Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
braves conquer al the tribes Of the mountains
and kill their brayee'

braves, conquer al the tribes Of the mountain
and kill their braves
Everywhere went cry Of alarm, which wa
only subdued by an old medicine man. who
knowing the common report Of Guatumas Sc
cret charm, promised his people that he would
go forth alone and not return until it should
be broken.
THE MEDICINE MAN AND THE CHIEF.
while the surrounding tribes prepared tc
move away to the south, far from Guatuma'f
hunting ground, the medicine man steslthily
approached the wigwams of the tribe Of the
great chief. He secreted himself by day and
during the night time watched the camp and
listened and looked for any incarnation or sign
wnlch might form clue to the mighty power
OF the chief. Many days passed by and he
learned nothing. Finally after his long series
OF night watching he discovered the tall form
OF Guatuma come out from his tent and under
the shadow of bushes and trees pass to the
westward. Following as closely as possible to
be unobserved, he saw the chief enter what APP
peared to be a cave in hill side. Creeping
closely behind him he crawled on his knees
along the low and narrow passage way among
the rocks until he emerged into an open space.
BY faint light he could see the chief firing
torches, and he then had revealed to him a
scene of a great cavern.
In the center of the vaulted hall and shoot
Ing up for distance of many yards was a
fountain Of boiling water and about it a small
pool from which arose fumes of sulphur. the
outlet OF the seething liquid flowing over q
rocky bed and dashing down deep ravine.
The tall form of Guatuma stood by the side
OF the boiling fountain, SO near, in fact, that
the spray from the hot liquid fell upon him,
though he did not vince under it. The medi-
cine man wondered at his strange behavior,
but was not slow in seeing that he prayed to
the fountain for success of himself and braves.
The willy fellow soon determined what course
to take. Crouching behind the rocks before
him he called forth in solemn and cultural
tones:
THE INVOCATION AND ITS RESULT.
"'Oh, Mighty Guatuma, long, long have you
been made victorious over your enemies. Now,
the fountain of power demands a great sacri-
flee. The bravest and best of the warriors of
your tribe must plunge into the abyss, the
nome OF the waters Of the fountain, or else no
longer VIII your braves meet victory
The old chieftain started at these words and
repeated to himself the wisest and 5ests'. The
medicine man. seeing the impression he lad
made. iorwith retraced his steps and found his
way INTO the open air. got u.4.
"Guatuma pondered long over what he had
heard from the fountain, and instead of join
ing his tribe with boastful words of vengeance
against his enemies he was moody and thought
ful. He became dispirited and no relief could
DC found for him He would not own that
there was warrior drawer or better than him
deep abyss that received the boiling water.
he could not go to battle and his braves saw
that he no longer was confident Of success
when they became alarmed at stories of the
preparations their enemies were making to re-
rlst them, for the cunning medicine man had
told MS people no longer to fear Guatuma, that
his charm no longer protected him. Guatuma
remained sulien and dreaded impending
evil The cavern and the boiling fountain
were beneath his wigwam. known only to HIM
self. His fear WAS not without foundation, for
as he hesltated with cowardly thoughts the
rocky roof of the great cavern gave way and
every wigwam. every bravo and member ef
his tribe were received into the boiling toun-
tain and dashed into the abyss below.
Now only beautiful Lake Tiscapa remains
to mark the spot of the tribes destruction and
stories OF the water rising and becoming hot
NIL those who so there with fear for then al
ways is recounted the Legend OF Tiscapa.'
CHARLES E. KERN.