Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-21

shall dare refuse thee. Take Il 4 offer
ing of walnut wood and go. Say to the
guardians there, I come as Sun of the
Natchez, and would pray to the Great
Spirit. Accept my offering, and open
to me the way They will not dare re-
fuse thee"
AS Coeualla spoke she went to the fire
place. and from the wood there piled up
she selected ten sticks of walnut, frem
which she removed the bark. 1t was a
religious law, given by the first Great
Sun, that only walnut wood should be
used for the sacred fire of the temple. and
that the bark must be carefully removed
before it was carried in. White Hand
took the wood in his arm AMI went to the
temple, and when he reached the door. he
demanded admission as Little Sun OF
the Natchez, and after some questions
he was admitted. He carried his offering
to the altar, and one of the priests plac-
ed some of it upon the FIRE.
After White Hand had deposited his
offering, his next movement was to step
towards the back part of the temple AMI
kneel down. The warrior-p priest whose
turn it was now to watch, stood AMI
gazed upon the youth for awhile, and
then turned his attention to his fire. Still
kneeling, White Hand looked about him.
and close to him, against the wall, he
saw the bundle of cypress sticks. Seven
of the watchers slept, and only one was
awake. Slowly the youth worked his
way to the wall, still on his knees. The
sticks hung loosely in the thongs; he
could reach them where he was. He cast
his eyes towards the watcher. and that
individual was poking up the fire. Quick
L. ~, han md taH
out seven sticks. His heart beat quick,
but he thought of his father. and his
nerves were strong Silently he withdi ew
the fatal time-teilers, and hid them be-
hind him. The watcher still worked up
on the fire. With quick movement,
White Hand placed the ends of the sticks
in his bosom, and forced them down with
in the clothing until they lay along his
side. reaching from the arm-pit to the
knee. Then he arose, and having walkei
about few moments with as careless an
air as he could assume, he left the tenn
Pile. ~
After breakfast the next morning
Stung Serpent came in. as was.his wont.
He lighted his pipe, and after smoking
for some time in silence. he looked up.
His brow was clouded, and his counte-
nance wore sad, moody expression.
white Hand" he said, "are the
French very ferbearing people in their
own country 2?
The youth imagined he saw the old
chiefs drift, and after moments
thought, he replied:
Not under wrong. my father"
81 thought not. But suppose another
people should come upon their son, seize
the homes of their subjects. Steal their
cattle. rob them of their rights and des-
ecrate their temples? 2?
Then the French would drive thene!
off, ,, answered the youth, quickly. -
"And they would drive them off with
the sword and gun, eh? ~
''Yes"
"And put all to death they corlld fnd?"
mo, my father-only such as held out
in, resistance"
"But have not the French put whole
great villages to the sword, as they call
it, and murdered all?"
With a shudder, the youth answered in
the affirmative. Stung Serpent gazad
sharply into White Hands face but he
could see no mark of suspicion there He
smoked away awhile longer in Silence,
and then he arose and left.
'sWhat does he mean?" asked Coqualla.
after her father had gone.
Il do not know, unless he desires to !
know how much consistency my people
have" returned White Hand
L fear our warriors mediate some re-
venge upon the whites. But you need
aot fear, dearest one, for no harm shall
come to you"
As the bright-eyed princess thus spoke,
she threw her arms about her husbands
neck. He kissed her,, but he dared not
whisper the terrible thing he knew-not
but that he would trust her. but he had
sworn that he would not
(To be continuedt I