Chapter Sixty Three An Indian Executioner - Osceola the Seminole by Mayne Reid
After a short spell of obliviousness, I recovered my senses. I perceived that the Indians were still around me, but no longer in the menacing attitude in which I had seen them before being struck down; on the contrary, they appeared to be treating me with kindness. One of them held my head upon his knee, while another was endeavouring to staunch the blood that was running freely from a wound in my temples. The others stood around regarding me with interest, and apparently anxious about my recovery.
Their behaviour caused me surprise, for I had no other thought than that they had intended to kill me; indeed, as I sank under the stroke of the tomahawk, my senses had gone out, under the impression that I was killed. Such a reflection is not uncommon to those whom a blow has suddenly deprived of consciousness.
My surprise was of an agreeable character. I felt that I still lived — that I was but little hurt; and not likely to receive any further damage from those who surrounded me.
They were speaking to one another in low tones, pronouncing the prognosis of my wound, and apparently gratified that they had not killed me.
"We have spilled your blood, but it is not dangerous," said one, addressing himself to me in his native tongue. "It was I who gave the blow. Hulwak! it was dark. Friend of the Rising Sun! we did not know you. We thought you were the yatika-clucco (the ‘great speaker’ — the commissioner). It is his blood we intended to spill. We expected to find him here; he has been here: where gone?"
I pointed in the direction of the fort.
"Hulwak!" exclaimed several in a breath, and in a tone that betokened disappointment; and then turning aside, they conversed with each other in a low voice.
"Fear not," said the first speaker, again standing before me, "friend of the Rising Sun! we will not do further harm to you; but you must go with us to the chiefs. They are not far off. Come!"
I was once more upon my feet, and perhaps by a desperate effort might have escaped. The attempt, however, might have cost me a second knock-down — perhaps my life. Moreover, the courtesy of my captors at once set my mind at ease. Go where they might, I felt that I had nothing to fear from them; and, without hesitation, I consented to accompany them.
My captors, throwing themselves into single file, and assigning me a position in their midst, at once started off through the woods. For some time we walked rapidly, the path taken by the leader of the party being easily followed, even in the darkness, by those behind. I observed that we were going in the direction whence had been heard the sounds of the conflict, that had long since ceased to vibrate upon the air. Of whatever nature had been the struggle, it was evidently brought to a close, and even the victors no longer uttered the caha-queene.
We had advanced about a mile when the moon arose; and the woods becoming more open, I could see my captors more distinctly. I recognised the features of one or two of them, from having seen them at the council. They were warriors of the Micosauc tribe, the followers of Osceola. From this I conjectured that he was one of the chiefs before whom I was being conducted.
My conjecture proved correct. We had not gone much further, when the path led into an opening in the woods, in the midst of which a large body of Indians, about a hundred in all, were grouped together. A little apart was a smaller group — the chiefs and head warriors. In their midst I observed Osceola.
The ground exhibited a singular and sanguinary spectacle. Dead bodies were lying about, gashed with wounds still fresh and bleeding. Some of the dead lay upon their backs, their unclosed eyes glaring ghastly upon the moon, all in the attitudes in which they had fallen. The scalping-knife had done its work, as the whitish patch upon the crowns, laced with seams of crimson red, shewed the skulls divested of their hirsute covering. Men were strolling about with the fresh scalps in their hands, or elevated upon the muzzles of their guns.
There was no mystery in what I saw; I knew its meaning well. The men who had fallen were of the traitor tribes — the followers of Lusta Hajo and Omatla.
According to the arrangement with the commissioner, the chiefs had left Fort Brooke, accompanied by a chosen band of their retainers. Their intention had become known to the patriots — their movements had been watched — they had been attacked on the way; and, after a short struggle, overpowered. Most of them had fallen in the melee — a few, with the chief Lusta Hajo, had contrived to escape; while still another few — among whom was Omatla himself — had been taken prisoners during the conflict, and were yet alive. They had been rescued from death only to suffer it in a more ceremonial shape.
I saw the captives where they stood, close at hand, and fast bound to some trees. Among them I recognised their leader, by the grace of Commissioner Thompson, "king of the Seminole nation."
By those around, his majesty was now regarded with but slight deference. Many a willing regicide stood near him, and would have taken his life without further ceremony. But these were restrained by the chiefs, who opposed the violent proceeding, and who had come to the determination to give Omatla a trial, according to the laws and customs of their nation.
As we arrived upon the ground, this trial was going on. The chiefs were in council.
One of my captors reported our arrival. I noticed a murmur of disappointment among the chiefs as he finished making his announcement. They were disappointed: I was not the captive they had been expecting.
No notice was taken of me; and I was left free to loiter about, and watch their proceedings, if I pleased.
The council soon performed its duty. The treason of Omatla was too well-known to require much canvassing; and, of course, he was found guilty, and condemned to expiate the crime with his life.
The sentence was pronounced in the hearing of all present. The traitor must die.
A question arose — who was to be his executioner?
There were many who would have volunteered for the office — for to take the life of a traitor, according to Indian philosophy, is esteemed an act of honour. There would be no difficulty in procuring an executioner.
Many actually did volunteer; but the services of these were declined by the council. This was a matter to be decided by vote.
The vote was immediately taken. All knew of the vow made by Osceola. His followers were desirous he should keep it; and on this account, he was unanimously elected to do the deed. He accepted the office.
Knife in hand, Osceola approached the captive, now cowering in his bonds. All gathered around to witness the fatal stab. Moved by an impulse I could not resist, I drew near with the rest.
We stood in breathless silence, expecting every moment to see the knife plunged into the heart of the criminal.
We saw the arm upraised, and the blow given, but there was no wound — no blood! The blow had descended upon the thongs that bound the captive, and Omatla stood forth free from his fastenings!
There was a murmur of disapprobation. What could Osceola mean? Did he design that Omatla should escape — the traitor condemned by the council — by all?
But it was soon perceived he had no such intention — far different was his design.
"Omatla!" said he, looking his adversary sternly in the face, "you were once esteemed a brave man, honoured by your tribe — by the whole Seminole nation. The white men have corrupted you — they have made you a renegade to your country and your cause; for all that, you shall not die the death of a dog. I will kill, but not murder you. My heart revolts to slay a man who is helpless and unarmed. It shall be a fair combat between us, and men shall see that the right triumphs. Give him back his weapons! Let him defend himself, if he can."
The unexpected proposal was received with some disapprobation. There were many who, indignant at Omatla’s treason, and still wild with the excitement produced by the late conflict, would have butchered him in his bonds. But all saw that Osceola was determined to act as he had proposed; and no opposition was offered.
One of the warriors, stepping forward, handed his weapons to the condemned chief — only his tomahawk and knife, for so Osceola was himself armed.
This done, by a sort of tacit understanding, the crowd drew back, and the two combatants stood alone in the centre.
The struggle was brief as bloody. Almost at the first blow, Osceola struck the hatchet from his antagonist’s hand, and with another stroke, rapidly following, felled Omatla to the earth.
For a moment the victor was seen bending over his fallen adversary, with his long knife unsheathed, and glittering in the moonlight.
When he rose erect, the steel had lost its sheen — it was dimmed with crimson blood.
Osceola had kept his oath. He had driven his blade through the heart of the traitor — Omatla had ceased to live.
White men afterwards pronounced this deed an assassination — a murder. It was not so, any more than the death of Charles, of Caligula, of Tarquin — of a hundred other tyrants, who have oppressed or betrayed their country.
Public opinion upon such matters is not honest; it takes its colour from the cant of the times, changing like the hues of the chameleon. Sheer hypocrisy, shameful inconsistency! He only is a murderer who kills from a murderer’s motive. Osceola was not of this class.
My situation was altogether singular. As yet, the chiefs had taken no notice of my presence; and notwithstanding the courtesy which had been extended to me by those who conducted me thither, I was not without some apprehensions as to my safety. It might please the council, excited as they were with what had just transpired, and now actually at war with our people, to condemn me to a fate similar to that which had befallen Omatla. I stood waiting their pleasure therefore in anything but a comfortable frame of mind.
It was not long before I was relieved from my apprehensions. As soon as the affair with Omatla was ended, Osceola approached, and in a friendly manner stretched out his hand, which I was only too happy to receive in friendship.
He expressed regret that I had been wounded and made captive by his men — explained the mistake; and then calling one of his followers, ordered him to guide me back to the fort.
I had no desire to remain longer than I could help upon such tragic ground; and, bidding the chief adieu, I followed my conductor along the path.
Near the pond, the Indian left me; and, without encountering any further adventures, I re-entered the gates of the fort.