The Van Buren press., 1895-06-15
SEEKING TOMANOWOs.
BY ALVIN II. sYDENHAst.

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 blackness, 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 mourned among the pines on the
hillside, as the plaintive shrieks of
lamenting relatives borne on the night
wind indicated, had to be re placed;
and to replace warrior who has led
his people from victory to victory for
thirty summers is an act requiring the
most mature deliberation. Among the
young braves the two most eager for
the election were Whirlwind and
Washakie, 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 tepee, which was presently fol-
lowed by the body Of young warrior,
gliding serpentlike In from the dark
ness.
"Whirlwind, son Of the Gray Wolf,
what brings thee hereP" asked White
Bull, not deigning to move. "Hast
thou not found the tomanopos!"
mo, White Bull. Four days have l
lain at the top of the thunder-rock,
naked and without food, yet I have
dreamed not. The Great Spirit has
not revealed the secret OF the to-
mdno,oos. Since breath went ont OF the
body Of old Red Eagle have l strug-
gled 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."
"The Whirlwind Is brave and we'll
spoken young man. White Bull re-
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 chieftainship 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 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 Washakie still desire to be
war chief" he asked, motioning the
young man to a seat upon the ground.
"Washakie, bravest of the Shoshones,
claims the right to be war-chief."
"But thou hast no ponies to ride in
battle. Thou comest not OF the chiefs
blood. Thou hast married no daughter
Of o chief. By what right, therefore,
dost thou aspire to this highest honor
Of the tribe?'
"By the right OF manhood ny my
strong arm by my swiftness, ny my
skill with the bow and tomahawk, and
by my stealth and cunning, I have
slain more enemies than any warrior
OF the tribe. The Bad Spirit can't
cheat me. | shall be war chief, and
thou shalt aid me, White Bull"
"Goodl but what hast thou now Tor
| thy tonaanoaoosy"
1.-THE heart Of a grizzly bear, the
brain of o panther, the arrow-thorn
that grows on the thunder-rock, the
eve OF q lynx, and the foot OF gray
wolf"
"Good, my son; but it Is not enough
White Bull. wisest OF the Shoshones,
alone knows the secret OF the tonadno'
,cos, He can take the young warriors
to the spot, but they nave ~. 'Ao eoo1
ACE to follow. When they goto 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 o.
the fire arrows-into the land OF the
Fire SpiritP"
"ro any spot thou namest."
"Then meet the White Bull at tne
foot OF the thunder-rock at sunrise, nc N
will lead thee into the land OF the ERE
Snirit and show thae the secret OF the
tonon0toos" ,,,;,c CO.
Grated at the feet Of the dead wal
chief became aware that White bull
was reckoning him apart for a confer !,
ence By sunrise he knew thar tns
msd;cine man had set out for the iano
Of the.Fire Spirit with Washakle' I'M
r;val In search of the secret tomano''os !,
and that upon the skill win .sha,', Wn,r,
he followed upon their trail wi1not' ,' ~
being seen, depended his accession ,,s, =,
the % dignity Of war chief He l, mus. us.
keep the trail of Washakie i'no s';r;t IT.
ASSt ~, nc in visible as a Bplrlt