Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-12


Jackabeck.
Along time ago there lived a little
Indian boy, whose name, as near as
we can pronounce it, was Jackabeck
BE was a very little fellow, for he never
grew after he was years old; but he
was very brave and very strong. 1t was
some time before he found out his great
strength and the discovery was made in
a singular manner.
Jackabeck's father and mother set out
one day on long journey and they took
the boy with them, as he was not old
enough to be left alone. At night they
stopped by the side of stream in the
forest and Jackabeck was sent to angle
for some fish at a deep pool in the river
while the warrior took his weapons and
went away in search of deer. AS ii
happened he met a bear instead, which
killed and devoured him.
The Indian woman, alarmed by the
protracted absence of her husband, set
off in search of him, without saying a
word to Jacabeck. She followed the
tracks of the warrior a long way, and at
last lay down to rest. Exhausted by
her travel she fell asleep, and in this
helpless condition was seized by pan
Their.
Little Jackabeck kept on fishing until
he had fine string, but when he arose
to return to camp it was SO dark that he
lost his way. He kept on, however,
through the darkness until he saw a
light shining among the trees. 1t came
from the wigwam of a poor widow WON
an, who took him in and kindly gave
him lodging. Some of his fish she
cooked on hot Goals for his supper.
IT, h. no hofa
benefactor was awake, and wishing to
kindle fire he took a Ratchet and went
out to gather some firewood. The first
blow he struck he felled a tree foot
through. This he dragged with the
greatest ease to the lodge, chopped it into
fuel and soon had fire blazing. After
breakfast he told his hostess that he was
going into the forest to hunt for the
murderers Of his parents, for he was
convinced that they had been killed.
So he tied on his moccasins, and tax
ing his bow and arrows he walked off
as brave as could be, though he was
such a little fellow that he scarcely
crushed the spring violets that bios
somed in his path. In the afternoon he
found huge bear asleep, which he
killed with one of his arrows. He
skinned and cut up the bear and in doing
so he found in it's stomach a necklace of
bears claws that had belonged to his
father.
That night he slept in the forest, going
to roost like q bird in the branches of a
tree. When he awoke the sun was Shin
ing in his face, and he saw big panther
preparing to spring at him. He was too
quick, however, for the savage beast. In
a trice his bow was bent and the arrow
whistled straight into its mark. In the
panther's stomach he found the long
tresses of his mothers hair, which identl-
fed it as her destroyer.
When he returned to the old woman 8
hut he found big black-haired giant sit
ting at the door polishing a huge warclub.
The giant gruffiy asked him what he was
there for.
1--WE come for my SUPPER" answered
Jackabeck, ''but of course / didn't know
that l was intruding"
"Ha! Ha! No, you didn't" roared
the burly warrior, "but as you are here
you can just stir up the fire and cook me
that batch of venison yonder. Come, be
lively. manikin.'
''Ill get my own supper" said plucky
little Jack, and I'll eat it, too;" and he
of crotched beech stick, proceeded to
roast piece of the venison.
Give it to Elep' cried the giant, when
it was done.
go away, snake answered Jacka-
beck, blowing at him contemptuously with
his lips.
In an instant the huge giant was trans
formed into a rattlesnake, which Jacka'
beck killed as it was crawling away.
It was the first time that he knew
he was possessed of the mysterious power
through which whatever he blew upon
was changed, by some sort of magic, just
as he wished.
'Well, this is singular he thought. but
he had not much time to wonder, for he
heard the feeble voice of the Indian WON
an calling for help.
''You have killed him; you have killed
old Mamon, the Blackhead, but you are
too late to save me-" said the old woman
"You are marked to do great things
Take my culver, there; in it are three ar
rows-magic shafts each one. When
you are in need use them, but not before
Far away towards the setting sun lives
my daughter. Garry this belt of wan
pun to her: it was her fathers. She viii
recognize it and reward you for the trou
ble / shall look down from the happy
hunting grounds and watch your good
fortune"
He watched with her all night, min
istering to her comforts as well as III
might and when the sun rose she breath
ed her last.
Jackabeck laid the lifeless body on the
ground and erected over it a little house
covered with bark. He then set things t.
rights in the wigwam, and closing ant
barring the door against intrusion. ht
started off straight in the direction of the
westering SUM- When night came he hat
nothing to eat. and he felt tired and hun
CRY. So what did he do but discharge
one of those magic arrows. He oh
served the direction of its flight, and fol
lowing after, presently came to a deel
that the arrow had killed.
'Hullo, that's my game cried a rough
voice, just as Jackabeck was laying his
hands on the carcass. who are you
anyway and the little fellow foun(
himself lifted up to the face of huge