Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/314

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  • ingly at his listener but, seeing only an expression

of interest on her face, went on,—"The old chief hastened to his cave, though not with the vigor of youth, only to find evil spirits in possession, Putting this document—which in reality is not a will—no Indian ever makes a will—with his other treasures into the chest he securely locked it and implored the Great Spirit to lead him to the Happy Hunting-*ground. We can trace him no further, even the events last narrated are merely inferences from circumstances. We know that he went to the West Indies and I infer from collateral facts that he had a Spanish wife who suggested and formulated this document. His sudden and obscure death deprived her of any knowledge of the fact." Dr. Herschel carefully folded the document and, leaning back in his chair, lit a cigar.

"Was he insane?" Eletheer asked.

"Insanity is a nice word to define. 'Old Ninety-Nine' was not insane, but died in an hysterical seizure. This would explain finding his body in that dangerous place."