Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-26
SIX DOLLARS PER ANNUM

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wished he had lost his life in the contest Although
he was not yet warrior, his spirit would surely
have gone to the happy hunting-grounds, if he
had fallen Dobly fighting. What pleasant tirne
to go now, he thought, at the season of til d
great hunting-feasts lie wondered how many
thousands OF miles of prairie must be burning
there now to make the air here so warm, and
full of smoke, from land so distant, that none|
knew where it lay When he thought of the
uummng-bird and how sorrowful she would be
II he we're dead, these thoughts vanished, and he
felt life was still dear to him. But perhaps be-
fore he should be a warrior, some other might
buy her, for the girl was active and clever could
| cook bears ham, OR embroider moccasn as
we'll as any squaw. He would have the skin -
Had he not as good right to it as the Pale |
face lie found the bear; he first struck him;
perhaps he might have killed him without the |.
| white mans aid; he must have faced his pursuer
and with his long knife he surely had chance
against wounded bear ! The next question was
how he could obtain the skin. His powder was
| gone; and he knew in close combat there was no /
hope for him. Perhaps he could stab the hunter
| IN his sleep. Na.na-ma-kee gded, snake. like
to the spot where the curling smoke of the hun
ter lire rose above the tops of the tall grass
Buffalo hide lay a few yards from it asleep, but
around were his hounds, tied in couples to pegs
driven into the ground, ready to warn their mas
ter of the approach of any hostile foot The In |
dian was foiled in his murderous project vet
each obstacle served but to increase his eager
ness. There lay the dead bear at his feet; he
dared not attempt to skin it, for the slightest
noise would arouse the dogs His resolution was
soon taken. Creeping back short distance eau
tiously, as before, he lay down to watch. Long
and wearisome appeared the night. He heard
the bowling of wolves, far distant on the prairie,
occasionally answered by low growl or short
bark from the hounds; the dismal hootings of
the owls in the forest; and all the strange sounds
of night in the backwoods sounded clearer and
more terrible in the perfect stiffness of nanimate
nature.
AT length morning came. At the first dawn
the hunter rose, and having fresh prmed his rife
and substituted the hunting shirt for his sleeping
blanket, commenced skinning the bear. In al
most GREATNESS eagerness, Ma ma kee watched
him. One leg after another was freed from it's
covering; few more dexterous strokes of the
knife, and it would be finished. The Indian
rese and skunk round until he came between the
hunter and his rifle The fierce yells of thedogs
startled Buffalo. hide. Looking back, he saw
pair Of piercing black eyes cleaning at him, and
the muzzle Of rusty musket within half-a-
dozen yards of his head.
The hunter had his share of courage, vet could
not help feeling he was by no means in pleasant
situation. The Indian was too near to admit a
chance of his missing, and yet quite far enough to
give time to fire before the hunter could grapple
with him. He felt it no small relief when he
still, and the Indians gun speaks not. The Red
Skin seeks not the Pale-face's blood Hey y
said Buffalohide, forgetting that although he un
derstood Sac, the Indian might not know word
of English. I'm tarnation glad to hear it;
but If you'll oblige me, just point that there
rusty musket of yours the other way-I should
feel trifie more comfortable talking to you,
guess
Mana ma.kee waited with grave courtesy I'M
til this speech was finished, although it was per
fectly uninteligble to him. 'The Great Spirit
has given many tongues to the Pale-face,' he
said; the Red-skin has but one tongue.
Buffalo-hide gave the Indian translation of
his speech as civilly worded as possible, with the
addition, that bears ham was at his service, if
he would like one
when Na-na-makee is hungry, he can kill for
himself; he is not squaw, that he should want
others to hunt for him, was the reply.
The hunter began to fear lest he had unwitting-
ly insulted the Indian, for the ominous-looking
musket was still pointed at him. what do you
want of me g he asked.
i would have the skin, replied Ma na.ma-kee
4 found the grizzly bear; 1 watched for him
long and patiently the carajow,* the banks of
the Ottawa, awaiting the coming of tho thirsty
deer, hides not more cunningly among the leafy
branches, than in the thick grass. first struck
the creature, but missed his head for the Great
Spirit made the Redskins eye to guide the ar
row. The fre-stick is the Pae-Face's weapon
Na-na-ma-kee fed, the grizzly followed, as the
dog pursues the wild turkey through the corn
field; the rest the Pale face knows. You saved
my life, why then should [ take yours 2
Well, thought the hunter, I've heard tell of
they lngin varmin showing gratitude, and such
like, but can't say as ever | met with it afore.
1t would have been strange indeed if he had,
as none of them had anything to thank him for,
except not wantonly taking their lives; and in
this respect he Showed the same kindness to
prairie dog as to an Indian; for just the same
reason-there was no use in shooting the one or
the other They say, thought he. that an Ingin's
exactly like a dog-never forgets good turn
done him, but, to my thinking, they're more like
skulking wolves-bold enough if there's a pack
o. em, but skeary, timorous devils when alone.
Hank ye Red skin, he said; I've fancy for
this same skin; It's riglar screamer; beats all
the bear-skins ever set eyes on hOler I've
nice pack O. beaver FOUNDER worth twice the mo-
Hey; I'll get that for you instead
Na-na-ma- kee saw the hunters meaning by
his motions, although he understood not his
words: his brow darkened, his eye glittered like
some deadly serpent's when the reptile is coed
in readiness for the fatal spring The tongue is
far from the heart he replied 'the Pale-face's
heart says, my long gun lies by the beavers
pack, my fierce dogs stand around it, Is Mama
ma -kee fool ]! l seek not the skin to sell it,,
ne continued, but that l may be warrior.
When return with it the chiefs will say 'sNa-
na-ma kee has slain three grizzly BEARS let him
be numbered amongst the braves" Then will
will wear their claws as a necklace; will take
to myself a wife, beautiful as the fawn, with
voice sweeter than the hooking birds. l CO.
he added; bring the skin after me- and remem-
Der, lessen the distance between us but bows
length, and the Pale-fac will never more hunt
the deer In the forest, the buffalo on the plain
Come II lead the way
The hunter rose, and sulkily followed him,
keeping himself in readiness for any opportun-
ty that might offer, to fling himself on his guide
and djSarm him. bot rha In