The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-25
mo. 90.


! 60 IN naf liiq cnfraiiee to the scene
s Of conflict. In short. whichever wav
lie took. the FIRE was stiIl before him
/ no expe,licnt seemed capable Of tln.
.lsllngif. Thou denim, he cxtlaim.
ED NJ length. why dpst tun .liar my
approach t. tIie field VI battle -
kno"cst fhon rot that | ain A spirit
also, and that acek again Ia enter
my body Or dGst thou presume
that SHALL rctarn without eHcctins
my object knuw you that have :
never been defeated BY the enemies
oil my natlop, aud will not be dcfeat-
cd by thec9 90 saving, Iic made
sudden effort md Jumped through,
the iiane. In this cxertion he awake
! from bis trance, Iiaeing lain ciglt
days on the field OF battle. fIe fund
himself sitting on the ground, with
his back supported ~ Il tree, and his
bow leaning against ilis shoulder, In.
yingall his "arlike implements upon
his body, the same M they had been
left by his Iricnds on tic day OF bat.
ltlc. lie looked and behold largo
canict, or war eagle, sitting ahnye
his head lie Immediately iqcOgnI.
zcd this bird 10 BIC the same that lle
had drennpt Of IN his youth, and
wllon hr had selected ~ his guar
dian spirit. ~ personal moneio.--
This bird had watched his body, and
prevented other rayenons birds from
dcsouring It. He got up and stood
upon his feet but he found himself
weak aud much exhausted. Tho
blood upon bis wound had staunclcd
itself. and he now bound il up. flo
possessed the knowledge Of such
roots as were eilleacions for it, cure.
These he carefully sought in tho
wonds. Some of them he pounded
between stones, aud applied extcl.
nally; others he chcwcd and swaI.
lowed. In 4 short time he fOnnd
/ himself SO much recovered az to BIS
able to commence his Journey but
suffered greatly from hunger. not
being able TO see any large animals.
With his bow and arrows. however.
he Killed small birds during The day.
which lbs roasted bcfope tie fire Mt
night. In this way he sustained
himself until lie came to water that
separated his wife and friends from
him. lie then gave that peculiar
whoop which Indicates tho safe rs.
turn Of an absent friend. The sig-
nal was instantly known, and n en-.
noe despatched 70 bring him across.
! Bnt Willis tliecanoc WAS absent, con-
lecture wns cxhansting itself III dc.
signaling the unknown person WIN
had given this friendly inhantinn of
his approach. All who had been of
] the war party had returned oxeept
those who were killed on the field
IL might be some neighborinE hun
ter. IL might be some deception Of
their enemies II was rash to send
n canoe without Knowing that any Of
their friends were absent. In tho
heightol this conjecture, tic warrior
chief was landed amidst the shouts
Of lis friends and relations. Who
tlronged from every lodge to well
come hIs-laitlilul leader. When tho
first burst OF wonder and 10y had
s1bsided. and some degree Of quiet
was restored In tho village, he rcla-
ted TO his people The account Of his
adventures, Which has been given.
. he then concluded his narration by
; telling tliat il is pleasing 10 the spir-
rit OF deceased peiaon 10 have a
fire built upon his grave ford nights
after bis i0tcrment that II is four
days journey TO the land appointed
for the residence Of the spirit that
IN its journey tlliiher, the spirit
stood IN the reed Of fire every night
at the place Of his cneampment and
that II the friends kindlrd this f,ne.
raj fire upon the place where the Bo-
dy was deposited, the spirit bad tho
benefit OF ITS light and warmth IN its
sqiourning. Ii they neglected this
/. rite, the spirit would himself be sub-
/ iected to the ifksome task of build
ling its own fires ut night"