The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-10-09

The county Of Strafford in New Hamp- |
shire so named in honvr of William
Wentworth, Eerl Of Strnfford, is noted
for the roughness ofits soil and the Wild
ness Of its scenery. This. in particular
- its prevailing feature, in the northern
section. There the Chocorna and Sand
wich mountains, rnise their barren peaks
in gloomy s,erility, to the heavens; and
there the deep gourges and the noun
tains passes over these Alpine regions,
exhibit nature in its widest and most
rugged features In one Of these gorges
is small pond, which is pointed out as
the grave of an Indian warrior. 1t is o.
vcr hung with precipices, which the
foot of man has seldom trod, and encir-
cled, at is margin with huge masses of
granite, as rough and unseemly as when
they first came from, the hand Of their
maker. When. not disturbed by the
mountain torrents, it is calm and placid,
without ripple and without wave but
when the rains Of autumn are pouring1
from above, or the SHOWS of winter are
melting before the returning spring the
avalanche frequently comes laundering
down into its quiet bosom. beating be-
fore il from their resting place, the
rocks of the mountain summit. This
spot is seldom evaded, even ut this day
by man. An occasional hunter, stimu-
lated perhaps by the wolf and wild cat
bountics of our statute book, or urged
on by thirst for retaliation upon the
manrauders Of his sheepfold, may be
seen looking down for moment, from
the precipices above. But none less
hardy and daring, and none with less in
centives to toilsome exertions, ever VEN
tured into this solitary region.
Among the first settlers Of one of the
towns in this vicinity, were two brothers
by the name Of Reid-stout, muscular
men, who could wink at danger and defy
Indians to the teeth the bold and hardy
pioneers in that march of civilization
which has SD suddenly converted an in
fant people into the greatest, happiest
nation upon which the sun looks down.
Between the two Reids and one Of the
lords of the forest, there existed a feud,
deadly and acrimonious, which nothing
but blood could allay. The misunder-
standing originated in some trifiing dis
putc between one of the two brothers, q
the Indian. and in which the latter thin
king him insultcd, determined, with the
proverbial cruelty ofhis race, and in the
spirit as he conceived, of even handed
Justice, to take the lives Of both. But
the two Reids, by some means got wind
of his design, and accordingly laid their
own plans not only to thwart his inten-
tions but also to cntrap md destroy
him. The ingenuity Of both parties for
long time counterbnlapced the schemes
Of each other, until the two brothers had
almost ceased to consider the threatened
Vengeance Of the Indian ns subject
which required much Of their care
On one OCCASION the elder of the two
had started on a hunting excursion, lea
wing the other, for some reason, In the
encampment. After the hunter had
been some time absent his brother per-
ccived through a crevice in the hut,
their old enemy, stealing through the
woods, aud eyeing their encampmcnt.--
Presently, observing tho new made
track of "a single man in the morning
dew, he started with the velocity of the
deer in the direction which it led, and in
few minutes disappeared. The youn'
ger Reid seized his rifle and followed him.
He had not penetrated many miles in
to the forest before he obt aimed a glimpse
OF the indian, und also Of his brother.
The latter was pursuing his way upon
the margin OF the precipice which over
looks this solitary pond wat:hing with
the Practised eye Of the hunter. among
tlan t,,sc IN, sCh
customed game. The Indian followed
him at n short distance stenling along
with noiseless step, evidently with the
intention of despatching him at once.
He frequently raised his rifle TO his eye,
hut before he could take sure and suflic-
lent aim, his victim had wound around
some intervening object, which would
render his fife ineffectual.-At length
the hunter paused to examine some OBJ
ject which attracted his eye, and at that
moment the Indian fired the ball broke
his arm aud he fell; another moment,
the Indian, tomahawk in hand, was upon
him. Perceiving his victim yet alive, he
placed his foot upon his breast. and ut.
tering yell Of savage triumph, drew
back his hatchet to give him the finishing
bios. As the weapon was raised to itl
extent, and the Indian, with his usual re.
finement upon cruelty. was feasting bis
eyes upon the hslpIessness ofhis adverse.
~, the younger Reid arrived sufficiently
near the scene ofcombnt TO engage m it.
He was upon the ledge Of rocks just a.
boyc the Indian and his brother and the
moment he felt sure oftlse former without
sacrificing the life Of the latter, he fired,
hut at that moment the uplifted toma-
hawk was buried IN his brother's BRAIN