Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-28

self. Louis recognized him at once as a
brutal man whom h had once seen at
New Orleans fogging an Indian girl.
Most of the whites were decent looking
men; but before the night had passed
away, White Hand shrank away to his
lodge, and as he laid his aching head
upon his pillow he drew CoQualla close
to him, and in u sinking tone he muir
muredg
alas. 1 am ashamed of my own peo-
pie With all their advantages of birth
and education-with the enlightenment Of
ages as their heritage, they are but saw
ages still!'
The next day found some dozen of the
Frenchmen still at the Indian village.
But the Great Sun himself, with few
OF his warriors, accompanied them to the
town, and there the dark monarch prom
ised Chopart that, in consideration of his
kindness in allowing them to remain so
long in their village, they would bring
more than the quantity of corn promised.
'On the morrow" he said, 1--WE will
come with our tribute of corn, double
what we promised, and ON the next day
we shall leave the village Of the White
Apple
But stay" cried Chopart, 1--WE will
night you shall bring your warriors here,
and we'll cheer our souls"
-''Our white brother speaks kindly" re-
turned the Great Sun; but will he not
be wroth at the rudeness of my people?'
''No. Bring them, and We'll pledge
friendship"
"Thy red brother will come"
"And his braves with himY'
at shall be se.''
And that night saw the scene Of ca
rousal changed to Natchez. And there
they sat-the doomers and the doomed!
And they pledged eternal friendship! The
white man had planned to rob the red
man of his birthright-to drive him from
his home, profane his temple. and plow
up his fathers graves! The red man
had planned to keep his home, to main
tain sacred his temple, to guard well his
fathers graves, and that this should be
.dQne, the invader was to be swept away!
1t was a strange pledge, but the white
man was the first to offer it.
1t was after midnight when they sep
arated, and the stars lighted the Natchez
to their homes When they reached their
NlIldSc, lie 0ISdL III NAtA
his chiefs and mobiles, went to the tenn
pie and entered. They approached the
place where the sticks had hung, but
there were none-there now. The leathern
thongs hung against the wall, but there
was nothing in them.
"Chiefs, mobiles and warriors of the once
powerful Natchez, may not this be the
eve of our re-awakening? The day is
Ill 1o1I tIn
Natchez once more stand at the head of
nations? Tomorrow we open the path,
and henceforth from that time let our
enemies beware! The Great Spirit is with
US, while the white mans God has for
=saken him.. What shall we fear2 Sleep
now, but sleep not too soundly nor too
long. Let the sun find us ready to bid
him welcome-so shall we do honor to
the parent of our great first king!'
Thus spoke the Great Sun, and as he
closed, he moved slowly towards the
door, and his chiefs followed him; and
ere long afterwards the village of the
White Apple was wrapped in silence; but
there were two there who slept not.
White Hand still prayed that the coming
death blow might not extend to his faith
er, and the wish kept sleep from his eyes.
And he who watched the sacred fire now
felt his duty doubly binding, and sleep
came not to him, as he still kept up his
tireless vigils.