The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-07-25

eN II quickly, smoked 4 teW moments
without conversation, and then reticently
mounted our ponies.
On arriving at the. designated battle
ground, we found several hundred Osages
awaiting us, all armed and painted, and
most Of them entirely naked with the ex7
ception OF breech-clouts Two lanees
We're stuck into the turf about ten feet
apart-theSe indicated the positions of the
combatants. +
We were received with neither friendly
nor ahoStile demonstrations. = As soon as
we ~dismonnted, Texican. rifle in hand,
walked calmly forward to the nearest
lance. .and halted. In few moments a
tail young brave stepped out otsthe crowd
and stalked proudly up to the other. |
was. .apppinted TO give the necessary sig-
mails.
In order to disturb their accuracy of aim
rs little aS possible, | was requested TO
stand halfway between them. and two
PAGES back from the line OF fire. There
was no danger Of being hit by such marks
men as they were. In my right hand |
held lance. from the point of which
dangled a red flannel streamer. When |
raised it, they were to aim. and when /
| lowered it they We're to fire
And then we waited for Red Cloud, the
chief of the tribe 1t was an impressive
scene. Texican leaned his. shaggy chin
upon his hands, on the muzzle of his long
rifle, and with a gleanf Of malicious tri-
umph glared tercely across his foe. He
was reckless of his own life, and felt sure
of his prey. for his aim was death.
The young Indian seemed to read his
thoughts but standing erect, with a grace
| fuland careless Indifference, gazed dream
ilv off to the sonthward, where the long
blue lines Of timber were lost in the misty
beauty OF the horizon. His eyes soon
sottened with a tinge of pensivesess. Was
he thinking of the happy hunting grounds?
The other four members of our party
stood in a cluster little to the left of Tex
lean. and narrowly watched all that tran
spired, for the American savage is pro-
verbally treacherous.
Presently Red Cloud emerged from a
rnfa lodge near by, and, clad in a robe
ot fm's moved with stately presence to the
front line of his people. With Il dignip,l
wave of his hand he signied his pleasure
that the tragedy should begin
Each principal recalled his thou ghts.
examine the tube of his rifle. and nodded
to me. | raised the lance-they stprnly
took aim. lowered the lance quickly
and two sharp reports nstantaneously
followed. The Young warrior sprung
wildly into the air, flung his weapon fully
twenty feet away, and dropped dead at
hi, post. The bullet had crashed through
his brains. TeXican thudded the butt of
the rifle on the ground, and gave vent to
a hoarse mocking and half-demoniac cry
Gt Sn b., +,;n 4
steady himself with his weapon but star-
gered helplcSsIy backward.
lIerndon and Indiana rant and caught
him in their arms. His red shirt dcepened
in hue and a dreadful alarm seized lis.
Still he laughed hoarsely, and tried 10
point to the motionleSs corpse of our ad-
verStrN.
We hurriedly gathered around him, and
tenderly As children Laid him down upon
the soft green grass Tearing open his
shirt w" found bright scarlet spot on his
lett breast close to his heart.
None of us were vcrscI in surgery.
We could not state in scientific terms inst
what veins and ligaturpS had been sever
ed but we knew by the location Of the
wound, and by his parche,l lips and pal
lid counlenancr that death was upon him.
"lt'~ all day with me, boys" he family
said. for he was growing weaker every
moment, "hni Eve paid 'em handsomely
for it. Give my rifle to Colton-I always
liked him.
We bent oyer the poor fellow with words
OF sympathy for his pain and praise lur
his Vtlor, and our enemies might have
Shot Us all down without our knowing it.
But it was OF no use l[is breath quickly
came and went. "Water," AT length he
groanrd. We had none, and there was
not II brook within half mile An In
dian girl understood our want, ran to the
lodge, and in It moment returned with 4
sknlul. We placed the cooling fluid to
his burning lips and he took a long
draught, but it choked him and he vomit-
ed up - pint OF bright crimson blood. We
had seen too many men perish not to know
by this the lead had penetrated his vitals
He was bleeding internally.
AS soon as he could clear his throat to
speak, he said feebly and almost breath
lessly, ''Don't try to revenge me, boys
Honor bright. They have done the fair
thing with us, and You act the man with
them. You're to cross the river and I'll
-Don't t forget the Texican"
The last of these words were rendered
almost nnintelligible by the blood that
ghrgled up in his throat. A film seemedto
gather oyer his eyes. ''Where are my
friends? Don't leave me to die alone,
boys" he moaned, clutching blindly at us
We're with you to the last, old friend
answered Cotton, grasping his right
hand. | caught the other. We may have
been a ftint-healted lot, but there was not
an undimmed eye among us. Soon he
groaned almost inaudihly, a shudder pass
ed over him, and he was dead. .f
Even the stony hearted barbarians SEEM
ed touched by the distresstu incidents of
this sanguinary affair Few of them
could speak even broken English; but
such as could advanced toward US, and
us that their champion had expected to
die, and they urged that it would be fit
ting to entomb two such men together.
We received their strangely chivalrods
proposal with Il magnanimity equal to
their own. With spears and tomahawks
they eXcavated q. grave, and, wrapping
the combatants in the rich tnrs of the
chieftain, we laid them down to rest side
by side-friend and foe alike lamented.
Then hchping a great pile of stones above
them, to battle the efforts of prowling
wolves, we fired volley in the air, and
with aching hearts departed. And there
they slumber still. One died for his friends
and the other lor the honor of his tribe.
The wisttu Summer winds Sigh sad
requiem above the spot of their long re
pose the wild flowers blossom in vernal
prottsion around it, anl the showers of
heaven imparlially descend upon the soft
verdure that enshrines it.
A Masonic Incident.