Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-30
white Hand
"a Tale Of the Early Settlers
( Of Louisiana.
3 BY AUSTIN C. RuRDiCk
BY AUSTIN C. aURDIcK
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CHAPTER XIX-lContinued.l

White Hand. you once gave me an
oath, bnt from all oaths you have ever
given me- / now absolve you. Coqualla
has told me all She has told me how
true you are in heart, and how yet you
long for the Jme tf your childhood.
do not thinl. your father has fallen IN
this general massacre, for his place IS
strong. and the red men owe him no
grudge. Yet he may nave fallen with
the rest. IL he has, you may sometime
find opportunity tt' reach your native
land But you are under no oath now.
OF what has now happened | will not
speak, only 10 say that you cannot see
nor understand all that has led us to TINS
fearful work The story Of the white
mans rule is everywhere the same.
Where tribe, or a people, have made
peace and accepted the friendship OF the
French, they have become weak and
puny White Hand, / have a strange
love for thee. but | ate thy people. And
that thy father almost hates them too
has drawn my heart towards him. But
we could not see our people being grad
ualy swept away, and our homes torn
from as, without striking this blow. Yet
Sung Serpent has fallen. The bullet of
re white man has found his life. But
he dies content. The white man has fall
en-, too"
The old chieftain sank back exhausted
as be ceased speaking. and for some mo
ments be remained with his eyes closed.
When he opened them again, White
Hand spoke.
My father" he said. "ere the hand of
death has done its work upon thee, wilt
thou not tell me why | was taken from
my fathers house? Surely you cannot
object to tell me all nowr
No. my child. | have no objections,
for | never promised not to tell aud
when l sent for thee now, | meant TO
tell The all. Do you remember when
your father met me in the woods near
his dwelling?e
Yes" returned White Band, bending
over with eager interest.
Well, | had then been TO see Simon
Lobois. BY some means he learned that
/ was down the river, and he sent for
me. He had heard that | was a savage
chieftain. sad lover OF gold. | met him
in the welds, and he proposed to me
that should seize st. Julien's son and
Stay him, and for this he offered to pay
me a hundred pieces of gold. But
spurned the offer and left him. | came
home. aud told my brother what Lobois
had said to me, and he pondered upon
the subject in a new light. You know
the Natehez often send messengers 10
the Great Spirit, and the Great sun had
wished to send a white messenger TO the
white mans God, even as we told you
when you FIRST came here. AT length
fell ia with his views, and | knew of no
one whose tpirit would be surer of add
mission to yorr God than the spirit of
Louis ST. Julien, cor l knew him to be
good youth. So | eturned TO your faith
er's house and saw Lobois again, and he
told nue. he had hired a party Of Chicka-
saws To kill you, but that you and your
companion had killed them all--six of
them then offered 10 do what he wish
ed. But this time his wants had receiv-
ed an addition. lie not only wanted the
son killed, but he wanted the daughter
captured and carried off towards New
Orleans. | agreed to this, but | made
him give me a written promise TO pay
me the money when the work should be
done He hesitated at first, but at length
be wrote the pledge and signed It, and
then Ii was arranged that Louise should
be left upon the bank Of Lake POI tehar-
train. at the end Of the middle trail. and l
pledged myself TO take you with me and
kill you, for you know this had been my
purpose in seeking you"
but the paper-the pledge--yon had
OF Lobois where is it?" uttered White
Hand
ut is safe. Coqunlla. so to my closet,
and You will find it in the oaken easket."
The princess vent aud in the hex she
foand the paper. which she handed TO
Il ha al
ed it. he handed 1t to White Hand, say
ing. as he did so:
''Here-it is yours. And now all l ask
is pardon
For all that you have done to me-"
murmured the youth, Il pardon you
from the bottom of my soul; for you may
have been an Instrument in the han Is Of
heaven for saving my life Had yeu not
taken me, another would. and / should
not have lived. SO l shall, after oil, re-
member Stung Serpent with more of
gratitude than of complaint or anger"
DO you mean thaty"
Il do"
Strng Serpent raised himself upon his
elbow, and caught the youth by thu hand
'Csqualla,' lie whispered, where art
tbcuT'
Here, my father"
y have been kind to thee. II n lays
in thy power, help White Hani II his
people. Is it Coqualla | see:"
yes Are you faint!'
Faint? Stung Serpent faintY No.
Up. warriors of the Natchez, aud strike
for your homes, Who shall fear the das-
tards now? My braves. remember the
trophies you have won under Stung Ser.
penis lead. Strike--strike, now. for your
h3uor. your homes, and for the tombs oi
your ancestorsl Sink your blades to the
poe. and leave not man of them all &c
ten their king the tale. Now On-tC
tAe deathT'
One long, loud warery followed this
paroxysm. and as ii ended in a low, gurs
ling sound, the chieftain sank back, Co
qualla moved to his side and knelt over
him. and in moment more the loud cries
OF the women rent the air, for Stung Ser
pent was dead.
CHAPTER XX.
There was CONSERVATION for a while il
the village of the White Apple when 1
was known that Stung Serpent wa
dead. for he had been an important MAJ
among the Natcbea AT the end Of foul
days. the body war made ready for lh'
grave. and nine persons. with ropes abou
their necks, remaiuec fasting by it,
And are all these people to,die2" ask
OH Nhifa TTou5 after he pud (spuualll