Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-01-16
AT THE WIFE RACE.
A story of the Pride of Florida
Indian.
"Do Won think Malabar will run?'

The girl did not reply but Eer lips be-
gan to trcmble. The face of the man
bending toward her grew dark. but 1t
was the darkness of despair not of pur-
pose.
Perhaps if he knew what you have
told me-" He hesitated. "Malabar is
brave and strong and noble. He would
not stoop to small deed.
II promised him with the new year
that he should run for me at the green
corn dance IL 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 lie has let it be known
that he viii run for me. He would not
turn from his purpose a hairs breadth
not ~ he saw something in front THAI
would crush him. And-and II Is right
for Il great warrior, Ankona but II Is
hard"
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 he powcrless."
But White Egret only looked at him
with sorrowfu eyes.
we are Scminoles. Ankona." she re-
bukod gently. you know our laws.
You would be the last one to break
them
would be the last one to break them.
Perhaps Malabar will not be proof
AGAINST the black drink this time" he
suggested. lie has killed. and it will
be made strong. Others have died But
no. no. Malabar is a great chief and
a better man for the tribe than I. 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 draught 1t would
not be tit ending for a warrior"
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 | not said it, and has she not
made her promise? II is only when we
| forget our promises that we become weak
| ana childish. Ankona is young yet and
| should be humored. will let him run
| the race with me, and I will give him
one-third the distance start as due to his
weakness. Now. gon"
| They went. with a single despairing
| glance toward each other Ankona $
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. Bet
ter be crushed than allowed to exist by
| Sufferance.
other forms were appearing from the
| transformations in fun headdress and leg
| gings. carrying the guns they had pur-
| chased from white traders; squaws with
camp cquipage. medicine men stalking
solemnly and mysteriouslv, with eyes
bent upon the ground. children and dogs
| some from the camp on White River bay
| some from Okeechobee. some from the
shifting camp among the keys-all com
ing for the great annual green corr
dance. where tribal laws We're to be
made marriages celebrated and criminals
punished.
These criminals were now moving un
watched. unnoticed. in many cases un
known even. among the others. What
ever crime they had committed during
the year had gone unpublished a
the time. but now tribal honor brough
them here to eXpate their misdeeds. on
the morrow they would be placed II
closely shut tents and almost suffocatet
with steam made by pouring water OF
hot stones After that they would drinl
of the black draught If they died. they
were guilty. on the other hand. If they
were strong enough to survive. their in
nocence would he clearly established
Later the racing for wives would taxi
place.
Malabar was known to every one--re
vered, feared honored. All knew tina
he was to race for wife and that be
fore the race he was to drink the dread
ed black draught ordinarily the,
would have scoffed at such absurdty
If man drank and lived ii would h
a notable proof of strength; but to drinl
ana live and then race for a wife, A
to his crime. II was only what any o
them would have done il brave enough
He had killed a man True, but he hat
been provoked. He must he punished
for that was the law, but they did no
wish him harm.
, And they all knew Ankona, the gentl
one, the dreamer and story maker. an
though none Of them revered or feare
him. they all had a tender place for hin
in their hearts. If he could race wit
White Egret and win her they would b
glad. But Malabar came first, for Whit
E,gret herself had made it so.
Malabar was the first who presente
himself for punishment. While he wa
in the closed tent the tribe stood abou
silent, with eyes furtively following tn
point whence the condemned would wal
forth innocent or be brought forth guilty
? At length the tent flap was raised an
he staggered out For moment h
| STOOD there III lnt sunlight, MS manu- I
his head swaying blindly. Then the
saw him throw his shoulders back wit
| a mighty effort as one whose will wa
strong enough to cast off the weight q
. all things. Slowly he turned away fror
/ them and strobe into the forest to be b
himself That, too. was Malabar's wa!
Not until the maidens were brougf
forth did Malabar reappear.
II will race for my squaw at once,
he called in a voice that all could hea
before the' White Egret grows wea
n through waiting, and ! shall give he
one-half the distance start because 81
| is a woman. AnkOna will also enter tn
n race with me, and I will give him one
t third the distance because he is but ha
!; a man. Let them be placed.
The spectators stared and gasped. Al
= kona his rival, to enter the race and
be given one-third the distance, an
White Egret, the fleet-footed, to
;. given one-halfl No one could win
y race thus handicapped. And yet was
!, not Malabar?
" He swept them with his glance.
: Il shall win" he said confidently, "b
, cause l will have it so.
Ankona had been watching him vii
; baleful eyes. For an instant he Dire
. back as though to spurn the concessio
u Then as he saw White Egret being Il
= forward to her place, he hurried to h
" own position.
. And for a brief space after the sign