Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-09-03
A LEGEND OF
THE COLORADO
tOrlginal.1


was once an Indian chief of such i'm
posing mien, such great strength, sucl
marvellous bravery, that his own and
neighboring tribes attributed to him
superhuman powers. His son, Rain
bow, inherited much Of his fathers
manly beauty and courage, and when
the father became too old to lead in
war he summoned his people and rep.
resentatives of the neighboring tribes
to witness the ceremony of his abdica-
ton in favor of the younger man.
When all were assembled, Sunface, the
father, addressed his son, admonishing
him to rule wisely, then counseled the
visiting chiefs to keep the peace, end
ing by placing In the young mans hand
a spear which the old chief had carried
for many years.
One Of the chiefs present had brought
his daughter, Singing Water, to wit
ness the ceremony Rainbow saw her
and loved her. Singing Water saw
the young chief and loved him. Be-
fore the maiden returned with her ia
Their to her country Rainbow had asked
for her hand, but she had been prom
ised to another, Snake-in- His-Hole.
Singing Water had no sooner de-
parted than Rainbow fell into melan-
choly. His father, seeing that Rain
bow would be useless as n ruler with
out the maiden, proposed that they
should go together to her father and
endeavor to secure her in marriage.
They made the journey, crossing the
Colorado, and appeared before the
chief. He did not dare grant their re-
quest for fear of antagonizing Snake
in-IIis-IIole. Having met with polite
refusal, they started, with heavy
hearts, on their return journey. On
the way they saw Singing Water sit
ting on rock waiting to bid adieu to
the man she loved. Rainbow rode up
Of his pony's back Singing Water put
her arms about him and whispered in
his ear, Take me with you" Placing
her before him on the horse. he gave
the word he used only when lie wished
the beast to go at full speed, and before
the few people standing about had
realized what he was doing Rainbow,
with his burden, was going like the
wind. Surface followed, calling on his
son to halt.
Snake-in- His Hole seeing that some
thing was amiss, rode TO where the
maiden had been captured and, learn
ing what had taken place, dashed after
the fugitives. calling at the same time
to other warriors to follow him. Sun
face when he overlook his son chided
him for what he had done, saying that
this was Il rash act with which to be-
gin his rule
1t seemed to the lovers that the old
man spoke rashly for the Colorado
lay between them and safety. and its
crossing was Il slow process. Before
they could descend a thousand feet to
their boat their pursuers would be up
on them. and when they climbed the
opposite cliff they would be within
easy reach Of arrows.
When they arrived at the river, sun
face babe his son return to him the
spear which he had surrendered and
begin the descent to the river with
the maiden. The young man gave up
the spear and led Singing Water down
the trail. When the pursuers came up,
they found the old chief sitting on his
horse in the bed of a shallow stream
flowing between two rocks which he
could touch with either hand and tow
ering far above him.
The Indians had so long been used to |
Surface as superhuman |
that the awe inspiring sight of the old
man sitting on his horse, rigid, his spear |
poised, his eyes fixed upon their leader, |
brought them to a sudden halt. Snake
n-His-Hole himself. though brave and
fingered at the abduction of the maid
IN, recOiled.
"Stand aside, old manw he cried.
we respect you for your past deeds
md your age and would not harm
rou."
Surface answered never a word, sit.
ing fiXedly. staring before him without
moving his eyes from the speaker
Gle is the god of the passw cried
ne. mo man can go between the
ocks while he is there. He can call
he lightning from heaven to aid him."
'ETe is mortal" said Snake-in-His
Iole, and he hurled his spear at Sun
ace, but superstition diverted his
i'm. and the weapon rebounded from
he rock at the right Selling another
pear, Snake-in- His-Iole hurled 1t
gain, only to strike the rock on the
aft. Then the warriors drew off and
,atched the man they took for a god
rom distance. Evening came and
till he moved not. Night came, and by
ne light of the full rising moon they
lw the figure still sitting between the
ocks, his eyes open and the reflection :
the moon in the water striking upon
Is glittering orbs.
When midnight came, they said that
o mortal could hold Il spear poised so
ing, surely not an old man. When the (
ale face of the moon looked at them
'om the west, growing more and more !
shen before the break Of day. and the ]
d chief still sat with his arm raised, |
ne by one the people before him fell !
! their faces. When the sun chased
way the shadows and the grim figure t
God out more clearly, Snake-in-IIis- '
ole was emboldened to ride forward. q
rawing near. he leaned forward and
.ercd into the white face. Then he [