The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-08-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Rural Repository.
T he Bandits Daughte +
TALE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
BY CLARK w. BRYAN.
CHAPTER I'LL

Concluded.
- WE will now leave Mr.. Ruggles and tn
disconsolate young man, together with tn
villagers in sorrow al their loss, and pay
visit to the cave on the mountain.
On thu third evening after the robbery o
d Mr.. Ruggles, and the hasty and unlocked 70
postponemento of the marriage ceremony o
William Edwards and Helen Arson, Their,
wasseated around an immense table in III,
centre ofthe largest apartment ofthe Cave
called by the bandifti, the Council Cham
her, the gang that occupied the cave
This apartment was used only when con
sultation or meeting required that the bant
should all be present. to act upon any sub
ject, either of contemplated robbery, or the
division ofthe 'spolls' (as politician would
say) ofsome successful degradation that haC
taken place.
Here were congregated horde Of mer
now degraded to the lowest point OF vice ant
iniamy, the most of whom had once filleC
useful and honorable stations in society,"
Here was the lawyer, the merchant, and tho
mechanic. In short, nearly every class anC
grade was represented in this council Of
wickedness. They had once been ornaments
10 society; but now they were The reverse oil
any thing pertaining 10 usefulness-a law
less, degraded, drunken and debauched gang,
pest TO the people of their neighbofhood,
a disgrace TO mankind, and libel on the
laws of God And amid the assembage
there was scarcely one but that could trace
the thread of his iniquitous life back 10 the
commencement ofhis drinking, gambling, and
unsteady habits. This is the gang that had
committed The robbery spoken ofin the pre-
ceeding chapter, and captured Helen. whom
! they supposed was watching them,an there
7 fore were obliged 10 take her with them to
the mountains, 10 avoid detection. The me-
rauders were RECALLING themselves freely
from The bottles that stood before them upon
the table This was the usual manner of
commencing their evening Spree but this
evening there was an addition 10 the Pro
grammc of Arrangements and 'order ofthe
day. which was considered by all parties in
teresed, as the most Important feature of
the bill.' II was rothing less than n divis-
ion of The 'spoils' of their late successful rob
berry.
sNow for the contents OF the chest, Captain
Arson, exclaimed one ofihe gang-a rough,
oufll-Iooking individual, With a flushed
fiice and a sunken eye, who had been impa-
fiently waiting for the dividing Of The prize.
J The request was soon repeated by every one
present. hui the captain was deeply rumina-
ling upon some subject apparently irrelevant
TO that which occupi. d the minds OF Il MAORI
~ ofthe gang, and he did not seem to heed
their appeal.
Il say Captain cried a second speaker,
who was covered with hair from head 10 foot
wlIichhnd been permitted 10 grow for weeks
undisturbed, giving him wild and ferocious
appearance, let's have look at our prize !
'We will attend 10 that presently said the
,, Captain, raising his eyes 10 the speaker, and
then sank again into his confefuplafive mood.
But how are we TO dispose of that little
mink that was captured with it, said a third
voice. If we LEI her 90 she will betray us,
and we must either keep her here, where
some one will be obliged 10 watch her con-
stantly, or dispatch her al once
This sentence was intermingled with hor-
rid on,hs and inprecations, at intervals ofev-
cry few words plainly evincing the value
they SET ur6n a human being.
We'll I'm of npininn. chimed in a fourth
voice, which has heen introduced in the fore
gnng chapters in the character ofMr. Rug
giles servant. Obadiah, who had not entire
~ iorg0tIon the Yenkee dialet which he had
praclicrd during his term of service
with Mr.. Ruggles. that we may as well
attend TO that are chest first, and settle
the other matter afterwards
AYE, Aye, sounded every voice, in perfect
unison, through the assembly. with the ex-
ception Of The Captain, The chest first The
chest first
The Captain seeing they were almost all
against him, proceeded al once to open the
chest All eyes were iured eagerly towards
! it, as the lid was slowly removed, with the
exception Of Obadiah, who stood careless
spectator, knowing The exact amount it con.
tained.
a paper The first ihirg,' uttered The Cap
tain with horrible oath, as the chest was
fairly opened.
That's his will, that's his will hurriedly
exclaimed Obadiah. The Captain was
about 10 open il, but he was soon checked by
the ciamor for the chest first. Hewas obi
geo, much agoins. his own inclination, to
have the paper for the present, laid upon
The table, The counting and dividing of the
money occupied some time, during which
each one watched his share as it was piled
up before him with demoniac grin OF pleas
ure on his -countenance. This done and
'ne,r respective shares slowed away, they all
ea'nered around the table. and after making
iiee with The contents Of the bottles, sat down
: TO examine the will
AS nve' exclaimed the Captain, after
nurnediy CHANGING his eve overthe doc,Iment.
before him, the old devils land is all proba.
by wilied to-to-my God can it be posi-
ble.' and raising his voice to a higher kew he
inquired the name Of the girl in the other
apartment. No one could answer, for no one
knew except Obadiah. who was then busy
slowing away his treasure in another part of
the cave. He then turned to the urprised
audience and informed them that nothing
further would be done that night in regard to
the will. and intimated to them that il was
time to refine. This notice wa. received with
evident dissatisfaction by the gang. but as
they were all sworn to obey the injunctions
oil their leader, they soon with some little
grumblins retired, leaving Captain Arson
alone sitting by the table deeply lost in
thought and evidently rejecting upon some
painful subject, for the color frequently rose
IN his face, and caused his features now and
then 10 relax their frownins cast, giving
place TO a more mild and gentle expression
OF counienance than he had worn for some
time.
1t is not ImDossihIe ,nuf,araJ be- 70 b;,,,