Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-01
AN INDIAN STORY.
BY THOMAS ELLIS, BROOKLYN, 1iig

/ = < -
Al, BY THOMAS ELLIS, BROOKLYN, eit.5us-
|, was a sullry even ng towards the LAS
Of June, 1722, that Captain Harmon and
his eastern rangers rged their canoes upon
the Kenebec River, in pursuit Of their saw.
age enemies. Sc. sris+ zE. .2&s 81
Four hours they toilet diligently at. the
oar, the last trace of civilization was left be.
hind, and the long shadoss of the skirling
forests met and blended in the middle Of the
broad stream, that wound datkly through
them. RI. r,... staa.ft} st+ s'a'.ns:-
AT every sound from The adjacent shores
the rustling wing Of some night. bird, or
the quick foo,slep OF some wild beast-ihe
dash Of the oar was suspended, AID the far-
gers grasp lightened on his rifle.
All knew the peril tf the enterprise;
and that silence, which is natural to men
who feel themselves in the extreme of NOR.
al jeopardy, settled like cloud upon the
midnight adventures. -'s'-1 'sfT 1t-a'- ---
"Hush-sollly, men!" said the wa.chful
Harmon, in voice which scarcely rose
above hoarse whisper, as his canoes swept
around rugged Promon;ory, there is a
light ahead"
A II eyes were bent towards the shore. -
A tall Indian fire cleaned up amidst the
great oaks, casting a red and strong dark
| light upon the dark waters. ..-,.
For single and brealhless moment the
operation Of the oar was suspended, and
every one listened with painful earnestness
TO catch the well known sounds which sci.
dom fail to Indicate lbe proximity of the
savages. But now all was silent.
With slow and faint movements Of the
oar, the canoes gradually approached the
suspected spot. The landing was effected
| in silence. .-,.-.s..., a...s..ss5
After moving cautiously in the dark s'lc.
dow the party at length ventured within
the broud circle Of the light which al first
attracted their attention a.'
1ar rmon was at their heaG, with an ey o
and hand as gu OK as those OF The eesayage
enemy whom he sought. .-.--s,.,-... s-.,. -.
The body Of fallen tree lay across the
path. As the rangers were on the point Of
leaping over it, the hoarse whisper of Har-
mon again broke the silence. = i.-~ s-rg
"God Of Heaven!'' he exclaimed, point,
ing to the tree; ''see here! Ills the work Of
the cursed redskins
A smotnered curse growleo on the lips Of
the rangers as they bent grinly forward in
the direction pointed out by their comman-
der ~.-- ...... al. ..... .-....r5 --
Blood was spripkled on the long grass,
and human md = the hand Of a white
man-luy ON the bloody log. 81 79i 81 81.
coun,enaDce worked with terrible emotion.
Had the rangers followed lheif own des-.
perate inclination. they would have hurried
reck !essly on to the work Of vengeance;
bat the example Of their le ,der, who had
regnined his usual ealmness and self-com'.
mand, prepared them for less speedy,
but more certain triumph. -- .
Cautiously passing over the fearful OBJ
stacle in the pathway: and closely follow
ed by his companions, he advanced stealth
lily with his party as rauch as possible, be-
hind the thick Trees 49, -.s. . .s.-- %. .a-s
In few moments, they Obtained full
view of the objects of their search. Stretch
ed at their length around huge fire, but
at convenient distance from it, lay the
painted and half-naked savages. ~ .'ss
1t was evident from their appearance,
that they had passed the day in one oftheir
horrio revels; and they were now suffering
under the effects of intoxicalion. 5'a'
Occasionally grim warrior among
them started half: upright, grasping bis
tomahawk, as if 10 comb It some vision Of
his disordered brain, but unable to shake
off the stupor from his senses, uniformly
fell back into his former position. 5z4s
The rangers crept nearer. AS they
bent their keen eyes el,ng their well tried
rifles, each ell perfectly sure OF their aim.
They waited for The signal of Harmon,
who was endeavoring to bring his long
musket to bear upon the head Of the sava-
gos
"Fire!" he al length exclaimed, as the
sight of his piece inlerposed full and dis
unct between bis eve and the wild seal p
lock of the Indian; sire and rush on''
The sharp voice Of thirty rifles thrilled
through the heart of the forest. s-s- -.z
There was q groan-a smolhered cry
wild and conclusive movement among
the sleeping Indians, and all again was
silent. rf@ IS -n g.. u-#-" .sa4 'f
ihe rangers sprang forward with lhelr
clubbed rifles and hunting knives; but
their work was done. The red men had
gone to their last audit before the Great
Spirit; and no sound was heard among
them save the gurgling Of the ho. blood
from their lifeless bosoms. .s... ,
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. the
Roscream Work-House, Ireland, the learned
Dnctor in CHARGE has annr,,nriated one of