Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-07


started
Picking their way over the soft
pIo1ed land. they went toward the
hills, al the time on the alert. expect
ing 70 turn and fee ar any moment be-
fore the approach OF the Aambo
Jumbo.
why, they are not at the ehfs st
all, said Mary Clark when the chill
dren lad reached the middle OF the
clearing. Look over the edge OF
pines"
sure enough, they could see dark 6g-
ures among the burned trees at the bor-
der OF the forest hastily concealing
themselves from the gaze Of the little
crowd 50 suddenly Turned upon them.
Il saw 'em" cried Luke Sanborn-
''One Of 'enI had feather has ON. l
cOald see 1t just a. plain, but didn't
see any body On stills with false face.
Let's 60 over"
Its too far away 10 see any stills or
false faces and We had better stay here
said Patience Tenney. the oldest OF the
group.
just at that moment there sounded
from the fort the harsh blare of the
trumpet used TO call the laborers from
the fields at mealtime. Looking back
the children saw a sudden fash of fame.
and deep roar Of cannon reverberated
among the hills. The next instant the
crackIe of mnsketry came family from
the Merrimac: il was answered from
the fort: blood curdlIng war whoop
burst from the edge Of the clearing near
them and three Indian warriors raised
from among the stumps and came leap
ing toward them.
Almost before they could turn toward
the fort loud drum peals sounded from
the rocks at the foot of the hills. AS IL
in reply TO the war whoops there rang
forth the wild. savage, African battle
cry. There sIalked forth into the clear
ing two immense. hileous giants, ac-
companied by four strangely bedecked
creatures beating on tomtoms and
screaming forth the battle cry Of thu
Ansgari eannibals. Fearful, huge, red.
distorted gashss of mouths. knobby,
black cheeks. terribly staring white
| eyes, altogether diaboiical faces had
these two giants. stalking stiflly out of
! the clearing. Scarcely less terrifying
were the bepainted creatures with moose
/ horns rising above their heads. who
| leaped and danced along before the
| giants.
Away, with loud shrieks, the children
/ rushed toward the fort. The Indians
| halted amazed. The giants and their
attendants halted too. They had just
discovered the Indians. They had
thought the firing of the cannon salute
in honor of the day.
/ The Indians hesitated, and the Mum
DO JuInbos hesitated.
/ But one cannot stand still on stills
The tallest of the Mumbo Jumbos stag
| gered forward and one Of the Indians
| turned and fled. The other giant adj
vanced, the attendants struck their
| drums again. and again the horrid Ans
gari war song pealed forth, and the sec
ond Indian followed the first. The third
Indian dropped on one knee, and before
the Mumbo Jumbos could turn he drew
through the wooden forehead of Sam
Quashee's mask.
The giant neither fell nor faltered.
and with cry Of terror the last Indian
rushed after his companions down the
river edge.
Slowly. as BETTING their brave con-
quests and the softness of the ground.
the procession of Mumbo Jumbos passed
across the field aud through the gate Of
the fort where the children had just pre-
coded them. The idols of Africa had
overcome the redskins. The rising gen.
Grafton of Clarks, Tennys, Sanborns and
Marsdens would never doubt that fact.
Meantime the white coated body of a
French officer went floating down the
river, and two canoes rapidly disap-
peared up the river. The attack upon
Fort Clark had been repulsed. The war
with France had begun. Con-
stitution.