Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-08-15
o,e Bilt:%3Se 81 may bSatjem after

we'll stay .f'sS ;
This novel proposition suited,every
one. Herndon amended it by sug-
gesting that we should cast lots for
the II chsmp;i s,ship ana that tie fght ig 9a
should take place with rifles at-twen-
Fly PAGES. This was declared to be
getting the thing into shape, and,we
all cordially agreedto it, Ben arose
and motioned importantly to the en-
voy. That nude parsonage graNely
rode up, received our srepE with
stolid decorum and was oft Of sight
in a minute.
"We'd better load up in the mean-
time, boys" remarked Indiana; :" "fog
if it don't suit 'em, they'll be after
us in short order"
The idea was voted net bad.s ana
we not only charged our rifles and
revolvers, but flung our logs together
in such; a ,mannerras to! form aFsfy
efficient defence, if required. Hern-
don then kinal,d . fire, rrocured Wa
ter, and commenced cooking nAs dinner. Hgn!FE
In about twenty minutes the envoy
returned. sohS prepoaitionsaad met
with great favor, he briefly informed
us, but would not be. accepted unless
the distance was shortened to ten
PAGES. He also stated that the con-
test would be expected to, continue
until one Of the principals waakilled,
and that knives or tomahawks must
be affoxsddt5 bs& &disedssfteFtbe dis
charge Of the'rifles . -
"That' pretty close quarters boys, y
lcpmmented Ben. II got a slug once
I'm Just such timetable. But I
guess It's all right. though. They
know they ,ss ,eap:t shoot yith,as. Lets
give the. poor devils a chance" j."
To this we all ssssnted;s For9he
tomahawk provisios $esamdasnSl-
ing we knew the hrst hoS Ts6uh e.;
tie the matter one way oFthe otkerl
The messenger then went on to say
that the warriors of the'tube. 'wquld
be assembled to meet US in one hour
at the crest of ths Lofty eppenes,
which he pointed out to'us, about a
half mile distant1,;we to be pune
tually on HANG, andhs gaNoped sH
again. & & &c {
8 Next came the taA Of casting i6ts
for the post of perA,> W. began tp
realize that blood was to be shed. 1t
was a. solemn moment, for no one
could Spred,s he assultp of the ssa sa e.
counter. Indiana tore up one of his
mothers letters and plainly writing
each mans name upon one of the
slips, placed them al N "a hat to-
gether. Texican was then blindfold-
ed, and depused TO draw E@Aoever s
namewa onsshe sin he,pickeaeoqt'
was to be our champion. He dre'u
has oaela, s,,'ss..
cts all right, boys said he when
the result was ascertained. s"You
couldn't please me better" Further
than this he said nothing.
Then ensued a long and awkward
silence, for we all'hadoaafs mhgiivfngs.
When our dinner was ready we de-
.spatcRed it quickly, smoked few
moments without colivSSGlssasion,' 'Aand
then reticently mounted our ponies.
On arriving at the designated bat
tle-ground,, We found several ared
Osages awaiting lis, all armed and
painted, and most of them entirely
naked with the exception Of breech
clouts. Two 1ances we're Stuck into
the turf about ten feet apart7these
indicated the positions Of the COIN
batants.
We were received with neither
friendly nor hostile demonstrations
As soon as iye-dismounted, Texicaa.
rifle in hand, walked calmly forward
10 the nearest lance and l.alted. III
a few moments tall youGg br%e
stepped @eof Bhc !ssakd aAa aAa sailed
proudly up to the other. I was ap-
pointed to give the. necessary signals:
In order to disturb theirSa Saecuracy
OF aim as little as possible, l was re-
quested to stand half way between
them, and twepaces lack from, the
raageof 4irs.s There wasnS dahysEef
being hit by such marksmep natAey
were. In my right hand held a
lance, from the point Of which dan-
gle'! red AahneI''s ''streNamer-when [
raised it they were 10 ain. and VIXEN
/ lowered it they were 10 fire.
And then We waited ior Red Cloud,
the chief OF the tribe. II was an
impressive scene. Tsxican leaned
his shaggy chin upon his hands, OF
the muzzle of his long rife and with
a CLEAN of malicious triumph glared
::fercely across at his foe. He was
reckless of his own life, and felt sure
of his prey, for lis aim was death.
The young Indian seemed to read
his thoughts; ;,bus sta ding erect, with