The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-03-22

deputied to draw for us; whoever
name was on the slip he picked OF
was to be our champion. He DIRE
his o,D,a. ----.l
"It's all right, boys" said he, whe
the result was ascertained. "Yo
couldn't please me Eetter.' Farthe
than this he said nothing
Then ensued q long and awkwar,
silence, for we all had our misgivings
When dinner was ready we dis
patched it quickly, smoked a feW
moments without conversation, anC
then reticently mounted our ponies.
I On arriving at the deignated bat
tle-ground we found several hundred
Ossges awaiting US, all armed and
painted, and most of them entirely
naked with the exception of breech.
cloths. Two lances were stuck into
the turf about ten PAGES apart--these
indicated the positions of the com
batants. We were received with
neither friendship nor hostile demon,
stl ations. AS soon as we dismount-
ed, Texicsn, rife ia hard, walked
calmly forward TO the nearest lance
and halted. In a few moments a
tall young brave stepped out of the
crowd and stalked proudly up to the
other. l was appointed to give the
necessary signals In order to dis
turb the accuracy of aim as little as
possible, l was ordered to stand half
way between them, and two PAGES
back from the line of fire. There
was no danger of being hit by such
marksmen as they were In my
right hand l held lance, from the
point of which dangled red flannel
streamer I; when 1 raised it they were
70 aim, and when l lowered it they
we're 20 fire. - I'd
And then we waited for Red Cloud,
the chief OF the tribe. 1t was an i'm
pressive scene. Texican leaned his
shaggy chin apOn his hands, on the
muzzle OF his long rife, and with a
CLEAN OF malicious triumph glared
fiercely across at his foe. He was
reckless of his own lite and felt sure
of his prey, for his aim was death.
The young Indian seemed to read
his thoughts: but standing erect,
with a graceful and careless indiffer-
ence, gszed dreamily off to the south
ward, where the long blue lines OF
timber were lost In the misty beauty
OF the horizon. His eyes soon soft
ened with tinge of peEsive sadness.
Was he thinking OF the happy hunt
ing grounds The other four MEM
bers of our party stood in a cluster a
little 20 the lett of Texican, and mar
rowly watched all that transpired, for
the American savage is proyerbislly
treacherous. -..- -.-..-.
Presently Red Cloud emerged from
rude lodge near by, and clad in a
long robe OF furs, moved with a
stately presence to the front line Of
his people. With dignified wave
of his hand, he signifed his pleasure
that the tragedy should begin. Each
principal recalled his thoughts, ex-
amined the tube of his rifle, and nod
ded to me. / raised the lance, they
sternly took aim. I lowered the
lance quickly, and two sharp reports
followed.
The young warrior sprang wildly
in the air, flung his weapon fully
twenty feet away, and dropped dead
at his post. The bullet had crashed
through the brain. Texican thudded
the butt of his rifle on the ground, I
and gave vent to hoarse, mocking
and half demoniac cry of triumph
and revenge then he tried to steady
himself with his weapon, but stag
gered helplessly backyard. Hern-
don and Indiana ran up, and caught
him in their arms. His red shirt
rapidly deepened in hue, and dread
fui alarm seized US. Still he laughed
boarsely, ard tried to point to the
motionless corpse of his adversary
We hurriedly gathered around him,
and tenderly as children lsid him
down upon the soft green grass.
Tearing open his shirt, We found a
bright scarlet spot on his left breast,
close to his heart. None of US were
versed in surgery; we could not state
in scientific terms just what particu-
lar veins and ligaments had been
severed, but we knew by the location
of the wound, and by his psrched
lips and pallid couutenance, that
desth was upon him.
"Irs all day with me, boys" he
family said, for he was growing
much weaker every moment; "but
Pve paid him handsomely for it.
Give my rifle to Colton--I always
liked him. ..
We bent over the poor fellow with
words OF sympathy for his pain and
praise for his valor, and our enemies
might have shot us all down without
our knowing it. But it was of no use.
His breath quickly came and went
"Water," st length he groaned. We
had none and there was no brook
within half a mile. An Indian girl
comprehended our want, ran to the
lodge, and in q moment returned with
a skinful. We placed the cooling fiu-
id to his burning lips, and he took a
long drsught, but it choked him, and
he vomited up a handful Of bright,
crimson blood. We had seen too
many men perish not to know by this
that 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 breathless-
ly:
"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 Pill. Don't forget the
Texlcan.'' The last OF the words were
rendered almost unintelligible by the
blood that gurgled up into his throat.
A film seemed to gather over his
eyes.
'"Where are my friends? Don't
leave me to die alone, boys,' be
moaned with a great effort, clutching