Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-13
HORSES BLUFF.
rY CHARLES n,cmAnpsoN.

ut only 10 scratch the ground to make
| the corn grow" said tall young In
dian chief, drawing himself up dlsdain-
fully,
And YOU" said the elder one. are
nothing but little boy, who has not
strength even to draw the bow. You
think you are powerful chief who
can conquer even the great sun. Go
home to the woman who nuiSed YOU
and put your crying baby face on her
breast, You wish Snowfoot for your
squaw, bur you are not old enough to
have Il squaw."
The tall young Indians face was dis
torted with anger and his hand in
siincthely sought the handle OF hla
tomahawk as his opponent uttered
these words,
| Yes" said he, IL wish SnowfOot for
my squaw, and | will have her or die.
You say | am boy" he continued,
that cannot fight; but viii show
you, who have been in 20 many battles,
who are brave man. that oven the
boy is stronger than tho man" and
he advanced threateningly until they
We're face to face, glaring into each
others eyes with fierce. tlger-liko
stare
You are a brave woman" then said
the elder chief mockingly, as he
Strengthened himself UP and folded
his arms across his breast. you are
| willing to fight when you have weap-
ons and your adversary has none.
| Strike,' said he, nerccly. FOR you viii
become renowned for your bravery in
attacking defenceless man, You will
be u big chief, and even the beasts OF
the forests VIII shake with fear at
| your greatness
The Young chief dashed his weapon
to the ground ana rctrrnted a few
steps; but, Jerking his long steel knife
from It's sheath, cried; Come ON you
I have knife, We viii soon see who N
the boy,-the spuaw," aud he advanced
until he was within a few steps Of his
| opponent
Each watched the other with fierce,
| tlger-like stare and they twisted und
handled their knives as u tiger Hicks
his Jaws Ia anticipation Of prey. Both
I were worked 10 the highest pitch "
/ anger. which amounted almost to mad
ness, They seemed to become nna.
tent az they fixed their fiery glare On
| each others faces. watching for the
| frat sign OF movement In the other
| lea begin the fight Gradually tho elder
brave began to Rtcalthlly walk around
! the younger one, as " To ma out or
discover good point OF attack
| Reindeer. FOR that was the young
| chiefs name, kept turning So that he
was always facing his opponent, but
had that majestic mlcn aud cnmpln-
cent air as If expecting tn quickly
| finish his opponent when the time came
for the struggle,
WhItchorac now discontinued his
stcalthy step, and seemed To- be SUM
morning all his strength for his attack
! His face grew horrible with its grim.
La als NHaflNa Ia II a
Till one would have thought he was
making great bodily eNcrtion.
| Cautiously and slowly he raised his
arm aud took one step forward as II
ready tn spring, Reindeer stood per
fectly still. Watching him closely, but
did not make u movement. except to
Ernsp his knife more firmly, as his
features set themselves into II look Of
firm determination, mixed with anger
a twlg snapped on to their right
| Each looked quickly around. and with
their backs to each other, they rc.
treated u few steps and glanced into
the thicket again.
An Indian maiden quickly stopped
Into view and stood silently watching
tho two chiefs, She was remarkable
for her beauty; her symmetry Of form,
Her hands and ftct were perfect: aud
her limbs had that development that
only such exercise az that obtained In
the forest can bring to such state uf
perfection. She was noted for her
tleetness OF foot and the agility with
which she sprang over wide chusms
and gOTgrg She led young braves
many long chase. ana had jumped
Rnrges before which they hcsitated.
Her arrow always went straight tu the
mark, aud there We're few among the
male scN who could pun the bow with
more surety of aim,
! Rrpwfout was the only daughter Of
"a nDWnpful ugirl hiring chief AhR
had shown no preference FOR any Of
the young chiefs who nspirrd FOR her
hand as yet. She knew her power over
these chlrfs, ana never failed to use Il
when IT was for her amusement and
advantage She was not surprised To
have heard the quarrel about herself
between Reindeer ana Whitchorse.
you talk as womrn.,' she Rnid nd-
dressing the two braves. you only
light with your tongues, like squaws
Your bravery ls as the dead leaves
which break and crumblc and are
blown away by little wind. Nor
che cried, as the two chiefs faced cnoh
other and were about to begin their
fight you must not fight now. Each of
you belongs to one Of the two strongest
tribes of this region. ] do not want to
marry the strongest man; for such II
would show II you fought now; for
only the man who was victor would
be stronger ] want TO marry the chief
who in not only the strongest and hraV-
est. but, also. the chief who mas the
strongest and bravest followers"
The braves stood silently listening to
what the maiden said with Indian
stcicism
Meet on Horse Bluff" she continued
when the sun begins TO set on the
morrow. each with the strongest and
bravest followers, and there highland
l will marry the victor"
The two Indians stood silently re-
gnrdlng each other till Reindeer turned
abruptly and said
80 he It." and picking up his toma-
hawk disappeared In the forest,
The maiden quickly put nm arrow In
her bow. aimed Mt bird as II circled
high IN the air, released the string ana
the arrow sped on it's missl IN. The
bird fell dead She then sped quickly
on into the forest jumping ever rocks
and fallen trunks OF trees with n grace-
fulness and ease that was astonishing.
Whltehorse walked away In the oppo-
site direction.
Horse Bluff was q Ho1nd on the
right bank Of the Mississippi, and was
AN island when the water rose high
enough. II rose about one hundred
and nifty feet to two hundred feet
from the waters edge, IL was about
Ave acres In area. and It's sides were