The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-30


I ing his breath with shudder-I lake the
tnllcst with the two scuIps.
'l}e sure ofyour Nin-I take the third
whispered George. Let them have il when
they pass that suplng opposite, he confined,
MS lie followed with his gun the selected VIC
tim.
The silence of death followed these hasty
directions. The doomed party came nearer
and nenrer--n few more steps and the fatal
point was gained. The fingers otthe young
men pressed heavily on the Triggers. 1t was
n moment of fearful interest to llem---a drill
Of awe stole over them al the thought Of thus
deliberately shedding human blood.but their
determination remained firm. One step
more and the death shots would have rtng IN
the uir;hut just rs the young men were III the
net of dischargiug their rifles the foremost Of
The savages stopped suddenly and made
hnsy gesture of surprise. They all halted,
while the leader bent his ear 20 the ground.
For moment the falling of leuf might have
been heard. The young men held their
breath, wondering nj this strange movement
Ii wAs soon made apparent
Light ruStliuGS of The leaves were heard
in the diStunce-scarcey percepiible Pres
emily the light tread oTappronching footsteps
fell on the ear. The savages crouched TO the
earth in posture Of defence ns they caught
the sound. The steps drew nearer. All eyes
were turned in the direction whence they
proceeded. In the surprise of the moment
the young men forgot their bloody purpose,
So engaged were they 10y the singular urt1ms
of the enemy. 4 low exclamation of sur
prise escaped the savagcs as tile cause OF IL
inrm came in sight.
In an opening of the forest about two hun
dred Yards in advance, arrayed in Il rich aiid
inuciiul garb, was an Indian maid gazing
round upon the trees. as if in search OF some
t,nr 4 plv fpN
steps in hesirating manner she turned tow
ards large oak and seemed To scrutiniZe il
very carefully, then throwing hack her head
she gnZed inirully upon The sky, unill pass
ing cloud which ohscurcd the sun had swept
by, when MS if satisfied with the eXanlina-
lions. she again advanced with slow aud
weary step.
The Young men kept their eyes fixed upon
the strange vision, wondering at the appear
anco ofone so gracefully formed and hcauti-
fully clad, until Il sudden str among the saw
ages attracted their attention from HE all en-
crossing object.
Leaving his gun, with a snake like and
scarcely perceprhle motion, the leader of the
party crept through the fallen leaves towards
the new conner.
Look, Geurge--the fellow is after her! She
belongs 10 some other tribe, Whispered Gree
~ in barely audible tone, as lie stole n
glance nj the Stranger
Good heavens, Robert. she is not rcd
skin-shG is white. God preserve her, tit
is Adcur shouted George, as he cnught
full view OF her face. As this exclamation
burst ivouutnrIy from Georges lips the
sayages sprung to their feet. a loud Shrek
from AdeIn, at this fearful sight, was follow
ed by the sharp crack of three rifles, and two
of the savages biz the earth in tie ngouies Of
death, while tic Ihird fed into the wood~,dye e. I
ing the leaves with crimson stain from IL
wound in his side. Hardly pausing TO dis
charge his piece, George burst into the thick
ct--wreuched II tomahawk from the dying /
clutches Of one Of the fallen, and iared after
the party, who, with a tomahawk raised. /
dashed III pursuit of lie flying girl. Fear
lent wings To her feet; but the savage fast
gained upon her The oyeuger Of blood was
nj her heels.
Love, fear, revenge, stimulated George in
the pursuit, and he rushed on with the speed !
of IL hound. 4 few feet only separated from
his prey, when bright fash shot through !
the air like stream of fire, as The ioRnhawk |
flew from the hauds Of the Indian. The fate !
of Adelu had hecn sealed forever then, had not
her foot caught in Il root, that spread across
her path as she passed between two trees,
cnusug her to stumble forward and fall TO
the earth the we'll directed weapon of death
whirling nj the same moment directly over
her head,aud cutting deep in the moss before
her. Seeing the flight OF the weapon and
the fall OF Adea, George doubted not that
she had fallen victim. A new and almost
supernatural impetus was given TO his speed.
and ere the savage had reached the fallen
girl George was at his back.
Die niscreantr shouted he, in voice that
rang through the forest, as the tomahawk
went crushing through the head of his foe,
burying i,seIrto the socket in the brain.
Scarcely casting look al the fallen and
writhing savage, George spraug towards the
fallen girl. Oh, what n moment ofhappiness
was that to hm--to her-when he clasped
her in his arms aud lifted her from the eut,.;,
uuscathcd, unlurt Again and again i'll the
transport of the moment, he pressed her TO
his panting bosom, and imprinted on her
pale lips the first itnpussioned kiss of love.
Nor did he release her until he had placed
her in the arms, and resigned her to the no
less warm embrace of her brother, who ar
rived breathless with fear and exertion.
Language wonid fail should we attempt to
describe the emotions Of Robert and Adela, |
after the first burst of delightful JOY, as they
briefly detailed TO each other the various
scenes they had passed through. Gratitude
TO God for their dcliverance was their first e.
mo,ion-ioy, deep JOY, for their unexpected
meeting, an almost heart breaking GREET as
the loss of their parents came freshly to 'heir
minds, and the reflection arose that they
stood alone in the world, insoacl orphans.
Fearful that the report ot their guns th'ght
draw upun them some wandering scouts OF |
the savnges after hriet'ti given to con-
ur,tuIa,ions aud explanations, the little par
" left the scene Of death, first carefully re-
moving every Sign of the deadly struggle that
had taken place.
We need not follow on their route home;
suffice it that after toiIsome and hazardous
march. in few days they reached the settle
ba