The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-05-04

bull with his herd shall plunge down,
and we shall have meat in album
dance"
When Wahwun had concluded his
address a momentary hush fell on the
people. His strange power of fore
telling events gave to his words a
meaning second only to those of Min
no, and the hunters felt certain all
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 a
dozen voices.
"Why not Panaqui?" roared Tioma,
the story-teller, who had not for
| given the Crooked Ones sneering ref
erence to the bluejay.
Meeme, 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 n 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 ITO 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 ap'
proval or disapproval as the game
| progressed.
| Meanwhile Shangadaya was instruct
ed to prepare the disguise that Wah
wun had described, so that the vic
tor. whoever he might be, could wear
it 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-quarters of al
inch in diameter, sharpened at on,
end.
The mark at which the javelin'
were cast was ring about eigh
inches through. made of split hick
DRY withes bound with rawhide. Thi.
ring was thrown with great fore,
from one end of the ground, so tina
1t rolled swiftly across the arena
ITe whose turn it was to try his for
tune would then hurl his javelin a
the hoop whilst it was in motion
The player who succeeded in ringing
the most javelins was declared tn,
victor. The game was n great favor
te among the Arctides, and ever,
youth was more or less proficien
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, ter
lengths of deer skin from the jave
lin throwers.
a dozen or more contestants en-
tered the lists, but as the game pro
crossed these narrowed down Il
three, and at last only two were left
a stout young brave, Choolu the Lit
tie Fox, and Wanahta.
After short consultation it wa!
decided to allow three javelins apiec,
in the final test. Two of the throw,
were to be made with the javeliI
held in the center and thrown Will
the hand raised above the shoulder.
But the third throw, if third
should be required. was to be the mos
difficult one of the game. In thi,
throw the javelin was held by placing
the forefinger against the end of tn,
instrument, supporting it with tn,
thumb and second finger. From thi
position it was hurled horizontally a
the speeding circle.
The sun was now well toward tn,
end of his daily journey, and Littl,
Fox and Wanahta took their posi-
tions on the western edge of the com
mon ground, that the rays might no
dazzle their eyes.
The Crooked One. standing to tn,
north the proper distance from tn,
spearsmen, waited the signal to lie
fly the hoop.
Little Fox threw first, and his jave
lin caught its point in the speedin.
ring and held it fast. His friends ap
plauded; but when Wanahta steppe,
forward and raised his hand to sigma
that he was ready there was n re
spectful silence. For n moment tn,
sinewy arm of Wanahta held the slen
der spear above his head; then as tn
little wheel came whirling across tn
arena the throw was made. Bu
Wanahta had miscalculated the tim
by half n second, and the point of hi
spear struck the forward edge of tn