The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-05-23


canst demand admission there, and none
shall dare refuse thee. Take II oner-
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 Coaualla spoke she went to the ire
place, and from the wood there piled up
she selected ten sticks of walnut, from
which she removed the bark. 1t was
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, ana one of the priests plac-
cd 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 ana
kneel down. The warr!or-priest whose
turn it was now to watch, stool an l
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
" the youth raised his hand and counted
out seven sticks. His heart beat quick,
but he thought of his father, and his
nerves were strong. Silently he Withdrew
the fatal time-tellers, and hid them be-
hind him. The watcher still worked up
on the fire. With a 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 walked
about few moments with as careless an
air as he could assume, he left the tenn
pie.
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 forbearing people in their
own countryW
The youth imagined he saw the old
chiefs drift, and after a moments
thought, he replied:
mot under wrong, my father"
81 thought not But suppose another
people should come upon their soil, seize
the homes Of their subjects, steal their
cattle, rob them Of their rights and des-
ecrate their temples?"
"Then the French would drive them
off," answered the youth, quickly.
And they would drive them off with
the sword and gun, ehY'
Eyes"
''And put all to death they could fini?"
"No, my father-only such as held out
in resistance"
but have not the French put whole
great villages to the sword, as they call
1t, and murdered all?"
With a shudder, the youth answered in
the affirmative. Stung Serpent gazed
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.
what 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.
Il fear our warriors mediate some re-
venge upon the whites. But you need
not 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.
Go be continued.1