Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-08

beaver of tnn Whitcfsh. Him I slew.
And there were three men seeking
gold on the Whiteiish long ago. Them
also slew and left them to the wolver-
enes. And ut the Five Fingers there
was IL man with raft and much
meat"
At the moments when Imber paused
10 remember lIowkan translated and a
clerk reduced TO writing. The court
room listened stoldly to each unadorn-
ed little tragedy till Imber told Of a
red haired man whose eyes were cross.
ed and whom he had killed with a re
markably long shot.
Imber'S head drooped once more, and
his eyes grew dull. as though film
rose I'D and covered them from the
world. And he dreamed as only age
can dream upon the colossal futility of
youth.
Later Howkan reused him again,
saying: Stand up, o Imber. 1t be
commanded that thou tell why thou
didst these troubles and slew these
people and at the end journeyed here
seeking the law"
Imber rose feebly to his feet and
swayed hack and forth. He began to
speak in low and family rumbling
voice. but IIowkan interrupted him.
This old man, he is crazy" he said
In English TO the square browed man.
Ills talk is foolish and like that of o
child
I'VE will hear his talk which is like
that of a child" said the square brow
ed man. And we will hear it word
for word as he speaks it, DO you un-
derstand:'
Howkan understood and Imbcr'S
eyes flashed, for he had witnessed the
play between his sisters son and the
man in authority. And then began the
story. the epic of Il bronze patriot which
itself might well be wrought into
bronze for generations unborn. The
crowd fell strangely silent, and the
square browed judge leaned head on
hand and pondered his soul and the
soul of his race. Only were heard the
deep tones of Imber, rhythmically Al
ternating with the shrill voice of the
Interpreter
II am Imber of the Whitefsh peo-
pie" So ran the Interpretation of How
kan. whose Inherent barbarism gripped
| ~. I, .t...t.
culture and veneered civilization as he
caught the savage ring and rhythm OF
old Imber's tale. My father was OTIS
baok, strong man. The land was
warm with sunshine and gladness when
| was boy. The people did not hun
ger after strange things nor hearken TO
new voices. and the ways of their IA
thers were their ways. The women
found favor in the eyes of the young
men, and the young men looked upon
them with content Babes hung at the
| breasts of the women. and they were
heavy hippcd with increase of the tribe.
Men were men in those days. In peace
and plenty and in war and famine they
were men.
AT that time there were more tis!i
in the waters than now and more meat
| in the forest. Our dogs were wolves.
warm with thick hides and hard 10 the
| frost and storm. And as with our
dogs. SO with us. for we We're likewise
hard to the frost and storm. And
when the Pellys came into our land W"
slew them and were slain. for we wcrr
men, we Whtctsh. and our fathers
and our fathers fathers had fOu@h,
against the Iellys and determined In,
bounds of the land.
"As with our dogs. | say, so with US.
And one day came the first white man.
| He dragged himSelf-so- on hand and
knee. in the snow. And his skin WAS
stretched tight. and his bones were
sharp beneath. Never was such Il man.
we thought. and we wondered of what
strange tribe he was and of its land.
| And he was weak, most weak. like u
little child. SO that we gave him place
by the fire and warm furs TO lie upon.
and we gave him food as little children
are given food.
And with him was Il dog. large as
three of our dogs and very weak. The
hair of this dog was short and not
warm. and the tail was frozen so that
the end fell off. And this strange dog
we fed and bcdded by the fire ana
fought from. him our dogs. which else
would have killed him. And what Of
the moose meat and the sun dried
salmon the man and dog took strength
% themselves, and what of the strength
they became big and unafraid. And
the man spoke loud words and laughed
mt the old men and young men and
looked boldly upon the maidens. And
the dog fought with our dogs and for
all of his short hair and softness slew
three of them in one day.
when we asked the man concerning
his people he said. L have many broth
ers and laughed in a way that was
not good. And when he was in his
full Strength he went away. and with
| him went Noda. daughter TO the chief.
Well do | remember my father. OTIS
back, a strong man. His lace was
| black with anger ut such hcIpieSSness.
| and he took S;one-So-and So-and
there was no more hclplcsSncSS. Ana
two summers after that came Noda
back 10 us with Il man child in the h0l
low of her arm.
"And that was the beginning. Came
a second white man, with short haired
dogs. which lie left behind him when
he went And with him went six oi
our strongest dogs. for which, in trade
he had given Koo-SO-Tee. my mothers
brotilcr. Il wonderful pistol that fired
with great swiftness six times. And
Koo-So-Tce was very big. what of the
pistol. and laughed ut our bows and
arrows. 'Woman's things, he called
them and went forth against the bald
| face grizzly with the pistol in his
hand. Now it be known that it is not
good to hunt the bald face with pis'
toll but how were we 10 know! And
how WAS KOo-So-Tee to know: So he
went against the bald face. very brave
and fired the pistol with great swift
ness six times. and the bald faced hui
gruntcd and broke IN his heau iihe II
were an egg. and like honey from Il
bees nest dripped the brains OF 400
So-Tec upon the ground. lie was Il
good hunter, and there was no one 10
| L,;,,, ,,,o,t to his S.r,uw and children.