The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-03
Il go; ! will carry your message to
O-wha-ta-faik; awaitlny return here. -
CASTING the rslW fish. which ho lo,l

dog, Man:@it1ra-chr ic-jlw-on madi
q low pbeisanoe to tho sun, stretched
out his arms to the east, then strod,
with majestic airin the direction of thu
palace of the queen, whose glittcrina
dome could bc discerned in the dis
taiice, looming up behind II large red
burn.
1t was picturesque locality ir
which tho train-wlrlcl travellers
found themselves. They were in til,
midst of a great clearing, natural ol
artificial, surrounded on all sides b,
q dense forest. Some of the trees
over 400 feet high. Through TIL,
clearing flowed IL river whose waters
were SO clear that they did not even
throw. back u reflection. On either
bank were the huts of the Patayons
which consisted ofnotling more ol
less than the trunks of gigantic trees
followed out and provided will
doors and windows. On the summit
Of u small hill was the palace of o.
wha-ta-faik. 1t was built of bricks
of solid gold, and immense diamonds
served us windows. 1t was the only
building constructed of these ma
terials.
John Henry and Juan, Jose, Mig
lel. and. Henrico sat down to await
the return Of tho prime minister
and the natives watched them with
undisguiscl interest as they passed /,
dnrk-complcxionc,l bottle, from
mouth to mouth.
The natives look us most snvagcs
look. They were dark, unkr1npt, mn.
tutortl, worefewclotles and roulln' I
speak English. John Henry dis.
covered the latter fact when he held
up the bottle and asked the nearest
native: "Tukc Il swig??" Tho man
never stirred.
There was on" peculiar feature about
the snvagcs, and that w;s the size o
their feet. So large were these Use.
fnl members that they left tracks like
to those Of II snow-sllOc club.
"Well, I'll be durnrd il this ism I tll,
qu~l~st pln~ I ever struck"
Isl. scnor," replied Juan.
"And their queen is looking for Il
hnslmnd; well, l don't wonder no.
body wants her if her feet arcnsl lnrs,
as those of hrr subjects. Just think
of feet like those on cold winters
night
Juau and Jose and lIcnrico and
Mignrlsni,lnothing. hut they shivcrrI
ut the thought which Henry lrl,
conjurrd up.
At this .iuncturc the prim" ministe,
"llc that is called John Smith will
follow mo; the Others will remain
where they are. These nl, thu com.
mands of O-whn-tn-t;lik, thu mighty
queen" was his announcement.
81 wonder how the mighty temnl,
monarch of this brnigllt".l region
came to find out my nnlnr." unused
John Henry, us he followed thrprim'
minister. "And wonder what slr
wants Of me. Great Donnrlly! Can
it he that she wants mo for husband?
For the first time in his life IL sens,
of fear possessed the dauntlcss
American.
While he was yet mlsiny on his
probable fate, the palace s,l,llrnl,
loon,ctl up directly i'll his path. Til,
prime minister rapidly advanced
raped three times upon the colder
gates, spoke some mintcligiblt
words and bowed low before the On
trance.
The gates swung open, and Il
brawny voice shouted from within
"Advancc. John Smith"
John Henry entered and found
himself i'll !; chamber whose dazzling
luxurimcc rivnllcl in brilianry that
Oft first-clnss lar-roon. Gut glass
windows and magnificent paintings
adorned the walls. Richly uplo|s
tered coucllcs and div,nls and sofas
invited to- luxurious lrlnsr. The
floor was c;,rpctcd riehly-cololp,l
textures that We're us soft aud yield
ing as scnlskin to the tonrh.
Armed guards, inmovnblc as
craven statues, were stationed
about. From an inner chamber
hid,lcd by porticrrs that seemed as
flrccy as clouds and yet completely
shut out all view, came strains o
wicrl, wild, u,le;,rthly music, sul,r.
tive aus Il sirens song, in which tn,
flute lik" w,.rhlc of the hand organ
and the scnerous tr,nlprting OF
the German bnnl were blended into
perfect harmony.
The music ccascd: Il soft light that
seemed to come from nowhere, yet
was everywhere, illunlincll the great
chamber; the curtains parted, and a
woman stood revealed.
The guards prostntcd themselves
and the prime minister bowel low
John Henry stood like one p,rul-
yzc,l. lie had read of feminine love,
lilcss in the weekly story paper; but
he had never before seen anything
to equal the vision of lovrlinrss
that now held him spcll,omd.
That is what he s;w: Great. glori,
GUS dark eyes, fringc'l with. longr,lri,
ing lashcs, in whose wonIlerous
depths there sllonc lustrous light
that changed with every thought;
half parted, rosy lips revealing teeth
that Cleaned nn! sparlslcd with
prnrly irridcscenr": IL perfect face from
whose low, broad brow, gr.rt waves
of shining black hnirrosr in sweeping
curves to fall again upon II pair OF
shoulders such as Venus would have
cnvicd; u form whose every graceful
curve was in itsclfn poem. But this
vision of beauty had large feet. John
Henry noticed it Mt once, and it gave
him pain.
"Whnt seek you in the hand of o.
whn-ta-tnik." spoke the queen in
silvcry. ilntc-liic tones, clear yet soft
like moonlight changed tn sound.
Great queen. but Il moment ago
had but one purpose in ,ninnl-to 90
home: yet now il seems To me- that
could tarry llrl" rulltrnt forever. Ar
you She-that -is-looking- fora -ilus.
bnnd?"
The queen smiled: she awtEut she
made IN impression.
"Fllnt is the meaning Of my name;
pclrlllMr YOU think it strange that
sucl' as should tm compelled toscrk
II spouse, and vet It's true: for Iknow
that i'll my country l"sluty's meas
urc is the understandings size. n.r
mine, You SEQ. is small, ut least roin
puratively so, and none there is ii
my domain who'd link his fate Will
mine, because, alas! my irrt are fa'
to SMALL
"You don't say" remarked join