The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-03-22
S9tggistellaneuns.
ON THE VERDIGREE.

2 uiSfct- ne TcubklDS ldu sent u!
their ultimatum There sat thei
envoy extraordinary, half naked, on
his NANCY steed, armed and equip
PED for war, aud erect and imper.
turbable as Bismark. The noonda,
breeze just moved his trailing scalp
lock, else he might have passed fol
painted statue. Herndon sat on 9
hewn slab of oak, beating the "long
rolf' with the fragments ofa broken
ramrod and laughingly ordered us to
fall into line. But We had no trifling
matter before us.
Early that morning We had spur
red cur ponies through the crystal
tide of the Verdigree, elambered up
the western bank, and after explOr
ing one of the loveliest villages that
ever charmed the eye of man, had
each selected prolific tract of land,
and determined to settle there for
life. The forenoon had been passed
i'll cutting timber for our cabins. But
the jealous Osages had resented our
summary proceedings, and had dis
patched us apefemptory summons to
return across the river, or pay the
penalty Of non compliance with our
lives.
Wont you be just kind enough to
ride out to that there mound there ?"
said Ben, the black moustaehed Mis-
sourian, to tha vermillion- daubed
savage, who partially understood
English; 1--WE want to talk this thing
over littie.'' Aud he pointed TO
spot about thirty ysrds distant, as
though he expected his request to be
immediately obeyed. Wheeling his
charger gracefully, the Indian scced-
ed with out word
Our whole civil and military force
had been mustered for the occasion.
There were six of us; we were all
young and vigorous, every man had
''seen service, and that OF the rough
est kind. We held an impromptu
council of war @ a
"Whst do you think we'd better do,
boys Z" said Ben, nonchalantly.
A silence eDsumed; each waited
for the other 10 speak first. At last
Texican ventured to express an opin-
ion. What his true name was never
learned. From Texan the frontier
lingo had metamorphosed his title
into 'Texican,' and by that anoma-
lous soubriquet we know, respected
and called him.
"I'm for fight, boys, said be,
"This here land can't be beat nowhere;
it's Number One. And they haven't
got any better right to it than we
have, and besides that, they amt
given US a decent invitation to leave.
1t wouldn't look well for US TO travel
off on these terms.'' And, with q
ripping oath, he swoIe he'd die in his
tracks before he'd get out of the way
of a set of greasy Osages. He shot
'em, anyhow, every chance he got.
Three seasons preceding the Conan
ches had scalped his father on the
sold Texan line,' and Drained his
sister with war club. We expected
him to talk in just this style.
sYou just settle the matter for your
selves, boys, whatever it's 10 be-"
interposed the Missourlan, yawnlng,
as though nothing more than an every.
day dilemma-a mere deal in poker
was to be decided.
thought it prudent to dodge the
responsibility and follow his example.
"Its all very we'll to talk about
fighting it out," said Cotton; sand
its likely that we've got IS much sand
in our craws as any of 'em; but what
can six of us do against three or four
hundred? l don't like the way they
talk, myself; but the game is all in
their own hands and they know it.
had all the fighting wanted in the
war shooting you Texan fellows, and
l don't want any more of it if l can
help it. We might throw our logs
together and hold our own till morn
ing, but it would turn cut an ugly
scrape before We got through with Ii.
We have not got drop of water,
and we'd soon run out of provisions,
and they'd dance over Our bones in
forty-eight hours. If the rest of you
want TO tight, why, fight it is; but ]
think wee better 60 little slow"
He was young, blue eyed, faxen
haired Minnesotian, and the border
ruffians gave him credit for being ''as
cool as a wedge, and Sharper than
STEEL"
"Ill tell you what I'm for" said
'lndiana.' We generally went by
the name of our native States.
"We're all old vets in the military
business, and we want to use little
strategy with the vagabonds. They've
insulted us, and for one, don't feel
like falling back without burning lit
tie powder. But it's Just as Minneso-
ia says. We can't fight 'em all to
any purpose. But we can beat 'em
after all. Now, move that we'll
P ok man, and they llpick theirs, and
let them shoot it out. If their man
wins, we'll evacuate; if ours wins,
we'll stay" .. ...-.
This novel proposition suited every
one. Herndon amended it by sug-
gesting that We should cast lots for
the championship, and that the fight
should takeplace with rifles at tw. nty
PAGES. This was declared to be "get-
ting the thing into shape" and we
all cordially agreed TO it. Bent arose,
and motioned Importantly to the en-
voy. That nude parsonage gravely
rode up, received our reply with
stolid decorum, and was ont OF sight
in minute.
"We'd better load up in the mean
time, boys" remarked Indiana; 'for
| II IL don't Sult Jan, fhavilj he offar us