Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-01-16


fate. At length, as all the rest shrank back
from what seemed instant and ssre dentli, Mi.
ANTONIO himself advanced, aud, relying upon
his quick arm and sure aim, dashed upwa rds,
rifle in hand, towards his foe.
Otonga awaited him insilence, and made no
movement until he placed his foot upon the
summit of the Cliff Then, with one tiger
like spring, he bounded towards him, aud the
next instant sa the twain grappled together
with eyes starting from their sockets, and each
nerve strained to the utmost. Mian,omo pos
sessed all the vigor of matured manhood, and
was, besides, of more athletic build than his
youthful antagonist. but otongas grip was that
of madness, and the fire burning in his veins,
seemed to lend superhuman strength to his
arm. as he seized the older chieftain in his
embrace, and dragged him slowly bu, surely.
towards the dizzy edge ofthe precipice.
The companions Of Miantomo, who had fol-.
lowed to the top of the cliff, would have lent
their aid in securing their foe, but that all the
pride of the Indian was reused in Miantomo's
breast, and he commanded them to leave the
subjugation of his antagonist entirely to him.
self. They obeyed him, and now stood in n
group eagerly watching the progress Of the ex.
citing struggle.
Nearer and nearer towards the verge of the
cliff they approached, despite the strenuous
exertions of Miantomo, who at length began
to feel his strength decreasing, while that of
Otonga seemed TO gain new vigor.
At tlength scarce foot of ground stood be.
tween them and the brow OF the precipice, and
here Otonga spoke, or rather Kissed, In The ear
of Miantomo
Let Miantomo take his last look upon the
bright sky, for never more shall 1t shine upon
his pathway, never more will the summer mu-
sic of the trees sing him to slumber-never
more his feet press the hunting path, or his
ear listen to the sound of the war-cry of his
people. The blood Of his murdered child is
red on his hand, and the curses of the dead
rest upon him and on his kindred, and upon
the dead are waiting for his coming. His
hour is now at hand, and will no longer be de.
layedn
Nearer and nearer to the terrible abyss, his
muscles relaxing and his brain reeling. Near
er and nearer, with the hot breath of the aven-
ger burning upon his cheek, and his iron
| = ua aaIs fha nd
crumbe beneath his feet, and sees the glering
eyes of Otonga, glittering and fierce, fixed up
on his face with the triumphant smile of de
mon He closed his own to shut out that hor-
rble glance, and then, still grasping bis an
tagonist in his arms, felt himself sinking thro'
the air aud whirling dowr, down to destruc-
tion and death of horror!
Down, down-reoounding from the craggy
projections of the cliff, and finally, with sui.
len splash, sinking into the depths of the 81
lently flowing river below, the avenger and
his victim found a grave together. The life.
less body of the murdered Neokassa still lay
with her pale face turned upwards to the sky,
while the plying moon looked softly down
upon her. Awe-struck, the savages gSzed in
one another's faces, and thought Of the curse
invoked upon the kindred and the tribe of Mi
ANTONIO.
The curse was fearfully fulfilled, for blight
fell upon that tribe, and its name was no more
feared upon the wurpath; it dwindIed away in
noverty and sorrow, the waters bearing for il
no feh; ard the woods no game!
And still, when nights grim shadows oie
cast upon the tower-like Eagles Cliff solitn-
ry white figure appears upon the dizzy edge OF
the cliff, and gazes despairingly down upon
the depths below. And this it is that the mys'
terlous voice of the past, the tongue oldtradi
ton, has called the White Shade of Eagles
Cliff