Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-01-21

was soon nj their camp, l on thu
north side OF the river they OF
, the south. sat on my horse ant
hailed the camp. No answer
, could see plenty Of Indians walk
ing about, aud again / hailed. M
answer. / shouted myself hoarse
and the only notice taken OF mt
, was by an old buck, who walked
10 the river bank, took q look a.
, me, made an insulting gesture, and
slowly walked of. Invent there &c
trade, and having got angry at the
treatment, though ! well knew that
l ought to leave the valley at once,
|, like a fool, resolved to cross the
; stream and brave the danger. Sc
forded and rode into the camp,
| spoke to no one no one spoke
10 me. The sullen braves turned
backs on me rs | rode up the
street. The young girls looked
curiously at me. Riding slowly
along, l cooled rapidly. saw
that was not wanted, and at
last fully realized that I was in
danger. / did not dare to ride to
the south, out of the camp, nor
did have courage enough to at
tempt 10 recross the river.
"Before me stood great tent
made of buffalo skins. 1t was the
largest / had ever seen. / halted,
dismoupted and stood silently at
my horses head. No one noticed
me. Indians went past me, appa-
rently not seeing me. At last n
young woman came and stood be-
me. Looking right into my eyes
she said: what do you want 2
| looked her coldly in the face and
made no reply. Smiling, she ask
ed: What brings you here z
Steadily | gazed into her eyes and
was voiceless. She left me and
disappeared in the great lodge.
Soon an Indian warrior in full paint,
with bow and strung arrow in his
hands, came to me. Speaking
Blackfoot he said: why are You
in this campp To him replied:
Il wish to trade with you More
men came. They took my horse,
and seizing hold Of my arms they
led me into the great lodge. Here
was seated and q council was
held. sat and listened to them
talk Of what il was best to do with
so presumptuous white man. Some
were in favor of trading. The
larger majority were in favor Of
torturing me. II was decided that
I should he tortured; and they
sat and discussed the many methods.
After two days talk it was decid-
to burn me. ] was in a strange
condition mentally. | would listen
to the plan of torture, as though
il was some other man they
were talking about and / would
comment to myself on that plan as
giving the chap but little chance
for his life. But when the dusky
brave who talked Blackfo foot, told
me that was to die by fire next
day, I understood perfectly that |
was the man they had been talking
about, and l replied: Il know it.
Clustering around,me, they asked
IL l had understood all the talk.
Yes, / had Then why not an-
swer the maiden when she spoke
to you Il came, not to talk tc
sauaws, but to trade with men, Nc
use | could do nothing by soft
talk. and having played my hand
finally resigned myself to my fate
al noticed that the girl who haC
} first spoken TO me in front Of TIN
lodge was watching me. Sh
! would quickly glance at me an
} drop her eyes on the buckski,
: shirt she was emhoridering wit
I Grow hair. Several times l motto
ed this, and replied with q smile
J The lodge emptied. All were gon
J, except the girl. She quickly cam
t to my side, apparently to refol
e some buffalo robes, aud in a whi'
r per said: you are to die to-mo
5 row. Tonight / will have Il
Ie best horse in the camp saddle
'e and standing on the out side Of Il
h lodge. / will have the tent c'
$. from the outside. Yon jun
Of through. mount, and ride for yo'
lie life. You may escape. You VI
ar be burnt IL you stay here Th'
he with q smile, The mare is min
Nv She Il the fastest animal ia II