arrived the lad was past all earthly aid, and expired in fearful convulsions.

"His relatives, who are deeply imbued with the common belief in the arts of the sorcerer, stoutly maintained that the youth came to his death through foul means, to wit, the conjurer's practice-arts exercised by Poniute, who, as they asserted, had obtained some diabolical agency from old Wee-gon. They entered a formal complaint, and in consequence of this proceeding the Indian was promptly apprehended and held for trial."

"The upshot of the matter is that this Indian is arrested and held under suspicion of witchcraft?" said Lawrence, inquiringly.

"That is the charge," assented Captain Gardiner; " and for my part I hold it a senseless accusation; it was either a case of accidental poisoning through the lad's carelessness, or an attack of cramp which probably would have yielded to the efficacy of the root prescribed and furnished by the Indian had the lad been allowed to continue its use, for these Indians are wonderfully well informed concerning the medicinal properties of plants."

"And the punishment for practising the art is what is it?" asked the Colonel.

"If proven, the fellow will be hanged or drowned -probably the former; if doubtful, a punishment will be inflicted according to the discretion of the Court. If you do us the honour of making one of the party you will hear the proceedings, and doubtless be greatly edified thereby; at all events you will be better able to judge of the merits of the case. I must acknowledge that our laws when applied to these Indians are apt to be severe," returned Captain Gardiner, candidly.

"For my part I hope they will hang the redskin

as high as Haman!" put in Major Gordon, vindictively.

"I agree with you, Major," declared Lieutenant Kingsland. "I have often seen this Poniute, who is said to be a pestilent fellow, and morose and revengeful, if his face does not belie him; if he is permitted to escape there will be no end of trouble. Make an example of him and it will serve to intimidate his tribe. It is believed that they are on the eve of an outbreak, and it is certain that they are getting bold and restless."

“Hang him, guilty or not guilty, eh?" questioned Lawrence. "It strikes me that it is an extremely odd, not to say cruel policy that obtains, of which I have observed the workings on one or more occasions since I came to the colonies. Now who, in all conscience, can blame these untutored savages should they unite to drive out the invaders from the land over which their ancestors reigned Lords of the Soil ere the white man came to the shores of the New World? In a civilised nation, such action would be considered righteous, a duty, even a necessity, for the preservation of life, liberty and country, yet with these untamed savages self-defence is punished as a crime, their protestations are accounted unworthy of regard, while a demand is constantly made for mile after mile of their territory, and the land taken either by cajolery or masked force; I acknowledge I have little patience with such proceedings."

"Tut! tut!" remonstrated Captain Gardiner. "Look 'ee, lad, 'When you are in Rome do as Romans do.' I have argued as you do, but of what avail? I can only drift with the tide. Harkee, no individual, or even a score of men, can right the wrongs of a community, and mere protestations are but idle breath that involve one in a sea of trouble."

Glancing at the tall clock upon the stair landing, through the open door, he arose from the table.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, sorry to interrupt, but if we would be in time to secure comfortable seats at the trial, we must e'en hasten. Here comes my boatmen, and we will be off at once."

CHAPTER XXIII

ON CHARGE OF WITCHCRAFT

Я

"Chained in the market-place he stood,
A man of giant frame,
Amid the gathering multitude,

That shrunk to hear his name;
All stern of look and strong of limb,
His dark eye on the ground,
And silently they gazed on him,
As on a lion bound."

LL Maidstone was astir. At the moment the doors of the stone church, used also as a court house, were opened, a motley crowd rushed in; every inch of space except a small semi-circle reserved for the officers of the law, and the rough bench allotted as a prisoners' dock, was occupied, but the throng parted right and left when Lyon Gardiner entered, followed by Major Gordon, Colonel Lawrence, and Lieutenant Kingsland, for the Captain was a man of note and renown among the colonists, and he had no difficulty in securing seats for himself and his party where they could hear and observe the proceedings.

The crowd was getting restless, the mutterings finally gathering volume until the impatient growls rose to vociferous calls, but as the clamour waxed stronger the prisoner was brought in by the sheriff, assisted by four stout guards, who placed the warrior within the dock.

Everyone was in a fever of excitement and on tiptoe with curiosity to get a view of the savage, for

the infamy of his supposed crime, and the circumstances attending his arrest had been blazoned through every settlement on the island.

He was well worth the scrutiny he was obliged to face from that assembly, a savage proud of his renown as a warrior, and a statesman in the councils of his people, a red Hercules towering half a head above the stalwart yeomen who hemmed him in. His arms were pinioned, chains clanked at his

ankles.

Colonel Lawrence noted the blaze of anger that swept over that bronzed face, and the fierce fire gathering in his sloe-black eyes, saw the heaving of the brawny chest and the compression of the thin lips the only outward signs of the volcano of passion raging within.

As he took his stand, for by a haughty gesture he refused to be seated, a pin might have been heard to drop, so profound was the hush, but when he turned his fierce, unflinching gaze upon the sea of faces a low growl of anger rose on all sides.

The sharp clang of the tithing-man's wand compelled instant silence, and the indictment was read, a composition quite in keeping with the times and the superstitions.

66

The constable and overseers of the town of Maidstone in the east riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, do present for our sovereign lord, Protector of England, that Poniute, an Indian of the Montauk tribe, upon the twentieth day of August, and several other days and times previous, by some wicked and detestable arts, commonly called witchcraft and sorcery, did (as is suspected) maliciously and feloniously practice and exercise the same, at the said east riding of Yorkshire, on Long Island aforesaid.