The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-04-07

pore him to gloomy cave wherein 1t
made its horrid feasts. The monster
must have had an unsuitable appetite
d. . prolonged existence, for tradition
declares that 1t depopulated whole viii
laRee. Then 1t was that the wise men
began to see visions and to- prophesy
The speedy extinction Of the tribe.
Years of Its ravages followed one upon
another until at length, according to
the legend, was lost all reckoning Of
the time when first that strange, foul
creature came to scourge their sunny
plains. Years before had died the last
OF the wise men whose fathers once
had hunted the mastodon or chased
the ostrich like ,diornis where now the
grand-sons followed the bison and the
deer. The aged men, whose youth
was but dim memory, could say only
that the bird was as it had always
been. None like it had ever been
heard of, save In vague traditions car
ried form the far Darien isthmus.
There, the legends ran, near Dobayba,
. wild hurricane had once brought
bird hend that plagued their coast for
many q weary moon, until wise man
caught 1t In q snare. But no snare
could save the men OF the Illinois
tribe, the ssIllini''-they were doomed!
Nets, arrows, stratagems planned by
the most cunning warriors, alike had
failed. Still the bird preyed upon
them.
There was one, Onatoga, who began.
to ponder.
Now, Onatoga was the great leader
~ n nj
spoken with awe even In the distant
wigwams north. of the Great Lake.
Long had he grieved and wondered
over the will of the Great Spirit; that
he should look upon the men of the
western prairies not as warriors but as
deer or bison, only fit to I'LL the NAV
OF so pestilent thing as this moD>
str0us bird Before the new moon be-
gan 10 grow upon the face of the sky
OnatoRa's resolve was taken. He
would 20 to some spot deep in the for
est where by fasting aud prayer his
spirit would become so pure that the
Great Msster of Life would hear him
once again, be kind and turn his face
back In light upon the Hint.
Stealing away from his tribe" in the
night, ne plunged far into the track
less forest. Then, blackening his face,
for whole moon he tasted. The
moon waxed full aud then waned but
no vision came to assure him that the
Great Spirit had heard his prayers.
Only one more night remained.
Wearied and sorrow-worn, he closed
bis eyes. But, through the deep sleep
that fell upon him, came the voice OF
the Great Spirit. Aud this is the mes
sage that came to Onatoga, as he lay
sleeping In body but. in his soul,
awake:
"Arise, Chief of the Him! Thou
shalt save thy race. Choose thou
twenty of the warriors, n0ble-hearted,
strong-armed, eagle-eyed. Put In each
warriors hand bow. Give to each
an arrow dipped in the venom of the
snake. Seek then the man whose
heart loveth the Great Spirit. Let
him not fear to look the Piasau in the
face but see that the warriors, with
ready bows. stand near In the shadow
of the trees.''
Onatoga awoke; strong thought he
had tasted month happy, though
he knew he was soon to die! Who
but him, the Great Chief Of the Illini,
should die for his people-for was il
not death to look on the face of the
Piasau
Binding his moccasins firmly upon
his feet, he washed the marks of grief
from his face, and painted 1t with the
brightest vernilion and blue. Thus,
In the splendid colors of II triumphant
warrior, he returned homeward. All
was silent in the village when, In the
gray light Of early day, he entered his
lodge. Soon the joyful news was
known. From lodge to lodge 1t spread
until tue last wigwam was reached.
Onatoga's quest was successful.
Then the warriors began to gather.
Furtively, even In their gladness, they
sought his lodge, for the fear of the
Piaesu was over all. A solemn ave
fell upon them as they gathered around
the chief, who, 1t was whispered, had
heard the voice OF the Great Spirit.
Without, on that high bluff, they knew
! the fiend- bird crouched, waiting for the
morning light to reveal its prey.
Within, in sOrrowing silence, they
heard how the people could be saved ;
but the hearts of the warriors were
heavy. All knew the sacrifie demand
ed-thelr bravest and their best !
Onatoga chose his twenty warriors and
appointed them their place, where the
rolling prairie was brokin by the edge OF
the forest. Then, when the sun shot its
frst long shafts of light across the lev
Ell grasses, the chief walked slowly
forth and stood alone upon the prairie.