Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-06-18
The Onbway's Revenge.


plain In Minnesota, there stood
cabin, rudely built Of logs and
plastered with clay, which was IN
habited by three as villainous'
creatures as ever disgraced the hu-
man race. -
The names of these men were
Nick Atkins, Bill Hardy, and
Frank Mercer. They lived by
trapping, selling the skiDsof such
animals as they could capture at
the next trading post, generally
for whisky.
The cabin was frequently the
scene Of orgies which might rival
the sports Of the internal regions.
Shouts, whOops, yelIs and curses
sounded out, until, overcome by
the fumes of the liquor, the in
mates would sink into the deep
sleep of drunkenness.
Not far from this spot were tie
Lodges of the Ojibway Indians,
ruled by the chief Red Kniie
The red men looked with horror
upon tne conduct of the three
drunken trappers, and kept ns far
aloof from them as was possible.
One lovely morning, the three
men sailed out to examine their
traps. The beautiful landscape
spread out before them might
have soltened the heart Of the
most hardened villain, but they
had no thought for the glorious
prospect. Half crazed by the VII.
lainous stuff they had been drink
ing, they marched along interIhin-
CLING their conversation with r
continued stream of oaths and
obscenity.
Every trap was visited, but in
no one was any game found =
.Cursing their ill-luck, they set out
ito follow the course of a small
stream near at hand, and, on tur-
ming bend, came suddenly upon
the lodges OF Red knife and bis
followers.
But the chief and his braves
were nowhere visible 0hy few
squaws and children were seated
in front of the camp, who glanced
up for moment end then resumed
their work with the characteristic
Indian indifference
"Boys, said Bill Hardy, cred
Knife has gone of with bis men,
and be must have left some fuTs
round here somewhere /; suppose
We help ourselves to few, to make
up for our bad luck to day"
agreed" said the other two
rulfians, in breath, and Mex At
kins, stepping up TO the wife Of
the chief, said Look here. oil
woman, show us. where the chief
/ keeps his furs, and be quick about
IL. too.
The squaw only answered by n
shake Of the head
We'll, il you can t tell Us, We
can find out for ourselves" said
Atkin, preparing to enter be prin-
cipaI lodge.
In an instant the squaw Sprang
to her feet. and administered q
push which sent the trapper reel
ing from the spot. Crazed with
drunken rage the rullian lcveled
his rife, and pulled the trigger.
and with a wild cry the squaw fell
dead, while the other women hrd
panic stricken from the spot.
A. cody As thol5b it wis a
dog til they had shot, the trap
pels entered the lodge. A valua
Bile store of furs rewarded their
search, and after they had plumber
ed the camp they departed, 10 ded
with spoi!s.
Long and loud were the Tevels
at the log cabin that night But
at last the trappers lay in stupid
sleep of intoxication.
They awoIle to find themselves
firmly bound. while aFound them
stood fifty grim and silent warrl-
ors, headed by Red knife.
Fierce eyes glared at them, and
many of the braves seemed TO
wish to destroy them on the SPOT,
but the warning gesture of the
stern chief restrained them.
All day they were kept closely
confined, but when evening came
they were carried out still firmly
bound, and left lying upon the o.
pen prairie.
All around them were heard
the bowling of the hungry wolves,
and the wretched men saw but too
plainly the awful fate that WAS in
store for them.
At midnight, wild screams, des-
, pairing prayers, means and frantic
curses were heard upon the pral-
ries. Then followed a silence
, broken only by the growls OF the
wolves, as they quarreled over
tnnir ,,rnr