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60 MALAESKA,
sook her tribe when the death-song of her father was loud in the
woods. She comes back when the corn is ripe, but there is no wig-
wam open to her. When'a woman of the tribe goes off to the ene-
my, she returns only to die. Haye I said well? ”
A guttural murmur of assent ran through the lodge. The women.
heard it from their piace in the open air, and gathering fiercely around
the door, cried out, ‘* Give her tous! She has stolen our chief—
she has disgraced her tribe. It is long since we have danced at the
fire-festival.’? Lt ae .
The rabble of angry women came on with their taunts and mena-
ces, attempting to seize Malaeska, who stood pale and still before
them; but the chief, whom she had once rejected, stood up, and
with a motion of -his hand repulsed them.
** Let the women go back to their wigwams. The daughter of a
great chief dics only by the hands of achief, To the warrior of
her tribe, whom she has wronged, her life belongs,’ ,
Malaeska lifted her sorrowful eyes to his fice — how changed it |
was since the day he had asked her to share his lodge,
‘* And it is you that want my life? she said,
‘* By the laws of the tribe it is mine,’ he answered. ‘* Turn
your face to the east— it is growing dark; the forest is deep; no-
one shall hear Malaeska’s cries when the hatchet cleaves her forehead.
Come ! ”?
Malaeska turned in pale terror, and followed him; No one inter-
fered with the chief, whom she had refused for a white man. Her
life belonged to him. He had a right to choose the time and place
of her execution, -But the women expressed their disappointment
‘in fiendish sneers; as she glided like a ghost through their ranks and
disappeared in the blackness of the forest. . 4
Not a word was spoken between her and the chief. Stern and sie
lent he struck into a trail which she knew led to the river, for she
had travelled over it theday before. Thus, in darkness and profound
silence, she walked on all night till herlimbs were so weary that she
longed to call out’and pray the chief to kill her then and there; but
he kept on a little in advance, only turning now and then to be sure
that she followed.
Once she ventured to ask him why he put off her death so long;
but he pointed along the trail, and walked along without deigning a
reply. During the day he took a handful of parched corn from his
pouch and told her to eat; but for himself, through that long night
and day, he never tasted a morsel. :
Toward sunset they came out on the banks of the Mohawk, near
the very spot where she had left her boat. ‘The Indian paused here
‘and looked steadily at his victim.
The blood grew cold in Malacska’s veins — death was terrible
when it came so near. She cast one look of ‘pathetic pleading on
his face, then, folding her hands, stood before him waiting for the
moment. .
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