Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-03-30

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: Eyes" replied Francois. brave enough
for you or any other Indian. . = 4.
s'Ugh Ughp' grunted the chief, con-
temPtuously. White man will you fight y
Eyes" = aslp s
"When y asked the Indian :. =,
"Any time" answered the French.han
now, if you choose i
mo, not now" returned the Chippewa.
''No one here to fight. Meet me yonder,
at sunrise tomorrow morning" and he poin-
ted TO mound near by, with your scalp
ing knife ii your right hand and our left
hands shall BE- tied together. He who kills
the other shall be the bravest What say
you, white mans will you fghtmeso 2" and
the warrior again measured his rival from
head to foot, in an exulting manner. a
Francois, was anything but a fighting
man, and though of dauntless courage, and
possessing all the strength for which he had
become famed, he did not desire to test
them in this savage manner; but, as moth
Ing short Of blood would satisfy the strange
challenger, he replied:
II will meet you as you desire"
Enough. white man ?" and the stalw1aart
warrior turned abruptly on his heel, and
left Germaine to pursue his walk and the
train of reflections which this novel chal-
lenge to mortal combat would naturally a.
rouse in the breast Of a brave but humane
mans
As soon as it became known withiH the
palisades that their favorite, the brave Fran
co.'s, had been dared to mortal combat by
the savage chief, his friends became ex-
tretiiely anxious about the result. The a.
gent, unknown to the Frenchman, sent out
to negotiate with Me-he-kee-wo; and by
presents endeavored to dissuade him from
the fight, upon the grcund that. should it
result in his death, which most probably it
would, it might be the cause of unfriendly
feelings between bis people and the whites.
But the naughty chief conscious of his su-
|perior skill in the use of the murderous
weapon, would listen to no terms Of COM
promise. :
II have journeysd," said he to the ira
der, "many moons to find your big Che mo
ke-mun, whom my women have thrown in
to my teeth long enough. I am the best
man, and will prove it to my braves, and
they may go back and tell the squaws that
Me-he-kee-wa has no rival on all the green
earth. If the Frenchman is afraid to meet
me i'd d fair fight, on his own ground let
him come cut, and like crouching wolf,
confess it, #
Seeing that it was useless to talk further
with the vain bully, they deterrhihed to in
tor 1or hr,f% 10 IL H.,
very and strength Of Francois in the coming
fight.
AS the morning light broke through the
feecy clouds that foated in the eastern hor-
lion, the people of the post were astir; the
sentinels stationed upon the top of the ell
closure saw, by the body of Indi,n warri-
ors that were collecting Oh the neighboring
mound, that the trotid chief was assembling
his witnesses to the combat which was to
establish his title to the bravest Of tie brave:
for he had no doubt of his success. What
did the white man know of the use of the
scalping knife And, even did he possess
the muscular strength, what would it avail
him against the quick eye of the Indian and
his rapid strokes? Flattering himself thus
in the advantage which he supposed he pos
sesseh; the chief awaited the arrival of his
antagonist. :
It was not long that he had to wait, for
as the first warm rays of the morning sun
streamed over the prairie. and lighted tip
the top of the crowded mound, the gates
were opened and Francois, attended by his
friends, passed rapidly through the dewy
grass, and. ascending the eminence, stood
face to face with his challenger.
They stood for moment silent, gazing
sterhly iEto each others cyeg-each await
ing for the other to make the first saluta-
ton. At length Niche -kce-wa, giving vent
to an insulting 'Ugh! Ughp and glanc.
ing over the ranks Of his circlihg warriors
with an expression that was intended to say
.''See, my braves, how the Che-mo-kee-
mum already duails demanded hastily
sDid you come to fight p
.'Of course did," was the reply.
"But last night your heart failed you, land
you sent your people to buy your cowardly
life with blanket and drink Of fire.
waterp aa. :. .,e -. ST,
''It's lie! and the incensed French
man, leaping upon the insulting bully caught
his hooked nose between the thumb aud
foreinger of his right hand, and nearly tore
it from his face.
The Indian, with howl Of wrath clutch
ed the hilt Of his knife. but before he could
draw it his arm was caught by several of
his Warriors, who, restraining him for a
demanded that the fight should
proceed. J.. Il
Agreed" answered Francois. who turn
ing to his friends with smile, informed
them .'that, now he knew his man. he should
howl like whipped panther pup before he
should be done with him.
Still snorting with pain, his dark eye
flashing with anger, and with growl like
tiger; the Indian advanced to his anticipa-
ted victory and revenge. BrandlsHing his
knife, he called on Che pale lace to sing his !
death song, for he should 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 victory or death,
drew his keen knife, and meeting the Indi-
an upon the apex Of the mound, presented
bis left hand to his, and signed for the at
tehdants to tie, them together n i
This dSne, they stood gazing an instant !
into each others eyes, and then. like Rod
eric Dhu and Fitz James,
'sEach look'd to sun, and sky, and plain,
A & what thoy err miVht AGAIN - 4