The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-09-07
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
Z" 5 TARVED ROCKS"
OF, THE LAST
OF THE ILLINOIS.
BY ADD. II. SANDERS.
BY ADD, II. SANDERS.
tcHAPTER w.
WAR AND WILES.

with Mokena at their head, moved through
the wilderness. Their moccasins scarcely
disturbed the sleep oil the leaves, but they
passed on with the fitting murmur OF the
wind. Suddenly the leader gave low boot,
like the distant cry of the owl. and every sd
wage seemed fastened TO the earth. The
murmur of voices was heard then the light
tread of feet and the Prophet and Ottawa
maiden stood in the midst of the Illinois. The
young chief with an exclamation oil surprise,
clasped the maiden TO his bosom. But the
darkness prevented Mokena from perusing
distinctly the face of the Prophet, or he
might have reld there the dark lines OF pas
sion and disappointment.
The Prophet had calculated upon passing
the Illinois, who would have fallen INTO the
Ottawa ambuscade, eprpared by his kind
foresight. The Prophet had his own plans
tor the after action, but not to release HIM
self from the unfortunate present. lie re-
piled briefly TO the chiefs look Of enquiry and
establishment, by saying
''The young chief is quicl; to save his mate,
but the father is swilter TO rescue his daugt-
ter. He dreamed that Mokena would be too
late to save the maiden from his enemies, and
he came himself to deliver her. But let the
chief and his warriors hasten, for the Poio-
watomie trail is between him and his village,
and his squaws are alone"
The chief replied not, but, taking the eagle
feather from his scalp-lock, fastened 1t among
The waving shreds of hair dangling upon the
shoulders of the Prophet.
The band turned their steps, and fastened
toward their village. They had progressed
some distance in return, when, striking the
trail OF their enemies, the Prophet suggested
another course, which was followed.
4 hf. f.faf. at "a.
their pa sage almost stopped by heavy bar
ricr OF rocks. when. sudden us the bursting of
storm, and douhly startling from the previ-
Gus silence which had enwrapped the party
broke forth the terrible warwhoop, echoed
/ from a thous md throats it seemed, and ac-
companied by shower of arrows. Then
rushed upon the devoted Illinois, double their
| force OF PoiowatOmIe warriors, burning WIN
hate and thirst for revenge. The conflict
was short. AlOkenas voice sounded even
above the war-whoops, AMI his warriors gath
cred around him, there 10 live or die. The
chief fought like madnan. He hated, but
there was Il passion even stronger than hate
it was love. He fought not tor revenge,
/ but to rescue the maiden from the knives oil
enemies Yet lie saw her not. Thrice he
Glove path through the dark mass OF the
enemy, aud men fell before him like reeds be-
fore The wiad; yet surprised, his eyes saw
no. Etak. He shouted her name, but war
whoops alone responded. The enemy gath
cred, while the Illinois seemed melted away.
! Mokena saw that retreat was the only way
to save the remainder. Thoughts OF his un-
/ protected village flashed through his mind,
and. giving a peculiar whoOp, he and his lit
tie band darted away in The darkness Rap
| idly they, FASTENED TO the Illinois village
/ -, - a.
his firm confidence in the supposed superna-
tural powers possessed by the old man, urg-
] ed him to believe that those powers must
have been exertcd for the preservation oi the
maiden.
On ihey went, yet the young chief almost
feared to look down from the high bluf TO
the spot on which IL had left his village lest
its smoulderiug ruins should meet his eye
! But there it reposed among the towering
cliffs, and in the food of moouli ght. Soon The
village was full of life. There was no time
for moaning, but sorrowiully the families Of
the slain warriors made their hasty prepara-
tons for the defence OF those left. The en-
envy was hourly expected, : ct as the chief
Glanced around upon his strength-upon the
barriers which nature opposed to those at
lacking. and upon the strong arms and hearts
to defend, he icle secure. Sill Il heavy
cloud hung on his brow, for the Prophet and
maiden had not yet arrived.
The moon was slowly sinking behind the
hills, yet the chief paced the hard trodden
great squire OF the village. Warriors lay
concealed among the leaves TO watch the up
proach OF the enemy. a figure descended
the bIulF and approached the vilge. The
sentincls raised their heads, but gave no
! alarm, and the figure proceeded. II enter
] ed the great square aai stood before The
chief
"Prophei,n exclaimed Nokena, as he sez-
ed the shoulder OF the intruder with the full
strength Of his grasp, where is the flower
where is Etak 2"
The Prophet calmly released himself from
the grassy OF the chief, and replied
The flower yet blooms for her chef--she
awaits him. The maiden issccure where the
r chiefa and his people must be before another
sleep. Chief" he continued, drawing him
self back with solemn majesty OF dcmcanOr
: listen! The Prophet has again dreamed
, of the Illinois. Listen! iof on the words OF
thy Father rest. the fate OF this ration
Hearken to the whiSperings oil the Good
Spirit, and the POtowatOmies shall bite stones
! aud their own teeth shall be broken ;-des-
S pise these whisperings, and the Illinois shall
e be crushed among the leaves Of their huniidg
grounds. Listen the Great Spirit speaks
Thus dreamed the Prophet. He saw the IL
linois in their village as they now are. and
r dark clouds whirling angrily over their heads
4 Yet they look to the earth. where lay the
o bones OF their fithers, and saw not the gath
erRT storm. BackneSs covered the earii
Il and filed the sky. The storm burst, and Tho
c v:lllge was the battle ground OF the light
: ning-tongued clouds. Lightcame-the gold
EN- sun shone giOrious-but where was TIE
vilaga? The buiiIio herded in the loae
grass OF the great SQUARE. and trembled az the