A FOREST CHIEFTAIN. 17 



as the result of some fearful supernatural agency. 

 The superstition acted naturally to their detri- 

 ment, and increased the power of Will Smith, 

 the Forest Chieftain, who, victor in repeated con- 

 tests, they looked upon as the evil genius of their 

 race — an instrument of vengeance sent by the 

 Great Spirit. Their timidity in facing so terri- 

 ble an enemy was the cause of an irresolution in 

 their attacks which usually brought defeat, and 

 facilitated, of course, the means of escape for the 

 conqueror. Sometimes unexpectedly on the 

 rear of his enemy, at others ahead of them, or 

 incomprehensibly in the very midst of the fray, 

 it seemed indeed as though the warrior had a 

 *' charmed life." True it was that a spell hung 

 on the existence of this extraordinary man, who 

 lived under the shadow of a great and inextin- 

 guishable sorrow. The bitter remembrance of 

 this it was, which, inciting a ceaseless desire of 

 revenge, was the secret of his restless and san- 

 guinary career. The blight of misery, as a 

 plague-taint, separated him from his fellow 

 men. 



Sternly and isolated he lived, for ever haunting 

 the war path or the hunting trail of the Indians, 

 from which their bravest leaders disappeared. 

 Few among the border people approached or 

 ventured to address the dreaded chieftain. A 

 mystery surrounded him, which was the source 

 2* B 



