The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-11-10
From the New Orleans picayune.
PRAIRIE LIFE--A TALE OF REVENGE.

4
A story is told of an extraordinary meeting, and
an act of revenge said to have taken place many
long yeas ago. on the fork of the Pawnee. A par.
" OF focr who had been roying many years IN tlre
west, all strangers to each other were accidentally
thrown together, when strange and bloody scene
ensued The youngest was delicately made. with
long, light hair and blue eyes; his exposure had
| given him rich brown complexion He was of
the medium stature, and made for strength and
4 agility. There was dark void over his features
which told that with him the light of hope had gone
out He was travelling on a mule, with his rife In
his gun leather at the bow of his saddle when he
overlook man on foot with gun on his shoulder.
and pistols in his belt who was over six feet and
had a deep wide scar on his cheek. AS day was
drawing to close they proposed to camp and
brought up at the head of the fork of the Pawnee.
Shortly after they had camped,;a man was seen
accommodating them with rifieein his hand; and
having satisfied himself that the sign was friendly,
he came moodiy into the camp and after looking
sterny at theitwo men, was: asked hyz Scar Cheek
to come to the ground He was Stout muscular
man, much older than the other two with a deep,
habitual scowI long, black matted hair, and very
unprepossessing features. Some common plaeeTe-
marks were made, but no questions were asked BY
either party. ;-5a s,I @ - SaaIo'
1t was near twilight when the young man Who
had gathered some buffalo clips TO make afse 10
cook with. suddenly perceived man approaching
/ them on mule; he came steadily and feaFlessiY
on to the camp, and casting a look at the three,
said, Took ye for Indians then elancinc at the
deer skin dress Of the trio he observed oId ieaf-
ers-some time out eh?' The man was aboutif.
ty years old, and his gray hairs contrasted strangely
with his dark bronzed features upon which care and
misfortune were strongly stamped He was only
halfclad by the skins he wore and as he dismount-
ed Scar Cheek asked, where FROM" From the
Kaw,' (Kansas) he replied, throwing down bun.
die of otter skins After unsaddlinu and stalking
out his mule, he brought himself to the ground and
taking his rifle, looked at the printing and shaking
the powder IN the pan, he added few more grains
to it; then placing piece Of thin dry skin over it.
to keep it from the damp he shut the pan. The
group watched the old trapper, who seemed not to
notice them; while Scar Cheek became interested
and showed certain uneasiuess. He looked TO-
wards his own rifle, and once or twice loosened the
pistols in his belt as if they incommoded him. The
young and the stout man with scowl EXCHANGED
gances but no words passed. So far no question
had been asked as to who the other was; what lit
tie conversation passed was very laconic and not
smile had wreathed the lip Of any Of them. ssgo
The little supper was eaten in silence each man
seemed to be wrapped in his own thoughts. It was
agreed that the watch should be equally divided
among the four, each man standing guard for two
hours, the old trapper taking the first watch, tie
young man next, and Scar Cheek and he with the
tscowl following
1t was bright moonlight night, and over that
barren wild waste of prairie not sound was heard
as the three lay sleeping their blankets. The
old trapper paced up and down, ran his eyes around
the wild waste before him. and then would stop and
mutter to himself 1T cannot be he he said half
aloud, but the time and the Scar may have disguis
ed him. That boy, too-it's strange feel drawn
towards him; then that villain with his scowli and
the muscles Of the old trapper's face worked con-
Ivulsively, which, the moon-beams playing upon.
disclosed traces of a bye-gone refinement. The
trapper approached noiselessly, the sleeping men,
and kneeling down scanned them deeply Walk.
ing off he muttered to himself again, it shall be-
and then judging by the stars that his watch WIS
nearly up, he approached the young man and woke
him. pressing his finger on the lip to command ST.
lence at the tirne and rnotioned him TO follow
They walked off some distance, when the trapper
taking the young man by the shoulder, turned his
face to the moonlight, and after gazing at it visit
fully, whispered in his ear, are you Perry Ward p
The young started wildly, but the trappef
prevented his reply by saying enough enough
He then told him that he was his uncle, and that
$ the man with the Scar was the murderer Of his fa-
ther; and that he with the scowl had convicted him
(the trapper) of forgery By his false oath. The
blood deserted the lips of the young man, and his
eyes glared and dlated in their sockets He
squeezed his uncle's hand, and then with a mean
ing glance he looked to his rife moved towards
the camp. tNo, no! said the old trapper mot in
4 cold blood; give them chance. They cautiously
S returned to the camp ndfound both the men m 4
deep sleep. The uncle and nephewstood over tleih.
1 Scar Cheek was breathing hard when he suddenly
cried out 4 didn't murder Perry Wardh Liar l'said
the trapper in voice of thunder and The two start
ed to their feet Red skins about - asked they IN
voice. mol worse than redskins, said the trap
per. Harry Ward is about' and seizng his knife
: lie plunged it in Scar Cheeks heart Then take
that said he with the scowl, and raising his rife,
the trapper fell corpse With bound and a
wild cry the young man jumped at the murderer
of his uncle and with his knife gave him several IA
tai wounds. The struggle was fearful one. how
ever, and the young man had also received several
bad cuts when his adversary fell from loss Of blood
and soon expired. Thus ended this strange meet
ing, and thus were father and uncle revenged
The Power Of EarneStneSS.
= l have felt twice in my life very extraordinary