Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-13
A MILK WHITE DOE.

IL came from hundreds of tiny hoofs,
mufied by the grass in the mountain
park.
"Antelopeg'
Together we lay face downward
and my Indian guide-with our long
rlhes at easy rest. aud awaited the
coming of the band. Ii dashed over a
hogback and into full yiew-a Wildly
leaplng, struggling, undulating mass
OF reddlsh-brown, white-tufted bodies
stretched TO the fullest speed.
Nervous? Yes, for a moment more
the band would pass us within easy
range. We lay with forenngers on
the triggers as the timid animals,
wild with fear, skinned along as II
waited by the spirit Of the wind.
Now they are directly opposite; we
win never have such another shot.
Onward they dash, and pass So
closely by that It seems we can hear
their heartbeats. Their great liq-
uid eyes are Wild with terror.
Another moment aud the herd has
swept by US, only the hlndmost are
in view; now, they are out OF hearing,
and presently are lost 10 sight.
Absolute sileRce, save for the rus
tie Of the brown grass as the cooling
autumn wind stirs H.
Not a shot was fired. My finger was
upon the trigger, my aim certain, nut
lacked the power even for the gentle
pressure necessary To send bullet
straight into the herd. was under
spell
| looked at Pablo. lis dark face
seemed almost pale. his eyes betray-
ed excitement, not the excitement OF
anger or fear, but OF a tender sym
patty.
THE same mower that had stayed
my finger when IL would have pressed
the trigger had like effect upon him
''senor." he said, 1t Il The milk
white doe that none may slay.
II was oyerpowering curiosity that
had rendered my forefiuger lnheS BE,
for at the head OF the band was the
most beautiful animal had ever
seen-a milk-white doe. She seemed
fieeter. more timId and Of more grace
full contour than any Of the herd.
She was the perfection Of aninhl
grace and beauty. | fancied heard
a soft. sad moan as she passed before
the nuzzle Of my rife. was lost
briefly ia pathetic contemplation, ana
the herd was gone.
"Come Pablo, II Is almost dusk,
but we must follow; come. stir y0nr-
self. you unenthuslastic son Of Mon.
;ezuma, and let us BECOME
"senor," said Pablo. IN his calm
and imperturably manner, yet with
solemn impressiveuess, 1T is death
10 all who follow the milkwhite doe.
Nonsense, must have her; let US
follow quick.
Have patience. senior. and tonight
when we smoke By the camp fire
will tell you the legend Of the milk
white doe"
And this IL the legend he told me:
Before the white man know there
was a western continent. before the
Spaniards came, even before the reign
OF the ancient QuetzalcOatl, Lord ~
the Seven Caves Of NavRtlagues and
King OF the Seven Nations. out Of
which arose the splendor Of the Mon
tezuman empire. the powerful tribes
lived In the north They were az he
sands Of the shore washed by the
great ocean Of the Rising Sun and the
numbers Of their arrows were greater
than the twigs In the forest.
Their queen was Maxtella.
Her skin was as white as the snow
on yonder mountain peak. her lips
were as scarlet ns the flaming loco
blossom. her eyes were rs blue ns the
n the Mlnas de las Perdi.
das. and from their liquid depths
beamed truth and purity Ut soul.
She was q virgin green. Her cour-
tiers woed her I'm vain. Tho richest
Of them al laid his wealth Of chal-
chultes and beautiful shells at her
feet: the mightiest hunter brought her
trophies Of the chase. To all she
spoke words OF wisdom and beauty.
but her love was for no one man; It
was for all her Teople. Her virtue
and her beauty were the marvels IT
those days
Her counselors were wise beyond
their generation. Many things they
knew that were unknown to the sub
jects Of Queen MaXtella. They knew
NJ the eastern ocean, ~ n great coun-
try beyond to which their ancestors
had gone years before.
The northern hordes were NJ peace.
SO powerful were they that the tribes
In the south did not dare to make war
with them. nor would the queen suffer
her subjects to make war upon those
weaker hOrdes who dwelt In rocks and
caves, high up in the cliffs that Dor
Tered on the green canOns. There
was vassal chief, Azul. Of lowly birth
md evil ways. He saw the benutcnus
'Iaxtella, and the sight Of her touched
lls black heart. He loved Maxtella.
rot for her virtue nor her beauty nor
Ter wisdom. He loved her that he
night rule the land, and that from his
blood and hers might come race Of
Iavage kings, and that the northern
1ordes might make war upon the
ribes Of the south and despoil them
II their treasure.
Azul knew the black magic art. He
brought his richest treasure to Max /
elias court. He used his black art
hat he might appear pleasing In her
light. His arms and throat were (
ARE. On his head was n snowy white (
helmet, and his dress was of green .
His breast-plate Of feather .
work cleaned like Jewels when tho .
un shone upon II. Tall and straight I
thfu s,I.4