Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-23
CHAPTER xIx

At an early hour the Great Sun and
Stung Serpent were astir, and when the
first rays of the morning sun darted into
the beautiful vale, they rested upon all
the warriors OF the Natchez there as
sembled Such as had Pistols carefully
loaded them, aud hid them away with
their hunting knives N their bosoms.
Their tomahawks were sharpened aud
slnng to their belts. and all took their
guns. Then each man OF the common
class went and got his bag OF corn, and
having set IL down. they commenced their
war dance. But they made not such hide
Gus noise as usual--oaly enough to pro-
pitiate the Great Spirit, and make him
acquainted with their intent,
1t was well in the morning whe a they
set out and by the mid lie Of the forenoon
they reached Natehez. They entered the
place dancing and singing. and straight
way carried their corn to the fort. Then
the red men began to separate-some this
way and some that. Every house had
one or more visitors, according TO the
number OF people in it. Some begged for
milk. some asked to buy powder and shot.
for which they promised 10 pay in corn
al some future day. A richly stored
barge lay at the pier. which had come up
the day before. and on board this num-
her OF Indians crowded Into the fort
they erept by different ways. presenting
themselves wherever there was a white
man. until at length they were distribut-
ed wherever there was blow to be
struck.
At length sort of solemn Stiffness
~ L.
the death-angel had hushed all hearts.
But harkl What is that horrid yell that
comes from the fort-a yen that makes
the very blood freeze, and causes the
hair to stand on end? What are thos,
fearful cries those maniac shouts-and
those despairing groans2
The general assassination of the
French took SO little time that the execu-
ton of the deed and the preceding signals
were almost one and the same thing. one
single discharge closed the whole affair.
Ii cost tie Natchez only twelve men TO
destroy two hundred an hlty, through
the fault Of the commap ling ol1cer. who
alone deserved the fate when was shar-
ed by his unfortunate companions.
Some half dozen Frenchmen escaped,
as By miracle, this general massacre,
and made their way to New Orleans in
safety The women aud children OF the
whites were mostly saved 10 be kept as
! prisoners.
OF course the Natchez supposed that
/ all the whites in the country We're now
| dead. Not one of them dreamed that
| they had been deceived into striking a
| week too earlr. SO they caroused in the
| town all night, and on the next morning
| they started sor their village. They had
| spared two men whom they retained as
/ prisoners, ana who escaped from them
/ after having served them some weeks.
| One was wagner. named Mayeux, Who
i was kept to transport the goods OF the
/ French 10 the Indian village; and the 9th
err was a tailor named Lebeau. whose SER
vices they wanted ia faShioniug the
French garments To their own use.
On the next morning White Hand was
startled 10y the return of the Natchez.
He went ont. hut his heart sickencd at
the scene he was destined 30 witness.
! Two hundred and City human heads
But those who know the Indian charac-
ter San imagine the horrid orgies they
might hold when fred with revenge and
flushed with victory. Even the historian,
who deals only With stubborn facts, lays
down his pen in silent horror when he
finds himself in the midst of L.eheau's
narrative OF what hc saw in the Indian
village. and bids his readers spare him
the recital.
White Hand crept back 20 his 10 ige
and CoQualla found him there paie and
faint She bathed his temples aud brow
and after a while he revived, but he dar
cd not ventare out.
Alas. my companion" murmurcd the
princess, they make hofrid pomp over
their victory. but il has cost them dear
though jhey realize il BOT now Nv peo
pie are now blind. but they shah awak,
TO sense and sight and know thar th'
! best man Of them ali is gomez
"Coqualla? uttered the youth, startin.
up. 1t was Il mere tntcrrogauve.
MY father is wounded, even unit
death And as the maiden thus spok
she bowed her head ana the big tear
trickled down between her fingers.
when? How" asked White Hand
forgetting for the moment the deep terro