Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-26
md. a1ed a barbed arrow 70 the

hed scar thrust bis left foot FOL
ward. the muscles of his right arm
swelling into ridges as he drew tn
arrow to the head. Then came
l clatter of feet. the fash OF a horse
man; Red Scar was hurled backwar,
TO the earth; there was a shout o
triumph, and Tsilta was swept from
e the ground by a ci-cling ARMAND
; they were gone.
! "Zip-koh-etai" shouted a hundred
/ voices as the daring rider whirled
, away. On and on across flower.
deekei prairie and grass-grown rise,
through wooded streams they sped
Night came, and they were alone
In a wooded dell where a bubbling
spring refreshed them. The tired
horse cropped the tender grass; the
stars kept watch.
"one sleep. and then Zip-koh-eta
will go back and fight" he whispered.
as they sat with his one robe around
both their bodies He must go back
and prove to all the men that he has
right TO call Tsilta wife.
The day was yet young when a man
and woman on single horse halted
before the lodge Of Satanic, chief OF
the Kiowas.
by the law Of the Kiowas. Zip-koh-
eta asks for fairness in fight with Red
Scar" said the man.
'The law of the Kiowas shall not be
broken" answered the great chief
There was the beating of the council
drum. The warriors quickly assem-
bled. The aged medicine man arose
and made known the law Of the
Kiowas touching the case of Red Scar
and Zip-koh-eta:
Should a warrior steal anothers
wife and remain away one sleep and |
then return, he preserves his place |
and right of warrlor-the right TO |
fight to the death with the offended
husband. But should he be caught, |
or should he kill one who pursued |
him, or should he not return. in any
such case he shall be considered an
outlaw, and therefore worthy OF death,
and must suffer as criminal. Zip
koh-eta stood ready TO meet in NOR
tai combat the aggrieved Red Scar,
who must fight or cease to be a men,
Der Of the tribe, or, remaining. must
cease to be a warrior. They must fight
to the death at the pleasure OF the
victor.
Now" said Satanta, when the med
icine man had finished, 'let the men
meet in fight"
That fight fingers yet in the memo
ries of the Kiowas, and the prowess
OF one of the combatants is still sung
by the camp fires and at the feasts
The men faced each other, stripped
to the skin, save for bit of buckskin
about their loins. The people stood
In a great circle about the combat
ants.
A knife was handed to each one at
he same time. Red Scar took his
With a savage grab, and the fight was !
IN. Zip-koh-eta went with a rush, {,
but halted just out Of reach of the !
)ther's knife, which described a cir
ling sweep. Not for a moment did Red y
scar take his cleaning gaze from the
ace of the youth, and with great self
waited for a favorable OPP I
'ortunity for one good thrust. :.
Red Scar is stiff-legged buffalo," "
augaed the youth 'auntingly as he
up out of reach "He has
hosen the place which his blood shall
make red" There was no reply.
He crept out into the darkness and Il
tuck his knife into the back of his q
est friend. He is a coyote, who .
ares not fight in the daytime" STILL "
0 reply from the grim warrior. The
apple youth lurchcd back just in time :
} avoid a vicious stab as Red Scar y
,ok one quick advancing step. Then n
anne the most insulting epithet that a
,uld possibly be applied to a Kiowa y
arrior. Zip-koh-eta thrust out his
ice, while a sneering smile played u
YER It. Red Scar is a woman"
e did not finish the sentence. He
the marred visage bounded for vi
ard, there was a swish Of his knife
hich the other narrowly escaped; =
1T before he could recover, the
lgers of Zip-koh-eta closed upon his IN
roat-a grapevine twist of the leg, n'
thud on the ground, and Red Scar
y upon his back with eyes staring
ON their sockets as he gasped for nj
ea.h. The knife was poised for the IN
,me thrust. 1t hung for a moment
1e the sword of Damocles. "Red vi
ar may live If he will say that he
a woman" Kissed the voice of the "
cto- The reply came cultural and 20
m: Red Scar is a man. He can NC
e."
lifted away his foot: y
Imiration mingled with his smile 20
triumph. Throwing away his knife,
beckoned to Tsilta He took her by
e hand and drew her to the CEN
+ OF the circle. Then turning de-
ntly to the assembled warriors. he gro
i'd: Men of the Kiowa, this wom- of
has not violated her wifehood. She nis