The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-23

there came Along single cnnoe, con-
tanning an old chief and three hunters. on
their way 10 the bunting grounds. Noise
lessly they moved their paddles. Before they
we're seen they had discovered the smoke Of
the camp fire. They waited till dark, aud
then silently landed on the shore opposite
the islnud One ofthe best swimmers was
sent 10 examine the canoes,aud see who were
the owners. There were bushes MI around
the shores Of the island, and the Mohawks
were busy in cooking their supper. The
night WINS very dark. The scout crept up n
mong the cuIoes, which were drawn upnnd,
according TO the immemorial custom Of The
Indian, turned bottom side 1uppermost. lie
examined their form, counted their nun,ber,
and returned 10 his companions. The cum
ming chief laid his plans Instantly, ard lost
10 time in executing them. He directed Two
Of his men 10 swim silently back, and Tvs still
as the night, to land, aud with sharp knife,
slit every cunoe lengthwise from end 10 eud.
! They went on heir perilous erraud-land-
ed-crepl up,and cut each canoe full ofslits.
! They were just sInrling 10 swim back, when
II Mohawk rose up with huge thigh bone
ofihe moose in his hund. which he had Just
heen picking. al WISH" said he, "that this
| bone might strike an Abenuuuis OH the head"
| He then gave itu throw over The bushes into
the lake, and sure enough, il dit strike one
ofthe swimmers on the head, and stunned
him! The other indian was close at hand,
and instantly understood il.
| He was afraid that when his companion re-
covered from the SUM- lie would thrash the
water. and make noise. So lie silently aud
coolly dragged him under water, and drown
ed him! All this was the work of silence,
and ofa very little lime, and The Indian re-
turned and reported 10 his chief. The three
now entered their canoe, and padding on,
! l. a, Il. C., IL.
hawks. These poor fellows raised their war
whoop, rushed into their canoes, and put ont
into the lake. But now came their trouble.
! Their canoes began nj once 10 fill, aud TO
siuk'' SflIe cunning Abeliaquis came upon
them with the war shout. The Mohawks
were IN an0zement, and were knocked in the
head like dogs, They were all killed except
one, who was desigpedly alive. What
a Victory for three men! in the morning the
j prisQiier was brought forth, expecting to be
'fndp v death by all the torture HAT could he
deyisehsll But their plan was different ,tiiongb
hardly less cruel They stripped the captive,
aud made him look ntthe twenty nine heuds
of his cou1Irymen which were now impaled
oil as many stakes, and stuck UP all around
the island. :. This give il The name of"llead
lsland"--"tutufup. isiand.'') They then cut
off his nose, ears, aod lips, and put him a.
shore. "Now, go hotrte," said they, 'go home,
and tell Mohawks to send more men! Too
easy for three Abennquis 10 whip thirty men
tell Mohaw ks send more men!" The poor
MANNED creature pursued his way through
the paIIsrSss wilderness, and after suffering
Incredible hardships, rcnclIe,l his home, aud
told his story. The Muhawks were mortified
beyond expression. Their hundreds of
schemes for retaliation are not told But in
due time their ven gcance was ample'und full.
| The number who lost their lives as sequel
TO the "llead Island" tragedy was very great.
"Shall we go back aud tell what we have
done?" said one oflhe Yictors, TO his chief.
mo, no! These heads " i'll stay here, and
fore il be too late to hunt deer in the dark of
the mOon."a And onward, and up the lake
the canoe moved, till they reached the Sara
nae, where Plattsbnrg now stands, when
! they turned into that riverand followed il up.
They made 10 stop, even 10 hunt, till they
had passed beyond the rapids, one of which
is seven miles long. Around all these, they
carried their canoe and implements for hunt
ing. In u few days they had REACHED the up.
per Saranac lake, or us they called il, the
"Tnn-belon-inipus, the beautiful lake! And
beautiful itis--alnost beyond expression. lis
waters are deep, clear, and SWEEP. The lake
is almost fifteen miles long. studded with is
lands, and surrounded with enchanting
shores, ..... v. ...... Oh
| AS the canoe emerged Linto the lake from
the long neck or outlet. tile sachem held up
his hand, and the paddles were Inotioncss.
"Smell smoke,n said lie in low voice. "a
smell smoke--some Mohawks somewhere in
the lake" .ga..,- .-..a-.G., aanl
"Can you see any smoker" said one of his
companions ,......-...
"See none-smeIl him sure" Tile canoe
moved very slowly and silently. When OPP
l nnSitp Euula IelopI a los x1b Ia hanrn
so low and feeble that none but an anxious
ear would have caught it. g..,r-rt.. ..r on
"Thnt no Mohawk-thnt Abenaquis wills
| tie" said the leader. He made motion, and
the cunoe turned towards the Island. just
us she reached little niche on the southern
side, young man rose up from the moss in
bushes, and with leap, stood within II few
| feet Of the canoe. ..- .,....-.... t.....
"Sago, sngo," said lie in II voice but little
above a WHISPER. "Brave Tonic is very well
come. Ofall men in The world, Tomo is
the man i want TO see." saa aatgf5 '" TA
| lis the Saranac Hawk. alonei" said Tomo,
with disirustfu look around the lake NJ
| "All alone" -...t.. ......
"Was the smoke tllul ] smell from the camp
! fire of the Saranac Hawk" % ''"' ..'".
! mo, old friend, ii was the smoke Of the Mo-
hawks who are hunting III the upper part of
the lake" ... .-,.....-7 t..7 ,,77,,4i,,) ..F.
aWhat is the young Hawk doing here?"
asked Tomo.
"Come up the rock, and will tell you
Come alone" The chief stepped lightly on
the rock, aud in IA moment they were both
out ofsght. The canoe was lifted out of the
water, aud laid over behind n fhllen tree; mud
in few moments no one would have suspec-
ted any one being OH the Island Long and
low was the consultation between the chief
and the young man whom he called the Sar-
nnac Hawk. ID III ,iiiua aal % sl3.suare.r
L.. The vounU n,nn MIGHT he tNentv two or