The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-10-09

that the milu looking, slender built Frank
Bates was an incarnate demon i'm fight
with the Decotahs; vet within year after
his cabin was burnt, he had twenty scalps
hanging around his girdle. "Vengeance'
seemed his only thoug ght-his life's desire.
| For sometime after this outrage, the De.
coiahs kept away from the miners, but at
last party Of them came prowlng about,
and the miners determined TO have n brush
with them. VINO was so competent to head
the party as that sworn enemy of the "red
skins" Frank Bates! The party engaged
two Winnebagoes rs guides, and then
struck into the forest following a recent
trail. The third night of their journey,
the wary leader insisted on standing rs sen
try. and about midnight the crack of his
nile awakened every sleeper. In an in
slant every man was an his feet, rifle in
hand, ready to repel any lurking foe; but
low whisper from Frank announced that
there was no danger. Morning came, and
AS the party crowded around the sentinel
to learn the cause Of the alarm, he merely
pointed to what appeared TO be huge
bear; nearer approach TO the object dis.
covered to their astonishment the grim
visage of n dead Deco;ah. enveloped in the
skin OF gigantic bruin, who. thus disguis.
ed, had attempted TO reconnoitre the po-
siton of the frontiers men.
Frank now felt assured that they were
near their enemy, and followed their trail
III silence on the alert for their foe. On
reaching the summit of Il knoll, they saw
their village before them-a collection OF
high, conical tents, made of dressed buffalo
skins sewed together and ornamented with
rude representations Of the battle or the
chase. On the outskirts were the sauaws
buslly engaged in the laborious occupa.
tons which fell TO their lot Their infants.
tightly bound TO straight strips of bark,
were tied TO small bent over birches, which
gentle danced them to sleep, and the boys
of the village, with bow aud arrow. were
firing at the representation of a Kansas
hunter. In the centre of the village, be.
fore the towering tent of the chief, sat the
braves. smoking their tomahawk pipes
wiih s;oical gravity.
The white men looked at the primiug Of
their rifles. put their sharp hunting knives
between their teeth. and with deafenine
yell rushed down through the frightened
squaws, ere the Decotabs could comprehend
what caused the alarm. Dashing into the
startled group Of warriors with fierce war
whoops, they dealt destruction around
them. The chief was the first slain, brave
! ~ defending himself and encouraging hi,
warriors, who nohly struggled TO aveng,
his death. but all in vain.
Frank Bates fought like n demon, but Al
one time was nearly victim TO a stalwar
warrior. But glancing nj lis opponen,
Frank recognised in gay red haudkerchie
around his head hS marriage gilt to hi,
lost wife. This added new strength 10 hi
body and increased activity to his fury, a,
he seized his assalant with his left arm
lifted him from tie ground, and at tn,
same time with nervous force thrust hi
knife 10 his heat. This decided the battle
for the surviving Decotahs, panic struck a
The sudden attack, rushed To The spot wher,
their horses were IeIhercd and escaped into
the forest. Upwards of fifty dead warrior
remained on the field, and others grievous
ly wounded, but not single white maj
was seriously injured.
The women and children fled TO ,h
woods, and the whites found AN abundanc
OF plunder, comprising blankets. rich fur,
horses. dried meats and tents. But Fraul
Bates felt sad at heart, for the sight Of thi
memento OF his wife made him fear sh
had been tortured before periShing in tn
flames Night came on, and feeI,n. posi-
tive that he could not sleep, lie volunteere,
to keep watch. |, was bright moon lich
night, and as he was pacing his solitar,
round, planning new schemes of vengeance
he heard light step approach from tn
thlcket.
Frank at first raised bis rifle TO shoo
down tho intruder, but q secret influence
lei him 10 call out: "Who comes!"
"Ate YOU white man" WAS the reply
in tones that produced an indescribable ei
feet upon the stout.hearled pioneer.
"Ies-and your
IL am Frank Bates wife who was take,
prisoner over the Mississippi" aud as sh
spoke She advanced
The rifle fell 10 the ground, and Franl
stood ~ II under the influence Of a mag
spell His hands were convulsively cIinch
cd his hair stood erect on ls head shiv
er ran through MS frame ana he toltere,
back several PAGES. But not SO tue female
""' idH recognised uCI NuSpdUu As Silt
drew near and now exclaimed rs she threw
herself into his arms:
Frank! my own Frank! Do YOU no
know your wife,
Yes, it was his long-mourned bride, lie
features stamped with sorrow, but still re
tainlng her early beauty. Mutual explana
tions followed and when tho delighted wifi
learned tho safety of her boy, all hardship
vanished. 1t now appeared that when TIN
Indians had entered Bates house, the,
saw keg of whiskey which they drani
freely, and then plundered everything, re
moving the chest in their researches. Sool
two of them began TO quarrel about tn
handkerchief Bates had seen the day previ
ous. and drawing their scalp knives. on
speedily received n mortal stab. and fel
directly upon the trap door, through whicl
his hl,nI ran unNp The b,Jl.n