The Shreveport weekly news., 1861-04-29
NO. 2.

that should sit; and taking the hint
from his own infexible silence, did
SO without uttering word, but watch-
ing with intense anxiety all his move
,nents. Divesting himself Of his
robe and turban, be put on q splendid
dress of ceremony; after which tax
ing down the fifteen scalps, which
We're all strung upon a twisted cord.
made from the bark of tree, he sus-
pended them round his neck. The
one from which hung those long glossy
tresses of auburn was in front, and
spread itself with mournfu luxuriance
over his breast. Thus accoutred,
and with his musket in one hand, and
his hatchet in the other, besides the
tomahawk, shot-pouch, powder-horn,
and scalping- knife, which were stuck
in his belt, he turned to me and said,
"Follow; bring with you the buffalo
hide on which you Sit"
did sc, o,though with some difficulty;
for the hide was both heavy and cum
brous to carry. We were now once
more in the forest, and in the same
track as VIXEN we set forth for the
whirlpool. The Indian instead of
striding along with quick elastic
step, walked at slow measured pace,
but with great dignity of carriage
We had proceeded about hundred
yards when he began wild melan-
choly chant, in his native tongue;
and it was then, for the first time the
horrid idea flashed across my mind,
that he was about to immediate him
self. Good God! and was to wit
ness the appalling ceremony, in the
wilderness, from which it seemed inn
possible, utterly impossible, could
ever extricate myself! What, then,
might be my own fate? To perish in
these woods, perhaps, by the slow tor
ture Of famine, or fall prey to some
savage animal OR noxious reptile.
! We arrived at small stage on
which lay the body of the Indians
mother Here he stopped-ascended
its laid down his gun and hatchet,
took from me the buffalo hide, spread
i carefully by his mother, and placed
on the other side the earthern vessel
containing the bones of his father,
and the handful of ashes with whibh
was mingled the dust of his wife and
children. He next seated himself be-
tween them on the buffalo skin: and
surely, whatever else I may forget
in this world, while l remember
any thing, I can never forget either
the sublime expression Of his coun-
tenance at that moment, or the horror
of his appearance, with the scalps
round his neck! For, now, by the
light which fell upon them, as l stood
beneath, l could distinguish the black
clotted blood that stiffened the hair at
the roots. Longer silence became
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; that which
had hitherto kept me silent-my own
safety-now with an equally irresisti-
bic impulse stirring me to speech.
"Itis not your own DEATH" I Iexclaim-
ed, "that you cali your last sacrificed"
He smiled; but made no answer.
''In mercy, then," I added, half
frantically, "destroy me first; for
here in this wilderness, must perish
when you are dead!"
He shook his head and pointed up
wards. "No!" said he. "Watch
the green leaves, and walk with the
wind. Speak no more. But when I
am in the spirit World, cover me with
the buffalo robe and go.''
| stood aghast, motionless, and
scarcely able to breathe, while the In
dian was as calm and unperturbed as
f if he were only laying down to sleep.
He now began again his funeral chant
or death song, in a low wailing tone,
; so full of mournful expression, that
though there was something monoton-
ons in its character, it brought tears
: into my eyes; But, as it grew louder
e and bolder, from the animating theme
: the deeds OF prowess he had per
9 formed, and the white men he had
y slain,-till at last, it swelled into q
!, terrific yell, as he recounted the death
: Of his fathers murderer, which echoed
f through the surrouning solitude like
1 trishtiul howlings, my blood seemed
/, to chill and curdle. Hitherto he had
n spoken in language unknown to me
r and l only Judged of import from tht
e expressive sympathy of his features
# But suddenly he stopped; and then
] in a gentle, murmuring voice, resumed
- his dirge in English.
n Il am the last of my race! I an
e the last of my race! The life-streau
1t that fills my veins is like the rivel
= that goes to the ocean and is lost!
l had father, had mother; I hat
t; wife, l had children. l have nj
e father. have no mother; l have NJ
d wife, have no chrildren. l am tn.
j last of my race. / have no kindred
n The white man came, who slew my
f, father, and the fathers of my father
L; The white man came. he burned my
to cabin on the Lake of the Thousant
it Islands! l brought the wild dee