Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-08-01

One summer evening, Just as th'
moon was up, Young Eagle sought tE'
cop of the mound for the purpose o
meeting his future bride. for their ap
pointed day was near. One side of thi
mound is naked lock, which for thirt!
feet or more is almost perpendicular
Just on the edge of this precipice is ;
footpath, and by it a large fiat sandstone
rock, forms a convenient seat for those
who would survey the valley, while {
few low bushes are scattered over a par
of the crest Of the mound. On this rocb
Young Eagle sat him down to await the
maiden's coming. In few moments
the bushes rustled near him, and rising,
as he thought, TO meet her, tomahawR
flashed by his head, and the next instant
he was in the arms of a strong man and
forced to the brink of the precipice.-
The eyes of two met in the moonlight
and each knew then that the struggle
was for life. Pinioned as his arms were
by the others grasp, the Eagle frustra,
ted the first effort of his foes and then d
desperate wrestle, a death-wrestle fol,
lowed, in which each was thoroughly
maddened. The grasp of the Wolf was
broken, and each instantly grasping his
adversary by the throat with the left
hand, sought his weapon with the right,
the one his knife, the other his revolver
In the struggle the handle of the knife
of the Wolf had been turned in the CIR
die, and missing it at the first grasp, ere
he could recover. himself the revolver
was at his breast and a bullet through
his heart. One flash of hatred from the
closing eye, and the arm of the dying
warrior relaxed and as the body sank
the Eagle hurled it over the precipice,
and in his wrath fired bullet after bullet
in the corpse as it rolled heavily down
and. this not satisfying his revenge, he
ran round and down to the side of the
mound, and there tore off the scalp of his
foe.
The young girl, who was ascending
the mound to meet her lover, heard these
successive shots, and knowing well from
what source such rapid discharges alone
could come, hastened on, and came Just
in season to see the Eagle scalping his
victim. She soon brought her family to
the spot, and every circumstance of the
transaction showed at once the danger.
Gus position in which the Eagle was pla-
ced. There was no witness of the com
bat, no means whatever of showing thai
he had smitten the Wolf in self-defenee.
The number of ball holes in the body,
and tearing off of the scalp, all seemed
to bear evidence against him, and he
knew that the friends of the Wolf would
take advantage of every circumstance in
order to procure his death as a murder
er. He felt that death was certain if he
submitted himself for trial, and he there
fore determined to defend himself as
best he might, and wait the result of his
only chance for life.
These Indians observed the law thai
was established among oriental nations
long before the time of Moses, by which
the shedding of blood may be rightfully
avenged by the nearest kinsman Of the
slain, while the murderer, in this respect,
is an outlaw, will of course defend him
self as best he may.
And at the same time the friends o.
the deceased are at liberty to accept a
ransom for the life Of their friend, and
often-if for a time the murderer escape:
the blow. of the avenger of blood-a
compromise is effected, and the affair i:
settled. In the meantime the avengel
of blood assumes the Office at the risk o.
his own life, for if he falls retribution i;
not demanded only for the blood of the
fist one slain.
The young Eagle at once took his res
olution, sustained by the advice of hi:
friends. Completely armed lie look pos
session of the top of the mound, which
was so shaped that while he was himsel
concealed, no one could approach hin
by day without being exposed to his fire
and he had two devoted and skillfu
allies, which, together with his position
rendered him far more than a match fol
his single adversary, the avenger o
| bloOd--the brother of the Wolf These
allies were his bride and large saga.
clous hound, which had long been his
hunting companion, and had guarded
him many night when camping on the
prairies. The girl had in her veins the
blood of Indian heroes. and she quailcd
not. She demanded, with lofty enthusi-
asm, TO be made his wife, and then, &C.
quainted with every slratagem of savage
war, and with every faculty sharpened
by affection, and her husbands danger,
she watched, and warned, and shielded
- eyely art thal the roused sniriI