The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-09-10

=
graoed by yoa who aspired to the hand
Of his daughter" He lies! he lies Is
tsepola, my own love, you believe hin
not. He shall die like dog when W,
meet. He loves You, therefore | hate him
Farewell, my own Is-tee-po-la, farewell!
go to grstify the unjust requirements O
thy father, and should / not return befors
two moons have passed, thy Wa-kee-nee
ma shall have passed to the happy hunt
ing grounds of his fathers" Wa-kee-nee
ma returned to his lodge and made the fact
known to his braves that they must pre-
pare once more for the war-path to dc
battle against their hated enemies, the
Creeks. All the necessary preparations
were soon made, and Wa-kee-nee-ma LED
forth his forces and proceeded as far al
the river of flints, where their camp-fires
were seen burning throughout the night
Though wearied from their long march
there was but little rest for the warriors
as their plans for the future were fully dis
cussed 80 that their success should be more
certain upon meeting their enemies. Nee
mat-see, ever watchful of the movements
of his rival, gathered together his men
and followed upon the trail of him he
hated most on earth. Camping near by,
and preserving all the secrecy character
istic of their race, he went forth with the
stealth of the cougar, endeavoring to find
out the future movements of the one he
most dreaded. He soon saw Wa-kee.
nee-ma leave his campfire and proceed to
the dark and gloomy shadows of the for
est, there to mediate upon the perils OF
the battlefield; but more particularly
upon the words at parting with the lovely
maiden who had manifested so great an
interest for his success in battle and his
safe and speedy return to her he loved so
dearly. But alas Fate decreed other
wise; for while seated upon the trunk of
a fallen tree, unarmed and alone and I'M
suspecting of danger, Nee-mat-see, with
uplifted, glittering tomahawk, and with a
cat-like tread, approached his victim, and
with one fell blow sunk it deep into the
head of him he hated and dreaded so
much. Poor Wa-kee-nee-ma, with dying
gasp, fell to rise no more.
AS the dawn approached the followers
of Wa-kee-nee-ma, noticing his prolonged
absence instituted search for their much
loved chief and soon it was announced
by the loud wall of one of his followers
that he was found. But what CHASTITY
spectacle for them to behold There he
was, the brave leader of that band of
sturdy warriors, he whose clairon-like
voice had so often cheered them on to
heroic deeds in battle, now stilled in
death. After minute examination of the
ground the print of the chil-i-pa-ca of
Nee-matsee $50 well known to many
was discovered, then was it known that
he it was who had committed the cow
ardly deed. Then the cry of vengeance
re-echoed from every hill. While many
sought the murderer, others again placed
the remains of their beloved chief upon
an improvised litter and with solemn
tread retraced their way to the lodge of the
Sachem. A runner in advance announced
the fate of the brave Wa-kee-nee-ma to
his afianced, Is-tee-po-la. Not a tear
was shed nor a word uttered by the love
ly maiden, but when she heard the name
of Nee-mat-see declared as the perpetra-
tor of the horrid deed. Then with all the
stoicism of her race, with head erect and
eyes flashing with anger of an enraged
tigress, she made the following vow :" By
the Great Spirit, Mantle; by that of my
dead mother; by the scalp-lock of my
father, will / avenge thee, oh, Wa-kee-
nee-ma."
Speedy but ample preparation was
made by Is-tee-po-la to pursue the muir
-derer of her lover, and with few trusty
followers, she, armed with her bow and
culver, scalping knife and tomahawk, set
out to seek him whom she had vowed to
slay with her own hand. Two days passed
and NO sign or trace of the fugitive. On
the third day while crossing . small
stream she was rewarded by seeing the
impress of 3 footprint, and upon close
examination discovered it to be to be that
of the one she sought, Nee-mat-see. "Hs r.
sheexclaimed, 81 have thee now" and with
renewed energy she pursued the trail over
hill and dale, through bog and fen,
through brushwood and over plain, like q
sleuth-hound never losing the trail for q
moment. After crossing the Sipie-op-co
river the trail trended northeast in the di.
rection of the Grotto Of Chipee-lus-oo
pursuing the trail in that direction some
miles, she came near this grotto and was
fully convinced that he had sought
that as hiding place.
With all the craft Of an experienced
warrior she stationed her braves on the
plain Just shove the depression, then
ssringing her bow and selecting m arrow
from hsr quives, she approached the
grCtto alone; with stealthy steps she made
her WAY to the aperture, then with her
eagle eyes peered into this gloomy look.
ing cave. There, seated upon ledge oil
rock, was the slayer Of her lover. Quick
4