The weekly messenger., 1889-11-16
.vYou shall die. You were q fool to

The kicks made me mad, and feeling
that had no hope of release opened
on Red Moon in the choicest Billings
gate of the West. l called him a cow
ardly paltroon, squaw, buzzard, and
everything else mean could think of. l
offered to fight him in any way he
wanted, and boosted that l had on one
occasion charged five of his bravest war
riors and killed two and run the Others
into the woods. gave it to him straight
from the shoulder for ten minutes with
out break, and he did not interrupt me
by word or gesture. When 1 finally
paused for want of breath he said:
"The white scout is not a dog, as l
thought for. He is brave man. He
will not cry and beg for his lie when
the fire is lighted at his feet. Ny young
men shall let it be known at the fort
that he died without being a woman
"And that's more than you can say for
any of your warriors" 1 flung back at
him. "The Comanche whines like dog
when lie is hurt. He cannot stand fire.
When his feet get little warm lie be-
comes child"
He pulled his knife from his belt,
thinking to end my life then and there,
but on the second thought he replaced it
and walked out. Directly he had gone
two warriors came in with a liberal sup
ply of food, and my arms wss united and
I was given a chance to eat. They ap-
peared good natured, and as the thongs
were being replaced one of them said:
THE white man is very brave. lie will
hold out long time"
At last two guards were placed outside
my tent, and knowing that | had no
show for escape, l made myself as com.
fotable as possible and soon fell asleep. 1t
may be thought curious that a person
could sleep soundly under such circum-
stances, bat rs a matter of fact l did not
open my eyes until long after daylight.
There was considerable hustle in the
camp, and in few minutes my break
fast was brought in. Arms and legs were
now united, and one of the three bucks
who came into the tent informed me that
preparations were being made to torture
the Doctor. 1t was an hour later before
l was sent for. Then my arms were left
free and my legs were hobbed just below
the knees. While could walk it was only
with short steps. and the idea of my try
ing to escape from such a crowd was too
absurd to be entertained. l found the
inhabitants of the village drawn up in
two long lines extending GU. on the plains.
Even children five or six years old, were
in line, each one armed with stick or
switch. was led to the head of the line
between two warriors, and in four or five
minutes the Doctor was brought out Red
Moon had arranged this as a mental tor
ture to both of us. He signifed to us
that we might speak, and l at once in
formed the Doctor of my errand and its
failure. He expressed his pleasure that
hfs friends thought so well of him, and
his sorrow that had brought misfortune
upon myself, and he seemed to have made
up his mind to die like a man. l knew
the Indians thoroughly, and l told him
what the programme would be. Aftel
running the gauntlet, he would be tied tC
post and submitted to the powder tor
ture, which consists in shooting charge:
of powder into the flesh, with the muzzlC
of the gun only a foot or two away
After that would come cutting and mu
tilating, and he would not be tied to tn,
fire stake until pretty thoroughly ex
hausted. advised him to do as l in
tended to do-leap upon some warrior a!
he ran down the lines. grab his knife o.
tomahawk, if possible, and then fight un
til they would have to kill him then ant
there. He calmly replied that he should
adopt the plan, shook me by the hand
and all was ready. s.. :, :. -;
As we talked had been getting tn,
lay of the village. 1t was only quarter
of mile to the foothills. had mad,
up my mind to make break for liberty
| md had my rnlnns oil Ibid hafora th,