The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-10-02


so beautiful in death. But this
homeless and childless-was more than
the strong man could bear.
Rallying, he lifted up his wife, and
carried her to the spot. He chafed her
form till he brought life to her again,
and then she told him the sad and fear
full story.
Together they raked over all the en-
bers of the burned dwelling-together
they went oyer the farm and the woods
and together they shouted the name of
their son, till their tears blinded them
and the great sobs rose up and choked
them. "Charley Charley Charley u
The woods rang with the cry, the owl
hooted in response, and the distant pack
of wolves stopped their dismal orgies to
listen; but no Charlie was there to come
Morning found the wretcbed parents
turning over and over again, the ashes end
dead Goals of their house.
About two miles away lived Choc-
taw hunter rejoicing in the appellation of
s. Big Bear Skin,'' meath whose uncouth
exterior and swarthy skin there beat a
heart sottened by the milk of human
kindness.
To bis cabin repaired Mr.. Armstrong
and told his story. Tie Indian listened
in silence; not muscle moved in his
face, not culver around his glittering
eyes as he heard the recital When it
finished he only said, big Bear Skin go
and see -
And away he went.
Further on was another encampment
quite village in fact-where lived the
chief of the band. Thither repaired the
unhappy father, and as he and the chief
were great friends, the latter collected
his braves and set out to the burned
dwelling. Arriving there they found Big
Bear Skin intently studying the ground.
what is it Pr demanded the settler.
Tracks heap. Moccasin tracks all
round. Creek Indians-no Choctaw
moccasin here"
a hurried consultation was held, and
the chief and his braves set off rapidly
on the trail of the Greek depredators.
Big Bear Skin alone remained behind.
Mr.. Armstrong proposed going with
them, but the chief sternly forbade him,
saying:
white man stay with squaw, Choc-
taw find Creek nigger-kill um heap
bring pale face papoose home-glad
heap"
When they had departed Big Bear
Skin sought the spring, IOTowed by the
unhappy father and mother. When
near the spring the Indian gave sudden
grunt.
"What is it?" came from the parents,
fer long intercourse with the red man
had taught them to attach significance
to sounds utterly meaningless in civilized
society.
"Papoose go this way" and he struck
off at right angle through the thicket
With hearts too full for utter, the settler
and his wife followed closely behind.
Presently the Indian stopped, and when
they came up he said:
Let white squaw go back and stay
white man go with Indian.
Please let me go too ~ pleaded the
wife as she caught her husbands arm,
and looked appealingly in the Indian s
face.
White squaw must stay !" repeat
ed the Indian, and there was just shade
of scorn mingled with impotence in his
tone.
1t is best as he says, dear Mary"
said her husband. go back, please, till
we return, and pray that we may sue
coed" and the wretched ashland caught
his more wretched wife to his bosom in an
sfectionate embrace.
Back, therefore, she went to pass an
other long and weary day. Slowly the
sun mounted up to the meridian-then
the clouds came ur. and just as the SEEM
ingly endless AFTER DON was giving way to
night, the rain began to fall. Into an
clubhouse crawled the watcher at the
burned home, and listened-for what?
Was it any wonder, if she often fancied
she heard the footballs of little feet min
Cling with the dreary rain and, if more
than ouce, she cried out the name of Der
boy? How strangely sounded her voice,
and how mockingly dripped and patter-
ed the rain
When ages had passed, as it seemed
to her, she heard distant shout. Nearer
and nearer it came, till at last she could
distinguish her husband voice. Unable
to bear the suspense any longer. she rush.
ed blindly out into the darkness.
Have you found him % she almost
shrieked, as she could just dimly see the
outlines of two moving objects.
Motherl' cried a ringing, childish
voice.
With a cry of joy too great to be ex-
pressed in the conventional words, the
mother clasped her child tightly to her
bosom.
Then came the reaction and she again
fell down unconscious. This, hover, was
of short duration, and in few moments
she aud her child were safe in the out
house.
Sparing the reader her profuse and
heartful thanks, and the Indians stoical
reception of the same, we will briefly re-
late the incidents of the pursuit as de-
tailed by Mr.. Armstrong tc his wife the
next day.
After you turned back / could hardly
keep up with the Indian. He seemed to
follow the trail by intuition, for I am
certain he did not see any tracks for
hundred yards at time. L hardly saw
one once in quarter of mile. Charley
must have become entirely lost IN the
swamp, for be made two large circles, so