The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-04-16

no mistake, a bundle Of sticks was pre-
pared for each village, corresponding in
number to the days that must elapse be-
fore the death stroke. These bundles
we're placed In their respective temples,
and each day the chief was to go In and
take one stick away. And when they
were all gone-on the day that saw the
last stick removed-the avengers were to
strike.
From the shores Of the Mexican gulf
to the Yazoo, and from the waters Of the
Tombecbee to the Sabine, every warrior
was armed for the occasion, and eagerly
waiting the coming Of the fatal moment.
The whites were watched at every step,
and each red man had bis victim marked.
Slowly, one by one, as each succeeding
sun rolled over, those fatal sticks were
removed, and Chopart only waited pa.
tiently for his rich prize.
One Of the wives Of the Great Sun was
called ~Bras Pique." or Pricked Arm,
from the many strange devices which she
had marked upon her arms. Pricked
Arm loved the French. and she failed not
to serve them on every occasion when
she could. She saw these secret meet
ings Of the warriors, and her suspicious
were aroused. She knew Of the demand
that had been made for the village Of the
White Apple, and she knew that these
meetings of the council were touching
that matter. She noticed the fierce looks
Of the men, their angry gestures, and
their vengeful glances towards the
French fort, and she feared that some
calamity was to befall her white friends.
Pricked Arm made up her miAd to save
the French IL possible, not emily at
Natchez, but at all other points; and to
this end she must not only put ChoPart
on his guard. but she must cause the
Natchez to give a premature alarm, and
thus the whites In other sections would
take warning, for she dared not attempt
to convey intelligence to other stations
for fear of being detected by her own
people. Her first movement was to make
her way to the temple, but she could not
gain access there, no woman ever being
allowed within the sacred building. Two
nights In succession she skulked about
the place, but the warriors within, who
for her. In this extremity she thought Of
White Hand. and late one night she went
to him and called him sut.
"White Hand" she said, when they had
reached the very tree under which the
Great Sun had once before spoken with
the youth, have you the courage Of a
warriorT
II have the courage Of a man." he re-
piled, in establishment.
"Then can you keep an oath?"
"If 1t may be kept with honor"
"The oath which require may, but
will not ask it Of you, for your own safety
will hold you. Know, then, that there
is a plot on foot for the massacre-for
the entire extermination-of every white
man, woman and child In the country.
And mark me--this plot is deep and well
founded, and 1t moves on to its consum-
nation as surely as the now absent sun
moves on towards the morning."
"All--every one" uttered White Hand,
in alarm.
"Yes. Every tribe has the signal, and
the one fatal day is set. 1t Is to be on
the day when our people pay their tribute
Of corn. Every white man Is marked,
and unless something be done to thwart
the red men, the terrible blow must fall" !"
Louis clasPed bis hands, for his
thoughts were of his father and Of his
sister and Of his friend st. Denis.
"Can there be no stop to this7" he
asked.
"Yes-if you have courage"
"Then put me to II"
"Listen. can warn the people at
Natchez, but that will not save the 9TH
ers In the temple there Is a bundle of
cypress sticks. They are hung by tive
thongs of bearskin back Of the altar In
that bundle there are as many sticks as
there are days between now and the fatal
blow; could we remove seven of those
sticks, the Natchez would make prema-
ture attack. The people at the fort would
be prepared. In other places down the
river, and on the great salt lake, the red
men will mistrust nothing, and while they
walt eagerly for the passing Of the next
seven days, the alarm can be spread. DO
you understand"
Perfectly" returned White Hand.
"And will you do itT'
II will try, even to the DEATH"
"Gsod. But let Il be soon."
BY different paths the two returned to
the village, Pricked Arm retiring to her
own dwelling. while the youth spent some
time In walking thoughtfully about the
great square. When he at length entered
his own dwelling he found bis wife
asleep, but he did not join her. He spent
some time in walking up and down the
place, and his face betrayed the deep anx-
iety that moved within him. He had
marked the stern, angry looks of the
stout warriors, and he had noticed their
frequent councils, but he did not dream
that such a dreadful plan had occupied
their thoughts. He fancied they were,
at most, only planning some means for
self-defense. But now the truth was APP
parent. His father was in danger-all
his countrymen were In danger. Thus he
was walking up and down the apartment,
when his wife awoke and looked for him.
white Hand" she said, sitting up in
the bed, why walk you thus when the
night Is waningT
II was thinking Of my home. Coqualla."
The princess arose and approached her
husband.
"And thou art sad" she murmured.
looking up into his face.
Eyes, Coqualla-very sad. would 20
into the temple and pray"
"Then why go you not inY
Because ! cannot gain admittance
there. am not q warrior, and none but
warriers are admitted there"
"But thou art BY marriage a Little
Sun OF the Matches. and as such. thou
canst demand admission there. and none
shall dare refuse thee. Take thy offer
ing Of walnut wood and go. Say to the
guardians there, I come as q Sun Of the
Matches. and would pray to the Great
Spirit. Accept my offering. and open
to me the way They win not dare re-
fuse thee"
As COqualla spoke she went to the fire
place. and from the wosd there piled up
she selected ten sticks of walnut from
which she removed the bark. II was a
religious law. given By the hrst Great
Sun. that only walnut wood should be