The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-04-30

smile, Whlch seemed 10 lDulchte ply
for her companions ignorance, my faith
ers spirit will not start alone. 1t re-
mains near the old body until the other
spirits join It, and then they all go OF
together. Do you not understand
Eyes"
"And Is II not right aud proper"
ut Is, il you think so; but | should
hardly dare give my voice in favor OF It.
Why, look, COqualla, apd tell me II this
very thing has not already reduced your
nation from once powerful people to
mere handful"
"My father spoke OF that ere he died"
answered the princess thoughtfully. "He
said he wished only his few immediate
companions to go with him beyond the
grave, and even they must be old peo-
pie"
And he was right, Coqualla. | have
heard that the Natchez were once
mighty race-a great nation, numbering
their warriors by the many thousands.
and now they have only very few hun
dred. In a large community, under or
dinary circumstances, the births will not
much overrun the deaths by nature. But
SeS HeiS-uOl Oufy uO yOut PVOpic uiS VA
as do others, but for every one who dies
naturally from one to hundred more
must be killed to keep them company"
II know" said Coqualla. thoughtfully
81 know. But still it were cruel to
send my fathers spirit away over the
dark, long trail alone. Your people do
not think of this. They do not think OF
the loved spirit wandering away in the
dark alone"
"Yes they do, Coqualla."
"They do?'
"Yes."
"And yet they send them no company"
"Ah, their company comes from the
other way" spoke White Hand, softly
and sweetly. when a human soul de-
parts, we, or l, believe that the loved
ones who have gone before come down
to lead the newborn spirit away to heav-
en-. l have mother there, Coqualla, AMI
| think she viii come down to earth
when my spirit departs, and welcome
me to the home Of the blest ones. Sure
ly they know the way through the dark
valley better than We could, or better
than any others OF earth"
Gradually the Indian girls hands were
brought together over--her bosom, and
her head was bowed. When she looked
up there was a strange light in her eyes
and soft, hopeful expression dwet upon
her dusky features.
white Hand" she whispered, tell
me that again"
'Is not the theme more pleasing than
the stranging OF helpless victims over
the graves of the dead?' the youth ask
ed, kindly.
"Yes-yes. But tell me more"
And White Hand went on and whis-
pered into his companions ear the whole
of his own pure faith In God and the ris
en- Saviour; and when he had done the
princess murmured:
1T is sweet, and it Is better than the
faith | have been taught"
She bowed her head again, and this
time she remained a long while thought
full and when she next looked up.
change had come over her eOuntenanee.
white Hand" she said, II promised
my father that would help you escape
from here, il you wished What have |
to remain here for? My father is dead;
have no brother or sister, and the ways
Of my people are not pleasant to me. May
| not go with your
The youth threw his arms about the
fair speakers neck and drew her upon
his bosom.
"Coqualla, speak but the word, and III
die in thy service, II necessary, to lead
you to my fathers home. o, we will not
be separated
The burial was over. Stung Serpent
reposed in his grave, and by his side lay
the bodies of those who had, In obedi-
ence to the cruel faith and custom, given
up their lives that they might keep their
loved chief company in his dark journey.
And once more the Natchez commenced
their mad orgies over their victory, for
they were not yet satiated.
Late at night, while the warriors were
dancing and bowling In the square, Prick
ed Arm came to White Hands lodge ami
called him out. The youth could not see
her face in the gloom, but from the man
ner of her breathing, he could tell that
she was deeply moved by something.
white Hand" she said, ''our plot has |
worked exceeding well. Not blow has
been struck save here at Natchez; so the |
great mass of the French are saved. But |
thou art In danger here. The moment |
the Natchez find that their plan has fail |
ed they will suspect thee, for it has |
been whispered that you visited the tenn |
pie, and the Great Sun, when he looked |
towards the west for the moon last night |
and saw it not, was perplexed. This night |
tharr oxxyt tho fnr the raf TINA
and they remembered, for the first time, |
too, that the moon ought to have been |
a week old. Amid their mad joy they |
have not thought Of this before. But |
they think Of 1t now, and fear has al
ready seized upon some Of them, though |
those few keep ii to themselves. Now |
you can Judge how much risk you run"
"And will they suspect met" the youth
uttered, tremulously.
"They viii be likely to: for you are OF !
the hated people. and your powerful |
friend is dead. Dark, angry eyes have
been bent upon you, because you have |
shown your losthing Of the crueties you
have witnessed. And, again. the Fren h |
will soon be on the Natchez trail. The |
future is dark for us all, but you may
CsNdH0s Oau sOu nut IehSmbei Ahe eioA Il
by which you Gamer
IL fear not"
"But you can follow it part way from
hereT'
''Yes, for II is broad towards the viii
lage."
There you can take the river. You
know the southern trail You went it
once hunting with Stung Serpent"
"Ies-I remember that"
Then all is safe. Follow that trail to
the right. and 1t win bring you out upon
the river fifteen miles below here. Among
a clump Of brakes there you will hnd
canoe. II is mine. Take II and hOat
down the river. Still retain your pres
ent garb, and let the walnut stain be up
on yolr face. In that way you may, IS
cape the Natchez, should any Of them
meet you, and by your speech you could
quickly convince the French. ! can do
no more for you. | would have saved all
the French IL | could. for ! loved them: