Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-05-23
THE STORY OF A LANCE HEAD.
Romance Of Spaniart Who DHst Among the BIackfsst

night they camped by deep, swift
stream. Some of the prairie people
must have seen and followed them, for
as they sat about the fire toasting
some meat the air was suddenly filled
with, arrows, and all of the strangers
companions fell over with scarcely a
cry or struggle. He, too, was hit
deep in the thigh, but pulled the ar
row out, and with one Jump went over
the high bank into therushing stream.
He foated and swan long way with
the current and then, crawling out on
the shore, started to cross the valley
out to the rolling. plain. When he
left this stream the next morning he
travelled two days without finding
water or anything to eat, aud then he
must have gone crazy, for the ne1t
thing he knew he was in our lodge.
-."Well, when he had told his story,
my father asked him what he intonded
to do; if he would return to his coun-
try, or remain with us. He said that
he could never go back, much as he
wished to, for the great chief would
kill him; so ho would stay with us as
long as he lived. That pleased my
father; he gave him my sister for
wife, a lodge, rich clothing, good
weapons and many horses. We named
him Spai-yu, which is the word for
his tribe of white men.
$50 the years went on, and I grew
up to be tall, strong young man.
One day we were riding together
ahead of the great camp, which was
moving from the Belt mountains to
the big falls on the Missouri, when he
said to me:
Brother, something is continually
pulling at my heart to return to my
country. Not to stay, but just to
punish that bad brother of mine. I
have tried hard to. resist this, for the
sake of my wife, but can do SO no
longer. I must CO., Will you take
the trail with me?'
"Of course would, and 400 war;
riors came with us. We travelled very
slowly, as we had long way to 60,
and wished to keep our horses always
strong and fat. Sometimes we camped
two o. three days at q time, where
game was plentiful and the grass good,
hunting while our animals rested.
After following mp the Mountain Sheep
river, we kept on south along the foot.
iof the great range, and after some
sdaJSscros oyera onSa trail used by
ths tribes OF that country, and again
tray yeled to the south. There the coun-
try was not SO open, aud many little
ranges of mountains barred cur path.
After many days we came again to
great open plains where the buffalo
were plentiful, but the country was
dry, and we often suffered for water.
One day we saw in the distance what
looked like a great fat rock, upon
which people were moving about, and
Spai-yu told us it was made of mud
by the people who lived in it. AS We
rode nearer, those Of the strange build
ers who were not around on the plain
climbed up sticks to the top of the
walls, and then pulled up the sticks.
Often, too, we passed. great herds of
beautiful, large, strong horses, and we
hated to leave them; but Spei-yu had
promised all We could drive away of
those belonging to him and his
brother, and we did in all things as
he wished us to. At last, one evening,
we came to low ridge covered with
trees, and he told US to camp, for on
the other side of it, in q broad, open
valley, was his home. BY many
camp fire op the way we had splanned
just what should be done, and now,.
as we lay in the brush, without fire or
shelter, we talked it all over for the
last time. .
''With the first light of morning
we saddlcd up and rode to the top of
the ridge, where, looking out through.
t6e:trees, We saw the great stone lodge,
surrounded by beautiful grove. On
TALL sides of it were wide fields, where
many things were planted. "A little
further up the valley were many low,
wooden lodges, where lived, the people
who worked these fields; they were
Indians, and no great fighters, we had
been told. Still further away We
! could see the hillsides covered with
/ horses, and our. hearts were glad.
Presently the people came out Of their
lodges and wentto work. q
sNow, my friends, said Spai-yu,
we will charge; remember what I have
80 often told you: No women are to
be killed; you will know my brother
by his light red hair, and must not
touch him; leave him to me-
'The nextinstant we were off; quiet
ly at first, but as the nearer workers
saw us and ran for their lodges, we
gave the war cry and rode like the
| wind. Many of the people gained the
lodges before we did, and from doors
and windows fred guns at us. A few
fell; the rest of us pushed on, jumped
from our horses and rushed in; the
larger part of our baud had gone to
the upper lodges, and I was with
Spai-yu and the rest before the stone
lodge. A lot of men were in front of
the great doors, and at their head I
saw the red-haired one; they all had
guns and pistols and were shooting at
us. It was but for a second, though,
end then the most, of them lay dead
where they had stood, and we rushed
inside after the few who fed. The
red-haired one ran into great room
at the left, Spai-yu and at his heels.
He rar to a couch, grasped sword,
and turned on US, making lunge at
my friend. Spai-yu said something
and struck the sword with his war
club SO that it flew away to distant
corner, aud at the same time the bad
mar recognized his brother, fell on his
knees, and knew that he was praying
for his life. looked at Spai-yu; he
was smiling like little child, which
was his way when very angry. All the
rest OF the men in the lodge had now
been killed by our companions, who
came crowding around US. had