“He is Nehonesto’s brother, and Nehonesto will die for him. Now let Coleola strike! now let her throw her snakes upon the Ojibwa.”
A cry of rage welled from the Snake Queen’s throat, and she retreated several feet, tearing the snakes from her arm as she executed the movement. Her eyes were fixed upon Nehonesto; she saw no other form than his, and as she paused, with the rapidity of a flash of lighting one of the rattlers went hissing through the air!
The Ojibwa saw it, but did not move. He merely threw his knife arm before his face, and flung the serpent aside with a dexterity that drew a shout of applause from the red spectators. He flung the snake away with all his strength, and with a shriek of horror he saw it wrap itself around the throat of the trader’s daughter!
A shout of triumph cleft the air;—it came from Coleola’s throat; and the second snake had left her arm when Nehonesto darted toward our heroine!
He griped the immense serpent—immense for a rattlesnake—with his bare hands, and tore it from its dreadful embrace, with such fury that it snapped in twain, leaving the tail dangling from his hand, while the hideous head clung by the fangs to Kate Blount’s cheek!
At the sight of the maiden’s peril a cry of horror burst from the throats of the Indians, and even Coleola forsook her station, and, with many others, sprung forward.
The white girl’s head had dropped upon her bosom, and the pallor of death shrouded her face. Instantly Nehonesto’s knife severed her bonds, and when the red-men crowded around the spot, he had lowered her to the ground, and was holding the mouth of his leathern flask to her colorless lips.
Pity instantly took the place of vengeance, and upon every face, save that of Coleola’s, that sweet angel sat enthroned.
Kate Blount was conscious, and she drank deeply of the contents of the Ojibwa’s flask. She knew that whisky counteracted the effects of the poison of the rattlesnake in the human system, and she felt its effects ere the flask was drained.
“The Lone Dove of the pale-faces will not tread the dark wood,” said Nehonesto, noting with a smile the effect of the fire-water. “She will live—live to become Nehonesto’s captive.”