Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-03-26


faithful brother to Leaping Bull and
to all the braves. his brothers?"
Mason was silent. in sheer perplex-
ity. Low CALCULATIONS from the In
dams showed how they inter preted his
delay in answering. Leaping Bull
continued:
The Modocs war against the white
men. The pale-faces are the blood
brothers of White Bear. He was their
/ brother before the Modocs welcomed
him to their tribe. Will he help his
white brothers against his tribe?" The
/ chief paused for a reply.
This time Mason was ready:
"Leaping Bulls words are straight
words. White Bear will never aban-
/ don the people of his own blood. He
has loved his brothers. the Modocs.
but he can no longer love them when
! they make war against his own race"
There were angry mutterings from
/ without at this clear declaration, but
these were hushed as Leaping Bull
spoke:
Then White Bear must diel Leap
ing Bull loves him. but he must do his
duty to his own people. Since White
Bear is the enemy of the Modocs he
must die"
Mason, who had been thinking deep
ly, was now quick to speak again:
"I have kept my faith with you by
telling the truth. If my life must pay
the price of my being faithful to my
people then l am willing to die"
But Leaping Bull said:
IF White Bear will give his promise
to remain here, not to go forth with
the enemies of the Modocs, he shall
live"
Mason answered clearly:
mo. thank you, Leaping Bull. but
l cannot make such a promise"
Then" the chief repeated solemnly,
White Bear must die"
Now Mason was ready with a sug-
gestion:
White Bear wishes well to all. Let
him bargain little with his brothers,
the Modocs. He is here. he cannot
. escape. But you know him. He is
shut up In his cabin. You must take
him. 1t will not be easy. You must
( fight to take him. You know his
: strength and his skill. You cannot
burn his cabin; you must come in to
take him. You know how strong his
, cabin is, how true his rife is Some OF
/ your braves must fall, even many. But
these White Bear will spare, he will
walk from the door without his rife
and give himself into the hands of the
Modocs to Stay him-on one condi-
ton"
A rumble of amazed exclamation
sounded from the band. Mason con-
/ tinued:
'Leaping Bull knows the house OF
Silas French in the valley"
The chief muttered an assent.
We'll, my condition is this: That
neither you nor any OF your tribe
harm Mrs. French, nor her husband,
nor her children. nor her property. l
! ask their lives and safety in all ways
from you. in return for my sparing
your braves from my rifle. II you re-
fuse l shall kill more Of you than they
are-I swear it!-before you drag me
from this spot. Your braves are worth
more to you than this one family. But
you must spare them forever. What
is your answer"
Leaping Bull called some Of the
leading warriors to him and consulted
with them. Mason's proposition.
as it seemed to them, was certainly to
their advantage. They knew his PROV
ess, for they had fought with him.
/ They could not break down the door
quickly; they must expose themselves
to his fire They could capture him.
without shadow of doubt, but the work
would be a costly one. His yielding
himself to death without a struggle
would be to a profit far beyond that
to be derived from Staying a single
family of the settlers. The sole pos
sible objection was on the score Of the
tribes dignity and honor in thus bar
tering to save the lives of a few
braves. Still, their band was small;
and, too. Mason was their brother.
Moreover none but themselves would
know of the affair.
Finally the chief spoke again to
Mason:
White Bear. we haV decided"
"Wen?"
"Leaping Bull will not harm. nor
lCl aAONAlSl nal IlCASAi uOl HIS
squaw, nor his 'papooses, nor his cat
tie, nor his wigwam."
DO you swear that, Leaping Bull,
on your honor as chief. for yourself
and for all the tribe? Do you swear
1t as chief and as my brother? And
does the tribe agree?"
'Leaping Bull swears. His people
will keep his honor" The chief paused,
and a chorus of affirmation went up
from the Indians.
Mason unbarred the door, threw 1t
open and, unarmed, stepped forth.
Thus Mason offered his life to save
the woman he loved.
The beauty of that offering is not
lessened by the fact that, after all, he
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