The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-12-04

IauuuiS ACROSS .tne river 10 aSettIctneht
| where there were large number of whites
Day had scarcely dawned on the succeed.
ing morning, before twenty miners, g ,od
men and true, were ready to accompany
him across the river. They cared no more
for the Decotahs than for prairie dogs, and
| acted upon the spur of the moment, regard.
less of consequences. Crossing above his
residence, young Bates led them towards
his clearing, hut on arriving there nothing
remained but a mouldering pile of ashes.-
His beloved wife had evidently perished in
the flames, for among the ashes and char
red beams in the cellar they found some
blackencd bones. Just then they were join.
ell by old Joe Bates and two Of his vounge:
sons, armed to the teeth. They were de-
lighted to find Frank alive, for they had
feared that the column Of smoke that had
arisen from his cabin was his monument ::
but now they did their best to condole him
in their way. lie said but little, but secret
~ avowed to avengc his wife's death, and
well did Inc keep his word. TO have seen
him, no one would have supposed that the
mild looking, slender built, Frank Bates was
an incarnate demon in fight with the De
cotahs yet within year after his cabin was
his girdle. Vengeance seemed his only
,hought--his life's desire.
For some time after this outrage, the De.
cotahs kept away from the miners, but at
last party of them came prowing about
and the miners determined to have brush
with them. Who was so competent to head
the party as that sworn enemy Of tho red
skins, Frank Bates The party engaged
two Winnebagocs as guides, and then struck
into the forest, following recent trail. The
third night of their journey. the wary lead.
er insisted on standing as sentry, and about
midnight the crack Of his rife awakened ev-
cry sleeper. In an instant every man was
on 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; a nearer approach to the
object discovered, to their ast0nishment, the
grim visage of a dead Dccotah, envcloped
IN the skin of gigantic bruin who, thus
disguised, had attempted 10 reconnoitIe the
position OF the frontiers men.
Frank now felt assured that they were
near the enemy, aud followed their trail in
| silence on the aler. for their foe. On reach
ing the summit Ct q knoll. they saw their
village befo:e them-a collection of hiyh
conical tents, made of dressed butfalo.skins
scwed together and ornamentrd with rude
representa- )1s of the La tie or the chase
On the outskirts were the sauaws busilv en
gagged IN ;he laborions occupations which
fell TO their lot. Their infants. t;oh,,v
bound 10 straight strips of bark, were tied
to small bento,er Dirchcs, which gently
danced them to sleep, and the boys of the
village, with bow aud arrow, were firing at
the representation Of Kansas hunter. In
the centre Of the village before the towering
tent of the chief, sat the braves, smoking
their tomahawk pipes with stoical gravity.
The white men looked at til, priIniup Of
their rifles, put their sharp hunting knives
! between their teeth, and with deafenine
yell rushed down through the frightened
squaws, ere the Decotahs could comprsbend
what caused the alarm. Dashinp into the
! startled group of warriors with fierce war.
whoops, they dealt destruction around them.
The chief was the first slain, bravely defend.
ing himself and encouraging his warriors,
who nohly struggled to avenge his death,
but all in vain.
Frank Bates fought like demon, bnt Al,
one time was nearly victim TO a staiwart
warrior. But gancing Mt his opponent,
Frank recognized in a gay red handkerchief
around his head lis marriage gift to his lost
wife. This added new strength to his BODY,
and increased in activity 10 his fury, rs he
seized his assstal 1t with the left arm. lifted
him from the ground and at the same time
with nervous force thrust his knife to his
heart. This decided the battle, for the sur
riying Decotalis, panic-struck at the sudden
attack, rushed TO the spot where their horses
were tethered and escaped into the for
est. Upwards Of fifty dead warriors re.
mained On the field, and the others griev.
ously wounded, but not a single white man
was seriously injured.
The women and children fed to the
woods, and the whites found an abundance
Of plumber, comprising blankets, rich furs.
horses, dried meats and tents. But Frank
Bates felt sad at heart, for the sight of this
memento Of his wife made him fear she
bad been tortured before perishing in the
flames. Night came on, and feeling posi-.
tive that he could not sleep, he volunteered
to keep watch. II wss a bright moonlight
night, and as he was pacing his solitary