The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-06
WooDsFIELD, oHIO WEDNESDAY, AUGUST g. 1851.

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W0ODSFIELD, OHIO, !
the Psquot; nor shall he have other redress
than he can win at the spears point"
i With these words the hostile Sachen
] plucked q hawks feather from his crest
and gave il to the messenger.
"Take this to the Moheagan slave. and
say, Miantonimoh will meet him with 9
thousand warriors on each side, or in sin
| gle combat, and the victor shall unite the
crests Of the hawk and eagle, and make
slaves Of the tribe of the conquered. Co.
bear back my answer" tst,f
The messenger had not been gone hall
an hour, when Miantonimoh, at the head
Of eleven hundred warriors, marched forth
from the camp, and swiftly took his way
towards the country of the Moheagans.
When the messenger of Uncas reported
his reception from the council, and the
challenge Of the fierce Sachem, his indig-
nation was reused. j u ~
"Go," he said to the Indian, removing
an eagles feather from his plume as he
spoke, and affixing it to the point Of his
spear, shear this to the assassin. AT high
noon tomorrow Uncas will meet him, with
thirty warriors, each, in the glen which
divides our hunting grounds. There will
Ipunish him for his arrogance"
1Hl a ssh CHAPTER Nv. e se,
2 In green and quiet dell, through which
a brook leaped garrulously along from
rock to rock, to mingle at length with the
Quinabough, which, bearing small feet
Of canoes on its breast, swept by not far
of, a scene presented itself, which, though
not frequent among the Aborigines. was
not altogether unknown to their rude CHI
valry. On the sloping sides of the two
opposing banks, which shut in the glen,
were ranged sixty warriors, thirty OF the
Narragansett tribe, and a like number of
the Moheagan. Between them was lev.
oil arena about four rods wide, and divided
by the rivulet into nearly equal portions.
In this arena stood the rival Sachems,
Uncas, and Miantonimoh, separated by
the brook, which was but stride across.
They were without covering, save skin
bound about their lions; the tuft of feathers,
the insignia of their Sachem dignity, also
crowned the head of each. They were
armed, each with spear and battle axe.
These distinguished chiefs were both past
the middle age, yet were in the full possess
sion Of their iron strength, and retained the
activity Of young warriors. Miantonimoh
displayed, in his rude and savage costume,
a muscular and powerful frame, free and
light in its movements. His aspect was
fierce and revengeful, as he eyed his an
tagonist, and impatently awaited the signal
for the onset. As the moment approached
he grew more restless; handled his wea-
pons with menacing air; clashed them to-
gether with a low cry, and writhing his
muscles, he paced to and fro on the bor-
ders ofthe brook, like a Gagged leopard.
Uncas, on the other hand, stood leaning
upon his spear, his majestic figure dis
played to advantage by the unstudied at
titude he had fallen into. The arm con-
tanning the hatchet hung carelessly down
by his side; while his eye steadily watched
the movements of his antagonist. He
stood without motion, and apparently, save
his glittering eyes, without life; bronzed
statue of the Farnesan Hercules.
A short distance higher up the rivulet
were two Indians, one from each tribe,
intently watching the shadow OF an arrow
struck upright in the ground. Gradually
il shortened and turned towards the north.
AT length they simultaneously grasped
the war-like dial, broke it between them,
and threw the fragments into the air. It|
was noon! Before they fell 10 the ground,
amid terrible war-whoop from the oppos-
ing warriors, Miantonimoh, shouting his
war.cry, "Narra! Narra!" hurled his
spear against the breast Of his antagonist.
Uncas stepped aside, and the roaring mis-
sile buried itself, quiyering, halfits length
in the hill side, behind him, at the feet Of
the Moheagan warriors. With yell Of
disappointment, he leaped forward with
his battle-axe upraised, to cleaye him to
the chine.
! lUncas met him, with his spear levelled,
and launched it, as he leaped the brook.
Grazing his side, it turned off, struck q
tree and glanoing, flew far into the stream.
At the same instant their battle axes clash
ed together, and they fought with terrific
fury. The surrounding warriors grasped
their arms tighter, and gave signs oi their
anxiety to mingle in the conflict, and We're
with difficulty restrained by their more
cautious chiefs. Twice. the Narragansett
drew blood from the veins Of the Mohea-
gan; four times the Moheagan buried his
hatchet in the flesh of the Narragansett's
arm and thigh. 4sa Ia
"These are but cratches with thorn"
said Miantonimoh, tauniingly touching his
own wounds; sUncas has lost his strength.
He is q woman. The eagle has become
an owlll'' he added, enraged by the cool
ness Of his opponent, and trying by taunts
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