The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-01-17


cry. ambush. hostile Indians and ugly
half-breeds. The line of march was soon
formed, and under cover OF night the
English were led up the river, 10 attempt
once more the destruction of the Indian
village and the capture of the priest.
The half-breed directed the march. II
was II difficult task to bring 80 large
force. unheraded, within attacking dis
lance of those whose eyes are always
open. whose ears are always listening.
1t had been tired before aud failed; only
tile utmost caution could succeed no~,
and the half-breed was working out his
scheme of revenge in the meanest,
though most skiful act of his life.
The company was divided. aud by
morning the village WAS surrounded.
No alarm WIS given While the soldiers
crept up the shore no one saw their red
coats rs they slowly filed along the hill
side. \ brave passed from the lower TO
the upper end of the village. aud disap-
peared int his wigwam, giving no sign
but that all WAS we'll The old white
haired chief came 10 the entrance of his
lodge. He WAS bowed and benf with
wears but his eyes We're like the eyes of
a hawk, aud what the young warrior
failed To see. the old man quickly dis
covered. The English were close upon
them. and Il long, deep war whoop rous-
ed the NorridgeWoeks to a fight for life.
How Il service of morning mass ended in
massacre, how a White-haired chief died
before the altar OF his faitl; how an In
dian settlement and the remnant OF a
tribe WAS wiped from existence. history
has tried TO tell; but Of private hate, of
private treaehery, aud of private ven-
geanee, it makes no mention.
The Indian girl WAS ia the wood be-
side the stream, when the deep. loud cry
of the old chef sounded through the
summer morning. air. She caught the
tone of alarm aud note of warning in the
cry, and knew that danger threatened
even before she heard the rapid rife
shots, and the war song of her tribe.
She ran to the hilltop and saw in the
valley be1eath her, sight which filled
her heart with sorrow and dismay. The
dead and dying of her race lay at the
doorway of the little chapel, and scatter
ed among the burning wigwams, while
before the chapel, where their fields of
tasseled maiz We're waving short hour
before, now the English fought the In.
lians, hand 10 hand. Foremost in the
battle, Megone shouted his war song.
and advanced, step by step, as the
soldiers fell before his tomah lwk. BY
his side fought the Panther, aud the
heart of the girl glowed with pride as she
saw the young chief fighting tor his
home aud his people. She saw Megone
fall, and heard the war song of the
Panther ring louder and fercer, keeping
time with the swift blows of his toma-
hawk.
hapaat b ~ ffi,s1 H., etanl
the hil-slopp, the half-breed sheltered
by small elnmp OF bushes, hati seen his
plans eliminate, almost 10 his complete
Satisfaction. Not quite, for h hid
hoped 10 see the Indian girl aad II cap
ture her in the confusion. His watching
was nnrewartlrd aud he turned his at
tention to lie fight. The death of the
young chief would end the battle, and
the long riff OF the scout WAS quietly
raised aad fired with deadly aim. THE
Panther gave cry, looked once in the
direction of the hillside. and fell TO the
ground. His followers lost heart and
the battle became Il massacre.
The quick eye of koneshee caught the
pun Of smoke from the discharge Of the
rifle. She saw the Panther fall, and
with an instinct Of the truth sha ran to-
ward the clump Of bushes wheace the
shot had come. The half breed heard
the cracking Of twigs and swift ap-
proachin0 footsteps. He turned rs
head and looked into the face of
the girl She saw him Mt the
same instant and drew the long bunting
knife. the same she had used for her de-
Tense the day before. The half.breed
was brave, he would have faced man
and foughf we'll. but the frenzy of ven
geanee in her face and he Knowledge of
his tr,arherous .bof unneryad his arm.
lie dropped his rifle and fled away to the
southwark into The depths of he forest.
takint no heed of his path. caring ONLY
t,t ,,ri.1 aainad -, ho, info,'da y;eti,a
Dpep within the wood. beta cen two
slight ,l4yationS of The hilton. tie slno-
oish waters of n small pool Law deep an
murkv with the decay of aGes Dark
under the pteraal shadow of the trees.
the lifeless pool gives no tribute to the
river. il claims none from the hilton
e,.,,,,t.i., n,..a4 l., -, - - -,