The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-01-01

mp at a rapid pare along toward the crossing
lie had but Just got clearly into view. when
At distance of about two rods bchind,appcar-
ed another and so on to the number of seven.
They were all in war paint, and armed with
rifles and toma hawks. The soldiers were all
attention to the movements ofthcir guide. cS-
pectIng every moment to receive the signal
to fire. To their surprise however, they saw
hm iav down his eun,and draw from beneath
the log long and powerful bow. and bun
die ST flint headed, sharp pointed arrows. IL.
then turned from under the log, until he fac
ed the pass in the creek.
The strange Indians appeared to move for
ward without the least hesitation or suspicion.
! he foremost of them Sn coming to the creek
dr9lr"d at Cnce dawn 10 cross it. At thi,
moment the guI'ic was Observed to draw his
bow with quick ana powerful effort: and 50
rapidly a> 10 almost uu,ic tbs. >ici,,. an arrow
was sped on its NISSAN OF death. The >,ran-
ger WAS seen 10 drop in the middle OF the
.ro"&, and not a cry ISSUED from his mouth
Quick as Ii ghtening the Mhoi an adjusted Ar
arrow TO his bows that as soon a. ihe second
Huron dropped down TO cross the st,eaal. he
too, was observed 10 reel and fall without
:lnan.
l" the same manner was the third arl the
fb'lrti. and TN. r.,l, ILL.,,
ei INTO the fatal ditch. They We're 50 close to
each other and the whole scene passed with
such miraculous silence and rapidi;v. that
nci'hcr OF them had Observed the fate oil his
comrades until he met his own. The sixth
Indian, however being a little more behind
than the others. seemed Ia be somewhat sur
lr.>ed that he did not So. th.l.. in view ON
the opposite hank. For this reason lie ,l,.>r.n
'i'''i int" the gully with litrc more hesitation
He was Immediately aware of tie horrible
fate that had arrested their steps and senccd
their tongues. He en1,-avorcll to re,,uil. lnt
II Wa airc'v!. too late. 4 fatal miS>iye was
on the Win. for HIM. He was struck Etc ,h,.
rest, hut not with Immediate death. and h,
Ind Time t" rai>e into the depths of forest one
OF those appalling wells OF warning and of rare
which announces Among the people OF his race.
the presence of mortal danger.
The soldiers looked upon this fearful scene
IN a>ton!>hct silence. cntranccd hv tn, mur-
dcrouS ma"i: winch took place trtoru ia. m.
When the stiffness and the spell were broken
hH that warning cry. they expected 10 see
the wool warming with hostile >;.yagcs None.
however. APPEARED; and when the echo had
died away they looked in vain Tor the seventh
and last OF the IIHrons, He had vanished as
il swallowed up in the earth. No trace of
him was ri>ib!c-no sound of rvtrcatinr foot
steps was audible. The Mnhiran. .howcyer.>,ill
kept his position behind the log itself. but
with his fiery eyes bent in quick and search
lng gIanrc> in almost every direction at once.
He was obviously at fault. As well as the rest
NJ one dared to move or speak above his
breath. There Wa something awful in the
m!s '"rlouS and sudden disappearance
The silence continued for >0no len minutes
when the sharp crack Of a rifle was hcardand
the Mohican sprung 10 his feet with the hlood
streaming down one side of his face His on
/. exclamation was an emphatic T. "h" In
an instant the fatal bow ami arrow were arain
in rrqui>ition, and his face towards the Indian.
he sent another arrow on its mortal mission.
The soldiers heard slight srrabblinr over
head. and on looking up they saw the Huron
falling through the limbs of neirhboriny
tree. Into this hc had had the aidres, TO
swim" hiu>clf up. Unseen hy hs eI,.mius dur
ing the mOmcntary confusion nccasonrd bv
the warning CRY of his companion. From that
perch he had soon discovered the lurk inc
place of the Mshican. and. bent upon ven
gcance had immediately fired at him. without
considering or perhaps without caring whc,h-
er or not enemies were near. The impru-
dence cost him his life; AMI withai he had on
ly succeeded in inflicting upon the Mohcan
slight wound in the temple
/ The scene, however, now rapidly changed
Shortly after the report ofthr rifle, the distant
heavy tramp Cr a body of regular troops was
heard approaching through the woods. They
too, plunged into the fatal pass, and met with
a like but not eguall:' boo.iess reception, bv
the soldiers ia ambush. This time it was the
rifle that did the business. The advancing
column. however. was composed Of veterans
who for few moments seemed 10 push for
ward into the abyss where their comrades
we're lyin" wounded and dead; bat as they
were ignorant Of :he strength Of the conceal
si enemy, and could hardly even tell from
what direction the DANGER came. they finally
beat retreat and drew of into the woods "a
gain.
! The check was all ;ha, could have leen de-
sired That force was not engaged during
the battle Of Plattshurg; and after learning
the disastrous fate OF the day, it made pre-
cipitate retreat northward into Canada.
1t was noticed that as soon a. the seven
lIutors we're slain, Stockhridse Hank seemed
to take no interest in the fray. Shortly after
the firing commenced, he disappeared and
did not accompany the soldiers hack TO the
army. The next day, however, he appeared .
again before the officer accoutred az at the .