Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-04-01
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER w.
lst Outlaw,--Fellows, stand fast; see pusscn
ger.
End Outlaw.-If there be ten, shrrnk moi, but
down with them!
Two GENTLEMEN or VERONA.
We will now retnrn to the young Indi-
an chief. Stung with chagrin thai he
should be obliged to relinquish his prize,
aud flee, when he was already bearing it
away in his grasp, he burned for revenge,
and resolved not TO give up all hope Of
yet recovering it again He therefore
hung around the hunters dwelling, watch
ing for a fit opportunity to spring upon
his unsuspectIng victim and gut his fcas-
ting eyes in his blood. lie saw the hun
ter and his daughter stationed upon the
small eminence, as described in the COM
mcncement Of our tale, and was, with his
loaded rifle, creeping towards them, like
the foul hyena upon his prey, when tine
bounding deer drew the father away
Now, he longed 10 snatch again the beau
tliuI prize, and fly,--no! then but half his
purpose would be gained His revenge
would not be obtained "a revenge which
nothing but the fathers blood would an
swer, or render him secure. He there
fore logged his footsteps and shulked in
ambush, upon the path of his return; but
there again was lhwarted in his purpose.
He vowed double revenge upon the head
of the young stranger, who SO daringly
confronted him, for his suspicion told him
that he was the successful lover of the fair
pale faced maiden. Oh! how he Ionged
to cope with his rival, and drink the hot
blood from his heart, That would be
sweet, indeed. lie now resolved to COL
Iect the remnant of his scattered tribe,
and wreak his malice upon the two--
Just then strange voices came upon the
night air, that caused him to halt and re-
coil: but turning aside into the bushes,
and creeping nearer, he espied the band
of Rangers, that HARDWOOD had just left.
This Giscovcrty,' thought he, will de-
s'roy all my deep-Iaid schemes. But my
vow, once made, sooner or later must be
performed. Yet here is an obstacle that
must not be lightly regarded. He final
| ly passed on, avoiding discovery, turning
over in his mind the best manner 10 &C
compish his ends. He arrived, at length,
at the station OF his feeble tribe, and CALI
ed his few followers around him. From
them he learned the intention of the
French army, from Crown Point, under
Baron Dieskau, of marching against the
forces Of the colonies, stationed at Lake
George. This he thought was too good
an opportunity to let pass BY He there
fore told his plans and demanded Of his
band TO be ready at his call. Next day
he watched the appearance Of the troops
and Intercepting them when they appear
ed, he communicated the position Of the
Rangers, promising to conduct detach-
menl for their capture, at an appointed
time in the night All being agreed up.
on, he again returned to his station, and
waiting till it was sufficiently dark to
obscure his movements, he led small
chosen band Of his followers cautiously up
The lake, strictly avoiding the encampment
of the Rangers, and concealing them IN
,hicket a short distance from the hun
ler's dwelling, bidding them 20 wait his
signal ere they commenced the murder
Gus assault, then re'raced his steps.
The moon had just sunk behind the
western forests, and had wholly withdrawn
her reflected rays, so that now the dark
ness seemed doubly dark because of the
light that before had shone, as the band
of the enemy stole sIyy up the border of
the lake, headed by the revengeluI saw
age. Their steps were slow and cautious
But when they arrived near where the
widening of the path told their near ap-
proach to the camp, even so that the top
of the tent could be dimly seen, the Indi-
an halted, and, pointing forward in 81.
ence, disappeared by side path that led
up the hill. His allies paused a moment,
waiting his return, as if learlu! of treache-
ry; but instantly started on again. The
fire and sentinel next appeared, which
caused The foremost to drop their heads q
moment, but the sentinel was sleeping on
his post, thought they, and the fire burnt
dim and low. Next slight rustic of the
leaves, by the side Of the path, attracted
their notice; but all was silent again -
Still steallhlIy on they crept till only
few yards marked the distance between
their line and the camp. The click of
the locks ola hundred firearms was now
distinctly heard in the dealh-Iike still
ness, as the muskels of the soldiery were
now at their shoulders. Fire.! shouted
the captain, and hundred muskets in
stantIy flashed in the darkness twenty
bullets pierced The image by the fire, and
thrice that number the tent, while the
crash resounded from the distant hills,
and died away IN the far-of glen, followed
by sepulchra stiffness. Blu, not mos
ton was seen in the camp;--all rushed
forward to view the work of death.