The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-11-27

of the Savages. Ha
After long night, which seemed in
terminable, morning dawned. As the
light Illuminated the wide plain we
looked around anxiously for our enc
mics, but saw none whatever. We took
n hasty breakfast. and then deliberated
on what we ought to do, whether to
take advantage Of this respite and move
on, or wait for time. Most of us
thought we had better hurry on; but
Grignon gave it as his opinion that the
Indians we're yet in the neighborhood,
and were waiting to attack us on the
march. He thought that it would be
better to wait at least another day.
We all yielded to his opinion, and wait
ed as we best could. u
We did not have to wait long.
A fter fcw hours, at about ten o.
clock, ten or dozen horsemen appear
ed over hillock in the distance riding
slowly toward us.
"They wished to have parley," said
Grignon. .sSome of yeu step forth. and
see what they want i wish to have a
little to say, but will wait"
One of our men was selected, and
went outside Of OH inclosure to meet
them.
Meanwhile Grignon lifted trunk out
of the wagon which belonged to him, /,
drew it outside, and busted himslfeool-
ly in arranging and turning over the
things, We all thought that this was
done for the purpose of assuming an air
of indifference. So none of us noticed
him particularly. m
Our representative stood outside
waiting for the Indians. Ten of them
dismounted, aud walked toward us in a
friendly manner, while the rest held
the horses.
One of them addressed our man in
broken English. es,...-5a .n6I
The Indians, he said, did not want
our lives. They wanted powder. If
we would give them what we had they
would let us go in safety, and protect
us from other tribes till we got beyond
the Plains.
Give them our powder! A pleasant
request. 1t scarcely needed debate
We refused. r5 RI
We'll, then, would we give them our
bullets? They were very much in want
of bullets.
One of us said in a low voice that bull
lets were the only thing they would
get from us, but the Indians did not
hear him. Our representative refused
very mildly. ..5.5ri
The Indians now stood talking with
one another, and Grignon advanced to-
wards them. He whispered something
in a low voice to our representative,
who withdrew. Ssl.,.5 .54
Grignon then stood facing the In
dians.
..Are you tie Captain?" said the
spokesman of the indians, suddenly, as
he noticed Grignon. W
"No, I'm the medicine-man; y0u can't
shoot these men, or horses; save
them" - ~
The Indian translated this to his COM
panions, who bnrst into roars OF laugh
ter.
Grignon advanced more closely. He
was looking steadily at the Indian, and
we noticed that the latter appeared to
be uncomfortable Under his gaze.
"See," said Grign0n, ''you can't shoot
me. Here"-and he drew pistol from
his pocket, revolver-'fire ut me-
The Indian smiled.
"You don't want me to kill you? 2"
said he, scorntully,
"YOu can't"
The Indians eye flashed,
"Shoot !'cried GrigTon, folding his
arms.
The Indian hesitated a moment. He
looked az us suspciously. Then he
lookedat his companions and said some-
thing in their language. They all re-
sponded yehementfy.
The Indian took aim.
"You tell me to shoot" said he.
s.Shoot I" cried Grignon again.
The Indian fired.
Grignou smiled, and, walking for
ward to the Indian, he handed him a
bullet.
The Indians looked paralyzed.
Grignon showed him how to fire it
again.
The Indian fired the other five shots.
Grgnon caught each bullet, some
times seeming to catch it from his
breast, sometimes from his face, and
each time he handed 1t to the Indian.
The other Indians were now in a state
Of wild excitement.
s'They may all shoot if they choose"
said Grignon, and saying this, he went
to his trunk, drew out nine pistols, and
coming up to them proceeded to load
each one. lie took the powder and put
it in. then the wadding and bullet, and
the Indians saw him do it. lie handed
pistol to each OIL loading it. Sudden
ly one OF these fellows took aim and
fired. Grignon, without seeming to
have noticed him, raised his hand and
seemed to catch bullet from his fore
head. He tossed this toward the In
dian, who picked it up with an air of
stupelaction.
Their he stood of, and told all the
rest to fire.
Eight reports sounded in rapid sue
cession. 1a sr la.
Grignon took off his hat and walked
up to the Indians. To their amaze
ment eight bullets were in his hat. =
Each man took one and looked at it in
wonder. JgH
'.Do you want to fire again ?" asked
Grign0n.
They all ex .'ressed wish to do SO.
SWELL, hand me the pistols"
TO their amazement the pistols were
gone. .r.t a
: They looked at one another in won
der. rr.rtEa rrfrffetrw
"You see," said Grignon, "they fired
the pistols at me too; and l swallowed
them" rHfH L-f1fE fr+.
"Swallowcd them - faltered the In
companions. r
"Yes; do you want them?"
The Indian nodded. M
Whereupon Grignon opened his
mouth. and rolling back his eyes, he in
serted his fingers and drew a pistol ap-
parently from his throat. Another fol-
lowed. Then he drew forth third,
then fourth, and so on until lie had
drawn forth eight pistols from his throat
while the Indians stood looking on in
utter bewilderment. And no wonder,
Tor we ourselves felt no less astonish-
ment. We could not account for it; we
We're as much stupeiied as the Indians
themselves, u. sf4a
After tais Grignon calmly drew six
or eight more pistols, then number of