The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-06-16

bread stretch Of greensward before the
gate Of the stcekade. Around this pole
the children danced and played old
English games. A bountiful outdoor
repast called the merrymakers 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 crsggy hills. All the mysterious
things Sam Quashes had been laboring
upon for the past months evidently were
hidden in the cliffs. The children i'm
patiently awaited the advent Of the
weird procession whose grotesque
strangeness would cause them that de
hghtful 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. Sal
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 fee at any moment be-
fore the approach Of the Mumbo
Jumbo.
why, they are not at the cliffs =,
all, said Mary Clark when the chill
dren had reached the middle Of The
clearing. Look over tine edge Of
pines"
Sure enough. they could see dark fig
ures among the burned trees at the Dor
der Of the forest hastily concealing
themselves from the gaze Of the little
crowd 50 suddenly turned upon them.
Il saw EN-" cried Luke Sanborn.
"One Of 'em had feather hat on.
could see it just rs plain. but 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 iaborers from
the helds at mealtime. Looking back
the children saw a sudden flash OF flame.
and a deep roar Of a cannon reverberated
among the hills. The next instant the
crackle Of nusketry came family from
the Merrimae: it was answered from
the fort; blood cnrdling 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 foo, Of the hills, Asif
in reply to the war whoops there rang
forth the wild, savage, African battle
cry. There stalked forth into the clear.
ing two immense. hi.ieous giants. ar-
companied by four strangely be.lecked
Creatures BEATING on tomtoms and
screaming forth the battle cry Of tn
Ansgari cannibals. Fearful, huge. red
distorted sashes of mouths, knobbv.
black cheeks, terribly staring whit,
eyes, altogether diabolical faces had
these two giants. stalking stiffiv ont OF
the clearing. Scarcely less terrifying
were the bepainte,i 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 Jus,
discovered the Indians. They had
thought the firing Of the cannon a salute
IN honor Of the day.
The Indians hesitated, and the Mum
DO Jumbos hesitated.
But one cannot stand still on stilts.
The tallest Of the Mumbo Jurnbos stag.
sered forward and one Of the Indians
urned and fed. The other giant ad.
'anced, the attendants struck their
irums again. and again the horrid Ans
'arl war song pealed forth. and the sec
md Indian followed the first. Tn. third
ndisn dropped on one knee, and before
he Mumbo Jumbos could turn he drew
bead and sent q bullet crashing
through the wooden forehead Of Sam |
2uashees mask.
The giant neither fell nor faltered.
nd with cry Of terror the last Indian
ushed after his companions down the
liver edge.
Slowly. as BETTING their brave con-
uests and the softness Of the ground
he procession Of Mumbo Jumbos passed
cross the field and through the gate Of
ne fort where the children had Just pre-
eded them. The idols Of Africa had
vercome the redskins. The rising gen
ration Of Clarks, Tennys, Sanborns and
larsdens would never doubt that fact.
Meantime the white coated body Of a
rench officer wen. floating down the
yer, and two canoes rapidly disap-
Jared up the river. The attack upon
ort Clark had been repulsed. The war
ith France had begun.
COMMUNAL LEE |