The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-08-20

Ol lne iITc-llgUt, uCiOTtneu duu ndIglSn
figure, dim and remote and minute. lie
leaps down the intervening crags,
bounds over the rough ledges, and thrusts
himself into the narrow nook, where the
witch like form brcods aud revels by her
smoky-burning fagois.
"Al the spirits of evil are abroad to-
night" said he "but / arn come-come
as ] told you-comc for the last time.
Yon and have wandered about many
fine day together, and this is not the first
dark night we have spent in converse
with the Evil Spirit"
But it is the last, 3" interrupted the |
sorcertss.
TIE last, echoed the other. "I
am come to end your worthless life. You
couH foretell that! Yes, this is your
last night on earth Philip sent me. He
knows YOU You are his prophetess."
You think to frighten me p said
Neloya. "That is my trade. Philip
knows me, and he never dared mock or
disobey me J" and the hag set up a wild
din with her chickcoes that rivalled the
thunder abroad. From the dark vaults
on each side of the fire that blazed a.
ganst one wall of the cavern, scores of
black aud checkered and variously paint
ed snakes rolled their long bodies, coil
struggling within coil, in an attendant
dance. Long aud fiery tongues darted
in and ont with a storm of Kisses, and
theirr sonous jaws chartered as if with
cold The warrior, well as he had bc>
fore known the magical arlifices of the
wilch, now stood ibashed and motion
less and silent
The wild din went cl nnd the wild
dance abated not Thicho, and thicker
grew the wrlthiug coils q! the serpents
aud yipers and as one rank advanced,
+ HIoSlH8 anu Nli'tttl lNI, htdit anu Htii-
er to the hewildered Indian, another
closed in, and still another and another
from behind, as though brought forth
without number from the womb Of dark
ness.
Hold !" at length the warrior eX~
claim diet us not carry this jes. too
far. Live as long as you wiIl-that Is
no business Of mne-but bid these foul
spirits fall back little space. dislike
their company. Just command them To
withdraw. Put an end to this hend'
dance, and send your neighbors home.
| must have some words with you alone.
Don't carry the Jest too far, | say. |
am in earnes, no.. Will you not hear
When I saw you yesterday gathering
roots bv the swamp, you promised to
meet me here tonight. Come, let us
have the meeting to ourselves-'ciH you
not defed all the spirits of Storm
and Darkness that might come to you.
You know what | would have. You
know the prophecies that Philip sent me
to seek. You are his priestess You
have sworn to work for him, and you
know why AIN here. Come, cease this
silly uoisc aud confusion and hasten TO
my business.
But still the horrd dance went on.
The warrior spoke not another word
while the strange revelry lasted. He
stood in sullen composure as the veno,
nous tongues drew nearer aud nearer.
lie would have remained fixed and in
every appearance as senseless as rock
even until the langs of the serpenis haG
torn each muscle from his skeleton, aud
his life had departed Neloya suffered
her reptiles to advance to the last point
at which the warrior could remain un>
touched then IN an instant the din
ceased and the dancers vanished. The
man fixed his keen eye on the sorceress
and stooG in silence She renewed her
fire, sat down on dingy stone by its
side, and turned her eyes on her guest
When she had thus sat for minute, she
said
"Neloya is ready-our last night is
almost gone "
"No-keep on with your stupid sport
Let Philip and his messenger prophesy
for themselves, have seen enough. |
must return 10 Mount Hope. must
fight within two days, perhaps to-mor-
row." and the warrior gathered his blan-
ket about him TO depart.
You came, " said Neloya, "to ask
words of prophecy for Phlip-to de-
mand the will of Il c spirits. Tell him
he must dght-6ght, though but 10 die"
cit 'eds no seer to reveal ihal-llo-
bamoc himself could not hinder him.
" And tell him the good spirits have
long ago left him, and that nothing but
a great and bloody sacrifice will retain
the service ofthe Evil. have inquired
Of all, and each shakes lie head - each
turn, lway in silence. Let him make a
great aud bloody sacrifice, or all is over"
"Of whal KIND Z Sneak out plainlY.