New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-10

am the best man; and will prove 1t to my braves,
and they may go back and tell the sqnaws that Me.
las no rival on all the green earth. II the
Ffenchman IL AFRAID TO meet me In fair fight his
| own ground, let him come out and like croucbinp
| wolf, confess it,"
| Seeing that it useless to tnik further with the
vain bully, they determined to interfere no longer
hut trust to the cool bravery and strength of Francois
| in the coming fight.
As the morning light broke through the fleecy
clouds that foated on the Eastern horizon, the peo
pie of the post were astir; the sentinels stationed
upon the top OF the enclosure saw, by the body of
Indian warriors that collecting on the neighhor
ing mound, that the proud chief was assemblin his
witnesses to the combat which to establish his
title to the brayest of tho brave, for he had doubt
Of success. What did tho white man know Of the
use Of the scalping knife! And, even did he possess
superior muscular strength, what would it avail him
against the quick eye OF the Indian and his rapid
strokes! Fhttering himself thus in the advantage
which he supposed he possessed, the chief awaited
| the arrival OF his antagonist.
| 1t was not long that he had to wait for, as the
first rays of the morning streamed over the
prairie, and lighted up the top OF the crowded mound.
the gates were opened and Francois, attended by his
friends, passed rapidly through the dewy erase, and,
ascending the eminence, stood face to face with his
| challenger.
| They stood for moment silent-gazing sterny in
each others eyes-each waiting for the other to
make the first salutation. At length Meme kee-wa,
giving vent to an insulting ugh ugh!" and
glancing over the ranks Of his circng warriors with
braves how the Che.mo ke-mun already quails y de.
manded hastily:
q Did you come to fght?"
OF course, did," was the reply.
But last night your heart failed you and you sent
your cowardy people to huy your life with blanket
and drink OF ire-water !"
!" It's a lie,' shouted the ncensed Freuchman leap.
ing upon the insulting bully, caught his hooked hose
between the thumb and fore finger of his right hand
and nearly tore it from his face.
The Indian, with howl OF wrath, clutched the
hit of his knife but before he could draw it his arm
caught by several of his warriors, who, restrain
ing him for a moment, demanded that the fight
should instantly proceed.
agreed" answered Francois, who, turning to
his friends with smile, informed them ''that now
panther-pnp before he should be done with him."
Still snorting with pain, his dark eye flashing with
anger and with the growl OF tiger, the Indian ad-
vanced to his anticipated victory and revenge. Bran
dishiug his knife, he called on the pae.face to sing
his deahsoDg, for he should soon send him to the
hunting grounds Of the spirit land.
The Frenchman. whose plan Of action had been
decided upon and who knew that in the struggle it
was to be either quick victory or death drew his
keen edged knife, aud, meeting the Indian upon the
apex of the mound, presented his left hand to his
and signed for the attendants to tie them together.
This done they stood gazing an instant into each
others unquailing eyes, and then, like Roderic Dhu
and Fits James,
Each looked to sun, and tky, snd plain.
As what they ne er might see again."
The next moment the Indian sprang to the length
of his imprisoned arm, and, with the swiftness of
lightning, raising aloit his CHANGING blade. struck
tiercely down upon his antagonist. But Francois
whose quick eye was regarding every motion OF his
foe was prepared for him, and, dropping his own
knife to the ground, caught the right Of the
age in his vceke grasp, and, with sudden wrench,
crushed the bones OF his wrist like dry reeds The
Indian with yell of anguish which rang out wildly
over the prairie, relaxed his hold Of his knife, and
the bloodless weapon fell with its point buried Ia the
ground at his feet. AT the instant the chief felt
his wrist within the powerful grippe of the other hand
of the Frenchman, and, trembling with pain, cried
out:
Hold hold! You are drawer and stronger
man than am--let US shake hands and be friends
forever!"
Francois desisted, and, loosing the throng which
bound them together, frankly presented his hand to
the sound one of the Indians, who pledged himself
to acknowledge thereafter, that there one Che
mo kemun, bigger man than Me ne kee-wa and
ere the sun was hour high, the crestallen bully
with his mortified braves was already on his way tc.
wards the great river.