Part 34 (1/2)

”Come along, then, Jerry,” said Cameron impatiently. And on they went.

The throb of the drum grew clearer until it seemed that the next turn in the trail should reveal the camp, while with the drum throb they began to catch, at first faintly and then more clearly, the monotonous chant ”Hai-yai-kai-yai, Hai-yai-kai-yai,” that ever accompanies the Indian dance. Suddenly the drums ceased altogether and with it the chanting, and then there arose upon the night silence a low moaning cry that gradually rose into a long-drawn penetrating wail, almost a scream, made by a single voice.

Jerry's hand caught Cameron's arm with a convulsive grip.

”What the deuce is that?” asked Cameron.

”Sioux Indian--he mak' dat when he go keel.”

Once more the long weird wailing scream pierced the night and, echoing down the canyon, was repeated a hundred times by the black rocky sides.

Cameron could feel Jerry's hand still quivering on his arm.

”What's up with you, Jerry?” said Cameron impatiently.

”Me hear dat when A'm small boy--me.”

Then Cameron remembered that it was Sioux blood that colored the life-stream in Jerry's veins.

”Oh, pshaw!” said Cameron with gruff impatience. ”Come on!” But he was more shaken than he cared to acknowledge by that weird unearthly cry and by its all too obvious effect upon the iron nerves of that little half-breed at his side.

”Dey mak' dat cry when dey go meet Custer long 'go,” said Jerry, making no motion to go forward.

”What are you waiting for?” said Cameron harshly. ”Come along, unless you want to go back.”

His words stung the half-breed into action. Cameron could feel him in the dark jerk his hand away and hear him grit his teeth.

”Bah! You go h.e.l.l!” he muttered between his clenched teeth.

”That is better,” said Cameron cheerfully. ”Now we will look in upon these fire-eaters.”

Sharp to the right they turned behind a cliff, and then back almost upon their trail, still to the right, through a screen of spruce and poplar, and found themselves in a hole of a rock that lengthened into a tunnel blacker than the night outside. Pursuing this tunnel some little distance they became aware of a light that grew as they moved toward it into a fire set in the middle of a wide cavern. The cavern was of irregular shape, with high-vaulted roof, open to the sky at the apex and hung with glistening stalact.i.tes. The floor of this cavern lay slightly below them, and from their position they could command a full view of its interior.

The sides of the cavern round about were crowded with tawny faces of Indians arranged rank upon rank, the first row seated upon the ground, those behind crouching upon their haunches, those still farther back standing. In the center of the cavern and with his face lit by the fire stood the Sioux Chief, Onawata.

”Copperhead! By all that's holy!” cried Cameron.

”Onawata!” exclaimed the half-breed. ”What he mak' here?”

”What is he saying, Jerry? Tell me everything--quick!” commanded Cameron sharply.

Jerry was listening with eager face.

”He mak' beeg spik,” he said.

”Go on!”

”He say Indian long tam' 'go have all country when his fadder small boy.

Dem day good hunting--plenty beaver, mink, moose, buffalo like leaf on tree, plenty hit (eat), warm wigwam, Indian no seeck, notting wrong. Dem day Indian lak' deer go every place. Dem day Indian man lak' bear 'fraid notting. Good tam', happy, hunt deer, keel buffalo, hit all day. Ah-h-h!

ah-h-h!” The half-breed's voice faded in two long gasps.

The Sioux's chanting voice rose and fell through the vaulted cavern like a mighty instrument of music. His audience of crowding Indians gazed in solemn rapt awe upon him. A spell held them fixed. The whole circle swayed in unison with his swaying form as he chanted the departed glories of those happy days when the red man roamed free those plains and woods, lord of his destiny and subject only to his own will. The mystic magic power of that rich resonant voice, its rhythmic cadence emphasized by the soft throbbing of the drum, the uplifted face glowing as with prophetic fire, the tall swaying form instinct with exalted emotion, swept the souls of his hearers with surging tides of pa.s.sion.

Cameron, though he caught but little of its meaning, felt himself irresistibly borne along upon the torrent of the flowing words. He glanced at Jerry beside him and was startled by the intense emotion showing upon his little wizened face.