The daily Alaskan., 1904-07-14
THE DEATHTRAP
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| which crops out uDONe kIOuuu III uu aA most inaccessible mountain pass. The Indians call 1t the "deathtrap," and | the peak on which 1t is located Is call. f ed 'Deathtrap mountain" Ordinarily the stone Is of a blue metallic lusteI and shows traces of volcanic action being scanned and ribbed as if by melt ed lava. It is a rough, Jagged outcrop ping, bursting up through the shale oi its surroundings, reaching up the noun tain side to the height of about sever feet, when a sharp projection shelves over 1t again, making a groove about nine fleet long and three feet wide During the day when the sun shines directly down upon it its color is a pale blue, but In the night 1t glows SC brightly us to be seen for a long dis tance. There is a tradition among tho Indians that 1t became known to theil ancestors hundreds of years ago, and this is the legend of its discovery:
 One day a speck was seen far up tho mountain, descending slowly toward the Indians encamped in the valley It grew larger and larger as 1t ap preached until 1t was seen to be the figure of a man-not a perfectly made man, not a warrior, but dwarfed and hunchbacked. But if the form was il | favored the face was marvelously beautiful. The features were kindly the eyes beamed softly, like twin starr after sunset on a balmy summer even Ing. The man asked for food and shleter, and he was at once given what he asked.
 But they gained far more than they gave. Though the stranger knew noth' ing of herbs, he possessed the power to heal the sick by simply laying his hands upon them or looking upon them with his lustrous eyes Even the dumb animals were subject to his strange in- duence, and if he willed 1t they would l flock about him to be caresSed. Since he showed no intention of departing, he was adopted into the tribe and made a medicine man.
 The stranger lived with the Indians for many years, beloved and reverence ed by all When one of the tribe was afflicted either by disease or sorrow the medicine man was straightway sent for, and as soon as his two lumi- nous eyes beamed on the afflicted, as though the Great Spirit looked through them, the Iatient began to mend, the sorrowing to regain a more cheerful mind. To the children lac imparted health to the aged, whose lot among savage tribes Is often to be left in a wilderness to die, he imparted strength to live on.
 But at last something occurred to change all this. The chiefs son, who when the stranger came to the tribe was but a child, grew to manhood, and 1t was time that he should take wife. The young squaws were inspected for the comeliest maiden, and when one was selected preparations were made for the wedding. But when the day arrived and they looked for the bride in her bower of boughs she was not there. The camp was searched, but she was nowhere to be fOunl.
 Then camic the old women, lament ing and gcsticulating. The medicine man had spirited the girl away they said. The chief resisted the imputa- ton as long as he dared, then consent ed to treat the adopted son of the tribe as guilty. But so great was the love of the people for him that no one could be found tO kill him, so the chief chose dozen of his best warriors to drive him out of the camp. Early in the morning these braves set out to chase the dlminutive medicine man away To their surprise, he ran so swiftly that they could scarcely keep him in sight. How did he fee so fast on his little withered legs? From time to time he looked back at his pursuers to see if they were following, and at last 1t began to dawn upon them that in stead of fleeing from them he was leading them on.
 The chief stood in the valley watch Ing the pursuit in wonder. When he saw the dwarf distancing his heetest runners 1t dawned upon him that he was drawing the warriors after him and be sent out messengers to recall them. He watched his messengers til they came within hailing distance, but saw that the pursuers did not stop. He could himself hear the shouts of his braves who were calling and knew that the pursuers must hear, but they paid no attention to the commands. On and on they went up the mountain side looking neither to the right nor left, but keeping their eyes fixed upon the dwarf as If bewitched. The messengers, ap palled, slackened their pace, but kept near enough to see, threading that they too, might fall under the spell.
 And now the medicine man comes tC a prOtruding rock, climbs Its side stands a moment on Its summit, de scending the other side, and Is seen nc more. But the pursuers follow on watched by the messengers sent out tC recall them, by the chief and the peO pie in the valley. The first pursuel reaches the protruding rock, climbs iti side and falls as if pierced by an ar row into the groove passing through its