The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-05-13
CHAPTER xxx.
THE SACRIFICE.

aiming the ITOQuOlS game which Dor,
certain resemblance to the castinl
OF dice, as the latter is known amont
civilized peoples The method of ths
play was simple. Two oblong polished
bones, of the bigness of mans finger
were used as the dice The ends OF
these were ground thin and were rude
ly polished. One of the dice was
stained red, the other left white. The
players in the game marked out line
on the hard ground, and then each in
| turn cast IN the two dice into the air.
throwing them from some receptacle
The game was determined by the fall.
ing of the red bone, he who cast this
colored bone closer TO the line upon
the ground being declared the winner.
| The game was simple, and depended
much upon chance. If the red die fell
| fiat upon its face at a point near to
the line, 1T was apt to lie close to the
spot where it dropped. On the other
hand, did it alight upon either end, II
might bound back and fall at some lit
tie distance upon one side of the line.
1t was this game which, in horrible
fashion, Teganisoris now proposed to
play. He offered to the clamorine
medicine man and his ferocious disci.
pies one of these captives, whose death
should appease not only the offended
Great Spirit, but also the unsated
vengeance of the tribe. He offered, at
the same time, the spectacle of play
in which human life should be the
stake. He used as practical execution
er the woman who was possessed by
one of them, and who, in the crude no.
lions of the savages, was no doubt
coveted by both. 1t must be the hand
Of this woman that should cast the
dice, a white one and a red one for
each man, and he whose red die fell
closer to the line was winner in the
grim game of life and death.
Jean Breboeuf and Pierre Noir stood
apart, and tears poured from the eyea
Of both. They were hardened men,
we'll acquainted with Indian warfare;
hey had seen the writings of tor
tured victims, and more than once had
faced such possibilities themselves;
yet never had they seen sight like this.
Near the two men stood Mary Con-
nynge, the bright blood burning In
her CHI eeks, her eyes dry and wide open,
looking from one to the other. God,
who gives to this earth the few Mary
alone knows the nature Of
hose elements which made her, and
he character of the conflict which
,n1 hi n "a
woman as Mary Connynge that she
las a rival, and she will either love,
he more madly the man whom she de-
hands as her own, or with equal mad
less and with greater intensity will
late her lover with hatred undying
nd unappeasable
Mary Connynge stood, ner eyes
dancing from one to the other of tha
nen before her. She had seen them
9th proved brave men, strong of arm,
ndaunted of heart, both gallant gen.
emen. God, who makes the Mary
of this earth, only can tell
,hether or not there arose in the
cart of this savage woman, this wo-
IAN at bay, scorned, rebuked, mas
cred. this one question: Which? II
larry Connynge hated John Law, or IL
he loved him-ah! how must have
ulsed her heart in agony, or In bits
,rness. as she took into her hand those
IT'S which were the arbiters of life
nd DEATH
Teganisoris looked about him and
Joke few rapid words. He caught
airy Connynge roughly by the shoul-
IT and pulled her forward The two
en- stood with faces set and gray In
e pitiless light of morn. Their arma
ere fast bound behind their backs.
agerly the crowd,ng savages pressed
!, to them, gest.culating wildly, and
ering again and again into their
ces to discover any sign of weak
ss. They failed. The pride of birth,
! strength of character, the sheer
imal vigor of each man stood him
stead at this ultimate trial. Each
d made up his mind to die. Each
opposed, not doubling that he would
the one to draw the fatal lot, to
, as a man and gentleman.
Teganisoris would play this game
tn all possible mystery and impor-
nce 1t should be told generations
nee about the council fires, how he.
sanisoris, devised this game, how
played 1t, how he drew 1t out link
link to the last atom of its agony,
ere was no receptacle at hand In
Itch the dice could be placed. Te-
nisoris stopped, and without cere-
my wrenched from Mary Connynge's
II the moccasin which covered it.
little shoe-beaded, beautiful, and
W again fateful. Sir Arthur smiled
though in actual JOY.
MY friend" said he, II have wonl
is might be the very slipper for
ich we played at the Green Lion
& ago.
Jaw turned upon him face pale and
emn Sir | he. II prav God
i this icsue ne not be as when We