Hawk's Nest; or, The Last of the Cahoonshees.: A Tale of the Delaware Valley and Historical Romance of 1690.Allerton, James M. (James Martin)
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Hawk's Nest; or, The Last of the Cahoonshees.: A Tale of the Delaware Valley and Historical Romance of 1690.
Allerton, James M. (James Martin)
Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.) -- Fiction; Historical fiction
Yes, Indian go to bed, but Indian no sleep. Indian think of the
Cahoonshees. Indian never see one of his blood. Then casting his eyes
heavenward, said:
White man lead. Indian follow.
Quick raised a ladder that led to the room above and was followed up by
Cahoonshee.
There brother, is a bed of furs caught on the Steynekill. There you can
sleep and dream.
At the dawn of day, Cahoonshee and Quick were on the trail that leads to
Peenpack.
Where do you wish to go first? asked Quick.
To the graves of my fathers, replied Cahoonshee.
That is at the sand hill, on the east side of the Neversink, near the
Kingston trail. (See Appendix.)
From this time until they reached the sand hill, not a word was spoken.
The Tri-States rock was passed, and the Neversink Valley opened up before
them, while to the right rose the Shawangunk mountains. Cahoonshee wanted
to go to the sand hills by a route that no Indian would see him.
There are the graves of the last of the Cahoonshees, said Quick, pointing.
Cahoonshee was silent and meditative. Before him was to be seen the
graves of his fathers. The river had washed the banks, and skulls and
skeletons were bleaching in the sun. Cahoonshee picked up one of the
skulls, and peered into the cavities, from whence once emanated the fire
of intelligence, and was the dome of thought. His frame shook, his eye
moistened.
Enough! he said. Let us go.
The travelers pursued their way along the Neversink until they reached
Basheskill, where they encamped for the night. Scarcely a word passed
between Cahoonshee and Quick. Cahoonshee appeared to be in a deep study,
the meaning of which, the white man could not fathom. The next morning
they crossed the river and wound their way along the Neversink for
several miles, when Cahoonshee suddenly exclaimed:
Beaver Dam! His eyes for the first time had fallen on a spot that
reminded him of the days of his boyhood. It seemed to warm the blood in
his veins and awaken long slumbering emotions that could no longer be
suppressed.
Here, he exclaimed, is where I last saw my kindred; here is where my
mother last smiled on me; here is where my father patted me on the head
and said: “Be a good brave, and when I am gone to the Spirit World,
govern the Cahoonshees wisely.” Let us go.
Then they struck northwesterly across Handy Hill to the head waters of
the Steynekill and encamped for the night. The next night brought them
to Mongaup Falls, and from there they went to Bushkill Falls. Then they
crossed the ridge, and struck the Steynekill near the Heart Rock. This
was the original camping ground of the Cahoonshees. Here Cahoonshee
recognized his old home, and pointed out places that were of interest to
him in his boyish days. From there they went to Hawk’s Nest, and then
to the Quick cabin on the Shinglekill. After supper, while sitting in
the room, lighted by the blaze of a pine knot, Cahoonshee became more
communicative.
When does my brother return to Manhattan? asked Quick.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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