Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-23

which each comanche warrior, ready
for the war path, would sink his toma-
hawk into the skull Of the unfortunate
white.
"As we approached my captors had
announced our presence by series of
prolonged yells. Almost Immediately
the dancing warriors broke circle and
surrounded MS. One of the Indians who
had accompanied us, and who seemed
TO be a man of no little Importance
among his red brothers, briefly related
my capture, as could easily tell from
the gestures made in my direction,
though the words were NIL Greek TO me.
"Leering in my face, two stalwart
Comanches dragged me from my sad
die. Fierce hands pushed me against
the post near the fire, which scorched
my face and almost smothered me, and
the circle of hideous dancers closed
around me.
my advent was the signal for every
dog, squaw and child in the camp to
hasten to the scene of excitement and
add to the general uproar, and assist in
the duty Of heaping insults upon the
white captive
81 noticed that the number Of indians
was something immense, and concluded
that they had been joined by warriors
from some other tribe. l rightly con-
jectured that they were celebrating
their union with a might war dance,
preparatory TO general uprising
against the whites.
THE dance was renewed with vigor,
the entire population Of the camp, as 1t
appeared to me, joining in the mad
scene. They jumped and whooped
about me, gesticuiating and brandish-
ing their tomahawks and spears, deriv-
ing intense enjoyment from terrifying
me without injuring me bodily.
THE chief finally terminated the
dance by ordering special couheu 70
decide the question whether it would
not be as we'll to turn their war DANCE
into scalp dance, a nd begin their w6r
against their enemies by scalpipg 90
and finishing my tortures at the stake.
I understood this from the CHIEF hin.
self, who addressed the jewellers In
broken English.
"a brawny Comanche brave led me
to the chiefs wigwam, where I was to
be guarded until my fate was decided
at the grand council.
! CAS- the red warriors rushed away to.
ward the place of council, was pushed
into the chiefs lodge, where I sank
hopeless and utterly exhausted upon a
pallet of skins In one corner OF the
tepee. My guard, with grunt of dis
approval at being obliged to stay away
from the council, stationed himself on
a large rock at the door of the tepee,
from which he could catch the sound Of
the orators voices at the council, while
he smoked in characteristic stolid
moroseness. He had not neglected the
precaution to equip himself with both
spear and tomahawk, and he presented
on the whole the appearance of very
formidable guard.
Might wore on, and I could hear,
eyer and anon. voices in oratorical
Pitch, which I knew came from the
council where was the subject upder
august consideration. 1t took them a
long while to come to a verdict with
regard TO my disposal, and continued
TO hear them murrnur, as II In hot dis
pute over the method Of my doom.
Nearly two hours must have dragged
by since I had been brought to the
chiefs tepee. Suspense was gnawing
deeply within me. can never give
anyone the faintest idea of the misery
which I suffered there in waiting to
learn my doom. l tried earnestly To
WOO an indifferent mood, to think Of
friends far away; but every effort to do
so only served to unnerve me more.
The chiefs wigwam was a large
two-roomed tepee. Suddenly slight
stir in the opposite room attracted my
attention. In another moment my eyes
caught the dull CLEAN Of Knife blade
Parting the bark of the tepee's parti-
ton close to where my head reclined
on the skins.
"What did it mean? Instantly I was
all alert. Did have secret foe in
that village, who intend ed to put me
out of the way before the Comanches
could butcher me by inches? could
easily have alarmed my guard, who
kept his old position before the door;
but what proof had that he was not
in league with my secret assassin?
II lay perfectly quiet, watching
epxiously the small op ening made in
the bark partition neaf my head. Was
1t an enemyp
Presently the knife blade was with
drawn, and through the opening came
a low, cautious whisper which thrilled
ME through aid through.
"'White man! listen! quicki
There was no secret enmity in that
voice. Instantly I shifted my head
until my ear just res ted against the
slit in the bark OF the tepee.
"'White man remember BiokaT said
the voice close to my ear.
Instantly recognized both voice
and owner. Bioka was an intelligent
Kiowa boy of sixteen whom / had
seen at the foft with some traders OF
his own tribe. / had made the boy
some triAing present, and while the
traders had remained at the fort Bioka
was much of his time at our camp ID
that way had become well acquainted
with the young Kiowa.
"But how came Bioka at that village7
l had been told that the Kiowas and
Comanches were inveterate enemies
and were constantly warning against
each other. However, Bioka SOON &C.
counted for this.
"'Bioka has been to the council Of
the Comanches. II has heard whis-
pered the boy Listen! The Kiowas
have come to the village of the Co.
manches. Their hate is buried, and
together they will war against the
whites Bioka was forced to come,
though he cannot love the bad Co.
manches, who killed his fa ther.'
THE whispers were SO gentle that
they did not disturb my sullcn, sphinx.
like guard, smoking away before the
tepee and listening to the din still kept
up at the council.
almost breathlessly ! listened tc
Riolxa as he yvhisn cred to me the YER.