Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-23
white Hand
"a Tale Of the Early Settlers !
I Of Louisiana. F;
x BY AUSTIN C. BURDiCK Z
CuAPTER XVIII.


for he was sure that the beautiful village
Of the White Apple would soon be his,
and he meant to pocket much money in
the transaction One day he sat in his
rude house, with some of his attendants
about him, when soldier demanded adj
mittanee.
How now. sirrah?" he demanded as
the man entered.
Il have come with warning. the sol
der replied.
"Ha!-a warning Speak out"
An old woman passed my post this
morning, monsieur, and she babe me tell
the French to be on their guard. for dan
ger threatened them"
And from whomY
From the Indians. They will rise and
butcher US all. ="
Have You spoken Of this before?"
Il have not
Then you shall not tell 1t to others
cried Chopart, in anger. Have you not
seen enough Of this idle fear? What no.
without thera,''
AT tbs call. two soldiers entered. who
usually stood in the passage to obey the
commanders call.
cake this fellow and lock him up in
the pris ~" he ordered. Wed soon
have the red rats down upon rs if they
knew we lived IN fear! They dare not
offer MS harm. Away with himr'
And for conveying this intelligence the
poor man was cast into a strong dungeon,
and there kept FOR several days with his
feet in the stocks
But this was not the only note Of warn
Ing Chopart had. Four days afterwards.
soldier eaIue 20 him and informed him
that the Indians surely meditatc9 de-
struetion Of the fort and of all its ite
tnha btants
Out, foolr' exclaimed Chopart, an
griy, The old bag who told You this
only thinks TO brighten US She thinks
that by exciting our fears she can fright
en- rs into giving up our plan OF taking
their village Of the White Apple. What
would sc show to the Indians that We
feared them? Away With such idle fool.
erY!r
Pricked Arm was qstounded at the in
fataatioa OF the French commander. ard
as last resort she went to Chopart's
lieutenant, man named Mace, who, she
imagined, would have some influence
with his superior. But even this proved
ahartive. She told Mace that destruction
would sulely fall upon them IL they did
not take some means to keep the Indians
away from the fort BUT on the very
next day Ch0part invited all tie Indians
TO banquet. and F'edged his friendship,
to them anew.
With a feeling Of utter CONSERVATION.
Prieked Arm returned to her lodge one
evening she sought White Hands dwell
Eng, for she had faint idea working
Through her mind that the French youth
might have some influence in all this. She
knew that he had been originally doomed
to death to 20 ard intercede face 70 face
with the white mans God. but she had
ne yer yet fully known why he was spAr-
ed She folnd White Hand alone. He
gaznd eagerly into her face. for he was
ANXIOUS TO know how her work progress
ed
White Hand. she said speaking alb
rupEiy. why were You spared from death
when you FIRST came hereT'
That | might marry Coqualla," replied
the youth.
But was there nothing eIse?" asked
the old woman, looking him sharply in
the face.
Why, yes" returned White Hand
speaking with some dithdence, for the real
reason seemed so foolish and ridiculous
to him that he almost feared he should
De laughed a for speaking of it.
And what was thatT'
Why, | promised to pray to the white
mans God that none Of the wickedness
OF the French might succeed, and also
20 tell him how basely the red men had
been wronged by the invaders; for I was
of that people, and they supposed that +.
should have some influence with mv Su-
preme Father
That's it, the aged princess groaned
with her hands folded across her bosom
How z! asked the youth. in sarprjse
i kaew that the Great Spirit had a
hand in this work. The fort at Natrbe2
Is doomed past al HOPPER
"No-not doomedr'
ut is The last stick will oe removed
tomorrow, and then the blow must fall.'
Tomorrow
~No-the blow falls on the day after.
The fatal sticks mark the Intervening
days
And must all all?-ail-anY"
All az Natchez, bat not elsewhere. for
the others wait yet another week. and
ere that time the whites will be warned
But what noise IS tnatg Hark! There
are shouts of welcome"
They both started for the door. where
they were met by Stnng Serpent. who
caught the youth by the arm and forced
Aim into the house again.
White Hand, he said, speaking quick
III and sterUly "refnpmha- yaur oath for
Jour salvation may now depend upon il.
The white men have come TO carouSe in
che White apple Beware that YOU do
not forget yourself, Shall we trust you?
Mind-ah is well with you # you are
faithfulw
Fear not, my father. spoke the youth.
Enable TO repreSs the trembling that spIx-
ed his limbs
Then you may conduct Coauaha to the
sevelry"
II was a calm, warm night and in thr
center of the great square were built swo
&res Of pitch-wa0d To serve as torches.
and here the white men and the rel were
gathered in social cOnfab and amusement.
There were over hundred White men
there. anl ut their head was thopart HIM
self. Louis recognized him at once as a
brutal man whom ne had once seen az
New Orleans acgging an Indian glrl
Most OF the whites were decent booking
men; but before the night had passed
away, White Hand shrank away L. III,
IOdge. and as he laid his aching aea,
zpon his pillow be drew Coqualla eloS'
% him, and in a sinking tone he muir
-eared:
- L. 7 80, a., 1,,,,7 80 -,,,. ,,,,.,, no,