The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-04


If could not hold my head still as the
arrows came. 'Tzst-tu-un-ng!" buzz
zed the first, and quivered in the wood
not an inch from my left ear, its SHAFT
standing out well across my face. Then
came it's fellow over the other ear, its
shaft touching the first. Then one at
my crown and others following fast,
until seven had encircled my head. He
now threw his Ratchet, and that, too,
stuck between the arrows, it's handle
against my temple. A young warrior
recovered it for him and he drove it
again in the other side. Withdrawing
it, he now gave place to others noted
among the various tribes for their skill
at such practice. Some threw knives,
which were left quivering in the wood,
but all hatchets were withdrawn.
/ had thus far withstood this test in
manner that surprised myself, and
was fast gaining confidence, when an
incident l had begun to hope would
not occur, took place. Bounding Buck,
young and intensely eXcitable Onon-
daga, threw a large knife, which, COM
ing at my forehead, struck high,
glanced off and went rafting among
the fagots gathered for the burning,
while the blood flew out over my face
and breast. There was now a general
tumult, and derisive epithets were
hurled at him from all sides, while the
squaws cast mud and gravel at him.
He retired in great apparent discom-
future. Brant seemed considerably dis
turbed by this incident. He cam fool
Injun," he muttered, as he drew a
bundle of fagots to my feet, that he
might be high enough to examine my
wound 1t was bleeding freely and
Ioolxad oh a1tbOI1ob
reality but a scratch. He reached be-
hind him and Little Aaron, obedient to
his request, handed him a huge quid
of tobacco. This he crowded into the
open cut. The smart was intense.
Look out for yourself! I'm going to
kick" l whispered and with that l
sent him spraWling. He played his
part well, scrambling to his feet in ap-
parent fury; and dancing about me
with drawn knife, made as If to slice
my ears. I kicked out vigorously, and
a half dozen of his warriors threw
themselves about my legs and crowded
about me. AS they did so, Brant made
as if to slice off my right ear, but
missed and fell against me, at the same
time Whispering: Flight hard! Cut
cords bymeby!" 1 kept struggling and
wagging my head. Little Beard, half
crazed with drink. now came rushing
up, fourishing his knife, and calling
for one ear. Walter Butler, too drunk
to walk straight, early as was the hour,
called to them all to stand back while
he sliced off my nose with his sword.
At this instant, l felt the cords at my
wrists loosen and a young buck whis-
pered in my ear: Run troo gantlet!
Jump rope 'tudder end"
The second I was free, I threw my
tormentors from me as I might have
done so much straw. Butler in jump
ing backward, caught his heel and
sprawled on the ground, his sword fly
ing yet farther back. AS ] caught it
up Little Beard made a vicious knife
thrust at me. and ripped my right arm
well up on the shoulder. He also at
tempted to follow me, but the first
sweep of the sword caught him through
his prominent nose. Had he been six
inches nearer me, his head must have
been sliced clean off AS it was, the
point of the weapon cut through gristle
and bone, across both cheeks just be-
low the eyes. I did not linger, but
darted like an arrow down the gauntlet
enclosure, waving the keen blade about
my head. The long row of squaws had
left their positions on either side of
the path prepared for me, and crowding
forward to see the fun, were now hud-
died about the entrance. With the
most blood-curdling yells / could utter
l bore down at them, and they scat
tered like chaff. One tall, agile young
squaw little Abraham's Lucy, swung
in behind me, and for hundred yards
struck me about the waist at every
jump-the 1.-THE water beech CAD fetch
ing blood at each stroke. She was
l,,k ,1,n 1,S,1
such incentive as those singing strokes
on my bare flesh gave me, and l soon
distanced her
And now at the end of the gauntlet
enclosure huddled the Mohawk guard.
Could I place reliance on Thayendane-
gas word? Would they let me go
through? The fence on either side was
high, but had not 1 better get over it?
Mo- l would not. Brant had been true
to me thus far, and l would follow the
program. My heart sank as I saw the
crowd before me. Twenty-Five if one,
and all bowling like wolves. No weap-
ons were hourished, but rope of twist
ed willow bark was stretched from one
stockade to the other, and moved up
and down as if to trip me. 1 ran as if
intending to jump it, but stopping sud
denly, cleft it with blow Of the sword.
cleared a path, and the open fields and
woods were before me. l looked off
over my right shoulder to the north
west and caught a glimpse of Beacraft
and Mcdonald astride of horses and
riding hard. They had rushed to horse
at the torture tree, and rode down out
side the stockade to see the fun when
I was stopped, but the swiftness and
the quickness with which I had broken
through had surprised them. I was 300
yards ahead of them, whereas they had
expected to meet me. l did not be-
lieve they were gaining on me, for
was running faster than 1 ever had
before. Time and again had I made 200
yards and the return quicker than any
pony in the Oneida camp, and now that
my life was at stake, l could surely
do better
The wind was fairly whistling past
my ears, and my long hair stood out
behind as I bounded down
the first slope to the rivers brink, and
then ran south along the gravel. 1 was
making for a slight bluff ahead, from
which / hoped to take a header that
should take me we'll out into the mid
die of the river. come up for mouth
full of air and then dive again. My
closest pursuer was Pocky Seth, slim
young Mohawk from tne upper castle
Built like a greyhound and compare
lively fresh, for I had run 700 yards, he
kept well with me. Soon he began to
gain and I was thinking of turning on
him when between his clenched teeth
1 heard: Canoe so yards ahead"
There it lay, half drawn up on the
upper side of a little bar. Catching it
up as l ran into the water I threw my
self into it and shot out into the open
river just as Seth, catching his toe by
accident or design, fell sprawling. The
young Mohawks coming after fell over
him. and for a space of is Seccndsx