The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-10-25

{, "iusu W space Ud1eiy ouhCtctt ioT pass
$ age. As Robert, was turning this rock,
, Mary utter, d wild shrek. was either torn
5 or thrown from her seat, the horse bounding
: forward al the same instant, and while Rob-
8 erf, calling on bis wife, was endeavoring TO
, rein his steed. gun was discharged by an
J Indian from behind The rock. The ball
struck the horse. as he was rearing from
The effect of the rein, on his breast, and he
fell backwards upon his rider.
The report Of The gun was followed by
loud shout from the wedding party. not that
they suspected the cause of the firing they
supposed Robert had reached his home, and
that some of the attendants had fired gun
as signal for them 10 hasten.
Their shouts inundated the savages
who precipitatly fed with their prisoner.
without attempting ts scalp her unfortunate
husband.
The party rode joyously up but who
can describe their CONSERVATION and horror,
on finding Robert stretched apparently life
ess on the ground, covered with blood Of
his horse which they mistook for his own,
while the bride was nowhere to be found.
Calamilies never fall with such an over.
The midst Of security and Happiness. From
that party, lately so Joyous was now heard
nothing but EXPLANATIONS Of fear. or lamen.
tarions over the youthful pair, or excre-
atoms against the enemy. The men were
all Of Them. unarmed they could not. there
fore, pursue The Indians with any hope of
rescuing Mary bu, having asceriained that
Robert was still living, they bore him back
10 The dwelling of Capt. Waldron, from
whence he had so lately gone forth in all
the flush of youth and joy.
There was no sleep that night in Dover.
The inhabitants seemed panic struck. They
crowded to the fortified houses-Inothers
pressing their children closer to their Boz
SONS as they listened in breathless terror,
often fancying that they heard the stealthy
tread of the savages; and trembling in ago
ny, as they thought of their horrible yells.
But the night passed away without alarm,
and bright morning sun soon dissipated
their imaginary terrors. Robert had near
ly recovered from the effects of his fall; and
though his cheek was pale, there was a
sternness in his dark eye which told that
his spirit was unquelled. it was his deter
mination to seek his wife, and several young
men, after they found that his resolution
could not be altered, volunteered to accom-
pany him. They went first to the fatal rock;
from thence they followed the Indians near
ly mile into the woods; but for long
time no further traces could be found.
After searching many hours they were
joined by praying Indian, as he was call
ed Mendowet learned the English Ian
guage, and became a convert to Cbrlstiani-
ty soon after the colonists settled in Boston.
He had received many favors from the Rev.
infancy. He had lately wandered to Dover,
and spent the summer in hunting and fish
ing around Roberts farm.
Mendowet soon discovered the trail of
the hostile Indians They had returned on
their own steps after the departure of the
wedding party, had kept the narrow path
till it joined the more open one; and then
they struck off through the wilderness
After following about three miles their en-
campment was discovered. Mendowet ex-
amined it attentively and also the direction
the savages had taken.
How many are tlierep asked Robert.
Two besides the captive replied Men,
dowet.
Roberts cheek became paler as he stoop-
ed to pluck from bush fragment of lace
and gauze, which he knew had belonged to
Mary's bridal dress. Placing the fragment
in his bosom, he inquired where Mendowet
thought the hostile Indians were retreat
ing.
They are Mohawks,' returned the 9TH
err / know by the track of their mocasins;
and they will go to their tribe on the great
river on the lakes
They shall not = exclaimed Robert,
stamping with fury will pursue them
will rescue Mary, or die with her. Men,
dowet, YOU know the paths through-will
YOU 90 with me!' And here he enumerat-
ed several articles he would give him, a
gun, powder, &c. &c.
They will go through the hidden paths
of the Agiocochook, >" remarked the Indian
thoughtfully.
we can overtake them before they reach
the White Mountains 7 said Robert eager
". You shall have the best gun that l
can purchase in Boston, Mendowet, and
my horn full of powder and new knife
These were powerful temptations to the
Indian but more powerful one was the
ancient and inveterate hatred he bore the
Mohawks. Revenge is an inextinguisha-
/ BILE passion in Red mans breast. Men,
dowet was Christian, so far as he could
be, without ceasing to be an Indian; but
his new principles could never eradicate his
early passion. Now, these Mohawks had
injured Christian friend, and the indul.
pence of his hatred towards them assumed
! in his view a Christian virtue. But there
was one obstacle to bis accompanying Rob
ert. Mendowet concluded that these In
dams would retreat through what is now
called the "Notch" of the White Mountains;
and of that pass he had a superstitlous dread.
But Robert urged him with so many per-
suasions, offered him so many rewards,and
suggested also the certainty OF overtaking
The Mohawks long before they reached Ag-