Mountain Democrat., 1857-05-09

"shrIekS-A kendhh yells they stab them In their
Sleep"
Ono hundred years ngO!-the hunter
who ranged the hills and forests of New
England, fought against other enemies
than the brown bear aud the panther
The husbandman, as he toiled in the plain,
or the narrow clearing, had closely at his
side loaded weapon; and wrought dill
gently and firmly in the midst Of peril
The frequent crack of the Indians rife
was heard in the still depths of the forest
the death-knell Of the unwary hunter;
and ever and anon the flames Of some de-
voted farmhouse whose dwcllcrs had been
slaughtered by the mercilcsS foe, rose red
ly upon the darkness of the night time
The wild and fiery eyes of the hcathcn
cleaned through the thick underwood of
the forest, upon the passing of the wor-
shippers Of the only true God: and the
savage warwhOOp rang Shrill and loud un-
der the very walls Of the sanctuary Of
prayer.
Perhaps no part Of New England affords
q wider field for the researches of the le-
gcndary than that potion of Massachus-
sets Bay, formerly known as hcprovincc
Of Maine. There the ferocious Norridge.
wock held his stern councils, and there
the tribes Of the PenobScot went forth
with hOng and dance to do battle upon the
white man. There the romantic and chi.
valrous Castinc immurcd himself in the
forest sOlitudcs, and there the light-heart-
cd Ralle, the mild and gifted Jesuit, gath
cred together the broken strength Of the
NorridgewOck, and built up in the great
wilderness temple to the true Cod
There, too, he pcrished in the dark on.
slaught OF the Colonists-perished with
many wounds at the very foot of the cross
which his own hands had planted. And
there the NOrridgewocks fcll-one after
anOthcr-in stern and accomplishing
pridc-neitheF asking nor giving quarter,
as they resisted the white spoiler upon
the threshold of their consccrated place
of worship, and in view of their wives and
children.
The following is one among many lc-
gcnds of the strange rencontres Of the
white man and the Indian, which are yet
preserved in the ancient records and ira
ditiOns ofMaine. The simple and varnish.
cd narrative only is given:
1t was sultry evening towards the last
Of June, 1922, that Captain Harmon and
the Eastern Rangers urged their canoes
up the Kennebec river, in pursuit of their
enemies. For hours they toilcd diligent-
ly at the oar. The last trace of civiliza-
ton was left behind. and the long shad.
ows Of the skirting forest met and blended
in the middle Of the broad stream, which
wound darkly through them. At every
sound from the adjacent shorcs-the rust.
ling wing ofsomc nightbird, or the quick
tread of some wild beast-thc dash Of the
oar was suspended, and theranger's grasp
tightened on his Fiae.-An knew the per-
il Of the enterprise and that silence,
which is natural ofjeopardy, settled like
cloud upon the midnight adycnturers.
"Hush-softly, mcn!" said the watch
full Harmon, ina voice which scarcely rose
above hOarse whisper, as the canoe
swept around ragged promontory,
There is light ahead" :.
All eyes were bent towards tho shore,
\ tall Indian fire cleaned up amidst the
great oaks, casting q red and strong light
upon the dark waters. For u single and
obrcathlcss moment the operation Of the
oar was suspended, and every car listened
with painful carnestncSS to catch the we'll
known sounds, which seldom failed to in
dicate the prOpinquity of the savagcs.-
But all was now silent With slow and
faint movements Of the oar, the canoes
gradually approached the suspected spot.
The landing was effected in silence. AZ
ter moving cautiously for a considerable
distance in the dark shadow, the party at
length ventured within the broad circle of
the light, which at first attracted their at
tentiOn. Harmon was at their Mad, with
an eye and hand quick as those of the
savage whom he sought.
The body Of q fallen tree lay across the
path. AS the rangers were on the point
of leaping over it, the coarse whisper OF
Harmon again broke the silence:
"GOd Of heavcn!" he exclaimed, point
ing to the tree "See here its the work
Of the cursed red skinsl"
a smothcred curse growlcd on the lips
Of the rangers as they bent grimly for
ward in the direction pointed out by their
commander. Blood was sprinkled on the
rank grass, and human hand --the hand
of white man-lay on the bloody log!
There was not word spoken, but eve-
ry cOuntenance worked with terrible emo
tion. Had the rangers followed their own
desperate inclination, they would have
hurried recklCsSly onward to the work Of
vengeGhce; but the example Of their lea
der, who had regained his usual calmncss
and self command, prepared them for q
less speedy and more certain triumph
Cautiously passing over the fearful obsta-
Gle in the pathway, and closely followed
by his companions, he advanced STEALTH
ly and cautiously upon the light, hiding
himself and party us much rs possible be.
hind the thick trees. In q few moments
they obtained full view Of the objects Of
their search. Stretched at their full
lengths around huge fire, but at . con.
venient distance from it, lay tho painted
and half naked forms Of twenty savcges
1t was evident from their appearance, that
they had passed the day in ono Of their
hOrrid rCvels, and that they were now
suffering under the effects Of intOxication
Occasionally, gram warrior among then
started half upright, grasping his tOma
hawk, Is Il to combat some vision Of his
disordered brain. but unable to shake oG
the stupeR from his senses, fell back intO
his former position.
The rangers Crept nearer. AS they
bent their keen eyes along their well-tried
rifles, each felt perfectly sure of his aim
They waited for the signal from HaTmon
who was endeavoring to bring his long
musket to bear upon the head Of the mos
/ distant Af kha aAvAOaa