The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-10-17


Instantly the avengers seized their muskets
and fired. The balls and their iron links went
crashing and tearing through the frail canoes,
and cutting the devoted Iroquos in pieces. A
sudden and terrible panic seized the latter
With loud and startling shrieks they leaped in
to the water from their sinking vessels, while
the deadly fire of the Algonquins continued to
rake from end to end, severing limbs and in
ficting unheard of wounds.
In few moments the canoes were all sunken
or abandoned, and those who we're not already
destroyed were struggling in the waters OF the
Trois Riviere, already red with the blood of
their comrades.
Some were desperately wounded, and after a
few convulsve efforts sank and arose no more,
and the rest were paralyzed with terror.
The avengers padded into the midst of the
desr airing wretches, and not one of them IS
capped. They found graves in the waters of the
Tros Riviere.
"Now," said Paskaret my face does not burn
with shame. The spirits of some Of our elain,
warriors are appeased."
We feel that we must here remark that the
exploit Just narrated is literal fact, aud not
the creation of the pen of fiction.
1t may be imagined, with some reason, that
the daring feat of Paskaret in destroying fifty
Of his enemies at a blow, would have satisfied
his appetite for revenge, but this was far from
being the case.
ave have spread terror among the lroquois,
and the glory Of our exploits is in the mouths
of ali but we must do more" said Paskaret.--
"We five will penetrate into the country of our
enemies and carry CONSERVATION and death
there also"
Greatly TO the modification aud sorrow OF the
great chief, not one of his chosen companions
would accompany him oil an expedition so
hazardous. Paskaret was by no means dis
heartened; he prepared himself for the extra
ordinary undertaking; and early in the spring,
before the snow had disappeared, he set out
alone for the land of the Iroquois; and we have
now to notice some OF the most daring exp plots
ever performed by an Indiaa warrior, or possi-
bly, by any man that ever gave himself to war
like pursuits.
In order to baf1l his enemies, providing his
precauton to reverse his snow-shoes, putting
the hinder part forward, which would turn
pursuit in the wrong direction. This was not
all in his long and perlous journey he betook
himself to the highlands and hills, from which
the snow had already melted, in order to leave
as little vcstige of his way as possible. What
idomitable courage! what unheard of persever-
ance! whatan over-grown thirst for vengeance!
TO prompt this brave savage to a long pilgrim
age to an enemy's country, over hills and noun
tains and across streams in which the ice
still running.
But nothing could daunt the soul of Paskaret.
He did not falter or despair, but reached the
land of his foes in safety. But what should he
do now? We shall soon see.
1t was dark night. The moon had not ap-
peared and the stars were scarcely visible in
the arch of the skies. Paskaret was lowering
en- the outskirts OF an Iroquois village. He ap
preached a lone wigwam, listened moment,
and then entered. The inmates were sleeping
without q dream of death. When Paskaret
left the lodge, the scalps of the sleepers hung
at his belt; he had put them asleep forever.
Upon the following day there was dire con-
fusion in the village of the Iroquois The
young warriors ran hither and thither, and
everywhere, but no traces of Paskaret could be
found, save the imprint of his fearful hand up
on the bodies of his victims.
The very next night he crept forth from his
lurking place, entered another cabin, and rob-
bed them of their scalps, as before, and effected
retreat without discovery.
The Iroquois profted by their sad experience; :;
and upon the third night set watch about
their village, in every cabin.
1t might be supposed that under such circum.
stances, Paskaret would not attempt to enter
the village again; but this was not the case
Lashing the scalps which he had taken care
fully upon his back in bundle, in order not to
lose the valued and ensanguined witnesses to
his daring deeds, for the third and last time he
cautiously approached the Iroquois village.
But he found his enemies upon the alert, and
remained quiet, waiting for them to relax their
vigilance. In this expectation he was not dis
appointed.
He dozed and nodded, started up, rubbed his
eyes, ard strove to be wakeful; but, alas! the
drowsy god overpo wered him, and he slept at
his post.
"He richly deserves to die" said Paskaret, to
himself, "for the desire to do his duty is not
strong enough to keep him awake"
The cneitain stood silently beside the faith
81 cd irnl
battle-axe, and with blow laid the sleeper
quiverng and gasping at his feet.
But there those in the village more
wakeful and wary. They heard the fatal blow
and with a fierce war-cry rushed to the spot
Before they reached it Paskaret had torn off
the scalp of his victim, and betaken himself to
fight. Paskaret was called the swiftest Indian
runner living and the idea of running for his
life did not terrify him in the least Some
times, by an extraordinary effort, ho placed
great distance between himself and his pur-
suers, and then again permitted them to ap
proach him, when, from the summit of hill,
he would call to them, and boast of the deeds
he had done among them, and brand them a
nation of squaws and towards.
Ending his not very complimentary ha-
rangue, he would dart away like the wind, and
govern the intervening distance according to
his own fancy.
The pursuit was continued with undated
vigor until night, when the Iroquois enca mped
to cook and rest. Paskaret saw them kindle a
fire and watched the smoke curling through
the trees. They roasted meat, ate, and then lay
down in their blankets, without thought of
danger. In half an hour they were all in a
sound sleep.
A dark form might have been seen stealing
towards them, stepping in among the slumber-
ers, and by the light of their fire sees to count
them.
The sleepers were ten in number With his
hatchet he dispatched nine with as many blows,
and then with the handle awakens the tenth
from mis- sleep. He started to his feet and was
about to give the war-cry of the Iroquois, but
the sounds died away upon his lips, and he saw
his com panions lying stark and stiff in death,
and Paskaret confronting him with grim
smile.