Read Ebook: The History of England from the Accession of James the II (Volume 1 Chapter 1) by Macaulay Thomas Babington Macaulay Baron

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 77 lines and 2339 words, and 2 pages

"What, Gray Lizard!" said Boone, in surprise. "Are you here?"

The old Indian advanced a step or two, supporting himself by a long staff. Keenly the serpent eyes gazed at the three whites.

"Death will meet the paleface," said he. "He will never build his lodge in the country beyond the mountains. Let him once pass the great gap, and he is no more."

Boone laughed.

"I've been through the gap, Gray Lizard," he said, good-naturedly; "and so have other white men. And we still live."

The cold eyes fixed themselves upon the resolute face; one skinny finger was lifted until it pointed at Boone's breast.

"You have," said Gray Lizard. "You have, and you are marked. Let your rifle once more break the silence of the hills or ring over the waters of the red man's rivers, and your death song is sung."

Then he turned to Colonel Henderson, and continued:

"And you, white chief, take care! The Gray Lizard has known these many moons of what you mean to do, and now he warns you. If you love your friends, do not send them beyond the Laurel Ridge. For in the wilderness their fate awaits them at the hands of the Shawnees."

He turned and was about to go; then he paused, and added:

"The Gray Lizard is old. He has seen many things. He knew the Yadkin when the white man was a stranger on its banks. Take warning by his words: do not venture beyond the blue hills."

Then, his long staff ringing on the stones, he went limping down the trail.

A COMING STRUGGLE

As the strange figure of the old Cherokee went halting along the river trail, the eyes of Boone and his companions followed curiously.

"A queer sort of customer," commented Colonel Henderson. "I don't recall ever having seen him before."

"He's a wonder worker and medicine man," said Boone. "And he spends a good bit of his time on the fringe of the settlements. Sometimes," and here a frown came upon his brow, "I've thought him more of a spy than anything else."

"At any rate he knows how to creep up on one secretly," said the colonel, with a laugh. And then, more soberly: "And he seemed rather earnest in his sayings."

Daniel Boone nodded his head.

"All these old redskins are crafty," said he. "They spend their days and nights finding out ways of imposing on their fellow savages. And managing to do this without trouble they think they can impose in the same way upon the white man."

"I see," said Colonel Henderson.

"If they can put fear in the hearts of the whites," continued Boone, "the whites will not venture into the wilderness. A settler killed now and then is the common way; but there are others, and I've heard a warning spoken by a prophet hung with totems before to-day."

The boy who had been staring after the figure of Gray Lizard now spoke.

"I've been wondering where I saw him before, and now I've remembered, Uncle Dick," said he. "Yesterday I rode up the river to visit the camp of the young braves who are to take part in the games. It was there I saw him; among the lodges."

"Ah!" said Boone; "and so the braves have come in for the games, eh?"

"More than a score of them," replied the lad. "And a fine looking lot they are, sir," with admiration.

The backwoodsman nodded.

"They are sure to be," said he, grimly. "The red

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet