Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-03-06

And-and it Is right for great war
rior, AnkOna. but II Is hard"
I'VE will fly, White Egret. into the
deepest fastnesses OF the Eyergladesw
he cried hoarsely. There are places
where even Malabar's relentless arms
would be powerless."
But White Egret only looked at him
with sorrowful eyes.
1--WE are SemnOles. AnkOna," she re-
buked gently. You know our laws
You would be the last one to break
| them"
His arm fell back impotent Yes; he
would be the last one to break them.
perhaps Malabar will not be proof
against the black drink this time" he.
suggested. "He has killed, and 1t will
be made strong. Others have died.
But, no. no. Malabar Is a great chief
and a better man for the tribe than L
He has tasted the black drink before
and Will not die"
"You say well. Ankona," broke In a
stern, powerful voice, and a figure.
dark, towering and implacable, stepped
f!om the gathering shadows. Il shall
not fall before the black draft. 1t
would not be tit ending for a war
rior."
White Egret threw back her head
and regarded him steadily. Ankona
bowed his head
You heard all?" he questioned In a.
strained voice.
AL" calmly. 1T was childish pratt
tie. shall run for the White Egret,.
for have-I not said 1t, and has she not.
made her promise? 1t is only when
we forget our promises that we become
weak and childish. Ankona Is young
yet and should be humored. l will let.
him run the race with me and will give
him one-third the distance start as due
to his weakness. Now go"
They went, with Il single despalring
glance toward each other. Ankona's.
face was bloodless and set-blOOdless.
with pride crushed. set with fOreknowl-
edge Of utter inability TO cope with this
man OF iron will and strength. Better
be crushed than allowed TO exist by
suffcrance.
Other forms were appearing from the
forest-w warriors In full headdresS and.
leggings. carrying the guns they had.
purchased from white traders; squaws:
with camp equlpage. medicine men
stalking solemnly and mysteriously,.
with eyes bent upon the ground; chill
dren and dogs. some from the camp on.
White River bay. some from Okeecho-.
bee. some from the shifting camp
among the ys-all coming for the
great annual green corn dance, where
tribal laws were TO be made, marriages
celebrated and criminals punished.
These criminals were now moving,
unmatched. unnOticcd. I'm many cases
unknown even, among the others. What
ever crime they had committed during
the year had gone unpunished ut the
time. but now tribal honor brought
them here 10 expiate their misdeeds-
On the morrow they would be placed in
closely shut tents and almost sufO-
Gated with steam made by pouring wa
ter upon hot stones. After that they
would drink OF the black draft. III
they died. they were guilty. On the
other hand, il they were strong enough
TO survive, their innocence would be
clearly established. Later the racing
for wives would take place.
10 EnnxVn n
revered, feared, hOnored. All knew
that he was TO race for wife and that
before the race he was 10 drink the
dreaded black draft Ordinarily they
would have scofed ut such absurdity.
III man drank and lived, it would be
a notable proof of strength, but to
drink and live and then race for wife!
AS TO his crime, it was only what any
OF them would have done II brave
enough. He had killed a man! True,
but he had been provoked. He must be
punished, for that was the law. but
they did not wish him harm.
And they all knew Ankona, the gen.
tie one, the dreamer and story maker,
and. though none OF them reyered or
feared him, they all had tender place
for him in their hearts. IL he could
race with White Egret and win her,
hey would be glad. But Malabar came
first, for White Egret herself had made
1t so.
Malabar was the first who presented
himself for punishment. While he was
I'm the closed tent the tribe stood about
silent, with eyes furtively watching
the point whence the condemned would
walk forth innocent or be brought forth
guilty.
At length the tent flap was raised. I!
and he staggered out. For moment
he stood there in the sunlight, his hand
to his head. swaying blindly. Then
they saw him throw his shoulders back
with mighty effort, as one whose will
was strong enough To cast Off the
weight Of all things. Slowly he turned
away from them and strobe intos the
forest TO he by himself. That, too, was
Malabar's way.
Not until the maidens were brought
forth did Malabar reappear.
IL will race for my squaw at once,
he called in n voice that all could hear,
before the White Egret grows weak
through waiting. and shall give her
one-half the distance start because sne !
Is woman. Ankona will also enter |
the race with me. and will give him
one-third the distance because he Is but
half a L..n. let them &c placed"
The spectators stared and gasped.