The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-01

',,aotnp his bnck against &c rock. stood
60 f;erceIy at bay that the redskins
naused for moment. either through IN
voluntary respect or rear.
however valiant. could not long over
awe twenty, and Tom well knew that ne
! must he speedily oyerpowered, II not
slain on the spot. Yet there WAS IN
the man n contemptuous. STUBBORN cour-
are which would not let him yield to
| such foes.
Several of the Indians had guns. but
| a was not their policy to create an
alarm. Hence. instead of at once shoot
| Ing down their fearless enemy. they
made simultaneous rush upon him
not scntheless however: for. before any
could strike n blow the two nearest war
| riors fell stunned by as many lightning
strokes from the blunt back of the I'm
perled mans tomahawk.
TRUE GRATITUDE.
And now. their bloodthirsty instincts
thoroughly aroused, the remaining eigh-
teen savages threw themselves furiodsiy
upon their expected prey. But their
very numbers irnpeded the immediate
contamination OF vengeance. weapons
warrior tried to be first In delivering a
death blow. so that he might claim the
coveted scalp; while two or three gleam-
ing tomahawks, which might have
reached his head, were skillfuily par-
ried by Tom, who. with set. resolute
face. fought as might nm imprisoned lion
baited by jackaIs.
Pushed on by those behind, the lead
ing braves came closer and closer-al-
most within knife reach--and in few
brief seconds all must have been over
when, just at this critical moment
there sounded near at hand n ringing
whoop. Instantly recognized by the be-
lAfYt nfFt
their own nation. Turning I'm wondering
amazemcnt, they saw. bearing down
upon them with whirlwind speed. n
mounted one armed warrior, who hold
Ing the single rein of his foaming horse
In his teeth brandishcd aloft in his right
hand formidable though spikeless
war club.
Ugh! Tah-to-ka-no! Tah-to-ka-no MOI"
yelled the afrighted mnrauders, scatter
Ing Hike scared coyotes. But ere they
could gain cover the avenger was In
their midst. and at every sweep of his
strong right arm n warrior measured
his length on the earth, stricken down
by the terrible club.
None dared to resist, for Tah-to-ka-
no, now chief In place of his deceased
father. was well known to them all: he
had not they shrewdly surmtscd. come
alone, and should 80 much as a hair
Of his head be injured q swift and fear
iui ietIiDutiDIl would follow.
Including the two knocked down bv
Tom. eight of the Indians now law
senselcss on the field, and the Others
scurried away, leaving behind the
stolen horses and mules. which they
had temporarily concealed In an nd
joining coulee.
You saved my life. Tah-to-k a- nor
cried Tom as he rushed forward and
threw his arms In loving cmbrace
around the young chief.
And did not my white brother save
mine at the risk of his own sever win
tiers aEo?' rejoined Tah-to-ka-no, en-
circlin3 Toms neck with his arm.
And is not this" he added, the hap.
piest moment your red friend has
ever known"
But how did YOU happen to o,me
just In the nick of timer" asked Tom,
MY dad did not go on the war pa tn
aginst the whites" replied the chief,
and only last evening I heard that
bad Indians ,cf our nation who had been
with Sitting Bull, were stealing horses
and ill-usinE the people OF their set
Elements"
Fearing that my brothers family
might suffer, l set out at once with
twenty-five of my young men. We rode
hard all night. but. my pony being tho
sw , l outstripped the others, who
VIII be here presently and if these
thieves had harmed YOU not one OF
them would have been left alive: for al
OIL my braves remember YOU well and
Know what you and yours did for tie
chief"
Even while Tah-to-ka-no spoke, his
warriors came sweeping into view or
his trail. and. on seeing how matters
stood. IT required 'all the eloquence al
ooth young men to prevent them max
ing summary, vengeance on the crest.
ralien raiders. who had now revived anC
were sneakng off like whipped hounds
Each of the newly arrived Indians
warmly shook hands with Tom. and
then the whole party. taking the rescued
stock along, went with him to the farm
where they and their jaded horses were
well cared for; and where. as welcome
guests, they remained two weeks BY
which time all danger OF further raids
was past.
Though not yet quite 30 Years of age
Tah-to-ka- no had become an exceeding
~ fine-looking athletic man, and partly
through his individual proves. partly
through the ruGiments of education oh
tanned by his early association with
the Morgans, The influence he welded
among his followers was unbCundcd
To such influence was solely owing tho
fact that not one member of his bant
had joined the Sioux and other hostiles
whose murdcrous assault at the Little
Big Horn, on that fatcful 25th OF June
had resulted so disa strOuSly to the gal.
liant Custer and his command
While travelling through North Doko
10 in the summer of 1876. ! happened
to visit the Morgan farm at the time
Tah- to-ka-nos band was there. and