Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-05-07


one had fed and ever since Mamiskogahjhe
had prowled through the woods, gnashing
his teeth and seeking him everywhere. The
missing Indian had shrouded himself in every
sort of disguise, but all to no purpose,
said the stranger sayagely, ''for Mamisko-
gahjhe slays every Indian he meets, 50 that
that villain must fall beneath his knife at
/ last
When | got over the novelty of the straDg
er's excited manner and cleaning eye, | be
came somewhat weary of his Indian hyper
bole; but Shegashie listened to every WORD
with breathless attention. | was l0ung'na
beside the fire, more asleep than awake, when
was aroused by the stranger abruptly de
manding of my guide if he had ever seen thir
redoubtable brave. the Greatred-nailed Bear,
to which the young Indian replied in the neg
ative.
Liar - thundered the savage, sprngins
to his feet. II am Mamiskogahjhe - and
in a moment he stabbed my companion in the
chest
sprang upon him in an instant and seized
his right arm which. by violent effort, he
succeeded in disengaging. lie aimed dead
and drew my own With yell at his dis
appointment, he began to draw his toma
hawk from his belt with the view Of hurling
it at my head; but darted upon him, pin
ioning his arms. His feet gave way, and We
both rolled together on the snow. \ strug
/ gle for life between US succeeded. The In
dian kept making little digs at me with hi-
knife. but could not get purchase enough t.
, a.. Z inf.
slight wounds upon me. He rolled over witt
me, hoping 70 get me undermost bat al
wavs rolled farther than be wished, and g1
on the upper side again. vt length lost
I patience and, still holding his right arm
/ tightly down. | loosencd the hand which held
my knife. But. quick as thought Mlmisko-
I gahihe changed his knife with his left hand
also Then commenced another rolling and
tearing struggle more like that Of tigers than
of men, for my foe assailed me with lis teeth
We stabbed at each other wildly, and many
a wound | gave and received. At length the
Indian relaxed his hold, fell back and rose
victorious.
My first thought now, after feryent pray
er for my deliyrrance, was for my poor guide
/ found that, though desperately wounded anc
/ bleeding proiusely, he was not dead.
bound up his wounds as | best could, ana
{ placed him on bis bed. Nv own wounds.
I though numerous, were mar}eilously slight.
more cuts than stabs, and even those my
/ thick clothing had prevented from doing
much damage. dressed them and heapiug
more wood on the fire, sat down beside il to
watch my poor Shegashie The next morn
/ Ing Shcsashic was SO weak from loss Of blood
that each moment | expected To see him pas
away. and leave me alone in the woods
die in my turn. now bitterly regretted
that had ever entered On this disastrous en-
| terprise. However, there ! was, and | bad
nothing for but TO make the best oft; 90
set to work, buried my dead enemy in a snow
bank. collected wood, shot 81 hare, dressed lt
and returned to nay sad task Of watching nay
wounded guide.
At the end Of ten days. despite every al
/ verse circumstance. Shegashie was grca'
deal better Vet it was evident to both Of u-
that it would be long time before Le could
travel The poor fellow earnestly eutreatei
me not to stay with him. her t. leave him g,
bis fate. and be directed me in t.- ri-t,
way t. pursue my journey. would Not
I nave deserted an enemy thus, much less one
I with whom ! bad faced slrrow. danger, and
death. Yet powder and shot We're rapidly
I failing After much cogitatian, ! took all
Z the spare snow shoes. and by the aId ol
/ bearsSin. succeeded in making sleigh caia-
BE of holding Shega-hie very comfortably. as
well as all our belongings. ] rose proudly
the next morning, and, placing my c9mpaH-
Jon in the sleigh, recommended my i1gr
1 ney.
1t was weary work to drag that clumsy
sleigh. the wasted Indian looking out now
and then % direct me on our way. was
often obliged to make long det1urs 90 avoid
thicket, and places where the trees grew t1J
/ close to admit my sleigh between them
/ N hen dav was done. | had Jhe iuc. o. collect
the fire o. make. shelter o. prepare. Sle-lslie
+ TO move. his wounds To dress, and llea the
[ game TO cook which had killed during the
/ day. Many q time ! thought | should he
obliged t, give upthe struggle. When Day
/ down 10 rest was sometimes SD tired that Z
could not have resisted another Mamiskorih-
iie had be come to end the work the first one
bad begun and when morning had reap
pcareI. ! recommended my tugLing and
dragging with arms 50 weary taat ! did ult
care IL another snowstorm came and sent U-
20 sleep TIL the great day of the awaken
inE.
I
was compelled to % on from day To day en-
acting by turns the parts of horse. t1raser
Grcmaker, cook, builder, and nurse. 1T
length l became 20 exhausted, that one
morning. though it was scarcely midday.
began to look about Inc flI % suitable place 90
encamp for the remainder Of the lay and
night, hoping, after such rest. to start
lresher on the following morning. Sudden
..r..- q.
the trees at a short distance. caught NY eye.
and, turning of from our route, ! made the
best Of my way towards it. Ii rose from the
hut Of a newly-aUived settler. The man
gave us a hearty welcome, and We slept be
meath roof for the first time for consiiera-
blv more than a month. The next day BE
put his horse to his wood train, and in two
days more brought Us TO headquarters-less,
believe, from the reward promised, thar
from pity for our worn and miserable con
dition.
The time appointed for the trial was now
nearly three weeks past, and did not doubt
that it was over. But the severe illness of
the accused again deferred it,. The proceed
ings were only now coming 10 a close. So
far they left on the minds of all who witness
ed them, but one impression-that my poor
TREND military career was ended. sudden
ly | entered the court, attired in my worn
out rags, my face haggard, my eyes indamed,
my swollen feet hobbling awkwarily on the
floor
Order restored, my testimony was received
with the greatest attention, and Lowther was
acquitted with honor.
Poor Shegashe When the spring came
he left me, and returned by schooner TO
Green Snake river whence, accompanied by
his relatives, he travelled down 10 the scene
Of his only brothers death. They dug q
deep grave for Chingoos, and laid him in it
on the spot where his life had departed.
But Shegashie never more returned to his ma
tive village. Parting from his relatives at the .
grave he returned 70 me, and remained with
me-a gentle, unobtrusiye, faithful friend
until consumption, the bane of his race, took
him from me a few years ago.
,f-sT' sIrs