pid than those of his order were at a later period found to be, elsewhere, declares he will have nothing to do with slaughter; but, earnestly remonstrating against the war, surprises the chiefs by offering himself for the desperate adventure, as they deem it, of bearing overtures of peace to the ferocious Narragansets, already in arms. After an interval of solemn silence, to consider so unexpected a turn, the wise old Sagamore accedes, and by a very politic representation to his chiefs, on fire for battle, obtains the acquiescence of all but one, a sort of Moloch of the council, under whose sullen half submission there appears to lark a malignant treachery, which draws from the presiding chief a stern denunciation of death against any one who shall waylay the messenger of peace. Waban is appointed to accompany him, bearing the calumet.

An alarming scene opens on their view, in their near approach to the central station of the Narragansets--the war dance, in all its fantastic, ramping, and yelling furies. It required our am, bassador's strongest efforts to repress his own apprehensions, and the kindling fierceness of his companion, while they advanced with the emblem of peace through the frowning and menacing multitude, whose hands were observed going instinctively into contact with their tomahawks and arrows; the very children's precocious ferocity being darted at them in looks, gestures, and curses. But the laws of truce must not be violated; and the messenger is conducted by Miantonomi, a young warrior of noble, but formidable aspect and loftiest bearing, into the presence of the venerable head of the tribe, under whose dignified austerity his courage somewhat quails; especially when the Sagamore, in reply to the pacific proposition, goes, though calmly, into a train of severe and just comments on the ill faith and insatiable rapacity of the pale-faced race. But, fortunately again, he is a person whose martial spirit has been tempered to moderation by reason, experience, and policy; he discourses with a judgment and equity which might shame almost any statesman; is willing to entertain the overture of the enemy; and for the purpose of deliberation izsties a command to delay the march of his fiery legions. Williams improves the interval to make acquaintance with the most influential chiefs, whom he brings to a favourable temper by hiz frank deportment, his representations of the very palpable and solid benefits of peace, and a distribution of trifling presents. There is, however, one individual who repels and scorus his advances, a pawaw, or wizard, the priest of Chepian, sa sman abhorred, but still more dreaded, as being firmly believed to wieki the powers of the terrible demon. The poet is true to the early history of the colony, in representing the pawaw as exercising a power which would appear preternatural to the Englishman as well as the Indians. Those men did possess some unexplained

means of producing effects so strange and frightful, as to be as cribed, in the opinion of probably all the settlers, to an agency beyond mere human art and power. Our author avoids commítting himself on the question :

• I will not say that devils did enlist,

To do the bidding of this grim pawaw ;
He may have been a wild ventriloquist,

Formed by rude nature ; but the age which saw
The marvels which he wrought, would aye insist,

His spells surpassed material nature's law;
And that the monarch of th' infernal shade
Mustered his legions to the wizard's aid.'

-Stanza 18, Canto V. This malignant has all that can be conceived of infernal in his disposition; denounces destruction; challenges to a trial of power; and on an appointed day comes forth, with all the appalling insignia and ceremonial of his office, in the view of the whole tribe assembled to witness the experiment, with an awe that held them as if petrified, in expectation of some terrible event. The spectacle and process are exhibited with great vigour of description. He tells the assembled nation that he has received from his god an imperative command to rouse them with the alarm of the destruction that is darkening over them by the continual advance of the invading aliens from beyond the ocean, on whom he pronounces execrations, and ends his address with a challenge of defiance and scorn to the wretch of a white man now before them, a defiance intrepidly hurled back on the * Priest of Beelzebub.' An assemblage of beings who could heroically brave torture and death, here shrinking under the dire spell of superstition, are intent with shuddering breathless expectation on the opening of a casket, believed to contain a potent Manittoo, which comes forth in the shape of a rattlesnake. It swells, and glides, and spires, splendid in preternatural colours; and after several evolutions fixes its glance on Williams, moving toward him with elevated crest; while some magical fascination, of odours, colours, and musical sounds, diffused through the air, trances his senses and prostrates his strength; the multitude shouting the manittoo ! the manittoo!' He recovers at the critical moment, when the snake is coiled to make the spring, and strikes off its head, Enraged at the sight, the more hateful human monster poises an envenomed lance, and is prevented from darting it only by Waban's arresting his arm. The brave and indignant Miantonomi, with a violent blow of the haft of his lance, drives the miscreant away yelling and howling into the woods. There is a short suspense of amazement and stupefaction in the multitude, and then a shout of exultation. The ancient

VOL, IV.

chief congratulates the victor and his own people; assures him of unlimited privilege on their territories, at the same time enjoining on him to use his good offices for them with his white brethren ; and sends him back with the joyful news of peace to the tribe from which he has been commissioned. Welcomed on his return among them, he receives the free grant of whatever place within their domain he shall choose for the church in the wilderness.

We have then his surveying tour, his selection, the wooden construction of his lodge; the enclosure and commencing cultivation of a portion of ground, with indefatigable toil, and able assistance in every operation from the faithful and equally indefatigable Waban. His imagination has begun to expand around this nucleus of a Free State, arranging over the tract the future dwellings, gardens, plantations, schools, places of Worship, all the charities of life and religion; with a total and endless exclusion of crabbed deacons and ecclesiastical tribunals. What a disturbance to his flattering visions to find this incipient Eden invaded by, almost literally, the infernal serpent—' the fell Pawaw!' Certain signs of some malignant presence preceded his being descried, with an assistant fit companion, by Waban, in the edge of a gloomy forest, on the opposite side of a river, across which there takes place a mutual demonstration of hatred and defiance, by furious shouts and shot of arrows.

But a sudden and somewhat protracted cessation of the annoyances allows the patriarch of freedom to recover confidence enough to commission his brave and wary associate to fetch Mary and the children, by a journey which must be of several days. Such is, however, his impatience, that he follows his messenger all the way to a spot within view of Salem, and whence he can see the hasty transactions at the cottage, the loading of two horses, lent by one of his secret friends, with moveable articles; and the setting out of the family on foot.

The narration of this journey is wrought up to an interest not exceeded in intensity by any story in poetry or romance.

There is a first moment of unmingled delight at the re-union; but as they proceed, Williams is alarmed at the manner of Waban, alternately accompanying and preceding the little band, in silence, and with a restless, starting, glancing vigilance; explained after a while, in words not intelligible to Mary, by the information that, in his way to Salem he had been tracked by the hellhound; at the end of it had perceived him watching the family's dwelling; and is certain, from indications unequivocal to Indian sagacity, that he is now lurking near at hand in the forest, to doy them with deadly purpose in their progress. Whatever, for the frustration of that purpose, is possible to a wild hunter, and to no other man, is done by the quick senses, and searching and daring activity of Waban, as guide and protector of the slow and toilsome march, till the approach of evening ; when the anxiety and fear which had harassed them at every step through the day are aggravated to extreme distress at the almost hopeless prospect for the night. The nearest Indian village is named; but it is much too far off to be reached by the wearied females and children. To complete the dismay of the situation, an arrow from the dark forest passes and grazes Waban's head. He plunges into the thicket to find the unseen foe, but only hears him breaking away to a distance through the underwood. He then recollects, as the only possible resource, and not very far off, a cave, in which he and other hunters had sometimes found shelter in tempest or the night. The terror which hastens their movement toward the dreary refuge is but partially allayed by their entrance into it; for it is quite certain that the demoniac pursuer will soon be in their neighbourhood. The mother and children are bestowed in the rude but sufficiently capacious hold. At some distance down an open avenue, by which alone it is accessible, Waban makes a great fire of the dry wood of the brake, to the surprise of Williams at a proceeding just only fitted, as he should think, to betray their hiding place. The sagacious Indian promptly sets him right, by explaining that the deadly enemy knows their retreat perfectly well; and that the fire is for the purpose of exposing him in his approach, as a mark for the arrow. There is a disconsolate yet thankful short repast; and then the two guardians to their posts; Williams in the entrance, behind a partial curtain made by a suspended wild vine ; Waban concealed on a jutting rock outside.' Dark night; distant howlings; a fierce beast, whether dog or wolf, leaping from the thicket toward the fire, baying and howling, but recalled by a whistle before Waban's arrow could strike it. He exclaims, The fell Pawaw! his dog!'

* and shrinks back so close in his covert as to raise an apprehensive suspicion that his courage is failing. A mass of branches, moving out from the wood, tells who, though not discernible, must be there.

Straight to the blaze they moved, and dashing down

The branches green upon the mounting flame,
Put out the light; and smoke and shadows brown

In one dense rolling night, the glade o'ercame ;
The mother shrieked—the father with a groan,

All horror-stricken, trembled through his frame;
For each now felt that, with that glancing ray
The last faint trembling hope had died away."

-Stanza 49, Canto VII. The fixed horror of a few moments is broken up by

• A fearful growl, close to the cavern’s rent.'

a

6

It is the precursory bloodhound, believed by the savages, and even by Waban, 'to be the Pawaw's manittoo. Williams's hatchet cleaves its head. But immediately there is a stirring of the vine, by some hand forcing it aside. An earnest call,

Waban, where art thou !' is repeated as in doubt and reproach. But Waban is just where he should be; and an arrow from his obscure position lays 'a giant savage on the earth, howling in death. Presently there is another and more fearful yell;' and the reviving blaze of the fire shows a figure advancing, not doubted to be the incarnate fiend himself. Williams springs out to share the peril. The brave defender's hand and eye are on another shaft, when the bow-string breaks. Instantly he leaps from his rock, darts down the avenue, evades a hatchet hurled with impetuous force at his head, and closes in mortal couflict. The combat soon passes out of view into the wood, where it is protracted through every variety of ardent, agonistic ferocity; the family listen to the sounds in an ecstasy of terror; Williams runs toward the spot with his axe, prepared to meet what might too possibly be the last extremity for them all. The signs of desperate struggle subside into silence, followed, after an interval, by the wild cry of victory; of which the expression, so intensely demoniac, conveys a fearful presage ; he is held in a suspense almost intolerable, till a form issuing from the shade proves to be his champion, bearing a head into the light of the fire, in order to recognize the hideous features. All the savage flames up in his visage and action while, holding it by the long hair, he whirls itround and round, till the hard ball parts from the scalp, and goes bounding into the wood. Proceeding to the cave, he drags and tosses away the body of his previous victim ; 'the black priest's comrade' cleanses himself from his bloody stains; throws himself on the ground, and falls asleep.

• Sire Williams, with his happy family and brave defender, is re-established in his plantation ; where they cheerfully labour; converse over all the trials and perils through which a good Providence has conducted them; have an amiable sympathy with all animate and inanimate nature around them; and exult by anticipation in that republic of religious freedom of which they are the hopeful germ. No fell pawaw, now, to break in on their peace. No; unless it be, perchance, the same spirit that has taken another form, the form being no other than that of-'a Plymouth elder.' A deacon again! who comes to announce from authority, with sanctimonious formality, that the recusant shall not stay there to plant and sow his heretical mischief. Just possibly, if even now at last he will repent, recant, and perform penance due, the outcast's doom may be reversed or mitigated, but else lo vain, after an animated declamation on the prerogatives of reason and the benefits of free thinking, drily rebuked by the