The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-14
MALABAR
BY Frank III. .SeUeer
Cop. light. 1907, by the S. S. Mcclure
Company


The girl did not reply, but her lips
began to trcm5le. The face of the man
bending toward her grew dark, but II
was the darkness o. despair, not of
purpose.
Perhaps if he knew what you have
told me-" He hesitated. "Malabar is
brave and strong and noble. He would
not stoop to a small deed"
II promised him with the new year
that he should run for me at the green
corn dance. II did not know then"
looking pfteously into the gloomy, deli
cate face above her. "Nfalabar 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 q
hairs breadth-not if he saw some
thing In front that would crush him.
And-and 1t is right for great war
rior, Ankona, but 1t Is hard"
Eve 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.
1--WE are Seminoles 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 it will
be made strong. Others have died.
But, no, no! Malabar is a great chief
and 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 figure,
dark, towering and implacable, stepped
from the gathering shadows. 81 shall
not fall before the black draft. 1t
would not be fit ending for war
rior."
White Egret threw back her head
and regarded him steadily. Ankona
bowed his head.
"You heard alI?" lie questioned in a
strained voice.
GALL" calmly. ut was childish pratt
tie. shall run for the White Egret
for have not said 1t, and has she not
made her promise? 1t is only when
we forget our promises that we become
r I'D .,hi1I{ct, A MI 10
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 single despairing
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
sufferance.
Other forms were appearing from the
forest-warriors in full headdress and
leggings, carrying the guns they hat
purchased from white traders; squawS
with camp equipage, 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 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. What
ever 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 placed 81
closely shut tents and almost suffo
Gated with steam made by pouring wa.
ter upon hot stones. After that they
would drink of the black draft. II
they died, they We're guilty. On the
other hand, if they were strong enough
to survive, their innocence would bs
clearly established Later the racing
for wives would take place.
Malabar was >uown 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 draft. Ordinarily they
would have scoffed at such absurdity.
If man drank and lived, it would be
a notable proof of strength, but 20
drink and live and then race for a Wifei
AS to his cr@le, 1t was only what any
of them would have done if brave
enough. He had killed 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 OF
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 furtlvely watching
the point whence the condemned would
walk forth innocent OF be brought forth
guilty.
At length the tent Zap was raised,
and he staggered out. For moment
he stood there IN the sunlight, his hand
b his head, swayiDg blipdly. Then
with mighty efScrt. as one whose will
away from them and strobe into the
forest to be by himself. That, too, was
Malabar's way.
Not until the maidens were brought
forth did Malabar reappear.
II will race for my squaw at once, .
he called in a voice that all could hear,
~