The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24

as ne Cnus uuseu anu lcStcu peioio
swimming the river, he heard crackle
in the canebrake, turned, looked and
recognized two young warriors of bis
tribe gazing on him with malignant eyes.
With not one moments time for thought,
he plunged into the red and swollen
stream. AS swiftly as an arrow leaves
the bow, ten arrows-.were directed at him
and a terrible war whoop resounded
through the canes. One of the arrows
hit him, and for time he was insehsible
and sank, but as he arose on the surface
of the water, animation returned, he
drew the arrow from the wound, and the
fresh, cold water soothed the aching.
He then took more courage, gathered
new strength, and with wonderful Indi-
an endurance, after making many vigo-
rous strokes, landed on the wished-for
bank safely and unpursued, for his ene-
mics believed him killed. (There where
the heroic Sksn Ken landed, a tract of
land lies along the banks of the river
which bears the name of Sken q Ken,
and steamboats,, with their putting boilers
and merry boat-horns, now land at Sken
"a Ken's landing to carry old ''King Cot
ton" to his favorite mart, the beautiful
city of Charleston.
/. Having reached the wished-for shore,
sken Ken. gathered some healing leaves
and gums, which he bound over his
wound, and renewed his now anxious
and infuljourney. He felt his strength
was giving anay each weary mile, and
nothing but his indonitable will, and
his feverish anxiety to reach his destina-
ton, had enabled him to bear up under
his sutferings. -. .e
"And now," he said, sadly, as he fin
ished his recital, "Sken Ken, the son
of Kenen, (the great war eagle) has been
urged by the voice of the Great Spirit
talking in his heart, to betray the secrets
of his brother warriors. Sken Ken is
no mahn-go-tay'see, (lion-hearted brave
but he could not let his white father who
had shown him such great things perish.
He could not see the golden locks of the
tender Miskodeed torn from her head,
reeking with blood beneath the toma-
hawk of the cruel and angry Indian !
But No'sa, No'sa, showain neme'shin,
'(pity me, and hear the words of the dy-
ing sken Ken. Speak to your. warriors
and your wise men, that they deal kindly
with my people. make peace and live
as brothers with the mighty warriors of
our great people-the Santees. Sken a
Ken, the son of Kenen, loves his people,
even as you love yours"
The pious Mons. Lejeau promised all
that the young brave asked; he prom
ised, too, that he would personally seek
the friendship of the red men, aud point
them to the lamb slain for sinners.
The story ended, 'Sken a Ken permit
ted his friends to move him into the
house, where, for more than week, he
fingered with them, receiving the most
skilful treatment which the country af-
forded, and nursed with tender, loving
care. Neither medical skill or loving
care could avail to save the life of the
generous young brave, for the fatal and
poisoned arrow had pierced one Of his
lungs. Calmly, yea, even gladly, sken a
Keu heard the opinion of the physician.
What to him was desth?> A blissf,l
exchange of ignorance and sorrow for a
joyful eternity in the beautiful hunting
grounds of the great Father of light and
lifel There in that land of inexpressible
glory and beauty, he would comprehend
in all its length and breadth, its height
and depth, what here he received only
with a child's faith, and SO dimly under
stood of that sweet "old story" of redeem
ing love! The reticence of his Indian
nature melted away in the rapturous
glimpses he enjoyed of his heavenly
home. The company of his Christian
friends was always pleasant to him. One
evening as Mons. Lejeau and Louise
watched by his bedside, he begged the
girl to sing for him once more of the
green fields and sparkling rivers. of the
fair land of glory. When the hymn was
ended he asked to hold her hand, tender
ly and deferentially he gazed upon the
little white hand that trembled in his,
and said: "The bright Miskodeed never
knew how Sken a Ken loved her; she
could not feel the great gushing of his
heart, filled with love as powerless to
control as the rushing waters of Talulah
Sken Ken, the son of the noble Kenen,
of the great Santees, would have woosd
the gentle Miskodeed for his bride, but
the Great Spirit spoke, and the son of
Kenen listened: "Go thou to thy people,
tell them of that other and fairer land
show them where the great Pearl is to be
found lead them to the fountain where
they may wash and be clean; on to thy
people! look not back Miskodeed, the
golden.haired, the tender spring flower,
she may not go; she could not be glad
with the daughters of the red man she
could not abide in the wigwam of San
tee bravel But now," he joyfully added,
"Sken a Ken is going to the land of
light, Miskodeed and our good father
will soon follow! Then the dark river
crossed, We will roam together through
that land of joy and beauty forever, for
ever! Meme moo'sha (sweet-heart) fare