Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-20

ligh, Of demon, and his brawny chest
heaved with conflicting passions. The
muscles of his ferocious countenance
worked with the visible effect of the i,,-
visible thoughts that chased each other
through his brain. Extending his long
bouy finger towards them, he exclaim-
eC:-
"The Great Spirit smiles upon the
projects of the red-man. Behold! The
pale-face warrior and the betrothed of
his heart come hither. They shall be-
come captives of the Crouching Eagle.
She shall dwell in his wigwam. She is
graceful as the spotted fawn. Her coun-
tenance is sweet as the smile of the
morning. Her voice is like the ripping
Of waves in the time of the budding
blossom. Its melody shall cheer the
heart of Wash-kee-chai. Bu,''-and
his grim countenance glowed with a d.
abolical expression as he continued
'but the pale-face warrior shall die. He
shall disappear like the mist before the
rays of Kee-shesaw.* He shall sing his
dcath-song. When the morning light
breaks over the blue hills OF the east,
he shall be bound TO the stake. The
burning brush shall eat the quiyering
flesh from his bones. The Great Spir-
it will hear his lamentations, and make
glad :he red mans heart. The pale
face warrior shall sing his death-song." I"
Then relapsing into silence, and beck
oning his companions to follow, he ad-
vauced with the stealth Of a catamoun,
towards his intended victims.
From where the savages were con.
cealed, a deep ravine, oycrhung with
matted vines and hawthorn bushes, ex-
tended TO the banks Of the Potomac,
down which the Indians now glided like
SO many apparilions. Arriving at its
terminus, they quietly awaited The CON-
ing Of our young friends.
Totally oblivious of danger, Roland
aud his fair companion thought only oi
each other; and OF that delicious, dream.
like spell that binds kindred spirits TO-
gesher-,hat holy and mysterious sen,i,
ment of love, eminating from the throne
of the great Jehovah, infuses itself un.
seen into our hearts, to harmonizc and
soothe the wild and rugged tendencies oil
our nature. Who has not felt il! Who
has not experienced the gentle sway
and the intoxicating melody of the voice
OF love! As they approached the ravine,
everything assumed the solemn quietude
Of the grave. But in moment. rich
melody, apparently from the throat ol
some ieathered ehorister, r, burst upon their
ears. 1t acted in unison with the res.
ponsive beating of lheir hearts, and
they drew nearer. in order to hear more
perfectly every strain of the eloquent
songs,er, but all again grew quiet. Then
the low, soothing chirp Of a cricket in
vited them to proceed. 1t acted upon
their feelings like enchantment. |,
spoke Of home and the happy fireside,
with the sweet angel of peace presiding
over it as It's tutelar deity. All danger,
at that moment, seemed far away. They
advanced 10 the mouth Of the rayine, and
were about to return, when 10! fifty hor-
rid looking savages glided from their
covert to intercept them. Alice clung
with the convulsive energy Of despair to
Roland; but his strong arm and stout
heart were no iaatch for SO many a,hlet-
ic warriors, whose hearts were thirsting
for human blood. Escape was impos.
sible, and resistance worse than mad
ness, and Roland, therefore, yielded
himself a captive al once, trusting To fu-
ture circumstances to effect their liberia.
tion. His soul was tortured almost be-
yond endurance with the most poignant
agony. His dear Alice was a captive
in the power of unrelenting savages,
from whom she could exp pee. no leniency,
and he attributed the inishap exclusively
to himself The thought was CALLING in
the extreme to his noble heart. but he
sustained himself like hero, exhibit
ing no emotion, but regarding The whole
matter, apparently, with sioical indiffer-
ence, knowing that the least manifesta-
ton of feeling would excite disposition
on the part OF the savages 70 heap upon
his devoted head all manner of annoy
ance and indignity. Alice. too, when
she comprehended their situation, smoth.
cred her grief in silence. Her gentle
spirit was bowed down TO the earth, but
she placed firm and unwavering reli-
ance upon the omnipo,ent arm Of God.
to effect their deliverance from the sad
fate that seemed to await them.
After few hurried words of condo
lence to his lovely companion in captiv-
ity, he turned towards Wash-kee.chai,
or the Crouching Eagle, and said---
"Wash-kee-chai is powerful warrior.
The Grea. spiri. has endued him with
strength to triumph over his enemies
They fall before him like leaves Of the
forest when the cold winds Of autumn
blow upon them. He is mighty on the
war-palh. His wigwam is adorned with
many scalps. Wash.kee-chai is no
coward. His trail is marked with the
blood of his enemies. But he raises
not the iomahawk agains. helpless
squaws. He wars only against men. "
.The pale-face warrior does not speak
with forked tongue. Wash-kee. chai
is mighty on the war-path. He is cum
ming as the Psa.mash-kaf of the noun