The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-06-06

at his head with my fist. He evaded
me by a side motion, and, stepping two
or three PAGES backward, rushed upon
me, attempting to throw his head be-
tween my legs. This was favorite
feat among the Indian athletes, by
which they often upset an adversary.
throwing him over upon his head and
crippling, or placing him at a fearful
disadvantage. / understood the move
and partially avoided it, his head strik-
ing my knee, knocking my feet back
ward and staggering me considerably.
Recovering, dealt him a severe
kick on the head, and threw myself
upon his back, pressing him to the
ground, his face downward. He arose
upon his hands. l brought him down
by jerking his hands from under him.
l bethought myself of my knife, and
made an effort to grasp it without sue
cess, as the handle had caught under
my waistband; and while in the effort
to disengage it, the savage seized one
of my thumbs in his vice-like jaws, cut
ting it to the bone. This enraged me
intensely and struck him several pow
erful blows with my fist on his head
and neck, which caused him to let go
my thumb, and by an almost superhu-
man effort sprang from beneath me.
He at once turned upon me, and fisti-
cuff exercise ensued. In this, being a
practical boxer, / was too much for
| him, as he failed to hit me a single
blow. while l planted several Summers
upon his short ribs and face, bringing
free gush of blood from his nose.
Seeing this he jumped back and at
tempted another run between my legs,
which evaded by side spring. He
then rushed toward the tree where the
tomahawk was sticking. intercepted
him, and we clinched within three feet
of the coveted weapon; and now COM
menced wrestle which, for skill,
strength and desperate contortion, was,
perhaps, seldom equaled. His whole
effort was to force me against the tree,
that he might secure the tomhawk.
Failing in this he tried several of his
Indian tricks for the purpose of throw
ing me, while forced him from the
tree, and also attempted to throw him.
We thus struggled for some moments,
swaying to and fro, and each seeking
some advantage.
''In one of these powerful struggles
in which l was the receding party, my
foot became entangled in grape vine
and fell. the Indian upon me.
"Having the tomahawk still in view
he attempted to spring away from me
but as held to him, he jerked me tt
the erect position, still pressing toward
the tree. Throwing my foot before
him he fell, and 1 by his side.
"We lay at arms length upon The
ground graphing each others throat'
and each painting with exhaustion ant
foaming with rage. Feeling that m!
wind was falling me, and fearing tina
in this respect the savage might hav'
the advantage of me, now determined
to secure my knife at all hazards.
''Hurling myself upon him by /;
mighty effort threw my hand down
! and grasped the handle of my knife
, seeing which he uttered the exclama
} tion wah! and clasped me around thu
body, pressing me to him with all hi
power, at the same time trying to bit,
my face.
"While in this position, my hant
upon my knife and the Indian holdin!
me around the arms in a vise-like grip
: an ally came upon the field.
Bruno, my faithful dog, with
fierce growl, sprang to my side, and a
} once fastened his teeth in the shoulde
of the savage. This caused him t.
loose his hold upon me.
In an instant my knife was raised
and / aimed violent thrust at hi
neck. but his arm received the blow
/ and the knife shivered upon the bone
''As raised to repeat the lick, tn
Indian exclaimed:
'Karnarla! Karnarlar which, in tn
Indian tongue, is Enough! enough
and, in broken English, added: TAX
off dog! quick! Brave white man; n
kill great chief! Me give up
/ 81 restrained myself with difficult
at the moment, but seeing that the vic
tory was mine, revulsion of feeling
ensued in the thought that I ha
triumphed in a struggle which but
moment before was so doubtful an
desperate; and even felt sense G
admiration for the manhood and dan
ing of my powerful antagonist. So
: accepted his surrender and pulled o.
3 the dog. Taking off my buckskin sus
penders, bound him tightly aroun
the wrists and exacted from him
: promise that he would go as a prisone
: to the camp.
t Noticing that his arm was bleedin
S profusely, bound my handkerchie
4 around it, at which he gave mea grun
? of satisfaction. then stepped to tn
1 tree, withdrew the tomahawk, an
t pointed him the direction to GO.
: ''Just at this juncture the fair damst
= whom had rescued, accompanied b