Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-03-29

nroor1v a century has passed away since the light
CANOE of Onawa glded over the clear waters OF the
N;aora river or Nahaska, the Indian maiden, skim
.a5 nth her light bark over its calm bosom. Since
then the hand of civilization has despolled these
cones of their wilder grandeur The steamboat now
annroaches the foaming rapids OF Its grant cataract
"a the busy hum of marshalling improvements JOIN
=; the cIamor of its laundering roar. How changed!
The dense forests darkened its waters, ana the
wild swan sported in their quiet secluslon-tne rude
denizen of the wilderness reclned upon the rock
above its fghtful chasm and watched the surges OF
| the angry waters beneath.
Spring had blossomed into the fullness Of summer
and the rosy hues of morn gilded the Eastern sky
The giddy songsters welcomed it with their shrlli
carol and the forest resounded till its echoes swept
along mngling its joyful sounds with the thunders
of the cataract-al nature seemed to pour forth an
thems of joyous thanksgiving to the Great Ruler OF
the Universe light canoe darted out into the
stream that thus calmly reposed beneath the tran
oul skv and its fair burthen, the lovely Nahaska
laid aside the paddle and her wild poetic soul drank
of the entertainments with which nature thus sur
rounded her The frai1 bark, with its unconscious
adventurer, drifed along faster with the increasing
1ow of the current on which 1t was borne, yet still
Nahaska moved not-she thought not of the danger
to which she fast approaching but her thoughts
were far away in the spirit land of her fathers She
knew not that the keen eye of Onawa had observed
her. resistessy borne towards the angry waters nor
perceived his strong canoe as speck on the water,
in the distance.
The CAV warblers hushed their notes, and the cata-
racts seemed for moment to grow louder as it
to warn Nahaska of its fearful presence She started
from her trance and her eyes looked they would
start from their sockets but with presence of mind
that seldom orsook her. she seized the paddle In her
hand and with tightening grasp struck boldly tor
| the shore.
| The strong arm of Onawa had swept with its huge
stroke his trusty bark to the of Nahaska his
fair bride. Not word was spoken but as he dart
ed to the side of her canoe she dropped the paddle
and seized hold the side of hs-for moment they
the shore. Onawa grasped by a rock that projected
but few feet above but Nahaska had just lett her
boat when his hold slipped and his canoe whirled
with him into the foaming waters of the rapids.
Nahaska, reaching the firm footing of the bank:
swiftly to the verge of the cataract Onawa had
thrown aside the paddle and seemed to be preparing
himself for some great deed. The rushed wild
~ on between the huge rocks that lift their heads
from among the toaming waters. Nahaska gazed ;
it was but moment and she fell upon the flat rock
as one dead-the canoe with Onawa had plunged
into the fearful abyss Of waters below-she be-
held Onawa spring forward, and her senses reeled
with the fearful reality.
Bound thus to earth by the strong bands of nature
she moved not for while, but her eyes were set
| with CLASSY stare.
Soon the quickening pulses and the slow and Ia
bored breathings throbbed and heaved and she
slowly to her feet Pressing her hand to her brow,
she approached once more the brink of the chasm
and then started back with convulsive shudder.
1.-THE Great Spirit" she gasped, has took from
Nahaska the young chief Of her bosom, and the an
CRY waters howl his funeral song. Onawa your Ma
haska will come to you in the spirit land of your
fathers" she cried aloud she rushed forward
but the strong of chief, he grasped with the
other stunted shrub, caught her. The shock threw
him from his foothold on narrow ledge of rock, and
they both swung for an instant the frightful
precpice In this extremity his nerved arm waver-
ed not-a moment more and they would have dashed
on the rocks beneath, but the chief threw forward
his foot, and placing it firmly on utting crag with
all his strength he pressed his body forward and they
were saved.
"Onawa,' cried Nahaska, half frantic with the
mingling of joy and fear, he lastly sprung upon
the rock the Great Spirit heard the secret wish of
Nahaska, and Onawa sees the wild flower hang upon
his heart he uttered, the maiden reclned her
head upon his bosom.
X X
Onawa had sprang forward the canoe shot over
the cataract, and just escaped the rocks below His
selfpossession left him. but struggling bravely
with the foaming eddes of the cataract reached the
shore, where climbing the precpitous sides of the
rocks of the cliff he just reached the topmost ledge
SO opportune for the safety Of Nahaska. E. H. D.