The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-01


Come, you old painted brute, ! dare you to a far,
stand up fight, and no rifles sgween us, and the
best man gets a scalp and luck. But, bah!
what's the use o'talking? for i arn't in you to
understand anything like hunsn language, and
it 'ud be worse nor a seven yer agur for sich as
me to break my jaws over gioterish that no sensl-
BILE human ever did know ANYTHING about
While Adam was thus giving vent TO his rage
and contempt, he was not idle; but with bis per-
son all concealed except his head, his hands was
actively engaged in putting new charge into
his rife. He had succeeded in getting III the
powder, and was in the act Of namming home the
ball, when the Indian, who had up to this time
apparently remained mmovea5le, aud who, per
haps, from some slight but peceptible motion OF
his enemy's head had coniectured what he was
doing-suddenly uttered a short, shriA "hoop
and disappeared.
Only one minute more greasy, and ther d
been another dead carcass for the buzzardS =
muttercd Adam, az aware ct lis osn dangerous
exposure he suddenly ducked hishead and crawl
ed stealthy among the stems Of the bushes away
from the spot he had occupied for fear a ven
ture shot Of the savage might chance to strike
him. And then, as he reprimed his piece, keep
ing as wary a watch the while as his situation
would permit, he added. Now fer it; it's
Thinking It the most prudent course to main
tain his conceaIment for the present, in case the
savage whom he fancied would not leave the
vicinity, should attempt to steal upon his retreat.
Adam again stretched himself upon the ground,
and for something like an honrliStened keenly to
every sound, and sharply watched the motion OF
every leaf around and above him. to be certain
it was stirred by the breeze, and not by his foe
Then finding his time was likely to be wasted,
and fearing the savage might escape him after al
he resolved upon venture of exploration into
the retreat Of his enemy, though not with that
c4reess haste whiclImight give the other the ad-
vantage he had himself hoped to gain.
With the greatest caution, therefore, and bya
sinuous snake-ke motion, SO that no movement
of the bushes above him would indicate lis course
he worked his body up the rayne and over the
the top of the idge; and then gliding into the
thick wood on the other side he SCI off more bold
ly on a circu nus route, intending to cross the
stream some distance above, and CO." up care
fully behind the point where he had es. led the
savage
Now itso chanced that lere was a very singu-
larand remarkable train o. Ecoincidcrfces, formed
by the same thoughts and ,tssires actuating these
tv human beings at the same time; for both had
stolen to their different coucealmants together
and together cspied the deer, had fred together
bad examined each other Ia Al ike manner, had
both disappeared together, and waited and watch
&c for each other and acl4bad actt4lly set off to
circumvent the other 1T the sane 9aonv5t e &J;h
goingup the stream; whfeas if to put cIa.x
to the whole, both came 3ut face TO face on OPP
posite sides Of the narrow river, with distance
ofless than thirty yards dividing them; wHea,
tI4siciz rs Ii5flts4IiI55, iJuU5f7 1T
ouSIv raised and fired, there being as before a
c1fapy1 M
tyinge in his right arm, and saw the savage sud
denly press his hand to his right breast; and ihe
next monlont these brave, nndaunted men, with
loud wells Of rage and Defiance were rushing to-
ward each other for a mortal hand to-hand COM
bat
Casting their pieces aside, they met in the MID
die Of the stream which was here shallow rush
ing, foaming and gurglng over stony bed; and
had there been a spectator conscious OF all that
had occurred he would have considered their IN
dividual chance of life about equal-for the In
dian WAS 4 large athletic fellow, supple and ac-
tive. strong and determined, and both were actu-
ated with mutual Gate and fierce desire for
victory.
With their knives cleaning, they met, as re-
corded and for few moments there was flash
ipg>and clashing Of steel as both struck and
narried with something of the skill OF two masters
of fence. But fight like this, at such close
quarters and with such short weapons, could moi
long continue without some serious wounds OF
one side or both and with quick and sudder
blow Adam succeeded in giving his adversary {
foarfl cash across the breast followed by another
which nearly severed the teudons OF The left arm
! With howl of rage and pain the savage startet
back a pace, the blood flowing profusey; an,
then measuring his already painting antagonis
| with quick glance oflis eagle eye, he suddenl.
/ bounded forward, with fearful lunge for hi
heart. The old hunter, though in measure pre-
pared for this, could not altogether avoid tn
tbrust; but he so quickly turned as to receiv
tha wound in his right side, at the same tim
nIunoiuo his own knife half way to the hi!t i
| the back of his foe, barely missing the vertebra
which would have terminated the contest in hi
favor.
Too highly wrought up by a fierce aud gengefs
axcitpn1ert. and too eager for the finishing str0k
~ oivea proper hee1 to defense, both combatant
! hadIy wounded, covered with blood, painting 70
breath and with fading strength, but with elarin
nves and cnashing teeth, now struck fest an
fnrionsly each blow telling with fearful effee
rno,, the other At length their knives met i
snch a manner that both dropped from their hand
torother: and then they cIinched, swayed to all
fro like intoxicated men, and fell, and rolled oVt
and over in the water upon the protrudlng stone;
looked in each others embrace knotted together
and each struggling to be uppernost and strangl
or drown his antagonist
Il was still fearful and desperate fight, an
was continued in the manner described forsou
fve minutes during which no one could 4
told who woald eventually be the victor. {
Al last Adam, in rolling under the Ib99!if5
the sixth or eighth time, perceived that ch2l
providence had brought him back to the vel
snot where he had lost his knife; and bethinkin
biH,sef Of this, he by a desperate exertion r
+ leased one Of his hands, and placed it partial
5 beneath him, in hopes Of getting hold of tt
weapon. TO his uubounded delight, the attem
: nroTed successful; and the next moment, wi
his remaining strength, he was actively plungil
: il with rapid thrusts, into the back and sides