The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-08-16
A Romance in Indian Life.


c and faithful loves" of the Indians 1t i:
: connected with one of the immense mound,
$ which give so striking peculiarly to tho
' scenery OF the prairies. az few years
l since, at the base of this mound, a chief re-
sided, whose young daughter was girl o
{ uncommon beauty, and this beauty was but
E the external manifestation of pure and no
, bic spirit. Asa matter of course, she had
many admirers among the young braves OF
her nation. Her nature was above arts OF a
[ coquette; and loving one among them all,
, and only one, she hestated not to let her
, preference be known, not only TO the Young
Eagle who had won her heart, but also to
/ those whose suit she had rejected. Among
the rejected suitors, one alone so laid 1t 20
heart as ii desire revenge. He, the Prow.-
ling Wolf, was filled with rage, and took lit
tie pains to conceal his cnmity, though he
: manifested no desire for open violence
, Both these young men were brave, both
skiltul in the use Of weapons, which far
away on the buffalo plains had sometimes
been used in baltic; but while Young Eagle
was noble, generous in spirit, and swayed
by such high Impulses as a young savage
may feel, lhe Wolf was reserved, dark, and
sullen and his naturally lowering brow
seemed, after the maiden had refused him,
10 settle into n habitual scowl The friends
OF the Young Eagle feared for his safety
lie, however, was too happy in the smiles
OF his chosen bride 10 trouble himself con-
corning the enmity- of another, especially
when he knew himself to be his equal both
1t strength and skill. The happy couple
were IN the habit OF meeting al the top OF
the mound-lo loung Eagle armed with a re-
vo!ver he had received from white. One
summer evening, just as the moon was up
, \ ouug Eagle sought the top Of the mound
. Tor the purpose of meeting his future bride,
for their marriage was agreed upon, and the
appointed day was near. One side Of this
mound Is naked rock, which for thirty feet
+ or more Is almost perpendicular. just on
the edge OF thIs precipIce Is a iJ0ipaih, aud
10y II large fiat sandstone rock forms
convenient seat for those who would survey
the valley. while few lon bushes are scat
tered over = part Of the mound. On this
rock Young Eagle sat him down to await the
maiden's coming. In few moments the
/ bushes rusiled near him, and rising, As he
( thought, to meet her, i tomahawk flashed
by has head, and the next instant he was IN
the arms OF a strong u.an and forced 10 I he
Drink Of the precipice. The eyes Of the
two met IN the m0oul'g ght, and each knew
then that the struggle was for life. Pinione1
as his arms were by the others grasp, the
Eagl, frustrated the first effort of his iOc,
. and then desperate wrestle, Gcath-wroS
lie, iol.O~ed in which each was thoroughly
maddei Cd. The grasp Of the Wolf was
broken, and each instantly grasping his ad-
ycrsarv by the throat with the LETT hand,
sought his weapon with the right-thc one
his knife, the other his revolver Ia the
struggle. the handle of the knife Of the
Wcn had been turned in the girlle and
i,l> 9 a. rl,4 h..
cover himself the revolver was al ms breast
and u ballet 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 1t over the pre-
cipice, ard IN his Ma byel--lJL.ei- after
Gown and, this not satisfying his revenge.
he ran round aad down the side of the
mound, and tore off the scalp Of his Zoe. -
There had been no WItuesS Of this combat
for the young gir. did not arrive till lis ter
MInatun, when ter lover was sca'pIng tbs
victim. His life was therefore in Imminent
danger from the justice Of the tribe, and lie
kne" that his only chance was 10 stand upon
his defence. His chance arose from tAo Gus
tom OF the Indians. that II the murderer es- .
capped the blow OF the ayyuEer Of blood
the nearest relative Of the y.C;Im-the iami-
ly were at liberty 10 accept a ransom Tor the
life OF their kin>nan. The Young Eagle at
once took his resolution, sustained by the
advice Of his friends. Completely armed,
he took possession OF the top Of the mound,
which was so shaped that while he was him
self concealed, no one could approach him
by day without being exposed to his fire
and he had two devoted and skiliu allies,
which, together with bis position, rendered
than match for his single adversary, the
avenger OF blood-the brother If the v olf.
These allies were his bride and Il large saga
cIouS hound which had long been his hunt
ing companion, and had guarded him many
night when camping on the praries. The
girl had in her veins the blood of Indian he
roeS, and she quailed not. She demanded
with lofty enthusiasm to be made Lis wife,
and then, acquainted with every stratagem
of savage war, and with every faculty
sharpened by affection, and her husbands
danger, she watched, and warned, and
shielded him with every art that the reused
spirit could suggest, and which could be
safely practi>ed.'
The brother Of the Wolf prowled about
the fortress night and day. In the daytime,
10 ascend the mound far enough for action,
would be to place himself, helpless and
without care, within the range of the young
warriors rife; and at night he could not
baying of the hound giving its master warn
ing. lie at length hit upon a stratagem
and by careful observation of his young
wife, who was frequently going and coming,
that she might supply her husband with
food, succeeded in initiating her dress, walk
and manner SO completely, that he hoped to
deceive both dog and man. His scheme was
skiltuly executed. The dog wagged his
tail, and the master spoke TO the avenger as
his wife, when there were only few feet
between them; but suddenly the gallant
hound, discovering his mistake. threw him
self with yell upon the throat OF the enc
my, and bore him to the ground. The
Young Eagle now deprived him of his wea-
ponS, and pinioned his arms but the next
from an impulse of generos ty, he
set him free and sent him home armed As |
usual
'This was the turning point of the savage u.
drama. The sheddeI OF blood surrendered
himself to the justice Of the tribe to offer ,
ransom, or if that was rejected, to lay down /,
hi, life without resistance. At the day ap- ,,
pointed, the parties met in an open space :
with hundreds to witness the scene around. .
The Eagle, all unarmed, was first seated on
the ground, then by his side was laid down
a large knife, with which he was to be slain i. !.
if the ransom was not accepted. BY hi> !.
side sat his wife, her hand clasped in his, ,,
while the eyes even of 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 ia
ther at the head, by whom the question of
life or death was to be settled. lie seemed
deeply moved, and rather sad than revenge ,
ful. A red blanket was now produced and :
spread upon the ground. 1t signified that
blood had been shed which was not yet !.
washed away, the crimson stain remaining. ',
Next blanket all of blue was spread over i. .
the red ono IT eynressed the hope that the