The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-08-29
THE PIONEERS.

left hy Miss Temple, IN The sltualloh
already mentioned. she continued IN
feyerish anxiety, awaiting the return
of her friend. She was on the eve OF
fight, when Natty emerged from the
cover, and stood at her side. The old
man laughed rs he shook her kindly
hy hand that was passive with fear
and said
IL am glad TO meet YOU here, child,
for the back of the mountain is a-hre,
and it would lie dangerous to 90 up 1t
now. till il has been burnt over once,
and the dead wood is gone. Why,
what ais the child you look as skea-
~ rs il you seed more painters ! /
wish there was some 10 be found,
they'd count up faster than the beaver.
But where's the good child Of a bad
father; did she forget her promise to
the old man.
1.-The hill the HILL" shrieked Lou
lisa; ''she seeks you on the hill with
the powder !"
Natty recoiled for several feet, at
this unexpected intelligence, and eX-
claimed
1.-The Lord of Heaven have mercy
on her She's on the Vision, and that's
a sheet of fire ag'in this. Child, if ye
love the dear one, and hope to find a
friend when you need it most, to the
village, and give the alarm. The men
be us'd to fighting fire, and there may
be Il chance left. Fly l bid We fly
nor stop even for breath"
The Misunderstanding had no sooner
uttered this injunction, than he disap-
peared in the bushes, and when last
seen by Louisa, was rushing up the
mountain with the activity Of youth,
and with speed that none but those
who were accustomed to the toll could
attain.
"Iave | found YEP the old man
exclaimed, when he burst out of the
smoke; "God be praised, that I've
found We; but follow,-there is no time
left for talking"
"But John! what will become of
.Iohn?" cried Edwards "can we leave
the old warrior here to perish?"
The eyes of Natty followed the di-
rection of Edwards finger, when he
beheld the Indian, still seated as be-
fore, with the very earth under his feet
consuming with fire. Without delay
the hunter approached the spot, and
cried in Delaware
sup and away, Chingachgook will
We stay here to burn, like tortured
Mingo, at the stake?
"Why should Michigan go?" re-
turned the Indian, gloomily. My IA
theirs say, from the far-otf land, come.
The Great Spirit says, come. No
let Mohegsn die"
"But you forget your friend" cried
Edwards.
"'Tis useless to talk to an Indian
with the death-fit on him, lad" inter.
rupted Natty, who seized the strips Of
the blanket, and with wonderful dex'
terity strapped the passive chieftain tC
his own back; when he turned, an(
with a strength that seemed to bid de-
hance, not only to his year, but to his
load, he led the way to the poin
whence he had issued. Even as they
crossed the little terrace of rock, one
of the dead trees, that had been tot
spot where they had stood, and filled
the air with its cinders.
"Tread on the soft ground" criet
Natty, "and keepin the white smoke.
Obedient to the hunters directions
they followed his steps and advice i'm
plicitly, and although the narrow pas
sage along the winding Of the spring
led amid burning logs and falling
branches, yet with a little difficulty
they soon descended to another ter
race, and emerged at once into a toll
erably clear atmosphere.
The feelings of Edwards and Eliza
beth, at reaching this spot, may b.
imagined, though not easily described
No one seemed to exult more thar
their guide, who turned, with Mohe
gan still lashed to his back, and laugh
ing in his own manner, said
81 know'd twas the Frenchman',
powder, gal; it went so altogethel
like; your coarse grain will squib fol
minute. The lroquois had none O
the best powder when l went ag'in thu
Canada tribes, under Sir William. Die
l ever tell you the story, lad, consarn
ing the skrimmage WITH
''For Gods sake, tell me nothing
now, Natty, until we are entirely safe
Where shall we 60 next?"
"Why, on the platform ofrock owe
the cave, to be sure; you will be SAT,
enough there, or we'll go into it, ifyo,
be so reminded"
The young man started, and ap
peared agitated with astrong emotion
but, looking around him with an anx
ious eye, said quickly
"Shall we be safe on the rock? can
not the fire reach us there, too?"
Cant the boy see?" said Natty
"Had ye stayed in the place above tel
minutes longer, you would both hav,
been in ashes, but here you may sta,
forever, and no fire can touch YOU
until they burn the rocks as we'll al
the woods"
With this assurance, which was oh
viously true, they proceeded to tn,
spot, and Natty deposited his load
placing on the ground with his bacI
against fragment of the rocks. Eliz
abeth sunk on the ground, and burie,
her face in her hands, while her hear