This young warrior, of fine size, figure and countenance, is now about
25 years old. At the age of 21 his heroic deeds had acquired for him in
his nation the rank of “bravest of the brave.” The savage practice of
torturing and burning to death their prisoners existed in this nation.
An unfortunate female taken in war, of the Paduca nation, was destined
to this horrible death. The fatal hour had arrived, the trembling
victim, far from her home and her friends, was fastened to the stake;
the whole tribe was assembled on the surrounding plain to witness
the awful scene. Just when the fire was about to be kindled, and the
spectators on the tiptoe of expectation, this young warrior, who sat
composedly among the chiefs, having before prepared two fleet horses,
with the necessary provisions, sprung from his seat, rushed through
the crowd, loosed the victim, seized her in his arms, placed her on
one of the horses, mounted the other himself, and made the utmost
speed towards the nation and friends of the captive. The multitude,
dumb and nerveless with amazement at the daring deed, made no effort
to rescue their victim from her deliverer. They viewed it as an act
of the Great Spirit, submitted to it without a murmur, and quietly
returned to their village. The released captive was accompanied through
the wilderness towards her home, till she was out of danger. He then
gave her the horse on which she rode, with the necessary provisions
for the remainder of the journey, and they parted. On his return to
the village, such was the respect entertained for him, that no inquiry
was made into his conduct; no censure was passed on it, and since the
transaction, no human sacrifice has been offered in this or any other
of the Pawnee tribes. Of what influence is one bold act in a good cause!
On the publication of this anecdote at Washington, the young ladies
of Miss White’s Seminary, in that city, presented that brave and
humane Indian with a handsome silver medal, on which was engraven
an appropriate inscription, accompanied by an address, of which the
following is the close:—“Brother, accept this token of our esteem;
always wear it for our sake; and when you have again the power to save
a poor woman from death and torture, think of this, and of us, and fly
to her rescue.”