The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-08-24

self cOOlly in arranging and turning
over the things. We all thought thif
was done for the purpose of assuming
an air of indifference. So none of III
noticed him particularly.
Our representative stood outside
waiting for the Indians. Ten of them
dismounted, and walked toward us in 8
friendly manner, while the rest held
the horses.
One ofthem addressed our man il
broken English
The Indians, he said, did not want
our lives. They wanted powder. II
we would give them what we had,
/ they would letus so in safety, and pro-
tect us from other tribes till we got be-
yond the plains.
Give them our powder! a pleasant
request. 1t scarcely needed debate.
| We refused.
Well, then, would we give them OuI
| bullets? They were very much in
want of bullets.
/ One of us said in a low voice that
| bullets were the only thing tbey would
! get from us, but the Indians did not
! hear him. Our representative refused
very mildly.
/ The Indians now stood talking with
/ one another. GTign0n advanced to-
ward them. Ee whispered something
in low voice to our representative,
who Immediately withdrew.
GrignOn then stood facing the In
tdians.
care you the Captain? said the
| spokesman of the Indians, suddenly,
as he noticed Grignon.
''NO, Pm the medicine man, you
can't shoot these men nor these horses;
1 save Them"
The Indian translated this to his
companions, who burst into rOars of
laughter.
Grignon advanced more closely,
He was looking steadily at the Indian,
and we noticed the latter appeared to
be uncomfortable under his gaze.
HSee," said Grignon, 'yOu can't
shoot me. HereD-Rnd he drew a
pistol from his pocket,-a revolver
''fre at me-"
The Indian smiled.
"You don't want me to kill you"
said he, scOrnfully.
tYou can't"
The Indians eyes flashed.
The Indian hesitated moment.
He looked at us suspiciously. Then he
looked at his companions, and said
something in their language. They
all responded vehementIy.
The Indian took aim.
"You tell me to shOot?" said he,
"Shoot!' said Grignon again.
The Indian fired.
Grignon smiled, and walked for
ward to the Indian; he handed him q
bullet.
The Indian looked paralyzed.
Grignon showed him how to fire it
again.
The Indian fired the other five
shots.
Grignon caught each bullet, some
times seeming to catch it from his
breat, sometimes from his face, and
each time he handed it to the Indian.
The other Indians were now in q
state of wild excitement.
"They may ali shoot, ifthey choose"
said GrignOn, and saying this he
went to his trunk, drew out nine pis-
tolls, and coming. up to, them, pro-
sceeded to load each one: He took the
powder and put it in, then the Wad-
ding and bullet, and the Indians saw
him do it. He handed a pistol to
each ON loading it. Suddenly, one
of these fellows took aimI and fired.
Grignon, without seeming to have
noticed him, raised his hand and SEEM
ed to catch bullet from his forehead.
He tossed this toward the Indians,
who picked itup with an air OF stupe-
faction.
Then he stood aud told all the rest
to fire.
Eight reports sounded in rapid sue
cussion. -y III =
Grignon took up lIis hat and walk
ed up TO the Indians. To their amaze
ment eight bullets were in his hat.
snnfrnh OF in
wonder.
"Do you want to fire again?.' asked
Grignon.
They all expressed wish to do SO.
"Well, hand me the pistols"
To their amazement the pistols were
gone. They looked at one another in
wonder.
"You see," said Grignon, "they
fired the pistols at me too; and L
"SwaIlowed them?'' faItered the
Indian, and he told this to his aston
/ ed companions.
eyes, do you want them?"
The Indian nodded.
Whereupon GrignOn opened his
mouth, and, rolling back his eyes, he
4 inserted his fingers and drew 8 pistol
apparently from his throat. Another
followed, then he drew forth third,
then a fourth, and so on, until he had
drawn forth the eight pistols from his
throat, while the Indians stood look
ing on in utter beWilderment. And
no wonder, for we ourselves felt nc
less -astonishment. We could not ac-
, count for it; we were as much stupe.
fed as the Indians themselves.
After this Grignon calmly drew
forth six or eight more pistols, and g
number of cartridges, and finally 9
caIbine.
'pm the medicine man." said ht
Solemnly.
+ The Indians said not q word.
'Do you want TO fire again. saIC
+ he, and he offered the pistols to the
Indians. e-. GA -. 1
, GrignOnf tossed the pistols, cart
smiled benignantly on the astOnisheC
savages.
& He then shook his hand. seR e.
| a knife fell out of the palm, anOth
{ er followed, and another. He shOOl
E three more out Of his left hand, anC
drewa score or so out Ofhis ears.
:: Perhaps you would like something
| to drink?" said he smilingly, to th
: Indian who spoke English.
e The savage looked at him sUspi
: ciously.
''WhaRIl you have? Rum, brandy
q gin, whisky, ale, porter, wine o
s cider?O
|, The Indian frightened up, an
r spoke to his fellows. They all pre-
e ferTed whisky.
; Grignon asked the Indian to len
J, him q loose blanket which he wore
; The Indian took it of doubtfully
2. Grignon shook it; bottle rolled on
: He shook it again; glass rolled on