Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-05-25
THE BLIND CHIEF.

CMkkatabac. the blind son Of the In
li.n chief Wahgumacut, was borne dur
inG war between his fathers tribe. tho
" ampanoago. and the Nahigonsiks. The
Wampauoag> had won the battle and
were already shouting triumphantly.
when the woods about them suddenly
burst INTO a great blaze EVERYTHING
5 med turnel 10 fire; il crept like reptiles
sMon. the dry grass at their feet and
roil"i around the trunks Of trees, till.
reaching the topmost branches, il formed
canopy # twisting. wrlthing flames.
Many Of the warriors perished that
night. among them Wahgumacut. The
SURVIVORS. after undergoing many hard
SHIPS reached the little camp where the
sqEaws and children had been left for
safety There they learned that on the
very night uf their misfortune Naanash-
qGaw. Nlfo of their chief, had given
birth 10 aale child. Instead Of the
usual JoIcin- over such an event there
were scowl> and mutterings among the
warriors. 4 child Of i'll omen they said
II. was. and 10 prevent his evil influence
DONG further mischief they determined
to put him to death But Naanashquaw
pleaded for the life Of her little one and
WIS permitted under protest to keep
him.
The child grew. but he was blind, and
the Indians were filled with a supersti-
tious fear Of him. All sorts Of misfor-
tunes were supposed 10 fall on the un-
lucky individual on whom his sightless
eyes might appear to rest.
Naanashquaw died, prophesying un-
limited disaster to the tribe if her sight
less son should meet a violent death at
their hands. SO the boy. feared, Stunned
and desrised, grew TO manhood. He was
about a. tall broad shouldered and
straight, when there came year of fam
Inc. The earth was barren, the deer and
game apparently exterminated. Dark
grew the countenances of the red men.
They drew apart from the squaws and
children, who cried piteously for food,
and while whispering together pointed
ominously at Chikkatabac. the blind
young chief.
Tnen they pretended to have arranged
a hunting trip, and soon the noise and
hustle usually attendant upon this event
was heard throughout the cauIp. Before
this Chikkatabac had always been left
with the squaws, but now he was in
vited TO accompany the braves, and his
bosom swelled with pride. He imagined
they at last had realized he was man.
Dreams Of taking his inherited right of
being sycamore Of the tribe came to him.
For days they travelled ont of their own
land over hot sandy deserts till, reaching
a dense forest beyond, they pushed their
way through the trees, brush and tangled
vines to its very heart. Here they paused,
and after refreshing themselves pretend
ed to rest. Chikkatabac unsuspectingly
lay down and was soon asleep.
The bright eyes of his enemies could
be seen sparkling through the darkness.
The dusky forms arose noiselessly and
stealthily retraced their steps homeward.
In his dreams Chikkatabac was great
warrior. The place about him echoed
with the cries of his victims and the war
whoop of his army. Onward, onward to
triumph he was leading them.
He awoke. A great sense Of loneliness
save the sobbing of the wind through the
trees. Was it day or night? As if m an
swer bird caroled forth its morning
hymn, and thousands of sweet voiced
songsters joined in the melody. One by
one he called the names of his compan-
ions but none answered him. What had
happened? Had some terrible disaster
occurred and were their dead bodies ly-
ing around him? Or were they all sitting
hear him, griSning at his misfortune?
Angrily he arose and gesticulated wild
ly, walking rapidly around and around,
stretching his arms out into space. Then
feeling Of helplessness and utter de-
spair assailed him. With loud cry he
threw himself to the ground.
Chikkatabac had been reared with the
women of his tribe; they and the chill
dren had been his companions. Nothing
had arisen in his life before this to de-
velop the more rugged qualities Of man
hood. But when there broke upon him
now full realization Of the enormous
cruelty that had been practiced upon
him the fighting spirit Of his ancestors
burst its leash within him, and uncon-
trollable fury ragged in his blood. He
beat his head against the ground; he
tore the sod with his fingers; he sprang
to his feet, and waving his arms cursed
his betrayers, the echoes Of his frantic
yells mocking him from the depths Of
the forest.
Never before had the unrelenting cru-
city Of his blindness held him In bonds