"_Qua_, Ga-go-sa Ho-nun-as-tase-ta!"
For the second time that night I twisted my neck to peer behind my
stake, and sure the sight which met my eyes was weirder even than the
white figure of the Moon Maiden. There within the circle of the
firelight stood Ga-ha-no again. But 'twas a vastly different
Ga-ha-no. On her head she wore a bear's mask, with the fur of the
neck and shoulders falling around her body to the _ga-ka-ah_ which
draped her loins. In each hand she gripped a knife, and her white
limbs staggered under her in pretense of the unsteady gait of a bear
walking erect.
The False Faces began their chant, the drums rumbled crazily, and she
wavered forward, arms flopping like paws, head poised absurdly upon
one side. She pranced around the circle once, to the immense delight
of the Indians, who hailed her with drunken laughter. Then she
advanced upon us in the midst of a tense silence.
The fantastic figure followed an uncertain path, exactly as would a
bear who was mistrustful of what he saw. The savages, keen to
appreciate what they knew, applauded uproariously such faithfulness
to nature.
They were equally enthusiastic when she advanced her muzzle
suspiciously and smelled of my face. But they could not hear the
familiar voice which whispered in my ear--
"Mr. Ormerod, when I have cut your bonds be ready to leap after me as
soon as the Iroquois is free."
I started so that my surprize must have been apparent had it not been
for the restraining rawhide thongs.
"What?" I gasped. "You!"
"Say nothing. Time is short. And I will----"
She danced, with her ridiculous gait, over to Ta-wan-ne-ars, and I
watched curiously his look of affection and detestation change to one
of quickly suppressed amazement. With his ready wit he shook his
head at her and tried to bite one of the furry ears of her mask.
She backed away from us slowly, and her head balanced from side to
side in contemplation. Then she charged upon me, knives flashing
before my eyes. She slashed at me here and there, and each time she
slashed she severed a thong. I pretended abject fear, and the
befuddled savages shouted with glee.
She pranced to Ta-wan-ne-ars and performed the same operation upon
him. He, too, gave evidence of fear. He cowered against the stake
and lowered his head. But when she advanced her mask and nuzzled his
shoulder, I saw his powerful muscles knotting themselves in
preparation for the dash for freedom.
"Now!" I heard her say very low.
Ta-wan-ne-ars seemed to rise into the air, thongs flying behind him.
I tugged and jumped and my own lashings parted--and I found myself
running somewhat stiffly beside the Iroquois.
A second figure drew up to my side, and I felt a knife-hilt pushed
into my hand.
"In case," said the familiar voice. "And here is one for the
Iroquois, too."
I stared down in bewilderment at the bear-mask. 'Twas so unexpected,
yet so obviously what I might have known she would do if the
opportunity arose. That clean scorn, that brave honesty of purpose,
I had marked in her, were earnest of her determination to dare all
for what she believed to be right.
A chorus of yelps like a wolf-pack in full cry split the night behind
us. One of the False Faces sprang into our path, and Ta-wan-ne-ars
closed with him. The Seneca's knife plunged into his throat, and he
collapsed with a strangled scream.
As the pine-trees shrouded us I looked back over my shoulder. The
Dancing-Place was covered with a mob of running figures who fell over
each other in their drunken frenzy.