Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-09

lage OF Lancaster, burning the dwellings,,
massacreing the Inhabitants indiscrimi-
nately, and carrying away some cap
tives. Among the latter, was the UNI
fortunate Mrs. Rowlandson, wife of the
village minister, whose history you have
doubtless heard. The whites we're alarm
ed, and with intrepid valor fell o n a
small party Of the savages, and though
most Of them escaped, yet the unerrlng
rifle ofHenry Walton sped a messenger
of death to their leader. The exasper-
ated foe marked him from this moment
for their prey. l have said that his
dwelling was near this spot, and though
the rapid collection of the whites had
driven the savages to their hiding places
still n or two were een lurking in this
vicinity. But as the troops were pres
singly needed in other parts of the coun-
try, the inhabitants of this place were
again left to their own defence. AS no
alarms were excited for a few days after
their departure, the quiet inhabitants
again resumed their labors, the wife
watching for mutual cafety, while the
husband pursued the labors of the fold,
and all taking their nightly lodgings in
the garrison.
1t was towards night Of a beautiful
day in early summer. when Walton was
busily engaged in his labor, and his wife
had been knitting by the side ofthe field
and keeping the accustomed watch
against the indians, that after INDUCING
in a pleasing reverie Of an abundant har-
vest undisturbed by the hostile foe, he
raised his eyes to where his wife had
been, but she was gone! At the same
instant he saw a canoe just putting off
from the shore, padded by a single In
dian, who had rushed u~nperceived on his
defenceless wife, and after preventing
the possibility Of her shrieking alarm,
was bearing her across the water. He
was the brother of the leader whom
Walton had killed, and with persever-
ance in mis- savage purpose was deter
mined on brutal revenge. lie had daily
watched the happy couple, and was re-
solved first to murder Walton in his wife,
and then in himself.
fFor this purpose, he had screened
himself as much as possible from obser-
~vation, and had at last SO far succeeded
in his plan, that his canoe was rapidly
receding from the shere, each stroke OF
his oar sending it forward with incredi-
BILE swittness, ere he was observed by
the afflicted husband. Walton instantly
seized his rife, which in those perilous
days was his constant companion, and
took aim at the Indian; but the willy foe,
with native sagacity, placed his captive
between them. Franticly he ran one
way and then the other, so that he might
get a shot at the savage, without the GER
tainty of killing his wife; but the light
bark Of the foe was instantly turned in
another direction, constantly keeping
the unfortunate and almost senseless te-
male directly between him and Walton.
Alter various f%ruitloss attempts, the hus-
baud resolved to follow, though almost
hopeless of any success, in a boat which
he had constructed for fishing. Fortu-
nately for him, a neighbor happened to
be passing, who Immediately joined him.
With desperate efforts they rowed after
the Indian, who, though far ahead by
this time, yet by their united exertions
they gained upon the distance that lay
between. Sometimes too, while one
was pulling away at the oars, the other
would endeavor to get a shot at the In
dian; and to secure his safety, he was
forced to drop his oar, and place his
captive for a defence. He had nearly
arrived at the eastern side of the lake
in the direction Of that wood, when Wal
ton and his companion had arrived so
near hal he saw it was impossible to es-
cape. With true savage resolution he
determined to infict at least one blow
on the object of his persecution. -
Throwing away his paddle, he raised
his huge length in his canoe, and aimed
the destructive tomahawk at the beauti-
fui, the unfortunate Maria Walton.-
Quick as was his movement, it was OBJ
served by her husband, and before the
murderous instrument descended, a
deadly bullet perforated the heart of the
savage. But Ibis blow staid not, nor was
its descending force lessoned because
the Indians arm was palsying stiff in
death. The ~agonized husband had just
time to see the horrible wound which
disfgured with It's mortal division the
countenance that had so often beamed
on him in love, ere the heavy fall Of the
savage upset the canoe and hid them
both forever from his sight. Transfxed
with horror, he sank almost insensible
in the boat, while his companion slowly
rowed back to this shore. But his house
was like home TO him no more. She
that had been the chiefest on earth to
him, was snafched away, when no had