Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-27

l
| conversed in whispers for long time, conjec-
turing as to tho future, and narrsting occur
rences Of the past, till each was prepared 20
hear an Indian in every sound, or see one In
every shadow or in everything having mo-
tion.
But as the night wore slowly away, without
presenting in tangible shape the objects Of
their fears, they all at last gradually yielded
to the requirements of nature; and even Peleg
White, the most frightened one Of the party,
iell into dose and began TO dream
Suddenly he started up, with a wild, terri
fed shrek and dropping down on his knees,
and casping his head with his hands, began
to beg for his life in q most pitiful manner.
His shrek aroused all parties, and was echoed
by the females, who fully believed the In
dians were upon them and for = few minutes
q scene Of the widest confusion prevailed.
Fool" cried Amos Stanforth, Pelegs
| guardian, who reached him frst-sDd who,
seiEing him by the collar of bis hunting shirt,
| ierked him 70 his feet, and shook him till all
the teeth IN his head ratified, Fool, coward,
What dye mean by making all this here fuss
for nctbing?"
By this time Peles bad become fairly
awakened and rs he feared his guardian in
| anger almost as much as he did the savages
themselves, he skunk away, without uttering
| a word In his defence.
But further sleep for any Of the parties after
Il
| forth-who, at the first sound of alarm, had
| started up and grasped his rife, ready to reli
| mis- life dearly in defence Of those he loved
| now turned his whole attention to quieting the
| nervous excitement Of the females-sn Of
| whom, except Mabel Duncan, were still trem-
| bling from their late fright and apprehen-
| siuns foT the future.
| "COme, mother-come, aunt-and you Car
ric-I am astOnished you should permit such
cowardly jackanapes as Peleg White TO
| frighten you all out of your senses. Let me
| entreat you to lie down again and get what
rest you can, for really do not think there
| is any danger. / do not think the Indians
have reached this quarter yet, or we should
have heard something Of them"
From what I've heard Of them, they gen
orally move about pretty quiet" replied the
| father.
"Until they make an attack" said Eden,
and then they give vent TO their most ter
rife yells. If they were about TO night, in
this vicinity, it is quite likely they would
have attacked some of our neighbors before
this, and we should have heard the death sig
nal"
4" don't feel altogether at ease" said the
father, drawing his son aside, and speaking
in a low tone, which reached no car but Eden's,
| feel strangely oppressed with something
like pTesentiment of danger; but keep this
to yodrself-not a word of il to the women
There is Peleg That boy ought to be gagged,
to keep him quiet; and if any harm com ss to
US 10 night, shall blame him for it -
- never yet saw a boaster that was not at
heart coward, +" replied Eden " and Peleg
has often annoyed me by boasting what be
would do in case he should over be so fortu-
nate as to be placed IA position Of danger"
" This is very gloomy work. said the
father, " sitting here in this old boat on the
river, on a dark night, watching for an un-
known foe L wonder how long it is to day
break?'
1.-The dawn cannot be far off," replied
Eden "L Look yonder, over the tree-tops, to
the eastward, l think see the hrst streak
Of day now"
" The sky looks reddish in that direction,
but L 10 not sure il morning, said the other
What DO you think, Amos 20 be continued,
addressing his brother, who was standing
within few feet Of him, apparently trying
to peer into the darkness, which the thick
shadows of the heavy trees On the nearest
bank rendered almost impenetrable to the eye.
&" les not the dawn, David, if I'm judge"
WAS the answer, in low, cautious tone.
What do you think it is, uncle ," asked
Eden.
Fire was the laconic reply.
"Han said Eden, with start; " then the
Indians must certainly be about-perhsps
have already begun their horrible work Had
further down the stream"
"Hush listen - returned the uncle, in a
whisper; "yOur ears are younger than mine,
and ought to be better-do you hear any
thing?"
All listened, each holding his breath to
catch the slightest sound. Each, too, turned
his eyes upon the nearest shore, and strove in
vain To distinguish single object In the awful
blackness, which, in that direction, seemed to
rise like wall before them Ii was q star
light night, but slightly haIy; and looking
directly upward, line Of the heavens could
be perceived; and this line, and this only,
could be traced for seme distance either way,
showing the course Of the dark river, which
made the opening in the grand old gloomy
forest, whose giant trees and thick under
growth lined its banks on either side. From
the position Of the boat-being fairly in the
dim light of the opening, it was possible for it
| TO be seen by any one on the nearest bank
who had become accustomed to the deeper
darkness of the wooded shore-but, for the
| same reason, it was impossible for any one on
the boat. looking in that direction, to see ten
feet into the gloomy shadows Of the misty
| forest
Il hear only the slight ripplisg of the
water" said Eden at length, in the same eau
tious whisper.
"I thoug ght once or twice heard the snap
| ping of n stick on the bank" reioined his
Would it not be we'll to lift our anchor,
and drop further down the stream" again
suggested the young man, with not little an
xiety, as be thought Of the precious lives
aboard the boat, which might possibly fall
sacrifice to an unseen enemy; even then silent.
ly preparing to begin the work Of death.
I'm Of that opinion" answered the uncle.
Come, let us lift it at once.''
Eden and his uncle repaired to the windlass
and were just in the act of giving it turn,
when loud shrek from one Of the females
| followed by some half dozen others in quick
succession, caused them to desist, and grasp
| their rites in fearful apprehension; but ere
they had timo to spring forward TO ascertain
the cause of the second alarm, three Of the
| terrified parties were at their sides, clinging
to them with trembling esgerness
"Speak, Estber-what is il ?" said Amos
Stanforth to his half fainting wife.
"Oh! replied her sister-in-law, I've all
saw the head of an Indian come peeping over
4