Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-18

from his brawny shoulders, gaves hlm an
air of superiority over the rest. As they'l
passed slngly over the stream, saw that
each was5 more than. ordinarily tastelully
dressed, whiSAdeneted some unusual oc-
currence." &&femalned concealed TIL the
last had passed over and entered the thick
foliage upon, the OPPOSITE bank and then
stepping forth, 1 SAN them hurfylng down
by the side Of the Stream, in the dnecuon
of the oTd,Ghie's lodge, which knew TO
1 be some Ealfmile below. They were soon
lost to sight; and while musing, partly up
on the: beauty Of the scenery around, was
star.s "a bysthe sound of approaching loot,
steps, seemingly from behind me, l had
hardly sank back into my hiding place,
when through the dim twilight, saw ap-
preaching me company OF hive or siNper-
sons. They came steadily towards me- TIL
within few feet where the bank ran.above
their heads, entirely concealed.them from
nv slew. Here they halted, and one OF
! their number began to address the other IN
mixed dialect of French, English and In
dian. | soon surmised that the speaker
fwas a noted half-breed, of whom l had
heard not little, and seen somewhat. Ills
father had been one of the first French ira
ders, who penetrated the country west OF
the great lakes for traffic with the Indians,
and his mother was the daughter OF chief
of tribe lnhabting the North Western
Territory. In this character was combined
all the bravery and cunning of the Indian,
together with that total regardlessness OF
death manifested by the Frenchman, and
;ealousv and vindictiveness of spirit not Of
ten seen in either.
From what | could catch of his broken
barangue, learned that he had formed an
Unsuitable passion for the chief daughter,
who was that night to be united to the no.
BILE Young Chief had seen pass over the
stream but a short time before, and who
was TO succeed her aged father as chief OF
her tribe. The half-breeG had often seen
the beautiful ''valley fower'''-as she was
called-and had as often vowed that he
would possess her. But his efforts, thus
, far had proved fIuitless, for when, by
stealth, he had gained access to her, and
wbispered his alteration for her in the soft
est accen nts, she repused his base and
treacherous words and fled from him IN dis
dain. All his cunning and stratagem were
of no avail to secure her, his most arttuIly
laid plans had been thwarted, and his task
ed ingenuity had signally failed OF placing
her in his hands. This night he had re-
solved to use force before she should be-
come the willing possession of another, from
beneath whose watchful eye nothing but
the hand Of death could remove her. The
details of his plans could not hear, as he
spoke in an under tone, but soou saw them
stealthlly approach the stream, and cross
ing over, were quickly lost to sight. was
about to rise from my concealment to re-
turn to the tent, and with my companions
come to the rescue OF the fair malden,when
the sound of voices warned me that still
some of the party remained, and that such
a step-ave, even the least intmatlon OF
W., rs.4saHcAs .,xrnlli he the signal iof, one
of the savages' arrows to have sougnt III
ding place for its poisoned top about the re-
eion of my heart,
| could not have escaped the flying foot
of the Indians, nor eluded their swift tom
ahawks, and yet had avoided all, then
fast fving arrows would probably have
reached me and would not have lived ell
: ther to assist in rescuiDg the maiden tell
this tale. So was forced to resort to the
fertility of my Imagination while waiting
for the time to come when | could act.
gazed eagerly forth in the direction the In
dams had taken, watching the least thing
that aroused my attention, but all was still,
: and there were no indications Of the trage-
; dy soon to be enacted.
: The sun had sank far down in the west
and Illuminated the horizon with his de-
: parting ravs the pale new moon was fol-
j lowing closely his brilliant pathway; the
scarcely stirri,.r breeze moved not leaf,
the silent waters gave no! forth ripping
sound, but reflected IN solemn stiffness the
/ moons pale rays; the harsh howl OF the
4 wolf upon the distant hills, and the wild
y cats shrill cry were unheard, and all things
! seemed wrapped in the stiffness OF death.
u contemplated the heavens above me and
: beheld with momentary rapture the myrl-
= ads of consultations sparkling far and near
5 amid the vast space Of the ETHEREAL regions,
| gazed upon the moon, pale and wan, and
: then looked upon the silent waters and saw
: mirrored in mimic glory the images of bright
e realities on high, and that like many who
o boast of their high position on earth. "theey
would not be there If II were not Tor the
b bright originals in heaven" Thus muslng
: | sought objects to amuse me, ever watch
+ inc with an eager eye in the direction
J. which anticipated an exciting scene. My
c anticipations were too true, for had not
: long remained in suspense when ldistinct-
u ly heard a wild cry of horror rise from tar
: off in the distance. | gazed more earnest
$ ly in the direction and saw between the
5 boughs and trunks of the trees the rod
names Ur nrc IIsnS toward the skies. The
: sounds grew louder and nearer, and the In
s dians shrlIl war-whoop rang out clear upon
u the still night air. Soon the dull obscnre
:, flames had grown into a fierce and lu!i |
Il fire, and shot up above the forest trees,
5 winding upon itself in fierce fury like an
enraged demon. Louder and louder rose
the cries, and the stillness ofthe night soon
I enabled me to hear the sSud Of approach
, ing steps hurrying along Sn the opposite
: bank, as the cracking bouS broke beneath
< the oot-iaH. | started froE my place Of
: concealment; but rememberiS the Indians,
: | again sank back, while every nerve with
5 in me thrilled with the most inSnse excite
4 ment. The sound OF persons, lying in al
= most every direction, now cank towards
Z me the war-whoop rose louderSnd near
d er, and the flames spreading fromEh lodg
q es of the Indians into the forest and catch
5 ing the dry leaves and bushes ran, rapidly
i in every direction and rose higher and high
e er, till they seemed to lap with their fiery
4 tongues the few Aeetng clouds that hurry
i over the scene.
d A moment only | sazed upon their fury,