Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-29

shore, while pale, full bearded, strong
men were gathering frewood and cook
ing food. Canoes of large size went
back and forward between the shore
and the dreaded island. Worangou
placed himself at the head Of his little
band, and all danced towards the white
men, waving their boughs high over
their heads, and chanting tie song OF
peace.
The strangers came forth to meet
them; and perceiving that the dark
sons of the toll were unarmed, laid
down their weapons. Then for the tirst
time, on the shores of the great ocean,
the black man and the white man gazed
at each others eyes. With kindly signs
the white men invited Worangou and
his followers to their camp. Food was
offered to them. They were presented
with iron axes, with mirrors. beads and
gay colored handherchiefs. The younger
men, all save Windaru, quickly lost fear
Of the dreadful strangers, 1t was long
before they tired of circling their heads
with the gauGy cloth and viewing their
swarthy countenances for the first time
in mirrors.
Windaru ana Worangou talked apart.
The future destiny Of their hitherto
free and beautiful country was appa-
rcntly revealed but to these two.
As the father and son talked, youth
and age seemed wondrously alike. Their
souls appeared to have penetrated their
bodies. These souls were fate laden.
Who shall decide which bore the keen
est agony? Youth with a withered Fu-
ture-age with its Past erased
No longer would Worangou sing to
himself the war song of the Epoi, telling
of by.gone glory, the wisdom of its old
men, the strength of its youth. The
white Destroyer had come. The Past
and ,he Future of the black men died
on the same day.
Peace was established with the stran-
gers. The Epoi encampment was chang.
ed to a spot within a short distance Of
the tents. Generous of gifts were the
foreigners, for they needed guides to
point out the fertile plains-to lead
them to the broad inland lakes.
Weeks passed away. The Epoi still
fingered by the tents OF the strangers.
Other floating islands arrived. From
these came forth animals as strange to
the inhabitants Of the land as were the
white men themselves. Sheep with
woolly skins. Cattle whose horns re-
semble boomerings. Dogs, swifter and
more fierce than any they had seen.
Birds which had wings, but did not fly.
Willingly did the Epoi toll for their
new found friends. The sheep and cat
tie were guided to the haunts of the kan
garoo and wallaby, where the longest
and sweetest grasses grew. The game
fed scared back to the hills. Hunting
seemed forgotten by the tribe. They fed
on the otfal of the slaughtered beasts.
The fierce dogs of the stranger pulled
down for them the kangaroo and emu.
They smoked the rest-weed of the white
man. They drank his fre-water, and
danced and shouted among themselves.
In these days Worangou, with Windaru
and Oondilla. dwelt apart. they looked
on with stricken hearts az the decadence
of their people. o
For Worangou, his authority was
gone. The demon Of the white mans
fre-water had fastened on a prey Lith-
erto beyond reach. He clasped his
willing victims with the tenacity Of the
Poulp. Windaru had supplied his mia
mia with game from the first. 1t was
daily gore difficult to obtain. He re.
fused to guide his enemies to the
grassy dell among the hills, or to dis
cover the secrets of his hunting grounds.
He accepted no presents, and Oondilla
was the only woman Of the tribe un-
decled in the cheap finery freely be-
slowed upon the others.
1t was many months since the floating
island had first appeared near the silent
strand Of the Epsi. Windaru strobe
icto camp long after moon had risen
He threw from his weary shoulders his
days spoil Far and fast he had toiled.
fer it, and his soul was troubled to
hnd the game retreating still farther in
land day by Gay.
He passed Oh to the mia-mia OF Nor-