Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-10-21

ter smother in The stern unc6Iiip ipfdIl| @sx
lprile--ncither asking nor giving ,,nArtcr4,
A. they resisted the white spoiler dpon tie
threshold OF their consccra.ed place OF wur~
ship, and in view cf iieir wives an rl,ili.
The fDIlowing Il one among many Il.
genls Of the many strange encounters Of
the white men and the Indians, which are
yet preserved in the ancient records and
traditions OF Maine. The simple and unvar.
nishcl narrative Is only given;
! II was n sultry cvcrlng towards the
Last Of June l7s2, that Capt lrermon and
the Eastern Rangers urged their canoes ur
the kennebec river IN pursuit of their en-
cmirs. The last trace Of civilization was
left behind, and the long shadows of tho
skiring forest met aud blended in the mid.
dc of the broad stream which Wound dark.
~ through them. At every sound from
the adjacent shore--shc rustling wings 81
some bud or the footsteps Of some wild
beast : the dash cf the oar was suspended
and the rangers egrasp tighienei upon his
rifle. All knew the peril of the entcr-
prise; and that silencc which Is natural Of
jeopardy, settled like cloud upon the midi
night adventures.
"IIush--scitiy men said the watchful
IIernion, in voice that scare " rose
above hoarse whisper, as The canoe swept
arounl rugged promontory. there's a
light ahead
All eyes were bent towards the shore.
A tall Indians fire CLEANED amidst the
great oaks casting red and strong light
upon the dark waters. For single ard
breathless moment the operation ofthe oars
was suspended and every ear listened with
painful earnesincss to catch the .wrll-known
sounds that indicated the propinquity Of
the savages. But all was now silent With
slow and faint movement of the oar the ca
noe gradually approached the suspected
spot. The landing was effected in silence.
After moving cautiously for considerable
distance in the dark shadow, the party at
lrngth vcntured within the broad circle of
the Fight which first attracted their attcn~
ton.
Hermon was at their liend, With an eyo
and hand as qnick as those Of the saw
age enemy whom he sought.
The body of fallen tree lay across the
path AS the rangers we're on the point OF
leaping over if, the coarse whisper Of Herr
mon again broke that silcnce
God of Heaven he exclaimed. point
ing to the tree. See here lis the work Of
the cursed red skins
A smothered curse growIed upon tho
lips of the rangers, as they grirnly bent for
ward in the direction pointed out by their
commander. Blood was sprinkIed upon
the rank grass, and the hand Of some whito
man lay upon the log.
There was not a word spoken, but every
countenance worked with terrible emotion.
Had the rangers followed their own des-
perate inclination, they would have hurried
recklessly onward to the work Of ven
geance; but the example Of their leader,
who had regained his usual composure auI
selt-command, prepared them for a Kiss
speedy but more certain triumph. Cau-
tiously passing over the fearful oh :tscle
in their pathway, and followed closely bv
his companions, he advanced stealthily and
cautiously upon the thick trees. In few
moments they obtained full view of the
object of their search. Stretched at their
full length around a large fire, but at con-
venient distance from it lay the half-naked
and painted forms Of twenty savagcs. 1t
was evident from shcir appearance that
they had passed the day in one of their
fects of intoxication. Occasionally a grim
warrior from among them started upright.
grasping his tomahawk as if to combat
some vision q his disordered brain, but un-
able to shake off the stupor from his senses.
fell back into his former position.
The rangers crept nearer. As they
bent their keen eyes along their well-tricd
rifles, each felt sure of success. They
awaited the signalfrom Hcrmon. who was
endeavoring to bring his long rifle TO bear
upon the head of the most distant Of the
savages.
Fire said he at length, as the sight of
his piece interposed full and distinct be-
tween his eye and the wild scalp-lock Of
the Indian. Fire, and then rush on!
The sharp voice of thirty rifles thrilled
the heart of the forest. There was a proan.
a smothered cry, a wild and convulsi.e mo-
ton among the sleeping Indians, and all
was alent.
The rangers sprung forward with their
clubbed muskcts and hunting knives bnt
their work was DONE The red men had
gone to their last audit before the Great
Spirit and no sound was heard save the
gurgling of the bot blood from their life
less bosoms.
They were left unburied on the place Of
lhelr reyellins--a prey to the foul ds of
Ihe air and the ravenous beasts of the will
ierness. Their scalps were borne home-
ward IN triumph by the successful party.
whose children and grandchildren shudder-
"a long after at the thrilling narrative Of
he midnight adventure.