Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-09-04
chief like his name %

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/ chief like his name?"
"Yes-yes."
1 The other Indians had stood nr&r at
hand, and as they heard the Nm thus
bestowed, they smiled, and reps fted it
several times. In little wh:ie longer
the party prepared for the tramp and
set out For distance Of some miles
they followed the stream to the north
ward and eastward, and finally they left
the river and struck into a narrow, du-
hiOus trail. Ii was dark when Stung
Serpent gave the order L stop. 1hey
had reached a small lake, or deep bayou
upon one hand of whiea arose steep
bluff. directly beneath which they matt
/ ed. White Hand saw that some one had
| stopped here before, for the traces of
| a FIRE were plainly visible against the
/ face of the rock and as he walked over
/ the spot beneath it he could feel the dry
/ Goals. i fire was soon built, and then
/ one Of the party produced some drIed
/ venison. and some sort OF esculent root
/ that resembed the common artichoke
| The prisoner was hungry, and be ate
! heartily. and then he was allowed 70 he
down and sleep, Stung Serpent having
/ taken the precaution TO SECURE his hands
50 that he could not move them with
ont disturbing him.
! When White Hand was aroused he
/ started quickly up, and at first he thought
I the day had dawued, but as soon as ms
/ senses were fairly at work be found 1t
was the moon that gave 50 ln'.eh hght'
! He was informed that the party We're
| now to start on, and ne was soon ready
| The moon was nearly at its zenith, and
he Judged that it could not be much
past midnight. For two or three hours
the trail was dubious and difficult. IL
lay through a deep growth Of oak, anu
| the ground was uneven, and III some
places wet and b0ggy from the late
rains. In the morning they stoppc for
breaksas Duving the forenoon Ge2f
was shot from which they took the skin
and as much Of the meat as the! want
ed; so ut noon they built fire ald had
some venison steak; only White Hand
would have liked it much better could he
have had a little salt with his meat.
Another night came, and again the
youth slept with his hands confined; and
this time he was allowed to sleep until
morning Another meal from the fFesh
deer meat was made, and then the trail
was resumed. During the next day the
prisoner came several times near failing
for want Of strength, for however strong
NAV have been his close knit frame. he
was not used to this kind of labor. How
ever. the Indians helped him some, and he
managed to move along without much
show Of pain OF complaint. lie knew
that IL he would expect kind treatment at
the hands Of his captors he must be say
ing of complaint and trouble, and he re-
solved that he would stand up under the
trial as untlinehingly as possible hen
they had stopped for the night again he
| asked his eapt0r how much further they
had 20 travel.
Not much," Stung Serpent replied.
"One more day will bring Us to the vii
lage whore we are TO stop. Does 1t please
the White Hand. eh?"
"It will surely please me to rest, for
am weary and faint, and had we much
| fu rther TO travel | fear | should be bur-
den to you
The Indian shrugged his shoulders, hut
made no further reply. and shortly af-
forwards White Hand lay down to sleep.
in motion. and before noon they struck
into a broader trail that gave evidence
of much travel The sun was some two
hours i III when they reached the top
of 4 gentle efuinence, and upon looking
down into the valley beyond, White Hand
saw quite a village Of Natche2 huts.
There were some fifty or sixty dwellings,
built in a sort Of circle. while within this
circle stood four buildings Of larger di
mensions.
Does the White Hand see yQnder vii
lage?" asked Stung Serpent, ~ the par
ty stopped upon the hilltop.
/ The prisoner answered in the aitirma-
tive
THAT is the village of the White APP
| ple. the home Of the bravest warriors Of
the Natchez, and the abode Of peace
| There lives my brother-the Great Sun,
and the chief of all our people. That Is
his dwelling next to the temple But
does the White Hand see where those
trees seem to break away, as though the
fire had run through the deep forest On
a wide trail? Look--away towards the
setting sun Do you mark itE'
Yes" replied the youth, looking in
The direction pointed out.
There travels tie great Father Of
Weters in his way to the great salt lake
And do you mark ltet point? All! YOU
can see piece Of cloth auttering in the
breeze. Do you net SEE y~away off there
like "A rag playing in tile wind%'
White Hand looked. aud he saw what
his guide had pointed out. 1t wa just
visible over the intervening tree TOPS
81 Gao II " ha s9fd