The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-15

objects whioh sysn his OWE children were
not allowed to Ses.
Tho winter OF l722 melted into an early
spring in Now Hampshire. Tbs rivers wers
free from leo in April. and tbs first canoes
that came up the Merrimao brought the
Ihe weapons and dsfensss OF the fort were
duly looked to, but no other precautions
were taken, for II was 4 long months
journey through the wilderness of Canada.
besides il was not likely tho enemy would
move at once.
May day came at List and 4 tall Maypolo
decorated with wreatha OF flowers and
strips Of colored cloth stood In tbs broad
stretch OF Rroensward before the gate Of the
stockade. Around this pole tho children
danced and played old English games. A
%bonntiful outdoor repast called the merry
what was first placed before, the oldsr
negroes left tbs others at the feast. Going
across the clearing they disappeared Am ong
the heap of rocks at the foot of the oragQy
hills. All the mysterious things Sam
Quashes had been laboring upon for the
pass month Mt evidently were hidden in the
cliffs. The children inpatiently awaited
the advent Of the wsird procession whose
grotesque strangencss would cause them
that delightful terror all children enjoy.
An hour passed, but az yet there were no
signs of life about the heaps Of rocks. The
delay was unaccountAbls. Sam Quashee'a
Oldest boy, Bob, proposed that they start
across the fields to meet tho delayed pro-
%cession. The othsr children eagerly agreed,
and off they all started.
Picking their wav over the soft plouRhed
land, they went toward the hills, all the
time on the alert. expecting to turn and
1es at any moment before the approach OF
the Mumbo Jumbo.
why they are not at the cliffs all all,' =
said Mary CLARK whom the children had
reached the middle Of the clearing. "Look
oyer in the edge Of the pines.''
Sure enough, they could see dark figures
among the burnt trees at the border Of the
tho gaze Of the little crowd so suddenly
turned upon them.
II saw emp cried Luke Sanborn." One
of m had a feather hat on. / could see it
just ~ plain, but / didn't see anybody on
stills with a false face. Let's 20 over"
tits too far away to see any stills o.
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 blars of the trumpet used
to call the laborers from the fields at meal
time. Looking back the children saw a
sudden flash of flame, a wreath Of smoke,
non reverbsrated among the hills. The
next instant the crackle of musketry came
family up from the Merrimac; it was an
swored from the fort; q blood-curdlinQ war
whoop burst from tho edge Of the clearing
near them and three Indian warriors raised
from among the stumpa and came leapine
towards them!
Almost before they could turn toward the
Fort q loud drum-roll sounded from the
rocks at the foot Of the hills. Az it in re-
ply to the war-whoops there rang forth the
wild, savage African battle cry. There
etalked forth into the clearing two i'm
mense, hideous giants, accompanied by
four strangely -bedecked creatures beating
on tom-tons and screaming forth the bat.
huge, red. distorted CACHES of mouths,
knobby black cheeks, terrible staring white
eyes, altogether diabolical faces had those
two giants stalking stiff1y out into the
! clearing. Scarcely less terrifying were she
bepainted creatures with moose horns ris.
ing above thor 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
thec cannon a salute in honor Of the day.
The Indians hesitated and the Mumbo
/ Jumbos hesitated.
But one cannot stand still on stills. The
tallest of the Murnbo Jumbos staggered
forward and one of the Indians turned and
fed. The other giant advanced, the at
PENDANTS struck their drums again, and
again the horrid ArisRari war song pealed
forth, and the second Indian followed the
! first. The third Indian dropped on one
knee and before the Mumbo Jumbos could
turn he drew a bead and sent q bullet
crashing through the wooden forehead OF
Sam Qrashee's mask.
| The giant neither fell nor faltered. and