The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-17
his own children were not allowed to

The winter OF 1722 melted 1nrO an
early spring in New Hampshire. The
| rivers were free from ice in April, and
| the first canoes that came up the Merri-
| mac brought the news that war was de-
clared with France. The weapons and
| defenses Were duly looked to, but no
precautions were taken, for it was long
months journey through the wilderness
to Canada; besides it was not likely the
| enemy would move at once.
May Day came at last and a tall May
pole decorated with wreaths of flowers
md stripes of colored cloth stood in the
broad stretch of greensward before the
gate of the stockade. Around this pole
the children danced and played old
English games. A bountiful outdoor
repast called the 1nerrymalers from
their fun. Hastily eating what was
placed before them, the older negroes
left the others at the feast. Going
across the clearing they disappeared
among the heaps of rocks at the foot of
the craggy hills. All the mysterious
things Sam Quashee had been laboring
upon for the past months evidently were
hidden in the cliffs. Ehe children i'm
patiently awaited tho advent of the
weird procession whose grotesque
strangeness would cause them that de-
lightful terror all children enjoy.
An hour passed, but as yet there were
no signs Of life about the heaps of rocks
The delay was unaccountable. SaI
Quashee's Oldest boy, Bob, proposed that
they start across the fields to meet the
delayed procession. The other chill
dren eagerly agreed, and off they all
started.
Picking their way over the soft
plowed land, they went toward the
hills, all the time on the alert, expect
ing to turn and flee at any moment be-
fore the approach of the Mumbo
Jumbo.
s"Why, they are not at the cliffs at
ALL said Mary Clark when the chill
dren had reached the middle of the
clearing. ''Look over the edge of
pines"
Sure enough, they could see dark fig
ures among the burned trees at the bor-
der Of the forest hastily concealing
themselves from the gaze of the little
crowd SO suddenly turned upon them.
81 saw 'em!" cried Luke Sanborn.
zone of 'em had a feather hat on. T
could see it just as plain, but I didn't
see anybody on stills with false face.
Let's go over"
ITS too far away to 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 sudden flash of flame,
and a deep roar of cannon reverberated
among the hills. The next instant the
crackle of musketry came family from
the Merrimac; it 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 stalked forth into the clear
ing two immense, hideous giants, ac-
companied by four strangely bedecked
creatures beating on tomtoms and
screaming forth the battle cry Of tbs
Ansgari cannibals. Fearful, huge, red,
distorted gashes of mouths, knobby,
black cheeks, terribly staring white
eyes, altogether diabolical faces had
these two giants, stalking stif1y out of
the clearing. Scarcely less terrifying
were the bepainted creatures with moose
horns rising above their heads, who
leapeG and danced along before the
giants.
Away, with loud shrieks, the children
rushed toward the fort. The Indians
halted amazed. The giants and their
halted too. They had just
the Indians. They had
thought the firing of the cannon salute
in honor of the day.
The Indians hesitated, and the Num-
DO Jumbos 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
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
. bead and sent bullet crashing
through the wooden forehead of Sam
Quashee's mask.
The giant neither fell nor faltered, !
ind with cry of terror the last Indian
rushed after his companions down the
river edge.
Slowly, as beitting their brave con-
quests and the softness of the ground, |
,he procession of Mumbo Ju1nbos passed |
across the field and through the gate of |
he fort where the children had just pre-
,eded them. The idols Of Africa had
overcome the redskins. The rising gen.
ration of Claflss, Tennys, Sanborns and
Marsdens would never doubt that fact.
n r-y1,;4o oaotad IoJxy