The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-02-15

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TURNED INTO STONE.
any kind. but lifted my eyes and then sat
like one turned to stone. Not - feet
away stood man whose cooked and lev
eled rife was pointed straight atmy heart
And that man was a half blood Indian!
l did not utter a sound, but sat there
staring, open mouthed, expecting to see
the rifle spit forth its deadly contents at
any instant. For possibly 80 seconds
neither of us stirred. and then the half
blood silently lowered his weapon, letting
down the hammer at the same time He
did not sneak. but promptly came forward
and souatted close mt hand, reaching out
and appropriatinu some Of the dried beef
which he ravenously devoured.
Bv that time / regained my nerve, and
snatching out a revolver | demanded to
know the meaning Of his actions. He was
not in the least disturbed, for. still with
out speaI,ing. he secured mora of the dried
beef and crammed it into his mouth
"Well, YOU certainly have cheek =, | half
laughed. ''You sneak up on "A man like
this and get the drop on him, and then
YOU eat his ratious without as much rs
saving 'hv YOUR leaver | have halfamind
to bore YOU"
still he smoke no word, but continued
eating until satisfied. Then, wiping his
mouth with his hand, he startled me by
saving in English:
IL didn't shoot YOU. why YOU want to
shoot meY | was much hungry"
Il should say sou was my exclamation.
"But what want to know is what you
meant by sueakinR upon me i'm that way
"Thought YOU some other man. If you
had been-ughr'
"You would have shot meF"
Like n dogr' he cried, his ewes blaZ-
ing. "For one week be on his trail. !
find him soon-I find them both. Then
will shOotH
"This individual must have wrnnged
youY" / ventured, my interest in the half
blood increasing.
\ mutteriug sound came from his throat
and he ground his teeth together while the
look on his face was actually fendish.
81 tell youp' was his low but fercely
spoken words. HE steal of me my squawl
Is that not enoughY She have white blood
in her like myself, and she want to be
like the whites. | do everything to please
her. | try to make myself like the white
man, though | be despised for the red
blood in me- And my father was chief
of the Navajoesr'
The final words were uttered with pride
while he gared at me in a way did not
like. Before / could speak, he went on:
1.-THE wife of my father was "A white
woman. She was a captive taken in war,
and she became my mother In time she
did not care to return to her people The
red man who tries to mingle with the
whites and live like them is fool That
have learned. When | have found this
white devil who stole my squaw, shall
go back to my people"
1t was not necessary to question him
further, and | shuddered as | thought OF
the fate that would befall the man he was
after, should he ever be overtaken by the
avenger.
When he had explained, the half blood
relapsed into moody silence. sitting on
the ground and staring Mt the fire. | will
confess was far from comfortable, but
knew of no way to rid myself of his pres.
ence and was forced to submit to the in.
evitable when he rolled himself before the
fire and slept as quietly as if I had been
his best friend in all the world.
/ slept very little that night, getting NJ
many times to replenish the fire. Once
or twice | saw my strange companion
eyes were open and he was watching my
movements, but he slept again as soon as
settled down.
The half blood was astir as soon as the
light of approaching day began to show
In the east had fallen into deep sleep
utterly worn out with fatigue and watch
ing, but he came and aroused me.
1.-THE sun comes soon, he said, "ant
the day will be hot. This is the time tc
go on. Which wayg"
"To the south, " was my reply.
"The trail leads that way, bur the Dev
IFS range is there. VIII you go around,
or shall we travel togetheri"
l had resolved 10 make the short cut
through the range, but did not care for
his company. However, after quickly
swallowed breakfast, we started together,
was mounted, but the half blood took
the lead ana ne was as tlreless as grey
hound.
No trace OF trail appeared to my eyes
but, with his head bowed and his eyes on
the ground, my companion seemed like a
bloodhound on the scent. Right into the
heart of the wild and desolate mountains
that lift their barren, sunscorched crests
to the sky we advanced.