Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
VOL. 74.-3775. NO. 10.

i
to the nearest settlements for aid. As the
cabln oil Louisa's parent was burned, and a
lew charred bones were found among the
embers, 1t was supposed that all the inmates
had perished. With saddened hearts, the
survivors gazed from the walls of their
Tort and eagerly awaited the expected assis.
tance, hoping then to pursue their enemies
and avenge their slain friends
In the meantime the savages had assem-.
bled in council. The fires were lighted, and
the usual forms having been observed
faugus proceeded to give an account Of the
expedition and ask the opinion of the war
riors as to the manner Of disposing of the
prisoner. As two of their warriors had
fallen IN the attack, he was in favor Of burn.
ing the victim at the stake as an offering
TO the spirits of the slain a majority of the
council concurring, her fate was determined,
and the setting of the moon fixed as the
hour of the execution. Active preparations
were now commenced for this dreadful
ceremony so dear to every savage head, and
Louisa was informed of her DOOM The poor
girl could scarcely realize her situation her
faculties were chilled, and when told of the
intention OF her captors she manifested but
little emotion. The place selected for the
torture was smooth grassy knoll near the
lake shore. A large post, painted after the
GnIst9Imaryknanner, SIstI amer with stripes of red and
wood, and pitch knots, and combustibles
heaped aroud it. The day passed away, and
evening drew her curtain round the camps
The moon at that time set about midnight,
and the hour was anxiously awaited by the
savage throng. At length it drew nigh the
last moonbeams gilded the tree tops and
glimmered on the waters of the lake as the
la haI, o 4afD ID.
The hoot of the owl sounded dismally in the
recess ofthe forest, and the plaintive cry of the
waterfowl quivered on the night breeze. The
young Indians prepared their bows and tom
ahawks, the old men gathered round the
camp fires, while the fierce warriors, arrayed
in their hideous fashion, were impatient to
join in the war dance and songs Of death.
Among the band was young chief named
Metalleck, distinguished for his bravery as
hunter; he was favorite with his tribe.
Several years previous, during the peace that
existed this youthful chieftain, while hunt
ing in the vicinity of Dover, was so seriously
injured by fall as to be unable to move.
In this condition he was discovered by Lou
isa's father who, taking him to his house,
treated him with great kindness until he
was able to Join his tribe, As the Indian
never forgets an injury so the remembrance
of an act of kindness abdes forever in his
breast, and when he recognized Louisa as
the daughter of his benefactor, he deter
mined to save her life and restore her to her
friends. Accordingly, in the council he
made an effort to obtain her release, but was
unsuccessful; then he resolved to rescue
her by force, and abide the Judgment of his
people. As the hour approached he had
proceeded to the margin of the lake. where
lay the Canoes and with his tomahawk de-
stroyed all but one this he brought around
to point near the camp, and having placed
his arms and robe of deerskin within it,
he returned to the party and mingled with
his friends. He knew that if successful in
reaching his canoe with the maiden, and
once getting clear from the shore, he would
be almost safe, for the warriors could not
pursue him until the canoes were repaired,
when he hoped to be far away.
The moon had gone down, and the dark
ness was only dispelled by the blazing fires.
Louisa was led forth-as she approached
the fatal post she trembled with horror and
fright; her helpless situation was apparent.
Before her was death of dreadful torture,
and the lurid light showed scores of demon
like forms, whose exulting shouts were loud
aud frequent She saw the scalps of her
parents hanging at Paugus' belt as he bound
of soon being freed from her sutferings that
sustained her. Metalleck gazed for mo-
ment upon the fair form of the victim--her
hands were clasped, her dark eyes were
seemingly uplifted in prayer, and her raven
hair hung wildly about her snowy shoulders
The throng fell back, and Paugus lighted
the death-fire. The flames were kindling
when Metalleck bounded forward, severed
the cord which bound her, caught her in his
arms, and before his comrades could recover
from their astonishment had reached his
canoe, and with his paddle urged the light
bark rapidly from the shore Then with
cries of rage and disappointment the saw
ages rushed to the beach. Paugus, whirling
his huge war club around his head launched
it after the receding boat, but it was beyond
his reach, and the weapon plunged harm
lessly into tine dark waters. The chief then
gave orders for immediate pursuit, and they
repaired to their canoes, which to their sur
prise they found useless Metalleck had
done his work surely and the enraged and
bafiled warriors returned to the burning
pile in silence.
Impelled by the strong arm of the Indian,
the canoe glided swiftly down the lake in
the direction of the settlement. He en-
deavored to quiet the alarm of the maiden,
assuring her of her safety, and OF a speedy
return to her friends. Wrapping the deer
skin mantle around her he resumed his pad
die in silence and Louisa, exhausted by ia
tgue, sank into quiet slumber. Towards
the middle of the forenoon, Metalleck drew
near the settlement, using great caution lest
he should be discovered, taken for an enemy,
and fired upon by the pioneers, who were
doubtless on the watch AT length the
canoe touched the shore, and Louisa awak-
ening saw the smoking ashes-all that re.
mained of her once pleasant horne. She
thought of her murdered parents, of her
own helpless situation and she almost re-
gretted she had escaped death. But when
she realized her obligations to him who had
periled his life to save her, she was over
come with gratitude. As the chief placed
her on the shore, she fell at his feet, and
with streaming eyes and broken utterance,
thanked him for her deliveranoe, and begged
| him to quit his savage life and dwell among
| the whites. But the stern Indian spoke not
gently releasing himself from her grasp,
he turned away, and waving his hand in
adieu, seized his paddle, aud with a few
strokes was far from the shore. Louisa
watched him until he disappeared among
the islands, and then sinking on the sand
poured forth an earnest prayer for his safety.
| While thus engaged she heard footsteps APP
| preaching, and turning around, fell into the
arms of her friends, whose surprise and joy
may be imagined when she told the incidents
of her capture and rescue.
Aid soon arrived TO the colony, the saw
ages were driven away, and the cabins re-
built, but it was long ere the settlement
fully recovered from the terrible blow As
| for Louisa, the horrible scenes she had passed
through unsettled her mind, and the poor
orphan became deranged. Sometimes she
would roam about the woods and then sit
and grieve for hours upon the lake, or relate
to those who cared for her the fate of her
father and mother, and her own rescue from
the savages. When autumn came, and the
fading leaves strewed the forest aisles, the
crazed girl died, and they buried her by the
tall elm that shadowed the graves of the
fallen pioneers,
Metalleck never joined his tribe again,
but sought home on the head waters of
the Connecticut, where he lived many years.
The death of Paugus, which happened at
the battle of Lovwell's Pond, put an end to
the Indian wars in tnat part of the country,
which was soon occupied by the whites
Long years have gone by, and now large
village occupies the place of those rude cal
| ins, the blue waters of the lake now bear