, 1852-09-25

spurred llleir not and impatient horses again
to the combat, and as they did so, thoughts
Of till and tournament fitted across NV
mind, albeit my attention was absorbed be-
yond description in the pending struggle.
aNith a terrific shoek the weapons cross
cd; and, coming against the center of the
I bncklers, the tough shafts brnl like willow
wands, and the horses were thrown almost
upon their launches. Either from the great.
er weight Of the Osage, or the more effect
i've direction Of his lance, the Pawnee was
laid dat upon bis back and as his horse
bounded forward it seemed impossible that
he should gain his perpendicular in the sad
die; but. with an eaoh which could be
made only BY an Indian, be flung himself
into his seat, and3 ssizin, the rein turned
with the agility of cat.
II was one Of the Fixed rules in these
bloody trays that there should be no time
| given between the acts, and that il was to
be continued without let, check, or stop, un-
I'll one Of the two was slain. A. soon.
theriore, as the horses could be brought
around, their respective riders rechouched
their lances, and dashe1 at each other again
with the fury Of conIending tigers. 1t might
have been but the effect ol heated imagin-
alton, but as they met fancied heard the
scranch Of lance as It entered the aesh,
and at the same moment the Pawnee chief
was flung as if a round shot had bowled him
from his seat. In an instant, however, he
was upon his feet, trying 10 clutch the lasso
which dangled at bis horses heels; but mis-
sing his hold, the animal made the best use
OF the opportunity, and sped away with all
the feeIness he possessed.
Black Wolf now dsmounled, and giving
his horse and lance 10 FREELY, who rode
forward 10 receive them, strobe towards the
Pawnee chief armed only with the knife
and tomahawk.
The appearance Of both, as they adyanc-
ed towards each other, was most appalling. |
From head to heel they presented one thick |
mass Of blood from the numerous wounds
they had received; but, as if insensibe to
pain or iainIness, each appeared apt as game
cocks 10 renew the feud. t..
They now went 10 work hand 10 hand,
hacking at each other with their lomahawks
with deadly fury, and inilietng now and
then most terrible cuts.'H As the battle pro-
gressed, their shields became chopped 10
pieces, and hung in strips from the surface,
while the blows were showered upon them
as thick as hail.
With that advantage, however, which
big man possesses in a personal encounter
with smaller one, provided his courage be
not inferior, the odds became painfully eYi-
dent in favor Of Black Wolf. Up 10 The /
point Of the Pawnee being hurled from his
horse, the chances Of the encounter appear. |
ed 70 be pretty nearly balanced; but when
its features became changed INTO stand up
| fight between man and man, hand to hand, |
in sporting phraseology, il was horse 10 a
hay-seed. Towering above his enemy but
little less than a foot, the Usage drew his
iomahawk down with terrific force, and,
from his superior reach Of arm, often kept
his antagonist completely on the defensive,
and returned two blows for one.
Nothing damned, however, the Pawnee
mainland the unequal contest with spirit
which was to be cxtinguished only with |
bis life. Although bis arm grew monenla-
rily weaker, and be staggered and reeled |
before his enemyS fierce onslaught, yet he
made as good a reqailal as laid in bis wa
ming powers, and facing his foe as the b-a.
vest oi The brave could only do. Bot Ike
an expiring lion he vas 10 be conquered but 4
with his daaih, and, apparently on the
point of falling before the repealed strokes
Of his enemy, be suddenly sprang forward,
and, clnging 10 Black Wolfs shield, en-
deavored 10 make a thrust with his drawn
knife under it. The wary Osage, however,
was 10 much upon his guard 10 be taken by
surprise, and shaking The Pawnee of, as he
would a snake, be caught him by the throat
in his iron grasp, and holding him oui at
arms length drove his long Spanish blade
into the lower part Of the belly, and ripped
him 10 The chest.
A long wild shout ofexullaiion burst FROM
the lips Of our party as they witnessed his
decisive act on the part ofBlack Wolf, who
stood over the dead body Of his fallen foe
with his head proudly erected snd turaed
toward the body Of Pawnees, who were 81
lent spectators Of the defeat. For a few
seconds the Usage maintained this altitude,
without the pegcrpiible motion Of a muscle,
and stopping he took the dead chiefs scalp
lock between his fingers, and p1ssing Tho
point Of his knife adroily round the skull,
plucked the scalp hot and breeding, fromii,
and held the prize up in triumph above his
head.
Again his companions yelled with savage I
pleasure at ths sight, but no one presumed
to approach the spot where he as yet re
mained TO complete the mraure Of hia m
umph.
A pawnee brave now came forward lead /
ing tie piebald horse, which had been eth
er caught BY the hNo, or stopped. upon
reaching the maii body, Of his owa FREQ
will, and moving of slowly towards Black