Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-03-12
|WhiteHand|
"a Tale Of tho Early Settlers ;
! Of Louisiana. /;
~-
! ny AUSTIN Q. nuRplcK {
~ AUSTIN Q. BURplcK
cHAPTnR x.-lcontInued.l


Il dare not speak now, but l may tell
you some time"
"nut--"
"--shr' interrupted the princess. 10 an
abrupt, but yet kind tone. 'Yoa must
not urge me beyond what have assured
you. Coqualla speaks not without
thought. and hence she speaks not the
second time. must not stop now. !
know the character OF some OF your peo-
pie. and their words do not come from
thdr hearts. 80 you might he led away.
and think Stung Serpent meant dark
thing when he spoke fair. You viii not
forget Coaualla."
With these words she turned away,
and ere the youth could dctain her shs
was gone. Ho saw the heavy door close
after her light and graceful form, aud
then be sank down again upon the cold
earth. Whit could be the meaning OF
her ylslti Why should she have come
20 him thus 10 warn him OF danger
threatened by her fatherf II was a
strange circumstance. aud afforded the
prisoner plenty Of food for thought,
The morning dawnNd, the prison door
was opened. and Stung Serpent entered,
and with him came two others, one OF
them an old man. decreplt with age. aud
the other a tall, athletic man, only a
little older than Stung Serpent. White
Hand quickly recognised this latter indi-
yldual as the Great sun--the king OF all
the hatcher, not only from his noble
bearing and his resemblance 20 his broth
k..k IL he a.ketfuatW NeRatsNht 4
clrclet OF feathers. with ks elevated
plume Of horse hair, that adorned his
head.
The youth arose on these men entered,
but he did not speak. His arms were
folded across his breast. aud with a
steady, calm look, he returned the gaze
that was bent upon him.
"Whlte Hand" spoke the prince, 'llst.
en- 10 the words that the Great Sun shall
speak to thee"
At these words the king stepped for
ward. The prisoner had seen many proud
men, and many OF the great men among
his people. but he had never seen one so
purely noble In his look and bearing az
the dreat Sun OF the Matches.
''Son Of the pale faced invader" spoke
the ehleftaln. "thy people have come up
on u with evil intent, and their feet al
ready tread upon lands not their own
They have come with smooth tongue and
smiling face, aud while they whispered
words Of love, they have robbed US oi
that which the Great Spirit had given
ua. The white man says the Matches
are treaCheroua; but falsehood was not
here until the white man came. He says
the Matches are cruel; but the dove Il
cruel when her nest Is despolled by the
serpent, Whence art thou here In the
village Of the White Apple? Dost thou
knowT
"No, no." uttered the prisoner.
"'Tis because OF the evil that dwellf
in the bosom of your people We sought
q child of the white man TO send him on
q mission TO tho white mans God, and
while we sought such an one, lo the wish
was met by one who wished TO be free OF
an encumbrnce upon him. You will
not fear TO go upon the mission we would
have you perform. Every year many OF
our people 20 voluntarily to the world Of
spirits TO accompany their beloved rela
tlves. Then why should you fear, since
you, too, will ascend at once to the home
OF your God1 Child Of the pale face
lstenl Go tell your God that he shall
send no more vengeance upon the
Matches for the deeds they have done
TO the white man. Tell him how thC
white man has come to despoll us, Tel
him this: Once the Natchez were happy
and peaceful; their homes were pure, and
their hearts were glad. Plenty smiled
upon them, and JOY was theirs. But by
and by a strange boat, with wings like 9
great bird, came over the great salt lake
and the white man was In II. lie cam(
with fire In his guns and fire In his bar
rels; and when n multitude had landed
here, they began to place their foot upoI
our necks. And now our JOY Is gone. fol
rottenness has crept over our homes; vicI
has festered like great sores In our VII
lages; our warriors have drunk of thu
accursed frewater until they have be
come like old women; our domain Is be
coming wrested from US and sorrow slit
like a black spirit broodlng over our de
cay. Tell your God oil this. and theI
ask him not to answer the white mani
prayers when they ask for vengeance
against the Natchez. Remember M
words, and forget not one Of them"
Thus speaking, the Great Sun foldet
his arms and gazed silently into th'
youths face. White Hand was moved
deeply moved by the speech he ha(
heard, for there was depth of pathol
in 1t that appealed directly to the heart
He knew we'll what each word OF tn,
chIeftaln meant, and he knew how tru,
It was. But beyond this there was 1
meaning that struck terror to the youth
soul. He was just upon the point of fall
ing upon his knees, when the Great SUI
turned away and stalked from the place
Pale and trembling, White Hand watch
ed him until he was gone, and then turn
ed to stung Serpent.
white Hand, you have heard thu
words Of the Great Sun. He has spoker
to you the truth. Now follow me-"
Then Stung Serpent walked slowly
from the prison house, and the old mar
took White Hand by the arm and said
"Comel" Instinctively he obeyed tn,
summons, though his steps trembled al
he walked forth. When he reached the
open air, the prisoner looked around, but
not living thing could he see save tht
stout prince who walked on ahead an(
the old man who led him.
Next to the prison, and distant some
Ave rods, stood the temple. White Han(
knew It BY the rude imitation of the blaz
ing sun that adorned the roof at the ga
Bile. Into this temple he was led, ant
here he found some twenty men, eight Of
whom were those warriors whose duty
It was to attend the sacred fire. Thll
FIRE was burning upon an altar, and verJ
euriously wrought with strange devices