Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-21

rolled It's deep and silent waters through
a vast and fertile country, finally to empt,
into the Mississippi. The sun was frs
declining in the west. his bright raw
danced only at intervals through the dens
forest, intercepted by the hanging bough
and hoary trunks of huge oaks that per
chance had stood the fierce blasts of al
hundred winters, still unscathed. Th
gay carol of the forest birds was diving
away while they sought with yielding
wing their places of nj ghtly rest-the al
most ceaseleSS chatter of the squirrel wa.
still-the sound of the cracking bouch
as it fell beneath the hoof of the fleetine
deer, was no longer heard, and all nature
seemed wrapped in the silence of repose.
Unheeding my footstep, | wandered
far down along the banks of this ouie,
stream, and seated myself upon broken
and decayed stump, nearly encircled by
the trunk OF tree on either side Nv
mind was enshrouded in that deep reyerie
which so often steals over us as twilioht's
balmy hours come on, and might long
have remained so had not my attention
been suddenly aroused by the approach
of group of Indians along the bank OF
the stream. Instantly my hand had
g'asped my ever faithful pistol when sud-
denly the foremost Indian; changing his
course, entered thick clump of bushes
and soon emerged from them, walking
upon the trunk Of tree that had fallen
across and completely spanned the stream
that rolled quietly below. The other In
dians followed in quick succession their
leader, whom | now saw, as his manly
form rose towering above his followers,
was person of whom had some little
knowledge. He was the destined chief of
the tribe that occupied the country
around me, and which | had for some
months engaged in. | had met him once
only, but | was greeted with that respect
and welcome which a stranger ever meets
among the Indians
His dress was richly fantastic his face
covered with many colored paints, his
moccasins embellished with curiously
wrought beads, and a huge painters skin
hanging from his brawny shoulders, gave
him an air of superiority over the rest.
AS they passed singly over the stream,
saw that each was more than ordinarily
tastefully dressed, which denoted some
unusual occurrence. | remained con-
cealed till the last had passed over and
entered the thick foliage upon the oppo-
site bank, and then stepping forth, saw
them hurrying down by the side of the
stream, in the direction Of the old chiefs
lodge, which | knew to be some half
mile below. They were soon lost to
sight and while musing, partly upon
the beauty of the scenery around, was
startled by the sound Of approaching
footsteps, seemingly from behind me. |.
had hardly sank back into my hiding
place, when through the dim twilight, ]
saw approaching me a company Of five
or six persons. They came steadily tow
ards me, till within few feet where the
bank ran above their heads, entirely con-
cealed them from my view. Here they
halted, and one nf their number BEGAN to
address the other in mixed dialect Of
French, English and Indian. | soon
that the speaker was a noted
half-brecd, Of whom had heard not q
little, and seen somewhat. His father
had been one of the first French traders,
who penetrated the country west of the
great lakes for traffic with the Indians.
and his mother was the daughter of
chief of a tribe inhabiting the North
Western Territory. In this character
was combined all the bravery and cum
ming Of the Indian, together with that
total regardlessness Of death manifested
by the Frenchman, and a jealousy and vim
ofspirit not oftensee in either. |
From what [ could catch of his broken
narangue, learned that he had formed |
an Unsuitable passion for the chief daugh- |
Ter, who was that night to be united to |
the noble young had seen pass over the |
stream but short time before, and who |
was to succeed her aged father as chief of
The tribe. The half breed had often seen
The beautiful valley flower she
vas called-and lad as often vowed that
ne would possess her. But his efforts,
thus far, had proved fruitleSs, for when, |
by stealth, he had gained access to her.
md whispered his alteration for her in
he softest accents, she repulSed his base
md trcachelous words and fed from him
IN disdain. All his cunning and strata
gem were Of no avail to secure her, his
most artfully laid plans had been thwart-
I'd, and his tasked ingenuity had sgnally |
ailed Of placing her in his hands. This
night he had resolved to use force before
she should become the willing possession
Of another, from beneath whose watehful
eye nothing but the hand of death could
remove her. The details of his plans /
could not hear, as he spoke in an under
.one, but soon | saw them steathily ap-
proach the stream, and crossing over,
were quickly lost to sight. l was about
to rise from my concealment to return to |
he tent, and with my companions come
to the rescue of the fair maiden, when the
sound of voices warned me that still some
Of the party remained, and that such
step-aye, even the least intimation ofmy
presence, would be the signal for one of
he savageS' arrows to have sought hid
ng place for its poisoned top about the
'egion of my heart.
l could not have escaped the flying foot
IF the Indians, nor eluded their swift TOM
and yet had avoided all, their
asst flying arrows would probably have
reached me and would not have lived