Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-30
THE STORY TELLER.
The Black Pond.


Shortly after the expiration of the French
and Indian War, hardy settler named War
ner, built his cot by the pond on the bank of
the beautiful War river.
On the morning when the defenders of Fort
Edward sailed forth under the command of
Col. Williams, TO meet the advancing enemy
fed By tie Baron Dieskau, when the foruer
suffered death, Warner, then a private, was
one of the last to seek the retaining shelter of
the fort, and distinguished himself short dis
tance from its walls by long and obstinate
conflict with gigantic chief of the Oneida
tribe, whom he killed, aud according to the
rude fashion of the day, bore his scalp in tri-
umph TO the camp. During the war, by his
courage and ability, he won the honor and title
of captain.
One morning a few years afterwards, he
surprised his wife by his speedy return from
the forest, where he had intended TO remain
during the day. He entered the house with
out speaking, and hastily seized his rife. She
noticed the firm step, the uuwonted flashing of
the eyes, and stern compression of his lips.
Husband, she said, with an anxious look,
'what has occurred to move you thns!'
Moved!' he replied, do | really appear
moved! Yet i; may be so; but not with fear !;
fear canot move me !!
Fear!' she exclaimed with alarm, have
you been in danger! Speak, o, l eureat
you!'
He smiled, and that smile served partially
to dissiPate her apprehension, while she shrank
back almost ashamed at the vehemence of her
anguish.
Do not agitate yourself, my dear, he re-
piled, you see | am now safe, and with you
but do bring me my box of 1ints, aud that
quickly, for require one that will not miss
fire.
When she returned with the box, he, after
minutes selection, affixed one to the hammer
of his rifle, and he carefully cleaned the vent
hole and reloaded it.
Now, he said, as his eye glanced rapidly
along the barrel of his piece, 4 am now ready
His wife, who had noticed all these precau-
tions, said in a calm but sad tone,
Il fear you will deceive me.
sIfI have kept aught from you,' he said, lit
was affection that prompted the act but now
you shah know all. A week since l learned
that an Indian had been lurking in the neigh
borhood. From the inquiries he made of the
neishbors, found that was the object of his
search. This morning | unexpectedly saw
him. He reireated hastily, but turned for
snoment with look of deadly hatred and de-
tiance. understood lis language-the looks
of the Indian are more expressive than his
words-it plainly said, "your life or mine.''
20, my husband, you surely will not go
forth TO meet this dreadful savage-it would
be asnstterabe madness. Why cannot you
fly from this horrible place, and thus eude
him"
'Fly !-ah, il cannot be, POOR trembler.-
By heavens! il shall never he said that
fed from a single Indian besides, | know
the blood-thirsty savage-it is Black Wolf
the celebt ated chief of the Oneidas, and the
bro;I.er of him slew at Ford Edward. In
revenge of his brother's death he seeks my
life'
Then, for my sake said the afflicted
wife, 'and for the sake of this poor innocent
(she pointed to the cradle which contained
prattllng infant of TWO summers,) do not
60 alone
1t must be so,' he replied, firmly, though
apparently moved by her afiectionate ap-
peal, my safety depends upon 1t. AS he is
a savage, | must meet him as such, and that
in his own barbarous manner. Remember
YOU are the wife of a soldier; be firm, or al
least he said with an emotion he could not
control, do not unman me. If | lalr-he
hestated for a moment, then suddenly
caught his child, kissed him, pressed burn
ing kiss upon the cold brow of his wife, has
ty embraced her, and rushed from the
house.
fIe had not been absent an hour before he
discovered The lurking place of the Indian
The wary eye ofthe savage was 100 busy not
to see as seen as he was seen.
Then commenced those fearful movements
by which the sons Of the forest strive to in
duce their foes 10 leave some portion of the
body exposed 10 the aim OF the deadly rife.
The chief, though the most renowned ol
his tribe, found the captain in every respect
his equal, and after an hour of intense labor
and suspense, neither had gained the advan-
tage. The Indian, at this moment, saw
Warner leap from his lurking place and dis.
appear behind the trunk of large fallen tree
What was now 10 be done He was Toe
wary not to apprehend some stratagem by
Warner; he therefore neither advanced mol
retreated, but kept behind gigantic oak
At length to his great oy, he discovered the
hat Of the enemy slightly emerging abov.
the body of the tree, aud quickly disappear
The Indian smiled with savage deligh: as h,
muuered-
The pale-face is great warrior, but h
is fool. The son Of the forest would no
lie when he could stand he would expos
his head and feet at the same time
During this soliioquy, he was slowly pois
Ing his rifle, ready to take the first advanIag
OF me imprndent movement of his adversary
The hat was now SO clearly visible II a, h
fired. l. quickly fell, and all was silent fo
moment, then wild exulline war.wboo
Al