Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-06-19

savage naIuros
In the midst or the lull came an
awakening. for despite all Nadula's
sneering taunts Malcolm Davent
crossed the strip or desert 10 the coun
try OF the Ottawas TO claim his bride.
Nadula received him in the council
tent, with the head men grouped
around her. IL was her hand that held
out the pipe and babe him sit beside
her, contriving 10 hold him there with
n pretext and another. Daveut lis.
tened absently a the siiken sweet
voice murmured to him. Then, ere she
could detain him, he broke away. and,
s%pringing TO the center OF the tent,
called upon the Ottawas for the pledge
OF Neras-Wahna. BY the spoken word
OF Neras in solemn council had the girl
been given TO him; and as NaduA
would have interfered, one by one the
elders OF the tribe arose 10 bear wit
ness 10 the bond.
Then Wanna, her face alight with
10Y, came from the shadows where she
had hidden in her despair. There was
no gainsaying the word that had
passed. Nadula watched, her heart al
most stilled. as the men and women
parted TO either side. The old medi-
cine man drew his circle around the
two, while the red flame from the fire
leaped and threw its golden light on the
faces OF Malcolm Davent and Wanna.
That night the Ottawas Toasted. and
there was great rejoicing. for at the
rising OF the moor the Princess WANNA
would ride away from them forever.
And when the feast was ended Nadula
brought forth a bottle OF musty hued
wine TO pledge them after the man
ner OF the paleface," as she said, and
smiled into Davent's eyes. She was
quick as thought. but the eye of love
is swifter. Wanna sprang from Da-
vents side and grasped the slender
wrist. Poison! Poison!" And a low
murmur OF horror ran around the great
tent.
Nadula drew her slender form TO its
full height and glanced proudly from
one face 10 another. What say We.
my people2 Am | guiltyT" The deh-
ance rang clear as a clarion note. and
no man answered. Again: What say
ye. my people? Judge We between US
the white serpent or the true daughter
OF the Ottawas." The wind In the
mesquite was the only answer. Wahna
still clasped the slender wrist In her
tense fingers, while the glare Of the
torches threw red waves of light on
the swart faces as the ring drew ever
closer.
The old medicine man parted the
crowd to either side. Daughters Of
the great Chief Neras, hail" And the
elk teeth ratified on his shrunken chest
as he knelt. spreading out his clawlike
hands. "Hearken to the voice Of one
old in council. Hear, accuser and ac-
cused. If there be poison in the cup,
as the Lady Wanna hath said. then let
the Lady Nadula drink that which she
hath prepared for another. but II there
be no poison then shall she drink 10
prove the blackness of a lie. / have
spoken"
A shudder ran along the surge or
faces that gathered around Naduia.
Wahna's hand fell away. and she cow
cred against Davent's shoulder.
Nadula's proud eyes swept the mass
before her. hostile and grim. There
was not an answering eye. Drink,
Nadula!" the old voice commanded,
and Nadula drained the wine. Then
she gathered her robes around her and
went out from among them.
Miles away to the westward rode Da-
vent, with Wanna close at his side. the
sturdy cayuse keeping uneve stride
with the Kentucky thoroughbred. on 10
where the white tower OF the mission
shone above the olive groves, out TO the
west, TO her mothers people. But be-
yond the fringe OF the desert, in the
land Of the Ottawas. there are shroud-
ed faces among the older men. and the
ponies are laden for n long march
away 10 the south. In the hut Of Neras
lay something that they might not
touch under the law of the Ottawas.
alone. accursed, the unseeing eyes
peering through the shadows Of the
tent into the deeper shadows beyond.