Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/254

 236 Dungeon Rock, Lytin, [Aprils

part of the way by a barge and on foot, to have been dropped down without The driver of the barge, hke most much order, and a large platform fur- drivers of such vehicles, displayed no nished with plank seats. An enter- small amount of scientific driving, tainment had been furnished, though Why it is that almost all scientific for what purpose or by whom we knew driving generally results in some mis- not. There was some fine singing, in hap, we are unable to determine. But solos, duets, and quartettes, and a slen- we conclude that the particular science der little girl showed a good lip, large to which we refer is usually engendered lungs, and nimble fingers on a silver by the driver having his elbow crooked cornet, out of which she fired repeated at some bar before the journey com- volleys of sputtering jigs at the over- mences. On all such occasions stops elated spectators.

are quite common; branches of trees Lynn's first historian, who dealt are not avoided, and they threaten to somewhat in tradition, among other destroy our best suits, or brush us things, says, in substance, "early in 1658, altogether from our seats ; the brakes on a pleasant evening, a little after sun- do not work ; the traces get unhitched ; set, a small vessel was seen to anchor an immense whip is flourished and near the mouth of the Saugus River, cracked ; the horses become unmanage- A boat was presently lowered from her able ; frightened women in a high key side, into which four men descended scream " Mercy ! " and the ride be- and moved up the river a considerable comes not only dangerous but unen- distance, when they landed and pro- durable, ceeded directly into the woods. They After a ride up hill and down over had been noticed by only a few individ- a winding road skirted by forest trees uals ; but in those early times, when on either hand, we were left in the the people were surrounded by danger woods at the foot of a steep hill. The and easily susceptible of alarm, such remainder of our way was by a path of an incident was well calculated to the most primitive nature, something, awaken suspicion, and in the course of we should judge, like that of the native the evening the intelligence was con- Pawtuckets, with the exception of the veyed to many houses. In the morning rapid ascent, for the natives were the vessel was gone, and no trace of wiser than we in laying out their high- her or her crew could be found." He ways, for they avoided both hills and further states that on going into the swamps. Shortly we found ourselves foundry connected with the then exist- in the immediate vicinity of Dungeon ing iron-works, a quantity of shackles. Rock, which is situated on the summit handcuffs, hatchets, and other articles of of a granite-capped eminence overlook- iron, were ordered to be made and left ing the surrounding country. Quite at a certain place, for which a return a concourse of people had assembled in silver would be found. " This was on this occasion, apparently to spend done" (so says the historian), and the day and have a "good time " gener- the mysterious contractors fulfilled their ally. We should have said before that part of the obligation, but were undis- this is considered a kind of Mecca for covered. Some months afterward the those who hold to the Spiritual faith, four men returned and made their There are several buildings which seem abode in what has, to this day, been

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