The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-02-05

al rushi'iH III, IL Seeihe'i DIS III the wind had
violently arisen.and it drove the thick smoke
and showered the burning cinders directly on
the chestnut tree
Rebecca felt the srorching heat, while the
suffocating vapor almost deprived her of the
power of respiration. She grew dizzy. vet
still. the only movement she made was to turn
her child little in her arms, that he minbt
be more effectually shielded from the smoke
and cnicrs
AT that moment one ofthe savaees approach
ed. IN the wild movements of his war-dance,
close to the tree. An eddy of wind swept A.
way the smoke; the light fell full IN the male
face OF Reberca; her ewes. as if bv power
OF fascination. were riveted on the Indian -
his herv glance was raised towards her, and
their gaze met.
The SAVAGE gave start. and the note Of his
war-sonn was shrillpd as he intently REGARDED
his victim Suddenly he turned awav Re-
hecra murmurcd PRAYER. and resigned her
self to death. as she heard them all send forth
prolonged whoop.
"Mv hoy nv husband we shall meet. we
shall all meet in heaven ;" she mentally cried
But WHY did not the savage approach: She
listened. looked around: the whole clearino
was Illuminated hy the hricbt Glare and sbc
saw the three Indians hvinr. with the speed
OF frightened deer. to the covert of the wood
She did not pause to consider what had cans
ed their flight: hut ohevinr the instinct that
bids us shun the present danger. she spranc
from the tree and rushed toward the river
She rcrOllected a spot where the bank pro
iected, beneath which, during the summer
months. the bed of the river was nearly drv :
there She should at least, be secure from the
fire.
And there she sheltered herself Her feet
were immersed in water, and she stood in a
s:oopinG posture TO screen herself from oh
Servaion, should the savaces return to seek
her.
Her infant slumbered peacefully. None
of her fears or dangers disturbed his rcpo<e :;
and when the morning LIGHT allowed her 10
"a>" on his sweet face. tears ot iny anlthank-
fitness flowed down her checks. that she had
been enabled thus to shield that dear innocent
one from the savages and the flames
Soon after sunrise she heard sound; as Of
people approaching and soon recognized the
'''res of her friends from the garrison Re-
hecca ard her child were convcvrd 70 the
village which her husband she found ha left
about sunSc, on the preceding evening No-h-
INC was known or could be discovered Of his
fate; the inhahtan.s had been alarmed hv
the li@ht from the burning binding. and As
soon as the morning was sufficiently advanc
ed to allow them TO penetrate the forest. they
FASTENED to discover the cause Of the fire.
Grief for the loss of her husband combined
with the terrorS she had suffered. threw Re
hrcca into violent fever. and her lii, WAS
dcsparrd Of; hut Just as the disorder seemed
approaching fatal termination, Edward Al
hot arrived at Hum,orl He was surprised
while walking homcwarl. hv four Indians.
one of whom seized his rifle while another
struck him such blow on the head with his
tomahawk as totally to deprive him for seve-
raj hours, of all recollection.
When h" did recover. he found himself w.
inG at the foot Of a tree. his hands bound and
an Indian guarding him All effort. to es
cape he tonnd would be in vain, and he 81
lcnly submitted TO his fate. About dav. the
three savages joined the one who guarded
him. and conver>ng hastily few moments.
they begun a hurried march.
Edward perceived one of the Indians ex-
anime HIM often and attentivclv. AT lcncth.
on the fourth day, as the savage was alone
with the prisoner. he, by sgns, questioned
Edward concerning the house where he used
to live. Edward made On the white birch
with coal taken from the fire, DRAWING of
his little plantation and house, including, of
course, the chestnut tree The Indian sur
yeyed IT in silence, and Edward thought no
more of the matter
Early the next morning Edward was awak
encd by The same Indian. who motioned him
to rise and follow him. The rest of the marty
were not in sight, Edward obcvcd. and fol-
lowed him two days, travelling rapidly, till
suddenly he found himselfon the borders Of
the Merrimack. The Indian then pointed in
the direction Of Concord, and instantly di>ap-
pearcd in the woods
1t IL perhaps, unnecessary to add that Ed.
wards presence operated much more fayora-
oily on kebecra than all the remedies prescrib-
ed by the good doctor Carter and she soon
recovered. The conduct of the Indian cx-
cited great curiosity, and made much talk in
the village: but for long time, the mystery
baiiied all conjecture
After many months. an Indian who could
speak English, explained the secret.
II seemed that several years before Rebec-
ca was married, an Indian, with his wife and
ch'd' came into the house of her father. and
asked for food. The old people were absent,
ana hired man, acting as many do when
"clo'hed IN little brief authority" ordered
them from the house. Rebccca. then play
'u' hut KIND hearted girl, intcrposed and pre-