Part 22 (2/2)
The gathering broke up Gradually, as the Indians gazed on the s mountains, the excitement produced by the oratory they had just heard wore off Only Toho aspect of Nature, yet lingered in every htened and startled, apprehensive of soone ti roups of Indians had athered tribes ran a dread yet indefinable whisper of apprehension, like the first low rustle of the leaves that foreruns the co storm
Over the valley Mount Adams towered, wrapped in dusky cloud; and froleaht fell Louder, as the hush of evening deepened, came the sullen roar from the crater of Mount Hood Below the crater, the ice-fields that had glistened in unbroken whiteness the previous day were now furroide black streaks, fro lava ascended in dense wreaths
Men wiser than these ignorant savages would have said that some terrible convulsion was at hand
Multnomah's announceh he had expected it His first thought was of a personal appeal to the chief, but one glance at the iron features of the autocrat told hi No appeal could turn Multnoht be death; it certainly would be contemptuous refusal, and would call down on Wallulah the terrible wrath before which the bravest sacherove with the other chiefs and found his way to his lodge There he flung himself down on his face upon his couch of furs
The Indian wo to him, was absent, and for so over the entrance was lifted, and some one ca in a ht, became aware of the presence of another, and raised his head The Shoshone renegade stood beside hiaze rested compassionately on Cecil's sad, worn face
”What is it?” he asked ”Your words were slow and heavy to-day There was a weight on your spirit; what is it? You said that ere friends, so I caood, and like a brother,” replied Cecil, gently, ”but I cannot tell you my trouble Yet this much I can tell,”--and he sat upon the couch, his whole frarievous sin, therefore the Great Spirit took away the words from my lips to-day My heart has become evil, and God has punished me”
It was a relief to his over-burdened conscience to say those harsh things of himself, yet the relief was bitter Over the bronzed face of the Indian came an expression of deep pity
”The white man tears himself with his own claws like a wounded beast, but it does not give him peace Has he done evil? Then let him remember what he has so often told the Indians: 'Forsake evil, turn froive' Let my white brother do this, and it will be ith hier; then, with a forbearance that e without another word
But what he said had its effect Through Cecil's veins leaped the impulse of a sudden resolve,--a resolve that was both triuony He fell on his knees beside the couch
”Thou hast shown me my duty by the lips of the Indian, and I will perform it I will tear this forbidden love from my heart Father, help me Once before I resolved to do this and failed Help th Give me the mastery over the flesh, O God! Help me to put this temptation frole was long and doubtful, but the victory on at last
When Cecil arose from his knees, there was the same set and resolute look upon his face that was there thefriends and hoht have worn, putting fro forth to the dungeon and the stake
”It is done,” murmured the white lips ”I have put her from me My mission to the Indians alone fills my heart But God help her! God help her!”
For the hardest part of it all was that he sacrificed her as well as hiive her up I will go now and tell her; then I will never look upon her face again But oh! ill becoers were clinched as in acutest pain But his sensitive nerves, his intense susceptibilities were held in abeyance by a will that, once roused, was strong even unto death
He went out It was dark Away to the east Mount Hood lifted its blazing crater into the heavens like a gigantic torch, and the roar of the eruption caht
Once, twice it seehtly under his feet The Indians were huddled in groups watching the burning crest of the volcano As the far-off flickering light fell on their faces, it showed them to be full of abject fear
”It is like the end of the world,” thought Cecil ”Would that it were; then she and I ether”
He left the ca-place; for, late as it was, he knew that she awaited him
CHAPTER VIII
IN THE DARK
There is not one upon life's weariest way, Who is weary as I am weary of all but death
SWINBURNE