The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-09-11
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
"STARvED R0CK;"
OF, THE LAST
OF THE ILLINOIS.
BY ADD. II. SANDERS.
CHAPTER vI.-C0nciRded.
A NEW VICTIM.

u ~ iO' u uiOP SANcpt tIiC tCSSci iuli
by Efak. had wet the parched and cracked
lips of one of the Illinois. Day followed day,
and every hour brought its more agonzing
torture. The flesh shrank and dried mp, till
the last moisture OF their todes concentrated
INTO bubbling foam upon their lips, when,
painting and gasping, their dry tongues rat
Ting against their teeth. death i'm mercy took
them 10 his arms. Whitening and gasping
yet babbllng in the strange madness of intan-
cy, lay children on the rock, while mothers.
bending over them, had not tear 10 relieve
their bursting hearts. The cold shudder OF
death crept over the mother and child and
even as their eyes rolled back in their sock
cts, as il TO ask the soul what cheer. feebly
turned their heads to each other. and word
ratified over them dry lips-it was water"
The infant painted at the shrunken breast, but
no nourishment was there, and feetly strug-
Cling, it died. The warriors looked on with
dry and blood-shot eyes. and mourniully and
decently laid the lileless bodies upon the
clean leaves. e1
Yet cloud chased cloud their bosoms filled
with life, but they passed away, and far off
in the distance dark sheets of mist marked
the copious shOwer-the rains came not on
them. The fresh breath of the falling flood
was in their whistiing nostrils, yet the drops
were withheld. Slowly from the forest hor-
lion rose the black storm clouds, rent with
flashing bolts, and believing till the great
rock shook. Bloodshot eyes gazed till they
could no longer see, and hearts begged the
! rain or the bolt. But roaring. flashing,
splashing, the storm rolled by, and they felt
It's hot breath, but there was no water for
them. At their feet, in thousand circling ed
dies, dubbed and sparkled in the sunshine
the waters Of the Illinois stream, playing for
a moment with the huge rock, then whirling
away in sportive chase over shells and peb-
bles. And leaning over the rock i'm horrid
gaze which could not unfasten itself from the
fleeing waters the captives laughed, bah
bling in gIbbering applause of the chasing
eddlcs-and died. At night they lay upon
their backs to catch the river dews, but it
oby refined their agony, by increasing their
desire.
Then followed daylight-the sun again
rose, the birds warbled joyously, and nature
was filled with the freshness OF newborn life
still sat The warriors gazing into each
others eyes. and upon the heavens, and into
the dashing waters below. Then lifting their
heads, as the derisive shouts of the Prophet
and his savage friends Knocked their agones,
and bending over the rocks verge, the stern
and unconquered warriors in voices horrid in
their unnatural tones hurled back Defiance
Loud then laughed the demons below, as with
their paddle, they splashed the glttering
drops high up the rock almost into the faces
OF the capiives, and formed the beautiful rain
bow which seemed ray Of heaven amid the
hell of this strife-and saw peering down at
, them, and following the large drops as they
rose and fell, red maniacal eyes, that seemed
10 devour The miniature showers. Louder yet
rose their shouts Of glee, when young brave
maddened by the burning agonies OF his tor
ture, plunged into the flood below, willing 10
yield the little life left for n mouthful Of wa
ter. But the warriors on the rock drew them.
selves back in scorn, and their husky voices
called him coward.
But apart sat the figure of the chief Mo-
kena. In his arms he Dursed a form so frai
and fragile, that it seemed a breath Of vino
might have borne it away upon its bosom
like a withered leaf The chief himself had
not touched drop of wafer since the horrid
night when first their supply had been cut Oft
yet the burning. rackng tormeDts OF his sou
, had been such, that those of the body were
forgotten or almost unfelf. In his yet muscu.
. lar arms reclined like a child the slight form
} of Etak. Cold shuddtrs crept over that form
yet the brow burned as il the veins were filled
with fire. A smile played upon her lips
such as seem TO bow the lips of angels whcr
they mingle i'm our dreams-a smile. in which
fingered the only deceit her guileless heart
seemed capable Of harboring the desire o.
making her chief believe she was happy
Her eyes were misty, yet her last look min
gled with the agonizing gaze Of the chief
He felt the pressure of her little thin hand
and knew the pure spirit within was spread
ing It's wings to soar to the bright hunting
grounds above. Yet he raised his eyes and
his heart asked the Great Spirit to spare her
With gentle fingers he parted the black silk
en- tresses from her forehead, and pressed
his lips upon her brow; then as the light
spray collected upon her yet smiling lips and
the breath came and went by fits and starts.
he groaned aloud in the agony of the thought,
that with floods rolling at his ieet, he had not
a drop to ease the torture which racked the
maiden's frame.
The fragile form quivered and her lips
parted as if to speak. The chief bent his
! head, and he heard one word feebIy mutter.
> ed-yet it called not for water, but breathed
the last sigh her soul-hs own name. He
felt no pressure e the hand. nor breath upon
1 his brow, yet fixed and staring gaZed the
!, eyes into his. He knew that the gentle sp
rit had fled yet he pressed the form to hi
burning bosom. as if to re-animate the clay
His head dropped in the agony of despair
and he prayed the Great Spirit to call hin
r hence.
: Then from below rose yell Of triumph: al
if in victory over the death Of the Maiden
The chief started as if siung. The EXPIRE
3 sion Of his face changed from anguish AM
E love, to foul hate and thirst for revenge
: Sternly he arose with his light burden, as il
e duty or passion, more strong than his grie
: babe him call into action the powers of hi
: mind. Firmly he strobe among the lifelesi
bodies of the few already released from Their