Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-11-11

the %ar-path.'
You reason rightly, Delaware said
the frank borderer, 'but nevertheless, we
Christians hold it an article of faith not
to harm woman. So, come life or death
shall free this pretty bird. But first
speak to her, if you think she can under
stand your lingo. Tell her she can 60
where she lists and that all that Jack
Rochester asks is that she shall promise
not to betray us to her people
During this colloquy, the large dark
eyes of the Indian girl, lustrous as those
of an antelope, had been turned from Ro-
chester to the War-Eagle, and from the
latter back to the former. Once or twice,
when the chief was speaking, she clung
closer to our hero, as if she comprehen-
ded that the Indian was her foe, and the
borderer her friend. When Rochester
finally announced his intention to set her
free, her eyes beamed with indescribable
thankfulness, and anticipating War-Ea-
giles speech, she pledged herself, in bro
ken English, to conceal the vicinity of
the scouts from her people, and, at the
same time, expressed, in what Rochester
thought, the most liquid tones he had ever
heard, to him as he to him as herpreserver.
white man will go away-will forget
the Indian girl-but she will never-nev-
er forget him., she said, with tears in her
eyes, and, as she spoke, she seized his
hand, by a sudden impulse, and kissed
it. Then blushing at herself, she contin-
ued with dignity, moving toward her ca
noe. The young Yenghese, brave has
saved the White Fawn's life, and night
and morning she will pray to the Great
Spirit for him.
With these words she turned away, and
with quick, light step, gained her canoe,
which, in moment, shot into the centre
of the stream, propelled by her skilful
hand. Rochester watched her, with a
sigh, till he heard the click of rife be-
side him. Turning quickly, he beheld
War-Eagle about to raise the deadly
weapon and take aim at the fugitive. 1t
was but the work Of moment to strike
down the barrel; but the savage, who mis-
trusted the Indian girl, expostulated; and
when the half angry discussion was over,
and Rochester looked again at the canoe,
the fair fugitive was disappearing behind
the bend of the river. She passed from
sight, and then the landscape seemed to
lose half its charms.
The War-Eagle yields his opinion to
that of his brother, because he loves the
eo,l a. ol,of
But, since the squaw was allowed to es-
cape, not moment is to be lost Before
the sun is an hour older, hundred war
riors will be on our trail Let US CO.
There you speak wisely said Roches-
ter. Not that 1 believe, Delaware, yon-
der girl will betray us, but, since she is
here, it is clear that plenty of red skins
are nigh also, and be sure, they'll scent
US out like wolves do dead deer in winter.
Come, bear no malice and he frankly
extended his hand. you Indians kill
women as well as men; but we Christians
don't; and, as you are serving the COM
monwealth now, and not the common
wealth you, 70. why, chief, you must cen
fight in its fashion,
If not convinced by the borderer's To-
gic, the Indian was Modified by his friend
ly manner; and accordingly he accepted
the proffered hand Immediately after,
with last look at that lovely landscape,
Rochester followed his companion, who
had struck out, on a swinging trot, toward
the settlement
All that day, the two scouts travelled,
without resting, taking a south-easterly
direction. When darkness set in, they
arranged their camp for the night; but
they did not dare to strike fire, fearing
the propinquity of hostile Indians. A
little jerked venison, which they carried
for such emergencies, was their frugal
supper and then they lay down to sleep,
intending, when the moon rose, to prose-
cute their journey again.
1t seemed to Rochester as if he had
Just sunk into slumber, when he was sud
denly aroused by finding his arms pin
Toned in hostile grasp. He was awake
in an instant, and would have sprung to
his feet, if the person, or persons who
held him had not kept him down. He
struggled desperately, for moment, but
in vain, and was finally forced to sink
back, when bis captors, (for there were
two,) proceeded to tie his hands behind
him with green withes.
He now, for the first time, looked a
round him. A little space off, he saw
War-Eagle in the same plight with him
self But instead of the angry, flushed
look of Rochester, the face of the Della
ware wore an expression Of imperturable
calm
'They have stolen on us unheard, we
slept SO Soundly, reflected Rochester,
Not very hattering to us, who thought
ourselves such good backWoodsmen. l
suppose the bloody devils intend to burn
us at the stake, else they would have ta-