The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-05-03
A TALE OF REVENGE.

y story Is told of an extraordinary
meeting, and an act of revenge said to
have taken place many long wear ao-o
on the fork of the Pawnee. A marty of
four,whohad been rowing for many wears
in the West, all strangers to each other.
was one day accidentally thrown together
when strange and bloody scene ensued.
These men presented a striking contrast
in feature. The youngest was delicately
made, with long light hair and blue eyes:
his exposure had given him rich brown
complexion. He was of the medium
statureand made forstrength and agility.
There was dark void over his features
which told that with him the light Of
hope had gone out.
He was travelling on a mule, with his
rife in his gun-leather at the bow of his
saddle, when he overlook a man on foot,
with gun on his shoulder and pistols in
his belt, who was over six feet. and had
deep, wide scar on his right cheek. As
day was drawing to a close they proposed
to camp, and brought up at the head of
the Pawnee. Shortly after they had camp
ed man was seen accommodating them
with rifle in hand, and having satisfied
himself that his sign was friendly, he
came moodily into the camp, and, after
looking sternly at the two men was asked
by Scar Cheek "to come to the ground
He was astout,muscular man, much older
than the other two,with deep, habitual
scowllong, black, matted hair, and very
unprepossessing features. Some COM
monplace remarks we're made, but no
Questions were asked by either party.
Ii was near twilight when the young
man, who had gathered some buffalo
chips to make a fire to cook with, sud
denly perceived a man approaching
them on a mule; he came steadily and
fearlessly on the camp, and, casting a
look on the three, said: "Took ye for
Indians" then glancing at the deer-skin
dress of the trio, he observed, "0ld leath-
ers-some time out, eh?" The man was
about fifty years old, and his gray hairs
contrasted strangely with his dark,
bronzed features, upon which care and
misfortune were strongly marked. he
was onehalf clad by the miserable skins
he wore, and as he dismounted Scar
Cheek asked, where from?" "From
the Kaw" Kansas he replied, throwing
down a bundle of otter skins After
unsaddling and stalking out his mule he
brought himself to the ground, and tax
ing his rifle, looked at the printing, and
shaking the powder in the pan, he added
a few more grains to it; then placing n
piece of thin dry skin over it to keep it
from the damp, he shut the pan.
The group watched the old trapper,
who seemed not to notice them, while
Scar Cheek became interested and
showed certain uneasiness. He looked
toward his own rifle, and once or twice
loosened the pistols in his belt, as if they
discommoded him. The young man
and the stout man with the scowl
exchanged glances, but no word passed.
So far, no question had been asked as to
who the other was what little converse
J ton passed was very laconic, and not
smile had wreathed the lip of any Of
them.
The little supper was eaten in silence,
each man seeming to be wrapped in his
own thoughts. 1t was agreed that the
watch should be divided equally among
the four each man standing guard for
two hours-the old trapper taking the
first watch, the young man the next, and
Scar Cheek and he with the scowl follow
ing. G a.
1t was bright moonlight night, and
over the wild waste ofprairie not sound
was heard as the three lay sleeping on
their blankets. The old trapper paced
up and down, ran his eyes around the
wild waste before him, and then would
stop and mutter to himself, at cannot
be he," he said aloud, "but the time and
the scar may have disguised him. That
boy, too-it's strange / feel drawn TO-
ward him; then that william with the
scowl," and the muscles of the old trap
per's face worked convulsiyely, which
the moonbeams falling upon, disclosed
traces of bygone refinement. The
trapper noiselessly approached the
sleeping men, and kneeling down, gazed
intently upon the face Of each and
scanned them deeply. Walking off, he
muttered to himself again, saying at
shall be,' and then judging by the stars
that his watch was up, he approached the
young man and woke him, pressing his
finger on his lips to command silence at
the time, and motioned him to follow.
They walked off some distance, when
the trapper, taking the young man by
the shoulder, turned his face to the
moonlight, and after gazing at II wist-
fully, whispered in his ear, "Are you
Perry Ward?" The young man started
wildly, but the trapper prevented his
reply by saying, Enough, enough"
He then told him that he was his uncle,
and that the man with the scar was the
murderer of his father; and that he with
the scowl had convicted him (the trap
peri Of forgery by his false oath. The
blood deserted the lips of the young
man, and his eyes glared and dilated
almost from their sockets. He sqeezed
his uncle's hand, aud then, with mean
glance as he looked to his rife, moved
toward the camp. "No, no." said the
trapper, mot in cold blood. give them
chance" They cautiously returned to
the camp and found both the men in a
deep sleep. The uncle and nephew
stood over them
Scar Cheek was breathing hard, when
he suddenly cried out, Il did not mur-
der Perry Wardl7 Liar said the
trapper in a voice of thunder, and the
two men started and bounded to their
feet. @Red skins about said they in q
voice. "No, worse than red skins" said
the trapper. "Harry Ward isabout.
and seizing his knife he plunged 1t into
Scar Cheeks heart "Then, take that
said he with a scowl, and, raising hs
rifle, the trapper fell q corpse. With
bound and wild cry the young man
Jumped at the murderer of his uncle,
and with his knife gave him several
fatal wounds- The struggle was fear
ful one, however, and the young man
had also received several severe cuts,
when his adversary fell from the loss Of