“At last, however, she began to fear that she had waited in vain, for
Agamenthan, bearing many terrible scars upon his person, had recovered
his strength and was asking of her father that the time should be set
when he could lead her to his wigwam. Though she knew of these councils
and of the impatience of the young brave, Lolokana kept her lips
sealed—kept her dark lashes always lowered, that Agamenthan might not
read in her eyes the resolve to die rather than submit. A knife, which
she had found, was hidden upon her person, and this, if nothing else,
would enable her to escape at the last moment. One strong, swift thrust
deep into her bosom would set her free.
“At last the day was named, and the chief of the Passagonquays told his
daughter that on the morrow she was to become the squaw of Agamenthan.
That night she did not close her eyes in sleep, although, lying quite
still, without a single movement to arouse suspicion, she led her
vigilant guard to believe she slumbered. It was her purpose to try to
creep forth from the teepee in the darkest hours and take flight.
“As she lay thus she heard something—the faintest rustle, like the
movements of a toad in the leaves; yet something told her it was not a
toad, and, with her heart pounding, she listened and listened. Presently
she heard her name whispered almost in her ear, and she knew it had been
breathed by the lips of Woganock. She knew her lover had come at last.
With all the skill and stealth of his race he had crept into the
village, not even disturbing a sleeping dog. He was outside the teepee;
only the thin wall divided them.
“Lulled by her apparent submission to the decree of her father, the
chief, the guard dozed. Woganock’s hands found his throat and strangled
him with scarcely a sound. Then, with the same caution, he led Lolokana
out of the village and away into the black depths of the forest.
“What had happened was not discovered by the Passagonquays until morning
dawned. Then, as you may believe, there was something doing. The old
chief called upon Agamenthan to bring the princess back, and Agamenthan
promised to do so. With a dozen young warriors at his heels, he took up
the trail. Three days and three nights they pursued the fleeing lovers
with the tenacity of bloodhounds. Early on the fourth day the pursuers
closed in upon Woganock and Lolokana, for the princess was weary. The
moccasins were gone from her bleeding feet, and even Woganock’s great
strength had been terribly taxed through bearing the maiden in his arms
over many of the rough places. They were trapped in the mountains
yonder. No matter which way they sought to flee, they found themselves
cut off, and eventually, with the pursuers closing in, they were driven
out upon the very brink of that great cliff where the cross now stands.
They could not descend, and to turn back into the forest from which they
had come meant nothing save final capture, even though they were to slip
through the cordon of pursuers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account