Boy's Cinema (1933)

at one another, and then turned towards an imposing figure who sat cross-legged in their midst. He was a Redskin of some fifty years, but still very upright and strong. His fine, noble face was beardless, for it was not the custom of the northern tribes to grow hair upon the face, and in accordance with the rule of the Indians living in those parts his head was also shaven clean, except for a small tuft on the scalp. Like Magna and the people of his own little village, he wore a feather in this tuft. The elderly but well-preserved Red- man was known as the Sagamore, the head chief of the Mohioan tribe. He might seek the advice of the other mem- bers of the council, but His would be the deciding word, and in this instance he did not consult the rest of the circle, but gave Magua his answer forthright. "Long have we been the friends of the British," he told the Huron. "You speak of them as a nation which would fake our land from us, but this I cannot believe. Such, indeed, might be the aim of the French." "Nay!" cried Magua. "The French are true friends of the Redman. They promise you many guns and rich gifts to gladden your eye, O Sagamore—if you will but strike a blow for them." The Sagamore shook his head. "I have pledged my word to remain at peace with the British," he said. "I do not break my vow so readily, Magua." The Huron's brow darkened, and then. with a savage gesture, he wrenched his blanket from his shoulders, and half-turned to display a back that was marked by the scars of a whiplash. "Great is your folly, O Sagamore," he rasped. "See these weals, of which no man may be proud—least of all Magua the Huron, son of chiefs, leader of his people. Thus was I treated when I passed into the British stronghold of Fort William Henry as a friend. Thus was I served at the orders of Colonel Munro, the commander there. Magna the Huron tied to a stake and. whipped like a dog, with the English drums beat- ing in my ears !" Behind the Sagamore stood a lad of sixteen. He was the old chief's son, nn upstanding youth known as Uncas, and, like some of the council members, his face expressed some awe as he gazed at Magua's scars. "The Huron is a chief among his people, my father," he murmured. "To bo whipped like a slave is surely good reason for his grudge against the British, and does it not bear out his accusations against them?" The Sagamoro pursed his lips. "Beware of leaping swiftly to any conclusion, my son," ho counselled. "Colonel Munro is my friend, and I know him to be a just man " ( "Just !" Magua broke in fiercely. "Was it justice to scourge a chief? Take care, O Sagamore, lost your own lders smart under a British lash He in turn was interrupted by a loud hail that came from some thickets between the Mohican village and a broad but shallow river that ran near by. "Heed not the words of yon mangy Huron!" it, called in English, and, as all turned their heads, they saw a stal- wart, well-knit figure stepping from the brushwood. "Hawk-eye!" exclaimed the Saga- more, scrambling to his feet to welcome the newcomer. "Hawk-eye, the British srout." The approaching white man was dressed in a rough suit of buckskin, and wore a fur cap upon his head. Ho February 4th, 1933. BOY'S CINEMA carried a long musket in his hands, and across his shoulder a cord was slung, from which was suspended a powder- flask made from the horn of an ox. His true name was something that he had almost forgotten himself, for he was known alike in Redskin villages and European settlements by the sobri- quet of Hawk-eye. But he had been bom of English parents south of the Niagara Falls, in a province now known as the State of New York, though it was a British Crown colony then, and he had spent his life in the backwoods as an agent of King George's men. "Hawk-eye," the Sagamore said to the scout, as the latter came up with long, free stride, "it gives me pleasure to see you after so many moons." "Nor could I have come at a more opportune time, old friend," rejoined the white man, casting a glance at the scowling features of Magua as he spoke. From the thickets Hawk-eye had heard every word that had passed be- tween the Huron and the Mohicans, and, though the conversation had been carried out in the Redskin tongue, he had understood it in detail. Now ho himself broached the subject that had been under discussion. "Magua," he said grimly, "the French do well to call you le Renard—the Fox —for your cunning is equal to that same critter's. Ye've shown them lashes on your back, but not a word have ye mentioned as to the reason for com in' by them." He turned once more to the Saga- more, and, while Magua ground his teeth in rage, began to offer an explana- tion of the whole affair. "Magua came to Fort William Henry as a friend," Hawk-eye announced. " That's true enow, and he was treated as a friend until he took some fire-water from the stores and let his drunken tongue run loose, blurtin' out that he was on business for the French. Magua was a spy for General Montcalm, and, in the guise of offering his services to Colonel Munro, he tried to betray the British." Hawk-eye had spoken in English, a language with which all his listeners were familiar, and at this juncture Magua the Huron interposed a harsh denial of the facts. "The white man lies!" he snarled. "It is Magua's tongue that's crooked," the scout retorted, "and Magua's words that are false. For your attempted treachery, Colonel Munro would have done well to shoot you like a dog, but, because he is a merciful man, he did no more than have you whipped and turned out of the fort." Magua glared at Hawk-eye, and then faced the Sagamore. "Will you believe a white man before one of your own colour?" he demanded. "Aye," the Mohican chief replied, " for, though the skin of Magua is rod, his heart is black. Go, and come here no more with your falsehoods." "That is the Sagamore's answer?" Magua grunted ominously. " So, the consequences of it rest on his own head." He drew his blanket around him and strode off angrily, and, after watch- ing him till he had disappeared into the woods. Hawk-eye and the Sagamore confronted each other once more. "It does my heart good to welcome you," the Mohican chieftain said. "But hero is Uncas coming to greet you. You remember him, my white brother?" "Aye, and remember him well," re- turned the scout. "Faith, the lad's grown since I saw him last, though." "And what brings you to our hunting- Every Tuesday grounds, Hawk-eye?" put in young Uncas. "I had almost begun to think you had forgotten us." "I am on business of his Majesty King George," Hawk-eye answered. "I'm carryin' important despatches from Fort Edward to Colonel Munro, at Fort William Henry, and cannot linger here for long." He was prevailed upon to stay for a meal, cooked by the hands of the Saga- more's hospitable wife, but he would remain no longer than an hour, and at the end of that time he said farewell to his Indian friends and strode from the chief's lodge. The Sagamore and Uncas emerged from the tepee at his heels, and, before permitting the scout to leave, the older Redskin offered a few words of advice. "Beware of Magua, Hawk-eye," he warned. "He knows that you are in the service of the British generals—more- over, you have offended him grievously by denouncing him here." Hawk-eye laughed. "I'm not the man to dread a varmint like yon Huron," he scoffed. "If he moans mischief, let him only come within range of my trusty musket and I'll send him to his forefathers." He set out on his way, and the Saga- more and Uncas gazed after him until the woods had completely swallowed him. Then, following a considerable spell of silence, the Mohican chieftain spoke to his son earnestly. "Uncas," ho said, "Hawk-eye treats the hostility of Magua too lightly. As his friends, it is fitting that we take his trail and keep guard on him. Come!" Together they left the village, and, entering the forest, soon picked out the scout's tracks with their keen Redskin eyes. But they failed to overtake him in the first two or three miles, and it was not until they were almost an.hour's journey from the Mohican settlement that they sighted his lone figure. He was wading through the shallow, rock-strewn waters of the river, and, marking him as he made progress down- stream, the Sagamore glanced at Uncas and smiled. "Hawk-eye's wisdom is proof against the treachery of foes, my son," he de- clared. "He goes by way of the river, so that he will leave no trail for enemies to follow him by. Therefore let us return to our village." Feeling satisfied that no harm was likely to come to their paleface friend, the chief arid Uncas wheeled around and started to retrace their steps in the direction of the Mohican topees, fully four miles away. The Massacre. IT was with chagrin and resentment written on his ugly faco that Magua the Huron made his way back to his own people, after his dismissal from the Mohican village. Magua's disappointment at having failed in his mission to the Mohicans was not only occasioned by his black hatred of the British. A personal lust for gain and power had encouraged him to throw in his lot with tho French, for clever Montcalm had played upon the Huron's vanity by painting a picture of a future in which all tho Indian tribes would be united under one mighty chief—Magna, who woidd be subordin- ate only to tho Government of France. Magua dreamed of that day as he hurried with swift and silent tread through the woods, but the ambitious dream was punctuated by muttered curses in which the name of Hawk-eye figured. For the Huron was inclined to believe that he might have gained a