Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-07-04
miscellaneous.
Legend OF the Nature.

a young chief of some distinction was be-
trothed to an Indian girl. A French officer
had seen the beautiful Natchez, admired and
determined to possess her. An opportunity
soon enabled him to press his dish9norable
suit. The attempt was met as chastity always
encounters baseness, with scorn and con-
tempt.
Baffied but not defeated, pride and lawless
passion urged on this infatuated man to the
accomplishment Of his designs, reckless of
guilt and blind to danger.
The hour had arrived which was appointed
for the marriage of the warrior and his des-
tined bride In the simple and unostenta-
tious ceremony which marked this primitive
race, the immediate relatives had assembled
to witness the pledge, and to mingle in the
festivities of this joyous occasion, when a
band OF soldiers surrounded the peaceful as
sembly. Opposition was fruitless. The In
dians entirely defenceless and unsuspicions of
danger, were lost in astonishment, and amidst
grief and supple cation the bride was borne
away, es--z-< s--Hs=-'s
Imagination alone can depict the sorrow,
CONSERVATION and despair which agitated the
soul fthe unhappy husband. He persuaded
and cntreatied; his ingenius heart urged all
that could be conceived, to operate on the
humanity, or TO excite the avarice of the
heartless ravisher, contumely and bitter de-
rision were the only answer to his impassion-
ed suppllcations. Then he threw himself in
all his strength and terrific energies, among
the bayonets of his enemies. Many sunk un-
der his powerful arm, but numbers prevailed,
and he was hurled back, discounted and
wounded 10 the earth.
Days and weeks passed away. but the Wig
lance of the savage never slumbered over the
prospect of revenge. He roamed about the
encampment of the French, he employed
every siragagem that his willy ingenuity could
suggest; but the apprehension of some des-
perate deed induced more than ordinary pre-
caution on the part of the French officer.
The wary Indian. however, had noted the
situation of the camp, marked the quarters
of his victim, and natured his plans. He
had secretly and cautiously prepared large
quantiss of combustible materials, consisting
of dried cane, leaves and brushwood; satura-
ted with the sap of the pitch pine. were care
fully transferred by night to the vicinity of
the encampment, at point most distant from
the quarters Of the devoted Frenchman. The
place selected was just without the chain of
sentinels, aud in the midst of thicket un-
frequented by the soldiers.
TO this magazine, on a dark and stormy
night, he fired train, which, burning slow
ly, enabled him to reach the stand of the SEN
tinel nearest his enemy, before the confagra-
ton became perceptible. He then threw him
self at full length on the ground and wound
among the herbage, gliding with the rapidity
of the serpent. The unsuspecting soldier
reached the extremity of his post. and turned
to retrace his steps; the next moment his
throat was in grasp from which nothing
mortal could extricatc him. A silent plunge
aud heavy sigh went down upon the wind,
and save Its gusty moan no other sound could
be distinguished.
The success of the stratagem was complete
The terror of that tempes.ous night, rendered
visible by the brilliancy of the widely spre ad
fire, and inconceivably magnifed by those
unearthly sounds, struck dismay to every bo-
som. The sentinels fed their posts. the camp
was thrown into a state of confusion. and
fearful foreboding and underlined fear sat on
every countenance.
Enveloped in the watchcoat of the unfortu-
nate soldier. the Natchez chief now occupied
the opening of the tent, where reposed- the ha-
ted author of all his wrongs. Reused by the
uproar which surrounded him; the French
man fastened to ascertain its cause, and soon
felt himself in the iron fold of him whom he
mad injured beyond the hope of mercy. A
moment was sufficient to bind the victim. to
fasten sheathed knife firmly in his jaws. to
enter the tent and lead forth that oDce pure,
but now violated dishonored and forsaken
girl She had anticipated and iwpatiently
waited the moment which would terminate
her sorrows. Not wordFas uttered, not a
sound escaped. but in the confusion which
prevailed, and amidst the gloom of the night.
and the raging of the storm. bearing his foe
in his arms, and followed BY his wife the tri-