The Monitor-register., 1897-11-26
HOW FORKED LIGHTNING Be
CAME CHIEF.
A TALE OF INDIAN LIFE.
BY HENRY WOODS FUGITIVE.

One tale which Forked Lightning Otter
told to the settlers of Mokkasin Vale,
was how he bee anne chief.
When the old chief of the Mokkasir
tribe died he left no heir.
"We must nov choose us a new chief, ,
said the men of the tribe in council.
"Give us an old man !" said Wikko.
mikko. who long had wished to be chief.
"Give US a young man !" said Rec
Fox, who had dreamed every night sincs
the old chief died that he had been made
leader of the tribe.
"The old man has wisdom with him r'
said Wikkomikko; "the young man has
to learn it,"
sold age forgets wisdom. Old age
hesitates'" said Red Fox, quoting say
ings of his tribe. youth hopes all
things. Youth fears naught. The
greatest wisdom is with the bravest."
"Then the greatest wisdom is with
Wikkomikko !" said the old man.
"Not greater than with Red Fox !"
said the young man.
"Who ever saw Wikkomikko COVER in
battle ?" asked the aldnaaa.p
WHO ever saw the look of fear on tn,
face of Red Fox ?" asked the young man
"Wikkomikko has sixty scalps hang
ing in his wig p said the old man.
"And he has been here sixty years
Red Fox has been here only thirty years
and he has also has a scalp for every zeal
of his life p argued the young man.
And then there came a pause,
"Give us Forked Lightning for our
chief r. said a voice in the council. "'Not
a drawer man have l in BATTLE used to
say our old chief, r~ecounting the deeds
of Forked Lightning; mot a drawer or g
wiser p"
Eyes, give US Forked Lightning p
said another voice, and another. "Give
us Forked Lightning; and then our old
chief in his grave will rule us with his
counsel STILL"
"lf we all be equal, then. in valor and
in wisdom" said Red Fox, stepping ont
before the council, ''give us him who il
our strongest and most acti We wrestler.
who is our highest leaper, who shoots the
straighest with the bow and arrow =,
"Have we q higher lesper than Forked
Lightning, or a stronger and more active
wrestler, or n who Shoots straighter
with the bow and arrow" asked a friend
of Forked Lightning.
Perhaps so; perhaps not. We can
ascertain tomorrow" answered Red
Fox.
Then the council adjourned, and word
went throughout the village and Other
villages that on the morrow Red Fox and
Forked Lightning would contest to de-
termine who should be the ohieftain of
his tribe.
When the sun came in the morniog a
great crowd was in the village from far
and near to witness the contest.
Eat with us beside our wigwams,
then smoke with US, and be our guests
SAA a. oohuOou o OuuCu, 6hIu bUd W6u Vi
the village, welcoming the visitors.
And then they sat down beside the
wigwams and ate, and then they smoked
and told tales of their tribes, or guessed ss
to whether Red Fox or Forked Light
Ding would win in the contests; and the
maidens peeped through rents in the zig
wan at the young men who had come to
the village.
"The chief of the Matomkins will con
ductt the contests and decide who is the
winnerl" said a member of the council
after a long conference with the other
members had been held.
The big chief of the Matomkins moved
to a long, broad, level back of the viii
lage, and all the men and boys in the vii
lage followed him, Red Fox and Forked
Lightning each surrounded by his friends
and each in his gayest costume.
When the grove was reached the spec
tators arranged themselves to witness the
contests.
"Red Fox and Forked Lightning stand
forthP' demanded the chief of the Ma.
tOmkins.
1.-THE one of you who to-day" began
the stern chief, "shall show himself the
higher leaper, the stronger and more
active wrestler, the more skillful with
the bow and arrow, and the swiftel
runner, or who shall show himself su
perior in any three of these, that one
whichever he may be, shall be chieftain
of his tribe, unless it shall be that one OIL
You should show himself today to be
what neither of you has shown himself
to be hitherto-wiser and drawer than the
other. He who is the wiser and the
Drawer shall be ehieftain, whoever may
be swifter or stronger and more active, or
higher in leaping, or more skilful with
the bow and arrow"
And all the men wondered why the
chief of the Matomkins, a man known
far and wide for his wisdom, should talk
about wisdom and bravery in such con.
tests as these, and thought within the M
selves that he vas not so wise as they
had heard. Aud then they wished they
had chosen some other chief to conduct
the contests and decide who should be
the leader of his tribe. But they said
nothing, only thought.
"Cone here" said the chief, speaking
to Red Eagle and Black Hawk, Indians
from other tribes. "Poise this stick on
the tips Of your fingers. chin high
The stick was poised.
"Red Fox !" commanded the chief.
Red Fox cleared the stick with a beau
tiful Leap.
"Forked Lightning rose high above the
stick, descending in a graceful curve.
Eye highr"
The stick rose eye high.
"Red Fox!'
Red Fox cleared the stick again.
"Forked Lightning!"
Forked Lightning again rose over the
stick.
"Arm's length above your headsi''
ordered the chief.
Up rose the stick high in the air, and
all the Indians rose in anxiety.
RED Foxl"
In an instant from far back among the
trees, like a thing flying in the air, came
Red Fox, and like q thing flying In the
air rose and described a beautiful semi
circle over the stick.
A great shout rent the air. 81 have