Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-07-28
NEW SERIES, VOL. XXI, NO. 80.

around to the Indian camp and gave it
TO a young man who happened to have
his horse staked near by, charging him
to go with all haste and deliver the note
TO the captain When 1 returned TO the
lodge found Culver was sinking rap
idly. He was suffering intensely, but
never complained, and slowly and dis
tinctly instructed his people rs to tho
disposition of his property. Then the
good father began to administer the last
sacraments, and sadly left the lodge
and went home. In a httlc while the
father Joined me.
HE is dead?'' asked
eyes
"And Pai-o-tah?''
''She tainted; the old women are ca--
ing for her.
Supper was called, but neither of us
cared to eat. We sat in silence . long
time, and finally the father said:
Never, during my long life in this
wild and wicked land, have / ever seen
or heard of such dastardly act as that
fiend committed this afternoon. Can =
man be human, is he born of woman,
who will deliberately shoot down n fell
low creature in cold blood? And what
is to be do,ia? Is there no justice in the
land? Can he not be punished for his
crime?''
''wait, father" 1 replied "I have
sent n note up to the soldier camp in
forming the captain of the affair. No
doubt he will send some men down to
arrest the fellow
Some time after dark my messenger
returned and handed me an envelope,
the same one in which 1 had inclosed
my note. On the back of it, written in
pencil, were the following words:
Outside my Jurisdiction. Send to Fort Ben
ton for tho sheriff. CAPTAIS -.
Send 800 miles for the sheriff. And
in the meantime the murderer would be
far away, perhaps over on the Yellow
stealing raid. That night the father
and went to bed with heavy hearts
Early the next morning we made
preparations for burying Culver. Out
of such material as was at hand made
a rude coffin and lined it with soft new
blankets. The father made a cover for
it of black cloth and, true to his faith,
sewed in the center large white cross.
Then down at the lower end of the bot
tom, beneath the cottonwoods, we dug
the grave, and before noon we laid the
poor fellow IN it. In the afternoon the
father and again sat ont in the shade
of the house, trYing to get breath of
fresh air. The June sun shines fearfully
hot in those Missouri river bottoms.
But this afternoon there was no smok-
ing or chatting. Each of US was occu-
pied with his OWN thoughts, and they
were sad and oppressive.
There had been high old times in the
saloon during the night, n perfect frenzy
of drink and carousal, which had lasted
far into the morning, and now the
ruffians were sleeping off the effects of
it. Presently we saw the murderer come
out, bareheaded, barefooted and strip
ped to the waist. He glanced impudent-
ly at us, and, going ON to tho river not
many yards away, stopped down and be-
gan to bathe his head. AS watched
him the father suddenly pressed my
arm, and, looking up, 1 saw Pai-o-tah,
rifle in hand, slipping up toward the
bather
ut must not ber' murmured the
father " Vengeance is mine, saith the
Lord. Twill repay" and he started
to rise
1 grasped his arm and forced him
back into his chair.
"You shall not interfere, father" 1
said in low voice. "Thcre is some
thing in the same book about AN eye
for an eye, a tooth for tooth, F" and 1
held him with firm grip.
Don't cry out, continued. ''for
the fellow has pistol in his belt and
might kill the woman"
And now Pai-o-tah was but few
yards from the sloping bank of the river.
Raising the gun TO her shoulder. we
heard her call out in loud, clear voice,
''Nap-i-kwan" (white man). AS the man
kept on bathing, she said again, much
more loudly, "Nap-i-kwanr' This time
he heard, and, looking over his shoulder.
saw her standing there with tho rife
pointed at him. Quick as a fash he
sprang to his feet, whirled around and
pulled his revolver; but, quicker still,
Pai-o-tah pulled the trigger, and at the
report the Desperate threw up his arms,
reeled and fell over backward into the
river. There was heavy splash, and
then the deep and treacherous current
claimed its own. Once, twice, we saw
a hand rise above the surface of the
water and then slowly disappear and
pass out Of sight forever. Poor Culver
was avenged. York Sun