The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-23

lines were formed, six feet apart, with
fifty braves, face to face, in each line.
AT the top, where the prisoner was to
start, were young men armed only with
green rods and blunted spears; then
came those armed with knives; and at
the far end of the line stood old warriors
with tomahawks and war clubs. The
/ prisoner was to run between the lines,
every man giving him blow, and If he
reached so far without falling, the war
riors who bore the axes and clubs
would surely kill him. The guards
now led Thyendaga out, stripped him
rsked, except moccasins and breech-
cloth, and placed him at the head of the
lines. He sang no death song, but
looked proudly around upon his enemies.
THE word was given; the guards re-
leased him and closed up the gap behind.
But the brave Huron, instead Of running
between the ranks, leaped with one
mighty bound clear over the line to his
left, and few like the wind toward this
cliff. The Iroquois were struck with
wonder. No man had power to stir I'M
til Thyendaga had got far away. and
then, raising the warwhoop. they all
gave chase, spreading out like fan as
they ran. None had their bows, and
even now Thyendaga was beyond the
reach of arrows.
Straight and fast as a hunted deer
he leaped along, and when he came to
the top of the rock above Us, was the
half of mile ahead of his pursuers; but
they could see him all the time, for few
trees were here. Now he never stopped
or looked back, but with wild yell of
defiance sprang far out from the edge of
the rock, down, down into the deep wa
ters below. In little while the Iro-
quois, all crazy with anger, very much
mad, came up. Thyendaga was not TO
be seen; and they could not get down to
the river at this place. Some kept watch
on the bank, while others ran two miles
down TO the gap and brought back ca
noes. Everywhere they searched, but
no sign could they find of the Huron
warrior; and all then knew that he was
lying drowned at the bottom of the deep
hole where no hnecould reach.
I'm great shame they went back to
the camp, and the squaws and little
children made game of them. For had
not their prisoner escaped and died
without torture: But Minnekoma re-
joiced because of this thing; though she
greatly mOurned for her lover. Every
day she walked alone through the rocks
and forests, always weeping and calling
softly on the name of Thyendaga. None
followed or gazed upon her grief, for
they said: The maiden's heart is sore
Two moons passed away and the
leaves were falling, when one day she
wandered off TO the spot where Ojetla
died. Here for long time she stood,
family and sorrowfully whispering to
the soft wind again and again her lovers
name. Suddenly, near at hand, she
heard the rustic of leaves and the cooling
of a wood dove, and Thyendaga himself
stood before her. No words can tell her
Joy when she found it was indeed he,
and not his spirit, as she thought.
Quickly he led her to a safe hiding place
until it should grow dark, and as they
leaped that day into the deep waters, he
rose again and climbed up the vines into
a cave THAT one above u.s. which none
but he knew of, before the Iroquois came
to the river, and when the search was
ended and the black night came down
he escaped easily to his own people.
Also he told her that his canoe was now
concealed down the river, and he had
come to bear her off as his wife.
"Minnekomas heart was melted, and
when great darkness fell upon the earth
that night she went with the Huron
chief away across the lake to his home
The next day ali the Iroquois warriors
looked for her in vain; but with great
cunning they tracked the two footprints
over bare rocks and through thick woods
to the edge of the water. There they
found marks of canoe, and lying on the
sand chiefs totem, which Matchedash
well knew.
"'The Great Spirit, said he, has saved
Thyendaga, and he has borne off my
daughter. We viii make new peace
with the Hurons, for they are mighty and
strong 1t is good medicine
80, next moon, he sent the wise men
of his tribe with gifts of wampum and
tobacco and costly furs to that people;
for the old chief greatly loved his child
Thyendaga was now the head of the
Hurons, and for the sake of his wife he
accepted the gifts, and sent back many
rich presents and kind words in return.
Then all were happy. There was long
peace, and it was from the lips Of Min
nekoma that the Iroquois first knew Of
this cave have shown you"
Poor old John told this little story
with indescribsble pathos, and it may
be true. He lived for five years after
ward, and if ever an Indian deserved to
go to "The Happy Hunting Grounds"
surely it was he.-W. Thompson in New
York Ledger.