Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-01-06
THE NIGHT OF THE DARK MOON
An Indian Legend
BY EUGENE o. MAYFIELD CRex ND

bear, who might be passing, and who
would help them out before the red
man came. That it was a bear-pit
they had fallen into, they had no
doubt, for they had often heard their
mother talk about her experience with
one; but she didn't fall in, for she
caught herself just in time. But
growl and make all the noise they
could, no one cane to take them out,
and when night came Spangle cried
herself to sleep.
AT last it began to get gray in the
east and Spike awoke his sister and
told her they must try again to get
out, or the red man would be there
at sun-peep, and get them, sure,-for
red men, even bears know, go to their
traps and pits very early.
Suddenly shadow appeared at
the mouth of the pit, and red face
looked down. 1t was my grandfather,
into whose pit the little bears had
fallen He was much pleased when
he saw the cubs and ran off to the
village to get help to get them out
Finally, when drawn up, both little
bears were so frightened they could
not say a word-not even grow1-
MY grandfather took the cubs to
the village and tied them to a tree.
''At first it was intended to kill the
cubs for food, but they were saved,
because my grandfather heard them
talking, one day, and learned from
them-he could understand bear talk,
you know,-that they had started to
school and fallen into the bear-pit,
while playing truant.
my grandfather was a good man
a great chief-and he told the cubs
if they would promise never to run
away from school again he would let
them go home. They both promised,
and to make it more binding Spike
crossed his breas. with his paw. Soon
thereafter they we're both scampering
home as fast as their legs would carry
them.
THAT night, before the little bears
cuddled down to sleep, their mother
told them of a great Dark Moon that
was to come soon; an eclipse, the
palefaces call it, and warned them, in
case she were away, on certain
night, not to leave the den, or they
might get lost, and perhaps fall into
another bear-pit. The cubs were al
lowed to go about, not too far from
the den, when the moon shone, but
never on dark NIGHTS.
EARLY next morning both Spike and
Spangle were awake. and when time
came, trotted off to school On the
way home that afternoon Spike asked
his sister if she wouldn't like to see
all kinds OF animals, who were to
gather at a certain point on a certain
night, and watch for the Dark Moon,
their mother had told them about.
"sOf course would replied
Spangle, but mother will not let us
go, will she?'
"eNot if she knows it, replied
Spike, but maybe we can get away,
somehow
1.-The day of the Dark Moon the
little bears mother told them she was
going up the canon. long ways, and
would not be haci. until midnight, but
for them not to worry about her. She
also again told them of the Dark
Moon, and warned them to remain in
side the den when night came.
THE long day passed and just al
night-fal1 a little playmate bear
scratched at the door He was on
his way up the canon. he said, and
asked Spike and Spangle to go with
him..
Ibid Spike and Spangle GOT" asked
all the little red children. In chorus.