St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-06-01


stands on the cliff by the river, TIL
bull with his herd shall plunge down
and we shall have meat in abun
dance"
When Wahwun had concluded hi.
address momentary hush fell on the
people. His strange power of fore
telling events gave to his words 9
meaning second only to those of Min
no, and the hunters felt certain al
would come about just as he pre-
dicted.
The novelty of the plan had also its
attractions, and the ambitious young
hunters were already itching to be
chosen to play the part of the decoy
buffalo.
"How will you choose your leader?'
questioned Pakablingge, who as the
Oldest warrior was generally judge OF
the games.
LET it be Wanahta!" cried half q
dozen voices.
"Why not Panaqui?" roared Tioma
the story-teller, who had not for
given the Crooked Ones sneering ref
erence to the bluejay.
Meme, the Pigeon, casting her
roguish eyes at Wanahta, said laugh
ingly: "Why not Tioma himself? No
one could SO easily deceive the buff
falo. Give him but the horns and
name, and where will you find so ex-
cellent Jaba?"
"Tioma! Tioma!" shrieked the chill
dren, dancing around the story-teller,
HE fears not the precipice! He
plunges headlong over! We have seen
him, we have seen him! Let it be
Tioma! Tioma!"
The anxiety and good-humored
raillery were brought to a sudden
close by the announcement that the
matter would have to be settled by
the game of the javelin. The deci-
sion was welcomed with shouts of
Joy by the hunters, who took the
keenest delight in this fascinating
sport, and the expert throwers hur-
ried away to select their choicest
weapons for the tournament.
The Common Ground was cleared
and the villagers, old and young,
forming circle around its extreme
outer edge, prepared to shout APP
proval or disapproval as the game
progressed.
Meanwhile Shangadaya was instruct
ed to prepare the disguise that Wah-
wun had described, 50 that the vic
tor, whoever he might be, could wear
il in the dance which would follow
Immediately on the conclusion Of
the game.
The javelins were slender instru-
ments of ironwood, five and six feet
long, and about three-guarters Of an
inch in diameter, sharpened at one
end.
The mark at which the javelins
were cast was ring about eight
inches through, made of split hick-
DRY withes bound with rawhide. This
ring was thrown with great force
from one end of the ground, so that
it rolled swiftly across the arena.
He whose turn it was to try his for
tune would then hurl his javelin at
the hoop whilst it was in motion.
Tho player who succeeded in ringing
the most javelins was declared the
victor. The game was a great favor
lite among the Arctides, and every
youth was more Or less proficient
in it.
Pakablingge finally declared every
thing ready for the contest, and Pan
aqui. who had been assigned to throw
the ring, took his place at the outer
edge of the common ground, ten
lengths Of deer skin from the jave-
lin throwers.
A dozen or more contestants en-
tered the lists, but as the game pro-
gressed these narrowed down to
three, and at last only two were left,
stout young brave, Choolu the Lit
tie Fox, and Wanatta.
After a short consultation it was
decided to allow three javelins apiece
in the final test. Two of the throws
were to be made with the javelin
held in the center and thrown with
the hand raised above the shoulder.
But the third throw, if a third
should be required, was to be the most
difficult one of the game. In this
throw the javelin was held by placing
the forefinger against the end Of the
instrument, supporting it with the
thumb and second finger. From this
position it was hurled horizontally at
the speeding circle.
The sun was now well toward the
end of his daily journey, and Little
Fox and Wanahta took their posi-
tions on the western edge Of the COM
mon ground, that the rays might not
dazzle their eyes.
The Crooked One, standing to the
north the proper distance from the
spearsmen, waited the signal to let
fly the hoop.
Little Fox threw first, and his jave-
lin caught its point in the speeding
ring and held it fast. His friends ap-
plauded; but when Wanahta stepped
forward and raised his hand to signal
that he was ready there was re-
spectful silence. For . moment the
sinewy arm of Wanahta held the slen-
der spear above his head; then as the
little wheel came whirling across the