Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-02-10

advancing object OF moment. "lt Is
single canoe, and can scarce harm us. !
Let her alongside!" {
The natural explanation Of the phe-
nomenon at once satisfied the crew,
who had taken their snperstitions fears
rather from Fleming's evident alarm,
than from their own want of reflection
but the guilty man himself still gazed
on the advancing phantom, and,
when slight stir of breeze raised the
mist like the corner of a curtain, and
dropped the canoe plain upon the sur
face of the river, he turned gloomily |
on his heel and mutterd, in an under
tone, to Hudson, cit brings no good,
skipper Hendrick!"
| Meanwhile, the canoe advanced
slowly. The single paddle which pro-
peeled her, paused before every turn;
and as the mist lifted quite up, and show
ed long green line Of shore between
It's shadowy fringe and the water, an
Indian, highly painted, and more or
namented than any they had hitherto
seen, appeared, gazing ernestly at the
: vessel, and evidently approaching with
fear and caution.
The Half-Moon was heading up the
: river with the rising tide, and Hudson
s walked forward to the boom TO look
e at the savage more closely. By the
eagle and bear so richly embroidered
h in the gay-culoured quills of the por-
n cupine on his belt Of wampum, he pre-
: sumed him to be chief, and glancing
e his eve into the canoe, he saw the pill
l. low which had occasioned the death
of the plunderer the night before, and
ofl on it lay two ears of corn. and two bro
:, ken arrows. Pausing moment, as
le he drew near, the Indian pointed te
le these signs of peace, and Hudson, ii
III reply, spread out his open hands, anC
r beckoned to him 10 come on board
In an instant, the slight canoe shot un
u der the starboard bow; and, with no
h. Bile confidence which the skipper re
ey marked upon with admiration, the ia
savage sprang upon deck, and laid tn
its hand ofthe commander to. his breast.
,;s
Dr. The noon arrived, hot and sultry
cir and there was no likelihood Of win
his till sunset. The chief had been fea
rcd nm hoard, and had shown in b
ia delight the most unequivocal eVidenC
lex of good feeling, and even Fleming
he last. who had drank more freely tn;
The usual during the morning, abandont
ich his suspicious, and joined in amusll
bin the superb savage who was their cues
ich In the course of the forenoon, anoth
er- canoe came off, padded by a sing
ge, Young woman, whom Fleming reco
Of nized as having accompanied Il
ms plunderers the night before, but, IN
ell, balfintoxicated state, it seemed to
oes call none ofhis previous bodings, an
ting to his own surprise and that Of
|. Of crew, she evidently regarded him W
,sed particular favour, and by pertinacic
and ingenious signs endeavoured
ava. induce him to go ashore with her
way her canoe. The particular charac
[ud- Of her face and form would have CIV
,ibly the mate a clue TO her probable motiv
nate had he been less reckless from
stab excitement. She was taller than
It. common for females of the saw
i the tribes, and her polished limbs, as era
sand fully monlded in their dark hues
YES those of the Mercury Of the fount
dark combined with their slig htness ne
ewes; and steadiness Of action whichportra
cliff, strength and resolution of heart
van frame. Her face was highly bea
wink full, but the voluptuous fulness Of
Ilness Inns was contradicted by fierce
at the in her night-dark eyes, and gu
10, in ness of the brow to descend, W
ted told of angry passions habituallyy
venge the alert. It was remarked by 1
owsed Cbristaern, one of the crew,
ray of when Fleming left her for an ms
family she distracted herself from the
lxious ;oyous groups, and with folded a
, from and looks of brooding thoughtful
stood looking over the stern; bu
" the mediately on his temperance
! = ey;ft snowy teeth became visible bet
oftbe her relaxing lips, and she resumes
. soft patient gaze upon his counter
IF the and her occasional efforts to draw
herous into the canoe.
an her Quite regardless of the preser
so no the woman, the chief sat aPar
;es re- Hudson, communicating his ide
; watch intelligent signs, and, after awhile
oen the skipper called his mate, and, lniC
: heads him that, as far as he could under
ss;tv Of the chief wished to give them a
! Ind;- on shore. "Arm yourselves
! rising said he, 'sthough / look for no
Tanta7 ery from this noble pagan,
.sire At chance should put US In dang
- over shall be more than match
whole tribe. Come with me Flel
IL he continued, after pause, y
II 49, -, too rash with your firearms to
Veo pa. in command. Man the watch,
10 lhSn YOU. and the rest get into the
d : iem boat. Well while away these
'ln' T SL1 pish hours, though danger IS Il
r. lHC -, . ,.,;l,r beIf