Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-10

IL was long, weary night, and many a
time during its slow pass ge were the hearts
OF the watchers made to pause at some dis
tant or approaching noise, in expectation Of
impsrding danger, and then to leap quickly
with, as ii were, an uufettered motion, as The
cause Of fear subsided or was explained.
But morning at last dawned, and its first
sireaks ofgrey light sent thrill Of joy through
the bosoms af the watchful pair Darkness
Is a promoter Of fear, and any real or imagi-
nary danger is augmented hundred fold by
its magnifyng powers.
As had been expected, the Indians return
ed in the morning, mad in their leader, Duncan
recognized the young chief he had insultcd,
and whose brother he had slain in battle
Had he previously entertained doubt as to
the object of their visit, that doubt was now
removed they were after revenge!
What could he do? There he was in the
midst Of his family; and it was far from his
wish to be slain in the presence ofhs beloved
ones, if slain he must be- In times of immi-
nent danger, if the mind is not confused
thought is rapid and clear, more so than in
a condition of ordinary calmness; so it was
with Duncan. Like linghtuing thought rush
ed through his mind, and with more of intui-
ton than reason, but with the occurrence of
both, he at once concluded that it was best
to put on a calm exterior and adopt cordial
manner in the reception of his unwelcome
guests, Accordingly he met them with a
smile, and acted towards them as though they
were utter strangers, yet the best Of unknown
trlends-enquircd if any Of their guns need
ed repairAg-took them in and gave them an
excellent breakfast, and treated them in eve
ry way in the kjndcSt m nner possible. They
rem9ined several hours; examined his tools,
which he was particularly precise in explain
ing and showing the use they were applied
TO, seeming to take great interest in making
them fully comprehcnded The whole process
Of gunmaking.
1t was something new and they become
very much interested-had him to take their
guns and gun-locks apart and put them TO.
sether which he did with great apparent
cheerfuness, cleaning them as he did So In
his manner the forenoon passed. He then
gave them the best dinner his store of pro-
is.ons could produce.
All this time he was acting part, and ov.
cry moment was dreading the fall of the blow
ne was attempting to ward off and prevent
He was now about at his wits end, aud was
revolving in his mind what he could next do
10 amuse the savngcs, when the chief broke
n upon his halt-matured plans by abruptly
saying:
does white brother know the red men that
nave eat salt gt his tablet"
"Many red brethren come to see me and
10 get their rifles repaired but cannot tell
who they are. Red men and white men are
friends now, and | should be sorry TO see
hcm become enimies."
white brother no know Indian; it is well
white brother is kind now; but does white
brother know that he killed the son of the
chief Of the Wyandots, and that before him is
the brother of the slain WARRIOR"
"ls it possible that this is the son of the
great chiet2 Well let US now be friends the
mighty young chief of the Wyandots knows
that bullets fly many ways in battle, ami that
one may hita chief and another brave, and
many hit nothing but the trees and the earth.
We cannot tell who We kill when we are on
the war path"
"Whte brother spe AXIS truly: in the thick
battle a hundred bullets fly among our foes
and only few enemi fall white brother no
tell that his bullet kill the son of chief; but
does white brother remember when he called
the son Of the great chief of the Wyandots
noi?"
Duncan lad put on bold face from the
Of the conversation, and un-
til this turn was given to it, had hoped for the
best; but now he could not be mistaken; the
old grudge was to be brought up, and he felt
sure he could see dark scrowl, pass over the
features Of the speaker as he alluded to the
ignominy he had suffered at his hands. But
it was no time to quail now, and so putting on
an air for the occasion, he replied in a pleas
ant manner, though his helrt trembled the
WHILE and he felt that life was hanging on the
merest thread
al have not entirely forgotten that of which
the young chief speaks but the chief knows
that we do many things when the blood is hot
which we would not do il calm and cool.
The brave chief of the Wyandots knows that
it is m al to be cowardly, and that no war
rior should be like squaw, and keep his
tongue from saying brave words because lie
was afraid And does not the young chief Of
the mighty Wyandots remember that his
white brother had cause to say many words ?"
"White brother brave Indian no hate brave
man; white man tell truth; Indian love the
truth and hate le Indian come to revenge
himself on his white broth r for calling him
dog and for Staying his brother, but white
an Ikncv his re brnh mo hate him -
took him into his wigwam and gave him salt
and meat-white man kind to red brother in
all he do-Indian no longer thrsts for his
white brothers. blood--he is white mans
friend d-give him his hand, says how do?"
Ii is hardly necessary to say with what
gladness Duncan graspcd the extended hand
and recprocated the show do" which was the
lndian's term of fricn sir.
After this the young chcif was ever bis
warm friend, and brought him much work to
do and their intercourse was mutually agree
able; Duncan and his wife never forgot .hose
two terrible days, that horrible night, and es-
pecially the awful uncertainty of the last hour
bofore the reconciliation
-:o:
0S5~An Illinois paper publishes an account