hig’
face, leaving it a sickly paleness. Marguerite shut her — to’
bar out the welcome and yet painful sight.
. »At this moment it was, that, cunning and revengeful even
in-death, Rattlesnake, the moment that the attention of his
adversary was diverted from him, rolled over to: the feet°of
Marguerite, regained his knife, raised himself, and in’ the aet’
of: Striking» at her heart sunk back insensible. “Had his
strength held outa second lenger, his revenge would have
been completed even in defeat. As it was, the point of the
knife just drew a drop of blood to: discolor still more° that
soiled, ill-fated wedding-dress. :
»In.alarm Maurice rushed to her, and on abe rapsaae whit
pound her. jaslo eisw
90. A TALH OF THE: NATCHEZ FORT.
“Are'you hurt, my Marguerite ?”
No, Mauricehappy, happy!”
She smiled, though her voice sunk to a:whisper, and, she
could not bear her weight upon her feet., The kiss which he
pressed upon her lips, in the midst of carnage and. danger,
was reward for the sufferings which led.to it.
+ “We must not tarry, love,” said the young officer, after this
hasty embrace. ‘Ho! St. Denis, is that. you? Call in the
men, ‘Thank God, my cousin is saved, and the leader of
this attack is dead at our feet.”
While ‘he »spoke, a shrill shriek rung from the adjoining
woods, and the Indian girl who had hid herself from his
vengeance, now rushed forward and_threw herself upon the
body of the chief whom she had loved so well. Her anger,
pride, jealousy, vanished then, as if they had never been.
With a heart-breaking moan she laid her face to that of Rat-
tlesnake, and chafed his hands.
* Poor girl,” murmured Marguerite ; “can not you get her
to come to the fort, Maurice? She has been kind to me.”
But Little Bird refused to answer or stir from her place.
“Tt is dangerous for us to linger here,” said Maurice;
“the savages may rally at any moment, Come, men, to the
fort. . Our work is done.”
With his light burden in his arms, he ran like a deer to the
gate, where he was received with a shout of welcome from
the men stationed on guard there. Soon St. Denis returned,
bringing in his soldiers, flushed with victory, though, alas!
more than one of them. was brought in wounded, dying, or
dead. i
The Natchez did not again show themselves beyond the
shelter of the wood. The death of their brave chief filled
them with consternation; their losses amounted to more than
half their number, and the rest. were discouraged. They
made.a wretched retreat toward home; but a good many of
them died of their wounds on the way, and of all that
redoubtable, band. of one hundred, and fifty picked war-
rios, but. afew reached Natchez, bearers of a melancholy
. tale.
And for those who have an interest in learning how com-
plete: was.the, punishment. of the Natchez for their attack
he
Ss.
romney
Ss
A GLANCE’ BACKWARD. 91>
upon the fort, on the occasion of the massacre of St: Andrew's
Eye, we will state that they were soon driven’ fromthe fort,
which they had put in order and defended against the French,
who were sent from New Orleans to recapture it, The mis-
erable women and children who had so long becn their cap-
‘ives were taken from them, and carried to New Orleans,
where they were kindly received and attended by the Ursu-
lines, The Natchez who were taken prisoners were sold as
slaves to St. Domingo; and their race was soon nearly or
utterly extinguished, thus fulfilling the prophecy of their
sovereign, when he incited them to attempt the destruction
of foreign invaders: “We have had ancestors, but we are
destined to be the ancestors of no human beings.”
CHAPTER X.
WITHIN THE FORT.
Anp now a backward glance at some of the past scenes,
and we will bring our story to a close. The escape which
Marguerite had when Rattlesnake plunged his knife among
the reeds of Little Bird’s bed was very narrow; the blade ran
down between her breast and arm, and the only injury it did
was to slash the flowing sleeve of her dress.
She was obliged to remain concealed in that close, uncom-
fortable place during the weary days which intervened before
the departure of the expedition to Natchitoches. Nearly
every night Little Bird made some effort to assist her escape
to the woods or river; she had 2 canoe concealed beneath
some bushes on the shore, and constantly provided with
parched corn and dried meat, in case any chance occurred for
getting the white girl off without detection. Yet night after
night passed without affording the wished-for opportunity,
one reason for which was that the suspicions of Rattlesnake
were such as to keep him lingering in the vicinity at unex-
pected hours. ; :
The only chance which Marguerite had of change from her
ose
“92 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT,
irksome position, was when, the father and ,brothers.of Little
‘Bird were out after dark, when, with fear.and trembling;-the
poor girl would creep.out of her coffin-like hiding-placé to
exercise her limbs for a few. moments,
The. proposition of the Natchez to send.an expedition
against. Natchitoches, which was immediately discovered and
communicated, to her.by the prying Indian maiden; was the
first. thing which inspired Marguerite with... hope—a faint,
yague hope—that this might open the way for her,to notionly
escape from her present situation, but to reach Maurice. If
she could. follow in the wake of the band, perhaps she-might
not only gain a refuge at, Natchitoches, but by giving warning
of the hostile-purposes of the Indians, she might be the means
of saving the fort.
Little Bird, approved of her plan, helping her heartily to
carry. it into execution ;.and without the Indian cunning and
endurance. of that. person, Marguerite would haye failed
miserably,
When -the lightning, which accompanied the storm the
night of their departure on the river, threatened to betray the
little, canoe, following silently and at a distance the conyoy
of, warriors, it was Tree-la-lu who bade the Frenchogirl) to
stand up. in. the front, while she, hidden behind. her robes;
vigorously plied. the paddle... She relied upon. the supersti-
tious nature of the band to prevent their close examination
into the mystery,
It-was Little Bird who, fearing the return of Rattlesnake
to inyestigate..the affair, had, taken, such extraordinary pre-
cautions to. cover the trail,.at. the time of his return to the
shore of the river. Marguerite had_.stepped: in-her footsteps,
until they came to,a place where the trail was least discerni-
ble, when Little, Bird had directed .her.to step aside-and hide
in.a hollow tree, until, she came. after, her... The Indian -then
made. her own tracks as conspicuous as possible; and:sitting
down, alone, waited to find ifshe was discovered and followed.
It was not until then that she fully, made up her mind to
accompany the pale-face and.see the drama played oute»:Her
resolye to» do.so wis eagerly, welcomed by Marguerite, wlio
felt,, her. dependence upon her. , It wasto. the Little Bird's
wonderful watchfulness and subtlety—never permitting her
a
en
JOY AND GRIEF, ; 93
companion to be within sight of her, but giving her diree-
tions by which’ to follow the trail—that ‘she’ owed ‘her safe
catrizal inthe proximity of Natchitoches.
) Jtsyasin’an attempt which the two then made to get Mar-
guerite into the fort, that they were surprised by Rattlesnake.
Atlast, after this worst trial of her endurance, the young
girl ‘found° herself actually safe within the fort, sheltered in
the strong arms of her faithful and overjoyed cousin.
Her trovibles*were over now, except her sympathy for the
grief of poor Little Bird, to whom she felt so grateful for-‘her
services. “As ‘soon as it was at all safe to venture so near the
woods, a body of soldiers went out, at her request, to bring
jn the Indiaw girl, who could be-seen still clinging’ to the
corpse ‘of her lover. But when the escort reached the spot,
they found the maiden dead. She had pierced her heart
with the same knife which had slain her chief, and’ sinking
on bis strong bosom, which had ever been cold to her, the
passionate, unhappy Little Bird of the forest had ‘perished.
The bodies of the Indian lovers were buried in one'graye,
wliile the tears of Marguerite fell for the fate of her friend.
The presence of her lover, and the kind attentions of all
in the fort, before long brought back the bloom to the cheek
and ‘the light to the eye of Marguerite. The women of the
place‘took a great interest in renovating the torn and soiled
white dress which had passed through such vicissitudes with
its wearer. Being restored to bridal purity by their hands,
and there being, fortunately for the wishes of the pair, ‘a
Gatholic priest in the fort, it was not many days before the
wedding-dress was worn under happier auspices, and the
catinon and musketry of the far-away fort fired ‘a joyful sal
over the union of Maurice and Marguerite. one
tis not to be expected that the young wife would be very
fond of «warlike ‘adventures, after her experience; she -per-
suaded her husband, as soon as practicable, to return to New
Orleans, and begin’ the business of a merchant, in which ‘he
was’ prosperous, and their descendants are now among the
aristocracy of the South.
» Among? the’ first things which occupied the’ attention of
Madame Cantarelle, after she really found herself safely in
New lOrleans, was the fate of the little girl who had once
94 A TALE OF THE NATCHEZ FORT.
been an'inmate of the same dwelling with herself, and whom
Rattlesnake had adopted—the pretty little. daughter of the
unfortunate merchant. Out of respect for the memory, of
its. dead parents, as well as affection for the child, she could
not endure the thought of its remaining in the hands of the
Natchez to be brought up an Indian in habits and feelings.
She had learned that. the white prisoners had been. rescued,
and that the most of them were now under the care and
protection of the Ursulines. She was eager to visit these
holy sisters for another reason ; to render an account of her-
self to the good Marie, who had been a mother to her upon
her first arrival in the country.
Very glad was Sister Marie to see again the young creature,
who, in spite of frivolity and undue excess of laughter and
love of finery, had won an abiding-place in her heart. Very
glad and very much astonished; for she had heard from
others of those unhappy women; of her seizure by Rattle-
snake, and subsequent mysterious disappearance; and she
had been half inclined, if the truth were told, to credit the
version of the affair most popular with the Natchez, namely;
that she had soared up to the sky in her white bridal robes.
For the good Ursuline knew that Marguerite, though gay
and ‘careless, had a true heart and a pure spirit; and she
thought quite likely the merciful Savior, in his compassion
forthe debasement about to befall her, had performed a
miracle in her behalf.
But since such a marvelous honor as this had not been
accorded to her favorite, she was well content to welcome her
back in the flesh and blood, safe and happy, the wife of the
fine young gentleman who was presented to her as the
Maurice for whom his brave little sweetheart had traveled
so far.
“And you “still have the Laughing Eyes!” said Sister
Marie, holding her hands, and looking at her kindly.
“Oh, don’t call me by that name!” cried Marguerite, with
alittle shudder.. “Do my eyes laugh still? They have
shed enough tears to wash all. the brightness. out of them,
Since I saw you, good sister. But I am very happy now,
and grateful for it;’? and her glance Tested softly upon her
husband’s face,
+
“pr