Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-05


bone of the moose in his hand. which he
had just been picking. 81 wish" said
he, ''that this bone might strike an Alb
enaquis on the head !" He then gave
it throw over the bushes into the lake,
and, sure enough, it did strike one of the
swimmers on the head and stunned him.
The other Indian was close at hand, and
instantly understood it. He was afraid
that when his companion recovered from
the stun, he would thrash the water, and
make noise. So he silently and cool
ly dragged him under the water and
drowned him. All this was the work of
silence, and Of a very little time, and
the Indian'retrrned, and reported to his
chief. The three now entered their Ca
noe, and padding out towards the is
land, began to fire on the Mohawks.
These poor fellows raised their war
whoop, rushed into their canoes, and
put out into the lake. But now came
their trouble. Their canoes began to
fill and to sink. The cunning Abenaquis
came upon them with the war shout.
The Mohawks were in amazement, and
were knocked on the head like dogs.
m
They were all killed except one, who
was designedly kept alive. What a vic
tory for three men ! In the morning
the prisoner was brought forth, expect
ing to be put to death by all the torture
that could be devised. But their plan
was different, though hardly less cruel.
They stripped the captive. and----l-
him look at the twenty heads of his
countrymen, which were now impaled on
as many stakes, and stuck up all around
the island. CThis gave it the name of
"Head Island ''uirutup Island y
They then cut off his nose, ears and
lips and put him ashore. "Now, go
home" said thUy, 20 home and tell
Moh~-Ao co send more men. Too easy
iOr tnree Abenaquis to whip thirty men,
tell Mohawks to send more men p, Tho
poor, MANNED, creatr-z r--Su0" MS way
through snepathless wilderness, and af-
ter suffering incredible hardships, reach
ed his home, and told his story. The
Mohawks were mortified beyond express
sion. Their hundreds of schemes for
retalition are not told. But in due time
their vengence was ample and full. The
number who lost their lives as sequel
to the Head Island tragedy was very
great.
''CL ~ hnnt and fell vuh"t We
have done ?" said one of the victors to
his chief. "No, no! These heads will
stay here, and they win tell the story.
We must 60 on before it be too late to
hunt deer in the dark of the moon" /"
And onward. and up the lake, the canoe
moved till they reached the Saranac,
where Plattsburgh now stands, when
they turned into that river and followed
it up. They made no stop, even to
hunt, till they had passed beyond the
rapids, one of which is seven miles long,
Around all these they carried their ca
noe and implements for hunting. In a
few days they had reached the upper
Saranac Lake. or as they called it, the
"San- belloninipus," the beautiful lake
And beautiful it is, almost beyond ex
preston. Its waters deep, clear anC
sweet. The lake is almost fifteen mile.
long, studded with islands, and sur
rounded with enchanting shores.
AS the canoe merged into the LAKE
from the long neck or outlet the sachen
held up his hand and the paddles wer,
motionless.
81 smell smoke" said he, in a lov
voice. 81 smell smoke-some Mohawk
somewhere in the lake."
"Can you see any smoke p said on
of his companions.
"See none, smell him sure" Tn
canoe moved very slowly and silently
When opposite Eagle Island, a 10y
whistle was heard, so low and feebl
that none but an anxious ear would hav
caught it.
That no Mohawk. that Abenaqui
whistle said the leader. He made
motion, and the canoe turned toward th
island. Just as she reached a littl
niche on the southern side, a young ma
rose up from the moss in the bushes, an
with leap, stood within few feet {
the canoe
"Sago, sago," said he in voice Ii
tie above a whisper. ''Brave Tomo
very welcome. OF all men in the worl,
Tomo is the man | want to see."
'.Is the Saranac Hawk alone % sai
Tomo, with distrustful look arouI
the lake.
"All alone"
"Was the smoke that smelt from Il
: camp fire of the Saranac Hawk ?"
| ''No, old friend. it was the smoke
the Mohawk who are hunting in t
upper part of the lake."
; "What is the young Hawk dol
: here?" asked Tomo.
2 "Come up the rock, and will t.
| you. Come alone The chief stepp
: lightly on the rock, and in nome