Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-21

p0StwdS sFuck DIV OnS pa tObSdWnoUedtn is ufede
exposed his wounds, and boasted OF the capture
Il the White Plume; braves followed, narrating
heir exploits, and flashing themselves to fsry
| against their foes. One had lost father, ano
her brother, aud third son, in fight with
| the 1" Loups," and in these encounters no Paw.
nee warrior was more conspicuous than the young
Chief Need it be- said that he was doomed to
die On the morrow Where, then. was hhmay
va con. dab? Was she with the other women
mnging in the savage scaIp-dancS, demanding
the death Of the pr,soner-each vieing with the
other in inyenting new tOrtures to be inflicted on
him? All no.! She fed him, dressed his wounds,
and while the tribe were engaged in the height
of their orgies, caught the feetest horse in the
village. brought him TO the wounded Pawnee,
gave him a pouch Of parched corn, and said,
/" Where the sun loses himself in the waters OF
the Broad River, are the lodges OF your tribe,
brave Warrior; should the wolves of the Prairie
meet wounded Elk Of the O-ma has, tell them
that a Fawn kept unsulied their White Plume. :"
Thus said the Spirit Child: the Pawnee then was
free Gladiv he once more whales the night
breeze, as it sweeps DER the prairie. His hand
is on the good horses name. The White Plume
is no, ungrateful. Ardenty he gazes on the
countenance Of the maiden, now beaming with
high aud unwOnted excitement. fearful smile
met his gaZe-yet twas not joy or grief 1t beto.
kened, perchance twas love. or haply all the
three A few words Of gratitude he hurriediy
utters; :. but haste, haste" she whispers, "tbe
night wanes, and the death fire awaits YOU to-mor.
rows His kuife is drawn, one raven tress IS Sc.
veret, and placed in his bosom-a moment more,
and the brave sIeed bounds Ger the desert with
the speed Of the eagle. The maiden watched
his fight until his form was lost in the darkness,
and when the sound Of his hoofs was heard no
longer, she sought her couch, conscious OF hav-
ing performed good action. The morning dawns;
the Elk goes to his lodge to bring the Pawnee
forth to dia:-the prisoner has escaped, his best
horse is taken, and all pursuit proves unavallIHg
Time flew on; the crops were made, the maize
was gathered, and concealed IN the Coaches"
The lodges are closed. and the whole tribe depart
on their autumnal hunt At first they are sue
cessfuI, aud Ay-may yah con-dah still Continues
To receive the choicest trophies Of the chase. Al
length, when warmly pursuing herd Of ouha'
Ices, they are unexpectedly attacked by the Paw.
nees. a hot fight ensues. many on either side are
killed, but at last the O.na-has are forced to re-
treat, leaving Ah.may aeon dab prlsoner.-
She was then taken to the Pawnee village on the
La Platte, and she we'll knew what horrrld
fate awaited her. when, on her entraGce into the
village, she heard tn. women sing, pointing to the
star they worshipped, son bright Star, you do
not always shine; now e.must give you the d.
ma .ha girl" She was then confined in the lodge
of the ~ Great Medicine" where she lived I'M
distuibe save by his threats and taunts and The
evening scalp song Of the Pa"nees
Two moons passed in this captivity, she daily
expe citing her death. AT last she heard the war
riors shout {" Welcome, welcome, Wanum.Pe-
ara. he who has taken many Sioux scalps; they
are dogs, and the d ma-has are rats; so tomor'
row the o ma-ha squaw shall die" These cries
announced the return OF successful "ar-party'
and she q ell knew they would celebrate their
v,cturv bv her death On the next day; thus An
may "a on dab, thinking that her last hour mad
come, addressed herself to the Wah-con-dah, or
Great Spirit, and pre- pared to die as became an
Indian maiden. She slept, but not soundly:
thoughts Of her home and her father, mingled
with death wells. fitted through, her dreams, and
shy even thought OF the young Pawnee When
.be awake her cheeks were wet with weeping,
and she sh uiderlngIy gazed on the fiery death
orepared for her. But why does she start 50
suddenly? She sees severed tress OF her own
bair living on her bosom: is it the token Of the
youus and wounded Pawnee warrior? but no,
, il cannot be. She is brought forth to die; the
fire ia kiodled. and she is bound TO the scatfoid;
the raiden's heart dies within her, until al
length her thoughts rec urring to that Great Spir-
| il whom she had 81 often adored in innocence
and purity, she pours out her soul IN strains Of
which the following may give very faint 'dea:
oh wsh cond.h! Wsh Gun dab! take thy child
| To the Indians God si,r's singing,
/ And in her ears q respous,, mild
AS bird like soegs. is ringing.
oh spirit CHI d, repress thy signs,
| Thy soul to me IS gwen,
And far beyond the esgle's fight
| Twill soar 10 me in heaven
But her chaunt 10 not suffered to be ended;
for the tieads Of her own sex flock around, cry
ing, :. 1t may be you are the daughter Of Wah'
cor, dab. bot thy father is the Big Elk who has
taken many Pawnee scalps; we will burn his
skin through his daughters; now call on the great
W ah.con -dab to help you il he can" At these
tauo,s the flames are made to rage more herce,y;
the 6eDd like howIs are redoubIed; the sp'r''
child breatles one last prayer, and giving Que
LOOK to the glorious sun and the glad earth she
was to see no more. suffers her head 10 ''nk up
| RUt what so WlluIy