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

but scarcely could he put his loot upon
lis base before the dog of the Eagle
would give his master the alarm, and
then to approach would be only to 90 to
his death. Il was mystery how the
Eagle was supplied with food, for the
young wife showed no solicitude, and
yet no one saw her form, OF heard hel
footsteps on the mound.
The brother OF the Wolf knew well
that the Eagles wife mus; supply him
with food, and determined, if possible,
to entrap her. He therefore stuffed and
initiated her gait, he obtained opportu.
mites of observing her dress, and when
he felt that be was perfect in his part,
he arayed himself one evening in dress
the exact counterpart of hers, with a
knife and tomahawk concealed beneath,
and bearing some food openly before
him, took, just at twilight, the common
path up the mound, where he knew the
mere souEd of footsteps would be less
likely to alarm the dog or his master,
and he hoped to approach so near with
out suspicion, that he might by sudden
rush secure his victim. His plan was
skillfully executed. He initiated well
the light step of Eagles wife the ap-
preaching form was one familiar 10 the
dog, and he had not caught the scent
He wagged his tail as he lay with his
eye fixed as if he would soon bound up
and forward with welcome The Eagle
addressed his supposed wife in gentle
tones and bade her hasten. The blood
avenger was within ten feet of his in
tended victim, and thought that all was
gained, when the dog with one yell and
one bound threw himself upon him and
bore him to the earth, with his jaws
grappled to his throat. Entangled by
the female dress and throttled by the
hound, he could not draw his knife, and
the Eagle, who compre hended the scene
at glance, deprived him of his wea.
pons, while held by his dog, then PIN
ioned his arms.
"Now, go to your friends" said he;
" l crave not your blood. Your brother
sought my life, on this very spot, and l
slew him, but only to save my own
But stay +; you shall go home as wal
rior should. You have shown some skill
in this"
He cut the pinions from his arms, and
gave him back his weapons. They were
taken in silence, and the humbled yet
grateful foe withdrew.
Three months thus passed away, and
negotiations were opened for ransom.
The friends in such case agree to treat,
but do not engage to accept what may
be offered for life. This is to be decided
only on a spot appointed for the ceremo-
ny, and with the shedder of blood un-
armed, and completely in their power,
and bound by .he law to make no resist
ance. When the parties are present,
and the proposed ransom is offered, it is
considered by the friends of the slain
man, and if accepted. all is settled but
if moi, they have the right to slay the
murderer on the SPOT, without resistance
from him or from his friends.
In this case the friends of the Wolf
agreed TO consider ransom, and Young
Eagle consented to abide the issue, he
and his friends hoping that the sparing
Of the brothers life might have some in
huence in the decision, and besides it
was now generally belle, ed in the tribe
that the Wolf had been the aggressor.
At the day appointed the parties met
in an open space with hundreds to wit
ness the scene around. The Eagle, all
unarmed, was first seated on the ground,
then by his side was laid down large
knife, with which he was to be slain, if
the ransom was not accepted. By his
side sat his wife, her hand clasped in
his, while the eyes even of the old men
were dim with tears. Over against them,
and so near that the fatal knife could be
easily seized, stood the family of the
slain Wolf, the father at the head, by
whom the questiun of life or death was
to be settled. He seemed deeply moved,
and sad, rather than revengeful. A red
blanket was now produced and spread
upon the ground. 1t signifed that blood
had been shed which was not yet wash
ed away, the crimson stain remaining
Next blanket Il of blue was spread
over the red one. 1t expressed the hope
that the blood might be washed out in
heaven and remembered no more and
last, a blanket purely white was spread
over all, significant of desire that no.
where on earth or in heaven a stain of
blood should remain, andthat everywhere
and by all, it should be forgiven and for
gotten.
These blankets, thus spread out, were
to receive the ransom. The friends of
the Eagle brought goods of various kind
II piled them high before the father of