The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-11-06
VOL. III. -- NO. 3.

two solitary men againss score No, boy,
the utmost caution is necessary in the hazard
GUS adventure we are about to engage in; we
must come to no open warfare, but our actions
must be marked with secrecy and silence, else
all will be lost. Wilt thou submit tie the gui-
dance of the Red Hunter p
rs the Oneida sure he shall not fail p
1.-The Oneida is sure"
"Then command me as thou wilt. Morton
Elwood is the man to follow thee even to the
gates of DEATH
The two speakers now stood together in a
small opening in the forest, or rather eminence,
which at once commanded an uninterrupted
view of the surrounding country. 1t present
ed TO the eye an unbroken amphitheatre of
wooded hills and vallies, thickly robed in the
garniture of midsummer, and to the south
lay deep, secluded glen, so luxuriantly shell
tered by the interlacing branches and vines,
that the eye even of the broad glare of noon
tide was unable to pierce the leafy rampant
and explore its depths. To this glen the One
ion as the bivouacs of an Indian ambush and
with a cunning equal to any emergency, he
had discovered by trail they followed during
the day, that it was fragment of his own
tribe of which they were in pursuit, also that
the object of their search was captive among
them.
They were within half mile of the en-
campment and night was coming on, and dark
ness, for which they had impatiently tarried,
in order to favor the prosecution of their
scheme. The shades of evening were already
falling like mantle, and the hues of twilight
fading from the western sky, when the Indian,
closely followed by his youthful companion,
descended from the eminence where they had
halted awaiting the approach of darkness, and
disappeared in the shadows of the adjoining
wood. Pursuing an irregular path for few
rods, until they had gained a portion of the
forest where the light was nearly excluded by
the foliage that closed like one vast pavilion
over their heads, the Indian paused for mo-
ment to adjust his belt, and then kneeling by
the side of a little brook that gurgled BY,
bathed his face and limbs in the pure and re-
freshing water. AS yet, Morton Elwood was
ignorant of the method the Oneida intended
/ to adopt in his attempt to rescue the fair cap
tive; and he paused now in expectation of an
explanation. Nor was he disappointed. AZ
ter short silence, the Red Hunter spoke:
"Can'st thou climb" he exclaimed in slow
and measured accents. as if weighing the mat
ter we'll in his own mind ere he received an
answer.
"Ycs. to heaven" rejoined the youth, I" if
when there might hope to see the face of
Flora Brookfeld.'
A momentary smile passed over the features
of the Indian, aud pointing to tall sapling
he continued, now is the time then to test
thy skill. We are now three furlongs from
yonder nest of savages, and not a footprint
must be made not leaf mislaid in gaining
their encampment. The branches and vines
above our heads must form our pathway to
the rescue of the blue-eyed maiden. Wilt thou
make the trial for one thou lowest better than
life: If thou wilt, ascend yonder beech and
follow me. Mark well thy footing, and pro-
coed in silence. know it is feat the pale
face never performed, but the Red Hunter
has done it often. 1t is our only resource
no trail must be left to mark our path, no
footstep must awaken the echoes of the forest |;
the Oneida's ear is quick to detect the tread
of an enemy-he never slumbers without his
face to the ground, and the light-footed
hare could scarcely pass his encampment with
out detection-but am an Oneida, and the
pale maiden shall be saved