Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-04-16

4
our land AZ once aud rOreyerV'
On the next day messengers came
from Chopart, the commander of the
French fort. TO learn what the Natchez
had agreed upon. They were informed
that they had not yet been able to agree
upon a place to which TO move. aud the
Great Sun asked two months la which TO
prepare, promising, meantime. 10 pay
new tribute OF corn 10 the French. This
message was conveyed TO Chopart, and
he agreed 10 the terms. fondiy believing
that In another spring his people should
share the rich land spells Il this fairesl
Matches village.
/ And now the work went on slowly but
surely. Word was sent % every tribe.
aud all were solemnly pledged The day
was fixed upon which the fatal blow was
TO be struck: and that there should be
no mistake. bundle OF sticks was pre-
pared for each village. corresponding In
number to the days that must elapse be-
fore the death stroke. These bund es
were placed In their respective temples,
and each day the chief was TO go 10 AMI
take one stick away. And when they
were all gone--on the day that saw the
last stick remoyed-the avengers were 10
strike.
From the shores OF the Mexican gulf
to the Yazoo. and from the waters OF the
Tomhecbee 10 the Sabine, every warrior
was armed for the occaSion. and eagerly
waiting the coming OF the fatal moment
The whites were watched at every step,
and each red man had his victim market.
Slowly. one by one. as each succeeding
sun rolled over. those fatal sticks were
removed. ana Chopart only waited pa.
tiently for his rich prize.
One Of the wives OF the Crest Sun was
called Bras Plque." or Pricked Arm.
from the many strange devices which she
had marked upon her arms. Pricked
Arm loved the French. and she failed not
TO serve them on every occasion when
she could. She saw these secret me {.
Ings OF the warriors. and her suspisions
were aroused. She knew OF the demand
that had been made for the village OF the
White Apple. and she knew that these
meetings OF the council were touching
that matter. She noticed the fierce loo 9
OF the men, their angry gestures, AMI
their vengefnl glances towards the
French fort, and she feared that some
calamity was to befall her white fri Is.
Pricked Arm made up her mind 10 save
the French II possible. not only ~
Natehez. but at all other points: and 10
this end she must not only put Chopart
on his guard. but she must cause the
NNtcheE 20 give a premature alarm. and
thus the whites 10 other sections would
take warning, for she dared not attempt
to convey intelligence 10 other stations
for fear of being detected by her oSn
people. Her FIRST movement was 20 make
her way to the temple. hat ahs could aat
gain access there. no woman ever being
allowed within the sacred building. Two
nights In succession she skull Ell about
the place. but the warriors within. who
watched the holy fire, were too ylgilant
for her, In this extremity she thought OF
White Hand, and late one night she went
to him and called him out
white Hand" she said, VIII they had
reached the very tree under which the
Great Sun had once before spoken with
the youth. have you the courage of a
warFiaFTf
II have the courage Of a man." he re. |
piled. In astonishment.
Then can you keep Rn oath2"
"If 1t may be kept with honor"
"The oath which require may. but |
will not ask II OF you. for your own safety |
will hold you. Know. then, that there
ls a plot on foot for the massacre--for |
the entire extermination-of every white |
man. woman and child In the country |
And mark me-this plot Is deep ami well |
founded, and II moves on 10 Its consum-
nation as surely as the now absent sun
moves on towards the morning"
"All-every one" uttered White Hand.
in alarm.
"Yes. Every tribe has the signal, and
the one fatal day Is set. II Is to be ON
the day when our people pay their tribute
OF corn. Every white man Is marked.
ands unless something be done to thwart
the red men. the terrible blow must fall"
Louis clasped his hands. for his
thoughts were OF his father and of his
sister aud of his friend st. Denis.
"Can there be no stop to thisY' he
asked.
"Yes-if you have courage"
"Then put me to II"
"Listen. l can warn the people at
Natchez, but that will not save the 9th,
ers. In the temple there is a bundle of
cypress sticks. They are hung by two
thongs of bearskin back Of the altar. In
that bundle there are as many sticks as
there are days between now and the fatal
blow: could we remove seven of those
sticks, the Natchez would make prema-
ture attack. The people at the fort would
be prepared. In other places down the
river. aud on the great salt lake. the red
men will mistrust nothing, and while they
wait eagerly for the passing of the next
seven days, the alarm can be spread. DO
you understandT
Perfectly" returned White Hand.
"And will you do ltT
II will try, even to the DEATH"
"Good.> But let It be soon."
BY different paths the two returned to
the village, Pricked Arm retiring to her
own dwelling, while the youth spent some
time In walking thoughtfully about the
great square. When he at length entered
his own dwelling he found his wife
asleep, but he did not join hen He spent
some time in walking up and down the
place, and his face betrayed the deep anx.
lety that moved within him. He had
marked the stern, angry looks of the
stout warriors, and he had noticed their
frequent councils, but he did not dream
that such a dreadful plan had occupied
their thoughts. He fancied they were,
at most, only planning some means for
self-defense. But now the truth was ap-
parent. His father was In danger-all
his countrymen were in danger. Thus h.
was walking up and down the apartment,
when his wife awoke and looked for him.
white Hand" she said, sitting up in
The bed, why walk you thus when the
hight Is waning?'
II was thinking Of my home, Coqual'a."