When the face of the nearly insensible parent was withdrawn, to the
others the dead appeared to gaze at each other with a mysterious and
unearthly intelligence. The look of the Narragansett was still, as in his
hour of pride, haughty, unyielding, and filled with defiance; while that
of the creature who had so long lived in his kindness was perplexed,
timid, but not without a character of hope. A solemn calm succeeded, and
when Meek raised his voice again in the forest, it was to ask the
Omnipotent Ruler of Heaven and Earth to sanctify his dispensation to those
who survived.
The changes which have been wrought, on this continent, within a century
and a half, are very wonderful. Cities have appeared where the wilderness
then covered the ground, and there is good reason to believe that a
flourishing town now stands on, or near, the spot where Conanchet met his
death. But, notwithstanding so much activity has prevailed in the country,
the valley of this legend remains but little altered. The hamlet has
increased to a village; the farms possess more of the air of cultivation;
the dwellings are enlarged, and are somewhat more commodious; the
churches are increased to three; the garrisoned houses, and all other
signs of apprehension from violence, have long since disappeared; but
still the place is secluded, little known, and strongly impressed with the
marks of its original sylvan character.
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