Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-03-05
|WhiteHand|
"A Tale Of tho Early Settlers (;
! nj Louisiana. +;
BY AUSTIN G. BuRDIcK /
Observation-Disclosures
CuAprnn ~
BY AUSTIN Q. BURDIcK


red men arc here upon the edge OF tho
cypress swamp, and eight OF them repose
themselves 10 sleep, while the other two
Keep watch. II IN near noon. for the sun
has almost reached It's highest point, aud
these men have been upon the trail since
early last evening.
But these Chlckasaws are not alone.
Close by the side OF huge cypress log.
one end OF which is beddcd In the swamp.
lies the form of child OF the pale faces.
The hands and the feet are bound. and
a cord from the lashlngs of the han II
leads along the ground, aud Is clutehcd
by one OF the sleeping Indians. In those
fair features, now shaded by the large
log. there IL something Of the look OF
Louis st. julien, but even now the flesh
seems aunken, and the bch0ldcr would
think that many days, instead OF only a
few hours, OF suffering had rested with
In that frame.
Thus the party rested until nearly four
o'clock, aud then one Of the Indians. who
had been places little way up the rlv.
er 70 watch, gave a low, shrlll whistle,
and on the Instant the whole party were
apea their feet, and had sriEei thcir
arms. On the next Instant, a crashing OF
the bushes was heard at no great dis.
tance, aud not long afterwards a party
OF six indians made their appearance.
He who led the newcomers was very tall
and athletic, II was the Nutchez war
rIor, stung Serpent.
The stout chicftain spoke not until he
had seen the pale youth who still slept By
the cypress log, aud then grunt of sat
isfaction escaped from his lips. lie spoke
with the chief OF the ChIcAasaws for
some time In his own strange tongue, and
then he turned TO where the youth slept,
and awoke him. The sleeper started up
and With look OF terror. gazed around
Where is-~ls-where IL my sister, he
asked, In low, thrilling tone.
'Shc has gone on further south while
you slept" answered Stung Serpent. But
the daughter OF the white man In safe.
No harm can come TO her. for her life
Ia precious. But you cannot so to her
now, You must go with the Stung Ser
pont to the village OF the White Apple
What can Louis ST. julien fear from his
lrotheFfs'
The youth gaKed into the face Of the
powerful Natchez, and for awhile he
was utterly unable 10 speak. AT that
moment hundred various thoughts and
emotions flew wildly through his mind.
He saw his father and ~. Denis still
searching fos the hlders. and he heard
their notes OF alarm. and saw their tears
OF grief Then he ran over the fearful
journey through the deep forest, aud he
wondered why hO was thus separated
from his mate.
"Can | not so with my slster2" he at
length asked.
NO." was the answer.
"And why may we not be togetherT
Because II IL impossible Remember,
the Stung Serpent has spoken"
This was pronounced In slow, mean
Ing tone, and Louis St. julien knew
enough Of the Indian charac.e. 10 saow
that no appeal would move his captors
from such purpose. He looked around
once more, and when he saw that half
of the Chickasaws were gone, he knew
that his companion had gone with them
In the meantime. Stung Serpent was
performing work that startled the pris-
oner not a little. After he had given his
last answer to Louis, he approached the
Chickasaw chief, and gave 10 him
heavy purse The latter too II and emp
tied Its contents into his broad palm.
and Louis saw that 1t was gold. The |
Chickasaw's eyes sparkled as they rested |
upon the coin. Louis clasped his hands |
for they were free now--and his frame |
shook as his former doubts grew to con-
frmations Who could have placed that |
gold In the hands of the Natchez war
rior2 To be sure, there was French |
fort near the Natchez villages but then |
Louis knew that they had no gold to |
spare there. Thankful must the Indian |
be who could get even few pieces OF |
silver from the people of Fort Rosalle. |
Then who could have paid this gold but |
Simon Lobois2 The thought came, and |
1t was fixed. The prisoners head was |
bowed and when again he looked up, |
there was n shade OF determination upon |
the finely chiseled features that contrast |
cd strangely with the fear marks that
had before rested there. He folded his
hands upon his bosom, and for a single
instant his eyes were turned heavenward.
With satisfied look, the Chickasaw
leader emptied tho money back into the
purse, and having placed 1t In his bosom,
he turned to his followers and gave the
signal for starting. They quickly gath
cred up their arms, and In q few mo-
ments more they were lost to sight In
the thick wood.
"Now," said Stung Serpent, turning
to his prisoner, 1--WE will be on our way
to our home In. the domain of the Nat
chez. Can you walkT
eyes; but am weak now, and shall
hardly be able to keep pace with you II
you hurry"
"The white youth speaks calmly for
one in distress" pursued the chief, look
Ing his prisoner sharply in the eye.
perhaps he thinks he shall escape"
"If speak calmly" returned the
youth, "lt Is because hope you mean
me no HARM"
"Ughp That was all the answer Stung
Serpent returned upon that subject. In
q moment more he took the prisoners
hand and gazed upon 1t.
II did not tell the Chickasaw that 1t
was you who slew his people," the Nat
chez said.
Louis trembled.
'For II had, I should not have found
you alive, having once passed through
his hands. You have a small white hand
for a warrior such as you have proved
yourself to be-" And Stung Serpent laid
his own hug hand by the side of his
prisoners, thus making the youths deli
cate limb appear smaller by the contrast
than 1t really was. And then, with a