The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-12-31
Vol. 2l.

length Il shook its head, grirning with dis
dain, aud motioned him to fling tho pistol
away as Of no use; il then went and brought
two great clubs, Of which it gave him tho
choice, to fight with il. There was some-
thing so bold, and at the same time so ge-
nerous in this, that Peter took one, as it
apparently accepting the challenge--but
that moment be pulled out his cleaning
rapier. and ran at the hideous brute. which
frightened il so much, that II uttered two
or three loud grunts like hog, and scam
pered off, but soon turning, it threw tho
club at Peter with such certain aim, that
il had very nigh killed him.
He saw no more of the animal that night;
but when we found Carruthers, he was still
lingering about the spot, persuaded taat
my child was there, and that If in life, he
would soon hear his cries. We watched
tho thicket all night, and at the very darkest
hour Judge of my trepidation, when heard
the cries OF child in the thicket, almost
close by mo, and well could l distinguish
that tho cries proceeded from the month
of my own dear William, from that sweet
and comely mouth which I had often kis.
sed a hundred times day. We all rushed
spontaneously into the thickct, and all to-
wards the same point; but strange to relate,
we only ran against one another, and found
nothing besides. cried on my boy name,
but all was again silent, and we heard no
more. Ho only uttered three cries, aud
and then we oil heard distinctly that his
crying was stopped by something stuffed in
his mouth. still wonder how ! retained
my reason, for certainly no parent had ev-
or such a trial to undergo. Before day We
heard some movement in the thicket, and
though heard by us all at the same time,
each Of us took II for ono Of our compnn-
ions moving about; and Il was not till long
after the sun was up, that we at longth dis
covered a bed up among the thick branches
Of tree, and not above twelve feet from
the ground; but the occupants had escaped,
and no doubt remained but that thoy were
now far beyond our reach. This was tho
most gricvous and hcartbrenking miss Of
oil; and could not help giving vent to my
grief in excessive weeping, Wills oil my
companions we're deeply affected with my
overpowering sorrow.
We then tried tho dog, and by him we
learned the way tho fiers had taken but
that was all, for rs the day grew warm he
| lost all traces whatever. We searched o.
YER all the country for many days, but could
find no traces Of my dear boy, either dead
or alive ;and ut length were Obliged to re-
turn home wcary and broken hearted. 10
describe tho state Of my poor Agnes IL i'm.
possible. Il may be- conceived, but can
never be expressed. But must hasto on
,GfnA.my narrative, for l have yet o great
p communicate.
but three months after this sad Gala =
NIFTY, one evening, after returning homo
from my labour, my Agnes was missing.
and neither her maid servant, nor ono OF
all the settlers, could give the least account
| of her. NV suspicious fell instantly on tho
Kous chief, Karoo, for knew that no had
been in our vicinity hunting, and remem-
bered his threat. This was the most grlev-
Gus stroke Of oil, and, in order to do oil for
tho preservation Of my dear wife tnat lay
in my power, and three Of my compun-
ions set out and travelled night md day,
till wo came to the chiefs headquarters.
| have not time 10 describe all the loolerles
and difficulties we had 10 encounter; suf-
fee it that Knroo denied the deed, but still
in such manner that my suspicious weT0
confirmed. threatened him terribly with
the vengeance Of his friend Captain john
stone, and the English army at the Cape,
saving, ] would burn him and all his wives
and his people with fire. He wept out or
fear nd vcxaton and offered me the chdice
! of his wives, or any two Of them, many OF
whom he recommended for tbor grent
beauty and fatness; and believe he would
have giyen me any number If would hnyc
zone away satshod. But the language OF
the Interpreter being in n great measure
unintelligiblc, we oil deemed that he said
repeatedly that Karoo aeoutd not glrs ms
iady mp.
What WINS now TO do? We had not
force enough in our own small battlement
to compel Karoo 10 restore her; and was
therefore obliged to buy trained OK, on
which rode oil the way to the next Brit
ish settlement, fyr there are no horses IN
that country. There found Captain John
stone with three companies OF tho 72d,
watching the inroads Of the savage Bones-
men. He was greatly irritated at Karoo,
and despatched Lieutenant M'Kcnzie, and
6Ciy men along with me, 10 chastlse the
aggrossor. When the chief saw the High
llanders he was terrified out Of his wltsi
but. neye r,heess, not knowing what to do,
he prepared for resistance, alter once moro
profferinp me the choice OF his wives.
Just when we were on the eve OF com
mencinp n war, which must have been ru.
nous TO our settlement, black servant OF
Adam Jobns,one came 10 me, and said that
| ouph, not to fight and kill his good chief,
for that he had not the white woman,
was nstonished and asked the Kafire what
he meant, when he told me that he himself
saw NV wife carried across the river by n
band Of pongos (ourang outangO but ne
had always kept il n secret, for fear OF CIV
ing me distress, rs they we're too far gono
for pursuit when he beheld them. He said