The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-07-20
SEEKING TOMANOWOS.
By ALVIN II. sYDENHAM.


In the land of the Shoshones, in the
rugged valley east of the Teton range,
at the most silent hour of night of
unearthly blaclxness, White Bull, the
medicine man, sat by the smoldering
embers of his fire, considering the
question of selecting from the young
warriors of his tribe new war chief
who would be friendly to his personal
interests.
Red Eagle, the old war chief, who
had three days before succumbed to
the displeasure of the Bad God by
dying of fever, and was even now
being mourncd among the pines on the
hillside, as the plaintive shrieks OF
lamenting relatives borne on the night
wind indicated, had to be re laced;
and to replace warrior who has led
his people from victory to victory for
thirty summers is an act requiring the
most mature elaboration. Among the
Young braves the two most eager for
the election were Whirlwind and
Washable, both brave warriors, and
both far enough ahead of their COM
petitors in deeds of blood and prowess
to be considered the only rivals for the
position.
AS White Bull was peering through
this folds of his blanket into the dying
embers. hand stole through the flap
of the tepce, which was presently fol-
lowed by the body of a young warrior,
gliding serpentlike in from the dark
ness.
.Whirlwind, son of the Gray Wolf,
what brings thee here?" asked White
Bull, not dcigning to move. HAST
thou not found the t0H1da0w0sy"
"No, White Bull. -Four days have
lain at the top of the thunder-rock'
naked and without food, yet l have
dreamed not. The Great Spirit has
not revealed the secret of the to-
Dano,ros. Since breath went ont OF the
body of old Red Eagle have / strug-
gied with Bad God, who is seeking to
defeat me. But thy magic power,
White Bull, can aid me much. Make
me war chief of my ;ssSgnle and all my
-S5alth- Is thine. TIieS-Ao*west the
value of the ponies, and of the arrows
and of the fnrs."
..The Whirlwind Is brave and we'll
SPOKEN YOUNG w htbS ''NA~ ~
members his endurance in the sun
dance. Go now secretly to the grave
of Red Eagle and wait until the
White Bull comes. Let none OF the
women see thee"
The young man threw himself to the
ground and glided out at the opposite
side of the tepee. No candidate for
the craftsmanship will risk the danger
of returning upon his trail. 1t Is an
action suggestive of retreat
After some moments the medicine
man struck sharply upon tomtom
and shook the rattle at his girdle vio-
lently. He had not long to wait be-
fore the flap of the tepee opened
again and tall young man stood be-
fore him.
"Does Washable still desire to be
war chief?" he asked, motioning the
young man to a seat upon the ground
"WashalSie. bravest of the Shoshones
claims the right to be war-chief."
s.But thou hast no ponies to ride II
hattie. Thou contest not of the chief
blood. Thou hast married no daughte
of a chief BY what right, therefore
dost thou aspire to this highest homo
of the tribe?"
SPY the right of manhood. by m.
strong arm, by my swiftness, by m.
skill with the bow and tomahawk, ant
by nv stealth and cunning, l hav
slain moro enemies than any warrio
of the tribe. The Bad Spirit can
cheat me. / shall be war chief, an
thou shalt aid me, White Bull"
.Goodl but what hast thou now TO
thy tomdnoacosf'
.sThe heart of grizzly bear, tn
brain of a panther, the arrow-thor
that grows on the thunder-rock, tn
eve of lynx, and the foot OF gra
wolf"
"0ood, my son; but it is not enough
white Bull, wisest of the Shoshone
alone knows the secret of the tonsdH
,oos. He can take the young warrior
to the spot, but they have not the cou
are to follow. When they go to wrenc
the secret from the bowels Of the eartl
their blood becomes like water. Has
fbou n nerve of iron? Wilt thou TO
low the White Bull into the country
the FIRE arrows--into the land OF II
Fire Spirits"
ITO any spot thou namest."
ssThen meet the White Bull at u
foot of the thunder-rock at sunrise. L
win lead thee into the land OF the En-
Spirit and show thee the secret OF IL
soacnomos."
An hour later Whirlwind, lying s
creted at the feet OF the dead WI
chief. became aware that White Blu
was beckoning him apart for confe
ence. BY sunrise he knew that u
medicine man had set out for the lar
Of the.Fire Spirit with Washakie' u
rival, in search of the secret foniano'ee
and that upon the skill with whie
he followed upon their trail, wifho'
being seen, depended his accession
the dignity OF war chief. He mu
keep the trail Of Washable like p
shadpw, yet be as inyislhlc as . sp'r'