The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-07-06
SEEKING TOMANOWOS.
by ALVIN II. sYDENHANI.

BY ALVIN H. SxDENAAM.
In the land Of the Shoshones, in the
rugged valley east of the Teton range,
ut the most silent hour of a night of
uncarthly blackness,, White Bull, the
medicine man. sat by the smoldering
cmbers of his fire, considering the
question of selecting from the young
warriors of his tribe n 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 displeasurc of the Bad God by
dying of a fever, and was even now
being mourned 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 Il warrior who has led
his people from victory to victory for
thirty summers is an act requiring the
most mature deliberntion. 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
tbs folds of his blanket into the dying
eml,ers, a hand stole through the flap
of the tcpee, which was presently fol-
gliding serpentli<c in from the dark
ness.
''Whirlwind, son of the Gray Wolf,
what brings thee herc?' asked White
Bull, not deigning to move. Hast
thou not found the tonano'cos?"
mo, White Bull. Four days have
lain at the top of the thunder-rocA,
naked and without food. yet 1 have
dreamed not. The Great Spirit has
not revealed the secret OF the to-
nnanoscos. Since brea tn went out of the
body of old Rcd Eagle have I strng-
glcd 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 people, and all my
wealth is thine. Thou knowest the
value of the ponies, and of the arrows,
and of the furs.''
1.-THE Whirlwind is n brave and we'll
spoken young man. White Bull re-
dance. Go now secretly to the grave
of Red Eagle and wait until the
White Bull comes. Let mono of the
women see thee"
The young man threw himself to the
ground and glided out at the opposite
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 a tomtom
and shook the rattle at his girdle VIC
lently. He had not long to wait be-
fore the flap of the tepec opened
again and Il tall young man stood be-
fore him.
docs Washable still desire to be
war chicf?' he asked, motioning tho
young man to a seat upon the ground.
'WaShakic, bravest of the Shoshones,
CLAIM the right to be war-chief.'
But thou hast no ponies to ride in
battle. Thou contest not of the chiefs
blood. Thou hast married no daughter
of chief. By what right, therefore,
dost thou aspire to this highest honor
of the tribc?'
'.By the right of manhood. BY rny
strong arm. by my swiftness, 10y my
skill with the bow and tomahawk, and
by my stealth and cunning, 1 have
slain more enemies than any warrior
of the tribe. The Bad Spirit can't
cheat me. 1 shall be war chief, and
thou shalt aid me, White Bull"
Good! but what hast thou now for
thy toneano,coss'
THE heart of a grizzly bear, the
brain of panther, the arrow-thorn
that grows on the thunder-rocl<, the
eye of a lynx, and the foot of a gray
wolf
'.Good, my son; but it is not enough.
White Bull, wisest of the Shoshones,
alone knows the secret of the toneano
acos. He can take the young warriors
to the spot, but they have not the cour-
age to follow. When they go to wrench
the secret from the bowels of the earth,
their blood becomes like water. Hast
thou a nerve of iron? Wilt thou fol-
low the White Bull into the country of
the fire arrows-into the land of the
Fire Spirit?"
Ito any spot thou namest.''
"Then meet the White Bull ut the
foot of the thunder-rock at sunrise. He
will lead thee into the land of the Fire
Spirit and show thee the secret Of the
ton,onoeoos."
An hour later Whirlwind, lying Sc
creted at the feet Of the dead war
chief, became aware that White Bull
was reckoning him apart for a confer
ence. BY sunrise he knew that the
medicine man had set out for the land
of the.Fire Spirit with Washable. his
rival, in search of the secret tomdno,eos,
and that upon the skill with which
he followed upon their trail, without
being seen, depended his accession to
the dignity of war chief. He must
keep the trail Of Washakie like his
shadow. yet be ~ invisible ~ . spirit. |