Virginia woke from her swoon to find herself a captive in the hands of
the Shawnees.
Three grim and painted chiefs were her guards.
Virginia shuddered when she thought of the terrible fate that was
in store for her. No ray of light broke through the darkness of the
clouded future. She despaired of ever again seeing home and friends.
The red-men bore her swiftly through the forest, heading toward the
Ohio.
The false white man, the treacherous guide, who had led her into the
snare, had disappeared.
Crossing the Ohio, the savages conducted their prisoner to the Indian
village at Chillicothe.
Great was the rejoicing among the Shawnees, when the hapless girl was
brought a prisoner into their midst. It seemed to them like an omen of
good fortune.
Virginia was placed in one of the wigwams, and there left in solitude
to meditate upon the dreadful misfortune that had come upon her.
Alone, far from home and kindred, there seemed no avenue of escape open
to her. Despairing, she prayed to the Great Power above to rescue her
from her terrible peril.
Leaving the despairing maid to her own sad thoughts, we will return to
the renegade Girty.
After leaving the old General, Girty made his way to the secluded glade
in the forest where he had arranged to meet Kendrick.
Girty found his companion waiting for him.
“The Indians have departed with the girl?” Girty asked.
“Yes; by the way, what do you intend to do with her?” said Kendrick.
“Give her to some chief for a wife. I have just had a little talk with
Treveling. I told him who I was and of the vengeance that I have taken
for the wrong that he did me so many years ago.” Girty’s face showed
plainly his fierce joy as he spoke.
“It was a dangerous attempt to penetrate into yonder settlement,” said
Kendrick.
“Yes, but my disguise, you see, is perfect. This black wig covers my
own hair, and the walnut stain upon my face changes the color of my
complexion. But we must return to Chillicothe. The settlers know of
Ke-ne-ha-ha’s intended attack and are prepared for it. The chief must
know it. The design to surprise the station has failed.”
“Will he then give up the attack?”
“No; Ke-ne-ha-ha will play the lion if he can not act the part of the
fox. The Shawnees and their allies have force enough to drive all the
whites from the banks of the Ohio. They will try to do it and I think
they will succeed.”
“I say, Girty,” said Kendrick, suddenly, “why do you give the girl to
the Indians? Why not keep her for yourself? She is young and pretty; a
prize for any man.”
“I have thought of that,” replied the other; “perhaps the knowledge
that his daughter was mine would give more pain to Treveling than
anything else.”
“I should think it likely.”
“I will think about the matter; but now let us to Chillicothe as fast
as our legs will carry us. Soon we will return with brand and steel.
Dying men and blazing roof-trees shall mark our path.”
Then the two plunged into the thicket, and soon their forms were lost
in the mazes of the wood.
For a few minutes the little glade was deserted by all living things,
and then again life stood within the forest opening.
Forth from the cover of the wood came the strange girl known as Kanawha
Kate. In her hand she carried the long rifle common to the frontier. In
her belt was thrust the keen-edged scalping-knife of the Indian.
For a moment she paused in the center of the glade and listened eagerly.
“She is then in the Shawnee village, the prisoner of the renegade,” she
murmured. “She, the promised wife of the man that I love with all the
passion of my nature.” Full of agony was the tone in which she spoke.
“Why did I permit this terrible love to take possession of my heart?
Why did I not crush it at the moment of its birth? But my rival is in
the power of the Indians. This man, Girty, may make her his, then she
will be removed from my path forever. Why should I interfere to save
her? If Harvey does not see her again he may forget her, and then I may
be able to win his love. Oh! how full of bliss is even the thought.”
For a moment she stood like one inspired, her eyes flashing and her
lips half-opened. And then a change came over her face. Her head sunk
down listlessly upon her breast.
“Alas! it is but a dream,” she murmured, sorrowfully. “He will never
learn to love me even if she is lost to him. I have forgotten the stain
that clings to me. Forgotten that I am the daughter of the renegade.
One at whom the finger of scorn is pointed. A wretched creature not
fit to associate with others whose skins are white like mine. I am an
outcast, a child of the forest. What madness then to think that I can
ever win the love of a man like Harvey Winthrop. No, it is impossible.”
Slowly and mournfully Kate spoke, as the truth forced itself upon her
mind.
“I must to the Shawnee village!” she cried, suddenly. “The Indians
know me as the daughter of the renegade and will not harm me. On my
way through the forest I can decide on what course to pursue. Whether
to leave Virginia to her fate, to the cruel mercy of having her life
spared by Girty, only to become his wife; or to save her--if it be
possible--and give her to the man who has, unknowingly, won my heart.
Oh! to leave her to Girty is a terrible temptation; Heaven give me
strength to resist it!”
Then through the wood Kate followed on the trail of her father and
Girty.
Cautiously she followed on the trail till it led into the Indian
village by the bank of the Scioto, known as Chillicothe.
In the thicket that fringed the village, Kate halted.
“Now, what course shall I pursue?” she asked, communing with herself.
“Shall I go at once boldly into the village and say that I have come
to seek my father? or shall I remain here in concealment and watch my
opportunity to enter the village unobserved?”
For a few moments Kate pondered over the difficult question. She could
not decide which of the two courses to adopt.
Then from a wigwam, in full view of the thicket that concealed the
girl, came Girty and Kendrick.
They bent their steps slowly toward the river.
“I have it!” cried Kale, suddenly; “I will tell my father that I feared
to remain alone in my cabin and brave the dangers of the Indian attack,
and that I wish to remain here until the war is ended. They will not
suspect my purpose.”
And having come to this conclusion, she stepped forward from the
shelter of the thicket.
The two men started with surprise when they beheld the girl.
“Why, Kate, what brings you here?” asked Kendrick, in astonishment.
“I am in search of you, father,” she replied.
“What do you want with me?”
“I have thought over your warning regarding the Indian attack, and have
concluded to seek shelter here,” she replied.
“It’s the best thing you kin do,” said Kendrick, approvingly.
Girty’s face wore a strange expression as he looked up at the girl.
“Is this your daughter?” he said, in an undertone to Kendrick.
“Yes,” the other replied; “don’t you remember her?”
“Her face is familiar to me,” said Girty, with a puzzled air, “yet I
can not remember ever meeting her before.”
“She was with me, hyer in the nation, some five years ago; of course
she’s changed a good deal since that time.”
“That is probably the reason why her face seems strange and yet
familiar to me. But come this way a moment. I have something to say to
you.”
Kendrick followed Girty. A few paces on, out of ear-shot of the girl,
Girty halted.
“Is your daughter to be trusted?” Girty asked.
“Why what do you mean?” said Kendrick, in wonder.
“I mean is she red at heart, like ourselves? Does she hate the whites?”
“Well, I reckon that she doesn’t bear ’em much love. The settlers have
allers looked upon her as they would upon a spotted snake; a pretty
thing, but dangerous, and not to be trusted, and not to be handled. But
why do you ask the question?”
“I’ll tell you. I want some one to look after this girl.”
“Why not get one of the squaws?”
“I am afraid to trust her with them. Of course I shall have to go with
Ke-ne-ha-ha, on his expedition against the whites. If any reverse
should happen to the Indians, and the news of it reach the village in
my absence, they might take revenge upon the girl.”
“Yes, that’s very true.”
“But if I can get your daughter to take charge of her, why that danger
will be avoided.”
“Well, you kin ask the gal. I guess she’ll be willing to do it,” said
Kendrick.
“I’ll pay her well for the service. The presence, too, of one of her
own blood may serve to reconcile the girl to her fate, or, at any rate,
it will serve to rob her captivity of half its terrors.”
“Better speak to Kate right away.”
“I will.”
Then the two returned to the girl.
“Kate, my friend hyer wants you to do a little favor for him,” said
Kendrick.
“What is it?” asked Kate, and even as she spoke the thought came into
her mind that the favor had something to do with the captive maid.
“There is a white girl in the village, not exactly a prisoner to the
Indians, fur I intend to marry her, but still she is not free. I
would like to have you take charge of her; do all you can to make her
contented with and accept the fate that is before her. I will pay you
well for the service.”
“What is her name?” and not a muscle of Kate’s face betrayed that she
knew what the name would be even before it was spoken.
“Virginia Treveling,” replied Girty, after hesitating for a moment, but
then an instant’s reflection convinced him that it would be folly to
attempt to conceal the name of the prisoner.
“Very well, I will do it,” said Kate, quietly.
“I told you I thought she would,” said Kendrick, with an air of
satisfaction.
“She is in yonder wigwam,” and Girty pointed to one that stood by the
bank of the Scioto, a hundred paces or so from where they were.
“I will take good care of her,” Kate said, and neither of the two that
stood by her side guessed the double meaning conveyed in her words.
And so Kate was placed to guard the captive Virginia. In her heart two
passions struggled for supremacy. The fate of her rival was in her
hands. Would she save or crush her?