Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-29

PASKERET;
OR, THE AVENGERS.

III IN Js liz hOblNSON,
One of the most daring chienans of
whom we remember Of having read, was
an Algonquin or Adirondack. This tribe
OF Indians, at the time of the first settle.
ment Of Canada, we're found upon the
banks OF the St. Lawrence.
They were once a warIike and power.
Iu people; but we're finally conquered by
the lroquois or Five Nations, with whom
they were continually,at war.
The Trois Rivere or Three Rivers
was The scene ola most signal defeat,
from which the AIgOnquns never rccov.
cred.
The chleitan to whom we have alluded,
whose name was Paskaret, could never
forget the stain which the victories of the
lroquois had left upon his people, and
with four Of his boldest warriors devoted
himself to what he considered the sacred
duty of wiping the stain from the national
honor.
awe will become" said Poskaret, ad.
dressing his four warriors 'the avengers
Of our race. We will learn the Iroquois
to tremble at the mention Of our names.
We will perform such deeds Of prowess as
shall add new glory TO the nation Of the
Algonquins, and cause other tribes to for.
get the past, and cease to hold Us in deri.
sion. Oar numbers are few, and you
seem ready to ask, How can we do all
this 2 My friends, much can be accom-.
pished by individuals as well as by great
and conquering armies. Cunning and
daring may sometimes effect more than
numbers. The good warrior may lay
many plans to entrap the enemy, and so
will we and the Iroquois shall soon learn
to fear US. We will meet them in unex.
pected places, and slay their best warriors
when they are (apparentIy) resting in
safety in sight Of the smoke Of their own
lodges"
"What shall be done, great chicnan %
asked one of the avengers Of the Adiron.
dacks. "The lroquois are numerous
people, and VIC are still smostng under
the terrible wounds which our honor re.
ceived at the memorable battle Of Troa
Riyiere."
"Whcn you speak Of Trois Riyiere,
you cause my cheeks to burn with shame, d
replied Paskarei, shaking his long and
quivcring finger towards the country Of
the Five Nations. "lt is the memory Of
the Trois Riyiere that is turning my hair
gray. and writing wrinkles upon my brow,
Brother avengers, you have asked what
we shall dc, being only five in ali-only
one to each Of the nations of our enemies.
| will tell you one plan which have
thought Of by which TO punish the lro.
quois. have learned by one ormy spies
that five canoes have gone up the Three
Rivers, and will probably return in few
days and pass over the same spot where
we were defeated. Each Of the canoes
contained ten of our enemies. Now /
will reveal 10 you a way in which we can
destroy them all. There are five Of us
-one warrior to each canoe. Let Us pro-
vide ourselves with muskets-tbree for
each man, and ammunition in abundance.
Three mUskets TO each warrior, in our
hands, will count the same as fifteen arm.
ed in the ordinary manner.
"But, avengers, this is not all; have
another important matter to make known.
I have discovered that by loading mus.
lket with taCo balls, connected by chain
ten inches in leRgth, a birchcn canoe can
be cut to pieces in a moment. Look at
this piece Of birch bark; | brought it hith-
er on purpose to show you. You sec
that it is cut nearly into two pieces. II
was done by single discharge from a
musket, loaded with two balls chained b.
gcther. Algonquins, that shot would have
sunk birch canoe, loaded with our enc
mics"
} An exultant shout arose from the aven
GERS of the Adirondackks. The chic
, went on.
"Now you perceive the benefit ola little
head.work, and the advantage this con
trivance will give US over the Five Ma
lions. when we meet them at any odds, il
point of numbers With fifteen muskets
loaded in this manner, we shall be equa
10 the fifty Iroquois warriors that tare now
nm the Trois Riviere."
Again the four avengers shouted with
wild Joy. The Algonquins commenced
actiue upon their plans at once. Paskare
exerted himself 10 procure muskets oftht
largest calibrc, and Of the most approved
make. He sold his lavoritc horse, anc
many things most highly esteemed, tc
provide the necessary outfit for hlmse
and companions.
! All was at length in readiness. The
muskets we're obtained and loaded will
two balls each, and in manner highly
satisfactory to Paskarei.
The avengers stepped into a canoe o
large dimensions, and in excellent spirit
padded away up the Trois Rviero. A da!
and night passed, and the avengers sav
nothing Of their enemies.
Early in the morning, they found them
selves near the spot where the fatal battle