The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-14
written for The HERALD BY william Ker.

come. Inc SKY was without cl0ud.
The gently-moving, sweetly-scented air
was benson. The anxieties and diff
culties Of the season were all forgot, as
orchard and hopyard yielded their red
and golden fruitage.
The days work over, was lying on
the porch. Good digestion had waited
on appetite. and the seductive influence
of an excellent cigar completed and
rounded off condition OF luxurious ease
and comfort.
The cattle were resting in the pastures.
Far off. beyond the wide sweep of plain
and river, the evening mist rolled In
through the Union Gap, like fleecy tor
rent, the motion stilled by distance.
1t was the ideal calm of the country
the reward she gives to those who love
her.
My thoughts were idly playing around
the proposition that well-earned rest is
the most satisfying oil human sensations,
when they were broken In on by the
ranch foreman, who rode up and re-
ported that the Indian pickers were max
ing trouble in the hop field.
rode down and found that some OF
the young men had been too pronounced
in their attentions to the young squaws.
and the bucks had resented it.
The difficulty was soon adjusted, but
the desire for restful inaction was gone,
and decided to ride over to another hop
yard, some ten miles distant.
There were about four miles of level
sage-brush plain to cross, and then low
spur OF foothills flung out by the distant
Cascades, like arms to grasp and hold the
lovely valley OF the Mckee.
The moon was at the foil, and my
horse, fresh, and eager for gallop, struck
bee line for the trail across the bills.
The ranch was soon reached, and l
found that the labor problem was dis
turbing the harmony which all nature
seemed so persuasively preaching
The pickers were some Columbia In
dians, non-reservation, but, as the sequel
will show, not without a glimmering Of
the bright light of civilization. They were
accompanied by so-hsppy, the chief, and
Columbia Jack, a sort OF sub-chiei.
Taking leaf from the book OF the
pale face, they had struck for higher
wages. Realizing that the crop must be
got in, and shrewdly suspecting that their
white brother would rather stand gentle
squeeze than run any risks. the sophisti-
Gated children of nature had demanded
25 cents per box OF hops more than they
had bargained for. Till their demand was
complied with they were unconcernedly
taking their otium cum dig.
Asking for Jack, was directed to
field short distance from the camp;
and, proceeding thither, witnessed the
scene which shall try to describe.
Some 200 yards beyond the northern
end OF the camp was large tepee, or
wigwam, in front Of which was blazing
fire. Approaching nearer, found some
six or eight young bucks, squatted at
log before the fire, and on the side
farthest from the tepee.
A few feet beyond them and Just at the
entrance Of the tepee (from which the
canvas was rolled back so that the IN
side could be plainly seem sat So-happy
on bis heels.
To his left, and in the opening on the
tepee, crouched an old medicine man Of
the tribe.
Lying inside on heap Of old blankets
and in the full glare Of the FIRE was .
young squaw.
The picture was as strange AZ II was
fair. The valley lay resting deeply in the
moonlight, the dark-fringed river SHIN
mered in the middle distance. while far
beyond, strongly slhouetted against the
pale sky, the lordly Cascades kept watch
and ward.
Close st hand were the quaint tents OF
the Indian camp, and before me, glowing
in the strong freight, were the savage
children of the scene.
They formed group which, in Its ap-
propriate setting, was, indeed, the last
expression of the picturesque. Their
manly, aquiline faces we're a dull copper,
and their many colored blankets shone
brightly in the glare. which flung con-
trasting shadow outside the circle which
it lit up.
The old medicine man II learned that
he was over hundred years Of age) was
the only one of the number who could
not fairly be called handsome; and, but
for the strength Of his square and
wrinkled face, he was hideous.
Yet the intense earnestness OF bis ap-
pearance and action, and the undimmed
fire OF his deeply-sunken eyes, made him
the most striking, as he was the central,
figure OF the group.
He was kneeling on all fours, with
head bent toward the earth. For few
minutes so still were they all that every
figure might have been carven from
wood.
Suddenly the old medicine man raised
himself on his knees, turned towards the
sick squaw, and began, in a low mono
tone, y chanting Incarnation. When he
came to the end Of period he became
silent. Immediately the chief behind
him turned towards the young men and
in loud voice repeated the chant. Then
they took up the burden Of the song in q
mournful chorus, which lasted longer,
beating time with sticks on the log at
which they were squatted, and swaying
their bodies in harmony with their mel