The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-06-01
md partially avoided it, his head strik-

anu partially dNoiucu ~, Ills hOou ooi IA
ing my knee, knocking my feet back
ward and staggering me considerably. |
Recovering, l dealt him severe |
kick on the head, and threw myself
upon his back, pressing him to the
ground, his face downward. He arose |
upon his hands. / brought him down |
by jerking his hands from under him.
i 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 single
blow. while 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 1 evaded by side spring. He
then rushed toward the tree where the
tomahawk was sticking. l 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 l 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 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 to
the erect position, still pressing toward
the tree. Throwing my foot before
him he fell, and by his side.
1--WE lay at arms length upon the
ground graphing each others Threats
and each painting with exhaustion and
foaming with rage Feeling that my
wind was failing me, and fearing that
in this respect the savage might have
the advantage of me, now determined
to secure my knife at all hazards.
'Hurling myself upon him by a
mighty effort threw my hand down
and grasped the handle Of my knife.
seeing which he uttered the exclama-
ton wah! and clasped me around the
body, pressing me to him with all his
power, at the same time trying to bite
my face.
''While in this position, my hand
upon my knife and the Indian holding
me around the arms in a vise-like grip,
an ally came upon the field.
Bruno, my faithful dog, with Q
fierce growl, sprang to my side, and al
once fastened his teeth in the shoulder
of the savage. This caused him te
loose his hold upon me.
In an instant my knife was raised
and l aimed violent thrust at hi.
| ,oolr l,,< he own, ,aoa;rod <bo bloxr
and the knife shivered upon the bone
'As l raised to repeat the lick, the
Indian exclaimed:
".Karnarla! Karnarlar which, in the
Indian tongue, is Enough! enough!
and. in broken English, added: Take
off dog! quick! Brave white man; M
kill great chief! Me give up
IL restrained myself with difficulty
at the moment, but seeing that the vic
tory was mine, revulsion of feeling
ensued in the thought that l hat
triumphed in struggle which but 1
moment before was so doubtful ani
desperate; and even felt sense o
admiration for the manhood and dar
ing of my powerful antagonist. So
accepted his surrender and pulled OF
the dog. Taking off my buckskin sus
penders. bound him tightly arount
the wrists and exacted from him
promise that he would go as a prisons
to the camp.
Noticing that his arm was bleedin,
profusely, l bound my handkerchie
. around it, at which he gave me a grun
of satisfaction. then stepped to tn
tree, withdrew the tomahawk, an,
pointed him the direction to go.
Just at this juncture the fair damse
whom had rescued, accompanied b,