The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-10-18


royal furs. but sullen-yes. very sul.
len-and when they saw the two white
men u the woman they murmured
among themselves.
The captain knew their story-he
knew everything that had 10 do with
Alaska-and he called them together
below the bridge.
These people have come 10 live
with you he said. BE good 20 them
There was considerable talk. Then
one spoke up in his native tongue:
I'VE don't want the white men and
their squaw.'
They're good men, said Healy.
They'll teach you many things and
cure your children when they're sick
I'VE don't want the white men.
said the spokesman again. Take them
away. II they stay they will be sorry.
Maybe they will die. Who knowsy
The old mans eyes glowed and
his voice raised a zone as he spoke.
IF anything happens e them I'll
blow up your village. I'll shoot your
houses to pieces
Ahtl II uGNtT Httu "a ENuuOu Dt-
fore and began to laugh az this.
mo said they; we are not chill
dren TO be frightened with fools talk.
The village is toe far away. and the
ship can't come close TO land. No; you
mus keep the white folks yourself
AT that the captain made them
climb the rigging. every n OF them.
ma HaA 49,. l..4 AZ. 49,.
"'Shoot low. lieutenant he said.
SO ] did. The shot struck halfway TO
the shore. A laugh came from aloft.
"'What did we say?' they gibed. The
big whale gun is no good. You can't
scare us: we are men,
load her again. said Healy. |
did, and this time the laughter was
not so loud. for the ball struck close to
the beach. They were u~nconvinced.
however. and Jeered us nightly till
the commander said:
Lieutenant. that big cache to the
east OF the village
"'Aye. aye. sir and | sighted.
They had caught the old mans
tone this time and ceased 20 chatter.
The deck was very still as | fred.
The cache was n rude log shelter.
perehed high on posts and standing
well out from the village. 1t was a
good shot. The target smashed like
n clay pigeon. We saw women and
children scurrylng out OF the huts back
toward the hills.
The men came down on the deck
quietly. aud they were not laughing
now. but more sullen faces | never
saw.
Don't shoot again. they said. Let
the white men and the squaw come
ashore. And that's how We landed
our missionaries"
During the next few years the reve-
nue. cutter called at the village fire.
quently. leaving mail. provisions, etc.
aud IL seemed that the churchmen
were getting along much better than
had been expected. Particularly did
the Ohio boy succeed with them. for
he worked earnestly aud treated his
charges with a tact and understanding
OF which the other, Mathison. seemed
totally devoid However. lac was even
tually sent down the coast TO Port
Clarence in charge OF Il government
reindeer herd. leaving the kentuckian
and his wife at Prince OF Wales.
Now. the spirit Of mischief dwells
as stoutly ia a native child az In one
OF other blood; bat. no matter what
faults are committed. the Indian never
chastlses his offspring This tender
spirit OF reverence is one OF the most
touching traits OF the aborigine. and
not only does he never lift Il hand
against his little ones. but violence
from another Is n deadly affront.
The children OF this village did not
like Mathison. aud he began To feel an
unrest In his school which he could
not fathom. one morning he found 4
rude caricature OF himself OH the
blackboard 1t was most dlsparaging
TO his dignity and led TO severe Ian
guage. \ few nights later some one
threw pebbles az his house door
Again. the schoolhouse was broken
open and chalk taken out. lie spoke
to the scholars OF dire punIshments.
and stIll the thing prevailed until he
grew maddened out or MI proportion
TO the gravity OF the otfenses.
Had he treated them with n patient
good humor the little mes would have
exhausted their OF annoy
ance. but they lrritated him cumula-
lively tin one day IN an outburst he
threatened death 10 any one who APP
preached his house at night His resi-
dence sat well up OH the mountain
above the village. and for some time
thereafter he slept In peace. But the
liberties with the schoolhouse contin-
ued. and one day. becoming frenzied.
lie made public announcement that
should nc catch any one forcing it
open he would shoot him.
Some time after three little boys.
wrenehed with deviltry. sprung the
door TO the place. %purloining some
chalk. Later IA they thought or the