The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-11-01

ming that biaZed In one continued glare ::
the rolling of the thunder, that shook to
| their foundation, these everlasting hills the
rain, that did not fall IN drops, but poured
IN large streams from the black clouds; the
bowling of the wind as it raved from the
narrow passes, or filled the hollow chasms ::
the frequent and loud clash of branches and
trees all united to give TO the sublimity,
which the aroused soul could feel, but no
language can ever communicate or des.
cribe.
Amid this wreck of matter, and what
seemed as it were, the crush of worlds, Rob.
ert needed not his own danger he only
thought OF his young and tender bride. At
every fresh burst of the tempest, Oh. where
! is Mary now |! came over his heart till his
knees smote together, and large drops of
sweat started on his pale forehead. Then
he would rush TO the narrow entrance with
clenched hands and look abroad to see if
there was an abatement of the storm and
| then IN despair, he would seek the furthest
| gloom OF the cavern, throw himself down
on the damp rock, close his eyes and strug-
gle TO Danish all thoughts from his mind.
Thus passed the hour till after midnight,
when, during pause in the wind, a strange
sound was heard. 1t was not like shrek
| or cry from any human voice, or the yell
or moan from wild beast; it was a deep,
dismal sound, an unearthly tone, thrilling
the listener like the warning call from some
perturhed spirit.
Robert started on his feet. A bright flash
oflightning showed him Mendowet rising
from his incumbent posture his hands were
falling powerless by his side, and his face
expressed an internal agitation and terror
| which red man rarely exhibits.
'lt is the voice of the Abamocho,' said
the Indian, in n tone that evidently trem>
bled.--' have heard it once be fore. He
calls for victim
Who is he 2 demanded Robert, drawing
his sword
He is the spirit of the dark land ? said
Mendowet, shrinking down as if to hide
himself from some dreadful object. He
rules over these mountains he comes in
the storm and none whom he marks for de-
struction can escape him.
Roberts whole soul had been so engross-
ed with the idea of Mary. and how to rescue
her, that scarce thought or care for any
other human being had entered his mind
since he had left Dover. The appalling
noise he had just heard, and Mendowet's
singular manner, now aroused his curiosity
and he en1uired of Mendowet why he was
so moved at the idea of approaching A gioc-
ochook.
Mendowet, after heaving deep sigh, thus
replied These mountains belong TO the
evil spirit, Abamocho. This spirit always
lavoTs the alohawks. 1t was to make them
path, when they were fleeing before the
arrows of Tookenchoses the sachem Of the
Massa chusetis, that he rent the mountain
asunder. The evil spirit sat on a rock-on
the highest peak of the mountain. lie beck
oned to the Mohawks 10 pass by, laying his
hand on his breast. They obeyed, and
went through the pass in safety. But when
Tookenchoses would have followed, the evil
spirit threw his arms abroad. and great
stones and trees were hurled upon the war.
riors, till all persisted except the chief.
This was many. many moons before the
white man came but none of our warriors
dared venture TO Agiocochook to bring a.
way the bones of the slain. At last my
father was sachem of the Massachusetts,
He was a great chief. His tribe were more
numerous than the leaves of the summer
forest. A thousand warriors followed his
steps; he said he would bring back the
bones of his fathers. He called his young
men he took me that might learn the
paths of the woods. l was child then |
could not bend a warriors bow but they
went not to fight.
Mendowet paused and Robert knew by
the low tones of his voice, as the sentence
died away, that recollections of other years
passed sadly on his mind. After few mo.
ments of deep silence, he resumed.
I'VE came to. Agiocochook. The storm
was loud as you now hear. In this very
cave my father and passed the night
We heard the voice of Abamocho. In the
morning we saw him seated on a rock. |
saw him and trembled; but my father would
not 90. He sought all the secret places,
but tine bones of eur fathers had persisted.
sWe returned to our tribe but the evil
spirit sent a curse upon US Sickness de-
stroved our young men. The Mohawks
scalped our old men and children. My ia
Their fell by their arrows-I avenged his
death but could not prevent the Sstruc-
ton of our nation. Three times journey.
ed to Agiocochook, with the Powows. to
appease Abamocho. We prayed to the ke-
tan when at home. 1t awaited not
Again he paused and Robert, who had
listened with intense interest to his story
endured where the remnant of his tribe
dwelt now.
Young man. said Misunderstanding with
a melancholy but majestic air, while the
lightning showed his tall FORM and the grey
locks that waved in thick masses over his
venerable forehead; young man l once led
a host more numerous than the trees IN
wonder forest. was chief of a mighty ma
tion-now Mendowet dwells alone. am
the last of my tribe As he ended he sunk
down and covered his face with his hands.
Roberts life had been a laborIous. but
very happy one. He was naturally of