FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144  
145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>  
p, Skoke? Get up, I tell thee." At this ungracious speech--for Skoke[13]means snake--the figure started slightly, but did not obey. After some silence she spoke again, "Wa-ain (white soul) get up and eat, our people will soon be here." Still no motion nor reply. At length the woman, in a sharper accent, resumed, "Bridget Vines, I bid thee arise!" and she laughed in an under tone. The figure slowly lifted itself up and looked upon the speaker. "Ascashe,[14] I will answer only to my own name." "As you like," retorted the other. "Skoke is as good a name as Ascashe." A truism which the other did not seem disposed to question--the one meaning a snake, the other a spider, or "net-weaver." Contrary to what might have been expected from the color of the hair, the figure from the mat seemed a mere child in aspect, and yet the eye, the mouth, and the grasp of the hand, indicated not only maturity of years, but the presence of deep and intense passions. Her size was that of a girl of thirteen years in our northern climate, yet the fine bust, the distinct and slender waist, and the firm pressure of the arched foot, revealed maturity as well as individualism of character. [Footnote 13: I do not know how general is the use of this word amongst the Indians. The writer found it in use amongst the Penobscot tribe.] [Footnote 14: As-nob-a-ca-she, contracted to Ascashe, is literally a net-weaver, the name for spider. This term is from Schoolcraft.] Rising from her recumbent posture, she approached the water at the entrance of the cave till the spray mingled with her long, white locks, and the light falling upon her brow, revealed a sharp beautiful outline of face scarcely touched by years, white, even teeth, and eyes of blue, yet so deeply and sadly kindling into intensity, that they grew momentarily darker and darker as you gazed upon them. "Water, still water, forever water," she murmured. Suddenly turning round, she darted away into the recesses of the cave, leaping and flying, as it were, with her long hair tossed to and fro about her person. Presently she emerged, followed by a pet panther, which leaped and bounded in concert with his mistress. Seizing a bow, she sent the arrow away into the black roof of the cavern, waited for its return, and then discharged it again and again, watching its progress with eager and impatient delight. This done, she cast herself again upon the skins, spread her long hair over her f
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144  
145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>  



Top keywords:
Ascashe
 

figure

 

darker

 

spider

 

maturity

 
Footnote
 
weaver
 

revealed

 
scarcely
 

beautiful


outline

 

touched

 
momentarily
 

intensity

 
deeply
 

kindling

 
Schoolcraft
 
Rising
 

recumbent

 

literally


contracted

 

posture

 

approached

 

ungracious

 

falling

 

mingled

 

entrance

 

speech

 

waited

 

cavern


return

 
Seizing
 

discharged

 

watching

 

spread

 
progress
 

impatient

 
delight
 

mistress

 
darted

recesses
 

leaping

 
flying
 
turning
 

Penobscot

 

forever

 
murmured
 

Suddenly

 
tossed
 

panther