Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-04-01
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lake, 10 the landing place of their friends, the
night previous, then up to the encumpment Of the
Rangers, Guns were occasionally fired, but as
no answer was returned, they soon re-crossed the
wator, and IN u short time the enemy gradually
disappeared, until, finally, all had departed
Tho sun had nearly reached high noon, yet
his lurld rays could not check the warthfnl Ran
gers, while their beloved leader was in the hands
Ola savage foo, They seized two of the swillest
boats, and one Of each sped separately along the
two opposite shores, narrowly scratinizing the
border of the lake, on each side, TO discover, Il
possible, the landing place of the savuges The
sun rolled on, and down the western arch oil the
sky, still trace ofihc retreatlng foe appeared.
The hunter was Gboutto give up in despair, and
the boat dragged slowly on, but tho thought oil
his daughter now again flushed upon his mind
re nervod his arm and spuned hun on to one
more and last effort, lie seized the oar with
renewed vgor. and again the boat short down
the smooth water. At length, just as tho last
CLEAN Of light was fading from tho western sky,
the hunter thought he espied dark object upon
tho shore ahead When they reached it, the Ran
gers recognized, with joy, the garments Of their
leader, while the hunter easily traced, in the dim
twilight, upon the sandy shore, the marks Of the
indians' landing The signal was now given to
joined them. A short time wasthen devoted to
rest their weary limbs and wait tho setting of the
now declining moon. But soon dark cloud arose
and stretched j,s angry front along tho vest
Even now, Distant murmur could be heard, as
of many waters, while the electric flush leaped
along lis bo'dGr. The moon seemed TO hover Il
moment along its top, bit soon sunk behind its
sable slsage, leaving darkness to rest like a
funeral pail, upon the earth, The gleam Of the
Indians camp.ires could now BIO easily disling-
u1shed, casting faint gIlmmef upon the distant
tree tops.
Come, my Friends said the hunter, 'le, US
awny-lleaven seems TO favor our design
Snutching their trusty rifles. the little band be-
gun to grope their way slowly and slyly along
towards the Indians encampment The disan,
light served their onld guide, save where flash
of lightning now and then would render surround
ing objects painfully visible, and the darkness al-
ter ii doubly, deeply intense. Soon the dusky
ioums OF tho sayages as they lay extended around
the fire, appeared just within the faint circle where
the light of the now decayins pile seemed to strug'
gle with tho surrounding night. 'Halln low
whispered the hunter lie close with ready rifles,
ill lead the capliyes from the scene Of dan.
ger
Not breath was heard in tho ominous still
ness from the low crouching band-not breeze
moved. not leaf but all was silent as the death
like solitude of the tomb. An awful panse--the
hunter was slyly creeping towards the fire, when
youth and maiden suddenly gded from the
tent, stole around its border, mud vanished in
darkness. The rangers knew their leader, and
the hunter his daughter.
'Now each mark his victimn again said the
hunter in low voice, and make sure his aim
Instantly vivid fash of lightning caused the
forest to glow moment as at MONDAY. then
craSh-whle giant oak, that spread its branches
over the fire, was shattered, and fragment hurl
ed into the midst of the sleeping Indians, A wild
war.whoop now sounded above the rolling ,hun-
der, and each savage started upright and clutched
his tomahawk-an instant, and twenty rifles flash
cd, while savage yell echoed through the forest,
dying away upon the ear with stunning, quivering
sound-lhen low gurgling of blood arose upon
the stiffness Of midnight-not savage escaped 10
tell the mourniul tale. A moment more and the
father and daughter we've locked in each others
arms.
A word moro and our tale is told. 1t was
few years from tho events above, that n small
family circle was seated around cheerful fes-
tive board in smiling cottnge upon the banks Of
one Of the New England streams. IT consisted of
an aged man, the parents and two lovely children
The aged man we shall introduce to tho reader,
as the hunter Of tho foregoing tale--the parents,
as Mr.. and Mrs llartwood; the two remaining
ones as the grand children of the old hunter, who
smiled on them as they sought 10 beguile the
lingering hours of age by their merry praltlo.-
Prosperity and plenty now smiled on the colonies.
The fear of the savage foe had gone, tho storm of
battle had passed. the warclouds had spent their
fury and were rolled away, while tho rainbow
tints ofpeuce were sitting npon their angry WIS.,
age in purple and gold.