The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-06


sed him by without stopping, and confinu-
ed in pursuit Of Otash who fed just before
him. Behind Onecho. came, one after
another, three other young warriors, who
severally turned aside from Miantonimoh's
shattered spear, and passed on without
staying him; for Uncas followed not far
behind, and they knew the Joy i would
give him to capture him alive with his own
hand. When he, at length was approach
ing, the old Narragansett knew him to be
Uncas. His heart failed within him. y
| "Yield thee dog of q Narragansett!y
shouted the Moheagan, as he came ap.
Miantonimoh raised his hand which hsld
the fragment and plunging forward would
have buried it in his heart. Unoas caught
his wrist and wrested it from his hand o.
il he had been child. Miantonimoh
ground his teeth and cursed the Mohea-
gan with impotent rage; then sunk, sullen-
ly and silently, upon The ground. Uncas
stood over him with his battle. axe raised
in threatening manner. ,4s q,
sNarragansett, speak! Demand thy
life" s ~.
The fallen Sachem utteed not word.
"Had you captured me, should have
asked my life Of thee" ,s gye.,
Miantoniinoh replied not, but preserved
sullin and obstinate silence. . ggsF
At this moment Oneoho, having, after
brief and fierce combat, slain Otash, re-
turned, on seeing the danger hanging over
the head Of the father of Nelepe. aii
"Save him, my father!" he cried, arrest
ing the descending blow. d
silence, boy! Plead not for an assas.
sin!" and he put aside Onecho's hand and
essayed to bring down the fatal blow. ~
Again Onecho interposed, when Uncas
struck him back with the haft of his bat
tls.axe, and once more elevated his weap-
on. A third time the lover would have
risked his fathers displeasure for the sake
Of his mistress, when, bis own interposi-
ton was anticipated by loud shrek, and
Nelepe cast herself, like shield, over the
person of her father. Uncas looked sur
prised as he suspended his blow. and cast
an inquiring look towards Onecho. a
'sNelepe," answered the young man.
81 thought sc" was the stern rejoinder.
SNOW Onecho, will at one blow save
your honor and have my revenge"
The eyes of the young warrior sparkled
with fierce light as the stern warrior sss-
pended the axe in the air for final blow.
His flial love struggled with his love for
Nelepe. The latter prevailed. With a
flushing eye he wrested the deadly weap-
on from his fathers arm and hurled it far
into the forest; then lifting Nelepe from tho
ground he fled with her towards her lodge,
which was in sight. hoping to escape by
the river.
Uncas stood pstrifed with astonish.
ment and indignation. His eye fell upon
spear which Narragansett had cast
away in his fight. Obeying the impulse
Of the moment he sprang to the spot where
it lay, snatched it from the ground, and
with unerring aim sent it, whirling through
the air. Arrested in their flight by this
messenger Of death, the unhappy lovers,
pierced by the same shaft. fell, like pair
of doves transfxed by the hunters arrow,
bleeding and dead 10 the ground.
,"Thus perish the traitor to his race!"
said Uncas. The resentment and mort.
fcation experienced by him. on account
Of the guilt Of his son, gave the father no
room to indulge in grief at his loss. Re-
turning to his fallen foe, who neither spake
nor moved, although he beheld bis own
child slain before his eyes, but sat with his
arms crossed, sullenly awaiting his fate,
Uncas took up the broken spear which he
had dropped, and said as he once more
stood over him,
"Will you ask your liEe?"
He waited full minute for reply; iheY
the spear head descended deep into the
breast of the sullen old warior. He fell
over on his side and his life departed in =
thick purple current. which his. heart pump
ed out with i,s last throbs. Uncas SCOOP
I'd up the blood, as it gushed warm from
his bosom, and drank it from the hollow
of his hand, saying as he quafed it. lsb
"This is the sweetest draught that have
ever tasted" sftg sgId
Thus terminated the life and the race
of the naughty and ambitions Narragm-
,ett. The death of Mianfonimoh, by Tho
hand Of Uncas, was final blow to the
power of the conquered tribe, although
Or many years afterwards, they continued
Troublesome to the English. Uncas, by
his victory, became the universal Saoh-
I'm of the tribes; and his name is, snbse-
luenty, closely linked with the most i'm
'ortant periods of the early history of
Vew England. ~ M 1ssdas
ga more puissant warrior, q wiser coun-
ilor and more noble and courteous ger-
|ernan than this great Sachem. hath not
een known in heathenesse, = saith wri-
or Of old Indian chonicles. He was bold
n war, gentle in peace and withal, acuts-
= sage in council. His aspectwas grave,
lis manners digni6ed and his post COM
and his voice was exceeding
,leasant to be heard. Yet, with all these
'xcellent qualities he was at heart asas-
'ge; and BY his drinking the blood Of kis
'nemy, hath shown, how little ways do
n =. a