The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-08-27

doubt, and more in this world can
never know! How utterly impossible
it is to understand the words, MUST
DIE
Midnight-the midnight appointed for
the bloody sacrlice-was now come.
In stiffness and awe, silent as the eve
ming wind when it stirs not a withered
leaf without even a whisper Of sympa>
thclic eagerness, the fierce troops Of red
men had gathered about the tent of the
captive. NOiseless as the surrounding
night, aud hid in the dark folds Of its gar
mcnts, he knew not that one of the pas
sionate lhrong was near lie knew not
of their presence even long after, when
the hellish flame itself was kinded. They
stood aiar of rapt in the widest trance
Of supersttious terror Edward had no
means for marking the progress of the
few bitter moments that were TO await
him on earth yet making twofod al
lowancc for the suspense and the an
guish Of his situation, il seemed to him
impossible but that the destined hour
was long since passed; when all at once
be saw through the opening Of the lodge,
away he knew not how far, the faint
kndling of fire. lie knew that the fa-
tai midnight was now fully come. lie
fixed his eyes on the feeble blaze, until
it struggled on into a moderate flame
then shed glare on the Objects close at
hand-than burned upward into a mag,
niliccnt pyre. All this was only the
work of n few rapid moments. He could
now easily discern that the fire was on
little spot, either natural or built up
for the occasion by human hands, in the
midst of the slimy waters of the adioin>
ing marsh.
lie saw likcwise-lc knew but too
well why they were iherc-two dark fig.
urcs moving about in the yellow sphere
Of the freight. One was a tall, well.
formed man, Of proud bearing, whose
hands moved gracefully, Yet imperiously,
as he moved about The pile and labored
in the mplous work the Other was
perfect hag, in shape, in posture, and in
gesture. Edward at once and truly con.
jectured that these were none other than
Philip and the (renzied prophecies, Ne
loya, whose power over the Grief was
notorious.
Presently the hag was left alone. A
little boat, hitherto unseen, shot out from
the Altar island, with Philip at its oar,
dashed on among the slugqishly calling
waves, combed through the dry reeds
and rushes IN its path, and vanished
from his sight. But he knew that it dis.
appeared in the direction Of his prison.
lie now became again conscious of the
presence of his hitherto motionles, keep
ers. The older was moving to rouse up
her sleeping daughter, and he knew who
was the guest they expected. But the
chief crept softly along; all was still as
the stlllest mdnight may be-nol 4 sound
of footsteps yet there appeared bold
figure at the door-it came aud stood
over him
The pale face, it was said, in
grave tone of voice" The pale face
must go with me the hour is come"
The thong that had kept the caplve's
ankles in painful consiraint was now un-
fastened, and his arms, too, were set en-
lireIy free. As Edward stood up, the
strong, confident hand Of the chief held
his left arm in firm but gentle grasp,
and he felt the other hand as firmly, vet
as easily, laid upon his opposite shoulder
His flesh quivered, as though the touch
had been galvanic.
They came to the Altar island. They
stood before the alfnaked and withered
shape of the sorceress, Her hollow
cheeks were wrinkling thicker and deep
er with emotions of fendish delight.
But even at this moment she thought
and even she dared not say that she
thought" Would it were Onina, the
detested Ohina, who once mockcd at my
art and re'iled the great Philip for my
sake p
Edward saw, at glance, circular
enclosure of stones piled above each 9TH
er to moie than his own height, and lit,
tie more than yard in diameter within.
All around the inner side we're placed