The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-26

climbed up the bank between two snow
drifts, and hid himself among some withcred
bushes, where the twgs and stalks gave
him n sight OF the tent, and just room
enough, besides, for the use Of his weapons.
In this situation he watched and listened.
Although the frost was 40 intense that his
breath froze on his beard, and his lef> hand
felt glued to the barrel OF his levelled rifle.
the fever OF expectation IN his mind prevent
I'd his telling the cold. lie watched. for
what seemed to be M interminiblc time
and, at last, the heads OF the two men rose
in sight over the brow Of n nelghborng hill.
Their figures followed in another minute.
All doubts were ended now--the last day in
this world had dawned for him or for them
the men were Pawnes.
Amer holding counsel together on the hill,
the savages threw back their buffalo skins,
drew their full quivcrs before them, and
strung their bows. They then separated.
One walked to the top of the bill from which
the deserted traveller had first caught sight
OF them, 10 trace the direction Of his foot.
steps the other examined the track between
the water and the tent. Both seemed TO be
satisfied with their Investigations ; both
met again before the tent, and communics.
ted with one another by gestures, which ex-
pressed their conviction that ths victim was
asleep by his Ere inside. In another mo
mcnt they drew their bowstrings, placing
themselves ~ that their double fire Of ar
rows should meet at right angles 10 the tent
The man whose lie they were seeking
never felt that life 81 dear 10 him M at the
moment when he saw them shoot five ar
rows Into the place where he slept. Still
he watched aud waited, for his existence
now depended on his cunning aud patience
On his not miscaculatng, by an instant,
the time to FIRE. lie saw the savagcs pause
and listen before they vcntnfed into the tent
One OF them then dropped bis bow, grasped
his ,omahawk, and kbelt to creep under the
curtained opening; while the other stood
over him with bs arrow in the string ready
to shoot In this position the skull Of the
kneelipg Indian was brought within the
white mans line OF sight, and he cooked his
rife. Faint as the click has, he saw that j,
had caught their ears. for they both started
and turned round Observing that this
movement made the kneeling man less likely
10 escape his eye in the tent, be shifted his
aim and fired at the naked breast Of the man
with the bow. The sharp eye Of the savage
discovered his hidden epemy al the same 10.
stant. and be sprang aside. But il WAS too
late he was bit ; and he fell with scream
that went through every nerve ol Mr.. Mol.
hauscns body. The Other savage Jumpcd
10 his feet, but the white mans weapon was
the quicker Of the two, aud n discharge OF
buckshot hit him full in the face and ueck.
He dropped dead on the spot by the side OF
the other man, who was still groaning.
Although he knew that be had us,ifiably
shot, in sell defence, two savages. whose
murderous design on his own life had been
betrayed before his eyes although he was
absolutely certain that il either one OF the
Pawnees had been permitted TO escape, the
whole tribe would have been at the tent by
the next day---the brave travellers nerve
deserted him when be saw his two enemies
on the ground. and when be though, Of the
terrible aiterDecessity of hiding what had
been done. With a feeling of unut6rable
despair he mechanically reloaded his rifle
and approached the place. The grosns OF
the Indian who had been shot In the breast,
moved bi. pity ~ strongly that they s'-emed
10 recall him 10 himself First turning the
dead Indian face dowDwards, TO escape the
horrifying sight of the mangIed features, he
approached bh wounded enemy aud made
signs that be would forgive him, help him,
cover him with buffalo skins, take him IN
10 the tent, and there do all that was in the
power OF man to gain his good will by pre-
serving bis life.
The savage lay writing and bleeding,
with bis teeth clencbed, with his eyes aiarinR
In deadly hatred through the long black hair
that aInst covered his lace But, after a
while, the merciful white man saw that bis
gestures were understood. A sense Of relief,
even Of Joy overfowed his heart at th" pros
pect of saving the Indian, and Of securing
companion IN his fearful solitude The
wounded man signed to him 10 come nearer,
and pointed with his NJ, hand 10 his right
hand aud arm, which lay twisted under him
Without the sighies, suspicion Mr.. Mon-
hansen kDclt over him 10 plans hn arm 10 su
easier po@iti0n. At the same moment the
wretehs right hand flashed out from beoenth
him armed with q knie and struck twice
at the unprotected breast OF the man who
was trying 10 saye him. Mr.. Moilhau-sn
parrIed the blows with his night arm, drew
bis oxn knife with hls Iel. hand, and Indicted
on the vindlc,ive savage the death that be
Lad twice deserved The rattle sooDded IN
the throat, aud the muscles Of thu naked
figure stretched tbsln~lVe 10 tbe last con
yuIs.oa. The la~, traveller was aiooe again,
alone 10 the frozen wilderness, With the
bodies a the two dad nsn.
The nigh, wa a, hand the nigh, CANE
a night nsver H. b, iOfgO,tsn, Bever IA any
mortal langgsgs uo bs described. Down
with the gathering darkness csms the gath
.ring wolves ald round and round the tso
oorp>,= 10 front u the tsu, ihsy cifcIed and
h0~I.d AL throagh that awful night ,1e
lo-l man lay ...isn az 20 'bem IN 'h' pitch