The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-01-03

the other, and both canoes were rowed
into the Oswegatchie, and up the stream
as fast as il was possible TO impel them
against the current of the river.
Not word OF cry escaped the boy /;
he seemed intent on some purpose, and
when the canoe approached near the
shore, he took of military cap he
wore, and threw it so skilfnily that it
lodged, where he meant it should, on
the branch of tree which projected
over the water. There was a long
white feather in the cap. The Indians
had observed the boys movement
they held up their oars for a moment,
and seemed TO consult whether they
should return and remove The cap; but
after m:ment they again dashed their
oars 10 The water and proceeded for
ward. They continued rowing for a
few miles, and then landed; hid their
canoes behind some trees on the rivers
bank, and plunged into the woods With
their prisoners. 1t seems TO have been
their intention to have returned TO their
canoes in the morning, and they had not
proceeded far from the shore, when
they kindled a ere and prepared some
food, and offered TO share it with Mar
guerite, and Louis. Poor Marguerite,
as you may suppose, had no mind to eat;
bat Louis, saith tradition, ATE as heartily
as if he had been safe within the
walls of the fort. After supper the
Indians stretched themselves before
the fire, but not till they had taken
the pEecautiOD to bind Marguerite 10 a
tree, and compel Louis to lie down in
the arms Of his uncle Mecumeh. Meth
er OF the prisoners, as you may imap-
inc, closed their eyes. Louis kept his
eye fixed on his mother. She sat I'D
right beside an old decayed OAK: the
cord was fastened around her waist and
] bound around the tree, which had been
blasted by lightning the moon poured
its beams through the naked branches
upon her face, convulsed with the ago.
ny of despair and fear. With one hand
she held cruci6x TO her lips, the 9TH
er was on her rosary. The sight of his
mother in such a situation, stirred up
daring thoughts in the bosom of the he.
roic boy; he lay poweriess in his I'm.
cle's naked, brawny arms. He tried to
disengsge himself, but, at the slightest
movement, Mecumeh, though still Sleep.
ing, seemed conscious, and strained him
closer to him. AT last the strong Sleep
that in the depth of the night sleeps the
senses 10 utter forgetfuIness, overpow.
cred; his arms relaxed their hold, drop.
ped beside him, and left Louis free.
He rose cautiously, looked for one
instant on the Indians, and assured him.
self they all slept profoundly. He then
possessed himself of Mecumeh's knife.
which lay at bis feet, and severed the
cord that bound his mother to the tree.
Neither of them spoke a word; but
with the least possible sound they had
come to the shore Louis in the conf.
dence, and Marguerite with the faint
hope of reaching it before they were
overtaken.
You may imagine how often the poor
mother, tlmid as fawn, was startled BY
the evening breeze stirring the leaves,
but The boy bounded forward as if there
was neither fear nor danger in the
world.
They had nearly attained the margin
Of the river, where Louis meant to
launch one of the canoes and drop down
the current, when the Indian yell, re.
sounding through the woods, struck on
their ears They we're missed, pursu.
ed, and TO escape was impossible. Mar.
guerIte, fell panic-struck on the ground
Nothing could check the career Of Lou.
IS. On--on, mother" he cried, "to
the shore-to the Shore" She rose,
and instinctively followed her boy
The sound of pursuit came nearer and
nearer. They reached the shore, aul
there bsheld three canoes coming swift,
~ up the river. Animated with hope,
Louis screamed the watch-word of the
garrison, and was answered by his ia.
theirs voice.
| The possibility of escape, and the
certain approach of her husband, infus-
ed new life into Marguerite. "Your
father cannot see u.s." she said, "as we
stand here in the shade of these trees
hide yourself in that thicket, | will
plunge into the water. Louis crouched
under the bushes, and was completely
hidden by an overhanging grape vine,
while his mother advanced few steps
into the water, and stood erect, where
she could be distinctively seen. A shou,
from the canoes apprized her that she
was recognized, and at the same mo-
Dent, the Indians, who had DOW reach
ed the shore, rent the air with their
cries Of rage and defiance. They
stood for a moment, as if celebrating
what next to do; Mecumeh mainlaine I'd