The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-15

that his people were ready to begin the friendly
contest which was to decide the Question OF skill
as acrobats and juggIers. Cascabel and Count
Sergins received Tie visitors with great dignity,
and after The pipe OF peace had been smoked
ana an exchange of presents had been made, the
Frenchman Invited Ills friendly rivals to assem-
bic that afternoon on the clearing In front OF his
little house on wheels.
AT The appointed hour the Indian performers
were In dine, and presented very uncouIh but
wilhal picturesque appearance. Their clothes
were decorated with figures. embroidered IN
bright col0rs, OF eagles, whales, coOns. wolves,
porposes, frogs, etc., according to the family TO
which the wearer belonged W hile eagle feathers,
sci crest-wIse, reached from their heads TO their
feet Their faces were completely hidden be-
meath huge masks Of terrific aspect
While Nine. Cascabel and her daughter, aided
by Clon, the cODtortIonist and man Of all work,
began a very creditable performance OF LA Mar
seillsise" with cornet, plccolo, cymbals, drum.
etc., Cascabel himself, clad In fesh-colored
superb chest and shoulders, advanced to the
center of The clearing and began series Of
feats of strength which elected many grunts OF
applause from tile assembled Indians.
nile. NapOeone then gave an exhibition OF
her grace and skill as dancer on the tight wire,
but the performance failed 10 IMPRESS the ln-
dams as of any special merit. Doubtless they
LOOK ed upon The charming French girl as quite
out of her sphere in such contest, and their 81.
Ience was meant as i hint TO Cascabel that he
might employ his daughter TO a better advantage
by setting her at work catching fish and prepar-
Ing food for the family. Jean Caseabel now
thought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by a
display of his wonderful skill as an equllibrist
and II must be admitted that many OF his feats
evoked quite chorus OF approving grunts from
the Indians, but The chagrin OF the French per-
formers may well be Imagined when they saw
Fir-Fu, the magician, take up his position be-
fore the long line OF men and women squattng In
front OF their wlgwamS and begin series OF the
most bewildering feats in balancing aud juggling.
The air was alive with with q flight OF Illuminate
objects which seemed to obey his Will as II they
were endowed with lie.
The Indians greeted his triumph with deep
and oftrepeated grunts of satisfaction, and to
their credit be II said the Cascades, Count
Sergius and the agents from the post rewarded
FI-Fu's wonderful efforts with unstnIed ap
plauSe.
Poor Jean He stood utterly spirlless and
Inundated before the beautiful kayette, who in
spite of her affection for her new friends gaZed
with undlsguised pleasure upon the dazzling
rapidly and endless variety OF Fir-Fu's feals.
Count Sergius saw plainly how jean was SUI
fering, and he recognized too, the fact that this
defeat would exercise great Influence upon
Kayelte's feelings toward the young Frenchman,
and the Russian was thankful for this unex
pected assistance in resculng the Indian maiden
from the fascination of Jeans youthful ardor.
Caseabel preserved a calm exterior but his
huge chest rose and fell beneath the terrible
pressure OF the chained storm within.
" To Think" he muttered to himself, OF the
renowned Cascabel family being beaten by
band of painted sayages 10 this out OF the way
corner OF the world. It's shameful - Then
turning to his son he slapped him good naturedly
on The shoulder and cried out in stentorian
voice: " Come, my boy Come, Sandre and Clou
ana NapOleone, all OF you la pyramide
humane -
The children sprang forward at the call. and
no sooner had Cascabel planted himself firmly
on his feet than they began 10 scale his massive
shoulders and take up their places with that ease
and certainty which constitute the charm Of
these really dangerous ieats OF strength and
agility.
To crown the pyramid the 1.-THE and active lit.
tie Napoleone was tossed aloit by the powerful
acrobat caught by her brother Jeans sure hands
and placed upon his head nearly twenty feet from
the ground where she stood smiling aad kissing
her hands TO the astonshed audience, which re-
warded her skill aud courage with quite an out
burst of grults and solemn holdings OF the
head. 1t was evident that the wonderful ease
and rapldity with which the French family had
formed the .hum3n pyramid" had really aston
isned the Indians, for they held hurried con-
sultatlOn to determine how they should Offset
this splendid acrobatic feat. The whispered con.
ference was soon over, aud one OF the masked
Indians, OF herculean build, strobe out upon
the clearing. and. facing Cascabel. braced his
gigantic body 10 serve az foundation for Tlval
pyramid. With less grace and agility than dis
played by The Frepehman, but with toerable
certainly OF movement, the Indian acrobats now
began TO Chamber ~ into position Count Ser
gus, Nine. Cascabel and kayetie watched The
building OF the group with almost GREATNESS at
lentlon.
with suppressed emotion, AS she saw The Indian
pyramid towering one story higher than that
formed by the Cascabe family
A deep silence fell upon The assembled crowd
OF Indians and whites. so complete was the
victory that the Indians with magnanimity
hardly to be expected uttered no grunts of
trirmph and slowly and carefully The two
thurman pyramids which mad been facing each
other were demolished until the last performer
leaped lightly 10 the ground.
Al This moment a baud was gently laid upon
COnut Sergus' shoulder. II was hayeue.
Master" whispered the maiden, never be-
fore have ! seen my people build so high
pyramid. Alone they could not have done 1t.
We have no chief stroug enough to bear such
iYou mean =" querIed wassllowiteh start
ing up and fixing his eyes upon kayetle's placid
face.
added the maiden, " that my people stood upon
the broad and muscular shoulders of The out
law"
Count Sergius turned his gaze across the clear
ing TO The spot where the Indian performers had
just descended from their places In the pyramid
Above The others heads lowered The gigantic
chief who bad enacted the part OF foundation
As quickly as possible the Russian drew near TO
the spot under the preteXt OF addressing some
conversation 10 the Cascades, but III reality 10
get closer look at the tall chief. In order &c de-
leTmiDe If possible whether the Ieduubtable
KarnOf were really concealed behind tbe mask
of frighuul uginess and under Tie Enthusiastically
decorated costume.
Although Count Serglus had not been long
among the Alaskan Indians he had made close
studies OF their manners and customs aud had
acquired a widespread fame among them as
white medicine man" of great SKIN, wealth aud
power. AS the tall chief walked toward his
wgwam The Russian watched bis gait most in-
tently, aud from the manner in which The sup
posed Indian set his feet upon and raised them
from the ground. Count Seigius was more than
this red handed outlaw was really enamored OF
the Indian maiden and was resolved at risk OF
his life 10 snatch her from the hands OF her
white friends.
Without even letting the Cascades know OF
Kayette's discovery, lest they might by their
looks of surprise lead the Indians to think that
Karnof's disguise had not succeeded In conceal
ing bis identity, the Russian turned 10 one Of the
Indians and said quietly
IBID FiI-Fu come TO the little house on wheels.
Tell him that his While brother. who obeys The
same master as he, desires TO speak with him."
In few moments Fir-Fu followed by several
of the masked performers. drew near to the
travelling show.car doubtless expecting to re-
ceive presents from The hands Of the wealthy
traveller.
Count Sergius had withdrawn to the little house
on wheels at The approach OF the Indians, and
when he appeared after an absence OF several
moments Cascabe and his son Jean noticed that
his naturally solemn countenance wore even
graver aspect. They were somewhat surprised
at this and exchanged inquring glances.
Wassiliowitch advanced toward Fir-Fu ana
made gesture OF welcome. which the magician
xv5t, al III ot.lfp