The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-05-07

children scurrying out of the huts back
toward the hills.
'The men came down on the deck
quietly, and they were not laughing
now, but more sullen faces l 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.,
and it 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 and treated his
charges with tact and understanding
Of which the other, Mathison, seemed
totally devoid. However, he was even.
tually sent down the coast to Port
Clarence in charge Of government
reindeer herd, leaving the Kentuckian
and bis wife at Prince Of Wales.
Now, the spirit Of mischief dwells
as stoutly in native child as in one
Of other blood: but, no matter what
faults are committed, the Indian never
chastises his offspring. This tender
spirit Of reverence is one Of the most
touching traits Of the aborigine, and
not only does he never lift a hand
against his little ones, but violence
from another is deadly affront.
The children Of this village did not
like Mathison. and he began to feel an
unrest in his school which be could
not fathom. One morning he found a
rude caricature Of himself on the
blackboard 1t was most disparaging
to his dignity and led to severe Ian
guage. A few nights later some one
threw pebbles at bis house door.
Again. the schoolhouse was broken
open and chalk taken out He spoke
to the scholars of dire punishments,
and still the thing prevailed until he
grew maddened out of all proportion
to the gravity Of the offenses.
Had he treated them with patient
good humor the little ones would have
exhausted their resources Of annoy
ance. but they irritated him cumula-
lively till one day in an outburst he
threatened death to any one who ap-
preached his house at night. His resi-
dence sat we'll up on 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.
he made public announcement that
should he catch any one forcing it
open he would shoot him.
Some time after three little boys.
wrenched with deviltry, sprung the
door to the place. purloining some
chalk. Later as they thought Of the
masters threat the gravity Of 1t
smote them, and they became fright
ened.
"Ai, we have done very bad
thing" said the littlest one, who was
but eleven and lame Of the left leg.
$50. but won't the master be angry"
said the second. laughing. How he
will shout 10 the morning!"
"What will he do? the timid one
questioned.
HE will kill u.s." answered the
third. speaking from the wisdom Of
his thirteen years. HE said So"
Whereat the other two went a-tremble
and a panic seized them.
Eyes. be will kin u.s." they said and
wanted to run home to their mothers.
but were checked by the eldest.
Now, 1t is not good to threaten an
Indian with death. Complaint he will
stand, abuse he will suffer and vitu
peration even. but beware Of the
threat, for be Is serious In bis mind |
and has no conception Of bluff. Self
will stir within him. and. |
like the wolf, he is quick to snap.
The oldest boy, In whom lay deepest
rooted the story Of the eleven whale
ribs, spoke to the other.
There is but one thing to do. We |
must kill him first. Come; let us do
it." So they went back to the village.
1t was the middle Of August, and
the nights were growing dark. Thus
they were unnoticed. particularly us
most of the men were gone bunting.
The leader stole whale gun from
his fathers cache. great weapon.
throwing an explosive bomb; the Sec
ond sneaked from his home an old
musket, relic of Russian days. with q
ball half the size Of his little fist.
while the cripple could find Only a
sledgehammer.
Surely there has never been more
curious spectacle than that Of the
three brown children on their mission
of death winding up the hill, hushed
with the tragedy of the SOFT sweet
summer night, the mind Of each
afiame with the hatred Of the other
race, the grim tale Of their slaughtered
fathers and the fear Of the mission
ary's threat urging them. First crept
the young leader in the tremendous
dignity of his bravado. the second
barely large enough to lug the long
barreled musketoon. and then the pitt.
full, hating boy with the withered
thigh clasping the hammer to his ach-
ing chest, its handle leaving trail in
the dust like the track of an accusing
finger. .
They loaded their weapons, for this
knack they had learned with their
first speech, and. as they were unable
to aim with certainty. they ap-
preached the door and placed the