Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-11-26

upon the shelf where they appeared
to be suspended en- the face OF the
ciin. crawling Ike flies, while the tor.
rent ragged beneath them.
They win die" said the old man.
confidentlys for that thing was the
mrernnner Of the outrageous wagon
that was going TO disturb the rAace
OF the gcds end bring their wrath down
upon Itself.
ne ordered the tents to be raised.
ana the women obeyed In fear and
trembling. He built himself a small
medicine lodge and entered Il. where
upon strange voices and singular
sounds arose within. He remained
there long. only coming out when the
crimson Of the sunset flashed between
tne peaks and stained the world as
with the blood of many men.
When he finally appeared, there was
y look OF triumph on his face and his
sunken eyes were fired with a light
that was unusual. and the Indians
crowded around him.
The AiInitou Is angered," he said.
out his anger is not upon us who are
mis- children. The white men he is
about to destroy, crushing them with
falling rocks and covering them with
rolling SHOWS. until their bones shall
oe scattered by the floods.
Tomorrow you viii see these things.
but you need have no fear. for alone
am to help to bring these things
about"
That night the men and their women
whispered long beneath their tents. for
none but the little children could sleep
In the early morning. before sunrise,
the werid seemed very gray and dis.
NAL. and great clouds were again gath
cred about the summit of the peaks
AT the outlet the white waves
dashed themselves upon the rocks with
more than THEIR wonted fury and the
voices OF the speaking wires were
plaintive. Presently the great eagle
began to scream loudly, sailing In wide
circles as II watching for the wonders
that were impending. and big ravens
wsnt by-omens of evil.
The medicine man again sought his
lodge, and his tremulous voice rose in
loud invocation while the men stood
around. silent.
Tbs women stopped the laughter of
their children, for the day was preg.
nant with great happenings.
They were firm In their belief that
the old man knew all that was going
to occur. but he had refused any fur.
ther explanations. merely bidding them
to await the outcome of his speech
with the gods.
He had peeled a long. straight sap
ling and fastened to II things that be-
longed to his magic-teeth and claws
Of grizzlies. hair from the bell OF a
moose. dyed feathers of the eagle and
bustard. and the whole thing was In
shape like a great lance.
Then he slowly went up ON the track.
where IL passed near the outlet. and
dug away some of the broken stone
that had been placed between the ties.
making a small hole into which he
pushed the butt of his sapling, aslant.
Then he sat. arrayed In the full glory
Of his war paint. with the lance in.
clined toward the east whence the fire
wagon would come. II passed beneath
his right armpit, braced between his
elbow and his ribs. and was held firmly
In his long, sinewy hand.
A short distance away. perched on
an immense boulder, the men waited;
and further away the women stood
with babies sleeping peacefully In
their hoods. They were stricken with
awe. not knowing whether the skies
would fall. or the mountains totter. OF
the foods rise to engulf the invaders.
Thus they waited long. confident I'm
the assurances of the old medicine
man, until a strange, low rumbling was
heard.
Then, In the distance. rose a shrek
vibrating, ear-piercing-I
and a roar that overcame the voice OF
the torrent And IL was growing loud
er and louder every moment.
Suddenly. from behind the long
curve in the line, appeared the mon.
strous engine, belching smoke. shak-
ing the earth. painting swiftly mp the
grade. with a grinding. clankfng. crush.
ing sound!
The man at the throttle saw the
half-naked savage with his weapon.
and again the air was torn by an in
fernal shrek. while steam belched
from the exhaust and brakes ground
the wheels.
But there was not sufficient time to
stop. The prodigious firewagon came
on deyouringly, while the man sat
there calmly. stolidly. trusting his
gods.
There was one last shout of warn
ing from the cab as the locomotive
hurled itself upon the red man, splin
tering his lance and sweeping hfiD
away, a gruesome mass. into the rag.
ing waters beneath.
Then IL went on up the grade, alons
the shelf. away to the land of the set
ting sun. where people were waiting
TO acclaim the triumphant arrival tof
the mogul Of civilization.
The women wept and the childrci,
shrieked: but the men remained silent
for their Manitou had been conquered
and the spirits had fed. leaving the
valley still SCARED By the wounds iu
fiicted by the invaders.
They had failed 20 resent this desc
Grafton. for now the peaks were again
glistening in the sunlight, the cloud.
dispersed. tine food was stiIl within H.
bounds. and the body of their priest
had disappeared beneath the turmoii
that never gave back what its might,
NAV closed upon.
They stood there. aghast and sol
rowing for the gods had forsaken ti.f
Land.