The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-16
THE INDIAN DUEL.

strength; and like many others ofh his class, he was
sometimes vain Of his extraordinary powers, and
fond of exhibiting them to his associates.
He would load his brawny shoulders with packs
which his comrades could scarcely lift from the
ground, and without evincing the smallest degree
OF fatigue, would march with them day after day,
through the wilderness towards some company 5
forts; often leaving his lightly loaded companions
far in the rear.
1t was no uncommon thing for Francois, who
was most kind-hearted and generous fellow, to
inger in the camp in the morning an hour or two
after his comrades had started take the trail they
Wero tollowlng, and after few hours pass them
quietly, without being discovered by them; and
alter travelling till the middle of the afternoon
stop at some convenient spot for encamping. He
usually selected some water course, which he
Juoged his friends would reach about nightall and
striking camp, would surprise them with a we'll
prepared supper of venison or other game which
he, had prepared against their arrival.
On certain occasion, when ascending the Bois
ces Sioux river alone, in his canoe he was attack
ed by large party of Sioux Indians, who, after
sinking his canoe by perforating its bottom with
their rifles, and making desperate fight of it,
succeeded in taking him prisoner. His reputation
ior courage and strength had reached them, and
before putting him to torture they determined to
test his powers.
Accordingly, they took him to the edge of the
cllif, some two hundred feet high, beneath which
ran the river, and, after hastily preparing a rope
OF bark, and fastening one end of it to a large
stone at the base of the cliff they directed him to
raise it where they were collected in a group to
witness the feat.
Germaine, whose judgement and selfreliance
never for moment deserted him, readily consen-
TED to humor the Indians, but declared that the
thlng was impossible with so short a rope The
Indians, who had brought the free end of it to the
top OF the bank, insisted that it was all sufficient
besides being strong enough to raise weight twice
that OF the stone. Still Germaine persisted in de-
claring that the rope was not long enough bv many
feet, and at length refused to crafty their curos
ty unless his demand was complied with, and the
rope heightened to suit him.
Seeing that unless they induged his caprice
they would be deprived of that portion of their an
tlcpated sport, the Indians yielded, and collect
ing more bark, added the requisite number of feet
to the rope. All being right, the Frenchman
was ordered to lift the stone But Francois deib-
erately proceeded to knot the end lasso-wise, and
gathered it in coil at the edge of the cliff after
hrst clearing the ground of brush and broken
limbs which might interfere with its free run.
The stone, which was of several hundred weight
was heavy lift for even Germaine, and he exerted
all his powers to start it from its bed But when
once started, the labor of raising it was compare
lively lighter. After he had drawn it up a few
feet, he was ordered to lower it again, when four
of the most stalwart warriors tried their united
strength upon it, but they could not bulge it an
inch.
Again Germaine was ordered to hoist it to the
top of the bank. With the outlay of all his mus
cuiar force, he obeyed; and, as it moved slowly
dohS Iuc dCe vi Tue GILL, Jne INDIANS, their
cltement, gathered in knots upon the very verge
and looking downwards, watched its ascent. Slow
y 1T moved over the rough projections of the lime
Stone strata, detaching sometimes in its progress
huge masses of stone, which tumbed with heavy
plunges among the broken portions that filled the
river below.
Hand over hand the Frenchman toiled at his
task, but with his keen gray eyes taking in all
about him. He had raised the huge weight one
third OF the distance, when the stone, catching
against jutting ledge of superintendent shale,
dehed all his gigantic strength to raise it higher
AS he struggled to overcome this resistance the
Indians gathered closer and closer upon the verge
of the cif and watched the effect of the herculean
efforts of the prisoner
AT this moment, stopping the rope partially over
the top of a stunted cedar bush, and holding the
strain upon his left hand, he reached forward, and
gathering up the coied portion in his right, he
gave it one wide swing over his head, which open
ed its broad running moose, and, with a skillful
cast, that would have done honor even to a Mexi-
can herdSman, let it drop over the largest knot of
excited savages, they were gazing below The
fatal circle, true to the design of the brave Fran
co.'s, encompassed no less number than six of his
enemies and, letting go his hold, the rock with a
noise like thunder, rushed headlong into the abyss,
dragging, with lightning speed the six bowling saw
ages after it.
So sudden and awful was this frightful denoue-
ment that the surviving Indians, some thirty in
number were for many minutes horror struck and
regardless of all else about them. During the ex-
SllCutHJ anu CDuluSlOn, Ine VOydgeur, seeing the
way clear, made good his escape, and, when the In
dians at length turned to wreak their vengeance on
their captive he was already out of sipht and 6v-
ing with the speed of a wild deer. The swiftest
runners were sent in pursuit, but they soon gave
up the chase as useless, and the fortunate Francois
returned in safety to his comrades at Lake Travers
The spot where this incident occurred is well known
to the hunters and Indians of that region and still
retains the of "Francois' Cliff" Upon the
smooth surface OF the limestone, near the waters
edge, the Sioux have commemOrated the event by
rude carvings, representing six warriors in the act
OF tumbling headlong from the edge of the prec
pice to the river below
This affair the brave Germaine used to relate
with much sang froid but the story which the
goodnatured Frenchman loved best to tell was hi.
duel with the noted chiefof the Chippewas named
Me-ne-kee-wa, the "Big Man.
1T seemed that Germaine's fame not confined
to the whites and halfbreeds in the employ of the
company, bat had reached to the most distant
tribes who had dealings with the posts and the In.
dlans, having great respect for strong and brave
men, frequently spoke of him among themselves
Even the red beauties of of the tribes express
ed desire to become acquainted with this modern
Hercules, for the Indian maidens like their sex in
general, admire manliness wherever it is to be
found
1t was through these that Me-ne-kee-wa came to
near OF the brave and muscular Francois, and his
Jealousy became Immediately excited. This chief
whose band had their home on the east side of the
Mississippi in what is now the State of Wisconsin
was reputed the strongest man among the Indians
and he could not endure the idea of n rival even
among the Che-mO-ke-muns (paIe faces His
claim, as the strongest as well as the bravest had
never been disputed and he chated like wild boar
when his warriors and talked of the feats OF
the noted voyageur: and he determined to visit the
posts of the fur company till he encountered one
he began to regard rival For months he made
his appearance at the different stations without
accomplishing his object, for Francois was always
upon the move from point to point in the pursuit
nd l,.I. / l.
he was found at the trading posts.
Atlength however, Me-ne-kee-wa was so fortunate
as to get the track of the famous voyareur; and
he determined to test his courage and physical
powers in single combat.
One morning, as Francois issued from the post
at which he had arrived only the evening previous
he was encountered by powerful Chippewa who
advancing unceremoniously to him. and measuring
him with his eagle eye from head to foot enqured
care you Germaine?"
eyes," was the reply.
"FrancOis Gcrmaine?'
eyes"
''Germaine, the big Che-mo-ke-mun 2'' persisted
the Indian.
$50 l have sometimes been "caled" returned
the white man.
''Well you know me?' asked the stranger.
"NO-who are you, and what do you want Of
me?"
''l am Me-ne-kee-wa-chief of the Biz Bear band
of Chippewas," replied the Indian, as he raised
himself at least head taller than the Frenchman-
''and want to fight the big Che-mo-ke-mun! You
brave MANI"
"Yes,' replied Francois, ''brave enough for you,
or any other Indian"
"Ugh! ugh" grunted the chief, contemptuously.
"Whte man will you tght?"
eyes"
''When?" asked the Indian.
"Any time,' answered the Frenchman; "now if
you choose"
ono not now," returned the Chippewa. ono
one here to see big fight. Meet me yonder at sun
rise tomorrow morning." and he pointed to a
mound near by, ''wth your scalping knife in your
right hand, and our left hands shall be tied to-
gether lie who kills the other shall be the brav-
est. What say you white man, will YOU fight me
so? and the warrior again measured his rival from
head to foot, in an exulting manner.
Francois was anything but "fghting man" and
though of dauntess courage, and possessing all the
strength for which he had become famed, he did
not desire to test them in this savage manner but
nothing short of blood would satisfy the strange
challenger, he replied:
81 will meet YOU as you desire"
"Enough, white man. and the stalwart warrior
turned abruptly his heel and left Germaine to
pursue his walk and the train of reflections which
this novel challenge to mortal combat would natu-
rally arouse in the breast of brave but humane
man.
As as it became known within the palisades
that their favorite. the brave Francois had been
friends became extremely anxious about the result
The agent, unknown to the Frenchman, sent out to
negotiate with Meme kee-wa, and by presents en-
deayored to dissuade him from the fight upon the
ground that should it result in his death, which
most probably it would, it might be the cause of
unfriendlv feelings between his people and the
whites. But the naughty chief, conscious of supe-