The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-03-21

Less than half an hour had elapsed when
. single Qbjibway, the feetest of his party
came into view, gazing like hound at fault
upon the trail which led to the open prairie
in the direction of the thicket. He seemed
to be satisfied that the foe for whose blood
he thirsted was near at hand, for he made
no move to follow the track farther, but
quietly awaited the arrival of the whole
party, which was composed of about thirty
men. A short conversation was carried on
among them, when the leader detached him
self from his fellows, and made rapid cir
cult Of the grove, but at safe distance from
it, as if to satisfy himself that no ruse de
guerre had been resOrted to, and that the trio
were really ensconced therein. Having COM
manicated the fact to his companions that
no trail led from the spot, another hurried
consultation was held, as to the best mode of
dislodging the concealed Dakotas. Again
was circuit made by two or three expert
enced warriors, as if to determine if the grass
was Of sufficient length to conceal an ap-
pr0ach. Such was not the case however !;
land in this fact mainly consisted the defensi
BILE nature OF the position, which had been
duly weighed by those who had chosen it.
Final y, the Ojibways, very few of whom
could speak the language of the Dakotas,
spread themselves out and around the thick
ct, and discharging number of vollies into
it, interlarding their active occupation, by
epithetS bestowed upon their enemies, Of the
vilest and most abusive character. They
were called swines, dogs, towards, and at
last, but not least, women, who should be
lead in petticoats, as they were unworthy to
wear the habiliments of man. This Soon
cord of sweet sounds" failed to elicit any re-
sponse from the thicket. Silence, ominous
and oppressive brooded over it. At length,
a young Ojibway, desirous to perform some
daring feat, on what was probably his first
war-path, and excited by the shouts of his
comrades, made swift movement around
the timber within gun-shot distance, and to
clap the climax of his audacity, he stopped
at place opposite to the station of Chas-
key, and made several indecent gestures to
leXpress his contempt for those who remain
ed so quietly biding their time in the bushes
These gestures were his last upon earth. A
thin wreath of smoke, accompanied by
sharp, whip-like crack, issued from the spot
occupied by Chaskey, and the ball sped nn-
erringly to the heart of the victim, who was
dead before he struck the ground. The
death of the young man had a most exasper
ating effect upon the remaining Ojibways, SO
much 80, that some of the more youthful
among them were evidently urging an i'm
mediate rush, (which would surely have prov
ed fatal to our adventures. Had the three
rifles been discharged simultaneously, there
is little doubt that the onseu would have
been made, but the older men we'll knew,
that at least two lives, and probably more,
would be sacrificed on their side, if it was
attempted, and it was not, in1 accordance
with Indian warfare, to incur such inevitable
danger and loss.
Repeated volleys were directed at those
points, where the trio were supposed to be
posted, especially at that part of the grove
where the discharge of the rifle had betray-
ed Chaskey's station. Narrow were the es-
capes he had from the numerous missels.-
A lock of hair was cut from over his temple
by ball, and his shirt was pierced in sever
at places, but fortunately for him he received
no bodily injury.
Meanwhile, Fire Face and the Singer were
lying in their lairs, watching for an opportu-
nifty to make sure shot at the enemy. 1t
was not long wanting to the former. In the
confusion of the action, a tall and finely
formed Ojbway approached within hun
dred yards fthe spot occupied by Fire Face
apparently apprehending but little danger
from the western side. A ball fl ON rifle OF
the latter struck him in the shoulder,prostrat-
ing him upon the ground, and inflicting a Sc
} riOus if not fatal wound. The fight was
continued at long rifle distance, with but lit
tie injury to the assailants, some of whom
received slight flesh wounds, and with none
to the Dakotas, who were SO we'll covered
) The sun was abont disappearing behind
the western hills, when hostilities ceased, as
if by mutual consent. The Ojibways drew
off beyond gunshot, and seemed to be plan
ming some new scheme to circumvent the en-
envy. The dead man remained where he fell
no Ojibaway daring to remove him from SO
exposed spot. Fire-Face made his way
through the bushes, and communicated to
his two friends, both of whom he was de-
lighted to find unhurt. He proposes to
; leave the place, as soon as it was sufficiently
dark to hear their movements. Dowan con-
Cured with him, but Chaskey would by no
means consent, until he should procure the
|. scalp of the slain Ojibway. Fire-Face and
Dowan expostulated with him, and assured
him that his own life would be sacrificed in
such arash attempt, as the Ojibways would
watch the body carefully. Chaskey, how
ever, was ILIlIuOSdOlc, anu Ills lTltuuS were
not the men to desert him, fool-hardy though
they might deem him. In a short time the
earth was shrouded in darkness, and the
; three Dakotas emerged from the bush to-
gether. Chaskey taking the lead. They had
barely reached the body, and appropriated
the scalp, when the low voices of the Ojib-
ways were heard close at hand, and it SEEM
ed impossible for them to escape observation
Crawling serpent-lke upon their bellies, they
had not proceeded fifty yards, when cries Of
horror, and vengeance, from the Ojibways
reached their ears, and convinced them that
the denuded state of the victims skull had
been discovered. The Ojibways spread
; themselves in different directions in search
of their enemies, but the skill and caution
of the latter saved them, and they were soon
beyond the reach of danger. Two days af-
forwards they entered their village, but little
the worse for the exposure and peril to which
they had been subjected. The scalps. in &C
cordance with custom, were delivered into
the possession of two ancient crones, who
:, had recently lost relations in battle, to be
by them decorated and painted for the scalp
dance. io y e3.1 7eaE
New YoRK, March Z.
> A large concourse of Mr.. Summers friends
} including quite number of ladies, assem-.
bled on the pier to bid him farewell.