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Richardson, John, 1796-1852

"Wacousta : a tale of the Pontiac conspiracy (Complete)"


The address of the officer, touching and impressive as
language ever is that comes from the heart, was not
altogether without effect on the Indian. Several times
he interrupted him with a short, quick, approving "Ugh!"
and when he at length received the assurance that he was
no longer a prisoner, he raised his eyes rapidly, although
without moving his head, to the countenance of his
deliverer. Already were his lips opening to speak for
the first time, when the attention of the group around
him was arrested by his giving a sudden start of surprise.
At the same moment he raised his head, stretched his
neck, threw forward his right ear, and, uttering a loud
and emphatic "Waugh!" pointed with his finger over the
bows of the vessel.
All listened for upwards of a minute in mute suspense;
and then a faint and scarcely distinguishable sound was
heard in the direction in which he pointed. Scarcely had
it floated on the air, when a shrill, loud, and prolonged
cry, of peculiar tendency, burst hurriedly and eagerly
from the lips of the captive; and, spreading over the
broad expanse of water, seemed to be re-echoed back from
every point of the surrounding shore.


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