The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-15
THE ESCAPE.-BY MISS sEpewrcK.

On point of land at the junction eff the Oswegat-
chic with the St. Lawrence is broken stone wall,
as 5s%ss Of q 2iSo s fo n9 Hraso %ai H
French protect their traders against the savages
married young lroquos, who was, before or after
the marriage, converted to the Catholic faith.
She was the daughter of a chieitan of her tribe
and great efforts were made by her people to induce
her to return to them. Her brother lurkcd in this
neighborhood, and procured interviews with her, and
attempted to win her back by all the motives of ma
tional pride and family affection: but all in vain
The young Garanga, called by her baptismal
name Marguerite, was bound by n threefold cord
her love to her husband to her son. and to her rclg
ion. Mecumeh, her brother, finding persuasion in
effectual, had resource to stratagem. The COM
mandant was in the habit of going down the river on
fishing excursions, and when he returned, he would
fire his signal gun and Marguerite and her son would
hasten to the shore to greet him.
On one occasion, he had been gone longer than
usual. Marguerite filled with apprehensions,
naturul enough at the time when imminent dangers
and hairbreadth escapes were of every day occur
She had sat in the tower and watched for the
returning canoe, till the last beam of dav had faded
from the waters; the deeping shadows of twilight
played tricks with her imagination.
Once she was startled by the waterfowl, which. ms
it skinned along the surface of the water magcd TO
her fancy the light canoe, impeled by her husbands
vigorous arm again she heard the leap of the heavy
muskaongi and the splashing waters sounded to her
fancy like the first dash of the oar That passed
away, and disappointment and tears followed Her
boy was beside her; the young Louis who thouob
scarcely twelve years old already had his imagino
ton filled with daring deeds.
Born and bred in fort, he was an adept in the use
OF the bow and the musket courage seemed 10 be his
instinct, and danger his element, and battles and
wounds were household words with him. He
laughed at his mothers fears but in spite of his
boyish rdicule, they strengthened, till Apprehension
seemed reality.
Suddenly, the sound of the signal gun broke on the
stiffness of the night. Both mother and son sprang
on their feet with cry Of Joy, and were PRESSING
hand IN hand towards the outer gate, when sentinel
stopped them to remind Marguerite it was her hus-
bands order that no one should venture without the
walls after sunset. She, however, insisted ON mass
ing, and telling the soldier that she would answer 70
the commandant for his breach of ORDERS she passed
the outer barrier.
Young Louis held up his bow and arrow before
the sentinel saying, gayly, /" am my mothers bod,
guard, you know" Tradition has preserved tho,
trng circumstances the events that followed rem
dered them memorable. "The distance" continued
the stranger, from the fort to the place where Tho
commandant moored his canoe, was trfling and
quickly passed." Marguerite and Louis flew along
the narrow footpal reached the shore. and woro ;n
the arms of-Mecumeh and his fierce compnn;ons
Entreaties and resistance were alike vain. Resist.
ancc was made with manly spirit by Louis. who
drew knife from the girdc of one of the Indians
and attempted to plunge it into the bosom or
Mecumeh, who was roughly binding his wamnun,
belt over Marguerte's mouth, TO deaden the so,nJ
Of her screams. The uncle wrestcd the knife f,on,
hum, and, smiled proudly on him, as if recoonis;nr
in the brave boy scion from his own stock.
Ihe Indians had two canoes: Marguerite was