The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-22
A LEGEND OF
THE COLORADO
[OriginaLl

tribes attributed to him
powers. His son, Rain
,ow, inherited much of his fathers
manly beauty and courage. and when
he father became too old TO lead In
var he summoned his people and rep
of the neighboring tribes
o witness the ceremony of his abdica-
ion In favor Of the younger man.
When all were assembled, Sunface. the
'ather. addressed his son. admonishing
lim to rule wisely, then counseled the
chiefs to keep the peace, end
ng 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
ther 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 ruler with
out the maiden, proposed that they
should go together to her father and
endeayor 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 His Hole. Having met with polite
refusal. they started, with heavy
hearts, on their return journey. On
the way they saw Singing Water sit
ting on a rock waiting to bid auieu to
the man she loved. Rainbow rode up
to the rock, which was to the height
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 he 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. Sunface 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 fugitiyes. 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 a 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 a slow process. Before
they could descend a thousand feet te
their boat their puYsuers would be up
ON them. and when they climbed tbs
opposite cliff they would be within
easy reach Of arrows.
When they arrived at the river. Sun
face bade his son return to him th'
| spear which he had surrendered ant
begin the descent to the river witt
the maiden. The young man gave VI
| the spear and led Singing Water dow
the trail. When the pursuers came ur
they found the old chief sitting on hi
horse in the bed Of a shallow strean
flowing between two rocks which b
could touch with either hand and tow
| ering far above him.
The Indians had SO long been used
considering Sunface as superhuma
that the awe Inspiring sight Of the oil
man sitting on his horse, rigid. his spea
poised, his eyes fixed upon their leadel
brought them to q sudden halt. Snake
lin His Hole himself. though brave an
angered at the abduction Of the mait
en-, recoiled-
stand aside, old manr' he erie,
I'VE respect you for your past deed
and your age and would not harl
you"
rs Sunface answered never a word, 81
ting fixedly, staring before him witho'
moving his eyes from the speaker.
He is the god Of the pass" erie
one. mo man can go between Il
rocks while he is there. He can ca
. the lightning from heaven to aid him
He is MORTAL" said Snake-in-Hi
Hole, and he hurIed-his spear at Su
face, but superstition diverted b
aim, and the weapon rebounded fro
the rock at the right. Selling anoth
spear, Snake-in-H His-Hoie hurled
again. only to strike the rock on Il
left. Then the warriors drew or al
watched the man they took for g
y from a distance. Evening came, al
still he moved not. Night came. and
the light Of the full rising moon tn
saw the figure still sitting between I
rocks, his eyes open and the reflects
lg Of the moon In the water striking up
his glittering orbs.
When midnight came, they said th
no mortal could hold spear poised
long, surely not an old man. When
pale face of the moon looked at the
III from the west, growing more and me
ashen before the break of day. and
old chief still sat with his arm rails
% one by one the people before him
on their faces. When the sun chas
away the shadows and the grim figt
stood out more clearly, Snake-in-H
Hole was emboldened to ride forwa
Drawing near. he leaned forward a
peered into the white face. Then
knew that Sunface was dead.
II Rainbow took the maiden across
river, then went back to his fatu
- While recrossing the river he met
Indians in boat bearing the body
his father. whom they persisted in c
sidering god.
The two tribes were afterward uni
under Rainbow.
t HESTER b. MERIwETHEf