Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-09-06

guide raised himself slowly along the
trunk of the tree against which he had
been lying, embraced it with his feet and
hands. and with undulating movements re-
sembling those of reptiles, left the ground,
and raised himself to the first branches,
among which he disappeared.
This ascent was executed with such
well-calculated slowness that 1t had not
produced the slightest sound. Moreover,
the buffalo robe left at the foot of the
tree so well retained its primitive folds,
that it was impossible to discover, with
out touching it, that the man it sheltered
had left Il.
Before selecting as his resting place the
foot Of the tree in which he was now
concealed, the guide had assured himself
that this tree, which was very high and
leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of
its height by other trees.
After a few minutes hesitation, the
guide drew In his belt, placed his knife
between his teeth, and with a lightness of
movement that would have done honor to
a monkey, he commenced literally hopping
from one tree to another, hanging by his
arms, and cIinging to the crsepers, wax
ing up, as he passed, the birds, which
few away in alarm.
This strange journey lasted about three
quarters of an hour. At length the guide
stopped, looked attentively around him,
and gliding down the trunk, reached the
ground. The spot where he now found
himself was a rather spacious clearing, in
the center of which blazed an enormous
fire, serving to warm forty or fifty red
skins, completely armed and equipped for
war.
This detachment of redskins was GER
tainly on the war trail, or at any rate on
a serious expedition, Tor they had with
them neither dogs nor squaws. In spite
of the slight care with which the Indians
were wont to guard themselves at night,
the free and deliberate manner in which
the guide entered their encampment prov
ed that he was expected by these warriors,
who evinced no surprise at seeing him,
but, on the contrary, invited him with
hospitable gestures to take a seat at their
fire. The guide sat down silently, the
chief standing by his side. This chief
was still a young man, his marked fea-
lures displaying the utmost craft and
boldness. After a rather heightened in
terval, doubtless expressly granted the
visitor to let him draw breath and warm
himself, the young chief bowed to him
and addressed him deferentially:
my father is welcome among his sons !;
they were impatiently awaiting his ar
rival"
The guide responded to this compli-
ment with a grimace.
"Our scouts" the chief continued,
have carefully examined the encampment
of the Yoris, and the warriors of the
Jester are ready. Is my father Curu-
milla satisfied"
Curumilla laid his right hand on his
chest and uttered with cultural accent
ugh ~ which was with him a mark OF
the greatest joy.
The Jester and his warriors had been
too long acquainted with Curumilla for
his silence to seem strange; hence they
yielded to his mania, and giving up the
hope of getting syllable out Of his closed
lips, began a conversation in signs.
The redskins have two languages the
written and the sign language. The lat
ter which has attained high perfection,
and which all understand, is usually en-
ployed when hunting, or on expeditions,
when a word pronounced even in low
voice may reveal the presence of an am.
buscade to the enemy, whether men OF
beasts.
1t would have been interesting for any
stranger who had been present at this
interview to see with what rapidity the
gestures and signs were exchanged be-
tween these men, so strangely lit up by
the ruddy glow of the fire.
At length this silent council terminated
Curumilla raised his hand to heaven, and
pointed to the stars, which were begin.
ming to grow dim, and then rert the cir.
Gle. The redskins respectfully followed
him to the foot of the tree by the aid OF
which he had entered their camp. When
he reached it he turned round.
May the Wacondah protect my faith.
erl" the Jester then said. "His sons
have thoroughly understood his inten.
tions, and will follow them literally. The
great pale hunter will have Joined his
friends by this hour and he is doubtless
awaiting u.s."
1T is good" Curumilla answered, and
saluting for the last time the warriors
who bowed respectfully before him, the
chief seized the creeping plants, and rails
| ing himself by the strength of his wrists
in second he reached the branches and
disappeared.
The journey the Indian had made was
very important and needed to be so fol
him to run such great risks in order tc
have an interview at this hour of the
night with the redskins.
The chief recommended his aerial trir
with the same lightness and the same
good fortune. After a lapse of time com
paratively much shorter than that which
he had previously employed, he reached
the camp of the white men. The same
silence prevailed in its interior; the sen
tinels were still motionless at their DOS,
| nd tob Groo H.