The Litchfield County post., 1828-07-03

went away. The next day ne came agaln and behaved in the same manner. Sta cey's wife began to think strange of this, and related it to her husband, who adviS- ed her to urge the old man to aa explana- tion the next time he came. Accordingly when he repeated his visit the day after, she was more importunate than usual. At last the old indian said, Il am red man, | and the pale faces are our enemies, why should speak ?'' "But my husband, & I are your friends; you have eaten salt with US thousand times, and our children have sat on your knees as often. If you have any thing on your mind tell it me-" 1t will cost me my life if it is known, and the white-faced women are not good at keeping secrets" replied Naoman.-- Try me and see." :" s' Will you swear by your Great Spirit, that you will tell none but your husband !'' '' I have none else to tell" " But will you swear ?'' "I do swear by eur Great Spirit, that I will tell none but my husband" Not if my tribe should kill you for not telling ?" !" Not if your tribe should kill me for not telling" \ Naoman than proceeded to tell her that, owing to some encroachments of the white people below the mountains, his tribe had become irritated, and were resol- we'd that night to massacre all the white settlers within their reach. That she must send for her husband inform him of the danger & as secretly and speedily as possible take their canoe, and paddle with all haste over the river to Fishkill for safe- lty. Be quick and do nothing that may excite suspicion" said Naoman as he de- parted. The good wife sought her hus- band, who was down on the river fishing, told him the story, and as no time was to be lost, they proceeced to their boat, which was unluckily filled with water. It took some time to clear it out, and meanwhile Stacey recollected his gun which had been left behind. He proceeded to the house and returned with it. All this took up considerable time, and precious time it proved to this poor family.
 The daily visits of old Naoman, and his more than ordinary gravity had exci- ted suspicion in some of the tribe, who had accordingly paid particular attention to the movements of Stacey. One of the young indians who had been kept on the watch, seeing the whole family about to take their boat, ran to the little indian vil- lage, about mile off, and gave the alarm. Five indians collected, ran down to the river side where the canoes were moored, jumped in, and padded after Stacey, who by this time had got some distance out in- to the stream. They gained on him so fast, that twice he dropped his paddle and took up his gun. But his wife prevented his shooting, by telling him, that if he fir ed, and they were afterwards overtaken they would meet no mercy from the in- dians. He accordingly refrained and pli- cd his paddle, till the sweat rolled in big drops down his forehead. All would not do; they were overtaken within hund- red yards of the shore, and carried back with shouts of yelling triumph.
 When they got ashore, the indians set fire to Stacey house, and dragged himself, his wife and children, to their village Here the principle old men, and Naoman among the rest, assembled to deliberate on the affair. The chief among them, stated that some one of the tribe had undoubted. ly been guilty of treason, in appraising Stacey the white man of the designs of the tribe, whereby they took the alarm and had well nigh escaped. He proposed to examine the prisoners as to whom gave the information. The old men assented to this and, Naoman among the rest. Stacey was first interrogated by one of the old men who spoke English and interpreted to the others. Stacey refused to betray his informant. His wife was then qustioned, while at the same moment two indians stood threatening the two children with tomahawks in case she did not confess She attempted to evade the truth, by de- claring she had dream the night before (which had alarmed her, and that she had persuaded her husband to fly. "The Great Spirit never designs to talk in dreams to white face," said the old in- dian; "Woman thou hast two tongues and two faces; speak the truth, or thy children shall surely die." The little boy and girl were then brought close to her, and the two savages stood over them, ready to ex- ecute their bloody orders.
 "Wilt thou name," said the old indian, "the red man who betrayed his tribe. I will ask the three times." The mother