The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-12-22

~Tou betv' responded the bereayed


Is" and Charley drew the rudel
formed and now flattencd slug fror
his pocket, THE wound didn't amonn
to much. though, but the will was goo
enough"
"And who else told you Of this mine :?
asked rough Ben Todd, an old and ex
perienced miner.
"A drunken buck that came acros
at Maricopa Wells; he was wonGerfully
free-spoken, for an Injun."
And did he dcscrib. the same min.
as the girl" asked the old trapper.
TO an iota." Charley replied.
flush! To cover" the Kentuckiar
said. There are Indians yonde~"
| The whites at once took shc,ter ir
the little clump OF timber that grew
| upon the islands center
Then from the clump of timber Mt the
foot of the mountain range single
Indian advanced. while the under.
brush seemed alive with the duskv
faces.
Straight to the bank Of the river
came the brave, his arms extended
showing that he was weaponless. ex.
cept the broad bladed knife that he
held in his right hand.
he wants a talk" the trapper eN-
claimed. 'We're in regular hornets
nest. and we must fool him If we can. ="
Ihe Indian halted at the edge of the
water. He was a tall, young brave,
muscular and powerful.
"Will the white brave. Spanish
Charley, step out and fight the brother
of the Indian girl that he killed 2" cried
the chief speaking in excellent English.
Spanish Charley started and turned
pale.
"The Apaches make fair offer; they
do not wish to shed the blood of their
white brothers. They have nothing
worth taking. and the Apache lodges
are full Of white scalps now. Let
Spanish Charley step out, and if he
kills the Apache chief in fair fight he
IS free to depart with his braves
IF you're afeared, Charley, I'll tackle
the Injine for you," the Kentuckian re-
marked.
The taunt stung the guilty man and
he started to his feet.
NO living man ever saw Spanish
Charley show the white feather yeti"
he cried. boastfully. I'm cut the
heart out of this red dog inside of five
minutes, and send him to join his
prOud-backed sister. Come on; I'm
ready for you" he cried, stepping
down to the waters edge, knife in
hand.
Tht Indian pointed to a sandy bar
about 200 yards down the stream.
LET the white chief meet the Apache
brave there" the warrior said.
Spanish Charley nodded his head,
and throwing off his outer garments,
plunged at once into the water.
The Indian followed his example.
The rcdskin was not encountered with
clothing, being naked to the waist
The cOmbatants reached the island,
both at the same time, and as Spanish
Charley emerged from the water atone
side, the Indians tall form came up on
the other.
Knife in hand, the foemen glared up
on each other, With the cautious
Of two angry tigers. they
circled around, each striving to obtain !
the advantage.
Suddenly the Indian made a spring
o,1 1n ~
fensive to parry the expected blow, |
but it was but feint upon the part !!
IF the Apache; for as Charley raised |
his arm to parry. he uncovered his |
chest, and the Indian, improving the
launched his knife full |
It the heart Of the white. throwing the
weapon with all the skill of the East /
,rn juggler.
Through Spanish Charley's white
iesh and keen blade cut its way until |
t split his heart in twain.
With hollow groan the unfortunate
nan threw up his arms and sank down
lead, all in a heap.
A shrill cry Of triumph came from the
hroat of the Apache as he sprung for
ward and tore the warm and reeklnS
calp from the head of his fallen foe.
Again the note of triumph rang on
he air, as the brave stood erect and
tangled the curly locks, Spanish
1harley's pride in the air; and from
he cover of the hills a hundred throats
choed the cry of triumph.
And then, all in a moment. the shout
4 joy changed into a wall of horror.
The rife of Montana Mike spoke, and
is ball drilled round, red hole in the
emple of the victor.
ale was my pard, bays cried the
rishman, in answer to his comrades
The whites expected terrible fight
or life; but contrary to their expecta-
ion, the savGges did not attack.
The Apaches thirsted for revenge.
mt feared the death dealing rifles; be-
Ides, no booty could be got.
When, nightfall came. the whites
withdrew from the island and fed
owf the river, h6tly pursued by the
lPaches; but they made Fort Goodwin
|