Nebraska advertiser., 1864-07-07

gals, but er old hunter laughs a. yer for
yer troble."
A growl Of anger burst from the bps
Of the warriors, and the places of the
boys were instantly filed by them armed
with keen-edged knives and glittering
tOmahawks. Sill the prisoner felt that
he was safe, except from some unlucky
blow-some misdireCsed weapon; for it
was the pride Of all to throw as near as
hPossisle 10 the victim without iaiuring
him, and be who drew blood or inflicted a
wound was secuted at and even rebuked.
But the play was becoming earnest. The
slender knives flashed through the sun
light, and struck quivering in the post,
and the tomahawks buried themselves
deeply in the wood, or tore off huge
splinters. Still lie Sueur stood firm,
knowing that it was his only chance for
safety, though it required a wonderful
command Of nerve 10 do So Many min
utes had be remained thus, when knife
less dexterously thrown than the others.
cut the thongs that bound his hands
The blood flowed in a stream from one
of his arms that had been wounded, and
the knife stuck deep and qpiVering in the
flesh: but sitting the heart.pang it created
the dauntless trapper folded his arms
without removing the weapon, and smiled
g1imly around, while a mocking laugh
burst from his lips,
"Hi-yi-yi! Hi-yi-yi !exclaimed the In
disns. completely thrown off their guard
and surprised from their usual stoical de-
meanOr by this unexpected exhibition Of
bravery.
"Shoot away, yer heathens! Did
yer never see er man erfors, ye imps of
Satan :" howled back the trapper; but
the swift-fying weapons cut his speach
short, and it required all bis command to
stand firm.
A chosen few of the most skillful hun:
ters had taken the places Of the others,
and the keen-cutting and death-dealing
weapons were stuck into the post thick
as porcupine quilts. So eager were they
to outdo each other, that more than one
had pierced the skin, pinning legs, arms
and even head firmly, as if nailed there,
inhicting exquisite pain without in the
least endangering life. Intenily was
his every motion watched to discover
signs of fear or pain; but the weather.
bronzed features of LIE Sueur gave no to.
ken. Bafled in this, they tired of their
inhuman sport and fell back in sulIen an
ger.
This moment of comparative freedom
was not lost by the captive, Death he
knew would be the end, but should it
come to him unresisting T? Should he die
without struggle, calm and unrevenged
Idle as a lamb in a slaughter-pen {?
Made of sterner stuff, and taught to look
upon an Indian as but one remove from
a beast, retaliation was as natural as
breath to him, and blood for blood" was
an immutable law. Seeing his torturers
thus idle and cast down, be suddenly
drew the knife from his arm, cut the
thongs from his feet, and stepped boldly
towards the astOnished warriors.
"NOw, ye bloOd-thirsty DEVILS" he ex-
claimed, waving the knife in hisbleeding
arm. ''jest send yer brave st along, and
I'll soon show him how . white man can
fight )"
A hundred arrows were fitted to the
string, the bows strained TO the utmost in
an instant, ard his taunt would soon have
made him a target, had not the great
chief. Leaping Thunder, interfered.
"No warrior of the Ojibways crosses
weapons with the paIe-face' ~ he said.
"Then yer a pack of towards, that's
all" replied LIE Suer, looking cautiously
around him to discover some weak part
in the circle, through which he might
force a way with a chance of success.
No answer was returned; but he saw
the Gordon of dark forms rapidly con-
tracing, and felt that he would soon
again be overpowered, and completely at
their mercy. A rapid glance--a shout,
loud, ringing and clear as the clang of a
sharp toned bell-and he threw himself
upon them, dashed down the nearest.
plunging the knife hilt deep in his broad,
uncovered bosom. The savage fell with
deep grOan, but bis fingers had fasten'
ed firmly in the strong buckskin hunting,
shirt of the trapper, and he dragged him
with him to the ground, Strong as were
his efforts, giant as was the strength hs
put forth to free himself-it was all in
vain. He was clulched in the unyielding
grasp of death, and before he could In
he least recover himself, was pIniOned
in the arms of a dozen hrawny savages,
infuriated at the probably fatal wound Of
one of their number, bound ten times