Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-08-21

oN beating them IN 4 hundred battles.
The obtuse intellect of the Indian
they have thick seulls like the Afri.
can negro.) at last eompr.hendej that
the little Quaker meant TO 20 South
below the surface, when his head was
diving North above. but he had him
now; and dearly did he intend to re.
pay the grippe Of the throat and the
punch in the stomach which Isaac had
administered. Take ihy last look I'D
on the sun, brave boy The demon Of
the island has fastened upon thee, and
It will be miracle IL thy spirit is not
soon wiDging its flight TO eternity.
IL Is said that the struggles Of the
dying man, IN the possession Of all his
faculties, are irresistible; and that no
human hand can grsppls and master
his, without the sine~s Of Q giant are
brought TO try the issue Of strength
IL was the demoniacal intention of the
Indian TO drown the boy forthwith, let
the consequences be what they would.
lie had Isaac's neck between his legs,
at the depth Of several feet beneath
the surface Of the water, where he held
him immovable; while with his hands
he pressed the body again strongly to
the bottom.
One minute in this position is an
age I! IL is an eternity Of time The
death struggle was again come upon
the poor little fellow, and the fiend was
once more eIultirg over him, He
felt the blood Of his whole body rush.
ing to his brain-imagined Ioathsome
snakes twisting about his neck and
brow, and his body assaulted by fright.
ful sea-monsters. A streaming gush
Of water poured into his ears aud
mouth. His reason was on the point
of giving way, in the agony of gaspins
suffocation-buti in a moment, IL raj.
lied-and that moment was his saliva.
ton
Isaac, without being aware Of the
fact, had, in his struggles, been work
ing himself, as well as his opponent.
into deeper water. The murderer
was obliged to discontinue his endeav-
ors TO press the body OF the boy down
wards, from the necessity which re-
CURED that he should keep his own
head, particularly his mouth and nos.
trils, IN the free air. BY this means
the limbs of the boy were left at liber-
I ~. and he was enabled TO brace his
feet firmly upon the sandy bottom.
His hands were free bat heretofore
he could do nothing with them, while
his feet were h0rs du combat.
But now he gathered himself, in
stinctively, for desperate effort. and
locking his arms around the legs Of h..
foe. and planting his feet strongly be d.
meath his body. with one mighty surge
he raised the Indian from the bottom.
and pitched him headlong into the sea
The relief thus gained was Just in
time. moment more would have
closed the mortal career Of the boy -
But the advantage thus acquired was
not to be lost. Isaac sprang after his
enemy with the SsiIity Of dolphin
and, ere he could regain his balance.
his young hand, still nerved With the
desperation Of one battling for life.
was firmly twisted in the Tank black
hair OF the Indian. lie avoided the
experiment, which the native had tried.
TO conceal the struggling Of his victim.
and cohtented himself with holding
the head, face doWnwards, beneath the
water, at arms lengih-carlng nothing
Tor the splashing aud fourisbing Of the
oe,-which the Indian, while he held
the lad, vas anxious TO conceal, for
Tear ct attracting notice from the shore.
Perish :" exclaimed Isaac, in nc
cents not loud, but deep -" Perish
thou black hearted saVagei-Ay kick
1t thou wilt. struggle on. smOuster -,
- my turn now 81 owe thee no mer
cy.-aDd die thou shalt the death thou
hast twice escaped tO bestow upon me.
for the alleged sin Of my father. Az
sprawl, bite, scratch, Il will require
something more than human interposi
ton to save thee frOn death ~
boy. what dost thou do RE
lease the Indian, and We will protect
thee Release bin. saw :" repeated
an authoritative voice, close 10 the ear
Of Isaac.
=" avn not deaf. good friends I'll
shall release him 10 minute or two,
bot in my own discretion. The peril
be mine, Keep of, meddle not with lhi,
quarrel. ! ana desperate vas but
now dying IA the grasp Of this hell
hound twice within the hour has be
given me taste IT the other world +:
and u .hail 80 hard bat fequits the
favor. Keep on, say BY the heavens
ab1Se a.. will serve thee after the
same fashion, " thou dafest 20 come
between me and nv prey-Awsy, -
] have sad u, be shall die the death
oi dog .--Ihere, eli ~ over nov
The limbs Of the Indian became fe.
Taxed end quieseent. 'lhe tide Of !,fe
had withdrswn 20 the citadel whence
IT sprung the body foaied for q NO.
ment, withobt eOnsulsion, on the va
ter. and shen settled away aradsaii,
from The sight Isaac had ioossJ hi.
hold. and he stood gazing With stupid
wonder upon the water.
lsaae, my son, What hast thou