At War with Pontiac | Page 3

think I
may safely prophesy that if the time ever comes when those nations
which we call civilized give over fighting, then even the red Indians
may be persuaded to follow their example. As for their methods of
warfare, they are but the counterparts of those practised by our own
savage ancestors a few centuries ago; while in their torture of captives
they are only reproducing the acts of civilized Romans, mediaeval
knights, and the Holy Inquisition. It is not long since, even in England,
Elizabeth Gaunt was burned to death at Tyburn for yielding to the
dictates of compassion and giving shelter to a political offender; nor are
the cries for mercy of the martyrs tortured at Smithfield stakes yet
forgotten. The torture of New England witches is recent history, while
the dismal record of devilish tortures inflicted by white men upon
Indian captives is unbroken from the days of Columbus. Did not
Frontenac cause an Iroquois warrior to be burned alive in order to
terrorize his fellows? Did not--"
The honest major was so warmed to his subject that he might have
discoursed upon it indefinitely, had he not been startlingly interrupted.
He and his wife were retracing their steps toward the house, and, as
before, the Scotch maid, with her toddling charge, was some paces

behind them. At a wild scream from the girl those in advance turned in
time to see the flying form of a young Indian, who had just emerged
from the near-by forest, fall headlong at her feet. His naked body was
pierced by wounds, and his strength was evidently exhausted. As he
fell, a second Indian, in whose right hand gleamed a deadly tomahawk,
leaped from the woodland shadows, and, with a yell of triumph,
bounded toward his intended victim. He was closely followed by two
others.
As the Scotch girl stood motionless with terror, little Donald, evidently
believing this to be some new form of game provided for his especial
edification, ran forward with a gurgle of delight, stumbled, and fell
directly across the head of the prostrate Indian. But for the child's
sudden movement the keen-bladed hatchet in the hand of the foremost
pursuer, already drawn back for the deadly throw, would have sped on
its fatal mission.
With a cry of anguish Mrs. Hester sprang toward her baby; but quicker
than she, with a leap like that of a panther, Major Hester gained the
spot first, snatched up his child, and, over the body of the young Indian,
sternly confronted his scowling pursuers.
CHAPTER II
THE MAJOR GAINS A FRIEND AND MAKES AN ENEMY
For some seconds the three Indians, who were panting heavily from the
effect of their long chase through the forest, gazed in silence at the
white man who with the child in his arms so fearlessly confronted them.
Then the foremost of them, an evil-looking savage who bore the name
of Mahng (the Diver), motioned the major aside with a haughty wave
of the hand, saying: "Let the white man step from the path of Mahng,
that he may kill this Ottawa dog who thought to escape the vengeance
of the Senecas."
Without retreating an inch from his position, and still holding the little
Donald, who crowed with delight at sight of the Indians, Major Hester
replied:--

"Not even if the whole Seneca tribe demanded it would I allow this
man to be murdered in the presence of my wife. Nor, since my child
has saved his life, will I deliver him into your hands for torture. He has
sought my protection, and it shall be granted him until he is proved
unworthy of it. Let the sachems of your tribe lay this grievance before
Sir William Johnson. If the white chief decides that the prisoner must
be restored to them, and so orders, then will I give him up, but not
before. Now go, ere my young men, who are already approaching,
reach this place and drive you from it with whips, like yelping curs."
Being sufficiently acquainted with the English language to comprehend
the purport of these remarks, the scowling savage made answer:--
"Who gave the white man the right to step between an Indian and an
Indian? This land is Indian land. The long house in which the white
man dwells belongs to the Indians, as did the forest trees from which it
is built. If the Indian says stay, then may you stay; if he says go, then
must you go. Let one of your young men but lift a hand against Mahng,
and this ground that has known the tread of the white man shall know it
no more forever. His house shall become a hooting place for owls, and
Seneca squaws shall gather the harvest of his fields. Restore then to