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~ - treated previpitately,
THE PORTA
ND ECLECTIC. —
204
~ his cap as ‘composedly as if he were safe in the fort,
‘therefore don’t fire at the imps unless you are
sure of them !’””
© While he was speaking the Indians raised a shout
of. triumph at the result of the shot, and two or
“three of ‘them darted forward from their covers.
Worthly caught the movement, and a shot from his
rifle brought the foremost savage to the ground.
Wal “done, my boy!’ exclaimed the Scout—
se « they will larn a lesson from that, I consate, that
a white skin has cunning as well as a red one !””
~The late shout of triumph was exchanged for a
yell of rage, as the enemy enw one of their umber
~bite the dust, and: became aware of the trick that
had been played upon them. It. is a custom, with
the red men when one of' their number falls, to pro-
claim their loss by wild shouts of rage. “ With the
White man it is different. Ife will stand in stern si-
“lence, and witness battalion after battalion mowed
“down,—as at Waterloo,—the only sounds that are
heard being the groans and cries of the wounded
and dyin; F
‘> After the yell that atiended the’ fall of the Tn:
‘dian, an ominous silence prevailed among the band.
Not a’ sound was heard nor a sign Perocived to de-| ;
note their presence. ©: ~~
' J don't like this,’’s ‘said the ola man, *atter wait-
ing some time. ' ‘‘ Keep a sharp lookout, youngster
+I mistrust, the yarmints are planning s some mis-
. vebief.”
‘At this moment a ery “from Ellen startled them—
“Henry, Henry? Seout! Oh, heaven, they are ereep-
ing over the trees—there at the right!”
“: It was too true. Three or four of the savages
had stolen away unperceived to the right, and were
scaling the fallen trees, thus out-flanking the little
party. Their case appeared now desperate, and
Tlenry looked to. the Scout with an anxious, in-
© quiring look. © +
There was a ferocious fire gleaming’ in ‘the old
, man’s eyes, and the expression of his features evine-
ed a bold determination.
“«There’s no help for it, boy 17 he ‘muttered, be-
tween his clenched teeth—‘ we must take each of|
us to a tree, and sell our lives as dearly as possible!
* [ wouldn’t mind it much if the gal was out of harm’s| day.
way. Lay low, Miss, so’ that the shot shan’t hit
“you! They shall have my life before a hair of her
head is touched! pr
‘ And mine, too, if a thousand were linked with
“it! 1? said Henry, firmly, who in this great extremity
still remained unshaken in hie courage.
At the bidding of the Scout Ellen crouched trem-
blingly to the earth, while the old man and his com-
panion each took to a tree for a covert. They could
see the Indians "gliding from one trunk to another
towards them, but they did not dare to venture a
shot until they were secure of their men, and the
woods here were so dense that the savages could ap-
proach them more safely.” *
After a time the Scout discharged his piece at one
of the five, whose body was not wholly covered. A
ery of pain told that the shot had taken effect, al-
though not a fatal one.” At almost the same mo-
ment, happening to cast his eye to the left," Trenry
detected a savage creeping up to attack them in the
rear.
fell mortally wounded... No sooner was the report
.{ heard when a rush was made by the savages in front
with brandished tomahawks.* There was no time to
reload. :
* Clab your ur rifle, boy! 1"? shouted the ola man—
Jet us sell our lives dearly !"” and the two stood
“with clubbed pieces, determined to defend them-
selves to the lust,—while close in the rear of the
hunter stood Brave, with hair erect, and showing 9
formidable row of teeth, ready to join the melee.
So absorbed had been both parties in the others’
movements, they had not perceived the company o|
- young men, who were cautiously making their way
+ through the woods. | The first notice that they bad
of their presence was a ringing volley, which was
nearly simultaneous with the charge made by the
‘os savages, followed by a loud shout, as the young
“nen rushed into view of the astonished and delight
“+ ed Scout and bis companion. ~
That volley was well directed, for three out of
four of the savages plunged forward and fell to the
earth in the struggle of death—the tomahawk of one
* of them flying through the air and burying itself i io
the very tree bobind which Ifenry had taken refuge!
“To cover, youngsters, to cover: !”? shouted the
reloading his rifle, while an exulting amile
his countenance—and springing to the
d over
Played br 8 example was immediately f followed by
barricades bi
the res! f
But the danger was passed. The few
@ fall of their companions, re-
leaving four of their band
on the ground. When ‘this fuct was ascertained,
“oud and hearty were the gratulations that passed
., Debween the portios—the Fescuers and the rescued
temaining
| savages, seeing th
Ie immediately fired at him,’ and the Indian |‘
—in which Ellen, though pallid and shaking with |-
recent affright, joined as heartily as the rest. The
old hunter, meanwhile, busied himself in securing
the spoili—that is, the arms and ammunition, not
forgetting the scalps, of the fallen. This accom-
plished, with joyful steps the company started for
the Block-house.
« As they drew near the bridge, three shot fired in
rapid succession gave notice to those in the fort of
the success of the expedition, to which the swivel
in te tower iumediately sent back a booming re-
sponsi
With what emotions of joy did “Bilen reeross that
rustic bridge and emerge into the clearing! . Ifalf
way down the slope Annie came flying rather than
running, and with wild exclamations of joy threw
herself into the arms of her cousin.’ Just. outside
of the palisade stood Mr. and Mrs. Millet, ready to
receive their daughter—while gathered within clus-
tered the inmates, eager to weleome the rescue?
one, but standing apart, out of respect to the feel-
ings of the parents, whose agitation was too great
for concealment. ~ , :
Ag the party drew near, Tlenry, with a face glow-
ing with happiness, stepped out from the little
group, leading Ellen by the hand. In silence he
conducted her- to her father, who stood with out-
stretched arms to receive her. Folding her to his
breast in a warm embrace, he raised his hands
devoutly, and said ii in tones’ almost tco full for utter-
ance,
+? Almighty God, we 5 thank Thee! for: this our
hid was dead and is a alive again; she was lost and
is fou
Choking back her tears,—tears springing from a
heart surcharged with bappiness,—Ellen Jeft her
father’s arms to be received into her mother’s pes-
sionate embrace. Not a few eyes, unused to tears,
grew moist over that tender meeting,—a scene we
should vainly endeavor to portray; although it is
one we delight to linger over.
Tho reception given to the Scout and Henry you
may be sure was not wanting in warmth and hearti-
ness.” Such grasping and shaking of hands, and
such noisy congratulations, are not witnessed every
‘The fullowing morning, 28 the Scout was about
taking his leave,—for he was not a man to remain
Jot one inactive, Ellen went up to him, and placing
him foi
her hand jo diia—renewedl thanke x_his ser
wee and adding
“How shall rT repay the great debt I owe you,
Scout ”” -
“ That depends on sarcumistances, gol, *? said the
old hunter, fondling the plump little hand in his
broad palm as he would a young bird. ** Have you
aquared accounts with the youngster yonder?”
‘Ile says he is satisfied,” said Ellen, with a
glowing fuce, casting a bright glance towards Henry.
‘*Yes, I dare say the rogue has forestalled me! ””
rejoined the Scout. “ Wal,’ then, I s’pose I must
he content with an invitation to the wedding, which
in. course’ will comé off one of these days. He is
worthy of you, Miss; and may God bless you both!
Come pup!”? and followed by the dog, he left the
Block-house, and soon struck into the woods.
The main interest of our story is ofer. Disheart-
ened by their losses, the Indians did not make their
appearance again that winter. In the spring the
men, under protection of the guns of the fort, ven-
tured out to see to their farms. But it was not un-
til the year 1760 that they finally left the Block-
house and returned to their long deserted homes.
During this time two of the men had been seized by -
the savages, and carried prisoners to Canada, and
one was killed and scalped in the lower part of the
town, after which the settlement received no farther
trouble from the Indians.
We suppose we should not be pardoned if we
omitted to describe one pleasing incident which took
place the fall after the rescue of the eaptives.
One fine autumnal evening there was an unusual
stir in the Block-house. All the elderly persons
were dressed in their go-to-meeting clothes, and all
the young folks decked out in their holiday attire.
A great event was to come off—a double wedding to
take place. We are half tempted to describe the
young cotples as they stood up there, flashed _ with
the glory of youth, and of anticipated bliss. But
all brides are “* beautiful,” and as for ‘rlegroonste
who cares a fig for them?
Conspicuous among those who witnessed the cere-
mony was the tall form of the Scout, with his noble
dog by his sido. - When the rites were performed,
the old man took the hands of Menry and Ellen with
a hearty grasp—
“God bless you, young folks!’ said he, with no
little emotion. ** You little dreamed of this, I con-
sate, ono year ago this night, when you were trantp-
ing in the woods, with the infarnal red sking arter
you!”
Henry and Ellen glanesd archly at each other, as
their thoughts reverted to the moonlight walk.
“Ha, youngsters,”’ suid the Seout, who surmised
ting over the wrong shoulder!
consate !
We leave onr principal personages with the cup
of happiness at‘ their lips, trusting that we may
hereafter meet them again under not less sgrecable
auspices.
Biseellany.,
* Nover Covrrsute.—A young gentleman happen-
ing to sit at church in a pew adjoiving one in which
sat a young lady fur whom he conceived a most sud-
den and violent passion, was desirous of entering in-
to a courtship on the spot; but the place not suit-
‘ing a formal declaration, the exigency of the case
suggested the following plan: Ile politely handed
his-fair neighbor a Bible open, with a pin stuck in
the following text—2d epistte of John,. verse 5th:
«And now I keseech thee, lady, not as though I
wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that
which we had from the beginning, that we love one
another.’’ She returned it, pointing to the 2d chap.
of Ruth, y. 10; ‘Then she fell on her face, and bow-
ed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why
have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst
take knowledge of me seeing Lam a stranger?’ He
returned the book, pointing to the 12th verse of the
3d epistle of John: *Iaving many things to write to
you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I
trust to come unto you and speak face to face.”
From the above interview a mnarriage took place the
ensuing week.
~Iarrative Powers or tHe Curxese.—It is gene-
rally supposed that the Chinese will not learn any
thing; but no people are more ready to learn, if it
is likely to be attended with advantage... They ex-
cel in the manufacture of locks, particularly pad-|'
locks. One of my friends gave an order to a trades-
man to varnish a box furnished with a Chubb’s lock,
of which he had two keye, and one of those he sent
their thoughts, ‘‘ you're thinking of the moon’s get-
There wus some-
thing warmer than moonshine on t’other shoulder, I
Dida’t I tell you that it was risky busi-
ness for young folks to be abruad in the woods by
moonlight—and you see here what has come of it!”’
Tne Gapspen Tresty.—The New Orleans Bee con-.
firme the report that Santa Anna had agreed to the |
amendments by the United States to the Mexican
treaty. It says that General Almonte bas been sent
by Santa Anna to Washington with full power to
agree to any modification of the treaty, 60 28 to 6e-,
cure its early ratification by the two Governments.
General Alinonte is also instructed to transmit one
million dollars of the money to the Consul at New
York, for Mexico, who is directed to proceed at once
to Spain, and engage a staff of experienced officers
for service in the Mexican army. Santa Anna, it is
stated, deems the services of these officers as nec-
essary to the of his imperial Signity.
Taxes in Mexico.— Santa Anna has proclaimed a
door and window tax throughout that Republic. A
Vera Cruz correspondent of the N.O, Delta vays:
‘The rates of this tax are enormous, and it applies
alike to the wealthy banker's palace, and the hutof
the miserable, half-naked Indian. Some idea of the
extent ofthe revenue which will be derived from
this tax may be inferred from the fact that an Amer-
ican merchant here informs me that ho will hare to
pay for his house in town, and ditto ia country, with
engine-house and other buildings ona sugar estate,
not less than $800 or $1,000 per annum,’
A Rhode Island clergyman lately illustrated the
necessity of corporeal punishment for the correction
of juvenile depravity, with the remark, that “the .,
child, when once started in the course of evil ‘con-
duct; is like a locomotive on the wrong track—it
takes the switch to get it off!’? When_ the reverend
gentleman delivered himself of thia bit of waggery,
with all becoming gravity, a general smile lit up
the countenance of many an attentive hearer,
oT? ‘
Ta case of punishment by a school teacher, recent-
ly tried at Lawrence, Mass., it was conceded by both «
parties, that in the school-room, and during school
hours, and concerning matters relating to the school,
the teacher is Possessed of alf the ‘authority of the
parent, and is not liable for any punishment of a
pupil unless it be such a punishment as would be
unlawful if inflicted by a parent. -
The keepers of the sailor boarding houses in New
York have publicly announced that after March 15,
they will use all lawful means to prevent the ship-
with the box, retaining the other himself. ‘When
Wren Load
hat bia key would not
turn the lock, though the one he had given to, the
tradesman acted very well. Thinking some trick
knowledged the fact, stating that on examination
he had found it such an excellent one, that he took
it offand kept it, making another just like it, with
the maker's name, and every thing complete, save
that the original key would not open it. Their me-
this kiad. They never made a watch that will keep]
time, though they prize watches, and usually carry
two. If you ask the reason of this fashion, they re-
ply, ‘*’Spose one makee sick, other ean walkee.’
‘True ax Beavtiren.—George Hillard, of Boston,
te
8
B
&
Si . 7 or
«J confess that increasing years bring with them
an increasing respect for men, who do not succeed
in life, as those words are commonly used. Ieaven
has been said to be a place for those who have. not
succeeded upon earth; and it is surely true that
celestial graces do not best thrive and bloom in the
hot blaze cf worldly prosperity. TIll-success_some-
times arise from a superabundance of qualities in
themselves good—from conscience tuo sensitive, a
taste too fastidions,a self-forgetfulness too romantic,
a modesty too retiring. {[ do not go so far as to sa:
with aliving poet, that ‘the world knows nothing
of its greatest men,’ but there are forms of great-
ness or at least of excellence which ‘die and make
no sign ;* these are martyrs that miss the palm, but
not the stake ; heroes without the laurel, and con-
querors without the triumph.””
The new railroad switch, invented by Geo. Tan-
a number of elastic and permanent rails attached to
moveable frogs so arranged that the cars while go-
ing in one direction may be switched on branch
tracks at either side of the road, while cars moving
in an opposite direction may pass rightoyer the
switch on the mi ain track i irrespective of the position
of the switch. . z
“Cnesrxots ror Breap —In Italy, according to the
correspondent of the Newark Advertiser, chestnuts
which the forests produce abundantly, being ground
like corn, are substituted for four among the poor.
At this time real bread bears double its usual price,
in consequence of short grain crops for the two past
sengons.
had been played, he accused the person of having|-
changed the lock; and after some evasion, he ac-
ehanical contrivances generally have some defect of
cock, of Providence, consists in the employment of.
ment of seamen for less than $18 per month, for
errr nhl the Os,
of Cape Lorn. ‘sa.of Good Hope, and East, East
Revivat or tus Iproproxe.—The Uippodrome, 5
to be revived, a large troupe of actors and ani
having arrived in the Washington, We lear
the best authority that the Hippodrome c
cleared in this city during the past season the
some profit of one hundred and twenty thousat
lars.—N. Y. Mirror. +h
~ It is said that the British and French soldiers»,
except for a short time in 1794,—have not fought ,
ander the same banner since the wars of the Cra- Ms
sades. The rivalry that will exist in the allied ar-
my to exceed each other in deeds of daring, will ren-
der them terrible to their Russian foes.
Tt hae been found that the marble of Greenough's
statue of Washington is not calculated to endure
in this climate, it beirig the finest quality of Italian
marble, and not proof against the frosts of the
North. The sword-belt has already fullen off, be-
youd doubt from the effect of the climate.
The city of Cork contains houses of worship for
two sects of Methodists, one Congregational, one
aaker, ten or eleven Episcopalian, about the same
number of Roman Catholic, and a Baptist chapel,
founded by an officer of Cromwell's army, while on
his military campaign there.
A New York paper says that Mr. Charles Minot,
late Superintendent of the New York and Erie Road
will visit Europe during the coming season, and that
the Emperor of Russia has offered him the post of
Superintendent of the | St. Petersburg and Moscow
Railway. S
Rey. Dr. Routh, the venerable President of Mag-
dalen College, Oxford, who has attained the age of
ninety-nine, has just finished a work, consisting of
extracts from the ancient fathers, with an original
introduction.
—_________.
The Newburyport Hergld of Saturday contains a
table of 70 vessels, belonging to that port, taken or
plundered by the French in or before 1800, the loss-
es by which are footed up at $682,603 05. The
names of the owners are also given.
ee
“Santa Anna bas issued a decree forbidding au
foreign ministers at the Mexican capital to import
more than $3,000 worth of articles for their private
use in any one year. - ‘