The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-04-13

and fed by all the comhustlbles the
savages could find in the dwelling.
Tho flames streamed upwards and
soon caught the rafters and boards,
and it seemed scarce five minutes from
the time Rebecca first saw the light till
The blaze burst though the roof The
atmosphere, rarified by the heat around
the burning building, suddenly expand
cd, and the colder and more dense air
rushing in, it seemed as if the wind had
arisen, and it drove the thick
smoke, and showered the burning Gin
ders directly on the ohestnuttrec
Rebecca felt the scorching heat, while
the sufocating vapor almost deprived her
of the power of respiration. She grew
dizzy. yet still, the only movement she
made was to turn her child in her arms,
that he might be more effectually shield.
cd from the smoke and cnders.
At that moment one of the savages
approached, in the wild movements of
his war-dance, close to the tree. An ed
dy of wind swept away the smoke; the
light fell full on the pale face Of Rebec-
ca her eyes, as if by the power of fas-
cination, were revited on the Indian his
fiery glance was raised towards her, and
their gaze met.
The savage gave start, and the note
of his war-song was shriller as he intent
ly regarded his victim Suddenly he
turned away. Rebccca murmured a
prayer and resigned herself to death, as
she heard them all send forth prolong-
ed whoop.
"My boy my husband we shall
meet we shall meet in heaven !" she
mentally cried.
But why did not the savages approaehl
She listened, looked around the whole
clearing was illuminated by the bright
glare, and she saw the three Indians fly
ing, with the speed Of frighted deer, to
the covert of the wood She did no!
pause to consider what had caused thcil
fight but, obcying the instinct which
bids us shun the present danger, she
sprang from the tree and rushed towards
the river She recollected a spot where
the bank projected, beneath which du
ring TIE summer months, the bed Of tho
river was nearly dry there she should
at least, be secure from tie fire
And there she sheltered herself Her
feet were immersed in water, and she
stood in STOPPING posture to screen her
self from observation, should the savag
cs return to seek her. But her infant
slumbered peacefully. None of her fear.
or dangers disturbed his repose; anC
when the morning light allowed her tC
gaze on his sweet face, tears of Joy ant
thankfulness flowed fast down her cheeks
that she had been enabled thus to shield
that dear innocent one from the savagei
and the flames
Soon after sunrise she heard sound
as of people approaching, and soon re
cognized the voices of her friends from
the garrison. Rebecca and her child wer,
conveyed to the village, which her hus
band she found, had left about sunset oil
the preceding evening Nothing wai
known or could be discovered of his fate
the inhabitants had been alarmed by tht
light from the burning building, and a
soon as the morning was sufficiently ad
vanced to allow them to penetrate th'
forest, they hastcned tc discover til,
cause of the fire.
Grief for the loss of her husband, com
binel with the tcrrors she had suffered
threw Rebecca into a violent fever, ant
her life was dcspared of; but just as tn,
disorder seemed approaching u fatal ter
mination, Edward Abbot arrived a
Rumford. He was surprised, while walk
ing homeward, by four Indians, one o
whome seized his rife, while another
struck him such blow on the head Will
his tomahawk as totally to deprive him
for several hours of all recollection.
When he did recover, he found himsel
lying at the foot of tree, his hands
bound, and an Indian guarding him. Al
efforts to escape he found would be il
vain and he silently submitted to his fate
About day, the three savages joined the
one who, guarded him, and conversinl
hastily few moments, they began hur
ried march.
Edward perceived one Of the Indiani
examining him often and attentiycly.-
At length on the fourth day, as the saw
age was alone with tho prisoner, he, b,
sign, questioned Edward concerning the
house where he used to reside EdwarC
made, on the white birch with n coal ia
ken from their fire, drawing of his lit
tic plantation and house, including, oi
course, the chestnut tree. The Indiar
surveyed it in silence, and EdwarC
thought no more of the matter.
Early the next morning, Edward wai
awakened by the same Indian, who mo
toned him to rise, and follow him. The
rest of the party were not in sight Ed
ward obeyed and followed him two days
travelling rapidly, till suddenly he found
himself on the borders of the Morrimacll
The Indian then pointed in the direction
of Concord, and instantly disappeared
in the woods
1t is, perhaps unnecessary TO add tha
Edwards presence operated much more
favorably on Rebecca than had all th,
remedies prescribed by the good Doctor
Carter, and she soon recovered The
conduct of the Indian excited great Gu
riosity, and made much talk in the vii
lage but, for long time, the mystery
baiiled all conjecture.
After many months, an Indian. who
could speak English, explained the se
cret.
1t seemed that, several years before
Rebecca was married, an Indian, with
his wife and child, came into the house
of her father, and asked for food.-Th'
old people were absent, and hired man
acting as many do when " clothed in I