Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-02-20
AT THE WIFE RACE.


do you think Malabar will rum"
The girl did not reply but her lips
began to tremble. The face of the man
being toward her grew dark, but it was
the darkness Of despair, not of pur-
pose.
Perhaps If he knew what you have
told me-" He hesitated. "Malabar Is
brave and srrong and noble. He would
not stoop to small deed
81 promised him with the new year
that he should run for me at the green
corn dance. II did not know then"
looking piteously into the gloomy, deli
cate face above her. "Malabar would
not stoop to a small deed-no. But
this is not small. He has let 1t be
known that he will run for me. He
would not turn from his purpose a
hairs breadth-not if he saw some
thing in front that would crush him.
And-and it is right for great war
rior, Ankona, but it is hard"
1--WE will fly, White Egret, into the
deepest Businesses of the Everglades"
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.
I'VE are Seminoles, Ankona," she
rebuked, gently. You know our laws.
You would bottle 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 it will
be made strong Others have died.
But no, no. Malabar is a great chief
and better man for the tribe than 1.
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
from the gathering shadows. II shall
not fall before the black draught. 1t
would not be fit ending for a war
rior"
White Egret threw back her head
and regarded him steadily. Ankona
bowed his head.
You heard alp he questioned in a
strained voice.
"All," calmly. ''It was childish pratt
tie. l shall run for the White Egret,
for have not said it. 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. / will
let him run the race with me, and l
will give him one-third the distance
start as due to his weakness. Now,
gol"
They went, with single despairing
glance toward each other. Ankona's
face was bloodless and set-bloodless
with pride crushed, set with fore
knowledge of utter inability TO cope
with this man of iron will and
strength. Better be crushed than al
lowed to exist by sufferance.
Other forms were appearing from
the forest-warriors in full headdress
and leggins, carrying the guns they
had purchased from white traders;
squaws with camp equipage, medicine
men stalking solemrly and mysterious
~, with eyes bent upon the ground;
children and dogs. some from the camp
on White River Bay, some from Okee-
chobee, some from the shifting camp
among the keys-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, unnoticed, in many cases
unknown even, among the others.
Whatever crime they had committed
during the year had gone UNPUBLISHED
at the time, but now tribal honor
brought them here to expiate their
misdeeds. On the morrow they would
be plsfed in closely shut tents and
almost suffocated with steam made by
pouring water upon hot stones. And
after that they would drink of the
black draught If they died, they were
guilty. On the other hand, If they
were strong enough to survive, their
innocence would be clearly established
Later the racing for wives would take
place.
Malabar was known to every one
revered, feared, honored. All knew
that he was to race for a wife. and
that before the race he was to drink
the dreaded black draught Ordinarily
they would have scoffed at such abb
surdity. If man drank and lived. it
would be 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 If
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 revered or
feared him they all had tender place
for him in their hearts. If he could
race with White Egret and win her
they 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
In the closed tent the tribe stood
about silent, with eyes furtively
watching the point whence the con.
demned would walk forth innocent or
be brought forth guilty
AZ length the tent Zap Wa raised
eha no HlasE&fad put, Far 4 t3anent
ha stead fhafo Ia fhA nuNllHht, hio