The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-09-14

at a distance from their negbbors, and
lpacking up their goods and chattels, star
ted on voyage down the great lakes and
the St. Lawrence but Indian vengeance
is not so easily satisfied. The Owantahs
knew of their intentions, and following their
example, the whole tribe commenced a
slow and cautious, yet certain pursuit.
They followed the exact course of the fee
ing tribe-moving when they moved and
hating when they haltsd-until they came
to small isIane, called Massacre island, a
few miles below the mouth of the Oswegat-
chic. There the Owantabs surprised their
enemies in the night and satiated their
hate, by the murder of all, except female
child, who was preserved and adopted by
an old grey haired chief. Instead ofreturn-
ing to their homes, the Owantahs made ar
rangements with the neighboring tribes and
settled down nearly opposite the Oswegat-
chic village, well pleased with the fish and
game of their new situation. The Oswe-
CATCHES were as renowned for their gener-
osity and mercy as they were for their cum
ming and courage, and the detestaton with
which they viewed this act of airocity gave
rise to strong hostile feelings, and led to
them in an almost continual state of war
fare with the new comers. In many Of
these contests Ogasca particularly dstin-
guished himself.--No other bow sped the
arrow with such unerring certainty TO the
heart of its viciim-no other war club fell
with such rcsistless force as his upon the
heads Of the foe. 1t was not however, sole
ly as q warrior that Ogasca served his ma
ton. His talents as a negotiator were fire.
quently called into requisition, in the en-
deavOr to make peace, but the agreement
to bury the tomahawk and scaIping knife
would hardly be made, when some new re-
suit, some out breaking Of the private hate
would arouse again the demon of discord,
and provoke to arms the peacefully dispos-
ed Oswegatches. il was on one of his
diplomatic visits to the Owantahs village,
that Orgasca first saw Nofoyah, or the
Wild Rose, as she was som, times called,
the sole survivor Of the murdered tribe.
Never before had the proud heart of Ogasca
bowed before the shrine of such loveliness.
Her form, tall, yet graceful, was just lux
uriating in all the rounded countour of
sixteenth summer. The fire of her dark
eye was subdued by deep feeling of mo-
desty which gave an expression to her face
not unaptly represented by her name. Her
voice and laugh, as she sported with the
damsels of the tribe, amid the pure waters
of the St. Lawrence of bounded through the
woods with a fleetness which few of the
young warriors could equal, was musical as
the caroling of birds. But need not en-
umerate her charms 81 flee it to say that
the " ensemble" excited an idea of beauty
which can never be realized by those who
falsely imagine light complexion an es-
sential. She was well treated by most of
the tribe but though.a n child upon that fa-
and when every now and then she would
hear the tale told with all the exaggerations
of triumphant malice, 1t would rouse feel
ing of dislike which needed but affection
for Ogasca to ripen into hate. Many of the
young Owantah warriors had laid the scalps
Of their enemis, the trophies Of their Prov
ess, at her feet but none had found favor
N her eyes. Nothing ever disturbed the
serene current of her thoughts, except the
recollection of her mothers wild scream
when the scalping knife circled the head of
her only brother. But the sight of Ogasca
raised new emotions, and when wandering
IN the beach she encountered him several
times, returning from the council to his
canoe, and heard him speak his love in the
nervous and concise language of an Indian
warrior, she felt her dark cheek glow and
her heart palpitate with feelings which had
never been excited by the braves of her
adopted tribe.
Upon one of these occasions he told her
of the i'll success of his mission--that the
war must continue, and that he could new
er see her again, unless she would meet
him that night in the forest a short distance
from the village. She promised, and Og-
asca departed but their conversation had
been observed and suspicion excited.
Scouts were kept upon the look out, and
after dark spies were stationed in the mid
dle of the river to keep watch upon the mo-
tions of the Oswegatchies. At midnight,
Ogasca left his wigwam, and travcrsing the
row of huts without disturbing any of the
inmates, stepped into his canoe and with
/. strong aud silent sweeps of the paddle, soon
reached the opposite shore. The moon
was in her full, but obscured by dark mas
ses of clouds, WHICH only now aud ther
permitted glimpse of her pale visage
Ogasca landed, aud lightly lifting his cano,
placed it between two rocks, then castin:
cautious glances around, with swift an,
noiseless footsteps catered the wood an,
sought the appointed place of meeting
lie found the object of his coming alarme,
j and nyitnted SCENTS had returned wit