Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-11
ing in this attempt, with half their band
lying bleeding among them, the survivors

| base, and with Sullen silence and lnvlncl-
Bile determination, awaiting the lingering
death of their victims in the gloomy, DESC
late fortress above. r.r a.
| Day afer day the red sun rose in the
oricn' wheeled across the burning heavens
SLOWLY 20 the western horizon-at mid
day fiineing down scorching beams, and
a. twilight throwing long, lengthening
| shadows over water, wood, and rolling
prairie, but to those on the high cliff, no
relief came.
Still the whitening sunbeams fell upon
them, drying up their very life blood;
still those gigantic shadows creeping
closer and closer about their hearts.
Ihey acere starrtng
And there, at the very base of the rock,
sat, silent and immovablea as the frs which
shrouded them from the fierce sun ray,
that implacable chieftain, surrounded by
his warriors. Neither love, mercy, nor
pity entered his finty heart. His bitter
est foe had stolen his fairest fower-his
only child-the daughter of a race of
kings. had left her wigwam for that ofhis
enemy. Vengence upon them both-the
fbitter foe, and the fotthless daughter
White, wan, emaciated, they wandered
about on the brow of the cliff, like ghosts
from the far off hunting grounds Of their
race. Strong warriors who had not
quailed in the direst, deadiest combat,
now sunk down likereeds before the breath
| of famine. Brave chiefs who would have
laughed in derision at the arrow or the
scalping knife, now felt fercer, keener
pang, than poisoned shaft or merciless
tomahawk ever inflicted. With plenty
around them, they were starving.
The red deer left browsing in its leafy
covert and came down to drink the clear
waters below; but no morsel of venison
could pass their lips-no drop of that cool
water could lave their swollen, parched
tongues. The deer Tapped up the crystal
liquid Of the river-snuffed the cool breeze,
and then, catching glimpse of the dusky
| figures fitting to and fro, tossed its
antlers and darted away to the greenwood
again; the bright waters danced onward
beneath, with a wild mocking freedom,
as they bent down their despairing gaze;
and there, below, sat those dark stern
I
able. Oh, it was horrible!
And then the Indian maiden came to
the brink of the precipice, and with her
long, dark hair streaming like the folds
of rent banner on the wind, bent down
and pleaded with agonizing gestures and
frantic entreaties to her sire, whom she
saw far. far below. But never tone of
tenderness. or token of reconciliation
went up from that proud, insulted soul.
He had chosen the Indians rerengc
Day by day that doomed band thinned
away, until at length famine alone reigned
conqueror upon the summit of the cliff.
Day by day they wasted : and at last all
| still. No ghostly forms wandered about
no wailing voice broke the silence. But
one of the besieged warriors escaped and
he, descending IN the shade of night to a
shelving projection nor far nhnr-e +ho
inung si iiffhseh down into TIE water, where
his faithful squaw awaited him in her light
canoe and received him as he arose. Then
padding silently down the stream, and
thence to the shore, they darted feetly
into the dark, dense forest, and thus es-
capped to tell their tribe the dreadful tale.
When all was still upon the summit,
the avenged chieftain and his band as
cended. The Indians wrath was ap-
peased-hls vengeance had indeed been
terrible. There they lay upon gray rock,
those wasted, skeleton-like warriors, all
stark and stiff; and there too, the Indian
maiden had died in the arms of her lover /;
her white face, oh so fearful to look upon
her long streaming hair. alike her bridal
veil and shroud.
They missed her when the evening shade,
Fell sadly on the ground;
No echo of her footsteps came
To break the silence round.
They missed her when the silver stars
Shone from the blue OF heaven,
| For she was wont TO watch their light,
Burst on the summer even.
They missed her when the balmy breezs
! Came signing sadly near;
1t brought no murmur of her
| Unto the lIstn ming ear.
They missed her when the merry laugh
| Rang out IN gladness free;
Her absent tone was wanting there,
To swell its notes of glee.
They missed her III the pleasant paths
| She trod In sunny hours;
They NJ -Sed the hand that pIucked for them
The bright and blooming fiow'rs-
And now, it is said, full oft by the pale
moonlight are seen wan, ghostly figures
gliding to and fro upon the cliff, with
dark plumes floating upon the night wind:
and ever and anon, the spectral forms of
the Indian maiden and her dusky warrior
lover, stand upon the brink, and in low,
wailing voices chant their death-dirge ere
they 60 afar to dwell together in the
Great Spirits hunting grounds. Thus
runs 1.-The Legend of Starved Rock"