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


many feet, and refused to crafty their curl
osity unless his demand was complied with
and the rope heightened to suit him.
| Seeing that, unless they INDUCED his ca
price they would be deprived of that portion
Of their anticipated sport, the Indians yield
ed, and collecting More bark, added the re
quisite number Of feet to the rope. All be-
| ihg now right, the Frehehn,an was ordered
to lift the stone But Francois Proceeded
deliberately to knot the end lasso-wise, aud
gathered it in coil at the end of the cliff,
after first clearing the ground of brush and
broken limbs, which might interfere with its
free run. IS
The stone, which was Of several hundred
weight, was heavy lift, even for Germaine
and he exerted all his powers 20 start it from
its bed. But when once started, the labor
Of raising II was comparatively little. After
he had drawn it up a few feet, he was order
ed to lowered again, when four of the mos,
lstalwart warriors tried their united strength
Upon it, but they could not bulge it an
Inch.
| Again German was ordered to hoist it to
tha top of the bank. With the outlay OF all
| his muscular force, he obeyed; and as it mo-
yed slowly along iRe face Of the cliff, the
Indians in their excitement gathered in knots
upon the very verge, and looking down.
watched the ascent. Slowly it moved over
the rough projections Of the limestone strata,
detaching in its progress huge masses Of
stone, which tumbled with heavy plunges
mong the broken portions that filled tie riv-
er below.
Hand over hand the Frenchman toiled DIT
his task. but with his keen grey eyes taking
| in all about him. He had raised the huge
weight bne third of the distance, the stone,
catching against a jutting ledge Of superin-
Icumbast shale, defed all his gigantic strength
to raise it high~r. As he struggled to over
come this resistance, the Indians gathered
closer and closer upon the verge Of the cliff,
end watched the effect of the herculean eff
forts of the prisoner.
At this moment, stopping the rope partial
ly over the top of stdnted cedar bush, aud
Holding the strain upon his left hand, he
reached forward, and gathering up the coil
ed portion in his right, he gave it one wide
swing over his head, which opened it's broad
running moose. and with skillful cast, that
would have done honor even to Mexican
herdsman, let it drop over the largest knot
Of excited savages, as they were gazing be-
low. The fatal circle, true to the design Of
brave Francois, encompassed no less num-
Der than six Of his enemies, and letting 60
his hold, the rock, with noise like thunder
rushed beadlong into the abyss, dragging
with lightning speed, the six bowling sava-
ges after it.
So sudden ahd awful was this frightfal de-
lnoi.einent, that the surviving Indians, some
thirty in number, were for many minutes
horror struck, and regardless Of all else a.
bout them During the excitement and
confusion, the voyageur, seeing the way
clear, made good his escape, and when the
Indians at length turned to wreak their VEN
geance on their captive, he was already out
|of sight, and flying with the speed Of deer.
The swiftest runners were set in pursuit, but
they soon gave up the chase as useless. and
the fortunate Francois returned In Safety to
his comrades at Lake Traverse. Tie Spot
where this incident occurred is well known
by the hunters and Indians, and still retains
the name of Francois Cliff" Upon the
smooth surface Of the limestone, near tie
waters edge, the Sioux have commemorated
the event by their rude carvings, represent
ing six warriors in the act of tumbling head
long from the edge of the river below.
This affair the brave Germaine used to re-
late with the utmost sang froid but the
story which the good-natured Frenchman
loved best to tell was his duel with the no.
ted chief Of the CEippewas, named Niche
kee-wa, the big Mai"
It seemed that Germaine's fame was not
confined to the whites and half breeds in the
employ of the company. but had reached to
the most distant tribes who had dealings with
the posts, and the Indians having great re-
spect for strong and brave men, frequently
spoke Of him among themselves. Even the
red beauties Of some of the tribes expressed
a desire to Become acquainted with this mod
ern Hercules, for the Indian maidens. like
their sex in general, admire manllness where
ever it is to be found. :, $50,
1t was through these that Me-he-kee>>wa
came to hear Of the brave and muscular Fran
co.'s, and his jealousy became Immediately
excited. The chief, whose band had their
home on the east side of the mississippi, in
what Is now the State Of Wisconsin, was re-
ported the strongest among the Indians, and
he could not bear the idea of rival, even
among the Che mo -ke-m mum, (pale faces. y
His claim, as Che strongest as we'll as the
bravest, had never been disputed, and be
ckafed like wild boar, when his Warriors
and women talked Of the feats Of the noted
yoyageur; aud he determined to visit the
posts of the fur company till he encountered
one whom he began to regard as rival. For
months lie made his appearance at the differ
ent stations, without accomplishing his OBJ
iect, for Francois was always Oh tie move
from point to point. in the pursuit Of his oc-
cupation. Indeed, it was but rarely that he
was found even at the trading posts.
At length. however, Me-he-kee- wa was
SO fortnnte as to get on the track of the ia
iuuds voyageur; AMI he determined to test
his coifaags and physical powers in single
combat. .s,
One morning, as Franchois issued from
the post at which he arrived only the even
ing before, he was encountered by a pow
erful Chippewa, who, advancing unceremo-
niously to him, and measuring him with
his eagle eye from head to foot, inquired:
..'Are GOV Germaihe J"
YES was the reply. Te
t.Erocoo;o Germaine p