Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-08-14
From the Novel called " Miriam Coffin -
THE MuRDERERs FATE.


t'Bdt hist seest thou that lurking RAJ.
cal, proving s,ealthily around thy ware
house?"
"Ay-'tis the same that had TO do with
the boy just now and see,-the lad is a
gain gamboIing in the water. Let US keep
an eye on him"
The Indian soon afterwards deposited
bis bundle OF clothes between two oil casks.
and dropped silently into tie water, from
the eide Of the wharf next the Grampus.
lie disappeared beneath the surface as he
doubled the corner Of the pier, which had
previously hid him from the sight OF Isaac
who was carelessly and hoyshly turning
sunmersets in the wster-sometimes
floating like sleeping animal upon its
surface, and then diving like waterfowl,
and then re appearing. after bali min
ute's absence, long distance from the
place Of his exit.
1t was necessary for the Indian TO
breathe more than once before he reach
cd Isaac and he did so with the dexieri-
" worthy of an Indian, by turning on his
back and merely projecting his nose for
an instant above the water
Jethro and the Captain watched the
wary approach Of the indian TO the yicini-
~ of the unsuspec.ing boy, until they had
satisfied themselves of the Interior designs
Of the assailant The skiff was again in
motion. Assailant and assaied had both
disappeared the first TO ferret out his in
tended prey, and take him by surprise !;
and the other, without thought of what
was about to ensue. TO try the length of
fine that he could remain beneath the wa
Ter without drawing breath, Presently
iTo heads appeared simultaneously above
the water, confronting each other; and
two long breathing sounds, like the blow
ing ola porpoise, accompanied by the hur
lied election Of water from the mouth of
both the swimmers at the same moment,
The demon, Qnibby again!,; exclaIm
cd Isaac as be dashed forward IN the wa
ter.
A strife OF breastiog waves again ensu
cd. which betrayed the earnestness with
which each sought to out do the other.
In everything; physically speaking. the In
dian appeared to be superior to the boy
His sinewy frame. broad chest. and fiat
feet. were the identical requisites f,r a
swimmer while the undeveloped form of
Isaac, and his protracted exertion in the
waters. untitled him for coping with his
athletic opponent.
But though he was not the equal Of the
Indian III strength of limb. he was superi
or to him in stratagem, which the aquatic
disciples of franklin ~, in his fine was
aprsctised swimmer, sow so well how to
execute in the water. Qibby had sever
al times nearly over;aken Isaac, and had
stretched forth his hand to secure Ills prey;
but the little fellow eluded his grasp,
and aid from him under the water in an
opposite direction; which left the Indian
completely at fault Though the scoun-
drel was balfled time after time, he return
81 10 fcAssaut so often and SO unrelent-
lngly, that he succeeded at last in firing
the boy down. Isaac made his last dive:
but the Indian anticipated hun. and
ponnced upon his back. as he was repeat
ing for the fifth time. The trick Of passing
under his opponent and thus, by a well
managed leint, drawing his attention to a
point towards which he appeared to be
steering while his head was above water,
nut which he changed TO different direc
ION the moment his body became submer.
ged.
The greatest captain the age ceased
to be victorious after he had taught his en-
emles the trick Of his art. by beating them
in an hundred battles. the obtuse intel
lect of the Indian Chey have thick skulls
like the African negro,) at last compre-
hended that the little Quaker meant to go
south below the surface when his head
was north above. But he had him now !;
and dearly did he intend to repay the
Srips Of the throat and the punch in the
stomach which Isaac had administered
Take thy last look upon the sun, brave
boy,-The demon of the island has fast
ened upon thee. and it will be miracle
if thy spirit i. not soon winoIng Its flight
TO eternity!
Il is said that the struggles of dying
man in the possession Of all his faculties.
are irresistible; and that m human hand
can grapple and master his, without the
'inews of giant are brought TO Try the
issue of strength. II was the denonitcai
intention OF the Indian to drown the BOY
forthwith, let the consequences de what
they would. He had lsaac's neck be
tween his legs. at the depth of several feet
beneath the surface of the water, where
he held him immovable; while with BIS
hands. he pressed the body again strong
y to the bottom.
One minute in this position IS an age
It is an eternity Of lime! The death
struggle was again come upon the poor
little fellow. and the fend was once more
sxulting over him! He felt the oioou o'
ms whole body rushing TO his bFain-,'ns
g'ned Ioathsome snakes twisting aoou' ms
neck and brow, and his body assaliro y
iulshuul sea monsters a streaming sush
o. water poured into his ears aad Mou'n'
Ills reason was on the point OF giving a
Way IN the agony Of gasPlng sulOca ,sn,
but a moment It rallIef-ana tua'
moment was his salvation