The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-13
XXI.


WHEREIN A BATTLE is FOUGHT
AND AKIlSKO COMES OFF VICTO-
RIOUS,
The prisoners slept little that night.
Both Renee and Tonti had undergone
a nervous excitement during the day
sufficient to keep every fiber tingling,
he at the discovery Of her love for
him, Ble upon learning the truth from
tie lips of Madame Bizard. Now that
tie heat of his encounter with Miron
hid subsidized, Tonti fell into a slough
of despair. Escape seemed impossible.
Renee's fate became more hideous
now that he knew her secret. Even
the satisfaction of dying together was
denied them. Renee was happy, re-
1oicing in the restoration to his proper
place Of the lover she had vainly
sought to forget; unmindful of the ter
rible ordeals the future might have
for her; believing vaguely that the dis
covery of her lovers faithfulness was
not for naught; that a means of cs-
cape would be accorded to them.
Akiesko alone of the three prisoners
had neither hope nor fear. He faced
the dawn of the day of suffering with
the stoicism of his race. He knew
that he would be sacrificed first, in Or
der to whet the appetite of the people
for blood so that the torture of Tonti
would be a lesson of greater enjoy
Inent to this captors. Help, unless il
came within a very few hours, could
not rescue him, eve if it were to ar
rive before TCnti's turn m A feel
ing akin to sorrow invaded his savage
heart at the thought Of the disappoint-
ment and injury that would come to
La Sale from the loss Of Tonti. A
feeling Of pity for the white girl, whose
days t~henceforward would be a death
in life, then followed. Last of all, the
hatred of hts tribe against his enemies
Burged across his mind, celebrating all
other feelings, and his thoughts were
filled with plans how to endure his
pains bravely and give defiance to them
until the very last.
Thus passed the weary hours of
darkness to the three captives. The
camp was astir at dawn, and the sound
of voices and din of preparation for
tho days festivities smote ominously
upon their ears. Food vas served to
each at breakfast time. After moor
they were summoned to the begin
ming OF the santurnalia of bestial
cruelty.
In an open place in the center of the
town were gathered the Indians, who
ranged themselves in an elongated cir
Gle, dawn the center of which were
piled Al intervals seven brush heaps
ready for lighting. Equidistant from
each end a small scaffold some six
feet from the ground had been built.
On N OF them Miron had reserved
a seat, n on each side of himself for
Renee and Tonti, 80 situated that they
would be witnesses of the ensuing
scene. He greeted them with a sar-
donic smile, and wished them all man
Der TT pleasure during the coming
hours. Tonti's hands were securely
bound. but his feet were free.
They were scarcely settled when an
opening in the throng on the opposite
side was made and through 1t Akiesko
was led, with every mark of respect
and attention from those attending
him. His escort consisted of some 80
Jr 40 OF the young men of the tribe,
Who advanced singing and dancing.
The prisoner strobe along haughti1y in
their midst, clad in a magnificent
beaver robe, with a STING of polished
,~nulticolored shells about his neck and
a smaller one placed like a wreath or
crown about his head. He was greet
ed by a friendly shout from the wait
Ing crowd. The procession marched
about the edges of the II rong, so that
all could catch a glimpse of the con-
demned. Finally they conducted him
to a Jog placed in the center of the
open rpace and he was seated. Food
was set before him, sagamite,
s%quasfey, yenison and fruit. AS his
wrists were bound, one Of the chief
men was deputed to feed him.
"HaTe. my nephew" he said gravely
and in the kindest tones, "cat Of this
food your friends have prepared for
you. Il will give you strength. Eat
and hsSe no fear, for no one 1. doing
you aey hsrm. Behold thysclf now
among Il Y kindred end thy friends"
When ..hin portiox If the r'psgt was
nnishca. 4 Cog whicA had brsu placed
% a ketsle ncar-ba and bbUcd, was
produced, and balrA cut intp pieces
a ~"rnysn.aah aiza. was nrafantsd to