Never before, in the broad light of noon, had Hewitt been so near the mad-woman, and as her eyes fell upon him he started back, exclaiming:
“My God! dispel my dreadful doubts. More like one, once beloved by me, she grows!”
And the queen laughed more discordantly at his words, whose import she did not comprehend.
CHAPTER VIII.
JIM GIRTY TRIUMPHS.
Jim Girty, the renegade, lowered fierce looks upon the hermit, as the band marched toward the village, and once or twice his fingers clutched his tomahawk, whose keen edge he would fain have buried in the giant’s brain. But he dared not strike, for Hewitt was Tecumseh’s prisoner, and he bided his time for vengeance.
When Tecumseh returned to his lodge, after the destructive, mysterious shots, Girty effected a reconciliation with him, and was released. The renegade at once entered into the plans of the chief for the recapture of the whites, and led a band of braves to the banks of the Scioto to cut off their escape in that direction. For he knew that the hermit would never inhabit a cave without more than one avenue of escape, and his belief was verified, as the reader has witnessed.
Before departing on his mission, he had exacted from Tecumseh an oath to the effect that Eudora, if recaptured, should not be delivered over to the Wolf-Queen; but, on the contrary, should remain his prisoner, as before.
On the confines of the Indian “town” great numbers of women and children greeted the triumphant band, but Tecumseh would not permit a single birch to be applied to the persons of his prisoners.
Straight to the council-house marched the august chief and an imperative wave of the hand summoned the warriors to their accustomed positions.
Alaska followed, but paused without the line of braves, and fixed her eyes upon Tecumseh.