The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-04-23
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|WhiteHandl
IA Tale Of tho Early Settlers !
( Of Louisiana. /
! BY AUSTIN o. BURDIcK !
9 nn~nAAAAAAnAAAAAAANS
CHApTER XVIII.
sYAusTIN O. sURDIcK


for he was sure that the beautiful village
Of the White Apple would soon be his,
and he meant to pocket much money IN
the transaction One day he sat in his
rude house, with some of his attendants
about him, when soldier demanded ad-
mittance.
How now, sirrah" he demanded, as
the man entered.
II have come with a warning" the SOL
dier replied.
"Ha!-a warning Speak out"
"An old woman passed my post this
morning, monsieur, and she bade me tell
the French to be on their guard, for dan
ger threatened them"
"And from whom2"
"From the Indians. They will rise and
butcher US ALL"
"Have you spoken of this beforeT
II have not"
"Then you shall not tell 1t to othersw
cried Chopart, In anger. Have you not
seen enough Of this idle fear2 What ho!
without therep'
At this call, two soldiers entered, who
usually stood in the passage to obey the
commanders call.
take this fellow and lock him up in
the prison." he ordered. "We'd soon
have the red rats down upon us IL they
knew we lived in fearl They dare not
offer US harm. Away with himP'
And for conveying this intelligence the
poor man was cast into strong dungeon,
and there kept for several days with his
feet in the stocks.
But this was not the only note Of warn
Ing ChOpart had. Four days afterwards.
q soldier came to him and informed him
that the Indians surely medItated the de-
struetlon Of the fort, and of all Its white
Inhabitants.
"Out, FOOL! exclaimed Chopart, an
grily. "The old hag who told you this
only thinks to frighten US. She thinks
that BY exciting our fears she can fright
en- US into giving up our plan Of taking
their village of the White Apple. What!
would ye show to the Indians that we
feared them? Away with such idle fool
erVw
Pricked Arm was astounded at the in
fatuation Of the French commander, and
as q last resort she went to Choparts
lieutenant, man named Mace, who, she
imagined, would have some influence
with his superior. But even this proved
abortive. She told Mace that destruction
would surely fall upon them II they did
not take some means to keep the Indians
away from the fort. But on the very
next day Chopart invited all the Indians
to a banquet, and pledged his friendship
to them anew.
With feeling OF utter CONSERVATION,
Pricked Arm returned to her lodge. One
evening she sought White Hands dwell
ing, for she had a faint idea working
through her mind that the French youth
might have some influence In all this. She
knew that he had been originally doomed
to death to go and intercede face to face
with the white mans God, but she had
never yet fully known why he was spar.
ed. She found White Hand alone. He
gazed eagerly into her face, for he was
anxious to know how her work progress
cd.
White Hand" she said, speaking abb
Fuptly, why were you spared from death
when you first came here?"
THAT might marry Coqualla," replied
the youth.
But was there nothing elseY' asked
the old woman, looking him sharply in
the face.
why, yes" returned White Hand,
speaking with some diiHdence, for the real
season seemed so foolish and ridiculous
TO him that he almost feared he should
be laughed at for speaking Of 1t.
"And what was that2"
"Why, l promised to pray to the white
mans God that none OF the wickednes.
Of the French might succeed, and alsc
to tell him how basely the red men hat
been wronged by the invaders; for wa.
OF that people, and they supposed that
should have some influence with my Su
pFems Father"
That's itP' the aged princess gFoaned
with her hands folded across her bosom
"HowT asked the youth, In surprise
II knew that the Great Spirit had 1
hand In this work. The fort at Natche,
h doomed past all hoper'
"No-not doomedr'
''ft ls. The last stick will be removed
tomorrow, and then the blow must fallI'
Tomorrow"
"No-the blow falls on the day after
The fatal sticks mark the lntervenin,
days"
"And must all fallI-ail-aIl?"
"An az Matches, but not elsewhere. fo
the others walt yet another week, ant
ere that time the whites will be warned
But what noise is thatl Harkl Their,
are shouts Of welcome"
They both started for the door, wher,
they were met by Stung Serpent, VIII,
caught the youth by the arm and force,
him into the house again.
white Hand" he said, speaking quick
~ and sternly, remember your oath, 70
your salvation may now depend upon II
The white men have come to carouso 4
the White Apple. Beware that you d
not forget yourselfl Shall we trust you
MInd-an is well with you IL you ar
falthfulg'
Fear not, my father, spoke the youth
unable to rspress the trembling that seil
ed his limbs.
'|rhen you may conduct COqualla to tn
Pevelry."
It was a calm, warm night. and in IN
center OF the great square were built tw
hres Of pitch-wood to serve as torche.
and here the white men and the red wer
gathered In social eonfab and amusement
There were over a hundred white me
there, and at their head was Chopart hin
self. Louis recognized him at once as
brutal man whom he had once seen &
New Orleans hogging an Indian cir
Most OF the whites were decent lookin
men; but before the night had passe
away, White Hand shrank away TO b
lodge. and as he laid his aching hea
upon his pillow be drew Coquaua clos
20 him. and In a sinking tone he mul
muredi
"Alasi I an ashamed OF my own pc
pie With all their advantages Of brit
and education-with the enlightenment {
ages as their heritage. they are but sa'
ages stlllF'
The next day found some dozen Of Il
Frsnehmen still at the Indian villag
But the Great Sun himself, with 3 fe'