The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-06-05
The Ojibway's Revenge.

butt OF logs and.plastered Win clay,
which was inhabited by three as villain
Gus creatures as ever disgraced the hui
Ipan race.
The names of these men were Nick
Atkins, Bill Hardy, aud Frank Mercer.
They lived by trapping. and selling the
skins OF such animals as they could cap
ture at the next trading post, generally
for whisky.
The cabin was frequently the scene Of
orgies which might rival the sports Of
the inhabitants of the Internal regions.
Shouts, whoops, yells and curses sound
ed out, until, overcome by the fumes o /!
the liquor. the inmates would sink Into
the deep sleep Of drunkenness.
Not far from this spot were the lodges
of the Oiibway Indians, ruled by a
chief who bore the name OF Red Knife.
The red men looked with horror upon
the conduct Of the three drunken trap
pers, and kept as far aloof from them
as was possible.
One lovely morning, the three men
sailed ont TO examine their traps. The
beautiful landscape spread out before
them might have softencd the heart of
the most hardened william, but they had
no thought for the glorious prospect
Half-crazed BY the vile stuff which they
had been drinking, they marched along,
intcrmingling their conversation with
q continued stream of oaths and OBJ
sccnety.
Every trap was visited, but in no one
of them was any game found. Cursing
their ill.luck, they set out TO follow the
course of a small stream near at hand,
and, on turning sharp bend. came sud.
denly upon the lodges OF Red Knife and
his followers.
But the chief and his braves were no.
where visible. Onlya few squaws and
children were seated in front Of the
camp, who glanced up for q moment,
and then resumed their work with the
characteristic Indian indifference.
"Boys," said Bill Hardy, "Red Knife
has gone off with his men. and he must
have left some furs round here some
where suppose we help ourselves to
few, TO make up for our bad luck to-
day."
agreed" said the other two rulIlans,
in breath, and Nick Atkins, stepping
up TO the wife of the chief, said: "Look
here, old woman, show us where the
chief keeps his rurs, and be quick about
it, too"
The squaw only answered by shake
of the head.
DWELL, if you can't toll us. we can find
out for ourselves" said Atkins, prcpar-
ing to enter the principal lodge.
In an instant the squaw sprang TO her
feet, and administered push which
sent the trapper reelng from the spot.
Crazed with drunken rage the ruflian
leveled his rife, and pulled the trigger,
and with wild cry the squaw fell
dead, while the other women fed panic
stricken from the spot
AS cody as though it was a dog that
they had shot, the trappers entered the
lodge. A valuable store of iurs re-
warded their search, and after plumber
ing the camp they departed, loaded
with spoils.
Long and loud were the revcls at the
log cabin that night. But at last the
trappers lay in a stupid sleep of intoxi-
cation.
They awoke to find themselves firmly
bound, while around them stood fifty
grim and silent warriors, headed by
Red Knife.
Fierce eyes glared at them, and many
of the braves seemed to wish to destroy
them on the spot, but tho warning gcs-
ture of the stern chief restrained them.
All day they were kept closely con-
fined, but when evening came they
were carried out, still firmly bound,
and left lying upon the open prairie.
Al around them were heard the howl
ing of the hungry wolves, and the
wretchod men saw bnt two plainly the
awful fate that was in store for them.
Atmidnight, wild screams, despairing
prayers, means and frantic curses were
heard upon the prairie. Then followed
silence broken only by the growls of
the wolves, as they quarreled over their
prey.
When morning dawncd nothing re-
manned of the unfortunate men save
their bones, and thus fearfuly did the
Oiibway satiate his revenge.