Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-09-14

Wv Niio VIII Cpfnt WIN a HAlul ~ mpathnK CAucNte,
so like a human voice, that we for an instant, believe
1t 10 he the wall Of an agoniEed being-snd again it
will sweep by with a rushing sound like a troop OF en-.
tagged monsters, ben, on a mission OF death. Some
times an unseen low.dfooping branch will softly touch
the shoulder, congealing the warm current Of life with
the idea that a spectral hand has suddenly arrested our
progress; and again n black and blasted tree, with one
or two sere branches p~rotruding from It's side, will for
an instant still the pulsauon of the heart, as we behold
in il a ftightiul phantom, stretching forth its arms to
grasp our shrinking forms.
All this, and more, must one feel and fear in a lone
ly pilgrimage through the forest, and all this the mo-
ther felt as She pursued her almos, helpless enterprise.
She had travelled far, very far, for the darkness of the
night and the intrcacies of the wood had scarcely les.
sened the speed with which she commenced her walk,
and she had been many hours on the way. WEAKNESS
was beginning to overcome her-hope was departing
from her heart and despair chilling all her energies,
when she discovered afar of through the trees a light.
1t was but a feeble %elimmer, We, oh, how it irradia,ed
the path of the wanderer. The ins,an, she beheld il,
hope sprang back to her heart, and strength ~inyigoraL
ed her frame. 1ha, faint and far-ofr ray seemed the
light OF returning happiness, and as she watched it as
eagerly as the mariner watches the star which guides
him over the oceans stormy waves. She now hastens
onward with redoubled energy, and though her steps
sometimes ialtered, aud her heart sunk within her, as
the light disappeared behind some Intervening object
she still kept her eye steadily in the direction OF the
beacon, and soon gained a position where IL shone
brightly before her, and she could approach without
losing sight OF 1t again. As she drew near, she ga7ed
upon the scene which that light revealed, with ming;
led feelings of establishment, hope, and fear.
There was a large FIRE built Of dried branches OF
trees, and around it lay the dusky forms Of five or six
Indians, reposing upon the ground. Their appearance
was savage and fearful in the extreme each with his
..,a,-I II 1-l,- - ET t
his tomahawk and scalping knife cleaning a, his side.
Near them were implements of hunting, and around
the fire lay scattered bones and fragments of a recent
rude and hasty repast. The whole scene was calcu-
lated to strike terror into the heart of tho delicate being
who gazed upon it.
But she scarcely saw the rude savagcs or their i'm
plements of death, for her whole soul was absorbed in
contemplating a portion Of the scene which we have
not yet described, which ri,eted her attention with a
thrilling and magic power. Bound TO a tree was the
form of her husband and athis feet on the cold ground,
lay her child. The fathers face was pale and stained
with blood the infants was motionless as if chilled
by the cold hand Of death. How felt the fond wife
and mother when that sight Of horror me, her eye l.
depressing by a mighty effort the shrek Of agony that
rose to her lips, and conquering, by the strength OF a
heroic soul, the almost irresistible desire she felt to
rush forward, clasp those dear ones TO her aching
heart, she stood gazing upon the scene with feelings
that cannot be described. She saw with a tlrob OF
sudden Joy that her husband lived, bu, her heart grew
cold again as she watched the motionless form Of her
child. She longed to fly to its side and ascertain the
truth, for the suspense that preyed upon her spirit was
terrible, but again her resolute mind restrained her,
and she began to deliberate upon the situation of her
husband, and to devise means for releasing hun.
The vivid light cast by the FIRE on all things near. it,
enabled the wife to note the scene distinctly. She
saw with a thankful heart that the savages all slept
and that she could reach the side OF her husband with
out passing near enough TO wake them bu, she also
saw that he vas bound with strong cords, which she
could not hope in her wearied state, to unfasten, and
she looked about for something to sever them. There
was nothing save the knives which the Indians wore
in their sides. Looking more inienily she saw lhs,
one OF these had slipped from its place, aud lay on the
ground by its owner 30 near, that his hand slmos,
touched the hilt. A pang OF intense fear shot through
her frame when She thought Of approaching so close 10
the terrific form of the savage but another look upon
The pale face of the prisoner, re assurcd her, and she
determined to rescue him or perish IN the attempt
She could not approach the Indians without revealing
herself to tho eyes Of her husband, and she feared in
that case, an exclamation Of 81 rprse would follow her
appearance, and rouse the foe from their slumber. Al
ter ~pondering a momen, upon the best mode Of pro-
ceeding, size unined to s,eal softly back Of the
tree, place her hand on the lip Of the captive, whisper
q few words Of explanation 10 implore him, no, by the
81 ghtest murmur to Illustrate Der plans. Win a throb'
. bing heart she commenced her peulous undertaking
J Noiselessly she made her way to the tree and accom-
pljshed her purpose.
!, There was no time for delay, yet one instsn, n,
! mother termed 10 look upon her child, yeaning Il
l clasp it to her bosom, bot no; daring 10 ll Tie cloti
p which concealed is features, and assure herself wheth
. er il vet lived. 4 little while before she would have
gi7en worlds 20 be able TO DO this, but now she fei
- that to behold It wrapped IN the Slumbsr Of death
e would unnefye her srm, and render her unfit for tb'
, further prosecution ofher. trying task. With 6rmnesa
that would have done honor 10 a stone, she conqnere'
p the pr5mp,ings Of natural love, and hasieu.d away
l. With a step as noiseless as the falling dew, size glide
b towards the s!umberns saya2esi as she drew near
= her frame trembied 30 violently that She could scarce
b Is support herself and when she put forth her han
20 take the knife, the beating Of her heart was - audi
n be, she feared q would as axe the s~lseper-. and sh'
prsssed her band conVUisiyely upon IL 70 sui IN. TO
mghiUogs throbbiHgs. One terrible instant ale though
y the eyes Of the Indian opened, and alsred upon b.
with fierce malignant expression, boz This was mer
J. fancy Tor be still slept, and the next moment she wa
z gliding away with tie knife firmly gTaspse 10 her kanc