The Taney County republican., 1916-01-06
CHAPTER XIV.
The Call Of the Wind.

loneliness pressed upon the wilder
ness like a finger. 1t quivered the
sharp ears of Black Bolt pricked for
ward, listening, it padded the feet of
Coosnah running ahead in the trail,
but upon Siletz It's touch was lost.
She, too, was OF the forest on night .
like this; she, too, was free OF its hid .
den paths. Hour after hour they .
threaded the familiar way, and pres
emily the forest lightened, fell away, .
left them at the steep shore OF the
Siletz river, gurgling along in the
darkness, swift and shallow.
Fields and pastures lay here upon
right and left and cabins stood squat in
the shadows. This was the headquar-
ters OF the reservation. Through the
small settlement, up lane and across
q woods.lot went the trio, and pres
entity Silet2 drew rein where a sorry
shack crouched forlornly beneath a
mammoth hr. The sound brought to
It's door bent figure that came and
stood at Black Bolts head like q
shadow.
Slietz spoke in jargon, slid down,
tralled the reins on the earth and en-
tered the little house.
An hour later she stood against its
closed door, facing dusky circle OF
squatting figures, her trim form
straight in the lamplight her shirt
open a bit at the throat, her slim
hands eloquent in quiet gestures.
Near the pine table that held the
fitful light stood old Kolawmie,
splendid illustration Of the white
mans ways.
He might have been fifty years OF
age, he might have been a hundred.
Pure blood OF chiefs ran in his veins,
and he had memories OF the time when
the Oregon country reached from the
northern sound to the valley Of the
Sacramento, but the burden OF prog
ross hung heavy on his shoulders, his
fingers trembled from much devotion
to the Spirit Of the Burning Water.
Broken In heart and soul and tribe,
he dreamed out the long last days in
the monotony Of the reservation, send
Ing his sons to the red.roofed school
on the hill, turning them aimlessly
loose upon their lands when they
were throughput still throughout the
country where the sign Of the Siletz
was seen, there were known his wise
precepts, there would his call bring
followers. About him gathered now q
silent circle, young men who could
speak good English and write essays
on the evolution Of man, older ones
who accepted the modern modes with
reservations, and few like himself Of
the ancient time
To them Siletz was speaking.
Trouble has fallen upon the Night
Wind she said sweetly "and she
comes to her friends for help. Sandry
at the camp is deserted by his men.
The camp fails, the work is stopped,
the engines are silent at their posts,
and big contract that means much
is ready to be lost-and Hampden OF
the Yellow Pines laughs in glee, for he
has done this thing. Men there are
not In the country-and to go to Port
land means loss of time on the great
contract. Therefore Sandry sits with
his head in his hands thus"
With swift art she bent her dark
head forward upon her palms, dropped
her slim shoulders, and instantly De
spair loomed before the dusky circle
For which the heart OF Sletz sick
ems, for she Is Sandry's woman"
There was silence for a space The
girl was an artist.
She would help him. Therefore
she comes to her friends, whose hearts
are large with friendship, though theil
hands are soft with leisure. The 81
letz need not work. VIII they give
the free gift of labor for the Night
Winds man.?
Il was a heart.speech, 1t was in Jar
gon and II was successful, for will
the early dawn, blue-gray with mis-
and sun.shot with crimson. Sandry
who had not slept, standing with fur
rowed brows on the Office step, hear'
sounds OF hoofs at the valleys head
He looked and beheld cavalcade o
horsemen, riding with ease on thei
ragged ponies, and led by Siletz upol
Black Bolt, who still stepped proudl
after his day.and-night's journey
while Coosnah rolled with swingln
ears at his side.
Here" said the girl as she rode ur
they will work for the big contract.
And she slid down with little sig
OF WEAKNESS before Sandry could oi
fer his arms.
GOSH" said Daily to himself in tn
shadow OF the Office, "the Siwashes!
"Mr. Sandry," he said to the owne
when the long tables were filed Il
every place with the best Of the var
ishing tribe that Siletz could pick
I'm kickin' myself that didn't thin
OF the Indians myself, though Lor
knows IL we can whip em in line, TO
Il would take the devil himself {
make a Siwash work"
But It did moi take his majesty.
took only the word Of Kolawmie, VIII
had given a command which quie
half.breed who seemed the leader Q