The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-12-08
LEGEND OF TIE MASI0D0N


rent literature in general, but
when the sun begins to sink behind
"a the crests Of the nearby noun
tains and dark shadows form and
glide swiftly down their rugged sides, he
removes his reading glasses and resolute~
ly lays aside whatever he may have in
hand until another day. g. @.fa. ..r. ...
II hate to leave that interesting article
unfinished he often says. "Of course I
know Haven't long to i've, but SO long
as I last wish to retain my eyesight.'
Whenever he lays aside his book or pa
per the scribbler is glad to stop, too, as
are any other guests in the house, for
then begin the most pleasant hours of
the twenty-four. Evenings at Lone Butte
ranch never drag; dinner is served at :
O'Clock during the winter, and afterwarl
come the pleasant hours in the "sha OK, ~
the Old Timer calls his favorite room,
the one fixed UP in exact imitation Of a
rude frontier cabin OF the olden time.
Sitting before the glowing, cracking logs
In the wilde Fireplace, or lounging upon
the comfortable buffalo robe couches
which flank it, he and his friends Live
over again the stirring scenes and ad-
ventures of other days. And those Friends
and frequent guests. what a strange as
semblage they often are White men
who, like their host, have passed long
years on the plains and speak the ma
tive language as they do their own; In
dams, dark and reserved, yet eager to
participate In "reminiscences of the buff
falo days; half-breeds, too, light and dark
of feature, brimful ,ef jests and light
hearted talk.
For once the Old Timer and the Scrib-
bier sat down to dinner vis-a-vis; not
another soul was in the house but the
servants.
Rather quiet tonight, isn't it?' the
former remarked.
Just then the housekeeper entered ant:
announced that an old Indian had arrived
and was warming himself by the kitchen
fire IS.
That's good" the old man said. "I'!:
bet we get some kind of a yarn out OF
him this evening. Take him to the shack,
Annie, and give him big plate of meat,
three or four pounds at least, and what
ever other edibles you may have. Don't
forget to make him his coffee very sweet
and give him a pitcherful of it,
The two friends proceeded with their
dinner leisurely, and then having finished
with a bottle Of wholesome wine repaired
to the shack. The Indian had already
finished his huge platter of meat and was
sitting cross-legged on the floor before
the fire, dreamily gazing at the pile of
glowing logs. He arose at the sound of
footsteps, a tall, gaunt, weather-beaten
fellow, whose wrinlxled face and iron-gray
hair showed that he had seen many a
1o;,
Hal" exclaimed the Old Timer, grasp
ing his hand and addressing him in the
Indians language. "Why, it's my oil
friend, Raven Culver. What brings you
out this bitter cold weather? Men as old
as we are should hug the fire pretty close
at this season."
Ai!' the Indian replied. ct am old
tits true, but I cannot content myself to
sit idly by the fire day after day; my
heart and my desires are still those of my
youth. Moreover. yesterday I found the
remains Of some great monster In a
spring, and knowing how you prize all
such things 7 could not rest until I had
brought them to you. Here they are"
Dragging from the corner a. large
heavy sack he dumped some huge fossil
bones out on the t1oor-a broken tibia, a
knee Joint, a split shinbone, showing the
fossilized marrow, which was black, the
other part being an ashy gray.
The Old Timers eyes sparkled with
pleasure. "Evidently the remains of E
nastodon. Too bad they are broken
however, they are a valuable find, anG
I'll just place them here for the present
Well, friend'-to the Indian-"fll YOU
pipe and tell us all about it, and if yoq
brought all the bones there were at the
spring.
Raven Culver filled the great stone
pipe, lighted IT from the fire, and afte,
inhaling thick clouds of the pungent mix
ture of "1Therb" and tobacco, began hi
story. .,a
Yesterday morning. he said, ''I dix
not feel very we'll when I arose, so
ordered my women to build me a swea
lodge. Along in the afternoon they had
1t ready. the rocks good and hot. went
Ar1sloe, spr1nkIed them with water ant
sat long time in the thick steam, pray
ang the gods for good health and ions
life for me and mine. But all the while
was uneasy. 1 felt that something UNI
usual was about to happen. Having ne
manned in the steam as long as wa.
proper, rushed out and jumped into z
nearby spring to cool off; it was not z
large one. but very deep and clear, with
sides almost straight mp and down
dfved from the bank far down in its
depths. and then starting to climb on,
I placed my hand an what thought was
a large stone lying at the waters edge
but a glance showed me that It was q
bone of one of those great ancient ami
mails. Then I knew why had been SO
uneasy in the sweat lodge. Twas be
cause I was so soon to make this find
1 hurried to my lodge, dried off and
dressed, and then went back to the
spring; these bones have brought you
are all I could find, although looked
around carefully. placed them in a
blanket and carried them to my lodge
When my old woman saw them she OBJ.
5ected to my having them in the iodgs
on anywhere near the camp. Garry
them away off somewhere she said,
and leave them, for they are bad M, Ii.
cine; It's said that the spirit of she
ancient and dreadful animal ever hovers
about its remains, and wreaks vengeance
On those who modest them
When She said that, thought that /
had heard something like 1t when q boy;
y yet said to myself, 1t can't be true;
there Is Left Hand (the Old Timers In
dian nane), who has long shelves full OF
snch bones, but nothing ever bothers him:
ne sleeps as soundly as any one Will
not be scared by an old woman's talk /
VIII keep them here for the night, right
here near the head of my bed
the evening had many visitors;
news OF my find had spread through camp
and the people came to see the bones of
the great animal. Among Others came
Old Sun, the medicine man, the oldest
one OF our people. You know him Nearly
hundred years have wl1itened and