The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-01

bewilderment. And no wonder, fol
we ourselves felt no less astonish
ment. We could not account for it
We were as much stupefed as the In
dams themselves.
After this Grignon calmly drew
foi tn six or eight more pistols, anC
number of cartridges, and finally
a carbine.
/" I'm the medicine man" said he
solemnly.
The Indians said not a word.
"Do you want to fire again, saii
he, and he offered the pistols to the
Indians.
They all shrunk back in horror.
Grignon tossed the pistols, car.
tridges and carbine over to us, and
smiled benignantly on the aston
ished savages.
He then shook his hand. A knife
fell out of the palm, another fol,
lowed, and another. He shook three
more out of his left hand, and drew
a score or so out of his ears.
=" Perhaps you would like some
thing to drink ?" said he, smilingly,
to the Indian who spoke English.
The savage Looked at him suspi,
ciously.
"What'll you have? Rum,
brandy, gin, whisky, ale, porter,
wine or cider %
The Indian Frightened up, and
spoke to his fellows. They all pre-
ferred whisky.
.Grignon asked the Indian to lend
him a loose blanket which he wore.
The Indian took it off doubtfully.
Grignon shook it bottle rolled
out. He shook it again /; glass
rolled out. He shook it a third time !;
nine more tumblers fell out. Finals
ly, he shook it again corkscrew
tumbled down.
" VIII you take it straight, or with
water ?" asked Grignon, as he pros
ceeded to unscrow the cork.
The Indian said nothing.
" Isn't that good whisky ?" asked
GrignOn, as he poured out a glass.
The Indian smelled it suspiciously.
Then he tasted it. The taste was
enough. He drank it all off, smacked
his lips, looked around triumphantly
on his companions, and. then - held
out his glass for more. At this, all
the other Indians encouraged by this
experience, clamored for some.
Grignon poured away from his bot
tie. Each one drank and wanted
more. Grignon was quite willing to
pour. He was not forgetful, howev-
er, of the duties of hospitality. He
walked off to the Indians who were
holding the horses, who had been
watching the scene in stupefaction,
and offered some to them. The
smell of the whisky was enough for
them. They drank and wanted more.
But Grignon shook his head.
"Not now" he said to the spokes-
man, 'I'll give you a bottle apiece
to carry home with you" And 90.
ing up to the blanket, he shook out
a dozen bottles of the same kind as
the last.
By this time the Indians were in
the .jolliest mood conceivable.
"Before I give you any more, +"
said he, "let me make you so that
you will not get drunk
He walked up to the first Indian,
and took his hands in each of his,
and looked at him steadfastly in the
eyes for some time. Then he stroked
his brows and left him; this he did
to each. The Indians had got over
all suspicion, and merely expected
that something good was coming.
So they allowed him to do as he
chose.
Grignon then stood off little dis
lance, and in loud voice ordered
them all to look at him. Whether
they understood or not, made no
difference. They certainly all did
look at him.
1 had seen plenty of experiments
in mesmerism and electroebiology,
so that the present scene did not sur4
prise me so much as it did'm cons
panions and the other Indians.
Grignon simply stood at q dis
lance, waving his arms at times, and
giving words of command. Every
word was obeyed.
First they all began to dance.
Then they all knelt down. .
Then they touched hands, and
could not sever themselves from one
another's contact. The Indians
suddenly rushed wildly around, with
the others all joined to them, trying
to free themselves, but utterly unan
BILE, yelling and bowling like wild
beasts.
At last shout from Grignon, the
charm was dispelled. They sprang
back from one another and stood
motionless, like so many statues.
Suddenly they all began to SILVER,
as though they were suffering from
intense cold. They gathered their
blankets closely around them, their
teeth chattering, and every limb
trembling.
In an instant they were painting
as though suffering from extreme
heat, drawing difficult breaths, gasp
ing and fiinging off those blankets
which but moment before they had
wrapped so tightly about them.
This then passed.
They began to bark like dogs.
They went down on all tours, and
evidently imagined that they were of
the canine species.