Year: 1878




that he had been entrusted with the
command Of the present war-party, and
while il would be expected that he con-
vey the Indian captives and their ally,
the Frenchman, to the Waco Village to
afford the women and old men Of the
tribe the inelIable pleasure Of putting
them 10 death in accordance with the
most improved methods, that was at
perfect liberty to continue my journey
toward the lands OF my people. He was
quite generous. For, i'm addition to
bouutiful supply OF meat which he
promised me, he said might choose
two horses from among those captured
from the Osages, and that should still
be allowed the pleasant companionship
of my amiable cur IcOuld not imagine
what motive prompted such magnanim-
ity until / learned at a later hour from
a garrulous cOmrade Of his that the
father Of the charming Roo 500, in rec
ognition Of the black-face's prowess as a
scalp-lifter, had consented, in the event
that ! did not return to the village be-
fore the next new moon, 70 allow him
to add that coveted maiden TO an al
ready crowded lodge. / saw my oppor-
tunity, and determined to make the
most of il. So returning to Sambo's
headquarters, i proceeded to inquire
after the welfare of my kind "mother''
and her beautiful daughter, and in great
apparent earnestness professed the great
est impatience for the curtains of night
to be lifted so that l might hasten TO
the side Of that charming mountain
belle, and thenceforth bask continually
in hersunny smiles. Sambo was thought
ful. At length be ventured to suggest
that be thought I would do better to go
back to 'NIassasipp and buy a gang Of
niggers" than to settle among the Wa
Goes. Albeit, by shrewd diplomacy I
at length prevailed upon the unfeeling
wretch TO allow the Frenchman and six
of the Indian captives, all mounted, to
accompany me, in consideration Of the
REIMBURSEMENT of my claim to the hand
and heart Of the artless damsel for whom
the sable warrior entertained such ten
der feelings.


Hence early the next morning Sambo
set about dividing the human spoils of
the late contest, the half Of which were
to meet fate most terrible, the balance
to return unmolested to their homes and
kindred. Thinking one Indian as good
as another, L proposed that he make
the division himself, thus relieving me
from all responsibility in the matter,
aud he displayed his wontei sagacity
and patriotism i'm this matter, too, for
he chose the younger capuves for sacri-
. fee, remarking to me that the older
braves must the sooner pass the age of
efficiency as warriors, and that his peo-
/ pie would have less 10 fear from those
who had already made proud record
than from the younger and more ambi-
tious who yearned, as all savages do,
for opportunity to accumulate trophies
OF their bravery and skill.


But it was really touching TO witness
the parting Of these sons Of nature.
Those who were to be free fell upon the
/ ground and rent the air with the most
piteOus walls, nor could they be induced
to leave the spot until intervening space
had hidden the receding forms Of their
doomed comrades from them forever
We then mounted our horses, and turn
ing their heads toward the rising sun,
started for the homes Of the sobbine
Osages. Hating at muddy brook
some days thereafter, judge OF my sur,
prise aud joy on seeing Boggs, who wai
captured with me, come timidly TOWARD


Us. Poor fellow, so great had been hi
sufIerings since last we met that he wa.


reduced to but the shadow OF his forme


self, and his mind was sadly of its bal


ance. He was oveuoyed on recognizing
me, for he said now that he had a fain


hope that he might be able TO Overcom


the attraction of a certain tree that III


had been revolving around for months


He said that he had started from hi
present camp numberless times, and il
every direction, but in every case had


after a fatiguing days walk, reaches
b the same lone tree at dark, and that tn
next he would complete the circuit b,


returning to this place. Nor had n
) any knowledge OF the length Of time h
= had lived in solitude. At night / OF


fered to share my single robe with tn
= poor waif, but my ineorrigible cur, re
] garding him with eyes infamed wit
jealousy, .sprang upon him and iuficte
, a slight wound upon his hand. Bogg;


excited manner and emphatic adjective


showed plainly that his sufTerings ha


not been productive Of a very high stat


Of piety. Neither the Frenchman no
: the Indians could master the intricacie
! Of Boggs' earnest English, but the fol
! mer afterward told me that so fearfr
( were the savages that the poor man wa
7 the incarnation OF the ghost Of som


victim Of their barbarity that they wei
: tempted to escape in the darkness
b choosing to risk being retaken by IN
D / Wacoes rather than brave the presenC
Of an avenging spirit.


e Setting out early the next mornin
n with us, Boggs soon deserted the dreade
' tree, but We rode serenely by the attrar
4 tive elm without being sensibly pc
i turbed, and ere nightfall even the e.


ratio Boggs felt safe from its influence


We had travelled industriously for son
: eight days, when on the open prair