The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-02-18

wouia Drlhg lnstans deatn upon hlm, so
summoning to his assistance those quail
l.ies Of patienre fortilude, and cndur-
ancc, which had never deserted him
through life, he renewed his efforts,
finally reached the Indian village where
a halt was ordered, completely prostrat-
ed and unablNto proceed further. His
car tQ0rs sooR realized sense Of his
stupidity, and the question Of his dispo-
sition was paramount in their minds.
To release him nov would be to place
the settlers. upon their track. lie was
unable /" travel fluthor, and to make
him captive would involve delay, and
it was therefore determined that the
chi@f- ard tie warriors should assem-
i,le in council and decide upon his fate
A courier Mas accordingly despatched
to the Wigwams Of The warriors, and
the cornell was soon assembled which
was to decide upon the ultimate fate OF
old Joe.
Old Joe sat in the centre Of the group
upon the hide Of buffalo which had
been stretched upon the ground for his
accommodation, surrounded by the war.
'iors Of the various tribes, their eyes
glistening with demonlac fury, and
their faces bedaubed with the hideous
war paint, Big Thunder now arose to
address the council, and the eyes of,he
warriors present were stea1fastiy fixed
upon him. He was chief Of seventy
years, and though he slightly bent be-
meath the weight of time, he still pos
sesscd all the haugh,iness and dignity
OF a mighty warrior. His words.
though few, we're slowly ard impressive
y delivered, and were as follows:
"Warriors we have assembled to
talk together, and to decide upon the
fate of yonler pale face. Shall to-mor-
rows sun shine upon him free mar
returning to his people, or shall to tights
moon clinglc its rays with his scalp, as
it hangs upon he pole Of TIE wigwam
You shall decide. have spoken >
When he resumed his seat cry arose
''To the stake with him ~ "To the stake
with with him - "Death to the pale
face = Oyeechc, a veteran warrior
then arose and spoke AS follows:
"Warriors you cry death to the
pale face. As the mountain echoes to
the valley SO do l, Ogeechee, cry death
to the pale face. Warriors, listen to
my words, aud if they fall upon you
like an April shower, changing the cold
and barren winter Of vengeance into
the genial spring Of forgiveness, then
shal! Q O-eechee's heart rejoice. If The.
fall upon you like hail, making win,e,
more w,ntry, let them not chill you,
hearts against our captive. Warriors
when the prairies began to soften be
fore the smile offspring, set out upon
4 hunting expedition. The melting
SHOWS had swollen the mountain tor.
rents and deluged the valleys. My
route led me across .foaming torren,
which dashed along with the speed oi
the nntamcd steed In crossing my
foot slipped, and / was soon struggling
with the flying waters. ar,iors, m,
scars attes, my bravery, and I have Al
ways beaten my e,cmv | was con
quered by the maddened waters. I re.
memhered nothing more until | awok.
from my sleep in The lard Of the Grea'
Spirit, and found leaning over me tn,
form af Old .Io",' our prisoner. Bu
Tor him, pgeectec would have gone /,
the land OF the Great Spirit, and to tn,
happy hunting grounds, Ggeechee j,
her'-oll Joe is here. Ny life was hi,
/ his life is mine. Shall it be said tina,
Ogecchee was ungrateful Never :
Warriors, claim The life Of the cap
tive
When O-eechee resumed his sea,
amid painful silence, for his word,
had touched the Indian heart, perceiy
ing which. Panther, an inveterate enc,
my Of the white r.ce, arose, and ir
words Of fervid eloqncnce addressed
the council
"Warriors the words Of Ogeec chee
were Ike T. breath Of summer Mine
shall be like the blast q wine. TIL,
words OF Oseecheee fell upon you,
ears as gentle as the falling leaf upon
the softened earth. Mine shall be like
arrows, TO pierce your hearts. War.
riors, look arounl you. Bat at Y
moons back v, roamad through our
hunting grounds, undisturb ,d.-Now
our Great Father sent his pale faces