Betty Zane

ld historian said of this renowned chieftain: "Tradition says that the blood of a famous white man coursed through the veins of Cornplanter. The tribe he led was originally ruled by an Indian queen of

came to the Ohio valley the queen fell in lo

ars old, having had more conceded to him by the white men than any other chieftain. General Washington wrote of hi

During Dunmore's war and for years after, he was one of the mos

vity against the whites that Isaac Zane had the

d by a dog licking his face. He heard Indian voices. He got up and ran as fast as he could, but exhausted as he was he proved no match for his pur

and yelled, at which signal other Indians joined them. Isaac saw that they were leading him into a large encampment.

r long marches and for battle. That night he heard speech after speech in the lodge next to the one in which he lay, but they were in an unknown tongue. Later he heard the yelling of the Indians and the dull thud of their feet as they stamped on the ground. He heard the ring of the tomahawks as they were struck into hard wood. The Indians were dancing the war-dance round the war-post. This

said the man in Engli

aa

o are you?" asked Is

new Col. Zane and Jonathan well. I've see

u Simon

es

with the Indians. Can you do a

any miles from Wingenund's Camp," said Girty, givin

raveling three days I lost my way. I went to sleep in a thicket and when I awoke an Indian dog h

he has a daughter who kept

back there. I don't li

you don't know that Col. Crawford massacred a lot of Indians a few days ago. It'll g

at the same time as his brothers, but he did not at once fall under the influence of the unsettled, free-and-easy life of the Indians. It is probable that while in captivity he acquired the power of commanding the Indians' interest and learne

ese traitors spread as much terror among the Delaware Indians as they did among the whites. The Delawares had been one of the few peacefully disposed tribes. In order to get them to join thei

neers. This proved to be just the life that suited him. He soon rose to have a great and bad influence on all the tribes. He became noted for his assist

ame alone created terror in any household; in every pioneer's cabin it made t

ity rather than with the malignity of a naturally ferocious temper. In justice to Simon Girty it must be said that facts not known until his death showed he was not so cruel and base as believed; that

for him and led him into the immense council-lodge of the Five Nations. Cornplanter sat between his right-hand chiefs, Big Tree and Half Town, and surrounded by the other chiefs of the tribes. An aged Ind

oice in Isaac's ear. Isaac turned and recognize

, no hope for m

him, but he wouldn't listen. Yesterday, in the camp of the Delawares, I saw Col. Crawford burnt at the stake. He was a friend of mine at Pitt, and I didn't dare to say one word t

is case was hopeless, and that no opportunity for escape could possibly present itself in such a la

ue to Isaac, Cornplanter handed a war-club to Half Town. This chief got up, walked to the end of the circle, and there brought the club down on the ground

n a war-club used in the councils of the Hurons and kne

killer of Indians," sa

the sun shines

new to indicate that death awaited him on the morrow. On his way

a dancing on rigid legs and a stamping with their feet, they wheeled, and uttering hideous yells, started to march in the other direction. When this had been repeated three times a brave stepped from the line, advanced, and struck his knife

im and pointed their knives at him. They hissed and groaned at him. Their vindictive fac

is last night to live! His last night to live! He forced himself to think of other things. He lay there in the darkness of his tent, but he was far away in thought, far away in the past with his mother and brothers before they had come to this bloodthirsty country. His thoughts wandered to the days of his boyhood when he used to drive the sows to the pasture on the hillside, and in his dreamy, disordered fancy he was once more letting down the bars of the gate. Then he was wading in the brook and whacking the green frogs with his stick. Old playmates' faces, forgotten for years, were th

A brawny savage pulled him to his fe

hung over the river like a great white curtain. Though the air was warm, Isaac shivered a little as the breeze blew softly against his c

own the main street of the village the guards led the prisoner, followed by a screaming mob

et-one of the severest of Indian tortures. With the exception of Cornplanter and several of his chiefs, every Indian in the village was in line. Little Indian boys hardly large enough to sling a stone; maidens and squa

hese lines he sped like a flash, dodging this way and that, running close in under the raised weapons, taking what blows he could on his uplifted arms, knocking this warrior over and doubling that one up with a lightning blow in the stomach, never slack

mingled with the beads of perspiration. Several lumps and scratches showed on his bare shoulders and ar

lling like so many demons. The old squaws thrust sharpened sticks, which had been soaked in salt water, into his flesh. The maidens struck him with willows which

th,-indeed it would prolong both. He had resolved to die without a moan. He had determined to show absolute indifference to his torture, which was the only way to appeal to the savage nature, and if

twenty feet and every time the sharp blade of the hatchet sank deep into the stake within an inch of Isaac'

think he can frighten

ngth. "Let him go and

face laug

e gave a frightful yell and cast his tomahawk again,

led less skillfully than its predecessors and would kill him instantly. But the enraged brave had

eir efforts called forth only words of derision from Isaac. They left the weapons sticki

ef dancing near. "What has he done that he be made the p

aws had withdrawn. The prisoner's proud, handsome face, his upright bearing, his scorn for his enemies,

ave turned to Big Tree. At a command from this chief the Indians stopped their maneuvering round the p

ls pulled out, powder and salt shot into his flesh, being scalped alive and a host of other Indian tortures, bu

Isaac's feet. The Indian warrior knelt on the ground the steel clicked on the flint; a little shower of sparks drop

d and prayed with all hi

f waiting, watching Indians. He had obtained p

want I'll get word to your people." And then bending and placing his mouth close to I

m at Ft. Henry,"

iercing yell rang out on the quiet morning air. So strong, so sudden, so startling was the break in that almost perfect calm that for a moment afterward there was a silence as of death. All eyes turned to the ridge of rising ground whence that sound had come. Now came the unmistakable thunder of horses' hoofs pounding furiously on the rocky ground. A moment

eard that long yell; his heart bounded with hope. The India

k with plunging horses. They galloped swiftly down the slope and into the narrow street of the village. When the black horse entered the oval the train of racing hors

all the scouts and runners were round the torture-stake, they had reached the hillside from which they rode into the village before the inhabitants knew what h

warriors tried and true. They were naked to the waist. Across their brawny chests ran a broad bar of flaming red paint; hideous designs in black and white covered their faces. Every head had been clean-shaven except where the scalp lock b

as a flash of light this figure reached the stake, the blazing fagots scattered right and left; a naked blade gleamed; the thongs fell from the prisoner's wrists; and the front ran

r chief," s

eader of five nations of Indians. It was of one who knew that he was the wisest of chiefs, the hero of a hundred battles. Who dared beard him in

s the White Ea

eauty had been sung of in many an Indian song. The beautiful girl stood erect and fearless. Her disordered garments, torn and bedraggled and stained from the long ride, ill-concealed the grace of her form. Her hair rippled from the

d Cornplanter. "By what right d

adopted

face hide like a f

plan

st the trail to the

s prisoners to ki

nswered, pointing to the long line of mounted warriors. "A

d held high; every muscle tense and strong for instant action. He was ready and eager for the fray. He, and every one of his warriors, would fight like a thousand tigers for their Princess-the pride of the proud race of Wyandots. Cor

rons before him like leaves before the storm. Let Myeerah take the pale face back to her wigwam and there feed him and make a squaw of him. W

* * * * *

f mounted Indians riding single file along the narrow trail and

aced him, and knowing that he was once more on his way to the Huron encampment, he had accepted his d

silently pointed toward the huge maple tree under which Thundercloud and Myeerah were sitting. Isaac turned his horse and rode the short distance intervening.

he said briefly, almost coldly. "Follow it, and when the sun reaches

hat though her face was calm her throat swelled, and the hand which lay over the neck of her pony clenched the bridle in a fierce

t do you mean

nswered bitterly. "They were true. The Eagle does not care for Myeer

saved me and I am yours. If you will go home with me and marry me th

d her hand toward the west. The chief swung himself over his horse, shouted a single command, and rode down the bank into the water. His warriors followed him,