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Updated: June 9, 2025
"You have failed I see by your look," said Mr Pemberton, as Jasper entered. "Ay, I have failed," returned the other gloomily. "He must have gone with the band of Indians among whose tracks I lost his footsteps." "Have you any idea who can have done this horrible deed?" said Pemberton. "It was Darkeye," said Jasper in a stern voice.
The cunning Indian put on a pretended look of surprise on beholding it, and then the usual expression of stolid gravity settled on his face as he turned to Mr Pemberton for information. "Your hand did this," said the fur-trader. "Is Darkeye a dog that he should slay an old man?" said the savage. "No, you're not a dog," cried Jasper fiercely; "you are worse a cowardly murderer?"
One week after their arrival, Reuben and Lawrence, Swiftarrow and Darkeye, entered Mackenzie's room to bid him farewell. "I'm sorry you are bent on leaving me," said their former leader; "but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have contributed greatly to the success of our two expeditions. You have indeed proved yourselves able pioneers."
The surprise of Mackenzie was great on beholding them, but greater still was his delight when he learned their errand. The young Indians were forthwith told that their services would not now be required, and our friends including Swiftarrow's wife, Darkeye were at once added to the exploring party.
To the amazement of every one Darkeye himself was among them. The wily savage knowing that his attempting to quit that part of the country as a fugitive would be certain to fix suspicion on him as the murderer resolved to face the fur-traders as if he were ignorant of the deed which had been done. By the very boldness of this step he hoped to disarm suspicion; but he forgot the bitten ball.
Some of the Indians who chanced to be in the hall were startled, and rose on hearing this. "Be not alarmed, friends," said the fur-trader. "You are the guests of Christian men. We will not punish you for the deeds of another man of your tribe." "How does the white man know that this was done by Darkeye?" asked a chief haughtily.
It consisted of three canoes the large one with Mackenzie and five men; a small one, with English Chief and his two wives, and Coppernose; and another small one, containing Reuben, his son, Swiftarrow, and Darkeye. Two of the Canadians were also attended by their wives; so that the party numbered sixteen souls, five of whom were women.
Darkeye also contributed her share to the general supplies, in the shape of several large birch-baskets full of gooseberries, cranberries, juniper-berries, rasps, and other wild berries, which, she said, grew luxuriantly in many places.
Jasper's curiosity had been aroused by the mysterious conduct of Darkeye, and he would have given a good deal to have heard a little more of his conversation; but, being thus called away, he was obliged to leave his place, and soon forgot the incident. During the whole of that day the trading of furs was carried on much as I have now described it.
Seizing the body of Darkeye, they carried it down to the banks of the river, hooting and yelling as they went; hacked and cut it nearly to pieces, and then, kindling a large fire, they threw the mangled corpse into it, and burned it to ashes. It was long before the shadow of this dark cloud passed away from Fort Erie; and it was longer still before poor Marie recovered her wonted cheerfulness.
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