th;
The high o'erhanging mountains
Where thunders have their birth:
And this eternal torrent,
Majestically grand--
Can doubt the Spirit's presence,
And a Creating Hand?

On the following day the Oneidas resumed their march, and at nightfall
reached an American military post, then just established at the entrance
of the Niagara river, on the shore of Lake Ontario, called the Fort
Niagara. The Oneidas entered within the barriers of the little stockade
fortress, and there established their camp, and were soon busily engaged
in arranging a treaty with the commandant of the place. Wauchee followed
closely after, like a bloodhound on the trail, and selected his camp in
a little grove just without the gates of the fortress. He then boldly
sauntered within the walls, and mingled with cool indifference among the
groups of soldiery, and the armed warriors of his foe. But under the
semblance of friendship, lurked the fire of a spirit burning with
hatred; and he could scarce restrain himself from plunging among them,
and immolating numbers on the spot. Still the wary prudence of the
savage restrained his hand, and he continued for a day or two to mingle
in peace among them. The crafty Oneidas soon suspected the designs of
the stranger, and they conferred among themselves, as to the surest mode
of guarding against the meditated blow of Wauchee. They well recognized
by his paint and garb the Mohawk warrior, and they resolved to baffle
his assault, and for ever prevent his return to the people of his tribe.

But the designs of a bold and resolute man are not easily fathomed or
thwarted, and the rude walls of the frontier fortress were unable to
shut out so brave and active a warrior as the Mohawk chief. He was
trained to stratagem, and sworn to vengeance; and now that his wild
blood boiled with fury, no ramparts of mere wood and stone could
effectually interpose between the avenger and the destroyers of his
sire.

During the silence and gloom of night he succeeded in scaling the
palings of the walls, and secretly and successfully made his way into
the very heart of the fortress. He was surrounded with numbers of armed
men slumbering upon their weapons; and many a pacing sentinel was
stationed upon the breast-works, to guard against an open or a secret
foe: yet the soft step and the gliding figure of the Mohawk passed along
in the darkness unheard and undetected. After moving about swiftly among
the sleepe