Dodge City times., 1891-06-05

ingly willing ears
As was to be expected, fierce
rivalry soon sprang up between these
two impetuOus young chiefs, which,
only for the interference of more sober
heads, would have lead to open hostili-
ties between them, on many occasions.
1t is not to be supposed that Bison
Head was ignorant of what was going
on, but up to this time he had only
been an interested observer, knowing
full well that his daughter was capa
BILE of choosing for herself and would
tell him of her decision when it was
made. But Us the open hostility OF
the two chiefs became more evident
each day, and knowing full well what
dire results would follow any conflict
between the two, he at last addressed
Wahoe:
"Does the daughter of the great
Bison Head desire to make trouble be-
tween the two young chiefs, by giving
neither an answer to his suit?''
''No, great chief, my father; but
Wahoe does not know to which she will
I.
and Wahoe does not wish to wound the
heart of one by leaving the lodge OF
my father and going to that of the
other. viii my father tell Wahoe how
to decide?''
my daughter must do that for her
self. Bison Head will not command
his daughter. Both FleetfOot and Big
Wolf are brave young chiefs and worthy
to enter the lodge of Bison Head and
bear away his child to their own peo-
pie. The Blackfeet are no more ouI
friends than are the Sioux, and both
are powerful nations. If my daughter
wants to depart to the distant lodge OF
Fleetfoot, it's well: but if she would
prefer to remain nearer to her own peo
pie and enter the lodge of the Sioux
chief, Bison Head would be pleased
Your father has now spoken; hi:
daughter must decide"
After her iathers departure Wahoe
sat for a long time without any visible
signs of life, except an occasional sigh
which escaped her. Finally an idea
seemed to have gained possession OF
her, for she suddenly arose, passed
quickly from her lodge to that of her
father. On entering the tent of Bison
Head she Immediately said:
MY father, l have decided. Do you
see the high rock which stands near
where the water falls over the ledge
and which looks SO much like the face
of a great chief"
"Yes, my daughter; but what does
my child expect to do: throw herself
from its top into the water below. and
in that way end the strife between the
two young chiefs?"
mo, my father; Wahoe loves life too
well to hurry herself to the land of the
Great Spirit by doing anything SO rash.
But FleetfOot and Big Wolf are both
brave and daring and have told me they
would do anything to show how much
they love me, and as your daughters
heart cannot decide which chief she
will go with, / have come to tell my
father that will test the love of both.
You can tell them that Wahoe will GO
to the lodge of the brave who will
leap from the big rocks to that lone
rock and return my mOccasin, which l
will have my brother place there.
Does my father like the plan of his
daughter?"
'''Tis well, replied the chief; Il will
tell Fleetfoot and Big Wolf how my
daughter has decided"
1t took but few hours for the news
of.the test given by Wahoe to be carried
throughout the numerous tribes on the
plain. after Bison Head had called the
two chiefs before him and given them
his daughters ultima matum.
Both gallant braves at once ac-
quiesced in the plan of the maiden, al
though they knew it might mean death
or terrible injuries to them to attempt
the feat, should they fail to accomplish
it, as the leap had never yet been made
by man.
The rock in question was tall piece
of granite standing like lone sentinel
about fifteen feet from the main ledge,
overlooking the falls. and was about
thirty or forty in height, having evil
IDENTIFY been detached from the main
ledge by some volcanic convulsion of
past ages. AS the space on top of this
bowlder was only about a foot square.
it will be readily seen that man must
be sure-footed if he landed ON its top
and retained his footing. This fact.
more than the distance. made.the jump
SO dangerous.
1t was decided by Bison H cad that
the contest should take place at the
going down of the sun on the following
day.
As the attentions of the two young
chiefs to Wahoe were well known to
all the Indians assembled, the an
of the dangerous contest
between the two was the one exciting
theme talked of that night and the next
day in the tents of the red men.
As possible safeguard, to the minds
of the untutOred savage, both young
chiefs spent the entire night alone in
their tents chanting their death song,
that they might be prepared to enter
the happy hunting grounds should they
meet their deaths in attempting their
love test
On the following day as the sun be-
gan to sink towards the home Of Fleet
foot, the Blaclfeet chief, the plain
below the falls and the space on the
rocks above were lined with the vari-
GUS Indians, all excited and interested
in the result of the contest.
As the hour for the trial drew near
the excitement increased: but when the
two chiefs came up from their tents
followed by Bison Head and Wahoe.
rs of death, pervaded that vast
m ultitude.
When they arrived at the scene of the
contest Bison Head thus addressed the
two young chiefs:
''Fleetfoot, chief of the daring and
swift-footed Blackfeet, and Big Wolf,
chief Of the great and powerful Sioux.
you both desire that the daughter of
Bison Head should leave the lodge of
her father and enter yours to cook
your food and caro- for you when you