Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-12
WAH~KEE-NAH.
The Girl Cook of Mt. Hood.

milion-spotted chief, how comical he
was carrying himself, nearly upset
ting his dignified self. Now was her
time.
Noiselessly she slipped into the
hall and summoned Blue-Bird, who,
belonging TO another tribe, at enmity,
had not dared show himself, but was
watching an opportunity for action.
Then lighting up the big stoTeroom
with long Waxen candles, revealing
its contents, pumpkins big and little,
the turkey, which she hung tempt
ingly on nail in the center of the
room, the rooster by its side, quail
and duck; shelves Of jelly and fruit,
cake, cookies, plum pudding and 9th
Indian youth, tall and commanding,
with the black hair braided in two
lengths of big thickness, that waved
to the side Of his forehead and made
prominent a pair Of soft hazel eyes
that made one trust him, in any cir
cumstances, had always for an op-
portunity to display his valor for
Wah-kee-nah. And now he could
show his mettle. So he stood grim
and defiant oyer-a pantry. That was
what it amounted to. But for her
who was always getting him into
scrapes, he would be faithful ever
Quickly returning, Wah-kee-nah
reached the council just in time to
see the Colonel, very white, nearly
fainting.
"See"' she exclaimed, gesticulating
wildly, with native instinct, and
pointing to the door Of the storeroom,
wherein was disclosed the tempting
viands, with valiant Blue-Bird stanu-
ing guard with bow AMI arrow III
hand. you shall have a big dinner
tomorrow-my Thanksgiving dinner
with all these things to eat. if you
will desist in bothering the CoIonel.
See you have made the Colonel sick
by your much talk. l will put him to
bed and tomorrow you can have your
feast. But you dare not touch those
things tonight, for Blue-Bird guards
them at my command. See!"
With grunt, part of disgust and
part of approval at the prospect of
something to eat, they strangely kept
quiet and seemed under a spell. Soon
ali were asleep around the fire built
by Wah-kee-nah, lulled by the Nor
pheus of the smoking pipe. The
chief, huddled in his robe, was snor-
ing most assuringly.
After Wah-kee-nah had gone
through the pretense of putting the
Colonel to bed, though truth to tell
he was pretty sick, she ran swiftly to
the waters edge and from beneath a
clump of heavy underbrush brought
forth boat Of cOmmOdiOus length.
Filling it with some supplies, she an
chored it safe for immediate use and
then rushed back and, with Blue-Bird,
helped the Colonel and the ladies
safely in the boat, ready for flight
Not a sound dare they make in their
! escape. Not twig was broken, not
a leaf rustled, for fear of awakening
the Indian band.
GO east, up the river to Cape
Horn" said Wah-kee-nah, and you
will find a cave at the entrance of
the west side. Stay there and [ will
come tomorrow night at midnight
Til then, bye"
But your Thanksgiving, child"
tearfulIy exclaimed Mrs. Thornton
For answer, Wah-kee-nah merriIy
shook her raven locks. ME have it
all same" was all she would say.
The Colonel reluctantly left Wah-
! nnG II e., I,
safety. He knew the reverence she
was held in by this tribe. But what
tactics would she use with them, he
wondered. What could he do for the
! people in the sparsely settled region
in case Of an outbreak?
AS for Wah-kee-nah, she ran into
the fort and, although just in time
! between dark and breaking of dawn.
she ran into the kitchen and hastily
built fire, bidding Blue-Bird watch
/ the sleeping Indians.
q will keep my word with ugly
| Chief Thunder Cloud and he will see
my coming here is not in vain.
will cook him such toothsome food
! that he will be glad to let the white.
man alone, and let me learn yet more
/ how to cook" So she took the roost-
er. the turkey, two quail and a duck,
and set herself to finish her job OF
picking them, after which she placed
them in the big square oven to bastr
and brown. The pumpkin by that
time spluttered in big iron kettle,
and she soon had a mixture for love
ly pies. All this time a big pot OF
bean soup had been cooking, emit
ting savory odor, and with the aid OF
fruit and cookies a most tempting
prospect was displayed on the dining
table.
1t was about 10 o'clock when the
red men awOke from their iethargy
and began one by one to rub their
eyes in amazement. What had hap
Ipened? Where was the 'tKernal' and
Wah-kee-nah? Then they began to
remember and sprang to their feet.
Where was the feast promised by
Wah-kee-nah? She should keep her
word!
Wah-kee-nah seemed intuitively to
meet their mood, stepping out in full
r.