Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-24

you shall livel See, I've stopped the
blood |"
"Don't deceive yourself, Tom," said
Lucy, "the wound is bleeding internally,
and in a few moments 1 shall have done
with things of time but am thankful
that I have been the means of saving
many lives. She then unfolded the
devilish plot of Pierce, to murder the
sentinels and fire the fort, adding: "God
has made mo the instrument for the saw
ing of the lives of many. and am happy,
Don't grieve, Tom. Kiss me. Good bye"
The fair hands relaxed their hold, and
with a look of unutterable love her soul
winged its flight towards heaven.
Tenderly those rough men lifted the
corpse of Lucy Morgan, and sadly they
bore her to the block house. Tom follow
ed like one in dream, and left her not
until the weeping women, with gentle
force, parted them to compose that lovely
form for its last resting place.
Mechanically the bereaved young man
moved out of the block house, where he
saw Pierce standing sullenly between two
of his captors. The sight called back his
wandering senses and with a look Of the
most intense hate he leaped forward, shout
| ing:
anime mine must be the hand that
Furnishes him Give him to me !"
"Of course" said Pierce, "you can muir
der me if you want to; for you're among
your friends, and you know yer safe but
you daren't fight me. just put knife IN
nv hand, and in five minutes King George
will have one the less enemies and the
devil one more recruit"
The sneering tone in which this speech
was uttered, stung the scout to the last de-
gree of madness.
"Liar p he cried. Then turning to his
comrades, he said:
"Give him knife, and III prove him
what say"
A knife was slipped into the hands of
each, and they stood face to face glazing
at each other like wild beasts. Neither
spoke, but one might see the determina
ton to kill each other or fall beneath the
knife. simultaneously they sprang for
ward, and their knives clashed. The
blows feel thick and fast. Here and there,
advancing and retreating, with foot to foot
and eye glazing into eye, they fought.
Both were masters Of that fayOrite weap-
on of the early settlers, the hunting knife,
and for a time neither seemed to have the
advantage. At last the weapon Of Per-
kins was seen to have lost its sheen, the
blood dripped from it, as in swifter circles
it swept over his head. Still the fight
ragged on, until the scout drove his knife
Through the forearm of Pierce, rendering
him powerless. Quick as lightning flashed
the weapon of Perkins, as it descended
and buried itself deep in the heart of the
murderer, who fell without groan.
STOPPING quickly, the avenger caught
the scalp lock of his fallen foe, and with
one motion of the blade, severed the scalp
from the crown, and shaking the CORY tro-
ply alof, shouted CONE p
The next days sun shone bright and
clear, as a mournful procession issued from
the block house, conducting the body of
the murdered glrl to its last resting place.
Having arrived at the new made grave,
the simple rites were performed, the corpse
lowered, and many brave mans eye was
wet with tears, as they turned away from
the grave of her they slowed IN life so
much" One of the women approached,
and laid a braid of dark brown hair in the
hand of the scout, which he pressed to his
lips, and then raising it aIoft with one
hand and pointing with the other to his
coon-skin cap, in the crown Of which was
sewed this scalp of Pierce, he said.
"Comrades, there is one aud for eve
cry hair in the braid, shall one more of the
scalps of my enemies be added and then
going to the waters edge, he launched a
canoe and pushed off towards the settle
ment.
In that struggle for our independence
Perkins did the colonies great service !;
that he fulfilled his vow, we may be sure ;
for be became terror to the tories and
savages, the latter of which, on account of
the great number of scalps which adorned
his person, applied to him the title of
"Scalp Lock-" and regarded him as an
almost supernatural being.
Reader, this story, l know, is poorly
told bnt who will say there is no lounda-
ton tor many an exciting tale in the prim-
tive history of old Skeen8boro, now White
hall