Oonomoo the Huron | Page 9

is hid off in de
woods near here, and he has sent me in to l'arn what I cans about you."
The prisoner kept back the joyful exclamation that came to her lips, and
said:
"Tell him that I am unharmed and hopeful, and trust that while he
interests himself in me, he will not run into danger."
"Not run into danger!" repeated Hans Vanderbum; "dat is what
Oonomoo lives on. He'd die in a week if he wan't into danger, out of
grief. He don't do notting else; it's what he was made for," he added,
growing enthusiastic in speaking of the Huron.
"I know he is a brave and true-hearted Indian, and is greatly esteemed
by the Moravian missionaries. He hesitates at no risk when his friends
are in danger."
"Ef he does run risk dey don't catch him, 'cause he knows how to run
and fight, and ish shmarter dan de Shawnees. Where ish your parents?"
"My mother and sister happened to be absent on a visit to Falsington,
which is fifteen or twenty miles distant from our place, while father,
who is a Captain, is doing service somewhere on the frontier, in the
American army. How thankful indeed I am that dear mother and Helen
were away, for they have escaped this terrible captivity."
"You washn't left all alone?"

"Oh, no; there were several servants, and I saw them tomahawked, and
heard their piercing cries."
The captive covered her face, and her frame shook like an aspen at the
remembrance of the dreadful scenes through which she had so recently
passed. It was several minutes before she recovered her self-command.
When she did, Hans Vanderbum proceeded with his questions.
"Dey burnt de place, I shpose?"
"Yes, yes; they destroyed everything."
"I shpose your folks will feel bad when dey finds dese Shawnees have
got you, won't dey?"
"Oh, yes, yes; do not speak of it."
At this point Hans Vanderbum began to get a sort of dim, vague idea
that his style of conversation was not exactly calculated to soothe the
feelings of the unfortunate prisoner; so he determined, if possible, to
make amends for it. Patting her on the head, he said, gently:
"Don't feel bad, my darling; I ish shorry for you, but I wants to ax you
anoder question."
"What is it?" queried the maid, with a wondering look.
"Will you answer it?" asked Hans Vanderbum, endeavoring to put on
an arch, quizzical expression.
"If it is in my power I instantly will. Pray, do not hesitate to ask me
anything you choose."
"Well, den, gits ready for it. I would shust like to know if dere ishn't
some feller dat is in love mit you, and you is in love mit, and dat both
ish in love mit each oder, eh?"
The crimson that suffused the cheeks and mounted to the very forehead
of the captive, answered the question of Hans Vanderbum more plainly

than words. Still, he insisted upon a verbal reply.
"There is no need of concealing the truth from you," she answered. "I
have a dear young friend--"
"Who ish he?"
"Lieutenant Canfield, who is in service with my father," she replied.
"Oh, den he don't know notting about it?"
"I am not sure of that. Oonomoo has acted as a runner or bearer of
messages between many of the men in the American army and their
families, upon the frontier, and the last time I saw him he brought me
word that Lieutenant Canfield intended shortly to visit me on furlough.
He may have arrived immediately after the Indians burnt our place."
"A good t'ing; a good t'ing if he only has."
"Why would it be a good thing?"
"Does he know Oonomoo?"
"Certainly; he has known him for several years."
"Well, den, dey will come together, and dey'll fix up fings so dat dey
will got you out of dis place afore long."
"I hope so; I hope so. Death would not be more terrible than the
suffering I undergo here, especially at night. Oh! will you not stay by
me?" asked the prisoner, the tears starting to her eyes.
Hans Vanderbum gouged his fists into his own visual organs, and
muttered something about "de dunderin' shmoke," before he could
reply.
"Yesh, yesh, I 'tends to you. You needn't be 'fraid. Dey won't hurt you,
I doesn't t'ink. Dey jist keeps you. May be dey burns you, but dat ain't
sartain. I must go to Oonomoo now, for I've been away from him a

good long while."
"Tell him I am hopeful."
"Ain't dere notting else to tell him?" asked Hans Vanderbum, still
lingering.
"I know of nothing else. He certainly needs no advice from me."
"Notting to send to Lieutenant Canfield, eh?" again queried Hans.
"Tell Oonomoo," said the