The Bossier banner., 1903-03-12
HnO YOU think Mala bar will run?"
~ The girl did not reply, but her
VOL. XIII.


IL The girl did not reply, but her
lips began to tremble. The face of the
man bending toward her grew dark,
but it was the darkness of despair, not
of purpose.
"Perhaps if he knew what you have
told me-" He hesitated. "Malabar is
brave and strong and noble. He would
not stoop to a small deed"
81 promised him with the new year
that he should run for me at the green
corn dance. II did not know then"
looking piteously into the gloomy, deli
cate face above her. ''Malabar would
not stoop to small deed-no. But this
is not small. He has let it be known
that he will run for me. He would not
turn from his purpose a hairs breadth
mot if he saw something in front that
would crush hin. And-and it is right
for great warrior, Ankona, but it is
hard'
"We will fly, White Egret, into the
deepest Businesses of the Everglades"
he cried, hoarsely. There are places
where even Malabar's relentless arms
would be p0WerlesS.
But White Egret only looked at him
with sorrowful eyes.
1--WE are Seminoles, Ankona," she
rebuked gently. you know our laws.
You would be the last one to break
them"
His arm fell back impotent. Yes,
he would be the last one to break
them.
"Perhaps Malabar will not be proof
against the black drink this time" he
suggested "He has killed, and it will
be made strong. Others have died. But
no, no! Malabar is a great chief, and
better man for the tribe than I. He has
tasted the black drink before and will
not die"
"You say well, Ankona," broke in a
stern, powerful voice, and figure,
dark, toweringand implacable, stepped
from the gathering shadows. Il shall
not fall before the black draught. 1t
would not be fit ending for war
rior"
White Egret threw back her head
and regarded him steadily. Ankona
bowed his head.
"You heard alp" he questioned in
strained voice.
"All." calmly. "It was childish pratt
tie. shall run for the White Egret,
for have l not said it, and has she not
made her promise? 1t is only when we
forget our promises that we become
weak and childish. Ankona is young
yet. and should be humored. I will
let him run the race with me, and I
will give him one-third the distance
start as due to his weakness. Now,
go!"
They went, with a single despairing
glance toward each other. Ankona's
face was bloodless and set = bloodless
with pride crushed. set with foreknowl-
edge of utter inability to cope with
Better be crushed than allowed to ex-
1st by sufferance.
Other forms were appearing from
the forest-warriors in full headdress
and leggins, carrying the guns they
had purchased from white traders;
men stalking solemnly and mysterious
", with eyes bent upon the ground;
children and dogs some from the camp
on White River bay, some from Okee-
chobee, some from the shifting camp
among the keys-all coming for the
great annual green corn dance where
tribal laws were to be made, marriages
celebrated, and criminals punished.
These criminals were now moving
unmatched, unnoticed, in many cases
unknown, even, among the others.
Whtever crime they had committed
during the year had gone unpunished
at the time, but now tribal honor
brought them here to expiate their
misdeeds. On the morrow they would
be placed in closely shut tents, and al
most suffocated with steam made by
pouring water upon hot stones. After
that they would drink of the black
draught. Ifthey died, they were guilty.
on the other hand, if they were strong
enough to survive, their innocence
would be clearly established. Later
the racing for wives would take place.
Malabar was known to every one
revered, feared, honored. All knew
that he was to race for wife, and that
before the race he was to drink the
dreaded black draught Ordinarily
they would have scoffed at such alb
surdity. Ii man drank and lived,
Y would he a notable proof of
strength; but to drink and live and
then race for wife! AS to his crime,
u was only what any of them would
nave done if brave enough. He had
Killed man! True, but he had been
provoked. He must be punished, for
that was the law, but they did not
wish him harm.
And they all knew Ankona, the gen.
Tie one, the dreamer and story maker,
and though none of them revered or
feared him, they all had a tender
pace for him in their hearts. If he
s. couid race with White Egret and win