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Show ' ,. ·' ' . .; v -: :I ..- ; . ' .. . , .;:;_'--;·:;~. llF.CKWOUU'I'II P l:NfRliER lllS DTSOHF. lHENT WlFR \ JAMES P. BECKWOUR'l'H. 117 joicings over the fall of white men who had probably belonged to our own company. One of them answered, "Well, your wife is the best dancer of the whole party; she out-dances them all." This was a sting which pierced my very heart. Taking my battle-axe, and forcing myself into the ring, I watched my opportunity, and struck my disobedient wife a heavy blow in the head with the side of my battle-axe, which dropped her as if a ball had pierced her heart. I dragged her through the crowd, and left her; I then went back to my tent. This act was performed in such a bold manner, under the very noses of hundreds of them, that they were thunderstruck, and for a moment remained motionless with surprise. When I entered the tent, I said to my companions, " There, now, you had better prepare to hold on to your own scalps, since you take so much interest in a celebration over those of your murdered brethren." Their countenances turned ashy pale, expecting instant death. By this time the whole Indian camp was in a blaze. '' Kill him ! kill him ! burn him ! burn him ! " was shouted throughout the camp in their own language, which I plainly understood. I was collected, for I knew they could kill me but once. Soon I heard the voice of my father-in-law crying, in a tone which sounded above all, "Stop! hold! hold ! warriors ! listen to your chief." All was hushed in an instant, and he continued : " Warriors ! I am the loser of a daughter, and her brothers have lost a sister; you have lost nothing. She was the wife of the trader ; I gave her to him. |
