United States or Myanmar ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees such a meeting as this." Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and placed his hand upon his shoulder. "We are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never repay what I owe you.
"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the young pale-faces gave him food. He come tell white man Indian no forget." Tom expressed anxiety lest their deliverer should suffer for his act when he returned to his tribe. "Po-no-kah no fraid" answered the Indian grimly with almost a smile upon his face. And, nodding a farewell to little Kitty, he strode majestically away.
The father of the little pale-faces fed him. Po-no-kah no snake he remember Po-no-kah take 'em home." Farmer Hedden was busily at work in the fields, looking ten years older than on that sunny day, nearly a year before, when he had shouted a laughing "good-bye" to Tom and the little ones.
When, at last, they met, Po-no-kah had Rudolph and Kitty in his arms, and, staggering no more, was hurrying through the forest, armed with bow, quiver, and traveling pouch. The astonished prisoner, after taking Kitty from his companion's arms, followed him in silence. Not for hours did Po-no-kah look back or speak, and then it was but to say a few broken words: "Po-no-kah was hungry.
I know my lost darlings are not in this world, and yet and yet why not hope? why not think that perhaps " A shadow fell upon the threshold. What wonder that the mother sprang forward with a cry of joy! What wonder that Farmer Hedden, looking from the field, came bounding toward the house! Po-no-kah was there Po-no-kah and little Kitty!
As soon as Po-no-kah's stalwart form appeared in sight, Rudolph and Kitty rushed, with a cry of joy, to meet him; but, to their great dismay, he pushed them away with a frown and a grunt that told them plainly that they were to be familiar with him no more. Poor children! Ka-te-qua gone, Po-no-kah changed, and Tom scarcely heeding them, they felt friendless indeed.
Laughing, crying, clasping her dear Kitty frantically to her heart, then gazing at her at arms' length, Mrs. Hedden raised her eyes to the Indian, and gasped faintly "Rudolph? the boy is he " She could say no more. "Yes boy all good," answered Po-no-kah, eagerly, "white man say break heart see two he here." Just then Farmer Hedden, Tom Hennessy, and Rudolph rushed in. Oh, what a meeting that was!
In a few moments, while the tumult and uproar were at their height, Tom saw Po-no-kah reeling toward the forest. Wondering what the fellow meant to do, yet filled with a wild hope, Tom watched his chance, staggered past the rioters, and managed to follow the warrior by another path, without creating any suspicion.
Come to think, almost the only kindness I've done for nearly a year past was in giving a bag of potatoes to that sick fellow, Po-no-kah, who seemed to me to be a good fellow, as Indians go. However, it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot anything, I guess I'd better go home."
Bouncer indeed came leaping in at the call, but it was not the Bouncer, though it was a great, shaggy fellow, worthy of the name. Rudolph started back; the dog, too, eyed him with a suspicious look. "That isn't Bouncer! Where is he, mother?" exclaimed the poor boy, looking up with a bewildered glance. Po-no-kah slunk aside. "Do tell me where Bouncer is," he repeated, "We are all here but him.
Word Of The Day