Ellen Walton / Or, The Villain and His Victims

laze soon spread along the pile, with its fiery spires leaping high in air, and its forked tongues hi

e, a large post, driven firmly into the ground. This vacant space was purposely left, that the sufferings of the doomed might be prolonged, a species of cruelty common in Indian tortures. As it would be some time before the flames would touch Hamilton, though hi

pared themselves with long splinters, which were to be fired at one end, and then driven into the flesh of the sufferer; the guns were loaded with powder, to be fired against the naked person of the prisoner when the signal should be given. Hamilton saw

ect Thy persecuted daughter, and save, oh, save her from the grasp of the destroyer! Let not the wicked triumph! my God, let not the wicked triumph! but shield, oh, shield the innocent! Thou art He who canst do wonders; make known Th

was another of those present no less deeply interested, though in a different way-Ellen, who was in agony at the sight before her. A thought entered her mind-a wild thought, which only despair could arouse. She saw the fixed attention of her persecutor, and at the close of Hamilton's fervent

devoted heroism, and looked on in astonishment, then exchanged glances of bewilderment and constern

e lips of Durant, as he aroused himself from the spell that was on him.

nd every one present worked as though l

deep-toned thunder resounded. Presently the large drops of rain fell peltering on the leaves; then the first heavy dash of the fitful storm came down, and presently extinguished the fire, which, by this time, was pretty well scattered over the gr

llowed flash in quick succession, and the jarring thunder, loud and terrible, broke, peal after peal, on the ear! Then the howling wind, like ten thousand furie

It was some seconds before any one recovered. Then Hamilton arose and lifted Ellen also. On looking around, they perceived a large oak had been riven by the descending bolt at a short distance from them. A splinter from the tree had struck Durant on the breast and temple, and he lay bleeding and senseless

the heavens." Loud as thunder was the roaring of the wind. Incessantly the vivid lightnings blazed forth in blinding flashes; while above all the mingled commotion of the storm strife, the bursting thunders boomed. Like feathers in the

" said Hamilton

y of God's power!

f his omnipotenc

uring its continuance, the wild passions of the savages were awed into quiet, and their hearts filled with other

eyes, and stared about, but his glances were those of bewildered delirium. A high fever was burning in his veins; its fires penetrated t

ess the fearful war of the elements. The tempest just over, was nothing to the one that was struggling and out-breaking in his bosom. We shall not attempt to record all the dark revelations he made of his own evil thoughts and deeds, as

know that I must have my revenge on the girl? Scatter the fagots! Gods! if she dies th

his countenance; the dark lines of passion retreated, and an expression of timidity or fear came in their place. He muttered incoherently for a time, and then, as if communing

d but the motion of his breath! And the lightning! oh, the lightning! how it looks into the heart and

n that he was re-living and re-enacting the day, and its scenes; and in this condition he remained for some time; then his insanity took a wilder and wider range, recalling the past, and exposing the future of his li

shing eye and quivering lip, she says: 'As you have wilfully, voluntarily, and wickedly called it down upon your own head, may the curse of God rest upon you in this world and the world to come.' Gods and demons! if their should be 'a world to come!'-How her words burn into my heart! and, worst of all, they are proving a reality! I am accused! m

broke forth with this devel

ach the proud minx to insult a Durant! Won't she be humbled, though! ha! ha! ha! How she will struggle

ag

ver! To save him at the stake she'll yield! I'll revel in her charms, and then-then what? Ha! ha! As a reward for her co

y, have you the heart to see him suffer so? Ah, how dearly you must love him, to stand by and se

on will induce him to persuade her to yield. At all events I'll try the ex

tentions toward his prisoners, and the utter blackness of his heart, we will depict another phase of his madness, in whi

g devils! out of my sight, ye imps of h-l! Begone! ye ghostly demons,

ops of perspiration oozed from every pore, and stood in cold beads upon his brow! In fixed horror he thus rema

in, he exclaimed

food for crawling worms! No! no! no! Then birds of prey

usly for a length of time. Then the wilder phases of a distempered mind

ve your hissing tongues! 'Tis false! all false!

rom which he awoke much debilitated. With his waning strength, the delirium took a milder form. The vail of the future seemed still t

! All my deep-laid schemes of no avail! Oh, Eliza! thou

n violence, and once more

thwarted in my wishes; I'll move all h-l but I'll be revenged! ay, I'll walk through fire, flood and storm to g

r he fell into a more tranquil slumber, and the violence of the fever seemed to have passed. With the early dawn seizing a favorable moment, when all their enemies were asleep, the lovers made their escape. Ramsey and the Indians were so much occupied with Durant, they did not thi

a party of whites, under the direction of Ellen's brother, who had busied himself day and night to raise the force and go in quest

the expedition was accomplished, the party returne

CLU

ir original arrangements, and afterward lived in the enjoyment of that happiness which love alone can procure, and which can be f

, struck him a blow with his fist. The indignity was never forgotten or forgiven. The Indian vowed to be revenged, and he kept his oath; dogging the steps of his foe, he found an op

long beaks were stretched over him and planted in his flesh and eyes! And when death at last came, and laid his icy fingers upon his heart, for the final stilling of its disquiet and guilty throbbing, his failing senses were suddenly and momentarily aroused, and the curdling blood sent again w

tion, and the sluggish blood rushed for the last time upon his paralyzed heart with suc

e vulture, mingled with the angry growl of the wolf, as they contended for

e proud and vicious Louis Durant; and yet fresh beasts arriving upon the scene, disappointed in their anticipated feast,

lice, against whom he had plotted so often and so fiendishly, were happy in th

E

TNO

Adventure,"

n Adventure