Show Prom From the st SL louis reveille the indian gamesters Ga BY BT JOHN BROWN la in former times the indians indiana on the borders of new mexico and the pueblo indiana i in the country were we re at war and the deadly ha 1 tred of the races for each other extended to individuals divi duals one autumn day a labajo indian had gone out hunting but had not been at all successful I 1 and towa towards Z night became very weary to add to his misery as evening drew near a furious i storm was seen approaching his anticipate ons were gloomy in the extreme for in order to fai militate cili tate his hunting he had brought but a small piece pece of a blanket over his hig shoulders and he knew that to lie out on such a night with his body bod more ore than half naked would be e little short of ge death th itself the indian had remained in this thia frame of mind for some time when he observed a particular rock which hung out from the side of the mountain and was by that suddenly reminded that there was a small cave in the neighborhood and this he was at length fortunate enough to discover the aperture of the cave was very small I 1 but at he squeezed his body in and was soon at the extreme end of the chamber where he coiled himself aim self to sleep with a rock for a pillow on the same evening a pueblo indian th the 0 mortal enemy of the cabaj 0 was similarly situated having had poor success in his hunt hant he too was with without 0 ut a blanket sad and weary he too was wa a loth to spend the night in the storm and he had thought of the cave which he was diligently 1 seeking se ekine at length like the labajo he found it and crawled brawled in he did not go po 30 far back as the first comer but laid himself down near the middle of the chamber the labajo in a sound slumber was unconscious of his entrance and the fatigued pueblo was so soon asleep that he did not hear the breathing of his enemy in the morning the labajo having having slept longi est was earliest awake and rose lien when he saw i ahe the first faint light at the aperture of the cave i I 1 Attempt attempting in to pass ass out 0 t he stumbled over the i 1 pueblo who afo was wa s laid across the narrow chamber and awoke him instantly the pueblo sprang apran to his feet and demanded who had disturbed him the labajo answered by asking askin I 1 how and when he came into the cave to which chice the pueblo replied that he came in the night previous s and had slept there and who are vou ou 1 demanded the fierce labajo the pueblo il 0 replied giving his name and nation and demanding the name of his interrogator which as the labajo was a brave rave were of course given the two mortal enemies were surprised to find themselves thus strangely in the presence of each other but they did not fight for two men alone together when there are no gators to hiss them on and they the y can remain remain at peace without cen censure or ridicule very seldom fight whether the indians were like other mm men matters not but at least they did not light fight on the contrary they very quietly and rationally talked over the war of their nations dise discussed assed it in all its bearings and finally wa 0 if jw Z aa ami i 1 A U la U jl enough to spend a few hours gambling the game played turned on the position of a adall pebble ebble 1 whether under one or another of their four FO ay moccasins having been repeatedly placed under each of them by the operator be fore 4 ore stopping to decide the bet sm small all sticks were used as counters and a kind of low chaunt I 1 accompanied d dis game in its progress I 1 having commenced the enemies were intent on their play but bat they had not much property about them to 0 stoke stake the first things put up were their one on by b aue of which the pueblo soon won au Z that the we poor labajo had they then put up their bows and the labajo won tide the bow of the pueblo thus one had all the arrows and the other the two bows t all the snows arrows were now staked by the pueblo against the two bows hel held d by the labajo and 1 the fonner the N labajo ab ajo was thus stripped ken t entirely kennely rely of the means of offence offense of defence I 1 and of procuring subsistence subs istance he then pro 1 posed to bet a small mall piece of his scalp about the size of a dollar to he be taken from the crown of his bead against the bow and arrows which I 1 had been hist his to this thia the pueblo readily agreed and again won the naba labajo J 0 submitted to behave have the piece of scalp immediately immediately talon taken off and with the long hair which had been be en abs fluride id loo of f its owner the pueblo tucked it under adert lus belt the play had gotten to a terrible pass but once absorbed in gambling these indians know I 1 no ako limit HUI and cue care but little how precious th the E stake stae smarting with pain yet not showing it by the twitch of a single muscle the labajo proposed to bet his right ea ear against a ast as large ia a piece of t f the pueblos scalp a aa sT he himself had lost D de giroua to possess his ears as well as his abalo the pueblo joyfully assented to this but awn J the labajo wo won and it was now the pueblos torn to lose a pat part of his scalp he too smarted with pain but did not let his enemy perceive a sign of his feelings for the forti forta J t tude of these theft indians under der some 1 ea ia woud wonderful erM I 1 the pueblo still trusting to Us bisgood good luck which he thought would return the next trial I 1 proposed to stake the tips of their noses to wg thia the nabeko labajo could but wee agree or incur incur the charge of coir cowardice ardice and so go the noses were I 1 posted but the pueblo w was again unfortunate 11 and lost he had to suffer the ti tip of kis his nose I 1 I 1 to be taken off which would ie disfigure him for life I 1 the nab had now gained an overwhelming confidence and proposed to stake the tip of his own nose against his own bow and arrows 1 whid he was still anxious t to 0 reaoler rea recover over this WM a proposition to which the pueblo his own nose gone could with no little satisfaction assent the game went on and the pueblo i won I 1 both the enemies were thus left without ends of their noses horribly di d i r V wd k had lost parts arts of their scalps y 8 tn wa WW still far ar behind his adya who hadas lyo abw V and hi his a arto ireT beiver Te iver er these he proposed to his right ear against thew them and the ahe peblo still exceedingly anxious for his ears heard the proposition with the utmost pleasure but the labajo won both parties were win again equal but both were minus the tips of their noses and parts of their scalps As soon as am his bow and arrows were returned to him the labajo sprang to his feet and drew on his enemy whose bow laid beyond his hia reach the pueblo seeing that the labajo had the advantage and expecting death every moment sat quiet and moved no part of his body are you afraid to die asked the li abajo his bow still bent no P 1 proudly responded the other or I 1 either said the labajo 11 you ou are a I 1 brave I 1 did not believe it before 1 thought you were a squaw but now I 1 know you are a man do you believe that of me I 1 put down your bow and I 1 will tell you the labajo threw his bow from him leaving himself as unprotected as his enemy had been the pueblo retained his position looking directly racel for some minutes at the labajo cc yes yes I 1 believe it said he then said the labajo we have out cut oi off each others noses we have taken each others scalps se a I 1 s let us hereafter as braves befriends 69 t f must think of that before I 1 say yes or no I 1 I 1 said the pueblo and the labajo having resu resumed m his hia seat still leaving his bow at some distance from him they both remained for nearly an hour as quiet and immovable as statues at length the pueblo spoke will you tell me one thing he asked if I 1 can replied the nabijo our races have long been at war said the pueblo it has done us no good it has only thinned off of our people till we find both nations dwindling slowly away if I 1 agree to what you say will ml 11 you 0 go 90 to w your our 01 people as I 1 will go to mine and z try to inar bat peace between Bt them it was now tte the 7 Naba joa farn in to think and another hour was spent in profound silence when he had made up his mind ill 1 I will do it said he it is best to do it then said the pueblo from this day we are friends we will exchange presents Y we will defend each other and each must here promise on the sacred arrow to avenue avenge the death of the other if killed by friend or foe let us smoke let us smoke echoed the labajo the pueblo then took a small pipe from f rom a pouch at his belt filled and lighted it and the two who were so BO recently enemies smoked together to cement their newborn new born bom friendship they soon after parted each to his own people both were true to the pledge and exerted themselves to induce their people to make peace with their bloody crowns and ana curtailed noses they were strange lookin looking ministers of peace bace but as both refused to tell tell how they hallist had lost their scalps and the tips of their noses the mystery began to have its effect among among a rudi rud people and they became invested with a character of profound sacredness their influence rapidly increased so that in a few weeks their object was affected and a general council of the two tribes was held at which a peace was wag entered into that lasted many years going to law and fighting are nearly synonymous terms there Ther therease eare are two indians going to layf in true indian style and aad neither could be satisfied till he had lost his nose and scalp but there is a decided improvement pro in this method of lawing over the more civilized method when civilized christians go to law they hire men to plead or fight for them pem and engage in conflict in some public place where a great crowd can gather round them to see what fools they are for paying men to cut off their noses nose and tear off their scalps scalp and empty their and beggar their heir families and a hundred perhaps a thousand scalps scalp and noses ire are worn off from the spectators while watching the partied partie to see theirs cut off and all for the sake of gratifying gratify i a contentious spirit and Z kofy ix i x CLA 1 ia 1 I 1 out but must hire lawyers to af fight for 0 r them hem not so with these contending indians they had allt alf their sport and sufferings atol and losses to themselves parted friends and made peace with their nations quite an improvement pr pro at lawing law 1 ing there would not be so much lawing among christians if they would always recollect the anecdote of the new haven lawyer whom a gentleman from the country who wanted a fight with his hia neighbor called 0 upon to engage in the quarrel qu arel my dear friend said the lawyer I 1 am very sorry to say I 1 am engaged on the other side but I 1 have a particular friend an eminent attorney down street to whom I 1 will recommend you who will do justice to your cause the gentleman was greatly obliged for the lawyers kindness and received an introductory letter with many thanks but while passing down the street thought he would break the seal and peep inside which he did and read as follows sir two grey geese have cp ameto me to town yow ym pick one while eipl I 1 pluck the other n y the gentleman thought if that was the honor of the lawyer he had better stop fighting before he commenced he returned home borne showed A tite letter to his opponent who was as ready as himself to shun the pickers pick and they had no trouble in settling their difficulties without lawyers |