Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-03-24
|WhiteHand|
"a Tale Of the Early Settlers !
: of Louisiana. !
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued.)
BY AUSTIN c. BURDIcK

IN suspense. Stung Serpent was absent;
but the Great Sun stepped down from
the elevated seat that he occupied, and
from one of the attendants he took bow
and an arrow. and crown of feathers,
to which was affixed an oak twig. The
latter he placed upon White Hands head.
and the weapons he placed in his hand.
Then to CoQualla the old chief gave a
laurel twig and an ear of corn.
My son." then spoke the Great Sun,
in solemn and impressive tone, II, as
the eldest male relative of the bride, do
now bestow her upon thee. Thou hast
been crowned with the plumage of the
soaring bird, which signifeth the power
of command you shall exercise in the
household. The twig of oak tells US that
the depth of no forest can prevent thee
from procuring food in times of need;
while the bow and arrow in thy hand
signifeth that even unto death thou wilt
protect her who is now given unto thee
for wife," Then the Great Sun turned
to the bride: "Coqualla, in thy hand thou
holdest the twig of laurel-the emblem
of purity. So wilt thou ever remain pure
and unsullied, that the green laurel may
be no more pure than art thou. The ear
Of corn thou hast also assumed. Never
let thy household want for food whilst
thou art thus provided"
Then the chieftain resumed his seat,
and the same old man who had led White
Hand to the temple stepped forward and
delivered sort Of sermon, after which
the couple were hailed as man and wife.
In the midst Of these rejoicings, the en-
trance to the house was darkened, and
in moment more Stung Serpent stood
within the place. He looked upon White
Hand, and his brow darkened, but a close
observer could have seen that the look
was assumed.
"Who hath done this?" he demanded,
in loud tone.
II, my BROTHER" answered the Great
Sun. "They loved each other well, and
I gave thy child away"
Stung Serpent bowed his head few
moments, and when he looked up again
his brow was clear.
Then my promise is made void" he
said; for no man can harm the husband
of his child. White Hand, thou art safe
with us; buteremember thine oath y
The husband Of thy child will not
break his PROMISE" spoke the White
Hand. solemnly.
1T is well. I am in season for the fes-
tivities."
And thereupon the festivities commenc-
ed, and they were kept up till late in the
evening, and then the newly married
couple were conducted to a dwelling that
the king himself gave them. 1t was just
back Of the house Of Stung Serpent, and
was within the line of the great circle of
dwellings, but Its post Of honor was
marked by it's nearness to the abode of
the Great Sun.
After the newly married pair had been
conducted to their dwelling, the youth
felt hand upon his arm, and on turning
he saw the Great Sun.
white Hand" he said, follow me,
for the Great Sun Of the Natchez has
much to say to thee"
Full Of wonder, the youth followed the
king from the place, but he did not fear,
for there was only kindness in the tones
of the monarch. On they went until
they reached a gigantic oak that stood in
the very center of the village, and here
the Great Sun stopped.
white Hand" he said in low, SOL
emn tone, thou hast sworn to my broth
er that thou wilt not betray thyself to
thy countrymen, nor leave the village of
the White Apple without our consent.
Only six miles from here is the fort and
village of the white man: so thou seest
how great is the trust we repose in thee"
yet I will not break my word" said
the youth, while a spirit of awe crept
over him. There was something grand
and sublime in the scene about him, and
he could not shake off the impression
that a sort of mystic fate was being
ly,1 out in oil ha h
without a cloud and the myriad stars
were twinking like tiny eyes of fire away
off in the dark vault. The broad, smooth
plain stretched off like a mystic lake,
while the huts of the Natchez were dim
ly visible in the great circle.
white Hand" resumed the dark
monarch, 81 do not think that the Great
Spirit Of our people is the same God
away beyond the great salt lake, they tell
me, Is full Of white men, and your God
has given them laws not like our laws
They pray to their God for vengeance on
the Natchez. and the dread vengeance
comes. Like the swift storm at night,
and like the bound of the beast of prey,
1t comes upon us. My son. thou canst
pray?"
Les, muTmuTeu the youth.
''Then wilt thou not pray for the Nat
chez7 Wilt thou not pray that He will
send no more calamities upon us2 Thou
art good, and true, and noble. What say
est thouY
A strange truth now flashed upon the
youths mind. The Indians, in their SIM
pie dread Of the white mans God, had
believed that If they could possess one
of the true worshipers of that God, and
persuade him to intercede for them, the
calamities that resulted from the prayers
of their enemies might be averted Yet
White Hand did not wonder, for he knew
how simple were the ideas that the red
men entertained Of their own Deity. And,
moreover, he knew that the Indians had
often heard the monks praying, and when
he remembered how direct and common
were the appeals thus made, he did not
question the influence it must have upon
those who were wont to regard Deity as
a being to be propitiated with gifts and
outer show. The youths first thought
was to try and correct the error into
which the chief had fallen; but when he
came to reflect that in such work he
should have to uproot the prejudices of
a lifetime, he resolved to do as was ask
ed Of him.