Year: 1867

Il


extreme each with his painted fea.


lures lighted by the fitful glare of the
fire, and his tomahawk and scalping


knife cleaning at his side. Near


them were implements of hunting,


and around the fire lay scattered


bones and fragments oil a recent rude


and hasty repast The whole scene


was calculated to strike terror in


to the heart of the delicate being


who gazed upon it.


But she scarcely saw the rude saw


ages or their implemets of death, for


her whole soul was absorbed in con-


templating portion of the scene


which we have not yet described, and


which riveted her attention with


thrilling and magic power. Bound


to tree, was the form of her hus-


band and at his feet on the cold


ground, lay her child. The fathers


face was pale, and stained with blood;


the infants face was covered by its


dress, and its form was motionless as


if chilled by the cold ha I'd of death.


How felt the fond wife and mother


when that sight of horror met her


eyes? Repressing by a mighty eff


fort the shrek of agony that rose to


her lips and conquering, by the


strength of heroic soul, the almost


irresistible desire she felt to rush


forward, and clasp those dear ones


to her aching heart, she stood gazing


upon the scene with feelings that


cannot be described. She saw with


a throb Of sudden JOY, that her hus-


band lived, but her heart grew cold


again as she watched the motionless


form of her child. She longed to fly


to its side, and ascertain the truth,


for the suspense that preyed upon


her spirits was terrible, but again her


resolute mind restrained her, and she


began to deliberate upon the situa-


tion of her husband and devise means


for releasing him.


The vived light cast by the fire on


all things near it, enabled the wife to


note the scene distinctly. She saw,


with thankful heart, that the sava-


ges all slept, and that she could


reach the side of her husband with


out passing near enough to awake


them but she saw that he was


bound by strong cords, which she
could not hope, in her wearied state


to unfasten, and she looked about
for something to sever them. There


was nothing, save the knives which
the Indians wore at their sides Look
ing more intently, she saw that one


of these had slipped from its place,
and lay on the ground by its owner,
so near, that his hand almost touched
the hilt. A pang of intense fear
shot through her frame, when she
thought of approaching 50 close to
the terrific form of the savage, but
another look upon the pale face of
the prisoner, reassured her, and she
determined to rescue him or perish in
the attempt She could not approach
the Indians without revealing herself
to the eyes Of her husband, and she
feared, in that case, an exclamation
of surprise would follow her appear
ance, and rouse the foe from their
slumber. After pondering a moment
upon the best mode of proceeding, she
determined TO steal softly to the back
of the tree, place her hand upon the
lip of the captive, whisper a few
words of explanation, and implore
him, not by the slightest murmur, to
Illustrate her plans. With throb
bing heart, she commenced her peril
Gus undertaking. Noiselessly she
made her way to the tree, and accom-
plished her purpose. There was no
time for delay, yet one instant the
mother turned to look upon her child,
yearning to clasp it to her bosom, but
not daring to lift the cloth which con-
cealed it's features, and assure herself
whether or not it lived. A little while
before, she would have given worlds
to be able to do this, but now she
felt that to behold it wrapped in the
slumber of death would unnerve her
arm, and render her unfit for the fur
ther prosecution Of her trying task.
With a firmness that would have
done honor to a stole, she conquered
the promptings of natural love, and
FASTENED away. With step as noise
less as the falling dew, she glided
towards the slumbering savages as
she drew near, her frame trembled
so violently, she could scarcely sup
port herself and when she put forth
her hand to take the knife, the beat
ing of her heart was so audible, she
feared it would awake the sleepers,
and she pressed her hand convulsive-
ly upon it to still its tumultous thrOb-
bings. One terrible instant she
thought the eyes of the Indian open
ed, glared upon her with fierce and
malignant expression but this was
mere fancy for he still slept, and the
next moment she was gliding away
with the knife firmly grasped in her
hand. With few rapid strokes she
her husband, and then bent
down and uncovered the child To
her unspeakable joy, she found it in
a slumber as sweet and peaceful as
though it had been hushed to rest up
on its mothers bosom. With a pray
er of gratitude upon her lips, she lift
ed it from its resting place, turned to
her companion, and motioned the way
to their home. With rapid and noise
less steps they hurried away, speed
ing onward with tremulous yet hope
full hearts. Not "a moment did the
fond mother spare to caress her in
fant-not a word did she utter to
greet her husband. The spell of a
new found, uncertain happiness had
settled upon her spirit, and she fear.