Part 5 (1/2)
Thewith Holden Sleeping or waking, the ie of the latter pursued him But it was not always in the shape of the Recluse that the vision appeared More often it assuarb of a western hunter, with a rifle in his hand Then rose up, in connection with hih which the deer stole noiselessly, and the screech of the cataain he hunted, and as he approached the game he had shot, Holden approached and claiainst a log, and fell; and as he strove to rise, the log was changed into Holden, who grappled hile--wherever he was, and whithersoever he turned his eyes, there was the younghiinations possessed thean to fancy himself the victim of some incantation, hich he naturally connected the Recluse as the cause; and, finally, by continual brooding on the subject, both his appetite and sleep deserted hith attracted the attention of Peena Ohqua on his hand, and he had been for so in the fire The simple noon-day meal had barely been tasted, and that in silence
”Have the hands of Peena,” she said, ”forgot how to prepare his food, that the eyes of my brother turn away from it with displeasure?”
”The hands of my sister have not lost their skill, but Ohquary”
”Ohquamehud is a warrior, and Peena is but a oly
The Indian waved his hand, with dignity, as if inviting her to proceed
”Ohquamehud sees the heart of his sister, and he knows that it loves him, for he is the brother of Huttarief? Is she unworthy,” she added, laying her hand on his shoulder, and looking affectionately in his face, ”to listen to his voice?”
He turned towards her, and paused before he said--
”The stone in the path of Ohquamehud is very small, and will not hurt his feet”
”Peena, then, will try to reth toat hih, and awaited a reply
”Why should Ohqua Beard will bloay his words”
A look of vacancy overspread the face of the squaw, as if she failed to apprehend his
”My brother's words are dark,” she said
”Has not the poing of the Long Beard brought back the spirit of Huttarounds, and does not, therefore, the face of Peena turn to him as the sun-flower to the sun?”
”The Great Spirit loves the Long Beard, and the Long Beard loves his red brethren”
”What! a Yenghese love an Indian? Yes, as a wild-cat loves the deer when he sucks his blood, as the water loves the fire it extinguishes
The lips of Peena speak foolishness”
”If Peena feel grateful to the Long Beard, why should that anger her brother? Could he look into her heart, he would see his face as in a clear stream”
It was not in hu looks of the woman The momentary fierceness passed away from the countenance of the Indian, a entle tone, he said--
”Peena shall hear She is like a stone which, when spoken to, repeats not what is said, and not like a brook that sings an idle song My words shall enter her ears, but they will not descend to her tongue
Listen! the Manitou has troubled hts, and sent a bird to tellBeard are red with the blood ofbird,” she exclaimed vehemently; ”it was an owl that hooted untruth froainst my tribe?”
”The voice was as the voice of the waterfall,” he continued ”It spoke indistinctly, and I understood but half”
”Why should not Ohqua Beard? The words of each shall be sweet to the other, and they will learn to have one heart”