Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-17
NO.. Ill.


sembled to exhibit their trophies and de-
eide her fate
CHAPTER II.
When day dawned on the ruins of the
settlement, sad and melancholy was the
spectacle! Heaps of smoking ashes
marked the sites of the cabins and many
half-burned corpse lay among the glowing
Goals. Some bodies were found short
distance from the scene, where they had
been stricken down in attempting to es-
cape.
Suspecting some stratagem of the In
dians, the people OF the block-hOuse waited
several hours before they ventured forth to
gaze on the scene of desolation and collect
the mutilated remains of their friends for
burial.
Having discovered that their canoes were
rendered useless, messengers were dis
patched to the nearest settlement for aid.
AS the cabin of Louisa's parents was
burned. and a few charred bones were
found among the embers, it was supposed
that all the inmates had pershed. With
saddened hearts, the survivors gaZed from
the walls of their fort and eagerly awaited
the expected assistance, hoping then to pur-
sue 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,
Paugus proceeded to give an account OF
the expedition and ask the opinion of the
warriors as to the manner of dispOsing OF
the prisoner. As two of their warriors
had fallen in the attack he was in favor OF
burning the victim at the stake, as an Of
fering to the spirits of the slain L majori-
ty of the council concerning 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 saw
age heart. and Louisa was informed of her
doom. The poor girl could scarcely
realize her situations her faculties we've
chilled, and when told of the intention of
her captors she manifested but little emo
ton. The place selected for the torture
was smooth grassy knoll near the lake
shore. large post, painted after the
customary manner with stripes of red and
black, was erected, and bundles of dry
wood, and pitch knots, and combustibles
heapcd around it. The day passed away,
and evening drew her curtains round the
camps.
The moon at that time set about mid
night, 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 pale orb sank behind the sum-
nit of Red Hill.
The hoot OF the owl sounded dismally
in the recess of the forest, and the plaintive
cry of the waterfowl quivered on the night
breeze. The young Indians prepared
their bows and tomahawks, the old men
gathered round the camp fires, while the
fierce warriors, arrayed in their hdeous
fashion. were impatient to join in the war
dance and song of death.
Among the band was young chief
named Metalleck, distinguished for his
bravery as hunter: he was f;ivorite
with his tribe. Several years previous,
during the peace that existed, this youth
ful chieitan, while hunting in the vicinity
of Dover, was so seriously injured by a
fall rs to be unable to move. In this con-
dition he was discoveredb by Louisa 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
IN injury, so the remembrance of an act of
kindness abidcs forever in his breast, and
when he recognized Louisa as the daugh-
ter of his benefactor, he determined to
save her life and restore her to her friends.
in the council he made an ef-
fort to obtain her release, but was msuc-
,esstul then he resolved to rescue her by
force, and abide the judgment of his peo-
pie. As the hour approached. he had pro-
,eeded to the margin of the lake, where
lay the canoes, and with his tomahawk
destroyed all but one this he had brought
around to Il point near the camp, and hav-
ing placed his arms and n 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 APP
the fatal post she trembled with
hoMor and fright; the helpless situation
was apparent. Before her was death of
dreadful torture, and the lurid light
showed scores of demonlike forms, whose
exultiug shouts were loud and frequent.
She saw the scalps of her parents hanging
at Paugus' belt as he bound her to the
stake, and it was only the hope of soon
being freed from her sufferings that sus-
tanned her. Metalleck gazed for moment
upon the fair form OF the victim-her
hands were clasped, her dark eyes were
seemingly uplifted in prayer and her raw
en- hair hung wildly about her snowy
shoulders. The throng fell back, and
Paugus lighted the death-tre. The flames
were kindled when Metalleck bounded for
ward, severed the cord which bound her.
caught her in his arms, and before his
could recover from their aston
had reached his canoe, and with
his paddle urged the light bark rapidly from
the shore Then with cries of rage and
disappointment the savages rushed to the
beach Paugus, whirling his huge war
club around his head, launched 1t after the
receding boat, but it was beyond his reach.
and the weapon plunged harmlessly into
the dark waters The chief then gave or
ders for immediate pursuit, and they re-
paired to their canoes, which To their sur
prise they found useless. Metalleck had
done his work surely and the enraped and