The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-26

it was-and still is-principally built, had pro
ceeded to dispose among the thick trees ant
r underwood, strong band of faithful warrior:
t as an ambuscade. There they lay, still ano
motionless as the trees tina; concealed them.-
There was many stout heart beating eagerly
, for the fray that would soon cease to beat 1or
ever. Many a strong arm firmly grasped the
rifle or the tomahawk, soon itself to be IN the
grasp of an all powerful foe. Many fiery eye
rolled round in its socket which was soon to
be covered with the film of death.
How calmly and soundly slep the inhabitants
of that village, even whilst the chafed savage
was prowling for his prey. All, unsuspectlng.
the hungry lions about them were awaiting,
impatiently, the moment of attack. How oil,
ten while we sleep are our destinies decided
for u.s. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. re.
wards of toil-the requiters of virtue-good
and evil-little circumstances and great-are
lowering above and about us, while we are un-
conscious Of their presence. Life and death
may hang upon single hair, while we cannot
raise hand or bend thought to avert or Sc
cure either.
The eastern sky had Just begun to be tinged
with red, and few struggling rays of the sun,
still far below the horizon, were dancing IN
fairy shapes towards the zenith, when the work
of death and of cruelty began. Stealthily and
silently the savages crept on. Yet let us not
call them sauages they were but redresslng
their wrongs-but avenging the life blood of
their race ; and though blood was that morning
poured out like water and though the toma-
hawk and scalping knife were the instruments
of death, and the sleeping and the helpless
were the victims vet their destroyers were
but doing with their enemies as they did with
each other; they were not doing violence to
their own natures they were even exercising
far more humanity than those who, with the
Gospel Of Peace in their hand, and the light OF
civilization around them, had sapped the very
foundations of the Red Mans race. Swiftly
the work went on. A stifed groan-a scream
of anguish occasionly broke the stiffness of the
hour. Save that, all was wrapped IN deep,
dread, omnoLs silence. At length, by acct
dent, rifle was discharged. On that little
circumstances hung the life of hundreds. The
sound echoes through the long street-a win
dow is raised-a door is opened-the alarm IS
given and armed men pour forth, and prepare
! to resist the foe.
| All was confusion and dismay. Rifles were
frcd-loaded, and discharged again. Iona
hawks acknowledgements flashed -occasionly
small piece of ordnance rolled its infant thun-
der over the plain, and the smoke and din OF
the contest rose up together to the heavens
Men ran hither and thither. Some comman-
ded, and none obeyed.
! Suddenly, "a man of venerable aspect ap-
peared among the scattered and nearly discom-
flied Inhabitants. He collected them IN
body, and, assuming the command, arrayed
them i'm the best manner for defence. HE
seemed experienced and skilful in the art OF
war. And now the tide changed the Indians
| in their turn were routed and fled IN confusion.
In vain the chiefs attempted to rally them.
sudden panic seized the savages; and they,
prccipitately, fled. After the danger was over,
all eyes were looking for the man who had so
wonderfully assisted them, but in vain-he had
gone none knew whether. Many conjectures
were formed as to who the stranger could be;
some supposed it was the guardian angel OF the
town-but no it was GoFFE, the Regicide?
His seemingly miraculous appearance at
that time my easily be accounted for. COTE
and Whalley, two of the Judges Of Charles the
First, were then both secreted in the house of
the Rev. Mr.. Russell. Seeing the inhabitants
in danger, COTE determined to hazard his life
at the risk of their own.
Amongst those of the Indians who had lain
in ambush, the most eager of all was Wawhil-
Iowa, the young chief of Nonotuck. With
disposition naturally fierce, his intercourse
with the whites had done little to soften IT. or
to influence him in favor and since the dis
pute with William Russell, over the carcass of
the deer, he had been burning with indigna-
lion and resentment. He had joined the ex-
pedltion against fladIeS with his warriors, part
iv in the hope Of meeting Russell in the fray,
and thus gratifying his revenge; and partly
because his spirit could not bear to be inactive,
whilst the name of Philip was spreading terror
through New England. Emuous Of the rising
fame and fortunes of the Narragansett King,
h hoped, ere long, 10 raise for himself name
amonp the tribes that should eclipse the repu
tition of all before him. The English, he
thought. were fit objects on which 10 exercise
his ambition and. having lately conceived
stronp aversion TO the whole race, lie had
determined to embrace the present opportunity
of Stimulating himself, and venting on his en-
emies his hearty dislike.
The ambuscade laid for the purpose Of cut
ting off the expected retreat Of the English, of
course, utterly failed of its object; and when
those who formed it saw the i'll success oftheir
coadjutors, they began to seek safeiy-cach
for himself as best he might, Wawhillowa dis
dained to leave the field without some trophy |
of his valor; and, while his associates were
fleeing in every direction, he was bent on ex-
ecuting plan which would at once satisfy his
luminosity, and establish his ceebriety among |
the warriors Of his tribe.
Just back of the house in which Mr.. Webster /
resided was small eminence, from the top of
which could be obtained fine view of the
whole plain of Hadley. The sides of this little
1 IN = .L;oLl,y covered with bushes throIuh !