Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-20
c II A P r E r v.
They do not sleep.
On yonder cliffs, grisly band,
see them sit.-GRAY.

They do not sleep.
On yonder cliffs, grisly band,
see them sit.-GRAY.
BE gay securely;
Dispel, my fair, with smiles, the tim'rous
clouds
That hang on thy clear brow.
DEATH OF AGGRIPPINA.
Those who have visited Cumberland
will recollect Wills Mountain, situated
west Of and rising high above the city.
This mountain, at the time of which we
write, was clothed with an almost i,nper-
vious forest of low scrubby pine timber,
into whose deep recesses, where ample
concealment was afforded. glided about
fifty savagcs. hideously blackened and
begrimmed with war-paini, their dusky
figures looking more like spectres than
human beings. The main force had
crossed over the Potomac into Virginia,
to make a simultaneous descent upon
the unprotected inhabitants along the
south branch of that river. The band
above alluded 10 had been detailed for the
purpose Of making an onset on the set
clement. l, was headed by the celebra-
ted Wash-kee.chai, or the Crouching
Eagle, as ferocious and vindictive chief
as ever figured in the annals Of savage
warfare. His whole life was characteri-
zed by an uncompromising devotion TO
the interests Of his tribe, and an unmit-
igated hostility towards the whites. Ma
ny reeking scalp, torn from the heads
Of murdered victims, dangled at his gir-
die, and many noble warrior, rejoicing
in the strength Of consummaie manhood,
and hitherto considered as invlncible in
personal combat as Richard Ceur de
Leon in the tournament. had sunk with
the cold dew of death upon his brow,
beneath the weight of his ponderous
war.club. And this willy and invincible
savage had come, backed by his blood
thirsty coadjutors, to wage the dreadful
war Of determination against the whites.
But in this he was aciuated by two
fold purpose-the complete extermina-
ton Of the whites, and the capture OF
the gentle Alice Morley.
The gracefully modelled contour o!
her person, and the transcendent loveli-
ness Of her features, had inspired his
savage heart with a passion as wild and
fierce as il was ungovernable. At frs,
Wash-kee-chai endeavored to subdGe
his fiery love for the be au,iful pale.fsce,
but again and again her sweet image
would float across his mental vision and
at last he submitted unreluctantly TO its
wild dominion. hut instead Of soo,h-
ing his ferocions spirit, it augmentented
his cruel thirst for human blood. With
these diabolical designs filling his bosom,
and this insatiate appetite. whe,ted by
the prospect of blood, he had arrived TO
secure the person Of our heroine and
massacre her friends and kindred.
II was the bewitching hour Of sunset
the hour to love and to lovers mos,
sweet. The sun, fast disappearing in a
sea Of liquid fire beyond the western
hills, tinged the clouds, that were sus-
pended like gorgeous banners from the
blue ba,tlements of heaven, with crimson
and gold. But first one and then anoth.
er glowing column Of beauty disappear.
ed, leaving in its resplendent path Sigh.
tinge Of imperial purple. which quickly
faded away into the blue ether. and then
the evening star shone forth. clear and
lustrous, sparkling diadem on the brow
of Night.
Roland Tomlinson. when he again
reached the side Of Alice Morley, forgot
his weary limbs and the imminent dan
gers of the settlement; and now, at the
hour Of sunset. was vending his way,
in fancied security, linked arm in arm
with Alice, along the banks Of the Poto-
mac, in the direc,iono of Wills Mountain.
Wash-kee- chai. or the Croucaing Eagle.
beheld their approach with savage de-