Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-11-27

his rifle with rapid movement, he drew an ar
row from his quver and with bended bow, swept
to Yards Black Wolf like an eagle STOPPING upon
his prey.
Bat the Usage, knowing the expertness Of the
enemy with whom he had to deal, was prepared
in like manner, anil ms they met about midway
between the planted lances, their barbed weap-
ons we're drawn TO their heads and whz they
went at the same moment, with barely a dozen
feet intervening between them. At close quar-
ters such as these, and with marksman Of unri-
vailed skill, it was barely possible that they
sh uld miss each other but their bucklers re-
received the arrows and both lhe warriors as
yet remained unscathed.
The short bows being easiar to manage than
the rifles round they turned their horses as soon
as the arrows were discharged, and again they
swept in the same course, with their bows pre-
pared as if by magic tor the bout In this the
second turn the Pawnee chief was not so fortun-
ate; for as he came towards us | pewcVed
stream OF blood trlckng down hs arm, the ar
row having passed through the Aa'hy part Of his
shoulder, ripping it upwards but not hanging in
the wound Black Wolf also met with l wound
in the breast from the Pawnee'5 arrow being
buried almost to the feather in his shield; aud
although thus greatly spent IN the force with
which it was driven. it carved a deep, jagged
cash in his right side, from which the blood
flowed copionsy
With increasing excitement the two now rode
at each other, delivering their arrows a. fast as
they could turn their horses, nj It a1palre to
he a point to get shol without receiving one IN
return 81 well natc'eA were thaV b1th in the
skill Of managing their horses and ui' Of their
weapons, that neither could obtain this advln
tugr, in spite Of the most strenuous exert ons.
The bodies of tha tw, chiefs became crimson
with gore from the unmber Of flesh wounds
which each received bat as yet no mortal one
had been given and from the care observed in
protecting The body bv means of the shields, and
! lying along the back of their horses, - As to
present to view as little Of their person AS pos
sible, there was no great probability of these
weapons terminating the hight
At last Black VOLTS last arrow was shot, and
as his enc nv came towards him, he held no MS
bow to signify that his qulver was exhausted.-
In IA moment the Pavnee turned his horse, and
gllIopng hack 10 where he had painted his
lance. p}ucked it from the ground and couched
it bv his side. Nothing 10th to initiate his ex-
ample. Black Wolf grasped lIls lance, and with
out momen's breathing time, the pugnaclous
foes spured their t and impatient horses once
more to the combat, and as they did So thoughts
OF tilt and tournament fitted across my mind,
albeit my attention was absorbed beyond descrlp-
ton in the pending struggle
T With a terrific shock the weapons crossed, and
coming against the centre Of the backlers' the
tough shafts bent like willow wands, and the
horses were thrown almost upon their launches
! Either from the great weight OF the Usage or
the more effective direction of his lance, the
Pawnee was laid fiat upon his back and as his
horse bounded forward, it seemed impossible
that he should regain his perpenicuar IN the
saddle; but with an effort winch could only be
i nade by an Indian, he flung himself into his
seat, and seizng the rein, turned upon his an
: tagonist with the agility of a cat.
1t was one of the fixed rules in these bloody
Iays, that there should be no tune gwen be-
- tween the acts and that it was 10 be confined
5 without let check, or sop, until one OF the two
Z was slam. As soon, therefore, as the horses
could be brought round, their respective njer
recouched their lances and dashed at each otbe
again with the fury of contendlng tigers. II
1 might have been but the effect of II heated lm
aglnation, but as the two chiefs met Iln led
$ heard the scranch of lance as 1t entered the
flesh and at the same MON mt the Phwnee che
was flung aa il a round shot had b1Yied hin
from his seat la an instant, however he wa;
upon his feet, trying to cn h the h,so, which
d dangled at his horses heals 5ur n-sjng hl'
i hold, the animal mad the best use OF his oppo-
i tuuity, and sped away with all the tloctnass he
b possessed.
J., Black Wolf now dismounted, and giving hi:
It horse and lance to FREELY, who rode forward 'r
5, receive them, .trode toward the Pawn'e chief
Il AIRED only with the knife and tonlhlNk.
st The appearance Of both as they a.vrced to
e wards each other, was almost appalling. Fron
head to heel, they presented one thick m''' o
:, blood from The numerous wounds VIII ch they
d had received but as if lnsen,Ib,e to puo o.
n tantness, each appeared apt as game cocks t.
g renew the fend.
} They now went to work hand to hand hack
IF ing at each other with their tomauawks will
II deadly fury, and inhlcting now and then mos
terrible cuts As the battle progressed, thei
e shields became chopped to pieces and hung i
d strips from the surface while the blows werC
l. showered upon them thick as hail.
g With that advantage, however, which bii
man POSSESSES in a personal encounter with
ID smaller one, provided his courage be not interior
o the odds now became painfully evident in tavo
s. of Black Wolf. Up to the Pawnee being hure,
J. from his horse, the chances of the encounter ap
Il peared to be Pretty nearly balanced bu whe
its features became changed into a stand ii
$ tlh between man and man, hand and hand, il
II sporting phraseology, it was a horse to hayseed
r Towering above his enemy little less than loot
II th' Usage drew his tonahawk down with terrific
force, and from his superior reach of arm oltel
u kept his antagonist completely on the defensive
s and returned two blows for one.
d Nothing dauned, however, the Pawnee main
0 tanned the unequal contest with spirit whcl
u was to be extingulshed only with his life. Al
= though his arm grew momenarily weaker, an'
: onslaught, yet he made good requltal as Iait
in his waning powers, and faced his foe as the