Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-21
EGG6eS' EsepGs's sssa G 80 o .
From the, LGd.'s Book.
Y'gEE LOST BE2EEes:
ALEGEND OF THE WHITE NOUN
TAINS.
BY THE EDITREss.
Continued.

BYTHE EDITREss.
Continued.
Famo is truly more dependant on for-
tunate circumstances that greai achieve
ments. Had Rpbert Wilson lived in 1Ee
days Of chivalry, his courage and CON
stancy would have been the theme oftha
poets and song of minstrels; now the on
iy record OF his name, or even OF his ez-
istence. will be this unpretending story.
The adventurers entered the deep for
est, and, guided by the traces cf the re-
treating Indians, pressed forward, at tirst,
with all the speed they could urge. But
Mendowit soon checked his rapid pace,
and represented to Robert that the two
Mohawks were perhaps scouts from a
large party; and that caution must be
used, or they might unawares be caught
in an ambush. Roberts impatience
would never had submitted 10 this curb
could he by any means have avoided it,;
but as he could not quicken the pace OF
Mendowit, ho was compelled to coiorm to
it.
Cautiously, therefore, they journeyed
on through the old woods, where a cIvllI-
zed being had never before voluntarily
ventured. All was silence, save when,
at long intervals, the cry of some sollta-
ry bird broke on the ear with startling
shrillness; or, perhaps, rusting among
the dry branches made the wanderers pause
in breathless silence, till a deer, bounding
across their path, would plunge into the
opposite ahickat; while they Sid not dare
TO send bullet after him, leastthe report
of their guns should alarm the enemy,
who might even then be lurking c!osAbSS
side them.
There was, during the pursuit., a fear
full apprehension, an undefinsbleA horror
on the heart and mind Of Robeft,s far
more terrible than the grief he would
have felt had he known that Mary was no
more. The tortgres s1c might be forced
to undergo, haunted his imagination till
eyery sound seemed to warn him TO hast
en- TO her relief; and the delays and OBJ
struct;ons which were constantly occur
ring, made his blood boil with fury he
could scarcely control, His imputience
greatly surprised Mcndowit, who, with
all the philosophic calmness of sage,
would take his time to examine the traces
OF their feeingfoes, calculate the distance
they had gained, and the probable time
when they should overtake them. This
would have been soon accomplished had
the Mohawks proceeded straigh. forward.
But, as if anticipating pursuit, these In
dians were continually practisingt elude
it. They would often trace back their
own footsteps, like the doublings of a fox,
and when following the course Of river
travel in the water, and cross and re-cross
at places which no skill save the sagacity
of a red man could have discovered.
These subtle movements convinced
.Mendowit that there was no large body
of Indians at hand; and on the morning
of the fourth day he announced that they
should soon sec the captive. They
were approaching the Mountains, and
Mendowit was eager TO over pike the lndi-
ans before they entered the 9efle which
led to the Notch, BY the Xoot prints
they ascertained that Mary di¬w walk,
probably could not; and Robert'shudder-
ed and clenched his gun with a convulsive
grasp, as, at each step, his eye searched
around in every penetrable direction,
dreading to meet confirmation Of his
fears; yet the sight Of her rnangled corse
would scarcely have added 70 his hearts
agony.
sas,The weather, which ever since they
had left Dover, and, indeed, for some time
before, had been extremely dry, and hot,
now suddenly changed; and they seemed
transported to another region. Thick,
black masses of clouds enveloped the
mountains, and soon covered the Whole
horizon, and the darkness Of night came
Down at once. Then the wind suddenly
rose, and at intervals swept onward with
the force ofa tornado. II required no effort
Of the Imagination to fancy that the old
woods were trembling with the apprehen-
sion of some terrible calamity. The
trunks Of the largest trees quivered, and
their ioftysheads were bent almost to the
ground, as The mountain wind went
Sounding BY from the chasm far more
awful than thess Ronces-valles strait"
q We must return" said Mendowit,
spausing. 1--WE cannot overtake them.
The secret path Of Agiocohook, Mendow-
1t must not tread, /"
* You must, returned Robert. sternly,
niistaking the cause Of his guides reluc-
tance; ssbut you need not fight. Only
show me the Mohawks. and be the two
hundred instead of two, will rescue Ma.
Yy:'