Bisbee daily review., 1908-07-19

lect of the tribe, which Mason spoke
with sufficient ease.
why do you come like foes to the
wigwam Of your brother?"
eve come to learn the truth from
White Bear, to talk without crooked
words"
'Leaping Bull knows that White
Bears words are always straight, that
his tongue is not forked.'
The chief grunted an assent.
Speak, then" Mason commanded.
White Bear il a Modoc," the Indian
said; he is my brother. Is he now a
TO all the braves, his brothers?",
Mason was silent, in sheer perplex-
itx Low CALCULATIONS from the In
dams showed how they interpreted his
delay in answering. Leaping Bull
continued:
The Modocs war against the white
msn. 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 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 die! 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:
Il 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 I am willing to die"
But Leaping Bull said:
IF White Bear win 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 sug.
gestion:
White Bear wishes well to all. Let
him bargain a 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. II 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 anv Of your tribe
| harm Mrs. French, nor her husband
nor her children, nor her property.
ask their lives and safety in all ways
| from you, in return for my sparins
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. Bui
you must spare them forever. VIVA
is your answer"
Leaning Bull called some of th'
leading warriors to him and consulted
with them. Mason's proposition
| as it seemed to them, was certainly Il
their advantage. They knew his prov
ess. for they had fought with him
They could not break down the dco
quickly; they must expose themselves
TO his fire. They could capture him
without shadow of doubt, but the WORT
would be a costly one. His yieldini
himself to death without a struggle
would be to a profit far beyond tina
to be derived from Staying singh
family of the settlers. The sole pos
sible objection was on the score OF tn
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 Woul'
know of the AFFAIR.
Finally the chief spoke again u
! Mason:
i white Bear, we have decided"
'Wen?"
'Ieaping Bull will not harm, no
let another harm, French, nor hi
souaw, nor his papooses, nor his cal
tie, nor his wigwam."
DO you swear that, Leaping Bull
on your honor as chief, for yourself
. and for all the tribe? Do you swea
: it as chief and as my brother? An
does the tribe agree?
. "Leaping Bull swears. His peopl
viii keep his honor" The chief paused
and a chorus of affirmation went u
from the Indians.
Mason unbarred the door. threw
open and, unarmed, stepped forth.
, Thus Mason offered his life to say
J the woman he loved.