The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-12-14

year came and went, and thrice the In
dian traders came to trade, but Oonolas-
ka came not with them. The old chief
tan had regarded the face of Neal and
saw the craft and resolve that dwelt III
him, and feared to trust his child again
within his reach.
"Whereis che Sparkling DewdropP"
asked Meredith of one of the band. "By
the camp fire." said the savage, ''with
the old men and the squaws and the
children, she waits our return" 1t was
enough-with his knife and his rifle,
unknown, he struck the trail for the
camp, where the bright maiden tarried.
Through the deep and silent forest, up
hill and down, he sped with rapid pace,
startled ever and anon by the whirring
of a pheasant and by the cracking of
the underbrush that snapt beneath his
tread. The darkness of night came
upon him and laying his rifle with the
point in the direction of his journey, he
slept beneath the shelter of the trees.
The day-dawn found him starting with
renewed speed, for hope and love spur
red him on with strange fleetness.
Ere the noon the sound of voices struck
his ear, and approaching, he saw the
young Indian children tumbling and
frolicking on the grass, and groups Of
old men and women sitting at the doors
of the wigwams. Stealthily drawing
closer he saw the bright Oonoaska sit
ting at the root of great old oak, and
beside her stood a tall and noble Indian,
who turning, suddenly saw the ap-
proaching white man, and in the twink
ling of an eye an arrow whizzed past
Meals head, lifting his locks as it went.
A flash, and the warrior fell, for Meals
rifle had done its work. The old men
grappled their bows the affrighted chill
dren fled to the wigwams; in the first
moment of the wild CONSERVATION, while
Echo was still repeating his rifles re-
port, the arm of Meredith was around
the waist of ''The Sparkling Dewdrop"
"a moment more and with his precious
burden he was lost in the thick wood.
A few of the aged warriors followed in
swift pursuit the fectcst fell when he
reached within rifle shot of the flying
lovers, and SO did a second, and so
third and the chase was relinquished.
Missing Neal from among the fisher.
men, the father of Oonolaska hurried
his band rapidly homeward, who re-
turning, found the maiden gone and the
brave to whom she was betrothed, well
tering in his blood. With wild yell
the whole party started in pursuit. The
miles were marked for time with now
the dead father of one, and now. the dead
father of another-but night came on
and hid the footprints on the leaves,
and by the morning the wind and rain
had obliterated them forever. In the
madness of revenge and the frenzy of
despair the search in the wide forest was
continued for many days; but the lost
maiden was found not, for Neal had
hidden her in the dark chamber in the
rock. With his trusty rifle firmly grasp
ed he sat within at the doorway, deter
mined that it should be blocked with
dead warriors before one should enter.
But their retreat remained undiscovered,
and when the immediate danger was
past, he sailed out at night to procure
food from his friends, the fishermen. 1t
was fatal sally, for among them was a
ruthless Swede from the settlement of
that people on the Delaware, who had
fallen as madly as he, in love with Como
laska, and burning with disappointment
and jealousy, he betrayed to the Indians
the hiding place of the lovers; and the
coming night witnessed one of those aw.
full scenes, but too common in savage
warfare, at the relation of which the
blood curdles. Knowing the willy and
powerful enemy with whom they had to
deal, thirty of the noblest warriors, fully
equipped, came by stealth in the dark
ness upon the little fortress, defended by
a single arm. Their shrill war whoop
awoke the sleepers--Neal knew well
the cry, and knew well too, his life was
at stake, and treasure he held dearer
than life. Like tired pack at wild.
beasts den they lay watching the open
ing in the rock till the day came, and
then summoning the occupants to come
forth, and receiving no reply, one more
resolute than the others commenced to
enter. The rifle of Neal arrested him
and he fell dead at the feet Of his COM
panions. Quickly, while the smoke
poured out, and before Neal could reload,
another sprang into the entrance, but
when he approached within reach ofthe
white mans arm the keen knife of the
latter had reached his heart. He was
drawn out by his brother warriors, and
another and another in attempting to en-
ter met his fate. Fooled and desperate
they yelled like wounded beasts of prey,
then changing the mode of attack, gath
cred dry wood in the forest around, and
filled the opening to the dark chamber