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Updated: June 27, 2025
The sun hung level, now, sending its blinding light straight into our eyes; and for precaution's sake we edged away under the blue shadows of the shrubbery, in case some far prowler note the light spots where our faces showed against the wall of green behind us. "How far from Catharines-town," I asked, "lies the Vale Yndaia, of which our little Lois has spoken?"
"The long trail through the Long House straight through it, Euan, to the Western Door. That is the trail I dream of." "Who leaves these strange moccasins at your threshold every year?" "I do not know." "From where do you suppose they come?" I asked, amazed. "From Catharines-town." "Do you believe your mother sends them?" "Oh, Euan, I know it now! Until two years ago I did not understand.
But the Toad Woman, mother of Amochol, was absent, and of all the Montours only this strange priest had remained at Catharines-town. And him we were now about to take or slay. "Amochol!" whispered the Sagamore in my ear. "I know," I said. "It is strange. He is not like a monster, after all." "He is beautiful," whispered Lois. I stared at the pale, calm face over which the firelight played.
Catharine, who is the saint of the Iroquois also, that the sway of Amochol shall end, and that he shall lie on his own bloody altar, nor die there before he sees the flames of Catharines-town touch the very heaven of an affronted God!" "Can you do this?" "With God's help and General Sullivan's," I said cheerfully.
And they proved to be my own men a handful of Morgan's pushing far in advance to reconnoitre Catharines-town from the south, although our main army was marching by the western ridges, where Boyd had marked a path for them. A corporal in my corps, named Baily, came back with the Oneidas, climbed with them over the logs, sprang down inside, and saluted me coolly enough.
Many have offered, Euan." "What!" "I ask your pardon. Two years of camps blunts any woman's speech." "Lois," said I uneasily, "why do you wish to go to Catharines-town, when an armed force is going?" She sat considering, then, in a low, firm voice: "To tell you why, is why I asked you here.... And first I must show you what my packet held.... Shall I show you, Euan?" "Surely, little comrade."
On their heels glided the Seneca warriors, warriors of the Cayugas, Onondagas, Caniengas, Esauroras, and here and there a traitorous Oneida, and even a few Hurons. Pell-mell this mob of fighting men came surging through the fire-circle, and straight into Catharines-town, while I and my Indians crouched there, appalled and astounded.
But through this he must blaze his trail, and the pioneers who are to follow shall lay their wagon-path across felled trees, northward still, across the forests that border the flats of Catharines-town; and then, still northward for a mile; and so swing west, severing the lake trail. Thus we shall trap Amochol between us."
Boyd, during the last few days, had become very silent and morose; and his men and my Indians believed that he was brooding over his failure to take the Red Priest at Catharines-town. But my own heavy heart told me a different story; and the burden of depression which this young officer bore so silently seemed to weight me also with vague and sinister apprehensions.
I could not take her back now, and also keep my tryst with Boyd at Catharines-town. I could not leave her here by this trail, even guarded had I the guards to spare for soon in our wake would come thundering the maddened debris of the Chemung battle, pell-mell, headlong through the forests, desperate, with terror leading and fury lashing at their heels.
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