The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
Below, the channels unite, and in one deep stream the waters flow on
gently between the quarried cliffs of fine black marble, which rise in
some places from thirty to seventy feet in height, and are beautifully
stratified. Many fossils are imbedded in the rocks, among which the
_trilobite_ is quite plentiful. Here the heads (so exceedingly rare) are
frequently found.
By the contribution of a York shilling to an intelligent lad who kept
"watch and ward" at a flight of steps below the bridge, we procured his
permission to descend to the rocks below, and his services as guide to
the "Big Snake" and the "Indian Cave." The former is a petrifaction on
the surface of a flat rock, having the appearance of a huge serpent; the
latter extends through the small island from one channel to the other,
and is pointed out as the place where Cooper's sweet young heroines,
Cora and Alice, with Major Heyward and the singing-master, were
concealed. The melody of a female voice, chanting an air in a minor key,
came up from the cavern, and we expected every moment to hear the pitch-
pipe of David and the "Isle of Wight." The spell was soon broken by a
merry laugh, and three young girls, one with a torn barege, came
clambering up from the narrow entrance over which Uncas and Hawk Eye
cast the green branches to conceal the fugitives. In time of floods this
cave is filled, and all the dividing rocks below the main fall are
covered with water, presenting one vast foaming sheet. A long drought
had greatly diminished the volume of the stream when we were there, and
materially lessened the usual grandeur of the picture.
We passed the Sabbath at the falls. On Monday morning I arose at four,
and went down to the bridge to sketch the cascade. The whole heavens
were overcast, and a fresh breeze from the southeast was driving
portentous scuds before it, and piling them in dark masses along the
western horizon. Rain soon began to fall, and I was obliged to retreat
under the bridge, and content myself with sketching the more quiet scene
of the river and shore below the cataract.
We left Glenn's Falls in a "Rockaway" for Caldwell, on Lake George, nine
miles northward, at nine in the morning, the rain falling copiously. The
road passes over a wild, *
* This view was taken from under the bridge, looking down the river. The
noted cave opens upon the river just below where the figures stand.
Williams's Rock.--Approach of Dieskau.--Hendrick, the Mohawk Sachem.
106
broken, and romantic region. Our driver was a perfect. Jehu. The plank
road (since finished) was laid a small part of the way, and the speed he
accomplished thereon he tried to keep up over the stony ground of the
old track, to "_prevent jolting!"_
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