The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-03-19
ON THE VERDIGREE.

uc uOOlIuay DlCtEe JuSb ulONSu liz
trailing scalp-lock, else he might have
passed for painted statue. Herndon
sat on a hewn slab Of oak, beating the
'long rolf with the fragments of bro
ken ramrod, and laughingly ordered us
to fall into line. But we had no triffiine
matter before us.
Early that morning we had spurred
our ponies through the chry stal tide Of
the Verdigree, clambered up the western
bank, and after exploring one of the
love.iest 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 in cuttis Climber for our cabins
But the jealous Osages had resented oul
summary proceedings,and had dispatch
ed us peremptory summons to leturr
across the river, or pay the penalty ol
non compliance with our lives.
won't you be just kind enough to
ride out to that there mound there :"
said Ben, the black ck-moustached Missou
rian, to the yermiIlion- -daubed savage
who partially understood English; "we
want to talk this thing over little, -
And he pointed to spot about thirty
yards distant, as though he expected his
request to be Immediately obeyed-
Wheeling his charger gracefully, the
Indian acceded without 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 SER
vice." and that of the toughest kind
We held an impromptu council Of war
"What do you think we'd better do,
boys ?" said Ben, nonchalantly.
A silence ensued; each waited for the
other to speak first At last, Texican
ventured to express an opinion. What
his true name was / never learned
From Texan" the frontier lingo had
metamorphosed his title into "Texican,' u
and by that anomalous soubriquet We
knew, respected and called him.
I'm for fight, boys" said he. "This
here land can't be beat nowhere, its 8
Number One. And they haven't got
any better right to it than We have, and
besides that, they amt give US decent
invitation to leave. 1t wouldn't look
well for US to travel off on these terms
And, with grating oath, he swore he'd
die in his tracks before he'd get out o,
the way of set Of greasy Osages.-
He shot 'em, anyhow, every chance he
got. Three seasons preceding, the
Comanches had scalped his father OIL
the "old Texan line," and Drained hi.
sister with a war club We expected
him to talk in just this style.
"You just settle the matter for youl
selves, boys, whatever it's to be-" inter
posed the Missourian, yawning, as
though nothing more than an everyday
dilemma-a mere deal in poker-was to
be decided.
/ thought it prudent to dodge the re
sponsibility, and follow his example.
"Its all very well to talk about fight
ing it out" said Cotton; "and, its likely
that we've got as much sand in oul
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. l had all the fight
ing 1 wanted in the war shooting yor
Texas fellows, and 1 don't want any
more Of it, if I can help it. We nigh
throw our logs together and hold oul
own till morning, but it would turn ou
an ugly scrape before VIC got through
with it. We haven't got drop of wa
ter, and we'd soon run out of provis
ions, and they'd dance ever our bore:
in forty ght hours. If the rest of yol
want to fight, why, fight it is; but think
we'd Letter go little slow"
He was young, blue-eyed, faxen
haired Minnesotian, and the border ruff
fans gave him credit for being Gas COO
as wedge, and sharper than steel"
"Ill tell you what I'm for" said "ln
diana" We generally went by the
names of our native States. Were al
old vets in this 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 powder. But it's just
as Minnesota says. We can't fight 'em
all to any purpose. But We may beat
'em after all. Now, l move that well
pick our man, and they'll pick theirs,
and let the two shoot it out. If theil
man wins, we'll evacuate; if ours wins,
we'll stay"
This novel proposition suited every
one. Herndon amended it by suggest
ing that we should cast lots for the
championship, and that the fight should
take place with rifles at twenty PAGES
This was declared to be "getting the
thing into shape;;" and we all cordially
agreed to it. Ben arose, and motioned
importantly to the envoy. That nude
parsonage gravely rode up. received our
reply with stolid decorum, and Vas out
Of sight in minute.
"We'd better load up in the mean
time, boys" remarked Indiana; "for if
it don't suit 'em, they'll be after us in
short order.'
The idea was voted 'not bad" and
we not only charged our rifles and re-
volvers, but flung our logs together III
such manner as to form very efficient
defense, if required. Herndon then
kindled fire, procured water, and com.
menced cooking dinner. In about twen-
ty minutes the envoy returned. Our
proposition had met with great favor,
he briefly informed us. but would not be
accepted unless the distance was shor.
tened to ten PAGES. He also stated that
the contest would be. expected to con
tinue until one of the principals was
killed, and that knives and tomahawks
must he allowed to be used after the dis.
charge of the rifles.
"rhat's pretty close quarters, boys"
commented Ben. 81 get slug once on
just such timetable But | guess it's
all right, though. They know they can't
shoot with US. Let's give the poor dev-
lis chance"
To this we all assented. For the tom
ahawk provision we cared nothing; we
Hnn,v {ho II. lo of