The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-02-22


20 BY The second in ilIe Indian language. After
short consultation they entered aud RGbcccn SCOT
saw a light CLEAN. and she supposed they had kin
died il tor her Tier pulse beat wildly, yet still
she hoped to escape 1t was not probable That They
would search tree the huuse they would
rather suppose she had fed Ia distance. Present
ly n cracking noise was heard la the house, th'
light flashed from the door aud window, the In
dams raised tleir Wild yell as Ihey rushed 0Ut
danced around with their frantic gestures aud Re
becca thai the house on fire
Still, the only sign she gave OF fear was, as sh'
unloosed The handkerchief from her neck ana
threw il over tho chids face, 10 screen his eye.
from tine & are OF light that might awaken him, 10
press him closer and closer To her heart
The house was unfinished; there was no plaster
ing 20 delay for a moment the progress of the hre,
which had been kndled in the centre Of the apart
meni, and fed by all the conhustIbles the saVages
could find in the dwelling The flames sreamed
upward and soon caught the raiters h"d BOARDS ana
IL seemed scarce five minutes from the time ltebec-
ca frst saw the Iight I'LL the blaze burst throNgh
the roof The atmosphere, rnratiod by the heat
around the burning building, suddenly expanded,
and the colder and more dense air rushing in, IL
seemed as il the wind had violently risen, aud il
drove the thick smoke, aud showered the burning
cinders directly on the chestnut tree. Rcbecca felt
the searching heat, while tue suiEocaiing vapoT al
most deprived her Of the power OF respiration. She
grew Dizzy; yet still, the only movement she made
was 10 turn her child little in her arms, that he
might be moro eiieclually shielded from the smoke
and cindcrs. AT that moment one of the savages
dance close To the tree. An eddy Of wind swept
away tho smoke; the light fell upon The pale
face of RebeccH; her eyes, as II by The power Oi
fascination, ware riveucd on the iniian his herr
glance raised toward her, and tbelr gaze met.
The savage gave start, and The note Of his war
song shrlI!or as lie inteniiy regarded his vic.
tim, Suddenly he Turned away.
Rebocca murmured n prayer, aud resigned her
sell 10 death as she heard them all send forth
prolonged whorp.
'My boy my husband! wc shall meet, we shall
oil meet in heaven. she mentally cried.
But why did not the s,vages approach? She
listened aud looked arouud;the whole clearing was
illuminated by the bright glare, end she three
Indians fly ing with the speed OF irIghtcd deer 10
the covert OF The woods She did not pause TO
consider what had caused their fight but obeying
that instinct which bids shun the present dam
ger, she sprang from the Tee and rushed toward
the river. She Icco!lccted spot where the bank
Projected. beneath which, during the summer
months. tho bed Of the river nearly dry; sherc
she should, at least be secure from the Gre
And there she sheltered herself. Her feet We're
immersed in water, end size stood in STOPPING
posture TO screen herself from observation should
tho savages return to seek her. But her infant
riumbered peacefully. Mono of her fears or dam
gers disturbed its TcTose; and wien the morning
light allowed her To gaze on his sweet Face tears
of joy and thankfuIness AJwed fast down her
cheeks that she had been enabled TO shield that
dear innocent ore from the sIvages and the flames.
Z Soon after sunrise she heard sounds of people Hp~
proaching, and soon recognized the voices of her
friends from the garrison. RebGcca and her child
were conveyed to the village, which her husband,
abe found had lclI about sunset on tho preceding
evening. Nothing was known o. could be discov
cred of his fate; the inhabitants had been alarmed
by the light from the burning building, ard as soon
as the morning was sufficiently advanced to allow
them penetrate the fores, they fastened 20 dis
cover The cause Of the fire.
Grief Tor the loss OF the husband. combined with
the terrors she had suffered, threw Rebeccn into
violent fever, and her lite was despared Of ; bat
Tho dor ed fat al fpr
minatiun, Edward Abbott arrived at Rumford. He
surprised while walking home ward by four
Indians one Of whom seized his rife while anoth>
struck him such blow on the head with his
tnmahawk as totally TO deprive HIN; for seyeTal
hours, of all recollection.
When he did recover he found himself lying at
the foot of tree his hands bound and an Indian
guarding him All etfurts 10 escape, he found
would lie in vair and lao silently submitted 10 his
fate. About day, the three sayages joined the
who guarded him. Conversing hasiily n few mo-
mems, they began n hurried march Edward per.
ceived nne the Indians examining him oiIon and
aitentvely. Al length, on the fourth day, the
savage was alone with the prisoner, he by Signs
questioned Edward concerning the house where
he used tn reside
Edward made on tho white birch with n coal ta>
ken from The fire, drawing Of his little plantation
and house, including, of course, the chcsnut tree
The Indian surveyed it in silence, aud Edward
thought no more OF il. Early the next morning
Edward awakened by the Indian VIII"
moiioned him 10 follow him. The rest of the par.
ty were not in sight. Edward oheyed and FOLLOW
ed him two days, travelling rapidly, ill suddenly
he found himself on the borders of the McTrlmack.
The Indian then pointed in the direction Of Con
cord and insanity disappeared in the woods.
IL is perhaps unnecessary to add that Edward $
presence operated more iavorabiy on Rebecca than
had all the remedies prescribed by the good Doc
tor Carter, and she soon recovered. The conduct
of the indian excited great curiosity in the village.
and for long time the mystery baffed all conjec-
ture. After many months, an Indian, who could
speak ELgIish explained the secret
II seemed that several years before Robccca was
married, Indian, with his wife and child, came
TO her fathers house, and asked for food. The
old people were absent, and hired man, acting as
many do when 'cuthed in n little brief authority"
ordered them from the house. Rebecca, then "A
playful laughing girl, interposed, and prevented
them from being linus inhOspitahly treated. She
brought forth ilebest food, 81 took the Indan babe
in her arms and fed III and TO that act OF charity.
so gracefully performed, she was indebted for her
own and her child lie and her husband liberty.
THREE LIVES LOST BY THE FLOOD.
Dir. Wm.V Shaver, respectable citizen of Lit
tie Falls, who had been with two of his sons iii a
xyavon IN yisit dauuIter returning home IN Sun