The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-20

10 Ills isiunus iu WHICH osrcCuOus the cur
rents, operated upon violently by the
force of the prevailing wind, set steadily.
For long time with straining eye he
watched its progress, without bcing able
to determine what in reality il was; vet
something of hope kept him chained to
the survey of its progress, with u feeling
deeply alive, as if It had an especial in
terest important to himself. II had
aud, in little while, our exile had the
felicity to discover that the object before
him was an Indian canoe, in which, how
ever, he saw but one person, managing
it with wonderful dexterity, and though
unable to control its progress in the one
direction, yet so guiding it as To steady it
safely, even against the Influence Of q
strong breeze and a chipping sea. The
current bore it directly toward the spot
on which, Velasquez stood !; and he now
perceived, with pleasing emotion, that
the warrior, who had with such good for
tune conducted the shallop safely through
the waters, and under circumstances Of
so much peril, yas a young and beautiful
Indian woman. All his apprshensions
were now awakened to observe how she
would escape the breakers, upon which
he saw the boat must inevitably drive
and he rose, aud with degree 0f eager
ness becoming indifferently well young
cavaliar Of old Spain, he rushed waist
deep into the chafing waters, ready'io
yield all necessary assistance. Nor did
he do so in vain. As the skiff entered
the, foaming billows, it became whirled
among them, with rapidity beyond all
human control, aud was torn at once in
to fragments by their fury; while the
young Indian, plunged between two
struggling waves, for a moment lost ull
command of her person, and was borne
violently up the shore, aud as violently
forced back in their equally terrible recoil.
II was now the moment when our young
Spaniard could render the service for
which he stood prepared; and, with un-
hesitating boldness and noble yigor, he
dashed in among the struggling waves,
aud soon reached the almost supine and
certainly helpless form Of the young saw
age. Grasping her with tenacious firm
ness around the body, he supported her
upon the wafer, until the return Of the
surf which he followed with rapidly {;
pausing, however, and steadying both
himself and charge. with their heads to-
ward the returning billow, which broke
over them innocuously. A second effort
placed them within their depth, and in
few moments they attained the shore. !,
/ But the Indian girl, who was both
beautiful and young, lay without sign Of
life before him; and yeIasquez almost
wept TO think, that q moment, the most
luxuriously delightful, which lie lad for
so long time expericnced, was possibly
to he dashed by the loss Of the only Great
ure whom fortune appeared to have de-
signed to tighten his solitude. He did
not despair, however, but Immediately
proceeded 10 put in execution every
available plan for her restoration. Ma
ture came to the relief Of both und the
young Indian opened her eyes, which
the Spaniard perceived to be both black
and beautiful. She spoke faulty too,
and in muitered sounds, which, though
they did'not syllable forth his language,
were as soft and tender ms the breathings
of the night wind through the twisted
core of the sea she'll; and the already
enamoured Spaniard knelt down beside
her, and gently raising her in his arms.
irnprnteda deep kiss upon the pure coral
Of her lips, that gave a beautiful relief
and lustre to the clear and sun.dyed
brown Of her glowing cheeks. The ac-
ton restored her to something like con-
sciousness--si,e looked around her in-
| quiringly, and her eyes at length settled
long and earnestly upon the face of her
preserver. Az sense returned, she spoke
rapidly in her own language, and seemed
to make many inquiries, which Velasquez
endeavored to answer, though he could
not understand, in words as meaningless
to her as hers had been to him but as,
in his speech, his eyes had taken part,
and as the tones of bis voice were mel
lowed into subdued aud touching elo-
quence, all was not thrown away upon
her ear, and the young savage smiled
with unaIloycd delight and artlessness,
Mt the first lessen she bad learned 10 the
language of the pale stranger. As, at
the first, in the prirneval hour Of the crea-
ton, the speech which Heaven bestowed
upon its creatures was that Of love, it is
fortunately the basis Of that ancient lam
slguage which the senses Of all men COM
prehond. whatever may be the difference
Of cline md custom; and, accordingly,
our two islanders were not slow to ascer-
tain the tenor Of certain and sunary dia-
lIogues which their spirits carried on and
at evening, when the Spaniard returned
Ito his usual repose in the recesses Of the
grove, which had bson knotied overhead
with the sheIfering palm, and strewn be-
low with the long and plant cane-grass.