. The river fugitives . to tell some story to a crowdof gossips. Then he folded his arms in the samedeliberate fashion and turned his head to oneside and looked up into the face of the Indianqueen, as if to ask why she was delaying thefuneral. His lips were seen to move again by thewatchers, although it was impossible for them tohear what the words were. The queen heardthem, however, and paused a moment in the dis-mal chanting of her dirge, looking down at theface turned unflinchingly up to her own. For onesecond this tableau impressed itself upon thevision of the observers. The dozen men stan
. The river fugitives . to tell some story to a crowdof gossips. Then he folded his arms in the samedeliberate fashion and turned his head to oneside and looked up into the face of the Indianqueen, as if to ask why she was delaying thefuneral. His lips were seen to move again by thewatchers, although it was impossible for them tohear what the words were. The queen heardthem, however, and paused a moment in the dis-mal chanting of her dirge, looking down at theface turned unflinchingly up to her own. For onesecond this tableau impressed itself upon thevision of the observers. The dozen men standing o in a row, stolid, despairing and woe-smitten,guarded by twice as many armed Indians; thepainted warriors gathered around and lookingupon the execution; the victim seated on thebroad rock; the Indian queen standing directlyin front, with uplifted hatchet, poised and readyto strike—all this formed a picture which no per-son, fortunately, is called upon to view twice in alifetime. But it lasted only a moment. The. PUBLIC u»KARY THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 129 death-song that had been suspended for theinstant, was resumed. The upraised tomahawkwas seen to flash for a second as it was whirledover the head of the raging fury, and good,honest, brave Elijah Hapegood, rolled over andoff the stone, his skull cloven in twain. CHAPTER XVII. A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. THUS the awful tragedy went on until elevenmen had fallen before the hatchet of Esther,Queen of the Lroquois. The twelfth man was onenamed Hammond, who was placed upon the rockto receive his death blow. Among the very few awaiting their turn was abrother of this victim, named Lebbeus, who tvasstanding near a friend named Joseph Elliottjthe twobeing noted for their great fleetness of foot. Everyeye was fixed upon the scene, the Indian jailersapprehending no attempt to get away, as thetragedy was nearly over and no effort at escapehad been made as yet. When Hammond saw hisbrother placed upon the rock, and the savagequeen preparing
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